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 openings
JuXi
09.16.26: A new Cantonese American restaurant has opened in Alameda, and confirmed with Nosh that it is in its soft opening phase, open Tuesday through Thursday 5 to 9:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturday 5 to 10 p.m. JuXi, 1231 Park St., Alameda
La Penca Azul of Bay Farm
09.22.26: A Mexican restaurant in Alameda is reopening after issues with the building. La Penca Azul on Bay Farm Island announced the news on Instagram: “Thank you to our amazing community, friends, and loyal customers for supporting La Penca Azul Bay Farm throughout all these years. Through the good times and the challenging ones, you’ve continued to show us love and support — and it truly means more to us than we can say.” The restaurant also has a location on Park St. in Alameda. La Penca Azul of Bay Farm, 891-B Island Dr., Alameda
Albany restaurant openings
O2 Sushi
09.22.26: From the folks at O2 Eatery on Solano Avenue, comes a new Albany sushi joint celebrated its opening on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The menu includes udon, ramen, bento boxes, katsu plates, donburi, a long list of classic and speciality sushi rolls, and beer, sake and wine. O2 Sushi; 977 San Pablo Ave. (at Buchanan Street), Albany
Souk Savanh2.0
09.29.26: A Lao and Thai restaurant soft opened in Albany on Sept. 28. Souk Savanh first opened in East Oakland and was then closed for 10 years. Earlier this year, it reopened in Uptown for a short stint serving budget-friendly rice plates before shuttering. Now, it’s back in business. The restaurant is located in the former Match Point Brewing taproom. The new restaurant will serve rice plates and noodle dishes, declared by KQED’s Luke Tsai as “one of the best” Lao spots he’s tried. Souk Savanh2.0, 745 San Pablo Ave. (at Washington Avenue), Albany
Berkeley restaurant openings
Ceré Tea
09.16.26: A new matcha tea shop is opening in Berkeley, according to an Instagram announcement. Ceré Tea soft opened in the former Happy Lemon in downtown on Saturday. In addition to matcha, the menu includes hojicha drinks, blended ube drinks, and coffees. Ceré Tea, 2106 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
Hoagie’s World of Hoagies
09.22.26: A new hoagies spot, Hoagie’s World of Hoagies, opened Sept. 22 in Berkeley. The menu includes an Italian, cheesesteak, roast pork, meatball, turkey, vegan, and a “world hoagie of the month. This month’s is a chicken tikka masala with paneer cheese and onions. Hoagies are $20 and under, including a mini (half hoagie) for $10. The hoagie joint is in the former location of Kuboba Spot, a Filipino-inspired empanada and boba shop, which closed in June. Hoagie’s World of Hoagies, 2618 Telegraph Ave. (at Carleton Street), Berkeley
Kash Cafe
09.22.26: Kash Cafe, across from the UC Berkeley campus, opened Wednesday, Sept. 23. The cafe is “rooted in South Asian flavors, ritual hospitality, and community.” The founder is a Cal grad. Kash Cafe, 2482 Bancroft Way (at Telegraph Avenue), Berkeley
Nudi Blue
09.22.26: Nudi Blue, a Thai afternoon tea spot in Berkeley, has re-opened after a brief break. The restaurant serves a la carte tea sandwiches, pastries, and afternoon tea. Nudi Blue, 2049 San Pablo Ave. (at University Avenue), Berkeley
Pin Rice
09.29.26: A new Chinese spot has opened on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, near the Cal campus. However, it’s not new-new–it’s run by the sister restaurant of the popular handpulled noodle restaurant, Noodle Dynasty. Pin Rice is a revamped concept from Rice Dynasty and is still under the same owners. A manager tells Nosh that Pin Rice focuses on “Chinese comfort food” using fresh ingredients. Dishes include rice, soup, salad, and a protein. Protein choices include grilled chicken, grilled salmon, grilled grassfed beef, and also orange chicken “using real oranges.” you can also get orange chicken using real oranges. “We want to make everything fresh and high quality,” she told us. Pin Rice is still in its soft opening phase. Pin Rice, 2428 Telegraph Ave. (at Haste Street), Berkeley
Top Dog (Downtown Berkeley)
