Ssisso

Good side dishes. Spicy pork BBQ was good, if not a little overcooked.
Had to dock a star for poor quality control — a piece of metal from a grill brush found its way into my pork. Luckily, they didn’t charge me for it.

Terrible service with overpriced, uninspired Korean food. There’s definitely better in SF and the Bay Area. At Ssisso, it’s all about the glazed potatoes banchan (one of the initial side dishes).
Due to somewhat nicer interior decoration (though not as nice as Osha Thai), you’ll be paying $ 20 for a hot pot bibimbap or $ 14 for a tofu soup, which is easily 50% more than what it would cost at a less Westernized Korean restaurant. Not to mention the food was nothing much. The tofu soup had tofu that was clearly recently plopped out from a box as you could still see the marks from the ridges of the box. I’ve paid $ 35 for a dolsot bibimbap at Morimoto before, but at least that was made with heart and soul with the stone pot at the perfect temperature to crisp up the rice on the edges. The dolsot bibimbap at Ssisso was hardly worth writing about.
As a result, there’s usually lots of seating, which makes it great for big groups and parties. They let us bring a cake in and provided candles without charging a cake cutting fee, which was a plus. However, they forgot to bring plates and silverware until we called them over and reminded us.

I came here with my friends on a saturday night for something to eat before heading upstairs to the karaōke bar. I made reservation for 8 which I was glad that they already had the table set up before I arrived. My friends came in shortly after and we proceeded to order our food. I had the Kimchi Bokkumbap which was essentially Kimchi fried rice. It was pretty spicy but not so spicy that i needed water. My friend went all out and ordered a beer tower which had about 110 oz. of beer! Between 7 people though, we were able to chug that beer down!
Whats pretty cool here is that they have giant projection monitor which was showing the Warriors’ game. I think this place is pretty cool with friendly staff members, good food, and great seviceability. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good Korean restaurant. I shall be coming back to this place the next time in over there

It seems that there aren’t too many great Korean places in Japantown (duh), but this sounded decent so decided to check it out. It was fairly empty for a weekend lunch time meal, with only a couple other tables being occupied the whole time. The high and spacious interior contributed to the empty feeling, which may be cool for some people, though I didn’t care for it. The lunch sets, while still a tad pricey, were pretty big and in the end pretty worthwhile since they also gave banchan.
In terms of the lunch set items, I’d say that the soup was nice, while the japchae and gyoza were average. The real star was probably the meat items, and we had a good run with the chicken wings and the bulgogi (+$ 2 for the latter). The chicken wings were really tasty and did remind me of San Tung, so this is a great substitute if you’re in the area. Bulgogi was flavorful and tender as well, with a large serving of beef. From the banchan, one of our favorites was definitely the lightly fried, caramelized potato pieces, which were a bit unique and very tasty.
Service was okay but not always around, which I guess made sense seeing how empty it was. They did give us some more of the potatoes when we requested it, so that was friendly.

I’ve never come to Ssisso before and didn’t recognize the name until someone told me that this was where the old Denny’s was. Oh well, I guess that’s one Denny’s I’ll never go to.
My friend had her birthday party lunch here and on a weekend afternoon, it was oddly empty. We had a long table set up for our big party and she took the liberty of ordering most of the food including short ribs, garlic noodles, chicken wings, and combined with all the banchan small dishes, it was an oddly satisfying meal! The interior is very spacious and cave-​like with high ceilings and lots of seating. The TV’s weren’t on when we were there but I certainly can imagine how loud this place can be if a riveting game was being shown.
Service also was great in terms of follow up and probably also that we were one of the only parties in the restaurant. Overall I was satisfied with the food and looking forward to coming here for some soju and karaōke on a future visit.

Had this place bookmarked for like foreverrr. Came here on a Saturday for lunch and it wasn’t packed. Staff was super friendly. Place was very spacious. I ordered the lunch combo with Ssisso Chicken and it was soooooo goooood. The sauce was deliciousss and the chicken was cooked just right. The potstickers and soup were ok. Kind of disappointed with the Japchae. It was dry and not tasty at all. If I come back, I’ll stick with the chicken wings.

Went here Friday for our date night. I was craving the little Korean dishes, Banchan. Atmosphere is a great place for college students. 2 large sports TV screen, with high ceilings — a warehouse feeling. Great for college students, not for a date night.
Second the food was mediocre. I was very disappointed in the banchan — hardly any flavor and definitely not spicy.
My date ordered bimbip and I ordered the spicy squid. The spicy squid dish had great taste and it was large, but lots of veggies and little squid. Wouldn’t go again.

