Brother's Korean Restaurant Reviews

We enjoyed the Korean BBQ at Brother's. It felt authentic and it was fun to taste all of the side dishes and enjoy the chicken and beef. I wish we had gone with more than 2 people so we could have tried more dishes. A fun spot to check out in San Francisco.

Yum Yum, love the bulgogi and kalbi. next time i'm coming with a posse so we can all cook together.

good korean BBQ, hella smokey inside.

My husband remembered his father used to come here and he always liked it. We were visiting the area and came by for lunch. This is a truly great Korean BBQ restaurant. We ordered the bulgogi and also a soft tofu stew. They were both great! They only had one server at that time, but she was very efficient. You also can find soju and makegolli on the menu, a "bit" more pricey than Seoul though...LOL I highly recommend

I tried this place for the first time back in 2000 and the food and service were pretty good, but after going for a second time I noticed it's popularity also made the service good down a lot and the wait was horribly long not to mention the food just didn't taste the same.

I like this place.....

What a fun dinner for everyone! The staff is very friendly and accommodating. A complimentary soup, filled with tofu and mushrooms is a delicious start to the meal. You can order grilled meats or grill at the table over hot coals. Of course, our kids (6 and 11) had fun helping to grill the “buggogi” (Korean marinated beef). We decided to have the kitchen grill the marinated chicken separately (also tender and tasty). Individual dishes of rice, pickled vegetables, kimchi, cucumbers, sprouts, etc. add to the fun of rolling your own combination of meats and sides in lettuce leaves or seaweed (nori)...our grandchildren’s favorite! the meal ends with a coconut flavored “drinkable dessert.” A tasty and fun eating experience for everyone!

Had lunch. I felt like they were small portions. I had the kalbi. It was good- but lunch portion was small. It was still good. I recommend going for dinner so you can cook your own meat. That was disappointing too:(.

Brothers has been around forever. And now I know why. It's that good. Don't waste your time searching for a Korean BBQ, Brothers will do the job. I love the Gai Bui. I always judge a Korean restaurant by their side dishes, those are the hardest to make. If they are good, then every else usually is. Brothers is a solid 5 star. Service is very good for Korean too.

Not too bad. The kalbi was good but Ive had better. My favorite was the kalbi jim which had just the right amount of sweetness and the meat was very tender. The serving size was good for 3-4 people and it would be a good idea to call for reservations ahead of time. This friendly place woukd be one I’d recommend and go back to.

A friend who lives in SFO suggested Brothers. We got there and the place was packed. Location - Sunset neighborhood Decor - minimal, small, only 1 unisex restroom so the line gets long so if you're in a hurry, you need to wait in line, don't go back and sit down and wait til it gets shorter. Food - great, we had 8 people (wow, they asked a group that had already been sitting to move to another table so they could accommodate our size) and ordered the group B menu (can't remember the exact name). we also ordered the squid (just ok), seafood pajun (delicious), too much food!! They gave us 2 extra bottles of beer for free. Really great hospitality. Love the side dishes. and for the Kalbi they had the fresh garlic and jalapenos if you ask for them. For a friend who didn't like Korean food, he enjoyed the experience. Leaves you smelling like Korean food, but what Korean restaurant doesn't?

A traditional Korean BBQ rest which is still using the charcoal to grill....food taste good but if u r wearing new clothes,,,,maybe not a gd time to go coz u'll get all the BBQ smell !!

We lucked out without a reservation on weeknight for dinner. I love all the side dishes along with beef and pork BBQ. Real mesquite wood grill. The servers were very good, explained dishes and were spot on picking up dishes as we lingered over drinks, food and conversation. Several tables had locals speaking Korean, laughing and enjoying their BBQ. No problem taking leftovers home to enjoy. The tough part was driving home, ohhh so full and happy. We can’t wait to return.

Brothers Restaurant on Geary Blvd is a no-frills Korean BBQ spot that delivers big on flavor and authenticity. I stopped by recently and loved the charcoal grill setup — it adds a smoky depth to the bulgogi and spicy pork that’s hard to beat. The banchan spread was generous and fresh, with standouts like kimchi, tofu sheets, and seasoned cucumbers. Service was quick and friendly, and the whole place had a cozy, family-style feel. It’s a great pick for anyone craving classic Korean BBQ in a laid-back setting.

