THE BEST PLACES IN SF TO TAKE KIDS OUT TO EAT, ACCORDING TO KIDS WHO LOVE TO EAT

Where do kids like to eat? It’s a simple question, but oftentimes, children don’t get a say in what restaurants they go to or what they have for dinner. Now we’re giving kids a chance to speak up: Eater SF teamed up with local writing and tutoring nonprofit 826 Valencia, where we asked students in after-school and in-classroom programs to pen reviews of their favorite San Francisco restaurants and say what they like about them.

Elementary school students from 826 Valencia’s Mission, Tenderloin, and Mission Bay Centers responded, writing about their favorite burgers, panuchos, boba, and more. This is a true children’s guide to San Francisco restaurants, written by budding food critics across the city.

826 Valencia serves over 7,000 students in San Francisco every year. If you’d like to support 826 Valencia’s free writing programs, learn more here.

Piccolo Italia

Ander B., age 10

Imagine a picture made from Picasso and the picture came to life. Just remember it is Piccolo’s pizza. It’s just magic gold brightening the room. I get it, it’s a lot like the cake you need.

In my opinion, eating any pizza from this place is perfect for you. The flavors are unforgivable, especially the Hawaiian pizza with pineapples. It’s sweet and cheesy, and the ham is just perfect.

Another reason is the wings, they are as hot as a star that exploded. The workers are super fast and they are as nice as drinking a taste of heaven.

You need to eat these pizzas. It’s like you just came to a new world that you can imagine. The pizzas are so cheesy and the pineapples are like PB&J. The toppings are so mesmerizing. The ham is a luxury.

I can talk about this all day but you can go eat the pizza all day with a soda, and it will be a delicacy. Next time, go eat at Piccolo Italia. 799 O’Farrell Street

Chicken King

Calina R., age 9

Picture this: a warm, crunchy, soft drumstick entering your mouth. Well, you should get a drumstick at Chicken King. When I get it, it is so so hot, but by the time I get home, it’s nice and cool but still warm. I recommend getting the four-piece pack.

The chicken itself is a little salty but the spice makes it the best chicken in the world. I recommend you get four pieces because it only costs around ten dollars. If you want to eat the chicken and don’t know where it is, it’s on the way to Up on Top. When you go up the hill, you’ll see the place on the side.

If you live close by, like two to three blocks from the Chicken King, the chicken should be cool by then. But if you live far away and have to use a car, I recommend you eat it in the car. For me, it gets spicier after one day. The restaurant smells like when you walk into heaven, the spicy (but not spicy) smell makes you want to eat it right away. I love the chicken but not the biscuit. I kind of like the potato wedges though.

So you should put this review down and get some juicy chicken with your friends and family. I promise you won’t regret your purchase. 212 6th Street

Popstar Shawarma

Arsalan H., age 10

Have you ever had a sandwich with chicken that’s fresh, never frozen, ingredients put on by hand, and super crispy, hot, super soft on the inside, and flavorful at the same time? If not, STOP ORDERING DOORDASH, and go to Popstar Shawarma and get the crispy chicken sandwich. It’s not that hard, right?

Once you enter, the smells, the flavors, the menu items, and one of the most hardworking and kindest chefs will force you inside the building. Literally. You should also try the spicy version! The sauce, spices, bread, butter all just melt on your tongue!

As you can see, all you gotta do is walk for a small while to get a gift of a sandwich! The flavors, the scents, and chefs will put a smile on your face and tongue! Your stomach will thank you! Your home will flood with saliva while looking at the burger! Not even Mario could fix your house! 91 Sixth Street

Casa Mayah Restaurant

Heily Z.-Z., age 9

Have you ever had delicious panuchos? I recommend panuchos because they are the best, they are so yummy and delicious, you can also get other food and it’s so good.

You should get it because it’s crunchy. Okay, let me tell you what it’s made of. It’s made of tortilla, warm mashed beans inside, and yes, I know a lot of people don’t like beans. I also don’t like beans, but it’s so different when you taste it. It’s very greasy, crunchy, and smoky when it comes out. It’s dark from the beans and it’s warm.

As you can see, all the food there is so good. If you don’t have a place to go and you want to try something new, then I recommend you to try Casa Mayah!

