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I'm so happy that I got to try this place before they closed, but I'm so bummed that I'll never get to have it again. My friends and I raved about the marinated shrimp ($29) and how it was the best we've ever had. This is definitely the dish I'm gonna be missing the most. The fried chicken ($19) was solid and the pieces were huge. There was one that was literally the shape of a ball. The corn cheese tater tots ($18) were good, but they were slightly heavy on the sour cream. Lastly, we had the bulgogi jeongol ($42), which looked intimidating because of how much food it was, but the broth, veggies, and japchae were so light that we were able to finish all of it. I totally understand why everyone was so sad to see this place close down. I'm thankful to the owners for creating such a great restaurant and delicious food!
Came here for dinner with a group and overall the raw shrimp was the highlight. It was super fresh and sweet with a nice Miren + Light Soy + fish sauce marinade, and the kimchi banchan had great depth and spice. Both stood out right away. The army stew was a really generous portion and easily feeds four people, so it's a good choice if you're sharing and want something filling. The oysters and boiled pork were solid and about what we expected, nothing surprising and skippable. Service was pretty infrequent and it could be hard to flag someone down for refills or extra orders, so I'd recommend ordering most of what you want upfront. The ambiance is casual and lively which makes it great for groups than an intimate dinner. I'd come back for the raw shrimp!
High end looking restaurant serving down to earth Korean tapas. The interior is dimly lit with a simple modern vibe. Service was decent but don't expect them to be super fast as there are a lot of other tables waiting to be served as well. We tried various seafoods including their crab, shrimp, and oysters. All were very fresh and of good quality. Highly recommend the shrimp as the flavor and texture is mind blowing and just so different from other food items. Warning: soy marinated food items are salty because they need to ensure there's enough salt to "cook" the seafood so don't order these dishes if you're not a sodium fan.
I've had ILCHA on my list for a while now. I saw videos saying they were going to close so I had to try it before it was too late. My friend made a reservation for Thursday night dinner. It got busy later in the night. Korean fried chicken (5/5): The fry was so good. The chicken was so juicy. You get a choice of gochujang or garlic soy sauce. We chose the garlic sauce and I didn't think it would come on the side. We did the half order which was a good portion for the two of us. Dubu kimchi (3/5): This was pretty basic. Stir fried kimchi with tofu and pork belly. Could've done without. Bulgogi jeongol (5/5): This was perfect. The tables come with a built in burner so it stayed hot throughout the meal. The broth was so healing. The bulgogi had good flavor and wasn't too sweet. It came with mushrooms, napa cabbage, onions, carrots, rice cakes and glass noodles. It was a great way to get our veggies in. I'm sad that they are closing. It was a really good meal. I enjoyed my time and would've come back.
Came here before I heard they'd be closing this restaurant soon bc it's been widely liked and was really happy I got to come before they close! Everything we had was delicious! The raw marinated shrimp comes with seaweed, rice, and a yolk. It had a nice sweetness to it that was a nice surprise. The bossam and oysters were also great, the pork was tender and the gochuchang based sauce for the oyster was my favorite. They even gave a free refill of lettuce and perilla, which was appreciated. The fried chicken comes piping hot and is crispy and juicy. The service was kind of slow to get seated and our order taken but it seemed like they were a tad short staffed. But the service was very nice. Only sad thing was that they didn't have the grilled tteok that day. Looking forward to hearing what's next for the folks that run this place!
ILCHA absolutely blew me away. My friends who live in SF brought us here, and I'm so grateful they did -- every single dish we tried was incredible and truly stood out! Not a single miss. I really loved the vibe of the space. The lighting is dim, but feels warm and cozy rather than dark. I came with a group of my friends, and the servers were so attentive and fun -- they teased and joked around with us + made the experience feel welcoming while also being a bit chaotic LOL. The soy-marinated shrimp was the highlight of the meal! It was so flavorful and easily one of my favorite bites of the night. Our friends told us that we have to pair it with the rice and order seaweed on the side to make little soy shrimp wraps -- such a game changer!!! We also ordered the corn cheese tater tots + the army stew and both were delicious! Everything came out warm, comforting, and satisfying. Each dish felt thoughtfully prepared so you can tell a lot of care goes into the food here. While the pricing is definitely on the higher-end side, it's 100% worth it for the quality, portions, and overall experience. I would've loved to come back over and over again, but I saw on Instagram that they'll be closing soon permanently -- which is such a bummer :( I'm disappointed I won't be able to return, but I'm glad I got the chance to experience ILCHA at least once! If you're thinking about going before they close, don't hesitate. This spot is truly something special, and I'm happy I got to try it.
