Best places for locals to eat

[lamejun]

I'm visiting San Francisco for 4 days in April and would love to know the best casual places the locals like to eat at. I'm also looking for recommendations for must eats in the city. I won't have a car, so will be limited to public transportation.

Thanks.

[Robert Lauriston]

Here's the list I keep on my phone for when I can't think of where to go.

Angkor Borei (lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner only Sun.)
Bodega Bistro (lunch and dinner, 7 days)
Burmese Kitchen aka Larkin Express (lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner till 8:30 Tues.-Sat.)
Jai Yun (dinner by reservation only)
Helmand Palace (dinner only, 7 days)
Incanto (dinner only, Wed.-Mon.)
La Ciccia (dinnner only, Tues.-Sun.)
Lers Ros (lunch through dinner, 7 days)
Maykadeh (lunch through dinner, 7 days)
Memphis Minnie's (lunch through dinner, Tues.-Sun.)
Mochica (lunch and dinner, Wed.-Mon.)
Nopalito (lunch through dinner, 7 days)
Poc-Chuc (lunch through dinner Mon.-Tues. and Thurs.-Sat., lunch only Sun.)
Sebo (Tues.-Sat. dinner only; izakaya menu Sunday?)
Thai House Express Larkin St. (lunch through dinner, seven days)
Zuni Cafe (lunch through dinner, Tues.-Sun.)

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Zuni Cafe
1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

La Ciccia
291 30th Street, San Francisco, CA 94131

Angkor-Borei Restaurant
3471 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Jai Yun
680 Clay St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen
452 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Bodega Bistro
607 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Maykadeh Persian Cuisine
470 Green St, San Francisco, CA 94133

Thai House Express
901 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Memphis Minnie's BBQ
576 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Mochica
937 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107

Helmand Palace
2424 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109

Lers Ros Thai
730 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA

[Thomas Nash]

Can't resist replying to this with a list of 10 (actually 11) casual restaurants on our rotation which we regularly go to and which never disappoint (us) and often impress. Generally they are near public transportation, particularly if you are willing to walk for a bit..

Pizzeria Delfina (18th St)
Beijing Restaurant (Ocean and Alemany -- public transportation??)
Spices II
Nopalito
Chow's (Church St.)
Memphis Minnie
Esperpento
Pauline's
Little Star (Valencia)
Good Frikin Chicken
Rosamunde sausages you bring to Toronado next door on Haight St, a bar with a huge variety of beer.

For one don't miss somewhat upscale (still quite casual) dinner, consider advance reservations at Delfina Restaurant, Canteen, or Zuni.

If you go to a selection of these in your 4 days, you will get a real sense of how wonderful the casual, non-touristy, SF food scene is like.

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Zuni Cafe
1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Spices II
291 6th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94118

Canteen
817 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Delfina Restaurant
3621 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Memphis Minnie's BBQ
576 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Pauline's Pizza
260 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Little Star Pizza Valencia
400 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Chow
215 Church St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Pizzeria Delfina
3611 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Toronado Pub
547 Haight St, San Francisco, CA

Rosamunde Sausage Grill
545 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Beijing Restaurant
1801 Alemany Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94112

Nopalito
306 Broderick St, San Francisco, CA

Pizzeria Delfina
2406 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Esperpento Restaurant
3295 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Good Frikin Chicken (Goood Frikin’ Chicken)
10 29th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Commonwealth
2224 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[Robert Lauriston]

Beijing is 2-3 blocks from a J Church stop and 5-6 blocks from Balboa Park BART.

I'd go to Old Jerusalem over Goood Frikin' Chicken. Or Truly Mediterranean, though that's a hole in the wall with very limited seating.

[SteveG]

Edit to remove post. All these years I've conflated La Mediterranee with Truly Mediterranean. Whoops. La Mediterranee: not great. I end up there too often when a friend wants to go there for brunch.

[Civil Bear]

Thomas, I you haven't already, hit up Inkas across the street the next time you have a hankering for GFF. You wont be disappointed!

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Inkas Restaurant
3299 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[whiner]

My casual favorites are L'Osteria del Forno, Troya (though that might be difficult to get to) and Helmand Palace. I would say Ame is the must-eat these days.

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L'Osteria del Forno
519 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

Helmand Palace
2424 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109

Troya
349 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

[dontcallitfrisco]

I like the hand-pulled noodles at San Dong House http://www.examiner.com/wine-in-san-francisco/oodles-of-noodles-at-sang-dong-house-review and Cafe Zitouna serves some great Moroccan and Tunisian food http://www.examiner.com/wine-in-san-f.... Both are pretty cheap.

[wolfe]

Here's a start.
http://www.chow.com/lists/1591