Shoji in SoMa is the kind of place every neighborhood should have—it’s one of the only places in the city that does a great job of being a fantastic café by day and a solid date spot by night. In the mornings and early afternoons, Academy of Art students and groups of office workers are wedged in the curved leather booths inside the barely-lit dining room to sip matcha einspänners and hojicha lattes. Then at 5pm, when Slack notifications can’t hurt you until tomorrow morning, the same crowd returns for Japanese small plates like a flawless fried chicken-and-egg salad sandwich or a donburi topped with a glistening, jewel-like egg yolk. Some dishes miss the mark, and service can be unevenly paced, but it’s easy to overlook in exchange for this spot’s unmatched versatility. With pulsing music and an always-packed dining room, this place runs loud, so if you want a quieter setting—and prefer not to use your phone flashlight to read the menu—ask for a seat on the covered patio (which also has heaters).