Reviews of Benu (Restaurant)

YJ Wang

This is one of the best restaurant in the world. Each bite takes you though an amazing and unforgettable journey. Totally worth the money. The truffle Baozi is my favorite, simple but rich in flavor. Their signature stuffed mussel shows complex techniques and tastes layers of freshness.

Keith Goff

Amazing experience! Everything about Benu is top notch! A must do while in San Francisco. Food, service, ambiance all the best!

Araz Pourmorad

Benu has earned everyone of its 3 Michelin Stars. The tasting menu marries Korean and Californian cuisine - bold Korean flavors and fresh, local produce. There is a extensive wine list with an electic mix of French and American wines as well as a great sake. For those with dietary preferences or restrictions, Benu can readily accommodate your needs (with a call beforehand). While the experience is pricey overall, the service and food are wonderful and worth it. A nice choice for a special occasion.

Rachel Ammerman

Very interesting experience. Not all dishes were good but it was fun and wait staff was amazing

Osy Castanon

I like the effort the chefs helpers do but the personal in charge seem to treat their helpers like nothing when they do almost everything, some of their products come from cheap places and they overcharge people

Lynette C.

Service was good.

Surath Rashmy Chatterjee

Excellent experience. Worth every cent of the outrageous prices.

Stephanie Underwood

We celebrated my mom’s birthday here and it was a good dining experience. The food is nice and the portions are good. I love the staffs because they are all assistive and friendly.

Alex Buyanin

Amazing experience.

Selena Gibbs

prices were appropriate.

Stephen Chun

#1 Three star in San Francisco

Zachary Oneill

I was so stuffed. Definitely worth a return trip.

Jennie Mitchelle

excellent service and would recommend!

Arturo Guzman

Yum.

Tae E. Kim

Came here for my birthday and had the full tasting menu (the only option available on the weekends, I believe). Overall, a good experience but wasn't completely blown away by the food (phenomenal service, though). That said, I'd still recommend Benu to folks who want to experience a unique dining experience.

Yue Chen

Service is great. Food is kind of heavy taste. Xiao long bao and the bun are great.

Derek Nelson

Exquisite! That’s how I’d sum up our dining experience at Benu. This is the last stop in our 3-star Michelin-rated restaurant hopping. From the moment we were greeted at the door we knew we were in for something special! Every dish that came out was a delight. We were like little kids excitedly awaiting what epicurean delicacy will come out next. All the flavors just fit, showcasing chef Corey Lee’s genius! To top it all off, we got a tour of the kitchen and saw first-hand where and how the magic happens. I recommend trying this restaurant at least once if you can.

JohnPaul Benedict

This is such a good place!

Youri Chung

It didn't live up to my expectation that I would have for a 3 michelin star / over $250 per person tasting menu. The food just felt like collage journey of Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and then French/American cuisine, rather than creative dishes with influences from these cuisines. Some of the seafood dishes that included uni tempura or a grilled fish tasted too fishy too. Maybe my expectation or standards are higher, coming from New York and having dined at multiple michelin restaurants. This is certainly a good restaurant with good food, nice venue, and great service. Just not worth the price or the rating.

Jodi Gernon

This was the rudest restaurant ever. I made a reservation for 4 people and gave them my credit card. I was never informed that I couldn't add a person to the reservation. I had a guest able to show up at the last minute. We arrived at the restaurant and when we asked to add a chair to our table (There was plenty of room). They told us they could not and that it would upset their flow and inconvenience the wait staff and chef. When I told them that we would then cancel, they told me they would still charge me for the table. So basically, they wouldn't seat 5 people instead of 4 and they planned on charging me. There was no indication that this would ever happen only that if I didn't show up they would charge my card. I did show up. The maitre' d was rude and refused to budge. I had 4 CEOs of top silicon valley startups with me and I wasn't going to kick one out because the restaurant was inconvenienced. Bad service all around.

Chongwei Runrun Wong

Walking through a Traditional Korean courtyard with pots of fermenting honey berries, your journey to a poetic fusion of Korean-rooted new American cuisine will leave your soul warm and fulfilled with imagination, and wanting more! Black Truffle synthetic shark fin steam egg custard, Warm Ginseng organ blossom honey poured on butter for fresh baked home made bread, Korean leave Wrapped Roasted Pork with miso, 40 year Selective bred Quail with black truffle mascarpone, and Omija - bitter, sour, salty, sweet, savour - paired perfectly with olive oil.... That’s just one chapter in the summer season of Chef Corey Lee’s prodigious and phenomenal menu. Please don’t miss an opportunity to experience it for yourself.

Jessica Jae Liu

All the flavors are well balanced. The taste was so robust and delicate. So many pleasant surprises. We dined till almost 1am but because of the great food, we were just getting more and more excited. Bravo!

