Best Restaurants for Spicy Food in Downtown / Union Square

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchIndian

Regions

East BayMarinPeninsulaSan Francisco

Neighborhoods

AlamedaAlbanyBerkeleyBernal HeightsChinatownCivic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Wheelchair access

215 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

A photo of Chotto Matte San Francisco restaurant

1. Chotto Matte San Francisco

4.3

Awesome(110)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Asian • Downtown / Union Square

Booked 11 times today

Situated in Downtown San Francisco, Chotto Matte is renowned for its signature Nikkei Cuisine, expertly crafted cocktails, and electric atmosphere. Chotto Matte’s chic, contemporary interior is inspired by its Japanese & Peruvian roots, making it a unique dining experience, every time. Key highlights include Chotto’s recognizable bold design, tropical foliage and theatrical robata grill.

A photo of Delarosa - Yerba Buena restaurant

2. Delarosa - Yerba Buena

4.6

Exceptional(59)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • SOMA

Booked 21 times today

Delarosa is an Italian-style restaurant in downtown San Francisco. It has a free and open design with large, communal tables for many different guests to share during a meal. There is also stool seating around the edges of the restaurant near the bar area. This is a well lit restaurant with long lines of bright pendants lights hanging from the ceilings. Pizza is the main focus at Delarosa, but other Italian cuisine is also offered. During the weekdays, a lunch and dinner menu is offered with frittis, paninis, spiedinis and pasta with your choice of sauce meats and toppings. A large variety of pizza is also offered, including the delicious margherita or spicy marinara pizzas. On weekends, guests can order from the brunch menu for a lighter meal of traditional breakfast dishes, appetizers or pizzas. The bar at Delarosa serves from a selection of popular international and Italian wines.

3. The Cavalier

4.7

Exceptional(1807)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Californian • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 18 times today

The Cavalier is a London-inspired brasserie, located adjacent to Hotel Zetta in San Francisco's SoMA neighborhood. The upscale British influenced restaurant is brought to you by Executive Chef Jennifer Puccio, managing partner James Nicholas, and award winning San Francisco designer, Ken Fulk. The 135-seat restaurant is divided into four unique, intimate spaces: the Blue Bar, Main Dining Room, Wine Stables, and Rail Car. The interior is designed with deep leather banquettes, polished brass, zinc and white marble, lending a posh and sultry feel.

4. Rise Over Run

4.3

Awesome(231)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Mediterranean • Downtown / Union Square

Booked 15 times today

Gaze out over sweeping views of the San Francisco skyline at Rise Over Run, the lush outdoor rooftop and indoor solarium. Share a South East Asian inspired cocktail — by local legend Danny Louie — or snack on vibrant dishes, incorporating locally-sourced ingredients.Walk-ins are welcomed and encouraged! Reservations are nice, too.For private event and large group inquiries please email us at SFOTL_events@hilton.com

A photo of ABSteak by Chef Akira Back - San Francisco restaurant

5. ABSteak by Chef Akira Back - San Francisco

4.6

Exceptional(56)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Steakhouse • SOMA

Booked 14 times today

Korean steakhouse with dry-aged meats, expertly crafted cocktails and world-class service where the heart and soul of authentic Korean flavors seamlessly intertwine with the essence of a fine steakhouse.

A photo of Matador - San Francisco restaurant

6. Matador - San Francisco

4.4

Awesome(214)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Mexican • Downtown / Union Square

Booked 17 times today

Matador – San Francisco is a restaurant serving authentic Mexican cuisine. It offers delivery and takeout, and also provides catering services. The restaurant is recommended for lunch and dinner, and has garage and street parking. It is a good place for groups, and the attire and ambiance inside is casual. Matador – San Francisco offers full alcohol bar and the noise level during peak hours is average. The restaurant offers free WI-FI access and has outdoor seating as well.The menu at Matador – San Francisco includes classic Mexican dishes such as carnitas tacos, guacamole, mezcal with pineapple syrup and lemon, house salad with shrimp, salsa, and pozole. The waiting staff is friendly, courteous, and fast in taking orders and serving food.

