Restaurants in San Rafael

“We ordered the house milk tea with boba and the twilight taro with boba - both with less sugar and less ice. They were both delicious! Personally I preferred the milk tea - but I tend to like that more usually anyways. Parking was a little difficult but service was quick!”

“California Gold Bar is A Gem for Drinks and Vibes

If you're looking for a spot with amazing drinks and a vibrant atmosphere, California Gold Bar is the place to be. Their cocktail menu is thoughtfully curated, offering everything from expertly crafted classics to innovative new mixes that are sure to impress.

Tonight, I was in the mood for some bubbly ?, and they did not disappoint. The sparkling cocktails were refreshing and perfectly balanced, adding just the right touch of celebration to the evening.

The ambiance is just as noteworthy. With its cozy, laid-back vibe, it's perfect for catching up with friends or unwinding after a long day. The warm lighting and relaxed seating make it feel welcoming, while the trendy decor adds a modern touch.

California Gold Bar strikes the perfect balance between great drinks and a comfortable atmosphere, making it one of the top spots in San Rafael for a casual night out. On weekends, the bar has just the right buzz, with a lively crowd but still plenty of room to enjoy the eve. Definitely a must-visit!

Cheers ? ?? ✌️ ?!”

“So tasty! Not usually a big fan of exotic flavors but this please is great. Been twice now and loved it both times. Chicken 65, dal, garlic broccoli, chow mein, rice, and Momo's were all delicious. And they serve Pond Farm beer!”

“I want to add my 5 star review to all the others. Food, service, atmosphere all deserve them. It makes for a wonderful dining experience when the server has a smile. Certainly will return.”

“there's usually always a wait but excellent!”

“I can’t recommend the Garden Cafe enough! I had a wonderful first experience here today having lunch. The food was delicious & nutritious- I got the Salmon Greek Salad (comes with garlic bread) and the “San Rafael Sunrise” drink, which is a juice including veggies and chia seeds. Lots of seating options indoors and outdoors with good lighting. Free wifi for those looking for a good study spot.
The service was AMAZING and contributed to creating such a friendly, inviting atmosphere. I have to give a special shout-out to Miguel, who was so gracious and apologetic about my juice being made wrong the first time. They were out of beets and I believe Miguel called someone and had more beets brought in while I was eating lunch so that I had a corrected juice with beets to enjoy before I finished eating! To be clear, I told Miguel it was completely fine that they were out of beets but he insisted it wasn’t fair to not get what I ordered and made sure I got my beet juice. I can vouch for how much the Garden Cafe values each customer there! I will be recommending to friends and coming back.”

“This place is really authentic. Food is cooked from scratch. Yuca is crispy and delicious. Beans are so tasty and pupusas well filled with yumminess”

“I was enjoy my lunch today”

“I came with my family here, very clean place, clean restroom, clean everything, good food. Fast service, but please ladies from the front (customer service) smile, you take care of the customer like robots, next, thank you , next, thank you next. I was looking at every single person that was receiving their orders to make sure that chips are given to some odres or to every order. We order two burritos, one pupusa and twelve tacos. We did not received chips at all. I saw people that purchase tacos , receiving their chips, this wasn’t my case. No one gave us our chips😟”

“Talked myself into trying something different today... Fried chicken thighs and it wasn't up to par as the pork belly is. The chicken may have been over bribed as I found it real salty :-(”

“Such fresh good food. I made my own scramble it was beyond delicious!!!”

“Wonderful food and service. Highly recommend!”

“This guy is an Italian genius when it comes to food! The combinations of flavors he comes up with would rival any great Italian chef. I met him while selling at a local farmers market a while ago-during or right after the pandemic. Restaurants were closed and he needed a way to support himself and to carry on his love of cooking and, thankfully, he came up with this business plan. Check out his website and i promise you will not be disappointed! Absolutely delicious and freshly made options available!”

“Best Mexican restaurant I’ve been to so far in the US.”

