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✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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Sophisticated restaurant serving a tasting menu of Korean-inspired cuisine, plus wine pairings.
Hours
| Friday | 5:30–9 PM |
| Saturday | 5–9 PM |
| Sunday | 5–9 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 5:30–9 PM |
| Thursday | 5:30–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 2226 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 814-2704
Website: http://ssalsf.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
SSAL
SSAL is a modern Californian restaurant with Korean roots. We are located in San Francisco, California. We serve a single tasting menu nightly in our dining …
Ssal – San Francisco – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
Hyunyoung and Junsoo Bae have ample fine dining experience but were inspired to strike out on their own to fill what they saw as a void in San Francisco’s …
SSAL (@ssalsf) · San Francisco, CA – Instagram
A Michelin-starred restaurant offering Korean flavors inspired by Northern California’s seasonal landscape, expressed through modern techniques.
Reviews
Paul Cheong
The ambiance was lovely. Calm decor with earth tones with good lighting and a low noise level. The service was great; friendly and playful.
The food was mostly good. I’d say all the small bites in the early courses were excellent. I especially loved the “pancake” ball and the eel wrap. Both packed a punch of flavor and creativity.
I didn’t love the cod dish served with rice, not just because it was served with milt, which I personally don’t care for, but also because the sauce seemed incomplete, almost like the authentic version but not quite there and didn’t enhance it in any meaningful way. I didn’t like the quail. It was very well executed but I didn’t think it went with the meal. Quail is not used much in Korean cuisine except for the eggs, but the course didn’t utilize the eggs at all.
Overall, it was a lovely meal and I would return for a new menu.
… moreThe food was mostly good. I’d say all the small bites in the early courses were excellent. I especially loved the “pancake” ball and the eel wrap. Both packed a punch of flavor and creativity.
I didn’t love the cod dish served with rice, not just because it was served with milt, which I personally don’t care for, but also because the sauce seemed incomplete, almost like the authentic version but not quite there and didn’t enhance it in any meaningful way. I didn’t like the quail. It was very well executed but I didn’t think it went with the meal. Quail is not used much in Korean cuisine except for the eggs, but the course didn’t utilize the eggs at all.
Overall, it was a lovely meal and I would return for a new menu.
Kami Rieck
I’d give this restaurant 1,000 stars if I could. Stellar food, the kindest, most personable staff. Every minute felt delicate. It makes you root for this restaurant. Thank you Ssal and especially Jessica for the unforgettable night. We can’t wait to be back.
… moreDiane
What a life changing meal. These photos are actually from over 2 years ago but I still think about this place regularly. I’ve had my fair share of renowned modern, refined korean food / Korean fine dining in NY and LA, and nothing quite elevates Korean food as authentically as SSAL.
This meal quite literally changed my life and showed me that fine dining can both be deeply comforting and beautifully refined at the same time.
Will probably travel to the bay just to dine here again at some point.
… moreThis meal quite literally changed my life and showed me that fine dining can both be deeply comforting and beautifully refined at the same time.
Will probably travel to the bay just to dine here again at some point.
Sam Lee
We went to Ssal for a special family dinner the night before our wedding. We were excited but also weren’t exactly sure what to expect from Korean fine dining and their tasting menu. We enjoyed the fried chicken and kimbap they served during covid though so we knew it had to be good.
As we expected, every single dish was absolutely DELICIOUS! Every dish was familiar since they obviously used Korean ingredients and meal inspirations but still so novel and creative!! We loved them all but the raw beef tart, sweet potato pancake, flounder mul hwe, and juk were my favorite. The only problem we had was that it was so much food that we were so full lol We were so sad we couldn’t finish every single bite.
The service was incredible and chef came and explained every dish and checked in throughout to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Not only that but, to our surprise, the team even printed “congratulations on your wedding” in Korean on our dessert!!! We were so incredibly touched and it made our wedding experience even more special and memorable. Thank you to Chef Junsoo and the Ssal team for curating such a special and tasty experience and celebrating our happy occasion with us. It was such a treat!
