Refined tasting experience with beautifully curated courses Had a tasting menu at Ssal in San Francisco and experienced a wide range of thoughtfully prepared dishes, including sea scallop, barbecued live eel, bluefin tuna with Kaluga sturgeon caviar (+$30), aged amberjack, octopus chilled broth, cold water halibut, littleneck clam, grilled beef short rib with truffle, and a series of desserts and teas like magnolia berry, green tea cream roll, roasted burdock tea, Korean cracker, injeolmi cream puff, and maple candied pecan. Every course felt intentional and well-balanced, showcasing a mix of delicate seafood, rich proteins, and creative textures. The seafood dishes stood out for their freshness and clean execution--the scallop and halibut in particular were light yet full of natural flavor, while the bluefin tuna with Kaluga sturgeon caviar added a luxurious touch. The grilled beef short rib with truffle was deeply savory and rich, offering a satisfying contrast to the lighter courses. The pacing of the meal was smooth, and each dish arrived thoughtfully presented, making the entire experience feel like a well-orchestrated progression rather than just individual plates. Service was attentive, knowledgeable, and professional, with staff explaining each course and maintaining a calm, refined dining flow. The vibe is elegant and modern, with a quiet, focused atmosphere that allows the food to take center stage. It feels like a true fine dining experience designed for appreciation and exploration. Overall, a memorable and elevated tasting menu experience in San Francisco. Each course brought something different, and the balance of flavors, textures, and presentation made it a standout dining experience worth returning to. read more

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

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

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It's been a few years since I last returned and everything was as good as I remembered it to be. Everything was beautifully plated and tasted so well. They put a lot of care into selecting a lot of their ingredients it seems. Service was amazing also. I'll probably return when they update their menu! read more

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Korean fine dining. I thought Ssal was a bit pricy for the food but worth a visit to try once! Service was great. At first, I thought they were too attentive to the point of hovering but they were personable and I appreciated their care. Restaurant is clean and has a sleek vibe. Menu was interesting and fun to try, especially if you like Korean food. read more

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Some of the best service I have ever had. Super attentive, came here for my wife and my first anniversary and they were all over it. The resturant is clean, cozy and a great place for date night. The bathroom was great. I almost walked by the restaurant because you can't see in from the street, it makes it super intimate. Food, incredible tasted so so so good. 13 courses and I also had the wine pairing. I got to try some super unique and aged wine, heavily France based. I only rate the resturant 4 stars becasue it is super expensive and I didn't leave full. I had to go home and have some snacks and a bagel still to get completely full. For the price paid I would expect to leave not hungry. I know that a lot of high quality food is smaller plates but even so normally I leave resturants like this quite full. read more

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Ate here back in June and it was a fantastic experience course over course. Initially when I bookmarked this place a few years ago, I didn't choose it for my special occasion because the minimalist design felt cold, but the space is actually very warm with the lighting and service. Drinks were perfectly tailored to the food, and there was a good variety. The chef even came out and explained some of what we ate which was a delight and a treat . They made it really special for my sister in law's birthday, and even printed and framed a photo of us three. Absolutely will be back for another season's menu read more

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My fiancée surprised me at Ssal for my bday this year. We've actually been here before during COVID for their Korean fried chicken. And we're finally back for their prix fixe meal. SERVICE: I'd like to say that Ssal might have won the award for best service this year at a Michelin-starred restaurant. The staff was attentive the moment we stepped into the restaurant. We were seated promptly, all the servers were knowledgeable, friendly, approachable and one server (sorry! but I forget his name) added a nice touch of humor to the service! (You'll know who he is when you meet him!). The chef even came out at the end of our meal to chat with us. Ssal defines quality service! This is the standard of service one should expect while fine dining. FOOD: The food was also very good. My favorite dishes include: - seaweed toro caviar cone - the sweetcorn perigord truffle ball - Live eel gamteo - ora king salmon with sungold tomato - arisicault cube criossant with injeolmi maple butter !!! - sqaub I love the Korean fusion and the seasonal ingredients they sourced for each dish. There are so many elements that go into making this whole menu, and they did a great job incorporating all of it. AMBIANCE: Ssal is a very intimate restaurant. You can see each guest standing at the entrance. There is no waiting area, probably because you'll never have to wait to be seated. The interior is clean and simple. I appreciate all the dishware that each meal is served with. Overall, I would definitely recommend trying Ssal at least once! read more

