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This is a list of the Bay Area’s most notable restaurant and bar openings, with new updates published once a week. Did we miss something great? Please, drop us a line.
October 3
EMBARCADERO — Vegan doughnut maker Whack Donuts and York Street Cafe’s joint location is the latest to open in the city’s Vacant to Vibrant program at Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 4507. Following that good news, Rosalind Bakery opens on October 4 at Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 4504, and La Cocina graduate Teranga is also set to open this week.
NORTH BEACH — Fillmore Street’s Compton’s Coffee opened a second location at 543 Columbus Avenue in early September. Owner Aidan Compton told Eater SF that as October begins the space is fully furnished with art on the walls, new management who cut their teeth at Saint Frank Coffee and Peet’s, and coffee in customers’ cups.
MARINA — Chef Ho Chee Boon just opened a titanic new restaurant and lounge on Union Street. Blue Whale is a more casual outfit than the chef’s Chinatown restaurant Empress by Boon, though items like the spicy rojak salad and a cocktail menu from Bacchus Management Group aim to offer that same level of quality.
BERKELEY — After 400 years of bottling some of the finest beer to sell at your grocery store, the team at Trumer Pils decided it was time to open a proper taproom in the United States. SFGATE reports the Austrian company will open the doors at its 1404 Fourth Street brewery on October 7, just in time for Oktoberfest.
CUPERTINO — Hand-picked teas from Taiwan’s Lishan Mountain sets Chicha San Chen apart from other boba tea shops in the Bay Area. The Chronicle reports the Bay Area’s only outpost of the Taiwanese business opened in a strip mall on September 29 to long lines of excited fans.
WALNUT CREEK — The owner of Luna Sea Vodka and an Airforce pararescueman just opened the seafaring-themed bar Luna Sea Lounge at 121 Pringle Avenue in the last week of September. The Mercury reports the bar’s owners met at a bar in Guatemala and decided to open the new venture together, serving Point Reyes Farmstead cheese, oysters on the weekends, and, of course, vodka.
September 26
FiDi — Fans of Devil’s Teeth Baking Company’s decadent breakfast sandwiches are used to trekking out to the avenues to get their fix. But as of September 25, the restaurant’s pop-up location at 1 Embarcadero Center in FiDi is officially open. The business made the announcement on Instagram, noting that the shop will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
BERKELEY — Malena Lopez-Maggi has been producing organic and vegan chocolate confections through her East Bay business Xocolate Bar for years and as of this month, she expanded with a second shop in Berkeley’s Rockridge neighborhood. The new retail location is at 5854 College Avenue and is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, per the business Instagram.
OAKLAND — The former Cafe Colucci space at 6427 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland is now home to Indian Rasoi, a “new spot for spicy and grilled Northern Indian food,” the Mercury News reports. The menu offers dishes such as samosas, pakora, biryani, and curries, though there’s no beer or wine just yet.
OAKLAND — East Bay Nosh reports the Barbary, a new cocktail bar from sisters Narges and Nala Gardizi, opened on Grand Avenue in Oakland at the end of August. Both sisters bartended at Trader Vic’s and have now turned their attentions to this “tropical craft cocktail bar inspired by the merchants, pirates, and sailors of the Barbary Coast,” per the business Instagram.
EL CERRITO — Dave’s Hot Chicken, the ever-expanding chain of fast-casual hot chicken restaurants, opened its latest Bay Area outpost at 5010 El Cerrito Plaza in El Cerrito, East Bay Nosh spotted.
THE MISSION — In other breakfast sandwich news: Bandit, the self-proclaimed maker of the best breakfast sandwiches in San Francisco, opened its third location in the Mission District on September 24. The restaurant will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and it’s kitty-corner from Dolores Park for those who want to enjoy an al fresco breakfast.
MILL VALLEY — Pok Pok chef Andy Ricker is back in the restaurant game as of September 25, when the James Beard Award-winning chef launched Tam Sang, a (mostly) virtual restaurant in partnership with Bay Area-based Local Kitchens. It’s a Northern Thai concept with a menu that’s just a few items including khao soi and crispy wings. Tam Sang will be available via the company’s kitchens in Lafayette, Cupertino, Palo Alto, and Mill Valley. On-site dining is available at the Cupertino and Palo Alto locations.
