Unearth The Voyage
San Francisco’s food scene never sleeps, and November 2025 proves it with a fresh wave of restaurants that are already drawing lines around the block. From high-end steakhouses to beloved taco pop-ups finally getting permanent homes, the city’s newest dining spots cover every craving and budget. Whether you’re hunting for Italian-Japanese fusion at the base of the Transamerica Pyramid or a classic Philly roast pork sandwich at the Embarcadero, these newest restaurants show why SF remains one of America’s most exciting food cities.
1. NoPa Fish (Ferry Building)
When the team behind Nopa and Nopalito decides to open a fish kiosk, you pay attention. Tucked inside the Ferry Building, this compact counter proves that great things come in small packages. Their short menu changes regularly but always hits the mark with creative seafood combinations that feel both familiar and fresh.
Smoked-trout latkes have become the breakout star, pairing crispy potato pancakes with silky fish and bright pickled beet hummus. The purple-pink hummus looks as good as it tastes, adding earthy sweetness to smoky trout. Everything arrives quickly despite being made to order. This might be a spin-off, but it’s already earning its own loyal following among Ferry Building regulars.
2. Parachute Bakery (Ferry Building)
Butter lovers, rejoice. The Sorrel team opened this pastry paradise for anyone who appreciates seriously good laminated dough. Their croissants shatter into a million flaky layers with each bite, while the kouign amann delivers that perfect combo of crispy caramelized edges and tender center.
Pan suisse adds a chocolate-studded twist to the morning pastry lineup. The coffee program deserves equal attention, especially the einspanners topped with clouds of whipped cream. Located right next to their new sister restaurant Arquet, Parachute makes the perfect pre-lunch stop or afternoon pick-me-up. Early birds get the best selection, though they bake in waves throughout the day to keep the cases full and tempting.
3. Super Mensch (Marina)
The Causwells crew knows how to throw a party, and their new Jewish deli goes all out with massive sandwiches and playful drinks. The Super Mensch sandwich lives up to its name with double pastrami piled so high you’ll need both hands and maybe a nap afterward. Every bite delivers that perfect combo of peppery, smoky meat with tangy mustard and soft rye.
Bagels-and-lox keep things classic while giant slabs of chocolate cake tempt from the dessert case. The cocktail menu brings unexpected fun with drinks like the babka Old Fashioned, mixing Jewish bakery vibes with whiskey sophistication. It’s the kind of place that makes you smile before you even order.
4. Maritime Boat Club (Union Square)
Hidden behind Bar Maritime at Palihotel, this upscale seafood spot feels like discovering a secret club. The dining room channels coastal elegance without going overboard on nautical cliches. Fresh oysters arrive on ice, briny and cold, while mussels escabeche swim in tangy, spiced broth that begs for crusty bread.
Feeling extravagant? The Kraken seafood tower costs $125 but feeds a crowd with multiple levels of crustaceans, shellfish, and other ocean treasures. It’s basically a centerpiece and dinner rolled into one Instagram-worthy moment. The tucked-away location adds to the special-occasion vibe, making it perfect for celebrations or impressing out-of-town visitors who think they’ve seen all of Union Square.
5. Bourbon Steak (Union Square)
Michael Mina brings the drama back to Union Square steakhouses with this splashy revival. Tableside preparations turn dinner into dinner theater, with servers finishing dishes right at your table while explaining each step. Caviar parfaits layer luxury ingredients in elegant glasses, looking almost too pretty to eat until you taste them.
Tuna tartare gets the Mina treatment with precise cuts and bold flavors that wake up your taste buds. The whole experience feels special without being stuffy, hitting that sweet spot between celebration and comfort. Next door, Steph Curry’s cocktail lounge Eighth Rule adds another reason to make the trip. Together, they’re transforming this Union Square corner into a destination worth planning your evening around.
6. The Happy Crane (Hayes Valley)
James Yeun Leon Parry transforms the former Monsieur Benjamin space into a modern Cantonese destination that respects tradition while pushing forward. His Little Fry King arrives glistening with XO sauce, that magical Cantonese condiment packed with dried seafood and chili heat. Each piece of crispy chicken gets coated in the complex, umami-rich sauce that makes you want to lick the plate.
The quail showcases Cantonese roast-duck techniques scaled down to smaller birds, with mahogany skin crackling under your fork. It’s fancy food that still feels approachable, never intimidating. Hayes Valley needed a restaurant like this, filling a gap in the neighborhood’s dining scene with flavors that stand out from the usual suspects lining the street.
