Perfect meal for 4 when you are craving Korean BBQ with all the banchan. Their set meals are great value for money and will leave you feeling more than satisfied!
Jeron W.
We heard good things about Brothers so we decided to check it out, and as we came with four people, we went with the four people tasting menu. The 4 person tasting menu had kalbi, bulgogi, your choice of spicy pork or chicken, japchae, and spicy tofu soup. It also came with rice and banchan, which had a pretty good variety. There's a few points that makes Brothers a solid KBBQ place. The quality of the meats was pretty high quality, but that is to be expected considering the tasting menu was ~$36 per person. The portions are also solid as we were all feeling full after. The service was also quite good as they refilled our banchan quite quickly. Overall, I would say that Brothers is a solid choice for KBBQ in the city and would be happy to come back here again
Lee D.
Quality/Quantity - We took advantage of the lunch special bento boxes. This includes a Mu Guk, radish soup. I am not a soup person, but this was good. BBQ BULGOGI (RIBEYE BEEF) - Generous portions. Good flavors, very onion forward but good thing I like onions. BBQ GRILLED CHICKEN - Two orders. We actually could have shared 2 entrees total. Again, generous portions with good flavors and even more onions. Too bad my guests do not like onions as much as I do. So I guess I am getting an onion salad for dinner tonight, lol. Amazingly good banchan and generous with unlimited refills! Known for locally sourced produce that they use to make their own banchan fresh daily. Their dwen-jang (Korean traditional soybean paste) is also made in-house with a process that can take up to 6 months. And this was really good, I "mopped" up all that delicious goodness. 100% mesquite wood charcoal grills, but we prefer them to cook for us. The only time we use the grill is for entertaining our guests and visitors. Atmosphere - All indoor seating now, I think they took down the "pandemic" outdoor seating...? Open 7 days a week from noon to 9pm. Service - 5 stars; the team did a great job checking up on us often. They continued to refill our banchan. Price - $60 + tip. Good value for Korean food! FYI - your website prices differ slightly from your in store menu prices. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1987 and keeping it in the family, 3rd generation.
Jenny C.
I know this place has been a local favorite for years and finally got around to trying it. Regret not coming sooner! Came on Saturday night and were sat down immediately for table of 2. Hot toasted rice tea was served and hit the spot. We ordered the galbi, yukhoe and tofu soup and seafood pancakes and they were all AMAZING. The yukhoe was definitely highlight of our meal with the soft beef and sweetest sliced pear combo. Every meal is served with banchan and rice for each person (not sure rice is always included). The meat was tender and marinated nicely, perfect with lettuce wrap and some kimchi. We enjoyed the charcoal grill for cooking as well. Another highlight is the seafood pancake! Portion was extremely generous, each bite packed with seafood. Shrimps used were huge and texture was not comprised even after the frying process. The ambiance was warm and felt home-y. Service was quick and friendly, will definitely come back if ever craving authentic Korean meal.
Yoko Fox
It was really good and the waitress and waiters were really nice and the food came in like 5 minutes 10 out of 10Kid-friendliness: They were so nice to the minors (including me)
Our party of four got the four-person tasting menu, which included rice, banchan, and the following dishes:Kalbi: Tender BBQ beef short rib marinated in a special house sauce.Bulgogi: Tender BBQ ribeye marinated in a special house sauce.Spicy Pork: Mildly spicy and smoky BBQ pork marinated in a special house sauce.Japchae Noodles: Lightly sautéed vermicelli noodles with beef and vegetables.Spicy Tofu Soup: Tofu soup in beef broth with beef and vegetables.This restaurant boasts 100% mesquite wood charcoal grills, a feature that enhances the taste in a way gas grills cannot replicate.I particularly enjoyed the Kalbi; it was incredibly tender and bursting with flavor, perfectly seasoned. The Japchae noodles also impressed me with their delicious taste; the balance between sweetness and saltiness was spot on. Additionally, the tofu soup was excellent, satisfying my craving perfectly.For those planning to dine here, I recommend arriving early, as there is typically a 30-minute wait. Also, for convenience, there's street parking available, as well as a nearby public parking lot near the Smart and Final stores.
