{"id":206268,"date":"2026-03-05T22:39:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T22:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/206268\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T22:39:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T22:39:08","slug":"fast-casual-palestinian-food-ohlone-cuisine-hand-pulled-noodles-and-barbecue-highlight-east-bays-february-openings-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/206268\/","title":{"rendered":"Fast-casual Palestinian food, Ohlone cuisine, hand-pulled noodles, and barbecue highlight East Bay’s February openings"},"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. The openings and closings for each month are then compiled into a round-up. 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

Alameda restaurant opening<\/p>\n

Blue Drip Co. Cafe<\/p>\n

02.24.26: A new coffee shop arrives in West Alameda. Located inside the Storehouse Lofts, a live\/work space, Blue Drip Co. Cafe opened its doors this\u00a0Feb. 21<\/a>. Besides\u00a0serving coffee drinks and Italian sodas<\/a>, the shop also sells\u00a0soy candles<\/a>\u00a0in scents like pineapple passionfruit and white tea, as well as diffusers.\u00a0Blue Drip Co. Cafe<\/a>, 2350 Saratoga St., Unit 101, Alameda.<\/p>\n

Albany restaurant opening<\/p>\n

02.03.26: Lulu on Solano Avenue in Albany temporarily closed Jan. 31 to adjust its business model and menu. The restaurant previously focused on Palestinian-inspired California brunch and dinner services. Now, renamed Lulu\u2019s Little Kitchen, it reopened Feb. 21 with \u201c[a] fresh menu, a new format, and all the heart of Lulu you know and love.\u201d The revamp includes a new counter-service model.\u00a0Lulu\u2019s Little Kitchen<\/a>, 1106 Solano Ave., Albany<\/p>\n

Berkeley restaurant openings<\/p>\n

\u2018ammatka<\/p>\n

03.03.26: A new Ohlone cafe<\/a>\u00a0opens in the Lawrence Hall of Science. \u2018ammatka is Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino\u2019s most recent endeavor. The pair previously opened Ohlone Cafe in 2018, and then later, \u2018ottoytak, a restaurant at the Hearst Anthropology Museum at UC Berkeley. The new cafe recently opened to the public and serves an Ohlone salad, which includes pine nuts, black walnuts, blackberries, dried strawberries, and edible flowers; smoked duck sandwiches; and chia seed puddings. They plan to have a seasonal menu. The cafe is a part of a larger \u2018ottoy initiative to foster respect for the Ohlone people, which also includes a native plant garden in the museum\u2019s\u00a0Outdoor Nature Lab<\/a>.\u00a0\u2018ammatka at Lawrence Hall of Science<\/a>, 1 Centennial Dr., Berkeley.<\/p>\n

April Rose Provisions<\/p>\n

02.17.26: A new provisions shop in Berkeley opened Feb. 21. April Rose Provisions will sell kitchenware, home goods, and pantry specialties and dry goods \u2013 with a focus on small production and local products.\u00a0April Rose Provisions<\/a>, 2524 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley.<\/p>\n

02.24.26: As mentioned in last week\u2019s closings, Cal\u2019s Fried Chicken and Burgers has now reopened as Cali Grill after a temporary closure to revamp at the beginning of the year. The refreshed restaurant serves mostly the same menu of burgers, chicken sandwiches, chopped cheese sandwiches and more, with some new additions as well.\u00a0Cali Grill<\/a>, 2026 University Ave., Berkeley.<\/p>\n

Ox 9<\/p>\n

03.03.26: A new\u00a0Lanzhou-style noodle joint<\/a>\u00a0has opened near the Cal campus. Ox 9 first opened locations in 2017 in the South Bay (Milpitas, and later Cupertino), and currently has a few other Bay Area restaurants including in Fremont, San Mateo, and now Berkeley. The chewy, handpulled noodles come in six sizes at Ox 9, from \u201csmall round\u201d to \u201cbelt flat\u201d noodles. Known as \u201cla mien,\u201d or pulled noodles, the famed dish from Gansu province in China is typically served in a clear beef broth.\u00a0Ox 9, 2404 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley.<\/p>\n

