2012 Ambitious Eats
Benu is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

1. Benu

7.8
22 Hawthorne St (at Howard St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · SoMa · 93 tips and reviews
Umami Burger is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

2. Umami Burger

2184 Union St (at Fillmore St), San Francisco, CA
Burger Joint · Union Street · 173 tips and reviews
Zushi Puzzle is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

3. Zushi Puzzle

7.9
1910 Lombard St (at Buchanan St), San Francisco, CA
Sushi Restaurant · Marina District · 78 tips and reviews
Swan Oyster Depot is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

4. Swan Oyster Depot

8.6
1517 Polk St (btwn Sacramento & California St.), San Francisco, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Polk Gulch · 218 tips and reviews
Broken Record is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

5. Broken Record

1166 Geneva Ave (at Edinburgh St), San Francisco, CA
Gastropub · Crocker Amazon · 95 tips and reviews
Bushi-Tei is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

6. Bushi-Tei

1638 Post St (btw Webster & Laguna), San Francisco, CA
Japanese Restaurant · Japantown · 4 tips and reviews
Blowfish Sushi to Die For is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

7. Blowfish Sushi to Die For

2170 Bryant St (at 20th St), San Francisco, CA
Sushi Restaurant · Mission District · 123 tips and reviews
R&G Lounge is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

8. R&G Lounge

8.2
631 Kearny St (at Clay St), San Francisco, CA
Cantonese Restaurant · Chinatown · 273 tips and reviews
Humphry Slocombe is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

9. Humphry Slocombe

8.9
2790 Harrison St (at 24th St), San Francisco, CA
Ice Cream Parlor · Mission District · 375 tips and reviews
Bi-Rite Creamery is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

10. Bi-Rite Creamery

9.2
3692 18th St (at Dolores St), San Francisco, CA
Ice Cream Parlor · Mission Dolores · 687 tips and reviews
Lers Ros Thai is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

11. Lers Ros Thai

8.6
730 Larkin St (btwn Ellis & O'Farrell St), San Francisco, CA
Thai Restaurant · Tenderloin · 280 tips and reviews
Coi is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

12. Coi

373 Broadway (at Bartol), San Francisco, CA
American Restaurant · North Beach · 61 tips and reviews
Michael Mina is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

13. Michael Mina

8.1
252 California St (at Battery), San Francisco, CA
American Restaurant · Financial District · 78 tips and reviews
Quince is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

14. Quince

8.9
470 Pacific Ave (at Montgomery St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Jackson Square · 77 tips and reviews
House of Prime Rib is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

15. House of Prime Rib

8.9
1906 Van Ness Ave (btw Jackson & Washington), San Francisco, CA
Steakhouse · Polk Gulch · 314 tips and reviews
Namu is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

16. Namu

439 Balboa St (at 6th Ave), San Francisco, CA
Korean Restaurant · Inner Richmond · 16 tips and reviews
Aziza is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

17. Aziza

8.4
5800 Geary Blvd (at 22nd Ave), San Francisco, CA
Moroccan Restaurant · Outer Richmond · 106 tips and reviews
Spruce is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

18. Spruce

8.9
3640 Sacramento St (btwn Spruce & Locust St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Presidio Heights · 133 tips and reviews
Halu is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

19. Halu

312 8th Ave (at Clement St), San Francisco, CA
Japanese Restaurant · Inner Richmond · 73 tips and reviews
Bar Crudo is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

20. Bar Crudo

9.1
655 Divisadero St (at Grove St), San Francisco, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Panhandle · 214 tips and reviews
Nopa is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

21. Nopa

9.2
560 Divisadero St (at Hayes St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Alamo Square · 557 tips and reviews
SPQR is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

22. SPQR

8.0
1911 Fillmore St (btwn Bush & Pine St), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · Lower Pacific Heights · 171 tips and reviews
Dosa is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

23. Dosa

1700 Fillmore St (at Post St.), San Francisco, CA
Indian Restaurant · Japantown · 208 tips and reviews
Baker & Banker is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

24. Baker & Banker

1701 Octavia St (at Bush St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Japantown · 67 tips and reviews
Frances is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

25. Frances

9.0
3870 17th St (at Pond St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Castro · 157 tips and reviews
Roam Artisan Burgers is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

26. Roam Artisan Burgers

8.6
1785 Union St (btwn Gough St & Octavia St), San Francisco, CA
Burger Joint · Union Street · 193 tips and reviews
Absinthe Brasserie & Bar is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

27. Absinthe Brasserie & Bar

8.3
398 Hayes St (at Gough St), San Francisco, CA
French Restaurant · Civic Center · 252 tips and reviews
Zuni Café is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

28. Zuni Café

8.6
1658 Market St (at Rose St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Civic Center · 318 tips and reviews
Contigo is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

