Is it possible to visit San Francisco without eating cioppino? Sure. But we wouldn’t recommend it. One of the city’s most famous dishes, San Francisco cioppino (pronounced “cha-PEEN-oh”) is practically as iconic as the Golden Gate Bridge.
The popular, tomato-based seafood stew was invented near Fisherman’s Wharf around the turn of the 20th century by an Italian fisherman who worked off the pier and used leftovers from the day’s catch to create a hearty, warm meal that could feed a crowd. Food historian Erica Peters told KQED the dish’s origins come from fish stew in Northern Italy but the addition of local ingredients — most notably spicy chili peppers — made it uniquely Californian.
While the variations on cioppino recipes are as numerous as the restaurants that serve the dish, the traditional base consists of a tomato broth simmered with onions, garlic, herbs and spices and flavored with white wine, which adds depth and complexity to the dish. Abundant seafood — usually shellfish and firm-fleshed fish such as halibut, cod or snapper — is then added to the big pot and cooked gently until tender, infused with the robust flavors of the broth. And when it’s Dungeness crab season in San Francisco, cioppino is one of the best ways to enjoy the crab, making the beloved, hearty stew the must-order dish on any menu.
There are many places to get cioppino in San Francisco, but we’re shining the spotlight on seven restaurants that have been lauded by critics, locals and tourists alike as serving the best cioppino in San Francisco. Enjoy with a side of sourdough bread, another SF-perfected staple, for an iconically San Francisco meal. Buon appetito!
Customers eat at Sotto Mare in North Beach in San Francisco, Calif. on Jan. 19, 2023.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATESotto Mare
SFGATE food writer Madeline Wells crowns this nautical-themed North Beach restaurant as having the best cioppino in San Francisco. Its rendition is meant to serve two and comes teeming with fresh Dungeness crab, clams, shrimp, scallops, squid, mussels, fish and — unusually — penne pasta. While pasta is not part of the original recipe, it makes this version extra hearty. Though this restaurant is relatively new to the scene, its cozy quarters and warm atmosphere lend an old world Italy vibe, while kitschy decor and massive bibs bring the quirky SF charm that has earned it classic-status well beyond its years.
Find it: Sotto Mare, 552 Green St., San Francisco, CA 94133; 415-398-3181
Anchor Oyster Bar
The signature cioppino at this charming seafood restaurant in the Castro District has earned rave reviews by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and plenty of local media. And for good reason. The luscious, aromatic broth is simmered for hours with a blend of garlic, onions, peppers and dried herbs, making it the perfect bath for a medley of SF’s freshest and most succulent seafood. The “smaller” order easily feeds two, especially if you want to try other items on the menu; the large portion will leave you with leftovers.
Find it: Anchor Oyster Bar, 579 Castro St., San Francisco, CA 94114; 415-431-3990
They may not call it cioppino, but the “rustic seafood stew” served at Hog Island Oyster Co. has all the tasty trappings of the classic San Francisco specialty.
Nikki B. via YelpHog Island Oyster Company
Cioppino is so San Francisco, it’s become somewhat of a cliche, to the point that some restaurants will call it something else to avoid any negative connotations born from bad, tourist-trap cioppino. But Hog Island Oyster Co.’s “rustic seafood stew” has all the hallmarks of a really good cioppino. This rendition is extra special thanks to the presence of big, head-on shrimp and the restaurant’s focus on perfectly cooked, sustainable seafood. The side of bread is Acme levain toast instead of sourdough, another slight break with tradition. Located in the historic Ferry Building, you can cross two items off your San Francisco bucket list when you dine at this waterfront outpost. Don’t forget to order oysters as your appetizer to complete a gorgeous meal.
Find it: Hog Island Oyster Co., Ferry Building, #11, San Francisco, CA 94111; 415-391-7117
Tadich Grill
This beloved institution has been serving locals and visitors since 1849, making it California’s oldest continuously operating restaurant, at least according to the restaurant. These days it churns out about 70 cioppino orders on a busy day, according to the New York Times, so it’s had loads of opportunities to perfect the dish. Each bowl of piping hot cioppino is served with a side of warm sourdough bread. The buzzy, classic atmosphere gives the place a celebratory vibe.
Find it: Tadich Grill, 240 California St., San Francisco, CA 94111; 415-391-1849
Cioppino’s
The owners of this classic Fisherman’s Wharf spot are fifth-generation San Franciscans who are at least partly responsible for the lore surrounding cioppino. The story of how cioppino got its name, printed on the restaurant’s website and often told to starry-eyed tourists, is so cute, it doesn’t matter that it’s likely not true. What is true: Cioppino’s delivers a classic San Francisco dish, overflowing with Dungeness crab legs, clams, mussels, snapper, shrimp and calamari, served with a side of garlic sourdough bread. And in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf, the meal is the perfect way to round off a day of sightseeing and learning about San Francisco’s rich maritime heritage.
Find it: Cioppino’s, 400 Jefferson St., San Francisco, CA 94109; 415-775-9311
A restaurant on a pier, surrounded by working fishing boats, must have a source of fresh fish. Scoma’s has been serving diners dockside at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf since 1965.
Scoma’s via YelpScoma’s
Known for its long-standing tradition of serving fresh and delectable seafood, Scoma’s has become a favorite dining destination for locals and tourists alike since 1965. And if you want Dungeness crab meat without the work of cracking claws, head to this beloved Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant. Their “Lazy Man’s” recipe calls for cooked crab meat instead of in-shell, taking the work out of eating the dish. Market-fresh scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari join the party in the broth that hails from an old family recipe.
Find it: Scoma’s, 1965 Al Scoma Way, San Francisco, CA 94133; 415-771-4383
The Woodhouse Fish Co. on San Francisco’s Market Street dishes up seafood specialties, including a scallop-laden bowl of cioppino.
Image via Yelp user Kevin Y.Woodhouse Fish Co.
On a menu full of New England-style seafood, the San Francisco cioppino stands out as a true crowd-pleaser at Woodhouse Fish Co.. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this rendition is extra special thanks to the scallops added to every bowl. Mussels, clams, crab and prawns round out the medley of ocean treasures. Served with garlic bread and a wedge of lemon, this version is bright and delicious, just as it’s meant to be.
Find it:
1914 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA 94115
2073 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94114; 415-437-2722
This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at [email protected].