Ayana K.

I usually do not go to this location. The one on 10th & Market is closed on Sunday so I took the trek over here. Parking is hard to find in this area as well. I did kick up. Was greeted instantly by the lady behind the counter and asked if I wanted to order with her or use the kiosk. I choose the kiosk option. I browsed and place my order for the Savory chicken bowl and a flavored Pellegrino.. it's pretty much my usual order. I did add Kimchi which is an extra 75cents. The food came out quick and hot. Which was great since I was only on my lunch break. I did notice this location had a lot more options for snacks, drinks and adult beverages which the other location doesn't have. I will definitely come back when I have more time to sit and enjoy my meal

Trevis M.

I'm so glad we stumbled into Matko because this place is an absolute gem in the Mission. Everything we tried felt like elevated comfort food. simple, bold, and clearly made with care. We ordered the bulgogi bowls, the beef hangover soup, and a couple of their made-to-order Korean drinks, and each one hit differently in the best way. The bulgogi was tender and perfectly marinated, with that sweet-savory balance that keeps you going back for "one more bite." The beef hangover soup blew me away. Rich, soothing, and packed with depth. It's the kind of soup that instantly warms you up and makes you feel taken care of. The drinks were also such a fun surprise. Fresh, balanced, and not overly sweet..you can tell they make them to order because the flavors were so clean and intentional. The staff was friendly, the space is modern and welcoming, and the food came out fast without feeling rushed. It's the perfect spot for a cozy meal, a casual date, or just whenever you need some Korean comfort done right. Matko has officially made it onto my "go-to in the Mission" list. Can't wait to come back and try more.

Carolyn T.

I ordered their fresh frozen meals .... So delicious . The ox bone soup and the hangover soup ... wow ! The japchee and beef bulgogi were equally delicious . I did add tofu to the soups so we had more to eat! Strongly recommend for those meals you have no time to cook from scratch ! I also ordered the kimchi pork ribs .. not spicy enough for me but my husband loved it !

Mike L.

With so many interesting strung all along Valencia, it's not exactly uncommon to pass by a restaurant that catches your eye or to smell something delicious that tickles your nose. However, in the case of Matko, I have to admit that what actually caught my attention was randomly hearing Kpop playing as I passed by. Granted, K-Pop is becoming increasingly mainstream, but it was still unexpected enough to draw my attention and to stop to check this place out! Compared to the many other businesses along Valencia, Matko is on the smaller side, but they actually use the space pretty well, managing to fit in a handful of tables and some counter seating. Similarly, the overall menu size is relatively narrow, but it still offers a number of ways to customize your bowl - four types of protein, three different bases, five additional sides that come with upcharges (it already comes with three), and four sauces to top it off, They also have a starter and some soups to offer, as well as an assortment of snacks, a beverage menu with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, and even some dessert lattes to choose from. -- BEEF BULGOGI BOWL with Half Japchae, Half Purple Rice, Pickled Radish, Sweet Corn, Cucumber, Kimchi (+$.50), Seasoned Seaweed (+$.50), Fishcake (+$.50), and Ssamjang (+$1) This actually wasn't too shabby! Even though the bulgogi was a touch dry, it was fairly plentiful and the marinade was flavorful. The japchae was also better than expected and I liked most of the sides, especially the Kimchi, Seasoned Seaweed, Fishcake, and Ssamjang. -- BONELESS FRIED CHICKEN with Gochujang Aioli...$11.95 A little uneven, but not bad overall. Each piece of chicken was crispy on the outside and surprisingly juicy on the inside. However, even though you get to choose a dipping sauce (the Gochujang Aioli wasn't too shabby), I still wish the chicken had some seasoning on it. -- SPICY PORK BELLY BOWL with Half Japchae, Half Purple Rice, Pickled Radish, Sweet Corn, Cucumber, Kimchi (+$.50), Seasoned Seaweed (+$.50), Fried Egg (+$1.95), and Gochujang Aioli (+$1) Not bad, but not as good as the bulgogi. While this also came with a fair amount of meat, I wish the pork had a bit of char on it to offset the sauce's sweetness. Otherwise, everything else about this was also just as solid, though, the SsamJang would've been better than the aioli. Although everything that I've tried has been pretty decent, what really brought the food down for me was how the meats in each of the bowls were barely warm. I figured that would happen with the bulgogi since I had ordered it to-go, but I was genuinely shocked when I dined in with my friend and had my first bite of pork belly. I understand cooking-to-order means it takes longer to get bowls made (they seem to do a lot of delivery and takeout), but it's undeniable that the food would taste so much better, Despite feeling somewhat disappointed by what I had, Matko is far from terrible if you're looking for something quick for Korean food and/or if you're already in the area, given the general lack of options in The Mission. However, compared to what you can find elsewhere, the food feels closer to okay than amazing. At some point, I'll probably end up back here, or at one of their other locations, to try their soft tofu soup or the hangover soup, as they both look great in photos, but until I do, THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now feels right.

