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Disappointing experience, especially considering the price point. I came here yesterday with friends, and while the food presentation and concepts were creative, the service really affected the overall experience. My friend's English is not very strong, so when ordering a drink, he pointed at the item on the menu to show what he wanted. When the drink arrived, he realized it was not the one he meant to order. Instead of showing understanding, the waitress responded with an impatient attitude, saying that he had pointed to that item, so that was what he ordered. She took the drink away in a visibly annoyed manner and then asked again what he wanted. Mistakes happen, especially when there is a language barrier, but the lack of patience and hospitality was disappointing. Later, I asked about the matcha cake because the photo looked very appealing. The waitress immediately told me that the photos were not updated. I explained that I understood menus change and that I had specifically checked the latest photos on Yelp before asking. Her response still felt dismissive, as if she was trying to shut down the conversation rather than help a customer. The food overall had some creative ideas, but the beef did not taste fresh, and the service was far below what I would expect for a meal costing several hundred dollars. At this price level, customers are not only paying for the food--they are also paying for the experience, attention, and hospitality. Unfortunately, the service left us with a negative impression. Good food can bring people in, but poor service can easily ruin the entire visit.
just alright. it's good but expensive so like no need to revisit. portions are very bite sized but it's a big place so if you're looking for a place that is easy to book this is it. beef tartare chips were slightly soggy and everything is just so fried
Good, but expected more from a Michelin bib gourmand restaurant. For a bib gourmand, it's also on the pricier side (esp the entrees). We ordered the mulhwe raw fish (fish was delicious, the salad was really unseasoned/felt like it was just washed and plopped there, sad only had 4 pieces of fish), burdock jap chae (our fav), rice cake + rib finger (wayyy too salty, otherwise texture wise was good), and galbi (meat was delicious, broccolini was pretty bland and not memorable, not worth $58 imo). The absence of banchans were also a surprising disappointment for us, we look forward to that in Korean restaurants! Our food also came out extremely quickly after ordering, and we had opening time res, which made us feel that the food may have been all pre-cooked and just reheated. We also got a couple cocktails, they were interesting but a bit too calpico tasting for my liking. It's pretty clean/spacious inside, with large restrooms. Parking is slightly tricky, either street parking in front or Japantown garage nearby.
Cute interior, very fast service, but the price is definitely not worth what you get. Over $200+ for just 4 dishes and the portion sizes are not too big. Other concern was that most of our dishes came out almost instantly, which makes me feel worried that some of the dishes already pre-cooked and just reheated during service. FOOD: Mulhwe (6/10) - Solid starter but felt like the strawberries and salad didn't go too well with the fish! Burdock Japchae (8/10) - Favorite thing here! Fried burdock root over tender noodles flavored really well with a lot of different mushrooms. Must try! Rib Finger + Rice Cakes (5/10) - Rice cake texture was good, but honestly the meat and all the flavors were extremely salty and hard to eat. Galbi (7/10) - Really tender meat, but portion sizes were not worth the price. Would skip
Came here for a belated birthday dinner and had a great experience! My friend had made a 7:30 PM reservation, but we arrived early and they were able to seat us right away at 6:40 PM. The ambiance is modern and chic, which made it perfect for a celebration. Our waitress let us know they recently updated the menu with some new dishes. She explained that everything is meant to be shared and recommended ordering three to five plates for two people, so we ended up ordering a total of five items including dessert. To start, we had the Hokkaido Uni Scallop Toast, which was incredibly fresh and melted in our mouths, along with the new Early Girl Tomato Salad that our waitress recommended. The salad was refreshing and had a nice little crunch to it. For our mains, we had the Pork Jowl Bossam and the Prime Finger Ribs with Rice Cake. Hands down, those ribs and rice cakes were my absolute favorite dish of the night. The rice cakes were deep-fried to the perfect texture, and the whole plate was just bursting with flavor. We finished the meal with the Matcha Tiramisu for dessert. Since we were celebrating my birthday, they sweetened the night by bringing it out with a sparkler.
