Had the uni pasta, made with squid ink pasta. This dish was better than I expected. The density of the noodles was what I expected for squid ink noodles and the uni sauce was a great addition. I wish it had a bit stronger of an uni taste, but this dish was still delightful.
Claire L.
Poached oysters were a 5/5 sooo good with the sauce. Kimchi pancakes were also delicious. Fried chicken app was also not bad. Uni cream pasta was just okay, a bit too rich and the pasta was a bit too well done. Really elevated and roomy space. Great cocktails.
Vic S.
Nestled in the heart of Japantown next to Pagoda Karaoke, this is a charming restaurant/cocktail bar offering great bites in a modern space, perfect for both intimate dinners and lively gatherings. Upstairs, there's plenty of space for groups, enhancing its appeal for bday parties/group events. Service 5/5 Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, skillfully guiding us through their diverse cocktail menu to cater to our varied preferences. Food & cocktails 4/5 We ordered grilled oysters, which were deliciously savory and warm, complementing our drinks well. While the cocktails were enjoyable, they leaned toward the pricier side. Ambiance 3.5/5 One quirk worth noting is the unconventional placement of the bathrooms. Unlike most restaurants/bars where bathrooms are discreetly tucked away, Fermentation Lab's facilities open into the main space, visible to everyone. Positioned near the entrance, the bathroom's high visibility may catch some guests off guard as they navigate the bustling atmosphere. Despite this peculiarity, Fermentation Lab delivers on its promise of quality drinks and appetizing bites within a contemporary setting.
Nisrine Nammour
Best place I’ve ever been. Food, atmosphere, drinks, and most definitely the service !!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tiffany Q.
I'd heard lots of reviews of this place on tiktok and wanted to give it a try! I tried (not pictured) the duck fat fries which were so delicious and the deviled eggs. The deviled eggs weren't the best but the salmon one was great! We also got a few drinks and the golden gate sunset was delicious! The chicken sliders were nothing special but the chicken was nice and crispy! I enjoyed the uni pasta but I think there was too much tobiko for my liking and it had a bit of a weird aftertaste. The Loco Moco was good but there was a bit tooo much furikake on it. The restaurant inside is beautiful and has a really cute vibe on the inside and the server was really kind!
Kimberly N.
Great restaurant in Japan Town. Parking was easy since there are a couple of parking structures nearby. I came here with my friends to celebrate my birthday and we had reservations. When we arrived, we were seated right away. The service was excellent. Our server was amiable, and at the end of the night, when we ordered dessert to share she realized it was my birthday so she brought an extra dessert from the menu. It was very thoughtful. The restaurant has an upscale and romantic vibe. It is perfect for a date night or to grab drinks and food with friends. Now for the food, our table ordered several dishes, and there were a few favorites. They have happy hour Tuesday - Sunday 3-6 pm and we were at the restaurant during that time so we got some food items from the happy hour menu. I ordered the Piña Verde cocktail to start and I loved it. For the food, we had the Duck Fat Fried 5/5! They were delicious and a must-try. Calamari Misto 5/5 was also a favorite! The Fried Chicken Sliders 4/5. They were good and the dish came with 2. I would order them again. All these dishes were perfect to share and from the happy hour menu. Then we ordered some main course dishes. I had the Katsu Miso Loco Moco 3/5. I felt this dish was meh. It lacked flavor and the rice was mushy. A few of my friends had the Uni pasta and they said it was good but a bit too dense. It would have been a good dish to share. For dessert, we had a few dishes to share. The Pear Bread Pudding 5/5 was delicious! Not too sweet but good enough. Very well balanced. Yuja Creme Brûlée 4/5. It was good but nothing special. Chocolate Churros 4/5. This dessert was good and the churros with the chocolate dip were good. It also came with a matcha dip and this was bitter. We had it with the chocolate one. Overall, I think this is a great restaurant! I would probably come back for happy hour, drinks, and dessert.
Sonya B.
