Category: Things to do with kids in San Francisco

San Francisco is famous for its own style of Mexican food, unduplicated anywhere in Mexico or the North. When San Franciscans move away, their thoughts return to the Taquerias of the Mission District. Taqueria Cancun is a perfect example. Informal and unfussy, (if a bit noisy) it serves giant burritos and tacos with only the freshest ingredients. Its sizzling carne asada (grilled steak) is known as the best in town, but what makes it truly special is that Cancun doesn’t skimp on delicious, fresh, California-grown avocado. Make sure your children are careful, the green picante sauce is spicier than it looks.

Contact no: (415) 252-9560

Location: 2288 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

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The oldest restaurant in San Francisco, the Tadich Grill served dinner to gold rush miners and sailors. Take your children here for the history, the curtained booths, the conversations at the long wooden counter, and the grumpy old waiters wearing white shirts. Take yourself here for all of those reasons, plus the sole meuniere and the sand dabs.

Contact no: (415) 391-1849

Location: 240 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

Learn more here.

This recently renovated ice cream fountain, deep in the heart of the Mission District, makes delicious old-fashioned floats, malts and shakes, teaching a history lesson in treats. This is San Francisco’s oldest ice cream parlor and as such is very old-fashioned. For example, they won’t serve soy-based ice cream, which, in San Francisco, makes them seem practically reactionary. They have high quality versions of old dinner fare as well. We’ll warn you, this place gets very crowded during weekend brunch hours, so come during the week.

Contact no: (415) 826-4200

Location: 2801 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

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Most of the tourist attractions in the Fisherman’s Wharf area don’t have anything to do with fish, or fisherman or even wharfs. Wax museums, singing waiters, and guys pretending to be robots all compete for your attention. Hidden away in a quiet alley, at Scoma’s, you can actually see the fishermen come in with their catch every day. You don’t need to get up early for it either, they come in intermittently throughout the day. The fish is cleaned, prepared, and at your table within minutes of its arrival. It wouldn’t be possible to eat fresher fish unless you were prepared to bite it as it swam. Even children who hate seafood will find something they like on the child menu, and everyone loves drawing with crayons on the child-friendly paper tablecloths.

Contact no: (415) 771-4383

Location: Pier 47, San Francisco, CA 94133

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The food is nothing special. But like the House of Nanking, coming here is a San Francisco tradition. These days it’s a little quieter, but you still have to walk through the kitchen and up the staircase to get to the dining rooms, the sink is still in the middle of the room (remember to wash your hands) and the Chow Fun noodles are still the main attraction here. The waitstaff are all quite sharp, but children will love the dumbwaiter, which is strangely fascinating.

Contact no: (415) 982-0596

Location: 813 Washington Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

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Luna Park is a favorite among locals and tourists alike for its high quality comfort food. Simple dishes like mashed potatoes and oven-baked macaroni and cheese coexist happily with more exotic fare like broccoli rabe and fried wonton chips, so you can be sure that everyone will be able to find something to eat. The green beans are vegetables that your children will actually want to eat. More important is the dessert; their famous s’mores, which you and your family make at your table, are unforgettable. Be careful though, the marshmallows tend to stick to your fingers.

Contact no: (415) 553-8584

Location: 694 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

Learn more here.

Molinari Delicatessen isn’t so much located in the heart of North Beach as it is the beating heart of San Francisco’s Italian community. The same family has run this old-style Italian deli for four generations, a claim very few businesses in town can match. Molinari ships its famous meats all over the country, but they taste better here. Remember to get a number as soon as you enter the store so that people who come in after you don’t cut ahead of you. When you and your children order your sandwiches, you get to pick out your own bread or roll (we suggest the rosemary rolls as they’re the softest). It may sound like a lot of stress for a simple sandwich but trust us, Molinari’s salami, mortadella, and prosciutto are incredible.

Contact no: (415) 421-2337

Location: 373 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133

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Take a walk through North Beach — the center of San Fransisco’s Italian community, home to Joe Dimaggio and the beatniks of the 1950s. Older men play bocce as children play in the playground and everywhere is the food that made Italy famous. Take a stroll though the area in the daytime. While you’re there, make sure to get some high quality candy at Z. Cioccolato and to step into the Steps of Rome Caffe (348 Columbus Avenue) for espresso or hot chocolate and something sweet (it’s famous for its desserts).

Contact no: (415) 989-2220

Location: Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133

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Japantown is traditionally home to San Francisco’s Japanese community. The Japantown indoor mall is ideal for children because of its toy store, (which specializes in remote-control cars), bookstore, and ice cream shops. For food we suggest Mifune (1737 Post Street), a humble noodle shop that’s less intimidating for young palates than some of the nearby sushi bars (although those are excellent as well). Finally, make sure to get some of the tasty roasted chestnuts available near the Buchanan Street exit of the mall. When’s the last time you had the chance to buy roasted chestnuts?

Contact no: (415) 922-6776

Location: Post Street and Buchanan Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Learn more here.

 

So many kids are vegetarians nowadays, it’s hard to keep up. It seems like every family has one. Lucky for you, San Francisco is full of restaurants catering to the herbivores among us. The appropriately named Herbivore is a perfect place to take your vegetarians out to eat and actually enjoy the experience. Herbivore serves a variety of foods from (fake) Chicken Shwarma to Cold Soba Noodles. Its specialty is breakfast, though. The imitation sausage will have you thinking you’re eating the real country-style deal. Of the restaurant’s two locations, the one on Divisadero is best, with an easier parking situation and less of a crowd.

Contact no: (415) 826-5657

Location: 983 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

Learn more here.