09.22.26: A new Top Dog comes to town (downtown Berkeley, that is). Last month, Nosh got the scoop that the 60-year institution was opening a location at The BreakRoom, a billiards hall and cocktail bar. Top Dog, 2021 Shattuck Ave. (at University Avenue), Berkeley
El Cerrito restaurant opening
Cafe Buenos Aires
09.29.26: The Argentine empanada-focused cafe with three other shops: one in West Berkeley and two locations in San Francisco, has expanded to El Cerrito. The cafe serves empanadas (including two vegan ones), smoothies, coffee drinks, alfajores, and other desserts and pastries. Cafe Buenos Aires, 6401 Fairmount Ave., El Cerrito
Emeryville restaurant opening
Xula
09.08.26: Emeryville’s Public Market has another new tenant. Xula is a La Cocina incubator business that focuses on Guatemalan food, helmed by chefs and co-owners Veronica Bran and Jose Reyes. Dishes include garnachas, or fried tortillas with beef and vegetables, traditional Guatemalan adobo wings, grilled meat plates with asada, beans, rice, handmade corn tortillas, and sweet plantains stuffed with fillings and topped with cinnamon sugar. The kiosk was formerly the location of Alma y Sazon, also a La Cocina incubator. The nonprofit La Cocina rotates businesses in this kiosk. A soft opening is slated to start at the end of the month. Xula, 5959 Shellmound St., Emeryville
Oakland restaurant openings
55 Coffee Co.
09.16.26: A new coffee pop-up is now operating at The Saap Avenue in Oakland. 55 Coffee Co. serves banh mi, pastries, coffee, and matcha. 55 Coffee Co., 4395 Piedmont Ave., Oakland
Bar Skula
09.16.26: One of Oakland’s newest seafood restaurants and bars is now open for lunch service Thursdays through Saturdays. Bar Skula, from the owners of Luka’s Lounge, debuted the restaurant in July. Bar Skula, 542 Grand Ave., Oakland
Chez Maeju
09.22.26: A Korean restaurant focusing on jang (fermented soybean-based sauces), including doenjang, ganjang, and gochujang soft opened in North Oakland. Chez Maeju is now taking walk-ins for dinner service. The menu on the website includes appetizers, grilled meat and fish, rice dishes, noodles, and stews, and desserts, but the Instagram post notes that the menu will be limited during soft opening. The restaurant is in the former Oken and Momo Ramen space in Rockridge. Chez Maeju, 6200 Claremont Ave. (at College Avenue), Oakland
Delage
09.16.26: Chef Kyle Itani, known for Yonsei Handrolls, Itani Ramen, Itani Sushi, and Hopscotch, is taking over Old Oakland omakase sushi restaurant Delage, which first opened in 2016. Founder, and Itani’s friend, Chikara Ono is spending more time in Japan and has passed on the restaurant to Itani, who has tapped Itani Sushi collaborator Jeremias Jimenez to lead the sushi program at Delage. The restaurant reopened to the public Sept. 16, and reservations are open for the three dining room tables and 10 spots at the sushi bar. Delage offers a $140 eight-course omakase dinner service in addition to an a la carte dinner menu, a lunch menu with a la carte and sets options, and takeout. Delage, 536 Ninth St., Oakland
Drink Thicc
08.31.26: A smoothie spot is moving from its current Uptown location to Temescal, in the former location of Clove & Hoof. Drink Thicc moves to the 4001 Broadway location on Sept. 4, where they will be for a year while a flagship location is being built, according to owner Minni Sandhu. Drink Thicc typically rotates four smoothies each week, such as the “blue zone” made with blue spirulina, bananas, and pineapple. The new location will allow for additional menu items, with core smoothies featured on a permanent basis. The business has collaborated with local artists such as Seiji Oda. and given back to the community through partnerships. Drink Thicc, 4001 Broadway, Oakland
Five and Dime Neighborhood Pub
09.08.26: A new pub by Michele McQueen, the chef behind Town Fare in the Oakland Museum of California and cocktail bar Lucy Blue, has soft opened in downtown Oakland. The menu includes wings, short rib and fried chicken sandwiches, smash burgers, and more. Five and Dime, 329 14th St., Oakland
Game Parlour
09.08.26: A board game cafe with one location in San Francisco is opening one near downtown Oakland. Game Parlour soft opened Sept. 8. The menu includes savory waffle sandwiches, sweet mochi waffles, side dishes, and drinks. For the first two weeks, the shop is waiving the $7 game playing fee with any food purchase. Game Parlour, 2300 Valdez St., Ste. B, Oakland