Food was alright. I think for the value, it fell a bit short: flavor and quantity-wise. They had a newer menu when we went. Our fave was the tomato salad. The Sweet Corn Pasta was really mid. Lacked the flavor depth and we didn't care for the corn flakes; they overpowered the dish. Cute in concept, but it tasted like linguine with a pinch of salt and corn flakes. Our server was cold and it was hard to get her attention. Tbh, not sure if we'd come back.
We tried a bunch of fishes for a friends birthday - everything is meant to be eaten family style! We ordered: - the uni toast: I don't like uni so I only had a bite of the toast but it was great! - shrimp and scallop app: this was such an interesting balance of the shellfish, the charred pineapple, and the bitter radicchio. Kept your tongue guessing -(seasonal) tomato salad: my favorite. I can't even describe the flavor it was so complex but I could have eaten a plate of this by myself - miso black cod: so delicate and flavorful! - galbi steak. More of a western preparation rather than the stew like I've ad at other places but it was seasoned and cooked perfectly! Just a perfect bite of meat - the corn pasta: a big miss. Didn't taste like corn or creamy, just sour. Logistics: - indoor seating only - limited street parking in front but across the street from the Japantown mall underground paid parking garage - limited vegetarian options
Oh my, what a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting the entire experience to be this impressive. Located across from the Fillmore, Bansang's exterior is fairly understated and doesn't immediately hint at what's inside. Once you step through the doors, however, you're greeted by a space that feels both cozy and contemporary, with an effortlessly stylish atmosphere. Even the restroom was thoughtfully designed and remarkably comfortable--a small detail, but one that speaks to the restaurant's overall attention to detail. We began with the Uni Scallop Toast and Mulhwe as appetizers. As someone who is typically not a fan of uni due to its pronounced brininess, I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed the toast. The bright citrus sauce balanced the richness of the uni beautifully, while the contrasting textures from the crisp toast and delicate scallop created a harmonious bite. The scallop also helped mellow the stronger oceanic notes of the uni. It was a creative and memorable dish unlike anything I've had before. The Mulhwe, a Korean-style fish salad, was dressed in a refreshing apple vinaigrette that gave it a light, summery citrus character. The fish itself had a pleasantly chewy texture--firmer than salmon--with no trace of fishiness. While enjoyable, it didn't leave quite the same impression as the uni toast and was my least favorite dish of the evening. For our entrées, we ordered the Galbi Steak and Pork Jowl Bossam. Both dishes showcased exceptional execution. The meats were cooked perfectly, but what stood out even more was the precision in preparation. The steak was expertly sliced and incredibly tender--so much so that even with braces, it was effortless to enjoy. The pork jowl achieved an ideal balance between lean meat and luscious fat, creating a rich yet satisfying bite. We enjoyed the meal so much that dessert was non-negotiable. The Matcha Tiramisu was a creative interpretation of the classic. A dome of mascarpone cheese encased ladyfinger biscuits at its center, accompanied by a vibrant matcha ganache sauce. The dessert leaned far less sweet than traditional tiramisu, allowing the earthy matcha and creamy mascarpone flavors to shine. It was elegant, balanced, and a wonderful way to end the meal. Lastly, the service was outstanding. Our server was soft-spoken, patient, and genuinely attentive throughout the evening, making the experience feel warm and welcoming. Considering the quality of the food, thoughtful presentation, ambiance, and service, I found the pricing to be completely justified. As a pleasant surprise, I later learned that Bansang is part of the same restaurant group behind Daeho--a detail that certainly explains the level of quality we experienced.
