Pagoda Cafe

Personally, I had a fun karaōke time. However, the only disorienting moment came when a man came up to our table and stared at my table for a minute or two without reacting to our pleasantries «hello» (nothing) «can I help you» (no response) «can I help you?» Then the man walked away and made a gun shooting motion with his hand.
Now I live in San Francisco and I’m used to the standard creepy guy, but this was weird. I’m not blaming the establishment as I said we had a lovely karaōke time with our group but the gentlemen’s creepy behavior didn’t make us want to stay much longer. I’d still visit the bar but maybe would feel better bringing a guard dog or a larger crowd. Still fun though!

Don’t think this place is considered Adult Entertainment
However, it is a pretty mediocre dive bar. Even though it’s literally at the centre of Japantown, there is relatively little traffic to this place, and once you step in, the entire store is actually very small.
The drinks are nothing to write home about, and they give you lots and lots of salty snacks to make sure you keep ordering drinks when you get thirsty. The place reminds me of Dimples, another basement dive bar a few steps away.
All in all, a pretty quiet place to have a beer, if you want to avoid the crowd. Don’t expect much other than simple beer though.

Adult Entertainment? I guess the few times I have been there was probably an off day for them. I like coming here because no one really bothers you. I have been here with my group of friends many times and was never harrassed or given attitude because we are slow and cheap beer drinkers. The main bartender lady is from Shanghai and she is a lot of fun to talk to. There are a lot better bars in SF but I enjoy the no pressure atmosphere and the fact that it reminds me of some hole in the wall bar in Asia… hahaha

This bar is mostly for older crowd, not the younger crowd. They have a bar and private karaōke rooms where you can pay to have girls drink with you. I haven’t been in the karaōke rooms … every time I go I always sit at the bar. The bartender is very friendly and the drinks are cheap. I guess this is a good place to go if you want to just have a drink with a friend and not bump into anyone that you know. They also have a jukebox too.

I used to come here years ago when a dude named «Steve» and his wife use to run it. It used to be fun & friendly. But now?
As soon as i walk into the bar. there’s Karaōke f*cking rooms they built in this tiny 500 sq. feet basement bar.
I sit down and the first thing I notice: a girl walks out one of the rooms. and wiping her mouth off as she if had, oh i dunno, something on (or in) her mouth. She goes to the back and I can CLEARLY hear her gargling. Then she comes out and pops in 2 – 3 sticks of gum.
Ok, I know what you’re all thinking. she’s really into dental hygiene and really loves gum. Yes, you are correct.
Then I order two drinks. one for me and a friend. they give me this dirty ass look as if we’re not supposed to be there.
Then the ONLY time they come over to give us service is when I f*cking SCREAM at them (the «nice ladies» were too busy being nice to the drunk dudes that stumbled in there.)
If I were an advertising rep for this place, I’d make a commercial like this:
Wine: 7 dollars.
Midori sour: 9 dollars.
Walking into a bar that used to be fun & friendly few years back, but is now basically a whore house with really shitty f*cking service and u gotta wonder if there’s cum stain all over the barstools so you check with black light before sitting on them? Priceless.

I wasn’t sure whether to give this place five stars for making me laugh so hard and remind me of my last trip to Bangkok… or one star for being, well, what it is.
Now to be fair and honest, I read the other four reviews and I must disagree on one point. Friday must be the «somewhat hot, slutty dress night». Then again, the amazing drinks from Dosa might have been affecting my judgment just a bit. (one star)
Tip #1: Don’t fall.
So when your friends tell you the wrong cross street and MEAN to direct you to Do Re Mi (one block up) for Karaōke night… don’t fall for the words «Karaōke» on the sign and walk down into the second circle of hell (for all you Dante’s Inferno fans out there).
Don’t fall down the stairs either. You’ll probably get something worse than tetanus.
Tip #2: Stay with your Buddy, just like a field trip!
So… how long did it take us to figure out we were in the wrong karaōke bar?
2 minutes.
After my ‘friend’ left me alone at the bar (aka «threw me to the cougars») for the ladies room.
And getting propositioned.
Possibly «my bad» for walking in here accidentally in a white shirt and black tie at 10:30 on a Friday.
First time I’ve voluntarily chugged a double makers-​rocks.
I would almost come back here just to screw with drunk friends. (two stars)