Looking for a sports bar that also serves Asian food? Well this is the spot! I love the atmosphere here. The restaurant is surrounded with large flat screen tvs and also offer beer towers! It can get pretty loud but it’s super fun! Unlike other sports bars you have your own table and people are not shoving you for elbow room. It’s a great place for group of friends to chill and watch the game!
For the food, I highly recommend their garlic noodles. The noodles remind me of thin ramen textured noodles and it’s lightly mixed with garlic. It’s not too overpowering so it won’t stink up your breath the whole night!
I also like the short ribs. Super easy to take off the bone and nicely grilled.
The service here is also amazing! The people are super friendly and down to earth and will give you their best insight on the recommendation. I loved my experience here!

I’ve had Ssisso bookmarked for awhile. I was giving a tour of Japantown to my friend who was visiting, so I picked this place for lunch. Way better than trying to pick a restaurant in one of the main malls. Too touristy. Ssisso is a huge restaurant but was totally empty when we went. It was quiet and perfect for our catch-​up conversations.
I ordered the Bibim Neng Myun Noodle, which contains spicy cold buckwheat noodles, cucumbers, radish, and boiled egg. There are only four side dishes, but they were all good. The meal was filling, the noodles were sufficiently spicy, and the service was excellent. It did not blow me out of the water, but I could see why some Unilocalers have this on their list of favorite restaurants in Japantown. (Maybe because they have beer towers!) If you are looking to get your Korean food fix, check out Ssisso.

This is one of my favorite places. The food is awesome, it’s never crowded, it isn’t super loud, there’s a parking deck right across the street, and the staff is always wonderful.
There are a few restaurants I’m willing to drive up from redwood city to go to. This is one of them.
I love this place.

Great Experience here. Read my review on ‘Playground Karaōke’ because it ties into my experience here. The owner’s wife of Playground owns this restaurant. Didn’t have a chance to meet her because she’s expecting but Leo came down personally and shook our hands and wanted to see how our experience was. Great customer service by far and the food was amazing! There’s no time limit on how long you want to stay and converse while eating and drinking and the staff there are very accommodating with a good sense of humor. I will definitely come here again and soon!
***Tips***
Great for big groups
18% gratuity added on group size of 9 or more
can split the check among 4 cards.
Charges a $ 1.00 extra for any additional card
Banchan is amazing!
Soju Bombs! (Hite beer with a shot of soju… like a sake bomb)…it’s not on the menu but just thought you should try this lol.
Thanks again Ssisso!

I imagine them opening this restaurant with this grand idea for a hip, Korean sports bar/​restaurant, with ambitious plans for the vibe and the furniture. They started out great, then just ran out of cash before they finished. Wrinkled paper menus with stains and faded writing, obviously too expensive to replace. Soup made with water instead of stock, bathroom plucked right out of my high school, with old tiles and bad aluminum cubicles. Just too many corners being cut, and they added up.
THE VIBE:
It’s a massive place, which is always a bad sign when you come in and it’s empty. A projector was showing the basketball game against the 2^nd floor wall, with the sound on and other music played. Odd, unused massive «beer towers» sat in the corner for what I assume are their wilder nights. Everything else was sort of standard. The service was fine and friendly though.
THE FOOD:
We ordered the «fried soft tofu drizzled with house teriyaki sauce», tofu bibimbap stone bowl, and the yukejang soup. The tofu stone bowl was perfectly tasty, maybe could have come with a tad more sauce on the side, though it’s nice you can add it by yourself. The tofu appetizer was fried like chicken nuggets, just deep battered and low flavor. It came with a thick, bbq-​y tonkatsu sauce (not teriyaki) in a cup on the side. If I had gotten the same thing at a SF McDonalds, I wouldn’t have minded, but seemed pretty low-​brow for this place. The Yukejang soup had a watery, thin broth and just gigantic pieces of onions etc. The shredded beef was overcooked and chewy. Felt like I spent more time pushing gigantic things out of the way then actually eating something that fit on my spoon. You can see the potential, but again it just feels like too many corners were cut.
Would I come again? Doubtful. Everything all in, it’s just ok, but when you see the bill and feel like you could have much less money for much better Korean food somewhere else, you know it wasn’t meant to be.

