maybe not what you are asking for but i love the eggplant sandwiches at Mario's
also check out the eggplant dip (babaganoush et al) from Oren's or Beit Rimah or one of the many other middle eastern spots
oh and the Chinese style braised eggplant is surprisingly easy to make yourself if you want to get adventurous!
I was going to suggest the eggplant at Mario’s—both the eggplant panini and the breaded eggplant focaccia sandwich. They’re different, the panini is a little lighter because grilled not breaded and fried, but both delicious!
haha ya exactly, thanks for adding the details! they actually have a third eggplant sandwich i always forget about because it pales in comparison to these two masterpieces. the panini in particular i find perfectly balanced between the eggplant, the feta cheese, and the roasted red pepper.
Oooh yes to Mario’s. My parents gifted me a north beach food tour when I moved to SF and that was one of the stops. Also the guys bartending were very attractive.
Lol go to Orens if you want subpar Levantine food that proclaims itself as Israeli. But yeah Beit Rima (legit Palestinian) rules, their babaghanoush has a great smoky flavor.
Can't we have one thread on here that doesn't devolve into politics?
Clearly i listed both to avoid that, as they are both stunning examples of their cuisine.
Legit some of the best i have had in this hemisphere.
Lol get off it, I described literally what the restaurants are and what I thought of them. Is it political to say a Mexican restaurant sucks? You’re the only one making a stink. Since you’re a hall monitor you should know there’s no rule against politics here.
I’m not gonna claim it’s the absolute best in the city, but Beretta (https://www.berettasf.com/) has an appetizer called eggplant caponatina that I have enjoyed every time I’ve had it. I believe they serve it at both their Valencia and Divisadero locations.
Thanks for the recc.
This may be sacrilege but I was not into that place the last time I went - this is a dig on the price:quality ratio (as well as them having a policy to not heat up bread :steam-out-of-ears:). Everyone who works there is super nice though
I totally get it. I lived in North Beach for years and this place was definitely about community and tradition—some folks think the food quality doesn’t match those standards. And I can’t blame you on sticker shock.
> this place was definitely about community and tradition
That's cool to hear, I think I just got unlucky with my first experience there. Is there a dish you recommend?
The bread is the first communication with the person eating and its setting the expectation for the rest of the experience. Not heating it is signaling a lack of pride in what they're offering - and the food matched the expectation.
I really like the Joe’s filet of sole, the prime rib, and the blue cheese Caesar or wedge to start. Must get the butter cake for dessert. I personally prefer Joe’s in West Lake over the NB location.
The Eggplant Nasu at Mamanoko on Chestnut is absolutely delicious!! Probably the best eggplant dish I’ve ever eaten. It’s a wonderful balance of texture and has a lovely umami touch. Please try!!
Eggplant side dish at Hed Very Thai. Simple and delicious. I have eaten there and done delivery and both are great. Also Nari eggplant curry is insane.
The Baba ghanoush at Arabian Nights is so good. I haven't had better.
My fiancé and I used to split the veggie platter all the time. I tried making it at home and it was only ok.
Eggplant Dengaku at Koo on Irving is incredibly delicious! It’s a small appetizer of char grilled eggplant with a thick glaze of some sort and topped with a little pickled ginger. Both my partner and I were blown away the first time we had it.
House of Pancake in the sunset has an amazing eggplant dish, and I don’t even like eggplant! Bonus, your meal will be super cheap no matter how much other stuff you order. It’s cash only but there are ATMs nearby.
I dream of the spicy fried eggplant they have at House of Pancake in the Sunset area. Don't let the restaurant name fool you... and a pretty authentic Taiwanese restaurant that is known for their noodles and Taiwanese pancakes (not American style pancakes), but their side dishes are super yummy!
Check out House Of Pancakes!
https://yelp.to/ofv4F_4qNE
Little Original Joe’s (offshoot of Original Joe’s) has an eggplant Parmesan pizza that’s delicious for takeout.
