Highly underrated Korean spot!!!…read more Being on Polk St always reminds me of my early twenties so, I'll take the nostalgia any day. Add in some amazing Korean food & double down. Their glass noodles are on fire, pot stickers the best I've yet to have, & chicken wings to die for! Service is friendly and ambiance is a very casual vibe. In and out under an hour, definitely recommend!

DoorDashed Ollei for work and wow I was so impressed! We ordered the Seafood Pancake, Beef and…read moreSeafood Tofu Soup, and the various Banchan to-go. The portions are HUGE! My tofu soup alone lasted me two meals, and it is exceptionally spiced. There is a lovely seafood broth and the tang of the Korean pepper makes this dish so comforting and warm. The Seafood Pancake was a bit dry and not fried to my preference - but came with generous amounts of squid in the pancake. Overall, enjoyed this and WILL COME BACK. It was so good!

Small and comfortable environment :) Very solid experience here. Every single dish was good, and…read moreone of them (pate + duck liver) definitely had that wow factor! We wished there were one more savory dish bc the savories were quite small (and we went to buy extra food after, lol). Definitely nothing to complain about though- the duck was great, all the early dishes had excellent aromas, and there was truly not one bad dish. We celebrated a birthday here and they printed it on a cracker and gave us a great photo to keep, soo cute and we really appreciated it.

A Michelin-starred Korean tasting experience filled with beautiful surprises, seasonal creativity,…read moreand exceptional hospitality. What made the evening truly special wasn't just the exquisite food, but the people behind it. Thoughtful conversations, genuine warmth, and a chef whose passion for his craft is evident in every detail. The food was exceptional. The experience, unforgettable.

This place does one thing and does it well. Come in to share a huge beef stew topped with…read moreblowtorched cheese with friends, drink, and catch up. There's technically other things on the menu but you know what the star of the show is. The beef stew is rich, with tender meat and soft veggies. Spice levels are fine even when you pick level 3 of 4, so don't be afraid to be bold. With two people we still had leftovers, so likely one order can handle 3 people comfortably. May want to order sides with 4 or more. There's a variety of standard Korean and Japanese alcohol to enjoy, all at $12. The melon soju is fun. Bon chon are generous and refillable. Staff are courteous and check in regularly. For a good group dinner, would definitely recommend Mashita. Excited to return.

We came here around 6:30pm on a Saturday, and there was no wait and plenty of open tables. I think…read morewe came at the perfect time because people trickled in in the next 30 minutes, and a line quickly formed outside. We got the signature galbijjim and it was super duper delicious. The meat literally fell of the bones and was so tender and flavorful. There were lots of daikon and not many potato beneath the meat which made me happy, and the rice cakes and side dishes were all yummy as well.

Found this spot on TikTok and it looked Instagram worthy, so my cousin and I headed over on…read moreSaturday for a late lunch [def have to go back for brunch]. We decided to share a mimosa flight, spring rolls, and ahi scoops. Even though it wasn't brunch, they still allowed us to order a brunch flight, and they were so polite and helpful throughout 4.8/5. The inside is tiny, but quite stunning, clean, and gives a lot of opportunities for insta-worthy pics 4.9/5, I only wish there had been an actual photo wall. Now to the food. The crispy spring rolls were cooked perfectly, and seasoned well. The clear noodles and veggies were so yummy. I asked for soy sauce because that's what I prefer over sweet sauce, but honestly they needed nothing 4.8/5. The ahi scoops had the best seaweed salad on it that I have EVER had, the wasabi cream on top was the show stopper, and I don't even like wasabi 5/5. We shared the flight and was more than tipsy from two drinks each, flavors on point champagne delicious 5/5. Overall

