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

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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

Certainly enjoyed the flavors here. Came here for a special occasion and had made a reservation ahead of time. We were seated at the kitchen counter which I was disappointed by (because I wanted to face my bf) but they were able to quickly switch us to a high top table without us asking. - Knife cut noodles - my bf's favorite. Lots of umami with the mushrooms and pork. - Shishito - plenty of them! - Katsu chicken - very tender inside, I love the pickled onion/cabbage too - Calamari - excellent, the squid ink sauce was also a nice addition - Pork belly bao - my favorite - Squid ink bao - comes with a fried oyster inside. Will make your teeth temporarily black so would not recommend for a date. - Cheesecake - not too sweet and has smokey/caramelized hints - Lei It On Me cocktail - I love the guava flavor in this! With the squid ink bao, my bf actually chewed into a large oyster shell which we promptly showed our server for safety reasons, which then escalated to the manager as they were all shocked to see that there. We learned that they purchase ?de-shelled oysters so that really shouldn't be there. Either way, the staff handled the situation professionally and removed the item from our bill and offered dessert on the house. Overall, my bf and I really enjoyed the meal despite the shell. Would be happy to come back! read more

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PAGU is great! A large group of us stopped in for dinner and we shared lots of delicious plates. Our appetizers included arugula with Barata salad, spicy fried green beans, and a delicious tuna Crudo. Yum! Our next set of courses include street corn, a decent seafood, paella, and an excellent delicious chicken Katsu with barbecue sauce. We share dessert that included blueberry cheesecake, and an incredibly yummy Matcha and chocolate chip cookie. My lemonade was good. Our service was really good, we died in a small private room. Our party had a good time. read more

This is a must for anyone who appreciates good food when in the Boston area! The fusioned flavor combinations are brilliant and absolutely delicious. There are always fun and unique specials in addition to the seasonal menu. The service is friendly, efficient, and helps to meet any dietary needs. It's a good spot for people watching too with a mix of all kinds of patrons. Everyone fits in here, locals and tourists alike. :-) read more

Pagu - Lei it on Me cocktail - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This is a cute restaurant not too far from MIT and it is a leisurely walk from the main hubbub of Boston (about a mile ish walk if you are up for it). We were able to get in on a same day reservation on a Saturday for dinner. There is ample patio seating and a private dining room as well. One thing I will mention is that the inside of the restaurant is SO HOT. It was about 80 degrees outside and breezy but the inside was like an oven. I think it was because the kitchen was an open concept and the heat from all the stoves caused the inside to be consistently heated. I saw fans throughout but that didn't really help. My partner and I were sweating throughout the entire meal. The food is fresh and tasty. The Japanese Hamachi Crudo was great but it tasted room temp when I feel it should normally be chilled. Again, I think it was the heat of the restaurant that made it so warm. The oysters on the half shell were on HH for $1. Normally I would be suspicious of this price but these oysters were fresh and briny and I wish we got more than the half dozen. Patas Bravas - these are like a mini hasselback potato. I don't normally care for these but it was a cute appetizer. Squid Ink Oyster Bao - in my head, I thought it would be a protein covered in oyster sauce. But it is fried oyster. Very umami flavored bordering on almost too "fishy" tasting. Spicy Knife Cut Noodles - a great portion that is stuffed in this bowl. The noodles were chewy without being soggy. I am partial to having chili oil with many meals at home so I thought this dish could have used more chili oil. Overall, I thought the food was decent here and I would come back. But I would only sit on the patio or near an open door in the wintertime because it was uncomfortably hot inside. read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants in the Cambridge/Boston area for so many reasons: It has a great bar program. The ambiance is fancy and decor is nice. It serve lunch and dinner. I was working closed by when they first opened and got to eat lunch here quite a bit. To be clear, it's not affordable enough to eat lunch here everyday but the food is worth the price. I came here for dinner this time and here are some of my suggestions: On a busy weekend, it would be helpful to make a reservation especially if you have a big party. For a party of 2-3ish, I recommend the Kitchen bar seats because it's really fun watching the chefs cook. It's pretty easier to get bar seating if you are by yourself or with 1 more person. Drinks are great and you can find something to enjoy. For food, try everything. The knife cut noodles is a must. Suckling Pig comes off as pull pork but great to share with a group and it comes with Baos (a sandwich if you), kimchi, and sauce. The suckling pig is so good that I ordered it to go for my Super Bowl party. My wife love the Koji Marinated striplion because it's a more tasty and umami steak compared to what you find from the usual steakhouse. There is a lot more for food options. read more

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

I really enjoyed dinner here last night! I joined my friends to celebrate their birthday and it was very pleasant and the service was great. We were a party of 5 with various dietary preferences and allergies and they were very accommodating. The menu is well labeled as well for those who are gluten-free and vegetarian. I started off with the gin-gin tea cocktail ($14), and my friends got the lei it on me ($14) and a couple of non-alcoholic beverages as well. I got the patatas bravas ($12) for an app and my friends got various appetizers like the green pea bao ($15), shio koji roasted corn ($14), and boquerones ($8). I really enjoyed the patatas bravas as it was nice and crispy, cut hasselback style with just the right amount of aioli. For my main entree, I got the roasted bone marrow and mushrooms ($18) and I enjoyed it. It was a smaller portion than I was imagining, but it was still tasty! The mushrooms were so nice with a good punch of umami. It came with squid ink bread which was pretty cool. My friends got the ramen ($18) and veggie paella ($16) which had good reviews all around. For dessert, I had the ube panna cotta ($12) and my friends had the basque cheesecake ($13), dark chocolate cake ($13), and matcha cookie ($3). As it was my friend's birthday, they also provided us complementary chocolate covered strawberries. I really enjoyed the contrast of the fruit and caramel with the Ube custard - this was my favorite part of the meal. Staff were attentive and food came out in good times. I enjoyed the ambiance as the music wasn't too loud and the lights were well lit without being dim. I will definitely be visiting again and trying to sit at the kitchen bar seats to be able to watch the kitchen work its magic. There's so much more I want to try here like the roasted big eye tuna collar or suckling pig. Their desserts left me wanting more, so I'll be back! read more

Pagu - Roasted bone marrow & mushrooms - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Forever my favorite place!! My husband and I had our wedding here the first Saturday in October and everyone had such a great time! Not only did everyone rave about the food, but the team was absolutely amazing. We were lucky enough to have great weather that day, so we were able to use the patio space. The team worked with us to curate the perfect drink and food menu. Everything exceeded expectations and I can't thank the team enough. read more

Pagu - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The iberico bellota was not carved to order off the leg but rather the kind one buys online or in Formaggio, presliced into thin postage-stamp sized pieces and sealed in a plastic wrapper. As a result it was mostly dry and hard. The American wagyu steak had zero marbling, I would have been better off going to Bistro Midi to get a piece of real A5 Japanese wagyu for the same price, or a hanger steak elsewhere for less money. The Basque cheesecake looked and tasted like a block of cream cheese, and (judging by the white color and lack of richness) contained zero egg, which i can only assume they left out to save money. Service was inattentive. This place claims to be both Spanish and Japanese but with the shortcuts it's taking, it appears to be neither. read more

This place was pretty disappointing. Supposed to be Japanese-Spanish cuisine so I was kind of assuming fusion but it was just one or the other. The food wasn't bad but just overpriced and it didn't blow my mind. The katsu was my favorite since the meat was marinated in spices as well. The knife cut noodles were also very good, we got them with meat and mushrooms (costs extra) but it wasn't spicy at all. The ambiance was nice but honestly a bit too bright for dinner. The service was very good however, and our server was knowledgeable about the menu. She did let us know if the dish only had 3 pieces and asked us if we wanted to make it four to fit our party. read more