Doesn't matter if you're a brother from another mother, or sister from another mister. When you are here, you are a part of history. Part of the 40 some odd year old fabric that has made this place an institution for decades. The bulgogi is supple, tender, flavorful, bold, and lean. Bottomless sides, solid jasmine tea. The service is rapid, you get your food before you're even hungry. The ambiance is nice. In an era of making everything karaoke or hyper experience inspired, brothers takes you back to when all that mattered was what it tastes like. I like that, I respect that, and yeah I'll be back again, again, and again.
Mike L.
Sometimes, I'll come up with a really good plan...only to end up being foiled by none other than myself. A few times, I tried to beat Waze with my own route...and arrived later. Another, I waited on buying something because I thought I could get it for less elsewhere...and ended up paying more. So, I really shouldn't be all that surprised it happened again with my most recent visit to Brothers. Having been here numerous times over the years, it seemed like a great pick for Korean BBQ for a dinner where I wouldn't really be able to take pictures of the food. If I've already reviewed them, no need to worry about taking photos, right? Except for the fact that I never actually wrote a review for Brothers before. Sigh...well played, Past Mike, well played. For the longest time, Brothers was THE place when it came to Korean BBQ, though, it was also one of the only ones around. It's far more of a mom-and-pop restaurant than the likes of Gen in the South Bay and some of the newer spots out there, but it's still one of the more popular places in SF. Typically, my friends and I come here in a bigger group, so we'll usually order the six person tasting menu and call it a day (they also have plenty of a la carte BBQ options, as well as appetizers, entrees, soups, rice/noodle dishes, and even lunch specials). However, with just three of us this time, we opted to get their TWO PERSON TASTING MENU ($78), which came with Bulgogi, BBQ Chicken (or Spicy Pork), and Spicy Tofu Soup, and added an order of their SPICY SAUTEED PORK BELLY ($32). In terms of portion, this felt perfect for us. There was a fair amount of all three meats, there was enough soup for all three of us, and our meal came with rice and about a half dozen varieties of banchans. For the raw meats, I thought the bulgogi was great (very tender) and that the chicken wasn't bad, even though I wish it had a bit more marinade on it. As for the pork belly, it fell short for me, as it didn't have much caramelization on it and it felt more fatty than meaty. The soup, meanwhile, was actually really, really good - super comforting and flavorful, which was perfect for such a cold night. The one thing about Brothers that is definitely unfortunate compared to newer places is that, between the pit of charcoals and the mildly weak venting fans above each table, you will absolutely smell like smoke when you leave here. Well worth it to get that delicious char and smokiness on the meat, but the fact you will still smell like Korean BBQ hours later is something you should absolutely keep in mind when you're deciding on what to wear here (besides your eating pants). Now, while the food here is pretty decent, I have to admit that a good chunk of my affinity for Brothers stems from nostalgia and memories. Not only was this the first Korean BBQ restaurant I'd ever been to, it was also the one that friends and I used to frequent the most growing up. If not for that, I'd lean towards returning to Wooden Charcoal just a few blocks over instead, as I've found them to be both tastier and cheaper by comparison (they have a similar dinner set for two that goes for about $7 less). Not that I would object to coming back to Brothers to relive the memories...and to maybe take some photos next time. THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded up for sentimental reasons.
Alice H.
Our party of four got the four-person tasting menu, which included rice, banchan, and the following dishes: Kalbi: Tender BBQ beef short rib marinated in a special house sauce. Bulgogi: Tender BBQ ribeye marinated in a special house sauce. Spicy Pork: Mildly spicy and smoky BBQ pork marinated in a special house sauce. Japchae Noodles: Lightly sautéed vermicelli noodles with beef and vegetables. Spicy Tofu Soup: Tofu soup in beef broth with beef and vegetables. This restaurant boasts 100% mesquite wood charcoal grills, a feature that enhances the taste in a way gas grills cannot replicate. I particularly enjoyed the Kalbi; it was incredibly tender and bursting with flavor, perfectly seasoned. The Japchae noodles also impressed me with their delicious taste; the balance between sweetness and saltiness was spot on. Additionally, the tofu soup was excellent, satisfying my craving perfectly. For those planning to dine here, I recommend arriving early, as there is typically a 30-minute wait. Also, for convenience, there's street parking available, as well as a nearby public parking lot near the Smart and Final stores.
