Chef Azalina Eusope’s San Francisco Dining Guide
Authentic Mongolian, flavor-bomb Vietnamese, and dreamy tasting menus are among chef/owner of Azalina’s favorite restaurants in the Bay Area.
Vietnamese food at Bodega SF. (Photo: Erin Ng)
Mon, February 2, 2026
Each of San Francisco’s diverse neighborhoods has its own vibe, history, and renown—and the same is true of the restaurants that populate every pocket of the city. Whether eateries are a mainstay mom-and-pop shop or a special occasion splurge, serving vibrant street food or intimate tasting menus, it's this rich tapestry of culinary offerings and the chefs behind them that make San Francisco such an inspiring town to dine out in—and a featured city in the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America® series. To find out where to eat in San Francisco, we asked James Beard Award semifinalist® Azalina Eusope, chef/owner of Azalina’s, a Malaysian restaurant in the Tenderloin neighborhood, for her top picks.
Below, Eusope—who dines out every single day—shares the best restaurants in San Francisco, including authentic Mongolian, flavor-bomb Vietnamese, and two James Beard Award–recognized fine-dining gems with stellar tasting menus.
Azalina Eusope.
Rendang Osso Buco from Azalina's.
What does it mean to be part of the JBF Taste America TasteTwenty cohort?
It’s incredibly humbling. I’m grateful to be included and to share Malaysian flavors on a bigger stage.
What do you love about the food scene in your city?
The diversity—and the people behind the concepts. Every chef here carries a story, a struggle, and a vision. That’s what makes this city’s food so inspiring.
Go-to spot to take visitors:
Hole-in-the-wall places. I love small, family-run restaurants that most people haven’t heard of. That’s where the soul is. I eat out every day, so I never stick to one favorite. When I have a free afternoon, we will drive to Gumbo Social for lunch then hit up Old Skool Cafe, both in Bayview. Or we will walk up to Embarcadero to Teranga for some yummy Senegalese food by Nafy [Flatley] and a cone at Gott’s.
I work between 12 to 18 hours a day. On days when time is tight, I walk couple blocks up to Bodega SF for flavor-bomb Vietnamese food or Yemen Kitchen [temporarily closed] for some warm, comforting rice and roasted lamb. Or for a quick [stop at] Yucatán Tamales in the Tenderloin. Let’s not forget the Ferry Building, a true San Francisco landmark. From a high-end bakery to Mexican corn bread—it’s a smorgasbord of delights. In every micro-neighborhood, you will find a true gem. All we have to do is walk!
Abu's West African Peanut Butter Stew from Old Skool Cafe.
Gott's soft serve. (Photo: Hardy Wilson)
The crew at Gumbo Social.
Must-try dish in your city:
Authentic Mongolian food—bold, comforting, unforgettable. It’s a flavor profile I still think about. My favorite is Naadam in downtown San Francisco, which I can walk over to with friends on a lazy, not so hectic afternoon.
Best special-occasion restaurant:
Nightbird. I love Nightbird because I love chef Kim [Alter]. When I was getting ready to open my current restaurant, she was the person I leaned on for advice, so this might be a bit biased, but honestly her food is smashing good! It’s a definite date night or special occasion evening. I love tasting menus. I am lazy, so if I don’t need to do a lot of thinking about what to order, I love it!
The other restaurant I love is Lazy Bear by chef David [Barzelay]. I know of his business partner Colleen [Booth] who is a bad-ass restauranteur. Both Nightbird and Lazy Bear are not only delicious but innovative, and the ambiance is oh so dreamy—date night [worthy] for sure!
What does an ideal night out in your city look like?
Dinner followed by a comedy show or a live music event. Both comedy and music events are so very casual. It depends on the locations, so my pick varies: Kin Khao [Thai], Kantine [Scandinavian], Saluhall [a food hall where Eusope’s Taste America event will be held], The Beer Hall, or CoCoBang [Korean]. It is setting up the mood to be chill, nothing is serious, and fun is about to go down!
And 7 Adams. It [has] an accessible tasting menu; it’s yummy, seasonal, and a quick date night dinner on our way to catch a movie or music. I love carbs so my favorite is warm milk bread. Nothing beats warm bread—I think warm bread is a luxury for people who grew up like me.
Chef Anthony Salguero at Popoca.
Nightbird.
A spread at Kin Khao.
What restaurant are you most looking forward to checking out?
I always have a long list. I’m constantly curious about new chefs and concepts in the city. I love soul food—alaMar is yummy; I could eat chef Nelson [German’s] Dominican-inspired food every day. I like good food, not concepts or trends. Maybe because I am old. I haven’t gone to Pomet [farm-to-table Californian] and Popoca [Salvadoran] in Oakland. I am very much looking forward to visiting soon.
Restaurant dish you’d cry over if they took it off the menu:
The octopus dish at Barcha is simply melt-in-your-mouth. It’s grilled over the fire with just salt and lightly dusted sumac on oven-roasted beans. It’s just the simplicity that hits all of your tastes—bitter, smoke, acid, creamy, sweet, and salt.
Favorite food/drink specialty shop:
Charles Chocolates—pure deliciousness. Hot cocoa, some unforgettable chocolates. I am impulsive, so it depends on the day and how big my haul is. Deli Board—you can’t go wrong with any of Adam [Mesnick]’s sandwiches and emergency room [-inducing] hot sauces. Heart of the City's Farmers' Market in UN Plaza has so many unique delights that I keep discovering twice a week. Walking back from the market to my restaurant in the Tenderloin, my haul is shared with others along the way and when I get back, which fills my heart with joy.
Who is another chef you admire in your city (and why)?
So many: Kim Alter, Charles Siegel, Adam Mesnick, Stuart Briozza, Laura Ozyilmaz and Sayat Ozyilmaz, and Melissa Perello—chefs who stay true to their craft, their integrity, and their communities always inspire me.
Purchase tickets to Taste America San Francisco Bay Area
Read the other Taste America dining guides
Get tickets to a Taste America event near you
The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America® culinary series presented by Capital One brings together chefs, special guests, and diners from across the country to celebrate the local independent restaurants at the heart of our communities. The Taste America TasteTwenty cohort, comprised of 20 exceptional chefs and changemakers, showcase their talents and represent their city’s independent restaurant community at walkaround tastings and dinners nationwide.