Bay Area · Cuisine
Korean
Mission charcoal, Polk Street tasting, Fillmore small plates, Japantown kalbijjim, and Santa Clara’s El Camino corridor.
San Francisco’s Korean map is thinner than Los Angeles Koreatown, but it holds clear poles: chef-driven charcoal barbecue in the Mission, specialty stew houses in Japantown, and everyday barbecue and soup rooms toward the Tenderloin and Outer Sunset. Santa Clara’s El Camino corridor remains the densest suburban Korean dining stretch. The stops below cover Michelin charcoal and tasting poles, a Bib Gourmand Fillmore small-plates room from the Daeho group, Japantown kalbijjim, and a long-running Santa Clara tabletop barbecue house.
Focus areas: SF Chinatown & Mission, Richmond & Inner Sunset, San Jose & Cupertino
Restaurants
San Ho Won
$$$Mission
Michelin-starred Korean charcoal barbecue in the Mission from Corey Lee and Jeong-In Hwang; meats grilled in the kitchen, not on the table.
Ssal
$$$$Russian Hill / Polk Street
Michelin-star Korean tasting menu on Polk Street from Junsoo and Hyunyoung Bae; California produce with Korean roots in a reservation-only dining room.
Daeho Kalbijjim & Beef Soup
$$$Japantown
Japantown specialist for braised short-rib kalbijjim and beef soups; long waits, shared pots, optional blowtorched cheese.
Bansang
$$Fillmore / Lower Pacific Heights
Michelin Bib Gourmand contemporary Korean small plates on Fillmore from the Daeho group with chefs Ethan Min and Jin Lim.
Jang Su Jang
$$$Santa Clara (El Camino)
Santa Clara El Camino Korean for staff-grilled tabletop barbecue, banchan, soups, and noodles in Lawrence Square.