Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
oChef » Pacific Plaza – San Francisco
Pacific Plaza - San Francisco
Photo from Pacific Plaza
Pacific Plaza at a glance
San Francisco Japantown
- ☕ Café
$$
Price per Person $11–$20
mentioned by 36 of the guests
#120 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#7 Café out of 162 in San Francisco
Excellent
8.7 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
207
Reviews
94.7%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Friendly service
- Generous portions
- Clean atmosphere
Frequently criticized
- Staff incident
- Dish inconsistency
- Dim lighting
The cafe Pacific Plaza invites you to discover a cozy spot in San Francisco’s lively Japantown. Here, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere perfect for a quick bite or a relaxing coffee.
Cafe Pacific Plaza is known for its healthy options, available for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, making it an ideal choice whether you’re starting your day or taking a midday pause.
Overview: Introducting Pacific Plaza
Pacific Plaza offers a welcoming experience, often praised for its big portions and overall delicious food quality. Many appreciate the friendly staff who contribute to a pleasant dining atmosphere, making it a reliable spot for a satisfying meal.
While generally well-regarded, a few experiences point to occasional issues, such as a specific dish lacking flavor or a desire for more lights inside the cafe . There was also a notable incident involving unprofessional behavior from a line cook, which stands out against the otherwise positive service.
Excellent
8.7
out of 10
207
Reviews
94.7%
Satisfaction
8
negative
3
neutral
196
positive
Pacific Plaza achieves a strong overall Restaurant Score of 8.7, backed by an excellent Customer Satisfaction of 94.7%. This high regard is built on 196 positive remarks out of 207 total opinions, indicating a consistently positive experience for most diners.
The Service (8.9) stands out as particularly strong, with Food (8.6) also receiving high marks for its quality and variety. The Ambience (8.6) also contributes significantly to the positive sentiment, often described as clean and welcoming.
Customers find the Value (8.2) to be good, appreciating the generous portions at reasonable prices. While overwhelmingly positive, a small number of 8 negative comments highlight specific areas for improvement, mainly concerning isolated service incidents or minor food preferences.
What people like
- Friendly, efficient service
- Delicious, generous portions
- Clean, welcoming atmosphere
What people don't like
- Aggressive staff incident
- Inconsistent dish flavor
- Dim cafe lighting
Pacific Plaza generally delivers a highly satisfying dining experience, reflected in its strong Recommendation Score of 8.7. If you’re seeking a place with genuinely friendly service, substantial portions, and a comfortable setting, it’s certainly worth considering for your next meal.
While the vast majority of feedback is positive, be aware of isolated reports concerning specific dish flavors or a rare service issue. Overall, Pacific Plaza appears to be a reliable neighborhood spot that consistently pleases its patrons, making it a solid choice for a casual and enjoyable visit.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Pacific Plaza
Food (8.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 94% of the guests
When it comes to the food, this spot truly shines! With a good 8.6 score and an excellent 95.5% customer satisfaction, its clear diners are happy. Out of 111 remarks, a whopping 106 rave about the delicious offerings, from their popular bento boxes and bibimbap to tasty breakfast sandwiches.
Many praise the fresh ingredients, generous portions, and overall amazing flavor across their diverse menu, including Korean options. However, even great food can have a minor hiccup. Only 3 negative remarks were noted, with one customer finding a specific teriyaki chicken bento box lacked flavor.
A couple of other comments wished for the return of the Big Breakfast' or later breakfast service, suggesting minor tweaks to menu availability rather than widespread quality issues.
Food
111
Reviews
95%
Satisfaction
3
negative
2
neutral
106
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Flavorful dishes
- Generous portions
- Fresh ingredients
What people don't like
- Lacked flavor (specific dish)
Often praised
- foodMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! It's a hidden neighborhood gem that offers delicious and reasonably priced lunch options. The service was incredibly speedy and friendly, making for a very pleasant meal.
- Big portionsBig portions
- bibimbapthe bibimbap is also must
- food qualityThe food has really good quality
- portionsMy experience at this restaurant has been consistently delicious since I first visited about a year ago. They offer a big menu selection with large portions, all at a great price. Most importantly, the great service and staff make every visit enjoyable.
- sandwichesI always get sandwiches in the afternoon and both are excellent.
- spicy porkMy experience was still excellent; the restaurant was clean, and the owners were very nice. The photo I've included is from today and shows a Bento box combo with short ribs and spicy pork. It's making me hungry again just thinking about it!
- varietygreat variety of options
- American breakfastGreat food. American breakfast and deli sandwiches for lunch
- American style breakfastsor American style breakfasts in the morning and both are excellent.
Frequently criticized
- Big BreakfastBring Back The Big Breakfast
- breakfast laterwished they served breakfast later
- teriyaki chicken bento boxI purchased a teriyaki chicken bento box for lunch, and while it was fresh, it completely lacked flavor—I didn’t enjoy it. When I returned to the restaurant to share my feedback, the cashier was very polite, apologized, and offered me a refund without issue.
