6 Routes to Explore the Bay Area’s Top Food Destinations – With Less Than a Tank of Gas

Over the past year, the Outer Sunset has become one of San Francisco’s most appealing dining destinations. One could easily spend a whole week there without getting tired, as its inhabitants already know. With old haunts still worthy and compelling newcomers, the Outer Sunset is an ideal neighborhood for a truly excellent food-fueled expedition. Let us guide you with the launch of this new food tour series, titled Best Day Ever.

Uptown has it all: historic music venues, contemporary art galleries, trendy boutiques and some of the most exciting bars and restaurants in the Bay Area. Lively newcomers like Viridian, the Asian American bar with fancy desserts and a neon-pink glow, and Sobre Mesa, the Afro-Latino lounge of recent “Top Chef” nominee Nelson German, are capturing national attention, while spots like natural wine except the Punchdown and the wood-fired Spanish stop Duende continue to be reliable destinations.

Driving through the East Bay, you could easily miss Albany. The small town of 20,000 is sandwiched between Berkeley, El Cerrito and Richmond. Yet new restaurants, bars and cafes frequently debut in the area, ensuring a fresh and trendy place to unwind. Browse bottles and houseplants at a new cider bar, or pop into a picnic-oriented shop for rotisserie meats with sauces from local makers.

Chinatown diners are spoiled for choice: Home to the oldest Chinese immigrant community in North America, the cuisines here cover all of China’s diversity, while newer establishments go beyond the borders to showcase foods from neighboring regions like Taiwan and Hong Kong. In recent months, Chinatown has seen the debut of swanky new dining destinations like Empress by Boon, the return of popular bakery pop-ups like Grand Opening, and the reimagining of historic establishments like the 80-year-old Cathay House. .

The Mission serves as a link for many intertwined communities in the city. The legendary Dyke March begins at Dolores Park; hipsters descend en masse on Valencia Street; and the influences of its hardy Latino population can be seen in the street vendors selling fresh fruit sprinkled with tajin, pupusas and quesabirria tacos, and the Thursday community market, where you can buy fresh tortillas made with ancient corn. Follow our guide for an incredible day, which starts with a great cup of coffee and ends with a dance at a beloved dive and a late-night burrito.

Alameda has gone through tremendous changes over the past 15 years. Once a sleepy town, it now boasts a bustling downtown area with a large concentration of restaurants along Park Street, bringing a diverse set of cuisines to the town while allowing it to retain its small-town charm. Along Webster Street that stretches to Crab Cove are the island’s breweries and distilleries, including Almanac Beer Co. and St. George Spirits. Most of the island’s restaurants are focused on the eastern half, with dining options that include a mix of newcomers like upscale casual eatery Alley & Vine and longtime regulars like neighborhood gem Sandwich Board .