San Francisco is a food lover’s dream. It’s. city packed with iconic eats, trendy bites, and 39 Michelin stars awarded to 28 restaurants. But just because something is famous doesn’t mean it’s actually worth the hype.

During my first ever trip to San Francisco, I hit up seven highly recommended spots. Some delivered. Some… not so much. Here’s my honest take on what’s worth your time and what you can skip.

1. Millionaire’s Bacon – Sweet Maple Cafe

The Hype: Thick-cut, caramelized, sweet-and-spicy bacon.
Reality: I got cold bacon. Nothing about it screamed “millionaire”. Felt very overhyped.
Verdict: Miss. It’s a no from me.

2. Egg Salad Sando – Cafe Okawari

The hype: Japanese egg salad perfection. Fluffy, creamy, and seasoned well.
Reality: A perfectly soft-boiled egg in the center, chunky but smooth filling, soft bread. This is the kind of sandwich I dream about.
Verdict: Hit. Wish I tried the pork katsu sando too.

3. Roast Pork Bun + Egg Tart – Good Mong Kok Bakery

The hype: A Chinatown legend for no-frills, budget-friendly dim sum.
Reality: This place delivered! The roast pork bun was flavorful and the bun, pillowy soft. And the egg tart was amazing too.
Verdict: Hit. Definitely worth the wait.

4. Clam Chowder Bread Bowl – Fog Harbor Fish House

The hype: The ultimate SF tourist food! Clam chowder in a fresh sourdough bowl.
Reality: Overpriced. The bread bowl wasn’t good. The soup was fine but I’ve had better.
Verdict: Miss. You can find better chowder + bread bowls elsewhere.

5. Boudin – Sourdough Bread

The hype: The legendary San Francisco sourdough!
Reality: I really wanted to love this. But my roll was dry and not special. Maybe it’s better fresh out of the oven, but based on my experience I would not go back.
Verdict: Miss.

6. Secret Breakfast Sundae – Humphry Slocombe

The hype: Bourbon ice cream + cornflake crunch = heaven.
Reality: Absolute flavor bomb. Huge fan of how the caramel hardened to a perfect chewy texture over the cold ice cream.
Verdict: Hit. No notes for this bowl of perfection.

7. Croissants – Arsicault Bakery

The hype: One of the best / most well known bakeries in SF.
Reality: I’ve never been to Paris, but I read you can tell a good croissant from how it tastes at room temperature. This was buttery, flaky, and delicious at room temperature.
Verdict: Hit. Worth every flaky crumb!! The blackberry almond hazlenut croissant is really life changing.

Final Thoughts

San Francisco has some serious food gems, but not every viral spot is worth your time (or money)! Would I go back? Absolutely, to all my “hit” spots.

San Francisco is home to a lot of Michelin Star restaurants, places with a lot of history, and viral dishes I would like to try as well.

There are still so many places I didn’t get to try, so another SF food adventure is definitely in my future. Got any must-visit recommendations? Drop it in the comments, I’m always looking for my next great foodie find!

And if you’re new here, Hi I’m Ivy! I started What’s Ivy Eating? to share my favorite places to eat in NJ , The Catskills + beyond, and share all of my favorite dishes + foodie finds with you!

Follow me on socials @whats.ivy.eating for the latest and check out the blog for full reviews, food guides + more!✨

Happy reading + eating! 

– Ivy🌱