Editing Benu (restaurant)

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox restaurant
| name = Benu
| image = 
| image_width = 
| image_caption = 
| established = {{start date and age|2010}}
| head-chef = [[Corey Lee (chef)|Corey Lee]]
| food-type = Asian-inspired [[New American cuisine|New American]]
| dress-code=
| street-address = 22 Hawthorne Street
| city = [[San Francisco]]
| state = [[California]]
| country = [[United States]]
| postcode = 94105
| rating = {{Michelinstar|3}} ([[Michelin Guide]])<br />[[American Automobile Association|AAA]] Five Diamond Award (2012-2024)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsroom.aaa.com/2023/05/2023-five-four-diamond-lists/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218234942/https://newsroom.aaa.com/2023/05/2023-five-four-diamond-lists/|url-status=dead|title=2023 Five & Four Diamond Hotels & Restaurant Lists|first=Aixa|last=Diaz|date=May 1, 2023|archivedate=December 18, 2023}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|www.benusf.com}}
|coordinates={{coord|37.785407|-122.399112|display=it}}
}}

'''Benu''' is the first restaurant in [[San Francisco]] to have received [[Michelin Guide|Three Michelin Stars]]. Located in the [[South of Market, San Francisco|SoMa]] district, Benu was opened in 2010 by chef [[Corey Lee (chef)|Corey Lee]], the former [[Chef de Cuisine]] at the [[The French Laundry|French Laundry]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2017-09-26 |title=27 Best Restaurants in San Francisco |url=https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-restaurants-in-san-francisco |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=Condé Nast Traveler |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Benu and More in San Francisco |url=https://sfinsider.sfgate.com/upscale-restaurants-benu-and-more-in-san-francisco/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=sfinsider.sfgate.com |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006015347/https://sfinsider.sfgate.com/upscale-restaurants-benu-and-more-in-san-francisco/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

In 2019, Benu made its debut on [[The World's 50 Best Restaurants]], and in 2024 celebrated ten consecutive years of receiving three Stars.<ref>{{cite web |title=The World's 50 Best Restaurants 1-50 |url=https://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50 |website=The World's 50 Best Restaurants |publisher=William Reed Business Media}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news |author=Odell, Kat |url=https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/features/benu-korean-3-michelin-star-restaurant-corey-lee-celebrates-a-decade-of-3-michelin-stars |title=San Francisco's Benu Celebrates a Decade of Three Michelin Stars |date=August 6, 2024 |website = Michelin Guide}}</ref>

== Restaurant ==
[[Corey Lee (chef)|Corey Lee]] was born in [[Seoul]], South Korea and moved to the United States at age five.<ref name="Corey Lee: Wise Chef of the West">{{cite web |last1=Goodyear |first1=Dana |title=Corey Lee: Wise Chef of the West |url=https://www.foodandwine.com/blogs/corey-lee-wise-chef-west |website=Food & Wine |publisher=Food & Wine Magazine}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Corey Lee: Wise Chef of the West"/>

At Benu, he serves a set tasting menu that features a wide variety of seafood and vegetables, a few meat courses, and some sweets.<ref name="benu website">{{cite web |title=Menu |url=https://www.benusf.com/menu |website=Benu}}</ref> Lee draws from many different cuisines, including [[Korean cuisine|Korean]] and [[Cantonese cuisine|Cantonese]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogdotbreadcrumbposdotcom.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/the-line-between-tradition-and-innovation-an-afternoon-with-benus-corey-lee/|title=The Line Between Tradition and Innovation: An Afternoon with Benu's Corey Lee|website=The Breadcrumb Trail|last1=Lam|first1=Francis|date=June 8, 2015 |access-date=June 27, 2015}}</ref> 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.”<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/XvcTqhX2XFE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200302051333/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvcTqhX2XFE Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |title=Benu: Corey Lee |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvcTqhX2XFE |publisher=Phaidon}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

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 back to 1922–originally the [[headquarters]] of the San Francisco Newspaper Company.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sf-planning.org/ftp/CDG/docs/transit_center/Survey_A_and_B_forms.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100814/http://www.sf-planning.org/ftp/CDG/docs/transit_center/Survey_A_and_B_forms.pdf |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Kathan Brown|Crown Point Press]], an art studio, gallery, and bookstore, now owns the building and resides directly above the restaurant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://crownpoint.com/about/|title=About}}</ref>

In 2015, [[Phaidon Press|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]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phaidon.com/store/food-cook/benu-9780714868868/|title=Benu|website=Phaidon Bookstore|publisher=Phaidon|access-date=June 27, 2015}}</ref> designed by [[Julia Hasting]].

