Came here two days in a row! It was very very very good The ambiance is super nice - I love all the decor in the restaurant, from the lights to the art! I also like the outdoor patio section, which is nicely decorated as well. The service was fantastic! The servers checked up on us periodically and even gave me a free drink for my birthday :) The food was also amazing! I tried the whole menu, and everything was delicious. My favorites were definitely the perilla oil noodles, the crudo, and the beef tartare. It was my first time trying raw beef (yukhoe), and I enjoyed it! The makgeolli (I tried the white lotus and the traditional) was also very tasty! Not too sweet and not much alcoholic taste :) Overall, I loved the ambiance and the food here - definitely would not only come back, but also would recommend to others! read more

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I came with my partner on a Saturday evening and had a reservation. We were seated outside but it was a very windy day, there were heat lamps but it was still cold which made it harder for me to enjoy my food. They recommend 2-3 dishes per person and they're quite pricey. We ended up ordering the perilla leaf oil noodles, pork jowl, yellowtail crudo, and Korean fried chicken. The service was very fast which was nice. I liked the perilla leaf oil because it was sweet and very flavorful. The pork jowl was tender and came with ssam and sauces. I thought it was good but the portion was pretty small. The yellowtail crudo was nice and I liked the spicy sauce that went with it. Lastly, the Korean fried chicken was alright. It definitely wasn't life changing but it was a good way to end the meal. Overall, I thought it was a nice restaurant and meal but would only come back again for a special occasion. read more

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Had a reservation at 6:30 PM on a Saturday for the patio area. Surprisingly it wasn't too cold because they had heat lamps everywhere, even though SF that weekend was super windy and freezing. We ordered the beef tartare with potato chips, tuna dip with crackers, cheese tteokbokki, and kimchi spicy vodka rigatoni. The beef tartare was my favorite dish of the night surprisingly!! It came with a seaweed-based sauce and honestly I was pleasantly surprised by how well it paired with the beef. The umami flavor worked really well together. The tuna dip with crackers was also good, but definitely on the heavier side. Very creamy and rich. The cheese tteokbokki was tasty too. I liked that they added crushed potato chips and fish cake into it because it gave the dish more texture and flavor, but again... very heavy. The kimchi spicy vodka rigatoni was honestly disappointing. I've definitely had better elsewhere and this one tasted pretty mundane :-( My biggest issue overall was that none of the dishes had harmony together. Everything felt too greasy, creamy, heavy, or carb-heavy, so by the end we didn't even really want to keep eating and only finished the pasta dish. The server recommended getting 2 to 3 dishes per person, but honestly we struggled trying to figure out combinations that would actually complement each other. I think it was worth trying once because it's so hyped on social media and I was excited to experience it for myself, but I personally would not come back. read more

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Came here with three other friends and we got a reservation despite it being super busy! Good: - The dishes were all super good and came out quickly - The makgekoli flight tasting was good, though it was a lot less than I thought given how expensive it was. We liked two of them but the other two were pretty sour - The vodka rigatoni was a standout for me, as well as the korean fried chicken - The ttekbokki was amazing too - good texture and very chewy - The place is really cute and good for a date night or casual catchup with friends! Bad: - It's pretty expensive for the amount of food you get, very small portions - It's super packed inside Overall this was solid Korean food, just pricey and fancy. read more

Jilli - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Aww I really wanted to like this place. Food- good. Service- great/ expected. Atmosphere- great/ expected. We finished almost all our food, but to be honest, everything was just okay. I'd happily have it again but for the price, you're really there for the vibes, which is fine, but not what I was hoping for. I went for the food and drinks and the food did not stand out. The drink selection though, great and extensive (and not cheap. $17/19 per glass for their cheaper selection, otherwise it's $30 or more for the bottle.) read more

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After months of waiting to try Jili in SF, I finally made it for an early birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. Tucked away on the corner of Mission and South Van Ness, this small but cozy Korean spot is super hip, fun, and full of flavor. Out of the 12 dishes we ordered, my absolute favorites were the hamachi crudo, tuna dip with trout roe, pork jowl skewers, honey butter chips, shrimp toast, burrata with seasonal fruit, and the Wagyu tartare. Honestly, every dish hit. The popcorn shrimp, soy vinegar pickles, rigatoni alla kimchi vodka, and makgeolli flight were also solid. I can't believe it took me this long to get here, but safe to say it was worth the wait. Kicking off birthday month the right way ready to keep the celebrations (and splurging) going. read more

