Cheap Family Eats in San Francisco

San Francisco has a reputation as a forty-dollar-entrée city, and it has earned it. It is also a city where four people can eat extremely well for thirty dollars total, if you know where to stand in line. These are the places we take our own kids.

Burritos and taquerias

La Taqueria

The Mission institution and a James Beard America’s Classic. No rice in the burrito, which locals argue about endlessly. Ask for it dorado, pan-fried crisp on the outside.

2889 Mission St · About $12–15 a person

El Farolito

The late-night standard, with several locations in the Mission and Excelsior. The super quesadilla suiza feeds two smaller kids on its own.

2779 Mission St and 2950 24th St · About $10–14 a person

Taqueria Cancún

The other side of the Mission burrito debate, with a famous vegetarian version and a carne asada that regulars swear by.

2288 Mission St and 3211 Mission St · About $10–13 a person

Chinatown and dim sum

Good Mong Kok Bakery

A takeout counter with a line out the door, selling cha siu bao, siu mai and rice noodle rolls by the piece. Cash only, no seating. Take it to Portsmouth Square or St. Mary’s Square.

1039 Stockton St · About $5–8 a person · Cash only

Golden Gate Bakery

The egg custard tarts people queue around the block for. Famously unpredictable hours, cash only, and worth checking before a special trip.

1029 Grant Ave · A couple of dollars a tart · Cash only

Hon’s Wun-Tun House

Wonton noodle soup in a bowl bigger than a toddler’s head, in Chinatown and out on Irving Street. A sit-down option with actual chairs.

648 Kearny St, 733 Washington St, 1830 Irving St · About $10–14 a person

Good Luck Dim Sum

The Clement Street counter, another Beard America’s Classic, selling baked bao and dumplings by the piece for pocket change. Takeout only.

736 Clement St · About $8–10 a person

Pizza, noodles and sandwiches

Golden Boy Pizza

Square Sicilian slices in North Beach, best eaten standing up. The clam and garlic slice is the one, but kids will want the cheese.

542 Green St, also 1447 Taraval St · About $5–6 a slice

Arizmendi Bakery

A worker-owned co-op in the Inner Sunset with one rotating pizza a day and very good morning buns. Closed Mondays.

1331 9th Ave · About $5 a slice · Tue–Sun 7:30am–6pm

Saigon Sandwich

Banh mi in the Tenderloin for the price of a coffee, and one of the best value lunches in the city. Small, busy, and typically cash only, so bring bills.

Larkin St, Tenderloin · About $5–6 a sandwich

King of Thai Noodle

Open late, generous portions, and easy with kids. Pad see ew is the crowd-pleaser.

184 O’Farrell St · Sun–Thu until 11:30pm, Fri–Sat until 12:30am

Suzu Noodle House

Ramen and udon in the Japan Center mall, with the bookstore and the paper shop next door for after. Counter service, quick, kid-tolerant.

1825 Post St, Japantown · About $12–15 a person

Neighborhood classics

Bill’s Place

A Clement Street diner doing burgers and milkshakes with a back patio, and one of the few places on this list with room for a stroller and a real table.

2315 Clement St · About $12–16 a person · Daily from 10am

Marnee Thai

A family-run Sunset standby on Irving, good for a proper sit-down dinner that will not wreck the week’s budget.

2225 Irving St

El Porteño Empanadas, Ferry Building

The Ferry Building is expensive, but the empanada counter is not. Two each plus a shared pastry gets a family fed with a view of the bay.

1 Ferry Building · A few dollars an empanada

Food truck markets

Off the Grid runs food-truck markets around the city, including at Fort Mason, where admission is free and most items run eight to fifteen dollars. Schedules change seasonally, so check before you drive over.

offthegrid.com

Prices and hours were checked in September 2026 and can change, so confirm before you go.