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Everything ranked.
67 rankings across San Francisco, built from 656 scored dishes. Every ranking compares one dish and nothing else — start with the thing you actually want.
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BBQ
- Best Pork Ribs 16 dishes ranked · A rack of smoked or grilled pork ribs - baby back, spare or St. Louis cut, dry-rubbed or sauced - served as the house rib plate.
- Best Briskets 7 dishes ranked · Slow-smoked beef brisket, sliced or chopped, served as a plated entrée or on a BBQ plate with sides.
- Best Pulled Pork 7 dishes ranked · Pork shoulder smoked or slow-roasted for hours until it shreds, piled on a bun or served as a plate with sides. Sauced Carolina-vinegar, Texas-sweet or house style, or left dry for the bark. Distinct from carnitas and from Hawaiian kalua pork.
- Best Tri-Tips 7 dishes ranked · Santa Maria-style bottom sirloin roast, grilled over red oak or smoked, sliced across the grain and served as a plate with sides or piled on a French roll. Beef, distinct from brisket and from steakhouse ribeye.
Burgers
- Best Smashburgers 9 dishes ranked · Thin beef patty smashed on a hot flat-top to maximize the Maillard crust, typically with American cheese and onions on a soft bun.
- Best Bacon Burgers 8 dishes ranked · A burger built around bacon: bacon cheeseburgers, smokehouse and BBQ-bacon burgers, and any patty where bacon is the lead topping rather than an add-on.
- Best Cheeseburgers 7 dishes ranked · Classic cheese + beef burger at a specific restaurant. Prefer named menu items (e.g. Double Smash Wagyu Cheeseburger, Big Kirk, Famous Hamburger). Smash with American counts when locals crown that named burger.
Burritos
- Best Breakfast Burritos 6 dishes ranked · Egg-and-tortilla breakfast burrito, typically with potato or hash brown, cheese, and a meat (bacon, sausage, chorizo, ham, steak/asada) or veggie fillings. Distinct from dinner carne asada / Mission burritos.
- Best California Burritos 6 dishes ranked · San Diego-style carne asada burrito with crispy french fries inside, typically finished with cheese, pico de gallo, and often guacamole and sour cream.
- Best Carne Asada Burritos 6 dishes ranked · Mission or Tijuana/SD-style steak burrito: grilled or plancha carne asada with beans, usually rice, and often guac, crema, and salsa. California burrito with fries is a different dish.
- Best Carnitas Burritos 6 dishes ranked · Slow-braised pork carnitas (pork shoulder/butt cooked until tender, often crisped on the plancha) wrapped in a flour tortilla with rice, beans, salsa, and optionally cheese/sour cream/guac. A taqueria staple distinct from carne asada (grilled steak) and al pastor (adobo-marinated pork).
- Best Al Pastor Burritos 4 dishes ranked · Spit-roasted achiote-marinated pork (trompo / taco al pastor) wrapped in a flour tortilla, usually with rice, beans, salsa, and optional cheese/avocado. Lead protein is pork al pastor, distinct from carne asada or California burritos.
Chicken
- Best Korean Fried Chicken 28 dishes ranked · Double-fried Korean chicken - thin, shatter-crisp crust, glazed to order in soy-garlic, sweet-and-spicy yangnyeom, or served half-and-half. Bone-in pieces, wings or boneless, distinct from American fried chicken and from naked buffalo wings.
- Best Kung Pao Chicken 27 dishes ranked · Diced chicken stir-fried with dried red chilies, peanuts or cashews and Sichuan peppercorn in a savoury-sweet-spicy glaze. Ranked across both builds - the sweeter American-Chinese takeout plate and the numbing Sichuan gong bao ji ding.
- Best Orange Chicken 25 dishes ranked · American-Chinese orange chicken: battered, deep-fried boneless chicken tossed in a sweet-tangy orange sauce, served as a named entree or over rice. Rank the named plate at a specific restaurant, not the restaurant overall. General Tso's and sesame chicken are different builds; Hunan-style orange peel chicken counts only when the menu shows the same battered-and-sauced dish.
- Best Chicken Wings 9 dishes ranked · A plate of cooked chicken wings — buffalo, dry-rub, or Vietnamese fish-sauce styles — as a named menu item at a specific restaurant.
