Top contender for Japanese cuisine in Berkeley--equal parts sophisticated and scrumptious. 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 read more

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Ate Christmas dinner here with my mom as our celebration tradition is usually a Japanese restaurant. 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) read more

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Came here with my friend on a Monday night around 7:30pm and didn't have to wait to get a seat without reservations. We sat at the bar but could have sat at the table if we wanted to. The service was great, everyone was friendly. We got a couple dishes. The fried tofu with some soy sauce and bean sprouts were delicious but I wished there were more tofu vs Brussels sprouts... the wagyu meat surprised me. I didn't know it was thin slices on a rice bowl. I wouldn't have gotten it but it was still good. I thought it was chunks of grilled meat instead of slices. The nabe was good but it came pretty late after all of our dishes, so we were a bit full by the time the food came out. I'd recommend Staff to tell us it'll take some time out all if we prefer the food to come out altogether, as we actually didn't want the nabe at the end anymore because it took too long. I also got the wagyu drink but felt it was a bit weird. Probably wouldn't get it again. The place was bigger than I thought and ambiance was nice. Overall, we had a pleasant experience. read more

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Fish and Bird was the dinner destination of choice for my companion and me. We both enjoy Japanese food, but I wanted to take him somewhere that offered different dishes than what we normally gravitate towards. Now I used to have Fish & Bird all the time during COVID, it was on our takeout rotation. Granted, I haven't been to their brick-and-mortar. Reservations are recommended because it's busy! The inside is an upscale izakaya vibe. The ambiance is dim, spacious, loud, casual dining--tables for different party sizes. I found the service to be kind. Items came out staggered but in good turnaround, so no complaints! When I used to get takeout, the Sea Beans and Corn Tempura were always something we ordered. So this go around, we got that. Lightly fried, salty sea beans, earthy matcha. A nice pairing and not overly greasy or salty. My companion and I also shared the Soft Tofu, Smoked Saba Shioyaki, and Giandara Yuanyaki. The highlight was the butterfish, so buttery and well flavored. The saba was smoked nicely and a decent portion. While the tofu was extremely soft, cold, and refreshing. We thought each item we ordered provided an opportunity to enjoy new textures, and different flavors, and have a great balance. Living in Berkeley and a fan of Japanese fare? Hit up Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya for a more unique fusion experience. Reservations are recommended as it's a popular spot. The restaurant is located on Shattuck Ave. with street and neighborhood parking. read more

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My friend and I came here on a whim and I am not only disappointed in the food, but also the service. We ordered two appetizers, and split the chicken curry as a main entree. The curry itself was decent but it was significantly pricier than standard chicken curry dishes ($33). But it was one of the few warm dishes on the menu which is why we ordered it. Unfortunately it was not worth the price. The corn & bean tempura was a unique dish but was a bit too salty and the grilled mackerel we ordered was overcooked. Our waitress was not friendly and what disappoints me most is the charge on my credit card statement the following day was higher than what my friend and I had signed for at the restaurant. This means the waitress tried to give herself a higher tip than what my friend and I had given her, which is very surprising when we had already given her a 19% gratuity. The only reason I caught it is because my friend sent me half the bill on Venmo ($44) because the bill was a flat $88 after gratuity. My credit card statement the day after showed $90.22 - this is the first time this has happened to me and while it was not a significant amount, it's the principle of it that will prevent me from ever coming back here again. I'm certain the waitress thought I wouldn't notice because it was a $2.22 difference and I was paying with a Chase Sapphire Reserve but it makes me wonder how many people this has happened to besides me. Make sure you keep your receipt and double check how much you're being charged when dining here. read more