WALNUT CREEK — Melo’s Italian Table, a spinoff from the owners of Melo’s Pizza and Pasta, is now open in Walnut Creek, the Mercury News reports. The restaurant serves pizza, pasta, and cocktails at 1360 Locust Street, in the former home of City Square.
MENLO PARK — Robin, the popular omakase restaurant in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood, opened a second outpost on the Peninsula on September 20. Located at the Springline development in Menlo Park, the restaurant offers bespoke omakase menus on a sliding price scale from $109-$189. The handsome space, designed by Lundberg Design, includes a private dining room, custom murals, and more.
September 19
SOMA — Downtown San Francisco just got another Japanese-style hi-fi bar with a sound system begging to blast Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Yokai, a more casual restaurant from the Gozu team, opened on September 15 with a menu starring grilled skewers and a cocktail list spotlighting riffs on high balls. Sip on a glass of Japanese whisky and enjoy dishes such as nori chips or a Yokai burger topped with uni and wasabi Thousand Island dressing.
LOWER NOB HILL — Haraz, a fast-growing chain of Yemeni-style coffeehouses, officially entered the San Francisco market in early September with the opening of its first location in the city. The shop is located at 1452 Franklin Street, and Tablehopper reports the menu not only pots of Yemeni coffee, but also tea, pour-overs, Turkish coffee, and espresso.
MARINA — As of Monday, September 18, the Marina has a new option for coffee and salads. Bluestone Lane, the chain of Australian cafes, opened its newest outpost at 3352 Steiner Street. It’s the company’s seventh location in San Francisco and is open 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
RICHMOND — Eats was a staple on Clement Street for 48 years before its closure in January. Now, thanks to new chef and owner Simon Bryant, the business is back and serving breakfast, brunch, and lunch fare including caramelized custard French toast, fried chicken sandwiches, and tostada chilaquiles mash-ups — aptly named tosta-quiles.
POTRERO HILL — Louie’s Original, a spinoff restaurant from the Spruce team, opens on October 18 at 1685 Mariposa Street, the Chronicle reports. At the heart of the menu: a version of Spruce’s famous burger, plus familiar fare like chicken tenders, milkshakes, and the like.
POTRERO HILL — La Connessa, another restaurant from the same Bacchus Management Company, will open its doors on September 25. It’s an Italian restaurant where diners can expect “cured local anchovies with focaccia ($18), tagliatelle bolognese ($27) and four kinds of pizza ($24 to $28),” the Chronicle reports.
DOGPATCH — Giuliana’s Just for You Cafe is the new iteration of the now-closed but once-beloved Just for You Cafe in the Dogpatch. New owner Michael Tufo changed the restaurant name as a nod to his daughter, the San Francisco Standard reported in July.
September 12
THE MISSION — Barberio Osteria is the new restaurant from the team behind Nob Hill’s AltoVino, and it’s moving into the former home of Ancora, the seafood restaurant that shuttered just seven months after opening. The seasonal Italian spot opens on Friday, September 15 at 557 Valencia Street, per the Chronicle.
BERKELEY — Poindexter, an all-day cafe, has opened inside the Graduate hotel near the UC Berkeley campus. Located at 2600 Durant Avenue, the restaurant serves fresh bakery items from Starter Bakery, coffee from local roaster Saint Frank, specialty beverages, grab-and-go items, and more.
OAKLAND — The highly anticipated debut restaurant from chef Geoff Davis, Burdell, opened its doors on Saturday, September 9 in Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood. Davis, who previously cooked at top restaurants including Michelin-starred Cyrus, now-closed Aqua, cocktail bar True Laurel, and Flour + Water Hospitality’s Penny Roma, is cooking soul food and pulling inspiration from his family history.
OAKLAND — Chef Kyle Itani closed his Oakland restaurant Hopscotch this summer, but the space is already home to a new business: Good Luck Gato, a self-described “izakaya cantina.” Itani partnered with the duo behind Low Bar to bring the bar and restaurant to life, and the menu blends Mexican and Japanese influences into dishes such as uni butter elote and an okonomiyaki baked potato.
