yeobo, darling

One of the most memorable meals we've had in a long time! The vibe struck a perfect balance: comfortable, yet elevated with a modern, refined touch. For a restaurant that's been open only a few weeks, everything ran smoothly. The staff was warm, professional, and knowledgeable. They guided us through the ordering process, suggesting a mix of small, medium, and large plates to share (for two people, their recommendation was around 2-3 small, 2 medium, and 1-2 large dishes). We ended up going heavier on the mediums and were definitely satisfied by the end! We couldn't stop going back to the creamy noodle dish... It came with an airy foam that was light, delicate, and flavorful. The onion bread with pork floss had the perfect contrast: soft and fluffy inside, with a crisp, flaky outer layer. And the morel mushroom soup was fresh and earthy. The most exciting part was the menu. We found ourselves genuinely interested in every dish, curious with how the flavor profiles would work. The fusion of eastern and western flavors felt fresh and intentional, and brought back memories from seeing traditional dishes from our childhood reimagined with creativity and care. We're already looking forward to our next visit.

This was one of my most anticipated restaurant openings of the year, and I was lucky to visit shortly after it debuted in June (we could actually get reservations back then)! The overall experience met my expectations, food and cocktails. One standout was the scallion croissant from The Baker Next Door in Redwood City - flaky, buttery, and pull-apart. Served with a rou song (pork floss) butter, it was a delicious tribute to two Taiwanese staples. Another clever twist on a Taiwanese classic was the lu rou lasagna. I grew up eating a lot of lasagna made by my Taiwanese mom, and this version with Taiwanese braised pork brought back memories. Overall, the menu felt more Korean-American than Taiwanese. Highlights included a refreshing amberjack mulhwe (sashimi), chilled perilla somyun (thin, wheat noodles) with a black truffle supplement, and extra tender wagyu galbi. We ended on a sweet note with Meichih’s signature Karat Cake® and a seasonal stone fruit soft serve And I can’t forget the excellent cocktails, created by Nick Wu of Bar Mood, one of Taipei’s best cocktail bars. I’m a fan of theirs, and they did not disappoint here. I especially love delicate tea-based drinks, and many of the soju cocktails featured tea. My favorite was the Natural Oasis, with oolong tea and lemongrass, subtle and balanced.

Yeobo, Darling is an absolute treasure. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with warm hospitality, a beautifully curated interior, and a menu that immediately makes you want to order one of everything. The food is fresh, vibrant, and full of thoughtful flavor—each dish feels like a love letter to Taiwanese and Korean cuisine with a modern twist. The attention to detail is impeccable. And don’t skip the drinks—the cocktail menu is as creative as it is delicious.

Our first visit here. They are sold out a month in advance and only open for dinner 5 days. I tried and got a last minute slot at 5:00pm. Kaya the hostess was very sweet and kind. Tom our server offered to give a taste of the white wine as we were not sure and my partner sent it back and got a red that was much better. I had the dark lager first and then switched to the Taiwanese beer which came in a larger bottle. We had the Wgyu Beef Tatar Tartlet and Potato Joe , Hokkaido sea urchin, Prosciutto. Both were bite sized appetizers. The scallion Croissant with Run Song Butter was a good sized warm loaf and very tasty. We had three entrees. The Yeobo Darling Chicken wings came crispy and with shishito peppers. This was shared by the two of us and we could have easily shared with 4. Probably the best value . Lu Rong Lasagna came with the green sheets of pasta infused with chrysanthemum and ground pork with dollops of béchamel sauce. Ok not great. We then had the Yeobo Darling Kalbi and Banchan ( which is side dishes in Korea) the Kalbinwas Wagyu cubes and the 3 sides were Kimchi, a hot paste and some marinated cucumber. This is the most expensive dish on the menu and was quite tasty. For dessert we shares the Karet Cake which is a carrot cake with thick layers of cream cheese and a gold leaf on top as well as the Chocolate Mousse which came mixed with banana pudding and topped with walnuts. The restaurant can seat about 50 and was almost full by the time our dinner was done at 6:30pm. The servers were always around refilling our water and clearing used dishes. Good fo at least one visit. And I find that Koreans don’t rate it as highly as they probably have had great food at other places

Absolutely phenomenal experience at Yeobo, Darling last week. The food was inventive, beautifully plated, and full of unexpected-but-welcoming flavors and textures. We shared a variety of dishes—from the shrimp appetizer and amberjack to the lu rou lasagna, anchovy fried rice, pork collar, and wagyu kalbi—and every bite was memorable. Service was warm, personal, and unhurried, despite the place being packed. My guests (from the East Coast and Midwest) were thrilled to skip the usual steakhouse for something this thoughtful and original. Hard to get a reservation—but absolutely worth it.

