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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mieke
This is an absolute must. The total experience was amazing! We loved it. It is very clear that this team of young people is passionate about their venture. It shows in all aspects of the dining experience. We will definitely be back!
Kurt
We enjoyed the entire experience. The service was amazing. We had the wine pairing and felt that an added red wine could inprove the pairing. We enjoyed all the unique flavors and were very pleased.
Tessa
Just incredible! Everything was perfectly paired, the team was so kind and each dish was delicious. We left so full but not waddling which is a real hard balance to strike. Can't wait to come again. They made every bite so special!
J Espo
You guys are killing it. Fantastic job last night.
Everything was perfect, timed right, and every dish was amazing. Don't miss this one while you're in San Francisco!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Spencer
Loved pretty much everything on the menu! My favorite dish was the smoked duck served with the Arsicault Bakery Croissant and Maple Butter. I also really loved the Eel dish as well as the Honeynut Squash pastry. The galbi was also excellent and a worthy add-on! The service was extremely good and everyone was very friendly and attentive. I felt the perilla oil in the clam dish was a bit too subtle and this dish could have used a bit more brightness or depth.
Seth
SAAL is an exciting addition to the SF fine dining scene. From the moment we stepped foot in the door, our entire experience felt curated, precise, authentic, and accessible. Each bite had nuance, depth of flavor, wit and precision. Of note was the quality and cleanliness of the seafood. I've never had such impeccably fresh and flawless oysters and scallops. The American eel in particular was hands down the best unagi I've ever tasted. The restaurant managed to educate us in Korean staples, while elevating humble ingredients without any pretense. The service was impeccable, with clear explanations and the perfect balance of friendliness without intrusion. As a pescatarian, I was thrilled by the substitution for the duck course, a sea bass that didn't feel like an afterthought. The desserts were refreshing and seasonally appropriate. The atmosphere allowed diners to either dress to the nines or stay relatively casual without feeling awkward either way. I would absolutely recommend SAAL and look forward to visiting again for another special occasion.
Grace
Beautifully executed menu, highlighting seasonal ingredients with Korean flavors. Each dish was meticulous, and flavorful with an element of surprise. While it is fine dining, the experience felt more casual with 90's r&b/hip hop playing in the background. Nice for an intimate dinner or celebration!
Marie
One of the best meals I've ever had! Really tremendous tasting menu -- every dish is so delicious, comforting, appealing, and well balanced. Nice sizes for a multicourse meal -- we didn't end up feeling stuffed (or unsatisfied). Price point is a little high but well worth it. The wine pairing (also at a high price point) is exceptional. The pacing and service were perfect. I loved the visual aesthetics of the space -- but the noise level is *very, very* high for a fine dining restaurant. Quieter music and some sound-absorbing materials would be *greatly* appreciated and would substantially improve the dining experience. Hearing-impaired customers in particular may not enjoy the experience.
The food and service were not up to my expectations for a $1,000 meal for two. Everything is bite sized but you do end up full. But in my opinion if you’re spending this kind of money every dish should be out of this world and paired with outstanding service. I’d say less than half the courses were ‘great’, and nothing stood out, food or service-wise.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Adelaide Christenson
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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David
One of our favorite restaurants in the city. Please bring back the clam guksu!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jae W Jin
My family had a wonderful experience. Thank you Jason, Junsoo and team!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yun Zhang
A fried chicken takeout set from SSAL was once our picnic standard. Grabbing a box of fried chicken and Korean-style grilled ribs, and finding a random patch of grass in the city, made for a rare moment of leisure.
Recently, this four-year-old menu made a brief comeback. The fried chicken is still tender and juicy, with a perfectly crispy skin. Paired with the soy garlic and sweet chili sauces, it tastes just like it does in my memory.
The plates were incredible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is an absolute must. The total experience was amazing! We loved it. It is very clear that this team of young people is passionate about their venture. It shows in all aspects of the dining experience. We will definitely be back!
We enjoyed the entire experience. The service was amazing. We had the wine pairing and felt that an added red wine could inprove the pairing. We enjoyed all the unique flavors and were very pleased.
Just incredible! Everything was perfectly paired, the team was so kind and each dish was delicious. We left so full but not waddling which is a real hard balance to strike. Can't wait to come again. They made every bite so special!
You guys are killing it. Fantastic job last night.
Everything was perfect, timed right, and every dish was amazing. Don't miss this one while you're in San Francisco!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loved pretty much everything on the menu! My favorite dish was the smoked duck served with the Arsicault Bakery Croissant and Maple Butter. I also really loved the Eel dish as well as the Honeynut Squash pastry. The galbi was also excellent and a worthy add-on! The service was extremely good and everyone was very friendly and attentive. I felt the perilla oil in the clam dish was a bit too subtle and this dish could have used a bit more brightness or depth.
SAAL is an exciting addition to the SF fine dining scene. From the moment we stepped foot in the door, our entire experience felt curated, precise, authentic, and accessible. Each bite had nuance, depth of flavor, wit and precision. Of note was the quality and cleanliness of the seafood. I've never had such impeccably fresh and flawless oysters and scallops. The American eel in particular was hands down the best unagi I've ever tasted. The restaurant managed to educate us in Korean staples, while elevating humble ingredients without any pretense. The service was impeccable, with clear explanations and the perfect balance of friendliness without intrusion. As a pescatarian, I was thrilled by the substitution for the duck course, a sea bass that didn't feel like an afterthought. The desserts were refreshing and seasonally appropriate. The atmosphere allowed diners to either dress to the nines or stay relatively casual without feeling awkward either way. I would absolutely recommend SAAL and look forward to visiting again for another special occasion.
Beautifully executed menu, highlighting seasonal ingredients with Korean flavors. Each dish was meticulous, and flavorful with an element of surprise. While it is fine dining, the experience felt more casual with 90's r&b/hip hop playing in the background. Nice for an intimate dinner or celebration!
One of the best meals I've ever had! Really tremendous tasting menu -- every dish is so delicious, comforting, appealing, and well balanced. Nice sizes for a multicourse meal -- we didn't end up feeling stuffed (or unsatisfied). Price point is a little high but well worth it. The wine pairing (also at a high price point) is exceptional. The pacing and service were perfect. I loved the visual aesthetics of the space -- but the noise level is *very, very* high for a fine dining restaurant. Quieter music and some sound-absorbing materials would be *greatly* appreciated and would substantially improve the dining experience. Hearing-impaired customers in particular may not enjoy the experience.
Restaurantji Recommends
The food and service were not up to my expectations for a $1,000 meal for two. Everything is bite sized but you do end up full. But in my opinion if you’re spending this kind of money every dish should be out of this world and paired with outstanding service. I’d say less than half the courses were ‘great’, and nothing stood out, food or service-wise.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of our favorite restaurants in the city. Please bring back the clam guksu!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My family had a wonderful experience. Thank you Jason, Junsoo and team!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A fried chicken takeout set from SSAL was once our picnic standard. Grabbing a box of fried chicken and Korean-style grilled ribs, and finding a random patch of grass in the city, made for a rare moment of leisure.
Recently, this four-year-old menu made a brief comeback. The fried chicken is still tender and juicy, with a perfectly crispy skin. Paired with the soy garlic and sweet chili sauces, it tastes just like it does in my memory.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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