SSAL

The ambiance was lovely. Calm decor with earth tones with good lighting and a low noise level. The service was great; friendly and playful. The food was mostly good. I’d say all the small bites in the early courses were excellent. I especially loved the "pancake" ball and the eel wrap. Both packed a punch of flavor and creativity. I didn’t love the cod dish served with rice, not just because it was served with milt, which I personally don’t care for, but also because the sauce seemed incomplete, almost like the authentic version but not quite there and didn’t enhance it in any meaningful way. I didn’t like the quail. It was very well executed but I didn’t think it went with the meal. Quail is not used much in Korean cuisine except for the eggs, but the course didn’t utilize the eggs at all. Overall, it was a lovely meal and I would return for a new menu.

I’d give this restaurant 1,000 stars if I could. Stellar food, the kindest, most personable staff. Every minute felt delicate. It makes you root for this restaurant. Thank you Ssal and especially Jessica for the unforgettable night. We can’t wait to be back.

Loved the sophisticated and understated vibe of this spot. Menu felt refreshing and modern. Seaweed item (I forget what it was called) was a highlight, as were the desserts. Warm and attentive service in a non-uptight environment, which makes or breaks a tasting menu in my opinion. Som was very knowledgeable about the wine list and we drank some delicious stuff! I will return.

Easily in the top 5 most memorable dining experiences in my short life. The chef is truly bringing nostalgic and traditional Korean flavours to an elevated and contemporary forum. Everything was accessible but elevated. The scallion pancake with caviar was easily the best bite of food I’ve ever had.

We went to Ssal for a special family dinner the night before our wedding. We were excited but also weren't exactly sure what to expect from Korean fine dining and their tasting menu. We enjoyed the fried chicken and kimbap they served during covid though so we knew it had to be good. As we expected, every single dish was absolutely DELICIOUS! Every dish was familiar since they obviously used Korean ingredients and meal inspirations but still so novel and creative!! We loved them all but the raw beef tart, sweet potato pancake, flounder mul hwe, and juk were my favorite. The only problem we had was that it was so much food that we were so full lol We were so sad we couldn't finish every single bite. The service was incredible and chef came and explained every dish and checked in throughout to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Not only that but, to our surprise, the team even printed "congratulations on your wedding" in Korean on our dessert!!! We were so incredibly touched and it made our wedding experience even more special and memorable. Thank you to Chef Junsoo and the Ssal team for curating such a special and tasty experience and celebrating our happy occasion with us. It was such a treat!

Oh my gosh, it was amazing. A bit on the higher priced side, but I can say it was worth it. We came for my birthday and the menu was extremely unique, flavorful and memorable. I can’t wait to go back someday, maybe for Christmas. The restaurant runs a bit ambiguously but I recommend you give them a try if you like Korean cuisine. They put a REALLY nice fine dining spin on it. Photos below 👇🏽

Went for my brother’s birthday and we had a wonderful evening. Everything was perfect; food was beautiful, poetic, tastefully delicate; the attentive service is worth highlighting; the setting is modern and pleasant. I really appreciated they took the time to make personalized biscuits for his birthday - the nicest touch I had in a restaurant! I’ve been to 3 michelin star restaurants that didn’t even do something as personalized for a celebration. Thank you for a wonderful evening that we still talk about!