After 20 years of ordering it, Boudin's havarti bread is apparently no longer served. I was told that you can't get it off-menu, either. It's a huge disappointment since it was a true specialty. Instead I got a Meat Lover's Pizza with hot honey and it was very good. Their sourdough dough was excellent and it was generously topped with pepperoni, sausage and red Pappadew peppers. (p.s. Would have gotten the havarti bread in addition). This location is always packed, but the line moves efficiently. There's a lot of covered seating outside, but it's still windy. read more

Very Disappointing Experience -- Definitely Won't Be Back The clam chowder was just okay, with barely any clams in it. The only thing I really enjoyed was the lobster roll. The lobster tasted very fresh, but the portion was surprisingly small for the price. What really bothered me was the 4% employee benefit surcharge added to the bill without clearly informing customers beforehand. Since when are customers expected to cover employee benefits without being told upfront? If you're going to charge an additional fee, at least be transparent about it. To make matters worse, their outdated payment system didn't even allow me to see an itemized breakdown of the charges on the credit card machine. The service was nothing special either. The server seemed more interested in taking my order quickly and getting me out of there. And the restroom situation was ridiculous. This is a large establishment, yet when I asked the staff about a restroom, I was directed to use the public restroom outside. Later, someone told me there was actually a restroom upstairs. If that's true, why wasn't I informed of that option when I asked? It was confusing and frustrating. Between the mediocre food, small portions, unexpected surcharge, indifferent service, and frustrating restroom experience, this place simply wasn't worth it for me. The fresh lobster was the one highlight, but it wasn't enough to make up for everything else. read more

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Boudin Bakery off Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco is an iconic restaurant and a must-see. They have breads baked into the shapes of crabs and other animals, sourvenirs, and food to eat. Our lunch was just ok and I feel you're coming more because it's famous than for the food quality. And you'll pay the hefty tourist charge for it too. Clam chowder in a bread bowl was decent, but the chowder itself wasn't special, and eating the sourdough bowl was, well, sour. So conceptually awesome, but not great practically speaking. The lobster roll sandwich was very good. That's probably the best item we had. The turkey sandwich was pretty sad. Very small portion. Not toasted sourdough bread. Kind of dry. I wouldn't discourage anyone from visiting though. It's a San Francisco staple. read more

Boudin - the bread animals - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My husband & I were visiting the pier and of course wanted a clam chowder bread bowl! After reviewing several places nearby, we decided on Boudin since it was close, convenient, and seemed like a quicker option. The inside was extremely busy, but it was nice to see workers coming around cleaning the tables as people were leaving. We ordered our food and found our own seats overlooking outside so we could people watch while we ate. The food took about 10 minutes to be ready. We tried the clam chowder & the French tip. Both were good but the chowder could've used a bit more salt & the portion was smaller than I would've liked. The French dip was amazing however. Great flavor especially with the garlic aioli on the bread. Overall it was a good experience but you can tell this restaurant as well as many others in the area are geared more for tourists. read more

Boudin - French Dip Deluxe - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Only had a quick visit to Boudin on our last visit, but there's so many great items to choose from. Have been many times in the past, and have always loved it. Between the sitdown restaurant, or grabbing and going, you can't go wrong! The location is in Fisherman's Wharf and the bakery offers many delicious items! Everyone that I have encountered working there has been helpful and friendly. read more

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Usually stop by for a load whenever I'm in sf, sourdough baguette is so delicious but you def need a strong jaw to bite through lol. There was a line but it moved pretty fast. Only issue is I saw their baked goods being unwrapped from plastic bags- I don't think their baked goods are fresh but their bread is great. Love the energy inside and the bread on hanging conveyor belts. read more