I came to try this place because of the hype. Honestly….way overpriced for what it is. We had the famous scallion croissant and it was good, but not mind blowing. We also had the Yeobo Darling Kalbi for $76, and it was ok, but definitely not worth the price tag. I’ve had better for cheaper elsewhere. The Yeobo Darling Chicken Wings were too salty and not even as good as fast food Korean fried chicken. Again, an overall summary of this place is: it’s just ok and way too expensive. I’m honestly starting to think they’re paying people to hype up this place on social media or something? Because how can so many people recommend a place that’s just so mediocre 🤷🏻‍♀️

A delightful experience! The chefs have brought together a mix of Asian flavors with a nod to their American upbringing to create truly yummy and unique dishes. We escaped the kids for a date night and the ambience was perfect for this. Cocktails were a great start, and even wines at the more affordable end of the wine list were excellent. The duroc pork and coonstripe shrimp were favorites and shall be on our list the next time we go back.

Yeobo Darling in Menlo Park just opened and I am OBSESSED! The space is gorgeous with dreamy warm lighting that screams romance. I won’t clock the service since they’re brand new, but the FOOD? Chef’s kiss Pure perfection! That scallion croissant with rou song butter was crispy, flaky heaven. But the real star? The lu rou lasagna with green chrysanthemum noodles is Taiwanese comfort meets Italian soul food and it’s EVERYTHING. Even those crispy edges had me swooning! The mustard greens were beautifully prepared too. This place is going to be iconic once they hit their stride. I’ll absolutely be back because when food is this good, mama doesn’t mind waiting! Trust me, loves! 💋​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Yeobo, darling is a wonderful blend of asian food that will make you want to come back even before you leave. The dishes I had were extraordinarily flavorful and exquisite. The shrimp there was caught fresh from Half Moon Bay every morning. The shrimp skin was so thin that you could eat them whole. It was a delicious piece of shrimp that was perfectly crispy and allowed you to get the full salt and pepper flavor. The wagyu beef tartare tartlet, smoked soy, kohlrabi was an appealing and appetizing bite (but it was actually a lot larger than a bite) and you could taste the delectable smoked soy like water in a desert. The yeobo, darling chicken wings were surprisingly flavorful and not as spicy as you'd think it is, so if you like a little bit of spice you should definitely get this dish. The scallop, black bean, cauliflower was luscious and very delectable. This is one of those dishes that are great for sharing with your family or friends. The crispy anchovy rice was mind blowingly delicious. I have no idea what they put in the rice (not including anchovies), but the rice was surprisingly flavorful and piquant. The yeobo, darling kalbi and banchan were just glorious. Don't you hate it when your meat goes cold after too long? Well,at yeobo, darling they serve it to you in a warm stone plate that keeps your kalbi nice and warm for you. The cucumbers were cut in a delicate way. They were crisp and provided a nice contrast to the meat and rice. The kimchi was cut elegantly and was perfectly fermented. It had a nice kick of spice, so I would say the kimchi is for adventurous people. On my first bite of the lu rou lasagna I was stunned. The lu rou lasagna was one of the tastiest things I had. The noodles were made out of chrysanthemum and spinach which if you think that sounds unappealing you're in for a surprise. It is so easily chewable but some of them have a pleasant crunch. My most favorite was by far the scallion croissant. This is not a regular croissant. This is a blend of scallion pancake (a popular snack in Taiwan) and a croissant (a very popular snack from France.) The scallion taste really shines through. If you are bad at cutting, no need to worry because the scallion croissant is a pull-apart snack. If you would like to know how they molded the bread, they got the molds all the way from South Korea. But if you still don't really taste the scallion then you should add some of the rou song butter. The rou song butter is a great addition to the scallion because it brings out the flavor of the scallion. For dessert the dark chocolate mousse is really good if you like luscious things. The candied walnuts are also really great. You can definitely taste the banana flavor in the dark chocolate mousse. The milk soft cream, stone fruit is really rich and delectable. I don't know if they used some special kind of milk or what but it sure was delicious. The stone fruit was a pretty nice touch. It was the perfect combination. The service was great. Our server was very attentive. The food there was so good I wanted to reserve a spot from 5-7 and a spot from 7-9 immediately after I was done eating. I will definitely come back soon.

