Commission approves H & K Peninsula’s Place of Entertainment permit for karaoke rooms

The Entertainment Commission approved a Place of Entertainment permit for H & K Peninsula, a dim sum restaurant at 3565 Geary Boulevard, allowing private karaoke rooms and live singing in the main dining room.

Staff said the applicant mailed 175 bilingual letters (English and Chinese) to nearby residential and commercial neighbors and provided three letters of support. Staff reported no formal opposition in the commission’s packet; one neighbor raised questions about street noise from patrons leaving at closing, and staff forwarded an email exchange between the applicant and the neighbor showing commitments to post signage asking patrons to keep voices down and for staff to encourage quiet dispersal.

Stefano Casolato represented owner Yongsan (Sam) Liu at the hearing. Casolato described the applicants’ outreach and said early protests were withdrawn after meetings with neighbors: "We invited everybody downstairs. We met with everybody, and we found them to be really, truly good good neighbors. They had really good questions... Those people now are our customers," he said.

Commissioners asked about room doors (staff said the karaoke rooms have individual doors and windows for transparency) and whether the venue planned other live entertainment; representatives said occasional table-to-table singers have been allowed under one-time permits but the space is primarily a dinner house with karaoke in private rooms.

No objections were raised during public comment. After discussion commissioners voted to approve the POE permit with staff recommendations. President Bridal, Vice President Wong, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Perez, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Schlander and Commissioner Thomas voted aye.