Japanese Barbecue Chain Gyu-Kaku Plans SF Location in Former Buca di Beppo Space | Eater SF

"Planned for 855 Howard Street, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ is a global yakiniku chain with more than 700 locations that first arrived in the U.S. in West LA in 2001. The company behind several Japanese restaurant concepts has filed for a liquor license for the SoMa space; in its NorCal locations in Cupertino and San Mateo customers roast skirt steak in miso marinade over grills tucked inside their table, and the chain touts its “smokeless roaster” technology that sucks air from under the grills to provide ventilation. Typically Gyu-Kaku serves saku, schochu, and Japanese beers, and when it arrives it will be one of just a handful of yakiniku restaurants in San Francisco." - Caleb Pershan