Bistro Boudin Reviews

Business trip to San Francisco and this is one of my "usual" stops. It is a consistent restaurant experience with pretty good food and really good service. My server was Jorge and he did a really good job. I would recommend the empanadas, the dungeness crab, and the oysters. All really well prepared and very good.

Boudin is a landmark on SFO Fisherman's Wharf, and we stopped for breakfast sandwiches with their special bread and decided to go to their bistro as well. Great chowder and beef stew the way it should be prepared. I almost loved it more than some of these Michelin restaurants. Great and friendly service as well.

Absolutely loved our meal here last night. The bread smell as you walk in was incredible. I prebooked by phone and asked for a window seat upstairs so I could see Alcatraz and they gave us a great table by the window. The food was lovely and the bread was so fresh! 100% worth a visit whilst on the Wharf!

Fantastic food, drinks and ambience. The bar tenders super friendly, they make you feel at home. You can’t miss the clam chowder in the bread bowl, fresh shellfish and fried calamari. Everything is delicious!

Good food and good selection of food available. Great bread bowl and chowder and nice atmosphere. Worth a visit.

Amazing dinner experience. We’ve eaten at the café downstairs several times but this was our first time at the restaurant upstairs. Should have tried it sooner. Excellent cioppino and fresh seafood entrées plus excellent dessert choices. And plenty of sliced sourdough to go around.

Nice restaurant with good service and some nice dishes but go for the clam chowder in the bread bowl, it was delicious. The bakery shop sells lots of nice gifts too and their signature sourdough in the shape of different animals.

The waiter included 18% tips in our bill and tried to impose that it was required. We prefer to choose how many tips we would like to give and not be charged based on the restaurant's desire to receive additional money.

We actually came here twice - once for lunch and then for our final night in SF for dinner. Both visits were incredible! For lunch we both had the ribeye steak sandwich, which after a month long honeymoon in West Coast USA, is still our favourite lunch of the entire trip! The steak was succulent and the sourdough bread was mouth-watering! And then for dinner we had French onion soup and clam chowder to start, we both had the red wine braised beef stew for our main, and for dessert we had the sourdough bread pudding and the blackberry cheesecake. This dinner was an absolute delight to eat, in fact we were both a little sad when it was finished, although there was no way we could've eaten anymore! This restaurant is a must visit!

The hostess at the Boudin Restaurant upstairs did not acknowledge our presence while asking for a table for 6. I kid you not! I've never experience anything like it. The waiter who finally saw us standing there apologized and took care of us. The hostess has ZERO training in dealing with the public. How on earth she landed that job is a mystery to me. The food is average, but their clam chowder in the bread bowl is a must have.

What a rip off. Do not go upstairs and sit at a table. Sandwich is more expensive and chowder is more expensive. Stand in line and get it downstairs, there are tables. Thought this would be good and ate there first night, worst claim chowder of our stay in SF and even the bread bowl was not as good. To many other places to go.

Had to visit here and was not disappointed. Great fish and chips which is an accolade from a Brit!! Clam Chowder in sourdough was a great size portion and glad we got to try this.

We toured Alcatraz with lunch credit for The Bistro Boudin included through Viator. The tour was amazing, but also our lunch was worth waiting for. We had the tour in the morning and the Bistro was not open yet when we got there, so we waited at a small table in their outside seating. The inside was very elegant and spacious with many windows. The hostess seated us at a nice table overlooking the bay. Our waiter was very kind and brought us a basket of fresh warm bread. I ordered the Bistro Burger which was pork, very delicious. It was nice to have the lunch credit because the prices were a little higher being right there on the San Francisco Bay. This restaurant is non smoking. They also have a bakery where you can purchase baked goods, breakfast and coffee. They do have a bar also.

Ate breakfast here three times. Fun place with great pastries and good coffee. Eating dinner at the bar upstairs was fun - lively with good people working the bar.

Bistro Boudin was a very good dining experience. We had lunch in the upstairs restaurant and the food was great. The view is lovely and the service was good. It was slso fun to watch sourdough bread being made. Highly recommend this Fisherman's Wharf eatery!

Its very nice and friendly restaurant here u can try a lot of different cosines , spacialy some small cakes too . I like it ,

The original clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. With little baskets of sourdough bread 'flying' around the ceiling, nicely decorated and designed interior and with plenty of seating, you do see that in the prices on the menu. Nevertheless, if you can spare it, it is definitely worth the money and a visit!

The order was taken at one end, we where second in line, but by the time it got to service (at the other end) there was a slight mix up.. but the food was delicious and well worth it

A good eno-gastronomic experience. We started with oysters accompanied by a Rombauer Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. And then we followed with a very tasty fish from the region that is called Grilled Blackened Halibut, which honored very well with a non-typical and very different Chardonnay from the same region of the NV of Orai Family Vineyards.

It was very crowded and a very long wait, but the visit to Boudin is worth it! We enjoyed walking thru the museum too.

Nothing special, just the staff is friendly otherwise I absolutely don't like that bread with the clams inside it was inedible, it didn't taste like anything, the pizza we ordered was very small. It's very expensive, I don't recommend it at all

My sister and I visited here for lunch and spent over $100 between lunch and gift shop items. After lunch, which was downstairs, I went to go upstairs to use the restroom. I was stopped on the stairs by the upstairs restaurant manager who told me I could not use the upstairs restroom and that I had to go out the back door to the restrooms instead. Not knowing any different, I followed his directions to discover that he had directed me outside the establishment to a public outdoor facility that was grotesquely unclean. I went back into the restaurant to complain and was ignored by the rude restaurant manager. I had to force my way past him to get to the upstairs restrooms. The single worst experience I've had in any restaurant ever.

Excellent food and beautiful view of the harbour. I highly recommend the crab and corn bisque on a bread bowl and the crab cake appetizer. The small size for the soup was perfect, and yes, I ate the bowl too!!! It’s a lovely restaurant with very pleasant staff.

