SAN HO WON was one of the best dining experiences I and my family have ever had. My wife said the Galbi was incredibly tender and that you could even eat the tendon easily. She didn't expect to like it so much because the marinade seemed to be just salt, pepper and oil. I thought the Egg Soufflé would be very simple but it was presented very nicely with two different sauces that made it quite tasty. The Western Mushrooms were very cool with the butter-like sauce in the middle of the cap that you had to make sure not to spill. ‍ I wish I had known the Ssam had free refills. We ordered a second assuming we would have to pay. It had a nice selection of different Korean greens. My daughter's favorite was the Grilled Tteok which I thought was kind of plain. The Doenjang Jjigae was really amazing. Maybe because I think they make their own doenjang. The Injeolmisu was amazing, a Korean take on Tiramisu. My daughter liked the Summer Peach Bingsu. The Sanma Pajeon was quite tasty and different though a little small. The Dongchimi with Preserved Green Plum was good and surprisingly a bit spicy but again a little small. There were only two plates of banchan but both were very good and had free refills. One was a cucumber radish where the cucumbers were cut lengthwise. The other was sugar snap peas and peppers with doenjang and peanuts. The rice was rice. 1 Sanma Pajeon $6.50 1 Dongchimi with Preserved Green Plum $12.00 1 Ssam $12.00 4 Steamed Rice $18.00 1 Western Mushrooms $8.00 1 Spicy Pork Bulgogi $34.00 1 Double-Cut Galbi $72.00 2 Grilled Tteok $12.00 1 Doenjang Jjigae $26.00 1 Egg Souffle $18.50 1 Injeolmisu $14.00 1 Summer Peach Bingsu $18.00 read more

Ever since an online foodie friend recommended this 1* Michelin place to me, I've been wanting to try it. I finally got the opportunity when another friend accompanied me during my birthday weekend. Making the reservation right when slots opened 1 month in advance was a little stressful, but I succeeded. When I arrived for my 5pm reservation on a Sunday, there was already a line outside, but I didn't know that was for the walk-up diners so as I waited, I overheard the host turning them all away one by one because they were completely booked that night. I now understand the popularity because this place is definitely fantastic, which was reinforced by my later realization that this restaurant was co-founded by 3-Michelin-starred Benu's Corey Lee. (Benu is amazing and a must-try, too!) We were seated in one of the intimate high-walled booths that lined both sides of the restaurant, and they had coat hooks, which I thought was unique. The service was super attentive and friendly, which I expect of a Michelin-starred restaurant from past experiences at other places. Every time any server walked by our table, they would glance to check if anything needed to be cleaned up or finished dishes taken away. Our barley tea kettle was refilled frequently as well. Our reservation was for the tasting set "house menu". We started off with a trio of banchan (side dishes), which that night was tofu with chili, german turnip and cucumber kimchi, and pepper. I have a low tolerance to spicy foods, but I was able to eat all 3 with no issues, and they were delicious. The vegetables had a fresh crisp texture to them, which I don't think typical mom-&-pop Korean restaurant banchans have. I unfortunately did personally find the kimchi cabbage banchan in the course accompanying the shrimp & squash pancake to be too spicy due to the chili oil, but my friend was only too happy to have my portion. The shrimp & squash pancake was much smaller than what we were used to for seafood pancakes in other Korean restaurants, but the quality and flavor made up for it. Whenever I go to a Korean BBQ restaurant, I always get the steamed egg, and San Ho Won has elevated that into their savory egg souffle dish. It was much more fluffy and dense than other restaurants, I think because they use more eggs and are not watered down. This was great. We were then presented with ssam (lettuce wraps, scallion salad, and 3 sauces [2 spicy which I could not tolerate and 1 green sauce with a texture of guacamole but flavor of a chimichurri]) that we would be eating with our meats. The green sauce was an excellent pairing. My eyes widened and I was blown away by just how tender and flavorful the beef neck fillet, marinated grilled beef cheeks, and house double-cut galbi were. At typical mom&pop restaurants, the galbi is more thin and usually requires some dental force to rip the meat away from the bone, so when I saw how thick San Ho Won's pieces of galbi were but how much more melt-in-your-mouth they were also, my mind was blown. None of the meat had gristle that I needed to spit out. Excellent quality and wonderfully smoky from the solid lychee wood charcoal. On the house menu, I had a choice between the beef cheeks and bulgogi, which I had agonized over but ultimately picked the beef cheeks to have a different variety in the thickness, flavor, and texture compared to the neck fillet and galbi. Our server did mention that the marinade in the beef cheeks was the same as the galbi's when I was making my decision, but I never felt "bored" with the flavor. We were served yummy garlic butter mushrooms on the side, with the neck fillet. The next choice on the house menu was between mugunji kimchi jjigae & pork jowl vs the beef shank jeongol with knife-cut wheat noodles. Keeping my spice preference levels in mind, I picked the latter and was very pleased. The ingredients in the bowl were tastefully arranged and the clear broth addicting to drink. We were instructed to eat a little of everything without the noodles before the server returned with more broth and the al-dente noodles. This was the perfect wind-down to the meal. Last but not least was the dessert. As I was celebrating my birthday, our server took a free Polaroid of us and placed that in an envelope that also had a tiny magnet of San Ho Won's tiger logo. There was also a lit candle in my soft-serve. The two options that night were black sesame and summer melon, the latter which was a seasonal flavor. While the black sesame was good, the summer melon was so, so delicious and a must-try. I only wish they would have it year-round. I would come here just for this! In conclusion, would I come here again? Based on this night, yes, 1000x yes. My friend also agrees! read more