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What an incredible dining experience. From the moment we stepped in, the atmosphere just felt special -- upscale, but in a way that was warm and welcoming. There aren't many tables, which I loved because it made the whole evening feel private. One of the highlights for me was when the chefs personally came out to explain each dish. It added such a cool, personal touch and made me appreciate the thought and care that went into everything. Each plate was a little work of art -- beautifully presented and even better to eat. read more

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Every part of this experience was incredible and it is the best dining experience I have had. Each course feels like a delightful surprise. You don't receive a menu until the end! And the staff was so thoughtful, funny and knowledgeable. They gave us a tour of the kitchen after our meal. read more

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This is a long overdue review! We went to Ssal for a special family dinner the night before my wedding. We were excited but also weren't exactly sure what to expect from Korean fine dining and their tasting menu. We enjoyed the fried chicken and kimbap they served during covid though so we knew it had to be good. As we expected, every single dish was absolutely DELICIOUS! Every dish was familiar since they obviously used Korean ingredients and meal inspirations but still so novel and creative!! We loved them all but the raw beef tart, sweet potato pancake, flounder mul hwe, and juk were my favorite. The only problem we had was that it was so much food that we were so full lol We were so sad we couldn't finish every single bite The service was incredible and chef came and explained every dish and checked in throughout to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Not only that but, to our surprise, the team even printed "congratulations on your wedding" in Korean on our dessert!!! I was so incredibly touched and it made my wedding experience even more special and memorable. Thank you to Chef Junsoo and the Ssal team for curating such a special and tasty experience and celebrating our happy occasion with us. It was such a treat! read more

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Overall a great experience! Not perfect, but definitely worth a visit at least once, especially if you're a seafood lover. Treated my parents here for their 30th wedding anniversary. My parents were huge fans of the high quality seafood ingredients used at Ssal. Their favorites included the oysters at the very beginning, served hot instead of cold like you'd normally expect, and the abalone course. My parents thought the duck dish was too salty for their taste but the mackerel dish was excellent. It was cute that the restaurant commemorated my parents' 30th wedding anniversary with custom cookies (albeit I'll admit it wasn't the best tasting cookies in my opinion, a bit too hard for my liking). They also take a polaroid for you towards the end of the meal and they frame it for you so that you get to go home with a little keepsake. They also send each diner home with a small box with two bon bons inside. These bon bons were fantastic! And I love it when a Michelin star restaurant gives you a little something to take home after. The one thing that we didn't like about our experience: the parking situation was so annoying for us. We drove an hour to get here and it was a cold, dark, rainy San Francisco night. Good thing we got there early enough to spend 20 minutes circling around for a spot. We ultimately found a spot on a hill, having to parallel into a spot while facing a downhill slope is not easy! And in the dark and in the rain! I really wished that Ssal had a valet parking option. Also at the beginning of your meal, you're presented with the option to add two different supplements to your meal, to which my family declined any because we were concerned about finishing the whole tasting menu. However, maybe we should have added something because while we were full, I think all of us could have had room for one more thing. The vibe inside the restaurant is a bit of a mismatch in my opinion. The decor is sleek, clean, and minimalist. The service matched that too, but tell me why the music (which I loved to be fair, a bunch of pop like Destiny's Child and Lady Gaga) felt like it didn't match the cool aesthetic of the restaurant? Overall, really great food is served here and I would recommend it. Guess it was worth the hassle to get there and park the car haha read more

