Lunch places near SF Civic Center?
For a conference next month, I'm making a list of places near Golden Gate and Hyde Streets where attendees can get lunch. Is the cafeteria in the Federal Building open to the public? Any suggestions for more interesting places?
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I work in the area and most of the times I just hop of MUNI and go to another neighborhood.. but when I don't have much time, the following are some of my fav regulars:
Saigon Sandwich is cheap and yummy.
Turtle Tower - #9 for Chicken Pho
Zuni Cafe is good too but a little pricey.
Suriya Thai Restaurant is good but a little further from Civic Center. They have an awesome roti dessert - sugar, wheat roti and condense milk!-----
Zuni Cafe
1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102Turtle Tower Restaurant
631 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109Turtle Tower Restaurant
5716 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121 -
mariacarmen
Aug 12, 2010 12:27 AM
Second on Burmese Kitchen. So, soo, soooooo good: And they ARE open at lunch. On Larkin between GG and Turk. My go-to lunch place for that area.
http://www.chow.com/restaurants/1112/... -
I used to work in the area. Morty's was by far my favorite, and le petit across the street has pretty good lunch deals on half-sandwiches. Castellito taqueria is ok. Gyro King is a good idea, as are Saigon Sandwich, and Turtle Tower. Burmese Kitchen is another good option if they're open at lunch. Cafe Asia can get expensive. Also, on Wednesdays, the Farmer's Market at Civic Center has ready-to-eat foods, including Roli Roti.
Not sure why you'd want to eat in the federal building. You have to show federal ID and go through airport-style security to get to the cafeteria, which yes, is open to the public. Still, when I worked there, the Judge would send me to the Turk and Larkin deli (recently featured on Check Please) to get her lunch - she preferred a mediterranean plate with hummus, tabbouleh, a cucumber salad, and falafel. The other salads are good too.
Please make it very clear to your visitors that they need to use their street smarts in the area. It's fine in the daytime, but you do need to pay attention. And walk up Larkin, never Hyde. And please to watch their step, literally. There's all sorts of ick on the sidewalks, especially on Golden Gate.
The closest Starbucks is on Market, and the closest Pete's is on Van Ness in Opera Plaza. I think Max's is overrated, though sometimes you really want an american-type soup like matzo ball (as opposed to turtle tower). The Japanese place in Opera Plaza has decent lunch specials. I don't like the Naan n Curry on Van Ness.
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Saigon Sandwich Shop
560 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102Gyro King
25 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94102Turtle Tower Restaurant
631 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109Roli Roti
, Hayward, CA -
Lers Ros Thai is excellent, though a bit of a walk and as a previous poster said, through a somewhat dicey neighborhood so (but not unsafe at all to walk during the day).
My husband also likes Turtle Tower for Pho.
Zuni Cafe is always good and a classic SF choice.
Delessio is more casual, but generally good food.
For very casual- pick up a sandwich and eat in the park/outside- Saigon Sandwich Shop or Morty's Deli.-----
Zuni Cafe
1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102Saigon Sandwich Shop
560 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102Delessio Market & Bakery
1695 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103Turtle Tower Restaurant
631 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109Morty's Delicatessen
280 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102Lers Ros Thai
730 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA -
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Windy
Aug 10, 2010 05:33 PM
There are lots of interesting places, but also a lot of interesting people selling their wares.
I'd be cautious about sending out of towners too far up Hyde or down 8th without warning. Perhaps a search on Orpheum would turn up more ideas, since that's a frequent request.
Personally I like Gyro King, right at Grove & Hyde & Market, by the library.
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Gyro King
25 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94102›2 Replies -
