Clement Street San Francisco Guide: Where to Eat & Shop + the Sunday Farmers Market
If San Francisco has a neighborhood that locals secretly hope tourists never fully discover, it might be Clement Street in the Inner Richmond District.
Like nearby Sacramento Street, Clement Street between Arguello Boulevard and Park Presidio Boulevard hums with the everyday rhythms that travelers like me love to stumble upon, no matter which city we’re visiting.
On any given day on Clement Street, you’ll see couples walking their labradoodles and babies, elderly Chinese ladies pulling their carts to the produce stands, friends in yoga clothes heading for coffee, and line-ups outside grungy-looking dumpling spots (they’re really good, don’t worry).
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Some call Clement Street San Francisco’s “second Chinatown,” but it’s way more than that. Yes, you’ll find Asian grocery stores and dim sum houses, but there’s also great Thai, Burmese, Japanese, and Vietnamese food alongside friendly dive bars all within a few easily walkable blocks.
You can also shop for locally made souvenirs and leave feeling as if you’ve stumbled into an authentic corner of the city built for the people who live there.
📍Since Clement Street sits between Golden Gate Park and the Presidio, it’s easy to combine stops here with time exploring the Presidio’s scenic overlooks and trails on a small-group guided walking tour that begins in the Marina District and ends on Clement Street.
Where is Clement Street
Clement Street from Arguello Boulevard to Lincoln Park spans the heart of San Francisco’s Richmond District, north of Golden Gate Park and south of the Presidio, offering a dense corridor of Asian restaurants, bakeries, and markets.
Clement Street between Arguello Boulevard and Park Presidio is the heart of the Inner Richmond’s vibrant commercial corridor, and is home to the Sunday Farmers Market, famous Clement Street restaurants and bakeries, Asian restaurants, independent shops, and a great local neighborhood vibe.
Who Should Visit Clement Street
Clement Street is ideal for travelers who enjoy local food neighborhoods, independent bookstores and boutiques, and a slower-paced alternative to downtown San Francisco sightseeing. It’s especially appealing for travelers visiting nearby Golden Gate Park or the Presidio.
• Visitors looking for one of San Francisco’s best neighborhood food streets
• Families heading to nearby Golden Gate Park or the Presidio
• Travelers interested in Asian markets, bakeries, and casual dining
• Book lovers and boutique browsers looking beyond Union Square
• Anyone planning a relaxed neighborhood stroll with a strong local feel
What to Do on Clement Street in San Francisco
Clement Street is one of San Francisco’s best neighborhood corridors for casual eating, independent shopping, and local discoveries in the Inner Richmond.
Start with the lively Sunday farmers market, stop at the city-famous croissants at Arsicault Bakery, and explore what’s often called San Francisco’s “other Chinatown” for its mix of Asian markets, bakeries, and dim sum restaurants.
Clement Street Sunday Farmers Market
On Sunday mornings, Clement Street between Arguello and 4th Avenue transforms into what’s probably my favorite neighborhood farmers markets in San Francisco. It’s a ritual worth getting up early for.
Unlike larger markets, this four-block gem still feels “neighborhoody” and manageable.
Residents arrive carrying canvas shopping bags, with dogs in sweaters, and kids in wagons. Conversations happen in multiple languages, there’s usually a musician or two playing, and it’s just a feel-good place to hang out, especially on spring days, one of the best times of year to visit San Francisco.
You’ll find stands for fruit, veg, and flowers, of course. But I like going around lunch since there are great places to grab a bite. I adore Mexican food and the pupusas, made on a griddle on the street.
There are also sandwiches made to order, hummus ready for your picnic, coffee stands, and places for fresh-squeezed juice.
Come early and consider public transportation or experience a Waymo, as parking can be challenging on and around Clement Street.
Visit Arsicault Bakery
San Franciscans are incredibly patient when it comes to waiting in line for food, and Arsicault Bakery is no exception.
Actually located on Arguello, but almost at the corner of Clement, Arsicault was made famous when its croissants were named the best in the country in 2016 by Bon Appétit Magazine. It’s basically had lines up the block ever since, especially on weekends. I was there recently and the line was easily 40+ people long.
What to order when you finally get to the counter? Go for the croissant if it’s your first visit, but I am a huge fan of the kouign-amann.
Explore San Francisco’s “Other” Chinatown
Clement Street is the commercial heart of the Richmond District’s Chinese community, and has thus earned it the nickname “New Chinatown” or the “Other Chinatown.” But there’s much more to discover.
While San Francisco’s Chinatown is much bigger (about 30 blocks), and has the ‘look’ of Chinatown with its red lanterns and Chinese architecture, San Francisco’s Clement Street is no less authentic. Plus, it’s much easier and less frantic to meander in and out of Asian supermarkets, restaurants, and dim sum buffets.
Best of all, you’ll find that Clement Street is full of other Asian restaurants, too, including beloved mom-and-pop Thai, Vietnamese, and Burmese spots in San Francisco.
Where to Shop on Clement Street in the Inner Richmond
Eating is definitely a reason to head to Clement Street, but the local shopping scene here is top-notch, especially if you prefer independent boutiques and shops that sell unique and made-in-SF items.
Tantrum
A neighborhood toy store filled with thoughtfully chosen books, puzzles, toys, and creative gifts that make it nearly impossible to leave empty-handed. Buying a gift? They’ll even wrap it for you, which makes Tantrum feel extra neighborly.
Address: 3927 Clement St
Green Apple Books
A beloved new-and-used bookstore revered by San Francisco’s literati. It’s packed with best-sellers, staff picks, secondhand shelves, and handwritten recommendations that reward slow browsing—and they regularly host local author events.
