yeobo, darling
Asian restaurant · Menlo Park ·
Korean & Taiwanese fusion: inventive dishes, tea cocktails, intimate setting
Korean & Taiwanese fusion: inventive dishes, tea cocktails, intimate setting
"Comforting, exciting, and well-made, the Korean-and-Taiwanese plates at Menlo Park newcomer Yeobo, Darling make fine dining feel approachable. Among the smaller, upscale bites, the chicken liver tartlet pops with citrusy pineapple, and neatly wrapped pieces of amberjack are similarly surprising with lime. The larger crispy anchovy rice—just $19—serves as an accessible medley of umami, a warming bowl of fishy, carby goodness. The chicken wings are an ideal order to share, straight-up and unfussy, and the fried chicken is a meat-and-potatoes rendition for all of us. The space reads as a chic neighborhood restaurant—highly aestheticized and living up to the hype—with outstanding, friendly service and lots of check-ins, plus a bar for those rolling solo. Make this a destination drive, and for locals, head in for casual after-work dinner bites and drinks." - Paolo Bicchieri
"Like the word “darling,” “Yeobo” is a Korean term of endearment, which is fitting, because a meal at this Korean-Taiwanese fine dining spot feels like a warm embrace from your glamorous, impeccably dressed lover. The sleek space feels almost romantically private, with its low lighting, sheer drawn drapes, and white paper lanterns gently illuminating each table. The menu feels just as elegant, the scallion croissant with rou song butter is a standout––flaky pastry studded with vibrant green scallions and savory, whipped butter, and the silky broth of the morel mushroom soup with shrimp and corn contrasts perfectly with the mushrooms and tender shrimp within. Even the dishes that sound a little far-fetched work, like the lu rou lasagna––vibrant green chrysanthemum pasta sheets filled with Taiwanese braised pork and bechamel—it’s the kind of dish we’ll run to for emotional support And the heirloom tomato—half an enormous heirloom, doused in tangy black vinegar, and umami-ified by white kelp––might not look like much, but it’s intensely tangy and juicy. Be sure to make a reservation well ahead since it's just 50 seats, and tables are only released in 30-day increments. photo credit: Gabi Moskowitz photo credit: Gabi Moskowitz photo credit: Gabi Moskowitz Pause Unmute RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE" - Gabi Moskowitz
"A Menlo Park restaurant from a husband-and-wife chef team that serves a personal take on Korean and Taiwanese family dishes—reflecting time spent at Michelin‑level and celebrated Bay Area kitchens—with items like shrimp uhmook and kongguksu featured on the menu." - Paolo Bicchieri
"Opening June 13 in Menlo Park, this intimate, transportive restaurant is the first venture the chef couple are owning together and channels their Korean and Taiwanese heritages through the lens of growing up in America and training in fine-dining kitchens. The menu applies refined technique to comfort-driven, approachable dishes — examples include a lu rou lasagna that layers Taiwanese braised pork (lu rou fan) with chrysanthemum-and-spinach pasta sheets and béchamel, a shrimp uhmook (a shrimp-and-tofu-skin take on Korean fish cakes) braised in a gamtae-thickened, egg-drop-style broth with daikon, and a chilled perilla somyun inspired by jatjuk and kongguksu (perilla noodles tossed in perilla oil topped with an ice-cold pureed jatjuk). A collaborative scallion croissant made with a local baker uses custom Korean molds to create an accordion-like pull-apart loaf served with rou song butter, emphasizing convivial, interactive dining. Drinks were developed with Taipei’s BAR MOOD to offer low-ABV, tea-forward soju cocktails (the Natural Oasis pairs lemongrass, oolong, and lemon balm), along with canned beers, wines by the glass, two nonalcoholic cocktails, coffee, and tea. The team, who previously led Michelin-starred Maum and the more casual Bao Bei at State Street Market (closed 2020 and 2023), aim for a warm, communal atmosphere with close-set tables and reservations available on OpenTable; hours are Tuesday–Thursday 5–9 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 5–9:30 p.m." - Dianne de Guzman
"Scheduled to open in Menlo Park on Friday, June 13." - Dianne de Guzman