==Awards and honors==
* [[Michelin Guide|Three Michelin Stars]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Benu |url=https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/california/san-francisco/restaurant/benu |website=Michelin Guide |access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref>
* Ten Years of Three Michelin Stars, 2024<ref name="auto"/>
* Best Chef: West, [[James Beard Foundation Award|James Beard Foundation]], 2017<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2017-james-beard-award-winners|title = 2017 James Beard Award Winners|date=May 1, 2017 |website = James Beard Awards}}</ref>
* Outstanding Wine Program, James Beard Foundation, 2019<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2019-james-beard-award-winners | title = 2019 James Beard Award Winners|date=May 6, 2019 |website = James Beard Awards}}</ref>
* [[Eater (website)|Eater]] 38 Icon (Named one of America's 38 Essential Restaurants for five consecutive times)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Addison |first1=Bill |title=America's 38 Essential Restaurants |url=https://www.eater.com/best-american-restaurants-review/2018/11/13/18071890/best-restaurants-america-2018 |website=Eater |date=November 13, 2018 |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref>
* Entered the list of [[The World's 50 Best Restaurants]], 2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theworlds50best.com/The-List-2019/41-50/Benu.html|title=Benu, 2019|access-date=2020-12-16|archive-date=2019-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702094809/https://www.theworlds50best.com/The-List-2019/41-50/Benu.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Ranked 28th in The World's 50 Best Restaurants, 2021<ref>{{cite web |title=Benu |url=https://www.theworlds50best.com/discovery/Establishments/US/San-Francisco/Benu.html|website=The World's 50 Best |access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref>
* The 40 Most Important Restaurants of the Decade, ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gordinier |first1=Jeff |title=The 40 Most Important Restaurants of the Decade |url=https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/restaurants/a30316839/best-restaurants-decade-2010s/ |website=Esquire |date=December 27, 2019 |publisher=Hearst Corporation |access-date=13 January 2020}}</ref>
* The Most Important Restaurants of the Decade, ''[[Food & Wine]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foodandwine.com/news/most-important-restaurants-of-the-decade|title = The Most Important Restaurants of the Decade}}</ref>
* 5 Stars, [[Forbes Travel Guide]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kester |first1=Jennifer |title=Forbes Travel Guide Unveils Its 2020 Star Award Winners |url=https://stories.forbestravelguide.com/forbes-travel-guide-unveils-its-2020-star-award-winners |website=Forbes Travel Guide |date=February 18, 2020 |access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref>
* 4 Stars, ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]''<ref>{{cite news |author=Michael Bauer |url=http://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/article/Benu-chef-owner-Corey-Lee-rise-to-4-star-level-3250727.php |title=Benu, chef-owner Corey Lee rise to 4-star level |date=December 26, 2012 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref>
* [[Five Diamond Award]], [[American Automobile Association|AAA]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aaa.com/travelinfo/california/san-francisco/restaurants/benu-175133.html |title=Benu|access-date=20 September 2024|website = AAA}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Benu - barbecued quail.jpg|barbecued quail
File:Benu - mussels stuffed with glass noodles and fine vegetables.jpg|mussels stuffed with glass noodles and fine vegetables
File:Benu - persimmons drying in the courtyard.jpg|hoshigaki
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of Michelin 3-star restaurants]]
* [[List of Michelin 3-star restaurants in the United States]]
* [[List of New American restaurants]]
* [[List of Michelin-starred restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http:/www.benusf.com/}}

{{Michelin Guide 3-star restaurants in the US}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Restaurants in San Francisco}}

[[Category:Michelin-starred restaurants in San Francisco]]
[[Category:New American restaurants in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Fine dining restaurants in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Michelin-starred New American restaurants]]