Boudin - Bakery rack - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

The downstairs ordering menu is not the same as the restaurant upstairs. Bistro Boudin offers for restaurant service upstairs. The restaurant is beautiful amazing view of the Bay. The service is wonderful, Brenda our server was very accommodating and was able to switch out the sauce on the pasta to support dietary restrictions. The clam chowder was thick and delicious. The bread - fresh made. You can't be there sourdough bread.! Mango jalapeño margarita was delicious!!! Definitely worked that extra cost to have a beautiful view and sit down service of the restaurant upstairs. read more

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The smell of bread drew us in. There was no way to fight it. The scent of fresh bread baking is too enticing! For breakfast I ordered a bacon and egg on sourdough English muffin. It was absolutely delicious. That English muffin was perfect. All of the ingredients were super fresh. This isn't like the smaller store bought English muffins. It wasn't bad large and packed full of scrambled eggs and bacon. Service was pretty good as well. The gal I ordered from was helpful with a few questions I had about the menu. We came back for lunch!!! I had the clam chowder in the bread bowl. Very good - though I thought it could have used some seasoning/salt. My son's bacon grilled cheese was crispy and flavorful. And my husband absolutely housed the pulled pork. I took a bite and understood why... it was delicious!!! read more

Boudin - Clam Chowder in Sourdough Bread Bowl - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is right on the wharf, prime location! The inside is pretty spacious and has nice outside patio that's pretty spacious as well. You order at one of the cashiers and pick up in further into the bakery. We got the sourdough bread bowl and clam chowder! The bread: Wow, it was really soft and fluffy, great sourdough flavor and I personally really loved the bread and ate the whole thing with ease. The soup: The clam chowder was solid, great flavor and and tender clams (not too chewy/overcooked). I do wish I had MORE chowder with the breadbowl, perhaps maybe I could ask if they would do a deeper scoop of bread out or even asking for the soup on the side and do the bread scoop myself? Or order more soup! But either way, it was delicious, would totally go back read more

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

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I love coming to this store. I am a big fan of sourdough so I love their bread, bowls. They are clam chowder bread bowls is always a classic. We came late at night so it wasn't as busy and our food came out fast. The seating is a bit random because it's inside of their store area for inside seating. I think this is just one of the big tourist spots to hit because the food is good and you get a great place to explore around. read more

Boudin - Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bread Bowl and Classic Crab Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's one of those touristy places in SF, but I really think it's something you have to do while visiting. Boudin has grown so much over the years and this is still my favorite location. It's clean, spacious, and service is fast. For me, it's a perfect stop for lunch while walking down the wharf area. Of course with how big they've gotten, there's plenty of branded merch if you're looking for some souvenirs. The cons, no on-site restrooms available if you're doing café or casual dining. They direct you outside to the not so clean public restrooms. If you park behind the building, they'll validate parking for 1 hour. For food/drinks, they have a café, fast casual open-seating, and also an upstairs restaurant dining area. We opted for the fast casual for multiple visits here. Ordering is easy in person. Staff is helpful if you're not sure what to get. Other than that, they're fine, don't expect exceptional service. We tried their clam chowder, crab chowder, beef dip and also their pizza over the course of the weekend. Price is what you'd pretty much expect around the area For two of us, I think the perfect items are to share a clam chowder and a beef dip. The chowder is creamy and has a unique flavor that we enjoy. The beef dip while simple, is delicious. The bread really absorbs the au jus so it's not dry at all. You have to get the chowder in a bread bowl. While at some point, there's only so much sourdough you can eat, it's really how you should eat chowder isn't it? We'll pass on the crab chowder in the future. The flavors just didn't hit right with us. The spiciness was off and it just wasn't our favorite dish. The pizza is good, seeing more and more places do the hot honey on pizza thing nowadays. It's good and a big portion. If there were more of us, it's a nice pizza to share. Overall, this is our favorite Boudin location to visit. read more

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Great spot! We went in the bakery and grabbed a loaf of bread to go. Snacked on it as we walked down the street. I was shocked at how delicious the bread was without anything else. Next time we will eat here because the space looked amazing. read more

