ABSteak by Chef Akira Back

AB Steak: Acclaimed Celeb Chef Akira Back Bets Big on Union Square With New Korean Steakhouse | Eater SF

"Opening on Tuesday, October 8, I read that Akira Back will open his first-ever San Francisco restaurant in a 6,500-square-foot space at 124 Ellis Street, promising a “high-tech take on a classic Korean BBQ experience.” The restaurant features custom-designed tabletop grills using smokeless Japanese binchotan charcoal where diners will sear premium cuts such as wagyu and dry-aged beef—artfully displayed in a central glass case—paired with banchan, sauces, and condiments. The menu offers luxe items including an AB wagyu pizza topped with wagyu tartar and truffle oil (with an optional caviar add-on), a 45-day dry-aged New York striploin marinated in ssamjang (fermented soybean paste), and ganjang gejang (soy-marinated, raw female crabs); there will also be a cocktail program and a local Napa wine selection showcased in a 112-bottle circular wine display alongside the meat case. Designed by Kinney Chan & Associates, the large space includes a bar and lounge, private dining rooms, and watercolor touches by Back’s mother on the menu, plates, and paneling; it will be open Tue–Thu 5–10 p.m. and Fri–Sat 5–11 p.m., with reservations available via OpenTable." - Dianne de Guzman