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Benu San Francisco Yelp Reviews
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Finally made it to Benu for Valentine's Day dinner and it
Finally made it to Benu for Valentine's Day dinner and it leaves up to the price tag, hype and 3 Michelin star rating. The outside is full of traditional Korean onggi jars and is a super beautiful garden area. The entrance is very unassuming - Ive walked by it several times without realizing that it was Benu! A very understated exterior but once you walk in, it's really serene and beautiful. I will say the inside of the actual restaurant itself is okay - I think the decor and tables and seating could use some updating. The carpet on the floor makes it nice for walking in heels haha but does give it a more dated vibe. The food was EXTRAORDINARY - I've been to a few 3 Michelin star restaurants but this was my favorite so far. A close second is Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare but at Benu there were twists and takes on food that I had never seen before and the flavors and seasoning were SPOT ON. Don't let the menu fool you - there were about 8 courses that came out before we started on the first item on the menu. They also have the best non-alcoholic drink I've ever had - it's called winter melon sugar and it's just the most amazing thing ever. Make sure to get this and try it!! My husband had the wine pairing and to be honest, it was pretty disappointing. I would skip that and just order your favorites as they have quite an extensive list. I would definitely recommend this place for a special occasion - you won't be disappointed! There's valet parking but also lots of street parking nearby.
Be the first to ReplyEven for SF, this place is expensive.
I came here on a Thursday night with a reservation for 8 people to take my clients out after Dreamforce. Between the dinner and 3 bottles of wine, the bill ended up being ~$5000 dollars (this was with 20% gratuity included). The quality, aesthetics/presentation, and taste were all great as you would expect from a 3-Michelin Star restaurant, but I wasn't crazy about the selection of dishes that were part of the set menu.
Be the first to ReplyI would call this an amazing experience! The food, the
I would call this an amazing experience! The food, the service and the ambience were all just great. The meal lasted approximately 3 1/2 hours. i've really don't know how to explain it besides that. It was really phenomenal.
Be the first to ReplyWow! What an amazing experience for a special occasion! We
Wow! What an amazing experience for a special occasion! We came for a belated Valentine's Day dinner on a Thursday night and loved every moment. The minute you walk into the secluded courtyard that leads to the front entrance you see the traditional Korean clay jars out front which they use for pickling and kimchis. The exterior is lovely it feels like you're transported to Korea. Inside, we were greeted warmly and taken to our table which felt like we were in a modern art museums with large portraits on the wall. The tasting menu start with small delicacies then larger plates meant to be eaten with rice and accompaniments ending with 2 dessert courses. The small delicacies ended up being 7 smaller bites and all-in-all we were definitely stuff after the meal despite the menu being a bit shorter than other 3 start experiences we've had. Some highlights were: - Japchae stuffed mussel: the mussel was gorgeous stuffed with slivers of vegetables and glass noodles inside. It was beautifully flavored and the perfect bite. - Uni with beef tartare and crab butter: a staple of omakases, this one reminded me of Singaporean kueh pie tee, delicious with sweet uni and full of umami - Barbecued quail: served with house xo sauce and a black truffle cream with a truffle steamed bun. The quail was very tender with a nice smoky flavor that reminded me of Chinese smoked duck. The steamed bun was absolutely delicious with pork lard inside to give it savoriness. Paired with the xo and black truffle sauce, this may have been my favorite course. We loved the majority of the dishes - there were some where we've eaten the dish many times before (soup dumpling, spicy fried frog legs) and it didn't feel as special at Benu but they were all done very well that we appreciated the preparation. Service was definitely a highlight as well. We had plenty of questions and the service staff did their best to answer and went to confirm with the chefs when they didn't know something. We also asked to see the kitchen and were pleasantly surprised when our server said that Chef Corey Lee happened to be there that night and we were able to meet him at the end of our meal and got a picture together. What a great momento from the dinner!
Be the first to ReplyService was great, waiters are all friendly and pay
Service was great, waiters are all friendly and pay attention to everyone. BEST BBQ QUAL I ever had in my life. Flavors were all yummy but I put 4stars only because the flavors are very similar and basic, tasted literally like my moms food. Felt like my mom was back there cooking it. Lol. Which I guess is pretty damn good! Haha. I was just used to the flavors so it didn't really excite me as much.
Be the first to ReplyThis one is the worst so far.
The food was creative but not to the three star level, the service was awful, you have to wave to get the waiters attention to add water or change plates for you. What's more horrifying is I got possible food poisoning, spent the whole day next day in restrooms'! It was a total nightmare, will file a complain to department of health!
