It's that time of year, folks, when visions of giblets and gravy boats dance in our heads.
If you happen to be hosting Thanksgiving this year, or if you're acting as MVP by bringing the turkey to a potluck bash, you may be hot on the hunt for the perfect bird. For gourmands wanting organic, heritage-bred, and more flavorful turkey, these local Bay Area butchers and markets have you covered.
Not sure how big a bird you should get? Estimate one to one-and-a-half pounds of turkey for everyone who will be at the table.
Happy almost Thanksgiving!
Bi-Rite Market Thanksgiving Turkey
(Courtesy of @biritesf)
The Birds: Get them raw or roasted, organic, whole heritage, or as breasts, thighs, or legs from Good Shepherd Ranch and Pitman Family Farms.
The Prices: Whole birds range from $59 to $129.
Extras: Make Thanksgiving dinner a breeze with a plethora of meal kits, sides, soups, cornbread, desserts, and wines.
Get It: Available for pre-order online for pickup and local delivery Nov. 17-23. // 3639 18th St. (Mission); 550 Divisadero St. (NoPa), biritemarket.com
Luke's Local Thanksgiving Turkey
Luke's Local offers several kinds of bird along with sides, pies, and even floral designs for Thanksgiving.
(Courtesy of @lukeslocalstore)
The Birds: Branigan's broad-breasted turkeys, Willie Birds, and Good Shepherd Ranch's Mary's heritage turkeys are available raw in sizes small, medium, and large. Willie Bird half and whole turkeys are also available herb-roasted or house-smoked ($82-$148).
The Prices: All turkeys require a$50-$75 deposit upfront. Once the turkeys arrive, Luke's will charge the remaining balance based on the bird's final weight. Willie's birds are $4.50/lb. Branigan's turkeys are $5.75 per pound. Mary's Heritage birds from Good Shepherd Ranch are $14.99/lb.
Special Options: They also offer whole duck, Cornish hen, frozen crab, and oysters by the dozen.
Extras: Order housemade sides like cornbread stuffing, root vegetable and kale salad, honey chili Brussels sprouts, and spiced cranberry sauce. Don't forget the pies.
Get It: Call 415.742.4207 for more information. // 960 Cole St. (Cole Valley) and 2190 Union St. (Cow Hollow), lukeslocal.com/collections/holidaysOlivier's Butchery Thanksgiving Turkey
Olivier's elegant turkey rotis.
(Courtesy of @oliviersbutchery)
The Birds: This Dogpatch spot is offering Branigan's whole and brick turkeys, which come from a family-owned operation in Woodland, CA that's been free-range farming the birds since 1942. Turkey roti with homemade stuffing, offals, boneless breasts, wings, and legs are also available.
The Prices: The whole Branigan's turkeys range from $75 for an 8-10 pound bird to $185 for a 24-26 pound bird. The turkey roti with gluten-free stuffing is $140.
Extras: This is a butcher shop after all, so if bird ain't your game, you can order up several cuts of grass-fed or grain-finished prime beef; bone-in leg of lamb roast; pork racks, and more.
Get It: Place your order before Saturday, Nov. 18 by phone or online. Pickup during regular hours between Nov. 20-22. // 1074 Illinois St. (Dogpatch), oliviersbutchery.com
The Butcher's Son's Vegan Thanksgiving Feast
In 2022, the Butcher's Son's vegan turkey won a PETA award for best vegan roast.
(Courtesy of @thebutchersson_official)
The Bird: Turkey, but hold the meat: The Butcher's Son's vegan bird is a seitan and Impossible Meat blend (contains gluten), wrapped in a crispy soy "skin." It comes fully cooked and seasoned.
The Price: $18 for a one-pound turkey. Or, go all in for the whole feast (the bird plus sides for four to six people) for $102.
Extras: Add on a soy-and-seitan "sausage" stuffing with roasted vegetables and pine nuts, a plant-based chicken pot pie or plant-based beef shepherd's pie, plus vegan chocolate chip cookie dough and New York–style cheesecake.
Get it: Order by Nov. 12 for in-person pickup until Nov. 23. // 1954 University Ave. (Berkeley), thebutchersveganson.com
Williams-Sonoma Willie Bird Turkeys for Thanksgiving
(Courtesy of @williamssonoma)
The Birds: Fresh, free-range Willie Bird turkeys are just a click away from this San Francisco–based kitchen retailer. Get 'em organic, pre-brined, whole, as bone-in breasts, or even smoked or stuffed.
The Prices: Pre-brined turkeys start at $175 for a 12-14 pound bird and come in three sizes. Organic pre-brined birds are $172-$243. Fresh free-range turkeys start at $120.
Extras: Choose from pre-prepared sides like cranberry sauce and maple squash au gratin, starter kits, and even a whole Thanksgiving meal for 12. You'll even find recipes galore.
Get it: Order by non PST on Friday Nov. 17. // Order online at williams-sonoma.com.
