ABSteak by Chef Akira Back

ABSteak offers not just premium food and a beautiful venue, but truly exceptional service. In my previous K-BBQ experiences, I sometimes felt that the service was less friendly if you weren’t Korean. But ABSteak completely changed that—every interaction made me feel genuinely welcomed. What stood out the most was the honesty and attentiveness of our server. When we were about to over-order, they gently advised us, which we really appreciated. That kind of hospitality and integrity will definitely go a long way. To top it all off, the dessert was not only adorable but also delicious. 10/10—highly recommended!

We were a group of 9 and had an absolutely brilliant evening at ABSteak SF. The ambience – spot on. Stylish without trying too hard, and the private room gave us just the right mix of atmosphere and space to actually talk (and laugh) properly. Service was top-notch throughout – attentive, relaxed, and genuinely accommodating. Extra wishes? No problem. Everything felt easy and well-handled. The food – let’s just say we’ll be talking about those sides and soups for a while. The beef was next-level, perfectly cooked and bursting with flavour. And the shrimp – a surprise favourite – juicy, bold, and beautifully done. Also worth calling out: a great selection of wines. If you’re into that, it’s worth checking out their list online – some really nice surprises in there. All in all, a place that nails both the essentials and the extras. Highly recommended, especially if you're out with a crew and want the evening to feel like something special – without the fuss.

Food was really good but they were undermanned that everything took longer than we’d hope. Some dishes arrived before we decided to take the bill that we even forgot about that specific order so we just took it hot but the food was still good. I still want to go back and try it again hoping we’d get there with better focus from the servers. They were all nice but they said they’re understaffed even if there are lots of empty tables. Also, when we got there, it took a while for someone to assist us. I hope they hire more people because it’s such a good place for them to cheap on employing people.

Very solid Korean steakhouse. As others said the space is beautiful and the staff is attentive and very helpful The meal starts with a pretty elaborate banchan. We also ordered the asparagus/mushrooms which was excellent and the egg souffle that was simple but very well done It was two of us so we ordered two meats which was plenty of food. The A5 was excellent value for the price, but we liked the Ghalbi even better, the fat was less marbled and the marinade really brought up the flavor The server cooked the meat on the table. We finished with the Wanhoo which was a pretty big dessert for two people We will definitely come back

Very friendly staff in an amazing looking venue. There are stairs or an elevator to one floor below. The wine and steak are on display. For grilling at the table, the restaurant is not smoky or stuffy. The food was great. The drinks were fun. The sides/banchan also tasted great and paired well with the meats

The moment you step into ABSteak, the interior design is impeccable. The high-quality meats really paired well with the side dishes and the sauces. We had the wagyu ribeye steak, beef tongue, and pork belly fried rice. The meats were cooked to perfection by the chefs at the table. I regret not ordering the dry age meat instead 😩, till next time. Everything was delicious 🤤.

The service was excellent! The meat was great quality and it was enjoyable to watch the meat cooked right in front of you! The pork belly rice and soup is very tasty! The cocktails are creative as well. They have a beautiful wine cellar and private dining room.

Don't let the Union Square location fool you. If you're in town for work, conference at Moscone, or looking for a place for a group dinner don't miss this fantastic place. Beautiful space, exceptional food and warm service! Don't sleep on the kimchi pork belly fried rice and tofu jigae. And can't pass on that A5 Wagyu or even the Australian Wagyu Ribeye. Galbi was delicious as well.

Korean BBQ has always piqued by interest, but not being a huge red meat consumer, it's just not a dining style I had yet to visit. I'm always up for trying new things, so when my friend invited me to try ABSteak, I was looking forward to seeing what it's all about. The outside of the building is unassuming (like much of SF really)- but when you walk inside and down the staircase, you're greeted with beautiful modern decor and a cylindrical wine cellar separating the bar and dining area. There are also 2 VIP rooms that look like they hold 10-12 people for private dining. Once seated, the menu was a bit overwhelming just due to lack of experience, but Peter was great. He walked us through the menu and provided suggestions on the various cuts of meat. We opted for D- the Premium Combo, which included kkotsal (boneless short rib), American wagyu ribeye, marinated galbi and pork belly. While I enjoyed every cut, I have to say the pork belly and marinated galbi were my two favorite. The house made ban-Chan was a series of small sides/marinated veggies that were delicious and a perfect complement to the flavorful meats. The ssam included perilla leaf, which we were advised can sometimes have an overpowering taste for some, so to start off trying it with a small piece added to the other lettuce. I found that I really enjoyed the perilla as a stand alone with the marinated galbi. Our meal also started with an egg soufflé, which was fantastic! (If only I could ever get my eggs even remotely as fluffy!) And lastly, of course, the cocktails! We ordered the Paper Plane and Royal Sonbi. Each of us enjoyed our selection. I'll have to make a second trip back to the city as I'm also intrigued by the Gochujang Margarita and the maitake and asparagus dish (that we simply didn't have space for!) I'd highly recommend an evening at ABSteak and look forward to another visit.

food: 4 decor: 4 service: 3 came here for happy hour with friends. oysters chojang | granny apple salsa | lime per piece $2.50 4/5. oysters were fresh and meaty. korean beef tartare $15.00 wagyu eyeround beef | assorted ingredients | gyoza chips 5/5. gyoza chips were very crispy, and the wagyu was tasty. one bite ssam [4pcs] $12.00 lettuce | selected beef | serrano ssamjang 5/5. very tasty single bites. charred romaine salad $9.00 baby romaine | sesame vinaigrette | ginger scallion oil | toasted almonds | feta cheese | garlic chips 3/5. thought it was just okay overall. possibly my least favorite dish. japchae $9.00 marinated glass noodles | beef | onion | bell pepper | carrot | oyster mushroom 4/5. served hot and was okay. kimchi fried rice $12.00 napa cabbage kimchi | cold-pressed sesame oil | onsen egg | green onions pork belly 4/5. also served hot and was good. ab paper plane $10.00 barrel-aged tokki soju, aperol, lemon, amaro nonino, clarified 4/5. nice balance. ab old fashioned $10.00 10 year white oak aged "barrilito rum" washed in wagyu tallow, barrel smoked maple syrup, black walnut bitters, smoked with oak chips table side 5/5. fancy table side presentation. overall a great old fashioned. royal sonbi $10.00 sonbi korean dry gin, sweet vermouth, italian & japanese amaros 1/5. very herbal and did not like. bingsu $10.00 house infused strawberry damasoul soju, condensed milk, cold foam, sweet strawberry reduction 3/5. not too sweet, but thought it was just okay.' seoul night soju $35.00 5/5. very smooth soju. service was disappointing. it took over 20 minutes to order more food and drinks and get our check. staff seemed overwhelmed at the bar. Really liked the decor - reminded me of Born and Bread and a fancy Vegas bar.

Excellent experience. This can and will, become a hit as more guests realize how special the space, food and beverages are. Slow night so we got some special attention from Peter the restaurant manager. Serving and cooking our bbq with lots of info. Honestly, this boy can scissor. This bbq is finesse. The beef tastes of beef and the marinated stuff is saved for last. All the sides were outstanding. The sesame leafs were huge. The steamed egg and Tofu soup were soigne. What's best about our experience was the decor. Very original, luxurious and extremely comfortable. We've been to a bunch of Korean bbq spots from Garden Grove to LA, to San Ho Wan and to NYC's Cote. ABSteak deserves your attention.

The whiskey dry aged steak!! Excellent notes of sweetness and savoriness. The choice of meats were very high quality. We felt like you couldn't go wrong with anything on the menu. The garlic chips were delicious with every bite! The whiskey sour had the best balance of sweetness and sour.

Presentation and ambiance are top notch! Food was good but not quite as strong as some other kbbqs I've been. The vibe is high end but not sure the flavors fully met the high expectations. Of the dishes: Banchan was not my favorite. There was kimchi, radish, bean sprout, and salad. They were just okay. I would have liked more variety and stronger flavors. Oyster was fresh and meaty. Wagyu tartar was beautifully presented and delicious! For main, I got the chadol as I was in the mood for brisket, it was good but not more so than others. The egg souffle was a bit disappointing, texture was off and was super mild in flavor. Egg at kbbq is one of my favorite, when I go to ayce, I usually go through three of them so I was sad to not be able to finish one. The service was very nice. Maybe a tiny bit too friendly . Anyway it's a good date night spot

The food and presentation was superb, as was the service. The restaurant interior is beautiful, elegant, and spotlessly clean. The prices are worth every penny. What more could you ask? Beyond not cutting up the lotus root in little tiny pieces, instead of the lovely presentation it had previously; or recently offering some lower priced menu items in hopes of attracting more middle of the road customers: The only problem is the location in Union Square, and it is a big problem. For literally 3-4 blocks all around the restaurant there are homeless people on the street. Nothing can be done about this. San Francisco is no longer the vibrant, clean safe city it used to be. So it's just not a desirable location for an otherwise fabulous restaurant that would be a roaring success anywhere else. If I were the owner, I'd try to get out of my lease and move - maybe St. Helena up north in Napa Valley, or Montecito down south in Santa Barbara County. Go where the money is. AB Steak is excellent, and consistently delicious. It can thrive if it is in the right location, and then it can stay the high end restaurant it deserves to be in every way..

Finally ... high quality & high end KBBQ in SF! ABSteak is located inside Hotel Fusion where Infusion Lounge used to be. When I heard Kpop playing, I knew we were in the right place. We descended a sleek black marble staircase and stepped into a dark & luxurious space that felt like an underground speakeasy. Our group of 12 were seated in a private room. Our server was exceptional and went ABOVE & BEYOND. He thoroughly explained the menu in detail and gave us recommendations that would fit our party size. He even brought all the dishes to each side of the table, presenting them to us just so each of our phones could eat first, followed by him cooking all the meats & cutting them into the right sizes for us. Super attentive, friendly, entertaining, & knowledgeable! We ordered quite a lot, but my personal faves were: Chadol, Snow Flower Kkotsal, Wagyu Striploin, Marinated Galbi, Woo Sul, Wagyu Pizza, Prime Galbi Rice. We also tried 2 different bottles of soju: Yobo & Seoul Night. I preferred the Seoul Night since it was smoother. Because we had a large group, we were able to try a bit of everything on the menu and it was the right amount of food. Lastly, I really appreciate the meat warmers for cooked meats & loved that the grills are smokeless so we didn't smell like BBQ afterwards!! Overall an amazing experience with great company. Left me a lasting first impression. Highly highly recommend if you like Kpop, premium BBQ, and a sexy ambiance (& perhaps going on a weekday).

Came here for a conference and wanted to try something a little different as this restaurant had really high ratings, but I was quite disappointed. We tried a few meats and appetizers as the waitress suggested, dry age steak and beef tongue along with a capriccio pizza. The side dishes were horrible, the kimchi and radish were like out of a can and flavor-less. The complimentary salad was also very boring and nothing special. They had sauces but nobody really explain how to make it work together. I had much better Korean bbq at 1/3 of this price, so I wouldn't recommend this place. The atmosphere is really nice, so it is good for a date or something more formal.

First impression: full disclosure ABSteak is located not in a bad area of the town but we walked in with a situation with an intoxicated homeless person and 4 cops at the front of the restaurant. We had to detour and walk in through the hotel next to the restaurant and when we walked in it was an empty bar and no hostess for our 8:30pm check in. Service was slow to start, but quickly recovered . The decor is sleek with black marble staircase leads to a cavernous dining room and K-pop, glossy black tables and a floor-to-ceiling tubular glass wine case. All the server go through a month of training program to grill your meat table side, and yes our meats were served and cooked perfectly. Banchan is served with kimchi and pickled radish, "AB pizza" is a thin layer of wagyu draped across a saltine cracker-ish tortilla. The beef tongue is definitely the star of the show! Beef tartare has a beautiful presentation, highly recommended! It was a fun night out, beef galore!