Be the first to ReplyFood service ambiance all of them are perfect Only thing I
Food service ambiance all of them are perfect Only thing I can think of from my personal point is server was keep changing when they deliver food so didn't know who is our server but there was enough people out there to help us
Be the first to ReplyI LOVED the ambience here and would come back here just for
I LOVED the ambience here and would come back here just for their sikhye. the food and service is spectacular as would expect from a 3 michelin star restaurant. but wow that sikhye tho....I want a lifetime supply of that.
Be the first to ReplyA Yelp rating doesn't do Benu any justice.
Dining here was hands down the best dining experience of my life. Went here with five good friends (who are quite the fine dining foodies themselves) and all agreed it was an unparalleled adventure from beginning to end. Easily the most expensive meal I ever had, but worth every cent. We had the most innovative dishes I've seen paired with the best selection of sake and wine available. Because I have family related to Chef "Jo" (who is no longer there), we were able to take a mini tour of the kitchen and take a photo as well. What Corey Lee and company have done to elevate Asian cuisine is nothing short of amazing. Wish Yelp would allow me to upload more than 10 pics tho. But I guess even then, words and images simply cannot capture the memories that were made.
Be the first to ReplyDelicious dinner for a special occasion.
Before entering, the outdoors of the restaurant has fish drying on a rack, soy sauce fermenting, and blocks of soybeans hanging from the roof. Very calming ambiance. Standout items: 1) carefully crafted glass noodles in mussel - beautiful to look at 2) thinly sliced abalone - i've had thick abalone but this texture and treatment with the acidic sauce was so satisfying. if you like mochi or chewy food, benu will be heaven 3) desserts were my favorite course - the pear and yuja sorbets were excellent. creamy with a strong fruit flavor. Just okay - the quality of the food is evident, but not to my palette: 1) XLB - not too different from your standard soup dumpling. but the soup is the perfect temperature to sip. no burning your tongue. 2) yuba course - yuba is tofu skin. this dish also had a bunch of caviar, but i found this course pretty mild in flavor. Tips: 1) The tea is complimentary. I had to ask to see the tea menu (otherwise you'd have to wait until the dessert course but as a non-drinker, I wish I had their barley tea to accompany all their courses :) ) 2) The servers will tell you that the main entrees (quail and beef) are not recommended to be shared, but everyone in my party ordered the quail and even though it was delicious, we would've preferred variety over more of the same. If you go with a partner or close friend, sharing would definitely be okay imo!
Be the first to ReplyI came here for my graduation dinner.
They were very thoughtful for printing out "Happy Graduation" in the menu. The servers carefully explained the history of the dish and how it was made which I really appreciate. They have unique dishes served here and I loved everything except the frog. There's nothing wrong with how it was made or its quality, my partner even said it tasted like chicken, but for some reason I'm not very fond of it. Overall, they had a variety of great dishes that I savored. The ambiance was great as well. I would recommend this to a friend.
Be the first to ReplyWhat a unique dining experience! The service was impeccable
What a unique dining experience! The service was impeccable and the food was delicious. I really appreciated the minimal decor and the kitchen was so clean. We had a wonderful time here and even got to meet the chef! Would definitely recommend for a special occasion.
Be the first to ReplyI was expecting a lot given the price tag, but it exceeded
I was expecting a lot given the price tag, but it exceeded my expectations. I usually think small plates means small food, but we left the dinner totally satisfied. The variety, quality, imagination, and overall experience was superb. This dining experience should be on your bucket list.
Be the first to ReplyI made a reservation on Tock a month in advance to
I made a reservation on Tock a month in advance to celebrate my fiancรฉ's birthday. I picked the 5:30pm time and prepaid - $375 per person + 20% tip + tax. This place was highly recommended by a couple of people, so I was excited to try it since it was my first time dining at a 3 star Michelin restaurant. I've been to a couple 1 and 2 star ones, so I had high expectations going in. We parked in a garage and walked over since parking was a bit difficult in that area. As we walked in, I noticed the minimalist decor and thought the walls were a bit bare. It didn't feel like I was walking into a Michelin restaurant. The place wasn't packed, so I'm assuming that they stagger the times so each guest can have a nice and quiet experience. When I looked at the menu I noticed that my fiancรฉ's name was written inside, which i thought was a very nice gesture. I didn't look at the menu ahead of time because I wanted the meal to be a surprise, but I found out that we had a couple of options to choose from each entree section. I think I would've liked it more if it was a set menu.I enjoyed the small delicacies because they were all super tasty and it felt like the food kept coming out. I also really liked the steamed pork belly because it melted in my mouth. The charcoal grilled pork cheek was very crispy and the dried persimmon kimchi was out of this world. It was sweet and tangy! Overall, I appreciate how attentive and accommodating each staff was while we were there. I just wished the restaurant could be a bit more appealing and offer a set menu with more dishes.