We stopped in for a late lunch and decided to go upstairs for service. We sat along the windows and enjoyed a bit f a view. I had a nice draft beer from a good selection of draft beers and my wife had Bloody Mary. Then we had both had Chowder in sourdough bowl. I had the clam chowder and she had the corn and crab chowder. Both were good.

A vast array of cakes rolls sandwiches freshly made unfortunately I have no photos to show but I would definitely recommend,My roll was delicious

We took the latest ferry from Sausalito and was looking for a light bite and drink and made our way to Boudin. It appeared we got there after their dinner rush so seats were open at the bar but initial service was slow. However our bartender was extremely friendly and quickly made up for it. The baked goat cheese was a highlight and drinks were delicious.

Went for brunch after getting off the plane. Great place, food was excellent, wish we could have gone a second time

The service was very rushed... It seemed we ordered and within minutes our meal arrived. It felt like the servers wanted you to hurry up : order, eat, pay and leave. The servers only came to the table if they were bringing you something, never rounded to see how things were. The atmosphere didn’t seem relaxing or make for a special meal. The clam chowder sourdough soup is amazing! BUT I don’t think I would return here - it was a one and done for me!

We visited here several times while visiting Fisherman's Wharf and San Francisco. Everything we had off the menu was amazing and there was nothing to fault with service, cleanliness, value for money. Everything was 5 stars. This is how a restaurant should operate. Take note all of you on Pier 39. If you want a lovely meal, made with great ingredients and served by amazing staff, then Boudin is your place.

The food is very fresh. The service was organized and friendly. It was delicious and it has a good assortments of sandwiches.

I was pleased with the crab and corn bisque in the sour dough bowl. I also had the raspberry lemon drop drink that was delightful.

As always, great food, great bread, and great service! Ordered the crab biscuit and corn bread bowel. So amazing!

We ate downstairs in the casual area cafeteria style. You place your order and give your name Starbucks style then peruse the shop while you wait. Food was prepared quickly and there was a choice of soft drinks, beers and single portion wine bottles. A variety of tables, bar height, regular and large group. The place was clean and tidy with staff readily available. Food was tasty and atmosphere pleasant. Upstairs was a bar and more extensive menu which all looked very appetising. Joined to the bistro was the bread store, factory and free museum where you could watch the sourdough bread being made, learn about its history and enjoy the aroma. Conveniently located on the main road opposite Madame Tussaud’s.

The whole experiance was awesome. This was one of those SanFran icons that you can't miss. Loved the bread in the shape of bears and animals and the food and drink I had where both great.

I needed to grab a slightly later dinner after a long day of touring and sightseeing. I was told Boudin has fantastic bread and needed to eat there while in SF. The Boudin building at Fisherman's Wharf is very large and busy, and I hadn't taken a proper look around, so I followed the signs to the Bistro and went upstairs. Upstairs is table service, and what I learned after having dinner up there, was that all of the tables downstairs are for the cafe and bakery which is counter service. You can order to eat at one of the tables or to-go. In retrospect, this would have been a much better option for me. I'm sure portions were different, but my salad was $7 less expensive downstairs than what I paid upstairs. I ordered a chicken caesar salad. The salad itself looked a little wilted. The dressing came on the salad, so I'm wondering if that's what caused it. Their caesar dressing is thinner and not super creamy. I had to ask for a little extra. I will say though, that the grilled chicken on the salad was a good portion and was very moist and delicious. After taking my order, I never saw my waitress again, nor did she say that someone else was taking over. I didn't really feel like a valued customer.

Absolutely adore the bakery. Shared a bread bear and went back a few days later for another. Had the scones and cookies as well. Service was fast despite the long lines. This is a must do when visiting Fishermen’s Wharf!

We arrived in SF early evening after taking Caltrain and the trams to our hotel on Fisherman's wharf. Unfortunately the hotel reservations were mixed up, we had to get another hotel and were looking for a restaurant at around 8:30. It was mid week and we discovered that most of the restaurants in the Fisherman's wharf area close at 9pm during the weekdays so that's the first thing to consider. Maybe this is a COVID/post COVID thing but I don't ever remember restaurants closing so early in SF. Anyway we found the Bistro Boudin and even though it was late they seated us and the service was great. The menu was good with a lot of variety and our food was also excellent.

We visited thi place twice in two days. The first was for coffee and cake which was excellent and the second time we had the chowder in a bread roll. It was tastey and filling. The service was quick and efficient both time and. In fact we went back to buy a can of soup to take back.

Very spicy halibut in paper, overcooked (dry) plus two beers each for $139.68 (mandatory 20%tip for party of 10). Avoid.

Nice location good to be able to see the bread getting made. Good selection of sandwiches and soup and pizza. There's a self service area and a waiter service. Seating outside with heater's.

Was looking for a drink after walking on the piers. Service was good; can't remember the younger guy at the bar. Really friendly and helpful with ideas/places to go.

Popped in here on our last day as we had a few hours to kill before heading home and gutted we didn’t go in sooner!! The clam chowder in sour dough was demolished by the hubby and I had the best baked tomato and goats cheese starter I’ve ever had - will be attempting to make this one when I get home for sure!

I like food, I love food. I was tired and hungry when we spotted this Boudin sign. After walking across the street from the the Pier 39-43 1/2, area I wanted sourdough bread. This is the place. They have a walk in bakery with tons of bread, loaves, turtles, bears, crabs and other shapes. Scones and breakfast type muffins and a variety of cakes and snacks. They have a cafe for ordering sandwiches and other food on the street level to take outside to eat under the umbrellas or inside at tables. BUT UPSTAIRS is the prize. A fabulous menu of seafood, soups in bread bowls,pizza and a great bar with everything from interesting and fun drinks to wonderful wine. Fresh sweet crab on top of spinach and artichoke dip with broiled cheese served with roasted sourdough. So big you need to share it as an appetizer. Crab with macaroni and cheese is amazing and a huge serving. The steaks were perfectly cooked and a cheesecake for dessert finished off the best meal I have had in a long time. Had to go downstairs to the bakery to get breakfast for the next day and it was still fresh the next day. This will a stop on my list for every future trip.

