Famed Ippudo ramen comes to Berkeley
FROM SIMPLE TO SUBLIME >> Until Shigemi Kawahara came along, ramen was a humble Japanese bowl eaten by working-class laborers in equally humble restaurants. He saw the dish differently, however — as a “cosmos created in a bowl,” his website says, a “trinity” of soup, noodles and topping that comes together with originality and creativity.
Thirty years later, he and his chefs have exported their concept from Japan throughout Asia, to London, Paris, New York — and have finally brought Ippudo to the Bay Area.
• The first West Coast outpost of this ramen empire has just opened in Berkeley. Look for long lines of patrons at 2015 Shattuck Ave. eager to try the signature tonkotsustyle soup with the pork broth simmered for 18 hours and the handmade noodles. (In Manhattan, two-hour waits are common.)
Opening soon after will be a San Francisco location on Yerba Buena Lane. Details: www.ippudoNY.com. BURGERS AND A BAR >> Gott’s Roadside’s classic burgers have landed at San Francisco International Airport.
This location offers a special airport menu of cheeseburgers made with Niman Ranch beef, ahi poke tacos, hot dogs, breakfast sandwiches and scrambles — and sports Gott’s first full bar. Bloody Marys, Moscow Mules and Jalapeño Margaritas are offered in addition to wine and beer.
Alas, the SFO Gott’s is situated on the post-security side of the terminal, so if you’re just driving nearby on Highway 101 and have a craving, you’ll need to keep going until you get to the Palo Alto Gott’s at Town & Country Village.
Next up: That longawaited Walnut Creek
location on South Main Street. An autumn opening is planned.
AN INSTITUTION CLOSES >>
The Locust Street location, one of the early homes of noted chef Bradley Ogden’s American comfort food menu, still featured such classics as fried chicken, pot roast, meatloaf — and Ogden’s famous butterscotch pudding.
A note posted on the website read: “Thank you for your patronage over the years! It has been our pleasure to serve and be a part of the Walnut Creek community. We truly appreciate your support.”
Remaining open are at least two other high-profile members of the Moana Restaurant Group, which took over operations from the Lark Creek group in 2015. They include Parcel 104 at the Santa Clara Marriott near Levi’s Stadium (where Ogden is listed as consulting chef) and the seafoodcentric Yankee Pier in Lafayette.
NEW GASTROPUB >> The idea for Inc 82 came to John and Jenny Samples one day when they were trying to figure out where to go for a non-chain-restaurant meal in Dublin.
Two years later, the result is Inc 82, a gastropub at 7370 San Ramon Road at Amador Valley Boulevard, west of the Interstate 580680 interchange. “It was not easy going through permits, multiple city hearings, site development reviews, alcohol licensing, etc.,” they said on the restaurant’s Facebook page. “But FINALLY the end is here.”
The menu they created with chef/partner Clara Yun will change seasonally. The inaugural lineup of entrees strongly favors comfort food, with fried chicken, burgers (one topped with pastrami and kraut), fish and chips and 12-hour Bolognese spaghetti. Small bites include house-made sausages with pretzel and pickled veggies, spicy wings, meatballs, salads and onion rings battered in stout.
Brewer William Hutchison came on board to create signature beers for Inc 82, including a summer ale, a double IPA and a wheat beer. Other East Bay microbrews round out the taps.
Inc 82 is open from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday through Thursday and 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday (closed Monday). Details: http://inc82.com.
• Filipino feast: For years, folks in the food world have been saying that Filipino will be the The Next Thing in culinary trends. At Left Bank Brasserie in Menlo Park, chef Brendy Monsada is doing his part. On Aug. 17, the restaurant will hold a Filipino Franco dinner with a menu designed by Monsada to honor his ethnic heritage.
For reservations, $50 a person, call 650-473-6543 or email ereilly@leftbank.com. Send tips to Linda Zavoral at lzavoral@bayareanewsgroup.com. Contact Zavoral at 408920-5960.