PABU is a personal favorite for a reason. The staff goes above and beyond with great, attentive service and the food is consistently outstanding. You can always count on a fantastic meal and wonderful atmosphere here! read more

PABU Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sadly forgot to take pictures, but I really enjoyed my meal here! Came with a reservation for 2 on a Friday night, was pretty lively but not too packed and I loved the vibe and decor of the restaurant. Very attentive and quick service, brought out our different orders in perfectly timed courses. Tried the duck gyoza, chicken thigh robatayaki, and the miso broiled black cod for my main. Everything was delicious, but the cod was definitely the highlight of the meal. It was extremely flavorful and tender and literally melted in my mouth. read more

It's been a while since I've been back, hoping it would be good, but it was not. My waiter was nice, but the food was subpar. I got a new item duck duck Ramen. It was not good and it's $45. The only thing good about it was the soft yolk egg. There was just something off about the seasoning. The duck breast meat was weirdly, salty, and uneven, and the broth also had the same uneven, salty taste. I literally ate about 10% of it. Since it's $45 I'm taking the rest of it home to see if I can reconstitute it. Well it didn't work. I discovered the duck meat is basically all cured with salt and likely a bit old. Yuck. Added double the water and it was still salty. Threw it all out. Don't make my mistake. read more

PABU Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I don't know about you, but sometimes I just get a craving for nigiri and steak lol, and lucky for me when that craving hit me, Pabu was only like a 5 minute walk from our hotel. Everything hit the spot. We started with the peach salad, got some nigiri, the miso cod, and the triple seared strip steak. Highly recommend it all. Plus we got some sake and cocktails. Overall 5 out of 5, so glad we found this place on a late night whim. read more

I came here with my company for a corporate event, and they sequestered off a portion of their main dining room and outdoor seating for our standing reception. We enjoyed the sushi boat, the various skewers, mushroom tempura, and chicken karaage! Everything was easy to grab- the sushi boat was easily the most impressive in terms of presentation! The mushroom tempura was a bit unseasoned, but the frying was perfectly light and airy! Out of the skewers that we ordered (chicken, beef, and salmon), my favorite was the beef. Booking the event was easy- we filed a request on Pabu's website and they got back to us within the same day. We planned our event within the same week. Thank you to the amazing team and chefs that made this possible for us. Definitely the perfect place to host a corporate gathering in a central Fidi location, but very much on the pricier side. read more

PABU Izakaya - Sushi boat - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious food! Really nice service but our waiter was really helpful at first and not as helpful near the end. Nice ambiance and clean bathrooms. Enjoyed the most: - Cod Miso: really good and glad we shared it because it was quite salty. - Hamachi Collar Bone: big piece! Some parts really salty too on the parts that weren't as fatty - Negitoro: loved the uni, ikura, and green onions. Fatty tuna was there but not as prominent - Mango Shaved Ice: so many yummy things hidden inside! Sago, lychee, mochi, and raspberry! Not bad: - Asparagus Mizuna Salad Alright: - hand rolls other than negitoro like genesis, Fidi, Ken's, They were alright. - pork belly robata: cut too thick? Didn't have that much char as I would like - chicken robata was too large! I would have preferred a smaller more flavorful piece - meat ball robata: it was alright, needed a bit more fat. The raw egg dip was a nice touch. Hero drink was also ok, not that much alcohol. read more

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The food at Pabu was pretty good for their lunch service! They are a bit on the pricier side due to their location; however, the lunch options were fairly decent for our group. Our group came in during lunch on a busy Thursday, which may have explained the lack of attentive service. The service was a bit hard to get ahold of. From the moment we sat down, it seemed as though they were extremely helpful to start with (getting us waters and the menus fast), but when it came to asking us for any starters or even any additional drinks, I found our table not being helped for about 30 minutes. Of course, we did try to get their attention but it seemed as though we were having a bit of a harder time getting our table attended to. Albeit, food was decent but I wish their servers were just a bit more attentive. read more

