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La Fête du ChampagneCode: PEARL
Modern Asian Fusion Fine Dining
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CuisineFusion
Executive ChefCorey Lee
Price$150–200per person
ReservationsEssential
Dress CodeFormal

3 Michelin Stars · World's 50 Best #33 · La Liste Top Restaurants

Our verdict

Benu sits in San Francisco's serious tasting-menu tier, using French structure and Chinese-Korean reference points with uncommon technical control. Corey Lee's restaurant has the external validation to match the ambition: No. 12 on Opinionated About Dining's 2026 North America ranking, La Liste recognition, a 2025 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant semifinalist nod, and long-running Michelin three-star status.

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Benu restaurant in San Francisco, United States

The menu

What to order

  • Xiao long bao
  • Thousand-year-old quail egg
  • Faux shark fin soup
See the current menu on benusf.com →
About

Benu is a formal, high-end restaurant in San Francisco from chef-owner Corey Lee. The verified description is concise but meaningful: French - Chinese, Asian cuisine, a $$$$ price level, and evening hours on Tuesday through Saturday, with Monday and Sunday closed.

Because the confirmed public data is limited, the safest way to read Benu is through those grounded facts rather than through unverified claims about a particular menu format, room layout, address, ranking, beverage program, or signature dishes. Its identity rests on Corey Lee's cooking and a formal San Francisco dining context.

French - Chinese, Asian dining in San Francisco

The confirmed cuisine language is still useful for diners. It signals a restaurant whose appeal is likely to be strongest for guests interested in a formal meal rather than a casual drop-in setting. The dress code is formal, and the price level is $$$$, so expectations should be set accordingly.

Corey Lee is the verified chef-owner. For planning purposes, the key confirmed details are the cuisine, chef-owner, formal dress code, price level, and evening operating schedule.

How Benu compares in San Francisco's expensive dining tier

San Francisco's upper bracket is not one lane. Aphotic, The Shota, O' by Le Tohic, Luce, and The Wild offer other ways to think about higher-end dining. Benu's verified profile is narrower: French - Chinese, Asian cuisine from Corey Lee, with a formal dress code and $$$$ pricing.

The verified recognition available here describes Benu as creative dining representing San Francisco's dense diversity.

For diners comparing options, the practical distinction is direct. Benu is a formal, expensive San Francisco restaurant with evening service Tuesday through Saturday. It is closed Monday and Sunday. The listed hours are Tuesday through Thursday 5:30–7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday 5–8:30 pm.

For a broader view, Our full San Francisco restaurants guide maps the city's dining range beyond the luxury tier. Travelers pairing dinner with a longer stay can also use Our full San Francisco hotels guide, Our full San Francisco bars guide, Our full San Francisco wineries guide, and Our full San Francisco experiences guide to plan around the meal rather than treating it as an isolated booking.

Who should choose this room

Benu suits diners looking for a formal, high-end restaurant in San Francisco rather than an informal neighborhood meal. The verified dress code is formal, and the price level is $$$$, so it is best approached as a planned evening.

Guests who need current beverage, dietary, allergy, or accessibility details should confirm directly with the restaurant before booking.

What is confirmed is enough to frame the decision: Corey Lee, French - Chinese, Asian cuisine, formal dress, $$$$ pricing, and dinner-hour service on Tuesday through Saturday.

For visitors, that makes Benu a focused choice rather than a catch-all recommendation. Choose it if the confirmed profile matches the evening you want: formal, expensive, San Francisco-based, and centered on French - Chinese, Asian cooking from Corey Lee.

Frequently asked questions

Is Benu a family-friendly restaurant?

Benu is a formal $$$$ restaurant in San Francisco, so diners should consider whether that confirmed profile matches the meal they want.

What should I expect atmosphere-wise at Benu?

Expect a formal restaurant in San Francisco. The verified dress code is formal, and the price level is $$$$.

What type of food is Benu known for?

Benu serves French - Chinese, Asian cuisine.

What is Benu known for?

Benu is known for French - Chinese, Asian cuisine in San Francisco, with Corey Lee as chef-owner.

Snapshot

Comparable venues by cuisine and price in the same metro.

The record

Recognition history

Dated appearances from independent guides and award organizations, with the underlying list record or original source where available.

  1. Michelin 3 Stars

    Michelin

  2. World's 50 Best North America's Best Restaurants #33

    World's 50 Best

  3. La Liste Top Restaurants

    La Liste

  4. Star Wine List

    Star Wine List

  5. James Beard Award Semi Finalist

    James Beard Award

Full recognition history (23 entries)
  1. Forbes 5-Star

    Forbes

  2. Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #12

    Opinionated About Dining

  3. San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants #17

    San Francisco Chronicle

  4. AAA 5 Diamond

    AAA

  5. Forbes 5-Star

    Forbes

  6. La Liste Top Restaurants

    La Liste

  7. Michelin 3 Stars

    Michelin

  8. Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #7

    Opinionated About Dining

  9. The Best Chef Three Knives

    The Best Chef

  10. World's 50 Best North America's Best Restaurants #13

    World's 50 Best

  11. Michelin 3 Stars

    Michelin

  12. Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #9

    Opinionated About Dining

  13. Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #9

    Opinionated About Dining

  14. World's 50 Best Restaurants #28

    World's 50 Best

  15. James Beard Award Outstanding Wine Program

    James Beard Award

  16. World's 50 Best Restaurants #47

    World's 50 Best

  17. James Beard Award Best Chefs

    James Beard Award

  18. Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century #6

    Robb Report

Benu

The wine

Wine program
Deep wine list
  • Extensive wine list
  • Sake program

More wine bars and bars in San Francisco

Details
Vibe
  • Elegant
  • Sophisticated
  • Intimate
  • Quiet
Best For
  • Special Occasion
  • Date Night
  • Business Dinner
Experience
  • Chefs Counter
Drink Program
  • Extensive Wine List
  • Sake Program
Menu Format
  • Tasting Menu
Noise LevelQuiet
CapacityIntimate
Service StyleFormal
Meal PacingExtended Experience
KitchenModern
Wine ProgramDeep wine list
Visit details

Current opening hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
5:30–7:30 PM
Wednesday
5:30–7:30 PM
Thursday
5:30–7:30 PM
Friday
5:30–8:30 PM
Saturday
5:30–8:30 PM
Sunday
Closed

Hours can change for holidays and private events. Hours as of .

Tranquil and zen-like with polished, attentive service in an elegant, oasis-like setting.