New San Francisco Restaurant Shinka Blends Japanese Flavors With French Technique

Grilled eggplant with uni at San Francisco’s Shinka. | Annette Chu Chef Fumio Yonezawa is trading Tokyo for San Francisco as he opens his new restaurant Shinka on Friday, October 9, located on the ground floor of the Jay, Autograph Collection, a hotel in the Financial District.  Born in Japan, Yonezawa first cut his teeth in kitchens learning Italian cuisine in Tokyo before leaping to New York and joining Jean-Georges as a sous chef in 2002. Yonezawa eventually made his way back to Japan as part of the opening team of Jean-Georges Tokyo. After leaving Jean-Georges he opened omakase restaurants No Code in Tokyo and Taipei, plus the more casual NY Bistro by No Code. Yonezawa moved to San Francisco in September to take advantage of the opportunity to open Shinka. He thought it’d not only be a good opportunity for his career, but also for his daughters to learn English and experience living in California. “I like California, I like San Francisco — all of the Bay Area,” Yonezawa says.