San Fran's Sizzling Spring: Michelin Stars, AI Eats, and Pasta Dreams

Food Scene San Francisco

# San Francisco's Culinary Scene Heats Up in May 2025

San Francisco's restaurant landscape is buzzing with excitement this spring. The MICHELIN Guide just revealed its newest California additions, spotlighting Sungho in the Tenderloin, a Korean gem offering rarely seen homey dishes like gukbap with fall-off-the-bone pork and hand-cut kalguksu noodles in rich beef broth.

Not far away in Palo Alto, Chef Scott Nishiyama's Ethel's Fancy has captured attention with its rustic-elegant Californian cuisine. The restaurant, named after his mother and grandmother, showcases peak-season ingredients through creative dishes like "katsu-style" swordfish with spiced kumquats.

May brings several anticipated openings to the city. Jules will finally debut in Lower Haight mid-month, ending the long wait for Max Blachman-Gentile's leopard-spotted, seasonally influenced pizzas that have developed a following through pop-ups since 2023.

The restaurant scene reflects broader culinary trends shaping 2025. There's a growing separation between special occasion destinations and everyday spots, with the middle ground fading. Experiential dining is on the rise, exemplified by Merchant Roots, where Chef Ryan Shelton completely transforms the service, plateware, menus, and decor every three months around a new theme.

Technology continues to reshape dining experiences, with AI-powered restaurants expanding across California. Meanwhile, established favorites maintain their appeal. Violet's in Central Richmond recently underwent a revamp, weaving Latin and Peruvian influences into its Californian comfort classics while keeping signature dishes like Old Bay chips with onion dip.

SPQR on Fillmore Street remains a beloved fixture after nearly 20 years. Chef Matthew Accarrino's contemporary Northern California-Italian restaurant offers both à la carte options and a four-course menu at $99. Wednesdays and Thursdays bring a special five-course pasta tasting featuring creative offerings like squid ink ditalini with clam and mussel puttanesca.

From Michelin-worthy newcomers to tech-forward concepts and enduring classics, San Francisco's culinary landscape continues to innovate while honoring its gastronomic heritage, cementing its status as one of America's most exciting food cities..


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