Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe
Diner · Emeryville ·
Modern diner serving comfort food, vegetarian options, and live music.
Modern diner serving comfort food, vegetarian options, and live music.
"After longtime employees brought it back following an August closure, Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe became my go-to weekend brunch spot for fluffy omelets and hashbrowns, a place I stopped taking for granted." - Eater Staff
"I was sad when Rudy’s Can’t Fail announced its closure in early August, but I’m hopeful after learning that a comeback is in the works: three former employees — general manager Doug Smith, head chef Guadalupe Rivera, and former sous chef Nelson Ortiz — are grouping together to take over the restaurant, a lease for the Emeryville location is being finalized this week, and a sign on the door says they expect to reopen in October with a menu featuring “many of our longtime customer favorites.”" - Dianne de Guzman
"Early on Monday, August 8, I noticed Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe had closed — the owners posted on Facebook and Instagram that after 20 years in operation they’ve decided to call it quits, offering no specific reason. Launched in 2002, the Emeryville diner was a late-night East Bay hang with expansive 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily hours and was beloved for cheap shrimp tacos, indulgent dishes like Mr. Roadie’s Fish and Chips, and the Monster Chili Cheeseburger. The closure follows the 2018 closing of its Oakland location that was attached to the Fox Theater; the cafe had been nominated for and won Oakland Magazine’s Best Cafe multiple times (including this year), drew a visit from Guy Fieri in 2010, and was partially owned by Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt. Named after the Clash song “Rudie Can’t Fail,” the location previously spent 40 years as Eugene’s Ranch House, and the owners’ announcement said it was time to “pass the torch,” though it’s unclear what will come into the space next." - Paolo Bicchieri
"The Emeryville diner is open for takeout and delivery (via DoorDash), Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m." - Luke Tsai
"The new Emporium Oakland space is the former home of Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe, a spinoff of an Emeryville diner co-owned by Green Day’s Mike Dirnt; Rudy’s opened in the Fox building in 2011 but closed last summer." - Caleb Pershan