SSAL

This place provides incredible value for the price. Delicious tasting menu much better than several Michelin star places in the city. If you lucky to find a table grab it! The only wish I had is extra 5 min pause between course to enjoy the moment and conversation. Edit 1, came back for the second time and definitely experienced improvement. The menu taste has evolved, and got more refined and sophisticated. The extra uni dish had fluffy omelet under, and generous with caviar, toped with fresh French black truffle. What else one can ask? Fish, was cooked to perfection too.

We were really impressed by the tasting menu when we visited SSAL on Oct 28th. The tasting menu presents a good combination of seafood and meat with Korean touch. We really like how chefs put in efforts presenting each dish so they all look amazing and taste and texture are both there. I felt that they put thoughts into how to make sure all dishes have some nice, crunchy texture. Some dishes that really impressed us are the oyster that is full of umami flavor, king grab with sea urchin sauce, the amazing croissant from Arsicault, and the dessert ice cream with charred corn. All very interesting combinations of flavors and textures, and also light in the sense that they are very approachable. I think overall the experience is very good and definitely worth a visit.

Amazing experience, we had a wonderful dinner. Really blown away by the quality and thoughtfulness of every dish. Ssal has innovative dishes and flavors, and crafts a cohesive experience from the start to the end. It’s a very intimate experience in a minimalist interior, with a wonderfully attentive staff and meticulous execution. One of our favorite places in SF, would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great meal and experience!

Amazing korean fine dining experience at SSAL. On the more expensive side but totally deserving of that 1 Michelin star. Only detail that could be better is the atmosphere, which is as bland and generic as it could be, but otherwise, everything was incredibly tasty, orignal, and served with expert attention.

Have been wanting to come here for a while. One of the better 1*s I've been to. There was not a single dish I didn't like (which is rare as I'm notoriously fastidious). Seafood was very fresh! My only feedback would be to edit the lobster dish. Lobster is great but no need for the pool of caviar underneath as it's not edible on its own after you eat the lobster (soupy and salty). Maybe some kind of emulsion or even simply a whipped creme fresh will hold the caviar better and balance the salt. Will be back once the menu changes for sure!

What can I say?! The food, the service and the ambience all were amazing! I really enjoyed each and every one of the courses which isn’t that common for any restaurant; more often than not there’s an item that misses the mark. Not at SSAL, though I gotta say the seafood courses in the beginning (especially tuna with caviar) were my favorite. I substituted for the A5 Wagyu and it was amazing too. We opted in for the wine pairing - it hit the mark too. None of the wines were extraordinary but they did pair really well with the food. You know it’s a huge endorsement when you are willing to dine at a Michelin star restaurant again - well I’d love to visit SSAL again.

Kami Rieck

I’d give this restaurant 1,000 stars if I could. Stellar food, the kindest, most personable staff. Every minute felt delicate. It makes you root for this restaurant. Thank you Ssal and especially Jessica for the unforgettable night. We can’t wait to be back.

Paul Wylie

Truly some of the best fried chicken there is to offer. Absolutely every single piece was juicy, crunchy, and outstandingly delicious. Fried chicken, cavier, and champagne is definitely a winning combination. All other food servings were also incredibly well done, including the tteokbokki, but of course, the chicken is the star. The most disappointing part of the meal was the restaurant aesthetic. I love a modern, minimalist design, but this was taken a bit too far; it felt very cold and almost off putting.

Nabila Kabir

Easily in the top 5 most memorable dining experiences in my short life. The chef is truly bringing nostalgic and traditional Korean flavours to an elevated and contemporary forum. Everything was accessible but elevated. The scallion pancake with caviar was easily the best bite of food I’ve ever had.

Sam Lee

We went to Ssal for a special family dinner the night before our 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!!! We were so incredibly touched and it made our 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!

D. Yaley

Came for a banner birthday. Chefs were very sweet. A few stand out dishes. Enjoyable special dinner. We accidentally left our car running and unlocked and it wasn’t stolen in this neighborhood. Walking distance to other notable places.

