Amazing vibe and great korean themed drinks & desserts!

tasteful lounge vibes, surprisingly good pastries, and excellent einspanner/drinks. good place to sit and catch up.

My favorite cafe in SF. Great dessert items

Small but tasty dishes. Loved the originality and attention to detail.

Good mood with nice service. Also, strongly recommend Sesame latte! The best drink ever!!!

very good roll cakes! a bit pricey though $8 for a single slice?

Best for pastry and coffee dates

I really love their roll cakes and cookies!!! And their coffee is so good too!!!!!!

The toasted coconut latte with pandan is really good.

Great drinks and desserts! Get the black sesame latte and roll cakes!

Tried the salt breads, matcha, coconut latte, and octopus rice dish. Very good!

Very quality food and service! The beef is quite tender and everything is so delicious. The environment is cozy and quiet. Will definitely come back.

Great hidden gem. Perfect for some quick working sessions. Awesome vibe with a tasty coffee. Will definitely come back :)

+1

This is hands down the best café in San Francisco! Their black sesame latte is so good, I could drink it every day. And the desserts? Absolutely perfect!

Loved it! Service was great and atmosphere and vibes were peaceful The black sesame latte, ham and cheese salt bread, and pour over were also great!

This is a really cozy, luxury cafe. Black sesame is my favorite!

Absolutely wonderful people who prepare the best Coffee with homemade syrups, delicious Gluten Free treats and beautiful atmosphere… truly such a gem of a spot — GO GO GO you’ll love it !! ❤️

Everything was just perfect! The food, mood, the interior and the vibes were so trendy and Love it.

Absolutely love this place! The drinks are amazing, food is delicious and work from here very often. Only downside is that the music is pretty loud so if you have to take a call you may need to move or step outside which can also be noisy because of the street. Overall tho, one of my new favorite coffee spots in SF

Came here for dinner after a show. Food was incredible. It was Michelin quality. I’m not even exaggerating.

Wow. Delicious gluten free chocolate mochi brownie with black sesame cream. Loved it, I gobbled it down, forgetting to take sips of my espresso in between. I love the Korean music playing also! I knew right away that this spot was Korean owned when I saw that they make rice flour desserts, because that’s a thing in Korea. I miss Korea so much. I’ll be back. Thank you also to the enthusiastic and sweet Solan behind the counter. I met the owner Esther and what great energy. Go now!

Grungy hipster atmosphere, but the Japanese twist on the desserts is interesting and definitely worth checking out. The barista didn't necessarily know what a flat white is, but he gave it a crack - it came in a giant mug (?), but the flavour was well balanced and hit the spot.

It was like a dream place for someone like me (can’t eat gluten & can’t have caffeine😭) I tried the Ssuk Latte, red bean roll, and matcha roll today, and they were absolutely amazing! The rolls are gluten-free, delightfully moist and airy, with just the right amount of sweetness. The matcha roll was so popular it sold out fast—so make sure you get there early to snag one before it's gone!

Nice new coffee spot in Hayes - good coffee & very friendly service. We went for a coffee to-go and will likely be back to spend more time at the cafe and perhaps work from there. A few areas for improvement: - Inside is a bit dark - mostly because the blinds facing outside are down - For the same reason, it's easy to miss the cafe when walking by. It looks closed because the windows are covered & you can't see through the blinds from the outside - Wish there was outdoor seating - hoping this might be a future addition

I was already familiar with this place for its reputation for exceptional desserts and drinks as a café, and my experience at the newly opened bar was absolutely amazing! The food and atmosphere were both fantastic, I’ll definitely be coming back to try more from the menu!!!

Got the matcha roll, black cocoa cookie (has marshmallow on top), qnd the ssuk latte ♥️ matcha roll: very airy and light, not too sweet, melts in your mouth, I want it as a birthday cake! black cocoa cookie: nice crumbly texture, had a good rich, dark chocolate taste, def recommend pairing it with the ssuk latte, good balance ssuk latte: more creamy and relatively light in flavor, it’s like a less intense matcha The place: modern and spacious, def picture just being in your laptop ignoring everyone while you eat good food and drinks The service was great! The baker and barista was very sweet and very quick ♥️

Got dinner here yesterday and enjoyed our meal a lot! Restaurant definitely goes hard on ambiance (decor, plating, etc.) Food was good value - we got the jjamppong pasta, salmon carpaccio, and bossam. The salmon carpaccio (8/10) was beautifully plated and we liked the sauce it came with, was what you’d expect. We loved the pasta (8.5/10, my dining partner’s favorite) and had great flavor and the right amount of kick, the pasta did definitely taste like boxed so don’t expect traditional noodles — well done and interesting dish but there are some things that could’ve kicked it up to a 10. The bossam was my favorite (8.5/10) - the minari was an interesting and nice touch and the kimchi/ssamjang both had unique elements to them, dish was well cooked although the pork quality itself could’ve been better for the price. All in all, the flavors and plating were awesome and the quality of food seems right for the price. We will definitely come back to try their other dishes. Oh and be warned that the service charge (20%?) is included - the staff will not tell you.

The Buoy in SF is such a gem! Super easy to find, plenty of parking, and the space itself is spotless with a chill vibe thanks to the great music. I had the black sesame latte and the black sesame mochi brownie, honestly, I haven’t stopped thinking about them since. They also have gotten free options which is nice too. We sat up front in a cozy little library-style nook, which made the whole experience even cuter. On top of that, the service was absolutely exceptional. Definitely a spot I’ll be coming back to!

