Just visited this place...cozy and busy. Ordered a few small things and they were greats. Sammy was great with recommendations - ended with Mac"n"Cheese cheese bread, Brussels sprouts, shrimp and grits and gluten free beer to top of off! It's a decent drive from Union Sq, but I'll be going back. read more

The fried chicken was dry and somewhat bland -- a big disappointment. I'm not sure what their other entrees are like though since we haven't gone back. Service and ambience are fine. read more

I can't say enough about how much I wish we had dedicated gluten-free restaurants in DC. Firefly is fantastic in that everything is gluten-free including the beers. Even better is that even if you are not gluten free you will love the food. Everything was very tasty. I had the beef brisket, my daughter had the moqueca and my son-in-law had the fried chicken. The service was good and the ambiance was great. My daughter is is also gluten free and lives in SF claims this is her favorite restaurant. I can see why. read more

Firefly Restaurant - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

such a cute place wit a good amount of vegan options! started off with the garlic butter parm brussel sprouts and the sweet potato! both were sooo yum (even better when combined lol). for the mains, I got the eggplant thing which was ... interesting. the eggplant itself was crispy and crunchy but the soup/wtew it was on was ... not my fav lol. interesting flavors kinda reminded me of goulash! wish it was a little more seasoned and hot, but overall pretty good experience and i would go again! also the sweetest and friendliest server helped us and 10/10 for service and ambiance! read more

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LOVE this place!!!! Vegan options are on point - so much flavor, and great mix of textures. Also, everything is gluten free so I didn't have a stomachache after. We got the watermelon and tomato salad (seasonal and to die for), griddled daikon radish cakes (definitely going back for these), sweet potato tostones, sweet potato poblano kugel, and sticky banana cake with rum butterscotch sauce and ginger ice cream. The kugel needed more acid - so I added lime and dipped it in the daikon radish cake sauce - that was perfect. I want to try the eggplant entre and brussel sprouts next time. They also had great non-alcoholic drinks which made me super happy bc I can't have alcohol anymore - the sparkling rose hit the spot! We ate at the bar and enjoyed talking with the bartender, Gabby - she's awesome and made good recommendations :) Can't wait to go back! read more

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I had a great experience at Firefly in late March of 2026. Pros - Japanese sweet potato's were to die for (genuinely the best potato I've ever eaten) - waiter / servers were great - generous portion sizes - good ambiance Cons - had to wait for a table despite having a reservation I will definitely be returning and would recommend it to anyone. read more

Really great dinner here. Ambiance was nice and cozy. Menu options for vegetarians and gluten-free were plentiful. We got very generous portions for a pretty reasonable price and the food was delicious. read more

Love this restaurant, and very accommodating of vegans. I think my favorite was the radish cakes. Server was extremely friendly. Please add more vegan dessert options! read more

Came with a group of 5. You can feel that farm to table concept with the long tables, cozy decor plus great vibe for meeting with friends. The menu had good vegetarian options. There were a few meat/fish options as well but nothing gravitating me to that direction. The vegetarian options looked more appealing. Griddled daikon radish cakes with mushroom and scallion stir-fry... loved it! Loved the texture ! Sweet potato-poblano kugel with black bean chili, crispy shrooms, chayote, pepita-cilantro salsa and cashew crema... it was good, flavorful... the mushrooms elevated it. I'm a carnivore but would definitely come back to try some of the other vegetarian options. Good service, excellent vegetarian options make this a pretty solid option when trying to accommodate food preferences. read more

Firefly Restaurant - Daikon Radish Cakes - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Went here for dinner with some friends and overall had a good experience. The service was great and the restaurant is cozy and has a unique style, and I'd say the food also had a unique style to it. We started off with the Firefly seed loaf with yummy spread, which was honestly delicious, but I felt it was a bit overpriced. We then had the Coconut curried summer squash and crimson lentil soup with plum chutney. This was a pretty basic lentil soup, but would pass on it and try something else next time. We also had the Japanese sweet potato tostones with citrus gjnger glaze. This was by far my favorite thing I had here and can't recommend it enough. The potatos were cooked perfectly and the flavors were out of this world. Sooo good! For the main I had the Furikake crusted ocean trout with cool tahini-miso rice noodle salad, garlicky baby bok choy and chili crisp. This was really good and full of unique flavors. Would definitely recommend. Overall a nice option if you're looking for a new, unique place to dine. read more

