Divan, Dropo Sushi and Jjamppong Zizon are some of the several recent East Bay restaurant openings.
Author Archives: Tovin Lapan
As Nosh editor, Tovin Lapan oversees food coverage across Oaklandside, Berkeleyside and Richmondside. His journalism career started in Guadalajara, Mexico as a reporter for an English-language weekly newspaper. Previously, he served as the multimedia food reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune, and covered a variety of beats including immigration and agriculture at the Las Vegas Sun and Santa Cruz Sentinel. His work has also appeared in Fortune, The Guardian, U.S. News & World Report, San Francisco Chronicle, and Lucky Peach among other publications. Tovin likes chocolate and seafood, but not together.
Posted inNosh
Taste the latest in East Bay cuisine at Pop Nosh 2026
Join the Nosh team July 18 at Temescal Brewing for an afternoon of food, music, prizes and more.
Posted inRestaurant Closures
Kuboba Spot closes, Townhouse shutters after a century and Line 51 announces final day
A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.
Posted inNew Restaurants
Find meal-sized pizza slices in El Cerrito, plus new Turkish, Burmese, and ice cream options hit the East Bay
A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.
Posted inRestaurant Closures
Xocolate announces final day, plus Milyar, 84 Viet, and Malibu’s Burgers close
A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.
Posted inNosh
Richmondside wins national award for Nosh story on Andy’s Donut Stop
Reporting intern Thomas Lyons won first place in the Society of Features Journalism awards for his piece on the pre-dawn hours at the Richmond institution.
Posted inNosh Features
Tarts de Feybesse deploys deception, creativity and technique for top-selling treat
The mango trompe l’oeil from the Uptown Oakland bakery and patisserie reflects the skill and eye for detail marking all of Monique and Paul Feybesse’s creations.
Posted inRestaurant Closures
Mt. Agni goes dark, plus the last East Bay outpost of a classic Italian deli has closed
A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.
Posted inNosh
The top 12 East Bay food stories of 2025
It was a flavorful year, with dinner parties, Michelin stars, ice cream revivals and breakfast comebacks.
Posted inNosh
The best restaurant in the East Bay is a ‘neighborhood treasure’ that prompts inter-continental travel
For the second year in a row, Bombera, Dominica Rice-Cisneros’ Dimond District restaurant, takes home the Nosh Award for Best Restaurant Overall.
Posted inNosh
‘Tinis and weenies’ take the title
After winning the 2024 Nosh Award for best new bar, Tallboy, the Temescal “martini dive bar,” claims the overall award in 2025.
Posted inNosh
The East Bay’s best new restaurant wins over diners with dedication to the details
Garrett Morris and Renzo Roca opened Lucuma in Downtown Oakland with a mission to stand out from other Peruvian restaurants.
Posted inNew Restaurants
Three years after sparking protests, Bar Panisse opens in Berkeley this week
The Alice Waters project that displaced César in July 2022, to the dismay of many, is ready to debut.
Posted inNosh
At East Bay’s best new bar, the community is as vibrant as the cocktails
When the owners of Baba’s House expanded by opening a bar above their snack shop, they hit a sweet spot with an inventive, tea-based drink menu and warm, welcoming vibes.
Posted inNosh
For special occasions, it’s hard to beat Chez Panisse
For the second year in a row, Alice Water’s Berkeley restaurant is Nosh readers’ top choice for celebrations.
Posted inNosh
The East Bay’s best breakfast is served at this decade-old diner
Breakfast classic and creative
Posted inNosh
Growlers, grub and good times: The East Bay’s favorite beer garden does it all with a death motif
Ghost Town’s Laurel location attracts a crowd with award-winning beer, big salads and juicy burgers, and a spacious, skull-adorned beer garden.
Posted inNosh
In coffee-crazed East Bay, one cafe and roaster comes out on top
Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar is two years old, but its success is built on owner and roaster Jen Apodaca’s two decades of experience roasting beans.
Posted inNosh
At the East Bay’s best wine bar, the bathroom wins as much praise as the French vibes and vintages
A newcomer on the scene, La Loulou crushed the competition and elicited effusive praise from Nosh voters.
Posted inNosh
Former pandemic pop-up rises to claim East Bay’s best bakery title
Joyce Tang has built Bake Sum into a nationally acclaimed pastry powerhouse in the five years since it opened. Nosh readers voted it the best bakery of 2025.