It is a very good memory.I had actually brought back a can of clam soup.own exemplary quick service and excellent food.they also have pastries to fall.......

Boudin invented the sourdough bread. Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl is awesome. Many locations on San Fran, including at Fisherman's Wharf and in MACY's shopping store.

Sometimes when you are “playing tourist” in a big city you need a place to escape. Someplace with good food, AC, cold water and clean restrooms. Bistro Boudin fits that perfectly. Located in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf, the full service Bistro Boudin (2nd floor snob the cafe) is a solid option with tasty food in the area. Of course almost everything on the menu is based around their sourdough bread and that is probably why you are there! We tried a few apps and everything was delicious from the baked goat cheese to the shrimp cocktail and the delicious deserts. Is it overpriced? Yep. But it’s worth it for this nice escape and good food.

The restaurant is not bad, average tourist restaurants in San Francisco, but there is one thing that made me angry. The hotel where I'm Accommodation gave me tokens, shaped like casino chips, to get a free drink at this restaurant. There are three of us, me a friend and his son, we order food and two beers for us adults, and then we show the tokens to the waiter asking if we can use them. He promptly says no, it's not possible. Why are we asking? He says they only apply with "big diners", big dinners. We ordered three dishes including a nearly $40 salmon, so we insist that no such thing is written on the token. He says he'll talk to the manager about it. He comes back and says they can only be used if we order pasta, for example, which costs a little more than the soup we ordered. Why would we change menus just to get a free beer? I ask to speak to the manager. The waiter walks away, and shortly after comes back saying we can use them. I do not know if this inconvenience is due to the waiter, the manager or the management of the restaurant, the fact remains that this restaurant attracts hotel customers by distributing free gifts and then makes baseless excuses not to let them use them. If you don't want to give customers a beer, don't give these tokens to hotels. You made me almost feel like a bum for a beer, when I could have had dinner in a more welcoming restaurant and certainly with a nicer staff and manager. We chose this restaurant because it seemed to offer good food and a free drink, but we immediately regretted it. To avoid absolutely for the lack of hospitality

Food was good especially the bread. Fun place to visit. If you order the soup, make sure to get it in the bread bowl. The half&half meals are a good deal.

Heard great things about their sourdough so had to stop by for a meal. Was super hungry after a long day of sightseeing and having not eaten. Started with their sourdough garlic cheese bread, served with a marinara dipping sauce. For the main, linguine with meatballs. Way too much food for one person, but fantastic, especially for a restaurant in a major tourist area. Would go back.

Boudin, what’s not to like, well organised, vibrant, cafes, restaurant, variety of eating areas, great hot chocolate and pastries, fabulous sourdough chowder,. The museum is definitely worth a visit. For those that like more formal dining their is a restaurant upstairs otherwise great atmosphere downstairs. Lots of lovely cool things to buy as prezzies to...loved my experience here.

I ha the clam chowder in a sour dough bowl which was delicious and I also had the Caesar salad which was very good. You have to stand in line cafeteria style and order your food and then wait for it. You then have to find a table. There is outdoor and indoor seating. Next time I go I would try eating upstairs as the menu look much more appetizing!

This is a nice restaurant upstairs from the more causal deli and gift shop downstairs, in the same building that hosts the sourdough bakery. This was our second visit, our first for a dinner on a previous week in town on vacation, and this time for lunch. Both experiences were great. Let's start with the bread, as you get a basket of warm sourdough with whipped butter when you are seated, and it alone is worth four stars on the review. I could eat baskets of this bread, but I think they would stop bringing it out after four or five servings. But there are other excellent food options available, so curb your appetite so that you can experience more than just he bread. Our small family ordered a burger (me), and my wife and daughter split the artichoke-crab dip with a large caesar salad. All of the the food was exceptional. My burger, a tasty half-pound of well-seasoned and tasty beef, was served on toasted sourdough (what else?) and side of good fries. The ladies devoured their food, and the tastes I had confirmed their thumbs-up review. Having eaten here twice now, and ordered different entrees each time, this will be an easy decision to return on future visits to San Francisco, as we can count on amazing food, good views over the Bay, and warm, friendly service.

Had lunch there. I had one of the first reservations so the restaurant was quiet. The service was outstanding. Waitress was always there when I needed her but didn’t smother me. Food was delicious. A little pricier than other comparable dishes at other restaurants but it was delicious. Definitely would recommend

Overpriced average food. When I see "Fish and Chips" on a menu, I'm expecting fried fish filets, not 2-3 inch pieces. The coleslaw was bland and boring, however, it was also boring at another resturant, so perhaps San Francisco doesn't really know how to make good coleslaw. The salmon on the Panzanella Salmon was good. The rest of the dish was very vinegary, my mom left most of it on her plate. Boudin Bakery's sourdough bread bowls with clam chowder downstairs was far better and cheaper.

The food and service was good. However if you are not a seafood lover then options are limited. It was worth it for the experience though! If the weather allows it, ask to sit outside.

I had a delicious brie, apple and fig jam grilled sandwich and couldn't have enjoyed it more! The price was reasonable compared to other nearby restaurants. The eating area is clean, tables well separated, seats comfortable and staff helpful and friendly. i highly recommend!