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(Overall: A) - In short, I had a great time with Ssal's tasting menu featuring a delicate selection of seafood and proteins through an innovative, yet still Korean lens; I think a vegetable-forward course could be an interesting complement to the existing menu, as that side was not as clearly in the spotlight here. The staff are very knowledgable and shows impressive skill both behind the kitchen cooking each dish, but also in the front of the house plating and describing several of the dishes tableside. At $258 per person, every dish was plated perfectly with finesse, and does have that wow factor which you'd expect. I do think the meal runs pricey for a single michelin star, but the overall menu seems to be quite a fair price given the location and quality of food. Overall, would recommend! (i) Island Oysters: hay smoked and served with a bacon leek sauce, I love the saline bombs coming from that bacon, with caviar adding a beautiful lusciousness to the sauce; the oyster is served hot, adding a tenderly comforting warmth. (ii) Beef Tartare: a beautiful floral tartlet enriched by a fragrant and full bodied sesame oil to make it that much more magical! I love the sweetness coming from the cookie and the overall sweeter korean take on beef tartare compared to the more common acidic pairings. (iii) Pancake: served like a crispy beignet, filled with sweet potato puree, and topped with a generous serving of caviar for extra elegance. Its a beautiful one biter that comes with some unexpected acidity. (iv) Crudo: the protein is a dry aged flounder that presents a pleasant mild saline firmness, but I think the true star is the seasonal garden pairing that features spring citrus and strawberries that add a unique bright, acidic, sweetness with every bite. The kombucha jalapeno vinagarette adds a contrastive vibrancy that makes this dish that much better! (v) Burdock Tea: housemade, serving a captivating blend of floral and earthy notes! (vi) Handroll: love their gamtae take on a handroll adding that korean earthy umami to the wrapper; the eel handled quite well, very tender and surprisingly not oily, providing a comfort bite. (vii) Smoked Trout: the fish is impressively soft like butter it just melts in my mouth, which is very nicely paired with that crispy barley crust for texture; the accompaniments of a pomme puree and seaweed emulsion provide a balance between smooth creaminess and umami earthiness; I also enjoyed the roe pairing of the fish, providing a mild saline boost with some pleasantly sweet and acidic shallots. (viii) Fish, Rice, Kimchi: the white kimchi pickle adds a surprising spice without the gochujang redness; the charcoal grilled queenfish is served in a fish broth with firefly squid foam, which has a surprising saline forward complexity that pairs well with the crispy claypot rice and veg; I really enjoyed the home style Korean comfort from this course. (ix) Liberty Duck: served in a traditional duck jus, with rapini, white asparagus, and a soy milk foam; the skin comes crispy like peking-style, and the sauce adds a beautiful heartiness to contrast the acidity coming from the foam. This course is paired with a "thousand layer croissant" and an injeolmi maple butter which has brings that essence of a korean dessert to the plate. (x) Beef Short Rib: an optional add on at $50, I found to be an underwhelming and skippable course as this went more back to simplicity in both presentation and flavors, both of which I was not looking for in this meal; the morel is stuffed like a meatball, which came heavy for me, but the beef short rib is very tender with a lovely the pepper back kick coming from the demi glaze. I wish the asparagus was treated in some way. (xi) Noodles - impressively made of seaweed and very tender; by this course, I was quite full, but this bowl was the start of the wind down menu, with a seafood heavy acidic and light seafood freshness coming from the razor clams; I greatly enjoyed the ramps that were on top as well. (xii) Strawberry Ice Cream - skillfully creamy and comfortingly sweet; the basil tweel is cute, and I found the omija syrup help carry this refresher. (xiii) Yuzu Cheesecake: very citrus forward in nature, which is a great addition to the dessert menu; I found the matcha filling to be quite fitting and well rounding to the flavor profile. (xiv) Dried Persimmon: there is an intensely condensed sweetness that comes through pleasantly; the integrated nuts work for texture without being too overpowering. (xv) Injeolmi Cream Puff: one of my favorite bites as it brings the taste of Korea right here; not too sweet, and we developed some intriguing earthy and powdery flavors and textures as well. (xvi) Fruit: carefully selected fruits including some I've tried for the first time! Very fittingly Asian way to end the meal! Food: +1 Presentation: +2 Price: E Atmosphere: E Service: +1 Menu: +1 Overall: 5 stars Insta/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats read more

