It was another one of those cold, foggy afternoons, so my family and I decided to check out Muguboka for a late lunch / early dinner over the weekend. Located in more of a residential area, the restaurant was quiet and filled with mostly locals. It was hard to choose what to order without going overboard, but we ultimately decided upon the kimchi pork soup, bibim naengmyeon, and bulgolgi, which was served alongside a colorful spread of banchan. Our server also brought some rice to enjoy with our bulgolgi. The food was prepared quickly and served piping hot - the soup was still bubbling, and the bulgolgi was sizzling on its ceramic dish. Every dish was excellent. The kimchi pork soup was spicy and sour, and it quickly warmed us up. The bibim naengmyeon was cold and refreshing - the perfect balance to the hot kimchi soup. The bulgolgi was probably everyone's favorite dish because the meat was tender yet nicely charred and flavorful. Each dish went together so well, and our server was impressed how we devoured everything. We'll be back soon to try the other menu items. read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Banchan and bulgolgi - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A mom and pop restaurant. So home-y and cozy. Food was spot on. I went to South Korea last September and honestly it felt like I was back in South Korea. The food was too good. Service was super quick and it was so packed! That's a good sign. Staff were very friendly and respectful. Got Haemul pa jun, Galbi, kimchi chige. Amongst 2 girls, we devoured it all! Such a gem and I would totally recommend. Make sure when you come to put yourself on the waitlist. Worth it! read more

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TL;DR: loved the seafood pancake and generous banchan. I was craving some Korean before heading to Golden Gate Park and this came up on the map. It was a warm day and it wasn't very busy inside. They moved us to a bigger table after we ordered because we got too much food very friendly service! They serve a very generous number of banchan with unlimited refills (of course). It was nice to have a good variety to kick things off. They were all ok, nothing stood out all that much. Food: Yang nyeom chicken: crispy, juicy wings that were huge! It was very saucy and a good balance of sweet and spicy. I thought it was ok value for what you get but it's not something that really stood out Mul naengmyeon: had to get some cold noodles for the warm weather. This was refreshing but didn't stand out. I was hoping for more beefy flavor in the soup. Haemul pajeon: gotta love a seafood pancake! This was definitely the favorite item, it was thick and chunky with a lot of seafood and vegetables but also crispy. I was amazed at how thick they got it, while having a nice crisp edge that stayed crispy till the end of the meal and wasn't under cooked at all. We might have missed out on some of the soupy items which I saw some other tables with Korean speaking customers ordering. Maybe next time if we're ever in the area on a cold day. read more

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This is an authentic korean cuisine places. Iove their soft tofu soup and bulgogi. Their portion is generous and the service was good! Their beef and pancakes prices are on a little bit higher end but tofu soup and bibibamp are reasonable! Worth for a try! read more

Really good local mom and pop Korean restaurant. Some of our faves were the bulgogi, bibimbap, tofu soup and the kimchi pancake. For some reason, the seafood pancake wasn't up to par. But everything else was delish, including the many banchans. Overall a great place for some good Korean comfort food read more

Nice little Korean family restaurant. Clean friendly and fast service. The decor is not fancy but the food is more than enough to bring you back. The portions are good size and bigger than typical Korean servicing size at other restaurants. The star of the show for me was the haemul pa june - seafood and veg pancake. You get a generous portion of seafood and they are fried to perfection and not oily. read more

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One of my favorite places in the city. Service is always amazing and they give a freebie item, could be dumplings or the soup. Food is great and really has a homey vibe to it. Been here so many times throughout the years! read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Banchan - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Loved this spot. The food felt authentic and reminded me of the kind of places locals would recommend. We had the tteokbokki, daeji bulgogi, and japchae with vegetables and beef. The daeji bulgogi was amazing, and the pork was packed with flavor. Honestly, there wasn't a single dish we didn't enjoy. If you're craving Korean food in SF, I'd definitely suggest giving this place a try. Service was on top! read more