We found this place and celebrated a birthday here. The ambiance and wait staff was excellent! We ordered a variety of dishes and we really enjoyed the Truffle Wagyu Tartare (could have been chopped up a little more), Soy Sauce Garlic Wings and. Gochukang Black Cod (this was so good we ordered a second serving!). The Kimchi Mulhwe and Sweet Corn Pasta was definitely interesting but not our taste. Overall we will will definitely come back and recommend to others
We came here to celebrate my mother's birthday and everything tasted amazing! We almost ordered everything on the menu and shared family style. The portions were on the smaller side so had we ordered an extra dish or two, I think we would've been very full. We ordered about 3 appetizers, 3 mains and 3 desserts and it was just about perfect. All of the dishes had well rounded flavors and super tasty. The matcha dessert was my favorite! I do have a natural sweet tooth but the presentation and overall execution was cool.
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.
My bf and I had a reservation on Wednesday at 6:30pm. The restaurant has an elevated, casual atmosphere that was perfect for a date night. It was comfortably mellow, which made for a peaceful meal. We shared 4 dishes, starting with the Mulhwe Noodle per the staff's recommendation. This dish was very refreshing. I was a little worried that the chili broth was going to be spicy given the bright color, but it wasn't at all. The broth was light and enjoyable. The amberjack was also very good. Next, we had the Hokkaido Uni Scallop Toast. The bread was soft, buttery, and crispy. The uni and scallop were creamy, fresh, and not overpowering in flavor. The whole thing blended and melted together. The Braised Black Cod was a delight with the variety of textures and flavors. The fish was soft and almost custard-y. The barley and butternut squash puree were nice additions and paired really well. The sauce was delicious. The Galbi Steak was a standout. We added on the lettuce wraps and ssamjang, and I highly recommend this. The galbi was tender and juicy. It was good on its own but adding it in a lettuce wrap with the ssamjang took it to another level. Overall, I had a great dinner. I enjoyed all the flavors.
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.
Pricy tapas but worth it especially as a celebration; all dishes even apps were a hit! Appetizers + Hokkaido scallop and shrimp ($28): very smokey cabbage, super flavorful with the mustard seed, pollock sauce (8/10) + Aged kimchi mulhwe ($30): refreshing contrast to the scallop, amazing bite of amberjack w celtuce and chive kombu oil (10/10) Main + Prime rib fingers and rice cake ($32): so fun, crispy tteok but chewy inside w a sweet glaze and crispy tender rib (9.8/10) + Braised black cod ($42): extremely tender and fatty cod but would prefer less gochujang sauce. Daikon, barley, shishito nice small bites (8/10) + Galbi steak ($59 + $5 lettuce wraps and ssamjang): made yummmy bites, ssamjang pulled everything together (8.5/10) read more
27 days ago
Really appreciated the welcoming atmosphere our server was very informative about the menu and the restaurant interior makes it a great place for a date night. We ordered the mulhwae and chicken wings Mulhwae was definitely an interesting take but there no distinctive flavor and the soy wings were too salty for my liking. Overall the food was mediocre despite it being a michelin rated restaurant. read more
My friend took me to this restaurant for my birthday after wanting to try it for the longest time. We went hiking and had some food around the city before coming here. When we arrived, the place just opened and was empty. We had reservations and the server asked whose birthday it was. It started to fill up slowly but there was plenty of seating. We ordered a few things to share as the server recommended and was just enjoying catching up. The food was really good, I would give it a 8/10. Everything was portioned to share and the many had a lot of variety. There were two servers that helped us; the first one at the door and then another one who might've been the runner. The server who initially greeted us and walked us to our seats told us that we were approaching our time limit and there were people waiting for seats. We were finishing up our food by then and did not even get desserts yet. The runner had asked us what we wanted for desserts and then decided not to follow up after the first server gave us the check. There were also a lot of open tables with the restaurant half empty. For the price that you're spending, it was a big turn off. read more
2 months ago
