Buoy
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A cute little restaurant! The wagyu salt bread was AMAZING! So much flavor to the meats! Had a little drink water station. Our coffees were also yummy! I got the black sesame and the basic latte! Both were on ice with oat milk! This place would definitely be a cute brunch or lunch area. You could also study here too, but the music was a little loud so I wouldn't say it would be super ideal to study long hours if you prefer a quiet place.
Lovely atmosphere and vibes for a date night. We opted for the $89 tasting menu, which included 5 small dishes and a dessert. Everything was delicious and well seasoned. The flank steak galbijjim was so tender and flavorful, which paired nicely with rice and banchan. Desserts and drinks were tasty as well. We would definitely revisit, but the à la carte menu may be a better value for the price. Service was fantastic, and everything was thoroughly explained.
Had a really wonderful dinner at Buoy before going to the symphony! Would recommend that combo for a very delicious and classy night :) I actually first tried Buoy around when it opened just as a cafe. I really like their expansion into dinner! Super smart move, especially because the interior is perfect for that nighttime vibe. The menu is lovely with a mix of curation and diversity. Here's what my friend and I got. Golden Toast: I had heard from friends that this was a must-get. I wouldn't say you need need to get it lol, but it's good and fun!! It's a super tiny piece of incredibly decadent toast. You've got fish, roe, uni, and gold leaf on super buttery bread. It's a very fun bite to ring in the night! Salt Bread: You can add salt bread as a side!! This is huge for me personally because I've been seeing the salt bread trend, and I wanted to try it without having to wait in line or feel like I'm missing out on a cooler flavor. It's really solid here. The bread comes out hot with a lovely crispy bottom and fluffy interior, slightly sweet with some crunchy salt. If you know you like salt bread or have been wanting to try, Buoy is great for that! Truffle Honey Butter Baby Potatoes: Yummy potato dish! Nothing to write home about, but definitely an enjoyable dish. Cucumber Perilla Salad: It's cucumber salad, y'all. There is actually only so much you can do, but they did what they did and it was good. Absolutely a more interesting cucumber salad. Wagyu Charcoal Grilled Galbijjim Steak: I actually wasn't in love with this. I think when I see the word galbi, I expect classic galbi, with the grilled parts and all, but this was much more like steak. I also didn't find this to be the best value in terms of portion and size. I do think this is good if you want steak, but if you want galbi, I believe they have a true galbi dish! Chili Jjamppong Sundubu (not pictured): Gigantic soup. Nothing to write home about but yummy and, again, gigantic. Really good for sharing! Salt Bread Churro Bites: My friend got these for her dessert and enjoyed them! I don't recall trying them, but they look bomb and make complete sense as a concept for this Korean fusion spot! Black Sesame Brownie Cup: Really impressed by this dessert. It's GF, and yet the brownie bites were moist and dense. The surprise bits of mochi were a great addition. They were just having fun adding the brulee top. Would recommend for sure. End-to-end, it was a great dinner experience! Loved the vibe, mix of options, and actual good dessert. Check it out!
Came here with friends to try out their Thirsty Thursdays ($20 per person for bottomless drinks)! The food was pretty good - I really liked the salt bread and it was probably the best salt bread I've had! The potatoes were just okay, but still tasty! I also liked all the drinks we had as well - there is a good array of nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks. The service lacked a bit - we had to wait quite a while to be seated (probably half an hour past our reservation and we got there early, so we waited quite a bit longer). They had also run out of a few drinks on the menu by the time we ordered. Nevertheless, the ambiance was quite lovely! I liked the movies they projected as well as the decor they had. It felt pretty modern.
Was super excited to try this spot out but was disappointed. Maybe it was an off day and I need to give it another chance. Black sesame latte - super milky and had very little black sesame flavor. It had specks of black sesame but flavor was not coming through. I even tried mixing it up. Toasted coconut latte - it tasted like a normal latte with sweetener because the coconut did not come through at all. Salt bread - it was very dense and doughy but the flavor was good. It didn't taste close to the salt bread we had in Seoul.
