E-40 and Señor Sisig Join Forces With Exclusive Lumpia Dish at New East Bay Cantina

A couple of weeks ago, The Standard caught wind that Filipino-Mexican fusion phenom Señor Sisig’s Downtown Oakland outpost might be closing. In good news for fans of their sisig burritos and ube beverages, that’s not the case.

As it turns out, the fast-casual restaurant is moving just around the corner to Webster Street and expanding into a larger cantina-style space. High school buddies and co-founders Gil Payumo and Evan Kidera just announced Señor Sisig Oakland will host a grand opening on Friday, April 14. 

And we now have a bit more insight into what to expect from the new menu. Sisig die-hards will be able to enjoy the same Mexican twist on traditional Filipino pork and chicken liver, along with a few brand-new creations that are exclusive to the Oakland cantina.

The Lumpia Company, an Oakland-based Filipino taquito purveyor founded by rapper E-40 and chef Alex Retodo, collaborated with chef Payumo to develop a sisig-style lumpia. The new spot will also offer Lechon Kawali pork belly tacos and shrimp chips.

What else sets the 17th Street location apart from Sisig’s San Francisco eateries? While Sisig’s SF locations serve a limited cocktail menu, the Oakland cantina will be the first to offer a full bar with a few spirited surprises. The barkeeps will offer an array of cervezas, highballs, mezcals and tequilas, with agua fresca margaritas at the center of Sisig’s beverage program. We’re amped to try the tamarind and chili margarita. On the nonalcoholic side, the use of ube—a Filipino purple yam—in the horchata gives the traditional Mexican plant-based milk drink a vividly violet glow-up. 

Señor Sisig first launched as a single food truck in 2010 and has expanded to encompass fast casual locations in the Mission, the Ferry Building and Downtown Oakland. 

Señor Sisig 

📍 330 17th St., Oakland
🔗 senorsisig.com