World Cup dining guide near Levi’s Stadium and in San Francisco

With the World Cup set to bring crowds from around the globe to the Bay Area, fans may be looking for good eats around San Francisco — or closer to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

This year’s tournament will be the biggest in history, featuring 48 teams for the first time. The 104 games will be spread across the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the U.S. hosting 78 matches. 

Here are a few restaurants folks can visit near the stadium and in San Francisco. Looking for things to do near Levi’s or in the city? Check out our guide here.

Restaurants near Levi’s Stadium

Folks who have never visited Levi’s Stadium may not know it’s about 40 miles from San Francisco. And while many may have an idea of where to eat during their travels in the Golden City, that might not be the case for the city surrounding the stadium.

Here’s a quick list of options in Santa Clara and San Jose, within walking and driving distance to the stadium:

$ – Chicken Meets Rice – Santa Clara

Chicken Meets Rice is a fast-casual chain that offers Hainanese-style chicken rice. The company has a location about a 10-minute walk from Levi’s Stadium and near the Lick Mill light rail station.

Address: 2213 Tasman Drive, Santa Clara

$$ – Mariscos Costa Alegre – San Jose

For folks looking for Mexican food and flavorful seafood, and who are willing to travel an extra 15 to 30 minutes — depending on traffic — they should consider visiting Mariscos Costa Alegre.

Located in San Jose, this family-owned restaurant offers fresh Mexican seafood dishes, as well as more experimental plates like their Mexican Sushi.

The restaurant also offers an expansive drink menu and weekday specials that fans can enjoy before they head to Levi’s Stadium to support their teams.

Address: 855 N 13th Street, San Jose

$$$ – Birk’s – Santa Clara

Fans hoping to have a finer dining experience should consider visiting Birk’s, a South Bay icon bistro known for its grilled steaks, chops and seafood.

Birk’s is located about a 10-minute drive away from Levi’s Stadium and is right off the 101 highway.

Address: 3955 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara

Staying in San Francisco? Food to grab before heading to Levi’s Stadium

Fans staying in San Francisco could be overwhelmed by the hundreds of restaurant recommendations they may stumble upon. Although no list can be perfect, here are a few options worth considering during your stay in the city, especially for folks who are visiting the United States.

$ – Eddie’s Cafe – Alamo Square

Sitting at the corner of Divisadero Street and Fulton Street is Eddie’s Cafe, a small breakfast diner that’s been feeding the community since the mid-1970s.

For anyone who has wanted to experience a classic American breakfast plate that won’t break your wallet, it might be worth visiting this old greasy spoon diner.

Address: 800 Divisadero Street, San Francisco

$ – Trish’s Mini Donuts / Fun Food Factory / Lappert’s Ice Cream Shop – Fisherman’s Wharf

Anyone heading to Fisherman’s Wharf will be greeted with dozens of seafood dining options worth a visit, but they will also have the opportunity to try a number of fun desserts.

For folks who have never experienced county-fair-like desserts, they should consider stopping by one of the many dessert options on the pier, like Fun Food Factory, Lappert’s Ice Cream Shop, or Trish’s Mini Donuts.

Address: Pier 39 Level, Pier 39, San Francisco

$$ – Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – North Beach

When it comes to pizza, San Francisco is usually not the first city that comes to mind for many people, but folks should consider trying Tony’s Pizza Napoletana. This pizzeria was founded by 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani, who won the Best Margherita Pizza at the World Cup in Naples, Italy.

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana is one of the few American pizzerias that appear in the 2025 edition of the 50 Top Pizza World Guide list, ranking 10th on the list.

If you’re willing to wait for a seat and a pie, it’s definitely worth considering.

Address: 1570 Stockton Street, San Francisco

$$ – Four Kings – Chinatown

Although Four Kings has only been open for a couple of years, the Cantonese restaurant has become one of San Francisco’s most popular restaurants. It’s been featured in Bon Appétit and the New York Times as one of San Francisco’s best new restaurants in 2024.

“Restaurants don’t get much buzzier than this bustling Chinatown haunt, where Chefs Franky Ho and Michael Long are drawing crowds eager to sample their breezy contemporary take on Cantonese cuisine,” reads the Michelin Guide’s review of the restaurant.

“From claypot rice with bacon and Chinese sausage to savory ‘fish fragrant’ eggplant, the cooking taps into traditional flavors while offering a fresh perspective, a formula that seems to have struck gold.”

Address: 710 Commercial Street, San Francisco

$$ – Smuggler’s Cove – Hayes Valley

Among this year’s James Beard nominees, Smuggler’s Cove was highlighted as one of the country’s most outstanding bars.

Smuggler’s Cove is a tiki bar in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood that features one of the largest rum selections in the United States, and specializes in cocktails from over three centuries of rum history.

The bar’s unique theme and rum-focused drink menu make it worth a visit for folks looking for a memorable night in the city.

Address: 650 Gough Street, San Francisco

$$ – Bar 821 – Divisadero Street

Hidden along Divisadero Street is Bar 821, a small but cozy spot known for its extensive amari collection. Originally established in 2002, the bar closed during the pandemic before reopening as the reimagined cocktail bar.

For anyone near Alamo Square and hoping to grab a drink, just know that for Bar 821, you can’t simply walk into the establishment. Staff recommends you ring a doorbell outside the bar and wait to be seated inside.

Address: 821 Divisadero Street, San Francisco

$$$ – Quince – Jackson Square

Anyone hoping to have a world-class dining experience while visiting San Francisco should consider making a reservation at Quince, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant.

The owners, Michael and Lindsay Tusk, opened their original restaurant in 2003, innovating French-Italian cuisine. Their menu eventually earned them critical acclaim and the honor of three Michelin stars.

For guests who are lucky enough to secure a spot on the restaurant’s reservation list, they will be greeted with a “four-course celebration of the state’s finest terroir, along with a curated selection of cocktails and wines.”

And for people who may want to try Tusk’s cooking at a more affordable price, they should consider visiting Cotogna, a casual counterpart to the French-Italian restaurant.

Address: 470 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco

Where is Levi’s Stadium?

Levi’s Stadium is located in Santa Clara, the heart of Santa Clara County. Notably, the stadium is approximately 45 minutes to an hour away from San Francisco.

SFO to Levi’s Stadium: Is the airport close?

For anyone hoping to catch an Uber from the San Francisco International Airport to Levi’s Stadium, it might be worth highlighting that it’ll be an expensive trip. SFO is located about 31 miles away from the stadium, and multiple cities away from Santa Clara.

However, the San Jose Mineta International Airport is relatively close to the stadium, only about 5 miles away.

World Cup matches in the San Francisco Bay

• June 13: Qatar vs. Switzerland (Group B) at noon PDT
• June 16: Austria vs. Jordan (Group J) at 9 p.m. PDT
• June 19: Türkiye vs. Paraguay (Group D) at 8 p.m. PDT
• June 22: Jordan vs. Algeria (Group J) at 8 p.m. PDT
• June 25: Paraguay vs. Australia (Group D) at 7 p.m. PDT
• July 1: Round of 32 at 5 p.m. PDT

Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.