Yozu Asian Bistro Set to Replace Shorebird on El Paseo

Palm Desert’s dining scene is getting a refresh later this month as Yozu Asian Bistro prepares to open at The Shops on El Paseo. The owners held a hiring event a couple of weeks ago and have now confirmed an August 26 opening date.

Wild Thyme Pivots From Shorebird to a New Concept

Yozu isn’t a new tenant. The space was formerly Shorebird, an Orange County–originated concept owned by Wild Thyme Restaurant Group. Rather than closing the restaurant entirely or continuing with the same format, Wild Thyme chose to pivot and introduce a different concept in the Shorebird location. Yozu Asian Bistro is new for the group, even though the operators are familiar.

Wild Thyme runs several concepts across Southern California and Arizona. Shorebird remains active in San Diego, Newport Beach, and Sedona, and the group also owns Mole, the modern Mexican restaurant across the street on El Paseo. Shorebird Palm Desert opened in 2024 and closed in May 2026. There’s no clear explanation for why it didn’t endure. Some might assume a seafood‑leaning restaurant performs better in coastal markets, but Sedona disproves that, and long‑standing spots like Pacifica show that seafood can work on El Paseo. When local news reported the closure earlier this year, reactions were mixed — reviews were inconsistent, and something clearly wasn’t connecting, hence the pivot.

How Yozu’s Design and Philosophy Shape the Shift

Yozu Asian Bistro is described as “a neighborhood Asian bistro … where Tokyo’s izakaya tradition meets Desert Modern design.” The website calls it “a place to come twice a month, not twice a year,” which hints at the internal thinking behind the shift.

Yozu is built around social, energetic dining and pulls its menu from Japan, Korea, China, and Southeast Asia. The lineup leans into bold, shareable dishes like wok‑fired shaking beef, Kurobuta pork belly fried rice, citrus achiote pad thai, Korean fried wings, sticky ribs, and pork belly buns. Upstairs, an intimate sushi bar called Cherry Blossoms will serve hand rolls, nigiri, and a small sake selection.

Modern Asian Dining Finds Its Momentum in the Valley

It’s a new direction from Wild Thyme, and based on their track record, there will likely be plenty of originality behind it. Modern Asian concepts have been thriving across the valley — Ponzu, Crudo, Sandfish, and The Venue are just a few examples — and Yozu is stepping into a landscape that’s already energetic and well‑established.