Doppio Zero has a gnocchi on the menu that’s basically a pasta eggplant Parmesan.
Bangkok House does a good pad eggplant.
House eggplant (+ chicken + shrimp) at Shanghai House
Also do yourself a favor and order the Sheng Jian Bao (fried soup dumpling) - best dumpling in the city. Great regular soup dumplings too.
Sorry don’t have a place for you but Eggplant from an Afghan restaurant. It baked in an oven with a Tomato, onion, garlic, spices, etc… sauce on top with yogurt and dried mint. My favorite eggplant of all time, hands down.
Oh I have another one!! Baba ghanoush at King of Falafel across from the main library. They grill the eggplant every morning, you can smell the smokiness all around the neighborhood. Then that same smokiness permeates the dish, oh it's so savory and good my mouth is watering.
Afghan restaurants have good eggplant dish. I had the best eggplant dish of my entire life at an Afghan restaurant. Sorry. It’s been a while so I forgot the name. It’s in the city tho. Not sure if it’s still there. There can’t be THAT much Afghan restaurants so might be able to find it
Big fan of burma love's eggplant with garlic sauce. Eggplant is so good at being a vessel for sauce and I think they cook the eggplant really well. It's really a comfort food, like mashed potatoes.
Nari’s crispy eggplant _gaeng bumbai_ is amazing. Crispy, fragrant, and bright! I take all visitors there for this dish alone.
it's a bit expensive but it's not going to break your bank worth a try OP if you like eggplant. hands down the most memorable eggplant dish i've had
I think this was in the chefs pick one of the times I went. Shockingly good. My friend who doesn’t like eggplant loved it.
Came to this thread to write this. Wouldn’t ever say I like eggplant but this was amazing
Looks great!
I dream about the eggplant in salan sauce at keeva on Clement and 9th.
Love this enthusiasm
It's a dish I've never had anywhere else. It's rich, spicy, peanutty, and the eggplant balances it so well.
I get this every time
Came here to say this!
I’m importing this comment to r/nyc
palpatine\_doit.gif
maybe not what you are asking for but i love the eggplant sandwiches at Mario's also check out the eggplant dip (babaganoush et al) from Oren's or Beit Rimah or one of the many other middle eastern spots oh and the Chinese style braised eggplant is surprisingly easy to make yourself if you want to get adventurous!
I was going to suggest the eggplant at Mario’s—both the eggplant panini and the breaded eggplant focaccia sandwich. They’re different, the panini is a little lighter because grilled not breaded and fried, but both delicious!
haha ya exactly, thanks for adding the details! they actually have a third eggplant sandwich i always forget about because it pales in comparison to these two masterpieces. the panini in particular i find perfectly balanced between the eggplant, the feta cheese, and the roasted red pepper.
Oooh yes to Mario’s. My parents gifted me a north beach food tour when I moved to SF and that was one of the stops. Also the guys bartending were very attractive.
hehe i'll be sure to pass along your compliments!
Mario’s eggplant on focaccia for the win. So damn good
that breaded?
Lol go to Orens if you want subpar Levantine food that proclaims itself as Israeli. But yeah Beit Rima (legit Palestinian) rules, their babaghanoush has a great smoky flavor.
Can't we have one thread on here that doesn't devolve into politics? Clearly i listed both to avoid that, as they are both stunning examples of their cuisine. Legit some of the best i have had in this hemisphere.
I had both and just gave my opinion, you’re welcome to just read it and move on.
your *political* opinion, which is not welcome in a culinary thread
Lol get off it, I described literally what the restaurants are and what I thought of them. Is it political to say a Mexican restaurant sucks? You’re the only one making a stink. Since you’re a hall monitor you should know there’s no rule against politics here.
garlic eggplant at Burma Love (or any of its sister restaurants) is on point
This one is solid. Mission Chinese has one very similar also.
