Peanut butter & jelly. Turkey & cranberry sauce. These things just make sense together. I  would like to propose a new addition though: red velvet cake batter and fried chicken! Trust me on this, it’s much better than it sounds. At American Cupcake, there are a bevy of delicious goodies to choose from, but their specialty RVFC (Red Velvet Fried Chicken) dishes are definitely worth trying.

Located on Union Street, this place offers two menus: a sweet menu and a savory menu. The sweet menu includes whoopee pies, cotton candy, and of course, cupcakes; while the savory menu offers comfort food such as mac’n’cheese and tomato soup. If you’re of age, there’s even a menu that suggests pairings of wine and sweets to enjoy. I would suggest buying the mini cupcakes because then you can try more flavors! The ambiance of American Cupcake is very futuristic: the inside looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie and the overhead lights are constantly changing color, so don’t be surprised if your food takes on a red, wait, green…no, blue tinge! American Cupcake is open late except on Sundays, so if you’re in the neighborhood and need to satisfy your sweet tooth, definitely seek it out! |American Cupcake|

Hours of Operation:
Tues & Wed: 11am – 10pm
Thurs, Fri & Sat: 11am – 12am
Sun: 12pm – 7pm
Mon: Closed

Unlike other Indian restaurants in the city that exude a more ethnic ambiance, I was a bit surprised to find a modern space with industrial design elements. I love the |Emeco 111| chairs. Needless to say the interior is miles away from what one may have grown accustomed to when dining Indian.

Specializing in home-style Indian food, the menu is split between Kati rolls (similar to a taco) and Thali, which features multiple menu items served on a traditional metal platter. Both choices include their handmade roti, which is similar to a buttery tortilla. Dishes include Chicken Tikka, Chicken Tikka Marsala, Lamb Curry, Kebabs, and various vegetarian options. In addition to these menu options, the Thali platter is served with chutney, raita (yogurt), a veggie salad, and daal (lentils). Just be wary of the green pickled pepper relish for it packs a punch. Best of all, Kasa is open until 10pm, offering a healthier and more tasty option for late-night food. Delivery is available after 6pm every night. |Kasa Indian Eatery|

Hours of Operation:
Open Everyday: 11am – 10pm
Delivery after 6pm

Located in the hip Marina neighborhood, Nectar Wine Lounge is a great venue for dates or for simply relaxing with friends while sampling a nice glass of wine. The lounge atmosphere here, which seems more ubiquitous in say New York or Europe than in SF, still offers an ambiance that’s conducive for great conversations over drinks. Patrons can either sit at the bar or in comfortable seats around the lounge. The hexagonal boxes (laden with wine displays) and the large windows overlooking Steiner Street, all add to the lounge’s ambiance. With a rotating wine list, you always have the opportunity to try new wines. With a nice eclectic mix of different varietals of whites, reds, rosés, desserts and bubbly, there is always a wine available for those with discriminating tastes and those that will only drink certain wines in certain seasons. With over 40 pages of wines available solely available by the bottle, their extensive international wine selection allowed me to try my first non-sweet Hungarian Tokaji wine (of which I promptly bought 5 bottles!). For those that aren’t into wine, they stock a few sodas and European beers, available by the bottle. Wines are available by the sip, glass or bottle – and are also sold by the bottle as retail. They also serve small plates, including some delicious flat-bread and cheese plates. |Nectar|

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Wed: 5pm – 10:30pm
Thurs-Sat: 5pm – 12am
Sun: 5pm – 10pm

Cheap sushi in the city is a dime a dozen. The sushi challenge in San Francisco is finding an inexpensive sushi restaurant that actually serves high quality sushi. Good and cheap sushi places come along only once or twice a neighborhood, but if you ever find yourself in the Outer Richmond, do not hesitate to stop by Kitaro to pick up a few awesome rolls.

