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    Bansang

    4.1 (602 reviews)
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    Updated 2 months ago

    Bansang Photos

    BANSANG ATMOSPHERE

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    Trendy
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    Upscale
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Bansang

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    gochujang cod
    Minh-Chau D.

    I think I ordered the wrong dishes this time around. Willing to come back and try more items since they rotate their menu pretty often. Great ambiance in the restaurant and it would be nice to try their drinks and desserts next time. Corn pasta was such a miss. I think the sauce needs to be workshopped more; I really was disappointed by this dish and would not recommend to anyone. Gochujang cod sounded interesting but there was no gochujang taste and it was more of a lemony sauce. This didn't really impress or wow me. It was okay. Hokkaido scallop toast was the best item; really liked the scallop and gelee on it. The hokkaido uni had a bitterness to it I wasn't expecting from hokkaido uni.

    Cod
    Joy F.

    What an experience! Street made for bucket lists and this one didn't disappoint. Resys are hard to come by so snag one once you see it. Tables open up around 7:30pm with hard to acquire street parking, but nearby parking structure is available. Tapas style Korean fusion. We had the uni toast, noodles, jap chae, and cod. What topped the night was the matcha tiramisu. All amazing. We had soju cocktails that were presented beautifully.

    Delicious Chili chicken wings. A good order.
    Rachel H.

    Bansang sits on the Michelin-heavy stretch of Fillmore close to The Progress and State Bird Provisions, which sets expectations high. I was here with a group of friends for Korean-inspired tapas. It's Michelin-recommended rather than Michelin-starred and all dishes are meant to be shared. Standouts included a perfectly grilled steak (that I would gladly order again, but without the optional lettuce wrap), umami-filled mushroom pasta, good chili fried chicken wings, and a Korean-inspired potato pancake. Other dishes that would not be an automatic reorder included: a sweet but small beet salad, standard kimchi rice with egg, and a shareable pork jowl bassam, which is boiled, and leaned fatty. We had a single order of scallop and uni toast, which is extravagant, & extravagantly priced, at $29. We ordered all three dessert options to share, which all were ice-cream based, and ultimately we felt they tasted too similarly. Our server was friendly, with solid menu recommendation, and when we ignored that guidance, we realized we probably shouldn't have. The atmosphere is celebratory, making it a good spot for a group meal with cocktails and shared plates, although prices are quite high and you may find yourself with that familiar feeling of being hungry again an hour later.

    Potato pancake
    Matty E.

    If there's one word I'd use to describe Bansang, it'd be texture. Bansang's creative take on Korean-style tapas are playful and full of inventive textures that are as fun to eat as the flavors themselves, whether it be the pop-rock candy in the pear sorbet or the crispy strings atop the potato pancake. The dishes that were good, were phenomenal. The galbi was the obvious standout, and I absolutely recommend the +$5 for the ssamjang and lettuce wraps. The flavors took me right back to Korea, and the meat was prepared delicately so that every slice was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The uni scallop toast is their Instagram-worthy specialty, and I'm glad we tried it; the texture of the crispy toast was unlike any bread I've ever had. So dry yet soft yet crisp yet cloudy... I'm drooling thinking about it. The waitress recommended one per person, but honestly splitting one between two people was more than enough. The other dish I'd strongly recommend is the mulwhe noodle (think of it like a Korean ceviche with cold noodles), which had such a sweet, spicy, light broth that we literally spooned out every last bit. I'll be thinking about that dish for a looong time. I'd recommend against the kimchi fried rice; the spam overpowered the rest of the dish, and it could've used more flavor from the other ingredients. The beet salad was also just okay, very earthy but otherwise too light on flavor. I loved the romantic, dimly-lit vibe of the restaurant, with traditional Korean earthenware thoughtfully placed throughout. Admittedly, the service felt a bit rough around the edges. I enjoyed the personal touch of having my menu stamped "happy birthday", but the service otherwise felt disjointed and, at times, absent. After finishing my first cocktail early in the meal, the glass was quickly swept away by another server and the waitress did not return for me to ask for a second drink until the meal was over. It was disappointing as I would've liked to have another one (the peach cocktail I had was excellent!). Once our desserts were ordered, we did not see our waitress again for the rest of the night -- she just disappeared. We tried several times to flag a server to get our check, but eventually had to get the host to notice to wrap up our meal (it was near the end of the service day, so not particularly busy). It wasn't overly negative, but enough to color our experience. I hope that Bansang can fine-tune their service, as this would really make it a home-run. The idea of Korean tapas is fun, novel, and creative, and best shared with a group (we made do between two people, but with four we could have tried even more little dishes!!).

