berkeley eats digest - august 12
quick food and drink updates spotted in and around berkeley. got a tip for the digest? please let us know.
openings
note: this week's projected opening for the new, second berkeley bagels at 1941 university avenue in berkeley has been delayed a bit, but the team still hopes to open very soon.
la flor de jalisco's spruced-up newest food truck location is at 10069 san pablo avenue, across from the rialto cinemas cerrito, in el cerrito.
broken dreams in oakland is now open.
portal in oakland has a new afghan and lebanese-inspired menu, and is relaunching this weekend, august 15-16.
service updates
cheese board pizza in berkeley returned tuesday from its annual summer break and is back to regular hours.
we've reached out and hope to learn more, but as of this week, nudi blue in berkeley is on a 'short pause.'
nick's in oakland on summer break starting august 19, back open august 26.
bar skula in oakland now open seven nights a week. (and new taco tuesday service started this week.) 🥳
special events 🎈
zachary's art contest in its final stretch, submissions accepted through august 30.
hot august nights dinner series at 3 bottled fish in oakland, august 14.
so many berkeley and east bay favorites at the sf pizza, bagel and beer festival, august 15. 🍕🥯🍺🇮🇹
sancocho en el barrio at alamar in oakland, august 15.
taste of jack london beer and food festival in oakland, august 15.
chefs spencer and alessandro tomato popup at fava in berkeley, august 16. 👀🍅
eggpals at bright coffee in oakland, august 16.
plan ahead: umami mart's everyday sake book tour talk at the rockridge library in oakland, september 16.
coming soon 🔮
eggy's is moving to a new, larger location in berkeley. we'll say more when we can. (including the new tenant moving into north berkeley's lovely epicurious garden in october.)
just announced: chez maeju korean fermented foods coming to former oken spot at 6200 claremont in oakland.
salt & straw is coming to 6300 college avenue in berkeley. 🍨 👀 (thanks to a tipster for sharing; you might have spotted this last week on our instagram.)
also through the tipline (thank you!), no socials yet, but elmwood subs is coming soon to 2992 college avenue in berkeley. 🥪
bay blend cafe in north oakland getting closer.
shawaramazing & cafe coming to el sobrante. (credit grandview independent)
closings
we were sorry to learn that perle bar (nee perle) in oakland has shuttered after a year's run.
update: ben's not closing after all, will reopen. (kqed) ben's in oakland has quietly closed after 40 years. (credit the chronicle)
horn barbecue has closed.
the new deli cafe in pinole to close in the fall after 41 years.
august 12, 2026 (welcome back to school today, berkeley unified families 🍎; berkeley's happy hours; tips always welcome.)
this post is brought to you by zest, the app that maps where people actually eat, not what they post about. we're based in the east bay too, so we put together 21 spots near berkeley high for lunch or a post-school snack: a boba shop with claw machines, halal smashburgers, an ice cream shop that opens at 3 (right on cue). see the full list on zest.🧋new here? grab the app.