This October 2026 Bay Area restaurant guide features 20 operating restaurants: 10 in the East Bay and 10 in San Francisco. The selection was checked against official restaurant sources on October 20, with recent openings noted where relevant. All venues cleared the guide’s 90-day rotation check. The list covers a mix of formats, from tasting menus and neighborhood dining rooms to bakeries, counters, and cafes. It is a practical directory, not a ranking.
East Bay: 10 restaurants
The East Bay selection includes different approaches to menu and service: house-made Korean fermentation, Thai home cooking, rotisserie dining, omakase, and casual counter-service formats.
1. Chez Maeju
Rockridge, Oakland. Korean dinner focused on house-made jang, including ganjang, doenjang, and gochujang. Price: not verified; call for current à la carte pricing. Hours: soft opening, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 5–9 pm; Friday and Saturday 5–10 pm; closed Tuesday. Reservations: online for parties up to six; counter walk-ins welcome; email for larger parties. Phone: (510) 338-3572. The full dining room is accessible; the counter is not. Official reservations and hours [1]
2. Glom Thai
Berkeley. Thai home cooking in a full-service restaurant format. Price: not verified; call for current pricing. Hours: Monday and Wednesday–Thursday 5–9:30 pm; Friday 5–10 pm; Saturday noon–2:30 pm and 5–10 pm; Sunday noon–2:30 pm and 5–9:30 pm; closed Tuesday. Reservations: OpenTable; delivery via DoorDash and Uber Eats. Phone: (510) 898-1689. Official website [2]
3. Spinning Bones
Alameda. California-style rotisserie with Japanese and international influences, including rotisserie meats and sides. Price: $$; menu-listed entrées are $28–$50. Hours: open five days a week for sit-down dining, with weekend brunch; call to confirm specific days and hours. Reservations: OpenTable; walk-ins welcome. Phone: (510) 263-9290. The restaurant is listed as a 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand. Official website [3] Michelin Guide listing [21]
4. Delage
Old Oakland. Sushi and omakase, with an eight-course tasting and à la carte options. The restaurant relaunched in September 2026. Price: $$$$; the eight-course omakase was reported at $140, so confirm current pricing. Hours: lunch and dinner hours are listed, but operating days are not; call to confirm. Reservations: Resy. Phone: (510) 823-2050; call to confirm current contact details. Official website [4] Oaklandside opening report [23]
5. Payakk
Montclair/Merriewood, Oakland. Upscale regional Thai cooking with royal-Thai technique; dinner only. Price: $$$; reported large plates range from $27–$46. Hours: Thursday–Monday 5–9 pm, according to local reporting; call to confirm. Reservations: OpenTable; some walk-in seats are available. Phone: (510) 844-4101. Official website [5] Oaklandside feature [24]
6. JuXi
Downtown Alameda. Cantonese American restaurant on Park Street. The new venue is in a soft opening, so confirm current service before visiting. Price: not verified; call for current pricing. Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 5–9:30 pm during soft opening. Reservations: online through the restaurant website. Phone: not posted; contact the restaurant online. Official website [6] Oaklandside opening report [25]
7. Hoagie’s World of Hoagies
Berkeley. Sandwich shop serving hoagies, including classic, specialty, and vegan options. Price: $; local reporting lists hoagies at $20 and under. Hours: daily 11 am–7 pm; call to confirm. Reservations: walk-in; online ordering through SnackPass. Phone: (510) 529-4194. Official website [7] Oaklandside opening report [25]
8. The Game Parlour (Oakland)
Oakland. Board game cafe with savory and sweet waffle dishes, plus gluten-free options. Price: $; a $7 per-person gaming fee applies, and food prices are not posted; call to confirm. Hours: soft-opening hours Tuesday–Sunday 4–10 pm. Reservations: walk-ins; table reservations available for members. Phone: (510) 850-6110. Official website [8]
9. La Penca Azul (Island Drive)
Marina Village, Alameda. Mexican restaurant serving tacos, burritos, and a full bar; the Bay Farm location reopened in September after building repairs. Price: not verified; call for current pricing. Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11 am–8 pm; Friday and Saturday 11 am–9 pm, though the location page and listing differ. Call to confirm. Reservations: walk-in; online ordering. Phone: the location page lists two numbers, (510) 330-2505 and (510) 814-0560; confirm which to use. Official location page [9]
10. Cafe Buenos Aires (El Cerrito)
El Cerrito. Argentine empanada cafe serving empanadas, alfajores, coffee, and other cafe items. The location opened in late September 2026. Price: $; the El Cerrito menu is not yet posted. Hours: not posted for this location; call ahead. Reservations: walk-in; online ordering. Phone: not posted; contact the cafe through its website. Official website [10] Oaklandside opening roundup [25]
San Francisco: 10 restaurants
The San Francisco list spans tasting-menu dining, small-plate wine bars, a bakery-cafe, and quick-service options. Check current hours before traveling, especially for newly opened or recently updated venues.
