Pabu Izakaya

Update: Came back here post pandemic. We didn’t have a reservation but got the last seats at the bar. Many places were closed and was glad that this is still open. Made reservations for noon on a Friday. It was full but not crowded. This place has a few sections. One by the bar, a second that has a more traditional feel and another by the windows. Ordered sushi rolls and miso. The rolls came very quickly before I even had two sips in my hot tea. I ordered Japanese whiskey too. Will definitely be keep this in mind when I have a business lunch or dinner.

PABU is a pretty cool restaurant to catch lunch at. Their best entres severed during this time are generally pricey anyway, and I almost walked past the store front because the front doesn't look like an open business. Stopped in and tried a few items- the rainbow roll here is quality and delicious. the miso cured hamachi was a bit surprised that the flavor did not seem to diverge from your typical hamachi flavor a bit more. really liked the plating of the karaage, with a spicy mayo and hot mustard and some greens on the side. They also use thigh meat which gives you that nice savory juiciness that dark meat provides. The otoro is really fantastic but at the latest market price goes for quite a bit. All said, the food was pretty great. At lunch this place can get really packed and I think that servers just kind of disappear sometimes. Friendly enough however, nice place to stop in and will likely do so again in the future.

Ideally, I'd give this place a 4.5/5. My friends and I went to Pabu on a Saturday to try out their SF restaurant week. They had a happy hour going on till 5:30 pm, and they also had a half off menu (only on Saturdays) so we ordered a few items from those menus in addition to the restaurant week prix-fixe menu. In hindsight, it was a mistake. Even though their restaurant week menu has a lot of shared items for the table, it's still plenty of food to fill you up. The moment you walk into the restaurant, you are greeted with a sleek and stylish ambiance with a buzzy and energetic atmosphere. The restaurant is designed to evoke an old-world Japanese feel, with warm lighting, wooden accents, and a minimalist aesthetic. The spacious dining area provides ample room for both intimate gatherings and larger groups. The service at Pabu was amazing - the staff was very attentive and knowledgeable. They were quick to refill drinks and clear plates, ensuring that we had a seamless dining experience. As far as the food goes, everything was really good except the meat. All the seafood items we ordered were fresh and delicious, but the short ribs we got were underwhelming. It was very chewy and had a dominating burnt smoky flavor, which took away from all sweetness of the juices. Chicken karaage was soggy and also not that great. The eggplant dish was okay. We couldn't really taste the eggplant much. With that being said, Pabu made up for all of it through their seafood items. Inari was very light and delicate and had notes of sweet, savory, and umami flavors. The hamachi was fresh and delicious, and the portion was very generous. Yakisoba noodles were delicious. The noodles were cooked well. They had a slight bite with a tender and satisfying chew. The noodles were evenly coated in the sauce, ensuring that each bite was bursting with flavors. The sushi plate had fresh and thick pieces of fish. We wanted to try their other nigiri options, but we were struggling to finish all the food that we got. The black cod was also delicious. It had caramelized skin, and it was buttery and melt-in-your-mouth tender with a slight flakiness that provides a delicate contrast. The chocolate dessert we got was the perfect way to end our dinner. It was very creamy and rich in flavors and had us craving for more.

Very very good Japanese fine dining. I came here with a group from work at first we had problems finding places in the bar but we had a table booked for a later time. Wine and food is simply very very good service. Yes, very nice and friendly as well. Atmosphere is very nice. We were all very happy with the food and drinks - will be back!

Absolutely phenomenal food. My husband and I went recently in Sept for our anniversary dinner. The newly renovated menu had an amazing assortment of delish dishes, and I really loved the new decor as well. It was very upscale in feeling but also comfortable and inviting. My only complaint was that the music in this restaurant was intolerably loud. I could hardly hear my companion, who was sitting directly across from me. Several of the wall booths have speakers directly above them, which makes it worse for those occupants. But the absolute cherry on top is that the music is the same volume in the small bathrooms, as it seems no one thought to engineer the sound system in there difficultly. If the restaurant takes the time to correct this, it will be the perfect place.

Love this place! Red haired hostess sat me at the sushi bar right away and was very sweet. Sushi is really good I recommend Ken's roll and the Super Spider although someone mentioned them having new menu. Always great service from the staff here, which makes me feel really welcome. Will definitely be back.

I loved everything about this meal from beginning to end. For starters we did the house made pork gyoza along with thr wagyu and shrimp skewers. Fantastic! We also ordered a few sushi rolls which were melt in your mouth delicious. Our drinks were also strong and tasty. I highly recommend this place for a date night! It's on the pricey side but so worth it.