Benu - Reviews

My dinner experience was as perfect as I could have hoped for. Initially, I was nervous, having been disappointed by a previous visit to Alinea and worried this might also be over-hyped. However, the reality was fantastic! The food was spot on in every instance, with generous portions. The restaurant showcased immense creativity and innovation throughout the meal. The staff was incredibly kind and not at all stuffy, which I loved. My girlfriend and I celebrated her birthday, and they thoughtfully made her a cake, a wonderful final touch to an already flawless dinner. We are eager to return!

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! The food was excellent, with dishes that felt very authentic to Korean cuisine, while also offering creative reimaginings that I thoroughly enjoyed. The ingredients were noticeably fresh and of high quality. Our favorites included the roast quail, the namul with steamed bun, the exceptional nurungji, and the rich jangjorim. The desserts were also a hit, not being too sweet, with the yakgwa cheese tart being particularly delicious. The only dish that didn't quite stand out was the guandu, which felt less special. The service and atmosphere were both rated a perfect 5, with a quiet noise level that made conversation easy.

My experience at Benu was truly an East meet West affair fine dining establishment. Chef/Owner Corey Lee, with his extensive resume and Michelin 3 Stars status, delivered an extraordinary meal. My daughter, who lives in San Francisco, invited our family to celebrate my birthday at Benu, marking our sixth visit to a Michelin-starred restaurant together. As someone who has worked and owned pizza restaurants my whole life, I deeply appreciate when a restaurant hits all the high notes, and Benu certainly did. Chef Lee possesses a magical ability to combine ordinary Asian ingredients with Western culinary skills, transforming them into extraordinary dishes. I feel immense pride in his accomplishments, especially given my Asian heritage and restaurant background. The ambience of Benu is open with high ceilings and a modern architectural design with an Asian flare; it's warm, intimate, and very comfortable. The service was exceptionally warm and not at all pretentious, unlike many other Michelin establishments. Our server, Tyler, was very friendly, informative, and engaged. He even took us to the kitchen after our meal to meet Chef Lee and took our family photo in the restaurant's garden as we were leaving. While Benu is expensive, it is worth every single penny, especially when my daughter is paying! I also need to mention the Sommelier, who was incredibly accommodating, allowing me to drop off my 2010 Opus One (not on their wine list) four hours prior to our arrival so it could be decanted for three hours before dinner, as recommended.

My wife and I embarked on a mission to experience all the SF-adjacent Michelin restaurants, and Benu stands out as the most memorable and unique. After two flawless visits, it's evident the restaurant is truly inspired. The food is spectacular, with course after course of "small delicacies" like the anchovy toast, leading to a gentle, intentional progression to mains. We were even treated to a fabulous dessert, with the restaurant making our group a whole cake, ensuring we left satisfied. I highly recommend the beverage pairing. The service is calm, slowly paced, and luxurious. The staff are knowledgeable to a ludicrous level; when we posed a "pop quiz" about the soy sauce making process in the garden, their detailed response was impressive. This level of expertise extended to other servers, creating a hilarious and remarkable experience. I'm already eager to return.

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! While it is expensive, I personally found it to be better than French Laundry. The food was excellent, the service was top-notch, and the atmosphere was perfect for a relaxed meal.

My experience in mid-August involved the tasting menu with wine pairing, which was ultimately underwhelming. While the dishes were interesting and unique, for a three-star Michelin restaurant, none of them tasted great. I usually want to hug the chef after a meal, but that was not the case here. Considering the cost, it was not worth the money or value. Having visited many top 50 best restaurants globally in the past year, I was disappointed overall in comparison.

My experience at this restaurant was truly authentic, not just in the cuisine and preparation of the food, but also in the service. The staff paid homage to the ingredients and the origins of the cuisine. The service was also authentic, with the team making us feel heard and seen, which is quite unusual for a three Michelin-starred restaurant.

My experience at the restaurant was truly delightful. The initial small dishes were a pleasant surprise, especially the quail egg with century egg, which was unexpectedly delicious when paired with the ginger and rich soup. The dumplings were also very tasty. The tofu with tomato was a unique dish with a sweet and sour flavor that immediately whetted my appetite. The main course was quail. Although I wasn't initially very interested in quail, this was undoubtedly the best quail I have ever eaten! The menu is primarily Korean-inspired, featuring dishes like tea-infused rice and DIY seaweed rice rolls with kimchi, abalone, beef, and zucchini. The texture and layers of flavor were excellent – I loved it! The environment is minimalist and not overly ornate, which I appreciated. I especially loved their service; it was impeccable, attentive, and thoughtful, catering to every detail. They even noticed a friend was left-handed and adjusted the table setting accordingly! It was the first time I encountered such consideration, and it was incredibly touching. 💖

My experience at the Michelin 3-star Benu was a study in contrasts. The restaurant offers a polished Asian fusion tasting menu, with a price point of around $500+ per person, requiring reservations booked via Tock. The presentation and service were excellent, truly top-notch. However, the flavors leaned more towards elevated comfort food, featuring dishes like congee, rice, dumplings, and kimbap. While it's an interesting experience to try once, especially if you're a Michelin star collector, I don't believe it's worth the price for the taste alone.

My experience at this restaurant was truly exceptional. The food, the wine pairings, and the service were all outstanding. It was the best overall dining experience I've had in several years, surpassing even establishments with 3 Michelin Stars.