Purple Rice

Korean restaurant · Lower Haight

Purple Rice

Korean restaurant · Lower Haight

3

509 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Photos

Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by Melissa Zink
Purple Rice by Melissa Zink
Purple Rice by Melissa Zink
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null
Purple Rice by null

Highlights

Customize Korean rice bowls, stews, barbecue, noodles & fried chicken  

Featured in The Infatuation
Placeholder

509 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117 Get directions

purplerice.menu11.com

$20–30 · Menu

Information

Static Map

509 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117 Get directions

+1 415 932 6257
purplerice.menu11.com

$20–30 · Menu

Features

payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations

Last updated

Aug 18, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@infatuation

The 16 Best Korean Restaurants In SF

"The point of Purple Rice in the Lower Haight is the ability to customize Korean rice bowls, stews, and sizzling plates. Depending on what you order, you’ll get to choose between white or purple rice, spice level, and add-ons like fish or rice cakes. You’ll also get to decide whether your day requires a mini or large stone bowl of well-charred spicy pork or some other barbecued meat. This casual spot has a pretty straightforward menu of Korean mainstays you’ll see all around town. This includes a stellar soondubu, japchae, fried rice, and starters like the extra crispy fried chicken wings with a sweet and sour sticky sauce drizzle. Use this place for quick and filling lunches or dinners. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/guides/best-korean-restaurants-sf
View Postcard for Purple Rice
@infatuation

The 12 Best Restaurants In The Lower Haight

"The point of Purple Rice in the Lower Haight is the ability to customize Korean rice bowls, stews, and sizzling plates. Depending on what you order, you’ll get to choose between white or purple rice, spice level, and add-ons like fish or rice cakes. You’ll also get to decide whether your day requires a mini or large stone bowl of well-charred spicy pork or some other barbecued meat. This casual spot has a pretty straightforward menu of Korean mainstays you’ll see all around town. This includes a stellar soondubu, japchae, fried rice, and starters like the extra crispy fried chicken wings with a sweet and sour sticky sauce drizzle. Use this place for quick and filling lunches or dinners anytime you’re in the area." - ricky rodriguez, lani conway, julia chen 1

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/guides/best-lower-haight-restaurants-sf
View Postcard for Purple Rice
@infatuation

Purple Rice - Review - Lower Haight - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"The point of Purple Rice in the Lower Haight is the ability to customize Korean rice bowls, stews, and sizzling plates. Depending on what you order, you’ll get to choose between white or purple rice, spice level, and add-ons like fish or rice cakes. You’ll also get to decide whether your day requires a mini or large stone bowl of well-charred spicy pork or some other barbecued meat. This casual spot has a pretty straightforward menu of Korean mainstays you’ll see all around town. This includes a stellar soondubu, japchae, fried rice, and starters like the extra crispy fried chicken wings with a sweet and sour sticky sauce drizzle. Use this place for quick and filling lunches or dinners. Food Rundown Veggie Soft Tofu Stew This stew is hearty, flavor-packed, and the thing we get every time we’re here. They let you add on different meats, dumplings, and rice or fish cakes. photo credit: Melissa Zink Chicken Wings Despite being deep-fried, these wings are surprisingly light and crackling. Choose from soy garlic or a sweet and tangy chili sauce that sort of tastes like it came from a bottle. You won’t mind. Spicy Pork Purple Rice’s rendition could use more depth of flavor, but we’re not complaining. The big chunks of sizzling meat have beautiful charred ends. Crunchy and flavorful all at once." - Lani Conway

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/reviews/purple-rice
View Postcard for Purple Rice

Oneill Mclean

Google
Stopped by for lunch the other day and was definitely surprised by how great this place was. There was no wait to get a table, I had the Sizzling Works Rice Bowl with Beef Short Ribs-it came out hot and crackling, with perfectly tender ribs and crispy rice at the bottom. My partner had the Works Bowl with Thinly Sliced Beef, which was just as flavorful and satisfying. Great flavors, generous portions I would highly recommend!