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Finally tried this spot and it did not disappoint! We made sure to make a resy and were seated outside in the patio. I'd recommend getting a resy since it is a small restaurant. They purposely seated us nicely by how the lighting would be best for our experience at night, while seating us close to the heater. All the food was a hit, there was not a single thing we didn't like. For a table of 4 got quite a few things and it was more than enough: table favorites: -kimchi rigatoni -SO good, perfectly cooked pasta and the kimchi flavor was so delicious (I dropped a noodle and everyone was so sad because it was that good) -shrimp toast - so crisp with juicy shrimp!! -pork jowl - so tender and meaty! other items, still so good: -perilla oil noodles - super tasty and light! loved this -carpaccio - fish in a spicy sauce -Tteokbokki Cheese - classic, how can you not like this -fried chicken - crispy and tasty! The Maekgolli flight was fun with 4 different maekgollis to try. We got a bottle of the sweet one (most popular one, last one on the flight) it tasted like yakult. It was so delicious, would come again to try the tartar or tuna dip, everything on the menu looked tasty. read more

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Been seeing this place on ig and always wanted to try! We sadly couldn't get a reservation because it was all booked so we did a walk in right when they opened. They said as long as they can have the seat back in about an hour, we can dine. We were so lucky. Still great service. We ate outside and it was such a nice day out. The tables are spacious and lots of greenery to give a cozy vibe. The pork belly was soft and juicy and the sauces paired nicely with the lettuce wraps. The rice cakes and cheese were spicy and chewy. I loved the fun sojus and flights that they had. It paired well with all the dishes. Would come here again! read more

Jilli - Tteokbokki Rose Small - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Amazing, I am so happy I got to try Jilli. You'd think it's just tapas but you do get pretty full! I don't drink so I was super pleased they had a non alcoholic tea flight! So you don't feel left out if you don't drink alcohol haha. Some must try's are: - Pork Jowl Bossam - hamachi Crudo - perilla buckweat noodles These three you HAVE to try! We did have the: - Shrimp Toast - beef Tartar Which were good as well, but it's more of the items I can pass on for next time to try others on the menu. I reserved and it was easy to go in... besides other guest cutting. Unfortunately I guess I wasn't waiting too close to the door but I was the first guest waiting and someone just cut us. So beware! If you reserve just stand in front of the door unlike me haha. Otherwise seating and service is super fast with reservations! I'm looking forward to visiting again read more

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Been to this Korean spot in the Mission a few times at this point. Focus is on "tapas" and makgeolli. Recommended to order 2-3 plates per person and share. - makgeolli flight - just get it to sample a variety of makgeolli and get a better understanding of the beverage - soy von pickles - sweet and sour and a nice banchan to have with your larger items - soybean clam chowder w potato foam - surprised by how much I liked this. Savory and buttery, perfect if its cold out - perilla oil noodle - must get. Might be my favorite dish, even though it's one of the more simple ones. So refreshing and light - tuna dip + trout roe - another favorite. Generous portion of tuna and trout roe and perfect for sharing - rigatoni alla kimchi vodka - add the burrata for +$4. spicy, creamy, rich. I like it so much I've been R&Ding it at home to replicate - pork jowl jeyuk - another must get. Takes about 20-30 min to prepare so it's the final boss of your meal. Marinated in gochujang and cooked over charcoal. Savory and paired with salsa verde and tomato ssamjang Jilli is a vibe. It's aesthetic and vibey inside, and also features an outdoor patio for dining. Reservations def recommended. read more

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must tries: perilla noodles and pork jowl, great flavor though both lean a bit sweet. would skip the hamachi crudo as the sauce just tasted like gochujang read more

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Such a cute bar! Obsessed with the yakult flavored makgeolli! First time makgeolli drinkers should definitely opt for the flight for starters. For food we for the kimchi vodka pasta and the Korean fried chicken. The kimchi flavor was pretty subtle and food was really good! Seating is limited to make sure to stop by with a reservation. read more

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The service is great, we were able to be seated without a reservation. The vibe inside is very appealing it's perfect for hanging out with friends. I like the crudo the most, and the burrata salad the least. The crudo was presented nicely and the flavor was nice. Unfortunately the burrata is all you could taste in the salad. read more

