San Francisco
San Francisco's Best Asian Restaurants
If you're looking for the best Asian food in SF, dive right in.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
San Francisco, with its rich cultural heritage, is a hub for some of the best Asian cuisine in the country. From the authentic Burmese dishes at Mandalay Restaurant to the creative Asian pastries at Breadbelly, and the modern omakase approach of Hina Yakitori, this guide is your ticket to the best Asian food in San Francisco. All picks are based on recommendations from chefs and food writers like Greg Kuzia-Carmel, Marcia Gagliardi and Virginia Miller. For both locals and visitors alike, our curated list is an invitation to discover the rich flavors and culinary creativity that make up San Francisco's best Asian restaurants.
Mandalay Restaurant
Mandalay Restaurant, the oldest Burmese restaurant in the U.S., has been serving authentic Burmese cuisine since 1984. With top recommendations for their mango salad with fried onions, garlic and cilantro, and their traditional coconut chicken noodle with yellow pea powder, it's clear they know how to delight their customers. Recognized by the Michelin Guide and hundreds of Yelp reviewers, Mandalay Restaurant is a testament to the thriving Burmese community and its culinary contributions.
Liholiho Yacht Club
Liholiho Yacht Club is a restaurant that offers a blend of Hawaiian heritage-inspired cuisine, with a menu that includes popular dishes like Beef Tongue buns, homemade Spam Fried Rice, Tuna Poké, and Baked Hawaiian dessert. With a great Bar and Wine program, they provide a variety of snacks and traditional fare, making it an excellent place to visit with friends to share the culinary experience. The restaurant also offers an 'Ohana Table' reservation option and a selection of gift cards for a meal or dinner gift, adding to the convenience for its patrons.
Breadbelly
Breadbelly is a compact bakery that specializes in innovative pastries inspired by Asian traditions, particularly from Korea and the Philippines. It is the brainchild of three Atelier Crenn alums who have put their gourmet spin on creative pastries, with their kaya toast on fluffy house milk bread being a standout. Their bakery and café offer a blend of Asian traditions with a contemporary Californian American twist, aiming to provide approachable yet refined café dining.
Burma Superstar
Burma Superstar is a renowned restaurant known for popularizing Burmese cuisine in the Bay Area. The menu showcases a range of flavors with dishes such as mohinga, a savory fish-based noodle soup, and oh no Khao soi, a creamy coconut chicken noodle soup, as well as the funky and fermented tea leaf salads. The original Burma Superstar on Clement St offers an excellent introduction to the complex and wonderful world of Burmese cuisine.
Lily
Lily is a restaurant in San Francisco that serves luxurious California-Vietnamese food, crafted by Chef Rob Lam. The menu features dishes inspired by his Vietnamese upbringing, enhanced by his French training, such as the popular Banh Mi with next-level pâté. The restaurant is open for weekend brunch and dinner, and offers dishes like the Bun Rieu, a crab and dry-farmed tomato dish, and the Cha Ca La Vong, a turmeric-fried catfish with noodles.
Hina Yakitori
Hina Yakitori is a contemporary yakitori restaurant with Tokyo roots, offering a modern omakase approach to grilling with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. The establishment is led by Chef Tommy Cleary, who brings his rich experience from Japan and Berkeley, serving high-quality poultry from Pennsylvania grilled over high-grade white oak binchotan from Japan. The restaurant offers a 2-hour service with 21 bites, complemented by a wonderful wine list.
Sasa Japanese Restaurant
Sasa Japanese Restaurant is a casual yet quality sushi spot tucked away upstairs in the charming Japantown mall. The restaurant offers a fine balance of exquisite fish sourced from Japan's legendary Toyosu Market, served in proper nigiri and maki rolls at a price point below many Michelin-starred sushi bars. A must-try dish includes the divine scallops from Hokkaido in a scallop roll with snow crab and cucumber, made creamy with Kyoto white miso aioli.
Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant
Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant is renowned for its fiery northern Chinese fare, with the La Si Ni dish being a notable favorite among patrons. The La Si Ni, a spicy blend of scrambled eggs, five different chilies, and chopped chicken, offers an intense flavor experience that keeps customers coming back for more. The restaurant also offers a variety of other northern Chinese dishes, including hot pot, braised sticky lamb ribs, and chive pancakes, ensuring an array of options for every palate.
Yank Sing (Stevenson St.)
Yank Sing on Stevenson Street, a family-owned establishment since 1958, is renowned for its fresh, high-standard dim sum, including favorites like Kurobuta pork xiao long bao and dan tat egg custard tart. This location offers both indoor and outdoor dining, allowing you to enjoy over 100 rotating dishes from traditional pushcarts in a comfortable setting. With a strong tea selection to complement your meal, it's an ideal destination for a lunchtime gathering where you can sample a variety of dishes.
Nisei
"Nisei" is a restaurant that offers a modern interpretation of Japanese cuisine under the guidance of Chef David Yoshimura. The menu is tasting-only, featuring unconventional flavors that embody both traditional Japanese ethos and Yoshimura's innovative culinary approach. Notable dishes include the Dorayaki, a playful and decadent twist on Japanese pancakes stuffed with banana and topped with caviar, paired perfectly with their extensive saké and wine offerings.
