Mashita Galbi Jjim

Asian restaurant · Polk Gulch

Mashita Galbi Jjim

Asian restaurant · Polk Gulch

3

2123 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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Mashita Galbi Jjim by Brit Finnegan
Mashita Galbi Jjim by Brit Finnegan
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Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null
Mashita Galbi Jjim by null

Highlights

Nestled in Russian Hill, Mashita Galbi Jjim offers unbeatable bowls of galbi jjim with tender short ribs and cheesy goodness, plus hearty Korean bites in a chill vibe.  

Featured in The Infatuation
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2123 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109 Get directions

$20–30

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2123 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109 Get directions

+1 415 400 4084

$20–30

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Last updated

Mar 8, 2025

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@infatuation

"Go to this laid-back spot in Russian Hill for one simple reason: big, bubbling bowls of galbi jjim. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, but there’s usually not a wait, so you still won’t have to pass the time by doom-scrolling for hours if you show up at 6pm (unlike at some places—we’re looking at you Daeho). For $66, you get a massive galbi jjim fully loaded with three metric tons of braised short ribs, more carrots than you know what to do with, tteokbokki that look like they’ve been inflated to balloon size, and a gooey cheese topping that’s melted via blowtorch. One order could easily feed four people. Everything else on the menu feels unnecessary except for the plump mandu, which you can get if the galbi jjim somehow isn't enough." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez

The 16 Best Korean Restaurants In SF
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@infatuation

"Go to this laid-back Korean spot in Russian Hill for one simple reason: the big, bubbling bowls of galbi jjim. Unlike other similar galbi jjim restaurants (yes, talking about you, Daeho), you don’t need to endure hours of doom-scrolling before you’re seated. At Mashita, there’s rarely a wait for a table and the galbi jjim is among the best in the city. It comes in one size: massive. For $66, you get three metric tons of perfectly braised short ribs, lots of oversized tteokbokki, more carrots than you know what to do with, and a gooey cheese topping that’s melted via blowtorch. One order could easily feed four people. Everything else on the menu feels unnecessary except for the plump mandu, which you can get if the galbi jjim somehow isn't enough. Food Rundown photo credit: Brit Finnegan Beef Fried Dumplings These golden brown mandu have a crispy sear and are stuffed with juicy marinated beef. Not a must-order, but if any dumpling enthusiasts are present, it’s great to have on your table as an appetizer. photo credit: Brit Finnegan Home Cooked Braised Beef Stew This is why you’re here. It’s a golden goose and you must collect the egg. The galbi is soft, the cheese is gooey, and the stew is rich. Show up with a few of your closest friends and go to town. photo credit: Ricky Rodriguez Crunchy Fried Chicken Wings These wings come in three flavors: original, sweet and spicy, and cheesy crunchy. We found the original lacks seasoning and the sweet and spicy treads into candy territory. We may try the cheesy crunchy another time, but our hopes aren't high. Feel free to skip." - Ricky Rodriguez

Mashita Galbi Jjim Review - Polk Gulch - San Francisco - The Infatuation
View Postcard for Mashita Galbi Jjim
@infatuation

"Look out, Daeho—there’s a new player coming for the galbi jjim crown. Mashita Galbi Jjim is a Korean restaurant on Polk St. that serves massive bowls of braised beef stew. There’s also Korean fried chicken, beef mandu, and chicken garlic noodles on the menu." - ricky rodriguez

San Francisco’s New Restaurant Openings
View Postcard for Mashita Galbi Jjim

Laura Dell

Google
Absolutely loved the galbi jjim at Mashita! The meat falls apart in your mouth, the vegetables are perfectly cooked - the carrots were one of our favorite parts - and the medium spice level was just right for us. Can't wait to eat the leftovers today! We will come back here for sure.

Alicia DiGiammarino

Google
I asked my fellow diner how his meal was and he said “it’s chicken,” which isn’t really a rave review but all in all it was a tasty meal with good service. The garlic fries were just right for a late night snack.

Spooder

Google
Not sure where to start but just amazing all around. The service was so generous with constant refills of Brazllian lemonade. The Galbi was tender and delicious. The huge korean chicken wings was probably the best I've had in SF Price was reasonable and better than Daeho in Japan town. Please go! It's amazing

Wei Zhou

Google
This place is super legit. Prices slightly cheaper than Daeho but the quality is waayyyyy higher. Meat is really chunky and has that beautiful fat marbling. Really night and day. Service is great, wings excellent. Geez I’m really glad this place is so close. This is what daeho used to be before they profit maximized the crap out of it.

Sean Savage

Google
Better than Daeho, the Galbi Jjim is tastier, short ribs more tender and in far greater quantity. Easier seating as well, for now. The photo is what 2 of us had left over, and we can both eat!

Jessica Tam

Google
A new spot in the city that just opened. What a gem! Great Korean food with delicious home made kimchi. The side dishes are generous and portions size are great. The service was great and I really enjoyed my meal here! Got their tonkatsu and it was huge! Very solid spot and I am excited to come back!