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I love this place. No frills, friendly and attentive staff, authentic Korean food. It's not a large restaurant so be prepared to write your name down on the whiteboard. Come try all the banchan (my fav in the city) and share all the mains! read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Muguboka remains one of my favorite Korean spots in SF. The portions are generous, the food is consistently delicious, and the restaurant has a cozy, homey vibe that makes you feel like you're eating a home-cooked meal. Note: there are no tabletop grills here; everything is made-to-order in the kitchen and served ready to eat. ​We started with the Galbi. These were thick, well-marinated cuts that arrived sizzling and smelling incredible. I actually had to pace myself so I wouldn't finish all my rice before the rest of the food arrived! ​Next was the Dhan Jang Chige (fermented soybean paste soup). It arrived piping hot and savory--on a cold SF day, each spoonful felt like it was nourishing my soul and chasing the chill away. ​For the main event, we had the Galbijjim. While the portion is smaller than what you'd find at Daeho, it's still plenty for a group to share. The meat was fall-off-the-bone tender, accompanied by massive chunks of potato and carrot, and rice cakes. Compared to Daeho, the sauce here is thinner and less sweet, with no option for spice levels or cheese and no sweet potato noodles, but it's incredibly hearty and pairs perfectly with rice. ​The Haemul Pa Jun (seafood pancake) did not disappoint. They don't skimp on the filling--the pancakes were thick, crispy, and packed with seafood. We also tried the Korean Fried Chicken. You get six large, juicy wings coated in a gochujang-based sauce that hits that perfect sweet, salty, and mildly spicy balance. ​True to the spirit of Korean hospitality, we were even treated to some "service"--a plate of freshly fried potstickers on the house! ​I always look forward to eating here. I consistently leave feeling full, satisfied, and well-taken care of. read more

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It was my day off and I wanted to try a new a Korean spot. I ordered sundubu-jiggae (soft tofu soup) which was served with a wide variety of banchan. The tofu soup really hit the spot for me, especially since it was a rainy day. The service here is good and the staff here is very nice. I also really like that this place is family owned. If you're into cozy authentic Korean comfort food with a very homy type feel to it, then this is the place for you. Try it out if you like. :) read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friends and I were seated immediately on a weekend afternoon. Service was friendly and quick, and when they originally got some of our order wrong, they were very accomodating about it. Soft Tofu Soup: They gave this to us on the house! It had a savory broth that mixed well with their silky tofu. Jap Chae: The portion size was good for the price, and it was not too sweet and had a good mix of noodles and vegetables. Haemul Pa Jun: This seafood pancake had a nice, crispy exterior. I liked the proportion of seafood to pancake, Gal Bi: This was personally my favorite dish! The meat was well-marinated and tender. Bul Go Gi: I wish there was sligthly stronger seasoning for this dish. It was juicy and flavorful and not too overly sugary. Sold Korean comfort food. read more

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Okay but listen--Muguboka absolutely saved us. We came here after a full day of drinking, and this meal was exactly what we needed. Like, healing, comforting, back-to-life kind of food. The second the dishes hit the table, it felt like everything was going to be okay again. The flavors were warm, rich, and so satisfying--perfect post-drinks comfort food. The banchan just kept coming (a dream), and every bite felt cozy and nourishing without being heavy. It's the kind of food that hugs you and says, "You're good now." The vibe was relaxed and welcoming, the staff was super kind, and the whole experience felt easy and happy. Muguboka is officially my go-to after a long day (especially a boozy one). Forever grateful read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Randomly craving Korean food so we decided to check this place out. We were greeted warmly by the server and seated immediately. She was even kind enough to consider getting a plastic fork and spoon for our little one and complimented our daughter on her cat ear headband. The restaurant has a nice homey diner feel to it. We got lucky by arriving around 5pm because the place got packed shortly afterwards. They do take reservations and I overheard the server suggest calling in for reservations for parties of 5 or more. We ordered a lot as per usual when we try new places: Duk Boki, Goon Mandu (dumplings), Gal Bee (bbq short ribs), Daeji Bul Go Gi (spicy bbq pork), Yang Nyum Chicken (Fried chicken), & Soft Tofu soup. You also get plenty of free banchan along with your meal too. Everything tasted amazing! My favorite was the Duk Boki because there was plenty of rice cakes in it and the sauce wasn't spicy at all for my palette. My husband and I were pretty impressed with the perfect medium rare cook on the Gal Bee. Most places we've gone to, the Gal Bee is always well done, but this place cooked it to perfection. The Daeji Bul Go Gi was also very delicious and just the right amount of spice too. We were surprised when the server kindly offered us a Soft Tofu soup on the house as well. We'll definitely be coming back here. The food tasted authentic and the service was impeccable. She was amazing and so kind--I was surprised because she was the only server around covering ALL of the tables effortlessly on her own. A true hustler, I definitely tip my hat off to her. Well done! read more

