This isn't typical a KBBQ or casual homestyle Korean spot or fancy Michelin--it's something unique and everything in between. Which is why we love this place so much and have brought so many family and friends here. The banchan is very unique yet still familiar to typical Korean spots. The seasonal garlic soy potato side is insane. The Kalbi is craaazy tender and flavorful. The service and ambiance is Michelin-quality, while still maintaining friendly semi-casual neighborhood vibes (which I prefer compared to robotic fine dining service). read more

I recently revisited San Ho Won after 4 years and wow, I should have come back sooner! Like the first time we opted for a la carte and this time around, what we ordered was even tastier than the first time I tried San Ho Won. I was able to snag a reservation for 2 on a Monday night when my friend was visiting SF and this ended me being the highlight of her trip! We shared the hwe muchim (raw fluke salad), beef tartare, beef neck fillet, double-cut galbi and doenjang clam jjigae. It was a ton of food but we managed to eat all of it. So good! Loved both apps, the hwe muchim was super fresh and light and the beef tartare was great as well. Loved the seaweed rice crackers served with the tartare and the asian pear added a nice touch of sweetness. The grilled meat was the star of the show. I've never had (or seen) beef neck fillet before but this turned out to be so tender and soft. It reminded me of a more flavorful filet mignon and I loved dipping this in the housemade ssamjang. The galbi is a must as well - this is the real reason to order a la carte as the house menu doesn't include the galbi. It's thick cut but so tender and the sauce is addicting without masking the flavor of the meat. It was perfect with a side of scallion salad and we got a bowl of white rice to share. Finally the doenjang clam jjigae was a nice way to end the meal with a rich savory soup. Overall such a good meal that feels both comforting and special at the same time. I could see the care that goes into each dish and San Ho Won has to be one of the best Korean restaurants in the Bay Area, especially if you're looking for a treat yourself meal. read more

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one of my top restaurant in sf !! the set menu has a good variety and portion for the price. the flavors compliment each other splendidly, and everything tasted delicious even though I was so full at the end the ambiance gives The Menu vibes, concrete walls, modern futuristic, and uniformed. the waiters were incredibly kind too. it is every difficult to make a reservation... we got a 9:45pm one, and it was still packed inside would bring my parents here/10 read more

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4.5 star experience, rounding to 5! Celebrated girlfriend's birthday. Made the reservation on Tock the day it was available. We ordered: tablas creek, patelin de tablas '23 $62 house menu $236 ($118 a head) double cut galbi $72 grilled tteok $6 jongga original kimchi $6 service charge 20% Flavors were great! Staff i think could have been a bit more attentive on the sides. Really surprised got charged $6 for kimchi when staff earlier said the veggies with meats were refillable. Street parking only, can be tough during peak hours. Galbi definitely really good. Though can be a bit rich. Probably best to order with larger group. I was able to finish, but was stuffing for sure. Definitely a cool spot to grab a nice premium meal! :D read more

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Soo hard to get a reservation but if you can, definitely get the yuk-hwe, beef tongue and kalbi. We didn't do the pre-fixe and ordered ala-carte. The dessert here is really good too so make sure to save space. Also don't go into this thinking it's an AYCE kbbq place because the prices are not that. It's definitely pricey for Korean bbq but I think worth it as the flavors are really clean and unique. You can really tell the quality behind it. read more

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Great experience at San Ho Won. Food, service and decor made it all so luxurious. The Galbi were massive and thick with full of fatty flavors. It felt apart easily too so really easy to eat compared to the grocery store galbi. Jebi Churi was very tender and smokey. High quality meat and would highly recommend trying this one if you never had this cut of meat. Loved the sauces that came with the ssam. Their house made ssamjang was great, and I loved that they made a cilantro sauce as a homage to the Mission District. Michelin rated 1 star restaurant and it definitely lived up to the hype in my mind. Side note. They also have a bidet in their restrooms. That's how you know they're on a different tier. read more

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At long last, I got to eat at the famous San Ho Won, what has been called the best Korean bbq in the country! Husband and I came here on a Monday and had one of the best meals I've had in a long while. We weren't that hungry so we opted for À la carte rather than the tasting, which we'll have to try another time. We ordered the original kimchi, the yam green onion pancake, mushrooms, rice, the pork ribs and the ribeye. The stunner of the pickings was the rib eye - my god! I think this was one of the best cuts of meat I've ever had. And I've been to Niku, been to super fancy Ome wagyu places in Japan, and this was better. The ribs, mushrooms and the soft serve with black sesame were also fantastic. Best Kim chi I've ever had too. Will need to try the eye soufle next time ! The service was fantastic as well! All around a fantastic meal experience read more

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I'm not gonna lie I thought this place was going to be overhyped. I've been to quite a few Michelin's around SF and not many have made me feel like it was worth it. That is...until I came here. Overall the vibes were elevated but also casual at the same time. We did the tasting menu and each dish that came I was so wowed by the flavors and texture. My top favorites: 1. The steamed egg, I've had plenty of steamed eggs before and I think it's the broth that they serve it with and the amazingly whipped up fluffy egg. It works so well together it was a staple but something made it REALLY stand out. 2. The beef cheeks WERE SO TENDER. The fattiness wasn't too fatty yet it still melted in your mouth I wow shocked! It was also very flavorful and I don't even know how they do it! 3. I can't even pick a 3rd because evrything else was just as amazing. This is my new recommended restaurant for anyone who comes to visit SF. read more

