Teni East Kitchen is trading its original Temescal storefront for a much larger home on Piedmont Avenue, with plans to open there in March, owner Tiyo Shibabaw says. The move gives the Burmese spot a significantly bigger kitchen, dozens more seats, and a roomy outdoor patio. Shibabaw says the extra square footage will make space for new equipment, expanded dishes including steamed seafood, and a modest bar program. The current Temescal location is set to close a few months after the new spot opens.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the new space at 3770 Piedmont Ave. clocks in at roughly 3,000 square feet and was most recently home to Pomella. The move gives Teni East about double its current kitchen footprint and roughly 30 to 40 more seats, including outdoor dining. The relocation keeps the restaurant in essentially the same neighborhood while giving it room to scale up both production and seating.
“We are still able to stay in the same neighborhood, while we can also grow and improve,” Shibabaw told the San Francisco Chronicle. The larger footprint will accommodate a steamer and let the kitchen add steamed seafood and other dishes that were off the table in the current “really, really small” space. Shibabaw also plans a bar program at the Piedmont Avenue location and said she chose to stay in Oakland despite getting offers to move elsewhere.
Chef-owner Keeps Roots Close to Home
Shibabaw, who is originally from Ethiopia, built her career in Burmese kitchens and spent about a decade at Burma Superstar before opening Teni East in 2016, according to the East Bay Express. Since then, Teni East has operated on Broadway in Temescal and is known for its flaky rotis and fermented tea-leaf salads, per the restaurant’s site. Shibabaw also runs Aman Cafe, a roti-focused spinoff next door that has become a daytime staple for the neighborhood.
Piedmont Avenue Pickup After Pomella
The 3770 Piedmont Ave. space opened up after Pomella closed last spring, leaving a vacancy that Teni East will now fill, according to Oaklandside. Taking over an existing restaurant shell cuts down on some of the buildout burden and gives Teni East a street-facing perch on a busy commercial stretch. These handoffs have become more common as Oakland’s dining scene continues to rebound and recalibrate after a wave of pandemic-era closures.
When to Expect It
Teni East is aiming to open the Piedmont Avenue location in March, though the exact date could shift as permits and build-out wrap up. Keep an eye on Teni East Kitchen’s site for updates and menus as opening day gets closer.
