Dimond Kitchen
Now open (and open late — until midnight on weekends) in the Dimond District’s community-forward Two Star Market convenience and liquor store is soul food business Dimond Kitchen. The eatery features a buffet-style menu of fried and smothered chicken, garlic shrimp, pork spare ribs, and sides such as jalapeno mac, greens and yams. Thanks to a kind Nosh reader for the tip! (No web presence yet but the phone number for ordering is 510-531-3576.) Dimond Kitchen inside Two Star Market, 2020 Macarthur Blvd. (between Dimond and Canon avenues), Oakland
Five Guys Burgers & Fries Emeryville (update)
Thanks to E’ville Eye’s Rob Arias and contributor Jordan Potier, we know that for real real this time, the Five Guys burger shack in Emeryville’s East Bay Bridge Shopping Center (near Home Depot) is finally open for business as of Monday, April 15. Five Guys Burgers & Fries, 3839 Emery St., Suite 700 (inside the East Bay Bridge shopping complex), Emeryville
House of Phin
Fans of rich, Vietnamese-style coffee drinks — iced, mint, salted-cream, matcha, ube, coconut, Hanoi egg coffee, to name a few — can now find their fix at this sleek new modern cafe in East Oakland, serving a variety of hot and cold Vietnamese beverages and specialty pastries such as pandan sponge cake. House of Phin, 1920 International Blvd. (between 19th and 20th avenues), Oakland
Little Pyro
It’s been a rollercoaster for sure, but the Pastrami Guy Cash Caris (Delirama, Elsie’s on Solano both recently departed) is already back doing what he does best. Little Pyro is Caris’s pop-up venture featuring two sandwich options — a hand-cured, hand-carved pastrami and a vegan barbecue, both with optional slaw, sauerkraut and pickle sides. The pop-up starts this week and will visit a range of local venues. Little Pyro’s first pop-up sando event is this Saturday, 4/20, at Alameda’s Almanac Brewing. Little Pyro pastrami and vegan pop-up, various locations.
Maya Thai and Lao Cafe
Now serving an eclectic mix of American cafe-style breakfast, brunch and lunch fare alongside Thai and Lao specialties is pretty new Maya Thai and Lao Cafe in Alameda. The fresh interior (inside the former Johnathan’s) and diverse menu seem to be pleasing a wide range of daytime diners so far. The new cafe is owned by the same folks behind Maya Thai Laos Restaurant in El Sobrante. Maya Thai and Lao Cafe, 2316 Santa Clara Ave. (between Park and Oak streets), Alameda
Pochy’s Indian Street Food
Berkeley is very excited about this newcomer to the Gilman District, now serving Bangalore-style street food for take-out or patio dining out of the corner restaurant most recently home to Lulu. Owner Aravind Pochiraju reached out to Nosh letting us know they were the “new kid on the block” and asking for help in spreading the word, but given the number of tips we’ve already received from enthusiastic diners, we believe the word is out. Try a fried rice plate or rolled roti stuffed with Tenali kura, butter masala, or Manchurian-style vegetables and proteins. Expect Mumbai-style flavors added to the menu as the restaurant gets up to speed. Pochy’s Indian Street Food, 1019 Camelia St. (at Tenth Street), Berkeley