Great spot for lunch. The downstairs has different options for a quick “grab n go” meal. On the second floor is a very nice dining area. The menu has some really nice options. We picked 2 of the appetizers for lunch and they were definitely large enough. I had the baked goat cheese that was beyond yummy and my husband said the empanadas were really good. What really made for a great experience was our server, Elida. She was so lovely and went above and beyond to make our visit great

Went here for lunch just after we arrived in San Francisco it was recommended to us by a fellow traveler and it was excellent I would recommend it to anyone visiting

While on a recent trip to S.F. I grabbed an Italian sandwich to-go at Bistro Boudin. I was very skeptical about the "sourdough is so much better in S.F." lore and was curious to see for myself. THE. LORE. IS. TRUE. S.F. sourdough bread is so fragrant and balanced, not at all overly tart. The sandwich itself was wonderfully made with excellently sourced, authentic Italian meats and cheeses. Bistro Boudin DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

If there's a better barmaid than the lovely Coleen then I'm a lousy judge of character. She's funny,witty,sassy, smart and typical New Jersey girl. An absolute pleasure to be there every time we walked in. If you don't visit then it's your loss. 🤣🤣🤣

Their bread is absolutely amazing. Their dungeness crab is delicious! My life really enjoyed her caesar salad and oysters. The clams were good but not as amazing as the rest of the meal. We had a great seat by the window so we could watch the sunset. Our waiter was really good as well.

Bistro Boudin continues to be a top choice in San Francisco where the food is delicious and the views are unparalled. The Fried Calamari is a perfect choice to start the meal as the Calamari is cooked to perfection where the squid is not overcooked and the amount of batter does not overwhelm the natural taste of the calamari. Though the restaurant provides a generous portion of the in house freshly baked sourdough bread, it is hard to pass up one of the man bread bowl options. The clam chowder is a favorite and is only rivaled by their corn and crab bisque. Though not their specialty, the salads are also quite tasty and generous with very fresh ingredients. Though the highlight is the food, it is hard to challenge the amazing views that patrons will receive enjoying the view of the vast Pacific and more importantly, the beauty that is know as Alcatraz Island! The service is also very good with servers who are attentive but not disruptive. Bistro Boudin is a perfect choice for food, atmosphere and service!

Up stairs in the Boudin bakery is the bistro, beautiful setting, we had a little two seater in the window, one floor up overlooking the bay to Alcatraz, what a setting, the staff were excellent, the food was amazing, great atmosphere and when we left, we watched the team in the bakery making the world famous sour dough bread, what a treat. Do not miss a chance to eat upstairs at Boudins on the front.

Definitely recommend the DUNGENESS CRAB LOUIS… (caught in SF Bay!) From the menu, “Fresh picked Dungeness crab with deviled eggs, avocado, bibb lettuce, asparagus, ripe tomatoes and Louis dressing” —Louis is like a gourmet thousand island! Only thing not giving it five stars is that it definitely has a casual / tourist vibe, which isn’t a bad thing… DEFINITELY enjoy the world famous bread and calamari!

Didn't have reservations but walked right in and upstairs as the first floor of Boudin's was a little chilly. Were seating quickly and right by the window with a view of the bay. Service was fast. Had garlic cheese toast which was really good. Shared a pizza (sausage and mushrooms). The food was warm and really tasty. Would visit again and try more things!

I went with my husband and had a very delicious clam chowder.. the place is very nice we didn’t need to wait for too long

The locations is great, the food is really good, all the fresh breads and soups etc. the staff were really helpful and friendly and the prices were good too.

We first visited for dinner. I ordered a fillet steak and my husband the surf and turf and we both agreed that the steak was one of the best we have ever had. My fillet came with creamed spinach and mashed potatoes that accompanied it perfectly and it was an amazing meal. We visited again for lunch on our last day in SF as my husband wanted a clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl which he had and said was excellent. I had a Caesar salad and we both had a dessert, and it was all delicious, including the cocktails! Both times we were seated by the window with a view of the Bay, the staff were lovely, and service was excellent. I would highly recommend it!

A popular local spot famous for their clam chowder which i had and was delicious!! It's always busy but even on a Saturday we were easily able to find a seat. They have the most amazing animal shaped breads!!

This is a great place to eat while in the Fisherman's Wharf area so you can try clam chowder or other seafood. Either eat here or Boudin Cafe downstairs which is more casual. If you like chowder you should order the clam chowder in a sourdough bowl but if you are not a chowder fan, don't worry. There are lots of other options- many of them with sourdough bread. After you have eaten take a moment to look around the bakery and gift shop downstairs and you will see lots of cute gifts, tons of animal shaped sourdough bread (you can buy these too!) and even a moving track of baskets of bread going around the shop by the ceiling. Very cute and creative here!

I recently had lunch here while in the Warf. This place is always busy. They have an option for online ordering but didn’t realize until I had stood in line for 15 minutes. The food comes VERY fast! Reminds of Panera, you order, wait at the next counter for your order, grab a tray, and find a seat. I highly recommend the tomato bisque soup, Turkey sandwich, and of coarse the BREAD. This is a solid choice for lunch.

Beautiful food. Mt husbands favourite. Especially the soup.. Wonderful location with a wonderful atmosphere.

I tasted their famous Clam chowder: very good bread but very few clams (especially potatoes) and especially they are cans (which they also sell) and they only reheat! Clearly not the best .. feeds that’s all!

Great service, great atmosphere and great drinks! This was the perfect place to visit on our last night in San Fransisco! Laid back enough to not be stuffy but classy enough to have upscale drinks and food. The rapport/banter with the barter tender, Colleen, made watching the Monday night football game really fun. Next visit to the city, we will defiantly be back at Bistro Boudin at The Wharf and I hope Colleen will be there tending bar!

Stopped by here, just because the aroma was so lingering and tasty. There’s a lot of choice, big and small appetites can be satisfied. Always cheerful staff, and quick, too. Enjoy!