    Rice cake w/ rib
    Arthur E.

    Date-y modern korean vibes. Went on a Saturday evening - had an rsvp and was sat immediately. Ordered some makgeolli - a red rice version, that was a bit on the thicker side. Definitely felt like one to drink on its own vs part of the meal. Tasted fine though. Ordered some bossam, mushroom pasta, and rice cake with rib. Everything was very well made - mushroom pasta had some popcorn situation for texture, the rib and rice cake went well with the sauce that was on the side, but the best thing was the bossam in my opinion. Had the lettuce add on - maybe I was just craving it that day, but was legit. Prices were reasonable considering the vibe and how the dishes came out. Would come back!

    Uni toast - good but difficult to eat, it should be portioned since it's marketed as a shared tapa
    Lily G.

    So much potential so many misses. Overall the dishes tasted good. Their flavor profiles are good. However, this place was featured as Michelin-chasing and for the price and ambience/expectations set for the diners, it missed the mark. First knock, there is no central AC or heat so wintertime dining is very cold. Perhaps this was their only choice for location, but it would be nice to advise diners accordingly, it honestly felt chillier inside the restaurant than outside, or lean into it and give folks blankets like some lounges do. In terms of presentation all the dishes looked nice and taste was pretty good, but the chicken wings and upscaled boneless kalbi were what I'd expect at a standard K bar or grill, at maybe 3/4 the price. The uni toast was also frustratingly served in one giant piece and was almost impossible to cut. We asked for scissors or a sharp knife to cut, since this dish was featured as a small plate tapa, they should know to pre portion so folks don't have to saw away at a $$ serving of uni. Another odd moment that stood out was we ordered a couple bottles of red wine and the server poured the new wine into glasses that still had the other vintage, very strange. Even at a regular steakhouse they'd usually give you a new glass. And we kept having to call the server back to refill our water pitchers. Overall subpar

    Jenna S.

    Came on a Saturday night with four people and we ordered: Uni scallop toast: 10/10 I wish the portion for the uni toast was larger because it was so good! The uni was fresh and creamy. No complaints. Korean steak tartare: 9/10 I love a steak tartare and the crunch and texture from the fried seaweed crisp took it to the next level. I do wish the tartare had a bit more flavor. Mulhwe noodle: 10/10 A new dish for me! It was light and the fish gave it a nice freshness at the start of the meal. Fried chicken: 8/10 I thought the fried chicken was good, not amazing or innovative. Overall, Bansang had great bites and service. Will be back!

    Judy F.

    Sometimes I get a hankering for something. This past Saturday, I wanted seafood and I wanted Korean. Bansang came up on the radar and a reservation was made. Then I realized I made a crazy decision. Why? Because it was the Great Blackout of 2025. I had to cut through quite a bit of the eerie darkness to get there but I made it. A skooch late but not bad considering the craziness in the City. And it was worth it for that phenomenal meal overlooking the open kitchen. Started with a refreshing Sun of a Peach (peach nigori and makgeolli) followed by the soy marinated quail eggs and uni scallop toast. Then it was on to the pork jowl bossam. Definitely get the lettuce wraps and ssamjang to go with it as well as a bowl of plain rice. Delicious. The finishing touch to the meal was the nurungji ice cream. Heaven! And the dangerous thing about watching the kitchen do their magic is seeing all the dishes I should've ordered come up. Guess I'll just have to come back again and again and again.

    Pork Jowl
    Joyce Z.

    I had Bansang bookmarked since they opened back in 2022. Time flies (3 years later) life happens (had to cancel last January), and 2 Michelin Bib Gourmand later (theirs, not mine), finally got to try. Prices have definitely increased over the years so no scallop uni toast especially since hubs is shellfish intolerant and it's hard to beat the uni in Japan. Sunchoke and summer truffle was both our favorite, followed in a close second by the tender pork jowl bossam for me, but crispy fried chicken for him. The kimchi fried rice was too spicy for me, but that's okay, as I got more of the mulhwe noodle which I liked better after he got his portion so I can pour that fermented chili broth on top. Will be back to try more of their menu but maybe for a special occasion vs. just because I didn't feel like cooking.

    pork jowl bossam, soy marinated quail egg, uni scallop toast, and truffle japchae
    Su T.