Erzo

Google
Really good spot! Went during soft opening, everything was good. Good prices and large portion for the chicken garlic noodles - a little more noodles in the spicy beef soup would’ve been nice but still filling and really tasty for both. $35 for two people excluding tip was nice in SF

Tricia Thai

Google
I ordered the wings and it came with sides and also purple rice! The wings were so good, and fairly priced! It was light and crispy and not greasy at all. The service was fast and waitress was very kind. Even though it was very busy in there. Will definitely make it a point to come here again!

Young Y.

Yelp
It's was hard to get a spot on a random Wednesday, but was 100% worth it. Service was excellent and attentive, despite being understaffed. The galbi was superb and the meat was so tender and flavorful. We got some Korean fried chicken too and the crispiness and cook on them were 10/10. The Brazilian lemonade was also so good and they offered it to us on the house (plus they come with unlimited refills even when not on the house). They proactively served us starters when we finished too which was appreciated. Seems family owned but not sure, but owners were super kind. They even gave us some Brazilian lemonade to go on the house too :) . Will definitely be coming back. Oh yea and the ambiance was nice, feels small and cozy, yet modern and clean.

Terry M.

Yelp
We came on a weekday around 6:30, & had no wait, but the dinner rush came shortly after. The overall great service was impacted as a result. The place is smaller, but modern & cute. The high ceilings make for an echoey ambiance in a full house, so don't expect a quiet & quaint joint. Originally we were gonna bypass the galbi jjim since we were going to a Shen Wang show afterwards & didn't want any leftovers, but it looked too good so the audible was made. Banchan: Solid! Everything def homemade, the Kimchi had that extra probiotic fizz & tang, fishcakes & japchae were also great. Spinach was a good palette cleanser too. Brazilian Lemonade: Really good! I've only had this drink a few times, but this was by far my favorite version. The hosts were nice enough to make ours on the house since it took awhile for it to come out. Galbi Jjim (Medium): The main event! Meat was sooo tender & the soup had a nice sweet & slight spicy mix, which was perfect for my kinda spice-lover partner (personally I would go for spicy or extra level). Daikon, Carrots & Potatos had just the right bite to contrast with the soft meat. Came as a hungry couple & had bout a person's amount of leftovers. That said, a table for 2 would be the easiest to secure, but 3-4 is ideal for sharing. Def would come back again!

Bryan J.

Yelp
Highly recommend this place for the galbi jjim! Honestly, I can't think of a single thing to complain about when it comes to the food. Right from the start, the side dishes were fantastic--they even included japchae, which is a rare and delightful surprise as a complimentary side. The galbi jjim itself was incredible--the meat was perfectly tender, packed with rich flavor, and had just the right level of spice. Plus, the toppings added such a great touch to the dish!

Emily W.

Yelp
Came on a Saturday right when they opened and there was no wait! Service was a bit slow at first since they were just opening, but they were very nice. I liked how the galbijjim didn't have bones in it, there was maybe only one large piece with it. Cheese didn't cost extra and mild spice level wasn't too spicy! The banchan was lacking a little flavor but then they came out with a spinach banchan that had a lot of salt, so they paired well together. Would come back!

Mervi T.

Yelp
Amazing food and amazing service! Servers were very attentive to refilling our side dishes and drinks & food was amazing. So worth it as we split a galbi jim among three people and still had leftovers

Walid F.

Yelp
Highly recommend this spot. The place is small so there can usually be a wait to get a table but the staff is really nice and has a couple seats to wait in. The ambiance looks like more of a well lit cafe. The fried dumplings 4/5 have a delicious filling topped with a little crunch. My friend who's addicted to the Costco beef Mandu said they were the best dumplings he's ever had. Beef stew 4.5/5 - Delicious. Highly recommend. A little pricey but so filling, made for 3-4 people. The beef is tender and flavorful, the carrots and potatoes are sweet, savory and soft, and the cheese ties everything together into a delicious meal.

Melissa L.

Yelp
Better than daeho! Much lighter and comes with complimentary add-ons and banchan. Generous portion of noodles, although I wish there was more meat. Ordered sweet potato fries and chicken wings as well. Both were tasty but the star of the show was definitely the kalbijim. The waitress fired the cheese in front of our eyes, which I'd never seen before! Service was great and waiters were very attentive. Definetly enough food for five people to enjoy If I were to come again, I'd definetly order the kalbijim and wings, but hold off on the sweet potato fries. Tips: - the wings can be ordered half and half with two flavors - because this is such a popular spot, the wait can be quite long and there isn't an online waitlist system yet. if you can, have someone check in early to put your name down on the list!

Sherry F.

Yelp
This cozy spot is a gem on Polk street. Open late (11pm). Came here twice to try their galbi jjim and other menu items and both times Mashita exceeded our expectations in the quality and the flavors! We asked for lite cheese on the Galbi jjim, their short ribs are smaller in size compared to the humongous ones you get a daeho, but they do make it up with quantity and flavor. Almost every piece of the meat comes with a bone and very tender (falls off the bone). Don't sleep on their Korean chicken wings!it's ALL FLATs . Super saucy but also had a slight crisp, moist meat, and sweet and sour sauce is not too overwhelming. Same with the cheese Pork katsu. Nice and crunchy on the inside, very moist meat on the inside, with a nice cheese pull. Decent portion sizes. We always order the creamy Brazilian limeade, super refreshing and free refills (proactive refills). For only $6! They do have only 1 waitress tho and she helps out in the kitchen too! Service may not be the fastest but very attentive.

