A New Stonepot Sanctuary From the Namu Gaji People

Stonepots: a traditional Korean mainstay, but possibly a little intimidating for the uninitiated. So to initiate you, you’d want someone who knew their stuff. Say, someone whose family has been running restaurants with stonepots on the menus for over 60 years. Doesn’t hurt if they also run one of the best Korean spots in the city. Welcome to Namu Stonepot, the new fast-casual restaurant from the brothers behind Namu Gaji, now open on Divisadero looking just like this. You’ll walk in with some work people and notice the requisite dark woods and distressed stucco. You’ll head to the counter and do that thing where you put your hand on your chin while you contemplate eating food. The Original with Koshihikari rice, seven vegetables, egg, tofu, kimchee, sesame and nori sounds about right. Or, no. The fried Mochika chicken. Definitely that. Maybe both. With some sake and a local beer like Old Kan Dark or Fieldwork’s Painted Gold Pale, which were selected by the beverage director at Bi-Rite. Wait, though. They’ve got matcha milkshakes. And you can just as easily eat in as you can take everything to go. Well, shit. Actually, we’re just receiving word that these are all good problems to have.