"San Francisco-native chef Geoffrey Lee and business partner Tan Truong―owners of the one-Michelin-starred 12-seat omakase sushi restaurant jū-ni on Fulton Street―will join chef Tommy Cleary (alum of Berkeley’s Michelin-recognized Ippuku) to launch a new omakase restaurant, Hina Yakitori. Cleary previously ran a restaurant of the same name in Temescal, Oakland, which closed after receiving Michelin recognition in 2017, citing plans to relocate elsewhere. While Lee will continue to run culinary operations at jū-ni, Cleary will helm the 16-course yakitori omakase menu, featuring wagyu and uni, as well Emmer & Co. pasture-raised heritage chickens halved and broken down into 12 distinct courses. Leading beverages is Justin Chin, also beverage director at jū-ni, who will focus on wine, sake and shochu pairings." - Marguerite Imbert