Tiffany T.

Yelp
Food: The galbijjim generously fed 3 of us. It is not as sweet at Daeho's and has a good level of mild spice for someone like me that can't handle too much, but enjoys the kick from it! The ddeok (ricecakes) were cooked perfectly to a nice chew and the vegetables were cooked well, soaking in the flavor from the stew. The beef itself was soft, tender and paired well with the glass noodles. Service: Relatively fast seating (7pm on a Saturday) and great service! Server was very attentive. Overall: I would definitely come again for the galbijjim! Parking is easier after 6pm because all the nearby meters become free for all.

Vivian H.

Yelp
About a 25 minute wait at 8 PM Wednesday. It's a small space so understandable. It is a pretty concise menu but everything we tried was really good. We got two Galbijjim (mild and moderate), two orders of wings (original and sweet/spicy), fried mandu, and a few drinks between 6 of us. We were absolutely stuffed! I was interested in trying the tonkatsu as well, next time. After tax and tip ended up being ~$45 per person. The obvious comparison is Dae Ho. It just kind of depends on what you like in your Galbijjim, but this place defaults to including cheese and rice cakes. I love rice cakes, but would prefer not to have cheese. I know others consider it a must have. I would say the moderate spice was barely detectable so if you want any sort of spice, I would go moderate or above. I don't know if they were shortstaffed, but service was kind of slow, not including the time it takes to make the food but the time it takes to see anybody around to order or get the check.

Jamie K.

Yelp
The moment they put japchae down as a banchan, we knew this was going to be a good time and that daeho could go suck it. For four ppl, one galbijjim and a katsu plate was the perfect portion size. We got a pork katsu and it had gr9 crisp. Super solid. Galbijjim was steLAR, super tender and not sickly sweet, many many rice cakes and glass noodles:'). The mild spice level was definitely not all that spicy, but still had enough kick to not make our non-weak friend sad lol. We didn't need a resy at 5:15pm on a Friday evening, but it suddenly got super busy starting from 6pmish. Service was honestly not the quickest, but they seem to be figuring it out!! Very cozy inside and relatively peaceful - we didn't have to scream over each other to talk, unlike daeho. We shall 100% come back to try some of their fries next too:)

Jeanie H.

Yelp
GALBIJJIM OUT OF THIS WORLDDDD. nomo mashita. beef is so tender and juicy. ttuk is perfectly chewy. carrots and potatos soak up all the yummy flavor. cheese pull goes crazy. the broth will fill your soul. it will nourish your mind, body, and spirit. but seriously the best galbijjim, it's a must eat when in sf

Brenda H.

Yelp
Absolutely would recommend this spot if you're craving braised short ribs, or just a delicious, savory, all-around mouth watering, hearty meal. You know a dish is cooked well when the first bite blows your mind - and that is guaranteed to happen here if you order the galbijjim. The meat is insanely tender and juicy - every bite packed with flavor and it was hard to stop eating even after getting full because it was so good! There were also rice cake and glass noodle included, and we didn't have to pay extra for any of that, unlike other galbijjim places in the area, so pricing was very worth. The portion size is also great, definitely more than enough for 2 people. We left with some leftovers that I'm excited to eat! We went around 6:30pm on a Wednesday and didn't have to wait. Food took around 20 minutes to get to our table but the restaurant was full and busy. The sides came first so we snacked on those while we waited.

Tiffany C.

Yelp
My friend and I arrived shortly after opening but missed the first round of tables. There can be a wait on weekends so beware of that. This spot is located on a busy street though so there are many little shops and businesses you can explore until your tables ready. We ordered their famous galbijjim which was a lot lighter compared to most galbijjim I've had at Daeho and Sun Ning Dan which I really appreciated! Meat was sooo tender and fall off the bone. And the cheese here was extra toasty and melty. Overall, this is a great alternative to their competitors, and I'd return whenever i'm back in SF again!

Jocelyn L.

Yelp
Very happy that another galbi jjim spot opened up in the city! This place has gotten very popular recently -- especially as a slightly cheaper alternative to Daeho. The restaurant itself is quite small, with only a handful of tables for 30-40 people at a time. My biggest complaint is the wait time: we came on a Saturday night at 6pm and were told that it would take 45 minutes, however it actually took 1.5 hours. Once we got seated, it also took a long time for us to order, and get our drinks and food. It's really understaffed, with only one waiter taking care of all the tables. She was friendly but I'm sure it was overwhelming for her and resulted in very long waits for customers. We ordered the following: - galbi jjim: this was flavorful, rich, and super filling. It comes with everything, including cheese, tteokbokki, and rice. The meat was tender and fell off the bone, huge portions too. - brazilion lemonade: this was really good! refreshing but not too sweet. They offered unlimited refills so for $6, this was pretty worth it. Overall, great food but I would probably come right when it opens to avoid excessively long wait times.