My husband is Taiwanese and I am Korean, so when I learned of this restaurant opening, I knew I had to try it. Eater describes this restaurant as "a love letter to Korean & Taiwanese dishes" and I could not agree more. Every bite we ate was absolutely delicious and flavorful - from the first appetizer to the second dessert. Many of the flavors were reminiscent of dishes we each enjoyed as children. We shared a bunch of dishes and while we didn't dislike any of the dishes, we had our favorites. My personal favorites were the salt & pepper coonstripe shrimp, the grilled miyagi oysters, the chicken liver on a monaka, lu rou lasagna, Yeobo Darling fried chicken and the stone fruit soft cream. The chicken liver was so good, I ordered a second right before dessert. I'm so glad I made a reservation as soon as I heard word of the previous owners of Maum opening this fabulous new restaurant. It's now one of both me and my hub's favorite restaurants in the Bay Area and we can't wait to go return to try their other dishes.

The service here is top notch. Not for a second did anybody lose track of the needs of our table. I was very surprised at how good the service was, right from the time we entered till the second we left the door. Food was great too! We tried the salt and pepper shrimp (I loved eating the small whole shrimps), the scallion croissant, which was very tasty. The lasagna was extremely tasty (my favorite of the night). The fried chicken was also good. Lastly, we tried the stone fruit ice cream, which my two and half year old daughter devoured. Must admit, I enjoyed it as much as she did! All in all a great place. Definitely a bit pricey, but will return to try the other dishes on the menu.

Food was wonderful but service was disappointing considering the Michelin star prices. It's understood they opened less than a month ago and are still working out the kinks but there are limits to what can be forgiven. Recommend that you ask for the galbi wagyu beef to come out earlier, if possible. Or do not order too many second course dishes. Since it's labeled as a 3rd course entree, the galbi beef came last and were so full we couldn't finish it, so we asked for the rest to be packed away with our other leftovers. Was looking forward to eating the juicy plump morsels of galbi for lunch the following day, only to realize the waiter never packed the $76 galbi beef?! If you have leftovers you may want to check your boxes before you leave. It was so disappointing expecting to dig into a box of galbi but was nowhere to be found. Also, our main server was not the most attentive. While she attended to the tables immediately to our left and right, it took a solid 10+ min for them to acknowledge us after we were seated. It's fine if they don't have the time to talk to us regarding the menu but a short 'Hi, I'll be with you in a moment' lets us know you acknowledge our presence and that you are our server. Toward the end we again had long waits to see the dessert menu and receive/pay the bill. During this time i saw our server casually walk by multiple times, and look in our direction but not approach our table. Once my partner came out of the restroom i finally waved them down for the dessert menu. The food was excellent but would probably only order the scallion croissant bread for take away in the future.

Amazing place in the heart of Menlo Park! Great to see more of these restaurants pop up here. Staff was excellent - our server was great, gave us great recommendations and was always attentive. We ordered a bunch of stuff: - scallion croissant bread - Lu rou lasagna - Yeobo Darling chicken wings - Kalbi - carrot cake - Milk soft cream + stone fruit - Guava Spritz All were absolutely great, but the ones that stood out to me were their croissant bread and the Kalbi! You can tell that they kept the authentic flavors of the dishes while giving it their own spin, without going overboard in frills or things that would otherwise eclipse that flavor. Definitely need to go back and excited to see what they come with next!

