Was willing to wait for a table but it felt like I was being kicked out. Came here for Ramen didn't feel like eating that at the bar.

I love this place. I'm always greeted warmly, the sushi is of high quality and the presentation is beautiful. The ramen with pork belly is to die for! Every time I am on Salano Avenue, I seem to develop a craving for Akemi sushi. read more

My family & I came here for dinner to celebrate Mother's Day. The food were delicious. We had Gyoza, Seared beef, Beef short ribs, Evil roll, Dragon roll, Scallop roll, Lion roll, Assorted Sashimi. Everything tasted very fresh and the staff were friendly. My family & I were very pleased with our Mother's Day dinner at Akemi. We will definitely be back! read more

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I've been here twice now, and I absolutely love this resturant. The atmosphere is wonderful, I have gotten two sushi dishes and spicey miso ramen, and they were all delicious each time. The wasbai is real and fresh as well as the fish with perfectly sticky rice. They can get busy though! That just shows how good a resturant it is. read more

Maybe it was just a busy night but my daughter and I sat at the sushi bar. A couple sat down after us got asked for there order first afte we had waited 10-15 mins already with no one approaching us. Then told someone would be with us. Another 10 mins later w finally get out order taken (at this point we almost walked out). Then food is ready but the server again forgets us altogether and the sushi chef apologizes handing us our food. We then waited another 20 mins after done to get a bill when we asked repeatedly. Lastly the women's room had no toilet paper, no paper towels, etc... Overly priced and bad service only redeeming quality was the sushi chef who tried to help. read more

My go to place whenever I feel like eating Japanese food and my favorites are the "green" noodles as well as any entree salmon dish (better with miso sauce; love the fire dragon one too...so many selections read more

Dont let the nice decor fool you. I came to this place with high hopes, but the server took 15 mins to get our drink order, another 15 mins to send us our drinks. And we waited 45 mins for 3 rolls. It was a Monday night, there was only 10 guests in restaurant with 7 restaurant employees. Yet, no one would talk to us despite standing in the corner all day. We had to flag down another server and tell her we waited 45 mins for our food. Everyone in the restaurant seemed pissed off, we could hear other patrons argue with the staff members because we all waited too long just to be greeted. Finally, when I had asked for the manager, we were told there was no manager on duty which was probably a blatant lie. Dont come here unless you want to leave upset. I'd hate to see what this place is like on a busy weekend. There are so many better options on Solano Ave, not Akemi. read more

My favorite Sushi place in Berkeley area on Sonora Ave. Kirala is usually the recommended, but it has long waits. This place has pretty damn good Sushi, good price, great atmosphere, and the best part, I can usually always get a seat right away with my girlfriend, even on a busy night. Staff are great. read more

We did give this restaurant another chance. Three of us dined in, we ordered appetizers and sushi rolls. The food was OK, not great. The tempura was disappointing, very greasy and some of the veggies were burned. Sushi was OK, the spider roll was small, made with one crab instead of the usual 2, but with a high price. All the rolls are overpriced compared to other restaurants with better quality. The one star is for the consistently poor service. We sat for a while, no water, no greeting. Another server asked if our order had been taken, and we asked for water again. We got 2 appetizers, then rolls and reminded waiter that we were still waiting for 3rd appetizer, which came at the end of the meal. Well, you get the picture. A few sanitary notes: the plastic covering the menus was dirty and greasy (that's a real turn off, and so easily fixed), and the ginger/wasabi bowls had a layer of crud in the bottom (they need to be scrubbed). None of the waitstaff smiled, they all seem so unhappy, which really sets a bad tone/vibe for a restaurant. There's a general unorganized and untrained-ness to the staff, but they all seem to be very busy. Not sure if the owners/management are very involved here. Restaurants with these issues (especially cleanliness problems) don't usually last too long. read more

Good food. Unreliable. We were long time regulars and and put up with uneven service and challenges with timely reservations. Tonight we were mislead by one person that they would have a table for us and we organized around it only to be turned away by someone else without even an apology. There are safer alternatives. read more

