Order Matko Takeout or Delivery
Matko Photos
Business Info
MATKO ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
Recommended Reviews - Matko
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
I must be in some Korean Chipotle mood because this is actually the second spot I've been to based on the same concept. The other one was the even newer Mad Seoul over in the Gourmet Ghetto in Berkeley which provided a bit more variety, a tad more freshness, and definitely a more personable owner. This is a food court operation, and expectations should be lowered as such. However, it's definitely one of the better options at One Market if you find yourself milling about here. The concept is well suited for worker bees who follow rote procedures in their jobs anyway. You pick a base and a protein first, and mine was easy, the Soy Sauce Chicken over the Mixed Greens. Then a sauce on the side, and I threw caution to the wind and went for the Mayo which had a welcome dose of sriracha mixed into it. After that, you get four banchan items. Mine were corn, seaweed, kimchi and cucumber. The result was a hefty bowl for $10.99 with a few unexpected extras like a small helping of rice noodles, cherry tomatoes and green onion (photo: http://bit.ly/2LhGcsM). It was genuinely good stuff for a relatively fast lunch in a pretty sterile food court. FOOD - 4 stars...big lunchtime bowl with lots of chicken...and good AMBIANCE - 3 stars...don't even think of a booth, food court gets intensely crowded during the lunch rush SERVICE - 3.5 stars...a lot of fast decisions, get prepared TOTAL - 4 stars...Korean mix bowls are the new black
This is an updated review after they changed menu for 2019. I used to come here for lunch pretty often and I would usually get the bento box with a protein choice and some banchan. This is the first time I tried their new menu. Now they have an original option and a mini option for $1 difference. I got the miniko because I don't eat huge portions and thought that a $9 bowl would feed me. Can't believe I spent almost $10 on this... only a few pieces of chicken, glass noodle that are very hard to chew, some salad and no banchan!! I waited for a super long time as well. My colleague lined up for a neighboring store and I waited 15 minutes longer after she got her meal. Japchae noodle 0/5 This is not japchae noodles at all... the glass noodle was super hard to chew... ended up not able to eat it. Flaming chicken 2/5 The chicken is okay but comparing my attached photos you can clearly see that the portion of meet decreased by 50%... No banchan at all 0/5
Average food, nothing that I would be really excited about. Being in my building it could be a goto spot, however I wasn't impressed as much for it to be in my rotation.
Matko is a fantastic spot if you want to sample Korean food! How it works: 1: Pick an entree (or two) from their selection of Seoul Pork, Beef Bulgogi, Spicy Pork, Soy Sauce Chicken, Kimchi Tofu, etc. 2: Pick a base: Purple Rice or Japchae Noodle. 3: Pick a sauce: Red, Mayo, or Teriyaki. 4: Pick 4 Banchan/sides: Radish, Kimchi, Cucumber, Corn, Fishcake, Seaweed, etc. The set above is their OriginalKo. If you want to exclude the Banchan and just have the entree and base, you can get the MiniKo. This is what I did and was pretty satisfied with how flavorful and filling it was. My MiniKo was comprised of the Purple Rice base and the Beef Bulgogi and Spicy Pork as my entrees. The Beef Bulgogi was tender and had great flavor. The Spicy Pork was not too spicy and was enjoyable to eat; however, it had too much of the fat. Portions for the entree are large in comparison to the base. I wish they added more of the base for a better balanced dish. Overall, their meat and side options are pretty wide for a small store. The possibilities for mixing and matching are plenty, so you can try a lot here! Service is pretty quick too, so it's prefect for a quick bite.
I found this place on Yelp while looking at all my lunch options in the area. I was excited to try this but I thought the food was just ok. It is similar to Chipotle but Korean food. You start off with the base (salad, rice, noodles), and then the banchan (kimchi, corn, cucumber, bean, radish), then the protein/entree (chicken, pork, beef, squid, tofu, mushroom). Price was around $11 to 14 depending on the number of entrees. I got the purple rice, soba noodles, spicy squid, spicy pork, and banchan to try. I thought it was just ok! A lot of the reviews said the spicy pork is the best but I didn't think so. It was not spicy and didn't have much flavor. The squid also was not spicy and tasted rubbery. I didn't like the soba noodles at all (tasted weird). The purple rice and the banchan were just ok. Overall, the food was average but I don't mind coming back to try other items there.
