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Aato Korean Fusion
Category: Restaurants Korean Korean [Edit]
1449 Lombard St(between Van Ness Ave & United States Highway 101)
San Francisco, CA 94123
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
(415) 292-2368
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 4 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 4 pm - 12 am
Sat-Sun 9 am - 2 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
14 reviews for Aato Korean Fusion
14 reviews in English
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Review from Sara D.
Maple Park, IL
4/17/2012
Aato Fusion was next to our hotel. The restaurant was empty, but we took a risk. It was actually a huge risk because my Dad and I were traveling together, and he had never eaten Korean food before. We decided to give it a shot, and I'm so glad that we did - the food was delicious and we both enjoyed our meal. We shared an order of dumplings and Bi Bim Bob. The food was very flavorful with bold flavors. I would have preferred a bit more heat, but they had toned it down a bit for my Dad, at his request (kudos to them for that.) Our waitress was very accomodating and personable. I noticed that the restaurant also serves a brunch, I would like to try that on my next trip.
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Review from Jenny L.
3/8/2012 1 photo
For a place named after "gift", I did not receive any. I can't figure out if this place tries too hard and fails at any attempt at fusion or doesn't understand how to do so. The menu is mostly classic Korean dishes, such as bibimbap, japchae, galbi, seafood pancake, etc. Although the haemool pajun looked good, it was soggy and lacked flavor even with the sauce and what seemed to be fresh ingredients with bad oysters. However, the chef offers some twists with sweet potato latte, calamari olive oil pasta and sweet corn cakes in honey. None of these variations had flavor or tempted me in looks. The latte was bland. I had a dead clam in my pasta using Asian noodles, drowned in oil oil with chewy, over-cooked squid. I didn't think anyone could s crew up dessert, but the sweet corn cakes were like mochi on a bed of honey and oats. Perhaps I should try their brunch, which seems to get good reviews some of the time. However, $50 for 2 dishes and a dessert seemed twice what they were worth. This place might try to confuse you with fine dining using a selection of three prefixe menus in a Western setting, but the food just isn't special enough to fit in.
Service was slow, friendly and not so helpful. The waitress doesn't seem to know the menu and what is good. The ambiance and decor is pretentious with chandeliers and fine dining chairs, but it doesn't invite anyone in especially since they are hidden on Lombard even with neon lights. Parking can be tough on the street, but you might as well go across the street for Bobo's great steaks to get valet parking. -
Review from Liribo S.
San Francisco, CA
4/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Bold and organic. Bright fresh flavors. We had the tasting menu but you can order ala carte too. I had a craving for ba bim bob and their's is flavorlicious. The tofu salad had a beautiful sauce. We had pumpkin rice pancakes (like mochi) with honey, brown sugar and crushed peanuts that you could fight over. I need to try the ginkgo creme brûlée! Also, the fortified raspberry wine will do again. It was tart sweet and strong. Very pleased. 5 stars for ambiance- elegant, 5 stars service- welcomed by owner and chef, 5 stars food-healthy and delicious.
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Review from greg s.
San Francisco, CA
10/17/2011
Wow. My lady loves Korean food, so we decided to give this new neighborhood spot a try. we've been to quite a few Korean spots in the city and around California, and I honestly can say that this one is by far the worst. Summary: mediocre food at premium prices with crappy service. It's not fusion, it's confusion.
Service. Well, so we spent a bunch of time telling the server that we wanted a certain kind of soup. She brings us something COMPLETELY different. We don't have time to wait so we take what she gave us. Of course, we end up paying for her mistake because the dish she brought us was twice the price than the dish that we wanted.
Prices are WAY too high. They are charging the same or higher prices as the authentic Korean spots, with tiny servings that don't make up in neither presentation or taste, presentation or originality. You get the 'appetizers' which are also tiny.
Save yourself the money and go elsewhere. -
Review from Daniel B.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I just had to get up and dance. I danced near our table off and on for a total of about half the meal. What with the ritzy chairs and chandeliers, I know my actions may have come off as a tad obnoxious if not delinquent, but there was such good music playing that I don't see how patrons would be expected to stay still.