Very good. Had the deluxe combo and it hit the spot. Ordered the sake sampler, and was not disappointed. Prices were about the norm for sushi, and they have other dishes I have to try next time! read more

Love this place! Great food and great service. We came here on a Groupon and we are so glad we did. We will be back! Jesse read more

I so want to LOVE Akemi. Their food is consistently good and the flavors are wonderful. The service on the other hand is highly lacking. The first couple times I was at Akemi, there was no problem at all. However, in the last year or two, I've only had bad service. It's baffling and unfortunate. I keep giving them a chance but this most recent visit sealed the deal. We were there Monday night, and after being seated, it took 15 min to get water. The restaurant was not packed, and there were at least three waiters. Once we finally got their attention, our waiter did her job but no more. If you do decide to give them a chance, try their evil roll, the hamachi appetizer, and then ramen. All delicious. Sadly, the Agedashi Tofu was a disappointment this last time. Very little broth and overly fried. They used to do it so well so I don't know what happened. It's a shame this place cannot seem to address such a simple problem that seems to be shared by many. Until they do, I will be taking my business elsewhere. read more

I come here once a year for restaurant week with friends. We'll make a reservation on opentable and get seated immediately even if some people arrive late. My friends usually get the rolls and I'll get ramen. Food here is delicious and service is great even when it's busy read more

So happy Akemi is still serving up their great food. We just picked up a wonderful dinner of Spinach Gomae, Hamachi Kama, grilled squid, and their Cherry Blossom roll. Everything was perfectly prepared (even if it weren't take-out!), and the portions are generous. Well worth the price. We're already planning when we'll order again. read more

Never again. Twice reserved for birthday dinners, twice burned by bad service and mediocre fare. On both occasions, we arrived on time only to wait for 3-4 minutes while the hostess poked around the restaurant, making clear to have noticed our arrival, but simply choose to make us wait. She appears annoyed by our presence and the need to do her very simple job. Despite making reservations and requesting the best table, we were denied a table of request and tucked into the middle of the restaurant. My husband was very upset to watch a group who came in later than us take the table we requested and watch them be served earlier than we were. Drinks and dinner took far too long to arrive and were nothing special. Live jazz was nice, but it was too loud for the small restaurant and felt ill-fitting to the Japanese theme. There is too much competition in this town for that kind of service and food. I will not be back. read more

We came here with my family and the food and atmosphere was great!! We had about seven different types of sushi rolls and all of them were fantastic! Especially the baked scallop roll! Service was also great! Would definitely come back! read more

Akemi is a reliable choice for a wide selection of consistently good sushi and other Japanese dishes. I'm particularly fond of the grilled whole squid, but we've gotten a range of most of the menu options, and everything's been good. Although it's generally pretty full on weekday evenings, I've never had trouble finding a table. This will continue to be a regular destination. read more

This has been my go to Japanese restaurant in north side for years. However tonight the service was indifferent, the pork belly was very tough, , one of our orders they got completely wrong, dishes were delivered at different times, and they couldn't manage to fill our water glasses. The restaurant was barely full. Not sure what happened but figuring I will need to look for another Japanese restaurant in this area. read more

Came here few times already with my friends. Always VERY SATISFIED!!! It was the best Japanese fusion restaurant I have ever been!!! First of all, environment is definitely a 5+ stars Ordered: 1) Ika-yaki - the BOMB!!! Best I have ever had!!! Cook and grill just right ~ not dry at all!!! 2) Okonomiyaki - unlike other places that serves okonomiyaki, this restaurant use fresh ingredients, cook just right, super yummy ~ you will NOT feel like your mouth filled with uncooked batter afterwards (which other restaurants occasionally made you have that feeling with those batter they had) 3) Appetizer - Agedashi tofu 4) Sashimi - SUPER FRESH!!! Ordered (maguro, sake, bincho, hamachi, ama-ebi) 5) Nigiri - ordered ika, ikura, unagi 6) Sushi roll - akemi roll which consists of hamachi, tuna, sake, avocado, wrapped in cucumber ~ super refreshing; spider roll, caterpillar roll 7) Dessert - Yuzu panna cotta is the SUPER BOMB!!! Best dessert I EVER had!!! Definitely worth 5+ stars!!! Super refreshing and not a heavy dessert. It's definitely a MUST TRY item here at this place. Overall: 5+ stars rating restaurant ~ highly recommended read more

