Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Daly City

175 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Original Joe's Westlake restaurant

1. Original Joe's Westlake

4.8

Exceptional(4830)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Daly City

Booked 94 times today

After a two-year closure, Original Joe's, San Francisco’s quintessential Italian-American dining destination, revitalized iconic Daly City institution Joe’s of Westlake, and reintroduced it into the community as Original Joe’s Westlake. An anchor of Daly City from 1956 to 2014, Original Joe’s Westlake underwent an extensive two-year renovation, complete with a front-to-back interior remodel, including the kitchen and all dining spaces, and an exterior and landscaping overhaul. Following the Original Joe’s tradition, Westlake continues to prepare unpretentious, old-school Italian-American fare in an open kitchen for all to see. The menu is carefully crafted to reflect a past-meets-present hybrid of what Joe’s of Westlake used to be and what Original Joe’s Westlake is today.

2. Elena's

4.7

Exceptional(425)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Forest Hill / West Portal

Booked 69 times today

Welcome to Elena's -- a place where a family’s love for authentic Mexican food is celebrated and combined with California-inspired elements and signature Mexican-American dishes. We offer reservations for up to 8 guests via OpenTable. At the time of your reservation, we kindly request the entire party be present to be seated. Tables will be held for up to 10 minutes after the reservation time. For parties that arrive later, the table will be released but we will do our best to accommodate the reservation with the next available table. Reservation requests via phone or email are not available at this time. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you to Elena’s!

A photo of Firefly Restaurant restaurant

3. Firefly Restaurant

4.9

Exceptional(2996)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Noe Valley

Booked 20 times today

We serve food that, more often than not, accesses that part of our deepest soul where genuine expression can flow forth. We have always tried to give our food and service our best selves, as honest and vulnerable as we can muster. We strive to be a place where you might actually have a real connection; maybe with your server, maybe with your food or maybe with your possibly gracious host who is ACTUALLY glad you’re there. Oh, you wanted a restaurant description? Sorry. Can’t really help you there. We’re not so big on labels. Our food is hard to nail down as we are constantly evolving and entirely seasonal and personal. We’ve used “Food you eat” as a tag line on occasion and that remains accurate. We could also describe it as “Food we really want you to eat”. When you’re here, tell us what you would call it.

4. Ofena

4.8

Exceptional(36)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Parkside

Booked 12 times today

“Cooking, for me, is storytelling.” —Tim Humphrey, executive chef. Finalist in both “Best Italian” & “Best New Restaurant” in SFGate’s Best of the Bay. Nestled in the heart of San Francisco’s Lakeside District, Ofena draws inspiration from family roots in the quaint sheep-herding village of the same name in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Chef Tim Humphrey proudly presents his ode to Italian cuisine in the form of an expertly crafted menu showcasing the bounty of California and emphasizing the flavors of Italy. Ofena takes modern Italian cuisine to the next level with a fresh, ingredient driven menu. Enjoy inventive craft cocktails in our fully stocked bar and satiate your pasta craving in our warm and intimate space. Located in the old Lakeside Cafe, we aim to continue the tradition of bringing the neighborhood together to be welcomed the Italian way - as family! Come be apart of the story at Ofena! Buon Appetito!

5. La Ciccia

4.6

Exceptional(2710)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Noe Valley

Booked 24 times today

We are currently open for both Indoor and Outdoor dining. - San Francisco can get very chilly at night. Please do not forget your jacket.La Ciccia is a cozy and intimate restaurant located on the edge of Noe Valley. The chef is committed to use the freshest and the most authentic ingredients from Sardinia resulting in pungent, lively, flavorful food. The all Italian wine list, 150 labels selection represent every Region with more than a quarter devote to Sardinia in order to pair the traditional earthy flavors as well seafood influence of Sardinia cuisine. La Ciccia is a tribute to Sardinia an experience not to be missed.

6. NOVY

4.7

Exceptional(693)

Price: Moderate

• Greek • Noe Valley

Booked 12 times today

We do our best to make as many tables available for reservations, but we also keep some seats in our bar area available for walk-ins SO if you don't see a table available, please call in and we will do our best to save you a spot! NOVY is a Greek restaurant in the San Francisco Noe Valley district. We are a family-run and woman-owned Greek restaurant. NOVY is our nickname for Noe Valley. We are a neighborhood restaurant serving Greek food alongside fresh California favorites. All of our beer and wine is on tap to do our part in eliminating waste. NOVY strives to provide a personal and delicious dining experience in a polished setting.

7. Bistro Ember

4.6

Exceptional(220)

Price: Moderate

• Fusion / Eclectic • Noe Valley

Booked 12 times today

Bistro Ember in Noe Valley, San Francisco, is a beloved neighborhood gem. Reviewers frequently describe it as a 'gem of a neighborhood eatery' with 'greater ambitions', praising the delicious, beautifully presented food and warm, efficient service. The restaurant's unique blend of local-Californian and Mediterranean flavors, crafted with fresh, organic Bay Area ingredients, consistently impresses. Ember's cozy atmosphere and attention to detail have made it a 'standout' in the neighborhood, and a favorite among locals.

