Another longtime California dining institution has disappeared, following other beloved neighborhood restaurant closures. Mai’s Restaurant, a Vietnamese fixture on Clement Street in San Francisco, closed permanently on October 1, 2026, after 47 years serving the Richmond District.
There was no extended public farewell or announced final week. Customers learned of the closing through a neighborhood post and a recorded telephone message thanking them for their support and friendship. The message offered no explanation. The San Francisco Chronicle confirmed the closure on October 2 after calling the restaurant.
A Clement Street tradition since 1979
Mai’s opened in 1979 at 316 Clement Street, in a neighborhood celebrated for its Asian restaurants, markets and independent businesses. The appeal was not an elaborate dining room or a constantly changing menu. It was the chance to sit down to familiar Vietnamese comfort food, served in a relaxed setting by people customers came to recognize…