Ono Grindz owners (and married couple) Bradley Lum (Executive Chef) and Josefa Carballo Lum (General Manager)

On Sunday, I stopped in to check on a new spot that’s opened in the neighborhood called Ono Grindz, a new Hawaiian restaurant opened by a husband and wife team.

The restaurant’s name means “delicious food” – “ono” is Hawaiian for delicous and “grindz” is Hawaiian slang for food or eats. Owner and Executive Chef Bradley Lum first used the name on his line of specialty sauces which have done well, allowing him to open his first restaurant sharing the name.

I sat down with his wife and business partner, Josefa Carballo Lum, to talk about the restaurant, which just underwent a soft opening this past weekend. They invited about sixty friends and family members to come by and dine, allowing the staff to get in the groove and work out the opening kinks. While I was there, a steady stream of residents popped in to dine or grab a menu.

Ono Grindz’s menu consists of traditional Hawaiian fare with an emphasis on chicken, egg, spam, sausages, and meat dishes. Josefa says her favorite dishes are the “Spam & Cheese Waffles” ($6) and the “Kalua Pork Benedict” ($9), consisting of toasted Hawaiian bread, Kalua pork, taro leaves, plantation potatoes and lomi lomi tomatoes.

Despite the descriptions of those favorite dishes, Chef Lum says their offerings are different from the “plate style” food that you sometimes see at Hawaiian eateries here on the mainland. While portions are still generous, Lum makes an effort to cut down on the fat in his dishes and offer local, fresh, and organic ingredients whenever possible.

Lum says that rather than frying the meat in their dishes, they are char-broiled. And they hand grind their beef on site, opting for sirloin and chuck which makes for a less fatty ground beef. Lum also plans to add some lighter fare to the menu like “Ahi Tataki” (seared Ahi) and miso butter fish.

In the meantime, Ono Grindz may become the new favorite spot for hungry breakfast eaters. Try the “Chicken and Waffles” ($10) consisting of chicken katsu, spam and cheese buttermilk waffle. Or you might want to dig into the Apple Banana Pancakes or “Veg N Eggs” ($9) if you’re looking for something lighter (2 eggs, zucchini, spinach, leeks, chili oil and plantation potatoes).

And if you’re accustomed to really fueling up in the morning, try the “The Big Island”, complete with 2 eggs, plantation potatoes, apple banana pancakes and your choice of a side meat for $11.

Lunch items include a Hamburger Steak ($10), Garlic Shrimp ($12) and Ox Tail Jook (porridge, $9) and a BBQ Chicken Salad ($9).

While Chef Bradley Lum has been in the food business for nearly two decades, it’s the first restaurant that he has owned together with his wife, Josefa, who is the General Manager. “I come from a legal background so I’m bringing my management skills to the business,” she said. The two got married last year.

Bradley, who is Chinese-Hawaiian, got his passion for cooking from watching his “mom, paw paw & gong gong” (grandmother/grandfather in Chinese) in the kitchen when he was growing up.

“I watched each of them for hours and later found myself trying to recreate dishes from scratch that I tried at restaurants. Coming from a Chinese and Hawaiian background, enjoying good food and making things came naturally,” he says on their website.

Bradley and Josefa, both native San Franciscans, commute to work from their home in Potrero Hill, but Josefa says they’re keeping their eyes out for a new home here in the neighborhood. Josefa says they chose to open Ono Grindz in the Richmond District because of Clement Street’s foot traffic and eclectic mix of cuisines. “We also liked the blend of mom and pop businesses with larger ones, but still not big chains,” she said.

The space was previously home to a vegetarian restaurant, and Josefa said they made mostly cosmetic changes to get ready to open, which has been in process since March. “We also asked a lot of questions of small businesses to learn as much as we could,” Josefa said.

The couple are also interested in art, supporting local artists by featuring their work on the restaurant walls.

Ono Grindz currently only offers breakfast and lunch. Josefa says in the future, they may stay open on Friday and Saturday nights to offer a traditional “luau plate” menu, but for now they’re keeping things simple as they break in the new space and train their staff.

