The service is great and the servers are awesome. The restaurant is really loud so if you're…read moreexpecting a quiet place to sit down, do not go here. They have MVs projecting on the wall too so that adds to the noise. As for the food, everything is great! The pajeon is flavorful, light and crispy. It had a lot of kimchi so that was yum. The army stew was not too salty and warmed us up! The soy garlic chicken was not overly sweet and was crispy too. The spicy pork was good but there were a few pieces that was chewy. It wasn't that spicy though but it still tasted good. The creamy pasta and tteok was good too and lived up to its name. I did find that the tteok was chewier than normally, but my partner said it was fine so to each their own. Will probably come back for a third visit!

Seafood pancake - the batter is a bit dense, wish there was more seafood filling but otherwise…read morepretty solid but quite heavy Boneless chicken w sour garlic sauce - sauce is a bit salty and tasted more like a soy glaze than garlic sauce Staff friendly but there is a bit of a wait for food to come out. Nice fast Korean food vibes.

Ssal is a one-Michelin-star Korean tasting menu restaurant on Polk Street, and it should have two…read more We came here to celebrate our birthday and anniversary, and it could not have been a more perfect choice. Fourteen courses, each rooted in traditional Korean cuisine but presented in a way that feels fresh and surprising. You don't get a menu until the end of the meal, so every course is a surprise, which honestly made it even more fun. The space has that perfect minimalist Korean aesthetic: calm, intentional, and beautiful without trying too hard. Service was warm and personal while still being polished, the kind where you feel genuinely looked after without it ever feeling stiff. The courses: - Island Creek Oyster, Choujang: Arrives on a covered bowl of smoked charred grass, and that smoky aroma hits you before you even take a bite. The choujang was not too spicy and paired perfectly with the oyster. A brilliant way to open. - Bluefin Tuna, Kaluga Caviar, Handmade Sesame Oil: The star here was actually the seaweed. The crunch and full seaweed flavor was outstanding and tied everything together. - Australian Wagyu, Emerald Kiwi, Pine Nut: Sweet and savory. The tart base had a satisfying bite and the kiwi brightness against the wagyu richness worked really well. - Roasted Sweet Potato, Périgord Truffle: The truffle is shaved over the potato. It could have come inside the crochette, but then you'd lose the visual. Delicious either way. - Live American Eel, Koshihikari, Gamtae: The gamtae seaweed tastes almost like a tea, delicate and slightly floral. It balanced beautifully with the eel and was one of the most unique bites of the night. - Hokkaido Sweet Prawn, Brokaw Avocado, Kaluga Caviar + Ssal x Arsicault Bakery Croissant: Meant to be eaten like avocado toast, and it works beautifully. The only thing I'd add is a pinch of finishing salt on the avocado. The croissant is the famous Arsicault one with 320 layers, incredibly fluffy but not the least bit oily. - Dungeness Crab, Bafun Sea Urchin, Gold Queen Rice: The standout of the night. Comforting and elegant all at once. It reminded me of that moment when you're eating crab, you save the top shell with all the roe and juices, add rice, and mix it together. That's exactly this, but elevated. So good. - Korean Abalone, Bloomsdale Spinach, Malted Fingerling: I've always found abalone too tough, but not here. Tender, flavorful. - Cuttlefish, Chrysanthemum, Dubu, Deonjang Beurre Blanc: The cuttlefish had that perfect fresh chew, almost a crunch, that you want from really good cuttlefish. - Sablefish, Zuckerman Green Asparagus, Fermented Chili Jorim: Could not believe this was fish. It cuts through like butter. - Wolfe Ranch Quail, Bokbunja, Red Ginseng: A whole quail split between each couple at the table. Rich, tender, and very savory. - KBBQ Galbi, Tteokgalbi, Morel, Black Garlic: An optional add-on course and absolutely worth it. The galbi is not A5, but it looks and tastes like it is. The marbling comes through on every single bite. - Asian Pear, Omija, Cinnamon: Omija is also called the five flavor berry, and it really does deliver all five. The combination of the jelly, fresh pear, and sorbet made for a really interesting mix of textures. - Albion Strawberry, Yogurt, Mint / Mignardises & Fruit: The fruit plate of strawberry, mulberry, and cherries. This also comes with a burdock tea, which I am now obsessed with and have already ordered on Amazon. The menu is signed by the kitchen team and given to you at the end as a keepsake. Thank you Ssal for a great and memorable night!

