There’s a good chance you’re already familiar with Bi-Rite and Rainbow Grocery—after all, they’ve become beloved mainstays thanks to their high-quality products (many of which are locally sourced), delicious custom-prepared foods and great customer service. But San Francisco is a big food town, and there are many wonderful neighborhood grocers. Read on for some of my favorites.
Richmond New May Wah Supermarket
Where: Inner Richmond / 707–719 Clement Street
What: Heralded as one of the best Asian markets in the city, New May Wah features lots of fresh, cheap produce, seafood and meats, plus a huge assortment of specialty Asian products like noodles, sauces and fresh tofu.
Must-Try: New May Wah has an immense variety of interesting fruits and vegetables. Toss some longan, rambutan and dragon fruit into your basket, and prepare to get hooked.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Y.
Duc Loi Supermarket
Where: The Mission / 2200 Mission Street
What: Duc Loi is two parts Asian specialty grocery, one part Latin American grocery and one part health-food store. Their well-stocked produce department features wildly cheap conventional and organic fruits and vegetables. They also sell local eggs and dairy, and their freezer section is chock full of delicious imported frozen foods.
Must-Try: In the deli section, Duc Loi carries fresh masa, available for sale in plastic bags. Pick some up and make your own fresh tortillas, arepas or pupusas at home. Duc Loi also sells plump bánh mì sandwiches that come with chicken, tofu or pork options, for only $5.
Photo courtesy of Brian S.
Nijiya Market
Where: Japantown / 1737 Post Street
What: Nijiya Market is a Japanese specialty store that sells super-fresh sashimi-grade fish at reasonable prices. They also carry an assortment of meats, produce and Japanese packaged goods like green teas, mocha, sake, miso, noodles and snacks. If you want to roll sushi at home, Nijiya is your one-stop shop for supplies.
Must-Try: The store sells delicious fresh bento boxes and sushi, which makes it a wonderful place to stop to pick up food for a quick lunch or a picnic.
Photo courtesy of Mark B.
Gus’s Community Market
Where: The Mission / 2111 Harrison Street
What: Owned by the same family that started well-loved grocery stores Noriega Produce and Haight Street Market, Gus’s is the new kid on the independent-grocery-store block. Gus’s is home to a gourmet deli with a meat and fish department offering many local, sustainable meats. Plus they have an impressive array of vegetarian and vegan products and a diverse, fresh produce section. Its location just a few blocks away from Trader Joe’s makes it a very convenient place to supplement your T. J.’s shopping.
Must-Try: The house-made sandwiches are fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The Potrero sandwich, in particular—with olive tapenade, two cheeses, veggies and mixed greens—is a vegetarian option that will satisfy even the most carnivorous of eaters.
Photo courtesy of Chloe List.
22nd & Irving Market
Where: Outer Sunset / 2101 Irving Street
What: Known for its assortment of Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean products, this is a great place to pick up a week’s worth of very fresh, high-quality produce (both organic and conventional) and nonperishables on a budget.
Must-Try: If you love Turkish delight, this is the place to find it.
Photo courtesy of Andrew D.
Samiramis Imports
Where: The Mission / 2990 Mission Street
What: Samiramis is a tightly packed gem of a store that sells every Middle Eastern import under the sun. Whether you want to expand your cooking horizons to Middle Eastern food or you hail from that part of the world and crave the tastes of home, Samiramis has got you covered.
Must-Try: The fresh pita bread. Once you try it, you’ll turn your back on processed grocery-store pita bread.
Photo courtesy of Ann S.
Other Avenues Grocery Cooperative
Where: Outer Sunset / 3930 Judah Street
What: This worker-owned health-food grocery feels like a smaller, less-crazy Rainbow Grocery. Other Avenues features an excellent bulk section, high-quality organic fruits and vegetables, and a wide assortment of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian items.
Must-Try: Other Avenues pays special attention to seasonality, so when your favorite fruit or vegetable comes into season, you can bet they’ll have it.
Photo courtesy of Other Avenues.
Golden Natural Foods / Golden Produce
Where: Duboce Triangle / 130 and 172 Church Street
What: Though technically two separate storefronts, these two stores are owned by the same people and are about half a block apart. Golden Natural Foods is a well-stocked natural grocery store featuring premium local dairy, organic meat and some produce, while its sister store, Golden Produce, carries just about every fruit or vegetable imaginable, at seriously low prices. If you’re looking to add more salad to your diet or are interested in exploring juicing, Golden Produce should be your first stop.
Must-Try: Though they don’t advertise it as prominently as they should, Golden Natural Foods sells awesome fresh sandwiches at their deli counter in the back. If you’re hanging out in nearby Dolores or Duboce Parks, it’s a great place to pick up picnic grub.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Y.