Restaurants in San Rafael

“Without a doubt, the best cocktail bar in Marin! The menu is fantastic, but their off-menu creations are even better. The friendly, outstanding service puts this place in a league of its own. Christian and Manny are truly pros🤙🏽”

“This guy is an Italian genius when it comes to food! The combinations of flavors he comes up with would rival any great Italian chef. I met him while selling at a local farmers market a while ago-during or right after the pandemic. Restaurants were closed and he needed a way to support himself and to carry on his love of cooking and, thankfully, he came up with this business plan. Check out his website and i promise you will not be disappointed! Absolutely delicious and freshly made options available!”

“Excellent made to order Momo’s. I can’t wait to return!”

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This spot is SO good…I eat here all the time since it’s right down the street and I’ve honestly never had a bad meal…🔥…great food, great service, always hits… Plus Bad Bunny stopped by here a few years ago…and he also said it was good…😍…he wasn’t lying…🇵🇷✨ Highly Recommend 💯”

“Great food and service. Great presentation”

“Of all the Indian restaurants in the Bay Area that I tried, this restaurant has the best food imo. I discovered this place by chance on the way to Napa. After having a full meal, I ordered another meal for takeout because the food was so good. I've been here twice now. It's exceptionally good.”

“This place is really authentic. Food is cooked from scratch. Yuca is crispy and delicious. Beans are so tasty and pupusas well filled with yumminess”

“Got pick-up and had to wait around for another 30 minutes after arriving.

Food was ok, garlic naan was tough and bland and fried momos were soft not crispy. Tandoori chicken was the saving grace and was ok.

Updating original review. The owner really cares about customer service and apologized for what happened, really appreciate the care they give to their customers”

“Talked myself into trying something different today... Fried chicken thighs and it wasn't up to par as the pork belly is. The chicken may have been over bribed as I found it real salty :-(”

“I was enjoy my lunch today”

“Such fresh good food. I made my own scramble it was beyond delicious!!!”

“Wonderful food and service. Highly recommend!”

“Delivering quickly and great variety of options. I got one of the daily specials and I kept the bear glass that was adorable and have it to my daughter and she made a cute glitter globe. I love it when she is creative.”

“I came with my family here, very clean place, clean restroom, clean everything, good food. Fast service, but please ladies from the front (customer service) smile, you take care of the customer like robots, next, thank you , next, thank you next. I was looking at every single person that was receiving their orders to make sure that chips are given to some odres or to every order. We order two burritos, one pupusa and twelve tacos. We did not received chips at all. I saw people that purchase tacos , receiving their chips, this wasn’t my case. No one gave us our chips😟”

“I have been coming here since it opened and the service and quality has been consistently excellent! The atmosphere is modern, the music is great, and the staff are always friendly. And the food is delicious!!!! Highly highly recommend!”

“I had coffee this morning for the 1st time. The cafe has such a relaxing vibe to it! It was a nice group of patrons. The staff was very helpful. I've found my favorite coffee shop! 😋😋😋”

“My family and I recently moved into the neighborhood and stumbled across Redwood Cafe, and it has quickly become one of our favorite local spots. Although they’re only open from 6am–3pm, this is absolutely a place you can’t skip out on.

They offer a great selection of breakfast and lunch options, plus a Greek menu that gives you even more to try. One of our favorite things is that they rotate different soups almost daily—there’s always something new and comforting. The owner, Leo, and his entire staff are truly wonderful and make you feel welcome the moment you walk in.

The cafe itself is small, cozy, and full of locals who clearly love being there—you can feel the happy, community vibe while dining. Redwood Cafe consistently goes above and beyond with customer service. I often bring my mother with me, and they genuinely treat people like family.

We love this place so much that we try to stop by at least once a week. Thank you for the delicious paninis, amazing soups, and the great selection of desserts. We will absolutely continue supporting local businesses like Redwood Cafe!”

“We had our lunch in red rooster brick oven and it was the best atmosphere that’s family friendly, the food was delicious and the owners were very nice. We will be visiting again and we highly recommend this restaurant.”

“The staff went out of their way to find something I could eat with my eating restrictions! The beef and the cheesecake are both incredible. You’re in for a treat!”

“Had a panucho for the first time. Huge pile of chicken on a nice crispy fried tortilla covered in black beans. Great hot vinegar salsa and picked onions to go with it.

It seems like they had to take down their dining area and shade structure. I wonder why, that was quite nice.”

“Best Mexican restaurant I’ve been to so far in the US.”

“We are new to the area/California from NY we were delighted to find pizza as amazing as home! Friendly owner and staff.”