Food - Everything was so good! - Great for sharing for us 4. - Good portions Service - Very fast and attentive. Ambiance - Dark inside, can be nice for a date night. - The bathroom is at the entrance, no sign: - Modern art with inside tables and dark walls.
So sad they are closing because we had a great first visit here. Got excited when I sat down and there was a hot pot! We ordered so much because we knew we wouldn't get another chance. The tteokboki with American cheese was so interesting . It also had condensed milk. My husband loved it and I was intrigued but not sure how I feel :$ Standouts the chicken! Fried beautiful and crisped up beautifully for leftovers as well. We felt like the price to performance on this was excellent . The half portion was huge! 5 pieces! I liked the hot pot too, but nothing standout about it. Sad they are closing, but what a great little place!
Was surprised to hear this place is closing, so I had to stop by one last time for their fried chicken. Ordered the half fried chicken, which came with both white and dark meat. It does take a bit to come out since it's fried fresh, but it's absolutely worth the wait. The chicken is brined, so it stays juicy and not dry at all. My other favorite was the cheese tteok. It's grilled rice cakes filled with mozzarella, topped with American cheese and condensed milk. It sounds like a strange combo, but it somehow works and was seriously addicting. Really sad I won't be able to have this again.
Cute little spot in the Marina. I made reservations even though I dined alone since I heard this place tends to fill up on Friday and Saturday nights. I was seated at the community table which is shared. Not a problem. Plenty of space. Ordered the kim mari for appetizers (fried seaweed spring rolls). Comes with a gochujang dipping sauce. I've had this before so I was excited to get it again. Really good/addicting. Light crispy batter on the outside. Can't go wrong ordering these. Had to go to work after so I only ordered one drink. It was a canned cocktail. Peach lychee soju sparkling cocktail. 8 percent! lol strong and delicious. Would order again even though it's canned. Took a photo so I could try to buy for the house stash lol For my entree, I ordered galbi which came with assorted ssam. I usually get rice but since I was working after, I just ate these as wraps for a lighter option. Well marinated and really good as "lettuce wraps". I asked for a side of hot sauce for added spice. I've wanted to try something different this time around. I've had their Korean fried chicken which is really good! Some of the best I've had! Didn't get it this time cause I like to have it fresh and it would've been way too much food for me, but if you go, definitely grab some of that! Service was great! Even though they're busy, they servers make sure to take care of you. I work part time down the street and heard they are closing soon which is so sad for us. We love them and the staff. Food is delicious. Try to get there to check out the food before they close come February!
Wish I tried this place earlier and not 1 month before they close :( Ilcha's been on my bookmarked list for ages and it did not disappoint. Ambiance is casual w dimly lit lighting and plenty of seating - there's a long table in the middle of the restaurant for parties of 2, plus several individual tables on each side for larger groups. Service was fantastic, very attentive and food came quickly. We ordered the following: - half size fried chicken: this was soo good. perfect layer of fried skin, and the chicken was flavorful and juicy. paired great with the gochujang - bulgogi jeongol: their stew portions are hefty and filling - ours had a large helping of meat, noodles, tofu slices, enoki mushroom, and greens. didn't even order a side of rice cause it was that much food. I've also heard the soy marinated crab is a must order, though it wasn't on the menu this time. definitely check it out before they close on 2/14!
So sad that my favorite restaurant is closing -- last day to dine is 2/14/26 Highly recommend coming in before then! Came here with my boyfriend and our experience was a 10/10. We wanted to order the soy raw marinated crab, but it wasn't on the menu, so we opted for the shrimp instead. The raw marinated shrimp was not fishy at all and so good. We also ordered the fried chicken, and it was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Glad that I was able to dine one last time before its closing day.
I was super excited to finally try Ilcha as I love Korean food and heard good things about this place from friends. We made a reservation for Friday night and between 2 people, we shared: - Marinated raw shrimp: Soy marinated shrimp with a side of egg yolk rice with seaweed and sesame oil. This was definitely my favorite of the night! The shrimp is so tender and flavorful and perfect with the egg yolk seaweed rice. So much umami and marinated well so don't be afraid of the raw shrimp! - Corn Cheese Tator Tots: Crispy tots covered in corn cheese and sour cream with gochujang mayo. Really yummy but pretty heavy - Budae Jjigae: Korean army stew with ramen, kimchi, sausage, spam. It's a simple staple soup but they do it really well and it's rich and savory without feeling like too much which is perfect We also got a bottle of Ji Pyeong Makgeolli to share which was nice and refreshing without feelings too alcoholic. I definitely enjoyed all the food and the ambiance is really nice as well for an elevated Korean food experience.
