Looking for a kid-friendly place to dine out in San Francisco? In a city known for its food, there are certainly a lot of delicious choices. But navigating them can sometimes be a challenge for families. Many Bay Area restaurants are simply too expensive, have more of an adults-only vibe, or serve up dishes that might not be a fit for the picky palates of many kids.
My husband and I have called the San Francisco Bay Area home for over two decades, and we've tried numerous restaurants with our kids over the years.
Here are 11 San Francisco restaurants where our family has eaten that we'd recommend to other visitors with kids. I've tried to incorporate a mix of San Francisco's famous flavors plus the city's rich history, with options located in a variety of neighborhoods where travelers to the city are likely to be spending time seeing other famous sights.
1. Gott’s Roadside
- Location: 1 Ferry Building #6 (Financial District)
- Price: $$
Gott's flagship location in the city has a setting that could not be more quintessential San Francisco: the San Francisco Ferry Building. Gott's was founded as a roadside diner in Napa many years ago, and now has several locations all over California.
The cuisine is high-end diner food with quality and fresh ingredients (think burgers on brioche buns, shakes, salads, tacos, soups). When Karl the Fog retreats and San Francisco has a rare sunny day, this restaurant can be mobbed with both tourists and workers from the Financial District alike, causing long lines and a scramble for seating. Arrive before the lunch rush to beat the crowds.
There are actually several Gott's locations in the city of San Francisco now, including one in Mission Bay (near the Chase Center) and one in San Francisco International Airport.
2. ZA Pizza
- Location: 1919 Hyde St. (Russian Hill)
- Price: $-$$
Before we had kids, my husband and I lived on the top of Russian Hill. Every time we find ourself back in our old neighborhood with our kids, we always stop by for a slice at our favorite local pizza place, ZA.
Pizza is thin crust style and super flavorful, with just the right amount of crunch to the crust and grease on top. You can order a whole pie or by the slice. There are always a couple of specialty slices on the daily menu and plenty of local beers on tap. Kids are given crayons and a piece of parchment paper (the kind that lines a pizza box) so they can create pizza art masterpieces that are then displayed proudly on the walls of the restaurant.
Seating can be a bit of a challenge, especially on Friday and Saturday evening, but it's worth the wait. Once you've dined at ZA, I promise your kids will forget the famous line from Pixar's Inside Out: "Congratulations, San Francisco, you've ruined pizza!"
3. Boudin Bakery & Cafe
- Location: 160 Jefferson St. (Fisherman's Wharf)
- Price: $-$$
You can't visit San Francisco without trying a meal that incorporates sourdough. And there is no bigger name in sourdough than Boudin!
There are two Boudin restaurants to grab a bite on the waterfront near Fisherman's Wharf: the flagship restaurant on Jefferson Street or the outpost on Pier 39. There are a multiple other smaller locations in the city as well, including in the Union Square Macy's, on Justin Herman/Embarcadero Plaza in the Financial District, and at SFO Airport.
If you're visiting San Francisco as a tourist, I personally think it's worth going to the mother ship to see all the sourdough loaf creations on display.
Clam chowder in a bread bowl is the classic food choice, but if that isn't what the palate of your picky eater craves (my kids are not seafood fans), Boudin has a fantastic sourdough single serve pizza too. It's my son's absolute favorite.
4. Yank Sing
- Location: 49 Stevenson St. (Financial District)
- Price: $$-$$$
The city of San Francisco has been shaped by many generations of Chinese immigration, and the city's cuisine has certainly seen its share of that influence. Dim sum abounds, and Yank Sing is San Francisco's most famous and beloved dim sum restaurant. Founded in Chinatown in 1958, Yank Sing now serves up pork buns, har gow (shrimp dumplings), and siu mai in the Financial District nearby.
Although a few dishes might be outside the comfort zone of some picky kids, there are a lot of pretty plain flavors that many will enjoy. And best of all, kids can see the food before they order it, as servers push carts stacked high with steamed bamboo baskets by tables for diners to select.
5. Tonga Room
- Location: 950 Mason St. (Nob Hill)
- Price: $$$-$$$$
The inclusion of this pick might be a bit controversial, as the Tonga Room is perhaps most famous as a tiki bar with a boozy late night scene. But my husband and I also happen to think it's an amazing fit for families for dinner during hours when it's open to all ages (usually 5pm-10pm).
Located in the Fairmont Hotel (one of my very top recommendations for family-friendly hotels in San Francisco), the Tonga Room has over-the-top South Pacific decor and a grand tradition that dates back to 1945.
Adults can enjoy a mai tai or other classic cocktails while kids can enjoy a mocktail in tiki mug and Asian-fusion favorites like pork sliders, fried rice, and spring rolls.
There's so much visually going on to entertain everyone, like the restaurant's lagoon which used to be the hotel swimming pool. A raft floats musical acts out to the center of the water, but watch out for the occasional indoor rainstorm!
An entertainment cover charge of $20 applies from 7pm onward, so the cost of an evening out can add up, but visit to the Tonga Room is a worthy splurge.
6. Sears Fine Food
- Location: 439 Powell St. (Union Square)
- Price: $$-$$$
Another place with a long history in San Francisco (since 1938) is Sears Fine Food. Food is kid-friendly American fare, but the most famous item on the menu is the 18 mini Swedish pancakes that the restaurant has served since its founding.
Sears is usually only open for breakfast and lunch, and is located right in the heart of Union Square with the cable cars whizzing by. Its location is ideal for a break from holiday shopping in Union Square or for lunch before a weekend matinee in the theater district.
