Jilli brings San Francisco a taste of Korea's drinking scene
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Jilli, the Mission's new spot serving rice wine flights and bold bar snacks, introduces San Francisco to a Korean drinking culture it didn't know it was missing.
State of play: The restaurant, with roots in LA, brands itself as a modern sool jib — a communal Korean "drinking house" — by spotlighting makgeolli, a funky, lightly effervescent rice wine with a cloudy appearance and milky texture.
The big picture: Jilli's opening reflects a broader trend of Korean cuisine gaining popularity across the U.S. — expanding beyond traditional barbecue and bibimbap to elevating lesser-known specialties like makgeolli and comfort dishes like gukbap and jajangmyeon.
Dig in: The low-ABV drink pairs nicely with the rich flavors offered on Jilli's menu, like the gooey tteokbokki ($21), deep-fried shrimp toast ($16), popcorn chicken ($23) and $50 caviar bump — and, yes, it is worth it.
Sips to savor: First-timers should begin with the flight, which features four varieties:
- Sang Takju: Traditional and a great starting point to get your bearings.
- Nomi Doga Takju: Slightly sweet, creamy and tangy — with a subtle nuttiness and faint fizz.
- Hana Makgeolli Takju: The funkiest of the flight, made from brown rice with a slightly sour and earthy profile.
- Hanna Forbidden Takju: Infused with red berries, this version has a slightly sweeter fermented taste.
- The drink menu also includes a rotating list of natural wines, craft beer and soju.
Best bites: Other standouts include gochujang-marinated pork jowl ($35), sous-vide and cooked on a charcoal grill, and rigatoni alla kimchi vodka pasta ($23), topped with house-made burrata.
The vibe: Laid back and welcoming, Jilli feels more like a friendly hangout than a bar, with staff who'll chat through the menu, share fun anecdotes and hand out Korean "hangover cure" packets they swear by.
- Inside, there's '80s hip-hop, Korean animation projected on the walls and neon signs reading "Drink Responsibly Reckless," while the patio twinkles with string lights.
My thought bubble: My favorite (and owner Hwanghah Jeong's) was the "Yakju" ($72) from Hana Makgeolli, a small artisanal producer based out of Brooklyn, New York.
- It's light-bodied with bright acidity and a crisp, dry finish — layered with melon and citrus notes.
If you go: Open 5-10pm Tuesday through Sunday at 1503 15th St.