How many restaurants are there in San Francisco's busiest areas?
We counted 1,380 restaurants within 1 km of the centres of 10 San Francisco areas. Union Square is the most crowded at 127.6 per km²; Haight-Ashbury is the least, at 15.9.
Mapped
1,380
in 10 areas
Busiest area
127.6/km²
Union Square
Average rating
4.4★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Restaurants by area, most crowded first
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
| Area | Within 1 km | Per km² | Avg rating | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Square4.3★ average | 401127.6/km² | 127.6 | 4.3★ | INTENSE |
| North Beach4.3★ average | 21066.8/km² | 66.8 | 4.3★ | INTENSE |
| Mission District4.5★ average | 19160.8/km² | 60.8 | 4.5★ | INTENSE |
| Hayes Valley4.4★ average | 12640.1/km² | 40.1 | 4.4★ | INTENSE |
| Fillmore4.3★ average | 10633.7/km² | 33.7 | 4.3★ | HIGH |
| Inner Richmond4.4★ average | 9129.0/km² | 29.0 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Marina4.4★ average | 8426.7/km² | 26.7 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Inner Sunset4.4★ average | 6119.4/km² | 19.4 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Castro4.4★ average | 6019.1/km² | 19.1 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Haight-Ashbury4.4★ average | 5015.9/km² | 15.9 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
Where is it least crowded?
- Haight-AshburyHIGH
50 restaurants within 1 km (15.9 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
- CastroHIGH
60 restaurants within 1 km (19.1 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
- Inner SunsetHIGH
61 restaurants within 1 km (19.4 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
Fewer restaurants is not the same as more demand. Look at foot traffic and rents before you read a quiet area as an opening.
How they are rated
All 1,380 restaurants in the 10 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up563 (41%)
- 4.0 to 4.4637 (46%)
- 3.5 to 3.998 (7%)
- Below 3.531 (2%)
- Under 10 reviews51 (4%)
Chains seen most
Brands with two or more outlets inside one area circle.
- Proper Food3 outlets · 1 area
- The Melt2 outlets · 1 area
- Bini's Kitchen LLC2 outlets · 1 area
- Per Diem2 outlets · 1 area
- McDonald's2 outlets · 1 area
- Joyride Pizza2 outlets · 1 area
- Super Duper Burgers2 outlets · 1 area
- Oasis Grill2 outlets · 1 area
- Chico's Pizza2 outlets · 1 area
- Krispy Krunchy Chicken2 outlets · 1 area
Check competition at your exact address — free
Drop a pin on the street you have in mind and see every competitor around it on a map, with ratings and review counts. The scan is free with an account.
Questions
Is San Francisco saturated with restaurants?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 10 area centres we mapped, density runs from 15.9 per km² in Haight-Ashbury to 127.6 per km² in Union Square. 10 of the 10 areas count as high or intense competition (over 15 per km²). Check the exact address you have in mind before you commit.
Which San Francisco area has the most restaurants?
Union Square, with 401 within 1 km of its centre (127.6 per km²). Next come North Beach (210) and Mission District (191).
What is the average rating of restaurants in San Francisco?
4.4 out of 5, across the 1,329 restaurants with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Mission District (4.5), the lowest Union Square (4.3).
Which restaurant chains are most common in San Francisco?
In the areas we mapped: Proper Food (3 outlets in 1 area), The Melt (2 outlets in 1 area), Bini's Kitchen LLC (2 outlets in 1 area).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every restaurant on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Circles of neighbouring areas can overlap, so a place near two centres is counted in both, and the figures are not a total for the whole of San Francisco.