This is the first restaurant I've eaten at in a while that sincerely blew me away with the presentation and flavor profile of the dishes. My friend and I had a great time yapping at the bar counter (didn't make reservations before-hand). I will 100% be back to Buoy Bar in the next few weeks to eat again! What we ordered: + Bossam [6/5 - would recommend]: Oh my gosh... I've never had bossam this delicious. The bossam itself is the most flavorful slice of meat ever-- it's nicely crispy from the torch but still dripping in tender sauce. Using it as a wrap for the crunchy fresh veggies underneath was AMAZING. It's such a good dish that I will literally order this every time I come here... + Buoy Ssambap [6/5 - would recommend]: I don't even like fish roe but this dish blew me away. Somehow Buoy has managed to pull together rice & roe to create the most fluffy, light, and refreshing ssambamp I've ever had. The rice is almost unbelievably good and the roe flavor is very light. I was quite pleasantly surprised by this dish! + Honey Butter Potatoes [3.5/5]: Subtle but good flavor, and the cheese was really yummy. I didn't really taste any honey, so this was more like a normal side of potatoes. I personally thought they were a little overcooked and hard to bite into. + White Tiger [4/5]: The cream top and espresso in this was simply amazing; strong, earthy espresso flavor with the fluffiest cream top ever. I would recommend to mix the cream top with the drink as soon as it comes. My only suggestion would be that this cocktail is way too sweet. + Yuzu Spritiz [4/5]: Flavorful, spritzy, and fruity! Really enjoyed this drink. I wish it was a bit stronger. In general, I wasn't really that impressed by the drinks (in comparison to the food). Can't wait to come back. :) read more

See all

This place was awesome! Beautiful setting, and they accommodated my squirmy toddler too. The food was absolutely delicious, and they had great wine selections. The staff was so lovely, just like every other review here says. I can't wait to come back. read more

I've been to Buoy twice now, and the food has been nothing short of amazing both times. It's the kind of place where every dish is a standout, from the delicate flavor of the yuzu carpaccio to the perfectly grilled wagyu galbijjim steak. The commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients is obvious. ​Beyond the incredible cuisine, the atmosphere is perfect. It's moody, cozy, and has that effortless, intimate vibe that makes it an ideal choice for both a relaxed get-together with friends or a romantic date night. ​The service really puts it over the top, though. The staff is super attentive without being intrusive. They take the time to explain each dish and even offer tips on how to properly experience the flavors. It's a complete experience that keeps me coming back. MUST HAVES: -Golden Toast - Yuzu Carpacccio - Chili Jjambong Soondubu - Ginseng Sake Stew -Minari Bossam read more

See all

Cute place that doubles as a cafe during the day and restaurant at night. I came for a weekday dinner and didn't need to make a reservation at peak dinner time. They have a big appetizer menu but limited big plates menu. They also have a lot of cocktails that I didn't try but would come back! We got the golden toast (3/5), yuzu yellowtail carpaccio (3/5) but the clam stew and tofu stew was perfect! They don't come with rice but highly recommend ordering the rice since it's cooked in a flavorful beef soup. I will be thinking about this rice for days! We were really full so didn't get dessert. I would def come back to try the other items and drinks! read more

3.5 STARS Date; Saturday, February 21st, 2026 Time: 5pm Party of: 2 Meal: Dinner Reservation Made Thru: Opentable a lil more than 3 weeks prior *Burrata Salad ($17) *Minari Bossam ($33) *Salt Bread ($5.50) x2 *Collar ($19) *Golden Toast ($19) *Tax ($8.61) *Service Charge ($19.80) A girlfriend and I were seeing a show at the Orpheum. Met up for dinner beforehand at Buoy. It was pretty easy to make a rezzie thru OpenTable the month prior. I am currently meatless, so pescatarian. I asked the server what I could order and she okayed the clams. I was actually eyeing them prior, so ordered that. Unfortunately, she came back about 10-15 mins later and let me know there is chicken broth in the dish. I ended up changing my order to the special - the collar and the toast. I believe the only other option would have been the ssambap, but I'm not really into to much rice. And I think the cucumber salad as well, but I wanted something more substantial. The burrata salad was tasty. I'm normally not a fan of sweet in my salads, but it wasn't too overpowering here. Still pretty balanced. The toast I found a lil too sweet. The sashimi tartare was a lil mushy in texture, but the toast gave it a contrast. The collar sauced a lil too much, but the texture was nice and silky. I didn't try the pork belly, but my friend seemed to like it. It came with kimchi which she's not a fan of. Lucky for me, cuz I finished that dish. They do charge a standard 20% service charge which is fine. I typically tip that or more. Tho I do hate that I am paying tax on a service charge vs no tax on tip. Anyways... Their menu is slightly confusing. It says this is not a gratuity, but they do not expect an additional tip. So I didn't tip on top. Convenient if going to a play at the Orpheum. REVIEW #3989 read more

See all

Tomato Kampachi Yuzu - They use the fish of the day, and overall it's a very citrus-forward dish with a lot of sauce. The sauce itself adds good flavor, but there was just way too much of it--it probably would've been better served in a bowl. The raw fish being chopped into small pieces also caught us off guard. Charcoal Kalbijim Steak - The flavor reminded me of jerky, which was unexpected. The sauce leaned heavily sweet, almost like a thick cane sugar molasses, and it didn't really pair well with the meat. The combination just felt off. Also, only two slices of meat for $37 felt pretty overpriced. Ginseng Clam Soup - I kept looking for the ginseng flavor but couldn't really find it. The clams were quite small and didn't add much taste, and there were barely any roasted rice pieces in the soup either, which made it feel a bit underwhelming. That said, the service was excellent--super friendly, attentive, and easily the highlight of the experience. read more

See all

We went on a Thursday night after visiting the asian art museum, it ended up being a great last min reservation spot. From the moment you enter, you see the modern minimalist bar, there's korean r&b playing with a kdrama projected on the wall. The space is super stylish, and that definitely becomes part of the experience. Service was also a highlight, our server was really helpful in guiding us toward dishes that would work well for sharing. The standout of the night was easily the yuzu kampachi. I'm still thinking about it today. It's a kampachi crudo with chogochujang, served inside a tomato. The fish practically melted in my mouth, and the yuzu sauce was so bright and full of flavor that I ended up putting it on the ssambap too. This was definitely the favorite of what we tried. The minari bossam was sous vide and had a nice sear that gave the fat extra richness while still keeping a lot of the pork flavor. It felt more comforting, bright, and fresh than a dull, more traditional boiled bossam. The fresh kimchi and minari helped a lot with that balance. My only complaint is that I wish it came with lettuce or a more substantial wrap component. there were greens underneath, but I think lettuce would've helped cut the richness even better. The ssambap was fine, but honestly not very memorable. It was mellow and worked as something lighter to balance out the heavier dishes, but it wasn't something I'd go back specifically for. The charcoal grilled galbijjim steak was another strong dish. It felt very contemporary in style rather than traditional. The sweet soy chimichurri glaze was really enjoyable, and the whole dish came together nicely. It felt polished and well-executed, even if it leaned more fusion. At the end of the day, I think this is more for special occasions than an everyday favorite. The food was great but the story, ambiance and service are a huge part of the appeal too. read more

See all

Overrated and overpriced, Buoy Bar certainly won't be in my regular rotation of SF restaurants. I wouldn't have any qualms, had the food been delicious or inventive, but Buoy bar's food is barely pedestrian. The mains, like the Galbijjim steak is passable, akin to Daeho in flavor yet a fraction of the portion. The minari bossam with a scant portion of pork came atop a bed of minari (no surprise there). The minari was nicely seasoned and the pork was good but otherwise nothing remarkable for a dish that clocks in at just shy of $35. I'm struggling to find any saving grace, but the service also was slow and lacking. The rice also, for an item that generally has a high profit margin, came in a portion so measly that I felt almost inclined to ask for more à la Oliver Twist style. God, this was disappointing... Truly no wonder why it was easy to snag a reservation on a Friday. read more

See all

A little late review, but I wanted to share my experience here. We came for Valentine's Day dinner and had such a great time. I really liked the minimalist and aesthetic vibe of the place. Our server was very friendly and made sure to check in on us from time to time. I also found out that during the daytime it's a bakery, and at night it turns into a restaurant, which I thought was really cool. I def wanna come back and try the bakery during the day. For dinner, we got the Valentine's tasting course. We had the Hokkaido scallops mulhwe, golden toast, wagyu yukhoe, ginseng sake stew, and wagyu charcoal grilled galbijjim steak. For dessert, I got the matcha strawberry bingsoo, and my boyfriend got the black sesame brownie with yuzu cream. Everything was so delicious and really filling. It was a great experience and a nice spot for a special occasion. Hope to come back again! read more

