{"id":166973,"date":"2026-02-06T17:56:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T17:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/166973\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T17:56:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T17:56:10","slug":"new-southern-mexican-indian-yemeni-and-italian-spots-among-east-bay-debuts-in-january","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/166973\/","title":{"rendered":"New Southern, Mexican, Indian, Yemeni and Italian spots among East Bay debuts in January"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note:\u00a0Nosh<\/a>\u00a0covers food and restaurant news across the East Bay, and each week we publish one article covering all the restaurant openings and one article covering closings. Have a tip for Nosh?\u00a0Submit it here<\/a>.\u00a0Subscribing to the\u00a0Nosh newsletter<\/a>\u00a0is the best way to stay up to date on all of the openings and closings, breaking news, deeper developments, and events in the East Bay food scene.<\/p>\n

Albany restaurant opening<\/p>\n

Anahuac<\/p>\n

02.03.26: A new Mexican restaurant comes to Solano Avenue. Anahuac held its grand opening Jan. 31 with a menu of plentiful dishes including fajitas, enchiladas, a large seafood selection, and drinks. It is located in the former\u00a0Fonda location<\/a>.\u00a0Anahuac<\/a>, 1501 Solano Ave., Albany\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Berkeley restaurant openings<\/p>\n

01.28.26: Pochys Home Style South Indian, a casual restaurant on Berkeley\u2019s Solano Ave., has moved and reopened under a new name. The South Indian eatery is now known as Bangalore Blues and, accordingly, is bathed in deep blue hues down to the plates. Dishes like chicken biryani, masala dosa, idli (soft, steamed savory cakes made with fermented rice and lentil batter) and ghee dosa (crispy, crepe-like pancakes cooked in ghee) are made from scratch and the menu is focused on dishes common in the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore Blues<\/a>, 1889 Solano Ave. (at The Alameda), Berkeley<\/p>\n

Eight Grams Matcha<\/p>\n

02.03.26: A new matcha cafe opened its doors in Berkeley, founded by a\u00a0Cal alum<\/a>. A former RareTea boba shop, the cafe, currently in its soft opening, offers a matcha latte topped with honeycomb, and a banana matcha sweetened with banana milk. A few tea-infused puddings are also on the menu. Eight Grams Matcha<\/a>, 2440 Bancroft Way Ste. 101 Berkeley<\/p>\n

01.28.26: Gusto, a new Algerian restaurant specializing in Halal fast food, has opened in Berkeley. The casual spot serves comfort foods like merguez (spicy North African lamb sausage), Algerian tacos and burgers. Sweet treats like maqrout (cookies filled with dates and nuts or almond paste), plus coffee and tea, are also on offer.\u00a0Gusto<\/a>, 1986 Shattuck Ave. (between Berkeley Way and University Ave.), Berkeley\u00a0<\/p>\n

01.28.26: A new cafe specializing in dosas, the soft and crispy pancakes characteristic of Indian street food, is now open in Berkeley. Stop by Id Cafe (in the former\u00a0Organic Greens<\/a>\u00a0location) for treats like egg dosas and mysore masala dosas (topped with red chutney and stuffed with a spicy potato masala), plus drinks like rose milk, masala chai and kala khatta soda.\u00a0Id Cafe<\/a>, 2177 Kittredge St., Berkeley<\/p>\n

01.22.26:\u00a0There\u2019s a new coffee shop for early birds and night owls alike in Berkeley. Qahwa Time serves Yemeni coffee and sweet treats from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Stop in for teas and lattes infused with spices like cardamom, cinnamon and ginger, plus hazelnut cheesecake and fresh fruit smoothies.\u00a0Qahwa Time<\/a>, 2440 Shattuck Ave. (at Haste St.), Berkeley<\/p>\n

Emeryville restaurant openings<\/p>\n

01.07.26: Mamacita, a fast-casual Mexican spot, has opened in Emeryville\u2019s Public Market following C Casa\u2019s departure in February, the\u00a0E\u2019ville Eye\u00a0reports. Mamacita serves staples like tacos, burritos and quesadillas, but reviewers on Yelp are most thrilled about the pozole. (Both red and green are on offer).\u00a0Mamacita, 5959 Shellmound St., Emeryville<\/p>\n

Tease Southern Kitchen <\/p>\n

02.03.26: A southern food business opens inside the Emeryville Public Market. With dishes like lobster mac n\u2019 cheese, garlic noodles, and shrimp po\u2019boys, Tease will surely please a palate hankering for southern comfort food. Tease started in Antioch and had a brief stint in Oakland. Located in the former Minnie Bell\u2019s.\u00a0Tease Southern Kitchen<\/a>, 5959 Shellmound St., Unit 15, Emeryville.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