Lan Zhou

Amazing experience!! Really good service!!! The chef was so nice too!!!!!

Renee Yao

We've been to multiple Michelin three star restarants all over the world and this one is the worst so far. The food was creative but not to the three star level, the service was aweful, you have to wave to get the waiters attention to add water or change plates for you. What's more horrifying is I got possible food poinsoning, spent the whole day next day in restaroom! It was a total nightmare, will file a complain to department of health.

June Jo Lee

just ate at benu again. they have masutake soup! Benu is my favorite (Korean) restaurant. I just wrote my first review ever motivated by a bad food experience so to balance that here is my second review of my best ever food experience. It’s much easier to write a review of a bad food experience focused on technical problems. So much harder to describe an awesome food experience because I am so in the moment enjoying sensations, emotions, wit, irony, whimsy, mastery and deliciousness of the moment. This night was particularly delicious because I shared it with my husband and kids. He is Chinese Lineage and I am Korean with trail of Japanese colonialist Lineage. The tasting was an intricate mix Chinese, Korean and Japanese —reflecting essentially my story. A deeply personal meal near the eve of my 49th year with the best dairy free birthday cake

Paul Lein

Truly deserving of its 3-star rating. As they say, a 3-star is "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey." And I took a special weekend trip around my reservation at Benu. It was worth it. A top rate restaurant should serve dishes that delight, tantalize, and mystify the tongue, and I certainly experienced new flavors that I had not tasted before. As pleasing they were to the palette, so too were the dishes a delight to the eyes. From the beginning dish of the 1000 year old quail egg, to the finale of yuba, almond, and white chocolate, and everything else in between, the night was a pleasure for the eyes, nose, and taste buds. And as remarkable as the food itself was the top flight wine pairings, which I highly recommend. A single pairing can be shared between a couple easily and vastly accentuates the food. Benu should be on the short list of any epicure in the United States. Visited 04/10/2015.

Angelos Mikelatos

A gastronomic experience. Food, wine, and service top of the class for those with deep pockets... and the lucky ones they will invite.

Ivan Evfimiou

Awesome dining experience! Amazing food that is unique and interesting. We had the tasting menu and loved all of it. The salt and pepper squid and monk liver courses were especially great.

Elliott Fisher

Agree with the three star Michelin rating for food, but the service is a bit stiff, and the space is a downer.

Tianxin Yu

Good food in general. They have the best Xiaolong bun in the world. Gave it a four since the service is less impressive than other 3 stars in town.

Cassio Lima

The menu has very rich and bold flavors and everything is cooked with very high quality. The presentation of the dishes is just breath-taking. Overall a very pleasant experience, but a bit too overpriced in comparison to other 3 Michelin Starred places.

Mahesh Bharariya

Full perfection. Memorable combination of food, presentation and service.

Matt Lampe

Love the seafood and Asian influences

Lenore Carlisle

GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. This place has decent lunch specials during the weekday. I highly recommend!

Beck Marquis

This is a fine dinning place that pays no attention to ambiance. Service was great, food was amazing, but the restaurant needs update. Especially the AC system. This is a unique dinning experience for Prime Rib. The prime rib is cooked to perfection and carved next to the table. Portion is generous. Price is a bit on the higher side, but within the range of fine restaurants in San Fran. We enjoyed it, just wish the room temp has been a bit cooler in such a packed restaurant.

Gregory Vasquez

don't fret if it's busy, it is worth the wait. next time i'll be back with my friends. the prices are fair for the quality of food.

Noe Gomez

One of the BEST DINNERS I’VE HAD!!! Blew me away! So much Abundance of highly executed flavors that hit on so many levels stirring within emotions and feelings beautifully!!! My Fiancée and I dined here as the Last Stop on our 3 day SF Food Ventures, I was stuck between Saison, Coi and Quince, but felt within Benu was it! After Manresa and Californios, SF capped off here! Chef Lee Present and at the Helm, an Honor to have met such a Passionate, Driven and Kind Soul! All Dishes and bites hit me over and over with Immense Delight! Never wanting it to end, it was more than l had hoped for, our Sommelier Yoon Ha MS Did a MAGNIFICENT JOB ON THE PAIRINGS!!! Wow!!! Magnified and took the dishes to elevated heights!!! Team was on Point and THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! @gastro_nomatico on Insta for more!

Karun Jain

Amazing food. Loved it

A A

Well worth the visit and not at all pricey like some 3 Michelin star restaurants in the Bay Area.

Ty Lim

This was definitely one of the most decadent and satisfying meals I've ever had! Corey Lee and his team are absolutely amazing! Every dish was beautifully plated and helped to accentuate the rich and vibrant flavors of each dish. I love coming here on special occasions because when you need everything to go perfectly, you know you'll get that at Benu!

