eat like Bourdain
🇺🇸 Where Bourdain Ate in San Francisco
15 places across Parts Unknown & No Reservations
“San Francisco is a city that actually cares about food in a way few American cities do.”
Bourdain respected San Francisco's food culture — its proximity to incredible ingredients, its immigrant food traditions, and its genuine passion for good eating. He explored both the high-end and the dive bars with equal enthusiasm.
What Bourdain Loved About San Francisco
The produce — the access to Northern California's farms and fisheries
Chinatown — one of the oldest and best Chinese food scenes in America
Mission District taquerias — some of the best Mexican food in the US
The dive bar culture — real bars with real people and zero pretense
Dungeness crab season — a ritual he respected
Episodes Featuring San Francisco
Parts Unknown — S6 E1: Bay Area
Explores the Bay Area's food culture and tech tension
No Reservations — S5 E1: San Francisco
A tour through the city's food obsessions
Travel Tips for Eating in San Francisco
Tony's Advice
Go to the Mission. Get a burrito. Walk to Dolores Park. You've just had the perfect San Francisco afternoon.
Find a place to stay in San Francisco →What to Skip
- ✕Restaurants that describe themselves as 'disrupting' food
- ✕Overpriced tourist fish at Fisherman's Wharf
- ✕Anywhere that charges $20 for toast
Every Place Bourdain Visited in San Francisco
15 placesSinbad’s Pier 2 Restaurant (Closed)
The Embarcadero
Now closed, Tony had a meal here with John Birdsall, a food writer.
Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu
Howard St
Tony trained here every morning while he was filming this episode. He trains at the sister school in NYC, and planned this entire episode just so he could train here.
Swan Oyster Depot
Polk Street
This was one of Tony's regular stops when he visited San Francisco. He had crab and oysters.
4505 Burgers & BBQ
Divisadero Street
Tony had a meal with Richie Nakano, a chef. They ordered the Presidential Platter, which is a sampler platter of brisket, hog, jalapeño and cheddar sausage, frankaroni (macaroni around a hot dog), ribs, chicken, beans, potato salad, coleslaw, bread, fries.
COI
Broadway
A two-Michelin starred restaurant. They had veggie burger, beet rose with yogurt and rose petal ice (signature dish), California sturgeon caviar, egg yolk poached in smoked oil, wild king salmon wrapped in yuba with charred cabbage in wild ginger sauce, beef tenderloin, black sesame mocha bun with strawberry kumquat.
Eating your way through San Francisco? Stay within walking distance of these spots.
Pirate Cat Cafe (Closed)
21st Street
Maple bacon latte. Also a radio station where Tony did an interview. Closed down now.
Tadich Grill
California St
Martinis and cioppino. Also hangtown fry: oyster, eggs and bacon.
Zam Zam
Haight Street
Martinis
House of Prime Rib
Van Ness Ave
Steakhouse heaven. And more martinis.
Sushi Sebo (Closed)
Hayes St
Former site of Sushi Sebo, a sushi restaurant that shipped a majority of its fish from Japan, closed now
That's It
Mission St
A liquor store you can eat at. They have tortas! Tony had the Cubano which is huge and filled with chorizo, hot dog, ham, egg, cheese, mayo, jalapeno, and avocado.
R & G Lounge
Kearny Street
Salt & pepper crab
Incanto (Closed)
Duncan Street
Former site of Incanto, Chris Cosentino's restaurant
Red's Java House
Bryant Street
Double cheeseburger, chili cheese fries, and a beer
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Ferry Building
Fresh produce and food stands. Tony had a pork tamale with red chile.
Where to stay in San Francisco
All hotels →Hotels and rentals around the places he ate — his spots are pinned on the map.
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More atlases
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