clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Leila Seppa

Here Are the Hottest New Restaurants in the East Bay, March 2023

The most exciting new restaurants in Oakland, Berkeley, and beyond

View as Map

It’s not enough to say the East Bay is in the midst of a food renaissance, with plenty of new restaurants opening every other week. Instead, it’s perhaps more fitting to say this area is home to some of the most exciting and innovative independent restaurants opening in the entire Bay Area. The East Bay Heatmap is for those keeping track of the latest and greatest restaurants, bars, and cafes on this side of the Bay Bridge, from a contemporary Colombian restaurant in downtown Oakland to a PizzaHacker alum’s shop serving sourdough pies to Castro Valley. Read on for 18 of the East Bay’s most exciting new places to eat and drink.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

Read More

The Backyard

Copy Link

This family-friendly restaurant in Richmond opened in November, readying an outdoor space perfect for lawn games, music, and movie nights — with a crowd-pleasing menu to boot. Breakfast sandwiches are served all day, along with burgers, and tartines; vegans, vegetarians, and those looking for gluten-free options won’t be left out, as well, with the option to sub ingredients to make a dish perfect. Get the sausage and egg sandwich, but swap in an Acme croissant for extra oomph.

Hammerling Wines

Copy Link

Hammerling Wines is the new kid on the block, joining neighboring wineries in the Gilman District of Berkeley. Already, the winery is joining First Fridays, during which local businesses group together for wine tastings and bites from rotating food vendors. Hammerling also has an events schedule with exciting pop-ups like Tacos Sincero dropping in, perfect for pairing with the sparkling wines and drinkable reds for which Hammerling is known.

The interior to the Hammerling Wines tasting room is seen, with wine barrels lining the wall, a wine bar in the back, and tables and chairs for patrons Hammerling Wines

Great Notion Brewing - Berkeley

Copy Link

Portland, Oregon’s Great Notion Brewing has made the leap to opening a taproom in California, taking over the former Torpedo Room on Fourth Street in Berkeley. There are 16 beers on tap, a mix of Great Notion’s core beers, including smoothie beers and sours in rotation and in 16-ounce cans available to go. Go for the hazy IPAs, and as a PSA: outside food, children, and (well-behaved and leashed) dogs are welcome.

Starter Bakery

Copy Link

Starter Bakery is already familiar to those in the East Bay as a wholesale operation outfitting grocery stores and cafes with kouignoù-amann and croissants for 10 years. Now it’s finally opening a retail shop on March 4. Expect updated recipes fit for being lifted straight from the oven directly into customers' hands; don’t skip the cardamom pistachio buns, the chocolate babka, or any of the new cake offerings. Savory options will include quiche, as well as a grab-and-go line of sandwiches and salads.

Two cardamom pistachio buns are seen in the sunlight. Molly DeCoudreax

ACRE Kitchen and Bar

Copy Link

Many were saddened to see Oliveto’s 35-year tenure in the Market Hall building come to an end, but in its place is the new Acre, looking to fill out the two-story space with a cafe and restaurant. If you’re more in the mood for the feel of a “European-style” cafe, park yourself downstairs and pick out some sardines or garlic shrimp with a glass of wine. If you’d rather have bigger dishes for a dinner at night (with a cocktail), head upstairs for the heftier plates, such as a whole roasted branzino or a rotisserie chicken.

Photo by Hardy Wilson, Courtesy ACRERestaurant

Poppy Bagels

Copy Link

Pop-up favorite Poppy Bagels built its fanbase through bagel deliveries and a regular stint at the Grand Lake Farmers Market, but now they’re throwing open the doors on a permanent home in Temescal. The everything and salt and pepper bagels are favorites, and on the sandwich side go classic with a lox bagel, or try something different like the truffle honey combo, employing black truffle chive cream cheese topped with local honey.

Lauren Saria

Owner David Liu is continuing his family’s sushi legacy — his mother has run Kyoto Sushi in Berkeley for 25 years, and now Liu has opened a new takeout sushi spot with Ebiko on Piedmont Avenue. Inside the shop you’ll find a beautiful array of to-go sushi, including sushi rolls, omakase nigiri and changing daily specials that are worth a glance. Pick up some snacks and drinks while you’re there, such as the Calbee shrimp chips and Hojicha iced tea, and you’re all set for a sushi picnic or lunch at home.

Ebiko

Chef Paul Iglesias recently opened Parche in Uptown Oakland, a new restaurant serving “contemporary Colombian” food in a well-designed setting. The menu offers small plates and shareable items, including build-your-own ceviches, which are well worth a look. The empanadas and carimañolas are also worth consideration, along with the restaurant’s Spanish-style gin and tonics.

