ABSteak by Chef Akira Back

Excellent Service and Outstanding Meal. Our first time here, and we were both so pleased with everything. From the pretty hostess who smiled the minute we walked in, and was so pleasant and seated us in a lovely booth; to the waiter David who was attentive, took superb care of everything he did for us, was efficient, intelligent and kind; to the beautiful presentation of every dish, high quality ingredients and delicious food; and reasonable price considering how very much we ate!Our personal favorites were the the lotus root garnished with petitely cut grapefruit sections, the salad with a dressing so yummy we wished we could have purchased a bottle of it and taken it home, the yukkea, (had two of them it was so good!) the tenderest of short rib, the green tea ice cream and steaming hot camellia tea - all of it was A+So looking forward to returning!

Overall, a disappointing experience. My partner and I arrived with high expectations for both the food and service, only to leave feeling underwhelmed.To be fair, the ambiance was a highlight--elevated and stylish, setting it apart from most KBBQ spots. However, the dining experience itself didn't live up to the same standard.While the meat quality was excellent, a key part of KBBQ is the banchan, and this is where the meal fell short. We were served only four or five side dishes, all of which were unremarkable and lacked the depth of traditional flavors. The biggest letdown? The kimchi! It's disappointing to find subpar kimchi at a KBBQ restaurant, where it should be a standout. I should also add, they don't offer purple rice :(If we were simply looking for high-quality meat in a refined setting, there are several KBBQ spots in the Bay Area that deliver on both fronts. Unfortunately, the other essential elements of a premium KBBQ experience were missing here.It seems their approach leans toward a modern, unconventional take on KBBQ, but for us, it just didn't hit the mark.

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.

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).

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!

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.

Descending into ABSteak feels like entering a hidden gem. The entrance, with its dramatic marble and gold staircase, immediately sets the stage for a luxurious dining experience. The anticipation was built by all the online buzz and the restaurant certainly lived up to the hype.Arriving early afforded us a sense of intimacy in the otherwise bustling space. The decor is undeniably sexy, with sultry lighting and an overall air of extravagance that truly impressed.FOOD:The menu at ABSteak offers an array of options, from already prepared dishes to exciting grilling experiences. We ordered the Marinated Galbi, Wagyu Bulgogi, Kimchi Pork Belly Fried Rice, and the refreshing Pyong Yang Naeng Myeon. The meats were cooked to absolute perfection, melting in our mouths with every bite. Their intense flavor and juicy texture were simply exquisite, perfectly complemented by the small selection of side dishes. The Kimchi Fried Rice, a simple yet addictive dish, proved to be the ideal companion to the succulent meats.SERVICE:While the restaurant offers the helpful service of grilling your meat, it can sometimes feel a bit awkward (even though we tried to engage in conversations with our waiter).ABSteak is undoubtedly a special occasion destination. The luxurious ambiance and exceptional food make it the perfect place to celebrate or simply treat yourself to an unforgettable dining experience. I look forward to returning with a larger group to explore more of the menu.

My partner surprised me with reservations at this restaurant for my birthday dinner, and it turned out to be a great experience! I was initially hesitant due to some negative reviews about the service, but our server, David, exceeded all expectations with exceptional service.From the moment we walked in, the elegant decor set the tone for a fine dining experience. Although we arrived slightly late for our reservation and had to wait briefly for our table to be prepared, the host handled it seamlessly. A quick tip: give yourself extra time to find parking! While waiting, we ordered drinks at the bar, and when our table was ready, the bartender kindly brought our drinks to the table. For a party of two, we ordered the Snow Flower Kkotsal, Deung Shim, and Satsuma Deung Shim for the meats, along with the Seafood Pajeon and Miyatake Asparagus. Our waiter grilled the meats to perfection, and they were tender, juicy, and full of flavor--they practically melted in our mouths. While everything was delicious, the standout for me was the Miyatake Asparagus--the sauce was so tasty! The servers were attentive throughout the evening, ensuring our side dishes were consistently refilled at no extra charge. At the end of the meal, they surprised us with a complimentary dessert for my birthday, which was a thoughtful gesture.Although the meal is on the pricier side, it's well worth it for a special occasion. This restaurant excels in both its culinary offerings and overall dining experience. Highly recommended!

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

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!" LoLSo 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!!!