9 months ago
For appetizers we started off with bulgogi tater tots and marinated raw shrimp. The tater tots were okay, they're what you expect. Tater tots loaded with sour cream, bulgogi, and veggies. The marinated raw shrimp was delicious though. While I wish it was peeled, it's not a big deal and it's paired with this rice bowl seasoned with seaweed and an egg yolk. It's super flavorful and I would recommend it. The bulgogi jeongol was good! A standard heart warming stew. I also got the bossam + oyster combo but forgot to take a picture. The oysters were delicious along with the bossam but I wish they gave more lettuce/perilla leaves to pair with the pork belly. read more
I've been to this place before when they first opened. However, I wasn't doing reviews at the time and my 1st experience at the time here was phenomenal. I came back because I wanted to see if this place was still as great as when they opened. I am delighted to say they still are. I came here and ordered the KFC (full), the Budae jigae, LA Galbi, ganjang saewoo, gyrean bap, Bossam with oysters, and Hotteok. The KFC was crunchy and moist. The Budae jigae was also pretty good, the portions are enough to feed 2-4 people. It had a kick to it, but in my opinion it wasn't spicy. The LA Galbi was also delicious and flavorful. The Bossam with oysters was also really good. The oysters were fresh and the Bossam was nice and tender. The ganjang saewoo and the gyrean bap was probably my favorite dish. The saewoo had a nice chewy texture that was strangely satisfying and the bap was a nice compliment. The Hotteok was a nice sweet finishing touch to the dinner. This place also has a lot of great drinks, but I didn't order any today as I was the one driving today haha. Next time though! The service here was also really good. The servers were nice, attentive, and great at breaking down the menu. The restaurant itself has a nice sleek design to it and gives off modern upscale vibes. It's definitely a great spot to go to if you want to take someone on a date or grab food and drinks with some friends. If you're into trying high quality Korean food and drinks this is the place for you! Try it if you like! :) read more
I have been craving raw soy marinated shrimp and crab since I came back from Seoul! I was super excited when I saw it on the menu at ILCHA! Unfortunately the day i went they ran out of the crab. The shrimp was SO tasty and totally worth the price! It was very flavorable and a dish you cant find at many other Korean restaurants in the bay. We ordered two sides or rice to eat with the shrimp and galbi - but the shrimp came with a side of special rice (just something to note)! The galbi was equally flavorable and smokey - I really enjoyed the marinade and the additional lettuce wraps. The restaurant is very modern and minimalistic. We called on Saturday looking for a reservation and the person on the phone said to come closer to closing for walk-ins since there was no availability. We came around 1 hour til closing and the host told us he isnt taking a waitlist because there isnt a lot of time til closing and they had more reservations. He said we are welcome to wait but there wasnt a guarantee we would get in. We decided to stay 30 minutes and if they didnt seat us then leave. After 15 minutes they ended up seating us! After that mishap - the service was very good, fast and attentive. They even gave us some free soju at the end of the night! 10/10 would reccomend this place - but get a reservation ahead of time! read more
5/5 for just the marinated shrimp alone! - M A I N S - - Pork Bossam with raw oysters was delicious and the presentation was very nice. Portion was decent, good for sharing. It came wth 6 raw oysters and a good 10-15 pieces of pork. I wish there was a spicy radish that went with it or some pickled radish wraps. - Raw Marinated Shrimp easily was my favorite thing here. Rice killer for sure, the sauce was sweet, salty, and very umami. The order came with 6 shrimps and was served with rice, seaweed and an raw egg yolk, mmmmm. - The KFC Korean Fried Chicken was also very crispy and delicious. - S E R V I C E - - Service was great, the waiters were very friendly and attentive and we got everything relatively fast. - Try to get a reservation if you can, I tried walk-ins before and the wait was always very long - P A R K I N G - Plenty of street parking available, area felt pretty safe. Can't wait to come here again! read more
Came here with a group of 5 for a friend's bday and was so pleasantly surprised! Good: - The tater tots were awesome, loved the bulgogi - Great pricing for a large group not too expensive - The bulgogi hot pot was so good - I like the fruit wine here as well and came with a lot of ingredients in it - Service was great friendly staff who also brought out ice cream and sang happy birthday, food also came out quickly Bad: - The chicken karaage was pretty normal not super fancy though and was a bit bland Overall this place was a solid place for a hangout with friends and great Korean food. Was packed as well on a Thursday night read more
tldr; Some of the best fried chicken I've had in SF! Make reservations on Tock -- pricey but worth it. recs: Fried Chicken ILCHA is a vibey, elegantly decorated yet simultaneously lively dining spot near the Marina neighborhood with some of the best fried chicken I've had. The half-sized portion comes with five pieces and a few sides, which doesn't seem like much at first but is surprisingly very filling. The gimmari was also great to snack on with a side of spicy sauce. Service was super attentive as well. Would definitely come back to try their raw marinated crab! read more