Looking for more restaurant recommendations to
San Francisco
? Download the World of Mouth app for free and discover expert recommendations to over 2,000 destinations, curated by top chefs, food writers and sommeliers. From street food to fine dining and well known institutions to hidden gems, World of Mouth is your ultimate insider's guide to the world's best restaurants.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
San Francisco, with its rich cultural heritage, is a hub for some of the best Asian cuisine in the country. From the authentic Burmese dishes at Mandalay Restaurant to the creative Asian pastries at Breadbelly, and the modern omakase approach of Hina Yakitori, this guide is your ticket to the best Asian food in San Francisco. All picks are based on recommendations from chefs and food writers like Greg Kuzia-Carmel, Marcia Gagliardi and Virginia Miller. For both locals and visitors alike, our curated list is an invitation to discover the rich flavors and culinary creativity that make up San Francisco's best Asian restaurants.
Mandalay Restaurant
Mandalay Restaurant, the oldest Burmese restaurant in the U.S., has been serving authentic Burmese cuisine since 1984. With top recommendations for their mango salad with fried onions, garlic and cilantro, and their traditional coconut chicken noodle with yellow pea powder, it's clear they know how to delight their customers. Recognized by the Michelin Guide and hundreds of Yelp reviewers, Mandalay Restaurant is a testament to the thriving Burmese community and its culinary contributions.
Liholiho Yacht Club
Liholiho Yacht Club is a restaurant that offers a blend of Hawaiian heritage-inspired cuisine, with a menu that includes popular dishes like Beef Tongue buns, homemade Spam Fried Rice, Tuna Poké, and Baked Hawaiian dessert. With a great Bar and Wine program, they provide a variety of snacks and traditional fare, making it an excellent place to visit with friends to share the culinary experience. The restaurant also offers an 'Ohana Table' reservation option and a selection of gift cards for a meal or dinner gift, adding to the convenience for its patrons.
Breadbelly
Breadbelly is a compact bakery that specializes in innovative pastries inspired by Asian traditions, particularly from Korea and the Philippines. It is the brainchild of three Atelier Crenn alums who have put their gourmet spin on creative pastries, with their kaya toast on fluffy house milk bread being a standout. Their bakery and café offer a blend of Asian traditions with a contemporary Californian American twist, aiming to provide approachable yet refined café dining.
Burma Superstar
Burma Superstar is a renowned restaurant known for popularizing Burmese cuisine in the Bay Area. The menu showcases a range of flavors with dishes such as mohinga, a savory fish-based noodle soup, and oh no Khao soi, a creamy coconut chicken noodle soup, as well as the funky and fermented tea leaf salads. The original Burma Superstar on Clement St offers an excellent introduction to the complex and wonderful world of Burmese cuisine.
Lily
Lily is a restaurant in San Francisco that serves luxurious California-Vietnamese food, crafted by Chef Rob Lam. The menu features dishes inspired by his Vietnamese upbringing, enhanced by his French training, such as the popular Banh Mi with next-level pâté. The restaurant is open for weekend brunch and dinner, and offers dishes like the Bun Rieu, a crab and dry-farmed tomato dish, and the Cha Ca La Vong, a turmeric-fried catfish with noodles.
Hina Yakitori
Hina Yakitori is a contemporary yakitori restaurant with Tokyo roots, offering a modern omakase approach to grilling with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. The establishment is led by Chef Tommy Cleary, who brings his rich experience from Japan and Berkeley, serving high-quality poultry from Pennsylvania grilled over high-grade white oak binchotan from Japan. The restaurant offers a 2-hour service with 21 bites, complemented by a wonderful wine list.
Sasa Japanese Restaurant
Sasa Japanese Restaurant is a casual yet quality sushi spot tucked away upstairs in the charming Japantown mall. The restaurant offers a fine balance of exquisite fish sourced from Japan's legendary Toyosu Market, served in proper nigiri and maki rolls at a price point below many Michelin-starred sushi bars. A must-try dish includes the divine scallops from Hokkaido in a scallop roll with snow crab and cucumber, made creamy with Kyoto white miso aioli.
Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant
Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant is renowned for its fiery northern Chinese fare, with the La Si Ni dish being a notable favorite among patrons. The La Si Ni, a spicy blend of scrambled eggs, five different chilies, and chopped chicken, offers an intense flavor experience that keeps customers coming back for more. The restaurant also offers a variety of other northern Chinese dishes, including hot pot, braised sticky lamb ribs, and chive pancakes, ensuring an array of options for every palate.
Yank Sing (Stevenson St.)
Yank Sing on Stevenson Street, a family-owned establishment since 1958, is renowned for its fresh, high-standard dim sum, including favorites like Kurobuta pork xiao long bao and dan tat egg custard tart. This location offers both indoor and outdoor dining, allowing you to enjoy over 100 rotating dishes from traditional pushcarts in a comfortable setting. With a strong tea selection to complement your meal, it's an ideal destination for a lunchtime gathering where you can sample a variety of dishes.
Nisei
"Nisei" is a restaurant that offers a modern interpretation of Japanese cuisine under the guidance of Chef David Yoshimura. The menu is tasting-only, featuring unconventional flavors that embody both traditional Japanese ethos and Yoshimura's innovative culinary approach. Notable dishes include the Dorayaki, a playful and decadent twist on Japanese pancakes stuffed with banana and topped with caviar, paired perfectly with their extensive saké and wine offerings.
Looking for more restaurant recommendations to
San Francisco
? Download the World of Mouth app for free and discover expert recommendations to over
2,200
destinations, curated by top chefs, food writers and sommeliers. From street food to fine dining and well known institutions to hidden gems, World of Mouth is your ultimate insider's guide to the world's best restaurants.
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