I've heard great things about fish & bird over the last few years and had added it to my "must try" list. We found ourselves in the area the other day and decided to finally check it out. We were the first diners to stop in right after they opened (without a reservation), and for that reason I felt slightly uncomfortable because I couldn't tell if we were welcome without the reservation. They seated us, but I sort of felt like a bit of a nuisance. Maybe it's just me, but I kind of felt like they were hoping we'd be fast(and we were). My best advice to avoid that situation is make a reservation. They definitely started to fill up shortly after we sat down, and with good reason! Just about everything we tasted was chefs kiss, delicious. I had the blueberry Matcha cocktail. I forget what it's called. But it was a very good cocktail, be warned, though, that the Matcha sprinkled on top will stain your lips. For dinner we had the fried olives and chicken Karaage to start. The fried olives were stuffed with anchovy. Super tasty and creative. My boyfriend claims to hate anchovy, but really enjoyed them. I'll be honest, I wasn't the biggest fan of the chicken karaage. I felt like the chicken was slightly overcooked, and had a lot of rubbery cartilage bites. It was something I noticed silently, and my boyfriend mentioned it to me as well. So we both agreed it wasn't the best cut of chicken. That being said, the batter that they used to fry the chicken was tasty. I just feel like the chicken could be a little bit better quality and maybe not fried for so long. It was lacking the bounciness and juiciness I tend to look for and love in chicken karaage. It's also served with curry salt or powder on the side, and I thought it was very tasty. They should just toss the chicken in the curry powder. Trying to sprinkle it over the chicken ourselves was a little messy. For dinner, we shared two rolls. Our favorite was the langoustine roll, which had sweet chunks of langoustine in it (miniature lobster). Both rolls were delicious, and both tasted very fresh. We also shared the Takoyaki, and chicken Katsu entrée. No comments on either, just know they were delicious. No qualms with either dish. At the end, we shared a Matcha tiramisu. By that point, we were pleasantly plump and satisfied with our meal but I couldn't leave without trying the tiramisu. If you like Matcha, you will love this. My boyfriend isn't the biggest fan of Matcha, so he may feel differently, but I thought it was absolutely delicious. We will definitely be back to fish and Bird one day and can't wait to try more of their menu. read more

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Went to try this place for restaurant week. A really fun vibe inside with super high ceilings. Friendly staff and busy too! Cocktails seemed super fun- I wanted to try more but alas I drove and it's a weekday. I tried the Distant Lovers, very tasty. Corn tempura was tasty but silly to eat as it was 1 clump lmao. Love the matcha dipping powder. Sashimi salad was tasty and not overly dressed. Our main dishes were super tasty. The salmon wasn't over cooked and flavored very nicely. The Wagyu meatball in curry was tender and moist- loved the mushrooms and veggies. The rice was nicely cooked as well. Dessert was good as well with the matcha tiramisu and the yuzu sorbet. Did not check out the bathrooms but there is abundant street parking- metered. read more

Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya - Yuzu sorbet and matcha tiramisu - Izakaya Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I absolutely adored the salmon cooked with sake. Everything was very good here, the service was helpful, the ambiance was better than I expected. I'd recommend this place for a nice 2nd or 3rd date. Maybe to even celebrate something special. read more

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I've walked by this place a few times now and decided to try it out, as I love izakaya spots. Honestly, it was pretty disappointing. We ordered a mix of raw and cooked items, and the food was subpar and nothing special. The flavors were either bland or overwhelmingly of soy sauce. We spent around $100 for two people and left still feeling hungry and disappointed. I would recommend going to the other izakaya spots in Berkeley/East Bay. read more

An izakaya with solid food but elevated prices that simply aren't justified. I also found the service mediocre at best. The dining experience was also diminished due to oversized chairs that can't be properly tucked under the tables. As for food? The karaage chicken came with a crisp coating but suffers from overcooked, stringy meat. The katsu curry lacks depth. The sashimi lacks that pristine freshness that one expects, and is too fishy. There were some bright spots though. I found the sea bean and corn tempura to be a great starter, it was salted and fried well. The pork nabe was another standout, it was hearty and full of great umami flavor. But overall, a mixed bag that I can't reccomend. read more

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My wife and I had our first time dining here on a day before Valentine's. Even though the name saids it is an izakaya, Fish & Bird doesn't have any grilled skewers, so that's a misnomer. However, they do have some interesting dishes. Our server recommended the highly popular sea beans and corn tempura, agedashi tofu, the wagyu beef, and special Kagoshima yellowtail sashimi flown in from Japan's Toyosu Market that weekend. We went with all his recommendations except the beef as I don't do beef. We substituted with the steel head trout nabe, and added the moriwase sashimi. We enjoyed everything, but especially the Kagoshima yellowtail, and the agedashi tofu. As for the service, things started out well, as we arrived at 6pm when the crowds were light, and our food came quickly, but as the dining room filled, service slowed quite a bit. We didn't get the tea we ordered, and after we finished our meal and ordered dessert, it was a good 20 minutes before we got our matcha tiramisu, which I am sure was premade. Our server acknowledged the slow service and explained that they are understaffed, but this doesn't deter him from presenting our bill with a suggested 22% tip (the lowest percentage was 20% on the screen). With the bumpy service I don't even think 20% is warranted, but our server was hovering our shoulder, so I reluctantly gave the 20%, on top of the 3% fee they charge for credit card use. Based on what we had to pay, which is around $110 per person(without drinks), I wouldn't go back. read more

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I went there tonight, somehow, I do have an impression that they serve skewers like some meat or other skewers. I remember I saw people's photos a few year back with a container that has charcoal and fire inside to sear or cook your meat like in Tokyo. No more. That is ok. I heard Berkeley fire dept does not all that type of grilling per table. 1) Decor is modern, clean and nice looking. 2) went at 6pm, saturday night tonight, not crowded. 3) Ordered Chicken Katsu, chicken is very chewry, not good. 4) dessert, ordered matcha tiramisi, $14 for 1.5 inchesx 1.5 inches x 2 inches height. Basically very very small for that price. 5) husband has chef's special sashim around $42. 6) Service is really really bad, never had such bad service for a long long time. Basically every thing, from food to beer that my table ordered, waiting for a long long time, and asked the "waiter" to check. Sound like someone forget. I don't know what happen there. Maybe because I told the waiter when I first went inside, I want to skewers food and they don't serve those. And I told him, no worry, I am ok to eat sushi or sashimi and other food. 7) The japanese rolls's selections are super super limited. 8) I did keep one menu and my husband want to order more food after the food finanlly arrived, but looking at how the service is terrible slow. only has 5 tables when I first sit down at 6pm. Don't bother to order more. Also the soy sauce dish has very little soy sauce, don't know what happen here. Don't want to ask the waiter again, will probably take forever again just to get soy sauce. 9) I feel the amount of $$ that a table paid, is not that good value. Food is not that good. Service is terrible. I don't think I will come back here again. read more

I've had Fish and Bird bookmarked for a while, so I was really excited to try it out this weekend! We got there around 6:30 pm on Saturday and all the tables were filled up, so we were seated at the bar. It ended up being kind of nice seeing the bartenders making drinks and chatting with others at the bar. Their drinks are strong! The bf got a highball, and I got a mezcal cocktail with coffee liqueur. You could really taste the alcohol in both. Almost a bit too strong for me. We ended up getting four dishes - the sea bean and corn tempura, the agedashi tofu, the moriwase sashimi deluxe, and the chicken karaage. My faves were def the sashimi and the agedashi tofu. The uni and Hokkaido scallop with ikura were so yummy - sweet and buttery and fresh-tasting! I also liked the grated radish or whatever it was on the side next to the wasabi. It added an extra layer of flavor to the sashimi. The bf didn't like the sashimi as much since he thought the pieces were small and thinly sliced. I loved everything about the agedashi tofu. It was super smooth and soft, nice dashi flavor, and I loved the pairing with eggplant and shishito peppers! The seabean and corn tempura and karaage were just ok to me. I hadn't heard of seabean before, but they were super tiny, so I couldn't really taste any distinct flavor. The corn had a nice sweetness, but overall the dish just tasted like tempura batter lol. The matcha powder on the side didn't add very much. Now I normally loveeeee karaage but this one wasn't really hitting. Part of it might have been because I was just so full by the time the karaage came out. But also, it came with a curry powder as a dip, which made a feel a bit dry. The chicken itself was juicy, but with a dry dip, it tasted to fried, like I would get a sore throat from eating it lol. I would have preferred some kind of mayo dip. Maybe a mayo dip with the curry powder? Just something to break up the fried flavor. My fave type of karaage with Japanese mayo egg salad as a dip :D Overall, I thought it was a nice izakaya spot with some unique dishes and would def be down to come back! read more