Deangela S.

Yelp
I got to be honest, a reel claiming that this place was better than Daeho brought me to this restaurant. And I gotta say, I think I agree! It is not as sweet as Daeho. Not only is it cheaper, but the portion size is very generous. For two people, we were able to eat our fill and both take some home. You do not have to pay extra for the cheese. The beef is tender. The noodles are flat and perfectly cooked. The rice cakes are chewy. The dish is perfectly made! The banchan are also very good. The portion sizes are pretty generous compared to other Korean restaurants I have been to. You can ask for refills, but let me tell you, you'll already be stuffed. The drinks are refillable and I opted to get the Brazilian lemonade. It was refreshing and very creamy. It helps calm your tongue after the spiciness of braised beef stew's sauce. The parking here is difficult. (Forgive me if someone knows of a parking lot near by.) Pray that you find some street parking and that you know how to parallel park. The space of the restaurant is pretty small so it is not that great for large groups. It will be a tight squeeze. The seating is very limited. You may have to wait to get a table. The service is only one person so please be patient. Overall, if I didn't live so far from here I may go too often. But I totally recommend to catch up here with a friend or to have a date night.

Tiffany T.

Yelp
I'm always on the hunt for new Korean spots and stumbled upon Mashita Galbi Jjim on yelp. We came around 8:30pm on Thursday. Even though it was raining, there were still a decent amount of people there. Pretty small exterior/entrance so it could be missed easily-- they have string lights next to the window, so keep your eyes peeled for that if you're having trouble spotting it. I saw another review mention vibes are similar to a cafe, which I totally agree with in the best way. For food, we came in knowing we wanted to order the garlic noodles with chicken, sweet and spicy fried chicken and Brazilian Lemonade. It took about 15-20 minutes for our food to be ready; during the wait, our lemonade and banchan were served. I'm personally not a big fan of lemonade, but felt like it was hyped enough to give it a try. I probably wouldn't get it again, but it's not like it was bad by any means, just not for me. On the other hand, the garlic noodles and fried chicken were literally some of the best I've had. We asked for our sweet and spicy sauce on the side and it was such a good decision bc the wings were perfectly crispy. I think it's the best texture of wings I've eaten; sauce wasn't that special, but the wings themselves are the true star-- I feel like soy garlic would've been a better choice. Garlic noodles were so yummy; noodles were bouncy and well coated with garlic and sauce. Chicken was also so tender,juicy and flavorful. I know this place is focused on galbi jjim, but you're missing out if you don't get these two dishes as well. Overall 11/10 experience here: food, service and vibes were all great and I would definitely recommend this place!

Christine M.

Yelp
They only take reservations for I think she said 7 or more. So we decided to walk in on a friday around...6? They said about a 45 min wait for 2. So we decided to walk and grab a drink elsewhere first. Which is fine, since there are so many bars around here! I think it was closer to an hour wait, even after being seated, it took awhile to order. There's only two servers/wait staff. I get it. small business owners who probably didn't expect to be so popular so quick due to social media influencers! Really hope they get one more staff person! we ordered: Galbijjim of course - medium spicy was perfect. The portion says 2-3 people and I'd say fairly accurate. The pricing has gone up from the previous menus shown. Flavor-wise was spot on. Tender meats, lots of carrots, the noodles were yummy. Skip the potatoes LOL. very satisfied although it took...another...30-40 mins for this to come out? chicken wings - we got the sweet and spicy with the sauce on the side. which was perfect for me, since I don't love saucy wings, and it was piping hot and crunchy and juicy. overall, everything was yummy, wish we had more banchan. Only kimchee and fish cake, although those two are my favorite so can't really complain. Because I live on the otherrrr side of town, I can't say I would come back here for the galbijjim. If I know I'll be out and about on this side of town. Maybe. I do wish them luck, I'm sure they're going to do well in this neighborhood once they are able to handle the volume.

Kao S.

Yelp
Well you all know about Daeho and its long wait lines. Yea, me too and I love it but today I wanted to try this place as they serve up Galbi Jjim also. My family and I had an amazing experience at the Great Dickens Fair and the SF Tunnel Top Park so we wanted something yummy and comfort food to finish the day off with. After contemplating on Korean or Chinese food we decided on Korean and Galbi Jjim. So now it's either Daeho or Mashita..... it was 4:30 pm and it's either a choice of either so I made the decision to go with Mashita. I called and was lucky someone answered as the opening was 5pm. Since we had a party of 7 I was hoping for a reservation and lucky to get a reservation for 5pm. I know it's opening but you all know how crazy it is with these restaurants, folks be lined up way before it opens. I am one of those folks as well. It's 5:05 and we arrived with the table ready for us. The restaurant is quite a small place with maybe seating for 40 people. Already, the tables was full and again we was ready to eat. Placed our orders in and waited as our stomach was growling with the smell of delicious aromas going around the air. After about 15 minutes our foods started trickling in and we jumped into the line of fire to start the feast. Braised Beef Stew (Galbi Jjim) - Juicy tender beef with minimal cartilage. Plenty of vegetables and rice cakes. (Only 1 bone was found in the stew) 5 stars for this. Sweet&Spicy Crunchy Chicken Wings - Crunchy and sweet but not spicy as stated. Great sized wings goes great with side of rice. Stir Fried Garlic Noodles With Chicken - perfect al dente noodles with nice and salty garlic flavor. Generous portions as well BrazilianLemonade - interesting concept as I never had a Brazillian Lemonade. Refreshing and light with a frothy taste. Reminded me of a slurry/shake drink. Overall the food was great and fulfilling. With the amount of food that was ordered, it was plenty to feed 5 adults and 2 kids. The service was impeccable and consistent, very kind and polite. Maybe it was due to the one or two server for the entire place. Either way we had a great experience and looking forward to coming back with my other family to try more options.

