ABSteak by Chef Akira Back

High end kbbq spot. You are definitely paying for quality and the experience as opposed to quantity. Located downtown, we had a reservation on a Thursday and there’s a parking garage nearby but it was a Thursday where there was a free rave in the street so we ended up taking public transportation. Located close to a hotel it might be easy to miss and you take the stairs down. Nice sleek spot and they also have dining rooms for larger parties. We had a party of 4 and got the Combo A (large) and added pork jowl. Combo A included beef brisket, a choice of the snow flower kkotsal (boneless short rib) or rib eye, we went with the kkotsal (boneless short rib), and marinated galbi. In addition we ordered seafood pajeon (pancake), Wagyu pizza (first time I’ve heard or seen this), pork kimchi fried rice, and the soft beef spicy tofu soup came last (which I like to enjoy at the end which is a little more Korean traditionally enjoyed). The combo also came with tons of banchan, we asked for more salad which is a charge, and the egg soufflé which was so good. They cook for you here so you don’t have to worry about cooking it yourself and making sure the meat it cooked. For the dessert they only had ice cream and one of the chocolate desserts which we got and one they gave us an ice cream for a birthday. Service was good, wasn’t busy but there was a point when we were like which person was our server when someone kept on asking the same questions, regardless we got what we needed. If you’re looking for a higher end kbbq spot in the city, this is a good spot!

Wow, mind blown by the food. Hidden down in a basement, doesn’t feel like you’re in San Francisco, but absolutely amazing dining experience. Didn’t get to try as many things as I would have liked, but everything we had was outstanding - from the mushroom & asparagus starter, to the bulgogi and wagyu ribeye on the grill, to the kimchi pork belly fried rice. Will be back soon!

Good, albeit pricey. My favorites were the beef tartare, marinated galbi, and beef tongue. Loved the egg soufflé and the yuzu lotus root and melon banchan dishes as well. The snow flower kkotsal was a bit too fatty for me, though fans of richer cuts might enjoy.

Food was really good but they were undermanned that everything took longer than we’d hope. Some dishes arrived before we decided to take the bill that we even forgot about that specific order so we just took it hot but the food was still good. I still want to go back and try it again hoping we’d get there with better focus from the servers. They were all nice but they said they’re understaffed even if there are lots of empty tables. Also, when we got there, it took a while for someone to assist us. I hope they hire more people because it’s such a good place for them to cheap on employing people.

ABSteak offers not just premium food and a beautiful venue, but truly exceptional service. In my previous K-BBQ experiences, I sometimes felt that the service was less friendly if you weren’t Korean. But ABSteak completely changed that—every interaction made me feel genuinely welcomed. What stood out the most was the honesty and attentiveness of our server. When we were about to over-order, they gently advised us, which we really appreciated. That kind of hospitality and integrity will definitely go a long way. To top it all off, the dessert was not only adorable but also delicious. 10/10—highly recommended!