47 Best Korean Restaurants in San Francisco

“What a life changing meal. These photos are actually from over 2 years ago but I still think about this place regularly. I’ve had my fair share of renowned modern, refined korean food / Korean fine dining in NY and LA, and nothing quite elevates Korean food as authentically as SSAL.

This meal quite literally changed my life and showed me that fine dining can both be deeply comforting and beautifully refined at the same time.

Will probably travel to the bay just to dine here again at some point.“

“The spicy seafood stew is the best! I loved it so much! Delicious and warming on a cold winter's night. Service is super nice and the restaurant was warm and bustling on a Friday night. Great vibes. Can't wait to come back and eat my way through the whole menu. 🤩“

“Says feed 2-3, but with the cheese and glass noodles our family of four now have lunch boxes for a week. This is the kind of meal that will send you into a regenerative coma where you will meet your ancestors. Perfect after a hard weeks work or an arduous adventure with the gang at the local watering hole.“

“Ajummas hard at work at this casual Korean restaurant and we can taste it in their food. Great portions, no frills banchans, tasty selection of menu items. Definitely my go to place when I don't fee like cooking💯 맛있습니다 근처 한x관보다 몇배는 더 맛있어요.“

“Very nice staff and attentive… Food was excellent and fresh.. The establishment was very very clean.. highly recommend“

“To me this is hands down the best kbbq + Korean restaurant in SF. I’ve tried wooden charcoal, brothers, muguboka, yakiniQ, I’ve tried them all nothing comes close to Han Il Kwan. The banchans are so fresh and taste so good. The Galbi is not too sweet not too fatty but fatty enough. Their cold noodle with beef is spectacular. Just everything about Han Il Kwan is so consistent and so enjoyable. It’s my repeat spot - the only reason I’d go somewhere else is because it’s closed Tuesday / Wednesday.“

“2nd time visitor. Food is exceptionally creative - both authentic and refined - hard to achieve! Also, thoughtfully presented. Kind and attentive service. A bit loud and hard to hold a conversation in the room - but not too bad. Desserts were less impressive but still good.“

“We returned to this restaurant twice during our visit to SF, it was that good. Very much enjoyed the garlic soy chicken wings, salmon eggs benedict, kimchi, bulgogi, pimped up ramyun, and of course the bacon.“

“Zajang Grill is the best restaurant“

“2025: New owner. Marilyn sold the restaurant. I noticed my regular items like grilled mackerel and shrimp & vegetable TKim fry were no longer on the new menu. Then I noticed the wall specials were gone. Also, the article featuring Marilyn Lee in Ingleside was removed. Wait a minute, am I in the wrong restaurant? I asked the waitress and she said the restaurant got sold and is now under new ownership. Marilyn was always cool to me. I will miss her food.

Tonight's soft tofu stew, seafood $18 was OK. The beef option is no longer available. It is only pork seafood or vegetables now. The new menu is heavily truncated. No more 2 item combos, house specials like stir fried ramen or sandwiches. Previously, the banchan (little Korean dishes), included sprouts, potatoes and broccoli. Those are gone too. I only got cucumbers, tofu and the red cabbage.

New waitress seems OK. Nice but inattentive. People were walking up to pay because she was on the phone. Perhaps it was later in the evening and she had to finish up her closing tasks.

Updated review 10/27/2021: Go Go7 is still awesome. I love the little dishes of kimchi they serve before the meal. Tonight, I really wanted ramen but 21 Taste House down the block was closed for some reason. To satisfy my ramen craving, I ordered Go Go 7's stir fry ramen with bulgogi $12. The dish was huge and it almost made me regret ordering the deep fry shrimp and vegetable appetizer $8. I tried but could not finish it all. I had to take 1/2 of my food to go. Great job Go Go 7! This restaurant is an important part of the Ocean Ave. dining community.