WHHhhhat? Adult Entertainment? WTF Unilocal?My eyes deceive me.
If I keep rubbing my eyes, in hopes this insane possibility can be true, I’d have marble sized nubs for pupils.
Two separate times I have stumbled intentionally down hells’ rusting stairs, past the flicking hazy blue glow into the dim lit den we call Pagoda. In my experiences, as far as I can tell there are no «activities» taking place here. If there was, I’d for sure make a distinction when I’m ordering a round of blow jobs or a red head slut to what I really mean. If anything I would just buy for myself, definitely not be paying for my buddy. Not like it was a bachelor party and he is getting married right? Hahaha KIDDING, kidding, relax boys and girls.
If it makes you any more comfortable, on my first visit there were of couple cops hanging about. No arrests or busts took place so that bodes well right? So let the games continue?
Though, as an aside, if drinking near on-​duty officers do not make your orifices tighten up, nothing will. It made me start sipping my shots like they were pipping hot cups of tea. I’m just classy like that…
Anyways, regardless if there are no adult activities, this place does give a dark, skeezy vibe. Just how I like it. It really does feel like some kind of dark, den of thieves. Except you can substitute thieves with really old, beaten down mix of blue collar workers and possible triad mafia members. They seem very sullen, yet watchful, giving the occasional leery eye. They slowly chew on their peanuts, swirl their drinks, and glare with an intense envy. Perhaps they envy the joy and recklessness of youth or more likely they just don’t want strangers in their hangout. Moreover, funny enough for California not allowing smoking indoors, people (including the bartenders) light up like no business.
I do find it hysterical, that despite adult label, there is this older woman there that does seem to serve as the main manager aka dragon lady aka Mamasan. Then again all the bar tenders are old, but she is like in her 50’s or 60’s?
In terms of alcohol, the bartenders are pretty damn clueless on how to make what I consider common shots. They honestly did not know what or how to make a liquid cocaine or kamikaze; among a variety of other drinks. The one drink, they did know how to make and repeatedly served my fellow mate, s was the «three wisemen.» That said, prices pretty cheap, and they have many bartenders with almost no customers so wait time between drinks is basically the amount of time it takes for you to finish your current drink or for when you come up with the brilliant idea to order up the next new round.
They also obviously have some kind of karaōke service. While to the casual eye, you may walk by without noticing the inconspicuous rooms, hidden by large metal sliding doors. However it is impossible to miss the screams and wailing of the patrons within, unless you are like Beethoven (deaf if you really missed the reference). No it is not those kind of screams, but for those that know what happens when you mix alcohol with amateur wannabe singers, singing classic hits, you will wish to hear the passionate variety.
Overall it is a really sketchy place and i wouldn’t straddle up in here solo. There are worst places to get a drink but unless you feel like feeling like an outsider and want to go on glorious adventure then take a pass on Pagoda.
That said I’ll sadly be back in some distant future. Hey there is a slightly better karaōke place down the street and the Goose is cheap?

See Dimples.

I wandered in here kind of drunk one night and it was completely deserted. No one at all, except some korean boy dressed like a waiter or something and the bartender lady. She turned out to be supernice and was actually from Shanghai and we had a long conversation with her. Um I had no idea this was an «adult entertainment» place until I decided to look it up to write this review on Unilocal.At some point I guess the mamasan-​ish lady came in… and we later saw her at Dimples. Maybe they’re the same owner? I think the two places are somehow connected. Well, I have no complaints… it was also a very surreal experience.