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Food: 9/10: I loved the 12-course meal. Each bite felt unique and thoughtfully prepared. My favorites were the beef tartare bite and the truffle sweet potato. Ambiance: 9/10: The atmosphere was great and really complemented the dining experience. They have a giant bidet lol. Service: 4/10: I honestly felt cheated toward the end. I was a bit tipsy and didn't realize the bill already included a hefty 22% service charge for a dinner for two. The bill still prompted for a tip, and I mistakenly added another 20% on top of it. Yes, that part was my fault, but the restaurant knew what they were doing. The staff could have at least pointed out that gratuity was already included. It left a bad impression of the service's integrity. I was pretty upset on my way home thinking about it. Just be upfront guys, don't take advantage of your customers. read more

Was looking for a nice restaurant for a date night with hubby and came across this Michelin star restaurent I had never heard of. Such an inventive take on Korean influenced food! Size of the courses does not cause you to feel like the tasting menu is over whelming. Pro tip: Parking is challenging and there are no lots around the restaurant, so make to give yourself ample time if driving to the restaurant. read more

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Pros: incredible food, excellent service, attention to detail We had an incredible experience at SSAL celebrating my father's birthday. The space is nicely laid out, clean and comfortable and is really hidden away on Polk street. Reservation process was straightforward and easy. From the beginning to the end, our entire experience as a family was carefully curated and tastefully presented. From wine service, courses, and dessert, the service was impeccable, attentive, and kind. As a bonus, Chef came out to greet us and even took a photo of our family. I should also add that my Korean parents have always been skeptical of Michelin-grade korean food but they found the menu to be inventive, familiar, and delicious. All in all, I would highly recommend SSAL for both couples and groups looking to celebrate something special. read more

We decided to try SSAL when we were in San Francisco recently, and it was an absolutely fantastic dinner. It's hard to find Korean fine dining executed well, but SSAL has got it down. The tasting menu at SSAL draws inspiration from a wide range of Korean cuisine, and there's really good variety of flavors and textures. Every course was a delightful surprise, and everything was absolutely exquisite. The amount of food and the time between courses courses is perfect. The service was exceptional and they do a really excellent job of presenting and explaining each dish. The servers were super friendly and welcoming, but professional at the same time. We were also the last table to start and leave, but at no point did we ever feel rushed. Overall it was an amazing dinner, and SSAL's tasting menu is an exceptional example of elevated Korean fine dining. Every course was delicious, aesthetically pleasing, and presented well. We'll definitely be back again soon! read more

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Was completely blown away by the food here. Definitely earned their Michelin star for a reason. The food was excellent their charcoal grilled short rib was extremely tender and flavorful. The ambience was unique and the attention to detail was obvious. It is very pricey but worth the food and experience. read more

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My wife took me here for my birthday and food was great! I keep thinking of the Wagyu tar tar tart with smoke sesame oil!!! Must try place!!! What was great about the experience and service was that the menu was a surprise...we didn't know what was coming until it was brought to us. Service was what you would expect from a 1 Star Michelin. Very modern atmosphere inside and seated about 15 tables. read more

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San Francisco, Russian Hill. April 2024. Bae Junsoo and his wife, Hyunyoung, lead the city's new wave of Korean chef's elevating Korean cuisine. By using specifically sourced Korean ingredients highlighted by California's fresh seasonal bounty they create a seasonal prix fixe that is a delightful experience. The first thing you notice is how the front and back of the house work together to set a welcoming atmosphere. The open kitchen means Chef Junsoo can watch each diner to observe how his food is received. There is a lot of pride and precision in the plating. The progression takes you deep into Korean flavors that are familiar but uses ingredients from Korea you may have never known about. A finishing rice dish was plated with a beautiful piece of fish on top that was meant to be broken down and mixed into the rice, then eaten traditionally with a long spoon alongside some banchan and a cup of broth. The desserts are a series of plates using Korean ingredients but looking nothing like what you are used to seeing. Flavor and texture is a bigger emphasis than style. Every item is simple but beautiful. Before you leave you may be offered a Polaroid "kitchen photo" opportunity that is signed and placed in a holder. Then the evening's prix fixe menu signed by everyone is given to you in a restaurant envelope. Worth the effort and price. As good a meal that I've had in San Francisco because of the combination of warm hospitality and pride. read more