HAYWARD — As of September 15 Blue Crown Bistro is open at 1061 B Street in Hayward. The restaurant serves a broad menu that includes salads, soup, and sandwiches, but also lumpia, burgers, and vegan miso pasta.
SAN JOSE — The folks behind popular Bay Area restaurants Left Bank Brasserie and LB Steak will debut their latest project this week in San Jose. The Chronicle reports Rollati Ristorante will open on Friday, September 15 at 81 East Santa Clara Street on the ground floor of the Miro luxury apartment complex. It’s an Italian American restaurant so look for fresh pasta and plates such as linguine alle vongole, chicken parmesan, and mozzarella sticks.
SACRAMENTO — Mother, a popular and Michelin-recognized vegetarian restaurant in Sacramento, has reopened in a new space after being closed since the onset of the pandemic. The restaurant’s new home is at 2319 K Street, Suite B, in midtown, the Bee reports. Co-founders Michael and Lisa Thiemann and Ryan Donahue are all back in action, this time with chef Robb Venditti, who also owns Rossi Catering. The restaurant’s hours of operation haven’t been set yet, so keep an eye on the business Instagram for updates.
September 5
FINANCIAL DISTRICT — As of Wednesday, September 6, Holbrook House, a luxurious new restaurant and bar, is open in downtown San Francisco. It’s part of a $23 million renovation of the One Sansome building, specifically the office tower’s lobby, which now serves as both a dining destination and a private event space. Holbrook House, which is open to the public, offers coffee and pastries for breakfast and a Champagne cart with caviar for a bougie happy hour or late-night drinks.
UNION SQUARE — PLS on Post opened at the Hotel Zeppelin in late August bringing with it a tight, retro-inspired menu of smash burgers and milkshakes. It’s open for dinner from 4 to 10 p.m. daily.
SOMA — Head to the Dacha Cafe + Bar inside the Trellis Coworking and Events space at 981 Mission Street in SoMa for coffee by day and low-ABV and alcohol-free cocktails at night. According to Tablehopper, the project comes from the folks behind Manhattan Zodiac, a woman- and queer-owned cocktail consultancy.
OAKLAND — T’chaka, a new Haitian restaurant located at 901 Washington Street in Oakland, opens on September 3 in the former Miss Ollie’s space. According to the restaurant’s website, the Haitian Caribbean food destination serves dishes such as jerk chicken, akara taro root fritters, and curry goat.
OAKLAND — Anthony Salguero’s Salvadoran pop-up Popoca finally has a permanent home. East Bay Nosh reports the restaurant is finally open at 906 Washington Street in Oakland, where customers can order “fresh masa pupusas, pollo en chicha, [and] yuca con chicharron.”
OAKLAND — Cellarmaker Brewing Company has debuted its new location at 300 Webster Street near Jack London Square in Oakland. Head to the modern space for fresh beers and Detroit-style pizzas. The brewery is open from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and closes at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
DANVILLE — Find “coastal Thai fare” at the new Bungalow on Rose at 254 Rose Street in Danville. The restaurant comes from the family behind other Bay Area Thai restaurants including Oakland’s Michelin Guide-listed Bird and Buffalo and Soi 4 Bangkok Eatery, the Mercury News reports. This restaurant specializes in seafood dishes such as “fried branzino ($29) served with three sauces, fried rice with blue crab ($24) and sea bass ($18) in a lettuce wrap with vermicelli.”
August 31
LOWER HAIGHT — Stoa, the much-anticipated Lower Haight cocktail bar from a crew of experienced restaurant and bar professionals, will make its debut this weekend. Owners Allyson Jossel, Gonzalo Guzmán, Joji Sumi, and Yanni Kehagiaras will open the cocktail destination this weekend at 701 Haight Street, the former Black Sands Brewery space. Expect a “bulletproof list of ‘Greatest Hits’” on the cocktail menu.
OAKLAND – Mensho Ramen, the popular Tokyo-based restaurant chain, has opened its latest outpost in the Bay Area at 4258 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, East Bay Nosh reports.
