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. Subscribing to the Nosh newsletter is the best way to stay up to date on all of the openings and closings, breaking news, deeper developments, and events in the East Bay food scene.
Bugzo’s Lounge
Thanks to Oakland’s food Reddit, we learned that a new bar and lounge opened last month in downtown Oakland. The business promises to “Eat. Drink. Vibe…” with a menu of wings and beef, chicken, and salmon sliders. A brunch menu includes chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and French toast. Bugzo’s Lounge, 1814 Franklin St., 5G, Oakland
Cold Stone Creamery
Downtown Berkeley gets a Coldstone at the ACE Berkeley apartments. The location is a franchise, co-owned by a Cal alum. The chain is known for ice cream, cakes, and cookies. Cold Stone Creamery, 1951 Shattuck Ave., Ste. C, Berkeley
Dimond Halal Eatery
What was formerly Mohka Kitchen, serving shawarma and other Middle Eastern dishes, has been revamped by the owners into Dimond Halal. The new spot, which opened on Saturday, July 25, focuses on wings, burgers, and steak hoagies. Dimond Halal Eatery, 2129 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant
One of Oakland’s classic Ethiopian favorites is moving. After operating on Grand Avenue near Lake Merritt for roughly two decades, Enssaro is relocating to Rockridge. The opening of the new location is Friday, July 31. The restaurant is “still family-owned and operated by the same mother, daughter, and son team,” a press release notes. The new location has an interior designed by Kalu Gebreyohannes-Royster of Liyu Designs, who also designed Meski in SF (a restaurant co-owned by Draymond Green and Guma Fassil, with a menu created by Oakland restaurateur Nelson German) and Oakland’s Lucy Blue. Enssaro, 5897 College Ave., Oakland
Itsumo
Itsumo is a new Japanese bistro that just opened in Oakland’s Laurel district. The restaurant serves bentos, rolls, ramen, and sushi. It appears that it is in the former location of Pa’s Papa, which was also a Japanese restaurant. Itsumo, 4006 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
New King Kitchen
Oakland Chinatown is getting a new restaurant. King Kitchen soft opens on Wednesday, July 29. The Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce is holding an event for the public that includes food ($10, 5-7 p.m.). It appears that King Kitchen will serve authentic Toisanese food, and is in the former location of Lounge Chinatown. King Kitchen, 366 8th St., Oakland
Mazar Cafe
Mazar Cafe by Lake Merritt soft opened this past Saturday. The cafe serves premium, authentic Yemeni coffee and handcrafted drinks. The menu also includes pastries. Mazar is in the former Cafe Lakeview location. Mazar Cafe, 2834 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
Palmetto Superfoods
Berkeley’s Palmetto Superfoods soft opened Friday, July 24. The customizable frozen bowl spot is inside Anchor House in downtown. Palmetto opened the first location in the Richmond district of SF and is known for its blended bases, including acai, coconut, spirulina, matcha, mango, or dragonfruit that can be layered in one bowl, plus an unlimited number of toppings. Palmetto Superfoods, 2156 University Ave, Berkeley
Sana’a Cafe
Sana’a recently opened a location in Berkeley, near the Cal campus. The Bay Area-based Yemeni coffee chain serves specialty coffee drinks, pastries, and food. The Berkeley location is on the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Dwight way, in a former Peet’s Coffee. Sana’a Cafe, 2501 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Shibam
Shibam, a new coffee shop in Newark, soft opening on Sunday. Shibam is a Yemeni coffee-focused chain cafe, which also recently opened a location in Oakland in the former Red Bay Coffee location in Fruitvale. Shibam Coffee Co. 34903 Newark Blvd., Newark
Taste of Safari Bistro and Grill
A new African fusion restaurant has opened in downtown Oakland, first noted by Oakland’s food Reddit forum. Taste of Safari serves jollof and bbq plates, burgers and sandwiches, wings, and seafood. They also offer a kid’s menu. Taste of Safari Bistro and Grill, 377 19th St., Oakland