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A really nicely laid out spot especially for single or small group diners. Service was lowkey but welcoming, attentive, and efficient. I ordered the hearty Kimchi Chigae (kimchi stew with pork) and a full Haemul Pa Jun (seafood pancake). The pancake was a little too much for me to finish (especially with the surprise complimentary crispy dumplings!) but kept well for later dining. Will definitely be back, especially to try the larger dishes with a larger group! read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Haemul Pa Jun / 해물파전 - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I got the yukgaejang soup, which came with plenty of free banchan. We even got a free fried mandu (dumpling) on the house. While this wasn't my favorite korean spot, I still really enjoyed coming here. The vibe was great. It felt like everyone here was out with good friends/ company just enjoying a homey dinner in good company. Lots of laughs coming from every table. read more

Muguboka Restaurant - yukgaejang - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Located in the north of Golden Gate Park of San Francisco. Sorry, I don't live here. Really nice, safe, cute neighborhood. It's bomb! I would give 10 stars! Why does it only have 4 stars on yelp? Despite, what google or yelp says, there is no korean BBQ, as there are no grills and vents. You don't know what a gem you have here north SF! You eat traditional dishes here such as soon tubu (tofu soup), bibimbap, galbi, yuk gae jang, etc. I got the Yuk Gae Jang...and it was one of the best I have ever had, comparing to all the korean food I eat in LA and San Diego. Service was friendly and fast. The give you alot more banchan than most places. Prices are fair. OMG, I will come here each time I visit SF. Yes, they have soju! read more

A great, unpretentious place for a delicious and hearty meal, especially since it's just a few blocks from Golden Gate Park. I loved the banchan here! Tasted authentic and included ones I haven't commonly seen in other restaurants like lotus root, which I really enjoyed. Staff was friendly and kind, they even gave us a complimentary appetizer halfway through our meal which was very sweet. Overall would recommend as a casual dining experience! read more

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So comforting and delicious! Clean and homey ambiance. The service was exceptionally kind. Every dish was delicious! Banchan was fresh and flavorful. #19 Soft Tofu Soup #13 Gal Bee # 42 Dolsott Bibimbap I would definitely come back for Korean food here. read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Gal Bee - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Very homey place that serves amazing Korean food. Definitely a mom and pop restaurant that served large portions of authentic Korean food. Got the bulgogi and the kimchi tofu soup. The bulgogi was amazing, it has this charcoal, smoky taste in it and it was SOOO GOOD. Will definitely come back for it again. The kimchi tofu soup was definitely enough for two people to share. It's different from most Korean places in that I tasted a mushroom base to it? Personally I don't like mushrooms so wasn't for me but it was still really good. Great service, attentive and they even gave us beef and vegetable fried mandu on the house! read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Bul Go Gi / 불고기 and Kimchi Chigae / 김치찌개 - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

First time diner and we were quite impressed. The restaurant is on the corner and is bright with natural light. Seats around 40? Only challenge is parking can be a little tough in the quasi business and residential neighborhood. Pleasantly surprised to see adjacent tables of older Koreans ordering the same dishes as us. We had: Kalbitang (lots of meat, not oily, noodles, and enough to share for two), Kalbijim (also lots of meat, very good taste, reminded me of Chinese Beef Stew but a little sweeter), Mandu (crispy, small ones), Japchae (meatless and a little oily). Scissors definitely needed if you're sharing so that you can cut the meat off the bone and into bite-sized pieces. Service is excellent, we had three people and were given bowls for soup and three bowls of rice. Banchan was the common items except for a sweetened pickled root type thingy. The Kimchee was spicier than what we're used to. All in all, we liked and we'll be back! read more

