and Cantonese. Most of the better restaurants are outside the famous Chinatown, which is more of a tourist destination. Very popular for lunch is Deem Sum, or also called Dim Sum, a tradition that grew out of roadside teahouses along the ancient Silk Road. Yank Sing, with its two downtown locations, could be the most popular place in the city to enjoy these exotic bites that are served by waiters continuously rolling carts laden with freshly prepared small plates around the restaurant. It is easy to overload, as the tempting food keeps coming. Come hungry and ready for a lively ambience. 101 Spear St. San Francisco 49 Stevenson St. San Francisco www.yanksing.com
Best Without Reservations Belden Place The short downtown alley might have the biggest concentration of restaurants in the city. For those without a reservation and lack of time, Belden Place surely will be able to accommodate, with American, Mediterranean, French, Italian and Catalan cuisines, plus local seafood. Among the most popular restaurants in the alley are Plouf, B44 and Café Tiramisu. Belden Place is also one of the few spots in San Francisco that offers plenty of outdoor seating, a rarity in a city known for surprising weather changes and often cold summers. No worries, outdoor heaters are aplenty! Belden Place, San Francisco, CA 94104 www.belden-place.com
Best Fast Food Off The Grid Food trucks are the fastest growing gourmet trend in the country. They have been popping up all over San Francisco, serving everything from Asian fare like Chinese buns, Korean tacos, Filipino adobo and Indian curry, to Mexican and South American delicacies such as burritos, empanadas
and tamales, as well as sweet treats such as waffles, cupcakes and Crème Brulé. The largest gathering is Off The Grid, which pops up weekly at various places in the city for lunch and dinner. The most popular locations are Hayes Valley on Wednesday evenings and Fort Mason on Friday nights. Check their calendar for other locales. www.offthegridsf.com
Where to drink Best Café Mavelous Coffee & Wine Bar San Francisco is not only known as a food mecca, but in recent years it has also become a destination for coffee aficionados. Barista Philip Ma, owner of Mavelous, is very serious about coffee. So as to appreciate the various nuances of beans and roasts, he serves only the very best boutique varieties. They are brewed in six ways, either with a custom La Marzocco espresso machine, or manually with a Hario V60 coffee drip, a Chemex coffee maker, and a French Press, as well as with a Siphon coffee brewing machine and a Kyoto cold slow-drip coffee maker. Mavelous also offers a nice selection of sustainably grown wines from around the world. The sexy and eco-chic interiors, designed by Adeeni Design Group, were inspired by its location in the Civic Center and its proximity to the arts. Its rich palette is reminiscent of the colours of coffee, ranging from deep espresso to red, gold and chartreuse. Several local artists were commissioned for specific artwork and functional designs. The café’s signature piece is a 50-foot long painting by famed street artist Eddie Colla that spans the length of the place and sets an edgy tone. For that amazing cup of coffee or great glass of wine, plus a spot to relax with a magazine or book, Mavelous is the place to be. 1408 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 www.maveloussf.com
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