AB Steak is a sleek, high-end Korean-American steakhouse nestled in the heart of San Francisco's Tenderloin District, helmed by the talented Chef Akira Back. With heavy Japanese influences throughout the menu and technique, this upscale spot delivers a refined and theatrical dining experience--but be prepared to pay for it. From the moment you step in, it's clear that no detail has been spared. The decor is modern and moody, striking a perfect balance between luxury and comfort. Even the plates and cups have an impressive heft to them, adding to the elevated atmosphere. The ambiance is chic without being stuffy--perfect for a date night or a splurge-worthy evening out. The meal starts with a traditional array of banchan: radish, kimchi, bean sprouts, and marinated onions. While nicely presented, they were underwhelming. The kimchi, in particular, leaned toward the milder, possibly Japanese-style side--definitely not the bold, fermented kick you'd expect at a traditional Korean BBQ joint. What truly stands out is the tableside cooking. Meats are grilled in front of you on a cast-iron surface prepped with wagyu fat--an indulgent touch that adds richness to everything that hits the grill. We tried the chadol, wagyu ribeye, kalbi, and the snow flower kkhotsal, the last of which was the star of the night: buttery, beautifully marbled, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. We also sampled the egg soufflé, which was light and airy, and the wagyu pizza, a unique and fun addition to the meal. While everything was expertly cooked and delicious, the portions were small--about 6 to 7 ounces per meat dish, with prices ranging from $40 to $70 (and more for the higher-end Japanese wagyu cuts). My friend enjoyed their mango cocktail, though I didn't try any drinks myself. In the end, four of us left only barely full, despite sharing several dishes. And at this price point, I couldn't help but think of all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ spots where I could feast on a wider variety of meats for a fraction of the cost. Maybe I don't have the most refined palate, but I found the experience memorable, not repeatable--at least not without a special occasion or someone else picking up the bill. Final Verdict: If you're looking to treat yourself or impress a guest with a high-end Korean-Japanese dining experience, AB Steak delivers with quality, service, and ambiance. But for those more interested in value and volume, this might be a one-time splurge rather than a regular outing.

Good Korean BBQ is always a great choice for Saturday dinner. My friend and I shared the maitake mushrooms and asparagus, seafood pajeon, marinated Galbi and wagyu bulgogi. The banchan included a mxed green salad, kimchi daikon and sprouts. These were a nice and light way to start. The meats (Galbi and bulgogi) were both really fabulous. They gave us a number of condiments/sauces (miso with garlic, fried garlic, pickled onion, wasabi and salt) and the miso was my favorite. For those of you who are wondering, the server does the cooking. I would also recommend the maitake mushrooms and asparagus. The seafood Pajeon was OK but really lagged the other dishes. My friend and I were both really full after this. Amazingly, we didn't leave the place smelling like Korean BBQ. Service was excellent but slowed down as the restaurant filled up with people. Our server/cook was great. I really liked the space - they are located in the basement level of Hotel Fusion and it felt like a nice modern steakhouse (it was classy but not stuffy). I also liked the music (KPOP) they were playing. With tax and tip, this was about $110 per person - it's really a good deal for the amount of food and the quality of the experience. Highly recommended if you are craving for higher end Korean BBQ.

Not sure when exactly Infusion closed down but came here and did not realize this was a prior dance club. Interior is very swanky, but beware there is no cell reception. Service was impeccable and portions were fairly generous. I really enjoyed the grilled meats but the ban chan variety was disappointing. I was also impressed with their built in ventilation system so that you didn't leave there needing to wash your hair immediately! Great date night spot or a quiet place to catch up with a friend.

ABSteak by Chef Akira Back in San Francisco was really great for Mother's Day in the VIP room. The high-end Korean BBQ had superb beef cuts, modern artistic atmosphere, and wonderful service. Peter and Amanda were so friendly and heart-warming which made us feel at home. We started with drinks and the oysters, which were delicious. The Japanese wagyu beef and American ribeye beef were really tender, cooked to perfection that melts in your mouth. The Australian beef was not as tender, but still great. We also had the kimchi fried rice, AB wagyu pizza, yuza lotus root, and seafood pancake along with the ban-chi. My favorite side dish was the seafood pancake and the kimchi fried rice. Thank-you for making our Mother's Day a memorable one! We'll be back.

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner and had a great time! Our waiters were super sweet and attentive. They even helped with a surprise birthday dessert. The meat was good quality and the restaurant was beautiful. Be sure to take photos in the wine capsule on your way out!

Holy Kimchi, Batman!! This was one of the most surprising finds for me this year. A buncha ole' friends were meeting up in The City for dinner reunion and 2 of us walked up this place. As I was standing on the sidewalk I looked up and saw the Fusion Hotel signage and was like, "Shoot! I haven't been in this area in ages." I looked toward my friend and said, "Remember we used to go a club called Infusion Lounge?? It's somewhere around here." As I cranked my head in circles looking for the nightlife establishment that had taken many of my credit card swipes and left my more than a lil tipsy at times...i was like, "It's gone. No, wait! I'm standing right in front of the old doors!" I peered inside and recognized the quick descending somewhat spiraling staircase and exclaimed, "This IS the old Infusion Lounge!" LoL So the place has toned down a bit as the loud music of yesteryear is gone. But the flashy ambiance remains. The tunes are now replaced by the most popular K-pop songs that even non-Koreans even recognize! (ie - APT. by Rose & Bruno Mars). They have done some remodeling to configure the place as a cozy restaurant with many privatized tables and a couple rooms too. Gone are the dance floors and secluded side rooms. The main bar is recognizable still. As well as the upward ramp way to what used-to-be coed restrooms. An open kitchen service counter now has taken over the dance floor and out pumps high end wagyu beef dishes and other delicacies. They just opened Nov 2024 and seem to have most of the kinks worked out when we were there. The service is fantastic and they are very doting to grill the meats and pass some out as they come off the hot grill perfectly seared. The food is good and some are a slightly new interpretation of ole favorites. An interesting raw beef pizza is on the menu. The soon doobu jjigae is good but the broth is not quite what I expected. The pancake is up to par and crispy. A full bar is available as well as few signature drinks which are all worth trying at least once in your life. All-in-all. I'd say it's a great night out with friends. Keep in mind though that this isn't a cheap night out. But hey that never stopped young single people and couples!!!

We had reservations for Saturday at 6:30pm to celebrate a belated bday. We were running 5 mins late and a staff called us to see if we were still coming. Parking is a garage that is on the same street (just a few businesses down). When we got to the restaurant, you have to walk down 2 flight of stairs. So phone reception is very weak downstairs in the restaurant. Service and food were very good. We were surprised how empty the restaurant was on a Saturday night. The smokeless grill was very effective so we didn't smell like bbq or smoke afterwards. We ordered a couple of Wagyu meats and they were all melt in your mouth good. But we can only eat so much of it since it's very rich and fatty. The side dishes were actually unlimited! We paid $45 corkage fee per wine bottle. They will decant the wines for you. At the end of the meal, they brought out a complimentary mango sorbet for us to share. What we ordered: Oysters, seafood tofu soup, kimchi pork belly fried rice, wagyu beef tongue, wagyu boneless short ribs, marinated usda boneless short ribs, A5 ribeye.