My «Go To» Restaurant in Japan Town. You can’t really go wrong going for dinner and especially for lunch. Been going here for years now, and I’m just now finally putting a review in.
I wanna say that the best time to grab a bite here is at lunch. You cannot go wrong with the Lunch special. It’s great for both Taste and value. The specials start at $ 11 and some cost additional if you want Galbi or Bulgogi. Anybody who serves Japchae as part of the meal gets an A+ for me. Japchae can become a expensive addition sometimes.
The lunch specials come with
*Choice of Meat
*Japchae
*2 Potstickers
*Soup
*Rice
*Side dishes including Kimchi and Fish cakes
(Don’t be shy to ask for refills, the don’t charge for that)
My personal favorites here are
*Galbi — Especially If you get the lettuce wraps combo for $ 25.
*Ssisso Chickens Wings — Crispy on the outside and coated sweet. Classic Korean
*Garlic Noodles — A little greasy but still packs some good flavors.
For dinner the prices are still fair, and because u still get all the side dishes and the good ones too, I think the value is still worth while.
While a lot of people will rush to YakiniQ next door for AYCE Korean, the meat her taste far better than the AYCE. The service is here is great! They’re fast and friendly. And again especially for lunch, everyone inside of the Japan town complex has a lunch special/​Bento box. But the best one is at Ssiso.
*Bonus points for the convenience of the parking garage across the street. It makes getting great food very accessible.

Fairly pricey for korean food, but very yummy!
We ordered the:
chicken wings — mmmmm, just right
pork bibimbap — so so yummy
seafood pancake– MMMM, KINDA OILY.
garlic noodle with chicken — kinda lacked flavor. CAN DO BETTER
banchan — ah, potatos my favorite
beer tower: yummy light Hite beer!
strawberry mint soju: so very very sweet! Beware or dilute with Hite beer
I would like to come back and try the rest of the helpings. They also weren’t too busy on a Friday night and ate easily with 12 people in our party.
Good for big groups!!!

Came in for lunch on a Thursday afternoon, around 3pm. The place was empty except for two other small parties who promptly left. Give that 4pm is an odd dining hour, the sparse crowd is understandable.
My boyfriend and I got the sweet hot pot «for two», but it could easily serve 4 people comfortably. After eating our fill, another 3 people could have probably continued eating our leftovers.
As for the quality, the broth was sweeter than either of us would prefer. My boyfriend didn’t even drink it because it was too sweet.
As for technical difficulties, the hot plate/​stove top/​induction cooker at our original table wouldn’t stop beeping. We had to wait more than 5 minutes for our waitress to come back and realize the problem. Then, we were moved to another table. Another guy came over to help and both he and the waitress were very accommodating.
Unfortunately, the hot plate started beeping again after about 15 minutes at our new table, so I just turned it off by myself.
Overall, we got a lot of food, but considering that we paid a bit of a higher price, the hassle of moving tables and having less responsive service was not worth it. I don’t think I’ll be back, especially since there are so many other places to try in Japantown!

So many options on the menu!
Came here for dinner on a Saturday with my friends and it was our first time trying out Ssisso. I heard so many good things about them and had to try it. Those good things were true! It was so hard to choose when we was looking through the menu and even though I ended up getting the Galbitang (Beef short rib soup with green onions, egg, clear noodles). I have nothing negative to say about the dish except for others to try it out too! It also came with a side of rice.
For sports fans, they have two big projectors in the restaurant showing NBA games (when i went) on both sides of the wall!