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Wow what a treat! Came to San Ho Won to celebrate my return from a tri yearly silent wilderness solitude retreat. This is definitely a place you go when you want to feast. Their kimchi and banchan is a delicious way to start of the meal. The service is welcoming and helpful when navigating the menu. I opted to do the pre-fixe menu and add a couple of extra dishes. Definitely make sure to get the Galbi Mandu dumplings those were incredible! San Ho Won transports you to another realm with its dim lighting and cultural decor. read more

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One of the best meals we've had in a long time! The galbi was absolutely mouthwatering, melts in your mouth! My husband and I didn't have a reservation so we came about 20 minutes before opening and got seats at the bar. we ordered à la carte and glad we did because the galbi isn't on the tasting menu. The kimchi was also the best we've ever had. read more

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The real deal for authentic Korean flavors in SF. Charcoal BBQ over lychee wood made the grilled meats come out beautifully tender and full of flavor. Our meat for the evening was beef neck, which was cooked perfectly. Everything felt genuine and thoughtfully done. I rarely take pictures of my food, but did it this time since I was delighted by the fact that this is an actual Korean American restaurant that got a Michelin-star. Only disappointment was the dessert. Was hoping for something a little more creative and Korean to end the meal. Cool, minimalist ambiance in a great Mission location with street parking. Bonus: it's right next door to Muttville, so you can go say hi to some cute elderly rescue dogs before dinner. A heads up on reservations: they're notoriously hard to get when they open up 30 days in advance. If you miss the window for the date you want, just add yourself to the waitlist and be ready to pounce the minute a cancellation pops up. read more

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Reservation: Was able to reserve online for a group of four about a month in advance; personally recommend getting a general reservation and ordering a la carte over the house menu, even for our first time as we got to try different items and the house double cut galbi (our table agreed as our favorite and their signature, most popular dish) is not on the house menu but would be too filling to add on to the already full tasting menu Parking: Surprisingly easy before 5pm when they open on a Thursday evening to find free street parking. Service: Incredibly attentive with replacing napkins, clean plates, clearing table trash, and keeping our barley tea pot and water pitcher full as well as good explanations on each dish Ambiance: Really nice dark, moody interior but also natural lighting from the wall with open windows Barley Tea: teapot was on the table and refilled throughout - great palate cleanser and loved that it was served hot Banchan: the sauce for the tofu dish was incredible with a good kick, cucumber and peanut sauce ones less memorable and overall not as many as expected from a Korean restaurant Hwe Muchim: Raw fluke sashimi salad was delicious, unique, and a great start to our meal as the server explained how you layer eating it with the perilla leaf first then a piece of seaweed and the fluke salad which made for a really balanced and flavorful bite that my Korean friend said was really authentic. I did wish they provided a wet towelette after this dish to clean our hands after. Kimchi and bacon pancake: never had one that was so thin it was actually more similar to a crepe than a pancake and packed great flavor with a good crisp and beautiful color, definitely worth trying Egg savory soufflé: a staple in many Korean BBQ restaurants but the additional anchovy broth in the bowl the served us each with tasted amazing with the egg Jebi Churi - the beef neck fillet was so tender and reminded me of braised beef that just falls apart on your fork; the chili sauce was my personal favorite House Double-Cut Galbi: this dish actually did live up to the hype for me personally as it's extremely difficult to get such a thick cut of galbi as tender as the beef neck was and the marinade added delicious flavor as well as smokiness from the charcoal grill; we were all able to leave just clean bones on our plate because of how well cooked the beef was Kimchi and seafood gamasot rice: this dish had so many ingredients but instead of being muddled, I got great bites of the seaweed and seafood and everything was well seasoned and balanced together as a perfect last savory dish Injeolmisu: even though it's called injeolmisu, the description said misugaru and the top half was delicious though the botton half seemed soaked in an alcohol that overpowered the light grain Black sesame ice cream sundae with huckleberry: the huckleberry was inside the center and had a crunch from being freeze dried potentially; the black sesame on the outside (not Oreo crumble) had a great toasty note to it and was our table's favorite dessert Peach bingsu: light and good texture from the almonds but not a must order for us Overall, really happy I tried this place with a bigger group so we could order more items to try that weren't on the house menu though I appreciate the menu had options for serving 1-2 vs 3-4 for dishes like the Hwe Muchim and the Kimchi and Seafood Gamasot Rice. We ordered just the right amount to be solidly full and ended up spending less per person than if we had ordered the house menu. The things on the house menu I did want to try that weren't on the a la carte menu were the shrimp and squash pancake and Gwangyang style rib-eye bulgogi but I think I still would prefer our a la carte route since we got to try the galbi. They took a polaroid photo for us as a keepsake and gave a little branded magnet as a birthday gift which was really nice too though we only had one polaroid copy for the four of us. read more

