Loved the service, chef's counter, and bites I had for the short stop I had here. The interior is refined and spacious while the enclosed exterior was minimalist. FOOD BOQUERONES [GF] * anchovies, vinegar, togarashi, picual olive oil SWEET MATCHA COOKIE [V] * cornmeal, dark chocolate read more

See all

Good night out, but probably won't go back. I think I had higher expectations since it received a nod from Michelin. The restaurant had an industrial look, not my style. We were seated at the kitchen bar which was perfect for us, but we really only saw a few dishes being prepped and our server was not behind the counter. Our server, I believe named Ana, was excellent! Drinks were surprisingly delicious for a restaurant, probably the highlight for me. For the most part food was good but not great in my opinion. We had the pork belly bao, green beans, patatas bravas and duck paella. My bf loved the duck. The other items were just ok. read more

PAGU had their limited offering of its Black Squid Ink Softshell Crab Bao and I was there not once, but twice! This unique and creative offering had a crunchy softshell crab, topped off with a nori-yuzu Kosho alioli and pickled cabbage, all warmly hugged in the black squid ink bao! Absolutely delish! My favorite dishes that will tantalize your taste buds were: - Japanese Hamchi Crudo was a chilled delight with fresh fish and a good hint of lime (not pictured) - Patatas Bravas had a good potato bite that was dolloped with a Thai chili alioli and mojo verde - Shio Koji-roasted Corn was kernels of fun to eat - Miso Roasted Black Cod was succulent and sweet to the bite - Duck Paella was so tender that the meat fell off the bone! - Ube Panna Cotta was a sweet way to end dinner with the custardy ube There is definitely a modern artisanal feel to all the food that blended Japanese and Spanish influences. The vibe of the restaurant was also very open with its high ceilings and tall windows. The wait staff were very friendly and ready to answer any menu questions. The open kitchen is also fun for those who love watching food being created! With it's unique tastes, it's no wonder PAGO was a Michelin Bib Gourmand! read more

See all

After seeing that Pagu is Michelin Bib Gourmand, I had high expectations. The interior was nice with a pleasant ambiance with a subtle pug theme which was cute. For drinks, we ordered the spritz from the drink menu and also asked if they could make a lychee martini. The lychee martinis weren't bad and were pink to match the spritz which was fun, but I do wish the martini included an actual lychee. We ordered the pork bao buns for the table which usually come in two, but our waitress kindly offered for three bao buns to come out since our group had three people. These bao buns were fantastic and I would definitely recommend, the pork was so tender and flavorful. I ordered the 2011 guchi ramen and unfortunately, I was disappointed. I've had many bowls of ramen in my lifetime and maybe my opinion is based on personal preference, but the ramen was not great. The broth was pretty bland and the pork was mostly fat and the meat itself was quite dry and tough. I'm not sure if this is what they were going for, but I wouldn't recommend the ramen and I wouldn't get it again. However, I wouldn't be opposed to coming back and trying something else as my friends enjoyed their meal! read more

See all

Food was fantastic, wait staff was kind and attentive and answered our questions well! The portions are a bit smaller but the food is great flavor wise and also a quite unique menu in the city. The ambiance is a little upscale, great for a nicer dinner with colleagues or friends. The cod croquettes (not pictured unfortunately) were one of the absolute best dishes we tried! read more

See all

If you frequent Pagu, you'll see their menu changing up seasonally. Their latest squid ink bao w/ fresh soft shell green crab and duck confit paella were chef kiss delicious! I love menu that serves up creative spins on invasive species! Service is always excellent there. Grab the chef table seats for fun night out. read more

This was our first visit to Pagu, and it might already be one of my new favorite spots in Cambridge. The menu had a great mix of reasonably priced dishes and a few higher-end options. Everything we ordered was amazing!! The Tempura String Beans were our favorite (perfectly crispy and addictive), the Hamachi Crudo was super fresh and balanced, and the Pork Spicy Knife Cut Noodles were spicy but honestly some of the best noodles I've ever had. The Miso Black Cod was rich and buttery, and the Chicken Karaage was incredibly tender with a great crunch. Service was great, dishes came out maybe a little slow, but we enjoyed taking our time. We also loved seeing the chef/owner Tracy Chang so hands-on, checking in on guests and delivering dishes, which made the experience feel extra special. You can tell a lot of care goes into every dish. Already planning my next visit, it looks like they have a bunch of cooking classes on the weekends too! read more