“We had the most delicious pastas and wine! The service was fantastic as well. We highly recommend TKT for your next night out!! Even our toddler was impressed!”

“How this shop doesn't have a line out the door like Michael's is beyond me. Got the Mighty Viking with everything plus pepper jack and it is one of the best sandwiches I have had. Also got the chow mein with chicken, but that is for later so I cannot comment on that just yet. That being said, the sandwiches are fantastic.”

“amazing Thursday night prime rib for $30. delicious!!”

“This place made the tastiest veggie curry dish - I asked for the Channa Masala extra spicy and they did such a great job! Their garlic naan is very good too. I am not an expert or Indian food aficionado. However, I love the taste of their food and the girl I spoke with over the phone was very sweet!”

“Lunch buffet is really good and at a fair price.”

“Ordering is done via a pad - no cash! And : NO TOILET. That is had. And it is a dine in location. I thought that is a requirement. Also, traditional banh mi is $11.50 but if you order it, it has a $1 surcharge for a traditional banh mi. Makes no sense and seems like a scam. Place is nicely designed. Clean. Wait is a bit longer than in comparable places. Food is good. It won some BEST OF MARÍN awards. The announcement that your meal is ready is done HOA a DMV like loud announcement….”

“From the moment I walked in, I knew this place was special. The aroma of simmering broth instantly pulled me in, and every bite lived up to the promise. The pho was perfection — rich, fragrant, and full of depth, with tender slices of beef and perfectly cooked noodles. You can taste the care and tradition in every spoonful.

Whether you’re a pho fanatic or trying it for the first time, this is the place to go. I’ll definitely be coming back again and again!”

“Great services, friendly”

“Delicious food! Very unassuming, we were so happy we stopped in, food and service were top notch 🍝”

“Very comfortable, family oriented restaurant with great food and service”

“Love take out. The best minestrone and garlic bread. Yummy. Try it.”

“The Chomage miso tonkatsu ramen was terrific. Even better than when I had this dish at a highly rated ramen restaurant in Japantown. Very flavorful. not heavy or greasy.

It was nice to sit in the outdoor patio near a fountain.”

“Great beer and great food and service.”

“I loved it. Great Mexican food. Miss this in Hawaii”

“The pizza, the calamari, the mozzarella sticks, the margaritas, what an exceptional find. The service was top notch and the pizza so good i ate the crusts, it’s that type, i never eat the crusts. We left feeling well taken care of. Sean, the manager, was making us feel welcome in every possible way. I’ve heard the clam chowder and salads are amazing as well, we will be back!! Prime rib?! French dip!?! Yes please!!!!”

“Todo está muy delicioso recomiendo las enchiladas de cangrejo el salmón ala parrilla y también los huevos rancheros las quesabirrias están muy buenas también sin contar que fin de seman tiene barbacoa de borrego con consomé y menudo”

“The food was served Hot and Fresh and the serving was very generous! I ordered the Steak and Nopal and my girlfriend ordered the Tacos Birria. We chose to eat outside and they had Vicente Fernandez playing on the speaker, We both rate it 5 stars! Gracias ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

“Was our first time visiting this location and only now have learned that each red boys is owned by different owners. This location is awesome, great tasting pizza”

“Great Thai food !!!! Customer service was also great.”

“So so tasty and fresh with generous portions of fish- would have snapped a pic of my roll but I was too hungry and it was gone…

Highly recommend!! Always a favorite at our house :]”

“Definitely a good place for you”

“The most authentic Chinese restaurant in this area. The service attitude is very good. The dishes are fresh and the prices are cheap and reasonable. It is a very good dining place. It’s great?????”

“Superlative. See my picture post. Ichiban!”

“Unbelievably good beef rib Pho, honestly some of the best tasting broth I've had! Awesome hospitality in a hole in the wall vibe. Highly recommend a trip for some tasty food.”

“Excelentes pizzas y cordial atención”

“Stopped here on the way from SF to Napa and it was the perfect coffee shop pit stop. They offer a great variety of coffee and tea options, many with a distinct Thai influence. The authentic Thai coffees and teas are especially noteworthy, with beans sourced from Thailand and roasted in-house. In addition to drinks, they also have smoothies, boba, and some food options. The thoughtful Thai decor throughout the space is beautiful and adds a unique charm, and the service was excellent. We ordered the Thai iced coffee and green tea—both were fantastic—but we’ll definitely be stopping again on our next road trip to try their boba.”

“Making chicken salad sandwiches with the best bead 🥖”

“Outstanding, quality meats from experienced and knowledgeable butchers. Very friendly service and accommodating. My go to butcher!”