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Came for restaurant week and the food was delicious! I especially enjoyed the tempura sea beans and corn fritter and vegetable Japanese curry! The service was good for the most part but we did have to ask to get more water multiple times. It was busy on a Saturday night and had a good vibe. Just be aware, there is a credit card surcharge on your bill read more

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amazing service, nice ambiance. the fresh fish is not as good but the cooked foods are good--especially the cod was so buttery and soft

We were in the area looking online for where to eat. My friend was really craving Japanese food at that time so we decided to come here. The interiors had an upscale vibe - tall ceilings, open kitchen, and sleek decor. Staff were super nice too. I got the Chicken Katsu and it was really good! Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The ratio of breading to chicken was also just perfect. Portions are on the smaller side but izakaya food typically comes in small plates anyways. read more

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Convenient location to the theater in Berkeley. Accommodating service to ensure we made it to our show on time. We ordered a bunch of little dishes for the six of us. Favs were the fried chicken (karaage style), fresh tuna, yellowtail and salmon sashimi, and agedashi tofu which came with shishitos and eggplant. Paired with Hibiki Harmony, it was a great night. Our table enjoyed a variety of Japanese Beers as well. Service was fantastic, reception was warm and friendly, parking was incredibly available. They were deserving of the Michelin designation. read more

Food is good but very overpriced for the portion size. The salmon skin temaki is $12 which can be finished in 1-2 bites. The yuba spoon which contains ikura and 2 pieces of uni over a bed of tofu skin was $16. It was good and I understand the hefty price since it's uni. Lastly the sea bean and corn tempura was $14. Very crisp and a great starter but small portion size. Difficult to justify coming here without feeling a little robbed. read more

Coincidentally, just my previous review, I mentioned my love for Saha and now I am returning to their old Berkeley location that now houses another hit, Fish and Bird Izakaya. Sitting in my bookmarks since they shortly opened, with the exception of the vegetable category, my tapas sharing friend and I got to try something from each category of the menu. Bites - Sea Beans and Corn Tempura - I was surprised how much I loved this that if she wasn't treating me for my birthday, I would have ordered a second. Specials - Iwashi Fry - I thought I would like this more than I did but it was a bit fishy for me Raw - Sashimi Moriawasi - super fresh sashimi that just melts in your mouth Seafood and Poultry - Chicken Karaage - you can never go wrong with chicken karaage and this one delivered Shime - Korobuta Nabe - I was sold when I saw korobuta but I didn't think this was worth the price Dessert - Basque Cheesecake - I was hesitant on trying Basque Cheesecake as my previous experience elsewhere was way too salty. This one however, hopefully is more indicative of what it is supposed to taste like Overall, a solid 4 star experience though and I would return to try more of their menu as well as for more sea beans and corn tempura and that delicious sashimi. read more

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Fish & Bird had been on my to-try list for a very long time, but I finally had a chance to try it out yesterday evening thanks a close friend who surprised me and my wife with a double-date dinner reservation. The food here is delicious. Between the four in my party, the six dishes we ordered ended up being the perfect amount of food. The menu can feel a bit overwhelming but the highlight of my meal was the soft tofu. If you've only ever had boxed tofu, the soft tofu here will blow your mind. The texture is almost pudding like, and there's a little bit of graininess with the soybean texture that's very pleasant to enjoy. I would recommend getting one soft tofu for every two diners in your group so everyone's able to have a generous serving of it. Another dish I really enjoyed was the sea bean and corn tempura. I've never had sea beans before but the dish is light, has a wonderful texture, and the matcha powder is a unique accompaniment I haven't tried before with tempura. The other fried dish we ordered - the chicken karaage was also well-prepared: not oily, seasoned lightly and complemented well with curry salt, which I could not get enough of. Of the items we ordered, the only dish I would probably pass on is the sashimi platter. Fish was fresh, and there was a good variety, but I felt like there are better options on the menu for the price. Overall, I would happily stop by again. Great for a date night spot. The atmosphere here is intimate and the spot doesn't get overwhelming loud, so you're in a good place to converse without shouting. Lastly, parking can be difficult to find on Shattuck so allow yourself adequate time if you have a reservation. read more