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Brief Summary: - Reserved 2-3 weeks in advance for good days and times - Very good food portions, entered hungry left very full - Tranquil and lovely atmosphere - Such kind staff, so heart-warming and super attentive - 1.5 - 2 hour eating experience if you order the House Menu - Walks-ins are possible, but reservations are guaranteed San Ho Won is one of the restaurants that has been recommended by a couple of my colleagues and mutuals who knew I love eating food, particularly Korean dishes. I asked them about whether I should reserve or walk-in; answers split, but for the safest route was the reservation. The restaurant opens at 5pm, and as we rounded the corner, we saw that there was a line at the door. Most of them appeared to have made reservations, because when the door opened, the staff called out for those who made reservations. Those who have left the line and into a different line where we introduced our names. The interior gave a quaint and restful atmosphere with the dark wooden tables, flooring, and booths. When we visited in the mid-summer season, where the sun was still visible when the restaurant opened, the light from the sunroof brought in soft light ambience in the space. Soon after sitting, we were accompanied by 2 staff members, who helped understand what is being prepared for the House Menu, explaining us what are the other choices, swapping out the empty tea kettle into a new one as silently as ninja, and checking in on us. The two were so friendly and very attentive. Another group whom I also want to send praise to are the two who came by to clear the dishes. The whole staff helped made the food experience very wonderful I'll swerve over to the food portion of the experience. When we reserved a spot, there were 2 options, but I decided to choose the House Menu. Remember, with the House Menu, 90% of the menu is chosen by the restaurant, so you can relax and eat. Out of the different options, there are 2 main courses section, where we can choose one of the two choices. I enjoyed many of the dishes, and I also liked the banchan. These were not served at the beginning, but they were served between 2-3 dishes in between course dishes. Some were paired with the course menu, and indeed it matched really well with it. Food came in at good speeds for a fast eater, and me, generally the slowest eater in the family, still had food from the prior course. Portions are on the hefty side, so I do recommend visiting on a very empty stomach so you can enjoy all the courses. This round we chose the more known named dishes like the bulgogi and the pork belly, but next time, if the menu still offers it or the season returns I might challenge the jowl and the beef cheeks. read more

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Had a wonderful time at San Ho Won celebrating our anniversary. Our reservation was at 5pm when they open and we were greeted with smiles - service was wonderful the entire evening. We got seated and decided to go à la carte which we had zero regrets doing. To start off, we were served barley tea and 3 Banchan dishes (shishito peppers, cucumbers, tofu). All were presented nicely. Overall, the food is fantastic here. The charcoal bbq meats were some of the best I've had. Highly recommend getting the ssam to wrap the meat in - the sauces were so good! Here is what we ordered: - Savory egg soufflé -- so fluffy and tasty with the anchovy broth! - Baechu kimchi -- this was ok, we just wanted to try one of their specialty Banchan. The taste was quite mild, wish it was more spicy. - Beef tongue -- soft, tender, melts in your mouth. Cooked perfectly. - Prime beef rib cap -- had a solid char and great flavor, super tender too. So good! - Galbi -- this was so tender and fatty. Super thick cut and just came off the bone. - Mugunji kimchi jigae -- we were so full at this point but the flavor of this was good. Tender pork jowl. We added a bowl of rice for $3. We ended with the summer peach bingsu which was one of the best desserts I've had. Super unique and everything worked so well in it with the roasted almond milk & peach jelly and gentle white chocolate. You have to try it! Overall, the ambiance is a nice casual for a Michelin star spot. Would highly recommend trying! read more

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Summary: San Ho Won is Korean Michelin 1-star that punches above its weight. The prix fixe menu is lovely and shows that the shop has range beyond its very excellent KBBQ. The vibes and service were standout. Overall value for the experience is unmatched even amongst its Michelin peers. Venue: Tucked in between Mission and Potrero Hill districts, San Ho Won's unassuming white exterior opens up to traditional "period Korean shop" decor. Unfinished wood in the furniture and dishware give off humble+rustic, yet clean+professional vibes simutaniously. Food: Excellent. Each dish in the set menu is rich and unique, highlighting different flavors of Korean cusine. My favorites include the beef neck and the kimchi pork stew. San Ho Won thankfully avoids the cardinal sin of high end dining--having bland main dishes. While many 1-star restaurants will have interesting starters (and alcohol to soften your expectations), the mains often sober you up and leave you wanting. San Ho Won's mains provided a satisfying impact that left me smiling. Service: While I was seated promptly, the staff were very forgiving that my partner got stuck in traffic and had to start the menu late. Every staff member was warm and thoughtful in general, and accomidating to our requests (late add on, delay next dish by 10 minutes, etc.). They also provided a cute Polaroid and fridge magnet to help celebrate our anniversary for the night. Takeaways San Ho Won beats out many of the other 1-star restaurants I've experienced in SF and in other US cities in taste, in service, and in value. I'm excited to come back and try their a la carte menu, as their tasteful set menu suggests many more hidden gems worth trying in the future. read more

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We waited months to get a reservation so we expected a lot. And boy did it live up to the expectations. All the meats Prime Beef Rib Cap, Jebi Churi - beef neck fillet, Double-Cut Galbi were some of the best Korean bbq meats. The galbi was flavored and cooked perfectly. The rib cap was juicy and the flavor was not overpowering. The beef neck fillet while it was good, it was a little too sweet for what I'm used to for kbbq. The egg soufflé came with a yummy chicken broth that complemented it perfectly. The sanma pajeon was the best pajeon I have tasted. Crispy and fried perfectly. And then the dessert injeolmisu was so good I was thinking of ordering more. I'm Korean so when the Korean food met my expectations then that means a lot. Everyone there was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu. read more

