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Where to Eat at San Francisco International Airport [SFO]

All the best options for a quick breakfast, liquid lunch, or sit-down dinner at SFO by Eater Staff Updated May 16, 2024, 12:08pm PDT

As we enter the summer travel season, here’s a guide to the best restaurants and airport bars at San Francisco International Airport.

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● ● ● It’s officially the summer travel season. That means your friend’s obnoxious destination wedding, long-delayed family get-togethers, and perhaps even a climactic move across the country. No matter the reason, there’ll be a huge amount of people flying in and out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) this latter half of 2024. A recent report found travel-related spending in California hit $150.4 billion in 2023, a 5.6 percent increase from 2022 and an all-time high for the state. Governor Gavin Newsom was so excited by the news he climbed to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge to share the news. For all those traveling in and out of the Bay, these are the smart places to get your caffeine fix and that late-night pick-me-up before you leave on a jet plane. Related

An Eater’s Guide to San Francisco

Standout restaurants at SFO

Napa Farms Market: With its sizable pizza and rotisserie selection, this Tyler Florence-backed to-go spot has plenty of satisfying hot options. The really clutch move, however, is to make yourself a mini-picnic with Acme bread, Cowgirl Creamery cheese, Tout Sweet pastries, and a local microbrew. It’s also a great place to pick up last-minute Bay Area food gifts for friends, including wines. Good news, travelers headed abroad: Napa Farms is now open in the International Terminal, too. [Terminal 2, post-security retail area]

San Francisco Giants Club House: This ode to San Francisco’s baseball team features a digital wall showing sports, news, movies, and interactive entertainment. The menu is packed with ballpark specialties like Crazy Crab sandwiches and Gilroy Garlic Fries, making it a pleasant place to pass the time and soak in some San Francisco baseball culture. [Terminal 3, Gate F15] Yankee Pier: This “updated New England seafood house” claims its seafood arrives — by plane — twice a day. Lobster, crab, and chowder all appear on the menu, as do breakfast items like Dungeness crab eggs benedict. [Terminal 3, Gate F4] Bun Mee: Inspired by Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, this local chain has two locations in the airport, both of which serve fresh takes on the classic with fillings like smokey eggplant, crispy tofu, and a “sloppy bun” with red curry ground beef, house garlic mayo, shaved onion, Thai basil, and jalapenos. There are also fresh spring rolls and noodles for lighter to-go options. [Terminal 3 food court Gates F5–F22 and Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Gate B3]

International Terminal

Boarding Area A

Boudin Bakery: The famous San Francisco sourdough bread maker is an option for sandwiches, pizzas, salads, and sweets. [Near Gate A2, post-security] Valencia St. Station: Here you’ll find an American-style pub menu, a full bar, and a Ritual Coffee bar. [Gate A12]

Boarding Area G

Mustards Bar and Grill: This is a Napa Valley favorite for global dishes like Mongolian pork chops and grilled hanger steak. [Gate G3] Potrero Grill: American soups, salads, pizza, sandwiches, and burgers, plus beer and wine, round out the menu at this local spot. [Near boarding area G, pre-security] Koi Palace: Legendary dim sum destination Koi Palace serves shu mai, har gow, and sesame balls plus combo plates piled with fried rice, Mongolian beef, and stir-fried green beans with chicken. [Near boarding area G, pre-security] Tomokazu: Sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, noodles, and robata round out the menu at this Japanese spot. [Gate G7]

Harvey Milk Terminal 1

Boarding Area B (Gates B1–B27)

A Quick Meal Bun Mee: Expect fresh takes on banh mi sandwiches, spring rolls, and noodles. [Near Gate B3] GR Chocolate Boutique: The newest addition to the terminal, this boutique not only sells, as the name indicates, chocolate, but also a bit of late afternoon or evening caffeine. [Near Gate B13] Ritual Coffee: Eileen Rinaldi’s company, a San Francisco coffee classic, offers rotating staff-made specialty drinks at a reasonable price. The shop boasts an almost impossible 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. window for caffeine and pastries, so nab your evening espresso here. [Immediately after security checkpoint] Starbird: Chicken sandwiches, salads, and — best of all — craft sodas and lemonades all make up the menu here. [Near Gate B13]

Mama Go’s Filipino Cuisine: The restaurant formerly known as Goldilocks Filipino Cuisine is still at SFO serving Filipino favorites including fluffy siopao, lumpia Shanghai, and chicken adobo. There’s even the option to order ahead if you’re in a rush. [Near Gate B18] A Leisurely Meal Bourbon Pub: The SFO location of Michael Mina’s expansive chain serves pub fare like burgers and fish and chips. There’s also a full bar. [Near Gate B7/B8]