I went in with zero expectations, thinking it would be Panda-Express-level Korean fast food, but came out pleasantly surprised. It may not be 100% authentic, but heck... it's way better than all the other "Korean" spots I've tried around here, and it's clean & healthy! When I approached the counter, the extremely welcoming employees immediately offered me samples of all the main entrees. I ended up sampling the spicy pork, chicken, and bulgogi. The chicken was very tender (4/5) and the bulgogi was aite (3/5), but the *flavorful* spicy pork blew it out of the park for me (5/5) - it. was. delicious. Despite loving the spicy pork, the health-conscious-voice in me told me to go with chicken on a Wednesday afternoon. I ordered a purple rice bowl with chicken and most of the banchan (kimchi, cucumber, corn, and pickled radish). The banchan was placed on top of a small bed of mixed greens with a soy vinaigrette dressing. Everything in the bowl was delicious, but what surprisingly hit it home for me was the purple rice. The rice was perfectly warm, soft, and fluffy, and made the whole meal come together. I could not be more satisfied. I've been eating mostly salads for lunch for as long as I can remember, but Matko is so clean and delish that I'm going to start changing up my regiment to include it in my lunches! P.S. Come before 11:30am to avoid the crowd, and take your sweet time to sample the various entrees (: P.P.S. Despite tasting as good as (or even better than) white rice, did you know that purple rice is a whole grain and full of fiber? From a nutritional standpoint, it is very similar to brown rice!
I was hoping for something the caliber of BibimBar, but got worse than Sorabol. I'm usually a fan of the Chipotle-ization of any cuisine, since I love the fast casual concept, but not this time. The meats, all of them, were very disappointing. Soba Noodle: Was expecting to see something like japchae as a noodle option, but soba was fine. Had a nice chewy hefty texture. I appreciated that the noodles didn't stick together. Not an overpowering taste, so to let the other mix-ins take the spotlight. Soy Chicken: Large chunks of what tasted like boiled chicken. It could have been roasted, maybe. Very bland regardless. Spicy Pork: The most tolerable of the meats. Thin slices of soft pork belly in a chili (but not spicy at all) sauce. Could have been better if they upped the spice level and/or crisped the pork belly a bit. Beef Bulgogi: Bulgogi literally translates to "fire meat". So I kinda expected some grill marks or seared bits. None of that, just sogginess and disappointment. Like when you try to stir fry too much meat at once so everything ends up cooked yet wet. Hotteok: Ok, this was decent. Sweet and peanutty filling stuffed inside a fried pancake.
I tried the SPICY PORK BOWL from Matko through MEALPAL today. Portion was large and filling -- see water bottle for scale. The bowl came with pork, purple rice, radish kimchi, shredded pickled daikon radish, and steamed corn. I disagree with other reviewers that the pork was fatty and oily -- it was very tender and flavorful! Meat was topped with sesame seeds and green onions. The pork itself actually wasn't too spicy. Radish kimchi gave the dish a spicy kick instead. The daikon was a bit sweet and the corn had good crunch. Loved the three different veggie banchan sides! The purple rice was filling and seems healthier than white rice (it was just a tiny bit overcooked). Flavors were on par with Spice Kit but this place had a bigger portion and more veggies. I only wish they didn't put hot foods in plastic containers because they're sitting in a big heated insulated box by the register for you to grab after scanning your QR code. This may be one of my new favorite Mealpal spots! I noticed this was a new offering in my Mealpal app after the new year. However, searching through Yelp reviews showed that Matko was on it back in 2018. As you can see in my attached pics, the portions seem to be a lot bigger in 2020 compared to 2018! Just putting in my two cents if you weren't sure about trying this place out via Mealpal or just in general.
