Good Luck Gato
Permanently Closed
Japanese-Mexican fusion izakaya cantina with creative dishes
Japanese-Mexican fusion izakaya cantina with creative dishes
"Good Luck Gato was a restaurant that combined Japanese and Mexican flavors, creating an 'izakaya cantina' with creative dishes and a cocktail menu that followed the same fusion format. It opened in September 2023 as a reimagining of the former Hopscotch restaurant space." - Dianne de Guzman
"Sister businesses Good Luck Gato and Ninth Life have closed in Oakland as of May 11. The two businesses took over the Hopscotch space in the fall of 2023 with grand plans — Good Luck Gato was an “izakaya cantina” with Japanese-Mexican dishes and drinks, while Ninth Life was a ‘90s-themed cocktail bar — but shuttered after less than a year. Co-owner Matthew Meyer blamed high costs and low foot traffic. “Please support small businesses,” a statement about the closure reads in part. “Leave your house, let us cook for you, get another round. The restaurant industry needs you.”" - Dianne de Guzman
"Good Luck Gato is dubbed an “izakaya cantina” — a mix of casual Japanese and Mexican drinking establishments, but also a shorthand way of explaining the roots of this new spot which features dishes and drinks that pull from both cultures. Pick from a mix of plates, such as the uni elote, or corn on the cob boiled in dashi and served with sea urchin butter and cotija cheese. For cocktails, try the Emerald Zone, which features nori-infused tequila, mixed with mezcal and gentian liqueur, plus cucumber, yuzu, lime, and sesame oil. Some fun sake items are on the list, such as a can of sparkling peach sake with jelly — heads-up it requires shaking before opening." - Dianne de Guzman
"Good Luck Gato is a new Oakland spot meshing Mexican and Japanese drinking culture together in what it’s dubbing an “izakaya cantina” from the teams behind Low Bar and Hopscotch. Dine on dishes such as the uni butter elote, hamachi tartare crudo, and a black sesame chocotaco. On the drink side of things, get boozy with the Emerald Zone, which merges nori-infused tequila blanco with mezcal and Suze for sunomono-like flavor." - Dianne de Guzman
"Is Good Luck Gato an izakaya or a cantina? Both, considering this spot revolves around drinking and talking about the paper lantern display over Japanese-Mexican small plates. This cozy Uptown Oakland spot from the Low Bar team and former Hopscotch chef pulls off the mashup with ease. There are limewash walls, maneki-neko cats, and hanging noren that make you feel the Japanese minimalism. If you’re in the area and want a non-boring place to drink a sesame oil-topped mezcal-yuzu cocktail and eat uni elote and hamachi tartare tostadas, book a table. " - Julia Chen 1, Lani Conway, Ricky Rodriguez
