San Francisco is a city known not only for its food scene but also for some of the best Asian food outside of Asia. They city is also home to some of the best Asian fusion restaurants you’ll find in the United States. We’ve painstakingly sampled a wide share of these restaurants and chosen our five favorites.
Slurp Noodle Bar
We start on the casual end of things with Slurp Noodle Bar. Their casual setting in the bustling Castro offers a welcome respite and greets you with noodles in Korean, Thai, Vietnamese & Japanese styles. This neighborhood favorite features an indoor/outdoor patio perfect for enjoying the vibe. We love starting our meal with the pork belly steamed buns, sharing a sticky rice noodle salad, and enjoying a delicious bowl of Slurp! Ramen or Pho. Their flavors are on point, their service is friendly, and the setting is so very San Franciscan. For lunch or dinner, Slurp Noodle Bar is a delight.
Sushiritto
With five locations throughout the city (our favorite location noted below) and two more down the peninsula, Sushiritto is quickly becoming a favorite of locals and visitors alike. They bill themselves as the original sushi burrito concept and they have it down to a science. There are no substitutions, no fuss, just amazing sushi burritos. They note that “We strive to challenge the status quo of sushi restaurants through creativity and innovation of flavors, form, and sourcing.” Their sushi burritos combine delicious Asian and Latin flavors. Obviously a Bay Area original as it combines two of San Franciscan’s greatest food loves: sushi and burritos.
The Chairman
Rarely will we include a food truck in a list of this nature, but The Chairman transcends the food truck and is a well-known and well-loved San Francisco institution. They became famous mostly for their bao steamed buns, but beyond the bao their rice bowls and gluten-free options are extremely popular. Of course, if you don’t wish to chase down the truck (easily located when you follow them on Twitter), you can visit their restaurant location. Great news for Angelenos, too, The Chairman has both a truck and a restaurant in Los Angeles. Chef Hiroo Nagahara said, “We wanted to see how far we could push street food using techniques from high-end restaurants and The Chairman was my first concept.” His concept is a smashing success and we highly recommend it.
Blackwood
A beautiful combination of American and Thai cuisine, Blackwood is a cozy, casual, and chic restaurant located in San Francisco’s Marina District. Michelin-recommended, Blackwood is making a name for itself serving breakfast and brunch, lunch, and dinner daily. They also have a popular happy hour with great appetizers, beer, and wine. Be sure to try the crusty French toast with a side of Millionaire’s Bacon at breakfast or a burger at brunch. You will also love the wok-fried noodles for lunch and the Blackhawk Belly at dinner. You really can’t go wrong with any of their concoctions.
Chubby Noodle North Beach
Of course, North Beach would be home to an amazing Asian fusion restaurant, Chubby Noodle. They specialize in Korean pork tacos, garlic noodles, and more. They also do it all in a very cool, very hip space with great music. You know by now we love a steamed bun and their bao is delicious. Of course, you have to try the noodles and the kung pao wings and the Chubby friend chicken and the salt and pepper shrimp and, well, basically everything. Be sure to make a reservation and take some friends with you. They boast, “We cook the best food while playing the best music. It is rarely quiet in our restaurant, but you don’t need your ears to taste delicious food.”
Any visit to San Francisco always has to include Asian food. One of the best ways to enjoy it is with fusion cuisine. So, which of our favorite Asian fusion restaurants in San Francisco will you enjoy first? If you can’t get enough fusion, next time you’re in New York visit one of these eight Asian fusion restaurants.