Sat at the sushi counter and Chef Genesis at counter was amazing. Our server Anna was very helpful In explaining the menu. Left very full and loved everything we ordered. We will be back. read more

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Like most things Michael Mina, PABU is totally overrated. Like Nobu, the prices are ridiculous for what you actually get and there are at least a dozen sushi places I can think of off the top of my head that are both less expensive AND serve a better product. I get the "see and be seen" vibe they're trying so hard to achieve, but if you're looking for great sushi, you 100% need to keep looking. read more

If you have the funds... spend it at PABU! I have been to this restaurant many times and every thing on their menu is great! My favorites are the salmon nigiri and miso fish! They also have a decent happy hour menu too! I send all my clients here and they always enjoy their meal. Its close to many office buildings and BART, so its very easy to get to. The service is always top tier, all the workers are friendly and fast. During lunch hour service can take longer since they are so busy. I also like how easy it is to make a reservation and I always know the food will be tasty! I just wish it was less expensive so i could go more often! read more

PABU Izakaya - Sushi bar - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Wow! I'm amazed at my fantastic experience at Pabu. I had a pleasure of meeting many of the staff including: JP and Diego, I was taken care of by everyone. Each of the staff made their rounds to check on me which I really appreciated. The drinks are delectable: such as the Lychee martini and one of their most popular tequila drinks. It's a bit dangerous (you can't detect the liquor at all) My favorite was honestly the Mezcal drink: I don't recall the name but it was curated by one of the bartenders and has a perfect blend of tartness and mezcal, a balanced choice. Favorite bites: I loved my roll, honestly the scallop caviar was bomb. Next time, I'll try the salmon skewers and more of the hand rolls. I also liked the chicken karaage, the spicy mayo was a great pairing and it tasted fresh. I've heard the fish is imported from one of the highest quality markets, which shows the level of care in their offerings. I sat at the bar on my own, but depending on the day it is recommended to grab a reservation. read more

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Very high 4 stars. Beautiful space with high ceilings and tons of natural light. Very modern and trendy. Very delicious food. I made reservations online for four of us on a Wednesday at noon a few weeks in advance. This was for a work lunch and we needed to be done within an hour, and they delivered on that with very fast service!! Our food started coming out within 15 min of us ordering. Total cost was $410.15 for 4 of us. COCKTAILS * Dragon of Ichigo ($19) - 3.5 stars. A tad strong for me. * One-Eye Dragon ($18) - 4 stars LUNCH * Tofu Agedashi ($16) - 3.5 stars * Spicy Tuna roll ($17) - 3 stars * Black Cod ($45) - 5 stars. Everyone loved this! * Rainbow roll ($29) - 4 stars. The table all liked this. * Citrus Salad ($15) - 4 stars. Really nicely balanced! * Shrimp Toast ($24) - 3 stars. Meh, was like a sushi roll without any meat, just carbs. I'm not remembering tasting any shrimp! * Chicken Karaage ($32) - 3.5 stars * Happy Spoon Oyster ($15 each) - 5 stsars * Salmon entree ($28) - 3.5 stars read more

The food is incredible, but Camille just made our experience even better; I am here all the way from Florida for work, and she made my business dinner even better. read more

The hotate/scallop nigiri was terrible. Don't get it! It's usually my favorite nigiri and it was absolutely waterlogged and flavorless. Good hotate has a nice firm texture and it should taste sweet. They need to have the chefs taste the ingredients themselves and do quality control more often. Of the rolls, the Michael Mina Negitoro roll with uni & ikura was the best. The other rolls were just okay. The sushi bar is pretty looking and it takes up a good portion of the menu, but I should have known better to get just maki & nigiri since the restaurant has "Izakaya" in it's name. Of all the staff that we encountered (the hosts, the skinny water refill guy, the lady who brought out or food, the black and white hair lady who brought out our check, our server) our official server was the worst. Everyone else was respectful and friendly. My husband and I agreed that the young Asian-American water refill guy with the fluffy hair was the best and most respectful. Our server was awkward and had a weird attitude that didn't match the restaurant's classy vibe. At one point, he silently stopped by to take away a plate and slinked away without saying anything. No nod. No eye contact. Usually, a server says something like "Let me take that away for you" or "Is there anything I can get for you?" when they stop by a table. read more