“I went here with my family today and we loved this spot. We ordered a combo meal with the chicken sandwich, fries, and a drink. For $7 you get an amazing sandwich with a delicious crispy chicken patty. Also the food portion sizes are so worth it for the price. My most favorite part of this meal was the curly fries. They were done nicely and tasted great. The staff was so kind and helpful. Would go back here for sure!!”

“Best coffee in san rafael IMO! Lenny is really nice and always has my order ready! Nice vibe and close to my work! Highly recommend!”

“Awesome coffee and a very comfortable space to sit and enjoy the coffee.”

“Tried Wrap N Kabob for the first time today and was really impressed! The food was incredibly fresh and absolutely delicious. The owner, Chris, was super friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend checking it out!”

“A “Must Stop” for lunch! The best sourdough bread I’ve ever had. Wanted to go back and just order a bunch of bread to take home and spoil the family. The perfect crispy crust and then soft chew center with lots of wonderful savory sourness. I had the Ham & Pastrami. Perfect fresh ingredients. Everything you want in a deli sandwich at a reasonable price. Lots of selections so I’m heading back for future yummy bites. Excellent personal service.”

“Wednesday Taco night the 💣.”

“Seriously, best burrito in North Marin. Repeating this post because 1) Facebook asked me to write a formal review and 2) it's too empty when I've gone and I want people to keep them in business!”

“Hi I am delighted to have Royal Thai as a friend for Take dinners needs during these shelter times. Support your local restaurant. San Rafael , you got my buisness. Plus your Thai food is darn good”

“They have the best food. Anything you order will amaze your tastebuds. We get 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ service every time. Course it helps we go every weekend!!”

“You make my birthday girl so happy, especially the Unicorn. Make her birthday for this year sweet...it really makes her enjoy this lonely birthday becomes a joyful one”

“The atmosphere is basic but the sandwiches are stellar. He’s about to close the shop so go get one before he retires. I’m from socal and miss a good, traditional, Vietnamese Sandi! Anytime I’m passing through or in San Rafael, I stop and grab a couple.”

“How nice to finally have an excellent Chinese restaurant in San Rafael. Nicely decorated, friendly and efficient service and delicious cuisine! Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed.”

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“Perfect in every way. I order the spicy fried rice and added chicken and shrimp. My friend ordered pad phed beef and mixed them together. Amazing. Satay was awesome! The egg rolls were delicious. Goong grab borg was amazing as well. Portions were more than enough to share between us. Everyone was so sweet and I was so happy that we found this gem. Although I don’t live in the neighborhood, it will be our new go to when I visit! <3”

“Went here due to the 5 star rating and wow, it earns every single one. The bread here is the best bahn mi bread I've ever had on a sandwich, the pork is juicy and the cost is insanely economical. For 2 sandwiches and a Vietnamese iced coffee my total was 20 even (cash highly suggested to keep cost low!). The veggies were fresh and the portion was perfect. I would absolutely say this may very well be one of the best bahn Mis in the Bay area. I live in SF and grew up in the East Bay and bahn Mis are one of my faves so I'm constantly looking. The only thing wrong with this place is how far it is from my house. I will only come here any time I cross the bridge. Yes, it is that good of a deal; Bite for bite, this is not only a cheap eat, but absolutely delicious. Brought this with me to corte Madera and someone stopped and asked where I got the sandos, and I had to tell them I got them from a city over haha! They look, smell, feel and taste incredible. Oh and the coffee is solid too! Loved every part of this meal to the last bite/sip.”

“Χριστός Ανέστη! I couldn't be with my family for Easter this year so they sent me a care package from Glyka Sweets. I am so grateful for this feeling of home that your sweets gave me. And, the tsoureki and koulourakia were absolutely delicious! 10 out of 10. Thank you so much. Have a wonderful day!”

“Great coffee great service most of the time. People working there need to learn to communicate and let customers know when they are backed up so when they make an order, they understand how long it will take instead of letting them know after the fact.”

“I was here for breakfast and the food was delicious and very affordable. Excellent service in a nice place to relax. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures. It’s a small mom’s and pop’s operation.”

“Great Food!!! Great Service!”

“The turkey and cheese burger is the best 🍔 with the curlier fries is the best of the best 👍🏼🤗.”

“unbelievable experience, the bartender was more than friendly and I would recommend to all my friends and family”

“Even after a 4 year hiatus (work relocation) Tajikistan San greeted me at the door tonight with "So good to see you, two chicken bento, extra dressing!". Arigatou's is world class.”

“Best Mexican food I've had in a long time!”

