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

Pabu Izakaya San Francisco

4.4
4.4
1383 Reviews
$31 to $50
Japanese

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 PM
Booked 3 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for business meals
  • Fancy
  • Good for special occasions
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
  • Neighborhood
    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

Featured in

Experiences

  • PABU Omakase

    $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

  • Sake, Beats & Bubbles

    $27.70 per person

    Prepaid

    Dec 31, 2024 only
    9:00 PM
    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!
    Sake, Beats & Bubbles Photo

  • New Year’s Eve Dinner

    $150.00 per person

    Dec 31, 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 1,383 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
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 3.8Value

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 memorable dining experience with "wonderful food and the best sake selection in the Bay Area." Popular for its fresh, innovative dishes and attentive service, guests appreciate the "exceptional service" and "modern Japanese decor." While the ambiance is lively, some find it "too loud."

1,383 Reviews

  1. Tina

    VIP

    San Francisco

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great dining experience for a large group. All the leaded and unleaded cocktails were delicious as was all the food. We ended up ordering double of all the small plates because they were so delicious. The cod and the spaghetti were decadent and perfection. We didn’t have time to stay for dessert so we will have to check them out next time. Thanks!

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  2. peidi

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    1.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 10, 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    We came for an important business lunch for a party size of 8, there is no waiter showing up for the first 10mins, after we finally caught their attention, we waited almost 40mins for our food to show up and two orders are missed. The appetizer came after the main course after several reminders. I can tell the kitchen and service management is a mess. We have to cancel our next meeting due to how slow the service is and we still got charged 20% mandatory tips. I will definitely avoid Pabu for business lunch moving forward.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 6, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful restaurant, great food, friendly service

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  4. Susan

    VIP

    San Francisco

    17 reviews

    4.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on December 6, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    I was early for a work group dinner so sat at the bar for a cocktail - bartender was trying his best to ignore me, when I finally was able to order, he didn't clarify which gin I wanted in my G&T, and when he delivered my $17 dollar drink, didn't bother to put it on a coaster like he did for others. I asked for a coaster & he didn't give me one, a neighboring customer did. So I didn't start with a good impression. Our table server was excellent & the food was amazing. I do think that the server may have been better about helping us judge how much food to order. We did over order but managed to eat most of it!

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  5. Quentin

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    26 reviews

    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on November 30, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Pabu Izakaya is an absolute gem for fine dining complete with creative Japanese Izakaya dishes, an exquisite list of cocktails and a uniquely decorated atmosphere. The sushi and rolls are top notch. It reminds me of one of my favorite San Francisco restaurants Albert Tordjman's The Flying Saucer which sadly closed in 2000 and I have found this wonderful SFO reincarnation. Highly recommended if you visit San Francisco and looking for a unique and fine dining experience,

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  6. AlexT

    VIP

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on November 19, 2024

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

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  7. Alex

    San Francisco

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 14, 2024

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

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  8. TableForFive

    VIP

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 14, 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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  9. Kelsey

    VIP

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 6, 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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  10. WaywardForeigner

    VIP

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on October 16, 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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FAQs

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

Pabu Izakaya San Francisco is rated 4.4 stars by 1383 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 PM
Booked 3 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
  • Neighborhood
    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

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