Passover is a widely celebrated tradition that highlights food as an essential foundation for communal connection and observation. In San Francisco the sentiment is no different, offering a wide variety of both classic and creatively contemporary establishments which not only offer family-size portions, but also elevates and modernizes the traditional flavors.
As many restaurants throughout the city recognize all the communities who partake in the culinary holiday, here are the places you can grab a specially made Seder meal or snack.
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Wise Son's is a ubiquitously familiar name not only in San Francisco with its three locations and food truck, but also its expansion into the greater Bay Area around Palo Alto, Walnut Creek, and Santa Rosa. Instead of their notorious bagels, order their complete Seder meal kit which can feed 6-8 people. These packages come with either roasted brisket or a sous-vide chicken, along with matzo-ball soup, charosete, and chocolate matzo. Wise Son's also provides separate menu servings like classic "Nana's Potato Kugel" and chopped chicken liver.
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1 Market St / Website
Located with the recently renovated One Market Restaurant, Mark ’n Mike’s began as a pop up New York-style takeout deli. Now they are a full dining mainstay, offering a four-course prepaid delivery dinner complete with matzo ball soup, pickled king salmon, 12-hour smoked brisket, and flourless chocolate cake.
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71 3rd St / Website
Founded by Tel Aviv native Oren Dobronsky with his wife Nancy in Palo Alto, Oren's Hummus has since evolved and expanded into the city near the MOMA, yet still retaining classic Israeli flavors. Oren's provides a thorough Passover dinner for delivery or pickup with a Seder plate, full box of Matzah, and 4 ounces of Marror and Charoset. Starters begin with matzah ball soup and Gefilte Fish, followed by marinated beet salad and a main with either brisket, apricot and basil chicken thighs or grilled vegetables. Choose from their extensive sides and desserts as well.
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4288 24th Street / Website
For 27 years, Firefly has become a small, but strong staple in Noe Valley serving inventive recipes with fresh ingredients. Their gastronomic creativity extends into their Passover meal with bi-color horeradish, root vegetable tzimmes, chicken livers, and their famous gefilte fish, all fit for 4 people.
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834 Divisadero St / Website
Having been described by Bon Appetit Magazine as a "breezy and stylish Italian instant hit in NoPa," Che Fico delivers on both their comfortable atmosphere and perfectly fused Califonia-Italian cuisine. For their four-people serving take-home Passover dinner, they include braised brisket, chicory salad with apples and honey, and citrus almond cake, with either red wine or a non-alcoholic beverage.
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132 6th St / Website
Frena is currently the only kosher bakery in San Francisco. Honoring the creator's great-Grandfather Moshe with his recipes from Iraq to Israel, Frena's expansive pastry offerings in both savory and sweet can satisfy any craving. Pick up any assortment of their comforting unleavened breads, challah, pita, babka, rugelach, sufganiyot and more to share.
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Oakland / Website
Chef Aliza Grayevsky Somekh caters not only contemporary Israeli cuisine, but also workshops and special events around Oakland and San Francisco. Bishulim's kosher Passover dinner is available until April 8th and will distrubted April 15th in the morning to afternoon. Portioned for 3-4 people, the dinner includes a matzo box, full Seder plate, chicken matzo ball soup, red horseradish and Sephardic Haroset, with either brisket, salmon, chicken thighs, quinoa stew, and more.
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3170 College Ave, Berkeley / Website
This Berkeley-based New York–style bagel shop opened in 2019 and has been a raving hit since with their authentic flavors and service. Aside from their true-to-east-coast bagel renditions, Boichik offers unleavened matzo bark topped with homemade caramel and locally-sourced chocolate, and nuts.
As you celebrate this year's Passover, these place's comforting and intriguing flavors are sure to spark conversation and appreciation at your gathering.
Photography by: Alex Shute/Unsplash
