Want the scoop on San Francisco's buzziest local spots?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to discover which local businesses have been seeing especially high review volumes this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at San Francisco businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month, and tracked businesses that consistently increased their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance.
Read on to see which spots are on a hot streak, right now.
Monza Pizzeria
Open since June, this pizzeria and casual Italian spot is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Italian" on Yelp.
Citywide, Italian spots saw a median 1% increase in new reviews over the past month, but Monza Pizzeria saw an impressive 300% increase, maintaining a strong 4.5-star rating throughout.
Located at 1934 Ocean Ave. in Ingleside, Monza Pizzeria serves up classic pizza by the slice and by the pie, for dine-in, pickup and delivery. Check out specials like the Clam Bake clam pizza; the Mission, topped with jalapeño and pineapple; the Zoey pizza with teriyaki chicken; and the house Monza, with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms and peppers. There are salads, pasta dishes, hot sandwiches and chicken wings, too.
Monza Pizzeria is open from 10:30 a.m.–midnight on Sunday–Thursday and 10:30 a.m.–1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Yama-chan
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about the Western Addition's Yama-chan, the Japanese spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Japanese" on Yelp saw a median 1.1% increase in new reviews over the past month, Yama-chan bagged a striking 170% increase in new reviews within that time frame, with a slight downward trend from a 4.5-star rating a month ago to its current four stars.
Located at 1737 Post St., Suite 395, in the Japan Center shopping mall, this kiosk specializes in takoyaki, a Japanese street food consisting of fried dough, octopus and various toppings. Cooked in a special griddle that gives them their round shape, the dumpling-like snacks come in orders of five, eight, 10 or 12 and are topped with your choice of mayo, cheese, bonito flakes and more. This location of the takoyaki chain, which has one other stand in California and several in Honolulu, opened in July.
Yama-chan is open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.
Matcha Cafe Maiko
Stonestown's Matcha Cafe Maiko is also making waves. Open on the second floor of the Stonestown Galleria (3251 20th Ave.) since July, the dessert spot has seen a remarkable 150% bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 1.3% for all businesses tagged "Desserts" on Yelp.
This location of the Honolulu-based chain offers an array of sweets and beverages featuring authentic Japanese matcha, like matcha soft serve, matcha shaved ice and different lattes and frappes. Check out the Matcha Float, made with iced matcha tea and soft serve.
Over the past month, Matcha Cafe Maiko has maintained a strong 4.5-star rating among Yelpers.
Matcha Cafe Maiko is open from 10 a.m.–9 p.m. on Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.–6 p.m. on Sunday.
The Showdown
North Beach's The Showdown is the city's buzziest burger spot by the numbers.
The pub, which opened at 1268 Grant Ave. (between Fresno and Vallejo streets) in July, is one of the latest ventures of bar group The Pour Guys. The spot increased its new review count by a dramatic 126.7% over the past month, an outlier when compared to the median new review count of 1% for the Yelp category "Burgers."
The Showdown's signature Pantera Smash Burger is a double wagyu beef cheeseburger with charred onions, homemade pickles and special sauce. The food menu also features other sandwiches, like a pork cutlet sandwich and a chicken banh mi.
The Showdown is open from noon–2 a.m. daily.
Westwood
The Marina's Westwood is currently on the upswing in the bar category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "Bars" on Yelp saw a median 1% increase in new reviews over the past month, this bar and New American spot increased its new reviews by 100% — with its Yelp rating declining slightly from 4.5 stars to four stars.
Open for business at 2036 Lombard St. (between Webster and Fillmore streets) since July, the country-themed bar serves wine, beer, spirits and cocktails, and its whiskey list features 100 different American whiskeys. Check out concoctions like the Whiskey Rose Sour, made with Bulleit bourbon and strawberry puree. For drinkers with an appetite, Westwood offers a full menu of pub grub, including sandwiches, salads and shareables. There's also a mechanical bull inside for guests to ride.
Westwood is open from 5 p.m.–midnight on Wednesday and Thursday and from 5 p.m.–2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. (It's closed Sunday–Tuesday.)
This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
