SHOWA Le Gourmet Tonkatsu

We celebrated the Mother's Day here. Limited seating and only seating per night. I and my husband were so surprised by the very tasteful decoration of the restaurant, fantastic service and out of the world food. It is even better than the one in Toyko which we made reservation months ahead. The portion is just perfect for us. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. You have to try it to know what I meant.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Not the best katsu place but a decent Japanese dining!

I was really excited to try SHOWA after a recommendation from a friend and seeing it featured on The Infatuation. Plus, I'm a fan of tonkatsu, so it was a no-brainer to visit at least once.

I tried for a while to get a reservation for two, but availability was basically non-existent. Then I figured out that there were many more openings for parties of four, so I was happy to visit SHOWA for a group dinner instead.

From the moment you walk in, SHOWA makes an impression with its striking decor (the owner, who also served us, said they DIY'd most of it! So cool!) and relaxed vibes. We were able to try a wide variety of dishes, and the food was, to say the least, excellent - well-balanced, flavorful, and thoughtfully plated, with great attention to textures in addition to tastes.

One charming and slightly funny detail is that even the bathroom is worth a visit. It has a dark theme and even the toilet paper is black, lol.

Overall, an impressive restaurant with great food and lots of personal touches that we appreciated.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Refined, thoughtful, inventive restaurant, service and food. From the restaurant decor's details, the serving platters, plateware, entrance design and sleek design it was exquisite experience. The service from Joe was next level and immaculate. His attention to detail and care of ensuring each guest has a memorable and enjoyable experience alone is worth a visit. The food was refined, delicious and well balanced with delicately fried tonkatsu and freshness from fish, vegetables and somen. Thank you Chef Koji-san for a delicious and memorable food experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This was our first time dining here and we were very excited given all the excellent reviews. However, this was a complete let down from the food and even more so the service. First, our server (a taller gentleman with dark rimmed glasses) was downright rude when members of our party wanted to add more than 1 of the add-ons. The tone was judgmental and he even brought it up at the end of the meal, asking if we were full enough, making multiple members of our party self conscious when we were expressing excitement to try the additional dishes (neither of which were too much food at all!). At the level of dining this restaurant claims, the service and bedside manner of this server was absolutely unacceptable. Second, the food was good but no single dish was outstanding, particularly given the higher price range. I have eaten at many restaurants of similar price and caliber and unfortunately, i would not recommend this experience. Third, there are no dietary accommodations, which itself is fine but again from a service perspective, this was not well executed. Even after one of our party members indicated she would not be participating in one or two of the dishes, they were still served to her instead of either for the table as an option. Unfortunately, given the service, i would not return or recommend Showa

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 1

I genuinely don’t know how they make this profitable at this price point.

The quality of the food and the level of service are honestly surprising for what you pay. Every course feels thoughtful and refined, yet the atmosphere remains relaxed and comfortable rather than overly formal.

One thing I especially appreciated was the pacing. Tasting menus often suffer from long gaps between dishes, which can make the experience drag, but here the flow was smooth and efficient. It never felt rushed, but it also never felt slow or boring.

The portions were perfectly designed. Instead of a few heavy plates, they serve multiple smaller dishes, which keeps you engaged and comfortably satisfied from start to finish.

If there’s a sushi add-on option, absolutely get it. It was one of the highlights.

Even the smallest details are clearly intentional. The restroom is stocked with Le Labo hand wash, the amenities are meticulously curated, and the all-black aesthetic throughout the space shows how much care has gone into every element of the experience.

Right before the dessert course, the chef personally came out to greet the guests, which added a warm and memorable touch.

The only downside? It’s incredibly hard to get a reservation😅

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I genuinely don’t know how they make this profitable at this price point.

The quality of the food and the level of service are honestly surprising for what you pay. Every course feels thoughtful and refined, yet the atmosphere remains relaxed and comfortable rather than overly formal.

One thing I especially appreciated was the pacing. Tasting menus often suffer from long gaps between dishes, which can make the experience drag, but here the flow was smooth and efficient. It never felt rushed, but it also never felt slow or boring.

The portions were perfectly designed. Instead of a few heavy plates, they serve multiple smaller dishes, which keeps you engaged and comfortably satisfied from start to finish.

If there’s a sushi add-on option, absolutely get it. It was one of the highlights.

Even the smallest details are clearly intentional. The restroom is stocked with Le Labo hand wash, the amenities are meticulously curated, and the all-black aesthetic throughout the space shows how much care has gone into every element of the experience.

Right before the dessert course, the chef personally came out to greet the guests, which added a warm and memorable touch.

