Swensen's Ice Cream is a russian restaurant in San Francisco.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
Why locals love it: The 1948 Russian Hill original. The chain went global; the corner shop where Earle Swensen first scooped is still small, family-run and easy to miss.
Tip: Open Wed to Sun only; the chocolate fudge cone with rainbow sprinkles is the kid order, the rum raisin is the right adult.
Guided tour · 2 hours
Eat your way through San Francisco on an ice cream tour with 4 curated stops, samples + full scoops, and an easy walk to the Ferry Building.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Join us on our 3-hour Food Walking Tour of San Francisco. Led by a knowledgeable local guide, you'll explore the bustling streets of the city while satisfying yourself...
Guided tour · 1.5 hours
Cocktail Making Class & Fun San Francisco History Lesson. Dive into the world of whiskey with a guided tasting, learn to make signature cocktails and soak in stunning ...
Address: 1999 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Rintaro in San Francisco is Sylvan Mishima Brackett's Mission izakaya, with handmade soba, a robatayaki grill, and a sake list that pulls from small.
Why locals goMission izakaya from chef Sylvan Mishima Brackett; bookings are hard, but the bar room takes walk-ins and runs the full menu.
TipWalk in for the bar room at 18:00; the kitchen runs the full menu but you do not need a reservation.
San Tung in San Francisco is the Inner Sunset Northern Chinese room famous for dry-fried chicken wings glazed in a sweet soy and garlic sauce; pure cult.
Why locals goNorthern Chinese counter on Irving Street, far from tourist Chinatown. Locals queue for the dry-fried chicken wings; tourists rarely make it out to the Sunset.
TipDry-fried chicken wings are the order, hands-down; nothing else on the menu hits as hard.
Hang Ah Tea Room in San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest dim sum house in the United States, opened 1920 on Pagoda Place, with a small fixed steamer menu.
Why locals goThe oldest continuously operating dim sum house in the United States, opened 1920, sits on a side alley off Sacramento Street that most tourists miss.
TipNo carts; order the fixed steamer menu and ask for the off-menu turnip cake when in season.
Molinari Delicatessen in San Francisco is the 1896 North Beach Italian counter, with house-cut salumi, focaccia sandwiches and a line every weekday at noon.
Why locals goNorth Beach Italian counter since 1896, hand-cutting salumi for the sandwich line out the door; the building has not changed in three generations.
TipOrder the Special: salami, mortadella, provolone, sun-dried tomato on house focaccia. Bring it to Washington Square.
Old Skool Cafe in San Francisco is the Bayview supper club run by formerly incarcerated young chefs, with a strong soul-food menu and a music programme.
Why locals goBayview supper club run by formerly incarcerated youth, with a kitchen that takes a high-bar approach; tourists rarely reach the Bayview.
TipOpen Thursday to Saturday only; book a week ahead and bring cash for the tip jar.
Tommy's Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco is the Outer Richmond tequila bar since 1965, with a 400-bottle list and the city's most-cited Margarita spec.
Why locals goTequila bar in the Outer Richmond, founded in 1965, with the world's most-cited Margarita; pilgrim tequila drinkers come, food tourists rarely make the trip.
TipOrder Tommy's Margarita (lime, blanco tequila, agave nectar); the family invented the spec.
