Tiny, Nigiri-Only Sushi Restaurant 'Ijji' Headed To Divis Next Month

Tiny, Nigiri-Only Sushi Restaurant 'Ijji' Headed To Divis Next MonthPhoto: Stephen Jackson/Hoodline
Stephen Jackson
Published on January 15, 2016

Back in May, we got some intel on a new Japanese eatery that was set to move into the former KK Cafe space (252 Divisadero). We've now confirmed that Ijji, a tiny, nigiri-only sushi restaurant, plans to open its doors at the beginning of February, kicking off with a soft opening on January 27th. 

Head chef and part-owner Billy Kong is also behind Noe Valley's popular Saru, and he plans to offer similarly-priced nigiri at Ijji. (At Saru, for example, a two-piece hamachi nigiri is $6, while tuna, or maguro, is $7.) Joining him in the new venture is business partner Kuo Hwa Chuang.

A sushi chef for the past 12 years, Kong worked at San Mateo's Sushi Sam's for several years before starting Saru. He says he's drawing the inspiration for Ijji from Sushi Yasuda, a popular nigiri-only sushi bar in New York City.

"I got inspired by them doing something so simple in the city," he said. "There's been so much sushi opening up in San Francisco the past few years, with very high-end omakase. Every time you go, it takes an hour and a half to three hours. I just wanted to do a simple, nigiri-only restaurant."

Ijji will also serve a handful of simple seasonal side dishes, like miso eggplant and mosuku, fresh seaweed salad sourced from Okinawa. As for the fish, 95 percent of it will be sourced from Japan. 

The restaurant itself will be quite cozy, with only 16 to 18 seats. It will only be open for dinner (5-10pm), and will be closed on Mondays.

Ijji is one in a wave of Asian restaurants set to hit Divisadero this year. Another sushi restaurant, Juni, will be taking over the former Candybar space, while Fulton Street's longtime sushi spot Tsunami is moving next door, into the larger former Cafe Abir/Corkage space. And Namu Gaji spinoff 'Namu Stonepot' is still set to take over the former Jay's Cheesesteak spot on Divis