Fermentation Lab

Checked out Fermentation Lab for the first time, it was giving the same vibes as Kei Concepts restaurants in Southern California. This one's located in Japantown right across from the mall, so there's plenty to do.We had reservations, so got seated immediately when we arrived. We were seated right by the entryway, but the staff offered us a better table (original table, just wasn't cleaned yet) shortly.We ordered: Fresh Oysters, Poached Oysters, Uni Pasta, Makgeolli Braised Pork Belly, and a few drinks. I really liked the poached oysters over the fresh ones. You can't go wrong with either the Uni Pasta or the Braised Pork Belly. The sauce for the uni pasta is perfection and the pork belly was a buttery thick cut over rice. For dessert, we got the Ube Whiskey Pie. It was more ube than pie texture. Flavors were good, I wasn't too into the texture.Would definitely come here again when in town!

The vibe is definitely there but on the day I came here it felt like there was only 1 waiter for the whole room so service felt slow. However, staff were super nice. The food was fine but I wasn't amazed by it.We ordered the chicken wings which was probably my favorite. It was sweet and mild.The oysters would've been fine without the rock salt that were sprinkled on top. It was very salty.My friend wasn't a big fan of the tacos.

I never knew this place existed until my buddy reserved an area to celebrate his 1-year old's birthday party. (I guess old habits die hard lol)This is a cozy, swanky cocktail bar in the heart of Japantown that harkens back to some Prohibition era speakeasy. They have a diverse selection of fusion inspired food and hand-made cocktails.While it was crowded even on a Saturday afternoon (we were not the only party), I really enjoyed the ambiance and the creative, delicious drinks. A great atmosphere for a hangout with friends or a casual date.Like most spots in SF, parking was a pain, especially since we were coming from outside the City. But fortunately, there is a nearby Japantown parking structure with a decent amount of parking stalls.Looking at all the menu items, the next time I come back, I want to focus on the food!

Dinner review. Cocktail bar.Deviled EggsBacon Marmalade, Smoked Salmon & Roe, Pickled VegFresh Oysters (6)Asian Pear & Sherry Wine GranitaMenchi KatsuJapanese Style Meat Katsu, Shredded Cabbage, Katsu Sauce, Mayo, KimchiFERMLAB BurgerAngus Chuck Patty, Sautéed Kimchi, Fontina Cheese, Smoked Pork Belly, Fried Onion Strips, Pickled Veg(Best) Uni Pasta (Seasonal)Fresh Squid Ink Pasta, Chili de Árbol, Garlic, Fresh Uni, CaviarOverall, very different vibe from their market street location, but the uni pasta is worth coming here for. "I'm a fan."

Service was excellent, our waiter was funny and attentive. We came on a Saturday afternoon between brunch and happy hour- their Happy hour starts at 3:30 which looked well-priced. I originally came for the waffle fries with Gorgonzola sauce and they were pretty good. The sauce comes lightly coated on the fries, but I would have liked a dip. I also got the eggs Benedict with fried chicken; it could have been crispier and more fried but if I were to go again I would get Korean pork option for the eggs Benedict. I really liked the ginger beer mock tail; they press the ginger juice themselves and it isn't too sweet. The restaurant is quite large compared to their Market Street outpost. It has sofa sectionals, a bar top, and an array of tables.

The standout dish of my visit to Fermentation Lab was definitely the Uni Pasta. The creamy, richness of the uni perfectly complemented the al dente squid ink pasta, creating a delicious combination that is truly memorable. The Loco Moco was also fantastic. The Katsu patty added a wonderful crispy texture and depth, elevating the comforting and homey dish.The cocktails were perfectly crafted and service was attentive and friendly. Fermentation Lab is definitely a place I'll return to, and I highly recommend trying the Uni Pasta!

What a great addition to the Japantown bar scene! We only came for drinks and didn't try any food, and we were very pleasantly surprised with the quality of the cocktails, service, and overall atmosphere.Walking in, Fermentation Lab immediately gives off swanky, loungey hotel bar vibes (which, to clarify, I'm into). Adorned with chandeliers, flowers hanging from the balcony level, and ample seating with comfortable velvet couches, this spot makes for an upscale, yet welcoming and approachable vibe that's perfect for a date night or for hanging out with a group of friends.For drinks, I had the smokey dragon and espresso martini, and both were excellent! Both were relatively standard fare in terms of ingredients, although I noticed they use dragonfruit to excellent effect in several of their drinks (including the smokey dragon), which is a nice touch! The drinks were balanced, tasty, and generously portioned, although a bit on the pricey side of what you'll find in Japantown. Our server was very friendly and attentive, with a great sense of humor.I'll definitely be back to try the food. But in the meantime, if you're looking for an excellent spot in Japantown for great drinks with a great, chill vibe, you can't go wrong with Fermentation Lab!

Fermentation Lab solidified my suspicion that SF Restaurant Week is a cash grab for restauranteurs, not a deal for diners. Perhaps this place is better for drinks (that was definitely the vibe) because the food was meh. The restaurant week salad tasted like bagged mixed greens with bottled vinaigrette. It wasn't on their normal menu and I can only assume it's because the chefs would agree this is a sad dish. The makgeoli and pear bread pudding were alright but nothing the typical home cook couldn't manage.Overall, I don't recommend coming here for the restaurant experience. FL seems like they're more catered towards drinking and bar snacks.

Food was great! Amazing service, so glad we found this little gem in the neighborhood

If it wasn't for the happy hour sign outside, I would have never guessed this was a restaurant by its name. I decided to check it out since there was an hour left of happy hour. I was expecting this place to be busy given the amount of people walking around japantown but there were only a few people inside. Service was great. There was a sign at the front to seat yourself so there was no need to wait. I was immediately greeted by Phoebe who was my server. She was nice and friendly. She had a bottle of water ready for me while I looked at the menu. I only ordered a couple of appetizers and they were quick to come out.The duck fat fries were not fatty or greasy like the name would suggest. It had a nice crisp and was lightly seasoned. It kind of tasted like potato wedges. Delicious when dipped in the scallion aioli sauce. The fried chicken sliders were also good. The outside of the chicken was crunchy and the inside was nicely cooked and tender. It wasn't really spicy and the chipotle sauce tasted creamy. I liked that they put the pickled vegetables on the side since that probably would have overpowered all the flavors from the slider.The place had dimmed lighting, a modern look and an upscale vibe. It seemed like a great place to bring a date or to have drinks with friends. I kind of felt out of place wearing a hoodie, jeans and sneakers. Thankfully there was no dress code.