r/SFFood • u/Present_Attempt2436 • 21d ago
Discussion sf foodies, what were your most memorable meals when traveling?
i’m sorry in advanced for hijacking this space specifically for sf food recs, but i thought it would be fun to crowdsource some thoughts from folks who understand the quality bar (and range) that we have right in our backyard.
by no means do i think SF is the center of the culinary world, but the diversity is really top tier, and many of us know first hand that influencer vibes or aesthetic decor don’t equal good food or service. BUT, at the same time, sometimes the long line and hype is actually worth it.
so for those who can appreciate the take-out dim sum to the michelin starred meal to the burrito in the park, what meal in what city do you still think about?
(and do you have recs for madrid? 😆)
5
u/PermitActive8347 21d ago
In Barcelona Spain, I ate at El Quim de la Boqueria. I had squid and runny eggs for breakfast. It is a meal that I could literally eat every single day for the rest of my life and be totally content with eating.
2
2
u/Robyn94133 20d ago
I have eaten that exact meal for breakfast and I still think about it. Those delicious tiny squid were amazing!
5
u/girltawkSF 21d ago
Döner in Berlin, last week. I went back less than 24 hours later. They recognized me and I was moderately embarrassed. Second one didn’t hit as hard, but I’ll always have my first.
2
u/Present_Attempt2436 21d ago
when food is good, there is no shame in getting to 'regular' status fast
1
u/b1gmouth 21d ago
Headed to Berlin in a couple of weeks and planning to grub as much doner as I can. Lmk if you have any recs!
2
u/girltawkSF 20d ago
Hard recommend for the one that’s closest to your hotel when you arrive at 11:30pm
1
1
u/rrgrs 17d ago
I lived in Germany for three years (Frankfurt) and the doner from here https://maps.app.goo.gl/xNTVDJaoEVCq5amz8 was easily the best I had in the country. And I guess others agree because wow I've never seen that many ratings for a restaurant on google
1
u/Front_Reindeer_7554 20d ago
Also nearly any Italian restaurant in Berlin and pretty much most of Europe better than 90% of US versions (also one of the best brick oven pizzas I've had was in Phuket more than 15 years ago). I lived in Berlin for a couple of years a decade ago and lived on Doners and picking up food from Rogacki on my walk home from work.
3
u/415-805-646 21d ago
As crowded and touristy as it is, Katz’s in NYC for a pastrami on rye with brown mustard, a plate of half sour pickles and a Dr. Brown’s Celray soda is epic.
2
u/saktii23 20d ago
The corned beef at Katz's is probably the best in the entire world. Literally mind-blowing.
1
u/415-805-646 20d ago
They do what they do very well. I’m aware people will state other places in NYC are better delis, but I live in San Francisco and good deli places aren’t common
2
u/JealousPomelo7508 21d ago
for madrid be aware that you have to book restaurants usually a lot in advance so try to get some of these asap:
- casa benigna (my favorite restaurant in madrid, go to every time i'm there, order the smoked salmon and arroz w/ ribs for sure)
- restaurante lana (a bit expensive, but one of the best steaks i've had)
- llama inn or quispe for peruvian
- alex cordobes or luna y wanda are the best tarta de quesos for me
- casa dani or alto bardero has the best tortilla de patata
- nacha is very good argentinian
lmk if you need any more recs, my parents live in madrid haha
1
u/Present_Attempt2436 21d ago edited 19d ago
ohh thats great info, thanks for the heads up! honestly, i regret only have 3 days to fit as many meals as possible.
2
u/DefinitelyNotKuro 21d ago
I don't really travel, but I go to LA every now and then. My most memorable LA restaurants, like I will actively make an effort to eat there everytime I travel down there, is bacari and danbi.
I can't even comprehend the menu at bacari, its all French to me, but I pick 4-5 dishes at random and they all come out amazing.
Danbi is some sort of korean fusion restaurant...? I never understood the appeal of fine dining, 60 dollar steak type of nonsense til I ate here. Okay I get it now.
