Just opened
photo: Christina Mitchell
Get Jerked!, a street food truck, launched in February. The “Culinary Culture Clash on Wheels” sells tacos, burritos and sandwiches, filled with jerk chicken or fish. There’s a nice heat and subtle sweetness. They also have a veggie option with coconut rice and plantains. My friend Luna and I caught up with the truck over by Laney College during lunch time, but it looks like they also park in front of local bars on the late night. Keep up with them on either facebook or twitter
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photo: Christina Mitchell
Another truck just took to the streets this week: Primo’s Parilla, which serves slow-grilled Argentine asado, handmade empanadas and alfajores cookies (sticky caramel sandwiched between two butter cookies, with the edge rolled in flaked coconut). It seems like they had a great start, because they were sold out of almost everything by the time we got there! They’ve been sticking around Emeryville during lunch this week, but they’ll probably make the rounds through the Bay Area. They’re also on facebook and twitter
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I wrote about how sad it was when Mimosa Cafe closed in January. The breakfast and lunch spot just reopened, and the ambitious new owners extended both the hours (Tues – Sat 10 am – 10pm) and the menu. Along with sandwiches and salads, they’re also serving Ethiopian food.
462 Santa Clara Ave, Oakland
510-464-2948
Speaking of Ethiopian food, Yayu Ethiopian Restaurant also recently opened in the former Vine Wine Bar space just a few blocks away. The family-owned restaurant is open 7 days a week, until 10pm, Thurs – Sat. Their extensive menu is full of delicious sounding appetizers, salads, vegetarian and meat entrees. Can’t wait to try it.
3343 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland
510-465-9298
photo: Jane Tyska, Oakland Tribune
Over in Downtown Oakland, Uncle Dougie’s New York Style Italian Heros opened a couple weeks ago. Uncle Dougie is talking the talk over there: “Find out what a real italian hero is…” The 4 sandwiches on the menu are eggplant parmesean, chicken parmesean, sausage & peppers and Italian meatloaf. I just hope he can walk the walk too…
362 17th Street, Oakland
510-832-3131
Flacos has been selling vegan Mexican food at Berkeley Farmer’s Markets since 2001, and they just opened a restaurant last week! Now, you can get their tamales, taquitos and other specialties Tues – Sat, 11am – 9pm, in addition to the Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Farmer’s Markets.
3031 Adeline Street, Berkeley
510-981-8081
Opening soon
photo: Chris Rochelle, CHOW
I have more good news for my vegan friends: Cinnaholic is planning to open a bakery in Berkeley this July. It looks like they’re going to focus on cinnamon rolls (with a menu of over 30 creative flavors) and also have a few other baked goods on hand. I just hope their SF Food Wars first place cupcakes (Blueberry Dragon Fruit Chocolate Ganache) will make an appearance.
Diablo Magazine’s April issue reports that Flora’s owners are opening Xolo, a new taqueria that’s “just down the street.” Dona Savitsky and Thomas Schnetz must be Mixican food lovers (I mean, who isn’t?) because they also own Doña Tomás and Tacubaya. Don’t forget, Schnetz is also opening Addie’s Pizza Pie with Sweet Adeline’s Jennifer Millar.
Flora
1900 Telegraph
510-286-0100
photo: Pinkberry
It was only a matter of time until Pinkberry, the LA based, uber-successful-frozen-yogurt-chain, opened a location in the East Bay. It’s scheduled to start “swirling” in November on University Ave at MLK Drive, and Gordo Taqueria is planning to open another location next door. According to San Francisco Business Times, the former Metro Lighting space, in West Berkeley on San Pablo Avenue, will reopen as a German bakery in August.
It was kind of interesting when I noticed Yogofina (a self-serve yogurt shop) apply to open in the space between Arizmendi Bakery and Lakeshore Cafe, because Yogurt Deluxe is just a few doors down. Well, it was even more interesting when V Smoothe wrote about it on her blog, A Better Oakland. Apparently, the owner of Yogurt Deluxe is a good Samaritan and filed an appeal citing health and safety issues. He’s concerned the “compact area would not generate a large enough span for pedestrians to safely cross that active space without accidental incidents” and “as customers eat on and go, the street waste and trash rates would also increase because of the higher concentration of inhabitants which would lead to foul odors and possible health hazards.” Shockingly, the official recommendation to the Planning Commission was to deny the appeal. Uh oh. I smell a battle on Lakeshore this summer… By the way, Yogofina has 6 locations and is planning to open 5 more in Walnut Creek, Danville, Modesto and another in Oakland on College Avenue.
3261 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland
Christina Mitchell
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- Let’s get it started… - September 6, 2018