Pagoda

I used to always go to dimples but my homies went to pagoda and they should really change their name to paGOATa. I really liked the chill vibes there and the bartenders were super cool!Here you actually don't have a big stage and you don't have to pay for songs. Where as at dimples you need to pay per song but you get a big stage to show your skills. However, depending on what you're feeling I think there is a place for everyone! You got some chips as a snack and you just order your drink and pick your songs! They had a huge selection of songs. It was fun! Definitely will be back next time and bring all of my friends.Thank you for the great vibes and great service!

Had such a fun time here. No stage so you can sing right at your booth. Great staff and plenty of drink options. The karaoke is free so just come in and have a good time.

This isn't your average karaoke bar. This place can be a fun time or not, depending on the vibes you're looking for. Pagoda has been around for awhile and surprisingly survived the pandemic while others nearby have shuttered their doors. Located directly across the street from the Peace Plaza/Japantown mall, you would go down these sketchy stairs to find Pagoda.Pagoda is an open-mic karaoke bar that can have amazing singers or bad singers. To request a song, you would review the 2-3 inch binders sitting on the tables and you write down the song # you want, then give it to the bartender. While you wait, I recommend ordering a drink. The "free sides" they offer here are mini bags of chips and great when you been singing your heart out and drinking. I wouldn't say Pagoda drinks are the best, as I think their cocktails are watered down, but it feels like a vibe just being here. 90% of the time, I always a fun time with my colleagues and friends. Definitely a fun place to be if you're in the area.

My roommate and I were introduced to this karaoke bar from an old coworker and friend. Even when we were college students just working at Chipotle, this was one of our go-to spots. At first, this place was a little intimidating since it's located at the bottom of the stairs of a building at the intersection of Japantown. Sometimes there are homeless people sleeping by the stairs, but they have never bothered us anytime we have gone. Once you reach the bottom of the stairs, you walk into a multi-colored bar with maybe three tables across the bar. This place is one of three karaoke bars I have been to in the city but have heard they have the best deal since you don't have to pay for songs like neighboring bars (from what I've heard). The ladies working here have always been so friendly to us every time we've gone and always kept us stocked with snacks. We have made many acquaintances through the ladies working and even met a chef from a nearby restaurant who shared his bread with them who in return shared it with us. This place isn't necessarily the best looking, but the vibes and service have always been outstanding in my eyes. If you're looking for a good time, this bar is a good place to spend time listening to people sing their hearts out over a cocktail or five.

Came here for the karaoke bar and loved the vibe. There's two mics, no stage, just sit at the bar and sing or sing from the table. Sing from the hallway, he'll, just sing from the restroom--the entrance! So relaxed.Was advised to bring dollar bills to tip the bartender when you add your song to the list. There's a decent selection of 90s-2000s music and the classics (think, Frank Sinatra "My Way"). What we didn't know is that they ping ping the selections by table, so other parties will get priority if someone in your party just sang. This is annoying if you take over someone else's song.But otherwise the drinks came in small pitchers for about $30. They're refreshing chu-hi style drinks but the frozen daiquiri kind. Wish they would give us water (did they sell any? Idk.)My advice would be to install a vending machine outside the entrance and sell water and snacks because we could use those. Oh and a change machine cause we need to keep those songs going!

If I could give this place 0 stars I would. We walked in with a group of 12 people. There weren't many people there so the bartender told us to choose out of two tables. We ordered drinks and immediately started requesting songs for karaoke. We turned in about 8 requests. A little while later, a big group of about 10 people walked in. We noticed they were hugging one of the people that worked there possibly the owner (idk). Next thing we know, all our songs were skipped and they had the mic the entire night until they left. We complained to the lady who hugged them that none of our songs had been played. She told us that they gave her a tip and ordered bottle service. Oddly enough, there was no bottle in site and we equally had ordered enough drinks and shots to have spent the same amount of money. Once the group started leaving, the lady came over and asked us what was one of the songs we requested and we said no thank you and walked out. Terrible business management. If you only want people you know to enjoy the space, then make it a private venue because we are all spending the same amount of money and deserve equal customer service. Not returning again.

Came here last Saturday 12/9/23 around 10 pm w/ a group . We ordered drinks , etc waited for more than an hour and not anyone of us was able to sing . We gave up and left . The table next to us seemed to monopolize the karaoke and management didn't care at all . What a waste of time .

I like the crowd there. There were 9 of us there celebrating my friend's birthday. We put in a song request but never got to sing it they let their friends/regulars sing. We left after waited for an hour. What a joke.

Figured out why my karaoke songs never came up the first time around. Apparently, they have a preferential tipping system. So if you tip, your song gets priority, but if not, you might be waiting awhile. I didn't mind the tipping system per se, but what bothered me was that some of my friends tipped very generously and only got one song in. They don't track how much you are giving them. If you give them $1, $5, or $10, that's one song. We mistakenly believed that $10 meant we'd be taken care of the whole night. Not the case. We actually ended up leaving after it happened to multiple people in our group. I still enjoy their frozen soju drinks and complimentary snacks, but just be aware to tip $1 per song and no more. If not, there's always Dimples next door, which charges a flat rate ($5 for 2 songs) with much better sound quality and customer service.

Went here with my gf for lunar new year(2024). You can find better service at a 7-11. The bartender ignored us for about 15 min while serving everyone else that came up to her after us. The entire time we were at the bar, the bartender was shooting my girlfriend dirty looks. It wasn't until I approached the bartender by myself that she decided to serve me but not before she snatched my card to pay for it. I regret tipping anything. They did give us a pack of chips after our first purchase and I guess that was to hold us over until we were served again 20 min later. It was very clear that the ladies behind the bar are RACIST! Drinks were as watered down as the atmosphere. Do yourself a favor and go to the corner store for better drinks and entertainment. Happy lunar year..Tl;dr bad karaoke, even worse bartenders.