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Chef Genesis was very engaging and made the evening very special. His recommendation was spot on and the sushi was very fresh and tasty. Will be coming back again to enjoy the service and wonderful food. read more

Amazing food. We had the Super Spider Roll, Rainbow Roll (my favorite), and the Genesis Roll. Exceeding my expectations. Chef Genesis was warm and welcoming, answered all of our questions, and made delicious rolls. read more

Had our team holiday lunch here. Service was exemplary, props to the team for that. As for the food... It was a bit of a mix. The nigiri was high quality and was probably my favorite. The karaage were a bit too dry, but I still enjoyed it. Flavor profile reminds me of Taiwanese popcorn chicken. As for my kastu, I was pretty disappointed. I've had better katsu for half the price. The meat was so tough too. Overall great restaurant. Probably not one I'd go to on my own budget, but it's definitely the experience that makes things worthwhile! read more

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I've been here twice now. The servers are friendly and polite, but service is noticeably slow, especially considering the price point. This is definitely on the expensive side. We ordered à la carte and overall the food was good. Highlights included the tuna poke with tobiko, negi, and crisp wontons, and the house made duck gyoza with scallion, pickled ginger, and chili rayu. The butter lettuce and hearts of palm salad with radish, grapefruit, avocado, and carrot ginger dressing was fresh and well balanced. The miso broiled black cod was good, though a bit sweet for my preference, likely from the kabocha squash. The triple seared American wagyu strip steak with fondant daikon and grilled maitake mushroom was nicely cooked and flavorful. We also had a good selection of sushi, including fatty bluefin tuna o toro, yellowtail hamachi, Michael's negitoro, and the rainbow roll, all of which were fresh and enjoyable. We had three cocktails and sake as well. The ambience is warm and relaxing, making it a nice place to sit and unwind. Overall, good food and atmosphere, but the slow service and high prices make it a place I'd visit occasionally rather than regularly. read more

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Great atmosphere. Delicious drinks and food and prompt/friendly customer service. For dinner, we ordered the chicken meatballs, gyoza, pork belly fried rice, and two sushi rolls. Everything was superb! read more

PABU Izakaya - Legendary Samurai - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Simply put, I absolutely love Pabu. This place is beautiful, always very clean, the customer service is amazing, the prices are great, and the food is absolutely delicious. My favs are the California Rolls, Chicken Karaage, and the fries. Happy hour is my favorite here. I usually spend about $25 not including tip when I come here for one and it's usually pretty packed, but still comfortable. 10/10 from me! read more

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I fell in love with the decor, interior, and overall aesthetic vibe of the restaurant. It felt like I was in a different city. It was very clean and spacious. I immediately thought that this would be a great date night spot or girls night dinner spot. The service was very attentive, friendly and informative on the menu. Every dish we had we thoroughly enjoyed as it was cooked to perfection! I'm already wanting to go back to try other items. A true SF gem - it is definitely pricey but love the ambiance for a more upscale experience. read more

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I went with the Omakase tasting menu and was expecting great food, which Pabu at the hands of Chef Genesis did NOT disappoint. The way the gold eye snapper coated my mouth with flavor or the anago (saltwater eel) left me wanting more with the delicious cucumber eel sauce, and decadent valrhona milk chocolate namelaka just left me beyond satisfied. However, the food was just the side piece today. The main course with Chef Genesis who shared his inspiring story raising two children as he immigrated later in life from the Philippines. It is his remarkable charisma that has me raging about Pabu and will definitely be a spot I ensure fellow colleagues come to and often. Overall, EPIC experience. read more

