Where Locals Eat in San Francisco: Old-School Places Off the Tourist Trail
Long-running San Francisco places that are mostly found by regulars, not tour groups. Each one has served the city for at least fifty years.
11 San Francisco institutions worth knowing
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Serving since 1849 177 years
Tadich Grill
Known for Seafood cioppino · Hangtown fry · Pan-fried sand dabs
Cioppino and charcoal-grilled fish at a restaurant that traces its start to an 1849 coffee stand, run by the Buich family for more than 90 years.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1867 159 years
Sam's Grill
Known for Sand dabs · Rex sole · Celery Victor
Sand dabs, rex sole and private booths at a Financial District seafood house that opened in 1867.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1886 140 years
Fior d'Italia
Known for Veal scaloppine · Linguine with clams · Osso buco
Veal scaloppine and linguine with clams at an Italian restaurant opened in 1886, now in the San Remo Hotel.
Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1893 133 years
Schroeder's
Known for Bratwurst
Bratwurst and boot-glass beers in a Bavarian-style beer hall that has served downtown San Francisco since 1893.
Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1908 118 years
John's Grill
Known for Sam Spade's Lamb Chops · Jack LaLanne Salad
Sam Spade's lamb chops at the Union Square grill that opened in 1908 and appears in Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1911 115 years
Liguria Bakery
Known for Focaccia (rosemary garlic · black olive · mushroom)
Focaccia baked in an antique brick oven by the Soracco family since 1911, sold until it runs out.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1937 89 years
Original Joe's North Beach
Known for Spicy rigatoni · Charbroiled hamburger on a baguette
Italian-American classics and counter seats carried over from the Tenderloin original, now facing Washington Square in North Beach.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1947 79 years
Tommy's Joynt
Known for Pastrami sandwich · Buffalo stew · Turkey dinner
Sliced-to-order pastrami, turkey and buffalo stew at a counter-service hofbrau on Geary since 1947.
Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1948 78 years
Vesuvio Cafe
Known for Bohemian Coffee
A two-floor North Beach bar across Jack Kerouac Alley from City Lights, a Beat Generation haunt since 1948.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1949 77 years
House of Prime Rib
Known for Prime rib carved tableside · Yorkshire pudding · Creamed spinach
Prime rib carved tableside from rolling carts, with Yorkshire pudding and creamed spinach, on Van Ness since 1949.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1956 70 years
Caffe Trieste North Beach
Known for Espresso
Espresso at the Vallejo Street café the Giotta family opened in 1956, a gathering place for Beat writers.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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