01.28.26: Emeryville\u2019s only Japanese grocery store is set to celebrate its grand opening on Jan. 31. Tokyo Central will offer an array of imported Japanese goods, including to-go sushi, sashimi and bento boxes, beauty items, ramen and other pantry staples. The market also includes a dine-in restaurant, Handroll Factory, which offers assorted hand rolls like bluefin tuna, shrimp, wagyu and uni. Check out Nosh\u2019s behind the scenes look at Tokyo Central<\/a> covering everything massive new grocery has to offer.\u00a0Tokyo Central,<\/a>\u00a05603 Bay St., Emeryville<\/p>\n

Oakland restaurant openings<\/p>\n

01.22.26: Fresh Italian fare has landed at West Oakland\u2019s Prescott Market.\u00a0Fatto a Mano Alimentari<\/a>, which is still in soft opening mode, offers an assortment of pastas made daily \u2014 spaghetti, bucatini, gnocchi, paccheri and the like \u2014 with varied sauces, including beef bolognese, pomodoro and four cheese. If you\u2019re looking for something on the lighter side, try the grilled eggplants dressed with cucumbers, black olives, Feta cheese, hummus and a side of focaccia, or the Tuscan bean soup. Check out\u00a0Nosh\u2019s feature<\/a>\u00a0for more on chef and owner Elena Fabbri\u00a0and her plans for the spot.\u00a0Fatto a Mano Alimentari<\/a>, 1620 18th St. (at Peralta St.), Oakland\u00a0<\/p>\n

01.22.26: Acclaimed San Francisco eatery Flour + Water has touched down on the sunny side of the Bay. Flour + Water Pizza Shop, the upscale Italian restaurant\u2019s takeout and delivery concept, officially opens its doors on Jan. 22 at The Lark Uptown in Oakland. You can expect signature sourdough crust pizzas, with classic toppings like margherita and pepperoni, plus other creative toppings like smoky eggplant and fennel sage sausage.\u00a0Nosh has all the details<\/a>\u00a0on the restaurant and its menu, including wings seasoned with an Oaktown Spice Co. blend and served with an herby green sauce \u00e0 la Cheeseboard.\u00a0Flour + Water Pizza Shop<\/a>, 271 24th St. (at Waverly St.), Oakland\u00a0<\/p>\n

01.22.26: Proyecto Diaz, the West Oakland caf\u00e9 inspired by Oaxacan and Latin American flavors, has opened a new shop in Uptown. The caf\u00e9 is currently in soft launch mode, with opening hours Monday-Friday between 7 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., with plans to expand its hours fully next week.\u00a0Proyecto Diaz<\/a>, 2201 Broadway (at 22nd St.), Oakland\u00a0<\/p>\n

01.28.26: After two decades of standing vacant at the corners of Shattuck, Telegraph and 46th Street, the original, boarded-up Kasper\u2019s Hot Dogs location is serving hot dogs once again. It\u2019s now home to Winky Dinky Dogs\u2019 second location, offering creative bites like the Mistah F.A.B Mac n Cheez dog.\u00a0Check out Nosh\u2019s full story on the opening here.<\/a>\u00a0Winky Dinky Dogs<\/a>, 4521 Telegraph Ave., Oakland<\/p>\n

Richmond restaurant opening<\/p>\n

01.22.26: If the coffee at Qahwa Time sparked your appetite, head north to Richmond\u2019s Yemen Cafe & Restaurant for a fully-fledged experience. You can find a hearty breakfast like fassolia (white beans) with eggs, garlic, tomatoes and onions, or sample some of the lunch and dinner items \u2014 lamb soup, hummus and shawarma, and shish kafta (charbroiled beef prepared with parsley, onions and seasoning.)\u00a0Yemen Cafe & Restaurant,<\/a>\u00a013112 San Pablo Ave. (at Maricopa Ave.), Richmond\u00a0<\/p>\n

Walnut Creek restaurant opening<\/p>\n

01.07.25: Square Pie Guys, the local Detroit-style pizza chain known for its crispy edged-pies, is gearing up to open its sixth Bay Area location in Walnut Creek on Jan. 11. You\u2019ll find the Square Pie Guys classics on the menu, plus a new item: a signature pizza developed in collaboration with iconic Bay Area rapper P-Lo. It\u2019s topped with rich vodka sauce, red onions, longanisa, Italian sausage, and hot honey bomba sauce, then finished with spicy ranch and fresh basil. Plus, a portion of proceeds from each pie sold will support\u00a0United Playaz<\/a>, a nonprofit dedicated to youth empowerment, mentorship, and violence prevention in the Bay Area. Square Pie Guys, 1991 N California Blvd., Walnut Creek<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tRelated stories<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\tGet a first look at the massive Tokyo Central opening in Emeryville<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tJanuary 30, 2026Jan. 30, 2026, 3:34 p.m.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"On\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tOn Solano, Lulu\u2019s revamps and a new Mexican restaurant opens; plus a fresh matcha option in Berkeley<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 3, 2026Feb. 3, 2026, 1:03 p.m.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"For\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tFor its first location outside San Francisco, Flour + Water knew it had to be Oakland<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tJanuary 22, 2026Jan. 23, 2026, 8:54 a.m.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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