Guaranteed to Impress

Whatever you’ve been looking for, here it is

Author

Jack
June 20, 2023

One of the hardest parts about picking a restaurant is optimizing the price to vibes to food ratio, especially when you need to account for different tastes. Rare is the restaurant with top notch food, great service, and a price that feels fair relative to the overall experience.

Here are the spots that are guaranteed to impress your friends, parents, a date, foodie, or picky eater, whatever the occasion. Dig in:

🥗 Burma Love / burmalove.co

Tea leaf salad // image credit: SF Chronicle

Burma Love is a jewel in the crown of Burma Inc., the restaurant empire founded by Desmond Tan, an immigrant from Burma (now Myanmar) who has spent the last 23 years becoming the undisputed king of Burmese food in SF (and possibly the country).

Whether you eat at Burma Love or any of his 7+ spots around the Bay Area it’s impossible not to have an amazing meal. That said, Burma Love has a more modern appeal and formidable cocktail list that, alongside the food, makes it effortlessly impressive.

Order This ⬇️

  • Tea leaf salad

  • Superstar shrimp

  • Mango chicken

  • Dry fried string beans

  • Garlic noodles

Eat Here 🔗 Reservations | Delivery & Takeout | Map

🧆 Beit Rima / beitrimasf.com

The full spread // image credit: me

I’ve covered Beit Rima before and this place just can’t miss. While not fancy by any means, the staff is friendly, atmosphere is high energy, and once the food starts rolling out of the kitchen you’ll be so deep in an out-of-body experience that you may as well be eating on the moon.

Order This ⬇️ (all pictured above)

  • Lebne

  • Muhammara

  • Baba ganoush

  • Hummus

  • Falafel

  • Chicken shish tawook plate

  • Gazan braised lamb shank

  • Samir’s hand kneaded bread

Eat Here 🔗 Waitlist | Takeout & Delivery | Map

NOTE: you’ll need to head to the counter to order

🐟️ Hook Fish Co. / hookfishco.com

Tuna poke // image credit: The Infatuation

Hook Fish Co. is a “what you see is what you get” kind of place that feels like a local beachside fish shack (because it basically is). The fish is crazy fresh and rotates as a result, but you’ll always be satisfied with the end product. They also operate a small fish market if you’re into that.

While it’s tempting to grab your food and head to the beach, the wind and the seagulls are formidable opponents. You might be better off snagging a seat at the typically-packed restaurant and enjoying the sea air from a distance.

Order This ⬇️

  • Tuna poke

  • Guacamole

  • Fish burrito

  • Fish tacos

Eat Here 🔗 Reservations: N/A | Takeout | Map

Note: they also have an outpost in Mill Valley with a killer beer garden if you feel like crossing the bridge and making a day out of it