Jilli SF

Huge thanks to Hwanghah and the entire Jilli team! My birthday felt so special, from how accommodating and responsive planning the event was to how kind and attentive the team was I am so glad I picked Jilli for my day! I originally picked Jilli because the vibe felt like Seoul meets NYC. The aesthetic was perfect for what I was looking for. Hwanghah was really responsive and accommodating in supporting me with planning. She made the process so easy and I was so grateful she was able to seat our larger group indoors. The food and drink were also phenomenal, my personal favorite was the kimchi pasta. The spice from the pasta and creaminess was perfect and that was by far my number one pick. The group overall really enjoyed the pork jowel, tuna dip, and shrimp toast. If I had to give one critique I’d honestly skip on the popcorn chicken. The drinks were also fantastic makgeollis, it was nice to hear about how the alcohol was made and where. The staff was really knowledgeable and had good recommendations. Finally, the staff went above and beyond with making our evening feel special. They helped take photos, changed the colors for the lights, and were a hoot all evening! It was a very memorable evening thanks to the entire team, can’t wait to be back💖

I’ve been looking forward to visiting Jilli after it first opened since I believe it’s the first Makgeolli bar in SF. I recommend making a reservation ahead of time since it’s a small space and trendy so it can get pretty busy. They have an outdoor area, but it’s starting to get really cold in sf so I recommend the main dining room. We had a good dining service. The staff were knowledgeable about the menu and gave us some makgeolli samples to try since we were indecisive. We ordered the pot of their sang takju and a glass of the nomi doga. The sang is sweeter, less carbonated, and smooth. The nomi doga has a bit more carbonation, dryer, and strong notes of star anise. For food, we ordered the olives, seoul crudo, popcorn kfc, perilla oil noodle, and the pork jowl jeyuk. This was more than enough for two people, we were quite full. We could have done without the crudo, it was our least favorite. The sauce was too sweet and did not complement the fish as we had wanted. I loved the pork jowl, that was the one I was most excited about. The perilla noodles were flavorful, definitely on the sweeter side, and these are cold so good on a hot day. The chicken was good but did not blow me away. Olives were delicious, we loved them. Overall, food menu contained quality ingredients. We enjoyed most of the items, yet palette was on the sweeter and cold side.

My friend had been wanting to try this place and we were lucky enough to score a reservation on Saturday! Our server Megan was attentive and helpful throughout our whole dining experience, which we appreciated! We ordered four dishes to share family style (Perilla Oil Noodles, Wagyu, Rigatoni Alla Kimchee, Pork Jowl) + Soy Vin pickles. The dishes came out so faster than we anticipated, which wasn’t a problem. Overall, we enjoyed our meal, the wagyu and rigatoni were delicious, but felt like we could probably order something similar at another restaurant. The Perilla noodles and pork jowl were our favorites and felt like we hadn’t had dishes like this before. Standouts: Perilla Oil Noodle, Pork Jowl Jeyuk

Absolutely worth the two-month wait! Every dish exceeded my expectations and incredibly fresh ingredients, amazing flavors, and perfectly balanced sauces. My friends were obsessed, and I’m already planning my next visit. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an exceptional Korean restaurant!

We had a great experience at Jilli last night! First and foremost, the food is great - their dishes are just the right kind of exemplary fusion Korean street food which will satisfy both the ones who are searching for legit Korean food and the ones who are looking for something experimental. Price is also reasonable. Their space is hip and cozy - good for casual date nights and social with friends. I would definitely revisit!

Was looking for a modern Korean spot and this popped on my radar. Food was okay, a couple of dishes were memorable, but some were too salty or oily for my liking. Would recommend the steak tartare which was unique in flavor and the shrimp toast which was cooked perfectly. Will say that the portions are larger than expected which is a plus.

Came here for dinner with friend and it was such a nice spot. If you want something new and creative with Korean food but in more of a fine dining vibe, I’d definitely recommend it. We sat on the patio and the atmosphere was super cozy and aesthetic. Lots of great tapas-style dishes that pair well with drinks. The portions aren’t too big, so it’s perfect for ordering a few plates to share and try different flavors.

4 ⭐️. Known for their Korean makegeollis, Jilli is a chill friends spot. Think reddish glow + Soju Haus in NYC (but much smaller). Food was pretty good - I liked the kimchi vodka rigatoni a lot + popcorn kfc chicken and shrimp toast. Their makegeolli list is super expansive so this is the place to come. You can’t pick which ones you want for the flight - it’s set on a daily basis. I’m boring so I liked the normal Sang Takju the best. Both White Lotus and Red Monkey were a tad sour, Hana Forbidden was rly sour. Overall, good place to hangout - note inside is not big so you should try to make a res

This was my second visit after making a reservation. I tried several of their bestseller dishes with wine, and everything was well balanced and tasted amazing. The sauces were unique and flavorful, and even the desserts were delicious, which made the meal feel complete. The owner and staff were very kind, and the service was excellent. If you are looking for a Korean restaurant with a cozy yet elegant atmosphere, I highly recommend this place. I would definitely love to visit again.

Really good food that goes great with drinks, a relaxed and stylish vibe, and super friendly staff. Great spot to grab a casual drink with friends.

Amazing food and prompt service. Flavors were vivid and top notch. We had a great time sitting at the little outdoor courtyard space. We thoroughly enjoyed the tea flight and also the beef tartar. The shrimp toast was also delightful. Reserve early and come with an empty stomach!

The first makgeolli bar in SF! During this heat wave, Jilli's cozy patio space was the perfect haven. We tried: - makgeolli flight - this included a wide variety of flavor profiles ranging from lightly floral (white lotus) to savory/acidic (red monkey). My favorite out of the four was one that I actually forgot the name of, but it has a cute purple flower garnish and had a pleasant melon note (hana, is that you?) - Seoul crudo - lovely combination of bright flavors - perilla oil noodle - the perilla taste, which I normally find quite prominent, was actually more subtle here! Fresh, slightly sweet, and served chilled - tuna dip + trout roe - just really satisfying (and you can ask for more crackers!) - rigatoni alla kimchi vodka - kimchi just works so well with cheese/cream, this was so indulgent - pork jowl jeyuk - tender and juicy. The outer grilled crust was a bit salty but luckily mellowed out by the salsa verde, ssamjang, and fresh perilla/lettuce leaves - Korean popcorn kfc - pretty good but not memorable - cheese tteokbokki - the bowl looked small but it actually had a decent amount of fish cakes and tteokbokki inside! Honestly no crazy spin but just so good - injeolmi banana panna cotta - I would skip this, a bit underwhelming. Not to sweet though! Overall, Jilli has yummy food that pairs well with the makgeolli (and the servers were friendly and informative about the menu). Portions were on the smaller end (making sense as they're tapas, but considering price, felt a bit disproportionate) so I'd probably return for snacks + drinks but not as a dinner spot!

Came to Jilli's for my bf's birthday. We arrived a few minutes before they opened at 5, and was promptly seated when it was 5 exactly. The patio seating was really nice, clean and the breeze was great. General overview is that the food is good but nothing mindblowing for the price (3/5). However, the service was beyond amazing and the ambiance was enjoyable as well which is why I will give this place a 4/5 The food in detail: Cheese Tteokbokki (3/5) : First, the tteokbokki was good BUT it doesn't take much to make a GOOD tteokbokki. The problem here is the portion size, the pricepoint, and the added toppings that supposedly make up the price point. The fried seaweed crisps were yummy but didn't add much to the dish other than the crunchy texture which the fried potato strips also gave. I'm just not sure whether these small additions actually elevated the dish to justify the price of the small portion size... Pickled Daikon (5/5) : This was very necessary to get to balance out the greasiness of our following dishes. Very nice crunch and flavor. Pork Jowl (5/5) : I do think the Pork Jowl was the best dish here that I ordered and the portion size was satisfying. The flavor of the jowl itself was nice and the sauces that accompany it enhanced the flavor very nicely. I loved that they had perilla leaf along with the lettuce for the wrap :) Shrimp Toast (Menbosha) (2/5) : This was the biggest letdown. We came here as my partner really really wanted to try Menbosha again after having it once in SoCal. I have a love/hate relationship with Menbosha in general, I love the crunch and the bounce of the shrimp fililng but hate the mouthfeel of the grease. What Jilli did great was getting rid/minimizing the oiliness of the bite however, the sauce they provided was a 'chili vinaigrette' which made no sense because it's adding BACK the oil that they had successfully minimized initially. very disappointing. But without the sauce, the taste and crunch of the menbosha was delicious. Again, the service was amazing, beyond exceptional thus the 4/5 rating. The food was just a little lackluster- tasted good but nothing mind blowing or memorable

Really cute restaurant with great ambiance, but unfortunately I was a bit disappointed with the food. The two of us ordered 5 dishes but the portions were small for the price. My favorite was the Seoul crudo which was very refreshing, and the pork jowl jeyuk was super tender. My least favorite was the popcorn KFC - it was kind of dry and nothing special. Service was friendly and relatively fast. It's a nice date spot and probably better to go for drinks rather than a full meal. Overall the food was just okay for the price and nothing had a real wow factor.

We got a reservation for 7 pm outside and it was nice and warm. We had to share a long table with another party but it wasn't a big deal. We got 6 dishes to share between the 3 of us and the portions were pretty small for tapas style. 7.5/10 tuna dip I thought it was good but not amazing.. there was a lot and you can ask for more crackers though 8.4/10 rigatoni super yummy but the portions were just so small for pasta.. I can't taste much kimchi tho it just taste like gochujang pasta w pork belly 7.2/10 cheese ttteokbokki it was okay very cheesy 7.7/10 crudo it was good the sauce was very spicy and sour 9/10 alc flight the rice wine was very smooth and good it was one shot each for all three of us 8.6/10 shrimp toast I thought it was good very crispy and oily but good 7.8/10 kfc chicken was good and they give a lot of radish We did get kicked out at 8:30 for another reservation though Overall it was okay I don't know if I would go back for the price and portions. ($210 for 3 of us)

Such a cute Korean tapas place! I've always wanted to come here because I love the concept of the Makgeolli bar and it did not disappoint. We sat outside on the patio and it was a bit chilly since the heaters are spread fairly apart. Makgeolli Flight ($40) - this came with the Traditional Sang Takju, White Lotus, Rice to Meet You, and Red Monkey Makgeolli. My favorite was the traditional one because it was sparkling and I really enjoyed trying a bunch. Rigatoni Alla Kimchi Vodka ($23): This was my second favorite dish! I wish I could've tasted a bit more of the kimchi, but the sauce was really good overall. Shrimp Toast ($18): Loved how crispy this was and the chili sauce it came with. K-Popcorn Chicken ($23): Crispy and spicy, but this didn't taste anything special to me. Still solid fried chicken though. Pork Jowl Jeyuk ($35): My favorite dish here!! The pork jowl was so tender and flavorful. The sauces also paired so well with the lettuce and shiso leaf. Wagyu Beef Tartare ($24): Really tender and fresh tartare. The chips to pair with this were so yummy. Injeolmi Banana Pana Cotta ($12): Ended with a dessert! It was okay to me, but I liked how unique the textures were. It tased like a thicker banana pudding with Cheerios on top to me.