Disappointing experience, especially considering the price point. I came here yesterday with friends, and while the food presentation and concepts were creative, the service really affected the overall experience. My friend's English is not very strong, so when ordering a drink, he pointed at the item on the menu to show what he wanted. When the drink arrived, he realized it was not the one he meant to order. Instead of showing understanding, the waitress responded with an impatient attitude, saying that he had pointed to that item, so that was what he ordered. She took the drink away in a visibly annoyed manner and then asked again what he wanted. Mistakes happen, especially when there is a language barrier, but the lack of patience and hospitality was disappointing. Later, I asked about the matcha cake because the photo looked very appealing. The waitress immediately told me that the photos were not updated. I explained that I understood menus change and that I had specifically checked the latest photos on Yelp before asking. Her response still felt dismissive, as if she was trying to shut down the conversation rather than help a customer. The food overall had some creative ideas, but the beef did not taste fresh, and the service was far below what I would expect for a meal costing several hundred dollars. At this price level, customers are not only paying for the food--they are also paying for the experience, attention, and hospitality. Unfortunately, the service left us with a negative impression. Good food can bring people in, but poor service can easily ruin the entire visit. read more
just alright. it's good but expensive so like no need to revisit. portions are very bite sized but it's a big place so if you're looking for a place that is easy to book this is it. beef tartare chips were slightly soggy and everything is just so fried read more
Good, but expected more from a Michelin bib gourmand restaurant. For a bib gourmand, it's also on the pricier side (esp the entrees). We ordered the mulhwe raw fish (fish was delicious, the salad was really unseasoned/felt like it was just washed and plopped there, sad only had 4 pieces of fish), burdock jap chae (our fav), rice cake + rib finger (wayyy too salty, otherwise texture wise was good), and galbi (meat was delicious, broccolini was pretty bland and not memorable, not worth $58 imo). The absence of banchans were also a surprising disappointment for us, we look forward to that in Korean restaurants! Our food also came out extremely quickly after ordering, and we had opening time res, which made us feel that the food may have been all pre-cooked and just reheated. We also got a couple cocktails, they were interesting but a bit too calpico tasting for my liking. It's pretty clean/spacious inside, with large restrooms. Parking is slightly tricky, either street parking in front or Japantown garage nearby. read more
Cute interior, very fast service, but the price is definitely not worth what you get. Over $200+ for just 4 dishes and the portion sizes are not too big. Other concern was that most of our dishes came out almost instantly, which makes me feel worried that some of the dishes already pre-cooked and just reheated during service. FOOD: Mulhwe (6/10) - Solid starter but felt like the strawberries and salad didn't go too well with the fish! Burdock Japchae (8/10) - Favorite thing here! Fried burdock root over tender noodles flavored really well with a lot of different mushrooms. Must try! Rib Finger + Rice Cakes (5/10) - Rice cake texture was good, but honestly the meat and all the flavors were extremely salty and hard to eat. Galbi (7/10) - Really tender meat, but portion sizes were not worth the price. Would skip read more
Came here for a belated birthday dinner and had a great experience! My friend had made a 7:30 PM reservation, but we arrived early and they were able to seat us right away at 6:40 PM. The ambiance is modern and chic, which made it perfect for a celebration. Our waitress let us know they recently updated the menu with some new dishes. She explained that everything is meant to be shared and recommended ordering three to five plates for two people, so we ended up ordering a total of five items including dessert. To start, we had the Hokkaido Uni Scallop Toast, which was incredibly fresh and melted in our mouths, along with the new Early Girl Tomato Salad that our waitress recommended. The salad was refreshing and had a nice little crunch to it. For our mains, we had the Pork Jowl Bossam and the Prime Finger Ribs with Rice Cake. Hands down, those ribs and rice cakes were my absolute favorite dish of the night. The rice cakes were deep-fried to the perfect texture, and the whole plate was just bursting with flavor. We finished the meal with the Matcha Tiramisu for dessert. Since we were celebrating my birthday, they sweetened the night by bringing it out with a sparkler. read more
