SSAL in San Francisco

Really nice experience ! Thank you for having us Saturday night !Everything was really good, waitress and chef also here to explain the dishes, food and wine pairing was perfect... Maybe the next thing is to learn how to pronounce all the names as a French guy will do 🤣😅It was my first 1-Michelin star in the US and I was very surprised by the quality and the tastes...Special mention for the Eel and the croissant (with the French accent 😋)I hope Ill come back again... maybe when you will have the 2nd star 😉

What can I say?! The food, the service and the ambience all were amazing! I really enjoyed each and every one of the courses which isn’t that common for any restaurant; more often than not there’s an item that misses the mark. Not at SSAL, though I gotta say the seafood courses in the beginning (especially tuna with caviar) were my favorite. I substituted for the A5 Wagyu and it was amazing too.We opted in for the wine pairing - it hit the mark too. None of the wines were extraordinary but they did pair really well with the food. You know it’s a huge endorsement when you are willing to dine at a Michelin star restaurant again - well I’dlove to visit SSAL again.

Other than the brisk pace (to accommodate multiple seatings per table), the meal was a truly wondrous set of a dozen Korean cuisine-inspired dishes. The chef dazzles with a mix of traditional techniques and creative twists that skillfully blend local and Korean imported ingredients. Warm, friendly service helps offset a somewhat crowded space with sub par acoustics.

Have been wanting to come here for a while. One of the better 1*s Ive been to. There was not a single dish I didnt like (which is rare as Im notoriously fastidious). Seafood was very fresh! My only feedback would be to edit the lobster dish. Lobster is great but no need for the pool of caviar underneath as its not edible on its own after you eat the lobster (soupy and salty). Maybe some kind of emulsion or even simply a whipped creme fresh will hold the caviar better and balance the salt. Will be back once the menu changes for sure!

1 michelin stars have a huge range. With some, you question the accolade… others are solid 1 michelin stars with solid cooking but fall short in some axes.Ssal is nearly perfect in all dimensions. I’m actually a little shocked that this is a 1 michelin star as it’s stronger than most 2 michelin stars I’ve been to.The food is mind blowing, the plates and silverware are beautiful, the atmosphere is sleek yet cozy, the dishes are timed to perfection, and the staff are personal and anticipate your needs. I love the korean twist to the dishes and the unique collaborations (e.g. Arsicault Croissants!).A bit pricey, but this is a very impressive restaurant. You can be confident that you’ll have a stellar experience.EDIT (after additional visits):I think this is the best restaurant in SF (I’ve been to most on the michelin guide including Benu). In terms of value, you’re getting a top tier 2 michelin star experience for a much lower price. However, they have been slowly increasing their prices over the years ($180 -> $210 -> $230).

I wanted to gift my niece and her SO a special birthday dinner as they are fantastic human beings. I did a lot of research to find some place really great. There are so many interesting SF restaurants, but SSAL stood out. From their ecstatic feedback, the reality was well beyond my high expectations. Gorgeous artful plating, amazingly creative and unconventional dishes and sublimely delicious flavors combined with stand out warm and personal service. It was a spectacular evening, one of the best they have ever experienced. Now I have to make time to fly to SF and try for myself.

Incredible staff, memorable dishes, and thoughtful ingredient sourcing. One of my favorite meals in San Francisco. Highly recommend!

We were really impressed by the tasting menu when we visited SSAL on Oct 28th. The tasting menu presents a good combination of seafood and meat with Korean touch. We really like how chefs put in efforts presenting each dish so they all look amazing and taste and texture are both there. I felt that they put thoughts into how to make sure all dishes have some nice, crunchy texture.Some dishes that really impressed us are the oyster that is full of umami flavor, king grab with sea urchin sauce, the amazing croissant from Arsicault, and the dessert ice cream with charred corn. All very interesting combinations of flavors and textures, and also light in the sense that they are very approachable.I think overall the experience is very good and definitely worth a visit.

Everything was phenomenal and each dish was well curated and executed. Every dish was above expectations. Prices are very fair. Service was excellent as well, I will be thinking of this meal for a while and looking forward to returning. Thank you for this exquisite dining experience!! They deserved for Michelin star!!!음식맛, 서비스, 분위기.. 다 미슐랭 스타 레스토랑 다워요~~

Amazing experience, we had a wonderful dinner. Really blown away by the quality and thoughtfulness of every dish. Ssal has innovative dishes and flavors, and crafts a cohesive experience from the start to the end. It’s a very intimate experience in a minimalist interior, with a wonderfully attentive staff and meticulous execution.One of our favorite places in SF, would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great meal and experience!