P.S. There is so much more to choose from. You can add your own toppings. 294 Turk Street

Allstar Donuts & Burgers

Arianny A. J., age 8

Did you know that the doughnuts are very tasty and yummy at Allstar Donuts? The doughnuts have flavors like chocolate and strawberry. Doughnuts are like sweet dreams that make me very happy.

People like sour and sugary treats like soft and sweet chocolate donuts, fluffy and fresh pancakes, and they drink it with soda and warm water.

How about some sprinkles on your doughnuts, or a doughnut with cream inside? Maybe a juicy doughnut that runs all over your fingers?! Doughnuts like to be messy!

I’m excited and happy about Allstar Donuts! When you go, you’ll be happy and hungry because the doughnuts are so tasty, soft, sweet, and powdery. I will see you tomorrow at Allstar Donuts. 290 Golden Gate Avenue

Taqueria Cancún

Angel V., age 10

Imagine a soft, scrumptious, and spicy chicken taco. In my opinion, Taqueria Cancún is the best restaurant for tacos. I don’t like everything on the menu, but one thing I always get at Taqueria Cancún is their chicken tacos.

I like the chicken tacos because they have a good blend of spiciness and citrusness. The citrusness is optional because each of their tacos comes with two slices of lime for extra taste. They also give two salsas, red sauce and green sauce.

When they serve you, the tacos’ freshness and spiciness hits your nose. I love the smell because it gives me a preview of what I’ll be eating. Talking about taste, the second you bite into the taco, a sour, salty, chewy, and crunchy flavor spreads in your mouth. Then you can also buy a burrito to go with your food.

I hope that now I have told you how delicious chicken tacos from Taqueria Cancún are, you will go buy some to try for yourself. Trust me, you will like it! 3211 Mission Street

Chico’s Pizza

Kevin C., age 11

Picture this, a building labeled: Chico’s Pizza. As soon as you walk by, an assortment of smells are dragging your attention. Smells like pepperoni, cheese, olives, sauce, and meat. Not enough? Well, in this review I will change your point of view on this miracle of a restaurant, because without a doubt, Chico’s is the best pizza ever!

One reason to go to Chico’s are the breadsticks, need I say more? (Yes!) The breadsticks come in many variations like tall, short, thin, thick, and garlicky, and they can be many different combinations.

Another reason to go to Chico’s is the Hawaiian. WAIT, don’t go scrolling past this page! I know pineapple on pizza has a bad name right now but Chico’s Pizza’s Hawaiian is like sweet and sour sauce. It sounds bad but it’s really good.

I’m still kinda mad that you scrolled down, but whatever!

In conclusion, I proved that Chico’s Pizza is really good, and not even limited to pizza. Chico’s will take over, it already has breadsticks. Soon it will be you! They make even the simplest pizza into the best dinners (or dessert). The only downside is you need money. I mean, it makes sense, paper for miracle pizza. So yeah, that’s how good it is! Every word is one point into tastiness for the pizzas! 468 Ellis Street

La Santaneca De La Mission

Chloe M., age 11

Have you ever wanted the server at a restaurant to actually be attentive and actually listen, and have what you want to eat? At La Santaneca the servers make sure you’re having a good time, and the food is very fresh. Who wouldn’t love the attention from servers?

The pupusas at La Santaneca are different than other restaurants because the food is fresh, and the food is warm like sitting at a campfire. They serve it with salsa roja and curtido. La Santaneca also has different foods like tamales.

When I enter La Santaneca I see servers spraying and wiping the table to make it clean. Some things I like about La Santaneca is that the servers pay attention when you’re speaking. They are very attentive, they pay attention. The food is not really expensive but not cheap.

I encourage you to experience the freshest of the pupusas from La Santaneca. 2815 Mission Street

Kevin’s Noodle House

Allison C., age 9

This is my reaction from when I went to Kevin’s Noodle house with my two sisters and my mom. I ate pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup. I like the seats, boba, broth, and other condiments, and the servers are nice and kind.

I mix in a lot of stuff on my pho. My favorite stuff on my noodles is the green onion, jalapeños, and this red sauce, sriracha. I recommend putting green onion, sprouts, and jalapeños. The chicken pho is spicy. It tastes juicy and it is tasty. The chicken stock is good. It sounds like you are pulling something. It tastes spicy and flavorful. It feels like fireworks in the sky. When I drink it and eat it, it feels like there are rainbows in my stomach.