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My friend and I were super excited to try this Korean makgeolli bar & tapas restaurant, and it did not disappoint. I made a resy for 5:15 on a Saturday night, arrived 15 minutes early, and was able to get seated immediately. My friend arrived right on time, and the waiter was at our table as soon as she was seated to take our drink order. We ordered the makgeolli flight of the day to start, which included options from classic to dessert/sweet. Later we also placed an order for three plates of tapas. We shared all the makgeolli, and I liked the classic and sweet flavors (the ends) the most. Out of the tapas plates, I like the Seoul crudo the best. It was light, fresh, savory, and perfectly balanced. The shrimp toast was also a solid choice and would get again. The rigatoni alla kimchi vodka was a little less exciting. It arrived at room temperature, which I was not a fan of, as I'd prefer it warm. The pasta was at least al dente, so there was no risk of it falling apart. Overall, this was a solid meetup spot, and the one thing we loved about it was that the music was ambient but not too loud, so we were able to actually hear each other throughout our conversation over dinner. This is one of our major pain points going out, so it was nice that Jilli was so accommodating and provided a comfortable environment with top tier drinks & tapas. read more

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Admittedly, the food here is good, a shame because the prices are pretty high. $35 for a small slab of jeyuk with no accoutrement aside from a few leaves of kaenip and lettuce feels just shy of highway robbery. That said, every dish was pretty incredible still. From the Seoul Crudo, which I assume is their rendition of traditional hoe (Korean sashimi), to the pasta, everything felt fairly inventive. The rigatoni alla kimchi vodka was good but lacked kimchi flavor, taking on the same profile as any other spicy rigatoni in the city. The Seoul Crudo is good, fresh, and everything you'd want in an Asian-inspired hamachi dish. The jeyuk was a standout and delightfully smoky while being every definition of the word sumptuous. The service is also great, and the waiter goes great lengths to walk you through the samplings of makgeolli. Would I come again? Perhaps? Jilli is unlike any other upscale Korean establishment I've visited in the bay, and their Korean dishes are uniquely good. My one gripe is the price; honey butter chips listed as 8 full dollars just irks me, an emotion that only SF can elicit. read more

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Came with coworkers and immediately loved the energy of the space and the decorations! Service was great and appreciated the rundown of the makgeollis. I had come in with really high expectations for the food, but it, unfortunately, didn't hit the mark for me. We ordered a variety of foods from the menu: pork jowl, shrimp toast, rigatoni alla kimchi, chimmilier popcorn chicken, cheese tteokbokki, pickled radish, and the makgeolli flight! Overall, all items were good but not particularly mind-blowing. The shrimp toast had a nice crispy exterior, but I wish the shrimp itself had more flavor. The pork jowl was juicy and tender and was my favorite of the night. The popcorn chicken was also crispy with a nice flavor, but I felt there were pieces heavier on the skin compared to the meat ratio. The cheese tteokbokki flavor was just a bit lackluster compared to others I've had, so I would go for something more unique like the rigatoni or pork jowl. I really enjoyed the pickled radish sides! The vinegary kick from the pickled radish balanced the other tapas well. All their makgeolli is smooth and the makgeolli flight is a great choice to share as a group. We didn't like the pink strawberry? one, but again thought it was still worthwhile to try. I personally may not visit again, but I do think it's worth trying! read more

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Jilli is a specialty makgeolli bar with korean tapas - the ambiance is immaculate!! Definitely on the more expensive side, but service and vibes are great. Server recommended 2-3 dishes per person, but that ended up being a lot! My main issue is that the menu is quite heavy/oily and less vegetable heavy, so I couldn't eat too much. My favorites were the kimchi rigatoni, crudo, and popcorn chicken. The shrimp toast was good but too oily as the bread soaks up all the oil. read more

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Finally tried Jilli for date night! We were seated outside which was pretty cute although our seat was weirdly facing the wall and some plants. We obviously had to try some of the makgeolli and ended up ordering the flight to try more options. My least favorite was the hana forbidden takju which was pretty sour, but really enjoyed the rest! The easiest to drink was the rice to meet you which our server described as similar to Yakult. I also quite enjoyed the other two - Red Monkey (more unique imo) and white lotus. Food wise, we tried the perilla oil noodles, pork jowel jeyuk, and rigatoni alla kimchi vodka. I see a lot of people rave about the rigatoni - while it was yummy, I thought it wasn't too special. I like the perilla oil noodles which were pretty refreshing. The pork jowl was very tender and flavorful. Overall, a solid spot - fun for date nights or a friends catch up. Personally, it's on the pricier side for the portions. read more