“It was great! The food was delicious we recommend the Kim Bap! But really all the food was delicious and fresh! The boba tea is yummy and feels homemade. The inside is a bit small so we sat outside which was pretty. The service was great and they were very kind to us! 10/10 place. We’re also a very picky family when it comes to Korean food as we love it and this place definitely reached our expectations!”

“I had coffee this morning for the 1st time. The cafe has such a relaxing vibe to it! It was a nice group of patrons. The staff was very helpful. I've found my favorite coffee shop! 😋😋😋”

“Great service great food Thanks”

“Best coffee in san rafael IMO! Lenny is really nice and always has my order ready! Nice vibe and close to my work! Highly recommend!”

“After trying many places with pho in Marin, this is the spot my family goes back to time and time again. The broth is in point, and the servings are filling. Go find out for yourself. ?”

“A “Must Stop” for lunch! The best sourdough bread I’ve ever had. Wanted to go back and just order a bunch of bread to take home and spoil the family. The perfect crispy crust and then soft chew center with lots of wonderful savory sourness. I had the Ham & Pastrami. Perfect fresh ingredients. Everything you want in a deli sandwich at a reasonable price. Lots of selections so I’m heading back for future yummy bites. Excellent personal service.”

“The Falafel salad is the only salad I truly crave in San Rafael. I have ordered it to go, but I think it is always best there. Fresh and with layers of flavors, I get it often.”

“I picked up a delivery from this fine establishment! The atmosphere felt comfortable and the game was playin' on the widescreen! The gentleman who helped me (owner?) was nice and personable. Not too big or small inside. Good smelled absolutely amazing!!”

“Great people that give there all. The place is simple looking but the food I definitely for a Viking! As a big dude I can sometimes finish a large. I’ve tried most of them and they all taste great. My go to are, roast beef and club b. Love the available sides like the chip selection and the potato salad and a verity of drinks. Definitely worth it.”

“We are new to the area/California from NY we were delighted to find pizza as amazing as home! Friendly owner and staff.”

“Little slice of life and good food! All the food is home-made and uses good products. You will get a lot!! If you are a Hispter, stay clear, this may be too real for you!

Parking: Restaurant is in an industrial area....so depends on business I guess.

Kid-friendliness: we had a three year old with us. She was fine. The restaurant is cafeteria style.”

“Love take out. The best minestrone and garlic bread. Yummy. Try it.”

“I’ve had many of the dishes here, when it’s good, it’s very good. The vermicelli bowl with grilled meat and all the toppings was extremely flavorful and delicious last time I got it. The meat was just perfectly grilled and had so much flavor. The bhan mi sandwich is also very traditional, with the pate and really soft baguette.

The portions are a bit small. And it is a bit expensive. But I guess that’s Marin county.

What I don’t like is that the ordering experience is completely anonymous and either online or through ordering kiosks that ask you a hundred questions. It’s like ordering with a robot, and it’s just unpleasant. Especially touching the screen that a hundred other people have touched right before eating, it’s not great. Also, the way the menu and ordering is laid up is annoying and difficult to use if you don’t go there all the time.

Part of ordering at a restaurant like this is having someone “take care” of your order, maybe ask a question, maybe get a recommendation. That’s not happening here. It’s just anonymous. And then they expect a tip? No. I’m not tipping if I’m doing all the ordering work myself at these prices. If you took care of me, I would tip you. A tip is for service. I assume assembling a sandwich if what I’m actually paying for.

The atmosphere inside is loud and not clean. The tables were dirty, the music was so old, and so loud, it was as if they were telling the customer “don’t hang out in here”.

And finally, the brief interaction with the person that gave me my drink and sandwich was unpleasant too. I don’t think she was happy that I didn’t tip.

I have to agree with some of the other reviews, sometimes I’ve gotten somewhat disappointing meat on my sandwich (which is my preferred item here).

Anyway, I do wish them well, but please make the stupid ordering kiosks optional, clean the place up, turn down the annoying music, actually interact with your customers, who knows, maybe it would help everyone have a better experience.”

“Best Pho in Marin. I know that's not saying much but it pretty damn good.

