Overview:
A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.
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.
Banh Mi Hi Le
A new Vietnamese sandwich shop opens in Oakland. Banh Mi Hi Le specializes in sandwiches filled with pickled daikon and carrots, cilantro, and grilled meat–or with fried eggs, or cold cuts and pate. Banh Mi Hi Le also serves pho, vermicelli bowls, and rice plates. Banh Mi Hi Le, 3817 Market St., Oakland
Bar Skula
Bar Skula on Grand Avenue is now open, from the owners of beloved Luka’s Taproom and Lounge. The new restaurant and bar is a cevicheria and grill, and will serve some Luka Lounge favorites including signature cocktails and Luka’s burger and fries. Located in the former Sidebar space across from Lake Merritt, the interior features a mural by Pancho Pescador that is a tribute to sea creatures. Co-owner Maria Alderete shared that photos of Lake Merritt’s creatures by Damon Tighe will be framed and printed, and also made into paper mache decorations by Daniel Camacho. The menu includes oysters, scallops, ceviches made with local California seafood, as well as main dishes such as Lassen Trout, a grilled half chicken, and fried dishes. Bar Skula, 542 Grand Ave., Oakland
Bolo’s Bites
Thanks to The Oaklandside reader Colin, we learned that Bolo’s Bites, a new sandwich shop in Uptown Oakland, is in its soft-opening phase. The restaurant is in the former location of Cafe Umami, which closed in 2023 — and on the same block as Mama’s Boy Pizza, Farley’s, Mela Bistro, and the new Oakland Athletic Club. The menu includes classic subs like a reuben, roast beef, corned beef, pastrami, and salami; a series using their house-made roasted turkey; and cold sandwiches like egg, chicken salad, and even a PB&J. Bolo’s Bites, 25 Grand Ave., Oakland
Malaya Tea Room
The Alameda establishment, which, until now, offered three afternoon tea seatings with a $45 minimum for dining in, will soft launch a weekly walk-in cafe service on Wednesday, July 8 from noon to 4 p.m. Dubbed “Cafe Malaya,” the service will include specialty matcha, lattes and other drinks in addition to snacks and light fare including sandwiches. For now, the new walk-in hours will be held every Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m., with the intention of eventually expanding to 7 p.m. Malaya Tea Room, 920 Central Ave., Alameda
Mix Bar
MIX Bar, the new bar in Alameda, is adding a food program. For the month of July, Pound4Pound Grilled Burgers will be at MIX bar Thursdays through Saturday serving burgers and drinks. This includes the “Juicy Lucy,” a stuffed cheddar burger served with carmelized onions, parmesan, and fried shallots and the “Crouching Tiger,” an Asian-inspired burger with a “siewmai” (a dimsum item also known as “shaomai”), cucumber chili cilantro slaw, and a century egg (!). MIX Bar, 2320 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda
Twin Flame
Twin Flame, a Japanese robata grill, just opened inside the One Piedmont apartments building. The new restaurant is in its soft opening, with a planned grand opening on July 9. Twin Flame’s main dish is Japanese wagyu hamburg steak grilled over charcoal. Twim Flame, 230 W. MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
