I think a lot of the reviews on this page are erroneously about the downstairs cafe, whereas Bistro Boudin is on the upstairs level of the beautiful facility in Fisherman's Wharf. Downstairs you can buy bread to go. You can eat at the casual cafe that has outdoor seating, and you can also watch the fascinating process of making the bread in the semi-automated kitchen. Upstairs is the fine dining restaurant with a great view of San Francisco Bay and a classic selection of menu items. Of course, there's the Boudin bread, which is what we all come here for, and it's complimentary. They also have a garlic cheese bread, which we tried, but I felt like the heavy coating of cheese really masked what's great about the Boudin sourdough flavor. We began with a Caesar salad, which is made in a very traditional way and was an absolutely perfect accompaniment to the bread and served with croutons made from their bread. Then we had two classic entrees: - A generous and delicious shrimp cocktail with extraordinarily fresh shrimp in a tangy cocktail sauce. - A wonderful serving of four oysters Rockefeller with just the right mixture of spinach and artichoke combining to form a creamy blanket for the perfect fresh oysters. Service was friendly, and the ambiance can't be beat. read more

Bistro Boudin - - Oysters Rockefeller - sourdough bread - shrimp cocktail - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Great vibes on a sunny day! We went to the place downstairs where you order and the can find a table outside (no direct table service). It can get busy, but we were able to find a table quickly. The food is great, the clam chowder in a bread bowl is always my go to. The bread shaped animals are a great addition, although a bit hard to actually eat. read more

Bistro Boudin - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

The clam chowder bowl is always what you expect. Extremely tasty good chunks of clam and of course the amazing sourdough bowl. You can't go wrong. Coffee nothing to write home about. The service was right down the middle. Nothing great nothing bad. We basically took your order and you waited for it. One tough thing and I'm not sure if they do this for speed of service, but it doesn't really seem to help as you can't order your coffee at the same place you order your food. At least when we were there you couldn't. There were two completely different lines both long. Restaurants pretty unique looking upstairs and lower. Fun place to visit. read more

See all

Everything was amazing. The best food i had in California during my 7 day stay. My waiter was the epitome of what one should be. He didn't interrupt conversation he didn't let a glass go empty , honestly the best service I've had in years. I wish I got his name :/ . We sat inside by the window that looked out on the pier. It was sunset . I'm not usually one for dessert but that crème brûlée was absolutely delicious. They make the cheesy garlic bread with their famous sourdough it was perfect. The short ribs were tender and flavorful . After dinner I went downstairs to the bakery and purchased a round of sourdough it was so good . read more

See all

How can you visit San Francisco without a stop at Boudin's for their sourdough? The food was great as expected. The bistro is located upstairs with a great view overlooking Fisherman's Wharf. While the service was friendly, it was a bit slow. Prices are what you would expect in a heavy tourist location right on Fisherman's Wharf. read more

Bistro Boudin - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

After our red and white ride we stopped here for lunch. The upper floor ambiance is nice. There's plenty of booth and table seating looking out the bay. There's a bar with a long list of drinks. Service was great. We were sat right away and our waiters was pleasant came often to check and was patient as we decided what to order. We started with the crab artichoke spinach dip was amazingly delicious along with toasted herb bread. My son ordered the clam chowder. I had the crab cake sandwich (no lemongrass mayonnaise). She also brought sourdough bread and butter which was delish. Next to it is a small museum with history. Can see the making of the bread too. Building is two floors. The first floor consists of their bakery and coffee shop. Second floor is the bistro and museum. read more

Bistro Boudin - Vale orine decor at entrance of small museum - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

