Food for Fara

Reader Fara says she's coming to SF on a trip, so I'm wracking my brain thinking of reasonably priced places she and her husband can go with a toddler in tow. Off the top of my head, and convenient to the Moscone Center (everyone else feel free to chime in! What have I suggested that you have loved?):

-Saturday farmers' market at the Ferry Building. There will be a lot of hearstoppingly expensive items, but also some good deals. Most importantly, there will be fun food that's hard to get elsewhere. Peruse the stands out back, grab a coffee at Peet's or Blue Bottle, and try a pulled pork sandwich at the new Il Cane Rosso (take some bacon caramel popcorn home). Buy ACME cheese rolls for your kid to chew on throughout the day, or an old-fashioned chocolate cupcake from Miette (though there are mixed reviews about Miette, I find the chocolate cupcakes delightful). Even if you cannot make it on a Saturday, the Ferry Building is loads of fun. Happy hour Thursdays for $1 oysters at Hog Island. Slanted Door is an SF darling and good for lunch, but it is a little pricey so I don't go often.

-Happy Hour oysters at Waterbar. Call and ask, but I think it's 3-6pm and $1 for the oysters of the day. It is a happy hour, but there are tables in the bar area as well as outside dining. I've seen people with strollers, especially on week nights. The vibe is a combination of tourist families and business dinners, not hard core partiers

-Boudin, if you're doing the tourist thing up on Fisherman's Wharf. It's cheesy, but I took my relatives recently and hello? Bread shaped animals? The kids loved it. I don't know if I'd go out of my way for it, but if I'm ever in the area with tourists I'm dropping in for sure. Eat downstairs; the same bowl of $6 chowder will run you $12 upstairs. For a less touristy waterfront equivalent my friends swear by Pier 23, but I have yet to go so I don't know what type of crowd it is.

-If you're near Union Square around lunch time, $12 buffet at Sultan. The place is clean, spacious, casual, and the food is good to GREAT. And unlike other Tenderloin places, the block is reasonably safe and clean in case someone decides to act up. :)

-Shanghai House. This place is deep in the heart of Richmond District, but serves some seriously delicious Shanghai cuisine. If you have a car or are game to head out that far, I highly recommend the savory soy milk, lamb and pickled vegetable soup, the "fake duck," and the Shanghai soup dumplings.

-Hong Kong Lounge. Hands down my favorite dim sum restaurant right now. Also a bit of a trek from downtown, but not nearly as far as Shanghai House.

Where have you been and what did you like? There's so much to eat and love around here!