Going out to eat at a restaurant is meant to be a fun treat, not a stressful and restrictive experience for dieters. For those on the paleo diet, finding a restaurant that offers paleo-friendly meals is like finding a needle in a haystack.
You don’t want to awkwardly ask the chef to make a paleo-approved meal of boring romaine lettuce and chicken breast – you deserve to treat yourself!
If you’re a paleo eater in the San Francisco area, you might be surprised to know that there are several restaurants and cafes that offer paleo-friendly foods. Here are the best 15 paleo restaurants in San Francisco and nearby areas!
Kitava is a godsend for paleo dieters. With locally sourced organic vegetables, Kitava strives towards making healthy and tasty foods to suit a variety of dietary restrictions, including gluten-free and vegan.
Their extensive menu says it all, with the majority of meals being paleo-friendly. Paleo customers rave about the flavorsome General Tso’s Chicken and the Mix & Match Bowl. The paleo chocolate brownie and vanilla gelato can’t be forgotten, either.
Plus, customers can either dine at the Kitava restaurant or deliver the meals to the comfort of their own home.
Pica Pica Arepa Kitchen is the heart of authentic Venezuelan food. Owned and run by women, this restaurant exudes inclusivity by catering towards a variety of eaters. This is emphasized by its unique menu that can be made paleo-friendly, vegan, or gluten-free.
Pica Pica Arepa Kitchen is all about bringing people together through cultural foods, as each dish is designed to be shared and eaten by hand.
With an amalgamation of various flavors from sweet to savory to spicy, this is the best restaurant for paleo foodies!
Multiple locations: 329 Kearny Street / 554 Commercial Street / 71 Stevenson Street
Sababa is the home of Israeli street food. Who said that a paleo diet has to be bland? This restaurant is ideal for the foodie lovers of foods with a cultural history and beautiful flavors.
This is primarily a hot pita bar, but the menu can be easily adapted to suit a paleo, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free diet. The falafel is the standout menu item for paleo eaters, especially paired with the tasty hummus.
“Sababa” is a slang term used in Arabic and Hebrew to mean satisfaction, which sums up the Sababa restaurant pretty well!
2 Marina Boulevard, Fort Mason, Building A, San Francisco, CA, 94123
(415) 771-6222
Greens Restaurant is all about experimenting with vegetarian dishes to a new level. With an ethos of celebrating vegetables, this restaurant is a haven for paleo eaters. Every dish on the menu is vegetarian and can be altered to suit vegan, gluten-free, and paleo eaters.
What’s more, this restaurant offers stunning sustainable decor and a view of the famous Golden Gate Bridge. The warehouse features large windows, allowing the customers to revel in the beautiful scenery around them.
Multiple locations: 524 Valencia Street / 1001 South Van Ness
Limón Rotisserie is a celebration of all things Peruvian. Originating in San Francisco, Limón has since opened its doors in the Bay Area and further.
Non-paleo dieters often assume that paleo foods are bland and flavorless, but Limón respectfully disagrees. With Peruvian and Latin flavors, Limón has a variety of delicious paleo options available, such as the beef heart, roasted chicken, and various salads and ceviches.
The vibe of this restaurant alone is enough to make anyone feel at home. They also offer a unique monthly subscription box if you’re a fan of their flavorsome meals!
While primarily a tea shop, Samovar Tea Lounge offers an excellent menu that can be altered to suit paleo dietary needs. Customers have raved about the fresh veggie crudite, falafel, and grilled chicken skewers (just without the yogurt and feta!).
Plus, as the name suggests, Samovar Tea Lounge offers an expansive range of teas and other hot beverages like coffee and chai.
This particular cafe is in the middle of refurbishments, so customers can expect an evolution in the menu soon.
Multiple locations: 3690 18th Street / 306 Broderick Street
Nopalito exudes everything wonderful about Mexican culture – from the exquisite food to the family-run dynamic. Since their opening in 2009, Nopalito has defined their niche by combining traditional Mexican recipes with local San Francisco ingredients.
Both restaurants in San Francisco offer an array of dishes on their menus which can be easily adapted to suit a paleo diet.
The best part? Nopalito commits to using locally sourced, organic ingredients such as grass-fed beef. Ideal for the ethical paleo dieters!
Multiple locations: 189 6th Avenue / 1030 Hyde Street
San Francisco is also home to some of the country’s best cafes, and Nourish cafe is certainly one of them. Sure, it’s not a restaurant, but this plant-based cafe is the ideal brunch or light lunch place for paleo eaters and vegans alike.
The veggie wrap stands out for paleo eaters with its unique raw spinach wrapping. Virtually every item on the menu can be paleo-fied, too.
What’s more, Nourish Cafe is dedicated to using locally sourced, non-GMO, and organic ingredients to support local businesses and provide a healthy yet delicious cafe experience.
Amawele’s South African Kitchen, as the name suggests, is all about celebrating the vibrancy of authentic South African food. With the goal of presenting customers with nutritious, delicious, and healthy dishes, Amawele’s is the taste of South Africa that everyone needs.
For paleo dieters, most of the dishes can be paleo-fied, and the sweet potato chicken curry is said to be one of the best items on the menu.
Previously known as Mixt greens, MIXT is one of the best restaurants for ethical paleo dieters and eco-friendly eaters. This is an Eco-Gourmet restaurant that strives to use locally sourced, organic, and sustainable ingredients to create the most colorful and flavorsome salads.
Yes, this might be a salad bar, but the array of ingredients is what makes MIXT so great for paleo eaters. Either pick a salad from their menu or make your own, which provides the most freedom for paleo eaters.
Primo Patio Cafe is all about exciting Caribbean-style flavors mixed with locally sourced ingredients. With roots in Jamaica, Cuba, and Mexico, you’re certain to choose something packet with flavor.
This is one of those hidden gems in San Francisco, with its colorful outdoor patio seating, affordable dishes, and incredibly friendly staff.
For paleo eaters, Primo Patio offers an array of items on the menu that can be paleo-fied, including a range of salads, tapas, and entrees. Plus, Primo Patio is home to live music that will teleport you directly to the Caribbean.
101 California St Ste 175, San Francisco, CA, 94111
(415) 693-9730
The Plant Organic Cafe is everything a paleo eater (or any eater, for that matter) needs in a food establishment – affordability, locally sourced ingredients, aesthetically pleasing seating, and friendly staff.
All the meat and fish are sourced locally from free-range and sustainable farms. Every item on the menu is a blend of modern Californian cuisine with Asian flavors.
Virtually every item on the menu can be made to suit paleo dieters, but most paleo customers rave about the chicken, cashew, and avocado salad and the chipotle shrimp lettuce tacos.
While not technically in San Francisco, Park Burger of Oakland is well worth the 15-minute subway trip. This is a modern burger bar that serves locally sourced ingredients to create the ultimate comfort food burgers.
Just because you’re on a paleo diet doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in these mouth-watering burgers, either, because the Barefoot In The Park burger is completely paleo-friendly and wrapped in romaine lettuce!
Public House is a great pub that offers live sports on 26 flat-screen TVs, local draft beers and ales, and a surprisingly classy menu.
Not only is the menu delicious for regular eaters, but the majority of items can be made paleo-friendly, too. The flat iron steak with roasted peppers instead of fries is one of the best items for paleo eaters!
Last but not least is Kitchen Story, a contemporary Californian restaurant that celebrates locally sourced ingredients with Asian influences.
There are an abundance of paleo-friendly options on the dinner menu, including pumpkin fries, green curry, panang curry, a variety of salads, and more. There is also a plethora of breakfast and lunch options, as well as an extensive beverage selection.