Epitome of “not too sweet” desserts💕 brings me back to nostalgic asian flavors and the vibe is really chill. Each dessert is served with so much care and craft. A lot of room to work in the space as well

SUPER cute cafe with unique desserts and coffee options. Nice place to work, read, or chat. The milk foam is the most delicious I've ever had, and the staff are SO nice!!! I will be back....

This new Korean-inspired cafe is a great addition to the neighborhood. The desserts and drinks are excellent, and they had plenty of space to read/work when we went on Sunday afternoon.

I wish every restaurant was like this, cafe during the day, bangin food at night. The dinner menu is actually insane. The bossam is incredible and I will be coming back for it. Skip the bingsu tho 😅.

Came here for dinner and it did not disappoint. We had the burrata salad, spicy tuna crisps, galbi crunch, chili pasta, and galbijim — and every dish was packed with flavor. Each one was unique, delicious, and beautifully prepared. Can’t wait to come back and try more!

Super super aesthetic and food are amazing. The bread on Sake Clam was the hit!! So crunchy thin layer outside and warm soft inside. The Kampachi is great too. Music was super vibey. Love

+3

Excited to experience The Buoy’s new chapter as a Korean bar and restaurant! I tried every dish on the menu except the Galbijjim, saving that one for next time 😌 Great vibe, friendly service, and bold Korean flavors in creative tapas style—loved it!❤️ It was so hard to pick my favorite menu. My top picks: ✔️Halibut Crudo ✔️Yukhoe ✔️Galbi Crunch ✔️Charred Brisket & Perilla Pasta ✔️ Soju Einspanner — Cocktail

+6

Everything tasted amazing and the vibes of the cafe are immaculate. Service was also great. Black sesame latte was super nutty and you can really taste the black sesame. 8/10 Both pastries were amazing. Black sesame mochi brownie is super unique. 10/10. Salt bread is salty, buttery goodness. 9/10.

Love it here so much!! Gluten free treats!!!! The atmosphere is so beautiful and peaceful and the owners are amazing. They make ALL the syrups, and bakery items in house and they’re amazing. Almost all gluten free, made with rice flour. 12/10 recommend!! Also the coffee was … unreal!! So good!

+5

This place was so good we came here for lunch AND dinner in the same day. All the food was so inventive and well-executed and the service was so attentive and thoughtful. Vibes are immaculate also. Salt bread during lunch was one of the best things I’ve eaten recently. Several great dishes at dinner too. Felt like a place that would have a Michelin star.

I finally had the chance to visit this charming new coffee and dessert shop! Their menu is unique, with offerings that remind me of the popular coffee and dessert spots in Korea. Their signature roll cakes are a must-try, featuring a rich and flavorful cream filling that's perfectly balanced—not too sweet. Made with rice flour, these cakes cater beautifully to San Francisco's love for gluten-free treats. Personally, I'm a big fan of the red velvet roll cake, but I’ve heard that the matcha roll cake sells out quickly in the mornings. They serve coffee from Equator Coffee, a local, female-owned business, and it’s expertly brewed by their talented baristas. The standout on the menu is their Ssuk-latte, a unique, herbal, and caffeine-free drink you won’t find at many other coffee shops. Their Black Sesame Latte also offers a distinct flavor that sets it apart from traditional Korean sesame lattes, thanks to the specific coffee beans they use. I’ve also heard they’ve started offering tiramisu—I can’t wait to try it! :)

+2

Buoy is a fantastic spot for an excellent meal. Quiet and unassuming from the outside, the vibes are chic and classy inside. The food is absolutely delightful, each plate delivered a treat for the senses and every bite was an experience in textures and complimentary flavors. Fairly pricey but worth every penny.

Absolutely amazing atmosphere, its very calm. I went on a gloomy day and makes it even better in my opinion, very cozy. The pastries looked so good i had to try it. I tried the Ssuk Latte, the black sesame brownie and raspberry roll cake

Wow this place looks amazing inside! And the food was also really yummy! My family and I tried many different things. We got: - Ssuk latte - Iced Black Sesame Latte - Jujube Chai Latte - Black Cocoa Cookie - Tiramisu Cake - Red Velvet Roll Cake PLEASE GET THEIR TIRAMISU CAKE AND BLACK SESAME LATTE! I highly recommend these two things from their menu! Also, I love the Gluten Free selections 🤩🤩 Dont forget to check out the comfy couches that the cafe has that's surrounded by shelves and by the windows! Overall, the place just has such a great vibe inside! It would be such a great spot to chill, catch up with friends, study, or even read. Will definitely come back here to try other pastries and drinks!

Super cute, dog-friendly, so much space, free WiFi, large food portions. Especially loved the kimchi corn cheese panini. Simple salad was good but miso dressing just a tad too salty. Otherwise 10/10!

+2

Idyllic spacious cafe w Japanese inspired pastries and specialty flavored coffee drinks such as black sesame or matcha lattes. Don't miss the cookies, black sesame mochi brownies & roll cakes. Wonderful friendly service. Planning next visit.

Super cute spot. The owner Esther is in and makes for a delightful experience and has curated a great ambiance. The pastries are quite delicious and have unique ideas and flavors. They specialize in rice flour pastries which have a very nice texture and that are not overly sweet. I got the red bean roll which was delicious. Highly recommend checking it out!

