Review Benu - San Francisco

I'm glad I went once. For a $500 dinner- I personally wouldn't go twice. Dishes were very good but if you're someone accustomed to Asian food, not as much of it was new or innovative as I'd have hoped. Service is impeccable. I felt that I'd made a better choice at 8 Tables for ~half the price. Full meal pictured.

In the heart of San Francisco, benu melds East Asia ingredients with innovation of Western fine dining. We experienced an amazing night here to celebrate one year of memorable time we spent with each other. 🥂 Other than staples like the thousand-year-old quail Egg, lobster xiaolongbao, and barbecued quail. highlights of the night also include the caviar potato, short grain rice with raw spot prawn, and sauteed river eel. An immature pro tip is to always pick option one on their menu when you are offered choices. 🫣 Price point is undeniably steep and unless you don’t care about it at all, do not go to Benu if you just enjoy eating. Of course Benu offers astonishing flavors, but it’s more for a tasting experience with the ability to appreciate all the nuances that have been put into every dish. Benu is non-categorizable, it’s self-defined. It’s fineness to the top, and an ode to the beauty and complexity of Asian gastronomy.

Absolutely Divine! Each 'bite' is it's own expression of flavor and talent. They have a lot to be proud of. I tried things I would have never tried on my own. Albeit now, I doubt others will live up to the new expectations! I will say, having read the other reviews here, they should try a few newer things, as it seems they've been doing the same set for 5+ years, making repeat visits bland in terms of originality.

8/30/2023: Visited Benu for my coworker’s birthday. Ambience: You’ll walk past a small courtyard that is filled with fermentation urns as you make your way to the entrance. Once inside, I found the decor to be minimalistic with bright earthy tones. There were no aesthetic elements here that stood out - quite simple, almost as if done on purpose to avoid pulling your attention away from the food. Food: By far, the small dishes were my favorite part of the menu. These come rapidly and are about 6 or 7 in total. All were good but my favorite was the sea urchin. You do have some options on the menu - I chose the soondae (pork blood sausage) and river eel. The presentations were done well and the waiters did a good job of explaining the menu as it came. As it was my coworker’s birthday, they had printed a personalized message on the menu and brought out a small cake at the end. Service: no complaints here, the service was superb.

I had a great experience at Benu. Everything I tried was delicious. I loved how small the portion sizes were so that I could try more things. Even though they recommended against sharing our mains, my friend and I ordered different ones and found that there was more than enough food for us to both try both. Also, the infusions were free (and tasted amazing).

Made a trip to San Francisco mainly to visit Benu and I had very high expectations given its distinction. Beautiful entrance through a nice garden and elegant restaurant. Aesthetics on point, decor is simple and modern. Cuisine was contemporary Korean with many Asian influences. You start with surprise small delicacies and then you pick the next three courses from the menu, one raw seafood course, one cooked fish and last, a meat course. I find that unusual for a three Michelin starred restaurant and kinda break the surprise thrill journey. Food and flavors were very good but I can’t say they were truly exceptional or that I was impressed in comparison. I didn’t feel they pushed the boundaries of gastronomy. Courses weren’t really creative or innovative. Plating and presentation were ok but nothing artistic, eye catching or what you expect from a top 100 world’s best. Service and staff were the best part, welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. Pairing was delightful and complimented courses very well. Desserts were just ok and simple, nothing outstanding. Overall, we had a good experience but underwhelmed for a destination venue.

Ben Overall, we had an excellent meal here to celebrate my birthday. When we arrived ~ 30 min early, we were seated in a little antechamber lounge. Oddly there were no drinks or interaction, which I found a little atypical for a restaurant of this caliber. Taking a look around, we notes a stark minimalist design with exposed beams, white walls, and tasteful art. Seevice was polished and showed a caring touch when the moved is away from an obnoxious lightweight patron. Onto the food. We enjoyed every course of the modern asian menu but there were some highlights. The common theme was good knifework and excellent presentation. Thousand yr old egg. Rich creamy wasabi. Mussel stuffed w noodles and veggies. Delicate beautiful. Prawn wrapped in jellyfish. Crispy. Sea urchin on beef tartare. Delicious. Rich. Balanced w raw onion and faint spice Blooming tofu. Beautiful tofu looks like a camomile. Very delicate. When you spoon the little chili oil spheres the burst. Frog- tender, aromatic Oak taco- iberico ham, truffle, acorn. Earthy. Salty Sourdough w ginseng honey butter. Lobster Xiao long bao. Good not best. Nice thin wrapper. Ginger a little strong. Deconstructed roll. Prawn, seaweed, rice. River eel Steamed sea bass tender Beef rib. So tender and rich. Delicious. Thick reduced beef soup. Omija and olive oil. Well balanced flavors. Refrshing. Milk pudding on caramel. Peaty aftertaste Burthday cake Mint merengue Benu Overall, we had an excellent meal here to celebrate my birthday. When we arrived ~ 30 min early, we were seated in a little antechamber lounge. Oddly there were no drinks or interaction, which I found a little atypical for a restaurant of this caliber. Taking a look around, we notes a stark minimalist design with exposed beams, white walls, and tasteful art. Seevice was polished and showed a caring touch when the moved is away from an obnoxious lightweight patron. Onto the food. We enjoyed every course of the modern asian menu but there were some highlights. The common theme was good knifework and excellent presentation. We actually enjoyed the off menu starters more than the main courses. Mussel stuffed w noodles and veggies. Beautifully sliced into one millimeter slices. Delicate and beautiful. Sea urchin on beef tartare. Delicious. Rich. Balanced w raw onion and faint spice Blooming tofu. Beautiful tofu looks like a camomile. Very delicate. When you spoon the little chili oil spheres burst. Oak taco- iberico ham, truffle, acorn. Earthy. Salty Sourdough w ginseng honey butter. Lobster Xiao long bao. Good not best. Nice thin wrapper. Ginger a little strong. Deconstructed roll. Prawn, seaweed, rice. Steamed sea bass tender Beef rib. So tender and rich. Delicious. Thick reduced beef soup. Omija and olive oil. Well balanced flavors and nice way to join together all the flavors. Refreshing. Milk pudding on caramel. Peaty aftertaste Surprise delicious birthday treat was a nice touch

Fantastic, the service and food are just perfect. One of the best dining experiences of our life.

Phenomenal fine dining experience. Every dish was so inventive and so delicious - nothing was what we expected, in the best way possible! Chef Corey Lee is so talented and the Korean flavors and ingredients really shine through in all of the dishes. Some of our favorite dishes were the tempura fried veggies/shrimp, the crispy fried frog leg covered in chillis, and the quail that came with the most amazing steamed bun I have ever tasted in my entire life. I was also really impressed by the lamb, which didn’t taste gamey at all, and I usually don’t eat lamb. Service was lovely without being too overbearing. We celebrated our 5th anniversary here and there was a beautiful music box with a miniature cake inside - a wonderful surprise! Would highly recommend Benu for your next special occasion, they truly make is such a memorable experience.

Asian-California-Korean-flavored fusion that won't disappoint. Enjoyed every bite, with a numbers of wow moments along the way. The flavors are well balanced and more tame than you would expect if you know their 'authentic' versions, but that's not a criticism: very well balanced and enjoyable experience end to end. The service is impeccable, as one one would expect from a top rated 3-star restaurant. Tip: San Ho Won is also by Cory Lee, and a must try. Younger, hipper, bold.

Perhaps the very best meal I’ve ever had. They have earned every star and truly are there to accommodate their guests. And they show it. Often well credentialed dining establishments have a ‘come and pay homage to us’ attitude. Not Benu. ALL of the staff I was pleased to meet were at the next level. They were concerned about us. How we were enjoying our experience. The beverage pairing options were a bit of a mystery to me at first and the cost was never explained. As I’m someone who likes to know as much detail as possible that’s something I would have liked to know without asking. I had the quail because I’m generally of the opinion we should all eat more little birds….jk. Absolutely the moistest fowl I’ve ever had. Was tempted not to order that thinking how special can the preparation be? Wrong. Incredible. Going again I am for sure!!

Had an amazing time at Benu!! My boyfriend had reservations for our anniversary and informed them about my allergies. They customized our menu by adding a happy anniversary at the top and changed my menu a bit by removing the shrimp/prawn platter - replaced it with something else. The service from staff members were memorable!

