SFGuide
The Best Restaurants In Bayview
photo credit: Carly Hackbarth
Go to the southeast corner of the city and you'll land in Bayview-Hunters Point. This historic neighborhood by the bay is known for having some of the sunniest weather in town, and is also covered in loads of amazing restaurants serving everything from slow-cooked gumbo to giant $6 sandwiches, and rich West African stews. Now get going, there’s a lot of food to get into.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Carly Hackbarth
This soul food spot in Bayview delivers world-changing gumbo. It’s incredibly rich, buttery, and creamy all at once, and the explosion of flavors will have eyes popping out of your head like a cartoon. There are a few options (including a vegan gumbo), from a hearty and slow-cooked chicken and sausage to smoky turkey. While the stews are why you're here, the po'boys are on point. They rotate constantly, but if the charred grilled shrimp with the creamy, garlicky sauce is there, get it. The best part is that this spot is casual to the max: paper plates and cups take the place of silverware, and it's counter service. The not-so-great news is that the food often runs out (it’s that good), so get in early, especially if you want seconds (you’re gonna want seconds).
photo credit: Julia Chen
Radio Africa & Kitchen is the perfect light lunch spot: it involves vegetables, and North African-leaning dishes, like chicken jambalaya and roasted eggplant with black-eyed peas—they won’t make you useless for the rest of the afternoon, and taste excellent, too. If on the menu, go for the plump saffron prawns over couscous, or the simple yet flavor-packed arugula salad with tomatoes and beets. This pleasant place is where to slow down and take a break—it’s flooded with natural light and full of books you’ll want to spend all afternoon with.
photo credit: Brit Finnegan
This longstanding Mexican bakery has been around in one form or another since the 1950s, and they're still serving their flavorful pan dulce out of their Mission storefront. This, however, is their Bayview production facility and warehouse where you can also buy their bread that’s baked fresh daily (cash-only). The selection varies from day to day, but count on grabbing a tray and picking from a mix of conchas, flaky empanadas, soft telera, and bolillos. As you'd expect from one of the city's best panaderías, their pan (especially the conchas), are always plump and fresh—two qualities that not every bakery nails.
photo credit: Brit Finnegan
Looking for a perfect thin-crust pie? You need All Good Pizza. It’s a casual lunch spot to visit when the sun is out and the wind is calm, since it’s just a trailer located in a gorgeous garden is full of picnic tables and succulents. As far as the pies go, they're so crunchy and tomato sauce-heavy that you'll want to order one for yourself and yourself alone. Make that one be the pizza with juicy slices of spicy Louisiana hot links that complement the cracker-like crust well. While you’re here for the pizzas, there’s also a selection of solid paninis, like turkey chipotle, and simple kale and arugula salads to round out the lunch feast (they close at 5pm daily).
photo credit: Brit Finnegan
Old Skool Cafe is a restaurant and a nonprofit violence prevention program that provides job training to youth ages 16-22. Everyone on staff, from the servers to the hosts, wears red and black fedoras, bowties, and suspenders, to go along with the '20s-inspired jazz supper club theme. This spot serves soul food classics, like fried chicken, gooey mac and cheese, and brussels sprouts with a sesame soy dressing, plus a few dishes inspired by the staff. You won't be disappointed by anything you order, especially if you order Abu’s West African peanut butter stew. It’s cooked in coconut milk with sweet potatoes, and is light yet incredibly rich and creamy at the same time.
photo credit: Brit Finnegan
You could (and should) come to Hungry Cafe, inside the Southeast Community Center, and enjoy a chocolate croissant, a blueberry-and-strawberry-covered oatmeal, and other cafe classics. But don’t miss out on their menu of great Egyptian and North African dishes with creative spins. If you’re stuck on what to order, we recommend the Mediterranean fried chicken seasoned with sumac, the spicy harissa chicken levant bánh mì, and the turkey hoagie with a Yemeni zhoug sauce. This place is so massive that you’ll never have to worry about finding a seat in the middle of the workday lunch rush. So camp out with a laptop and take care of that important work thing you’ve been putting off for weeks.
