I've had several of their Poké bowls and all have been incredible, packed full of everything you hoped for and a solid portion of fish. The space is very stylish and they have games and books a great bar space and lots of good tables as well as an outside area which they share with Sam's. As other reviewers have appointed out, the lunch specials are a great deal, especially for this part of downtown. And as pictured, a snapshot of their consistently diverse selection of beers on tap. read more

Haru by Sams - Diverse beer selection - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dined at Haru by Sams recently with a group of colleagues and it was a good experience. The restaurant is conveniently located and fairly easy to find. From first glance, the interior is cozy but has a good amount of seating along with a bar area. The interior decor was simple and modern and I liked the chill, laidback atmosphere. The menu has a multiple options for different lunch sets along with sides and appetizers. All lunch sets include miso soup, a side salad, and 2 pieces of veggie gyoza. I also thought the pricing for most dishes seemed fair and reasonable. It was my first time at the restaurant and I opted to order a chicken katsu lunch set and it was a nice-sized portion, which included rice and it was plenty of food. I had trouble finishing my food, but was satisfied with the flavor. The chicken katsu was pretty tasty, but would've been better had it been a bit crispier, and they drizzled some sauce on top instead of putting it on the side. Some of my coworkers ordered the beef bulgogi, chicken teriyaki, along with some tofu dishes. Each dish looked fairly good and I'd consider going back to try additional lunch set options in the future. Service was a bit slow, but friendly and efficient. The restaurant did appear to be understaffed but we had a pleasant dining experience. Overall, I'd recommend trying out Haru by Sam's if you're in the nearby area. read more

Haru by Sams - Chicken Katsu - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Small and cozy spot serving up affordable Korean-Japanese dishes. Easy walking distance from the Civic Center Bart and a short walk to The Function comedy show. The service was not attentive as bartender was attending the bar, waiting and bussing tables. I had to ask for my Ginger beer before I finished eating and my friend canceled her tea order. The dishes were good all considered. read more

Haru by Sams - Edamame, Tempura and Seafood Pajeon - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

This review is for the bar experience only. Listen, there's not a ton of a fruity or sour beers on tap in the city. So when I spot a bar with this many options, lock me in! The music was great, the vibes were good and the bartender was chill. Not much more you can really ask for. read more

Haru by Sams - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This mid-Market spot has been open just since summer, but I only noticed it last week when I was walking home from a strings recital at the SF Conservatory of Music. My interest was piqued, so I returned the following day for lunch, and so begins my milestone 7,700th Yelp review. I usually save my milestone reviews for well-established points of interest, but this time I decided to focus on a new business that deserves success. This eatery definitely has got a good shot. Gabby is the manager/co-owner here, and she's an ebullient presence. The menu offers lunch plates in the $16-$20 range with sides at mostly $10 each, but the main draw here is the selection of $15 Lunch Bento boxes which appear to meld Japanese and Korean elements into a cohesive meal (Photo). You pick a protein and a side. In my case, it was the Korean-style Tonkatsu, fried and ladled in a sweet sauce, and the SpicyTuna Roll. The other components were a cup of miso soup, green salad with citrus dressing, and white rice topped with a Korean marinated egg (Photo 9). I added a side order of $6 Fried Cheeseballs, a gooey and addictive quartet of encrusted, melted mozzarella spheres (Photo 10). What a delightful, unexpected meal. I felt like I was having ebiken kon a Shimkansen that somehow jumped the Sea of Japan from Osaka to Busan. Return visits are inevitable. FOOD - 5 stars...tasty mix of casual Japanese and Korean specialties AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...the original bar set-up shows through but there was plenty of seating SERVICE - 5 stars...Gabby is aces TOTAL - 5 stars...a welcome mid-Market addition and frankly better than its progenitor next door, SAMS American Eatery (review: https://yelp.to/sa54Zqx-y_) RELATED - Exploring Civic Center? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/h4kwuvU_Pq read more

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I don't walk around Mid-Market as much as I used to. So when I saw that @midmarket_cbd posted about bento lunches at Haru by Sams, I knew I had to check it out! They occupy the space that was formerly Fermentation Lab. It's a clean, aesthetically pleasing space with tables for mostly a party of 2. The group tables are closer to the entrance and outside. I got salmon with japchae for my bento, which also comes with miso soup, salad, and rice. The miso soup was so comforting, even on a hot day like today. There were also pieces of what looked like mini Chinese donuts that added a soft texture. The soup was delicious and I am not a soup person. I got salmon teriyaki and japchae with my bento. The teriyaki was light so it didn't overpower the delicate salmon. The rice came with a marinated egg where the yolk was just below hard boiled so it had a bit of a jammy texture. The salad had a bright lemony dressing and the greens were not bitter at all. And the highlight for me was the japchae. It was full of nutty and umami flavors from the sesame oil and mushrooms. The noodles were chewy and soft. I thoroughly enjoyed this bento experience. They also have a la carte options, and I need to come back to try them along with their beers and soju. Their bento lunch sets are only available M-F from 11-2. So if you're passing through Mid-Market around that time, then definitely hit up this hidden gem! read more

