German food is quite popular in San Francisco due to the large German population in the city. You can find a variety of German markets, delis, and restaurants in San Francisco where you can enjoy authentic German fare. A lot of these eateries offer imported German food, rare chocolates, alcohol, candies, festive treats, smoked meats, and much more.
Whether you are a fan of pretzels and German mustard or handcrafted wursts, you can find a large variety of authentic German food at a German deli in the Bay Area. Some delis also offer original German beer served in traditional half or full-liter glasses.
Local German delis and restaurants in San Francisco encourage people to socialize, which is why you will rarely find a TV set at any location. For Oktoberfest, you can pick up an assortment of festive treats to celebrate the holidays with loved ones.
If you are ready to eat some amazing German food, we recommend visiting the following German delis. Aside from the amazing customer service, you will be able to enjoy new German dishes and try traditional German delicacies here.
Here Are Some of the Best German Delis in the Bay Area
8. New World Market
The New World Market is one of the best places to visit in San Francisco if you want high-quality European food. The deli offers patrons European comfort food with recipes inspired by European grandmothers.
You can find all kinds of German deli meat, smoked meat, bread, and even alcohol here. The German triangle, sunflower seed bread, cocoa halva, slab bacon, and the German bread, Vollkornbrot, are the most popular food items at New World Market.
Aside from the tasty and fresh bread selection, you can choose from a range of cheese, preserved meats, brined fish, beer, wine, spirits, and chocolates. If you have an insatiable sweet tooth, we recommend visiting the checkout counter since you can easily indulge in four to five sweet treats made fresh at the location.
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7. Café Europa
Café Europa is another location in San Francisco that provides customers with European comfort food. At Café Europa, you can find German dishes and other European dishes, including schnitzel, homemade sausages, goulash, and so much more.
Café Europa was founded in 2012 and has been serving patrons successfully for almost ten years. It is one of the newer European establishments in Europe, but the chef and staff have years of experience preparing authentic European food. Even if you haven’t tried German or European food before, the taste of the dishes from Café Europa will make you crave more.
The pork schnitzel at Café Europa is prepared in a classic German style with gravy and potatoes that elevate the flavor of the meat. The Borscht is also another great dish you can try if you want to eat something new. The beef goulash and potato dumplings are prepared with utmost attention to care which makes them taste heavenly. The beef in the goulash is soft, while the potato dumplings are wonderfully hearty.
6. Lehr’s German Specialties
Lehr’s German Specialties is a great store in San Francisco where you can buy authentic German goodies. Whether you’re looking for different types of wursts or imported German products, you can choose your favorite ingredients and make a fantastic sandwich at home.
Frankfurters, teewurst, and knockwurst are excellent examples of German fare from Lehr’s German Specialties. German mustard is also a popular product, which is an amazing pairing for many German dishes. If you have a sweet tooth, you can pick out your favorite candy, high-quality chocolates, or scrumptious cakes from the deli.
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5. Gourmand European Deli
If you want to make a quick stop for yummy German deli meats, we recommend going to the Gourmand European Deli. The Gourmand European deli is a small, quaint shop where you can find several German cold cuts. The German fare at this deli is not extensive; however, the owner offers fresh German pickles and sauerkraut to customers, which they can sample and take home with them.
4. Leopold’s
The wiener schnitzel at Leopold’s is one of the best dishes you can try at the German eatery. It specializes in classic German fare, and you can try a variety of German beers at the location. The ambiance of the eatery and the friendly staff are more reasons to visit Leopold’s on the weekends with loved ones.
Moreover, the beef ribs are super juicy and are prepared with a secret recipe. The staff is secretive about the preparation method for each dish since every recipe has been designed to appeal to all customers and inspired by original German dishes.
Delicious pretzels with German mustard is another great combo you can try if you don’t want to indulge in something heavy.
3. Walzwerk
Although modern twists on classic German food can taste amazing, nothing beats traditional German dishes made with treasured family recipes. Walzwerk serves some of the best German food in San Francisco that carries a traditional taste that is rarely available in America.
The Chicken Liver Pate from Walzwerk tastes divine, especially when you order Jaeger Schnitzel with it. If you have German friends, try visiting the location with them, and they’ll tell you how each Walzwerk dish has an authentic German flavor.
The Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) and their beef roulade are customer-favorite dishes that have been well-reviewed by Germans and local Americans.
2. Biergarten
Biergarten is another amazing German eatery in San Francisco, CA, located in the Hayes Valley neighborhood. This wonderful outdoor spot serves giant pretzels, fresh bratwurst, and other mouth-watering German foods that are a step above other locations.
You can try delicious German beers in giant steins, and the bratwurst is their best German sausage that will remind you of Bavaria. Aside from that, you can also enjoy a classic German cabbage salad along with other delicacies at Biergarten.
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1. Suppenküche
Suppenküche is one of the most well-known German eateries in the Bay Area and the West Coast. At Suppenküche, you can find a welcoming atmosphere, delicious and authentic German food, and a tasty beer selection. On Sundays, Suppenküche offers patrons a quality Sunday brunch with German delicacies and great drinks.
Suppenküche was founded by Fabricius Wiest who moved to San Francisco from Germany in 1992. He established Suppenküche in 1993 in Hayes Valley, San Francisco, and has been successfully serving patrons for almost three decades.
Although Leopold is a customer-favorite German deli where you can find all types of German food, once you try Suppenküche, you’ll regret not visiting the location sooner. It can be quite busy on the weekends, but the staff is friendly and accommodating and usually ensures you can be seated quickly.
The best items you need to try from Suppenküche’s menu are their jaeger schnitzel and German beer. Remember to order the breaded kind rather than the sauteed pork loin if you’re looking for a traditional taste. You will get juicy, bacon-infused mushroom sauce with the schnitzel and spaetzle.
German Schnitzel at Leopold’s San Francisco!
Watch as we continue to search for the best Schnitzel in America! We had a great dinner at Leopold’s San Francisco and then enjoyed frozen yogurt at Loving Cup right up the street!
German Delis in San Francisco – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are some highly rated German delis in San Francisco, CA?
Some of the most highly rated German delis in San Francisco, CA, are Leopold’s, Suppenküche, Biergarten, Lehr’s German Specialties, and the New World Market.
What are people saying about German delis in San Francisco, CA?
There are a lot of different German delis, restaurants, and eateries in San Francisco. From schnitzels to frankfurters, you can enjoy a variety of wursts at these locations.
Also read about the German Delis in Chicago.
Summary
If you’re looking for high-quality German fare in San Francisco, you should try some of the best German delis in the city. You can discover a range of German foods and sweets that are unlike any other you’ll find at a regular grocery store.
Although German delis usually offer German sausages, smoked meats, cured products, and cheese, German delis in San Francisco offer a larger variety of German products, which include beer, chocolates, cakes, spirits, cooked meals, and so much more.
So if you want to indulge in tasty German and European delicacies, visit a few of the locations mentioned above. And if you are ever on the east coast, be sure to check out the best German Delis in New York.
My name is Jay and I started this website to share my love of Deli Food. I am Jewish with Italian ancestry and grandparents who emigrated to the US from Poland, Russia and Turkey. This website is my celebration of the delicious flavors of international deli culture. Please feel free to send me your suggestions and feedback through the contact form.
