50 Best Korean Restaurants in San Francisco

“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.“

“The best Korean fried chicken!!“

“I really like this restaurant and have ordered from here many times. I don’t usually write reviews about food quality, because I understand that every restaurant can have an off day. But I’m writing this because I genuinely like this place and don’t want to see the quality decline.Today I ordered my favorite soup for delivery, and unfortunately, it was very disappointing. The food looked like it had been sitting for a while, and even the rice — something as simple as rice — tasted like it wasn’t fresh.I know the quality this restaurant is capable of, and this was simply not what I expected. I live only about a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute drive away, so I’ve chosen to order from here many times because I genuinely like the restaurant.I honestly don’t want to see the quality go down. That’s why I’m taking the time to write this review. I hope the restaurant takes it as constructive feedback, because I would much rather come back and have the quality I’ve experienced here before.“

“This place always hits the spot! The flavors are amazing and I love all the banchan dishes. Plus! The rice comes with the food which should be the standard but nowadays other places charge for them.

The dishes are pricey but the portions are large and sometimes you can get a freebie! Definitely bring a friend to share with.“

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

“Solid Korean and Chinese food Restaurant. My husband and I favorite food is their spicy marinated raw crab so addicting and delicious. We usually order the crispy garlic scallops, HK noodles and crispy garlic string beans. So far majority of their food has been really good and tasty. All the staff are friendly and courteous. The owner is husband and wife they are so friendly and very welcoming so pleasant to talk to. Their portion is big“

“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!“

“Had a wonderful dining experience .
The quality of the meat was excellent, everything was cooked perfectly, and the flavors were fantastic. The atmosphere was stylish and comfortable, making it a great place for a special meal.
A special shout-out to our server, Evelyn, who was incredibly friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. She made sure we were well taken care of throughout the entire meal and really made our experience even more.“

“Truly an amazing place. Between the delicious food and the lovely environment, it really made us feel this was the right place to be in for this cold night. The seafood stew and the seafood pancake both were just amazing. Perfect place to hang at for dinner with big family and friends but also has few corners that perfect for couples. We can't wait to go back and try the BBQ next time.“

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

“I stopped in because it was walking distance from St Mary's and the food was absolutely delicious, and a good size/amount for the price. The guy at the counter (James?) was super friendly and seemed to know everyone who came in. Must be a lot of regulars“

“Yuong, the owner, is super friendly! He greets every guest with warmth/laughter; the place should definitely be more popular. Other info: the restaurant readily takes cash, has a very relaxed atmosphere, their menu is large and while the restaurant doesn’t specialize in any given diet Yuong gave me lots of recommendations for dishes!“

“Overall above average Korean food. The fried tofu kingbob was excellent. I also ordered the Korean fried chicken without sauce. The KFC could have had a crispier crust, but the inside was nice and tender. Service was friendly and fast. The atmosphere was basic with a strong fast food vibe.“

“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.“

“Got here at opening, the place was mostly empty. The staff was polite and helpful. Placed my rice bowl with Korean Bulgogi as protein, the bowl was tasty and with fresh vegetables. The service was quick, got my food in 5 minutes.

The bulgogi was bit plain, not a lot of flavor and wish more meats too😊. There are both indoor and outdoor seatings.“

“We've never eaten upscale Korean before (only the usual more home style dishes). This meal was outstanding. The Omija mocktail was likely the best mocktail I've ever had. It looked like a glass of red wine and paired incredibly well with the food, and at $11, it was for sure noteworthy. Truffle beef tartare was divine. Scallop uni toast was just ok for me but I'm not a huge uni lover. My pork jowl dish was a hit. But the most delicious of all was the finger rib and crispy rice cake dish, 10/10. We had one of each dessert and all were well executed. The space is lovely, we were in the side room of 4 tables which was nice for conversing. Will absolutely return!“

“One of our favorite spots in the Richmond. Sean and Alice are as terrific as their ice cream!“

“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.“

“Zajang Grill is the best restaurant“

“Wilson absolutely gave me the best experience here. I came in late and he was still so professional so kind so knowledgeable and really helped me out. I was having a bad day before this but his customer service and just clear pleasure to be serving me absolutely changed my day. I think every restaurant needs a Wilson. He knew everything about the menu. Helped me decide. With so much patience and care. Thank you so much Wilson. Food was amazing too!! 🙏“

“Spicy seafood stew was yummy- good amount of spice without overpowering the flavor of the stew. Lots of protein. Heads up, I got like half the body of a crab with legs that was still in its shell; it was a cool visual but kind of hard to eat. Love that we got a bunch of appetizers that just come at the start of the meal for everyone and we all got rice. The kimchi was too sweet for me personally- guessing there’s sugar in it and I’d prefer it without.“

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

“Excellent! Did the spicy the fried chicken, sizzling bibimbap with pork, and some glass noodle chicken dish. I will absolutely come again! It's nice to have a place to get good Korean food and not get all smoky and smelly from the table cooking.“

“This was my go to when craving jjigae while living in SF. The chicken’s good too, but make sure to share it; the portion is very generous. Lastly, the folk running this place are really friendly and kind. Will miss having this place nearby!“

“Our favorite neighborhood Korean restaraunt. It's Korean home-cooking in a relaxed atmosphere. We love coming for lunch and dinner, and always over-order. Sane is kind and attentive; she remembers us every time we visit. We love Sonamu.“

“Amazing food! The portions were way bigger than I expected, and everything tasted fantastic. I tried the Topokki katsu and it was absolutely delicious. The service was great too, friendly and attentive.

