San Francisco Transamerica Pyramid - photo by Pikrepo under CC0
San Francisco Transamerica Pyramid - photo by Pikrepo under CC0

Anthony Bourdain San Francisco: All Of The Restaurants Picked On The Layover

When Anthony Bourdain visited San Francisco on his show The Layover Season 1 Episode 8, he and his crew picked many restaurants. Here are all the addresses and the dishes showcased on The Layover – Anthony Bourdain San Francisco, all in a convenient list:

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DISH – Crab Fat, Oyster Platter, and Sea Urchin  

WHAT IS IT?

Crab Fat – mix of crab fat and crab roe, served with sourdough bread; Oyster Platter – a platter of different kinds of raw oysters, like those from Massachusetts, California, British Columbia, and local, San Francisco ones; Sea Urchin – edible parts of a sea urchin.

WHERE IS IT?                

Swan Oyster Depot
1517 Polk St
San Francisco, CA, United States

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ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

Swan Oyster Depot is a considered a landmark in San Francisco and a personal favorite of Bourdain. It has been serving raw and cooked seafood for about a hundred years. For coffee nerds and aficionados, Bourdain suggested Blue Bottle Coffee that serves hand-crafted, artisanal coffee and food like Euro-style sandwiches.

DRINKS – Beer

WHAT IS IT?

Alcoholic beverage brewed from malted barley or other grain cereals.

WHERE IS IT?

Toronado Bar
547 Haight St
San Francisco, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

Toronado is known mostly for beer, with more than 50 microbrews and about a hundred bottled beers. Anthony Bourdain also suggested Zeitgeist, a beer garden with a jukebox loaded with songs from local bands. Another suggestion was Pier 23 Cafe Restaurant & Bar if you want to have drinks while enjoying the view.

DISH – Banchan, Domi Maeuntang and Bossam

WHAT IS IT?

Banchan – Korean small plates or appetizers; Domi Maeuntang – spicy stew or curry of a red snapper head; Bossam – pork belly boiled in spices then sliced and usually served with kimchi.

WHERE IS IT?

To Hyang
3815 Geary Blvd
San Francisco, CA, United States

Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

To Hyang closed in 2014.

DISH – Wonton

WHAT IS IT?

Filled Chinese dumplings.

WHERE IS IT?

King of Noodles
1639 Irving St
San Francisco, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

While Bourdain did not visit King of Noodles in Inner Sunset on this episode, he suggested it for wontons and noodles that are made fresh in-house. He also suggested Off the Grid Food Trucks with various locations in Downtown San Francisco that offer various lunch options.

DRINKS – Lava Bowl, Bora Bora Horror, and Zombie

WHAT IS IT?

Lava Bowl – also called Volcano Bowl,  a cocktail of rum, tropical fruit juices and brandy, vodka or other liquors, served in a bowl; Bora Bora Horror – cocktail of rum, cola, pineapple juice and crème de banana; Zombie – cocktail of rum, liqueurs and fruit juices.

WHERE IS IT?

Tonga Room
950 Mason St
San Francisco, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar is a Tiki bar and Polynesian restaurant in the cellar of The Fairmont Hotel.

DISH – Pickled Quail Eggs and Jerk Spiced Duck Hearts     

WHAT IS IT?

Pickled Quail Eggs – quail eggs pickled in vinegar and beet juice; Jerk Spiced Duck Hearts – skewered jerk-spiced duck hearts.

WHERE IS IT?

The Alembic
1725 Haight St
San Francisco, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES       

The Alembic is where off-duty or pre-shift bartenders, servers, chefs, and beer lovers head to for high-quality drinks.

DISH – Shrimp Chips and Bánh Mì

WHAT IS IT?

Shrimp Chips – deep fried chips made from starch and shrimp; Bánh Mì – Vietnamese sandwich

WHERE IS IT?

Rice Paper Scissors
Vietnamese pop up restaurant based in the Mission District

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

Rice Paper Scissors tries to recreate the street food of Vietnam in San Francisco. Bourdain also suggested Mission Chinese Food at Lung Shan Restaurant for a play on pop-up restaurants, and La Folie that serves French food in a fixed location, also called “The House of Foie Gras”.

DRINKS – Mai Tai

WHAT IS IT?

Rum-based cocktail with orgeat syrup, lime juice and Curaçao liqueur.

WHERE IS IT?

Li Po
916 Grant Ave
San Francisco, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

Li Po Cocktail Lounge is known for its known for its special mai tais. While Bourdain did not stop by Benders on this trip, he suggested it for late drinks, and live rock and roll. Aside from Li Po, he also visited Comstock Saloon and Mr. Bing’s during this bar crawl.

DISH – Double Cheeseburger

WHAT IS IT?

Cheese burger with two patties, with two slices of cheese in between.

WHERE IS IT?

Sam’s Burgers
618 Broadway
San Francisco, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

Sam’s Pizza & Burgers is one of the few places in San Francisco that are open late, where you can grab some food.

DISH – Bacon-wrapped Dogs

WHAT IS IT?

Hotdogs wrapped with bacon.

WHERE IS IT?

Lucero’s Bacon Hot Dogs
19th and Mission Streets
San Francisco, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

While Bourdain did not visit Lucero’s Bacon Hot Dogs on this episode, he suggested this hot dog cart set up at the corner of 19th and Mission Streets for some bacon-wrapped hot dogs.

DISH – Salt and Pepper Prawns    

WHAT IS IT?

Fried prawns flavored with salt and pepper.

WHERE IS IT?

Yuet Lee Chinese
1300 Stockton St
San Francisco, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

Yuet Lee Seafood Restaurant is one of San Francisco’s most popular after-hours options, open until 3:00am. Bourdain did not stop by Yuet Lee Chinese on this trip but suggested it for its Salt and Pepper Prawns.

DISH – Cochinita Pibil – The Layover San Francisco

WHAT IS IT?

Roasted suckling pig served on a tortilla.

WHERE IS IT?

Chaac Mool Food Truck at Mission Dolores Park
Dolores St & 19th St
San Francisco, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

Chaac Mool is a food truck offering Yucatecan food. Bourdain also suggested Boccalone Salumeria for artisanal cured meats but it closed in October 2017. Another suggestion was Rosamunde Sausage Grill for grilled sausage on French rolls, with up to three toppings.

DISH – Molinari Special – The Layover San Francisco

WHAT IS IT?

Italian sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onions, oil and vinegar.

WHERE IS IT?

Molinari
373 Columbus Ave
San Francisco, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN SAN FRANCISCO NOTES

Molinari Delicatessen serves deli fare. Bourdain suggested El Huarache Loco on Alemany Boulevard for traditional Mexican street food but this location is already closed.

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