See all

Having received a Michelin Bib Gourmet, Pagu is appropriately described as good food at a good price. While marked as fusion, the dishes we ordered leaned more Asian and didn't disappoint in variety. Even so, they did boil down to mostly basic flavors and lacked nuance. All were good, but nothing was great. Even so, the atmosphere and service made this a great place for any group from coworkers, dates, or family celebrations. There was plenty of seating and we would have loved to hear more from the staff about their cooking classes. read more

See all

The duck paella was so so good. It was so soft and tender and flavorful. Probably one of my favorite dishes I've had from all the restaurants I've been to. It reminds me of the paella I had from Spain when I went last summer. The string beans were also really good. It may sound simple but the way they cook it gives it a nice crunch and flavor. The drinks were really pretty and the waitress was nice to make recommendations. The other dishes were also well made. We were seated at the bar where our view was an open kitchen. It was my first time seeing this kind of style. read more

See all

Came here with a large group! The ambience is upscale and the food was decent. I did like the matcha cookies so try those out if you have room for dessert! read more

Pagu - dessert - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

True rating 4.5 We had a really lovely dinner at Pagu. The ambiance is beautiful, warm, and welcoming, making it great for a special night out. Service was a little slow to start (we waited a while before someone came by), but they were clearly very busy, and once things got going, our server was incredibly kind and thoughtful. I have an egg intolerance, and they were super helpful in walking us through the menu and making recommendations, which I really appreciated. Food-wise, there were some real standouts. Tempura string beans were delicious; perfectly crisp, not greasy at all, and packed with flavor. Shio koji roasted corn was probably my favorite small dish of the night. The lime zest with the aioli was divine and so well-balanced. Green pea bao had great flavor and was really unique, but I wished it had a bit more sauce -- it felt slightly dry. Spicy knife-cut noodles with mushrooms were just okay for me. I loved the concept, but the flavor profile didn't quite land and felt a little muted. Dessert absolutely delivered. The ube panna cotta was incredible. And this is coming from someone who usually doesn't love panna cotta because of the texture. The ube added so much depth, making it rich, flavorful, and really special. As a thoughtful touch, they brought us a complimentary non-alcoholic tea to celebrate our anniversary since we weren't drinking, which was such a nice gesture. Overall, a really memorable meal with great flavors, a lovely space, and genuinely kind service. Would definitely go back. read more

See all

Rating experience from July 11, 2025--------------------- First, Pagu means Pug dog in Japanese and the motif of pups are everywhere- absolutely adore. This innovative Japanese/Spanish Tapas spot has a lot to offer: space, great service and food! It was a hot summer late afternoon and we came in for dinner, got seated immediately as they are a larger restaurant. They do allow pets on their patio. We opted for the private patio space behind the planters, enjoying the fresh air and summer warmth while sipping on the cold crisp beer. My partner and I don't usually opt for alcohol but the weather and their selection made it irresistible. I ordered the "Lamplighter" by Birds of a Feather and by boyfriend got the white allagash by Lord Hobo. The FOOD! I still think about the patatas bravas today. PATATAS BRAVAS (10/10) PAGU hot sauce, alioli, togarashi HAMACHI CRUDO (9.5/10) lime, garlic, aged soy, fish sauce, thai chili CHICKEN KATSU (9.8/10) PAGU sauce, pickled cabbage, alioli, sesame, rice CRAB LAKSA (6.7/10) ramen noodles, shrimp, coconut milk, chili crisp, fried shallots, herbs My partner and I loved our dinner at this tapas restaurant and would definitely return if in the area. Shout out to Mariana H for making our meal so memorable!! read more

Pagu - Lamplighter by Birds of a Feather - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The staff is very nice with a very relaxed environment, however the food lacked perception that the ambience was giving off. I ordered 3 types of fish dish, anchovies, hamachi (yellowtail) and black cod. All the fishes were very fresh, but the sauces and flavors lacked. Most of them had too much acid and covering all the fish's actual flavor. I enjoyed the tapas style and Spanish fusion with Japanese dishes, but Japanese dishes should lean towards savory than acid marinated type of fish. read more

