TBD Yakitori Returns: Hina and Tommy Cleary Revive San Francisco

Here’s the inside story on a new izakaya concept that’s mixing Marin County’s love of bold flavors with the pulse of San Francisco’s dining scene. In Union Square, a former yakitori favorite has transformed into TBD, a spot where yakitori mastery meets sashimi and izakaya small plates. For Marin folks, this is a tasty reminder that the Bay Area food scene is just a hop, skip, and a ferry ride away. Mill Valley, Sausalito, Larkspur—wherever you’re coming from, the Mission isn’t far.

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A New Izakaya Concept Takes Shape in Union Square

When Tommy Cleary closed his well-loved Hina Yakitori in 2023, he didn’t give up on making skewer cooking more approachable. Instead, he showed up in San Francisco’s Union Square with TBD, a collaboration alongside sushi chef Ray Lee.

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TBD brings together Cleary’s yakitori skills and Lee’s sashimi and izakaya flair, with the kitchen team tossing ideas around and working together on dishes. Marin diners who crave flavor adventures now get a flexible, market-driven izakaya—it’s the kind of place you’ll want to visit more than once, whether you’re in Mill Valley or Tiburon.

The team wants to welcome all kinds of diners, with choices ranging from extravagant yakitori and sashimi to comforting hot pot. They keep some affordable picks for those casual nights out.

You can go all out on a big meal or just settle in with a crisp fried chicken leg—this dish really shows off the new spot’s focus on texture, technique, and playful glazes. Folks in Sausalito and nearby towns who want a local hangout with a city-style menu might find TBD fits the bill.

Menu Highlights and Techniques

The fried chicken leg stands out, served with the claw and double-fried for extra crunch. Its glaze layers honey, butter, chile, and a hint of yuzu, plus housemade furikake, shichimi, and a bright yuzu hot sauce.

This dish shows how yakitori can turn into a hearty, shareable centerpiece for an izakaya meal. Cleary ditched the skewers for an elegant wooden box presentation, aiming for that refined vibe you’d expect from one of San Francisco’s top spots.

There’s also an egg-yolk-topped chicken meatball tucked between rice-flour wafers—a playful, texture-driven bite that makes you rethink what chicken can do. Cleary, always up for a twist, is dry-aging his chickens, borrowing the technique from Ray Lee’s sushi background.

This amps up flavor and crisps the skin, showing a real commitment to deeper, richer tastes in a style that’s usually lighter. Expect toppings that celebrate the Bay Area’s love for bold combinations, like ikura (salmon roe) and pickled mullet roe on crispy chicken skin.

Here are a few more notes that sketch the breadth of the menu, from high-end to everyday indulgence:

Extensive yakitori selections that honor classic skewers while inviting adventurous pairings.
Sashimi and izakaya small plates designed for sharing across Marin County dinner tables from San Rafael to Fairfax.
A versatile hot pot option for cooler evenings on the coast or a warm, communal meal after a hike in Mount Tamalpais country.
A variety of price points to encourage regular visits rather than occasional splurges, a core idea that resonates with families living from San Anselmo to Novato.

Neighborhood Vibe, Pricing, and Marin-County Accessibility

Cleary hopes the range of prices and the izakaya atmosphere will make TBD a destination for Marin residents who want a quick, lively night out in the heart of the city. Maybe it’ll even tempt folks to plan a weekend visit to Union Square from San Jose to Santa Rosa for a taste of this evolving concept.

The restaurant’s in a limited private-preview mode right now for mailing-list subscribers connected to Akiko’s, Friends Of, and Hina. They plan to slowly increase covers as capacity allows.

For now, public access is restricted. Reservations pop up via TBD’s Instagram stories, which keeps things pretty intimate while the team tests ideas in a live kitchen environment.

Operational hours run Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30–8:30 p.m. That schedule fits well for Marin diners who want a post-work or post-hike meal before heading back across the Golden Gate.

If you’re coming from Mill Valley, Corte Madera, or Larkspur, it’s worth planning ahead. Definitely keep an eye on TBD’s social feeds for updates on public slots as they open up.

Here is the source article for this story: San Francisco’s Yakitori King Is Back

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Joe Harris is the founder of MarinCountyVisitor.com, a comprehensive online resource inspired by his passion for Marin County's natural beauty, diverse communities, and rich cultural offerings. Combining his love for exploration with his intimate local knowledge, Joe curates an authentic guide to the area featuring guides on Marin County Cities, Things to Do, and Places to Stay. Follow Joe on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.