Boarding Area C (Gates C2–C11)

A Quick Meal Dogpatch Bakehouse & Café: Here on-the-go travelers can find espresso, breakfast options, salads, sandwiches, and pastries, plus beer and wine. [Gate C7] A Leisurely Meal Farmerbrown: Travelers who miss the shuttered San Francisco staple can revisit the restaurant's dishes here, including biscuits, scrambles, and seasonal veggie jambalaya. There’s also a full bar. [Gate C6]

Terminal 2

Boarding Area D (Gates D1–D18)

A Quick Meal Andalé Mexican Kitchen + Bar: Order made-to-order Mexican entrees. [Near Gates D3–D15] Burger Joint: This is a quick destination for Niman Ranch burgers, hormone-free hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, and sides. [Near Gates D3–D15] Napa Farms Market: A gourmet deli and bakery selling desserts and various prepared foods from Bay Area purveyors like Acme Bread and Cowgirl Creamery, plus Tyler Florence's rotisserie chicken, and desserts and sauces from Yigit Pura's Tout Sweet Patisserie. [Post-security retail area] Peet's Coffee & Tea: The Berkeley-based chain’s airport outpost serves its usual menu of coffee and tea, pastries, sandwiches, salads, and bottled beverages. Expect to pay more than you do at your neighborhood Peet's, though you can stay as long as you like. [Near Gates D3–D15] The Plant Café Organic and Pinkberry: Look for organic fare from the San Francisco-based chain, with options like wraps and the cult-followed veggie burger. Paired with a branch of fro-yo giant Pinkberry. [Near Gates D3–D15]

Wakaba: Japanese noodles, sushi, teriyaki, and bento boxes. Beer and sake are also available. [Near Gates D3–D15] A Leisurely Meal Lark Creek Grill: Go for a full-service restaurant from the Lark Creek empire, with seafood, steak, and breakfast items. Full bar and beer and wine on tap. [Near Gates D3–D15] Vino Volo: A decent wine bar with bites like olives and artisanal cheese, as well as small plates like braised pork tacos. Also, the place to satisfy a flourless chocolate cake craving. [Post-security retail area]

Terminal 3

Boarding Area E (Gates E1-E13)

A Quick Meal Dogpatch Bakehouse & Caffé: Espresso, breakfast options, salads, sandwiches, and pastries, plus beer and wine. [Gate E8] Klein's Deli: Formerly located in Potrero Hill, Klein's sells coffee, cookies, made-to-order salads and sandwiches to take with you. Also serves beer and wine. [Gate E9] Urban Tortilla: Made-to-order Mexican food. [Gate E9] A Leisurely Meal Mission Bar & Grill: Enjoy your layover with full bar and table service. Order steaks, sandwiches, burgers, soups, and salads. Also serves breakfast. [Gate E5]

Boarding Area F (Gates F1-F22)

A Quick Meal Pronto!: Head here for to-go items made by San Francisco Bay Area food purveyors. [Gate F15] Bacon Bacon: Famed breakfast sandwiches, burgers, and fries. [Near Gates F11 to F20]

Klein's Deli and Coffee Bar: Formerly located in Potrero Hill, Klein's sells coffee, cookies, made-to-order salads, and to-go sandwiches. Beer and wine too. [Gate F14] Koi Palace Express: The Daly City classic dim sum spot with small Chinese plates, noodle soups, roasted chicken and duck, and more. [Food court near Gates F5–F22] Proposition Chicken: This local mini-chain specializes in chicken, specifically Mary’s free-range birds brined, fried, or rotisserie roasted and served as sandwiches, salads, or platters. [Food Court near Gates F11-F22] Pie Five Pizza Co.: Pizza that will allegedly be custom-made in five minutes or less. [Food court near Gates F5–F22] Sankaku: Fast sushi, noodles, teriyaki and bento boxes, plus beer and sake. [Gate E1] A Leisurely Meal SF Giants Clubhouse: Watch sports, news, movies, and interactive entertainment while enjoying a menu of ballpark specialties like Crazy Crab sandwiches and Gilroy Garlic Fries. [Gate F13] SF Uncork'd: Modern wine bar with craft beers and small plates. [Gate F14] Yankee Pier: Fresh seafood, clam chowder, lobster, and crabs, including breakfast items like Dungeness crab eggs Benedict. Seafood is flown in twice daily, and the restaurant says it’s committed to sustainable practices. Full bar and table service. [Gate F4]

Rental Car Center

A Quick Meal Marina's Cafe: Coffee, pastries, breakfast items, sandwiches, and salads. [Level 4]

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