JooDang

under new management so they didnt have any cocktails, which I went to try 😥 Some of the menu has changed as well. I appreciate how the owners and chef wanted feedback but the dishes weren’t quite there. We got the: Cauliflower (too salty and saucy), cheesy chicken wings (really unique but kinda weird), bibimbap (simple and didn’t stand out, but the pork collar was good), baked mackerel which was done well but not that unique either. our fav was the beer lol Unlikely that we will go back 🥲

A Korean fusion restaurant and overall we enjoyed the meal. The crab risotto was definitely the best thing we ordered. The kimchi fried rice and the pasta were very good, but not as good as the risotto. It's definitely worth going.

Delicious and very well presented Korean food in a casual venue. The price is fairly reasonable for SF (that means it's relatively speaking ridiculously expensive compared to the rest of US, even NYC).

The restaurant has a good environment with an open kitchen but be aware that it’s in a creepy neighborhood. Overall the food is good but has some space for improvement - beef is overcooked and the truffle didn’t stand out either in truffle kanpachi or truffle bulgogi. Don’t order these if you are looking for the truffle aroma. Crab risotto and the creamy kimchi udon were amazing. Portion-wise is small-to-medium size. Three of us ordered 4 tapas and 2 main dishes felt just right enough. They charged 20% service charge on the bill (not optional) no matter what party size you are.

Had a reservation here for 2 and came to an almost full place that was bumping K-pop, had an intimate space with a small dining room and bar facing the cooks and chefs. Waited a second for them to set up our table, was seated, and perused the menu. I appreciated the fact that it wasn't deep and seemed very focused and intentional. Placed our order and enjoyed the vibe. Music is not blaring and provides a nice soundtrack in the back while so you can have normal conversations without screaming to hear the other person. For dinner, we ordered fairly light since we were attending a show after. We got a scallop dish that was tasty like one giant nigiri as we're able to cut it into 3 moutful pieces. I must not have read the menu correctly, but it was warmed throughout. If they prepared the scallop fresh and kept it cool, I think that'd have a nice contrast or even cice versa with cool sushi rice with the warm seared scallop. The next dish was the crab risotto and totally worth it. Order this it's a smash hit, and I could have had one myself vs. sharing. So creamy, rich, and tasty. I loved how I felt while eating it. It's very comforting. The fried chicken was tasty, crispy, juicy and they used big party wings or regular and cut into party size. I was expecting traditional size, but I was picking up on a more elevated way to present the food. The presentation was nice for all dishes, and you eat off a platform with chopsticks that rest and gold-tone bowl. We closed with unagi and rice dish. Nice hot temperature, but the eel was rather oily/slimy than meaty. Still good with the radish and ginger plus pickled daikon that came with the chicken. Oh, yeah I had a sour guava beer from a list that said 500 ml draft but came in a tall can? My gf had a melona bar cocktail that was pretty sweet but addictive. It is easy to down it in a few drinks, nicely presented. Overall I enjoyed my meal and for kinda new restaurant it felt, kinda new. The service was good, but since I kept getting the sense they were trying to be elevated, they could have talked more about the food and checked in on a regular cadence vs. Just running food, swapped out our used bowls or asked. The place is trendy and cool and perfect for small groups or a date though. Plus, for being open later and being brave setting up shop in neighborhood that others look away from. I'll be back to try more of the menu. Definitely try this place!

Crab risotto was amazing and by far my favorite. I wish I got one for myself. The pork belly was also really good. I wish they gave more pork belly though. The scallop was good. Udon was meh. Wagyu kimchi fried rice was just bad. It tasted like eating kimchi out of a jar. It overpowered everything in the dish. I would not recommend. If not for the Kimchi fried rice, would have given it 5 stars.

Loved it! I’ve been to many upscale korean places in NYC, and this place definitely holds up to them. Scallop was my fav, loved how they were warm but kinda raw and very good quality. The only dish I didn’t 100% like was the tteokboki - cheese could have been melted more and some of the tteok was falling apart. Good flavor and generous portions of pork belly though. Would recommend everything I ordered including drinks (not pictured). Very good!

Joodang is quite possibly my favorite restaurant right now. The food is to die for and the service is phenomenal. My friend n I decided to try their Te Mari handroll tasting menu which is only offered on Sunday and Monday w/ two time slots of 5:30 and 8PM (you hav to make a reservation). I rec coming at 8PM, show up a bit early so you get first pick at seats, and you HAVE TO sit at the bar. Chef andy and Jeffrey are a hilarious duo, and the staff are all super nice and will not hesitate in pouring you drinks. Must try's are their truffle toro parfait, cajun albacore tuna roll, hokkaido scallop roll, salmon belly w unagi roll, and the korean raw beef perilla wrap. Even the unassuming dishes like inari shiitake and snapper bone soup were amazing (we were even offered seconds for it). I did not dislike a single thing and the chef even made me a toro roll (i think?) cause I’m allergic to bean sprouts. Typically i don’t write reviews (i actually have four exams to study for right now) but this place is so good i have to share my experience.