See all

Came here for my birthday dinner! I was in awe the moment I walked in. Very vibey and intimate, with a kdrama playing on the wall. Very spacious with tables and bar seating. I made a reservation for 2 on a Sunday evening at 5pm. We opted for the set menu - 5 recommended dishes from the chef plus a choice of dessert. Everything was played for us! I loved absolutely everything except the dessert, which was a black sesame brownie with yuzu and some type of matcha dessert. Seoul Breeze Cocktail: 8/10! Nice and light, had Korean pear juice and soju! Started off with a very refreshing poke-like dish. Just enough as an appetizer! 10/10 Fish: 10/10! Can't remember the name, but it had almost like a teriyaki sauce. The only thing is that I wish it was de-boned. Golden Toast: 10/10! I wish they gave us more than one each! Albacore soup: 10/10! I can't remember the exact name of it, but it was creamy and delicious. I typically don't like albacore, so this was great! Charcoal Grilled Galbijjim Steak: 10/10! Loved the sides, and defs a modern take. Very juicy and tender, came with potatoes, too! Dessert: 0/10: Presentation and overall taste was bland. The combination of the yuzu and brownie didn't mesh well, and the matcha dessert needed a bit more sugar, and I'm one to not like anything too sweet. They even gave us a sweet sake in between dishes! Overall, such a great vibe for a date night with a partner or friend. I'd love to try the other items on the menu. read more

See all

Holy crap that meal was transcendent. It's dinners like these that remind me why I keep coming back to try new restaurants. the ambience of this bar is wonderful and the food is a masterful blend of Korean traditional and high cuisine. They make their own fresh kimchi, along with many other sauces. The technique and intention in both the drinks and the dishes is phenomenal. Don't worry about reading more reviews, if you are reading this just know you have to give this place a try. read more

See all

ugh i simultaneously want to gatekeep this spot and tell everyone about it. if anyone asks me for a under-hyped restaurant rec, this is my spot. the ambiance is dark and moody and is amazing for a date night or girls night out (book the lounge on opentable for a group you won't regret it). the bar seating is super cute as well. service was also great, our waiter would come over and explain every dish for us! now onto food: everything was so, so good and well-portioned. the plates all look small, but i promise you'll be full. don't skip out on the drinks as well! i really enjoyed my white tiger (basically a boozy einspanner). some highlights for me were definitely the golden toast (really unique and flavorful app, would not think to pair avocado, ssamjang, and sashimi), butter sake clams with octopus (this was HUGE and the octopus was super tender! also loved the bits of scorched rice in the soup), and the minari bossam (such a great flavor and texture contrast). overall, buoy is one of my top restaurants in sf and i highly recommend! (but don't blow this place up too much please i still want to be able to make reservations lol) read more

See all

Ugh I don't want to talk about this place because I want to keep it on DL... Salt bread Einspanner Two of my latest favorites. The very first time we ordered them they arrived warm and gooey. The coffee was luscious and delectable. It hasn't been the same since and there have been some really bad experiences like the bread arriving ice cold, but we still order from this place literally regularly. It happens to be very cute inside as well - we were religiously ordering for delivery or takeout. I recommend dropping in for a drink and bites. It's quaint, but don't expect a rowdy place, think chill and ambient. Service has been good, they care about their craft. read more

We popped in on a Sunday night without a reservation and were able to get lucky bc the bar seats were available for a party of 3. We ordered a mocktail (ginger, pineapple, and fizzy), Pina Colada, and chamomile tea for drinks. To eat we ordered the gluten-free black sesame brownie (wow -- it had a crème brûlée top) -- everything was delicious. The ginger pineapple was quite sweet and the brownie as well, so good to share the love here. Service was great, the bartender and wait staff were warm and attentive. They had pretty full tables and they have an area in the front that's sort of more cozy seating that we'd like to check out for a lounge and bottle popping sip and chill corner. Loved the Kdrama movies projected on the wall. Overall the space, was very modern mid century and great place for a solo or couple drinks or small group gathering, Will be back for sure! read more

See all

We had a great dinner at Buoy Bar in San Francisco. Our group of five arrived around 6:45pm and were seated right away. The space is modern and stylish, and it transforms nicely from its daytime role as a café into a lively dinner spot with a full bar. We ordered five dishes to share, which ended up being the perfect amount of food for our group. Everything we tried was really good, flavorful, well-prepared, and nicely presented. I had one Golden Kick mocktail that was refreshing and well-balanced, and my friends said their cocktails were excellent as well. Overall, Buoy Bar delivered a wonderful dining experience: great service, delicious food, and a sleek, contemporary atmosphere. We'd definitely come back. read more

