Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
After almost nine years, the ice cream shop Häagen-Dazs is going to make a triumphant return to Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek where GODIVA used to be! Thanks to a reader for sending word about this. 🍦
Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
After almost nine years, the ice cream shop Häagen-Dazs is going to make a triumphant return to Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek where GODIVA used to be! Thanks to a reader for sending word about this. 🍦
Park ‘N’ Shop, Concord
An “authentic Taiwanese individual hotpot and boba tea” restaurant called Tasty Pot is coming soon to a newly remodeled section in the Park ‘N’ Shop in Concord. Check out their menu here.
From their website:
Our boiling hotpot soups are purposefully designed to leverage the natural taste of the various ingredients and are seasoned with seasonings imported from Taiwan, real meat bones, and cabbage. Each location is tastefully designed to provide a comfortable dining experience. As such, we are the perfect place for your dining needs from a romantic first date to a bonding family dinner.
1556 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek
Thanks to a reader for sending word that the salad restaurant sweetgreen is coming to downtown Walnut Creek where Z Gallerie used to be. This location will be split in two, with sweetgreen taking up the front section near Locust St. Check out their menu here.
From their website:
Our core values guide our actions and we aim to empower our customers, team members and partners to be a positive force on the food system. That’s why we’re building a transparent supply network, why we cook from scratch, and why we’re building a community of people who believe in the power of real food.
1389 N. Main Street, Walnut Creek
Last month we learned that Dumpling Hours would be coming to downtown Walnut Creek, and their soft opening will be this Thursday, August 12th. This is the same owner as Dumpling House in San Francisco when I inquired inside. Check out their menu here.
1360 Locust St, Walnut Creek
In May we learned that Bierhaus reopened in downtown Walnut Creek, and they are now officially open since a couple of weeks ago. Check out their beverage menu here, dinner menu here and lunch menu here. I look forward to a warm house pretzel with a cold beer to wash it down soon!
From an email:
Andrew Curley is our new Executive Chef. Pre-pandemic, he spent 2 years running the kitchen of a San Francisco Michelin 3-star restaurant. We could say more, but once you try his food, you’ll know.
Though he left the SF haute cuisine scene behind to join Bierhaus in the burbs, his talent shines on our new menu which includes schnitzel (better than ever), house made spaetzle with whipped ricotta, wood-fired half chicken, farro salad (chef’s kiss), seasonal pierogi, whole Mt Lassen trout with beurre blanc.
The Veranda, Concord
EMC Seafood & Raw Bar, which opened a few years ago at the Veranda shopping center in Concord, has closed. Their San Jose location remains open.
1389 N. Main Street, Walnut Creek
I love dumplings so really look forward to Dumpling Hours opening in downtown Walnut Creek where Burger Loft used to be. Stay tuned…
1372 Locust St, Walnut Creek
Bay Area-based Japanese gourmet rice balls (aka onigiri) restaurant ONIGILLY is coming to downtown Walnut Creek where De Afghanan is. Look for an August opening. Check out their menu here. This is great news as I’m a huge onigiri fan with my favorite flavors being ume, natto, unagi, and salmon. They also offer poke bowls. I can’t wait to check this place out!
From their website:
When Koji, founder of ONIGILLY, first came to the US in 2006, he was surprised that despite the abundance of sushi restaurants he couldn’t find his favorite Japanese food, onigiri (rice balls). A fast food staple with over 2,300 years of history, onigiri is more frequently eaten than sushi in Japan.
1251 S. California Blvd, Walnut Creek
Bay Area-based Kokolo Donburi & Bar, with locations in Alameda, Berkeley, and Pleasanton, is expected to open later this month in downtown Walnut Creek where Baja Fresh used to be. Check out their menu here.
From their website:
At Kokolo, our nutritious rice bowls are influenced by variations of donburis originated from different regions of Japan. Each of our rice bowl is precisely fried or simmered in our signature sauce, and carefully prepared with traditional homemade ingredients.
Plaza Escuela, Walnut Creek
Singapore-based Bober Tea & Coffee, with locations in Sacramento, is expanding to Walnut Creek at Plaza Escuela, where Poke Bar used to be. Check out the Sacramento menu here. In addition to boba tea, highlights include drinks topped with cheese cream, mochi donuts, Vietnamese iced coffee, and more.