Show off the city, on a budget, on a Saturday night?

Question

I've got two friends coming from New York for a conference, hence they will only get out for one meal and it will be during prime time. And we are all on a budget...

In the good ole days, I would have suggested the likes of Canteen (which is still a possibility) or SPQR but I'm afraid that still might be outside of what my friends would like to spend. 

Looking for quintessential San Francisco, I don't want them to have to wait in line at Tadich (and think that a bit cheesy for New Yorkers). Burmese, which they can't get?

I've lived in Napa now for a year and most of the city hot-spots are off radar for me and need some suggestions.

-----
SPQR
1911 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Answer

Organic/local/California cuisine tends to be pricey, so if they're on a budget and you want to show off the city, I'd stick to international foods that NY isn't strong in. 

Perhaps over budget but unique:
Mr. Pollo : every night, the chef creates a new pan-Latin American 4 course dinner for $20
Gracias Madre : Vegan mexican. It's fun to watch people enjoy the food despite initial skepticism

Definitely budget: do a Mission food crawl and split everything:
- Burritos: I'd pick El Farolito's asada but see http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/422377 
- Ice Cream: I'd pick Humphry Slocumbe or Bi-Rite but see: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/783796
- Mexico city street food at Reaction Restaurant on Mission
- Chips and Salsa: Papalote Mexican Grill

If you'd like to do Burmese, Mandalay Restaurant is good, and Burma Superstar is good but overly crowded. Both are out there in the Richmond district which might not be convenient for your friends. Yamo and Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen are alternatives in more accessible locations, but I haven't been there.

For more cheap eats, see: 
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/788263
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/804193

-----
Burma Superstar Restaurant
309 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen
452 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Papalote Mexican Grill
3409 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Mandalay Restaurant
4344 California St, San Francisco, CA 94118

Mr. Pollo
2823 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Yamo
3406 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

El Farolito
4817 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112

Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream
2790 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Gracias Madre
2211 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Answer

Burmese Kitchen is great, but closes at 8:30.

Lers Ros.

The food at Barbacco is a bargain.

Sam's Grill is like Tadich without the lines and tourists.

Maybe Poc-Chuc? What's the Yucatecan scene like in NY?

-----
Sam's Grill & Sea Food Restaurant
374 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94104

Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen
452 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Poc Chuc
2886 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Lers Ros Thai
730 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA

Barbacco
230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Answer

Take them for a real Vietnamese sandwich (if the hours work), or just go with the obvious choice and stick to Burritos. 

Off the Grid is another approach. The gourmet food trucks in SF are based more in playful ingredients, and fusion than what's found in New York. 

New Yorkers still can't get Burmese, but aside from a tea leaf salad, most of the staple dishes are available in similar versions from other Asian cuisines (Thai, etc.) so it's unlikely to thrill visitors the way it would have even 2 years ago. 

For ice cream, there really isn't anything close to Humphrey Slocombe or Mr. & Mrs. Misc., so why not take them there? The recently revamped Citizen Cake soda fountain is another option. Smitten ice cream in Hayes Valley would be another.
 
Cafe Gratitude might be one consideration.

Another thing to keep in mind, New York is currently lacking in good croissants. There's nothing close to Tartine.

-----
Off the Grid
Stanyan Street at Waller Street, San Francisco, CA

Answer

Nice article round-up in the Chron today about Moroccan restaurants in SF and the Bay Area, some on budget. 

Aziza would be a great example of SF, except for the budget. Don't know of any other Cal-Moroccan places with a Michelin star. 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/27/DDM61LKPBL.DTL&type=food

Answer

My two "go-to" places for inexpensive but relatively impressive dinners are Barbacco and Nopalito. Nopalito doesn't take reservations, but you can call ahead and put your name on the wait list, and then head around the corner to Madrone for cocktails until your table is ready.

-----
Barbacco
230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Answer

BTW, I ended up taking my friends to Zare at the Flytrap. Two appetizers, two cocktails, and three entrees had us in at $116 before tip; reasonable.

I then brought them to Humphrey Slocombe and Dynamo for dessert. 

They were thrilled.

Topics

Locations

Your post has been published!

Show off the city, on a budget, on a Saturday night?

More from Chowhound

Guides

The Ultimate Spring Produce Guide: What's in Season & How to Use It

Recipe Round-Ups

Quick and Easy Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes for Less Morning Stress

Guides

How to Care for Enameled Cast Iron So It Lasts a Lifetime

Home

The Best Tool to Clean a Wood Cutting Board Is Probably in Your Compost Bin

Trending Discussions

Chowhound Recipes That You are Saving

A Final Goodbye for Chowhound

Favorite Chowhound Memories

NY Times: Chowhound Closes After 25 Years of Food Obsession, Wisdom and Debate

January–April 2022 Baking COTM: DESSERT PERSON by Claire Saffitz

Quick Links

Latest Discussions

Cookbook of the Month

Dish of the Month

Weekly Menu Planning

Get fresh food news delivered to your inbox

12 Irish Foods to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day That Aren’t Corned Beef and Cabbage

Chowhound

Policies

Community

Editorial

Content