Service is alright

It was my first time having Korean BBQ and I really enjoyed it. The pork and beef were really flavorful and tangy. We didn't have the ribs so I can't comment on them. The seafood pancake was delicous and the other side dishes were really tasty. We couldn't finish all the food and the prices were reasonable. The atmosphere is low, but the wait staff were very nice. I'd be happy to go back

Favorite Korean place in SF

Family of 4 spent over $115. Portions were small, the kalbi ribs had large bones (not like the much smaller bones in Korea) and very little meat which was a rip-off. The meat was also hard & chewy after cooking (low quality meat). The side dishes were decent. They gave us one spicy tofu soup on the house. Each kalbi dish order was $27 and bulgolgi dish order was $22. Wait staff ranged from helpful to stuck-up. Wife said that the stuck-up older waitress did not smile or gave pleasantries, probably because she was in her menopausal stage or had a close relative passed away. The younger waitress was more energetic and helpful. The meal was not filling or enjoyable due partly to the atmosphere and the food given to us. We felt rushed as there were people waiting around 7pm.

Wonderful food and friendly service! We were told by friends that Brother’s was probably the best Korean restaurant in town! I totally agree and we were just overwhelmed by the quality of the dishes chosen! Generous portions, food cooked to perfection, a delicious soup garnished with tofu “on the house”, tender squids and shrimps. Established 36 year ago, located on Geary Blvd, at quite a distance from touristic downtown but take a taxi and do not hesitate! It’s really worth the drive.

Authentic korean barbeque if you do not mind a bit of dirt

We had BBQ there with 4 persons. Because some people did not appear we got their reservation and did not have to wait at all to be seated. (Though later coming people had to wait...) The waitress was really nice and motherly. She cut the meat for us and took it off the roast when it was ready to eat (of course not all the time). With the meat (we had 1 platter beef, 1 platter with chicken and pork) they served a large number of side dishes. We loved trying all the new dishes we had never eaten before. Delicious food and great experience! (A BBQ for 4 persons is 99,- $, including a soup and tea aswell.)

We visited this place late night on our first stay in SF. Thanks to yelp. Great first time experience on Korean BBQ. The restaurant is basic and simple. Be aware of smoky BBQ. An nice place to be with friends and enjoy grilling indoors. A must try!

Great place to eat and drink with a bunch of friends.

I LOVE this restaurant. I've had the best meals I've had in San Francisco here. The first time I came here, I came with my boyfriend. We're both from Vancouver (although he's originally from Seoul) and we were so in love with the authentic charcoal grills, homey vibe, the awesome banchan, the great quality of the meat, and the really cute ahjummas who were so friendly and served us very well. The prices are also totally reasonable. We ordered galbi. My boyfriend said the flavours were the most authentic he's tasted outside of Korea. We tried a bunch of other restaurants in SF together, but we both agreed this was our favourite :) The second time I ate food from here, it was actually by delivery! I'm eating it right now. I was so moved I had to write a review. The food is perfectly hitting the spot. I ordered Soon Dubu, and it was delivered piping hot, came with 6 different types of lovely banchan, and perfectly cooked rice (also hot). There's enough for dinner, breakfast, and lunch! This will always be my #1 recommended restaurant to people in SF!

Confession: I got to Korean restaurants for the banchan as much as for the main dishes. And this place has a great selection. My mother and I were served at least 8-9 different dishes. And it seemed like they were willing to bring out seconds on them if you asked. We didn't--there was plenty of food for the two of us. But we noticed other tables asking and getting re-fills. The service is friendly and thorough. The food was delicious.

I've been going to Brothers for years, but when the pandemic hit, we stopped going out. Fast forward to my wife’s birthday, and we decided to return. Right away, we noticed some changes—the meat cuts were different, and the marinade was not the same. Don’t get me wrong, it was still good, but it wasn’t quite as great as before. I’m not sure when the change happened, but they really should consider going back to the old recipe, or we might not be returning. Another thing that stood out was the ventilation system. From what we could see, the smoke wasn’t being properly vented, and it started filling the place. I get that there’s always going to be some smoke, but this was definitely more than usual. Also, the Bulgogi was a bit on the chewy side, which was a letdown. On a positive note, the service was excellent—definitely 5-star quality. It was a busy night with every table full and people waiting, but they still managed to keep everything running smoothly.

smoky smoky barbecue...

