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Consider this my imaginary awards show for the local newcomers who made the year more delicious! Next week, I’ll share some forthcoming restaurants and projects to look forward to in 2026.
Sandwich: Roast N Toast Special
When Roast & Toast Cafe opened in January, it got a lot of press and social media attention for serving booza, the slightly stretchy Arabic ice cream. I rushed over to try it, of course, but found that their sandwiches are even better. The Roast N Toast Special has turkey, spring mix, sundried tomato, burrata, pistachio, roasted bell pepper, pickles, balsamic glaze, pesto, mustard, and mayo. It’s an ideal sandwich to split.
Roast & Toast Cafe, 1746 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
Bagel: Calabrian chile cheese at Bageletto
Bageletto opened in February, and their Calabrian chile cheese bagel quickly became my favorite in the city. It honestly needs no schmear or butter, but it is also fantastic as the base for their Studio 54 sandwich, a BLT with house roasted beef and aioli on a bagel of your choice. The roast beef is tender and medium rare and really stands out from regular deli meat, so I do think it’s worth the price jump.
Bageletto, 76 14th Street, SF
Burger (and Mocktails): Shoji Burger at Bar Shoji
I had seen and lusted after this burger many times on my Instagram feed since Bar Shoji opened in May, and the reality exceeded my expectations. It’s a double burger made with Painted Hill beef brisket topped with American cheese, caramelized onions, and pickled cucumbers and served on beef tallow brioche and a sizzling cheese fondue plate. The price tag seems a bit steep at $27 until you realize that it’s probably not meant to be eaten alone, though props to you if you can tackle it solo. With two patties, taking down half of it is really like eating one regular burger. We spent another $10 for French fries with Akazu aged vinegar aioli with tobiko, which were delicious but probably unnecessary.
I don’t drink alcohol, but I loved the zero proof mocktails that we tried: Cold Noodle (roasted seaweed infused Lyre’s Cane, coconut, cucumber, pineapple, lime, sesame oil and wasabi salt) and Dashi Apple (Fuji apple cordial, kombu, shiitake, lemon, saline and soda). They were crafted with as much care as a high-end cocktail. During the day, the space is Cafe Shoji, a place for coffee, matcha, and pastries.
Bar Shoji, 140 New Montgomery Street, SF
Taco: Al pastor at Leo’s Tacos
I never dreamed that Leo’s Tacos, my favorite post-concert taco truck in Los Angeles, would come to San Francisco, let alone to my side of the city! But I experienced the joy of seeing it pull into the lot on the corner of Lincoln and the Great Highway for the first time in April. The team generously served free tacos al pastor (their specialty) and drinks to the 50+ of us who waited a couple of hours for the honor. They’ve since expanded to San Mateo as well.
Leo’s Tacos, Lincoln and Great Highway, San Francisco and 1990 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo
Bread: Tano
Isaac Taitano’s thrice-weekly Tano pastry pop-up at the FiDi location of Paper Son Coffee began in February and quickly grew so popular that customers have a five-pastry limit and can only buy one of any particular item. He was the first to bring the crispy, soft, and buttery Korean salt bread to San Francisco that should be a part of every order. Every beverage on Paper Son’s menu looks delectable. I recommend the Guava Pillow, which is a sparkling coffee soda with a guava cream top. Heavenly.
Tano, Wednesday-Friday 8am to 230pm at Paper Son Coffee, 303 Second Street, SF
Matcha: The Wild Fox’s Matcha Mango Shizuku
The Wild Fox debuted in November, and since it’s a project from the SPRO owners, I thought they’d suggest I try a coffee-based drink on my first visit. Instead, executive chef Tsubasa Onozaki suggested the current bestseller, Matcha Mango Shizuku, which contains milk (plant milks can be subbed for free), mango powder, and “a delicate snowcap,” which was the most balanced and impressive matcha I’ve honestly ever tried.
It was funny to go to all the hot new coffee places this year and watch as the majority of customers ordered matcha, but I guess this was the year for the green tea to trend even harder nationwide.
The Wild Fox, 123 Battery Street, SF
Cake: “Giant Slice of Chocolate Cake” at Super Mensch
Super Mensch is a petite and precious deli that opened in September. Everything is solid here, but ends most memorably with the layered Giant Slice. I don’t usually order chocolate cake for dessert, but I’d never dream of skipping it here.
Super Mensch, 2336 Chestnut Street, San Francisco
Tamara Palmer offers the complimentary Food Book Club and California Eating newsletters.