I'm smitten with this lovely cafe! The moment you step inside, you're enveloped in a spacious, open, and airy environment that instantly puts you at ease. The treats are even more impressive: soft, spongey roll cakes and decadent cookies pair beautifully with their artfully crafted drinks. Every detail, from presentation to flavors, reflects a passion for quality. As a Korean, I appreciate the subtle sweetness and refined flavors :)

Super chill vibes with delicious pastries and tons of gluten-free options. I love all the tables for a perfect get work done kind of place. Staff were great at recommending both food and drink! I will be back to try more! Celiacs rejoice!!!

Love this spot so much I went twice in 1 weekend! We tried the iced latte, injeolmi tiramisu, einspanner, kimchi panini and mushroom panini. Everything was amazing and I'll definitely be back. Vibes are perfect for a reading a book or doing a bit of work. I'm excited to continue trying everything else on the menu!

Amazing service, food, and atmosphere. My girlfriend and I had buratta salad, soondubu soup, and galbijjim. All were great but the galbijjim was exceptionally to my taste! It was buttery, soft, but firm enough to cut through like steak. The marinate was beautifully seasoned and glazed. Cocktails were great as well. 10/10!!

Wow! What a find! The food was excellent, the atmosphere really fun and the service highly attentive. We got the beef tartar which was fresh, flavorful and creative with the nori chips. The kimchee was really creative, an excellent mix of freshness, fermentation and spice. We got the steak which was very tender abd paired with a house version of chimichury which was better its traditional cousin in terms of flavor. Finally, we finished with the tofu and brisket stew with the seafood addition and this was my favorite dish. It had a sous vide octopus, clams, AND abalone, along with Brisket and silken tofu - a flavor and protein paradise. We also ordered the white and the black tiger, with were good, but I preferred the white tiger for the flavor and cream inside.

This is place is absolutely spectacular! I had made a reservation at 8:30 pm and asked to be notified if there were any cancelations. I was able to move my dinner to 5 pm. I notified them of my allergies, and they were able to accommodate them. Food was spectacular and would highly recommend for a special date night. Some people have mixed opinions on this, but waiters were very attentive in refilling my water.

There is something going on at the Buoy that is very difficult to explain in conventional terms. First, it feels like a cafe and bakery during the day, perhaps even a brunch spot. Then, at night, it somewhat turns into a cocktail bar and lounge. The dinner menu is focused, distilled down to a handful selection, but are done in a creative, mind-boggling way where you wonder why you might be tasting something of this caliber at a bar lounge. Something is going on. But you can feel something special is brewing. We went there for dinner so I'd like to focus on evaluating it as a dinner spot. The interior is modern, clean, and almost too "simple". It has a cocktail bar lounge vibe, especially with the Korean music moderately loud and dark lights. However, you see the full cutlery laid out on the table and this is where your mind starts to play tricks and ask questions. The menu is super simple, perhaps no more than 20 items in total. The appetizers come in as "tapas", perfectly designed to go well with soju or Korean-style drinking. But, the caliber of the food is simple out of this world. This isn't your typical Korean comfort food that accompanies alcohol. These are meticulous creations - Korean-inspired yet focused on striking a fresh balance. We ordered 5 appetizers and each and every one of them we craved for more. The Golden Toast is simply out of this world. Each person must get one. Rich with various fresh seafood and avocaod. The crunchy galbi also is insane. The deep-frying of galbi is a fresh take giving it a texture not experienced before. The wagyu yukhwe is also a piece of artistic creation with a egg yolk puree in the middle and seaweed chips. The kanpachi turtled in a carved out tomato in olive oil was also fabulous. Even as I write this review, my mouth waters. The chef at The Buoy is not your everyday lounge food chef. He/she means business. They are here to compete, whether it is a Michelin star or other recognitions. The Buoy can be taken very seriously as a dinner location, rubbing shoulders with other progressive venues that push the boundaries of culinary possibilities. The steak, the bossam, ... my list of complements go on and on. Again, this isn't just about creating a good Korean cuisine. This is entirely new and fresh. This is not normal. We will absolutely be returning to The Buoy. Just a single visit does not do justice to what this place is bubbling with. Whether you like Korean food or not, you must try The Buoy. And again, be prepared to be confused and delighted at the same time.

One of the best dining experience in sf! Would highly recommend to everyone! Food taste amazing, clean and authentic but has modern fusion incorporated. Generous portions and great wine selection with dim and ambient lighting, great for dates and group dinners + solo dinners at the bar. Paid parking is right next door and service is fast and friendly.

We had a great experience dining at the Buoy. Food was flavorful and also had great presentation. Service was also friendly and food arrived quite fast. I also loved the overall ambiance of the restaurant. Really looking forward to coming back.

Super cute atmosphere with really good food! LOVED the beef tartare and the yuzu carpaccio. They were both really fresh and flavorful. The cocktails were also sooo good. Perfect for a girls night out!

I beg my finest pardon but WHAT did I just eat. The egg salt bread sando is unreal. The salt bread itself is made with rice flour so it’s fluffy and bouncy and buttery and chewy in this addictive way that should honestly be illegal. It’s so light you can basically inhale it. Then you bite in and the soft scrambled eggs are just… perfect. Creamy, silky, a little sriracha mayo hiding in there, the whole thing feels like a warm hug. I’m obsessed. I need five more.

