Love love love this place! This is my go-to whenever I have family in the area. The fish is fresh,…read moredelicious, and well-presented. I would definitely recommend making a reservation as the space is quite small, but it's never overly crowded or loud. The drinks are good and the food is good. The service is a bit slow but it's very understandable as everything is plated fresh. I can't wait to come back here again! A staple option I would recommend to anyone looking for an East Bay sushi spot.

Enjoying the smoked hamachi roll (5/5) and our Arctic roll (5/5) and it hit me that maybe this is…read morethe best sushi I've ever had. Pacific and Atlantic rolls are 4.5/5, as are the oysters, adjusting for price. Every plate is a work of art, and art is expensive. Seating is limited so if you have a party of 2, you have options, but there's only inside table for four. Service is attentive but if you're starving and they're packed, expect to wait a while for your order. Enjoy watching the other orders coming out and make notes for next time. Can't rush art!

One of my favorite izakayas in the U.S./Canada, especially if you love chicken skewers. Ippuku…read morefeatures LaBelle Rouge heritage breed chickens, which originate from France and are known for their rich flavor, firmer texture, and slower growth compared to conventional broiler chickens. Naturally, we ordered as many chicken skewers as possible, and every single one was fantastic. The hearts were especially impressive--soft and tender, which is rare since most places tend to overcook them. The karaage was also top notch. The biggest surprise was the bonjiri. I had to look it up, and once I realized it was basically the chicken equivalent of rich, fatty oxtail-style meat, I knew I had to try it. Holy hell, it was easily the best chicken skewer I've ever had. I would honestly come back just to order multiple of these. The squid ink rice was incredibly savory and filling, and paired with a few beers, this made for such a great evening out. All in all, Ippuku is a must-visit in Berkeley if you're into izakayas.

Yesterday was my first time at Ippuku. My friends and I were a group of 8 and they were able to…read moreaccommodate us but in 2 separate tables - I believe their large table was already reserved. This worked out fine for our group. The menu had various options and eye-catching beverages! My table ordered 3 versions of the Chu-Hi's. Quite pleasant. I liked my Meyer Lemon Hi, it came with half of a lemon which I freshly squeezed and poured into my drink. I thought that was very fun! The quality of each dish was cooked well. My favorites were the crab croquettes, chicken heart, one of the marinated skewers (I can't recall the name of it), gizzards, and the squid ink fried rice. I'm definitely curious to try the bacon-wrapped mochi at a future visit. The only downfall was that the kitchen was extremely backed up during our visit. It took well over what felt like 20-30 minutes from our 1st order to our 2nd Chef's Choice dish. That negatively impacted our experience, but it happens. I'd like to try Ippuku again and hope there will be less of a delay. Our server was nice & attentive, came around a few times to refill our water.

Date of Visit: 7/9/2026…read more Visited the Japanese restaurant Iyasare located in Berkeley with my friend in early July. We sat outside in the patio, and it was warm enough with no fireplace next to our table around noon time. Iyasare was awarded with Michelin recommendation and has various Japanese foods including appetizer, tempura, rolls, etc. Iyasare Bees Knees $18 I got the cocktail made with Barr hill gin, elderflower liqueur, honey ginger syrup, and a piece of dried lemon on top for decoration. Lavender Mint $10 My friend got the lavender mint tea in a pot. Dragon Roll $23 We ordered a roll with shrimp tempura, cucumber inside and on the outside, there were unagi, avocado, tobiko, unagi sauce, and kaiware. The mixture of the fish and the sauce were amazing. Iyasare Mentaiko Pasta with Uni $44 And definitely must try is the mentaiko pasta with fresh Hokkaido uni. The spaghetti was mixed with spicy cod roe, ikura, shiso, and kaiware. On top we added the Hokkaido uni which was fresh and creamy. Iyasare Shrimp Kakiage Tempura $34 We also got the kakiage tempura with burdock root, onion, sweet potato, shiitake, enoki, carrot, shungiku, and black tiger shrimps. There was a bowl of bonito soy dipping broth on the side. Sendai Miso Soup $8 The warm miso soup has tofu, wakame, negi, and mushroom.