Be the first to ReplyYou might be asking yourself--is it worth it to go on Tock
You might be asking yourself--is it worth it to go on Tock to nab one of the few reservations, the price of the dinner, the drive to the City---yep, yep and yep.For us, the difference between this 3 star Michelin restaurant and others in the area is the Asian influence Chef Corey Lee puts in every dish.The service was impeccable and Karis, our main server, did an incredible job--not only serving us, but explaining what each dish was, how to eat it, etc. I know that sounds silly, but when chopsticks, spoons, forks and finger wipes are exchanged after every dish, you start to lose track. Altogether, we counted 17 dishes, including my wife's bday surprise cake. It is a little misleading, because on the menu, the first course just states small delicacies--this constituted 9 small dishes, each prettier than the last. These change daily, but on our night we had a 1000 yo quail egg, mussel stuffed with spring vegetables, beef tartare, cod "custard" with 3 types of mustard, prawn with jelly fish, tofu "blossom" with chili oil, fried frog leg, acorn pancake with truffle and iberian ham and whole grain bread with ginseng honey. It was hard to choose a favorite, but the tofu was tasty and visually spectacular. Not a huge fan of frog legs, but this one was perfectly seasoned, tender and slightly sweet--delicious.For the entrees, you have 3 choices per grouping--we tried the seaweed wrap rice with raw prawn, charcoal noodles with squid, mulhwe with iced kim chee, whole abalone, bbq quail and lamb ribeye. All were really good--subtle but bold flavors, blending unbelievably well together. For me, the seaweed wrap and abalone were highlights--the abalone was perfectly cooked and unbelievably tender.Dessert was milk pudding, which was simple but perfect after such a full meal. To cap off the evening, they served a green, icee like tea with toasted mint--I'm not describing it well, but it perfectly blended and cleansed the palate.Karis took us to the kitchen at the end to see how the "magic" was created--all I can say is that too many cooks didn't spoil anything--the controlled chaos was impressive. Corey was very gracious, putting up with our questions and picture requests.Don't miss out on this one of a kind dining experience (and it will take 3 hrs as they say)
Be the first to ReplyWell, we expect a lot from a 3-star Michelin restaurant.
My husband and I drove 8 hours from LA to Benu. They didn't disappoint us. We loved the food, service and atmosphere. Every dish is full of flavors and surprises. The servers were attentive and made the dinning experience very enjoyable.
Be the first to ReplyWe came here to celebrate our anniversary and what an
We came here to celebrate our anniversary and what an exceptional experience Benu was. I wasn't expecting anything less for a three star Michelin restaurant, but 'wow' is all I could muster up to describe our dinner here. From the moment we made the reservations (which was originally for four days after our anniversary) to the last bite, the service was impeccable. I sent an email after I made the initial reservation asking if the restaurant could contact us if anything opened up on our actual anniversary date. Lisbeth responded to me within the same day and let me know that she would contact me if anything opened up. Within 10 days of the original reservation date, she contacted me to let me know something opened up on our preferred date. Fast forward to the night of our dinner, upon arrival, we were promptly seated and tended to. After that, there was never a moment during our meal where our water glasses were empty, where an empty dish sat on our table for more than 10 seconds, and where our napkin wasn't promptly folded when we went to the restroom. Benu even had slightly different menus printed for each of us since hubby is lactose-intolerant so wasn't given the dairy options on his menu.Every dish was amazing and so beautifully presented. My husband who doesn't normally like fancy, prix fixe dinners, loved Benu so much he said he would go back in a heartbeat. He also tried frog legs for the first time. I guess it's time to start saving our pennies in hopes to experience Benu again in the future!
