ABOUT US

Cassava, a beloved French-Californian neighborhood bistro founded by husband-and-wife team Chef Kristoffer Toliao and Yuka Ioroi, opened on March 5, 2012, as an 8-seat café moonlighting as a pop-up tasting menu restaurant.

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During the 10.5 years at its original location on Balboa Street in the Outer Richmond neighborhood, Cassava received high praise from outlets like the SF Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, and Eater SF for Chef Kris Toliao's creative cuisine and the team’s pursuit of equitable restaurant practices.

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In October 2022, Cassava relocated to North Beach, to the iconic corner of Columbus Ave and Vallejo St. Featuring its signature three-course prix fixe dinner and a fun à la carte selection, Cassava quickly became a beloved new dining spot in North Beach. Since the move, Cassava was named to Eater SF's list of best new openings in San Francisco. The James Beard Foundation recognized the team’s commitment to equitable restaurant operations, naming Yuka Ioroi and Kris Toliao as semi-finalists for the Outstanding Restaurateur category—the only ones in Northern California.

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As part of its evolution, Cassava will close its North Beach location on November 17, 2024. The team is transitioning the company into a quick-service brand, Cassava San Francisco, while expanding into consulting with its first client North Beach Restaurant. Additionally, Kris will be joining Atelier Crenn’s kitchen to gain further experience. Looking forward, as the San Francisco economy recovers, the team plans to open a full-service, dinner-only restaurant within the next few years.