50 Best Korean Restaurants in San Francisco

“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.“

“썰 was an memorable experience. Every dish was beautifully executed. For a Korean American, the ingredients were an emotional process. While each dish focused on/showcased the high quality of ingredients, the flavors were a nuanced balance between Korean and Western cultures. Choosing quality over local at each crossroads, many evoked memories of my Korean childhood.

The lynchpin for this beautiful evening was when the chef unexpectedly spent time with us; shared a rare insight behind the scenes. At our table, few were from the East Coast or not Korean American, thus not realizing the backstory to arriving to this moment. I so appreciate the honesty as validated the constant struggle between balancing Korean/American expectations, especially in this time/place. To tie such a diverse audience, the chef executes well.“

“Daeho is hands down my favorite Korean spot. The kalbi jjim is the best, and it’s the main reason we keep coming back. There’s always a line here, so definitely try to get on the waitlist if you can, otherwise be ready to wait. The vibe is pretty noisy and bustling, but the food makes it all worth it. Great spot if you’re craving amazing Korean comfort food.“

“It was my first time trying raw marinated shrimp, and they were delicious. I was a little bit hesitant because I originally came for the crab, but they were out of season. Our waiter convinced me to try the shrimp, and he was honestly one of the reasons why I gave this place 5 stars. He was a total vibe. I will come back to this restaurant every time I’m in town.“

“Respectable Korean bbq, good cuts of meat, nice sides, friendly staff, and nice that it's a little bit off of the beaten path and so usually it's not as crowded as other places. The spicy Ribeye is excellent.
This is not an all-you-can-eat establishment so be warned. But overall really good food.
Note: I've never had Korean TERRA beer before, but man, it went perfect with the meal!“

“Going to bansang has been a topic of discussion between us for the past six months. I’m actually never getting over this meal

Mulwhe noodles were recommended by the waiter and they were the perfect first bite. I really enjoyed the spicy sauce and the banchan that they plopped on top. Normally not a fan of cold noodles but I ate this up

Uni scallop toast was phenomenal. Bread was soft on the inside and slightly crunchy on the outside, and the oceanic flavor from the uni, scallops, and seaweed puree was a nice punch in the face.

I liked the Korean twist on the steak tartare — Asian pear and sesame oil! It’s paired with seaweed which further brought out the flavors

Kimchi fried rice 😻😻😻 best dish. Best thing my mouth has ever experienced. So spicy, lots of meat, omg. Everyone deserves to eat this at least once in their life

I also loved the gochujang black cod. Incredibly tender and a bit sweet from the sauces

Miso marinated pork would’ve been even better if we weren’t on the verge of combustion. But regardless we still agreed that it was a really great dish for being the mid meat that is pork.

All the deserts were just wow. My fav was the pear sorbet 🍐“

“Saucy Asian is a flavor-packed gem in San Francisco! The Korean BBQ tacos are next-level, perfectly seasoned and full of bold flavors and the kimchi fried rice is a must-try. The sauces truly live up to the name, adding an amazing kick to every bite. The vibe is fun, the staff is super friendly, and portions are generous. If you’re craving creative, delicious Korean-inspired street food, this is the spot!“

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

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

“So I was lucky enough to give this place a try during a closed event hosted by the Seoul sisters and the Hoo Lee Gans. Pretty cool vibe and atmosphere when you walk in. Extensive drink list and pretty skilled bartenders tend to your thirsty soul while the home cooked Korean style street food dishes caress your belly. As it was a closed event , the food was a buffet style, help yourself and gubble it up style. Regardless the food was spot on. I really enjoyed the onion pancake. This dish is as simple as it looks it is actually rather tricky to make. The popcorn chicken was tender, the kimchi zesty yet firm and tender.
I suggest you give it a try and work yourself through their menu.“

“Great service, super generous servings, and delicious! We ate here for mother's Day and I think we may have ordered too much as we were not expecting the large servings, which is totally not a bad thing! I think the HK noodles were my favorite and I'd say the salt and pepper shrimps were my least. It's lacking a bit of saltiness or umami compared to other places. Overall, I will come back but probably order less. 😅“

“Zajang Grill is the best restaurant“

“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!“

“Came here for dinner and it did not disappoint. We had the burrata salad, spicy tuna crisps, galbi crunch, chili pasta, and galbijim — and every dish was packed with flavor. Each one was unique, delicious, and beautifully prepared. Can’t wait to come back and try more!“

“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.“

“A hidden gem. Really, really nice food, served fresh and piping hot. The veggies are nice and crisp, unlike so many places that serve soggy veggies. I love that the food isn't bathed in salt. The beef is tender and tastes like beef, not just salt and soy sauce. The staff is super friendly and welcoming. On top of that, the prices are shockingly low, especially considering the quality and size of the dishes. My new fave.“

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

“Had a great time at AB Steak. This was our second visit, and we were not disappointed. Food quality and service were top notch. Really enjoy their premium cuts. it would be even better if the wine pricing could be more approachable, especially for red wines.“

“Came to Trinidad for 5 weeks vacation and been here 4 times in those 5 weeks. Incredible staff, incredible customer service and amazing food! Highly recommend!“

“There are many vegan options of Korean food on the menu which is usually hard to find. The staff is very knowledgeable of veganism and made sure to tell us what was being brought out was vegan. The food is also delicious! This will definitely be a go to“

“Delicious sandwich. Looks small but filled me up. I liked the egg and cream and the bread. I expected it to hurt my stomach but it did not! Good service. Unique drinks. Cool decor and there’s outdoor seating in the back! Nice bike parking out front too.“

“Better than Seoul Sausage and they won the Great American Food Truck Race! Perfect balance of spice, sauce, and crunch. The outside is amazing and the Parmesan was a nice touch!“

