Opening: Japanese, Bread, Mexican, and Cupcakes

I haven't exactly made it a secret that I have a full-time job, and I can't blog at work so I do all of this in my off time and schedule things to publish the next day. When I hear about a restaurant opening, I just save the link and when I've had a busy week things tend to pile up QUICK. So here's everything that's opened while you've been working, or nursing your hangover, or doing whatever unemployed people do (not to imply you all are unemployed, but to be inclusive).

Already Open:

photo from SuperCarnitas

Kiraku: Their website is terribly unhelpful, but it looks like they opened July 1 near the UC Berkeley Campus and some early Yelpers have the scoop. The food is described as "Japanese-influenced with a twist," and includes dishes like ramen, roasted pork belly, and something called okonomiyaki. There's also word of a sake menu and Asahi on tap.
[source: Tablehopper]
2655 Telegraph Ave at Parker, Berkeley
website

B-Dama: It's looking like, from early reports on Chowhound, that the upcoming izakaya from the people over at Geta is less "coming soon" and more "newly opened." Right now, it's sounding like a lot of grilled chicken skin and beef tongue, but anyone nearby who wants to go check it out will be my hero, Enrique Iglesias-style.

[source: Chowhound]

4301 Piedmont Ave., Oakland

Panera Bread: They opened another Walnut Creek location back at the end of June, and I just haven't cared enough to write anything. But hey, they have free wi-fi, and are open until 9pm on most days! They also have a drive-thru window, which actually increases my level of caring from none to mildly interested. Check it out in the Countrywood shopping center.
[source: Walnut Creek Patch]

Opening Today: 
Cosecha Cafe: located in Swan's market in Old Oakland. Expect dishes like pork belly tacos, pozole, and torta ahogada. They'll also have a two dollar menu for their opening.
[source: Tablehopper]
907 Washington St., Oakland
website

Coming Soon:

french toast and maple bacon cupcake

James & the Giant Cupcake: Opening next to Actual Cafe this Monday (pending final inspections), this cupcake joint (formerly a delivery-only venture) is starting off with basic cupcakes and will venture into more creative flavors once the shop gets established. They also offer one vegan cupcake and one gluten-free option.

6326 San Pablo Ave., Oakland

website

[source: WTF]

Under Review: Xolo

A lot of blogs have been talking about how Uptown is "up and coming." The use examples like the 2nd Rudy's space next tp the Fox and the fairly recent addition of SF-envy-worthy bars like Bar Three Fifty-five and Dogwood as evidence, and I can't really disagree, since I love gentrification as much as the next person. That's why I braved the much-buzzed Xolo on a Friday night because, let's be real, how effing good does an upscale bacon-wrapped hot dog sound?

But I didn't get it. I can't explain why, while bacon should always sound good, tacos sounded better. But more on that later. First, requisite description. Walls are painted in blocks of blue and greens, with shelves housing kitschy knick knacks. There are a few dining tables to the right of the register, closer to the door, and what looked like might have been an eating area up some stairs in the back, but could have very well been an employees only kinda set-up. Your order at the counter, and while I assumed shit would be cheap, I somehow managed to rack up close to $20 with three tacos and a beer. I am confounded. M was an amazing sport and sprung for the chips and salsa (not pictured because they are chips and salsa and they all look the same). 

M's burrito. Clearly, I am an awesome picture taker and decided you'd get the best idea of how good it looks still wrapped in the foil. Fail on my part. The pollo came with grilled achiote-marinated chicken thighs, avocado salsa, black beans, rice, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro. It got eaten. I'll assume it was good.

I got three of their tacos. $2.75 each. I went for the vampiro (al pastor, salsa ranchera, red onions, cilantro on a fried cheese tortilla), camarones (batter fried shrimp, arbol aioli, cilantro, cabbage, lime), and hongos (crimini mushrooms, cheese, tomatillo-arbol salsa, pico de gallo, avocado, epazote). My biggest mistake may have been starting with the vampiro, because everything else after that paled in comparison. My least favorite was the hongos, which surprised me because I love me some mushrooms, but nothing I tried was bad, per se. Just some nice fresh tacos in a seedy area of town. While I wouldn't say Xolo was mind-blowing, you could definitely do worse, and I'm excited to see what else crops up in the name of gentrification.