Clear your calendars, do a quick cleanse, and grab your stretchy pants—the 2018 Big Eat is here.
In the eating making of this year's annual feature, we learned a few things, starting with the fact that San Francisco still (or perhaps increasingly) has an absurd number of ridiculously good restaurants, and that the past year has been hella for openings.
We also learned that we are surrounded by pushers who keep us addicted to pizza, burgers, barbecue, fried chicken, tacos, and ice cream...and that we may not be eating enough vegetables (though we have notated vegetarian dishes here). We seem to have cut back on gluten (look for the GF), but we're not even close to giving it up—give us a plate of piping-hot potato flatbread and we'll dip it in anything lying around. Fortunately for us, there's no shortage of divine cheap eats here, but splurge-worthy tasting menus are also trending.
This year's Big Eat features a belly-busting number of new dishes to try—76 to be exact (*each noted with an asterisk). Many of these plates are standouts from the city's hottest newcomers, and several are old favorites that we may forever crave—all are listed in random order (we're not that hardcore!). All in all, they represent the very tastiest dishes we ate in 2017 (and early 2018)—but we confess they only scratch the surface of the yumminess available in SF. As always, restaurant menus rotate regularly and some dishes may be seasonal, so make sure to call ahead.
More than anything, we learned that we eat entirely too much. And by "we," we mean you. So get to eating! And share your progress and pics with us on Instagram with the hashtag #7x7bigeat2018.
Duna's potato flatbread and can't-eat-just-one dips.(Sarah Chorey)- *Palak chaat (V) at August 1 Five, 524 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center), august1five.com
- *Gnudi (V) at Villon, The Proper Hotel, 1100 Market St. (Civic Center), properhotel.com
- *Bodega "Burger" at The Snug, 2301 Fillmore St. (Pacific Heights), thesnugsf.com
- *Omakase at Robin, 620 Gough St. (Hayes Valley), robinsanfrancisco.com
- *Cauliflower fritters (V) at Barcino, 399 Gough St. (Hayes Valley), barcinosf.com
- *Chimney cone at Garden Creamery, 2566 20th St. (Mission), gardencreamery.com
- *Moh Hinga at Burma Superstar, 309 Clement St. (Inner Richmond), burmasuperstar.com
- *'Toga tots (V) at The Saratoga, 1000 Larkin St. (TenderNob), thesaratogasf.com
- *Fried chicken torta at Glena's Tacos & Margaritas, 632 20th St. (Dogpatch), glenassf.com
- *Roasted chicken with douglas fir sour cream at RT Rotisserie, 101 Oak St. (Hayes Valley), rtrotisserie.com
- *The nine-course tasting menu ($225) at Eight Tables, 8 Kenneth Rexroth Pl. (Russian Hill), eighttables.com
- *Caviar service at Gibson, Hotel Bijou, 111 Mason St. (Tenderloin), gibsonsf.com
- *Tuna melt at City Counter, 115 Sansome St. (FiDi), citycountersf.com
- *Smoked potato flatbread with all the spreads at Duna, 983 Valencia St. (Mission), duna.kitchen
- *Fish + chips at Hook Fish Co., 4542 Irving St. (Outer Sunset), hookfishco.com
- *Adventure bread (GF) at The Mill, 736 Divisadero St. (Fillmore), themillsf.com
- *Ham & cheese croissant at Arsicault Bakery, 397 Arguello Blvd (Inner Richmond), 415-750-9460
- *Coddled eggs (breakfast and lunch) at Tartine Manufactory, 595 Alabama St. (Mission), tartinemanufactory.com
- *Dungeness crab and aged cheddar fondue at True Laurel, 753 Alabama St. (Mission), truelaurelsf.com
