Pogu

Jina

Pogu in Jagalchi, San Francisco was a thoughtfully chosen stop during my visit, and the experience was thoroughly enjoyable. Conveniently located in the heart of Jagalchi Market, the restaurant was easy to find and pleasant to visit while exploring the market. The restaurant offers a refined yet comfortable atmosphere, featuring a clean open kitchen and well-executed interior design that reflects a high-end dining environment. The staff were professional, courteous, and attentive, consistently ensuring a smooth and welcoming dining experience. The menu was clearly structured and aligned with the standards of many authentic Korean restaurants in the U.S. Each dish was well balanced and flavorful, reflecting careful preparation and the chef’s attention to detail. Presentation was polished, and the sauces complemented the dishes well without being overpowering. Every dish was enjoyable, and ordering two appetizers and two main dishes was a satisfying amount for three people, leaving us comfortably full. From reading other reviews, it is clear that the team continues to refine the menu and make thoughtful improvements, including the development of new dishes. Overall, the visit was highly satisfying, and I would gladly recommend Pogu to anyone looking for quality Korean cuisine in San Francisco.

송서진

So good. Everything tasted amazing, with well-balanced flavors and tons of options to choose from. I read through some of the older reviews, and it looks like they’ve really worked hard to fix past issues and improve overall. The staff were super friendly(talyor?-she is really nice!) and very accommodating—they even spoke multiple languages, which was really impressive. Definitely don’t skip the LA galbi. The meat was insanely tender and packed with flavor. The stews and hot pots were also fantastic. I’d 100% come back.

S Lin

Went on a rainy Saturday so there weren't too many people. The food was excellent and arrived very quickly. All the ingredients were high quality, fine attention was paid to texture, seasoning, and plating. All of the dishes we ordered tasted quite refined. The serving sizes were satisfying, especially the eel rice.

Josephine Tsao

We celebrated a family birthday at Pogu and had an unforgettable experience. We ordered the chef’s special 5-course meal. The dishes were truly out of this world—not only was the food absolutely delicious, but each plate was presented like a work of art. To top it off, the service from our hostess, Shoon, was exquisite and made the special day even more unique. Came with a friend today and had a great time again! We were lucky to have Hostess Shoon again providing us with excellent service!

Anastacia de la Rosa

I am but a young Mexican girl with little experience with Korean cuisine but oh man. The gangwon buckwheat was delicious though it has a strong horseradish flavor which is not my favorite. However, I quite literally DREAM about the doenjang jjigae. Amazingly cooked vegetable and rice with the perfect texture. I will say though that the bibimbap was a little lacking in terms of size. Also, the cocktails are a little disappointing. Regardless, the staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. Like I said, I had no idea what I was doing but servers were sweet and answered any questions I had. The sitting areas were beautiful with well atmospheric lighting. I do recommend dinner versus lunch because it enhances the atmosphere. Solid choice for restaurant night!

James Kim

My wife and I visit Jagalchi Market occasionally, and Pogu is a restaurant we consistently return to. The space is clean, well organized, and professionally managed, with attentive service and a polished atmosphere despite its location inside a market. While it is not an officially Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant, the menu was designed by a Michelin-star chef, and the quality and execution are excellent for its setting. The lobster tteokbokki and marinated and grilled eel over rice were both well balanced, flavorful, and carefully prepared. A dependable choice that we would confidently recommend!

Eunyoung

We asked for recommendations to our server, Junho. He was very professional. He asked what we wanted and shared his opinions and other customers' preferences so that we could make informed decision. The service was splendid. We enjoyed everything he recommended. All of the dishes had delicate taste profiles and they were not like any other Korean dishes that I can find in the bay area! Highly recommend the buckweat noodles!

Luca Revelli

Very fine Korean food, I think one of the best. Lovely atmosphere. Very good wine selection (for an Asian restaurant). Fast service

Didn't have to wait when we arrived on Saturday at 7:30PM (party of 7). I think people have learned this place is overhyped. No complaints about service, but hard to imagine this is a high end place. Is it? Overall most things tasted meh. Wish they offered more side dishes. For the price, I had higher expectations. Tofu Kimchi Jjigae ($23) - Soup tasted...bitter? Barely any kimchi. Rice was good. You have to order the Seafood and Soft Tofu Jjigae ($25). if you want soft tofu. Who wants firm tofu in their soup?! Eel Bibimbap ($30) - Good balance of everything. I would order this again. Crunchy rice bits were really good.

Excellent customer service, attention to detail dishes excited expertly and the unexplained chipped soup bowls and gnats. Our party of four enjoyed the prix fixe. Our experience was overwhelming with all of the dishes all brought out all at ones. The pacing and timing could have been slower allowing time to savor each dish. The price point was just right.

