Mt. Diablo BBQ
Ethan Fletcher
Mt. Diablo BBQ Moving Forward in Lafayette
A barbecue replacement in the former Horn Barbecue space appears to be making progress in Lafayette. The longtime smokehouse recently vacated by Oakland pitmaster Matt Horn has received a fresh paint job (red), while a newly launched website reveals details about what customers can potentially expect.
According to that website, Mt. Diablo BBQ is “opening soon,” and when it does, it will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. What’s cooking in the morning? Listed on the online menu are two breakfast options available from 7 to 11 a.m.: a breakfast taco on a flour tortilla with an over-easy egg, salsa ranchera, served with a choice of pulled pork, brisket, or tri-tip; and a biscuit breakfast sandwich with Angel biscuit, two eggs, melted American cheese, and a choice of pulled pork or brisket (and the option to top it with house-made pickled jalapenos, onions, and cucumbers). For lunch and dinner, the restaurant’s menu lists 10 barbeque sandwiches, and meals served with two sides, bread, and a choice of tri-tip, brisket, pulled pork, St. Louis–style pork ribs, chicken, burnt ends, and hot links. Sides include potato salad, beans, mac and cheese, coleslaw, baked potato, chips, and grilled, garlic, and cornbread, while fresh-baked pies, homemade bread pudding and berry cobbler, root beer float, and a chocolate dream cookie are available for dessert. There are also salads, kids’ meals, and family packs listed on what looks to be a customer-friendly menu.
All beef is sourced from Harris Ranch and slow smoked on California oak. One thing noticeably not present on the online menu is beer and wine: Horn Barbecue shuttered in part due to a suspended alcohol license by the state, although the owners of Mt. Diablo BBQ have applied for a new one. Those owners, Eric and Lawrence Ingram, have family ties to multiple barbecue restaurants across the region, including ones in Morgan Hill, Carmel, Gilroy, Santa Cruz, and San Jose.
We reached out to the family for more details on the Lafayette location including an opening date, but didn’t hear back. We’ll keep you posted.
And in other barbecue news, Kinder’s has consolidated its operations in Walnut Creek. The longtime family-owned favorite shuttered its location on Parkside Drive with all employees and catering clients being transferred to its other restaurant a mile away at 1831 Ygnacio Valley Road. Owner Justin Kinder cited rising rent and the cost of goods, particularly for meat, for the move.
Marufuku Ramen
Ramen Watch on High Alert
Mensho
Ethan Fletcher
Ramen fans have been waiting for what seems like an eternity for two acclaimed noodle shops, Marufuku Ramen and Mensho, to make their debuts in Walnut Creek—and all signs point towards imminent slurping. “Hello, Walnut Creek!” reads an all-caps post on a recent post on Marufuku’s official Instagram page, which continues, “Marufans, get ready…Walnut Creek is opening soon 👀🍜.” That sounds promising enough, but official confirmation has arrived from the Marufuku team that the new Walnut Creek location will be opening Wednesday, May 27 (the same day, as it happens, as Doppio Zero’s new downtown restaurant, see below). In addition to the eatery’s signature Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen, the Walnut Creek menu will feature yakitori, exclusive Wagyu dishes, signature cocktails, and a curated selection of premium sake, all in a sleek, open modern-Japanese setting with bamboo-lined patio.
In the meantime, Mensho might just beat Marufuku to the punch. That popular ramen operator’s new downtown location seems to be almost ready to launch, with renovation complete and signage up on North Main Street (right next to the new Doppio Zero). And while there’s been no official word from the restaurant, its team did recently tell Dish that Mensho is aiming to open in the middle of this month.
Doppio Zero Sets Official Opening Date in Walnut Creek
And coming in just next door to Mensho, Doppio Zero has made the opening date officially official for its Walnut Creek expansion. According to its website and posts on social media, the Neapolitan pizza and fresh pasta specialist with several Bay Area locations will launch on Wednesday, May 27, at 1522 North Main Street, in the former home of SanDai (and before that, Prima Ristorante). According to the announcement, the grand opening celebration will happen from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and include “free pizza by the slice, pasta small plates, and more.” Check out this behind-the-scenes peek of the new space courtesy of co-founder Gianni Chilorio.
Belotti
Courtesy of Belotti
Belotti Bottega Update in Oakland
An update on pasta virtuoso Michele Belotti’s shop planned for North Oakland. Belotti Bottega, specializing in takeaway versions of the acclaimed scratch-made pastas and sauces of Rockridge’s Belotti Ristorante (which just celebrated its 10th anniversary this year), is on track for a fall opening at 5317 Martin Luther King Jr Way in the former Oakland’s Very Own Tavern space. It will be an expanded version of the Piedmont Avenue bottega, which has operated since 2017 and offers broths, dressings, and to-go portions of the ristorante’s full menu. Belotti’s wife and business partner, Joyce Belotti, confirmed that they would close the Piedmont shop at the end of the year, when they will transfer operations to the new location. In case you’re getting hungry, she also mentioned a new spring pasta special now on the menu at Belotti. Pasta primavera (pictured): pasta filled with organic nettles, peas, and ricotta with seasoned spring vegetables and a Grana Padano cheese sauce.
Rico Rico Getting Close in San Ramon?
Signage has been spotted for the planned expansion of Oakland’s popular Rico Rico Tacos to City Center Bishop Ranch. The restaurant is known for its handmade tortillas, spit-roasted al pastor, and ingredient-driven tacos that include several veggie options; owners Marisol and Ricardo Montero were previously targeting a February debut in San Ramon. While it’s been radio silence through the spring, mall-goers may finally be close to testing out those tacos, in addition to burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, chiles rellenos, sopes, flautas, breakfast tacos, and agua frescas, beer, and wine.
Small Bites from Around the East Bay
May is Livermore Valley Wine Month. Check out special deals and events happening all month, including Uncorked!, a celebration honoring gold medal winners of the California Signature Wine Awards happening this Friday at McGrail Vineyards.
For those looking to attend Taste of Lafayette, it’s too late. Lafayette’s premier food and wine event is sold out, but folks are welcome to enjoy free music, perhaps with picnic fixings, in Lafayette Plaza from 5–7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.
It appears that Oyama Sushi has closed on North Main Street in Walnut Creek. Locations in Lafayette and Greenbrae, however, appear to still be up and running.
After nearly a decade, Pizza My Heart closed in downtown Walnut Creek, however its Pleasant Hill location remains open.
Morgan Territory, Barebottle, Cellarmaker, Fieldwork, and Danville Brewing Co. were among the local winners at the 2026 World Beer Cup.
Casper’s Hot Dogs is closing its oldest—and most adorable—remaining location in Richmond. Fortunately, it was bought by a longtime customer who will continue to run it as a hot dog operation.