Had Blackwood on my list for a while as I was looking for new brunch places to try. The premise of…read morea thai fusion brunch intrigued me and I was hoping it was would surpass my expectations and previous experience with Peacock Pansy (similar brunch spot). The reservation system was a bit odd with no designated time slots, but rather you put in a time yourself online. The system turned out to not work very well as I originally booked a spot for 2 at 11am and then had to call to move it to 11:40am (weird time). Turns out when we got there, my name or a close spelling of it was on the list for 12:40pm. This wasn't a big deal to me since it's easy to mishear on the phone so we moved on from that. The restaurant was decently booked and we sat inside. Now for what my partner and I ordered! Unfortunately nothing called to me strongly so I went with the very basic choice of 2 eggs plate with ciabatta toast and rainbow potatoes. I added in chicken sausage for $3. 5/10: The toast was unbuttered and honestly tasted stale. The potatoes were nice and crispy, but unsalted and quite plain. The eggs were nice, I got mine scrambled. Sausages were okay, I think I actually ended up with the pork sausages rather than chicken. My plate was $26 and I can confidently say it is not worth close to that unfortunately. Brussel Florentine Benedict 6/10: My partner was intrigued by the ton yum hollandaise sauce. There was a hint of it which was nice. Benedicts were okay, nothing special. Coconut oat matcha 8/10: On the sweeter side, but enjoyable! I liked the toasted coconut pieces on top and thought it was a nice drink. Premium matcha wise, I don't agree necessarily, but hey it was an enjoyable drink. Drip coffee 0/10: My partner loves a drip coffee and not in a snobby way. From diner coffee to honestly plain old regular slightly brunt coffee, thats her jam. This coffee was just burnt. Not sure what happened but it was $5 for a completely bitter cup of burnt coffee. Not great. Fun side note: As we were ordering the table next to us called attention to their dish as their waffle was completely undercooked and tasted bitter. The wait staff was apologetic about it, but seemed to either not understand or insist it was "too sweet" not undercooked or bitter. The table was very polite about it so honestly it was not the best look for the restaurant. It was simply feedback and I don't believe it was taken very well. Regardless, just a fun note to throw in! We will not be back unfortunately. There are many lovely brunch spots and restaurants around the city and sadly I don't think this one is worth a try just because of the cost for the quality, but I always tell myself its always worth to try in case you do think differently!

Bar Iris | Russian Hill, San Francisco…read more This is exactly my kind of bar. They don't take reservations, so I showed up at 3 p.m. on a Friday to guarantee a seat at the small, intimate bar. I'm so glad I got the early start, because it made for a calm, elegant experience. It's next door to Michelin-starred Nisei, and the program is Japanese-inspired cocktails built with the best imported and local ingredients. Even better, I had great company: my good friend Anna Richards, legendary legal operations leader and BrightFlag's head of community. What we sampled: Watermelon: Clarified melon juice, mezcal, iichiko shochu and red rice sake, with negi (Japanese green onion) and pickled melon rind. Carbonated, bright and savory. Peach: A silky milk punch made with both cow's and goat's milk, tequila and pisco, layered with gobo (burdock root), gyokuro green tea and peach leaves. Strawberry: Strawberry with kinako (roasted soybean flour), Toki whisky, Haku vodka and Okinawan awamori over clarified soy milk, topped with Calpico foam. Dessert in a glass. Ninjin Sour: Ninjin means carrot. This one pairs carrot yuzu kosho and coriander with Nikka gin and lemon under a cloud of amazake (sweet fermented rice) foam. Not a Martini: No gin, no vodka and not an olive. Instead it's mezcal, sotol, raicilla and nigori sake with sake lees, mastic and sunchoke, garnished with a snap pea. A total mind-bender. Every drink was exceptional, from the first sip to the last, and the service was attentive and friendly. If you're in SF and love cocktails, get there early and grab a seat. You won't regret it. Follow @bathboy.drinks on IG for more food and cocktail reviews and cocktail recipes! #BarIris #SFCocktails #JapaneseCocktails #CocktailReview #BathboyDrinks

Have come here for late night drinks and snacks many a time. They have a menu they update…read moreseasonally and they always have really fun elevated cocktails. If you're able to, I'd sit at the bar as the bartenders are friendly and if you make conversation with them they can be very helpful in recommending cocktails or helping make you something potentially off menu. In addition, they are the sister bar to the Michelin restaurant next door, Nisei, and so all their food is really delicious as well. They have great handrolls, karage and they had a seasonal cheesecake that was amazing. Its a dark, intimate, modern vibe in the place and not just the bartenders but all the servers are professional and attentive. It can be very crowded at peak times so either come on an off weekday, close to opening, close to closing, or make a reservation in advance!