Food - the happy hour bites are a good value and taste good. American with Asian / Hawaiian twists. I especially like breakfast here and three refills on the coffee. I wish there was a teriyaki burger on the menu:-) Service - friendly and attentive. One of the nicer spots in Japan town and you'll feel like a regular right away. Ambiance - music and tv screens. Spacious and dimly lit. Energy lifting for sure!
Julia S.
Amazing uni pasta - but terrible service. We waited an hour for our food to arrive at the table, even when the restaurant wasn't too busy. We were also seated at a lounge table - fine for drinks, but super awkward to hunch over a coffee table to eat a large pasta dish. Duck fat fries were crispy but they were unevenly seasoned. I'd come here maybe for a drink and happy hour only. An hour for food to come out but super quick to rush you out :/
Shantel G.
I've worked in the Japan town area since I was in high school (which was A LONG time ago) and have seen this location be sooo many different things. The business before this was one of my favorites and I was heartbroken when it closed. I was very hesitant to try this place but am very happy that I did. The bartender Ru has had me coming back consistently for more than a month now. The drinks are amazing the, the staff even more so. The food has been great too. I'm so happy to have a regular place to come to now. I would like to empathize once again how amazing Ru is. Please done well RUN to this place (but make sure to leave space for :) )
Ethan W.
Went and tried Fermentation Lab w my family since we heard great things about it and overall we were very satisfied! My personal favorite was the Chicken wings as they were packed with a sweet soy flavor. I also really enjoyed the loco moco and thought the quality of meat they used for the patty was solid. Unfortunately I couldn't taste much of the duck fat within the fries but they were still very solid steak-styled fries. The sauce on top of the braised pork belly was a little too sweet for my liking but I do see the appeal. I personally rather have Korean-style Bossam since that's what it really reminded me of but I understand it is intended to be a fusion. I did really love the green onion salad or chives on the side though. What stole the show for me was their boss lady drink and the egg white foam on top. I'm not sure how they did it but it was soo good. Their service was spot on as well as the guy who made our drink came up to our table to check in with us and see how we liked it. He was very nice and told us he was the one who created the drink so shoutout to him (sorry forgot your name). Fermentation Lab is a more upscale/fancier restaurant with great vibes so if you're looking for your next date spot, this might be it. The prices are a little high but still understandable for what you get.
Excellent duck rice porridge for a Sunday brunch with a delicious cocktail in a pleasant atmosphere and comfy seating… Thanks, Riley, for a lovely visit! Highly recommended & great addition to the area.
Serendipitously, we happened by Fermentation Lab during brunch. There were only two other small parties dining when we entered the restaurant and were encouraged to sit anywhere. The menu had a modest but interesting array of entrees: from vegetarian quiche to salmon avocado toast to duck confit tacos. Incidentally, the day we dined, they ran out of eggs so if you opted for any breakfast option, it would be sans eggs, which is what my niece did when she opted for their Loco Moco. They also had a Duck Rice Porridge that sounded pretty tempting to me, while the other two people in my party decided on the duck confit tacos and the Fermlab burger with a side of duck fat fries. All the food tasted divine; we were especially pleased with the duck fat fries, it was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside but quite honestly, everything we ate was good. Our server, Riley, according to the receipt was simply wonderful; he was absolutely accommodating and hospitable . His earnest friendliness made an already pleasant meal all the more exceptional.
Arielle P.
Everything but the loco moco was delicious. My husband didn't like how there was too much rice and gravy, and the meat patty was too thick to enjoy. The chicken sliders were crispy and surprisingly filling after adding a side of duck fat fries, which were arguably the best fries I've had in a while. Our server was very friendly, talkative and took initiative to check in on us every time he got. I wish I got his name. The ambiance was pretty relaxing since we came during brunch on a Monday morning so there were only 1-2 groups there other than us. We have to come back to try the other items on the menu, and especially come by for happy hour!
Sabrina B.
Stopped in for drinks after dinner. Cocktails list was interesting and the ones we ordered were really good! We got the Apricot Express and the Nihon maki!