This place has been on my list for a while, and it totally lived up to the hype. Just make sure to…read moremake a reservation ahead as they are filled up quickly especially during peak dinner hours. Everything we ordered was delicious. My favorite dish was the kakiage tempura with tiger prawns - crispy, light, and packed with flavor without feeling heavy. The sashimi was fresh and the ramen was also surprisingly good with a rich broth. The food is definitely on the pricier side, but the quality and execution made it feel worthwhile. There's easy parking in the lot behind the restaurant, which made the whole experience much more convenient. Can't wait for my next visit.

Still all these decades later, Kirala meets the mark. We sat at the sake bar in the back with two…read morekids and it worked well. Service by Taka was great - attentive and quick. Only lag was when we ordered 2 nigiri at the end and it took a really long time but I think the sushi chefs lost the order or something. Delicious sukiyaki, chicken skewers, cold tofu, salmon rolls, hamachi sashimi, Ikura and uni, tuna and Ikura nigiri, and hamachi Kama (not sure why they charge $21 and then $7 for a large when it is two small dollars that came out though). Decent wine selection - Chardonnay was good. Restaurant itself is fairly loud, especially with a baby that kept crying. But it might have been crying because it was loud. Owners should consider the Constellation System by Meyer Sound to make the dining experience more enjoyable for patrons. As this is a longtime bastion of Japanese food in the Bay, they should really invest in the sound portion of their restaurant. Prices have gone up since the last time I was here but it's not totally unreasonable. Good quality food and service. Love this place.

Kirala isn't just another Japanese spot for us--it's a reminder of how far we've come. My wife used…read moreto only treat herself to Kirala when she was younger--on special occasions when a bonus check came in. Now, we get to dine here as a family, and that nostalgic treat feels all the more satisfying. Food (4 stars) + Ribeye teriyaki was a hit--tender, cooked to perfection, and the kids loved it! + Lamb chop was a standout--one piece, but perfectly grilled, juicy, and tender. I could eat 2 of these with a bowl of rice and it would be a hearty meal! + Chicken karaage was solid--crispy, good portion, and a nice appetizer. It's basically a Japanese version of chicken strips that is way better than nuggets. + Salmon sashimi for the kids never disappoints. ~ Chirashi bowl was fresh and filling, though standard compared to other spots. There was a lot of rice which if we knew that we probably would've skipped the extra bowl I ordered to eat with my lamb chops. For the somewhat premium pricing, I wish they provided fresh chopped wasabi. ~ Stuffed mushroom skewer was just okay--tasty but nothing special. I guess for mushrooms it does taste kinda like a chicken meatball which could be a good thing. Service/Ambiance (4 stars) + Attentive and thoughtful service, especially accommodating a broken foot. They let my family wait at the bar instead of standing. + Ambiance is that classic Japanese vibe, busy but comfortable. Maybe not high-end, but definitely a place that feels special--especially now that we can afford it!

Food was delicious…read more Service was great Would recommend this Japanese restaurant to anyone who wants authentic Japanese cuisine

Really Good Japanese ramen. A must try. Great service…read more Relaxing ambiance. Great for any size party and occasion.

WHEN: Sat @6pm…read more PARKING: There is metered parking around, and is free after 6pm. It may be a bit tricky especially around meal time, but keep circling and you'll find a spot near by enough. This cute little ramen shop has such perfect lighting coming through thanks to thier skylight. We weren't actually hungry so we shared the following: TONKOTSU - $16.50 (Regular) Pork Belly Chashu, Bamboo Shoots, Red Onion, Wood Ear Mushrooms, Green Onion, Ajitama Egg. You get a choice of noodles to pick: 1.) Hakata - Thin Straight 2.) Sapporo - Medium Thick Wavy Figured since it's my first time here, I choose the most basic version of their bowl of ramen. I chose Sapparo and for some reason expected it to be thicker/wider, but regardless it was still good! The presentation of this bowl is just gorgeous, served on a small wooden platter. The red onion is chopped, and the pork Belly is quite tender. Regarding the egg, you get just half. Overall this bowl of ramen is creamy, rich, and the right amount of flavor and salt. But still make sure to drink at least a glass of water! CREAMY CHASHU PORK CROQUETTES - $8.50 I have never seen anything like this so I must give it a try! It actually didn't come out piping hot, so I was able to drive in right away! It was definitely creamy (like ramen) and had pieces of the Chau's pork, encased in a crispy and warm batter that was deep fried. It also comes with a katsu sauce and I really enjoyed it. The staff was friendly and didn't make us feel bad for ordering enough of just one, but man I was so full. Had to walk around downtown Berkeley for awhile.