Holders House at Gold Palm
09.29.26: An Uptown Oakland bar is back in business after closing in early June — at least for the month of October. Gold Palm, the bar and restaurant located in the historic Oakland Floral Depot Building, is hosting a month-long pop-up with chef Sarah Kirnon under the auspices of Holders House, starting Friday, October 2. Kirnon ran Miss Ollie’s restaurant in Old Oakland for a decade. The menu will be Caribbean-inspired, while Gold Palm will serve cocktails. Holders House at Gold Palm will be open during dinner hours from Wednesdays through Saturdays, and on some other nights during Fox Theater shows. “We are hoping this is just the beginning of a fresh new chapter for Gold Palm and that we will be back open for nightly service in some capacity beyond October,” Gold Palm co-owner Daniel Gahr shared with Nosh. “We have some fun plans in the works on that front, but for now, we’re really looking forward to having the spot open again in October.” Holders House at Gold Palm, 1900 Telegraph Ave. (at 19th Street), Oakland
Puerto Rican Street Cuisine
09.29.26: A fire devastated the San Antonio district location of Puerto Rican Street, but on the bright side, they are bouncing back. The owners will re-open the restaurant at the owner’s original location of his first restaurant (Borinquen Soul) in Oakland’s Dimond district, according to a report from KQED. Puerto Rican Street Food reopened in the Dimond on Saturday, Oct. 3. Puerto Rican Street Cuisine, reopening at Two Star Market, 2020 MacArthur Blvd. (at Cañon Avenue), Oakland
Sushi A
09.29.26: A new Japanese spot has opened in Oakland’s Old Oakland neighborhood next door to Ratto’s. Sushi A serves nigiri, special sushi rolls, and bowls, including chirashi. The restaurant is in the former Caffe 817 space. Sushi A, 817 Washington St., Oakland
TaKorea
09.08.26: A Korean and Mexican taco spot has opened on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland. Takorea was giving away tacos when it first opened, according to the Reddit thread. From the soft opening online menu, it looks like they serve Korean side dishes such as Korean Fried Chicken, spicy rice cakes, dumplings, kimchi, fried seaweed rolls, japchae, and other dishes, as well as burritos, quesadillas, dumplings, and build-your-own-bowls. TaKorea, 3858 Piedmont Ave., Oakland
Town Beef
08.31.26: A food business focusing on the mighty French dip is debuting in North Oakland. Town Beef debuts September 4th, sharing a location with Drink Thicc in North Oakland. An insider says the late night spot’s menu will include locally-sourced French Dip sandwiches on ACME sourdough rolls, plus a vegan mushroom version of the sandwich. Town Beef, 4001 Broadway, Oakland
Upstairs
08.31.26: A restaurant above Snail Bar reopened on Sept. 4, according to an Instagram post. “after our long journey, we r so so so excited to announce that upstairs will be open starting friday, sept 4!! limited hours for now fri-sun from 9 am to 3 pm while we learn to figure things out 👉👈 consider this our soft period, but we are beyond stoked and hope to be a new special addition to the community! see u upstairs <333,” the post states. The Temescal venue was opened and was quickly shut down by the city a year and a half ago. Upstairs, 4935 Shattuck Ave., Oakland
Pittsburg restaurant opening
Nékter Juice Bar
09.22.26: A new juice bar opened in Pittsburg, according to the East Bay Times. The local chain serves juices, smoothies, bowls, and waffles. Additional locations include Fremont and Danville. Nékter Juice Bar, 2261 West Leland Road, Pittsburg
San Leandro restaurant opening
Chipotle Mexican Grill
09.08.26: The fast food chain is opening a new shop in San Leandro. Chipotle, 1232 Fairmont Dr. Ste. 100, San Leandro
San Ramon restaurant opening
Erik’s DeliCafe
09.08.26: The San Ramon location of the Bay Area chain was temporarily closed and re-opened in a new location near Bishop Ranch. Erik’s DeliCafe started in Scott’s Valley in 1973, and now has 29 locations. Erik’s DeliCafe, 159 Market Place, San Ramon