Jeff Cheng

Google
I just finished volunteering at a non-profit and was heading home, and saw this comparatively inconspicuous restaurant on my way to the Metro. I asked a local who was walking a dog and they thought the place as good, so I decided to give it a try. It was a relatively busy street, but to my disbelief, there was not a single customer in the restaurant, and it was barely past 1:30PM. Nonetheless, I decided to give it a shot. The menu was relatively simple, so I just ordered the Works (I can’t remember the full name), with purple rice, and spicy seafood (that’s what’s called on the menu). I think it’s nice that the waitresses (there are two) speak Korean (I don’t speak a single word) and understandable English: the fact that they speak Korean gives an authentic feel that’s it’s Korean food. Frankly I didn’t know it’s a Korean eatery until I see the menu: while the restaurant did give me an Asian feel, it could have been other parts of Asiaa. I must say that while I appreciate the variety of the dishes they serve with the Works, the portions are really quite small, and I was really confused about why the bean sprouts (the exact same kind) was both served inside the main bowl, but also as a side dish which accompanied the main course. In terms of taste, the food was honestly just between acceptable and what I would call good enough, but nowhere near great or wow, which is unfortunate, since it was recommended by the local walking the dog, as aforementioned. The service was really questionable, however. The waitresses were both well dressed, with your typical Korean makeup (shiny yet transparent), but not politely friendly: they didn’t serve me water until I had ordered food, even though I already sat down for a long time perusing the menu. Furthermore, they were chatting in a highly audible voice in Korean in an otherwise very quiet restaurant, and never attended to the needs of the customer until asked. They weren’t particularly busy either: they were just wrapping the dining utensil in a napkin. I must admit that I have very limited experience with Korean restaurants, so maybe this is typical in a Korean restaurant where customers are served water until they become a paying customer (by ordering food), or are given service only upon request. This theory remains to be tested in the future, however. Overall, I don’t know if I can recommend the place: while the food was acceptably good, the service was so “unusual,” I am not sure I want to eat there again: I felt the service was very practical—they only serve you when you are paying (it’s a hot day, and if I were a restaurant owner, I wouldn’t mind serving water [which is incredibly inexpensive] even if they haven’t ordered food or decided not to order food after looking at the menu, but that’s just me) and only upon explicit request.

Jenny Xu

Google
Came here with a group of 5 and had a short wait to get seated. Good: - The Korean noodle soup was a huge portion size! It was tasty and incredibly - Decent banchan dishes that came with the food - Seafood pancake was good! But the portion size was tiny - Homey vibes and ambiance, super nice staff Bad: - Took a long time to get the food orders to our table - over 30 min - Parking is hard in the area Overall this was comforting food for me and I'd come if I was in the area, but not make a trip all the way out due to parking.

Ying Zhang

Google
Love this local Korean spot close by to me. Very consistent in the food quality. Pretty spacious and does not get too loud. I love to order the yukgaejang when I come here. The stew has glass noodles and also comes with bowl of signature purple rice. So delicious and a great deal. And of course there are fresh tasting banchan. I’ve asked for banchan refills before and the staff is friendly and will provide it free of charge. I always leave happy and full. I haven’t tried a lot of the other menu items so cannot provide input on that. Next time I should try the samgyetang.

Kevin Michalski

Google
I don't know, I didn't really vibe with this place. Maybe it was me maybe it wasn't. I ordered the kimchi stew and decided to add chicken for $4. The added chicken was microscopic - like 2 bites - and definitely not worth $4 (To compare, you can buy a *POUND* of chicken for $4 at the grocery store). The overall stew portion size was small and felt like it was worth $12 not $22. I had to eat second dinner when I got home because I was still hungry. I also had the honey ginger tea. I liked it! I would have liked to have some normal water on my table but I guess I had to ask for water? Unclear. Not sure what the deal was. Also, the 1 napkin on my table was basically sandpaper.