Address: 506 Clement St
Park Life Store
Part contemporary art gallery, part concept store, and part emporium for clever gifts you didn’t know you needed, Park Life mixes design-forward objects with rotating exhibitions by local artists.
Address: 220 Clement St
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a longtime Clement Street favorite for its thoughtfully edited mix of San Francisco–themed tees, greeting cards, jewelry, candles, and small-batch artisan goods. It’s an especially good stop for locally made gifts—I’m partial to their Karl the Fog candle when I need something unmistakably San Francisco.
Address: 639 Clement St
Kamei Restaurant Supply Store
It might be a little unexpected, but if you love to cook, Kamei Restaurant Supply Store is worth a stop. The shop is packed floor to ceiling with bowls, cups, plates, teapots, cookware, and specialty kitchen tools—one of those places where it’s easy to lose track of time browsing and stock up on all the things you didn’t know your kitchen needed.
Address: 535 Clement St
Where to Eat +Drink on Clement Street in the Inner Richmond
Clement Street is one of San Francisco’s best neighborhood dining corridors, with everything from Burmese specialties and Chinese dumplings to bakeries, brunch cafés, and longtime local favorites clustered along the Inner Richmond stretch.
Many have been around since I first moved to San Francisco!
Signature Clement Street Stops
Burma Superstar
A Clement Street institution since 1992, Burma Superstar still draws devoted crowds for its tea leaf salad and comforting coconut chicken noodles. Their sister restaurant nearby, B Star, offers a similar menu with the same owners and flavors—often with a shorter wait if the line is long.
Address: 309 Clement St
Schubert’s Bakery
Making European-style cakes since 1911, Schubert’s Bakery is a Clement Street classic known for its Princess cake, strawberry shortcake, and Opera cake. Even if you’re not picking up a celebration dessert, you can stop in for a slice when you need a quick sugar fix while strolling the neighborhood.
Address: 521 Clement St
Line up for spring rolls, steamed buns, and egg custard tarts at Wing Lee Bakery
Wing Lee Bakery
Wing Lee Bakery is a classic Clement Street stop for fresh Chinese pastries, buns, and egg tarts that locals pick up throughout the day. It’s an easy place to grab something warm and inexpensive to eat as you walk, and a good introduction to the neighborhood’s strong Chinese bakery tradition along the Inner Richmond stretch.
Address: 503 Clement St
Good Luck Dim Sum
It’s super no-frills, but Good Luck Dim Sum serves some of the city’s most satisfying grab-and-go dumplings and BBQ pork buns at an incredible value. It’s an easy lunch stop while exploring Clement Street—just note they’re closed Mondays and Tuesdays and typically close by mid-afternoon.
Address: 736 Clement St
Genki Crepes
Genki Crepes has been a Clement Street favorite for decades, serving Japanese-style sweet and savory crêpes ordered at the counter and easy to enjoy while strolling the neighborhood. In addition to handheld classics like fruit-and-cream or teriyaki chicken crêpes, the shop also doubles as a small Japanese grocery stocked with snacks and pantry staples that reward a quick browse.
Address: 330 Clement St
Dumpling King
Appropriately named, Dumpling King is the kind of place you’ll want to return to because the menu is simply too big to tackle in one visit. Alongside dozens of dumpling varieties, you’ll find noodles, bao buns (the BBQ pork are especially popular), potstickers, and plenty of shareable Chinese dishes offered at a good value that make it an easy stop if you’re exploring Clement Street with friends or family.
Address: 336 Clement St
Evening Hangouts on Clement Street
The Bitter End
If you’re in the mood for wings, burgers, and classic neighborhood bar energy, The Bitter End is a longtime Clement Street standby. With two floors, pool tables, darts, and unapologetically dark-and-dingy dive-bar charm, it’s a fun casual stop after a day exploring the Inner Richmond.
Address: 441 Clement St
The Plough and Stars
For live music and a lively neighborhood atmosphere, The Plough and Stars brings Irish pub energy to Clement Street with regular Celtic sessions, board game nights, and plenty of Guinness on tap. It’s one of the street’s best evening stops if you’re lingering in the neighborhood after dinner.
Address: 116 Clement St
Casual Clement Street Restaurants & Cafes
Giorgio’s Pizzeria
You’ll smell the pizza long before you spot the sign at Giorgio’s, a longtime family-run neighborhood favorite known for pizza, calzones, chicken parm, lasagna, and other classic Italian comfort-food staples. It’s an easy, reliable dinner stop after an afternoon exploring Clement Street.
Address: 151 Clement St
Eats
Eats is the go-to for egg dishes, standout breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, and fluffy buttermilk biscuits—best enjoyed with a mimosa if you’re easing into a relaxed morning on Clement Street.
Address: 50 Clement St
Blue Danube Coffee House
An Inner Richmond fixture, Blue Danube Coffee House has been serving locals for decades with lattes, muffins, quiche, salads, and sandwiches in a relaxed, old-school café setting filled with local art and mismatched furniture. It’s the kind of neighborhood coffeehouse where writers, students, and regulars settle in and stay awhile.
Address: 306 Clement St
Batches Bakehouse
Just around the corner from Clement Street on 4th Avenue (look for the pink awning and the inevitable line), Batches Bakehouse is a newer neighborhood favorite known for bagels and spreads, excellent sandwiches, and standout cookies—the chocolate chip is especially popular. If you’d rather skip the wait, online ordering for pickup is a smart move.
Address: 401 4th Ave
Why Visit Clement Street
The street changes block by block yet somehow still feels like one continuous San Francisco neighborhood.
Come to wait in line for that famous croissant if you must, but stay because Clement Street still feels like a San Francisco neighborhood buzzing for all the right reasons.
Planning a trip to San Francisco? Clement Street pairs perfectly with several nearby stops, including the Presidio.
