Tadaima

Matcha and hojicha carry the drinks

The matcha and hojicha lattes are what make this Japanese counter read as a cafe stop rather than a lunch spot, and the karaage sando is what keeps people there. Tadaima runs three rooms in San Francisco, of which the Union Street counter is one, and the drinks are narrower and more interesting than the food menu suggests.

The matcha latte is the named signature, with an iced version that guests order alongside food rather than after it. Hojicha is the other anchor, and the better order for anyone who finds matcha too grassy: roasted rather than ground green, it comes through smoky, earthy and subtly sweet in a milk-based format, which is what roasted Japanese tea should do. The list stays short and tea-led, and it earned the counter a place in the Infatuation's 2026 matcha guide. The name itself is the phrase called out on coming home, which fits a counter built for regular use.

A casual room for tea and sandos

The format is hybrid: part seated Japanese casual restaurant, part takeaway counter, with catering running alongside. That flexibility is the point, and it explains why the tea drinks travel as well as they do.

The room is minimalist and deliberately cute, worked around a green colour theme that carries into the packaging, which guests notice as much as the food. It is warm rather than austere, small enough to feel like a counter and comfortable enough to sit at, and it works about equally well for a solo lunch and a short stop for a drink.

Order the hojicha latte with karaage

The strongest first order is a hojicha latte with a chicken karaage sando. The sando is the standout on the food side, praised for the crispness of the chicken, and the roasted tea cuts the fried edge better than a sweeter drink would.

If matcha is the reason for the visit, take the matcha latte or the iced version instead; it stands up well against what most coffee shops in the city are serving. Musubi is the other clear food direction, with unagi, spam and avocado versions all made, and a strawberry and cream pairing appears alongside the matcha for anyone who wants dessert in the same order. The best table is one latte, one karaage sando and musubi to share.