The chef behind JouJou in San Francisco, known for his French-Californian culinary approach that emphasizes great ingredients and precise technique.
Insights
FrenchSeafoodLocal ModernAmericanSeafoodFine diningDinnerFine DiningCocktail Bar
Last updated: 5/18/2026, 12:56:18 PM
Key Information
JouJou is a fine dining French-Californian restaurant in San Francisco that blends French tradition with California ingredients. It aims to provide a lively, seductive, and effortless dining experience, suitable for both intimate conversations and spectacular celebratory nights out.
Customers perceive JouJou as an exciting new destination for fine dining in San Francisco. There has been discussion among patrons regarding the restaurant's 20% service charge.
Additional Details
JouJou is positioned as a 'grande dame of French food' in San Francisco, offering expertly prepared à la carte dishes with unique and fresh touches, without resorting to shortcuts or avant-garde techniques.
The menu is seafood-focused and includes dishes with shellfish, meats, and eggs.
Best Times to Visit
The restaurant is open for dinner, specifically from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with similar evening hours likely on other operational days.
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Joujou is a great addition to the neighborhood. The menu is full of French classics with really fun twists. Had the spiny lobster salad, cod with pineapple, and the baba au rhum - easily the best version of the dessert I’ve had. Already planning my next visit.
Finally a French restaurant we like in SF. Food, ambiance, service were all great. Oysters, tuna, and hamachi crudo were fresh. Their take on French onion soup is rich, but not heavy. I actually liked that the onions were chopped instead of how it’s typically prepared in larger pieces. Gougeres were fluffy. Pork prime rib was so tender and light, and paired really well with the horseradish on the side. I just wish it was warmer instead of being served at room temperature. Their take on gnocchi was creative but after a couple bites it was too rich and creamy to finish. Their creamed kale was really good, I now prefer kale over spinach after having that. I didn’t care for the fries, after eating a few on top, all the other ones underneath were broken and too small. We finished with their vanilla ice cream, the vanilla bean flavor strong. I also appreciated how none of their foods were overly salty, just about right. We will be back to try more dishes, we are just happy to have found a place that is comparable to Le Dip in DC.
The food was excellent. Brulee d grapefruit salad and prime rib of pork were standouts. Great service, and a shout out to Lucy our very charming server. Can't wait to dine here again
Absolutely lovely new spot. Beautiful Instagram-ready interior spaces make dining in feel luxurious and oh-so-French, service staff are attentive, communicative and kind from the host to the bussers you really feel like you are taken care of. Food was delicious: we got the pate de campagne with complimentary acme bread as a starter and then the cod and trout shared half-half with the fries that were so delicious (at $15 French fries… our expectations were very high…), then the tarte tatin (would probably skip next time) and maybe the best vanilla ice cream we have ever tasted (again, 1 scoop for $13… but we can see why). I wish the mushroom side dish wasn’t $30 because I love the mushroom dish at true Laurel but a side priced as a main is a tough sell… and we loved the oyster selection from all over the US and Canada, but i had just come from $2 oyster happy hour at another spot a few days earlier so $15 for three oysters seemed like an expense we didn’t need. Cocktails were incredible— special mention for the sea brine martini that was even better than I hoped. Lots of walk-in availability (for now) which was a nice surprise and we stayed at our table so long and they didn’t rush us out which felt very generous given how busy they were. Will be back to try the snail toast and pork because the table beside us ordered and they looked incredible! Thank you!
The restaurant SF was missing. Classy but comfortable. Elevated but not pretentious. Inclusive staff, excellent service. Wine program rocks. A delicious meal to add to your SF list. Don’t sleep on the Louie. And get down on that heavenly butter.