Getting a reservation at Jilli felt like a small victory and honestly, it was worth every effort to snag one! Came here with my best friend for a casual dinner and the size of the restaurant immediately sets the tone. Tiny, cozy, and the kind of place that feels like a find. We ordered the makgeolli, pasta, tartare, and the pork. Everything was a hit across the board. The pork especially stood out and the tartare was beautifully done. The makgeolli was a fun touch that paired really well with the whole meal. For such a small kitchen turning out food like this, it is genuinely impressive. The flavors were intentional, the portions felt right, and the whole experience just clicked. If you can get a reservation, do not hesitate. Jilli is a 10 out of 10 and absolutely a spot I will be returning to!

Yummy but I think it's overhyped! We enjoyed the crudo, burrata seasonal fruit salad, kfc and tiramisu. The salad was sooo good! The crudo was tasty, but lacked depth and the kfc was fine but not as light or crispy as expected and the chicken quality didn't seem on par. The tiramisu was amazing however with a light chestnut flavor. We also had the tteokboki which was fine but not standout.

I am such a sucker for a new Korean restaurant, especially more unique tapas style/pochas, so that instantly put jilli at the top of my list when they opened. It was so popular at first so I couldn't get a res, but we finally got to try it for my sister's birthday. We heard really good things so we walked in with no doubts that we would love it. Unfortunately ... we were a bit disappointed with the food. The restaurant was really cute, and the dining room wasn't huge but it was also never full when we were there. We obviously had to try their makgoelli flight, which was actually quite good. And they were really sweet and gave my sister an extra glass for her birthday. The menu isn't huge, and we wanted to try all of their popular dishes, so for two people we ordered: the trout dip, yukhoe (beef tartare), shrimp toast, popcorn chicken, carbonara, and pork jowl. The menu said that we should order ~2-3 dishes per person, but the portions were MUCH bigger than we thought. Nothing really wowed us, and because the table was so small I think they really tried to course out our dishes, but because of that we ended up sitting there for quite a while waiting for the pork jowl and fried chicken to come out. Overall, I'm really glad we finally had the opportunity to try Jilli, but I don't think we'll be coming back any time soon.

Jilli is such a gem. If you love Korean food but want something a little more playful and shareable, this is your spot. The whole Korean tapas concept works so well here. Every dish feels thoughtful, beautifully plated, and packed with flavor. We ordered a mix to share and honestly there was not a single miss. The flavors were bold but balanced, and you can tell the ingredients are high quality. It is the kind of place where you keep saying "just one more bite" until the plates are empty. The highlight for me was the makgeolli flight. It is such a fun and unique experience, especially if you have only ever had makgeolli once or not at all. Each one had its own personality, from lightly sweet and creamy to more crisp and tangy. It paired perfectly with the food and made the whole meal feel special. The atmosphere is cozy but lively, great for a date night or a night out with friends. The staff was warm, knowledgeable, and happy to guide us through the menu and the makgeolli options. I will absolutely be back. Jilli delivers on flavor, creativity, and experience all at once. Highly recommend.

Visited Jilli twice now and my thoughts remain the same - not bad, probably wouldn't have a craving to come again, but if I were to, I would likely go for drinks (if you like makgeolli) and small bites rather than a full dinner. Absolutely love the outdoor patio though; they have space heaters and is overall a perfect spot to catch up with your girlfriends on those nice SF nights. For drinks, I'd definitely recommend getting the Makgeolli Flight so you aren't committing to one full bottle, especially since some of them can be a hit or miss. From my past two visits, out of the flight of 4, I really only liked 1 or 2. They do rotate out the flavors included in the flight, so if you choose to re-visit, you likely won't get a full repeat. Some of my girlfriends chose to opt for wine instead, which honestly might have been a better option. No cocktails offered, unfortunately :( As for food, the main standouts were the Tuna Dip + Trout Roe (would order again), the RIgatoni Alla Kimchi Vodka, and the Dubai Chewy Cookie (off-menu, but definitely ask if they're still offering it as a dessert option!). The Shrimp Toast I remember getting the first time I visited and it was actually one of the star dishes of the night, but this time around, it was extremely greasy and tasted strongly of oil... wasn't a big fan. We also got the Pork Jowl Jeyuk and I'd only recommend this if you have a larger party (4+). In my opinion, the pork is pretty fatty and heavy to the point you'd really only want to eat 1-2 pieces each. Any more would be too much, and this is even with the lettuce wraps to cut some of that fat! The Dubai Chewy Cookie though, delicious! Definitely order it if they still offer it on their dessert menu; it's a great little sweet treat to share!

Fun place to try for dinner! Made reservations for 2 a week in advance. Ambiance was great, we were seated out on the patio with heatlamps. Ordered a few plates to chair and the flight. My favorite would have to be the pork jowl and pasta.

Great tapas spot with interesting dishes and drinks. They fill up quickly so I'd definitely suggest a reservation! All the food was good but the stand out by far was the crudo. They make a limited number so go early because that sauce was phenomenal! Service was quick and attentive, they cleared dishes quickly and checked in on us often. Overall, great experience!

Heard great things about this place, so made a reservation for 2. This spot is pretty quaint! We were seated right away and food came immediately. I also love how the menu was set up. It tells you wha food/drinks would go together plus what the makkoli tastes like! Makkoli Flight: 9/10! Enough to try for 2. Even for a couple free ones for my birthday! Shoutout to our waiter for overhearing haha Hamachi Crudo: 9/10! Came with spicy sauce. Wagyu Beef Tartar: 9/10! Pretty heavy, came with chips, and very filling. I used it to too on top of the shrimp toast, too. Rigatoni Alla Kimchi Vodka: 9/10! Pretty standard, and can't go wrong! Honestly paired well with everything we had. Tuna Dip + Trout Roe: 10/10! Got this instead of dessert and it's so good! Came with 2 diff types of crackers. Shrimp Toast: 4/10! Not my fave out of everything we had. A little bland. Overall, love the vibe, food came quick, and waiter was very attentive and helpful. I'd love to come back to try other items!