    Quite enjoyable! Korean upscale tapas and sleek ambiance that felt intimate and definitely fit for special occasions of the sort, came by reservation. Servers were attentive and very kind, met with warm smiles all around. Here is what we ordered: Uni Scallop Toast: A single order comes with only one piece of soft and crispy bread, topped with scallop, uni, and roe. I believe that the uni was perfect and not fishy, and worth the try for the taste, even for people who aren't too fond of raw fish of the sort. Everything felt buttery, smooth, and of good quality, unfortunately the price does reflect that and paying that much for a singular toast is up to you as the consumer! Soy Marinated Quail Egg: Four umami quail eggs with picked shimeji (white beech mushrooms), shredded beef, and orange zest. A small tapa that made an impression for its unique and complimentary tastes of ingredients. The umami, tanginess, and savoriness truly made it memorable and refreshing! Pork Jowl Bossam: I've only ever had bossam with pork belly so the experience with pork jowl was different but still tasty. It proved to be nothing extraordinary though. It came with a lot of meat but the size proportions with the lettuce and sides/garnishes I wish were more level. Truffle Japchae: Thick wide glass noodles that came with summer truffle, crispy deep fried maitake, shimeji, and shitake. Glass noodles with mushrooms if you will. Adore glass noodles especially wide noodles for texture and personal satisfaction to eat, but the flavor profile was light. There is no sauce or paste of the sort to expect with it, it simply is an assortment of ingredients put with glass noodles. (Dessert) Matcha Lava Cake: No Notes. Perfection. Beautiful. Delicious. The right amount of sweetness and matcha, with creamy exterior texture with delicate moisture of the inside and lightness of the cake.

    Holly P.

    Went to Bansang SF and had a really nice experience. The ambiance strikes a great balance between upscale and casual. The beef tartare was definitely the favorite, balanced flavors and a great portion size. The uni toast had bold elements and felt unique enough to be worth ordering at least once. The noodle dish topped with sashimi was lighter and more subtle, but still creative and refreshing. Service was friendly and everything came out at a good pace. Overall, I'd recommend Bansang to anyone who enjoys thoughtful, modern Korean dishes and wants a dining experience that feels special without being overly formal.

    Truffle japchae
    Kim Ann T.

    Really tasty food, but portions are super tiny for the price so be prepared for a big bill if you wanna leave full. Service was great, and the inside is really fun and loud with people talking and enjoying their food. Definitely a spot for a group dinner rather than just solo or two people. Favorites: uni scallop toast, truffle japchae, jellyfish salad Skip: mushroom pasta

    Uni and scallop toast
    Bo B.

    Great ambiance. Super casual. My fave was the galbi but everything else was good too. Food: Muhlwe noodles - amberjack was the fish and it was delicious with the cold noodles Uni and scallop toast - very good Beef tartare - delicious Fried chicken - yum Galbi - 1000% order this; the fat marbling was so nice and tender Matcha lava cake - good

    Mushroom pasta, short ribs, beef tartar

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    Page 1 of 16

    Bansang Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bansang

    Do they allow kids?

    Yes kids welcome

    Is there a Dress code?

    No dress code, but I definitely would not go there in gym clothes.

    What is the corkage fee?

    $40.00 a bottle. We do extend the offer if you buy a bottle of our wine, we will waive a corkage fee.

    Where is the best parking?

    Do you have gluten-free menu items? My friend has a gluten allergy (cross-contamination isn't okay). Thanks!

    Unfortunately, no. We use soy sauce to season almost all of our dishes so there is always a trace amount of gluten present. However, it's usually a really small amount of soy sauce used to season, so if a tiny amount, or a trace amount is ok, then… Read more

    Do they accept walk-ins?

    Yes we do! We have a 6-seat chefs counter seats for walk-ins only. These seats aren’t reservable, and are seated on first-come, first-served basis.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    InoVino - Cheese plate

    InoVino

    4.3(254 reviews)
    1.6 miCole Valley
    $$

    We stopped for a drink and were impressed by the service and the staff -- and of course, the wine…read more Everybody was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. They made recommendations that were exactly what we were looking for (crisp white wine, not too dry and a good red). Our favorite part was that Happy Hour is 25% off everything! We scored a bottle of Nergomaro wine for $45, which was a steal. We sat on the patio, staying toasty under the heated canopy while we enjoyed the sights and sounds of Cole Valley. TLDR: great wine, wonderful Happy Hour, and lovely staff.

    Overall a 3.5 star but going to round down bc the wait was exorbitant and very mis-quoted and the…read moreservice was super sub par. Came here the other night for dinner. We were told 10/15 minutes for a table. Took 50 minutes - nearly an hour! We totally should have gone somewhere else but alas we eventually were seated. I got pasta and also and some of the pinsa (Roman style pizza). Also had the meatballs. Everything was just so so. The pizza almost tasted stale - someone mentioned it is supposed to be like that but I've had pinsa a few times and that was not my experience. The pasta was pretty good - a red sauce. Nothing special. Meatballs also solid. Somehow my pasta came up 12-15 mins after everything else's food which was entirely confusing but oh well. The wine was good. Overall a cute little wine bar in CV, would def come back but nothing to write home about.