Date of Visit: 12/5/2024 Finally visited the ABSteak by Chef Akira Back near Powell in the center of San Francisco. It was on my list before the grand opening back on October 8, 2024. This is the second restaurant in California, while the first one is located in Los Angeles. ABSteak by Chef Akira Back is in a massive, 6500 sq ft space at 124 Ellis Street, features custom designed grills using smokeless Japanese binchotan charcoal. Customers can pick from all premium cuts of meat such as wagyu and dry-aged beef, artfully displayed in a glass case next to the open kitchen. We made a reservation about 2-3 weeks ago for a party of 4, and were welcomed by the front desk while we checked in our coats. Gochujang Margarita $20 My friend got the Korean style gochujang margarita made with mezcal, lime, jalapeno, gochujang, and seven-spice. Keopi Martini $20 I got this one which is a twist of the espresso martini, made with Mizu barley shochu, fresh espresso, Mr. black coffee liqueur, and demerara. 2020 Far Mountain Fission Cabernet Sauvignon $24 Husband got a wine to pair with meat. Lexington to Busan $21 Friend's husband got the whiskey based cocktail made with Nikka coffey grain whiskey, barrel-aged tokki soju, sweet vermouth, and angostura bitters. Server welcomed us with some Korean banchan, such as kimchi, bean sprouts, and some sauces. AB Pizza $29 We got this highly recommended appetizer, which is the thinly sliced rare Australian wagyu beef topped on crispy tortilla. Finished with ponzu aioli, green olive microgreens, shallots and some white truffle oil. Miyatake & Asparagus $18 Another appetizer is the Japanese miyatake mushrooms with asparagus. For the meat for the grill, we got three different kinds in total. Marinated Galbi $54 The 6oz marinated USDA Prime boneless short rib was quite tasty. Woo Sul $36 My favorite is the 4oz Australian wagyu beef tongue. It was grilled to the point that it was very juicy and tender. Whiskey Aged Ribeye $74 We also got the 6oz USDA Prime 45 Day dry aged Whiskey Aged Ribeye. The taste of whiskey was quite subtle, but the meat was quite juicy and flavorful. Pork Belly Fried Rice $22 We also got the pork belly fried rice with an onsen egg on top. Went really well with all the grilled meat.

We had a wonderful experience at AB Steak for our Anniversary Dinner. The ambiance of the restaurant is classy and elegant. With incredible service with top notch meat selections, Korean BBQ will never be the same. My partner and I enjoyed an array of meat selections along with soups and small plates. Everything was very delicious and flavorful. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Our favorites were: * Chadol * Picanha * Lotus Salad * Asparagus and Mushrooms We left the restaurant with our bellies full and with huge smiles on our faces. We will definitely be back soon!

Hyped for the hype. Michelin-starred Chef Akira Back has 28 restos worldwide. Their LA location of ABSteak boasts a 4.6 rating with AZN approved reviews. Considering LA/SoCal is the epicenter of Korean food and peeps didn't seem pressed about the premium prices, it must be bomb...right? Well, we're going to find out! Opening this week is ABSteak's second California location in the former Infusion Lounge (RIP to all my bad decisions). Open for dinner only. Rezzies on OpenTable. M E N U Modern Korean Steakhouse (in-house dry aged meat + premium cuts). Full bar. Sadly, the SF menu is different than the LA one...no egg soufflé or ganjang-gejang (raw soy marinated crab) at this time. =( F O O D * Housemade Banchan (complimentary first round; $3 for each dish thereafter) // 4 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/y7fztzp9 - Kimchi - Cucumber Muchim - Pickled Radish - Ssam: Romaine lettuce, perilla leaves, and cucumber spears for DIY wraps Solid banchan with the fresh cabbage kimchi being the highlight; crunchy with good heat and light tang. * AB Pizza: Raw Australian Wagyu Beef w/ crispy tortilla, ponzu aioli, green olive, microgreens, shallots, white truffle oil ($29) // 3.5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/3m9uksf6 Low key tasted like charcuterie on a cracker, not much marbling on the wagyu. Just expected more for a signature app. * Saewoo Jang: Soy Marinated Prawns w/ garlic, jalapeño, lemon, sesame seeds (6 pc - $32) // 4 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/3ej37y9y Salty, sweet, and citrusy with a bit of heat. If you like amaebi, you'll enjoy the fleshy, firm texture. Don't forget to suck the heads. IMO, all it was missing was a bowl of rice and roasted seaweed. * Snow Flower Kkotsal: Australian Wagyu Boneless Short Rib (6 oz - $68) // 4.5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/muj5vwps - Cooked medium rare/medium: https://tinyurl.com/yc5m9zb4 Fav thing of the night! Insane marbling. Rich, melt in your mouff beefy goodness. Top with a sprinkle of salt + smidge of zesty wasabi and you're golden. It was even bomb nekkid. Get this! * 45 Day Camembert Cheese Aged Ribeye (6 oz - $62) // 3 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/mwjf5u6 - Cooked medium rare/medium: https://tinyurl.com/28v9upvr Camembert cheese is smothered on the ribeye and aged creating an intense gamey flavor. When grilled, we found the texture uneven with most parts being quite tough and chewy. If you hella love THE funk, this may be your jam. * Condiments: Wasabi, fried garlic, maldon salt, ssamjang (fermented soybean paste based sauce) A little bit of each goes a long way so the meat remains the star. * Wagyu Dwen Jang Jjigae: Australian Wagyu Brisket, rich soybean stew, tofu, green onions, zucchini, mushroom, jalapeño ($27) // 3 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/5n6ww7w2 Hot and comforting with the well-marbled, soft wagyu brisket being the highlight. Seems they went heavy on the doenjang (soybean paste) because it was very salty. Wish they used silken tofu and wish an egg was included. * Sik Hye Sorbet: Housemade Korean Sweet Rice Sorbet w/ pumpkin puree, pine nuts ($6) // 3.5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/5n9xvyux Really enjoyed the subtle malty sweet flavor with a nutty crunch from the pine nuts. Perfect for the AZN palate. The sorbet was too firm tho and we had to crack it to eat it. S E R V I C E Friendly and knowledgeable with smiles all around. Your server cooks your meat for you so you can just kick back and enjoy. A M B I A N C E Next level Korean BBQ resto that screams rich rich with a display of wagyu + aged steaks and wine. The underground space is dark and cavernous with seating for over 100, separate bar area, and private rooms. Each table is custom designed with a smokeless grill (we didn't smell afterwards). P A R K I N G Nearest garage is a block away at Ellis-O'Farrell Parking Garage. $5/hour from 3 pm-6 pm, $4/hour after 6 pm. Overall, ABSteak may be a good option for a corporate meal and/or if you don't want to trek to Sunnyvale/Santa Clara for premium KBBQ. Dont sleep on the Snow Flower Kkotsal!