I've eaten here twice. I was looking for Korean food near work and this place popped up on Yelp (thanks, guys!). They don't have things like japchae, but I get the concept. It has the basics and an overall healthier vibe. It might seem like a turn off, but I liked what I had both times. The first time I came here, there was no one in line (I came after the lunch peak). Staff was super friendly, explained the dishes, and offered to let me try anything. I was trying to avoid eating meat that day. I got the mushroom veggie entree with purple rice and all the fixings, which was fine. I decided the next time I'd get something with meat to get my money's worth. I did... the second time I got the soy chicken. Flavor was good. The plate/dish was filling, and I didn't feel all greasy. There are a few signature dishes/bowls (?), but it looks like most people do the Step 1-3 option (choosing a base, veggies, and entree). It is $10.95 for one entree, $12.45 for two, $13.95 for three, and $1.50 for any additional. I didn't love it, but I liked it, and I will probably come back at some point.
I just tried this spot! Perfect for my glass noodle craving!!! I usually go to Bibimbar for glass noodle bowls but I wanted to try something new and I am very glad I did. I prefer not to eat meat for lunch, so I taste-tested the spicy tofu (not too spicy) and the mixed mushrooms (super saucy). Nice of them to let me try a few options. I opted for: mushrooms, seaweed salad, corn, kimchi, and pickled radishes with the glass noodles. LOVED the glass noodles. I cannot get over their texture, their springy-ness. I love that they're translucent, lol. Employees very nice. The interior vibe is really nice, feels very new and cafeteria-like, which looked nice. Good to get away from the hustle and bustle. I ended up taking my dish back to work and sat in front of my computer slurping my noodles. I ended up not combining anything, just eating it all separate, which I actually loved. That way I could keep my noodle experience PURE.
This place is pretty good. Good option for lunch with big portions. I ordered the 2 item with mixed mushrooms and braided tofu, japchae and mixed greens, and banchan B. I'm happy w the vegetarian options they had! Mushrooms were full of flavor and they gave a good portion of tofu . Flavors are good and service is fast. I'd come back for lunch if i wanted something other than a salad. One complaint is i wish they used different containers. There a lot of food, that gets piled all on top of each other in one bowl. Which would be fine if it was something that you should be eating all mixed up (like a burrito bowl), but i see banchan as something to pick at on the side to compliment your meal. Big ask for a quick lunch spot but just my thoughts. I'd still come back though. Probably just split out the items when i get back to my desk. I'm very particular w the way my food is laid out... as you can tell.
Two stars because food is still decent. I used to always order from here and feel full. Ordered today and finished hungry Decreased serving size by half!!!!!!!! Same price, less food. Why the change????
2.5 stars. I went with spicy pork over purple rice. The pork is flavored good but way too fatty and oily that the bottom of my plate was drenched in the sea of oil. I also had to threw away 1/3 of the meat because it was all chunks of fat! It comes with some garnish like pickled cucumbers and radish when you select Set A. I guess this is an add-on but the counter lady sells it to you like it's part of the meal. Overall it definitely falls short for a $12 lunch meal.