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Inventive food and pretty good service! Favorite food was the mackerel with daikon on it. Very smoky. I also liked the sashimi choices and agedashi tofu. Portions are pretty small so I think you need to order a good number of dishes for a group. For dessert, the hojicha ice cream was good! read more

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Somehow I missed to write a review back in September 2021on this nice restaurant. Make reservations! We came, party of four, when they just opened for business that day. We were greeted right away and quickly seated. Servers are very nice and helpful. There weren't that many customers yet, so we ordered our food and the wait wasn't too long. I forgot what we ordered, but everything was delicious. The fish was a little salty, but we ordered lots of steam rice and drank lots of water to wash it down. The decor is laid back, contemporary, warehouse-y, dark and modern. I wished the tables weren't so close to each other. You can literally hear other people's conversations easily. All in all, we enjoyed our dining experience here. read more

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I wanted to like this place so bad but everything was overpriced and underwhelming. Lackluster food and drinks at a high price = I will probably not ever come back. I ordered the green bean fritters and it tasted like funnel cake. The dusting of matcha over it didn't make much sense at all and didn't compliment eachother. We also got the housemade tofu which was good and creamy but not what I was expecting it was almost a pudding texture. The yuzu spritz tasted like straight up lemon and wasn't balanced at all. My favorite thing was probably the shishito peppers but that doesnt say much since those are hard to mess up. Service was on top of it, and the ambiance was cute. Overall I come to a restaurant for the food so if that's a miss there's no need to come back here. read more

Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya - Yuzu Spritz - Izakaya Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Just like its name Fish & Bird offers a unique experience featuring tapas style dining. The food was unique fresh and full of flavor to tease your taste buds. The menu selection was not your typical Japanese restaurant We made reservations for 4 on a Sunday night. There's a spacious bar area on right and the dining area on the left. We were promptly seated and ordered drinks and 1st round: sea bean and corn fritters, karaage. The fritters were light and crunchy not greasy. (Must try) The karaage had a thick crust but the tender. We appreciated the potion size. (Could pass on this) This also gave us time to study the menu. 2nd round: fried oysters (my fav of the night) Wagyu tataki, sashimi mini don (they really mean MINI but the fish was melt-in-your-mouth fresh. You're gonna want more) kurobuta nabu (broth was amazingly deep and delicious) 3rd round: basque cheesecake was fluffy and not too sweet (a must if you like Japanese cheesecake) Service was nice and efficient. Food delivery was nicely paced. -1 star for the price to portion ratio. Definitely on the small side read more

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The food was amazing. Super fresh fish. Hot pot was Delicious with their own homemade dashi broth. Great cocktails. Large but cozy space that feels totally insulated from the outside world. The only odd thing was that the timing was so odd. Some things came out really fast, and others took forever. Those who ordered hot entrees were served 5-15 minutes after everyone else. Would still go back. read more