Came by for dinner the other night and it was decent experience. Chef Akira Back used to be a professional snowboarder and has restaurants in Paris and Dubai that are both featured in the Michelin guide. Their Beverly Hills location has 4.6 on Yelp which was impressive. As soon as Eater wrote about this upcoming restaurant, I made a reservation right away as the other Michelin starred Korean restaurants in the city I still haven't been able to get into... I'll have to either get my Wealth Advisor or get an Amex Platinum to get in... ABSteak is a new spin from the Infusion Lounge that closed down in 2018. Their receipt still calls themselves Infusion Lounge: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infusion-lounge-closes-for-complete-transformation-300632731.html The entrance to the restaurant is located next to the Fusion Hotel. Ellis O'Farrell SFMTA garage is merely a block away. The restaurant itself is in the basement and can be accessed by a set of stairs or lift. The vibe of the restaurant seemed over the top luxurious with super dark lighting and staff wearing dark uniforms. Some staff wore black gloves. Meal started off with the beverage service. This was quite pronounced as the only menu that was presented to us were beverages. Only after we completed the beverage service did we get to see the food menu...odd.. The food menu was a slight disappointment as it was an abbreviated version of the online version. For example, there was a fried rice along with several desserts listed online but not available at the restaurant. The online menu featured 8 oz per serving while the restaurant only offered 6 oz per serving. Due to this change, opted for the sae-woo jang assuming that they were cooked shrimp and was surprised that they came out raw. Staff even provided disposable poly gloves to eat the raw shrimp. As the grill was ready, we took advantage of the grill to cook the shrimp. The seafood pajeon was decent although the green onion strips were a touch long and the breading was a touch thick. The whisky 45 day aged ribeye was quite flavorful and cooked to a medium rare by our waiter. There was a bold meat flavor but I couldn't taste the whisky. The marbling on this was decent. The marinated galbi was the highlight of the meal with a super flavorful marinade, well marbled short rib and this was cooked to perfection by the waiter. Ended the meal off with the Hanwoo?!? for $24. I was really curious as one of my goals is to eat Hanwoo beef in Seoul in a few weeks. The $24 price point for dessert is even higher than Nopa/Evvia. The dessert was merely a melange of biscuits, chocolate, along with some stale cake...yikes. ~$125/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.

Walking around Downtown San Francisco is like a ghost town from Market Street to inside the once bustling San Francisco centre. Even the Food Emporium is very sad looking. Downtown San Francisco desperately needed a breath of fresh air with a high end Korean BBQ restaurant: ABSteak. It is a start to revamp the dining scene. We had reservations at 5pm. We were led down two flights of stairs underground. The restaurant is beautiful, dripping in opulence from the wooden chairs with plushy brown leather seating to gold silverware. The bar gave me old school San Francisco speak easy vibes (also probably going down several flights underground did it!). What I loved about this restaurant is the smokeless grill with built in vents so no smells! Another unique thing they had is a meat warmer for cooked meats. In the middle of the restaurant is a gigantic round wine cellar enclosed in glass. Just beautiful! Our sever was Eric. He was wonderful as he explained the menu and cooked for us so all we had to do was enjoy our dinner. We weren't famished so we opted for 2 premium cuts of meats: the Chadol and the Snow Flower Kkotsal. We also ordered the Pork Belly Kimchi Fried Rice. It was enough for the both of us to share. The fried rice arrived first with a raw egg on top. Eric mixed in the egg and served us each a bowl, delicious! The Chadol arrived next which is the Australian Wagyu Brisket. Thinly sliced, soft-melt-in-your-mouth piece. You can dip it in the brisket sauce or salt it up. You can also wrap it up in lettuce, layer on sauces. Next up is the Snow Flower Kkotsal which is the Australian wagyu boneless short rib. A thicker cut but nonetheless soft goodness. We enjoyed our dining experience and will be back in the near future!

4.5 stars rounded up. Located in San Francisco's Union Square is Michelin-rated Chef Akira Back's ABSteak, an upscale Korean BBQ restaurant that serves premium cuts of meat. A smokeless grill system keeps your clothes from smelling of a bonfire, & a server mans the grill for your table; all features that add to the sophistication of a restaurant of this caliber. Meats ordered: -- Picanha: Australian wagyu sirloin cap, 6 oz., $56. Strong beefy taste & had more body to it than the other wagyu we ordered, a good first meat to start our meal. My bf's favorite cut of the night. -- Snow Flower Kkotsal: Australian wagyu boneless short rib, 6 oz., $68. One of our server's recommendations, but perhaps the course we least enjoyed. For me, it was far too soft & marbled. -- A5 Satsuma Deung Shim Satsuma: Japanese A5 Ribeye, 6 oz., $92. Melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I thought this was the best until... -- Marinated Galbi: USDA Prime boneless short rib, 6 oz., $56. What our server called "meat candy," it was given to us last as it was a savory dessert, of sorts, for its sweet marinade. Simply incredible. Our sides, much-needed fillers to round out a fatty, hearty protein-heavy meal, somewhat paled in comparison to the meat: -- Seafood Pajeon ($24): I requested that the scallion pancake be made without shrimp & squid. Soy vinegar sauce was the perfect acidity to cut through the fried, but surprisingly light, preparation. -- Gogi Guksu ($21): wagyu noodle soup had a flavor that was not to my liking. -- Kimchi Fried Rice ($21): the only dish we did not finish. We found it to be overly mushy & moist, & the flavor of the kimchi was potent to the point of being fishy. -- Prime Galbi Rice ($29): in hindsight, we'd double the order of short rib rice & 86 the kimchi rice all together, as this one was a crowd fave. -- Hanwoo ($18): dark chocolate mousse with matcha sponge cake, berries, & candied orange peel. A creative, visually appealing ending to dinner. The pace of dinner was on point until it came time to clear off our table for dessert. The restaurant became busier as the evening wore on; we were surprised that we weren't being rushed out. However, the downside of our leisurely meal was the noticeable lag time to receive dessert menus. Our otherwise attentive server, Gino, became unavailable while tending to other tables. Though not a picture perfect ending, the overall experience was indeed one for the books.

