Did you know San Francisco was once called the Paris of the West? It’s true, and just like it’s European partner, SF is home to some truly sophisticated diners, delectable dishes and noteworthy chefs—albeit with a whole lot more of an international lean.
Fog City is blessed with an array of cultural influences, boasting some of the best Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Nepalese, Thai, Ethiopian, Moroccan and Indian food around. We can also claim more than 30 Michelin-starred restaurants, representing some of the best Californian and contemporary cuisines around.
See also: Every Michelin-Star Restaurant in San Francisco
Whether you’re in the city proper or live in the greater Bay Area, you’ve got to admit we local eaters are pretty charmed. No matter how much you’ve dined around town, there are always new flavors to explore. Toward that end, you should do yourself a favor and follow some of the incredible foodie Instagram influencers who live and eat in your backyard.
From Berkeley to Silicon Valley, SF to Oakland, here are the fantastic foodie accounts you need to follow.
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Allie Tong is one of the best-known food bloggers in the Bay Area. She runs her own website full of drool-worthy recipes, business boss tips, travel insights and more, but the easiest way to jump into her culinary adventure is to follow her on Instagram. Watch as she eats her way through the city, sharing reviews and mouthwatering photos along the way. You can also get some insight into the recipes she shares on her blog, figure out where to shop to find the best ingredients, and so much more.
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Tim Cheung is another local foodie hero who keeps it real when chatting about all the best eats in town and showing you the proof. He’ll travel from San Jose to Santa Clara to show off the gooiest cheese rips, moistest mochi and freshest poke in the region. It’s much more restaurant review-centric than our last two accounts, although he also gets involved with some recipe clips, joyful promotions and grocery market adventures. Come through and try his recommendations from breakfast through brunch, lunch, dinner and dessert!
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Interested in delicious food pics and discounts to try local dishes for yourself? You’ll get both of those treats when you follow @siliconvalley.foodies. This account is run by a tech foodie who makes time for scrumptious updates between bites. Captions are long and info-rich, giving you background on the restaurants' features so you can feel connected to your eats, which always makes food taste better. Plus, as promised, you can grab a bunch of discount codes for local shops and participate in giveaways for yummy goodies.
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Think going vegan means eating a bunch of lettuce and calling it a day? Erika Hazel is here to dispel the myths and munch her way through a rainbow of flavors. The Bizerkeley Vegan is giving you all the deets on the Bay Area plant-based scene, whether it’s a local business hustling their wares door-to-door, a vegan-friendly stop at the airport, or just a must-try vegan menu item at an otherwise omnivorous eatery. She’s also got a blog worth reading that’ll keep you up on local eats and events.
See also: 5 Tips to Adopt a More Plant-Based Lifestyle From The Bizerkeley Vegan
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Ready to get your hands sticky? Jenn Yee keeps the go-to account full of the freshest pastry recipes that you can recreate in your own home. Get inspiration from the gorgeous photos on her feed, then head over to her blog for the full recipe breakdowns. Not in the mood to don the chef’s cap today? Yee also shares plenty of local bakery delights that you can go ahead and pick up, flour-frenzy-free.
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Yen Kim Phan is pulling no punches and serving insanely good food recs with a side of self-deprecating humor. Though Phan is based in SF and well-acquainted with our array of awesome eats, she’s also a big traveler showcasing the best noms across continents and shining seas. Don’t worry, there are plenty of local options on the feed, so you won’t have to book a flight just to get some of these bites in your belly—but those travel posts will help you plan your next vacation!
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Are you ready for some yummies? Jess yes! This down-home food blogger brings backyard tasties right to your doorstep with a delightful feed full of local must-tries. Each caption comes with a restaurant breakdown, a location pin and some menu recommendations, as well as pricing info and hours of operation. Get adventurous with some worldly cuisine, or find your next favorite comfort food dish.
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Whether you’re looking for the best southern spicy fried chicken, the most authentic Filipino food, or you just want something delicious that won’t break the budget on a dime, Charlene May is the proud SF Foodie eating her way through the Bay and sharing the best bites with all her followers. Her eye-catching clips are full of ooey-gooey goodness, and she often shares insights into a few other fun happenings in the city, or hits the road to try delights in other parts of the country. Her profile bursts with personality, too.
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This San Francisco native shows his love for his city by sharing the best dishes around town. John Montoya is digging into Banh Mi and Boba tea, putting the screws to the top pizza joints, noodlin’ around with noodles, and even sharing a recipe or two. From coffee shops to ice cream stops, you’re gonna get the goods and then some. Plus, Montoya loves to travel, and he’s got the surrounding city’s on lock, too.
Looking for more recommendations? Why not try something from our list of the 31 best restaurants in San Francisco? We also broke down the ultimate new restaurant guide for 2023, and there's no way you've been to them all!
Photography by: Borzoo Moazami / Unsplash