1 year ago
One of my favorite lunch places when I go to the office. It's quick, tasty, and relatively well priced. I've tried most of the bowl items -- the spicy pork and tofu ones are my favorite. They're tender, hot, and I appreciate the spice level. It's spicy enough to keep every bite interesting. I usually get them with the purple rice. I also like the cucumber, corn, and radish sides that come with the bowls. They add variety and a crunch with every other spoonful. There's a kiosk that I use to order, but the folks behind the counter are quick to help too. They provide utensils and napkins at the end of the counter. Matko is a great fast-food Korean lunch spot. The seating in the food court area is spacious, and should be filed with more office workers enjoying a bowl of Jeyuk Bokkeum. read more
It's not the most authentic Korean food, but this is a great fast casual Korean option! I got the bulgogi and the marinade was pretty authentic. However the cut of meat was not correct. It still worked though! I like how you can add some sides, like kimchi, bean sprouts, fish cakes, and cucumbers. Again, the banchan isn't as good as my mom's but all things considered it's pretty tasty! I'd come back here for a very nutritious and flavorful meal! Pro tip: order ahead so you can skip the line! read more
Great spot for a quick work meal. It's fast casual Korean food where you make your own bowl. You start with a base (rice, greens or both), then select protein and toppings. They also have preset combinations that you can choose from. The food is pretty simple and I like the the variety of food of you get for the price. For $12, I got the bulgogi rice bowl which came with a sizable serving of beef, purple rice, corn, kimchi, pickled cucumber, radish and japchae. They give you a decent serving of each ingredient. If you order in ritual avoid the lunch rush. They leave the orders for pickup on the side. This spot is located in the one market building and has a bunch of open seating and other fast casual restaurants in the same area. A good spot to grab lunch with coworkers if you want variety. read more
I must be in some Korean Chipotle mood because this is actually the second spot I've been to based on the same concept. The other one was the even newer Mad Seoul over in the Gourmet Ghetto in Berkeley which provided a bit more variety, a tad more freshness, and definitely a more personable owner. This is a food court operation, and expectations should be lowered as such. However, it's definitely one of the better options at One Market if you find yourself milling about here. The concept is well suited for worker bees who follow rote procedures in their jobs anyway. You pick a base and a protein first, and mine was easy, the Soy Sauce Chicken over the Mixed Greens. Then a sauce on the side, and I threw caution to the wind and went for the Mayo which had a welcome dose of sriracha mixed into it. After that, you get four banchan items. Mine were corn, seaweed, kimchi and cucumber. The result was a hefty bowl for $10.99 with a few unexpected extras like a small helping of rice noodles, cherry tomatoes and green onion (photo: http://bit.ly/2LhGcsM). It was genuinely good stuff for a relatively fast lunch in a pretty sterile food court. FOOD - 4 stars...big lunchtime bowl with lots of chicken...and good AMBIANCE - 3 stars...don't even think of a booth, food court gets intensely crowded during the lunch rush SERVICE - 3.5 stars...a lot of fast decisions, get prepared TOTAL - 4 stars...Korean mix bowls are the new black read more
This is an updated review after they changed menu for 2019. I used to come here for lunch pretty often and I would usually get the bento box with a protein choice and some banchan. This is the first time I tried their new menu. Now they have an original option and a mini option for $1 difference. I got the miniko because I don't eat huge portions and thought that a $9 bowl would feed me. Can't believe I spent almost $10 on this... only a few pieces of chicken, glass noodle that are very hard to chew, some salad and no banchan!! I waited for a super long time as well. My colleague lined up for a neighboring store and I waited 15 minutes longer after she got her meal. Japchae noodle 0/5 This is not japchae noodles at all... the glass noodle was super hard to chew... ended up not able to eat it. Flaming chicken 2/5 The chicken is okay but comparing my attached photos you can clearly see that the portion of meet decreased by 50%... No banchan at all 0/5 read more
1 year ago
Matko is a fantastic spot if you want to sample Korean food! How it works: 1: Pick an entree (or two) from their selection of Seoul Pork, Beef Bulgogi, Spicy Pork, Soy Sauce Chicken, Kimchi Tofu, etc. 2: Pick a base: Purple Rice or Japchae Noodle. 3: Pick a sauce: Red, Mayo, or Teriyaki. 4: Pick 4 Banchan/sides: Radish, Kimchi, Cucumber, Corn, Fishcake, Seaweed, etc. The set above is their OriginalKo. If you want to exclude the Banchan and just have the entree and base, you can get the MiniKo. This is what I did and was pretty satisfied with how flavorful and filling it was. My MiniKo was comprised of the Purple Rice base and the Beef Bulgogi and Spicy Pork as my entrees. The Beef Bulgogi was tender and had great flavor. The Spicy Pork was not too spicy and was enjoyable to eat; however, it had too much of the fat. Portions for the entree are large in comparison to the base. I wish they added more of the base for a better balanced dish. Overall, their meat and side options are pretty wide for a small store. The possibilities for mixing and matching are plenty, so you can try a lot here! Service is pretty quick too, so it's prefect for a quick bite. read more
I found this place on Yelp while looking at all my lunch options in the area. I was excited to try this but I thought the food was just ok. It is similar to Chipotle but Korean food. You start off with the base (salad, rice, noodles), and then the banchan (kimchi, corn, cucumber, bean, radish), then the protein/entree (chicken, pork, beef, squid, tofu, mushroom). Price was around $11 to 14 depending on the number of entrees. I got the purple rice, soba noodles, spicy squid, spicy pork, and banchan to try. I thought it was just ok! A lot of the reviews said the spicy pork is the best but I didn't think so. It was not spicy and didn't have much flavor. The squid also was not spicy and tasted rubbery. I didn't like the soba noodles at all (tasted weird). The purple rice and the banchan were just ok. Overall, the food was average but I don't mind coming back to try other items there. read more
Business owner information
Bruce C.