Finally a great Korean BBQ in SF. This was my 4th time at AB Steak, and honestly, it just keeps delivering. I'm super picky about meat, I've had some incredible Korean BBQ in both Korea and LA and I can say this place holds its own. I've never seen picanha at a Korean BBQ spot before, and it was amazing. Super flavorful, perfectly cooked, and really juicy. The chadol had just the right amount of fat and tons of flavor. And the woosul? Next level..definitely a must-try. The soondubu was also really good and comforting. My only minor complaint is the banchan it's just okay, especially compared to how good everything else is. The service was great, Amanda was especially amazing. She was super friendly, attentive, and just really made sure we were taken care of the whole time. You could tell she genuinely cared, which made a big difference. Peter, the manager, was also great and checked in on us which we appreciated. I don't usually write reviews, but this place deserves it. If you're into high-quality meat and Korean BBQ, AB Steak is 100% worth checking out. Easily my favorite spot in SF.

One of our new favorites in the city! Everything we ordered was delicious; from the wagyu beef tongue to the picanha and galbi. The restaurant is beautifully built and feels like something that belongs in Vegas with gorgeous details. Highly recommended

It was a wonderful experience dining here. We made reservations and were seated promptly once we arrived. Our server, David, was very friendly to chat with and attentive throughout the night. It being our first visit, he walked us through the menu while offering us some recommendations. We ordered the picanha, medium-rare, and the wagyu bulgogi, both of which were perfectly seasoned and very tender. The kimchi fried rice was rich and flavorful and paired well with the meats and veggie sides. I also loved the seafood pajeon - tasty with a flakey and light pancake. The restaurant itself is gorgeous, a great spot for intimate celebrations or for an evening out with friends. Definitely a must-try in SF!

What a phenomenal experience! From start to finish. The food was amazing! David was our waiter and he had great recommendations! Plenty of food with leftovers! Peter grilled our meats to perfection.

ABSteak is a worldwide chain that just opened up a restaurant in downtown Union Square. With all these new restaurants opening up, I'm hoping it will bring some life back in downtown. ABSteak is a premium kbbq restaurant offering about 13 premium meats, appetizers, side-dishes and more. The menu at the restaurant is different than the one on the website. It's pricier than what I expected, at about $50 per plate of 6 oz meat. They also change out the grill for each different meat that is cooked/served. Parking is very limited with metered (and one-way streets), and the Ellis parking garage less than a mile away. It's a small door located next to Hotel Fusion. When you enter, it will lead you downstairs where you're welcomed by the giant wall art that says "ABSteak" and a bar to your left. The interior is very upscale and modern/trendy. There is a showcase of wine in the middle of the restaurants. My party of 4 and I were seated in a booth with a grill, with the option to cook ourselves or have them cook for us (we chose for them to cook for us). Staff is attentive and very nice. We were given condiments (salt, wasabi, ssamjang (fermented soybean paste based sauce), and fried garlic) for our food, and there was a hot warmer plate for your fresh grilled meat. We asked our waiter how much food he thinks we should order for our party of 4 and he told us 1 appetizer, 3-4 meats (they're all 6 oz), and a side dish. Things we ordered: - AB WAGYU PIZZA: Thinly sliced rare Austrailian wagyu beef, cripsy tortilla, ponzu aioli, green olive micro greens, shallots, white truffle oil. Optional: Fresh truffles or ossetra caviar for +$25. They served it with a mini spatula so it felt like you were eating a pizza, hehe. This dish was a surprise to me at how perfectly thin and crispy it was, with it's subtle white truffle oil taste. Sprinkled with thinly cut shallots and micro greens, the wagyu beef was very thin and matched up perfectly with the tortilla. The truffle taste wasn't overwhelming and the crispy-ness of the tortilla made it just perfect. The wagyu was tender and I didn't encounter the awkward part whether you chew up the whole thing or you eat part of it like you would with a pizza. Definitely recommend! - GALBI FRIED RICE: Marinated prime boneless short rib, green onion, king oyster mushroom, onion, cold-pressed sesame oil, and sesame seed. This dish was a favorite amongst our table, especially my dad! They dish comes in a hot bowl and is mixed in front of you before serving. The rice has a sticky-like texture, with a bit of a sweet saucy taste, probably from the marinade, but it was so good. Lots of flavor! - CHADOL: Australian Wagyu Brisket (6 oz) - You can never go wrong with brisket! Easy to cook and serve, I sprinkled this with some of the salt that was offered and it brought out slight fattiness with the right amount of flavor. I wish we could've ordered more, - WOO SUL: Australian Wagyu Beef Tongue (4 oz) - Beef tongue ain't for everyone, but that means more than me! Nicely thinly sliced on a new grill that was changed out, it gives it the scored look on the meat and the waiter made it just slightly crispy how I like it. It oozes with flavor and is slightly chewy (which is probably why the guys don't like this). - 45 DAY - DRY AGED RIBEYE (6 oz) - Meat was tender and cooked perfectly thanks to our waiter, this ribeye did not wow us. The meat was good but didn't offer much to our taste buds. It tasted no different than a regular ribeye imo. - MARINATED GALBI (6 oz) - Save the marinade for last, as it will blacken your grill. The meat is served with it's marinade and rolled up, and scored with deep cuts. This cooks a little longer than previous meats because it's thicker, but it was cooked so good. After cooking it for a few mins, you can still taste the sweet marinade and the tenderness of the meat. Definitely something to try out! I'd recommend coming to this place for a splurge or special occasion. They have a limited meat menu with almost all of them being 6 oz. I almost thought we were going to be hungry afterwards, but ordering the fried rice was a good idea for all of us. I'd recommend ordering the AB Wagyu pizza, briskets, marinated galbi, and galbi fried rice. Our bill was around $320 including our $45 corkage fee. Would love to try other dishes next time on the menu.

Always great to see new restaurants setting up shop around Union Square. Even better if the restaurants are delicious! ABSteak is an upscale Korean "steakhouse". It has a decent variety of food but is definitely meat-forward as its name would suggest. I think it's different if you sit at the bar, but the meat we got was cooked kbbq style. Raw meat cooked ont he grill in front of you. We tried some classic Korean meats like galbi but the star of the show was probably the wagyu. The server will cook it for you and ours cooked it perfectly. We got some rice and appetizer dishes as well. Server recommended the "pizza" which was a huge tartare dish. Heavily recommend this one as well.