9/10 - golden toast with sashimi on top 9.5/10: so good. the best avocado toast my bf has ever had. it was a perfect combination of crunchy / soft textures. the avocado mixed with the crispy and buttery toast, with a slight kick to it that i can't even place. - galbi crunch 6/10: lackluster. great concept, poor execution. the batter tasted like tempura chips which was weird. the meat was a bit overcooked; would've been better if it was more tender. the peppers were good. the red flakes on top tasted like hot cheetos. - soondooboo 9/10: they wouldn't give us white rice!!!! we asked twice!!! would've been a 10 with rice. best soondooboo we've had. it had a thicker consistency than normal. was on the spicier side so rice would've saved us. given that there was no rice, we wish there was more content in it (ie. meat, tofu). we're taking it home to eat with rice lol - bossam 8.5/10: the kimchi like thing and soybean paste were a good combo with the meat. no lettuce though, which was weird. the bossam felt less cooked than normal, but not complaining lol. solid but not the best i've had - mochi brownie 8/10: had little bits of mochi in it... kinda weird. but the black sesame cream was a great addition! the brownie as a whole was the perfect amount of sweet. and they gave it to us for free for our anniversary!

Was visiting family in SF and suddenly really craved Korean food—so glad I ended up here! The place totally reminded me of trendy spots back in Korea. Super clean and stylish, but still cozy. We got two kinds of mocktails (both were so good), and shared the jjambbong pasta, yukhoe, and galbi crunch. Literally scraped the plates clean—everything was delicious. I’d been missing spicy Korean noodles lately, and that jjambbong pasta seriously hit the spot. Flavorful, just the right amount of spice. Will definitely be back next time I’m in town!

This Korean bakery completed exceeded our expectations! The butter salt bread was perfectly warm, crispy on outside and lightly chewy. The matcha chestnut roll was light, not too sweet and the matcha flavor was really present. I really enjoyed the matcha einspanner. The sesame latte and brownie are on the sweeter side (still tasty). The location isn’t the best (off Market) and the place itself had a bit of a cold atmosphere but clean. There are plenty of tables indoor and no wait. Overall, I can’t wait to come back and try other things!

yelena kozlova

Wow! What a find! The food was excellent, the atmosphere really fun and the service highly attentive. We got the beef tartar which was fresh, flavorful and creative with the nori chips. The kimchee was really creative, an excellent mix of freshness, fermentation and spice. We got the steak which was very tender abd paired with a house version of chimichury which was better its traditional cousin in terms of flavor. Finally, we finished with the tofu and brisket stew with the seafood addition and this was my favorite dish. It had a sous vide octopus, clams, AND abalone, along with Brisket and silken tofu - a flavor and protein paradise. We also ordered the white and the black tiger, with were good, but I preferred the white tiger for the flavor and cream inside.

Wook Chung

There is something going on at the Buoy that is very difficult to explain in conventional terms. First, it feels like a cafe and bakery during the day, perhaps even a brunch spot. Then, at night, it somewhat turns into a cocktail bar and lounge. The dinner menu is focused, distilled down to a handful selection, but are done in a creative, mind-boggling way where you wonder why you might be tasting something of this caliber at a bar lounge. Something is going on. But you can feel something special is brewing. We went there for dinner so I'd like to focus on evaluating it as a dinner spot. The interior is modern, clean, and almost too "simple". It has a cocktail bar lounge vibe, especially with the Korean music moderately loud and dark lights. However, you see the full cutlery laid out on the table and this is where your mind starts to play tricks and ask questions. The menu is super simple, perhaps no more than 20 items in total. The appetizers come in as "tapas", perfectly designed to go well with soju or Korean-style drinking. But, the caliber of the food is simple out of this world. This isn't your typical Korean comfort food that accompanies alcohol. These are meticulous creations - Korean-inspired yet focused on striking a fresh balance. We ordered 5 appetizers and each and every one of them we craved for more. The Golden Toast is simply out of this world. Each person must get one. Rich with various fresh seafood and avocaod. The crunchy galbi also is insane. The deep-frying of galbi is a fresh take giving it a texture not experienced before. The wagyu yukhwe is also a piece of artistic creation with a egg yolk puree in the middle and seaweed chips. The kanpachi turtled in a carved out tomato in olive oil was also fabulous. Even as I write this review, my mouth waters. The chef at The Buoy is not your everyday lounge food chef. He/she means business. They are here to compete, whether it is a Michelin star or other recognitions. The Buoy can be taken very seriously as a dinner location, rubbing shoulders with other progressive venues that push the boundaries of culinary possibilities. The steak, the bossam, ... my list of complements go on and on. Again, this isn't just about creating a good Korean cuisine. This is entirely new and fresh. This is not normal. We will absolutely be returning to The Buoy. Just a single visit does not do justice to what this place is bubbling with. Whether you like Korean food or not, you must try The Buoy. And again, be prepared to be confused and delighted at the same time.

Lore Dp

We had a great experience dining at the Buoy. Food was flavorful and also had great presentation. Service was also friendly and food arrived quite fast. I also loved the overall ambiance of the restaurant. Really looking forward to coming back.

Claire

I beg my finest pardon but WHAT did I just eat. The egg salt bread sando is unreal. The salt bread itself is made with rice flour so it’s fluffy and bouncy and buttery and chewy in this addictive way that should honestly be illegal. It’s so light you can basically inhale it. Then you bite in and the soft scrambled eggs are just… perfect. Creamy, silky, a little sriracha mayo hiding in there, the whole thing feels like a warm hug. I’m obsessed. I need five more.

Daniel Baek

One of the best dining experience in sf! Would highly recommend to everyone! Food taste amazing, clean and authentic but has modern fusion incorporated. Generous portions and great wine selection with dim and ambient lighting, great for dates and group dinners + solo dinners at the bar. Paid parking is right next door and service is fast and friendly.