Hi Tina,…
I went in with zero expectations, thinking it would be Panda-Express-level Korean fast food, but came out pleasantly surprised. It may not be 100% authentic, but heck... it's way better than all the other "Korean" spots I've tried around here, and it's clean & healthy! When I approached the counter, the extremely welcoming employees immediately offered me samples of all the main entrees. I ended up sampling the spicy pork, chicken, and bulgogi. The chicken was very tender (4/5) and the bulgogi was aite (3/5), but the *flavorful* spicy pork blew it out of the park for me (5/5) - it. was. delicious. Despite loving the spicy pork, the health-conscious-voice in me told me to go with chicken on a Wednesday afternoon. I ordered a purple rice bowl with chicken and most of the banchan (kimchi, cucumber, corn, and pickled radish). The banchan was placed on top of a small bed of mixed greens with a soy vinaigrette dressing. Everything in the bowl was delicious, but what surprisingly hit it home for me was the purple rice. The rice was perfectly warm, soft, and fluffy, and made the whole meal come together. I could not be more satisfied. I've been eating mostly salads for lunch for as long as I can remember, but Matko is so clean and delish that I'm going to start changing up my regiment to include it in my lunches! P.S. Come before 11:30am to avoid the crowd, and take your sweet time to sample the various entrees (: P.P.S. Despite tasting as good as (or even better than) white rice, did you know that purple rice is a whole grain and full of fiber? From a nutritional standpoint, it is very similar to brown rice! read more
3 years ago
I was hoping for something the caliber of BibimBar, but got worse than Sorabol. I'm usually a fan of the Chipotle-ization of any cuisine, since I love the fast casual concept, but not this time. The meats, all of them, were very disappointing. Soba Noodle: Was expecting to see something like japchae as a noodle option, but soba was fine. Had a nice chewy hefty texture. I appreciated that the noodles didn't stick together. Not an overpowering taste, so to let the other mix-ins take the spotlight. Soy Chicken: Large chunks of what tasted like boiled chicken. It could have been roasted, maybe. Very bland regardless. Spicy Pork: The most tolerable of the meats. Thin slices of soft pork belly in a chili (but not spicy at all) sauce. Could have been better if they upped the spice level and/or crisped the pork belly a bit. Beef Bulgogi: Bulgogi literally translates to "fire meat". So I kinda expected some grill marks or seared bits. None of that, just sogginess and disappointment. Like when you try to stir fry too much meat at once so everything ends up cooked yet wet. Hotteok: Ok, this was decent. Sweet and peanutty filling stuffed inside a fried pancake. read more
Business owner information
Bruce C.