Having tried Jilli LA a while ago and loved it, I was ecstatic when I first found out that a location in SF's Mission District was opening up. A friend and I were finally able to stop by earlier this month on a Tuesday night, but I was left wondering if the difference in experience was just due to the dishes we ordered or if I had a few too many before the first time around. You're going to want to reserve a seat at either the bar, a table, or their outdoor patio a week or so in advance so you don't get turned away at the door like I did at one point. Decor is moody and eccentrically geometric, with lots of different lighting styles that are a treat to look at. We were seated at the bar right next to the front door, which made our dinner a bit drafty, but our British server whose name I unfortunately cannot recall right now was pleasant enough. Our initial choice, the Rice To Meet You, was unfortunately sold out, so we settled for a pot of the Sang that was nothing particularly special. Seoul Carpaccio: Visually interesting but lacking depth. No qualms with the halibut sashimi, but the purported "cho-gochujang" legitimately looked and tasted like they thinned out a few tablespoons of regular gochujang, sprinkled some sesame seeds on top, and called it a day. Wagyu Yukhoe Beef Tartare: This was the only carryover from the LA location I wanted to try here, and it tasted fairly consistent. The fried scallion was particularly pungent in each bite, and I would have preferred a little more of the seaweed mayo aioli as I felt it added an appreciable complexity to the beef itself. The chips were seasoned well and we actually ended up eating them with a number of various sauces from other dishes. As a personal aside, might be interesting to add pear. Chimmelier Popcorn KFC: The biggest disappointment of the night: did not taste like much more than overly breaded frozen boneless nuggets fried with basil and very heavily salted. I enjoyed the pickled radish and yangnyeom dip more than I did all of the chicken - and for $23? Pork Jowl Jeyuk: Funnily enough, the best dish came right after the worst. This order requires a 25 minute wait, so if you're looking to try it I recommend ordering it at the beginning of your visit. The slab of pork jowl is roasted beautifully, gaining a truly admirable char and an unparalleled smoky flavor. Within the meat, the fat is rendered to perfection and literally liquifies the moment it enters your mouth. It's served with lettuce, perilla leaves, and two sauces, a seeming ssamjang derivative and what tasted like a mint-forward salsa verde that were both delicious. I would actually return for this. At most every turn during this meal, I felt like this emoji :/ Happy I had good company, because had I not I would have left grumpier than I did. Still a beautiful space and looking forward to seeing them grow.

Jilli is a vibey and intimate Korean fusion spot in the Mission that has enticed me with its exterior decor for a long time before I finally managed to visit recently! price: ~$60/person recs: rigatoni, tteokbokki - Kimchi Rigatoni: Pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, and the sauce had a nice punchiness that came from the kimchi. - Tteokbokki: Probably my favorite -- it's a deceptively decent portion size considering how small the bowl looks. The sauce was savory and sweet with the perfect kick. I love a good textural contrast, and the crunchy bits paired so well with the chewiness of the rice cakes. - Hamachi Crudo: I honestly really liked the sauce on this and can still remember the taste several days later. The fish tasted fresh, and the sauce was sweet and tangy. - White Lotus Makgeolli: Staff explained this as having an earl grey taste, which was very accurate. This was equal parts creamy and floral, and we both really enjoyed the whole bottle! Staff was super nice and explained the menu in lots of detail. But there were a lot of hiccups with our dining experience that I was super surprised to encounter with a restaurant that's been so hyped for so long -- some incorrect orders, and a bit of confusion about what our order was. Given the price point, I did go into this dining experience with more of a mind for a smooth dining experience than good value for food. Overall though, everyone was really nice, and we got everything we ordered and demolished every bite!

I've had two excellent visits here. The inside dining room is small, but cozy and certainly a vibe. During my second visit we were seated on the patio. It was pretty cold outside and even with the heat lamps, we struggled to stay warm. Although the menu is brief, the items it contains are absolute superstars! My personal highlights include: burrata, shrimp toast, rigatoni, and popcorn KFC. The makgeolli flight of the day is fun if you're into sweet booze. This is an excellent place for date night. Make sure to get a reservation since seating is constrained.

Korean tapas bar with a beautiful ambiance full of glowy lantern lights, projector film, and fun art. It's hidden in the corner of an apartment complex, but once you step inside it's like another world. Very popular spot, so would make sure to book a reservation in advance to get a table. They're known for their makgeolli rice wine, so of course we had to order the sampler flight. It came with fun flavors like blueberry and red rice. Definitely hit or miss on some of them. The citrus was too sour for me. Favorite was the original rice flavor with its light sweet creaminess. For food we ordered: Seoul crudo: 10/10 The fish was so fresh and paired well with the gochujang vinaigrette. It had the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Loved the plating of the fish in the shape of a rose. Shrimp toast: 8/10 Juicy shrimp with a flaky crust, but a little oily. Popcorn chicken: 9/10 So tender and pretty big pieces. It came with a rich tangy sauce and pickled radish. Kimchi vodka pasta: 9/10 Can't go wrong with a classic pasta. Decent portions for tapas and drinks were strong. Would love to come back to try the pork jowl dish. Overall an amazing time here!

Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Drinks 10/10! Seating was outside but there were heat lamps. Everything was perfectly cooked and so delish! We got the pork jowl, tuna and trout roe dip, kfc fried chicken, and rigatoni. My favorites were the pork jowl and tuna + trout roe dip and makgeoli flight (esp nasang makgeoli). We will definitely be back!

