Food Fire + Knives

From clam chowder to fortune cookies, a huge variety of iconic foods defines San Francisco’s food scene.
Diverse influences and the city’s rich history meld into culinary traditions that are inspired, flavorful, and one-of-a-kind.
To enjoy the best food San Francisco is known for without restaurant hopping, book a Food Fire + Knives private chef experience.

Great food in San Francisco is shaped by its Gold Rush history, multicultural influences, and nearby vineyards. From the bustling eateries of Chinatown to the seafood restaurants lining Fisherman’s Wharf, you’ll find an array of delicacies as diverse as the city itself.

Here’s a list of six favorites you have to try when you’re exploring the San Francisco food scene.

1. Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bowl

Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl

If there’s a single food that San Francisco is known for, it has to be this hearty, creamy favorite. And while the soup itself is essentially New England-style clam chowder that came west in the 19th century, it’s how it’s presented here that sets it apart.

Restaurants that dot Fisherman’s Wharf are happy to give you a petite cup of this steamy, almost-stewy seafood soup. But if you want to experience this great San Francisco food the way it was meant to be savored, be sure to have your clam chowder in a fresh-baked sourdough bread bowl.

The pairing of tangy, chewy sourdough with the briny sweetness of the chowder is out of this world. Try some at a spot like Fog Harbor Fish House on Pier 39, and you’ll get breathtaking views to go along with your San Francisco treat.

2. Mission-Style Burritos

We’re not talking about the type you grab at Taco Bell. The Mission-style burrito (so-named for its origins in the city’s Mission District) is ENORMOUS. What’s inside, you ask? Well, it’s your call, but here’s what to expect:

A giant, steamed flour tortilla
Rice
Beans
A protein (from carne asada to grilled shrimp, and even plant-based options)
Sour cream or crema
Guacamole
Salsa
Cheese

Trust us, each item isn’t daintily dolloped onto the tortilla. It’s all packed in until the whole thing practically bursts. That’s why a Mission-style burrito is classically wrapped tightly in foil before serving. Something’s got to hold in all of those great ingredients!

3. Cioppino

Another globally inspired favorite making this list of foods San Francisco is known for is cioppino. In the late 1800s, Italian immigrant fishermen blended their own kitchen staples of tomato, wine, garlic, onions, and spices with leftovers from the day’s catch. In fact, legend has it that this dish’s name comes from neighbors who would “chip in” what they had into a communal pot.

The resulting seafood stew evolved from these humble beginnings to grace the menus of many top chefs today. While locals may argue over whether Sotto Mare in North Beach or Scoma’s on Fisherman’s Wharf serves the best rendition, no one disagrees that cioppino is one of the great foods in San Francisco.

4. Dungeness Crab

The arrival of Dungeness crab season in the Bay Area (typically in November) is treated almost like a holiday. In fact, with the timing of its arrival so near winter festivities, it’s no wonder Dungeness crab features in many traditional holiday meals for locals.

This prized San Francisco food is known for its sweet, delicate meat and tender texture. It’s often served whole and is steamed or roasted. Alongside, you’ll find melted butter and lemon—simple accompaniments that allow the natural flavor of Dungeness crab to shine through.

You’ll also see Dungeness crab featured in crab cakes, cioppino, salads, and more. And for a kicked-up version on the San Francisco food scene, Crab House at Pier 39 serves what they call their “World-Famous Dungeness Killer Crab®”---a whole crab roasted in their delicious secret garlic sauce.

5. Chinese Food

Diners enjoying several types of dim sum on a table

This entry may sound pretty broad, but that’s because you could probably dedicate pages of delicious descriptors to the huge variety of vibrant flavors on offer in San Fran’s Chinatown.

When Chinese immigrants brought flavors from the other side of the world to the Bay Area during the Gold Rush, few could predict their lasting influence on the food San Francisco has become known for. Favorite dishes in this famed neighborhood include:

Dim sum
Roast duck
Barbecue pork
Egg tarts

While it’s not clear if fortune cookies were invented here, Chinatown is credited with popularizing them. Visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory to see up to 10,000 cookies made each day!

6. Napa Valley Wines

Okay, wine isn’t a food. But wine is intrinsically linked to great food in San Francisco, and Napa Valley’s proximity makes it a natural culinary partner.

Perfect Pairings

Napa wines pair beautifully with many of the foods San Francisco is known for:

Chardonnay with Dungeness crab
Sauvignon Blanc with clam chowder
Pinot Noir with cioppino

The top restaurants in the city have built extensive wine programs around the bottles Napa produces; expect exceptional pairings that bring out the best in local foods. Wines in the Bay Area aren’t an afterthought: they are an essential part of the dining story of San Francisco.

Savor the Food San Francisco Is Known For With Food Fire + Knives

With a food scene as diverse as San Francisco’s, you’d have to do a lot of dining out to experience the city’s top flavors. But there’s an easier way to enjoy great food in San Francisco, all prepared in your own kitchen!

When you book a private chef experience with Food Fire + Knives, an exceptional local chef plates five-star creations right at your own dining table. It’s an interactive, engaging, delicious way to sample the City by the Bay’s greatest hits, all for one transparent price.

Reserve your FFK private chef today, and taste the fantastic foods San Francisco is known for.