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    The Ice Cream Bar

    The Ice Cream Bar

    4.2(1.5k reviews)
    1.6 miCole Valley
    $

    Dare I say this is the best ice cream I've ever had? The quality and flavors of their ice cream is…read moreinsane! The flavors are super creamy, complex, and often not too sweet. They also have a rotating menu so it's fun to come back and try new flavors! I love the old school vibe in here, and if you eat in inside they serve the ice cream in old school silver bowls! I'd love to come back and try a milkshake, affogato, or banana split! We recommend this place to out of towners and they love it. Expect a bit of a line, but it goes by in about 10 minutes. Also limited seating on a busy day.

    I was very disappointed and treated with disrespect. Much…read moremistaken , It all depends with whom you were comparing me with. I was not a " stranger who walked from Haight street to your premises. Make no mistake about it. The scope of trust and honesty is more valuable and important than the scope of ice cream . At the request of my daughter and my grandmother we went to the ice cream bar this last Wednesday, taking to account we have been customers for the past 10 years on and off , we would drive from Marin just to have the ice cream there . We have seen employees come and go including Managers. Since my kids went to Grattan school. At times I personally like to pay for things in cash . We know most customers about 67% would pay by credit cards. To make a long story short. I wanted to pay my bill in $100 bill . Brand new , undamaged and straight from Wells Fargo bank. Negative thoughts would generate actions , negative actions would generate negative prejudice. What were the odds of having a family and customer using malice in bad faith? I presented the legal tender of $100 bill to The server, he took the money and checked 4 times looking at the number at the front, he used his left hand using his fingernails to scratch the bill in a strange way, like if it was a lottery ticket or a gift card , we know that large bills should be checked. then stated that he cannot accept the bill and that he had no change. Immediately, objected to his statement. I told him I quote: " You didn't even open the cash register , how would you know if you have change or not " ? He responded sarcastically, I have been handling the money all day . I responded by saying: then you should know if you can make change or not . Furthermore, I stated to him that is not how you would check for a valid $100 bill . A special counterfeiting pen is ideal to check bills. I showed him the way to be checked by holding the bill upright and matching the serial numbers to the bill. He made no good faith effort to get help from his manager , to call someone or confer with a third party responsible. This has created an inconvenience for my family. Luckily, I brought a backup card and payed by discover card to diffuse the situation . I wonder how many $100 bills were passed by me for the last 10 years? I even suggested he should call the police if he was so sure that it was a counterfeit bill. It was certainly a legal tender of a good faith/ money and finance . Section U.S.C 31 5103. The Constitution says otherwise. The ice cream bar failed to warn . If it was a policy not to accept a $100 bill , it should have been known by a clear and convincing fact by posting a statement that " No large bills / $100 bills are accepted " in a clear view of customers to be seen. I have tried to communicate with the company's MANAGER by calling her 3 times . She did not bother to answer my request to address my concerns , " my phone calls were screened " and refused to take my phone calls or respond. See how easy to lose a customer. I will not recommend this place nor go black to this ice cream place.

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    Torched marshmallow fluff - this is the way to go!!!

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    GiGi's - Mapo Tofu Noodles - shiitake, eggplant, fermented fava, bean sprout, chill pepper

    GiGi's

    4.2(62 reviews)
    0.9 miLower Haight

    This spot is a hidden gem! It's a small wine bar that's Vietnamese inspired. Super cool concept and…read moresmall wine brands from all over the world. I loved the vibe in here it's very dim lit and cozy, perfect for a date night! Our waitress was lovely and they didn't rush us even though they were closing. Food recs: it looked like they had really great food options, when I went I only had dessert and wine. Their banana tapioca pudding was delicious and paired well with the wine! Next time I come, I really want to try out the ceviche and oysters. just a heads up, parking in this area is very limited, would recommend ubering or other transportation! Overall, would definitely come back!

    GiGi's is a Vietnamese-fusion wine bar that I've always passed by and am super glad I finally get…read moreto try. We walked in around early dinnertime and managed to snag counter seats, but the place filled up super quickly afterwards, so make a res! price: ~$30/person We were looking for a minerally bottle of red, and staff was able to give us a solid rec for Austrian pinot noir, which we split over a bowl of the homemade shrimp chips. Normally, I'd be like "what are homemade shrimp chips?" but these were super light, puffy, and well-seasoned. The space itself is equal parts ambient and lively due to the decor and music. In a way, my friend and I felt like we were actually in Vietnam!

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