A nice experience. We knew we had to get some good sourdough while in SF and though I hate a tourist trap more than anything Bistro Boudin kept coming up as the spot to get the best bread. Upon coming in we were quickly seated and our orders taken by a very friendly waitress. Though she was a bit overwhelmed at the beginning of our seating she provided IMPECCABLE service throughout our dining. We had the goat cheese appetizer which was very good and I would highly recommend. I had the cioppino as my main which while good was a bit bland. Others in my party had clam chowder in bread bowls and felt the same about their soups. Ambiance is actually quite nice here, the views of the pier are lovely and the place is well decorated. Overall if you need a decent meal and some good sourdough definitely pop into Boudin Bistro but do not expect amazing quality food. read more

Bistro Boudin - Cioppino - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

As we landed and got our car, we were headed up to Napa but wanted to get something to eat with all of our luggage in the rental car. My bf remembered of this location that has parking right at the front and is nice. If you park right there, they do offer parking validation for 2 hrs and a discounted rate for extra time! At first he wanted to eat in the downstairs area but I was more interested in the upstairs menu. We did a walk in and there were tables still available. As you walk upstairs, you can see where they are making the bread, it is nice! Once upstairs, the ambiance is more upscale feeling with a very nice bar and regular restaurant seating are. We were here in the fall so they had a spread display of their sourdough bread. The host was really nice and gave us a table right by the window with a great view (which included four car). I didn't take a picture but the bread and butter to share was delicious with their staple sourdough. We ordered local beers that they offered on tap that hit the spot after our flight. We just wanted something to eat before headed to napa so we decided to share a spinach crab dip and sourdough flatbread. The dip was delicious and highly recommended! It was very tasty and fresh, but we did use more bread than the provided one. The pizza dough was unique with the sourdough and for sure a must try! We could not leave without dessert so we got the sourdough upside down pudding bread and it was delicious! Overall, this might be seen as a tourist trap with a large store on the bottom floor for souvenirs and bread, but they have really good food and an upscale feel on the upstairs restaurant. read more

See all

On our trip to San Francisco, this was a must try for my girlfriend and I. This place is huge and it's so beautiful. There's two stories, plenty of decorations and little details, and amazing holiday decorations. There was even a Santa Claus at times. I bought an olive bread sourdough loaf (which was super good), and a clam Traditional Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl (also very good). Plenty of seating and plenty of options like high top seating, booths, or chairs, indoor and outdoor. Definitely a must try for tourists or locals. No parking lot though so plan accordingly. The service was also quick and easy although there was quite a long line. read more

See all

My friend told me about this spot, and I never knew it existed before this. I love that there is a parking lot right behind and you can get your ticket validated, super convenient. It's not fancy at all, but it's a decent sit down restaurant. The girl in the front was pretty rude like she didn't like her job. We were a bit late for our reservation, assuming there was a grace period we showed up, and they canceled it before the 15 minutes. We ended up waiting about 20 minutes, so we got a drink at the bar. The bread and butter was delicious, of course. We got 2 orders of rockefeller oysters and a crab spinach artichoke dip for the table. The rockefeller oysters were a bit bland for my liking, but the dip was excellent. I got the ribeye and my two friends got the filet. Everything was delicious and I will be back. read more

See all

we had a lovely time celebrating my parent's anniversary at bistro boudin! we had excellent service all throughout our dining experience. the food did seem to take a while and it didn't seem like a particularly busy evening! however, the food tasted great when it did arrive. kids were thrilled about their food, and we all agreed everything tasted great. read more

See all

Clam chowder bowl, $16 after tax, had four pieces of clam in it. I'm going to try not to come back here ever again.