Got food poisoning from a drink called the Obi Wan Ken-Ube I had at ABSteak about a week and a half ago. Both the bartenders and our server mentioned it may have been the horchata that had gone bad in the back after I mentioned the drink had a weird sour taste to it similar to milk having soured. During dinner I only sipped about a quarter of it cause of the weird taste and after I left restaurant, walked about 5 mins and threw up my entire dinner. I emailed the restaurant immediately when I got home but they didn't look into it until 48 hours later. After a few follow ups, finally spoke to Shane Martinez, the GM, who tried to not take accountability. After speaking for a while and mentioning all the disappointing aspects of our dining experience, including the food poisoning and burnt kalbi, he offered to refund us for our meal, which I accepted. He said he would confirm the refund but didn't and after 2 follow ups, still no refund or response back. ABSteak is a beautiful restaurant and the servers do try their best but after seeing their operations at work, I definitely understand why there were so many issues in the dining experience. Of course burnt steak and some confusion during service is one thing but a restaurant can't go around giving its customers food poising especially during the first month of service. My low star review is primarily towards the food poisoning, poor response by management, and very partially for burnt meat. I did give the restaurant an opportunity to change my mind, but it seems they don't really care.

AB Steaks just made its way to San Francisco, and it's fantastic. Open for just two weeks, this LA favorite knows how to grill up a stellar. Shockingly I've always felt that high end Korean bbq was a huge gap missing in the city and this fills that void and then some. I asked the Steven, who is the director of operations and up here from the LA restaurant for a couple of weeks what I should order and here's what I ended up with: AB Pizza with Truffle was the first to come out and was very tasty. I don't know if the added truffle is necessary and may try it with the caviar option next time. The Snow Flower Kkotsal (Australian wagyu boneless short rib) was the first to hit the grill. It was marbled just right, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture that did not disappoint. The richness of the wagyu shined, each bite leaving you wanting more. The Deung Shim (7 oz Australian wagyu ribeye) followed, and it was a true showstopper. Juicy and well-seared, it had that classic beefy flavor that ribeye enthusiasts love. The marbling was top-notch, making each bite a savory, buttery delight. The Marinated Galbi (USDA Prime boneless short rib) brought a familiar Korean BBQ vibe to the mix. Sweet, savory, and tender, the marinade gave the galbi a rich, satisfying flavor that lingered just enough. The Vegetable Platter was a nice touch--grilled asparagus, onion, mushroom, zucchini, and tomato added some freshness to the meat-centric lineup. It was a simple, yet solid, way to balance out the richness of the wagyu. A surprise star of the meal was the Spicy Tofu Jjigae, which was sent over by the Director of Operations visiting from LA. The six-hour simmered broth was packed with depth, and the added wagyu short rib, silken tofu, and veggies made it a hearty, comforting dish. It had just the right level of spice to keep things interesting. The service was top-notch, with staff grilling everything tableside and placing it on warming plates to keep it all perfectly hot. The attention to detail was impressive, and the team made sure we had an outstanding experience. AB Steaks SF has brought its A-game to the Bay Area, and it's definitely worth a visit.

Looking for a special occasion Korean BBQ spot? This upscale fusion steakhouse delivers premium cuts that'll definitely satisfy your taste buds, but just be prepared for your wallet to feel a bit lighter. The meat quality here is exceptional. The galbi (short rib) is beautifully marbled and practically melts in your mouth. The brisket? Amazing. They're premium grade and priced accordingly. But when you taste that first perfectly grilled bite, you'll understand why. I like that they also cook everything for you so that you don't get a ton of smoke on your clothes, but i do wish they asked us how we liked our meat cooked! Pro tip: Come with a group! The portions are small so you'll want to try multiple cuts to get the full experience. Plus, the more people you bring, the more you can justify ordering the beef tartare, which arrives like a work of art on the plate. The seafood pancake is another must-try - packed with actual seafood , crispy on the outside, and very hearty. Now, let's talk banchan (side dishes). They're... fine. Not bad, not amazing. What's less fine is being charged for extra portions - feels a bit nickel-and-dime-y for a place in this price range. The atmosphere is more fancy than casual, but you can dress up for a celebration and won't feel out of place in smart casual either. Service is attentive and knowledgeable about the cuts. Bottom line: This isn't your everyday KBBQ joint - it's where you go when you want to experience high-end cuts and don't mind paying for it. Tip: Reservations strongly recommended, especially for weekend dinner service.

Friendly service and happy to have a good kbbq that's not AYCE in SF. The chadol and Yukkea are a must. You can skip the pork kimchi fried rice, it was a bit too saucey and salty.

Nice vibe and interior design, hard to find an upscale Korean restaurant in S.F. so we are excited to try it out. We (2 people) ordered the seafood pancake, AB pizza, spicy tofu soup, and two kinds of meat for BBQ (Chandol and Kottsal). We are very full by the end and didn't order dessert. Kottsal or snowflake boneless short rib is juicy and tasty. AB pizza is interesting, you will like it if you are into beef tartare but don't order it if you can't eat raw beef. Not sure about Chandol, it is soft but I am not a fan of the thin slice. The spicy tofu soup is definitely disappointing, I think I can cook better than that using the Tofu packet acquired from Hmart or Weee. The zucchini slices are even bitter. Seafood pajeon is always a reliable comfort food but the presentation is not as photogenic. Service is a little slow. I went during the first week of opening and so the staff is probably still trying to find the right balance of team work.

Truly exceptional. We came here for a birthday dinner and were blown away by the great service and amazing food. Our waiter was very attentive and grilled our meats to perfection, and their timing was impeccable. At the end of the meal, we were surprised with a complementary sorbet as a birthday gift and it was the perfect way to end the dinner.

Service from start to finish was excellent (apologies to anyone within our vicinity - I speak loud at times and am unaware, friends usually tell me and I adjust, I felt we were loud last night though ‍). Still, staff was 100% professional and made sure seating for others after we arrived were not getting the bulk of our volume. The gentleman who served us also made excellent recommendations and made sure to check back in often, but not so much it felt uncomfortable or crowded. Just quick checks. Only critique was he spoke primarily with my friend but he quickly corrected himself towards the end. I don't mind, just an observant person but others might feel slighted ‍. Overall loved the experience and would come back when I want to splurge. Cuts: 10/10 Kimchee fried rice: 7/10, too moist for me, but still tasty. Drinks: 7/10 wish there were more cocktails that weren't on the spirits side. Creative drinks for sure, but not even one with tequila (maybe low mezcal?). Interior: seating reminds me of jojojen, they did a great job with what was given.

Celebrating my gf's bday with an all girls private room event. It was a fun and awesome experience. High end Korean bbq. The food, decor and service were spectacular. My favorite was the meats of course. High grade quality. The only thing I wasn't too fond off was the cold buck wheat noodle. I definitely had better but the rest was great. Overall, our experience was wonderful. A great place to celebrate any occasion. Definitely recommend this to all my friends and family.