Nearly seven years later, I'm still having Maum FOMO. In the summer of 2018, I missed out on going to Maum (Korean-American version of Lazy Bear) because of work. OFC, it ended up being culinary star studded world that evening. In 2019, Maum was awarded a Michelin star. Then, the pandemic hit and they closed so I didn't get to visit. I should of felt something coming on back then *cough cough*. Lol! I was able to try the owners' casual food stall: Bǎo Bèi but like others, I've been highly anticipating the opening of their new resto, Yeobo, Darling (a term of endearment between a married couple in Korean). Yeobo, Darling is open for indoor dining only with future plans for outdoor seating. Rezzies are highly recommended unless you're cool with bar seating. M E N U Elevated Taiwanese-Korean Fusion Cuisine as seen through an Asian-American lens. Small, concise a la carte menu with less than 20 items. Soju, low-abv cocktails, coffee, and tea available. Def more of a splurge-y meal (tho may be chump change for the VC and tech ballers in the area). For the recommended number of dishes for two, it was about $175 pp after tax, 6% quality of life mandate, and tip. D R I N K S * Complimentary Still & Sparkling Water * Golden Barley, White Label 17 ($12) First time trying soju distilled from barley. Served chilled, it's light and refreshing with a roast-y spice finish. Very easy to drink neat. F O O D * Wagyu beef tartare tartlet, smoked soy, kohlrabi ($12 x2): https://tinyurl.com/4xnentfz Great first bite, rich and buttery morels of wagyu in a thin, crispy shell with a creamy crown. * Potato jeon, hokkaido sea urchin, prosciutto ($28 x2): https://tinyurl.com/2nc2nzc6 NGL, I was hesitant about paying $28 for two bites but it was worth it. The warm potato pavé was topped with sweet, briny uni with a prosciutto veil creating a wonderful contrast of flavors and textures. * Scallion croissant, rou song butter ($24): https://tinyurl.com/5957hym4 A collab with The RWC's Baker Next Door, I thought the scallion croissant was good but not $24 good. More of a brioche loaf, than a flaky laminated croissant, I was expecting more scallions incorporated into it (ours had none in the center). The rou song (pork floss) was subtle in flavor. * Yeobo, Darling chicken wings ($20): https://tinyurl.com/mrxcchzx Juicy, crisp wings with a good savory sweet flavor but your standard KFC. Would opt for their more creative dishes. * Lu rou lasagna ($31): https://tinyurl.com/46uzuu25 As someone that loves lu rou fan, this hits and is the perfect example of a fusion dish...done right. A union between two comfort foods, rustic Italian lasagna and Taiwanese braised pork [rice], the chefs managed to create something so rich and deeply satisfying yet not heavy. They incorporated chrysanthemum leaves into the flour making the pasta sheets light. Loved the crispy browned edges. Would return just for this! * Yeobo, Darling kalbi & banchan ($76): https://tinyurl.com/mr2zfk6z Served on a sizzling hot stone, the boneless kalbi (short ribs) were richly marbled and tender with a nice caramelization. The marinade tasted different than your usual KBBQ marinade...oyster sauce for a Taiwanese twist? Served with kimchi and cucumber salad for a refreshing bite. Light flavors. Personally, I like banchans with more acid to balance the richness of the meat. * Karat Cake® ($14): https://tinyurl.com/s5czm4fk The co-owner's signature dessert, the Karat Cake® was launched during the pandemic but only available whole. A three-layer carrot cake, the cake layers are impossibly moist with thiccc layers of rich (but not too rich) cream cheese frosting garnished with 24k gold flakes. I like that it was AZN sweet but I was hoping for some tang from the frosting. S E R V I C E Friendly, approachable, and polished service. Our server, Brian was awesome. He was incredibly patient with another table that had a million questions (I would have lost it). The busser/food runner was good about whisking away empty plates and boxing our leftovers. The BOH is on top of firing out courses that promptly arrived. Much appreciated for those who can't sit through long meals. Some minor improvements needed like providing fresh plates and utensils after the small bites/apps. A M B I A N C E Minimalist and sophisticated with moody lighting and curtains between tables for privacy. Great for date night or chill GNO. P A R K I N G Easy free street parking. Overall, Yeobo, Darling is off to a solid start with the highlights being the fusion dishes. I did find myself comparing the more typical dishes like the KFC, kalbi, and banchan to K restos in Santa Clara. Regardless, they're a great addition to Menlo Park that's experiencing a culinary glow-up!

Bravo! We couldn't be happier to welcome Yeobo, Darling to Menlo Park! The elevated and unique items can't be found on any other menus in town. The same can be said about the classic kalbi. We literally ordered everything, but I forgot to take photos after the first two dishes... If you're adventurous I'd recommend the salt and pepper shrimp, beef tartar and the chicken liver. Otherwise I'd recommend the scallion croissant, chicken wings, lasagna, scallop, rice and the kalbi. Everything was great - but those are the standouts. But leave room for dessert. Honestly I live for Chef Meichih's karat cake - but the milk soft cream and stone fruit was insane. Then there's the chocolate and banana mousse... just get all three. Trust me.

