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. Have a tip for Nosh? Submit it here.
El Mono
El Mono, a purveyor of casual Peruvian fare like lomo saltado, ceviche, yucca fries and more, has opened a new outpost on Berkeley’s Fourth Street. (The original location is in El Cerrito.) Stop in for lunch or dinner seven days a week and don’t forget to check out their bar menu, which offers a selection of Peruvian brews and creative cocktails. El Mono, 1300 Fourth St. (at Gilman St.), Berkeley
Oken
From the teams behind the acclaimed Ok’s Deli and Ohgane comes Oken, a contemporary Asian-American spot featuring delicacies like ganjang fried chicken, tuna carpaccio and oxtail jjigae in Oakland’s Rockridge district. Oken, which is neko (Japanese for cat) written backwards, blends Korean and Japanese cuisines with some Southeast Asian influences. Owner Albert Ok told the SF Chronicle that he hopes to showcase Korean staples that are harder to find in the Bay Area, like hwe dup bap, a rice bowl served with raw fish and veggies. It’s a casual atmosphere, and you can now make reservations online. Oken, 6200 Claremont Ave. (at Florio St.), Oakland
Sobo Ramen
Berkeley has a new ramen shop to get excited about: Sobo Ramen, also found in Downtown Oakland, is celebrating its soft opening on Milvia St. If you’re feeling adventurous, the spicy Mayu ramen (a rich tonkotsu broth drizzled in black garlic oil and homemade chili sauce) or the whiskey-glazed pork belly ramen are there for you. Sobo Ramen, 2000 Milvia St. (at University Ave.), Berkeley
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