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Seemed like quite a celebratory place with many candles for birthdays and anniversaries. Despite being a Michelin starred restaurant it felt very San Francisco unpretentious with patrons wearing sandals, shorts, hoodies and college t-shirts. The food was definitely elevated, but not so much that your bulgogi comes in foam form. Banchan: Some free banchan at the beginning of the meal and more (mostly kimchi variants) throughout. All complex and full of flavor. I especially liked the cold tofu at the beginning, so much flavor. Shrimp and Squash Pancake: What was most striking was how little pancake there was in this pancake. The shrimp and squash were dominant, with a tiny bit of binding material to bring it all together and make it crispy. Quite a departure from more generic Korean joints where it's mostly batter with a little bit of filling. Really appreciated this. Savory Egg Soufflé: Loved the pageantry of scooping the delicate egg into a bowl, pouring over the broth and drizzling on the sauce. It really created a lot of layered flavors and textures. I'm normally not a fan of anchovies, but the anchovy broth tasted amazing. Galbi Mandu (add-on): I acknowledge the Prix Fixe House Menu is a lot of food, but I needed to splurge on this add-on since it looked so cool. Sure enough, the delicate lattice between dumplings was really great. Also, the dumplings themselves were fun with thin ground beef lines wrapped in elongated dumplings. Jebi Churi: Beef neck doesn't sound that appealing at first flush. However, understanding that it's a muscle that's just a small fraction of the cow and that it's filled with collagen inside is more intriguing. Seems to be a signature dish here. Was really great with all the different leaves and sauces. I found the sesame leaf the most interesting, somewhat spicy even. The green sauce was the most delicious since I love cilantro. Marinated Grilled Beef Cheeks: Same leaves and sauces leftover from the beef neck. The beef cheeks, in contrast were heavily marinated. So marinated that they stuck to the grill a bit. They also had a less muscular texture, almost reminding me of foie gras texture. Much richer and great in the leaf wraps. Butter Mushrooms: Came between the grilled meats. With the heavy amount of melted button instead the mushroom it kinda reminded me of escargot. Especially since the mushroom tasted nice and meaty. Beef Shank Jeongol with Knife-Cut Wheat Noodle: Loved the rich delicate broth. Remind me of beef pho, but with fewer spices and more attention to the beef bone infused flavor. It starts out without noodles, so you can focus on the tender beef slices, thin enoki mushrooms and various greens. I liked that there was a flavorful dipping sauce separate from the broth. Halfway though they brought out some noodles and more broth. At that point I was getting pretty full, but I just couldn't resist more intense broth and those chewy noodles. Soft Serve Ice Cream: There were two choices and we shared both. The strawberry drizzle on yogurt ice cream was a classic refreshing summery treat. The black sesame huckleberry was notable because of the vibrant and generous huckleberry throughout, especially the cache at the bottom. Omija Spritz: The soju flavor was dominant, not watered down by strawberry despite being so red. More sophisticated that some strawberry soda style cocktail. It surprised me. Fort Point, "Ganada", Korean-Style Lager: Made specifically for San Ho Won, this was indeed the perfect pairing to all the grilled meats. Paired nicely *and* cleansed the palate between bites. Also, liked the nice touch of being served in an ice frosted glass. read more

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My experience at San Ho Won was amazing! The food was delicious, the presentation was beautiful, and the service was outstanding. By the end of the meal, everyone at our table was completely full and satisfied. Our server, Rachael, was incredibly friendly and welcoming. She has such a bubbly personality and made our entire table feel comfortable from the moment we arrived. As for the food, we ordered the House Menu, a set menu selected by the restaurant and served family-style. Every dish was flavorful and well-prepared, and there was more than enough food for everyone. If you're considering the House Menu, I can confidently say you'll leave full and happy. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience, and I highly recommend it. read more

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We tried San Ho Wons pre-fixed tasting menu with a group of 4, got a reservation at opening at 5pm. I'll start with the good! It's a substantial amount of food, family style, I'd say no need to add on extra plates because you'll definitely be full by the end. The beef cheeks BBQ was exquisite, tender, well marinated and perfectly cooked. It came with 3 different sauces which were fun to pair with different banchan/wraps. The seafood pancake was also stand out and came with a delicious sauce pairing. Also, each house made kimchi was distinct and unique. Overall, every meat was perfectly cooked, tender, and especially tasty! Now for the not so good. Overall I felt rushed with the next dish coming out before our group had a chance to finish the dish in front of us, and at the end of the night they said no rush but we do have the next reservation waiting. We actually spent a bit over the 2 hour dining window there but I think for the size of the tasting menu more time could've been warranted. We got the hotpot and wish the noodles came out at the same time as the meats instead of separate. The ice cream dessert was good but feels a bit like an afterthought for a tasting menu. Overall I still think San Ho Won deserves the hype it has and I'd certainly recommend it! read more

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visited here for the first time on 8/4/26! san ho won was quite the experience : pricey but overall worth to dine here and enjoy the great quality meats and side dishes offered via al carte or house menu. right off the bat, once it opened, it got pretty packed with reservations - i felt lucky we got in as a walk-in and seated relatively quickly at the counter, which itself was a nice spot! we got a lil corner so it was actually quite enjoyable to share the meal in between. the interior and atmosphere was actually quite casual for luxury dining -- which felt comfortable and pleasant for the evening. we ordered the baked mussels with pork jowl, galbi, jeb churri, ssam, grilled tteok, and egg souffle . every single item was seriously addictive, especially the beef -- the meat was so tender and genuinely melts in your mouth *__* -- highly recommend the jebi churri (neck fillet) and galbi , they're a must have imo.. their texture, the rendering, and the flavors makes every bite so perfect. the baked mussels were delicious, nothing too extraordinary for me but still a dish that i enjoyed trying. same with the tteok, it was yummy. i liked the chewy texture and the glaze it had but i would definitely focus on the meats more. the egg soufflé was so so fluffy!!! i enjoyed the spicy anchovy broth and sauce that accompanied it -- beautifully served and presented, it was light and warming to eat for such a windy night. we ended off with the soft serves of the melon and black sesame !! the black sesame was more milky, and had a nice base of huckleberries that made a nice crunch with the ice cream. honestly my fave from the two. the melon soft serve was more refreshing and light -- it comes with thin slices of melon skin which gave the dessert a nice slight crunch. the soft serve itself was super creamy and delicate to scoop. would def visit again!! ^__^ read more