See all

This was our first time visiting Pagu but won't be our last. The food was all really delicious and the customer service was amazing. We mentioned we were gonna split all the dishes and on the noodle dish which would be harder to split they actually served it in two dishes vs one to make it easier. Drinks were amazing too. read more

Pagu - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

What a wonderful place! We took a hand-pulled noodle class at Pagu today. Tracy and Johnny were the perfect teachers/ hosts- making it all very easy and approachable. They both provide lots of insights and guidance in a way that was very comfortable. Everybody's noodles came out great in our class of 13. It was SOOOO yummy! We are eager to return both for other classes and to eat at the restaurant. We might even try one of their overseas excursions, which sounds amazing and of course are food-centric. Check out Pagu, you will love it! read more

See all

Came in on a Sunday evening at 6:30 for dinner after making a reservation an hour before. After finding street parking, we arrived and were promptly seated in the intimate low top dining area. The wait staff was incredibly friendly and took our drink order and walked us through any questions we had about the menu. The food is tapas style which means small, shareable dishes that come out as they're ready. We put in our first salvo of orders after we got our cocktails. The Pica Pika was an excellent combo of mezcal, lime, and Thai chili. The flurry of food started coming out about 15 minutes later. The traditional Spanish Tapas dishes were the classics you'll see at many tapas joints across the world. The pan con tomate was two lightly toasted pieces of baguette with a tomato, garlic, and olive oil spread. The boquerones were a few sliced anchovies in a vinegar and olive oil marinade. The patatas bravas were baby Hasselbacked potatoes with a lovely aioli and mojo verde on them. The black cod croquetas had the same aioli on them and were incredibly flavorful with some lovely pickled onions as garnish. The shio koji elote was a lovely combination of feta cheese with za'atar seasoning and that same great aioli as the previous dishes. There was a potato chip special on the menu called "txips" which were simply prepared with nothing else accompanying them. If I had to prioritize the traditional tapas dishes so as to be able to try as much as possible, I'd go with the patatas braves, croquetas, and elote over the pan con tomato and boquerones. Unfortunately, I would pass on the txips entirely as there wasn't anything about them that stood out, would be worth revisiting if they added some of the Thai chili aioli or something else to go along with the chips. The braised pork belly bao was super tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly in a soft and pillowy bao bun and the green pea bao was a green pea fritter sandwiched into a soft bao bun with the aioli and some pickled papaya. Both were two pieces in each order and were lovely! These were both definitely worthy orders. The chicken karaage was a nice and crispy dish with small pieces of coated and fried chicken thigh in a lightly sweet garlic-ginger marinade. I'd love to see it be more savory and less sweet, but it was definitely enjoyable! We got the spicy knife cut noodles with mushrooms (we ordered pork, but there was a miscommunication and didn't feel like sending it back and waiting for the pork version to come out since it was our last dish). The midnight ramen was lovely with the alkali noodles, tender pork belly, and the perfectly cooked soft-boiled egg with jammy yolk. If I had to revisit my choices, I'd pass on the mushroom spicy knife cut noodles (can't speak to the pork version which we'll try next time). I did appreciate the way the noodles were prepared and the garnishes including the fried shallots did enhance the dish. For dessert, we got the matcha cookie, yuzu Basque burnt cheesecake, and the ube panna cotta. There was also a dark chocolate cake, but after reading the description there wasn't anything that stood out to us and after seeing a few go to other tables it just seemed to be a generic crowd pleaser. The ube panna cotta was very coconut forward which was great, but not much ube flavor to it aside from the purple aesthetic. The matcha cookie had a crispy exterior and soft interior and made a great small dessert if you're feeling full. The standout for me was the Basque burnt cheesecake. It was dense with that cream cheese taste you're looking for and the blueberry sauce thinned out the heaviness of the cheesecake. Overall, I was worried it would be pretentious/snobby since they're a Michelin bib gourmand award winner, but it was just the opposite! We will be coming back again to revisit some other dishes and cocktails as well as hopefully sit by the kitchen since we enjoy watching the flurry of food being prepared. Definitely recommend this joint and it was worth making the trip into the city to try it out! read more