7. Via Aurelia (Mission Rock)
The Che Fico team expands to Mission Rock with a Tuscan focus that brings Italian countryside vibes to the waterfront. Designer Jon de la Cruz created a space that feels both polished and welcoming, balancing rustic touches with modern comfort. Wild-boar pappardelle headlines the menu, with wide ribbons of pasta catching every bit of rich, gamey ragu.
Black cod gets the Tuscan treatment with braised leeks that add sweetness to the buttery fish. A tasting menu option lets you sample the kitchen’s full range if you can’t decide. The Mission Rock location puts you near the water with easier parking than most SF restaurants. It’s date-night fancy but also works for celebrating with friends over shared plates and wine.
8. Bosco (SoMa)
Ryan McIlwraith and Kaili Hill take over Bellota’s former home with a hearth-focused Italian concept that smells amazing before you even sit down. Fresh pasta gets made daily, with buckwheat chitarra offering nutty flavor and toothsome texture that holds onto sauces beautifully. Lemon spaghetti keeps things bright and simple, proving that sometimes the best dishes have the fewest ingredients.
Tigelle, those puffy little flatbreads from Bologna, arrive warm and perfect for wrapping around house-cured salumi. The hearth does double duty, cooking proteins and vegetables while adding that irreplaceable wood-fire flavor. It’s the kind of neighborhood spot SoMa residents will visit weekly, casual enough for Tuesday but special enough for occasions.
9. Fikscue – Thrive City (Mission Bay)
Alameda’s cult BBQ finally crosses the bay to Chase Center’s Thrive City plaza, and Warriors fans couldn’t be happier. Central Texas brisket meets Indonesian fried rice in a menu mashup that sounds random but makes perfect sense once you taste it. The brisket gets smoked low and slow until it develops that prized pink smoke ring and bark that cracks when you bite.
Indonesian fried rice brings sweet, savory, spicy notes that pair surprisingly well with smoky meats. They sell out constantly on game and concert days, so arrive early or risk disappointment. The plaza location means you can grab takeout before heading into the arena or sit outside when weather cooperates. It’s BBQ with a Bay Area twist.
10. Wolfsbane (Dogpatch)
The dream team behind Lord Stanley and Serpentine joins forces in Dogpatch for seasonal tasting menus that change with what’s fresh and inspiring. Rupert and Carrie Blease team up with Tommy Halvorson to create a restaurant that feels intimate and special without being precious. The tasting menu format lets the kitchen show off its full creativity across multiple courses.
Can’t commit to the full experience? The bar serves a la carte bites that give you a taste of their style in smaller doses. Dogpatch keeps attracting serious culinary talent, and Wolfsbane adds another reason to explore this waterfront neighborhood. Reservations book up quickly, especially for weekend slots, so plan ahead if you want to snag a table at this hot new spot.
11. Sohn (Dogpatch)
Deuki Hong and Janet Lee champion Korean makers and playful innovation at this all-day cafe that works for breakfast, lunch, or afternoon hangs. Their yuja-perilla espresso tonic sounds complicated but tastes like sunshine in a glass, mixing citrusy yuja with herbal perilla and coffee buzz. It’s the kind of drink that makes you rethink what’s possible with Korean ingredients.
Spicy cold noodle salads cool you down while waking up your taste buds with chili heat. The galbi patty melt takes Korean BBQ flavors and stuffs them into melty, griddled sandwich form that’s messy in the best way. The cafe vibe keeps things relaxed and approachable, making it easy to stop by solo or meet friends for a casual meal in Dogpatch.
12. Jerry’s Roast Pork (Embarcadero)
Baker Matthew Kosoy brings authentic Philly hoagies to the Embarcadero with his brick-and-mortar debut slated for the first week of November. Roast-pork sandwiches are the star, piled high with juicy pork, sharp provolone, and bitter broccoli rabe that cuts through the richness. It’s the kind of sandwich that makes Philly expats weepy with homesickness and converts everyone else into believers.
Classic Italian hoagies stack cold cuts, cheese, and tangy fixings on crusty rolls that hold up to all that filling. The Embarcadero Center location makes it perfect for downtown workers needing serious lunch fuel. After building buzz as a pop-up, Kosoy finally gets a permanent home to serve his sandwiches without tracking down his schedule or waiting for special events.