Afsha Nazim

Google
Nice little spot with great lunch options. Friendly staff. I tried the kimchi fried rice and it was delicious. Wasn’t too busy when we went in around noon

George Z

Google
Total Score: 7.05 Bathroom: 3/5 Usable but slightly grimy Customer Service: 3.5/5 Nothing notable, didn’t speak much Ambiance: 3.75/5 Nice moody lighting, very simple and cutesy Food: 4.25/5 Was decent Korean food. Everything was right amount of sweat and spicy. The sides were delish too. Nothing to complain about the fried rice either. Everything was right texture too. Wow: 0/1 Normal Korean Restaurant Total Score = BR + CS + 2*AM + 5*FOOD + WOW

Katarina Makmuri

Google
Pretty tasty, but too sweet/expensive for my taste. The veggie soondobu tofu stew was deliciously savory. Side dishes and short rib were really really sweet. The large size came with 9 pieces (bones) and two steamed cabbage leaves — thought the portion was kind of small for a “large.” Have had the japchae and bibimbap here too and they were also quite sweet.
google avatar

Kirsten L.

Yelp
While I'm not that experienced with Korean food, Purple Rice never disappoints. I've tried a few other places and I always end up back here for the spicy pork dolsot. The service is always fast and no fuss. The space is clean and simple, and I can see it getting full on a busy night, but given the fast service I wouldn't worry about it.
google avatar

Steven H.

Yelp
The business has not been open to any sort of education about people with disabilities. I would ask them to do better regarding customers with disabilities. Know the law vs enforcing what they think they know. Train your employees on what they may ask someone who has a service animal. Make sure they understand a certification is not required. https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/
google avatar

Jade J.

Yelp
This is a great local spot for anyone near Lower Haight craving Korean food. I honestly thought the food was decent however, I got food poisoning after I ate here, which I am pretty sure I got from the seafood pancake we ordered. * Seafood Pancakes: nice crunchy texture and lots of seafood incorporated (size: one medium-sized pancake cut into 8 bite-size pieces). * Sizzling Works: we got the beef version & all the veggies included were proportionately offered. * Yuzu Tea: they use the exact same brand that you can purchase from hmart lol it's in a jar with yuzu pieces in honey. Despite the food poisoning tragedy lol, I would say that this is decent for locals but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here. As a Korean, the flavor is cafeteria / quick-service so the dishes we got weren't mind-blowing in flavor but, they do offer various main dishes so it could be worth trying out.
google avatar

Jinnie L.

Yelp
Great portions, pork was spicy enough, and I got the purple rice. The reason I chose the dolsot is because you get the crispy rice at the end and it gives it a nice touch to the end of the meal.
google avatar

Shikha S.

Yelp
I had been CRAVING some veggie tofu soup, and Purple Rice did not disappoint. The staff were very prompt to take our order, and we ordered the Chicken Ramen and Veggie Tofu Soup + two hot teas (citron and ginger). The tofu soup was well spiced, and the regular spicy was the perfect kick that was manageable the whole meal. I would loved a bit more tofu but otherwise very filling. And can't forget the purple rice!! My favorite side dishes were the bean sprouts and kale. The citron tea was also very strong and lemony, perfect for a chilly evening. It's a more casual cozy place, which was spot on for quality food and experience.
google avatar

Hans G.

Yelp
We ordered out from this place twice. The food is way overpriced for the quantity served. If it had one Michelin Star I would say okay, but nah ....
google avatar

Pamela G.

Yelp
A nice spot to stop in for lunch on Haight Street. No waiting. Clean and pleasant. Good service. I'm a fan of the soft tofu stew. Comes with an egg and rice snd it is comfort food for me. Medium spicy is just right. I like the Banchan there a lot. My husband like the veggie ramen soup.
google avatar

Julia S.