2 years ago
I made a reservation here for 7:30pm on a Wednesday and was seated upon checking in! The service was great because I let them know my friend is running a bit late and they still let me sit down first. The inside is a nice vibe, there is a large table down the middle and smaller tables on the side so this is a great place to come with a group of friends for food and drinks. We ordered garlic soy fried chicken and the bulgogi tater tots. The fried chicken was so crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the perfect fried chicken. The soy garlic sauce was so flavorful, honestly one of the best fried chicken sauces I've tried. The bulgogi tater tots was an appetizer but it came as a pretty large portion so it is a great sharing food for big groups. The cheese and bulgogi was a great combination, the tater tots were cooked crispy on the outside but soft inside. read more
2 years ago
Food: - Ban Chan: all the ban Chan that came with the foods we ordered were perfect. I recently came back from a trip in Korea and strongly feel that this dictates how good the meal will be. - LA galbi: 9/10, the meat was perfectly marinated and tender. It was a bit hard to chew off the cartilage with the bones. - Fried chicken: 10/10 must try!!! They offer a half order which is great if you want to share/try more food options. - Marinated shrimp: 5/10, the sauce was so good! I am not sure that we are raw shrimp people. The yolk rice was good, but the shrimp by itself was a bit hard for me to eat. It had a cold, slimy texture that I am not used to but I can understand others that enjoy this! Next time, I hope to get the crab! Service: - Nice host and waiters. They were really friendly and helpful in describing items on the menu. Ambiance: - We came here to celebrate our wedding anniversary. There is one large communal table and independent booths on the left and right sides. The bathroom is hidden away in the front. I think a reservation is a must, some people were walk ins but I overheard the host saying they would not be able to take more for the night around 6:45 pm. read more
Visited on a Tuesday around 8pm with a friend and was greeted by the host, waited a few minutes before we were seated at the communal table. Restaurant was pretty busy but there were a few spaces open so walk in is feasible but if you wanted to be safe make a reservation. Food: Korean fried chicken ordered a half portion with gochujang sauce, came with a 5 piece assortment of drumsticks, wings and breast pieces, pickled daikon, chiles, and slaw. Chicken was hot and crispy, meat was juicy and tender, breading/batter was crunchy and not greasy. The sauce added sweet spicy umami, the pickles added a tart and refreshing contrast which was great. Kim Mari - a bundle of glass noodles wrapped in seaweed, battered and fried, was super hot when the dish arrived so be careful when eating, came with a sweet spicy gochujang sauce, really tasty appetizer to start the meal. Service was fine, fairly quick and efficient, water was refilled as needed and servers checked in through the meal. Overall a great spot for traditional Korean drinking snacks, don't skip the wings! Would definitely come back with a larger group to try more of the dishes the army stew looked amazing. read more
The perfect spot to dine at with a group! Portion sizes are on the smaller size but really great flavors. I really enjoyed the LA Galbi and Budae Jjigae. Wish they had the raw marinated crab when I went, but it's off the menu and only available certain days! read more
1 year ago
Was easily able to snag a reservation for 2 people a day before we went! I've been really wanting to check this place out for their marinated crab but unfortunately, they didn't have it on the day we visited. However, the marinated shrimp definitely made up for it. The texture was so good and the flavor was a nice mix of sweet and savory. We also got the bossam and oysters and the cheese rice cake with condensed milk. Both were delicious! Our server was also super nice and kept refilling our lettuce! The restaurant is also nicely located. Maybe it's because we went on a Thursday evening but we were able to find street parking right outside the restaurant! read more
My friend SEOUL-ed (sold) me on this place the moment she said Bossam was poppin here. I said, "I GOCHU (gotchu), I'll be right there" .:: FOOD ::. Experience from 9/2/2023 Cheese Tteok Kkochi $12: Mozzarella filled rice cake skewer, American cheese, condensed milk. My friend liked this! I tried a little bit, it had a sweet and savory bite. I honestly dont like American cheese so i wasnt a fan, but this was supposedly their popular dish Korean Fried Chicken (half) $19: Served with cabbage salad, pickled radish, soy pickled jalapenos. Choice of gochujang or garlic soy sauce. Very crunchy big pieces, bone in. Bossam $28: Braised pork belly served with lettuce. I gobbled this up like a savage, the braised pork belly was good. I had this in SoCal before at a diff restaurant and was seriously missing it. Happy we found it here. Such a simple dish but so comforting Jumo Soju Sparkling