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Food Rating: 7.4/10  Price: 8/10  Ambiance/Service: 10/10  Overall Rating: 8.46/10 Had a reservation at 5:15 on a Saturday and were seated immediately upon arrival. When we tried to order pickled radishes as a side, the waitress kindly let us know that the popcorn chicken already came with them and even offered to substitute with honey butter chips, which was a really thoughtful gesture. The food came out nicely staggered, which worked well since the tables are on the smaller side and gave us enough space to actually enjoy each dish. The ambiance was fantastic and would be perfect for a date night or a night out with friends. Honey Butter Chips - $8 Rating: (8/10) These were super crispy and tasted like they were fried in fresh oil. The flavor leaned sweeter than expected since the menu described them as savory, which caught me off guard. A spicy dipping sauce would have paired really well, and a bit more chives could have helped balance the sweetness. Rigatoni Alla Kimchi Vodka - $23 Rating: (8/10)  Really flavorful dish overall. The pasta was slightly overcooked, and unfortunately there was a hair in the dish. Pork Jowl Jeyuk- $35 Rating: (6/10)  A bit underwhelming, especially as the most expensive item. The pork was on the saltier side, which might have worked better if the sauces were adjusted to balance it out. The sauces themselves were tasty but became overwhelming when combined with the meat. Korean Popcorn KFC - $23 Rating: (8/10) Perfectly fried and super tender chicken. It was a bit too salty though I definitely needed water after a few bites. Pickled radishes were FANTASTIC! Makgeolli Fight of the Day - $40 Rating: (7/10) This was my first makgeolli flight and I would definitely try another one here when the flavors rotate, a bit overpriced though. Two of them were super light and refreshing. The brown rice one and the red monkey one were a bit harder to drink. I think keeping one of those and adding a more fruity option would balance the flight better, but that might just come down to personal preference. read more

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I came here with my family after a BESTEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD recommended this to me. We took a rideshare, and when we showed up, we were surprised the building was actually a restaurant. It has an indoor and outdoor patio space. I'm pretty sure they are dog friendly out in the patio. This place is known for their Makgeolli. I honestly had no idea there were such a variety of Makgeolli so we ordered the flight to share. The flight came with four different types of Makgeolli, which is already set. So you can't choose your own flavors. My brother ad I had different tastes and so we both gravitated to two of the samples, which worked out for us. For dishes, we ordered: Hamachi Crudo: I LOVE hamachi so I really enjoyed the crudo. The sauce that it came was what did it for me! I would take that sauce home alone! Shrimp toast: This item really didn't capture my attention at first, but it ended up being one of my favorite dish. It's so simple. It's literally shrimp toast, but there's something about it that I loved. It was nice and crispy. I think it's because I really haven't had anything like it before. Pork Jowl Jeyuk: The pork was cooked perfectly. It was actually really delicious! It comes with lettuce wraps. I wish they gave up more lettuce wraps. Because towards the end, we only had the pork left. Cheese Tteokbboki: I thought this was good, but I didn't think it was memorable. Perhaps it's because I've had something similar to it, so it didn't stand out. However, my brother and sis in law loved this dish. Popcorn KFC: I expected this to have more flavor and depth but it was literally just popcorn chicken. The sauce was okay. I feel like they could have done something better with the sauce. It wasn't bad, just not memorable. Perilla Oil Noodle: This is a seasonal dish. Honestly, I can't even remember what it tasted like. We all agreed it was okay. There was another dish we ordered that was solid but not memorial at all as well. I can't even remember what it is! Definitely worth a visit. I like the idea of korean tapas and I loved the direction they took with certain dishes. It's a solid place where some dishes were just okay/good, and others were outstanding. I think that I think everyone should try at least once. read more

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Food focused review - overall enjoyed the experience but be prepared for a very very heavy meal! Best dish is the rigatoni alla vodka (add the burrata)! Pork jowl also has amazing flavor though jowl itself is a little fatty for my personal preference. Shrimp toast is great as well but very heavy. Perilla noodles have too much sauce on it but are refreshing overall. Would come back overall! Hard to book a reservation and they don't have any ice for soft drinks (or I guess any other drinks) for some reason. read more

