Fermentation Lab Japantown

Food was actually pretty good, except the ribeye was a little bit salty. Also, the waiter didn't ask how we would like the ribeye done and it came out well done. That was a bummer...

Vibe was a bit off... surrounded by a table of tech guys and a family with kids. Drink was OK, too sweet for my preference and they barely filled the glass. Wasn't a home run for us... Didn't stick around for the food.

Overall great restaurant, went for happy hour. The fried chicken sliders, deviled eggs, poke, and calamari were delicious. Only gripe with restaurant is that there wasn't enough fermented ingredients!

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.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Food was amazing, and service was incredibly fast.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I went last night for the first time, I just wanted to go somewhere for unique cocktails at Fermentation Lab was perfect for that. The inside of the place feels very chicly decorated, and we had a very attentive server. The cocktails were some of the best I’ve ever had, specifically the lychee martini was amazing if you like a sweet balanced drink. The price is a little unfortunate but it is to be expected in san francisco and feels warranted given the upscale atmosphere. Our server, Adrian, was absolutely fantastic. He made us feel right at home, and was incredibly informative about their offerings. He recommended a sake that I loved after asking questions on what I like/dislike in other sakes Ive tried, and also didn’t feel like he was trying to upsell. Would absolutely for the lovely drinks, perfect location (very convenient to get to and surrounded by cheaper karaoke bars so you can have a nice drink followed by cheap drinks and fun), and excellent service.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

food was very decent in many good flavors! I was not disappointed in 3 different dishes that I ordered so far plus they have delicious drinks too!

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!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Loco Moco

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.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 5

Very impressive!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Servers were great and provided helpful suggestions while we were trying to decide what to order. There are unique cocktails on the menu if you’re looking for something different.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Very warm and inviting greeting at the door. We got there for the happy hour and prime rib dinner, Wednesdays, excellent value, attentive service, great ambience, five star.  We'll go back. 

Terrible espresso martini, was difficult to drink but felt wasteful to not drink since it was $21. Midway though the area started to smell like sewer. No beer delivery that day and my husband is a beer drinker so that didn't work out well. The waiter kept telling him that they have cider and kombucha (obviously not beer). He then later came over and asked if we were allergic to pineapple and we told him no. Not sure why he asked that, nothing with pineapple was ever brought to the table. We thought we was maybe going to drop off a treat or something.

Wednesday Special- should you find yourself in Japan town please stop in.

We were looking for...well we found delicious happy hour bites and beverages priced for exploration.

Calamari Misto just order two. While considering other tasty treats. You won't be disappointed.

Don't sleep on the Wednesday special Prim Rib with a creamy horseradish accompanied by
cream spinich that is chalked full of bacon that was moist and flavorful while not being too salty, the wedge salad was well dressed bright had meltiest bits of pork, the cornbread with honey butter on the side didn't arrive warm however it was very good fluffy, moist and light. There's was a scoop of mashed potatoes (just plain potato scoop)
A desert was included on our night it was chocolate souffle with a delicate dollop of ice cream.
We are planning another visit very soon. We dine on the blue plate special timeline.
Parking is horrible our dining experience will be contingent upon parking.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4