Original review: Indoor dining 5/28/2021. Go Go 7 is a popular Korean restaurant. There was a parade of to-go pickup orders. All I heard were people ordering their two item combos. It is perfect if you don't want to do family style and still want a variety of items. The portions are perfect if you don't want a lot of leftovers in your fridge the next day. Tonight I had their bulgogi (marinated beef) sandwich $10 and grilled tofu $5. You don't usually see sandwiches at a traditional Korean BBQ restaurant. The bread was soft and it tasted great. The sandwich was not too dry or soggy and very flavorful. I enjoyed their little plates of kimchi. The bean spouts and the imitation crab with cucumber is a must try item. I liked it because you have something to munch on while they made my grill tofu appetizer and sandwich. They stayed open throughout the pandemic last year, even through that weird period when we had the curfews. I appreciated that. Guys like me had a really hard time looking for restaurants that were open. Great job everyone at Go Go 7. Love you guys!“

“I absolutely love Saucy Asian! The food is incredibly delicious — every dish is packed with authentic Korean flavors and cooked to perfection. You can truly taste the quality and care in every bite.

The customer service is amazing. The staff is always friendly, welcoming, and attentive, which makes the whole experience even better. The restaurant is very clean and well organized, and ordering is always easy and smooth.

I always leave feeling happy and satisfied with what I paid for my meal. The portions, the flavor, and the overall experience are definitely worth it. I highly recommend Saucy Asian to anyone looking for delicious Korean food and great service!“

“We searched 20 min for a parking spot during peak dinner rush. It was worth every minute! Our party of 5 ordered udon, kebabs, BBQ pork, & sizzling Bibimbap. All happy customers & rated it the #1 dinner of our 4 (so far) in San Francisco.“

“Super yum sushi-to-go, fresh at 10:45am, this was a lovely surprise for a late breakfast/early lunch when I just stopped in to warm up with a coffee. Kimbap on Tuesdays and Thursdays can’t wait to try that!!! Also they have what looks like a great quick-serve menu of Korean kimbap shop staples like dolsot bibimbap and galbi set menus. Great surprise!!! Musubi looked awesome too. Coffee was hot, fresh and perfect strength. Bonus hazelnut flavored and decaf also. Nice neighbourhood vibe, tables chatting to each other about sports and local news, owners seemed super cool. Good hot breakfast menu. What a lovely find on my emergency de-icing stop in!!! Will be back!!“

“Fantastic soondubu jjigae! Popped by for lunch on a cold rainy day and ordered some to go. The food came out fairly quick, considering I hadn't ordered ahead. Super flavorful broth, generously packed with pork, tofu, and some veggies. The rice was also very soft and had a good chew.“

“I wouldn't say I venture out to the West Portal too often, but gems like Snow Bliss, definitely make it a compelling reason to!

They specialize in bingsu, but their menu is huge, offering everything from popcorn chicken, to rice plates and noodle soups. If you're in the mood for dim sum, they have that too!

I ordered the popcorn chicken, wonton noodle soup, and matcha bingsu. The popcorn chicken was notable because it's made Chinese salt and pepper style, which made it really fragrant and savory. Not many places do it this way, but I think they should! Wonton noodle soup was also pretty solid, and the matcha bingsu was refreshing. The chewy mochi made every bite delicious and I would definitely come back here for a full meal, or just for dessert!“

“We had a wonderful lunch at sonamu on Sunday. We ordered sellotang, Galbi and Kimchi jigae. We arrived there slightly before closing time but they still serve high quality meals and service is 10/10. Server Hauk is attentive and refill BanChan for us as well. We’ve been there couple times and still my favorite is Kimchi jigaeeee!! Also they give korean bean paste and lettuce for Galbi.
The best homemade authentic korean food in Richmond area!!!“

“I came here for the smashburger, but i guess they dont do lunch untill later in the day. I ordered a breakfast sandwich instead, and it was really good! Hopefully i can try the lunch menu one day but i dont think it lines up with my work schedule. 🙃 will be comming back for breakfast though.😇“

“This spot is definitely going to be on repeat! Everything was a perfect flavor bomb in your mouth. Cucumber salad was surprisingly unique and delicious, the stews were comforting and the tofu eggplant dish was amazing. Then we had the sesame yuzu pudding and it did not disappoint. We want to try coffee and pastries next time, but either way will be back again soon!“

“Great food and at a great price. Can’t wait to go back“

“Korean Soul Chicken was absolutely delicious. We ordered the fried chicken, which was crispy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. I also had the BBQ pork, and it was tender and full of flavor. The potstickers were amazing, crisp, fresh, and not greasy at all.

