6 Restaurants Opening In San Francisco This Fall

Late this November marks the projected opening of Namu Stonepot in the NoPa neighborhood. This restaurant comes from the minds of the Korean-American Lee brothers behind the Mission’s Namu Gaji. Namu Stonepot will serve up fast casual cuisine in a space that seats 21 on Divisadero Street. The food will be a unique combination of both Californian and Asian flavors, with gluten-free fried chicken, ramen, stews and salads. The signature claypot dish from Namu Gaji can be expected, too, featuring vegetables, kimchee, egg, koshihikari rice and gochujang. The restaurant will feature a beer and wine menu, too.

Coming to the Hayes Valley neighborhood this December is The Starling, established by Chef Adam Tortosa. The Starling will be a sushi restaurant serving up local and sustainable fish and produce. In addition to sushi, a small menu of hot and cold small plates will be available, as well as an omakase chosen by the chef. This restaurant will have a more laid-back atmosphere than the typical high-end sushi restaurants that are taking over the city these days, offering an intimate space with ten bar seats and 20 dining room seats.

Merchant Roots is bringing a new concept to San Francisco come late November: a ‘craft grocery store’ along with an intimate restaurant. The restaurant was conceptualized by Chef Ryan Chelton and Madison Fraser, a sommelier, who are combining forces to bring fresh pastas, charcuterie, pastries, wine, beer and more to Merchant Roots every single day. The restaurant will be located in the Fillmore district and will feature counter-style dining. Three days a week, a small number of visitors will be offered dinner filled with Italian and French options.

Near the border of Nob Hill and the Tenderloin, there will soon be an American restaurant opening named Hitachino Beer and Wagyu. This restaurant will feature izakaya-style cuisine, such as Japanese and American wagyu, as well as a selection of pickled snacks that will include pickles, braised meats and meatballs. There will be a selection of exclusive Hitachino beers on tap, local wine options and several sake options from Kiuchi Brewery. Once opened, the restaurant will feature 45 seats and a bar with eight to ten seats.

This November, Erik Sun of Los Angeles’ Bestia will be opening The Arsenal at Brannan and Harriet. This restaurant will be a high-end Asian establishment, emphasizing whole-animal cooking, with both omakase and a la carte options available. The menu will feature the likes of Kobe beef (complete with an official Kobe beef certification), and drink options will include beer, wine and sake. There will be a noodle bar inside that seats ten, and all of the tables will feature smokeless barbecue grills.

Coming at the start of November is The Bird, a restaurant from the mind of Adriano Paganini, a restaurateur of empirical status. The new restaurant will be located on New Montgomery Street in SoMa, bringing fast casual fried chicken sandwiches to the neighborhood. The sandwiches will feature free-range fried chicken, served at both lunch and dinner. This will mark the 20th restaurant Paganini owns in the Bay Area, and the third fast casual one, after Super Duper and Uno Dos Tacos.