Birdsong

This was such a wonderful experience! We did the 10 course Journey menu with the journey wine pairing to go with it. I have never been to one of these types of restaurants before and was a bit apprehensive that I may not like some of the fancy ingredients, but boy, was I wrong. Every dish was crafted meticulously, and the flavors went so well together, and yet they were so distinct you could feel every one of them. The service was beyond good, every member from the front of house to the kitchen pitched in and had choreographed movements from bringing/explaining the food to changing your napkin. It was our anniversary and the even made a little card and picture and brought an extra dessert souffle. We will definitely be going again and if you are looking for place like thus, I highly recommend Birdsong for sure!!

With its nature-inspired forest theme, Birdsong delivers an omakase-style fusion of Japanese, French, and other Asian-European cuisines. Every dish showcased thoughtful preparation and fresh, meticulously crafted ingredients. 🅿️ Parking: Parking is tricky! Street parking is limited, so I recommend parking in a nearby lot and Ubering to the restaurant. 🔖 Price: Two menu options – $265 (2-hour experience) or $325 (3-hour experience). January 2025 Tasting Menu Highlights 🌟 Appetizers: Halibut Sashimi: A light starter featuring sashimi dressed with a house-made seaweed-infused sauce and seasoned with bone vinegar. Daikon and Salmon Roe: Smoky and creamy, this dish paired buttery smoked root sauce with daikon and salmon roe. The balance of acidity and richness was next level. Grilled Red Abalone with Lettuce: Red abalone foam mixed with fresh lettuce and abalone slices created a delightful combination of oceanic and forest flavors. Pine Nut Risotto: Topped with coconut shavings, this dish was fragrant and comforting, leaving a lasting impression. Crab with Smoked Fish and Seasonal Veggies: Presented in a unique smoky vessel, the crab paired with butter and pickled pearl onions was bursting with freshness. Caviar Walnut Pancake: The signature dish and the highlight of the night! This walnut pancake, topped with caviar, was a bite of pure happiness. It's an absolute must-try! Sea Urchin Cream Puff: My second favorite! The uni was incredibly fresh, and pairing it with a cream puff added a unique twist that’s better than the usual rice pairing. 🌟 Mains: Aged Grilled Quail: Perfectly tender and juicy, with a rich smoky flavor. This is another classic from their menu. Roasted Carrot with Blackberry and Bone Marrow Sauce: Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. Despite the elaborate preparation, the carrot didn’t shine, and using bone marrow as a sauce felt like a waste of its potential. Aged Steak: By this point, I was already getting full, but the steak was melt-in-your-mouth tender with just the right amount of aging. I wish I had more room to fully enjoy it earlier in the meal! 🌟 Desserts: Lemon Shaved Ice: Light, tangy, and refreshing, this was the perfect palate cleanser after a rich meal. Matcha and Mandarin: Matcha powder sprinkled over mandarin slices offered a curious but enjoyable contrast of flavors. Candied Fruits with Chocolate: By this point, I was too full to properly appreciate it! 🌟 Wine Pairing: We went with a 2004 Château Léoville Barton. Compared to a typical bold California red, this one was softer and very drinkable—a great choice for this tasting menu. Final Thoughts Birdsong delivers an incredible dining experience with unique flavors and creativity.

Good tasting menu here. Service was good too and love the open kitchen

Was at Birdsong for a private event. We went through a seven course meal, paired with wines and drinks. The great thing was that although I was not having alcohol that day, they found good non-alcoholic options to pair with drinks. I’ve often found that food at very upscale places is less tasteful and more pretentious. This was not the case at Birdsong. The food was really delicious, and as you can see the plating and the service were excellent. We got to tour the kitchen in the end for desserts, which was definitely the highlight of the day. Highly recommended

Ryan Chua

Husband took me here for my birthday and we had an amazing experience. The moment we got inside we felt welcomed by the great staff. During the whole meal someone explained every dish and wine we had. And each dish was delicious and beautifully presented to us. It was great to see how the dishes were created since we sat at the chef's table.

Marisa Chiang

This is the restaurant that truly opened our eyes to GREAT food. We had the BBQ carrot years ago (pre-COVID) and the intensity of flavor from such a simple preparation (albeit long dehydration time) was just kind-blowing. And we’ve been coming back every year since! Chef Chris is a genius. There really are not adequate words to describe the flavor of the dishes that are derived from the techniques of prepping it from the time the ingredient arrives at the restaurant to when it finally reaches your plate (which can be months). It’s familiar flavors that just exploded in intensity, always with the perfect layers of complementary flavors and textures. It really is just something your mouth will have to experience for itself (my mouth is watering typing this). The service is impeccable. Their director Zoee is such a sweetheart and always greets us with a genuinely welcoming presence. Their entire team is always friendly and smiles, it’s easy and a pleasure to converse with anyone and everyone that works there. Just be prepared for a long meal (3-4 hours). Everything is cooked to order and they are very meticulous, so it does take time but the immaculate presentation and “perfect” bite is worth the wait. The area can be a bit rough and parking is not easy, so the recommendation is to take a car so you’re dropped off right at the entrance. Otherwise we haven’t had issues getting there. In short, if you love to see how food can be transformed to new heights, this is your restaurant.