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Made a reservation online for my partner's birthday. It was a very intimate session, only about 8 or so tables. The typical Michelin restaurant experience with the servers explaining all the dishes and inspiration as well as clearing plates every meal. some food comments: hay smoked oyster - yum oysters caviar hand pressed sesame oil - they like using peas a lot sweet corn and black truffle - this was my partners favorite, a nice pastry and truffle not too strong shima achi fish tomato kombucha and shishido flowers - probably my favorite dish, the fish was so soft and buttery dungeness crab porridge with sea urchin hakaido and truffle - i liked this dish a lot too, lots of flavors going on scallop with a cabbage outside layered croissant with honey butter - batter from arsicalt bakery and it was honestly really yummy, the honey butter was quite sweet as welll quail white nectarine bingsoo and mochi yuzu creamsicle with strawberries assorted desserts Overall, I really liked the concept and the food was delicious, but compared to other Michelin places I've been I don't think the price was justified for this place because I wasn't as WOW-d, it was more in line with other fine dining places we've been to. It's around 350pp which is higher than average other restaurants when I think the types of dishes were similar in content and quality to places like Bird Song (most notable bc they had quail here and squab at Bird Song) read more

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Decided to return and try SSAL again after they transitioned from an ala carte menu to a tasting menu We decided to reserve a table here for our anniversary celebration. It was a very intimate restaurant with only about 8 or so tables. I love the sleek and minimalistic decor. Some of the highlights from dinner: oyster eel wrapped in seaweed Dungeness crab porridge with uni and truffle ariscault croissant with injeolmi butter Overall, I like this modern take on Korean food, but compared to other Michelin places I've been I don't think the price was justified. read more

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Amazing meal and one of the best Michelin experiences I've had in the Bay Area. From the food, to the amazing, friendly staff, and the beautiful, modern interior and perfect dim lighting, it was a perfect experience! Will definitely visit again :) Keep in mind that it is a lot of food so make sure that you don't eat too much before coming! read more

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Michelin star rated Korean fusion restaurant. We made a reservation for a friends birthday a couple months in advance and it wasn't too hard to get in. Highly recommended for a booking during the week, it is less busy and more intimate. Located off Polk street, there's only street parking so try to get there early. Very inviting and attentive staff. We started with a bottle of white wine and asked which paired well, we also added on the additional Korean short rib that was $40 pp and the whole group had to add it on as an option. Towards the end we got a glass of red. Everything was amazing, from the details of the menu, and all of the Korean local artists that were a part of the meal and artwork. I really enjoyed the Maine live eel, Juk, Korean short rib and all of the desserts. Everything was really good and had so much flavor. We're glad we got to try other options than seafood and they did tell us it was seafood heavy since that's what's in season. We started with an oyster, caviar, sea bream, abalone, quail and all with Korean traditional touches and flavor. Mashikita! Kansamnida Ssal for such a great fine dining experience! read more

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Came here for a birthday dinner and boy is it a delight! It's a Michelin star restaurant and I can really see why. Every dish had such interesting flavors or textures that really made me wanting more. Highly recommend for a special meal! I think the only negative is that it's quite expensive for a one Michelin star meal. Roughly $400 per person with the extra $50 galbi supplement and we didn't order any drinks. Parking is also difficult around here and they don't have valet so I'd recommend arriving at least 15 minutes earlier. read more

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I'm not trying to be over dramatic but the day I ate here was the best day of my life. You truly get what you pay for here and it is nothing short of perfection. The service is first class as the staff takes time to greet you, check in on you and even inquire on how you've been or any recent life changes as if you were an old friend. Each dish was a 10/10 knock out of the park with a blend of flavor and texture. They have a meticulous process for crafting each dish and we were both stuffed at the end! Exactly what you'd want from a meal like this, would love to come back and bring everyone I know. The space has limited seating per night so guests have enough room to eat comfortably without overhearing noise from other guests. The mood lighting keeps the atmosphere pleasant and relaxed as well. Would recommend! read more

