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The Infatuation
11 SF Restaurants With Easy Parking
By Julia Chen,
11 hours ago
Car ownership in SF isn’t for the weak. Some neighbor just had you towed, gas prices are climbing into “maybe I’ll bike to work” territory, and your feud with the SFMTA meter maids never seems to end. And circling the block for parking at a restaurant can be what sends you over the proverbial edge. Enter: these 11 spots. They each provide a stress-free parking experience, whether that’s a blissfully gigantic lot, a strip mall situation, or a dedicated drive-in area. Not all of the parking is free (one thing at a time, OK?), but these restaurants are all guaranteed to stop you from flinging your keys out the window.
This Venetian jester-themed steakhouse (yes, you read that right) in the Marina has a lot going for it, though coulrophobes should stay away. Once you get over the life-sized harlequin dolls on the walls, settle into a plush booth and enjoy steak, giant slabs of pork belly, and classic sides like mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. But the most thrilling part about a night here, obviously, is their completely free parking lot. Just follow the sign for Bobo’s lot in the back, leave your car in peace, and dig into a perfectly pink filet mignon. Did we mention it’s free?
This drive-in is the home of one the best burgers in town, and you won’t have to subject the public to your expletive-filled road rage for it. Just roll up to the parking lot off Ocean Ave. and put in an order at the window (when in doubt, always go for the half-pound Beep’s Burger, curly fries, and a root beer float). Dodge the unrelenting Ingleside fog and enjoy your meal from the warmth and comfort of your driver’s seat.
The Presidio is a gold mine in terms of parking—the lots are big enough to host a kickball game, and there available spots along the sidewalk all day. This Mediterranean restaurant is located inside a historic building overlooking the Main Parade Lawn, so if it’s nice out, try to snag a table on the patio while taking in the views. Stick with the balloon-like pita with hummus and muhammara, and the juicy pork souvlaki that’s balanced out with tangy pickled peppers.
True to its name, Mel’s Drive-In has a dedicated parking lot with diagonal spots that even a Hummer could slide into with ease. The Geary location of the diner mini-chain always has room, so you’ll only have to take a maximum of 15 steps from car to booth. You’re not at Mel’s for a gastronomic revelation, but their massive plates of burgers, onion rings, turkey clubs, and brain freeze-inducing milkshakes do hit you with a healthy dose of ‘50s nostalgia.
Technically, any restaurant in Japantown could go on this guide, thanks to the garage under the Japan Center Malls. We like to pull in there, take advantage of the $2 per hour pricing, and head upstairs to Sasa for a sushi fix. This casual spot is an ideal “I deserve this” lunch destination—their “mystery boxes” with chef’s choice sashimi and little balls of vinegar-kissed rice are a great way to zhuzh up an otherwise rock-bottom day. Don’t forget to finish out your me-time with a lap around Daiso afterwards.
Parking at Fort Mason is, in a word, abundant. The sprawling lots near the water are prepared for onslaughts of craft fair enthusiasts, museum-goers, and even an entire Off The Grid festival, so you should have no problem finding a spot. It’s the ideal situation when you want a painless transportation experience and a vegetarian meal at Greens. The seasonal Californian spot right on the water has solid dishes, like spring rolls, pizzas on cornmeal crusts, and salads. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a sea lion bobbing around in the bay.
The curvy streets, sea of delivery motorcycles, and never-ending stream of pedestrians in the Marina make parking in the area quite the hellish experience. Cut your losses and turn into the Pierce Street Garage instead. It’s across the way from Norcina, the Italian spot with fluffy-edged pizzas, seasonal pastas, and spritzes galore. At $4 an hour, the garage is cheaper than the meters on Chestnut.
There are a bunch of Andytowns throughout the city, but the Ocean Beach location is the only one where you won’t have to keep a timer as your parking meter ticks down. This location is housed at the bottom of an apartment complex facing the water and has a big (albeit sandy) parking lot available right off the Great Highway. Suggest Andytown for a coffee date with a parallel-parking challenged friend, or a meeting point for a pastry and caffeine-fueled seaside stroll.
Excellent baked goods await at Jane The Bakery, the home base and supplier for the other Jane outposts throughout the city. The Fillmore to-go counter has its own small parking lot for the revolving door of carbohydrate-lovers—drive in, order a baguette or a slice of extremely moist coffee cake, and be on your way. There’s no seating, and while we fully endorse eating your treats immediately atop the hood of your car, we also like to take them to nearby Alta Plaza Park for a picnic.
The Hon’s Wun-Tun House on Kearny is right across from the entrance to the Portsmouth Square Garage, but convenience isn’t the only reason to beeline to this casual Chinese spot—their wontons, roast meats, and egg noodles are unmatched. Now, the time you might have spent mentally cursing the many one-way streets, double-parked vans, and idling cars in loading zones in Chinatown can be used to slurp up savory broth and plump pork and shrimp dumplings.
Joyride Pizza’s Yerba Buena location is right across the street from the 5th and Mission garage. This multi-level parking structure may be an obstacle course of large poles and ridiculously small spots, but finding a temporary home for your car here is still better than risking a tow at a white curb with six conflicting traffic signs. Once you’re seated at Joyride, order any of the Detroit-style pizzas with chunky tomato sauce and a farmers market haul’s worth of toppings, which tastes even better when you’re not worrying about a trip to the impound.
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