San Francisco - Russian Hill - Restaurants

1516 Broadway, San Francisco 94109
415-885-4477

Cossu

Paging Aladdin and Scheherazade. Over-the-top Disney set with every imaginable Arabian Nights cliche. Ornate wall murals, beanbag cushions, tapestries and carpets from Azerbaijan. Live music, waite... read more

2424 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco 94109
415-345-0072

Helmand Palace

A boulder through the back door (landslide!) forced a change of location, but the excellent Afghani cuisine served on white table clothes at bargain prices remains. Owner Mahmoud Karzai, brother of... read more

1919 Hyde St., San Francisco 94109
415-771-3100

Za Pizza

Gen X version of Big Chill. Hangout place stripped down to basics. Creedence and the Giants game, our favorite beers on tap. Friendly family hole in the wall with warm oven smells and monthly art e... read more

2237 Polk St., San Francisco 94109
415-474-4088

Yabbies Coastal Kitchen

Voted Best Seafood in 2006 by SF Weekly. Floor-to-ceiling chalkboard menu, raw bar covered with heaps o’ crab legs waiting to be cracked, bevy of oysters poised for shucking. Nightly regulars welco... read more

1999 Hyde St., San Francisco
415-775-6818

Swensen’s Ice Cream Parlor

Gee Mr. Swensen, your ice cream sure tastes swell. Original parlor on the same corner since 1948, and now 300 or so spread all over globe. Homemade caramel turtle fudge and sticky chewy chocolate, ... read more

1468 Hyde St., San Francisco
415-771-9774

U-Lee

Possibly the best pot stickers in the city: fat and full, pan-fried crispy, and the size of a croissant. Business-card testimonials from around the world to prove it’s not hyperbole. Surprisingly u... read more

2000 Hyde St., San Francisco 94109
415-346-0800

Zarzuela

Not quite like the late-night tapas experience we had in Seville, but it tries. Bread and olives as soon as you sit down, nice. Chef/owner from Madrid, and from the looks of things a fan of bullfig... read more

2141 Polk St., San Francisco 94109
415-775-1055

Street

Will and Grace and their buddies talk current events at the corner window. Charming feel-good den feeds friends and neighbors. Sit at the bar, drink house-infused vodka (love the Apripolitan), and ... read more

2323 Polk St., San Francisco 94109
415-441-2244

Rex Cafe

High-ceilinged, saloon-styled spot with fading streams of sunlight, Cheer’s-like center bar, and lazy fans circling dreamily overhead. A bastion for bitter locals along the sadly yuppified stretch ... read more

1517 Polk St., San Francisco 94109
415-673-1101

Swan Oyster Depot

Tiny, no-nonsense, and bursting at the gills with the freshest seafood ever since 1912. Motley assortment of lunchers, from socialites to Hell’s Angels, lining up on sidewalk for one of 22 counter ... read more

1916 Hyde St., San Francisco
415-440-1905

Sushi Groove

Club royalty Martel & Nabiel’s original excursion. Petite, pricey and date-perfect. Warm, golden tones and quiveringly fresh fish make this the grooviest sushi indeed. Amberjack sashimi and sublime... read more

2308 Polk St., San Francisco
415-345-1107

Boulange de Polk

So authentic, all that’s missing is the cig smoke (though it's banned in Paris now too). French expats and DINKS from down the street savoring home-baked quiches, smoked salmon frittata, and macar... read more

1901 Hyde St., San Francisco 94109
415-928-1406

Frascati

A Russian Hill charmer for all you Romeos. Hood fave since '87. Romantic corner spot with wine-centric menu, seasonal Cal-Med cuisine (addictive bread salad, carrot-orange bisque, bread pudding) an... read more

2100 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco 94109
415-673-1888

Harris’ Steak House

Organic my ass. Sometimes all you crave is a thick slab of old-school dry-aged steak the size of your liver. No concessions to nouvelle cuisine here: spinach is creamed, booths are highhbacked, wai... read more

1516 Broadway, San Francisco
415-885-4477

Pasha

Paging Aladdin and Scheherazade. Over-the-top Disney set with every imaginable Arabian Nights cliché. Ornate wall murals, beanbag cushions, tapestries and carpets from Azerbaijan. Live music, waite... read more

1500 Broadway, San Francisco 94109
415-409-8226

Nick’s Crispy Tacos

Me encanta Nick's Crispy, home of the city's best fish tacos. Chef-owner Nick rents out day space from nightclub impresario Harry Denton. Thus the Mexican ponchos over plush velvet booths and super... read more

1896 Hyde St., San Francisco 94109
415-674-4343

Luella

Banana Republic casting call meets sleek, organic-chic Russian Hill eatery. Will it be Botox or Bordeaux tonight? Wines by the glass, chartreuse banquettes, lowlit ambience makes for girls-night-ou... read more