New York City Restaurant Recommendations

High-level thoughts on the NYC food scene:

• NYC has many restaurants that specialize in one dish, rather than a cuisine. Try all of them, as they might be the best you've ever had. Examples: soba, udon (Raku), broth (Brodo)

• Japanese food of all kinds (especially ramen), Korean food in Ktown, Australian cafes, handpulled noodle shops, Italian pasta, Jewish food, and desserts (especially ice cream) are all top-notch in NYC.

• It's hard to find really good Thai and Vietnamese food around NYC, so if you're strapped for time, I'd say skip these cuisines. (I was spoiled by the plethora of authentic Thai/Viet spots in the Bay Area) 

• For bars, check out the speakeasies and rooftop bars, then end your night in Ktown, which is open 24/7.

• You must get chicken & rice from the Halal Guys on 53rd at least once, best late at night.

Japanese

- Raku - best udon ever, even if you don't like udon. If you eat nowhere else, eat here.

- Hi-collar - go for japanese vintage pub-style brunch or drinks at night

- Cocoron - my favorite soba place because it is very good but rarely has a wait

- Soba-ya - one of the best soba places, they make the soba in house, usually a wait

- Takashi - Japanese bbq meats

- Ise Restaurant - favorite all-around Japanese restaurant. 

- EN Japanese Brasserie - fancy Japanese food, black miso cod is great. Fuji apple sorbet and their other homemade ice creams are top notch

- Ootoya (several locations: Chelsea, Times Square, Greenwich village) - authentic Japanese with dishes like soba, chicken katsu, chawamushi (egg custard) 

Korean

- Five Senses - best korean restaurant in Ktown

- Baekjong - Best Korean BBQ

- Take 31 - really good, homey Korean food 

- BCD Tofu House - best soondubu (tofu stew) and they give so many bonchon (side dishes)

- Jongro - 2nd Best Korean BBQ

Ramen

- Zundo-ya - arguably the best ramen spot without the crazy waits of Totto and Ippudo

- Totto Ramen - known for their straight noodles. hole-in-the-wall, almost always a wait

- Ippudo - the most famous ramen shop, but wait times are ridic. Zundo-ya is around the corner and just as good. 

- Takashi's midnight ramen, avail Fri + Sat nights starting at midnight. Email/call to reserve. Very different than your typical pork-broth ramens, worth it if the time works for you

- MEW MEN - another great ramen spot

Chinese

- Russ & Daughters - Jewish deli, amazing bagel sandwiches and other jewish comfort food

- Katz Pastrami - famous, good for if you're in the mood for a huge hunk of pastrami on rye

- Merriweather Cafe - a delightful little Australian cafe with friendly baristas. You must try their Merriweather morning sandwich with homemade harissa on a buttery brioche bun. Their turmeric ginger oatmeal with poached pears is also divine. 

- Hole in the Wall - and they said there weren't any cute places in FiDi for brunch. Hole in the Wall is changing the game! But people have caught on so there's usually a wait now. They're famous for their hanging bacon jerky - go early to make sure they don't run out!

Brunch-as-an-occasion

San francisco Restaurant Recommendations

High-level thoughts on the SF food scene:

• Southeast asian food (Burmese, Thai, Vietnamese, etc) is very good in SF.
• Russian food is quite good in SF - if you go nowhere else, go to Cinderella Bakery. Much better than NYC :)
• SF coffee shops are something special - tons of natural light, a relaxing atmosphere, the smell of coffee. Many of them have outdoor patios, and you'll probably overhear conversations about tech and startups.

Here's what I recommend for non-asian restaurants that takes reservations for big groups. I recommend using Uber or Lyft when you're in SF if you don't have a car, or if you have time, to walk.

• Pazzia - one of the best italian restaurants in SF, and feels very homey. The Italian owner is always there welcoming guests into his home. Andy's favorite pizza is the Napoletana pizza with anchovies. My favorite pasta is the rigatoni.
• 1760 - New American food. This is my favorite non-asian restaurant in the city! It's a bit more expensive. Very unique dishes like crab fat congee, fried duck sandwich, uni with duck cracklings, etc.
• Zero Zero - also a great italian restaurant, it's a bit bigger. They have pasta and pizza and dessert. Pazzia and Zero Zero are our favorite Italian restaurants here.
• Aina - unique hawaiian food like portuguese donuts with guava custard and kalbi loco moco
• NOPA - american food, one of the best. needs reservations

Southeast asian food (Thai, Viet, etc) is very good in SF. Note these are in the Tenderloin. Service is fast and efficient, but don't expect anything fancy. 

• Zen Yai - thai boat noodles are the best ever.
• Turtle Tower - the best Vietnamese pho.

Other great places:

• Cinderella Bakery - the best Russian bakery and comfort food ever. It's a bit of a trek but entirely worth it - if you don't have a car, an uber/lyft is probably your best bet.
• Salumeria for casual lunch - they have a gorgeous outdoor patio in the Mission. Go on Mondays for their meatball sandwich. Try their gazpacho in the summertime. Their menu is seasonal - in the fall I've had their massive porchetta for lunch and proceeded to food coma all afternoon.
• La Taqueria - the best burrito in the country. Expect crowds but the line is usually reasonable, last I checked..around 30 mins.
• Tartine Bakery - one of the most famous and best bakeries in the city
• Saint Frank Coffee - one of my favorite coffee shops in the city - they make their own macadamia milk
• Burma Love - the sister restaurant of the best Burmese food in SF (the original, Burma Superstar, is too far from you and requires a car & ~25 min drive). This one requires a 30 min walk or 7 min drive.
• Philz Coffee - a favorite coffee chain only in the Bay Area. Must get the “mint mojito iced coffee”