Jilli - Pork Jowl - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Such a cute Korean tapas place! I've always wanted to come here because I love the concept of the Makgeolli bar and it did not disappoint. We sat outside on the patio and it was a bit chilly since the heaters are spread fairly apart. Makgeolli Flight ($40) - this came with the Traditional Sang Takju, White Lotus, Rice to Meet You, and Red Monkey Makgeolli. My favorite was the traditional one because it was sparkling and I really enjoyed trying a bunch. Rigatoni Alla Kimchi Vodka ($23): This was my second favorite dish! I wish I could've tasted a bit more of the kimchi, but the sauce was really good overall. Shrimp Toast ($18): Loved how crispy this was and the chili sauce it came with. K-Popcorn Chicken ($23): Crispy and spicy, but this didn't taste anything special to me. Still solid fried chicken though. Pork Jowl Jeyuk ($35): My favorite dish here!! The pork jowl was so tender and flavorful. The sauces also paired so well with the lettuce and shiso leaf. Wagyu Beef Tartare ($24): Really tender and fresh tartare. The chips to pair with this were so yummy. Injeolmi Banana Pana Cotta ($12): Ended with a dessert! It was okay to me, but I liked how unique the textures were. It tased like a thicker banana pudding with Cheerios on top to me. read more

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my party of 7 made a resy for 645 on thursday on the patio and it did get cold but they have a nice fire going on the outside. a nice tapas shareable place with many options to choose from, but i was definitely still a bit hungry afterwards. we sampled all the main dishes (minus the olives, pickles, seasonal fruit and the banana pana cotta) and i would say that everything is pretty solid, but there are a couple that i liked more than others. we got a lotus maekgeolli that did have a slight floral taste, one bottle for 5 people and everyone got one glass. this is on the pricier side around 60 per person which is kinda insane given how small the bites were... would order maybe 2 for the entire party: perilla oil noodle wagyu beef tartare rigatoni alla kimchi vodka (one with burrata) pork jowl jeyuk tuna dip + trout roe would only order one dish: korean popcorn kfc cheese tteokbokki read more

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Came to Jilli's for my bf's birthday. We arrived a few minutes before they opened at 5, and was promptly seated when it was 5 exactly. The patio seating was really nice, clean and the breeze was great. General overview is that the food is good but nothing mindblowing for the price (3/5). However, the service was beyond amazing and the ambiance was enjoyable as well which is why I will give this place a 4/5 The food in detail: Cheese Tteokbokki (3/5) : First, the tteokbokki was good BUT it doesn't take much to make a GOOD tteokbokki. The problem here is the portion size, the pricepoint, and the added toppings that supposedly make up the price point. The fried seaweed crisps were yummy but didn't add much to the dish other than the crunchy texture which the fried potato strips also gave. I'm just not sure whether these small additions actually elevated the dish to justify the price of the small portion size... Pickled Daikon (5/5) : This was very necessary to get to balance out the greasiness of our following dishes. Very nice crunch and flavor. Pork Jowl (5/5) : I do think the Pork Jowl was the best dish here that I ordered and the portion size was satisfying. The flavor of the jowl itself was nice and the sauces that accompany it enhanced the flavor very nicely. I loved that they had perilla leaf along with the lettuce for the wrap :) Shrimp Toast (Menbosha) (2/5) : This was the biggest letdown. We came here as my partner really really wanted to try Menbosha again after having it once in SoCal. I have a love/hate relationship with Menbosha in general, I love the crunch and the bounce of the shrimp fililng but hate the mouthfeel of the grease. What Jilli did great was getting rid/minimizing the oiliness of the bite however, the sauce they provided was a 'chili vinaigrette' which made no sense because it's adding BACK the oil that they had successfully minimized initially. very disappointing. But without the sauce, the taste and crunch of the menbosha was delicious. Again, the service was amazing, beyond exceptional thus the 4/5 rating. The food was just a little lackluster- tasted good but nothing mind blowing or memorable read more