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The real deal for authentic Korean flavors in SF. Charcoal BBQ over lychee wood made the grilled meats come out beautifully tender and full of flavor. Our meat for the evening was beef neck, which was cooked perfectly. Everything felt genuine and thoughtfully done. I rarely take pictures of my food, but did it this time since I was delighted by the fact that this is an actual Korean American restaurant that got a Michelin-star. Only disappointment was the dessert. Was hoping for something a little more creative and Korean to end the meal. Cool, minimalist ambiance in a great Mission location with street parking. Bonus: it's right next door to Muttville, so you can go say hi to some cute elderly rescue dogs before dinner. A heads up on reservations: they're notoriously hard to get when they open up 30 days in advance. If you miss the window for the date you want, just add yourself to the waitlist and be ready to pounce the minute a cancellation pops up. read more

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4.5 star experience, rounding to 5! Celebrated girlfriend's birthday. Made the reservation on Tock the day it was available. We ordered: tablas creek, patelin de tablas '23 $62 house menu $236 ($118 a head) double cut galbi $72 grilled tteok $6 jongga original kimchi $6 service charge 20% Flavors were great! Staff i think could have been a bit more attentive on the sides. Really surprised got charged $6 for kimchi when staff earlier said the veggies with meats were refillable. Street parking only, can be tough during peak hours. Galbi definitely really good. Though can be a bit rich. Probably best to order with larger group. I was able to finish, but was stuffing for sure. Definitely a cool spot to grab a nice premium meal! :D read more

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I would say a very solid 4.5 stars. Service 5 stars, ambiance 4, most dishes 4-4.5 stars but the tongue and double cut ribs were 5's. Probably could use a stronger soju list and carry true Korean beers. Very nice experience overall but I just can't quite put my finger on what it missed to deliver 5 stars and a Michelin star. Will go back again soon and see what comes of it. In the meantime keep up the good work and congrats for all your results. read more

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Reservation: Was able to reserve online for a group of four about a month in advance; personally recommend getting a general reservation and ordering a la carte over the house menu, even for our first time as we got to try different items and the house double cut galbi (our table agreed as our favorite and their signature, most popular dish) is not on the house menu but would be too filling to add on to the already full tasting menu Parking: Surprisingly easy before 5pm when they open on a Thursday evening to find free street parking. Service: Incredibly attentive with replacing napkins, clean plates, clearing table trash, and keeping our barley tea pot and water pitcher full as well as good explanations on each dish Ambiance: Really nice dark, moody interior but also natural lighting from the wall with open windows Barley Tea: teapot was on the table and refilled throughout - great palate cleanser and loved that it was served hot Banchan: the sauce for the tofu dish was incredible with a good kick, cucumber and peanut sauce ones less memorable and overall not as many as expected from a Korean restaurant Hwe Muchim: Raw fluke sashimi salad was delicious, unique, and a great start to our meal as the server explained how you layer eating it with the perilla leaf first then a piece of seaweed and the fluke salad which made for a really balanced and flavorful bite that my Korean friend said was really authentic. I did wish they provided a wet towelette after this dish to clean our hands after. Kimchi and bacon pancake: never had one that was so thin it was actually more similar to a crepe than a pancake and packed great flavor with a good crisp and beautiful color, definitely worth trying Egg savory soufflé: a staple in many Korean BBQ restaurants but the additional anchovy broth in the bowl the served us each with tasted amazing with the egg Jebi Churi - the beef neck fillet was so tender and reminded me of braised beef that just falls apart on your fork; the chili sauce was my personal favorite House Double-Cut Galbi: this dish actually did live up to the hype for me personally as it's extremely difficult to get such a thick cut of galbi as tender as the beef neck was and the marinade added delicious flavor as well as smokiness from the charcoal grill; we were all able to leave just clean bones on our plate because of how well cooked the beef was Kimchi and seafood gamasot rice: this dish had so many ingredients but instead of being muddled, I got great bites of the seaweed and seafood and everything was well seasoned and balanced together as a perfect last savory dish Injeolmisu: even though it's called injeolmisu, the description said misugaru and the top half was delicious though the botton half seemed soaked in an alcohol that overpowered the light grain Black sesame ice cream sundae with huckleberry: the huckleberry was inside the center and had a crunch from being freeze dried potentially; the black sesame on the outside (not Oreo crumble) had a great toasty note to it and was our table's favorite dessert Peach bingsu: light and good texture from the almonds but not a must order for us Overall, really happy I tried this place with a bigger group so we could order more items to try that weren't on the house menu though I appreciate the menu had options for serving 1-2 vs 3-4 for dishes like the Hwe Muchim and the Kimchi and Seafood Gamasot Rice. We ordered just the right amount to be solidly full and ended up spending less per person than if we had ordered the house menu. The things on the house menu I did want to try that weren't on the a la carte menu were the shrimp and squash pancake and Gwangyang style rib-eye bulgogi but I think I still would prefer our a la carte route since we got to try the galbi. They took a polaroid photo for us as a keepsake and gave a little branded magnet as a birthday gift which was really nice too though we only had one polaroid copy for the four of us. read more