See all

Overall, this was a really nice dining experience. The cold dishes were very strong - the crudo, the ceviche special and the eggplant. The noodles were also delicious. Bao buns were fine, but I'm never really wowed by bao buns. Our cocktails were great as well. We had a really nice table in the center of the restaurant. I knocked off a star for timing and service. Our drinks didn't come until we already had five tapas. We also ordered pan con tomate and it never came. We didn't get charged, but that was a bummer. I probably would not re-order the patatas bravas or the cheesecake dessert. Otherwise, would reorder everything including the drinks! read more

Pagu - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Rather disappointing. We've visited a few times over the last several years and the food has slipped from creative, carefully prepared and delicious to nominally creative, rote, and bland. This last visit will be the last. There are too many good restaurants in Boston now to spend your time and money on a formerly great restaurant now clearly resting on its laurels. The pork belly bao was tasty. The soft shell crab bao was good to the extent that soft shell crab is good, but the bao and sauce was not additive. The cod croquetas were bland. The duck paella was not paella at all, and the rice was not even flavorful, although the duck was cooked nicely, falling off the bone. The ramen was not good (it has been in the past) and it left me more confused than anything but we didn't finish it. The first time we visited Pagu we joked that we wanted to lick the plates clean. We left plenty of food on our plates and as we left we noticed others had to. read more

Great flavor and variety in dinner menu. Decent service and prices were a tad high. Noodle making experience was unique too

Always a great time at Pagu! I've been to Pagu before, so I knew I'd enjoy it again. The food and cocktails were excellent as usual and I was happy to see them being recognized by the michelin guide, a well earned award! I most recently joined on Friday night, which was super busy as you might expect and service did take some more time, but they are busy for good reason. We had the Gonna be Golden (sunflower orgeat is great for those with nut allergies!), pork bao, corn, crab laksa, and tuna tartare. I thought the bao and laksa were dishes that particularly stood out in terms of freshness and quality. I also love the open kitchen and the transparency of the kitchen. I look forward to trying more of their menu soon-the tuna collar handrolls sound excellent! read more

See all

Just a reminder... I only rate food and drinks, not service, atmosphere, if there enough bathroom accents. It's solely about the food. Txakolina | 4 out of 5 Crudo | 4 out of 5 Ceviche | 4 out of 5 Pork Belly Buns | 3.5 out of 5 Corn | 3.5 out of 5 Fries | 4 out of 5 Miso Black Cod 1.5 out of 5 Why - No Salt at all, and needed more acid to carry the dish. Even with all elements in my "1" bite, there were no "perfect bites." Duck Paella | 2 out of 5 Why - Same reason. Little to no salt, needed more acid to balance the dish. I didn't have an acidic bite that made we want to keep eating. Also, duck skin wasn't crispy and fat wasn't rendered at all. read more

See all

Struggling because I want to give this place a 3.5 so as every yelpers dilemma I had to decide and I decided it was a 3 star experience. The staff and servers were all nice and helpful. The ambiance was also great I'd say. We sat at the bar and our bar tender was great. The real reason behind the 3 stars was just the food and drinks were lacking. Nothing special to rave about unfortunately. I will say it is worth it to stop by, but I probably wouldn't consider coming in again. Oh and if you love fried chicken I'd say to order it here. That was probably my favorite. Okay jk, as I was adding my pics I realized I really did like the beef tartare and even tho it was just served with "Spanish xips" on the side it was steal tasty. Order that as well. You can skip dessert read more

See all

Stellar cocktails. Sat at the bar and enjoyed the Gin Gin Tea cocktail which was refreshing and light. I would definitely want to revisit and try the food here next time! read more

A little overpriced for the portion size: yamachi was tasty but didn't melt in my mouth. Everything tasted good but nothing out of the ordinary. 3.5 stars overall read more