Wow, upscale, delicious and inventive food. I loved the bite of chicken liver mousse and the oyster and heard the tartare was really good. The scallion croissant with rou song butter was soft and buttery but I wish it had more intense green onion flavor. The lu rou lasagna was delicious and not overly heavy. I also thought the kalbi was so tender and delicious although unfortunately I wasn't able to eat the kimchi due to it having shrimp paste. Maybe in the future they could have a vegetarian option. Service was great although there was a bit of a lag between the last course and the server coming to check in about dessert. The injeolmi dessert was super delicious though. Would love to come back! What a great start for their first official day of service!

Novel, tasty, but in need of some refinement Was so excited by the concept and came in with high expectations. The food here is undoubtedly tasty and creative. Their menu is split into 3 types of courses: small, shareables, and main course Food: *miyagi oyster - 4/5 warm with a nice hit of mapa and crunch from breadcrumbs *potato jeon, hokkaido sea urchin - 5/5 a golden potato tot with a burst of freshness from the sea urchin, wonderful pairing *scallion croissant - 5/5 my fav. golden, flaky, bursting with scallion flavor. the butter with the meat floss on the side - genius. hit all the right notes *amberjack - 4/5 fresh fish paired well with the sourness of kimchi juice and kelp sauce *lu rou lasagna - 5/5 second fav. tender meat, soft yet crispy pasta. such a good idea perilla somyun - 4/5 buckwheat noodles in a foamy, creamy perilla sauce. delicious. probably needed a little extra something (the truffle supplement perhaps?, but I didn't feel impelled to spend an extra $40). I wish the truffle or a meat just came standard with the dish. *crispy anchovy rice - 3/5 while yummy, didn't feel particularly special. just anchovies over rice. feel like it was oversold when it really is a side dish. I think a way this could be better if it came out in a sizziling stone pot or if the rice was scorched (like nurungji?). also could use some meat lol My feedback: *You can definitely feel the creativity and careful thought that went into crafting these dishes. Some of the dishes were spot on, but some didn't quite hit the mark for me. Many of the dishes were either Western meets Korean, Western meets Taiwanese, Korean, or Taiwanese. My question - where is the Korean meets Taiwanese? Would have loved to see a lot more of that *Pricing - this place is priced like a Michelin restaurant. With that comes high expectations. The sea urchin, while expensive, should not be $28 for a single bite. The order should come with at least two. Also anchovies on top of rice should also not be $19. Kalbi, regardless of how good it is, should not be $76. Also a tasting menu is in order, especially in a place where you want to try many things. *Decour and ambiance - Understandably, they are still new and probably still renovating. It feels cozy and intimate - perhaps too much so. Tables are jammed to the brim and you could literally hear the convos next to you. Also the whole restaurant smells like sea urchins LOL. Need more ventilation

From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by a warm and cordial staff! They were genuinely helpful which sets the tone for a fantastic dining experience! The food was nothing short of amazing, beautifully presented and full of flavor. The drinks, I have to call this out...the list was impressive, with a thoughtful and several affordable selection - a rare and welcome surprise on fine dining menu these days! Each table features a hidden drawer (I hope you find it) that hold your utensils - a clever touch. Love everything we ordered and it's really hard to pick my favorites. After taking a few pics...I forgot to take the rest because I got busy eating!! I regret not ordering the Lu Rou lasagna, which gives us a reason to go back and try the rest of the menu! A truly standout dining experience and highly recommend!!

