San Francisco is so awesome, but so many people miss the real city for the likes of Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, etc. This guide will get you to see the great parts of SF without the generic boring parts.
Step One
For the love of god, avoid the Fisherman's Wharf. The only locals that come here are people that work here. If you don't see why that makes a difference, then why are you reading this guide? This area is the biggest, suckiest tourist trap around. The food's mediocre, the seal crap makes it straight stink, the people are all pushy and there's nothing "San Francisco" about it.
The only excuse to visit this area is to take the boat to Alcatraz, which is awesome and worth going on. But book on-line in advance, because it sells out weeks ahead.
The only excuse to visit this area is to take the boat to Alcatraz, which is awesome and worth going on. But book on-line in advance, because it sells out weeks ahead.
Step Two
Swan's Oyster Depot chowder
Instead of hitting up the wharf, go to Polk Street and California. Here you can ride the beloved cable cars without being packed in like cattle headed to the slaughter. And, there is the best seafood restarant in town, Swan's Oyster Depot. Swan's is family owned since the early 1900's, reasonably priced, fresh and has a great atmosphere. They make their own horse radish for the oysters and cocktail sauce here. The oysters, clam chowder and salads are all just amazing.
Step Three
If you can, avoid Chinatown. There are some ok places here, but for the most part, the area is a tourist trap filled with more whites than your bleach-only laundry load, and the food frequently matches.
Step Four
Rather than hitting Chinatown, take the muni to Irving and 18th and find a Chinese restaurant in this area. It may not have been the area for immigrants in the early history of San Francisco, but it's where you can get the truly authentic taste and feel of the modern Chinese and Korean in San Francisco.
Step Five
Don't bother with Japantown. Japantown is almost a knock off of Chinatown, if you tried to put it in a mall. The food's expensive and not too great. Just skip it.
Step Six
Get your Japanese Food from anywhere in the city with good prices, it's easy to find, just make sure you're away from a major tourist area. Sumo Sushi on Geary has some great rolls for cheap.
Step Seven
Do hit Haight Ashbury area. You will see a lot of locals here. Sure it's a total tourist spot, but there's some of the hippest shops in the city here, along with great food and an awesome movie theatre. So drop by here, but also feel free to travel a little further to the "Lower Haight" and catch some of the cool local nightlife that happens right here at Moltov's, Mad Dog in the Fog or any of the other awesome bars that line this block.
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Comments: 4
Funny some of the things you remember, but I always think of being told about signs saying "Watch for Pick Pockets" in the tourist areas there. The first instinct is to check and see if you still have your wallet, purse, etc.; and of course the pick-pockets are watching where you check... Seems they would put up the signs just for that purpose back then to "mark" you.
I also remember the "crookedest street" in the world supposedly, and searching it out to drive on. Lombard Street, is it? I'm sure the locals didn't appreciate the traffic either, but oh well, it is pretty and curvy; as well as steep if I recall correctly.
And... I've always thought driving across "The Bridge" was one of the great things to do, although sometimes so foggy you couldn't even tell you were on a bridge at all.
Thanks for the article, informative.