these are not your everyday grocery runs. these are the little-luxury markets - the treat-yourself, hosting-a-dinner, craving-a-taste-of-home kind of shops. because a good specialty grocery is really about the little luxuries: a wedge of good cheese, a tin of fish, a french butter that turns a tuesday into a celebration. it’s also about connection - it’s where you go when you’re homesick, where a whole culture lives on a few shelves. sf has one of these for almost every craving, so here’s my running list - neighborhood by neighborhood.
a quick note: here’s my farmers market list if that is more of what you are looking for - let’s get into it!
(★ = my favorites!)
★ little vine (north beach): a jewel-box corner shop that feels like someone's very stylish pantry, heavy on natural wine, good cheese, tinned fish, and thoughtfully chosen little things. it's tiny and perfect; I come here all the time for hosting gifts (they also have wine tastings on Thursdays!)
★ le marché cezanne (potrero hill): a sunny french épicerie on 18th st, opened by mario rimet, who grew up shopping village farm stands in france and recreated that feel here down to the floor he hand-tiled with his dad. it's local and organic produce, french cheeses from la fromagerie, charcuterie, wine, and isigny butter
cheese plus (russian hill / polk): a proper cheese counter with mongers who want to talk to you, plus charcuterie, pantry goods, and one of the better grilled cheese situations in the city
★ le beau (nob hill): the neighborhood market nob hill deserves, small footprint but surprisingly deep, with nice produce, prepared foods, and a huge wine wall. it’s the “run in for one thing, leave with dinner” kind of place. used to come here all the time for a hungover sandwich every saturday my first year living in the city! <3
tahona mercado (nob hill): part mezcal bottle shop, part “mexicatessen,” all heart, where owners steven and emily source small-batch agave spirits alongside handmade tortillas, salsas, and pantry treasures from mexican makers
new may wah (inner richmond): the sprawling chinese and pan-asian market on clement that has everything, produce piled high, a serious seafood counter, sauces and noodles for days, all at great pricing
★ food folk (inner richmond): a newer spot on clement, a shop filled with small-batch california food and drink plus rotating vintage homeware. it's a discovery spot, not a stock-up run, you come in for nothing and leave with a fermented hot sauce, a neighborhood coffee roast, and a vintage butter dish you didn't know you needed
★ olive specialty grocery (inner richmond): a bright little mediterranean, middle eastern, and european shop on clement with fresh burrata flown in from italy on fridays, persian ice cream sandwiches in the freezer, and shelves of turkish delight, olives, and hard-to-find pantry things. I come here all the time when I am missing any turkish food!
new world market (richmond): the russian and eastern european deli that’s been feeding the neighborhood’s expat community forever
other avenues (outer sunset): a worker-owned cooperative doing the community-grocery thing by the beach since the ‘70s, with bulk bins and local produce
22nd & irving market (inner sunset): the independent corner grocery with a wildly good produce selection, international pantry finds, and great pricing
★ bi-rite (multiple locations): one of the crown jewels of sf grocery, impeccably sourced produce, a butcher and cheese counter, prepared foods worth the splurge, and yes, the ice cream. it’s pricey but it’s worth it for a treat (the shop partners with local businesses for special ice-cream flavors!)
★ rainbow grocery (mission): the beloved worker-owned, all-vegetarian co-op that’s been an sf institution since 1975, with endless bulk bins, a shockingly good cheese selection (at a vegetarian store!), and the best spot in the city for gluten-free and specialty-diet finds
good life grocery (bernal heights + potrero hill): the friendly neighborhood independent holding it down since 1974, with local produce, solid prepared foods, and a community warmth
★ foodhall (mission): an upscale little market on 16th with coffee, pastries, cheese, and pantry splurges, but everyone’s really there for the frozen yogurt soft serve, which comes with toppings like bee pollen, a fresh matcha shot, and palestinian olive oil with sour cherries. equal parts grocery run and dessert date!
alimentari aurora (potrero hill): a petite, chef-owned italian larder on 18th, stocked with eclectic cheeses, charcuterie, tinned fish, craft chocolate, and a rotating little apéro menu in the evenings
casa lucas market (mission): a longtime family-run latin american grocery on 24th with a produce spread heavy on chiles, plantains, and tropical fruit, plus dried goods, spices, and mexican and central american staples
epicurean trader (multiple locations): a craft-everything shop, small-batch spirits, natural wine, farmstead cheese, chocolate, and pantry goods, all obsessively local and independent. the truffle grilled cheese has a cult following
★ nijiya market (japantown): the japanese grocery in japantown for sushi-grade fish, bento, mochi, imported snacks, and beautiful produce, with a great attention to quality. we always come here to pick up fish for homemade sushi & ramen <3
woori food market (fillmore): a small-but-mighty korean market near japantown with house-made banchan, fresh kimbap, marinated bulgogi ready to cook, and a prepared-foods case that rivals some restaurants
say cheese (cole valley): a tiny neighborhood cheese shop with a monger who’ll happily walk you through the case, plus charcuterie, crackers, and everything for a board. old-school, unpretentious, exactly what a cheese shop should be
★ luke’s local (multiple locations): the homegrown modern grocer quietly expanding while the big chains flee the city - they have made-to-order sandwiches everyone’s obsessed with (they have a great gf bread) and an amazing frozen cookie dough
gus’s community market (multiple locations): the family-run mini-chain (they scooped up glen park’s canyon market) - great grocery for produce and preprepared foods
falletti foods (nopa): a family-owned neighborhood grocery with a deep gourmet streak and prepared foods. my pick: a bottle from the wine wall and something from the prepared case
★★★ berkeley bowl (berkeley): my happy place !!! - my favorite grocery run in the whole bay, will gladly cross the bridge for this store - a produce section like a botanical garden, rare fruit and veg you won't find elsewhere, plus specialty cheese, fresh pasta, and endless global pantry aisles. the best place for bulk goods (their tea selection is amazing!)
Thank you all so much for reading! I hope everyone is having a happy sunday, and I hope everyone is feeling (at least a little) well rested :) xoxo
Love Always,
Su
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