Uncategorized
The Restaurant My Picky Food Critic Friend Finally Admitted Was Good
My friend Steven reviews restaurants for a living and he’s impossible to impress. I’ve watched him send back dishes at Michelin-starred places because the salt balance was off. He complains about everything – the lighting, the music, the font on the menu. So when he agreed to meet me for dinner in Pacific Heights at…
Read MoreThe Meal That Made My Lebanese Friend Stop Complaining About SF Food
My friend Layla moved to San Francisco from Beirut three years ago and she hasn’t stopped complaining about how hard it is to find real Middle Eastern food here. She’s tried probably twenty different places and always finds something wrong – the hummus is too thick, the tabbouleh has too much bulgur, the shawarma is…
Read MoreThe Night My Couch and Turkish Food Became Best Friends
My friend Rachel had one of those weeks where everything went wrong – her car broke down, her boss was being impossible, her apartment flooded from the upstairs neighbor’s leaking dishwasher. By Friday she was done with humanity and refused to put on real pants or leave her apartment. But she was also starving and…
Read MoreThe Kebab That Made My Carnivore Dad Cry
My dad is this old-school meat guy who thinks vegetables are what food eats. He’s from Texas originally and grew up on BBQ, steaks, burgers – the whole American meat situation. Last year when he visited, I dragged him to Presidio Kebab because I was tired of eating at steakhouses every night. He ordered the…
Read MoreThat Gyro I Ate Standing on a Street Corner Changed Everything
My buddy Jake went to Greece for his bachelor party two years ago and came back completely obsessed with gyros. Not the sad meat-tube situation you get at most places here, but actual Greek gyros with lamb that’s been roasting all day, real tzatziki, fresh vegetables, warm pita that doesn’t taste like cardboard. He spent…
Read MoreThe Greek Food My Yiayia Would Actually Approve Of !
My friend Christina’s grandmother is Greek – like, born in Athens, still speaks Greek at home, super traditional Greek. She came to visit from back East last spring and Christina was freaking out about where to take her for dinner because San Francisco Greek food usually disappoints her. Everything’s either too fusion-y or just not…
Read MoreThe Time Our Office Party Actually Had Good Food (Thanks to Turkish Catering)
Last year my company threw this big client appreciation event and my boss put me in charge of food. I was stressed because San Francisco catering is usually one of two things – either boring sandwich platters that nobody gets excited about, or fancy stuff that costs a fortune and leaves everyone still hungry. Then…
Read MoreFinding Real Turkish Food in San Francisco Isn’t Easy (Until Now)
My friend Sarah came back from Istanbul last summer and wouldn’t stop talking about this lamb kebab she had near the Grand Bazaar. She tried finding something similar in San Francisco for months, hitting up spot after spot, only to end up disappointed with overpriced Mediterranean-ish food that tasted nothing like what she remembered. Then…
Read MoreWhat Is the Healthiest Middle Eastern Food?
Middle Eastern cuisine has earned a global reputation for being both comforting and nourishing. Rooted in centuries old cooking traditions, this style of food emphasizes fresh vegetables, lean proteins, legumes, herbs, olive oil, and time tested grilling techniques. In a city known for wellness focused dining and adventurous palates, many San Francisco restaurants highlight Mediterranean…
Read MoreWhich Type Of Kebab Is The Best ?
Choosing the best kebab can feel overwhelming, especially in a city known for diverse San Francisco restaurants and an adventurous dining culture. Kebabs appear across Turkish food, Greek food, and broader Mediterranean cuisine, each offering its own flavor profile, cooking style, and nutritional benefits. In San Francisco, kebabs are more than grilled meat on a…
Read More