A new izakaya lands near Union Square, the Castro gets a new Northern Thai restaurant, and the Chronicle’s Cesar Hernandez gives his review of RT Bistro, all in This Week in Food.
A new Japanese izakaya called TBD has moved into the former Akikos space at 431 Bush Street. Eater reports that it’s a collaboration between Ray Lee of Akikos — which has now moved to 430 Folsom Street — and Tommy Cleary of the erstwhile Divisadero spot Hina Yakitori. Expect Hokkaido scallop crudos, tsukune, and chicken karaage, but you’ll also find yakitori style “medium-rare” chicken bits, sans skewers, and more. It doesn’t look like they take reservations as of now, but the Instagram is here. And maybe there’s a restaurant name that is still TBD?
A new Northern Thai restaurant has just opened in the Castro called Ka Kai. The restaurant, being run by alums of Farmhouse Kitchen and its affiliated restaurants, just debuted last week in the former Thai Chef space at 4133 18th Street. Hoodline had the news of the (technically soft) opening, and you can peek at the menu here. It includes Northern Thai dishes like mu thod and ka paw duck, all served in handmade bowls imported from Thailand’s Lampang Province…