Hi Adam, I apologize for the less than perfect experience at Matko.…
I tried the SPICY PORK BOWL from Matko through MEALPAL today. Portion was large and filling -- see water bottle for scale. The bowl came with pork, purple rice, radish kimchi, shredded pickled daikon radish, and steamed corn. I disagree with other reviewers that the pork was fatty and oily -- it was very tender and flavorful! Meat was topped with sesame seeds and green onions. The pork itself actually wasn't too spicy. Radish kimchi gave the dish a spicy kick instead. The daikon was a bit sweet and the corn had good crunch. Loved the three different veggie banchan sides! The purple rice was filling and seems healthier than white rice (it was just a tiny bit overcooked). Flavors were on par with Spice Kit but this place had a bigger portion and more veggies. I only wish they didn't put hot foods in plastic containers because they're sitting in a big heated insulated box by the register for you to grab after scanning your QR code. This may be one of my new favorite Mealpal spots! I noticed this was a new offering in my Mealpal app after the new year. However, searching through Yelp reviews showed that Matko was on it back in 2018. As you can see in my attached pics, the portions seem to be a lot bigger in 2020 compared to 2018! Just putting in my two cents if you weren't sure about trying this place out via Mealpal or just in general. read more
I've eaten here twice. I was looking for Korean food near work and this place popped up on Yelp (thanks, guys!). They don't have things like japchae, but I get the concept. It has the basics and an overall healthier vibe. It might seem like a turn off, but I liked what I had both times. The first time I came here, there was no one in line (I came after the lunch peak). Staff was super friendly, explained the dishes, and offered to let me try anything. I was trying to avoid eating meat that day. I got the mushroom veggie entree with purple rice and all the fixings, which was fine. I decided the next time I'd get something with meat to get my money's worth. I did... the second time I got the soy chicken. Flavor was good. The plate/dish was filling, and I didn't feel all greasy. There are a few signature dishes/bowls (?), but it looks like most people do the Step 1-3 option (choosing a base, veggies, and entree). It is $10.95 for one entree, $12.45 for two, $13.95 for three, and $1.50 for any additional. I didn't love it, but I liked it, and I will probably come back at some point. read more
I just tried this spot! Perfect for my glass noodle craving!!! I usually go to Bibimbar for glass noodle bowls but I wanted to try something new and I am very glad I did. I prefer not to eat meat for lunch, so I taste-tested the spicy tofu (not too spicy) and the mixed mushrooms (super saucy). Nice of them to let me try a few options. I opted for: mushrooms, seaweed salad, corn, kimchi, and pickled radishes with the glass noodles. LOVED the glass noodles. I cannot get over their texture, their springy-ness. I love that they're translucent, lol. Employees very nice. The interior vibe is really nice, feels very new and cafeteria-like, which looked nice. Good to get away from the hustle and bustle. I ended up taking my dish back to work and sat in front of my computer slurping my noodles. I ended up not combining anything, just eating it all separate, which I actually loved. That way I could keep my noodle experience PURE. read more
This place is pretty good. Good option for lunch with big portions. I ordered the 2 item with mixed mushrooms and braided tofu, japchae and mixed greens, and banchan B. I'm happy w the vegetarian options they had! Mushrooms were full of flavor and they gave a good portion of tofu . Flavors are good and service is fast. I'd come back for lunch if i wanted something other than a salad. One complaint is i wish they used different containers. There a lot of food, that gets piled all on top of each other in one bowl. Which would be fine if it was something that you should be eating all mixed up (like a burrito bowl), but i see banchan as something to pick at on the side to compliment your meal. Big ask for a quick lunch spot but just my thoughts. I'd still come back though. Probably just split out the items when i get back to my desk. I'm very particular w the way my food is laid out... as you can tell. read more
7 years ago
Two stars because food is still decent. I used to always order from here and feel full. Ordered today and finished hungry Decreased serving size by half!!!!!!!! Same price, less food. Why the change???? read more
7 years ago
2.5 stars. I went with spicy pork over purple rice. The pork is flavored good but way too fatty and oily that the bottom of my plate was drenched in the sea of oil. I also had to threw away 1/3 of the meat because it was all chunks of fat! It comes with some garnish like pickled cucumbers and radish when you select Set A. I guess this is an add-on but the counter lady sells it to you like it's part of the meal. Overall it definitely falls short for a $12 lunch meal. read more
