Your Weekly Taste of Local Flavor
Fri, Jun 6

• Donuts

• Hibachi 

• A new wine bar 

• And more!

FIRST UP: JUST OPENED

Sirene offers seafood galore. (Photo by Cat Fennell)

• Richmond’s downtown food court, The LOT, is celebrating its grand re-opening on Saturday, June 7, from 11am to 12:30pm at 1401 Macdonald Ave. Formerly the Mobile Vendor Program, The LOT now hosts food and retail vendors every Thursday and Saturday, boosting local entrepreneurship with business support and a lively public space.

• Also this week, Express dining writer Jeffrey Edalatpour reports on La Loulou, a charming new wine bar on Piedmont Avenue that channels the spirit of a Parisian apéro dinatoire with Art Nouveau vibes, French wines and elegant small bites. Owner Lou Béraud’s vision is simple: a beautiful, unpretentious space where good wine and good company go hand in hand. Read story
  

• Sirene, a new seafood-forward bistro from the team behind The Morris, opened in January near Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre at 3308 Grand Ave. With exposed brick, a glowing wood-fired oven, and a menu that swings from shrimp chorizo to passionfruit aguachile, it’s both cozy and ambitious—perfect for date nights or indulging in a few too many glasses of wine. Read story

SPOTLIGHT

Bay Area Burger Week debuts June 18

The Bay Area’s first-ever Burger Week kicks off June 18, with more than 100 restaurants across 11 counties serving up creative burger specials—think beef, chicken, vegan, lamb and more—at exclusive prices. The event spans four regions: East Bay, North Bay, San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Check the menus and locations at BayAreaBurgerWeek.com or via the official app, which allows burger eaters to rate their meals and accumulate points.

Bay Area Burger Week is a chance to celebrate local burger spots. (Photo courtesy of True Food Kitchen)

“Bay Area Burger Week brings together our incredible local restaurants, regional food producers and the communities they serve, making this a celebration of both food and the distinctive culture that defines the Bay Area,” said Gordon Carbone of RestoWeeks.

MORE LOCAL FOOD NEWS

Starter Bakery makes a wide variety of kouign amanns, including Dubai Chocolate and Churro Dulce de Leche. (Photo courtesy of Starter Bakery)

• Kouign Amann Day returns to Starter Bakery. Starter Bakery is celebrating its second annual Kouign Amann Day, June 20–22 at its College Avenue café in Oakland. Expect new flavors, returning favorites and limited-edition boxes—including the Oakland Pride Set, with $2 from each sale going to the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center. Preorders for the luxe Baker’s Box (a dozen assorted kouigns) are open through June 15. Flavors range from Churro Dulce de Leche to the viral-inspired Dubai Chocolate. Don’t miss this flaky, buttery celebration of pastry and pride. For more information contact the bakery via StarterBakery.com or on Instagram: @starterbakery.

• Rick & Ann’s to close after 36 years in Berkeley. Berkeley brunch icon Rick & Ann’s Restaurant will serve its last stack on August 3. Known for its Challah French Toast, Potato-Cheddar Pancakes, and warm neighborhood vibes, the café has been a fixture near the Claremont Hotel since 1989. Owner Ann Lauer is retiring, and while the restaurant’s lease is ending, her beloved Ann’s Catering will continue. Fans are stopping by for one last meal before this community favorite says goodbye.

THIS WEEK’S VISIT

Town Bizness Hibachi serves up fire-grilled flavor. (Photo by Jr Vasquez aka @__shotbyjr__ on Instagram)

Hidden hibachi sizzles in Downtown Oakland 

A gem I found while scrolling Instagram last week was Town Bizness Hibachi, a low-key new spot that quietly opened last month in Downtown Oakland. Tucked inside a convenience store, it’s takeout-only and unassuming—but don’t be fooled. I tried the Chicken Plate: a generous serving of fried rice topped with tender, flavorful chicken and sautéed veggies. Simple, satisfying and seriously good. The only letdown was their YumYum Sauce, which had a runny consistency and lacked the flavor punch I was expecting. 

• 📍 20925 Mission Blvd., Hayward

• ⏰ Monday-Thursday: 11am-9:30pm
  Friday-Saturday: 11am-10pm
  Sunday: Closed

• EBX rating: ★★★☆☆

That’s it for now, folks—but I’ll be back soon with more bites, buzz and behind-the-scenes looks at the East Bay’s dynamic dining landscape. Stay curious, stay hungry and don’t be shy—hit reply and let me know what spots you’re loving lately.

Til next time,

—Panashe Matemba-Mutasa 🍴

About me: I currently report for Tri-City Voice, where my work ranges from enterprise stories on public school underfunding to feel-good profiles of local restaurants. I also contribute the occasional feature story to East Bay Express and Metro Silicon Valley.

Please send any questions, comments, criticisms, tips, cool photos or great recipes to me by replying to this newsletter.