Geovanni M.

Yelp
Was craving galbi Jim but didn't feel like settling for daeho and was lucky to find this place on ig. Got here around 7:30 and the wait did end up being close to an hour. Main reason is that the seating is very limited. Servers were super nice with letting us hangout and sit inside since it was really cold outside. When we were seated, we were given complimentary fried dumplings for waiting so long. The dumpling were really juicy and weren't too fried so there was crunch with some soft chew. When the Galbi jjim was brought out, it was fairly sized, enough to perfectly feed 4 people. The meat was very tender, there could've been more potatoes, but the eye opener was the glass noodles at the bottom. First time I had galbi jjim with glass noodles and it paired super well!

Michelle Z.

Yelp
Finally tried this new spot that's been getting so much hype -- we went on a Saturday at 6pm expecting a wait, and we got seated around 6:30 as a party of 3. Honestly if we had come 10 min earlier there would have been no wait! Inside is cozy with a few small tables and semi open kitchen. They seemed very understaffed and it took a while for the table to get cleaned and for us to get water. However, once we ordered, the food came out fairly quickly and the staff were super kind about giving us refills of the banchan (which was delicious; I loved the japchae). They also accommodated us asking for half and half wings which they said they don't normally do. They sadly were out of the soy glaze flavor and didn't have any homemade drinks since they were understaffed. I thought the galbijjim was on par with daeho and the fried chicken was similar to the bbq chicken chain -- super thick crispy breading! I liked the original flavor better since the sweet and spicy flavor was a bit too spicy/sticky for me. The galbijjim comes with all the toppings for free (rice cakes, noodles, cheese) as well as a bowl of purple rice per person for free. Overall we spent about $40 per person here which wasn't too bad for galbijjim + wings. It's nice to have a solid galbijjim spot closer to nob hill! Would recommend as an alternative to daeho if you live in the area.

Claire H.

Yelp
At first, it felt like we'd been forgotten, but I'm glad we didn't give up on the waitress and go to the sushi spot down the road, because the food here is banging. My unagi was sweet and succulent in its teryaki sauce, on a generous bed of Japanese rice. The star though was the noodle dish with chicken. Chewy noodles in a garlicky sauce were chopstick-licked-good. And that chicken? OMG it was juicy and charred PERFECTLY. The edges are beautifully blackened, delivering a rich, smoky flavor that only a hawt flame can impart. I don't live in this neighborhood, but I'll be back for a casual dinner when my craving for flame-seared chicken hits (and to try their beef dumplings).

Ryan B.

Yelp
We ordered the galbi jjim stew, melted pork tonkatsu, and garlic noodles with chicken. It was more than enough for a party of 4 people with leftovers! The beef short rib in the galbi jjim had a sweet flavor profile, but some pieces in the stew were less tender than others. The tonkatsu was my favorite part of the meal hands down since each piece had a deceptively deep flavor from the cheese.

Phoebe W.

Yelp
Solid Galbijjim spot! We went at 4:10ish, near opening time and the restaurant already seemed busy on a Sunday afternoon. The side dishes are great; I really enjoyed the japchae and fish tofu the most. Lastly we ordered the galbijjim. Tastes great, and a great alternative to daeho since it's cheaper and tastes as great!

Helena G.

Yelp
The restaurant was a lot smaller than expected. Went with a group of 4 at 6:30 on a wednesday and had roughly an hour wait. Service was on the slower end but they were definitely swamped. The galbi jim tasted a lot like daeho - both equally delicious. really nice that it comes with rice, cheese, noodles free of charge. Recommend for a cheaper alternative to daeho!!

Anna C.

Yelp
Great place for your galbi jjim fix. Unfortunately the wait was quite long as expected on a Friday night. Waited close to 2 hours for a table or 3 when we arrived at 6:30. We ordered the spicy curly fries and the galbi Jim. The curly fries were good, however there was nothing spicy or special about it. The banchans could use some work, they were pretty bland and pieces were cut up in different sizes (quite messy). The galbi jjim was good and fed the three of us just fine. It comes with potatos, radish, carrots, glass noodle and short ribs. Not as sweet as Daeho which suits the Asian pallet. Would love to come back and try their fried chicken.

Joshlyn J.