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I would say a very solid 4.5 stars. Service 5 stars, ambiance 4, most dishes 4-4.5 stars but the tongue and double cut ribs were 5's. Probably could use a stronger soju list and carry true Korean beers. Very nice experience overall but I just can't quite put my finger on what it missed to deliver 5 stars and a Michelin star. Will go back again soon and see what comes of it. In the meantime keep up the good work and congrats for all your results. read more

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Had a wonderful dinner at San Ho Won! We tried the House Menu and added the beef tartare with Asian pear. Everything was delicious and well portioned. My favorites were the savory egg soufflé, jebi churi (beef neck fillet) with assorted lettuces, and the beef shank jeongol with knife-cut wheat noodles. I was blown away by the noodles, they were chewy and perfect!! The soft serve was amazing as well and a fantastic way to end the meal. Since we were celebrating our anniversary, the staff took a polaroid photo of us and gave it to us with a small magnet, which was a really nice touch. Service was super friendly & attentive. The food came out immediately after we ordered, and the staff frequently checked in on us. The only minor issue was that the hostess was not very welcoming. It took her some time to acknowledge us when we walked in, and she didn't greet us when we were leaving the restaurant. The inside is spacious with tables that aren't too close to one another, and the vibes are casual. We had a great time and the food was excellent. I'd love to come back again to try other items on the menu, though I really enjoyed the prix fixe menu for a first visit. read more

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Ever since an online foodie friend recommended this 1* Michelin place to me, I've been wanting to try it. I finally got the opportunity when another friend accompanied me during my birthday weekend. Making the reservation right when slots opened 1 month in advance was a little stressful, but I succeeded. When I arrived for my 5pm reservation on a Sunday, there was already a line outside, but I didn't know that was for the walk-up diners so as I waited, I overheard the host turning them all away one by one because they were completely booked that night. I now understand the popularity because this place is definitely fantastic, which was reinforced by my later realization that this restaurant was co-founded by 3-Michelin-starred Benu's Corey Lee. (Benu is amazing and a must-try, too!) We were seated in one of the intimate high-walled booths that lined both sides of the restaurant, and they had coat hooks, which I thought was unique. The service was super attentive and friendly, which I expect of a Michelin-starred restaurant from past experiences at other places. Every time any server walked by our table, they would glance to check if anything needed to be cleaned up or finished dishes taken away. Our barley tea kettle was refilled frequently as well. Our reservation was for the tasting set "house menu". We started off with a trio of banchan (side dishes), which that night was tofu with chili, german turnip and cucumber kimchi, and pepper. I have a low tolerance to spicy foods, but I was able to eat all 3 with no issues, and they were delicious. The vegetables had a fresh crisp texture to them, which I don't think typical mom-&-pop Korean restaurant banchans have. I unfortunately did personally find the kimchi cabbage banchan in the course accompanying the shrimp & squash pancake to be too spicy due to the chili oil, but my friend was only too happy to have my portion. The shrimp & squash pancake was much smaller than what we were used to for seafood pancakes in other Korean restaurants, but the quality and flavor made up for it. Whenever I go to a Korean BBQ restaurant, I always get the steamed egg, and San Ho Won has elevated that into their savory egg souffle dish. It was much more fluffy and dense than other restaurants, I think because they use more eggs and are not watered down. This was great. We were then presented with ssam (lettuce wraps, scallion salad, and 3 sauces [2 spicy which I could not tolerate and 1 green sauce with a texture of guacamole but flavor of a chimichurri]) that we would be eating with our meats. The green sauce was an excellent pairing. My eyes widened and I was blown away by just how tender and flavorful the beef neck fillet, marinated grilled beef cheeks, and house double-cut galbi were. At typical mom&pop restaurants, the galbi is more thin and usually requires some dental force to rip the meat away from the bone, so when I saw how thick San Ho Won's pieces of galbi were but how much more melt-in-your-mouth they were also, my mind was blown. None of the meat had gristle that I needed to spit out. Excellent quality and wonderfully smoky from the solid lychee wood charcoal. On the house menu, I had a choice between the beef cheeks and bulgogi, which I had agonized over but ultimately picked the beef cheeks to have a different variety in the thickness, flavor, and texture compared to the neck fillet and galbi. Our server did mention that the marinade in the beef cheeks was the same as the galbi's when I was making my decision, but I never felt "bored" with the flavor. We were served yummy garlic butter mushrooms on the side, with the neck fillet. The next choice on the house menu was between mugunji kimchi jjigae & pork jowl vs the beef shank jeongol with knife-cut wheat noodles. Keeping my spice preference levels in mind, I picked the latter and was very pleased. The ingredients in the bowl were tastefully arranged and the clear broth addicting to drink. We were instructed to eat a little of everything without the noodles before the server returned with more broth and the al-dente noodles. This was the perfect wind-down to the meal. Last but not least was the dessert. As I was celebrating my birthday, our server took a free Polaroid of us and placed that in an envelope that also had a tiny magnet of San Ho Won's tiger logo. There was also a lit candle in my soft-serve. The two options that night were black sesame and summer melon, the latter which was a seasonal flavor. While the black sesame was good, the summer melon was so, so delicious and a must-try. I only wish they would have it year-round. I would come here just for this! In conclusion, would I come here again? Based on this night, yes, 1000x yes. My friend also agrees! read more