HIDDEN GEM IN THE TL - crab miso risotto was SO GOOD. Creamy and subtle fresh crab flavor. Must try (was so good we ordered a second one :P) - pork belly cheese dobokie. Not too spicy and rice cakes were just right. Very impressive cheese pulls. Pork belly was well done as well. - seared scallops. Seasoning and ratio to rice was perfect. - snow cucumber salad. didn't wow me but was pretty standard. - while the location is not the best, the inside was modern and well decorated. - service was amazing! My water glass was never left empty. Staff were so nice and friendly. - came without a reservation at 7pm and was seated at the bar immediately - all tables were full on a Wednesday evening.

service: waiter was so kind & helpful! very attentive & helped us choose what plates we'd enjoy. kitchen staff was nice as well but we couldn't help but notice they stare a lot.. at least we know they're being attentive ! we ordered 3 dishes : pork belly ssam: lean, fatty pieces were enjoyable to eat & good portion. veggies were fresh & ssamjang sauce was great! kimchi udon: veryyy creamy but to us, it tastes similar to tom yum , rather than kimchi. tastes like you can make it at home which isn't a bad thing! but nothing too special korean fried chicken (garlic butter): i'm not sure if this was supposed to be "traditional" kfc but the batter was quite chewy & very thick. their chicken was huge but that batter was THICK. the garlic butter was pretty good though!

3.5 STARS Date: Wednesday, September 11th, 2024 Time: 6:15pm Party of: 2 Meal: Dinner Reservations Made: via OpenTable about a month prior *Pork Collar Steak ($27) *Crab Miso Risotto ($21) *Cheesy Rice Cake ($25) *Sweet Pancake ($12) *Saero Soju ($11) My girlfriend and I were seeing a show at the Orpheum. We wanted to meet up for a quick meal beforehand. After looking around, I found Joodang. My gf loves Korean food so she was down to check it out. The risotto and pork collar were delish. The collar was described as containing sweet soy. I'm normally not into sweet and savory (unless there's a spicy element), but this had a nice smokiness to cut into it. I rather enjoyed it. The risotto was nice and creamy. Even my gf who's normally not a risotto fan, liked this. The rice cake dish was meh. There are lots of bell peppers, so if you don't like bell peppers, I'd say avoid this. This dish was also described as containing "fiery cheesy steak". I'm not sure what they meant by this, but I did not find any steak in the dish. I did find this rather sweet, so I asked if I could get a spicy condiment like gochugaru. Our server said yes and then never came back with it. We only had an hour here before the show, so I didn't follow up. Drinks wise, I was looking forward to the cocktails I'd been seeing on their yelp page. Unfortunately they are not doing cocktails at the moment, so I just got a bottle of soju. (At least the moment I was there, there were no cocktails.) The soju was good. Smooth and light. Overall, not a bad spot for a pre theatre dinner if you're heading to the Orpheum. REVIEW #3560

Dined at this spot with a few buddies to fill up before a Friday night of drinking. We definitely left with satisfied and full bellies :) Melona Mojito - 4/5 - Refreshing and sweet. Taste was on point, similar to a melona pop with a minty aftertaste. Ouuyouu - 4/5 - Pretty much a sweet lychee martini, can't go wrong, Beef Tartar - 2/5 - Aesthic and concept was legit, although flavor did not match the exquisite plating. Overall bland compared to all other dishes. My tastebuds were searching for the horseradish. An easy one to share though, with us making mini kimbaps. Maple Gochujang Cauliflower - 4.5/5 - Sweet and savory with just enough crisp. Fresh, plentiful, addicting. Black Garlic Butter Ttebokki - 5/5 - Garlicky, umami, & savory tastes paired well with the density of the ttebokki. Sauce so good I could I'd eat it with some rice! Crab Miso Risotto - 3/5 - Truffle-esque and creamy risotto, with a few pieces of crab nestled on top. We all enjoyed this dish, but just wish the portion was bigger with either more risotto or more crab. Fried Chicken - 5/5 - Cheesy powder & garlic flavor that literally punched your tastebuds (in a good way). Served with shredded cabbage and a home made ranch dipping sauce. This was a favorite! Pork Belly Ssam - 3/5 - Fresh and presented nicely although felt pretty standard. Pork belly was cooked well and the portion was enough to share. Creamy Kimchee Shrimp Stir-fry Udon - 5/5 - Just wow! Gave me fancy Italian creamy Alfredo feels with a Korean twist. Flavor was there and portion was plentiful. Another dish I wouldn't mind putting all the sauce over rice. Service - We entered around 7:30 with a party of 4. They had opened tables but saved for reservations, so we decided to sit at the bar which was fine. There were 6 bar seats and they kindly requested 2 patrons to make room for us, highly appreciate that. The service throughout the night was personable, attentive, and friendly. Thanks for accommodating my nut allergy! To note - They were out of the Makegoli Ube Bombs, letting us know they may not restock on the Ube cheesecake sour beer :( Ambience - Simple, clean, modern & stylish. Will return to try more of the menu!