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We came here for dinner on a Saturday evening around 6:30pm. The restaurant was filled except for one 2-person table. We came at the perfect time because after we sat down, several more groups came and had to wait. This restaurant has very mom and pop vibes. After we placed our orders, the food came out pretty quick. I ordered the Dolsott Bibimbap. This had everything you would expect in a bibimbap. The portion was perfect for me. Overall, the bibimbap was decent. read more

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My grandmother and I ate here today and the lady working was so sweet to us. I think she was the owner. She literally leaped to hold the door open for my blind grandmother as we left. I was so touched by how kind she was and the other patrons. The food is delicious, high quality meat, good portions, and came out quickly. Thank you! read more

Food is excellent. Service is so so, not very friendly which is to be expected. Was grossed out by a women sitting close to me as she kept blowing her nose and examining the content. Not sure I'll be back. read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Gross - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Family run Korean place near the Golden Gate area. It is so popular that you have to your name down during peak dinner hours. It is a bit pricey but that's SF for you. I got the tofu soup which was really good. The side dishes were also pretty authentic. read more

I wanted to place a phone order for takeout because their dine-in service really went downhill. Of course the woman who picked up the phone said "sorry I'm busy call back in 30 minutes" and hung up on me. Absolutely terrible. They also used to give free tofu stew or mandu for anyone dining in. Not anymore. They're not the only Korean restaurant in SF/Bay Area, so if you're craving authentic Korean food, there are plenty of local mom and pop Korean restaurants to support out here. I am extremely disappointed and sad as someone who grew up dining here for years, constantly disappointed by how worse the service has been getting. Don't even get me started on the insane price increases and portion-skimping. Muguboka, do better. I was going to make a reservation for a company party of 20+ people while placing the takeout order over the phone but thank you for hanging up on me. Looks like my coworkers dodged a massive bullet if they had to suffer the same subpar service I have had to tolerate for years just to enjoy some authentic Korean cuisine. I will NOT recommend this place to anyone anymore. read more

Discovered this place while en route to buy borscht from Cinderella Bakery/Cafe. Staff is minimal, but super efficient. We were sat with barley tea in cups as we perused our menus. Food came out fast and they even gave us tofu soup on the house! Highly recommend trying yuk hwe (raw sliced beef seasoned with salt, sugar, sesame oil, pepper, garlic, and garnished with Korean pear, raw egg yolk). Definitely a local spot/would come back! read more

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I stopped in on a windy Sunday afternoon. There was a bit of a chill in the air and I wanted something to warm me up. I hadn't heard of the location-/ I just rolled the dice today. The place was empty! I had it all to myself. And I was greeted kindly and promptly. I was pleasantly surprised at a fresh, hot cup of tea offered as I sat down. The restaurant is simple and was very clean. There are hand sanitizer bottles lining the windows so you for sure would not be in need for sanitized hands haha. I decided to go with the sautéed calamari and got some friend chicken to go for later. I didn't realize there would be such a beautiful spread. The owners also brought me out a soup, on the house, which was so kind. Maybe because I was the first person of the day? Who knows?! I got a chance to witness some of the interaction among the staff and some locals that came in. I enjoyed how homey the atmosphere was; the hospitality in the spirit of the owners is evident. I even loved the choice of ice cube the one where the liquid moves through it-- ooweee. Sautéed calamari, wings to go, and a Diet Coke; $52.14. I thoroughly enjoyed this meal. It's sometime to take your time with. Sit. Enjoy. Taste it. 5/5; 10/10; worth the price everytime. Tip em well. Will be back. read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food: Side dishes were pretty good. There was more variety that I typically see at korean restaurants (ie broccoli) which was cool. I got the bibimbap ($21) and it was a pretty decent serving size. It was exactly what you would expect from your typical bibimbap; a runny egg yolk pillowed by crunchy spinach, bean sprouts, carrots, etc. I kind of like that the rice was served in a separate bowl because it made mixing everything a lot easier. We also got a complimentary dish of jin mandu (aka fried dumplings) which were delicious as well. Service: We came during a dinner rush so perhaps thats why servers were not super attentive. Had to wave them down a couple of times to get refills/requests. Nonetheless, staff are polite and fast! Overall: Parking can be difficult and it was a very busy Saturday night so be prepared to wait. The food is pretty solid korean comfort food, wide selection of banchan. Would definitely swing by again! read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Jin Mandu - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One of my favorite mom and pop Korean restaurants in sf. They have one of the best banchan in the city and the 2 times I've gone here they've given us free mandu. Gal bee tang - soup overwhelmingly tasted like garlic but the meat was super tender and generous portion Yang gop Chang bokeum (beef intestine) - really great flavor and pretty big portion Gopchang jungul (tripe) - great flavor and portion I've also tried their seafood pancake and cold noodles which were great It is on the pricier side but the service is great and the banchans are my fav read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Super yum! We got beef short rib and spicy pork belly + tofu stew. They have many sides which they will refill for you. Service was good and food came out quick and was hot and delish. Parking is kinda annoying but that's sf for ya read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Big portions and friendly staff. A pretty quiet restaurant, and they give you an appetizer on the house when you eat in. The couple who run the restaurant make it feel very homey. read more

