Good spot for dinner in Berkeley. A bit on the pricey side, but the quality is consistent. The food was solid and the atmosphere felt relaxed but still lively. read more

Honestly dreading this review because we've eaten here before and had a good experience. Our experience today for Valentine's day dinner here was marred by the service received. Simply put we were completely forgotten. We placed our orders about 15 minutes in and was left alone till I flagged them about 40 minutes later. We found out that they had forgotten to place our order... So yeah big oof. The food came in quick afterwards. Everything tasted amazing. We particularly enjoyed the ankimo mousse and chips; we haven't tried it this way before. They added something on the house, but forgot to remove it from the bill. I know it was a busy night, but this was another WTH moment for us. However, I'm glad the other diners enjoyed their meals. Good vibes here. Long story short.. great food, good vibes, but bad service this time around. read more

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This is my second time here. The quality of the food is solid. The staff are attentive. Since we had a reservation, we didn't need to wait for a table. I came with my baby. She is a messy eater! Staff continued to offer us new utensils and warm wet washcloths for my daughter who is kept dropping utensils and was getting rice all over the place. Water was refilled frequently. The place is tiny. We didn't know baby was supposed to be counted in reservation but we were still accommodated. I loved the chicken cartilage and generous portion of takowasabi. All the food was good. read more

Kiraku - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

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A hidden gem, tiny place, so reservations are always recommended. I live in Chicago, but always try to get in.

Loved the ambiance. Super intimate setting. The service was very good. It was our first time and the waiters were very nice. Highlights are definitely the wagyu, the corn fritters, and the soft shell crab we ordered. The grilled mackerel was alright; definitely a little bit fishier for my taste. The negitoro maki ro read more

Kiraku - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

I have heard amazing things about Kiraku, so while I was visiting Berkeley I decided to make a reservation. There's a minimum $50 spend per person, but expect to spend more (total for our meal was ~$170). The ambiance is nice and cozy, and it was definitely packed. We did around three rounds of food and tried a little bit of everything. The quality of the food was great, but I was seriously thrown off by the portions. With the beef tataki, I'm not sure why they left open that gap instead of just filling the whole plate. My partner and I were also not full by the time we left. Fave dishes: fried shrimp heads, corn tempura If I could go back in time I would skip the sushi and try more skewers. Compared to other izakaya places I've had in OC, Kiraku is tastier, but it's kind of a hassle to go to. All in all, I don't really see myself going back unless it's a super special occasion and I get a promotion at work, but a great experience that I think everyone should try out! read more

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cute cozy place. not great for big groups it's pretty tight in here. There is a yelp waitlist. There is a $30 minimum per person. Got the plum wine and it was sweet and strong. yummy. Black miso cod was my favorite. The tuna nigiri and cut roll were also yummy. Very buttery tuna not like a regular ahi tuna. The carbonara was good. very rich and umami. i'm not the biggest fan of uni but I wanted to try this. read more

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Very disappointed to give this review. It's Valentine's Day, so it was a long anticipated meal. I couldn't be surprised that the restaurant was packed and there was a bit of a wait outside before we could be seated. However, what we didn't expect was for them to completely forget to put in our orders, and we were sitting there for nearly an hour without any food while we saw all the tables around us eat and leave. When we finally got our first appetizer, they also left us a beef tataki (we didn't order it) that they said was on the house to make up for the wait. But when we got our bill, they actually tried to charge us for it??!! Extremely sneaky. Two stars only because every dish we got was very good. This would've easily been a 5* restaurant had they not completely flopped on the service. read more

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This restaurant really brings a new standard to izakaya, it'll be hard to visit another place that tops this one. Reservations are a must if you would like to visit, as this place gets very busy and seating is very limited. My favorites were the yuzu spoon and the grilled beef tongue, but honestly every dish was so delicious it's hard to really pick! Inside is very cozy, service is great and quick. I would definitely recommend coming here! read more

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The deep fried salmon belly on the daily menu (02/01/2025) was absolutely mouthwatering, the best thing we ordered. Two generous slabs of salmon belly are breaded with a slightly chewy mixture, fried, and served with a refreshing lemon mayo dressing and ponzu. The sauce was so delicious that we did not leave a shred of the cabbage slaw accompaniment on the plate. Beef okonomiyaki was great, although the ginger flavor is quite strong. Uni carbonara was all cream--would have preferred more parmesan and less cream, though the portion of uni was quite generous. Mini kaisen donburi is just for visuals, but we loved the plain old rice since everything else on the table was rich flavor wise. Underwhelmed by the corn tempura but was worth trying. Honestly, service could have been more attentive. It seemed all the staff was hustling about, even though the place was not full by the time we left, around 7 on a Friday evening. The inside is very cutesy, though, and gives off authentic Japanese restaurant vibes. I would come back for the salmon belly. read more

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dinging a star because they do a $50 minimum per person on reservation which is kind of annoying but it's not that hard to hit that... We got a reservation at 7:30 which I highly recommend you do because it's a bit hard to seat otherwise / the space is kind of small. we were sitting next to two tables that were unfortunately really loud. the menu is extensive, long, and delicious. I will say the vibes are sort of hectic / they're serving a lot (but it does come quickly!!) so it's not like a casual sort of hang out with friends / drink izakaya but like you are coming for a MEAL sort of deal. everything is great, no notes. read more

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When I saw the Kaisen Don, I knew I had to try this place. I went around 5:30PM on a Tuesday and the place pretty much filled up within the hour. My absolute favorites were the Kaisen Don Deluxe (a bit on the pricier side) but it tasted so good and fresh (bonus for them using Japanese Bafun Uni instead of Santa Barbara Uni) and the Unagi Yakitori, which had a hint of wood charcoil and made it sooo tasty. Service is amazing and they are very attentive. The ambiance and vibe is giving small, cute Japanese shop as it is very cozy. I love that they have baskets on the floor for you to put your bags. Overall, this spot was perfect for a cute date night and I would definitely go again. read more

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I went to Kiraku on a Wednesday evening right when they opened. Even though we did not have a reservation and showed up early, the wait was still about 90 minutes. To pass the time, I walked over to Cheese Board for a snack, which turned out to be a good idea because portion sizes at Kiraku are definitely on the smaller side. My party of three ended up spending about $160. One thing to know before going is that they require a minimum of $35 per person, so you cannot just order lightly or share a couple of dishes. On top of that, an 18% tip is automatically included in the bill. The servers themselves were very kind and attentive, and I appreciated how polite they were when checking in. However, I have heard from other diners that if you try to ask the older lady at the front to remove or adjust the automatic gratuity, she can be quite direct and not very friendly about it. Some people have even said she makes comments like "if you cannot afford it, you should eat elsewhere." While I did not personally test this, it is something worth noting before you go. As for the food, the quality is very good, but the value is questionable. The Deluxe Kaisen Don was the most expensive item we ordered at $68. While the fish was fresh and nicely presented, the serving size was surprisingly small for the price. It looked more like a snack portion than a full entrée. The mini don was even less satisfying, it was around the size of my palm, mostly rice, and cost $22. Definitely not worth it in my opinion. On the other hand, the corn tempura was a highlight and really delicious, crispy and sweet. The seasonal fish market dishes were also excellent, showcasing very fresh ingredients and unique flavors. These felt more special and stood out compared to some of the overpriced staples. Overall, I would rate Kiraku as "okay." The food is fresh and tasty, the waitstaff is nice, and the ambiance is cozy, but the long wait times, spending minimum, automatic gratuity, and small portion sizes make it hard to fully recommend. It is not a bad experience, but it is not a great one either. If you decide to go, make a reservation, budget to spend more than you think, and maybe grab a bite elsewhere beforehand. read more

Kiraku - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

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When I was attending the University of California, Berkeley for graduate school a few years back, I was part of a peer-group program for graduate students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines. Sometimes our group went out to eat or got something to eat from say a bakery. One evening we decided to come to Kiraku for an evening meal together. Arriving at the restaurant, we waited a little bit, but not too long. The inside of the restaurant was warm with lighting of moderate brightness. At our table, we had fun looking over the menu and deciding what to try. We went with a variety of dishes to share. Inside, the voices of those around us carried, so we had to lean in to hear each other better. Food came out in waves, same as drinks. One of the cultural surprise highlights for me was a pickle plate. I thought it meant like cucumber pickles, but it ended up being something with far more intense flavor than I was expecting. The items did have the crunchiness of pickles, only a little harder. A beverage highlight was a drink I ordered that came with a plum in it. I remember poking at it with a toothpick of sorts to try and get it to eat it and thinking and commenting out loud about how this is what us Vikings had become. Chasers of fruit in glasses. Workers were direct in their interactions, though busy. All in all, I had an enjoyable experience. read more

