Pomelo On Judah

Stopped here after my doctors appointment UCSF. This was truly the best part of my day.
The service was impeccable. The room was full and staffed with just one waiter, yet he was super attentive to everyone.
I tried the Lanzhou. Fresh cut egg noodles topped with ahi tuna and miso-​sesame noodles. I didn’t think the combo would work but the tuna was so fresh, it really balanced the thicker noodles. I’ll definitely be back to try the Thai dishes.

Got here right when it opened and I’m glad we did as once it hit noon, it was busy. Restaurant is pretty small as it fits less than 20 people, but during lunch, it’s a great place to get in and get out quickly.
Originally, I was going to order Asian food, but then at the last minute, I decided to order the Cabo San Lucas, which were 2 grilled fish tacos. It was off their side menu, but for me, it was an entrée. It came with shredded cabbage, mango salsa, some spicy sauce, and pickled jalapeños which were pretty spicy as well. Simple food, but real intense flavors.
My husband had the Nan which was their Thai-​style congee and that was delicious too! I would have been happy with that dish as well. Not heavy like the Chinese congees.
Overall, great place for lunch!

This was a dinner that started out lovely but ended up being very disappointing.
My husband and I came here for dinner tonight, our first time at Pomelo. Everything on the menu looked fantastic. We both enjoyed our food, which arrived piping hot.
After we finished eating, our server brought out the bill and began to clear our table. He bumped my husband’s empty beer bottle against the glass light fixture hanging above our table, breaking the fixture.
Glass shattered and went everywhere — onto the table, onto the floor, inside my (not yet empty) wine glass, and onto my lap. The server apologized, asked if we were alright, and promptly whisked away the bill and came back with a wet towel to begin cleaning up the glass shards. He then left the table and came back with our bill.
My husband and I assumed that the bill would be revised to comp or discount some portion of the meal, since, you know, we now had shattered glass all over us. Nope. Not even for the wine that I could not finish (since my glass had, uh, glass in it).
I get it, accidents happen — I have broken my fair share of stuff. But the poor handling of this accident was very disappointing. We will not be returning, which is a shame since we live very close and really enjoyed the food. I hope the service is better for other visitors to Pomelo.

The flavors were just right on our dishes and parking was a breeze. My husband had the Havana and it was definitely the star of the meal. We will be returning!

Love this place! My «go to» spot for lunch or dinner in the Inner Sunset. I always end up here when I can’t decide what to eat. A little pricey, but never disappoints.

It’s okay here. Super tiny place, small selection of quality plates, good service, but a little overpriced for what you get.
I tried:
Lanzhou ($ 17) — garlic noodles with ahi tuna. Overall, presented nicely, but a little overpriced.
Korean pancake– again, presented nicely like little pizzas, and was tasty.
Service was attentive– my water was never left empty.
Overall, this restaurant serves a variety of different Asian flavors. I don’t see anything else worth trying though, so I probably won’t be back.

Pomelo, pomelo.
The large pomelo attached above their doors is eye catching and progressive, just like their food.
My sister and I enjoyed a delicious and healthy ful lunch sub-​45 minutes.
We ordered to share:
Butternut squash + ricotta Bruschetta
Havana plate.
The bruschetta was so yummy. The crunch was wow and the flavor was explosive. The Havana place looked like the popular plate as we could see the chefs churning over plates in the open kitchen. I would highly recommend it. They give a nice helping plantains, rice, beans, and yummmmm SIRLOIN SKIRT STEAK.
We washed this down with water and bottomless ginger lemongrass tea, unsweetened!

Small neighborhood spot for Asian fusion. Belly up to the small bar and watch the cook make your order in front of your eyes. This is a small place, maybe 12 people total, but Sat night at 6:30 we got two seats at the bar. We started with the pajeon and it was slightly undercooked, had shrimp, but was tasty. The lime congee chicken was super limey! The ahí tuna with garlic noodles was well seared, but the noodles were super oily. A bit expensive given the experience so most likely won’t go back.

