You can still eat well on a keto diet in San Francisco. There are very few dedicated keto places in the city but most of the higher-rated venues serve up menus based on meat, seafood and veg, or can provide easy swaps to rice, bread and potatoes. Whether you’re after casual bowls or a traditional steak, here are some of the best places to eat keto low carb.
Kitava
Moving on from your basic taco joint is Kitava, located on Mission Street in the Mission District. This is a gluten free, paleo focused, no refined sugar, gluten free restaurant. Many items are keto or nearly so. Some options from the menu have been protein bowls, cauliflower rice, meatballs with zucchini noodles and crispy Brussels sprouts.
RT Rotisserie
RT Rotisserie (on Oak Street and Broderick Street) offers juicy rotisserie chicken and crunchy skin that comes by the half or whole. You can eat with the low-carb crowd here by ordering a side of charred cauliflower, Brussels sprouts or shredded cabbage salad and avoiding rice bowls.
House of Prime Rib
A San Francisco staple on Van Ness Avenue, House of Prime Rib features slow-roasted prime rib carved tableside. Every meal includes salad and traditional sides, so ditch the sourdough bread, Yorkshire pudding and mashed potatoes and go for the beef and salad.
Harris’ Restaurant
This Van Ness Avenue steakhouse specializes in dry-aged beef, live jazz, and traditional hospitality. The restaurant is a bit nostalgic, but keto-friendly fans of steak or lamb chop can start with a wedge salad and seasonal vegetables. Oysters and shrimp cocktails make nice low-carb opening courses.
San Ho Won
San Ho Won in the Mission has a reputation for being one of the best Korean barbecue spots in the city. You can substitute lettuce for rice when ordering charcoal-grilled meat like beef galbi. Some marinades are sweetened with sugar, so check with your server for the most mellow.
Healthyish Republic
Street in the Mission is known for having Mediterranean- and Turkish-inspired menu items for various diets, and reviewers say its keto offerings. Its Mediterranean bowls, which you can request without grains and without pita, are available with chicken or salmon.
The Bite
Bite, Mission St. near the Metreon, a casual place serving Palestinian and Mediterranean dishes with lots of GF menu items, including their popular grilled beef and chicken kebabs (kebab plate with salad instead of rice, hummus, and garlic sauce on the side with limits).
Ordering tips
At nearly any eatery, keto diners can request additional sides of vegetables or salad instead of rice, bread, fries or potatoes. You might want to ask if some of the ketchup, soy sauce, salad dressing or marinade contains sugar. Many homes and restaurants in San Francisco are accustomed to special diets.