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I've been dining here for years, though infrequently. I had to stop eating gluten in 2008, and Firefky has consistently provided a delightfully inclusive dining experience. It is such a relief to not have to stress about cross-contamination or folks not being educated about what is safe and what isn't. I've always loved the fried chicken, though on my most recently visit thoroughly enjoyed the moqueca, especially with the paired hot sauce. My friend and I also left no crumbs with the radish cakes and English pea pancakes. As someone who doesn't imbibe alcohol, I also appreciate their myriad non-alcoholic options. The outdoor dining area was a bit windy, even with the heat lamps; apparently we could have asked for blankets, which we only realized after other patrons had left, revealing the provided blankets. I'm still grateful for the option so I can unmask, as there were several small children in the main dining room, which presents more of a health risk than I'm comfortable taking. read more

Firefly Restaurant - Spring 2025 menu - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing... there are very few real #Gluten-free restaurants that are seriously gluten free in San Francisco The food here will be appealing to all, loved my first fried chicken in years read more

I want to give this place a 5 but they fell short in one regard - we made a reservation well in advance and still had to wait 25 mins for our table. The kitchen was appropriately timed for apps but too slow for entrees. Our overall turn took about 2.5 hours. With that, food was excellent! I got the Moqueca Baiana, which was something new/unique I've never tried. Delicious, especially paired with salsa which our runner recommended. My party also got the fried chicken, the quinoa stuffed squash, and Furikake trout. All of it was delicious - everyone loved it! I also didn't mention all of this is gluten free. Our apps were sooo good. We got baked mac n cheese, the cheese buns, and sweet potato tostones. Baked Mac had a great crunch, cheese buns had such a good seasoning on the outside and were incredibly fluffy and tostones were fried with perfect texture. We also got dessert which I failed to take a photo of. Lots of good GF options!! Loved the key lime pie. Loved the brownie paired with Frosted Flakes and ice cream! Our server was really good, he was friendly, had good recommendations, and knowledgeable. The price here is what I would expect for quality and service. No issues there! Again, love the menu and service here. However the kitchen was just too slow. I would try it again because enjoyed the menu. read more

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One of the best restaurants in SF, but... The fried chicken is cooked beautifully, but a little bland for folks used to more seasoning. Batter is crisp and not oily at all and the chicken they use is excellent. Anything vegetarian/vegan is amazing! Salads and sides were great, but the highlight of my most recent meal there was the olive oil cake and the banana sticky cake. Both were delicious, but the latter had some interesting and new (to me) flavor combinations. read more

Crazy good! I really don't like driving into the city and was really hesitant to try Firefly. My friend took me here for a belated birthday dinner and wow. First off, it's upper noe so easier to park and not hectic at all. We made an early reservation on a Saturday and got seated quickly. It was a relaxed atmosphere - be sure to allow plenty of time for your meal. We shared the coconut curried summer squash and crimson lentil soup and we both agreed that this was our favorite dish and would come back just for that. We were surprised that they served it in two bowls for us to each have our own. We had this with the Sweet corn pancakes with chili mayo. For our main course we each got the fried chicken - my friend's least favorite was the horseradish slaw (she doesn't like onions and there were a few big pieces that were pretty potent). The chicken is a drum and thigh, I really liked the mashed potatoes and gravy. We both enjoyed the gluten free cornbread too. I had the lemonade and it was nice and fresh. We couldn't resist dessert and each had the sticky banana cake (we should have shared one!), along with cups of decaf coffee. We agreed that we will come back and have more lentil soup and some salad. Made this celiac girl very happy! read more

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In town for work, and chose to meet here for dinner with a friend. It's nots a big place, but it's cozy. The service was great; waiter was attentive and knowledgeable, and answered questions we had about the menu. Cheesy buns were to die for. If I were traveling I would totally have gotten some to go for my husband. All the food was good, overall. The smore dessert was pretty tasty. read more

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Food was great, lots of veggies packed with flavor everything felt intentional and delicious! The service was great and the ambience in the outdoor seating was nice. There were heaters we were given ample space between the other tables and overall it was just a great dining experience. read more

Firefly is a real gem in Noe. They're happy to accommodate your dog in the park let and the last time we went, made a special accommodation to add our newborn and stroller. Service is always above and beyond, the staff are really friendly and know their way around the menu to provide recommendations on all the excellent food that is on offer. Guests can turn the outdoor heaters on and off so you can toggle to your comfort. I can't yet speak to the ambience inside but it always looks cozy when I walk through. The food is the real highlight. It's a constantly rotating seasonal creative delight. Most recently, we had cheesy buns which seemed a take on pão de queijo (how can you go wrong), roast eggplant that was just smokey enough and a real crowd pleaser, provençal lamb stew that was hearty and rich, fresh baby greens for health with some blue cheese to balance it out and a very tasty panko breaded trout. The sticky banana cake and brownie for dessert were ultra decadent, just how I like my treats. The wine offerings are plentiful and there's something for everyone from classic Willamette Valley Pinot and Chianti to fresh, interesting and natural offerings, they'll have you sorted. read more