Anderson Angkeyile (Flying Sailor)

Birdsong is definitely a great place to celebrate a special day. Their service is outstanding—on par with the best I’ve only experienced in Japan. The open kitchen and locally sourced ingredients are a highlight. The dishes aren’t heavy on spices, allowing the natural flavors of the ingredients to shine. Because of that, don’t expect bold flavors, but it’s still very tasty and well executed. Presentation is elevated and thoughtful, though nothing truly exceeded my expectations for a Michelin-starred restaurant—until dessert, which surprised me, especially since I’m not even a dessert person. Overall, Birdsong is a solid choice for special occasions, particularly for someone who appreciates novelty and healthy, ingredient-driven dining.

Suchada Thaensap

We celebrated my husband’s birthday at Birdsong last night, and honestly, we were blown away. We do dine out often, but it’s rare for a restaurant to leave such a lasting impression. The food was innovative, creative, and deeply thoughtful every dish felt unique and perfectly executed. The staff made us feel so warmly taken care of, with service that was professional yet personal. The ambience was cozy but elegant, and everything flowed seamlessly from start to finish. We’re not usually the type to chase Michelin stars or fine dining for the sake of it, but Birdsong is different. It’s one of those rare restaurants that truly delivers on every level. Definitely a must-try in San Francisco.

Joshua Winter

One of my favorite (if not my favorite) Michelin starred experiences of all time even after having been to numerous in SF and NYC (11 Madison, Le Bernardin, etc). This place truly does not get enough recognition. I ate at the Chefs counter and felt at home. The food is elevated yet there isn't a single bite that isn't delicious and that almost anyone would enjoy. The people aren't pretentious or arrogant but kind and will happily strike up a conversation with you as they're walking around or serving each dish. The head chef (sat right next to where he stands) was soft-spoken and you could tell how much he truly cared about each patron that comes to his restaurant and his team. Go, do the Journey menu, and escape for three hours to one of the best meals of your life. 10/10

E Lee

Great experience here. We were seated promptly. They do have a lounge/couch area. The open kitchen is fun to watch. We did get a table that had a decent view of everything. There are chef counters you could reserve. I appreciated the detailed explanations from our servers. I also enjoyed seeing some of the ingredients prior to the course arriving. They were all friendly and warm especially Caitlin. The food was amazing. We left very full. The coffee was chemex and great. Best sprinkles ever.

Hieu Ta

This was one of my favorite dining experiences of all time, head chef Christopher Bleidorn combines a hip, energetic vibe with incredibly creative and well balanced dishes that kept us smiling all dinner long. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and answered each question with a deep understanding of the dish. Easily a three star experience, you should plan a trip here asap, I know we'll be coming back soon!

Jainif Marediya

Good tasting menu here. Service was good too and love the open kitchen

Mayank Gupta

Was at Birdsong for a private event. We went through a seven course meal, paired with wines and drinks. The great thing was that although I was not having alcohol that day, they found good non-alcoholic options to pair with drinks. I’ve often found that food at very upscale places is less tasteful and more pretentious. This was not the case at Birdsong. The food was really delicious, and as you can see the plating and the service were excellent. We got to tour the kitchen in the end for desserts, which was definitely the highlight of the day. Highly recommended

N'Dozie Matingou

This was my first time in a dining experience like this and it was beyond amazing! Celebrated my birthday here and was blown away. From start to finish everything was well thought out Carefully put together menu. The plate were absolutely beautiful. We enjoyed and we're impressed by all the wait staff and how in unison they were. It was fun being able to see into the kitchen and watch everyone working together to prepare our dishes. Intimate experience very impressed with the while experience. Cannot recommend this fining experience enough. Seriously worth the price.

Squirrel Friend

I had an amazing dinner experience at Birdsong. This place is such a celebration of American cuisines. Every single dish is delicious and thoughtful. Meat is dry aged and cooked in wood fire oven. Every cut of meat is smoky and succulent. The best dishes of the night for me were shrimp with bread, the squab pithivier, and the fabulous corn bread. Wine list is impressive as well. Vibe is rustic and warm. You can see all the kitchen actions from your seat as it is open. Service is top notch as well.