I really love Tsuruya so writing this review stung a bit. Tsuruya snuck in additional tip amount…read morethe last time we dined here. It was only a couple of dollars more but tip fraud is never acceptable. We rarely deviate from our usual order so the posted transaction felt off to us. We were able to confirm and report to the credit card company. I recommend you guys take pictures of your receipts and verify the transactions. Hope this doesn't happen to y'all!

Mensho is a very popular restaurant. This was my first time visiting, and I had a great experience…read more The food was delicious! The standout dishes for me were the Calamari, Karaage, and Daikon Salad. The Calamari was perfectly fried, and the seasoning was well-balanced. The Karaage was also perfectly fried, and the sauce was flavorful. The Daikon Salad was light and refreshing. I would like to thank our server, Noah, for his helpfulness in choosing our dishes and for the prompt service. I highly recommend it!

Unfortunately no photos as we devoured the food! However here is my review otherwise:…read more 1. Location- easily accesible in off Piedmont Ave, found parking alongside an adjacent neighborhood street that was free. I went around 430pm on a weekday. 2. Staff/Vibe- very friendly and throughout the service so many stopped by to check-in. Waters were constantly topped off and food was delivered very promptly. The restaurant itself is very intimate and tabletop dividers are largely used to shared tables. It was a really nice approach. I wasn't a major fan of the chairs for the tall tables. I was hoping for some more ergonomically friendly. Food- SIGNATURE RAMEN- 5/5. So good. The broth was so good I think I drank it all before eating any ramen and toppings. It was a wonderfully hearty ramen with a balance of fresh and simple ingredients. This was perfect and allowed the delicious broth to really be the star. LAMB RAMEN. 5/5. If you like south indian curries then this is a must. The dense cumin taste, fresh onions and lamb made this ramen feel very familiar. The flavours were so wonderfully constructed on this. VEGAN KAARAGE MUSHROOM. Made to be reminiscent of fried chicken, these were very pleasant and paired with our broth. I would order this again. I am interested in knowing the preparation method for this as the inside was piping hot while the outside was just warm- almost like it was reheated. I would like these to be crispier with a bit more light seasoning. Overall looking forward to the next visit!

Top contender for Japanese cuisine in Berkeley--equal parts sophisticated and scrumptious…read more Highlights include: - Sea Bean & Corn Tempura: a savory funnel cake worthy of a Michelin star thanks to its texture and the side of matcha salt - Salmon sashimi: succulent with fresh wasabi - Wagyu Shime Special: insane price for insane flavor--a generous portion of veggies and wagyu in a big ol' iron bowl of bubblin' broth

Ate Christmas dinner here with my mom as our celebration tradition is usually a Japanese…read morerestaurant. The ambience was intimate and cozy yet elegant, and the staff was very attentive and kind. I loved the decorations, the plates and silverware, and the food was just as intentional in flavor and selection. For appetizers we had: Anchovy Stuffed Olives Tempura - Tempura Spanish alives stuffed with anchovies $9 Kombu Tsukudani - Premium Hokkaldo kelp, say sauce, bonito, shiso, sesame seeds, enjoy with sake or rice $6 For our meal we had: Saba Bouzushi - House-cured saba mackerel bouzushi - stick-shaped sushi, also called battera, served with shiso, sesame, scallions, topped with Hokkaido shiraita kombu, ten pieces $29 Gindara Yuanyaki - Local black cod marinated in soy sauce and shikuwasa Okinawan citrus juice served grilled $34 Steelhead Trout Nabe - Norwegian ocean trout raised sustainably in the clear, cold ford where the seawater meets fresh meltwater from the glaciers in the mountains. Enjoy the rich flavored, melt-in-your-mouth fish, hotpot with dashi broth, mushrooms, napa cabbage, burdock, clear noodles, tofu, mizuna, scallions, yuzu kosho $39 We've been to many izakaya spots and this place had some of the most unique flavors I've tasted. The Saba Bouzushi stood out to me because it reminded of Filipino paksiw but as a roll! The Gindara was buttery and soft and had a yummy smoky flavor. The Nabe was perfect for a rainy evening - hearty, fresh, and so well balanced in flavor (I loved the yuzu kosho the had us add for a citrusy, peppery flavor)