The only downside? It’s incredibly hard to get a reservation😅

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Celebrated friend's birthday. One host for about five parties so the service was slow at the start. Eventually it became alright once the faster eating parties were established from the slower eating parties and pacing was set. The biggest wait was waiting for the various Tonkatsu - which I assume is due to the cooking time.
Not all the food were to my taste but I ate everything since the food is pricey. I like the Kani Negitoro Tartar Chips and Suika Shave Ice. One of the Fresh Yasai Sticks tasted bitter which I didn't like at all. There was second serving of Donabe Dashichazuke if we were still hungry. I regret add-on Sparkling Lychee Stone dessert since it wasn't worth $25 to me.
Overall, I think I like the stuff the food was served on more than the food. But I've been told that I have a cheap tongue so I don't appreciate these fancy food/experiences.

One of THE BEST dining experiences we’ve ever had in the world (and I’d consider us pretty well versed in global dining).

I love the ambience here, especially since it’s such an intimate setting (bonus that it’s adult only so no kids allowed). The service is so warm and welcoming, and you can tell that the entire team from front of house to all the kitchen crew that they genuinely want to provide a comfortable dining experience so that you can truly experience the food as the chef meant it to be. There are no adequate words to describe how amazing their manager Joe is!

And the food does not disappoint. In fact, even after having been here many times in the past year, it’s always like rediscovering how flavorful and exquisite a seemingly simple dish can be. Chef Koji-San is so talented, his dishes have such complementary and enhancing flavors plus diverse textures throughout. Every bite is explosive pleasure!

At $150 (before tax/fees) for a 10-12 course tasting menu, it’s a great value. We always leave far too full (obviously not a complaint). The add-on’s are also well worth it, especially the tuna sashimi (accompanied with their house made soy sauce), A5 wagyu (served on a sizzling hot stone), and menchi katsu (the star of their katsu tasting). Their Kenzo wines and sake pairings are very unique and also quite a great value, so I highly recommend if you like wines or sake!

As others have mentioned, this restaurant is in SoMa but bordering Mission. Not the worst of the neighborhoods, just treat it like you would most parts of SF (stay alert, don’t have valuables visible on you or in your car). By 6pm, parking on the restaurant’s street is not hard to find.

In short, if you love Japanese food, you must try this restaurant. If you’re not sure about or don’t like Japanese food, I think this will change your mind. Just AMAZING!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My first time dining at Showa and it did NOT disappoint. The staff curated the whole dining experience and made us feel welcome. The 12 course menu is an experience that you savor so dont be in a rush. There's something unique about each dish. The Sake pairings were excellent.

Reservations were a little hard to get, but the experience itself is great. Good food, although a bit heavy (as one would expect from fried food, with several meat dishes). The food is aiming to give an authentic japanese experience, and the staff were extremely nice and friendly.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Came here for a birthday celebration. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. The meal starts with a treasure box of small bites. All the dishes following were delicious and light. Moving to the deep fried dishes became heavier. Bites were more filling. The fry was still light. Drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic were good. Service was amazing an attentive

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Amazing food everything from aesthetic to taste and not to mention incredible hospitality and service.
Thank you Joe for being such a great host, going above and beyond

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

It’s rare that I genuinely enjoy every course in a prix fixe menu, but this place delivered across the board.

We arrived late to our reservation due to unforeseen circumstances and felt terrible about it, especially since it was a coursed dinner. Thankfully, the staff was incredibly accommodating and reassured us we wouldn’t miss a thing. They paced it so we could catch up and finish around the same time as the other diners.

From the dry-aged pork tonkatsu skewer to the hot-stone grilled beef tongue, the perfectly fried cod, and refreshing watermelon shaved ice — every dish was solid. My partner, who’s a big eater, could’ve gone for a bit more food, but the portions were perfect for me.

The ambiance also stood out: the wooden tables, elegant glassware, and semi-open kitchen added to the experience. The chef personally served the final two courses and came out to say goodbye, which gave us serious Japan nostalgia. Even the bathroom was delightfully Japan-coded with toilet seat sanitizer and flavorful mouthwash. Small touches really do matter.

Honestly, I’m surprised this restaurant isn’t more well-known. We were lucky to snag a last-minute reservation, and I’m really rooting for them to earn a star soon. Already looking forward to returning and trying the uni tofu add-on!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Easily one of the best restaurants in San Francisco. The attention to detail, little surprises, and quality of food is top notch. Everyone in our party left feeling full and completely blown away. This is a must-visit!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5