Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand awarded restaurants

Michelin-starred restaurant Mister Jiu's in San Francisco's Chinatown. Photo courtesy of Mister Jiu's. 

The Bay Area’s culinary scene is diverse, innovative and flavorful. Every year, many local restaurants land highly coveted spots on the Michelin Guide and Bib Gourmand lists. As a reminder, restaurants receiving a Michelin Star represent outstanding cooking, while the Bib Gourmand recognizes quality food at great value. With so many newly award-winning eateries to choose from, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites near BART. Grab your Clipper card and give your taste buds a treat. 

Use BART's Trip Planner for detailed routes and transit options.

Michelin-starred restaurants near BART

The chic interior of Birdsong. Photo courtesy of Birdsong. 

Birdsong | Civic Center/UN Plaza

Led by Chef Christopher Bleidorn, this Contemporary American Michelin-starred restaurant near BART centers around the idea that food is a conduit of values, wisdom and tradition. Bleidorn offers two tasting menus. Each exemplifies heritage cuisine and champions Bay Area produce and whole-ingredient preparations. “Discovery” is a two-hour dining experience with a streamlined menu perfect for weeknight dinners and pre-theatre dining. “Journey” is a three-hour experience that fully immerses you in Birdsong’s cuisine and service. Take BART to Civic Center/UN Plaza for a thoughtful tasting menu 0.2 miles away at 1085 Mission St.

Lazy Bear in San Francisco's Mission District. Photo courtesy of Eater San Francisco. 

Lazy Bear | 16th St Mission 

A popular restaurant rooted in San Francisco's elite dining landscape, Lazy Bear offers a modern American meal centered around nostalgia and reverence for the wild. The experience lasts about 2.5 hours and includes numerous courses of hyper-seasonal ingredients and inventive cooking techniques. 

Lazy Bear started unconventionally as an underground restaurant in 2009 in Chef David Barzelay's apartment. It then moved to an illicit warehouse with a secret location before finally arriving at its current location in the Mission District in 2014. Arguably one of the best restaurants in the city, it's no surprise Lazy Bear has two Michelin stars. Take BART to 16th St Mission for a fun fine dining experience 0.3 miles away at 3416 19th St.

Khao soy at Kin Khao. Photo courtesy of Yelp.

Kin Khao | Powell St

Find Thai cooking with northern California flair at Kin Khao inside the Parc 55 hotel. Chef Pim Techamuanvivit was born and raised in Bangkok and offers traditional options with creative interpretations of classic favorites as well as a few original dishes. Expect a full lunch and dinner menu with highlights such as five-spice duck noodle soup, caramelized pork belly and mushroom hor mok (curry mouse in-a-jar with mushrooms, coconut cream and crispy rice cakes). Take BART to Powell St for delectable bold flavors 390 feet away at 55 Cyril Magnin St.

Enjoy Chinese American dishes at Mister Jiu’s. Photo courtesy of Mister Jiu’s.

Mister Jiu’s | Montgomery St

This contemporary restaurant and bar in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown offers a unique California take on Chinese cuisine. Diners can opt for the tasting menu in the main dining room or walk in to the bar for an a la carte experience. The five-course tasting menu offers the added option of a communal banquet entrée, like roast duck, to bring in traditional aspects of family-style dining. The a la carte menu at the bar is first-come, first-served, so get there early! Take BART to Montgomery St for traditional dining with a modern spin 0.6 miles away at 28 Waverly Place. 
 

Michelin-starred restaurant, Commis, in Oakland. Photo courtesy of Commis. 

Commis | MacArthur

Chef James Syhabout serves a multi-course fine dining tasting menu at Commis. The experience lasts 2.5 to 3 hours and introduces a mix of modern and classic cooking techniques. The cuisine aims to bridge the flavors, textures and temperatures of the East and West with every course. Diners can also reserve a seat at the bar, which serves a four-course menu. Take BART to MacArthur for standout dishes in the dining room or at the bar 0.9 miles away at 3859 Piedmont Ave.

Bib Gourmand restaurants near BART

MAMA Oakland. Photo courtesy of MAMA Oakland. 

MAMA Oakland | 19th St/Oakland

Bib Gourmand restaurant MAMA Oakland was built as an homage to your old-school Italian-American grandmother. The food (like rigatoni with tomato-braised pork and beef sauce or summer squash and ricotta lasagna) is comforting and reasonably priced. The 3-course menu includes a starter, a pasta dish, and a dessert. Feeling extra hungry? Opt for an additional entrée for the table to enjoy family-style. Take BART to 19th St/Oakland for comfort food in a cozy setting 0.9 miles away at 388 Grand Ave.
 

Tacos from Tacos Oscar. Photo courtesy of Berkeleyside. 

Tacos Oscar | MacArthur

Enjoy tacos and tostadas in a courtyard of colorful shipping containers, overhead string lights and heat lamps for cold nights. Try the braised pork shoulder or vegan treats, like charred broccoli with soy-cashew cheese. This Bib Gourmand restaurant near BART is definitely worth a visit! Take BART to MacArthur for fresh Mexican food in a fun atmosphere 0.3 miles away at 420 40th St.
 

Teni East Kitchen. Photo courtesy of Postmates.

Teni East Kitchen | MacArthur

Chef/owner Tiyo Shibabaw’s Burmese food with a California spin in Temescal is affordable, cheery and flavorful. Try the Roti with curry dip, coconut veggie curry, crispy skinned salmon and so much more. Teni East Kitchen also offers an extensive drinks menu with fun cocktails like Spirited Away (Gin, Lime Juice, Palm Simple Syrup, Coriander Tincture & Rose-Lemonade). Take BART to MacArthur for one of the best Burmese restaurants in the Bay 0.5 miles away at 4015 Broadway.

Diners ar Comal. Photo courtesy of Comal. 

Comal | Downtown Berkeley

Comal is located near BART in Berkeley’s bustling Art District. The industrial-chic 1927 building features a rear patio with a full bar, a covered dining area and a beer garden with a fire pit. Executive Chef Matt Gandin’s Modern interpretations of Mexican dishes focus on Oaxaca and the neighboring coastal regions. Choose between quesadillas, enchiladas, tamales, tacos and more during your next visit to Comal. Take BART to Downtown Berkeley for dinner and drinks in a trendy atmosphere 0.1 miles away at 2020 Shattuck Ave.
 

New Dumpling in El Cerrito. Photo courtesy of MICHELIN Guide. 

New Dumpling | El Cerrito Plaza

This small dumpling restaurant is warm, welcoming and full of delicious dishes. While the tasty dumplings are the stars of the show here, there are also plenty of appetizers, side dishes and soups. This Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant near BART is definitely worth a visit. Take BART to El Cerrito Plaza for dumplings and much more 0.3 miles to 10064 San Pablo Ave. 

Dumplings at Yank Sing in San Francisco. Photo Courtesy of Eater. 

Yank Sing | Montgomery St and Embarcadero

This casual Cantonese restaurant at Rincon Center offers a huge variety of contemporary and traditional dim sum. Choose between over 100 rotating dishes from pushcarts or from a selection of noodles, sides and specials. Popular items include Shanghai Kurobuta pork dumpling and pork siu mye with hand-chopped shrimp and pork filling. Founded in 1958, Yank Sing is a third-generation family-owned restaurant. Take BART to either of their locations: at 49 Stevenson St, that's 0.1 miles from Montgomery St, or exit at Embarcadero and head 0.2 miles away to 101 Spear St.
 

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