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!!“

“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.“

“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. 😅“

“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.“

“Zajang Grill is the best restaurant“

“Good experience. Food was well prepared and delicious. We have been to quite a few Michelin star restaurants and one thing that was missing from this experience was that level service. Explaining the dish as it was presented, etc. great food though!“

“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!“

“The food was excellent and the service was superb. We didn't realize that our theatre tickets were 30 minutes earlier than we thought. The staff responded and made sure we were done in time. We plan to go back again when we don't have to rush.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“9/10
- golden toast with sashimi on top 9.5/10: so good. the best avocado toast my bf has ever had. it was a perfect combination of crunchy / soft textures. the avocado mixed with the crispy and buttery toast, with a slight kick to it that i can't even place.
- galbi crunch 6/10: lackluster. great concept, poor execution. the batter tasted like tempura chips which was weird. the meat was a bit overcooked; would've been better if it was more tender. the peppers were good. the red flakes on top tasted like hot cheetos.
- soondooboo 9/10: they wouldn't give us white rice!!!! we asked twice!!! would've been a 10 with rice. best soondooboo we've had. it had a thicker consistency than normal. was on the spicier side so rice would've saved us. given that there was no rice, we wish there was more content in it (ie. meat, tofu). we're taking it home to eat with rice lol
- bossam 8.5/10: the kimchi like thing and soybean paste were a good combo with the meat. no lettuce though, which was weird. the bossam felt less cooked than normal, but not complaining lol. solid but not the best i've had
- mochi brownie 8/10: had little bits of mochi in it... kinda weird. but the black sesame cream was a great addition! the brownie as a whole was the perfect amount of sweet. and they gave it to us for free for our anniversary!“

“This is one of my favorite Korean restaurants in the Bay Area. One of the reasons is because they have a good selection of banchans. They offer a small fish that comes as a standard banchan.

We ordered Soondubu seafood and fish roe with Japchae as an appetizer. The Japchae was on the sweeter side and I wish it had a little more char flavor. Overall still a good dish. Portion sizes are generous. The soondubu’s had plenty of addins.“

“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.“

“Good food. Definitely recommended.“

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

“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.“

“Dae Jang Geum Tofu House is a great spot for Korean food. The food is always delicious and the service is great - attentive but not over-the-top. There are parking spots out front but also street parking and the Westlake parking lot nearby.“

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“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!“

“OMG I knew nothing about this restaurant but we chose it because that’s where we found a parking space, rock star. It was meant to be. Everything was delicious. From the kimchi to the beef tongue to the tofu soup with the dumplings, to the beef tendon soup (after adding salt) and the spicy noodles. I already want to eat there again. Tomorrow.“

“We asked for recommendations to our server, Junho. He was very professional. He asked what we wanted and shared his opinions and other customers' preferences so that we could make informed decision. The service was splendid. We enjoyed everything he recommended. All of the dishes had delicate taste profiles and they were not like any other Korean dishes that I can find in the bay area! Highly recommend the buckweat noodles!“

“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!“

“Homemade Korean food (including kimchi!) that tastes very authentic and flavorful, yet healthy. Prices are decent. Loved the ox tail noodle soup.
The owner heard my baby crying and saw I was having difficulty trying to hold her and eat at the same time. She offered to help me carry my baby while I ate and she was able to calm her down, very kind and helpful 😊“

“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 service and food 😋👍🏻“

“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.“

“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.“