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Came here for lunch to celebrate Lunar New Year and despite a nice atmosphere an entertaining Lion Dance performance, the food was underwhelming. We originally wanted to come to try the Sticky Rice Duck Meal. but it wasn't available so we ordered Spicy Knife Cut Noodles, Black Cod Croquetas, Shishito Peppers. Maybe we didn't order the right dishes, but it felt like the food leaned too hard on fusion elements and lacked a true identity (on top of being overpriced). read more

Pagu - Knife Cut Noodles - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Giving a rating for the Bao bun cooking class. On the plus side the food was excellent, the host/instructor was great, and it was a relaxing time with conversation among the few other people attending. Tons of food, with plenty of leftovers to bring home, and one free cocktail is included. The only reason I don't give 5 stars is that the cooking was limited to learning to roll, fill and fold the Bao buns. That's a surprisingly tricky process, but I'd call that prep more than cooking as no heat was involved (they have a huge commercial steamer oven, and filling was prepped ahead for us). Still, it was worth the money and we had a wonderful time! read more

Only shaved a star off for somewhat slow service, I think it was a one off and our server was a gem. Seemed to be a weird night, but in spite of that the food was GREAT. Didn't love the scallops but the rest were unreal. Don't miss the ramen either. Can't wait to go back for a class or dinner. read more

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I made a reservation to celebrate my sister's white coat ceremony here, and our experience definitely worth it! When we first arrived to the restaurant, it was hard to find the entrance, due to the door and the letter sign on the door have the same color hue, grayish. Once entering the restaurant, our server explained to us that everything in this restaurant are shareable, and she gave us her drink recommendations. We ordered a black ink bun, Maopao tofu, midnight ramen, knife cut noodle. The dishes are interesting, we knew the restaurant is infusion between Japanese and Mexico. So, the dishes are cook in Asian style, but the seasoning is Mexico. Everyone at our table agree that they don't like the dishes, because the flavors were not it. The dishes were not executed well at all. Beside the food, the ambiance the waitress are extremely nice and helpful. We love that the kitchen is open concept. We can see the chefs and how things were made. In conclusion, we would only go back for the fine dine ambiance and the services, not for the food. read more

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This was my second time visiting and I loved this visit much more than my last. I went with a friend who was vegan and was so surprised by all of the vegan options. Even their aioli is vegan which we were both happy about. Turns out, 47% of their menu can be veganized!! I do want to go back and get more of the meatier options, but highlights were def the potatoes minus the price and the mushrooms!! I'd come back also because the drinks were good and it's a good tapas style place. I think my one complaint is that the prices are a little high for what it is. We had patatas bravas, five in particular, and it was $12 :( read more

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Made a reservation for two Sunday at 5pm for the patio to celebrate a birthday and was disappointed to find that the patio was closed that night because of a staff shortage. The hostess seemed kind of standoffish when I asked her why the patio was closed, which I didn't appreciate. While I understand that being understaffed is a very valid reason, I would've appreciated a heads-up because our choice for eating on the patio was to mitigate some of the risks of eating indoors. What annoyed me even more was that when we finished our meal an hour later, we passed by the patio area only to find that there were now several tables set up and a family eating at one of them. As for the food, everything we had was delicious. Standouts include the Pork Baos and Chicken Katsu. For two people, sharing two appetizers (the baos and ceviche) and two entrees (katsu and hand-cut noodles) was more than enough. They even gave us a slice of chocolate cake. Aside from the miscommunication about the patio, I might be convinced to come back. The waitresses were very friendly and the food was delicious. There were maybe only 4 or 5 other parties by the time we left around 6pm, but I would still make a reservation, especially for a larger group. read more