3 months ago
Food was alright. I think for the value, it fell a bit short: flavor and quantity-wise. They had a newer menu when we went. Our fave was the tomato salad. The Sweet Corn Pasta was really mid. Lacked the flavor depth and we didn't care for the corn flakes; they overpowered the dish. Cute in concept, but it tasted like linguine with a pinch of salt and corn flakes. Our server was cold and it was hard to get her attention. Tbh, not sure if we'd come back. read more
3 months ago
We tried a bunch of fishes for a friends birthday - everything is meant to be eaten family style! We ordered: - the uni toast: I don't like uni so I only had a bite of the toast but it was great! - shrimp and scallop app: this was such an interesting balance of the shellfish, the charred pineapple, and the bitter radicchio. Kept your tongue guessing -(seasonal) tomato salad: my favorite. I can't even describe the flavor it was so complex but I could have eaten a plate of this by myself - miso black cod: so delicate and flavorful! - galbi steak. More of a western preparation rather than the stew like I've ad at other places but it was seasoned and cooked perfectly! Just a perfect bite of meat - the corn pasta: a big miss. Didn't taste like corn or creamy, just sour. Logistics: - indoor seating only - limited street parking in front but across the street from the Japantown mall underground paid parking garage - limited vegetarian options read more
Oh my, what a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting the entire experience to be this impressive. Located across from the Fillmore, Bansang's exterior is fairly understated and doesn't immediately hint at what's inside. Once you step through the doors, however, you're greeted by a space that feels both cozy and contemporary, with an effortlessly stylish atmosphere. Even the restroom was thoughtfully designed and remarkably comfortable--a small detail, but one that speaks to the restaurant's overall attention to detail. We began with the Uni Scallop Toast and Mulhwe as appetizers. As someone who is typically not a fan of uni due to its pronounced brininess, I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed the toast. The bright citrus sauce balanced the richness of the uni beautifully, while the contrasting textures from the crisp toast and delicate scallop created a harmonious bite. The scallop also helped mellow the stronger oceanic notes of the uni. It was a creative and memorable dish unlike anything I've had before. The Mulhwe, a Korean-style fish salad, was dressed in a refreshing apple vinaigrette that gave it a light, summery citrus character. The fish itself had a pleasantly chewy texture--firmer than salmon--with no trace of fishiness. While enjoyable, it didn't leave quite the same impression as the uni toast and was my least favorite dish of the evening. For our entrées, we ordered the Galbi Steak and Pork Jowl Bossam. Both dishes showcased exceptional execution. The meats were cooked perfectly, but what stood out even more was the precision in preparation. The steak was expertly sliced and incredibly tender--so much so that even with braces, it was effortless to enjoy. The pork jowl achieved an ideal balance between lean meat and luscious fat, creating a rich yet satisfying bite. We enjoyed the meal so much that dessert was non-negotiable. The Matcha Tiramisu was a creative interpretation of the classic. A dome of mascarpone cheese encased ladyfinger biscuits at its center, accompanied by a vibrant matcha ganache sauce. The dessert leaned far less sweet than traditional tiramisu, allowing the earthy matcha and creamy mascarpone flavors to shine. It was elegant, balanced, and a wonderful way to end the meal. Lastly, the service was outstanding. Our server was soft-spoken, patient, and genuinely attentive throughout the evening, making the experience feel warm and welcoming. Considering the quality of the food, thoughtful presentation, ambiance, and service, I found the pricing to be completely justified. As a pleasant surprise, I later learned that Bansang is part of the same restaurant group behind Daeho--a detail that certainly explains the level of quality we experienced. read more
We found this place and celebrated a birthday here. The ambiance and wait staff was excellent! We ordered a variety of dishes and we really enjoyed the Truffle Wagyu Tartare (could have been chopped up a little more), Soy Sauce Garlic Wings and. Gochukang Black Cod (this was so good we ordered a second serving!). The Kimchi Mulhwe and Sweet Corn Pasta was definitely interesting but not our taste. Overall we will will definitely come back and recommend to others read more
5 months ago