Parking: Redesigned garden and coy pond is beautiful to eat outside”

“Great services, friendly”

“Great food and great service!! Had the arugula salad with candied pecans, buratta and pickled onions. We also had a mustache pizza and it was delicious! The ooey cheese balls and onion rings were great too! Highly recommend”

“Cafe Villa is a small neighborhood restaurant offering a lovely menu and Happy Hour food and beverage options. Traditional Italian family recipes offered alongside seafood, prime rib specials. Cafe Villa is perfect for date night, family gatherings and group events.”

“Very delicious and authentic food, the people serving us were very friendly and helpful, and the boba drinks were delicious and had just the right amount of sweetness.”

“I loved it. Great Mexican food. Miss this in Hawaii”

“We had the most delicious pastas and wine! The service was fantastic as well. We highly recommend TKT for your next night out!! Even our toddler was impressed!”

“Very comfortable, family oriented restaurant with great food and service”

“Very nice people good food”

“Beautiful atmosphere. We sat inside thinking it would get cold but when we left at 7 we saw the wonderful large heater lamps and wished we’d sat outside. Our server was so friendly and attentive! All food exceptional.We’ll definitely be back

Vegetarian options: Portabello mushroom sandwich fabulous”

“We have been going to Robata in Mill Valley for years. Decided to try something new. The quality of the fish is much better at Sakura. Give it a try. You won't be disappointed.”

“A friendly and placenta place , I like the variety of dishes to choose .”

“Really nice people and service. The food is very good and they split our burrito for us. Chips and salsa brought to your table. It's in a modest business park and probably very busy during the work week. We sat outside under their canopy and really enjoyed the veggie burrito.”

“Wanted to try the quesabirria & birria tacos. We were not disappointed! Will go back and want to try the mole buffet on weekends”

“Superlative. See my picture post. Ichiban!”

“Great new space in San Rafael

Vegetarian options: We were having brunch and they had Avo toast.

Wheelchair accessibility: Look really easy. Elevator from the lobby brings you right up!”

“It's the best pizza I have ever tried. I'm not a pizza guy, but with that one, I can eat every time possible and never get bored, and the ranch the N.1”

“Lunch buffet is really good and at a fair price.”

“Excelentes pizzas y cordial atención”

“A true hidden gem! They have some of the best pho in the Bay Area and the people who work there are so nice and kind. I don’t know why this place isn’t packed, it definitely should be!”

“Making chicken salad sandwiches with the best bead 🥖”

“I love this place! Excellent BBQ, excellent people!”

“To put it very simply, that was the absolute best donut I've ever had. You just don't realize there could be that much difference until you have one that's this good.”

“Fresh rolls, fresh ingredients, it all comes together for an amazing banh mi. Would ABSOLOUTELY stop back again. Plus they’ll add a fried egg if you’re looking for some more protein.”

“They have the best food. Anything you order will amaze your tastebuds. We get 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ service every time. Course it helps we go every weekend!!”

“This is a great, quiet coffee shop with great quality drinks (especially the Thai coffees). The owner has amazingly sourced Thai beans and makes delicious Thai Teas and Coffees. My wife and I spent an hour or so here getting work done, listening to relaxing music.”

“Hi I am delighted to have Royal Thai as a friend for Take dinners needs during these shelter times. Support your local restaurant. San Rafael , you got my buisness. Plus your Thai food is darn good”

“Amazing bread and croissants! Also love the brown butter chocolate chip cookies. A must have stop at the Farmer's market Thurs in San Rafael. Cannot wait until he has his own brick and mortar store. xo”

“Good carne asada burrito. Casual but clean place. Pleasant people. Price is fair.

Parking: Big parking lot. Plenty of available spaces.

Kid-friendliness: Fine for kids.

Wheelchair accessibility: Access looked very easy.”

“I’ve stopped and ate in here a few times and the owner, Chris is one of THE BEST restaurant owners I’ve ever met. He’s very knowledgeable, kind and caring and can answer any menu questions and give you suggestions. The quality of the food is fresh and delicious every single time. I highly recommend Wrap N Kabob if you’re looking for a fresh, tasty, culturally authentic & healthy meal that will leave you satisfied!”

