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    Iyasare

    4.0 (995 reviews)
    PriceyJapanese, Bars
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

    Iyasare Photos

    IYASARE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Iyasare

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    Kosmo Z.

    This was a 3.5, and I've been here twice with my little one. They've been very accommodating with a child. Food was decent, and service was also. I really liked the tostadas. My waitress forgot to bring me the dessert menu which is why I knocked point 5 point off.

    Iyasare kakiage tempura with black shrimp
    Rica R.

    The tempura with the black shrimp was so delish! My son took me here for dinner and Maddie waited on us. We had a lovely conversation with her as I shared we were dining there before my son left for college. Fast foward a few weeks later, I ordered take out (the tempura, of course) and the spicy dragon roll (since we didn't try the sushi the first time), so my husband could try the food. Lo and behold, Maddie took my to go order and asked about my son! It's one thing to have a delicious meal, it's entirely a whole other level when your wait person actually remembers you when you come back! I'd certainly come back again and will ask to sit in Maddie's section! You definitely want to get the tempura with black shrimp!!

    Michael L.

    Excellent Japanese food on Fourth street. This feels like an iykyk restaurant mostly visited by locals. The tempura is not the typical style but was DELICIOUS. Mentaiko pasta was on point. Sushi was fresh and service was great. Ambiance is chic. Prices were slightly high even when factoring being in Berkeley. The $9 for Coke/sprite made me question how pricing was fixed for everything else on menu.

    Tiffany S.

    Came here for dinner, loved the kakiage - it's a must to add shrimp imo, the thick juicy bites of shrimp are great and make the dish stand out. We ordered the mentaiko pasta, miso black cod and a paper crane to drink. The pasta was great, and had a little spicy kick to it, and the miso black cod was so good!! Very umami flavor with the mushrooms. Delicious cocktail as well. Overall really impressed with the meal- and we had a really attentive waiter- he made sure we were taken care of and refilled our waters pretty often. Will definitely be back to try rolls and the ramen!

    Andrew S.

    Started with a drink and the iyasare kakiage tempura which has burdock root, onion, sweet potato, shiitake, enoki, carrot, shungiku, and bonito soy dipping sauce. Highly recommend the iyasare kakiage tempura, wish it had some less sweet potatoes and more of the other ingredients, but overall it was savory and very sweet from the sweet potatoes. I enjoyed the kara-age curry rice which is a japanese style fried chicken thighs in a tokyo style curry sauce, a small salad, and koshihikari rice. They gave sooooo much kara-age chicken and it was quite filling. Good dish to share with others. Lastly, we had to try the iyasare mentaiko pasta which is a spicy cod ros, spaghetti, ikura, shiso, and kaiware. It's quite heavy and creamy, but definitely worth trying if you like the ingredients!

    Branzino
    Alex Z.

    Saw this on the Michelin Guide so wanted to give it a try. On the edge of Berkeley, the location and ambience makes it a nice spot for a date. The food itself was solid, with the best dishes being the Chef's Recommended tuna tartare and branzino. The rolls were fine, nothing out of the ordinary. While the dishes were enjoyable, the price was on the more expensive side. For the quality of the food ultimately it's difficult to say that it's entirely worth it. For a dinner for two, you're looking northward of $150 and while that's fairly common in the Bay, you can find better restaurants at that price point.

    Sake & Ikura Don
    Tasha H.

    I had a lovely dinner here! Bacon mochi - signature dish, worth a try. It's pretty salty, but the texture of the mochi is so good Sake ikura don - loved this. Came with plenty of rice and the fish had really good texture. Nice portion of seaweed salads too Branzino - a special when I went. A classic grilled branzino, nice smoky flavor but quite small and probably wouldn't order again.

    Tiramisu
    Briggitte L.

    My family and I were walking on Fourth St. looking for somewhere to go for lunch when we stumbled upon Iyasare. The first thing we noticed was the lovely decor. The next thing we noticed was the excellent service. We never wanted for anything for very long. We were a bit surprised that a bento box "special" was $48. Actually, everything was very expensive. But when I must admit they everything tasted really good. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. On a side note, I also really enjoyed the exfoliating hand soap in the bathroom. I will likely only visit this restaurant for special occasions or when we feel like splurging on really good Japanese food.

    Hanabi
    Nihar P.

