valencia street sf A guide to the dynamic Valencia Street corridor in San Francisco. The best stores and restaurants on Valencia Street in the Mission district of San Francisco

You could be a belly dancer, a stripper, an actress or just a girl who wants to look sparkly for a night out on the town. Well, Multikulti is just the place for you, located right on Valencia street. This is the place where you can find those inexpensive little items that will make you glow and make you sparkle, and this little store is jammed packed. Not just with items for sale but on most days with customers. costume jewelry, makeup, nose studs, sun glasses, funky hosiery, skirts, scarves, belly rings, belly dance costumes, painted mirrors, decorative items from Morocco, Turkey and Egypt, or just hot little items for a party or dance. The list goes on and on, but you get the picture. The very best thing: it will not break you're wallet.

Location: 539 Valencia St. Between 16th St. and 17th St. hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 11:30am-7pm. Thurday, Friday, Saturday 11am-9pm., Sunday-11am-5:30pm. Closed Monday. Phone: 415-437-1718.

As you walk down Valencia St. and you that sign sitting in front of the store, It automatically makes you CURIOUS. Just what is it that they sell in this little store and you decide to check it out. Well, this is just the place to find things that you would not find in any other place. Never seen a SEAHORSE CHROCHET KIT, well you have now, how about a BOXED RUBBER STAMP KIT, or a GLASS CANTEEN, DINING TABLE PING PONG SET, KNITTED COFFEE SLEEVES, SUSPICIOUS PAINTINGS, DARING BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, A ROPE MONEY CLIP, LEAVE HANKIE, GOLD PLATED PASTA NECKLACE, CRAYON RINGS. Well, you get the picture, little gifts for yourself or somebody else. It's fun It's cheap and the above items are just a taste of the items you will find at the quirky little shop. If you are in the neighbor its worth the time to stop and take a look. Around Christmas time definitely a place to put on you're list.

Location: 855 Valencia St. Hours: Tues-Sat-12pm-7pm, Sun-12pm-6pm, Closed Mon., Phone: 415-671-5384

To visit THE CURIOSITY SHOPPE website just click on the above image.

 You're going to love this place. Especially when the sun is out and you are a people watcher. It's located on 22nd St. between Valencia St. and Mission St, and the best place to find a table is on the little deck right out side on the street. I've gone by this place many times on Sat. or Sunday afternoon, and the best way to describe it is lively. All the tables occupied, and normally just inside where this is more seating there's usually a live show featuring an small jazz band or solo artist( I've even seen an small chamber orchestra), and that just brings the place to life. A great place to meet some one for coffee or a drink. I will say that most people forget the coffee and go for the imported beer or wine. Lots of young ladies looking Mission District hot, and lots of guys looking Mission District hipster. But as the sun goes down, the place just seems to get even livelier and it's all most like a small party. This might not be the best place to go if you are looking for a quite place to work on you're computer, even though there is free internet access. Such a blast sitting, drinking and watching world of the Mission District walk on by. Sandwiches, pastries and bagels with the usual toppings are available. The Revolution Cafe is like a small cafe you might find in Paris on a street corner. If you have time slide on down.

Location: 3248 22nd St. between Valencia St. and Mission St. hours: Mon-Wed-9am-12:30am, Thu, Sun-9am-1am, Fri-Sat-9am-2am. Phone: 415-642-0474.

Yes indeed in this busy bustling city THE SCARLET SAGE HERB CO. It's a small little shop that sits right on Valencia St. and it is a traditional neighborhood herb shop that specializes in traditional western herbalism and natural medicines. The focus is on herbs from North America where you have a selection of over 300 single herbs and over 100 combination of remedies. They also carry 60 therapeutic grad steam stilled organic 100% pure essential oils. But there is so much more. A full selection of body care products, a collection of nature inspired gifts, a wide array of supplies for earth based spirituality, and a large book section Herbal wellness, spiritual awakening and living and working in an organic world.

This is just a wonderful store for those who want to take a look at the organic way of living.

Location: 1173 Valencia St. between 23rd St. and 24th St. Hours: Mon-Sun-11am-6:30pm. Phone: 415-821-0997.