We got the Chef's pick. They seemed to have ironed out all the wrinkles from their grand opening with service. Server was attentive, brought out each dish one-by-one and introduced and described the dishes. He monitored our table and served the next course after the previous course was cleared from the table. Yes, it is pricey and yes, you don't get lot of food/value. But that's generally the case with fine dining establishments and especially the case with a tasting menu. It is not meant to stuff you to the gills but allows you taste and experience the chef's creation/creativity. It is definitely unique and doesn't resemble traditional Korean food found in a traditional Korean restaurant.

4 stars cos it wasn’t up to the hype (at least based on the way Pogu brands itself), but definitely still a good meal. I particularly enjoyed the flavor of the abalone. I thought the a la carte menu (as opposed to the set menu) was a good choice.

Lovely dinner. Lots of tasty sides included with the dinner. The chicken buckwheat cold salad was delicious! The bread with the sweet whipped butter and the potatoes and kimchee was also delicious. I also tried the decaf mulberry tea. Loved my meal here! You Must try it!!

Vanessa Cheung

Didn't have to wait when we arrived on Saturday at 7:30PM (party of 7). I think people have learned this place is overhyped. No complaints about service, but hard to imagine this is a high end place. Is it? Overall most things tasted meh. Wish they offered more side dishes. For the price, I had higher expectations. Tofu Kimchi Jjigae ($23) - Soup tasted...bitter? Barely any kimchi. Rice was good. You have to order the Seafood and Soft Tofu Jjigae ($25). if you want soft tofu. Who wants firm tofu in their soup?! Eel Bibimbap ($30) - Good balance of everything. I would order this again. Crunchy rice bits were really good.

Yip Yu

We got the Chef's pick. They seemed to have ironed out all the wrinkles from their grand opening with service. Server was attentive, brought out each dish one-by-one and introduced and described the dishes. He monitored our table and served the next course after the previous course was cleared from the table. Yes, it is pricey and yes, you don't get lot of food/value. But that's generally the case with fine dining establishments and especially the case with a tasting menu. It is not meant to stuff you to the gills but allows you taste and experience the chef's creation/creativity. It is definitely unique and doesn't resemble traditional Korean food found in a traditional Korean restaurant.

Larry Dang

4 stars cos it wasn’t up to the hype (at least based on the way Pogu brands itself), but definitely still a good meal. I particularly enjoyed the flavor of the abalone. I thought the a la carte menu (as opposed to the set menu) was a good choice.

francis montgomery

Excellent customer service, attention to detail dishes excited expertly and the unexplained chipped soup bowls and gnats. Our party of four enjoyed the prix fixe. Our experience was overwhelming with all of the dishes all brought out all at ones. The pacing and timing could have been slower allowing time to savor each dish. The price point was just right.

Heather Concoff

Lovely dinner. Lots of tasty sides included with the dinner. The chicken buckwheat cold salad was delicious! The bread with the sweet whipped butter and the potatoes and kimchee was also delicious. I also tried the decaf mulberry tea. Loved my meal here! You Must try it!!

Mia Chang

The food was delicious, and the service was super friendly and fast. I had the menu blue sunset mocktail which is not for the weak, as it tasted like blue raspberry without the raspberry. Some people’s taste, probably not mine though. For my dinner I had the beef bulgogi bowl which was delicious. The flavors were simple but rich, and the beef was very well cooked. The interior is clean and nicely designed, but it’s pretty open, so from my seat I had a clear view of the Old Navy across the way, which took away a little from the vibe. This restaurant was definitely a little expensive, but still a great experience!

Fresh ingredients and elevated set up despite being inside the jagalchi. Dishes were delicious in the light and fresh way. Nothing was heavy or greasy. My favorite was the abalone samgyetang as it felt nourishing and slowcooked. The kimchi noodles were underwhelming to me but still light and I imagine it to be a good summer dish. The bread and banchan were nice additions, although the banchan portions were a tad too small and we asked for a second plate. Cookware was mostly silver and wood which I liked. Service was okay but we flagged them many times to refill water. Good experience, but unsure how many times I would go back. I think it’s an interesting placement in the middle of the grocery store and it should probably be its own stand.

I came to try this popular restaurant inside the Korean supermarket. There was no wait — we were seated right away. Although it’s located in a supermarket, the atmosphere was decent and actually felt quite formal. The service was excellent — the staff were very friendly and welcoming, always smiling. I forgot the server’s name, but I think it might have been Yao or something similar, a three-letter name starting with “Y.” As for the food, everything looked great, but the taste was just okay. Not bad, but not particularly impressive either — slightly below what I was expecting. The sauce on the sashimi salad was decent, and the chicken soup was a bit salty without much of that rich chicken flavor. The beef short ribs were fine, though they weren’t served hot — more lukewarm — but tasted good with the spicy mayo and soybean paste. Overall, it was a decent experience. The service definitely added a positive touch.

