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.
Berkeley restaurant closures
Ali Baba
01.30.25: Ali Baba, a Middle Eastern café coveted for its breakfast burritos, wordlessly closed its Berkeley location, a reader reports. For those willing to make the trek, its original Davis location is still open. Ali Baba was located at 1805 Euclid Ave. in Berkeley.
Mr. Cupbob Korean Bistro
01.16.25: A reader let us know that Mr. Cupbob, a fast-casual Berkeley restaurant specializing in rice bowls and Korean BBQ in a cup, has closed. The restaurant has been cleared out, and it appears an eviction notice was put on the door. Mr. Cupbob was located at 2126 Center Street in Berkeley.
Tuk Tuk Thai Café
01.30.25: Thanks to several tipsters, we learned that the family-run establishment Tuk Tuk Thai Café has closed for good after serving the Berkeley community for 24 years. The closure was confirmed on Tuk Tuk’s website. Tuk Tuk Thai Café was located at 2468 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley.
Emeryville restaurant closure
C Casa
02.05.25: After seven years of service in Emeryville, taqueria C Casa is closing its doors, the E’ville Eye reports. The restaurant cited post-pandemic economic struggles, though it was also recently fined over $45,000 by the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour division for violations at their Napa location, including “reckless child labor law violations.” All of the taqueria’s locations have now closed. C Casa was located at 5959 Shellmount St. in Emeryville.
Oakland restaurant closures
The CRO Café
01.16.25: Temescal Alley’s compact coffee shop, The CRO Café, has shuttered temporarily, as confirmed by owner Luigi Oldani (and a few heartbroken Reddit users.) The tiny café was a cute outpost for lavender lattes, mochas and pastries, but it’s not goodbye forever — Oldani, who is relocating with his family to Napa, plans to sell the business and is looking for new ownership for a future reopening. The CRO Café was located in Alley 49 in Oakland.
Hapuku Fish Shop
01.30.25: After 20 years of pouring heart and sole into Rockridge’s Market Hall, Hapuku Fish Shop closed for good on Jan. 26. While loyal patrons are sad to see Hapuku (and their fish and chips) go, they’ll still find fresh seafood at Market Hall: Billingsgate Seafood is slated to open in Hapuku’s place in the coming days. We’ll keep you posted. Hapuku was located at 5655 College Ave. in Oakland.
Hotbird
01.08.25: Hotbird, the Downtown Oakland eatery serving Nashville-style spicy chicken sandwiches, took a final bow on Jan. 4. The closure was announced on Instagram, but, according to the post, a new venture will be in the works soon. Hotbird was located at 1951 Telegraph Ave in Oakland.
GotJuice
01.23.25: Oakland’s Laurel district just lost its neighborhood juice bar. GotJuice owner Terrell Elliott announced in a statement shared with Nosh that, while the decision wasn’t made lightly, “serving the Laurel district has been more than just business — it’s been family.” GotJuice was located at 3843 MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland.
High Peaks Kitchen
01.23.25: High Peaks Kitchen, a casual hub for Indian food in Oakland’s Rockridge district, announced a permanent closure as of Dec. 31. “This is a bittersweet moment because, while I feel it’s the right decision for my well-being, I am unsure of what the future holds and what new path I will embark on,” wrote co-owner Tsultrim Dorjee. High Peaks was located at 5299 College Ave. in Oakland.
K Street
01.23.25: K Street, which one Yelp reviewer described as a “whimsical joint serving K-street food and late-night bites,” has shuttered. The casual outpost served a variety of Korean snacks and sweet treats, including corn dogs, instant ramen, popcorn chicken, smoothies and frozen yogurt. K Street was located at 3905 Broadway in Oakland.
