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San Francisco’s premier Tonkatsu specialty restaurant, we masterfully blend the time-honored traditions of Japanese culinary art with avant-garde techniques. As pioneers in the realm of Tonkatsu, we offer an extraordinary dining experience with Kaiseki-inspired courses that showcase a spectrum of bespoke panko breading variations. Our unique selection ranges from handcrafted Shokupan panko to fragrant herb-infused short-grain and innovative rice panko varieties.
Hours
| Thursday | 6–9:30 PM |
| Friday | 6–9:30 PM |
| Saturday | 6–9:30 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 6–9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6–9:30 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1550 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 470-1107
Website: http://www.showaus.com/
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SHOWA 昭和
At SHOWA, we invite you to savor the zenith of Tonkatsu craftsmanship, encapsulating a culinary legacy reimagined for the discerning tastes of San Francisco.
SHŌWA Le Gourmet Tonkatsu – San Francisco, CA – Tock
San Francisco’s premier Tonkatsu specialty restaurant, we masterfully blend the time-honored traditions of Japanese culinary art with avant-garde techniques …
Menu – SHOWA 昭和
The final menu will be revealed upon your arrival, ensuring a bespoke culinary experience. … 1550 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103. Contact: 1415-470-1107.
Reviews
Jia (꼬부기&쵸비)
I genuinely don’t know how they make this profitable at this price point.
The quality of the food and the level of service are honestly surprising for what you pay. Every course feels thoughtful and refined, yet the atmosphere remains relaxed and comfortable rather than overly formal.
One thing I especially appreciated was the pacing. Tasting menus often suffer from long gaps between dishes, which can make the experience drag, but here the flow was smooth and efficient. It never felt rushed, but it also never felt slow or boring.
The portions were perfectly designed. Instead of a few heavy plates, they serve multiple smaller dishes, which keeps you engaged and comfortably satisfied from start to finish.
If there’s a sushi add-on option, absolutely get it. It was one of the highlights.
Even the smallest details are clearly intentional. The restroom is stocked with Le Labo hand wash, the amenities are meticulously curated, and the all-black aesthetic throughout the space shows how much care has gone into every element of the experience.
Right before the dessert course, the chef personally came out to greet the guests, which added a warm and memorable touch.
The only downside? It’s incredibly hard to get a reservation
… moreThe quality of the food and the level of service are honestly surprising for what you pay. Every course feels thoughtful and refined, yet the atmosphere remains relaxed and comfortable rather than overly formal.
One thing I especially appreciated was the pacing. Tasting menus often suffer from long gaps between dishes, which can make the experience drag, but here the flow was smooth and efficient. It never felt rushed, but it also never felt slow or boring.
The portions were perfectly designed. Instead of a few heavy plates, they serve multiple smaller dishes, which keeps you engaged and comfortably satisfied from start to finish.
If there’s a sushi add-on option, absolutely get it. It was one of the highlights.
Even the smallest details are clearly intentional. The restroom is stocked with Le Labo hand wash, the amenities are meticulously curated, and the all-black aesthetic throughout the space shows how much care has gone into every element of the experience.
Right before the dessert course, the chef personally came out to greet the guests, which added a warm and memorable touch.
The only downside? It’s incredibly hard to get a reservation
Liz Donut
Celebrated friend’s birthday. One host for about five parties so the service was slow at the start. Eventually it became alright once the faster eating parties were established from the slower eating parties and pacing was set. The biggest wait was waiting for the various Tonkatsu – which I assume is due to the cooking time.
Not all the food were to my taste but I ate everything since the food is pricey. I like the Kani Negitoro Tartar Chips and Suika Shave Ice. One of the Fresh Yasai Sticks tasted bitter which I didn’t like at all. There was second serving of Donabe Dashichazuke if we were still hungry. I regret add-on Sparkling Lychee Stone dessert since it wasn’t worth $25 to me.
Overall, I think I like the stuff the food was served on more than the food. But I’ve been told that I have a cheap tongue so I don’t appreciate these fancy food/experiences.
… moreNot all the food were to my taste but I ate everything since the food is pricey. I like the Kani Negitoro Tartar Chips and Suika Shave Ice. One of the Fresh Yasai Sticks tasted bitter which I didn’t like at all. There was second serving of Donabe Dashichazuke if we were still hungry. I regret add-on Sparkling Lychee Stone dessert since it wasn’t worth $25 to me.
Overall, I think I like the stuff the food was served on more than the food. But I’ve been told that I have a cheap tongue so I don’t appreciate these fancy food/experiences.
Marisa Chiang
One of THE BEST dining experiences we’ve ever had in the world (and I’d consider us pretty well versed in global dining).