Had breakfast it was so good we had wraps and crab on a roll.it tasted so good sitting outside on the pier in rhe sun

Fantastic meal.. super fresh and tasty seafood.. one of us had the excellent surf n turf, one had seafood linguine.. all were excellent.. the five of us had different entrees and were all equally impressed and would highly recommend. We had cocktails and wine and were surprised at what great value it all was. The atmosphere was terrific and staff were very welcoming, polite and attentive

This pathetic excuse of a “bistro” is clearly out to fleece the tourists. After waiting for a pretentious buzzer thing to vibrate to tell me my reserved table was ready (late) service took 15 minutes to start. Drinks took a further 15 minutes with awful food arriving about 2 minutes after that. My wife’s soup had an iceberg of cheese ruining it and my pasta was truly tasteless and forgettable. Advice: do not come here - go to in n’out burger instead - faster, better quality and tastier. Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish - for the Brits: this is the Butlins of SF.

Great views decent service and fresh sourdough bread bowls with chowder or crab and corn bisque make this a must stop whenever in this area.

On weekends, Fisherman's Wharf is always very busy. We decided to arrive without a reservation and waited for a table for approximately 20 minutes at the bar where we could have a drink and eat some excellent crab cakes. Later at the table we ordered the crab bisque and the clam chowder in bread, which are obligatory dishes of the place and excellent. For the second course we shared a cioppino, which is a kind of seafood soup in broth, which impressed us with its flavor, temperature and seasonings. Very attentive and timely service

Bistro Boudin, has a bakery downstairs as well as quick, fast food type service. We had the pasties which were AMAZING! They also make much of the sourdough bread served in fisherman’s wharf. Go upstairs and eat at the Bistro. Great bar, views in the dining room are fantastic. Very nice restaurant. Food is good and service is great.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch at BB on the Wharf. The atmosphere was lovely and staff very attentive. The food was amazing, and the bread was out of this world !! We had steaks , pasta , and beef stew. The meats were soo tender and flavorful , pasta was great and the desserts .. AWESOME. Would definitely recommend to anyone.

Excellent food and service (i was part of a large group) its a busy venue with a good atmosphere the only downside was that the toilets were a bit grubby.

We had clam chowder, crab and chili soups served in bread. Top notch quality. Try honey dijon chips as well. The place is pretty crowded and doesn’t have restrooms But definitely worthwhile to visit.

Nice tasty lunch stop The bread bowl soups are well prepared and quite tasty. Although I do like spicier fare., a little Tabasco solved that issue. Fried calamari app was really quite good as recommended by the server. Service was also exceptional, along with a nice view of the wharf.

Dungeness crab melt was pretty good and hot completely throughout eating it. However, the worker getting our four drinks didn’t label them, and when we asked what was which, they said they’d sniff it and tell us , that’s not very sanitary . Seeing all the sourdough bread animals was amazing though.

Meh, wouldn’t go back for this ‘high end’ restaurant. I ordered the eye fillet and it came out a little over cooked, I wanted medium rare and it was very gristle and fat filled. Also, after seating it took some time to get water whereas others seated after us got water immediately. If you’re hungry and don’t care about money, sure go, but I won’t. I’d rather eat a hot dog from the stand outside.

Boudin's bread is historical. The new location has an amazing viewing of the bakers making the bread and the bakery and bistro with gift shop has everything a visitor needs for a quick stop. The food is a little pricey, but tasty. Love this place.

We initially had planned to get the ubiquitous chowder in the bread bowl downstairs, but it’s crazy like Disneyland there, so went upstairs to the bistro for a quieter ambiance and clean bathrooms. We both got the cioppino, which was a great choice. It was flavorful and chock full of seafood, including half a crab each. We had difficulty finishing it despite being big eaters. It was a surprising respite to the bustling wharf. However, the service was very impersonal and inattentive— there was a table beside us who was very frustrated as the server could not be found.

Sat at the bar and enjoyed a lovely bowl of French onion soup! Hubby had tomato in a sourdough bread bowl. Great choice of wine and good service

Expect higher prices, the food is okay, however the bread is tasty. It looks like everything is made using their sourdough bread. We had the turkey sandwich, crab sandwich, and cheese pizza. The bread and pizza dough was nice & tasty. The turkey was typical, not really worth the price. The crab sandwich was good but also high price. The pizza was good.

Late lunch stop after Alcatraz outing. Tomato soup in a bread bowl was FAB! Hubs had a ham & Swiss sandwich which he said was also good. Restaurant menu did not interstates us but the bustling cafe was great! Some others asked to sit at our table and join us for our meal. Fun times!

Lol. The waitress automatically brought us these two condiments. No other newly seated tables had these condiments brought to them. My recommendation...try to wait til the hispanics ask for them. :) Food was good. Clean place. Nice ambience.

After a long trip, the family were looking for a quick meal and Boudins was in our doorstep. The family had clam chowder in a sourdough bowl. They were super happy. I had a crab sandwich and it was nice.

Wife and I were here for an early weekday dinner. Busy but short wait for a table. Began with an heirloom tomato salad witch included roasted tomatoes-very good. She had a crab sandwich and I had crab bisque in a sourdough bread bowl. Very tasty. Reasonable prices. Good portions. Good service.

Review of "average" maybe too influenced by my experience of abowl of clam chowder in a bread bowl at Boston Chowda (in Boston) which was an over-the-top mazing taste experience. I was excited of thought clam chowder in a bread bowl at Boudin would be similar to Boston Chowda, but it was not even remotely close. The clam chowder was good but nothing too special (the kind of special that makes one say to oneself: "Man, one reason I would fly to Boston is to have that clam chowder in e breadbowl"). The one at Boudin for me does not want to inspire a visit to San Francisco. And the bread I thought was dry and lack the soft and tasty texture of Boston Chowda (I try not to eat too much of the bread as on lower carb diet but I could not help myself and ate the whole bread bowl at Boston Chowda). I would never discourage anyone to eat at Boudin and if I never ate at Boston Chowda Boudin maybe closer to 4 stars - but still not a place I would count as a "reason" I would want to come to San Francisco for.

Interesting location and atmosphere. Right above the Boudin Bakery. You can watch the Boudin staff at work, Very busy place. Many many tourists. Good food, many items with their freshly baked bread. We had garlic bread, ok, but nothing special. Crab sandwich, good. Fish & chips, good. Fried calamari good. Hamburger ok. Crab mac & cheese ok. Crab cocktail ok. Quite pricey but this is San Francisco.

Awful service ruined this experience. Dishes brought out haphazardly and we were asked if we were ready for a check before we were offered coffee. The waitress ruined the meal and we let management know. Would not recommend.

Took a lot of Tours, one being the Painted Ladies, the Ocean Cruise boat tour and the go-kart tour. We visited height Ashbury, the tenderloin District were unfortunately a lot of homeless people are. We have visited the Castro District and had dinner there at the Mystique Cafe or Cafe Mystique. Had a delicious meal of lamb stew. I thoroughly enjoyed this vacation.

We ended up stopping in 2 times while we were visiting. The soup bread bowls were amazing. Fantastic stop for sour dough bread and great soup

Well worth visiting to watch them making the sour dough... to smell the heavenly aroma of fresh baked bread come out of the ovens (the volume of bread made is outstanding)... to see the wide variety of shapes the bread is made into... to learn the history of 'the mother' and realizing how this mother has spread her babies throughout the world (e.g. as of Dec 2019 Domino Pizzas in New Zealand- Southern hemisphere, was using this mother's dough on a range of its bases... ) and of course to EAT and experience the taste of this yummy sour dough bread! Highly recommend getting the seafood chowder option put inside a hollowed out sour dough bun, or purchasing a loaf and ripping into it... hot and delicious!

The food was great; service very good considering how busy the restaurant was. We were seated promptly; food was served hot. Prices were mid range. A lot on the menu to choose from. Gave a 20% tip which waiter was not too happy. But a good experience and great place to eat.

My friend and I had the soup in a bread bowl - she had the clam chowder and I had the beef chili soup. Generally there was way too much bread and soup finished quickly, also in the beef and chili soup were mostly beans. Otherwise the soups were tasty,bread was of course fresh. Q

Great clam chowder in a bread bowl!!!! The pastries are also great!!! Good place to take your family for lunch! Friendly Staff!!!

Very touristy place where they make bread in the oven. Imitation of our ovens. Good sandwiches but with medium to high prices. To see

We just dashed in for something before our ferry left for a tour. I ordered the avocado egg sandwich on sourdough and it was very good! It was also fun to watch the process, especially bread sail by in a little conveyor.

Very well-known bistro with its famous mussel soup in sourdough bread. Great Service and Mood. Highly recommended.

The food is excellent as is the service. Strongly recommend booking as it gets busy. View from the restaurant is impressive, overlooking Alcatraz Island. When ordering a burger you have the option of toasted sourdough instead of brioche which I particularly enjoyed as it makes the meal more of a sandwich and avoids bread bloat.

We didn't have a reservation but had no issue getting a table. Customer service was excellent from beginning to end. Food was delicious. Had a good variety on menu for those that don't like seafood. Garlic bread was excellent. Prices are a little steep but that's everywhere in the warf.

Amazing lunch! The bread is great (even took some back on the plane) the crab cake sandwich was one of the best I’ve ever had. Great beer selection!

Great tourist trap. Great to see how they make the sour dough bread. Food was mediocre at best. Price is expensive for what you get.

Wonderful clam chowder soup in freshly baked sourbread dough. Great sandwiches of different flavors

Really a great refreshment point, where bread is the strong point and quality! Great assortment and great choice. Recommended breakfast and other products prepared by them.

Had the chowder in a read bowl it was wonderful on a cold day. Brad was delicious. Only thing is seating was very limited

It is a Very Nice bakery. We loved it! The Crab soup in the Bread was delicious. The location is also very good.

Service and food was great! We met up with a family member who is not crazy about sourdough bread, usually, but really enjoyed his grilled cheese sandwich. I can't believe I ate my whole soup bread bowl, and tomato soup. Got some cinnamon rolls to go for the next day on the road.

A must visit whilst you are in San Fransisco. The clam chowder and sandwiches are insane. The sourdough bread is unreal.

This is a must-do in San Francisco. They have great food - mostly all centered around sour dough. There is a small tour and display of the bakery and baking process, which is really interesting. There's a good range of food, all moderately priced and all top quality. The staff are super friendly and helpful, nothing is a problem and they never make you feel hurried or in the way. Top tip: go downstairs for breakfast and Lunch. Go upstairs for dinner.

Excellent food and service! We sat in the bar area and the server was the bartender. Treated us like gold. Thanks for a great San Francisco experience!

I really just wanted a sandwich to bring to a meeting and happened to walk by this place. It turned out to be an excellent sandwich. I felt very satisfied.

Lovely place! Great views! The crab & corn bisque in the sourdough bread bowl was great! For my entrée, I had the filet mignon with creamed spinach and mashed potatoes, it was delicious! Our waitress was super!

Nice place, with some view onto the San Francisco Bay. Quick lunch before leaving San Francisco. Me: Angel hair shrimp, my wife: salmon club sandwich. Both of us: Budweiser. At the end: beignets with ice cream. The angel hair had a bit more tomato according my taste, but otherwise tasty. Quick service, pleasant place. Desert fine.

The Boudin restaurant smelled so amazing from the street that we had to go in. I'm so glad we did. I had the turkey, bacon, & avocado on multi-grain bread and my husband had the sourdough bagel breakfast sandwich. Both were delicious! It was so good, that we went back next day and ordered the exact same sandwiches plus a few other things, lol.

Lovely bistro atmosphere upstairs. Prices not bad at all and the menu was very good. We had the beef patty , sourbread toasted sandwich and it was very nice. Downstairs in market hall was a different story..... service was NOT with a smile to say the least and pizza was over salty, Pulled Pork bun was COLD Not a pleasant experience. Unfortunately it doesnt open late and we found it closed before 9pm.

