Regardless of what some militant herbivores will tell you, not all meat-eaters are evil marauding baby-eaters who have zero regard for where their meat came from. San Francisco is already a leader in providing diners with organic, humanely raised meat -- and it's not just for the fancy restaurants. Here are our top five places to get humanely-raised fast food in the city.
5. Zaytoon
Alongside some of the greatest falafel in the city, this little hole-in-the-wall on Valencia offers up lamb and chicken schwarmas from Niman Ranch -- meaning the meat comes from sustainable family farms that use no antibiotics or hormones and ensure a humane environment for the animals. Zaytoon's schwarmas offer up the perfect balance of herbs, meat, onions and tomatoes, with the chicken and lamb grilled to textured perfection. Added bonus: They ask you in advance how mild or spicy you want your food and follow instructions to the letter.
4. Burger Joint
With a '50s diner feel, reasonably priced beer and wine, and extremely tasty Niman Ranch burgers, this Bay Area mini-chain is comfortingly dedicated to using only local ingredients in all of their food. The service isn't always fabulous at all of their locations, but we particularly love that there's a "mini burger" option -- it's the perfect size for those who want to eat their entire side of sweet potato fries without wanting to burst afterwards. Plus, they've got an outpost at SFO Terminal 2 if you want a conscience-free snack while you're traveling.
It's easy to see how these guys have expanded to four locations in the city (Castro, downtown, Marina, and a just-opened location in the Metreon) -- the food is low in price (just $4.50 for a single patty, $6.50 for a double), high in quality (the beef burgers are from Niman Ranch, the chicken is free range, and there are several veggie burger and salad options), and completely customizable thanks to the build-your-own burger option. Don't miss out on their delicious organic milkshakes either -- one of which involves fresh strawberries. Yum.
This little Marina hole-in-the-wall is an absolute joy. The hot dogs are exceptionally flavorful and made with 100% grass-fed, local beef (no nitrates, hormones or antibiotics, guaranteed), and there's a veggie option for those who don't feel like eating animals at all. Plus, beer and wine choices, and for dessert, everyone's favorite ice cream -- Bi-Rite ice cream. If all that weren't enough, they provide free Wi-Fi for customers, sell a variety of packaged 'dogs so you can make them at home, and offer up free sausage treats for the pet dog in your life. The satellite cart at Crissy Field ain't as fancy, but the dogs are just as delicious.
The reason this place has been winning award after award for years is that they really do make one of the best burgers in the city. Their commitment to telling their customers where they get their ingredients is solid -- posters are displayed, in-house, with supplier details (Petaluma Poultry, Diestel Turkey Farms, Niman Ranch, and Tillamook cheeses are among them) -- and their commitment to food excellence is well-established. True story: I was vegetarian and completely repulsed by beef burgers for 15 years straight. The decision to eat meat again only came after a particularly nasty bout of anemia put me in the hospital. Burger Meister was the first place I was actually able to eat red meat and enjoy it. And their commitment to humanely-raised and organic produce lessened the guilt. With locations in the Castro, Cole Valley and North Beach, as well as in Daly City, Alameda, Serramonte and Berkeley, there really is no excuse to not give them a try.