Soups were a bit salty and the bread bowl was made of mainly just bread (the soup was more like sauce on top). Not a whole lot of seatings indoor - a bit chilly to sit out. You have to ask staffs for utensils and napkins. Bathroom across the parking lot. read more

Boudin - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

We got the tomato soup in a sourdough bread bowl, which was warm, comforting, and perfect with the crusty bread. I loved tearing off pieces of the bowl as the sourdough soaked up the soup. We also tried the tomato focaccia, topped generously with tomato sauce and green onions. Soft and chewy with that signature sourdough flavor -- simple but really satisfying. And honestly, the cutest part was all the sourdough bread shaped like animals ! The teddy bear and crab were almost too adorable to eat. There are so many different shapes displayed around the bakery, which makes the whole place fun to walk around. read more

Boudin - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

The service at the upstairs restaurant was great. The food we got was flavorful and filling and I love that they provide sourdough with butter at the beginning of the meal. The dungeness crab spinach and artichoke dip had good chunks of crab and the clam chowder was filling. The salmon sandwich we had also was delicious. The food is a little pricey, but to be expected for SF touristy prices. I would recommend if you want to have lots of sourdough bread. If you aren't looking for a sit-down full service meal, the cafe area downstairs is a little cheaper too. Overall, a great, satisfying meal. read more

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

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This particular Boudn is my very favorite. This location has a beautiful display of sourdough and other breads and pastries. Love the sourdough turtles, crabs and teddy bears and you can buy small ones and large ones and they have them on a pulley crank going around the Restaurant there's all kinds of food in sales items is just a really fun place to go to. As far as the food I have to say I absolutely love their pizzas their grilled cheese and of course the clam chowder in the bread bowl. This restaurant also has like a crab chowder and it's basically a walk up Window make your order and get a number and they call your name and then you take your your food and sit at a number of tables inside and there's also a corridor that's covered indoors outside of the main restaurant and a giant outdoor seating area with plexiglass walls to keep people from coming in or the wind from coming out of the birds from coming in and stealing your food. You can't beat their sourdough. It is a perfect five. My respects to the rest is pretty good. I always love coming here when I'm in the Pier 39 area. read more

Boudin - Bread bowl, chowder, and beer for the win - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Boudin Bakery Cafe, a San Francisco classic. This is a must for tourists. As a local, though, I only come here with visitors. Boudin is a must-see if you're from out of town. There's a large viewing window outside where you can see them making sourdough. They have lots of cute creations. You can also smell the sourdough going in and out. Once inside, it can be a bit chaotic. They have a restaurant upstairs with full-service as well as a self-service spot downstairs with open seating. I usually choose the latter. You can order at one of the two counters and once your number is called, take your food to go or find a spot to sit. They also have lots of merch available. Service isn't the best; they do things more efficiently. So the only thing I really get is their chowder, which is nothing special. But you must try it in the bread bowl if it's your first time. The chowder is average in taste--same stuff from their cans. Definitely needs more seasoning and depth. The bread is fine, just sourdough, it's good to dip. Overall, in terms of quantity and quality, it's a good one-and-done spot. Boudin Bakery Cafe is located off Jefferson Street in Fisherman's Wharf. They have lots of other locations throughout the state. This one is a must-see if you're in San Francisco. Lines and waits can vary, but try it once! Parking is limited, but there are lots of options for public transportation. read more

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

We wanted to go here to try their famous clam chowder in the sourdough bread bowl. The place was super crowded, hard to find where to sit. Which I wouldn't mind much if the food would have been better. Sadly it disappointed me. The bread itself was fine, but the chowder lacked in flavor, it was like drinking a white bechamel with potatoes and some pieces of clam. I was expecting something else maybe with a different soup flavor! But there being so many good places to eat in SF, I wouldn't come back. read more

