Women own some of the best ethnic restaurants in the Bay Area. The list below will focus on their creations in the city of San Francisco. The eclectic, unique, and welcoming vibe of the area, plus its comfort weather, brought people from all over the nation and the world to make this place home since it has been established. Those immigrants brought their traditions and flavors along with them, made some adjustments due to the local produce, and created a fusion cuisine of Californian-ethnic food. To experience the special dishes, check out the following #MadeByWomen ethnic restaurants around the Bay-Area.
1. Lao Table
Thai Food Restaurant * $$
In Lao Table, the chef and owner, Lalita Souksamlane, takes you to the flavors and dishes of her home region of Northeastern Thailand / Laos with a modern twist. The beautifully designed restaurant is offering a large variety of menu items, mostly meat-centric, but with the flexibility to substitute tofu for meat in most of their dishes.
Lalita Souksamlane & Wassana Korkheiola, Co-Owners
Website
149 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94105
2. Tato
Mexican Restaurant * $$
Photo credit – Tato Restaurant.
Tato was named after the owner’s son and was created in homage to his Mexican roots. The food is fresh and modern and includes recipes from Kristin’s family in Mexico that have been updated with a Northern California twist. The decor celebrates the bright colors of Mexican pottery and design, and the tile throughout is beautiful Mexican cement tile. Tato has a full bar and serves lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.
Kristin, the owner, is well known in the Bay Area restaurant field as the owner of All Good Pizza and Cafe Alma, all of which are solely run by an all-women staff.
Kristin Houk, Owner
Website
4608 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94124
3. Media Noche
Cuban Restaurant * $$
A fast-casual Cuban counter is serving classic Cubanos, snacks, bowls, and wines in a beautifully designed restaurant. From yummy Cubanos to marvelous tile-floor, and surprising wallpaper in the restrooms, this place is proof that the devil is in the details.
Madelyn Markoe and Jessie Barker, Co-Owners
Website
3465 19th St
San Francisco, CA 94110
4. Brenda’s French Soul Food
Southern, Cajun/Creole Restaurant * $$
Brenda, a New Orleans native, opened in 2007 Brenda’s French Soul Food to serving her interpretation of “French Soul Food.” Since day one, the response was overwhelming, making this one of the most popular places for brunch in San Francisco. Among its famous dishes are – fried chicken eggs benedict, Shrimp and Gritz, and five flavors of Beignets.
Brenda Buenviaje, Chef & Co-Owner, Libby Truesdell, Co-Owner
Website
652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
5. Cala
Mexican Restaurant * $$$
Upscale Mexican restaurant serving seafood-centric dinner every night with a large variety of wines and cocktails. Some of the classic Mexican dishes were changed with Californian ingredients.
Cala was established in 2015, located in a former garage dated back to 1919 in San Francisco’s Civic Center area.
Gabriela Cámara, Chef
Website
149 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
6. Atelier Crenn
French Restaurant * $$$$
This extraordinary French restaurant attained three Michelin Stars, making its owner and chef Dominique Crenn to the only female chef in America to get this award for her restaurant. It was Crenn’s first restaurant, and her heritage is present all over, from her father’s paintings on the walls to the menu drawn from the memories of her mother’s garden in Brittany, focused mainly on seafood and vegetables. Each guest is welcomed with a poem to three hours of culinary pleasure.
Dominique Crenn, Chef & Owner
Website
3127 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94123