Visited Buoy for a quick lunch recently and it was a good experience. First off, the exterior is unassuming and simple. Once you walk in, you notice the front counter area and a fairly spacious seating area with multiple tables where people are working, chatting, or hanging out. The cafe was busier than expected but we were able to sit down in the corner with a nice couch and arm chairs. I liked the overall atmosphere, it was aesthetically pleasing in terms of design and decor and with a modern/ contemporary vibe. My friend and I both opted to order sandwiches, the Ribeye Salt Bread Sando and the Egg Salt Bread Sando, which were tasty and filling. I liked the egg version, as it had a nice texture and a bit of sriracha mayo to enhance the flavor. I didn't get a chance to try the ribeye version since I was too full, but I enjoyed the dining experience. My friend also had a matcha latte with cream top which she thoroughly enjoyed. I'll definitely have to return to try an iced coffee in the near future. The truffle honey butter potatoes were a nice addition and had a slight sweetness and crunch. I will say pricing for our meal was a bit steep, as with the two sandwiches and a side and one drink, it was almost $50. Portions were adequate and we had some leftovers. Customer service was friendly and efficient. Although, they did seem a bit understaffed. You do need to bus your own table and I didn't notice any signage on that, but likely missed it. Worth visiting if you want to visit a cute cafe with a chill vibe.
I've been here for their cafe during the day and recently came for dinner. I didn't love their coffee or matcha. They both tasted pretty watered down to me, but dinner was a hit! We shared the truffle honey butter potatoes, wagyu yukhwe, chili jjamppong sundubu, buoy saambap, and the minari bossam between 5 people. It was a good amount for us. -The potatoes were really good. -I love yukhwe and everyone really liked it too. -The jjamppong was too spicy for me, but good for everyone else. -The saambap was interesting. I don't love perilla and it was basically topped and showered with perilla, so you got the taste with every bite. -The bossam was good and it really was thinly sliced. I think this for me was where I felt the most disconnect from how the dish is traditionally prepared. We got the strawberry matcha bingsu for dessert and it was really good. Tasted fresh and not too sweet. Their cocktails were also pretty good. I got the black tiger and it really doesn't taste like alcohol at all, just coffee.
came here to get some work done and it's such a beautiful space. i probably wouldn't recommend it as a work spot though because the wifi was incredibly slow and the music was really loud. i ended up asking if they could turn it down lol, but to be fair i also forgot my noise-cancelling headphones, so that's on me. food-wise, this was my first time trying salt bread and it definitely lived up to the hype. i got the egg sando and the bread was soft with a nice chew, the egg was super fluffy, and the sriracha mayo gave it the perfect little kick. the regular iced latte was fine too--nothing particularly memorable, but it got the job done. overall, i'd definitely come back for the food and the atmosphere, just probably not if i needed to get work done.
A friend of ours DJ'd here on a Sunday and we thought the vibe was so cool inside. Sometimes it's so hard to go out a night in your 30s (lol) so a coffee shop with good music is the move. The workers were super sweet and helpful - they recommended the iced black sesame einspanner which I got but I ordered with oat milk, and it was sooo good. Super flavorful and not watery at all. We also ordered the salt bread and omg... so fresh. Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. We got the gochujang butter and ube spread to go with it, and both paired perfectly with the bread. Highly recommend trying it! They also open for dinner at night which I'd love to come back for.
Food: - Wagyu Galbi: it was very flavorful and tender. i really liked the potatoes it came with as well. - Minari Bossom: loved the pork belly but the side of kimchi was not my favorite. i love kimchi but this particular one had quite the bitter aftertaste. - Beef Tartare: so flavorful that we ate it up quickly! Happy Hour: - Their soju based drinks were very yummy but the service at the bar was very slow considering how many workers there are. They only have one primary designated bartender which felt a bit intentional. Ambiance: - The dark lit room and mini lamps were very aesthetic. Overall, it was very a expensive dinner but I had a great experience.
A Korean cafe that has delicious savory and sweet bites, perfect for your work at home needs and mid-morning pick-me-up! I came to Buoy to work from home on a Tuesday afternoon, and there were a good number of tables still available. After you go in and place your order at the counter, if you notate that you are eating here, they will give you a number to put on your table, and they will deliver it to you in your chosen planting spot :). The interior of the place is very cute and modern, and surprisingly very spacious. Bonus: There is a bathroom for customers. I ordered an iced tea unsweetened and a black sesame brownie and my friend ordered a black sesame latte with a ribeye sando. Here are my thoughts: * Black sesame brownie: Absolutely delicious and worth coming here just to try this. I am not going to lie, when I first got the brownie I was a bit confused because I thought it would look like the photos on yelp, but it came in a glass cup with a brûlée on top. That to say, this was so delicious and might be my favorite sweet of the year? The black sesame was so pronounced, toasty, and balanced well with the sweet and smoky brûlée topping and has nice textural chew from the mochi bits. * Ribeye salt bread: This was great and also surprised me! The bread was nice and buttery, and the ribeye was very tender. The saltiness of the bread matched well with the meaty flavors of the beef. * Black sesame latte: Unfortunately, I did not taste much black sesame in the drink itself, and it was a bit on the plainer side. Even though this is their signature drink, most people get, I might recommend to skip it. Overall, I would come back, and I am eager to try more bites!
Salt breads were tasty but lacked the crispy, airy texture that I expected from a salt bread. I did go at 2pm so perhaps it was just old. Service was quick and the interior aesthetic was nice. Would recommend for brunch with the girlies or date night!
cafe by day, dinner/bar? by night (need to check out the night vibes cause it is such a great vibey space). like it during the day as a work space and to get things done while eat yummy food :) salt bread + matcha combo was exactly what I needed to fuel up but later in the work day/ lunch, got a beef bowl too that was filling. like the fusion/modern twist to all!
My friend and I came here on Sunday around 11am. It was still pretty early, so we were the only ones there. The interior was modern and minimalistic with neutral coloring and warm lighting. It felt like a cozy cafe when I walked in. You would order at the counter, find a table to sit, and pick up your order at the side counter once it's ready. The staff were friendly, and it took around 10 minutes for our pastries and drinks to be ready. I went with the Bam French Toast, and a Latte Einspanner, and my friend got the Black Sesame Latte. I forgot the name of the pastry that she got it, but it had corn on top. The French toast had chestnut cream on top and it was so good. The French toast was soft, and the chestnut cream was lightly sweet. I felt like I didn't need the syrup on the side because it was already perfect sweetness for me as someone who doesn't like overly sweet pastries. The Latte Einspanner wasn't really sweet but was creamy and had good coffee flavor. For my order, it was $28.25 which is a bit on the pricier side for a pastry and a drink. I think this is a nice place to catch up with friends. There's plenty of seating, and the overall volume of the cafe wasn't too loud, so it may be good for some light work or study. read more
My friend introduced me to this restaurant after coming here during their cafe hours. We made a reservation for a weekday dinner, and we loved the dimly lit environment along with the friendly service. While we were ordering, we were given some deliicous snacks (ex: dried dates) before our meal! We also tried some of their cocktails, one with a sparkling ginger taste. We ordered the Yukhoe, which delicious pairing of beef and pear. While the Galbi Crunch short ribs were seasoned well, all of us found that some pieces were a bit too chewy. The Chili Jajmppong Pasta had a larger noodle to seared brisket ratio we had hoped, but the spicy chili sauce was rich and yummy. The restaurant is spacious and a nice place to experience for dinner. read more
4 months ago
Been delaying to go due to some bad Google reviews though very interested in the menu but the place turned out to be AMAZING!!! The interior and vibe were soooo nice and chill - suitable for brunch, coffee chat, and even studying. Staffs were also super friendly! Everything we ordered was to-taste & well-portioned! The beef rice salad turned out to be huge and well-flavored! Would definitely come back for other times' menu!!! read more
3 days ago
Business owner information
Esther K.
