Chef Ingi “Shota” Son’s Shoji is pulling double duty in downtown San Francisco, operating as a matcha-forward cafe by day and a low-lit Japanese bar at night. Tucked into the historic Pac Bell building, the compact space pairs a viral matcha einspänner and a precise coffee program with an evening menu that leans izakaya. The spot serves as a more casual counterpart to Son’s Michelin-starred omakase at The Shota and has quickly drawn both neighborhood regulars and out-of-town visitors.
Matcha Mania And The Scene
According to SFGATE, Shoji sells hundreds of matcha einspänners on busy days and was seeing long lines not long after its late February 2025 opening. The outlet reported customers traveling from across the country and noted that the back patio has become a go-to perch for laptop workers and festival crowds.
Top-Tier Coffee And Pastry Pop-Ups
Eater SF reported that Shoji’s coffee program is led by Jose Antonio Garcia, who oversees careful pour-overs that arrive with detailed tasting notes. While Shoji works on an in-house pastry program, the cafe has been hosting pastry pop-ups from local bakers Tiny Croissanterie and Ichigo Ichie Sweets.
Evening Menu: Izakaya Small Plates And A Viral Burger
Once evening hits, the crowd shifts. Bartenders turn out Japanese-leaning cocktails while the kitchen serves izakaya-style small plates, such as grilled Berkshire pork jowl and shishito peppers. Menu prices stretch from a $10 fry with akazu-aged vinegar aioli to a bubbling cheese-fondue Shoji burger and a $15 matcha affogato, with cocktails generally landing around $18, per SavorNation.
Hours, Reservations And What To Expect
Shoji's official site lists cafe hours as Monday 8 AM to 2:30 PM and weekends 9 AM to 2:30 PM, with bar service on Tuesday from 5 PM to 11 PM; the site also notes last calls for food and drinks. The restaurant takes evening reservations through OpenTable, and staff say daytime service is walk-in friendly.
Where This Fits In Son’s Plans
Son has described Shoji as his way of bringing Japanese cafe and bar culture to San Francisco, telling SavorNation that “one of the best bar scenes is happening in Japan.” The same piece notes that Son plans to revive The Shota in a different location and may open a new Japanese concept in September or October, while Shoji is expected to expand its offerings with lunch service and a fuller pastry program.
Bottom line: expect long morning queues for matcha and plan for dinner reservations. Since Shoji opened, as SFGATE observed, the spot has turned into one of downtown’s late-summer draws.
