Brian Nagele
There are only a handful of cities that can be recognized instantly by anyone if they were to be transported blindfolded to the city center. San Francisco is certainly one of those cities. Its steep, flower-lined streets, iconic Golden Gate Bridge, bustling Chinatown, and groovy Haight-Ashbury neighborhoods are just some of the classic, picturesque, and edgy landmarks of this world-famous Northern California city.
A city this special has an equally special cultural and culinary scene that draws on California’s rich agricultural and marine bounty to create award-winning menus. No cuisine exemplifies San Francisco’s culinary largess better than San Francisco steakhouses. Whether you are looking for a classic upscale dining experience or a contemporary cultural fusion of meat-centered cuisines, you’ll find the best steakhouse in San Francisco for your preferences. Below, we will explore the best steakhouses in San Francisco, providing seventeen excellent options on where to get a steak in San Francisco.
House of Prime Rib
1906 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: 415-885-4605
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If you are looking for the purest, most traditional approach to beef, then House of Prime Rib is the best steakhouse for you. The classy dining area with wood trim, elegant chandeliers, and an old fireplace just adds to the traditional feel of a fine-dining establishment. They only serve the highest quality beef, aged 21 days for tenderness, roasted in a cocoon of coarse rock salt, and marbled to perfection. Another old-school and now unique, House of Prime Rib still uses tableside carving, where your waiter will cut your order of prime rib for you at your table from an elegant silver tray. You can choose from several different thicknesses of prime rib to suit your appetite.
Harris’ Restaurant
2100 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: 415-673-1888
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Harris’ Restaurant has been serving the finest cuts of steaks and offering a special high-end dining experience since 1984, carrying on the century-long legacy of fine dining establishments at its 2100 Van Ness address. Harris’ Restaurant has conserved the turn of the century architecture and interior design, which provides a classic and cozy space to enjoy a fine meal. Their menu offers a mix of old and new steak dishes along with excellent seafood offerings. We recommend the Steak Dianne, which is a grilled filet mignon with a demi-glace of cognac and shallots.
Alexander’s Steakhouse
448 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94107
Phone: 415-495-1111
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Located a few blocks from the famous Oracle Park in San Francisco’s SOMA district, Alexander’s Steakhouse is a high-end, modern steakhouse that incorporates American and Japanese steak dishes, using both domestic and Japanese Wagyu cuts of beef along with the freshest seafood from California’s Pacific coasts. Alexander’s menu offers sashimi-style fish and beef along with cuts of steak that have been aged in different environments for distinct flavors and tenderness. We recommend starting with wagyu tartare accompanied by pickled ramps, egg yolk, caviar, and crème Fraiche followed by a wet-aged prime ribeye with brandied cherry, porcini sott’olio, and bone marrow.
5A5 Steak Lounge
244 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415-989-2539
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Drawing its name from the 5 senses, 5A5 Steak Lounge promises a sensory overload in the best way possible. Located in the Financial District close to San Francisco’s famous Embarcadero Pier, 5A5 Steak Lounge is a modern steakhouse specializing in Japanese Wagyu beef. The plating at 5A5 is exquisite, as is the unique dome-shaped dining room. Whatever you order will look like a work of art with a taste to match its beautiful appearance. We recommend the truffle fries with truffle oil and sriracha aioli to start with an Australian Wagyu New York Strip with a tomato beurre blanc demi-glace as your main course.
Lolinda
2518 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: 415-550-6970
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Located in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District, Lolinda is an Argentinian steakhouse with gaucho-inspired décor and a bustling atmosphere that provides a lively and entertaining atmosphere for large groups of friends, business colleagues, and celebratory intimate dinners alike. Lolinda’s menu is a panoply of traditional South American and Latin dishes with steaks, sausages, and chorizo grilled over a wood-fire grill. Argentina is famous for its empanadas, so try some as an appetizer. As for the main course, we recommend the grilled cross-cut beef short ribs or the malbec braised oxtail with spinach, root vegetables, and polenta.
Bobo’s
1450 Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-441-8880
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Bobquivari’s, or Bobo’s for short, is an award-winning steakhouse and seafood restaurant that has received numerous awards for its delicious food and quirky old-school Italian rat-pack decor. Along with Diner’s choice awards annually since 2016, USA Today has listed Bobo’s among the top 10 steakhouses in the nation. Bobo’s specializes in aged-steaks and high-quality crab, so be sure to try both. Their beef is aged for 4-6 weeks, making it some of the tenderest and most flavorful meat in town. Their Dungeness crab is fresh off the boat from San Francisco’s own fisherman’s Wharf.
Epic Steak
369 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 415-369-9955
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The experience lives up to the name at Epic Steak, a steakhouse and seafood restaurant that lies right on the bay with wonderful views of the iconic bay bridge through its floor-to-ceiling windows. Their cocktails are creative and delicious, and their food is about simple yet precise execution using local and seasonal produce and hormone-free organic beef. We recommend ordering fresh Pacific oysters from the day’s local catch and steak frites with scalloped gruyere potatoes.
Roka Akor
801 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: 415-362-8887
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Roka Akor is a Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar with a traditional robata-style grill where patrons can interact with and watch chefs expertly prepare their meat and grilled seafood. The décor is sleek and modern, with a busy and entertaining atmosphere that young professionals would enjoy. They have an extensive cocktail, sake, and Japanese whiskey menu, adding to the authenticity of a true Japanese fine-dining experience. Whether you order sushi, sashimi, robata, or tempura, Japanese dishes are made to be shared. We recommend sharing langoustine and seared scallop nigiri (learn more about nigiri here), and our robata selection would be the Wagyu sirloin with grilled bone marrow and spicy-sweet garlic soy.