“You make my birthday girl so happy, especially the Unicorn. Make her birthday for this year sweet...it really makes her enjoy this lonely birthday becomes a joyful one”

“Best Mexican food I've had in a long time!”

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“Jo Jo and the crew offers a fantastic family atmosphere, delicious boutique drinks, food and service. Five stars every visit, which has added up for the last few years! Terra Linda is lucky to have a place like this for families and date night!”

“Wednesday Taco night the 💣.”

“It’s beyond wonderful. Tony spumoni, pistachio, ginger, too too good”

“I have always loved the Gloria Jeans drinks in fact I used to work at the Ontario Mills Mall in Ontario California at Gloria Jeans there it was owned by Katie Chuck a very nice lady to work for but unfortunately she closed her business I miss working there that was back in 2002 -2006 4 years I had worked for her I still know how to make every drink we had back then cold and hot drinks speciality drinks which were the holiday drinks I remember the measurements to brew coffee ☕️ for the day when you work there for that long everything sticks with you but as for today I’m sure many things have changed as the years went by but I do still see some of the same coffee beans we had back then I wish we had one here in applevalley California we used to have one in the Victorville Mall years ago but that one has gone out of business as well years ago please ?? someone bring Gloria Jeans back to the High desert of California Applevalley California we need one here desperately I’m so sick of Starbucks they overroast their beans which gives the drinks a burnt taste of course they will deny it there is nothing like a Gloria Jeans coffee ☕️ hot or cold simply the best you can’t get any better then Gloria Jeans Coffee..❤️”

“Very friendly. very clean, seems family oriented and maybe that's what makes it work. Love it!!!!”

“When I went there, they had no lines and the churros were only $2.84 for 3 churros. They were very kind to me and quick to serve. I was craving for churros and started searching. Lo and behold, there is a churro restaurant just exclusively churros set aside sandwiches and smoothies but now I know there is a churro place when I am craving for churros

Parking: Good luck finding a place to park as their parking lot is a shared lot.”

“My Father owned Brother's Pizza, a legendary New York Slice in the Bay Area. Therefore I am a pizza snob. He is no longer alive, but would salute Stefano's for a delicious pizza, and winning the Marin pizza war. I always come here when I am in central Marin. There is no better deal in the entire county than 2 fat crispy slices and a drink for $6.50. Pizza Princess approved. They have a chill table out front to enjoy your meal quickly.

Kid-friendliness: Its really more of a take out, but you could certainly stop for a quick lunch or dinner outside.

Wheelchair accessibility: Pull right up.”

“I came here because the San Francisco Chronicle listed it as one of the best 10 tamales in the bay area. I was not disappointed. It’s not traditional corn masa tamales from Mexico, but rather rice or potato masa tamales. The sauces are wonderful the meat is tender, and the tamales melt in your mouth. The nice lady behind the counter was very helpful in helping me make my choices. I bought six different tamales to take home. I’ll be back.”

“todo esta muy rico especialmente ias pupusas”

“Great amenity for the Tesla supercharger next door. restroom policies appear to be changing at some Starbucks but this one is still open for use regardless of purchase”

“The most authentic Chinese restaurant in this area. The service attitude is very good. The dishes are fresh and the prices are cheap and reasonable. It is a very good dining place. It’s great?????”

“I got the pork over vermicelli with egg roll. Disappointed there wasn't a lunch special. Was seated by a storage area. Not terrible service but not great either

Wheelchair accessibility: Easy to get into”

“The habit is pretty solid overall, the burgers are a significant step up from a McDonald's/Burger King, but so is the price. Chicken sandwiches are super solid, and if your going for a burger I'd give the edge to five guys in the same price segment.”

“Subway is one of the only places to eat where I don't have to study the menu. I think ppl pretty much already know what they want. 6"combo (chips and drink) hit the spot.”

“always friendly staff. Pretty much get a coffee here everyday.”

“Solid Bahn Mi for $7. Great bread and ingredients. The avocado smoothie was novel to me, and delicious. Only 2 tables inside, most people were taking the food to go. Highly recommended!”

