SoMa Lunch
I’ve started working in the SoMa area recently (which may explain my absence, but I’ll admit to just being lazy), and I’m still getting the hang of the surrounding area for lunch. South Park seems to be the hot yuppie spot, but it’s not terribly near my office, and I don’t want to trek too far. Co-workers seem to flock to the typical lunch joints like Lee’s Diner (this is almost always crowded), Specialty’s, and some curry in a hurry Indian spot. I’m planning on walking a few blocks to Whole Foods and stocking up on stuff to store in the company fridge, but I don’t want to be eating lunch in the office all the time either. I figure lots of you probably work in SoMa (or know people who do), and might be able to recommend some cool lunch spots in the area. Any suggestions?
specialty’s has the besssst cookies.
I work, periodically, right by the Metreon/Moscone. I don’t know where in SoMa you are, but the M/M vicinity is kind of a tough hood for median sort of lunches.
There’s a fair amount of very good restaurants that you’re not going to lunch at unless you lunch regularly on an expense account. And there’s a fair amount of budget stuff…that sucks.
Anyway…where are you at, approximately? “SoMa” describes a lot of ground.
Along 2nd and Folsom or so, which seems to have quite a bit of lunch spots around. Almost too many, which is why I asked.
Some favorites:
Canton House (Dim Sum) at Hawthorne and Folsom
Mo’s (hamburgers) above the bowling alley at Moscone
Flames (burgers) on 2nd near Mission
Stephs (Golden Boy Pizza at the bar) 2nd near Howard
Primo’s and Victors are the 2 hangouts for the Technorati crew. Although there is a hidden subway at the Caltrain station that I’ve been hitting a lot lately.
probably not a secret:
If the ferry building isn’t too far: Delica & Out the door (slanted door take out) is pretty nice. For a more sandwich oriented lunch sellers market is good quality too. (front/pine st)
Chavo’s Taqueria at 4th & Bryant (across the street from The Hotel Utah.) Good, cheap, rib-stickin’ stuff.
i started up a soma restaurants/review guide (with maps!) on ning http://somarestaurants.ning.com/index.php and just added some reviews today.
as you can see, i’m a bit partial to places that serve sammiches and beer, but this guide will be more useful as people add their own reviews. also, the ones i added are closer to where i work (4th & brannan), which is some blocks from 2nd & folsom, but you can add places that are closer. or come swing by the hood…
I’ve been working down here for a year and a half now, and there are a few places worth checking for decent food at more-or-less lunch prices:
1. Mehfil’s (which we refer to as curry-in-a-hurry in my office, also)
2. For salads, Harvest & Rowe on 2nd (though closer to $10 than $5)
3. Bistro Burger on Mission/Main(?)
4. Chaat Cafe on 3rd or 4th and Folsom
5. Working Girls’ Cafe (for sandwiches) on New Montgomery around Mission
6. Si Senor on 2nd just north of Mission (though they do charge you to add lettuce to a burrito, which has caused a boycott from some members of my office)
7. As much as I hate giving money to the McDonalds Corporation, Chipotle on New Montgomery is tasty, but the lines have been forming out the door and around the corner ever since they added sidewalk seating
8. Also in the $10 range is Osha right up at 2nd around Minna, tasty, tasty Thai food.
9. The Indochine Bowl or the Double Happiness at Long Life Noodle in the base of the Metreon can make it worth the walk, even though it means you’re eating in the Metreon.
10. There’s some new little sandwich place that opened on 2nd over near Gasser. The sandwiches are small, but cheap.
11. As you saw me do a couple days ago (and you coincidentally mention in this entry), stocking up for the week at Whole Foods is always a more affordable option, and saves you from having to leave the office on cold rainy days like yesterday.
That’s all I’ve got for right now – my usual lunch haunts. I miss the warm sunny days of our Indian Summer when I could pick up my lunch and head over to Yerba Buena with a book or a friend.
I should really be making this into a list over at Yelp…
The Chieftan (pub) at 5th and Howard has tasty burgers and salads that are reasonably priced.