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Really cute restaurant with great ambiance, but unfortunately I was a bit disappointed with the food. The two of us ordered 5 dishes but the portions were small for the price. My favorite was the Seoul crudo which was very refreshing, and the pork jowl jeyuk was super tender. My least favorite was the popcorn KFC - it was kind of dry and nothing special. Service was friendly and relatively fast. It's a nice date spot and probably better to go for drinks rather than a full meal. read more

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Getting a reservation at Jilli felt like a small victory and honestly, it was worth every effort to snag one! Came here with my best friend for a casual dinner and the size of the restaurant immediately sets the tone. Tiny, cozy, and the kind of place that feels like a find. We ordered the makgeolli, pasta, tartare, and the pork. Everything was a hit across the board. The pork especially stood out and the tartare was beautifully done. The makgeolli was a fun touch that paired really well with the whole meal. For such a small kitchen turning out food like this, it is genuinely impressive. The flavors were intentional, the portions felt right, and the whole experience just clicked. If you can get a reservation, do not hesitate. Jilli is a 10 out of 10 and absolutely a spot I will be returning to! read more

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Jilli is such a gem. If you love Korean food but want something a little more playful and shareable, this is your spot. The whole Korean tapas concept works so well here. Every dish feels thoughtful, beautifully plated, and packed with flavor. We ordered a mix to share and honestly there was not a single miss. The flavors were bold but balanced, and you can tell the ingredients are high quality. It is the kind of place where you keep saying "just one more bite" until the plates are empty. The highlight for me was the makgeolli flight. It is such a fun and unique experience, especially if you have only ever had makgeolli once or not at all. Each one had its own personality, from lightly sweet and creamy to more crisp and tangy. It paired perfectly with the food and made the whole meal feel special. The atmosphere is cozy but lively, great for a date night or a night out with friends. The staff was warm, knowledgeable, and happy to guide us through the menu and the makgeolli options. I will absolutely be back. Jilli delivers on flavor, creativity, and experience all at once. Highly recommend. read more

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We got a reservation for 7 pm outside and it was nice and warm. We had to share a long table with another party but it wasn't a big deal. We got 6 dishes to share between the 3 of us and the portions were pretty small for tapas style. 7.5/10 tuna dip I thought it was good but not amazing.. there was a lot and you can ask for more crackers though 8.4/10 rigatoni super yummy but the portions were just so small for pasta.. I can't taste much kimchi tho it just taste like gochujang pasta w pork belly 7.2/10 cheese ttteokbokki it was okay very cheesy 7.7/10 crudo it was good the sauce was very spicy and sour 9/10 alc flight the rice wine was very smooth and good it was one shot each for all three of us 8.6/10 shrimp toast I thought it was good very crispy and oily but good 7.8/10 kfc chicken was good and they give a lot of radish We did get kicked out at 8:30 for another reservation though Overall it was okay I don't know if I would go back for the price and portions. ($210 for 3 of us) read more

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Yummy but I think it's overhyped! We enjoyed the crudo, burrata seasonal fruit salad, kfc and tiramisu. The salad was sooo good! The crudo was tasty, but lacked depth and the kfc was fine but not as light or crispy as expected and the chicken quality didn't seem on par. The tiramisu was amazing however with a light chestnut flavor. We also had the tteokboki which was fine but not standout. read more

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Fun place to try for dinner! Made reservations for 2 a week in advance. Ambiance was great, we were seated out on the patio with heatlamps. Ordered a few plates to chair and the flight. My favorite would have to be the pork jowl and pasta. read more

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I am such a sucker for a new Korean restaurant, especially more unique tapas style/pochas, so that instantly put jilli at the top of my list when they opened. It was so popular at first so I couldn't get a res, but we finally got to try it for my sister's birthday. We heard really good things so we walked in with no doubts that we would love it. Unfortunately ... we were a bit disappointed with the food. The restaurant was really cute, and the dining room wasn't huge but it was also never full when we were there. We obviously had to try their makgoelli flight, which was actually quite good. And they were really sweet and gave my sister an extra glass for her birthday. The menu isn't huge, and we wanted to try all of their popular dishes, so for two people we ordered: the trout dip, yukhoe (beef tartare), shrimp toast, popcorn chicken, carbonara, and pork jowl. The menu said that we should order ~2-3 dishes per person, but the portions were MUCH bigger than we thought. Nothing really wowed us, and because the table was so small I think they really tried to course out our dishes, but because of that we ended up sitting there for quite a while waiting for the pork jowl and fried chicken to come out. Overall, I'm really glad we finally had the opportunity to try Jilli, but I don't think we'll be coming back any time soon. read more

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My photos aren't the best due to the cool red light. plus I forgot one dish....But we loved the food last Friday night! The dip with fish was so crave-able & somehow nostalgic... like tuna on crackers deal but elevated of course!!! I wish we got more food but we got full fast, odd since portions here are normal sized. Highly recommend because the flavors are unique, bold and bright. read more

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Heard great things about this place, so made a reservation for 2. This spot is pretty quaint! We were seated right away and food came immediately. I also love how the menu was set up. It tells you wha food/drinks would go together plus what the makkoli tastes like! Makkoli Flight: 9/10! Enough to try for 2. Even for a couple free ones for my birthday! Shoutout to our waiter for overhearing haha Hamachi Crudo: 9/10! Came with spicy sauce. Wagyu Beef Tartar: 9/10! Pretty heavy, came with chips, and very filling. I used it to too on top of the shrimp toast, too. Rigatoni Alla Kimchi Vodka: 9/10! Pretty standard, and can't go wrong! Honestly paired well with everything we had. Tuna Dip + Trout Roe: 10/10! Got this instead of dessert and it's so good! Came with 2 diff types of crackers. Shrimp Toast: 4/10! Not my fave out of everything we had. A little bland. Overall, love the vibe, food came quick, and waiter was very attentive and helpful. I'd love to come back to try other items! read more

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Having tried Jilli LA a while ago and loved it, I was ecstatic when I first found out that a location in SF's Mission District was opening up. A friend and I were finally able to stop by earlier this month on a Tuesday night, but I was left wondering if the difference in experience was just due to the dishes we ordered or if I had a few too many before the first time around. You're going to want to reserve a seat at either the bar, a table, or their outdoor patio a week or so in advance so you don't get turned away at the door like I did at one point. Decor is moody and eccentrically geometric, with lots of different lighting styles that are a treat to look at. We were seated at the bar right next to the front door, which made our dinner a bit drafty, but our British server whose name I unfortunately cannot recall right now was pleasant enough. Our initial choice, the Rice To Meet You, was unfortunately sold out, so we settled for a pot of the Sang that was nothing particularly special. Seoul Carpaccio: Visually interesting but lacking depth. No qualms with the halibut sashimi, but the purported "cho-gochujang" legitimately looked and tasted like they thinned out a few tablespoons of regular gochujang, sprinkled some sesame seeds on top, and called it a day. Wagyu Yukhoe Beef Tartare: This was the only carryover from the LA location I wanted to try here, and it tasted fairly consistent. The fried scallion was particularly pungent in each bite, and I would have preferred a little more of the seaweed mayo aioli as I felt it added an appreciable complexity to the beef itself. The chips were seasoned well and we actually ended up eating them with a number of various sauces from other dishes. As a personal aside, might be interesting to add pear. Chimmelier Popcorn KFC: The biggest disappointment of the night: did not taste like much more than overly breaded frozen boneless nuggets fried with basil and very heavily salted. I enjoyed the pickled radish and yangnyeom dip more than I did all of the chicken - and for $23? Pork Jowl Jeyuk: Funnily enough, the best dish came right after the worst. This order requires a 25 minute wait, so if you're looking to try it I recommend ordering it at the beginning of your visit. The slab of pork jowl is roasted beautifully, gaining a truly admirable char and an unparalleled smoky flavor. Within the meat, the fat is rendered to perfection and literally liquifies the moment it enters your mouth. It's served with lettuce, perilla leaves, and two sauces, a seeming ssamjang derivative and what tasted like a mint-forward salsa verde that were both delicious. I would actually return for this. At most every turn during this meal, I felt like this emoji :/ Happy I had good company, because had I not I would have left grumpier than I did. Still a beautiful space and looking forward to seeing them grow. read more

