I was so sad when La Cocina entrepreneurs LA GUERRERA’S KITCHEN closed their Fruitvale location in March, their first brick and mortar, but great news: owners Reyna Maldonado and her mother, Ofelia Barajas, are reopening in the former Tamarindo Antojeria space in Old Oakland (another beloved business). The maiz warriors are back!
Eater reports the menu is going to include their tamales (just in time for Christmas!), their fantastic barbacoa, and green pozole, but with the bigger kitchen, they’re going to be serving additional specialties, like tacos dorado con consomé, tacos al vapor, and more. How wonderful. Order some tamales for Christmas and welcome them in their new digs. There’s an outdoor patio they look forward to being able to open when that time comes. Hours for now (pick-up only): Fri 12pm-3pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-3pm. 468 8th St. at 8th St., Oakland.
Another new opening for you includes JAYNA GYRO at Public Market Emeryville, which according to their Instagram knows how to stack one helluva gyro spit! This fast-casual place is from Yusuf Topal of Tarla Mediterranean Grill in Napa, and the chef is Jason Naaman of Tarla. The menu includes a chickpea sandwich (a nostalgic dish from Yusuf’s childhood, who grew up in Gaziantep, Turkey), chicken and beef gyros, their signature Greek salad, and appetizers like dolmades, spanakopita, hummus, and tzatziki. Open Mon-Thu 11am-7pm, Fri-Sat 11am-8pm, closed Sun. 5959 Shellmound St., Kiosk 14, Emeryville.
Tamal de pollo mole rojo from La Guerrera’s Kitchen. Instagram photo via @laguerreraskitchen.