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Brief Summary: - Reserved 2-3 weeks in advance for good days and times - Very good food portions, entered hungry left very full - Tranquil and lovely atmosphere - Such kind staff, so heart-warming and super attentive - 1.5 - 2 hour eating experience if you order the House Menu - Walks-ins are possible, but reservations are guaranteed San Ho Won is one of the restaurants that has been recommended by a couple of my colleagues and mutuals who knew I love eating food, particularly Korean dishes. I asked them about whether I should reserve or walk-in; answers split, but for the safest route was the reservation. The restaurant opens at 5pm, and as we rounded the corner, we saw that there was a line at the door. Most of them appeared to have made reservations, because when the door opened, the staff called out for those who made reservations. Those who have left the line and into a different line where we introduced our names. The interior gave a quaint and restful atmosphere with the dark wooden tables, flooring, and booths. When we visited in the mid-summer season, where the sun was still visible when the restaurant opened, the light from the sunroof brought in soft light ambience in the space. Soon after sitting, we were accompanied by 2 staff members, who helped understand what is being prepared for the House Menu, explaining us what are the other choices, swapping out the empty tea kettle into a new one as silently as ninja, and checking in on us. The two were so friendly and very attentive. Another group whom I also want to send praise to are the two who came by to clear the dishes. The whole staff helped made the food experience very wonderful I'll swerve over to the food portion of the experience. When we reserved a spot, there were 2 options, but I decided to choose the House Menu. Remember, with the House Menu, 90% of the menu is chosen by the restaurant, so you can relax and eat. Out of the different options, there are 2 main courses section, where we can choose one of the two choices. I enjoyed many of the dishes, and I also liked the banchan. These were not served at the beginning, but they were served between 2-3 dishes in between course dishes. Some were paired with the course menu, and indeed it matched really well with it. Food came in at good speeds for a fast eater, and me, generally the slowest eater in the family, still had food from the prior course. Portions are on the hefty side, so I do recommend visiting on a very empty stomach so you can enjoy all the courses. This round we chose the more known named dishes like the bulgogi and the pork belly, but next time, if the menu still offers it or the season returns I might challenge the jowl and the beef cheeks. read more

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Had a wonderful time at San Ho Won celebrating our anniversary. Our reservation was at 5pm when they open and we were greeted with smiles - service was wonderful the entire evening. We got seated and decided to go à la carte which we had zero regrets doing. To start off, we were served barley tea and 3 Banchan dishes (shishito peppers, cucumbers, tofu). All were presented nicely. Overall, the food is fantastic here. The charcoal bbq meats were some of the best I've had. Highly recommend getting the ssam to wrap the meat in - the sauces were so good! Here is what we ordered: - Savory egg soufflé -- so fluffy and tasty with the anchovy broth! - Baechu kimchi -- this was ok, we just wanted to try one of their specialty Banchan. The taste was quite mild, wish it was more spicy. - Beef tongue -- soft, tender, melts in your mouth. Cooked perfectly. - Prime beef rib cap -- had a solid char and great flavor, super tender too. So good! - Galbi -- this was so tender and fatty. Super thick cut and just came off the bone. - Mugunji kimchi jigae -- we were so full at this point but the flavor of this was good. Tender pork jowl. We added a bowl of rice for $3. We ended with the summer peach bingsu which was one of the best desserts I've had. Super unique and everything worked so well in it with the roasted almond milk & peach jelly and gentle white chocolate. You have to try it! Overall, the ambiance is a nice casual for a Michelin star spot. Would highly recommend trying! read more

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Summary: San Ho Won is Korean Michelin 1-star that punches above its weight. The prix fixe menu is lovely and shows that the shop has range beyond its very excellent KBBQ. The vibes and service were standout. Overall value for the experience is unmatched even amongst its Michelin peers. Venue: Tucked in between Mission and Potrero Hill districts, San Ho Won's unassuming white exterior opens up to traditional "period Korean shop" decor. Unfinished wood in the furniture and dishware give off humble+rustic, yet clean+professional vibes simutaniously. Food: Excellent. Each dish in the set menu is rich and unique, highlighting different flavors of Korean cusine. My favorites include the beef neck and the kimchi pork stew. San Ho Won thankfully avoids the cardinal sin of high end dining--having bland main dishes. While many 1-star restaurants will have interesting starters (and alcohol to soften your expectations), the mains often sober you up and leave you wanting. San Ho Won's mains provided a satisfying impact that left me smiling. Service: While I was seated promptly, the staff were very forgiving that my partner got stuck in traffic and had to start the menu late. Every staff member was warm and thoughtful in general, and accomidating to our requests (late add on, delay next dish by 10 minutes, etc.). They also provided a cute Polaroid and fridge magnet to help celebrate our anniversary for the night. Takeaways San Ho Won beats out many of the other 1-star restaurants I've experienced in SF and in other US cities in taste, in service, and in value. I'm excited to come back and try their a la carte menu, as their tasteful set menu suggests many more hidden gems worth trying in the future. read more

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Seemed like quite a celebratory place with many candles for birthdays and anniversaries. Despite being a Michelin starred restaurant it felt very San Francisco unpretentious with patrons wearing sandals, shorts, hoodies and college t-shirts. The food was definitely elevated, but not so much that your bulgogi comes in foam form. Banchan: Some free banchan at the beginning of the meal and more (mostly kimchi variants) throughout. All complex and full of flavor. I especially liked the cold tofu at the beginning, so much flavor. Shrimp and Squash Pancake: What was most striking was how little pancake there was in this pancake. The shrimp and squash were dominant, with a tiny bit of binding material to bring it all together and make it crispy. Quite a departure from more generic Korean joints where it's mostly batter with a little bit of filling. Really appreciated this. Savory Egg Soufflé: Loved the pageantry of scooping the delicate egg into a bowl, pouring over the broth and drizzling on the sauce. It really created a lot of layered flavors and textures. I'm normally not a fan of anchovies, but the anchovy broth tasted amazing. Galbi Mandu (add-on): I acknowledge the Prix Fixe House Menu is a lot of food, but I needed to splurge on this add-on since it looked so cool. Sure enough, the delicate lattice between dumplings was really great. Also, the dumplings themselves were fun with thin ground beef lines wrapped in elongated dumplings. Jebi Churi: Beef neck doesn't sound that appealing at first flush. However, understanding that it's a muscle that's just a small fraction of the cow and that it's filled with collagen inside is more intriguing. Seems to be a signature dish here. Was really great with all the different leaves and sauces. I found the sesame leaf the most interesting, somewhat spicy even. The green sauce was the most delicious since I love cilantro. Marinated Grilled Beef Cheeks: Same leaves and sauces leftover from the beef neck. The beef cheeks, in contrast were heavily marinated. So marinated that they stuck to the grill a bit. They also had a less muscular texture, almost reminding me of foie gras texture. Much richer and great in the leaf wraps. Butter Mushrooms: Came between the grilled meats. With the heavy amount of melted button instead the mushroom it kinda reminded me of escargot. Especially since the mushroom tasted nice and meaty. Beef Shank Jeongol with Knife-Cut Wheat Noodle: Loved the rich delicate broth. Remind me of beef pho, but with fewer spices and more attention to the beef bone infused flavor. It starts out without noodles, so you can focus on the tender beef slices, thin enoki mushrooms and various greens. I liked that there was a flavorful dipping sauce separate from the broth. Halfway though they brought out some noodles and more broth. At that point I was getting pretty full, but I just couldn't resist more intense broth and those chewy noodles. Soft Serve Ice Cream: There were two choices and we shared both. The strawberry drizzle on yogurt ice cream was a classic refreshing summery treat. The black sesame huckleberry was notable because of the vibrant and generous huckleberry throughout, especially the cache at the bottom. Omija Spritz: The soju flavor was dominant, not watered down by strawberry despite being so red. More sophisticated that some strawberry soda style cocktail. It surprised me. Fort Point, "Ganada", Korean-Style Lager: Made specifically for San Ho Won, this was indeed the perfect pairing to all the grilled meats. Paired nicely *and* cleansed the palate between bites. Also, liked the nice touch of being served in an ice frosted glass. read more

