Original Joe’s Is Opening Two New Restaurants, and One May Surprise You

San Francisco institution and over-the-top tourist favorite Original Joe’s continues to expand its SF footprint, thanks to the current generation of owners, siblings John and Elena Duggan. Following last year’s opening of Little Original Joe’s in West Portal, the siblings will open another Italian spinoff in the Marina and, interestingly, a Mexican restaurant, also in West Portal.

The Italian restaurant, set for 2301 Chestnut Street in the Marina, will bring to fruition the original vision the siblings had for the West Portal Little Original Joe’s. It’ll be a full-service restaurant and bar open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch (rather than the retail market and takeout operation in West Portal). Elena’s, the Mexican restaurant, is set for 255 West Portal Avenue, and may make more sense than at first glance — also a full-service restaurant with a bar, it’s inspired by the Mexican heritage of Elena Duggan’s two oldest daughters. The restaurant will serve crudos, ceviche, tacos, and enchiladas, according to a press release. The siblings expect to open both restaurants in late 2022.

Oakland’s getting a plant-based meat market

In further expansion news, the owner of Oakland’s longtime vegan taco pop-up Taqueria La Venganza is opening an all-vegan, Mexican “meat market,” reports the SF Chronicle, serving soy-based meats and vegan cheeses by the pound in addition to its popular tamales, tacos, and burritos. The market, opening next month at 597 15th Street, will also have a late-night takeout window serving beet chorizo tacos and fries topped with vegan carne asada. [SF Chronicle]

Umami Mart launches a ticketed coffee shop

This weekend marks the launch of Umami Mart Kissaten, Umami Mart’s new ticketed, Sunday-only coffee shop serving traditional Japanese kissaten sweets like purin and fruit sando. Berkeleyside has the report on its unusual structure: customers must purchase a $20 ticket in advance, which covers one coffee drink, one cafe sweet, and gratuity, and sign up for a seating between noon and 3 p.m. (visits are limited to 75 minutes). While this Sunday is sold out, tickets go on sale every Wednesday from here on out. [Berkeleyside]

The Mission’s KFC/Taco Bell is now just KFC

The former combination KFC/Taco Bell in the Mission (at 200 Duboce Avenue) is now a full-time fried chicken restaurant, reports Hoodline, but fear not — you can still get your Taco Bell fix at the Excelsior KFC/Taco Bell location (4285 Mission Street) or at the hybrid in South San Francisco (199 Airport Boulevard). Act fast, though — you never know when those two could become a thing of the past, as well.