A cozy Asian-​fusion/​international kitchen that is literally a kitchen with a few tables + counter. I’ve had the brunch on the Church location and it has a similar, small but cozy vibe. This location only had lunch and dinner and quite different hours.
I had the Lanzhou, which was Ahi tuna seared with garlic noodles. There was some ginger and other spices as well. The tuna was seasoned quite well and had nice texture and seared almost perfectly. The noodles were also cooked well and not overly salty. My only complaint would be the food was piping hot temperature wise. I also tried a bit of the coconut curry and it was quite creamy, but still had good Southeast Asian flavors. I think this dish did burn my tongue.
Besides the food being too hot (and the restaurant being warm inside too), this place has a nice variety of dishes from vegetarian to meat and features a lot of cool flavor mixes from around the world. Come here for a nice 1-​on-​1 dinner.

For anyone looking for a quick bite in the Inner Sunset area (especially UCSF affiliates), Pomelo is a great bet. It’s only a few blocks off campus and serves fresh flavorful Asian fusion cuisine. I’d recommend going in with an open mind as this is not traditional Asian food– but still quite as enjoyable. The foods are mainly in the $ 11-​$ 16 range. I ordered the Manila for $ 11.50 which is clear glass noodles, shrimp, chicken, and Chinese sausage. I enjoyed it and it reminds me a little of Singapore curry noodles.
There is no AC and the seating is limited. Typically that isn’t a problem but with the recent heat wave in SF, I figured I would give a heads up. They do accept credit cards. Service is prompt and table turnover is quick.

Love. This. Place. You would think that a place with a menu that includes items from all around the world can’t hit them all on a high note, but Pomelo totally does. Walked in on a recent weekend night and sat at the bar in front of the open kitchen, which is always fun.
We started with the «hania» — zucchini cakes served with mint-​dill yogurt and cucumber — which I loved. The zucchini was shredded so thin it was the consistency of crab cakes. Moist on the inside, crispy on the outside. Plus, the dip was heavenly.
For entrees, we went with the «nan»: Thai-​style rice congee with chicken, ginger, Chinese celery, cilantro and a poached egg, served with little bowls of thai chilies, sriracha and fried garlic to put on as toppings. It was comforting and incredibly flavorful yet light. We also tried the «manila» (Filipino-​style stir-​fried rice noodles tossed with sautéed prawns, chicken, Chinese sausage & vegetables, with scallion and lemon) which I absolutely loved. Unlike no other noodle dish I’ve ever had. The Chinese sausage was particularly good. I’m drooling just thinking about it.
Pomelo is the definition of neighborhood restaurant. It’s tiny and cozy with good service. I only wish I lived closer; I’d be there all the time.

Ok — I rarely leave reviews but I felt compelled as most others do, because in my case, I was thoroughly embarrassed after eating lunch here.
I went to Pomelo with my team (3 in total) for lunch one afternoon, it was my idea because of the rave reviews I had hear about the food.
As many others have mentioned, this place is TINY — I am actually quiet impressed with what they accomplish in such a small space!
We all wanted the Havana, but someone changed their mind last minute. The food was so amazing. The amount of flavor they were able to pack in the dish was so thoughtful and truly left my mouth begging for more. We all cleaned our plates. However, the service (again it is a TINY place) really killed the mood.
Two of us ordered Iced Tea, and we got some refills but it did take a while. The other just had water. She had to ask for a refill and even then it took 5 minutes to get her refill. I know, I know; California is in a drought, but you should be able to get more water after you ask for it right? Then the bill came, here is where I got embarrassed. We each threw our credit cards in so happy and carefree and then he looked at us like we were complete idiots and was like, «It is a two credit card maximum» dropped the payment sleeve and walked away. Oops! We didn’t know that. None of us had cash. We apologized to him and asked if he could split the check 3 ways because we didn’t know about the credit card rule. He was obviously annoyed and gave us a lecture my grandmother would be proud of, and returned with 3 separate checks.
Great! Now we all throw in our cards with the correct check and go back to chatting… WRONG. He comes over, visibly annoyed and states, «Didn’t I already tell you there is a two credit card maximum. What don’t you understand about maximum?» We all looked at each other puzzled, and apologized, «Sorry, none of us have cash». I am cowering in the corner; why did I convince these people to come here for lunch. One of my coworkers is ready to leave and starting to complain and wants to refuse a tip (we all tipped in the end). He rolls his eyes and again gives us the lecture that this is against the policy but he will make the exception for us but next time… Sorry buddy, there definitely will not be a next time! Ok well maybe but only because the food was SO stinkin’ amazing. If I ever go back, I will definitely order to go.
But seriously, if you don’t mind tight cramped quarters, and don’t have more than 3 credit cards, go here. It is amazingly delicious.

