Made in SF with ❤️
Ocean Avenue in SF is a vibrant and diverse commercial corridor that is almost 2 miles long and has a tons to offer on the southwest side of the city. It spans from Excelsior to Lakeside, and just so happens to be right in my backyard, so I am often on Ocean Avenue frequenting it’s establishments. Whether you’re a foodie, a plant enthusiast, or just looking to explore a neighborhood, Ocean Avenue has plenty of options and at many different price points; some are quite affordable. Since Ocean Avenue rarely gets love from major publications in SF, let me share with you some of my favorite spots!
Ocean Avenue in SF Coffee and Pastries
1. Charm Coffee: Kickstart your Ocean Avenue exploration with a caffeinated beverage from Charm Coffee. Charm Coffee is brand spanking new! They joined the ranks of Philz and Java Coffee House on Ocean Ave, but I think it is the perfect spot to grab a cup of expertly brewed coffee, especially since they use Linea coffee. I am a huge fan of Linea, as I think they roast the best coffee in San Francisco. The super friendly owners are Ingleside locals. Oh, and they also have pastries from Black Jet Bakery (in Bernal Heights) and they just started offering breakfast burritos…so dangerous! You really can’t get more local than this 🙂
2. A-1 Bakery and Cafe: If you didn’t pick up a pastry at Charm Coffee, you might want to get some Chinese pastries from A-1 Bakery and Cafe. They have freshly baked goods like Chinese Pineapple Buns, BBQ buns, Swiss rolls, and even birthday cakes. You’ll often see locals hanging around this spot. They also have a delicious Hong-Kong style milk tea (coffee and milk tea combined).
Shopping on Ocean Avenue in SF
3. The Plant Lady SF: Just a block or two away, get a touch of nature into your home with a visit to Plant Lady SF. One of my favorite plant shops in San Francisco, this charming shop is filled with a wide variety of houseplants, from succulents to air plants, as well as beautiful pots and planters. My friend and talented artist, Alyssa Yang (@sendoodz), did a beautiful mural for them.
4. Expert Pet: If you have furry friends at home, you might want to check out Expert Pet. I have an adorable grey kitty that has received many a toy from this establishment because I mean, who can resist a catnip avocado when you see one…?! This pet store offers a wide range of high-quality food, toys, and accessories, as well as grooming and boarding services for dogs. They also now have a location in Dogpatch.
Food and Drink on Ocean Avenue in SF
5. Ming Kee: If you spy a long line going down the block, it’s more than likely for Ming Kee. Why? They have delicious roasted duck and Chinese BBQ pork. This place can be a little intimidating if you don’t speak Cantonese, but they actually do just fine with English and they accept credit cards. Just walk in and ask for a whole duck or get a lunch set, and you won’t be disappointed!
6. Chase Luck Bakery: Chase Luck Bakery is the other establishment on Ocean Avenue that often has a line out the door. Despite the name, Chase Luck Bakery is more of a cafeteria style dim-sum spot with lunch specials than a bakery. It was featured in a lovely write up on SFGate a few years ago for being very affordable and having tasty dumplings, which is certainly still the case. I also enjoy getting their preserved egg and pork congee.
7. Champa Garden: This Laotian/Thai spot is a favorite go-to of mine when I’m craving homey Thai food and don’t feel like cooking. My favorites are the duck curry and the pad see ew but everything on the menu is honestly very tasty. I also did the Orchid mural for them if you have any interest in checking it out!
8. Orchids Cafe: Orchid’s Cafe is a wonderful Hong Kong style cha-chaan-teng. This charming cafe has the most delicious tomato pork chop over rice and various other homey dishes.
9. Ofena: Over in Lakeside, Ofena took over Lakeside Cafe a few years ago and it’s quickly become a wonderful neighborhood spot for delicious Italian when you don’t feel like trekking over to North Beach. Opened by the Ju-Ni and Handroll project owners, Italian was not quite what I had expected from them but it is super delicious. Their focaccia is out of this world!
10. Beep’s Burgers: Beep’s Burgers is a classic and probably one of the most well-known places on Ocean Avenue. It regularly shows up on “Best Burger” lists in San Francisco, and is actually quite affordable (for SF anyway). I also really love the retro neon sign, which was recently restored by Neil Ballard, Nathaniel Bice and Matt Stansell. This classic burger joint is a local favorite, offering a variety of burgers, fries, and shakes. I personally love getting their onion rings and a 1/4 pounder with an egg.