I was so excited to have the clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl. Bistro Boudin did not disappoint. The restaurant is in the perfect location for anyone exploring San Francisco. Parking in front of the restaurant is slightly pricey, but worth it for the convenience. The restaurant itself is on the second floor. I would definitely recommend outdoor seating for the view. The service was excellent. The staff was attentive and friendly, checking in with us often. I ordered the Traditional Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl and Fried Calimari, and both were delicious. The chowder was creamy and served at perfect temperature. The sourdough bowl added a perfect touch. We also ordered a dessert. I don't recall the name of it but it was a bit too chocolatey for me. I tried a Paloma, which wasn't really to my taste, but that was just a personal preference. I looked up the history of Boudin while waiting for my food. I love their story, and it added so much to the overall experience. read more

See all

Service was beyond great! Food was amazing! Nice mellow ambiance, super cozy. Our server (Cricelda) was very attentive and so was the manager (Magaly). Great experience! Will be coming back. read more

Bistro Boudin - SEAFOOD LINGUINE - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I absolutely loved this restaurant. I hope to come back to this location soon. Some of the e items that I ordered were: Clam chowder - This was so delicious. I would have been so happy just to order a big bowl of this. I would recommend this 100% Chicken Milanese - This was very good as well. Very thin chicken with delicious breading and fried to perfections Mango jalapeño margarita - I love a good margarita and love even more a spice fruity one so this cocktail was amazing I plan on coming here agin when I come to visit again. read more

This place is poppin' during the summer. We heard tons of Europeans swarming pier 39 trying to get their hands on a cup of clam chowder. We walked into Boudin (a very touristy move) looking specifically for those breaded animals. It's like topiary but for bakers. They made turtles from their sourdough bread, teddy bears, and the most notable one, an alligator. Our kids were impressed to say least and it was a perfect summer treat almost like winning a prize at a carnival. The greeter at the door was helpful, holding the door for our monstrous stroller to allow us entrance. He told us to come in the morning before all the animals (made from bread) are sold out. I would also check out their baked goods- their display rivaled tartine's! read more

Bistro Boudin - The teddy bear bread- $10 - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I ordered the French Dip sandwich and the clam chowder bowl. The dip was pretty disappointing, it was more like a warm broth than anything rich or savory, and didn't really add to the sandwich eating experience other than to soften the bread making it easier to chew. The roast beef was also just decent, tender enough but nothing memorable. The clam chowder bread bowl is a staple here, but again, just ok. The chowder was creamy but also lacked any flavor. read more

Bistro Boudin - French dip sandwich and clam chowder - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

We came for a day, walked the streets and headed to the wharf. Lo-and-behold.... The Boudin Bread Co Bistro Boudin. Our server was attentive, and the ambience of the restaurant was exactly what you would expect for the San Francisco tourist scene. The views were 10/10 as well. Had the pilsner beer on draft. Don't miss this CLASSIC food spot. read more

Bistro Boudin - CHEESY GARLIC BREAD - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

This is by far one of my favorite restaurants. Every time I go to San Francisco I have to come here. Everybody is always super friendly and excited to serve you and they know what to recommend. They definitely have the best clam chowder in all of San Francisco. I love the bread bowl comes in and their bread. There is just phenomenal. On the way out you just have to go and buy all the bread there in general. We also tried the crabcake for the first time and well it did not disappoint. The restaurant this one is so pretty inside and it has great views. This is definitely a must go to spot. read more

See all

Continuing on our food journey, we stopped by Bistro Boudin for some carbs. And carbs we had... potentially more than we anticipated, but we accept the madness we inflict upon ourselves. THE FOOD. - Boudin Sourdough Breadbowl (with Traditional Clam Chowder). It's like the bread is giving you a warm, chunky hug. Creamy soup of tender clams, potatoes, and onions. The sourdough bowl slowly absorbs the soup, creating this wonderfully soaked concoction of savory, tangy, and coziness all at once. Try it! - Sausage & Mushroom Pizza. Simple ingredients, but the cheese/sauce/toppings ratio was perfect. The crust was bubbly and airy. Recommend trying it out. - Fish & Chips. Lightly battered for that airy, crispy bite and mildly fishy. It comes with fries and coleslaw. - Bread (Complimentary). The crust is crispy with a deep golden appearance, while the interior is moist & chewy. Tangy in flavor, just like you'd expect in sourdough bread. So satisfying. THE DRUNK DRINKS. - Oyster Shooter. A shot of Bloody Mary with a shucked oyster at the bottom. The flavors are earthy and oceanic at the same time. Loved it. - Strawberry Guava Lemonade. A blend of lemon juice tartness, strawberry sweetness, and the unique (slightly tangy) aromatic flavor of guava. The result is a mellow lemonade. Incredible. Highly recommend. - Speakeasy Prohibition Red Ale. Smooth and slightly sweet up front, with a dry, crisp finish. THE VIBE. Industrial modern warehouse vibes. The restaurant is located on the second floor and is pretty expansive. You can also browse through their mini museum while waiting to be seated or after your meal. THE PARKING. There's a parking lot next to the restaurant. THE RETURN? Yep! It was a great dining experience and the food was fantastic. And... I love Boudin bread, periodt. read more

