eMarkLee

In this second part of the San Francisco series, I go over the most important thing to do in San Francisco….EAT!!!

1. Get real Mexican food in the Mission.

If you go to the wrong place, you get the Swine Flu. It’s as simple as that. You could play Russian Roulette or you could listen to eMarkLee. El Farolito on 24th and Mission (not 16th and Mission) is the tried and true Mission Mexican spot. Don’t be scared by the homeless and Mexicans outside and inside this gem of a taqueria. Order the Pollo Asado or Carnitas Super Quesadilla and you will experience a rapture of flavours. Quesadillas are better than the burritoes here and the super nachos rock the house. I’m gettin hungry just thinking about that guacamole salsa. Help yourself to two small containers of each salsa. You will use it…just get it before the homeless guy gets to it.

2. Eat prime rib…then ask for another slice at the House of Prime Rib. It’s pretty simple. Either you like prime rib or you don’t. If you do, this is the shiznit. If you don’t, don’t go here. I like to ask for the end cut for more seasoning and flava but you know…different folks, different strokes. They will give you a second cut if you ask for it…so ask for it, mate.

3. Eat Dungeoness crab

Get crabs like a proper San Franciscan….wait..let me start over. Eat Dungeoness crab like the locals. And by locals, mean the Orientals (aka Ornamentals to the white folk). PPQ Dungeoness Island is Mecca for crab. Huge crab for two with garlic butter sauce with a side of garlic noodles. Yeah. That’s all I have to say about that….other than be prepared to get your hands dirty.

4. Eat freshly shucked oysters at the Ferry Building market at Pier 1. There’s a market there with some food stalls, food products and such around. It’s not huge but a nice area to walk around when the sun is out. Brings me back to good times working in this area.

5. Enjoy a pint overlooking the Pacific sunset at the the Beach Chalet. Go here after a long day of siteseeing and enjoy a locally brewed beer overlooking the Pacific ocean. One of my favourite spots for a sunset drink. Get the beer sampler for a taste of all their beers and to enjoy that sunset fade, yo.

6. Pound a pint in the sun in China Basin. It’s a industrial and non-touristed part of the city but home of The Ramp, where on a sunny day is a superb place to enjoy lunch and beer amongst the locals. Festive scene here with all kinds of hipsters chillin, illin, stealin, and rhymin.

7. Get that juicy double. Mixalot’s in trouble…get a piece of that bubble. It’s much better in person…believe me. In n Out is a must if you’re not from California. A burger joint with freshly cut fries and no freezer on premises allows this place to produce some of the best burgers in the world. Ask for a “Double Double, animal style with fresh onions also” like a pro. After that, ask her not to make that face at you…cuz it’s fugly.

8. Enjoy a good steak at Houston’s for a nice relaxed setting or at Acme Chop House for more pricey but fab cut of Rib Eye. You can’t lose here.

9. Eat Dim Sum in Chinatown. If you just show up in Chinatown and pick a place randomly…you will get a crazy SARS / Swine Flu strain that will destroy your kidneys. I don’t think you want that. Go to New Asia for a long-standing solid dim sum restaurant. They will even ignore your requests for a fork and knife like a proper Dim Sum restaurant.

There are lots of other places but these are some of my favourite places that should be able to fill up your trip to my adopted home city. Feel free to try or you always just ax somebody for more suggestions as there are plenty of new and old spots I haven’t been to. Let me know if you find a spot I should hit up next time I’m in town!

During my time in London I have had quite a few occasions where I have recommended where to go in the San Francisco area to others. From chatting to an older couple planning a trip to SF in Oxford, to our new Aussie/Dutch neighbours, who are going next month. It’s hard to recommend all of my favourite places in San Francisco because some aren’t necesarily where you would go on a 3 day trip to San Francisco, being more local places. All things considered, here are some of my top recommendations on where to go. Alcatraz, Fisherman’s Wharf and Lombard St I won’t mention but you should check those out ..maybe Coit Tower if you have time.

Where to Go
1. Presidio. There are some short walks as well as the all-day Coastal Trail that give you the essence of San Francisco…the bridge, the coast, the green (not talking about Chronic here).

2. Golden Gate Bridge. Yeah the GG bridge is a given…but it’s what you do before and after that matters. At the base of the bridge, drive through the Presidio and visit the piers as well as some photo points where you get a great shot of the bridge. When you cross the bridge, join the fatso family from Ohio and Japonaise by making the first turnout after crossing the bridge for the most popular lookout spot. Buy a I Heart San Francisco fleece if you forgot to wear something warm but then burn it. The more important thing is to take the next exit, turn around and go all the way to the top after taking the last exit prior to bridge. Park at the top and take a walk to the very top of the hill for the most spectacular view of San Fran and the bridge there is.

3. Consume garlic fries at a Giants game. The Giants stadium is located right on the bay with amazing views of the entire bay from the upper seats. If you couldn’t care less about baseball, go for the nose bleed seats for the best view. Penthouse seats for council building prices, yo. Wear something warm, though….oh, and sneak in some beers if you’re really from the ghetto.

4. Enjoy nature in North Bay. You could make a day out of this, so start by exploring Sausalito, then to Tiburon for margaritas at Guyamas at the very end of Tiburon overlooking San Francisco as you sip on that tequila. Laid Baaack.

Make your way further north to Stinson Beach for some beach time…with your jumper on, of course. Don’t plan on jumping in the water unless you have a wetsuit or get a bite taken out of your thigh in the Great White shark capital of the world. End your North Bay experience with a hike in John Muir woods or Mount Tamalpais where you will understand why naturalists like Muir have spent their lives as preservationists.

5. Be like Ansel Adams in Yosemite. There aren’t too many places in the world that match the kind of sheer magnitude of beauty Yosemite offers. If you can get a campsite, it’s even better but from experience, Yosemite camping trips need to be booked 5-6 months in advance so last minute trippers need not apply. You could also stay at a hotel just outside of Yosemite as it is a good 4 hour drive from San Fran. If you are fit, hike Half Dome or Yosemite Falls. If you’re not, just drive up to Glacier Point and enjoy the same kind of views without breaking a sweat. It’s not as fun as climbing the hair-raising and precarious rope up the last 15-30 minutes of Half Dome, though.

6. Act out Sideways in Wine Country.

I personally think California wines are the best in the world but some don’t agree with me. Namely, the French. My theory on why is that the French have a skewed sense of smell and taste due to a lifetime of smelling their own B.O. This is based on scientific research from my time in London. I know this stuff, just trust me. Anyway…start in Sonoma. Take in some wineries there to warm you up. Sonoma is a more chill Napa Valley with free tastings and more personal smaller wineries. You could make your way up to Napa if Sonoma doesn’t offer enough big name wineries. In Napa, I pick up a bottle of wine from Franciscan and then stop off at V Sattui to pick up goodies for a picnic. You know, like Gummy Bears and Snickers bars. Go all the way down the main strip to Sterling winery for a cable ride up for a fantastic view of all of Napa. Eat at French Laundry, one of the best restaurants in the world, if you can get reservations ahead of time and got the loot to boot…shoot, I gotta toot.

There are lots of other places in the area like Santa Cruz, Lake Tahoe, etc….but there are just too many places to list. You really should spend a good chunk of your time in the city itself in the different neighbourhoods…Castro, Haight, down Market, the Hills, North Beach, Marina, etc. Live it up, you’re in my favourite city in the world!

Next is where to eat in San Francisco.