After ogling the influx of Joodang reels that happened to pop up during my Instagram feed these past few weeks, I was dying to try this hip Korean tapas spot. Its location is sub-optimal, nestled in an easy-to-miss unit nestled in the TL, but that aside, the interior is pretty and well-decorated with its gold and white accents. Expecting an array of unique takes on classic Korean dishes, I was pretty excited to try Joodang. Unfortunately, though, the food wound up being just okay, missing the je ne sais quoi I usually expect from contemporary Korean establishments. Starting off strong, we ordered a few drinks: namely the Bae and the Yuzu Spritz. I'm a sucker for anything sparkling (my main vice is Diet Coke), and this was incredibly refreshing, crisp, and exactly what you'd want in an Asian-y spritz. My friends cocktail was also good but a bit too lychee forward making it taste like a regular degular lychee soju you can pop off any H-mart shelf. The denraku eggplant was absolutely divine. I'm an eggplant girly (please keep all suggestive jokes to yourself), and this hit the spot - light, tender, and mildly spiced with the sweet chili oil sauce. DO ORDER THIS. What I'd skip? With all due candor, pretty much everything else. We, of course, tried their miso crab risotto, an apparent must-order according to Instagram influencers, but this was alright. Albeit, it was good, but a bit too mild in flavor. Given the steep price tag, it's also disappointing that it came with just two discernible chunks of crab. The pork belly ssam was also lackluster. I've had worlds better pork belly for a fraction of the price in K-town, and for it to come with just a palm-size amount is just insulting. I've heard complaints that the garlic butter tteokbokki was a tad too salty from other reviewers, and I should've heeded these comments. The tteokbokki, unsurprisingly, was too salty, and the carbonara-esque sauce was drowning in soy, making it hard to detect any semblance of garlic or bacon. Overall, this place is akin to other Instagram-famous restaurants - overhyped and underflavored. I probably won't be back. Well, maybe for the eggplant. If you ever see an Asian girl dining alone with ten sets of eggplant appetizers sprawled across the table, mind ya business.

This secret gem is hidden pretty well in the Tenderloin. The Midori sign is right next to this spot so let that be your visual marker to find this amazing restaurant! It is in the heart of the tenderloin and the neighborhood is busy. I found parking but it can be hard to find it since it's mainly street parking. Even if you just stop by for a cocktail, it is worth it! The vibe transports you to a different place with spacious seating. We ordered the corn cheese croquettes to start and they were so tasty and a fun take on corn cheese! I got the creamy kimchi shrimp story-fry udon. This is a winner all the way around! The creamy slightly spicy sauce with shrimp and the perfect udon noodles is something you keep coming back for! I love kimchi and this noodle dish did not disappoint. Try this place out for tasty food and delectable drinks!

While this is not in a great neighborhood in the Tenderloin, at least it's within walking distance of Civic Center Bart (if you don't mind a roughly 15-minute walk), this is quite a gem of a Korean-Japanese fusion restaurant. Came here with a group of ladies on a worknight. This was what we got: 1. Hot tea, which they charged for $4/person 2. Korean fried chicken wings, soy garlic flavor. This was an appetizer shared among all of us, it was a hit with the group. 3. Kanpachi truffle 4. Kimchee wagyu fried rice 5. Seafood tempura udon (this was my order, and I thought it was okay. It tasted like a normal udon dish that I can get at many other Japanese restaurants). 6. Hoe Deopbap 7. Yuhwe Bibimbap Service was wonderful, and we all really enjoyed our dinner here!

Food ratings: Ouuyuu cocktail (5/5) - light and fruity, highly recommend Crab risotto (4/5) - best entree of the night, unique and flavorful, smaller portion Creamy kimchi udon (4/5) - delicious but could probably be easily recreated at home (?) Pork belly tteokbokki (2.5/5) - poor quality cuts of pork, undercooked rice cakes, lack of flavor Pros: chill ambiance, quick and friendly service, delicious pocha-like dishes Cons: location (unsafe, difficult parking), pricey for small portions

Almost decided to gatekeep this new gem, but everyone should check out this amazing Korean Japanese fusion restaurant. It is located in the heart of the tenderloin, but don't let that deter you from visiting! The space inside is super clean and minimalistic. There are some tables, and bar seating that overlooks the kitchen. All the food we ordered and the cocktails were amazing! Our first server was Nancy who helped us understand the menu and decide on how many dishes to order. Later in the meal, Patrick was helping serve us and he was fantastic. I'm not sure if he does this with everyone, but at the end of the meal he explained that Joodang translates to "heavy drinkers" and proceeded pour my friend and I a shot of soju! Such a fun way to end the meal. I went with one friend and we went hungry because we wanted to try as many dishes as possible. What we ordered: - kanpachi truffle 4/5 - pan seared scallop 4/5 - crab miso risotto 10/5 - bbq freshwater eel 4/5 - creamy kimchee shrimp udon 10/5 The crab risotto and shrimp udon absolutely stole the show. These are must orders. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes!

Omg this place made me hate other places the crab rissto because I can never eat anywhere else ever again, esp considering how great the service is. I am usually very picky, and I just went to californios yesterday. But this 10/10 (outweighs). FYI the drinks are the best

Came on a Friday night, the restaurant is open late and is cute inside. The location isn't great, I would be a bit weary about street parking. All the cocktails were delicious, they're mainly soju based drinks! The food was all also great, the standouts were the udon and crab risotto. This is a great place to hang out with some friends, it definitely has a chill Korean pocha vibe! We ordered pretty much everything we wanted to try, the portions aren't too big but everyone can still get a few bites of each thing if you all are sharing. Would recommend coming with a group of ~4 so you can order more things to try and share! For 5 people it ended up being about $60 pp for food, which was good for the quality!

The crab risotto that is mentioned in every review was the reason I came to Joodang, and it was well worth braving the sketchy streets of this part of town to get to the restaurant. The interior is airy with clean lines and a modern feel. The service was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The drinks were beautiful but for me, they were just ok. We only got 3 dishes - crab risotto, eggplant dengaku, and pork belly doboki. They were all flavorful but the only one I'd get again is the crab risotto. I'd get 2 next time! The eggplant dengaku was like 2/3 salad and 1/3 eggplant. At first, I thought the pork belly in the doboki was a big tougher than I'd like but enjoyed the texture contrast with the soft rice cakes.