My son wanted to eat Korean for his birthday and I didn't feel like smelling like barbecue so we ventured to Muguboka, who's dining room feels like you're eating an authentic home-cooked meal at a Korean friend's home. The service was friendly and quick. The banchan are so fresh and tasty, and you can request for seconds. The japchae is flavorful and not greasy. We also enjoyed the bulgogi and spicy pork. Last but not the least, they gave us complimentary kimchi soup, which was warming and comforting. We will be back. read more

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Delicious as always. I think the prices went up a bit similar to most restaurants these days. This day we ordered the pancake, galibi jjim and the kalbi and the tofu soup was on the house. read more

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Have been coming back every few weeks. So good! Especially good on a chilly night. Love their cold noodles and tofu soup. Great service.

Muguboka Restaurant is a gem in San Francisco for anyone craving authentic Korean cuisine. From the moment we walked in, we felt a warm, welcoming vibe that perfectly complemented the feast we were about to enjoy.The banchan here is a love language of its own--vibrant, plentiful, and packed with flavor. Each small dish was a delightful surprise, they refill it whenever we asked for it. The variety and quality of the banchan was excellent. Midway through our meal, the server brought us a surprise plate of mandu, on the house! These little dumplings were crispy, and flavorful, ! It's rare to find a place that serves great food and makes you feel valued as a guest. This spot makes you feel like you are walking into a Korean umma's house. read more

Muguboka Restaurant - Banchan - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Solid takeout/delivery bibimbap option. I like the variety of toppings they have, and how thinly julienned most of them are. Would be curious to come here and try the dolsot bibimbap in person. read more

Excellent authentic Korean food, which is rare in SF. A small family-run place, opened fairly recently. Not much ambiance, but the food was excellent during my 2 visits so far. They get busy in the evening, not surprisingly. They do serve full banchan with every order. What I've had so far: dolsot bibimbap and the squid dish. Much enjoyed both. Highly recommend. read more

We were really craving Korean food and decided to try this place. After seeing all the good reviews, maybe our expectations were too high because we thought the food fell flat. The bulgogi seemed like it had been frozen - it was a bit watery and felt almost undercooked. It lacked the sweetness and char that usually make it so good. They never asked about our preferred spice level for the sundubu, so it was slightly bland, and it also didn't come with a raw egg to crack in. The mandu guk wasn't bad, just a bit salty. I also feel like Muguboka is on the pricier side. That said, the staff and service were friendly and attentive. Maybe we caught them on an off day, but overall, it was a miss for us. We left still craving Korean. Maybe we'll give it another shot if we're in the area. read more

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Delicious and homey vibes for food. One of my favorite korean restaurants in the city by far read more

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