the mission: part two
— east of van ness —
If you read part one of my Mission guide, you’ll be familiar with the history of this San Francisco district. Once home to vast expanses of agricultural land tended by Native American tribes, the Mission has become a place to encounter a rich history and historic landmarks, explore alleys adorned with colorful murals, enjoy an eclectic array of cuisines, and dive into the rhythms of her lively music venues and late-night haunts.
Still considered a part of the Mission, the northeastern side of this district has a different energy to it. It has been home to the dot-com and tech start up booms and almost endless warehouses for quite some time now. However, a lively restaurant scene began taking over this more quiet corner of San Francisco within the last few years. Trendy cocktail bars moved in, wine bars just keep coming, and this micro-neighborhood is expanding the already wide array of cuisines found in the Mission. On one stretch you can find a Korean Michelin star restaurant, a playful Spanish wine bar, delicious Italian food, my favorite patty melt, and arguably, the best hot dog in SF. Call your food friends and bring along my guide to the East side of the Mission!
Must Try Restaurants in the Mission’s East Side
Bar Gemini
Wine Bar | $$
I haven’t met a wine bar I didn’t love, but this one, this one was love at first sight. Take one step into this chic mid century modern dining room and you’ll understand. The aesthetic vibes are a perfect balance of chic and cozy but the wine and snack menus consistently steal the show. Their wine list features 12 rotating local natural wines and local beers on tap, and the food menu features tinned fish and charcuterie as well as dips and hors d'oeuvres from their neighbor restaurant Earnest. Come for the pet-nat, stay for the smoked salmon dip.
best for: spilling the tea over wine glasses, pre-dinner bites
Donaji
Oaxacan | $ | Michelin Guide
Tucked back from the main haunt, Donaji should be your new go-to spot for mouth-watering Mexican food in San Francisco. Think juicy pork tamales that practically sing with flavor, pozole verde I’ll crave endlessly, and enchiladas coated in a rich, velvety mole sauce. And let's not forget their margaritas – perfect for washing down those spicy bites. With its casual, laid-back vibe and delicious Oaxacan cuisine, Donaji is a perfect weeknight spot, especially when the Mexican food cravings kick in.
best for: weeknight bites, mole & tamales
El Chato
Spanish Wine Bar | $$
Step out of SF and right into Spain for the evening at El Chato. This low-key but good vibes wine bar features a long list of spanish wines, sherries, vermouths, and beers with a food menu that keeps up. Pintxos, tapas, tinned fish, and cheeses will keep your palette happy in between sips of wine. Come for the snacks, stay for the porrón pours and the playlists.
Best for: afternoon bites, post work sips
Flour + Water
Italian | $$-$$$ | Michelin Guide
If there was one brand that I would follow blindly to the ends of the earth, it’s Flour + Water. The team behind this charming Mission spot has been creating expertly made pastas that seamlessly blend Californian and Italian flavors. The menu changes daily but always delivers while featuring dishes like amerbjack crudo with blood orange, mint triangoli with preserved lemon, whey braised pork ragu and charred cabbage pappardelle, and squid ink bucatini. Splurge on their pasta tasting menu for a special occasion and pick up a box of their dried pasta to elevate your pasta nights at home.
best for: celebrating, carb craving, seasonal treats
Izakaya Rintaro
Japanese | $$$ | Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
Step into Rintaro and straight into Japan—this quiet, tucked away spot in the mission is a collision between Japan and Northern California. The space itself is worthy of a visit, the bar and booths were hand planed from redwood wine casks and the mud walls were made from the soil of the owners childhood home in Northern California. But with even more attention to detail than was put into the space, the food takes center stage here. The menu features sashimi I’ll dream of for years, juicy charcoal-grilled trumpet mushrooms, daikon in dashi broth, hand-rolled udon that is a must order, and you’d be a fool to skip the Yakitori Tsukune Chicken. Rintaro is something special that you simply have to experience for yourself.
best for: date nights & motivation to book your trip to Japan
Lost Resort
Bar | $$
This quirky nautical restaurant & bar invites you to tuck in, hide away and lean into the playful energy. The cocktail and food menus lean tropical with unexpected twists. Try their namesake cocktail, Lost Resort, a mix of gin, chartreuse and hibiscus or Last Goodbye, a mezcal and smoked pineapple concoction. Oysters, crab cakes and nori dusted Mochiko Chicken Nuggets are perfect for late night bar bites. Bring some friends, settle into the back patio and sample all the small bites this bar has to offer.
best for: playful cocktails, drinks & snacks
Mijote
French | $$$ | Michelin Guide
Mijoté features a frequently rotating 4-course fixed menu guided by the seasonal offerings, the weather and whatever their team is in the mood for that day and offers an organic, no intervention wine list sure to please natural wine fans. This petite French restaurant has a touch of vintage feminine energy that contrasts its sleek design. Vintage floral plates and antique flatware are served on sleek oak counters while modern and vintage chairs charmingly contrast each other. One of the cheaper pre-fixe spots in SF, Mijoté is a great spot for letting someone else decide your dining experience.
