Here Are the Hottest New Restaurants in the East Bay, June 2024

"Empanada fans, meet your new favorite place. Fluted empanadas are the name of the game at 9 Julio Empanada Kitchen in Oakland, with a mix of savory and sweet options to try inside crisp, flaky dough. Choose from a Cuban picadillo filling with ground beef and tomatoes, or a chicken rojo highlighting braised chicken and red bell peppers — just don’t forget to tack on a sauce (or sauces) for dipping. If you want something heartier, there’s also a Peruvian roasted chicken or chimichurri steak, and if you budget stomach space correctly, the apples and dulce de leche empanadas are there for you at the end of the meal." - Dianne de Guzman