Ono Grindz is located at 832 Clement near 10th Avenue, and is open daily for breakfast and lunch from 8am until 3pm. Stop in to say “Aloha!” and welcome them to the neighborhood.

Sarah B.

Thanks to RichmondSFBlog reader Mark T. for the tip.

Two new Asian restaurants have opened their doors for business on Geary near 18th Avenue – Enjoy Vegetarian and Perilla.

Unlike many of the restaurants that open in the neighborhood, both have other locations in San Francisco – Enjoy Vegetarian in the Sunset District and Chinatown, and Perilla in SOMA and the Inner Sunset.

Enjoy Vegetarian (5344 Geary) offers a large menu of dishes that are 100% vegetarian. Emblazoned on the menu is the credo “Dishes served do not contain garlic, onion & MSG. Imitation meat are made of soy product, yam or wheat gluten.”

The selection of dishes is extensive, with prices ranging from $5.99 for appetizers like “Fried Curry Potato Triangle” and “Japanese Sashimi” to $22 for an “Black mushroom, Veggie Abalone, and Sea Slugs with Lettuce”.

Enjoy Vegetarian is open daily for lunch from 11am until 2:30pm (including a large menu of $7.50 lunch specials) and then again for dinner from 5pm until 9pm.

Just a block further down is Perilla (5423 Geary), offering Vietnamese cuisine. Owner Tin Truong also runs another restaurant in the Richmond District – PPQ Dungeness Island (2332 Clement).

Perilla’s menu is ample and includes sections for starters, garlic noodles, Vermicelli, rice plates, vegetarian options, and noodle soup. The beverage menu includes a “three color drink / red bean drink” ($3.25), a sweet drink that is a Vietnamese version of Nab Vam, made with a simple syrup of caramelized sugar, coconut milk, ice, and tapioca pearls.

Prices at Perilla range from $6.50 for starters like “Imperial Rolls” or $9.50 for “Papaya Salad with Poached Shrimp”, to $10.50 for larger dishes including “Charbroiled Beef Garlic Noodle” and “Vietnamese Carpaccio”. View the Perilla menu (PDF)

Perilla is open daily from 11am until 9:30pm.

Both restaurants were hopping when I cruised by around lunchtime on Sunday, so I think it’s safe to say they’re off to a good start.

Have you eaten at Enjoy Vegeterian or Perilla yet? If you have, let us know about your experience in the comments!

Sarah B.

Photo by Max Spring

Happy Wednesday to all! Here’s some local links to make Friday get here even sooner…

• 7×7 is already warming up for Outside Lands 2012 with a Rdio playlist featuring songs from the festival’s bands “to get you psyched!” Tune in here
• The new Cajun House restaurant on 5th Avenue near Clement we told you about earlier this week will open up tomorrow, May 3.
• This Saturday is the 45th Annual Plant Sale at the Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park from 10am until 2pm. “Choose from over 4,000 different kinds of plants that thrive in the Bay Area’s frost-free fog belt – many plants not found at other regional plant sales or commercial nurseries.” Special to the sale this time around: unique, hard-to-find edible plants.
• Do meatballs make your heart sing? 7×7 loves the Lion’s Head meatballs at Shanghai House (3641 Balboa), calling them “impossibly moist” when they arrive in their hot clay pot with bamboo and mushrooms.
• This one’s for you, tree-huggers: On June 3, Naomi LeBeau of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy will lead a walking tour of the trees of Lands End and Sutro Heights Park. RSVP to Sarah Campbell at sarah@fuf.net.
• Speaking of Sutro Heights Park… Check out the Architecture Spotlight: Sutro Heights Park over at UntappedSF. Creator Adolph Sutro tried to “recreate a European garden, dotted with statues, planters, and fountains.” Cool photos too.
• SFStation paid a visit to the new Foggy Notion boutique and gallery on 6th Avenue, where owner and artist Alissa Anderson offers handmade, organic and environmentally conscious products made by her, as well as other designers and artists. “Alissa is gracious and charming, and a visit to her store is essentially a warm welcome into a working artist’s studio. It’s worth a visit to this little nook of creativity.”
• Next time you’re near the Blue Danube Cafe on Clement, pop in to see a new photo exhibit by Spanish photographer Jose Ángel González. His New Life for Old Frames exhibition is his first in SF, and features his photos encased on old frames that he recovered from thrift stores and garage sales. “I can’t imagine a higher honor for a photograph than to be able to reside in a space destined to preserve treasured memories.”