On top of the tunes, the server and owner with whom we conversed were pretty friendly. The owner talked to us about the genesis of the restaurant and where she envisions it heading. She started getting omma on me, telling me how to stir & eat my food. I'm just glad she didn't grab the spoon and do it for me (I've had that - and more - happen).
Yes but how was the actual meal? Well, they had a small but dexterous beverage selection featuring one Korean beer with the rest being European imports. The soju were common items, except for Omija, which I don't recall seeing at other restaurants. We likened its taste to a soju'ed-up strawberry Calpis.
Among our 3 banchan (side dishes) was taters. At other places, shredded potato is pretty much shredded potato; the stuff here was of the "scattered, covered, and chunked" caliber. That's right, y'all, I said crisp this up and serve it at a Waffle House, or a chicken 'n' waffles place for you chicken 'n' waffles folk.
My friend got a crab pasta, which was cool because it included an actual half of a blue crab. I got albap (roe with vegetables over rice, usually in a hot stone bowl). Being a favorite of mine, I figured it would give me an immediate reference point for comparison with the albap I've had at restaurants and homes around the Bay.
In that sense, maybe I'd put it in the middle of the pack. I respect the owner's focus on local & natural ingredient sourcing and whatnot, but there wasn't even much roe. It had maybe a tablespoon, in contrast to the all-out 4 rows of different kinds of roe given elsewhere. Would I get this dish here again? Maybe.
At the end of the dancing, talking, and eating came the bill. Now, before I say anything, how much do you think a bottle of soju, 4 beverages, 2 entrees, and a dessert would come to at a Korean restaurant?
Seriously. Guess.
Nope, you weren't close. It was way more than that, which is probably the only glaring reason why I don't foresee my rating increasing to 4 stars. Excluding the music and conversation, I could understand our experience costing that much for three or even four people. But there were two of us.
It's not like this is one of those restaurants where the presence of a doorman and servers wearing three-piece suits signals that you'll be paying like a boss. Yet you might anyway. I get that some of the price probably comes from the handpicked ingredients and preparation methods, but goodness gracious.
Ceteris paribus, we're still going back at some point to try the Honey Butter Bread... and to dance.
*Bottom line* Staff: 4 / 5. Food: 3 - 3.5 / 5. Price: omg / 5. -
Review from Natalie S.
San Francisco, CA
7/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had such high hopes for this place especially since I have always felt this neighborhood had everything except for good Korean food. When I saw Korean Fusion on the banner, I thought of places like Namu and bulgogi tacos. When my group of 3 actually came, we were all hesitant just from looking at the menu outside. Although it says Korean Fusion, it did not seem like any fusion to me. It was Korean or it was Western food.
The prices are very high. The food was just ok, but for the price, we were expecting a lot more. I think the restaurant can do well if it just serves authentic Korean food, or finds another focus such as a noodle shop or late night place. The service was good, and we had complimentary wine and dessert, but it did not make up for the $ to taste of food ratio. -
Review from Jeff O.
San Francisco, CA
6/26/2011
Stopped by for dinner yesterday since I live in the area. I was greeted right away and the owner came out and talked to me as well, everyone was quite nice. I wanted something to go, so the owner recommended dishes that would be suitable for takeout.
I ordered the Bibimbap plate and it was delicious. The meat was high quality and very tasty, and all the ingredients were very fresh and bright. Looking over the menu, it seemed like they had a lot of great dishes, but my only critique would be that they seem to be a tad on the pricey side. However, i'll be back and if the service and food are consistent, it'll be worth it. I always appreciate new, family-run businesses that try hard to make it, and this is one of those restaurants.
They let me take the brunch menu, served Sat/Sun from 10am-2pm, so I thought I'd post it here since their site isn't up and running yet:
Eggs on cocotte: Two eggs over shrimp, ham, cheese, & vegetables in cream sauce ... 14.5
Two Eggs Breakfast with Korean-Style Hash Browns ... 9.5
Denver Omelet with Ham, Bell Peppers & Onions ... 12.5
Vegetable Omelet with tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers & green onions ... 13.5
Fritatta with tobico, salmon, avocado and cheese ... 12.75
Boneless Short Rib Steak with Rice & Organic vegetables ... 16
Soy Milk French Toast with seasonal fruits ... 11.5
Breakfast Parfait with Organic Yogurt and Seasonal Fruits ... 10
Man-Du House Made Dumpling Soup ... 13
Sandwiches
Bulgogi Ribeye Steak with lettuce, cheese, green onions, and sprouts ... 13.5
Focaccia House-Made with Garlic and Rosemary ... 13.5
Sides
Two eggs ... 5
Bacon (3) ... 3.5
Sausage (2) ... 3.5
Korean Style Hash Browns ... 3.5 -
Review from Kaitlin G.