This place is great. They had limited staff issues when they opened, but they solved that problem. Try the Spicy Chicken Ramen. Large portion, the broth is rich and delicious every time! read more

AKEMI Japanese Restaurant - Spicy Chicken Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Went here for lunch today and was extremely impressed by the quality and freshness of the fish served here. I split 3 dishes with a friend, the chirashi bowl, a dragon roll, and a double hamachi roll. All were wonderful and I was particularly impressed by the chirashi bowl. The fish just seemed to melt in my mouth, like butter. Absolutely incredible. Thanks AKEMi! I will be back. Well worth the price. read more

I came here on a whim just wanting some good sushi. This place was truly great! First of all, wonderful sweet service. The hostess was sweet, our waitress was great, and the guy who brought us our food was sweet and funny. The atmosphere is so nice! You can come casual, or if you're looking for something nicer, this place would be just fine for a little dressy night. Now the food. The garlic edamame is a MUST!! We ordered a second because they were that good! The hot house sake was pleasant and the rolls were decent. Overall, I'd go back for the ambiance and garlic edamame. read more

Sushi was poorly prepared. The waiter put in the wrong order twice and was not attentive to any of my questions about the menu and was extremely rude when I told her she delivered the wrong dish. When I asked to speak to the manger she ignored me and I had to get the attention of another waiter. Overall worst sushi experience ever. read more

We went here last night. The sushi was excellent. Everyone was friendly, even though it is a trendy looking place and we are a family with kids. My husband had the ramen and it looked so good I was jealous that I was only eating the sushi (which was great!) I also appreciated that there is no blaring loud music playing. It is expensive, but I think good sushi is worth it. Overall, a great experience. read more

Had a great meal very good services within my time was the first customer and first time there very good spot and low key!

Great food, great service, great selection of sakes and nice decor. What more do you need?

Great sushi spot! Wonderful service, delicious food, gorgeous and chic ambience. So coming back for more!

I have to go 5 stars here. The small plates: spare ribs, salmon and pork belly are amazing. Good quality rolls and sushi. On my most recent I tried the miso ramen and was delighted. Definitely my go to sushi spot in the area. read more

Fabulous restaurant with a wonderful selection of sushi rolls and entrées. Their miso glazed salmon is delicious. The staff is always very welcoming and makes us feel at home. read more

Wow, great food! Sauce on teriyaki chicken is outstanding. Slaw peppery. All dishes really well executed, not formulaic. Will definitely come back. read more

We had delicious take out last night! The wagyu beef (gyu tataki) with ponzu, daikon, and crispy garlic was superb. Meat cooked perfectly and delicately spiced. The brussel sprouts (mekabetsu) with bonito flakes and a mild mustard was outstanding and unlike any preparation of brussel sprouts that we've ever had. The vegetarian gyoza was cooked with a green dough and delicious. This is a wonderful place for eating in or taking food out. The thoughtfully prepared food makes you feel personally taken care of by the chef. It's nice to tip the wait staff in cash. We can help take care of each other including the many who can barely afford to live in this area. read more

i've written a good review for Akemi before. My family and friends love this place---the brussel sprouts, the kale in miso, and all the rest are so delicious. In the past, there was one wait person who was really slow with service but last night we were lucky to have a new waiter, Desmond, attend to us. He was fantastic---polite, observant, and very nice. He brought a birthday dessert for my friend after hearing me say something about her birthday. I hope he stays because we'll be back! read more