Nicole Lee

9/10 - golden toast with sashimi on top 9.5/10: so good. the best avocado toast my bf has ever had. it was a perfect combination of crunchy / soft textures. the avocado mixed with the crispy and buttery toast, with a slight kick to it that i can't even place. - galbi crunch 6/10: lackluster. great concept, poor execution. the batter tasted like tempura chips which was weird. the meat was a bit overcooked; would've been better if it was more tender. the peppers were good. the red flakes on top tasted like hot cheetos. - soondooboo 9/10: they wouldn't give us white rice!!!! we asked twice!!! would've been a 10 with rice. best soondooboo we've had. it had a thicker consistency than normal. was on the spicier side so rice would've saved us. given that there was no rice, we wish there was more content in it (ie. meat, tofu). we're taking it home to eat with rice lol - bossam 8.5/10: the kimchi like thing and soybean paste were a good combo with the meat. no lettuce though, which was weird. the bossam felt less cooked than normal, but not complaining lol. solid but not the best i've had - mochi brownie 8/10: had little bits of mochi in it... kinda weird. but the black sesame cream was a great addition! the brownie as a whole was the perfect amount of sweet. and they gave it to us for free for our anniversary!

celina

Super cute atmosphere with really good food! LOVED the beef tartare and the yuzu carpaccio. They were both really fresh and flavorful. The cocktails were also sooo good. Perfect for a girls night out!

Yumi Ji

Was visiting family in SF and suddenly really craved Korean food—so glad I ended up here! The place totally reminded me of trendy spots back in Korea. Super clean and stylish, but still cozy. We got two kinds of mocktails (both were so good), and shared the jjambbong pasta, yukhoe, and galbi crunch. Literally scraped the plates clean—everything was delicious. I’d been missing spicy Korean noodles lately, and that jjambbong pasta seriously hit the spot. Flavorful, just the right amount of spice. Will definitely be back next time I’m in town!

Danning Sui

Super super aesthetic and food are amazing. The bread on Sake Clam was the hit!! So crunchy thin layer outside and warm soft inside. The Kampachi is great too. Music was super vibey. Love

Tammy Hsu

Came here for dinner and it did not disappoint. We had the burrata salad, spicy tuna crisps, galbi crunch, chili pasta, and galbijim — and every dish was packed with flavor. Each one was unique, delicious, and beautifully prepared. Can’t wait to come back and try more!

Yoomi Yi

Excited to experience The Buoy’s new chapter as a Korean bar and restaurant! I tried every dish on the menu except the Galbijjim, saving that one for next time 😌 Great vibe, friendly service, and bold Korean flavors in creative tapas style—loved it!❤️ It was so hard to pick my favorite menu. My top picks: ✔️Halibut Crudo ✔️Yukhoe ✔️Galbi Crunch ✔️Charred Brisket & Perilla Pasta ✔️ Soju Einspanner — Cocktail

Anna Oh

Everything tasted amazing and the vibes of the cafe are immaculate. Service was also great. Black sesame latte was super nutty and you can really taste the black sesame. 8/10 Both pastries were amazing. Black sesame mochi brownie is super unique. 10/10. Salt bread is salty, buttery goodness. 9/10.

Sylwia K

This Korean bakery completed exceeded our expectations! The butter salt bread was perfectly warm, crispy on outside and lightly chewy. The matcha chestnut roll was light, not too sweet and the matcha flavor was really present. I really enjoyed the matcha einspanner. The sesame latte and brownie are on the sweeter side (still tasty). The location isn’t the best (off Market) and the place itself had a bit of a cold atmosphere but clean. There are plenty of tables indoor and no wait. Overall, I can’t wait to come back and try other things!

Slow service when ordering to go but great drinks

This is such a cute Korean dessert spot in town dedicated to serving up yummy gluten free pastries and drinks. I’ve been craving scones this fall, and their fig jam scone topped with crispy coconut hit the spot. I also enjoyed their black sesame latte with oat milk. The café is pretty spacious, and there’s free WiFi ftw, so it’s perfect for getting a bit of work done.

When they first opened I was so obsessed with the cocoa cookie with the marshmallow on top, got it all the time. Since then it’s a hit or miss, sometimes it tastes a little old/stale and sometimes it tastes fresh. Recently I saw a sign saying they have the famous Korean salted butter rolls but when I ordered it, it was way too overcooked on the outside so was a bit tough. I can tell if it’s baked right it would be so delicious, I think the reheating method of the salted butter roll needs to be reviewed, it’s gets too overcooked in the toaster oven… Also, the service is extremely slow, many times I’ve gotten my drink before the baked goods….no getting the baked goods together while the drinks are getting made. And the ladies working there are not hospitable, I’ve never seen them crack a smile. I recently brought my mom here and she mentioned that they were like “zombies.”

I’ve been here 3 times now and 2 out of those the staff completely forgot my order even though the place was not busy. When I followed up, the ticket wasn’t acted on which is quite disappointing for the food is decent and atmosphere nice. I do appreciate the effort from the owner the last time around in acknowledging the service gap, which was completely lacking previously.

Came here for dinner. Average food with some interesting highlights here and there, but overall very overpriced for such casual spot.

+1

My dinner experience was amazing - food, service and atmosphere were all 5/5. Went back for lunch shortly after and the service was really lacking. Still amazing food, but the front house staff working at the time seemed like they didn’t want to be there. They were impatient with taking orders and left finished dishes and cups on tables for a while before cleaning them up. Highly recommend getting dinner here though.

A perfect brunch. The kimchi panini and French toast were both delicious, and the sesame mochi was amazing too. I missed the salt bread again since it only comes out after 10, but hopefully next time! The kind service made the experience even better. Looking forward to trying their dinner menu as well!

ariana

My dinner experience was amazing - food, service and atmosphere were all 5/5. Went back for lunch shortly after and the service was really lacking. Still amazing food, but the front house staff working at the time seemed like they didn’t want to be there. They were impatient with taking orders and left finished dishes and cups on tables for a while before cleaning them up. Highly recommend getting dinner here though.

narae kim

A perfect brunch. The kimchi panini and French toast were both delicious, and the sesame mochi was amazing too. I missed the salt bread again since it only comes out after 10, but hopefully next time! The kind service made the experience even better. Looking forward to trying their dinner menu as well!

Wandered in here after passing it for months and being curious about it and I didn’t expect, due to the part where it’s a coffee shop during the day, for their evening service to be anywhere near so fancy, even though it’s a kind of posh coffee shop. The food was excellent, the service was as well, but the whole experience was not at all what I was expecting! I would be back but probably not at night without a date. I was fresh from working out and felt very underdressed! Seems like it would be such a cute spot to bring someone.

It felt overhyped :( was really looking forward to it, but the desserts were soo small — $8 for one slice of a roll cake that we finished in two bites. the roll cake itself was pretty good but would not get again because of the price. we also got a tiramisu which we enjoyed and would recommend. But it was I think $12, and also very small 😫 ssuk latte was not my cup of tea, as I was not expecting it to be salty. I will say I have never tried a ssuk latte anywhere else before so I nothing to compare it to and am not a ssuk latte connoisseur haha

Beautify place. Awful WiFi. I hate WiFi here.

I was excited to check out this spot, but was pretty disappointed. I ordered the jujube chai latte, and it looked and tasted like straight milk with some brown blobs floating around. Jujube is typically such a strong flavor but neither that nor the chai taste came through. I also got a matcha raspberry cookie which was tasty but a bit chalky in texture (maybe because it’s GF?). The interior was beautiful though with great ambiance and was buzzing with people. Their savory offerings sounded tasty, and would be willing to come back and try other menu items.

The food and coffee are delicious, but I have one complaint. I ordered the vegetarian tofu and eggplant bowl as it was marketed on the menu as vegetarian and I don’t eat meat or fish. After already taking a few bites, I realized there were fish tobiko sprinkled throughout my bowl and my friends bowl (she ordered the same thing). After asking the person working at the counter she said that this was intentional and there was tobiko in the bowl, even though there is no mention of fish being in that bowl, and next to the item name it even has a V. I left feeling a bit sad as I had been misled to believe this was a vegetarian option, and wonder what would happen if someone with a fish allergy unknowingly ordered this bowl. Salt bread is delicious!

I had a feeling that this cafe was going to be overhyped, but I was hoping to be proven wrong, especially with how kind the staff are! My friend and I shared the Ssuk latte, einspanner, matcha roll cake, and black cocoa cookie. I have had Ssuk also known as Mugwort before in pastries, which I enjoyed, but never in latte form so I knew it was a risk to try. Overall I will have to agree with another review that the taste was similar to chinese herbal medicine or even to me specifically, if you were to taste tiger balm. Maybe because its more concentrated vs. in a pastry there is cake or pastry to balance it out? With this being a korean cafe, I had expected their einspanner to be similar to the ones I had in Korea, but unfortunately it was not. The latte was watery and bitter and the cream did not have the thickness you would expect for an einspanner. The coffee used here is equator coffee which I do like, so maybe I had a one off drink. The matcha roll cake as all other reviewers mentioned was pretty dry, but I did enjoy the matcha cream and chesnut pieces inside. I think my favorite item amongst what we shared was the black cocoa cookie. The taste reminded me a bit of oreo pizookie. In terms of the space - the space is huge and perfect to work from home, they do have free wifi, not sure about outlets(I did not see any). It is a bit dark inside, but I think that is the aesthetic for this cafe. One thing to note that I hope is a one off because it was a slightly warm day- there were a cluster of flies inside the cafe , mainly where you order. I was also swatting flies while I was eating, which surprised me because the space is so big so you would think it is well ventilated enough to avoid this problem. I hope this can be resolved as this is not normally an issue at other cafes that are even smaller and warmer. Overall I appreciate the uniqueness in flavors but I do think as other reviewers mentioned, they do need work. I feel that people come to this cafe to just try the unique flavors once or to work from home to do the large open space of this cafe.

+1

Came here for a pre-concert dinner; food and cocktails were excellent (5 stars) and service was efficient. However, the experience ended on a very sour note due to deceptive billing. A 20% service charge was automatically added to the bill. This was never mentioned by the server, and despite a "no add'l tip expected" note buried on the menu, the receipt included a suggested tip guide for 18%, 20%, and 25%. If I hadn’t looked closely, I would have tipped 40+% total. This feels like a blatant trap for hurried diners. Great food, but the lack of transparency is a dealbreaker. I won't be back. (Photo of receipt attached with circled fees. It’s portrait, so click to see the tip guide at the bottom.)

Nice cozy Korean restaurant. There is bar and table seatings. I’d recommend getting a reservation as it seems like it’s fairly busy. I went with a fairly big group and it seemed like the staff had a little miscommunication on how the evening was going which made the experience feel much longer than it needed to be. The golden toast was excellent as was the sundubu with octopus. Overall we tasted a variety of dishes and all were quite tasty.