Rice Dynasty<\/p>\n

03.03.26: Rice Dynasty, a new lotus steamed sticky rice food spot near the UC Berkeley campus \u2013 next door to Noodle Dynasty on Telegraph Avenue \u2013 has opened. The dishes are served in a bamboo steamer basket with the rice, meat, and vegetables.\u00a0Rice Dynasty<\/a>, 2428 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley.<\/p>\n

Emeryville restaurant openings<\/p>\n

Go B\u00e1nh Mi <\/p>\n

02.03.26: A new Vietnamese sandwich shop opened\u00a0Feb. 1<\/a>\u00a0in Emeryville. Local publication The E\u2019Ville Eye reports that it\u2019s a ghost kitchen operating out of Lanesplitter Pizza on San Pablo Avenue. All sandwiches are between $8.95-$9.95 with go-tos like grilled chicken and some harder-to-find sandwiches like grilled shrimp and grilled beef wrapped in betel nut leaves. Go B\u00e1nh Mi<\/a>,\u00a03645 San Pablo Ave., 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

Hayward restaurant opening<\/p>\n

Butter Pecan Bakeshop<\/p>\n

02.17.26: The local cookie shop chain is opened a location in\u00a0Hayward on Feb. 25<\/a>. Butter Pecan first opened in Pinole and now has several locations in the Bay Area, including one in Emeryville. The Hayward location is the bakery\u2019s first franchise location.\u00a0Cookie flavors<\/a>include brown butter pecan, banana toffee, and strawberries and cream, plus seasonal rotating ones.\u00a0Butter Pecan Bakeshop<\/a>, 22656 Mission Blvd., Hayward.<\/p>\n

Oakland restaurant openings<\/p>\n

Ace Seafood <\/p>\n

02.17.26: Previously known as Small Change, the oyster bar in Temescal\u00a0recently re-opened<\/a>\u00a0as Ace Seafood. Besides a menu of cooked and raw oysters, the restaurant also serves pickled mussels and other seafood-focused dishes, plus wine and beer.\u00a0Ace Seafood<\/a>, 5000 Telegraph Ave., Oakland.<\/p>\n

Cafe Santana<\/p>\n

02.24.26: Cafe Santana, an Oakland cafe and roastery, opened a second location on MacArthur Boulevard. The cafe has already soft opened; grand opening events on February 28 will include live music, a DJ, local artists and vendors \u2013 and coffee. The cafe also has a home delivery coffee bean subscription service.\u00a0Cafe Santana<\/a>, 2700 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland.<\/p>\n

Cenaduria Elvira<\/p>\n

02.11.26: A popular backyard-based restaurant has now officially become a\u00a0brick-and-mortar<\/a>\u00a0in Oakland\u2019s Jack London Square district, with Jalisco-regional favorites such as tostada raspada and crispy, fried tacos durados. Owner Elvira Varela\u2019s tostada was named one of the top dishes of 2023 in the\u00a0New York Times. The restaurant soft opened a few weeks ago, and will have its grand opening on February 21.\u00a0Cenaduria Elvira<\/a>, 468 3rd St., Oakland.<\/p>\n

Grand Opening<\/p>\n

02.17.26: Grand Opening bakery by James Beard-nominated pastry chef Melissa Chou is now taking pre-orders at the West Oakland kitchen. Chou used to pop up at Mister Jiu\u2019s in San Francisco and is now located at 02 Artisans Aggregate, where Soba Ichi and other businesses reside. The\u00a0current menu<\/a>\u00a0includes Chinese New Year specials, whole cakes, pies, and cookies such as a black sesame almond cake with blood orange and strawberry lychee cheese tart. Chou said details for when the bakery will be open for walkup pastries are still to be determined, but will continue to have pre-orders with standard offerings like the burnt honey pie and Parisian egg tart, plus a changing menu of sponge cakes and other desserts.\u00a0Grand Opening<\/a>, 2311 Magnolia St., Oakland.<\/p>\n

