About us
This group is for visiting San Francisco Bay Area restaurants and other events that have foodie interest or a food centric theme. Such as food and wine festivals, Eat, Drink San Francisco, the San Francisco Chocolate Festival and San Francisco Street Food Festival.
While food and beverages are of primary importance, this is a social group for having fun, making new friends and keeping touch with others, trying something new, or visiting an old favorite, yet again. Join with a friend or two, or eat with strangers and find common and uncommon feasts of food, conversation and an occasional butterfly.
Attendees
Please be prompt or message your host directly (perhaps use the new chat feature) comments are delayed by as much as an hour. Dress is usually casual, use your own judgement, on a rare occasion a jacket, dress or no shorts may be required. And please take pictures of your food and upload them to our group, San Francisco Foodies maintains that the photographer maintains ownership of their art. If you want to take pictures of guests please remember to ask their permission before. Bullying and derogatory remarks are causes for removal from an event and this group. Not paying for your ordered items most likely will result in legal action.
Administrative Trivia
There are no dues. However some events require a deposit for joining. A deposit is spent toward an attendee’s bill (restaurants sometimes charge a deposit from $5, $50 or the entire cost of a meal and beverage $400).
Events are usually free to attend but each member and their guests pay for their respective meals, drinks, some events have split appetizers or family style meals where each person pays the same price and all share the meal. These details are in each event. Restaurants usually charge city tax and a mandatory gratuity. In San Francisco a percentage for employee insurance. Expect 30% to 35% added to your order.
Some Events ask for attendees to prepay a portion of any deposits or venue costs. These are paid events.
Nonprofit Fundraisers are where a donation is requested, a nonprofit is selected, usually rated 100% (some local charities are not nationally rated but all of their donations are 100% used to support their activities). For our events San Francisco Foodies asks donations to be given to the nonprofit directly, any donations collected are forwarded (100%). These are also marked as paid events.
Event Organizers are unpaid volunteers, however, some may charge a fee. Those will be paid events and full disclosure of where fees go are in each event's description. San Francisco Foodies is always looking for new volunteers as organizers and adding new events.
Use of Meetup Comments and Chat for spam is forbidden. Suggesting events is encouraged. If the event is in another group please contact an event organizer to co-host with our group. Much better to become an event organizer with our group and host an event yourself.
Be Well, #Eat San Francisco.
Upcoming events
8
Dinner: Californios (Table for 4. Deposit required)
Californios, 355 11th St, San Francisco, CA, USCalifornios is the only two Michelin starred Mexican Restaurant in the United states.
Come join us experiencing chef/owner Val Cantu's singular approach to fine dining. Cantu and his team take great care to explore the full breadth of Mexican cuisine using local ingredients at the highest professional level resulting in creations like squab tacos in sourdough tortillas.
We are expecting to try the Tasting Menu Bar Experience (exclusive highly personalized vibe) with Chef at $450 pp (+ tax and service = $586.58). Dietary restrictions are accommodated as best as possible. Add ons are possible at the time of seating.
Administrative
Deposit of $488.82pp is required. No refunds.Extras including non alcoholic pairing ($95), Mezcal Flight ($150), other alcoholic pairing ($225) are possible.
Extras and addons will increase your portion of the bill. Minus your deposit, please be prepared to pay your extras with cash, Zelle, or ApplePay.
Taxes and Fees
There is a 20% service charge and SF restaurant tax of 10.35% (for a total of 30.35%). This balance minus deposit will be collected after the dinner.Parking and Transportation
MUNI: 12, 27 (Folsom St & 11th St), 9, 9R, 90 (11th St & Harrison St)
BART: Civic Center Station (9th @ Market), walk 13m
Rideshare (Uber & Lyft) are always viable options
Lot: Costco Garage Lot #28 (paid to Impark if car stays after 8:30pm weekdays)4 attendees![[Festival] Chowder Fest 2026 - (free or $50 and up) Be a Judge](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/8/8/4/highres_536530372.jpeg)
[Festival] Chowder Fest 2026 - (free or $50 and up) Be a Judge
Little Embarcadero, Fisherman's Wharf, 2860 Taylor Street, San Francisco, CA, USChowder Fest 2026
An annual Fisherman's Wharf event, Chowder Fest, about a dozen local restaurants competing for Best of the Chowders.The Event itself is free, with music and other amusements, but for tastings and the right to vote a ticket must be purchased, Purchase tickets Fisherman's Wharf Chowder Fest
Taking over Fisherman's Wharf annually since 2013, (nearing there 15th year anniversary) are about fifty vendors, live music and of course restaurants (about a dozen) competing to be the big chowder (or whatever they call the winner).
There are many types of Clam Chowder. New England's creamy, New York's Tangy Tomato Based, and Rhode Island's Clear. Of course the hybrids should be mentioned, half-cream, half tomato (Long Island Style) and other combinations.
Some other lessor known varieties are Portuguese (think New York with sausage), Minorcan (Florida) Style (imagine New York Style with Italian spices and a Florida spicy pepper), Hatteras (North Carolina) Style (Rhode Island with Bacon) finally, of course, San Francisco Style (New England Style in a Sour Dough Bowl).
Feel free to drop your favorite in the comments.
Even with so many variations it seems every restaurant is a little different, a secret ingredient, a surprise element, I wonder what is in store this year at the Wharf.
I signed up for the Judge's Table. If anyone else has, let me know and maybe we can sit together.
For my examples of outstanding Clam Chowder from our San Francisco Bay Area, there is Hog Island Oyster in the Ferry Building is amazing, and Swan Oyster Depot is steady classic.