Jilli is such a cute spot for date night or dinner with friends. They even have a counter bar if you're a solo diner and don't want to miss out on Jilli! I really enjoyed the food at Jilli, and I'm extremely pick as a Korean who makes a lot of their own food. My favorites were the cheese tteokbokki, pork jowl, and carpaccio. The tteokbokki sauce was perfectly balanced with spice and a little bit of sweetness. I sometimes find restaurant tteokbokki to be way too sweet but this one was great! They don't skip on the fish cakes, rice cakes or cheese either! The pork was amazinggg! Perfect texture and hardly any fat (which I love). The sauces were amazing too! I enjoyed starting the meal with the carpaccio too. The fish tasted fresh and the microgreens and vinaigrette paired perfectly with the buttery raw fish! We also ordered the fried chicken but it was just okay! I felt like it was the only dish that I could have done without because I was quite full and also it wasn't outstanding. I liked the sang takju makgeolli and my partner got the Hana heaju makgeolli but didn't enjoy it. It had a weird after taste. Although the makgeolli was decent, it wasn't much better than what I buy from h mart in the plastic bottles. And it definitely wasn't as good as my fave makgeolli spot in nyc. I'd suggest that Jilli make their own makgeolli and infuse it with amazing flavors! Will def come back here for food but probs not drinks!

Came here a few times with my friends and have had such a good time both times! The 막걸리 they get from LA is absolutely is insane. The flight is a cool option to try out different flavors of the rice wine. The restaurant itself is so cute and I love the outdoor area for warmer nights. The service is great and they are so kind and helpful. They all know a lot about their drink menu so it's super fun asking them about the different alcohol. I really liked the chicken, the taretare, the chicken, and the kimchi pasta. Will definitely come back!

1 star - Started Okay, Then... Visited Jilli, a makgeolli bar with Korean tapas, for a 5PM reservation as a party of two. The concept is really appealing, and the staff seemed friendly upon our arrival. **Atmosphere:** They crammed as many tables they can into a tiny place. Next table knocked over my stuff on to floor as they were moving. And we constantly had to move our bottle to make avoid people hitting it with their butts. **The Food:** We ordered a makgeolli flight and a bottle of chungju to drink, along with several dishes: - **Rigatoni**: Decent execution on the pasta with an interesting Korean twist (addition of kimchi). Not bad overall. - **Yukhoe**: Tasted like beef ceviche - interesting preparation, giving a different texture and flavor to a traditional dish. - **Shrimp toast**: Ground shrimp sandwiched into micro toast, quite greasy from the chili oil (mustard did not help). - **Pork jowls**: Good flavor, though the 20-30 minute cooking time is something to keep in mind if you are asked to leave mid-dining if their reservation is back-to-back (you have an unnotified 90-minute dining - not mentioned on any platform). - **Popcorn KFC**: Didn't get to try this - I was planning to order it in a second round. -**Flight of Makgeolli**: One of them tasted horrible (the first one I tried). Even for someone who enjoys alcohol of all kinds, this was horrible. It was like a mouthful of untasteful, rotten, bitter cabbage. The food was decent overall, but it wasn't fantastic enough for me to come back for it. Most importantly, however, our very quiet party of two that never even called over the servers once got asked to leave in 10 minutes because they have this unspoken 90-minute back-to-back dining rule. Then came the problem We were suddenly told we needed to leave in 10 minutes because they had back-to-back reservations. This was my first time ever being asked to leave a restaurant, especially nowhere near closing time. I immediately checked their website, Resy, and Yelp - there is no mention of any 90-minute dining limit anywhere. If this policy exists, it should be clearly stated when you make a reservation AND when you're seated, before you order. I would have ordered completely differently (or not at all) if I had known we were on a timer. Bottom line The lack of transparency about time limits is unacceptable. Being rushed out while you're still dining is poor hospitality, regardless of how friendly the staff is otherwise. I won't be returning, and I'd caution others to be aware this might happen to you too.

Dang I really wanted to like this place. The menu sounds SOO good conceptually. But unfortunately the execution wasn't what I expected and they were out of some items I was looking forward to. We got the chowder, cheese tteukpokki, chicken, shrimp toast, and the vodka pasta. The chicken was pretty bad ngl. It tasted like popcorn chicken, and a below average one. Not korean fried chicken at all :( The tteukpokki was solid but nothing special. The vodka pasta was decent but also wouldn't order again The chowder was also quite normal. Just felt like a usual bowl of chowder 5/10 Shrimp toast I was a bit disappointed by too. Quite oily i give it a 6/10 The makgeolli flight was good but a bit expensive at $40 Overall I think I just had really high expectations and it fell really short :( SAD

What a great eclectic vibe inside. Great place for a debrief and yap. Small bites and nice ambiance. We got the beef tartar, shrimp toast and kimchi pasta and dessert. The beef tartar was pretty good.. not too dry. I think my favorites were the shrimp toast and kimchi pasta. Maybe you can make something similar at home for the pasta, but they do a pretty good job here. Good service. The tiramisu was also light and airy, good way to end the meal.

Do yourself a favor and make a resy in advance because you will not regret visiting this spot AT ALL. I knew that I wanted to try Jilli after seeing a couple of videos on it because I looove korean rice wine aka makgeolli. I also am a sucker for small bites and bites so this looked like the perfect spot. We had a 6:30 pm reservation on a Saturday night and boy am I glad I grabbed this reservation because it was completely full and they were turning away parties of 1-2 people at the door because they were booked for the entire night. Keep in mind your reservation gets you the table for a certain period of time depending on party size so order strategically! We did have to wait just a couple minutes for the table but they were super sweet and gave us a little taste of the chestnut makgeolli to try while we waited. Spoiler alert it was deeelish. Food wise, we got the perilla oil noodles, KFC (which comes with soy vin pickles), spicy rice cakes, rigatoni (sans the bacon), and the pork for my omnivore friends. We also grabbed a makgeolli flight which was so fun to experience and absolutely delicious. The perilla oil noodles were cool, refreshing, perfectly seasoned; the spicy rice cakes were spicy, savory, and rich with the melted cheese on top. The pasta was so darn good and had the perfect kick without being too tart or fermented for a kimchi pasta. My friends loved the chicken and the pork so highly recommend for omnivores. The interior is a red-filter light, cozy vibe, the food is delicious, and the drinks are good. Prices are fair for the quality and location and I will absolutely go back to this spot next time I'm in the city. Will recommend this 5ever so please go!

