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    Omnivore Books

    4.8 (145 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 5:00 PM

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    Kristina Cho and Jon Kung
    Ashley C.

    This bookstore has so much heart. How wonderful and special it is to have a bookstore specializing in food in our community. I am grateful to have met the authors behind Woks of Life, Kristina Cho, and Jon Kung and get signed copies of their cookbooks! They have all events listed on their website and I could encourage anyone who loves to cook or likes cookbooks to check them out! I am grateful to have them in the city!

    Cecilia M.

    Such a DELIGHTFUL shop: an entire bookstore for books about FOOD. This delicious stop will sure make you salivate as you dive into beautifully curated collection of printed pages from all around the world! Ever want to find a specific culinary topic, chef or food -- this is the place! They also host lots of author in-person events. Make sure to check their website for listings. This independent bookstore is a MUST visit.

    Book in packaging
    Karen W.

    I saw a post from one of my favorite chefs that his newest book had signed copies available at this store. They offer shipping throughout the US so I placed an order. The price was the retail listing so bear in mind that popular releases will probably be cheaper at Costco and Amazon but hey, I figure I'll pay the extra cost for the signed copy. I received updates on the order and a notification when it shipped out. Shipping for my large cookbook was $7 through USPS media mail. It arrived in a timely manner, well packaged in packing peanuts and bubble wrap. They even included some cute stickers on the cover of the box :). The book is in superb condition and I can't wait to try some recipes from it. Thanks to Omnivore Books for the great service!

    Mitzi W.

    An adorable store devoted to food. It's so cutely organized with new and vintage books. The owner says they do buy books so I hope to get organized and email her photos of books that I have. I love that they are not books from all of the popular chefs but a huge variety of books from all regions. Cookbooks. Books related to food. Vintage books are protected by clear covers. I saw a formerly $1 cocktail book selling for $60-looked like a treasured book that a cocktail aficionado would love. I plan to make my holiday shopping list and return to do my holiday shopping!

    Reed B.

    An exceptional niche bookstore if you have any interest in cooking, food or restaurants. I could spend hours going through their selection of books about food, old menus and so much more. Exceptionally curated and the folks who work there are incredibly knowledgeable. Can't wait to visit again someday!

    Reema P.

    The cutest little bookstore with the sweetest employees! I went to pick up Palak Patel's book and they were able to find our order super fast and let us know when the signing might be. Will definitely be coming back!!!

    Jen T.

    Haven for book lovers and cooks! Located behind the pet shop, they definitely use all the available space - bookshelves to the ceiling! And the selection is mind-boggling. Any topic you want, there's a book for it, along with vintage, signed, and one of a kind books. Also, check out the website for sale books. So much history in this little space: The back room is a converted freezer for possibly a deli or meat market. Also Luv luv the mural painted outside - can't miss it.

    Genevieve Y.

    Date & Time: Sunday December 6, 2009 @ 3pm Event: Legendary Thomas Keller Introduction & Book-Signing Crowd: Packed w/ Well-Heeled Foodies: 20-30 Something Ladies in Cashmere Sweaters, Scarves, Hudson Jeans, Tory Burch Flats or Knee-High Boots w/ 2 Carat Diamond Studs Accompanied by Bored Husbands Lugging Around 5 Pound Thomas Keller Books Atmosphere: Cozy Music: Ella Fitzgerald Decor: Charming Little Bookstore w/ Sunny Yellow Walls & White Bookshelves Filled w/ Cookbooks Service: Friendly Knowledgeable Ladies Imbibe: Chai Cart Must-Haves: French Laundry & Ad Hoc at Home by Thomas Keller Total: $109.50

    Tiger in Kitchen author Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan
    Jana C.

    A foodie bookstore, right in Noe, off a quiet little corner, tucked away? Small, cute as a button, and sporting some really great authors associated with food in some way. Never knew it was here; thanks to Tiger in the Kitchen's author who made a guest showing this afternoon (so personable, so pretty), I now know about this adorable independent... and though I wasn't planning on buying yet another copy of the book, I did. Wanted to show my support and appreciation. If Yelp reader, you are in any way into the art and appreciation of food, culture, artistic embodiment in this form, please come and spend a wee bit of time here. You won't be sorry I recommended it!

    Directing towards the storefront...

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    1 year ago

    Amazing bookstore fully dedicated to food and cookbooks. Friends and family specifically ask to visit when coming to San Francisco

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    3 years ago

    Something out of a movie, this quaint corner bookstore is a gem - I'm in love with everything about this place!

