Restaurant Guide

A lot of people I know have come into San Francisco and had fears of going out to restaurants that seem too adventurous for their tastes. And who could blame them? It's only natural to gravitate toward the burger joints and the steakhouses--the familiar restaurants. But in cities like San Francisco with such diverse (and delicious) options for food, people who are afraid of a little change in their diet can lose out on a great culinary experience. As a born-and-raised San Franciscan I've been to my fair share of restaurants around the city,and I've broken down some great spots in my three favorite districts if you are in for a culinary treat that won't usually show up as the number one restaurant in the tourist handbooks.

The Mission
Restaurants in the Mission have long been carving out names for themselves with unique themes, designs, and menus. Whether it's Foreign Cinema (2534 Mission St.) which sports classic foreign films playing on their walls or Levende Lounge (1710 Mission St.), tucked inconspicuously under a freeway underpass and shrouded in curtains, the eateries in this district are as diverse as the people who live in it.

SOMA
The area South of Market (SoMa) has been causing quite a buzz recently with an influx of new and unique restaurants. And when I say unique, I really mean unique: Try eating the delicious food at Asia SF (201 9th St.), which employs transvestite waiters to serve you, or Supper Club SF (657 Harrison St.), which is part-club, part-restaurant, and much of the floor space is taken up by huge beds.

Embarcadero
This district, beautifully located on and near the water of the San Francisco Bay, sports many a fine restaurant. I've always had great Thai food at Osha Thai (149 2nd St.), and it can't hurt that it's very cheap for San Francisco standards: around 12 bucks will fill you to the brim with great Thai cuisine. If it's a more upscale fare you crave, Slanted Door, located directly on the water near the Ferry Building, boasts incredible Vietnamese-infused food that will make you feel like a king in the city.

Like I said, there are some incredible places to dine in San Francisco, so don't let foreign cuisine scare you into checking a few of these places out. And if none of these whet your whistle, try checking out this Hip Guide to Restaurants, which I have found is a great guide for many other un-tourist restaurants.