Be the first to ReplyMy boyfriend took me to Benu for my birthday a couple of
My boyfriend took me to Benu for my birthday a couple of days ago and this was honestly one of the best dining experiences I've ever experienced. I got to say, the three Michelin stars are very well deserved. We started off with 8 different small delicacies and a bread with honeycomb butter. Each dish was so unique and beautifully decorated. My favorite was the acorn flour taco with truffle and ham - it was so delicious and left a nice savory aftertaste. Next, we had lobster xiao long bao with soy sauce that were marinated in jugs for over 5 years. I was so pleasantly surprised that so many small dishes were served even before the main courses. For the main courses, we were given the choice to chose 1 out of 3 choices for each dish. For the first carbs dish, my boyfriend and I both chose this rice dish with monkfish liver sausage salmon roe, and gourd cooked in this clay pot. The variety of ingredients blended so well together. The second dish was a seafood dish - my boyfriend and I both chose the cold seafood dish with uni, fluke, and other raw fish in this cold kimchi broth. The third dish was where we diverged - I chose the quail and my boyfriend chose the pork belly cooked two different ways. We both enjoyed our respective dishes a lot. By now, I was already getting quite full! For dessert, we had a omija berries sorbet and a pudding. Because it was my birthday, the waitress brought over a music box that revealed a very pretty and cute cake that topped off our night. The service was also the best I've ever had. After chatting with the waitresses, I could tell they genuinely love their jobs at Benu. If I ever have the pleasure of coming back to Benu again, I definitely would (despite the price)!
Be the first to ReplyThe environment of Benu Restaurant is characterized by
The environment of Benu Restaurant is characterized by elegance, sophistication and refinement. The restaurant is designed in a contemporary style with fine art hanging on the walls, creating a modern feel. The restaurant is furnished and decorated in such a way that its atmosphere is perfect for enjoying fine Chinese food here.Benu's cuisine is known for its complexity, creativity and high quality.Taking traditional Chinese dishes, deconstructing and reinterpreting them to create a unique style of cuisine. Dishes often vary depending on the season and available ingredients, but include meats, seafood, vegetables and more, often using premium ingredients and complex seasonings to provide a memorable dining experience.
Be the first to ReplyPork belly in winter,I did not eat one piece ,but three
Pork belly in winter,I did not eat one piece ,but three start Michelin restaurant server just took away without asking anything wrong with it.
Be the first to ReplyOne of the highlights of our San Francisco vacation was to
One of the highlights of our San Francisco vacation was to have been dinner at Benu, the recipient of 3 Michelin stars, which instantly made me want to eat there.I'm not a huge Asian food fan. I like noodle-y things and egg rolls - that's pretty much my experience with it. My husband, however, was so stinkin excited. I did this for him. Compromises, ya know? And those 3 stars definitely made it easier to agree. The meal started off with 7 small delicacies. Don't ask me what those were LOL. But then the MEAL meal started:Xiao long bao soup dumpling with homemade soy sauce and vinegar - this was great! The soy sauce was aged 5 years. In fact, outside the restaurant in barrels, they are aging soy as we speak.Chilled fresh noodles with dungeness crabcucumber and perilla - I did not dislike but it just wasn't my thing. Maybe if it had been warm. Short grain rice seasoned with green onion, spicy caviar, salted pollock roe and sesame, roasted rock seaweedBraised baby abalone (3) with potato puree and spinachMonkfish liver and lobster sausage, leek mille-feuille, spicy lobster sauce, aromatic herbsCharcoal-grilled beef rib braised and topped with cabbage kimchi, fresh oyster, oyster leafFried rabbit and liver soondae, wood ear, cilantro, sweet and sour rabbit jus - the server did ask if my husband wanted to rabbit head as well; he said "yes" but later said he just couldn't do - it was too much staring into the head of a rabbit. Omija berry sorbet with olive oilMilk pudding with a caramel sauce smoked with peatSo I might be the wrong person to say this, but my husband, who is better suited, felt the same way: Benu was a nice experience, but not a 3-star Michelin experience in our opinion. The food was good if you like upscale Asian. However, it was mostly centered on the appearance of the food than the flavor of the food. Now, the food was absolutely beautiful. Plated and presented lovingly. Service was outstanding. Bidets in the bathroom (which was literally my high point) but none of the food left us feeling ahhhhhh, so good. The soup dumplings were the highlight. I can see where some people would absolutely be blown away, but this was just not what we were looking for.
Be the first to ReplyVery impressive.
You can get beautiful and delicious food with amazing service at many places. But the creativity and visual effect differentiate this place. Meeting Chef Corey Lee was an experience to remember. Didn't know what to expect. Quite a take home that someone so accomplished and talented is approachable and genuine.