To visit THE SCARLET SAGE HERB CO. just click on any of the above images

 located in the Valencia Street Corridor is the French-Vietnamese Restaurant TAO CAFE. For a few years, it sat there on most nights empty, and I could never understand this. This is not you're typical hole in the wall restaurant that you find in the tenderloin, but has class written all over it. Just looking from the outside, beautiful hand crafted vases sit in the window which right away gives you the feeling that this is a restaurant that was designed by someone that wanted this to be a place that was personal to their own tastes. Once you walk in you will find smaller wooden tables with bamboo chairs for parties of 2-4. In the back are larger tables. The place seats about 60. Small hand painted portraits and scenes of French Viet Nam adorn the white walls. But the atmosphere the one thing that will draw you back after you're first visit. It's quite, it's cozy, and it is a restaurant that you go to for a sense of intimacy.

APPETIZER
**Imperial Rolls Deep fried & crunchy, choose from 2 kinds: Shrimp or Vegetarian
7.5 for six 5.5 for four
Tao Calamari Salad Grilled spicy Calamari on bed of black eye peas 8.5
Swinging Crab Cake Crispy in wonton wraps spicy aioli 9.5 for six 7 for four
**Saigon Salad, Nuoc Cham fish sauce dressing with fresh daikon, jicama & celery.
Pick the regular poached Shrimp & Pork, or the Vegetarian with candied almonds 6.5
**Summer-To-Spring Rolls 3 choices of rice paper-thin wrapped rolls:
Classic Shrimp & Pork, Spicy ginger Beef or Vegetarian Tofu & Shiitake 7.5
**Street-Side Salad, soy dressing with crunchy Green Papaya
Pick the original candied Beef or the Vegetarian with crunchy Tofu 6.5
**Tao Rice Crepe (Turmeric-Coconut-flavored) served with lettuce & mint for do-it-yourself rolls
Pick one of 2 kinds: Shrimp & Chicken or Shiitake & Tofu 8.5
MAIN
Rice or Noodle as side-dish is recommended with these main dishes
Beefsteak a la Vietnamese Spicy New York cut, onion & red bell pepper sauce, salad 13.5
Sweet-Mekong-Bass Pan-seared, lemongrass-coconut-curry sauce, plantain banana 13
Ginger-Chicken Pan-roasted, ginger sauce, sautéed of zucchini 11.5
Green-Pepper Pork Pan Roasted Pork chop, green pepper cream sauce, roasted root veggies 11.5
Tao Grilled Lamb In medallions, cumin-flavored, smothered grilled eggplant 13.5
Saigon-Paris Leg of Duck Oven slow-roasted “Confit”, peppercorn sauce, steamed veggies 12
Lemon-O-Salmon Pan-seared preserved lemon sauce, soy bean 13.5
CLAY POT
Piping-Hot-Bass Braised & caramelized with hot pepper in clay pot, steamed vegetables 12.5
**Tao Ratatouille Spicy zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper with your choice of Chicken or Tofu 11.5
Square-Dancing-Prawns Braised in clay pot with soy bean, tamarind glaze 13.5
Vegetarian eaters please follow the stars**
We are glad to guide your choice for a gluten-free meal
NOODLE
Noodles-for-the-Queen Shrimp, Chicken & Calamari w/ vegetables over crunchy egg noodles 13.5
Bourguignon a la Vietnamese 5-spice stew of beef with carrots, rice noodle & vegetables 10.5
No-Broth-Noodle-Soup A bowl of egg noodle, vegetables & Shrimp Crisp with your choice of Roasted Pork Or Roasted chicken breast 10.5
Saigon-Hanoi “Bun” (pronounced Boon) A bowl of warm salad with lettuce, mint & rice vermicelli and choice of Sauteed of Minced Beef Or Grilled Pork tender loin 10
Chef’s Yam Noodles Sauteed of Chicken with mixed vegetables & soft Yam noodles 11
SOUP
**Red-Passion Soup Sweet, Sour & Spicy tomato base broth w/ tofu & choice of Fish, Shrimp Or Veggie 9
Pot-au-feu Viet People’s hearty Beef soup Pho with many spices & rice noodle 9
Our-Mom’s-Healthy Chicken Soup Shiitake mushroom, broccoli & glass noodle 9.5
With-Broth-Noodle-Soup Pick the noodles (egg or rice), then pick the roasted meat (Chicken or Pork), the soup is served with Shrimp crisp, vegetables & hearty chicken broth 10.5
VEGETARIAN CORNER
Chef’s Tofu Steak Pan-fried “steak” of Tofu lemongrass fish sauce, roasted root vegetables 11
Buddha’s Favorite Soy-ginger steamed soft Tofu, shiitake mushroom, glass & crunchy egg noodles 10.5
Around-Midnight-Craving Sauteed of Tofu with lemongrass over mixed vegetables 9.5
Monk’s-Gourmet Soft Tofu, plantain banana, broccoli & cashew nut coconut curry sauce w/ rice noodle 11
SIDE
Grilled eggplant coconut sauce Spicy Garlic Mixed vegetables Roasted root vegetables Sautéed of zucchini & Shiitake mushroom 4.5 each
Plain rice Coconut sticky rice French tomato rice with almond Black wild rice Garlic egg noodle
1.5 per serving
PRIX FIXE $15.5 Monday thru Thursday only
Combo Salad & Crispy Imperial Rolls (2 pieces), choose between Shrimp or Vegetarian
Pick a dish from NOODLE, SOUP or VEGETARIAN CORNER (add $3 for Queen’s dish)
Lychee ice cream with Ginger Confit Or Lime Mango Sorbet with Strawberry Granite
Our Food is truly Vietnamese with French Cooking techniques
Think of our trays of hors-d’oeuvres for private parties.
Catering & Cooking Lessons are available. Please send inquiries online @ www.taocafe.com.
18% of Gratuity is added for parties of 6 or more