This is one of the best restaurants in San Francisco. It should be on your bucket list of restaurants to visit. The food looks like candy and tastes so delicious. The food is so flavorful yet complex and distinct. Flavors explode in your mouth and you taste all the different flavors that blend so well. There is an Asian Korean twist to many of the bites which at additional complexity. The service here is excellent. The people are so well trained I'm very professional. This is a must restaurant to visit but you must Reserve months in advance. One of my favorite restaurants of all time.

Quick Summary Enjoyed our anniversary dinner at Benu and it was a fantastic experience (extra points because it brought sweet nostalgia to my girlfriend). Ambiance and décor were phenomenal. Food was excellent and enjoyed every bite of the 15 course meal. Street parking is available to save a few bucks Food- 5 stars The dinner started with 8 consecutive small delicacies that were cooked and plated perfectly. Everything was exquisite to the last detail. I did notice a few reviews that the food didn't warrant the 3 Michelin stars, which I do understand because many of the dishes were simple Asian dishes that were crafted to a fine dining environment. However, everything was so delicious and plated beautifully, that I would respectfully disagree. Then, we had the signature XLB and spring salad. This was the dark horse on the most course of the meal. But I would slide it behind the delicacies and desserts Then, we had a choice of a rice, seafood, and meat dish. You really can't go wrong with any of the dishes, so just choose whatever you like or feel like in the moment. I liked the quail the most. I would have to say that their entrees were the weakest part of the meal The dinner wrapped up with an omjia dessert that was like a sorbet and ended with milk pudding. They wrapped up what was a memorable night Ambiance and Decor- 5 stars Very simplistic and modern in the dining room. Tables are very spaced out so you feel comfortable throughout. They even have a Japanese toilet to greet you in their bathroom. Service- 5 stars Excellent service throughout. I liked their waiting area where you got to learn more about Corey Lee's background. Only downside is that they don't have a full bar to have a drink while you wait for your reservation Bottom Line Excellent experience but very difficult table to book (especially on weekends). Phenomenal food, ambiance and decor.

One of the top 3 dining experiences ever. Food can be incredible, but when the service is impeccable, the makes the experience magical. From start to finish, this meal was perfection. Every course ( the 9 in the prefix menu) and additional 5 they added was thought out to the most minute detail. The dinnerware perfectly paired with each dish, the meal was composed, and not overdone. The waitstaff had a seamless routine of being constantly attentive without being overbearing. They were the perfect balance of friendly, knowledgeable about each course, and still allowed us time to enjoy each course. Benu has done it. This 3 Michelin Star restaurant completely proved why they are elite.

Benu is an impeccable restaurant with top-notch service. The meal featured some of the most well-prepared and refined Asian dishes I've ever had. The reason I give this review 4 stars is that I don't believe it was worth the $450 (inclusive of tax and tips) per person that we paid. Overall, we felt that the dishes, while amazing in their own rights and undoubtedly delicious, did not push the boundaries of Asian cuisine. At the price point and with 3 Michelin stars, we felt that Benu failed to provide the "wow" factor that we would expect of a restaurant of such high caliber. If the meal had been half the price, our group would have given the meal 5 stars. As with most Michelin prix fixes, we were given a number of starter dishes. My favorite was the mussel stuffed with 5 different types of vegetables. A delightful and flavorful bite that I would never expect from a mussel. A few of the small dishes failed to impress/wow us, namely the beef tartare and the sliced chili tofu. This prix fixe has you choosing between a couple options. Our favorites were the short grain rice wrap with spicy caviar and salted pollock roe, the half-dried horse mackerel, and lastly the barbecued quail. The quail, while delectably seasoned and cooked, was just like any other quail I've had before. To end things off, the desserts were light and refreshing, but again nothing that really wow-ed us other than the solidified mint chips. If money is no option, then sure - you cannot go wrong with this restaurant. But at this price point, you're better off expanding your culinary journey elsewhere.