This was my third time at SSAL and every time is such a treat! Jess was rly attentive and she had…read morerecognized me from my last time there. My fav dishes this visit were: - wagyu, kiwi, pine nut tart (?) - Sweet potato ball (?) topped with truffle - Crab and uni rice porridge I'm usually sick to my stomach near the end of tasting menus, but I saved my appetite this day. So grateful I did and I was able to eat everything without feeling sick/too full which really surprised me! Already missing it now + can't wait to come back.

We came to Mashita Galbi Jim on a Sunday and were the first in line. We were anticipating long wait…read moretimes after having tried to eat here a few times before. If you're not able to squeeze into the first wave, the wait is upwards of 2 hours! FOOD: We ordered one galbi jim with extra noodles and rice cakes and a separate garlic noodles for a party of 5. While we initially thought we could finish two galbi jims, our server cautioned us against it, referencing the healthy portion size. We were glad we took her advice because everyone was stuffed by the end of our meal. Their galbi jim was flavorful, with extremely tender beef and chewy rice cakes. We ordered the lowest level of spiciness and while there was still a kick, it was extremely manageable. SERVICE: We were the first to be seated and our galbi jim took almost 20 minutes to come out while others waited even longer. However, they comped our garlic noodles and apologized for turning waits. Overall, I'd definitely return if I'm able to get into the first wave of seating.

Came here on a Friday night at 7:30. Had to wait about 30-40 min for 2 seats. The restaurant is…read moresmall so unless you have a 4-6 person party, expect to be seated side by side other parties. Typically what I saw was they do waves of seating and ordering so if you aren't there right at open/when they fill up, plan to write your name down and grab a drink nearby. Once we got seated, they were pretty prompt to give us utensils, napkins, cups, and water. The two of us shared the Braise Beef Galbi Stew. It's more than enough for 2 people to go home in food comas (with some food remaining) and for 3 to be sufficiently full. If you have big eaters, order an app alongside if you have 3 people. The Galbi stew was exceptional. I liked that they had various levels of spiciness. We went with spicy and it had a nice kick that elevated the dish for me. The beef was very tender and flavorful and the veggies and rice cakes soaked up all the juices. And the cheese was so stretchy! I'd actually rank this place slightly above Daeho given the shorter wait, the quality, and the price. I'll be back for sure.

Came here with a group of friends for a New Year's Eve dinner!…read more The service was great, as the servers were attentive and checked up on us fairly often. The restaurant closes at 9:30pm, and they were kind enough to let us stay until then! I also enjoyed the ambiance - the interior was quite beautiful, and had many floral decorations, which I enjoyed. For food, I got the hot stone pot, which comes with minced pork and prawns. The dish was not only delicious but also was a large portion size. The rice was crispy on the bottom, and it was nice that the server mixed the dish for me on the table. I would definitely come back to try other dishes! One of my friends got the Pad Kee Mow, and she also very much enjoyed her dish, agreeing that it was delicious and that the noodles were perfectly chewy! I got the French 75 as a drink, and it was very good as well! Overall, I would definitely come back, especially to try the brunch, which I've heard many good things about! Truly a 10/10 experience!

Cutesy Thai restaurant off busy Chestnut Street in the Marina. Came here during happy hour when…read moredrinks are half off and the appetizers are $4 off. I would describe the ambiance as "modern cherry blossom" with it's tall ceilings and pop music to boot. I had the popcorn chicken appetizer - very crispy and tasty with the five spice outer coating. Next came the egg rolls, about four rolls cut in half with accompanying Thai sweet chili sauce. I split the pad see ew with tofu. It would have been nice to have had a few more vegetables thrown in, especially the broccoli as I counted just a couple of pieces. I did like the tofu although I felt there could have been more and a bit more tender. They could totally redo the front patio dining area as I think it would draw more customers in. If it had not been for my friend recommending this spot, I would have walked by. Overall the customer service was good and I would come back to try other dishes - I'd say the popcorn chicken was my favorite.

Walked in on a Saturday afternoon around 3:30. The place was empty as it had just opened up. The…read morevibes are great, cute interior, mood lighting and comfy seats. We just got drinks but I definitely want to try the food next time. I believe they start serving after 5. I ordered the divine wind, okinawa and appley named. If you like drinks that are on the sweeter side, I would recommend the okinawa and appley. I enjoyed all three drinks in their own way. The divine wind had a mango jelly on top that you are supposed to eat before sipping. Fun experience, great service. They also welcomed my dog and gave her snacks.