DANVILLE – Blossom and Root opens its doors on August 30 and the Mercury News reports it's the “Tri-Valley’s first vegan restaurant.” Owner Susan Vergilio and executive chef Jen Sopinsky are offering a menu that includes “crispy, slightly-sweet fritters ($15) served with chipotle glaze, sesame seeds and a creamy herb dressing” and “masa cake ($26), made with mole verde, braised cannellini beans, charred corn and tomato salad.”
DANVILLE — Downtown Danville has a new seafood restaurant called Tides. The Mercury News reports executive chef and general manager Marikah Woodson, who played basketball at San Jose State, has created a menu “inspired by her mother’s cooking as much as the sea.”
SAN JOSE — Taco Bell fans have a new destination to live mas: A movie theater-themed Taco Bell Cantina opened on Wednesday, August 23 at San Jose’s Westfield Oakridge Mall. The menu includes all the fast food chain’s popular items such as Crunchwrap Supremes and Cheesy Gordita Crunches, plus boozy Baja Blast slushies, beer, and wine.
SACRAMENTO — Earlier this month a new British pub called Bear & Crown opened at 1022 Second Street in Old Sacramento. The Bee reports the bar and restaurant serves bangers and mash, fish and chips, and lamb loin alongside a full alcohol menu including beer, wine, and cocktails. At 7,000 square feet, the space can house up to 200 people and has an outdoor patio with space for up to 50 customers.
August 22
CIVIC CENTER — There’s a new IKEA coming to San Francisco and it’s bringing way more than Swedish meatballs. The Chronicle reports America’s first Swedish Bite and Swedish Deli outposts will join the IKEA at 945 Market Street, opening Wednesday, August 23, with the aforementioned meatballs plus “sustainable, plant-based options.”
MISSION — A new wine bar just opened at 1152 Valencia Street: Mission Local reports Tinto Wine Bar opened from the same family that owns the building, making it amongst a handful of optimistic prospects on the corridor.
JAPANTOWN — The team behind Fermentation Lab opened a second, fancier outpost at 1700A Post Street. A tipster let Eater SF know the business opened on the second weekend of August with a grand opening set for the week of August 23. The menu sports more than 20 beers, ciders, and kombuchas, plus small bites including duck fat fries and beef carpaccio.
POLK GULCH — Taco Rouge is set to open Tuesday, August 22 on the corner of Polk and Broadway. The new Mexican restaurant will be led by chef Daniel Tellez, formerly of Copita in Sausalito, and the space at 1500 Broadway will flip from restaurant to cantina with frequent themed music nights.
PARKSIDE — On Saturday, August 26 San Francisco’s fourth Insomnia Cookies will open for business at 2 Varela Avenue, Suite #2, near San Francisco State University. This opening marks the 15th Insomnia in California, and to celebrate the occasion the store will host a day-long party and hand out free cookies until 1 a.m.
BERKELEY — Harry Potter-themed shochu cocktails and a host of fried dishes have descended on University Avenue. The Mercury News reports Kinda Izakaya is now open, trying out Japanese bar food such as gyoza and beef skewers in addition to boozy drinks.
SAN CARLOS — Traditional Irish breakfast and live music will run like Guinness in the streets at Molly O’s grand opening on Sunday, September 10. The bar and restaurant offers a “Cal-Mex Irish fusion menu” and the owners boast a deep familial connection to the Emerald Isle.
FAIRFAX — Salt-N-Pepper Sandwich & Grill opened on August 8 in the former Perry’s Deli space on Sir Francis Drake. The Marin Independent Journal reports the deli ran for 61 years before the owner sold it to Surinder Sroa, who also owns Sroa’s Cafe Lotus next door.
NAPA — On August 21 the team behind Cadet opened tequila-centric Chispa at 1500 First Street, Suite 140. The Chronicle writes the bar showcases 80 tequilas and 40 mezcals in addition to a suite of dishes including caviar, quail eggs, and Filipino silvanas.
SAN JOSE — Ask not for whom the Baja blasts, it blasts for thee. A new Taco Bell Cantina is opening Wednesday, August 23 at 925 Blossom Hill Road, Suite 1641 in the Westfield Oakridge Mall. Expect boozy Baja Blasts and Gordita Supremes aplenty.
