What KIND of clam chowder?

New England? (cream broth)

or

Manhatten? (tomato broth)


For the former, I'd go to Pier Market Seafood Restaurant on Pier 39, although the little Boudin's bread shop on Fisherman's wharf does a good bowl of chowder....and has the advantage of having the best hot sourdough bread coming out of the oven all day...

For Manhatten chowder, Tadich Grill does a great bowl (...and their New England isn't bad either). They've had the time to get it right, the restauruant is one of the oldest continiously run in the city, dating back to the gold rush.

However, the best bowl of Manhatten chowder on the planet requires a drive of about 200 miles north to Fort Bragg, and a visit to Carine's Fish Grotto.