Benu (restaurant) explained

Benu
Head-Chef:	Corey Lee
Food-Type:	Asian-inspired New American
Street-Address:	22 Hawthorne Street
City:	San Francisco
State:	California
Country:	United States
Postcode:	94105
Rating:	(Michelin Guide) AAA Five Diamond Award (2012-2024)^[1]
Coordinates:	37.7854°N -122.3991°W

Benu is the first restaurant in San Francisco to have received Three Michelin Stars. Located in the SoMa district, Benu was opened in 2010 by chef Corey Lee, the former Chef de Cuisine at the French Laundry.^{[2] [3]}

In 2019, Benu made its debut on The World's 50 Best Restaurants, and in 2024 celebrated ten consecutive years of receiving three Stars.^{[4] [5]}

Restaurant

Corey Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea and moved to the United States at age five.^[6] Prior to opening Benu, he was the head chef at The French Laundry, working for Thomas Keller at both The French Laundry and Per Se for a total of nine years.^[6]

At Benu, he serves a set tasting menu that features a wide variety of seafood and vegetables, a few meat courses, and some sweets.^[7] Lee draws from many different cuisines, including Korean and Cantonese.^[8] He states that “Benu is open to the influence of all different kinds of cultures. We have Asian influences, of course. We have Western influences. We have influences that are technique-driven. Some are flavor-driven. Some are ingredient-driven. But it accepts all those things and it defines the kind of food we serve.”^[9]

In addition to the tasting menu, Benu offers an optional beverage pairing that includes beer, wine, and sake.

Benu is housed on the ground floor of a historic building that dates the back to 1922–originally the headquarters of the San Francisco Newspaper Company.^[10] Crown Point Press, an art studio, gallery, and bookstore, now owns the building and resides directly above the restaurant.^[11]

In 2015, Phaidon published Benu–a collection of recipes and essays that explores the restaurant's food, influences, and collaborators–with forewords by Thomas Keller and David Chang,^[12] designed by Julia Hasting.

Awards and honors

• Three Michelin Stars^[13]
• Ten Years of Three Michelin Stars, 2024^[14]
• Best Chef: West, James Beard Foundation, 2017^[15]
• Outstanding Wine Program, James Beard Foundation, 2019^[16]
• Eater 38 Icon (Named one of America's 38 Essential Restaurants for five consecutive times)^[17]
• Entered the list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants, 2019^[18]
• Ranked 28th in The World's 50 Best Restaurants, 2021^[19]
• The 40 Most Important Restaurants of the Decade, Esquire^[20]
• The Most Important Restaurants of the Decade, Food & Wine^[21]
• 5 Stars, Forbes Travel Guide^[22]
• 4 Stars, San Francisco Chronicle^[23]
• Five Diamond Award, AAA^[24]

See also

• List of Michelin starred restaurants
• List of Michelin 3-star restaurants in the United States
• List of New American restaurants
• List of Michelin starred restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California

Notes and References

1. https://newsroom.aaa.com/2023/05/2023-five-four-diamond-lists/
2. Web site: 2017-09-26 . 27 Best Restaurants in San Francisco . 2022-10-06 . Condé Nast Traveler . en-US.
3. Web site: Benu and More in San Francisco . 2022-10-06 . sfinsider.sfgate.com.
4. Web site: The World's 50 Best Restaurants 1-50 . The World's 50 Best Restaurants . William Reed Business Media.
5. News: Odell, Kat . San Francisco's Benu Celebrates a Decade of Three Michelin Stars . August 6, 2024 . Michelin Guide.
6. Web site: Goodyear . Dana . Corey Lee: Wise Chef of the West . Food & Wine . Food & Wine Magazine.
7. Web site: Menu . Benu.
8. Web site: The Line Between Tradition and Innovation: An Afternoon with Benu's Corey Lee. The Breadcrumb Trail. Lam. Francis. June 8, 2015 . June 27, 2015.
9. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Benu: Corey Lee . Phaidon.
10. Web site: Archived copy . June 30, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100814/http://www.sf-planning.org/ftp/CDG/docs/transit_center/Survey_A_and_B_forms.pdf . September 24, 2015 . dead .
11. http://www.crownpoint.com/about Crown Point Press
12. Web site: Benu. Phaidon Bookstore. Phaidon. June 27, 2015.
13. Web site: Benu . Michelin Guide . 19 September 2024.
14. News: Odell, Kat . San Francisco's Benu Celebrates a Decade of Three Michelin Stars . August 6, 2024 . Michelin Guide.
15. Web site: 2017 James Beard Award Winners. May 1, 2017 . James Beard Awards.
16. Web site: 2019 James Beard Award Winners. May 6, 2019 . James Beard Awards.
17. Web site: Addison . Bill . America's 38 Essential Restaurants . Eater . November 13, 2018 . Vox Media . 29 March 2019.
18. Web site: Benu, 2019. 2020-12-16. 2019-07-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20190702094809/https://www.theworlds50best.com/The-List-2019/41-50/Benu.html. dead.
19. Web site: Benu . The World's 50 Best . 20 September 2024.
20. Web site: Gordinier . Jeff . The 40 Most Important Restaurants of the Decade . Esquire . December 27, 2019 . Hearst Corporation . 13 January 2020.
21. Web site: The Most Important Restaurants of the Decade.
22. Web site: Kester . Jennifer . Forbes Travel Guide Unveils Its 2020 Star Award Winners . Forbes Travel Guide . February 18, 2020 . 20 February 2020.
23. News: Michael Bauer . Benu, chef-owner Corey Lee rise to 4-star level . December 26, 2012 . San Francisco Chronicle.
24. Web site: Benu. 20 September 2024. AAA.