Thanks to Rick! This was my first time as a backpack traveler and I really love it! I packed light, I wore my old clothes and left them behind to save room for Gouda, Chocolate, Stroopwafels, and stuff (who knows… from AMS) :–))
More info: http://www.ricksteves.com
When preparing a trip to SF you probably run into tons of information, so here are my favorites:
- Art/Museums: MOMA, SFWMPAC, Asian Art Museum, YBCA. Galleries: just walk along Geary, Post and Sutter, I usually go to one of these.
- Landmarks: hop onto a cable car/muni to Chinatown, Japantown - parking, Little Italy, City Hall, Coit Tower or Union Square (shopaholics heaven), Tin How/Kong Chow/Norras Temple, Mission Dolores. You would need a car to Golden Gate Park, Lombard Street or Sausalito
- Photo Ops: Grace Cathedral, Chinatown Alleys (Waverly Place, Pagoda Place, Spofford Lane, and Ross Alley, between Grant and Stockton. Ross Alley is the oldest alley in the city and many movies have had scenes shot here), Sutro Baths, Corona Heights, Mission District, Twin Peek, Exploratorium & Palace of Fine Arts, Lombard St, and of course the Golden Gate Bridge (but you should cross the bridge north to Golden Gate Recreation Area for spectacular views)
- Family/kids: Pier 39/Fisherman’s Wharf (shopping districts with more than 110 stores, restaurant/coffee shops with bay views). Make sure to check out local events (I like Film Festivals and Cultural Events).
- Dining: (here are the lists of Top 100 from Urbanspoon and SF Chronicle but below are my personal references)
- Chinese
- Yank Sing (SOMA: dim sum)
- R & G Lounge (Chinatown: Crab with Salt & Pepper, Soft tofu, Stuff Eggplant and Lychee martini are my choices)
- Koi Palace (Daly City: dim sum – seafood) or Ton Kiang (if you don’t want to wait at Koi Palace).
- House of Nanking (Chinatown: 919 Kearny St 94133: between Columbus & Jackson, not too clean + huge lines: you could always go to the next door restaurant: Chef Jia’s which is as good as HON but less crowded and cheapper. Green Garden (434 Broadway, between Kearny & Montgomery) is supper cheap if you are in a tight budget. Great Eastern (649 Jackon St, between Wentworth & Cooper). Imperial Palace (818 Washington St, between Grant & Waverly)/New Asia(772 Pacific Ave)/Empress of China (838 Grant, between Clay & Washington). Those restaurants are clean, nice decoration and food are ok, but they would be my 2nd choice if I am really tired to go anywhere else
- Golden Gate Bakery: I like their Moon Cake but the line is always too long
- Y Ben House (Chinatown: for excellent dim sum at low budget, 835 Pacific Avenue - between Cordelia St & Trenton St. My friend recommended Dol Ho, but I haven’t tried it yet).
- Yuet Lee (Chinatown: corner of Stockton & Broadway for wonton noodle soup, opens to 3AM, and frog legs is a must must try)
- On the way to SFO airport, you can try Fat Wong’s Kitchen (1780 El Camino Real, San Bruno, 94066 for all kind of fresh wonton noodle before heading back home)
- Japanese
- Sushi Bistro
- Umi
- Isobune Sushi (Floating sushi boat restaurant in Japantown)
- Kiss Seafood (1700 Laguna St 94115)
- Tataki (2815 California St, 94115)
- Ebisu or Blowfish (thanks, TT)
- Korea (Brothers Korean B.B.Q: 4128 Geary Blvd San Francisco, CA 94118 (415) 668-2028)
- Burmese (Burma Superstart: try tea leaf salad and samusa soup)
- Vietnamese (I would rather go South to San Jose, but here is the list just in case!)
- Turtle Tower (real Northern Pho, 631 Larkin St 94109), Lee’s Sandwiches is next door.
- Thai
- Osha Thai (3 locations, but I only tried the one on Financial District)
- Thai House Express (Castro: corner of Geary-Larkin)
- Marnee Thai (near corner of 9th & Irving)
- American/French/Latin
- Coffee/tea Shop
- Bars & Clubs: