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Man oh man... I'm going to really miss this place. I know it's closed now but I wanted to leave a review as a customer that came multiple times. Their raw marinated shrimp was the best I've ever had. I've liked it more than the ones I've had while in Korea too. The service is amazing, the staff was always super friendly and helpful. Their bossam and galbi were my other two favorites. I'll really miss this place. The ambiance was always sophisticated with a touch of fun. The communal seating in the middle was reminiscent of places in Korea. I truly wish I was able to try the raw marinated crab you served but every time I came, it was not available.... So sad. Thank you for providing such incredible meals over these past few years. Since you guys are closing permanently, can I request the recipe or the raw marinated shrimp? I will be thinking of it forever.
Came here for dinner with a group and overall the raw shrimp was the highlight. It was super fresh and sweet with a nice Miren + Light Soy + fish sauce marinade, and the kimchi banchan had great depth and spice. Both stood out right away. The army stew was a really generous portion and easily feeds four people, so it's a good choice if you're sharing and want something filling. The oysters and boiled pork were solid and about what we expected, nothing surprising and skippable. Service was pretty infrequent and it could be hard to flag someone down for refills or extra orders, so I'd recommend ordering most of what you want upfront. The ambiance is casual and lively which makes it great for groups than an intimate dinner. I'd come back for the raw shrimp!
High end looking restaurant serving down to earth Korean tapas. The interior is dimly lit with a simple modern vibe. Service was decent but don't expect them to be super fast as there are a lot of other tables waiting to be served as well. We tried various seafoods including their crab, shrimp, and oysters. All were very fresh and of good quality. Highly recommend the shrimp as the flavor and texture is mind blowing and just so different from other food items. Warning: soy marinated food items are salty because they need to ensure there's enough salt to "cook" the seafood so don't order these dishes if you're not a sodium fan.
I've had ILCHA on my list for a while now. I saw videos saying they were going to close so I had to try it before it was too late. My friend made a reservation for Thursday night dinner. It got busy later in the night. Korean fried chicken (5/5): The fry was so good. The chicken was so juicy. You get a choice of gochujang or garlic soy sauce. We chose the garlic sauce and I didn't think it would come on the side. We did the half order which was a good portion for the two of us. Dubu kimchi (3/5): This was pretty basic. Stir fried kimchi with tofu and pork belly. Could've done without. Bulgogi jeongol (5/5): This was perfect. The tables come with a built in burner so it stayed hot throughout the meal. The broth was so healing. The bulgogi had good flavor and wasn't too sweet. It came with mushrooms, napa cabbage, onions, carrots, rice cakes and glass noodles. It was a great way to get our veggies in. I'm sad that they are closing. It was a really good meal. I enjoyed my time and would've come back.
Came here before I heard they'd be closing this restaurant soon bc it's been widely liked and was really happy I got to come before they close! Everything we had was delicious! The raw marinated shrimp comes with seaweed, rice, and a yolk. It had a nice sweetness to it that was a nice surprise. The bossam and oysters were also great, the pork was tender and the gochuchang based sauce for the oyster was my favorite. They even gave a free refill of lettuce and perilla, which was appreciated. The fried chicken comes piping hot and is crispy and juicy. The service was kind of slow to get seated and our order taken but it seemed like they were a tad short staffed. But the service was very nice. Only sad thing was that they didn't have the grilled tteok that day. Looking forward to hearing what's next for the folks that run this place!
ILCHA absolutely blew me away. My friends who live in SF brought us here, and I'm so grateful they did -- every single dish we tried was incredible and truly stood out! Not a single miss. I really loved the vibe of the space. The lighting is dim, but feels warm and cozy rather than dark. I came with a group of my friends, and the servers were so attentive and fun -- they teased and joked around with us + made the experience feel welcoming while also being a bit chaotic LOL. The soy-marinated shrimp was the highlight of the meal! It was so flavorful and easily one of my favorite bites of the night. Our friends told us that we have to pair it with the rice and order seaweed on the side to make little soy shrimp wraps -- such a game changer!!! We also ordered the corn cheese tater tots + the army stew and both were delicious! Everything came out warm, comforting, and satisfying. Each dish felt thoughtfully prepared so you can tell a lot of care goes into the food here. While the pricing is definitely on the higher-end side, it's 100% worth it for the quality, portions, and overall experience. I would've loved to come back over and over again, but I saw on Instagram that they'll be closing soon permanently -- which is such a bummer :( I'm disappointed I won't be able to return, but I'm glad I got the chance to experience ILCHA at least once! If you're thinking about going before they close, don't hesitate. This spot is truly something special, and I'm happy I got to try it.
