Goemon Izakaya Bar & Karaoke Lounge officially opened on 32nd and Clement streets earlier this week with a lion dance, firecrackers, and over 100 people packed shoulder to shoulder. With eight private karaoke rooms, a full izakaya menu, and a spacious back patio, Goemon isn’t just another restaurant — it’s a statement. A fully Asian-owned, built-from-scratch space designed for joy, community, and cultural permanence.
The name is a nod to Ishikawa Goemon, a 16th-century Japanese outlaw hero who stole from the corrupt and gave back to the people — a fitting symbol for a place reclaiming prosperity and public presence in a city where Asian American contributions are often seen but not fully recognized.
Before this new chapter, there was Goemon Sushi — a Sunset neighborhood staple run by Gan-san, a Japanese immigrant chef who quietly built a loyal following. That humble, generous spirit lives on here. But now, it’s scaled and modernized. Anchored in westside permanence and built for the future.
At the heart of the project is John Tam, Chinatown karaoke host and community builder known for turning Red’s Bar into a weekly refuge for song and belonging. “We’ve been borrowing space for years,” he said. “Now we finally built something for ourselves. It’s a dream come true.”
Tam partnered with Kellie Chen and Lily Huang, immigrants from China’s 2000s wave who’ve raised their families in San Francisco and understand, intimately, what small business means to the Asian American experience: not just income, but identity — a way to shape the city rather than shrink inside it. Goemon isn’t just for them. It’s for their children and everyone else’s.
And people came — not just from around the block, but from across the bay. Diane Tong drove in from Emeryville after friends insisted she see it for herself. “The community John Tam is building goes beyond the city,” she said. “His reputation for hospitality draws people in. You feel welcomed before you even walk through the door.”
The buzz was earned. Goemon is built around the izakaya model, Japan’s version of the neighborhood tavern: casual, high-energy, designed for food, drink, and staying late. At Goemon, it translates into hot dishes flying out of the kitchen, karaoke rooms packed with friends, and a full bar that supports laughter, not pretense. It’s not just a place to eat — it’s a place to exhale.
Karaoke has long been a staple of Asian nightlife in San Francisco, from neon-lit lounges in Chinatown to tucked-away bars downtown where songs flow as easily as sake. But until now, the Outer Richmond has had few, if any, options that reflect that same culture of casual, communal joy. “I’m happy that we finally have an Asian-style karaoke here in the Outer Richmond where we don’t have to leave the neighborhood in order to sing to our heart’s content,” said Myron Lee of BeChinatown. For families and friend groups out west, Goemon fills a real gap — not just in entertainment, but in cultural infrastructure.
That kind of offering doesn’t happen by accident. Alvin Louie of San Francisco Unified Lions Club put it plainly: “Goemon is the embodiment of Asian small business success. It’s proof of what happens when we build, own, and invest in our community.” Ownership here isn’t just economic — it’s civic. It’s how you hold space in a city that doesn’t hand it out freely.
The road to opening wasn’t easy. The owners shared openly that the permitting process was brutal and that story matters too. Because Goemon shouldn’t be the exception. It should be easier for communities to build places like this — and harder for bureaucracy to stand in the way. We’ll unpack that fight, and what needs to change, in a follow up to this story .
The opening was definitely a win. Not just for John, Kellie, and Lily. But for everyone who sees themselves in the idea of building something that lasts. Goemon is immigrant pride rendered in neon and hardwood. It’s a third space that feels like first home. It’s karaoke, good food and drinks, yes — but also visibility, agency, and continuity.
Goemon Izakaya Bar & Karaoke Lounge: 3129 Clement Street (at 32nd). Full kitchen, eight karaoke rooms, and outdoor patio. Open late.