After three visits (and counting), I should probably review Ssisso now before I end up coming back again and trying yet another dish. Because I undoubtedly will, on both counts. Really though, how could I not? I’ve long hoped to find a spot like this in the City and just about everything I’ve had so far has been great! It definitely makes me regret how long it took for me to make it here…
Unlike many of SF’s other Korean restaurants, Ssisso doesn’t focus on just BBQ or Soon Doobu (tofu soup). Rather, while both are definitely accounted for, the menu covers a wide array of Korean dishes, both traditional and modern. Included are the typical staples (Haemul Pajeon, Japchae, Bibimbap, etc.), but there are also more uncommon dishes (Galbi Jjim, Buddaejjigae, Bibim Neng Myun), as well as loads of soups and stews, which are all terrific.
– BANCHAN
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The variety you get will vary, but I’ve had the kimchi, spicy cucumbers, bean sprouts, sweet glazed potatoes, and fishcakes every time. They’re all pretty good, but the last two are the best; every time we’re here, we end up getting refills on both!
– SSISSO CHICKEN — Juicy Deep Fried Chicken Wings in a Special House Garlic Soy Sauce…$ 15.95
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Talk about a hefty order! Given the price, we figured the portion would be pretty decent, but we were still still surprised. Not only did we get nearly a dozen, but the wings were huge! Meaty, crispy, and coated with a garlicky, sticky sauce… yum.
– HAEMUL PAJEON — Seafood Scallion Pancake made with Eggs and Flour…$ 15.95
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While it may not be the best one I’ve tasted (it’s fine), this definitely ranks among the most loaded I’ve had — lots of scallions, lots of seafood. In fact, there almost wasn’t enough pancake to bind everything together, though it was still kind of crispy.
– GALBITANG — Beef Short Rib Soup with Green Onions, Egg, Clear Noodle…$ 17.95
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Initially, I was disappointed to see only a few ribs, but then I realized just how big they were! Not only were they pretty meaty though, but they were very tender as well. As for the soup, it was was relatively light and decently flavorful, though it could have packed a little more punch.
– KIMCHI JEON — Kimchi Pancake with Vegetables (with Seafood Added)…$ 13.95 (+$ 2)
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The taste wasn’t bad, but the Haemul Pajeon is better. While I liked the spice and acidity the kimchi added, the consistency was rather soft and flimsy. Kind of funny how this one was cheaper even after adding in the seafood, though there seemed to be comparatively less scallions/​seafood.
– YUKEJANG — Spicy Stew with Shredded Beef, Scallions, Onions, Bean Sprouts, and Clear Noodles…$ 13.95
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Whether it’s cold out or not, get this. Honestly, it just hits the spot! The broth has some assertive flavors, but the spice level was perfect (just enough to tickle your tongue). What’s more, it had tons of goodies! In fact, as much as I like my veggies, a little less of them (or better yet, more beef) would’ve kept a better balance of condiments.
– KIMCHI BOKKUMBOP — Kimchi Fried Rice with Bacon and a Fried Egg…$ 14.95
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So glad that one of my favorite dishes didn’t disappoint! The rice had the perfect consistency and I liked how the kimchi didn’t come across too acidic or pungent. What’s more, the bacon added a nice touch of fattiness to round it out. It still could have used a bit of Spam though, because, I mean… Spam (duh).
– BULGOGI STEW — Marinated Beef and Mushrooms in a Beef Broth…$ 16.95
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The ingredients may be few, but this was no less filling. As with Ssisso’s other stews, this thing was packed with the good stuff. The onions made the stew more sweet than salty, but it otherwise tasted just as delicious as a sizzling plate of bulgogi (minus all of the oil/​grease).
While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each of my visits to Ssisso, I agree that prices do seem a bit high for some dishes ($ 16 for wings just sounds high). However, most are pretty average (or close to it) and you definitely get your money’s worth. Plus, it’s just delicious! Add on the relative ease of getting a table for parties large or small and there are plenty of reasons to grab a bite at Ssisso, including these cold winter temperatures.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now, but I’ll definitely be back to try the Galbi Jjim and Budaejjigae!

Closer to 4.5 stars for me since it was one of the best lunch deals I’ve had in SF! You pick an entrée for $ 10 and it comes with 2 potstickers, japchae (sweet potato noodles), rice, and soup.
The banchan here is awesome! Generous serving of delicious fried potatoes, fish cake, cucumber, and bean sprouts. I ordered the bulgogi ($ 1 extra) and my boyfriend got the fried chicken. The bulgogi was tender and savory but not the best I’ve had. The fried chicken was crunchy and had a sweet garlic sauce which we both really liked.
The service was nice and efficient. The restaurant itself is large and can get pretty loud. They are also able to accommodate very large groups. There were a few groups when I went that had 15+ people. Overall I’ll definitely be back again for the lunch deal and try their dinner options also.

After I landed at the SFO airport, my first destination was J-​Town. I was starving from the early flight and was ready for lunch. After much research on Unilocal,I was determined to try this restaurant. The restaurant is pretty big and practically empty when I arrived around noon. I ordered the shrimp salad which was delicious. I know what you’re thinking… how can a salad be that special? Well, my dear, it was. Take a look at my picture and you’ll see what I mean. It was so tasty that I didn’t even need to use the salad dressing that came with it.
The entrée also came with some sides so there was plenty of food. The service was fine, and the food came out quickly. I was in and out in less than 30 minutes.
Would I come back? Sure. I definitely want to try the other items on the menu that the other Unilocalers are raving about.

If I was a young, K-​pop loving, soju drinking, trendsetter?
Ssisso would be my jam.
If I was an old married lady who isn’t into overpriced food or meh banchan but adores a cool bowl of Mul Neng Myun and crispy Bindaettok?
Ssisso would be aight.
Guess which one I am?
BTW doesn’t Ssisso make you think of Sussudio?
No?
Only me?
You sure?
Oh.
I just outed myself, didn’t I?