Editor’s note: Nosh covers food and restaurant news across the East Bay, and each week we publish one article covering all the restaurant openings and one article covering closings. The openings and closings for each month are then compiled into a round-up. Have a tip for Nosh? Submit it here.
Albany restaurant opening
Best Friends
12.10.24: Need gifts for the buzzy food brand lover in your life? Stop by Best Friends, Albany’s newest wine bar (which actually opened in mid November) that doubles as a food-forward retail shop. Centering local wine producers and craft beers, the bar doubles as a charming marketplace where trendy tinned fish, fancy olive oils and chili crisps abound. And if all that shopping makes you hungry, the bar serves a rotating menu of small snack plates with cheese, meat, olives and nuts. Best Friends, 901 San Pablo Ave., Albany
Berkeley restaurant openings
Book Society
12.10.24: If you’ve been searching for a sleek, dimly-lit space to curl up with a good book and a glass of wine, look no further: Book Society, a wine bar and Art Deco-designed bookstore, cracked open its doors in Berkeley’s Elmwood district on Dec. 7. To any introvert’s delight, the shop features a self-serve wine dispensing system that allows visitors to fill up their glass on their own while perusing the lofty, elegant bookshelves. Unsure where to start? Search the shelves and you’ll find wine bottles nestled next to books on display as a pairing suggestion. Book Society, 2945 College Ave., Berkeley
Binge Coffee House
12.18.24: Binge Coffee House is open and brewing on Bancroft Way in downtown Berkeley — try saying that three times fast. The Vietnamese coffee, matcha and banh mi spot is the latest concept developed by Boba Binge, a bubble tea shop with locations in Oakland’s Uptown and Chinatown. Stop in for treats like pandan waffles, popcorn chicken and Vietnamese-style coffee topped with sweet egg custard cream. Binge Coffee House, 2199 Bancroft Way, Berkeley
Chimmelier
01.07.25: It seems the East Bay can’t get enough of Korean fried chicken, but who’s complaining? Chimmelier, the lauded Los Angeles-based joint for spicy wings and Korean street food, landed in Berkeley at the end of December, per the SF Chronicle. Housed in the former Bopshop Korean Kitchen on Solano Avenue, Chimmelier is sharing the space with Oh G Burger’s newest outpost, which also opened in late December. The two restaurants are holding a joint grand opening on Jan. 10 to celebrate the start of their shared journey, slinging free burgers for the first 50 guests — check Instagram for details. Chimmelier, 1823 Solano Ave., Berkeley
Oh G Burger – Berkeley
12.18.24: Oh G Burger, the neighborhood joint that became an instant hit after its September opening in Montclair, is brought its lauded, Korean-inspired smash burgers to Berkeley on Friday, Dec. 20. It’ll be a soft opening with regular menu items on offer, but a collaboration with LA-based Chimmelier Korean Fried Chicken is in the works, so check their Instagram for updates. Oh G Burger, 1823 Solano Ave., Berkeley
Roast & Toast
01.07.25: Like any dependable cafe should, Roast & Toast offers classic cafe fare like decadent coffee drinks, tea and ice cream, but folks who need to pair their caffeine with food can also stop in for a bigger bite. The menu boasts a healthy variety of bagels, as well as meat and veggie sandwiches like the garden party (fresh mozzarella, marinated red peppers, basil pesto, mixed greens, balsamic glaze drizzle) and the power (smoked turkey, avocado, lettuce, swiss cheese, red onions, tomato, pesto, garlic sauce and mayo) sandwiches. Roast & Toast, 1746 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
Emeryville restaurant opening
Ramen Hiroshi
12.03.24: Nine months after Shiba Ramen’s departure from Public Market, ramen is rejoining the lineup at the Emeryville food destination. The E’Ville Eye reported that Ramen Hiroshi opened in the former Shiba stall on Nov. 15, serving its signature Hakata-style broth alongside fan favorites like chicken karaage, gyoza and takoyaki (fried octopus ball topped with dried bonito flakes, seaweed powder and pickled red ginger.) Ramen Hiroshi also has locations in Walnut Creek, San Ramon, San Francisco and Alameda. Ramen Hiroshi, 5959 Shellmound St., Emeryville
Oakland restaurant openings
Malibu’s Burgers
12.10.24: Fans of this hit vegan fast food joint were understandably let down after its Oakland location’s December 2023 closure, but luckily, it didn’t stay gone for long: Malibu’s Burgers reopened its doors in Uptown Oakland’s former Hi Felicia space on Dec. 7. In tandem with Vegan Mob’s recent resurfacing, Malibu’s return signals a glimmer of hope for the East Bay’s vegan food scene, particularly after a wave of notable closures (including Lion Dance Café and Soulely Vegan) hit the community last year. Check their Instagram for updates on their opening hours. Malibu’s Burgers, 326 23rd St., Oakland.