- *Huarache (brunch only) at Flores, 2030 Union St. (Cow Hollow), floressf.com
- *Monkey bread (V) at Corridor, 100 Van Ness Ave (Civic Center), corridorsf.com
- *Cookie Monster boozy milkshake at Trademark & Copyright Bar, 1123 Folsom St. (SoMa), trademarksfc.com
- *King-Dum at Dumpling Time, 11 Division St. (SoMa), dumplingtimesf.com
- *Matcha green tea shaved snow at Powder, 260 Divisadero St. (Lower Haight), powdershavedsnow.com
- *Prawn toast at Mister Jiu's, 28 Waverly Pl. (Chinatown), misterjius.com
- *Pork mapo tofu at Mission Chinese Food, 2234 Mission St. (Mission), missionchinesefood.com/sfo
- *Carnitas taco at El Gallo Giro (969 Treat Ave.), el-gallo-giro.cafe-inspector.com
- *Chicken biryani at Pakwan, multiple locatons, pakwanrestaurant.com
- *The Fideua at Bellota, 888 Brannan St. (SoMa), bellotasf.com
- *Breakwiches at The Board, 1077 Mission St. (SoMa), deliboardsf.com/the-board
- *Tasting menu ($113 all inclusive) at Aina, 900 22nd St. (Dogpatch), ainasf.com
- *CA pistachio with Maldon sea salt at Coletta Gelato, 685 Harrison St. (SoMa), colettagelato.com
- *Smoked Liberty Farms duck ($104) at The Morris, 2501 Mariposa St. (Mission), themorris-sf.com
- *Brisket at Native Sons BBQ pop-up (various locations), facebook.com/nsbbq
- *Brine pickled French fries (V) at Al's Place, 1499 Valencia St. (Mission), alsplacesf.com
- *Date sticky pudding (V) at Azalina's, The Market, 1355 Market St. (Mid-Market), azalinas.com
- *Asparagus pancetta pizza at Beretta, 1119 Valencia St. (Mission), berettasf.com
- *Russian honey cake (V) at 20th Century Cafe, 198 Gough St. (Hayes Valley), 20thcenturycafe.com
- House-made ricotta (V) at Causwells, 2346 Chestnut St. (Marina), causwells.com
- *Tori paitan ramen at Mensho Ramen, 672 Geary St. (TenderNob), mensho.tokyo
- *Rockfish a la talla at Cala, 149 Fell St. (Hayes Valley), calarestaurant.com
- *Sunday supper at Cotogna, 490 Pacific Ave. (Jackson Square), cotognasf.com
- *19-course prix-fixe ($157) at Californios, 3115 22nd St. (Mission), californiossf.com
- Hot dog at 4505 Burgers & BBQ, 705 Divisadero St. (NoPa), 4505burgersandbbq.com
- Oops! I Dropped the Lemon Tart (V) at In Situ, SFMOMA, 151 3rd St. (SoMa), insitu.sfmoma.org
- King Henry VIII cut (GF) at House of Prime Rib, 1906 Van Ness Ave. (Nob Hill), houseofprimerib.net
- *Lamb shoulder ($145/serves 2-4) at Mourad, 140 New Montgomery (SoMa) mouradsf.com
- *Mushroom tartine (V) at Petit Crenn, 609 Hayes St. (Hayes Valley), petitcrenn.com
- *Fish aqua pazza at Locanda, 557 Valencia St. (Mission), locandasf.com
- *Pastrami salmon sandwich at Wise Sons Bagel & Bakery, 1520 Fillmore St. (NoPa), wisesonsdeli.com
- Salt and pepper crab at R&G Lounge, 631 Kearny St. (Chinatown), rnglounge.com
- *Panko avocado taco (V) at Lolo, 974 Valencia St. (Mission), lolosf.com
- Grilled lamb chops at Kokkari Estiatorio, 200 Jackson St. (Jackson Square), kokkari.com
- Special bánh mì at Dinosaurs, 2275 Market St. (Upper Market), eatdinosaurs.bigcartel.com
- Breakfast potatoes at Plow, 1299 18th St (Potrero Hill), eatatplow.com
- *Burger at Finn Town, 2251 Market St. (Upper Market), finntownsf.com
- Custard French toast (V) at Nopa, 560 Divisadero St (NoPa), nopasf.com
- Shanghai dumpling at Yank Sing (multiple locations), yanksing.com
- "Deviled" egg (GF) at Octavia, 1701 Octavia St. (Pacific Heights), octavia-sf.com
- *Impossible burger (V) at Jardiniere, 300 Grove St. (Civic Center), jardiniere.com