    Iyasare is a perfect dinner spot that truly doesn't disappoint. The interior and outdoor seating are beautiful, and the staff is incredibly helpful. Our server, Andy, was super attentive and gave some excellent recommendations that we all loved. Some of the highlights were the Kakiage tempura with shrimp, agedashi tofu, mentaiko pasta, and karubi. The kakiage tempura was incredibly creative: the mix of vegetables and shrimp was crispy, complemented by the broth and a variety of powders, making every bite different and enjoyable. The broth of the agedashi tofu was so savory and delicious that I could drink it on its own. The flavor perfectly complements the silkiness of the tofu. The mentaiko pasta was creamy with a nice spiciness, and the roe provided great pops of umami. The karubi had a great charred smokiness and was extremely tender, easily the most tender short rib I've ever eaten. While not mentioned individually, everything else we had was also excellent. They also serve one of the best cheesecakes I've ever had. Iyasare is a place I would recommend to many. Its beautiful ambiance, great location, and thoughtfully prepared food make it a spot I would gladly come back to again and again.

    Kakiage Tempura
    Elaine R.

    More of a 3.5 but food was great and service was good issue is with the price while the pressure of 1.5 hours for our table. Background So our appt was 12pm but parking was hard for half our party who didnt make it til 12:15-20. The waitress was initially attentive and got our drinks , but didnt get our order til about 12:35-40. Mind you the management came (repeatedly) to tell us our table was only til 1:30pm . Which is fine although would be nice if they said so in the rsvp. One of our food didnt not come til 1:15pm. Which btw was the okonomiyaki and unfortunately the bacon/pork was burnt I think they forgot or left it too long. Drinks were great. 9/10 The shiso smash and Collins were great not too sweet and very refreshing. Food was great. Highly recommend the iyaser kakiage tempura - 10/10 we added shrimp +$9. Chirashi Don was great too 10/10 - sashimi was very melt in your mouth fresh. My friends enjoyed the yaki soba and duck ramen both very rich and lots of umami. 8.5/10 Vegetable curry rice was good. 8/10 Okonomiyaki 7/10- good flavor but was burnt Nice elegant furnishings with a tranquil outdoor area. Pretty pricy considering they push yout out the door after 1.5 hours ~$470 (2 appetizers, 5 drinks, 5 entree, 3 miso soup).

    Lovely drinks that were sparkling
    Deanna D.

    Yes! Beautiful, fresh, thoughtful Japanese food! Highly recommend the tempura which was different than any tempura I've had before and want to have again soon! Sushi rolls were classic done with flair and care. Nigiri melts in your mouth. Great date night or with friends! They allow dogs on their patio!!

    Nasu-miso
    Jianming L.

    A relatively pricey but excellent Japanese restaurant. The dishes look refined and taste like fine dining, and the fish is very fresh. This is easily one of the top three Japanese restaurants we've found in the Berkeley area.

    Alex A.

    Had some great dishes with super fresh ingredients. They were a Michelin rated restaurant back in 2018. Cons: a miss on the grilled octopus as it had a really strong liquid smoke taste and the mango purer just didn't work well with the other flavors. Made a rsvp, however needed to wait at the check in stand for 15 min in the cold before anyone showed up. Then another 10 min before our table was ready. They sat us by the door -- so it was super freezing. Cramped seating. Would have expected a bit more attention to detail to match their pricing.

    Yaki Soba

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    Just the freshest, most authentic Japanese food w/ best service and ambiance - really really good

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    Iyasare Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Iyasare

    Does this spot actually close at 8 pm on Thursdays? I tried calling and no one picked up-- they don't have a voicemail set up.

    If we make a 7pm reservation for Sunday, will we be kicked out at 7:30 when the restaurant "closes"?

    Nope

    Hi can we walk in tuesday and the phone is no one picm up?

    Possibly depending on what you're willing to do. Heated patio is usually the first to go. There has always been bar and communal tables if everything else is gone.

    How much is their omakase?

    The omakase is $75 for 12 pieces of nigiri! What a great deal!

    Are there any gluten-free options?

    Yes, check with your server. One of our party is gluten free and she was advised by the server as to what was available.

    View All 8 Questions

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    The Berkeley Boathouse

    The Berkeley Boathouse

    3.5
    (327 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    So, we're staying at the Berkeley Marina DoubleTree by Hilton and took advantage of a dining offer…read moreto du brunch on Sunday. We've done breakfast before at the Boathouse and Brunch is more or less and combination of popular breakfast and lunch items. So, in addition to juice, coffee, and water, we went for the Belgian Waffles which included powdered sugar, maple syrup, and fresh berries, and the Seasonal Omelet with asparagus, brie cheese, scallions, and breakfast potatoes. We did not go wrong with our choices. The servers at the Boathouse regardless if it is breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner are always on point, A really nice welcoming environment!

    We had the most beautiful Mother's Day experience at Berkeley Boathouse. We originally came after…read moreseeing a blogger recommend it, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The food was phenomenal, the service was superb, and the ambiance was stunning. Sitting by the water while enjoying an incredible meal made the whole experience feel special from start to finish. What truly made this visit unforgettable, though, was the kindness from the staff and manager. I noticed a small plant sitting off to the side that caught my attention. It reminded me so much of my mother, who recently passed and was a huge plant lover. Since losing her, caring for plants has become something deeply therapeutic for me. I jokingly offered to buy the plant, and instead, the manager kindly gifted it to me. That simple act of compassion meant more than they will probably ever know. On a day that can feel heavy while grieving a mother, they gave me a little piece of comfort to take home. Beautiful restaurant, beautiful people, and a kindness I won't forget. Five stars without hesitation.

