{"id":415593,"date":"2026-07-28T20:15:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T20:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/415593\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T20:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T20:15:11","slug":"enssaro-ready-for-rockridge-opening-plus-new-japanese-yemeni-coffee-and-african-fusion-options-hit-oakland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/415593\/","title":{"rendered":"Enssaro ready for Rockridge opening, plus new Japanese, Yemeni coffee, and African fusion options hit Oakland"},"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

Bugzo\u2019s Lounge<\/p>\n

Thanks to Oakland\u2019s food Reddit, we learned that a new bar and lounge opened last month<\/a> in downtown Oakland. The business promises to \u201cEat. Drink. Vibe\u2026\u201d with a menu of wings and beef, chicken, and salmon sliders. A brunch menu includes chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and French toast. Bugzo\u2019s Lounge<\/a>, 1814 Franklin St., 5G, Oakland<\/p>\n

Cold Stone Creamery<\/p>\n

Downtown Berkeley gets a Coldstone at the ACE Berkeley apartments. The location is a franchise, co-owned by a Cal alum<\/a>. The chain is known for ice cream, cakes, and cookies. Cold Stone Creamery<\/a>, 1951 Shattuck Ave., Ste. C, Berkeley<\/p>\n

Dimond Halal Eatery<\/p>\n

What was formerly Mohka Kitchen, serving shawarma and other Middle Eastern dishes, has been revamped by the owners into Dimond Halal. The new spot, which opened on Saturday, July 25, focuses on wings, burgers, and steak hoagies<\/a>. Dimond Halal Eatery<\/a>, 2129 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland<\/p>\n

Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant<\/p>\n

One of Oakland\u2019s classic Ethiopian favorites is moving. After operating in its Grand Avenue location of Enssaro for roughly two decades, the restaurant is relocating to Rockridge. The opening of the new location is Friday, July 31. The restaurant is \u201cstill family-owned and operated by the same mother, daughter, and son team,\u201d a press release notes. The new location has an interior designed by Kalu Gebreyohannes-Royster of Liyu Designs, who also designed Meski in SF (a restaurant co-owned by Draymond Green and Guma Fassil, with a menu created by Oakland restaurateur Nelson German) and Oakland\u2019s Lucy Blue. Enssaro<\/a>, 5897 College Ave., Oakland<\/p>\n

Itsumo<\/p>\n

Itsumo is a new Japanese bistro that just opened in Oakland\u2019s Laurel district. The restaurant serves bentos, rolls, ramen, and sushi. It appears that it is in the former location of Pa\u2019s Papa, which was also a Japanese restaurant. Itsumo<\/a>, 4006 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland<\/p>\n

New King Kitchen<\/p>\n

Oakland Chinatown is getting a new restaurant. King Kitchen soft opens on Wednesday, July 29. The Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce<\/a> is holding an event for the public that includes food on this date ($10, 5-7pm). It appears that King Kitchen will serve authentic Toisanese food, and is in the former location of Lounge Chinatown. King Kitchen, 366 8th St., Oakland<\/p>\n

Mazar Cafe<\/p>\n

Mazar Cafe by Lake Merritt soft opened this past Saturday. The cafe serves premium, authentic Yemeni coffee and handcrafted drinks. The menu also includes pastries. Mazar is in the former Cafe Lakeview location. Mazar Cafe<\/a>, 2834 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland<\/p>\n

Palmetto Superfoods<\/p>\n

Berkeley\u2019s Palmetto Superfoods soft opened Friday, July 24. The customizable frozen bowl spot is inside Anchor House in downtown. Palmetto opened the first location in the Richmond district of SF and is known for its blended bases, including acai, coconut, spirulina, matcha, mango, or dragonfruit that can be layered in one bowl, plus an unlimited number of toppings. Palmetto Superfoods<\/a>, 2156 University Ave, Berkeley<\/p>\n

Sana\u2019a Cafe<\/p>\n

Sana\u2019a recently opened a location in Berkeley<\/a>, near the Cal campus. The Bay Area-based Yemeni coffee chain serves specialty coffee drinks, pastries, and food. The Berkeley location is on the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Dwight way, in a former Peet\u2019s Coffee<\/a>. Sana\u2019a Cafe<\/a>, 2501 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704<\/p>\n

Shibam<\/p>\n

Shibam, a new coffee shop in Newark, soft opening on Sunday. Shibam is a Yemeni coffee-focused chain cafe, which also recently opened a location in Oakland<\/a> in the former Red Bay Coffee location in Fruitvale. Shibam Coffee Co.<\/a> 34903 Newark Blvd., Newark<\/p>\n

Taste of Safari Bistro and Grill<\/p>\n

A new African fusion restaurant has opened in downtown Oakland, first noted by Oakland\u2019s food Reddit forum. Taste of Safari serves jollof and bbq plates, burgers and sandwiches, wings, and seafood. They also offer a kid\u2019s menu. Taste of Safari Bistro and Grill<\/a>, 377 19th St., Oakland<\/p>\n

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