The service was excellent and very attentive. The food was super affordable and everything tasted fresh and well made. I would definitely recommend“

“Of course we had to order the Kalbijjim (갈비찜), considering that it was our first time here. The wait wasn't too long, being no longer than 30 minutes for such a large/sharable portion (see images). It was enough food for us not to be able to finish in one sitting, again, a very generous portion. The beef, rice, and sides, everything was absolutely delicious.

I'm not too familiar with pricing when it comes to Korean cuisine, but this was priced at $82 (regular size), apparently there's a larger size...
The food court was very lively, which was enjoyable to eat in. A bit of a loud environment, but not too loud to a point where we were yelling to hear each other.“

“My foodie coworkers have nothing but praises every time you guys cater for us. Impressive how you pull off such tasty AND healthy food. Thank you!“

“It was our first time at ABSteak, we ordered the premium combo, which included egg soufflé, ssam and a choice of soup. We also ordered the Woo Sul( beef tongue). When we received the dishes, I was a bit disappointed with the snow kkotsal because the meat quality does not seem as nice as other diner's pictures(with really nice marbling). The meat itself was kind of chewy. My overall rating reflects a few issues we experienced during our visit. First, it seemed like my drink order may have been forgotten. My fiancé received his drinks, but I did not receive mine. When I asked the waiter to check on it, I was brought a completely different drink, and it took some additional time before the correct one finally arrived. Additionally, when our egg soufflé was brought to the table, the waitress was speaking directly over the dish while it was still in front of her face, which was a bit concerning from a hygiene standpoint.“

“Super nice/friendly folks. Food came out quick. Nice large portions. Was super satisfied“

“We tried the bibimbap and kimchi pancake! Both were fine. Loved the atmosphere of this place and the staff were friendly. We had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated indoors on a Sunday for lunch and by the time we left there was a long line!“

“Food came out hot. Tea came out lukewarm. Excellent customer service. Dishes are clean. Clean bathroom. Came here for dinner on a Saturday night at 8pm and place was empty. Music is loud. Was seated quickly. 20 years ago, this restaurant used to be so crowded that the wait time was at least 45 mins.“

“This is our local, “go to” place whenever we’re craving Korean food. It never disappoints. At night, they generally project K-pop music videos onto a large wall, which brings the whole room to life. Lotsa fun!“

“My husband and I actually door dashed this on a night in while visiting San Fran. I am a huge tofu soup fan but it’s always either too spicy or just water. There is never a perfect in between… until Ollei! The spice was perfect, just a little punch without it being too over powering. And with it being door-dashed it travelled well and was still warm when it arrived. The only complaints I have was there was hardly any beef in my tofu soup and it was very oily. I cannot speak to the service or atmosphere as I never physically went to the restaurant.“

“Just incredible Korean contemporary fusion cuisine. Kept the fundamentals of the Korean authenticity with unique broad appealing western gastronomic desires. Well done!!!👍“

“Yummy yummy yummy! 🥰 1st time here with my daughter and it was so yummy! We we will be back! 😋😋😋“

“I knew exactly what I wanted as I walked in. I smelled the Bibimbop and my tummy was already smiling. the service was great! and the food was delicious! our 3 year old approved the Chicken Cutlets with their special sauce! we're definitely coming back the next time we're in town!“

“Cheeseburger on a toasted sesame seed bun. Some mayo. Some lettuce and tomato. Side of fries. That’s a burger. It’s not The Melt, or McDonald’s. Not In-n-Out. It’s not a burger at STK. It’s not even the best burger in SF. It’s just a classic flavor that hits the spot. You don’t have to fly out here to try this, but if you’re in the neighborhood you can’t go wrong eating here.“

“Among the food court options at Hmart, I can only recommend two places: Daeho Galbijjim and Hong Kong Banjum. I’ve tried food from the other spots, but I wouldn’t recommend them. Especially Jung Bunsik—maybe it’s best to stay away from there!

Jajangmyeon and Jjamppong are truly the soul food of Koreans, aren’t they? I love both, but in San Francisco, it’s hard to find places that do them well consistently. The taste often varies too much. That’s why Hong Kong Banjum, with its reliably consistent flavor, is my top pick.