We take an accusation of racism very seriously, so we were genuinely…
Don't get me wrong the food was great but the service was so lacking it didn't make up for it. We had a reservation but didn't get sat until past the reservation time and everything came out very slowly. Any drink refill or food took awhile to arrive each time. The portions were small and the automatic 20% service charge is not earned in my opinion. Disappointing because the food was really good, but still some work to do otherwise! read more
Business owner information
Esther K.
Hi Erica,…
5 months ago
Dinner Review: Golden Toast: (3/5) - ours came with dungeoness crab on top. toppings were very good, but the texture of the toast was a bit more deep fried vs softer that i would have felt gone better with the softer toppings. Tofu Soup/Sundubu: (5/5) - this was the star of the show for me, probably the best sundubu i have had in SF yet. great richness and spice level for the stew itself, and toppings also great. i do like a good stew so this gets max points Charcoal Grilled Galbijjim: (4/5) - Very solid, great texture (nice and soft, not chewy). the sauce it comes with on the plate and the green one in the bowl pair very nicely with it. no complaints for the price Drinks: - Black Tiger: this one was basically an iced americano (with soju supposedly). fine, but doesnt stand out. (3/5) - Forgot the name of the other one but its got a mix of soju, lychee, other fruit juices. this one was refreshing and tasty! (4/5) Service (5/5) read more
7 months ago
This is a cute little Korean cafe in Hayes valley. When I came by last time, I noticed they have a lunch menu which I was very excited about. Service was fast. There wasn't a line so I got my drink and food fairly quickly. I finally got to try the octopus rice bowl which by default comes with the galbi sauce. I also got a hot black sesame latte for the cold weather. The octopus rice bowl was FANTASTIC. octopus was nicely grilled and it was super TENDER! I appreciate the amount of vegetables in the rice bowl cool. Rice was perfectly cooked and had the perfect amount of sauce. I would definitely come back and get this again! Black sesame latte was good. Had a strong roasted sesame flavor. It was slightly too sweet for my liking so maybe next time I'll get light sweet. I've came here before on a separate time and got their salt bread. It wasn't my favorite as it resembled a dense dinner roll. I'm not sure if it was a bad batch or that's how it's supposed to be. read more
1 year ago
Such a cute spot. Warm and aesthetic interior with lots of seating options available inside. So much space. Got the black sesame iced latte (not pictured) and the salt bread. The latte was mild and smooth. I do wish there was a slightly more prominent coffee flavor but it was delicious regardless and wasn't too sweet. The salt bread was perfect. Warm, soft and buttery. Great casual spot to hangout with a friend or do some work Food: 8/10 Service: 10/10 Ambience: 9/10 read more
I stopped by around lunch time to grab a drink to-go. Lots of people looked like they were WFM but I didn't see any outlets. With its couches, leather seating, marble tabletops, wooden bar, and shelves lined with magazines and wine glasses, this is classier than your typical café. However, it was low key distracting b/c there was a couple sitting at the bar who were very touchy feely... Anyways, order at the register, find a seat, and pick up your order once it's called. I wanted something with caffeine, so I ordered the Black Cocoa Mocha ($7.00 + tax): +Drinkable temperature: Hot, but doesn't burn your mouth/tongue +Creamy, malty, and chocolatey: Definitely not your usual mocha! +Cute latte art -It became a tad too sweet towards the end: If I ordered this again, I'd request less sweetness. -Espresso could be stronger. Side notes: 1.) Self-serve water cups and napkins 2.) Stamp cards available for drinks: Buy 10 get 1 free 3.) Restroom available for customers. 4.) Walking distance from Van Ness station Verdict: If I was in the area, I'd return to try their salt bread or something with ssuk AKA mugwort. read more
