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✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
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Hours
| Friday | 11 AM–3 PM, 5–11 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–3 PM, 5–11 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM |
| Monday | 11 AM–3 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–3 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 22 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 416-9409
Website: https://www.thebuoysf.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
Photo Gallery
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Reviews
David Hwang
Amazing service, food, and atmosphere. My girlfriend and I had buratta salad, soondubu soup, and galbijjim. All were great but the galbijjim was exceptionally to my taste! It was buttery, soft, but firm enough to cut through like steak. The marinate was beautifully seasoned and glazed.
Cocktails were great as well. 10/10!!
… moreCocktails were great as well. 10/10!!
yelena kozlova
Wow! What a find! The food was excellent, the atmosphere really fun and the service highly attentive. We got the beef tartar which was fresh, flavorful and creative with the nori chips. The kimchee was really creative, an excellent mix of freshness, fermentation and spice. We got the steak which was very tender abd paired with a house version of chimichury which was better its traditional cousin in terms of flavor. Finally, we finished with the tofu and brisket stew with the seafood addition and this was my favorite dish. It had a sous vide octopus, clams, AND abalone, along with Brisket and silken tofu – a flavor and protein paradise.
We also ordered the white and the black tiger, with were good, but I preferred the white tiger for the flavor and cream inside.
… moreWe also ordered the white and the black tiger, with were good, but I preferred the white tiger for the flavor and cream inside.
Eilene Cho
This is place is absolutely spectacular! I had made a reservation at 8:30 pm and asked to be notified if there were any cancelations. I was able to move my dinner to 5 pm. I notified them of my allergies, and they were able to accommodate them. Food was spectacular and would highly recommend for a special date night. Some people have mixed opinions on this, but waiters were very attentive in refilling my water.
… moreWook Chung
There is something going on at the Buoy that is very difficult to explain in conventional terms. First, it feels like a cafe and bakery during the day, perhaps even a brunch spot. Then, at night, it somewhat turns into a cocktail bar and lounge. The dinner menu is focused, distilled down to a handful selection, but are done in a creative, mind-boggling way where you wonder why you might be tasting something of this caliber at a bar lounge. Something is going on. But you can feel something special is brewing.
We went there for dinner so I’d like to focus on evaluating it as a dinner spot. The interior is modern, clean, and almost too “simple”. It has a cocktail bar lounge vibe, especially with the Korean music moderately loud and dark lights. However, you see the full cutlery laid out on the table and this is where your mind starts to play tricks and ask questions.
The menu is super simple, perhaps no more than 20 items in total. The appetizers come in as “tapas”, perfectly designed to go well with soju or Korean-style drinking. But, the caliber of the food is simple out of this world. This isn’t your typical Korean comfort food that accompanies alcohol. These are meticulous creations – Korean-inspired yet focused on striking a fresh balance.
We ordered 5 appetizers and each and every one of them we craved for more. The Golden Toast is simply out of this world. Each person must get one. Rich with various fresh seafood and avocaod. The crunchy galbi also is insane. The deep-frying of galbi is a fresh take giving it a texture not experienced before. The wagyu yukhwe is also a piece of artistic creation with a egg yolk puree in the middle and seaweed chips. The kanpachi turtled in a carved out tomato in olive oil was also fabulous. Even as I write this review, my mouth waters.
The chef at The Buoy is not your everyday lounge food chef. He/she means business. They are here to compete, whether it is a Michelin star or other recognitions. The Buoy can be taken very seriously as a dinner location, rubbing shoulders with other progressive venues that push the boundaries of culinary possibilities. The steak, the bossam, … my list of complements go on and on. Again, this isn’t just about creating a good Korean cuisine. This is entirely new and fresh. This is not normal.
We will absolutely be returning to The Buoy. Just a single visit does not do justice to what this place is bubbling with. Whether you like Korean food or not, you must try The Buoy. And again, be prepared to be confused and delighted at the same time.
… moreWe went there for dinner so I’d like to focus on evaluating it as a dinner spot. The interior is modern, clean, and almost too “simple”. It has a cocktail bar lounge vibe, especially with the Korean music moderately loud and dark lights. However, you see the full cutlery laid out on the table and this is where your mind starts to play tricks and ask questions.