See all

Decided on a non traditional Thanksgiving dinner with the family. The menu at bistro Boudin had enough variety for the whole family. Was a busy evening at the fisherman's wharf and parking was challenging. The restaurant was very full and busy but with our reservation we were seated immediately. With the crowds it was noisy and had a hard time hearing our server. Our server was amazing and helped us with our orders as we dealt with various food allergies. The cheesy garlic bread was crunchy and very garlicky. My fish and chips were crispy and moist inside. The house made tarter sauce was just the right complement to the fish. Did not try the other dishes but the family was happy with their choices! read more

See all

We enjoyed lunch at the bakery earlier in the week, so we decided to try the bistro for dinner on Wednesday evening. There were four of us and we were seated right away. Our server greeted us quickly and drinks came out promptly, but the food took about 45 minutes to an hour to arrive. We ordered two filets, a ribeye, crab cakes, a wedge salad, and spinach and artichoke dip. Most of the food was good, but the ribeye was tough and not very enjoyable. The biggest issues came when it was time to pay. About an hour and a half after we arrived, the check came out as one combined ticket, which was fine, but it included an item that didn't belong to us. When we asked to split the check and pointed out the extra item, we were asked to write how the items should be divided. When the receipts came back, two were correct, one was missing an appetizer, and the fourth receipt was for the item that wasn't ours in the first place. A manager came over to run the cards, stepped away to fix things, and eventually realized the appetizer hadn't been included on any of the checks. The whole payment process ended up being pretty messy and time-consuming. We had also ordered dessert and had to remind the manager about it before leaving. In total, dinner took about two hours. As people who work in customer service ourselves, we understand that things get busy and mistakes happen, but the length of the meal and the multiple billing errors made the end of the experience pretty frustrating. The bakery downstairs is quick and the pastries are great, though the cashiers there weren't particularly friendly during our visit. read more

The place has not changed much. It is still a wonderful place to go to. The views are amazing. The food is still very good. Menu has not changed much. I recommend getting a reservation. It can get really crowded at times. read more

See all

We came by to finally try the clam chowder in a bread bowl and ordered at the downstairs cafe. We got the clam chowder and crab melt to share and we're happy we didn't get 2 soups as the clam chowder is good but really creamy and quite heavy. I thought the chowder itself wasn't really special but the sourdough bread bowl really carried it with such a nice crusty shell and soft fluffy bread inside. Loved dipping the bread in the chowder. The crab melt was yummy as well, I liked the pesto and celery they add to balance out the crab and cheese and overall it didn't feel like too much for a cheesy, creamy sandwich and again the bread was perfectly toasted. I grabbed one of their cute breads to go as I couldn't resist the turtle bread. There's also a restaurant upstairs that I'll have to try sometime as well. Such a cute spot at Fisherman's Wharf for lunch! read more

Bistro Boudin - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

We waited roughly 25 minutes. Before getting to our table, which is pretty normal on a Saturday. The food was good. The service was good . It's a cute place to go. read more