Love the vibe here! I've been looking for a spacious cafe in sf to bring my laptop and do work and so happy that I discovered this place! There's plenty of tables, bar seating, and couches in the corner. They have projector playing shows on the wall which is so cute! I got the strawberry matcha and warmed salt bread. Strawberry matcha is decent, maybe 6/10, I think it could use a bit more strawberry in it. The salt bread is also around 6/10, the inside is fluffy and buttery and outside is crunchy but a lil too oily for me and not salty enough. Overall would come back here to do more work or just hang out, the food looks good too so would love to try that! read more
6 months ago
Booked a dinner reservation here for my boyfriend's birthday and we loved it!! Both the food and service, as well as the general ambiance was really great & really perfect for a nicer occasion. We got: Truffle Honey Butter Potatoes - good, I'd say best if you like sweet & savory but it might be too sweet for some people... but the spicy mayo dip it came with balanced it out to me. Golden Toast - so yummy I was expecting it to be just alright but exceeded my expecations! Really great textures and complementary flavors, between the crispy toast, creamy avocado puree, salty Ikura, and everything else, we really liked it. Chili Jjampong Sundubu - the flavors were good, and surprisingly a really big portion, and had lots of protein included. It was a perfect spice level for me but slightly too spicy for my boyfriend, but we both thought it was good otherwise. Would be even better with rice or noodles but with everything else we ordered we'd have been too full anyways. Minari Bossam - our favorite!!! the thinly sliced pork was so soft and a little bit smoky i think from being torched on top.. everything complemented each other so well, and I loved the tofu ssamjang & kimchi that went with it. Totally a must-try. Black Sesame Yuzu Cup - I wanted to try the other dessert options but since it was my boyfriend's birthday I went for this because jt was more like a cake so they could put a candle in it.. the candle was so cute!!! And the servers were really nice and accommodating when I asked for it to be a surprise. A yummy and not super rich or sweet dessert to end our meal! The yuzu really cut the richness of the brownie, and there was some mochi at the bottom that was a nice textural element. I didn't taste much black sesame though. Loved the food here and the two of us definitely want to come back to try the other options or try their lunch/morning cafe menu!! And not only that, but the servers were very very nice and attentive, which I really appreciated. I accidentally splattered some of the chili jjamppong on my white shirt and one of the servers noticed and ran over with a wet wipe for me . Super sweet! read more
3 months ago
Finally made it back for a dinner. The "Golden Toast", with avocado and hamachi, was excellent. I really liked that the perilla oil came through and was nicely balanced by a sun dried tomato. We followed it with the chili jjambong sundubu, which was more sundubu than jjambong, but delicious nonetheless. Garlicky and rich broth, clams and thinly sliced beef make this a must try item. Finally, we finished with the minari bossam, which was not what I was expecting at all. Usually the pork belly is cut into thick, squarish pieces, many times with soft cartilage running through. These were thinly cut transverse pieces like bacon. They were incredibly tender, seasoned with sesame oil and pepper. Accompanied by minari, which is like a cross between water cress and parsley, jeotggal (lightly fermented, salted seafood and kimchi side), and tofu ssamjjang (a creamy salty "spread" made with tofu and gochujang), this one kind of blew my mind. Roll these into each piece of pork belly for a "perfect bite". This dish goes so well with soju, which is what we independently decided to drink this night. We sat in the lounge instead of at the bar this time, which made it a much more relaxing experience. It kind of felt like being in a hotel lounge. The service was very good, as before, but it's a little harder to get attention because you are out if sight from the main dining area--both a plus and minus. read more
1 year ago
Came here on a friday with a mentor and this is nice spot by Hayes Valley for a cup of coffee or quick bite. very spacious interior, quiet atmosphere. there were a decent number of people in the cafe during at noon. Staff was friendly and professional. I ordered the following: - black sesame latte: not too sweet with a noticeable black sesame flavor - kimchi panini: the bread was well toasted and I really liked the unique combination of kimchi and sweet potato. the salad on the side was great as well but overall this was on the pricier side and lowkey not worth the cost There's free wifi and large tables to work at, so personally I enjoyed the space more than the food. read more