I was reading some of the comments and I’m hoping not to say them again, as someone who eats a lot of Asian food and fine dining I believe it was a great representation of Asian fine dining. Is it pricey, yes, but is it A) worth the money (my opinion yes) and B) do you get your moneys worth (again yes). If there was one “negative” it was that there wasn’t a somm (that I saw). *That being said* the staff was very knowledgeable and knew exactly what they had and where we wanted to go with our drinks. Again, I’ve seen and been at other top Michelin restaurants that don’t have somms. I would highly recommend them!!

The best meal we’ve ever had! Each dish was incredible and perfectly portioned, the progression between courses was thoughtful, the balance between traditional and fusion was surprising, the staff set a wonderful tone and provided great insights….. I could go on and on! We found it pointless to try to pick a favorite dish because everything complemented everything so well.

Went to benu with a group of 8 people. It was an amazing experience for I have never tasted anything like that before. The course starts off with small delicacies and it moves into the main dishes, all well proportioned and I was completely satisfied. I hope I can come back and experience Benu again one day!

Food was delicious and service was good not great but good at times we felt rushed and the wine service was decent but not spectacular maybe I should have gone with the pairings. But then again if they would have lagged I would have been more upset, I guess I shouldnt have ordered all french wines in California...

Benu has been my least favorite of the 3 star Michelan restaurants in the bay area so far. The food itself was very good, but I felt the service and atmosphere were lacking. When we arrived at the restaurant we had to wait outside with only stone benches to sit on. Luckily it was a nice day. We had reservations, but still ended up waiting quite a while to be taken inside. We were not offered a beverage while we waited either which just felt very odd to me. When we finally went inside we were seated in a very quiet area with no other people. The staff only came in to serve our food and when the food was presented we were not told how it was prepared or the best way to eat it. Our server did not talk to us about wine pairings or even ask if we wanted to start with drinks. We had to ask for a wine menu. When the last course was served we were disappointed because it felt incomplete, like we were missing something. We went home wondering if maybe we left too early so I called the next day to ask and was told the course ended exactly the way we experienced it. We went to Benu to celebrate our anniversary so I was expecting a little something special. Unfortunately we did not even get so much as a keepsake menu to take home. I did voice my experience with the staff when I called, but was told only "Thank you for sharing your experience with us".

Here on holiday from UK visiting family been to many star restaurants but this was fantastic great food great service , attention to detail sublime , worth a visit , many thanks .

Amazing meal!! Each course was perfectly presented and tasted amazing. The beverage pairing was very fitting and more than just your typical wine pairing! Wait staff was very attentive and knowledgeable! Highly recommend!

Simply, the best place where I tasted the most subtle flavors. Nothing is left to chance. Irresistible.

This was such a special dinner one that was a once in a lifetime experience. From the moment we stepped inside the restaurant it was amazing. The staff were so welcoming, polite and knowledgable about all the foods and wines. This was the most special dinner with the finest ingredients, beautiful presentation and amazing flavour. Thank you to the Benu team. Alec and Jenny Bashinsky ( from Sydney Australia)

every bite is an explosion of flavor !!! one must give it a try at least once in ones lifetime !!!

This is likely the single best restaurant experience we have had. The food was incredible, the service outstanding. Every award has clearly been well earned.

Stunning presentation and every bites was so flavorful! Wine pairing was great! Wonderful service too, staff were so attentive to our needs. Exciting to meet the famous chef Corey Lee in person! He was very accommodating when we asked for a photo of him with us.

Corey Lee is a genius. And so is the sommelier - you must get the wine pairings. This is a sublime dining experience. It's food Art for all your senses. Some of the dishes sent shivers through my body. One even brought a tear to my eye. (I'm a meditator, so I am, admittedly, extremely sensitive). Even the next morning, I couldn't shake the experience. I'm in awe. This is not food for the brutes!

Excellent. Would recommend to all. Definitely a positive Culinary experience to be enjoyed.

Fabulous meal along with fabulous wine pairing. Truly an amazing experience.

We had an exciting evening at Benu. The experience was unique, layered, complex and had an element of surprise with each course. Corey Lee is approachable friendly professional.

Have visited two times. staff is helpful and food is beyond comparison.

Incredible tasting menu! All courses were delicious, including the extras. Highly recommended! 😋

Amazing service, food was fantastic!!! My husband is a chef in training, and this is an inspiring place!!