We had a delightful date night here and really enjoyed the food, ambiance and service. There is room to grow but Yeobo is off to a solid start. Food - inventive take on Korean-Taiwanese food. Chicken liver pate - one of our top two favorites. Delectable pate balanced nicely with pineapple. A perfect bite. Potato jeon with uni - the potato flavor surprisingly outweighed the more delicate uni and even the prosciutto. Miyagi oyster - the oyster was cooked and this was very flavorful but we prefer our oysters raw. Scallion croissant loaf - this was delicious. Rich and flaky, pulled apart beautifully and did have nice scallion flavor throughout. Butter not even necessary as this was very rich. Soondubu - not traditional but very tasty with a nice custardy tofu. The portion on this was really small. Pork collar and banchan - our second most favorite dish. The pork was grilled and flavored perfectly. So rich and delicious. The banchan was white kimchee with Napa cabbage and garlic scapes. Delicate and yummy. Paired nicely with the pork. Anchovy rice - rice is a must with the pork collar. We can't imagine not having rice. Very crispy with crisped anchovy sprinkled on top. Soju cocktails were absolutely delicious and paired nicely with the food. We did not have room for dessert. The dining space was beautifully appointed in a classic, muted and contemporary space with nice ambient lighting. Service was terrific. We had an incredibly knowledgeable server. And the pacing of the food was good. We were never rushed and dinner lasted nearly 90 minutes. The meal was expensive...definitely a splurge but we had a wonderful experience. It made for a very nice date night. We would return.

Came here on their 3rd day of service for a birthday dinner and it was amazing! The ambiance of this place is so chic and clean, staff were so friendly, and made our dinner experience awesome! ~The Food~ - Salt & pepper coonstripe shrimp, black garlic aioli ($19): The staff explained this dish to us that the shrimp is from the Half Moon Bay, and the skin is super thin so they fry the shrimp as is. This was super crispy and had just the right amount of the salt & pepper flavor and paired super well with their black garlic aioli. - Scallion croissant, rou song butter ($24): SO GOOD - The croissant loaf filled with scallions, pulls apart perfectly into 4 pieces and it is so crisp on the outside + so fluffy and soft on the inside. Paired with the rou song butter, it was perfect! Highly recommend! - Yeobo, Darling wagyu kalbi & banchan ($76): amazing! Super tender, melts in your mouth type of kalbi that is so well marinated in sweet savory sauce. Love that they serve the kalbi on the hot stone so it stayed warm through the meal! The kimchi on the side was also great! - Karat cake ($14): This was also so good! This carrot cake slice had the perfect amount of sweetness imo! The cream cheese frosting was not too sweet and was so smooth! Very moist cake, so good! ~The service~ The staff here definitely made our birthday dinner feel so special and were super attentive throughout the meal. The staff were also all so knowledgeable about the menu! ~Pricing~ The pricing is very reasonable imo! Considering the smaller portion size, it may be on the slightly pricier side, but I think it's definitely worth it! The overall ambiance, staff, + quality of the food make it very much worth it imo! ~Parking~ Standard downtown Menlo Park parking; we were able to find street parking pretty easily! ~Overall~ Highly recommend trying out this place if you're able to snag a reservation! Definitely will be back to try some of their other dishes!

My honest take on the food? Mid at best. Key takeaways: 1. The food photographs well--great for Instagram. 2. You can't really taste or feel the Korean or Taiwanese influence in most dishes. 3. Flavors are generally bland, and the components often don't meld or make sense together. What we ordered: Miyagi Oyster Wagyu Tartlet Potato Jeon with Uni Scallion Croissant Chilled Perilla Somyun Amberjack Mulhwe Lu Rou Lasagna Diver Scallop Kalbi Crispy Anchovy Rice Dish breakdown: Miyagi Oyster: Cooked, lightly seasoned--just okay, nothing memorable. Potato Jeon w/ Uni: Potato overpowers everything else. Uni and prosciutto are lost. Wagyu Tartlet: Decent. No complaints. Scallion Croissant: Highlight of the night. The bread is soft, flaky, and reminiscent of Mil Toast House in Korea. Would buy this on its own from a bakery. Chilled Perilla Somyun: Korean-influenced but too safe on flavor. Needs more boldness. Amberjack Mulhwe: A clever idea--amberjack with naengmyeon sauce. Good flavor, but a little more acid would elevate it. Lu Rou Lasagna: Visually interesting but confusing. Tastes like exactly like lasagna but doesn't taste enough like lu rou fan, thus sort of doesnt blend with the theme. Diver Scallop: Perfectly cooked scallops, but the other elements (black bean, cauliflower, cabbage) add little. Dish would taste the same without them. Kalbi: Can't go wrong. Tasty but basic. Crispy Anchovy Rice: Unfortunately just tasted like plain rice. Another dish held back by conservative flavors. Service: Understandably rough edges for a new restaurant, but at times the service felt overly intrusive. Frequent plate clearing, mistimed water refills, and constant table crumb wiping interrupted the flow of the meal. One odd moment: we were given a plate with crumbs on it, and when we asked for a new one, the server insisted it wasn't dirty--which was strange. That said, the staff was generally polite and attentive. Overall: The food looks beautiful but doesn't deliver on flavor. For the price point, I expected more depth and boldness, especially considering the promise of Korean and Taiwanese influences. Right now, it feels like they're playing it too safe. I wouldn't return unless the kitchen starts leaning more into their cultural roots and dialing up the flavor.