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Genesis Sushi Chef was incredible! Friendly Kind and the Sushi was Fantastic! The servers were polite and polished on the menu options! read more

i love Pabu!!! it's definitely on the pricier side and there's always way better sushi restaurants but we're in Fidi so it will be difficult to find a restaurant an affordable sit down sushi restaurant. everything here is always made to perfection and is always nicely done. i ordered from appetizers, to entrees, to drinks and everything is always solid. read more

There was a good variety of food on the menu. I thought they had a nice selection of rolls and main entrees as well. Lots of things on the menu looked pretty good, and when they came they all generally tasted pretty good too. Service was a little slow, but I think that was intentional so that you can have a slower meal. Ambiance was nice. We sat outside and they had overhead heat lamps for all the tables. read more

PABU Izakaya - Duck Duck Ramen - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Started off the experience extremely disappointed. We came specifically for their signature dish--the lobster spaghetti--and weren't told it was unavailable until after we had already ordered drinks and appetizers. Had we known upfront, we would have left. Since we were already there, we ordered several dishes, but everything was underwhelming when you factor in the pricing, service, and ambiance. The sushi roll was about 80% rice, and the crab cake was small and bland. The only standout was the dessert, which was the STAR of the meal. We had planned to return for the omakase, but that's now a hard pass. Women's bathroom was a mess. read more

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Came in with my son about 30 minutes before closing, so I'll take a little responsibility if things felt a bit rushed. Even so, the experience was still really good. The food was delicious--honestly, everything we had hit. I ordered two different hand rolls, one of which was recommended by our server, and it did not disappoint. His drink suggestion was fire too. Service was a highlight--our server was very nice and attentive despite it being close to closing time. The ambiance definitely leans more toward a date night vibe, which I'd love to come back and experience properly. Overall, great flavors, solid service, and I'm definitely interested in coming back to try more of the menu. read more

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My latest experience here is starkedly different from my first and then only visit here over a decade ago when they 1st opened. My review seems foreign to me, a testament to my memory. A friend who had a business meeting in the Financial District scoured OpenTable for a Tuesday lunch reservation for two, getting one at 12:45 pm. My hosting friend was already seated at a half-moon shaped booth against the window behind the greeting stand and bar. The lighting struck me as more of a club vibe with dimmed lights with some neon like glow. We were offered two paper menus, one with an omakase option and the other being the regular lunch menu. After a short discussion, we both opted for lunch combos and agreed to each pick a starter to share. We started with the Japanese milk bread shrimp toast (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=meRAxNxsDU8cEnaPAqKGkg), serrano chile, ginger mayo, sesame seeds. The presentation was not what I imagined, looking more like a sushi roll than a traditional toast. The flavors were good and it had a nice crunch. I didn't feel the mayo was necessary being my personal preference. From the Makimono rolls section, I chose the waiter recommended Ken's (8 pc) (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=cX5zuztxVx6gH1sKF8e7Uw), shrimp tempura, avocado, spicy tuna, roasted pine nuts. This was our waiter's recommendation and being a spicy tuna fan, I enjoyed this. Both of us chose the lunch combo choice of the Morro Bay black cod (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=0mmZ415Bj4e2s5l6VW1-7g), saikyo miso-glazed; all combos are served with miso soup, steamed white rice, sesame cabbage slaw, and soy pickles. I was pleasantly surprised in really enjoying this as I don't see many restaurants that offer this fish. The marinated filet was tender and flavorful and most importantly had no fishy flavor. This reminded me of the one I used to have at the now closed fusion restaurant in the Upper Grant area. I would come back just for this again. My gracious host took care of the bill so I do not know our waiter's name. He and his team of bus staff were efficient in removing empty plates and exchanging our water bottle when it was half full. The bar area where we sat was pretty much full and the main dining room looked about half full. With the holidays upon us, I'm sure it is busier in the evening after work hours. My host ordered a roll to bring home for his wife as well as our waiter packing the Ken's roll to bring home too. It's nice to see that the Fidi lunch spots are active again especially with the new places in the area. read more

