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Quick StatsBest Breakfast
- Mel's Drive-In
- The Pork Store,
Best Place to Take Your ParentsCollege Prowler Take
San Francisco is one of the greatest cities for dining out, and you can find any kind of restaurant to fit every kind of budget—you just have to have an open mind and an empty stomach! Many districts in the city specialize in certain types of food: North Beach has exceptional Italian, Chinatown is great for Chinese, the Mission has the greatest Mexican food, and the Wharf specializes in outstanding seafood. On one street alone, you can find Thai restaurants next to Chinese noodle houses across from Russian bakeries next to Korean BBQ houses above Mexican cantinas behind Moroccan restaurants and hookah lounges (case in point: Geary Boulevard). All of the choices San Francisco has to offer make it really hard to choose favorites. The best advice for finding great places is to ask five people for their favorite restaurants, meaning you’ll probably get five different answers, all of which are worth a visit. Eating off campus is very popular at USF, not only because the campus dining is expensive and mediocre, but because taking advantage of what the city has to offer is a favorite pastime of most students. Around campus, there are many areas dense with options, like Haight Street and Geary Boulevard. The only downside is that eating out can become costly, but for the motivated and budgeted, anything is possible. Students Speak Out
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Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
San Francisco has almost every...
San Francisco has almost every kind of restaurant. I like Best of Thai on Haight Street because it’s fast, tasty, cheap, and big enough for two people. |
Anonymous says: |
San Francisco has a reputation for...
San Francisco has a reputation for some of the best food in the world, so off-campus restaurants are excellent. From Russian to Thai and even Spanish cuisine, the city has it all! A variety of local haunts are available to settle your exotic craving for papusas, pelmeni, and paella. Near-campus dining includes Taqueria Balazo (Mexican food on Haight Street for spicy south-of-the-border delights), Mel’s Drive-In (traditional 1950s American fare—an experience you’ll never forget), Arguello Market (fresh salads and hand-carved sandwiches), and Cinderella’s Bakery (Russian dinners and pastries that keep the local ‘comrades’ coming back for more). Restaurants in the Richmond District offer more options. Pacific Café is a ‘city secret’ that serves up the freshest, most delicious seafood the bay has to offer. Golden Gate Park’s famous Beach Chalet dishes up California cuisine and microbrews with great views of Ocean Beach and the roaring Pacific. Clement Street, the city’s unofficial ‘second Chinatown,’ is lined with Asian, French, and Russian selections all within walking distance to USF. |
Anonymous says: |
The off-campus area is all about...
The off-campus area is all about restaurants–cafés, luncheons, bistros, diners—it’s all pretty good. So much food, so little time. Good spots? It’s difficult to say . . . maybe Tommy’s, Cheesecake Factory, Melissa’s Taqueria, Asqew Grill, Hukilau, Sushi Boom, Shanghai 1930, Calzones, the Stinking Rose, Fruitful Grounds, and Nizario’s. |
Anonymous says: |
There are a lot of restaurants...
There are a lot of restaurants kind of by school, on Geary. Hukilau (Hawaiian food) is pretty good. |
Anonymous says: |
Restaurants off campus are...
Restaurants off campus are fabulous. There is a huge variety of food within 10 minutes walking distance of campus—great sushi, great pizza, great Chinese, great Thai, great Middle Eastern, you name it. Check out Sushi Boom, Fat Slice, and Best of Thai. |
FactsStudent Favorites
- Best of Thai
- Blue Front Café
- Frjtz
- Mel's
- Pancho's
- The Pork Store
Other Places to Check Out
- Arguello Market
- Asqew Grill
- Bamboo Village
- Café Tiramisu
- Calzones
- India Clay Oven
- Melissa's Taqueria
- Nani's Coffee
- Pacific Café
- Pizza Orgasmica
- Shanghai 1930
- Taqueria Balazo
- Zona Rosa
24-Hour Dining
- Denny's
- Lucky Penny
- Mr. Pizza Man
- Video Café 24 Hours
Grocery Stores
Albertson's
1750 Fulton St. at Masonic
(415) 923-6411
Cala Foods
4041 Geary Blvd. at Fifth Avenue
(415) 221-9191
Safeway
735 Seventh Ave. at Fulton
(415) 752-4073
Restaurant Listing
A Taste of Thai
Thai
1560 Fillmore St.
(415) 775-2929
Price: $5-$10
Located directly across the street from the Fillmore and known for its quick service (it's a good place to grab a quick meal before heading to a concert).
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Beach Chalet
American, traditional
1000 Great Highway, Ocean Beach
(415) 386-8439
Price: $15-$25
Microbrewery on location, view of the Pacific Ocean, live music, and downstairs is the Golden Gate Park Visitor's Center, with murals, mosaics, and wood carvings done in 1936; this restaurant is one of the few places in the city with a parking lot.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 9 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday 9 a.m.–12 a.m.
Best of Thai
Thai
1418 Haight St.
(415) 552-3534
Price: $5-$10
Hours: Daily 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Blue Front Café
Deli, Mediterranean
1430 Haight St.
(415) 252-5917
Price: $5-$10
Hours: Sundays–Thursdays 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 7:30 a.m.–11 p.m.
Cinderella's Bakery, Delicatessen, and Restaurant
Russian
436 Balboa St., Richmond
(415) 751-9690
Price: $8-$15
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Denny's
American, breakfast
5530 Geary Blvd.
(415) 386-3288
www.dennys.com
Price: $5-$10
Breakfast Slam for $4.99
Hours: Daily 24 hours
Equinox
American
5 Embarcadero Center, Downtown
(415) 788-1234
Price: $20-$30
Northern California's only revolving rooftop restaurant and cocktail lounge makes a complete 360-degree revolution every 45 minutes; offers spectacular views of the San Francisco bay.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 5 p.m.–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday 5 p.m.–1 a.m.