See all

The space has a modern Korean anju vibe with shareable plates, and the menu feels elevated without being overly fussy. We ordered the Minari Bossam, Truffle Honey Butter Baby Potatoes, Galbi Crunch, and the Butter Sake Bowl (Haemul) with scorched rice. The Galbi Crunch was the standout of the night. Perfectly crispy fried short rib with a sweet, caramelized marinade. It was addictive and easily the fastest plate to disappear. The Minari Bossam was also excellent and really unique. I'm used to bossam being thick-cut, but this version was thinly sliced pork belly and it practically melted in my mouth. The kimchi was genuinely good and paired perfectly with the richness of the pork, and the minari added a fresh herbal balance. The Butter Sake Bowl (Haemul) had very fresh seafood and a rich, comforting broth. The abalone, clams, and octopus were all well cooked. My only complaint is I wish it came with more scorched rice -- it felt like there wasn't enough rice to match how much seafood and broth you get. The Truffle Honey Butter Baby Potatoes were fine, but not memorable compared to the other dishes. If you're trying to prioritize, these can be skipped. Overall, a great spot for a date night or dinner with friends. I'd absolutely come back, especially for the Galbi Crunch and Minari Bossam. read more

Opened July 2025. Buoy bar is a nighttime addition to the Buoy Cafe during the day. Sunday night party of 2 6pm reservation made on open table. Walked in and was greeted by the bartender. Dimly lit, a cute date night ambiance. We sat at the bar and had great view of the head chef prepping the food. (Best seat in my opinion) Started with the Soju Einspanner (coffee and soju) great mix and not overpowered with alcohol taste. Yuzu carpaccio inside a skinned tomato?! The amount of citrus paired with the fresh fish was so refreshing... Haemul - OMG BUTTERY GARLICKY HEAVEN... mixed with crispy rice and clam overload oh wait there's more.... Abalone and octopus, all so tender and went so well together !!!! I've never tried a Korean dish like this and I am blown away. Charcoal grilled galbijjim steak - right amount of sweetness topped with chimichurri sauce. Sides of Shishito peppers, onions and potato's... this dish was also fantastic! I had a hard time choosing between this and the Bossam. Kimchi- 10/10 not your normal fermented kimchi, but rather kimchi mixed right there and served !! Crunchy, flavorful and right amount of spice. Salt bread- fluffy, sweet, light, salty... melt in your mouth... Esther was super sweet and helpful in the whole ordering process and describing everything to us. We felt so welcomed and our experience at Buoy Bar was great! We will definitely be back again. Their menu does change & I can't wait to try more of their food. read more

See all

Came here on a Wednesday evening for dinner with three of my girlfriends and had a great overall experience. The interior was modern and stylish, creating a nice atmosphere for catching up over food. Service was also excellent -- our server was friendly, attentive, and even helped us take a great group photo (thank you!). The reservation process was super easy too, which made things convenient. Food-wise, everything we ordered was good and well-prepared, but the portion sizes were on the smaller side. Luckily we weren't too hungry, but we still ended up ordering a few dishes to feel content. Given the portion sizes, the prices felt a bit high for what you get. Overall, Buoy Bar is a lovely spot with great service and a nice ambiance, though I'd recommend it more for a relaxed evening out than if you're looking for a hearty meal. read more

See all

4.5 stars My friends and I made a dinner reservation here before going to a concert at the Warfield, and it ended up being a great start to a fun night! Two of us arrived first and they seated us before the other two arrived, which was much appreciated. The menu is pretty small but we still had decision fatigue, so our server gave us some recommendations and suggestions for how many dishes to order from each section of the menu. - Minari bossam: This was SO GOOD. I've never had bossam so thinly sliced before, but it was kind of a game changer. The pork was so fragrant and paired well with the ssamjang and kimchi. I later learned that the bed of leaves are minari (and not cilantro, thankfully). - Charcoal grilled galbijim steak: The steak was perfectly tender, and the potatoes and onions on the side were marinated so well. - Truffle honey butter potatoes: I loved how these were crispy outside and fluffy inside.The honey butter and truffle flavors were well balanced and not overpowering. The dipping sauce was so good too! - Buoy ssambap: This was good but didn't impress us as much as the other dishes. We were all confused when it was brought out because we didn't expect it to be under a mountain of perilla leaf LOL. The fish roe helped change up the texture of the dish, but flavor-wise this wasn't anything special. - Yuzu spritz: I loved the yuzu flavor of this, though couldn't taste any alcohol (but maybe that's a good thing for some people). - White tiger: This sounded unique with the espresso-infused soju so we had to try, and it did actually taste kind of like coffee! Also no strong alcohol flavor. Service was attentive, especially in the beginning when we couldn't decide what to order and multiple servers came by to ask if we needed help lol. The prices were a little high for the portions, but the quality made up for it. I'd definitely come back again, especially for the bossam! read more

