Lily
Inner Richmond, San Francisco
Restaurant in San Francisco, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Lily is worth booking for a flexible Richmond District meal backed by 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 recognition. Choose it when location and current local validation matter more than a tightly defined cuisine brief; cross-shop Wako for sushi, Chapeau for a more classic dinner mood, or Burma Superstar and B Star for easier group planning.
About Lily
Lily is a San Francisco restaurant to consider when the decision is less about ceremony and more about getting a recognized local restaurant into the plan. The strongest reason to choose it is current validation: a 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants ranking at #42. That does not tell you exactly what to order, but it does put the restaurant in a credible regional set rather than the long list of maybes.
Book Lily when you want a San Francisco restaurant with evening hours on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, plus daytime opening hours on Friday, Saturday, Sunday. The details do not support a specific cuisine label, chef-led narrative, service format, or named signature dish, so the smart move is to treat this as a flexible San Francisco booking rather than a destination built around one famous plate. For a first visit, expectations should be anchored to the recognition and hours, not a highly choreographed special-occasion meal.
Why Lily makes sense for a first San Francisco booking
The case for Lily is strongest for diners who want a current San Francisco recommendation with a clear accolade. If you are comparing options, Wako, Burma Superstar, B Star, Chapeau, BETTOLA may also be worth considering depending on the kind of meal you want. Lily sits better for the diner who is comfortable booking on recognition and San Francisco location rather than a tightly defined format.
The evening usefulness is direct. Lily is open until 8 PM on Monday and Sunday, until 9 PM on Wednesday through Saturday. It is better for people who want to plan a meal within restaurant hours rather than treat it as a late-night fallback after other plans run long.
How to think about value before choosing it
Because no price tier is listed here, value should be judged through fit. Lily is a good choice if the Chronicle recognition and San Francisco location solve the brief. It is weaker if the group needs a known budget target before committing, or if someone is choosing based on a specific menu style. In those cases, compare it with Chapeau, BETTOLA, B Star, Burma Superstar, or Wako based on the details you can confirm directly before booking.
For broader planning, use our full San Francisco restaurants guide rather than forcing Lily into every brief. Pair it with the surrounding city guides if the night also needs a place to stay, drink, or build an itinerary: San Francisco hotels, San Francisco bars, San Francisco wineries, San Francisco experiences. The verdict: book Lily for a current, credible San Francisco meal with hours; choose another option if cuisine, price certainty, or occasion style matters more.
Planning details
- Location
- 225 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- lilyonclement.com
- Phone
- +14157425285
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Lily occupies a narrow room on Clement Street that deliberately rejects the utilitarian look of its neighbors. Latticed woodwork runs across the ceiling and a long tufted leather banquette lines one wall, giving the dining room a warm, intimate feel. The space reads as a date‑night proposition while keeping a neighborhood, food‑first sensibility: it balances a serious aesthetic with casual value. The result is a cozy, tactile interior that feels designed without pretension — comfortable for couples yet rooted in the Richmond’s everyday dining life, where good cooking and ingredient provenance are the real attraction.
Best For
Lily is best encountered for an evening meal when the room’s warm lighting and banquette seating emphasize intimacy and conversation. It’s a place for date nights and modest celebrations that want polished Vietnamese cooking without prix‑fixe formality or inflated checks; the write‑up stresses value and serious foodcraft. Diners who prioritize clear-sense provenance—fresh aromatics, lemongrass, galangal, and properly-rendered broths—will find the kitchen’s approach rewarding. While it’s rooted in neighborhood rhythms, the restaurant’s focused aesthetic makes it a welcome alternative to the city’s more theatrical dining corridors.
Ordering Tips
Order dishes that showcase the restaurant’s concentration on provenance and broth technique: the description highlights pho and bun bo Hue as examples of the kitchen’s strengths. Look for preparations that foreground fresh aromatics—lemongrass, galangal, herbs—and items where broths or fermented elements (like fish sauce or shrimp paste) are a defining element. Because Lily positions itself as serious food without prix‑fixe pricing, consider starting with a bowl of broth-forward noodle soup to judge the kitchen’s rendering of bones and seasoning, then move to plates that emphasize bright, sourcing-driven flavors.
Venue details
At the Table
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Capacity
- Small
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Chapeau, Notable alternative
- BETTOLA, Notable alternative
- Wako, Sushi, Sushi
- B Star, Notable alternative
- Burma Superstar, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How Lily compares in San Francisco
Lily is the more flexible pick when the brief is a recognized Richmond District meal without a rigid format. Wako is better when sushi is the non-negotiable, because its category is clear before anyone sits down. Chapeau is the stronger choice for a more classic dinner feel, while Lily makes more sense when the priority is a current local recommendation in the neighborhood.
For group planning, Burma Superstar and B Star are easier to explain to a mixed table because the decision is familiar and casual. Lily is better for diners who are comfortable choosing on recognition and location rather than a specific dish or cuisine. If booking friction is the concern, treat Lily as the first call for a smaller first-timer dinner and keep Burma Superstar or B Star as practical backups.
BETTOLA is the peer to consider when the table wants an Italian-leaning night instead of an open-ended Richmond District pick. Lily's advantage is its current citywide recognition; BETTOLA's advantage is clearer category expectation. For value, the safer choice is the venue that matches the group's craving before price even enters the discussion.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Lily guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Lily
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lily | San Francisco | ; | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants · #42 |
| Chapeau | San Francisco | No published awards | ; |
| BETTOLA | San Francisco | No published awards | ; |
| Wako | San Francisco | Sushi | 2023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended |
| B Star | San Francisco | No published awards | ; |
| Burma Superstar | San Francisco | No published awards | ; |
How Lily San Francisco compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is daytime or dinner better at Lily?
Lily has daytime opening hours on Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 11 AM, evening hours on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Choose the timing that fits your plan, confirm current details directly before you go.
Does Lily handle dietary restrictions?
The safe move is to ask when you plan the meal. If your group has specific needs, confirm them directly with the restaurant before booking.
How far ahead should I book Lily?
Plan ahead if the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants #42 recognition is part of why you are choosing Lily. Check the restaurant's official booking channels for current availability.
What are alternatives to Lily in San Francisco?
Other options to compare include Chapeau, Wako, BETTOLA, B Star, Burma Superstar. Confirm each restaurant's current hours, menu, booking details before deciding.
Is Lily good for solo dining?
Lily's hours may still make it workable for a solo meal, but check current booking options and seating details directly before you go.
