We were in the area for lunch on a Saturday, and decided to try this new place based on the menu outside, which looked interesting. The place was a dead zone; it's a huge space and only two other tables were occupied, which should've been a warning. The server was kind and attentive leading up to our ordering, and then it was all downhill. The "fresh pot of coffee" that he said was being made for us was super bitter, and after telling us the cinnamon rolls could be made in a few minutes (in case we wanted to try one first and then order more), we waited over half an hour for our food. The server never checked in, and seemed like he was actively avoiding us when we tried to flag him down. When it finally arrived, it seemed like a lot of our food had been left sitting out for awhile. The rice porridge I ordered looked like it had congealed and was room temp. The classic pancake breakfast was so basic (at $20), the chicken sausage breakfast the server raved about was mostly potatoes (with eggs not cooked as ordered), and the loco moco was bland. The cinnamon rolls were dry and one looked burned. After getting the check, the server went back to ignoring us and we had to walk the check up to the bar to pay. Despite walking in at noon, this was not during a lunch rush; by the time we left only one other table was occupied. We paid so much money to sit around and wait for mediocre food. Maybe this is a great bar and lounge, and they should stick to doing that instead of trying to pull from the weekend lunch crowd. read more

Great drinks and food. Lively atmosphere. Great stop after a show at the Fillmore to refuel or continue the night's fun.

Really liked my experience at Fermentation Lab! We just missed happy hour but wasn't too busy on Sunday night. Service was great! I also liked the vibe of the place. There were high ceilings (even the 49ers game was projected on the walls!) and warm lighting. We got Duck Fat fries, Uni pasta, and Gochujang beef tartare. Loved everything but the chips that came with tartare were a little too salty. The cocktails were really good too! I recommend this place for a nice night out with friends so you can share and try more dishes :) Definitely want to come back! read more

Friendly staff and a delicious seafood risotto will have me coming back. The dish is not too heavy but feels very indulgent. read more

Fermentation Lab - Seafood shiitake risotto - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came back here to try other menu.... Avocado toast... eh... toast was so hard... if they can fix that or did they just gave me stale bread i dont know... espresso was pretty good and server was nice. But yeh wouldnt recommend avocado toast read more

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Everything but the loco moco was delicious. My husband didn't like how there was too much rice and gravy, and the meat patty was too thick to enjoy. The chicken sliders were crispy and surprisingly filling after adding a side of duck fat fries, which were arguably the best fries I've had in a while. Our server was very friendly, talkative and took initiative to check in on us every time he got. I wish I got his name. The ambiance was pretty relaxing since we came during brunch on a Monday morning so there were only 1-2 groups there other than us. We have to come back to try the other items on the menu, and especially come by for happy hour! read more

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Super cute ambiance! Great for night out with solid food. Uni pasta was good flavor, smaller portion but in line with the price. Pasta is done extremely well. Not strong in uni flavor still quite delicious! Loco moco - exceeded expectations! Gravy and patty were spot on and amazing. The rice was a bit overcooked as were the eggs (only partially runny). There is a LOT of rice. Probably too much for the ratio of meat & gravy. But a very solid plate and amount of food for $22 even leaving a chunk of rice behind. Apparently they have a happy hour, looking forward to checking that out in the future! read more

Came here for a friends birthday dinner and surprised with a sign at the entrance that said to seat yourself. We made a reservation but went ahead and sat ourselves since it was had vibes of a bar/lounge. I had the dragon breath mocktail which was tasty and order a ton of dishes to be shared between four. I recommend the steak tartare with taro chips and duck fries as appetizers! We also had the poached oysters which were good but a tad on the salty side, mussels, and the deviled eggs which were solid but not memorable. Our entrees were the loco moco, uni pasta, octopus noodles, and tea leaf salad -- my favorites were the loco moco and uni pasta. The crispy exterior of the meat in the loco moco was different and very tasty. The uni pasta was creamy and delicious too. Octopus noodles/pasta was good but the octopus was a little salty, but when eaten in a bite with the noodles, it helps balance it. We ended with the churros -- came out fresh hot. Solid but not too memorable. It was around $300 for four people including tax and tips. Service was amazing. Our server was super nice and friendly. He seemed to be the only one waiting tables for the whole space too! Props! Recommend checking this place out :) read more

Fermentation Lab - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've been to the small fermentation Lab on Market bit saw a play on a Sunday and realized they are closed. I also saw on Yelp another location that evidently had only been open 4 months. I can not say enough about this place. The aesthetic, the service and my God the food. Do yourself a favor and visit the Post location. Chef Jeannie came by our table a few times to explain her dishes and check on us. The service from the mixologist and our sever was beyond what we're used to. Just an amazing experience all around. We got the Fermlab burger and the burgers flavor explode in your mouth. The Loco Moco was so tender and just lightly breaded Katsu, so good. We were there at happy hour so we ordered the duck fat fries which is why I wanted to go in the field at place and they do not disappoint. The oysters were the most unique thing we got. They have a pear, sherry vinaigrette that they make into a slush and put on top. Omg beyond! The deviled eggs are the best I've ever had. Period. My friend and I decided we will see a play every 3-4 months just to make going to Fermentation Lab part of the plan. read more