Cocktail (Yuja Mango Citrus Mint) $13: I thought this was an actual cocktail, but its a canned drink. A bit too sour. I liked The peach lychee rose one more. Jumo Soju Sparkling Cocktail (Peach Lychee Rose) $13: Also canned drink, not an actual cocktail. More sweet and liked this one more Red Monkey 375mL $40: sweet wine, pretty good for my fellow sweet lovers. Comes in red. .:: Service / Ambiance / Parking ::. Our waitress was nice. We came on a Saturday night, no resy and got seated immediately for a party of 2. We did end up having to share the table with strangers but we didnt mind. Food came staggered and in a timely manner. The place is very modern wooden simple decor, with a big painting. The perfect lighting where it wasnt too dim but wasnt too bright. We were actually SUPER lucky. We got parking on the same block maybe 2 restaurants down. It was free since it was weekend. read more
2 years ago
Came here for my fiancee's birthday since she wanted to try this place out. I highly recommend that you reserve your spot. I saw a few walk-ins get turned away because they didn't have space. Ok so, the space is pretty small with a few private tables to the right and left and a large communal center table. I found that space on the large center table was tight, but not bad. The space is pretty clean inside and has dim lighting. The wait staff were all pretty nice and attentive. So onto the food. We got the following: Raw marinated crab Raw marinated shrimp Bulgogi jeongol Hotteok The raw marinated items were good. Super flavorful and meaty. The crab was small but packed a bunch of meat. They also give you rice and seaweed paper which was a nice touch to the raw marinated items. I'd get the crab and shrimp again. The bulgogi jeongol was HUGE. We both had no idea how big it was going to be. Our waiter said are you sure? It's a lot of food. Us, not knowing any better, said yeah it's ok. When we got the pot, we realized we were way over our head on this on. We couldn't even finish half the pot. That being said, it was on the sweeter side but it was good. I'd like to try their other stews, but with more people next time. The hotteok was good. Nice way to end the meal. They throw vanilla ice cream on top too. Overall, I really like Ilcha. The next time I come back, I'd like to bring a larger group of friends because it seems like a great place to share many plates with friends. 10/10 you should come. read more
Although we enjoyed our tots and kimchi/tofu dish, the reason Ilcha gets a 5/5 from me is their chicken. I cannot rave enough about how perfectly cooked the chicken is with a flaky batter and supremely moist chicken that's piping hot when you bite into it. Go for the chicken and drinks alone. Many parties are sat at one long table in the middle of the restaurant. Be prepared to get cozy with your neighbors! read more
Came here with a few friends and we shared a half order of the Korean fried chicken, bulgogi tater tots, spicy ramen, and ended with some hotteok. The Korean fried chicken was way bigger than we expected and was pretty good but I wish there were more seasoning/sauce options. The portion was also a lot huger than we expected! The spicy ramen was well liked by friends (a bit too spicy for me but that was expected), and the loaded bulgogi tater tots were my favorite part of the meal. The hotteok was also a great dessert, it was just enough for four people who were full! The restaurant was a little hard to find at first since the sign isn't very visible and the inside is pretty small but they have a nice minimalistic interior/vibe to the restaurant. It was also surprisingly hard to get a reservation but would definitely recommend having one if you are eating here! read more
First time ever going here. Went here with my girlfriend. The raw marinated crab is a must. Tons of flavor with a little sweet flavor. The fried chicken was very crispy and juicy. We got the army soup also. It tasted a little bland, it didn't have enough flavor in my opinion. Service was great. Checking up on us, asking if we needed anything during our meal. Note recommend making a reservation if you ever wanna go here. Since they get very busy . The place is hidden with no sign on their building. The lighting is perfect sets the mood for a perfect date night. Very clean restaurant wit tasty food. read more
LOVE Ilcha! If you want raw marinated crab or prawns, this is definitely the place to go. They have a limited stock so go early as you can't pre-reserve it! We were lucky to get both the crab and shrimp and I loved them both. We also got their fried chicken and buddaejiggae (but we were too busy eating i forgot to take a pic!) Also love their drinks choices - they had sparkling chungha (my fav drink from Korea) which was such a treat!! Service was really good and waiters were attentive to clearing the table promptly for us. Not too loud of a place which is great for a date or friend gathering! Overall one of my favorite non-BBQ Korean places to visit. read more