Never disappointing, it's hard to get past the starters. Creative spreads on crusty or gooey bread. The fried chicken is not to be missed and the trout is light and flavorful. Meatloaf reminds me of mom 's. Such accommodating servers. Thoughtful, pleasant, available but not hovering. We adore this place for its fresh food, innovative take on old favorites and moderately priced wine list. read more

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Firefly is our family's favorite spot in Noe Valley! Their seasonal menu is always rotating with tried and true favorites like the lamb and fried chicken remaining the same. It's a cozy ambiance and the staff are always friendly! Will keep coming back! read more

Firefly Restaurant - Lamb - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One of the best dining meals I've had in SF in 2025. Food was delicious and service exquisite. Highly recommend

Great outdoor seating and service- heat lamps work well and you can control from your table! Food was plentiful and delicious. Started with the cheesy rolls, daikon cakes and chicken livers- so tasty! Mains were the special brisket dish and the Mac and cheese. Fantastic. Our doggo received his own blanket and handmade treats and enjoyed his welcome and attention. A lovely evening out! I can see bringing visitors here as well for a comfortable neighborhood meal. read more

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This place was great! The salad were really A+. We had one with kale and a miso dressing and another that had lots of blue cheese. I'm both cases the flavors and textures were spot on. The serving size was large-- enough to share or you could do solo as a main course For our mains we had a vegetarian bouliabase and I thought it was very clever that they made something so flavorful. Two in our party had meatloaf and it was good with ok polenta. Finally one had fried chicken with gluten free cornbread. The chicken was of and cornbread too dry However, even though there were some misses overall flavors and textures were thoughtful and good and now I know the best types of dishes to order here. If you are vegetarian or vegan or gluten free diner, this place is a must visit. But if you have no allergies it's still great! Bathroom: grade A! Single serve non gendered. Clean. Cute decor. Music. Feminine products gratis Service was very attentive. Thank you. read more

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Everything was so delicious! My hopes were high and yet they were exceeded. I can't eat gluten so I was very happy to hear from our waiter that the only thing that isn't gluten free at the establishment is the biscuits. I'm a little bummed about that part as I'm a huge biscuit fan but the cornbread was still delicious despite the fact that I'm not typically a cornbread person. The macaroni and cheese was fantastically paired with a Serrano salsa and I really hope they never change that cause it was a perfect combination. The staff were very friendly and the ambience was great. We sat in the outdoor patio and it was perfectly heated with their outdoor heaters so I felt pretty cozy even on a particularly cold November night. Can't wait to be back! read more

PARKING AND SERVICE we made reservations-- this is necessary. Parking is street parking, there was plenty as it's in sort of a residential neighborhood, but was a bit tricky as we were in a minivan. Would recommend using a smaller car and bringing a fiend that can parallel park. The servers were very pleasant-- they left water refill jugs on the table and checked on us frequently. However, I didn't like that they kept leaning over my service dog. They should have approached the table at another angle rather than stepping over him. This caused an incident where a server dropped a sharp knife by accident and it almost speared my SD who was directly underneath them. It's also not accessible. I suppose a person with a wheelchair could dine in the initial room, but the main dining room is up a pair of short steps. The bathroom door opens inward meaning that there isn't much space to exit if you've got an assistive device. The bathroom was nice, with free period products and separate trashes for green and recycling. FOOD The food was good. A lot of it is Jewish soul food which is great. The kale salad and the blue cheese salads were both enjoyed by all. We found the cheese buns to be fine but not out of this world, but the carmelized onion jam they came with was fantastic. Being gluten free, I appreciated the opportunity to have the same choices as everybody else. I ordered the fried chicken and asked them to replace the mashed potatoes it came with as I can't have potatoes. They gave me sautéed spinach which was an excellent choice of substitution. The dish was adequate for me personally. The other people I dined with were in love with the food they ordered so I felt like my dish in particular was an outlier. The chicken was seasoned but I wish it came with a sauce of some kind. The spinach was good but very salty. The slaw it came with was really nice, I'd have it again for sure. I liked the honey they gave me for the cornbread-- very floral. The cornbread itself was dry and crumbly. It really could have done with some bits of fresh corn to moisten it up and add much needed corn flavor to the bread itself. I also got the ginger cinnamon mocktail for $14. It was interesting and certainly gingery and a great replacement for an alcoholic drink-- same sort of flavor profile and vibe as a dry white wine. I couldn't taste the cinnamon. They brought a small dish of ice cream to celebrate our birthday, which was very kind of them. WORTH IT? SAFE FOR GF/CELIAC? I'd go back if somebody else was paying. Great place to take somebody gluten free-- not a celiac safe kitchen as some of their wares are not gf. I had a mild reaction, not bad but definitely some cross contamination. read more