One of my FAVORITE places for sushi with a HIGE con. I ordered the DX kaisen Don for $70. Lots of delicious seafood the way it was meant to be eaten!!!!!!! So fresh and came neat and well presented in a wooden type box. Now the con... the picture on doordash makes it look larger then it is... and for the price it's not very filling... At all. I made a pizza after eating this and I get full easily, so that's saying something. And for the price you pay, you should be satisfied at least. Also, I wish they door dashed more nigiri I would love to order that to be delivered. I'll still order this plate for the price because it's good but damn, increase portion size. I ordered this for "free" due to my meal stipend but I'm still considering the price in its score. So they get a 4/5. read more

Kiraku - DX Kaisen Don - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

Super yummy sushi celebration dinner! Jake made a rezzie at Kiraku and it did not dissapoint. This was the second time we've been here and it was just as yummy if not better. The salmon sashimi appetizer is best value for how fresh and fatty the fish is and we tried the yuzu sashimi nuta which was very fresh tasting and quite special! Ofc the mini kaisendon was great and the fresh fish tempura was also *chefs kiss*. They offered us some complimentary yuzu sake which is a new, must order for us next time. The service is always a 10, very attentive and the intimate dining experience always makes you feel invited and warm. read more

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Enjoyed my meal here. Everything felt fresh and nicely cooked, and the menu had a lot of interesting options. It's a bit busy, but that's expected for a popular spot. read more

This place is my new favorite izakaya in the Bay! Food was really tasty and reasonably priced, and service was exceptional. They have a lot of really interesting things on the menu, and everything that came out of the kitchen looked fantastic. Some of my favorites were the suzuki carpaccio, corn tempura, and tender beef tongue skewer. Excited to return and try more things next time! read more

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Easily my favorite restaurant in Berkeley. Service is always warm and considerate and I've not had a single miss on the menu. The space itself is quite small, and be prepared to wait if you don't have a reservation, but it's definitely worth it. Note: if you make a reservation, there's a $40 minimum. Menu changes often, offering variety of dishes izakaya style. My favorites: grilled squid, corn tempura, and the sweet potato crème brulee. The sashimi is consistently fresh and the grilled items have the ideal smoky flavor. Street parking can sometimes also take a little bit of time but it's manageable. Highly highly recommend! read more

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Kiraku Review - A Cozy Gem with Flawless Flavors Kiraku was exquisite. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of phenomenal. The food was bursting with flavor, the atmosphere was warm and intimate, and the service was exceptional. This is the kind of place where you feel both welcomed and impressed the moment you walk in. A quick tip: Make a reservation if you plan to visit. The space is quite small and very popular. We got lucky and managed to grab a spot after a 30-minute wait. Here's a breakdown of the dishes we enjoyed: Striped Bass Carpaccio - A beautiful starter. The ponzu dressing brought a bright acidity that paired perfectly with the delicate white fish. A touch of chili powder added just the right amount of kick. *RECOMMEND* Beef Tataki - One of my absolute favorites of the night. The beef was incredibly tender, almost melt-in-your-mouth, and packed with umami. The ponzu once again came through to balance the richness of the meat. *RECOMMEND* Corn Tempura - Highly recommended. Each kernel was lightly battered and fried to perfection--crispy but not greasy. The addition of matcha salt elevated it with a subtle earthiness that kept me reaching for more. Miso Black Cod - Clean, simple, yet deeply flavorful. It's a dish that sounds basic but requires great technique to get right. The accompanying ume-pickled vegetables added a lovely tart contrast. *RECOMMEND* Beef Tongue - An underrated cut that truly shines here. Charred beautifully with a slight crisp on the outside and rich, juicy tenderness inside. Don't let the name scare you--this was one of the most flavorful bites of the night. Spot Prawn (raw & fried head) - A minimalist but incredibly fresh dish. The prawn had a naturally sweet flavor, and the fried head added a nice crunch and umami punch. Mini Kaisen Donburi - Simple, clean, and fresh. The seafood was high quality, and the rice was seasoned just right to bring it all together. Salmon Belly with Fried Coating - This was probably my least favorite, but not due to execution. It was a well-made dish, but the fattiness of the salmon belly, combined with the fried coating, was a bit too rich for my taste. That said, if you love omega-rich cuts, this might be right up your alley. *RECOMMEND* Yam Crème Brûlée - To end the meal, we ordered the yam crème brûlée. It was a lovely finish with just the right amount of sweetness--light, smooth, and satisfying. A simple yet enjoyable way to close out the evening. Overall: I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Kiraku. Every dish showed thoughtfulness, technique, and a deep understanding of flavor. It's rare to find a place that delivers this level of consistency across so many styles of preparation. I'll definitely be coming back--especially to try some of their seasonal or specialty offerings. read more

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Very good food, accidentally gave us extra sushi by accident but definitely not complaining read more