TLDR: just go for the drinks and a photoshoot I would’ve had a better impression if they didn’t offer food. Pros: - vibey interior and presentation is beautiful - the matcha einspanner tastes amazing Cons: - the ribeye in the ribeye salt bread was dry and the sandwich was tiny - there are only small particles of beef in the beef bowl. The bowl itself tastes like a bunch of flavors and textures carelessly tossed together - wifi is super slow

The location and vibes at this place is 100%. I got the beef rice bowl for lunch. The beef itself was really disappointing. Several pieces were chewy and fatty, really unpleasant and I had to spit them out. I don’t know if they were cheap cuts or not trimmed properly. Everything else was good. I’m giving it 2-2.5 stars because it’s like eating a clam pasta dish where everything is on point but you got sand in your mouth that just ruined the whole experience. I agree with previous reviews that this place has lots of potential but survival lies in the details.

Nha H

Nice cozy Korean restaurant. There is bar and table seatings. I’d recommend getting a reservation as it seems like it’s fairly busy. I went with a fairly big group and it seemed like the staff had a little miscommunication on how the evening was going which made the experience feel much longer than it needed to be. The golden toast was excellent as was the sundubu with octopus. Overall we tasted a variety of dishes and all were quite tasty.

Kungfu Kenny

TLDR: just go for the drinks and a photoshoot I would’ve had a better impression if they didn’t offer food. Pros: - vibey interior and presentation is beautiful - the matcha einspanner tastes amazing Cons: - the ribeye in the ribeye salt bread was dry and the sandwich was tiny - there are only small particles of beef in the beef bowl. The bowl itself tastes like a bunch of flavors and textures carelessly tossed together - wifi is super slow

I was excited to check out this new coffee shop in my neighborhood. I ordered a coffee and the staff was super rude when I asked if I could have some kind of creamer. I settled in to work for a bit but the music was too loud. Did not have the opportunity to try the food or desserts; however, I am hesitant to return as I did not feel welcome.

Saw that this place just opened, so I wanted to check it out. I left unimpressed. I got the ssuk latte and the fig scone (all of their pastries and desserts are insultingly small), neither of which were worth the cost. I paid an eye-watering $13 in total, and then they had the gall to hand me a receipt with a pen, presumably to guilt trip me into tipping for bringing me the food that I paid for. Not worth the trip.

Roll cake is mediocre with just less sweet.

Bad service. Server did mistake for my order. I got charged for the drink that i didn't order.

They use a culinary instead of ceremonial matcha for their lattes, resulting in a bitter taste and a dark green color. Server attitude was really rude -- I was positive and friendly to her, and she brought out my drink with a frown on her face and didn't even say "you're welcome" when I said "thank you so much." It's a great working space though.

TLDR: high end atmosphere but service and food does not match the high end they are going for, it’s only for IG, not for real people Walked in and looked at the items for a few minutes and was not greeted. When I stood at the register, someone finally turned around and say “hey” in a not so inviting way. Took my order gruffly, interrupted me after I ordered my drink to say anything else, before I even had time to order food. Ordered for here and sat at the bar. The raspberry roll was put down in front of me but then they put my coffee all the way on the other end of the bar and I had to get up and go get it. Why would one be here and one item put there? Also other people’s were put on a nice board and mine was not. As for the food, the raspberry cake was old. The cake itself was not very soft and there was way too much cream, I got sick of eating it and had to take some out. The black sesame latte was nothing special as well. Would not come back. $8 for a slice of roll cake is pretty expensive as well.

+1

other than the decorations and interior design, everything else needs work. they left the doors open on a cold & rainy day, where everyone inside had to wear jackets. lattes could use a lot of work. cream rolls unmemorable. location is also borderline sketchy. overall disappointing but has potential if they fix above.

+2

Instagram pretty desserts but I didn’t like any of the things we tried. As expected of gluten free items, their roll cakes were dry and dense. If I had to choose, the matcha flavor was slightly better than the red bean. The texture of the matcha raspberry jam cookie was chalky and dry. Ssuk latte tasted very herbal and reminded me of Chinese medicine. The space was also quite dark because they kept the blinds shut.

Food is great. Atmosphere definitely very welcoming for date night or girls night out. BUT, service is very bad. 1. When we walked in, nobody was at the host stand for at least 5-10 min. By the time he checked in my name, our table is not ready. 2. First time visiting,but no one walk through the menu nor any recommendation for food portion because their menu was meant for sharing. 3. Wait a long time to be able to put in our order. 4. Half way through I asked for bread, not until I almost yelled at “can you please bring my bread”, bread was not coming, and I almost finished a stew dish that supposed to go well with bread. 5. One of the servers did come to mention that they are short staffed today and thanks for our patience. However, I would have rated very differently had this was mentioned in the beginning. 20% surcharge of course, let me no room to adjust tips but put in here. I think for the expensive and competitive San Francisco dining experience, you def have better options.

Oh, I really wanted to like the dinner service here. The places were reasonable, and the food looked good. But the quality of cooking was simply not there. The summer tuna dish had three thin slices of tuna with tasteless watermelon and citrus foam. It begged for something sweet and salty mixed with it. The spicy noodles were fine, but the pork was dry and overcooked, and the pasta was obviously boxed pasta that had no texture or bite. And the most egregious was the braised short ribs, the Galbijim. You would expect it to fall off the bone, but instead, it was tight to it and really tough to chew and eat. To me it meant it needed several more hours braising. The flavors were fine but it was severely lacking in cooking skill. Luckily, we only spent $65 a person for these three dishes and a drink, so it wasn’t a complete rip off. But, it is not a good Korean restaurant.