We came here to celebrate my mother's birthday and everything tasted amazing! We almost ordered everything on the menu and shared family style. The portions were on the smaller side so had we ordered an extra dish or two, I think we would've been very full. We ordered about 3 appetizers, 3 mains and 3 desserts and it was just about perfect. All of the dishes had well rounded flavors and super tasty. The matcha dessert was my favorite! I do have a natural sweet tooth but the presentation and overall execution was cool. read more
5 months ago
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. read more
My bf and I had a reservation on Wednesday at 6:30pm. The restaurant has an elevated, casual atmosphere that was perfect for a date night. It was comfortably mellow, which made for a peaceful meal. We shared 4 dishes, starting with the Mulhwe Noodle per the staff's recommendation. This dish was very refreshing. I was a little worried that the chili broth was going to be spicy given the bright color, but it wasn't at all. The broth was light and enjoyable. The amberjack was also very good. Next, we had the Hokkaido Uni Scallop Toast. The bread was soft, buttery, and crispy. The uni and scallop were creamy, fresh, and not overpowering in flavor. The whole thing blended and melted together. The Braised Black Cod was a delight with the variety of textures and flavors. The fish was soft and almost custard-y. The barley and butternut squash puree were nice additions and paired really well. The sauce was delicious. The Galbi Steak was a standout. We added on the lettuce wraps and ssamjang, and I highly recommend this. The galbi was tender and juicy. It was good on its own but adding it in a lettuce wrap with the ssamjang took it to another level. Overall, I had a great dinner. I enjoyed all the flavors. read more
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. read more
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. read more
3 months ago
The restaurant has a nice ambiance and a casual atmosphere, but unfortunately the food didn't quite meet expectations, especially at this price point. The Uni Toast was underwhelming. The toast, scallops, and uni were all served at the same temperature, and the sauce was barely noticeable, adding little to the dish. A contrast in temperature, texture, or a more pronounced sauce would have made it much more enjoyable. The Scallop & Shrimp Salad was overly sweet, which overpowered the delicate flavors of the seafood. The Chicken Wings were decent, but at 4 wings for $18, they felt overpriced. The Mushroom Silk Tofu was beautifully presented and visually appealing. The Black Cod was cooked perfectly--moist, tender, and flaky. However, while the fish itself was excellent, the sauce was forgettable and didn't leave a lasting impression or elevate the dish. Overall, the food was mediocre. While each dish had potential, the flavors often felt disconnected and lacked harmony. Combined with the expensive price point, the overall dining experience didn't justify the cost. The ambiance is lovely, but I left hoping for a more memorable meal. Wouldn't come back. read more
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!!). read more
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! read more
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 read more
2 months ago
Food was decent and had interesting flavors, but the service is really lacking for a restaurant that wants to be fine dining. First off, we had a completely bizarre experience with the host. We were 20 minutes late for our reservation but entered a restaurant that was half empty. We were a party of 2 and there were 6 open two-tops and 6 of 8 open counter seats. Our reservation was for the counter but after staring at his ipad for 3 minutes, the host told us we could have a table if we finished eating at 7:30 (giving us an hour to dine). We ultimately took him up on the offer. We were reminded at least 3 times by our server over the course of an hour that we needed to keep things moving (first time, she came over, before she even said hi or welcomed us in, she said she was informed that we needed to vacate in an hour). We finished paying before 7:30 and the server came over at 7:30 on the dot to let us know we needed to leave. There was nobody waiting at the front and there were still 2 open two-tops. Pretty baffling. I am totally cool with respecting restaurant policies, but the whole process was just handled in a very crude way. (Also after reading other reviews once I got home, I realized our mulhwe didn't have noodles even though they are supposed to?...) read more
26 days ago
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! read more
5 months ago
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
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 read more
10 months ago