Alexander Johnson
Sat at the bar on an empty Friday morning and had the Kimchi Fried rice. Riley was a great server/bartender.
Had the uni pasta, made with squid ink pasta. This dish was better than I expected. The density of the noodles was what I expected for squid ink noodles and the uni sauce was a great addition. I wish it had a bit stronger of an uni taste, but this dish was still delightful.
Poached oysters were a 5/5 sooo good with the sauce. Kimchi pancakes were also delicious. Fried chicken app was also not bad. Uni cream pasta was just okay, a bit too rich and the pasta was a bit too well done. Really elevated and roomy space. Great cocktails.
Nestled in the heart of Japantown next to Pagoda Karaoke, this is a charming restaurant/cocktail bar offering great bites in a modern space, perfect for both intimate dinners and lively gatherings. Upstairs, there's plenty of space for groups, enhancing its appeal for bday parties/group events. Service 5/5 Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, skillfully guiding us through their diverse cocktail menu to cater to our varied preferences. Food & cocktails 4/5 We ordered grilled oysters, which were deliciously savory and warm, complementing our drinks well. While the cocktails were enjoyable, they leaned toward the pricier side. Ambiance 3.5/5 One quirk worth noting is the unconventional placement of the bathrooms. Unlike most restaurants/bars where bathrooms are discreetly tucked away, Fermentation Lab's facilities open into the main space, visible to everyone. Positioned near the entrance, the bathroom's high visibility may catch some guests off guard as they navigate the bustling atmosphere. Despite this peculiarity, Fermentation Lab delivers on its promise of quality drinks and appetizing bites within a contemporary setting.
Best place I’ve ever been. Food, atmosphere, drinks, and most definitely the service !!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I'd heard lots of reviews of this place on tiktok and wanted to give it a try! I tried (not pictured) the duck fat fries which were so delicious and the deviled eggs. The deviled eggs weren't the best but the salmon one was great! We also got a few drinks and the golden gate sunset was delicious! The chicken sliders were nothing special but the chicken was nice and crispy! I enjoyed the uni pasta but I think there was too much tobiko for my liking and it had a bit of a weird aftertaste. The Loco Moco was good but there was a bit tooo much furikake on it. The restaurant inside is beautiful and has a really cute vibe on the inside and the server was really kind!
Great restaurant in Japan Town. Parking was easy since there are a couple of parking structures nearby. I came here with my friends to celebrate my birthday and we had reservations. When we arrived, we were seated right away. The service was excellent. Our server was amiable, and at the end of the night, when we ordered dessert to share she realized it was my birthday so she brought an extra dessert from the menu. It was very thoughtful. The restaurant has an upscale and romantic vibe. It is perfect for a date night or to grab drinks and food with friends. Now for the food, our table ordered several dishes, and there were a few favorites. They have happy hour Tuesday - Sunday 3-6 pm and we were at the restaurant during that time so we got some food items from the happy hour menu. I ordered the Piña Verde cocktail to start and I loved it. For the food, we had the Duck Fat Fried 5/5! They were delicious and a must-try. Calamari Misto 5/5 was also a favorite! The Fried Chicken Sliders 4/5. They were good and the dish came with 2. I would order them again. All these dishes were perfect to share and from the happy hour menu. Then we ordered some main course dishes. I had the Katsu Miso Loco Moco 3/5. I felt this dish was meh. It lacked flavor and the rice was mushy. A few of my friends had the Uni pasta and they said it was good but a bit too dense. It would have been a good dish to share. For dessert, we had a few dishes to share. The Pear Bread Pudding 5/5 was delicious! Not too sweet but good enough. Very well balanced. Yuja Creme Brûlée 4/5. It was good but nothing special. Chocolate Churros 4/5. This dessert was good and the churros with the chocolate dip were good. It also came with a matcha dip and this was bitter. We had it with the chocolate one. Overall, I think this is a great restaurant! I would probably come back for happy hour, drinks, and dessert.