See all

We came here to celebrate a bday a few months ago. The only available seating that I was able to book was the lounge which has a coffee table. When we arrived we saw a table that was open so we asked if we can sit there, but they said no. We had the lounge area to ourselves until another party came, but when they asked if they can take that table that I asked about, the server allowed them to sit there. I liked most of the dishes we ordered here. We started with the watermelon tuna; it was hard to tell at first which piece was watermelon and which was tuna. But the dish was good so we decided to try another raw fish dish and got the yuzu yellowtail which tasted even better. I've made perilla pesto noodles at home but was curious to try their version which was good too and quite filling. I was trying to decide between the galbi crunch or the soy braised galbijjim. We decided to get the galbi crunch which was good. The dish that we didn't like was the mini bibimbap which was too salty. I wanted to try the gamjatang at the time but they just removed that dish from their summer menu. So we decided to get the clam dish, but the server warned us it's also salty. I asked if they're able to not use dairy for the dish, so she said they'll try but they've never made it that way before. The dish was pretty tasty and actually wasn't too salty. The hot salt bread that came with the dish was yummy too but I preferred eating it on its own rather than dipping it in the clam broth. But there were so many clams that I was full so I ate a little and packed it to go. I'm not sure if it's because I didn't eat much of it but they offered to comp the clam dish. They noticed that I checked birthday on the reservation and surprised us with a candle and dessert on the house; the black sesame mochi dessert was delicious too. Thank you. read more

See all

Loved seeing a modern Korean cafe-to-bar open in Hayes Valley. The vibes here are soft and cozy, and the cocktails are creative and well made. We shared some carpaccio and butter sake clams, and my boyfriend got the minari bossam. Nothing in particular stood out to me, but I would come back during the day for the salt bread. Boyfriend recommends the clams. I'm conveniently pescatarian, but one thing I noticed is that there's virtually nothing on the menu that is vegetarian or vegan friendly. Hoping this review can be a gentle suggestion for new item that accommodates more dietary preferences! read more

See all

Move over Espresso Martini because there's a new IT drink in the city: Soju Einspänner. For a year and counting, einspänner (espresso w/ layer of whipped cream) has been all the rage and now it's made it into the cocktail scene. Buoy Bar is the first (that I know of) to introduce the soju einspänner, soju that's been infused with coffee for 48 hours and topped with a frothy salted cream to keep you lit and SO excited like Jessie Spano through the night. I'm already anticipating Bay Area influencers flocking to Buoy Bar for this. *Cue in all the "Come with meeeee" tiktoks* But, for those who can't drink coffee (like me), Buoy Bar has a great list of soju, sake, and low abv cocktails to pair with delicious eats. Buoy opened last year and is known for their Korean rice flour desserts (love their roll cakes + salt bread) and trendy café drinks. The owner and brainchild, Esther is now venturing into savories with the soft opening of her nighttime Korean bar. M E N U Contemporary Korean Wine Bar with Tapas style dishes inspired by night markets and traditional Korean home cooking. 20% service charge that's not gratuity. No additional tip is expected but can be added. D R I N K S * Hououbiden Asahimai Sake ($22): https://tinyurl.com/mrxdc3tw Smooth and silky with a clean, crisp finish. Lightly sweet. * Seoul Breeze: Soju, asian pear, ginger ($14) Fruit forward, easy to drink. Not too sweet. F O O D * Complimentary Bar Snacks: Dried Dates & Coconut Chips * Salmon Carpaccio: Salmon, crunchy onion oil, pomegranate, avocado puree, beetroot tuile ($20): https://tinyurl.com/59ptf45c Break off a piece of tuile, top it with a slice of buttery salmon, avocado, and pomegranate - great contrasting crispy-soft textures with a delicious pop of tangy sweetness. * Kampachi Yuzu: Kampachi, soy orange sauce, chive oil, yuzu kosho, chilli, seaweed rice paper chips ($21): https://tinyurl.com/5cbdb7a2 Fresh mild amberjack complemented with bright citrus flavor and a kick of spice. Served with addictively crunchy seaweed rice chips as a vessel. * Yukhoe: Beef tartare w/ sweet soy garlic sauce, egg yolk, parmigiano-reggiano, asian pear ($27): https://tinyurl.com/46bydx2y Nice twist on a classic Korean app, the shavings of parm added a complex umami to the savory sweet beef tartare. * Galbi Crunch: Crispy fried short ribs w/ caramelized marinade ($17): https://tinyurl.com/2xtte8ez A good bar snack, the LA cut short ribs are battered, fried to a golden brown and topped with crushed mildy spicy chips and parm. Make sure to squeeze the charred lemon all over before enjoying. * Mini Bibimbap: Garlic rice, house-pickled onions, flying fish roe, kimchi, seaweed flakes ($12): https://tinyurl.com/ypmads8j The bibimbap (mixed rice) was elevated with the garlicky rice, full of savory flavors with a tangy spice and toasty flavor. * Perilla Pesto Pasta: Housemade perilla pesto w/ brisket, dried cherry tomatoes ($19): https://tinyurl.com/mpszfys7 Creative twist on a Italian classic, perilla leaves are used instead of basil creating a distinct herbacousness with a pleasant minty and earthy flavor. TBH, the brisket was not needed because the pasta stood on its own. * Butter Sake Clams: Manila clams w/ pine nut based broth, sake, butter, ginseng, chili, Korean salt bread (OTH): https://tinyurl.com/mtv6rnny Esther graciously brought this over for us to try because this is one of her fav dishes. Perfectly cooked, tender clams in a rich, soulful broth with the slight bitterness from the ginseng. The warm housebaked Korean salt bread is crisp on the outside with a fluffy cloud-like interior. SO BOMB when dipped into the broth. GET THIS! * Galbijjim: Korean-style braised short ribs in a sweet soy glaze, potato, charred shishito, shallots ($36): https://tinyurl.com/4ssna7t8 Love their modern twist on this traditional hearty Korean stew with the crispy baby potatoes and charred shishito peppers. The English cut short ribs were meaty and tender with a deep savory umami. S E R V I C E Our server, Ken was awesome - friendly, engaging, and attentive. Prompt food service with no lags. A M B I A N C E Sexy, sleek date night vibes with 7-8 tables, one booth, chef's counter seating, and comfy living room lounge area. P A R K I N G Street parking and there's a parking lot at the corner. Overall, Buoy Bar is a great addition to the city's food scene offering a curated drink menu and serving Korean tapas with modern, creative twists on the classics with well-balanced flavors (not dumbed down). IMO, def worth a trek across OR into the city for because you're not going to find any dishes like this in the bay! read more

