Foodie Plans of a 25 Year Old's Long Weekend in San Fran- Need Tips!

Hi, All, First of all, thanks in advance for your advice and imput. I am aware that San Fran gets inundated by tourists looking for foodie advice, and you Chowhounds always go above and beyond to help individuals maximize their eating and libation potential in San Francisco! I will be in San Fransicso (my first trip!) from Thursday the 29th until November 1st (late night). I'm in graduate school, so don't want to spend a ridiculous amount on gourmet dining, but also don't want to be eating from foodcourts or food halls. My specific interests and meals I'd like to have when visiting San Fran include: local food with emphasis on vegetarian cuisine, sushi, sweets, cocktails, and Mexican. Chinatown seems... overwhelming. So would love specific reccs for dim sum and bakery. Here is what I am leaning towards so far. Please critique/encourage/tell me NO, or recommend alternatives. Thank you so much! I am staying at the Intercontinental Marc Hopkins but will travel for yum food. However, the closer the better, and if it's super far, it's gotta be amazing and a good value. Local with emphasis on vegetarian- Aziza Sushi- Sushi Zone, Tataki Mexican (would like to experience a meal in the Mission)- La Cumbre Cocktails- Rickhouse, Heaven's Dog, Bourbon and Branch (I'm aware of their "policies, not a problem), Rye Sweets- Kara's Cupcakes, Bi-Rite Creamery, Humphry Ice Dream, Citizen Cake Other random recommendations from friends: Asia de Cuba, Crown and Crumpet, Lahore Karahi, Cafe de la Presse, Tataki

La Cumbre is at 16th and Valencia (and don't bother going there unless you're going to eat meat - there are better veggie burritos elsewhere, like at Cancun). That's an area with a huge amount of bars and nightlife. Since you seem to like cocktails, you'd do well to make a little crawl. These are more authentic local watering holes than the fancy cocktail places you've listed. Specifically, I would visit in the following order: Cassanova (classic cocktail) The Uptown (beer) Beauty Bar (fancy drinks) Doc's Clock (absinthe or classic) The Make Out Room (classic or beer) The Lexington if you are non-het or pass as non-het Amnesia (no full bar, belgian beers & sangria & infused soju) -> add Mediterranean Delight for a falafel if you need some food Dalva (whiskey or freignet - head for the couches in the back) (look on a map - this makes a little loop - sort of down mission and back up valencia detouring to the side alleys) Don't drink everywhere, or you're going to die. Poke your nose in, see if it's your kind of place, and either have a drink or move on. Those places are most happening on a weekend night from about 8 to 12. I'm leaving out some great places, and you might find something you like on that loop that I haven't mentioned, but this will give you a broad yet deep sample of the 20-something scene in San Francisco and a little hipster walking tour. Regarding food, your request is a little generic. Lots of people here know Boston, so mention the places you like & tend to go, and you can get recommendations of places in SF that are not-the-same-old. I would, in general, not eat sushi in SF coming from boston (with one or two exceptions that it sounds like you can't afford at the moment). Dim Sum - how much dim sum have you eaten? what are your favorite dishes?

Places I like in Boston: Sorellina, Douzo, Oishii, Hungry Mother, Scampo, Sportello, Sonsie, Post390, Neptune Oyster, Union Bar and Grill, Beehive.