“How is it possible for chicken to be so tender? It just is! Always order more than you can eat so you have some for later. Plus the million sauces are amazing. Get a few extra. The wait is very short, can get get busy at lunch time, but always a great experience. Always piping hot and flavorful. Mix and match regular and crispy.”

“We had an amazing lunch experience at Foodles today! The bibimbap, chicken katsu, and "Breakfast #4" were all exceptionally delicious. The service was equally impressive—warm, attentive, and truly welcoming. The cozy atmosphere made our meal even more enjoyable. Love this place! We will definately come back.”

“Started going there in 1980 and have never stopped❤️🙏🏻♥️”

“How nice to finally have an excellent Chinese restaurant in San Rafael. Nicely decorated, friendly and efficient service and delicious cuisine! Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed.”

“Great coffee great service most of the time. People working there need to learn to communicate and let customers know when they are backed up so when they make an order, they understand how long it will take instead of letting them know after the fact.”

“This place is tiny so I can see how easily they can run out of spots. Not a romantic dinner site as everyone is quite crammed in. We were lucky to find a seating right when we came in. The food though was soooooo good and plentiful. The two of us shared a small soup, one serving of rice and one entree each and we still left being barely able to move and with leftovers. Everything tasted rich and flavorful. I am not based in the area but when I visit I will come back!”

“Iv been going to Pete's for years I'm glad there still in business especially after the pandemic Ryan and the girls always treat me well the food is good plentiful and reasonable priced compared to others in Marin for the working man thank you all and happy holidays to all.”

“Solid Thai spot. The food is pretty good, if nothing spectacular. Definitely recommend their satay and curry. Interior is a bit small and out of date, but it has a nice cozy atmosphere. The service is excellent and definitely the highlight.”

“Awesome coffee and a very comfortable space to sit and enjoy the coffee.”

“Only thing I come in to order is the Crazy Coffee Smoothie! And it's on hit every time! 👍🏽”

“The best food ever , it is delicious 🤤 the environment is very welcoming , the staff are super kind and sweet 🥰we ordered falafel , shawarma and kabob , the rice is yummy too , the dessert is wow 🤩 I recommend it to every one 👍👍👍”

“Holy cow Batman!!!! this place serves some great comfort food …. Best Burger is tops, try it…. Shakes go down easy, fries are plain but add the salt and dip some ketchup … boom. Plenty of pilgrims make the daily Journey ??”

“Servers are fun to talk with and to learn about the best treats!”

“Seriously, best burrito in North Marin. Repeating this post because 1) Facebook asked me to write a formal review and 2) it's too empty when I've gone and I want people to keep them in business!”

“Such fresh good food. I made my own scramble it was beyond delicious!!!”

“Love take out. The best minestrone and garlic bread. Yummy. Try it.”

“Have dined at Le Chalet Basque for more than 20 years. Our recent meal with lamb chops, fresh vegetables, mashed potatoes and split pea soup served with crumbled blue cheese salad couldn't have been better. Fresh ingredients, great wine and excellent service will keep us returning again and again.”

“I have always loved the Gloria Jeans drinks in fact I used to work at the Ontario Mills Mall in Ontario California at Gloria Jeans there it was owned by Katie Chuck a very nice lady to work for but unfortunately she closed her business I miss working there that was back in 2002 -2006 4 years I had worked for her I still know how to make every drink we had back then cold and hot drinks speciality drinks which were the holiday drinks I remember the measurements to brew coffee ☕️ for the day when you work there for that long everything sticks with you but as for today I’m sure many things have changed as the years went by but I do still see some of the same coffee beans we had back then I wish we had one here in applevalley California we used to have one in the Victorville Mall years ago but that one has gone out of business as well years ago please ?? someone bring Gloria Jeans back to the High desert of California Applevalley California we need one here desperately I’m so sick of Starbucks they overroast their beans which gives the drinks a burnt taste of course they will deny it there is nothing like a Gloria Jeans coffee ☕️ hot or cold simply the best you can’t get any better then Gloria Jeans Coffee..❤️”

“Talked myself into trying something different today... Fried chicken thighs and it wasn't up to par as the pork belly is. The chicken may have been over bribed as I found it real salty :-(”

“Emilee made an amazing cake for my wedding. She was quick to respond, adaptable to what I wanted and edits, and had flexible pick up. Everyone loved the cake (almond cake with cherry compote).”