Yelp
date visited: 01.22.2025 ordered: galbi jjim, chicken wings, garlic noodles, soju the interior is tiny and we had to wait about 40 min for a party of 4 on a saturday -- not a huge deal, because they ended up comping our wings which i thought was super kind (excellent service). they also were very attentive and refilled our banchan sooo much haha this place is constantly being compared to daeho. i think they're pretty similar in terms of quantity, but daeho has bigger meat bones and is sweeter. i personally enjoy both and the fact that this is $25 cheaper makes it much more worth imo. wings were good and HUGE but the garlic noodles just kinda felt random, they tasted vaguely vietnamese to me lol. would def come back here but prob just get the wings and the galbi jjim!

Zilan Z.

Yelp
To start - the food is AMAZING!! We had to wait a while to be seated, our orders taken, and water served but it is well worth the wait. Arguably one of the crispiest chicken I've had and the galbijjim is perfection. Not too sweet and has a good amount of spice (we chose level 2). The mango tea and fries are phenomenal as well! It is a small cozy store so expect a wait upon arrival. Overall this place is a must try and I am definitely coming back!

David L.

Yelp
Food: 4 Decor: 3 Service: 2 Came here with a friend after walking in and waiting 30 minutes on a weekday night. Braised Beef Stew (Galbi Jjim) Delicious tender juicy braised beef stew . Serve for 2-3 people. Comes with rice and side dish. Braised beef stew comes with milted cheese clear noodles and rice cake. Choose spice level 1,2 and 3. $72.99 4/5. Delicious. On par with Daeho. Definitely more than enough for 2 people. We chose spice level 2 and it wasn't too spicy. Banchan were also tasty, and it came with purple rice. The Brazilian lemonade was a nice surprise and super refreshing at the end of our meal. Service was fine but they were clearly understaffed by at least 1-2 people.

John T.

Yelp
Came here with two friends on a work trip to San Francisco. The food was incredible and the service was fantastic! If you come here, you absolutely have to try the galbi jjim. The three of us split an order and left absolutely stuffed. Further, the Brazilian lemonade is a must try.

Colleen G.

Yelp
I love galbijjim so much and I've been looking for some spots since coming home from uni, so when my sister and I heard that this place opened we were super excited to try it especially given the positive reviews of the place. We came here on a Wednesday evening at 6p, and there were quite a bit of people beginning to trickle in. We were seated and got our order taken promptly, and our server was so sweet and attentive to us--throughout the meal she checked on us many times and made us feel very welcomed. The ambiance felt very homey and casual, and I could see the ladies working hard to prepare all the food in the kitchen beyond the counter. The banchan served were radish kimchi, kimchi, fish cake, and japchae. We ordered a galbijjim (not spicy) to share, and waited a reasonable amount of time for the dish to be prepared. When the dish arrived, they also torched the cheese in front of us which made the presentation and dining experience very cool and appealing! I enjoyed the flavors of this one compared to other places because it wasn't as sweet, they used leaner cuts of meat, and there was more significantly more beef over bones in our plate compared to other places (there was actually only one bone). The beef was extremely tender and flavorful, and the dish had many vegetables (potato, carrots, onion, radish) as well as tteok and glass noodles. I think this place gives you a huge bang for your buck because it gives you the full nine and the food tastes very authentic. Our server was also the one helping to prepare our dish, and at one point she came to our table to tell us that she mixed up our non spicy order with a mild one, to which she not only offered us this meal on the house, but also to remake it on the house as well. Though we did notice that it was slightly spicy and had jalapeño slices, my sister who doesn't have a spice tolerance was able to enjoy it still, and we were really surprised and appreciative with how generously she was offering to compensate us just for this. I've also had galbijjim in places like Daeho, and Sun Nong Dan in Los Angeles, and this is definitely a spot I'm hitting up when I'm in the back in the city. At 72.99$, it is slightly cheaper than how much it goes for at other spots and yet you get a lot more out of it for a great portion. This local business is very deserving of the hype that it gets and the service makes you feel at home. It is clear that the workers go above and beyond to make sure their guests are well taken care of, so I'd highly recommend checking out this restaurant!

Matt B.

Yelp
The Galbi JJim here is incredible. Side dishes are high quality and a very refreshing Brazilian lemonade. Service was very attentive and gave great recommendations. Went with the "spicy" level on the galbi jjim and it didn't disappoint. Will be coming back here for years to come

Gillian Gail A.

Yelp
Went right when they opened at 5pm. Service was fast and attentive. Cute little small place. Galbijjim was 10/10. Definitely going back for it! It was delicious and soft and very flavorful! I will also be trying to come back for the cheese stuffed tonkatsu. Apparently they serve it at 7pm and later. Because it takes 2 hours to form? So sad we couldn't get it at 5pm but will come back at a later time to get it.

Emily F.

Yelp
Came here with a bigger group so had a short wait. It's fairly plain inside and no frills. We ordered wings, dumplings, braised beef stew, drinks, and had purple rice. Wings were delish and came out piping hot. Nice and crispy and flavorful. The dumplings were also good. The stew was tender and flavorful. You could choose spice level. We got mild and medium. Both didn't seem too spicy at all. We definitely left full and would check this place out again.

Derik H.

Yelp
The food and service are fantastic. The stew is great and I'd also recommend ordering the Brazilian lemonade.