Be the first to ReplyThis review is coming late, but Benu is deserving of its
This review is coming late, but Benu is deserving of its three-Michelin star distinction and was one of the best (if not the best) meals I have ever had. The service and food were phenomenal, and I do believe it is worth the price tag for a special occasion.There was not a single dish or item that I thought was below "okay". The food execution and dining experience with their staff was phenomenal. Some of the dishes were more traditional, such as the XLB, which didn't impress me as much as others, but even those dishes were well made and executed at a very high level.The thing that I keep dreaming about though is the quail. I have never had a quail that was this plump, meaty, and flavorful. I truly believe you can't find this dish at this level of quality anywhere else, and honestly, just this one course probably made the entire meal worth it for me. I highly recommend choosing this one (I believe for this course you get a choice of the quail vs. another protein option). Also fun fact - if it's your birthday, they'll bring out a small cake for you presented inside a music box. The box plays a birthday song as you wind it up and this was one of the most creative birthday "gifts" I have ever seen come from a restaurant.And last but not least - the service. The waiters here are amazing! They're super friendly and offer to take care of so many things I didn't expect (ie. storing bags, jackets, helping you get your coat on, etc...). They're also super funny and entertaining as well! I remember having some super fun chats with a lot of them throughout the meal.All in all, this was a top tier experience, and I can't wait to come back to see (and taste) it all again. Benu easily wins the title of best restaurant in SF I've been to so far for me.
Be the first to ReplyAlready so many great reviews on Yelp so I'll keep this
Already so many great reviews on Yelp so I'll keep this short....this is the best restaurant I've ever been to in my life. As a Korean, I approve all these dishes The rabbit was a particular highlight for me. You have the option to eat the head (fried) afterwards....I was a little hesitant at first, but it ended up being a unique experience....I would recommend eating the head Biggest letdown was the lack of a pairing menu. There was a sommelier there to help us guide our courses with some wine pairings on an ad-hoc basis. Unfortunately, our group of 4 ended up paying $900 for the wine alone...might be worth bringing your own bottle(s).I attached the wine receipt below if you would like to see what to bring
Be the first to ReplyI cannot wait to come back once my next paycheck comes in.
Benu is one of the greatest dining experiences I've ever had. The restaurant is located pretty close to the street but they have a tiny little lot that adds a bit of space to the crampedness, but basically parking is a huge pain. Think they have limited valet though if you wanna pay an extra fee. To get started off, restaurant atmosphere is very nice. Very clean bathroom too, 10/10, as expected of a three Michelin star restaurant. A clean bathroom is the key to success in any good restaurant. Our food came by pretty fast after the servers checked in with us, and right off the bat I was shocked at how delicious the dishes were. I've never had century egg because I've heard mixed things, but I'm so glad my first time was here at Benu. The egg with the green jelly stuff around it tasted amazing, I had to stop eating for a bit to relieve how shocked I was at it's taste. The next few dishes were some interesting looking veggie dishes, they all tasted great, but I was still in shock by the egg. After that shock went down a bit, I was served their tempura, and this was one of the crispiest, lightest, tempuras I've ever had. Wish I had more and could eat these like chips. The tofu in chili powder was a really pretty dish, and had great texture but not too much flavor. The next dish however, made up for it. It was a squid ink taco with truffle, prosciutto, and some other stuff in it. This one biter was by far one of the most flavorful things I've ever eaten, and I still think about it sometimes. Next up was the bread, which I'm always looking forward to. Immediately, I noticed how warm and fluffy it was, and how well the honey butter paired with it. We ended up asking for an extra loaf which the servers ended up giving to us for free.The next few dishes were all really solid. Some chicken dish, xiao long bao (tasted like a regular xiao long bao), this wrapped veggie meat thing, and sea cucumber dish. All these dishes tasted great, no complaints here. My friends got the abalone, stuffed something, and mackerel. The abalone and stuffed thing were beyond words at how good they tasted, and the mackerel had a great kick to it despite looking like the lower half of an incapacitated fish. Dessert was this mint drink thing and milk pudding. The milk pudding tasted like panna cotta and felt like a healthier ice cream. It was a great smooth texture and had great flavor in each bite. The mint thing wasn't that tasty imo, kinda refreshing, but also kinda hard to eat. Was meh. Wish the meal ended a bit better but the rest of the meal was beyond mind blowing. The price for Benu is pretty high so coming in I had huge expectations. I'm happy to say that every expectation was met and I have zero complaints about my experience. Would 100% recommend this to anyone celebrating anything. Thank you for blessing my culinary palette Benu. I will return when inflation goes down or when I have more money.
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