- *A Walk in the Forest at Atelier Crenn, 3127 Fillmore St. (Cow Hollow), ateliercrenn.com
- *Spaghittusu cun allu ollu e bottariga at La Ciccia, 291 30th St. (Noe Valley), laciccia.com
- *Warm cabbage, house buttermilk and uni bottarga (tasting menu only, $97) at Lord Stanley, 2065 Polk St. (Nob Hill), lordstanleysf.com
- Karaage chicken and beer waffle at Nomica, 2223 Market St. (Upper Market), nomicasf.com
- *Broccoli di ciccio pizza at Del Popolo, 855 Bush St. (TenderNob), delpopolosf.com
- Beef heart tartare at Cockscomb, 564 Fourth St. (SoMa), cockscombsf.com
- Fancy oyster at Leo's Oyster Bar, 568 Sacramento St. (FiDi), leossf.com
- The Prix-Fixe Menu ($275) at Quince, 470 Pacific Ave. (Jackson Square), quincerestaurant.com
- Spring rolls at Slanted Door, 1 Ferry Building #3 (Embarcadero), slanteddoor.com
- Falafel bowl (V, GF) at Sababa, 329 Kearny St. (FiDi), sababasf.com
- *Assorted sashimi at Saru, 3856 24th St. (Noe Valley), akaisarusf.com
- *Avocado "toast" on croissant at Le Marais Bakery, 498 Sanchez St. (Castro), lemaraisbakery.com
- *Seasonal kouign amann (V) at B. Patisserie, 2821 California St. (Pacific Heights), bpatisserie.com
- Fried chicken at Wing Wings, 422 Haight St. (Lower Haight), wingwingssf.com
- *Daily pizza (V) at Arizmendi Bakery, multiple locations, arizmendibakery.com
- *House noodles with beef at Yamo, 3406 18th St. (Mission), 415-553-8911
- *Chilaquiles at Primavera, Saturdays at Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market (Embarcadero), cuesa.org
- *Duck noodle soup at Hy Kai Mi Gia, 707 Ellis St. (Tenderloin),
- * Khan Toke salad (V) at Khan Toke Thai House, 5927 Geary Blvd. (Outer Richmond), khantokethaihouse.com
- *Heated Danish (V) at Louis', 902 Point Lobos Ave. (Sea Cliff), louissf.com
- *Eggs Avignon at Zazie, 941 Cole St. (Cole Valley), zaziesf.com
- *Third Culture Bakery's mochi muffin (V, GF) at Boba Guys, 429 Stockton St. (Union Square), bobaguys.com
- Mary's Free Range chicken salad at Souvla (multiple locations), souvla.com
- Sesame chicken at House of Nanking, 919 Kearny St. (Chinatown), houseofnanking.net
- *Parisien empanada at El Sur, 300 De Haro St., Ste. 342 (Potrero Hill), elsursf.com
- *Cleopatra wrap (V) at Turner's Kitchen, 3505 17th St. (Mission), turnerskitchensf.com
- *Grilled chicken tacos at Taqueria la Alteña, 3346 Mission St. (Mission), taquerialaaltena.com
- Tuna poke (GF) at Liholiho Yacht Club, 871 Sutter St. (Tendernob), liholihoyachtclub.com
- Cast-iron grilled cheese sandwich (V) at Outerlands, 4001 Judah St. (Outer Sunset), outerlandssf.com
- *St. Louis cut ribs (GF) at Cat's Head BBQ, 1665 Folsom St. (SoMa), catheadsbbq.com
- *Meatloaf at Blue Plate, 3218 Mission St. (Bernal Heights) blueplatesf.com
- *Rosemary, fiore sardo and pine nut pizza (V) at Pizzetta 211, 211 23rd Ave. (Outer Richmond), pizzetta211.com
- *Burger at Marlowe, 500 Brannan St. (SoMa), marlowesf.com
- *Chile relleno at Puerto Alegre, 546 Valencia St. (Mission), puertoalegresf.net
- *Cheese spatzle in onion butter sauce (V) at Suppenküche, 525 Laguna St. (Hayes Valley), suppenkuche.com
- *Cioppino at Anchor Oyster Bar, 579 Castro St. (Castro), anchoroysterbar.com
- *Sizzlng sisig at Namu Stonepot, 553 Divisadero St. (Nopa), 415-926-8065
- Carne asada burrito at La Taqueria, 2889 Mission St. (Mission), 415-285-7117
- *Teishoku sets (lunch) at Izakaya Rintaro, 82 14th St. (Mission), izakayarintaro.com
- *Bittersweet chocolate panna cotta (V) at Rich Table, 199 Gough St. (Hayes Valley), richtablesf.com