Your Perfect Foodie Day in San Francisco

When planning a perfect foodie day in San Francisco, you have to keep in mind the rich and delicious history of the city. During the Gold Rush, Irish immigrants made up the majority of the working class, according to FoundSF, and also Italian immigrants made their way. In the 1900s, Angel Island was called —“the Ellis Island of the West”– and was a gateway for more than 175,000 Chinese immigrants to enter the city. Lastly, San Francisco is also home to the second largest population of Filipinos after Los Angeles. Each of these cultures have influenced the food scene of the city in amazing and unique ways, so now that you know the backstory, it’s time to take a bite out of history.

*This article was created in collaboration with the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company.

Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at the oldest diner in San Francisco, Sir Francis Fountain, which opened its doors in 1918 for a classic sit-down of Pancakes and Eggs. If you’d like something lighter, go for a taste of affordable gourmand, with something from Breadbelly. Their bakers come from the kitchen of Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn, and they specialize in Asian pastries. The must-have dish here is the Malaysian Kaya Toast.

Lunch

Head to Yank Sing for some Dim Sum to go and some of the best Xiao Long Bao in the city. The dumplings will melt in your mouth with a burst of warm flavor in the middle. Since you got your dumplings to go, you can make a beeline for the breadline at Boudin Bakery. It’s located at Fisherman’s Wharf where they have been baking Sourdough since before the civil war. A great way to enjoy it is as a Bread bowl with Chowder or Chili inside.

While you’re at the Wharf, why not enjoy a cup of Irish Coffee at The Buena Vista. They’ve been serving it since 1952 and hold claim to the perfect recipe.

Dinner

Zuni Cafe is famous for its Roasted Chicken for Two, along with other European-Centric dishes crafted with fresh California produce. This will be a bit of a splurge at $79, but the crispiness of the chicken and the history of the restaurant as a pivotal player in the farm-to-table movement is reason enough to indulge.

For a taste of the bay, head to Sotto Mare in North Beach for their Crab Cioppino and freshly caught shellfish. You can also slurp some fresh oysters at Hog Island Oyster Company at Fisherman’s Wharf.

Dessert

Is there anything sweeter than a Hot Fudge Sundae? Well, maybe one that has been around since 1852. Ghirardelli Square was originally a chocolate factory established by Domenico “Domingo” Ghirardelli, in the early gold rush days. Now it’s a mixed-use complex that includes four ways to enjoy your chocolate, including at the newly renovated Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience Store in the Woolen Mill Building. When you open the doors, the smell of warm waffle cones and chocolate is so hypnotic that it’s almost impossible to leave empty-handed.  All over the store, you will see pieces of Ghirardelli’s history decorating the walls, from pictures of the facility to even Ghirardelli’s ads from the last hundred years. You can enjoy a view of the Chocolatiers making bars by hand at the Chocolatier station. Enjoy a World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae before ending your visit at the largest Pick & Mix area of any of their stores in the world. Here you can choose your own selection of Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares from the currently over twenty flavors of chocolates to enjoy at home. The one I won’t leave without is always Milk Chocolate Caramel.

To Go

The lines at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in Little Italy can be legendary, so why not take advantage of their delivery or to-go option and enjoy a slice in Washington Park across the street instead. Order the award-winning New Yorker with hand-crushed tomatoes and mozzarella and enjoy a savory ending to your perfect foodie day in San Francisco.