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 openings
Forest Tea Bar
07.15.25: Forest Tea Bar, which previously ran pop-ups under the name Three Tea Bowls, has opened a brick-and-mortar in Berkeley. Serving small-batch, stone-milled matcha sourced from a family-owned tea farm in Uji, Kyoto, Forest Tea Bar offers beautifully-crafted drinks ranging from hojicha and taro matcha lattes to ceremonial matcha over ice. For now, they’re open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Forest Tea Bar, 2628 Shattuck Ave. (at Carleton Street), Berkeley
The Fruit Tree
08.05.25: Fresh fruit juices have arrived in Downtown Berkeley just in time for summer. The Fruit Tree offers elixirs like the Summer Breeze, a mix of strawberry and watermelon juice with hints of lavender and honey, as well as a blue spirulina lemonade and an immune-boosting spicy ginger and lemon blend. The Fruit Tree, 2027 Kala Bagai Way, Berkeley
Melt Me
07.24.25: In a world of mint chip and vanilla, there’s plenty of room for ice cream innovation — which is exactly what Melt Me, a new ice cream shop now open in Berkeley, has set out to do. If their Thai tea and brown sugar mochi or blue jasmine and passionfruit swirl scoops aren’t enough to sway you, then see if a scoop of cheddar cheese and walnut praline appeases you. And yes, vanilla is on the menu, too. Melt Me, 1918 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way (between Berkeley Way and Hearst Ave.), Berkeley
Mercatino by Pizzeria da Laura
07.08.25: Downtown Berkeley pizza joint Pizzeria Da Laura, a multiple World Pizza Championship winner that was also recently named one of the 50 best pizzerias in the U.S., has opened an Italian market in a space neighboring the restaurant. Mercatino offers wine, pantry goods, a range of house-made items including fresh pasta, dressing and sauces, and a pizza counter. Mercatino by Pizzeria da Laura, 2049 Shattuck Ave. (at Addison Street), Berkeley
Middle East Cafe
07.08.25: The owners of Middle East Market are expanding into the adjacent space recently vacated by El Patio, with plans to softly open Middle East Cafe for this coming weekend. The new restaurant will serve a menu of Persian cuisine, including many dishes already sold out of the market, in addition to offering a full bar. Look for more details on Middle East Cafe from Nosh in the coming weeks as it prepares for an official grand opening. Middle East Cafe, 2056 San Pablo Ave. (at University Avenue), Berkeley
Oakland restaurant openings
Alta Vina
07.15.25: A new wine tasting room has arrived in Jack London Square. Alta Vina, which celebrates Californian winemakers, is a casual spot thoughtfully decorated with splashes of mint green, exposed brick and natural wood textures. It’s perfect for unwinding with a glass of wine and playing a game (of which they have many on hand, including Oaklandopoly.) On sunnier days, snag a spot on the outdoor parklet and enjoy a glass of pet nat or Validiguié. Alta Vina, 420 3rd St., Oakland
Good Times Oakland
07.29.25: After months of renovations and permitting hurdles, a previously online-only bottle shop has opened its long-anticipated brick-and-mortar. Good Times Oakland, a retail e-commerce provider of wine, beer, spirits and cider from around the world, is now open IRL in North Oakland. Plans for a bar and kitchen are still in the works, but for now, you can stop by and peruse their take-home bottle collection, or join one of their wine, beer or cider clubs. Good Times Oakland, 6369 Telegraph Ave. (at Alcatraz Ave.), Oakland
Kien Svay Cafe
07.24.25: A casual outpost for Cambodian takeout food has arrived on the edge of East Oakland’s Clinton Park. Kien Svay Cafe offers authentic, craveable street food items like lort cha (stir-fried pin noodles), papaya salad, shrimp garlic noodles, beef sticks over rice and more. Kien Svay Cafe, 609 E 12th St., Oakland
Mugunghwa
07.24.25: After opening its first location in El Cerrito in November, Mugunghwa, named after the Korean national flower, has arrived in Oakland (in the former Hancook space). Folks traversing Telegraph Avenue can stop in for classics like Korean fried chicken, bibimbap bowls, mul naengmyeon (chilled noodle soup), and Korean barbecue dishes. Mugunghwa, 4315 Telegraph Ave. (between 43rd and 44th St.), Oakland
9jagrills
07.29.25: What started as a food truck serving Nigerian street food has now become a full brick-and-mortar restaurant and lounge serving a range of West African cuisine. 9jagrills soft opened July 25, and is planning its full opening for Saturday, Aug. 2. The menu includes jollof rice, grilled catfish, chicken suya, oxtails, and shawarma wraps. 9jagrills, 303 Broadway (between 3rd and 4th Streets), Oakland
Puerto Rican Street Cuisine
07.15.25: Puerto Rican Street Cuisine celebrated its soft opening mid July, serving as a monumental milestone in chef Eric Rivera’s life and career. After spending five years behind bars, the nationally acclaimed chef — who gained traction back in 2015 with a wildly popular food truck — is opening up Oakland’s only full-fledged Puerto Rican restaurant in the San Antonio neighborhood. Expect fan favorites like pernil, mofongo and arroz con gandules on the menu. The restaurant will serve take-out and catering for now, but check Instagram for updates to their opening hours — and head to KQED to read Chef Rivera’s incredible story. Puerto Rican Street Cuisine, 1430 23rd Ave., Oakland
Souley Vegan
07.01.25: Oakland’s beloved plant-based soul food restaurant is back after a two-year hiatus. Souley Vegan, which departed its Downtown Oakland location in 2023 after serving as a community staple for 14 years, celebrated its soft opening on July 5 in Jack London Square. They’ll be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday; stop by for linguine folded into vegan Cajun white cheddar with palm hearts and zucchini, brown sugar candied yams, and jambalaya arancini topped with a Louisiana hot link. Souley Vegan, 101 Broadway, Oakland
Str8 Flame
07.15.25: Artisan burgers on wheels is the name of the game at Str8 Flame, a newly-launched food truck based in Oakland. You’ll find burgers with housemade sauces, fresh pasta salads and flotatoes — twice-fried potatoes loaded with toppings — on the menu. Follow along on Instagram to keep up with the truck’s latest moves. Str8 Flame, Oakland
Piedmont restaurant openings
Greek Wonders
08.05.25: If you’re looking for a fresh, easy midweek meal, you might consider Greek Wonders, a Greek cultural organization now offering dinner delivery exclusively on Wednesday nights. Each menu includes a starter, salad, entree and dessert; the service is available throughout the East Bay and offers both vegetarian and vegan options. Past menus have featured dishes like melitzanosalata, a Greek eggplant spread crafted with roasted eggplant, minced garlic, walnuts, barrel-aged feta cheese, and fresh parsley served over warm pita bread. Place your order online on Saturdays.
Richmond restaurant openings
The Knot Club
07.15.25: The Clubhouse, a longtime event venue in Point San Pablo Harbor, has reopened with limited hours under a new alias, The Knot Club. The bar is only open on Fridays for now, and offers waterfront views, eclectic decor and a cozy back deck area complete with firepit, plus small bites and board games. The Knot Club, 1900 Stenmark Dr., Richmond
The Salty Pup
07.15.25: Sweet treats for humans and their furry friends alike? It doesn’t get much better than that. The Salty Pup, which recently opened in Point San Pablo Harbor, is exactly where to go when in need of a dopamine boost. Swing by for a pastry, sweet beverage or ice cream and let your pup chow down on goodies like crispy cod skin or peanut butter and bacon treats. The Salty Pup, 1900 Stenmark Dr., Richmond