See all

I have heard a lot of people claim that the clam chowder here in SF is "as good as anywhere else". I can say those people have never been back east as the chowder was no doubt good but not as good as New England! The restaurant itself was super crowded. Finding a seat after you got your food from the counter was near impossible and it was very loud inside and on the patio. It was a nice visit but not a place I really need to return to read more

Bistro Boudin - Traditional Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tomato basil soup was Delicious, and I am usually not a fan of soups. Bistro burger was very fulfilling and patty was cooked Perfectly. I would recommend outside seating next to the Fire place. read more

This review is for my recent two visits: (1) I came here on Valentine's weekend and had a lovely time (4/5). We ordered the Dungeness crab sandwich + clam chowder sourdough bread bowl, and it was pretty decent. A small basket of cold sourdough bread was offered before our meal. Wish they served the bread warm because it was hard to spread butter on it, but the overall taste was fine. Service was not bad and we enjoyed the server's recommendations on food. (2) When I took my friend who's visiting SF a couple days ago, the service was subpar and frankly a bit disappointing (1/5). When the server came over to take our order, I asked if she could tell us a little about the sourdough bread (since that's what Boudin is famous for), and the server responded dismissively and told us to "just go to the museum" (there's a small boudin museum next to the dining area). I found the response to be unnecessarily rude and left a sour note on our meal. For food, the Bistro burger was too oily so I barely touched it (the fries were nicely seasoned just like last time). Angelhair pasta was a bit bland but the shrimp itself was tasty. Overall, the food was fine for a tourist spot, but I was unhappy with how the server took care of us and would be hesitant to return. read more

See all

My boyfriend really wanted to try this spot, so we stopped in around 8 PM (their posted hours said open until 10). The host let us know they were busy but said we could grab seats at the bar if we wanted. When we walked over, there was plenty of open seating, but before we could even sit down the bartender cut us off with, "I am closed." No greeting, no explanation--just that. When I mentioned the host had told us to sit at the bar, he repeated, "Nope, we're closed and so is the kitchen." Meanwhile, other guests were still being seated and food was still coming out. It may be a great spot for others, but the way we were treated was rude and confusing. Disappointing experience. read more

I hadn't been here in years and I found it very delightful. The menu is a little different from what you'll find in the cafe downstairs, with additional entrees and variety of appetizers that are best served in the full restaurant style. It's also much quieter with a slower pace so you can enjoy your break for a nice meal. The views are pretty cool with the ocean right outside the window. Unfortunately the pizza oven wasn't working during our visit, and we got lucky enough that we weren't hoping to order one this evening and I hope anyone else wanting one found something even more enjoyable to eat. We had the beef stew, which was perfectly tender. Half the carrots had a little more bite than I expected, but very delicious. I wanted the crab and corn bisque but my daughter thought tomato would be better in the bread bowl, and the bread bowl is never something I'd pass on. The nice option is they have small and large bread bowl soups to choose from. And finally, the sourdough beignets were the perfect ending to the meal. Don't expect something like New Orleans, but closer to a churro option and sooo good. Definitely give this spot a try while in fisherman's wharf. read more

See all

I love love love this place! Always giving exquisite memories! Great restaurant overall. People are amazing! Food is sublime! Great location, ambiance and history! Definitely a must try! read more

See all

Came here for the viral clam chowder in a bread bowl deal. Not really a huge chowder person so couldn't tell you if it was a good batch or not. However their bread SLAPS. read more

See all

The convenient location just a few blocks from our Kimpton Alton Fisherman's Wharf hotel we as a perfect stop for a chocolate croissant ( pan su chocolate) while enjoying the bobbing of fishing boats on the bay. Cecilia ( pictured here) was so helpful to us as we navigated the sandwich menu for or road trip: When she heard me ask about buying sourdough bread, she saved us a trip through another line- everything at one counter! Thanks, Cecilia. BOUDIN is a great stop for unique sourdough souvenirs: totes, Bread-making paraphernalia is fun. Great Ambience ad scrumptious treats. read more

