Resy just published its 2026 Hit List, and San Francisco landed six spots on it. That's not a courtesy nod. In a year where New York dominates the list and LA keeps expanding, six picks signals something: the Bay Area dining scene is doing more than recovering from the pandemic years. It's reinventing itself.
What makes this batch interesting isn't just the food. It's the range. A self-taught Gujarati chef who turned "shameless" into a compliment. A three-Michelin-star chef who lost his restaurant to wildfire and came back with a bagel shop. A Filipino tasting menu from a chef who staged at the world's best kitchens. This isn't one vibe. It's a city finding its stride.
Here are the six SF restaurants Resy is betting on this spring, and why you should be too.
Besharam: Heena Patel's Gujarati Revolution in Dogpatch
The name means "shameless" in Gujarati, and Chef Heena Patel wears it like armor. Besharam is a deeply personal project built on the regional vegetarian cooking of western India, filtered through California's seasonal produce and Patel's self-taught fearlessness.
This isn't the Indian food most Americans grew up ordering. There are no tikka masalas here. Instead, expect dishes rooted in Patel's childhood memories: complex spice layering, unexpected textures, vegetables treated with the seriousness most kitchens reserve for proteins.
Eater SF named Besharam its Restaurant of the Year, and the accolades keep stacking. SF Chronicle Top 100. James Beard Best Chef California semifinalist. Features in the New York Times and Washington Post. Now a Resy Hit List pick for 2026. For a restaurant in Dogpatch at 1275 Minnesota Street, that's not hype. That's earned.
Details: 1275 Minnesota St, Dogpatch. Vegetarian Gujarati fine dining. Reservations on Resy.
Loveski Jackson Square: Christopher Kostow Reinvents Himself With Bagels
Here's a sentence you probably didn't expect: the chef behind the three-Michelin-star Restaurant at Meadowood now runs a Jewish deli. But Christopher Kostow's story isn't a downgrade narrative. It's one of the most compelling chef reinventions in recent memory.
After the 2020 Glass Fire destroyed Meadowood, Kostow and his wife Martina could have chased another fine dining concept. Instead, they opened Loveski at 499 Jackson Street, a "Jew-ish" deli serving California-style bagels, house-smoked fish, and creative cream cheese spreads (miso-vegetable, yellow chive with fermented onion, even vegan options).
The lunch menu features whitefish salad on Josey Baker bread, salmon teriyaki bowls, and a breakfast burrito with pastrami, smashed latke, and green onion that has already become a neighborhood obsession. Open daily 7am to 7pm with indoor and outdoor seating.
Details: 499 Jackson St, Jackson Square. Deli and bagels. Open daily 7am-7pm. Walk-ins welcome.
Lobalita: A Modern Mexican Cantina Revitalizes the Marina
The Marina's nightlife corridor on Chestnut Street has a new anchor. Lobalita opened in mid-March from Nate Valentine and Jamal Blake-Williams, taking over a beloved space at 2231 Chestnut and turning it into a modern Mexican cantina with serious kitchen ambitions.
This isn't a taqueria, and it isn't trying to be. Expect elevated takes on Mexican staples, creative cocktails built around mezcal and tequila, and a late-night energy that matches the neighborhood. The opening has revitalized a stretch that needed exactly this kind of confident newcomer.
Details: 2231 Chestnut St, Marina. Modern Mexican. Reservations recommended.
Restaurant Naides: Modern Filipino Tasting Menu, Now Michelin-Recognized
Chef Patrick Gabon's Restaurant Naides has had a remarkable run since opening in mid-December in the former Sons & Daughters space on Bush Street. First came the SF Chronicle praise. Then a Michelin Guide addition in March 2026. Now the Resy Hit List.
Gabon's contemporary Filipino tasting menu draws on his stages at some of the world's best kitchens, filtering traditional Filipino flavors through modern technique without losing the soul of the cuisine. At $285 per person, this is a splurge, but critics have called it one of the most exciting new tasting menus in the country.
We published a full guide to Naides covering the menu, reservations, and what to expect.
Details: Bush St (former Sons & Daughters space). Filipino tasting menu, $285. Reservations on Resy.
JouJou: David Barzelay's Long-Awaited Brasserie Finally Arrives
Fifteen years. That's how long David Barzelay, the chef behind Lazy Bear, spent developing JouJou before it finally opened in the Design District. The concept is a luxurious French seafood brasserie, and it immediately earned a spot on the 2026 Resy Hit List.
If you know Lazy Bear's creativity and attention to detail, you know what Barzelay brings to a project. JouJou is design-forward, ingredient-obsessed, and positioned as the kind of special occasion spot SF has been craving.
Our complete JouJou guide has the full breakdown on reservations and what to order.
Details: Design District. French seafood brasserie. Reservations on Resy.
Bar Coto: All-Day Italian in Jackson Square
Rounding out the spring openings is Bar Coto at 596 Pacific Avenue in Jackson Square, an all-day Italian cafe with the kind of dual personality SF does well. Mornings bring espresso and pastries. Evenings pivot to wine, snacks, and casual Italian plates.
The concept echoes the beloved Bar Cotogna energy: neighborhood-friendly, unfussy, and built for regulars. In a neighborhood that's increasingly drawing food-forward openings (Loveski is just blocks away), Bar Coto fills the gap between grab-and-go coffee and a full sit-down dinner.
Details: 596 Pacific Ave, Jackson Square. All-day Italian cafe. Walk-ins and reservations.
What the Hit List Tells Us About SF Right Now
The through line across all six picks isn't cuisine or price point. It's conviction. Heena Patel cooking fearlessly from her heritage. Kostow ditching fine dining prestige for a deli he actually wanted to build. Gabon betting everything on Filipino tasting menus in a city that's never had one at this level.
San Francisco's dining scene spent a few years in survival mode. These restaurants signal something different: chefs building exactly what they want, in neighborhoods they believe in, for diners ready to pay attention.
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Besharam?
Book through Resy. Besharam is popular but not impossible to secure, especially for weeknight dining. Try booking 1-2 weeks out.
Is Loveski Jackson Square a sit-down restaurant?
It's a deli with indoor and outdoor seating. You can grab and go or sit down. No reservations needed, just walk in. Open 7am to 7pm daily.
How much does the Naides tasting menu cost?
The tasting menu at Restaurant Naides is $285 per person. Wine pairings are available for an additional charge.
What's the dress code for JouJou?
JouJou is upscale brasserie casual. Think smart and put-together rather than formal. No shorts or flip-flops, but you don't need a jacket.
Are any of these restaurants good for groups?
Besharam and Lobalita both work well for groups. Bar Coto is ideal for casual group drinks and snacks. JouJou and Naides are better suited for intimate dinners of 2-4 people.
Which Resy Hit List restaurant is best for a date?
JouJou for a splurge-worthy occasion, Besharam for a memorable and unique experience, or Lobalita for something more relaxed with great cocktails.