Food - Everything was so good! - Great for sharing for us 4. - Good portions Service - Very fast and attentive. Ambiance - Dark inside, can be nice for a date night. - The bathroom is at the entrance, no sign: - Modern art with inside tables and dark walls.
So sad they are closing because we had a great first visit here. Got excited when I sat down and there was a hot pot! We ordered so much because we knew we wouldn't get another chance. The tteokboki with American cheese was so interesting . It also had condensed milk. My husband loved it and I was intrigued but not sure how I feel :$ Standouts the chicken! Fried beautiful and crisped up beautifully for leftovers as well. We felt like the price to performance on this was excellent . The half portion was huge! 5 pieces! I liked the hot pot too, but nothing standout about it. Sad they are closing, but what a great little place!
Was surprised to hear this place is closing, so I had to stop by one last time for their fried chicken. Ordered the half fried chicken, which came with both white and dark meat. It does take a bit to come out since it's fried fresh, but it's absolutely worth the wait. The chicken is brined, so it stays juicy and not dry at all. My other favorite was the cheese tteok. It's grilled rice cakes filled with mozzarella, topped with American cheese and condensed milk. It sounds like a strange combo, but it somehow works and was seriously addicting. Really sad I won't be able to have this again.
Cute little spot in the Marina. I made reservations even though I dined alone since I heard this place tends to fill up on Friday and Saturday nights. I was seated at the community table which is shared. Not a problem. Plenty of space. Ordered the kim mari for appetizers (fried seaweed spring rolls). Comes with a gochujang dipping sauce. I've had this before so I was excited to get it again. Really good/addicting. Light crispy batter on the outside. Can't go wrong ordering these. Had to go to work after so I only ordered one drink. It was a canned cocktail. Peach lychee soju sparkling cocktail. 8 percent! lol strong and delicious. Would order again even though it's canned. Took a photo so I could try to buy for the house stash lol For my entree, I ordered galbi which came with assorted ssam. I usually get rice but since I was working after, I just ate these as wraps for a lighter option. Well marinated and really good as "lettuce wraps". I asked for a side of hot sauce for added spice. I've wanted to try something different this time around. I've had their Korean fried chicken which is really good! Some of the best I've had! Didn't get it this time cause I like to have it fresh and it would've been way too much food for me, but if you go, definitely grab some of that! Service was great! Even though they're busy, they servers make sure to take care of you. I work part time down the street and heard they are closing soon which is so sad for us. We love them and the staff. Food is delicious. Try to get there to check out the food before they close come February!
Wish I tried this place earlier and not 1 month before they close :( Ilcha's been on my bookmarked list for ages and it did not disappoint. Ambiance is casual w dimly lit lighting and plenty of seating - there's a long table in the middle of the restaurant for parties of 2, plus several individual tables on each side for larger groups. Service was fantastic, very attentive and food came quickly. We ordered the following: - half size fried chicken: this was soo good. perfect layer of fried skin, and the chicken was flavorful and juicy. paired great with the gochujang - bulgogi jeongol: their stew portions are hefty and filling - ours had a large helping of meat, noodles, tofu slices, enoki mushroom, and greens. didn't even order a side of rice cause it was that much food. I've also heard the soy marinated crab is a must order, though it wasn't on the menu this time. definitely check it out before they close on 2/14!
So sad that my favorite restaurant is closing -- last day to dine is 2/14/26 Highly recommend coming in before then! Came here with my boyfriend and our experience was a 10/10. We wanted to order the soy raw marinated crab, but it wasn't on the menu, so we opted for the shrimp instead. The raw marinated shrimp was not fishy at all and so good. We also ordered the fried chicken, and it was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Glad that I was able to dine one last time before its closing day.
I was super excited to finally try Ilcha as I love Korean food and heard good things about this place from friends. We made a reservation for Friday night and between 2 people, we shared: - Marinated raw shrimp: Soy marinated shrimp with a side of egg yolk rice with seaweed and sesame oil. This was definitely my favorite of the night! The shrimp is so tender and flavorful and perfect with the egg yolk seaweed rice. So much umami and marinated well so don't be afraid of the raw shrimp! - Corn Cheese Tator Tots: Crispy tots covered in corn cheese and sour cream with gochujang mayo. Really yummy but pretty heavy - Budae Jjigae: Korean army stew with ramen, kimchi, sausage, spam. It's a simple staple soup but they do it really well and it's rich and savory without feeling like too much which is perfect We also got a bottle of Ji Pyeong Makgeolli to share which was nice and refreshing without feelings too alcoholic. I definitely enjoyed all the food and the ambiance is really nice as well for an elevated Korean food experience.
3 years ago
Came here w/ two friends on a Sunday evening and this place was by far one of my fave Korean places I've been to. The service was great and loved the ambiance inside. Would be perfect for a date w/ the dim lighting and warm environment! The fried chicken was in a tempura batter and it was sooo good. Literally so juicy inside and had the best texture/flavors. The pork belly was super tender and paired perfectly with the veggies they served it with. Probably my favorite thing there aside from the fried chicken. The hot pot was super yummy and had so much chrysanthemum (my favorite vegetable ever) and everything was flavored perfectly. We ended the meal with the dessert pancakes w/ ice cream and it was so good. Such a good meal and would definitely want to be back!!! read more
2 years ago
Ilcha is bomb dot com! simply the best KFC that I've ever had, so juicy with a light crunchy coating! I came here for my friend's birthday, and they were able to accommodate 20+ of us! We got so much food, the rice cakes with cheese, corn cheese tots (amazing fusion dish!) budaejigae, nabe soup... just to name a few. I think everything we got was delicious but dam I will forsure be coming back solely for that fried chicken :P read more
Came here for dinner with friends on a Friday night and was pleasantly surprised. I would definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time since the restaurant itself is quite small and has limited seating. Korean food in sf is pretty mediocre so I went in with low expectations. I think the food is better than average compared to other Korean restaurants in sf and the service is really good! The buddae jjigae was really flavorful and not just spicy. The bossam and oysters were an interesting combination, but the bossam was really nice and not dry. The raw marinated shrimp was what I was most looking forward too but also most disappointed by, not too sure how to explain it but the actual shrimp itself didn't seem to have absorbed much of the marinade. But with the sesame oil egg rice it was a lot better. I would definitely come here again and try out different menu items! read more
This review is LONG OVERDUE. Ilcha is by far my favorite restaurant in the city for drinks and food. Service: impeccable Drinks: Ilcha's specialty is premium soju Imported straight from Korea. Their soju menu is so expansive, if you haven't tried the higher end sojus, this is the place to be! They also offer makeolli (Korean rice wine), wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks! Food: bomb. I've had everything on the menu at this point and it all has been so good. My favorite item on the menu : the soy cured shrimp served with egg yolk rice, crushed seaweed and sesame oil. If you have not tried this, it is a must try! If you're not a fan of raw, another amazing item : Korean. fried. chicken. SOOO GOOD. the fry is so light and the chicken itself is JUICY. it comes with pickled radish, slaw and this secret sauce to pair with the chicken. Warning as most people see Ilcha as a restaurant.. it is not a place to bring young children. The concept is emphasis on drinks paired with Korean bar food. Otherwise, full send this is a great place to be with friends or family that will do just that! read more
Ilcha has been on my list for a very long time ever since it blew up on social media. I came here on a Friday evening with a reservation. The staff were very polite and answered all our questions about the menu. The raw marinated shrimp was incredibly fresh and tasted sweet, it's a must-try! The crispy Korean fried chicken, cooked to perfection with a satisfying crunch that gave way to juicy, tender meat. However, I was a bit disappointed that the raw marinated crab was only a seasonal item. :( I would come back another time when the raw marinated crab is back! read more
2 years ago
The food was great! The raw marinated shrimp was refreshing. The fried chicken was so flavorful and crunchy even without any sauce. The cheese rice cake was also nice and chewy. The place has a sleek interior, not like any other Korean restaurant I've been to before. Staff were really friendly! read more
Very chill spot with nice seating inside. Place can get packed quick so make sure you make a reservation if you have a big party. The service is very good each time I come in and very on point. I come here specifically for their fried chicken! Crispy, crunchy, and juicy all at once when you bite into that chicken! Everything is very tasty at this establishment and I'm never disappointed with what they serve. If you are looking for a nice modern vibe for Korean food then this is the place to go! read more
Heard of this trendy restaurant for so long, i finally got the chance to come! We ordered all the signature dishes from the menu: soy sauce raw shrimp, army soup and fried chicken. This is my first time trying the soy sauce shrimps, and btw i loge soy sauce crab, so i'm very excited about it. The shrimp's texture is jellylike, i think i like it more than soy sauce crab lol since the shrimp you don't have to do too much, but for crab theres so much shell. The soy sauce is sweet. I mixed it with the seaweed rice and it tasted si good. It's just the flavor i like! I can't wait to go back for more!!! I think the army soup and fried chicken are pretty standard. There are many ingredients in the army soup but theres no fresh meat, they are ham and bacon. It's a but salty at the end. The fried chicken is crispy, to me it's just normal fried chicken lol Overall, i like its environment, its clean and the service are good. I can eat the shrimp all day until I'm tired of it haha read more
Hot take - 2.5 stars, don't understand the hype Oysters & Bossam - 2/5, oysters were sweet but the Bossam was just not it, it was just plainly steamed (wasn't traditional with spices like coffee/cardommon, anyway there are def better places for Bossam!) Budae jigae - 2/5, really bland, used soybean paste for broth though it's supposed to be kimchi Bulgogi tater tots - 3/5 Soy marinated shrimp - 4/5, this was good Fried chicken - 4/5, table favorite! Super crispy and juicy. The gochujang & honey garlic sauces paired well I think our party was underwhelmed though we did have high expectations. Good to try but don't think I would come back. There's definitely better Korean food out there! read more
2 years ago
This place is legit Korean food! I felt the authenticity with every dish. I tried the marinated raw shrimp, I was feeling adventurous and wow what a great concept! Loved the marinade and seasoned rice with egg yolk that it came with. The LA kalbi was cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of char. In my first visit I also tried the kfc and that was delicious perfect crunch. The staff is really nice and attentive, I really enjoyed the overall vibe and loungey feel to the restaurant as well. Can't wait to come back and try more things! read more
(3.75/5) A bit torn about Ilcha - some dishes were misses while others were amazing. At this price point, it's off putting for there to be big misses like the LA Galbi. But I can see myself coming back for the hits, now that I know what not to order. Service is standard, ambience is trendy but laidback, and a resy is definitely needed for peak times. + CHEESE TTEOK KKOCHI (5/5): I still think about this dish to this day... a sweet and savory lover's dream. I wasn't sure about the double cheese but I loved how they torched the American cheese on the top, it adds some smokiness that is just *perfect* with the condensed milk. I would order this dish alone for takeout one day. + SOY CURED SHRIMP / GANJANG SAEWOO + GYREAN BAP (4.5/5): The soy sauce the raw shrimp is cured in was just a tad too salty for my taste, but everything complements each other so well in this dish, especially the egg rice with crushed seaweed that came with it. Highly highly recommend eating the shrimp with the rice together in one bite - something about the combination both flavor and texture wise totally elevates each other. Overall a really unique dish, and executed very well. + LA GALBI (2.5/5): Very disappointing... this was $42 pre-tax/tip (?! the most expensive galbi I've ever seen ?!) and was definitely not worth it. The marinade is tasty but the beef itself wasn't close to as tender as I'd expect for the price point - in fact, several pieces were actually too fatty and chewy to swallow. The huge pieces of lettuce went well with the galbi, but doesn't redeem this dish from a value standpoint. Would not recommend. + BULGOGI TATER TOTS (3.5/5): Can't go wrong with tater tots - fairly generous with the wagyu, but nothing super new flavor wise. + HOTTEOK (4.5/5): Sleeper hit. Almost decided not to order, but glad we did. Delicious. read more
3 years ago
To be honest, I had really high hopes for this place. And frankly, I still do! Let me highlight what this place does well: Soy marinated raw shrimp: absolutely amazing. Extremely fresh and the with the rice, superb. It's not extremely salty and the marinade is great. Mochi rice cheese stick: surprisingly loved this. The cheese isn't overwhelming and I loved the sweetness of the condensed milk. Now aside from those dishes, everything else is mediocre. A lot of the food tastes like what I can find at a cheaper place or broil myself from ingredients found at a Korean supermarket. Now I haven't tried their friend chicken but I hear it's very good. I'm not sure if I would come back any time soon, but the service is also very inviting and pleasant. read more
3 years ago
3.5 stars* Came here on a weekday evening and it wasn't too busy. Ambiance is really nice where it feels elevated but lively for a gathering with friends to drink and get a bit rowdy. My friends and I didn't drink so this review is just for the food but I will come back for drinks sometime - raw shrimp with egg yolk seaweed rice is a must order. Shrimp is sweet and creamy in a savory marinade and paired nicely with the lightly salted seaweed yolk rice. - budae jiggae I will not be ordering again. It was on the pricier side for army stew ($36) and there wasn't anything really special about it, could be easily made at home Service was really great though, waiters were attentive and friendly. I will be coming back for the shrimp and drinks sometime! read more
I've been wanting to go to Ilcha for a very long time and finally made it out to the very fun Cow Hollow area for absolutely delicious Korean food. Jennie was playing on the speakers as I walked in and I knew it was going to be good. A quick QR scan brought up the menu. There weren't a ton of options, but man did I want to order every single thing on the menu. My friend and I restrained ourselves and ordered the budae jjigae, a half order of the fried chicken, and the famous raw marinated shrimp. Every single dish hit the spot! The budae jjigae sat simmering over an electric stove on our table, the cheesy ramen the perfect vessel to soak up the delicious broth. The half order of Korean fried chicken was honestly massive but we finished it! It was crispier and juicier than I could have ever imagined. It also came with a bunch of banchan and a delightful dipping sauce. The raw marinated shrimp wasn't fishy at all and eating it with the rice was a great combo. As someone who isn't as big of a fan of raw shrimp and crab, this was bomb. To pair with everything, the peach makgeolli was perfectly sweet and helped wash everything down. My only nit is that the staff kept coming to take stuff from us that we were seemingly done with, but we wanted to keep the shrimp sauce and that one pickled radish left--it's too good! read more
Ilcha is my favorite Korean restaurant at the moment! They have a simple & small menu but they do everything well. My favorites are: - Korean fried chicken: this is the BEST KFC in the city! The batter is so light and crispy, and the interior is super juicy. I love dipping it in their gochujang sauce too. - Soy cured raw shrimp: if you like marinated raw crab, you're going to love this! Mix the egg yolk seaweed rice up and spoon the soy sauce over it--sooo good. The soy sauce is sweet and savory deliciousness. I could probably eat a whole plate of the shrimp myself! - Budae jjigae: their army stew is so comforting and spicy. I love how much meat & veggies are in the pot. Great as leftovers too (bc the pot is huge!!) - Corn cheese tots: I love corn cheese so I KNEW I was gonna love this dish. I still have to try the bulgogi tots, but these, along with the gochujang mayo, are delightful with the pops of corn and melted cheese. Service is extremely friendly. It's a somewhat small spot, so make a reservation in advance (especially because they're becoming more popular lately)! read more
2 years ago
Really good Korean food in a nice sit down restaurant! Recommend making a reservation since it gets busy and not a huge place. Definitely order dishes to share! The soy cured shrimp is one of the best I've had, and the rice bowl it comes with is so good too. Their Korean fried chicken is also so crispy - I love how they come with sauces on the side so you can choose which flavor you want to eat it with and they don't get soggy. The stews are huge too, and you cook it over the built-in burners. Must-get for a large group! The price is very good considering dishes are sized to share. The ambience feels upscale but also a fun lively vibe with an extensive soju menu too. read more
2 years ago
ambiance: way too dark, hate restaurants that are painfully dark and all the lights are dimmed to hell.. it's giving "i don't want to pay for a high electricity bill" service: we came right when they opened and were the only ones dining for around 20? minutes.... painfully awkward. when we were paying a lady wearing a mask helped us check out and we might as well been in debt to her or something, her mask and the loud music didn't allow us to hear her correctly and when asked to repeat a simple sentence ONCE we were greeted with attitude and annoyance. she literally barked the repeated sentence back to us. i work in the food service industry and i only get that annoyed if i have to repeat over 3-4 times. she also just stuck the cash out machine directly right up to your face, just really rude and uncalled for honesty. food: we ordered crab and chicken - the crab came out really fast and it was pretty good just really salty but hey it's soy sauce marinated. the chicken we got soy garlic but we received GARLICCCCCCCCCC soy. overhyped. don't trust everything you see on social media, it's unfortunate this is the only restaurant in the bay that offers SOY SAUCE marinade raw crab. (that i've found so far..) read more
Finally able to try Ilcha!! I've been eyeing this place for so long, and I'm so glad I was able to snag a reservation the day before! Once we arrived, we were immediately seated at a table. It's a small modern restaurant, yet intimate and cozy. We ordered the raw marinated shrimp, as well as the bossam and oysters. Both of which were really delicious! I've been craving soy marinated crabs since my trip to LA, and the shrimp really did it for me. It was very flavorful and had a nice bite to it, which I really enjoyed. The bossam and oysters were delicious as well. Our server advised us to eat them both together, and the textures and flavors went so well together. My only gripe about it is that we had to ask for more lettuce. Service is really great here, and they're always checking on you to make sure everything is fine and if you need anything. Great experience, great food. Highly recommend! read more
3 years ago
Unique, quality Korean dishes. Friendly and quick service. Modern and hip ambiance (perfect for a date or a quick catch up with friends). All these things together make Ilcha a five star experience. My personal favorite dishes were the raw shrimp and fried chicken! Both felt well executed with fresh ingredients. The raw shrimp was packed with soy flavor and paired well with the seaweed rice. The fried chicken was bursting with juices -- the perfect mix of a crispy exterior but not dry at all on the inside. The bulgogi stew was stellar as well. A huge portion filled with tasty ingredients you'd typically find in hot pot. In terms of dining experience, my friend and I arrived around 7:30pm on a Wednesday and were seated right away. We were seated on the long shared family table, so there was a bit of lack of privacy. Additionally, since parties were seated so close to one another, there were a couple moments I had to ask my friend to repeat themselves since I could barely hear them. My suggestion is that you make a reservation for a group greater than 4 so you receive one of the side tables that gives you a bit more privacy. All in all, a great experience with amazing food! Highly recommend. read more
Came to Ilcha on a cold Thursday night. Ilcha looks unassuming on the outside, but is bustling and busy inside! There's a large shared center table where parties are divided on either side, and a few 4 seater table on the sides of the restaurant. The menu is on a QR code and you order with a waiter. We got the bulgogi tots and budae-jjigae . I absolutely loved the tots. The bulgogi was slightly sweet and the tots were crispy and soft. I couldn't stop eating this. The budae-jjigae was soft, spicy, and full of different meats like pork belly and spam. I really enjoyed the ramen noodles that came with it and the soft cabbage. Overall this was a delicious meal. read more
Obsessed with this place!! I love raw seafood and decadent Korean food We walked in for three on Wednesday at 6 and there were a few spots available. Shrimp heads are umami bombs and go perfectly with the egg yolk seaweed rice - It's my favorite but I know lots of people might not like it. I love eating it with the soybean stew to balance out the intense flavors. Fried chicken is so delicious - crispy skins with great coleslaw on the side I love oysters and felt the pork belly oyster dish was incredible. I liked how they laid out the leaves and shiso already placed, so it's ready to eat - a nice touch. However, it was a bit pricy at $39 - would only recommend if you love oysters like me. Next to Daeho, this is my favorite Korean spot in SF! read more
4 years ago
ILCHA stands out as one of the better Korean restaurants in San Francisco. In all honesty, I am not a huge fan of Korean food in the city mainly because the food can be a hit or miss. I have been to a number including Brothers, Han Il Kwan, and Daeho which are some of the other better options here. When my friend and I arrived at the restaurant we ordered their raw shrimp marinated in soy sauce + egg yolk on top of seasoned rice, korean fried chicken, and "army stew". The raw shrimp marinated in soy sauce is delicious. If you like ganjang gaejang, or raw crab marinated in soy sauce, you are sure to like this dish as well. I thought it was cute how they bring out plastic gloves so you can eat the raw shrimps with your hand. If you have ever had Korean styled raw crab (soy sauce based or spicy), you traditionally eat this dish with your hands as well. Just think of it as comfort food that is "finger licking" good. ILCHA serves the raw shrimp marinated dish with a side of egg on top of crushed dried seaweed and rice drizzled in sesame oil. While you may eat it however you wish, I would recommend to break the yolk and mix it with the rice for a creamy texture. Then add the soy sauce from the shrimp with the rice so your rice mixture is creamy and savory. The korean fried chicken is seasoned quite well. If you are like me, you can tell the fried chicken is good when you do not need the sauces or the sides to be satisfied. The budae jjigae, which is otherwise known as "army stew" was disappointing compared to the other dishes. The soup lacks spiciness and flavor. Perhaps the recipe has been adjusted to be better suited for individuals who can not handle spice but the soup reminded me of a watered down kimchi jjigae with similar ingredients commonly found in budae jjigae. Overall, I would definitely recommend for you to check out ILCHA if you are craving Korean food. Next time, I want to try their bossam + oysters. read more
4 years ago
What we ordered for 2 ppl: Ganjang Saewoo (soy cured shrimp): We came here for this dish. It was very flavorful and loved the rice/seaweed/egg yolk that came with it. Fried chicken (half order): cooked really well, the sauce really paired well with the chicken Hotteok: yummy dessert! It came with 2 pancakes filled w/ brown sugar and vanilla ice cream We wanted to try the cheese tteok, but they ran out. I'd come back to try that and their bossam next time. All the food came out pretty quick after we ordered. Make sure to make a reservation when you come here! read more
4 years ago
The raw marinated shrimps were amazing. I was so so sad that the raw marinated crabs were not available. We also ordered the bossam and budae jjigae soup. All the dishes were good. The service was top notch and fast. The staffs were very friendly and attentive. The vibe was there; chill and casual. I highly recommend making reservation ahead of time. I noticed that they had to turn many people away without a reservation on a Saturday's evening. read more
AMAZING SO YOM! All the portions here are large besides the marinated shrimp, which we came for. However it was very good and came with a small bowl of rice and seaweed. It only has 8 pieces so beware if you have a large group! Also tried bulgogi tater tots, bossam + oysters, bulgogi jeongol, dubu beoseot jeongol, and korean fried chicken. DEFINITELY try the chicken it was just so crispy and airy. Make a reservation here read more
8 months ago
4 years ago
I loved this place! I had a date night w my friend and we made a reservation for 6:30pm on a Wednesday. We ended up getting there 15 min early, and were seated right away. I was amazed by how intimate, yet bright the restaurant looked. Usually intimate places are quite dark, and this was well lit with a cozy feel to it. Ganjang Saewoo + Gyrean Bap: This soy cured shrimp w rice and egg yolk was SO good! This was my first time having raw shrimp, and it had a lot of flavor to it! I'm glad it was served w rice too since eating it by itself would've been too salty. They also provided gloves to peel the shrimp! Bossam + Oysters: Great presentation! The pork belly came with lettuce wraps and sauces and it was delicious. The oysters were a decent size and came w lemon and sauces as well. La Galbi: Such a good portion for two people, we actually had leftovers to take home and it was delicious. Cheese Tteok Kkochi: This was my FAVE. It was a mozzarella filled rice cake w condensed milk and wow, the texture was chewy and the cheese added a kick to it. These are super filling and came w 5 skewers. Such a great restaurant and the service was quick! Will come back and recommend to friends! read more
Came in May near their opening. Booked a reservation for 4 people two weeks ahead and came around 6 pm. Not too many customers during our time (you can see from the photos). Food: 3/5 I don't like giving small businesses low stars but they could use small improvements to their food. Small portions for the price you get, but it is in the Marina I suppose. There were only 5 perilla leaves for the balsam (pictures). We had to ask for more 2 times just cause we were given a few at a time. There were only 3-4 pieces of tteokbuki in the soup that has it in its name. Not everyone in our group had a piece. Four pieces of chicken for the kfc. But presentation is nice and very 'instagramable' . Parking/location: It's on a busy road which can be tricky for parking depending on the day and time. Staff: They were training new people our day. Which is fine ! But there were some confusions on our order, that we had a to clarify a couple of times. read more
2 years ago
Coming from a Korean, this place was way tooooo hyped up for the what it really is. Seating is awkward if you get stuck on the long table that you share with randoms. Service started weird, we stood at their doorway waiting to be seated (got like 15 loooks from them) and after about 5 mins of just standing there with NO acknowledgment, someone came over and asked if we had reservations.. mind you it was NOT full and had PLENTY of seats available. Told him no, and he walked away without saying anything but then came back within a minute and decided to seat us. Not a traditional Korean restaurant where you would get banchan while you wait either. I ordered the Galbi and rice.. Sadly it was on the the tougher side, probably needed a just a little longer in the marinade so the meat would get tenderized. Infel like a carnivore using my teeth to get it off the bone because there's no knives or scissors.. I did love that they sent out Korean hot sauce, garlic, lettuce and perilla leaves to make some wraps but like I said meat was sooooo TOUGH! My husband had the DUBU BEOSEOT JEONGOL which lacked a lot of the robust Unami and soybean flavor that you would get from Dubu jiggae, they just made it sound fancier. Will I come back, probably not, but cute for a date night but with someone's who's NOT Korean because you're gonna get some judgement, lol.. read more
