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.
Alameda restaurant opening
Million Spoons
07.01.25: Million Spoons, a recently-opened restaurant on Alameda’s Park Avenue, serves comforting Thai classics plus street food specialties in a casual environment. Check out the Kao Soy chicken from Chiang Mai (flat egg noodles and chicken leg in a rich curry sauce) or the Kanom Krok (mini coconut rice cakes with crispy edges and a creamy center). Million Spoons, 1307 Park St. (at Encinal Ave.), Alameda
Emeryville restaurant opening
Alma Y Sazón
06.17.25: Vegan Mexican food has touched down in the form of Alma Y Sazón, a new addition to Emeryville’s Public Market. Family-owned and inspired by the flavors of Michoacán, Alma Y Sazón’s popular items include the taco de mar, a fried oyster mushroom “fish” taco, and tacos de pastor, which are made of 48-hour marinated jackfruit and tofu. Alma Y Sazón, 5959 Shellmound St., Emeryville
Oakland restaurant openings
13 Orphans
6.10.25: A stylish mahjong lounge and speakeasy has opened upstairs from snack shop Baba’s House in downtown Oakland. 13 Orphans, which beckons patrons to “shuffle tiles and escape the ordinary,” artfully combines DJ sets, mahjong games, tea-infused cocktails and dim sum plates underneath a wash of neon lights. You’ll need a reservation for a table in the tea lounge, but you can snag a mahjong table without one. 13 Orphans, 410 15th Street. (at Franklin St.), Oakland
Bistro 4293
6.10.25: After three years of development, Mediterranean Bistro 4293 is celebrating its soft opening on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland. You’ll find a variety of hot and cold starters on the menu (dolmas, hummus and tzatziki all make an appearance), plus rich mains like khan plov, a fragrant Azerbaijani saffron rice dish layered with dried fruit, slow-cooked meat and caramelized onions wrapped in crispy lavash. Bistro 4293, 4293 Piedmont Ave., Oakland
Loard’s Ice Cream
6.10.25: After a four-year closure following an eviction from its MacArthur Boulevard location, Loard’s is once again serving scoops of nostalgia in its iconic retro ice cream parlor. The shop, which hasn’t deviated from its recipe originally developed in 1950, offers flavors like caramel cashew, banana and black raspberry marble, plus sherbert and seasonal flavors. Check out the Nosh feature for more on the return of Loard’s to its original location. Loard’s Ice Cream, 2825 MacArthur Blvd. (at Coolidge Ave.), Oakland
Lucuma
06.17.25: Named for the sweet fruit native to the valleys of the Andes, Lucuma, a modern Peruvian eatery, has joined the ranks of Uptown Oakland’s dining scene. It’s the perfect weekend brunch spot, boasting a warm, tastefully designed interior and plenty of rich, shareable dishes. Try the arroz tapado — layered beef and rice, sweet fried plantains and fried egg — or the classic pan con chicharron, a Peruvian pork sandwich. Plus, don’t miss their specialty coffee drinks like the iced nube dorado: espresso or matcha blended with rich, creamy lucuma manjar and topped with luxurious, house-made lucuma cold foam. If you need something stronger, their fruit-forward cocktails are great, too. Lucuma, 1700 Franklin St. (at 17th St.), Oakland
The Mix
07.01.25: While the Grand Lake neighborhood is certainly not lacking in boba spots, nobody’s complaining about the addition of a few more. The Mix is the latest boba shop on the block, serving zesty fruit teas, coffee, milkshakes, and fresh smoothies. Sandwiches, chicken wings, and other snacks are available as well. The Mix, 3340 Grand Ave. (at Elwood Ave.), Oakland
Pa’s Papa
06.24.25: Fast-casual Japanese is now open in Oakland’s Laurel district. Pa’s Papa serves a range of affordable sushi rolls, appetizers and entrees like chicken or pork katsu, teriyaki bowls, udon soups and box combos. Pa’s Papa, 4006 MacArthur Blvd. (at 38th Avenue), Oakland
San Leandro restaurant openings
Fournos
06.24.25: Fournos, a new casual restaurant in San Leandro, is a great lunch option to pick up a pizza or sample one of the many Greek dishes on offer. Gyros, spanakopita and saganaki — pan-fried cheese — are available, as well as several pizza varieties, plus dessert. Fournos, 600 Dutton Ave., Ste C, San Leandro
Ji Bei Chuan
07.01.25: Loaded rice noodle soups and ramen are the specialty at Ji Bei Chuan, a new Chinese restaurant now open in San Leandro. The menu is far-reaching and includes plenty of rice noodle soups with beef brisket, seafood, roast duck, and chicken. Fried rice, Korean fried chicken, and other entrees are also available. Meats are marinated and cooked in-house, and the sauces and toppings are homemade, too. Ji Bei Chuan, 1668 E. 14th St., Suite E (at Dolores Ave.), San Leandro
Walnut Creek restaurant opening
Ananas
06.24.25: A tropical-inspired, family-owned cafe has landed in Walnut Creek. Ananas offers specialty coffee, matcha, kombucha, tea, and a wholesome menu with options like acai bowls, fruit bowls, banana pudding, smoothies, juices, salads, and gluten-and sugar-free snacks. Ananas, 1372 N Main St. (between Cyprus and Duncan Streets), Walnut Creek
