Dining at this upscale katsu-focused tasting menu spot is a singular experience—complete with different styles of panko.

The moment we knew we loved it: When the restaurant welcomed us with individual appetizer boxes filled with Jell-O-like lotus, braised beef tongue, and tofu cosplaying as mozzarella.

A perfect order for a special occasion: The tasting menu, which is between 10-12 courses. Add two more with the lava rock A5 wagyu and Dungeness crab croquette supplements.

This ultra-crispy Southern-style fried chicken is like nothing else in the city.

The moment we knew we loved it: When we paired a bite of the rosemary-spiced chicken with a spoonful of mac and cheese.

The perfect order for a leisurely Friday lunch: Four-piece combo with cornbread, mac and cheese, and the house salad with balsamic vinaigrette.

Go if you like...Watching the Warriors do their thing over crunchy drumsticks and glasses of champagne.

Elena’s is a rare Big Night Out restaurant that’s meant for showing off your outfit while sipping on spicy margaritas.

The moment we knew we loved it: Witnessing the arrival of the cheesy shrimp gobernador tacos covered in lime juice and salsa verde.

A perfect order for a night out: One frozen aperol margarita per person, esquites and tacos gobernador for the table, and a bowl of pozole for yourself—you won’t want to spare a single spoonful.

The tasting menu at this fine-dining spot will run you less than a street-sweeping ticket. Get ready to develop a crush on a bread roll.

The moment we knew we loved it: The first bite of a chanterelle that recalibrated the mushroom-appreciation neurons in our brain.

A perfect order for a date: There are two options for every course, so get one of each and share. Everybody wins.

Go if you like...Milk bread, romance, and ordering all the desserts.

It would be a dream to live within walking distance of this 11-seat soba shop—one of the few that does both cold and hot soba.

The moment we knew we loved it: When we slurped a buckwheat noodle that tasted like it just went down a waterslide of sweet soy.

A perfect order for a solo situation: The cold soba (even when it’s 60 degrees out) with fried-to-order kakiage. Add a side of inari if it’s on the menu.

Aji Kiji is a takeout-only counter serving sushi that rivals most upscale omakase spots.

The moment we knew we loved it: Staring into the eyes of the adorable fish-shaped bottle full of soy sauce that comes with every box.

A perfect order for a picnic: The omakase set is a stunning lineup of 10 nigiri, negitoro maki, and pickles—if you’re with someone else, share that and the bara chirashi that’s dotted with wiggly tamago cubes and edamame.

It’s not just the duck that’s good here. All the Cantonese roast meats deserve their names on the awning.

The moment we knew we loved it: Seeing our reflection in the caramelized edge of the charred pork collar.

A perfect order for a casual group dinner: Split the GDY Cantonese roast duck, pork collar, and crispy pork belly. Throw in a side of rice, bao, and garlicky greens to round things out.

This fine-dining restaurant serves beautiful small plates, like a goat ghee taco that’s a contender for the best birria in SF.

The moment we knew we loved it: Devouring a chunk of pomegranate-glazed pork belly, followed by several scorched padron peppers.

A perfect order for a birthday dinner: Get the yogurt chaat, an order of the pork belly, goat ghee tacos, and the tiger shrimp xec xec.

Go if you like: Shareable starters that look like they took five hours to plate.

Plan to commission a monument honoring the handheld meals from this halal takeout counter—particularly the chicken caesar wrap.

The moment we knew we loved it: When we attempted to lick the smears of lemony caesar dressing off the impossible-to-reach corners of our face.

A perfect order for a midday pick-me-up: Come with a friend, order both the chicken caesar wrap and breakfast burrito with brisket, and split them. Add a fresh orange juice for good measure.

The shave ice from this Hawaiian spot is stellar, even in the ubiquitous Parkside mist. It’s only one of the many hits.

The moment we knew we loved it: Inhaling the pineapple sausage on the hood of our car because we couldn’t wait to get home.

A perfect order for a warm day at the beach: Shrimp and sausage plate, a spam musubi, hurricane tots, purple potato salad, and a lilikoi syrup-soaked shave ice for dessert.