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We first started coming to SSAL when they first opened during COVID, back when it was takeout only. We loved their grilled unagi set; it was such treat! After they started welcoming dine-in customers, we've been here three times, and it's been a delight each time. Our third visit was this past Saturday, and SSAL again hit it out of the park. Every course was delicious, and it was clear they designed the dishes to appeal to different senses: beautifully plated, amazing aromas, and delicious. The menu was thoughtfully designed; each dish brought something a different to the full assemble. The pace of the meal was perfect too; the whole meal of 11 courses took 2 hours. We look forward to returning! read more

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We came here to celebrate our anniversary and we loved our night here. The service here deserves more than 5 stars as everyone was fun to talk to, super attentive, and they also gave us the largest fresh truffle shavings that I've gotten in my life ("Well there's only a bit left... why not give you both the whole thing"). The food was creative and everything tasted delicious. Our tasting menu included: Scallops in brown butter, wagyu tartare (amazing!), eel, hiramasa, crab juk, abalone, Arsicault croissant with incredible butter (I still think about this), Galchi, A5 wagyu, and a sikhye. PLUS all the little mini fruits, custards, and creampuffs for dessert. They even took a photo of us and put it in a little frame along with a signed menu of the tasting we had. read more

SSAL - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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*apologies I didn't get a photo of every dish!! This experienced at SSAL was incredible! The attention to detail every second of the meal was impeccable. It was one of those places where you feel like the service staff is your friend by the end of the experience. Their knowledge about the wines and each dish made the experience whole. It was an amazing meal shared by real foodies and each bite was a glorious mixture of textures and layered flavors that truly stimulated my senses in such an enjoyable way! My favorite dish was the abalone with malted fingerling. I usually don't enjoy abalone but this was prepared in a way that it melts in your mouth and the combo of the super smooth potato purée with the popping roe made each bite so exciting. None of the flavors were too heavy and we were definitely more than full by the end. Entering the restaurant I felt like I was in someone's (very fancy) living room. The dining hall was intimate, but not small. It felt like a family dinner party. It wasn't dimly lit or difficult to hear each other talking. A great atmosphere to enjoy amazing food! If I had the opportunity to I would definitely go again with some very special guests! Honored to have been treated to such an incredible dining experience. read more

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Found out about this place through the Michelin website since it's received one star this year. I booked a reservation for 2 on a Saturday night about a month before our reservation. We were the first to get served since our reservation was at 530. We were by ourselves for about an hour until people started to arrive. I love the ambiance of the restaurant. Very minimalistic and clean. They played really great music! It was mainly early 2000s r&b and pop. We were definitely vibing throughout dinner. Service was top notch. All of the workers we interacted with, even the chef, were so kind! Dinner was freakin amazing!! All of the dishes were so good. We added on the uni since it looked so fresh and the galbi. Both are worth it, so I highly recommend it. This place is going to blow up, so make sure you try it before it does! Will come back. read more

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A memorable date night! Amazing service, handful of dishes, and presentation. The good: - the three stand out dishes were their wagyu beef tar tar, crab with uni sauce and accompanying bread, and their quail. The quail was one of the best bites of poultry I've ever had, and this includes some scrumptious bites of Popeyes chicken on good days. - our waiter was knowledgeable and thoughtful. Loved his himiwari sake rec which did pair well four of our first courses. Probably one of my fav sakes now. - they took a little Polaroid photo of us for my bday, and also had a lovely little Asian dessert spread. The meh: - I didn't enjoy the two hand rolls in the beginning - I thought the fish hand roll was a little bland and the the seaweed of the eel roll muted the flavors of the eel. - I thought for the price, it was a bit overpriced without addition of uni or galbi ($40-$60 add on) but that's just me.. after my 20 omakase bender in nyc looking for value in the wrong places lol. read more