Highly recommend, I'll definitely be back!“

“The sushi and sashimi here were so incredibly tender -- the fish would literally melt in my mouth! We got a tasty soup-based main dish as well, and I'd recommend getting it with the sushi if you're very hungry. The service was fantastic, and our waitress was very kind and generous. If you're craving a good mix of sushi and korean food, this place is definitely worth it!“

“My husband and I wanted to try Korean fried chicken. 🍗🐔 The place is very clean and The owner was helpful and kind. 😊👍 He helped us choose a few chicken flavors. 🌶🍯 Absolutely delicious 😋. 💯“

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

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

“This small cafe is on the alley directly across from the hall of justice and has four tables and another dozen seats along a wall. The menu is limited but the food is good and the quantity is large. There’s free water with glass containers you can bring to your seat. We ordered two bulgabi bowls, one a mini and the other the regular. Both had broccoli, chap chai, brown rice and a lot of beef. It came with sauces as well. The food was good and a mini would’ve been enough for both of us. Service was friendly but the beef was a bit tough to chew. The place is large but spartan but clean.“

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

“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 review is for the dinner tasting menu. At $89/person you get a full course Korean inspired meal. Each dish was fresh, light and had hit the tongue palate in all the right spots.

Beef tartare was light and perfectly seasoned. The main galbijjim steak with rice and chimichurri was buttery soft with hint of sweet aftertaste .

My friends and I could not stop eating! We were a larger group of 9 and the host did so well explaining each dish. She even gave tips on how to get the photos ! Atmosphere inside at night was modern and trendy. I can imagine it as a good date spot as well.“

“This was my first time here, and it definitely won’t be my last. The food was excellent, the staff was very friendly, and the interior was beautiful. It was a pleasure to spend time here. I had a great time with my brothers and really enjoyed the experience“

“I got a pork bulgogi lunch combo to-go and it was good! Purple rice was a bit dry/cold, japchae has no veggies in it (it's just the noodles), the salad is iceberg lettuce. I like that they gave me a little container of kimchi and broccoli. The pork bulgogi was tasty but oily. Portion size was great, and the server who checked me out was nice! Be warned that the menu pictures are outdated, prices are higher now and they no longer have sikhye (rice drink) available. Would come here again for a quick casual Korean lunch to-go :)“

“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!“

“My husband brought me here for my Birthday. It was amazing. I love Korean food, but this was next level. It is in the Tenderloin, I do not let that intimidate you. It is worth the walk from the Hotel Nikko. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. The food earned it Michelin Star. Try the Korean pancakes.“

“this is my favorite korean restaurant ever!! i always get the galbijim & clam soup noodles - would highly recommend! it’s also conveniently located inside h mart so you can go grocery shopping right after & check out the other stores in this little plaza.“

“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!“

“Went to Purple Rice 🍚💜 for lunch craving Kimchi Jiggae! They did not dissapoint 😋. I had the Kimchi Stew with pork, and it came out SIZZLING hot 🥵 . The service was fast and friendly, I will definitely be back very soon 🫶🏽“

“Great service and food 😋👍🏻“

“I stopped at this restaurant due to the time I decided to find something to eat, as it was late and everything was closing for the evening. I stopped in and was greeted by the friendly staff, and the place was a little busy. I was able to get served for the time i had about a little over an hour before they closed. I was very limited on what I could order due to the gluten problem. but the server and staff was very helpful in finding dishes that I could get just had to leave out a few things to make it gluten free. it was a very good choice of what we came up with and everything turned out to be a success for a late night dinner. Thank you again guys for the help and the service. You guys are awesome. Stop and check this place out the food was full of flavor and the toppings on the side made for tasteful options to add for each bite.“

“Nice place to dine in with family and friends“

“I like the Sam’s hamburger“

“The Korner Store is a private event space now. I sent an inquiry in for a Saturday night booking, and received prompt response with a quote and some options. There's a minimum food and drink amount. I coordinated a walk through of the space and made a deposit!

The hosts and owners (Ina and Nick) are incredibly helpful throughout the booking and night of the event. My ~40 guests enjoyed the Korean food and full bar. We had a fantastic time in the private space. The venue has tv screens, music inputs, DJ and dance area, karaoke, and an optional photobooth. I highly recommend considering The Korner Store for your next event.“

“The best sea bass and the best sushi 🍣 Love it“

“I can’t get enough of the tofu bowl and hangover soup. Sooo good! I’m bummed their Valencia location closed because I could walk there, but I’m glad the other location is still open so I can get my fix. I crave their food all the time. It’s one of my favorite spots for a meal that’s both comforting and healthy. Highly recommend!“

“I’ve walked Noriega street multiple times and never realized there was a good Korean restaurant here! It is easy to miss unless you’re looking for The Crew, which is why I’m glad a friend recommended this place to me.

What I liked about eating here is that the food is served HOT. We had the soft tofu soup, seafood pancake, stone pot bibimbap, and 1/2 serving of galbi. The portions are generous and it fulfilled our craving for Korean food. The banchan (small plates) is average at best, but that did not deter from the experience. The food we did order was exceptional.“

“Grocery-store side only: I hadn't shopped here since before they opened the downstairs area and what an ordeal I had today - I found everything I needed for the next few days to make bbq, bibimbap, and noodle dishes in the shop. All the produce was A+ and I even found the different ramyuns I was looking for (massive ramen aisle). The staff was hella helpful and friendly to help me find things except for one lady. The Auntie cashiers were super kind and sweet and as they were checking out my groceries, engaged in cute conversation over me learning Korean and my affinity for kpop. I forgot my H-Mart card but she said to come back with it and my receipt to get credit. I went to my car to load my groceries only to realize I dropped my car keys somewhere in the store! Luckily for me, some kind soul returned it to the Customer Service desk where I was able to get it. Thank you H-Mart staff! <3 (Next time I'll spend more time checking out the downstairs.)“