Benu
In Residence
Corey Lee
Chef
- 01CuisineModern Asian Fusion Fine Dining
- 02CitySan Francisco, United States
- 03RecognitionThree Michelin Stars
From the people index
Recommended by
5 trusted voices point here.
- 3 Michelin Stars · Michelin Guide
- World's 50 Best · #13 · World's 50 Best Restaurants
- James Beard Winner · James Beard Foundation
- San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants #17 · 2026
- Forbes 5-Star · 2026
- La Liste Top Restaurants: 94pts · 2026
- World's 50 Best North America's Best Restaurants #33 · 2026
- Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #12 · 2026
- Michelin 3 Stars · 2026
- Star Wine List · 2026
- Michelin 3 Stars · 2025
- World's 50 Best North America's Best Restaurants #13 · 2025
- Forbes 5-Star · 2025
- James Beard Award Semi Finalist · 2025
- Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #7 · 2025
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 $$$$ price level, and evening hours on Tuesday through Saturday, with Monday and Sunday closed.
Because the confirmed public data is limited, the safest way to read Benu is through those grounded facts rather than through unverified claims about a particular menu format, room layout, address, ranking, beverage program, or signature dishes. Its identity rests on Corey Lee's cooking and a formal San Francisco dining context.
French - Chinese, Asian dining in San Francisco
Benu is best described, based on verified information, as a French - Chinese, Asian restaurant in San Francisco. That combination places it in a polished dining conversation where French and Asian culinary references can meet, but the available verified facts do not support naming specific dishes, courses, service rituals, or menu length.
The confirmed cuisine language is still useful for diners. It signals a restaurant whose appeal is likely to be strongest for guests interested in a formal meal rather than a casual drop-in setting. The dress code is formal, and the price level is $$$$, so expectations should be set accordingly.
Corey Lee is the verified chef-owner. Beyond that, this guide does not assert unverified biography, opening history, signature dishes, seat count, or service format. For planning purposes, the key confirmed details are the cuisine, chef-owner, formal dress code, price level, and evening operating schedule.
How Benu compares in San Francisco's expensive dining tier
San Francisco's upper bracket is not one lane. Aphotic, The Shota, O' by Le Tohic, Luce, and The Wild offer other ways to think about higher-end dining. Benu's verified profile is narrower: French - Chinese, Asian cuisine from Corey Lee, with a formal dress code and $$$$ pricing.
The verified recognition available here describes Benu as creative dining representing San Francisco's dense diversity. This guide does not add unverified rankings, scores, star claims, award years, or guide placements beyond that confirmed recognition.
For diners comparing options, the practical distinction is direct. Benu is a formal, expensive San Francisco restaurant with evening service Tuesday through Saturday. It is closed Monday and Sunday. The listed hours are Tuesday through Thursday 5:30–7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday 5–8:30 pm.
For a broader view, Our full San Francisco restaurants guide maps the city's dining range beyond the luxury tier. Travelers pairing dinner with a longer stay can also use Our full San Francisco hotels guide, Our full San Francisco bars guide, Our full San Francisco wineries guide, and Our full San Francisco experiences guide to plan around the meal rather than treating it as an isolated booking.
Who should choose this room
Benu suits diners looking for a formal, high-end restaurant in San Francisco rather than an informal neighborhood meal. The verified dress code is formal, and the price level is $$$$, so it is best approached as a planned evening.
The available verified facts do not establish a specific wine list, sake program, cocktail focus, pairing structure, or beverage inventory. Guests who need current beverage, dietary, allergy, or accessibility details should confirm directly with the restaurant before booking.
Benu belongs to San Francisco's expensive dining tier, but this guide avoids unverified claims about exact dishes, seat counts, address details, delivery, takeout, lunch, or a particular service style. What is confirmed is enough to frame the decision: Corey Lee, French - Chinese, Asian cuisine, formal dress, $$$$ pricing, and dinner-hour service on Tuesday through Saturday.
For visitors, that makes Benu a focused choice rather than a catch-all recommendation. Choose it if the confirmed profile matches the evening you want: formal, expensive, San Francisco-based, and centered on French - Chinese, Asian cooking from Corey Lee.
Questions
Frequently asked
What recognition does Benu hold?
Benu holds 3 Michelin stars, a place on the World's 50 Best list at number 13 and a James Beard award.
Who works at Benu?
Made By profiles Corey Lee (Chef) at Benu.
How expensive is Benu?
Benu is listed at a price level of $$$$.
Where is Benu and what does it serve?
Benu is in Financial District/South Beach, San Francisco, serving Modern Asian Fusion Fine Dining.
The field
How it compares
| Place | Awards | Cuisine | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benu | Michelin 3 Stars, World's 50 Best #13, James Beard | Modern Asian Fusion Fine Dining | Financial District/South Beach, $$$$ |
| Atelier Crenn | Michelin 3 Stars, World's 50 Best | Contemporary French Fine Dining | San Francisco |
| Lazy Bear | Michelin 2 Stars, World's 50 Best | Modern American Tasting Menu | San Francisco |
| Mister Jiu’s | Michelin 1 Star | Modern Cantonese | San Francisco |
| Quince | Michelin 3 Stars, World's 50 Best | Modern French Fine Dining | San Francisco |
| Saison | Michelin 2 Stars, World's 50 Best | Modern Fire-Forward Fine Dining | San Francisco |
| Sons & Daughters | Michelin 2 Stars, World's 50 Best | New Nordic Fine Dining | San Francisco |
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