SF Eats: Krispy Krunchy Chicken to expand in Tenderloin; Hometown

Photo: Krispy Krunchy Chicken/Yelp

Here's the latest in SF food news. In this edition: a popular fried chicken spot relocates and expands its menu, a Divisadero coffee shop changes ownership to a Berkeley-based roaster, and a Sunset creamery debuts a mobile ice cream truck.

Openings

Tenderloin

Krispy Krunchy Chicken (177 Eddy St.)

Krispy Krunchy Chicken, from the chain's Bayview location. | **Photo: Stephanie G./Yelp**

Tipster David T. let us know that Krispy Krunchy Chicken is relocating within the Tenderloin. It recently closed its 93 Eddy St. location to move to 177 Eddy St., the space that formerly housed Pandora Karaoke & Bar. The move will super-size the fried-chicken eatery from 300 to more than 2,000 square feet.

A Louisiana-based chain that made its name in gas stations, Krispy Krunchy has a cult following — Thrillist even named it America's best fried chicken in 2017. Its other full-service location in San Francisco is in Fisherman's Wharf, and it has a few outposts in gas stations in SoMa, the Mission and Bayview.

Owner Jamal Homran said that the larger space is intended to accommodate the business' high volume, and allow it to offer items beyond basic fried chicken and biscuits. The new menu will include healthier options and more variety, with items such as sandwiches and salads.

In July, Krispy Krunchy also joined up with CloudKitchens, the controversial startup from former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. It now offers delivery from CloudKitchens' "ghost kitchen" at 60 Morris St. in SoMa, from which more than 20 other food brands (some of them self-invented by the company) also deliver.

The new, larger Krispy Krunchy will open in the Tenderloin sometime in September, Homran said. For now, it will exclusively offer delivery and takeout.

Updates

Divisadero

Native Twins Coffee (262 Divisadero St.)

The Rubin sisters, owners of Native Twins Coffee. | Photo: Teresa Hammerl/Facebook

In 2018, twin sisters Jen and Ashley Rubin took over the Repose Coffee space at 262 Divisadero St. (and Haight), rebranding it as Native Twins Coffee.

Now, the shop is turning over again — to Souvenir Coffee, a small roaster based in the East Bay. It will be the third cafe for the company, which has outposts on Claremont Avenue in Berkeley and Solano Avenue in Albany.

"Its been difficult for us as well as many others in this industry to financially recover from this pandemic,” the Rubins said in an Instagram post. “We both feel it’s best that we move on from the business to focus on other interests."

The sisters plan to remain at the shop for the next few months, in order to assist Souvenir's owners with the transition. They'll also continue to run their Native Twins granola brand, which is based in Mill Valley and distributed throughout the Bay Area.

The Rubins and Souvenir Coffee didn't respond to a request for comment on when the change in branding will take place, but Souvenir's website says the Divisadero cafe is already "softly open."

Marina

The Cream Machine (Marina Green Park at Marina Blvd and Scott St.)

The Inner Sunset's Hometown Creamery is expanding to the Marina, via a semi-permanent food truck.

A few years ago, brothers Adar and Saadi Halil have converted a 1978 VW bus into the "Cream Machine," serving up scoops of their scratch-made ice cream in Union Square, the Financial District, and at private events. Now, they've secured a three-day-a-week spot at Marina Green Park.

Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., the Cream Machine will cool its wheels near the small yacht harbor at Marina Blvd. and Scott St., completing the "food truck trinity" of the Philz Coffee truck and Mexican food truck Cochinita.

"We are so excited to now have a place in the Marina and have so far loved serving that community," Saadi Halil said via email. "We feel so fortunate that our business is able to adapt and continue to operate safely, as a quick grab-and-go product that brings joy and a sense of normalcy to so many."

The van will always stock three classic flavors — vanilla, mint chip and vegan chocolate sorbet — alongside three rotating "farm to cone" options like peach-lemon-thyme sorbet, banoffee (banana, toffee and shortbread) or brown sugar bread pudding. Each comes in a homemade waffle cone or compostable cup.

Post-pandemic, the van hopes to resume its stints downtown as well. Follow the Cream Machine on Instagram for the latest on its travels and menu.

Thanks to tipster David T. If you've seen something new (or closing) in the neighborhood, text your tips and photos to (415) 200-3233, or email [email protected]. If we use your info in a story, we'll give you credit.