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

Casual place and super crowded. There's a long line to order your food and then good luck finding a table to sit at. This place at fisherman's wharf has no restrooms. You have to sue the dirty public restroom of the wharf. The clam chowder in the bread bowl was not good at all. You can taste the flour was raw and there wasn't much clams- mostly potatoes. I also ordered a Ceasar's salad and that too was a flop. For the 2 items - I pad over $45 plus a $70 parking fee. So yah - the most expensive and nastiest clam chowder in my life. Don't waste your time. It's a tourist trap. read more

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I've been here a few times, but never left a review. I came here with a brother, his wife, & their 4 year old daughter. It was their first time eating here. We ate upstairs because it had a better view of the ocean. Considering it was crazy busy and we just walked in, we were seated in 10 mins! We all ordered our own dish and pretty much ate all of it, except the little one because they have a good portion considering it's a "kid's meal". The food was good and the service was, also. It was pretty busy because it was a holiday wknd (Labor Day). I recommend eating here if you're in town visiting! read more

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I stopped by the flagship store because I really wanted to take home a loaf of sourdough. The selection is heavenly!!!! Lots of sourdough flavors and fun shapes of bread to choose from. I bought a loaf of olive bread ($8.03) and it was so worth it. I was trying to save it to pair with a charcuterie board at home, but couldn't stop myself from ripping off pieces and eating it in the car. Perfectly briny. This store is huge. You can sit down and eat at the restaurant upstairs and also shop for goodies to take home. There's a famous glass window from the outside where you can watch the bakers make the bread. Definitely touristy but still worth the visit! I also have to give a shoutout to their tomato soup in a bread bowl. It's my favorite. read more

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This bakery, established in 1849, has become a landmark at Fisherman's Wharf. However, I really couldn't get used to the food. Sourdough Turtle: Their signature sourdough bread was rather dry and hard, with a very strong sour taste that completely overpowered the wheat flavor. Of course, perhaps that's just a characteristic of sourdough bread. The sourdough bread comes in various sizes and shapes, which is quite interesting. read more

Boudin - Sourdough Turtle - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I honestly haven't been back here since my son was a little boy, but since we're sightseeing with my fiancés sister from Florida, we had to take her to the original home of SF Sourdough!! She really enjoyed the overwhelming smell of sourdough, even though she said, "sourdough's not my favorite, but if this place is famous, I guess we could check it out." Hahaha I love the New Yorker in her shining through! Hahaha Since it was later in the evening, they were out of a lot of pastries, but we got a small round of sourdough bread to pick it and eat as we walked along the pier. Service was fairly quick, considering there was a line of 5 people a head of us. I also like how the cafe was divided between pastries/coffee side and sandwiches/soups. Since there were two lines, I think ours went faster, since the pastry line, one could only order what their eyes could see. I would like to come back here again and get more pastries and get some clam chowder in a bread bowl! Hee. read more

Boudin - Sourdough bread hee - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Yummy food amazing bread . Shears busy but people is nice . Kind of loud . Not restrooms . Thee have a patio sitting . read more

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Tourist Trap! Unfortunately today I have to write a bad review for a spot that for long was tradition for my family. This place went from a good treat when in San Francisco to a huge TOURIST TRAP! The Food has become more of an attraction and the one thing they were know for now has fallen behind. The Clam Chowder soup taste like from can the sourdough bread although made in house has now become basic. The service treat you like they're doing you a favor and in top of that they still tax you q 20% tip wish to me it's fine if your wait staff is on point. Order some ribs and along with the Clam Chowder arrived cold, asked for refills and never got them. The Ambiance is rushed and loud. Definitely not returning. read more

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This was a must when coming to the Pier, you can't resist the smell. They had an organized system to order and then wait for your food. Food is ready fairly quickly and it was delicious. read more