Beautiful new upscale restaurant on the main drag in Menlo, what a welcome addition! I love that this is a unique combination of Korean and Taiwanese food. Note that there is no wine list on the website but they have a nice list of wines by the glass and bottle, and a $50 corkage (eek!). * wagyu beef tartare tartlet, smoked soy, kohlrabi - 5 stars ($12): This unassuming bite was one of the stars of the night. I wish I could eat 5 of these. * scallion croissant, rou song butter - 3.5 stars ($24): Whoever designed this is a creative genius - all my favorite things, super fresh pull apart bread, with the perfectly softened butter. 3.5 stars because it was really heavy and I would just rather get something else next time. * lu rou lasagna - 3.5 stars ($31): Good, unique dish - would want to try a different main next time though. * Yeobo, Darling kalbi & banchan - 4 stars ($72): So delicious, tender, and flavorful! While this was one of my favorite mains, it did not seem especially unique so I would next time order something else. * scallop, black bean, cauliflower - 4 stars ($39): Same thing with the scallop. It was solid, delicious, but not particularly unique. * Kimchi - Homemade. SO. GOOD. Can't wait to return to try the rest of the menu. Recommend trying the bites, they were some of the highlights of my evening!

Yeobo, Darling is an absolute treasure. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with warm hospitality, a beautifully curated interior, and a menu that immediately makes you want to order one of everything. The food is fresh, vibrant, and full of thoughtful flavor--each dish feels like a love letter to Taiwanese and Korean cuisine with a modern twist. The attention to detail is impeccable. And don't skip the drinks--the cocktail menu is as creative as it is delicious.

Tucked away like a whispered secret on a busy street, Yeobo Darling is one of those rare finds that feels like both a cozy embrace and a culinary adventure. The name itself -- a term of endearment in Korean -- sets the tone for what becomes an intimate, soulful dining experience. The space is warm and effortlessly stylish: think moody lighting, thoughtful textures, and just the right amount of edge. Now, let's talk food -- because wow. Yeobo Darling nails that perfect fusion of Korean flavors with contemporary twists. The menu is thoughtful and confident, not trying too hard to impress, but effortlessly doing so anyway. Standout dishes: scallion croissant (melt in your mouth with that butter!), the lasagna (I could eat this on repeat!), the duroc pork (absolutely divine, tender, and came out on a hot sizzling plate), and the scallops were incredible. The Yeobo Darling chicken wings were UNBELIEVABLE. They came super hot (which I love), crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Presentation was sleek all around, and I loved the attention to detail (how cute are the edible flowers in the cocktails?!?!). Service was attentive without being overbearing. Our server knew the menu inside out, offered honest recommendations, and had that rare ability to make you feel genuinely welcome. I can't wait to come back and try more dishes. Since Maum closed down, I have been waiting to see what came next for this all-star chef couple Michael and Meichih Kim - they knocked it out of the park here (yet again). Congratulations to the whole team!!!!!

One of the most memorable meals we've had in a long time! The vibe struck a perfect balance: comfortable, yet elevated with a modern, refined touch. For a restaurant that's been open only a few weeks, everything ran smoothly. The staff was warm, professional, and knowledgeable. They guided us through the ordering process, suggesting a mix of small, medium, and large plates to share (for two people, their recommendation was around 2-3 small, 2 medium, and 1-2 large dishes). We ended up going heavier on the mediums and were definitely satisfied by the end! We couldn't stop going back to the creamy noodle dish... It came with an airy foam that was light, delicate, and flavorful. The onion bread with pork floss had the perfect contrast: soft and fluffy inside, with a crisp, flaky outer layer. And the morel mushroom soup was fresh and earthy. The most exciting part was the menu. We found ourselves genuinely interested in every dish, curious with how the flavor profiles would work. The fusion of eastern and western flavors felt fresh and intentional, and brought back memories from seeing traditional dishes from our childhood reimagined with creativity and care. We're already looking forward to our next visit.