Fat Slice Pizza
Pizza
1535 Haight St.
(415) 552-4200
www.fatslicepizza.com
Price: $4-$8
Web site has a new coupon available daily for loyal customers.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Friday–Saturday 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Foreign Cinema
Mediterranean, French, Californian
2534 Mission St.
(415) 648-7600
www.foreigncinema.com
Price: $15-$30
Fireplace, outdoor dining, and foreign films shown on a large concrete wall during dining hours (check Web site for listings).
Hours: Monday–Thursday 5:30 p.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 5:30 p.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Frjtz
Belgian
579 Hayes St.
(415) 864-7654
Price: $8-$15
Serves crepes and Belgian fries with 15 types of dipping sauces, such as balsamic mayo and curry ketchup; also a self-proclaimed “DJ art teahouse.”
Hours: Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 9 a.m.–12 a.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Fruitful Grounds
Sandwiches, salads, Mediterranean
1813 Fulton St., USF area
(415) 221-1876
Price: $5-$10
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday–Sunday 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
Hukilau
Hawaiian
5 Masonic Ave.
(415) 921-6242
www.dahukilau.com
Price: $8-$15
Hawaiian décor, Aloha Spirits menu, and live Hawaiian bands.
Hours: Monday 10 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Wednesday–Thursday 10 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Lucky Penny
American, breakfast
2670 Geary Blvd.
(415) 921-0836
Price: $5-$10
Serves breakfast 24 hours a day.
Hours: Daily 24 hours
Mel's Drive-In Restaurant
American
3355 Geary Blvd.
(415) 387-2244
www.melsdrive-in.com
Price: $5-$10
Vintage 1950's coffeeshop open late and modeled after the original Mel's featured in American Graffiti.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 6 a.m.–1 a.m., Friday–Saturday 6 a.m.–3 a.m.
Mr. Pizza Man
Pizza
3146 24th St.
(415) 641-0233
www.mrpizzaman.com
Price: $5-$10
Free delivery until 4 a.m.
Hours: Daily 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Naan ‘n Curry
Indian, Pakistani
642 Irving St., Inner Sunset
(415) 664-7225
Price: $8-$15
Hours: Daily 11:30 a.m.–12 a.m.
Nizario's Pizza
Pizza
3840 Geary Blvd.
(415) 752-7777
Price: $5-$10
Hours: Saturday–Thursday 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Pancho's Salsa Bar and Grill
Mexican
1639 Polk St.
(415) 474-2280
Price: $5-$10
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
Ploy II Thai Cuisine
Thai
1770 Haight St.
(415) 387-9224
Price: $5-$10
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 12 p.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 12 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
Pluto's
American
627 Irving St., Inner Sunset
(415) 753-8867
Price: $5-$10
Fresh, made-to-order food as well as roasted turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce . . . like Thanksgiving all year long!
Hours: Daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Q
Traditional American, Californian
225 Clement, Richmond
(415) 752-2298
Price: $8-$15
Childhood favorites (like macaroni and cheese with tater tots) with a stylish flare.
Hours: Daily 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–11 p.m.
Straits Café
Singaporean, Pan-Asian
3300 Geary Blvd.
(415) 668-1783
Price: $10-$25
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.–10 p.m.
Sushi Boom
Japanese, sushi
3420 Geary Blvd.
(415) 876-2666
Price: $10-$20
Hours: Monday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5 p.m.–10:30 p.m., Sunday 5 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
The Cheesecake Factory
American, desserts
170 O'Farrel St.
(415) 391-4444
www.thecheesecakefactory.com
Price: $10-$20
There are over 20 different types of cheesecake to choose from.
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–11 p.m.
The Grove
American, Californian, coffeehouse
2016 Fillmore St.
(415) 474-1419
Price: $8-$15
Hours: Daily 7 a.m.–11:30 p.m.
The Pork Store
American, breakfast
1451 Haight St.
(415) 864-6981
Price: $5-$10
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
The Stinking Rose
Italian
325 Columbus Ave., North Beach
(415) 781-7673
www.thestinkingrose.com
Price: $10-$25
Wildly colored and eclectic garlic-themed decor.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–12 a.m.
Tommy's Authentic Mexican Restaurant
Mexican
5929 Geary Blvd.
(415) 387-4747
Price: $8-$15
Hours: Wednesday–Monday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
Tony's Cable Car Restaurant
Diner, burgers
2500 Geary Blvd.
(415) 931-2416
www.tonyscablecar.com
Price: $2-$8
Hours: Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–9:45 p.m., Sunday 9:30 a.m.–8:45 p.m.
Twilight Café
Middle Eastern
2600 McAllister St.
(415) 386-6115
Price: $5-$10
Middle Eastern music and a mural wall
Hours: Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Video Café
Diner
5700 Geary Blvd.
(415) 387-3999
Price: $5-$10
Serves breakfast 24 hours, and shows films on TVs throughout the restaurant after 10 p.m.
Hours: Daily 24 hours
Did You Know?San Francisco is famous for Rice-a-Roni, fresh seafood, Ghiradelli chocolate, and sourdough bread. Like clam chowder? San Francisco has the best chowder on the Pacific coast. Try it in a sourdough bread bowl! Food is a celebration in San Francisco, with festivals year-round honoring everything from beer to chocolate to crab. San Francisco is one of the best places in the States for authentic Asian food. Head to Chinatown or Japantown to get something new, fresh, and funky.
Most Recent Contributing Author
Name: Ishtar Schneider
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Major: Communication Studies/Public Relations minor Ishtar has three loves in life: dancing, figure skating, and shopping. She is also half Chinese, but you would never know it! Contributing Author Internship  College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating
the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally
recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is
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