Is it really that hopeless? - Korean in the Mission District

[rfmarotti]

Hello all,

Recently moved to 21st and Valencia and have spent the better part of an afternoon looking over the Chow boards for Korean places w/in walking distance. The only one that came up was Young's BBQ on 17th, but no one really reviewed it, it was just mentioned as slightly scary. Do I really have to go to Oakland or up towards the 'loin for good Korean? Help!

Thanks,
Rich

[david kaplan]

I once got some sort of spicy noodle soup at Young's, and it tasted of powdered garlic and other off flavors. Never again. I can't think of anyplace else that even claims to serve Korean food in the Mission. My usual places in SF (I also live in the Mission) are Shin Toe Bul Yi at 30th Ave & Taraval in the Sunset and, less often, Dong Baek in the Tenderloin.

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Shin Toe Bul Yi
2001 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116

Dong Baek Restaurant
631 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94109

[rworange]

Seems like Young's is it in the Mission. I wonder if they still serve the Korean burger with housemade kimchee on it.

Speaking of fusion, of sorts, are there any updates on Zazang the local Korean Noodle House chain where you can get soju with your kimchee pizza?

Actually, do they serve pizza? The menupages menu lists it. However, no one ever mentions it and the Zazang site doesn't list it.

Previous Zazang reports:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/19114
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/40604
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/28863

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Young's B.B.Q.
3412 17th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Zazang Korean Noodle
2340 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94115

[Melanie Wong]

The branch of Za Zang in Santa Clara took over a pizza place, so it continued to make pies. I don't recall SF's Zazang offering pizza, but it has been years since i was there.

[Melanie Wong]

Links:

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Zazang Restaurant
3006 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95051

Zazang Restaurant
20010 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014

[Gary Soup]

You might want to add a link for the Fremont branch while you're at it. My browser or firewall or whatever won't let me Link to a Place.

Zazang Restaurant
39033 State St., Fremont, CA 94538
[phone]

[DezzerSF]

It might be since that branch is long gone, replaced by Kiwajip.

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Kiwajip
39033 State St, Fremont, CA 94538

[Gary Soup]

Menupages must have gotten hold of Zazang's Cupertino Menu. IIRC, the SF Zazang's entire menu is this one:

http://www.sporq.com/sanfrancisco/zaz...

[rworange]

Previous Dong Baek reports;
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/36802
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/38233
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/27960

Previous Shin Toe Bul Yi reports:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/30846
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/29290
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/17504
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/305675
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/27856
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/25989
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/304669
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/18070
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/325773
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/37408#174225
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/44619#220051
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/44183#217222
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/40992...

[Gary Soup]

Or LA.

Let's face it, there just aren't that many Koreans in San Francisco. We have a hint of a Koreatown on the fringes of Japantown, have you looked around there? I don't know if this place is still around, but it might interest you if it is:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/30582

[bernalgirl]

I would be happily surprised, nay shocked, to find good Korean food in the Mission. We have the odd good Thai and Vietnamese place but for the most part you'll need to cross Market to find reliably great Asian food.

[Windy]

I think you're being generous. Finding Korean (or decent Thai or Chinese) in the Mission/Noe/Bernal/Castro is nearly impossible.

Most Korean in the city is on Geary in the Richmond. Like David, I tend to go to Shin Toe Bul Yi.

Whatever you do, avoid Hahn's Hibachi on Castro.

[rworange]

Just the Castro location, or all of them?

I remember this negative report on the Palo Alto Hahn's.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/318314

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Hahn's On Polk
1710 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

San Rafael Hahn's
816 4th St, San Rafael, CA 94901

Hahn's Hibachi
535 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Hahn's Hibachi
1305 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Hahn's Hibachi Restaurant
63 Jack London Sq, Oakland, CA 94601

Hahn's Hibachi
460 Ramona St, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Hahn's Hibachi Restaurant
361 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127

[Windy]

No idea beyond the one in Noe Valley. Based on past experience, I'm not that interested in finding out.

[bernalgirl]

They're all pretty much the same as far as I can tell. It's not *bad* but it won't fulfill any craving for Korean food, it's mostly slightly improved fast food -- on the order of one of the noodle chain places like Zao Noodle Bar.

[dbarkman]

No Way! I love Jasmine Tea House for Chinese (try the meatless General Chou chicken) and Pad Thai (for Thai, obviously). Even better, they are essentially right next to each other on Mission, between 29th and Fair St.

[Atomica]

I think Jasmine Tea House is good for some things and that Pad Thai is very, very poor, just blah and bad and poorly executed.

[grishnackh]

Your best bet might be the 20 minute BART ride to Downtown Oakland. There you will find many good Korean places within walking distance.

[Gary Soup]

Really north of Downtown, along Telegraph Ave in the 20's. The 19th Street BART Station is closest.

[Melanie Wong]

Many good Korean restaurants within a three-block radius of the MacArthur BART station.

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Ohgane
3915 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611

Seoul Gom Tang
3801 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

[lexdevil]

And Sahn Maru at 43rd and Telegraph.

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Sahn Maru Korean BBQ
4315 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

[Robert Lauriston]

Ohgane's more than three blocks, it's a bit more than half a mile from BART.

Korean Kitchen's in the same block with Sahn Maru.

[rworange]

Well, it's not the Mission, but wouldn't it be easier to go to the SF Korean restaurants.

Previous Hanuri reports (open till midnight):
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/42420
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/42023#203538

Previous Jang Soo BBQ reports;
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/29604
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/18370#57812
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/21744#79337

Previous Mango Medley reports:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/407814
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/398585
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/370139

Previous Muguboka reports
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/21744#81280
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/34791#158016

Previous My Tofu House reports:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/307727
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/20289
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/42615

Previous Namu reports:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/354136
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/432268#2855700
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/365271#2362394
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/399776#2556371
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/407215

Previous Rohan reports:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/30093
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/34534
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/19385

Previous Seoul Garden report:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/35309

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Mango Medley
3911 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Rohan Lounge
3809 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118

Won Mi Korean Restaurant
1545 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Hanuri
4217 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118

Jang Soo BBQ
6314 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121

New Korea House
1620 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Sun's Cafe
652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Korea House
1640 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Korean Village Restaurant
4609 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118

Muguboka Restaurant
401 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94118

My Tofu House
4627 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118

Namu
439 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

Pine Restaurant
1330 Noriega St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Seoul Garden
1635 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Sorabol
101 Spear St, San Francisco, CA 94105

Sorabol
845 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Korean Restaurant Sorabol
3251 20th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132

Wing Lee BBQ Restaurant
501 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

[Melanie Wong]

Worth noting that Namu and Rohan are doing contemporary takes on Korean.

Has Wing Lee BBQ changed from being a Chinese deli?

[rworange]

Nope, I forgot to take it off before my editing time ran out. Also Sun's Cafe seems to have recently closed ... or is remodelling ... which is usually a euphamism for closed.

[alag]

Why is Mango Medley listed in there? It's a Hong Kong style cafe. The only Korean item on the menu is the chive pancakes.

[wanderlust21]

Welcome to the neighborhood. I have the same issue. If you are driving, you might try getting supplies at Kukje Super Market in Daly City -- they also have a little stand inside that serves Soon Tofu, Yuke Jang etc. If you shoot down 280, it takes about the same amount of time as getting to Shin Toe Bul Yi.

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Kuk Jea Market
2350 Junipero Serra Blvd, Daly City, CA

[Windy]

I used to occasionally get food at Kukje, but it's slid irreparably the last few times. The dining area is filthy, service is poor, and the assortment of panchan very disappointing considering the huge offerings they sell.