best for: romantic vibes, milestone celebrations
Osito
Californian | $$$+ | One Star Michelin
With a live-fire hearth at the center of the dining room and an aroma that smells like the perfect Aesop candle, Osito offers a fully live-fire dining experience that focuses on the Coastal California landscape and the Bay’s agricultural heritage. Their artful expression of agriculture and fire is available through a la carte offerings or 4-course and full tasting menus for a choose your own adventure kind of experience. For your next special night out, consider Osito, where every dish tells a story of the land and the flames that shape it.
best for: unique dining, wining & dining your partner
Penny Roma
Italian | $$
From the Flour + Water team, Penny Roma is an approachable but elegant restaurant featuring a rotating menu with modern spins on traditional Italian pastas, seasonal crudos, vegetable-driven antipasti, and my favorite cacio e pepe in the city. Come for dinner in their lush, plant filled dining room and splurge on the tasting menu for a real treat. Their adjacent pasta shop is open during lunch for salads, Italian sandwiches big enough for two and my favorite guilty pleasure lunch: caesar salad with fried chicken.
best for: romantic evenings, showing off SF to the out of towners
San Ho Wan
Korean | $$$$ | One Star Michelin
With a sleek interior and a menu that has a grip on the food industry right now, San Ho Wan is the hottest reservation to snag in SF. Their modern, elevated approach to Korean BBQ features double-cut galbi, Gwangyang style bulgogi and chunjang-glazed pork ribs grilled over lychee wood charcoal while the rest of their menu emphasizes local ingredients rooted in traditional flavors and home cooking. Whether you're a seasoned BBQ enthusiast or a newcomer to Korean cuisine, San Ho Wan offers an experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
best for: impressing chef friends, company cards
Stable Cafe
Cafe | $
Perfect for a quiet escape from the hustle of the city, Stable Cafe is a petite, plant-filled cafe that spills out onto a large, equally lush patio. Their menu is packed with high quality ingredients sourced from local organic farmers. Light bites like toast with jam, smoked salmon tartine or avocado toast are perfect for a quick breakfast and the breakfast burrito is clutch on an extra hungry morning. Come ready for a line but it’s worth the wait to tuck into a little garden with a delicious bite.
best for: slow breakfast, coffee with friends
Tartine Manufactory
Bakery & Cafe | $
Located just a few blocks away from the original bakery, Tartine Manufactory still offers quick bites to go but ramps up the menu a bit to cater more toward the dine-in crowd. The warehouse has been converted into a light-filled dining room perfect for a quick lunch with a friend or to enjoy their new dinner menu packed with sourdough crust pizzas. Each creation at Tartine is a testament to quality and craftsmanship, using locally sourced, organic ingredients to create baked goods that are as beautiful as they are delicious.
best for: casual lunch, dine-in pizza dates
The Morris
New American | $$$ | Michelin Guide
If elevated but unstuffy bistro vibes are your cup of tea, you simply must run to The Morris for your next dinner. This unpretentious, chic spot is tucked back in Potrero Flats and features a truly craveable and sophisticated American dinner menu with an extensive world-class beverage program that recently earned them a James Beard award nomination. Promise to start your meal with their signature chartreuse slushy and Pâté de campagne then splurge on the two day brined smoked duck show stopper with a glass of wine.
best for: impressing your booze and meat loving friends
Trick Dog
Cocktail Bar | $$
Expect to be impressed when you walk into this industrial, split level bar tucked onto one of the most creative culinary blocks in the Mission. Trick Dog keeps us coming back for more with their bi-annual rotating, themed cocktail menu. The cocktails, creatively categorized and named after various themes, showcase a perfect balance of flavors and craftsmanship, catering to both adventurous and classic palates. The food menu elevates bar food to new levels with burgers, hot dogs, buttermilk-brined crispy nuggets, and a kale salad piled a foot high. Whether you're just popping in for one of their expertly crafted drinks or joining for dinner, Trick Dog promises a tasty experience.
best for: third dates, unwinding after work
True Laurel
Cocktail Bar | $$
From the team that gave us Lazy Bear, True Laurel is where sophistication meets relaxed gastropub vibes. Each cocktail is crafted with precision and every dish is a celebration of flavors. The Crispy Hen of the Woods Mushrooms are salted and crisped to perfection and paired with a creamy allium dip and their Patty Melt is the best in SF. Pair these salty bites with their slow sipper cocktails like In The Pines, Under The Palms or Grandma’s to Blame cocktail. With its cozy ambiance and top-notch libations, True Laurel invites you to unwind and savor the finer things in life, one delicious sip and bite at a time.
best for: slow dates, post dinner cocktails
