"Shoji is a Japanese café that transforms into one of SoMa’s best spots for dinner after the offices let out. The short menu of small plates includes silky oysters, a flawless fried chicken and egg salad sandwich, and a donburi with uni and amaebi that taste like they were caught right before plating. During the day, head here for your caffeine fix. There are the usual lattes and espressos, but we suggest focusing on their specialty matcha drinks, including the matcha einspänner with a generous scoop of whipped sweet cream. Whether you go during the day or at dinnertime, we suggest getting a reservation. Walk-ins are accepted for cafe and restaurant hours, but you may end up sharing a booth or having to stand at the bar. The good news is that reservations, particularly before 7pm and after 9pm, are easy to snag just a day in advance." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong