No trip to San Francisco is complete without a taste of the city’s signature clam chowder. It’s creamy, it’s salty, it’s filled with fresh seafood—what’s not to love? Clam chowder is such a staple of San Francisco cuisine that a ton of places serve up bowls of the seafood soup, but we’ve done the research for you and rounded up the best spots where you’ll get the most bang for your buck.

Boudin Bakery and Cafe - Fisherman’s Wharf

Photo courtesy of Boudin Bakery and Cafe

Boudin Bakery and Cafe is perhaps the most famous spot for clam chowder in San Francisco, and rightly so. After all, what makes San Francisco’s clam chowder special is that it’s served in a sourdough bread bowl, and Boudin has pretty much perfected the art of baking sourdough bread. Visit San Francisco’s flagship location in Fisherman’s Wharf, and try the crab and corn bisque, or do the traditional route and order clam chowder in a chewy, flakey, warm bread bowl.

Sotto Mare Oysteria & Seafood - North Beach

Photo courtesy of Sotto Mare Oysteria & Seafood

If the wait at this North Beach restaurant is any indication, people love Sotto Mare's clam chowder. The thick and creamy consistency, coupled with savory clams and the addition of crispy bacon, have made this one of the most frequented spots in San Francisco for a good bowl of chowder. Prepare to wait for up to an hour for your soup though, but the end result is worth it.

Swan Oyster Depot - Nob Hill

Photo courtesy of Swan Oyster Depot

In the Nob Hill neighborhood? Check out Swan Oyster Depot, a fish market with a century-long history in the City by the Bay. Prices are also reasonable with a bowl setting you back only $5. What’s more is that the clams in your chowder are really fresh (likely brought in that very morning), and when you taste them through a mouthful of buttery chowder, you’ll want to go back for seconds. The chowder doesn’t come in a sourdough bread bowl, but you can get bread and butter on the side for an extra dollar. Be warned that there’s always a line, so prepare to wait. 

Crab Station - Fisherman’s Wharf

Photo courtesy of Crab Station

If you want a generous portion of clams in your soup, visit Crab Station in Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s easy to get all the different stands confused, as they pretty much all look identical—just look out for the Crab Station banner. The chowder here has a thin consistency, rather than the creamy thickness you’ll find at most stands, so if that’s how you like your clam chowder, this is one to check out.

Nick’s Lighthouse - Fisherman’s Wharf

Photo courtesy of Nick’s Lighthouse

If you’re a San Franciscan and have already had enough clam chowder to last a lifetime, why not switch things up with a bowl of crab chowder instead? The soup here at Nick’s Lighthouse has a very thick consistency—so thick that it’s reminiscent of pudding. Crab chowder tastes quite different from its clam-heavy brother, and the plentiful kernels of corn in the soup give the chowder a subtle but enjoyable sweetness that pairs great with the fishiness of the crab. If you’re making your way through Fisherman’s Wharf, be sure to pay a visit to this locale.

The Grotto - Fisherman’s Wharf

Photo courtesy of The Grotto

The plethora of herbs in the clam chowder at The Grotto makes their soup stand out from the rest. Unlike many other stands that primarily use salt to season their chowder, The Grotto makes use of many other spices to give their soup a distinctive flavor that’s mild but memorable. There may be plenty of clam chowder stands in Fisherman’s Wharf, but none that use herbs the way this spot does.