Simmer & Steamer

Came here for a lunch gathering. There were 10 of us but the food came super fast. We ordered from a kiosk but the staff made sure we were able to order smoothly, and also gave recommendations to each of us. We were even treated with these traditional Korean desserts that’s made from honey and sweet rice flour (I think it’s called Yakgwa? But not sure if I got the name right). It’s kind of like a fast-casual place where a lot of people order for take-out, but the dine-in environment was very nice and relaxing too.

Customer service was top notch and he was super kind and polite! The food is also amazing and every bite is worth the price. And to add, the portion was perfect for a lunch meal too! (Not too expensive either!)

Above and beyond service , food, and speed! Great middle of the work day meal as they are so fast with the service and super kind and welcoming. The food is warm and textures are crunchy and soft- really melts in your mouth. Definitely need to give this place a try!!!

I had the Super Bowl, and mom had the kitchen rice with sausage. It was very delicious! The Korean woker/owner there was very friendly and gave us Korean two cookies! I would go here again the next time I'm in SF near Embarcadero station.

Very good place for a reasonable price! The store is very clean and tidy. We ordered 3 platter, beef, pork curry, and sausage curry. The regular size is enough for me. Everything was great except they seemed to forget to put curry on the pork one 😔 I personally recommend curry ones if they did put curry on.

I visited right before going to the Chinese new year parade. The prices are great, some of the best deals I’ve seen in the city. The owner was beyond nice and went out of his way to welcome me. The food was pretty solid. It wasn’t super busy on the weekend, so hoping they get more foot traffic in the future.

Best Korean rice bowl in SF! I had Gamasot (3 main & 3 sides) with Korean curry, pork belly, and silken tofu. Great price & value. Clean location. Very friendly staffs. Highly recommend!

The food is super yummy and the owner is the sweetest person ever! Forgot to take a photo when the food came out cause it smelled so good I had to dig in🤩

I must give this place five star and they well deserve it. I went today in the evening at around 6 PM and was the only one in the entire restaurant. Menu was simple and easy but very well curated in terms of the variety and ingredients. Ordering was easy and done by self ordering on the touch screen iPad and they will bring your order to your table and it was fast. The self ordering touch screen will not asking you for tip however and that is so refreshing to see! (feel free to give tip voluntarily if you wish without the screen pressuring you) and that alone is worth the standing ovation. Food was generously portioned, delicious and very affordable. I've had the Sausage Curry Rice Bowl regular size $9.99 + tax = 10.85 I absolutely recommend Simmer & Steamer!

Got the pork belly curry Rice. yummy! Would definitely order that again and come here again. Immaculately clean I've never had curry by Koreans would've liked to have some vegetable side dish options e.g. banchan or spinach Just to be healthier... but the dish had crunch, had egg (trying to get in more protein) service: originally I was put off that they wouldn't take my order and made me use the kiosk but mainly they wanted to make sure I saw all the options e.g. how runny do you like your egg. I got take out, and they brought it to me which was nice because I was tired and had sat down while waiting.

Never underestimate the power of suggestion from local media. I believe the article headline was along the lines of "Fidi lunch for $9.99" that caught my eyes. Naturally, I had to read the article and Yelp the business to learn more. Fair enough. The business is apparently a Korean chain one with multiple locations. I looked at the menu and made time on a Wednesday a little after noon to walk here. When I entered, there were two guys standing behind another person who was keying the IPad in playing an order. There were a couple of people at the pick-up counter further in and two occupied tables near the entrance. The prep for the food is quite fast as the two guys ahead of me were leaving the expediting area as I walked there. Wanting to distance myself from too many people, I sat at a high-top chair along the counter across from the kitchen. Just after I filled my cup at the water station, the expediter came around the counter and placed my order at my chair. I tried the sausage curry, add kimchi (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=GBp9dRjs-N4tyPDHKQSFIw); my 1st move was to find the soft-boiled egg and create some egg porn (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=LgF0dyyFV0ZmS9-t0_P88g). I was concerned about how to eat my hot dog (after all, that's what it is) but was pleasantly surprised to see that the kitchen scored it multiple times making this easy to break off and mix with the other ingredients. The curry sauce follows the profile of Japanese curry with a heartier flavor and darker color. In alternating bites with the tangy kimchi, I ate away at my bowl. As I ate, a steady flow of customers ordered, mostly taking their food to go. As I left, I thanked the thoughtful expediter for bringing me my food and bought him a cup of coffee (or maybe not with coffee prices these days) with a couple bills. I enjoyed my food though it is a bit of a trek from Chinatown. I hope to try other menu items and hope that they add new items like sides and snacks to their menu.