Overall, the food here is a definite highlight, boasting excellent flavor and variety. If you're looking for a satisfying meal with generous portions and fresh ingredients, this place is absolutely worth trying, despite a very rare flavor miss on a specific dish.
Service (8.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 68% of the guests
When it comes to service, this spot truly shines, boasting an excellent score of 8.9 and an impressive customer satisfaction rate of 92.3%. Based on 60 positive comments out of 65 total, customers consistently praise the super friendly staff and quick service. Many appreciate how the hospitable and warm team remembers their order, making every visit feel personal and efficient.
However, it's not entirely without its bumps, with 4 negative comments highlighting a concerning incident. One customer reported an aggressive line cook who displayed hostility during a refund request, leading to an unprofessional interaction. While isolated, this behavior stands out against an otherwise overwhelmingly positive service experience.
Service
65
Reviews
92%
Satisfaction
4
negative
1
neutral
60
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, helpful staff
- Quick, efficient service
- Remember regulars' orders
What people don't like
- Aggressive line cook
Often praised
- serviceMy experience at this restaurant was wonderful! The food was excellent, and the service was outstanding. The staff are like a nice family, always all smiles and greeting regulars by their first names.
- staffAll the staff were very friendly and pleasant
- ServiceService:5
- ownersOwners are are friendly and attentive
- peopleThey are the nicest people
- wait timeNo wait
- English speaking stafffamily all spoke great English
- care about their customerscares about their customers
- cashierI purchased a teriyaki chicken bento box for lunch, and while it was fresh, it completely lacked flavor—I didn’t enjoy it. When I returned to the restaurant to share my feedback, the cashier was very polite, apologized, and offered me a refund without issue. However, as we were completing the refund, a line cook became aggressive, demanding I explain what was wrong.
- counter serviceEfficient, friendly counter service
Frequently criticized
- behaviorHe even told me not to come back to the café. His behavior was so unprofessional that the cashier had to ask him to be quiet. When I reminded him that I was speaking respectfully and that I’m a lady, he shouted that he didn’t care.
- feedbackThis level of hostility over a simple refund request is unacceptable. I was completely disrespected for simply sharing honest feedback. I’m only here for training and will never be back.
- hostilityWhen I reminded him that I was speaking respectfully and that I’m a lady, he shouted that he didn’t care. This level of hostility over a simple refund request is unacceptable. I was completely disrespected for simply sharing honest feedback.
- line cookWhen I returned to the restaurant to share my feedback, the cashier was very polite, apologized, and offered me a refund without issue. However, as we were completing the refund, a line cook became aggressive, demanding I explain what was wrong. When I calmly responded, he started yelling at me, saying he had worked there for 27 years and never had a complaint.
Overall, you can expect truly excellent and friendly service here, with staff who go out of their way to make you feel welcome and remembered. Just be aware that there was one reported incident of an aggressive line cook, though this appears to be an anomaly.
Ambience (8.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 30% of the guests
The ambience here is truly something special, with an excellent customer satisfaction rating of 94.4%! Based on 17 positive remarks, many folks rave about the homey atmosphere and warm and friendly energy that makes it feel like a true neighborhood spot. Its also consistently described as a clean place, contributing to its good score of 8.6.
On the flip side, theres only one minor quibble among all the feedback. One person wished for a bit more lights inside the cafe, suggesting a slight desire for brighter illumination. This single point, however, doesn't detract much from the overwhelmingly positive sentiment about the overall feel.
Ambience
18
Reviews
94%
Satisfaction
1
negative
0
neutral
17
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Homey atmosphere
- Warm, friendly energy
- Clean neighborhood spot
What people don't like
- Needs more light
Often praised
- atmosphereThe atmosphere was also a highlight
- cleanThis is a friendly, clean neighborhood cafe. I enjoyed the good selection of freshly brewed coffee.
- lunch spotThe quality of the meats and vegetables and ingredients was exceptional. I highly recommend this as the best lunch spot on Franklin!
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- clean placeThis a clean, friendly little place.
- friendly placeThis a clean, friendly little place.
- homey atmospheremet by a very homey
- local's jointI always order off the Korean menu, and the dolsot bibimbop is absolutely delicious, ranking with the best Korean restaurants. It's definitely a local's joint, and I look forward to coming here after my doctor's visits.
- neighborhood spotPerfect neighborhood spot for a quick bite
- seatingssurprised by the number of seatings
Frequently criticized
- lights inside cafeI'd like a bit more lights inside the cafe
If youre looking for a cozy, friendly, and clean local spot with a great vibe, this place is definitely worth checking out. Its a welcoming haven that most customers absolutely adore, with only a tiny note about lighting to consider.
Value (8.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 26% of the guests
When it comes to value, this place truly shines! Customers consistently rave about the generous portions and how affordable everything is, often highlighting reasonable prices, great prices, and an excellent price-performance ratio. With an impressive 8.2 score and a perfect 100% customer satisfaction, its clear youre getting a fantastic deal here, based on 13 positive opinions.
What's even better is that there are absolutely no negative comments about the value, which is a rare and wonderful thing to see. It seems everyone agrees that your money goes a long way at this spot.
Value
13
Reviews
100%
Satisfaction
0
negative
0
neutral
13
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Generous portions
- Reasonable prices
- Great value
What people don't like
Often praised
- priceMy experience at this restaurant has been consistently delicious since I first visited about a year ago. They offer a big menu selection with large portions, all at a great price. Most importantly, the great service and staff make every visit enjoyable.
- reasonable pricesThe staff here are incredibly friendly and helpful. It's an independent gem of a cafe with good quality, fresh food at reasonable prices, served by lovely folks.
- affordableThe atmosphere felt very sweet and local. I was impressed by the big portions and how affordable everything was.
- fair priceat a fair price
- great pricesat a great price
- lunch priceat a reasonable lunch price
- price per personThe service was amazing, and the atmosphere was also a highlight. I enjoyed my lunch here, and the price point was reasonable.
- price-performance ratioThe price-performance ratio was also very good
- reasonable pricefor a reasonable price
Frequently criticized
No complaints so far.
If you're looking for a place where your wallet will be as happy as your stomach, this restaurant is definitely worth checking out. You can expect generous portions and fair prices, making it a solid choice for a satisfying and affordable meal.
How are the prices at Pacific Plaza?
You’re looking at roughly 17 per person – reported by 36 diners. That puts it in the $11–$20 category. For a Cafe, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Most guests spend right in this $11–$20 sweet spot, showing prices cluster nicely around the average.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 36 reviews.
A comparison of this restaurant’s value for money against similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Cafe, especially considering it’s in San Francisco. It offers a good balance for those looking for quality without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Pacific Plaza
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Group Type
- Solo Dinner
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
9
Delicious Korean Comfort Food
My experience at this restaurant was wonderful. It's the epitome of comfort food, located in an area with many medical offices. This unassuming mom and pop cafe has no frills but offers a warm and friendly energy.
I always order off the Korean menu, and the dolsot bibimbop is absolutely delicious, ranking with the best Korean restaurants. It's definitely a local's joint, and I look forward to coming here after my doctor's visits.
- comfort food9
- dolsot bibimbop10
- Korean menu8
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Delicious and Generous Bento Box
My experience at the restaurant was fantastic! I ordered the short rib (pork) bento box, which was incredibly tasty and flavorful. The portion size was very generous, making it a steal for the price.
I ordered ahead for my 30-minute lunch break, and the food was hot and ready right on time. I will definitely be returning.
- short rib (pork) bento box9
- portion size10
- price10
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
10
Absolutely Delicious Beef Bowl!
My experience at this restaurant was absolutely amazing! I tried their beef bowl and it was so incredibly good that I'm planning on eating here every day. They truly know how to create extremely flavorful dishes.
It was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo darn good!
- beef bowl10
- extremely flavorful dishes10
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Group Type
- Family
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
10
Excellent Food and Friendly Family Vibe
My experience at this restaurant was wonderful! The food was excellent, and the service was outstanding. The staff are like a nice family, always all smiles and greeting regulars by their first names.
The atmosphere was cozy and friendly, making for a very pleasant visit. There was no wait time, which was a bonus.
- food10
- service10
- staff10
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Service Type
- Dine-in
9
Great Food, Reasonable Price!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! The food quality was great, and it was served at a reasonable price. It truly hit the spot!
I only wish I lived in the area so I could come more often.
- food quality10
- reasonable price9
What Pacific Plaza offers
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
Popular for
- Solo dining
- Lunch
- Breakfast
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Quick bite
- Healthy options
- Coffee
Dining options
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Breakfast
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Casual
FAQs
Is Cafe Pacific Plaza accessible for all visitors?
Yes, Cafe Pacific Plaza is committed to accessibility. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance, wheelchair accessible seating, and a wheelchair accessible restroom, ensuring a comfortable visit for everyone.
What kind of dining experience and food options can you expect at Cafe Pacific Plaza?
At Cafe Pacific Plaza, you can enjoy a casual and cozy atmosphere perfect for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. The cafe offers quick bites, healthy options, and excellent coffee, catering to various tastes and times of day.
What is Pacific Plaza's overall standing among customers?
Pacific Plaza holds a strong overall Restaurant Score of 8.7, with Customer Satisfaction at 94.7%. Its Service (8.9) and Food (8.6) are particularly well-regarded, alongside its Ambience (8.6) and Value (8.2).
What do customers appreciate most about the food and value at Pacific Plaza?
Customers frequently praise the food quality and big portions offered at Pacific Plaza. Many find the menu to have a good variety and appreciate the reasonable prices , making it an affordable option.
Are there any common complaints or areas for improvement at Pacific Plaza?
While rare, some feedback mentions a desire for more lights inside the cafe . There was also an isolated incident involving unprofessional behavior from a line cook, though the general staff is highly praised.