"Union Market has exploded in the last couple of years with ultra-buzzy restaurants run by celebrity chefs with impossible-to-get tables. Mecha is different, as it’s one of the most casual places in the district, where it’s easy to pop in for a quick lunch or a low-key dinner. The best seats in the house are at the bar, underneath an installation of wooden beams that look like ramen noodles. We like to start with the roasted mushroom dumplings and the small but satisfying unagi handroll, followed by the vegan Kinoko ramen or the classic spicy beef loaded with vegetables. If the bowls don’t fill you up, try the General Tso’s shrimp, coated in coconut flakes and sweet chili." - madeline weinfield