A new and decidedly fancy looking Korean barbecue spot, from the chef behind Michelin-starred SSAL, is heading to the former Noosh space on upper Fillmore in Fall 2026.

The Noosh space at 2001 Fillmore has sat sadly closed for nearly two years now, after having a promising start before the pandemic — under the leadership of Dalida chefs Laura and Sayat Ozylimaz, before they parted ways with the owner and opened their acclaimed spot in the Presidio.

Now we've got news of some motion at the space, with Junsoo and Hyunyoung Bae, the founders of SSAL on upper Polk, branching out to open a second restaurant there. It will be called Monami, and according to a release from the team, they're using the name, which means "my friend" in French, to reflect "heartfelt sincerity," and a restaurant where "everything is made with heart, [and] creating a space that feels like dining with a close friend."

Chef Junsoo Bae further told the Chronicle that he wants Monami to be "a Korean barbecue version of House of Prime Rib," with craveable and consistent food, and premium cuts of beef from Japan, Korea, and California.

Monami will feature a wine program that expands from the Champagne and Burgundy of SSAL, with its seafood-driven menu, adding Bordeaux and Rhone wines to complement the steak.

And while diners will find the traditional in-table grills for grilling your own meat at the table, there won't be an all-you-can-eat deal as at some Korean barbecue spots. There will be both an a la carte menu, featuring some bites familiar to SSAL diners, as well as a tasting menu.

Monami is part of the Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project that's being spearheaded by venture capitalist Neil Mehta, who set about purchasing multiple buildings along a three-block stretch of Fillmore Street in the last two years. Among those purchases was also the historic Clay Theatre, which Mehta has suggested he wants to reopen as a high-end arthouse cinema and lounge, modeled after New York's Metrograph.

While Upper Fillmore in Pacific Heights isn't exactly a retail stretch in need of fixing, Mehta seems certain it does. And he said on a podcast last year that while it may  be a "terrible investment," he's putting a "reasonable amount of money [toward] trying to fix just my street in San Francisco."

Monami might have been a hand-picked tenant for this corner spot, and Bae acknowledges the help of Mehta's organization in a statement.

"We are deeply grateful to Mayor Daniel Lurie, District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill, and the Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project for their continued support of small businesses like ours,” Bae says. "We are excited about the future of this iconic street and the meaningful investments being made by the Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project — at our building, the Clay Theatre, and throughout the neighborhood. Their leadership and encouragement make us proud to be part of the broader effort to re-energize the city."

Hospitality design firm AvroKo is doing the design, and Monami is aiming for a fall opening.

Top image: Rendering via AvroKo