Food - the happy hour bites are a good value and taste good. American with Asian / Hawaiian twists. I especially like breakfast here and three refills on the coffee. I wish there was a teriyaki burger on the menu:-) Service - friendly and attentive. One of the nicer spots in Japan town and you'll feel like a regular right away. Ambiance - music and tv screens. Spacious and dimly lit. Energy lifting for sure!
Amazing uni pasta - but terrible service. We waited an hour for our food to arrive at the table, even when the restaurant wasn't too busy. We were also seated at a lounge table - fine for drinks, but super awkward to hunch over a coffee table to eat a large pasta dish. Duck fat fries were crispy but they were unevenly seasoned. I'd come here maybe for a drink and happy hour only. An hour for food to come out but super quick to rush you out :/
I've worked in the Japan town area since I was in high school (which was A LONG time ago) and have seen this location be sooo many different things. The business before this was one of my favorites and I was heartbroken when it closed. I was very hesitant to try this place but am very happy that I did. The bartender Ru has had me coming back consistently for more than a month now. The drinks are amazing the, the staff even more so. The food has been great too. I'm so happy to have a regular place to come to now. I would like to empathize once again how amazing Ru is. Please done well RUN to this place (but make sure to leave space for :) )
Went and tried Fermentation Lab w my family since we heard great things about it and overall we were very satisfied! My personal favorite was the Chicken wings as they were packed with a sweet soy flavor. I also really enjoyed the loco moco and thought the quality of meat they used for the patty was solid. Unfortunately I couldn't taste much of the duck fat within the fries but they were still very solid steak-styled fries. The sauce on top of the braised pork belly was a little too sweet for my liking but I do see the appeal. I personally rather have Korean-style Bossam since that's what it really reminded me of but I understand it is intended to be a fusion. I did really love the green onion salad or chives on the side though. What stole the show for me was their boss lady drink and the egg white foam on top. I'm not sure how they did it but it was soo good. Their service was spot on as well as the guy who made our drink came up to our table to check in with us and see how we liked it. He was very nice and told us he was the one who created the drink so shoutout to him (sorry forgot your name). Fermentation Lab is a more upscale/fancier restaurant with great vibes so if you're looking for your next date spot, this might be it. The prices are a little high but still understandable for what you get.
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent duck rice porridge for a Sunday brunch with a delicious cocktail in a pleasant atmosphere and comfy seating… Thanks, Riley, for a lovely visit! Highly recommended & great addition to the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tebasaki Chicken Wings, Sliders, Duck Fat Fries, Duck Confit Porridge
Serendipitously, we happened by Fermentation Lab during brunch. There were only two other small parties dining when we entered the restaurant and were encouraged to sit anywhere. The menu had a modest but interesting array of entrees: from vegetarian quiche to salmon avocado toast to duck confit tacos. Incidentally, the day we dined, they ran out of eggs so if you opted for any breakfast option, it would be sans eggs, which is what my niece did when she opted for their Loco Moco. They also had a Duck Rice Porridge that sounded pretty tempting to me, while the other two people in my party decided on the duck confit tacos and the Fermlab burger with a side of duck fat fries. All the food tasted divine; we were especially pleased with the duck fat fries, it was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside but quite honestly, everything we ate was good. Our server, Riley, according to the receipt was simply wonderful; he was absolutely accommodating and hospitable . His earnest friendliness made an already pleasant meal all the more exceptional.
Everything but the loco moco was delicious. My husband didn't like how there was too much rice and gravy, and the meat patty was too thick to enjoy. The chicken sliders were crispy and surprisingly filling after adding a side of duck fat fries, which were arguably the best fries I've had in a while. Our server was very friendly, talkative and took initiative to check in on us every time he got. I wish I got his name. The ambiance was pretty relaxing since we came during brunch on a Monday morning so there were only 1-2 groups there other than us. We have to come back to try the other items on the menu, and especially come by for happy hour!
Stopped in for drinks after dinner. Cocktails list was interesting and the ones we ordered were really good! We got the Apricot Express and the Nihon maki!
Sat at the bar on an empty Friday morning and had the Kimchi Fried rice. Riley was a great server/bartender.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5