Run don't walk!!!…read more If you're feeling adventurous for brunch, this is the place. Their Korean friend chicken makes a great Benedict although I prefer their Korean fried chicken wings with the sweet & spicy sauce. Their drink menu is extensive & you must try the Ube latte in some form. Ambiance is very modern with great vibes & service is extremely friendly & helpful.

Had such a lovely brunch here with some girl friends on Sunday. Weather permitted outdoor seating…read morewhich was lovely. Only catch was the service. When we w were actually tended to the staff were nice, but we barely saw them.. and that included a 15 min wait in line to see the hostess to be sat. Otherwise, food was SO delicious! Especially the fried chicken wow was that tasty (citrus umami!) Most dishes appear super heavy but the chef did an incredible job as balancing flavors. Not to mention plating was beautiful. Will return for sure.

Honestly I wouldn't think twice of an Americanized modern place specializing in Chinese food. Could…read moresay I'm a snob for the authentic hole-in-the-wall spots. But this is the first modern Chinese restaurant in SF that I was truly impressed by. The ambience is chic, sleek, bringing classy take on the Chinese lounge experience. The restaurant front is even tucked away from the Main Street in marina, presenting an elevated courtyard secret exclusive feeling as you saunter your way into the restaurant. - Szechuan Spicy Chicken - dried fried chicken seasoned with ginger green onions, dried chili; almost mistook this dish for Taiwanese fried chicken (鹽酥雞）! Light batter air-fried texture, super flavorful and not overly salty, an excellent bite snack to share - Garlic Shrimp Noodles - super smooth & buttery, al dente noodles, baby shrimp mixed in, fragranced by chopped parsley & green onions on top - Beijing Dumplings - chicken & shrimp, house-made vinegar; a new bright green wrap, not sure if the pool of vinegar was entirely necessary, but still a scrumptious bite - Eggplant Tofu - my favorite dish of the night, super impressed by this one, thick blocks of eggplant & tofu cut in the same form, super silky tofu, tender soft eggplant The interior prides is imbued with a black, gold, & blue color palette. I've also never seen lamps like these before, almost like Chinese lanterns encrusted in a bronze mesh. The ingredients used are organic & locally sourced and you can truly taste the difference. Will need to stop by the patio and grab a cocktail next time around. Service was a friendly & checked in on us a few times. Atmosphere was pleasant and not crowded for 8pm on a Friday night.

Delicious and great ambiance…read more Ordered the wasabi mayo shrimp, the tuna tartare, the truffle soup dumplings and the garlic shrimp noodles. All exquisite. Dumplings were the fav. Got the cheesecake too which was a nice small portion and delicious.

Loved it! We tried the Mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, fish and mushroom dumplings and the garlic…read morebroccoli. Everything was delicious, but the noodles and mapo tofu were a stand out. Service was friendly. We went for lunch on a weekday and the ambience was calm.

We came here for a late lunch on a Saturday. We walked right in and were able to get a table. The…read moremenu is on the table so you just scan and order. It was quick and easy. Perfect for a group of people so you can get things to try! Definitely will be coming back.

High quality, clean ingredients, and mind-blowing flavors! Service is superb. Friendly staff…read moreupgrades your dining experience to an unforgettable great memory. I have dined there multiple times and hosted several parties there. Everyone tried the food all love it. 5/5. They also have a happy hour menu and the portion is filling. I specifically love the Wagyu garlic noodles, it's garlicky, buttery, beefy, it super addicting. The ground floor is smaller with a bar with 5 TVs where you can dine solo and drink beer at the bar or have smaller parties. The second floor is huge and there's also a large karaoke room where you can easily fit 30 people for a bigger party.

We came on a Saturday evening for an early dinner and were able to walk in with no wait. The server…read moregreeted us warmly and seated us right away. The restaurant was quiet, clean, and comfortable overall. We ordered the Australian Wagyu AYCE menu. The meat and veggie options weren't a lot, but everything we tried was really high quality. We chose the tonkotsu and Japanese tomato soup bases, and both were tasty without being too strong. The chicken karaage was a standout -- we liked it so much we ordered it twice! It wasn't exactly traditional Japanese-style karaage; it tasted more like Taiwanese popcorn chicken, which we loved. Overall, a great dining experience!