If I could give this place a higher rating, I would... Found JooDang in a recent article highlighting new top restaurants in SF (2024). I'm such a huge fan of Asian foods, so when I saw this place, I knew I had to try it. While in a dodgy area of SF, it's worth visiting. Rolling up, I noticed the restaurant front is very unassuming. Darker tones, and clean lines outside give the impression that the inside is likely elevated and higher quality than your normal eatery. AND I WAS RIGHT. The place is nice and intimate, yet light and airy. There's bar seating, then a cute dining room separated by hanging wooden partitions. There are cute charges on each table and a nice refresher bar for the servers to quickly grab water glasses and extra utensils. Speaking of servers, they were incredible. I know of one person named Jeffrey who introduced himself upon check-in, and then there was a very sweet gal who worked with him in tandem. They were attentive, always checked in on us, cordial and approachable. They knew (through my reservation) that we were there for a birthday, so surprised us with a glass of champagne at the end. The details of service were top notch. As for dinner, we were recommended to get 4 plates for two guests. Here's what we got: - Craft Seasonal Cocktails - I got the Asian 75 (Lychee, lemon, Korean spirit, soju topped with champagne) for $15 and the Banbe Morning (passion fruit, orange, mango apple soju topped with berries as garnish) for $15. My favorite of the two was the Banbe Morning - so sweet and full of the passion fruit flavor. I could drink 10 of those!!! - Kanpachi Truffle for $23 - Freshly sliced Amberjack, fried garlic, ponzu, and truffle. The kanpachi was being sliced right when we arrived so we knew we had to get it! It was sooooo fresh and flavorful. The ponzu was a nice touch and of course TRUFFLE! I also like the micro greens on top which offered a nice crunch. - Crab Miso Risotto for $21. Miso cream with red crab and scallions. This was a highly recommended dish from our server and it did not disappoint! There were pieces of crab throughout the risotto and the flavor of crab resonated through! I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND this dish!! -Truffle Bulgogi for $29. This was one of my favorite dishes of the night! Sweet soy marinated thinly sliced ribeye with mushrooms, kimchee, sprouts and served with sesame rice. Mix everything and you get flavors that are complex, yet feels/tastes like the bi-bim bap dish we all know so well. The flavors were elevated and every bite made me want more and more. LOVE LOVE! - Porkbelly Cheese Doboki for $26. Pork belly with creamy rice cake and cheese, topped with shaved cabbage. This was also an AH-MAZE-ING dish. The doboki was layered in first with tons of cheese, the pork belly was cooked with gochugang-ish sauce and onions, then framed around the doboki. Dive in and watch an amazing cheese pull. Sooooo good! This place is great for a night out with a friend or the best option for a date night with the boo. I can't wait to return with my husband and try other amazing dishes. Thanks, JooDang!

Service and ambiance were great at Joodang. The Food! I can't express how great and enjoyable dinner was. The dishes were innovative and actually delicious and not the typical takes on Korean cuisine. I highly recommend this place for dinner. The Korean fried chicken is juicy and is an adventure in textures (has an amazing cheese crust). Hamachi crudo should not be missed! Creamy kimchi stir fry udon is heavenly. I have to say that the only flop is their seafood risotto (Japanese rice is not ideal for a risotto, but flavors were rich and delicious).

Great service, nice ambiance, delicious food. Everything we ordered was delicious but my standouts were the marinated raw crab, albacore, and the cheddar chicken wings. Definitely recommend. Try this place!

Worth the insta hype! Wish there was a bit more food in terms of quantity especially at these prices but some are tapas so it feels like fine dining with small portions. We ordered the wagyu kimchi fried rice, pork belly cheese tteobokki, creamy seafood udon and crab risotto. Enjoyed all the dishes but my favorite was the creamy seafood udon. It had a nice kick to it and good portion of seafood in it. The egg in the wagyu fried rice made the rice a tad soggy but the wagyu was nice and tender. The crab risotto was made well al dente and you can taste the truffle. Pork belly cheese tteobokki could've used more pork belly in my opinion but good amount of cheese for the cheese pulls and tteobokki was a good texture, still bouncy. Only complaint is that the food took a while to the point where we had to ask if it were coming after 30 minutes and the owner and servers checked on us. Great customer service though that they offered us free soju shots (very smooth and i usually hate original soju) and a tapa for the wait, which was super nice. Both the owner and bartender were extremely friendly and apologetic. Cute space, ambiance and lighting is set for date nights. You can see the kitchen to the front side which was cool. Not a whole lot of seating so i recommend making a reservation. I want to come again to try more dishes and maybe some cocktails!

Great food and even better drinks!! Came here for the Valentine's Day dinner. It was so busy but luckily while we waited they offered free sake shots - loved that! We had a Valentine's Day Prefix menu. I really enjoyed eating every dish but my favorite was the beef tartare, uni stir fry udon with tiger shrimp and Japanese red crab risotto with white truffle - SO DELICIOUS. I had ordered saranghae and bae cocktails. It was AMAZING. I loved the Korean inspired drinks and they were perfectly sweet & balanced. I would've ordered all the drinks if I could! The only thing I wish was that if there was a better waiting area and definitely a storefront sign with the name since it was a little difficult to find. Thank you to our server Jimmy and the owner who really made our dinner so amazing!

