50 Best Korean Restaurants near South San Francisco

“Satisfies Korean food craving.“

“The Fried Chicken was wonderful. I just wished it was better sauced and they do not give out extra sauce on the side.“

“Got the bulgogi burrito at off the grid OMCA and honestly, no notes. Absolutely INCREDIBLE tasting - well marinated bulgogi, crispy tots, fast and smooth customer service. My friend got the chicken katsu and he intended to only eat half and he ate it all - I tried it and it was TASTY. I consider myself a discerning eater and I have no qualms at all. Highly recommend!!“

“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“

“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.“

“Zajang Grill is the best restaurant“

“We’re so happy to have checked out this lovely place!

Family run with pride and care, delicious (!!!) food, super nice service and squeaky clean! Seriously, not a speck of dust to be found.

We were both impressed with the super juicy and tender chicken, shrimp (cooked to perfection) and beef, super flavorful fried rice and portion sizes 🤯🤯🤯 we’ll have leftover for a few days!

The folks working the place are so nice and take such great care of the cafe.

We’ll be back and we’ll bring friends and family!“

“Food is good, and they are not stingy at all, Important part! Very ease and quick service, I ordered Bimbim naengmyeon, the rest are complimentary. Still got dessert drink! Went there at 3:30 pm because i thought who gonna eat at that hour right!? Well, I was wrong, full house.“

“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.“

“This is a really fantastic new Korean BBQ restaurant. The service was both warm and incredibly prompt, which really made for a pleasant experience. While the short ribs were a little bit on the sweeter side for my liking, the pork belly and chicken thighs were absolutely perfect. I especially loved the really crispy chicken skin!“

“Peter and his team are flawless. The food is exceptional and the service is even better. From cocktails to apps to the main event, everything is executed at a very high level. The ambiance is superb, honestly the designer needs an award. I would highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone.“

“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 visited this place with my sister during one of our outings in San Francisco. We got there around 2:30 pm on a Saturday and the place was pretty full. But lucky for us, there was people leaving right when we got there so we immediately got a table and head to the counter to place our order.

What we ordered:

☕ Black Sesame Latte • 9/10
A very well-made Black Sesame Latte. Not too sweet and comforting. Will definitely order again next time.

🍹 Raspberry Omija Soda • 9/10
Very refreshing drink. The cream on top was delicious—not too thick and sweet—and complimented the raspberry soda really well. Could probably have that cream with any other drinks if I’m being honest.

🥪 Umami Kimchi Panini • 9.5/10
This was our first time having a Kimchi Panini and we both agreed it was really good. Bursts of Korean flavors in every bite and super flavorful. It was very well executed, delicious and the portion was pretty generous too. Although maybe worth mentioning, it was a tad spicy for me who can’t really eat spicy food (that kimchi really had a pretty spicy kick for me) but it was fine for my sister who can.

Also, met the owner, Esther, during our visit and she was super nice and friendly and helped us with menu recommendations. If you’re looking for a dessert cafe in San Francisco/Hayes Valley area with unique Korean flavors, this place is definitely worth trying.“

“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.😇“

“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“

“Fantastic Korean food. The owners were super friendly. The staff was amazing and the food was superb. Some places are either too salty or no flavor but K-Grill & Tofu House was on the spot. All our food was perfect. The eel was soft and so flavorful.

The cold Beef Bibimbap was also very delicious. Add the red spicy and sweet sauce and you got yourself a sweet spicy cold bowl of awesomeness.“

“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.“

“Under appreciated restaurant in the financial district. Picture yourself sitting here with just your thoughts. I came here for a meeting. The staff gave me my food and I sat down at one of their tables to eat and do my video call. Some people want a cafe, but I prefer a place with kimchi and rice.“

“The portions were huge, which is great because you get your money's worth. If that's your thing. I thought the bibimbap in the stone pot was great. My spouse thought her soup was a bit salty. The pancake was good.

The staff was nice and the atmosphere was typical restaurant vibes.“

“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!“

“Good food. Definitely recommended.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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! 😋😋😋“

“This place should have a line out the door every day. Incredible value. Excellent service. Delicious food. Warm and friendly staff. They greeted all their regulars by name like old friends. I can't wait to become a regular myself. I can't recommend enough. Coming back as often as I can.“

“Wanted to try a new Korean restaurant. This was definitely a hidden jem. We got here around 6:30pm on Saturday, May 31, 2025. There was no waiting and seated us right away. The restaurant seating is spacious with plenty of chair space and legroom. They cook everything for you. It was cooked to perfection. The Kalbi was tender with the perfect seasoning. Their Bonchon is some of the best we have ever tasted. Especially, their Kimchi. We have tried many different brands of Kimchi from Korean supermarkets. This has become our favorite Korean restaurant now.“

“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 place is my go-to whenever I’m craving some light soup or galbijim. Their soups are simple but delicious, comforting and perfect for a cold day. Beyond that, their galbijim is on par with the popular Daeho, making it an excellent choice for groups. It’s super flavorful, tender, and filling, so it’s great for sharing and enjoying a hearty meal with friends or family. The combination of comforting soups and standout galbijim keeps me coming back again and again.“

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

“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 have been a many times, usually when I am craving for some Korean food or just want something easy. It is located at the right side when you enter the supermarket, most of the times there is not a wait. Their menu consists of appetizers, authentic Korean dishes, specialty wings, soups, beverages, etc. I have never encountered an issue here thanks to their welcoming, well trained and understanding staffs. Everything is pretty much made to order which is always a plus for me and I never mind the wait since I am a very patient person. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a Korean spot, if you want to try something new or if you want a laid back spot to dine at. I definitely will be back to tryout the other delicious options they have to offer.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“