San Francisco has a delicious food-related event every week through August and September this summer, and we, dear friends, are salivating. Culinary expertise from every corner of the world on nearly every corner of our fair city, during the best time of year for weather.

Everyone knows that late August through September is San Francisco’s actual summer, with warm evenings to stroll through our streets listening to live music, perusing delectable food vendors, and planning your next delightful sit-down meal at a carefully curated culinary delight.

And while you nibble on your choice of meals, if you are looking for someone to go to all these delicious events with, there’s a perfect event to find that someone…

Thursday, August 13 | 7:00 PM | KQED Headquarters

For those of you who haven’t discovered Dhaya yet, she’s funnier than most standup comedians while telling stories as clearly and as thoughtfully as a documentarian. And if you’re tired of trying to meet people at events full of work-minded social climbers with job titles starting with AI…blah blah, this is definitely your reprieve. This event will be full of intelligent, open-minded people with a sense of humor.

Get off the apps and make a connection IRL! Join award-winning comedian and storyteller Dhaya Lakshminarayanan for a one-of-a-kind dating game show packed with laughs, surprises, and unexpected chemistry. Through playful matchmaking, audience participation, and interactive games, help our Center of Attention find their next potential match.

Arrive early for a lively pre-show mingle lounge featuring tarot readings, icebreaker games, and a special Pitch Your Friend session with Bay Area matchmaker Jaya of Pitch A Friend SF.

In-person: $25 + fees / Livestream: Free

Thursday, August 20 | 7:00 PM | Peony Seafood Restaurant, Oakland

A spectacular dinner and a show where heritage is served steaming hot. Join us in the heart of Oakland Chinatown, inside the classic dim sum dining room at the legendary Peony Seafood Restaurant. Enjoy a live guzheng performance by Winnie Wong, alongside a 3-course, indulgent tasting menu from the audience-voted Best Dumpling Award won at KQED Live’s 2026 Dumpling and Dim Sum Fest. With tableside insights from dim sum masters, every bite tells a timeless story.

VIPs gain exclusive access to a prestigious tea ceremony, tasting leaves from 100 to 1,000-year-old trees.

VIP: $150 Includes a 30-minute tea room tea ceremony with:

G/A: $120

Seating:
Guests will enjoy a shared meal at tables of 10.

Reservations

LOCAL FOOD VENDORS, MERCHANTS, AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ON THE 3RD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH

The Castro Night Market will feature local food vendors, merchants, and live entertainment on the 3rd Friday of every month.

Location
18th Street, between Hartford and Collingwood

FREE

Night Markets schedules in many other SF districts can be found here.

Sunday, August 23 • 2 PM - 7 PM

A Funk & Fermentation Festival presented by Barebottle Brewing and the TJPA

Suds Francisco 2026: A Funk & Fermentation Festival will be an epic afternoon celebrating the flavors, people, and traditions that continue to shape Northern California's food and beverage culture.

As the capstone event of Salesforce Park's Rooftop Rhythms anniversary celebration weekend, Suds Francisco will bring together an extraordinary lineup of breweries, wineries, cideries, fermented-food producers, musicians, and artisans for a uniquely San Francisco experience.

More than a beer festival, Suds Francisco explores the broader world of fermentation—from farmhouse ales and wild beers to natural wines, sakes, ciders, kombucha, pickles, kimchi, sourdough, and more.

The festival is designed to showcase the creativity, craftsmanship, and community that emerge when people transform simple ingredients through time, patience, and tradition.

Broke-Ass Stuart readers can save 20% on all ticket types by using promo code BROKE

Tickets start at $59. Grab your tickets before they're all gone here!

Aug 30 & 31 and every Saturday & Sunday @ 12:30 & 2:30pm

Join us every Saturday & Sunday at 12:30pm & 2:30pm for a wild afternoon of drag performances and debauchery! Get ready to be entertained by an array of the most talented drag performers in the Bay Area while indulging on bottles of champagne, mimosas, boozy drink specials, spirit-free mocktails, and a taqueria brunch provided by our neighbors at Taco Boys.

Our drag brunches are the perfect way to kickstart (or end!) your weekend in the heart of the vibrant and historic Castro district of San Francisco. Whether you're a drag enthusiast, celebrating that extra special occasion, or simply looking for a fun and unique experience, the brunches at Beaux are not to be missed!

Make a reservation through our website today and let the queens & kings of Beaux dazzle you with their charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent!

Saturday, September 19 | 12 PM | Bloc15, Oakland

The Edible Atlas is a global street food Festival taking place on Alice Street and Bloc15 in Oakland’s Jack London neighborhood. Bringing together standout food trucks and street food artisans, the event celebrates the global flavors of our Bay Area community.

