CHOW NOW
There are a couple new spots to rock your sweet tooth — or grill, depending on how many teeth we’re talking about — starting with the brick-and-mortar Mission location of the Crème Brûlée Cart (3338 24th St., SF. www.cremebruleecart.com) that just opened by the 24th Street BART station. Yup, you can dive into a traditional crème brûlée (torched to order) or go new school with rotating flavors like the Tupac (with Champagne, cranberries, and pecans), plus other topping options. Also: pinball (fun), housemade drinks, and take-home dessert sauces in case you wanna get freaky with your honey. Hours for now are Wed–Thu and Sun 2pm–10pm and Fri–Sat 12pm–12am (closed Mon–Tue).
If you’re in the Richmond, you’re going to want to swing by the brand-new Heartbaker (1408 Clement, SF. www.theheartbaker.com) from Sybil Johnson. The name may sound sweet, but the look is definitely edgy, with creepy-cool large-format photographs by Merkley??? of Heartbaker pals wearing masks covered in cream puffs and other edible items. Whether you want to grab a baguette sandwich before heading the park, hang out at the marble bar over some baked goods and coffee, or sit down for a salad and dessert (uh huh), this place has you covered. There’s also beer and wine, how civilized. Hours are Tue–Wed 7am–10pm, Thu–Sat 7am–11pm, Sun 8am–10pm, closed Mon.
Let’s talk brunch, shall we? If you dig chicken and waffles, Soul Groove (422 Larkin SF. www.chickenandwafflesandwich.com) is now busting out a Southern-fried brunch on the weekend. Whatever damage you did Saturday night, I imagine a fried chicken–waffle sandwich, an eggs Benedict made with a waffle, or Bourbon Street waffles (banana cake waffles with praline butter, bourbon-maple syrup, and vanilla bean whipped cream) will help fix things. And since more is more, brunch also includes DJs spinning records from the Motown on Monday crew and Today’s Future Sound. If you’re a night owl, there are also late-night takeout hours, until 3am on Thu–Sat. Hours are Sun–Wed 10am–3pm and 5pm–10pm, Thu–Sat 10am–3pm and 5pm–11pm; takeout only 11pm–3am.
For a little bit of Mexico City sabór, there’s a new pop-up called Loqui (3609 18th St. SF. www.eatloqui.com) on Friday and Saturday nights from Tartine baker Cameron Wallace and Mexico City native Ari Ampudia. Think street food like mesquite-grilled carne asada tacos on handmade flour and corn tortillas, and pelonas (sandwiches) stuffed with birria, and other antojitos. Fri–Sat 7:30pm until they sell out (11pm or so).
BALLIN’ ON A BUDGET
If you dig barbecue, you’ll want to check out this upcoming pop-up on Tue/25, S&S Pop-Up from chefs Sarah Burchard and Spencer O’Meara, because these two know their way around some meats. They’ll be doing a Latin American night, with happy hour small bites (at 6pm) and dinner kicks in at 7pm with build-you-own barbacoa (goat) tacos, ceviche, feijoada, fried plantains, and three kinds of dessert. At Mission Rock Resort, 817 Terry A. Francois Blvd, SF. Tickets are $42 (not including drinks and gratuity): ss-shack.ticketleap.com.
YOU GOTTA EAT THIS
There’s fried rice, and then there’s the fried rice at Ramen Shop in Rockridge (5812 College, Oak. www.ramenshop.com). No rubbery pieces of egg in this bowl of bodaciousness: one night it came packed with plump oysters, squid, and little bites of chashu pork, plus wild nettles, cilantro, and a special, secret sauce: Siew’s spicy shrimp-chile paste (which gives it just enough vroom). The crisp texture, quality ingredients, and mad flavor make this bowl a steal for $12. Bonus: Ramen Shop is only a couple blocks from the Rockridge BART.
Marcia Gagliardi is the founder of the weekly tablehopper e-column; subscribe for more at www.tablehopper.com. Get her app: Tablehopper’s Top Late-Night Eats. On Twitter: @tablehopper.