It’s a good week to eat and drink in Oakland, thanks to a new beer (and brewing) destination in Uptown; a soulful kitchen in West Oakland; and a massive spot for bocce, bowling, and beer in Jack London Square. Plus: Yakitori in Temescal opens next week.

It’s all about the beer at Diving Dog Brewhouse, which opened last Friday right across the street from the Fox Theater. In addition to being a killer beer bar with a 30-strong tap list (primarily featuring Northern California craft beers), Diving Dog is a DIY brewing facility during daytime hours. Aspiring brewers can make use of professional equipment, including copper kettles, plus ingredients, recipes, and even personalized labels for your finished product. Another fun note for beer drinking wonks—two of the 30 taps are on nitrogen, versus carbon dioxide, which makes for smaller bubbles and a smoother mouthfeel (ideal for stouts and porters). The project has personal stamps from owner Rob Bailard all over it; he lined the floor with bottle caps collected over the years, and named the bar after his labs Duff and Ziggy who have a penchant for water.

Photo Credit: Diving Dog Brewhouse

Over in West Oakland, Zella’s Soulful Kitchen has softly opened in the Mandela Foods Cooperative, slinging a tasty brand of healthy, flavorful soul food. Zella’s is run by Dionne Knox, who built her business as a part of La Cocina. For now, Zella’s is serving breakfast and lunch, with items like fresh-baked biscuit sandwiches and Beauty’s Bagels in the morning, and salads and sandwiches for lunch. There’s more to come in the upcoming weeks, including hot dishes to-go, as well as prepared foods available by the pound. Expect rotating items like jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and grilled or fried fish with hushpuppies.

Photo credit: Aubrey Pick

We mentioned the opening of plank in this week’s Foodie Update, but it’s worth reiterating—Jack London Square is now home to a massive destination for bocce, bowling, video games, beer, and more. Add an outdoor patio/beer garden, and a menu of playful, creative bar food to the mix (see: char siu burrito), and you’ve got the spot for your next big group outing.

Finally, we’re excited to announce that Kushido(pictured at top), a yakitori and drinking destination, will (softly) open in Temescal next weekend. The restaurant is centered around classic yakitori—skewers of meat cooked over charcoal—with a sushi-esque bar around the grill, perfect for catching all of the action. Don't miss the 20+ varieties of yakitori on offer (chicken, bacon-wrapped mochi, wagyu), Japanese beer on tap, and soju / sake.