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With shrinkflation in full effect, a $15 lunch in the city is a STEAL! And, I'm not talking about a sad $15 salad that doesn't even include protein. This $15 lunch includes your choice of protein, your choice of sushi roll, tempura, or gyoza WITH salad, miso soup, rice, and marinated egg. Opening in April 2025, haru by SAMS is a rebrand of Fermentation Lab. Same owner; they also own SAMS American Eatery (Korean-American diner) next door. SAM = first initial of the owner's children's names. Maybe haru is ran by them? Open Monday - Friday 11 am - 2 pm, and Tuesday - Saturday 4 pm - 11 pm (except Monday). Closed Sundays. Indoor seating and there's several tables out front. M E N U Korean-Japanese Fusion Cuisine - $15 Lunch Sets w/ soup, salad, rice, and marinated egg - A la carte: Soba, udon, tteobokki, bibimbap, haejangguk (hangover soup), and more. - After 4 pm: Anju (Korean drinking food): KFC, tteokbokki, sliders, tots, and more. Craft beer and soju available. F O O D * Lunch set: Spicy Pork + Tempura w/ soup, salad, rice ($15): https://tinyurl.com/3jzuham8 - Spicy pork: Flavorful, tender slices of pork shoulder and onions over a bed of cabbage. Mildly spicy. - Tempura: Freshly fried with a light airy batter - one shrimp, onion, carrot, kabocha (2x), and broccoli. - Korean marinated egg: Savory sweet soy marinated egg with a kick of heat. - Miso soup: Standard from a packet, very salty. - Salad: Fresh greens with arugula, tomatoes, carrots, and a tangy dressing. - Pickled radish: Refreshing palate cleanser. - Rice: Hot but a little mushy. S E R V I C E Friendly, attentive, and prompt for early lunch (full service). Order was ready in less than 8 minutes. A M B I A N C E Hipster beer hall with a mix of high tops and regular communal tables. Chess and board games available. Overall, happy to see Fermentation Lab rebrand to haru by SAMS offering wallet-friendly lunch sets in the mid-market area. Can't beat a freshly prepared AND filling lunch for $15! read more

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I was introduced to the food from Haru by Sam's when a buddy brought some to a ballgame. Yum! Then she told me about the $15 lunch bento. What a deal in this economy! The first couple of times I got the bento as take out and was pleasantly surprised by the portion size AND that the salad and soup was included. Most takeout don't include the soup. Met my buddy for lunch there yesterday and loved the atmosphere and service. I enjoyed the space when it was Fermentation Lab. I think I'm going to enjoy it more as Haru by Sams. read more

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Just what I was looking for: a super comfy beer bar serving delicious Asian fusion bites. Beer selection is on point including many local breweries, notably, Ghostown. The food was also executed very nicely. I got the bulgogi bibimbap which stacks up against many I've had elsewhere. To top it all off, the bartender was super friendly and truly created such a warm and inviting environment to relax. Definitely want to come back with friends read more

tldr: small and cozy spot serving up affordable and fresh Korean bentos. A coworker recommended this new spot around Civic Center area for a quick lunch, so we went for a try. Since it was lunch time, they were offering a lunch special, $15 for a bento set that came with one protein, one side, a small salad, and miso soup. I ordered the teriyaki salmon with tuna roll. The salmon was slightly over cooked but flavorful, and to my surprise, the tuna roll was very fresh with rice that was very well cooked. Haru might be the new kid on the block, but they provide affordable yet competitive offerings around the exhaustively pricey area of San Francisco. read more

Haru by Sams - Lunch special with Teri Salmon and Tuna Roll - $15 - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here because I saw that they had korean bentos on yelp and the japchae looked good. The location was close the the Asian Art Museum, so we went there after viewing the exhibits. Sadly, they said they no longer provided the bentos. We decided to stay anyways because we were hungry. I got the chicken katsu lunch special, which had great variety, but the flavors were just not there. The food was kind of bland and the katsu sauce had a weird after taste. I thought the chicken was fried well and it was tasty, but again, the sauce didn't really compliment it. However, they have fun board games and the miso soup was very good. read more

