SF’S Cheapest 2021 Michelin Star Restaurants, Ranked

Image: @gritsngiggles via Unsplash and King Features Syndicate

The Michelin Guide just dropped its 2021 Michelin Star ratings, and 31 San Francisco restaurants got at least one star. You cannot afford to eat at the vast majority of these restaurants. But you can afford a few of them! If you want to take a date for a fabulous full-on Michelin Star dinner, but you’re on a COVID-challenged budget, we’ve calculated the 5 cheapest Michelin Star-awarded San Francisco restaurants based on the average price of their entrées, or main courses.

Note: For this analysis, we only considered main-dish entrée prices. Appetizer and cocktail prices are not factored into these averages, and who knows how many of those you’d put away. Plus you have the gratuity to add. But based on our numbers, BrokeAssStuart.com is very confident that these are your most affordable Michelin Star dining options in San Francisco.

Image: Wing Y. via Yelp

5. ANGLER: AVERAGE ENTRÉE PRICE – $53

Yeah, $53 is still a pretty expensive dinner for someone who reads a website called BrokeAssStuart.com. But by our methodology here, which is the average price of each entrée on the menu, Embarcadero seafood destination Angler is still the fifth least-expensive Michelin starred dinner in SF. And don’t worry, the prices go way down the further you scroll down this article. (One Michelin Star)

mage: Lesley Y. via Yelp

4. MOURAD: AVERAGE ENTRÉE PRICE – $38.75

The razzle-dazzle lighting display and exquisite Moroccan cuisine of the Financial District luxury spot Mourad makes it look like a place where you definitely cannot afford to eat. But their Couscous, Branzino, Scallop and Lamb entrée dishes average $38.75 a pop, and there’s also a family-style dining option where a group of up to five can get off even cheaper. (One Michelin Star)

Image: Yue J. via Yelp

3. SPQR: AVERAGE ENTRÉE PRICE – $28.42 FOR CARRY-OUT

There is a big asterisk to our inclusion of Pacific Heights Italian spot SPQR to our list. The $28.42 average entrée price only applies to their take-out and delivery menu. Their six-course prix fixe is vastly more expensive, at $85 per diner. But their take-out food was also considered by Michelin reviewers, therefore SPQR still merits mention on this list. (One Michelin Star)

Image: Wing Y. via Yelp

2. STATE BIRD PROVISIONS: AVERAGE ENTRÉE PRICE – $27.42

California’s “State Bird” is in fact quail, and the damned things are delicious either fried or smoked at Western Addition’s State Bird Provisions. The quail dishes are among their main courses called “Commandables” which average $27.42 a plate, with the vegetarian entrées  currently averaging just $22, though the menu does change regularly.  (One Michelin Star)

Image: Al G. via Yelp

1. AL’S PLACE: AVERAGE ENTRÉE PRICE – $19.25

If you are hoping to wine, dine, and have sex with a vegetarian or pescatarian on your date night, Valencia Street’s Al’s Place has amazing vegetarian dinners that average less than $20 a plate, with meaty things like trout, duck, and pork belly served as sides. (One Michelin Star)

Image: Kin Khao via Yelp

HONORABLE MENTION – KIN KHAO: AVERAGE ENTRÉE PRICE – $17.16

Kin Khao’s Union Square location is currently on “COVID hiatus,” and the Dogpatch location has closed permanently. So you cannot buy Kin Khao anywhere at the moment. But the Thai-California spot deserves to be known as the single most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant in San Francisco. Their main dishes average just $17.16, and their iteration on the incredibly trendy Crispy Chicken Sandwich is probably the single best in town. Keep an eye on the Kin Khao website to see when they plan to reopen. (One Michelin Star)

Reservations are recommended at all of these restaurants. They have a fucking Michelin star!