- Best General Tso's Chicken 9 dishes ranked · Battered, deep-fried boneless chicken tossed in a sweet-spicy dark sauce, usually with dried chiles. The American-Chinese takeout benchmark.
- Best Chicken Over Rice 5 dishes ranked · New York street cart and halal truck plate of chopped or grilled chicken over yellow rice, served with salad and white and hot sauce.
Curries
- Best Chicken Tikka Masalas 33 dishes ranked · Boneless tandoori-grilled chicken tikka simmered in a spiced tomato-cream masala gravy, usually served with basmati rice or naan.
- Best Butter Chicken 10 dishes ranked · Murgh makhani: boneless chicken, usually roasted in the tandoor first, then simmered in a mild, silky gravy of tomato, butter and cream. Gentler and richer than tikka masala, and made for scooping up with naan.
Desserts
- Best Ice Cream 9 dishes ranked · Scoop-shop dairy ice cream — named flavor or the shop’s standout scoop at a South Bay parlor.
- Best Tiramisus 8 dishes ranked · Espresso-soaked ladyfingers layered with whipped mascarpone and dusted with cocoa, served as a plate, a slice or a cup. In the South Bay it is the default last course at an Italian restaurant, and the house specialty at a small group of dessert bars that build a whole menu around it.
- Best Cheesecakes 7 dishes ranked · Classic New York-style cheesecake: a dense or airy baked cream-cheese filling (often with sour cream) on a graham-cracker or sponge-cake base, or crustless, sold by the slice, as an individual tart, or whole. Ranked at a specific bakery, deli or restaurant. Italian ricotta, Basque burnt and Japanese cheesecakes are different styles.
Dumplings
- Best Xiao Long Baos 12 dishes ranked · Shanghainese steamed soup dumplings: a pleated, thin-skinned wrapper holding a pork meatball and hot broth, steamed in a small bamboo basket and eaten with black vinegar and ginger.
- Best Potstickers 5 dishes ranked · Pan-fried pork dumplings — guo tie. A folded wheat wrapper is seared flat-side down until the bottom is lacquered brown and crisp, then steamed in the same pan so the top stays soft and the pork filling turns juicy. Eaten with black vinegar, soy and chili oil.
Enchiladas
Noodle Soups
- Best Bún bò Huế 10 dishes ranked · Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup from the city of Huế, with rice noodles, thinly sliced beef, beef shank, Vietnamese ham, and a lemongrass-chili broth.
- Best French Onion Soups 9 dishes ranked · Caramelized-onion beef broth crowned with toasted bread and melted Gruyère or Swiss, ranked by the named bowl at a restaurant — not onion dip, not onion rings, not French onion anything that is not soup.
- Best Pho 6 dishes ranked · Vietnamese beef noodle soup, ranked by the named bowl at a restaurant: the combination / đặc biệt bowl (rare steak, brisket, flank, tendon, tripe, meatball) or a house special such as oxtail or short-rib pho. Rank the bowl, not the shop. Chicken pho is a different dish.
Noodles
- Best Pad Thai 35 dishes ranked · Stir-fried rice noodles tossed with tamarind, fish sauce and palm sugar, with egg, bean sprouts, garlic chives and crushed peanuts — ordered with chicken, shrimp or tofu. Ranked as one dish across every protein.
- Best Garlic Noodles 5 dishes ranked · Butter- and garlic-tossed wheat noodles in the San Francisco Vietnamese-fusion style — springy strands coated in a savory garlic-butter sauce (often with oyster sauce, soy, and Parmesan). Ranked as the named garlic-noodle bowl at a restaurant, not the restaurant overall.
Pastas
- Best Lasagnas 20 dishes ranked · Baked layered pasta: flat sheets stacked with ragù or vegetables, ricotta or béchamel and melted cheese, cut into a square. Meat, cheese, spinach and vegetable builds all belong here.
- Best Carbonaras 9 dishes ranked · Spaghetti or another long pasta bound in an emulsion of egg, hard sheep's or cow's-milk cheese and rendered cured pork — guanciale in the Roman original, pancetta or bacon locally — finished with coarse black pepper. Many South Bay kitchens add cream; the ranking says which do.