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Had such a great anniversary dinner at Ssal in September, highly recommend! Highlight dishes for me were the sea urchin juk using the lobster, the beef short rib add-on (glad we got it!), and the wagyu beef tartare tartlet. But really there was no letdown dish in the bunch. Service was great and the space felt very calm. I also love that they took a Polaroid pic of us at the end of the meal and placed it in a card as a souvenir. read more

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I got here for a surprise dinner mid November to celebrate my birthday. TLDR: some dishes were good, but many were salty or felt a bit clumsy for the price. Service also felt a bit clumsy. Food: For a restaurant named SSAL (which means rice in Korean), I wasn't too impressed with the Rice dish. The rice tasted a bit bland like it needed. Some kind of salt or need just a tiny bit. More time in a rice cooker. The eel that came with it seemed overcooked and had a big fish bone that shouldve been removed before it got to my dish if executed well.. but overall, the flavors felt too one dimensional and a bit boring. I was most happy with their Bingsoo (Korean shaved ice). in terms of books, it's not that remarkable, but the flavor and texture was so on point. I wish I could've had more. Service: One of the other reasons I wasn't happy with the rice course was because the server dropped (wasted) a bunch of the rice onto the tray while mixing and portioning it out from the stone(?) pot it came in. See photos attached. Given that they emphasize that this is some special rice from Korea I was disappointed that they wouldn't take care to not waste a single grain. also, in general, all the servers seemed either nervous or less experienced. They didn't seem to know much about the menu or the ingredients. For a place serving Korean food I wish the service would be able to speak to each of the ingredients and dishes overall, and tell a story about each dish. Said in a different way, if I just wanted to know the name of the dishes, I might as well just be handed the menu at the beginning of the meal rather than at the end so that I could read along. Ambiance: When we walked in, we realized it was a pretty intimate space with only a few tables. Decor was pretty minimal, but I don't mind that. However, what caught me off guard was how stern/tense sounding the chefs were, when they announced a dish was ready for serving. Might be just a preference, so this still wasn't a biggie Overall: i'm not sure if I would want to visit again . I've been to my fair share of one star Michelin restaurants, and some have been better than others. This was a solid average, but for the price, it wasn't that satisfying. read more

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Ssal!! The food, atmosphere, and staff made for such a warm evening. Rather than explaining what Ssal is, I'd recommend that if you get the chance--no, if you can make the opportunity--definitely visit and experience it for yourself! read more

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If you want to have a really fantastic night out and try a slightly different style of tasting menu, come here. SSAL is the whole package, beyond food, ambience, service, music, decor... My favourites were the abalone dish and the belt fish, but each course was varied and authentic. It was a lovely progression and the final dessert presentation was a great surprise. Highly recommend. Worth it. read more

