Forget everything else honestly. Fisherman's wharf food is overpriced garbage that locals avoid completely. The real sf food culture lives in the mission district along 24th street between mission and potrero.

La taqueria at 2889 mission street has been doing it right since 1973. No rice in their burritos like it should be - lets you actually taste the carnitas technique instead of filler. Carnitas burrito with extra salsa verde runs about $11.50 and easily feeds two people if you're not massive eaters. This is what actual sf food culture looks like, not some tourist trap clam chowder bowl.

El farolito (2779 mission) stays open until 3am for post-drinking fuel. Papalote (3409 24th street) does the fancy version with organic ingredients but honestly la taq's execution is better. Anywhere on that 24th street strip between mission and potrero is a safe bet. Take bart to 16th street mission station, walk south on mission to 24th, then explore until you find a line of actual latinos - that's your quality indicator right there.

Insider move: order in spanish if you can manage it, even broken spanish gets you better treatment and sometimes extra meat. Carnitas, al pastor, or carne asada are the standards. Avoid anything with fish unless you're at a proper mariscos truck.