Jason Born
Always a line and wait but worth it. The creamy corn is crazy good!
Their prefix bbq for 2 was excellent. Lots of small dishes and soup. We had spicy pork and kalbi instead of bulgogi for and additional $11. Great atmosphere, lighting fast service, and very friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Pork, Kalbi 갈비
Siddhartha G.
This is a me-certified 5-star kbbq spot, no messing around with 4.5 stars or any of that. It's $144+tax for your party of 4 but boy does it come in droves and does it come fast! The meat is piled on, the tofu soup bubbling hot served in the customary beautiful black stone bowl, the banchan are all delectable (that kimchi is so wonderfully spiced and delicious). The japchae was the one low point, it felt too slimy to me and the mushrooms and onions in there seemed to be added as an afterthought. There was enough other deliciousness going on to not fret over that though. The coal fireplace is a nice touch, though I'm not sure if it serves much of a purpose since I didn't taste much smokiness or the char. Maybe we didn't grill it right or enough. Worth trying the mesquite wood charcoal grill next time.
Ran
Best kbbq in the city! Quality and portion of food are both really high. The service really stands out from other kbbq places! They refill banchan, provide free tofu soup and never rush you to finish grilling faster, which is why I love coming here whenever I crave for kbbq now. In addition to the grilling items, I highly recommend their bulgogi pancake if you haven’t tried yet!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Bulgogi and Galbi, Banchan, Bulgogi Jun Pancake
Jonny C.
Our fave Korean bbq place in the city. We usually get the 4-6 person set dinners, love when the table is just filled with side dishes, soon dobu, toppings for the wrap, etc.
Perfect meal for 4 when you are craving Korean BBQ with all the banchan. Their set meals are great value for money and will leave you feeling more than satisfied!
We heard good things about Brothers so we decided to check it out, and as we came with four people, we went with the four people tasting menu. The 4 person tasting menu had kalbi, bulgogi, your choice of spicy pork or chicken, japchae, and spicy tofu soup. It also came with rice and banchan, which had a pretty good variety. There's a few points that makes Brothers a solid KBBQ place. The quality of the meats was pretty high quality, but that is to be expected considering the tasting menu was ~$36 per person. The portions are also solid as we were all feeling full after. The service was also quite good as they refilled our banchan quite quickly. Overall, I would say that Brothers is a solid choice for KBBQ in the city and would be happy to come back here again
Quality/Quantity - We took advantage of the lunch special bento boxes. This includes a Mu Guk, radish soup. I am not a soup person, but this was good. BBQ BULGOGI (RIBEYE BEEF) - Generous portions. Good flavors, very onion forward but good thing I like onions. BBQ GRILLED CHICKEN - Two orders. We actually could have shared 2 entrees total. Again, generous portions with good flavors and even more onions. Too bad my guests do not like onions as much as I do. So I guess I am getting an onion salad for dinner tonight, lol. Amazingly good banchan and generous with unlimited refills! Known for locally sourced produce that they use to make their own banchan fresh daily. Their dwen-jang (Korean traditional soybean paste) is also made in-house with a process that can take up to 6 months. And this was really good, I "mopped" up all that delicious goodness. 100% mesquite wood charcoal grills, but we prefer them to cook for us. The only time we use the grill is for entertaining our guests and visitors. Atmosphere - All indoor seating now, I think they took down the "pandemic" outdoor seating...? Open 7 days a week from noon to 9pm. Service - 5 stars; the team did a great job checking up on us often. They continued to refill our banchan. Price - $60 + tip. Good value for Korean food! FYI - your website prices differ slightly from your in store menu prices. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1987 and keeping it in the family, 3rd generation.