I, Dean, will have a blue flag, we will meet at the starting location and then can go through the event as a group or individually, perhaps eating together at the end. If anyone else purchases judges tickets let me know, maybe we can sit together.
Minutiae
Full event details on eventbrite, there is a discount for five tickets, use comments to find friends.Event Information
Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 12:00 – 5:00 PM | Little Embarcadero, Fisherman's Wharf, San FranciscoClam chowder in a sourdough bowl, steps from Fisherman’s Wharf iconic piers — this October, that's the whole afternoon. The Fisherman's Wharf Chowder Fest brings 8–12 local restaurants together to compete for the title of San Francisco's Best Clam Chowder, judged live on the waterfront.
Free to attend — watch the competition, shop the marketplace, enjoy free activities and catch the entertainment at no cost.
Want to taste the best clam chowder in San Francisco yourself? Grab a Taster's Pass while supplies last!### What to Expect
- Live chowder competition — 8–12 SF restaurants go head-to-head for San Francisco's Best Clam Chowder, Best Theme & Display, and the People's Choice.
- Judged live — San Francisco culinary tastemakers score every entry right in front of the crowd.
- Your vote counts — Ticket holders vote for People's Choice via QR code.
- Marketplace & outdoor bars — food, drink, and retail vendors line the Wharf all afternoon.
- Live entertainment — enjoy live music, demonstrations, and competition updates from the host and judges
- Free activities — photo ops, workshops, and lawn games, all included with general admission.
from event website
Administratriva
Festival payment is via EventbriteDress is cool casual
Transportation to Fisherman's Wharf
MUNI: F, 30
Finding street parking in Fisherman's Wharf is usually impossible.
Parking garages can be found nearbyUse event comments for Car Pooling and Ride Sharing.
Many thanks for the photos and history from event website
#EatSanFrancisco #SanFranciscoFoodies #SFFoodies
We Look Forward to Seeing you at This and Other San Francisco Foodies Events
4 attendees![[Festival] World of Dumplings](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/1/a/8/highres_536073192.jpeg)
[Festival] World of Dumplings
Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA, USWorld of Dumplings
World of Dumplings is a festival organized by Asians are Strong. Tickets are free, but dumplings are not.This is the third year of this festival at the Ferry Building. a few dozen vendors will showcase their various dumplings from around the world, many cuisines will be represented celebrating the cultures of many asian countries and others including Italy and Spain.
This is a large festival, so it is loosely organized, we'll meet around 11:00a at the western front doors near Peaches Patties. I'll have a flag,
I will also have a discussion channel created for this event on WhatsApp in the San Francisco Foodies group, so people can point out great finds, posting in this event's comments is also recommended.
Minutiae
Tickets are free, and can be purchased at World of Dumplings 2026History
Started by Asians are Strong in 2024, this is the third year at the San Francisco Ferry building, last year was a lot of fun. From their site:
What to expect:- Dumplings from all over the world
- 25+ restaurant vendors
- Eating contests
- Cooking demos
- Beer garden
- Raffle prizes
- Dumpling trivia
- Family activities
- Performances
- Music
- And more exciting new additions to be announced!
Administratriva
Estimated Cost (of Entree or three course meal)Dress is smart casual
77 attendees
Dinner at Nopa: Table for 6 ($25 Deposit)
Nopa, 560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA, San Francisco, CA, US(Event description written with the help of AI)
Nopa is a staple of San Francisco’s dining scene, located on the corner of Divisadero and Hayes Streets in the North of Panhandle neighborhood. Known for pioneered farm-to-table dining and vibrant late-night hospitality, it serves thoughtful Californian-Mediterranean cuisine made with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
Chefs & Culinary Ethos
- Chef & Founder: Chef Laurence Jossel co-founded the restaurant in 2006 (along with partners Jeff Hanak and Allyson Jossel) and continues to lead the kitchen. His background includes years at iconic Bay Area kitchens like La Folie, Gary Danko at the Ritz-Carlton, and Kokkari.
- Farm-to-Table Focus: Jossel and his culinary team build daily menus around fresh produce picked directly from local Bay Area farmers' markets.
- In-House Program: The kitchen emphasizes zero-waste cooking, nose-to-tail whole butchery, and in-house preservation, smoking, and wood-fire techniques.
The atmosphere is energetic, social, and warm, making it popular for everything from casual neighborhood gatherings to late-night dinners. The menus change daily, but include several regular standout dishes:
- Nopa Cheeseburger: A San Francisco favorite made from house-ground beef served on a toasted brioche bun with pickled onions, aioli, and hand-cut fries.
- Thick-Cut Pork Chop: Consistently praised for being extraordinarily tender and juicy, cooked over live wood fire and paired with seasonal stone fruit or produce.
- Ya-ya’s Fried Chicken: The dish features fresh chicken that is buttermilk-brined, Moroccan-spiced, and double-dredged before being fried until extra crispy.
Costs
Small plate starters range from $14-24, and entrees range from $29-45.Food and drinks will be the responsibility of the person(s) who ordered them. No separate checks. Please be prepared to split the check at the event and pay via cash, Venmo, Zelle, or Apple Cash.
I will collect the $25 deposit about a week before the event. If you attend the event, the deposit will be deducted from the amount you owe for your meal. Please stay on top of your notifications and messages in Meetup so you don’t miss out on essential communications.
Taxes and Fees
Dining in San Francisco has a sales tax (8.625%). The restaurant charges a mandate of 6% and a mandatory gratuity of 20% for large parties.Parking and Transportation
Muni 24 to Divisidero & Hayes; 6 to Hayes & Divisidero
Limited street parking6 attendees
Past events
530
![[Lunch] Swan Oyster Depot (Queue for Ten)](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/4/d/d/highres_536481725.jpeg)