7. Bombay Brasserie

4.4

Awesome(62)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• French / Indian • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 8 times today

Welcome to Bombay Brasserie, where the vibrant tapestry of Indian cuisine meets the elegance of French culinary artistry in the heart of San Francisco’s Union Square. Enjoy a journey through India’s culinary landscape, from the aromatic spices of the North to the coastal flavors of the South, meticulously crafted with a French twist to elevate traditional dishes. Dive into an evening that’s as bold as it is creative and experience a harmonious blend of two world-renowned cuisines, where every bite is a symphony of heritage and sophistication.

8. Dirty Habit

4.0

Excellent(844)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Unspecified • Downtown / Union Square

Booked 4 times today

Our bar-centric concept plays host to a vivid social scene and creative craft cocktail menu with an emphasis on rare brown spirits. In a prime location perched five floors above the streets of the developing high-tech start-up epicenter in SOMA, Dirty Habit serves as an intimate hideaway for locals seeking inventive offerings and a sociable dining atmosphere, both inside the restaurant and on the spacious, heated outdoor dining room.

9. Cable 55

4.1

Excellent(25)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Unspecified • Downtown / Union Square

Booked 2 times today

In the heart of San Francisco's popular neighborhood at Market and Fifth, the contemporary Cable 55 restaurant is found in the sleek Parc 55 San Francisco - a Hilton Hotel, offering tourists and residents a stylish venue and delicious change of pace from rich American classics by infusing them with a light, local flair. As a Surfrider Foundation Ocean Friendly Restaurant, Cable 55 is dedicated to sustainably serving you.

10. Aliment

4.5

Awesome(952)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• American • Downtown / Union Square

Booked 4 times today

Aliment, is a family-owned and operated American Restaurant in Downtown San Francisco. Est. in 2013 and just a few blocks from Union Square, we serve organic new American cuisine with excellent choices of homemade cocktails, local Napa Wines, and local beers. Our team of chefs re-creates our menu on a seasonal basis. We pride ourselves in our belief in keeping San Francisco fun and unique by offering a diverse menu such as Lamb Chops, Grilled Seabass, Bread Pudding, and more!

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

W
Will
3 reviews
4.0
Dined 2 days ago
Everyone was very nice and friendly. The manager was always there to get us something when our server was too busy with other tables, which was a lot. The food and drinks were fresh and delicious. I really liked my enchiladas, and the choros were delicious.
More info
Matador - San FranciscoPrice: Expensive• Mexican• Downtown / Union Square
•
4.4
K
Karen
San Francisco Bay Area •4 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jun 9, 2025
Yummy food! So easy to order: just choose from 1 of 8 sets (per person). Each tasty dish may look small, but we were all very full and satisfied at the end! Cocktails were reasonably priced. Ambience was airy and quiet at first, but when one large boisterous group sat down, there was nothing to buffer the noise. Still, I'd come back again :-)
More info
Hed Very ThaiPrice: Moderate• Thai• Financial District / Embarcadero
•
4.9
P
Preston
San Francisco Bay Area •11 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jun 3, 2025
Always consistently high value. Best recommendation.
More info
Base CampPrice: Moderate• Asian• Mission District
•
4.9
A
Abhinav
San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
5.0
Dined on May 25, 2025
Great quality food. Unique dishes not found at other Indian restaurants
More info
Bombay BrasseriePrice: Expensive• French / Indian• Financial District / Embarcadero
•
4.4
K
KeriVIP
Portland / Oregon •11 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 19, 2025
The restaurant was very accommodating with our changing times. The food was very good as well as the drinks.
More info
Z & Y RestaurantPrice: Moderate• Chinese• Chinatown
•
4.6

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