Okonomiyaki
@ Namu

The Dish:

For Okonomiyaki virgins, the sight of this sizzling hodgepodge of ingredients may have you scratching your head with curiosity. Yet after one bite of this thick, moist, and savory pancake chock full of seasoned ground beef, creamy kewpie (mayonnaise), kimchee, and other various textures and flavors, you'll be wondering why you hadn't discovered this satisfying concoction sooner. Served on a stone plate, the Okonomiyaki at Namu is a must-have on every visit. The generously-sized portion is ideal to share with your dining companions, but tempting enough to want to indulge in all by yourself.

Key Ingredients: Wheat batter, kimchee, ground beef, cabbage, scallion, egg yolk, kewpie mayonnaise, bonito flakes

The Place:

The Richmond District is known to be a bit cooler in temps than other San Francisco districts, but with the addition of Namu, the area has been packing a whole lot more heat. A close-knit, family-run restaurant that excels in seasonally prepared and innovative Korean-inspired dishes, the Lee brothers have created a much-needed unique yet casual neighborhood dining destination offering cutting-edge eats. In addition to dinner and brunch served at their brick and mortar Balboa street location, you can find Namu at the Ferry Building Farmer's Market on Thursdays and Saturdays, and at the Fort Mason gathering of Off the Grid on Fridays.

Other Menu Musts:

You can't go wrong with anything Kimchee at this "hot" spot: Kimchee fried rice topped with a sunny side up egg, Namu's Korean ssam-style kalbi short rib "tacos" with kimchee salsa, and kimchee remoulade wrapped in toasted seaweed.

Little known facts:

• Namu's bar top was created from a salvaged Cypress tree from nearby Golden Gate Park. The name Namu comes from the Korean translation for tree or wood.
• Want to spice up the office lunch? Pre-order lunch from Namu to pick up at the Farmer's Market on Thursdays only. Just fill out Namu's order form by Wednesday at noon and voila, your lunch is ready for pick-up. Vegetarian and gluten free options available upon request. $75 minimum order.

Recommended By:

Mika Takeuchi is a Tokyo-born, California-based writer and entrepreneur. In addition to working in restaurants, Mika has ventured across the globe, dining and seeking out dishes from street food to haute cuisine. She is a contributing author of the book "Creating a Meal You'll Love" and founder of the website/blog, Food Fashionista. Her company and writings have been featured in The Washington Post, BlackboardEats, Culinary Trends, and more.

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