We wanted a quick night out near home, so we chose this place. However, we’re so sad and disappointed that the food and service are just not matching up to the expectation. The servers and waitresses don’t know which dishes go to which tables, and even when the order was right & the kitchen was right, they still somehow managed to give us the wrong dish 🫠 We saw our bibimbap sitting at the kitchen window for a while and the waitress pushed it back to the kitchen, while I had to drink all the water from my cup because the galbijim was SO. SALTY. The waitress apologized and said that the bibimbap would be “taken care of”, but it was still on our bill. Besides galbijim, the sake clam was also super salty. The salt bread is not structured enough and just looks kinda sad. We finally had our bibimbap, but I think there’s too little fish roe in the bowl. The salmon carpaccio is ironically the best dish of the night. The black sesame brownie was on the house, and it was okay. Overall, I think the restaurant still needs to train their staff better (even the detail like the chopsticks are not from the same pair? My pet peeve even for chopsticks at home lol) and the execution of the food (actual kitchen food, the front app lady is doing fine) needs to be improved to match up to the vibe. Until then, I don’t think you can charge 18% mandatory service fee ‼️

Eddie L

Oh, I really wanted to like the dinner service here. The places were reasonable, and the food looked good. But the quality of cooking was simply not there. The summer tuna dish had three thin slices of tuna with tasteless watermelon and citrus foam. It begged for something sweet and salty mixed with it. The spicy noodles were fine, but the pork was dry and overcooked, and the pasta was obviously boxed pasta that had no texture or bite. And the most egregious was the braised short ribs, the Galbijim. You would expect it to fall off the bone, but instead, it was tight to it and really tough to chew and eat. To me it meant it needed several more hours braising. The flavors were fine but it was severely lacking in cooking skill. Luckily, we only spent $65 a person for these three dishes and a drink, so it wasn’t a complete rip off. But, it is not a good Korean restaurant.

Elva Chen

We wanted a quick night out near home, so we chose this place. However, we’re so sad and disappointed that the food and service are just not matching up to the expectation. The servers and waitresses don’t know which dishes go to which tables, and even when the order was right & the kitchen was right, they still somehow managed to give us the wrong dish 🫠 We saw our bibimbap sitting at the kitchen window for a while and the waitress pushed it back to the kitchen, while I had to drink all the water from my cup because the galbijim was SO. SALTY. The waitress apologized and said that the bibimbap would be “taken care of”, but it was still on our bill. Besides galbijim, the sake clam was also super salty. The salt bread is not structured enough and just looks kinda sad. We finally had our bibimbap, but I think there’s too little fish roe in the bowl. The salmon carpaccio is ironically the best dish of the night. The black sesame brownie was on the house, and it was okay. Overall, I think the restaurant still needs to train their staff better (even the detail like the chopsticks are not from the same pair? My pet peeve even for chopsticks at home lol) and the execution of the food (actual kitchen food, the front app lady is doing fine) needs to be improved to match up to the vibe. Until then, I don’t think you can charge 18% mandatory service fee ‼️

Wilson Tsang

TLDR: high end atmosphere but service and food does not match the high end they are going for, it’s only for IG, not for real people Walked in and looked at the items for a few minutes and was not greeted. When I stood at the register, someone finally turned around and say “hey” in a not so inviting way. Took my order gruffly, interrupted me after I ordered my drink to say anything else, before I even had time to order food. Ordered for here and sat at the bar. The raspberry roll was put down in front of me but then they put my coffee all the way on the other end of the bar and I had to get up and go get it. Why would one be here and one item put there? Also other people’s were put on a nice board and mine was not. As for the food, the raspberry cake was old. The cake itself was not very soft and there was way too much cream, I got sick of eating it and had to take some out. The black sesame latte was nothing special as well. Would not come back. $8 for a slice of roll cake is pretty expensive as well.

Asked if they had other options for their Saltbread other than the plain one they had on display (online they are always posting fun options ube, choc, matcha, etc) but I didnt see it & homegirl had no idea what I was talking about. Seems like a place thst does good job posting onlime, but when you are there its dead.

I was called a slur by the korean owner (I heard them whispering about me), staff is treated poorly especially those that aren’t korean.

I think I know why it’s called “the Buoy” because they are DROWNING! I had a horrible experience there last night. Had a booking at 8, walked in at 7:45 and wanted to see if they could seat us earlier. They said they couldn’t seat us even though there was 2-3 empty 2 tops. Okay, fine. They tell us to grab a drink at the bar. They don’t hand us menus, they continue to ignore us. Okay, fine. Maybe they’re slammed. Finally get seated at the same empty table that’s been open since we walked in. We look through the menu, get excited and figure out our entire order. Waiter comes over, takes our order, only does he then proceed to tell us that everything in the appetizers is sold out except for burrata and potatoes 🙃 Okay. Plan B. Order the sundubu jjamppong and Bossam. Last choices, but there was literally nothing else on the menu. They then bring out the dish they originally told us was sold out?? Okay, fine. Sundubu Jjamppong comes out, there’s no noodles, description says there are noodles, pictures have noodles… it’s too spicy and rich to have on its own so I order a side of rice. THEY HAVE NO RICE! How can a Korean restaurant not have rice? And the woman gaslit me like oh no you’re not supposed to eat it with rice. Floored. So the waiter brings rice croissant out to help with the spice?! All the tables next to us were in similar positions where they ordered things that either never came or the table next to us had their food dropped on the floor 2 times by the waiter and they only brought them out one tiny dessert? It sounds like they have a LOT of kinks to figure out. I would not recommend going.