Mixé
12.03.24: If you liked stopping into Calavera for an upscale Mexican meal or a mezcal tasting, the restaurant’s closure at the beginning of this year might have come as a blow. Luckily, Calavera’s successor is bringing vibrant, smoky flavors back into the building: Mixé, a mezcal and espresso bar inspired by the culinary traditions of Oaxaca, celebrated its soft opening on Friday, Dec. 6. The bar is named for the Mixé (pronounced “mee-hay”), a group of indigenous people from Oaxaca and is serving lunch and dinner. Mixé, 2337 Broadway, Oakland
Mohka Kitchen
01.07.25: If you’re familiar with Mohka House’s Yemeni-style spiced coffee and honeycomb pastries, it might be time to check out its latest offshoot, Mohka Kitchen. Serving homestyle Mediterranean cuisine featuring shawarma plates, fries, tabouli and hummus, the casual eatery opened mid-December just a few doors down from Mohka House in Oakland’s Dimond district. Mohka Kitchen, 2131 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
Moonglow at Gold Palm
12.03.24: Bar Shiru owners Shirin Raza and Daniel Gahr recently opened Gold Palm at the former Floral Depot building on the corner of 19th and Telegraph Avenue. On Dec. 4, the duo will unveil Moonglow, a “secret bar” inside Gold Palm. The bar features a long Mahogany bar as well as Art Deco-inspired lighting. If you’re a fan of the acoustics at Bar Shiru, then you’ll love the high-end sound system at Moonglow. The cocktail menu includes a mai-chai-tai with Oaxacan rum, an espresso martini made with tequila, a lychee martini and other specialty cocktails. Once inside, no photos or video are allowed. Moonglow will be open Wednesday through Saturday from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. — Azucena Rasilla. Moonglow at Gold Palm, 1900 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
The Peach
12.10.24: Kao Saelee, the founder of Jo’s Modern Thai, is moving forward after a tumultuous period in which the head chef and majority of staff quit, citing workplace issues such as understaffing and what they saw as unfair new demands, and the Laurel restaurant had to be temporarily shuttered. Now, Jo’s has reopened and Saelee is celebrating the soft opening of his new restaurant The Peach, an effervescent brunch spot in the former Lakeshore Cafe space. Awash in millennial pink and natural wood accents, The Peach infuses diverse Asian flavors with American brunch classics, with creative menu items including curry shrimp congee (a unique spin on shrimp and grits), lobster toast topped with lemon and Thai basil aioli, and smash fried chicken and pancakes. The Peach, 3257 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
Terra Bella Kitchen
12.10.24: Terra Bella Kitchen, a casual eatery serving Mexican comfort food, recently opened its doors on East Oakland’s International Boulevard. Burritos, tacos and quesabirrias appear on the menu, but you’ll also find vampiros, the crispy, gooey-cheese-coated grilled tacos first crafted by Sinaloan street food vendors. Terra Bella Kitchen, 7912 International Blvd., Oakland
Orinda restaurant opening
Sake Blue
12.18.24: From specialty hand rolls to nigiri to ramen, Sake Blue in Orinda offers pretty much anything you would ask of a quality Japanese restaurant, including plenty of veggie roll options for fish-free dining. Sake Blue is a good move for takeout or delivery, but if you’re dining in-house and feeling adventurous, start with an oyster shooter and see where the night takes you — it’s an oyster garnished with a quail egg, special sauce and cold sake to wash it all down. Sake Blue, 1 Camino Sobrante (Suite 6), Orinda
San Leandro restaurant opening
King Kong BBQ
12.18.24: Dependable, affordable Chinese food seems to have found a comfortable home on San Leandro’s E. 14th Street — King Kong BBQ, a hub for staples like lemon chicken, Mongolian beef and sweet and sour pork, has opened in what was formerly China Kitchen Express. Beyond your classic takeout fare, you’ll also find dishes like oyster sauce pork chop, salt and pepper shrimp and fish filet porridge on offer. Even more noteworthy are the prices: a combo plate with fried rice, chow mein and a protein of choice will run you just $4.99. King Kong BBQ, 13780 E 14th St., San Leandro
Richmond restaurant opening
Chipotle
12.10.24: Chipotle, home of Mexican-inspired fast food including tacos and burrito bowls, opened a new location in Richmond on Thursday. The restaurant is open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m., and, for a limited time, smoked brisket offerings are on the menu. Chipotle, 4200 Klose Way (Suite B), Richmond
Walnut Creek restaurant opening
Sipeos Cafe & Bar
12.03.24: Move over, mocktails — at Sipeos Cafe & Bar, the latest addition to Walnut Creek’s nightlife scene, mindful indulgence comes in the form of zero-proof and low-ABV cocktails that look and taste just like the real deal. (The term “mocktails” is going the way of the dinosaurs, owners Dhruma and Hetal Shah recently told SF Eater.) Instead of serving sugary, juice-based alternatives to alcohol, Sipeos serves cocktails that aim to pay homage to their boozy counterparts in both taste and presentation: there’s the nonalcoholic espresso marti-no, a twist on the classic espresso martini, and a nonalcoholic Negroni made from a spirits alternative. Guests can pair their beverages with a Mediterranean-inspired menu featuring mezzes, flatbreads and grilled skewers. Sipeos Cafe & Bar, 126 Broadway Lane, Walnut Creek
