And that’s a good thing; food is serious business. But as we explored the crop of stellar new restaurants that opened between September 2023 and September 2024, we found ourselves — if fleetingly — forgetting about the real world outside the dining room, and settling into meals that felt exciting, confident, and joyful.

An East Bay restaurant has been named among America’s best new eateries, recognized for its unique fusion of Indonesian cooking and Texas-style halal barbecue.