29. Contigo

1320 Castro St (at 24th St), San Francisco, CA
Spanish Restaurant · Noe Valley · 66 tips and reviews
Delfina is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

30. Delfina

8.9
3621 18th St (Guerrero St), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · Mission Dolores · 125 tips and reviews
Range is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

31. Range

842 Valencia St (at 19th), San Francisco, CA
American Restaurant · Mission Dolores · 111 tips and reviews
Mission Chinese Food is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

32. Mission Chinese Food

7.9
2234 Mission St (btwn 18th & 19th St), San Francisco, CA
Chinese Restaurant · Mission District · 314 tips and reviews
Bar Bambino is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

33. Bar Bambino

2931 16th St, San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · Mission District · 24 tips and reviews
Ryoko's Japanese Restaurant & Bar is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

34. Ryoko's Japanese Restaurant & Bar

8.7
619 Taylor St (at Cosmo Pl), San Francisco, CA
Sushi Restaurant · Lower Nob Hill · 444 tips and reviews
Incanto is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

35. Incanto

1550 Church St (at Duncan St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Noe Valley · 63 tips and reviews
Foreign Cinema is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

36. Foreign Cinema

9.2
2534 Mission St (btwn 21st & 22nd St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Mission District · 362 tips and reviews
La Taqueria is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

37. La Taqueria

9.2
2889 Mission St (at 25th St), San Francisco, CA
Burrito Restaurant · Mission District · 443 tips and reviews
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

38. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

9.1
1570 Stockton St (at Union St), San Francisco, CA
Pizzeria · North Beach · 466 tips and reviews
flour + water is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

39. flour + water

8.9
2401 Harrison St (at 20th St), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · Mission District · 264 tips and reviews
Wayfare Tavern is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

40. Wayfare Tavern

8.9
558 Sacramento St (at Leidesdorff St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Financial District · 320 tips and reviews
Bix is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

41. Bix

8.7
56 Gold St (btw Montgomery & Sansome), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Jackson Square · 111 tips and reviews
La Torta Gorda is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

42. La Torta Gorda

8.4
2833 24th St (btwn Bryant & York), San Francisco, CA
Latin American Restaurant · Mission District · 63 tips and reviews
Prospect is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

43. Prospect

7.8
300 Spear St (at Folsom St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Rincon Hill · 129 tips and reviews
Perbacco is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

44. Perbacco

8.4
230 California St (btwn Battery & Front St), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · Financial District · 133 tips and reviews
Shanghai Dumpling King is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

45. Shanghai Dumpling King

3319 Balboa St (btwn 34th & 35th Ave), San Francisco, CA
Dumpling Restaurant · Outer Richmond · 170 tips and reviews
Tacolicious is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

46. Tacolicious

8.1
2250 Chestnut St (at Avila St), San Francisco, CA
Taco Restaurant · Marina District · 164 tips and reviews
Rosamunde Sausage Grill is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

47. Rosamunde Sausage Grill

545 Haight St (btwn Fillmore & Steiner St), San Francisco, CA
Hot Dog Joint · Lower Haight · 132 tips and reviews
Tartine Bakery is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

48. Tartine Bakery

9.0
600 Guerrero St (at 18th St), San Francisco, CA
Bakery · Mission Dolores · 769 tips and reviews
Pizzeria Delfina is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

49. Pizzeria Delfina

9.0
3611 18th St (btwn Guerrero St & Oakwood St), San Francisco, CA
Pizzeria · Mission Dolores · 266 tips and reviews
Blue Bottle Coffee is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

50. Blue Bottle Coffee

66 Mint Plaza (at Jessie St), San Francisco, CA
Coffee Shop · SoMa · 736 tips and reviews
Little Skillet is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

51. Little Skillet

7.6
360 Ritch St (at Lusk St), San Francisco, CA
Southern Food Restaurant · SoMa · 171 tips and reviews
Hog Island Oyster Co. is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

52. Hog Island Oyster Co.

9.2
1 Ferry Bldg #11 (at The Embarcadero), San Francisco, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Financial District · 406 tips and reviews
Chez Papa Resto is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

53. Chez Papa Resto

4 Mint Plz (btwn Mint & 5th St.), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · SoMa · 22 tips and reviews
Thermidor is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

54. Thermidor

8 Mint Plz, San Francisco, CA
American Restaurant · SoMa · 17 tips and reviews
Ramen Dojo is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

55. Ramen Dojo

7.9
805 S B St (at 8th St), San Mateo, CA
Ramen Restaurant · Downtown San Mateo · 167 tips and reviews
AQ Restaurant & Bar is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

56. AQ Restaurant & Bar

1085 Mission St (at 7th), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · SoMa · 66 tips and reviews
Park Tavern is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

57. Park Tavern

1652 Stockton St (at Filbert St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · North Beach · 204 tips and reviews
Beretta is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

