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- Fast Casual: Pricey but Worth It
It’s no secret that SF is a ridiculously expensive city to live in. Between eating out, going out, and Uber, it can feel like there’s a toll just to leave your apartment.
And yet…there are times when a $30 takeout lunch soothes the soul. So if you’re looking for a place where you’ll be happy to overspend on a simple meal (or if the thought of another Sweetgreen or Chipotle is revolting), here’s what to do:
🥣 Blue Barn / bluebarngourmet.com
The rooster // image credit: me
Blue Barn isn’t necessarily doing anything novel, but in this case the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When you’re in a “paying for a sandwich” mood or just feeling too lazy to open the fridge, it’s Blue Barn or bust. Thankfully the portions are huge and I’ve yet to be disappointed.
Order This ⬇️
Rooster sandwich (Spencer’s pro tip is to swap the chicken for cracked pepper turkey)
Clubber sandwich
Thai chicken salad
Chips (or tots if you’re feeling spicy)
🐓 Rooster and Rice / roosterandrice.com
The original // image credit: Eater SF
I didn’t know what khao mun gai was before I moved to the bay and once you try it out you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it. Rooster and Rice’s classic Thai chicken & rice (hence the name) was a bright spot while working long hours for little appreciation and it remains the healthiest-feeling fast casual you can get.
Order This ⬇️
The original
The Marina (skinless breast and brown rice, if you’re feeling like taking the health factor up a notch)
Add side habanero sauce, which is god-tier and I am desperately trying to recreate it at home
Eat Here 🔗 Reservations: N/A | Takeout & Delivery | Map
NOTE: I personally prefer to sip on the broth they give you on the side, but if you’re a psychopath you can turn the dish into a soup
🥙 Souvla / souvla.com
Lamb gyro // image credit: SF Chronicle
If it’s possible to have a moderately-priced meal at either of the other restaurants on this list, Souvla is more than happy to make up for it. They may be coasting on the lack of alternatives, but you can’t dispute that they have their craft down to a science and they do it well. Souvla has five well-distributed locations around SF so you don’t have to travel far for some baklava froyo.
Order This ⬇️
Lamb gyro
Greek fries
Side of granch (Greek ranch - sensing a theme here?)
Baklava frozen yogurt
Eat Here 🔗 Reservations: N/A | Delivery & Takeout | Map
🥡 Bonus Round
Because you can do better than Proper Food, I promise.
Oren’s Hummus - What do you do when you invest in some of the most successful tech companies of the past decade? Crush the hummus game, obviously.
Mamahuhu - Brandon Jiu may have just won a Michelin star for Mr. Jiu’s but that doesn’t make him a snob. You’ll have to make it to the Richmond for this one.
Soma Eats - this is for my in-office squad. Sandwiches, salads, vibes. Green goddess salad is my fave.