The Best Temporary Restaurant Events in the Next 2 Weeks

By Tamara Palmer Tue., Aug. 7 2012 at 11:30 AM

Categories: Palmer, Pop-Up

Tamara Palmer

Truck Stop Cafe's duck fat Chex mix.

We love pop-ups and temporary chef nights, but we hate keeping track of them. Every few weeks we'll bring you a list of the best upcoming events -- all you have to do is mark your calendar.

Truck Stop Cafe
Where: Truck, 1900 Folsom (at 15th), 252-0306.
When: Wed., Aug. 8, 6-10 p.m.
Cost: Menu items from $5-14
The rundown: Truck Stop Cafe, the "occasional restaurant and full-time shit show," is a moonlighting project of Jake Godby, owner of Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream. Godby specializes in ridiculously comforting food that, by his own admission, makes you need to reach for a packet of Tums or call your cardiologist, and tomorrow's menu highlights include made-to-order duck fat Chex mix, fried chicken with cornmeal pancakes and maple butter, grilled cheese with tomatoes and pepper jam, and a bourbon and Coke float with chocolate chip cookies.

Shy Leong
Where: Guest Chef, 5337 College Ave, Oakland, 510-658-7378
When: Dinner now through Sat., Aug. 12
Cost: Menu items are $10 each, or get a tasting of four for $34
The rundown: Shy Leong, the author of Savoring Cuisines of South East Asia, is cooking dinner all week at this North Oakland restaurant that rotates chefs every fortnight. Look for exotic dishes such as otak otak (fish mousse spiced with chili, ginger, and coconut milk and baked in banana leaf), beef rendang (lemongrass brisket), and bubur cha cha ("candy soup" made from taro and yam).

Easy Creole
Where: the Residence, 718 14th (at Market), 797-8866.
When: Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30-9 p.m.
The rundown: Find vegetarian and omnivorous variations on New Orleans classics like étouffée and gumbo. There are also often specials that push the boundaries of what's expected from this pop-up, like Red Stripe jerk chicken.

Rice Paper Scissors
Where: Mojo Bicycle Cafe, 639 Divisadero (at McAllister), 440-2338.
When: Every Thursday from 6-10 p.m. (excluding August 9).
Cost: $8
The rundown: Sit on a red plastic stool and have a taste of the bahn mi sandwiches Anthony Bourdain raves about on TV.

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