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The food is just okay and I would agree with the 3.5 average star rating here. The plates looked pretty small in the photos so we decided to pick a couple of appetizers, a noodle dish, and a meat entree to split between two people. This should be pretty filling for two people if you pick from the smaller dishes-- we picked the suckling pig for two which by itself would be enough food for two people. We ended up with leftovers to take home. Striped bass ceviche ($14): This dish was extremely underwhelming. The fish could have been more acidic and more salty. The yuzu flavor was not super strong so it just tasted like plain fish on tortilla chips. Jamon iberico ($16 small plate): I'm not the best judge of jamon iberico but I did enjoy this-- the meat was very savory with just enough but not too much fat. Spicy knife cut noodles with pork ($18): The noodles were too soft for my liking. I wish they had more chew to them. The noodles had a nice sesame oil aroma to them and were not spicy at all. The pork on top was tender and nicely seasoned. Suckling pig for 2 ($66): This came with a lot of food (as I said before, this dish alone is enough food for a solid meal). There were pieces of juicy, tender shredded pork as well as pieces of pork skin. The skin was super chewy-- I thought it could benefit from being more crispy. The cucumber, kimchi, sauces, and buns that came on the side were good but not mind-blowing. The kimchi was on the sweeter side and had a "quick pickle" vibe-- it tasted like the napa cabbage was briefly soaked in rice vinegar and sugar without any fermented taste at all. The sauces were pretty subtle so the pork flavor was still the strongest in each bite. The dishes are not super cheap so I was disappointed in the quality of food. The service was okay. I appreciated that our server left us alone but I wouldn't have minded if people came around to refill our water more often. The food came out as they prepared it so there were periods of time when we weren't eating anything as we were waiting for the next dish. read more

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This place is a hidden Jem! It's a beautiful place, lights everywhere and much bigger than what you would think from just seeing the outside. I came here for Friday date night and it was packed! Definitely recommend getting the pan con tomate - one of the best I've had. The pea buns were delicious, I've never had this before but the highlight was the mushroom knife cut noodles !! read more

Pagu - Knife cut noodles - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Came here for 2022 vday dinner. Had a reservation and we were seated immediately. Unfortunately no server came for 15+ min until we flagged someone down. They quickly resolved the issue and I was very appreciative of their response - acknowledgment, apology, and a free cheesy waffle appetizer. Great service despite the initial mishap. Hamachi sashimi was good, a little fishy but very tender. Unagi bao was great. Chocolate cake a little dry. The highlights of our meal were the Miso black cod and the Vday special koji marinated Mishima reserve 8oz wagyu beef. WOW. The cod was cooked PERFECTLY and was so flaky. Divine. My bf who doesn't even like fish loved it. 10/10 The wagyu was melt in your mouth with a lovely side of shiitake mushrooms, onion, and bell pepper. The garlic confit was perfect and not too garlicky. The only downside was 2 large pieces of pure fat with no meat, which was sad. Otherwise 10/10 Would come back just for the cod and hopefully catching some wagyu again. read more

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Having seen that Pagu won the Bib Gourmand award, I'm really disappointed at how bland all the food was. It was honestly sad that the most flavorful thing was the bread. Cocktail was a tiny glass. The corn was ok, though it could have used more spiciness. The fish in the ceviche had weird texture and was not citrusy at all. But the worst had to be the paella (or more appropriately, rice with peas). Completely insipid and it tasted like a can of vegetables. Ube panna cotta didn't taste like anything. The worst part though was that there was a very obnoxious influencer party with someone walking around all the time, actively filming and taking photos and being on the way of all the staff for more than two hours. Made me very uncomfortable and the restaurant did nothing to stop them. Truly disappointing knowing that there are other restaurants that do Japanese/Spanish fusion really well (in Boston) for lesser price. read more

A cozy restaurant with creative food! We also ordered the squid ink bao (not in pictures) and it was yummy! Ramen and noodles are on the salty side though. A great place to hang out with friends! read more