This is a new spot with a great bento box lunch deal. For 15 bucks you get miso soup, salad, rice with a marinated egg, and an appetizer and side of your choice. I had the chicken katsu and a spicy tuna roll. It was delicious and filling, I even took a little home for later. read more

Haru by Sams - Bento box lunch deal - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow! Came here from a coworker's recommendation and just wow. So much food for under $20 in SOMA? Sign me up! Service was fast and food came out quickly. I ordered the bulgogi beef with rice, and pot stickers and was very full by the time I was done. There were plenty of seats on a Thursday lunch time and it was fairly quiet. Would likely come back again to try their other dishes. read more

Most of the food is pretty tasty, but the chicken wings, wow! those are to die for. I wish they served them during the day and not just evening. It's cozy, relaxed, and the servers are sweet. The marinated eggs are super good. Bento combos are available for lunch, and they also have a really neat beer selection. I was expecting the hangover ramen to have more umami depth, since the name alludes to it being rich and nourishing. Some of the meat options from the bento section are a bit sweeter than I prefer; of course that's just a personal preference, and some people love that. All the fried options are fire!! The cheeseballs are so so tasty (!!!) the croquets and tempura are, too. I really wanna try out their poke. I like to pop into this place as a peaceful little oasis to escape the mayhem that is Market Street...with snacks! I'm in the area a lot and I will keep going back out of curiosity about the other items on the menu because most likely, they'll be pretty good! read more

People you all are sleeping on this hidden gem. You cannot find a solid lunch option with generous portions for roughly $15 in SF. Luckily it's just a hop, skip, and jump away from Civic Center. Every piece of this "bento box" style lunch was delicious from the salad dressing to the main course. Seating is plentiful for large groups or single workers and service is efficient. Come support this small business! read more

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The restaurant was very cute and the staff were nice. I ordered the poke bowl and enjoyed it, and my friend got the chicken katsu and said she liked it. Not particularly my cup of tea, but if you like Korean food then this is a good place for it. read more

Food was just ok. It's hard not to compare when we have SO many good Korean food choices in the Bay Area. We made reservations for our party of 8 and showed up early and they were still able to accommodate us which we appreciated. Three stars because we had to go order our own food at the bar and get our own drinks and had to pay and tip before we got our food. Literally, no service except for bringing our food out. We only stopped by because we were going to a show at the Orpheum. Will definitely be trying other places next time. read more

Delicious food. Has a bar serving Korean alcohol as well. Chill vibe. I will definitely be back. read more

Haru by Sams - Bulgogi beef - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Superb customer service and delicious food. Walking to the BART station from work, I saw an outdoor sign highlighting that Haru serves duck fat fries and that immediately peaked my interest. A couple of days later I had the opportunity to try the fries, which are delicious and well seasoned as well as the Monkey's Paw and Bunny with a Chainsaw beers - both were equally tasty, but preferred the Monkey's Paw a little more. Also got an order of their fish tacos - they were delicious and the fish was fried up perfection. On top of all the delicious food and tasty drinks was Riley, the bartender/server, who was super friendly and personable. He made me feel welcomed and it was apparent he enjoys his job and takes pleasure in interact with the patrons. I'll definitely be making Haru a place I frequently visit. read more

We found this on the run before going to Orpheum theater. Friendly bar vibe with tasty Korean food.

This review is based on my experience trying their food at the Chuseok Festival in San Francisco. We ordered the fish cake and spicy rice cakes, and honestly, it was really bad. I should've known something was off when I saw the spicy rice cakes being heated on top of aluminum foil pans using one of those small candle warmers. The rice cakes ended up tasting like burnt charcoal, probably from absorbing the melted aluminum. It was, without exaggeration, the worst spicy rice cake I've ever had. We threw it out after just two bites. I tried to power through it because I paid $12 for it, but it just wasn't edible. Should've went back to get a refund but we had to leave. read more

So glad they opened. Not many lunch places anymore...but so far 2/2 on my lunches. Definitely will be back. I bring friends if we having lunch together. read more

I go there often, perfect lunch place and nice people. The food is pretty good all considered.

Love this place! Came here for lunch with a good friend on a weekday and we got the lunch combo. Could not believe the price (cheap compared to places that sell similar dishes) and service were great. The food came out pretty fast. Place is not too big but nice looking. I wish I can order online and go pickup the food. Please let me know when you guys have that option! read more

Great service by Riley (not sure if that's how u spell his name)!!! Attentive and personable....made you feel welcomed and friendly. Keep up the good work...Hope to visit again!! read more

food was good! service was slow. they were late to open and that slowed everything down

Delicious food, gracious staff. LOVE EM. Get the Brussel sprouts and the spring rolls and dumplings.