San Francisco is a major city — it has a ton of events, sight-seeing opportunities and a variety of diverse restaurants that are definitely worth visiting if you ever have the opportunity. As a college student on a budget, there are a lot of restaurants I want to try but I can’t due to money constraints; thus, we’ll be keeping this list budget friendly today. 

Delicious Dim Sum 

In the heart of Chinatown, you can find “Delicious Dim Sum.” This restaurant’s menu is certainly true to its name — incredibly delicious — while also being on the cheaper side. While the restaurant may not seem like much from the outside, the food will most definitely change your mind! Personally, I’d recommend grabbing the pork dumplings and then finding a place to sit in a nearby park. I genuinely believe that, once you try their dishes, you’ll keep coming back for more. This place is the definition of street food, but it also offers more than I ever would’ve expected in terms of quality, taste and price. I would definitely recommend anyone in the area who loves dim sum to try this place as soon as possible. 

Happy Lamb

Although a little more on the pricier side, sometimes I like to quell my hot pot cravings with Happy Lamb. This is conveniently located near the Union Square area (which you can reach directly by BART) and always provides tasty and fresh food. Depending on how many people you’re with, I would definitely recommend getting one plate of meat per person. The lamb is definitely my favorite and if you can, I would highly recommend doing a split hot pot between tomato and bone broth. If you’re in the Union Square area, make sure to check out this restaurant — I believe it really is one of the best hot pot spots around. 

Chowders 

If you live around or have been to San Francisco, I’m sure you’re familiar with the clam chowder debate. My two cents is that Chowders has the best clam chowder in the area. Located on Fisherman’s Wharf, this is the perfect place to visit with friends or just to enjoy a quick soup by yourself on a foggy day. Most of the clam chowder locations in the area are pretty good, but having tried a few, I would rank this one as my number one and a crucial part of the San Francisco experience. 

San Francisco has some amazing restaurants, but from my experience, these are the three that have really stood out to me during my adventures in the city. Make sure to check out some of these tasty locations for something fun and fresh!