Related: Christmas in San Francisco: Best Things to Do for Families
7. Original Joe’s
- Location: 601 Union St. (North Beach)
- Price: $$$-$$$$
San Francisco's North Beach is the city's equivalent to Little Italy, and there are many great places to eat in the neighborhood for families. A classic that always delivers is Original Joe's, founded in 1937.
The restaurant still has the decor and old school service of an era gone by, including leather booths and sharply-uniformed waiters. It has a prime location overlooking Washington Square park as well. And, most importantly, it has lots of cuisine kids will love - pizza, pasta, burgers, and a decadent weekend brunch my family recently enjoyed.
I highly recommend making a reservation (available on OpenTable), as the restaurant is always popular.
8. SPARK Social SF
- Location: 601 Mission Bay Blvd. North (Mission Bay)
- Price: $-$$
San Francisco was a pioneer when the food truck fad took off, and now food trucks occupy some pretty permanent locations in multiple places in the city. Not far from the Chase Center in a traditionally sunny area of the city is SPARK Social, a food truck park that is a food and entertainment destination ideal for families.
Multiple food trucks line the block, offering plenty of choices that cater to a wide variety of tastes. There are picnic tables and chairs and green space for families to dine in the middle.
Adjacent to the food truck space is Stagecoach Greens, an outdoor mini-golf course themed to San Francisco's Gold Rush history. A block away is the Mission Bay Kids park, a cute neighborhood playground.
9. Presidio Pop Up
- Location: 210 Lincoln Blvd. (Presidio)
- Price: $-$$
On the other side of the city in the heart of the Presidio is another food truck hot spot that works well for hungry families looking for variety. Food trucks set up daily in up to three different locations in the Presidio around Presidio Tunnel Tops (weather permitting). Trucks are usually open from 9am-3pm on weekdays and 9am-5:30pm on weekends.
There are a ton of kid-friendly activities within walking distance so you can make this a destination that you spend a half or full day visiting. Our family's favorites? The Walt Disney Family Museum (naturally!), all the outdoor play spaces that makeup Presidio Tunnel Tops, and the Presidio Visitor's Center where kids can earn a Junior Ranger Badge (remember, the Presidio is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area).
Related: National Parks Tips for Beginners
10. Mel’s Drive-In
- Location: 2165 Lombard St. (Marina)
- Price: $$
Visitors might overlook Mel's as just another chain of diners, but that would be a mistake given its deep San Francisco roots. The original Mel's location was on Van Ness Avenue, and the restaurant was revived in the 1980s when a next generation location opened on Lombard Street in the Marina District.
With burgers and shakes and breakfast served all day, there are plenty of kid-friendly food options on the menu. The restaurant has lots of classic neon and diner-style decor. Its location is ideal as a lunch stop for visitors on a drive from the crooked part of Lombard Street making their way over to the Golden Gate Bridge or the Presidio.
There are a few other Mel's locations in San Francisco as well, including ones in the Richmond District, SOMA, and on Van Ness.
11. Stinking Rose
- Location: 430 Columbus Ave. (North Beach)
- Price: $$$
One more restaurant stop in North Beach that my family would recommend is the large and creatively-named Stinking Rose that fronts Columbus Avenue. Garlic is used liberally in the restaurant's over-the-top decor as well as in the food. With plenty of pasta, pizza, and other Italian fare on the menu, there are plenty of kid-safe choices (even if you have to order them light on the garlic!).
If you are a smaller group (parents with a baby or one parent with one kid), consider the outdoor seating that offers prime people-watching views of all the action in North Beach.
BONUS: Save Room For Dessert!
After they've had their fill of some of San Francisco's finest cuisine, your kids might still have room for dessert. There are multiple places where you can get a kid-friendly sweet treat in the city. Four of our favorites:
1. Swensen’s
- Location: 1999 Hyde St. (Russian Hill)
- Price: $
Just a storefront away from ZA on the top of Russian Hill (and just a block from the crooked part of Lombard Street) is a San Francisco ice cream institution. Founded in 1948, Swensen's is famous for some of its old school and seasonal flavors, including spumoni, egg nog, and Swiss orange chip. Ice cream is made in-house with many of the same recipes that date back to its founding.
2. Humphrey Slocomb
- Location: 1 Ferry Building #8 (Financial District)
- Price: $
The Ferry Building is home to a lot of sweet treats, but my kids' favorite is more ice cream. Humphry Slocombe is gourmet ice cream, with some really unique and adventurous flavors parents will love trying (Vietnamese Coffee, SF Fog), with several safer classics always on the menu for kids.
3. Lush Gelato
- Location: 520 Columbus Ave. (North Beach)
- Price: $
San Francisco's North Beach is naturally the place where you can find several stores serving up authentic Italian-style gelato. You can't go wrong with any of them, but we often find ourselves grabbing a cone at Lush Gelato which has a convenient location right on Columbus.
4. Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream
- Location: 900 North Point St. (Fisherman's Wharf)
- Price: $-$$
Last but certainly not least is another big San Francisco brand: Ghirardelli. Ghirardelli Square is a destination unto itself and worth visiting for a couple of hours, but you can also swing by for a quick treat.
There are actually three storefronts on a single block where you can grab a cone or sundae made with the world-famous chocolate sauce and toppings. The Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop and the Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience are indoor experiences that take may take a little longer with seating available, while the Ghirardelli Chocolate To Go counter facing Beach Street is the quickest in-and-out as long as the line isn't too lengthy.
Need more family-friendly San Francisco travel info?
Check out these related posts for more tips from a local Bay Area parent.
Leave a Reply