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Jilli is a vibey and intimate Korean fusion spot in the Mission that has enticed me with its exterior decor for a long time before I finally managed to visit recently! price: ~$60/person recs: rigatoni, tteokbokki - Kimchi Rigatoni: Pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, and the sauce had a nice punchiness that came from the kimchi. - Tteokbokki: Probably my favorite -- it's a deceptively decent portion size considering how small the bowl looks. The sauce was savory and sweet with the perfect kick. I love a good textural contrast, and the crunchy bits paired so well with the chewiness of the rice cakes. - Hamachi Crudo: I honestly really liked the sauce on this and can still remember the taste several days later. The fish tasted fresh, and the sauce was sweet and tangy. - White Lotus Makgeolli: Staff explained this as having an earl grey taste, which was very accurate. This was equal parts creamy and floral, and we both really enjoyed the whole bottle! Staff was super nice and explained the menu in lots of detail. But there were a lot of hiccups with our dining experience that I was super surprised to encounter with a restaurant that's been so hyped for so long -- some incorrect orders, and a bit of confusion about what our order was. Given the price point, I did go into this dining experience with more of a mind for a smooth dining experience than good value for food. Overall though, everyone was really nice, and we got everything we ordered and demolished every bite! read more

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I've had two excellent visits here. The inside dining room is small, but cozy and certainly a vibe. During my second visit we were seated on the patio. It was pretty cold outside and even with the heat lamps, we struggled to stay warm. Although the menu is brief, the items it contains are absolute superstars! My personal highlights include: burrata, shrimp toast, rigatoni, and popcorn KFC. The makgeolli flight of the day is fun if you're into sweet booze. This is an excellent place for date night. Make sure to get a reservation since seating is constrained. read more

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Hard to be excited about this place. I showed up with my date on the first chilly day after a warm snap, and immediately noticed that the restaurant was cold because they keep the door to their patio open at all times. So if you suffer hot flashes, this could be the place for you! For the rest of us, being a jacket. The staff were nice and quick, and seated us efficiently. What I didn't count on is that the menu is short, so there's not a lot to choose from. They specialize in a kind of Korean rice wine called makgeolli. I ordered a tasting flight out of curiosity. It varied from fairly dry to extremely sweet. Not to my taste. Even by the standards of a tapas plate, some of the food servings are very small. I got the fish carpaccio, and though tasty I thought the serving was tiny for the price. This was my overall impression of the place: largely decent food but soul-crushingly expensive for what you get. In fact, two dishes felt like so little food that I had to put in an emergency order of the burrata salad. I feel like I should write "salad" instead, because it was cloyingly sweet, sloppy, and frankly disgusting. If I hadn't been desperately hungry due to the other tiny servings, I'd have pushed it around on my plate after a bite or two. So overall, not a good experience. I was cold the entire time; everything was too expensive and too small; and one of my three dishes and most of the makgeolli were gross. Not a place I'd return to. read more

Been here twice! loved it both times. came here both times for GNO. Here are the dishes that I would get: kimchi pasta, pork jowel, seoul crudo, and the chips. also really love the mango rice beer that I got. me and a GF shared one can and that was the perfect amount for us. If I come with 4 people then I would want to try the makgeolli flight next time! read more

Really loved everything about this place and it lives up to the hype! The interiors aren't overdone (basically the same from Khamsa that was there before it) but the patio is truly lovely. Food was solid - every single thing we ate was delicious and perfectly executed. Service was friendly - but giving it 4 stars cause we had a reservation at 7 pm for 6 people and at 8:15 they told us we had to leave in 10 mins for the next group that would be seated at 8:30 - and we were still eating! Also - they never mentioned tables are only given for 90 minutes at any point. That was jarring but it was still a good meal overall and I'll def be back! read more

Korean tapas bar with a beautiful ambiance full of glowy lantern lights, projector film, and fun art. It's hidden in the corner of an apartment complex, but once you step inside it's like another world. Very popular spot, so would make sure to book a reservation in advance to get a table. They're known for their makgeolli rice wine, so of course we had to order the sampler flight. It came with fun flavors like blueberry and red rice. Definitely hit or miss on some of them. The citrus was too sour for me. Favorite was the original rice flavor with its light sweet creaminess. For food we ordered: Seoul crudo: 10/10 The fish was so fresh and paired well with the gochujang vinaigrette. It had the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Loved the plating of the fish in the shape of a rose. Shrimp toast: 8/10 Juicy shrimp with a flaky crust, but a little oily. Popcorn chicken: 9/10 So tender and pretty big pieces. It came with a rich tangy sauce and pickled radish. Kimchi vodka pasta: 9/10 Can't go wrong with a classic pasta. Decent portions for tapas and drinks were strong. Would love to come back to try the pork jowl dish. Overall an amazing time here! read more

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