For those who may not know,
San Francisco ranks as one of the best foodie cities in the US. It's right up there with New York, and in most cases, the two cities often go head-to-head for the title of America's food capital. San Francisco boasts a diverse culinary scene with different cuisines, high-quality hotspots, and unique delicacies. It's a place where you'll want to eat out for every meal you have! But the question remains: should you? Much like everything else, eating out in San Francisco regularly comes with its pros and cons. From the high prices to crowded restaurants, there's a lot you need to know about it.
Pros
Diverse Cuisines
Diversity has always been one of San Francisco's biggest strengths, and naturally, this includes the city's culinary scene. From the most popular Chinese and Latin-American to the more exotic Thai and Lebanese, eating out in the Bay Area allows you to try all sorts of amazing cuisines. Some of
San Francisco's central neighborhoods even highlight specific cuisines, such as Chinatown, Japantown, the Mission District, and Bayview-Hunter's Point, to name a few. You'll get to indulge in the best dumplings in Chinatown, the tastiest ramen & sushi in Japantown, the famous “Mission burrito” in the district of the same name, and the most flavorful soul food in Bayview-Hunter's Point.
Culinary Innovation
Did you know that San Francisco ranks among the best foodie cities in the world? It's even up to the point that it rivals New York City for the title of America's food capital. Part of it is the aforementioned diversity here, but there's also San Francisco's courageous approach to haute cuisine. Many of the restaurants here aren't afraid to go outside of the box, put their own spins on traditional cuisines, or make up entirely new and exciting dishes on their menus. The famous Lazy Bear in the Mission District's Hyatt Regency Hotel serves as a prime example. This hotspot's modern approach to classic American food is unlike any other!
Various Price Ranges
While there's no denying that
San Francisco's living costs are generally high, eating out in the city is a relatively different story. Is it cheap to eat out in San Francisco regularly? Not always, but it easily can be if you want to. There are just as many affordable eats in the city as there are upscale restaurants. For every Michelin-starred restaurant in the city center, there's a local, homegrown diner that arguably serves more fascinating flavors. A few great examples include Brenda's French Soul Food on Polk Street, Rossi's Deli on Castro Street, and Señor Sisig on Valencia Street.
Easier Than Cooking for Yourself
Arguably, the most challenging part of
moving to San Francisco and living the big city lifestyle here is ensuring you don't go hungry. Many of you might think that it's easy enough to just cook for yourself, but that's simply not for everyone. What if you can't cook at all? Or you don't have time in your busy schedule to prepare a delicious meal. Do you have to rely on cup noodles instead? Fortunately, no! You can still eat out and enjoy the finest cuisines prepared just for you. If you can afford it, you'll never have to cook for yourself in San Francisco.
Cons
Expect High Prices
As mentioned in the previous point, you'll never have to cook for yourself if you can afford to eat out in San Francisco regularly. Emphasis on “if you can afford to,” though! Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed to be part of the 1% or even hold a high-paying job that can afford you to either hire a private chef or eat out for every single meal in your life. It's fairly easy enough to enjoy affordable eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but they're not always the high-quality food, not to mention the safest for your health!
Expect Crowded Restaurants
Now, if you
can afford to eat out for every meal you'll ever have in San Francisco, there's another hurdle you'll have to overcome: crowded restaurants. Don't forget that the city's culinary scene is so popular that it's among the best in the world! Naturally, this means almost everyone else will want to eat out at all the best hotspots in the city. From the most acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant and chicest bistros to even the cheapest diners and closest food trucks, it won't always be easy to breezy to get food in any or all of them! You'll be competing against the approximately 800,00 people who also live here, not to mention the tourists, too!
Expect to Eat at Bustling Neighborhoods
Eating out in this city regularly will ultimately lead you to grow tired of your usual haunts. You may like your favorite diner that's only across the street from your
luxury apartment in San Francisco, but there will come a time when you'll want to venture beyond your neighborhood and try something new. You'll ask around, and locals and tourists alike will recommend that you go to some of the busiest parts of town, which also have many of the best restaurants. Unfortunately, however, they're not always the safest districts in the city. Take Chinatown, for example, which is generally safe during the day, but can admittedly get fairly sketchy at night.
Expect the Different Effects on Your Health
The big difference between eating out in San Francisco (or any other big city, for that matter) and eating out in a small town in the
American countryside is that only one of the two ensures the ingredients are fresh and organic. And news flash: it's not the former! This isn't to say San Francisco doesn't have awesome eateries that highlight organic cuisine made of the freshest, farm-to-table ingredients, but they're far and few between. Unless you're only eating at the vegan hotspots in town, you never truly know what you're putting inside your body every time you dine out in San Francisco.
Think long and hard about whether eating out in San Francisco regularly, for all your meals, is the right lifestyle for you in this city. While it’s certainly exciting and convenient, it can also get very expensive, stressful, and may have various effects on your health.