“My niece took me here yesterday. What a nice surprise. Great variety of Korean goodies. I loved every aisle. We spent at least 2 1/2 hrs aside from all the goodies you can try in the food court area. I was looking or specific items i could not find anywhere so of course I scooped a few of each. Loved the choices of veggies, meats both marinated and regular. Since I make food only for a few, it is nice to be able to portion the amounts I need.
After shopping, we stopped to have honey chicken. The nice thing was you can get them bone in or boneless. Also able to try the Korean hot dog. Both were so yummy and not super spicy.
Thank you!“

“One of my favorite bakeries in the city. The pastries here are all so unique with them all being Korean inspired. My favorites are the galbi and injeolmi croissants but you can't go wrong with any of the pastries here. If you do go here though I'd go as early as possible because they sell out of things fast. Coffee and tea here are great as well with the honeycomb toffee latte being a favorite of mine. The actual bakery itself looks very nice with a minimalist design but it's very small so they have you wait outside if you order a drink.“

“Hidden gem! The grilled octopus is a must!“

“order online pick up when ready.“

“Nice place to dine in with family and friends“

“Muguboka is a small Korean restaurant, but the food was clean-tasting and truly delicious. It was the best restaurant I visited during my trip. Although we had to wait for a table because it was so crowded during lunchtime, it was definitely worth the wait. The food also came out quickly after we ordered. If you visit San Francisco, I highly recommend eating at this place.
Since it's in an area with a lot of tourists, it took some time to find parking.“

“I visited this Korean restaurant almost every week and thoroughly enjoyed each visit! The food is absolutely delicious and very affordable, making it a perfect spot for a quick meal or a casual dinner out. The flavors are authentic and satisfying— I definitely recommend trying the Bulgugi and the side dishes!

The restaurant may not be overly fancy, but it is clean and comfortable. The staff impressed me; they are incredibly kind and welcoming. Be sure to show them the same kindness in return; they truly deserve it!

Overall, it was a great experience with tasty food, fair prices, and a warm atmosphere.“

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

“I love this place, it is my favorite new regular lunch spot in the financial district. The kingbob rolls are tasty and healthy. They come in a perfect lunch size proportion - it isn't more food than I want or need for a casual lunch. Can't beat the price either. I try to visit every week or two because its a gem and I want them to be successful!“

“This is my go to place for takeout when im sick or hungry/lazy past 930pm. I always get the kimchi soup with pork belly, seafood pancake, kimchi cold noodle, and more pork belly. Their banchan also includes a crunchy mustard seaweed noodle that is so addicting.

This may be my favorite korean restaurant in the city.“

“This family run cafe is the best. Get the Bibimbap!! If you eat in they’ll even do it stone pot style.

Vegetarian options: Any of the tofu specialties or sandwiches.

Kid-friendliness: They are the best with my kid. I delivered next doors so they’ve known him since day 1.“

“3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

Kimcheese Smashburger: Patty has a decent texture, but may be too mushy for some people. Not very tasty and a bit plain - definitely did not feel like I was eating a Korean food item.

Fries: Good texture, although a bit hard. Under-seasoned.“

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

“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!“

“The BEST Galbi I've ever had. Wow the quality & cut of the meat is grade A with minimal fat, marinated and seared to literal PERFECTION. I'm happy but sad it's over.
Can't wait to eat here again whenever I'm back in SF.“

“Great service and food 😋👍🏻“

“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.“

“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.“

“Great Food! And Very nice Small Restaurant“

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

“Tell me why when I first opened the delivery box of galbi boneless chicken and stabbed what I thought was a French fry with my fork, I literally did a chew double-take and removed the tteokbokki from my mouth because my taste buds were so thrown off from what I was expecting. I really should’ve known better, but I’m accustomed to seeing tteokbokki drenched in a gochujang based sauce, so they deceptively resembled fries. To be fair, from this experience, I learned they taste way better dry and seasoned, but I digress.

Onto the main part of the review…

As I’ve written in a couple other reviews this week, I’m “researching” the best Korean fried chicken spots in San Francisco to determine which to order from for an upcoming Friendsgiving. I looked up a ton of options in the city and narrowed them down to a shortlist of 3 spots, this place included. A few things I examined to create my short list were varieties/flavours of chicken, quantity to price ratio, other customer ratings, images of the chicken, and proximity to my neighborhood or deliverability to my friends’ neighborhood where the Friendsgiving will be hosted.

When I took the first bite of K Soul chicken, I knew I’d found a winner. I’m very particular about KFC having spent the last few years living in LA and Orange County, home to copious dedicated KFC restaurants. K Soul’s chicken tastes the most similar to my favourite spots in SoCal. It has the perfect texture and crunch, the meat is neither dry nor greasy, and the umami flavor is on point. They’ve created a perfectly balanced KFC, and that’s why I’ll be taking this to Friendsgiving.“

“Cute, small, cozy restaurant with fast and great service!

Must Try Recommendations!
Appetizers: Vegetarian potstickers
Delicate, crispy and absolutely delicious served with a sour tasty dipping sauce

Vegetarian Ramen: Vegetarian Gyoza Ramen (spicy level)
Absolutely a must try! Spicy, hot and delicious. More than enough quantity it is a treat!

Meat option: Chicken Jjim
Yummy soy garlic flavor and tender chicken. Recommend trying it!“

“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!“

“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,“

“I’ve never been to Korea so can’t say if it’s authentic, but the tteokbokki is better than all other places in SF that serve this delicious dishIt still has a kick for the non-spicy level but I think it’s what makes it great. Awesome flavor, nice thick sauce. Warmed me up on a really cold day.Pairs really well with Soju. I’m going to be ordering this a lot going forward.Ordered through Uber Eats so going to try and eat it at restaurant next time with the extra cheese.“

“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 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!“