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Pabu Izakaya - Pabu Izakaya San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Pabu Izakaya San Francisco

4.4
4.4
1378 Reviews
$31 to $50
Japanese

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 6 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for business meals
  • Good for special occasions
  • Fancy
Founded by Chefs Michael Mina and the late Ken Tominaga, of the famed Hana Japanese Restaurant in Sonoma County, PABU Izakaya brings forth a modern take on traditional izakaya-style dining. Now, with Tominaga’s son Keita as Chef/Partner, PABU continues to be a destination for world-class sashimi, sushi, grilled meats from the robata and a seasonal cocktail menu. The restaurant offers the finest locally and globally sourced jet-fresh seafood flown in daily from Japan’s famed Toyosu Market accented by its signature selection of A5 Japanese Wagyu.

Please note: Restaurant Week menu will be offered for reservations between 4:00 – 8:00 pm only

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Sushi, Izakaya
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Sat 4:00 pm–5:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 535-0184
  • Website
    http://www.pabuizakaya.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Michael Mina
  • Catering
    PABU is available for catering requests. Please contact us at catering@pabuizakaya.com or 415.730.4591
  • Private party facilities
    PABU - San Francisco can accommodate your party, large or small and can host special events for either lunch or dinner and is available to reserve in its entirety. Our Event Manager will assist in seamlessly planning your special event.
  • Private party contact
    Nancy Zammit: (415) 730-4591
  • Location
    101 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
  • Area
    Financial District / Embarcadero
  • Cross Street
    Front Street Entrance
  • Parking details
    Street parking and various parking garages are located throughout the Financial District.
  • Public transit
    Bart station is located conveniently on Market and Davis Streets. Muni is located at Market and Geary Streets.
  • Entertainment
    The music at PABU - San Francisco is inspired by Quentin Tarantino soundtracks. Retro cool tracks set in a modern context, the music at PABU - San Francisco serves to create energy in the room.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • PABU Omakase

    USD 179.24 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Enjoy some of the best of what we have to offer here at Pabu Izakaya by selecting our six course Omakase menu with an optional $85 sake pairing. This menu showcases the freshest fish available to us along with signature dishes such as our Hot Stone Duo of Japanese and American Wagyu. We kindly ask that all members of the party enjoy this experience.
    PABU Omakase photo

  • Christmas Eve Dinner

    24 Dec 2024 only
    December 24, 2024 4pm - 8pm A la carte menu Bring your family and enjoy Christmas Eve Dinner here at Pabu!

  • New Year’s Eve Dinner

    USD 150.00 per person

    31 Dec 2024 only
    4pm-9pm $150/Person + Tax & Gratuity Ring in 2025 here at Pabu San Francisco. Prix Fixe menu with a la carte add ons available. All guests who join for dinner can stay or come back to our late night event with a live DJ and Sake Toast! All returning dinner guests entry for the late night activation will be waived! TSUKIDASHI KANPAI otoro, ikura, tobiko, ponzu ZENSAI SERVED FAMILY STYLE AHI TUNA POKE MISO-CURED YELLOWTAIL KAKIAGE NIGIRI SAKE salmon-wasabi tobiko HAMACHII yellowtail-momiji oroshi daikon HON MAGURO bluefin tuna-kizami wasabi UNAGI freshwater eel-sesame YAKIMONO PABU SURF & TURF american wagyu new york, botan ebi, red miso butter kabocha squash puree KAN-MI PERSIMMON PANNA COTTA No standard menu available

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,378 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

  • San Francisco

    Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Pabu Izakaya in San Francisco offers a vibrant atmosphere with "exceptional service" and a "fantastic sake menu." Guests appreciate the "innovative and delicious food," especially the omakase experience. While some find it pricey, many praise the "fresh and flavorful" dishes. Ideal for special occasions, Pabu is "highly recommended" for Japanese cuisine enthusiasts.

1,378 Reviews

  1. AlexT

    San Francisco

    9 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful restaurant. Mixed experience on the food quality.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Alex

    San Francisco

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 14 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Wish the Restaurant Week selection was better than it was.

    Is this helpful?

  3. TableForFive

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 14 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Black cod preparation not up to par compared Ro numerous previous visits. Portion size also smaller than previous. Nigiri set was good but overpriced. This is my go-to spot for business lunches but quality and value proposition feels like they are slipping.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Kelsey

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 6 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Good food. Good service. Prices were a little high

    Is this helpful?

  5. WaywardForeigner

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on 16 October 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    It was very good, The ambience was pleasant and the server was excellent. I was a bit cold at first, but asked if we could close the door and they had no problems obliging. The food was very tasty and I thought the lunch pricing was great for the caliber, (Sushi was a little bit on the pricey side so I didn’t try it. It may have been worth the price, But it was more than I wanted to spend on a business lunch.) However my review gets docked a little because I was shocked that a cup of green tea in a Japanese restaurant was $10 per person making it $20 for the pot, (when my entire lunch of Black Cod was only $25). Otherwise it was a great lunch and I would recommend it. 

    Is this helpful?

  6. Richard

    San Francisco

    30 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on 11 October 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    An excellent lunch but the cost is (almost) prohibitive.

    2 people found this helpful

  7. Jonathan

    San Francisco

    33 reviews

    5.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on 10 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Pabu continues to be my favorite restaurant in the entire San Francisco Bay Area. From the moment I arrived, I was treated like a VIP being warmly greeted by the two hostesses. While I sat the bar waiting for my friend, bartender Matt took great care of me, making sure I had everything I needed. Once my guest and I were seated, we received exceptional service. Knowing that I was not drinking alcohol, Matt even served us a complimentary glass of nonalcoholic wine. Plus, our server Wil treated us to a complimentary sushi roll. Manager Stanley even came by to see how we were doing. And of course, the food was amazing! I hope to be back soon to celebrate my 23rd wedding anniversary because my wife was jealous that I enjoyed Pabu without her!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Rachel

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 27 September 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The entire experience was great! The food was spectacular. Every ingredient was the best quality and prepared to perfection.

    Is this helpful?

  9. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 21 September 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Everything was so delicious and the service was great! The music is very loud and I would prefer it to be quieter.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Jason

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 18 September 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful restaurant, and got a last minute lunch reservation during Dreamforce, which was great. However, the food was very sub-optimal. Very limited selection of sushi (maybe 6 rolls), and way over-priced. The beef short ribs were bland, and the katsu was dry. We will NOT be returning

    1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Pabu Izakaya San Francisco offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Pabu Izakaya San Francisco also offers takeaway which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 535-0184.

Pabu Izakaya San Francisco is rated 4.4 stars by 1378 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 6 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Pabu Izakaya San Francisco

101 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Front Street Entrance
  • Area
    Financial District / Embarcadero
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Sat 4:00 pm–5:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Sushi, Izakaya
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street parking and various parking garages are located throughout the Financial District.
  • Public transit
    Bart station is located conveniently on Market and Davis Streets. Muni is located at Market and Geary Streets.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Michael Mina
  • Entertainment
    The music at PABU - San Francisco is inspired by Quentin Tarantino soundtracks. Retro cool tracks set in a modern context, the music at PABU - San Francisco serves to create energy in the room.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.pabuizakaya.com/
  • Phone number
    (415) 535-0184
  • Catering
    PABU is available for catering requests. Please contact us at catering@pabuizakaya.com or 415.730.4591
  • Private party facilities
    PABU - San Francisco can accommodate your party, large or small and can host special events for either lunch or dinner and is available to reserve in its entirety. Our Event Manager will assist in seamlessly planning your special event.
  • Private party contact
    Nancy Zammit: (415) 730-4591

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