August 15
HAYES VALLEY — Instagram-friendly brunch spot Peacock Pansy opened at the end of June in the former Johnny Doughnuts space. The Fulton Street restaurant serves gluten-free waffles, vegan French toast, and plenty of brunch cocktails.
UNION SQUARE — Adriano Paganini, owner of the extensive Back of House restaurant group, opened his new coastal Italian restaurant Corzetti on August 14. Executive chef Tali Missirlian, former chef de cuisine at the Tailor’s Son, serves Ligurian dishes alongside a robust bar program from West Bev’s Nora Furst.
MISSION DISTRICT — A new sweets shop is headed into the short-lived Third Culture Bakery space on Valencia Street. A Buttercup Dessert House has signage up in the windows at 1186 Valencia Street, and the business’s Yelp page says it will open on Friday, September 1. The shop’s Instagram teases plush blue seats and a strawberry-filled dessert.
PALO ALTO — After announcing its opening in April 2022, entrepreneur-turned-restaurateur Omer Artun has opened the doors to his first restaurant Meyhouse. Focusing on the Turkish culture of meyhane, summed up as small plates served alongside alcohol, the business centers a huge wine list, cold mezze, and live music.
PALO ALTO — On California Avenue, butterflied sea bream and dazzling cocktails are front and center at the brand-new Sekoya Lounge & Kitchen. The new project comes from Pausa’s Steve Ugur and aims to be both an upscale dining destination and a casual cocktail haven.
MILPITAS — As of Monday, August 21, Surya Darshini Dosa Cafe will open online orders for its popular farmers market dosas and khara buns, to be picked up out of their new, permanent space for the first time. The business will open on Saturdays and Sundays at 691 South Milpitas Boulevard, Suite 131, featuring a limited menu for pick-up only, meaning no sales will be made on-site.
SAN JOSE — After almost two years of waiting, one of Los Angeles’ favorite Korean restaurants just came to the Bay Area. Baekjeong will open in San Jose’s Westfield Valley Fair on Wednesday, August 16, bringing its late-night party vibes and house-marinated galbi to NorCal for the first time.
SACRAMENTO — A second outpost of East Sacramento’s Donuts & Coffey opened on Wednesday, August 9 at 3291 Truxel Road. The Sacramento Bee reports the San Juan Village location of the business will serve a limited menu at first, including the much-loved croissants and doughnuts.
August 8
UNION SQUARE — Chotto Matte, the rooftop Peruvian-Japanese restaurant set to open on top of the former Macy’s Men’s department store just off Union Square finally has an opening date set: Saturday, September 23. The restaurant comes from founder Kurt Zdesar, who opened the first Chotto Mare in London in 2013 and has since expanded to cities including Miami, Toronto, and Philadelphia. Expect Nikkei cuisine including dishes such as Chotto branzino ceviche, tentáculos de pulpo, sato maki sushi, and pollo den miso. Reservations for the new restaurant, located at 50 O’Farrell Street, will open on Friday, September 1. For updates, keep an eye on the Chotto Matte San Francisco Instagram.
PACIFIC HEIGHTS — As of Thursday, August 3, new raw bar and restaurant Little Shucker is officially open at 2016 Fillmore Street. It’s the latest from the team behind popular cocktail bar the Snug and serves a menu swimming with shellfish and seafood including raw and baked oysters, crudo, a lobster roll, and a whole grilled branzino. The beverage list includes a selection of wines, a list of four low-ABV spritzes, and a selection of beers.
SAN RAFAEL — There’s a new rooftop bar open in the North Bay, specifically in downtown San Rafael. Above Fifth landed atop the new AC Hotel San Rafael at 1201 Fifth Avenue in early August and is serving a small food menu alongside cocktails such as the Pen Pal, which combines rye, vermouth, and Aperol to riff on a boulevardier.
SAN JOSE — Kura Sushi, the ever-expanding chain of revolving sushi restaurants, has opened its latest Bay Area location in San Jose at the Pacific Rim Plaza at 1628 Hostetter Road. It’s the company’s 49th outpost and the fourth in the Bay Area and customers can expect the same menu of sushi, sides, soups, and desserts — plus prizes based on how many plates you can take down.
