A café, a market and an upcoming full-service dining experience — all in one space? A newly opened Japanese restaurant in Palo Alto brings that idea to life at Yutori.

Located on 3375 El Camino Real, with lines of customers forming throughout the day, Yutori has quickly become one of the most talked-about spots in Palo Alto all across social media.

Soft-opened on April 17, the establishment introduces a concept uncommon in the area: a Japanese-inspired convenience store paired with a modern café. Customers can grab egg sandos, bento boxes and Japanese snacks, all crafted to offer high-quality food in a convenient, grab-and-go format.

Yutori presents a calm, modern dining space that blends minimalist Japanese-inspired design with natural elements. Outside, a clean white facade with simple signage and a carefully landscaped Zen garden of gravel, stone and greenery create a tranquil atmosphere that invites people to come inside to chat or study.

Inside, the restaurant keeps its peaceful aesthetic by including light wood furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow soft natural lighting to fill the space.

According to co-owner Lily Peng, the restaurant’s popularity can be attributed to its heavy influence from everyday life in Japan.

“In Japan, the konbini is like a little convenience store,” Peng said. “A lot of those items we brought here and made it our elevated chef version of it.”

Peng said the space itself reflects the meaning behind its name.

“The word ‘Yutori’ means making space and enjoying the moment,” Peng said.

The market section also distinguishes Yutori from other restaurants. In addition to food, it sells imported snacks and goods from Japanese artists that are difficult to find elsewhere in the U.S.

“Those [Japanese goods] are really unique items that you can’t go online and buy,” Peng said.

When we visited on a Friday at noon, the line was already long, and we waited around 30 minutes just to place our order.

However, once we ordered, service moved efficiently. The pastries were available immediately from the bakery display, while the drinks took about 15 minutes to arrive.

We tried some of the barista’s recommendations, and here’s what we thought:

Earl Grey Matcha Latte ($8) – 7/10

The Earl Grey matcha latte is an appealing iced drink for any Earl Grey fan. While the matcha itself was a little thin, watery and understated, it had a foamy, creamy top and a strong Earl Grey flavor. Its intense taste and the duality of its thin matcha and creamy top make it a great choice for people looking for a refreshing drink.

Kyoto Latte ($7) – 6/10
The Kyoto latte is a warm and foamy beverage that mixes espresso, elderflower and lemon zest, topped with latte art of a leaf. However, because the taste of espresso was strong, it was difficult to locate any hint of elderflower or lemon zest. Nonetheless, it is a good drink for espresso lovers.

Premium Ceremonial Matcha Latte ($7.50) – 6/10

Despite the premium ceremonial matcha latte’s intense green color, this beverage is much more milk-heavy than it is matcha. The drink has a smooth, creamy texture with a lightly sweet flavor, but the earthy bitterness typically associated with matcha is fairly muted. While tasty, it is not the drink for anyone looking for a strong taste of matcha.

Neri Goma Chocolate Chip Cookie ($4.75) – 9/10
The neri goma chocolate chip cookie comes covered in toasted sesame seeds, which provide a satisfying crunch that contrasts well with the soft interior. Neither the sesame nor the chocolate overpowers each other; instead, they blend together to create a delicious and balanced flavor.

Black Sesame Scone ($6) – 7/10
The black sesame scone is very dry and crumbly on its own, but it pairs well with a drink. The scone also has a strong black sesame flavor that stands out without being overpowering, giving it a toasted, nutty finish.

Matcha Financier ($4.50) – 9/10
The matcha financier was delicious and satisfying, with a firm, crispy exterior and a mochi-soft interior. The matcha flavor was strong but not overwhelming, giving the pastry a rich taste that remained balanced and smooth.

Mitarashi Dango ($6) – 6/10
Served at room temperature, the dango was very chewy and covered in sweet syrup. However, while the chewy texture was satisfying, the syrup was noticeably thin and a little too salty, which made it miss the thicker, sweet-soy classic syrup that is typical in dango.

Overall, Yutori is a great place to drop by and buy a snack from, and the perfect stop for anyone trying to get a taste of Japan.