Sarah B.

Photo by Kathryn Salamin

Cajun cooking is coming to Clement Street in place of the Prime Rib Shabu House on 5th avenue.

The Cajun House, a Louisiana-style kitchen specializing in crawfish, oysters and crab, is set to open its doors sometime this May. Owners Serena Seto and Jon Xie are excited to bring a new flavor to the Inner Richmond.

“Cajun cooking is not new to San Francisco. But this is a first for the Richmond District,” Seto said.

The Cajun House is also not the first crawfish restaurant for owner Jon Xie to open. He previously owned the Craw Station, a popular Asian-Cajun style kitchen in the Sunset District. Xie is also behind the Cajun Houses’ fusion inspired menu, boasting eclectic fare such as fried catfish, Cajun spicy wings, and lemon butter clams.

Seto expects items anywhere from garlic noodles to gumbo, from sweet potato fries to steamed rice to please both sides of the Asian-Cajun pallet. But it’s the main dishes like crawfish and Dungeness crab seasoned with your choice of lemon-pepper, garlic butter, or their House Cajun sauce that Xie and Seto believe will reel in customers.

“Our style of cooking crawfish will likely satisfy everyone’s choice of flavor,” Xie said.

Though not originally from the South, the San Francisco-based owners’ love and knowledge for Cajun cooking was passed down from Xie’s good friend’s uncle, a New Orleans chef for over 25 years who recently retired back to San Francisco. It was he who inspired Xie to bring a new style of seafood to the Richmond and Sunset Districts.

Adjacent to popular dessert destination Toy Boat, and a block away from local favorite Green Apple Books, the Cajun House is sure to feel right at home on the melting pot streets of Clement, Seto said.

“I think we are in a very good location with plenty of foot traffic,” Seto said. “But as always, our best advertisement is word of mouth.”

UPDATE: The Cajun House plans to open on Thursday, May 3.

Story by Kathryn Salamin
Journalism Student, CCSF

Yet Wah restaurant on the corner of Clement and 23rd Avenue closed their doors last November after decades in business. For a short while there was a sign stating that they were remodeling, but by January, a for sale sign replaced it.

EaterSF reports today that a liquor license application has been filed against the 2140 Clement Street address by Chinatown Restaurant. They already have one location in San Francisco at 744 Washington.

According to their website, they’re a “restaurant landmark” that has been in business since 1919:

Chinatown Restaurant serves Traditional Chinese Cuisine, Northern Chinese Specialties, as well as Spicy Szechuan Favorites. We believe that the best way to enjoy Chinese food is to eat it family-style. When you’re here, sample our spicy Kung Pao Chicken and Mu Shu Pork. Feeling adventurous? Try the Crispy Peking Duck and the Salt & Pepper Crab, a local favorite. With over a hundred unique dishes on our menu, you will be sure to find something for everyone.

The former Yet Wah with its second floor should be a good fit for them, as it can be used for large, banquet parties. You can check out the restaurant’s Party Combination, Student Group Party and Take-Out menus here.

Unfortunately the Washington Street location is not well reviewed by Yelp users. After 198 reviews, they’ve only earned 1.5 stars out of 5 – ouch. Many of the negative reviews mention poor service and being lured into the restaurant by a woman passing out coupons on the street. Clearly they’ve got their marketing strategy figured out…

No word yet on when the new Chinatown Restaurant will open.

Sarah B.

We got word this week of two businesses on or near Clement Street that are closing their doors.

Inside Scoop SF first reported on the closure of Prime Rib Shabu (305 5th Avenue), a well-reviewed restaurant from star chef Luke Sung (formerly of Isa fame) that opened in late 2009.

