Cooking is a pain in the ass, but you can't host a Super Bowl party without some of the traditional artery-clogging, cholesterol-spiking, downhome American football snacks. While the rest of the country watching the Niners in the Superdome this weekend might think we're sipping wheatgrass smoothies and nibbling on plated figs around here, we know San Francisco is a town that perfected (and locally sourced) some amazing middlebrow food. Here now, our picks for where to order takeout so you can kick back with a cold Anchor Steam.
Wings from Wing Wings: The Lower Haight's Wing Wings is running a special Super Bowl menu this Sunday with buckets of 25 going for less than $1-per-wing. We like their Sriracha-tossed Angry Korean wings, but the traditional Buffalo-style are the obvious crowdpleaser. Add on some potato salad or mac & cheese because you are lazy and it's right there at the same store. Just don't be too harsh with chef-owner Christian, who hails from Baltimore.
Frito Pie from Chile Pies & Ice Cream: The unassuming, and delightful dessert shop has elevated a blessed New Mexican delicacy in that way only San Francisco could: swapping out canned chili and Velveeta for the homemade stuff with pico de gallo and fresh crema. Likewise, the Fritos come straight out of the bag the whole dish is served in, for that crinkly feel of authenticity. Do yourself a favor and have them cater a DIY Frito Pie bar.
Rosamunde Brats and Sausages: for tubesteaks of all kinds, the sausage grill's original Mission Street location allows you to order online and will deliver to most of the Mission for free, or elsewhere for a small fee. Go nuts with the beer sausage, bratwurst and the chicken habanero sausage smoked with tequila. (Why the hell not?) Bonus: You can appease your meatless friends with vegan kielbasa and they're also now available in Oakland.
Duck Fat Chips and Double Down Wings from Hopscotch: East Bay residents who can't get to Wing Wings should look to three-star Hopscotch in Uptown Oakland. Chef Kyle Itani wil be slinging takeout orders of a dozen wings (just featured in GQ this month) or chips fried in duck fat with yuzu aioli for ten bucks apiece.
Crab Dip from your local seafood purveyor: Native San Franciscans love talking about crab. Chances are you are not a native San Franciscan, but were drafted here out of college like everyone else. Fake it by bringing some fresh dungeness crab dip to your Super Bowl party and discussing the inferiority of Baltimore's Chesapeake Bay blue crab. We know we said you wouldn't have to cook, but try this recipe with sourdough bread if you're not afraid of mayo and cream cheese. Or this one if you need to go full-bacon with everything you serve.
Nachos from pretty much anywhere: This town is flooded with taquerias. Choose your favorite — gringo-fied or not — and get, like, half a dozen orders of carne asada nachos. Just to be safe.
Photo: Yelper Wilhelm Y.