Heard about this place form a few friends and gave it a try. Not a particular fan of the food but it is a cute date spot with lots of shareable and cool makgeolli options which SF doesn't have. The flight was really cool, got to try different makgeollis that you wouldn't normally have access too. Definitely recommend this for the experience. Vodka Pasta: I absolutely loved this with the burrata. Great spice balance with the creamy burrata. Bossam: I liked the sauce options that they had so you can do different wraps. Not a particular fan of how it was cooked, as it was a lot chewier than I expected compared to traditional bossam. Shrimp Toast: Fried to crispy. Good appetizer but not really a standout for me personally. Steak Tartare: Personally wished it was chopped so finely to the point of mashed. I prefer it to be cubed but traditional yukhwe is made that way so understandable. Chip to tartare ratio wasn't great as we ran out before we were even halfway through the tartare. Overall, cute spot but I don't see myself coming back unless there are new menu options or my friends want to go.

I like the idea of a Makgeolli bar in SF thats got a nice vibe and large selection of Makgeolli served with Korean-styled tapas. Going for the first time, it made sense to try the flight of the day. With 4 different Makgeolli types, I guess it's not likely you'll like all of them. I was not a fan of the Red Monkey but the other three served were great. $40 for the flight is a bit steep though, price wise Food was pretty good. The popcorn kfc was a 9/10. Nice texture and flavor, and paired very well with the drinks. Definitely recommend this as something to munch on while drinking. The carpaccio was a 8/10. Nice flavor, and fresh. Was surprised by this one, the sauce its surrounded by was quite good Shrimp toast was 7.5/10. Solid and easy to snack on. Nice and crispy + had some shrimp inside. Service was great, at times due to limited space it was tough to hear the servers. But not an issue. Overall, solid place. Biggest complaint would be that the price is pretty steep for a tapas + makgeolli place. That would be the primary factor i would consider if i were to come again

The hottest new drinking spot, San Francisco's first makgeolli bar Jilli just opened! Light, sparkling and slightly fruity, makgeolli is Korea's traditional rice wine, and Jilli takes it to the next level with craft flights and creative Korean-inspired bites. My favourite was the Sang Makgeolli with cremy banana melon notes, imagine a tangy and almost yogurt like drink! On the table, get crispy Korean fried chicken (in collab with chimmelier), grilled pork jowl and my favorite- spicy kimchi rigatoni (you can get it topped with burrata!). They even have summer exclusives like perilla oil noodles. The vibe is cozy and lively, perfect for a date night, girls' night or just trying something new with friends. Pro tip: this spot is hot so grab a reservation on Resy before it fills up!

Came here for a much-anticipated girls' night out and was unfortunately let down by the rude service at the start of our night! It was a Friday evening and we were looking forward to trying a new food spot in SF. Not only was our server using every chance he could get to flirt with our friend all night, he was also coming to the table when it was unnecessary and extremely rude and mean-spirited while doing so. Calling a customer names, saying insults to "neg" them, and hovering around our table hoping for a chance to flirt was super unprofessional. I had my last straw when he yelled while I paid the bill as "a joke." I don't know man, maybe do it while you're off the clock? We tried not to let it sour the rest of our night as my friend was overall uncomfortable and played nice after he sent us a free drink. He was being confusing, overly loud, and made the rest of us uneasy during dinner. Perhaps it was supposed to be "funny?" But it was just overall obnoxious and did not land that way, as hard as it tried to be. Anyway, as a note, here's some of the details of the food: Besides the crappy service, the pork jowl was juicy! It's a good protein choice. The cheese tteokbokki was savory--wish it never ended! The rigatoni inspired us to try to recreate it at home because it was just THAT good. It overall was Korean fusion at its best. The makgeolli selection was on point. All in all, the experience would've been totally different without the weird, rude service. What a breath of fresh air it was to leave. Wishing you the best Jilli! Just hope the tasty food overpowers the bad taste in our mouths next time.

our server recommended we ordered 2-3 tapas each person, so we ordered almost the entire food menu (all dishes but 3). 10 plates for 4 of us were too much but we enjoyed them. we also got the makgeolli flight. I thought that all the dishes were decent but most were overpriced for the portions 1. seoul crudo ($23) 2. honey butter chip ($8) 3. shrimp toast ($17) 4. wagyu beef tartare ($24) 5. tuna dip + trout roe ($21) 6. rigatoni alla kimchi vodka ($23) 7. chimmelier popcorn kfc ($23) 8. perilla oil noodle ($18) 9. cheese tteokbokki ($21) 10. pork jowl jeyuk ($35) 11. makgeolli flight ($40)

Jilli was a pleasure! The staff really stood out to me, they were kind and attentive, engaged with us at the perfect level. We tried the perilla oil noodle and pork jowl. The noodle was underwhelming - not very flavorful - but the pork jowl was incredible. Would definitely come back for it. The vibe of the place felt intimate but social, a great mix. Didn't have a big appetite this time but would love to return to try the other meat dishes. Overall, a 4.3/5.

