Remembering Yakko Sushi
by Max Hauser
Yakko Sushi on W. Dana, 45-year-plus member of the downtown-area restaurant cluster that has made Castro Street a dining “destination” in recent decades, closed in March. A posted notice expressed regrets, and memories of good customer experiences. It was hard news for some longtime customers.
Alice, a neighbor, writes that she asked the proprietor, “‘No more Yakko’s?’ He shook his head and I could tell he was holding back tears at best.”
Alice told the Newsletter that he (known fondly as “Papa Yakko”) would arrive “well before opening hours and was very dedicated to his restaurant. His son was the sushi chef for some time and always engaged the entire restaurant with banter and laughter. The sound of the little bells on the door opening and closing will be missed on W. Dana.” Mama Yakko too “was also present very often and so kind. She loves her grand kids dearly!”
Resident Holger Isenberg recalled becoming a regular there. “Yakko was my favorite sushi place since I arrived from Germany in Mountain View in 2016 and it will be difficult to find a replacement for the constant good quality. Also not to forget legendary Sushi master Leon, at the helm of the Sushi bar until mid 2019 when he moved away with his family. I was a frequent guest there and enjoyed this combination of a small family-owned place for meeting the locals, and being at the same time a place to go to for international visitors to the large local software companies. A nice example of older Mountain View history and new businesses joined well together. After years of continuous work, the owner couple, who also worked daily in the location, retired from business.” •