Eric Michelman

Super nice people, wonderful food and experience. The pacing great -- not rushed but always keeping our interest.

Phil A

Wonderful experience with perfect food and service.

Shawn K

At the time I tried Benu it was my absolute favorite Michelin star restaurant; mostly because of the unique foods and experience.

SHARON DUSTIN

Very fancy and high class restaurant with small portions and high prices.

Dani S

Service was very good but very military like and super serious. The 12 course tasting menu is $195 which is not bad for SF area. I do love their open kitchen where anyone from the street can watch the cooks as chefs at work. The restaurant is so small that there are more people working than the amount of customers. The food is Asian fusion that is extremely creative. However, the certain dishes had not so great ingredients and definitely need to check the suppliers. Also the interior design needs a bit more work, it was like eating in the middle of a warehouse not a fine dining establishment.

Janet Kuo

I had a wonderful time.

Magui Joanidis

Every little detail is just perfect. Very friendly service. They would explain your food with enough detail, not too much! We really loved it.

Gary Yao

Phenomenal. If I ever have money (lots of it), this is the place I'd want to eat at (all the time). Almost all of the courses are superb (15 out of 17). The foie gras XLBS are the best ones I've tasted outside of China. The duck in black truffle oil is mind bending. So so good. So by the time you get close to the end of the 17 courses, you'll likely be feeling pretty stuffed. Then you taste the faux "shark fin soup" and it's like a reset button. It lifts you up, refreshes you, and makes you feel all right again. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you think... maybe I could eat more. And then the dessert comes. Nope. Done.

Ashish Bhandari

Amazing food – curated a vegan menu for me with perfection

Kirin Fuji

Delicate pieces of art.

Paul Urbanczyk

Amazing. Dinner and wine pairing were out of this world. Service was impeccable. Jordan did a great job and Yoon's pairings and service we're fantastic. Highly recommend.

Freddy Jaffré

I came for my birthday. Everything was well cooked and no major issue in service. Nevertheless, at this level I would expect more than a by-hand DIY main dish which didn't come with hand cleansers. There are a few dishes which tastes really great but why not the entire meal...? In terms of service I had to tell them to stop getting things on and off the table every two minutes. I didn't finish my plate that my friend's plate was removed... I didn't finish the previous dish than the next one is already here... I guess it's asian style service (is it ?). Anyway, it was all nice to try it anyway. The birthday cake is fun but has no taste...

Roy Geva Glasberg

One of the best in the world

RENE BARRAGAN

Extremely surprised!!! Excellent experience!!! Will definetly come back

dennis griffin

I've been here several times. Absolutely must-go for the San Francisco food scene. The best restaurant I've been to in my life.

Stephy Yu

The experience overall was great! The food was solid. There were a few of the small bites that I don't care for too much but there were some that were really good. Despite a few of the dishes not really wowing me that much, at the price point, I still had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the presentation on the food and the thoughtfulness of it. Definitely recommend!

David Fitzgerald

I had buyers remorse going to this restaurant. It is definitely not worth the price. Although there were some courses worthy (beef braised and shark fin) the rest of the courses were underwhelming. Service was good except for one person (manager?) who was a little rude. The decor was unimpressive (maybe they can learn from other SF establishments) but I was there for the food so I didn't mind too much.

Cristiano Marchettini

Minimalistic approach, Japanese style. Clearly Japan influences the cuisine as well. The delicacies are awesome (taco, oyster and pork belly, and sausage deserve a particular mention) but then the quality slowly starts decreasing. The wine pairing is original and good but it definitely needs some more tuning as well. Overall it's a good restaurant (I mean, a VERY good one, without doubt deserving 5.stars) but it lacks that extra bit that makes it exceptional.

Jeremy Chung

One of the best restaurants in SF.

Tennis Guru

Every dish is carefully prepared, very pretty! The preserved egg and jelly fish wrapped shrimp have layers of flavor; the beef with salad dish is tender, juicy and refreshing. These 3 are the best to me. The rest are just ok. Total cost is close to $900 for two persons. Service is top notch. Everyone is smiling and friendly. Every dish is explained so you understand what it is.

Pauline Potts

Visited on Sat I believe. Atmosphere is like a restaurant in Fort Worth I loved.

Arthur Uyesugi

You certainly get what you pay for. Every dish was amazing and staff was friendly and on point. Look forward to returning at some point

Theresa Sobczak

Just amazing. One of my favorite restaurants world-wide and the best drink pairing experience I've ever had.

Margaret Yeo

Very minimalist interior with an air of coziness. Interesting & delicious menu. Be sure to voice what you don't eat. A truly enjoyable experience.

Sherry H

Amazing food! Very creative chef! Every dish is a work of art!