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    8 years ago

    Best book selections. Best staff! Best programs of guest writers.

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    5 years ago

    My new favorite store! I'll never go anywhere else for a cookbook. They were extremely friendly and had great recommendations.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Omnivore Books

    Review Highlights - Omnivore Books

    I found everything from German toasts (as in making a toast, not bread) to a fab modern encyclopaedia of cooking.

    Mentioned in 18 reviews

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    City Lights

    City Lights

    4.4
    (816 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    One of the neatest bookstores in the US. The Poetry room upstairs is wonderful. So much fun…read morehistory here to learn about. And this bookstores has some amazing staff book recommendations with little tags on the bookshelf telling you why they loved that book so much; found some great new finds that way. Dont forget to get your books stamped with their bookstores stamp on the way out!

    An amazing bookstore and so glad I asked chatGPT to give me some ideas for a stroll around SF near…read moreUnion Square. Well, ok, this place isnt close to Union Sq, about a mile away, but it was a perfect delicious end destination for a post dinner stroll! I like bookstores and I like eclectic, unique ones. I'll go to Barnes & Noble if I had no other choice, but my favorite bookstores are independent ones and ones where they carry very unique books you can't find elsewhere. This bookstore made my inner little nerdy self so happy. I immediately got lost up front looking at very recent publication by Ai Weiwei. I then wandered onto the main floor and found an entire section of Asian works, which you will not find at B&N. I also found books from Norwegian writers too which I had never seen before, which thrilled me. I then made my way up to their attic floor which is dedicated to poetry and seems I just missed Allen Ginsberg's Howl centennial celebration. Ugh! I then came back down and then proceeded to their basement section and again I was quite pleasantly surprised by the depth and breadth of Asian themed books they had. They had plenty of the Chinese classics in English and found so many different versions of Journey to the West, I was completely overwhelmed. And then, saw an entire section on Africa and I had to fight hard to not pick up a copy of a book titled Prison Letters, which is a collection of Mandela's letters while imprisoned. I ultimately settled on two books by Ai Weiwei as he has continued to inspire me to be proud, to not conform, to be brave, to speak up, to be authentically and unapologetically me, to honor my ancestry and to push boundaries and to fight for what matters. And it just so happens too that my Chinese give name is also Weiwei. I loved coming to this bookstore and it will definitely be on rotation for me when I am in SF again.

    Photos
    Downstairs
    Downstairs
    The upstairs location of the bookstore.
    The upstairs location of the bookstore.
    The bottom floor that you have to go downstairs to.

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    The bottom floor that you have to go downstairs to.
    Kinokuniya Bookstore - San Francisco

    Kinokuniya Bookstore - San Francisco

    4.5
    (544 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    Finding a bookstore in San Francisco can be a challenge depending which side of city you are and…read morewhat you are looking for as far as subject matter. There are various bookstores which face the street sidewalks of San Francisco and are easy to enter and exit. There is a bookstore in San Francisco which is hidden from the public side walk and accessible through a mall on the second floor. It's located inside the Japan Center in Japantown and it's called Kinokuyina. On a Spring stroll inside Japan Center I landed inside Kinokuyina. In the land of the rising sun Kinokuyina is a bookstore was founded in 1927 in Japan and turns 100 years next year. This San Francisco location is the first in the USA which opened since 1969. They have other locations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore,Hong Kong, Taiwan,and the Philippines. Inside you will find lots of books in Japanese Kanji and English Manga. They also sell lots of novelties and t-shirts. This a great international bookstore in San Francisco. It's almost Summer say bye to the month of "May" they have a location in San Francisco another down the road by San Tomas Expressway in "San Jose "they have lots books of "display" from manga to "anime" Come visit they have books for any age "group "you can find magazines with the latest "scoop"so you can stay in the "loop" and you can even find a book like some in SF about "poop"

    I've visited only two of Tokyo based Kinokuniya Bookstore's seventeen U.S. locations, San Francisco…read moreand Seattle, but because of my affection for Japanese food and culture, it left a strong impression, and I return from time to time. Did you know they have six stores in California and four in Texas alone? I'll gladly reconfigure my thoughts about Texans, that they that can support the existence of four Kinokuniya bookstores. Respectfully. I enjoy browsing the SF store, especially the travel section, cookbooks, and unique magazines. They have all the requisite kawaii stuff including Miffy, Moomin, Studio Ghibli, and Sonny Angels. Having Google Translate at the ready in camera mode, makes exploring some of the Japanese titles even more fun. A unique, immersive bookstore experience.