… moreAs we expected, every single dish was absolutely DELICIOUS! Every dish was familiar since they obviously used Korean ingredients and meal inspirations but still so novel and creative!! We loved them all but the raw beef tart, sweet potato pancake, flounder mul hwe, and juk were my favorite. The only problem we had was that it was so much food that we were so full lol We were so sad we couldn’t finish every single bite.
The service was incredible and chef came and explained every dish and checked in throughout to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Not only that but, to our surprise, the team even printed “congratulations on your wedding” in Korean on our dessert!!! We were so incredibly touched and it made our wedding experience even more special and memorable. Thank you to Chef Junsoo and the Ssal team for curating such a special and tasty experience and celebrating our happy occasion with us. It was such a treat!
Paul Wylie
Truly some of the best fried chicken there is to offer. Absolutely every single piece was juicy, crunchy, and outstandingly delicious. Fried chicken, cavier, and champagne is definitely a winning combination. All other food servings were also incredibly well done, including the tteokbokki, but of course, the chicken is the star.
The most disappointing part of the meal was the restaurant aesthetic. I love a modern, minimalist design, but this was taken a bit too far; it felt very cold and almost off putting.
… moreThe most disappointing part of the meal was the restaurant aesthetic. I love a modern, minimalist design, but this was taken a bit too far; it felt very cold and almost off putting.
Masaru Ohnogi
This is a Michelin-starred Korean restaurant in San Francisco. As you can see from the pictures of the dishes, the cuisine is contemporary, and my first impression was that it had French elements. In fact, the head chef has experience in French cooking. Every dish looked exquisite, and I could see the thought put into designing the full course menu—how they skillfully combined ingredients and seasonings to create their own unique flavors and presentation.
I was curious about where each ingredient came from, and I expected the staff to explain this when they served the dishes. As a Japanese foodie, I tend to focus on whether ingredients are sourced from the best places and seasons. The flavors were great, but my only concern is that I wanted to taste each ingredient more distinctly.
The service was excellent, and they offered a good variety of liquor options.
… moreI was curious about where each ingredient came from, and I expected the staff to explain this when they served the dishes. As a Japanese foodie, I tend to focus on whether ingredients are sourced from the best places and seasons. The flavors were great, but my only concern is that I wanted to taste each ingredient more distinctly.
The service was excellent, and they offered a good variety of liquor options.
Kartier
Oh my gosh, it was amazing. A bit on the higher priced side, but I can say it was worth it. We came for my birthday and the menu was extremely unique, flavorful and memorable. I can’t wait to go back someday, maybe for Christmas. The restaurant runs a bit ambiguously but I recommend you give them a try if you like Korean cuisine. They put a REALLY nice fine dining spin on it. Photos below
… moreEvan Smith
Loved the sophisticated and understated vibe of this spot. Menu felt refreshing and modern. Seaweed item (I forget what it was called) was a highlight, as were the desserts. Warm and attentive service in a non-uptight environment, which makes or breaks a tasting menu in my opinion. Som was very knowledgeable about the wine list and we drank some delicious stuff! I will return.
… moreNabila Kabir
Easily in the top 5 most memorable dining experiences in my short life. The chef is truly bringing nostalgic and traditional Korean flavours to an elevated and contemporary forum. Everything was accessible but elevated. The scallion pancake with caviar was easily the best bite of food I’ve ever had.
… moreViviane Tran
Went for my brother’s birthday and we had a wonderful evening. Everything was perfect; food was beautiful, poetic, tastefully delicate; the attentive service is worth highlighting; the setting is modern and pleasant. I really appreciated they took the time to make personalized biscuits for his birthday – the nicest touch I had in a restaurant! I’ve been to 3 michelin star restaurants that didn’t even do something as personalized for a celebration. Thank you for a wonderful evening that we still talk about!
… more