HEALDSBURG — The wine country enclave of Healdsburg continues to foster an impressive dining scene and its latest opening is Goodnight’s Prime Steak + Spirits, a steakhouse headed up by chef David Lawrence of San Francisco’s Fillmore 1300 and Black Bark BBQ. The menu spans classics such as a ribeye and New York strip plus some less-common options such as whole roasted cauliflower muhammara.
DAVIS — There’s a new tiki bar in Davis, according to the Sacramento Bee. Shipwrecked Tiki Bar at 217 G Street in downtown Davis serves an extensive cocktail menu that favors rum-based tiki cocktail classics including a painkiller, a riff on a zombie, and a classic daiquiri. There’s no food, however, and no cash is accepted.
August 1
CASTRO — Pasta Panino opened in the second week of July on 18th Street selling, you guessed it, pasta, but also polenta fries, bruschetta, and arancini. According to the restaurant’s website, the opening team comes to the project after 19 years of working as chefs at Market Street’s Catch.
OAKLAND — Hi Felicia’s owner and chef Imana, who goes by her first name only, opened a new wine bar called Jelly Bean on July 16. The new project comes after a highly publicizied burglary and subsequent allegations of wage theft and sexual harassment by Imana.
BERKELEY — A new coffee cart hit Cesar Chavez Park in Berkeley’s Marina on July 15. Roaming Bean Coffee sells coffee and tea with baked goods on the way, according to East Bay Nosh. The outlet writres it’s likely the first coffee cart in the park.
CASTRO VALLEY — Cream puff extraordinaire Beard Papa’s is opening a new location at 3295 Castro Valley Boulevard with a grand opening date on August 5. According to a press release, festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with gifts going to the first 100 customers in line for the business’ classic Osaka-style desserts.
MOUNTAIN VIEW — Corte Madera-based Il Fornaio opened its seventh location on July 31 in the Village at San Antonio Center. The San Francisco Business Times reports the Italian restaurant mini-chain has aspirations to open one restaurant a year into the foreseeable future.
SAN JOSE — DoorDash is opening a new food hall aptly dubbed DoorDash Kitchens in San Jose. According to a press release, the outlet will feature 10 “local, regional, and national favorites under one roof,” including hits such as Bay Area dim sum institution Koi Palace, hometown hero Academic Coffee, and New York’s Milk Bar.
BURLINGAME — Vegan bakery Twelvemonth Bakehouse opened on July 24, an expansion from Burlingame’s Twelvemonth, which opened in the spring. Palo Alto Online reports owner Bob Trahan is no stranger to pastries, having run a cottage bakery called Propser from 2013 to 2017. Like the Twelvemonth restaurant, everything at the bakery — from corn danishes to blueberry lavender croissants — is vegan.
MARTINEZ — In a shipping container next to Five Suns Brewing, Bentley’s Container Bar opened July 28 bringing martinis and vibes to the brewery’s patio and garden. Since Martinez is the home of the martini, created in 1874 and originally named the Martinez Special, the business took to Instagram to tout its excitement in showing the drink some love.
SACRAMENTO — The Los Angeles-based waffle ice cream experts at Dolly Llama opened their first Sacramento location in the Elk Grove neighborhood on July 30. The Sacramento Bee reports the Raley’s Center outpost is the 14th location for the business in the United States.
July 25
TENDERLOIN — As of Thursday, July 20, well-loved Malaysian chef Azalina Eusope is back in action, reviving her Azalina’s restaurant — this time in a colorful space in the heart of the Tenderloin. Unlike the previous counter service iteration at the Twitter building food hall, the new Azalina’s is a full-service restaurant serving four-course set menus that will rotate every three weeks. Reservations are required and the $100 meal includes one nonalcoholic and one alcoholic beverage.
SOMA — The Yerba Buena debuted in SoMa in late July, in a space on Second Street next door to pizzeria and tiki cocktail destination Pie Punks. The upscale sports bar comes from a duo of experienced bar industry professionals: Eric Passetti and Marissa Marsh, who have collectively been involved with other popular San Francisco bars including Café Terminus, House of Shields, Natoma Cabana, Harlan Records, and Macondray.