See all

My partner and I shared a non-alcoholic piña colada, N/A alcoholic beer (accidental charge), striped bass ceviche, shio koji roasted corn, purple yam lamb bao, suckling pig for 2, matcha cookie, and hojicha basque cheesecake - TASTE: 5/5 - fire! Loved the brightness of the ceviche, fresh feta and lime in the corn, saltiness in the suckling pig plus its sauces (romesco, cranberry hoisin, and hot sauce), and blueberry sauce in the cheesecake. Wish the lamb came through more in the bao though TEXTURE: 5/5 - highlights included the tender roasted corn, the super crunchy skin of the pig complemented w light & crisp pickles and kimchi, and the softness of all of the baos -- amazing PRICE: 4/5 - definitely came knowing it'd be a splurge. Total came to $211 SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - so stuffed after the meal. Wish the cookie was bigger SERVICE: 4/5 - walked in at 7:45pm on a Friday and other only seats available were at the kitchen counter. We really enjoyed watching the chefs in action, saw Chef Tracy too, and the servers were friendly and informative about the dishes ATMOSPHERE: 4/5 - a nice space, dark and moody at night w lots of energy. We had been to Pagu once before, 7 years ago!, and so glad we came back haha PARKING: 4/5 - metered street parking along Mass Ave or its side streets read more

See all

Great food. No squid ink baos when we went but awesome service and everything was delicious

With a Michelin award of Bib Gourmand in late 2025, which is characterized by great cuisine and good value, boy, did Pagu deliver big time!! Four of us foodies enjoyed a most delicious and plentiful dinner last Saturday evening. In contrast to the bitter cold outdoors, we walked into an airy & inviting open space with warm welcomes by the front desk staff. This attitude of "happy I work here, how can I help you?" continued to be shown by our friendly and informative wait staff, Jake, who helped with our food selections. He thoughtfully checked in on us throughout our meal without being intrusive. I ordered the G & H nonalcoholic cocktail to begin with, guava & hibiscus with club soda, which was presently beautifully & hit the spot. The four of us shared the following, which was so fun to try as a group: Japanese hamachi crudo (that dish & sauce was damn good); tempura string beans ( one of our group's fav); split one order of braised pork belly bao; black cod croquetas (yum); shiokoji roasted corn (yum, yum); spicy pork & mushroom noodles and green crab laksa ramen soup with coconut milk flavoring were two great noodle dishes; miso roasted black cod on top of pea puree & roasted corn (if I was looking for a main course for myself, I would choose this!). Desserts were a delicious frosted dark chocolate cake which was gluten free & vegan; 2 matcha cookies (soo good); and ube mochi bites (omg, what a way to end a fabulous evening!) Another highlight towards the end of the evening was our opportunity to talk with Chef Tracy Chang. She was so personable, taking time to meet with us and tell us about the history of her restaurant. Its flexible space & high ceiling allows it to be used for special celebrations, such as weddings and milestone events. I am also imagining a return to Pagu during warmer weather to eat outdoors on their sizable patio! Pagu, you won my heart! Thank you for a most satisfying and memorable evening!! read more

See all

Friends of ours had their wedding reception here so this review is about that. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the food and the service. They mainly catered vegetarian items along with chicken and fish. I enjoyed the selection of food because even though it was a large serving of food, it didn't weigh me down once it was time to party. I love the vibrancy of the food especially the boas with the toppings, that was such a nice touch and that the doughs were made with the natural coloring of ingredients and not a dye, eg the black bao made of black sesame seeds, purple bao made of purple yam, green bao made of green pea (I think) I looked up their menu after the wedding to see which items are staple items. I wouldn't say their food is out of this world for the pricing but think it's worth a try at least once. Here's what I had that's on their menu: Black Cod Croquetas - these were my fave, so flavorful Shio Koji Roasted Corn (it's like Mexican Street corn) - 2nd fave thing Roasted mushrooms - good Chicken Katsu - good Green Pea Bao - good, nice crunch, very filling because of the bao Patatas bravas - ok, nothing to write home about, wish they were crispier Vegetable Paella - ok (note: I'm not a paella person but got it to try) tempura string beans - ok (note: I'm not a string bean person but got it to try) Here's what I had that was from the wedding catering menu: Swedish meatballs, chicken katsu bao, oyster bao, roasted beet salad, carrot soup, teriyaki salmon, arugula which I'd rate all being good. read more