3 months ago
First experience with salt bread! It was definitely a great first experience! The bread was warm and fresh! The environment was very cute and aesthetic. We took our bread to go but it would have been nice to eat there as well. The food all looked and smelled amazing! The butter was a bit hard; if it was softer it probably would have been nice. Overall, this place is definitely worth trying if you're looking for some good salt bread! read more
8 months ago
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. read more
Cute cafe with easy transit near Bart/Muni I ordered the iced Einspanner latte. tasty with a nice foam on top - would recommend. They have a lot of cute desserts on display but i didn't try them. The space was very nice and well decorated. The service was ok, not super friendly. read more
Been wanting to find a place that does salt bread like they do in Korea. This place comes close. Their plain Salt bread and their salt bread egg sandwich which was absolutely amazing. The fluffiness of the egg and the sauce on the bottom really knocked this out of the park. Also tried their matcha einspanner, which had a light whip cream like texture on the top. Their matcha wasn't too sweet or bitter. Middle of the road for me. I also tried their Ssuk einspanner, again it had that light whip cream and the drink itself was light in flavor gave me a slight nutty almond milk vibe. It's supposed to create a calming effect. I definitely would get it again. Overall walking into Buoy was reminiscent of walking into a quaint Korean cafe. The drinks are good and I would def come back for the salt bread Sandwiches! read more
I am always impressed by Buoy. I came back for their Ssuk Einspainer which was as good as I remembered. I love how unique it is and the flavor is great. This time we also got their corn salt bread and their milk salt bread. I preferred the corn salt bread but both were good! This is such a great spot to work from as well. You order at the kiosk and I like how the restaurant is set up inside. read more
2 months ago
6 months ago
They use rice flour for their salt bread! An fyi - it is delicious but the bread is heavier. Excellent raw beef, flavoring and seasoning and pear was delicious read more
Super cute Korean cafe located near Hayes Valley. I tried the salt bread and black sesame latte w/ a shot of espresso. The latte was pretty good - sesame flavor was prominent and not too sweet. The salt bread was on the denser side, though this might have been because we visited at the end of the day. I would come back to try their other drinks and pastries!! read more
Great spacious cafe with cute vibes, very good for sitting and chatting or working. We got the strawberry matcha latte which was good but okay compared to other places, and an einspanner which was amazing! Not too sweet but very creamy complementing the espresso very well. We went on a weekend and there were decent amount of people there but we were able to grab the seats next to the window and couches read more
3 months ago
Me and my boyfriend were lucky enough to sit in the lounge area by the big mirror. It was our two year anniversary so we splurged and got the prefix menu with the wine/sake pairing, if you're in the mood to celebrate or have the funds to splurge I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! My boyfriend and I are huge foodies and going out to eat at nice establishments are our favorite pastime, and this restaurant really took the cake for us. Every single dish and drink was paired so perfectly and tasted delicious, huge applause to the chef. The service was also fantastic, we were served by Daniel (I believe there are two Daniel's that work there ((I'm sure they both are great)) but I want to really reiterate how exceptional this particular server was (he worked thursday June 11th pm in the lounge section by the big mirror). He was incredibly knowledgeable and paced out our dinner perfectly to the second. I've enjoyed a lot of prefix menus in my life and yet have never had a prefix menu timed and paced so fantastically. From the top to bottom everything was amazing, and I can confidently say this restaurant is added to the top of my favorites list, I will certainly be coming back soon. read more
Business owner information
Esther K.