8. 3rd Cousin

4.6

Exceptional(571)

Price: Very Expensive

• Californian • Bernal Heights

Cozy, intimate and romantic...Chef Greg Lutes has created a unique, innovative dining destination in Bernal Heights. Renowned for his Uni Crème Brûlée as well as well as his global approach to Californian Cuisine. Take a journey of the senses with his tasting menu or sit back and create your own menu. Polished service and a extensive wine list make dining at 3rd Cousin an event to savor and remember.

9. Chou Chou Bistro

4.5

Awesome(2377)

Price: Moderate

• French • Forest Hill / West Portal

Booked 5 times today

ChouChou (pronounced "shoo-shoo") strives to bring the spirit of Paris to Forest Hill. The casually elegant bistro showcases rustic Old World cooking with a modern French twist, paired with a thoughtful wine list. Chef mina invites you to experience the warm personalized service that is ChouChou. Bon Appetit! All of our reservations are indoors both dinning room and patio are indoors.

10. Memento SF

4.5

Awesome(89)

Price: Expensive

• Fusion / Eclectic • Noe Valley

Booked 4 times today

Welcome to Memento SF. A New American cuisine in San Francisco’s Noe Valley. An oasis in the center of the city, where tastes and atmosphere collide in the perfect song. We feature a small, eclectic menu that hits every note to perfection. From extraordinary takes on the familiar to the truly unexpected, experience a vibrancy bursting from every dish. More than a restaurant, Memento SF is an expression of love. A celebration of local art and music tucked in a welcoming neighborhood hotspot. The perfect place for a cocktail or cozy date night, whether it’s your first meal together or your 20th anniversary. Our featured dishes include our famous Crispy Curry Chicken and our Za'atar flat bread has become a fan favorite. Try some of our low ABV cocktails and you'll be pleasantly surprised; specifically Purple Rain which has also become a top item on our menu.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

M
Michaelvip
San Francisco Bay Area •5 reviews
5.0
Dined today
Excellent customer service. Very welcoming. Food is always delicious.
More info
Original Joe's WestlakePrice: Moderate• Italian• Daly City
•
4.8
M
Michele
San Francisco Bay Area •15 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
Made reservations to celebrate a girlfriend's birthday. So appreciated that they hung a birthday sign and had a birthday card for her when we arrived. Our server, Francesca, was great. We wanted to try so many things and we were having such a hard time deciding. Francesca provided recommendations after listening to us, and we were so glad we went with her recommendations. Started with the Gnocchi Carbona - gnocchi were light and pillowy soft and that sauce was everything. Next were the Chicken Cotoletta and the Pork Bistecca - both so good and so flavorful. For dessert, we had to go with the Chocolate Tiramisu - not too sweet and a perfect ending to a great meal. We were quite full and satisfied. Service was attentive. We can't wait to return.
More info
OfenaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Parkside
•
4.8
L
Lindsay
Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
There’s still hope for cozy, warm, restaurants with fabulous food in San Francisco! The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, not in a rush to get you out. The food is mind blowing, with seasonal dishes, but keeping some favorites around for the long haul. The cheesy bread, tostones, radish cakes, and fish are all my favorite. You can’t go wrong with food and drinks here. If you’re looking for a homey place with 5 star food, Firefly is it!
More info
Firefly RestaurantPrice: Expensive• Contemporary American• Noe Valley
•
4.9
I
Ian
Denver / Colorado •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
This was the best Italian food I have had in San Francisco by a wide margin. The service and wine selection is also fantastic.
More info
La CicciaPrice: Moderate• Italian• Noe Valley
•
4.6
A
Alson
San Francisco Bay Area •4 reviews
5.0
Dined on Nov 19, 2024
Upscale Mexican food in the sunset district. Authentic taste and flavors but spice level is scaled down for clientele. Nothing very spicy. Still, food was tasty! Good ambience, excellent service. Clean throughout. This is definitely not the mission district experience, if that’s what you’re looking for. But very good authentic food in a clean, upscale pleasant environment. Not a taqueria!
More info
Elena'sPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Forest Hill / West Portal
•
4.7

Explore OpenTable

Daly City

Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Daly City

Price

Cuisine

Regions

Neighborhoods

Top Rated

Dining Options

Seating Options

Award-winning

Accessibility

175 restaurants available nearby

1. Original Joe's Westlake

2. Elena's

3. Firefly Restaurant

4. Ofena

5. La Ciccia

6. NOVY

7. Bistro Ember

8. 3rd Cousin

9. Chou Chou Bistro

10. Memento SF

See what locals rave about

Explore OpenTable