Trying to get a last-minute reservation at a Korean restaurant in the city can be tedious, since many Korean barbecue places only take one for groups of five or more. But the good news is that there are plenty of quality Korean spots that deliver right to your door.
From KBBQ to a warm bowl of tofu soup and more, here are five Korean restaurants in SF that are worth the hype, and that deliver.
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Jang Soo BBQ
6314 Geary Blvd.
If you're craving some Korean BBQ, look no further than Jang Soo BBQ in the Outer Richmond. The most popular options are kalbi (marinated boneless beef short rib) and bulgogi (tender sliced rib-eye of beef), both of which come with caramelized onions and a dash of green onions.
If you're looking to try something a bit different, try the "Kalbi Jim" (tender beef short rib steak, simmered for 48 hours in a sake ginger soy glaze). It's similar to the meat options above, but since the beef is marinated for two days before it's served, it's juicier and more tender than the grilled options.
The Korean Kitchen
1220 9th Ave.
Keep warm during the cold winter months ahead with an order of some sundubu-jjigae (tofu soup) from The Korean Kitchen. The Inner Sunset restaurant, which opened earlier this year, offers several variations of the soup, including options with mushroom, beef, ramen, seafood, mandoo (Korean dumplings) or a combination of beef and seafood.
There's also a plain option for those that want to keep it traditional; customers can select how spicy they want their soups to be, from no spice at all to extra spicy. Other popular options include japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) and teok-bokki (spicy stir-fried rice cakes).
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Ssisso
1700A Post St.
For those nights when all you want to do is stay in, grab your preferred six-pack and order in some Korean chicken wings from Ssisso, over in Japantown.
You can either order the "Ssisso Chicken Bites" (fried boneless chicken) or the "Ssisso Chicken Dinner" (deep-fried chicken wings), both served in a special house garlic soy sauce. Additional fried options include the honey shrimp—which comes with a sweet honey mustard dressing glaze—tofu, and croquettes.
KoJa Kitchen
343 Clement St.
Can't make up your mind between Korean and American fare? Try the burger from KoJa Kitchen, which just opened another outpost in the Westfield Centre.
Its most popular items are the "Short Rib KoJa" (Korean BBQ short rib, sesame vinaigrette lettuce, katsu aioli, sesame seeds) and the "Braised Pork KoJa" (miso-coconut braised pork with arugula, wonton chip, garlic aioli and masago), which each come sandwiched between lightly fried garlic rice buns.
Round our your meal with an order of the Kamikaze fries topped with Korean BBQ beef, kimchi, red sauce, Japanese mayo and green onions), or the buffalo wings (Korean fusion buffalo sauce, red pepper parsley, side of Japanese mayo).
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BibimBar
380 Bush St.
Korean dining is generally healthy, thanks to most of the banchan (side dishes) that are made from or with vegetables. A popular yet healthy dish in Korea is bibimbap, which literally translates to "mixed rice."
At BibimBar, diners will begin by choosing their base from a list that includes white rice, brown rice, japchae (glass noodles) and lettuce. Then, you'll add in up to seven different types of vegetables, from lettuce to bean sprouts, and choose your sauce.
For an extra $2-$4.50, you can choose to add in protein options, like bulgogi, grilled chicken, a fried egg and more. Don't forget to order a side of kimchi to go with your meal—and if you have some sesame oil on hand, we recommend you add in a splash before you mix the sauce in.
