There’s perhaps nowhere else in San Francisco where can a diner order khao gaeng-style Thai dishes, which arrive in so many tiny dishes and bowls. Naruephon “Billie” Wannajaro’s first restaurant outside of Thailand is a lovely place to stop for lunch or dinner to enjoy papaya salad and chicken satay.

In the same vein as the reopened Starlite, French restaurant Jeanne D’Arc mounted a comeback after new ownership took over the hotel in which the restaurant is housed. But unlike Starlite, Jeanne D’Arc retained its kooky decor of statues and paintings, and former chef Bernard Moutal is back for the restaurant’s return. Indulge in garlicky escargot and coq au vin during a dinner visit; also, word on the street is diners can request an off-menu souffle a day in advance.

Having slung his top-notch Neapolitan pizzas from a specially rigged, wood-oven-equipped truck for several years, local pizzaiolo Jon Darsky opened this lower Nob Hill spot and now has a Michelin Bib Gourmand listing under his belt. It’s easily some of the best pizza in the city, but the menu also offers excellent salads and other seasonally changing-starters.

Longtime San Francisco residents will know this place as Harry Denton’s Starlight Room, but in January 2024 the Beacon Grand unveiled a freshly remodeled space with updated cocktail and food menus, now rebranded as Starlite. What hasn’t changed: the gorgeous views of Union Square. Espresso martini fans will want to check out Starlite’s version, which brings a hint of orange flavor with the addition of marmalade; meanwhile, the Cable Car Redux is a sidecar zhuzhed up with five spice and a showy dose of smoke. For food, tuck into hot fried chicken buns served two per order, or a plate of furikake french fries.

A must-visit for locals and tourists, Sears Fine Foods is a historic diner that’s been in operation on the square for more than 80 years. The house specialty is Swedish pancakes, served 18 to a plate, and breakfast is served daily until 2 p.m. There’s also a lunch menu, and dinner starts at 5 p.m., featuring an all-American menu of steaks and seafood, such as cioppino. Be warned, this place tends to be busy, especially around breakfast.

Ryoko’s is way, way outside the ordinary: It’s in a basement and open late-ish, while a DJ (typically a good one) plays loudly to keep the atmosphere lively. When ordering, stick mostly to the basics, though some weird house creations (like the “sexy roll” topped with melted American cheese) are worth a try. Overall, it’s a refreshing departure from the Union Square usual — and pretty much anything else.

Much has been written about chef Tyler Florence’s new twin outposts in Union Square, and as of November 2023, the sweet and savory locations are open. From the pastry team, there are macarons, chocolate peanut butter muffins, and soft serve-filled croissants. Over on the savory side, get an entire rotisserie chicken with roasted potatoes or a smoked salmon Benedict.

If you’re going to dine in Union Square, might as well pull out all the stops, right? The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus is all white tablecloths and fine dining, set beneath the store’s iconic stained glass dome with unparalleled views of the square. The traditional move is to catch afternoon tea, though entrees are also offered for a heartier meal.

This ramen spot comes directly to San Francisco from Japan and specializes in creamy, chicken-y tori paitan ramen. In true Japanese fashion, this is a get-in-get-out type of ramen shop with communal seating and limited options. The ramen selections are all good, but if you’re in the mood for something rich and hearty, go for the spicy lamb miso ramen, which comes filled with ground lamb and garnished with chili oil.

Bottle Club Pub is in that squishy area that’s maybe Union Square and maybe Tenderloin, but makes it onto this list for many reasons. Bottle Club’s association with the Future Bars group is an indicator that visitors will get strong, well-crafted cocktails with a showstopper element — in this case, an enormous bottle and decanter collection situated on rotating shelves. Plus the pub has a small but mighty food menu featuring fish and chips, a smash burger, and fried chicken. It’s also kid-friendly if you have little ones in tow.

Since it opened, Jasper’s has been a reliable pre-theater, post-shopping destination with a solid cocktail situation and plenty of hearty, slightly upscale, pub-style dinner options. Think braised beef short ribs over mashed potatoes, wings, and mac and cheese made with Gruyere, fontina, and cheddar cheeses.

Chef Pim Techamuanvivit’s popular and more casual restaurant Kin Khao is inside the Parc 55 Hotel. The menu tends toward being seasonal, but among the favorite items is the mushroom hor mok, a curried mushroom dip with coconut cream. It’s served in a jar, for spreading over rice crackers. Try the “pretty hot wings” as well, which are marinated in fish sauce and garlic, then glazed with tamarind and Sriracha, or the Yaowaraj noodles with chicken, egg, scallions, cilantro, and XO sauce. There’s a vegetarian version, as well, if you’re so inclined.

Bodega SF is the reimagined comeback for Tenderloin favorite Bodega Bistro, which shuttered back in 2017. Matt Ho, son of one of the restaurant’s co-owners, revived the family restaurant as a pop-up during the pandemic, but now the Vietnamese spot has permanently relocated to a Union Square-adjacent spot with modern touches befitting Ho’s time as manager at Nobu Palo Alto. The restaurant serves old favorites, such as shaking beef and pho at lunch, as well as updated dishes like bun cha made with heritage pork belly and cha ca, a whole branzino that’s deboned and butterflied. If you’re feeling thirsty for cocktails, there’s a sister bar, the Felix, conveniently located next door.