Look, we're all about free markets here at The Dissent. Safeway has every right to sell you a piroshki. But you have every right to do better — much better — and the Richmond District is ready to deliver.

If you've been settling for the shrink-wrapped stuff from the grocery store, consider this your intervention. San Francisco sits on one of the best Eastern European food corridors on the West Coast, and most of it runs right down Geary Boulevard.

The heavy hitters:

Moscow & Tbilisi Bakery (Geary at around 20th Ave) is the consensus pick among SF's piroshki faithful. As one local put it, if you want "the fried pies of goodness filled with beef or cabbage or cheese," this is ground zero. Prices are reasonable, the portions are honest, and you won't find a single marketing gimmick in sight — just good food sold by people who know what they're doing. This is what a small business is supposed to look like.

Cinderella Bakery (on Balboa) is the other titan. One SF resident raved about the beef and Gorgonzola baked piroshki, calling it the spot that "is where it's at." Fair warning: Cinderella has gone a bit upscale in recent years and prices have climbed above Moscow & Tbilisi. Whether the fancier vibe is worth the premium is between you and your wallet.

Leleka and Royal Bakery and Market also earned nods from locals as worthy stops.

Here's what we love about this story: no government program created the Richmond's Eastern European food scene. No subsidy, no task force, no "cultural corridor initiative" with a $2 million budget. Immigrant families opened bakeries, made incredible food, and built loyal followings over decades through the radical act of being really good at something.

That's the free market working exactly as it should — and it tastes a whole lot better than anything from the Safeway deli case.

Get on the 38 Geary. Bring cash. You're welcome.