FRIDAY FIVE
Single? Or just feel like having a night in alone? Really, nothing sounds better after a long day than staying in your sweatpants and wool socks, watching Netflix. You also have the benefit of getting to enjoy certain foods your paired-up friends may avoid: ones better eaten in the privacy of your own home.
Here are our suggestions for the messiest, but tastiest, meals in San Francisco you should Grubhub (or your app of choice) tonight. Don’t forget to share the love and tip your delivery person.
1. Ramen from Ramen Izakaya Goku
Ramen is a dangerous territory to venture into when you’re dining with someone you want to impress. The broth can easily splash on your shirt, leaving a greasy stain for the rest of the evening. If you’re not an expert with chopsticks, you’ll also likely look like a damn fool trying to slurp the noodles down (or embarrassingly feeling the need to bite them like an animal). At home, you be the animal you are without worrying about being judged. Hell, even use a fork if you feel lazy (never admit it to anyone, though). We recommend the ramen at Izakaya Goku in the Mission — it’s a good go-to staple and reasonably priced. Their broth, MSG free and homemade, is the basis for many stellar options. Choose from rich tonkotsu ramen with pork chashu or the kakuni tonkotsu with braised pork. A veggie option with house-made tofu, green beans, and Japanese mustard is also available.
3232 16th Street (Mission) | Website
2. Wings from Hot Sauce and Panko
It’s Friday, it’s Valentine’s, it’s dark out still at 5pm; you deserve some wings. What sounds better than sitting on your couch covered in sauce with a box of discarded bones next to you as you binge TV and down a glass (or bottle) of red wine? If it’s not just us fantasizing about this image, we recommend ordering some fried bird from Hot Sauce and Panko. This wing haven in Russian Hill has a huge variety of spicy and not-so-so spicy options. You can even pair your wings with a waffle.
1468 Hyde St | Website
3. Ribs from 4505 Burgers & BBQ
There’s a reason adult bibs still exist. Yes, San Francisco is a fairly vegetarian-friendly city, but there are still carnivores who lurk and thrive around us, and they need their ribs. This is not a common first-date meal choice for many reasons, mostly because it’s really messy and you’ll spend more time licking the BBQ sauce off your fingers than actually talking. So if you’re looking to indulge, we suggest getting takeout from 4505 Burgers & BBQ on Divisadero: The ribs (three quarters of a pound) plus two sides will run you under $18 (plus fees, of course).
705 Divisadero Street (NoPa) | Website
4. Any garlic dish at The Stinking Rose
The Stinking Rose is known for making garlic the main ingredient in every dish. This is perhaps maybe one of the only restaurants in the world where you can get garlic ice cream for dessert (except if you’re in Gilroy). From pizza to prime rib, if you’re a garlic lover indulge—you do you and go with what speaks to your heart.
325 Columbus Avenue (North Beach) | Website
5. Spaghetti & Meatballs from Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack
The Lady and the Tramp made eating spaghetti look romantic — but we all know it isn’t. We suggest ordering takeout from Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack in Bernal Heights, which is known for its hefty-size spaghetti and meatball dishes that average around $15. Fear not if you’re vegan: They have good vegan balls, too.
3230 Mission Street (Bernal Heights)| Website
