From Sfchronicle · · 2m
Top 100 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area restaurants ranked from 100 to 1.
In brief
San Francisco Bay Area restaurants ranked from 100 to 1. The San Francisco Chronicle ranks 100 Bay Area restaurants, with new entries and shifts in the top tier. Originally reported by Sfchronicle.
Top 100 lists are dynamic
Restaurants are living entities, not static works of art, with chefs and service changing over time.
“Restaurants are, of course, different. They are living entities, not static works of art.”
2026 Bay Area restaurant list
The Chronicle relaunched its top 100 restaurants list in 2025 after a five-year hiatus, with 25 new entries this year.
“About a quarter of the list is new, and there’s been plenty of movement among the returning cast.”
Regional trends in 2026
San Francisco saw strong openings, while Oakland had fewer new restaurants despite its historical influence in the local food scene.
“It was a strong year for San Francisco openings but less so for Oakland, despite its outsized influence in the local food scene in the recent past.”
Diverse dining experiences
The list covers everything from scrappy sandwich shops to once-in-a-lifetime splurges, reflecting how the Bay Area eats.
“We’re fortunate to be living in a region where fine dining flourishes”
Honors for excellence
The list also recognizes additional first-time honors, including Best Beverage Program and Best Hospitality.
“We also wanted to recognize a multitude of reasons why a place might stand out, so we’ve also awarded some additional first-time honors, including Best Beverage Program and Best Hospitality.”
Lazy Bear
Lazy Bear, an anagram of chef David Barzelay’s surname, started as an underground dinner party in 2014 and now offers a forest-themed dining experience.
“When you enter Lazy Bear, you leave the Mission and enter a luxurious forest.”
Shizen
Shizen, a vegan sushi bar in San Francisco, serves creative rolls without seafood, including a 'Surprise Ending' with avocado, asparagus and tofu.
“Shizen miraculously proves that great sushi is not incumbent on seafood, the entire menu is vegan.”
Yo También Cantina
Yo También Cantina serves a vibrant tamal bowl and nonalcoholic 'wellness' michelada in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset.
“The tamal bowl from Yo También Cantina is the antidote to depressing slop bowls.”
Capital
Capital, a Cantonese restaurant in San Francisco, has been operating since 2014 with a focus on traditional dishes.
“Capital, a Cantonese restaurant in San Francisco, has been operating since 2:00 PM.”
Eylan
Eylan, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Menlo Park, opened early last year as part of a luxury development.
“Eylan, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Menlo Park, opened early last year as part of a luxury development.”
Mister Jiu’s
Mister Jiu’s, a modern Chinese restaurant in San Francisco, celebrates its 10th anniversary with a focus on quality ingredients.
“Brandon Jew’s landmark modern Chinese restaurant celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and it does so triumphantly.”
La Taqueria
La Taqueria, a 50+ year old Mexican restaurant in San Francisco, is home to the Bay Area’s most celebrated burrito.
“Now more than 50 years old, La Taqueria is a defining Mexican restaurant in San Francisco and home to perhaps the Bay Area’s most celebrated burrito.”
Zuni Café
Zuni Café, a San Francisco institution, has been a favorite of City Hall types, gays, and families for nearly half a century.
“San Francisco is a city full of iconic restaurants and, while we love them for their atmosphere, history and sense of place, only a few still execute well enough to make this list.”
State Bird Provisions
State Bird Provisions, a San Francisco restaurant, offers dim sum-style small plates and a focus on the unexpected.
“Are you the type of person who arrives at a restaurant with your exact order planned out, having pored over the menu online? If so, State Bird Provisions is not the restaurant for you.”
Atelier Crenn
Atelier Crenn, a fine dining restaurant in San Francisco, is run by Dominique Crenn, who has multiple high-profile restaurant ventures.
“With everything Dominique Crenn has going on, opening one restaurant in Dior’s flagship store on Rodeo Drive, another in a new Waldorf Astoria property in Texas’ Hill Country, you’d be forgiven for assuming that Atelier Crenn is an afterthought.”
At a glance
The San Francisco Chronicle ranks 100 Bay Area restaurants, with new entries and shifts in the top tier.
