Yojimbo

What do Superman, the Joker, a Samarai, and Audrey Hepburn have in common? They’re all painted on the walls of a tiny Japanese restaurant called Yojimbo. Yojimbo means “bodyguard” or “assassin;” thus, the swordsmen and the superheroes. Not to mention the action-filled Japanese animation playing on the flat screen. Audrey, well, she helps add the Hollywood glam to the anime equation.

If you haven’t already guessed, Yojimbo is completely original, and the oversized, black-and-white canvases encircling it were created by one of the owners himself. The restaurant is super small but pleasant and comfortable, the kind you might imagine filling the busy streets of Tokyo.

Locals who’ve discovered Yojimbo have a new favorite lunch spot, and not just because of the art-filled walls. Yojimbo serves fresh sushi at a bargain price, including nigiri sushi for less than $2, select sushi rolls for under $3, and an assorted sashimi platter for under $9. Ramen bowls make a nice addition to the menu, with the noodles all spiced up and chicken, pork, vegetables, or seafood added to help fill you up. Traditional chirasi bowls are a hit with the lunchtime crowd, as are the popular bento box specials.

Servers here are prompt and friendly, and frequently offer a bowl of salad or miso soup – on the house. The owners, busy behind the chef’s counter at the front of the restaurant, are never too preoccupied to greet their customers as they enter and leave.

With just a handful of tables at the ready, it doesn’t take many to fill this place up, but the steady stream of customers coming in through Yojimbo’s door prove that bigger doesn’t always mean better.
 

- by Renee M. Rutledge, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Renee M. Rutledge

Renee M. Rutledge currently writes articles on local travel and culture for Red Tricycle, Parents' Press, Oakland Magazine, and Alameda Magazine.