See all

I was excited to try Buoy Bar after seeing this Korean tapas bar open up in the Buoy Cafe space! My friend and I came for an early dinner before seeing a show at the Orpheum nearby. I started with the Soju Einspanner which I have to say was what I was most looking forward to trying after researching the menu and it was definitely the highlight of the meal. The soju espresso mix was great and the thick layer of whipped cream was such a treat! It's more of a dessert drink than something I would have with a meal ideally but the thick frothy salted cream was so so scrumptious and I loved eating it with a spoon with the coffee infused soju. For food we shared the Tuna Crisp, Butter Sake Clams, and Chili Jjamppong Pasta. The Tuna Crisp reminded of a spicy tuna tartare on a nice crispy chip. While I liked the creamy topping with crunchy garnishes, the combination was a bit bland. On the other hand the Butter Sake Clams and Jjamppong Pasta were both too salty for my taste. The pasta was bit better and I enjoyed the overall flavor but it could have been spicer and I was missing the rich seafood flavor of jjamppong noodles. The clams were the biggest letdown as I hoped for something with deeper flavor but this was just salty. It comes with a salt bread on the side which is a fun idea. I liked the salt bread itself but a bit odd to pair it with a super salty creamy clam sauce. The bread on its own is buttery, rich and topped with salt crystals so it wouldn't something I would want to dip in a salty creamy sauce. Would have preferred some crusty sourdough or something more plain in flavor honestly. Overall I love the concept of a Korean tapas bar but the execution of the food could be better. The ambiance and service is great and it's such a cool space but the food itself I'd give a 3 stars (especially given the price), bumping it up with the ambiance and cocktails taken into account. read more

See all

Buoy bar is a very inviting cozy Modern Korean restaurant experience! I went here to celebrate the New Year and was glad to have had my expectations BLOWN! Everything felt like a fine dining experience especially with our lounge seating reservation (surprised how we got it!) with great explanations from the staff for each dish and ways to eat / pair them :) Parking on Hayes street is notorious for aggressive drivers / tourist so watch out for that, if you see a spot cop it immediately or pay a pricey parking spot! I was hoping that they would have the infamous perilla oil pasta noodles but unfortunately it is a seasonal selection. Nonetheless the menu still had other great alternatives. Now for the star of the show.... MINARI BOSSAM (water spinach pork belly) Sous vide to perfection with a house made sauce & pickled veggies, each bite was buncy, tender, light & bursting with flavor. Easily shareable with a party of 2, the only thing that was missing was some side of lettuce or perilla, not needed though! The sundubu jjampang had the perfect amount of kick and seafood flavoring to it! A super big bow shareable amongst a small table read more