“We had an amazing lunch experience at Foodles today! The bibimbap, chicken katsu, and "Breakfast #4" were all exceptionally delicious. The service was equally impressive—warm, attentive, and truly welcoming. The cozy atmosphere made our meal even more enjoyable. Love this place! We will definately come back.”

“Servers are fun to talk with and to learn about the best treats!”

“Spectacular! I am so happy I drove by and found this place. The cupcakes tasted amazing and were absolutely beautiful. The guests loved them and I will 100% be back for more! Thank you Baked Blooms!”

“The best food ever , it is delicious 🤤 the environment is very welcoming , the staff are super kind and sweet 🥰we ordered falafel , shawarma and kabob , the rice is yummy too , the dessert is wow 🤩 I recommend it to every one 👍👍👍”

“Great Sub sandwiches!!!!!”

“Only thing I come in to order is the Crazy Coffee Smoothie! And it's on hit every time! 👍🏽”

“Very friendly. very clean, seems family oriented and maybe that's what makes it work. Love it!!!!”

“Started going there in 1980 and have never stopped❤️🙏🏻♥️”

“Holy cow Batman!!!! this place serves some great comfort food …. Best Burger is tops, try it…. Shakes go down easy, fries are plain but add the salt and dip some ketchup … boom. Plenty of pilgrims make the daily Journey ??”

“My husband and myself we are so glad that old Tender Tenders is back as Cruicy . The food and especially the chicken crispy tenders with fries and sauce are the best .Inside it’s so clean and nice renovated with new appliances but they need the name outside . Thank you to the owner to reopen this place .”

“Excellent service, friendly staff, and their Guatemala decaf hits the spot! Also very reasonably priced both for fresh drinks and pounds of coffee. What’s not to love in supporting such great local businesses?”

“Just a good ol' diner you can count on. Nothing super fancy or Foo Foo just good eats and a calm environment. Thankyou to everyone at Le Croissant , was my first time but not my last 🤙🏽”

“Visited on a random Wednesday morning for breakfast and took a seat on one of the two seat tables against the wall. A few other patrons sat along the counter eating and drinking coffee. The place was relaxed, dim, and lovely. The server was perfectly nice and I already had my order decided so in a flash I had a perfect iced tea and my ticket was in a ticket for a corned beef hash combo.

The plate was delicious with big shreds of corned beef, properly cooked potatoes and onions, and the entire eggs Benedict alongside. On the Benedict the yolk was runny and every part of the dish was hot, seasoned, and hearty.

The price was totally fair for what I got, walking out paying something like 25 bucks total and I'd gladly return. Go here to fill up on classics a cut above.”

“Casual eatery with great wings and fish and chips. Owner is courteous and the service is quick. Ample portions and reasonable prices. Across the street from the main theater in San Rafael. I'll try other items on the menu next time.”

“This is a gem of a bakery and coffee spot. Tucked in the Woodland neighborhood in a residential neighborhood and you can get breakfast sandwiches, lunch in addition to their wonderful pastries and cookies. I took some home with me too. How this place doesn't have a line out the door all the time I don't know, but people need to know about this family owned place. They took over from the previous owners and they are so nice. Its calm and has a back patio too.”

“My favorite Thai place!!!! It’s amazing the food is soooo good the flavors are insane. Hands down best curry I’ve ever had in my life . My boyfriend and I always go and the lady that works there is always so sweet and remembers us. One of my favorite resteraunts of all time!!!”

“🇲🇽 I must leave ★★★★★ for my friends at Puentez Taqueria. Parking is difficult however there is overflow parking behind the Taqueria. The food is served quickly but expect lines around lunchtime. I captured this photo near the rear employee-entrance which has a great view of the San Rafael canal. Can't recommend this place enough!”

“Such fresh good food. I made my own scramble it was beyond delicious!!!”

“Love take out. The best minestrone and garlic bread. Yummy. Try it.”

“Have dined at Le Chalet Basque for more than 20 years. Our recent meal with lamb chops, fresh vegetables, mashed potatoes and split pea soup served with crumbled blue cheese salad couldn't have been better. Fresh ingredients, great wine and excellent service will keep us returning again and again.”

