The Most Popular Food in San Francisco, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the food you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 7, 2024 06:38
San Francisco, with its diverse culinary scene, offers an array of delightful dishes tailored to satisfy various palates. Understanding which foods stand out in such a rich tapestry helps visitors and locals alike make informed dining choices. A ranked list of popular foods assists in identifying crowd favorites and under-the-radar gems, providing a streamlined way to experience the city's best offerings.
By participating in voting for their preferred dishes, users contribute to a dynamic, community-driven guide that reflects real-time preferences. This interactive approach not only enhances your culinary journey but also encourages local establishments to maintain high standards and innovate continually. Through collective input, the list evolves, ensuring that it remains a reliable resource for all food enthusiasts.
What Is the Most Popular Food in San Francisco?
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165votesSan Francisco is known for its delicious Mission-style burritos that are packed with rice, beans, meat, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream. The burritos are so popular that they have become a staple food in the city.Mission-style burritos are a type of burrito that originated in San Francisco's Mission District. They are known for their large size, flavorful fillings, and unique preparation method. The creator of the Mission-style burrito is widely believed to be either Taqueria La Cumbre or El Farolito, both popular taquerias in the Mission District.
- Size: Large
- Tortilla: Flour tortilla
- Rice: White rice
- Beans: Pinto or black beans
- Meat: Options include grilled chicken, carne asada, carnitas, and more
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247votesA seafood stew that originated in San Francisco in the late 1800s. It is made with a variety of seafood such as Dungeness crab, shrimp, clams, and mussels in a tomato-based broth. It's a must-try dish when visiting the city.Cioppino is a hearty seafood stew that originated in San Francisco, California. It is a delicious and flavorful dish with roots in Italian and Portuguese cuisines. The dish is known for its rich tomato-based broth, loaded with a variety of fresh seafood such as Dungeness crab, shrimp, clams, mussels, and white fish. The stew is typically seasoned with garlic, onions, herbs like thyme and parsley, and a hint of spicy heat from chili flakes. Cioppino is often served with crusty bread or over a bed of pasta, allowing the broth to soak into the noodles.
- Origin: San Francisco, California
- Main Ingredients: Dungeness crab, shrimp, clams, mussels, white fish
- Broth: Tomato-based, rich and flavorful
- Seasonings: Garlic, onions, thyme, parsley, chili flakes
- Texture: Hearty, chunky, and soupy
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325votes
Tomascastelazo · CC BY-SA 4.0San Francisco is known for its sourdough bread that has a distinct tangy taste. The city's unique climate and environment make it the perfect place for sourdough to thrive.Sourdough bread is a type of bread made from a naturally fermented dough, resulting in a distinct tangy flavor. It is typically made using a sourdough starter, which is a mixture of flour and water that captures wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria from the environment. This starter is then used to leaven the bread dough, providing a characteristic taste, texture, and aroma. Sourdough bread is often known for its crispy crust, chewy interior, and complex flavor profile.- Fermentation Time: Long fermentation process, typically ranging from several hours to several days.
- Leavening Agent: Natural wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria present in the sourdough starter.
- Ingredients: Flour, water, and salt. Additional ingredients like whole-grain flours or seeds can be incorporated for variations.
- Tangy Flavor: Distinct sour taste resulting from the fermentation process.
- Crust: Crunchy and well-browned crust due to the long baking time and presence of natural sugars in the dough.
Sourdough bread in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most difficult bread to make
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular food in California
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular bread in America
- Position 5 of 10 in Most difficult thing to bake
- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular type of Subway bread
- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular food in the Yukon
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414votes
jjron · GFDL 1.2Ghirardelli chocolate
Domenico GhirardelliGhirardelli is a San Francisco-based chocolate company that has been around since 1852. Their chocolate is known for its high quality and delicious taste. They have a store in the city that sells a variety of chocolate treats.Ghirardelli chocolate is a famous brand of premium chocolate based in San Francisco, California. Their chocolate is renowned for its high quality and rich flavors, making it a popular choice among chocolate lovers worldwide.- Type: Premium chocolate
- Flavors: Various flavors available, including dark, milk, and white chocolate
- Varieties: Assorted chocolate bars, truffles, baking products, and hot cocoa mixes
- Ingredients: Ghirardelli uses only the finest cocoa beans and high-quality ingredients in their chocolate
- Texture: Smooth and creamy
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522votes
Kolumbusjogger · CC BY-SA 3.0San Francisco has a large Chinatown that is home to many delicious restaurants that serve dim sum. This traditional Chinese meal consists of small plates of steamed or fried food such as dumplings, buns, and rolls.Dim sum is a traditional style of Chinese cuisine that originated in Hong Kong. It is a collection of bite-sized dishes typically served in steamer baskets or on small plates. Dim sum is usually enjoyed during breakfast or brunch, and it is often enjoyed in a communal setting with family or friends. It has become widely popular in Hong Kong and around the world, known for its variety, intricate flavors, and delicate presentation.- Variety: Dim sum offers a wide selection of dishes, including steamed, fried, and baked options.
- Steamed Buns: Popular dim sum dishes include fluffy steamed buns filled with BBQ pork, custard, or other savory or sweet fillings.
- Dumplings: Delicate dumplings, such as Har Gow (shrimp dumplings), Siu Mai (pork dumplings), and Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) are essential parts of dim sum.
- Rice Rolls: Rolled rice noodle sheets filled with shrimp, beef, or other ingredients, served with soy sauce.
- Turnip Cake: A savory cake made from shredded radish and rice flour, pan-fried until crispy on the outside.