See all

Went here recently for a private wedding. They closed down the restaurant for the event. I wish I took photos of all the food! It was presented so nicely. We had a multi-course meal that was delicious. So much food but not unhealthy. Healthy, unique and delicious. My favorite thing I ate was the wagyu prime rib with the miso glaze. Yum yum! read more

You can get similar even better quality food at any average Chinese restaurant with half the price, the only good things were the service and the cute dogs decorations. They did give us free dessert for our anniversary at the end, one additional star for that. read more

My SO and I went here for our anniversary. As a vegetarian, I can say I found the food to be good, not exceptional, but good (my partner raved about the knife cut noodles so if you like noodles I do recommend those). It was the same for the cocktails (the ube one being the best of the ones we tried). What stood out to me was the staff. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating and very attentive. There was an issue with one of the dishes and the manager came out to check in on us afterwards and went above and beyond to solve the problem. It was very unexpected and it meant a lot to us. Truly this restaurant cares about each diner and their experience, and for that I highly recommend going here. read more

Pretty ambience and we were seated at a table by the window. Lots of cute pug themed art. Made a reservation for Friday evening a few hours before seating time. Server Wendy was lovely and knowledgeable about vegan items (also asked about allergies and informed us about cross contamination in fryers which was appreciated). Easy to modify the Lei It On Me cocktail to have vodka instead of gin and it was delicious. Kyoto temple was also good and not too smokey. Patatas bravas and tempura string beans were delicious, warm, and crispy right when they came out to the table. Tempura beans were a bit spicy but enjoyably so. Knife cut noodles had a great texture, nice & chewy. read more

See all

Generally quite an excellent restaurant, mostly tapas style with a diverse menu. I'll go from weakest dishes to strongest. The roasted mushrooms needed more complexity - using maitake and oyster mushrooms, they were well seasoned and placed on a serving plate, but there were no other accoutrements over them. They were also sweating in their own juices a bit; there was a decent miso-flavored sauce to go along with it but not much else. The special of the day, a seafood paella, was way too inconsistent; some of the granules were hard and overly crispy; and some of the dish was nicely soft, as you'd expect paella to be. More concerning were the overcooked pieces of squid, one of which was charred as to be bitter and burnt. The broth needed more complex flavors and was in general underseasoned. The saving grace of the dish were the shrimp, which wasn't too salty, and the squid ink, which was nicely colored the paella rice. It also took the longest to arrive, so it's unfortunately that the dish turned out the way it did. The chocolate cake was decent, though I couldn't taste the declared coffee flavor. The richness of the chocolate was much appreciated, the texture was more on the indulgent and less of a sponge, though I wish the cake were sliced more nicely; it came out as a slice on its side, and unfortunately my mind went directly to Pepperidge farm cake! The spicy knife cut noodles were decently flavored (perhaps a bit salty); the pulled pork was nicely mixed with the noodles, and the hon shimeji mushrooms provided a nice contrasting texture. The squash and arugula salad was really fresh, with a nice touch of thai basil pesto to go along with it (though I think it could have used more of that pesto sauce). This dish was a pivot from the intended dish which was to include a burrata (by this point the kitchen had run out). The squash was really nicely toasted; I hadn't thought that squash would work like that with arugula. The chicken katsu was cooked to perfection, topped with a black garlic bbq and an aioli. I wish I could have tasted more black garlic though; that flavor came out as too subtle. But the chicken again was really tender, and the outside of the chicken fairly crispy, without seeming too oily at all. The shio koji corn was excellent; the corn was crunch, fresh, and there was richness in the feta cheese balancing out the lighter flavors of the togarashi. It's like a symphony in your mouth, yum!!! Staff was professional, informative, and generally attentive. The architecture of the environs was engaging - visually active but not overly done. There is a small upstairs seating area in addition to the larger downstairs area. The place fills up, so get a reservation. read more