I don't usually feel compelled to write reviews for places that is alright. However, I am making an exception for this restaurant for their food and great atmosphere. Food is the main thing. The quality of the fish was excellent. I used to work as a waitress in a Japanese restaurant and I can tell when fish is fresh or frozen. I ordered Hamachi, Sake and Tuna, and all of them were extremely fresh and good quality. Each sashimi pieces were the perfect the thickness and length I've been to many places that either small and thick or too long and thin. I was able to taste the different textures of each kind of fish I ordered. stepping away from the sashimi, their tapas were awesome too. Mu family ordered couple things which I forgot to take pictures. The one dish I still crave for more is their brussel sprouts. I used to hate the taste of brussel sprouts. It's one of the must haves when I come here cause I can't find it in other places. The last thing I have to mention before going away is their rolls, it's extremely creamy and decadent! if you love spicy, evil roll is a must try!!! read more

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Back for lunch today. Slow inattentive service disappointed again. But the food is sooooo good and the interior is lovely and relaxing. Evil roll rules!!! read more

Akemi surprised me last night with their vibrant dishes. Maybe the first time around, we ordered the wrong items, because this time, we were seriously impressed. Akemi's decor still gives off the tasteful, upscale vibe that the former Miyuki lacked. Dark, repurposed woods line the walls, door, and recessed ceiling. Petite blue pots filled with soy sauce sit atop handsome, dark wood tables. The chirashi (served with a side of miso soup) was beautifully presented with fresh cuts of colorful sashimi over a bed of rice, finely grated white radish, wakame salad, and a shiso leaf. Among the cuts were two sake (salmon), two maguro (tuna), two seared-edge tuna I'm not sure of, one saba (mackerel), two tamago (sweet egg), two ebi (shrimp), and one tako (octopus). In addition to the plentiful variety of fish, there was a sharp knife-edge wasabi streak on the rim of the porcelain white plate. This immaculate presentation stirred memories of Trevor Corson's novel, "The Story of Sushi," where he describes the difference between Japanese and American plates. Part of the appeal of a Japanese plate is that the display of food must take up, at most, 2/3 of the plate and that white space should occupy the remainder of the dish. My chirashi followed this rule very well, but still filled a hungry belly. I was impressed. In addition to the chirashi, I was able to sample the incredibly tasty and chewy okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory seafood pancake with a thick, sweet sauce and Kewpie mayonnaise sauce drizzled on top. For extra garnish, Akemi adds bonito flakes, those fish flakes that wave in the air with the slightest breeze. Akemi's okonomiyaki was thicker and chewier than most. It reminded me a little of a thick and fancy green onion pancake (for those Chinese food lovers out there!) read more

AKEMI Japanese Restaurant - Chirashi dinner ($19) - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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So DISAPOINTED ! Lunch was just plain , boring and skimpy , more rice than anything 1 prawn on the tempura bento and a piece of salmon about 2x2 on salmon bento. Really snotty lady in Orange scarf ( must have been owner ) instead of talking to customers she sat and glared at staff and even me ? The ambiance is beautiful but cold and very dark and unfriendly like lady in Orange scarf ! Use to go to MIYUKI at least twice a week , won't be going back here ever ! Both my husband and I left hungry and went and got take out somewhere else , that should sum it up for you ....... Our bill was $41.00 for lunch ..pretty sure lady in Orange scarf is the same as lady in white suit mentioned in a review below. Too bad MIYUKI was a nice place now new version is just someone's EGO TRIP, read more