The Gangwon buckwheat noodles was the only standout dish among what we ordered. The blue crab cabbage jjim sounded better than its actual taste and the HweMuChim was ok. Servings were generous though and ambiance was nice. Service was good though there was a specific vegetable we asked what it was and the kitchen did not know what it was so definitely the chef needs to educate/train the staff on what they're serving.

Ying Zhang

Fresh ingredients and elevated set up despite being inside the jagalchi. Dishes were delicious in the light and fresh way. Nothing was heavy or greasy. My favorite was the abalone samgyetang as it felt nourishing and slowcooked. The kimchi noodles were underwhelming to me but still light and I imagine it to be a good summer dish. The bread and banchan were nice additions, although the banchan portions were a tad too small and we asked for a second plate. Cookware was mostly silver and wood which I liked. Service was okay but we flagged them many times to refill water. Good experience, but unsure how many times I would go back. I think it’s an interesting placement in the middle of the grocery store and it should probably be its own stand.

Aimee Wei

I came to try this popular restaurant inside the Korean supermarket. There was no wait — we were seated right away. Although it’s located in a supermarket, the atmosphere was decent and actually felt quite formal. The service was excellent — the staff were very friendly and welcoming, always smiling. I forgot the server’s name, but I think it might have been Yao or something similar, a three-letter name starting with “Y.” As for the food, everything looked great, but the taste was just okay. Not bad, but not particularly impressive either — slightly below what I was expecting. The sauce on the sashimi salad was decent, and the chicken soup was a bit salty without much of that rich chicken flavor. The beef short ribs were fine, though they weren’t served hot — more lukewarm — but tasted good with the spicy mayo and soybean paste. Overall, it was a decent experience. The service definitely added a positive touch.

Kathy LC

The Gangwon buckwheat noodles was the only standout dish among what we ordered. The blue crab cabbage jjim sounded better than its actual taste and the HweMuChim was ok. Servings were generous though and ambiance was nice. Service was good though there was a specific vegetable we asked what it was and the kitchen did not know what it was so definitely the chef needs to educate/train the staff on what they're serving.

I went in with high expectations, but the food was just okay. The fish cake soybean paste stew was not great, and the sashimi salad seemed like an interesting new attempt, but it did not suit my taste. Also, there were fruit flies constantly flying around and trying to land on the food, which made it hard to focus on the conversation with my companion. I was curious about the place, so at least I am glad that curiosity is now satisfied.

I was really excited to try this new Korean restaurant in Daly City, as it was supposed to be manned by a Michelin chef. However, I was very disappointed by the food, as it did not live up to the hype. Menu was surprisingly limited, portions were small, and the flavors were just very average. I have had much better authentic Korean dining experiences in the South Bay and San Mateo. Not worth the drive for me. Fast and friendly service. Large free parking lot.

Leezy

I went in with high expectations, but the food was just okay. The fish cake soybean paste stew was not great, and the sashimi salad seemed like an interesting new attempt, but it did not suit my taste. Also, there were fruit flies constantly flying around and trying to land on the food, which made it hard to focus on the conversation with my companion. I was curious about the place, so at least I am glad that curiosity is now satisfied.

Wei-Ai Tai

I was really excited to try this new Korean restaurant in Daly City, as it was supposed to be manned by a Michelin chef. However, I was very disappointed by the food, as it did not live up to the hype. Menu was surprisingly limited, portions were small, and the flavors were just very average. I have had much better authentic Korean dining experiences in the South Bay and San Mateo. Not worth the drive for me. Fast and friendly service. Large free parking lot.

I'm incredibly disappointed with my recent to-go order from POGU. I ordered Bulgogi Rice Bowl for to go. Turned out that the beef, which used to be thin and juicy, was instead cut into thick slices that were dry, tough, and very hard to chew. To make matters worse, several pieces contained large bits of gristle, making it genuinely unpleasant to eat. The Bulgogi Rice Bowl was once my absolute favorite dish, but the version I received today was a complete letdown. Given the $30 price point, I expected a standard commensurate with the quality POGU has historically delivered—a standard that once felt worthy of a mention in a culinary guide. Unfortunately, this dish fell drastically short. It neither met that expectation nor justified its cost. It's sad when a place you love so much changes for the worse. Based on this experience, I don't think I'll be returning.