"During the day, this SoMa cafe is all about matcha and espresso before transforming into a Japanese restaurant at night. Slide into one of the curved booths and order a matcha einspänner that’s topped off with a dollop of whipped cream we’d eat straight from a spray can. It’s the ideal dessert-drink hybrid for a midday pick-me-up, especially if you’ve spent the morning chained to a desk in one of the nearby offices (metaphorically, of course). 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, patrick wong