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Ambiance: Super fun lively energy. Table and couch seating options. Beautiful bar with black glass tiles. Would be perfect for a birthday gathering and I believe they take reservations. Waitress was extremely friendly and attentive. All staff were amazing. Food/drink: Pandan cocktail - Creamy and very flavorful. Order if you like pandan! Mezcal dragonfruit guava cocktail - Nice texture, slightly thicker. Overall kind of bland, would've liked more guava flavor. Waffle fries - Crispy, none of them got soggy which is always exciting when you order a "loaded fries" dish. The melted Gorgonzola was delicious. 10/10 appetizer. Tea leaf salad - fresh ingredients. The crispy garbanzo like beans were flavorful and added a perfect crunchy texture. If you're expecting overall flavors like what you get at a Burma Superstar, pass on this one! Meat potstickers - Delicious! I would order again. The sauce they give is also very yummy. read more

Fermentation Lab - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cool vibe with delicious food! We went near opening and sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly and attentive. read more

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Great ambience with warm lighting, high ceilings, and comfortable seating. Our delightful server was new, admitted that much, yet really did her best. Menu selection is extensive and highly enjoyed the uni pasta, inventive drinks, deviled eggs, and both tartares (poke and gochujang). A great addition to lower pac heights. Will be returning! read more

Tried the duck fat fries, uni pasta, makgeoli braised pork belly, and the beef tenderloin tips with friends. I would recommend everything besides the pork belly as the portion was astoundingly small for an entree but the server was nice and was able to accommodate for it. The ambiance was nice for drinks with friends with movies being projected onto the wall, would come back. read more

Fermentation Lab - Makgeoli Braised Pork Belly - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Stumbled on this place by accident and had a lovely, chill brunch. The staff are friendly, and the interior has a warm, welcoming vibe. The kitchen does a great job with mouthfeel: the pancakes had a nice crispiness on the surface while staying soft on the inside. And I loved the potatoes in the veggie scramble--also crispy on the outside, soft and almost fluffy on the inside--while the asparagus worked well with the egg. The chopped bell peppers and onions were great; I just wish there was a little more, although I liked that it was sprinkled throughout rather than treated like a side dish. I am looking forward to stopping by again and trying more of the dishes! read more

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Poached oysters were fantastic, and that from a guy that grew up on Point Reyes, and got endless free oysters from Johnson's.. Also enjoyed their version of an old Hawaiian favorite: loco moco.. From the outside the restaurant didn't overstate, however I was impressed with what is contained within the doors. Wonderful layout! The service was impeccable, with a variety of well trained staff to that exceeded in every way. Some were charming, others extremely knowledgeable, and others just made you feel good, but all were very warm and at 100%. Great place. I will return! read more

Food not very good at all. We tried so the uni pasta, burger, ahi tuna, and a steak of some sort. All not memorable. Waaaay too expensive for what it was. Drinks were overpriced and not good at all either. Only thing was the ambience was nice. Service was good. read more

Attractive design, yummy food and tasty cocktails great customer service, I will definitely go back and highly recommend

Had a great ambiance for a date night :) loved their veggie burger as well as their salad which had really fresh fruits. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating to dietary restrictions read more

Fermentation Lab - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

5 stars for service (Lucy!), but everything we got was under seasoned and underwhelming. The menu felt conflicted, like it didn't know which cuisine it was. And the name of the restaurant seemed to have nothing to do with the actual dishes. We ended up getting a reservation for another restaurant and leaving food rather than taking it to go. read more

Visited for the first time with family for dinner visiting Japantown and was pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness, family friendly service, and the excellent food. Decided to come back for breakfast and, though quieter, the food was excellent. Items we ate: Uni pasta, fresh oysters, kimchi pancake, gyoza, duck fat fries, burger, and duck confit porridge (breakfast and truly amazing!). Good bourbon selection too! read more

Food was great! Amazing service, so glad we found this little gem in the neighborhood

Great place for getting some small plate food. Was there for a meeting with about a dozen of us, and we had pretty much the menu ! Everything was tasty and well prepared. The service was great. Was a roomy atmosphere. But it's a bit dark due to the black decore, but it was comfortable there. read more

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Great new bar in our neighborhood, so many tasty options to go along with our beer. Beer battered onion rings were delicious, calamari misto was a generous portion and went perfectly with the double IPA, wine poached pear salad was also great. We look forward to dining here again, more dishes to try. read more

Fermentation Lab - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What a great find! Nice place to hang out. Great drinks, great food, awesome bartender.

