Daly City, just south of San Fransisco, is the perfect getaway for locals and tourists seeking outdoor recreation.
Or, if you’re a bit of a foodie, there are a host of local restaurants to satisfy any craving. Read on for a list of the best restaurants in Daly City.
Original Joe’s Westlake
$$$ | (650) 755-7400 | WEBSITE
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Original Joe’s Westlake is a local staple. The restaurant offers classic Italian-American fare, from Reuben and Club sandwiches to chicken parmesan and fettuccini Alfredo.
If you’re looking for the uncommon, Original Joe’s also boasts a number of veal dishes and plates of seafood.
On weekends, the restaurant caters to a more relaxed crowd, offering brunch from 10 am-2 pm and serving staples like omelets and waffles.
Original Joe’s boasts high-quality food and “old school service,” a perfect place for families or formal get-togethers.
Keith’s Chicken ’n Waffles
$$ | (415) 347-7208 | WEBSITE
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Looking for a taste of the South? Keith’s is the place to go. Serving freshly fried chicken – you choose white or dark meat – alongside gourmet Belgian waffles, this is a meal that will surely fill you up!
The small shop often has a line as people keep coming back for the restaurant’s hot, made-to-order comfort food. Keith’s has a friendly and fun crew with excellent service befitting a local spot.
City Kebabs & Gyros
$$ | (650) 757-1656 | WEBSITE
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For a meal infused with island flair, this Mediterranean spot is sure to satisfy. Kebabs, meat grilled slowly on a skewer over a fire, are a tasty way to experience Greece and the Middle East.
Choice dishes include the salmon plate, the lamb and beef gyro, and falafel. And if you want to go all-in, don’t miss the baklava for dessert. City Kebabs & Gyros has dishes packed with flavor and tender meat.
Gateway Kitchen
$ | (415) 239-8371 | WEBSITE
For an inexpensive Filipino meal, Gateway Kitchen is the place to go. The HK-style pork chops are a fan favorite and the generous portions of garlic rice are just one of many reasons to come back.
Though the family-owned restaurant may not look like much, at Gateway Kitchen they treat you like family. The positive attitude, quick service, and a meal big enough for two will recharge anyone, especially if they’ve spent the day in the sun.
Taste of Burma
$$ | (650) 449-1378 | WEBSITE
For something truly unique, head over to Taste of Burma. Food in Burma, or Myanmar, is known for its curries, stirfrys, and noodle soups – think Indian food crossed with Chinese food, but with a regional twist.
Popular items include the tea leaf salad (Burmese tea leaves, veggies, yellow beans, sunflower and sesame seeds, and peanuts) and Nan Gyi Dok (thick vermicelli rice mixed with coconut chicken, red onion, cilantro, with fried wontons on top).
Great service and unique flavors make this an excellent foodie stop.
Lisa’s
$$ | (650) 756-6289 | WEBSITE
This local Mexican spot serves all the traditional favorites: tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and fajitas. Plus, there are a few menu items more off the beaten path: cajun chicken and carne asada prawns.
Owner Mario is often there, making this mom-and-pop shop feel like a second home, with an atmosphere and quality that has consistently excelled for over 30 years.
Don’t forget a glass of mango iced tea and flan for dessert to complement your authentic meal!
Boulevard Cafe
$$ | (650) 755-3400 | WEBSITE
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This American restaurant is open daily for breakfast (until 2 pm!), lunch, and dinner. Dine-in, eat on the patio, or take your meal home.
The chefs at Boulevard Cafe make just about everything on the menu from scratch, including their soups, dressings, and sauces.
They also have an eye for sustainability, serving grass-fed beef, fresh seafood, and hormone- and antibiotic-free poultry.
Choose American classics like biscuits and gravy or steak and eggs, burgers and Philly cheesesteaks, spaghetti or Mac and cheese. Boulevard Cafe even has a kids’ menu, making this the perfect family spot.
California Fish Grill
$$ | (650) 517-5712 | WEBSITE
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This surf and turf chain makes sure all of its seafood is responsibly sourced and only serves fish that is rated Best Choice or Good Alternative by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program.
The website even lists the catch method for each type of seafood on the menu – how’s that for transparency! They have all the grilled favorites: salmon, tilapia, shrimp, and ahi tuna.
They also have fish tacos, poke bowls, fried fish, and sandwiches. If you’re not big on seafood, there are also chicken and plant-based options.
Blue Line Pizza
$$ | (650) 755-8500 | WEBSITE
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Blue Line Pizza was voted the best pizza in Silicon Valley. Pizzas are constructed on cornmeal crusts, either deep dish or New York-style thin crust.
They also serve organic salads and appetizers, and their menu boasts gluten-free and vegan options, too. Make it a night out by adding a craft beer, regional wine, or signature cocktail to your order!
In addition to the pizza classics, Blue Line also spices things up with their unique options, like the Blue Line (spinach, ricotta, feta, mushrooms, garlic, onion) and the Aphrodite (marinated artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, feta).
Dae Jang Geum Tofu House
$$ | (650) 758-1919 | WEBSITE
Tofu House’s Korean menu is perfect if you’re looking for a little heat.
The soft tofu stews, mixed with your choice of meat or veggies, will warm you up on a chilly day, and if you like your soups spicey, then you can’t go wrong with the kimchi stew.
For a real taste of Korea, select a spread of appetizers like the dduk bok ki (a rice cake and fish cake with a spicy sauce), haemul pajeon (a seafood pancake), or ohjinguh bok um (sautéed spicy squid).
Tofu House serves generous portions, so you’ll be able to try everything twice!