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I've liked the food hear and even booked an event but I need to cancel it 6 weeks in advance (allowed to cancel untll 2 weeks before) but they won't return any email, message or call to cancel and refund the deposit. They were quick to take the deposit though. Disgusting business practice. read more

Another great time at San Ho Won! The service was top tier- everyone from the host to our waitress was so kind and welcoming. If you choose to do the set menu, definitely come hungry!! Once we got to the soup course we were so full and ended up taking some things to go. I love love loved the black sesame ice cream dessert and the beef neck. read more

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I don't believe there is another KBBQ restaurant similar to this in SF, which is probably why it's rated so highly. Compared to LA and NYC where there is a lot more competiton, this would be mid-tier at best in those respective cities. I wanted to see if it was actually good so waited in line at 4:40pm on a Friday. We didn't make the first cut (max 8 people at counter seating) but thankfully got a text to come back at 6:15pm. We waited another 15 minutes to get seated, and decided to order a la carte since I wanted to try the galbi everyone raves about. Ended up ordering the steamed eggs, white kimchi, sesame leaf kimchi, beef neck filet, beef tongue, galbi, ssam and scallion salad. Everything tasted authentic-fusion (not including the meats) which I actually don't mind if done right. For $6 the white kimchi just tasted like ginger and do not recommend ordering unless you love ginger. They give you 3 sauces to dip your meat in and the oil tasted like a basic chili oil you have at home, the green sauce tasted like green sauce you get from Mexican restaurants and thankfully the last sauce was the best (ssamjang inspired) but this was a bit too sweet. The steamed egg was actually my favorite part of the meal. For $18 this was actually unique in terms of flavor and presentation that justified the cost. They serve the steamed egg in an anchovy broth that really went well together. I can't comment too much on the beef cuts other than my galbi because I didn't try them, but my partner did enjoy the beef neck more than the tongue because they put a sweet sauce on the tongue and he doesn't like sweet flavors. The galbi was pretty fatty but I can see the appeal and why some people love it. It's not your traditional LA galbi cut, but more of the thick cut variety you get in galbijjim (short rib stew). This was good and recommend ordering if you come, but be aware some pieces are pretty fatty. I don't plan on coming back because the elevated prices don't justify the flavors and offerings in my opinion. I would rather pay a fraction of the price for a normal KBBQ restaurant with all free sides elsewhere, but I am happy I tried it! read more

San Ho Won - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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incredible restaurant. we weren't able to get a reservation so we showed up before they opened and were able to get a walk in spot! the inside is beautiful and modern and they have an open kitchen so you can watch as your food is being prepared. we started with their Galbi Mandu, Griddled Beef Dumplings, which were delectable! we also ordered a variety of their grilled meats, Sweet Corn with Honey Butter and Chili, and Grilled Tteok (Rice Cakes with Maple-Soy Sauce). the meat was truly cooked and flavored to perfection. i totally understand the hype and would 100% recommend this establishment to anyone and everyone. read more

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Had an amazing night at San Ho Won with the hubby! The restaurant has a Michelin star, and you can tell why, but it doesn't feel over the top at all, just warm, lively, and welcoming. The food is so delicious. Chef Corey Lee really knows how to balance bold Korean flavors with little creative twists. We shared a bunch of dishes, and honestly, every bite was memorable... some were standouts, some were fun to try, but all of it felt thoughtful and well-executed. The service was fantastic too! attentive without being overbearing, friendly, and really made us feel comfortable the whole night. Getting a reservation takes a bit of planning. They release tables 29days in advance and open bookings every morning at 10AM, so if you're aiming for a specific date/time, set a reminder and be ready right when reservations drop. Definitely a place I'll be thinking about for a long time, and I can't wait to come back! read more

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I genuinely did not expect this from a Michelin-starred restaurant. We were pretty underwhelmed by the food, particularly the **Center Cut Beef Tongue** and **Gwangyang Style Rib-Eye Bulgogi**. Both were seasoned so salty and sweet that we ended up drinking a lot of water afterward. The rib-eye also tasted overcooked to us, with fairly average meat quality and a minced texture that resembled ground beef. A female server came over and asked for our feedback, so we told her honestly that we did not enjoy the bulgogi. She asked, "Could it be because you're too full?" I don't think she meant anything by it, and honestly I found the question more funny than offensive. But no -- we just didn't like it. What made the interaction stranger was that shortly afterward, a more senior male staff member came over and told us he had taken our dish back for the chef to inspect. The chef confirmed that it was **"cooked as designed."** He then explained that they use prime beef, and that the texture we were describing was essentially what good bulgogi made with high-quality beef is supposed to be like. Maybe that explanation was intended to be helpful, but it landed more like: the dish is correct, so perhaps you just don't recognize good beef. Which was... interesting. I have no doubt that it was cooked exactly as designed. We just didn't think the design tasted very good. Later, they asked why the three of us hadn't finished the kimchi soup and, again, whether we were simply too full. This time we just said, "It's mediocre." Mostly because by then we had realized that saying we didn't like something seemed to invite an explanation of why we should have liked it. That was really the oddest part of the experience. I don't expect a restaurant to agree with every piece of feedback, and taste is obviously subjective. But if you ask guests what they think, sometimes the answer is simply going to be: we didn't like it. The three of us dine out pretty regularly across all kinds of restaurants, from casual places to fine dining, and this was a very unusual way to handle negative feedback. In our experience, most restaurants will at least try to resolve the issue -- offer to remake the dish, replace it with something else, take it off the bill, or simply acknowledge that it wasn't to the guest's taste. What they generally don't do is repeatedly insist that the food is exactly as it should be and then explain to the guest why they may have failed to appreciate it. The way the non-positive feedback was handled made an already disappointing meal feel unnecessarily awkward. One exception: the male server with manicured nails was incredibly warm, friendly, and enthusiastic throughout the evening. We really appreciated him. Overall, not what I expected from San Ho Won -- either from the food or the way the feedback was received. read more