Walking in on a Saturday night when it opened at 5pm, we were shocked to learn there wasn't any opening until 8:30pm. In an unbelievable turn of events my friends and I never got Korean fried chicken while we were in Korea so we had a craving, so we decided to wait. Makgeolli flight: 3/10 we did not like how any of these tasted. In Korea it's pretty mild and maybe these are stronger with higher alcohol content and a bite? Popcorn Chicken: sadly 5/10 kind of dry Wagyu Beef Tartare: 6/10 it was ok but we ended up leaving a lot of it, not super flavorful tbh rough out the meat and not enough chips to meat ratio. We're not big tartare people and mostly ordered it because the pork jowl was sold out. Rigatoni Alla Kimchi Vodka: 9/10 this was pretty good! We were bummed they ran out of the perilla oil noodle but this one might have been better. If going at the end of the day do expect most things to be sold out, so maybe try waiting in line even earlier to be in the front of the line or making a reservation!

As I search my soul for a saving grace I'm afraid I've come up short. While the service at Jilli is extremely welcoming, the food and attached price tag is hard to hype up We ordered most things on the menu, with some favourites being the shrimp toast and the pork jowl. Shrimp toast had a surprisingly soft filling, providing a nice mouth feel for a cold evening. Crudo tasted good, with a refreshing sauce. Rigatoni was honestly nothing to write home about, any pasta spot would do this much better and probably worth a skip The honey chips taste exactly as you might expect. Tteokbokki also an average dish, along with the perilla noodles, while refreshing, not worth the price tag We also got the makeolli flight, which has rotating flavours. We a purple rice one which was hard to push down with its sourness but our other three went down much easier

San Francisco finally has its first makgeolli bar, and I was so excited to check out Jilli! I originally thought they brewed their own makgeolli or had a special housemade version, but it turns out they sell bottled options from other brands. The food is on the pricier side for the small tapas portions, but everything we tried tasted delicious. The standout for me was the cheese tteokbokki because the sauce was the perfect mix of sweet, savory, and spicy. I love heat and found it pretty mild at first, but the spiciness creeps up slowly in a satisfying way. The shrimp toast was my second favorite with its perfect crispness. The popcorn KFC was crispy and pretty juicy. We also tried the pork jowl, which was delicious, though I wish it came with a few more slices. It came with what I think was a chimichurri sauce and homemade Gochujang sauce, which was an interesting and tasty pairing. As for drinks, we ordered the makgeolli flight for $40. I thought this was only okay overall. Out of the four glasses, we only really enjoyed one, so we ended up ordering a full bottle of that one afterward. Service was friendly, and the ambiance was dim and moody. Definitely make a reservation ahead of time because it's a small space and it fills up fast!

Came here for my birthday dinner on a Tuesday night. We had a reservation around 8pm and were sat immediately outside on the patio. There was only one server that night but the food came out really quickly! All the dishes were amazing and fun to try a little bit of everything! We loved the rice cake sauce and dipped the shrimp toast in it. Additionally, the tartar was a standout for sure. Definitely worth checking out!

We got lucky with a walk in and were able to get seated fairly quickly. The staff were very kind and accommodating. We shared a makgeolli flight, shrimp toast, wagyu beef tartare, popcorn kfc, and the rigatoni alla kimchi pasta. Very much enjoyed the pasta! Flavorful with a kick. I am also such a fan of yukhoe and their rendition was great. I did feel like the shrimp toast was more heavy on the breading than shrimp and although the popcorn kfc was very juicy and tender, my friend thought the seasoning reminded them of Quickly's. I really wanted to try the diy salmon kimbap, but it wasn't on the menu when I came.

cute little dimly lit and elevated bar that specializes in makgeolli and Korean tapas they recommend 3-4 tapas per person for dinner, but we had a large lunch and went mainly to try some makgeolli and pair with a few small bites got the: - makgeolli flight of the day - they give a variety of 4, 1 super sweet dessert style, 2 semi-sweet, and 1 much more bitter and higher ABV but clean - shrimp toast - super crunchy and crispy toast, perfectly salted and savory shrimp paste, slightly oily - perilla oil noodle - very refreshing noodles, I liked the saltiness that the seaweed added to them - rigatoni alla kimchi vodka - I really savored every bite of this, huge fan of vodka sauce pasta, the sauce is rich and creamy, with slight sourness from the kimchi only thing is that I wish the portions were bigger since they are on the pricier side, but will be back to try more things :)

Went to Jilli with my friends and had an okay experience. We booked an early evening sitting and two of us got sat down right away as we awaited our friend. I'm not sure if our waiter was new or too eager, but he kept asking us if we knew what to order 3/4 times in the spam of 5-10min as we were waiting for our friend, then when she finally arrived and barely sat down, and when she finally had a chance to look at the menu. It was a bit off putting. Here's what we ordered and my thoughts: * Yukhoe - it was tasty but a bit under seasoned for my personal taste/ the seaweed felt a tiny bit overpowering * the popcorn fried chicken was the biggest disappointment of the evening. It was dry and bland. I'm not sure if this was a one-off but it was underwhelming. * the cabbage salad was nice and crunchy * the pork jowl was our favorite dish of the evening. Incredibly tender and flavorful. It was delicious. * the poutine was nice and tasty * I enjoyed one of their makgeolli drinks and we shared their 2 dessert options. Solid The inside is well decorated with nice ambiance. I could be open to coming back and trying other dishes.