You can thank Allison for this food review, you will love this food. 1833 Irving Street

Costco Pizza

Loay A.-A., age 9

Imagine a pizza that will melt in your mouth. It has extra delicious sauce and it has a chewy, toasty crust. Without a doubt, Costco pizza is my favorite pizza ever. It tastes so good it feels like I won the Writer of the Month.

Every time I eat a different pizza, I always just want to eat Costco pizza. Costco is so large I could eat more than one. It’s as large as the earth, if she is like a full pizza. It is the most delicious pizza in the world. The pizza comes out hot and smoky as a volcano. It burns my tongue, but in a good way. I save my tongue by eating a double-chunk chocolate cookie after. I like eating large pizzas because you can taste it more. It is so cheesy, it cannot let me forget it because it was so good.

Now you see why you should eat Costco cheese pizza because it is so good it makes me pass out from the deliciousness. When you look at it, it looks normal, but the taste is special. As you can see Costco is the best pizza. 450 10th Street

Fresh Brew Coffee

Junseng L., age 10

What do you think is the best place to get a sandwich? Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s Fresh Brew Coffee. Fresh Brew Coffee has all the sandwiches you could imagine! One of my favorite sandwiches is a bacon, egg, and cheese. I think it’s a perfect sandwich to start your day. If you need the best place to chill in San Francisco, Fresh Brew Coffee is the place for you.

You NEED to try the bacon, egg, and cheese. It is perfectly perfect. To start with, bacon is as crispy as leaves on a fall day. Another reason why the bacon, egg, and cheese is perfectly perfect is the cheese. The cheese sways around the bread and bacon. Most importantly, the buttery croissant will make you feel like you’re in heaven. The sandwich is bussin’.

The most deliciously delicious sandwich ever: the bacon, egg, and cheese. Your life depends on it! 882 Bush Street

Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack

Siahna K., age 8

You guys need to try it! The food tastes like the best spaghetti in the world and you touch it and it’s squishy and it looks twisty. It smells like spaghetti, obviously.

The restaurant is good. You can look at the menu and see the spaghetti. When you eat it, it doesn’t sound like anything, but it’s soft. If you don’t like spaghetti with tomato sauce and cheese, then have the salad. For dessert, there is a cake that’s chocolate and tastes like coffee a little bit.

It’s a great place to bring your family! 3230 Mission Street

Big Mouth Burgers

Gabriel F.-G., age 11

Have you ever seen a french fry as big as a pencil? I have at Big Mouth Burgers! They have so many burgers, more than I have ever seen, but my favorite thing is the fish and chips.

When you see it, the fish will be big and the fries are tall. The fish is smoky and the fries are a little burnt, but in a good way. The fish is bumpy, greasy, and hot. The french fries are warm and bumpy too. The fries are salty and crunchy and the fish is juicy and it is all delicious.

People should try the fish and chips because it is very good when you need to eat some lunch. 3392 24th Street

Pollo Campero

Keyly D., age 10

¿Alguna vez has probado Pollo Campero? Cuando lo comes se siente crujiente y cuando le das mordida le sale poquito del aceite que tiene. Te recomiendo que lo pruebes porque es muy delicioso.

Yo recomiendo el combo de dos piezas con una cajita de papas y una soda. La combinación del pollo con las papitas es muy sabroso. El pollo y las papas son calientes y saladas, por eso combina bien con una coca helada. Algo más que le va bien son las ensaladas que hacen en Pollo Campero con lechuga y zanahoria.

Si quieres ir a probar Pollo Campero, está en La Misión. Hacen comida muy rica y es popular, a veces la fila es muy grande ¡y tienes que llegar temprano para no tener que esperar! 2740 Mission Street

Translation: Have you ever tried Pollo Campero? When you eat it, it feels crunchy and when you bite it the oil in it drips. I recommend you try it because it is very delicious.

I recommend the two-piece combo with a side of fries and a soda. The combination of chicken with fries is very tasty. The chicken and the fries are hot and salty, which is why it goes well with a cold Coke. Another thing that goes well with it is the salads they make at Pollo Campero with lettuce and carrots.