“I have always loved the Gloria Jeans drinks in fact I used to work at the Ontario Mills Mall in Ontario California at Gloria Jeans there it was owned by Katie Chuck a very nice lady to work for but unfortunately she closed her business I miss working there that was back in 2002 -2006 4 years I had worked for her I still know how to make every drink we had back then cold and hot drinks speciality drinks which were the holiday drinks I remember the measurements to brew coffee ☕️ for the day when you work there for that long everything sticks with you but as for today I’m sure many things have changed as the years went by but I do still see some of the same coffee beans we had back then I wish we had one here in applevalley California we used to have one in the Victorville Mall years ago but that one has gone out of business as well years ago please ?? someone bring Gloria Jeans back to the High desert of California Applevalley California we need one here desperately I’m so sick of Starbucks they overroast their beans which gives the drinks a burnt taste of course they will deny it there is nothing like a Gloria Jeans coffee ☕️ hot or cold simply the best you can’t get any better then Gloria Jeans Coffee..❤️”

“Talked myself into trying something different today... Fried chicken thighs and it wasn't up to par as the pork belly is. The chicken may have been over bribed as I found it real salty :-(”

“Emilee made an amazing cake for my wedding. She was quick to respond, adaptable to what I wanted and edits, and had flexible pick up. Everyone loved the cake (almond cake with cherry compote).”

“💙 I can come here every day. 💜”

“How nice to finally have an excellent Chinese restaurant in San Rafael. Nicely decorated, friendly and efficient service and delicious cuisine! Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed.”

“amazing food, very affordable and the portions are generous (and they encourage taking your extra food home). our server gerardo was very nice and gave excellent service. 100% will be back!”

“I’m highly recommend it ..I’m here every day”

“Very friendly. very clean, seems family oriented and maybe that's what makes it work. Love it!!!!”

“Of all the Indian restaurants in the Bay Area that I tried, this restaurant has the best food imo. I discovered this place by chance on the way to Napa. After having a full meal, I ordered another meal for takeout because the food was so good. I've been here twice now. It's exceptionally good.”

“This place is really authentic. Food is cooked from scratch. Yuca is crispy and delicious. Beans are so tasty and pupusas well filled with yumminess”

“Great coffee great service most of the time. People working there need to learn to communicate and let customers know when they are backed up so when they make an order, they understand how long it will take instead of letting them know after the fact.”

“Definitely a good place for you”

“Wanted to try the quesabirria & birria tacos. We were not disappointed! Will go back and want to try the mole buffet on weekends”

“Great food. Friendly staff. Good music walking distance for me”

“Sooooo effing good! Obsessed!”

“I was really impressed with this McDonald’s — the service here is honestly top-notch. The staff was quick and friendly, and everything came out fresh. The atmosphere inside is surprisingly chill too, super quiet, almost like having noise-cancelling on while you eat.

I was especially happy to see my favorite burger, the Daily Double, back on the menu — that’s actually the reason I came to this location, and it didn’t disappoint. Great food, great vibe, definitely one of the better McDonald’s I’ve been to.”

“I absolutely love Picante. I visit this establishment at least twice a week. I'm normally a 100% carne asada guy, but Picante's chicken is out of this world and has me constantly re-thinking my burrito meat choices. Super chicken burrito with no rice is my go to order. Staff is super friendly and always attentive. Do not skip the orange habanero salsa, it is life changing!”

“The turkey and cheese burger is the best 🍔 with the curlier fries is the best of the best 👍🏼🤗.”

“I lived close by and dropped in one day to check out the eats. The Chile Colorado peaked my interest, and it was like "Heaven"! . So pretty much every time since, the friendly staff would remember me and my passion for it. They'd see me walk in the door and instantly know... Chile Colorado! :) ( pro tip- while you wait, walk over to the painfully slow Safeway next door , buy Jardine's ghost pepper salsa and add a generous portion on top)”

“Ordering is done via a pad - no cash! And : NO TOILET. That is had. And it is a dine in location. I thought that is a requirement. Also, traditional banh mi is $11.50 but if you order it, it has a $1 surcharge for a traditional banh mi. Makes no sense and seems like a scam. Place is nicely designed. Clean. Wait is a bit longer than in comparable places. Food is good. It won some BEST OF MARÍN awards. The announcement that your meal is ready is done HOA a DMV like loud announcement….”

“Love this place and the best Tuna sandwich ever. Even more exciting to have gluten free bread. Also, if a mistake is made. It is fixed with no hesitation. They have really good options and cool items for purchase.”

“My boyfriend and I come here constantly. The food is amazing and the prices can’t be beat. The manager is the nicest dude ever. We come here pretty often and love the drinks here. They really made this place great after the other restaurant that was here really sucked. Out of any sushi restaurant this is the BEST one to choose for sitting in or eating out in San Rafael”

“*TLDR: Order on the app*
I called via phone, they spoke in Spanish only (good thing my Duolingo lessons paid off)..I ordered a hot & ready, and yes it was ready in 7min..Daniel and Hector, good customer service, reassured my order in person and gave receipt. Cut pizza properly out the oven and served well. Order on the app for rewards and for sure easier pickup.”