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. 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.
Berkeley restaurant closures
Nudi Blue (temporary closure)
08.14.26: The afternoon Thai tea spot in Berkeley is temporarily closed to make changes to the direction of the restaurant. It first opened as an afternoon tea service restaurant, then later launched an a la carte menu. “…We’re taking some time to rethink, reshape, and begin again,” according to an Instagram post. Stay tuned for more updates about Nudi Blue. Nudi Blue, 2049 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
Rice Dynasty (temporary closure)
08.28.26: The Telegraph Avenue restaurant that opened in March will be closed into September, but is expected to reopen in a few weeks, an employee from neighboring and sister restaurant Noodle Dynasty told Nosh. Rice Dynasty specializes in lotus steamed sticky rice and bamboo steamer baskets with rice, meat and vegetables. Rice Dynasty, 2428 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley
El Sobrante restaurant closure
Felix Pizzas
08.07.26: The El Sobrante pizza popup shared on Instagram that Contra Costa County officials shut down the operation. The pizza shop operated out of a parking lot. However, they hinted at a possible return in a different form: “While we hope to make a come back soon, for now this is goodbye. We will miss all of our clients and community who have made Felix Pizzas their go to pizza place! We hope to be in touch soon.” Felix Pizzas, 5050 Appian Way, El Sobrante
Oakland restaurant closures
Ben’s (temporary closure)
08.14.26: Four-decade old Chinese restaurant Ben’s suddenly closed in August with a note on the door thanking customers. KQED’s Luke Tsai connected with the family that runs the restaurant, and reports that it is temporarily closed and there are plans to reopen. Ben’s, 398 Third St., Oakland
Cafe Santana (Laurel)
08.07.26: The original location of Cafe Santana closed Aug. 22 with a “grand closing” celebration. Cafe Santana recently opened a new location, also on MacArthur, which remains open. Cafe Santana, 4100 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
The Coffee Mill
08.28.26: The Coffee Mill, a brunch spot near Lake Merritt in Oakland, has shuttered. Multiple readers spotted “For Lease” signs in the windows. The restaurant first opened on Grand Avenue in the mid-1970s and has been owned by the same family for more than 35 years. The Coffee Mill, 3363 Grand Ave., Oakland
Home of Chicken and Waffles
08.28.26: A longtime Jack London neighborhood favorite has closed. Home of Chicken and Waffles, which opened in 2004 in Oakland, shuttered at the end of August. The diner is known for its thin, crispy and buttery waffles, fried chicken, and side dishes such as candied yams, mac n cheese, and greens, as well as other breakfast dishes and entrees. The restaurant moved about two years ago to its current location. Home of Chicken and Waffles, 247 4th St., Oakland
Horn Barbecue Oakland
08.14.26: The last standing location of Horn Barbecue has closed. NOSH has the details about what led to the closure of the Old Oakland location, formerly Matty’s Old Fashioned, also owned by Matt Horn. Horn Barbecue, 464 Eighth St., Oakland
Jerusalem Coffee House
08.28.26: The owners of the coffee shop that opened in 2023 with a Palestinian-inspired menu, including date tahini and rose cardamom lattes, announced on Instagram that the cafe would close indefinitely as they prepare their defense for a federal trial. “We’re going to be taking some time to reset ourselves, focus on restoring our nervous systems so we can show up for our community and handle these legal issues,” the Instagram post states. The cafe is facing three lawsuits, one brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, over two incidents from 2024. Jerusalem Coffee House, 5443 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
Pagarung Thai Cuisine
08.07.26: We learned from NOSH reader Gailen that Pagarung Thai Cuisine in Montclair has closed. A handwritten sign on the window states that the restaurant, which first opened in 2005, has permanently shuttered. The restaurant served Thai curry dishes, summer rolls, soups, and fried rice. Pagarung Thai Cuisine, 6200 Antioch St., Oakland
Perle Bar
08.07.26: A restaurant in Oakland’s Montclair Village has shuttered after nine years in operation. Thanks to a tipster, we learned that Perle Bar is permanently closed. Perle first opened in 2017 as a California-French restaurant. Then, in 2025, it briefly closed and later reopened a year ago as Perle Bar, focusing on a California Vietnamese concept. Perle Bar, 2058 Mountain Blvd., Oakland
San Pablo restaurant closure
Silver Ocean Chinese Restaurant
08.28.26: A restaurant in the city of San Pablo that served sushi, Chinese, and Chinese American dishes has shuttered, according to Yelp. Silver Ocean Chinese Restaurant, 3340 San Pablo Dam Rd., Ste. F, San Pablo
Walnut Creek restaurant closure
Lettuce Restaurant & Catering
08.28.26: After a devastating fire on Aug. 19, the popular downtown Walnut Creek restaurant is closed indefinitely. No one was injured in the fire, but it’s unclear if or when the restaurant will reopen after significant damage. Lettuce, which first opened in 2009, frequently drew a lunch crowd with its menu of sandwiches, pasta, soups and salads. Lettuce Restaurant & Catering, 1632 Locust St., Walnut Creek