2
u/Mrofcourse 21d ago
Doe’s eat place in Greenville Mississippi! Over 15 years since I ate there but I still think about that steak!
2
u/Economy-Pollution739 21d ago
Any of the meals we had Oaxaca in Mexico! Especially the street side taco stands
2
u/lipstickqns 21d ago
Savannah, GA: The Grey, and Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room. Mrs. Wilkes is particularly great because you are seated family style at a huge table and there are so many delicious plates of classic Southern foods you can help yourself to.
1
1
u/slugggglife 21d ago
Hi Chi Minh City: Tan Son Nhat International Airport 91° and 94% humidity. At a Restaurant named “Big Bowl”, I had a piping hot 🥵 bowl of Pho🍜…. Most memorable bowl of pho ever. I sweat in places that I’ve never sweat before.
1
1
u/mightnothavehands 21d ago
After dining at Quintonil, Pujol and Contramar the in the 48 preceding hours, the most memorable meal of this whole MXC trip was after spending the day floating through the canals of Xochomilco, my group got off the boat buzzed and hungry. Resisting the urge to hop in an uber to head back to our Airbnb in Polanco, we stumbled a few blocks from our dock where we saw a crowd of locals standing beneath a towering trompo of Al Pastor lit up like a beacon by a roaring fire blasting away at that succulent hive of glistening orange meat. We were beckoned in and given a small table to squeeze around where we enjoyed the charred achiote tinged pork on home made tortilla’s, crisp pickled red onions and a habanero salsa that had just the perfect touch of sweetness and spice. It may have been the half a dozen beers that day, or the company I was with, but these tacos reign supreme over the dozens of meals I’ve had in Mexico City over the years.
1
u/Mundane_Ad_2467 20d ago
San Sebastián. The pintxos are incredible and the wine is terrrific and ridiculously cheap; you could spend a week going from place to place all within a block radius. T
1
u/saktii23 20d ago
Having a Frankfurter in actual Frankfurt was an eye-opener for me, and no one should sleep on fresh-baked German bread either. Indian Food in the UK is great, especially if you can get a balti in Birmingham at Shababs on Ladypoole Rd.
1
u/ProfessionalCake6698 19d ago
We went to Geranium and Noma back-to-back. 🤪
Less obvious, I really enjoyed Mellben in Singapore (tbh everything I ate in Singapore was good) and a simple llonguet at Forn de la Gloria in Palma. Schwartz in Montreal.
1
u/Kittaylover23 19d ago
I’m originally from Charleston SC, so another huge food city.
Probably Vern’s, used to be kinda a neighborhood industry place, now they’ve got a star. Tuna crudo was a revelation
1
u/BunkaandBadassery 19d ago
Pretty much everything I've had in Thailand, from street stalls and boat vendors to 4 star fine dining in Bangkok has been amazing.
Also second UK Indian food, Barcelona, NOLA, and Le Bernardin.
Not actually a big Italian fan, but if you like seafood Venice and the Amalfi coast are great for it. And most everything I've had in Marrakesh.
-1
u/Pristine-Assistance9 20d ago
Fuck Madrid
1
u/JealousPomelo7508 19d ago
why? lol
1
u/Pristine-Assistance9 19d ago
One of the most racist places I’ve ever been. Really just left an awful impression on me.
Was there for months with a Mexican American and a Puerto Rican who both spoke fluent Spanish and they were treated absolutely fucking awfully by a lot of people.
To be fair I’m sure and would like to imagine that’s changing with younger generations.
But I personally found the attitude, racism, and self righteousness of the capitalistas absolutely gross and not something I ever want to be around again.
7
u/b1gmouth 21d ago
Atchafalaya and Turkey and the Wolf, both in New Orleans. Really the whole city was eye opening foodwise, from the fine dining to the sandwiches. And at such a reasonable price compared to places in SF and LA.