3.5 stars - Excellent vibe and drinks. Service was friendly but slow. Food was just ok, and portions are small, so feels overpriced. Joodang is in the tenderloin, so inevitably, the area is a bit sketchy. This didn't stop us because I had been wanting to try this place since it opened! You just have to be careful and aware of your surroundings - nothing surprising if you're familiar with the TL. The exterior is quite unassuming. You could easily walk past it if you're not paying attention. The inside of the restaurant on the contrary is bright, modern, chic and clean. We had an early dinner reservation for 4 people on a Friday night and were cheerfully greeted and seated right away upon arrival. The restaurant quickly filled up, but I appreciated that the tables were comfortably spaced out and it didn't get too cluttered. They have Asian inspired cocktails. We each ordered a different one and they were all both aesthetic and delicious! We also ordered 2 bottles of soju to sip on throughout the meal. Loved how friendly and encouraging the staff was of us keeping the alcohol flowing! :-p Though the food was fine, I'd have to say the drinks were way more memorable than the food. Everything is meant to be shared, but be warned that the portions are quite small. We ordered: - Beef tartar: Tasted fresh, well balanced - Risotto: One of my favorite dishes of the meal. The portion was pretty small though. - Bulgogi tater tots: tbh can't remember what the official dish name was, but it was essentially loaded tots, topped with bulgogi. I enjoyed this dish and its flavors, but didn't find it to be particularly special. - Korean Fried Chicken: Portion size for this was extremely disappointing, as we just received a few wings on a plate. They were flavorful, but not worth ~$18. - Kim Chi Udon: Good flavors. I enjoyed the toppings too - Pork Belly Cheese Doboki - I will not be ordering this again next time. While it sounded promising, this was just way too pricey ($26) for a dish that lacked flavor. And unfortunately, the texture of the rice cake felt like it was microwaved from frozen. I really want to support Joodang still, and I hope they succeed. The staff was super friendly and nice. However, some of our food took a while to come out (which generally is fine), but we had to ask them to check on our order and also for the bill at least 2-3x. With that said, I really hope they can work out the kinks because they have a great concept and a lot of potential.

Everything we ordered here was out of this world! The beef tartare was seasoned amazingly and paired so well with the salt and pepper chips they provided with it. The risotto was so creamy, lush and had the right amount of crab flavor. The seafood, creamy udon was so satisfying with each bite! The menu is fairly expansive, so this is the type of place you will want to come back to multiple times just to peruse through the entire menu. In terms of service, the staff was top notch. My friend and I arrived around 6:45pm to a full main dining room, but we were seated very quickly at the bar. The staff quickly took our orders, provided some suggested and constantly checked on us throughout the entire night. We never felt forgotten nor did we have to flag anyone down to get our needs met. In terms of ambiance, this place is perfect for a nice catch-up with friends or an intimate first or second date. The restaurant, although small, was constantly filled with sound but not to the point where you had to shout to your dining partner. Although the surrounding area is a bit sketchy, the interior of the restaurant made us feel safe and welcome.

The food here was really good and the drinks were even more amazing!! The bulgogi fries were a bit heavy and made us full really fast but overall delicious. The seared scallops were also tasty (but dont eat all the rice if you ordered a bunch of food LOL it gets filling fast here)! And for the main entree i had the kimchi shrimp stir fry which is a must try!! I ordered two of the asian 75? I forgot what it was called exactly but it was sooo good! It took a while for us to get each dish but the service overall was really great that it made up for it. However the table was a bit weird since i had to move it to get past this metal bar and into the set?? Not sure if I'm the only one with the issue but it's really minor. Overall a really great restaurant -- especially considering how new it is! Definitely going to come back here for some korean apps and their drinks!

Food: This restaurant was very hyped up on instagram and unfortunately I don't think it deserves the hype. The food is okay. It's not bad but for the price, I didn't find the taste or appearance to be worth it. Service: Attentive service. Food orders came out quick. Ambiance: The interior of the restaurant is beautiful. Table settings were fancy. Definitely more upscale than your standard Korean restaurant. The one thing that detracts from the restaurant is the location (the heart of the Tenderloin). We went in the night time and it was a very sketchy experience. It was difficult to find the restaurant too because the windows are all glazed so you can't see outside

love the short but creative korean-western fusion menu here. the best thing was the crab miso risotto -- perfect texture and balance of flavors. the cheesy tomato steak tteokbokki was also delicious and certainly a shareable portion. the corn cheese croquettes were okay -- I enjoyed the japanese sweet potato and the crunch but the corn was outside and the cheese sauce was outside so it didn't resemble the classic corn cheese that much

Jimmy was fantastic super great and friendly! Amazing food very different and special in comparison to other places. Very nice ambiance

Reservations were simple and easy on OpenTable. We had a group of 6 and were seated right away. It is in the heart of tenderloin ... where it's crackheads galore. A bit strange this restaurant is located there but I guess once you go in you feel (slightly) safer. The food made the scary vibes disappear quickly as each dish gave the wow factor we ordered: - beef tartare - pork belly cheese doboki - truffle bulgogi - crispy dumpling - pan seared scallop - crab miso risotto - KFC - kimchee wagyu fried rice - creamy kimchee shrimp stir fry udon - Korean sweat pancake (on the house!) The must gets were definitely the risotto and stir fry udon! The only thing that was slightly questionable was the sour cream and onion lays chip used for the tartare lol. But overall 9/10 (minus 1 point for the location).