Chris Holguin

Being a 25 year old chef, I came here for my birthday and it definitely showed me a beautiful delicate side to the kitchen. This isn’t food this is art. High level of respect to the head chef and his line cooks. I will definitely be back.

JunQi Zhai

Hands down one of the best meals I’ve had in SF. The uni cream puff with fermented shiitake and savory butterscotch was life-changing, and is alone worth the price of entry. A close second was the cornbread with caviar. Service was outstanding, and was a pleasure to watch the food preparation from the kitchen counter seats. The interior is spacious and places guests in the middle of nature. Absolutely worth the visit.

Zarina Mamoukhova

Celebrated my birthday here back in March and had a great time!!! The service was excellent and if you’re dining alone they’ll seat you at the bar where you can see the staff in the kitchen which I really enjoyed. Standouts for me were the lacquered quail and sea urchin cream puff. Staff also went above and beyond for me—the strap of one of my heels very unfortunately broke on my way home from the bathroom at the end of the meal, so I was served tape as the final course 🫶🏻🫶🏻 Thank you, Birdsong!

Shane TheMan

This was such a wonderful experience! We did the 10 course Journey menu with the journey wine pairing to go with it. I have never been to one of these types of restaurants before and was a bit apprehensive that I may not like some of the fancy ingredients, but boy, was I wrong. Every dish was crafted meticulously, and the flavors went so well together, and yet they were so distinct you could feel every one of them. The service was beyond good, every member from the front of house to the kitchen pitched in and had choreographed movements from bringing/explaining the food to changing your napkin. It was our anniversary and the even made a little card and picture and brought an extra dessert souffle. We will definitely be going again and if you are looking for place like thus, I highly recommend Birdsong for sure!!

Daniella Xu

With its nature-inspired forest theme, Birdsong delivers an omakase-style fusion of Japanese, French, and other Asian-European cuisines. Every dish showcased thoughtful preparation and fresh, meticulously crafted ingredients. 🅿️ Parking: Parking is tricky! Street parking is limited, so I recommend parking in a nearby lot and Ubering to the restaurant. 🔖 Price: Two menu options – $265 (2-hour experience) or $325 (3-hour experience). January 2025 Tasting Menu Highlights 🌟 Appetizers: Halibut Sashimi: A light starter featuring sashimi dressed with a house-made seaweed-infused sauce and seasoned with bone vinegar. Daikon and Salmon Roe: Smoky and creamy, this dish paired buttery smoked root sauce with daikon and salmon roe. The balance of acidity and richness was next level. Grilled Red Abalone with Lettuce: Red abalone foam mixed with fresh lettuce and abalone slices created a delightful combination of oceanic and forest flavors. Pine Nut Risotto: Topped with coconut shavings, this dish was fragrant and comforting, leaving a lasting impression. Crab with Smoked Fish and Seasonal Veggies: Presented in a unique smoky vessel, the crab paired with butter and pickled pearl onions was bursting with freshness. Caviar Walnut Pancake: The signature dish and the highlight of the night! This walnut pancake, topped with caviar, was a bite of pure happiness. It's an absolute must-try! Sea Urchin Cream Puff: My second favorite! The uni was incredibly fresh, and pairing it with a cream puff added a unique twist that’s better than the usual rice pairing. 🌟 Mains: Aged Grilled Quail: Perfectly tender and juicy, with a rich smoky flavor. This is another classic from their menu. Roasted Carrot with Blackberry and Bone Marrow Sauce: Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. Despite the elaborate preparation, the carrot didn’t shine, and using bone marrow as a sauce felt like a waste of its potential. Aged Steak: By this point, I was already getting full, but the steak was melt-in-your-mouth tender with just the right amount of aging. I wish I had more room to fully enjoy it earlier in the meal! 🌟 Desserts: Lemon Shaved Ice: Light, tangy, and refreshing, this was the perfect palate cleanser after a rich meal. Matcha and Mandarin: Matcha powder sprinkled over mandarin slices offered a curious but enjoyable contrast of flavors. Candied Fruits with Chocolate: By this point, I was too full to properly appreciate it! 🌟 Wine Pairing: We went with a 2004 Château Léoville Barton. Compared to a typical bold California red, this one was softer and very drinkable—a great choice for this tasting menu. Final Thoughts Birdsong delivers an incredible dining experience with unique flavors and creativity.

What an amazing evening. The menu was outstanding. We had two seat's at the Chef's Table and it was great!!! Watching Chef Chris (Christopher) calmly manage his kitchen and team was delightful. We will be back!!!

