After a week (plus roughly 30 hours of flight delays home) of knocking around California’s Northwest coast, this humble list was born. Despite a nagging need for control in the majority of my life, one of my favorite ways to explore a city and its food is without much prior research. Everything on this list was stumbled upon, or recommended by friends and colleagues in the area, allowing each good meal feel like a pleasant surprise — and each bad one to be a sweet laughable moment.
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Without further ado…
The Not At All Definitive Sonoma to SF Hits List
Parkside Cafe, Stinson Beach
First of all, nobody told me Stinson Beach existed. The Big Little Lies energy was off the charts, and the avg of $4M homes where rampant. That being said, pulling in for a rest stop and walking up to Parkside Cafe was a nice bite of nostalgia. The coffee window felt like your local pool counter, and the simple options like a black coffee and fresh scone were welcome.
Cafe Aquatica, Jenner
Jenner is one of the most severe and beautiful towns I’ve been to in the United States. The Russian River hits the Pacific ocean, severed by black sand beaches and enormous rocks. All of this splendor is met with sleepy little beach towns, and eccentric restaurants & cafes like Cafe Aquatica. Here you can find a swath of seafood and veggie options (think crab rolls and grilled portobello sandwiches), along with a barista who 100% can guess your sun, moon, and rising. Enjoy your meal overlooking the mouth of the river and Goat Rock Beach.
Terrapin Creek, Bodega Bay
So much love for the guys at Terrapin Creek. This spot is one of only a small handful in Sonoma County to ever receive a Michelin star. While the star hasn’t been maintained, their commitment and relationship to local Bay area farmers is still as strong as ever, which is reflected in the food’s seasonality and super rich flavors. I had a corn chowder here that was borderline otherworldly.
El Buen Corner, Bernal Heights, San Francisco
Without completely playing favorites… El Buen Corner was 100% my favorite meal in SF. Your ice coffee comes with sweetened condensed milk, and your huevos divorciados are complete with some of the tastiest red and green salsas your brain and tummy could imagine. Those who know me know flan is also my favorite dessert, they make theirs with coconut shreds baked right into the custard and topped with an additional sprinkle of shavings. It’s divine.
Fancy Wheat Field Bakery, Portola, San Francisco
Part of a local chain with 5 other locations in the SF area, Fancy Wheat Field Bakery was a severely good find on a morning where coffee shop pastries were failing me. The red bean bun is always my favorite, and this one was baked with the bean custard in thick swirls rather than just a filling. Honorable mention to the ham, egg, & cheese bun which was every bit as good as it sounds.
Burma Love, Mission District, San Francisco
It felt as though everyone I met in SF asked me if I’d gone to Burma Love or Burma Superstar yet. I’d only recently learned about the Bay Area’s connection to Burmese food, and after the 4th ask or so was really excited to try this spot out. My order was so/so (I blame myself), but this Pork Pumpkin Stew was a wildly good choice, with super nourishing chunks of soft pumpkin and tender pork chunks in an onion-y broth. Alongside some coconut rice?? Perfection.
Florecita Bakers, Dogpatch, San Francisco
A Latina-owned Panadería, we arrived JUST in time to grab some of the last remaining conchas before 1PM. The Jamaica y Fresa and Matcha were gone, but the Churro flavor alongside a black cold brew. My pictures don’t do this pastry much justice, but enjoy this cross-section to feel like you’re almost taking your own bite.
Calaca Coffee, Dogpatch, San Francisco
This coffee went absolutely crazy. The cold brew had a nutmeg taste to it that I couldn’t quite place, but having just checked the ingredients have discovered that it’s fully brewed with coffee and cinnamon. It could almost be equal parts based on the richness of the flavor. Enjoy black or with a little cream, but it seriously does not need much.