A bar with chairs. Adahlia Cole

Calabash

Copy Link

Calabash is a new project from Kingston 11’s Nigel Jones and Komaaj’s Hanif Sadr. It’s an all-day spot that serves both Afro-Caribbean dishes and Northern Iranian cuisine, taking diners from day to night. There are egg dishes and tahini and jam toast for breakfast, while heartier dishes like roasted chicken or platters of sumac-laden labneh dip go from lunch until the evening. There’s also a cocktail bar with specialty drinks and a separate wine bar featuring local wines to keep the party going in this multi-functional spot.

Patricia Chang

Kinfolx

Copy Link

After holding a few events that gave customers a sneak peek at the space in late 2022, Kinfolx is officially open, serving coffee, wine, and a space to gather. Grab a Kinfolx latte if you’re there to work on your laptop at one of the tables, and when you’re ready to clock out, switch over to the wine selection and peruse the newly installed wine shelves toward the back gallery.

Maria C. Hunt

Yonsei Handrolls

Copy Link

The hand roll craze continues on, and now Oakland has a brand-new hand roll spot thanks to veteran chef Kyle Itani. Yonsei Handrolls opens next door to Itani’s other restaurant, Itani Ramen, and features tasty, nontraditional hand rolls such as a seared albacore hand roll with a torched, black garlic compound butter. Don’t skip out on the drinks, if you imbibe: much like Itani Ramen, this new spot will also feature a number of strong cocktails Roku Negroni, or a sake flight to sip alongside your meal.

Ed Anderson

OKO at Tribune

Copy Link

Chefs Solomon Johnson and Mike Woods took over the Tribune location in Oakland this October, bringing their OKO supper club pop-up to downtown. Expect refined dishes that center pan-African and Creole cuisine as Johnson and Woods envision it, all in the historic Tribune building. The residency is set to last for at least one year, so get there fast.

Adahlia Cole

Left Bank Jack London Square

Copy Link

Left Bank Brasserie has become a part of the Bay Area’s exploding French restaurant scene, with outposts in San Jose, Larkspur, and Menlo Park. But the newest addition to the mini-restaurant chain boasts views of the waterfront at Jack London Square along with the classic French fare fans have come to expect. Among the new options are a seafood platter and a fried chicken dish made as an ode to New York’s Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken.

Leila Seppa

Crumble & Whisk

Copy Link

Charles Farrier has sold his popular cheesecakes and treats at farmer’s markets since 2016, but the La Cocina incubator alum opened his own space in Oakland’s Laurel District in December. Now, those who know Farrier for his sweets — the personal-sized cheesecakes are perfect for when you just want a sweet little something — can buy them at his permanent bakery, and sample more of Farrier’s food with the inclusion of breakfast and lunch.

Four mini-sized cheesecakes with fruit toppings from Crumble & Whisk Crumble & Whisk

Saltbreaker

Copy Link

Despite construction making it a bit hard to find, Saltbreaker can feel like a restaurant oasis in Alameda. The spot creates space for chef Justin Davis to use “basic French techniques and principles to reinterpret California cuisine,” per the East Bay Express. Go for the SB Burger, which features a bacon beef patty, or the solid steak frites. For drinks, the restaurant serves both a freezer martini and freezer Manhattans, as well as a spiked hot guava drink served with a spiced guava butter cookie.

Tacos El Ultimo Baile

Copy Link

Much of Oakland, nay the East Bay, might already know chef Dominic Prado’s food at Tacos El Último Baile from its time as a popular food truck, but now Prado is serving up his street-style tacos at his new, permanent restaurant in Fruitvale. Go for anything rotating on the trompo, but also make sure to check out the specials while you’re at it — they’re usually limited and in high demand (not to mention, delicious). And now that the food isn’t served out of a truck, kick back and enjoy the cantina vibes while you sip on a beer alongside your tacos.

Patricia Chang

Charlie May Coffee and Tea House

Copy Link

Charlie May made a name for itself as a coffee shop staple at pop-ups and markets, but now sisters Arianna and Analyssa Cruz have opened a permanent location in Oakland. Try the champorado or latiya cold brew, two drinks for which the shop is known.

