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ABSteak by Chef Akira Back

4.4 (128 reviews)
Closed • 5:30 pm - 8:30 PM
Updated 1 month ago

ABSTEAK BY CHEF AKIRA BACK · YELP ASSISTANT

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ABSTEAK BY CHEF AKIRA BACK ATMOSPHERE

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Upscale
Happy hour specials

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dirty grill when we sat down
Preston C.

Our reservation was at 8pm, but we didn't get seated until around 8:30pm. Pretty disappointing given that we made reservations ahead of time specifically so that we could get started on in time. The food was really good. Good quality meat, good banchan. The service was otherwise a lowlight. The grill was dirty when we sat down, and we had to ask them to clean it. They were trying to rush us out of the restaurant, so they cooked really quickly and kept putting food on our plates even though we weren't done eating yet. This led to a bunch of meat piled up on the side. They also burnt the kalbi because they wanted to move quickly. We were really hyped up for this place, but it was otherwise a middling experience.

Whitney T.

Came here hungry; left full and satisfied! Very lowkey entrance but once you walk downstairs, you enter the check in area, a bar, and a spacious dining area. Got the small beef combo with the wagyu picanha upgrade, the ab fashioned, strawberry bingsu cocktail, the wagyu pizza and the yukkea Korean beef tartare. Everything was fantastic! The combo comes with steamed egg and soondubu. The banchan was really good but i wish they had rice paper. My favorite was the picanha. It really melts in your mouth. I loved the beef brisket dipped into one of the sauces. The marinated beef was also delicious. The appetizers were really good. I recommend the beef taretare if you arent scared to eat raw meat! Our server cooked the meat for us so it was nice to sit back and eat while everything was nice and hot. We got the dessert thats shaped like a cow and i thought it was really fun and tasty. Perfect place for date night (:

Cocktails
herald h.

I love a know spot where they cook for you. My biggest thing with AYCE bbq is that I always burn my meat. So I love when someone else takes care of it and makes sure I'm eating the food the way it's intended. The beef combo smelling about $122 but very filling for 2 people. The place is also nicely decorated, I love the luxury aesthetic of the place. If you're thinking about treating urself to some really good kbbq, then give this place a go!

Beef belly
Anisha K.

Loved the ambiance at this spot, it feels almost hidden in a random location but it's the perfect spot for a date night or to celebrate a special occasion! The staff was very helpful and sweet to do the actual grilling for you. They also surprised us with a birthday gelato! On to the food... the quality of the beef was amazing! It was truly deciduous and the beef combo small was perfect size for 2 people. The combo also comes with the egg, salad, and soup. Would highly recommend this place!

Olive R.

I was a fan of this restaurant. I wasn't able to book a solo dinner online (which I was disappointed and frustrated with). The entrance is very loud. VERY loud. the entrance is either a staircase or the elevator. I have a torn ACL, so the elevator was my only option. The "club music" was quite loud downstairs as well. The staff were friendly. I received my drink and menu quickly. I ordered the Japanese wagyu. The waiter cooked the steak at the table grill. The sides it came with were unique and I loved them. The pickled carrots and kimchi were the highlights. It seems this place is meant for larger groups. there was plenty of 6+ tables. I enjoyed it. I'll be back. Perhaps try another type of meat.

JIgae with beef and tofu
Yoko N.

We went for the SF Restaurant week - amazing deal! One order for $90 is for two people. The food is good and plentiful. They cook everything for you on the table grill, the meat warmer that they place the meat on between the meat courses is a nice touch. The dipping sauce for the meat as well as the soy paste and flaky sea salt were very good, though the wasabi did not seem great quality - it was lacking flavor and spice. The service was very attentive and friendly. They all seemed sincere in wanting for their guests to enjoy their meal, have a good time and leave with a full belly. We will be back!

Their side dishes and meat quality are very good. Restaurant has great ambient. Serive is good.

Premium combo
Philip P.

Everything about this place was great. Great service, great food. We got the premium combo, it was just the right size and perfect amount of food for two people. We also ordered the waygu pizza. I highly recommend, it was yummy. Can't wait to come back here again.

Nicholas k.

Service was amazing, atmosphere was superb, but the quality of meats was lacking. Really wanted to give this this place at least 4 stars given I had high hopes, and the service was really good, but we were just a bit disappointed in the quality of the snow flower kkotsal. Did not see as much marbling as I did other pictures. We ordered the premium combo and the meats were just okay. The side order of beef tongue we ordered was honestly the best thing. Service was good, but they did forget one of our cocktail orders. Then when it came, it was the wrong one. Willing to try this place again in the future, but there are other options that we would prefer right now.

Elaine G.

Unsuspecting Korean BBQ spot in downtown San Francisco with a nice ambiance, tasty food and okay service Good: +No wait and we were seated promptly +Offered coat check service since they cook your meat at your table +They cook the meat for you and the vents mostly work well +Beautiful presentation Okay: -Service was just ok for the amount of people working there. -Was hoping they'd sell the experience a bit more explaining the different food and how to eat it -Extra order of ssaam was $6 which worked out to $1 a piece of lettuce.. this would have been fine but when we got the first order, I asked if we could get more and the server said yes so was a little disappointed to see the additional charge -A bit pricey for the amount of food.. thankfully there wasn't an extra charge for a refill of the banchan(side dishes)

Old fashioned
Peter H.

