A night out at one of these places feels overwhelmingly of the moment.
By JULIA CHEN, LANI CONWAY, RICKY RODRIGUEZ & PATRICK WONG
Those seeking a polite meal, click away now. This guide is reserved for anyone who’s wondering, “Where’s the place to be?” and might have a penchant for mid-dinner photoshoots and post-dinner bar hopping. Chairs aren’t just for sitting in some of these restaurants and, while food is important, a good time takes priority. These spots aren’t rabbit rillette-and-a-top-hat kind of fun. No, they range from old-school classics and geotag-heavy new spots serving the best pizza in town. They’re the “it” dinner places in San Francisco. And if you happen to be looking for some fun bars, we have a guide to those too.
The Spots: Z&Y Peking Duck
This Chinatown spot serves arguably the best Peking duck in the city, but that’s not the only reason you’re here. The Z&Y spin-off is the hottest place in the neighborhood for big group dinners that end up lasting hours longer than expected. The two dining rooms are controlled chaos, complete with a spotlit duck carving station, entrées overflowing with Szechuan chilis, and tables packed with so many dishes you can’t see the surface. Round up your cohort of coworkers, extended family, or whatever quadruple date you can scrape together to get here (and make sure to reserve a duck ahead of time).
Source: The Infatuation, March 4, 2025