Came here as a group of 4. Located in downtown and in a really nice area overall, ambiance was amazing. It was easy to hold a convo. all the food was really delicious, some dishes were really experimental, would reccomend the croissant service was great, they explained the menu and each dish well would go back 10/10

5 ! Amazing food and great service. Relaxing atmosphere. I forgot to take a picture but the scallion croissant, rou song butter is a must try.

A delightful experience! The chefs have brought together a mix of Asian flavors with a nod to their American upbringing to create truly yummy and unique dishes. We escaped the kids for a date night and the ambience was perfect for this. Cocktails were a great start, and even wines at the more affordable end of the wine list were excellent. The duroc pork and coonstripe shrimp were favorites and shall be on our list the next time we go back.

I was really sad when Maum closed, and I was disappointed that Baobei couldn't make it at State street, so I was really excited to hear about Yeobo, Darling coming to Menlo Park. They finally opened a few weeks ago, and reservations are going fast! For alcohol, it's low ABV cocktails and wine. Corkage is $50, and in a bit of an unusual move, they actually politely discourage corkage. That said, their wine is interesting and clearly curated, and we found a 2005 Pontet Canet at a ridiculously good price (got the last bottle!) Food is an interesting take on traditional Asian dishes without being too much like weird fusion. We shared everything family style. - Wagyu beef tartare tartlet: short rib tartare marinated in smoked soy, topped with shredded kohlrabi. It's meant to be one per person, but it took me a few bites to finish. This was great with a glass of champagne to start - Scallion croissant: one of their new signature items, with rou song (pork floss) butter. The croissant loaf was great with lots of layers, but I do wish it had a bit more scallion because the scallion concentrated bites were amazing! - Yeobo, darling chicken wings: a bit reminiscent of banchan's sauce but with a more refined butter and also shishitos - Lurou lasagna: with chrysanthemum pasta. I like the idea of it, but it was a bit subtle - Morels: stuffed with shrimp paste in a Dashi broth and Brentwood corn. This was like Asian corn soup needs egg drop soup with beautiful morels - Scallops: 3 per order, with a velvety black bean sauce (less strong than the traditional flavor) and a cauliflower puree - Yeobo, Darling kalbi: Wagyu kalbi on a binchotan grill - super tender and flavorful. It comes with house banchan of kicker and cucumbers on the side - Crispy anchovy rice: served in a black pot but not fully like sizzling rice crispy. The anchovies are actually tiny crisped fish on top, so make sure to get those in each bite to maximize flavor and texture They do have the signature karat cake on the dessert menu, but we were too full for desserts. Despite that they just opened, pacing and food preparation was good, and the server was very knowledgeable about the menu. They also have complimentary house sparkling water, which I always appreciate. Yeobo, Darling is a really nice addition to the peninsula dining scene and is so different from anything else around here. I look forward to more interesting ingredient combinations and bolder flavors as they evolve their menu!

We've been following the chef/owners since getting a pantry box from Maum during the pandemic, and trying Bao Bei & Karat Cake since Maum closed. We were so excited to finally try their new sit down restaurant Yeobo, Darling and it didn't disappoint! The space has a beautiful retro feel and the service was wonderful even on just their 2nd day of being open. The hardest part was probably not ordering one of everything because it all sounded so yummy. We went with ordering over half of the menu for 2 adults and 2 children, plus 2 desserts. While it's hard to pick a favorite since everything was so good, if we had to pick, I'd say my daughter's favorite was the salt & pepper coonstripe shrimp, my son's favorite was the scallion croissant with rou song butter, my husband's favorite was the kalbi and my favorite was the lu rou lasagna. The restaurant feels so versatile in that it can be a fancy celebratory meal but also a regular go-to spot for family meals. Bravo Yeobo!

Creative. Chic. Imaginative. Come before this restaurant becomes wildly popular. The husband-wife duo are true artisans who have come up with the most inventive fusion of tradition and contemporary. Their personal backgrounds and philosophy towards "Yeobo Darling" and life are inspiring and intriguing. Some of the most fantastical, uniquely conceived Asian-fusion, dishes I have tasted in the bay area. You can taste the thoughtfulness, craftsmanship and finesse that went into every dish. Mesmerising attention to detail, down to even the background music selection. This is what the bay area needs!