“ WARNING: The dishes here are a fusion of many different Pilipino cuisine staples. Easily the best Pilipino restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area. Head Chef Francis Ang and his crew are simply delightful. He and his other chefs put a different twist on each standard Pilipino dish, including lumpia, sisig fried rice, wagyu tapsilog, bulanglang, and dozens of other dishes. For beverages, the Ube Colada is a can't miss. Our server, Lexi, is simply outstanding. Don't forget to order Ube original desserts. They are simply irresistible. Located inside the Kimpton Alton Hotel, the dining room is an awesome fit for a luxurious hotel like the Kimpton. There's also outdoor dining just outside Pier 39. It is easily of the best dining experiences of my life. ”

“ We had a great experience! The staff was very nice, and the customer service was excellent. Our server, Aller (as he joked, "without the gy like allergy" lol), was super friendly and funny, which made our night even more enjoyable. We ordered the chef's tasting menu and added the kaldereta--everything was delicious! The portions were generous, but we still managed to finish everything. We also brought balloons to celebrate my friend's 40th birthday, and the restaurant was very accommodating, allowing us to celebrate without any issues. One thing to note is that they automatically added a 20% tip. I'm not sure if it was because of the birthday celebration, the tasting menu, or if it's standard for all guests. While I always tip well for great service (and this service definitely deserved 20% or more), I personally prefer having the choice to tip rather than it being decided for me. Overall, we loved our experience and would definitely come back! ”

“ This place has a cool and fancy vibe going on. I enjoyed the chefs choice menu, where he chose his dishes for us (party of 6). The portions were small to split between 6, but everything was delicious. I enjoyed the pancit with squid ink noodles, sisig rice (I wish there was more!), and the halo halo. The lobster and kalabasa broth was amazing as well. The PI punch cocktail was nice and refreshing, but I wish it didn't come with a big ice cube in the middle. Service was very friendly and attentive. It's pretty pricey but I did enjoy a great dining experience. ”

“ Abaca serves "modern" takes on Filipino food, whatever that means: I'm not ribbing on Abaca, just the overuse of that designation. It's true that Abaca has an upscale atmosphere and serves food that is plated delicately, if that's what you're looking for. It's also generally a little less oily and "feels" (again, those quotes are doing a lot of work) healthier. Otherwise, the flavors are very much what you would expect in Filipino food, just done very, very well. As some other reviewers have noted, the restaurant is kind of stuffed into a corner of the hotel lobby, so it feels a little cramped--but the ambiance is otherwise nice. If it weren't rainy when I was visiting, the outdoor patio might have been a nice option! Because I was here on a Sunday, my partner and I ordered the Sunday salo salo, a pre fixe menu limited to that day. It was very appreciated that accommodations could be made for dietary restrictions. On the other hand, I was a little thrown that my partner and I could not select different entrees for ourselves. And while I enjoyed the food (a lot!), I'm sorry to say that the value felt a little skewed. I wasn't starving or anything when I sat down, but I didn't quite feel full when I left: the portion sizes were really, really small. This felt uncharacteristically thoughtless, since the food and the preparation was top notch; the planning of the pre fixe seems a little off, though. ”

“ We were visiting SF from Chicago and we fell in love with this place. Abacá is a Filipino restaurant with some Californian flare. The menu selections were very interesting and inventive. We enjoyed the sturgeon caviar, lumpia, bbq mushrooms, and the sisig rice (our favorite). The pandan-infused brandy cocktail- Vieux Barrio was also a nice pair for all the food we ordered. Oh please don't forget to scan the small QR code in the menu where you can find their secret menu. You will be surprised. Gratuity was automatically added to your check regardless how big was your party. We really don't mind it at all because the service was applaudable. The whole staff was knowledgeable about the food and drinks especially our sweet server - Allie. She explained everything on the menu and even vouched for some of the favorites. We highly recommend this place. They deserve a Michelin Star or more! ”

“ Great service, great vibes, good food. I came here after a matinee show with my wife and my younger kids and went with the 'paubaya' which is a chefs tasting menu. They also have a version of it for kids for half the cost (which my kids had). Adult tasting: Sturgeon caviar Lobster & kalabasa broth Tocino chicken wings Squid ink cracker with squid crudo Pork lumpia Marinated bok choy Chicory salad Pei mussels Black angus hangar steam Sisig fried rice Desert: Crème brulee Ube donut with vanilla ice cream *birthday desert Secret menu items (added on): Grilled oyster Chicharron bulaklak I also had the 'so Maarte' cocktail which was delicious Kids tasting menu Lumpia Bbq stick (no sauce) Chicken tenders and fries Sisig fried rice (no toppings) Vanilla ice cream and fruit plate Our server was really nice and all of the bidders and staff were on point. My kid spilled a drink and the team was on it cleaning it up and getting them a replacement. For the food, the tasting menu is basically a tour of the menu, but it's a lot of food. Once we got to the sisig rice we were stuffed. The second course definitely was where we got hit by a lot of stuff, so be sure to pace yourself. My wife and I enjoyed the chicharron, caviar (would have liked a little more caviar though), the chicken wings, lobster broth, mussels (sauce was delicious with the bread), and the puree for the steak. The sisig rice was really good too but we were just done at that point. In terms of value, the tasting menu is cheaper than getting the items a la carts by maybe 1-2 small dishes. In terms of ambiance there was a DJ in the lobby playing some old school 70s-80s jams with a few new hits. Nice vibe for sure. We ran into some friends who were having a bachelorette party and they were doing a kamayan style dinner. Really great spot for a nice meal, I will definitely come back to try breakfast ”