Fogo de Chão
201 3rd St #100, San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415-427-0004
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Modeled off the Brazilian Churrascaria, Fogo de Chao is a wildly successful Brazilian Steakhouse chain that offers the most indulgent all-you-can-eat experience you can imagine and you don’t even have to leave your table. There is a set menu of nearly 15 cuts of meat that circulating waitstaff will continuously serve you from sizzling spits accompanied by cheese bread, mashed potatoes, polenta, and plantains. Not only are there skewers of the finest cuts of beef, but also pork ribs, pork picanha, lamb chops, and bacon-wrapped chicken.
Leatherneck Steakhouse
609 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-673-6672
Located at the top of the beautiful Marine’s Memorial Club hotel, Leatherneck Steakhouse is a local gem that is a favorite of veterans and civilians alike. The panoramic views of San Francisco are amazing, and there is usually a pianist playing on a large grand piano to provide classy background music. Their menu features all the classic steakhouse and seafood favorites, including Dungeness crab cakes, oysters Rockefeller, crispy calamari, and a plate-sized ribeye cooked to perfection. Their creamed spinach is also wonderful.
Osso Steakhouse
1177 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: 415-771-6776
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Osso Steakhouse in San Francisco claims to have the best steak in town due to their aging method and specialized off-site storage facility where top-quality USDA beef undergoes expert-controlled aging and carving before arriving at Osso’s kitchen to be expertly cooked and plated for your enjoyment. You can judge for yourself if they deserve their USA-Today award for Top 10 Best Steaks in the US. Try their bone-in filet mignon, seared in its natural juices with just a hint of rosemary and garlic.
Izzy’s
3345 Steiner St, San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-563-0487
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An homage to the beloved 1920s San Francisco restaurateur Izzy Gomez, owner Sam DuVall opened Izzy’s in 1987 with the same family-owned establishment, prohibition-era historic feel, and classic steak and potato recipes served when Izzy was the owner. Their drunken prawns are a favorite appetizer, and if you go with a friend, try splitting their giant 30 oz Tomahawk Steak with charred asparagus truffled bordelaise sauce and a loaded baked potato.
Morton’s The Steakhouse
400 Post St, San Francisco, CA 9410
Phone: 415-986-5830
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Located in San Francisco’s Union Square, Morton’s The Steakhouse has been a San Francisco institution for over 25 years. Although Moton’s is now a national chain, their flawless menu, beautifully designed dining rooms, and world-class service makes them a favorite no matter where they’re located. We’d recommend surf and turf at Morton’s with a smaller 8 oz Prime Manhattan cut with black truffle butter, two bacon-wrapped scallops, and a side of their luscious lobster mac n cheese.
Niku Steakhouse
61Division St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415-829-7817
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Niku Steakhouse is a contemporary and innovative Japanese and American fusion steakhouse that cooks meat and fish exclusively over a wood-fired grill. They use local Northern California produce and dairy while importing the very best A5 Wagyu beef stored in glass meat lockers that line the entrance of the restaurants for guests to observe as they arrive. The menu is an imaginative and colorful mix of Japanese flavors with Californian flair. You could make a five-star meal from the starters alone. Try the cured halibut with plum, jalapeno, cucumber, and rice or the oysters with apple wasabi and crème Fraiche. Their wagyu smoked, braised, and glazed shortribs are an excellent main course.
Bob’s Steak & Chop House
500 California St, San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: 415-273-3085
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Located between San Francisco’s famous Chinatown and the Financial District in the world-class Omni-San Francisco Hotel, Bob’s Steak and Chop House offers hefty portions of steaks and seafood to enjoy in an airy and welcoming dining room. All steaks and chops are served with your choice of fried, smashed, or loaded baked potatoes. While steak may be the go-to option at a chophouse, we recommend trying the dry-aged Pork Tomahawk with house-made applesauce or the seared duck breast with Luxardo cherry sauce.
John’s Grill
63 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-986-0069
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Founded in 1908, John’s Grill is San Francisco’s oldest steakhouse and a historic landmark that has served multiple U.S. presidents, movie stars, and Silicon Valley tech giants throughout its tenure. It has maintained its intimate old-fashioned feel, replete with historic photographs of famous San Francisco-native patrons with an early 20th-century cash register on display at the bar. The menu has an old American and Italian cuisine theme with delicious salads, pasta, seafood, and steaks. We recommend the Maine Lobster ravioli to start, followed by the surf and turf plate with a black Angus NY strip and three jumbo fried prawns with a loaded baked potato.
Mastro’s Steakhouse
399 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-363-9539
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Mastro’s Steakhouse is a fine-dining cosmopolitan establishment with restaurants in all the biggest metropolitan cities across the nation including Los Angeles, Ft. Lauderdale, New York, Houston, Boston, and Chicago. Mastro’s San Francisco steakhouse is in the Tenderloin neighborhood, a fitting name for its meat-centered menu. Their jumbo lump crab cakes and blackened swordfish are phenomenal surf options, while their rack of lamb is worth ordering if you’re craving turf.