Had a solid time having dinner here as a party of 4. The ambiance is upscale but not stuffy and the service is friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, value for price is a bit hit-or-miss and none of the flavors besides dessert really blew us away. Thoughts on what we got: Tempura string beans: a solid portion with flavorful aioli and hot sauce on top, but not very unique flavor or presentation-wise. If you really like tempura, would recommend. Otherwise, would skip. Roasted mushrooms: these were flavorful, well cooked, and a good portion size. Would recommend. Squid ink oyster bao: very delicious fried oyster and purple cabbage filling in a soft, fluffy bao, but wasn't worth the price for me. If you like bao at this price point, would recommend. Otherwise, would skip. Roasted bone marrow and mushrooms: an incredibly soft-textured dish with good presentation, but not very flavorful or worth the price to me. Would skip. Roasted tuna collar for 4-6: a fun experience making your own handrolls, with a solid portion size when split between four people. Unfortunately, not very flavorful and different parts of the collar differed in tenderness and dryness. Would recommend having with a group if you want to try the experience. Otherwise, would skip. Bouqerones: the biggest rip off of the night. $8 for basically the top layer of a $1 can of anchovies. Would not recommend. Black sesame tofu: a unique and delicious restaurant dessert. Sweet without being too sweet, elevates the dish by having a layer of foam on top, and has a wonder hojicha tea flavor added to it. Would recommend. Overall, I would maybe come back to try more of Pagu's large plates and desserts, but probably skip out on their small plates. Food here is okay, but not really worth the price. Ambiance and service are great though. read more

See all

We attended a beautiful private event at Pagu and had a wonderful time. The food, staff, and ambiance were all excellent. I really enjoyed this roasted corn appetizer and chicken katsu, but really everything was delicious. For dessert, I loved the chocolate cake and matcha cookie. What a great, fun spot! read more

Let me begin this review by noting that I've know about pagu since it opened (I think 2016), and this was my first time visiting in 2024. I checked reviews time to time but it wasn't high on my list to visit. We ended up coming because we were in the area and thought we may be surprised, AND WE WERE. What a cute place, it really does have lovely ambiance. There is a table full of pug stuff when you walk in which is quite adorable. 0 complaints on service. Everyone was nice and helpful. Now onto the food, which was extremely disappointing. We ordered the following: Black Cod Croquettes - A bit fishy. Not what we expected. Hamachi -The fish quality was terrible. It was old and we couldn't eat it. Luckily our server noticed that we barely touched it and subbed in the patatas bravas Bone marrow - Fine but salty. Would not get this again. Patatas Bravas- The only item we enjoyed. They are crispy itty bitty potatoes almost sliced through with a little sauce on top. Mapo Tofu - I can honestly say we can make a better pork rice dish ourselves. Flavorless & the pork was not crispy. The execution here didn't make any sense on top of the food being underwhelming. Within 5 min of ordering we got the Mapo tofu (an entree), and then the hamachi & croquettes followed. Since the pork came out so fast it was obvious they did not just make it. Anyways we will not be returning. I'm surprised at the good ratings, we were very disappointed in the quality and taste of the food. read more

See all

Went here last night and was incredibly impressed. There was a function going on the first floor so things were a bit noisy when we came in but not anything to do with the restaurant itself. We were seated in the lofted second floor which was quieter and nice. Service was incredible everyone was extremely helpful and attentive. Good came out extremely quickly and servers presumptively split dishes for sharing. Now the food! The food was incredible especially for the price. We've been to a few high rated places around the city and things can get pretty pricey. For the amazing quality you are getting the prices are extremely reasonable. The pork belly bao was my favorite dish. The pork was so tender and juicy and the bao was fresh and delicious. I will definitely be coming again! read more

See all

Review for the dimsum cooking class: This was a very informative class with a great host. We learned about what dimsum is while enjoying drinks and appetizers, then learned how to fold dumplings, followed by enjoying what we made and enjoying some more food and dessert. We left very full with leftovers. Although we enjoyed all the food, it was a little disappointing that the "cooking" portion was so limited. However the restaurant and regular menu look fantastic and I will be back to try the food! read more

See all

AMAZING!!! Food is so unique and delicious. Small portions but trust me you will be full. And the prices are affordable for such a fancy spot! The staff is so well mannered and the restaurant set up is beautiful. All of our food came out in a timely manner read more

Great drinks and good, interesting flavors. Our fav was white rabbit and smoked Kyoto (almost an old fashioned) The hamachi crudo was outta this world. The squid ink bao was good to look at but to taste, just meh, try the pork belly instead. Good service good vibes. read more

See all