I know this place has been a local favorite for years and finally got around to trying it. Regret not coming sooner! Came on Saturday night and were sat down immediately for table of 2. Hot toasted rice tea was served and hit the spot. We ordered the galbi, yukhoe and tofu soup and seafood pancakes and they were all AMAZING. The yukhoe was definitely highlight of our meal with the soft beef and sweetest sliced pear combo. Every meal is served with banchan and rice for each person (not sure rice is always included). The meat was tender and marinated nicely, perfect with lettuce wrap and some kimchi. We enjoyed the charcoal grill for cooking as well. Another highlight is the seafood pancake! Portion was extremely generous, each bite packed with seafood. Shrimps used were huge and texture was not comprised even after the frying process. The ambiance was warm and felt home-y. Service was quick and friendly, will definitely come back if ever craving authentic Korean meal.
It was really good and the waitress and waiters were really nice and the food came in like 5 minutes 10 out of 10Kid-friendliness: They were so nice to the minors (including me)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Bulgogi and Galbi, Soft Tofu Soup, BBQ Spicy Pork
Our party of four got the four-person tasting menu, which included rice, banchan, and the following dishes:Kalbi: Tender BBQ beef short rib marinated in a special house sauce.Bulgogi: Tender BBQ ribeye marinated in a special house sauce.Spicy Pork: Mildly spicy and smoky BBQ pork marinated in a special house sauce.Japchae Noodles: Lightly sautéed vermicelli noodles with beef and vegetables.Spicy Tofu Soup: Tofu soup in beef broth with beef and vegetables.This restaurant boasts 100% mesquite wood charcoal grills, a feature that enhances the taste in a way gas grills cannot replicate.I particularly enjoyed the Kalbi; it was incredibly tender and bursting with flavor, perfectly seasoned. The Japchae noodles also impressed me with their delicious taste; the balance between sweetness and saltiness was spot on. Additionally, the tofu soup was excellent, satisfying my craving perfectly.For those planning to dine here, I recommend arriving early, as there is typically a 30-minute wait. Also, for convenience, there's street parking available, as well as a nearby public parking lot near the Smart and Final stores.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Beef Bulgogi and Galbi, Japchae, Spicy Tofu Soup, Kalbi 갈비, Bulgogi
Doesn't matter if you're a brother from another mother, or sister from another mister. When you are here, you are a part of history. Part of the 40 some odd year old fabric that has made this place an institution for decades. The bulgogi is supple, tender, flavorful, bold, and lean. Bottomless sides, solid jasmine tea. The service is rapid, you get your food before you're even hungry. The ambiance is nice. In an era of making everything karaoke or hyper experience inspired, brothers takes you back to when all that mattered was what it tastes like. I like that, I respect that, and yeah I'll be back again, again, and again.
Sometimes, I'll come up with a really good plan...only to end up being foiled by none other than myself. A few times, I tried to beat Waze with my own route...and arrived later. Another, I waited on buying something because I thought I could get it for less elsewhere...and ended up paying more. So, I really shouldn't be all that surprised it happened again with my most recent visit to Brothers. Having been here numerous times over the years, it seemed like a great pick for Korean BBQ for a dinner where I wouldn't really be able to take pictures of the food. If I've already reviewed them, no need to worry about taking photos, right? Except for the fact that I never actually wrote a review for Brothers before. Sigh...well played, Past Mike, well played. For the longest time, Brothers was THE place when it came to Korean BBQ, though, it was also one of the only ones around. It's far more of a mom-and-pop restaurant than the likes of Gen in the South Bay and some of the newer spots out there, but it's still one of the more popular places in SF. Typically, my friends and I come here in a bigger group, so we'll usually order the six person tasting menu and call it a day (they also have plenty of a la carte BBQ options, as well as appetizers, entrees, soups, rice/noodle dishes, and even lunch specials). However, with just three of us this time, we opted to get their TWO PERSON TASTING MENU ($78), which came with Bulgogi, BBQ Chicken (or Spicy Pork), and Spicy Tofu Soup, and added an order of their SPICY SAUTEED PORK BELLY ($32). In terms of portion, this felt perfect for us. There was a fair amount of all three meats, there was enough soup for all three of us, and our meal