San Francisco's Stonestown Galleria, a mall already peppered with an array of international dining spots, is ready to tantalize the palates of food lovers with three new restaurants. SFGATE reported that Stonestown will soon see the addition of two Seattle area favorites making their California debut, along with an expansion of a local Vietnamese eatery.
Known for concocting authentic Vietnamese flavors, Le Soleil plans to set up its second San Francisco location at the mall by year's end, in a space that once housed Banana Republic. The family-operated restaurant, also with a presence in Hong Kong, serves up classics including "bo luc lac" (shaking beef) and imperial rolls. Brookfield Properties, per a statement obtained by the Business Times, pointed out, clearly excited for the new variety, that the choice at Stonestown is increasing, though it was not specified what flavors diners can expect.
Supreme Dumplings, gaining a reputation in the Seattle region for its tantalizing soup dumplings, is also marked for a Stonestown debut. Slated for the end of 2024 or early 2025, this spot will reinvent the space once occupied by LensCrafters. Brookfield Properties emphasized the high Yelp ratings and the notable buzz around the restaurant in the Seattle area, as reported by KRON4, hinting at the potential for replicated success in the California market.
Also joining the mall's culinary circuit is Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya. With an extensive presence in the U.S. and Japan, the renowned ramen chain will replace the beloved Gram Cafe, which closed August 27. While the soufflé pancake spot will be missed, fans can look forward to Kizuki's offerings in the first quarter of 2025, especially since this marks their first California location. Aiming to transform a former sweet spot into a haven for noodle enthusiasts, "Kizuki will replace the popular souffle pancake spot Gram Cafe," according to SFGATE.
These additions underscore Stonestown's evolving strategy as it continues to secure its standing as a food hub in the face of decreasing mall foot traffic nationwide. Previous installations of international Asian restaurant chains like Marugame Udon and Kura Revolving Sushi Bar have proven successful, a trend that the mall seemingly aims to bolster with its latest dining ventures. In the words of a Brookfield Properties spokesperson cited by the Business Times, they are responding to "demand for food tenants exceeding available space" by establishing "larger scale, destination driven restaurant concepts." Whether these new eateries will indeed turn Stonestown into the next hotspot for foodies remains to be seen, but the ingredients for success certainly seem to be simmering in the kitchen.
