Alameda restaurant opening

Maya Thai and Lao Cafe

04.16.24: 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

Berkeley restaurant openings

Ali Baba Berkeley

04.23.24: Nosh promised readers a bit more on this newcomer to Berkeley’s Northside neighborhood. Ali Baba is a Middle Eastern-inflected eatery based out of Davis, known predominantly for serving all-day breakfast burritos, featuring eggs, bacon, sliced beef gyros, cheese, vegetarian options such as tomatoes, mushrooms or avocado, and, if desired, a touch of honey and/or Tapatio. There are also sides such as fries, dolmas and warm pita. Note: After a quiet opening, the eatery will fully introduce itself to the campus community in a generous fashion on May 11, UC Berkeley graduation day, when it will offer diners free burritos throughout the day, one per customer. Ali Baba, 1805 Euclid Ave. (near Ridge Road), Berkeley

Bageltopia

04.02.24: Read Nosh contributor Elise Proulx’s thorough coverage of this long, long-awaited new bagel restaurant now open inside the former King’s Feet/Pizza Moda/Montero’s space on University, adjacent to Fellini Coffeebar. Along with elevated bagels, schmears and toppings, vegan options are a focus here for breakfast and lunch. There is also plenty of comfortable seating within the roomy indoor dining room (with a parking lot!) for daytime gatherings with family and friends. Owner-collaborators are a trifecta of East Bay breakfast and brunch royalty—Jeff Davis (Fellini, Pizza Moda), bagel maker Dan Graf (Baron Bakery) and Mike Daillak (Sam’s Log Cabin). We’ll see you there along with no doubt all of Berkeley in the coming weeks. Bageltopia, 1401 University Ave. (at Acton St.), Berkeley

Ben Ben Hot Pot Restaurant

04.23.24: The former Himalayan Flavors restaurant space has been transformed into an all-you-can-eat, individual hot pot restaurant Ben Ben Hot Pot, serving personal hot pot for lunch and dinner, and specializing in pork tripe and chicken soup base. Ben Ben Hot Pot Restaurant, 1585 University Ave. (between Sacramento and California streets), Berkeley

Butterfish Sushi

04.30.24: Thai Table has a new adjacent neighbor in inviting, modern Butterfish Sushi, already garnering enthusiastic reviews after a quiet soft opening. The sleek and cozy new sushi bar and restaurant took over Boochman Kombucha’s former digs. Butterfish Sushi, 915 University Ave. (between Seventh and Eighth streets), Berkeley

Cha Thai Tea

04.30.24: Shattuck Avenue’s new tea shop is Cha Thai Tea, with iced or hot Thai tea drinks, fruit teas, slushies and snacks, including various fresh-topped toasts and Thai desserts. Cha Thai Tea, 1796 Shattuck Ave. (near Delaware Street), Berkeley

Jazzcaffe (new location)

04.10.24: Those eager to return to and support live theater or music in downtown Berkeley, please note that the quietly reopened Jazzcaffe, once again operating inside the California Jazz Conservatory, can help with pre-performance nourishment. The little Cal-Euro counter, notable for its flavorful house-made soups and stews, pastries, panini and coffee drinks for breakfast and lunch, and one of Nosh’s longtime favorites, reopened several months ago on Addison Street, directly across from the original basement location where lines used to form up the stairs and out the door. Fans should note that though the setting has changed, the cafe’s friendly service and recipes (from ACT Catering) remain the same. Jazzcaffe, 2040 Addison St. (between Shattuck Avenue and Milvia Street), Berkeley  

Little Pyro

04.16.24: 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—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 pastrami and vegan pop-up, various locations. 

Pochy’s Indian Street Food

04.16.24: 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  

Roses On Adeline

04.30.24: A Berkeley opening to watch, Roses on Adeline softly opens this week—that’s ‘roses,’ plural, not possessive, though it would come by either spelling honestly given the owner’s name. Chef-owner Rose Soffa Clarke, a San Francisco industry vet, alongside her parents David Soffa and Teresa Clarke, with deep family roots in the restaurant’s Lorin District, have together transformed the interior of the former Nick’s Lounge (R.I.P. to the closed neighborhood bar). The bright, welcoming California bar and restaurant will feature a menu of seasonal, elevated bar food, “crispy tofu lettuce cups, ahi tuna tartare, ceviche, beets with ricotta … smoked pulled pork nachos, chicken cutlets, fresh pasta, kofta meatballs,” according to an email from Soffa Clarke. Additional offerings include smaller bar snacks such as spiced nuts and deviled eggs to go with a drinks menu from beverage director Jennifer Colliau (The Interval at Long Now, Here’s How). “Our dream is to bring more neighborhood and destination dining to Berkeley and the larger East Bay,” reads the restaurant’s opening announcement, “and to be the change we want to see in the industry by making a more enjoyable, fulfilling and sustaining workplace.” After this week’s soft opening, look for a grand opening on May 9. Roses on Adeline, 3218 Adeline St. (between Harmon and Fairview streets), Berkeley

Tessier Winery Tasting Room

04.02.24: Natural winery Tessier from female winemaker Kristie Tacey debuts a new tasting room in the Gilman District this week. Tacey is a literal scientist turned winemaker. Her background was microbiology before she moved to the Bay Area and discovered her other true calling (after all, winemaking is both an art and a science). She founded Tessier in 2009. Her low-intervention wines blend sustainably farmed grapes from small lots in Northern California. The tasting room’s grand opening was April 5. Tessier Winery, 1355 Fourth St. (between Gilman and Camelia streets), Berkeley

Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade Berkeley

04.23.24: Signage has been up on Telegraph Avenue for almost a year, but on April 22, Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade finally pulled back the locked gate and opened the door to its new location near UC Berkeley. The national franchise based in Oahu sells fresh-pressed juices with a focus on lemonade, blended smoothies, acai bowls and other healthful snacks with refreshing, Hawaiian-style flavors and ingredients. Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade, 2332 Telegraph Ave. (between Bancroft and Durant avenues), Berkeley

Concord restaurant opening

Humphry Slocombe Concord

04.10.24: Concord, land of many treats, can count some of the Bay Area’s finest ice cream among them with the opening of Humphry Slocombe’s 10th scoop shop, located in The Veranda shopping area (inside the former Popbar). Visit for a scoop of one of their irreverent, eclectic and delicious flavors—or maybe a sundae or a “dirty float.” Humphry Slocombe Concord, 2045 Diamond Blvd. #34 (inside The Veranda shopping and dining complex), Concord 

El Sobrante restaurant opening

Up & Under 2nd Pitch (reopening)

04.10.24: The younger, second location of rugby-themed pub the Up & Under has pushed out from under a zoning dispute in El Sobrante and reopened after a two-year closure. The family-friendly sports pub serves barbecue and grill fare for lunch and dinner (burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips), as well as a popular weekend breakfast. The original Up & Under has been an atmospheric, keystone bar and restaurant in Point Richmond since 2010; Up & Under 2nd Pitch in El Sobrante first opened in 2021. Both pubs are owned by American-born rugby enthusiast and former player Nathan Trivers. Up & Under 2nd Pitch, 5216 Sobrante Ave. (near Valley View Road), El Sobrante  

Emeryville restaurant openings

Five Guys Burgers & Fries Emeryville (update)

04.16.24: 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

Nusa Emeryville

04.23.24: The Public Market has a buzzy new tenant in Indonesian kiosk Nusa—so buzzy that the initial soft opening led to a brief, temporary closure to regroup and restock. The Indonesian sweets and snacks business has taken over the rotating La Cocina stand inside the Public Market Emeryville, following in the footsteps of chefs Nite Yun (Nyum Bai, Lunette), Fernay McPherson (Minnie Bell’s), and, most recently, El Meson de Violeta’s Carmen Figueroa, now popping up at East Bay spots such as Arthur Mac’s. But Nusa is no Bay Area newcomer—it was first opened by chef Jennifer Huang in 2013, and has operated predominantly as a pop-up in San Francisco and the South Bay. Expect desserts such as 1000-layer, pandan chiffon and mochi layer cakes, and savory snacks such as beef rendang. The SF Chronicle had the story first. Nusa is inside the Public Market Emeryville, 5959 Shellmound St., Emeryville 

Oakland restaurant openings

Dimond Kitchen

04.16.24: 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 

Horn Barbecue

04.30.24: His original Horn location in West Oakland leveled by a November 2023 fire, pitmaster Matt Horn last week opted to move the barbecue operation into his Matty’s Old Fashioned restaurant property on 8th Street. The consolidation retains Matty’s menu items but has pivoted to focus on the sought-after barbecued meats that made Horn famous, and can now offer cocktails to complement those ribs and brisket. Horn reopened in the new Oakland space on April 26. Horn Barbecue, 464 8th St. (between Washington Street and Broadway), Oakland

House of Phin

04.16.24: 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   

Kuidaore Handroll Bar

04.10.24: Softly opened as of April 8 in Oakland is modern Japanese hand roll bar Kuidaore, the Japanese expression meaning “eat until you drop,” from new owner Marcella Luu. The roomy waterfront restaurant, formerly Baia Pasta, features sushi-bar seating and a focus on temaki hand rolls, crudo and small plates crafted with sustainable, fresh-caught fish and seafood. Look for additional luxe menu items such as A5 wagyu and sustainable caviar, as well as a large variety of beer and sake. The Jack London Square restaurant is located opposite Plank. Kuidaore Handroll Bar, 431 Water St. (at Jack London Square), Oakland

9 Julio Empanada Kitchen

04.10.24: Sunday, April 7 marked the long-awaited grand opening of 9 Julio’s first brick-and-mortar eatery, featuring chef Erica Sanders’s notable empanadas. The colorful, design-rich new Temescal dining space features 9 Julio’s notable savory Latin pastries, as well as new menu items such as chimichurri steak and Peruvian rotisserie chicken. 9 Julio Empanada Kitchen, 5239 Claremont Ave. (near Telegraph Avenue), Oakland

Parkline

04.10.24: Nosh loves the enthusiasm with which this news has traveled: As we have heard from many readers, the former Rooz Cafe, loved for decades, has been transformed into the sparkling new Parkline under new owners, serving coffee drinks, a menu of sandwiches named for Oakland neighborhoods, burgers, salads and lighter bites near Lake Merritt. Parkline, 1918 Park Blvd. (between E 19th and E 20th streets), Oakland

1701 Tasting Lounge

04.23.24: This Spanish bar, restaurant and lounge with a menu that includes a range of cuisines, such as Afro-Caribbean, with touches of Spanish influence opened the final weekend of April. The upscale modern Oakland venue serves international and domestic wines and craft beer to go with an array of tapas and tangy, Spanish-inspired mains such as hot honey chicken with peri peri sauce. Check out the appealing, protected patio with a fire pit. 1701 Tasting Lounge, 1701 Telegraph Ave. (at 17th St.), Oakland