Yelp
I recently had lunch with friends at this spot. It wasn't too busy for a Sunday lunch, with about half of the tables occupied. The place had a casual, slightly upscale vibe. We ordered the Iron Works, The Works, and Sizzling Works, and I chose the thinly sliced beef with an additional chicken. We were served banchan, soup, and water pretty quickly. The seaweed banchan was my favorite, though overall, the sides were decent. The kimchi, however, was a bit underwhelming. The soup was pretty nice, with a good garlicky flavor. Our orders came out one by one afterward. I added a good amount of spicy sauce, which might have kept the rice from getting crispy. The Sizzling Works was overall pretty good, with a nice variety of vegetables and an okay amount of meat after adding extra. I tried a bit of the Iron Works and found that I liked the soy sauce flavor more. Overall, it was a solid experience, with some dishes standing out more than others. I would come here again and see how their other dishes are.
google avatar

Steven S.

Yelp
This is my first time ordering takeout and I chose the purple rice because it was only 10 minute walk from my place and I can say that the food is really good here. The service was friendly and the ambiance was good as well. I definitely recommend the place. I may even come back again sometime.
google avatar

Michelle K.

Yelp
I've been here several times before and the service has always been great. The seats are overall a bit worn out though and the Korean food doesn't hit the way it does in SoCal. I got the Korean Miso Stew, and it didn't taste like how it should taste because the flavoring / seasoning seemed off. Regardless, it was still good just not accurate to the authentic dish.
google avatar

Brittany K.

Yelp
The spicy ramen was super yummy, I added tofu which I recommend, and also some namesake purple rice. The lady working was super nice.
google avatar

Areeta W.

Yelp
So sad that their takeout isn't as good as their in person experience! We ordered the Chicken Wings, Japchae with Spicy Pork, and Galbi. The japchae had HUGE portions at the actual restaurant but the take out was like a 1/3 of that portion; we also paid extra for the meat but it was just ok. The galbi meat was kind of a let down too with it being kinda hard to chew and just yummy. I'd come here again only for the IRL experience.
google avatar

Christine M.

Yelp
Super friendly staff. Got the tofu stew and thought it was flavorful. Chill restaurant with place to sit
google avatar

Janet J.

Yelp
Delicious! Ordered family style. Every dish was delicious including purple rice. Service was quick and staff was friendly.
google avatar

Denise C.

Yelp
Had fried dumplings to try for lunch on Haight. He said he's from Mongolia. It's a Korean restaurant and Lower Haight has all the Asian restaurants to try.
google avatar

Teeds K.

Yelp
i ordered via doordash from this place. i was in a definite mood for good korean tofu soup. this place def delivered a flavorful soup and it hit the spot. i know it would have been leveled up if it had been dine in. nonetheless, it truly was still hot upon arrival and what mattered was the flavor. it was all there! i also ordered the seafood pancake and it was such a great pairing. i truly was satisfied at my meal and confirmed that i made an excellent choice. i am looking forward to actually dining in person one day. ive got my eyes on the meat selection.!
google avatar

Elena C.

Yelp
My partner and I only had 30 mins for dinner and our food was out in less than 10 mins. The staff was super sweet and the food was delicious and clean! My stomach didn't hurt one bit and I have a very sensitive gutt. I'm definitely coming back!
google avatar

Jeffrey W.

Yelp
Don't order from here - the portion sizes are maddening. I'm sick right now so was hoping for some pick me up grub and these bloodsuckers made me pay $28 for 2 small ass strips of short rib. Inflation is here yeah but there's no way you should be advertising a mound of meat on door dash and give me so little food. Also $14 for this mini kimchi pancake is atrocious too Still haven't tasted the food yet because I had to leave this review first or I'd be steaming like my kimchi stew but DONT ORDER THE SHORT RIB OR KIMCHI PANCAKE THEYRE WAY TOO SMALL
google avatar

Karen C.