Nick Yu

Was there not for the regular menu but a La Paulee event. It was meant to be the most impressive wine paired dinner. Chef had to change the menu for red wine pairing. I would say it's a fail. There were risks taken but dishes were not memorable. And some dishes I wouldn't want to have again. The service is what's most disappointing. The program flow were disrupted with sometimes 20min gaps. Bad execution.

Shelley Chang

The tasting menu made for a fantastic dining experience to celebrate a special birthday. The dining room is small and intimate with modern Asian inspired decor, the staff is friendly and attentive, and the food was delicious, well presented and full of surprises, blending traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese cuisine and ingredients with modern fine dining. Definitely one of the most memorable high end restaurants I've tried in San Francisco!

Alice Jou

Benu is owned by former French Laundry Chef Corey Lee. It's one of the most expensive meals I've ever had, BUT it's also one of the most memorable. The chef tasting menu included 15 courses. Each was exquisite in presentation and aside from one or two, they were absolutely delicious! A few of my favorite dishes were the oyster with pork belly, sea urchin, chicken liver with brioche, monkfish torchon, fried abalone, and the beautiful display of chocolates at the end of meal. The wait staff was friendly, attentive, and very knowledgeable. The entire meal lasted 3 hours and it was an amazing experience.

黄百川

Deserving its 3 Michelin stars. You will enjoy plenty of flavor in one meal, since the tasting menu contains a large number of small dishes. Chef Lee creates a set of new American dishes that contains much Asian elements, including Cantonese dishes and Korean dishes. Service is detail-oriented and the whole atmosphere is elegant.

Max Greenblatt

Exquisite - worth every penny!

Sze Wee Tan

It was extremely fortunate that we managed to reserve a table two days before we arrived in SF. They were also kind enough to extend the reservation timing and expand the guest by one addition when we arrived. There is only one menu for dinner, which is US$310 excluding wines. The small delicacies came in six different elegant dishes. The mains were good, rice, quail, short rib and each dish was introduced very clearly by the waiters. The meal lasted about three hours, we had sixteen items in total including the dessert. Ordered a California Chardonnay and Cab Sav which went well. Worth a return visit.

Terence Fung

Had really mixed feelings about this one.. The service and decor was great. Food was sort of nouveau Korean food, with some pretty interesting ingredients that are not normally found in US restaurants. I wouldn't say the food was bad, it was interesting and had some good flavors.. but in the end, it was grossly overpriced for what it was.. After tax, mandatory 20% service charge, it came to nearly $400 a person excluding alcohol...

Shay Seng

Beautifully crafted food, inspired combinations, great service.

Rachel Slotnick

I would give Benu 10 stars if I could. My partner took me here for my birthday and it wasn't just the best meal I've ever had...it was a beautiful life experience. The food, the service, the ambiance...all impeccable. The wine pairing made an incredible experience that much more amazing. Benu is worth every penny and more. I can't recommend it highly enough.

B. E-W

One word = delicious! There is Korean and Chinese flavors among all the reinvented dishes that look beautiful and taste amazing. Get ready to shell out some serious cash though. It's extremely pricey--$238 for the 11 course menu and the beverage pairing is an additional $210 (we went for dinner in July 2017). With the service charge, one person can easily spend $700 for dinner. There is also valet parking available for $20 so if you must drive, there's a spot for your vehicle.

Hailong D Vu

Very creative food.

Eugene Markman

Very good. In the top five meals I've ever had.

Linda Grigorik

Impeccable execution by chef Corey Lee and team! Our New year's Eve dinner was delicious. What a perfect way to end an awesome year and to welcome an exciting new year! Thanks for having us!

Visit tavee

Been there. These 19 coarse dinners are a little tiring and boring. Each coarse is so small one does not really enjoy what they are eating. We have been to several restaurants across the globe like this, and you do not really know what you are eating. Same-o-same-o. Wished it was 3 to 5 coarse so could enjoy what you are eating. The food was good at Benu, but not worth the price. Would not go back for multi courses.

Terry Smith

One of the top 3 or 4 restaurants in the United States. The food is brilliant, the service is first rate. Asian inspired haute - cuisine, with a unique emphasis on texture and harmony of flavors. More than a dozen small courses, each a piece of art; with optional alcohol pairings selected by a master that complement and enhance the experience. I don't think you can find anything else like it in the world, it deserves the accolades it has gathered in the 7 years since it opened. However, it's an experience, not a dinner, be prepared to spend some time, attention, and of course, money.

Arun Venkatesan

My significant other and I went to Benu to celebrate our anniversary. Benu felt very much like other "Contemporary" restaurants that we have been to. The dishes are asian influenced with modernist preparations. It was also our fist time going to a Michelin 2 star restaurant. The food was very well thought out and each dish was like a work of art. The restaurant is very understated modern. Even though there isn't a large amount of space between tables, our table felt private. The only issue we had was that sometimes the food felt a little hard to relate to. They were very well crafted, but maybe a little too "modernist" for newbie foodies like us. I'd suggest getting familiar with modernist cuisine before eating here.

vanessa hill

Benu was an incredible experience! Each bite was a delight. The staff was warm and welcoming. The ambiance was simple but elegant. Book your reservation well in advance. Expect to spend about 3 hours there. Enjoy!