Pizza The Bay

Copy Link

PizzaHacker alums are continuing to spread the gospel of pizza, including last year’s State Flour Pizza Company in Berkeley from pizzaiolo Derek Lau and new Castro Valley spot Pizza the Bay from Amrafel Tomas. Along with business partner Shimei Burgueno, the duo is baking sourdough pizzas and putting creative spins on them, such as the Washington Square pie with mozzarella, onions, aged prosciutto, grana padana, and an egg. They’re also providing non-pizza options, including calzones, sandwiches, and a selection of wings; if you’re a fan of dipping food into cups of ranch dressing, don’t skip Burgueno’s version.

A pizza topped with mozzarella and green pesto is seen on a pizza peel. Pizza the Bay

The Backyard

This family-friendly restaurant in Richmond opened in November, readying an outdoor space perfect for lawn games, music, and movie nights — with a crowd-pleasing menu to boot. Breakfast sandwiches are served all day, along with burgers, and tartines; vegans, vegetarians, and those looking for gluten-free options won’t be left out, as well, with the option to sub ingredients to make a dish perfect. Get the sausage and egg sandwich, but swap in an Acme croissant for extra oomph.

Hammerling Wines

Hammerling Wines is the new kid on the block, joining neighboring wineries in the Gilman District of Berkeley. Already, the winery is joining First Fridays, during which local businesses group together for wine tastings and bites from rotating food vendors. Hammerling also has an events schedule with exciting pop-ups like Tacos Sincero dropping in, perfect for pairing with the sparkling wines and drinkable reds for which Hammerling is known.

The interior to the Hammerling Wines tasting room is seen, with wine barrels lining the wall, a wine bar in the back, and tables and chairs for patrons Hammerling Wines

Great Notion Brewing - Berkeley

Portland, Oregon’s Great Notion Brewing has made the leap to opening a taproom in California, taking over the former Torpedo Room on Fourth Street in Berkeley. There are 16 beers on tap, a mix of Great Notion’s core beers, including smoothie beers and sours in rotation and in 16-ounce cans available to go. Go for the hazy IPAs, and as a PSA: outside food, children, and (well-behaved and leashed) dogs are welcome.

Starter Bakery

Starter Bakery is already familiar to those in the East Bay as a wholesale operation outfitting grocery stores and cafes with kouignoù-amann and croissants for 10 years. Now it’s finally opening a retail shop on March 4. Expect updated recipes fit for being lifted straight from the oven directly into customers' hands; don’t skip the cardamom pistachio buns, the chocolate babka, or any of the new cake offerings. Savory options will include quiche, as well as a grab-and-go line of sandwiches and salads.

Two cardamom pistachio buns are seen in the sunlight. Molly DeCoudreax

ACRE Kitchen and Bar

Many were saddened to see Oliveto’s 35-year tenure in the Market Hall building come to an end, but in its place is the new Acre, looking to fill out the two-story space with a cafe and restaurant. If you’re more in the mood for the feel of a “European-style” cafe, park yourself downstairs and pick out some sardines or garlic shrimp with a glass of wine. If you’d rather have bigger dishes for a dinner at night (with a cocktail), head upstairs for the heftier plates, such as a whole roasted branzino or a rotisserie chicken.

Photo by Hardy Wilson, Courtesy ACRERestaurant

Poppy Bagels

Pop-up favorite Poppy Bagels built its fanbase through bagel deliveries and a regular stint at the Grand Lake Farmers Market, but now they’re throwing open the doors on a permanent home in Temescal. The everything and salt and pepper bagels are favorites, and on the sandwich side go classic with a lox bagel, or try something different like the truffle honey combo, employing black truffle chive cream cheese topped with local honey.

Lauren Saria

Ebiko

Owner David Liu is continuing his family’s sushi legacy — his mother has run Kyoto Sushi in Berkeley for 25 years, and now Liu has opened a new takeout sushi spot with Ebiko on Piedmont Avenue. Inside the shop you’ll find a beautiful array of to-go sushi, including sushi rolls, omakase nigiri and changing daily specials that are worth a glance. Pick up some snacks and drinks while you’re there, such as the Calbee shrimp chips and Hojicha iced tea, and you’re all set for a sushi picnic or lunch at home.

Ebiko

Parche

Chef Paul Iglesias recently opened Parche in Uptown Oakland, a new restaurant serving “contemporary Colombian” food in a well-designed setting. The menu offers small plates and shareable items, including build-your-own ceviches, which are well worth a look. The empanadas and carimañolas are also worth consideration, along with the restaurant’s Spanish-style gin and tonics.