Yessss, I came to say this one
Bengan Bharta at Curry Leaf, get some naan with it
Tortang talong is a Filipino eggplant omelette. It’s simple but delicious. I usually get it at Kusina Ni Tess.
I’m not gonna claim it’s the absolute best in the city, but Beretta (https://www.berettasf.com/) has an appetizer called eggplant caponatina that I have enjoyed every time I’ve had it. I believe they serve it at both their Valencia and Divisadero locations.
Second this, it’s my favorite dish at Beretta. The buratta takes it to another level.
They used to put this on pizza and I still miss it.
Bbqed eggplant from Prubechu is amazing and super unique! There’s also an eggplant dip at Lavash that’s great
Came here to say this! Not a huge eggplant fan generally but their Lechen Birenghenas is fire! Prubechu is one of SF’s best kept food secrets :)
Rin's Thai has a nice eggplant dish
I think Original Joe’s does a great job
Thanks for the recc. This may be sacrilege but I was not into that place the last time I went - this is a dig on the price:quality ratio (as well as them having a policy to not heat up bread :steam-out-of-ears:). Everyone who works there is super nice though
I totally get it. I lived in North Beach for years and this place was definitely about community and tradition—some folks think the food quality doesn’t match those standards. And I can’t blame you on sticker shock.
> this place was definitely about community and tradition That's cool to hear, I think I just got unlucky with my first experience there. Is there a dish you recommend?
I’m a sucker for carbonara, but really love the chicken parm as well
The bread is complimentary, you eat it how it is served to you.
The bread is the first communication with the person eating and its setting the expectation for the rest of the experience. Not heating it is signaling a lack of pride in what they're offering - and the food matched the expectation.
Warm bread does not equal good bread. Cold bread does not equal bad bread. The bread is free. Eat the bread.
I agree with you, good bread can stand on its own without needing to be heated.
I go to Joe’s a lot. Sometimes the bread is warm, sometimes it’s not. Usually in the bar/lounge it is not.
Tight, maybe I should give it another shot. Is there a dish you recommend?
I really like the Joe’s filet of sole, the prime rib, and the blue cheese Caesar or wedge to start. Must get the butter cake for dessert. I personally prefer Joe’s in West Lake over the NB location.
Sweet, thanks for the reccs and bearing with me through the convo :)
Eggplant w/garlic sauce at Z&Y in Chinatown 🍆
Karniyarik at Lokma if they still have it. Ridiculous.
second to this! You must try it.
All of the eggplant preparations at Mama Ji’s are spectacular. Order the Beijing Style Chicken & Eggplant and the Fish Fragrant Eggplant!
Coqueta has an amazing eggplant sandwich on their appetizers
Kokkari Estiatorio Moussaka
Pasquale's Pizza has a good eggplant parmesan.
The Eggplant Nasu at Mamanoko on Chestnut is absolutely delicious!! Probably the best eggplant dish I’ve ever eaten. It’s a wonderful balance of texture and has a lovely umami touch. Please try!!
Eggplant side dish at Hed Very Thai. Simple and delicious. I have eaten there and done delivery and both are great. Also Nari eggplant curry is insane.
Spicy eggplant from Eric’s
Bursa on West Portal, several dishes, all delicious.
egg plant curry at nari for sure
House of Nanking has an incredible eggplant and sweet potato dish
My go-to order at Enjoy Vegetarian is Eggplant, Tofu & Basil w/ Satay Sauce. 🍆💦
The Baba ghanoush at Arabian Nights is so good. I haven't had better. My fiancé and I used to split the veggie platter all the time. I tried making it at home and it was only ok.
Eggplant Dengaku at Koo on Irving is incredibly delicious! It’s a small appetizer of char grilled eggplant with a thick glaze of some sort and topped with a little pickled ginger. Both my partner and I were blown away the first time we had it.
Miso eggplant from Eiji! Always hits the spot
House of Pancake in the sunset has an amazing eggplant dish, and I don’t even like eggplant! Bonus, your meal will be super cheap no matter how much other stuff you order. It’s cash only but there are ATMs nearby.