We brought our niece (Erin) and her BF to Birdsong for her birthday celebration. It was absolutely amazing! This was our 2nd visit this year and I think it was even better than the first time! Chef Chris and his team are attentive and make this fine dining experience something that will not be forgotten! If you get a chance to sit at the Chefs table- it is so worth it- it feels surreal! Thank you Birdsong, SF

A. Kris Spradling

We brought our niece (Erin) and her BF to Birdsong for her birthday celebration. It was absolutely amazing! This was our 2nd visit this year and I think it was even better than the first time! Chef Chris and his team are attentive and make this fine dining experience something that will not be forgotten! If you get a chance to sit at the Chefs table- it is so worth it- it feels surreal! Thank you Birdsong, SF

Great service with friendly and engaging staff. The dining room is nice with an industrial feel. We had the counter seats which were great as you had a good view of the kitchen. The tasting menu started off great and we were blown away by some of the simpler looking dishes. We were however disappointed towards the end of the tasting menu as the last 3 dishes before dessert were too heavy, getting us to saturation. The lamb we had was over salted which was an absolute shame as we could taste through the salt that the lamb itself was exceptional. This feels like a significant faux pas for a 2 star. The wine pairing was well chosen and really complimented each dish.

I really wanted to like this place, but honestly, it was just okay. I went in May last year, so maybe things have improved since then, but at that time, the food just didn’t live up to expectations. Compared to other Michelin spots, it felt pretty average, and I wouldn’t rush to go back. To be fair, the service was great and the atmosphere was lovely. You can tell they put effort into the design and experience, which I really appreciated. But the food just wasn’t memorable. The location also felt a bit unsafe. You definitely need to park in a garage, and even then it didn’t feel totally secure. That part kind of took away from the experience too. When we visited, the restaurant was nearly empty, with only two other tables. It’s a shame, because it seems like they care, but overall it just didn’t deliver.

Expensive food and interesting ambience describes my Friday night tasting. There were multiple parties that cycled through that came prepared with influencer gear. Throughout the night we counted 3 mini tripods and 2 external lighting devices from influencers dining at the chefs table. Shameless and did not add to our experience in any way. The food was decent but we found two dishes inedible. One of our quail breasts had a bone embedded in it, and we had to unceremoniously spit the mouthful out. Second the property’s wild boar dish was underwhelming. The boar’s skin was part of the dish and was super dry and hard to chew and swallow. We had to spit this out too. There were some amazing bites though. The uni bomb was incredible as was the quail broth and fish. The staff was friendly, attentive, and welcoming.

Olivia

I really wanted to like this place, but honestly, it was just okay. I went in May last year, so maybe things have improved since then, but at that time, the food just didn’t live up to expectations. Compared to other Michelin spots, it felt pretty average, and I wouldn’t rush to go back. To be fair, the service was great and the atmosphere was lovely. You can tell they put effort into the design and experience, which I really appreciated. But the food just wasn’t memorable. The location also felt a bit unsafe. You definitely need to park in a garage, and even then it didn’t feel totally secure. That part kind of took away from the experience too. When we visited, the restaurant was nearly empty, with only two other tables. It’s a shame, because it seems like they care, but overall it just didn’t deliver.

Kai Sheng

Expensive food and interesting ambience describes my Friday night tasting. There were multiple parties that cycled through that came prepared with influencer gear. Throughout the night we counted 3 mini tripods and 2 external lighting devices from influencers dining at the chefs table. Shameless and did not add to our experience in any way. The food was decent but we found two dishes inedible. One of our quail breasts had a bone embedded in it, and we had to unceremoniously spit the mouthful out. Second the property’s wild boar dish was underwhelming. The boar’s skin was part of the dish and was super dry and hard to chew and swallow. We had to spit this out too. There were some amazing bites though. The uni bomb was incredible as was the quail broth and fish. The staff was friendly, attentive, and welcoming.

I really tried to like this place but you unfortunately it disappointed. I don't normally seek sea food but there have been places (restaurant 212, progress, etc) that have always pleasantly surprised me, so I decided to give this place a chance. I prefer not to bore you with the details but I think there are many other places to scratch of your list before you try this one. One surprising dish I really enjoyed was the wild antelope. The service was excellent and it was a true pleasure seating kitchen side watching the staff create art. It was just not for me. EDIT: both me and my partner woke up stomach sick. I just don't think the whole experience is acceptable at the price point and for a 2-star restaurant.

Pedro Vicente

I really tried to like this place but you unfortunately it disappointed. I don't normally seek sea food but there have been places (restaurant 212, progress, etc) that have always pleasantly surprised me, so I decided to give this place a chance. I prefer not to bore you with the details but I think there are many other places to scratch of your list before you try this one. One surprising dish I really enjoyed was the wild antelope. The service was excellent and it was a true pleasure seating kitchen side watching the staff create art. It was just not for me. EDIT: both me and my partner woke up stomach sick. I just don't think the whole experience is acceptable at the price point and for a 2-star restaurant.