Thank you so much for this lovely comment about our staffs,…
If you need a WFH cafe with chargers, wifi, and amazing pastries and drinks, Buoy's your place! I worked here on a Wednesday morning and I was pleasantly surprised by the delicious snacks, the friendly staff, and how much seating there was. FOOD [5/5] ========== + Milk Bread (6/5 - WOULD RECOMMEND!) This is honestly a really amazing pastry. The milk bread is served warm, with a slightly salty outside and a warm soft sweet inside. For the price, it's a little small, but it's such a great bomb of flavor that I didn't mind. + Mugwort Latte with Espresso (5/5) This mugwort latte was really interesting! The mugwort is slightly bitter and earthy tasting, but it's balanced with the espresso in a way that makes the whole drink quite pleasant. + Tiramisu (???) Unfortunately I left this on the MUNI so I will never know how it tastes. T_T read more
Business owner information
Esther K.
Hi Izzie,…
4 months ago
Tried their banana latte it was good but on the sweeter side. They had a DJ playing on Sunday morning. read more
I found this cafe on Instagram and was excited to see another Korean-inspired spot. What stood out to me were the gluten-free desserts ~ amazing for those who have Celiacs or just can't have gluten in their diet! The pastries looked yummy, but sadly, I didn't get to try them. The vibe was super cozy, especially on the gloomy Friday. I appreciate the open space, great for working or just lounging around. My experience was okay. The guy who took my order gave me an iced black sesame latte instead of hot, but this isn't bother me. The black sesame latte was super nutty and flavorful. Pretty good! $9 for a latte is pretty steep though...maybe because I got it with oat milk? Overall, regardless with how flavors were, this is the cafe you visit once to try the trendiest flavors or to chill and work. It is a bit pricey just for a regular drink. read more
3 months ago
Buoy is a cute Korean cafe in Hayes serving an assortment of coffees and snacks. There is plenty of seating inside - a coffee bar counter, dining tables, and lounge section. We enjoyed our flavorful black sesame latte and classic einspanner drinks. The salted bread roll was heavenly and something we could have easily eaten more than one of as it was quite small. We also had a red wheat loaf with walnuts which was bland if not for the side dipping sauce. Overall a decent first experience at Buoy. Drinks were great. Pastries were not too memorable but I am open to giving them a second chance and trying other items. read more
11 months ago
Buoy was decent...went on a weekday for a larger dinner reservation and I felt like service was slow...food portion sizes were also super small! The playes are tapas sized, but I didn't feel like it was a full dinner. Great for a light dinner or pre-dinner place, but I definitely left wanting more. Good, but for the price point I'm not too sure. I do want to try their afternoon/lunch items and maybe that's more promising. read more
1 year ago
While searching for a cafe near my sister's workplace with Wi-Fi and outlets, we stumbled upon Buoy--and what a find it was. We ordered the black cocoa mocha (which genuinely tastes like Oreos) and split the mushroom tofu panini and the Bam French toast. Usually, one item steals the show while the rest fade into the background, but here, everything was outstanding. The black cocoa mocha was rich, and deeply satisfying. The mushroom tofu panini was a surprising delight--the kick of mustard paired beautifully with the umami-packed sautéed oyster mushrooms. And the Bam French toast? It featured moist rice flour bread topped with a luxuriously smooth chestnut Bam purée. My sister and I loved every bite. On a return visit, I tried the Tropical Espresso Soda and the matcha raspberry jam levain cookie. The soda sparkled with pineapple and passion fruit notes, while the cookie was a perfect shortbread-style treat, balancing the earthy matcha with bright, tangy raspberry. It's rare to find a cafe that checks all the boxes: great food, creative drinks, Wi-Fi, and outlets. The only downside? The internet speed is a bit sluggish. But aside from that, Buoy is an absolute gem. read more
Business owner information
Esther K.
Hi Caroline,…
4 months ago
I ordered the salty bread to be warmed up but it was still cold in the middle. The black sesame tasted bland. Staff was not very friendly! read more
1 year ago
This place is worth going just for their kimchi panini alone. It might be one of the best korean fusion dishes I've eaten here in the city/ever. Crispy bread, crunchy and spicy kimchi, sweet umami from the corn and gooey cheese. Loved every part of it. It comes sliced so you can share amongst two. The sweets I've had was so-so to good. The matcha roll cake was ok but the brown cookie with marshmellow was solid. Einspanner and ssuk lattes were so-so. Not bad but not great. Latte einspanner had chocolate milk texture and was just sweet. Ambience is great though, great place for you to study. read more
Business owner information
Esther K.
