I posted this in the Chinese Restaurants discussion, but just in case some folks aren’t in the habit of checking that thread, here’s the link again:
Eater SF shows sneak peak at the new Happy Crane, opening in SF August 8, 2025:
Happy Crane SF - sneak peak at the stunning dishes
SF Standard -
A conversation with the SF chef taken down by a TikTok influencer
Use Incognito Mode if you hit a paywall.
A conversation with the SF chef taken down by a TikTok influencer https://sfstandard.com/2025/08/09/conversation-sf-chef-taken-tiktok-influencer/?utm_source=native_share&utm_medium=site_buttons&utm_campaign=site_buttons
Foodie Week. AUGUST 9-17
Westfield Valley Fair
Santa Clara
Oaklandside -
Lao Garden opens at 2514 San Pablo Av near Dwight Way in former Paisan spot, West Berkeley
KQED.
Mexican and Jordanian flavors collide in San Jose.
Mike Lim searches for best Reuben in Bay Aea -
Join me on a tour around the Bay Area in search of the best Reuben Sandwich (both Pastrami and/or Corned Beef) in the Bay Area. I started off in San Mateo at The Refuge, Hot Johnnie’s in San Francisco, Europa Hofbrau in Orinda, and my last stop was the classic Jewish Deli in Berkeley, Saul’s.
Jessica in Mission Local -
Food corridors in SF Tenderloin on Larkin and Jones Streets. Good photos.
Kadvany in SF Chron writes about influencers -
An influencer quoted a Redwood City restaurant $15k for a social media post. Doesn’t YouTube at least require disclosure on any ads or compensation/freebies received? I guess tiktok doesn’t have disclosures which many say is unethical and corrupt.
I hear there is bad news about the stone fruit crops due to climate changes.
Nicole Danner checks Ethiopian in Oakland:
Original Joe’s expands to Broadway Plaza in Wallnut Creek.
Mike Lim on YouTube: Deep Dish at Capo’s, Zachary’s, and Star.
I took a tour and visited the Top Deep Dish Pizza spots in the Bay Area, but which one is the best? I went to Capo’s by Tony Gemignani, the Star on Park, and Zachary’s in Oakland for the best deep dish pizza tour in the Bay Area.
Deseran in SF Standard: SF restaurants heading to suburbs for more space, free parking.
I don’t think they are heading for the free parking etc but many of these restaurants are heading towards the peninsula/SV because they can increase the prices even more compared to the city and people still pay without much complaints (it’s SV crowd in the end)
(Also strangely written article - it sounded like only Horsefeather in PA has “regular” restaurant dishes when also the original location had (and has) more or less the same food menu)
I’ve had both Star and Zachary’s many times. I hadn’t heard of Capo’s. That’ll have to go in the list.
Is Jagalchi Market in Serramonte Center too accessible?
It was fine; I think I prefer Little Star. Now that there’s Golden Boy in in Sunset, that’s great. One friend didn’t like it but he only likes regular pizza, not deep dish. I enjoy all kinds.
The other day my daughter called in her order for a 4 slice combo, charged over phone. (There’s a discount for 4 slices). When she got home she saw it was just pepperoni. When she called them about it they apologized for the error and canceled the charge!
First world problem or do they also believe Eataly should reflect a farmers market in Italy
I remember Zach’s largest everything pizza for $17 c. 1998.
That could feed the family twice!
from SF Eater:
Meet the Kyrgyzstani Chef Plating her Overlooked Cuisine on the Peninsula
Nursel is a tiny, unassuming restaurant in San Carlos. It’s also a hot spot for Central Asian and Russian diasporic dishes.
excerpt:
The Bay Area has only a handful of eateries specializing in Central Asian cuisine. There’s Sofiya in San Francisco that serves traditional Uzbek foods and Kusan Uyghur Cuisine which has storefronts in San Jose, Milpitas and Mountain View. When it comes to Kyrgyz food, however, the scene is even more sparse. Nursel is one of the few selling popular meals like that ganfan and kuurdak, which is a plate of fried lamb and potatoes. It’s unknown how many people in the Bay Area belong to the Kyrgyz community – the nine-counties in the region don’t track the demographic data – but Koigelieva says the number is small.
San Carlos, CA 94070
across from San Carlos CalTrain station
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 38% surge in the wholesale price of vegetables in July.
excerpt:
*Another possible explanation for the rise in wholesale prices is the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
A shortage of workers could lead to lost crops down the line.
"A lot of the product is being lost because there’s nobody to work. So it’s the product that has been picked has been raised maybe 35 to 40%,” said Jaime Desales.*
from SF Eater:
Yilitz is San Francisco’s only goshnan business. Founder Aliya Arkin is proud to carry that flag.
Aliya Arkin has pushed her flaky meat pies and yogurt sauce hard into the restaurant scene. Roan Weigert
Oaklandside Nosh:
Spanish Table in Berkeley closes
Rockridge Rock-n-Stroll is back—Saturday, Aug. 23! Stroll down College Ave. to discover pop-ups, sales, crafts and more hosted by the neighborhood businesses. Starting at 11am, we’ll be outside spinning our prize wheel for opportunities to win tasty bites, and keeping the good times rolling.
from Oaklandside/Berkeleyside:
Lucy Blue is a new cocktail bar that is opening in the old Duende space in Uptown Oakland. Credit: Sarah Han/East Bay NoshLucy Blue in the old Duende spot.
The menu features cocktails and zero-proof drinks named for Oakland neighborhoods alongside inventive bites such as oxtail arancini, buttermilk-brined fried quail and wasabi ranch deviled eggs. Lucy Blue, 468 19th St., Oakland
Specialty Ethiopian coffee, brewed in a traditional clay pot, is the star of the show at Oak-Dar, a new cafe in Downtown Oakland. You can opt for a cup of black coffee or go the more flavorful route, adding Ethiopian condiments like ginger or butter to your brew. Breakfast and brunch are also on offer — try the chechebsa (flatbread) with honey, the omelette or a breakfast sandwich. Oak-Dar, 1312 Broadway (between 13th and 14th), Oakland