Yelp
I stopped by and placed a take out order in person one weeknight and it came out incredibly quickly! So, if you're in any rush at all but want to dine in somewhere, definitely consider Purple Rice. I got a regular bibimbap with beef and white rice and it was alright. I loved the vegetables they chose for their bibimbap, especially wood ear fungus - one of my faves! The to-go packaging was very thoughtful and separated the rice from the toppings. It was quite empty inside that night but it was a totally random weeknight so I wouldn't read into that. Every table looked very neat and clean so I would be happy to come back knowing I could get a seat without waiting.
google avatar

John Z.

Yelp
Good Korean food and excellent service. I forgot my bag when I left the restaurant. The waitress found it on the table and immediately sent it to me right outside the restaurant. When lots of other restaurants on the nearby streets are closed during lunch time, this place is open so we came to give it a try. I think we made the right decision. The BBQ short ribs are highly recommended.
google avatar

Nina C.

Yelp
The beef bibimbop bowl was amazing! So much flavor and a feast for the eyes, even when packaged to go. Try it for yourself and eat the rainbow! Pick-up was quick and easy. Our order was ready when promised.
google avatar

Nancy P.

Yelp
Been here a few times and ordered from doordash too. I would say that the portions are tiny and are the prices are so-so Short ribs for $36 for a large size was incredibly tiny & pathetic . I can't imagine what the small size would look like. I probably would stick to the other items if I were to come here again. I haven't been back for a couple years. It's just too expensive for the small portions.
google avatar

Victoria J.

Yelp
A little easy to miss- there is no overtly large signage so its easy to pass by. We came in late-ish at 8pm where there were a decent number of people finishing up their meals. We had no trouble getting a table walking in and it was empty by the time we were done eating at 9. Get the stone pot bibimbap!!- on a cold day, this is the perfect piping hot, hearty meal to warm you up. The choice of veggies in combination with the sliced beef is a rich combination of textures and flavors alongside the gochujang, which is not at all spicy but is still an incredible enhancement. Our experience was relatively serve-your-self and minimal, walk in and sit wherever you like. Didn't have any check-ins/ no refills on water or tea, and we had to head up to the counter to checkout. Menus and food were relayed very quickly, however.
google avatar

Tomohisa W.

Yelp
Flavors were really good and portions were ok but for $50 when adding tax and tip and the order is missing the purple rice that's supposed to be what the place is named after? Inflation is something. Well I guess I just have to keep looking if I want good food with good service even when it comes to take out. Time to make some cup ramen to finish up dinner. Maybe with rice it would be 4stars.
google avatar

Tiffany L.

Yelp
Service was ok, the food was good, but surprised at how small the portions were in relation to the price (kind of high). When we got our original order, we were so surprised that we put in another order to double everything. Even then, it wasn't enough for 8 of us. The seafood pancake had only 4 slices and we had a large group. Kalbi was $44 for a portion that would be good for 2 ppl. The large bulgogi was also enough for a couple people. Disappointed mostly at the portions. I guess we can't compare it to other Korean spots, but for those prices, I expected more food. Bathroom definitely needed some attention...it was dirty and the floors were wet (not from being mopped if you get what I mean). Bottom line was food was good, there was no ambiance, nothing that makes you feel comfortable about that place. We spent about $300+. I don't think I'd go back again. We got home and am still hungry.
google avatar

Jacob M.

Yelp
Must-try: their spicy pork Why? although bulgogi is usually the star of the show, I think their spicy pork is even more special! the egg was a little overcooked and it's a little pricy for what you get Protip: ask for a lil extra gochujang
google avatar

Rudy H.

Yelp
Such a great neighborhood Korean restaurant! I haven't had a such a fine and delicious soon doo boo "Korean soft tofu soup" in a long time. Last time was in Annandale in Virginia. The banchans were pretty good, bean sprouts, pickled radish, seaweed, kimchi, and pickled kale. It was a very delicious and comforting meal for me. I love the ambiance of this little neighborhood restaurant, low light and airy. This place for me is great food, great price and great value. Will come here very often.
google avatar

Cyn C.