Sarah C.

Yelp
galbi jjim had a generous amount of ingredients but the short ribs are waaaaay less tender than daeho, and there's less sauce. the garlic noodles were very salty, the breading on the wings were a tad heavy. overall the dishes tasted good though

Jasmine W.

Yelp
SO GOOD AND AT SUCH A GOOD PRICE!!! Mashita Galbi Jjim is the newest Korean spot in the city that serves galbi jjim, and it did not disappoint. We came on a weekday for dinner, and there was no wait. Inside is not very big but is very clean and simple, so I could imagine how there could be a wait, especially on the weekends. We ordered the galbi jjim for 2 people. The galbi jjim here is so delicious (which is also what "Mashita" means in Korean), and the mild spicy was actually pretty spicy. The meat was so juicy and tender. We had a bit of leftovers by the time we finished, so if I were to come again in a party of 3-4, I'd order an extra entree so that we could all share. Many other neighboring spots that serve galbi jjim charge almost $100 for a small size whereas Mashita Galbi jjim charges less than $70 for a 2-3 person serving. Because of this and its exceptional taste, Mashita Galbi Jjim stands out amongst its competitors. I wish this restaurant the best as a customer, and I give them my full support!!

Johnathan Y.

Yelp
Admittedly, did not end up getting galbi jjim even though it's their namesake (will come back to try it next time)! The tonkatsu dish was decent to start but the sauce poured all over the pork made them soggy and the flavor of the sauce really wasn't great. Wish the sauce was served on the side. The steamed rice was just ok - texture and flavor was noticeably different somehow - can't describe it though. Cashier was decently friendly. Space is smaller than I thought! One bathroom (clean) available in the back for customers.

Rey T.

Yelp
WOW WHAT AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE!! The food was incredible. the service was fast and friendly. It was pretty dead today, Sunday, at 4:30. It has been a while since a restaurant has been this good as a whole so I cannot recommend it enough WAY BETTER THAN DAEHO !!!

Jackie Y.

Yelp
Mashita Galbi Jjim is relatively new spot, but it's already popular. We arrived before 6pm on a Friday and were seated immediately, but once 6pm hit, the people started coming. I would definitely recommend coming earlier in the evening. We ordered the galbi jjim and soy glazed wings for two people to share. The banchan included two types of kimchi, fish cakes, and japchae. They told us that they made it all in house. The wings were very crispy and flavorful. The galbi jjim was really tasty. It came with cheese and big rice cakes. The meat was very tender. The cheese was my favorite part and I enjoyed watching it get torched in front of us. I would highly recommend! It also comes with a side of purple rice. I can't remember how the size compares, but this galbi jjim is cheaper than Daeho's. With just the two of us, we had leftovers, so I think the galbi jjim could be shared with an additional one or two more people. Overall, I'd highly recommend! Their tonkatsu looks amazing, so I'd love to come back and try that.

Somya L.

Yelp
5/5 for Mashita! New place on Polk. Excellent Galbi Jim (and sweet potato fries wow), the beef would melt in our mouths. Just call them ahead to check if they have the dish as they are having their soft opening right now & the Galbi Jim is extremely popular. Also make sure you say no cheese on it if you don't want cheese! Excellent service, very clean space, and can't wait for their hard opening. Will definitely be back & is a new staple for me!

Amy L.

Yelp
Was super excited to try this new galbi jjim place on Polk - could it be a new Daeho competitor? There was ~15 min wait for a table of four on a Thursday night - already a pro over Daeho! It is quite small on the inside so I can imagine the wait going up as this place gets more popular. We started with free side dishes of course; they were very fresh and delicious. Then, we had dumplings which were tasty but tasted like fried frozen dumplings (price was low so I wasn't mad). The wings were amazing, though! Very crispy and perfect sauce flavor. Last but not least... the Galbijjim! The cheese seemed to be of slightly lower quality than Daeho's as it took a while (at least 10 seconds) to melt it with a culinary torch. Instead of the typical small rice cakes, there were giant tubular rice cakes instead which had less flavor (but could be up to personal preference). The meat was extremely tender and flavorful. I think overall there was a smaller portion of meat than Daeho but the price is also cheaper so it makes sense. So overall I think a comparable but more homey establishment than Daeho (felt like I was in someone's kitchen, waitress was very sweet); would 100% recommend and come back!

Alice D.

Yelp
Rounding up from a 3.5 star! I came with a group of 4 to eat around 7pm on a Thursday evening and we were able to sit immediately. The service, portion sizes and the banchan selections were decent. My friends and I were curious to how this place would compare to Daeho as the price was a lot cheaper. And we did collectively feel like the quality of the galbi jjim specifically was better at Daeho. The noodles felt soggy, but overall not a bad alternative as it is cheaper and a lot less busy!

April L.