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In the week or so leading up to Christmas my Facebook feed became flooded with ads for Pagu...specifically featuring their specialty of roasted suckling pig. Some might have been turned off by the image of the roasted pig that was used in the ads and on their website for the item on the menu, but, honestly, it looked delicious. We decided to pivot and make this the centerpiece of our Christmas Eve dinner. We were sorely disappointed. When we arrived at Pagu to pick up our order we were immediately asked if we had a reservations. We looked about. There was one other couple in the restaurant. Did we need one? We explained we were there to pick up our suckling pig. What we got, ultimately, was a tin of pulled pork and some sides. The order was for the Roast Suckling Pig for four. First thing to note is that what we received was in no way, nor should it be considered an entree. The presentation on the ad and on the website would lead you to believe that you're getting an entree with some seriously impressive presentation. But, ultimately, that's not what a tin of pulled pork is. What you get really is an appetizer. And for four people? I know what we received in no way fed four people (and it certainly wouldn't have been considered an entree). You receive bao with the pork and we ordered six extra bao with the order. The total came to $173.00 (this includes some sauces, pickled cucumber, kimchi). We've ordered far better and tastier pulled pork from other places. In fact, we've MADE far better and tastier pulled pork ourselves. And for 1/4 of the price. Buyer beware. If this isn't bait and switch I don't know what is. False advertising and overpriced. What did we get for Christmas? We got duped by Pagu. read more

Pagu - Japanese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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One of our favorite places. Innovative menu and a lovely team! Do not miss the basque cheesecake!

I've long heard about this unique Spanish-Japanese restaurant in the neighbourhood (certainly not a common combination!), and I finally had a chance to try Pagu last weekend - dropped by for dinner on a Friday with 3 friends. We did have reservations, but when we arrived around 6pm, there were still a decent number of tables available; but it filled up over the next hour or so, so I would definitely suggest planning ahead. The interior is nicely decorated - a very refined, elegant aesthetic, and one that showcased a juxtaposition very reflective of their unique fusion menu, with modern, stainless steel kitchen fixtures placed right next to a few rows of traditional ceramic/porcelain teapots. All of their dishes are intended for sharing (tapas-style), which is great, since I love having a few bites of many, many small dishes to try as many flavours as possible. We started with salmon ceviche - a fantastic choice to whet our appetites. The salmon was fresh and paired well with the citrusy (yuzu!) flavours. We also ordered the cheesy wafflatos, which were fantastic - warm, and indeed quite cheesy, with a bit of a kick from the hot honey. Finally, for our final small plate we had the braised pork belly bao, which comes in orders of 2. Pork was tender and juicy, with a very rich, savoury flavour, and even the bun I thought was great - paired nicely with the meat but also just very tasty on its own as well. For our 'entrees' we started with the spicy biang biang noodles - flavour was nice (although sadly not really spicy) and the noodles were cooked well to a good consistency. That being said, while certainly delicious, I felt like there was nothing particularly memorable about this noodle dish especially compared to everything else we ordered - which was particularly surprising, since the noodles were one of the recommendations from our server. We also had the mapo tofu, which was definitely not what I expected - the sauce was also not very spicy, but the pork belly was very tasty and generally the flavour profile was all there. The rice was abnormally watery, though, which did put a damper on the dish overall. Finally, we ended with the black cod - undoubtedly the highlight of the evening. Each bite of the tender, perfectly cooked fish just melted in my mouth, with the salty/savoury miso tasty pairing perfectly with the natural light flavour of the cod itself. The fish skin - most of it stuck at the bottom -  was particularly delicious as well! Overall, I was extremely impressed with our meal - they certainly deserve the amazing reputation they've earned for their unique menu and the exquisite quality of their food. Honestly, I was even a little surprised at the final cheque, too - for a meal of this calibre I was expected it to be even higher. Anyway, I can't wait to come back soon and work my way through their delicious-looking menu - maybe the suckling pig for next time? Very much looking forward to it! read more

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Pagu has been on the bucket list for years, so I was excited to get a last minute reservation on a Friday night. Even more pleasantly surprised to get parking close by! Food was EXCELLENT as everyone attests. Chicken Katsu is simply genius and I'm already planning to go back for more. Tempura string beans are a great solution to boring veggies. Crab Laksa is the perfect comfort food. But the best by far was the Hamachi squid ink Paella, which was a spacial. I was ready to lick the plate. Cozy decor, great service, a fabulous drink/wine list. Ill be back, even if I have to park in Boston and walk back over the bridge. read more

