The Beguiling Oken Opens in Oakland, a Cat-Themed Modern Asian Eatery

13 Orphans brings modern mahjong parlor to Oakland, Loard’s returns to original location

A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond and beyond.

The beguiling Oken opens in Oakland, a cat-themed modern Asian eatery

A modern Asian-American restaurant with a playful menu and a kitty theme has landed in Oakland’s Rockridge District. Oken debuted in late May at the very triangular real estate of 6200 Claremont Ave., formerly Haruki Japanese Restaurant. Spelled backward, the name is neko — Japanese for “cat.” It’s the latest endeavor from the team behind the city’s Ohgane Korean BBQ, the expanding chain Oh G Burger and the popular OK’s Deli, recently named a to…