Dim sum in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular thing in Hong Kong
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613votes
Dan Boone · Public domainSan Francisco is located near the Pacific Ocean, which makes it the perfect place to enjoy fresh seafood. Dungeness crab is a popular dish that can be found in many restaurants in the city.The Dungeness crab is a type of crab widely recognized for its exceptionally delicious meat. It is considered one of the finest crabs for culinary purposes.- Species: Metacarcinus magister
- Habitat: Found in the eastern Pacific Ocean along the coast of North America
- Size: Adults can measure up to 10 inches in shell width
- Color: Ranges from brownish-red to light brown
- Body: Round, hard shell with prominent spines on the carapace
Dungeness crab in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most delicious type of crab
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716votesSan Francisco is also known for its fresh oysters that are harvested from the nearby coast. They can be enjoyed raw or cooked in a variety of ways.Oysters are a type of shellfish that are commonly found in the Chesapeake Bay and are a beloved culinary delicacy in Maryland. They have a hard outer shell and a soft, briny flesh inside. Oysters are considered a true taste of the region's coastal waters and are enjoyed both raw and cooked in a variety of dishes.
- Scientific name: Crassostrea virginica
- Appearance: Hard outer shell, soft flesh inside
- Taste: Briny, savory, and sometimes slightly sweet
- Size: Ranges from small cocktail oysters to large plate oysters
- Harvesting season: Mostly during cooler months from September to April
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811votes
Irish coffee
Joe SheridanThe Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco is famous for its Irish coffee. This delicious drink is made with coffee, sugar, Irish whiskey, and whipped cream. It's the perfect way to warm up on a chilly San Francisco day.Irish coffee is a popular Christmas drink that combines hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and topped with whipped cream. It is typically served in a glass mug and enjoyed during the holiday season.- Coffee: Hot brewed coffee
- Whiskey: Irish whiskey
- Sweetener: Sugar
- Topping: Whipped cream
- Serving: Glass mug
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95votesAlthough fortune cookies are not actually a traditional Chinese dessert, they were invented in San Francisco in the early 1900s. They can be found in many Chinese restaurants and are a fun way to end a meal.Fortune cookies are a type of sweet and crispy baked or fried cookie that originated in the United States and are often associated with Chinese cuisine. They are typically made from a mixture of flour, sugar, vanilla, and egg whites. The cookie itself has a slightly sweet and neutral flavor, allowing the enclosed paper fortune to be the main focus. These cookies are usually thin and folded into a distinctive shape resembling a large shell or half-moon. They are commonly served as a dessert or after-meal treat in many Chinese restaurants and are popular in San Francisco and other parts of the United States.
- Shape: Distinctive shell or half-moon shape
- Texture: Crispy and slightly crunchy
- Flavor: Slightly sweet and neutral
- Ingredients: Flour, sugar, vanilla, and egg whites
- Origins: United States (likely invented in San Francisco)
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1010votesSan Francisco is home to many artisanal cheese makers who produce high-quality cheeses using local ingredients. Cheese lovers can visit the many cheese shops in the city to sample a variety of delicious cheeses.Artisanal cheese is a type of handcrafted cheese made by skilled cheesemakers in small batches using traditional methods. It is known for its exceptional quality, unique flavors, and attention to detail during the production process. The cheese is carefully aged to develop complex flavors and textures, resulting in a remarkable culinary experience.
- Milk Type: Primarily cow's milk, but can also include goat's and sheep's milk
- Cheese Type: A wide variety of artisanal cheeses including soft, semi-soft, firm, and blue-veined cheeses
- Ingredients: High-quality milk, cultures, rennet, and sometimes additional flavorings such as herbs or spices
- Production Method: Handcrafted using traditional techniques, often made in small batches
- Aging: Carefully aged for a specific period, which can range from a few days to several years
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Ranking factors for popular food
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Iconic and signature dishesConsider dishes that are unique to San Francisco or have a strong association with the city, such as sourdough bread, clam chowder in a bread bowl, or Mission-style burritos.
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Local ingredients and sustainabilitySan Francisco is known for its emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and sustainable practices. Look for popular dishes that incorporate these values, such as farm-to-table meals and seafood from local sources.
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Cultural diversitySan Francisco is a multicultural city, and its food scene reflects this diversity. Popular dishes from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, such as Chinese, Mexican, Italian, and Filipino cuisine, should be taken into account.
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TrendinessSan Francisco is a foodie city that stays up to date with the latest food trends. Consider dishes that have gained popularity in recent years, such as poke bowls, avocado toast, or artisanal coffee.
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Online ratings and reviewsOnline platforms like Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor can provide valuable information about the popularity of specific dishes or restaurants. Look for dishes that consistently receive high ratings and glowing reviews from both locals and tourists.
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Local recommendationsConsult with locals and food experts in San Francisco to get a sense of which dishes are truly beloved in the city.
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Media recognitionPopular food in San Francisco might have been featured in food blogs, magazines, or television shows. Media attention can be a good indicator of a dish's popularity and prominence in the city's food scene.
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Restaurant popularityIn some cases, the popularity of a specific restaurant can be a factor in determining the popularity of a food item. For example, a highly popular restaurant that is known for a signature dish would contribute to that dish's ranking in popularity.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular food in San Francisco. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or food is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1458 views
- 227 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each food once every 24 hours. The rank of each food is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular food in san francisco
San Francisco is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, making it a food lover's paradise. From iconic seafood dishes to fusion cuisine, there's something for everyone in the City by the Bay. With so many delicious options, it's no wonder that San Francisco is home to some of the most popular restaurants in the world. So, what is the most popular food in San Francisco? Let's take a closer look at the top picks and see what makes them so special.
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