photo credit: Frank Grizzly's
Frank Grizzly's is a spot for simple, well-executed Cali-Mexican food—and there are a lot of options, from spicy chipotle chicken quesadillas to duck tacos to super nachos. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu at this casual place, but our favorites include the extra melty quesadillas on spinach tortillas that are toasted to perfection, the juicy birria tacos, and the burritos that you’ll need four hands to hold. The agua fresca flavors rotate, but the not-too-sweet watermelon is a winner.
photo credit: Ricky Rodriguez
Cafe Alma is a giant coffee shop and community event space that’s great for meetups with friends, deep morning personal reflections, or an easy snack. This warehouse-like place is a mid-century dream: full of rotating art, vintage cookware, and plush couches. On top of hiring and sourcing products from within Bayview, their menu of smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, salads, and paninis put a fun spin on classic cafe food. Standout items include the avocado toast coated in housemade furikake and the open-faced egg sandwich generously topped with seasonal mushrooms and ricotta.
photo credit: Brit Finnegan
La Laguna is performing carnitas sorcery. This taqueria has pretty standard offerings, like generously filled tacos, huevos rancheros, and lunch plates big enough to feed a linebacker. But this is pork paradise, so you’re here for the carnitas, specifically in the form of a super burrito. The meat is soft, crisped at the edges, and will make you rethink everything you know about slow-cooked meat. There are also tons of tables, for spending quality one-on-one time with said burrito.
photo credit: Julia Chen
When you need an immediate sugar rush in the neighborhood, Yvonne’s Southern Sweets is the logical answer. The takeout-only bakery on 3rd St. is a Bayview staple—they do have limited hours though, so do all the necessary schedule rearranging to get here. We love the mini pecan pie, which is thick with caramel and just the right amount of sweet, along with their simple yet impeccable butter cookies and fluffy 7Up cake slices.
photo credit: Tato
When you need to soak in the sun like a lizard, the back patio at this counter-service Mexican spot awaits. It’s a light-filled hideaway off 3rd Street, complete with floral picnic tables for big groups and string lights. It’s also inviting inside, thanks to booths and a huge “Hecho En Bayview” mural. Wherever you sit, just make sure the juicy slow-braised carnitas, or coffee-and-ancho-chili-rubbed salmon covered in chipotle aioli are on the table. Also, on Fridays, satisfying two-taco plates with rice and beans are pay-what-you-can.
photo credit: Julia Chen
This sandwich joint excels at the art of the Big Ass Sandwich. The tuna, turkey, and roast beef ones at this cash-only spot are stuffed within an inch of their lives, and run only $6 apiece (that’s no misprint). They’re also damn good, stacked high with cheese, lettuce, and tomato on your choice of bread, like dutch crunch or ciabatta. During the daily noon rush, the line snakes through the racks of chips and soda fridges, and out the door. But things are efficient, and you’ll be with your loaded lunch bag and on your way in no time.
photo credit: Brit Finnegan
What’s the Scoop is a music-themed one-stop shop for all things sweet, including ice cream, cookies, and milkshakes. Tubs of thin mint, grasshopper pie, and New York cherry are on display in the fridge, jars of marshmallows, Oreos, and other toppings fill the space, and housemade cookies envelop the room in a sugary aroma at all times. Stopping in for a cone or a thick snickerdoodle or oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwich—with music-inspired names like The Mixtape or MP3 Player—is a must any time frozen dessert calls to you, or, really, whenever you’re in the area.
photo credit: Craftsman and Wolves
The Den, by Craftsman and Wolves, has the same menu as the one in the Mission, which is good news for anyone who loves their classic egg inside a sausage-cheese-onion muffin—like us. This cafe has much less seating than the Valencia spot, so it’s better suited for quick takeout because you're busy and time is a precious commodity. Luckily that makes it easy to get our favorites, like the unconventional sourdough cubano with well-seasoned pulled pork, and the summertime salad with watermelon and halloumi that’s sweet and savory.
photo credit: Ricky Rodriguez
Do you need a place that can feed a crowd and satisfy the picky people in your life? The Deli Lama is your place. While it’s a simple counter-service spot located inside an industrial garage, the menu has range, and something for everyone (even Jim from accounting)—like big breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, wraps, salads, sandwiches, cheesesteaks, and burgers. The service is quick, so it’s the ideal place for breakfast or lunch (they’re only open weekdays, from 5:30am to 2:30pm).