San Ho Won - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sad to see that the kalbi is no longer on the house menu, since that's the best thing here. We ordered à la carte, and got: spicy pig's ear salad - I grew up eating pig ear so I loved this, but this can be offputting for less adventurous eaters. Excellent pig ear texture and flavor. beef tartare with Asian pear - This was good, and I liked the chips (bugak) that it came with, although I don't know if I love the pairing with Asian pear. sanma pajeon (mountain yam pancake) - Wasn't expecting there to be mountain yam slices embedded in the pancake. Good but not a must get. Australian ribeye - Unremarkable, imo not worth it considering it's the most expensive item in the menu House Double-Cut Galbi - The standout. You have to get this, so fatty and juicy. My husband did note that he felt like it was undersalted - some bites didn't fully have enough flavor. Also can be a bit hard to eat given how thick the galbi is (and there's no knife). Grilled Teok - Okay, not a must get. Injeolmisu - This was my favorite of the desserts, I liked the tea and injeolmi flavor, although I could have done without the small rice cakes that were embedded inside. read more

Feels good to be back! Came here back in February to celebrate valentines with the hubs. We got very lucky and there was a last min cancellation and were able to get seated right away! The team at San Ho Won are always so nice and accommodating! I always enjoy dining here! The food is immaculate and the service is always on point. Love how intimate the experience is here! read more

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San Ho Won is hands down one of the best Korean BBQ spots I've been to. From the moment you start eating, you can tell the quality is on another level--the meats are incredibly tender and practically melt in your mouth. Every cut feels carefully selected and perfectly prepared. The price point might seem high at first glance, but it's actually pretty reasonable if you go with a larger group and split everything. We ordered à la carte, which felt like the best value since we could pick exactly what we wanted. That said, the tasting menu is a great option if you're not sure where to start. Overall, it's an amazing KBBQ experience that feels both high-end and approachable. I'd definitely come back again in the near future. read more

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Friends treated us out to dinner here and she was able to snag a list minute reservation. We opted for the tasting menu and each ingredient was super fresh, but not all of the items were as delicious as we would hope for it to be. If I were to come back, I would just do à la carte since there just a few items they were stupendous. The one thing I was impressed most by was the galbi! The marinate was umami but not too salty and the meat was delectable and tender. This is a must get if you plan on ordering à la cart. Service was quick and friendly and the server shared a few laughs with us. I definitely want to try their other à la carte menu items and hopefully the next experience will be as amazing as their galbi. read more

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We originally planned to go to Bon Nene, but the wait was way too long, so we walked a couple blocks over to San Ho Won and luckily snagged seats at the bar within about 20 minutes as walk-ins. We decided to go with the house menu so we could try a bit of everything, and overall, the food really impressed us. The meats were the standout--super tender, flavorful, and consistently delicious. If you enjoy that slightly sweet soy-marinated Korean BBQ style, you'll definitely like it here. The banchan were solid, and the pajeon was crispy with a good amount of shrimp. As someone who's Korean, I did feel like the kimchi jjigae was a bit underwhelming. It leaned more sweet than spicy, which isn't very traditional, but I still enjoyed it--it felt lighter than what I'm used to at home. The ambiance was really nice--clean, with a good mix of modern design and warm wood elements. That said, sound definitely travels, and it can get pretty noisy once the place fills up. Unexpectedly, the dessert ended up being the star of the meal. The orange and vanilla swirl was so refreshing and perfectly balanced--not too sweet, just a really nice way to end everything. We also had a ton of leftovers, which is always a plus. Service was attentive and genuinely good, which can be hit or miss at trendy, popular spots like this. I'd definitely come back next time I'm in SF. read more

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Delicious food. We did the pre fixe menu for dinner, and I loved everything we got! Pancake, egg soufflé, beef neck filet, bulgogi, beef shank jeongol with wheat noodles, and makgeoli soft serve! Attentive service. Chill atmosphere. We asked them if we can speed up our courses because I had to be home by a certain time, and they did a great job making sure they were going fast enough but not too fast. I'll be back!! read more

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I've been to San Ho Won twice. Most recently, I was a last-minute substitute when someone couldn't make a reservation. Upon arriving, we realized that we had accidentally reserved the tasting menu instead of à la carte as intended. I think most people prefer à la carte here, but I do like the tasting menu since it gives you a more well-rounded meal instead of the meat meat meat I'd probably be inclined to order otherwise. I think if the original party had been eating dinner, the conversation would've leaned more towards credit card optimization, and things like that but because I was there, it was more about dating (I love gossip). Our waiter advised my friends to check out coffee meets bagel. Near the end of the meal I went to the bathroom (excellent toilet btw), and I noticed that a food TikToker I follow was sitting at the booth next to ours. From watching his TikTok a few weeks later, it seems like we really missed out on a seafood stew (à la carte). Next time! read more