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My experience at San Ho Won was amazing! The food was delicious, the presentation was beautiful, and the service was outstanding. By the end of the meal, everyone at our table was completely full and satisfied. Our server, Rachael, was incredibly friendly and welcoming. She has such a bubbly personality and made our entire table feel comfortable from the moment we arrived. As for the food, we ordered the House Menu, a set menu selected by the restaurant and served family-style. Every dish was flavorful and well-prepared, and there was more than enough food for everyone. If you're considering the House Menu, I can confidently say you'll leave full and happy. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience, and I highly recommend it. read more

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We tried San Ho Wons pre-fixed tasting menu with a group of 4, got a reservation at opening at 5pm. I'll start with the good! It's a substantial amount of food, family style, I'd say no need to add on extra plates because you'll definitely be full by the end. The beef cheeks BBQ was exquisite, tender, well marinated and perfectly cooked. It came with 3 different sauces which were fun to pair with different banchan/wraps. The seafood pancake was also stand out and came with a delicious sauce pairing. Also, each house made kimchi was distinct and unique. Overall, every meat was perfectly cooked, tender, and especially tasty! Now for the not so good. Overall I felt rushed with the next dish coming out before our group had a chance to finish the dish in front of us, and at the end of the night they said no rush but we do have the next reservation waiting. We actually spent a bit over the 2 hour dining window there but I think for the size of the tasting menu more time could've been warranted. We got the hotpot and wish the noodles came out at the same time as the meats instead of separate. The ice cream dessert was good but feels a bit like an afterthought for a tasting menu. Overall I still think San Ho Won deserves the hype it has and I'd certainly recommend it! read more

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incredible restaurant. we weren't able to get a reservation so we showed up before they opened and were able to get a walk in spot! the inside is beautiful and modern and they have an open kitchen so you can watch as your food is being prepared. we started with their Galbi Mandu, Griddled Beef Dumplings, which were delectable! we also ordered a variety of their grilled meats, Sweet Corn with Honey Butter and Chili, and Grilled Tteok (Rice Cakes with Maple-Soy Sauce). the meat was truly cooked and flavored to perfection. i totally understand the hype and would 100% recommend this establishment to anyone and everyone. read more

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Had a wonderful dinner at San Ho Won! We tried the House Menu and added the beef tartare with Asian pear. Everything was delicious and well portioned. My favorites were the savory egg soufflé, jebi churi (beef neck fillet) with assorted lettuces, and the beef shank jeongol with knife-cut wheat noodles. I was blown away by the noodles, they were chewy and perfect!! The soft serve was amazing as well and a fantastic way to end the meal. Since we were celebrating our anniversary, the staff took a polaroid photo of us and gave it to us with a small magnet, which was a really nice touch. Service was super friendly & attentive. The food came out immediately after we ordered, and the staff frequently checked in on us. The only minor issue was that the hostess was not very welcoming. It took her some time to acknowledge us when we walked in, and she didn't greet us when we were leaving the restaurant. The inside is spacious with tables that aren't too close to one another, and the vibes are casual. We had a great time and the food was excellent. I'd love to come back again to try other items on the menu, though I really enjoyed the prix fixe menu for a first visit. read more

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Sad to see that the kalbi is no longer on the house menu, since that's the best thing here. We ordered à la carte, and got: spicy pig's ear salad - I grew up eating pig ear so I loved this, but this can be offputting for less adventurous eaters. Excellent pig ear texture and flavor. beef tartare with Asian pear - This was good, and I liked the chips (bugak) that it came with, although I don't know if I love the pairing with Asian pear. sanma pajeon (mountain yam pancake) - Wasn't expecting there to be mountain yam slices embedded in the pancake. Good but not a must get. Australian ribeye - Unremarkable, imo not worth it considering it's the most expensive item in the menu House Double-Cut Galbi - The standout. You have to get this, so fatty and juicy. My husband did note that he felt like it was undersalted - some bites didn't fully have enough flavor. Also can be a bit hard to eat given how thick the galbi is (and there's no knife). Grilled Teok - Okay, not a must get. Injeolmisu - This was my favorite of the desserts, I liked the tea and injeolmi flavor, although I could have done without the small rice cakes that were embedded inside. read more

Another great time at San Ho Won! The service was top tier- everyone from the host to our waitress was so kind and welcoming. If you choose to do the set menu, definitely come hungry!! Once we got to the soup course we were so full and ended up taking some things to go. I love love loved the black sesame ice cream dessert and the beef neck. read more

