The Bay’s Best Soup
Written by Alida Newson
Soup may be one of the most underrated meals out there. It warms you up, it comforts you, and best of all, it doesn't break the bank. Everyone loves soup. And if you don't, chances are you haven't gotten this far. Grab a spoon and get toasty – we've gathered the best of the best soup spots in town.
San Francisco
(501 6th St // SoMa + 645 Larkin St // Civic Center)
You can't talk about soup without talking about Turtle Tower. They have 10 different Hanoi-style pho and plenty of other Vietnamese dishes that will surely keep you returning for more. Dine in at the SoMa or Civic Center location, or order for pickup or delivery.
There's not much that can top a good matzo ball soup on a chilly day, and this popular Jewish delicatessen sure knows how to do it right. Rich broth, plenty of chicken, and, of course, a big ol' matzo ball to top it off. Order for pickup or delivery here.
(1243 9th Ave // Inner Sunset + 2225 Irving St // Outer Sunset)
Marnee is one of the best Thai spots in the City (quote us on that), so it's only natural for them to have some of the best Thai soups around. Their Noodle Combo and Tom Yum soups are both delicious and able to cure you of the common cold (maybe don't quote us on that, but still amazing!). Stop by or order for pickup or delivery on DoorDash or Postmates.
(941 Cole St // Cole Valley)
Their famous French Onion Soup is a gift from the heavens, plus they always have a rotating selection of vegetarian soup options. They don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait a little bit to get warm, or order take-out here.
(3906 Judah St // Outer Sunset)
Vegans of SF, we got you too. Judahlicious's Mahendra Soup (cauliflower, green lentils, potato, sweet potato, spices, walnut parmesan) is sure to get you through the winter, and their housemade chili is fire. Not just in the 'slang for really good' sense, but also in the sense that it's spicy af and will surely warm you up. Perch at one of their handful of tables, or order online from their website.
(3248 18th St // Mission)
Gallardos has plenty of sopas to hold you over until spring: Caldo de res/pollo/camaron, albondigas, and the star of the show, pozole. The flavor is nothing short of rich, traditional, and hearty. You can grab a seat inside or out, or call to order soup to go.
You already know it, you may or may not love it – it's the OG San Francisco clam chowder. Served in a sourdough bread bowl. Enough said.
(524 Irving St // Inner Sunset)
Some of the best vegan southeast Asian cuisine on the market, Loving Hut is stacked with delicious vegan renditions of Vietnamese/Thai dishes, including plenty of soups. Our favorite is the Bun Hue, a spicy lemongrass soup with rice noodles, soy "meat," tofu, and mushrooms. Filling, cheap, vegan, and delicious.
East Bay
(723 Webster St // Oakland)
Get your tasty soup fix while also treating your body to the benefits of Imperial's seasonal soups, which they say will help improve your health with medicinal ingredients. Who are we to argue with natural Chinese medicine in the form of delicious soup? Dine in 7 days a week from 11 am to 7:30 pm, or order take-out here.
(3411 E 12th St // Fruitvale)
Albondigas and winter truly do go hand in hand, and Obelisco has a bowl of meatball soup that's hard to beat. Flavored with guajillo-pasilla chiles, it will give you the kick of spice you need to warm you up. Dine in or order for pickup or delivery through DoorDash, Postmates, or by phone.
(2102 8th Ave // Oakland)
Fresh ingredients and rich broth make for a great combo at Champa Garden, a local Thai food paradise. Their wonton soup, Tom Kha, and Tom Yum are some truly superb soups — order them with chicken, beef, tofu, shrimp, pork, or completely vegetarian.
South Bay + Peninsula
Y'all ... This chicken tortilla soup. If we could insert some flame emojis, we would. Celia's tortilla soup (and the albondigas, to be honest) hit the spot every time. Stop by one of their 8 Bay Area locations, or order for pickup or delivery here.
(1250 Old Bayshore Blvd // Burlingame)
Max's has matzo ball soup, Russian cabbage soup, french onion soup, and clam chowder (i.e. Max's has something for everyone). Not to mention, a full menu of snacks, plates, and desserts too. Don't sleep on 'em, go get your comfort in a bowl!
(79 E 3rd Ave // San Mateo)
The main thing you need to know about Noodles and Things is that they simmer their broth for 20+ hours before serving. Is this in Flavor Town, USA? Nope. It's just over on the Peninsula. Swing by either location, or snag your noodle soup for pickup or delivery here.
(111 W St John St Ste 100 // San Jose + 334 Grant Ave // San Francisco)
This house is stacked with chowder and we're living for it. Get yourself a hearty bowl of classic clam chowder (Boston or Manhattan style), or opt for one of the many other soups including coconut corn chowder (vegan), seafood gumbo, cioppino, or lobster bisque.
North Bay
(12301 Sir Francis Drake Blvd // Inverness)
This market off the side of the road in one of the North Bay's teeniest towns takes the cake for the best soup in the area. Their homemade soup selection changes regularly, so be sure to check what it is when you order (if you're lucky, you'll land their killer clam chowder). Order for pickup here and walk over the famed Inverness Shipwreck to have a little soup-centric picnic.
(286 Coddingtown Ctr // Santa Rosa)
Noodle lovers (so, everyone?), rejoice! You have to SEA what they've got in store for you: Asian-inspired chicken noodle soup, tofu soup, spicy curry soup, pork wonton soup, and so many more. You even get to choose between 6 types of noodles for your soup?! Incredible. Dine in or order for pickup or delivery here.
Sourdough & Co. is a straight-forward, no-frills, sandwich + a side of soup NorCal staple. What more do you need, anyway? They've got a solid selection of soups from tomato to potato to chicken + poblano, with a bread bowl to match. Dine in or order for pickup or delivery here.
(401 Miller Ave // Mill Valley + 903 Lincoln Ave // San Rafael)
Authentic Peruvian soups for days. Sol Food has you covered with caldo de pollo y fideos (chicken noodle), Caldo Gallego (Galician-styleboth, ham, potatoes, greens), and sopa de lentejas (lentil, pumpkin, plantains), and more! Love to see it. Dine in or order for pickup or delivery here.
** This article was originally published by Do The Bay. CLICK HERE to view the full article.