People sitting at a dining table, sharing food.

Where to Eat and Drink in San Francisco's NOPA

By Aaron Danzig

NOPA, only a few blocks from Alamo Square Park, is full of delicious restaurants and bars, ranging from divey to high-end.

An acronym for "north of the panhandle," NOPA lies north of Golden Gate Park's eastern extension, right in the middle of the city. This makes it a stand-out destination for sightseeing and, of course, eating. Here are our favorite places in the neighborhood for food and drink. How many can you visit on your next trip to San Francisco?

4505 Burgers & BBQ

705 Divisadero St.

A real butcher presides over this buzzy BBQ spot, which serves homemade comfort food and stays open late. Smoked meats are the star of the show. Thick wedges of pork, beef brisket, and chicken jostle for plate space with fries, 'slaw, pickles, and a warm buttery parker house roll. Of course, there are veggie options — the grits and egg sandwich comes with roasted green chili peppers, stinky cheese, and a buttery, griddled bun — but, for the most part, diners devour the carnivore cuisine. This place is home to one of San Francisco's last authentic wood-fired BBQ pits, and chefs source their meats from local farmers. It's worth the visit for that alone.

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Bar Crudo

655 Divisadero St.

As the name implies, Bar Crudo specializes in meticulously prepared raw fish dishes, as well as delicious oysters and other seafood. Stop by for happy hour, when oysters are only $1.

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Brenda's Meat and Three

919 Divisadero St.

Brenda Buenviaje, New Orleans-born-and-raised, puts a modern spin on Big Easy classics at this Southern-style fave. The premise is simple: choose one meat and three sides from an ever-changing selection of down-home delicacies. Fried chicken, fried catfish, chicken-fried steak, a dollop of gravy — it's pure comfort food. Be sure to sample the beignets, New Orleans-style deep-fried pastries filled with chocolate, sweetened with cinnamon honey butter, or spiced with cayenne, scallions, and cheddar.

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Beretta

661 Divisadero St.

Beretta, a Mission District mainstay, has opened up a second location on the Divisadero corridor. Now you can get the same great thin-crust pizza, Italian comfort food, and cocktails that they have been known for since 2008. Start with the eggplant caponatina before devouring their delicious bartenders’ pizza! Dont forget about dessert! Their crumble di pere and tiramisu are a must!

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Horsefeather

528 Divisadero St.

Primarily a cocktail bar, this charming watering hole serves inventive drinks plus food that ranges from fried chicken to halibut ceviche. Open until 1 a.m., Horsefeather is great spot for a late-night bite.

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Kung Food

1615 McAllister St.

This NOPA cornerstone serves Hunan and Mandarin fare in a no-frills space with bright pink walls. The menu is huge, with starters, soups, mains, desserts, and specials all competing for your attention. The chef's menu is the best place to start. Delve deeper into the menu, though, and you'll discover a treasure trove of exotic dishes, including Mongolian chicken and string-bean fish.

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Madrone Art Bar

500 Divisadero St.

Is it a bar? Is it a gallery? Why can't it be both? At Madrone, local artists have their creations displayed to the friendly neighborhood clientele in a fun and eccentric setting. The cocktails are tasty, the staff is friendly, and there's even live music some nights. What more could you ask for?

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The Mill

736 Divisadero St.

Is there anything better than a hot coffee and a slab of sourdough bread on a foggy San Francisco morning? Locals flock to this artisan java shop for their daily caffeine fix, where chirpy baristas blend hand-roasted coffees in a vintage steel roaster. "Toast service" runs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for most of the year. The molasses brown bread, slathered with a blob of jam, always hits the spot, as does the chocolate hazelnut on country bread. There are the usual coffee options — cappuccino, espresso, Americano — as well as more expensive, exotic blends from Kenya, Colombia, and Ethiopia. If you're in the area at dusk, sample a slice of classic cheese pizza and dip it in the homemade ranch sauce. It's a match made in heaven.

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Nopa

560 Divisadero St.

This neighborhood namesake serves Californian fare in a modern building on Divisadero St. On weekday evenings, this place bustles with workers who clink colorful cocktails. The food menu changes weekly, but expect fresh ingredients from farmers' markets around the Bay Area: juicy pork chops, orange-glazed sweet potatoes, seared duck breast, roasted black cod, and more. Stop here for weekend brunch after a morning stroll in Golden Gate Park. Meat lovers can bite into the bacon-wrapped meatloaf served with spicy pickles and gremolata, while custard french toast with seared apples and spiced butter provides a lighter alternative.

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Nopalito

306 Broderick St.

Combining regional Mexican recipes with locally sourced, organic ingredients, Nopalito represents the best of San Francisco. The menu changes daily. One day you might encounter black-bean-stuffed corn tortillas with citrus-achiote chicken, pickled red onions, and salsa de habanero; the next it might be lime-marinated fish with calamari, green olives, capers, basil, red onion, and corn tortilla chips.

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The Page

298 Divisadero St.

This no-frills, cash-only, neighborhood dive is the perfect place for a relaxed night out with friends. It has pool tables and foosball and is open until 2 a.m. Whether you start the night here or use it to wind down after a busy night out, The Page is a reliable favorite.

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Ragazza

311 Divisadero St.

This dinner spot focuses on Neapolitan-style thin-crust pizzas and other Italian favorites like antipasti and baked pasta. Peruse their Italian-inspired wine list on the back patio while you decide between their house-made ricotta cavatelli or Bianca pizza with onion crema, shaved garlic, preserved lemon, aged Italian provolone, and wild arugula.

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Souvla

531 Divisadero St

The second outpost of the popular Hayes Valley spot, NOPA's Souvla specializes in Greek-style rotisserie meats. Served as either a salad or a pita, Souvla does one thing and does it well. Trust us, you'll be dreaming about these gyros for months afterward.

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Tsunami Panhandle

1306 Fulton St.

This small-plate Sushi restaurant churns out Japanese staples in a bustling, modern space on Fulton St., near Alamo Square Park. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, try the alligator. It's panko-fried and served with juicy chunks of avocado. Wash it down with a glass of sake (or two). If that doesn't strike your fancy, stick to the basics. Try the sashimi and spider rolls; you won't regret it. All the fish comes from Japan’s famous Tsukiji Market. Locals rave about the Oysterette Happy Hour, where patrons get a dozen complimentary oysters with any bottle purchase of shochu. It's like sake but not as sweet.

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Aaron Danzig

Aaron is the Manager of Digital & Social Media Marketing at San Francisco Travel. He has lived in San Francisco for over 10 years and has worked in Travel & Tourism for over 8 of those. He is usually exploring the Bay Area hunting for that new and unique experience and good food too!