“Sunset Buzz” will be a recurring column on changes, tidbits and other news from the Sunset. Got news? Send us tips at tips@missionlocal.com.
Tadaima, the instagram-famous Japanese-style sando and matcha spot, which regularly has a line down the block at its original location in the Mission, will open its third location in January in the space formerly occupied by Sunset Subs, at 1248 9th Ave.
Like the Mission location, the Inner Sunset spot will be within walking distance of a popular picnic spot: This time, Golden Gate Park, instead of Dolores Park.
Expect similar menu items: Sandwiches with fillings like chicken karaage and shrimp tempura served on soft, crustless white bread. Also: The same aesthetic. On a recent November morning, workers hustled to cover the storefront with the distinctive dark green tiles used at its other locations.
Saint Frank Coffee, the specialty coffee company with locations in Russian Hill and SoMa, opened its third S.F. storefront at 744 Irving St., a spot formerly occupied by a Starbucks. So far, the line is out the door. The sun-lit, airy space is filled with workers on laptops during the week, and families with baby strollers (and babies) on the weekends.
In addition to standard espresso drinks, interested parties can order a “competition-style cappuccino” for $10 (Jason Yeo, a barista at St. Frank, placed third in the 2025 US Barista Championship, and St. Frank’s owner, Kevin Bohlin, bragged to Eater earlier this year that St. Frank is “a competition company.”
LaLe, a Mediterranean-Turkish restaurant at 731 Irving St., closed its doors in November after 11 years in the Inner Sunset.
“Every guest, every plate and every conversation has been part of our history — and for that, we are forever grateful,” the owner, Suzan Sarikurt, wrote in a statement.
LaLe will live on as a catering operation and as a line of ready-to-eat meals sold at grocery stores in the Bay Area.
Dumpling Park, a Chinese restaurant on Ninth Avenue, closed in late October after six years at 1308 Ninth Ave. The space will reopen as Core 40, a fitness studio that has five locations across San Francisco, according to a planning permit.
More cafes and restaurants keep opening, but the storefronts that once provided necessities to the Inner Sunset — Progress Hardware at 724 Irving St. and the Reliable Rexall Sunset Pharmacy at 801 Irving St. — remain empty, with “for lease” signs in their windows.
The former Bank of America location at 800 Irving St., was the campaign office for Mayor Daniel Lurie’s successful mayoral run. Now, it’s the campaign headquarters for Saikat Chakrabarti, one of several would-be Nancy Pelosis.
Hon’s Wun-Tun House, a Chinatown staple that has served Hong Kong style wonton soup since 1972, opened a third location at 1830 Irving St., just past 19th Avenue. Its grand opening will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 6.
Marcel, a new cafe at 1101 Taraval St., opened in late September in the former space of Tabita’s Cafe. Expect classic brunch fare like bagels and eggs Benedict, as well as other items, like lobster cheese sandwich rolls and “400 times coffee,” a drink with frothy espresso floating on top of the milk.
The Inner Sunset kind of need more or other kinds of stores then just a lot of places to eat. It great that there is the comic bookstore Amazing Fantasy, a smaller Green Apple Bookstore, just not flooded with too many places to choose to eat from and not really much other things to do. Maybe there should be a smaller version of Amoeba Music type store, hobby shop, arts and craft store, a Goodwill type store, etc….
Also, I have never seen campaign activity for Saikat Chakrabarti at the B of A building. I suspect that it was just rented for that one day!
It is really sad to see what has happened to our neighborhoods over the decades. I relate that here:
https://commonsprotector.medium.com/gentrification-history-of-the-inner-sunset-e8728b6466f1
Hardware stores are rare all over San Francisco, you can almost count all of them with the fingers of one of your hands.
Remember when Amazon used to be a bookstore?