Yelp
It's a quaint, clean restaurant with sweet servers. I've been here twice and both times have been pleasant. The food is okay, it's on the healthy side and not spicy or too flavorful. Also not a huge selection of traditional Korean dishes. It reminds me of Korean food you get at the college cafeteria dorm. Not a place to drink soju and end the night being loud and obnoxious with people you just met but a good place for a quick lunch break on a weekday.
google avatar

Della S.

Yelp
Their soondubu is so flavorful, I can't wait to have it again! By default you can get a veggie soft tofu stew for $14, then add kimchi, beef, seafood, etc. for $3 more. They have 5 spice levels for the soup and you can choose between white or purple rice. I wasn't super hungry so I decided to just go with the veggie soft tofu stew with no add-ons. The stew came with a generous portion of tofu and also included an egg! The servers brought out 5 different side dishes while we waited for our orders. For a soft tofu stew with only vegetables, I found the broth to be packed with umami. I could drink the broth all day! Combined with the various veggies, tofu, and chewy purple rice, the stew was a filling and satisfying meal. The servers were very friendly and helpful which made for an overall positive experience. I look forward to trying other items on their menu.
google avatar

Ada H.

Yelp
Living in San Francisco, Korean food has always been on the pricier side but when I stumbled upon Purple Rice, I was shocked with how reasonably priced it was. My boyfriend and I came an hour before closing and it honestly felt rush since they do want diners to be finished eating and paying around the time the restaurant closes. It was overwhelming but one of the male servers was kind and made sure we had refills on our tea and water. Korean Noodle soup (4/5) - It honestly just tasted like they made Shin Ramen and added an egg to it but you can never go wrong with Shin Ramen. Fried Chicken (5/5) - flawlessly fried where the skin was crispy yet the meat was moist. This is a must get here. Galbi (5/5) - The meat was tender and well marinated. The way the meat effortlessly came off the bone showed how succulent the meat was. A great spot for an inexpensive bite of Korean food. I will definitely be back.
google avatar

Alice S.

Yelp
I had dinner here with a group of friends and got to try a couple of dishes. At 7:30pm on a weekday, there was a short wait of ~5-10min. Overall, this is a solid spot for Korean food in the Lower Haight area. However, I'm docking off a point because the staff taking our order messed up on an item, and the dishes here weren't as spicy as they should be. For starters, I tried the sweet & tangy chili chicken wings and vegetable dumplings. The chicken wings (7 per order) were tasty and portions ended up being bigger than expected. For the dumplings, we ordered fried vegetable dumplings but instead received steamed dumplings with pork, which was unfortunate because one person in my group cannot eat pork. This either was a complete mix up, or the menu should state this dish isn't vegetarian. I ordered the veggie soft tofu stew with beef, medium spice, and a side of purple rice. This was delicious and satisfied my craving for tofu stew! However, I did wish the stew was spicier and less salty. Even though I asked for medium level spice, I barley tasted the spice. Next time, I'll know to bump up the spice level. I also tried some of my friends' beef short ribs and side dishes, which were well seasoned and delicious. I recommend visiting this spot in a group so you can try out a variety of dishes.
google avatar

Emily Z.

Yelp
Great place if you're craving a light Korean meal! Walked in on a Saturday for lunch around 12:30, and there was no wait but only a couple tables open. We were craving some soondubu since it was a rainy day, and this spot made us feel warm and filled. We ordered the vegetable dumplings fried, spicy cakes, and soft tofu stew with seafood and beef. The dumplings were pretty standard, but I enjoyed how crispy they were. The spicy cakes were different than other places because the sauce was a little bit more watery and soupy but nonetheless was still packed with flavor. The tofu stew was also really delicious, probably the best I've had in San Francisco. I love that it also came out bubbling hot. Along with our food, the servers brought out an assortment of banchan. The restaurant itself is very simple and casual. There's plenty of tables, and there's a walk-in list posted by the door to put your name on if it gets a little busy. The servers are really friendly and nice. Food also comes out pretty quick. There's plenty of street parking nearby, as well.
google avatar

Michelle H.