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Feels good to be back! Came here back in February to celebrate valentines with the hubs. We got very lucky and there was a last min cancellation and were able to get seated right away! The team at San Ho Won are always so nice and accommodating! I always enjoy dining here! The food is immaculate and the service is always on point. Love how intimate the experience is here! read more

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I don't believe there is another KBBQ restaurant similar to this in SF, which is probably why it's rated so highly. Compared to LA and NYC where there is a lot more competiton, this would be mid-tier at best in those respective cities. I wanted to see if it was actually good so waited in line at 4:40pm on a Friday. We didn't make the first cut (max 8 people at counter seating) but thankfully got a text to come back at 6:15pm. We waited another 15 minutes to get seated, and decided to order a la carte since I wanted to try the galbi everyone raves about. Ended up ordering the steamed eggs, white kimchi, sesame leaf kimchi, beef neck filet, beef tongue, galbi, ssam and scallion salad. Everything tasted authentic-fusion (not including the meats) which I actually don't mind if done right. For $6 the white kimchi just tasted like ginger and do not recommend ordering unless you love ginger. They give you 3 sauces to dip your meat in and the oil tasted like a basic chili oil you have at home, the green sauce tasted like green sauce you get from Mexican restaurants and thankfully the last sauce was the best (ssamjang inspired) but this was a bit too sweet. The steamed egg was actually my favorite part of the meal. For $18 this was actually unique in terms of flavor and presentation that justified the cost. They serve the steamed egg in an anchovy broth that really went well together. I can't comment too much on the beef cuts other than my galbi because I didn't try them, but my partner did enjoy the beef neck more than the tongue because they put a sweet sauce on the tongue and he doesn't like sweet flavors. The galbi was pretty fatty but I can see the appeal and why some people love it. It's not your traditional LA galbi cut, but more of the thick cut variety you get in galbijjim (short rib stew). This was good and recommend ordering if you come, but be aware some pieces are pretty fatty. I don't plan on coming back because the elevated prices don't justify the flavors and offerings in my opinion. I would rather pay a fraction of the price for a normal KBBQ restaurant with all free sides elsewhere, but I am happy I tried it! read more

San Ho Won - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Had an amazing night at San Ho Won with the hubby! The restaurant has a Michelin star, and you can tell why, but it doesn't feel over the top at all, just warm, lively, and welcoming. The food is so delicious. Chef Corey Lee really knows how to balance bold Korean flavors with little creative twists. We shared a bunch of dishes, and honestly, every bite was memorable... some were standouts, some were fun to try, but all of it felt thoughtful and well-executed. The service was fantastic too! attentive without being overbearing, friendly, and really made us feel comfortable the whole night. Getting a reservation takes a bit of planning. They release tables 29days in advance and open bookings every morning at 10AM, so if you're aiming for a specific date/time, set a reminder and be ready right when reservations drop. Definitely a place I'll be thinking about for a long time, and I can't wait to come back! read more

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Delicious food. We did the pre fixe menu for dinner, and I loved everything we got! Pancake, egg soufflé, beef neck filet, bulgogi, beef shank jeongol with wheat noodles, and makgeoli soft serve! Attentive service. Chill atmosphere. We asked them if we can speed up our courses because I had to be home by a certain time, and they did a great job making sure they were going fast enough but not too fast. I'll be back!! read more

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San Ho Won is hands down one of the best Korean BBQ spots I've been to. From the moment you start eating, you can tell the quality is on another level--the meats are incredibly tender and practically melt in your mouth. Every cut feels carefully selected and perfectly prepared. The price point might seem high at first glance, but it's actually pretty reasonable if you go with a larger group and split everything. We ordered à la carte, which felt like the best value since we could pick exactly what we wanted. That said, the tasting menu is a great option if you're not sure where to start. Overall, it's an amazing KBBQ experience that feels both high-end and approachable. I'd definitely come back again in the near future. read more

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Friends treated us out to dinner here and she was able to snag a list minute reservation. We opted for the tasting menu and each ingredient was super fresh, but not all of the items were as delicious as we would hope for it to be. If I were to come back, I would just do à la carte since there just a few items they were stupendous. The one thing I was impressed most by was the galbi! The marinate was umami but not too salty and the meat was delectable and tender. This is a must get if you plan on ordering à la cart. Service was quick and friendly and the server shared a few laughs with us. I definitely want to try their other à la carte menu items and hopefully the next experience will be as amazing as their galbi. read more

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We originally planned to go to Bon Nene, but the wait was way too long, so we walked a couple blocks over to San Ho Won and luckily snagged seats at the bar within about 20 minutes as walk-ins. We decided to go with the house menu so we could try a bit of everything, and overall, the food really impressed us. The meats were the standout--super tender, flavorful, and consistently delicious. If you enjoy that slightly sweet soy-marinated Korean BBQ style, you'll definitely like it here. The banchan were solid, and the pajeon was crispy with a good amount of shrimp. As someone who's Korean, I did feel like the kimchi jjigae was a bit underwhelming. It leaned more sweet than spicy, which isn't very traditional, but I still enjoyed it--it felt lighter than what I'm used to at home. The ambiance was really nice--clean, with a good mix of modern design and warm wood elements. That said, sound definitely travels, and it can get pretty noisy once the place fills up. Unexpectedly, the dessert ended up being the star of the meal. The orange and vanilla swirl was so refreshing and perfectly balanced--not too sweet, just a really nice way to end everything. We also had a ton of leftovers, which is always a plus. Service was attentive and genuinely good, which can be hit or miss at trendy, popular spots like this. I'd definitely come back next time I'm in SF. read more