This restaurant is run by a classically trained and creative chef- check bio! We came here to celebrate an anniversary and we were not disappointed. The service was wonderful. We ordered mostly snacks (that's just how we roll). 1) pork belly bao - this is a must. The pickled cucumbers were a great contrast to the succulent pork belly. 5/5 2) cheesy wafflato - ordered this based on other reviews. This is a hard pass for me. There was no crunch texture, nor was the honey spicy. In fact, the honey was barely there. If you want slightly cheesy dough, this is it. 1/5 3) green pea bao - most excellent, especially for this vegetarian bao. The spicy papaya had a great kick. It also was pickled! Then there is a layer of a pea "cream" - slightly cream cheese-ish. If you are looking to try an innovative vegetarian bao, look no further! I would get this again 100% 5/5 4) black cod croqueta- good crisp and wonderful black cod flavor. If you don't like fish, don't get this. We do, so it was a great new take on the basic croqueta. It also comes with a spicy aioli 5/5 5) tempura string beans - no thank you. Not quite what we had in mind. If you would like a vegetarian "fries supreme", this would work for you! We were expecting the tempura with unique dipping sauces. Our misinterpretation. Not for us 3/5 6) pork and mushroom spicy knife cut noodles - this is a must. Wonderful fresh noodles cooked perfectly. Good light spicy kick. We got both pork and mushroom but I would have been super happy with just the mushrooms. I felt the pork was too dry and I preferred the flavor and juicy umami nature of the mushrooms with the noodles. Despite the pork, still 5/5 7) matcha cookies - the matcha flavor is LIGHT. We love matcha, so we were searching for it. Regardless, it has a light bouncy texture - Madeline-like (in flavor and texture imho). Within the cookie, you will find a few hidden chocolate chunks. It helps contrast the sweet batter but I personally preferred it without the chocolate while my SO preferred the presence of the chocolate. 4/5 Will definitely return to try new dishes next season! read more

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Some must try: - Suckling Pig for 2 was enough enough for 4 to share... - Pork Belly Baos (comes in 2) - Spicy Biang Biang noodles - Campfire black cod Menu seems smaller due to covid, but some great dishes and strong drinks to try. read more

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Came here on a Friday night with reservations for a table of 2 and we were seated quite quickly. The space wasn't too full when we got there, but it filled out fast - I'd recommend a reservation if you want to ensure no wait! Our server was quite kind and patient with us as we placed our orders and ensuring we had enough water. We had a nice seat at this square table that faced the kitchen so we could see them making some of the dishes in front of us. It was clear they were quite precise with the portions and the detail for each dish - it was interesting to watch! The drinks were pretty delicious as well as fair with the size. My drink, Cuffing Season, was pretty strong, but I didn't mind it. It also tasted pretty good with the dishes we got. I will say that the only thing remotely close to what I thought it was worth was the mapo tofu, everything else seemed quite small for its price. The quality was decent, but overall, it didn't match what we paid in my opinion. The bao were pretty good, the mix of flavors was nice in each bite, although I'll say that the bao ( bready outside ) didn't really taste any different from a regular one - the squid ink seemed purely in the color. The katsu was pretty delicious with the sauce and pickled vegetables - I also thought it was interesting how the chicken wasn't like one piece of meat, it was a bunch of pieces of chicken fried together in each slice. The noodles were delicious, but the noodle quantity was kind of underwhelming ( only 5 ). Then the tofu was byfar the best honestly, just a little salty for my taste. Overall, I found the meal enjoyable and the experience pretty pleasant. My only issue is the price point really - everything else made for a nice night! read more

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(Not pictured: veggie knife cut noodles-delicious, duck confit- also great) Reserved a table for 6 for my friend's birthday a few weeks in advance. The interior of the place is stunning, modern and classy with floor to ceiling windows facing Mass ave and a semi-open kitchen to glance at what the chefs are preparing. We ordered a lot- and agreed that every single plate was the best until another came around to out table. The pan con tomate seems simple yet was unexpectedly flavorful. The tempura string beans could be a meal alone, and the squid ink bao was an great combination of crunchy (fried oyster) and soft (bao bun). The hamachi was also packed with a lemony flavor, the maitake mushrooms were well seasoned, and the sauce with the calamari was a surprisingly good touch. The basque cheesecake and polenta cake were also delicious, I slightly preferred the polenta since it came with a yogurty(?) maple soft serve on the side. Service was also attentive and sweet, came in to check in on us and made sure we still had room at our table with all of the plates coming in and out! read more

