KidTripster Teen: From seafood to sourdough, top 10 picks to satisfy teenagers
San Francisco is a true melting pot, and nowhere is that more evident than in the food scene. From Chinatown to the food carts serving Mexican cuisine, it’s impossible to go hungry here. So embrace your inner foodie and go explore! And be sure to leave room for dessert!
1. Gott’s Roadside
1 Ferry Building, Financial District
Located on the far north side of the Ferry Building, Gott’s Roadside is a great burger spot for lunch, but it’s popular with downtown workers, so arrive early. The big burgers here are delicious, as are the sweet potato fries. Gott’s has a good amount of outdoor seating for sunny days. Inside the Ferry Building (behind the bigger storefront), there’s a place to grab soft-serve ice cream for dessert, if you have room!
2. DELICA
1 Ferry Building, Financial District
A unique spot also located in the Ferry Building, DELICA is a must-eat, if you’re up to trying new Asian cuisine. Combination choices on the menu allow you to taste a wide assortment of dishes. DELICA’s staple is beef sushi, which is even better than it sounds.
3. Boudin Bread
160 Jefferson St., Fisherman’s Wharf
When strolling Fisherman’s Wharf, stop at Boudin Bread. In my opinion, the bakery has the best sourdough on the planet! You can have lunch and even ship the tasty bread back to your home. I recommend the clam chowder in the sourdough bread bowl. If you miss this location, there’s plenty of others around town.
KidTripster Tip: Boudin bakes loaves of sourdough bread in the shape of animals, like turtles and crabs. Mail one home!
4. Brenda’s Meat & Three
919 Divisadero Street, Fillmore District
Brenda’s Meat & Three is a southern comfort food restaurant that offers tummy-filling portions; so much food, that you’ll likely be bringing home a box of leftovers! Chef Brenda Buenviajé grew up near New Orleans, trapping crawfish and gathering pecans as a girl. Her menu is very creative, and just like the name implies, you pick a meat and three sides. I recommend the fried chicken. And don’t forget the beignets for dessert!
KidTripster Tip: Prefer vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options? No worries, you’ll find plenty of choices here.
5. Uno Dos Tacos
595 Market St., Financial District
Uno Dos Tacos is a fun, Mexican restaurant that welcomes its customers with a big, sliding, wooden door with “UNO DOS” written boldly on it. You can’t go wrong with the burritos and tacos, plus the guacamole is really tasty. Parents may want to sample one of the 50 different tequilas or 30 mescals from the bar. You can sit outside on a nice day; feel free to use one of the blankets in case of a breeze.
KidTripster Tip: Get there early for lunch, because it fills up quickly with city employees.
6. Una Pizza Napoletana
210 11th St.
If you’re looking for good pizza, head to Una Pizza Napoletana. It’s the definition of authentic Italian pizza. The restaurant has a simple interior and a corresponding menu, offering just six pizzas- no substitutions or add-ons. The 12-inch pies are pricy at $25, but oh, so worth it. There are very few seats and no reservations, so get here early for dinner. In the middle of the restaurant, you’ll find a wood fire oven where you can watch pizza purist Chef Anthony Mangieri create each handmade pizza. The dough is perfectly chewy and toasty. It’s delizioso!
KidTripster Tip: Una Pizza Napoletana is only open Wednesday through Saturday, so plan accordingly. And closing time can vary. When Chef Mangieri runs out of dough, he closes for the night.
7. Señior Sisig
Señior Sisig is a food cart that’s fused the Filipino happy hour dish, sisig, with Mexican taqueria fare. It also offers a signature Cali burrito, stuffed with steak, guacamole, cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce, and FRENCH FRIES! This burrito is one of my favorite Californian treats. Don’t want the carbs? Señior Sisig satisfies with a plate of the burrito mix-ins smothered over fries. Señor Sisig has four locations, including one in front of City Hall and one in the Financial District.
8. Liguria Bakery
1700 Stockton Street, North Beach
Love focaccia bread? Or never tried it? Liguria Bakery is the place to go. It opens at 8 a.m. every day and remains open until the bread is gone, typically before 11 a.m. The fresh bread is made daily and comes in five different flavors. If you want to sample the most popular flavors, get there within an hour of opening. I recommend the rosemary variety.
9. Victoria Pastry Company
700 Fibert St. and 1362 Stockton St., North Beach
If you sleep in and can’t get to Liguria in time for focaccia bread, head down the block to a wonderful pastry bakery, Victoria Pastry Company. You can’t miss the Fibert location; there’s is a giant mural on the side of the building of a pug eating a cupcake! I recommend the cannoli or a slice of the St. Honorè cake.
10. Ghirardelli Chocolate
There’s multiple locations in San Francisco where you can indulge with Ghirardelli chocolate, including Fisherman’s Wharf and the San Francisco Airport. The cafes create behemoth sundaes that amazingly are calorie-free. At least that’s what I keep telling myself!
KidTripster Tip: If you pass through the Ghirardelli store at Fisherman’s Wharf, employees will hand you free chocolates.
Maggie Vanoni is a college sophomore from Portland, Oregon. She’s currently attending the University of Oregon, where she’s majoring in journalism with hopes of becoming a professional magazine writer. Maggie loves spending time with her family and exploring, especially along the Oregon Coast.
Pin to Pinterest & Read Later