Shine Thai Cuisine
$$ | (650) 636-4154 | WEBSITE
With an extensive menu, there is something for everyone at Shine Thai Cuisine. Dinner specials are served all day, so you can fill up on garlic salmon, BBQ pork ribs, or garlic pepper shrimp.
Choose from red, green, or yellow curries, a plate of fried rice, or noodle soups (think Ramen, here). For the stir-fry entrees, you pick the meat and the sauce, making Shine Thai a more customizable dining experience.
The great customer service and big portions will keep everyone clamoring for more.
Sam’s Sandwiches and Coffee
$ | (650) 992-6249 | WEBSITE
Sam’s Sandwiches and Coffee is open from breakfast to dinner and serves meals suiting a variety of dietary needs. Their most popular item, the cold-cut roast beef sandwich, is Halal and can be made into a wrap if diners prefer.
They also serve vegetarian-friendly options, like the pita pizza and the falafel wrap. If you’re looking for a lighter option, freshly blended smoothies are a refreshing treat.
And, of course, there’s the coffee. Sam’s specializes in espresso-based beverages, and the Irish cream mocha is a must-try. If you’re dairy-free, just ask for soy milk.
Suily’s Cafe
$ | (650) 755-0343 | WEBSITE
For a full Chinese dinner at a low cost, Suily’s Cafe is the place to go. The Deluxe Dinner (only $14) comes with potstickers, soup, sweet and sour cod, Mongolian beef with broccoli, shrimp fried rice, fortune cookies, and tea.
That is sure to fill you up twice over! If you want an authentic meal that’s more manageable, consider the salt and pepper chicken wings or the deep-fried squid.
The chow mein (in 11 varieties) is something to write home about and the service is always quick.
Oriental Kitchen Japanese Restaurant
$ | (650) 755-8863 | WEBSITE
Oriental Kitchen is a truly authentic dining experience. At lunchtime, the restaurant serves Bento Boxes, a traditional packed lunch in Japan.
These meals come with a main dish, frequently teriyaki chicken or salmon, veggies, egg rolls or California rolls, and always rice. For a lunch away from the office, Oriental Kitchen won’t disappoint!
If you’re dining in, options abound. Select from a range of curries served with rice or Udon noodles; rice bowls topped with meat, egg, and veggies; ramen; stir-fry; or sushi.
Gilman Brewing Company Daly City Taproom and Gastropub
$$ | (650) 731-4241 | WEBSITE
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Gilman Brewing Company is known for its award-winning farmhouse-style saisons, bold IPAs, and a range of other classic and experimental brews.
Beer is served Wednesday to Sunday from 4-9 pm, and the Daly City Taproom has constructed a menu for the perfect pairings.
Pizzas are baked fresh in a wood-fired oven, burgers are made big, and the artisan snacks and small plates are perfect for sharing.
Gilman Brewing uses a farm-to-table approach, sourcing all ingredients locally and making each dish in-house. Even if you aren’t one for beer, the food can’t be missed!
Som Tum Cafe
$ | (415) 646-6412 | WEBSITE
Som Tum, named for a Thai green papaya salad, serves Thai and Vietnamese food and excels with flavors and service. Favorite dishes include Pad Thai, green and yellow curry, and the BBQ pork sandwich.
But you can’t go wrong with a banh mi – a classic Vietnamese cold cut sandwich topped with jalapeños, pickled cucumber, radish and carrot, and cilantro. Pair it with milk tea with boba, and you’ve got one delicious meal!
Izumi Revolving Sushi
$ | (650) 985-5555 | WEBSITE
Though Izumi Sushi is located inside a shopping center, the restaurant offers a truly unique dining experience. Inspired by the Kaiten sushi restaurants in Japan and high-speed train travel, Izumi works on a “see, grab, eat” philosophy.
When you dine-in, food is delivered on “high-speed trains” straight from the kitchen to the table – see something you want on the revolving conveyor belt, just grab it!
They serve authentic nigiri and sushi as well as Americanized sushi rolls. Favorites include the anago, salmon belly, deep-fried California roll, and Kobe beef.
Mi Guadalajara
$ | (650) 992-5125 | WEBSITE
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Mi Guadalajara is a Mexican restaurant with an extensive menu. In addition to the expected – tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos – the spot also features mariscos (seafood), tortas (grilled sandwiches), and huevos (egg dishes).
This hole-in-the wall restaurant is homey and each dish is made-to-order with fresh ingredients.
The carne asada, either as a plate or a sandwich, is a must-try and the house-made salsa is a perfect complement to every dish. Don’t forget to add a glass-bottled Mexican coke-a-cola to your meal to help wash it all down!
Chick N Coop
$$ | (650) 994-2221 | WEBSITE
The Chick N Coop is a small local restaurant serving classic comfort foods. The spot is best known for their Hofbrau-style meats and stacks up excellent roast beef, turkey, corned beef, or chicken sandwiches.
If you’re looking for something a bit more messy, try the turkey wings or drumsticks. You can also forego the sandwich and get a full dinner with all the fixings. Just like at home, you won’t go hungry here!
Summary
In Daly City, California, you’ll never go hungry. With numerous local restaurants and a range of cuisines and flavors, there is something here for the whole family.
Nathan Perkins starts working at Birch Restaurant as an intern, focusing on SEO and content marketing. After graduation, he joins the team as a full-blown editor and coordinator. He collaborates with other editors, operates, and manages each post on the blog. On weekends, he spends most of his time camping or traveling, seeking Mexican food or café restaurant.
Enjoyed the information on these restaurants in Daly City, I’m straight outta Colma
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