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 read more
Solid, fun, Korean spot. Fancier but I've never had trouble getting a table. It's a place I'd bring new people to and see if they like it. I have yet to go back with the same people, if this makes sense. Food is solid, well done and the kitchen is ran well. I've been for a larger party for a birthday and with smaller groups of just me and a friend. Cocktails are simple and tasty, nothing extraordinary. Dishes are done well and tasty. read more
Delicious Korean fusion tapas-style at a high price point. Service was very attentive and friendly. Mulwhee noodle: a refreshing starter with fresh fish Galbi: my favorite dish, the galbi was very well marinated. Recommend getting the lettuce wrap add-on! Korean fried chicken: a standard KFC Truffle japchae: wide noodles, very mushroom forward, different from your standard japchae Kimchi fried rice: very delicious, similar to a standard kimchi fried rice My one gripe was the price point. Because dishes are on the smaller side, it's recommended to order a lot of dishes. We found this worked well and also allowed us to try a lot of things. That said, this ended up being one of the more expensive meals for 2 I've had in SF. For me personally, I prefer to spend money on meals that also feel like experiences, whether that be from the uniqueness of the food or the ambiance. I didn't feel like the food or ambiance justified the price. The ambiance felt a little too casual/unintentional for me. For instance, there were a lot of empty tables when we went, but we were sat right next to another occupied table (tables are very close to each other). read more
Despite living in the neighborhood, it took so many years for me to finally come try Bansang, and I fear it was overhyped for me. I only came with one other person and we could only order so much, so maybe we just didn't get the right dishes. - Korean steak tartare: I love beef tartare, and I liked the seaweed crisps that it came with, but the tartare itself wasn't super flavorful. I couldn't taste the chili oil that was listed on the menu, and I feel like maybe sesame oil could've helped bring out more flavor. - Truffle japchae: The truffle flavor was strong, which I like, but I was pretty thrown off by the flat wide noodles instead of the traditional thin glass noodles. Outside of truffle though, it didn't really have a ton of other flavor. - Galbi steak with lettuce & samjang: This was our favorite dish out of the three. The steak was tender and flavorful on its own, but it was good to pair with lettuce and samjang as well. I also appreciated how they picked the "pretty" lettuce and perilla leaves and washed them individually - small but important detail! We also each got a cocktail and shared a bottle of soju. The soju was good, but the cocktails tasted like juice/not super strong, which could be good if you're not a big drinker. Service was attentive without being too in our faces, which was nice. The restaurant had a good overall ambiance, and the noise level made for easy conversation without others being able to listen in. I think this would be a nice date night/special occasion spot if ambiance is more important than food quality, but unfortunately this wasn't all that impressive for me. read more
Nice variety of dishes, great if you like sharing! My favorite was the fresh kimchi salad, truffle japchae, and matcha lava cake. Everything were just my favorites. Would love to go back to try the duck. Lighting not too bright can get a bit loud when crowded as the sound is bouncing everywhere. read more
Bansang is the perfect combination of home cooked flavors with a modern twist. It was authentic, beautifully plated and made with a lot of love. I was thoroughly impressed. Came here on a Wednesday with some coworkers and dined family style. Looking at it in hindsight the portions here are quite small, I would recommend ordering individual entrees. As for the food we ordered the following: * Crispy Fried Chicken (Has Peanuts) * Pork Jowl Bossam (Has Peanuts) * Mulhwe Noodles * Truffle Japchae * Galbi Steak Let's start with the appetizers. The Crispy Fried Chicken, as listed comes with peanuts so please ask the server to remove it if you have an allergy. They are super accommodating about allergies. Like the name it was super crispy, piping hot, and comes with some moo on the side. Recommend for sharing. Next was the Mulhwe Noodles, this is a house special. Flavors were nice and reminded me of a light sweet and sour soup with rice noodles and sashimi. It's great but small, I could had smashed this on my own so I recommend you order your own if you really want to enjoy it. Last on this list is the Truffle Japchae. This is a must in my opinion. The glass noodles were knife cut thick