Huge portions and well priced

Absolutely amazing authentic Korean BBQ with 33 years of family flavor! The boneless short ribs were the best I've ever had in San Francisco! The flavor was delicious and was perfect!! The spicy pork was cooked crispy like I asked and the flavor wasn't over powering! You actually get to taste the pork and spice without burning your tongue off! The coleslaw and dressing was yummy, the rice cooked perfectly, the housemate kimchi was to die for, the fish and jalapeño mixture was so unique im thinking about it as we speak, all the Banchan was everything you wanted with a korean meal. The kimchi fried rice has so much flavor, it was honestly the best ive had in SF. Everything we ate including the potstickers were wonderful! Right now during covid they have an amazing outdoor seating area set up so cute you forget your in the middle of Geary Blvd eating. Its enclosed, socially distanced, hand sanatizer offered and great service. I highly recommend this Korean BBQ place when you are in SF. You can cook everything yourself at the table OR they will prepare it for you in the back. We chose to have it prepared in the back and it came out quick and hot! My husband and I will definitely be back to try their other options!! What a wonderful hidden gem!

Favorite Korean BBQ

It is a popular Korean restaurant in SF, but a bit disappointing. Service is not good, average taste, and overpriced.

I hope I have the right one...there are two...very close to each other and each owned by one of the brothers... lots of memories with my law school buddies...

The interior leaves a little to be desired--rug! No decor! Exposed ventilation! But you'll be paying so much attention to the food it won't matter. My boyfriend is Korean and used to frequent Brothers when he lived in San Fran many years ago. It's just as delicious as he describes. The kalbi was perrrrrfectly marinated and juicy after grilling. We ordered enough food for a small army--pajeon, bi bim bap, jap chae and kimchi jigae--all of which were fantastic. Very satisfying and fun meal.

We were treated to dinner here by some friends who have been going there for years. The restaurant has been operating for 32 years and only closed twice in all that time! I cannot remember what the name of the meal was but it came with lots of little dishes of vegetables. There is a small firepit built into each dining table and hot coals are loaded into it and you grill your meat directly on it - so you control how well done (or not) it is. The soup is wonderful too. Can't recommend this place enough. The staff are so friendly and welcoming. No airs - just good dining if a little on the pricey side.

true korean barbeque joints should have the air quality of san diego during the recent fires, the din of a boeing 747 DURING take-off, and some really fine short-ribs. brothers meets all three criteria! cough, cough! huh? yum!

food is good, but the staff and owner's generosity makes it a great place

We have a Korean friend that recommended that we go to this restaurant. He warned us that there'd be a wait because it's extremely popular, but I didn't mind. The restaurant is nothing fancy to look at, we waited in all about 1/2 an hour, not bad. Since I am not as familiar with Korean food as our Korean host, he ordered for us. What struck me interesting is that the restaurant actually uses wood charcoal for the grill not gas. This is amazing, cause alot of the food flavor is imparted in the food. We started out with bulgogi short ribs, spicy pork, tripe and a chicken dish. I have to say everything was delicious.My favorite was the tripe, I couldn't believe how tender it was. We had all sorts of accompanying side dishes. Our friend then ordered a "seafood pancake" and a crab soup. My favorite was the crab soup, it was spicy and boiling hot. Net-net, I highly recommend you try this restaurant, I truly enjoyed it and the price can't be beat for 4 people the bill came to about $80...FYI... wine is only sold by by the bottle!

We came here just after they opened at 5pm, so service was impeccable since we were only one of 3 tables. Being Korean, I have been to many Korean restaurants and this was one of my favorite places ever. My husband had never been to a Korean restaurant where you cook your own meat at the table and he loved the experience. He said this was the best Korean restaurant I have ever taken him to. We ordered bulgogi and galbi. The meat was very flavorful. They gave us complimentary spicy tofu soup, which was delicious. They gave us so many different types of bahn chans (side dishes). We left very full and very happy. We can't wait to come back.

