Eat better in the Bay Area with the help of Good Taste, your friendly menu of local delights. This week, we’re looking forward to several new and expanding ventures set to open in 2025.
Breadbelly expands to Pier 70 in San Francisco
“I live here now,” I declared on social media when Breadbelly opened in December 2018 in San Francisco’s Richmond District. There are no bad choices on the menu of pastries, sandwiches, cookies, and specials at this divine cafe, so it’s fabulous to learn that they’re expanding to the other side of town so that more people can learn about their greatness. Owners Katherine Campecino-Wong, James Wong, and Clement Hsu announced on Instagram that they are taking on a massive second space on Pier 70 and need a little help to expand, so they are currently seeking investors through a platform called Small Business Bonds to be paid back in 48 months at 10 percent interest. Investments start at $10.
Jaji explores Afghan cuisine
The Colombian restaurant Parche in Oakland was one of my favorite premieres of 2023; it’s high on my list of recommended restaurants there for anyone, but especially for gluten-free eaters, because you can have almost everything on the menu. Now the couple behind Parche will open a new restaurant nearby. Diablo tipped me off to the forthcoming Jaji from Sophie Akbar and Paul Iglesias, which is expected in January at 422 24th Street inside the Kissel Uptown Oakland Hotel. Inspired by Akbar’s heritage, Jaji will take a modern approach to traditional Afghan cooking.
Blockbuster Asian markets arrive in the Bay Area
I frequent farmers markets and local food co-ops like Other Avenues and Rainbow Grocery. I also get very excited about blockbuster Asian markets and shopping centers opening up in the Bay Area, so I’m counting the days until the February debut of Korea’s Jagalchi in Daly City’s Serramonte Center and the unknown 2025 opening of Tokyo Central in Bay Street Emeryville (there’s already a Tokyo Central in Cupertino). Jagalchi features a gluten-free bakery called Basquia and a restaurant called Pogu run by Tony Yoo, Korea’s first Michelin-starred chef and alum of Michael Mina’s now-defunct Aqua. Read more about this supermarket sweep of stores that intend to open here next year.
Prescott Market Hall debuts in West Oakland
We also love that more community food halls are opening in the Bay Area; let’s consider supporting these efforts earnestly, especially when they’re in your hood. According to the development’s Instagram feed, West Oakland’s Prescott Market Hall should be fully open in March with Almanac Brewery, Woo Can Cook, Fast Times Burgers, High Wire Coffee, Prescott Meats and Delicatessen, and Pizzeria Violetta. The Prescott Night Market events will also return monthly from May to September.
Fikscue and Señor Sisig head to Thrive City
With restaurants like Che Fico Pizzeria, Dumpling Time, and Kaya by Burma Love, Thrive City at the Chase Center has been steadily shaping up as a focal point of a food court in San Francisco, and it’ll only keep thriving once more workers slowly return to work in that area next year and when the Indonesian-Texas BBQ master Fikscue opens there early in the year at a time that’s yet to be announced with dino ribs, brisket, and Indonesian snacks.
I started ordering home delivered meals from owners Fik and Reka Saleh in 2020 and have been so heartened to watch their Alameda restaurant, which opened around this time last year, do so well. (They don’t have time for home deliveries now.) Grabbing a weekend BBQ order from there involves hours of line waiting, and it’s completely worth it—and I hate lines. There are going to be lines in San Francisco, no doubt, but they’ll also be well worthwhile and you’ll get to be a part of watching a genuinely delicious family business continue to grow. I have a feeling there’s even more success ahead for them.
Another independent Bay Area success story is the Filipino food truck/restaurant empire Señor Sisig, which will open a Thrive City location in January. We love to see it!
Presidio gets a Mess Hall
Weekend appearances from food trucks such as Al Pastor Papi and D’grobak and the acclaimed restaurant Dalida have made the Presidio a fun food destination over the last couple of years, and there will be more options for eating with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz next year, although there aren’t many specifics yet.
Beyond giving it a 2025 opening date, the Presidio Trust hasn’t announced exactly when The Mess Hall will start serving food and craft cocktails at 201 Halleck Street within the Presidio Tunnel Tops. Chef Peter Serpico is designing multiple and “distinct” concepts for the hall, which sounds interesting.
The Slanted Door returns
Charles Phan told Eater that the Slanted Door won’t return to the Ferry Building next year, but shared the good news that he will reopen at 584 Valencia Street, where it started, in the spring. He also operates Slanted Door locations in San Ramon, Napa, and Beaune, France as well as a banh mi shop in the Mission called Chuck’s Takeaway.
Ferry Building will be even awesomer
The folks behind Sorrel are taking over Charles Phan’s former Slanted Door space in the Ferry Building in 2025, but we don’t know what the name of the restaurant will be. It’s not expected to be Chef Alex Hong’s second concept called Moon that serves those amazing fish and chips at Outside Lands. Tablehopper was first to share that the owners of Nopa and Water2Table would open a seafood counter and market called Nopa Fish in the Ferry Building next year. Subscribe to her newsletter to get early word on that opening date.
Tamara publishes the California Eating website, newsletter, and zine.
