Washoku Guide
Cities/San Francisco/Donburi/Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu
San Francisco · Donburi · omakase

Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu

JapaneseTonkatsuOmakaseKaisekiTasting Menu

San Francisco's only kaiseki-style tonkatsu omakase, Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu opened in 2024 in SoMa under Japanese chef Koji Endo. A single 18-seat nightly seating serves a 10–12 course menu showcasing rare panko varieties, Iberico pork, and Toyosu Market seafood at $150 per person.

Price
¥¥¥
Area
SoMa
Since
2024
Chef
Koji Endo
Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu — authentic japanese restaurant in San Francisco, SoMa
Plate № 55
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About
Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu is a genuinely original concept — a kaiseki-inspired tasting menu built entirely around tonkatsu, the Japanese breaded cutlet tradition elevated to fine-dining heights. Chef-owner Koji Endo was born and raised in Miho, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and brings an artistry nationally recognized in Japan to San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood. The restaurant seats just 18 guests in a single nightly seating at 6pm, proceeding through 10 to 12 courses that move from Japanese amuse-bouches and a signature uni negitoro tartar don through multiple katsu preparations — Iberico pork, Dungeness crab croquette, seafood katsu — each breaded in bespoke panko varieties including handcrafted shokupan and herb-infused short-grain. Seafood and meats are sourced directly from Tokyo's Toyosu Market and local California farms, and the seasonal katsu sauce changes with the harvest.
Neighborhood & visiting

Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu sits in SoMa, one of San Francisco's neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. Reservations are available online — for a focused donburi counter this is strongly recommended. Check the posted hours before you go — traditional donburi restaurants often close between service periods.

Why it's on Washoku Guide
  • The only kaiseki-style tonkatsu omakase in San Francisco, offering a genuine culinary concept unavailable elsewhere in the US.
  • Chef Koji Endo's nationally recognized Japanese tonkatsu artistry — including rare Iberico pork and dry-aged Duroc loin — delivers quality that rivals Tokyo's finest katsu counters.
  • A single 6pm seating means no rush: guests linger through 10–12 leisurely courses in a beautifully appointed SoMa space with attentive, knowledgeable service.
  • Seafood sourced daily from Tokyo's Toyosu Market and a seasonal katsu sauce made with local California fruit make every visit genuinely different.

Reservations open 30 days in advance at 12:00 PM Pacific on Tock. No solo reservations. Seats go fast — check daily for cancellations. — Format: Omakase counter. Authenticity: Chef-owner Koji Endo, born and raised in Miho, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, brings nationally recognized tonkatsu artistry to SF's only kaiseki-style tonkatsu omakase — an 18-seat, 10-to-12-course tasting menu at $150 per person.

Links
Reserve →Website →Map →Yelp →Instagram →

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Frequently asked

About Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu

Is Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu an authentic japanese restaurant in San Francisco?
Yes — Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for japanese in San Francisco: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused donburi format.
Where is Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu located?
Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu is located at 1550 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103, San Francisco, USA in the SoMa neighborhood.
Do I need a reservation at Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu?
Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu accepts reservations online. For an authentic donburi experience, especially at a focused counter, booking ahead is strongly recommended.
What is the price range at Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu?
Showa Le Gourmet Tonkatsu sits in the ¥¥¥ price range — typical for japanese of this format in San Francisco.
Keep exploring
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