INNER SUNSET — The former Queens space in the Inner Sunset is now home to pop-up Open Book Project, a Vietnamese American cafe from a pair of first-time operators. On the menu look for coffee drinks like pandan cold brew, wine, garlic-roasted peanuts, and blueberry polenta cake.
OAKLAND — The Chronicle reports fans have loved Vietnamese pop-up 3 Bottled Fish for years and finally, as of July 15, chef Paulette Tran has given the business a permanent home. Located at 1924 35th Avenue in Oakland, the new restaurant is open Wednesday through Saturday and the menu will change on a weekly basis, per the restaurant’s Instagram.
BERKELEY — Ibéxico is the delivery-only sister concept to Berkeley’s La Marcha, which opened in late July and operates out of the same space, per East Bay Nosh. The menu blends Spanish and Mexican cuisines – think tacos, yuca fries, nopales-stuffed croquettes, and cinnamon-dusted churros.
BERKELEY — The former Rare Barrel space in Berkeley has officially reopened as Cellarmaker Berkeley, following the San Francisco brewery’s acquisition of the Berkeley company last year. For now, the Berkeley taproom is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m., per a post on the brewery’s Instagram.
NAPA — There’s a new destination for cocktails in wine country thanks to the Fink, now open at 530 Main Street in downtown Napa. The Mercury News reports the bar comes from experienced vintner Judd Finkelstein of Judd’s Hill winery.
NAPA — And cocktail enthusiasts can also add the new Haven bar inside the Culinary Institute of America in Napa to their must-try list. The Chronicle reports the bar opens on Friday, July 28, and will feature “a secret entrance, second-story views and grilled tapas, like lamb skewers with salsa verde.” Drinks will include options such as a clarified mai tai and a blackberry cobbler.
SANTA CLARA and SAN JOSE — Good news for South Bay breakfast fanatics: the Mercury News reports Egghead Sando Cafe has opened two new outposts in Santa Clara (3957 Rivermark Plaza) and San Jose (6201 Santa Teresa Boulevard) where customers can expect the same menu of egg sandwiches found at the pre-existing locations in San Jose.
July 18
MISSION — Funky Elephant opened in 2018 in Berkeley and since then chef Supasit Puttikaew has been winning customers over with his unique style of Thai comfort food. Now, Puttikaew and partner Nanchaphon Laptanachai opened a second location of their hit restaurant, this time in the Mission District. There’s more space for customers, with the same popular menu, and plans to expand the dish offerings soon.
NOE VALLEY — New restaurant Memento SF is now open at the corner of 24th and Castro streets, serving a menu of “New American” dishes to the Noe Valley neighborhood. Chef and owner Rafael Da Silva brings cooking experience from London, Los Angeles, and New York, with an eclectic collection of dishes such as crispy curry chicken or beet and ricotta rigatoni.
CIVIC CENTER — Spro Coffee is making the move to the Civic Center area, with a new shop at 525 Golden Gate Avenue. Expect the usual “over the top” drinks, as well as some items available only at this location, such as a Japanese egg sandwiches and breakfast burritos with mole-cooked refried beans and hash browns.
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NOPA — Chirashi in picturesque containers is the name of the game at the new Fish in the Box, a new fast-casual corner restaurant in NoPa. Think a row of soy-cured salmon with round beads of ikura and thinly sliced cucumber over a bed of rice, all neatly arranged for your ig stories. There’s also sushi burritos, Japanese croquettes, and chicken karaage.
CONCORD — BK Miyabi is the newest sushi restaurant to slide into Concord, serving an assortment sushi rolls, sashimi, maki, and more, the Mercury News reports. It’s the sister restaurant of Roseville restaurant BF Miyabi, and this new spot in Concord is now open at 1950B Grant Street.
POINT RICHMOND — The restaurant inside Point Richmond’s Hotel Mac has been effectively closed since the pandemic, but the owners of Mi Casa Grill took over the space this year and reopened as Ristorante Biancoverde, Hoodline reports. The grand opening was held on Thursday, July 13 following a makeover of the space, and serves a menu of Italian classics.
RICHMOND — Prajam is the latest restaurant from two brothers who moved to the Bay Area from Thailand, and who previously opened Chris Thai, which has since closed, and Berkeley Thai House, the Mercury News reports. Located in Richmond, brothers Anukool Manonuek and Christopher Sacheia hope for their new restaurant to be a comfortable, neighborhood restaurant plating curries and more.
OAKLAND — Korean-Chinese restaurant Pixiu Mala Hongtang brings the heat to 4419 Telegraph Avenue, serving malatang and mala xiang guo, two dishes centered around the spicy and numbing ingredient, mala. With the spice comes the option to customize via a self-serve bar with noodles, vegetables, and rice cakes; this Temescal location opens July 20 and is the first Bay Area outpost of the Los Angeles-based business, which also has shops in Texas and Portland, Oregon, the Mercury News reports.
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NAPA — New gastropub the Lincoln is set to open Saturday, July 21 with views of the Napa River paired with a menu of updated pub fare. Located at 505 Lincoln Avenue in Napa, expect items such as honey Sriracha salmon lollipops, short ribs with potatoes au gratin, and a hash mac (a mac and cheese-topped hash brown dish). Brunch is expected to launch shortly, and there are also a number of cocktails to imbibe, especially while enjoying the outdoor fire pits and games.
MENLO PARK — Looks like the Springline development in Menlo Park is chugging along nicely, as its latest restaurants are set to open this weekend: Burmese restaurant Burma Love will open on Wednesday, July 19, while Barebottle Brewing Company opens on Thursday, July 20. It’s the latest round of openings for the complex, which will have as many as 11 different restaurants and cafes open by fall.
SAN JOSE — Lazy Dog Restaurant continues to further its reach into the Bay Area with the opening of its sixth local restaurant in San Jose at 5305 Almaden Expressway. The Jackson Hole, Wyoming-inspired restaurant offers a “contemporary rustic environment” and serves “elevated comfort food” according to a press release.
SACRAMENTO — Rendez-Vous Winery is opening a second location of its Clarksburg tasting room, this time in midtown Sacramento, the Sacramento Bee reports. The grand opening is set for Saturday, July 29 at 2025 16th Street.
July 11
HAYES VALLEY — Ninth Avenue’s favorite ice cream shop Hometown Creamery expanded into the former Fluff Nugget space. The new outpost celebrated its grand opening on July 1 to much fanfare and many scoops of New Orleans-style bread pudding ice cream.
NOE VALLEY — Ember, a modern Turkish restaurant with Mediterranean and Californian inspirations, opened on June 15 from chef Deniz Sezer. The owner was born in Izmir, Turkey, cutting his teeth in the industry by working at restaurants around the world before bringing his own first restaurant to 1298 Church Street.
OUTER SUNSET — Judah Street’s Mixto is already open and bringing plantain burgers, ceviche, and sangria to the Outer Sunset. The restaurant joins a powerful block of flag-bearer favorites including Judahlicious and Outerlands on either side.
OAKLAND — Matty’s Old Fashioned, the newest restaurant from barbecue powerhouse chef Matt Horn, is already taking reservations for the remainder of July. The new outfit is a nod to old-school Americana burger joints.
BERKELEY — Talented chocolatiers Tracey Britton and Eli Curtis have opened the first storefront for their business Bisou Chocolate. East Bay Nosh writes the two took over the lease at 2929 Ninth Street and are selling their familiar confections, plus a bevy of chocolate-infused drinks.
PALO ALTO — Touting more than 20 varieties of baklava and loads of Turkish coffee, Oklava and its accompanying Kenz Coffee Bar debuted on University Avenue on June 13. Palo Alto Online reports owner Elif Uzun is a longtime home cook, though his business partner Aziz Aslan has experience in the restaurant industry.
MILPITAS — Taiwanese boba chain Xing Fu Tang opened its first Northern California location, and the Chronicle reports fans have already taken to lining up for viewings of the shop’s brown sugar boba as it cooks in tremendous gold pans.
MILPITAS — Continuing Milpitas’ glow-up, longtime Bay Area favorite Amber Indian opened its newest outpost at 556 South Milpitas Boulevard. The Chronicle writes the restaurant’s original location opened in Mountain View in 1994.