I love the ambience here, especially since it’s such an intimate setting (bonus that it’s adult only so no kids allowed). The service is so warm and welcoming, and you can tell that the entire team from front of house to all the kitchen crew that they genuinely want to provide a comfortable dining experience so that you can truly experience the food as the chef meant it to be. There are no adequate words to describe how amazing their manager Joe is!
And the food does not disappoint. In fact, even after having been here many times in the past year, it’s always like rediscovering how flavorful and exquisite a seemingly simple dish can be. Chef Koji-San is so talented, his dishes have such complementary and enhancing flavors plus diverse textures throughout. Every bite is explosive pleasure!
At $150 (before tax/fees) for a 10-12 course tasting menu, it’s a great value. We always leave far too full (obviously not a complaint). The add-on’s are also well worth it, especially the tuna sashimi (accompanied with their house made soy sauce), A5 wagyu (served on a sizzling hot stone), and menchi katsu (the star of their katsu tasting). Their Kenzo wines and sake pairings are very unique and also quite a great value, so I highly recommend if you like wines or sake!
As others have mentioned, this restaurant is in SoMa but bordering Mission. Not the worst of the neighborhoods, just treat it like you would most parts of SF (stay alert, don’t have valuables visible on you or in your car). By 6pm, parking on the restaurant’s street is not hard to find.
In short, if you love Japanese food, you must try this restaurant. If you’re not sure about or don’t like Japanese food, I think this will change your mind. Just AMAZING!
… moreI love the ambience here, especially since it’s such an intimate setting (bonus that it’s adult only so no kids allowed). The service is so warm and welcoming, and you can tell that the entire team from front of house to all the kitchen crew that they genuinely want to provide a comfortable dining experience so that you can truly experience the food as the chef meant it to be. There are no adequate words to describe how amazing their manager Joe is!
And the food does not disappoint. In fact, even after having been here many times in the past year, it’s always like rediscovering how flavorful and exquisite a seemingly simple dish can be. Chef Koji-San is so talented, his dishes have such complementary and enhancing flavors plus diverse textures throughout. Every bite is explosive pleasure!
At $150 (before tax/fees) for a 10-12 course tasting menu, it’s a great value. We always leave far too full (obviously not a complaint). The add-on’s are also well worth it, especially the tuna sashimi (accompanied with their house made soy sauce), A5 wagyu (served on a sizzling hot stone), and menchi katsu (the star of their katsu tasting). Their Kenzo wines and sake pairings are very unique and also quite a great value, so I highly recommend if you like wines or sake!
As others have mentioned, this restaurant is in SoMa but bordering Mission. Not the worst of the neighborhoods, just treat it like you would most parts of SF (stay alert, don’t have valuables visible on you or in your car). By 6pm, parking on the restaurant’s street is not hard to find.
In short, if you love Japanese food, you must try this restaurant. If you’re not sure about or don’t like Japanese food, I think this will change your mind. Just AMAZING!
Jess Nomz
It’s rare that I genuinely enjoy every course in a prix fixe menu, but this place delivered across the board.
We arrived late to our reservation due to unforeseen circumstances and felt terrible about it, especially since it was a coursed dinner. Thankfully, the staff was incredibly accommodating and reassured us we wouldn’t miss a thing. They paced it so we could catch up and finish around the same time as the other diners.
From the dry-aged pork tonkatsu skewer to the hot-stone grilled beef tongue, the perfectly fried cod, and refreshing watermelon shaved ice — every dish was solid. My partner, who’s a big eater, could’ve gone for a bit more food, but the portions were perfect for me.
The ambiance also stood out: the wooden tables, elegant glassware, and semi-open kitchen added to the experience. The chef personally served the final two courses and came out to say goodbye, which gave us serious Japan nostalgia. Even the bathroom was delightfully Japan-coded with toilet seat sanitizer and flavorful mouthwash. Small touches really do matter.
Honestly, I’m surprised this restaurant isn’t more well-known. We were lucky to snag a last-minute reservation, and I’m really rooting for them to earn a star soon. Already looking forward to returning and trying the uni tofu add-on!
… moreWe arrived late to our reservation due to unforeseen circumstances and felt terrible about it, especially since it was a coursed dinner. Thankfully, the staff was incredibly accommodating and reassured us we wouldn’t miss a thing. They paced it so we could catch up and finish around the same time as the other diners.
From the dry-aged pork tonkatsu skewer to the hot-stone grilled beef tongue, the perfectly fried cod, and refreshing watermelon shaved ice — every dish was solid. My partner, who’s a big eater, could’ve gone for a bit more food, but the portions were perfect for me.