I found the Korean version of Chipotle! This place is modern in its customizable model, health conscious in ingredients and portion sizes, and also speedy and convenient in execution for the customers living the busy office life. + fast and friendly service + the food was flavorful and tasted fresh + decently priced ~$10-12 + good portions + plenty of comfy seating area + no post-meal food coma! Even on a Friday ;) + they use compostable utensils and to-go ware! Bonus points for SF eco-friendliness! - Matko is located in an upscale indoor food court within a business building, so it's easy to miss and also does not have its own individual restaurant feel I got to try this place for the first time through Ritual and I am now a fan! I got the customizable bowl with soy sauce chicken, pickled radish, japchae, fish cake, corn, and seaweed. I chose the teriyaki sauce which was included on the side. The ingredients looked extremely fresh and appealing when I picked up. As I ordered ahead through the Virtual app, I was pleased to see that my food was kept warm in a machine guarded behind the counter, with my name clearly labeled on the box. I loved that every ingredient was cleanly and neatly separated in their respective sections. I've been told that's not usually how japchae would be served (ingredients are tossed together) but this alternative method is sure to please the OCD in you. Highlight: the japchae noodles were extremely well flavored and the soy sauce chicken was so tender! I was very happy with my simple but flavorful meal and would love to grab lunch from here again :) read more
8 years ago
Yes yes yes! After literally years of searching (ok, 2.5 years, but still), I finally found a spot that does pork belly the right way, with crispy fat and and crispy meat. Okay, maybe not crispy, but bounces off your teeth. Finally. The squid was cooked through without being overly tough, and I enjoyed their selection of banchan. They were pretty generous with the squid portion, although a lot of it was also thinly cut daikon. The black beans were a bit on the hard side, but I think that's the style. They had a pleasantly sweet taste otherwise. Bean sprouts were a tad salty. Kimchi was well balanced between salty, but not as spicy as others I've had. The purple rice was cooked through without being mushy. Overall, I do agree that the flavors were a bit blander than other Korean places I've had, but I do understand the need, perhaps, if you're catering to a broader audience. The soba had a slightly preserved taste to it-- it was hard to place whether it was intended or not. The mushroom mix was tasty-- the mushroom flavor came through good and strong and the texture was perfect, not overly cooked and not too hard. The beef was a decently chewable texture, though it didn't have the fattiness that I usually like. Service was the friendliest I've had at a food court. The employees there really looked you in the eye and asked you what you wanted, though it was a bit hard for them to hear with the glass in the way (as others have mentioned). read more
Great spot to pick-up and get a quick fix to some light, Korean flavors in a bowl. Came here on a weekday around 12:30- we probably waited in line for 10 min since the line moved relatively fast (finding seating is another story). How it works: think Chipotle but Korean bowls. You first choose a base (choose up to two of mixed greens, purple rice, and soba noodles), banchan (all are included, or you can pick from kimchi, braised black beans, corn, pickled radish, or seasoned cucumber), your entree (1 or more of soy marinated chicken, spicy pork, beef bulgogi, chilled spicy squid, seasoned soft tofu. mushroom mix, or seasoned egg) and an optional sauce (gochujang or soy vinaigrette). Lots of options to choose from! I ordered the 1 entree bowl: bulgogi with mixed greens, purple rice, braised black beans, corn, and pickled radish, soy vinaigrette ($10.95). I was kinda surprised at how nicely seasoned the bulgogi was! Flavors were what I was expecting, the only complaint being it was slightly on the dry side (a dash of the sauce could have fixed that). Corn was nice and cold, and so was the pickled radish. I liked how the black beans were slightly sweet (and not sickingly so, like you sometimes find when you buy from the supermarket). Can I just say that THEY HAVE PURPLE RICE?! And it was well cooked too- not mushy, and the purple rice had a nice texture to it. My date had the two-protein bowl with chicken and bulgogi- he mentioned he preferred the bulgogi over the chicken flavorwise. All in all, a new spot to try if you get tired of typical FiDi sandwiches / salads and want some sort of quick, Asian food, bowl-style. read more
8 years ago
Good lunch spot. I ordered a salad with all the toppings (all included!), flaming chicken, and the sweet sauce. Have to say the flaming chicken (which I believe is new) was pretty darn good. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and so did my coworkers. read more