A bar with chairs. Adahlia Cole

Calabash

Calabash is a new project from Kingston 11’s Nigel Jones and Komaaj’s Hanif Sadr. It’s an all-day spot that serves both Afro-Caribbean dishes and Northern Iranian cuisine, taking diners from day to night. There are egg dishes and tahini and jam toast for breakfast, while heartier dishes like roasted chicken or platters of sumac-laden labneh dip go from lunch until the evening. There’s also a cocktail bar with specialty drinks and a separate wine bar featuring local wines to keep the party going in this multi-functional spot.

Patricia Chang

Kinfolx

After holding a few events that gave customers a sneak peek at the space in late 2022, Kinfolx is officially open, serving coffee, wine, and a space to gather. Grab a Kinfolx latte if you’re there to work on your laptop at one of the tables, and when you’re ready to clock out, switch over to the wine selection and peruse the newly installed wine shelves toward the back gallery.

Maria C. Hunt

Yonsei Handrolls

The hand roll craze continues on, and now Oakland has a brand-new hand roll spot thanks to veteran chef Kyle Itani. Yonsei Handrolls opens next door to Itani’s other restaurant, Itani Ramen, and features tasty, nontraditional hand rolls such as a seared albacore hand roll with a torched, black garlic compound butter. Don’t skip out on the drinks, if you imbibe: much like Itani Ramen, this new spot will also feature a number of strong cocktails Roku Negroni, or a sake flight to sip alongside your meal.

Ed Anderson

OKO at Tribune

Chefs Solomon Johnson and Mike Woods took over the Tribune location in Oakland this October, bringing their OKO supper club pop-up to downtown. Expect refined dishes that center pan-African and Creole cuisine as Johnson and Woods envision it, all in the historic Tribune building. The residency is set to last for at least one year, so get there fast.

Adahlia Cole

Left Bank Jack London Square

Left Bank Brasserie has become a part of the Bay Area’s exploding French restaurant scene, with outposts in San Jose, Larkspur, and Menlo Park. But the newest addition to the mini-restaurant chain boasts views of the waterfront at Jack London Square along with the classic French fare fans have come to expect. Among the new options are a seafood platter and a fried chicken dish made as an ode to New York’s Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken.

Leila Seppa

Crumble & Whisk

Charles Farrier has sold his popular cheesecakes and treats at farmer’s markets since 2016, but the La Cocina incubator alum opened his own space in Oakland’s Laurel District in December. Now, those who know Farrier for his sweets — the personal-sized cheesecakes are perfect for when you just want a sweet little something — can buy them at his permanent bakery, and sample more of Farrier’s food with the inclusion of breakfast and lunch.

Four mini-sized cheesecakes with fruit toppings from Crumble & Whisk Crumble & Whisk

Saltbreaker

Despite construction making it a bit hard to find, Saltbreaker can feel like a restaurant oasis in Alameda. The spot creates space for chef Justin Davis to use “basic French techniques and principles to reinterpret California cuisine,” per the East Bay Express. Go for the SB Burger, which features a bacon beef patty, or the solid steak frites. For drinks, the restaurant serves both a freezer martini and freezer Manhattans, as well as a spiked hot guava drink served with a spiced guava butter cookie.

Related Maps

Tacos El Ultimo Baile

Much of Oakland, nay the East Bay, might already know chef Dominic Prado’s food at Tacos El Último Baile from its time as a popular food truck, but now Prado is serving up his street-style tacos at his new, permanent restaurant in Fruitvale. Go for anything rotating on the trompo, but also make sure to check out the specials while you’re at it — they’re usually limited and in high demand (not to mention, delicious). And now that the food isn’t served out of a truck, kick back and enjoy the cantina vibes while you sip on a beer alongside your tacos.

Patricia Chang

Charlie May Coffee and Tea House

Charlie May made a name for itself as a coffee shop staple at pop-ups and markets, but now sisters Arianna and Analyssa Cruz have opened a permanent location in Oakland. Try the champorado or latiya cold brew, two drinks for which the shop is known.

Pizza The Bay

PizzaHacker alums are continuing to spread the gospel of pizza, including last year’s State Flour Pizza Company in Berkeley from pizzaiolo Derek Lau and new Castro Valley spot Pizza the Bay from Amrafel Tomas. Along with business partner Shimei Burgueno, the duo is baking sourdough pizzas and putting creative spins on them, such as the Washington Square pie with mozzarella, onions, aged prosciutto, grana padana, and an egg. They’re also providing non-pizza options, including calzones, sandwiches, and a selection of wings; if you’re a fan of dipping food into cups of ranch dressing, don’t skip Burgueno’s version.

A pizza topped with mozzarella and green pesto is seen on a pizza peel. Pizza the Bay

Related Maps