With food, music, and family-friendly activities throughout the day, guests can explore, play, and connect at every turn. A local makers market showcases Bay Area artisans, while a neighborhood stage features live performances from local talent, coming together in a vibrant celebration of culture and creativity.

Ticketed guests will receive an Atlas to guide their journey through the event, uncovering the origins, spices, and stories behind each dish as they explore a curated world of international flavors.

Entrance to the Alice Street Block Party is FREE!

Adult Pass: $95
– All Day Entry into Bloc15 Food & Programming
– (1) Drink Voucher
– (4) Atlas Bites Vouchers

Junior Pass: $65
– All Day Entry into Bloc15 Food & Programming
– (2) Atlas Bites Vouchers

Premium Pass: $155
– All Day Entry into Bloc15 Food & Programming
– Special Seating in the Atlas Lounge
– Exclusive activations through the day
– (2) Drink Voucher
– (4) Atlas Bites Vouchers

Festival Tickets

Thursday, September 24 | 7 PM | Town Fare, Oakland

Seoul Meets Soul is a dinner party in which the kitchen serves as a bridge between two rich culinary traditions. Chef Jiyoung Park, owner of ParksKitchen, and Chef Michele McQueen, owner of Lucy Blue and Town Fare will showcase the delicious parallels between Korean and Soul food and highlight the surprising throughline between Korean and Black American heritage.

What’s on the Menu:

You’ll feast on a mouthwatering six-dish menu, curated by the chefs complete with two mains and four sides, while enjoying a conversation where they share what binds the two cultures and cuisines together.

In-person: $129-135 + fees

Reservations

September 11 & Oct 9 | 5-9 pm in Chinatown San Francisco

Dozens of Chinatown vendors serving dim sum, BBQ skewers, pastries, boba drinks, Taiwanese street snacks, desserts, coconut treats, and more from vendors like Good Mong Kok Bakery, Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks, House of Dim Sum, Annie’s T Cakes, AA Bakery, New Golden Daisy, and dozens more.

Every Second Friday | 5-9 pm May to October 2026
Grant Ave. from California to Pacific, San Francisco
FREE

Thursday, September 10 • 5 PM - 10 PM - Valencia St. between 18th and 21st

A free, monthly neighborhood celebration on Valencia Street with live music, dancing, art-making and more.

Valencia LIVE! is back for a 2026 season! See you in the streets for a FREE, all-ages monthly neighborhood celebration with live music, cocktails to go, restaurants, art, shopping, and tons of fun in the streets.

🎸Live music curated by Carnaval SF.

FREE

Sunday, September 27 • 12 PM - 5 PM

A free public Grand Opening on Sept 27th, 2026, 12-5pm celebrating the opening of Warfield Commons—a multi-story hub for arts and culture

Warfield Commons Housewarming & Grand Opening

Join us on September 27th, 2026, 12-5pm to celebrate the opening of Warfield Commons at 988 Market St—a reimagined multi-story hub for arts, media, culture, and civic engagement designed to activate community and amplify the stories of the Bay Area and beyond.

Hosted in collaboration with Community Arts Stabilization Trust, Tenderloin Community Benefit District, and Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation, this free public Grand Opening will include cultural performances, a showcase of local food vendors, exclusive tours led by Warfield Commons tenants, and family-friendly activities. The event serves as the beginning of KALW celebrating their 85th birthday as they look toward the next 85 years anchored at the People's Studio at Warfield Commons.

With Warfield Commons 90% tenanted, there will be something for everyone at the event. Our lively programming will include:

This opening event is powered by our belief that the city’s downtown is calling for a new, more inclusive and participatory future—one rooted not in isolating tech or extractive tourism alone, but in an optimistic and deeply human vision of creativity, culture, and civic connection, with every neighbor feeling welcomed and celebrated. Join us on September 27th, 2026 from12-5pm!

FREE w/ RSVP

September 18, and monthly on Fridays, 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in 2026

Off the Grid is back at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture for Season 2 of the Fort Mason Night Market! We're bringing 25+ of the Bay Area's best food and drink creators with us. Building on a breakout debut year that drew 100,000+ attendees, Off the Grid returns with an expanded lineup of local culinary talent, thoughtfully curated and never repetitive. From crowd favorites to emerging new creators, every market night is a fresh experience against one of San Francisco's most iconic waterfront backdrops. Sample food and drink options, enjoy seasonal bar service from Greens Restaurant, The Interval at Long Now, and Radhaus. Stay all night for live music curated by Stern Grove Festival and 50+ artist and designer vendors from West Coast Craft. Free admission. All ages welcome.

FREE
fortmason.org

This post was sponsored by fine folks at KQED