Ilcha is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Marina. I went here for the first time through a Yelp elite event, and have been hooked ever since. Food is amazing, servers are wonderful, decor is a beautiful (wooden tables, dark blue wall) traditional asian vibe, and the loud atmosphere is energizing. I would recommend literally everything on the menu. Most recently tried: Ganjang saewoo + Gyrean Bap: 5/5 was a bit nervous trying raw shrimp but it's really no different from sushi. The sauce is the perfect burst of flavor and the rice on the side is more than enough for the shrimp. Aesthetics are also 5/5 Budae jjigae: actually too spicy for me so beware if you're go-to answer for spice is "mild". Would be a 5/5 if I could handle spice. These soups are HUGE and more than enough for 2 people, especially if you order other dishes as well. Bulgolgi jeongol: 5/5 the less spicy version of Budae jjigae. The japchae and broth are SO flavorful. This soup will warm your whole body up. Hotteok: 4/5 not sure if this is intentional but the flavors are kind of layered. If you bite on one side you'll get a funnel cake flavor, the middle is cinnamon sugar, and the other side reminded me of red bean with a little bit of nutty. I wish the whole thing had a consistent flavor. Definitely check this place out! Great for groups, dates and solo dining. read more
There is no private parking lot, so street parking will be your best bet. We had made a reservation in advance so there was little to no wait time to be seated, but we did come in on a Sunday night around 7:30 pm. The restaurant ambiance was both casual and classy with their low ambient lighting and k-pop playing in the background it was a nice spot for a group gathering or a date night for some yummy food w/ drinks! There was only one restroom in the restaurant and it is located right behind the black door to the right of the entrance. Food came out quick and HOT! Korean Fried Chicken (Half size) It came with 5 pieces, freshly made (nice and hot). The outside was crispy and had a light panko-like breading, which made it feel light! The wings and drumsticks themselves were juicy and delicious. There was no glaze added, but it came with a dipping sauce and small assortment of side dishes (radishes, jalapeños, cold slaw, etc) 10/10! Kim Mari Crispy and a great appetizer to share as a small plate The glass noodles inside were chewy, and piping hot as it came out fresh as well. This dish paired well with their gochujang sauce, which was spicy with a hint of sweetness. 8/10 Bulgogi jeonsol This hotpot soup came with a sweet and savory broth. Delicious assortments of cut veggies, glass noddles and rice cakes along with their wagyu beef bulgogi slices. It was super filling and it was enough for 3-4 people who want to share along with other dishes. 9/10! read more
The shrimp was weirdddd I didn't enjoy. The sauce was okay but it tasted like really stringy sashimi. The rice that came with the shrimp was delicious though. The soup was pretty average but in a good way, I liked it a lot and they packed it with ingredients! Fried chicken was really juicy but the fried parts kept falling off. I don't think they mastered the art of fried chicken. read more
3 years ago
One of my fav Korean food places in the bay. Super good food and fun vibes! Food: I love the raw marinated shrimp, condensed milk and cheese rice cakes, and just about everything here is sooo good. You can't go wrong trying the KFC or desserts either. The combination of foods here are super tasty and unique Service: it's been getting busier so highly recommend making a reservation. Servers are always nice Ambience: If you make a reservation for 2, you will most likely be seated w other guests right next to each other at a long table. Bumping vibes and very lively read more
3 years ago
I've been wanting to try this place for a while now and it did not disappoint! I was nervous that 1. There wouldn't be any reservations available or 2. The wait would be insane for walk ins. Luckily the day of a 6pm reservation opened up and we were seated immediately. The host and all the servers were super friendly and attentive. We already had an idea of what we wanted to order so we didn't spend too much time looking at their menu, but it's also not a huge menu. My favorite was definitely the bossam and oysters, but the cheese tteok and the fried chicken were also both really good! It was plenty of food for two people but next time I'm going for the tots. We ended our meal with the hotteok, which was also super yummy. 10/10 for the food and 10/10 for the service.. I'll definitely be coming back! read more
This is my new favorite Korean restaurant in the city. The vibes were impeccable and I will be dragging my friends here in the future. Everyone was very friendly and the food is DELICIOUS. I've never tried soy raw marinated crab before and this blew my mind. It's not on the menu but make sure to ask if they have any. The crab is savory and super creamy and delicious. The raw shrimp (ganjang saewoo) wasn't as good as the crab but still worth a try. The gyrean bap that paired with it was sooo good. Also the corn cheese tots are a must. Perfect to pair with for drinks. I wasn't a fan on the bulgogi jeongal because I like my soups savory and not sweet. But the flavor was good and there was so many ingredients inside but it just wasn't my thing. I highly highly recommend coming here you will not be disappointed! read more
1 year ago
THE BEST Korean fried chicken I've ever had, and I've had a lot!! We also got the marinated shrimp and it was SO SO DELICIOUS. Loved the warmly lit ambience of the place. Great place for late night dinner and drinks. Overall 10/10 food and 10/10 vibes. read more
3 years ago