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This restaurant is massive. Lots of seating and the interior is very beautiful. Great place for group, couple or single dining. We came in on a Friday after work for happy hour. Happy hour is Monday to Saturday between 4-5:30pm. We only had 15 minutes to order so best to know what you want a head of time if you arrive close to the cut off. The staffs were very nice, we received excellent service. We ordered 5 items from the happy hour menu and 4 regular item menus to share among the 2 of us. The total was almost $200 after tip but we saved some $ using the InKind app. Everything we ate was tasty and we would order them again. read more

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This was easily the best dinner I've ever had in San Francisco. The food was fantastic on its own but the real shining stars of the evening were the wait staff - particularly Camille, Miri, Manuel, and Cody. We had a rambunctious group but we were no match for Camille's tenacity. She always ensured we had a new, fun dish on our table and we don't regret a single bite. 10/10 read more

Understood. I'll avoid "we would like to" in future writing. Here's the revised paragraph: Pabu delivered an exceptional dining experience from beginning to end. Every dish reflected precision, balance, and respect for the ingredients. The A5 Wagyu Hot Stone was a highlight and a memorable interactive experience. The Chicken Karaage was perfectly crisp and flavorful, the Gyoza were beautifully prepared, the Robata Chicken showcased the depth of flavor that makes Japanese charcoal grilling so distinctive, and the sushi was impeccably fresh. Each course arrived with thoughtful pacing, allowing us to savor the experience. The sake selection complemented the meal beautifully and added another layer to an already outstanding evening. A special thank you to Luigi for his gracious, knowledgeable, and attentive service. He anticipated our needs without ever interrupting the flow of the meal and helped make the evening feel relaxed and memorable. Special recognition goes to General Manager Bobby for his warm welcome, elevated attentiveness, and genuine hospitality. His presence throughout the evening created an atmosphere where every guest felt valued and cared for. That kind of leadership is reflected in every aspect of the dining experience. Pabu continues to set the standard for Japanese dining in San Francisco. We look forward to returning. read more

The service here is top-notched. Our server was very friendly and checked in with us multiple times; water was topped off frequently; and we never felt rushed to leave. The dining area is very dim-lit with a very cool bar in the center. There is another dining area, which is much more brightly lit. This area feels more casual, and has the sushi bar seating. The food is delicious, although not memorable, and expensive. We ordered mostly from the happy hour menu: Scallop and Caviar Tempura, Duck Wings Confit, Salmon Robata, Toro Sashimi, Bone Marrow Fried Rice, and Panna Cotta. The duck wings and the fried rice were my favorites, and I enjoyed the panna cotta as well. It was definitely worth trying, and we have a wonderful time. read more

Like bespoke Omakase then this place is for you...kind of. I know this place has a great lineage and I was really looking forward to eating here but it just wasn't for me. The fish was good not great and the miso glazed black cod over corn just missed it for me. The halibut and tuna sushi were good, but everything else was not amazing. Too much to ask for here since it was a Mina collaboration? Maybe but it should have been better. Anyway, for the area it's probably the best and maybe it was a Monday...in any event, good not great. Go to try it for yourself if you want sushi in the financial district in SF...but now I know why people don't like Mondays. read more

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Wonderful atmosphere, amazing food, and the best service. A true 10/10 experience. It is one for the memory books. I will be coming back for more. read more

Lauren is goated. simply lovely service and food. everyone else is cool too. I have to hit the word minimum so I put this sentence

June 2025 Location : Right near 1 market Service : great - our server Lauren was terrific Food: very good and can be pricey Ambiance: chill Edamame, karage chicken - tasty Sake recommendation was very good :) The gin cocktail (REI) was ok - a little too much cucumber We got 3 sushi rolls, The first 2 rolls were very good, however the tempura crab 5 piece roll was missing something in the overall taste read more

