berkeley eats digest - august 26
quick food and drink updates spotted in and around berkeley. got a tip for the digest? please let us know.
openings
membership-based board game venue tabletop library in berkeley soft opens tomorrow, august 27.
popbar's grand opening celebration (with bogo pops!) in berkeley is august 27.
also tomorrow, august 27, berkeley bagels #2 opens in downtown berkeley.
pho corner vietnamese now open at 15501 san pablo avenue in richmond.
plan ahead: planet vegan burger truck coming to lake merritt in oakland, september 12.
service updates
psa: mercatino in berkeley open labor day.
special events 🎈
global paga lo que puedas/pay what you can day is today, full list of participating restaurants is here, kqed piece highlighting growing list of local folks here, (3 bottled fish just added) august 26.
reem assil at bar shiru industry night in oakland, tonight, august 26.
richmond winemaker night at best friends in albany, august 27.
games and noodles night at open test kitchen in oakland, august 27.
55th birthday party for chez panisse at bar panisse in berkeley, august 28. 🎂🥳
berkeley pride kickoff party hosted by tessier in berkeley, august 28.
tarts de feybesse at the caffe in oakland, august 27-28.
filling station cake party at vintage berkeley, august 29. 🍰👀
haochi bakery at april rose in berkeley, august 29. 🥖🌹
fourth street summer sale/head west in berkeley, august 29-30.
bon marche la fete de la rentree in albany, august 29.
nekosama at oaktown spice in albany, august 29.
prescott vintage market in oakland, august 29.
the boil at missouri lounge in berkeley, august 30. 🦐🔥
vintage sunday market at sirene in oakland, aug 30.
plan ahead: armistice brewing 9th anniversary/homecoming in richmond, september 5. 🕺
also, a few of the many student specials running this week in berkeley:
chicha san chen back-to-school bogo, august 28.
el trompudo + hi-fi specials, through august 30.
dh noodle superbowl noodle challenge, through august 30.
coming soon 🔮
a tipster (thank you!) let us know easy breezy froyo is coming to rockridge at 5854 college avenue in oakland.
town beef french dips to soon share space with thicc (opening september 4) at the former clove & hoof at 4001 broadway in oakland.
excited for new five and dime neighborhood pub, from the celebrated team behind lucy blue, coming to 329 14th street in downtown oakland.
pico (from my friend fernando team) coming to 365 19th street in oakland has just launched their kickstarter.
closings
old-timer cafe milano in berkeley remains closed, though students have returned to campus. we'll update if we learn more.
bummer: rice dynasty in berkeley has already closed after only six months, according to noodle dynasty staffers next door. (update: a version of info given to nosh is that the closure is only temporary. stay tuned.)
as we mentioned last week, the fire at walnut creek's lettuce restaurant has closed that space indefinitely.
reminder: home of chicken and waffles in oakland permanently closes after service on august 31.
august 26, 2026 (fresh air spots, wings, tips of all kinds welcome.)
updated.
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