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This was my first visit and no desire to come back. The food was just okay and portions are very small for the price. Fried Shishito peppers was surprisingly generous portion and super spicy. unfortunately, I had no water and our waiter was no where to be seen, so we asked another staff member who did not want to be bothered. Totally understood. read more

I had been wanting to try Pagu for a while now but because of low reviews on Yelp, I had been avoiding it. However, we were in the neighborhood and thought, "what the heck, let's give it a try!" And I am SOO GLAD that we did. We were seated very quickly and the waitress, Alejandra, was so friendly and helped us to create our order. The service could not have been better. We ordered the tempura fried green beans with the sauces on the side and they were excellent. The waffleto was fine, the flavor and texture were nice but I didn't pick up much cheese? It could have used a little more savory flavors. The pork belly buns were perfect and we wished we had ordered a second order of these. Finally, the standout dish was the miso cod in pea puree with pickled mushrooms on the side. I do not think I have had a more flavorful and better cooked cod before in my life. We were a little concerned that it was quite small for $36 but the quality was so good that we decided we would have ordered it again. The ambiance of the restaurant was great too. I love open kitchens. It was clean and not loud. Don't sleep on Pagu. They deserve a higher star average- I promise! Oh and if you do visit, then add another Yelp review to help with their rating. I would hate for such a creative and fun place to lose business. read more

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Wow the terrible reviews on here are so surprising and intense! We went with a group for my friend's 30th birthday on Sunday evening. The service was excellent -- kind, pleasant, and prompt without being overbearing or rushing. The cocktails were delicious -- the White Rabbit was a cool standout. The food from start to finish was delicious and interesting and we keep talking about it days later. Our mutual favorite was the hamachi crudo. It was my first time trying hamachi and it was amazing plus I could drink the broth from the bowl. We also loved the patatas bravas and the roasted mushrooms. We had the pan con tomate which was great but nothing compared to the others. Other favorites included the pork belly bao (so tender and the crunchy cucumbers were amazing) and the black cod croquettes. In the other sections of the menu, the tempura green beans were divine and I couldn't stop going back for more. The chicken katsu and the knife cut noodles were probably my two least favorite dishes but honestly still great. The tuna collar was so so fun and excellent and a unique experience. I can't say enough good things about Pagu. We will definitely return and in the meantime I will dream about the hamachi. Thank you all! read more

Pagu's rendition of black cod is truly one of the finest fish dishes I've ever had. Rich umami miso flavor perfectly seared crispy exterior and skin encasing with flaky buttery interior. For dessert, the ube panna cotta was stellar, ube-infused coconut custard served in a cup, submerged under a generous layer of passionfruit caramel, perfect level of sweetness; no cloying aftertaste, garnished with a juicy fanned strawberry. Restaurant empty at at 5pm on Sunday, though tables started filling up by 6pm (still looked like plenty of seats for walk-ins). Very friendly host staff and bar server, welcoming and low-key ambience. Have to acknowledge that prices are very high for the portions ($36 black cod for maybe half of a typical entree size; $12 for ~8 oz panna cotta), but the quality and execution produced a 5-star experience. read more