This would be a four star review (very good) except for one thing I’ll mention at the end.
The food is excellent as reasonably priced. I had the curry chicken, which was sweet instead of spicy but still quite delicious. My wife had the beet salad, which we agreed didn’t quite come together — good idea but incomplete. It may have been better with grilled chicken but I doubt it. The real star was the appetizer, a Korean pancake with shellfish, which was incredible. Highly recommended!
The ambience was okay when we got there, but after some other parties showed up and the kitchen got busy, it was too loud for us to talk comfortably, so we just eavesdropped on the locals and enjoyed our food. Not bad but I liked it more when it was quiet.
The penalty is because they charged for water. This is bad enough in itself, but they didn’t mention it and charged quite a lot for it — we ended up paying nice dollars for our water, which is almost as much as an entrée! This is a pretty serious issue in my opinion! But yours may vary.

I’m really confused about how to rate Pomelo because I typically give out stars based on how often I would come back. 3 stars means I would go here if I were in the area, whereas 4 stars warrants about a half hour drive/​wait.
I’ve only been to Pomelo twice in the past 1.5 years and I live a block away (granted, Pomelo is on the hill nowhere near the UCSF parking building’s elevators that I take to get to Irving, and I hate walking up and down hills). Both times were takeout and the food was truly tasty. I am a fan of their noodle dishes the most, especially the Manila, which is a wondrously fragrant Filipino-​style pancit sauteed with prawns, chicken, sweet Chinese sausage, and vegetables. Another favorite is the Lanzhou, with its thick hand-​pulled egg noodles, stir-​fried with loads of garlic and oil. The non-​vegetarian option comes with grilled ahi, which I found to be not fresh; I’d recommend sticking with veggies and tofu for this dish. As for an appetizer, we always get the Ulsan (seafood Korean pancakes), which comes with embedded jalapenos and is tongue-​numbingly spicy. The pancakes are perfectly eggy, with soft centers and crispy sides, but I do wish the seafood would be less fishy. I have a feeling that fish/​seafood may not be Pomelo’s forte.
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I’m not a fan of the prices here but I can understand paying this much for fusion cuisine. However, the main reason why I can’t in good conscience give Pomelo 4 stars is because I find the food wayyyy too salty. As in I need to continually guzzle down water/​tea for the next 4 hours after my meal kind of salty. My husband felt the same way and he’s much less sensitive to salt than I am. Still, if you’re in the area and craving some Asian noodles with a twist, Pomelo is a great choice if you don’t mind the extra sodium!

It’s a really small location down the block from UCSF, Parnassus campus. The food is fusion asian american. I dont usually like asian fusion but this place did iy well. I ordered the pancit and it came put well. A good sized portion especially for lunch. I couldnt stop eatting. I want to come back to try their other dishes.
The only think I didn’t like was that I was squeezed so tight next to the neighboring table. That’s a minor issue though.