The menu is super simple, perhaps no more than 20 items in total. The appetizers come in as “tapas”, perfectly designed to go well with soju or Korean-style drinking. But, the caliber of the food is simple out of this world. This isn’t your typical Korean comfort food that accompanies alcohol. These are meticulous creations – Korean-inspired yet focused on striking a fresh balance.
We ordered 5 appetizers and each and every one of them we craved for more. The Golden Toast is simply out of this world. Each person must get one. Rich with various fresh seafood and avocaod. The crunchy galbi also is insane. The deep-frying of galbi is a fresh take giving it a texture not experienced before. The wagyu yukhwe is also a piece of artistic creation with a egg yolk puree in the middle and seaweed chips. The kanpachi turtled in a carved out tomato in olive oil was also fabulous. Even as I write this review, my mouth waters.
The chef at The Buoy is not your everyday lounge food chef. He/she means business. They are here to compete, whether it is a Michelin star or other recognitions. The Buoy can be taken very seriously as a dinner location, rubbing shoulders with other progressive venues that push the boundaries of culinary possibilities. The steak, the bossam, … my list of complements go on and on. Again, this isn’t just about creating a good Korean cuisine. This is entirely new and fresh. This is not normal.
We will absolutely be returning to The Buoy. Just a single visit does not do justice to what this place is bubbling with. Whether you like Korean food or not, you must try The Buoy. And again, be prepared to be confused and delighted at the same time.
ariana
My dinner experience was amazing – food, service and atmosphere were all 5/5. Went back for lunch shortly after and the service was really lacking. Still amazing food, but the front house staff working at the time seemed like they didn’t want to be there. They were impatient with taking orders and left finished dishes and cups on tables for a while before cleaning them up. Highly recommend getting dinner here though.
… moreNha H
Nice cozy Korean restaurant. There is bar and table seatings. I’d recommend getting a reservation as it seems like it’s fairly busy.
I went with a fairly big group and it seemed like the staff had a little miscommunication on how the evening was going which made the experience feel much longer than it needed to be.
The golden toast was excellent as was the sundubu with octopus.
Overall we tasted a variety of dishes and all were quite tasty.
… moreI went with a fairly big group and it seemed like the staff had a little miscommunication on how the evening was going which made the experience feel much longer than it needed to be.
The golden toast was excellent as was the sundubu with octopus.
Overall we tasted a variety of dishes and all were quite tasty.
Kungfu Kenny
TLDR: just go for the drinks and a photoshoot
I would’ve had a better impression if they didn’t offer food.
Pros:
– vibey interior and presentation is beautiful
– the matcha einspanner tastes amazing
Cons:
– the ribeye in the ribeye salt bread was dry and the sandwich was tiny
– there are only small particles of beef in the beef bowl. The bowl itself tastes like a bunch of flavors and textures carelessly tossed together
– wifi is super slow
… moreI would’ve had a better impression if they didn’t offer food.
Pros:
– vibey interior and presentation is beautiful
– the matcha einspanner tastes amazing
Cons:
– the ribeye in the ribeye salt bread was dry and the sandwich was tiny
– there are only small particles of beef in the beef bowl. The bowl itself tastes like a bunch of flavors and textures carelessly tossed together
– wifi is super slow
Jin Zhang
The location and vibes at this place is 100%. I got the beef rice bowl for lunch. The beef itself was really disappointing. Several pieces were chewy and fatty, really unpleasant and I had to spit them out. I don’t know if they were cheap cuts or not trimmed properly. Everything else was good. I’m giving it 2-2.5 stars because it’s like eating a clam pasta dish where everything is on point but you got sand in your mouth that just ruined the whole experience. I agree with previous reviews that this place has lots of potential but survival lies in the details.
… morenarae kim
A perfect brunch. The kimchi panini and French toast were both delicious, and the sesame mochi was amazing too. I missed the salt bread again since it only comes out after 10, but hopefully next time! The kind service made the experience even better. Looking forward to trying their dinner menu as well!
… moreDaniel Baek
One of the best dining experience in sf! Would highly recommend to everyone! Food taste amazing, clean and authentic but has modern fusion incorporated. Generous portions and great wine selection with dim and ambient lighting, great for dates and group dinners + solo dinners at the bar. Paid parking is right next door and service is fast and friendly.
… more