Keira Chu

The delicacies in the beginning were my favorite - exquisite and delicious. Didn’t like the “main” dishes, eg the chicken leg stuffed with abalone, and really did not like the dessert (winter melon with frozen meringue and a berry sorbet. The service was excellent, striking a perfect balance of being attentive and not hovering. The one weird thing is that they remove the dishes before I finish eating that particular course. This happened twice! I have 3 bites left and they just started clearing the my plates! I thought it was rude and it made me feel rushed.

Rachel Rui Jue

Fusion Asian-American 3 star Michelin restaurant. It only has tasting menus. Pricey but probably worth an experience when in the Bay Area.

Selena Hiett

Good food and well presented. Good waitstaff, nice atmosphere

Snoop_Dog

sooooo good

Brian Foster

We did the beverage pairing. The entire experience was phenomenal.

Yiwen Mu

Great experience for our anniversary:)

Haku ei

Benu is a great experience for those who are familiar with Asian cuisine and culture. Corey Lee takes the the familiar ingredients and transformed them with French style cooking. The steamed bun with black truffle totally blew me away.

David Tsao

Amazing experience. Clearly shows a significant progression from the last time we went several years ago. Beautiful presentation, blissful flavors, impeccable service.

Thomas Wontae Seoh

An experience to remember. Corey Lee is one of the most brilliant chefs in America. Not for the budget diner, but if you're wanting a memorable experience, go get the tasting menu.

Melania Fernandes

Each plate, different taste, so good... It was a wonderful experience

Shazreh B.

This establishment was simply atrocious. I tried to enjoy some sauteed microbe, and they have the audacity to serve me RED WINE WITH IT?? Are their palette so unrefined?? SUCH INCOMPETENCY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! I will take my business to the five Michelin starred McDonalds.

Lisa Millon

Very classy atmosphere but took very long to get my order! Other than that it was good.

Timothy Kline

They have so many good reviews for a reason.

Kyungmi Chung

My best restaurant ever! Great Korean-French fusion. Absolutely amazing!!!

Benu Mohanty

awesome, its named after me!!!!!!

Jamaal Simmons

This was one of my highlight of a trip to San Fran, 3 of us dined and were blown away with the clinically prepared food. First canape the Kim chi and oyster dumpling - outstanding, second mussel with noodles and vegetables was so good just to look at but also tasted the part, in fact all were great didn't have a dish I was not blown away with. We have the matched wines and sake which was fantastic. Service was quick smart discrete and on point, if I come back to San Fran for sure I will come again. Keep up the good work guys

Rohenne Lee

A must try! My favorite 3 Michelin star restaurant (as of now). :) Usually 3 star Michelin restaurants are a once in a lifetime experience that you splurge on and I generally prep myself that it isn't going to be comfort food. Mainly because of the creativity that the chef has to put into his or her food that will earn them that third star. Many 3 Michelin star restaurants (for me at least) tend to be an amazing experience but it wouldn't be the meal id want to have multiple times. Benu has surprised me and is totally different. I would love to go back to Benu again and try more dishes. Every dish they served us is an elevated version of some sort of Asian or Western dish but with a twist. The meal starts with quite a few small bites, goes into the appetizers on your menu and then mains and dessert. I'd have to say the small bites really blew my mind. They combined both creativity yet it could also be homey comfort food. For example, we had a chicken wing stuffed with a whole abolone. I could have that everyday. Also the shrimp wrapped in jellyfish. Everything was amazing. Price wise, yes it's quite expensive so I'd say I would only come here for special occasions and be ready to splurge. Presentation of the dishes were beautifully done and service was impeccable. Really no complaints! It's not super hard to get a table either. I booked 2.5 weeks in advance and got the 8:30pm seating. Hats off to the chef. Thank you for such a wonderful experience.

Michael Baker

I was skeptical at the beginning - I figured it was another place where I would enjoy the atmosphere but be nonplussed by the food and need a burger after I was done. I was so very wrong. First, let me say that the wine pairing adds TREMENDOUSLY to the experience. I and my dinner companions could not stop talking about how great each course was - with our enjoyment growing throughout the night as the each unique and thoughtful course (and pairing) arrived. The service was tops, the food was magical, and the sommeliers were knowledgeable and engaging. Truly a dining EXPERIENCE. Highly recommend.