If you want to go try Pollo Campero, it’s in the Mission. They make very tasty food and it is popular, the line is very long sometimes, and you have to arrive early so you don’t have to wait! 2740 Mission Street

Arsicault

Victoria Z.-Z., age 10

Have you ever gone and eaten a chocolate croissant from Arsicault? I have, it was so good, it was sweet and it has hot, melted chocolate. You should try it. It’s really good!

I think you should try the chocolate croissant because it’s fluffy, delicious, and crunchy. It also smells like chocolate and the chocolate inside the croissant is melted, so it makes it warm and sweeter. Also, it smells fresh and it comes out fresh from the oven. When it’s fresh from the oven, it’s sometimes salty. There are more things you should try like ham and cheese croissant, strawberry jam croissant, and many more. Another reason why you should go to Arsicault is because the workers at Arsicault are nice and it’s warm inside.

As you can see, Arsicault has so many different croissants and sandwiches to choose from. Maybe you can take your friend to Arsicault or go with your family. I think you and whoever you take will love it. 87 McAllister Street

Da Hot Spot Cafe

Shaima A., age 11

Have you ever tried Da Hot Spot? I think Da Hot Spot is a good place to eat because it’s halal for people that have religions where they can’t eat pork. You can make your own boba! Once you take a bite of their burger, you can taste the flavors bursting in your mouth. If you get boba, you can taste all the fruits bursting in your mouth!

The sandwiches are warm, crispy, and bursts all the flavors in your tiny mouth. You can taste the sweetness in you. The cheese pizza is as hot as the sun. You can already feel it in your mouth. You can feel that happiness once you hear the kind lady or man call your name, “Shaima!” 201A Turk Street

El Tesoro Taqueria and Grill

Ian P.-C., age 8

Picture this: tacos de carnitas so juicy and savory. The carnitas smells fragrant. It tastes good, really good. You can get salsas and limes. It will make you feel like an angel flying in the sky. I recommend you visit El Tesoro Taqueria and Grill to try tacos de carnitas.

The Taqueria itself looks small, but it’s big and it has two floors, a basement, and the normal floor. The workers are as friendly as a cousin. They never scream or hurry you. Every time I go there it makes me happy and hungry. My brain gets excited when I eat their carnitas.

Finally, the tacos are as good as candy so go now to buy tacos from El Tesoro Taqueria and Grill today! 599 O’Farrell Street

El Catrachito

Holban V., age 11

La gente debe probar el pollo chuco de El Catrachito porque está lleno con sabores diferentes, es una explosion de sabores mezclado con cebolla.

Cuando entras vas a ver mesas de color café y notar el olor a plátanos y puedes saborear los frijoles. Vas a escuchar platos siendo lavados. Cuando tocas las tortillas se sienten calientes y luego tibias. Hay muchos ingredientes en el pollo chuco como frijoles, crema y aguacate.

Tal vez has probado tortillas pero no espero has probado las baleadas, te dejan bailando en tus taste buds!

Translation: People must try El Catrachito’s pollo chuco because it’s filled with different flavors, it’s an explosion of flavors mixed with onion.

When you go inside you’re going to see brown tables and notice the scent of plantains and you can taste the beans. You’re going to hear dishes being washed. When you touch the tortillas they feel hot and then warm. There are a lot of ingredients in the pollo chuco like beans, cream, and avocado.

Maybe you have tried tortillas but I don’t expect you’ve tried the baleadas, they leave you dancing in your taste buds! 2331 Mission Street

Domino’s Pizza

Johnnathan S.-R., age 11

Imagine eating lava cake with a Mountain Dew Baja Blast on a sunny day at the park. The chocolate melts into my taste buds. The chocolate inside is so good that I need more. It is the best cake in the world, it looks so yummy when I see the chocolate melting inside.

I love going to Domino’s Pizza just for the lava cake. I am always begging my mom for money to buy the lava cake, and I’m thinking about it right now. It smells so good that I want it now, it feels so hot. Then I go to a 7-Eleven to get a Baja Blast. When I take a bite it is so sweet and I can hear the munching in my mouth. I see it glowing with my eye. My mom loves lava cakes too, therefore I love lava cakes so much.

In conclusion I want that good yummy lava cake. On a bad day, lava cake is there for you. You can get a lava cake and order it on the Domino’s app or in the store. 3116 Noriega Street

2025-02-03T18:14:38Z