11 New Restaurants in SF + East Bay You May Have Missed in 2023
Good Luck Gato in Uptown Oakland. (Nicola Parisi)

11 New Restaurants in SF + East Bay You May Have Missed in 2023

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The Bay Area is so spoiled with new restaurants, even 7x7 editors sometimes have trouble keeping up.

Every new eatery adds its own spice to the dynamic culinary scene, and each one is worthy of a celebration all its own.


From the Japanese-Mexican fusion of Uptown Oakland’s Good Luck Gato to the Ligurian-inspired coastal cuisine in SoMa’s Corzetti, here are 11 of the best new restaurants that you—like us—might have missed this year.

Taco Rouge

(Courtesy of @tacorouge)

In August, the former site of Nick’s Crispy Tacos got a delicious upgrade. The lively new cantina, Taco Rogue, is full of ornate vintage-inspired style and crushable hand-held eats. On chef Daniel Tellez’s California-kissed Mexican menu, traditional Baja-style fish tacos and braised beef-cheek tacos de cachete appear side-by-side with Lebanese-inspired marinated pork tacos on pita and smash burger tacos with cheddar and pickles. The restaurant’s opening also marks the return of Taco Tuesdays, when you can get six tacos and six Tecates for just $25 (and $25 pitchers of margaritas), and weekend brunch—plus serious club vibes with DJs and live music late night. // 1500 Broadway (Russian Hill), tacorouge.com

Chotto Matte

(Courtesy of @chottomattesf)

Peruvian flair and Japanese tradition come together at Chotto Matte, Union Square’s newest Nikkei experience. The lush rooftop resto-lounge is just the most recent opening for the successful international brand, which already has buzzy outposts in cities like London and Doha. With a wide-ranging selection of signature cocktails, multiple tasting menus at different price points (including a veggie option!), and a la carte dishes like wagyu beef gyoza and salmon tostadas, Chotto Matte is an impressive spot for a night on the town. // 50 O’Farrell St. (Union Square), chotto-matte.com

Good Luck Gato

(Nicola Parisi)

Chef Kyle Itani wasn’t yet done with the space that housed his Japanese-influenced diner Hopscotch when it closed in June. In September, he paired with Hopscotch alumni Matt Meyer and Daniel Paez to bring Good Luck Gato to life. The new restaurant, an “izakaya cantina” with an unusual fusion of Mexican and Japanese flavors, takes its inspiration from spaghetti western kitsch, with a palette of primary colors, a herd of maneki-neko cat figurines, and western soundtracks and films played on repeat. On the menu, look for dishes like sea bream sashimi with charred sweet corn puree, korokke (potato croquettes with Oaxacan cheese and tonkatsu sauce), elote smothered with sea urchin butter, and a series of playful east-meets-west cocktails. // 1915 San Pablo Ave. (Oakland), goodluckgato.com

Andina

(Haley Robinson)

The wandering is over for popular arepa pop-up Andina. As of this week, chef Victoria Lozano’s crispy Venezuelan pastries have a permanent home at the SFJazz Center’s B-Side. In its new home, Andina will be serving up an expanded menu that pairs arepas stuffed with succulent pork shoulder and shredded beef with rice bowls, tostones, and other street food favorites and sweet treats. Visit Thursday through Saturday from 7pm to 9pm to take advantage of B-Side’s half-priced cocktail specials as you chow down. // 205 Franklin St. (Hayes Valley), andinasf.square.site.com

Pizzeria Da Laura

(Courtesy of @pizzeriadalaura)

Berkeley’s newest pizza joint hails from three time world pizza champion Laura Meyer. The doyenne of pies tosses them every which way—from New York style to Detroit style to Grandma style—and loads them up with toppings classic (like the pepperoni, sausage, bacon, mushroom, red onion, and bell pepper Pazzo) and not-so-classic (like the spinach, green olive, arugula-basil pesto, and peppadew pepper Callie Girl). The casual hometown pizzeria also serves up satisfying pastas, meatballs, and arancini, and has a full bar to wash it all down. // 2049 Shattuck Ave. (Berkeley), pizzeriadalaura.com