Kitaro is a perfect place to grab a bite with a couple of good friends, or even a table for one. They have an extensive menu that caters to everyone’s taste, which is why sushi lover’s travel from all over the city to get their hands on the unique and amazing rolls here. Their Godzilla Roll is perhaps the most popular with its mix of spicy tuna tempura and their special house wasabi sauce, it quickly becomes any foodie’s first choice. If you’re looking for something that will wake you up with a bit of a kick, then try the Dynamite Roll. It’s a tuna roll that is lightly battered with Sriracha chili sauce drizzled across the top, yum yum. The combination of flavors gives any mouth a great experience.

Though its location on Geary and 22^nd does seem like a bit of a hassle just to get some sushi; it is hands down worth the ride on the 38 Muni line. Plus, next time you pick up something from Safeway, flip over your receipt, and you just might have a coupon for the restaurant. High quality and a great value, it doesn’t get much better than Kitaro. |Kitaro|

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sun: 11:30 am – 10 pm

Walking around downtown SF, the options are endless when it comes to good eats, but if you’re looking for a classic and hardy burger, then check out Pearl’s Deluxe Burgers. They have been a staple on Post Street for many years and recently expanded with a second city location on the corner of 6^th and Market.  With a sensible yet diverse selection, it is always an adventure of the senses when enjoying one of their delectable burgers, fries, and milk shakes.

With all the special burgers offered, their Bula Burger is an award winner thanks to its delicious patty topped with tangy pineapple, thick savory bacon, and drizzled with their signature sweet and spicy Teriyaki sauce. This great downtown meal would not be complete without a side of springs, which is an over flowing basket of sweet potato fries and onion rings, and of course one of their signature milk shakes.  With almost twenty different freshly made milk shakes to choose from, it’s hard to settle with just a soda to wash down your meal.

Pearl’s is wonderful place to stop and grab dinner after work and also a great place to meet friends for a bite. The Post St. location has heavy foot traffic and limited seating at times, but being only 3 blocks from Union Square, it creates an opportunity to grab your food to go and eat it in the park. So if you’re ever Downtown, and you’re craving a great burger and fries with a thick milk shake, then definitely try Pearl’s Deluxe Burgers. Check out their website for a full menu and list of locations. |Pearl’s Deluxe Burgers|

Those looking for a decent hamburger need look no further than Uncle Boy’s in the Richmond. Upon inspection, the place appears to specialize in drunk food. The place is small, simple to navigate, has a limited menu, and is open until 3am on the weekends. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have to be drunk for the food to be delicious.

They offer a variety of sandwiches and the fare that characterizes burger stands, such as well-seasoned french fries, fried zucchini, buffalo wings, and the like, but their burgers are the main draw. I went and had an Unhorsed Cowboy, while the girlfriend went for the Dog in Heat sausage sandwich. The buns were perfectly toasted, the meat thoroughly cooked but not overdone, and the toppings delicious and fresh. I was happy to note that, at least for us, the cook put the french fries and onion ring  in the fryer after we ordered, so we didn’t get stuff that had been sitting around like at many other burger joints.

Decorated simply with 49ers and Giants memorabilia, it isn’t exactly a first date kind of place, and if you go at the wrong time, say at last call, then you can expect a huge wait. Hamburger enthusiasts or anyone looking for a good sandwich will be right at home here. Check out their website for the menu and other information. |Uncle Boy’s|

Hours of Operation:
Sun-Thurs: 11:30am – 10:30pm
Fri-Sat: 11:30am – 3am

A place that could very well have invented the Mission-style burrito years ago that countless taquerias have imitated since, La Cumbre is one of the familiar faces on Valencia Street in a gentrified sea of hip restaurants, hipster-friendly boutiques, and yoga studios. Walking into this place could be a bit of a time warp as the decor has probably changed little over the year, as has the menu of reasonably priced Mexican dishes. The rather large menu of choices includes some great tacos, their signature burritos, enchiladas, chile relleno, quesadillas, nachos, and plenty of options to further customize. Beverage options range from ice-cold cervezas and margaritas, to non-alcoholic options like Mexican sodas, fruit juices, and horchatas.