11. The Happy Crane
Hayes Valley. Hong Kong-style cafe with a modern Cantonese menu. Price: not verified on the official site; call for current menu pricing. Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 5–9 pm; closed Sunday and Monday. Reservations: OpenTable. Phone: (415) 610-1823. The official site lists an accessible entrance, dining room, and restrooms. Official contact page [11]
12. Shinka
Financial District. Modern Japanese-French dining with a kaiseki-inspired tasting menu and bar menu. Price: $$$$; an October 2026 report listed a $185 tasting menu, so confirm current pricing. Hours: not posted on the contact page; call to confirm. Reservations: OpenTable. Phone: (415) 375-8041. As a recent October opening, confirm current service and availability before making plans. Official contact page [12] Eater SF opening coverage [22]
13. Ernest
Mission District. Contemporary California restaurant at the corner of Florida and Mariposa streets. Price: $$$, according to the Michelin Guide listing. Hours: Wednesday–Thursday 5:30–9:30 pm; Friday–Sunday 5–9:30 pm; closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations: OpenTable for parties up to six; bar walk-ins. Phone: (415) 829-2961; the restaurant says calls are answered Wednesday–Sunday, noon–4 pm. Official contact page [13] Michelin Guide listing [27]
14. Athanor
Lower Pacific Heights. Fine-dining restaurant serving a 10-course tasting menu. Price: $$$$; exact price is not posted, so call to confirm. Hours: Tuesday 7–11 pm; Wednesday–Saturday 6–11 pm; closed Sunday and Monday. Reservations: SevenRooms through the website. Phone: (415) 510-9468. Official website [14]
15. Casa Sofia
South Beach. Latin American menu featuring ceviches, tacos, and empanadas. Price: not verified on the official site; call for current pricing. Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 am–9 pm; Friday and Saturday 11 am–10 pm; Sunday hours differ across listings, so call to confirm. Reservations: OpenTable; online ordering through Toast. Phone: (415) 889-5389. Official website [15]
16. Ruay Mitr Chicken & Rice
Nob Hill/Tenderloin border. Thai khao mun gai specialist, centered on chicken and rice. Price: $–$$; check the current menu or call. Hours: not posted on the official site; online ordering lists daily 11 am–2:30 pm and 5–8:30 pm, but call to confirm. Reservations: walk-in; online ordering through Toast. Phone: (415) 274-9942. Official website [16] Eater SF restaurant map [26]
17. Qua O La
North Beach. Croatian-Italian wine bar with small plates such as spuntini, cevapi, and burek. Price: not verified; the menu changes weekly. Hours: Wednesday 5–9 pm; Thursday 5–10 pm; Friday 5–11 pm; Saturday 4–11 pm; Sunday 2–7 pm; closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations: not accepted. Phone: (415) 742-7031. Official website [17]
18. Maillards
Outer Sunset. Smash-burger counter inside the Two Pitchers Brewing taproom. Price: $; exact menu prices are not posted, so call to confirm. Hours: Wednesday–Thursday 4–10 pm; Friday 4–11 pm; Saturday noon–11 pm; Sunday noon–9 pm; closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations: walk-in counter only. Phone: not listed on the website. Official website [18]
19. Saltwater Bakeshop
SoMa. Bakery and cafe serving bread, croissants, pastries, and sandwiches. Price: $; item prices are not listed on the site. Hours: Tuesday–Friday 7 am–3 pm; Saturday–Sunday 8 am–3 pm; closed Monday. Reservations: walk-in. Phone: not listed; use the website to contact the bakery. Official website [19]
20. Fat Cat x The Mantis
La Lengua/Bernal Heights. Collaborative wine bar and Vietnamese-American kitchen. Price: not verified; call or check the current menu. Hours: Thursday–Monday 5–10 pm for dining; closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Reservations: walk-in only. Phone: (415) 326-3215 is listed by Eater SF but not on the restaurant site; confirm before calling. The Mantis website and Fat Cat website [20]
Planning your visit
For an East Bay outing, choose a compact area such as Rockridge, Old Oakland, or Alameda rather than trying to cover the whole region in one trip. In San Francisco, check reservation platforms and same-day service updates before heading out. Hours, menus, and opening arrangements can change, particularly at soft-opening locations.
For restaurant operators, the list also illustrates how distinct service models shape a guest’s choice, from a tasting menu to a bakery counter or board game cafe. If you are reviewing your own service flow, menu structure, or operating systems, explore our operations consulting services.
Sources
- Chez Maeju, Reservations and hours.
- Glom Thai, Official website.
- Spinning Bones, Official website.
- Delage, Official website.
- Payakk, Official website.
- JuXi, Official website.
- Hoagie’s World of Hoagies, Official website.
- The Game Parlour, Official website.
- La Penca Azul, Island Drive location.
- Cafe Buenos Aires, Official website.
- The Happy Crane, Contact page.
- Shinka, Contact page.
- Ernest, Contact page.
- Athanor, Official website.
- Casa Sofia, Official website.
- Ruay Mitr Chicken & Rice, Official website.
- Qua O La, Official website.
- Maillards, Official website.
- Saltwater Bakeshop, Official website.
- Fat Cat x The Mantis, The Mantis and Fat Cat.
- Michelin Guide, Spinning Bones listing.
- Eater SF, Shinka opening coverage, October 9, 2026.
- Oaklandside, Delage relaunch coverage, September 16, 2026.
- Oaklandside, Payakk feature, September 30, 2026.
- Oaklandside, East Bay restaurant opening roundup, October 13, 2026.
- Eater SF, New restaurant map.
- Michelin Guide, Ernest listing.
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