Jolly Cafe<\/p>\n

03.03.26: The cafe that replaced Oakland Chinatown\u2019s Boba Binge is now open. The menu is somewhat similar to Boba Binge\u2019s, including Vietnamese coffee and matcha, Vietnamese spring rolls, and Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches. In addition, they serve some unique drinks, such as ones with\u00a0sweet mung bean<\/a>.\u00a0Jolly Cafe<\/a>, 1004 Webster St., Oakland.<\/p>\n

The Pizza Boyz<\/p>\n

02.03.26: Located inside the former\u00a0Fists of Flour<\/a>\u00a0in the Laurel district, The Pizza Boyz opened Feb. 1 and includes combinations like tikka masala and an \u201cAfghan pizza\u201d made with halal beef, chicken, and vegetables.\u00a0The Pizza Boyz<\/a>, 4166 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Saints Smokehouse<\/p>\n

02.03.26: Helmed by\u00a0Chopped\u00a0winner Rashad Armstead, Saints Smokehouse opened Feb. 7 (a day before Super Bowl Sunday) with a menu of smoked barbequed meats and sides in downtown Oakland.\u00a0Chopped\u00a0judge Alex Guarnaschelli called a crab dish Armstead made on the show \u201cbrilliant\u201d and another judge, Geoffrey Zakarian, said the sauce was one of the best things he\u2019s ever tasted. Plates are between $18-$20, which includes either smoked half chicken, brisket, or pork ribs\u2013plus one side.\u00a0Saints Smokehouse<\/a>, 218 13th St., Oakland.\u00a0<\/p>\n

San Leandro restaurant opening<\/p>\n

As Kneaded Cafe<\/p>\n

02.11.26: From the founder of As Kneaded Bakery in San Leandro, Iliana Berkowitz opened a cafe inside the San Leandro Library on Feb. 14. The\u00a0menu<\/a>\u00a0features salad, sandwiches, baked goods, and espresso drinks, including seasonal items like lavender latte.\u00a0As Kneaded Cafe<\/a>, 300 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro.<\/p>\n

Gold Bean Cafe<\/p>\n

02.11.26: Gold Bean Cafe in San Leandro\u00a0soft opened<\/a>\u00a0this past weekend. The cafe has two other locations in Berkeley and is known for specialty drinks such as a churro latte, and the Vietnamese-inspired egg coffee.\u00a0Gold Bean Cafe<\/a>, 138 Pelton Center Way, San Leandro.<\/p>\n

Lavanta<\/p>\n

02.11.26: A new\u00a0Mediterranean restaurant<\/a>\u00a0opened Feb. 9 in San Leandro. The restaurant serves souvlaki, pasta, and mezze dishes.\u00a0Lavanta<\/a>, 599 Dutton Ave., San Leandro.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Richmond restaurant opening<\/p>\n

Top Thai Cuisine<\/p>\n

02.11.26: A new Thai spot opened in Richmond. Top Thai has another location in Castro Valley, which opened in 2005. The new Richmond restaurant features noodles and curries, a \u201cPenang beef special,\u201d as well as options for vegetarians.\u00a0Top Thai Cuisine<\/a>, 12200 San Pablo Ave., Richmond.<\/p>\n

Walnut Creek restaurant opening<\/p>\n

Duck Donuts<\/p>\n

02.11.26: Walnut Creek gets a location of Duck Donuts. The chain based in North Carolina specializes in a cake donut base with flavors like maple bacon and s\u2019mores.\u00a0Duck Donuts<\/a>, 2920 N Main St., Walnut Creek.<\/p>\n

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

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

\t\t\t\t\t\tSmoked duck sandwiches, chia seed pudding, and tater tots: Introducing the new Ohlone-crafted cafe at Lawrence Hall of Science<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tMarch 2, 2026March 2, 2026, 1:56 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\"Fresh\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tFresh take: Ace Seafood seeks to reel in a broader audience with revamp and relaunch<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tMarch 4, 2026March 5, 2026, 7:21 a.m.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Oakland\u2019s\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tOakland\u2019s famous tostada is back. Cenaduria Elvira is opening near Jack London Square<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 10, 2026Feb. 10, 2026, 1:22 p.m.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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