Oakland's Cenaduria Elvira to Reopen
Cenaduria Elvira, an Oakland restaurant known for its Jalisco-style tostadas, is reopening in a new location near Jack London Square. The restaurant had previously closed, and its return brings its authentic regional Mexican cuisine back to the area.
- The restaurant originated in 2020 as a weekend pop-up in owner Elvira Varela's backyard in Oakland's Jingletown neighborhood. - Its new brick-and-mortar location is at 468 3rd Street in the historic Western Pacific Depot building near Jack London Square. - The signature dish, the tostada raspada, gained national recognition with a mention in a 2023 New York Times list of best dishes in America. - Varela imports the unique tostadas directly from an aunt in Zapotlanejo, Mexico, her family's town of origin; they are made by spreading masa over a stone mill before being dried and fried. - In addition to tostadas, the restaurant's torta ahogada, a sandwich "drowned" in tomato sauce, was named the best in the Bay Area by a San Francisco Chronicle critic. - The new, larger location features an airy dining room with high ceilings and woven lanterns, an outdoor patio, and an expanded menu that includes beer and new appetizers.
