Pabu Izakaya San Francisco

4.4

1378 Reviews

$31 to $50

Japanese

Make a booking

2+ people

26 Nov 2024

19:00

Booked 13 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

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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, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Experiences

PABU Omakase
US$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.
Sake, Beats & Bubbles
US$27.70 per person
Prepaid
31 Dec 2024 only
21:00
9pm - 1am $25/Person + Tax Say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025 at PABU’s ultimate New Year's Eve party! Dance the night away, indulge in late-night bar bites, and sip on handcrafted specialty cocktails. As the clock strikes midnight, join us for a complimentary sake toast to welcome the new year with authentic Japanese flair. With electric energy, mouthwatering flavors, and festive vibes, PABU is the place to be for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve. Gather your friends, dress to impress, and get ready to dance, toast, and celebrate like never before! Tickets are limited and will sell out quickly! Get yours in advance to guarantee entry. Let’s kick off 2025 with an unforgettable night packed with fun, flavor, and fabulous memories!
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!

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

Diners' Choice Awards

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

AT
AlexT
San Francisco
9 reviews
vip
4.0
9 reviews
Dined 7 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?
A
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?
TF
TableForFive
San Francisco
5 reviews
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.
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K
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
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WF
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.
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R
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
J
Jonathan
San Francisco
34 reviews
vip
5.0
34 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!
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R
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.
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OT
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?
J
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

26 Nov 2024

19:00

Booked 13 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, Takeout, 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

Featured in

West Coast Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Pabu Izakaya San Francisco

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Additional information

Featured in

West Coast Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Experiences

PABU Omakase

Sake, Beats & Bubbles

Christmas Eve Dinner

Menu

What 1,378 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

FAQs

Does Pabu Izakaya San Francisco offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Pabu Izakaya San Francisco restaurant rated?

Is Pabu Izakaya San Francisco currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

West Coast Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day