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We came in around 5 and the restaurant was rather empty so we were seated immediately. This was my first time trying an izakaya restaurant! The dishes felt deluxe but it came in smaller servings, hence the category "izakaya". Though, the prices for the items were a little steep, i'm glad to have experienced it. At fish and bird, they make you feel very comfortable and the restaurant itself felt luxurious. Uni Taco - I forgot what this dish was called but they had this amazing fresh uni wrapped in rice with a crispy seaweed "taco" shell. This is one of the best uni that I have ever had because of its melting texture and it's sweet/ savory umami kick. Chicken Katsu - This was the largest portion of food that we got and I feel like it filled me up the most. It was perfectly crisp on the outside with that savory panko crisp that felt like perfection itself. It wasn't grimey or oily like some other restaurants have theirs and I think this was, by far, one of the best chicken katsu that I have ever had. And compared to the prices of the other items, I think this is the most worth your buck item if you are trying to eat here but you are on a budget. inaniwa udon - these were cold noodles that you would dip in the dipping sauce that they give you on the side. Note the noodles were slippery and on the lengthier side so they was difficult to grab with chopsticks. Personally, the sauce was below mild... Though, it had a little bit of sweetness to it. The udon not that memorable compared to the other items we got. Deluxe Sashimi Moriawase - Though paying extra to get the fancier sashimi catch of the day, we really enjoyed the freshness and exotic catches they had. Everything tasted super fresh and the textures and taste of the sashimis were all different but they complemented each other in their own ways. read more

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I like this place! Best for sushi! Otherwise I feel like some of their dishes can be a hit or miss. Sushi is always good. I also like their soft tofu, duck, and fish. The menu changes up quite a bit. Their regular cocktails are much better than their happy hour cocktails Service is always nice and prompt read more

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When one of your besties is in town, last minute meet ups are the best. I was so hungry I forgot to take photos. Ughh Atmosphere: dimmed lit, sleek, and modern. Plenty of patrons enjoying Japanese food. Service was a bit slow but waited patiently. Food? Shrimp chips, Tempura green beans, silky tofu, chicken karaage,karaoke, smoked mackerel, seasonal salad, kurobuta nabe- hotpot Good to go in my book! read more

Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya - Izakaya Near Me - Berkeley, California

Good ingredients for an izakaya, but service level is sub standard! What a big turnoff. We were completely ignored by our male waiter! Mindy took our order as got ZERO attention after seeing all later groups got served! DO NOT sit at high table, as you will be ignored! Too full to have desserts DOES NOT mean we want to settle bills immediately. Both thumbs down to this place! We had lots of sake & beers on the table. What a total turnoff & plein RUDE. This waiter has no manners unfortunately. Seems he is the main waiter caring for most table. I bet this waiter has not tried the dishes himself, he was going to remove our salmon karma when half eaten only We got ourself water too. Didn't feel like staying longer for more beverages! So people, if services matter to you, cross this place off your list for good. read more

I enjoyed my experience while my partner did not like the food as much, so I would say that the menu items are pretty hit or miss. I loved the house-made tofu - 10/10 organic flavor of soybeans and the accompanying soy sauce was lovely. I would absolutely return for this. The amaebi was great as well, also a decent portion for the price. I will also note that they use high quality rice that is cooked well. However, the duck confit did not hit the spot. The meat was tough and over cooked, and overall lacked flavor. I tried a bit of the tempura and while the ingredients were good, it was not cooked to perfection as I would expect at this price point. The saba was ok, I wish it came with some exciting pairing of dipping sauce/powder, instead of nothing. I am willing to return and try more menu items. In the meantime, I would say this is a nice date spot but not worth a special visit if you have other izakaya spots available. read more

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This corner unassuming spot in the heart of downtown Berkeley is what I would describe as boho Japanese. You are immediately overcome with a warm welcome when you walk in with the perfect dim lighting and vibe. The service was quick and efficient. The portions are smaller so we did end up ordering a lot but you also want to try everything so it works out for the best. The Berkshire pork hotpot and the udon were the favorites with several Customers ordering these. Yaki Mai take was interesting but a bit too charred for my taste. The chicken karage was scrumptious and perfectly crunchy. Parking is street only but easily available around the corner. read more

Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya - Menu - Izakaya Near Me - Berkeley, California