Cloverdale, CA
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Made our new years eve amazing. Very good food made with careful attention and the freshest of ingredients. I had never had koren food and the waitress took the time to explain the dishes. The sea food pasta and fried dumpling were amazing. I am definetly going back next time I'm in Frisco.
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Review from Spyderman X.
San Francisco, CA
6/19/2011 2 photos
As you may know, I just stumbled upon on this new restaurant in the Marina district right on Lombard street between Van Ness and Franklin street. They're kind of open at the moment and looking forward to their Grand Opening on Saturday June 25th and I will definitely bring some friends over for some nice Korean Fusion dinner! I got a chance to try out their menu dishes and so far the food is DELICIOUS!!!
The decor is very nice and the atmosphere definitely has a chill vibe to it. Might be a new place for me to hangout at especially for the weekend brunch! :) -
Review from Jess B.
San Francisco, CA
9/18/2011
I had the Bibimbap to go - it was a good size and VERY filling. The beef was very tender and yummy, the egg was perfectly cooked, and there were tons of veggies.
I haven't seen a ton of people in the restaurant but I think it's because they are very new. I hope that there's enough traffic from tourists and locals because this dish is delicious! I will definitely be back. -
Review from Chas J.
San Francisco, CA
9/6/2011
Very nice surprise. My lady took me here for a special occasion, after we noticed it across from Bobo's. We tried the Course No. 1, and it was delicious! I love Korean food, but this was very unique for San Francisco. The BBQ ribs were very tender, savory and a little sweet. Yum!
I loved the dessert (which is not normally a high point in Korean cuisine).
And the owner gave extras of everything, upon request (this is very Korean).
Loved it! -
Review from Lena K.
San Francisco, CA
8/9/2011
The one thing I was really worried about when my bf and I decided to move from New York to SF wasn't earthquakes -- it was the reported dearth of good Korean food in the city
THANK GOD FOR AATO! Went in there yesterday and got the Galbi (Korean BBQ) Ssam Plate and it was so so so so good. The BBQ was delicious and they even have homegrown 'kkenyip', which is a sort of herb even the most legit places in K-town in New York have a hard time getting their hands on. They also had 'yuja cha,' which is a kind of citrus tea that my mom always makes for me and that I love. Yummy yummy -- I'll definitely be going back! -
Review from Kate E.
San Francisco, CA
7/15/2011
Since I live across the street and watched the construction of the place I was really looking forwad to checking it out when it finally opened. I finally got the chance last night so I asked my friend to join me since we are both avid fans of Korean food.
We were suprised to see that we were the ONLY people in the restaurant at 7pm on a Thursday but since its a new place we let that slide. Our first shock came when we saw the prices on the menu- 15.00 for a salad?! As vegetarians we were also less than impressed by the available options.
Our delightful server who admitted to knowing little about Korean cuisine offered us a free glass of wine that they were giving for their grand opening- I love free, and free wine is the holy grail my opinion! Unfortunately you get what you pay (or don't pay for) and the wine was stale and unappealing.
I ordered the tofu salad with a side of Kimchi and my friend orderd the shrimp salad. For around 15.00 a salad we were expecting a lot more than the small plate we got! My friend's shrimp salad had only 6 small shrimp! The kimchi was incredibly fishy and we requested the server take it back.
Sorry Aato, we wont be back- Best of luck! -
Review from S R.
San Rafael, CA
7/6/2011
Very attentive staff. Would have liked spicier mandoo, but the wait staff provided us with hot sauce upon request. Strangely, the food was not very hot even though we were only one of two tables there. I think perhaps the plates need to be heated before serving the food in order to maintain the heat of the food. The spicy pork special was delicious. The beef short ribs were fine, but rather bland. The lemon mousse dessert was delicious.