San Ho Won - Jeon - Korean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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San Ho Won was delicious with amazing quality meats and fresh vegetables. The service was just as you might expect, very attentive and friendly throughout the course of the dinner. My favorite foods were the Savory Egg Soufflé, Jebi Churi - Beef Neck Fillet, and House Double-Cut Galbi. The meats were perfectly cooked and all the food was timed in courses. This is a fun place to come with a large party as everything is shareable! read more

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San Ho Won serves up delicious and elevated KBBQ. The price tag matches this, but I think it's worthwhile to try it out for a nicer occasion. I was finally able to try San Ho Won when I went with my friend for her birthday. It is infamously hard to get a res, but not impossible with sufficient lead time. The interior is more casual than expected, but the light wood does give things an air of fanciness. We sat at the counter, which was cozy but not too cramped. Here's what we got: Complimentary Banchan: Yummy assortment of dried fish, tofu, and more! Not exactly sure what everything was, but I enjoyed it all. Dongchimi with Preserved Green Plum ($6.5): This sounded like the fanciest kimchi option, which is why we got it. It was big blocks of fermented radish in ice-cold water. I cannot say this was our favorite... Just something about it being freezing-cold and then not being very unique in flavor. I'd opt for a more normal kimchi unless you know this is up your alley. Sanma Pajeon - Mountain Yam and Green Onion Pancake ($18): This sounded too cool not to get. It's expensive for a small pancake, but it's definitely a unique take on the Korean pancake. Both my friend and I really enjoyed it! It was crispy and flavorful. House Double-Cut Galbi ($72): This is the classic that everyone gets, so we decided to as well. It was good! It's very rich, as you'd expect. There is a lot of straight fat on the edges, which isn't always my personal favorite because it's so much that it can't all crisp up, and it can be a lot of chewing. That said, I still enjoyed it. It was also fun to try it with the different accompanying sauces! Japanese Sweet Potato (not currently on the menu): This was really yummy, and I hope they bring it back. It's simply a grilled Japanese sweet potato, which is amazing. And then it comes with this maple syrup-y flavored sauce and an onion foam-type sauce. Really fun combo! Kimchi and Seafood Gamasot Rice ($36): Yummy rice bowl is really all I can say! I personally think you have to get a stew or rice to pair with the KBBQ, just to keep things balanced, and this is a solid option. Now for dessert. I am quite the restaurant dessert critic because so often, I am let down. And I know it's logistically and financially hard for restaurants to do it, I know. But my sweet tooth is not thinking about the logistics and financials at the end of the meal. All that to say, I did not expect much from San Ho Won for dessert, particularly because they specialize so heavily in meat and savory. So I was very pleasantly surprised by their amazing desserts!!! Soft Serve Ice Cream ($9): I am not one to order ice cream for dessert at a restaurant because it seems so boring. But this sounded too cool, and it was amazing. It's gorgeous, loaded up with black sesame flavor, the black sesame cookie pieces and crumbs were a pleasant textural surprise, and the huckleberries were a gorgeous complement. The soft serve itself was super milky and creamy. The portion was solid. This was awesome!! Injeolmisu ($14): I like this more than regular tiramisu. It is simply such a cool take and executed so well. It's gorgeous, well-balanced, I loved the tea flavor, and then the random chewy rice cakes in there are so fun. The portion was solid as well. Again, this was fantastic!! All in all, we had a great dining experience at San Ho Won. One thing I'll note is that dishes come out kind of fast, and it seemed like the staff was expecting us to eat pretty quickly. We still ate at a normal pace and just would sometimes have a lot of plates on the table at once, but it was fine. Just a note if you're not a super speedy eater, and/or you and your party are chatting. read more

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Shrinkflation is real, and it's unfortunate San Ho Wan reduced their house menu options over the years. We first dined back in 2023 and the $110 house menu included two cuts of meat (beef neck fillet and the double cut galbi) and both the kimchi jjigae and gamasot fried rice to share for the table. But last year 2025's $118 house menu still had two cuts of meat (beef neck fillet and choice of beef cheeks OR rib eye bulgogi), but only choice of kimchi jjigae and gamasot fried rice, not both. Because the double cut galbi was removed the house menu, we went a la carte instead. The double cut galbi was absolutely delicious, very tender and so flavorful. I highly recommend this dish to share; it's the main meat dish I'd order each visit. The savory egg soufflé is another one of my favorites, as it's very fluffy and umami. Be sure to get the soft serve ice cream as well! The servers are very friendly and food arrived to our table in a timely manner. When ordering a la carte, definitely ask your server for recommendations or suggestions. San Ho Wan's menu changes frequently and their online reservation system (Tock) is easy to use. Only caveat is reservations book very quickly; however they do allow walk-ins. read more

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This place has been on my radar/bucket list for years now and I was so disappointed that it didn't live up to my expectations. I went for my birthday and was extremely excited to be finally trying it. We made a reservation for two and we were promptly seated at our prepared table when we arrived. The environment was very enjoyable with comfortable lighting and seating. The service was great and they definitely helped elevate the experience. However, the food did not meet Michelin quality. We ordered the house menu which the servers were right, it is more than enough and there is no need for add-ons. We started off with some banchan which were more unique or at least had a different twist to it than typical banchan. They were nothing special and I understand that these are just side dishes, but from my experience with other Michelin restaurants, the first bite of food is usually more impactful. I was really anticipating more, but as the other courses followed, I can't name a single dish that stood out. Don't get me wrong, everything was still good, but not to the level of hype around it or a star. I'm glad I was able to finally check this one off, but I fear I will not be coming back or recommending it for its price point. read more

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