I was happy to see SHAWARMAJI post on Instagram that his new brick-and-mortar location has opened in Uptown Oakland (in the former Gastropig space)! You may have experienced Jordanian Mohammad Abutaha’s awesome wraps during his pop-up at Forage Kitchen or at Reem’s here in SF, and I’m thrilled his Kickstarter was successful so he could open his own place so quickly. You gotta scroll through the pics in the recent Instagram post to see his incredible rotating spits of lamb and chicken, and take a peek at the menu of wraps and plates and shawarma fries (all the meats are halal) and there’s also falafel for any vegetarians/falafel lovers. Hours are Wed-Sun 11am-10pm. 2123 Franklin St., Oakland.
More good news: one of my favorite Oakland noodle shops, HUANGCHENG NOODLE HOUSE, will be reopening in Swan’s Market (previously Rosamunde Sausage Grill’s space) after suffering damage in their original location from a fire earlier this year in Chinatown. Eater’s piece says, “Good Good Eatz, the Oakland Chinatown-based initiative that has been supporting the neighborhood’s restaurants and markets, first told [owner Jimmy] Huang about the available space at Swan’s Market and introduced him to the landlord, the nonprofit East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC).” (You can learn more about the incredible Good Good Eatz in this episode of the On the Fly by tablehopper podcast.) Huangcheng plans to reopen and be serving their Shanxi knife-cut noodles before the end of the year. 911 Washington St. at 10th St. in Old Oakland.
A quick update to let you know that SOBRE MESA in Oakland has reopened with a parklet (with heaters), takeout, and delivery. The beautiful Afro-Latino cocktail lounge from chef Nelson German opened and closed at the very beginning of the pandemic, and is now offering a menu of tostones with ‘nduja, empanadas, maduros, Dungeness crab al ajillo, lobster Thermidor, bone marrow with beef tartare and jerk cassava, and chef Nelson’s signature chimichurri-jerk wings. Don’t miss their inventive cocktails made with small-production spirits. A limited takeout and delivery menu is available through Caviar, DoorDash, and another company I refuse to mention. Open Thu-Sat 5pm-10pm, and Sun brunch 11am-4pm. 1618 Franklin St. at 17th St., Oakland.
An earlier chicken wrap from Shawarmaji (while at Forage Kitchen) with cheddar cheese, spicy shatta, cucumber pickles, and toum. Instagram photo by @theshawarmaji.