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words for everyone: yummy! i enjoyed the food at Fish & Bird and honestly, it was a taste of very different foods and textures. the staff were extremely friendly and also helped me take a picture with my boyfriend at the end of the meal since it was our anniversary. the restaurant's aesthetic was quite pretty and we enjoyed sitting on the couches as it was very cozy and beautiful lighting. the bill however was a bit expensive i think if you are super hungry and looking for something more affordable this isn't the place but if you want more refined food and expansive taste the i would recommend it. the read more

Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya - Soft Tofu & Scallop Handroll - Izakaya Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love this place! Everyone is super friendly. The bar looks amazing and has an excellent selection of whisky. I usually get the deluxe sashimi. Last time I added the maguro kama - worth the commas for this kama. read more

Overpriced with substandard quality. Nigiri was about $20+ per 2 piece order. It could have been forgivable if it was good. Good fish quality but it's a shame sushi chef doesn't seem to know what they are doing. Two pieces had very visible sinew left on, making it hard to chew. Service slow with only 2 servers. read more

Enjoyed the ambiance, nice chill relaxing atmosphere to hangout with friends. I found that the food items were a little on the pricy side and portions can definitely be smaller. I do understand its tapas style however, it's quite overprice for some of the items. We enjoyed the curry chicken katsu with rice. I think that was the highlight of my favorite entrees. The sea bean is worth a try enjoyed the crisp texture. We were disappointed with the cocktail, our glass was mostly filled with ice and finished the drink in less than a few sips. We were celebrating a friend's milestone birthday and I had purposely come in early to let the server know so they can surprise her with a candle and dessert. However they kept forgetting. The cheesecake was delicious however the price we paid for the whole cake was smaller than expected. read more

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Was fun to bust out of or regular sushi spots. All the nigiris were good, toro and chu toro. The grilled salmon, with the miso tare was the star in my mind. Service was good, they come out periodically and order one course at a time with an intentional menu. The kids tried all of the food, so that was fun. Will probably not be on our regular rotation, a little too pricey for that. But it was fun and good to get out of our usual spots. Some very yummy bites and a fairly good vibe. read more

The food was delicious. The service was great. We didn't have reservations but arrived there before the restaurant opened and we were able to be seated right away. The ambiance was so nice. We sat at a booth/bench. My favorite. The deluxe sashimi was amazing as well as the Wagyu. And the black cod collar was amazing too. Everything was delicious. read more

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We ate here for a triple date and the food was very well made. We ordered two of almost everything on the menu and the food is fresh~ The top things to eat were the sashimi and the fish. The service is decent and the ambiance is romantic, comfortable and has just enough light to set the mood. read more

45 dollars out the door for a genuinely okay katsu curry. Service was not great but they were nice and super busy/ understaffed. Would probably go elsewhere read more

I've walked by this stylish izakaya a number of times since it replaced Saha nearly three years ago, but funny enough, never when it's open since it's a dinner-only operation. Had the pandemic never occurred, I'm sure I'd be more of a regular here, but alas, since their food has been available by delivery, I took advantage and let some complete stranger pick up my order. An hour or so later, and the prepared food wasn't worse for wear. Honestly their menu all sounded quite good that I didn't think I'd miss with anything I selected. I decided first on the $11 Green Bean Fritters with Curry Sansho Salt (photo: https://bit.ly/3BiK5W4). I'm not sure why they called them fritters rather than tempura. I just figured it was a Gen Z foodie thing, but regardless, they were quite good. Another crunchy-tender winner was the $13 Chicken Karaage since there was plenty of it in the serving box with the same curry sansho salt (photo: https://bit.ly/3HAoOv9). I have to admit their signature dish, the $25 Chicken Katsu Curry Rice, was a bit disappointing because the days-long simmered Japanese curry was thinner than I prefer. The katsu was on point though (photo: https://bit.ly/3VFjtXv). It's time I make a real visit. FOOD - 4 stars...more than acceptable izakaya fare, probably even better if you have it in the restaurant AMBIANCE - n/a...can't really comment SERVICE - 4 stars...properly packaged for delivery TOTAL - 4 stars...had the bird, will try the fish next time RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2CbVh8u read more

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