Fun ambiance, love the inside with the projector and cozy feel. Saw they also have a nice outdoor patio as well! Makgeolli menu makes this a fun spot and they have great selection! - Pork jowl: tender and meaty, nicely wrapped with the sauces. Some pieces had too much flaky salt - Kimchi rigatoni: delicious, such a good balance of spice and creaminess. Bacon and kimchi bits were perfect, was left wanting a bigger portion - Shrimp toast: nice and crispy, loved the accompanying sauce with mustard - Fried chicken: weakest dish because it was ordinary but it was still executed well - juicy and crispy. Wish it had a more seasoned crunch batter

I was really excited about a makgeolli bar opening in SF but Jilli unfortunately did not live up to the hype I was expecting. While I am glad the restaurant managed to squeeze us in without a reservation, I do think they could do a better job with communication. We were told the next available reservation was not until 8:45pm (almost 2 hours later), so we put our names down, left and came back. However, when we returned at the time of our reservation, no one checked in with us. There's a sign in front of the door that indicated to wait outside to be seated so we did, and after waiting another 20min we finally walked in to talk to the staff. They told us they checked outside at 8:30pm and no one was here so they assumed we were no longer waiting, and didn't bother to check again at 8:45pm. We didn't end up getting seated until 9:10pm and kitchen was almost closing. Food-wise, it was pretty good but a little expensive. We got the rigatoni alla kimchi vodka which was quite unique. We were able to taste the kimchi and it was probably our favorite dish. The fried chicken was really juicy and I liked the dipping sauce. Honey butter chips were also delicious and very shareable. But, we were here to try the makgeolli and there was such a wide variety of options! We ended up getting the makgeolli flight, but honestly we should've gone for one full bottle of the Sang Takju instead since that was the only one we really liked in the flight. But, at least we tried some of the flavors that we wouldn't otherwise have ever tried. Overall, it was an okay experience and I'm glad I finally got to try it. However, I'd recommend making a reservation if you want to come here because it's not worth the wait.

Be prepared to wait in line or make a reservation in advance to avoid the wait. We went 30 minute before they opened and were 4th in line. They are known for their Makgeolli. You can get makgeolli flights , per pitcher, or per glass. We tried the sour makgeolli and prefer the sweet ones more. They have tapas as food options so it's recommend to get 2-3 orders per person. We got the following: Wagyu Beef Tartare Shrimp Toast - my favorite! Highly recommend Perilla Oil Noodle - pretty good. Really refreshing. Perfect palate cleanser Pork Jowl Jeyuk - this was really bland Overall the food was good but on the pricer end. Definitely a cute place to drink and catch up with friends.

overhyped. their flight included makku ?????? literally grocery store canned makgeolli. we ended up liking the white lotus makgeolli best of the flight. food was kind of interesting. doenjang clam chowder had potato foam on top instead of potatoes in the chowder. pork jowl was well-cooked. fried chicken was kind of dry and the worst dish of the night. they also need to hire more staff, our waiter was spread way too thin. we were seated outdoors with plenty of heat lamps.

I've been looking forward to visiting Jilli after it first opened since I believe it's the first Makgeolli bar in SF. I recommend making a reservation ahead of time since it's a small space and trendy so it can get pretty busy. They have an outdoor area, but it's starting to get really cold in sf so I recommend the main dining room. We had a good dining service. The staff were knowledgeable about the menu and gave us some makgeolli samples to try since we were indecisive. We ordered the pot of their sang takju and a glass of the nomi doga. The sang is sweeter, less carbonated, and smooth. The nomi doga has a bit more carbonation, dryer, and strong notes of star anise. For food, we ordered the olives, seoul crudo, popcorn kfc, perilla oil noodle, and the pork jowl jeyuk. This was more than enough for two people, we were quite full. We could have done without the crudo, it was our least favorite. The sauce was too sweet and did not complement the fish as we had wanted. I loved the pork jowl, that was the one I was most excited about. The perilla noodles were flavorful, definitely on the sweeter side, and these are cold so good on a hot day. The chicken was good but did not blow me away. Olives were delicious, we loved them. Overall, food menu contained quality ingredients. We enjoyed most of the items, yet palette was on the sweeter and cold side. Overpriced in my opinion. It was like $90pp.

Busy busy Thursday night. They have some seats inside, a little bar area, and some outdoor patio seating. We came without a reservation but luckily the staff gave us a table for an hour before the people with the reservation arrived. However, the staff did forget to give us the tiramisu, and we received it after we paid & had to ask for it afterwards. The food here is pretty good, but not extraordinary. We didn't try any of their drinks tonight, but we might in the future. If you're looking to give this place a try the rigatoni (little to no protein) and pork jowl are pretty good. The tiramisu was also pretty good.

Got a reservation for a Tuesday at 5 PM and when we arrived, my fiancee and I were promptly greeted and seated. Wait staff were all friendly and we were able to get our orders in fairly quickly. Rigatoni with burrata (4/5)- the pasta was the perfect al dente and I loved how the creaminess of the burrata balanced the spiciness of the sauce. Didn't care too much for the bacon. Burrata fruit salad (5/5)- I love how well balanced this dish was from the saltiness of the prosciutto to the creaminess of the burrata and the sweetness of what I believe was a honey dressing. The different texture made each bite very enjoyable. Definitely my favorite dish of the night. KFC chicken (2/5)- Don't get me wrong, the chicken was perfectly cooked and was juicy but the flavors were lacking for me. For the price tag I would've been happier with popcorn chicken from a boba shop because that was essentially what we got. Pork jowl (5/5)- juicy, moist and had the best outer crust. This was great. At the end of the dinner, we were bursting at the seams. I personally felt that 2 dishes per a person was more than enough. Overall, chill vibe, great service and pretty good food.

It's more of a 3.5 but the cozy intimate ambiance round it up to a 4! Not a ton of enticing vegetarian options but the kimchi vodka pasta is a must get and what I would go back for. The Makgeolli flight is fun and not too strong, I definitely prefer the sweeter ones though. Wish they sold more by glass. Popcorn chicken was okay, could've been salted a bit more. Shrimp toast was solid but mostly just good to try once, maybe better if the sauce was a bit more flavorful. Cool spot, great for date night!

Hard to snags a resy but so worth it. Trendy Korean tapas spot with creative small plates and a lively bar vibe. Each dish is bold in flavor and beautifully presented -- perfect for sharing over soju, exclusive makgeolli (Sang) or Korean craft beers. The staff ( Hwang Ha and Anthony) are friendly and attentive, making it a great place for a casual night out with friends and families.