Masaru Ohnogi

This is a Michelin-starred Korean restaurant in San Francisco. As you can see from the pictures of the dishes, the cuisine is contemporary, and my first impression was that it had French elements. In fact, the head chef has experience in French cooking. Every dish looked exquisite, and I could see the thought put into designing the full course menu—how they skillfully combined ingredients and seasonings to create their own unique flavors and presentation. I was curious about where each ingredient came from, and I expected the staff to explain this when they served the dishes. As a Japanese foodie, I tend to focus on whether ingredients are sourced from the best places and seasons. The flavors were great, but my only concern is that I wanted to taste each ingredient more distinctly. The service was excellent, and they offered a good variety of liquor options.

Kartier

Oh my gosh, it was amazing. A bit on the higher priced side, but I can say it was worth it. We came for my birthday and the menu was extremely unique, flavorful and memorable. I can’t wait to go back someday, maybe for Christmas. The restaurant runs a bit ambiguously but I recommend you give them a try if you like Korean cuisine. They put a REALLY nice fine dining spin on it. Photos below 👇🏽

Viviane Tran

Went for my brother’s birthday and we had a wonderful evening. Everything was perfect; food was beautiful, poetic, tastefully delicate; the attentive service is worth highlighting; the setting is modern and pleasant. I really appreciated they took the time to make personalized biscuits for his birthday - the nicest touch I had in a restaurant! I’ve been to 3 michelin star restaurants that didn’t even do something as personalized for a celebration. Thank you for a wonderful evening that we still talk about!

jcl

The restaurant has such a welcoming atmosphere, it's like dining in your own home. The generous spacing between tables provides a sense of privacy. The chef's innovative fusion of Korean and French flavors is truly impressive, creating a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. This is a place I'll be returning to again and again！

Yun Zhang

A fried chicken takeout set from SSAL was once our picnic standard. Grabbing a box of fried chicken and Korean-style grilled ribs, and finding a random patch of grass in the city, made for a rare moment of leisure. Recently, this four-year-old menu made a brief comeback. The fried chicken is still tender and juicy, with a perfectly crispy skin. Paired with the soy garlic and sweet chili sauces, it tastes just like it does in my memory.

Larry R

This place provides incredible value for the price. Delicious tasting menu much better than several Michelin star places in the city. If you lucky to find a table grab it! The only wish I had is extra 5 min pause between course to enjoy the moment and conversation. Edit 1, came back for the second time and definitely experienced improvement. The menu taste has evolved, and got more refined and sophisticated. The extra uni dish had fluffy omelet under, and generous with caviar, toped with fresh French black truffle. What else one can ask? Fish, was cooked to perfection too.

Wei-Chun Lee

We were really impressed by the tasting menu when we visited SSAL on Oct 28th. The tasting menu presents a good combination of seafood and meat with Korean touch. We really like how chefs put in efforts presenting each dish so they all look amazing and taste and texture are both there. I felt that they put thoughts into how to make sure all dishes have some nice, crunchy texture. Some dishes that really impressed us are the oyster that is full of umami flavor, king grab with sea urchin sauce, the amazing croissant from Arsicault, and the dessert ice cream with charred corn. All very interesting combinations of flavors and textures, and also light in the sense that they are very approachable. I think overall the experience is very good and definitely worth a visit.

JonLuca DeCaro

Amazing experience, we had a wonderful dinner. Really blown away by the quality and thoughtfulness of every dish. Ssal has innovative dishes and flavors, and crafts a cohesive experience from the start to the end. It’s a very intimate experience in a minimalist interior, with a wonderfully attentive staff and meticulous execution. One of our favorite places in SF, would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great meal and experience!

Hugo Pelland

Amazing korean fine dining experience at SSAL. On the more expensive side but totally deserving of that 1 Michelin star. Only detail that could be better is the atmosphere, which is as bland and generic as it could be, but otherwise, everything was incredibly tasty, orignal, and served with expert attention.

Rai T

Have been wanting to come here for a while. One of the better 1*s I've been to. There was not a single dish I didn't like (which is rare as I'm notoriously fastidious). Seafood was very fresh! My only feedback would be to edit the lobster dish. Lobster is great but no need for the pool of caviar underneath as it's not edible on its own after you eat the lobster (soupy and salty). Maybe some kind of emulsion or even simply a whipped creme fresh will hold the caviar better and balance the salt. Will be back once the menu changes for sure!

