The Butcher Shop by Niku Steakhouse

"Stepping into The Butcher Shop by Niku Steakhouse in the Design District might just give you whiplash. The staff is constantly yelling as if they're an In-N-Out at dinner time on a Saturday night to get more patties on the grill, and they’ll impatiently ask you how many of these smashburgers you want—even when they’re empty. At the end of this experience, you’ll get a $25 burger that is served in a to-go box and doesn’t even come with fries. But the chaotic experience (and the hefty price tag) are worth it because this juicy monstrosity is absolutely dripping at the edges—enough so to make us immediately forget about any gripes that we had with this place. There’s no indoor (or restaurant-specific outdoor) seating, so make sure to eat this on one of the public benches fast—otherwise it’ll get soggy. But that’s a risk we’re always willing to take. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth" - Ricky Rodriguez

"The butcher shop offers a 'flight' of three different prefectures of A5 wagyu, caviar with a spoon, and pink salt for a romantic meal." - Becky Duffett

"Niku didn’t have to pivot when the city was ordered to shelter in place. The modern Japanese steakhouse has always had a butcher shop next door, selling outrageously marbled Kobe and wagyu steaks." - Becky Duffett

"The Butcher Shop by Niku Steakhouse opened in January to supply next door steak restaurant Niku and more nearby properties run by the Omakase Restaurant Group. Japanese beef fanatic and lifelong Bay Area butcher Guy Crims is in charge of the operation, which is the city’s only certified Kobe beef retailer. Last year, Crims secured the largest retail order of Japanese A5 Kobe and Wagyu Beef in the Western hemisphere for the shop, which also serves retail customers. Beyond beef, it stocks Heritage Berkshire Kurobuta pork, knives from American knife master Mike Solaegui, and wagyu beef fat by the tub. But with the shop’s new lunch options, patrons won’t need to go next door or take their meat home for a taste of Wagyu, that famously fat-marbled Japanese beef. The butcher shop’s burger will be a staple of the menu: It’s 50 percent domestic Imperial Wagyu and 50 percent Japanese A5 Wagyu, served with Kewpie mayonnaise and pickles. Additionally, customers can expect rotating items like 100 percent A5 bratwurst and skewers of domestic Imperial Wagyu, Japanese A5 Wagyu, and dry aged U.S.D.A. Prime New York and ribeye steaks. Lunch prices — $15.99 to 19.99 for items — are meaty to match." - Caleb Pershan

"The Butcher Shop by Niku Steakhouse, is San Francisco’s only certified Kobe beef retail shop." - Abbe Baker