It was a struggle to place Ilcha into 4 or 5 stars. To be consistent with myself Im giving a 4 but it's on the cusp! 4 of us got a reservation and were promptly seated at the time. They might have been understaffed as it took a bit of time to get to order but nothing too long We started with the marinated raw shrimp, they provided us gloves to deshell because honestly yes I would have caused a mess. The shrimp was SO good, great balance of taste and it was cold and felt fresh The Kim mari came next and for a simple dish, still, great taste. In quick succession, our bossam and oysters came out along with the vegetable jigae. The bossam was the highlight if my night, along with the sauces and the tenderness of the pork, I felt myself wanting to devour the whole plate, alas I must share. Oysters were creamy and did not taste fishy, another great experience. The jigae was pretty standard and had a nice kick in it Hotteok was a lovely way to end the evening although i was already plenty full from the prior dishes. Theres something about the vanilla ice cream that was BEAUTIFUL but I couldnt place All around fantastic eating experience, 100% would come again for bossam and other menu items, though their menu is not large. The only down side is the price of everything, the quality clearly shows, but I'm a cheapskate at heart. read more
Came here for dinner after getting a reservation. We mainly came here to try the raw marinated shrimp after having seen it on social media and it definitely did not disappoint. The flavor of the marinade was very good and the portion sizes were filling. The fried chicken was also super crispy and the meat was juicy. The army stew was super filling and had the perfect amount of spice to it. Looking forward to coming back and trying the raw marinated crab once it's back in the menu! read more
3 years ago
THEY HAVE MARINATED CRABS NOW?! We had to order 2 of them. This place cannot wow me anymore. The servers area all SO sweet, tentative, and always makes sure we're doing ok. The raw shrimp and crab quality is something you're not able to find anywhere else in the city. Love going on date nights or taking friends/family here because everyone always ends up loving it! read more
3 years ago
Came to ILCHA on a Saturday night and it was completely packed. We were seated at the center communal table so the seating was pretty tight but we made it work. I was so excited about the raw marinated crab but unfortunately it is only seasonal. I wish I had known that before coming since I was looking forward to trying this the most. Here is the breakdown of what we got: - Cheese Tteok: My least favorite from the menu. I didn't like how it was sweet but my husband enjoyed it. If you don't have a sweet tooth or don't like american kraft cheese. Do not get it! - Korean Fried Chicken: highly recommend, so crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside - Bossam & Oysters: my first time trying bossam, it was amazing! - Soy Marinated Shrimp: The marinade was good, it took some adjusting to enjoy the texture of the shrimp. I didn't love it but I could see myself loving the raw marinated crab over this. Overall I enjoyed the experience here. Next time, I'll try the stew with a larger group and hope they have the crab. read more
3 years ago
Update: I went back the past weekend and have to say ilcha never disappoints. Their fried chicken wings were super juicy and delicious. The raw marinated shrimp is still a number one in my opinion. The refreshing, cold shrimp with the hearty, umami seaweed rice is such an amazing combo. In terms of service, we didn't get a reservation but was seated very quickly so that was a plus! read more
Originally came for the soy sauce raw crab but when i came there, it was sold out. I wasn't sure how it was sold out when i came to the restaurant around 6 pm when the restaurant just open at 5:30 pm. Their menu is small and limited so not many choices of food to pick. Their other most popular items are their hot pot, chicken wings, And bossom + oysters. I got their raw shrimp, bossom + oyster, and cheese corrn tater tots. Foods are not bad but their food are more on the expensive side. I ended up leaving not satisfied because i wanted to get their hot pot as well even after i had already places an ordered of my three appetizers. But for some reason, the waitress told us to wait and see if we are able to finish our food first but in the end I wasn't satisfied after eatinf my threw courses. this place seems to be very popular so this place can get pack quickly especially that the place is also small so you can tell the waiters can get busy. It is better to get reservations especially if you go with large group. It can get loud since there's a lot people there. Hopefully i will get to try their raw crabs and their hot pot next time i visit this place again. read more
ILCHA: Welcome to my top 10 in the Bay! Service was top-notch! Super fun environment, and the food was amazing! Drinks were fkeoiHere is what we ordered: Ganjang Gejang: Soy cured blue crab (fav dish) Ganjang Saewoo: Soy cured raw shrimp Gyrean Bap: Egg yolk and seaweed rice Korean Fried Chicken: Thinly battered and super juicy Bossam and Oysters: Braised pork belly LA Galbi: Beef short ribs Can't wait to go back to check out the rest of the menu! read more
I actually really liked this place and its food. There are plenty of parking near by the restaurant. We got there right when they opened so we were able to get in without waiting. However, I highly recommend making a reservation as the restaurant filled up very soon afterwards. The food was very good and highly recommend the crab. This place is definitely a restaurant that pairs well with drinks kinda like pochas read more
The best experience!! It was my first time here and I'm absolutely blown away from the food, to the service, to the ambiance of it all. My friend and I ordered some soju, the marinated shrimp, half order of chicken, and army stew and everything was amazing. The stew took a bit longer to come out, which we didn't mind at all... but the waiter came over and told us bc it took so long, they're covering the stew! We were shocked at just the level of service they provide here. I'll definitely be back to try more soon! read more
2 years ago
Made last minute reservations 2 days in advance and was able to snag a spot prior to closing time. There was surprising amount of seating with 6-8 tables for 4 and one long table communal table. Good vibes but was a bit loud as two groups had their birthdays but sitting close to my friend helped. Star of the dinner was Soy Marinated Shrimp and Fried Chicken (KFC). I normally don't love raw shrimp with the head on but they give you gloves and hand wipes to keep your hands cleans and enjoy the flavors of the food without a mess. The seaweed rice complimented the shrimp well and it didn't taste fishy at all. Chicken was fried to perfect with the inside juicy and the outside crispy without being greasy. Really blown away by quality and presentation of these two dishes. Also, Cheese Rice Cakes were surprisingly tasty with condensed milk and cheese combo that created an unexpected umami. Parking is difficult in the area so recommend Uber and of course make reservations ahead of time! read more
Lively & aesthetic Korean restaurant in the Marina! I came here without reservations on a Thursday night around 9PM and they still had a bunch of people inside. My friend and I ordered Korean Fried Chicken with garlic soy sauce (4/5 - juicy and fresh & indeed all parts of a chicken not your typical drumsticks and wings), Dubu Kimchi (4/5 - amazing kimchi but tofu & pork was meh), and Hotteok (4/5 - first bite was 5/5 warm and nutty but after the ice cream cools down everything inside and it becomes kinda hard). However, I absolutely love hotteok and this is the only restaurant in SF that I've been able to find it at. The way they setup the restaurant is more for larger groups and be sure to make a reservation if your group is larger. You can make reservations on their website! The restaurant is super loud and it's definitely more of a bar scene for groups. They also don't have that many waiters so make sure to order everything in one go! Overall, I'd come back to try all of their other amazing looking things! read more
Ilcha is a higher-end Korean place that I have heard about before, but hadn't tried until a slightly special occasion. We had to make a reservation and the restaurant was decently crowded by the time we arrived. Between three of us, we ordered way too much but wanted to try a lot of different items on the menu. Kim Mari (5/5): The fried seaweed rolls with glass noodle inside was DELICIOUS. They are like two of my favorite foods and I've seen Korean street foods that dip them in batter and deep fry, and this was perfectly in line with my expectations. Half Korean Fried Chicken (4/5): The chicken is plain itself because the dipping sauce is on the side. Pretty crunchy and nice tender meat, but I think I prefer having sauce already on the chicken when it came out. Bossam + Oysters (5/5): I was decently surprised at how the bossam was prepared, but it turned out to be delicious. They provided ssamjang, perilla leaves, lettuce (not a ton of veggies so we had to ask for more), raw garlic so you can make bite-sized wraps. Honestly my favorite dish of the night. The oysters were also decently fresh so that was a nice side dish. Budae Jjigae (4/5): There were a couple things inside this soup that was new to me such as the baked beans and bacon which I haven't seen before in army stews. The soup was steaming when it was brought out, and there were plenty of different foods inside the soup that made it worth it. We also ordered two rices but that turned out to be too much rice and we could have split one amongst all three of us. I think the stew might have come with a rice as well. The staff were friendly and this place had really chill, low-key vibes. I would definitely recommend for a nice occassion! read more
5 months ago
More info about ILCHA
2151 Lombard St
San Francisco, CA 94123
Marina/Cow Hollow
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(415) 613-9288
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http://www.ilchasf.com
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Ask the Community - ILCHA
When do they serve the marinade crab? We tried the marinade shrimp already?
Are children allowed? And also do they have booster seats or high chairs?
Do you have anything that's gluten free?
Galbi and rice, hotpots are gluten free for sure
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19 reviews that are not currently recommended
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ILCHA - korean - Updated August 2026
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