Ted's Market
Ted's Market may look like another San Francisco corner store from the outside, but step inside and you'll discover a large deli counter serving up specialty sandwiches like Ted's Chicken Parmesan or the Vegan Salami. Ted's also offers hot entrees like the Meatloaf and Macaroni and Cheese, as well as soup and salad specials that rotate daily. According to its website, Ted's has been around since 1967 and is known for what it calls its "rib-sticking" sandwiches. Peak busy time is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., so if you want to avoid spending time in line, go for an early or late lunch. Ted's offers a variety of pre-made sandwiches for about half the price of the made-to-order sandwiches, and they are just as fresh, since they're made daily. If you don't mind a sandwich that wasn't made to your exact specifications, check out the cooler section and save a few bucks. There is no seating at Ted's, so make sure to-go food is in your plans for the day. A sandwich from Ted's would easily slide into a day pack for a delicious lunch on the summit of Mount Tamalpais.
Ted's Market
1530 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 552-0309
tedsmarket.com
Ike's Place
To eat at Ike's Place, you need to plan way ahead, since even a phone order can take an average of 45 minutes to be ready. Ike's Place is one of the most popular lunch places in San Francisco and the line nearly always stretches down the sidewalk, with gaggles of patrons on the sidewalk waiting for their names to be called to signal a complete order. Choosing what you want at Ike's may take some time, since the menu is extensive and caters to eating habits of all types, including vegans. Ike's only serves sandwiches and a handful of sides like beer-battered onion rings, stuffed jalapeño poppers and mozzarella sticks. All the sandwich names seem to have a story behind them, like the Not Tonight, I Have a Headache, which consists of halal chicken breast, bacon, BBQ and smoked gouda; or the Veggie Lizzie's Lips, crammed with vegan turkey, Italian dressing and pepperjack cheese. There is very limited seating at Ike's Place, with just a few outdoor tables and chairs scattered on the sidewalk out front. Your best bet is to call your order in at least an hour before you plan to eat it, then pick it up and enjoy it on a blanket in the middle of Dolores Park at 18th and Dolores in the Mission.
Ike's Place
3506 16th St.
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 553-6888
ilikeikesplace.com
The Butler & The Chef Bistro
The Butler & The Chef Bistro is a French restaurant offering only breakfast and lunch in San Francisco's South Park neighborhood, near AT&T ballpark. It's a sit-down restaurant that prides itself on combining local ingredients with French-imported ingredients to create authentic, fresh cuisine. The restaurant says its dairy products, bread, pastries and most produce are organic, and all bread products are baked fresh daily. Offerings include the Quiche of the Day with a mixed green salad or the Croque Mademoiselle, a hot sandwich stuffed with baked, smoked turkey on organic white bread with creme fraiche. The restaurant itself and the seating options easily accommodate small groups, but large groups will have a difficult time fitting in all together. The Butler & The Chef Bistro promotes a more adult environment and menu, so bringing children is not advised.
The Butler & The Chef Bistro
155A S. Park St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 896-2075
butlerandthechef.com
