Oakland Eats: Chop Bar relocates, Donut Farm to open second location, new food truck alley, more

In this edition: a Jack London Square bar is moving to a bigger space, a vegan donut cafe is expanding into their former home, food trucks have a new pit stop on Pill Hill, and a healthy smoothie bar is now open on Piedmont Avenue.

Opening

Jack London Square

Chop Bar (190 4th St.)

As we reported back in May, Jack London Square restaurant Chop Bar has been plotting a move to a larger space, located just a block away from its decade-long home at 247 4th St.

Now, the big day is finally here: Hoodline's veteran tipster Al M. says that Chop Bar 2.0 will debut at 190 Fourth St. this week. Reservations on OpenTable are available starting this Thursday, August 6.

At 3,000 square feet, compared to the original 1,600, the new spot is "more spacious, including a bigger bar counter," Al said. The menu will include items like gnocchi with cherry tomatoes and arugula pesto, or roasted pork belly with lentils, carrots and padrón peppers. Snacks like chips and guacamole will also be available.

Donut Farm (247 4th St.)

Chop Bar's former space has already found a new tenant as well: vegan café Donut Farm will take over, Nosh reports. Formerly known as Pepples, Donut Farm offers plant-based doughnuts in flavors like cinnamon sugar, vanilla sprinkle, blueberry, matcha green tea or Philz coffee.

Owner Josh Levine tells Nosh that customers can expect a similar menu to Donut Farm's existing North Oakland outpost (6037 San Pablo Ave.), with the doughnuts accompanied by vegan breakfast and lunch items like tofu scrambles, mac and "cheeze," tacos, milkshakes and more.

There are a few notable wrinkles, though: once the new Donut Farm opens, the original North Oakland location will downgrade to exclusively being a doughnut shop. And Levine plans to upgrade the Jack London Square location this winter, shifting to a "fancier concept" with fewer fried items, more salads, beer and wine.

In the meantime, expect the new Donut Farm to make its debut sometime in mid-August.

Pill Hill

Kono Food Alley (3188 Telegraph Ave.)

Hoodline tipster George D. clued us into a summer food event on Telegraph Avenue. Starting this week, Kono Food Alley will host food trucks for lunch every day, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Service will run through October 10, with vendors being announced each day on Instagram.

The participating vendors will include Curbside Kitchen, specializing in Filipino-American sandwiches and snacks, and Javi's Cooking, which offers Argentine empanadas. In preparation for the event, a colorful mural has also been added to the alley.

Piedmont Avenue

Ride Bar (4448 Piedmont Ave.)

Al M. also gave us a tip on another new eatery: Ride Bar, a smoothie and bowl cafe, has opened its doors on Piedmont Avenue inside Ride Oakland, an indoor cycling studio. (It's open to everyone, not just customers of the studio, but indoor cyclists can pre-order smoothies to enjoy after class.

Smoothie combos include the Tap This Back (kale, spinach, avocado, pineapple, mint, fennel, ginger, turmeric, lime juice, aloe vera, coconut water) or the Double Time (coffee, banana, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, almond butter, maca, Himalayan sea salt, almond milk, and agave).

Three different healthy granola bowls are available as well, with the choice of an acai or dragonfruit base.

Thanks to George D. and our veteran tipster Al M. and George D.! Have you noticed a new addition to (or subtraction from) Oakland's food landscape? Text a tip and a horizontal photo to 510-757-9959, and we'll look into it.