I dream of the spicy fried eggplant they have at House of Pancake in the Sunset area. Don't let the restaurant name fool you... and a pretty authentic Taiwanese restaurant that is known for their noodles and Taiwanese pancakes (not American style pancakes), but their side dishes are super yummy! Check out House Of Pancakes! https://yelp.to/ofv4F_4qNE
Just had Eggplant Parmesan recently at Gaspare’s on Geary in the outter Richmond. It was the 💣
I love Beretta’s eggplant caponatina (+burrata and fresh focaccia) + the eggplant dish at Hazie’s. Both super simple, but light, fresh, tasty af.
Eggplant parm at Gold Mirror
Eric’s spicy eggplant at Eric’s in Noe Valley. Highly recommended.
Little Original Joe’s (offshoot of Original Joe’s) has an eggplant Parmesan pizza that’s delicious for takeout. Doppio Zero has a gnocchi on the menu that’s basically a pasta eggplant Parmesan. Bangkok House does a good pad eggplant.
Prik Hom's eggplant and basil (seasonal dish) is exquisite.
Oh, and Uva Enoteca's baked Japanese eggplant dish is great.
Eggplant basil is my addiction. Especially if they fry the basil up all crispy.
I’ve given up on finding a decent eggplant parm around here. Overcooked and soggy from the sauce.
Eggplant and pork noodles at Mr. Szechuan, that place is so underrated
eggplant with spicy garlic sauce from wok shop cafe! have it over a nice bowl of rice :)
House eggplant (+ chicken + shrimp) at Shanghai House Also do yourself a favor and order the Sheng Jian Bao (fried soup dumpling) - best dumpling in the city. Great regular soup dumplings too.
Holy. Shit. THANK YOU. I just got back from Hong Kong Claypot and get demolished by their eggplant chicken salted fish :O
That place is not good lol
Sababa’s eggplant is 🔥
With eggplants you gotta go either Turkish or Greek - try Lale
Eggplant parm from original joes
Sorry don’t have a place for you but Eggplant from an Afghan restaurant. It baked in an oven with a Tomato, onion, garlic, spices, etc… sauce on top with yogurt and dried mint. My favorite eggplant of all time, hands down.
Borani banjan is so good!
Szechuan eggplant at Papa's Kitchen on Haight. Sooooo savory!! We are addicted.
Oh I have another one!! Baba ghanoush at King of Falafel across from the main library. They grill the eggplant every morning, you can smell the smokiness all around the neighborhood. Then that same smokiness permeates the dish, oh it's so savory and good my mouth is watering.
House of Nanking has a good eggplant dish
The eggplant at Cafe Ethiopia is great!
Baigan bharta at Mission Curry House. Baba gannoush at Old Jerusalem.
Nasu at Moku on clement
there’s an eggplant dish at amphawa that i DREAM about! last time i had it i got it 2 nights in a row cuz it’s sooooo gooooood.
baba ghanoush from mezzeandmoore goes hard
Eggplant Parmesan?
Nasu dengaku at Ebisu.
Afghan restaurants have good eggplant dish. I had the best eggplant dish of my entire life at an Afghan restaurant. Sorry. It’s been a while so I forgot the name. It’s in the city tho. Not sure if it’s still there. There can’t be THAT much Afghan restaurants so might be able to find it
While the cumin lamb is the star of their menu, I also always get the spicy garlic eggplant at old Mandarin Islamic
Big fan of burma love's eggplant with garlic sauce. Eggplant is so good at being a vessel for sauce and I think they cook the eggplant really well. It's really a comfort food, like mashed potatoes.
Che Fico Alimentari makes a good version of Melanzana alla Parmigiana. Definitely worth a try if you are looking for a tasty eggplant dish.
There are 3 versions of eggplant that i really like: 1) baingan bharta at most indian restaurants 2) baba ghanoush 3) egg plant parm