I had the original one in beverly hills. This place is not it unfortunately, menu is not comparable, overpriced, parking situation is bad and food is mediocre. Wont be here again bc the quality of the food has to match the price. Customer service is good though

Never thought I'd be eating at a place that I used to go clubbing at back in the day lol, but here we are. Visually speaking the restaurant is super opulent. The in person menu doesn't match the online menu. The meats I got are all 6 ounces aka the Bulgogi and the kalbi, but online it says 8oz. The meats are good, but as for everything else it's pretty average. The seafood tofu soup was a lil bit salty for my liking. The bibimpap is soo plain - don't get this. As for the banchan the first set is complimentary, but you have to pay if you want more. I think that's a bit off putting considering they're just pickles, lettuce, bean sprouts, etc. it should be complimentary in general. Also, it took them 15 minutes just to bring out the second banchan I ordered. Service needs to be faster. Overall, this wasn't a memorable meal for me and I'd definitely recommend eating korean bbq/food elsewhere.

We hung out at the bar waiting for our table, took them 40mins our total wait to get seated was 52mins(manager comped us some kimchi friend rice and egg souffle and apologized for taking so long), i asked the bartender for some peanuts or something to munch on as we were all starving, condescending he answered, this isn't a dive bar, we are an upscale restaurant, we don't serve peanuts, wasn't the answer I was looking for, simple no sorry we don't would have sufficed, but this was actually to let you know were hungry, at least offer some appetizers for us to keep us somewhat happy. Food quality was great, snowflake was top for us 2nd was ribeye then calbi and last was bulgogi, portions were small, don't expect a big meal. Service was kinda slow, our 1st meat came great, small but tasted good, took a while before the 2nd order of meat came, by the time the 2nd meat came, the hot plate wasn't working properly and we had to wait longer, the soup and other side dishes we ordered started to get cold, the mushroom asparagus butter sauce had coagulated, our tofu soup was no longer hot and egg souffle was cold, the rice was cold, 3rd set of meat came and again plate wasn't hot, had to wait for it to warm up. 4th set of meat and guess what . ..yes ..plate wasn't warm, by this time ALL OUR SIDE DISHES WERE COLD! We still filled our bellies even though it was a cold meal towards the end, as like I said, we were hungry. When one of parties told the server we were celebrating a bday she ignored us and left. Server didn't feel the service that night as she looked like she didn't want to work tonight, nonetheless we paid our bill and still gave her a tip. Like the bartender said, upscale but service was meh.. $400++ bill and tip, not impressed.

Amazing food !! We really love all food and service. The ambiance was good . Our server/cook so nice .

Great food and cocktails...loved the ambiance and the staff, especially Jay!! will be back soon!

Jay aka Jeremiah was the best server ever. Never had such a fabulous experience. We were celebrating a birthday and Jay made it extra special. We really appreciate you, Jay. We wouldnt have had such a memorable experience without you so thank you. Food-wise, AMAZING! The snow flower kkotsal is to die for. It melts in your mouth. The meat cuts are so delicious and reminds me of Korea. Amazing amazing hands down and cant wait to go back!

ABSteak was a great experience. The staff was great, especially Don, who was attentive and cooked our meats to perfection. We ordered the 30 day aged wagyu, the galbi, and the bulgogi and it was honestly the best meat I've had in my life. The wagyu was super tender and buttery, and the galbi and bulgogi were marinated to perfection. The staff cooks the meats grill side, which makes for a luxurious experience. They offer refills on banchans and saam (lettuce). The cocktails were well done. The ambiance was sort of like a luxurious cigar and whiskey lounge, but they played fun music to lighten the mood. Overall we had a great time and will definitely return.

By far the best quality everything kbbq. Ambiance and decor were magnificent! We got the brisket which was from Australia, filet mignon which was prime quality and the marinated Galbi. Service and wine list was to die for! Much much better than a lot of other places !

The service and food was sooo good!! The staff is amazing! So sweet, the ambiance was on point aswell! Definitely a good place to go on a date.

This place opened up a few weeks ago so I was super excited to check it out. Unfortunately it was one of the worst experiences I've had. Pros: - Ambience and design is sleek and modern. Interior feels warm and cozy. - Food was good. Meats were juicy, tender, flavorful.. everything you would expect with premium cut meats. Cons: - Terrible service all around. Staff were inattentive and slow. The place also wasn't busy. They forgot to bring our vegetable platter and by that point we finished most of our food already so we ended up canceling it instead. Had to remind them about our drinks which took 15 mins for us to get. We brought a cake since it was a birthday celebration and they threw the box away. They couldn't be bothered to check on our table. Service was so painfully slow that we had to get up and flag our server for the check. Oh and the worst part was one of the servers burned our meat because he left our table in the middle of cooking lol that's how bad it was. I wish I was lying but I'm not. All of the staff except one gentleman (not sure what his name was but he had on glasses) provided lousy customer service and were not friendly. Barely acknowledged us at all. For the price point of this restaurant, you would expect great customer service but I felt like I was at a McDonald's. Take your money and go to a local KBBQ restaurant instead. You'll get way better service there. Again, I saw reviews of this place and it all looked super positive so I'm not sure where the disconnect was. I wanted to cut them some slack since they just opened but the service was far too terrible. Not coming back.

Food was great but service was terrible! It was our first time here and never once have I been to a restaurant where the server pushed for you to order a certain amount for your table instead of ordering as you go. She wanted our table of 6 to order a certain amount of meat said the kitchen is won't like it if we don't order everything at once. However, the meat was brought out one at a time anyway so I didn't understand why we couldn't just order as we go. She proceeded to make a rude comment while I stepped away referring to me as "the girl who doesn't want to order anything" towards my boyfriend. There are much better wagyu restaurants with better service to be honest

Super excited to try Chef Akira Back's newest restaurant while visiting the Bay Area. The space is modern and gorgeous and befitting a luxurious steakhouse in Union Square. We tried the AB Pizza - with the added truffles and caviar recommended by our server - and it was AMAZING. We ate the chadol for our main dish and were pleasantly surprised the grills in the table are smokeless so you don't end up smelling like a campfire. The server also cooks the food so you can relax and just enjoy the presentation without the obligation to cook the meat yourself. The meat itself was delicious - juicy and flavorful. The food, the service and the vibes were all excellent and we can't wait to come back!

Amazing service - staff was very friendly without being overly solicitous or cringey. The meat was delicious. Only thing is don't get the pizza appetizer, which tasted like soggy pita bread.