Han Sang — Restaurant in Millbrae

NOTE: Very detailed review.

HOURS. After work, I was craving something Korean and soupy, so I thought, oh! Let's try Han Sang, they're open. They're open M-Sun (11a to 9p; break btwn 2:30-4p). I noticed that certain restaurants in Millbrae close on inconvenient days, but Han Sang is open everyday, and that's def a plus.

SEATING + STAFF. Since Han Sang was open, I didn't hesitate to choose this place, however, I was hesitant to eat alone, since I rarely do so. Though, as I got in, the staff told me to choose any seat. I noticed large tables for groups (left side) and solo or double seats (back right side) of the restaurant. My space was a little tight near the kitchen, so the waitress noticed and moved the table easily for more room (which makes this accessible for families with children in strollers or people in wheelchairs). Something that also caught my attention was the fact that the staff were SUPER FRIENDLY as I got inside, and made sure I was taken care of.

FOOD. Han Sang gives a pot of unlimited (self-help) hot barley tea (fills 3-4 cups). Besides the tea, the side dishes were also unlimited (mm...cubed kimchi). I ordered an appetizer called Eyeround Roll (had to ask what it was). It was meat rolled around colorful veggies with a dipping sauce. Not only was the plating beautifully decorated, but it was also tasty and healthy.

Next was the main entrée, where I ordered the seolleontang. Specifically, the Dogani Tang (seolleontang with tendons). These were not normal tendons, they were HUGE, and oh so delicious. The tendons were not rough like others, but these were soft to bite through (and would be good for elderly ppl or ppl with sensitive teeth). The soup base, which is ox bone soup, was legit delicious. As in, you can tell there is no MSG, just by tasting it (I recommend adding some ground pepper or salt to taste). It was soooooo yummy.

For my overall review, my before, during, and after experience was filled with care from the friendly staff and the wonderful tastes on my buds. I hope to try more dishes, soju, and dessert next. I'm going back to Han Sang again when I crave Korean food. Thanks for my first experience.

Annie's Advice: Add a description on the menu for the...

Ideally, I'd give it a 3.5/5.

Han Song in downtown Millbrae offers a decent Korean dining experience, but be prepared for some potential drawbacks. Parking in the area can be a real challenge, especially on weekends, so arriving early is highly recommended, even if you have a reservation. And reservations are definitely a must, as this place gets packed, particularly on weekend nights.

We had a reservation and were seated promptly, which was a good start. We sampled a variety of dishes, and they all tended to be on the bland side and a bit overpriced for what you get. The Bulgogi Bibimbap was okay, but it could have used more meat and more robust flavor. The Jjin Mandu (dumplings) were a highlight – quite tasty.

The cold noodles were decent, with a nice texture, but again lacked depth of flavor. Thankfully, they provide mustard and vinegar, which definitely helped to liven things up. The Bo Ssam was a generous portion, and the pork was cooked well. The Han Sang Guk Bap was also decent.

On the plus side, the service was impressively fast, and the staff was friendly and attentive. This helped to offset some of the food's shortcomings.

Overall, Han Song is a reasonable option for Korean food in Millbrae. The fast and friendly service is a definite plus. A word of warning: they may charge you for to-go boxes even if you don't take any, so double-check your bill. It's worth a try, but manage your...

Created by the same owners of Zzan in SF, Han Sang is a cute Korean restaurant located just minutes from the SFO airport. Definitely one of the limited, better Korean restaurants in Northern California.

One of the more authentic Korean restaurants in the area, Han Sang offers a variety of different comfort foods from galbi tang (short rib soup) to bo ssam (which is typically braised pork shoulder, paired with a sweet and savory fermented bean paste and vegetables which are used to wrap the meat).

If you are new to Korean food, Han Sang is a great introduction to the cuisine. Korean cuisine, at its core, is filled with comfort foods from "hangover soups" you eat with rice to noodle based dishes. It would be good to note that dishes like seolleongtang (ox bone soup) naturally taste a bit creamy as it is made from boiling ox bones for hours. Always season to taste. Also, while I love a good mul naeng myeon (cold noodles), which I ordered, it is an acquired taste. This dish needs to be seasoned with vinegar (which adds tanginess) and horseradish (which adds slight spice) to your refreshing noodles.

I have noticed that the trend has been to order braised short ribs (thanks to Daeho in SF or Sun Nong Dan in LA), but galbi jjim is not an "every day" dish to order as it is on the...