11. Ocean Ale House: For craft beer and live jazz lovers, Ocean Ale House is the neighborhood spot to go to. With a rotating selection of local brews and delicious food from Chef Daniel — the fries are a standout — you’re sure to find something to satisfy your taste buds. They do trivia, live music, karaoke, and just started doing a Taco Tuesday. You’ll also see my first mural here!
12. The Check-In Lounge: If it’s ever made you grumble to see that your wine is $15-$17 for a glass, head on over to The Check-In Lounge in Excelsior. The owners are super friendly and down to earth and they aren’t trying to gouge you on wine. They even have a very generous happy hour, where you can get 20% off pours.
13. Dinosaurs: This local bahn-mi chain that is literally just a take-out door. While the banh-mi isn’t the cheapest spot in San Francisco, it is certainly tasty. I personally love The Special but the Grilled Chicken is very solid as well.
14. That’s Amore SF: Indulge in classic Italian cuisine at That’s Amore SF. This cozy restaurant serves up delicious pizzas, pastas, and other Italian favorites. They have full Neapolitan pies and are located right next to Yoga Flow SF on Ocean. They often also have live music!
15. Bay Pocha / Go Go 7: These are two of my favorite Korean spots to hit up. Bay Pocha has delicious seafood pancakes and is open late night. Go Go 7 is super homey and has my favorite comforting noodle soup, kalguksu, that is fairly hard to find in San Francisco.
16. Joyful Kitchen: Do you like rice noodle rolls (Chang Fen)? Joyful Kitchen has delicious rice noodle rolls with any meat of your choosing and delectable congee. It’s absolutely perfect when you’ve had a little too much to drink last night and needs some comforting food to warm your insides and nurse your head 🙂
17. PurTea / Fate Tea / Dots: OK I’m cheating here a little because it’s hard to choose a favorite bubble tea shop on Ocean Ave, but these are the ones I frequent the most. PurTea has a full-out kitchen in addition to bubble tea and is open for dinner, including Hawaiian favorites like Loco Moco. Fate Tea has delicious tea flavorings and dessert snacks. Dots is known for their sesame bubble tea, but also has Taiwanese favorites like wheel cakes and popcorn chicken.
Other places on Ocean Avenue in SF to check out!
18. Z Touch Salon: I get my hair cut at Z Touch Salon. I think Zee does a great job, and I found out that he’s actually from Taiwan — like me! He has very reasonable prices and he’s so close by. If you don’t trust me, he’s got 100s of 5 star reviews online 🙂
19. Yoga Flow SF: Yoga Flow SF is my favorite exercise studio on Ocean Ave. This is a mini local chain of Yoga studios, offer a variety of yoga classes for all levels, from gentle flow to power vinyasa in a beautiful space. Most classes are heated, which is perfect for this foggy hood.
20. Ocean Cyclery: I’m an avid cyclist and I really love that I can come to Ocean Cyclery for all my cycling needs. Jeff is a passionate cyclist himself and his work really speaks for itself. I was on the verge of giving up on my bike because I had a unique issue with it, but he quickly diagnosed what was wrong and it’s been going strong ever since! Super thankful for this.
21. Jean Henry School of Art: Unleash your creativity and sign up for classes at Jean Henry School of Art. This renowned art school offers classes and workshops for all ages and skill levels, from painting to sculpture. Local artist, Mike Ritch, took over this spot when Jean Henry retired. If you walk around Lakeside, you’ll see Mike’s murals all over the place. They’re super cool!
Some special shout outs:
- Ocean Ave Association: Did you know that Ocean Ave Association is the Community Business District organizer that manages all of Ocean Avenue? They regularly host events, like the Wine Walk I participated in, but also free yoga and other fun activities. They also organized adding bistro string lights, the hanging flower baskets, and regular trash clean-ups. Their office is located right by the UPS store on Ocean Avenue if you want to learn more and say hello. Check out their IG for regular updates!
- Lakeside Village: Right next to Dinosaurs, there is a gathering spot called Lakeside Landing is meant to be a community gathering spot and they regularly host live music, workshops, and fun events. Check out their newsletter and event list here.
- The Ingleside Light: While they don’t have an office presence, The Ingleside Light is a wonderful publication that frequently talks about Ocean Avenue and all the goings-on of this neighborhood. Ingleside doesn’t frequently get a lot of love from the major publications in San Francisco, but there is a lot to love about this area and I very much appreciate their efforts!
From delicious food to unique shops and experiences, Ocean Avenue has it all. Next time you’re looking for an adventure in San Francisco, be sure to check out this vibrant and diverse neighborhood!