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I've been to San Ho Won twice. Most recently, I was a last-minute substitute when someone couldn't make a reservation. Upon arriving, we realized that we had accidentally reserved the tasting menu instead of à la carte as intended. I think most people prefer à la carte here, but I do like the tasting menu since it gives you a more well-rounded meal instead of the meat meat meat I'd probably be inclined to order otherwise. I think if the original party had been eating dinner, the conversation would've leaned more towards credit card optimization, and things like that but because I was there, it was more about dating (I love gossip). Our waiter advised my friends to check out coffee meets bagel. Near the end of the meal I went to the bathroom (excellent toilet btw), and I noticed that a food TikToker I follow was sitting at the booth next to ours. From watching his TikTok a few weeks later, it seems like we really missed out on a seafood stew (à la carte). Next time! read more

San Ho Won - Jeon - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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San Ho Won was delicious with amazing quality meats and fresh vegetables. The service was just as you might expect, very attentive and friendly throughout the course of the dinner. My favorite foods were the Savory Egg Soufflé, Jebi Churi - Beef Neck Fillet, and House Double-Cut Galbi. The meats were perfectly cooked and all the food was timed in courses. This is a fun place to come with a large party as everything is shareable! read more

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San Ho Won serves up delicious and elevated KBBQ. The price tag matches this, but I think it's worthwhile to try it out for a nicer occasion. I was finally able to try San Ho Won when I went with my friend for her birthday. It is infamously hard to get a res, but not impossible with sufficient lead time. The interior is more casual than expected, but the light wood does give things an air of fanciness. We sat at the counter, which was cozy but not too cramped. Here's what we got: Complimentary Banchan: Yummy assortment of dried fish, tofu, and more! Not exactly sure what everything was, but I enjoyed it all. Dongchimi with Preserved Green Plum ($6.5): This sounded like the fanciest kimchi option, which is why we got it. It was big blocks of fermented radish in ice-cold water. I cannot say this was our favorite... Just something about it being freezing-cold and then not being very unique in flavor. I'd opt for a more normal kimchi unless you know this is up your alley. Sanma Pajeon - Mountain Yam and Green Onion Pancake ($18): This sounded too cool not to get. It's expensive for a small pancake, but it's definitely a unique take on the Korean pancake. Both my friend and I really enjoyed it! It was crispy and flavorful. House Double-Cut Galbi ($72): This is the classic that everyone gets, so we decided to as well. It was good! It's very rich, as you'd expect. There is a lot of straight fat on the edges, which isn't always my personal favorite because it's so much that it can't all crisp up, and it can be a lot of chewing. That said, I still enjoyed it. It was also fun to try it with the different accompanying sauces! Japanese Sweet Potato (not currently on the menu): This was really yummy, and I hope they bring it back. It's simply a grilled Japanese sweet potato, which is amazing. And then it comes with this maple syrup-y flavored sauce and an onion foam-type sauce. Really fun combo! Kimchi and Seafood Gamasot Rice ($36): Yummy rice bowl is really all I can say! I personally think you have to get a stew or rice to pair with the KBBQ, just to keep things balanced, and this is a solid option. Now for dessert. I am quite the restaurant dessert critic because so often, I am let down. And I know it's logistically and financially hard for restaurants to do it, I know. But my sweet tooth is not thinking about the logistics and financials at the end of the meal. All that to say, I did not expect much from San Ho Won for dessert, particularly because they specialize so heavily in meat and savory. So I was very pleasantly surprised by their amazing desserts!!! Soft Serve Ice Cream ($9): I am not one to order ice cream for dessert at a restaurant because it seems so boring. But this sounded too cool, and it was amazing. It's gorgeous, loaded up with black sesame flavor, the black sesame cookie pieces and crumbs were a pleasant textural surprise, and the huckleberries were a gorgeous complement. The soft serve itself was super milky and creamy. The portion was solid. This was awesome!! Injeolmisu ($14): I like this more than regular tiramisu. It is simply such a cool take and executed so well. It's gorgeous, well-balanced, I loved the tea flavor, and then the random chewy rice cakes in there are so fun. The portion was solid as well. Again, this was fantastic!! All in all, we had a great dining experience at San Ho Won. One thing I'll note is that dishes come out kind of fast, and it seemed like the staff was expecting us to eat pretty quickly. We still ate at a normal pace and just would sometimes have a lot of plates on the table at once, but it was fine. Just a note if you're not a super speedy eater, and/or you and your party are chatting. read more

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This place has been on my radar/bucket list for years now and I was so disappointed that it didn't live up to my expectations. I went for my birthday and was extremely excited to be finally trying it. We made a reservation for two and we were promptly seated at our prepared table when we arrived. The environment was very enjoyable with comfortable lighting and seating. The service was great and they definitely helped elevate the experience. However, the food did not meet Michelin quality. We ordered the house menu which the servers were right, it is more than enough and there is no need for add-ons. We started off with some banchan which were more unique or at least had a different twist to it than typical banchan. They were nothing special and I understand that these are just side dishes, but from my experience with other Michelin restaurants, the first bite of food is usually more impactful. I was really anticipating more, but as the other courses followed, I can't name a single dish that stood out. Don't get me wrong, everything was still good, but not to the level of hype around it or a star. I'm glad I was able to finally check this one off, but I fear I will not be coming back or recommending it for its price point. read more

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I have not one negative or critical thing to say about my experience at San Ho Won. It's been on our list since we moved here in September and while the reservations need to be booked at least a month in advance, it's so worth the wait. The restaurant was super cute and fit the vibe of their concept. The food as, for lack of a better word, amazing. I want to go into detail of every item we ate but as you can see by the pictures we ate a ton of items. We went ala carte because we were just so excited, we wanted to order everything. The stand out for me was the House Double-Cut Galbi. I want to eat it everyday for the rest of my life lol. Honorable mentioned to the Galbi Manda and the Sanma Pajeon which were superb. We ordered all the specialty Banchans and they were delish. As a side note, we found the price very reasonable for the quality and level of food we were served. Lastly, and most importantly. The service was on another level. Every member of the team checked on us. It wasn't too much, like it felt we were being watched, but they were just naturally right there if we needed anything. Every time, and I specifically noticed, someone stopped at the table, they checked the temperature of our tea pot. It was flawless. read more

