This quaint little ice cream shop — SF’s only Black-owned ice cream shop — feels like an anachronism, with its display of old-fashioned candy and cigarettes for sale amid the tubs of vanilla and Rocky Road. While the ice cream might not be the trendiest in town, it is very good, a decent chunk of it sourced from Mitchell’s, another San Francisco institution, making this the ideal spot to enjoy a scoop of Asian-inspired ube or avocado ice cream while strolling Japantown.

With a lengthy menu of Asian fusion and Hawaiian cuisine, Pa’ina is the neighborhood’s best option for island eats, from loco moco to poke bowls to spam musubi — as well as an extensive list of cocktails, most of which are available in large-format “scorpion bowls” for sharing. Daily specials — Sunday Funday, Taco Tuesday, Wingsday; and Oyster Thursday — round out this fun spot’s offerings.

The name of this newish Japan Center cafe speaks for itself. Maiko serves everything matcha — hot and cold beverages of all stripes, with or without a layer of foamy, tangy cheese or other flavored creams, and smooth, creamy soft-serve ice cream, which you can get on a cone or as part of a matcha “float.” Lines out the door are typical here, but fear not: The staff keeps things moving quickly.

As a general rule, you don’t go to a conveyor belt sushi joint if you’re looking for the most pristine, highest-quality nigiri — the city has plenty of upscale omakase options if that’s what you’re after. But for a quick, fun, low-entry-barrier sushi experience where both the quality and variety of the raw fish is also actually pretty darn good, Tenroku is a Japantown classic in its own right. Kids, in particular, love snagging maki and nigiri off the conveyor belt and competing to see who has the highest stack of plates at the end.

Arriving in SF around the same time as a wave international chains, local ramen outfit Marufuku draws lines that rival any Tokyo import’s quite simply because the noodles and broth are about as good as any in town. Rich, fatty broths — both tonkotsu and chicken-based paitan — are the main draw here, but the soups are balanced and not overly heavy, and the thin, Hakata-style noodles are eminently slurpable.

One of the wonders of Tokyo is that world-class sushi might be found tucked away inside a busy subway station. Located out in the open in a hallway in the Japan Center Mall, this casual eight-seat sushi counter — a kiosk, basically — brings a bit of that kind of casually outstanding omakase experience to San Francisco; reservations for a full 12-course meal experience (with 24 items) are currently going for $165 per person.

Located on the first floor of the New People entertainment complex, this delightfully colorful little tea room will satisfy all your crustless finger sandwich and warm scone cravings. The nice thing about Crown & Crumpet is that it’s utterly kid friendly (with a private room upstairs for birthday parties and such), but also plays to a slightly artsier, more fashionable crowd than your standard afternoon tea destination — which is to say, the people watching is superb.

The closest thing the Japan Center mall has to a genuine street food experience, this Osaka-style takoyaki stand sells a solid version of the doughy octopus balls — a classic Japanese street snack. Ask the staff to grill your order fresh. The takoyaki’s crisp edges only last a little while, and they’re worth the extra wait.

Benkyodo, the 115-year-old mochi shop known for making arguably the best mochi in the state, sells different handmade types each day in flavors like blueberry, mango, red bean, age (fried mochi with sugar and red bean), and even a pancake-covered variety. Get here while you can, as Benkyodo’s owners have said they plan to retire at the end of 2021, and will sell (or close) the shop.

In a tonkotsu-heavy city, Hinodeya is the rare ramen shop that specializes in lighter, clearer broths, including one of the better bowls of vegan ramen in town. The dashi-based house ramen is a testament to the subtle pleasures of ocean-based umami, and seafood lovers shouldn’t hesitate to get the clam ramen if it’s available. Also a must-order: excellent fried oysters from Hiroshima.

This tidy, well-stocked grocery store is probably best known for being the home of the Yasukochi’s Sweet Stop bakery and its iconic coffee crunch cake. But it’s also got the best bento box and prepared foods selection of any of the city’s Japanese markets, and, during lunch hours, it serves hot meals and even has a small dining area where customers can sit and enjoy their katsudon, curry plate, or udon.

There are plenty of higher-end sushi restaurants in the city, but for nigiri lovers looking for a full omakase experience without having to drop well over a hundred bucks a person, An is one of your better bets: Nightly omakase options start at $65 and cap out at $92 — though, of course, hungrier and less budget-conscious diners can supplement as needed.

Japantown isn’t all Japanese restaurants these days; in fact, its buzziest recent addition is this Thai fine dining destination attached to the Hotel Kabuki — the sister restaurant to Michelin-starred Kin Khao. Set in a grand, expansive dining room, Nari checks a lot of boxes: It boasts pretty, elegant plating, big flavors (get the squid and pork jowl dish), and lovely cocktails.