I'm a huge fan of vegetarian Korean food since I lived in NYC so was happy to see this place opening right next to my job at One Market. building. I had a vegetarian bowl with purple rice, all fresh fixings and soft tofu. Now I do know that restaurants have to make their food palatable for the sensitive standard American palate, but the food needs some serious flavor and spice. I expected them to at least offer some spicy sauces at the end, but no one asked me if I wanted any and I did not see any, although later when I explored the menu online I saw the spicy Korean pepper paste as an option. And spicier kimchi. But I will keep this place as one of my easy, healthy local lunch spots hoping that their vegetarian option gets more flavor to it. I also saw on the online menu a mushroom, onion, bell pepper option, but that was also not available at the establishment. Also, I almost chose the "soy chicken" option for my protein thinking it was going to be a meat substitute made from soy, but the lady on the counter was quick to let me know that it is real chicken (thank you for being attentive!) even I had not mentioned yet that I didn't eat meat. EDIT: Went back and added the hot Korean red pepper sauce and all the flavors came together wonderfully. So delicious! Also, tried the mushroom-bell pepper-onion option and it was super yum! The mushrooms had great umami flavor and they almost melted in your mouth (and I don't usually even like mushrooms!). My new favorite in the area! read more
Business owner information
Bruce C.
Hi Kat, thank you for sharing your experience. I apologize that the…
8 years ago
Outstanding! So, I'm Korean-American and I know when there's good solid Korean food and not. This place rocks! It's totally bomb! The people working were super friendly and helpful too. It's a lunch platter/bowl type set. And it's super cool because it's pretty much like a chipotle where you can customize your bowls! You pick a base then entree and the toppings. The food is amazing and of superior quality. I got the Original KO two entree set with banchan. It came with purple rice (yum), japchae (Korean sweet potato noodles), spicy pork and bulgogi, banchan. I used the kiosk and it's pretty easy and fast also you can customize it however you like, which I loved! I got to choose my banchans (yay)! And the food is just like my mom's home cooking or really really dang close. Everything about the food and quality here is authentic and Seoul gooooood! Makes me miss back home a lot. Great job Matko! I'll be inviting my friends next time and raving this to people. Definitely will be back be sure not to miss this awesome place. read more
Came here to eat lunch with my coworkers and the line was short so we gave it a chance. They offer banchan here which is unique. I ordered their original which included 1 entree, 1 base, and 4 banchan options. For entree I went for the beef bulgogi with a side of hot sauce, mix of purple rice and japchae, and for banchan: corn, cucumbers, kimchee, and fishcakes. The flavor was good in the bulgogi and hot sauce, banchan not so good, but fishcakes were ok. The portion is really small for $12+ meal. Better off with Sorabol who provides more meat and portions. Service was fast for this environment though and lots of seating in this communal space. I wouldn't mind eating here again, just wish portions were better for the price you pay. read more
8 years ago
Located in the food court of One Market, Matko is like a Korean version of Chipotle. You get to build your own Korean Dosirak (lunchbox) with Banchan (side dishes). Everything here is highly customizable and you have numerous options for proteins, vegetables, and carb sources. I felt like the portion sizes were decent and everything was flavorful! I would've preferred if there were nutrition facts and calories located somewhere on their website though. read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
I highly recommend this Korean family owned restaurant! The food is delicious (made with love) and the service is outstanding. They're delivering during shelter-in-place. You gotta try their food if you haven't already done so. Hello@matkofood.com to get the latest menu and to place your order. read more
8 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
Great quality food! Ordered the soy marinated chicken and sautéed mushroom. Seasoned perfect with great flavors. Very fresh and tasty. If your looking for a lunch spot totally check this place out. read more
Page 1 of 3
More info about Matko
1 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Financial District, SoMa
Directions
(415) 757-0171
Call Now
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order
Visit Website
https://matkofood.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Ask the Community - Matko
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
11 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
9 years ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
9 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
9 years ago
8 years ago
