Sweet, smokey meats, sizzling tofu, chewy glass noodles, and crispy pancakes.

Aka bulgogi, soondubu, jap chae, and pajeon. The beauty of Korean food is in the fun of it. Everything is diced and prepped, but you are awarded the gratification of the final step of cooking it, before ultimately gobbling it all down. With the slew of places from dedicated Korean bbq to tofu joints, it can be hard to navigate; but here's the best the city has to offer...endless banchan included.

Jijime

New kid on the block, Jijime comes loaded with hipster decor: wooden walls, black painted benches, framed records, and industrial metal chairs. But don't let their aesthetic fool you—the food is on point. After their soft opening in December, the eatery has been filled with foodies, ready to nosh on tasty tapas-style dishes like kimchi tacos with spicy pork, bulgogi, don bowls, spicy chicken jim, and galbi noodle soup with short ribs. Also try their bibimbap (beef, spicy pork or tofu) and jook, Korean rice porridge with veggies, sesame oil, and seaweed paper. They also have a solid wine, sake, soju, and beer list. // 5524 Geary Blvd. (Outer Richmond), jijime.com.

Kogi Gogi

Another newbie to the Korean BBQ circuit is Kogi Gogi, with perhaps the most fun name to say of the bunch. Nosh on all-you-can-eat bbq with prime meats like beef tenderloin, sirloin, top blade, and also yummy specialties like miso pork belly and spicy octopus. They also have soju cocktails served out of fruit; and we're not talking coconuts here. Be prepared for a watermelon or pineapple to be placed in front of you with a straw. This also makes for a post pub-crawl or date night gone well spot as it's open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. // 1358 9th Ave. (Inner Sunset), kogigogibbq.com.

Han Il Kwan

You'll hit crowds here, but it's for good reason—the menu is vast and authentic, the pork belly is just the right balance of fat and tender meat, the beef cuts are superb, and the portions generous. Get the gyeran-jjim on cold nights—a big pot of steamed egg, or another chilly weather favorite—soondubu, hot tofu soup. Be warned, sometimes bus loads of tourists are dropped off at this tasty locale, so call ahead and ask for a seat in the front room with the pagoda decor. After your meal, you'll receive a sweet rice drink to cleanse the palate. // 1802 Balboa St. (Outer Richmond), hanilkwan.org.

Beque BBQ Grill

With roots in South and Easy Bay, this mini chain's latest addition is their third location in Japantown. Each one holds its own with a distinct vibe ranging from polished in Santa Clara to intimate with an emphasis on stone-heated meats in Newark. The SF iteration, naturally, is a little more hip and vibrant. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat style menu cooked on smokeless gas grills; and be sure to try the brisket, often not found on traditional Korean BBQ menus. // 1825 Post St. (Pacific Heights), bequekoreangrill.com.

Dancing Bull Korean BBQ Restaurant

This place is unique for its atypical cooking style—it's likely the only Bay Area restaurant that offers Seoul-style bulgogi (beef or pork) cooked in a dome-shaped copper grill while soup or veggies boil along the outer rim, soaking up the flavors dripping out from the sizzling meat. There, too, is an all-you-can-eat menu here, but be sure to try some of their à la carte items like pork jowl, kimchi fried rice, cheese corn, and ramen doslot. // 4217 Geary Blvd. (Inner Richmond), dancing-bull-san-francisco.sites.tablehero.com.