Michael Mina Elite Event Series: Beyond Bentos at PABU

This was one of my favorite Unilocal events — love these intimate events — as we got to sample the new and much-​hyped PABU. Actually, not just to sample the menu but a full sit-​down 12-​course meal!
I recalled enjoying the oysters and pork belly items the most, but it’s not as though anything was not good. A 5-​star meal for sure. Note to self, must return for lunch some time soon. Sure glad could get out for a two-​hour lunch on short notice.

I’ve been a fan of Michael Mina as long as I can remember, so this YEE was just perfect!
A very organized event from the check in process (fast scanning and our name tags were written down and waiting for us!) to the cocktail gathering to the actual sit down lunch. Excellent service from the whole PABU crew from passing out food to clearing out plates and the kitchen timed dishes so well. I really loved the scrumptious pork belly and chicken meatballs from the robata grill; the luxurious oyster topped with uni and tobiko, oh my. Can you say spoonful of awesomeness?! Other standouts include the crab cake with heirloom tomatoes, the squid and pork belly okonomiyaki and the raw scallops with strawberry sauce. Each dish was so pretty and perfect, I almost didn’t want to eat it. ALMOST. As if 12 courses weren’t enough to make us happy, we also were given togarashi as a parting gift. Whoa. It’s really neat to be elite!
We got a little spiel of lunch service that just started at Pabu and I can see how this place would be a hotspot because of the prime location and the wonderful things they do to food. I can’t wait to return and try the rest of the menu!
It’s been weeks since this special lunch event, but I’m still dreaming about it. Abby, let’s do lunch YEEs more often!

What an amazing 2 hour plus, Friday afternoon, Unilocal Exclusive Event!
It was a grand and fabulous lunch, indeed! I loved the bite sized Izakaya dishes and the family style setting! The contemporary and modern décor, was wonderful and complimented well with Pabu’s exquisite Japanese theme!
The communal seatings and the spacious restaurant, made it feel very welcoming and pleasant!
It was a very enjoyable and delightful dining event! Thank you for having me, Abby, Unilocal,Pabu and Michael Mina!
Happy Unilocaling!

This Elite Event was definitely in the top 3, if not the best that I’ve been to in my 6 years of being a Unilocal Elite. The one thing I regret from this event, as I was telling Janice C. and Peter L. was that I wish I wore stretchy pants like leggings because I was so stuffed after just the cold appetizers during the sit down part. Right when we walked in we were greeted by Candice G, the new South Bay CM (love her) & the awesome Abby S. who has been a wonderful South Bay CM but can’t wait to see what she will do with SF events. All of us mingled in the bar waiting for Pabu employees to set up the tables. We were served soju lemonades (delish) and yummy yakitoris of pork belly, chicken meatballs, and spoonfuls of oysters. This girl loves her balls, she of course I devoured a few chicken meatball skewers!
Finally it was time to sit down and challenge our tummies.
It was a mix of mostly new faces that I had the pleasure of meeting, but glad to finally meet famous Unilocaler Ed U, who I’ve been following for quite sometime, and my usual faves Janice C & Peter L.
First bit were the cold small plates: Ahi tuna poke, strawberry scallop, seaweed salad, and bloomsdale spinach. My absolute favorite was the ahi tuna poke. The fish was very fresh and loved how it was served with wonton crisps. The spinach was lightly flavored with sesames and delightful. The strawberry scallops were interesting as they were flattened out, but for me I think I didn’t care for it because of the texture (used to the formed scallops), but thought it was interesting with the strawberries.
Hot plates next: Monterey squid okonomiyaki, fried chicken karaage, and dungeness crab cake. I do not eat squid so I had to pass, but it looked delicious especially with the yolky fried egg ontop. The chicken karaage wasn’t greasy, was juicy and had a nice crunchy light batter. The crab cake was a big delight as well. Not too much filler and we loved the heirloom tomates and shisho sauce accompaniment.
Makimono next: Ken’s Roll– Shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, furikake, and eel sauce.
Rainbow Roll — California roll w/​3 fish, avocado and tobiko. Again the fish was super fresh in both rolls! Both were delectable, but I preferred the Ken’s roll, perhaps because I love shrimp tempura rolls and spicy tuna too.
Large Plates: Miso black cod. I’m not much of a fish person, but the cod was a little fishy tasting, but very moist. It was served with summer beans and mustard seeds. The Long & Baily Pork Tonkatsu was a table favorite as the tonkatsu batter was excellent and the pork was lean. We thought the potato salad was a nice touch too.
There’s always room for DESSERT! Super stuffed, and not expecting much because I don’t like cherries, but this cherry sorbet was one of my fave dishes! The sorbet was delicious and served with the sweetest peaches and blackberries, and to top it off some sparkling sake too! Of course a Unilocal party gots to give you a goodbye with a bang. an alcoholic bang at that!
Thank you so much Pabu staff and Abby S and Candice G. for a wonderful lunch to give us all a break from work and to start off our weekend! Can’t wait to head back to Pabu for a lunch soon!