Fermentation Lab

Gaven Yee

Beautiful bar/restaurant tucked away in San Francisco’s Japantown. Went here on a Friday night after the Warriors game with some friends. Beautiful location. Quiet, relaxed environment. Outstanding staff. Multiple members of the staff came by to greet us and they shared updates on new items on the menu. The drinks are outstanding. All drinks included a ‘fermented’ element. The food was delicious and a great value. We had a hanger steak, loco moco and calamari. All of the dishes were around $20-30 but had good portions. I would highly recommend this bar/restaurant for date nights. Great ambience. Excellent drinks. Good food.

Komlan A

They had an interesting menu. The atmosphere in there was really nice and the decor was fitting. Service was quick and we weren’t rushed at all after finishing our food. We stayed and talked for a good amount of time and requested the check when we were ready. My only note is that the Korean fried wings weren’t crispy. The sauce was good, but I didn’t have a hard fry on it.

Timmy Yan

Fist time visit at this establishment and we were extremely impressed with the service, food and the atmosphere. The only reason for 4 Stars on the Food is the temperature of the Pork Belly and the Hanger Steak can be a little hotter. The food was very delicious & well displayed, the atmosphere was warm & cozy. The service definitely worth mentioning since we owned restaurants for over 40 years, our server Trinity was courteous, professional & friendly with a pleasant smile the whole time, the entire experience was genuine, that’s transpire from her own personality which has to come from within. We will definitely return to Fermentation Lab in the very near future.

C S

I recently visited Fermentation Lab in Japantown for Saturday lunch, and it was an absolute delight. We had a table at noon, and to my surprise, the restaurant wasn’t busy at all, which made for a relaxed and comfortable dining experience. The highlight of the meal was the loco moco, which had a wonderful flavor elevated by a subtle hint of truffle oil, it was rich, savory, and perfectly balanced. I also enjoyed the matcha martini, which added a fun and refreshing twist to the meal. Overall, the food and drinks were fantastic, the atmosphere was calm, and the service was smooth. I’ll definitely be coming back again!

Richard H

Located in Japan Town San Francisco, this hidden gem is a great place to enjoy a great dinner with friends. Featuring an Asian fusion cuisine in a contemporary/modern setting. I highly recommend their ahi poke tower: delicious stake of ahi shoyu poke with avocado, served with taro chips. Their deviled eggs are a spectacular dish: four different flavors, colors and taste! We also ordered a delicious chicken sliders and thick cut French fries!

Mika Hale

Definitely one of my favorite places to eat in Japan Town! My sister had been raving about this place for awhile and convinced me to go today. Needless to say, everything was gorgeous and amazing down to the presentation, taste, service and decor! I ordered the Loco Moco and my sister ordered the squid ink pasta. The Katsu Loco Moco was crunchy and the sauces blended well together (miso and gorgonzola sauce). The egg was perfectly cooked with a sprinkle of furikake. The squid ink was creamy and the garlic flavor came through. I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner there. Will definitely be back!

Khal Damak

What can I say. Trinity was a great bartender. She was very attentive to the group and ensured that everyone's specific preferences were met Nothing but great vibes

Katherine R

Lovely hidden gem in Japantown! It’s in a central location but tucked away, an extremely underrated spot. Exceptional duck confit porridge! I came solely to try this as I was craving a big bowl of congee, and this did not disappoint both flavor and portion wise. I was surprised at how empty it was for brunch on a late Sunday morning. I saw someone come in to do a tour for a private party reservation, and it’s honestly an awesome spot both aesthetically and space wise to host a party. I would return just to have the porridge again, or try all the other duck oriented recipes.

G

Stumbled upon this beautiful restaurant in Japan Town. Was seated without a wait on a Saturday night. Very elegant and elevated dining experience. The food was packed with flavor and the cocktails were delicious. Highly recommend the Deviled Eggs, best I've ever had in my life. Service was lovely

M D

The crew here have always been top notch. 💗 their happy hour selections (update, times for Happy Hour have been changing - you might need to call and find out actual hours). We devoured the four items that I posted (update, came back and had the Korean potstickers on another visit). A great lounge space above the bar and I am thinking, cool spot for a gathering of your favorite peeps (though, it may be $2k to rent the space). Restaurant also catered a 3-day event in the past and it was absolutely superb.

Hien Le

Good happy hour! We got drinks for $12 each and 5 oysters for $10. Everything was good. There’s a variety of seating (regular dining table, low table with lounge chairs, bar height seating) so any group size will be able to enjoy.