Butter and Crumble

(Courtesy of @butter.and.crumble)

Within just a few hours of its grand opening at the end of October, every candied pecan pain suisse, cannoli croissant, and vegan carrot cake muffin at North Beach’s new bakery Butter and Crumble’s had been sold. To Butter and Crumble acolytes, that was no big surprise. Twenty-something baker Sophie Smith’s pop-up of the same name had been an underground favorite since early pandemic-times. Now, after a short stint in the Marina, Butter and Crumble has finally found a permanent home for its creative cakes and pastries. Although the menu will evolve regularly (and seasonally), it’ll always include a few savory options, including the fan-favorite bacon, egg, and cheese croissant. // 271 Francisco St. (North Beach), butterandcrumble.com

Anomaly SF

(Andrea Bartley)

If a holiday hangover had you hiding out at home in January, you may have missed the arrival of fine-dining pop-up Anomaly SF’s permanent digs. Nine months later, the restaurant, a den of dark wood and clean style, is going strong with its multi-course fall tasting menu. Chef Mike Lanham’s seasonal send-up to technique, experimentation, and creative presentation, includes “egg emojis,” yams with uni, lamb with carrots and black garlic, and lime curd with brown butter and coconut. Dedicated menus are available for almost all major dietary restrictions too, including vegetarian and gluten-free needs. // 2600 Sutter St. (Pac Heights), anomalysf.com

Corzetti

(Courtesy of @corzettisf/andreweatsinsf)

Corzetti distills the charm of the Italian Riviera into restaurant form. With bright botanical wallpapers and a carved wooden umbrella-like ceiling, the restaurant is both breezy and beautiful. Food inspired by the Ligurian coast includes housemade pizzas and pastas like the eponymous Corzetti, a combination of taleggio crema, pancetta, hen of the woods mushrooms, and brown butter. Not surprisingly, the wine list leans Italian, just like the signature cocktails, a collection of spritzes and tipples with a bitter backbone. // 398 Geary St. (Union Square), corzettisf.com

Gambit Lounge

(Courtesy of @gambitlounge581)

In the rush of last year’s holiday season, we overlooked the opening of Hayes Valley’s newest take on Eastern and Central European cuisine. The Gambit Lounge pairs Old World flavors and wine in a sleek modern space of subtle sophistication. At dinner, look for hearty meals of sausage with kraut, seared paprika chicken with potato dumplings, and Impossible meat-stuffed cabbage served alongside twists on classic cocktails. Lunch Wednesday through Saturday is for giant sandwiches stuffed with everything from kielbasa to roast brisket. // 581 Hayes St. (Hayes Valley), gambitlounge.com

Kiln

(Courtesy of @kawaikk88)

Headed up by alums of SF’s Sons & Daughters, Kiln burns with Michelin-starred fire. The fine dining restaurant uses fermentation, curing, and preservation to draw out the intense flavors of local and sustainable ingredients through the lens of Japanese, French, and Scandinavian cuisine. The resulting 18-20 course menu (an 8-10 course version is available at the bar) is master class in slow, careful preparation with dishes like puffed chicharron-like beef tendon delivered in a dramatic, minimalist dining room with 30-foot ceilings and a live olive tree at its center. Like the food menu, drink pairings don’t stick to a standard definition; dishes find the perfect match not just with wine, but with beer, cider, and sake, too. // 149 Fell St. (Hayes Valley), kilnsf.com

Movida Lounge

(Courtesy of @movidaloungesf)

Swanky Movida Lounge delivers New York nightclub-inspired energy to SoMa with its glam interiors and elaborate cocktail program. There and in the kitchen, the restaurant fuses the essence of Persian and Mexican cuisine. Dishes like tacos made with jalapeno beef and lamb koobideh, pomegranate chicken tostadas, and baklava made with smoky guajillo are as punchy late night when DJs take the stage as they are at weekend brunch. Whatever time of day, Movida Lounge feels like a celebration. // 555 2nd St. (SoMa), movidalounge.com

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