The ambiance also stood out: the wooden tables, elegant glassware, and semi-open kitchen added to the experience. The chef personally served the final two courses and came out to say goodbye, which gave us serious Japan nostalgia. Even the bathroom was delightfully Japan-coded with toilet seat sanitizer and flavorful mouthwash. Small touches really do matter.
Honestly, I’m surprised this restaurant isn’t more well-known. We were lucky to snag a last-minute reservation, and I’m really rooting for them to earn a star soon. Already looking forward to returning and trying the uni tofu add-on!
E Lee
Came here for a birthday celebration. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. The meal starts with a treasure box of small bites. All the dishes following were delicious and light. Moving to the deep fried dishes became heavier. Bites were more filling. The fry was still light. Drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic were good. Service was amazing an attentive
… moredylan hromek
My first time dining at Showa and it did NOT disappoint. The staff curated the whole dining experience and made us feel welcome. The 12 course menu is an experience that you savor so dont be in a rush. There’s something unique about each dish. The Sake pairings were excellent.
… moreMay Bresler Herzog
Reservations were a little hard to get, but the experience itself is great. Good food, although a bit heavy (as one would expect from fried food, with several meat dishes). The food is aiming to give an authentic japanese experience, and the staff were extremely nice and friendly.
… moreYoungsuk Sim
One of the best meals we’ve had in years! This is a fantastic spot if you’re looking for something different from the usual sushi omakase. The tasting menu offers a creative and unique experience centered around tonkatsu and beautifully crafted appetizers. They also offer sake and wine tastings, featuring some of the best selections from their list—things you wouldn’t typically find included at other restaurants.
Every appetizer was incredibly flavorful, and the dessert was absolutely amazing. The service was impeccable, and a special highlight was having the chef personally serve the dessert at the end—a lovely touch that made the experience even more memorable.
The space is very intimate, with only about six seats, so you’ll need to get on the list—and once you do, don’t miss it!
FYI, someone mentioned that they only give a small scoop of rice but they served extra rice a couple more times when we visited.- and that rice was super delicious!
… moreEvery appetizer was incredibly flavorful, and the dessert was absolutely amazing. The service was impeccable, and a special highlight was having the chef personally serve the dessert at the end—a lovely touch that made the experience even more memorable.
The space is very intimate, with only about six seats, so you’ll need to get on the list—and once you do, don’t miss it!
FYI, someone mentioned that they only give a small scoop of rice but they served extra rice a couple more times when we visited.- and that rice was super delicious!
Kunyao Liu
Love the watermelon shaved ice dessert!
Tuna and crab tartar: dressing takes over the seafood, too sweet and too strong.
Carb portions are small. 2 small scoops of rice and 1 bite of noodles.
The signature dry aged pork katsu is good but not great, nowhere near Tamafuji in Honolulu, especially given the price point. FYI Tamafuji offers umlimited refill of 3 kinds of rice and 2 kinds of miso soup
1 waiter is a bit stretch for the entire restaurant.
… moreTuna and crab tartar: dressing takes over the seafood, too sweet and too strong.
Carb portions are small. 2 small scoops of rice and 1 bite of noodles.
The signature dry aged pork katsu is good but not great, nowhere near Tamafuji in Honolulu, especially given the price point. FYI Tamafuji offers umlimited refill of 3 kinds of rice and 2 kinds of miso soup
1 waiter is a bit stretch for the entire restaurant.
Kai Sheng
Incredible service, decor, plating, and of course the food. They only seat 18 per night and both Joe and chef Koji were personable, attentive, and kind.
Dishes are colorful, exhibit commentary textures, and delightful in flavor. Our table’s favorites include the uni blue fin hand rolls, katsu cod, katsu pork, and beef tongue. The ume fizz cocktail is excellent.
Showa was not only a feast for your taste buds but also for your eyes. The interior is thoughtfully decorated with modern Japanese elements and transforms into an open kitchen chemistry lab complete with interesting glass vessels and beakers. The plates, ceramics, saucers, glassware, and bento box are all tastefully chosen and curated. The restroom is worth a visit as well, trust me.
… moreDishes are colorful, exhibit commentary textures, and delightful in flavor. Our table’s favorites include the uni blue fin hand rolls, katsu cod, katsu pork, and beef tongue. The ume fizz cocktail is excellent.
Showa was not only a feast for your taste buds but also for your eyes. The interior is thoughtfully decorated with modern Japanese elements and transforms into an open kitchen chemistry lab complete with interesting glass vessels and beakers. The plates, ceramics, saucers, glassware, and bento box are all tastefully chosen and curated. The restroom is worth a visit as well, trust me.