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New business Casito registers at Noodle in a Haystack's Geary address

New business Casito registers at Noodle in a Haystack's Geary address

Rule Changes San Francisco, CA local

Casito holds an active California beer and wine license at the closed Noodle in a Haystack address on Geary Boulevard

October 14th, 2026: State issues Casito's beer and wine license

Overview

Updated Oct 28

California issued Casito a beer and wine license at 4601 Geary Blvd on October 14, 2026. The application had been on the state's list since early October, about two months after the business registered at the address. State records name the licensee as Umami Familia LLC, file 680654.

No one has said publicly what Casito will serve, who runs it, or when it will open. The storefront is the former home of Noodle in a Haystack, the Michelin-recommended ramen counter that closed in May 2026. Its owners, Clint and Yoko Tan, plan a separate fast-casual ramen restaurant, Mazé, at Thrive City in Mission Bay.

Why it matters

A licensed tenant now holds the empty Noodle in a Haystack storefront, the clearest sign yet that something will operate at 4601 Geary.

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Key Indicators

1
Business registration at 4601 Geary Blvd
San Francisco registration for Casito is dated August 6, 2026.
Active
State beer and wine license
Type 41 license, file 680654, issued October 14, 2026 to Umami Familia LLC; the state lists it active.
May 2026
Noodle in a Haystack closed
The Michelin-recommended ramen counter closed at the address in May 2026.

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People Involved

Clint Tan
Clint Tan
Co-owner, Noodle in a Haystack
Closed Noodle in a Haystack in May 2026; plans to open Mazé, a fast-casual ramen restaurant at Thrive City in Mission Bay
YT
Yoko Tan
Co-owner, Noodle in a Haystack
Closed Noodle in a Haystack in May 2026; plans to open Mazé, a fast-casual ramen restaurant at Thrive City in Mission Bay

Organizations Involved

Casito
Casito
Business entity
Holds an active California type 41 beer and wine license at 4601 Geary Blvd, issued October 14, 2026

Business registered at 4601 Geary Blvd in San Francisco; holds an active state beer and wine license.
Noodle in a Haystack
Noodle in a Haystack
Restaurant
Closed in May 2026 at 4601 Geary Blvd; Michelin-recognized

Acclaimed ramen restaurant that operated at 4601 Geary Blvd in San Francisco until May 2026.
UF
Umami Familia LLC
Business entity
Named as the licensee on Casito's active type 41 beer and wine license

Company named as the licensee for Casito's beer and wine license at 4601 Geary Blvd.

Timeline

May 2026 October 2026

4 events Latest: October 14th, 2026 · 4 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. State issues Casito's beer and wine license

    Latest Licensing

    The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control lists an active type 41 license for Casito (Umami Familia LLC) at 4601 Geary Blvd, file 680654. Business-records site BizSleuth logged the same date as a liquor license transfer to a new owner.

  2. Casito license application appears on state list

    Licensing

    A California ABC license application (type 41, on-sale beer and wine at an eating place) for Casito appears on the state's list. The license has not been issued.

  3. Casito registers as San Francisco business at 4601 Geary Blvd

    Registration

    City records show a business registration for Casito at 4601 Geary Blvd, with location start date August 6, 2026.

  4. Noodle in a Haystack closes at 4601 Geary Blvd

    Closure

    Noodle in a Haystack closed in May 2026, Mission Local reported. Owners Clint and Yoko Tan said they would open a fast-casual restaurant called Mazé at Thrive City in Mission Bay.

Scenarios

1

Casito opens as a new restaurant at 4601 Geary Blvd

Possible Resolves by Jun 1, 2027

Discussed by: No public analysis yet; the record is thin

The state issues the type 41 license and Casito begins operating at the address, either alongside or replacing Noodle in a Haystack. This would be confirmed by the ABC license being issued and the business serving customers.

2

Casito is a rebrand of Noodle in a Haystack

Possible Resolves by Jun 1, 2027

Discussed by: No public analysis yet; the record is thin

The existing restaurant at the address changes its name to Casito, with the license application reflecting the new entity. This would be confirmed by Noodle in a Haystack announcing a name change or closing and Casito taking over the space.

4

Casito is an unrelated tenant in the former Noodle in a Haystack space

Possible Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local reported the Noodle closure and the Casito registration; no one has identified Casito's owners

Noodle in a Haystack closed in May 2026 after its owners said they would focus on a Mission Bay fast-casual restaurant. Casito registered at the same address in August. If it is a separate business, it would be a new tenant in the emptied space, not a rebrand.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

until May 2026

Noodle in a Haystack's acclaimed run

Noodle in a Haystack served a ramen tasting menu at a 12-seat counter, and its reservations were among the hardest to get in San Francisco. It went on to earn Michelin recognition and national praise, including New York Times and Bon Appétit best-restaurant lists.

Then

The restaurant became one of the city's most sought-after tables, with reservations described as among the hardest to get.

Now

It established 4601 Geary Blvd as a destination for acclaimed ramen in San Francisco.

Why this matters now

The address now carries a celebrated name. A new business entity registering there raises the question of what comes next for that legacy.

Sources

(13)
+7
City and County of San Francisco California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Noodle in a Haystack Eater SF Fine Dining Lovers Mission Local BizSleuth Coming Soon Project San Francisco Chronicle SFGATE Lauren Fraser Properties The Dissent California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control