See all

Looked very busy!! The ambiance was wonderful. I had to wait 20 min for a window table. It was worth it. A lovely view of San Francisco Bay accompanied my meal. The real reason I chose this restaurant was the picture outside of the sourdough bread bowl with some kind of soup in it. I am crazy for sourdough bread and they have a bakery downstairs from the restaurant where they make the bread. The baked sour dough bread smell was AMAZING! I had the meatball appetizers and the sour dough bread they served when u sit down. The huge meatballs were tender and delicious and served in a wonderful marina sauce. Plenty for a meal. This is my new favorite San Francisco restaurant. And it's conveniently located next to the bay and the cute tourist area that was walking distance from my hotel. There is also a streetcar stop in front. read more

Bistro Boudin - Don't miss this place, YUM! - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

A friend was visiting from Japan and she asked me to take her to this famous bakery that is well known even in Japan. I havent been in 9 years, since its very touristy, but i thought I would give this another try. Unfortunately the quality was much worse than i expected. At first i was surprised that the 14$ price gives so little soup in the bread bowl. Shrinkflation has indeed hit this place hard. Quality has suffered a lot as well. The soup lost its creamy texture, and it's basically just a small upgrade from drinking water. There is no small chunks of clams and very little pieces of potato, overall it leans towards bland. The sourdough isn't very tasteful either and its quite cold, like its been sitting out for quite some time. What a shame. The famous Boudin of San Francisco is now reduced to nothing more than a fast food joint. Would not recommend for any visitors or locals. read more

Bistro Boudin - Clam chowder - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great spicy chicken sandwich, cocktails, and bread, but the experience overall was disappointing. Upstairs service was extremely slow, and we were incorrectly charged for an extra bread bowl plus gratuity that came out to nearly 40% instead of 20%. Manager called it a mistake, but it was about $70 in extra charges. Also watched a recently used table get reset without replacing touched silverware/napkins, which turned me off completely. Food was good, but I won't be returning. read more

Everytime I get off a cruise ship in San Francisco I always pick an extremely disappointing place to eat. This time..we scored a home run! Went in just in the downstairs quick service area to get a bowl of Crab corn soup in a sourdough bowl, while Hub got a French dip. The food was absolutely delicious and piping hot. I took parts of my bowl and dipped it some of his au jus and it was so tasty. Hub could not stop talking about the sandwich...and I loved they had other soups besides clam chowder...that crab corn bisque was out of this world......YUM! read more

See all

This place is home to the iconic sourdough bread bowl. They have a location on Pier 39 but if you walk closer down to Fisherman's Warf you'll pass this huge Boudin. Upstairs is for sit down dining but we were too hungry and eager so we opted for the fast casual counter on the main floor. I ordered the clam chowder in a bread bowl and my friend ordered the chili. It took a second to get through the ordering line (even at 2pm on a Monday) since it seemed like a lot of tourists that didn't know what to order. However, once we placed our order it took all of 2 minutes to get our bread bowls. We had no trouble finding a spot outside on the patio and enjoyed every last bit. It was so fresh and filling. Definitely a must! read more

Bistro Boudin - Boudin Sourdough Bread Bowl - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

The lines are long but well worth the wait. Freshly made facachia with sauce and a veggie was yummy. The salted caramel brownie was very good. Outdoor and indoor seating right by the Wharf. read more

I've previously been to Boudin but decided to try out the restaurant upstairs and I was not disappointed at all. From the host to the server, they were friendly and provided great service! Everything that my table ordered was AMAZING! I highly recommend the crab, artichoke, and spinach dip, the crab cake sandwich, the salmon Veracruz, crab and corn bisque, and the angel hair pasta with shrimp. Everything was delicious! Also, there's a cool restaurant museum upstairs and you can see the bakers making sourdough bread. Boudin is a must visit when in Fisherman's Wharf! read more

Bistro Boudin - Crab and Corn Bisque - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California