SHOWA Le Gourmet Tonkatsu
Tonkatsu restaurant · South of Market
1550 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Highlights
Exceptional tonkatsu omakase with unique panko variations
Exceptional tonkatsu omakase with unique panko variations
"What makes Showa one of SF’s most distinctive dinners isn’t just its katsu-focused tasting menu with fried bluefin and panko-encrusted chunks of pork—it’s the full-on ritual. It begins with the staff emerging from gossamer noren to usher you to your seat where a platter showcasing a martini glass of lotus sprouts and a mini-cloche hiding beef tongue is already waiting. Each of the 12 courses arrives with a similar flourish: grouper and pork katsu are carefully placed on delicate golden wire racks tableside, and between bites, you’ll be invited to smell roasted sesame from what can only be described as a spouted sniffing jar. It’s one of our favorite ways to spend a few hours and $150 in the city. Reservations open up on Tock 30 days in advance at 12pm. Since there’s only one seating per night (and no solo reservations allowed), they tend to go fast. Try checking daily for any cancellations." - julia chen 1, lani conway, patrick wong
"Showa is a singular experience. You won’t find any other restaurants in SF serving a katsu-centered tasting menu with four types of panko, house katsu sauce made from local fruit, and beverages imported from the chef’s hometown in central Japan. There are no misses across the $150 10-12 course experience. A piece of fatty bluefin is fried and served cradled in a rich house tartar sauce-laden lettuce wrap. Beef tongue and chunks of pork with a crispy herb panko-ed crust are complemented by endless bowls of dashi and sweet pea-studded rice. But it's not only the food that makes dinner here memorable—it's the small touches. Whether it's the warm scented towels between each course, the activated charcoal toothpicks and lychee-flavored mouthwash in the bathroom, or the gift-wrapped receipt that ends the meal. Reservations open up on Tock 30 days in advance at 12pm. Since there’s only one seating per night (and no solo reservations allowed), they tend to go fast. Try checking daily for any cancellations." - julia chen 1, lani conway, patrick wong, ricky rodriguez
"Verdict: It may be hard to secure one of the six tables at Showa, but once you do, you’re in for a 10-12 course katsu-focused menu that’s unlike anything else in SF. Whether it’s the tofu cosplaying as mozzarella or crispy beef tongue served on sog-defying racks, this place doesn’t miss a trick. Before you leave, be sure to swing by the bathroom to make use of their tray of lychee mouthwash pods and activated charcoal toothpicks. Reservations open up on Tock 30 days in advance at 12pm. Since there’s only one seating per night (and no solo reservations allowed), they tend to go fast. Try checking daily for any cancellations." - julia chen 1
"The small thoughtful touches make a dinner at Showa great. The SoMa Japanese restaurant serves a near-flawless $150 katsu-focused tasting menu featuring 10 to 12 courses. Each piece of perfectly fried meat is served on a wire rack so it doesn’t get soggy, while warm towels are provided in between each course. You'll also get to ceremoniously sniff freshly roasted sesame seeds and drink grape soda imported from the chef’s hometown in central Japan. Even in the shoji-enclosed bathroom, you’ll find activated charcoal toothpicks and individual servings of lychee-flavored mouthwash—and it all ends with a gift-wrapped check. Dinners move slowly here, so if you need a quiet, leisurely meal to mark something special, Showa’s it. Reservations open up on Tock 30 days in advance at 12pm. Since there’s only one seating per night (and no solo reservations allowed), they tend to go fast. Try checking daily for any cancellations." - julia chen 1, patrick wong
"There are a lot of small details that make a dinner at Showa feel special. Like warm scented towels given out in between each course, a gift-wrapped receipt, and the use of four different types of panko. The bathroom experience is no different. Ceremoniously slide open the shoji and enter a sizable restroom with toilet seat sanitation spray that smells like roses, activated charcoal toothpicks, and even individual pods of lychee-flavored mouthwash. Reservations open up on Tock 30 days in advance at 12pm. Since there’s only one seating per night (and no solo reservations allowed), they tend to go fast. Try checking daily for any cancellations." - patrick wong, julia chen 1, lani conway
