Having just completed my most recent jam-packed and belly-expanding trip to San Francisco, I am now ready to give out the first ever Instead I Had Cake (IIHC) Awards to the Best Of San Francisco.

Best Pastry Award: Tartine Bakery (double pain au chocolat)

After coming back from a nine month stay in Paris, I have developed an acute ability to judge the difference between a decent chocolate croissant and a fantastic one. And this pain au chocolat was PHENOMENAL.

It’s ultra buttery, delicately crispy, and densely chocolatey, with dozens of flakey layers and a soft interior. It’s exactly what I would have described as the ultimate chocolate croissant experience. I took one bite from that extra buttery-crispy-caramelized end and almost started crying, it was that good.

Tartine has been written up for having the best bread, the best bread pudding, and the best bread cookbook, and while I agree that those are also bread, bread pudding, and cookbook perfection, I will be the first to say that the best thing they sell is this pain au chocolat.

Best Ice Cream Award: Bi Rite Creamery

Known and respected for their salted caramel ice cream (the only one outside of Berthillon in Paris that I truly enjoy), this creamery does ice cream right. Smooth, buttery mouthfeel; rich, intense flavors; fresh, handmade hot fudge and whipped cream, this ice cream shop has it all.

For a truly amazing experience, my favorite combination was the roasted banana with their famous salted caramel topped with hot fudge and whipped cream. That first bite of that sundae is still one of the highlights of the trip for me.

In addition to their creamery, Bi Rite also has a market where they have gathered the best of the best of everything from around the city, encouraging consumers to not only buy their products, but just to buy right 🙂

Best Toast Award: The Mill

Not sure if you’ve noticed, but there is definitely a trend toward high-end toast making. Why, you ask? Well, after you’ve had a bite of the toast from the Mill, you will suddenly understand.

Using Josey’s Bread, McClellend’s butter, and other fresh local ingredients, The Mill toasts thick cuts bread of different flavor concoctions to perfection, tops it with interesting combinations of toppings, and charges you a whopping $3.75. It sounds like a rip off ONLY until you take the first bite.

The picture may not look beautiful, but I PROMISE it was one of the most memorable bites of the trip. Apricot Fennel toast with McClellend’s local butter, brown sugar, and sea salt. It was perfect. Plus, you can get the renowned Four Barrel Coffee at the same location, so why would you ever go anywhere else?

Best Coffee Award: Ritual Coffee

This may be a controversial response since Four Barrel is universally considered to be better, but the combined atmosphere and flavor of their signature espresso pushed Ritual to the top of the pile of the many cappuccinos I drank throughout the city.

The lemony espresso combined with the perfectly executed microfoam, friendly service, and cool vibe made the entire cappuccino a pleasant, refreshing, and memorable caffeinated experience. Plus, their logo is pretty sweet, not gonna lie.

Best Burrito Award: El Farolito

It’s hard to pick a best burrito since everyone’s preference is so personal, but the most memorable burrito bite I had was from El Farolito in the Mission. Their limited menu and incredibly casual seating area may be off putting to some, but what makes this place stand out is their use of freshly sliced avocado instead of guacamole, and their all-medium-heat salsa bar.

The fragrant rice, grilltop-browned tortillas, and succulent beans send this burrito to a cut above the rest for me.

RUNNERS UP

Runner Up for Best Ice Cream: Humphry Slocombe

Originally opened as an ice cream store not-for-children, Humphry Slocombe is know mainly for their meat and alcohol ice cream flavors, for those more adventurous eaters. While Secret Breakfast (bourbon ad cornflakes) is so their most popular flavor, their butterbeer ice cream (browned butter and stout) is my new favorite ice cream flavor of all time.

Runner Up for Best Coffee (and best pastry): Equator Coffee

Their location is just across the bridge, on the way to Muir Woods for those of you wanting to escape the city for a bit. Attached to a surf shop, Equator Coffee has an extra-chill vibe whole dishing our great coffee. The bright espresso flavor paired with their crispy-creamy Croissant-Doughnut is the ultimate breakfast (a policeman’s dream, the ultimate coffee-doughnut combination).

Runner Up for Best Burrito: La Canasta

This hole-in-the-wall, only take out Mexican paradise produces the burrito to which I compare all other burritos I ever eat. It has not changed a BIT since I was born, including the people who work the register and who cool the food. The people running this Mexican haven in the Marina live and breathe their craft, and I never regret a single trip to their small-but-mighty establishment.

Flavorful rice, chicken grilled-while-you-watch, tortillas tossed on the flattop, and incredibly genuine serviceable this a must-visit.