58. Beretta

9.1
1199 Valencia St (at 23rd St), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · Mission District · 490 tips and reviews
Gary Danko is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

59. Gary Danko

8.7
800 North Point St (at Hyde St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · 140 tips and reviews
Jardinière is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

60. Jardinière

300 Grove St (at Franklin St), San Francisco, CA
French Restaurant · Civic Center · 63 tips and reviews
Boulevard is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

61. Boulevard

8.9
1 Mission St (at Steuart), San Francisco, CA
French Restaurant · 131 tips and reviews
Twenty Five Lusk is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

62. Twenty Five Lusk

7.9
25 Lusk St (off Townsend St, btwn 3rd & 4th St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · SoMa · 154 tips and reviews
Anchor Oyster Bar is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

63. Anchor Oyster Bar

8.9
579 Castro St (btwn 18th & 19th St), San Francisco, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Castro · 130 tips and reviews
Bar Tartine is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

64. Bar Tartine

561 Valencia St (btwn 16th & 17th St), San Francisco, CA
American Restaurant · Mission District · 156 tips and reviews
The Dancing Pig is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

65. The Dancing Pig

544 Castro St (btwn 18th & 19th), San Francisco, CA
BBQ Joint · Castro · 17 tips and reviews
Parallel 37 Ritz-Carlton is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

66. Parallel 37 Ritz-Carlton

7.7
600 Stockton St (California Street), San Francisco, CA
American Restaurant · Chinatown · 16 tips and reviews
Fifth Floor is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

67. Fifth Floor

12 4th St (at Market), San Francisco, CA
Lounge · SoMa · 36 tips and reviews
The Golden West is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

68. The Golden West

8 Trinity Pl (at Sutter St), San Francisco, CA
Sandwich Spot · Downtown San Francisco-Union Square · 46 tips and reviews
Boccalone Salumeria is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

69. Boccalone Salumeria

1 Ferry Building, #21 (The Embarcadero), San Francisco, CA
Butcher · Financial District · 85 tips and reviews
Plow is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

70. Plow

8.9
1299 18th St (at Texas St), San Francisco, CA
Breakfast Spot · Potrero Hill · 385 tips and reviews
Truly Mediterranean is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

71. Truly Mediterranean

8.2
3109 16th St (at Valencia St), San Francisco, CA
Mediterranean Restaurant · Mission Dolores · 79 tips and reviews
Nojo Ramen Tavern is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

72. Nojo Ramen Tavern

8.6
231 Franklin St (at Linden St), San Francisco, CA
Ramen Restaurant · Civic Center · 120 tips and reviews
Presidio Social Club is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

73. Presidio Social Club

8.2
563 Ruger St, San Francisco, CA
American Restaurant · Presidio National Park · 94 tips and reviews
One Market Restaurant is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

74. One Market Restaurant

7.5
1 Market St (at Steuart St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Financial District · 53 tips and reviews
RN74 is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

75. RN74

301 Mission St (at Beale St), San Francisco, CA
French Restaurant · SoMa · 155 tips and reviews
Coco500 is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

76. Coco500

500 Brannan St (at 4th St.), San Francisco, CA
American Restaurant · SoMa · 68 tips and reviews
Rickybobby is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

77. Rickybobby

400 Haight St (at Webster St), San Francisco, CA
Southern Food Restaurant · Lower Haight · 67 tips and reviews
Maven is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

78. Maven

598 Haight St (at Steiner St), San Francisco, CA
Cocktail Bar · Lower Haight · 120 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Communal tables, huge living wall, and culinary cocktails may be everything that's hip in San Francisco dining right now, but Maven is, above all, a great neighborhood restaurant. [Eater 38 Member]

SliderBar is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

79. SliderBar

2295 Market St (at 16th St.), San Francisco, CA
Burger Joint · Castro · 48 tips and reviews
Ramen Shop is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

80. Ramen Shop

8.3
5812 College Ave (at Oak Grove Ave), Oakland, CA
Ramen Restaurant · Rockridge · 133 tips and reviews
Woodhouse Fish Co. is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

81. Woodhouse Fish Co.

2073 Market St (at 14th St), San Francisco, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Duboce Triangle · 171 tips and reviews
Maruya is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

82. Maruya

7.8
2931 16th St (Capp), San Francisco, CA
Sushi Restaurant · Mission District · 54 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Pristine omakase is the name of the game at this tiny sushi spot, which boasts the talents of longtime local great Masaki Sasaki. Expect a Japanese-style sushi experience at Japanese-style prices.

Iyasare is one of 2012 Ambitious Eats.

83. Iyasare

8.5
1830 4th St, Berkeley, CA
Japanese Restaurant · 33 tips and reviews

EaterEater: With both Japanese and American influences, the menu spans sushi, miso-cured pork chops, sea urchin fettuccine, and hibachi-grilled beef tongue. It's rustic and refined at the same time.