Once I walked by the store front, I was immediately intrigued and wanted to try it out. The menu is quite small, so making a decision on what to get isn't too hard. You pay at the kiosk then wait a short amount of time before getting your food. It looked like everything was already prepared in large bulk and then placed in large containers to scoop out of. Kimchi fried rice - 3.9/5, a decent amount of fried rice topped with a sausage, egg, seaweed, and fried onions. The kimchi fried rice was okay, as it was literally only kimchi and rice. I expected more from it, like maybe some onions or protein. Eating it the next day did make it taste better though haha. The sausage tasted like a costco hot dog, which I personally love. You can choose how you want your egg and whether to add or remove toppings. Pork belly curry - 4.5/5, decent amount of pork chunks with curry over rice with fried onions and an egg. The curry was perfectly flavorful-- not too salty but enough salt. The amount of rice was good for one and a half meals for me. I actually really liked this bowl, but the only downside is that there aren't many options that come with it.

Friend and I came after seeing it on yelp as we were looking for food around FiDi around 7 pm. Menu was really straight forward, which I actually appreciate because it makes it easy to decide what to get. Ordering at the kiosk was super easy, the staff also was friendly and said we can ask questions if we had any. After ordering, the food was ready in about 5 minutes ! We got the kimchi fried rice with a soft boiled egg. The soft boiled egg was literally perfect, and the kimchi fried rice had the perfect level of spice and seasoning. Not to mention for $10, it was totally worth it. The serving options were either dine in or take out, and it seemed like the dine in version was probably the same as the take out container, just without the lid. Vibe wise, the restaurant was pretty desolate and felt a bit sterile. With that said, it honestly might have been the fact that we came at 7pm haha. With that said, there were still seating options available. They also provide hair ties throughout the restaurant, which such a cute touch. i think this would be amazing grab and go option, especially during lunch on a workday. Not sure if I would get out of my way for this, but if I'm in the area, I would definitely come again and try their other food!

Found this near the office and was interested because there aren't a ton of rice bowl options in the area. Service was really friendly and welcoming once I walked in! I ordered a pollock roe bowl, which basically comes with pollock roe in a sauce. I added seaweed because I felt like it'd complement it well since it's seafood (and I was right lol). The soft egg was cooked perfectly and coated the rice really well! I just wish I had a few more peppers, but there was an option to make it spicier that I didn't choose. All in all, this felt like a steal for $9.99 (with the seaweed add-on). I also noticed that they offer hair bands to customers for free around the restaurant, which is awfully nice of them. I'll definitely make this a go-to spot for lunch near the office. Excited to try more here!

This new spot is seving up affordable meals in SF's Fidi! Starting at $8.99, their yummy korean rice bowls offer options like galbi beef, kimchi rice, pollock caviar, tofu, and more. You can upgrade the bowl size (more base) or add additional toppings. I got the sausage curry which was so flavorful with a nice kick of spice and included a perfectly soft cooked egg. Going in, I was really hungry and got a large (about $13 after tax!) but I think a regular would have been filling enough. There is a nice space for indoor seating and they also offer free hairties. Service is super fast so if you're in the area and need a quick meal, check this spot out!

When you're looking for a quick, clean, and homey lunch spot that won't break the bank in downtown sf this is your spot. I ordered the pork belly curry and a side of kimichi, and while I would've loved for there to be a little more meat in the dish, I loved the flavor profile of the dish. I also liked how fast the food came out and that the service was friendly and gave you the space to order without auto defaulting a twenty percent tip. Overall I recommend and look forward to coming back.

A great on the go lunch! My favorite was the curry pork belly and kimchi fried rice with sausage. Just wish there were some vegetables too. The soft boiled egg is really good mixed with the rice. It's a great price for lunch in FiDi!

Absolutely lightening service! Easy order from the kiosk since there are only a few menu items. Next time (yes, I will he back) kimchee fried rice. I love kimchee. The pork curry looks tempting. I ordered the beef and it was mildly sweet and the crunchy shallots and chili gave it a very nice zip. Would have loved an option to add a little side of kimchee. I ordered regular size (add $2 for large) and it was quite filling. A tasty and super budget friendly spot that is most welcome in the neighborhood.

You can't beat the price! I came here for a quick lunch and was served very quickly. It's a super casual spot and the food is very homey.

This restaurant is what happens when someone with the thought of "I just want something delicious but also affordable" and they actually do something about it. I'm so happy to have gone here today. Food: I got the Galbi beef rice noodle and it was good! I did have to add a dash of salt to the bowl (for the owner, maybe a bit of soy sauce could enrich the beef a bit, or maybe just more salt) with the packets they had at the front. The rice was really well made. Solid portions. service: The staff are super nice. I think one of them was the owner and I really appreciate that he is also very passionate about the restaurant. other: But the rest of the review is mostly about how I am happy someone/people came together and made this restaurant to really go against the normal lunch prices in FiDi. To make a bowl of food for $10 and under is remarkable, so big props to the logistics in making that work in this day and age. The food is good but I'm really happy what an establishment like this stands for and I hope they do well and inspire others to do the same. I'm looking forward to coming back here against for a nice warm bowl :) Give it a try!

Good quick lunch option in Fidi. If you stick to basic menu items yes it's a $10 lunch. But I had to get kimchi with the kimchi fried rice so it was a bit more than $10. The kimchi rice was pretty good, the sausage really means hot dog. The rice was on the drier side so I would have liked another egg. I'll come back to try the other entrees for sure, and I'll order ahead next time.

