Hell’s Ramen Turns Up The Heat in the Mission

Iza Ramen’s spicy new fling

A fiery new ramen option spotted by Tablehopper has arrived in the Mission from the Iza Ramen folks (who run bustling shops in the Haight and SoMa as well as the Mission sushi restaurant Blowfish). Hell’s Ramen, whose focus includes very spicy ramen broth, is “a chef’s hobby space” at 2193 Mission Street (at 18th), formerly the oddball establishment Dante’s Weird Fish. Looks like The Iza/Blowflish team nabbed the space last year and tried another concept, Tawara Sake Dining, first, before settling on spicy ramen for their next try. Current hours during Hell’s Ramen’s soft opening phase are Tuesday to Friday, 5:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Michelin-approved Japanese restaurant will close in the Mission

Meanwhile, farther up 18th Street, Yuzuki, an eight-year-old Japanese restaurant and long-running Michelin bib gourmand awardee, is closing at the end of the month. The restaurant on the corner of Guerrero is known for its house-made tofu and use of koji, among other specialties. Owner Yuko Hayashi thanked customers in an email obtained by the Chronicle, writing that running the restaurant, while challenging, has “brought me some of the happiest and most rewarding moments of my life.”

Supervisors approve harsher terms for storefront vacancies

In an effort to curb storefront retail and restaurant vacancies in San Francisco, city supervisors (led by Sandra Lee Fewer of District 1) approved new legislation to give existing laws sharper teeth. Currently, landlords are required to register vacant storefronts but rarely do so: Now, they could be hit with a $2,844 non-registration fee.

Rediscovering Julia Child’s trip to Tu Lan

One legend at legendary 6th Street Vietnamese restaurant Tu Lan involves Julia Child’s supposed trip to the restaurant. But just when did Child visit? On the hunt to prove the legend true or false, the Chronicle’s Peter Hartlaub makes some charming, human discoveries, and (spoiler) appears to come to a happy conclusion.