“💙 I can come here every day. 💜”

“How nice to finally have an excellent Chinese restaurant in San Rafael. Nicely decorated, friendly and efficient service and delicious cuisine! Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed.”

“I’m highly recommend it ..I’m here every day”

“I came with my family here, very clean place, clean restroom, clean everything, good food. Fast service, but please ladies from the front (customer service) smile, you take care of the customer like robots, next, thank you , next, thank you next. I was looking at every single person that was receiving their orders to make sure that chips are given to some odres or to every order. We order two burritos, one pupusa and twelve tacos. We did not received chips at all. I saw people that purchase tacos , receiving their chips, this wasn’t my case. No one gave us our chips😟”

“So tasty! Not usually a big fan of exotic flavors but this please is great. Been twice now and loved it both times. Chicken 65, dal, garlic broccoli, chow mein, rice, and Momo's were all delicious. And they serve Pond Farm beer!”

“I want to add my 5 star review to all the others. Food, service, atmosphere all deserve them. It makes for a wonderful dining experience when the server has a smile. Certainly will return.”

“We ordered the house milk tea with boba and the twilight taro with boba - both with less sugar and less ice. They were both delicious! Personally I preferred the milk tea - but I tend to like that more usually anyways. Parking was a little difficult but service was quick!”

“After trying many places with pho in Marin, this is the spot my family goes back to time and time again. The broth is in point, and the servings are filling. Go find out for yourself. ?”

“I don’t know if this is a locally owned place because I’m from out of town, but it had a really great vibe! I was there on a Saturday morning around 9 AM. Didn’t have to wait for a table. The menu was a lot. And that there are many many many choices.”

“I can’t recommend the Garden Cafe enough! I had a wonderful first experience here today having lunch. The food was delicious & nutritious- I got the Salmon Greek Salad (comes with garlic bread) and the “San Rafael Sunrise” drink, which is a juice including veggies and chia seeds. Lots of seating options indoors and outdoors with good lighting. Free wifi for those looking for a good study spot.
The service was AMAZING and contributed to creating such a friendly, inviting atmosphere. I have to give a special shout-out to Miguel, who was so gracious and apologetic about my juice being made wrong the first time. They were out of beets and I believe Miguel called someone and had more beets brought in while I was eating lunch so that I had a corrected juice with beets to enjoy before I finished eating! To be clear, I told Miguel it was completely fine that they were out of beets but he insisted it wasn’t fair to not get what I ordered and made sure I got my beet juice. I can vouch for how much the Garden Cafe values each customer there! I will be recommending to friends and coming back.”

“This place is really authentic. Food is cooked from scratch. Yuca is crispy and delicious. Beans are so tasty and pupusas well filled with yumminess”

“Very friendly. very clean, seems family oriented and maybe that's what makes it work. Love it!!!!”

“Sooooo effing good! Obsessed!”

“How nice to finally have an excellent Chinese restaurant in San Rafael. Nicely decorated, friendly and efficient service and delicious cuisine! Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed.”

“Great food. Friendly staff. Good music walking distance for me”

“It was great! The food was delicious we recommend the Kim Bap! But really all the food was delicious and fresh! The boba tea is yummy and feels homemade. The inside is a bit small so we sat outside which was pretty. The service was great and they were very kind to us! 10/10 place. We’re also a very picky family when it comes to Korean food as we love it and this place definitely reached our expectations!”

“I’ve stopped and ate in here a few times and the owner, Chris is one of THE BEST restaurant owners I’ve ever met. He’s very knowledgeable, kind and caring and can answer any menu questions and give you suggestions. The quality of the food is fresh and delicious every single time. I highly recommend Wrap N Kabob if you’re looking for a fresh, tasty, culturally authentic & healthy meal that will leave you satisfied!”