Without any expectation, we tasted a pizza and the typical fish soup served inside the loaf. Both the soup and the pizza I really liked; nice place in addition.

The food was really nice, although my main was delayed until we reminded our server, so everyone else had to start their meal a while before me. The cocktails were great, but again, when I ordered a second cocktail before my food arrived, this was forgotten about until well after our mains were finished. Our server seemed pre-occupied and brought us our Bill before we had finished desserts and didn’t make any attempt to converse with us.

The sourdough bread they give you when you sit down was burnt on the outside. The fried fish came in small nuggets and was hard to tell apart from the fried shrimp. The coleslaw was very dry and bland. The fish and chips came with 15 very small fries. The food quality was terrible and at $26 a plate, it was such a waste of money! One of the worst restaurants we have eaten at in a very long time!

Lots of menu options. We were here twice on our 5 day trip to San Francisco and had soup in a bowl, which was great, and grilled cheese which was just ok

We thought that we might have a long wait to have dinner at this upper level restaurant of the Boudin Bakery, but we were able to be seated immediately. Our server was very friendly & efficient....... and the wait for our dinners to be served was amazingly quick. The Beef Stew was incredible........quite tasty and the beef was so tender that I could cut it with my fork. My spouse ordered the BBQ Rib Platter........many more ribs than he was expecting, but he enjoyed each & every one of them, along with his side dish. Bistro Boudin is definitely a restaurant that we recommend for a great dining experience.

Attraction itself with the life bakery next to it. I took the crab soup in the sourdough and it was delicious. The price is worth to be there and have sth. To eat.

Deplorable service, we went to get our beers alone, the glass of water in addition to the beer requested was dirty (traces of lipstick on the glass), moreover, we gave a tip not to the taste of the waiter who tried to force our hand to put 20%. Having refused, he kindly told us to return to France, which is a xenophobic remark. In addition, they charged me and my friend twice even though we had asked to divide the bill in half. I've never seen this in any restaurant in the world, it's scandalous. To summarize, xenophobic waiter and lousy service, flee!

Excellent restaurant in Fisherman's with upstairs dining room (view of Alcatraz). Recommendations: Clam chowder / Crab-cheese-spinash dip / Crab cake sandwich

Great breakfast in a historic bakery with a cute gift store. Breakfast was great with avocado sourdough toast and full breakfasts. You can watch the bakers make animal shaped loaves while you eat and buy loaves to go.

Holy cow, this place was delicious! You must try a soup in a bread bowl! My group also had crab cakes, a burger and dungeons crab… all amazing!

Excellent sourdough bread freshly made... Deli food menu, latte, cappuccino..etc...this place is always crowded. We decided on our last night in SF to go inside, now understand why it's so busy...the clam chowder, tomato bread bowls are filling and great Sammy's.

This is a very popular restaurant and is very good. I just don't think the 45 minute wait is worth it. Staff if very friendly and food was good, just nothing out of this world.

The wait for the restaurant was too long so we went back downstairs and ordered the same thing from the counter. Even though there were queues we had a very short wait for our chowder to be ready and ate at one of the tall tables next to the stairs. This is a lot quicker and probably cheaper option.

Very nice place..fast.. Very good food… courteous staff. We went for dinner 2 nights and ate a good pizza

Make sure you ask your server for their favorites, we did and loved everything we ordered!! We shared the cioppino that was recommended and all of us also ordered the sourdough bread bowls of corn chowder and the tomato basil. We awere a family of 4 with teens. Then the all you can eat bread..oh my gosh sooo good. Our server was also awesome and beyond helpful. Loved this place 10/10 totally recommend!!

The soups were delicious. The service impeccable. The view of the bay was lovely. The ambience was nicely created.

The restaurant was a very long wait for lunch so we waited in lines down below for takeout. With some luck and persistence, we were able to get a table for our large group. The choices included clam chowder, crab sandwiches, and salads. All were good. It was a bit frantic, but worth it.

We decided on lunch here and glad we did! They had the best clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl! It was interesting to see the different animal shapes of bread

We were a tour group so sat upstairs in a long table. The night we were here coincided with the beginning of SF's heatwave. The room just felt too hot either they don't have AC or it's not turned on. We started with a sourdough bowl of clam chowder. The sourdough is more bready and not as "holely" as I've seen of other sourdoughs. It's very dense and chewy bread. My main was the red wine braised beef stew. It's heavily saucy I wouldn't really call it a stew as there's not that much soup. The beef was very tender. The dish was very good. My mom had pan roasted petrale sole. She enjoyed it. Dessert we were told was bread pudding. Looking at their regular menu they do offer a sourdough bread pudding. Our tour dinner presentation was different. I didn't like it. It was too dense. Our tour guide gifted us each a sourdough turtle. It's very cute.

Obviously, the bread was delicious! Now imagine two perfectly sliced pieces of sourdough bread with the best hamburger meat, I believe freshly ground, with cheese! Heaven!! The side salad was really fresh and tasty! My husband thoroughly enjoyed his claim chowder in the sourdough bowl! You definitely need to have a meal here!!

Regrettable. You start ordering, they are sold out without something and they give you whatever they want. And the employees treat you terribly: they have scolded three little girls for sitting at a table of two... with the room half empty. I will not come back

Yummy and quick for how busy it was! Pizza is amazing, the clam chowder bread bowl was also amazing. The deal was a sandwich and chowder. They were out of grilled cheese at 6:00pm - luckily the supreme roast beef was a hit! Pepperoni pizza was also amazing! Outside dining was comfortable!

The atmosphere was a true San Francisco experience. The quality of the food and the variety of the menu was top notch. Our only complaint was the service. We ordered salads and the chowder bowls. The salads came out first and we were nearly finished before I had to remind the waiter about our soup. He had forgotten due to having too many tables and not being able to adequately handle them. I’m sure the service quality just depends on who you get. We will, however, come back.