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Sadly didn't live up to the hype ): Been waiting to try this place ever since they opened and finally put in the effort to snag a reservation for me and some friends on a Sunday early dinner. Check in was easy and service was great! Liked that the booth tables had high walls so it felt pretty private! We opted for al a carte but basically ordered most items on the set menu. The enoki banchan we got was good but the other kimchi-esq banchan was not my favorite. Savory Egg Souffle- probably the best item! The spicy anchovy soup was so good with the fluffy egg!!! Felt like an elevated steamed egg- very flavorful and hearty Beef Tartare with Asian Pear- the seaweed chips were good but maybe a bit overpowering paired with the beef tartare. Didn't really taste much sweetness from the pear- more of a texture element Hwe Muchim- small portion size, nothing special from other hwe I've had before. The slaw that was paired was very acidic so positive or negative depending on what you prefer House Double-Cut Gabli- super fatty and tender, but some pieces were all fat which was unfortunate Beef Neck Fillet- Tender and not a common cut of meat I get but honestly tasted like the brisket in Taiwanese beef noodle soup LOL had little tendon pieces inside the meat Side of Scallion Salad- the waitress highly recommended this with our bbq meat but was nothing special and would definitely skip for $4.5 extra... very acidic Grilled Tteok- inconsistent texture, my friend's skewer was a lot softer than mine which is the one thing you're looking for when you get tteok so don't know how they messed that up, dango sauce, would skip this too Mugunji Kimchi Jjigae- Probably my least favorite item, wayyyy too acidic, not much pork jowl (also pieces were half fat) and did not like that they served it at the very end. Did not end the meal on a good note and felt like it made my stomach feel weird with all of that acidity. Would've been better paired with the meats. Overall food was okay, definitely not unique enough to justify the pricing. Experience and ambiance was nice I guess, but for all the effort to get a reservation also not that worth it in my opinion. I did hear that they switch out items seasonally so maybe I got a bad round. Glad I tried it once though! read more

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This review is long overdue, since it's either the sixth or seventh time I've come here. I absolutely love coming here; the service is fantastic and extremely friendly (this latest time, when one of the items we ordered was out for the night, they gave us some complimentary ssam) and the vibes are pretty casual. I typically spend about $100 per person post fees. Everything I've had on the menu is amazing, but the double cut kalbi is a step above everything else. Beautifully textured meat, smoky, a tiny bit sweet, just amazing. I've never even come close to finding short rib as good as this in the states. I had a truly out of body experience the first time I had it (probably partially induced by being starving, since the first I came was for a 10PM reservation). If you don't get this, you're missing out. It was so good it made me look into buying lychee wood charcoal to try replicating it at home, but it's truly hard to find. A few scattered thoughts: The tasting menu is IMMENSE. You WILL need takeout boxes. A table next to ours checked out after the barbecue and took everything else togo. My friends checked were already almost full by the start of the barbecue. There's rotating seasonal banchan (I wish they brought back the potato!), and definitely ask for more if you really liked it. The latest I came, it was enoki with fish cake, and kimchi. The other kimchis are worth trying as well, I would recommend the baek kimchi and dongchimi when it's available. Perilla leaf kimchi is really strong and really interesting, but not for everyone. Save space for dessert, I've almost always ordered the whole dessert menu. Rotating bingsu, very seasonal, not too sweet. Amongst barbecue, the kalbi is definitely the big winner; the beef bulgogi, when it's available, is also fantastic, super unctuous and beef-forward, not overpowered by the marinade. The pork ribs are also good, but have been a bit more hit or miss - the latest time it really hit, but in past visits, it's been good (but not amazing like the kalbi). Would recommend getting the ssam or scallion salad along with it. Come for a special occasion or not, you won't regret it! read more

San Ho Won - Gochujang pork ribs. - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

The words "Korean BBQ" and "fine dining" dont go together for me. So a bit of surprise to get a gift card for San Ho Won. Had to look over the menu a few times as its not your usual KBBQ. Parking is SF street, so hit-or-miss. For a party of 4 first timers we opted for the a la carte menu so we could try a variety. We had: Galbi Mandu Kimchi and Bacon Pancake Charcoal Bossam: Daily special Double cut Galbi Chunjang Pork Ribs Bingsu for dessert I'm more of a meat guy, so the bossam, galbi and pork ribs were all hits for me. Loved the flavors and textures. Bossam you roll up with lettuce and veggies. Galbi and ribs were so flavorful and fell right off the bone. The bingsu was an interesting cherries on top, matcha ice and red beans on the bottom. So good. Service was fantastic as one should expect froma Michelin Star restaurant. We were going to order 2 galbi but they said 1 would be enough. Also, when we checked out the bill didnt quite cover our gift card so they offered to refund our deposit to make up for it. read more

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Shrinkflation is real, and it's unfortunate San Ho Wan reduced their house menu options over the years. We first dined back in 2023 and the $110 house menu included two cuts of meat (beef neck fillet and the double cut galbi) and both the kimchi jjigae and gamasot fried rice to share for the table. But last year 2025's $118 house menu still had two cuts of meat (beef neck fillet and choice of beef cheeks OR rib eye bulgogi), but only choice of kimchi jjigae and gamasot fried rice, not both. Because the double cut galbi was removed the house menu, we went a la carte instead. The double cut galbi was absolutely delicious, very tender and so flavorful. I highly recommend this dish to share; it's the main meat dish I'd order each visit. The savory egg soufflé is another one of my favorites, as it's very fluffy and umami. Be sure to get the soft serve ice cream as well! The servers are very friendly and food arrived to our table in a timely manner. When ordering a la carte, definitely ask your server for recommendations or suggestions. San Ho Wan's menu changes frequently and their online reservation system (Tock) is easy to use. Only caveat is reservations book very quickly; however they do allow walk-ins. read more

