“We strive to create an environment that feels like you have both come home and been whisked away to a secret oasis. We love to offer our guests the opportunity to receive a unique treatment in the bathhouse and then sit down for a meal that is intentional and enriching.”

Mushroom dumplings in katsuoboshi broth; house-made pickles; McFarland Springs trout poke with smoked soy, crispy rice, shiso verde, and pickled kohlrabi.

A restaurant, tea house, and Japanesestyle bathhouse, Onsen is one of the most unique dining experiences in San Francisco. You have the option to soak and steam before or after a meal, but you can also go simply to enjoy Onsen’s intimate dining room.

Chef George Meza Onsen’s menu is on the lighter side; there’s no fried food, but there is plenty of sustainable seafood and seasonal produce. An array of small bites are a good way to begin a meal, while larger plates like mushroom dumplings in a katsuoboshi broth are simultaneously hearty and delicate. Carefully sourced beverages accompany the food, as does an air of complete and utter relaxation.

“From start to finish, every dish is fully realized. My initial desire to go there may have been motivated by curiosity, but by the third visit I was there because of the integrity and passion displayed in the food. It was the best kind of a happy ending.” –Michael Bauer, San Francisco Chronicle