Newly open in Uptown Oakland is the izakaya-inspired SHINMAI, with a variety of small plates, raw bar selections, and ramen. Owner Yingji Huang (of Montclair’s Kakui) brought on executive chef Jerrod Doss (previously Aziza, Chez TJ, The French Laundry) and co-owner Andy Liu, a former sushi chef at Kakui who is Shinmai’s lead ramen chef (he recently returned from two years in Japan learning about ramen).
The menu includes dishes like broccolini with egg, miso-honey mustard, ikura, sesame; 12-hour sous vide miso BBQ ribs; fried chicken with ginger Worcestershire, miso tartar, gochujang, lemon herbs; and two kinds of ramen (tonkotsu or vegetarian). There are also cocktails (all $10) created by Adam Stemmler of beverage consultancy Farm League Restaurant Group and executed by Shinmai bar manager Brian McMillan (most recently of Sidebar in Oakland), like the Where’s Valdez? with Xicaru mezcal, Angostura amaro, toasted brown rice syrup, lemon, firewater bitters, and nutmeg.
Dinner is served Sun-Mon and Wed-Thu 5pm-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm, closed Tue. 1825-3 San Pablo Ave. at 18th St., Oakland, 510-271-1888.
The opening date is finally set: IPPUDO is opening its first West Coast ramen shop in downtown Berkeley on Friday July 28th. Stand by for more about the menu and hours after the opening. Can’t imagine what the lines will be like for this one. SF will be next! 2011 Shattuck Ave. at University, Berkeley. [Via Eater.]
The spacious dining room and counter at Shinmai. Photo: Jeremy Chiu.
