Savoring the Mission District’s Culinary Delights
You’ll find many fine places to eat in San Francisco, but nothing compares to the Mission District. Vanity Fair recently voted the Mission the hippest neighborhood in the country. As for the “delicious” part, you be the judge. Like most places, it depends on where you go. Here’s my review of Mission food tours (or skip down for discounts and hotels).
When it comes to navigating the Mission, let’s just say that’s when it gets complicated. This San Francisco neighborhood is extremely diverse, which makes it interesting, and not a little hard to figure out for non-natives. Every street you turn down has it’s own code and culture. Some are upscale, some of just plain fun, and others can make you feel a little (or a lot) out of place.
That’s why, if you’re new to the area, I recommend taking a guided food tour of the Mission District (more about that below).
Limon Restaurant on Valencia Street, San Francisco
People go to the Mission District for lots of reasons: dive bars and hipster restaurants, sidewalk sales and chic boutiques, street art and upscale galleries, amazing murals, activist bookstores, the perfect cup of coffee, Mexican markets, the Tamale Lady, upstairs music clubs, and late night taquerias.
Alley, Mission District, San Francisco (Photo: Curtis Cronn, flickr)
The Latino culture is key to the Mission, although you’ll find every kind of dining option just around the corner, such as Thai, Indian, Senegalese, Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, Salvadoran, Venezuelan, Burmese, Spanish, French, fusion, vegan, and some indefinable hybrids.
You can brave the streets alone, or you might consider one of the popular organized food tours of the area. That way you’ll have the benefit of experienced, expert culinary guides, longtime Mission locals and veterans of the competitive San Francisco restaurant scene to lead the way.
Baobab Chocolat Souffle a la mode
While San Francisco’s food tour companies offer tours of this remarkably diverse neighborhood directly, savvy visitors can often find discounted prices and special offers on the very same tours via secondary sources. I’ve rounded up a few here for you to check out (while they last). Follow the links to the source of each offer (not always the same) for more info and any updates.
At Tartine in the Mission District SF
SF Mission District Food Tour Discounts
Discount Tickets $48 (reg. $69)
Deal: Explore the Mission District on a Fun Foodie Walking Tour.
Location: Mission District – Sidewalk Tours, 826 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110.
Discount Tickets $15 (reg. $30)
Deal: San Francisco Food Safari: There’s More to the Mission Than Burritos.
Location: Mission District via San Francisco Food Safari, 2779 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110.
Discount Tickets $79.10 (reg. $113)
Deal: Mission 18th Street: A Culinary Walking Tour With Edible Excursions.
Location: Mission District’s 18th Street, 3565 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110.
Discount Tickets $79.10 (reg. $113)
Deal: Mission 24th Street San Francisco Food Tour.
Location: Mission District via Edible Excursions, 3168 22nd St., San Francisco, CA 94110.
Other Mission District Tour Sources
Two other sources I trust also feature SF Mission District food tours. The prices aren’t as good, but you’ll find a variety of options starting as low as $20, with VIP tours up to $398.
Mission Food Tours via Viator {see them here} — My favorite is the Flavors and Murals of the Mission District of San Francisco ($74). This one hits all the right spots, and they insure that your group will be small. That makes it more like doing the district with a bunch of friends. Taste Of The Mission ($97) is also fun. This source has the best variety of choices, with everything from sweet food tours, chocolate tours, Mission tours with drinks, Mission walking tour with lunch, and the interesting Radical SF: Castro and Mission Districts tour. I haven’t taken that one, but I’d like to.- Mission Food Tour via aRes {here for $20 Off} — This tour goes through the 16th and the upscale Valencia Street Corridor. Depending on the day, you’ll taste foods as diverse as Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Salvadorean, Venezuelan, Colombian, Indian, Pakistani, Spanish, Southern, Fusion, Tex Mex, Burgers, Vegan, Mediterranean, Burmese, Tapas, Crepes, Yucatecan, New Mexican, and more. You’ll stop by at least five different eateries on your walk as you eat your way along Valencia and Mission from 16th through 18th Streets heading towards 24th.
San Francisco Mission District Hotel Deals
Staying over? The Mission is so much fun, you will most likely need a few days at least to enjoy the area. But staying in the Mission can be a bit tricky. My choice would be to stay in Noe Valley, just to the west of the Mission. (Check out the rates & reviews on TripAdvisor). You can still find something Mission quirky, even in Noe. Here’s one to try:
- Noe’s Nest Bed and Breakfast {find it} — A classic San Francisco Victorian home, affordable with great breakfast and personal service by the owner, Sheila.
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