Sipping matcha magic and munching on light Japanese bites in a cozy, minimalist haven that feels like a slice of Japan, but expect a weekend crowd.
"Whenever lunchtime rolls around and the closest thing we have to a proper meal is half a box of Wheat Thins, we beeline to Stonemill Matcha. The Japanese cafe is home to chicken katsu with silky, gravy-like curry we could write endless love haikus about. And their peaceful space, filled with an arboretum’s worth of plants and light wood accents, is ideal for turning your lunch hour into two hours. Anything involving their golden-brown katsu is a winning order, along with their fantastic baked goods, like matcha cream pie and black sesame cream puffs. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez
"When lunchtime rolls around and the closest thing you have to a proper meal is half a box of Wheat Thins, you’re going to need a backup plan. Luckily, Stonemill Matcha—and their incredible chicken katsu curry, which we could write endless love letters about—is pretty close by. Grab an iced matcha latte and something with their crisp golden-brown katsu, whether it’s the curry plate with rice or the pork katsu sandwich, plus some straight-up decadent matcha cream pie for dessert." - julia chen 1
"If you’re looking for a sit-down option in the Mission before heading to the finish line, make your way over to Stonemill Matcha. This Japanese cafe makes thick cups of frothy matcha and plump katsu sandwiches that are perfect for taking a breather from all that cheering. Getting a seat inside this cafe is occasionally competitive, but there’s always takeout if it seems impossible to get in. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"The emerald matcha cafe on Valencia Street showcases the work of pastry chef Mikiko Yui, so expect a sandwich on exceptionally soft milk bread. In addition to the requisite pork katsu, there’s also a miso eggplant veggie version with yuzu mayo and pickled onions." - Becky Duffett
"This is San Francisco’s first premium matcha cafe — a space wholly devoted to matcha, with top-notch tea available hand whisked, sparkling, with milk, or over ice cream. It’s also infused into all sorts of treats, including matcha cream puffs, matcha croissants, and matcha cream pies — some of which are the result of a collaboration with Tartine Bakery." - Laurie Jo Miller Farr, Janelle Bitker