- Best Fettuccine Alfredos 9 dishes ranked · Pasta — usually fettuccine — bound in a butter-and-Parmesan emulsion, which in almost every South Bay kitchen means a cream sauce finished with garlic and nutmeg. Ordered as often with chicken or shrimp as plain, and the South Bay's version is a comfort plate rather than the Roman burro-e-parmigiano original.
- Best Bologneses 7 dishes ranked · A slow-simmered meat ragù — beef, often with pork or veal, softened onion, carrot and celery, tomato and a long cook — served over tagliatelle, pappardelle, spaghetti or another pasta. The plate the kitchen calls Bolognese or ragù, not a generic meat sauce.
- Best Cacio e Pepes 7 dishes ranked · Rome's three-ingredient pasta: pecorino romano, coarsely cracked black pepper and starchy pasta water whipped into a glossy sauce — no cream, no egg, no meat. Usually spaghetti, tonnarelli or bucatini, and often finished tableside inside a hollowed parmigiano wheel. South Bay kitchens vary: a few swap in parmigiano and butter, or a pepper-cream sauce, so each listing says what it actually is.
Pastries
- Best Bagels 10 dishes ranked · A single bagel sold by the piece: boiled then baked, with a shiny crust and a chewy middle.
- Best Donuts 6 dishes ranked · Fried or baked dough treats — yeast-raised glazed, old-fashioned cake, filled (cream/jelly), fritters, twists, crullers, maple bars, apple fritters, cronut-adjacent only when the named local crown is that specific shape. Rank the named donut at a shop, not the bakery as a whole.
- Best Croissants 5 dishes ranked · Plain butter croissant — laminated viennoiserie with cultured butter, a crisp shatter shell, and an open honeycomb crumb. Distinct from almond, chocolate, ham-and-cheese, or other filled croissant variants.
Pizzas
- Best New York-Style Pizzas 10 dishes ranked · Large round hand-tossed pie with a thin, foldable slice — crisp-bottomed, chewy cornicione, low-moisture mozzarella and a simple tomato sauce. Sold by the slice or as an 18-20 inch pie. Not Detroit square, not Neapolitan.
- Best Detroit Pizzas 8 dishes ranked · Detroit-style square/pan pizza with cheese to the edge (frico/cheddar lace), crisp bottom, and airy interior. Prefer a specific named pie (e.g. The Pepperoni, Detroit vs Everybody, DET Combo Americano) at a restaurant.
- Best Margherita Pizzas 6 dishes ranked · The Neapolitan classic: tomato, mozzarella and basil on a thin, blistered crust, and nothing else. Judged on the sauce, the pull of the cheese and the char on the rim, with no toppings to hide behind.
- Best Pepperoni Pizzas 5 dishes ranked · A pizza topped primarily with pepperoni (cured, spiced sausage slices that cup and char at the edges when cooked). The named SKU on the menu is 'pepperoni' — not plain cheese, not margherita, not a specialty with pepperoni as one of several toppings. Includes NY-style, Detroit-style, Neapolitan, tavern, and Sicilian pepperoni pies when those are the menu's ranked pepperoni offering.
- Best Vodka Pizzas 5 dishes ranked · Pizza topped with creamy, pink vodka sauce (tomato, cream and a splash of vodka) plus mozzarella, often finished with basil and parmesan; a New York slice-shop staple.
- Best Cheese Pizzas 4 dishes ranked · Plain cheese pizza — tomato sauce and mozzarella on a baked crust, sold by the slice or as a whole pie. No pepperoni, no margherita basil-forward builds, no deep-dish or stuffed pies.
- Best Deep Dish Pizzas 3 dishes ranked · Chicago-style deep-dish pizza: a tall-sided pan pie with cheese under the sauce and a thick, often cornmeal or buttery crust, baked long and cut into wedges. Distinct from Detroit square, New York thin and Neapolitan margherita.
Ramen
Salads
Sandwiches
- Best Gyros 36 dishes ranked · Seasoned lamb or beef shaved off the vertical spit, piled into warm pita with tzatziki, tomato and onion.
- Best Chicken Sandwiches 10 dishes ranked · One piece of chicken in a bun: usually a fried thigh or breast, sometimes Nashville-hot, panko-crusted katsu on milk bread, or grilled, with slaw, pickles and a house sauce. Crunch, juiciness and the bun all count.
- Best Italian Sandwiches 10 dishes ranked · Italian cold-cut sandwich on a soft roll or hoagie, built from a combo of Italian cured meats (salami, capicola, mortadella, sometimes ham or prosciutto) with provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, oil and vinegar or Italian dressing. Ranked at a specific restaurant as a named sandwich, not the shop as a whole.
- Best French Dips 9 dishes ranked · Thin-sliced roast beef on a French roll, served with a cup of hot au jus for dipping. Cheese and horseradish optional.
- Best Shawarmas 8 dishes ranked · Chicken, beef or lamb stacked on a vertical spit, roasted, and shaved to order into pita, laffa or a saj wrap with garlic toum or tahini, pickles and salad - or served the same meat over rice or salad as a plate. Rank the named shawarma SKU at a shop, not the restaurant as a whole. Gyro and doner are separate builds.
- Best Banh Mi 7 dishes ranked · Vietnamese baguette sandwich with mayo or butter, pickled carrot/daikon, cucumber, cilantro, chile, and a protein (thit nuong, dac biet, heo quay, etc.). Rank named sandwiches, not shops as wholes.
- Best Lox Bagels 7 dishes ranked · A split bagel layered with cream cheese and silky smoked salmon (lox or nova), usually finished with capers, red onion and tomato. A New York appetizing-counter classic.
- Best Pastrami Sandwiches 7 dishes ranked · Hot pastrami (brined, spice-rubbed, smoked and steamed beef, usually navel or brisket) sliced and piled on rye bread, typically with deli mustard. Judged on tenderness, juiciness, the spice crust and the bread. Reubens are a separate build.
- Best Cheesesteaks 6 dishes ranked · Philadelphia-style sandwich of thin-sliced griddled beef and melted cheese on a long soft roll, usually with grilled onions. Cheese is Cheez Whiz, provolone or American; peppers and mushrooms are common add-ons.
- Best Bacon Egg and Cheeses 5 dishes ranked · The bodega and deli breakfast sandwich: crisp bacon, fried or scrambled egg and melted American cheese on a kaiser roll or bagel, often with salt, pepper and ketchup. Judged on the bacon, the egg and the melt.
- Best Chicken Parms 5 dishes ranked · Breaded chicken cutlet under marinara and melted mozzarella, served as a hero on a seeded or Italian roll; a New York deli and red-sauce classic. Cutlet crunch, sauce and the bread all count.
Steaks
Sushi
- Best Poke 24 dishes ranked · Cubed raw fish - usually ahi tuna or salmon - marinated in soy, sesame and onion and served over rice with seaweed, avocado and crunchy toppings. Hawaiian in origin, built to order at a counter here.
- Best Spicy Tuna Rolls 5 dishes ranked · The classic maki roll: chopped raw tuna mixed with a chili-mayo or sriracha sauce, rolled with sushi rice and nori, often with cucumber or scallion. Rank the named spicy tuna roll, not the sushi bar as a whole.
Tacos
- Best Carnitas Tacos 10 dishes ranked · Tacos filled with slow-cooked, confit-style pork shoulder, usually chopped and crisped on the plancha, served street-style on corn tortillas with onion and cilantro.
- Best Al Pastor Tacos 5 dishes ranked · Street-style tacos of spit-roasted achiote-marinated pork (trompo / al pastor), typically on corn tortillas with onion, cilantro, salsa, and often pineapple. Rank the named pastor taco at a taqueria, not the burrito version, not the shop as a whole.
- Best Birria Tacos 5 dishes ranked · Crispy or soft corn-tortilla tacos filled with slow-cooked birria (beef or lamb), typically dipped or served with consommé. Quesabirria (cheese + birria, griddled) counts when that is the named local crown. Rank the named taco at a restaurant, not the shop as a whole.
- Best Carne Asada Tacos 5 dishes ranked · Grilled marinated steak (carne asada) served in corn or flour tortillas — usually a plate of 2-3 street-style tacos with cilantro, onion, salsa. Rank the named carne asada taco SKU at a taqueria, not the restaurant as a whole, not the burrito version, not the torta.
- Best Fish Tacos 5 dishes ranked · Tacos filled with fish — battered and fried Baja style, or grilled or blackened — usually served two or three to a plate with cabbage, crema and salsa.