I recommend their Jjamppong, Tangsuyuk, and Jjajangbap!“

“Yesterday our first time there. The food was delicious and the service as well we definitely will have to come back soon!!! Thank you!“

“We got the raw oyster and bossam with lettuce wrap, korean fried chicken, raw marinated shrimp, and the corn cheese tater tots. I never would have thought that raw oysters and pork belly would go well together, but they do! It was quite a nice pairing with the banchan that came with it. The corn cheese tater tots were addictive and my favorite. I’d come back just for those! The raw marinated shrimp was my second favorite thing we ordered, the sauce for the marinade was great with the rice it came with. It had a nice salty and tangy flavor to it. The korean fried chicken was also really great. While it wasn’t flavorful by itself, the sauces it came with were great. It was fried perfectly and was great. Overall, great value for the amount of food we ordered. Would definitely come back again for the corn cheese tater tots and raw marinated shrimp, and to try the other things!“

“Great service and food 😋👍🏻“

“My foodie coworkers have nothing but praises every time you guys cater for us. Impressive how you pull off such tasty AND healthy food. Thank you!“

“Love their marinated meats, pickels and fermented vegetables. Their Kimchi is my favorite.“

“I recently revisited Valencia Street after a few years and decided to try out a new restaurant. I was impressed by the excellent customer service. I visited on Sunday, May 19, 2024, after 5 PM. The restaurant was pleasantly quiet, which was perfect since I have a toddler who likes to run around.

Although it wasn't my first time eating Korean food, the meal was outstanding. I had the Spicy Pork Bowl, and it was absolutely delicious. If you enjoy spicy food, I highly recommend it!
we will be back :)

Kid-friendliness: yes !

Wheelchair accessibility: yes,“

“Excellent food and great service. I had the Kimchi fried rice with additional spicy pork. Make sure to stir the rice for a few minutes as it comes in a stone bowl just as the name of the restaurant suggests, otherwise your bowl will burn the rice and it’ll become hard. I liked their banchan a lot personally, and during the lunch rush this place is pretty empty and I was served my food seemingly in record time. Prices were very fair. Their gyoza was pretty good. Curious about their dubu, but that’s for next time.

All in all, I will come back again and bring some coworkers. This place is so good.“

“A good place to taste Korean and Japanese cuisine with a twist.“

“I’ve been going here for almost 10 years now since it’s next to Kaiser. I’m grateful for this neighborhood jajangmyun place. Hits the spot when you want some. I’ve lived in a Korean food desert and would have loved a little place like this nearby.“

“Love this local Korean spot close by to me. Very consistent in the food quality. Pretty spacious and does not get too loud.

I love to order the yukgaejang when I come here. The stew has glass noodles and also comes with bowl of signature purple rice. So delicious and a great deal. And of course there are fresh tasting banchan. I’ve asked for banchan refills before and the staff is friendly and will provide it free of charge. I always leave happy and full. I haven’t tried a lot of the other menu items so cannot provide input on that. Next time I should try the samgyetang.“

“Came by around 7:30pm, the day before Thanksgiving and was seated right away. Ordered a yuzu jello alcoholic drink, soju, okonomiyaki fries and the chocolate tarfufo for dessert. The yuzu jello was fun to eat. The fries had the flavors of okonomiyaki, it even came with sliced cabbage at the bottom. Fries were crispy. We came to celebrate a friend’s birthday and the staff brought a birthday candle with the dessert. The chocolate tarfufo is basically chocolate ice cream. What made the night special was the staff. She was very welcoming and sweet. They also have a happy hour menu which looks intriguing.“

“We loved our experience at Kothai Republic! The staff were lovely and gave great menu suggestions. All the food we tried was incredibly delicious. Seriously, every single one. Will definitely be recommending here to others and cannot wait to come back!“

“Great food and service. I highly recommend this place for date night, family and friends. The only downside is parking is hard to come by in this neighborhood.“

“Tbk was not spicy enough, but I suspect they might have lowered the spice level to accommodate the majority customers who aren't used to the spice level.

Overall, taste was great, but the price is a bit high since you don't get that large of portion.“