This place has been on my list for a while and finally got to try it. I made the reservation a little bit late so we didn't get the prime time for dinner on Saturday but it worked out perfectly as the atmosphere was actually better. It definitely reminds me of the so called Hof bar in Korea where you have drinks and foods with your friends either before or after clubbing. - Fried Chicken: I was totally impressed with their fried chicken and should've ordered the whole chicken, not just half. The chicken was so crispy but tender and juicy inside, felt really well marinated. It was amazing because you could get some really dried Korean fried chicken in other places. - Pork Belly & Oyster set: this was good but not really up to my expectation, especially after that bomb fried chicken. The pork belly cut could've been a bit bigger and come with more banchan (side dishes) to have it with, but I guess the size might make sense for the concept of drinking food, not like entree type of food. Oysters were fresh and served with Korean chili sauce which used with the other types of seafood. - Bulgogi Jeongol: this was definitely a nice surprise. I'm not a fan of bulgogi since it's always been too sweet for me but ordered it anyway since my friend can't have spicy food and we need some stew type of dish. This place did it well, not too sweet, paired with a lot of veggies and the right type of glass noodle. This is a perfect hangover cure dish. This place can get really crowded so an early reservation is recommended. It definitely reminds of me Korea and its drinking culture. Don't forget to get yourself some somaek which is the mix of soju and beer (maekju in Korean). Their staffs are really nice and friendly, made you feel welcome and taken care of. Will come back to try their other menu! read more
2 years ago
First time here for a birthday where she chose this place on recommendations from a friend and also yelp reviews. Ilcha is located in the middle of a block on a busy Lombard street corridor. One can easily miss the outside of the restaurant if it is dark in the evening and the outside is painted in a dark color with no bright signage. Arriving at 6:15 with a reservation, we were seated immediately where we were told the seating time is a maximum of 2 hours as the dining area is small and we were told by the Host that another party would be arriving after we left. Our group loved everything with the fried chicken, marinated cold shrimp and the small size crabs served cold in a sauce were a big hit. For me as I only like certain things and not a huge Korean food fan I would give this place a solid 4 stars all around. Everything pictured was very good with my favs being the fried chicken (think K-Dramas where the actors are always munching on their fried chicken). Chicken was exceptional - very moist with the crispy skin melting off on the thigh meat piece that I chose. Bulgogi was solid as well as the marinated cold crab and shrimp. I liked the bulgogi tater tots as I prefer more of a fusion vibe with Korean entrees like Chan Seattle located in Seattle where I have written my reviews on yelp. What I did not like at Ilcha was they only offer 3 cocktail selections (wanted a lychee martini) and no dessert menu . Wine selection is limited for Domestic wines and what they do offer are Korean fruit wines. Of course lots of choices for soju. The restaurant dining area is small and noise level is very loud (speak up Sonny) Haha. Not a great nite if you are in a large group unless you like shouting at one another but the dining area is clean, modern and trendy for the environment that they are creating. Very minimalist would be the best way to describe it. read more
Yummm! Definitely a restaurant immaculate ambiance. The seating and dinnerware is sleek and modern. Our party of 5 made reservations a few days in advance and was able to get a 8:15 seating. We really enjoyed the grilled rice cakes with cheese and condensed milk. The rice cakes were pillowy soft and the combination of melted cheese and condensed milk made for a sweet and savory bite that really worked! We also found the fried chicken batter to be so light and crispy that we couldn't get enough of it! Of course we had to try the soy marinaded shrimps which we found to be pretty delicious and fun to eat. The flavor is pretty salty and pairs perfectly with rice with the texture being slightly dense and solid unlike raw marinaded crab which leans on being sweet and creamy. We also tried the pork belly with was another solid dish. Our table couldn't get enough of the samjang paste as we put it on everything and enjoyed the picked jalapeños in our lettuce wraps. Overall we really enjoyed our meal, the staff was attentive and never let our waters be empty. Will be back for more good eats :) read more
3 years ago
More info about ILCHA
2151 Lombard St
San Francisco, CA 94123
Marina/Cow Hollow
Directions
(415) 613-9288
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http://www.ilchasf.com
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Ask the Community - ILCHA
When do they serve the marinade crab? We tried the marinade shrimp already?
Are children allowed? And also do they have booster seats or high chairs?
Do you have anything that's gluten free?
Galbi and rice, hotpots are gluten free for sure
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19 reviews that are not currently recommended
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