We need a word for the disappointment experienced upon realizing that the food in front of you has been optimized for Instagram and not for you.
It takes a while, but exploring neighborhoods can be really rewarding. I rarely wait for a table, and if you do have to wait there is usually another place right next door. Not every place is spectacular, but the overall food quality here is decent. Finally, avoid anywhere with more than 20-30 items on a menu (Thank you Gordon Ramsey).
There is another (realer imo) Asian area on Clement and Geary over in the Richmond that has authentic food all over. Japan town is good, but stay away from most of the tourist trap that is the Grant street Chinatown.
But this city does suck for Mediterranean.
Honestly, I'd even take an everyday American Chinese restaurant over one of those yuppie restaurants that sell overpriced Chinese-ish food aimed at white yuppies (the Americanization bothers me less than the catering to the yuppie community... regular old working-class American Chinese food is actually pretty tasty, even if it's not my favorite, which is more than I can say for Yuppie Chinese).