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After many years visiting it's time to leave a review. This restaurant has everything going for it - neighborhoody, cozy, friendly. The menu is short and focused and there are lots of appealing choices. It's everything I usually want. Unfortunately the quality has slipped a little. Starters were great - seedy bread, tostones of sweet potatoes, a salad w stone fruit. Mains were a bit lacking. The fried chicken wasn't as crisp as I remembered. It was a little flabby. The trout entree was just kinda boring. Dessert was disappointing. Pumpkin cheesecake was tasty enough, but the portion size was laughable. Note to management: people often share desserts! There's no reason to serve a one-bite dessert and it feels lame to need two of them just so everyone has a taste. Just one beer for us, so I can't comment much on drinks. read more

A neighborhood spot that's good for dinner with friends or family. Dishes are flavorful and fresh, and service is welcoming and warm.

Indulge in a delicious creatively crafted menu of gluten free delights! Started with roasted Brussels Sprouts which were amazing as a starter. Unordered the chanterelle trout and was able to substitute out lentils for mashed potatoes which were perfect and my friend ordered meatloaf which came with polenta. The quality of preparation is unparalleled- the cook on the trout was superb. We ordered the indulgent brownie Sundae that had me drooling and the pumpkin cheesecake which was great too. Excellent service and impeccable food. Wish I could give more stars!! It's not every day I can order anything on a menu with gluten sensitivity and I can't wait to come back for the fried chicken and Mac n cheese! Highly recommend. read more

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What a neighborhood gem! Walking past the parquette and into the restaurant feels so warm and cozy. Even though we had to be seated outside, the host (Sean!) was so kind and flexible and accommodating to what we needed, especially since it was cold. The food was amazing, the lentil soup and icon were the main standouts for us, however, all of the food was so great and would come back to eat it again. Plus, everything was gluten-free friendly, which made eating with our group super easy to make sure everyone had something they liked. Definitely recommend making a reservation for inside seats since it gets cold at night, but overall was still an amazing experience. read more

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Best gluten free restaurant ever!! It has been hard trying to find places that are actually gluten free. A lot of places don't take gluten allergies seriously, so it makes it difficult. Almost everything on the menu is gluten free! They take the proper precautions to avoid cross contamination! read more

Firefly Restaurant - Sticky banana cake with rum butterscotch sauce and coconut-ginger ice cream - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I think they are creative with their meals. I personally wont be back because my meal arrived cold and half our orders came 10-15 mins after the first half. The fried chicken is inferior to other FC we've had and the trout is 'ocean' trout so more like a salmon and very little flavor. read more

A humble vegetarian's review My partner had made a reservation for my birthday and I owe a review. A real nice one that too. Truly a vegetarian's paradise. Impeccable presentation and combination of flavor across dishes . Our host was really attentive and genuinely nice. There was definitely confidence when she recommended their signature dishes. We started with the cheese buns that were paired with onion jam and a mint based dip. Moved on to the coconut curry squash and lentil soup which reminded me of the sambusa soup from Burma love but with a unique twist. I would go back here for this soup. So flavorful. Felt like a warm hug. Mains - quinoa pine but squash with so many other components to the dish. 10/10 So while I was enjoying each and everything that was brought before me I was wondering how on earth did someone think of putting together these flavors together and made it work. Magical! Truly exceptional menu and I would highly highly recommend anyone looking for a unique experience to dine here. Will go back for desserts. :) Oh and oh - great ambiance. read more

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Excellent as always - and we've been going since Firefly opened! Personable wait staff, always vegetarian options, yummy fried chicken & ocean trout. read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our first trip to Firefly. The menu is unique and most dishes were to our liking. My kale salad was light but had strong flavor largely thanks to Gorgonzola, and the Japanese Sweet Potato Tostones were unsurprisingly tasty. My partner said her Daikon Cakes weren't very flavorful but overall we were pleased. My only issue is that the price point felt high for the portions (especially Daikon Cakes and Cheesy Buns). I'm sure the sourcing for the food is excellent and requires a premium, but the food isn't quite strong enough to consistently win out over similar quality meals that are better bang for buck. In addition to the meal, the decor and lighting are very intentional and lend themselves well to a special occasion mood. read more

