Yutori Brings Modern Japanese Flavors to Palo Alto
Jerome Ito, a former head sushi chef at Google's Mountain View headquarters, has opened his most ambitious venture yet - Yutori, a Japanese cafe, konbini (convenience store), and hot deli in Palo Alto. The 5,000-square-foot venue is divided into three sections: a cafe, konbini, and deli on the left side, and a restaurant accommodating 68 people indoors and 32 on the patio on the right side.
Ito, along with his wife Linh Tran-Ito, who is a physician, has also launched Go Fish Poke Bar in San Jose, with two additional locations in downtown Redwood City and at Palo Alto's Stanford Shopping Center. The couple runs Taro San Japanese Noodle Bar in Palo Alto as well.
The team at Yutori includes chef de cuisine Jason Lee, who started out in the kitchens of Go Fish and Taro San, and pastry developer Janet Tong, formerly of Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc in Yountville. Charles Choung, a sake sommelier with experience from Omakase in San Francisco and Protégé in Palo Alto, manages the restaurant's front-of-house.
The menu at Yutori is divided into three sections, progressing from small bites to entree-sized portions. The restaurant offers a variety of Japanese flavors and ingredients, including those sourced from Watsonville-based Hikari Farms.