My husband and I enjoyed a very nice dinner date here at Joodang. The exterior is unassuming while the interior is clean and elegant. The staff is welcoming, friendly, and professional. The food was wonderful - unique, sophisticated, and meticulously prepared. You can tell that the restaurant puts effort into the details to create a five-star experience for guests. One detail that delighted me was the metal bowl and chopsticks which made musical sounds during the meal, almost like a sound bath. I just love little things like that. What we ate: - House salad - Snow crab cucumber salad - Pan seared scallop - Crab miso risotto - BBQ eel - Korean sweet pancake Every item was excellent. We actually didn't even order the crab miso risotto. It was accidentally prepared for our table so the restaurant gave us the dish on the house. We made sure to include the cost in our tip due to the obvious time and care put into our dining experience. With so many amazing restaurants in San Francisco,I generally don't make repeat visits. That being said, I'd make an exception for Joodang. We look forward to returning.

Dined here on a wednesday with a partynof three. The location of the restaurant was a bit sketchy within the tenderloin... for a restaurant which had great ambience and lively energy for customer service. The pros were the Crab Miso Risotto (Must Try!!) and the Bulgogi Tter Tots, in my opinion they were the star of the night. We also ordered the Wagyu Kimchi fried rice but it was extremely hot to the point where we could not finish it. The corn cheese was a bit disappointing, it just needed a tad bit more salt plus I like mine with a bit more chart and melt. The portions for the dishes were small for the price but everything is made to prep. All in all, not a bad place and I think they're pretty new. I would check them out again!

Visited after seeing this place for the first time, and I am blown away. The cocktails are amazing. So fruity. I got the bae which is pear infused with soju. For the meal we got the beef tartare, seared scallops, miso risotto, truffle bulgogi and the seafood tempura udon. The food was flavorful and spicy. Def come here again.

Dined in on a Wednesday for a party of two. Workers were welcoming, gave off great energy, and gave recommendations. Table and bar seating are available. I chose table since I knew we were going to order various dishes, so wanted as much space as possible. Crab miso risotto - This was the best dish we tried! Great settled flavor with real crab meat on top. Risotto wasn't too heavy, cooked well Korean fried chicken - We tried the soy glaze. The soy flavor of the sauce was decent but it was on the salty side. We were a bit disappointed that the chicken wasn't crispy Pork belly cheese doboki - Rice cakes had a nice chewy consistency. Flavor was just okay. Thick pieces of pork belly Kimchi wagyu fried rice - A bit too mushy for our liking Just a reminder that there is an automatic 20% gratuity listed on the bill. Easy to make a reservation on their website. It's located in the tenderloin area, so the streets can be quite busy when you're walking through. Only street parking, so you might have to circle around.

Pros: Service and wait staff were great! For food, a friend and I got the crab miso risotto, pan seared scallops, sweet and spicy dumplings, and soy glaze chicken. The top two were the risotto and chicken. I'd definitely go again, in fact, I'd like to try the bulgogi and udon stir-fry, but nothing I had was necessarily worth a special trip. Cons: There was a 20% service charge added to the bill that I really don't remember seeing anywhere but maybe I missed it?!

A hidden gem in the Tenderloin. The ambiance gives me modern aesthetics. Upon entering, you are greeted and the vibes takes you out of Tenderloin. Loved the table settings. We ordered a bunch of random dishes, which I forgot to take pictures of. I recommend ordering the soy pop corn chicken, Kim chi on the side (tastes bomb.com), tteobeoki, truffle kanpachi, and fish cake. My favorite though ... the dessert! I will go back for that any day! The prices aren't too bad and everything is made to prep, so be patient!

We came here by chance after spending time in the city in the rain. Immediately upon entering the environment is clean and intimate. For a smaller spot, I think they utilized table space well! Servers are proactive and attentive with clearing plates - we sat at the bar and were able to interact and chat with Jeffery, the owner. We were surprised to find that this restaurant had only been open for 3 weeks as they seemed to be running comfortably and smoothly! Right off the bat we were excited about the Korean fusion and share style plates. Think elevated Korean comfort food. We ordered Scallops, crispy dumplings. bulgolgi tots/fries, fried chicken, pork belly cheese doboki, & Korean sweet pancake with makgeolli icecream. we ordered a few drinks and a bottle of the red raspberry drink as well! A few of the more stand out plates to me were: - Scallops: I could've ordered 4 plates of this. The seasoning and size of the scallops were tasty and addicting! - tater tot bulgolgi: the crunch from the tots along with the nicely flavored bulgolgi and sauces was a hit for me. ASK FOR A SIDE OF KIMCHI - this helps cut the heaviness of the meal. - korean sweet pancake was warm and had a nice mochi fried donut texture. the icecream was more of an icy texture and had a sweet drizzle on top. As a note: all the cocktails are made with soju - which makes them taste less alcohol heavy, but still packs a dangerous punch! I would love to come back and try the Kimchee Shrimp stir fry or the crab miso risotto - and im still drooling thinking about the scallops! Stop by and try this place out! They're dishing out amazing things for their first month - excited to see what else they'll come up with

