The East Bay’s saddest closure of the year has a silver lining

Editor’s note: To close the year Nosh is announcing its 2024 award winners. Thank you to everyone who voted, making it a record turnout for the Nosh Awards. Each day Dec. 23-27 and Dec. 30 and 31 we’ll feature one award winner from the seven categories, starting with the saddest closure of the year and ending with the best new bar and restaurant of the year. 

The East Bay said goodbye to several popular restaurants in 2024, but none was missed more by Nosh readers than Lion Dance Cafe.

The vegan cuisine of C-Y Chia and Shane Stanbridge blending Singaporean, Californian and Italian flavors first captured the taste buds of Bay Area diners more than a decade ago as a pop-up, and they launched their Oakland brick-and-mortar in 2020. 

Both of the chefs were named semi-finalists for the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef in California, and Lion Dance consistently attracted accolades. 

The restaurant closed at the end of April. “The reasons are familial,” the closing statement stated. “This was the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make, and not one we thought we’d be faced with now.” 

Nosh readers who voted Lion Dance as the saddest closure of the year noted the inventive menu and that the vegan dishes pleased the pickiest of meat-eaters as well as tried-and-true vegetarians.  

“Unique and delicious food, good people,“ succinctly commented one voter 

“I am a huge meat-eater and Lion Dance did not have me missing meat for a single second. That is how well they flavored and spiced their dishes. The shaobing sandwiches were a revelation and this world is worse off without them,“ commented another voter.

But this closing has a silver lining. In the announcement Chia and Stanbridge promised: “It’s not the last that you’ll hear of us.” They have more than lived up to that pledge, consistently doing pop-ups and private catering since the restaurant’s closure. Chia and Stanbridge were enlisted to craft the menu at the new Temescal bar Tallboy. They have also done collaborative and special events with alaMar, Calicraft Brewing, Terah Wine, Tacos Oscar, Low Bar and Superiority Burger in New York City among others. For New Year’s Eve, Chia and Stanbridge are collaborating with Heena Patel for a special festive meal at her San Francisco Dogpatch restaurant Besharam. 

The pair have more pop-ups and special events planned for 2025, and also expect to publish their first cookbook. 

“Given the amount of high profile spots closing, we’re surprised and honored to stand out. We’re incredibly grateful to all those who contributed to making LDC everything that it represented in its brick and mortar form, and to all those who continue to keep us as wildly busy as we are,” Chia said. “ … Can’t wait to celebrate the other winners. Oakland’s had a tough few years but we all unwaveringly believe in it, and all put all we got back into it.”

The other restaurants nominated for saddest closure of 2024 were Bartavelle, Daytrip, Fonda, Shakewell, Sister and Fonda.

To keep up with everything Lion Dance follow the Instagram account and website, www.liondancecafe.com