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Poke Origin closes as Yemeni cafe planned across the street

Poke Origin closes as Yemeni cafe planned across the street

Built World San Francisco, CA local

Poke Origin served its last bowl Oct. 1. A Yemeni cafe with a $20,000 grant now targets a December opening across the street.

October 22nd, 2026: Vibrancy Fund grants announced

Overview

Updated Oct 22

Poke Origin served its last spicy tuna bowl on Oct. 1, ending a decade at 716 Irving St. Across the street, the family behind KJ Produce has a $20,000 grant and a December target for its Yemeni cafe, 403 Coffee.

The money comes from the Inner Sunset Neighborhood Vibrancy Fund, which nonprofit SF New Deal announced on Oct. 22 with 28 recipients. 403 Coffee will serve Yemeni coffee and house-made baklava and stay open until 10 p.m., giving the block a place to sit after most cafes close.

Why it matters

A long-empty corner gets a late-night, alcohol-free hangout, paid partly by a neighbor-funded grant meant to fill vacant storefronts.

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Key Indicators

10
Years of Poke Origin's lease
The lease on 716 Irving St. ended Oct. 1, 2026.
6
Years of vacancy at 403 Irving St.
The former Shin Dig venue has been empty since about 2020.
$20,000
Vibrancy Fund grant for 403 Coffee
Earmarked for interior design and materials at the cafe.
2
New cafes planned on the block
403 Coffee and Abanico Coffee Roaster's second location.

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People Involved

YM
Yahya Munsar
Co-owner of KJ Produce and 403 Coffee
Cafe won a $20,000 Vibrancy Fund grant; December opening targeted
 Cyrus Shen
Cyrus Shen
Owner of Poke Origin and other restaurants
Closed Poke Origin; owns other eateries

Organizations Involved

PR
KJ Produce
Grocery store
Operating; its planned cafe, 403 Coffee, won a $20,000 Vibrancy Fund grant

Corner grocery store at Fifth Avenue and Irving Street run by the Munsar family.
PO
Poke Origin
Restaurant
Closed

Poke restaurant at 716 Irving Street that operated for nearly a decade.
AC
Abanico Coffee Roaster
Coffee roaster and café
Opening second location on the block

Mission-born coffee roaster planning a new café next to KJ Produce.
CO
403 Coffee
Cafe
Buildout planned; December 2026 opening targeted

Yemeni cafe and dessert lounge planned for 403 Irving St.

Timeline

2017 October 2026

7 events Latest: October 22nd, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Vibrancy Fund grants announced

    Latest Announcement

    SF New Deal names 28 Inner Sunset recipients of grants from a $300,000 neighborhood fund, including $20,000 for 403 Coffee.

  2. Mama's Boy Pizza takes former pharmacy space

    Lease

    The San Francisco Standard reports the New York-style slice shop will move into the old Reliable Rexall spot in spring, its first location outside Oakland.

  3. Yemeni cafe plan reported

    Announcement

    Mission Local reports that KJ Produce's brothers plan to open a Yemeni cafe at 403 Irving St., set for early 2027.

  4. Poke Origin closes

    Closure

    Poke Origin serves its last meal as its 10-year lease ends.

  5. KJ Produce opens

    Opening

    The Munsar family opens a corner grocery store at Fifth Avenue and Irving Street.

  6. Shin Dig vacates 403 Irving St.

    Closure

    The event venue Shin Dig leaves the building at 403 Irving St., beginning a six-year vacancy.

  7. Poke Origin opens

    Opening

    Poke Origin opens at 716 Irving St. in the Inner Sunset.

Scenarios

1

Yemeni cafe opens as planned by summer 2027

Likely Resolves by Q3 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local and local community

The Munsar brothers complete the buildout of 403 Irving St. and open the cafe early in 2027 as announced. They stock the wine coolers with grab-and-go items, serve Yemeni coffee and baklava, and keep hours until 10 p.m., filling the vacancy left since 2020.

2

Cafe opening delayed or cancelled

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local

Permits, construction costs, or staffing issues delay the cafe past 2027, or the brothers decide to shelve the plan. The space at 403 Irving St. remains vacant, and the block's transformation stalls.

3

Former Poke Origin space gets a new tenant

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Cyrus Shen, Mission Local

The landlord at 716 Irving St. signs a new lease. The interested UMe Tea chain didn't move forward due to formula retail rules, but another tenant—possibly Q Specialty Coffee or a local shop—takes over the space.

4

403 Coffee opens before the end of 2026

Possible Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: The San Francisco Standard, citing the owners

The Munsars finish the interior at 403 Irving St. and open 403 Coffee on the December timeline they gave the Standard, keeping the storefront occupied through the winter.

Historical Context

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

2020-2026

Rise of Yemeni cafes in the Bay Area (2020s)

A wave of Yemeni-owned coffee shops opened across Oakland and San Francisco, offering traditional Yemeni coffee, pastries, and late-night hours. The trend has spread through the Yemeni community, which is planning 'hundreds of locations' across the Bay Area.

Then

Yemeni cafes became neighborhood gathering spots and attracted long lines.

Now

The trend has expanded immigrant entrepreneurship and changed the region's coffee culture.

Why this matters now

The planned Inner Sunset cafe brings this wave to a key Sunset corner, filling a long-vacant storefront and joining Abanico Coffee Roaster next door.

Sources

(2)
Mission Local The San Francisco Standard