4 NorCal Restaurants Named 'Best New Restaurants In America'

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Thanksgiving is over, and you’ve probably gobbled up the leftovers by now.

Luckily, Northern California is one of the world’s great culinary capitals and its restaurants dazzle in their quality and diversity. Despite a prolonged pandemic, new restaurants continue to put the regions on the foodie map. Three San Francisco restaurants and one Sonoma restaurant were named among the 40 Best New Restaurants in 2022, according to Esquire. The magazine's editors said that they chose their restaurants based not only on the food and atmosphere but on the stories and experiences that imbue the dishes.

“We’re always hooked when there is soul and a story to go with delicious, inventive dishes. It’s hard to deny the reflection of lived experience imbued in a menu, a wine list, a cocktail, atmosphere,” the editors wrote. “Over time, we’ve seen these stories—and the dynamic eateries they inspire—become even more deeply personal and eclectic.”

1. San Ho Won, San Francisco (ranked #10)

This Mission District Korean grill opened in 2021 with the goal of using “the best ingredients and meticulous techniques with real BBQ cooked over proper charcoal,” according to Esquire.

“Be sure not to miss the gleaming galbi mandu (griddled beef dumplings) or the bubbling cauldrons of kimchi jjigae pozole that will warm your soul on even the coldest San Francisco night,” Esquire advises.

2. Le Fantastique, San Francisco (ranked #24)

This elegant French restaurant from Chef Robbie Wilson revels in “over-the-top decadence” mixed with California cool, pairing vinyl records with butter madeleines, ocean trout with espelette and sour orange, and chicken breast poached in crème fraîche.

3. Animo, Sonoma (ranked #32)

Located inside a former taqueria between a McDonald’s and an auto repair shop is an inventive fusion restaurant that combines Korean, Basque, and Jewish deli food. Of particular note is its turbot fish.

“Every bite is different,” raves Esquire. “Tear at the skin, crisp as glass, bite the bones, full of gelatinous goodness, and mop up the tender flesh in the garlicky pil pil sauce.”

4. Shuggies, San Francisco (ranked #34)

This self-proclaimed “climate-friendly” restaurant is unique in that it uses upcycled ingredients like sustainable proteins and misshapen produce, off-cuts and by-catch to create delicious seasonal pizzas and self-share plates. The hip Mission District is full San Francisco — Esquire describes it as a “colorful and chaotic psychedelic maximalist dreamscape.”

With its year-round temperate climate and amazing diversity of geography and people, California has long been a foodie mecca. Ten out of the 40 restaurants listed are in California (including four in LA, one in San Diego, and one in Los Olivos), which means that it just beat out New York as the reigning champion of this year’s list.