Four New Spots Open in Berkeley and Alameda Including ChaHalo, Glom Thai and Gurkha Kitchen

BERKELEY, Calif., June 2, 2026 — The East Bay's dining scene gained four new options this week as ChaHalo, Glom Thai, Gurkha Kitchen Express and Hopkins Cafe all opened or reopened across Berkeley and Alameda, according to East Bay Nosh's regular openings report published June 2. The additions span milk tea, Thai small plates, Nepali and Indian cuisine, and an all-day neighborhood café, adding to a Berkeley food corridor that has seen consistent new openings through the first half of 2026.

The four openings were reported by freelance journalist Momo Chang, who covers East Bay food and restaurant news for the Oaklandside, Berkeleyside and Richmondside publications through the East Bay Nosh series.

ChaHalo Brings Freshly Steeped Xi'an Milk Tea to University Avenue in Berkeley

ChaHalo, a milk tea chain founded in Xi'an, China in 2016, celebrated its Berkeley grand opening at 2041 University Ave. at the end of May. The brand positions itself around freshly steeped tea leaves rather than the powder mixes used by many mass-market bubble tea competitors — a distinction that has become an increasingly significant marketing point in a Bay Area market where tea quality awareness has grown alongside the proliferation of boba shops across the region.

ChaHalo's signature drink is an osmanthus oolong milk tea, pairing the floral, honey-like notes of dried osmanthus blossoms with the roasted depth of oolong a combination that reflects the brand's roots in Xi'an's tea culture. The Berkeley location joins ChaHalo's existing US presence, which includes a location in City of Industry in the Los Angeles area.

Glom Thai Soft Opens on San Pablo Avenue in Former Sistory Thai Space

Glom Thai has soft opened at 1233 San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley, taking over the former location of Sistory Thai. The menu covers the range of contemporary Thai cooking: small plates, charcoal grilled dishes, whole fish preparations, vegetarian options and curries. The charcoal grill element gives the kitchen a distinctive preparation method that shapes the flavour profile of its meat and fish dishes, producing the char and smokiness associated with traditional Thai grilling techniques rather than the milder results of gas or electric cooking.

The San Pablo Avenue address places Glom Thai in a corridor that has supported several Thai restaurants over the years. The restaurant's soft opening format allows the kitchen and front-of-house to settle into service before a full launch.

Gurkha Kitchen Express Expands Bay Area Network to Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley

Gurkha Kitchen Express has opened at 2493 Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley, bringing the brand's combination of Nepali and Indian cuisine to a new East Bay address. The menu includes momos the traditional Nepali steamed dumplings that have become one of the Bay Area's most sought-after Nepali food items alongside other Nepali dishes and Indian preparations.

The Berkeley location extends Gurkha Kitchen's footprint across the Bay Area, where the brand already operates restaurants in Hayward, San Jose and San Ramon. The chain was founded in 2019 and has built a following through its khaja sets traditional Nepali meal sets alongside biryani and a broad range of curries. The Telegraph Avenue address gives the brand access to Berkeley's student population and the diverse residential community that surrounds the University of California campus.

Hopkins Cafe Opens in Former Espresso Roma Space in North Berkeley

Hopkins Cafe has opened at 1549 Hopkins St. in North Berkeley, taking over the space formerly occupied by Espresso Roma a long-running Berkeley coffee institution. The new café serves an all-day menu that spans espresso drinks, fresh juices, omelettes, bagels, salads, sandwiches, burgers and milkshakes, covering both the café and casual dining segments in a single location.

The Hopkins Street address sits in North Berkeley's residential corridor near the Monterey Market and other independent food businesses that serve the neighbourhood's established community. The breadth of the Hopkins Cafe menu positions it as a neighbourhood anchor rather than a single-purpose coffee shop a format that tends to sustain consistent traffic across morning, afternoon and early evening hours in residential Berkeley streets.

Jamba Juice at Alameda Landing Reopens After Several Months Closed

Across the water in Alameda, the Jamba Juice at 2650 Fifth St. at Alameda Landing has reopened after remaining closed for several months. The reason for the temporary closure was not specified in the Nosh report. The Alameda Landing location serves the shopping centre's steady retail and residential catchment on the western waterfront of Alameda Island.

More information about Indian cuisine and its regional diversity can be explored through Indian cuisine history and traditions.

Businesses monitoring hospitality expansion trends can also explore restaurant industry growth trends for 2026 to understand how regional food concepts are shaping dining markets.