Yiğit Berk Tırpançeker

What can I say?! The food, the service and the ambience all were amazing! I really enjoyed each and every one of the courses which isn’t that common for any restaurant; more often than not there’s an item that misses the mark. Not at SSAL, though I gotta say the seafood courses in the beginning (especially tuna with caviar) were my favorite. I substituted for the A5 Wagyu and it was amazing too. We opted in for the wine pairing - it hit the mark too. None of the wines were extraordinary but they did pair really well with the food. You know it’s a huge endorsement when you are willing to dine at a Michelin star restaurant again - well I’d love to visit SSAL again.

Truly outstanding meal. The eel wrapped in smoked sea grass was amongst the best bites I have ever eaten, but pretty much every bite on the menu was excellent. The service was also great - no attitude, very friendly, and super knowledgeable. They gave us a great wine suggestion within our price range which was not something I would have found on my own but was perfect for the meal. This is one of those meals that we will think back on fondly for a long time.

Loved the sophisticated and understated vibe of this spot. Menu felt refreshing and modern. Seaweed item (I forget what it was called) was a highlight, as were the desserts. Warm and attentive service in a non-uptight environment, which makes or breaks a tasting menu in my opinion. Som was very knowledgeable about the wine list and we drank some delicious stuff! I will return.

Brianne

I'm mostly a stranger to Korean cuisine but loved this meal so much. I especially loved the light on my (Korean) friend's face as each dish resonated with her so deeply. I look forward to visiting SSAL again.

Russ Poldrack

Truly outstanding meal. The eel wrapped in smoked sea grass was amongst the best bites I have ever eaten, but pretty much every bite on the menu was excellent. The service was also great - no attitude, very friendly, and super knowledgeable. They gave us a great wine suggestion within our price range which was not something I would have found on my own but was perfect for the meal. This is one of those meals that we will think back on fondly for a long time.

The ambiance was lovely. Calm decor with earth tones with good lighting and a low noise level. The service was great; friendly and playful. The food was mostly good. I’d say all the small bites in the early courses were excellent. I especially loved the “pancake” ball and the eel wrap. Both packed a punch of flavor and creativity. I didn’t love the cod dish served with rice, not just because it was served with milt, which I personally don’t care for, but also because the sauce seemed incomplete, almost like the authentic version but not quite there and didn’t enhance it in any meaningful way. I didn’t like the quail. It was very well executed but I didn’t think it went with the meal. Quail is not used much in Korean cuisine except for the eggs, but the course didn’t utilize the eggs at all. Overall, it was a lovely meal and I would return for a new menu.

When you think nostalgic North American music and oak furniture might be a weird combo for a Korean restaurant - just wait for the dishes to arrive. They're really French + Korean fusion, not very traditional Korean. Most of the food we had from the tasting menu was pretty good. The short rib and jackfish were standouts, but I wasn't a fan of the quail. Service was top-notch. A bit pricey for what you get, though.

Paul Cheong

The ambiance was lovely. Calm decor with earth tones with good lighting and a low noise level. The service was great; friendly and playful. The food was mostly good. I’d say all the small bites in the early courses were excellent. I especially loved the “pancake” ball and the eel wrap. Both packed a punch of flavor and creativity. I didn’t love the cod dish served with rice, not just because it was served with milt, which I personally don’t care for, but also because the sauce seemed incomplete, almost like the authentic version but not quite there and didn’t enhance it in any meaningful way. I didn’t like the quail. It was very well executed but I didn’t think it went with the meal. Quail is not used much in Korean cuisine except for the eggs, but the course didn’t utilize the eggs at all. Overall, it was a lovely meal and I would return for a new menu.

Google Alias

When you think nostalgic North American music and oak furniture might be a weird combo for a Korean restaurant - just wait for the dishes to arrive. They're really French + Korean fusion, not very traditional Korean. Most of the food we had from the tasting menu was pretty good. The short rib and jackfish were standouts, but I wasn't a fan of the quail. Service was top-notch. A bit pricey for what you get, though.