SSAL

The ambiance was lovely. Calm decor with earth tones with good lighting and a low noise level. The service was great; friendly and playful. The food was mostly good. I’d say all the small bites in the early courses were excellent. I especially loved the “pancake” ball and the eel wrap. Both packed a punch of flavor and creativity. I didn’t love the cod dish served with rice, not just because it was served with milt, which I personally don’t care for, but also because the sauce seemed incomplete, almost like the authentic version but not quite there and didn’t enhance it in any meaningful way. I didn’t like the quail. It was very well executed but I didn’t think it went with the meal. Quail is not used much in Korean cuisine except for the eggs, but the course didn’t utilize the eggs at a

I’d give this restaurant 1,000 stars if I could. Stellar food, the kindest, most personable staff. Every minute felt delicate. It makes you root for this restaurant. Thank you Ssal and especially Jessica for the unforgettable night. We can’t wait to be back.

What a life changing meal. These photos are actually from over 2 years ago but I still think about this place regularly. I’ve had my fair share of renowned modern, refined korean food / Korean fine dining in NY and LA, and nothing quite elevates Korean food as authentically as SSAL. This meal quite literally changed my life and showed me that fine dining can both be deeply comforting and beautifully refined at the same time. Will probably travel to the bay just to dine here again at some point.

We went to Ssal for a special family dinner the night before our wedding. We were excited but also weren't exactly sure what to expect from Korean fine dining and their tasting menu. We enjoyed the fried chicken and kimbap they served during covid though so we knew it had to be good. As we expected, every single dish was absolutely DELICIOUS! Every dish was familiar since they obviously used Korean ingredients and meal inspirations but still so novel and creative!! We loved them all but the raw beef tart, sweet potato pancake, flounder mul hwe, and juk were my favorite. The only problem we had was that it was so much food that we were so full lol We were so sad we couldn't finish every single bite. The service was incredible and chef came and explained every dish and checked in throughou

Truly some of the best fried chicken there is to offer. Absolutely every single piece was juicy, crunchy, and outstandingly delicious. Fried chicken, cavier, and champagne is definitely a winning combination. All other food servings were also incredibly well done, including the tteokbokki, but of course, the chicken is the star. The most disappointing part of the meal was the restaurant aesthetic. I love a modern, minimalist design, but this was taken a bit too far; it felt very cold and almost off putting.