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O.M.G. My taste buds are in heaven!l from bite one! I ordered the omakase. I almost didn't! They just had a price increase to almost $200 and I was warned it is a LOT of food. But I thought, 'when in Rome!' And don't be deceived, 6-7 courses in THIS omakase is a whole lot of food!!! The nigiri sampling was only one course! Right out the gate, the warmth and energy here is palpable from the sweet hostess well welcomed me up my fabulous bartenders Matteo, Diego, & Carlos. Carlos made me refreshing nonalcoholic bursts of flavor between courses to open my appetite when I let him know I don't drink alcohol. Each was delightful and tart! Matteo went above and beyond to attend to my dietary preferences. Diego checked in on me regularly to ensure timing of all courses, smily Luis and his team of runners did a great job of explaining all dishes, and the chefs delivered the extraordinary! Talk about great teamwork though? Everyone here worked tender together to execute a perfect all around experience! My meal started with the Toro & Caviar Tartare. Truly undeniable flavor! So decadent! Perfect hint of fattiness. The caviar was exquisite. I felt like I had gold melting in my mouth! I added a bit of tamari to the seaweed accent and I enjoyed that along the way! Next I moved on to the panko crusted dungeness crabcake. I should say I'm not the biggest fan of crabcakes but as far as crabcakes go it was good. The sauce was very flavorful. Had a subtle kick but not spicy. Definitely needed the citrus/lime on top. I'm for sure not disappointed. I think anyone who loves hush puppies would love this! The miso broiled black cod was next in line. Yep, unbelievable! First bite was sweet and literally melted in my mouth! Utter perfection! So tender! And I loved that they left the skin at the bottom. So great! I asked them to keep a very slow pace so I could bask in enjoying every course and they have wonderfully done that. I'm at the just over one hour point as I round our third course. Course 4: Their nigiri course was so fresh and flavorful! The time under the individual pieces was a bit too cooked for my taste but I appreciated that it was minimal. The golden eye snapper and otoro fatty tuna definitely stood out! The third round of nigiri was the best. The sweet shrimp was so meaty and delicious! I love the uni and enjoyed it here though it was a tad fishier than I'm used to. I did enjoy the seaweed wrapped rice under it. The salt water eel was the best one had with a surprising and subtle sweet undertone. The 5th course, MEN aka Main , was Motoyaki Lobster Spaghetti with udon noodles. This was again unbelievably good! Perfect zest. A very mild peppery kick as you dug further in. The udon was so soft and buttery with a perfect hint of lime. Entering hour 3 with the 6th course, yakimono. Matteo was amazing at tailoring this exactly to my liking. Exemplary customer service was a "yes, let's try it!" attitude! Loved the grilled daikon and sauce that adorned the meat. I'll not a desert girl but the matcha ice cream atop the cake was a nice touch. The sauces all around here are magnificent. No wonder I saw so many guests doing happy dances as they ate! I'll add about the neighborhood, as a single woman traveling, I really wanted to pick a place that felt situated somewhere safe and this was it! Not only did I feel safe outside but these guys had me laughing all the way out. Such an outstanding experience! I highly recommend! Nice lil perk I stumbled on... download the InKind app and pay with the app and you'll save $50 with check total over $150! Just be sure to tip on prediscounted amount read more

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We have been to pabu over the years for different occasions when we are in the city. Service is always good but in the recent visit (July 2026), food is mediocre at the best. The food used to taste better but now it feels like the restaurant is gearing toward guests who is not so familiar with Japanese cuisines (similar to Nobu). read more

PABU Izakaya - We don't recommend this. Way too oily. - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here on a Friday night and enjoyed the omakase! We got to experience the food being prepared by chef Genesis right in front of us. Each course was perfection! I love that they have non alcohol alternatives as well. Service was amazing and very attentive, will definitely be back! read more

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First time here recently for a friend's birthday and loved the Hamachi Kama and waygu hot pot dish! The service was professional and friendly and the ambiance was fresh and clean. read more