Korean Food USA is a new series that showcases Korean and Korean-inspired eateries all around the nation.

When Ashley Lee became the owner of San Francisco’s Jang Soo BBQ, the restaurant underwent a complete renovation.

Described by SFWeekly’s Jonathan Kaufman as “recall[ing] both Prairie School architecture and J. Lo videos,” the revamped restaurant has crystallized chandeliers and the walls are furnished with slate.  If the decor isn’t extravagant enough, Lee, who also owns Ashely’s Cafe on California St., takes service to the next level: she greets all her guests wearing a hanbok, a traditional Korean dress.

Being a BBQ joint, the meat they serve is superb—it’s tender yet flavorful. However, they also have other delicious entree dishes as well. Kimchi Jjigae, a spicy stew made of fermented cabbage, beef, onions, garlic, and kimchi, is a favorite. Eaters have the option of ordering it “Korean-style”—i.e., straight-up spicy.

Haemul Dolsot Bibimbap

Jang Soo also have several different kinds of bibimbaps, like their Haemul Dolsot Bibimbap. The dish combines all the regular ingredients of vegetables included in bibimbap, but instead of meat, there is variety of seafood mixed in.

So, if you need a new K-BBQ joint to frequent, try Jang Soo!

Jang Soo BBQ
6314 Geary Blvd (Btwn. 27th Ave & 28th Ave.)
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 221-8282

[Photos: (top) Lara Hata/SFweekly; David B/Yelp]

Jane Kim, the president of the San Francisco Board of Education is running for San Francisco Supervisor in District 6 and she needs your help in the form of signatures.  Jane Kim needs 1,500 signatures from District 6 residents to get on the ballot for the November 6 elections.  If you don’t know Jane, she was the first Korean-American to be an elected official in San Francisco.

Based on her experiences as a community organizer working with young people, Jane Kim was encouraged to run for a seat on San Francisco’s Board of Education. She received the most votes citywide in her 2006 election. In that election, Jane placed first out of fifteen candidates in District 6—earning over 1,000 more votes than her closest competitor.

As a Commissioner on the Board of Education, Jane Kim has advocated for expanded access for immigrant families, more equitable distribution of district resources, and greater accountability by the administration to the community whom they serve. Even as funding and resources for education at the state level have continued to decline, Jane has led her colleagues in the difficult challenge of balancing a fractured budget, while still prioritizing student needs and preserving district jobs.

If you live in District 6, go submit your signature!  For more information on Jane Kim’s run, go to her website janekim.org.