11.14.2024. Kimchi Fried Rice. 9.99. (Kimchi Fried Rice + Sous Vide Egg + Sausage + Onion Flakes + Roasted Seaweed + Sesame Oil + Pepper + Sesame Seed). Egg with Soy Sauce Rice Bowl. 5.99. (Rice + Sous Vide Egg + Magarine + Soy Sauce + Roasted Seaweed + Sesame Oil + Pepper + Sesame Seed). Kimchi fried rice was decent. Not the best and not the worst I've had. I liked the jammy egg especially when I mixed everything up like bibimbap. I feel like it could've used some more kimchi or maybe soy sauce to deepen the flavor. If you do want kimchi on the side, it's $2. The soy sauce rice was interesting! I've never had soy sauce with rice before but it was pretty good. They put a sweet soy sauce that balanced nicely with the salty seaweed. Overall, decent food for workers nearby.

Quality food for an unbeatable price -- I feel like it's so hard to find good food for under $15 let alone $10 in FiDi. This was my second time here, food was served quickly and optimal for takeout as well. The inside of the store is never too crowded and I have never had to wait in line to order or for a table. They provide hair ties here too This place has become my go to for affordable comfort food, and I will definitely be back!!

Everything on their menu is $10 or under, so I had to try! (And the jiggly egg!!) I got their Pork Belly Curry for lunch, which wasn't bad! It didn't blow me out of the water but for $10, it did the job quite well. I would definitely get that again. I was curious about their other items, so I got the Kimchi Fried Rice and Galbi Rice Bowl for dinner to share with the fam. Unfortunately reheating doesn't treat them well, but that's totally on me. The Galbi beef was super underseasoned imo, but the rest of the flavor is there. And there was a lot more meat than expected! The fresh jalapenos added a nice punch. The Kimchi Fried Rice got mushy in the microwave, but after letting it dry and pairing it with the rest of the toppings, it wasn't a bad sell either. All in all, the curry was my favorite dish so far, but I'd like to retry the other items while they're still fresh! And the employees are really sweet as well. Hope they do well!

It is almost impossible to find a good meal in the FiDi that is under $10 and I'm so happy I stumbled upon this place! I ordered from their kiosk, the pork belly curry with soft boiled egg and would def get it again! Just wish there was a little more curry sauce like how it's advertised in their menu pics. Otherwise it is still def a good quality (and cheap!) and quick meal that hits the spot!

Came here on a short food break with a colleague. It was fast, affordable, delicious and filling.

It was pretty good, I got the soft tofu bowl. I think it would've been better with pickled cucumber or something. It was only $10 but it was also only rice, tofu, egg, soy sauce and seaweed... I ordered online and it was ready within 15 minutes.

Everything on the menu is pretty cheap (under $10). There isn't a lot of seating. I like how they offer hair ties so you can tie up your hair while eating. The food was ok, nothing mind blowing, the kimchi fried rice is pretty spicy. The pork belly curry taste like how curry tastes. You order at machine or you can order online and skip the line.

Stumbled across this while headed home with family. Service was great (owner is super friendly), food was great and prices were quite affordable :)

Warm, tasty, and super fast service! Had some kimchi fried rice at this place, and it was seriously delicious! The food came out warm, and it was served super fast. The staff was really friendly, really liked the bright atmosphere, and the service made the whole experience even better:)))) I'd definitely come back again!

Love the avocado and pollock caviar bowl. Plus they sponsor baseball which is righteous. Clean. Affordable. Tasty. Korean. What's not to love.

A little underwhelming; I was looking forward to trying this place. Got the kimchi fried rice. Egg was noticeably cool, which was a bit offputting. The rice itself was fine. The dish did not really do it for me, a combination of a basic beef sausage, kimchi rice, seaweed and the cold soft egg. Also I was given a spoon (not even a spork!) to eat this with. If you really have a hankering for a frankfurter on top of kimchi rice, this might do the trick.

Tried this new spot in downtown sf today. Got the pork belly rice with an egg. Hearty meal and a good value. The flavor of the curry is just right without being too salty or spicy. The rice was exceptional and complemented the curry well. Tastes a lot better than the pictures.

An amazing new lunch spot from the office! I ordered for pickup and it was ready in under 5 minutes. The employees were also so nice. Will definitely come back.

Amazing service and great value. Food came out fast and gentleman was super nice! The food was amazing! Dinner quality food for lunch! It was amazing!

I added seaweed and onion crunch to the pollack caviar bowl. The sauce is basically 명란 with mayo, which I LOVE, and it's not easy to find it around here! Super happy to see a descent but reasonably-priced Korean place around me!

Good comfort food at a great value! And the staff was so accommodating and friendly. I'll have to come again with some friends.

The line went quickly. I ordered and watched a K-Pop video until my number was called. I got the beef bowl; I agree it needs a bit more flavor, but it's great value for the price and the sous vide egg was perfectly runny. Next time I'll try the pork curry. Overall, a good addition to the FiDi lunch scene.