Tora Bjarnason

Best 3 star restaurant in California by my opinion. They stand out not just with a exquisite Asian fusion cuisine and really interesting wine pairing but with excellent service. Very natural, unpretentious and widely competent, that makes the high sealing minimalistic room seem all cosy and relaxed.

B M

On vacation in beautiful California and this was the first restaurant we went to last night. Absolutely a wonderful experience. I look forward to seeing so much more.

Mam Sutheera

Had a great experience at this place. Good service. Great quality. Will definitely be back if I have a chance to revisit SF.

Miss Cool

Amazing second time as well

Ricky Wilson

One of the best Food I've Experienced!!! Definitely overwhelmed by the wide variety of seafood and fish dishes. Some of the fish variety were the first time for me especially in a non-sushi setting.Loved the fresh and dried yuba dessert with almonds and white chocolate.Sprinkled in some exotic truffles, frog legs, shark fin (?faux) here and there, and you have a culinary surprise.

yang ye

Food is good without doubt. But the service is not as good as other people suggest. The waitress kept cold smile made me feel I did something wrong. They service food fast. I had to keeping eating the food since I want to enjoy them when they are still warm. In general, definitely a good restaurant to go. Just my personal experience is not that pleasant.

Rosemarie Robinson

Exquisite! That’s how I’d sum up our dining experience at Benu. This is the last stop in our 3-star Michelin-rated restaurant hopping. From the moment we were greeted at the door we knew we were in for something special! Every dish that came out was a delight. We were like little kids excitedly awaiting what epicurean delicacy will come out next. All the flavors just fit, showcasing chef Corey Lee’s genius! To top it all off, we got a tour of the kitchen and saw first-hand where and how the magic happens. I recommend trying this restaurant at least once if you can.

Michail

Maybe my expectations were set to high but I walked away disappointed... The food was delicious and the service was great but at this caliber restaurant, I feel like that's almost table stakes. So why'd it lose points? - A lot of the courses felt haphazard. They'd very often bring out a main "item" of some sort and like 4 accompaniments to it and just tell you to have-at. I often felt lost in how I was supposed to enjoy a course. Honestly, this is the biggest complaint. - There wasn't much that surprised me. I will admit, I value surprise very highly and I do eat out at high end restaurants maybe too much, but if others can still regularly succeed in surprising me, I have to believe Benu can as well. - The cost seemed disproportional to what we got. I'm happy to put down a few hundred for a well crafted tasting menu but at around $800 for two, without a wine pairing, I'd rather go out twice to any number of SF's other fine dining restaurants.

Laurent Kia

Best restaurant I have tried so far!!! Fantastic service and great staff.

Seokbin Hong

Fusion Asian food, mainly Korean. Good food, good service, good interior.. But, it is way too expensive. Is it worth to try? Maybe. Is it worth to come again? I doubt.

Felix Chu

One of my favorite restaurant experiences in SF! The meal was great from start to end. The black truffle butter was so rich and tasty.

David Trinh

Was pretty hyped to have dinner here while on vacation. I think the main thing is the flavour of the food is more delicate and unique but not overpowering. The technique and presentation of the food is stunning. The service was good. The price was expensive (total damage came to about $450per person with drinks and tea) but the premium ingredients, impeccable service, and obviously the location would impact the price. My favourite dishes: Mussel stuffed with pickled veggies. Incredible presentation and a reallt unique flavour Caviar and uni with scallion rice. Probably the best rice I've ever tasted and paired with flavourful caviar and uni Bread and Butter with honey and ginseng. Incredible flavour. Could not get enough of it. Overall a great experience.

Jonathan Reidel

Believe the hype! Exquisite experience!

Josephine Barnes

This is definitely one of the best places in the area! It offers quality food and the ambiance is well maintained and designed. Will definitely recommend this and will come back again soon

Yao Wong

It's won all the accolades, and it is definitely priced to match. Personally, I think the food is technically excellent but it doesn't resonate with me. To each their own.

ziyan gu

Creative menu.

Bryan Fries

Unforgettable... A true dining experience, not just a dinner. Outstanding in every regard!

Mathieu Stemmelen

"From the greeting at the door" to the "calming" "Japanese minimalist" setting, this SoMa New American is "the very definition of restaurant excellence", where chef-owner Corey Lee "works magic" with "exquisite" yet "indescribable" tasting menus that "elevate" cuisine to a "whole new level"; you'll need the help of the "impeccable" staff to navigate the "daunting wine list", but all in all, it's a "once-in-a-lifetime" dining experience that's "worth the high price." Learn more about Benu. What to order Tasting menus only (pictured) Insider tip: Expect innovation from the former French Laundry chef, whether chef Corey Lee's interpretation of shark-fin soup (minus the shark fin) or a palate-cleansing sorbet made from sake lees.

Mary Sanchez

The service was excellent.

Andrew Garcia

Amazing and delicious! Bring an appetite.

