46 Best Korean Restaurants in San Francisco

“It's a lot of food...... a whole lot. Careful ordering any appetizers or other starters, because the main dish is a monster in size.

Amazing flavor on everything and the service was fast and friendly. Highly recommend.“

“Truly outstanding meal. The eel wrapped in smoked sea grass was amongst the best bites I have ever eaten, but pretty much every bite on the menu was excellent. The service was also great - no attitude, very friendly, and super knowledgeable. They gave us a great wine suggestion within our price range which was not something I would have found on my own but was perfect for the meal. This is one of those meals that we will think back on fondly for a long time.“

“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. 🤩“

“I started eating immediately because I couldn’t wait! The pictures show the food missing a few bites! Haha! Delicious! The sautéed spicy pork belly was rich and perfect with rice. The cold noodles chewy and tasty. Old school decor felt just right. Nothing flashy. The food spoke for itself. I think the server is also the proprietor. Friendly and asked if we needed to replenish our banchai. I will be back.“

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

“The best Korean food I had in the Bay Area. Great portion for the BBQ, every dish is so flavorful, I absolutely love everything including the free small dishes.

Just be aware it’s kind of hard to find parking in the residential area.“

“Food (5/5)
Each plate was amazing. I especially liked the potato pancakes, uni toast, rice cakes with beef, and the Galbi steak. The meat was tender and juicy and well-seasoned.

The rice crispy/syrup ice cream and matcha lava cake were great as well.

Service (4.2/5)
The wait time between plates were somewhat variable. First dish (quail eggs) came quickly, but there was some wait between other dishes. They also could’ve come quicker after giving us the bill. Also, since some dishes were a bit messy (eg, the potato pancakes with all its crispy toppings) it would’ve been nice if they could help wipe the tables between some dishes.

Atmosphere (4.5)
Pretty nice and elegant environment, overall. Spacious bathrooms. The section we were in were a bit echoey and loud, however (but it was better after the large parties had left).“

“Zajang Grill is the best restaurant“

“We had late night dinner reservations elsewhere and needed a little snack to hold us over. We got the bulgogi kimbap and boneless KFC with the sweet and spicy sauce. While waiting for our food, we were pleasantly surprised when they served us each a hot cup of broth. The chicken was delicious and they were big pieces of breast meat that weren’t overly breaded, but still very crispy. The kimbap was also great. The man who helped us was very nice and the restaurant was clean.“

“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.“

“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!“

“This place is the epitome of comfort food. Located where all the medical offices seem to be - this is an unassuming mom and pop cafe with no frills but has warm and friendly energy. I always order off the Korean menu and the dolsot bibimbop is absolutely delicious and in the same leagues as your typical Korean restaurant. This is definitely a local's joint and I look forward to coming here after my doctor's visits.“

“The food I had delivered to my residence from this restaurant was very delicious. I never had Asian tacos 🌮 before. First time for everything. I may even order food from this restaurant again sometime soon. I highly recommend this place. I give them 5 stars ⭐️“

“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!“

“Our experience was incredible! The steaks cooked table side and the accoutrements were out if this world! Our server was very personable answering all of our questions about the food and sharing personal stories of he and his family! Loved it! Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a too notch Korean food experience!“

“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.😇“

“I’ve been to Sonamu several times now, and it’s consistently a great experience. The vibe is casual, the space is clean, and service is efficient with food coming out quickly. There is a bit of an echo, so conversations carry, but it’s not a dealbreaker. The banchan spread is generous with seven tasty sides, and they’ll happily refill them on request. I love the courtesy tea—it’s hot and flavorful. The seafood bibimbap and tteokbokki are standouts: big portions, well-seasoned, and really satisfying. The bibimbap even stayed hot until the end of the meal, which was impressive. At about $40 for both dishes, it’s also a solid value for Korean food in SF. Definitely a reliable spot when you’re craving a hearty, flavorful meal.“

“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“

“Amazing, underrated spot and easily my new go-to for pre-theater dining (walkable to civic center performance venues). The food was some of the tastiest and most unique + memorable I've had in the last year at least! My recs: golden toast + clams (you MUST add on the octopus and abalone).“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

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

“Ilcha offers good Korean food and drinks. We had a great time. We ordered 3x of each. Braised pork belly, half dozen oysters $42, waygyu beef bulgogi, tater tots $20, fried seaweed spring rolls $10, spicy ramen hotpot $38, sweet pancakes and fried chicken $36. Our party of 14 ate most of it but had to take some of it home. For drinks, we mostly did soju and beer. The soup and fried chicken were my favorites. Service was excellent. They even help us cut a cake onto 14 pieces. Awesome job everyone at Ilcha.“

“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!“

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

“We never miss a chance to dine here when we’re in San Fernando. Amazing meals, amazing staff <3“

“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!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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,“

“We saw so many korean restaurants and were unsure which to pick. We figured the high prices of others would make them better but we were looking for something that was more reasonable in price and found Jin Mi. We were SO glad we did. The food was phenomenal!! We got a bimbimbap bowl, Ramen, and tofu soup and all of it was just delicious. The service was fast, the employee was so friendly. The best place we ate at in SF this trip! Thanks so much.“

“Bibimbap flavor was good, though spicy pork was not very spicy. Also, it could have been more food for the price. No free small plates like in other Korean restaurants, so an order of kimchi was extra. However, that maybe just for barbeque places which they don't have.“

“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.“

“Great Food! And Very nice Small Restaurant“

“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.“