3 Best Restaurants in San Francisco, California

Casual eaters of Americanized Thai food probably won’t recognize much at this modern, Michelin-star restaurant, but travelers to Thailand will likely see a few familiar items on the short, focused menu. Ingredients are sourced—more accurately, tracked down with dedication—from regional purveyors to create a range of powerful, unique dishes ranging from a mushroom curry mousse with crispy rice cakes to spicy charred squid.

Try something beyond the same old pad thai at this authentic Thai standby. Thai herb sausage and papaya salad with salted egg are good appetizers to share, while the pork belly with crispy rind and basil leaves and duck larb (meat salad) come packed with flavor and heat. The food has been such a hit that the restaurant has two other spots in the Mission and Hayes Valley. It's a favorite for late-night dining.

This cozy Thai restaurant has been a neighborhood stalwart for over three decades. Lemongrass chicken, seafood, and rich curries are among the specialties. The lengthy regular menu is supplemented by a list of daily specials, which only makes it harder to make a decision. You'll be pondering your choices in comfortable surroundings: the dining room is lined with Thai art and artifacts that owner Pat Parikanont has collected over the years.