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I was excited to snag a 5pm Friday reservation at San Ho Won. This was my second time back and it was just as good as I remembered. It also seemed like there were newer menu options. We ordered à la carte and started with the savory egg soufflé ($18.50) and original kimchi ($6). The soufflé was a great starter, light and flavorful, slightly spicy. The kimchi tasted fresh! I also really enjoyed the fish cake banchan. For meats, we got the house cut galbi ($68) and beef tongue ($46). The galbi was just as good as the first time, tender and full of flavor. It was my first time trying the tongue and it was surprisingly tender. The sauces paired really well with the meats. We used the ssam lettuce wraps for the meats and ended with the kimchi jjigae ($24). It had great flavor, solid end to the meal. Service was super attentive throughout the meal. They replaced our hot tea many times, which was a nice touch. Obvious, but I would definitely go back! read more

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I was thoroughly impressed and extremely satisfied with our dinner. The utter simplicity taken to a fine dining level was so amazing to witness. Not only was the food delicious, but it was unique and elevated. It tased so fresh and I loved it. The service and ambiance were both completely up to my standards. Some hiccups with the servers but they were humble & gracious making it right with no hesitation. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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Best meal in recent memory, made a reservation for prix fix dinner to celebrate wife's birthday. First time trying after numerous friends had recommended - and it did not disappoint. From food to service to ambiance, this place was spot on. Our favorites included the egg soufflé, beef neck, and all the delicious sides and fresh greens. Dishes came out quickly, we finished the entire meal in an hour 45 (including drinks and dessert), and were absolutely stuffed! Cannot wait to make another reservation to try à la carte including the beef tongue everyone keeps talking about. read more

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Great Korean Michelin one star restaurant in San Francisco. If you are new to Korean cuisine and have been wanting to try it, this is the perfect place. They offer a prix fixe menu that includes a variety of Korean dishes, so you get to experience many flavors in one meal. The service was amazing. Everyone was so kind and welcoming. I loved that they served hot barley tea, which felt perfect for the cold weather and added a healthy touch. The interior is clean and spacious, and the open kitchen makes the whole dining experience even more enjoyable. read more

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Went here to celebrate Valentines and was an amazing experience!!!! Loved everything about this place: the service, location, food, ambience. We parked nearby in the residential areas so it wasnt too hard to look, just a few blocks away. We got the house set menu, which was great for our first time and chose the Beef cheeks and pork jowl tofu soup as the customizable options. My favorites were the beef neck and the beef cheeks; they were soooooo tender and juicy!!! Just melted in my mouth. The marinade of the beef neck was amazing as it was marinated before cooking and then spread on again after to maximize the flavor. Loved eating these with the wraps with the chili oil and spicy paste!!! I didn't expect the mushrooms to be so good too especially with the citrus flavor balance! The steamed egg was amazing with the sauce on top, one of the best steamed eggs i've had. The servers packed the food to go as we moved from dish to dish which was a nice gesture. Also got a polaroid taken at the end :) Definitely would come back again!!! read more

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So so good! We loved all of the food that we ordered and service was great. Highlights were the galbi mandu, kimchijjigae, and the injeolmisu. The kimchi was really outstanding too. They provided us with a cute card and candle in our dessert for the birthday in our party. The inside of the restaurant was adorable and there was parking in the area that wasn't too hard to find on a Sunday evening! Would definitely return! read more

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I came here for my birthday dinner a few months ago, I was waiting on tock to try and get a 7pm reservation but was only able to get a 9 pm reservation. The reservations disappeared in less than a second! We came early to find parking so ended up going to a bar nearby before we were able to sit down and eat. Parking is limited in this area so come early or uber. I booked the a la carte menu because I wanted more choice in what we were ordering. I love the interior of this restaurant, it is very modern and chic and clean. The restrooms are super cute as well, very moody and modern. We ordered the *beef tartare served with a sea weed crisp cracker *egg souffle *beef tongue * galbi, rib cap * seasonal vegetable bibimbap * kimchi jiggae. My favorites were the beef tongue, and egg souffle, however every item was delicious and well seasoned, nothing was too salty or not salty enough. My dining partner and I both agreed that the beef tongue was the most soft / delicious beef tongue we have ever had in our entire life. To be honest we were stuffed by the time the bibimbap and the kimchi jiggae came out, we could have gone without ordering these items. I would probably pass on the beef tartare because its quite a large portion and better suited for groups of 4. Total was around $300, and we didnt order any alcohol. Definitely a once in awhile meal, but so delicious that I think everyone should try and go at least once! Service was great and super attentive. They took a cute polaroid picture of us that I now have posted on my fridge. read more

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Soooo good. Literally the best kbbq I've had in my life and I actually don't like beef. The House Set Menu is very substantial and I feel like I ate like 4 well-balanced meals in one sitting. Luxury experience with friendly staff and a quiet ambiance. Well ventilated so there's not much kbbq smells after. Standouts (honestly everything): Busan style Seafood Pancake - super crispy on the outside and soft inside. Delicious Savory Egg Souffle - so fluffy!! Mushrooms with juice inside - sooo good and special. Great veggies to balance out the meal The pieces of beef we got Marinated Beef Cheeks and Beef Neck Fillet were extremely TENDER. Best texture. Marinated deliciously, not too salty or tough. Just perfect. I also particularly loved their ssamjang (sauce made with beans). Clam Doenjangjjigae - savory with fermented bean paste. Pork belly kimchi fried rice to finish. Also the ice cream is so good!! I had the black sesame oreo cookie one which had a lot of cookie black sesame chunks!! We celebrated a friend's birthday and it was so sweet with a polaroid pic of us to remember us. read more

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