I heard that this new sushi place had opened up along Solano so, when friends invited us out for dinner yesterday and asked for suggestions, I mentioned Akemi. So very glad I did. We now have a new favorite place for good quality sushi! The decor is organic and modern, based on the natural forms of wood without being complicated or pretentious. Overall, it had a nice balance of simplicity and elegance. Plus the chairs were remarkably comfortable, something often overlooked even in high end restaurants. That turned out to be a good thing as we ended up spending way more time there than we'd originally expected. We ordered an awful lot of food. It's easy enough to do that in a sushi restaurant when you have a list of rolls to choose from. But Akemi also has a selection of small plates, those little savories that could be appetizers or a snack. We ordered a few of these and shared them. By far, the biggest hit was the okonomiyaki, a kind of saucy seafood pancake topped with flakes of dried tuna that waved at us from the table. Just the right combination of salty, sweet and umami, it was a hit with all of us. The vegetable tempura was the best tempura I've had in at least 20 years. It was light and delicately crisp, highlighting tasty fresh vegetables. The only thing we didn't really rave about was the Gyu Tataki, a tiny plate of seared rare beef slices with sauces and shredded daikon. It was good certainly, but, in our opinion, not rave worthy, particularly given the $13.50 price for maybe 2 ounces of beef that I found unremarkable. On to the sushi, in its many forms. We ordered a mix of nigiri, maki and those fancy rolls named after places, mythical beasts and sports teams. The nigiri was excellent, not overwhelmed by either the rice nor by plunking a slab of second tier tuna down to make your eyes think you're getting better than you are. They didn't need to because their fish was outstanding and perfect and they knew how to balance it. What I recall of nigiri was hamachi, uni, scallop, tobiko and sweet shrimp. My friend requested the shrimp heads and they arrived beautifully tempuraed and crisp. She enjoyed them enthusiastically. She and her guy also order uni (sea urchin) which I've never developed a taste for. It took forever to appear (more on this later) but the portions were enormous and they met with serious approval by the uni eaters. The rolls were all super. There was a Golden Gate Roll, something called an Evil Roll topped with jalapeño slices and something that made it look like little eyes of Sauron. It had the heat of Mount Doom as well! Before this becomes a novel, I want to rave about the two rolls I ordered. The first is the restaurant's signature sushi roll named, obviously the Akemi Roll. Hamachi, tuna, salmon and avocado were wrapped in - just wait - thin slices of cucumber. Right. No seaweed, no rice, just crisp, cool cucumber. It was utterly delicious and I'll come back for it. Soon. The second was the Albany roll. The fish inside was deep fried, delicately crispy and a bit spicy. And each morsel was topped by a generous helping of crab. Oh My! I will be back for this as well. So, onto the part that ought to have earned them only four stars, except that I was so blown away by the food I had to give them five. And I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt because they've only been open for two weeks. Service. Or maybe I should say the organizational end of service since the staff's attitude was very pleasant and attentive. But the whole process of making and serving a largeish (table of four) order appeared to be a bit beyond their skills. It wasn't crowded as we arrived early on a Sunday evening. They didn't appear short staffed. But dishes turned up in no particular order with long gaps between them. After over an hour of leisurely dining, the particular roll I'd ordered and was waiting for didn't appear until everyone else had finished eating and had begun to get restless. Then it came and, although everyone had a taste, I had that uncomfortable feeling you get when you're the only one still eating long after the others are finished. It was tasty enough that I finished it happily, but still, awkward. Then began the final wait. For our friend's sea urchin nigiri. Forty five minutes later it arrived. Yes, they gave her a huge portion, enough for a meal in itself, but really? We had begun making lost diver jokes long before that sea urchin presented itself. The staff looked embarrassed but said nothing about the wait. I would have expected an apology or maybe a complimentary glass of wine to help pass the waiting time, but I think they were simply too uncoordinated to have a plan for such a huge delay. So I still gave Akemi 5 stars. I'll come back when they've had a little time to work the bugs out of their system and make any adjustments at that point. After such fabulous food, I'm feeling generous. read more

The food is the only thing saving this review. I know it's a new restaurant, but it's still very unorganized. We got the waitress who wore glasses. She seemed unfamiliar with the menu. She never brought our miso soup. We had 2 nigiri orders that weren't available, but she didn't bother to tell us. And then our appetizer came after we got all our sushi. We had to keep asking her for it. She definitely wasn't on top of things. But the only enjoyable part of our first time here was the food. Sushi tasted fresh. read more

Really tasty and a very nice addition to the Solano restaurants. The salad was large and had fresher/more interesting lettuce, vegetables and dressing than typical sushi places. The spicy miso ramen with the pork belly was fatty and delicious, very tender. All of the sushi was fresh and the rolls were well done- the 49er roll topped with lemon was especially good. Will definitely be back! read more