Entertainment Commission continues Los Yakis permit after neighbors report years of loud karaoke

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission on April 2 continued an application from Los Yakis, a Mexican restaurant at 324 South Van Ness Avenue, after multiple neighbors described repeated noise and quality-of-life impacts and staff recommended more neighborhood outreach.

Staff told the commission that Los Yakis applied for a Place of Entertainment (POE) permit to host indoor entertainment — karaoke, DJs and drag shows — and that the owner intends to install ceiling sound panels and submit to a senior-inspector sound test. Arturo, the meeting interpreter, translated comments from the business representative and manager, Tony, who said the business would comply with any conditions and install required mitigation.

Neighbors testified at length in person and on Zoom, describing years of weekend noise that they said continued after complaints. One neighbor who lives three floors above the restaurant said: “We’ve measured it at above 75 dB … it causes my windows to shake” and reported filing complaints to 3-1-1 with no effective remedial action. Another neighbor said amplified karaoke routinely ran past 12:30 a.m. and that parklet patrons and vendors had blocked driveways and caused safety concerns. Property owners and long-term residents presented petitions and letters referenced by staff.

Commissioners and staff discussed the applicant’s prior outreach (a mailed notice) and whether additional direct neighbor engagement had occurred. Staff said the business had sent the required mailer but had not done the kind of face-to-face or mediated follow-up that could resolve neighbor concerns. The Commission’s president said the office’s inspectors and enforcement program exist specifically to respond to nightlife neighbors and that bringing a business into compliance can improve conditions, but emphasized the need for concrete mitigation and a plan.

A commissioner moved to continue the Los Yakis application to a future hearing and asked staff to facilitate contact between the applicant and neighbors so the parties can develop documented mitigation measures and, if appropriate, a follow-up testing plan. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Staff will collect contact information from audience members and work to schedule pre-hearing outreach; the continuance suspends a final decision until the follow-up is complete.

What’s next: Staff will follow up with both the applicant and the neighbors to document outreach, proposed mitigation (sound panels, door/vent measures, on-call response to complaints) and a timeline for a measured sound test. The Commission advised that the matter will return to a future agenda once staff confirms a neighborhood meeting and mitigation commitments.

Provenance: Transcript presentation and applicant remarks (SEG 1039–SEG 1071), extensive public comment from neighbors reporting measured decibel readings and complaints (SEG 1128–SEG 1506), staff motion to continue and vote (SEG 1569–SEG 1616).