Incredible food! The deviled egg flight was a great small appetizer with a lot of variety. My companion got the katsu and it was rich and delicious. I got the pork belly, which had real depth of flavor in every component. Delicious!

Came here for happy hour with a group of friends and had a great time. I love a restaurant that isn’t too loud (music-wise and padded well) so that I can have a conversation without yelling. We were able to have a leisurely chat and were not rushed by the servers. We had the Brussels sprouts, wings, duck flatbread, and poke. All of the food was tasty, good portions for sharing, and satisfying. They have clearly marked gluten free items on the menu. It’s also one of the few places that has hard kombucha on the menu. Service was friendly and our food came out quickly. The only thing I would set expectations about, is that our server didn’t check in with our table after our initial round of food - we had to keep asking for water and to order more drinks. They were busy for happy hour, and we were fine with that.

10/10 recommend. Walked in Friday night, no reservation. We were seated right away. Had a pork/beef burger with the upgrade to duck fat fries (can’t miss!) and the uni pasta - both were stellar! We love eating out and it had been a while since we saw such an intriguing menu. Try it, you won’t regret it.

Ana María Rodríguez González

10/10 recommend. Walked in Friday night, no reservation. We were seated right away. Had a pork/beef burger with the upgrade to duck fat fries (can’t miss!) and the uni pasta - both were stellar! We love eating out and it had been a while since we saw such an intriguing menu. Try it, you won’t regret it.

Christopher Arnold

The atmosphere made you feel like you were somewhere quite sophisticated, but the prices matched more of a general local establishment. It was very affordable and tasty fusion and fermented dishes and as a party we got 4 different dishes. And 3 different mocktails. And all were great. I highly suggest FERMENTATION LAB if you're looking for food in Japan Town that isn't just purely Japanese food but something new and creative. Our server too was very personable, and responded to our party's odd and silly humor and made my teens feel very welcome and included. Overall one of my better experiences in restaurants and I'll be back again. :) Also, the suntory bottles used for pouring water is quite cute!

Easy self seating on a Saturday afternoon for two, cocktails are solid but at market rate for this area. My matcha martini was well made and those duck fat fries were damn good! Brussel sprouts were as expected.... lots of standard bar fare and happy hour prices. Fast service, we would definitely go back. If you love beer, there are an array of good local brewed choices.

I stumbled into this restaurant without doing much research—honestly, the name had me expecting some kind of fermented-food theme, which made the actual menu a funny surprise. The atmosphere is airy and inviting, and the staff couldn’t have been warmer or more attentive. We opted for a shared-plates approach instead of individual entrées, and everything we tried was well-executed: thoughtful flavors, nicely balanced, and cooked with care. While there wasn’t a single dish that absolutely demanded a return trip, the overall experience was enjoyable enough that I’d happily come back and explore more of the menu.

Came here for happy hour, $2 oyster was great. We had four servings, the oysters were fresh. Only had two that tasted funny, but overall is great, no sand, good size. Oysters were from Washington, still prefer eastern oysters that come with a bit of sweetness. We also ordered the Brussels sprouts, make sure you ask for the house habanero sauce, it adds a nice touch of creamy spice to it. The Brussels sprouts are on the sweet tangy side. Service is great here by the way. Interior design has a good chill vibe. Overall I would come back for happy hour and recommend this place.

Pros: - the food was delicious, I enjoyed it. The atmosphere/decor is very nice. I would want to come back and try more foods as their menu has interesting combinations of flavors. - we came at 4pm for dinner and thankfully their event was over and we were allowed inside at 4:04pm and told to pick our own table. - under each photo I described the food. Avocado toast was delicious. - Sunday breakfast time the TV had a more appropriate show playing, no more inappropriate scenes for kids. - the server Adrian is great. He has a very calm and peaceful demeanor and made us feel comfortable and not rushed. No aggressive water pouring into the cup from Adrian lol. Very calm experience. Cons: - I would not bring my kid here. Saturday dinner time The TV at the bar was showing HBO Sex In The City show and there were quite a few explicit sex scenes where they show almost everything. One family sat their young child facing away from the TV, but the wall is like a mirror so it reflects. Definitely not kid appropriate. - I initially came here at 10:00am for breakfast and they put up a sign they are closed for a private event as I walked up even though their posted hours were open. I tried calling before I arrived but nobody picked up. I wish Google was updated by the business warning people that this can happen and for them to pick up their phone to inform their customers.

TLDR: nice service and pretty good food but a few misses on the food I really wasn’t a fan of the pork belly and the steak was way overcooked. Everything else was pretty fantastic. The wings were sweet and a little spicy, the fried calamari and “friends” was perfectly crispy and just the right amount of salt, I also really liked the raw oyster

Daniel Johnson

I stumbled into this restaurant without doing much research—honestly, the name had me expecting some kind of fermented-food theme, which made the actual menu a funny surprise. The atmosphere is airy and inviting, and the staff couldn’t have been warmer or more attentive. We opted for a shared-plates approach instead of individual entrées, and everything we tried was well-executed: thoughtful flavors, nicely balanced, and cooked with care. While there wasn’t a single dish that absolutely demanded a return trip, the overall experience was enjoyable enough that I’d happily come back and explore more of the menu.

Jane S

Came here for happy hour, $2 oyster was great. We had four servings, the oysters were fresh. Only had two that tasted funny, but overall is great, no sand, good size. Oysters were from Washington, still prefer eastern oysters that come with a bit of sweetness. We also ordered the Brussels sprouts, make sure you ask for the house habanero sauce, it adds a nice touch of creamy spice to it. The Brussels sprouts are on the sweet tangy side. Service is great here by the way. Interior design has a good chill vibe. Overall I would come back for happy hour and recommend this place.

Na To

Pros: - the food was delicious, I enjoyed it. The atmosphere/decor is very nice. I would want to come back and try more foods as their menu has interesting combinations of flavors. - we came at 4pm for dinner and thankfully their event was over and we were allowed inside at 4:04pm and told to pick our own table. - under each photo I described the food. Avocado toast was delicious. - Sunday breakfast time the TV had a more appropriate show playing, no more inappropriate scenes for kids. - the server Adrian is great. He has a very calm and peaceful demeanor and made us feel comfortable and not rushed. No aggressive water pouring into the cup from Adrian lol. Very calm experience. Cons: - I would not bring my kid here. Saturday dinner time The TV at the bar was showing HBO Sex In The City show and there were quite a few explicit sex scenes where they show almost everything. One family sat their young child facing away from the TV, but the wall is like a mirror so it reflects. Definitely not kid appropriate. - I initially came here at 10:00am for breakfast and they put up a sign they are closed for a private event as I walked up even though their posted hours were open. I tried calling before I arrived but nobody picked up. I wish Google was updated by the business warning people that this can happen and for them to pick up their phone to inform their customers.

Adamo Stivala

It was nice place to dine, but the dishes are amateur. The oysters are pre shucked, the tea leaf salad is too coarse. The uni pasta was nice and so were the dumpling though, good friendly service, interior a bit tacky.

Wilson Tsang

TLDR: nice service and pretty good food but a few misses on the food I really wasn’t a fan of the pork belly and the steak was way overcooked. Everything else was pretty fantastic. The wings were sweet and a little spicy, the fried calamari and “friends” was perfectly crispy and just the right amount of salt, I also really liked the raw oyster

yu cheung

Ordered uni pasta. It was ok. Very creamy and squid inky but not much uni. Paid $36 for it. A little too pricey but it was due to large party size. Service was good.

My wife suggested we go eat at this place where she and my son had dinner before. The interior is very hip and caters to a younger audience. You can easily have a nice lunch or dinner meeting here. I ordered the uni pasta. Presentation was very good. Once I tried the dish, I was very disappointed. Too salty. Sauce was flavorful but I had to reach for a glass of water almost every time I took a bite. Portion size was average. Price was $26 for the entree. Not worth it in my opinion. Service was average. We tried their ube bread pudding dessert which was very good and a large slice for $10. I would consider this more of a dessert place than a restaurant. Would I come back? Probably not but only for their desserts.

Benjamin Y.

My wife suggested we go eat at this place where she and my son had dinner before. The interior is very hip and caters to a younger audience. You can easily have a nice lunch or dinner meeting here. I ordered the uni pasta. Presentation was very good. Once I tried the dish, I was very disappointed. Too salty. Sauce was flavorful but I had to reach for a glass of water almost every time I took a bite. Portion size was average. Price was $26 for the entree. Not worth it in my opinion. Service was average. We tried their ube bread pudding dessert which was very good and a large slice for $10. I would consider this more of a dessert place than a restaurant. Would I come back? Probably not but only for their desserts.

Food was quite ok. Fermlab Burger and Duck Fat fries were good, kind of an interesting flavor profile. Onion dip was cold and chips were stale. Menu is kind of all over the place, the drinks are nice, but wasn't super phenomenal. Service was nice! Ambiance was fine, a little outdated and boring. Very expensive for what it was. Overall, fine, but definitely much nicer spots around the area.