I came to Pagu the other evening with colleagues, and we had a great time! I've walked past the place on Mass Ave many times and am happy to have been able to stop in. Pagu is decidedly Japanese-Spanish, and tapas style. While normally I am not particularly impressed by "fusion" restaurants, I think Pagu does this quite well. Here are some menu highlights (the three of us ordered a ton of items): -Sesame cucumber salad: Pretty heavy on the dressing but the sesame was a nice flavor and texture addition. -Tortilla española with black truffle: I LOVE tortilla española because it was my favorite dish that my host mom would make when I studied abroad in Spain. I wasn't sure about the black truffle part, but it was very understated in the dish and it came nicely together. -Tempura string beans: These were ok for me. It's an uncommon preparation, and my colleagues really enjoyed them. -Wagyu: We ordered it medium rare, and it came medium rare (this doesn't always happen since I find restaurants here tend to overcook steak slightly). It wa solid and came with good fries. -Chicken katsu: This was my favorite dish. It reminded me of my days visiting Japan! Pagu does a particularly good job of combining flavors and textures that might not be expected. I'd be happy to come back here! read more

WOW - came here for a birthday dinner and this was probably one of the best meals I've had all year. Pagu is Asian/Spanish-inspired tapas place with a very modern ambience and creative dishes (small plates meant to share). Thoughts: - Shishito peppers: perfectly cooked with a yummy sauce (almost like red pepper hummus) - Chicken karage: high-quality chicken with a delicate breading - Biang biang noodles: my partner liked this a lot, but I thought it was just ok (a little lacking on the flavor); we got the mushroom option - Steak: probably could have skipped this one - the beef was very high-quality but probably not worth the price in hindsight - Midnight ramen: the highlights for me were the pork pieces and egg - Matcha cookie: deceivingly small but very flavorful and rich All in all, a 4.5/5 experience! The the tables were a little crowded for my liking re: COVID, but everyone needs to show proof of vaccination before entering so that made me feel more safe. read more

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While the environment is trendy / modern, the service is lackluster and the food is really not great. I understand that the menu changes frequently, but based on my experience (and how many duds we hit) I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. Tapas can get pricey, but Pagu is a bit too expensive for the ingredient quality, portion size, and taste. Our noodles (which came highly rated by our waiter) were extremely salty and no one at our table wanted to finish them. String beans were very bland with an unappealing texture. Squid ink as an ingredient is kind of gimmicky and doesn't add anything but color. We did like the buns (tasty but small) and the croquettes, but neither were truly outstanding or enough to compensate for the honestly bad dishes we didn't enjoy. Server came off as inexperienced and steered the conversation in a way that made us feel a bit awkward. Nothing malicious, but definitely an area for improvement. read more

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Breaking down what I thought about this restaurant in to 3 parts, as there were some ups and downs. Service: The initial impression of the restaurant started out terrible because the lady that was working as a host was extremely rude to us. But once we sat down our server was the complete opposite and super friendly/kind. Ambience: nice modern restaurant, clean and I love their pug logo. Food: The food was alright, my favorite was the fried green beans, it had a good unique flavor with a crispy texture. The tuna tartare, noodles, coroquettea's were good but nothing super impressive or unique. We were not all that impressed with the dishes. The mocktail we got was pretty good though if you like mocktails! I'm really glad I tried Pagu out but would not return again. read more

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I really enjoyed my experience here! The service was very attentive, the staff seem very conscious about the pandemic, and the food was really fun. I'll break down each dish and drink below. The biang biang noodles: This was a great choice! I loved the texture of the noodles, and the combination of flavors. One inconsistency: mine seemed to have slightly more chili oil than my friend's, and perhaps because of that, my friend found his less flavorful. Wafflato: This was cheesy, and slightly sweet. It was a good snack, but I don't know if I'd order it again. Chicken katsu: This was super tender and fried well, with some (pickled?) veggies to help cut through the oil. I enjoyed this. Pork belly bao: This was great! The pork belly was super fatty. It reminded me of the level of fat you'd get in Peking duck. Squid ink and calamari pizza: I really enjoyed this. The calamari added an interesting brininess to the pizza, and there was a pickled veg of some sort that added some acidity and spice. I'd definitely get this again. I brought leftovers of this home, and was surprised that it wasn't very oily at all; the pizza box basically had no stains. Sangria: This wasn't as fruity as I'd like, but if you're into wine-heavy sangrias, this could be good for you. This supposedly has blueberry jam, but I really couldn't taste anything beyond the wine. read more

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