I usually come here when I crave a bit of rice in my burrito, and it’s a great place to stop by after a long night of touring the watering holes nearby. I love that this place provides a side of chips for free and offers a salsa bar that’s free for sampling, I just wish that the other taquerias in this city did the same.

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sun: 11am – 2am

For those of us that grew up on the West Coast, In-N-Out has come to be that dependable fast food destination of choice when the craving calls for a tasty burger, some fries, and a thick milkshake. What is surprising though, only one such place in the city exists to satisfy this craving, and it’s surrounded by souvenir shops and tourist traps that dot along Fisherman’s Wharf. For newcomers that are in need of an orientation, the beauty of this place is in its simplicity. To the untrained eye, the menu doesn’t seemingly reveal anything special with options that include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, sodas, and milkshakes. Regulars can often be spotted ordering from the not so secret menu, picking options like Animal Style (mustard cooked burger patty, grilled onions, and extra house dressing) for their burgers and even their fries. Other options include double meat, 3×3 (three patties and three slices of cheese), 4×4 (four patties and four slices of cheese), protein style (burger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun), and a grilled cheese for vegetarians. Since the potatoes are prepared on-site and are not frozen beforehand, the fries can be on the soggier side . I sometimes prefer to get mine cooked well-done when I want the fries crunchier than normal. Next time you’re there, try ordering the animal style burger with banana peppers for a little extra kick. |In-N-Out|

Hours of Operation:
Sun-Thurs: 10:30am – 1am
Fri-Sat: 10:30am – 1:30am

On a brisk, slightly misty San Francisco evening, a world away from the trendy shops and bars that neighbor along Chestnut Street, it’s a welcoming sight to see that brightly lit green oval sign that shines brightly against the red brick and ivy. Sharing its name with a southern Italian highway that stretches from Naples to Canosa, A16 could possibly be the most charming restaurant in the Marina that’s perfect for just about any occasion. Whether its drinks and some light apps on a high top near the front of the restaurant, or a more extensive sampling of the menu at a table near the open kitchen in the back, the warm wood burning pizza oven helps make this place a cozy and warm dining experience away from the rain. When weather permits, the small covered rear patio provides yet another dining experience that feels more like a backyard dinner amongst close friends.

Serving up rustic seasonal Italian fare, A16 specialties include their customizable Neapolitan pizzas from their wood burning oven, house-cured salumi, creamy Burrata, ricotta gnocchi, and their meatballs just to name a few. Each dish here can find its pair with one of over 500 selections of Italian and California wines, so with choices abound, navigating the wine menu can often be best served with some pairing recommendations from owner Shelley Lindgren. |A16|

Hours of Operation:
Lunch:
Wed-Fri: 11:30am – 2:30pm
Dinner:
Mon-Thurs: 5:30pm – 10pm
Fri: 5:30pm – 11pm
Sat: 5pm – 11pm
Sun: 5pm – 10pm

When cravings call for Korean cuisine, finding a suitable choice in this city can be quite an adventure in trial and error. Going with the first Korean restaurant to open in San Francisco is definitely a good place to start. Located in Japantown, Korea House has been in business since 1972, and features a diverse menu of traditional home-style dishes meant for sharing.

Meals here always begin with an assortment of small plates containing pickles, kim chi, tofu, fermented bean paste, steamed vegetables, and seafood. For the main course, the menu features marinated meats grilled table-side like Bul Go Gi, rice dishes topped with seasonal vegetables, a fried egg and chili paste known as Bibim Bop, and hearty stews and soups. Their selection of noodle dishes and fish served either braised or pan-fried are also worth exploring. For the more adventurous, exotic parts of the animal like tripe, tongue, and intestine also grace the menu. |Korea House|

Hours of Operation:
Sun- Thurs: 11am – 11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am – 12pm