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We had to try the famous clam chowder at Fisherman's Warf. This was a recommendation from a fellow Elite Allstar helper I met at an event at Twohey's days before. We ordered the clam chowder bread bowl 10/10, the crab bread bowl a bit sweet for me 8/10, cheese bread 9/10, 2 lobster rolls 10/10 would be interested in the lobster being warm. LOVED EVERYTHING. We'll be back! read more

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Everyone's in there sourdough era, so coming here should have been like going to the mothership. We used to visit this location frequently, and I have fond memories of bread bowl soup that was absolutely fantastic. First, this place is huge, and packed. It's way bigger than I remember. There's a restaurant upstairs that has better seating and views. The line to order their fast casual food was very long, so long that we decided just to get bread and a coffee. The bread line was short. They pull the bread right out of baskets behind the counter. We ordered a round loaf, long loaf, and a turtle. Then you get in another line to order coffee drinks. I got a regular coffee, it's supposed to be Peet's coffee. They have delicious looking desserts but we didn't try any. Pros: we found seating. It's right by the wharf so easy to access. The not so great: The bread was.... Just okay. It's a bummer to say but it wasn't the sourdough I expected it to be. It was rubbery on the outside, and not very soft inside. The turtle was almost impossible to eat. My son could not bite into it. So sad. The coffee was also just okay- it was kind of weak. I guess it's a good thing when the sourdough you and your friends make beats Boudin. read more

Boudin - The turtle bread we got - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

When in seattle I was told the San Francisco clam chowder was better so here I am making this review. First of all I can say that the sourdough here is the real deal. Yes it might be "touristy" but when a place is good at what they do, can you blame em for being popular? I got the clam chowder in the bread bowl (mandatory) and it was solid clam chowder, I do feel like for the amount of bread it did need a bit more chowder as towards the end I was eating just bread but their sourdough is so good. Quick service, they dish out those chowders in short minutes. I loved the vibe and great for lunch. First time in SF, Boudin did their thing. Check out my video review on Instagram @benzbitesla ! read more

Boudin - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Boudin never disappoints! Consistent taste and quality every time, even at different locations (such as Disneyland)! I came with a group of friends who were all tourists and first timers to Boudin, and they were all so happy and satisfied with their meals. Everyone ordered a bread bowl with a soup (clam and crab chowder). The sourdough bread bowl was so soft and actually had that sour taste to it that some sourdoughs lack. The portion size is great for the price of $15. Despite being a busy tourist destination, the cafe is very efficient with ordering and food service. They are really on top of it! There's lots of outdoor seating and limited indoor seating. There are free water cups for diners. There is a bathroom upstairs. Definitely would consider this as a must-try when you're visiting San Francisco! It's in a prime location that's walking distance to many attractions such as Lombard St and Pier 39. Along with yummy food, they also have many other pastries, including cutely shaped sourdoughs. read more

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

We made a reservation and came specifically for the clam chowder bread bowls, only to find out they had run out of bread bowls. When one of your signature dishes is clam chowder in a bread bowl, running out of bread is ridiculous and very disappointing. And we can see that they have bread through the glass and the other room. read more

Boudin - A "bread" bowl - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

A San Francisco staple----clam chowder in a bread bowl. The best is always from Boudin Bakery. This was my first stop when I arrived at the wharf. Although the cafe was busy, the line moves fast and if you are ordering clam chowder they have an assembly line of staff pumping out your order with the quickness. It was a rainy day so clam chowder hit the spot, bread was so soft. Tear off part of the bread bowl and dunk it in the chowder. It was soooo delicious. Restaurant is super busy and noisy but not one that you are hanging out. They have tons of other items including more sandwiches but also a section for breads and pastries. Great place for a nice quick lunch. read more