Afternoon coffee + baked goods at The Buoy is always a go-to -- their fruit rolls and little bites are a must. But now they've leveled up with The Buoy SF Bar -- serving up innovative, beautifully plated dishes with Korean flavors at the core. Party of 5 and every single dish was beautifully presented and delicious. Fresh innovative ingredients and taste! My favorite was the perilla pesto pasta- some may say it's an acquired taste but if you love perilla leaves then highly recommend this creative and innovative dish! The minari pork bosam was also interesting - loved how the tofu was served as a purée mix with Korean daengjang vs whole raw tofu. Every bite was unique to its individual dishes. Stunning ambiance, excellent service (thank you Esther) and a cool bar/lounge vibe. Highly recommend checking it out! #TheBuoySF #KoreanInspiredEats #SFSpots #FoodieReel read more

See all

Buoy Bar is a great new addition to the Hayes Valley neighborhood. We've been missing solid Korean food in the area, and this definitely hit the spot. The menu leans more upscale and contemporary rather than home-style Korean, but the flavors were well executed across the board. The bossam stood out--delicately prepared sous-vide pork paired with pine nut ssamjang and minari leaves, which worked really well together. Service was warm and attentive. One small miss: it would've been great to have some traditional banchan to snack on before the meal. Overall, excited to see Buoy Bar make waves in Hayes Valley. We'll definitely be back to try more as the menu continues to expand. read more

See all

New Korean FUSION bar/restaurant in SF! Their food is innovative- and really good as well. But not traditional. There's a lot of twist to that made it fun. read more

See all

Very cute date night spot. Cool ambiance and movies playing from a projector. Food was very delicious and comforting in the best way possible. I would definitely come back. The staff were very friendly! read more

See all

Great space and concept. Food is okay, on paper everything sounded great, but nothing really wow-ed. We got: Burrata salad - Hard to go wrong with burrata and figs. But a pretty standard rendition. Galbi crunch - I feel like frying galbi kind of takes away some of the magic of galbi itself. Honey butter potato - I didn't like the potato texture itself that much and my partner wanted more honey butter flavor. Seasonal Bibimbap - I wasn't sure what to expect and didn't really love what came out. It's like salad leaves on top of rice? So basically missing all the things I like about bibimbap. Also wasn't a fan of the orange paste that it was served with. Galbijjim - Probably the best dish besides the burrata salad, but mostly because galbijjim is just yummy. Not a particularly standout rendition. Salt bread - This was way too buttery for me but my partner liked it. Black sesame brownie - Fine but the best part was the cream on top. Brownie itself I didn't love. read more

Food: - Kampachi Yuzu: one of my brother's favorites! Well balanced dish from the mild sweetness of the fish to the acid from the yuzu to the crunch from the seaweed rice paper chip - Yukhoe: leans more Asian pear/sweet forward vs other yukhoe that I've had but I actually liked that especially with the other flavors we ordered. This was one of my favs - Butter sake clam: the salt bread was chefs kissss - my single favorite item of the night. I was a bit worried given some of the other reviews which mentioned it was very salty, but I found that wasn't an issue (likely fixed the issue). I found the sauce to finish a bit more bitter than what I typically prefer. - Perilla Pesto Pasta: really loved the twist of using perilla leaf as the base for the pesto! - Chili Jjampong: so much flavor here and the serving size is pretty large too! Definitely would recommend ordering - Black sesame mochi: I'm a huge black sesame fan so this hit just the spot. I really enjoyed the additional mochi I've been to Buoy before for their roll cakes, so I was super excited to hear about the launch of the Buoy Bar (congrats on the opening!) when browsing the Infatuation's hit list. Reservations were fairly easy to secure and the service was very attentive. They checked frequently and I never had to worry about an empty glass of water. It's definitely worth a visit for the salt bread alone but I can't wait to return to try the soju einspanner or their mains. read more

See all

Ambiance was nice and spot on, but the food wasn't much to write home about. Ordered and shared a bunch of tapas. The perilla pesto pasta and minari bossam was ok. The only dishes that had potential and that I liked were the kampachi yuzu, chili jjampong pasta, and the really mini bibimbap. Would not recommend the ceviche verde since it tasted like mush. Sry don't know how else to describe it. I had one bite and didn't eat the rest. As for dessert, the strawberry matcha cookie was really good. I would get that again. Would pass on the matcha cake though. Salt bread was mid for $5 sigh. Overall, I just didn't think this place was that special. Jilli is much better in my opinion. Also, they charge an automatic 20% gratuity here FYI. I didn't feel like it was warranted considering the service was a bit slow. read more

See all

Service was super attentive with ordering and water refills. Cute spot for a girls night out w some krnb music in the background or a date night spot -- we made reservations for a friend and I's birthdays. Mainly all female waitstaff and super friendly, they helped us find the playlist for the music. Food was delicious along with the drinks so we ordered a few and extra salt bread (we asked! They said only if they have extra) so that was nice to soak up the umami sauces from both the jjampong and clam dish. read more