New contemporary spot offering Korean and Japanese tapas! Located in TL but you can expect more upscale and modern vibes here. The menu is best for family style as the dishes are on the smaller side. Even with the portion sizes, I loved how they didn't skimp on the meat. Kanpachi Truffle stood out as it was unexpectedly super fresh and high quality - and was pleasantly surprised to hear that their fish is sourced from the same place as Sato Omakase! And the service here was phenomenal. Jeffrey was an amazing host and made us feel very welcome, as if this was our local go-to spot. Can't wait to be back :)

I got to try Joodang during their soft opening. Great place for a date night. Place is very modern and so nice. Jeff was an amazing host. He recommended a few plates and soju. Really enjoyed the Seoul Night. We tried the Santa Barbara uni and chu toro. Uni was so creamy and chu toro was delicious. We also ordered the 9 piece nigiri. Each piece was flavored well. Order comes with a delicious salad and miso soup. I highly recommend people to order exclusive four piece sushi tasting. I cannot emphasize enough how amazing every piece was on their own. The uni was so creamy, the toro was so tender and buttery it melted in my mouth. The wagyu was also so soft and paired amazing well with the caviar. The scallop was so well season that I wanted more. Jeff was so amazing he gave us a uni bowl on the house. My husband and I really enjoyed it. Best way to top off the night. I can't wait to go back for another date night.

Super friendly service! My friend and I tried these three dishes and here are my recommendations: Crab Miso Risotto - this's a must try! So good! Porkhelly Cheese Doboki - I think it's okay / a bit overcooked Creamy Kimchi Shrimp Stir-Fry - so yummy!! I was sad to see suragan go (this new restaurant bought the same silverware from suragan and the interior design was the same), but this restaurant was amazing too!!

I've been hearing good things so I was excited to try and unfortunately was a bit let down. I will definitely give it another try sometime since the menu has many other items that look great. Crab risotto - best dish of the night. The crab flavor was fresh with no bit of fishiness and not overpowering. The risotto was lightly creamy. Presentation was cool but the portion was quite small 4/5 Kimchi cream udon - it was ok. I've made a similar dish at home that can be made in under 10 minutes and it honestly tastes the same. I wish the cream sauce was a bit thicker since it was a bit soupy. 3/5 Rice cakes - I would not order again. It was very expensive compared to prices I've seen usually at other Korean spots so I was expecting a lot. It was a very typical dish of rice cakes in sauce, veggies, cheese, and pork belly. The pork belly was cut into small chopped pieces and I wish it were small slices instead and maybe seared a bit for crisp? I wish the cheese was torched a bit since it came out unmelted. The dish is tasted okay but for the price, I expect more. 2.5/5 We did get an ube beer which was super good 5/5 Service was great but I think the food needs a little bit of work, since the vibe is going for more elevated than your typical casual Korean spot.

Came to Joodang for a friends birthday and we had a great experience! The servers were very attentive and even gave us a free dessert for the birthday girl. The food itself was excellent and tasty. My favorite was the kimchee udon, the sauce was very flavorful! A bit pricy, but everything was delicious.

As you step into this modern Korean fusion gem, the friendly service greets you like a long-lost friend. It's like they've been waiting for you to arrive - a warm kimchi hug that makes you feel right at home. Ordered the 'Crab Risotto' and it was a shell of a good time - definitely not your regular poached dish. Then, the Creamy Kimchi Shrimp Udon noodled its way to my heart with a hint of spicy kick that shrimply couldn't be beat. It's udon-believable!

**Location & Ambiance:** - The restaurant is situated in a less desirable neighborhood, but upon entering, it feels like an oasis. - The interior and ambiance are decent, with a pretty plating of dishes. - The design features an open kitchen, which is appealing. **Availability & Service:** - During the visit, many items were unavailable (about four food items and some drinks due to makgeolli). - The service was somewhat rude; the waitress seemed to have an attitude or was having a bad day, making the 20% service fee seem unwarranted. They did fill out water and checked on us so I don't want to say they were so bad. **Food Experience:** 1. **Beef Tartar:** - The egg did not blend well with the other ingredients. - Predominantly tasted like soy sauce. 2. **Cauliflower:** - Overpowered by the taste of gochujang. 3. **Ricecake (Tapas Style):** - Overwhelming soy sauce flavor, but slightly richer than other dishes; one of the better options. 4. **Eggplant:** - Sweet and sour flavor, but a bit too strong. 5. **Potato Croquette:** - Filled with mayonnaise, which added an unpleasant sourness. 6. **Crab Risotto:** - Expected to be a highlight but was excessively salty. - Confirmed by friends who also found it too salty. 7. **Dumpling:** - Definitely a frozen product simply fried. - Not too sour or salty, with a fun twist from the sauce and pickles. - Reasonably priced at $9. **General Observations:** - The overuse of acidic flavors and specific sauces made the dishes seem poorly constructed. - This contributed to a loss of respect for the kitchen's capabilities. **Overall Experience:** - The experience was quite negative, especially considering the neighborhood and the disappointing food. - Would not return if I did not feel bad for leaving a negative review. I will give it another shot much later.

This is one of my new favorite Korean fusion spots in SF! Despite the location being in TL, the moment you step inside you're transformed into a trendy modern atmosphere. Our server was super nice and recommended many dishes to us. My top favorites were definitely the miso crab risotto, scallop, and kimchi shrimp carbonara! 10/10 must try!