As you can see the price range is moderate, but the menu is pure French Vietnamese.

Now I was saying how the Tao Cafe stood empty for a few years. Well, that is changing. Most nights the place is 3/4 full, and on many night it is full. But it still has maintained its intimacy and charm. A great place for that first date, or to take you're family from out of town.

Location: 1000 Guerrero St. corner of 22nd. St. hours: Mon-Sun-5:30pm-10:30 pm. They take reservations, but can just walk in. Phone: 415-641-9955.

You can visit their website by clicking on the image.

This is just an example of what you can do with a small shop space and a good imagination. Fabric 8 originally was an online selling primarily selling originally designed t-shirts by local designers in the business for 10 yrs. The owners came up with the idea of combining these items with an art gallery, thus was born the shop that now resides on 22nd st. just up the block from Valencia st. And yes it is small but it is so clean and well designed and the art work that features various bay area artist is just sensational. When you walk in you can browse the racks of unique t-shirts  and unique collectibles that you would never be able buy in an ordinary retail store. At the same time you are to the artist world who is displaying at that time. This idea is now being replicated all over the Mission District, But Fabric 8 was one of the originals.

If you would like to know more about the fantastic little shop/gallery, you can visit their website by clicking on the above image.

Location: 3318 22nd st. just off Valencia st. hours: Weekends-11am-7pm. Evenings-5-7. phone: 415-647-5888.

You're a pet owner and that dog or cat has a special place in you're heart. You want it to be happy and you just can't see throwing down a rug for it to sleep on and buying canned food from Safeway. Well, hidden up the block from Valencia and 22nd St. is Hazel & Gerties. A Boutique type pet store that is on another level. They carry an array of quality organic dog food and treats that you can get in large batches or small. Fantastic toys, collars and treats and  special gifts. The store it self is just beautifully set up and you will be amazed at the amount of items you can choose from. Another thing to note is that they also offer a dog or cat bath and grooming service. So how about it give you're buddy a sweet little treat at Hazel & Gertie's.

Address: 3385 22nd St. (corner of Guerrero). Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-7pm. Sat-Sun 10am-6pm. Phone: 415-401-9663.

You can find their web site link in the sidebar or clicking on above image.