See all

If I could rate a restaurant half stars, I'd definitely rate this a 4.5! Buoy Bar is a great restaurant/lounge/bar if you're looking for fresh takes on Korean dishes, refreshing soju mixed drinks, and vibey, low-lit dining. What were the highlights? The bossam, the mixed drinks, and the service! Oh my god, such friendly staff that came around to fill our waters constantly! What would push this restaurant to five stars? More main dishes on the menu and a cut back on the spice for the sundubu (that soup was SPICYYYY). Overall, this a great place for a first date, intimate catch up with friends, or a nice dinner with friends. read more

Food was absolutely delicious here. Especially the charcoal grilled galbijjim steak - I still dream of this dish. The steak was perfectly cooked in medium rare as I requested, and the combination of the vegetables and the meat was wonderful. I could smell the charcoal grill deeply embedded in the meat and the vegetables which stimulated my appetite even more. Even the overall portion of this dish was not too huge nor not too small, I thought it was just the right amount to be satisfied. Galbi crunch was a very interesting dish, it almost felt like a jerky but a but harder and crunchy on the outside but juicier inside. Not something that I have ever tried before so I might have to go back and try it again to give a better review on this. It could be a bit tough to chew for some people, but I do think this would be a nice snack with some drinks. The combination of flavor along with the spicy gochu/jalapeno ? was not bad. For the dessert I ordered the black sesame brownie with mochi, and it was a very delicious mixture. It was very fun exploring the different layers of this dessert from the burnt/caramelized top, to the soft mochi in the middle, to the sesame brownie in the bottom. I went alone in the evening and the employees were pretty fun to talk to. We made a few small talks and their friendliness added to this enjoyable experience. The interior design of the place was beautiful and it would be a great place to go have a fancy date night and try some fusion Korean food. Highly recommend this place, and I plan to go back to this place again in the near future. read more

See all

We actually ordered way more food than the pictures but everything was so delicious even made me completely forget to take pictures! The carpaccio, galbijjim, yukhoe, and jjamppong pasta were especially amazing. Also their cocktails were so delicious and refreshing. The atmosphere was perfect. such a great spot for a special date night. And especially I really loved that the wine glasses and tableware were all beautifully set, and the service was so warm and attentive that we truly felt well taken care of! read more

See all

Ughhh so disappointed to pay $250 for this place! Golden toast: 8/10 The best thing we had on the menu and that's being generous Carpaccio: 6/10 minimal flavor Crispy galbi: 6/10 Tough ribeye with bitter soybean paste Bossam: 8/10 Good pork with a paste and kimchi...still bland so we asked for sesame leaves which made it much better. Otherwise, it was meh. The server recommended a bottle of sake so we did it, it was the amount of a wine bottle and it was way to much so we walked away with paying $96 for a sake bottle and took half home. On top of paying for an overpriced Korean dinner, they only provided bar style napkins the whole dinner. If you're paying for a high priced dinner, you expect cloth napkins. The epitome of a SF new spot that charges to much for mediocre service and entrees. I won't be back. read more

I was super excited to try Buoy Bar for more Korean tapas after just trying Jilli SF. Upon walking in, the vibe was pretty sleek and intimate, with bar seating, dining room seating, and lounge seating. We ordered a bunch of dishes to share, including the jjampong pasta, perilla pesto noodles, and minari bossam. The jjampong pasta was solid and pretty spicy, I wasn't a huge fan of the perilla pesto noodles, and the minari bossam was pretty good. In comparing Buoy to Jilli, the portions were definitely bigger at Buoy but the flavors and food at Jilli were better. Service was good too! Overall, pretty solid spot for korean tapas! read more

Food was good (not great as we had read in other reviews) and small portions, all brought out without consideration to how many dishes already on the table. Made for an awkward evening. Drinks (cocktails) were delish. Would not rush back. read more

Really enjoyed this Korean wine bar. The beef tartare was super fresh the jjampong pasta had a nice kick and the galbi crunch was packed with flavor. Everything we tried was solid but those three stood out the most. They were playing old Korean movies in the background which added a really cool nostalgic vibe. The place feels cozy and stylish so it is perfect for a date or a relaxed night out. I would definitely come back. read more

See all

Just discovered this new Korean bar called Buoy Bar and I'm already planning my next visit. The food was incredible, especially the yukhoe (Korean-style beef tartare) and the salmon carpaccio. Both dishes were so fresh and flavorful, perfect balance of texture and taste! Definitely must-tries! The staff were also amazing. super friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. The vibe of the place is cozy yet stylish, making it a perfect spot to relax with friends over great food and drinks. Highly recommend if you're into Korean flavors with a modern twist! read more

See all