Salim Ahmed

Great dining experience

Pat Krapf

Heavenly. Topnotch, all the way--food, service, ambiance. By far, one of my shortlist favorites.

Deb Down

Pleasant place for a night out. My only disappointment was their lack of knowledge of wine pairing. If you offer it, then you MUST truly know a lot about it.

Merry Dec.

very good!

Kabby Hong

Over the course of a week, I was able to dine at Singlethread Farms, French Laundry, Atelier Crenn, Benu and Saison. It was a total splurge, but two restaurants were head and shoulders above the rest: Benu and Saison. I was worried that the food would be beautiful to look at but not truly delicious. I think sometimes 3 Michelin star restaurants focus too much on the appearance of a dish rather than the taste. Benu was not only deeply satisfying from a taste perspective, but the dishes were so creative and convey the mind of a chef (Corey Lee) that's a true artist. You know a dish is tasty when you are longing for one more bite. That happened on nearly every course at Benu. Some standouts were the eel taco (sounds weird but incredibly good) and the quail served with a steamed bun and truffle sauce. The service was genuinely warm and engaging from the moment we were greeted by Summer at the door to the fun conversation we had as we waited for our Lyft as rain poured outside. I've had a lot of memorable meals, but this one tops the list. Chef Lee has truly created a restaurant that mimics the city that he lives in. Benu is a San Francisco restaurant that showcases the best that the city has to offer. It has a strong Asian perspective, but it's definitively American. My wife and I sat next to a couple from China. I overheard them having moments of recognition where the food at Benu sparked a connection to a food memory from their past. My wife and I also had those moments even though we are a Korean American couple from the Midwest. I think it says something that Chef Lee's food can spark that recognition from two vastly different worlds and do so in such an original and delicious way.

Linda Liu

Best Chinese food in California

Eugene Imperato

Food and service were excellent

Mike Muskat

Truly unique dinner. Perfect restaurant for foodies. Expensive.

William Lee

Special for those who aren’t used to having Korean/Chinese food in Asia

Try my best

This is the third time I dined here. Great food great presentation. Except the manager. I ordered a $500 bottle wine. She put the usual 20% surcharge on it. I raised the reasonableness issue w her - what extra service does the restaurant provides vs a $ 100 wine, so $20 vs $100 charge. There’s 0 difference, and thus the charges should be discretionary. She basically told me my way or the high way. To operate a high end restaurant, the minimum should be decency and self respect.

Francisco Rodriguez

Awesome experience! Delicious food, great service and ambience. It is an expensive place but worth it for a special occasion.

cathy wagoo

Maybe it's because I'm Asian, but I thought the food was way overpriced for what was being served. The presentation and delicacy and tastes and textures were definitely all very fine and good, but there was nothing that was particularly unique about the flavor combinations. Service and atmosphere were wonderful. I'd recommend it to my non-Asian friends with the disclaimer that I didn't think it was special. For the price, there are many other places in SF that I would recommend above BENU though.

Mark H

Benu is exceptional. Exceptional food, exceptional service, but also exceptional prices. The average person would only be able to come here for a special occasion, but trust me it’ll be worth it. I never thought I’d find a restaurant that would justify Asian fine dining, but this place blends French technique with Asian flavours perfectly and creates something greater than the sum of its parts.

Matt Lingner

Oh my goodness, Benu is to die for. From the attentive, polite, friendly waitstaff to the perfect wine pairing selections, everything surrounding Cory Lee's food is perfect. But the food itself goes beyond that. I can't even describe it with words. The 1,000 Year Egg was especially amazing, as was the winter melon with chrysanthemum flower dessert.

Adrian Kwa

One of the world's top 50 restaurants. Chef Corey Lee was cooking at famed restaurant The French Laundry. His degustation menu is amazing. Lots of little dishes in a modern Korean fusion. Decor is minimal. Definitely pricey so save it for a special occasion