Yelp
Decided to give this place a try in person since I really liked it when I doordashed it a few weeks ago. I really love the ambiance, it was cozy and the tables weren't packed. Wonderful service and the food arrived fairly quickly after ordering. I am so impressed by the flavors of all the dishes here, it definitely satisfied my cravings! The portions are on the smaller side but you won't be uncomfortably stuffed afterwards. My group still had room for dessert. Seafood pancake: I would pass on this, although it was delicious, it was $12 and I can't justify the price with the portion they served Chicken wings: I'm still thinking about how crispy these were. You can't go wrong with soy garlic sauce and the batter was so light and crispy! Dolsot bibimbap: I didn't order this but when I got it for takeout last time I enjoyed it a lot. The bowl was very balanced and it comes with a bowl of soup if you eat in person. Beef and seafood tofu soup: This was just what I needed after a long day, it was so comforting! They have different spice levels when ordering. I usually get medium but wasn't spicy at all for me.
google avatar

Jennifer N.

Yelp
As a gal who loves korean food, dare I say it is in my monthly rotation of eating out at least twice a month (which is generous considering the plethora of options). This place is pretty good! 4.5 stars! Their fried chicken is the star of the show I think. Crispy delicate batter with super moist chicken. Their spicy beef soup is very comforting and gotta pair it with purple rice. Its in the name people! You doing it wrong if you get white rice. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the bonchon game is below average. Its not one of the better bonchon I've tried because of the options, portion, and flavor. Lets be real, half of korean food is the bonchon! (I kid, I kid).
google avatar

Urmi M.

Yelp
Takeout review: Food is ready fast (15-20 min). Interior is clean and not too cramped. It's easy to miss their restaurant because they don't have a big sign but you'll be pleasantly surprised after going in. Purple rice is good for satisfying a craving for Korean food. I've tried their spicy pork and spicy chicken and enjoyed both. The quantity of the mini and large are both smaller than I'd hope for. The large was good to split among two people with 2 rices and a side. The banchan is very tiny, I do love eating these sides and wish they were more generous with this.
google avatar

Angela Y.

Yelp
Purple Rice is one of my go-to spots in Lower Haight for a Korean meal! My favorites are the veggie soft tofu stew and the bibimbap, which are the best value items on the menu in my opinion. The seafood pancake is also delicious! I've ordered a few of the dishes with meat, and while they were tasty, it wasn't as good value. The interior is pretty basic, and there are several tables inside. I've come here with larger groups, and they've always been really accommodating in seating us quickly. Even during busy times, I've never had to wait more than a few minutes. The staff here has always been really friendly, and the food is always served quickly. There's not a lot of Korean food in Lower Haight, so I'm really glad we have Purple Rice!

Thomas S.

Yelp
Wonderful service, amazing food, and it is has a very nice atmosphere. Went on a date here and enjoyed the angry bird dish (the spiciest thing on their menu) and boy, it ACTUALLY lived up to the spicy food expectation that they advertised, which I find to be quite rare. The interior is great for a nice and a relatively inexpensive dinner, as it is dim and the music was at a perfect level. The employees here are very helpful and friendly. Top notch experience.
google avatar

the c.

Yelp
I ordered the sizzling works (Dolsot) with spicy pork and purple rice. I'm getting over a 2 week cold, not contagious, but not feeling great yet, so while looking for something to drink, i noticed Korean honey teas served hot or cold, so i ordered the hot honey ginger tea. Maaann, i can't tell you how soothing and delicious it was!. Strong ginger flavour, which i love, but beware if you're not a spicy ginger fan. Absolutely delicious food and tea!. The Dolsot was very flavorful and i love all the veggies and crispy rice. If i did anything different, i would have ordered an extra egg. Yum yum, I'll be back!

Vanessa B.

Yelp
The food is amazing, you get free sides and everything tasted fresh. Very comforting for when the weather is gloomy
google avatar

Sally F.