The good news is that the 305 8th Avenue won’t be empty for too long. A sign in the window indicates a new eatery will be moving in called Cajun House Louisiana Crawfish.

Cherish (115 Clement), a retail store that offers “cards, invitations, scrapbooking, studio”, is also closing its doors. It sent out an email saying they had lost their lease, and as a result, are hosting a final 40% off sale.

RichmondSFblog reader Susan forwarded us the email, saying “we’re losing a great shop on Clement”. No word on whether Cherish will re-open elsewhere or who will take over the 115 Clement Street space.

Sarah B.

RichmondSFBlog reader Todd sent us a note today about Angelo’s Cafe, located at 2314 Clement between 24th and 25th Avenue.

“My wife and I had breakfast there most sundays, and we went by yesterday and it was closed up. I peeked in thru the blinds and it was nearly empty,” Todd wrote.

Looks like the eatery has closed its doors – their website is gone and their phone number is disconnected. Their Twitter account is very outdated.

I never got a chance to eat there, but the cafe – including Ana who worked there – seemed well-liked with a 4 out of 5 star review on Yelp, and mentions of praise for their breakfast sandwiches. Judging from their twitter feed, sounds like they hosted live music every now and then as well.

Were you an Angelo’s customer or neighbor? Leave a comment to let us know how you feel about them closing down.

Sarah B.

City Burning, from Alamo Square, Hayes Street & Pierce Street, April 18, 1906. Courtesy SFMTA

Happy Friday to everyone! Here are some local links to kick off your weekend…

• It was the anniversary of the 1906 earthquake on Wednesday. The SFMTA posted some new historic photos that have surfaced from the aftermath. Amazing stuff.
• This Saturday, Enjoy Vegetarian will be opening their third restaurant at 5344 Geary between 17th & 18th Avenues. Their press release boasts, “Enjoy has vegan food that not only looks but tastes like real meat. Lots of gluten-free options and a fair selection of Americanized-Chinese food, such as sweet-and-sour chicken. No MSG, garlic or onion in any dishes.” CNN even rated them the 7th best Chinese restaurant in California.
• Patricia Unterman may no longer be a food critic for the Examiner, but she has her own website for fans to catch her latest reviews. She recently reviewed Golden Gate Dim Sum (1829 Clement), and in her usual adventurous style said “most of the dishes I wanted to try were posted on the wall in Chinese.” Unterman concludes the review by saying that Golden Gate “has now joined my top comfort food list.”
• Untapped Cities has a nice feature on the architecture and murals at Beach Chalet. “The City of San Francisco built the Beach Chalet in 1925, at a cost of $60,000, to provide facilities for beach goers. The ground floor consisted of a lounge and changing rooms, while the upstairs held a 200-seat bar and municipal restaurant.”
• CurbedSF is running features on local parks, and spotlighted our own Muriel Leff Mini-Park on 7th Avenue. Did you know it was the first mini-park built in the city? I wonder if it’s jealous of the new parklet craze… Curbed also has a nifty post on pics of the Cliff House, Then & Now with a fancy sliding bar that lets you compare photos easily.
• The Anza Branch Library, which re-opened last June after a nice remodel, was recently certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. What does it mean? That the library was “designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO? emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.” If you’d like a LEED tour of the library, stop by on June 16 from 2-4pm (it’s also their one year anniversary since re-opening).

A couple of local businesses are getting into the Earth Day spirit this weekend:

• The recently opened Ingenious Salon (389 Arguello) is hosting a grand opening party on Saturday night from 7 to 10pm. Stop by to enjoy “hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, modeling of cutting-edge hair styles and fresh spring make up by makeup artist Ananda Grant, goodie bags, music, and raffle for free and discounted service.”
• Foggy Notion (275 6th Avenue), a new boutique that specializes in recycled and vintage items, is hosting an Earth Day Vintage Sale on Sunday from 12noon until 6pm. Little Eagle Vintage will create a pop-up store on site, vintage vinyl records will be on sale, and all mittenmaker handmade jewelry will be 50-75% off. Plus complimentary Mimosas and other champagne cocktails.

Keep it green!

Sarah B.