I went to dinner here last weekend. Oh so delicious and unique! I had never had Asian fusion cuisine quite like what is offered at Pomelo on Judah Street.
It is just a little place yet the food and the service is five-​star all the way. If you like Asian style food and an eclectic mix of flavors, then Pomelo is for you.
Even the beverages have a fused flavor. I had the fresh ginger and lemongrass iced tea. Wow, that was yummy! I also had in addition to my entrée, a bowl of the most outstanding miso soup. It was of course a fusion of more than just the traditional miso, that to me was a meal in itself. Very delicious!
It is important to note that patrons should ask about the dishes before ordering. I say this because as I read some of the Unilocal comments before going to Pamelo for the very first time, several people were not as pleased as they had anticipated.
What I surmised about that was the type of fusion and the way the chef prepares it. For example, if you want the beef cooked a bit more, then just ask for it to be cooked a bit longer. And, if your palate does not like certain mixes of foods like shrimp and chicken, then try something else. I think, that might have been why there were some critical reviews on the list.
Yet as for me, the food was outstanding! It is a very small place and seating is limited. Chairs are not that comfortable. Next time, I will order take out. It is a little pricey, but for the type of high quality and unique flavors, it is worth it. Also, service is outstanding. Definitely, a place I will visit again.

We ordered to go and were pleased with how quickly they made our late night order (it was past 8:15pm when we called it in) and how pleasant the couple who runs the place were to us when we went to pick it up.
Our order was a Havana plate with grill shrimp and a lanzhou with ahi tuna. Both orders were still warm when I got home and everything tasted fresh which we loved. The only down side to this place is parking while picking up an order, as there usually isn’t any and I had to double park. Other than that, I would go back here and recommend it to vegetarian friends and meat eaters alike.

This is my favorite Pomelo branch! Its nice and cozy, kind of a hole in the wall.
I always love to sit right were the chefs cook, you get to see them cook and prepare your food. Monday nights are the best nights to be there, the cook always prepares his dishes quickly and flawlessly. They are very accommodating for changes in your dishes (don’t be scared to ask to replace something or take something off your plate). Since I don’t like fish, but I love noodles and garlic, I always get the Lanzhou with Tofu (instead of fish). I love the fresh taste of the noodles, (well cooked) tofu and the sauce on top!
The staff is very attentive and quick to help you. My favorite server is Eli, he has a good pulse of the restaurant, and is always on point! From ensuring my drink is refilled to always getting my order correct. Excellent customer service!
Great place for dinner on a date or just a catch up with a close friend. I noticed it felt a little crowded when a party of 3 – 4 people came in once, I would recommend you only bring yourself or one other person with you.

Cute and warm ambiance with yummy fusion food.
Ordered the baked polenta, korean pancake, lang-​Zhou noodle, weekend special (it’s a baked fish dish, but I don’t remember the name), and salted caramel ice cream.
The dish that stood out to me the most was the baked polenta. It was really flavorful with a delicious mushroom sauce.
All other dishes were well flavored as well. Great place for dinner if you are in the area.
Service is decent, but not anything spectacular.

It’s always unnerving when a restaurant can’t open on time. 5:33pm and waiting. A minute later, a gentleman runs up and unlocks the door and holds it open for us. He is very soft spoken and apologizes for being slightly late.
This is a very tiny place, but very cozy and intimate. It was well lit. We were given menus and water.
We ordered:
+ Lanzhou — $ 16 — fresh egg noodles stir fried with ginger, scallion and garlic, with peppered ahi tuna, seared rare and topped with a miso-​sesame drizzle.
++ This dish was very delicious. The flavours came together well, it was nice and garlicky. The scallions and ginger really brightened this dish up in terms of flavour. The ahi tuna was a huge chunk sear rare. Very delicious.
+ aosta — $ 8.5 — baked polenta and gourmet mushroom ragù with madeira and cream.
++ This dish was very cream heavy. Due to the heaviness, it can essentially be a meal on its own as you’ll feel quite bloated after. Overall, it was a decent dish. Pretty much fried cornmeal with a heavy gravy sauce. Not my favourite.
We were not rushed at all, water was a bit slow to be refilled, but it was eventually without asking. This is a cute little place with fairly large entrees. The food was definitely good, and since we sat at the bar, we watched other foods get made. Definitely want to try more of their menu!
By the end of our meal, the whole restaurant was filled up and we were having a hard time hearing each other. You definitely have to raise your voice to talk if the place is full. Not a good thing… :/​
Recommended and I’ll be back.