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Boudin Bakery & Cafe is a true San Francisco tradition! It was founded in 1849 by Isidore Boudin, a French immigrant from a family of master bakers in Burgundy. It is San Francisco's oldest continuously operating business, 172 years and counting! They have several locations around the Bay Area, and I happen to live within walking distance of two of them. The one on 160 Jefferson Street is my favorite spot. It opened its doors in 2005, about ten years after I moved to San Francisco, and I became an instant fan! My little four-legged furry friend and I often walk along Jefferson Street! Often, we stop at this Boudin location for a hot chocolate, coffee, or a quick bite, whether it's a fresh-baked muffin or a Raspberry Almond Shortbread Bar in the morning, or their signature Clam Chowder in a sourdough bread bowl later in the day. We always walk away happy and satisfied. I am told that this is their flagship location, and I am not surprised. It is a large space that includes a cafe and bakery on the first floor and a bistro (full-service restaurant) on the second floor. read more

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If you are from out of state and love sourdough, hit up Boudin. If you are from California, skip it. My son and I ordered the turkey avocado half sandwich and with a bread bowl filled with clam chowder. He devoured his soup but the sandwich was super bland. We ended up only eating half of the half sandwich. I've had better at my local Boudin as one as their location at Disney California Adventure. If you are in this area and want to eat at a chain place, go down the block to In N Out. read more

This place is massive. Thankfully there are separate lines for bakery orders and deli orders, and the line for food moved much faster than I thought it would, so we grabbed a communal table and had a quick late lunch before we headed out to the baseball game. We ordered clam chowder in bread bowls, the crab melt, and the crab chowder in a bread bowl, and I would eat any of these again anytime. One weird thing was that when another group wanted to take half of the table that we weren't using (there were tables pushed together), the busser yelled at them for slightly separating the tables. To me it didn't seem like a big deal, but I guess it was a big deal for that guy. read more

After many visits to SF and never trying one of their famous bread bowls, we finally stopped by for lunch to try their Crab Bisque. Super rich and creamy, it was perfect with the cold weather outside. Wasn't that crowded during our visit, which I was very surprised about. We were able to order right away and got out food in about 10 minutes. One of the perks of visiting in the off-season. I can only imagine how busy they get in the summer, though. Good seating options. Good choice for some tasty chowder. read more

Boudin - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ordered through Grubhub as I know the place gets pretty packed. I'd recommend using DoorDash or ubereats instead because the prices slightly differ and it's the most expensive through Grubhub...there's also more salad options for the combo through the other food delivery apps. I ordered the soup and salad combo which came to 23 dollars before tax and tip. I always love their clam chowder in a bread bowl. I got the classic Caesar on the side. Super hearty soup and fresh salad. read more

Boudin - Soup and salad combo which came - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tourist must-do when visiting San Francisco. Went on a Sunday and the line was crazy long but a hack is to order at the Pete's coffee counter which has a shorter line (you can order the full Boudin menu there). Soup in the sourdough bread bowl is a classic and delicious! The place is crowded and chaotic but there is plenty of seating outside. Be patient and go for the experience. There's other smaller places that sell the clam chowder bread bowl but this is the classic one! read more

Although we missed Sunday's community event in honor of Claude's memorial [[Claude Forever: A Celebration of Life]], my family and I took the opportunity of spending our extra day off in the city. My toddler specifically requested to see and purchase a miniature version of Boudin's Claude the albino alligator loaf. Kudos to Boudin Bakery and master baker, Fernando Padilla, for taking the time to create something so beautiful, unique, and very very CLAUDE. The 8 foot long loaf took a whopping 70lbs of dough to create and even came equipped with red maraschino cherry eyes to match. The world's largest sourdough alligator couldn't have been more perfect!! Rest easy, Claude, you are absolutely missed! 5/5 stars, this drive was absolutely worth doing. read more

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The French toast made with authentic San Francisco sour dough bread was the best I've ever had. Full stop. The almond croissant we had was also the very best we've ever had. The menu for lunch and dinner looks great also, and this location has a really nice bar area upstairs. I will go so far as to say that if you don't try some of the baked treats at Boudin while visiting San Francisco, I have to question whether you ever actually visited San Francisco. read more