Hi Sang Yoon,…
1 year ago
Cute cafe that's good for working -- they have free wifi and outlets and the vibe is great! They have tons of seating and it wasn't too busy on a Wednesday. Lots of people talking though which could be distracting. I got the ssuk latte, black sesame salt bread, and the kimchi panini. The ssuk latte was very mild and I liked the creaminess -- I've never had ssuk before but it didn't taste like much to me; very pleasant flavor. I liked the salt bread, which was filled with black sesame cream. Not too sweet but some bites were quite salty. The kimchi panini had corn cheese & bacon and was pretty good as well, but a little expensive at $20. I did really like the side caesar salad though. Service was good -- food & drinks came out fast and workers were pretty friendly. read more
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Esther K.
Hi Michelle,…
1 year ago
I'm so glad to have found this place! I've been searching for a cafe that serves einspanners in the city and this is the perfect spot! They had so many options and also had pastries and food! I tried the classic einspanner and it was delicious! I will definitely be getting it again! My friend got the black cocoa mocha and it was also yum! We shared the tofu mushroom panini and it was good but not memorable. The interiors are also very cute with lots of seating so will be coming back here to work! read more
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Esther K.
Hi Namratha,…
TLDR: The upscale Korean cafe I didn't know I needed. The black sesame brownie and Ssuk Tiramisu here are standout and unique desserts, and I'd get them again in a heartbeat. The space is honestly really cute with both a casual lounge area and plenty of tables + "coffee bar" seating for studying or catching up with friends. They're known for their desserts and specialty drinks, but they also have 3 types of paninis and 3 types of onigiris if you're looking for real food. ------ FOOD: 1. Black Sesame Brownie (5/5) - The black sesame flavor is super strong here which is hard to come by in desserts and so nostalgic for me. The mochi balls in the brownie are a welcome surprise. The brownie itself is quite small though. 2. Ssuk Tiramisu (5/5) - This was delicious and the tiramisu part of the dessert was done perfectly. This was my first time trying ssuk in a cake and it gave the perfect, subtle herbal taste to add a twist to a classic. 3. Kimchi Panini (4.5/5) - Very complex flavor profile and made fresh which was great. Also comes with either a side of salad or chips. So much going on in this but somehow it worked really well, though the sandwich itself is quite messy so get napkins. 4. Black Cocoa Cookie (3.5/5) - I thought I'd like it more but it was a little too grainy and nutty for my liking and the melted marshmallow didn't quite work with the cookie, though it was delicious on its own. 5. Match Roll (3/5) - Didn't love the cake part of the roll because it wasn't as soft and pillowy as I was expecting it to be (had more of a bite than I was expecting?). I'm not a huge matcha fan but I actually didn't mind the matcha flavor of the cream in this. ------ ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE: Lots of seating options here bucketed in 3 types: 1) Casual lounge seating in arm chairs in a super cute library-type space at the front of the shop; lots of light and perfect for catching up with friends over a coffee or specialty drink 2) "Bar" seating at the coffee bar and dessert-assembly space near where you order; you get to watch someone decorate the various desserts throughout the day; tall chairs at a wide counter so multiple people can sit along the space 3) Table seating at round tables lining the interior wall of the shop; people were working here and catching up with friends over food / desserts There's some very convenient street parking right outside the shop as well as parking along the nearby streets. read more
Business owner information
Esther K.
Hi Helen,…
More info about Buoy
22 Franklin St
San Francisco, CA 94102
Hayes Valley, Civic Center
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(415) 416-9409
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https://www.thebuoysf.com
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Buoy - desserts - Updated September 2026
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