Mashita Galbi Jjim: A New Culinary Gem in San Francisco's Asian Fusion Scene

Korean restaurant on Polk St for Galbijjim. The star is the short rib stew, it comes with rice cakes, cheese and noods. The meat is tender and flavorful and off the bone. We initially thought the portions were smaller than Daeho but without bones, it’s a lot of meat. Don’t skip their other dishes, garlic chicken noodles, dumplings and fried chicken were all very good. The Banchan was pretty standard. Luckily we made reservations, a Thursday night yet it filled up quickly. If you are in the mood for Galbijjim this is a great option. Service was friendly but slowed as they got busy, a little understaffed at this point. Maybe they didn’t anticipate being this busy! Recommend checking them out! The place is on the small side so reservations are advised.

Mild (level 1) galbijim - 4.5/5 delicious, bigger portion size than Daeho, would be better if less sweet. Good banchan Brazilian lemonade - 5/5 Too loud at 7pm

We ordered the Spicy Galbi Jjim and had to wait ~20 minutes for it. They offered mild, medium, spicy, very spicy spice levels. It was delicious and had a nice kick of heat. The cheese was included, and they added flat glass noodles to the usual rice cakes, carrots, and potatoes. I would have preferred it to be more saucy, but overall, it was a solid Galbi Jjim minus the wait. The Soy Glaze wings were nice and crunchy, but I would have liked them better if they were coated with more sauce. Not to mention, this is the most generous portion of odeng banchan I’ve ever received! Good sour kimchi to balance the Galbi Jjim as well.

I visited Mashita Galbi Jjim on a Sunday evening around 6 PM with a party of four, and to my surprise, there was no wait—we were seated right away. With only two staff members working the floor, the restaurant still managed a steady rhythm of service. The space itself is inviting, with a high ceiling that makes it feel airy, a clean bathroom (always a plus), and a generally cozy environment that sets the stage for a comfortable meal. For food, we ordered two dishes: the pork tonkatsu and their signature galbi jjim. The tonkatsu arrived quickly, golden and crispy, delivering the kind of satisfying crunch and savory bite you’d expect from a well-executed cutlet. The galbi jjim, however, was a different story. It took about 30 minutes to reach our table, which seems to be the norm based on observing other tables. While the wait did build anticipation, it also disrupted the pacing of the meal. When it did arrive, the flavors were solid—rich, hearty, and braised with care—but not quite at the level of depth or complexity I’ve had elsewhere. Personally, I still prefer Daeho’s version, which leans more memorable in both flavor and overall experience. Service was professional and efficient given the limited staff, though not particularly warm or engaging. It felt more functional than personal, but everything we needed was taken care of without issue. In terms of ambiance, Mashita balances casual comfort with a slightly polished feel, making it a nice spot for a relaxed meal with friends or family. Value-wise, the restaurant is fairly priced for the quality and portion sizes. While the food is solid and the dining experience smooth overall, I didn’t find it compelling enough to make this my go-to spot for galbi jjim. Final verdict: 4/5. A reliable option with cozy ambiance and decent execution, but not quite distinctive enough to stand out in a city with strong competition.

It’s my first time here today, my mom and I are both very satisfied with our impromptu dinner. We ordered the Galbi Jjim in medium spicy. The portion is very generous, the standard serving already included cheese, rice cake, glass noodles, and plenty of radish-carrots-potatoes! The meat was tender and flavorful, perfectly cooked and served on a cold winter night. We had leftover for another meal.

Really good spot! Went during soft opening, everything was good. Good prices and large portion for the chicken garlic noodles - a little more noodles in the spicy beef soup would’ve been nice but still filling and really tasty for both. $35 for two people excluding tip was nice in SF

Genuinely excellent and a serious rival to Daeho( without the crazy wait times!). The short ribs are braised to "fall-off-the-bone" perfection and served in massive, bubbling portions. Comes with a standard, generous cheese topping that is torched table-side for that signature smoky, gooey finish.

I had a really nice experience. Everything was fast and delicious, even during rush hour. The atmosphere was super chill, and the bathroom was very clean!