The kids absolutely loved Brother's, and so did I. It's hard to go wrong when you have marinated meats and mesquite coals at your table. We ate kalbi and bulgogi, and loved every bite. Your table gets filled with a wide assortment of Korean condiments ranging from sesame spinach to kimchee, which help round out your meal.

heaven

Have been to this place several times over the years and happy to find it hasn't changed on our recent visit. We enjoy Korean BBQ at home and like that at this place you cook your own meal and do not have a server managing everything for you at the table. On prior visits have experienced larger crowds and were happy this time to be seated upon entering by a friendly staff. Our orders arrived in minutes and did not feel rushed as we had our dinner. I would guess that San Francisco has plenty of Korean BBQ places to choose from, perhaps some are better. For what we like, this little place will remain a favorite.

HELLA GOOD!

Delicious. If your looking for a place with great ambiance, then this isn't it. But if you're looking for great food then this is the spot.

The food here is definitely on the sweet side, and not all that refined. Nonetheless, it's authentic Korean barbecue, done on real charcoal on your table, and the service has always been enthusiastic, if a bit matronly. The price-performance is hard to beat. Strongly recommended. It can get crowded at peak times, but we've been there on weekdays after 8 pm, and it was trivial to get a table.

My best Korean dinner in a long time! Our server was the grandson of the original owner and we got to meet his grandmother who was there that evening. We had a great selection of traditional Korean dishes and enjoyed all of them! Food, atmosphere, service, family--it was a wonderful Christmas time!

It is as good as its sibling restaurant, though never as crowded. Never understood why.

This place uses real charcoal a big plus over gas grills. It is grill your own so be sure to wear clothes that you do not mind smelling of smoke. Since you will smell of smoke be careful where you go and with who after your meal. Okay so it is pricey for the casual atmosphere but still the food is fantastic.

I was recommended that the Richmond area had much better Asian food than the downtown area of SF, so I ended up on Geary street to take a walk about because I was craving some good Korean BBQ. This was my pick. I’m happy about my choice. It’s a small tiny restaurant but it’s comfortable. I liked that when I walked in the food aroma slaps you directly in your face! There’s nothing better than the smell of grilled korean bbq. There’s also this thin cloud above all the patrons from the grill tables, in a weird way it adds to the ambiance of the room. The waitresses acknowledged me and quickly assigned me a table. There’s two choices, sit a table which hosts a yakinuku type grill so you can cook your meats or sit at one without and the kitchen will prepare the meats for you. I ordered the Bulgogi & an order of mandoo. The ban chan is vast! 12 different small dishes immediately arrived at my table, it’s way too much for one person but it was also eye pleasing to have in front of me. The kim chee was very good, not to sour. Over all, the bulgogi was amazing I was disappointed with the mandoo as it was obviously not fresh made. The waitress are very attentive - not very interactive so don’t expect above and beyond type of customer service. They’re more focused on making sure food is coming out in a timely fashion and tables are cleared fast for the next table service. I would definitely come back here again. :)

One of my most memorable dinners at SF. The food was so filling but it was worth it. THe waitting list was very long, but there are a bunch of activities to do close by. Never had food with so unique flavors, but it was expensive :(

Brother's is by far my favorite Korean BBQ restaurant ever. It's pricey for the Galbi, but it's worth it. Some people may not prefer it, but it depends on how you like your meat prepared. Some people like it sweet, others want it to have a more meaty flavor. I think the meat here is a good medium for me. Also a plus that they use wood charcoal because frankly, Korean BBQ tastes so much better with wood charcoal.

If you don't mind the smoke, great Korean BBQ

We ordered a variety of foods for $260 through Doordash as the reviews tended to say that the restaurant itself is rather smoky and when leaving, one reeks of smoke. Well, the food was neither smoky nor aromatic. There were some good dishes, tripe stew, kalbi, and broiled king fish were OK, though not in any way standing out. The raw beef bi-bim-bop was rather bland, so was the sautéed vegetables, which were also overcooked. The basnchan was just ho-hum, neither plentiful nor interesting. The real stand-out was the sautéed beef tongue which cost $30.95 - It tasted like thinly sliced tongue of a 5 yr old cow carcass or in other words, thin slices of shoe leather. Whom are they kidding? It was crazy awful! Perhaps in the smoke filled restaurant, food may be hotter and maybe the lack of flavor or other flaws may be camouflaged, but the delivered food had little to recommend. Disappointing! I should, however, mention that Doordash was efficient and on time, and would recommend it highly for food delivery sercie.