Yelp
Recommend the beef bibimbap bowl, and kimchi pancakes. Ordered this for takeout a few times and the flavors were decent for from a restaurant. (My family is Korean, and I know how to cook/ things should taste). Minus one star for the banchan side. The flavors were just really off. Some did not taste good at all. Would be better not to do that and just provide a small side of cabbage kimchi instead.
google avatar

Cayla G.

Yelp
Purple Rice was quite tasty and had large portions. The purple rice was fun in color and crisped up nicely in the stoneware. I had the bulgogi and enjoyed it with a wide selection of banchan. The ambiance was lacking and the service was poor, but I would still go back for the food!

Boris L.

Yelp
Food was quite good but the portion for the $41 "large" beef was really disappointing. When we got home and looked at it, it was perhaps only a regular entre size. Or they messed up my order. I feel a bit cheated to be honest. Not going back.
google avatar

Bonnie H.

Yelp
My favorite dish we ordered was the spicy pork, followed by the seafood pancake and the fire bird's nest. The food here isn't that spicy. We also ordered the kimchi fried rice with beef, which could have done with some more kimchi and spiciness. Overall the food was decent, but the portions here are quite small for the price you're paying.
google avatar

Ananya S.

Yelp
A surprise find! Was craving something warm and comforting for dinner and found this spot. Barely a wait since we got there early! They had a wide variety of Korean rice dishes and barbecue. I got the soft tofu stew and added fish cakes for $3 extra and it was WORTH IT. The stew was so warm and spicy and the tofu was soft!! There was also a poached egg in there was yummy! Also it was served with purple rice was was filling and hearty. We also tried the sizzling rice bowl with chicken which was delicious and the veggie tasted distinct and wonderful. All our meals came with banchan (side dishes) and we really enjoyed sharing those (my favorite was the pickled radishes). Service was good too but we just felt very hurried out even though the restaurant was not busy while we were there and there was no queue waiting. It just felt a little odd since we got the bill right after we got our food and felt like we needed to finish up quick. Otherwise a wonderful place for quality tasty Korean food!
google avatar

Anisha R.

Yelp
Ambiance in here is my favorite, sitting in this restaurant is so calming for some reason. Staff were friendly and brought out food really fast. We ordered the beef bibimbap in hot stone bowls and it was so good!! I loved the kimchi and other side dishes the hot sauce in the bottle was really yummy too, and everything was a reasonable price ~55$ for two people.
google avatar

Kasey H.

Yelp
The food was yummy, the staff were friendly, and the presentation/ambiance was cute. Purple rice was a fun concept! I'll just say that it's overpriced for pretty similar places elsewhere in the city. If I'm in the area, I could be convinced to try again!
google avatar

Johnny W.

Yelp
Summary: Inconsistently priced, but not bad for SF Korean Details: * Their banchan selection (for take out, at least) is pretty measly and sad * Seafood pancake feels pretty overpriced, costing 30% less than peers, but also about 75% smaller * Their other dishes feel a bit more correctly valued (taking SF upcharge into account), and are actually fairly tasty, from their BBQ meats, to their soups, to their rice bowls * Oakland still has better Korean, but this is probably one of the closest spots you'll find in SF Accessibility: Another grab and go dinner, so can't comment much on accessibility
google avatar

Karyn E.

Yelp
Having to sit in the hospital is no fun...however the ease of ordering food, delivery and taste was all very comforting during a difficult time. Food was delicious and came in a prompt manner. Plenty of food in the Bibimbap Bowl and the vegetables were tasty. The banchan was somewhat light in amount given, we would have liked a bigger serving. We ordered 2 Bibimbap one chicken and the other spicy pork. All very tasty and would love to try it again in the actual restaurant. The delivery person was courteous, friendly and waited to hand me the food directly.
google avatar

Hector L.

Yelp
This place does really tasty and spicy food, and is great for groups. Can't remember all the different names of the things we got but everything was really good, so you can't go wrong. The spicy honey chicken wings were especially flavorful and crispy.