and such a unique take on the traditional thinner versions. The truffle wasn't overwhelming and it harmoniously went well with all the other ingredients in the dish. Definitely recommend sharing this one. As for the main dishes we ordered the Pork Jowl Bossam and Galbi Steak. You can't go wrong with either or. Both come with an assortment of greens including a few very aromatic perilla leaves and both were so soft and tender. If you want more of a light saucey flavor I recommend the Galbi, if you want a more clean meal I recommend the jowl. An important thing to note is one of the garnishes for the jowl has peanuts but it isn't in the dish itself. You can ask for it to be omitted entirely. Overall despite coming 15 mins late being stuck in traffic, the staff at Bansang were super accommodating. The dinner was well worth it and I highly recommend for those who want to try an elevated Korean cuisine experience. read more
3 months ago
Popped in without a ressy at 7:30 and was seated at the chef table by hyeongje. The tables were full but the whole chef table was empty. Noise level, I give an 8. Since I was at the chefs table alone my area was pretty quiet. Second time here so I tried some new things in the menu. The yuzu amber was a great start. Refreshing and tasty. The early girl tomato salad (Early Girl Tomato. nori créme fraiche. nectaeine. hijiki glaze, sesame purée, toastd sunflower seed crumble. puffed rice crunch)was also great but probably best shared with another person. By the time the ribs and rice cakes came I was starting to feel full. Disappointed by the ribs and rice cakes(beef finger ribs. rice cake. wood ear mushroom. chili oil. shallot). They were way too sugary. Ended with a scoop of ice cream, some strawberries and chocolate syrup. Overall still a great place but best with at least 1 more person to share dishes with. read more
Had a great meal at Bansang the other day! I had made a reservation while we were in the city, forgetting that we had already tried this restaurant in the past. We were glad to see that they have a revolving seasonal menu, though, because there were new items to try this time around. Everything was extremely fresh, crisp, and quite citrus forward. All of the garnishes were done up extremely well -- I like the extra elements thrown in, but at times it felt like there was more topping than the foundation of each item. My favorites were probably the Mulhwe noodle, rice cakes, and baos. The rice cakes were fried crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, a surprising texture I wasn't expecting but really enjoyed. Same with the baos -- we got them thinking we knew exactly what they'd taste like, but the flavors were surprisingly elevated in a way I've never tried before. All in all, I really enjoyed our meal, but did feel like it wasn't especially memorable (hence why we didn't remember the first visit). However, absolutely worth a try for the good vibes & great service. read more
Came here for my buddy's birthday with 5 people total and it hit the right note. One of the party was gluten free and the menu had so many gluten free items, we actually order all but one gluten free dish so we could all share everything. The venue is spacious but not loud so you can hear each other talk. The service was friendly although there were a couple of errors in our order so that was less than ideal. For the food, we shared several small and large dishes. We got the 2 orders of the truffle japchae, 2 orders of the crispy fried chicken, korean steak tartare, potato pancake, rice cake and ribs, gojuchang black cod, kimchi fried rice, and pork jowl. My favorites were the truffle japchae, the fried chicken, the black cod, the rice cakes, and the kimchi fried rice. Everything was such a unique twist on classic food that you can't compare anything to a classic dish but it was all done in a very tasty way. I'd love to come back to try more of the other dishes on the menu. It does get a bit pricey as the plates aren't terribly big so it's very easy to add more to your order. Oh and the yuzu cocktail is very dangerous as it's so tasty and easy to drink! read more
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More info about Bansang
1560 Fillmore St
San Francisco, CA 94115
Western Addition, Fillmore
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(415) 441-9294
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https://www.bansangsf.com
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Ask the Community - Bansang
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…
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.
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25 reviews that are not currently recommended
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