Our dining experience at Boudin Bistro over two consecutive nights was nothing short of a culinary delight. The restaurant's commitment to delivering delicious dishes left a lasting impression on our taste buds. The star of our meal was undoubtedly the clam chowder served in a bread bowl—a classic choice that showcased the restaurant's dedication to quality ingredients and rich flavors. The crab entree with artichoke and spinach was a symphony of seafood excellence, demonstrating a perfect blend of textures and tastes. The club sandwich, featuring succulent salmon and creamy avocado, was a revelation in flavor combinations. Each bite was a satisfying journey through layers of freshness and indulgence. The attention to detail in crafting this dish was evident, making it a standout on the menu. Beyond the delectable cuisine, the ambiance and service at Boudin Bistro complemented our dining experience. The staff's attentiveness added to the overall enjoyment, creating a welcoming atmosphere that enhanced our evenings. In conclusion, Boudin Bistro proved to be a haven for food enthusiasts seeking a diverse and satisfying menu. If you're in search of a memorable culinary adventure in a welcoming setting, this restaurant is a must-visit.

We actually ended up dining here sort of by default. Our trip to SF was sort of last minute, and our first night in the city was Valentine's Day, so we had a pretty hard time getting a reservation anywhere. This is upstairs from the Boudin bread store and factory, right next to Fisherman's Wharf. It isn't fancy or trendy - though the bar area is a little more "hip". There was an interesting mix of people dining. I expected it to be primarily tourists, but it actually wasn't. There was a bit of a TGIFriday's or Houlihan's feel to the ambiance, but the service was very good - not fine dining service, but friendly and efficient. But, the food was actually SO GOOD! I thought it would be fine, but it was really, really good. I started with the Baked Artisan Goat Cheese and it was ridiculously flavorful. It was enough to share. My husband had the Dungeoness Crab Cocktail, very fresh and nice. for entrees, I had the Cioppino and I can't say enough good things about it! Richly flavored broth, plenty of fresh, delicious seafood and grilled sourdough bread. I wish I had a bowl of it right now! My husband had Surf and Turf, which he loved. The filet was cooked perfectly and the lobster tail was nicely done as well. He loved the chimichurri, and was quite pleased with the creamed spinach. All in all, it was a really enjoyable and tasty experience!

Above the self-service sits the bistro restaurant overlooking the harbor. Nice interior, good food, smooth service. Too bad they do not serve coffee in the restaurant itself, you then have to get that in the self-service.

Having accommodation in the Fisherman's Wharf area when we came across this amazing Bistro. Loved the ambience, food not to mention the wonderful service! Our waiter was Javier. This gentleman was so attentive, both ordering and delivery was wonderful. That good in fact we went back the following evening to explore the wonderful menu even more. Alas we have only one night left in San Francisco before we leave and yes you have it we are going back to the Bristro Boudin to indulge in the remainder of the menu. Only hope that Javier is not too far away to complete our night.

My wife and I both had the stew which was excellent. Portion sizes could be been larger. Service was good and the place had a nice atmosphere. We sat upstairs and had a view of the water.

Beautiful atmosphere, coffee table right in front of the window overlooking the harbor. We tasted a delicious crab cake to share and then the clam chowder and crab chowder both served in the classic bread bowl. Two glasses of white wine to top it all off. Highly recommended if you are in the area!

This is a must-go to spot in Fisherman's Wharf. Or in San Francisco in general. The aroma of fresh-baked bread lures you in from the street, and it's no surprise that the bread bowl soup is a crowd favorite. The other items that we ordered from the menu did not disappoint, and the drinks were strong & tasty. A great restaurant for sure.

We had a late lunch here. We sat upstairs at a window seat. The food was excellent, staff professional and scenery spectacular. We loved the mussels and clams chowder. Afterwards we went into their history museum which was very interesting. You can also see below into the bakery, and watch them mixing yeast into the vat, as well as the bakery workers.

Basic food. We had pizza. Nice, but sparing topping with significantareas of nothing. Service was good. Setting was lovely. Reasonably priced.

Well worth a visit, fab food and ambience. The place is definitely a sight to remember- the shapes and crafting of the dough to the great service and choice.

The clam chowder was served in a large piece of bread. Original and good. I would have liked a little more clams in the soup though. And also more room to sit inside.

We looked at the downstairs cafe, but it was very crowded, so decided to go to the Bistro upstairs. We did not get a very good welcome from the staff member at the desk, he seemed disinterested, but after a short wait we were shown to a nice table with view of the harbour. We both had chowder in bread. I had a very good nonalcoholic cocktail. The place was quite busy and a bit noisy.

It is the place with the most people I saw and that is very positive because it gives you the tranquility that it is a rich place. It has a self-service format and the restaurant has views of Alcatraz. The attention is good. And the clam chouder is delicious.

Restaurant with very poor service and lens. Menu with limited variety !!! Not recommended with the restaurant offer in the area

Best meal we had during our visit in San Francisco! We had the crab spinach artichoke dip and the shrimp pasta. Absolutely amazing!

We were a bit skeptical of this restaurant because of its proximity to the major tourist area and the fact that it was mentioned in the Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off tour but we were hungry, I wanted to try the sour dough. Decided on the sit down restaurant because the cafe was so busy downstairs. It did not disappoint. Our server was attentive and quick. He made some great suggestions. The sourdough was really amazing. The whole restaurant smells like warm bread so it was just so comforting. The crab cake was great, the clam chowder was great. The pizza was good, but not as good as the other two apps-entrees. I would definitely go back.

Came for the soup in the sourdough, the clam chowder was good, worth the money that’s for sure, but I was a bit disappointed from the waste of bread, there was too much bread and not enough soup to eat it with, I don’t like to waste. All in all a nice place.

Great! There were no line to seat outside, the service was outstanding and the food was delicious. Definitely will be back!