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    Nauticle theme ropes
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    No other place can take you from the port of Oakland to the San Rafael bridge in one head turn.  Absolutely beautiful

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    Acme Bar & Company

    Acme Bar & Company

    4.0
    (378 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    I'm not sure whether it was the bartender who assisted me that evening, but unfortunately the…read morecustomer service I experienced was very disappointing. I tried to start a friendly conversation and ask a few questions about the drinks, however the responses I received were very brief and limited to only the drink names, which made the interaction feel unwelcoming. I also noticed that we were the only Latino guests there at the time, and throughout our visit we felt largely ignored. As a result, the overall atmosphere did not feel comfortable or inclusive to us. Based on this experience, I did not feel welcomed at this bar in Berkeley and would not recommend it. Even though we live only a few minutes away, it didn't feel like a place worth returning to or spending our time and money at.

    Question: Is Acme a bourbon bar or a whiskey bar? I have an unconventional answer because I like…read morethe vibes here and have discovered it's actually an "everything good" bar. I love the outstanding Mezcal list. On Tuesdays (some? all? I dunno) they have a martini and caviar menu. Ten bucks get you an excellent house martinis and a healthy mound of caviar on a potato chip. Happy hour feature $6 well drinks (1 mixer) or $10 cocktails (multi-mixer shaken or stirred). Great bartenders here, especially Anaís!

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    Michter's Toasted Barrel
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    Ceiling inside.

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    Club Mallard

    Club Mallard

    4.1
    (489 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Our second bar of the night! Stopped by Club Mallard after Blue Rabbit Bar for something more…read morespacious so our group could all be together. This was very nice; it was very spacious and offers outdoor patio with tiki vibes! Our group was able to snag the outdoor patio upstairs! Other people were free to also hang out in the patio too, but because we got there early and our group was big, we were able to put the tables together and it really just felt like we were the only ones there; very intimate. There is a pool table and a bar on the second floor, so you don't have to go back downstairs. The staff were very friendly and helpful. They provided great customer service and came by to our table to pick up empty glasses. There was an incident that happened where a man was taking pictures of people in the bar and he came outside to the patio and started taking photos of our group, which we felt very uncomfortable about. We alerted staff and they were able to handle the situation and came back to check on us. They don't serve food here, but they do allow you to bring food from other places! That was very convenient because we were already comfortable and didn't want to leave to go somewhere else. Tacos El Autlense is a 5 min walk away and it's one of my fave places to get tacos; that's where we got our food at! I literally had it the night before too hahaha, but I wasn't complaining! This place was so cute; the music, the ambiance, the service... a whole vibe!!! I would definitely come back.

    Sexy cabin themed bar for the win!…read more Relaxed and fun spot with lots of spaces to explore. Pool, the bar and a bamboo themed patio on the ground floor, and then an upstairs too for a more intimate vibe. Drinks seem above average quality, but I just stuck with Guinness (poured quite well). Street parking.

    Photos
    Chic!?
    Chic!?
    The place has a unique motif! A tiki Cabin in the woods!?
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    Headlands Brewing

    Headlands Brewing

    4.4
    (111 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Eco-friendly

    I've passed this place on my AM bike rides for many moons, yesterday was the opportunity to stop by…read morefor lunch. Heck yeah. This place checks all the (my) boxes... Nice folks. Really nice little oasis ambiance. Solid smashburger/fries. Plus? There was a sweetheart little dog (Remy), that added a little canine love to the equation. Thank you HB, I look forward to returning, and sharing a little space in the future.

    Headlands is great. Their burgers in particular are top notch! And, their beer choices are also…read morefantastic. And, their lemonade is legit. Their Sriracha sauce though is not for those that dislike pickle though. Honestly, I couldn't tell where the pickle haunting was coming from the first time I was here. Maybe more fries would eliminate the flavor. Maybe I'll did a bunch in this spicy sauce. Noooooo!!! My wife eats the pickle spears. I get a spicy black bean burger which is great! J gets a smash burger with a side salad that's great, and gives her the lettuce and stuff she likes in her burger. This is a family beergarden. If you got kids that want to run around, then his place should actually get 6 stars! The adults only tent can get pretty warm though on a warm day. The garden part though, is nice, staff is pretty friendly, music is hit or miss, and they have plenty of umbrellas for shade. Also, some dessert pop ups sometimes! You should really give this place a shot. Tons of people love it!

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    Headlands Brewing
    Headlands Brewing
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