Amanda Ahringer

This was by far the best meal of my life and it was an incredible experience from start to end. I spent just about every moment of the 3.5 hour experience in a state of bliss. Everything was perfect... the food, the wine pairing experience, the service, the ambiance! I was worried that the vegetarian tasting menu wouldn't be as great as the regular menu, but Corey Lee knocked it out of the park with both menus! My partner's eyes teared up with joy a couple times while eating the food and on most occasions we completely stopped our conversation so that we could savor the delicious food. With just about every course my partner and I would take a bite, look up at each other with shock and elation in our eyes, say "oh my god", close our eyes for a moment, and let the experience wash over us. The flavor would change 2-3 times in my mouth and each change was just as delicious and exciting as the last. I experienced endless flavors that I never knew existed. My brain was absolutely buzzing, soaking up details of this previously unknown world! Yoon Ha, a Master Sommelier, explained just about all of the wine pairings to us. He did a exceptional job explaining where the wine came from and why it was paired with the dish. The wine pairing amplified the entire experience ten fold. Master Sommeliers go through some of the most intensive programs imaginable and very few people earn that title. It was amazing to have someone with this level of expertise explaining a pairing to us and making himself available to answer questions! Another gentleman explained a couple of the pairings but it was difficult to hear him because he spoke very, very quietly. My partner was able to hear him alright because he was standing close to her and facing her, but I could not hear what he was saying at all. The only advice I would give on improving the dining experience at Benu would be for this gentleman to speak up and address both people at the table. It would have been a notably less amazing experience if the entire wine pairing was presented in that fashion. The service was absolutely impeccable and the attention to detail was amazing. The staff noticed that my partner was left handed and switched her utensils to the other side of the plate after the first small bite. The menu was customized for the occasion with my partners name and it said happy birthday. The birthday celebration for her at the end was classy. The atmosphere was great. The staff had a genuinely friendly vibe and I didn't detect a hint of elitism the entire night. I felt comfortable being myself and was able to enjoy an amazing meal without feeling self conscious at all. What a beautiful experience! I can't wait to go back! Thanks Benu!

Leesa Yim

Asian inspired Michelin star restaurant. Many flavors were familiar to Korean palette. Most dishes were inventive and familiar at the same time. There were a few dishes I didn't love, the faux shark fin, chicken wing stuffed with abalone were a couple. The 1000 year old egg, hairy prawn (that's what I call it), lobster dumplings, and beef dishes were excellent. The desserts we're not too sweet, simple and cleansing. The service was outstanding. I'm not sure if I'll go back though.

Mallory McVey

I never dined here. But I paid the bill. Denver, Colorado was hit with a major blizzard causing the airport to close down for more than 24 hours. When I spoke to the management, I was told that I'd receive a $310/pp (so $620) charge for the tasting menu because it was a late cancellation. When I asked if ANY alternate solution could be found, I was told absolutely not. There was no possibility of a partial charge or rescheduling. Management was extremely rude during the conversation. I don't appreciate the 'my way or the highway' attitude. It would have been wonderful to reschedule but I have little interest at this point. WORST SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS SPENT EVER. I respect cancellation policies but this is excessive and the attitude of the woman was extremely vexing.

Leo Chen

Holy whatever deity you pray too, this place is amazing. Amazing tasting menu at this Asian themed fine dining restaurant. Had a flawless experience, worth every penny.

Rosanne Wong

This is how minimalism can go very, very wrong. My heart sank once I stepped into the cold and sterile dining room. Amuse bouche started out great! We were happy with every single one. We could tell they spent a lot of time to perfect it. However, things started to go downhill afterwards. Main courses were average and desserts were catastrophic. THEY DEFINITELY NEED TO HIRE A NEW PASTRY CHEF. My chef friend who used to work for Daniel in NYC refused to eat any of their dessert. They were either too sweet or had a weird taste. We preferred a scoop of store-bought ice cream over any of their dessert. It was the worst dessert I ever had in any Michelin star restaurant... We were disappointed given the expectation that it is a Michelin 3-star restaurant.

Seungyon Kim

every dish was very delicate and tasteful. nice and gentle servers. but not sure if this is worth my $800 (for two people, even without drinks). maybe my expectations were too high?

Tim Regan

We had high expectations and Benu surpassed those expectations. It was amazing! We ate at Quince the night before and Benu destroyed Quince. Wasn't even close. The food, the service and the wine pairings were exceptional. The wine pairings were better than any other two or three starred Michelin restaurant that we've been to. Highly recommend. There are a lot of restaurants in the world on the "to-do" list but Benu is definitely one that we'd repeat.

Lillie Robinson

Exquisite! That’s how I’d sum up our dining experience at Benu. This is the last stop in our 3-star Michelin-rated restaurant hopping. From the moment we were greeted at the door we knew we were in for something special! Every dish that came out was a delight. We were like little kids excitedly awaiting what epicurean delicacy will come out next. All the flavors just fit, showcasing chef Corey Lee’s genius! To top it all off, we got a tour of the kitchen and saw first-hand where and how the magic happens. I recommend trying this restaurant at least once if you can.

Liuyi Zhu

Nice and comforting. Their creativity is more on a safe and mild side, which I’d admire. Love the quail, one of the desserts (made of some kind of berry), some type of egg and a certain soup.

Ace Porter

The quail egg small delicacy knock your socks off amazing! Marinated mussel - surprisingly refreshing.

Henry Braun

nice location to meet with family. service is consistently great. the place has a nice atmosphere.

DJP DJP

$430 a piece. Ouch. Great service and intricate food worthy of their praise but the wallet is a bit lighter.

Sylver Corkins

Beat dinner wine pairing ever!