My enthusiasm for Bar Iris has fizzled out in the last year since I first visited. I think it's…read morestill a solid spot to get cocktails, especially for a date night or relaxed hangout with close friends, but with the bar's evolving menu, what I once considered favorites, are no longer featured, so it becomes a guessing game trying to figure out which new drink(s) I'll like, and it's a costly game at $21+ per drink (not including tax and tip). I really think the selling points of the bar are its spaciousness and calm atmosphere. Unlike most bars with music blasted so loud, I lose my voice trying to talk to my friends, Bar Iris keeps the music at an ambient level for some background noise, but it doesn't interfere with conversations. The service is also quite good. The staff allowed my group of 6 to pay individually for our drinks, which was awesome. The most cards I've typically seen allowed per group is 2, so Bar Iris is doing it right with the payments process.

Went here for both dinner and brunch and I can say that you go to surisan for their delicious…read moreKorean fusion brunch goodness! There is a waitlist for the weekends with a 30min est. wait time but it's well worth it! Easy to kill time around the area since you're near the pier to catch a stunning morning view. Staff is very quick & attentive despite their headcount to customer ratio so kudos to that! I've had great quick experiences in both settings. Must gets: Korean fried chicken (soy garlic in particular, skip the honey butter) Galbjim eggs Benedict, the fatty saltiness of the pork really compliments the light and creamy goodness of an eggs Benedict! Hollaindaise sauce was delicious as well!!

Surisan has been one of my bookmarked places to try for a while and finally got a chance to check…read morethem out. Arrived on Saturday at around 11am. We were second in the check-in line, but took some time for them to greet and seat people. We were told all the tables indoor were taken but there was seating available in the upper outside area. Hubs and kiddo shared the Kimchi fried rice and the chicken wings (honey butter / soy garlic). They noted the chicken wings were crispy. They seemed to like the soy and garlic, but would've liked more flavor for the honey butter. I ordered the Creamchi Rice Cake. Kiddo loved the sauce on top of the fried rice. This was a good dish. The rice cake had a good chewy texture and the portion size was pretty decent.

One of my new favorite restaurants!…read more Elevated Chinese in a gorgeous setting with innovative dishes. It was a wonderful choice for my father's birthday dinner on a Saturday night, everyone had so much fun sharing all the yummy, beautiful dishes family style. My fave were the pumpkin puffs filled with duck, and everyone was obsessed with the black bean eggplant & silky tofu. The fried har gow is unique, and the pan fried bbq pork buns are sooo soft & addictive (still thinking about them). I was worried about the picky kids finding something to eat, but they sucked up all the dumplings quickly, were excited about the beautiful & unique dishes, and ate more than usual much to their parents' delight! Only thing I would love to see is the desserts leveling up to the savory food with more Chinese-inspired creative recipes (mango cake was a bit dry). Opened in 2022 - this place is Michelin level, and worth the time to review & spread the word. It's a bit pricey, but absolutely worth it for organic, sustainable food, and a truly lovely experience for the family. They also have a private room. I can't wait to go back to enjoy the patio on a warm day!

I've never expected to come to a Chinese restaurant in the Marina, but there's a first time for…read moreeverything. This place was very nice as the interior and exterior was exquisitely designed. Their patio is one of the best places in the city for a date night! Pork and Truffle XLB (5/5): Just wow! This XLB was packed with juicy flavor and the truffle definitely stole the show. Shrimp Pork Wonton (5/5): I really liked the peanut butter in this dish as it was unique compared to other wontons. It was earthy but also packed with umami flavor Mushroom spring roll (5/5): Definitely one of best eggroll I've ever had. The skin was flaky and not too crunchy. The mushroom created this unique flavor I've never had in an eggroll. Ahi Tuna tostada (5/5): This was my favorite because I love raw fish, but nontheless this was amazing. The fish was fresh and the avocado packed it with flavor. Szechuan chicken (5/5); This was great bite to share with the table. A lil kick with a big punch of flavor. Lettuce cup chicken (5/5): Nice balance of crunch and savory. I loved how the chicken wa spackled with flavor and lettuce was refreshing. Chilean Sea bass (5/5); Glazed with miso so it was perfectly sweet. I liked the texture of the fish as it had a nice chewiness. Stir fired beef (5/5): Very tender and packed with flavor. The smokiness reminds me of a steakhouse Sweet & tangy chicken (5/5): This comes with a half pineapple. It has a sweet glazed tangy flavor and the chicken had delicate texture. Roasted egg plant (5/5): I don't even like eggplant and I loved this dish. The eggplant was perfectly cooked as it wasn't too mushy and tofu was silky soft. I loved how it absorbs the rich sauce. Sautéed green beans (5/5); Perfectly delicate and simple. Can't go wrong with this. Mouthai Char Siu (5/5);This comes with Fiji apples to cleanse your palette. The pork jowl was flavorful and fatty. Just the way I like it. Fried rice (5/5): Very solid and comforting. Garlic Shrimp noodles (5/5); similar to Alfredo and I really liked how light it was. Overall I really enjoyed my experience and the food here. It's also affordable compared to other restaurants in the area.

This place was excellent, my team came here with a large group of 15 for an offsite lunch and we…read morehad a fantastic time. Many vegetarian/vegan options on the menu. Standout was definitely the green beans, pretty much everyone enjoyed. They were extremely well done, super crispy on the outside while tender and flavorful inside. I also thought the mapo tofu dumplings were extremely unique and delicious, they had a very strong mapo tofu flavor which I have never seen in dumplings before, although some of my teammates were not big fans. I also enjoyed the spring rolls, vegetarian dumplings, and vegetarian potstickers, although none of them really stood out. The staff were fantastic the whole time and did a great job handling our large group.

If you're looking for next level Chinese food then look no further! You literally can taste the…read morequality in the ingredients used here. And isn't that everything? Dan Dan noodles. Undeniably first rate although a tad too spicy for my hubs. Maaaaybe for me too, though I don't like to admit it since I like to think that I possess a high threshold for spice. Like I'm some kind of spice ninja or something. But, in actuality, I'm just not. Hot & spicy dumplings. I hate mushy dumplings & these were nothing of the sort. Full of flavor, but not too spicy. Beef noodle soup. Hubs LOVED this so much that now he orders it every time. Fried rice. I order fried rice every time I order any Chinese food, just fact. This fried rice is stellar! So fresh, perfectly cooked, & not greasy. Win. Barbecued pork buns. Dynamite! Scallion pancake. Not too thick, not too thin. Not overcooked, not undercooked. Not too greasy. They got it right. Crab & cream cheese "rolls." For whatever reason, I feel compelled to order crab rangoon whenever I order Chinese, & this is their equivalent. They're more like "packets," thin & flat. The ratio of vessel to filling is just disproportionate. Where's the crab? Perhaps more importantly, where's the crab flavor? Lots of potential here but they fall flat. This appetizer is the only thing we've tried here that we haven't loved. Dumpling Union is now our favorite for Chinese delivery. Thank you DU for bringing us such a fresh & quality option for Chinese food. 4 & 1/2 stars.

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!

Came here for a birthday dinner with a group of 9 and it was such a great choice. The service was…read moreso warm and attentive, and they handled our group effortlessly. The meats were super fresh and high quality -- you can really taste the difference. Such an easy, enjoyable experience and perfect for a celebration. We'll definitely be back.

Celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary here. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful! The dining…read moreroom is elegant and sophisticated. Now, it is somewhat dimly lit, which makes reading the menu a bit difficult. Definitely had to pull out my phone to see! The service was exceptional. Everyone was super attentive and kind. The food was delicious, but the portions were a bit smaller than I remembered. The crab puffs were tasty, but soo very small, definitely wanted more. The satay was super good, but again, left us wanting more. Only 1 small skewer of beef and chicken. The garlic noodles were good, but a tad bit dryer than I'd like. The shaking beef was soo good, but more veggies and potatoes than beef. For dessert I had the creme brulee and it did not miss! This is definitely somewhere I'd come back to and recommend.

Whether you're ordering the dumplings, garlic noodles, or crab, all the dishes are made with…read moreattention to detail and taste good. The Bo Kho dumplings were beautifully presented and tasted like Bo Kho. Probably my favorite thing I ate during the night! However, both Bo Kho and dumplings individually are not expensive items. So to put a $25 price tag for only 4 dumplings, it definitely feels a bit hard to justify getting it again for the price. That theme felt pretty much the same throughout the night. All of the dishes were decent and were presented nicely, but nothing I tasted made me go "wow, I need more of this". Crab was fresh, but nothing amazing was done to it that a fresh crab from another restaurant could not emulate. Service was attentive for the most part, and the ambiance of the restaurant is top notch. Don't think I'd come back again for a while personally. Nonetheless, if you're just here for the vibes and maybe a drink with a date/colleague, then this is a solid spot!