Jack R.

Drink review only. Horribly fake tasting banana milk chocolate drink. OMG was this horrible. I took a sip and had enough. Think plastic fake tasting banana with milk and some cheap chocolate syrup for a whopping $7. So not worth it. Also, they were soooo slow in getting this drink.

Justina C.

As for the atmosphere, the interior was cute and the seat cushions were especially comfortable. However, when it comes to the food, I got the bulgogi beef bowl and it was very flavorless. It was very costly but was particularly bland. The beef was lacking in flavor and the purple rice was pretty soggy as well. The japchae in the bowl tasted like nothing too. I've had a lot of Korean food in my life and it's never been this bland! Frankly, I was so surprised! I hope they can enhance the flavor in the food somehow by changing the marinade process or maybe add more sauce or something.

Ly P.

I ordered the hangover soup - $11 for pick up. It was perfect for a cold day. It's slightly spicy, tastes like a kimchi soup. It has a decent amount of small pieces of tender beef with cabbage. It's a nice comforting meal. They also sell the soup frozen which is nice.

Fancypants X.

Matko is an adorable shop that sells Korean snacks, packaged & cafe drinks, as well as rice & noodle bowls. I've walked by many times, always just after having dinner in the area. I've never had a chance to sample their made-to-order hot foods, but I always have room for a lil' something sweet; tiny boxes of flavored milk is delicious in taro, strawberry, or banana, & ultra creamy Melona ice cream bars have that cool square shape (both made by the brand Binggrae.) They carry Turtle chips, which I love; the puffy layers are a textural wonderland. A must try. Not as many options as H Mart, but it does the job. Looking forward to trying more from Matko.

One of my favorites for a while now. Tasty, hearty, nutritious. Always very consistent. I get the soft tofu bowl, with all the vegan options.

Danice M.

Good quiet place. Staff excellent and super nice. Food good meat a bit dry. Thank you!

Jeanie N.

I came here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch. There was no line, though people did trickle in and it got busier over the next few hours. Seating inside is minimal (maybe 12 stools?) and there are a couple areas to sit outside as well. Service was great, the bathrooms were clean, and the food was good! Because of the small space, the kitchen is essentially right next to the seating area, and whenever they blended something, it was definitely loud enough to pause conversation for a minute. On the food: I got the tofu bowl with half japchae, half purple rice, and added kimchi/seaweed salad/ssamjang. It came out to about $19 with tax/tip, but you do get 1.5 servings (maybe 2 if you got full rice). The flavors blended well and the ssamjang was lovely. It's pretty difficult to find vegetarian dishes in Korean places, but everything here is customizable and very veggie-friendly. I would definitely return if I was craving Korean food in the Mission.

Michel R.

I was really looking forward to a spicy kimchi and soft tofu soup that I've gotten at other Korean spots and this fell flatter than flat. I don't mean to exaggerate but this was honestly one of the worst bowls of soup I've had in my life and it pissed me off because I was in a pinch before work and decided to stop in and I regret it. I ordered also the misugaru latte WITHOUT cereal and he said with cereal? and I said no without and then he said ok with! and I was like is he playing with me??! Then I said NO CEREAL PLEASE and he just said ok then a few mins later, I was given the latte WITH the cereal. Oy vey. I'm giving two stars cuz the lady refunded me a dollar for the add on he put without my consent so that was decent and honest. But the latte was just a thick mess and I regretted the whole thing then after. Never coming back here ever again.

Katrina R.

Doubled the fishcake on the bulgogi and it was so good! The bulgogi overall is good. Few things though: it took sooo long - i had it delivered and it was transferred to 3 different riders because of the delay; another is the beef , which is quite dry; finally, the japchae is quite bland. Will definitely be back for fish cakes though!