I tried the Fermentation Lab for the first time. Went on a rainy Tuesday evening. The place was busy These folks are serious mixologists. The list of custom cocktails is great.. their Asian twist on a margarita is spicy and delicious. It has wasabi in it. I found their drinks to be spot on, very flavorful, beautifully presented and not overly sweet. The deviled eggs are yummy. The duck tacos were also very good .the fermlab burger is full of flavor. The space itself is pretty nice. In addition to a big screen at the bar, there are two screens being projected high on the walls. The staff gave really good service. They seem to all really enjoy working there and it shows in their level of customer service. My only criticism is that they need to fix their bar stay washer. While sitting at the bar I got a healthy shower when the bartender went to spray clean something, I think a shaker ... I thought it was wet and rainy outside, but is was wet inside as well lol read more

We enjoyed great food and excellent service on our recent visit. The duck fat fries were a favorite of mine at the original location on Market Street - these were just as good if not better. The happy hour menu is generous and well-priced. I look forward to coming back often! read more

I've worked in the Japan town area since I was in high school (which was A LONG time ago) and have seen this location be sooo many different things. The business before this was one of my favorites and I was heartbroken when it closed. I was very hesitant to try this place but am very happy that I did. The bartender Ru has had me coming back consistently for more than a month now. The drinks are amazing the, the staff even more so. The food has been great too. I'm so happy to have a regular place to come to now. I would like to empathize once again how amazing Ru is. Please done well RUN to this place (but make sure to leave space for :) ) read more

I've now been to 2 Fermentation Lab locations and at both the food and service were great. I love the tasty combinations on the menu and the selection of beers was good. Our server, Trinity, was friendly and engaging and quickly took care of an issue that brought us the wrong beers. This is a great place for a drink and a bite before a show at the Fillmore! read more

I LOVED THIS PLACE! I came here with my friend on Tuesday before our recreational volleyball game and tore the drinks UP! Yes we had a boozy volleyball game but it was so much fun, but back to the lab! This place was so pretty! It was dimly lit but not to the point where you can barely see anyone so it was just right. The staff was very friendly and that makes all the difference. Roo (I hope I'm spelling that right, I don't think it's "Rue" because that's giving "Rue 21" but what do I know) our bartender was so sweet and very personable! It was actually his 2nd day and he had only be bartending for a year but you would never know because the drinks were that good! I had the Wasazu Margarita which had a little spice and the Hibiscus Sour Smash. I would recommend both, they were hella good! A dangerous drink because you can barely taste the alcohol (my favorite lol). But the star was the Boss Lady! My friend ordered that and it was soooo good, I'll be getting that the next time I'm there! It is in a weird location but please give this place a shot they definitely deserve it! Roo is there Tuesdays and Wednesdays so definitely come when he's there because he gon get you right when it comes to those drinks! read more

Excellent service and food. The burgers, brussel sprouts, chicken sliders, and all of the other dishes we ordered were top notch.

The staff were so friendly and fun. The cocktails were delicious and innovative and I was a huge fan of the kimchi potstickers. Lively but not overcrowded. Great ambiance for group gatherings or a one-on-one catch up or date. read more

Great service, great cocktails. Seafood pajeon and sliders were great, and so were the duck fat fries. Chill fun bar, nice addition to the neighborhood read more

Recently had the chance to dine at Fermentation Lab in Japantown, and have to say the food and the experience were amazing. The restaurant serves a selection of small plates that are an innovative fusion of American, French and Korean foods. And boy does it work! My husband and I loved the short ribs, stack of onion rings, duck breast tacos, Brussels sprouts, teriyaki surf and turf, Korean pancake and hummus. Really I can't do Justice to the different foods. If you love to graze, this place is for you. read more

Love the drinks! Great service at the bar. Insanely knowledge bartender and attentive service. Didn't get to try to food, but enjoyed the ambiance and decore! read more

Went here on a Friday night with some friends. Good portioned dishes, great flavors, and decent atmosphere

Great customer service. Food was good. I esp like the kimchi pancakes. Will def come back

Food came out really slowly & at different times even if people got the same dishes. The food kinda upset my stomach afterwards. Brussels sprouts were good though, I think it's more of an appetizer & drinks type place. read more

drinks were delicious! The vibes were very nice and the service was friendly. Would come back again with friends

Food - the happy hour bites are a good value and taste good. American with Asian / Hawaiian twists. I especially like breakfast here and three refills on the coffee. I wish there was a teriyaki burger on the menu:-) Service - friendly and attentive. One of the nicer spots in Japan town and you'll feel like a regular right away. Ambiance - music and tv screens. Spacious and dimly lit. Energy lifting for sure! read more

Everything that I have tried for breakfast has been delicious and very filling. I usually take leftovers home. I had the loco moco again today and it was perfect. Riley is a great waiter and attentive. The scrambles and porridges are yummy as well as the potatoes. read more