This hidden hole in the wall (literally) took us downstairs into an ultra modern looking basement restaurant and cocktail bar. Very intimate. Most KBBQ places are smokey and loud. This was the opposite. I definitely want to spend more time there. I read about this place and I finally was able to knock it out. It was better than I expected. As a person that does not eat Korean BBQ with beef or pork I still had a wonderful time and that can be difficult for a person like me. They had enough sides and shrimp for me which was probably some of the best grilled shrimp I ever had. Huge! The service was excellent as well! Super nice and engaging. They cooked all the food for us and the presentation was... just... wow! A smoking Mother of Pearl mirrored box for the Wagu?! Are you kidding me?! I think we had 4 servers including the bartender personally delivering the wonderful cocktails. Well done!

Mango Cider (~$10)
Aya E.

Ordered: Mango Cider (~$10): Mango, Yuzu, Lime, Ginger Beer AB Wagyu Pizza (~$22): thinly sliced raw Australian wagyu, crispy tortilla, ponzu aioli, green olive, white truffle oil Small Beef Combo (~$122): includes beef brisket, snow flower kkotsal (boneless short rib), & marinated galbi; served with house-made ban chan, salad, signature sauces & dipping salt; combo includes egg soufflé, ssam (assorted lettuce wraps), and spicy beef tofu stew Side of White Rice (~$3) Aya's take: Chef Akira Back has 20+ restaurants but has yet to make his way to NYC. I've had the opportunity to try his San Diego restaurant and was excited to see ABSteak super close to where I was staying. The AB Wagyu Pizza was a great start; the raw Australian wagyu was vibrant, fresh, and light. The white truffle oil was the perfect pairing and the crispy tortilla was a good vehicle. This caught my eye as he has a tuna version at Lumi which I loved. The ambiance is giving upscale Korean BBQ so we decided to share the Small Beef Combo for 2 people. It was plenty of food. The ban chan to start with didn't stand out to me, the salad was pretty flavorful, but I loved the egg soufflé and the spicy beef tofu stew was one of the best I've had. As for the meats, the snow flower kkotsal (boneless short rib) was definitely the best one. The beef brisket was super fatty and the marinated galbi didn't stand out to me as much. I expected higher quality meats, and was also shocked that this whole meal didn't come with a side of white rice - pretty much a staple with Korean BBQ everywhere I've ever had it. I ended up buying a side but this was truly unheard of. At this price point, I had higher expectations for the meal overall, but ultimately, there were some hits & some misses.

Such good food and ambiance! We had Nate as our server and he was great at cooking our food. Definitely coming back!

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ABSteak by Chef Akira Back Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - ABSteak by Chef Akira Back

Do they take reservations of 1? I'm unable to make a reservation online or on Opentable.

Yea on Opentable

Do you have a private room for 50 people?

Not sure about private room but they have different sections.

How is the parking situation here?

There's a sfmta garage a block away

View All 4 Questions

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On a visit to San Francisco after an evening at a brewery nearby, we weren't ready to let the night…read moreend so we walked to Holy Water. This is a gorgeous spot; the detail from the welcoming greens sign, to the cozy lighting, tasteful religious kitsch, and well thought out style, we had a wonderful visit. The decor made us explore the bar before we sat down; they have tables and different seating areas around, but it seemed like the bar was the place to be. They have a full selection of liquor, plus a cocktail menu, and killer tap list of mostly local draft beer. I absolutely loved their glassware too! The bartender was very friendly; I failed to notice the tap list above the bar was different from the menu so I was glad that was pointed out for my second beer. Prices are reasonable for the experience of being here. The other clientele at the bar were also friendly, it has a neighborhood vibe but is welcoming to all.

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4.2(598 reviews)
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I've been here both in the day and in the late afternoon/early evening. Beautiful space. Inside is…read morepretty dark with ambient lighting, very romantic. Outside resembles a greenhouse but it is not too cold or too warm! The service I received both times were super awesome -- the staff is kind and they get their food out fairly quickly! Katsu 8/10 super delicious! It has egg salad inside as well Matcha 9/10 the matcha is rich and the einspanner pairs sooo well. Don't mix it like my friend -- take a sip and get both the eisnpanner and the matcha. Hojicha ice cream 7/10 I'm not usually a fan of ice cream but the toppings and flavor was really nice! Donburi 8/10 so yummy! I wish there was more shrimp, but this bowl is already so packed!

Shoji is a cafe in the morning, bar/restaurant at night. Although it felt a little gimmicky, the…read morefood was solid. Started off with their ceviche with local halibut in a tom kha, a spicy and citrus-y sauce. The nori rice cracker was tasty by itself but its crevices weren't the most conducive to holding the fish pieces. The uni amaebi donburi was packed with fresh ikura, uni, and shrimp. I felt that the Korean seaweed wasn't the most appropriate since its inherent salt kinda overpowered the fresh umaminess of the seafood. The shoji burger came with a well-seasoned patty and American cheese, but is served with a 3 cheese fondue skillet. It was tasty because of the gooey cheese. Even with the most coordination and dexterity, it was logistically challenging to eat the burger (especially since they do not serve it with knives) as well as the ceviche/donburi, so I would recommend reconsidering if you're planning a first date or need to impress parents/bosses. For drinks, the kabosu was strong with tequila with a hint of lemongrass and citrus flavors. The noguchii was perfect for those who like smokey drinks! Its strong and intense with a woody smoke every sip. Staff were polite and on top of your social media needs. In addition to the indoor bar/table area, there is a covered outdoor patio with heat lamps and blankets. Would come back for the drinks, probs not again for the food but worth trying!

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ABSteak by Chef Akira Back - steak - Updated November 2026

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