Yelp
Came here with 4 friends at about 7:30pm. There was about a 30-40 minute wait- they are still in their soft opening phase so I think they are a bit short on staff. We ordered several things to share: Fried dumplings ($11)- these had very good flavor, good to share! Pork tonkatsu ($17)- this was good, but nothing extraordinary. Chicken wings ($18)- we got 1/2 sweet & spicy and half original. Came out hot!! These were also good to share. Galbi Jim ($66)- Definitely the star of the show. Love that you can add the cheese and rice cakes for free unlike Daeho. Also felt like we did not have a lot of bones in ours, which I know has flavor, but felt like we were getting a lot more meat which I preferred. Meat was very tender and flavorful. Lots of carrots and yummy treasures inside! Good size for sharing between 2 people if that's the only thing you get, but 2-4 if you have other items like we did! The banchan sides were also so so good! Loved the pickled daikon. Overall, service was good! Since they had ran out of galbi jim when we were seated and it took like 40 minutes to make more and they forgot the rice cakes, they comp'd it for us, which was very very kind of them. Overall, great service and experience despite it taking awhile, which we totally understand since they are very new. Highly recommend coming here for the galbi jim.

Claire L.

Yelp
Came for soft opening and glad I got to try it out! We came on a Wednesday dinner and we were able to be seated right away. The restaurant was like half full? It's not very big inside. I believe this used to be a poke place, so size for scale. SERVICE Service was great. Our waitress offered us free drinks (and refills) which we gladly accepted. She kept checking on us and making sure we were satisfied! BANCHAN Large variety of banchan, I was very pleased. Free refills if you ask. CHICKEN KATSU We got the chicken katsu which came with coleslaw and rice. The chicken katsu was crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and delicious. It came with 2 scoops of rice. The coleslaw was delicious and refreshing as well. KALBIJJIM We got the kalbijjim with half cheese as some of our party was lactose/didn't like cheese. I was on the cheese side! The kalbijjim was delicious, and the beef was tender, but I think the flavor could have been better. I don't love comparing restaurants against each other but how could you not compare this against an SF staple Daeho. I think Daeho's sauce/flavoring is more unique which makes me more drawn to Daeho. Well the line at Daeho is like 3 hours long at peak time so Mashita is a good alternative option. Not sure I'll be back - I might - I might not!!

Ricky K.

Yelp
Another great Korean place just got added to Polk St of SF and it's another hit for me. I like that this place specializes in the Galbi Jjim which is basically Korean beef stew, and I'm always a sucker for this whenever a Korean place has this. Service is nice and the place is decently sized too. When we ordered, we got the Galbi Jjim of course, some chicken wings, Pork Katsu, and Gyoza. We also got a few side dishes as well like Kimchi, Seaweed, and Bean Sprouts. Overall, I was quite impressed with everything. The gyoza was good, the pork katsu wasn't dry and it was pretty tender and crispy, and the wings were really good too. Good flavor and the meat was tender on the inside. But the star of the show was definitely the Galbi Jjim. Without making comparisons to other Galbi Jjim that I've had, Mashita's beef stew was packed with flavor. It automatically comes with large rice cakes, veggies, and cheese torched on top. And the beef was very very soft and really good! I genuinely enjoyed this dish and definitely everyone should order this if you're ever coming here with some friends of course. I think the rice cakes were too soft for me when I ate it, so I wish it was more al dente and had that chew that I was looking for. But overall, great korean spot in the neighborhood and I would come back again.

Cindy W.

Yelp
Delicious new galbi jjim restaurant on Polk street! The beef stew was so delicious, hearty and comforting. Apparently it's the owner's grandmother's recipe. The staff is incredibly kind and attentive as well (shoutout to Kim!). It's a new restaurant with a menu that's still developing, but definitely worth checking out. I prefer this to daeho, it's much more of a homey tasting galbi jjim and the meat is impossibly tender.

Jenny W.

Yelp
More like 3.5 stars but rounding up given I didn't try their namesake dish. Not a standout Korean spot to go out of your way to try, but a nice addition to Polk Street where there aren't many other solid Korean options. While I didn't get a chance to try their galbi jjim, among the things I did try, the garlic Korean fried chicken was a highlight. Super crispy skin, juicy, covered in a delicious sweet garlic sauce. The banchan were pretty basic, with kimchi, japchae, and fish cakes. The sweet potato fries were not bad, freshly fried with a crispy exterior, although I wanted some pieces to be softer inside. The tonkatsu I thought was pretty average, the meat could have been more tender / less dry. I wish there were more veggie options on the menu, but sadly most everything is meat. I also wish the menu wrote out the item names in romanized Korean because it's not obvious to me that "home cooked braised beef stew" is galbi jjim. And what is mashita savory beef plate? It sounded like bulgogi but I'm not sure. Restaurant feels homey and was easy to get a table when I came on the weekend.

Ruby C.

Yelp
Came here on a Friday night for dinner with a group of friends and this spot was so good! It is a small restaurant and because we had 8 people we were able to get a reservation. We ordered family style and got to try so many of their dishes. The braised beef stew was a 10/10 and actually so much better than Daeho! Super flavorful and price is not bad either. Also got the pork cheese katsu, chicken wings, and garlic noodles which were all amazing. Flavor was on point and I don't think there was a single bad dish that we tried. Also got the Brazilian lemonade which was free refills so that was super worth! Definitely recommend checking this spot out.