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I came to SSAL for my birthday recently and I must say, it was incredibly delicious. This is my first time trying out a Korean Michelin star restaurant! We did the tasting menu and it came with several dishes which I will name. First, three different types of Uni comes out (additional charge). Unfortunately (or fortunately-- however you want to look at it), I am not a fan of Uni so we didn't get any. Next, came the oysters (5/5). Wished it came with a small fork as I felt like I had to use my teeth to try to get the meat part off the shell. I completely forgot what the one with the leaf as called but it tasted pretty refreshing, tho not my favorite but not terrible either (3/3). Next up was the fresh grilled eel wrapped with gamtae seaweed (5/5). It was one of my top dishes here and I absolutely love the flavor of this eel but did felt the kind of seaweed was a bit too thick/thread-y tasting to me personally. But still, will rate it high bc of of the yummy flavor! Full disclosure, a live eel was brought out after we ate this eel dish. I thought it was cool to know your eel is fresh! But don't too much, you're eating an already cooked/grilled eel. Then we had a scallop dish with tomatoes (5/5) and wow, I'm not a super fan of tomatoes but this dish complemented everything well. I finished everything in it! Then we had a soup with giant octopus and mussels (3.5/5). Although it was nice the dish was not greedy with the amount of seafood that came with it, personally, I'd chop the octopus to smaller bites and also use smaller mussels vs bigger ones. Especially because the bowl is so small, it just didn't look proportional and felt overdone imo. Regardless, the flavors of the soup was good. Octopus isn't my favorite but it wasn't too chewy and just the right texture. Next is the tuna tartare and caviar (5/5). Like OMG, my TOP favorite dish! Complements one another so well. Maybe wished it came with chips but overall still super delicious. We had a steak with some sausage stuffed inside some peppers and this was very tasty as well (5/5). Fish over rice and side dishes (4/5). I do enjoy this dish but felt the fish was a little more on the bland side but not a minus at all. There was a fish soup made from the fish bones and that was (5/5)! I almost wanted to pour the soup all over the rice and fish or dip the fish into the tiny soup cup! The corn on top icecream with some crispy rice cake and cooked rice bits! (5/5)! Initially, I thought the combo was interesting-- like it prob won't go well together. Boy was I wrong, it blew my mind and like my friend said, she could have this all day! Lastly, we were served some fruits and small desserts. Overall, it was a lot of food and we were super stuff by the end of it. Hardly could even fit the last few dishes! Parking was difficult to find as it is on popular busy Polk street. The ambiance was very beautiful, didn't realized how dimmed they set the area to for dinner. Just the way I like it. Highly recommend! read more

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The food was very creative & delicious! I love when Michelin star restaurants have a cultural spin & this is the first Korean one I have been to. My favorite dish was the A5 wagyu that cut like butter & the croissant with the amazing honey butter. I left feeling full but not overstuffed. The service was outstanding. Everyone is very friendly & does not serve/act stiffly as many do in other Michelin star rated places. Chef Junsoo is so passionate and proud of his restaurant & his pride beams through him when he serves and explains a dish to you. The ambiance is that "fancy dark, low light" look but not too dark. The bathroom is nice & has Aesop hand soap & lotion. Very spacious for what it looks like from the outside! I also love the open kitchen to be able to see what the chef & sous chefs are doing. read more

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A modern meal with Korean grace, Michelin stars in a quiet space. The flavors spoke in measured tone, With not a single taste to make me groan. Live eels from Maine--fresh, bold, refined, A dish that lingers in the mind. The wine pairings sang with each new plate, A journey paced with perfect weight. The room was plain, but calm and clean, Perhaps by choice, to frame the scene. And service? Warm from start to send-- SSAL left us full, and fans by the end. read more

For me, in my limited but also pretty vast experience for a "Gaijin" - Korean cuisine is pretty much one of three things (all served with mostly fermented vegetable side dishes called "Banchan"). At it's lowest end it is street-food, similar to what hot dogs & tacos are in America. Or, Next, it is part of an ancient traditional food, like a bowl of rice with a steaming pot of tofu, chili, and seafood soup next to it, or some live, squirming baby octopus. Or, it is the Korean food that Americans most love, 'Korean BBQ'. A mix of sliced meats, both marinated and unmarinated, cooked on a grill at your table, by you, or by a professional hostess. And that's it. Korean food is a cuisine 'of the people' - until I came here. SSAL is the first 'high-end' Michelin Starred Korean Restaurant that I have ever eaten at in my life - and the meal was for the most part, 'Amazing'! Helmed by the extraordinary Korean Chefs Hyunyoung Bae & Junsoo Bae , SSAL seems to be aiming higher than just one Michelin Star. And lucky for me a couple of good friends who are doing better than I am financially took me here. My Favorites .... The View of the Chefs - Juicy Smoked Oysters in Browned Butter - Wagyu Tartar Tart - Fresh Grilled LIVE Eel - Sea Bream - Crab Congee with Uni - Quail - Rib-Tip (but not enough marinade) - Firefly Squid - Homemade Kimchee - Beltfish - The Bummers were... Potato Puree - Abalone was too soft - couldn't taste the abalone liver - Music was a little too "Pop" & aggressive. read more

This is a really good experience. We were here celebrating the birthday. The food is really really good, also the service is really good because they gave us a picture of us to take home for memory! read more