came with rice and about a half dozen varieties of banchans. For the raw meats, I thought the bulgogi was great (very tender) and that the chicken wasn't bad, even though I wish it had a bit more marinade on it. As for the pork belly, it fell short for me, as it didn't have much caramelization on it and it felt more fatty than meaty. The soup, meanwhile, was actually really, really good - super comforting and flavorful, which was perfect for such a cold night. The one thing about Brothers that is definitely unfortunate compared to newer places is that, between the pit of charcoals and the mildly weak venting fans above each table, you will absolutely smell like smoke when you leave here. Well worth it to get that delicious char and smokiness on the meat, but the fact you will still smell like Korean BBQ hours later is something you should absolutely keep in mind when you're deciding on what to wear here (besides your eating pants). Now, while the food here is pretty decent, I have to admit that a good chunk of my affinity for Brothers stems from nostalgia and memories. Not only was this the first Korean BBQ restaurant I'd ever been to, it was also the one that friends and I used to frequent the most growing up. If not for that, I'd lean towards returning to Wooden Charcoal just a few blocks over instead, as I've found them to be both tastier and cheaper by comparison (they have a similar dinner set for two that goes for about $7 less). Not that I would object to coming back to Brothers to relive the memories...and to maybe take some photos next time. THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded up for sentimental reasons.
Our party of four got the four-person tasting menu, which included rice, banchan, and the following dishes: Kalbi: Tender BBQ beef short rib marinated in a special house sauce. Bulgogi: Tender BBQ ribeye marinated in a special house sauce. Spicy Pork: Mildly spicy and smoky BBQ pork marinated in a special house sauce. Japchae Noodles: Lightly sautéed vermicelli noodles with beef and vegetables. Spicy Tofu Soup: Tofu soup in beef broth with beef and vegetables. This restaurant boasts 100% mesquite wood charcoal grills, a feature that enhances the taste in a way gas grills cannot replicate. I particularly enjoyed the Kalbi; it was incredibly tender and bursting with flavor, perfectly seasoned. The Japchae noodles also impressed me with their delicious taste; the balance between sweetness and saltiness was spot on. Additionally, the tofu soup was excellent, satisfying my craving perfectly. For those planning to dine here, I recommend arriving early, as there is typically a 30-minute wait. Also, for convenience, there's street parking available, as well as a nearby public parking lot near the Smart and Final stores.
Always a line and wait but worth it. The creamy corn is crazy good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Spicy Tofu Soup, BBQ Spicy Pork, Noodles, Spicy Pork, Bulgogi
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing authentic Korean
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Their prefix bbq for 2 was excellent. Lots of small dishes and soup. We had spicy pork and kalbi instead of bulgogi for and additional $11. Great atmosphere, lighting fast service, and very friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Pork, Kalbi 갈비
This is a me-certified 5-star kbbq spot, no messing around with 4.5 stars or any of that. It's $144+tax for your party of 4 but boy does it come in droves and does it come fast! The meat is piled on, the tofu soup bubbling hot served in the customary beautiful black stone bowl, the banchan are all delectable (that kimchi is so wonderfully spiced and delicious). The japchae was the one low point, it felt too slimy to me and the mushrooms and onions in there seemed to be added as an afterthought. There was enough other deliciousness going on to not fret over that though. The coal fireplace is a nice touch, though I'm not sure if it serves much of a purpose since I didn't taste much smokiness or the char. Maybe we didn't grill it right or enough. Worth trying the mesquite wood charcoal grill next time.
Best kbbq in the city! Quality and portion of food are both really high. The service really stands out from other kbbq places! They refill banchan, provide free tofu soup and never rush you to finish grilling faster, which is why I love coming here whenever I crave for kbbq now. In addition to the grilling items, I highly recommend their bulgogi pancake if you haven’t tried yet!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Bulgogi and Galbi, Banchan, Bulgogi Jun Pancake
Our fave Korean bbq place in the city. We usually get the 4-6 person set dinners, love when the table is just filled with side dishes, soon dobu, toppings for the wrap, etc.