Firefly Restaurant - Kale Salad - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

It was my first time coming to this place for dinner. We got sat right in the middle by the bar and it was so lively! Very cute place with nice staff. 3/4 Mac and cheese - was a little bland 4/4 Sweet potatoes - very good with hot sauce 3/4 Seed loaf - not my fave 4/5 Cheesy bread - my fave starter with sauces 3/4 Fried chicken - had a thigh and a leg, service with mashed potatoes and cole slaw - could use some seasoning for both the chicken and potatoes. Maybe I'd come back. ‍ read more

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As someone with celiac this place is safe for anyone gluten free and that's great. However I'm pregnant and when I asked for a dish to be well done it was brought out nearly raw. I ate it without looking because I just figured they must have gotten this very simple request right. And it was chewy and translucent. The bugs that can come along with raw fish can cause serious and horrible things in pregnant women and refunding me doesn't really help the fear I now need to live with until I can see my doctor next. Waitstaff was nice but seemed overwhelmed. This is deeply concerning from a health safety perspective. I now have to live with anxiety and a stomach ache. read more

Firefly is a delicious meal without any pretentious nonsense. The food is prepared perfectly and presented well. I've been eating here for decades but wanted to write a request because I can't stop thinking about the tostones on their appetizer option. Good God those knocked my socks off. Obviously the fried chicken slaps and their fish option is also delicious and I'm fussy when it comes to fish. Firefly is a great spot for a celebratory meal or just a date night. Great quality food. read more

What's the best meal in San Francisco? I don't know, but I do know that the three courses I have over and over at Firefly comprise the most soul-satisfying, delicious meal I've ever had in San Francisco (and I've eaten at many many restaurants over my 20 years in SF). And each of these dishes are as humble as it gets: a chopped salad with a delicate anchovy dressing, a plate of two plump, moist pieces of the ur-text of fried chicken accompanied by humble, non-chefy mashed potatoes with gravy, pus a generous piece of cornbread so good that I think about it for days afterward, and a bit of coleslaw that's not particularly memorable yet I finish every last bit of it. And for dessert, there's an '80s-era brownie sundae that is both nostalgic and shockingly new in the quality of the crisp-toped brownie and ice cream. If you eat at Firefly, make sure to make reservations because even the small bar area fills quickly with walk-ins. And don't do what I did on my last visit and try something "new" on the very small menu. "Pedestrian" and "not much different from hospital food" were heard at my table about a fried rice ball and a plate of sadly tasteless enchiladas. Finally, you'll find a tiny ramekin of truly delicious hot sauce with your fried chicken. It's so good that I asked my server for more. She happily complied plus she told me that they sell bottles of their house-made hot sauce, I left with a bottle and I've been doling it out carefully lest I empty the bottle too quickly. Buy yourself a bottle and you'll know what I mean. read more

Loved our dinner at Firefly. We enjoyed all the different appetizers. And had the fish stew, lamb, ocean trout, and fried chicken. For dessert we had the banana cake and the olive oil and pistachio cake. Everything was delicious. Our waiter, Elijah, was great and amazingly helpful with my mom's allergies. read more

Firefly Restaurant - Moqueca Baiana (fish stew) - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This has been one of my stable/consistent neighborhood favorites for about 15 years! They have been around for about 30 years now. The entire menu is gluten free for those who need it. And menu items rotate on-off for seasonal variance with a core set of items always staying! They even do Jewish high holiday specific menues! Overall, the service is super friendly, quirky, and super accommodating. The food has always been outstanding. From the core items, two things I ALWAYS get are the Daikon radish cake (yeah, that doesn't sound good but my god, it's amazing, trust me) - the broth, mushrooms and scallions all blend to make such the perfect bite. The other thing I get is the fried chicken. Yep, you heard me correctly. It's fantastic, as is the biscuit with honey and the mashed potatoes. I will warn you, it comes with a small side of hot sauce that is tasty but hits like you ate the center of the sun. lol!!! You have been warned. Bar is beer and wine only. They do allow corkage but don't be a jerk and bring something they have on the menu and make sure it's an elevated bottle (and off a tasting to the server or bar team if it is a special bottle) - I hate when people bring a cheap bottle to avoid buying from the restaurant. Anyway, this place is always worth a stop and has never let me down in 15 years. Good food, not Michelin quality but flavors that will make you happy, and an environment that feels comfortable, homey/warm. (Plus, they have a nice outside parklet on the two days it's nice in SF) read more

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