The only thing great here was the miso risotto. It was rich and uniquely flavored. I would come back for only that. I tried about 75% of the rest of the menu but nothing stood out. Combine that with the service (we had to cancel two items because after 30 minutes they still haven't made it yet), and the price point (90/person) I don't see why people should come back

Don't let this place being in the tenderloin deter you! The food was really good, and I loved the interior decor. We got the crab miso risotto, creamy kimchi udon and unagi don. The last item I would pass on if I went again just because it wasn't anything special, but I would definitely get the other two again. The only thing is they do charge a 20% service fee which is annoying.

Highly recommend their miso crab risotto and the drinks!! The bulgogi tater tots were also decent. Mainly came for drinks but would come back to try other items. The location is a bit questionable but it's worth a visit if you're into Korean fusion food and cocktails. The ambiance is sleek and modern, and the service is attentive and welcoming!

I'm giving them 3 stars because I don't agree with the 5 star average at all, but I'd say they are a 3.5 at best. The yookhoe bibimbap and hwedoepbap were in my opinion kind of a diss to the concept of both of these dishes. I've had many iterations of both of these dishes and these were by far the worst I've had. The main issue is that the portions are small, the quality of the fish/meat isn't as high as I'd want, and they literally just give you pieces of lettuce instead of legitimate mix of Korean vegetables. In addition, the hwedoepbap is supposed to be an "assortment" of different fishes, but we were given a salmon bowl instead which in my opinion borders on scamming. Idk if this is some fusion movement, but this is the wrong movement. Look up these dishes on the internet and compare them, these dishes are by far far smaller and far worse. Even the rice was not great quality. I was really disappointed in both of these dishes. They are usually some of my favorite dishes, and this restaurant makes me feel sad to think there will be customers who try these poor examples of these dishes and misunderstand what these dishes are supposed to taste like. The udon and creamy risotto, were pretty good -- maybe 4/5 and the crab salad was maybe 3/5 the corn cheese also 4 out of 5 but the above two dishes were a 1 or 2 out of five. They were still somewhat good because how bad can fish or meat with rice be -- but just so fundamentally off from what they were meant to be that it feels icky to me. What brings this review from to a solid 3 to a 4 are the drinks -- the bae and the ouyouu were very Korean in their flavors but still nice cocktails and I liked these creations. I appreciate the focus on Korean flavor profiles in these mixed drinks. Honestly I would not go again for food. Very not worth. Also I would like to point out I am so far the only Korean who has reviewed this place so not saying my opinion matters more but this may also be why I am harsher. To the restaurant owners: Please consider charging more for the rice dishes and upgrading the quality to one that is acceptable, if you're going to give me a salmon bowl, please write that accordingly on the menu instead of claiming an "assortment" and maybe try to give legitimate Korean vegetables rather than just pieces of lettuce!

3.5 stars I enjoyed my meal here but prices are a bit high considering the portion sizes. We got: kanpachi truffle - fish was fresh and a good light starter beef tartare - skippable, flavors were pretty normal and the portion size is tiny (came with exactly 4 small potato chips) crispy dumplings - tasty but pretty standard cheese corn - it was pretty regular cheese corn fried chicken - this was really good, excellent crispy skin and tender meat. truffle bulgogi - I thought the bulgogi was a bit dry / clumped and couldn't taste the truffle flavor at all crab miso risotto - This was quite good, creamy and good crab flavor bbq freshwater eel - I enjoyed this, solid hunk of heel over rice. again nothing super unique, just some solid eel. The real highlight here is their drink menu - the ouuyouu (makgeolli with lychee, citrus, strawberry) was delicious, and the warm seoul was perfect for a cold night.

I saw some photos of their soft opening and had to come check it out! Although is located in tenderloin it wasn't too terrible to venture to this location. It was hard to spot the front signage so you have to look closely. I feel like the dishes are almost there. The ones that I tried just needed a little extra flavor and texture to make it really good. The crab miso risotto needed a bit more dimension. What wow'd me was actually the cocktails. I could drink drink after drink! They were all good so you can't go wrong!

The food is excellent, I don't think I've had something this flavorful in a awhile. The creamy crab risotto was my favorite with the udon dish being a close second. The service is great as our water was being refilled constantly as soon as we drank. The ambiance is quite clean, the inside of the restaurant is clean. I recommend this place if you're looking for great tasting Korean food with a modern twist!

My boyfriend and I stopped here for a date night after seeing someone recommend it online, and honestly, it didn't disappoint. When we arrived, we didn't make a reservation, but the host was really nice to double-check the reservations for us, and to our luck, somebody had just canceled, so he sat us right away. This prompt service was consistent for the rest of our visit. The ambiance here is great--dim lighting, clean, and modern. Everything we ordered was pretty good, however I did feel that the kimchee fried rice was pretty wet and salty, which is not my preference. As for everything else, I would definitely order again, especially the corn cheese and bulgogi fries--they're so full of flavor! Their drinks are amazing too!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Joodang, and it exceeded all expectations. The modern Korean-influenced Japanese cuisine was a delightful fusion of flavors. The refined selection of soju and sake perfectly complemented the dishes. This place is the Korean hot spot in SF and deserves every bit of the 5 stars rating

i highly recommend joodang! the food here is amazing and it changes seasonally so it's always a surprise! the service was great and some of the food is small in portion for the price but everything was delicious