    Photos
    Studio Ghibli plushies are back (3/10/26)
    Studio Ghibli plushies are back (3/10/26)
    Moomins!
    Moomins!
    Kinokuniya Bookstore - San Francisco

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    Green Apple Books

    Green Apple Books

    4.6
    (1.5k reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    If your idea of a good time is an afternoon spent rambling around in a 5000-plus foot maze among…read morethe books, then Green Apple Books is for you. What I love here are the carefully curated staff selections that are found everywhere. There are always unexpected finds and books you'd never unearth online all housed in this labyrinth of a store. The tables of discounted and used books upstairs are worth a browse. The atmosphere is welcoming, dusty, and this old Victorian house is perfect for wandering. One of my favorite Sunday rituals: browsing until I find something unexpected, and then heading down Clement for dim sum, some thrifting, maybe a Kamei treasure, a strawberry crepe, and some Asian groceries. A Green Apple visit makes the outing complete. San Francisco still has a few good remaining bookstores, and the selection hidden in the winding nooks and crannies at Green Apple, keep it near the top of my list.

    I was walking by when I saw the bookstore. First time here. They had several carts with books on…read moresale. It was hard to go over the books as they were not organized. Once you go inside it is a tight place but cute. They have new and used books , two floors. What I liked were the flashcards in front of books giving a little description and thoughts on books. I felt some new books were overpriced. However their clearance and sale books were a great deal. I got an art book for $6. Service was not personable. I was not greeted even at register when I was ready to pay. The lady just charged me. She didn't offer any bag either. It was a little awkward. I love visiting bookstores. However, this one might be the one least friendly I encountered. Overall they have a good selection of books.

    Photos
    We are looking for some gifts for the kids. May have found one. Lol.
    We are looking for some gifts for the kids. May have found one. Lol.
    Bobbing for apples - so fun!
    Bobbing for apples - so fun!
    Laser cut Green Apple Bookmark - gorgeous details

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    Laser cut Green Apple Bookmark - gorgeous details
    Black Bird Bookstore and Cafe

    Black Bird Bookstore and Cafe

    4.5
    (255 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    Community-oriented cafe in the Outer Sunset district!…read more Blackbird is located across the street from Hook Fish, meaning that parking is packed and hard to find, so use public transit! I have gone to Blackbird a handful of times and have enjoyed the experience each time. Blackbird is primarily a bookstore, but they do have an outdoor window where you can order drinks ranging from matcha (Rocky's Matcha, if you're curious about which brand they use), lattes, and tea. They also carry a good amount of pastries (even mid-day, they have a lot of goodies), which I really appreciated. When you order your drink, you have to enter inside the bookstore to wait for your drink to be called, but you can take the time to stroll around and look at their book selection and trinkets. Heads up: the seating here is limited but very lovely. Inside, there are a couple of community tables, but their outdoor area is absolutely magical, with lush greenery and benches for you to enjoy your drinks. This time around, I got one of their seasonal drinks, a honey lavender vanilla latte, and I paired it with an Earl Grey olive oil loaf. The portion of the pastry was generous and moist, while the icing was not too sweet. Overall, a great pick for a cafe if you're in the area.

    I visited Black Bird for the first time because I was attending an author talk. Upon seeing their…read morecafe, I decided to order a few items. Matcha latte with whole milk : It's very savory which is great, unsweetened by default. I thought this was one of the better matchas I've had if you want to be able to taste the matcha strongly. Olive oil spelt cake: It reminds me of pound cake. Not that sweet except the frosting/icing. It was okay but as someone who's not as fond of that kind of cakey texture, I'd probably not get it again. They have a really lovely garden and patio in the back. There is also a bathroom. The acoustics and set up for events isn't great, though. It was hard for me to concentrate on the speaker for the book talk since you can hear the noises from the cafe behind and also the sounds of other store customers all around you. That was the only downside, but I think it's a very charming bookstore otherwise.

    Photos
    Rose Pastry
    Rose Pastry
    Hot chocolate with the most amazing foam
    Hot chocolate with the most amazing foam
    Front area of the first floor

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    Front area of the first floor

    Omnivore Books - bookstores - Updated July 2026

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