A fun experience that everyone should try. Excellent food. Try to make it there every time I am in SF. You cook your own food on a grill in the middle of the table.

The last couple of reviews are spot on so I won't repeat everything they said. I have been coming to Brother's for at least the last 20 years. It is a family owned place and they can have an attitude if they think you have one, but we ate there tonight with our two children and they could not have been nicer. We had the sampler for 4 ($115) and everything was excellent. It was the first time I had tried the pork bulgoki but it was as good as everything else. It is a little out of the way (Geary & 5th) but it is on the 38 bus line (from Union Square) and well worth the trip. It is one step up from a dive, but the food is so good that I have taken VIPs here and they loved it.

If you don't mind the smell of grease and charcoal in the air from your neighbor's grill, then you'll love this place. Might be expensive at first glance, but the small dishes are well worth it. Note: if you order things family style, not lunch specials, they will give you another dish, on the house.

This is definitely the best Korean restaurant I've ever been too and one of my very favorite restaurants of any type. Whenever I come to San Francisco I always make a special point to eat here, and I recommend it to everyone living in or visiting the area. Their Bul Go Gi is delicious and is grilled right at the table, with very good quality marinated beef, and all the little side dishes that come with it are amazing! Portions are generous and the service is excellent.

Very noisy and smelly, but it's a good time for big groups of people. The bbq is rather exceptional.

If the line is too long, just go to Brother's 2 down the block.

Have tried to eat hereon every visit to SF since first introduced to restaurant by Korean coworker in 2000. Always amazing. They currently have outdoor seating available as well as indoor. Ordered the sampler dinnerfor 2 with Bulgogi (sp?) Beef, Spicy Pork, and a spicy Tofu soup. The array of side dishes were perfect. Everything including the kimchee, spicy pork, and spicy tofu soup had the perfect amount of heat to enjoy the flavors without excessive chili heat. Small dried fish, slightly sweet tofu sheets, nori, a fish/chile paste, fresh cucumber, lettuce leaves, and white rice for sides. We ended up asking for a refill on all the side dishes even though we were pretty full. Just too good not eat more. . The natural charcoal used to cook the meat was fantastic. You get to keep enjoying it all night on your hair and clothes until you wash them. (Actually I think table ventilation has been upgraded considerably since I first started coming). The spicy pork had a scary amount of chili paste on it but after cooking the spice level was just perfect and got a little sweetness from carmelization. Service was fantastic. We were immediately served tea and consulted on menu. The beer came within minutes, as did the charcoal and side dishes. I can't wait to go back.

I don't think there are great authentic Korean restaurants in San Francisco. Brother's BBQ is one of the few Korean restaurants that I go when I crave for Korean food here. The main reason is because they grill the meat on coal gas, which most of other restaurants do. This gives the meat a nice smoky flavor that I can't get from gas-grilled meat. Like other Korean restaurants, they offer many complementary side dishes, which you can ask for refill once you finish it. I like their Kalbi soup as well. If you come with the right expectation, which is a pretty good Korean restaurant, but not an amazing Korean restaurant, then you should be able to walk away with a satisfying Korean meal.

I have been eating here since the early 1980s. The food and the experience is as good as ever. If you want the best kalbe make the trip. One of the only places you will cook on wood coals - makes all the difference.

Needed to get a late dinner and was looking for something with a little kick. Here it was three blocks away. A huge amount of food for 19.95 -- I got the pork. With the fire grills and the food, this will surely be a spot a take a small gathering to next time.

Every time I got into SF late, I always know that this restaurant will be open, I have been to this restaurant for couple years, good food and service is fast, wish they have more servers, cause some times you have to walk away from your table to the register to ask what you need, but most of all, pretty happy with them.

Great taste, expensive, need better vents for air to circulate

We were treated to lovely service at this seemingly-family-run restaurant in SF. The pork is the stand-out protein to order, the chicken is so so however the beef was tasty. Make sure you use the dried hot paste on your lettuce leaf when you make yourself a little Korean taco !