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We have been eating at Kiraku for the last 10 years . It's one of our favorite restaurants in Berkeley . It can be hard to get reservations and the wait can be very long if you come to add your name on the waitlist . It is definitely worth the wait. Almost everything on the menu is yummy . read more

Kiraku - Black Pork Belly Skewers and Corn Fritters - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This place is cool and all, but... if you are expecting a relaxing atmosphere for the price, Kiraku is not for you. This place is busy, bustling, and loud. The menu is Japanese tapas dishes (I am not a fan of tapas menus) and while the food is definitely quality, the menu is confusing and quantities are not clear. Also, keep in mind that if you make a reservation, the restaurant requires minimum $50/person. I love Japanese food but this place was not for me. We ordered a drink and appetizer, and since it was so hectic decided to go elsewhere for a full dinner at a more upscale establishment. To be clear--the food is good and high quality, I just did not care for the such expense for the atmosphere and the menu was confusing. read more

Kiraku needs no introduction as it's a widely popular Japanese iazakaya-style restaurant in Berkeley! The menu is diverse, ranging from skewers to okonominyaki to udon to gyudon to uni carbonara. They also have plenty of fresh fish from the Toyosu market in Japan. The daily menu also changes seasonally so I'm always excited to come back & see what tweaks the chefs made and try the new dishes! Heads up - portions are pretty small so over order! Dishes that stood out & would order again: DAILY MENU Tsubugai & Hirame Sashimi Nuta - sea snail & flounder tasted so fresh & paired well with yuzu miso dressing! Salon Belly Nanban - salmon belly was perfectly fried! REGULAR MENU Uni Carbonara Pasta Deluxe Kaisen Box Tender Beef Tongue Skewers The restaurant is nicely dim, giving it that perfect cozy intimate ambiance. The old school Japanese posters on the wall & dark oak tables totally transforms you to an alley in Japan. The only qualm I have with the Kiraku is the long wait time. You can waitlist in person or on yelp. I arrived at 7pm on Saturday night and waited an hour. Not to worry, because there are plenty of places on Telegraph to roam around! Parking: metered parking in front of restaurant, 2 hour residential parking before 7pm (no time limit after 7pm) read more

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I really appreciate Kiraku and as long as you get a reservation, this is a fantastic izakaya experience. Love the squid, uni pasta, and the pricey yet delicious wagyu. It's a cozy spot with tight seating, but it's a nice restaurant for a date night or get together with 1-3 other people. Since it's on Telegraph near Berkeley campus, you'll need to deal with street parking so plan to come 5-10 min early. read more

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I had heard a lot about this place, people around me really do recommend this place. And a couple months ago, I finally tried it out with my friend. This place gets packed, so we came right at 5 pm to beat the rush. They do priority people who have their whole group here already, so even though there were a couple of groups came before us. The two of us were seated immediately. The inside of the place was quite small, but cozy. They had quite a few server for the size of the restaurant. We got a few items to try. Grilled Squid: (5/5) highly recommend. I did not expect this to be this good. The squid was cooked to perfection and the sauce with it was just amazing! I would recommend this to everyone! nigiri omakase, (4/5), it was 5 piece nigiri set, very good and very fresh. Uni cream pasta (3/5) I was looking forward to this, but I dont think this was a good as I would like. Corn tempera (4/5) this was very unique and for people havent tried it yet should get it too read more

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Awesome Showa era style izakaya! Noisy ambience that you can just talk at loud comfortably. Gathering place with your friends and family to enjoy variety of Japanese authentic food and fusion. Fast service for waitress is awesome and food is fast due to owner Daiki san and his long time team supports very well. The Berkeley hole in the wall spot for sure! Legend of Oakland read more

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My partner took me here for my birthday and we tried several new items as well as their classic ones that have been around for a while. Food was 12/10 as usual! read more

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My fav authentic Japanese place! I could go on and on. Food, service, and even the bathroom is great. Fair warning: make reservations bc there is always a wait. read more

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Overall great place. Super small, the tables are rather close which can be difficult with bigger parties. Although I am used to tapas, I felt the portions were small for what it gives. But also it helps you try almost everything since it is small portions. The uni pasta was creamy and the fish eggs had a nice bite to it. The brûlée was light and airy and really had a new take on the traditional dessert. It was so busy that it was quite hard to flag a server. I think there were only two servers in the whole restaurant! Overall I'd come here for a quick bite again read more

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Loud and crowded atmosphere in an intimate space, get a reservation or expect to wait! Service was good but we experienced a long wait for some items. The food was good but was pricey and inconsistent from the first time. - Assorted Sashimi was super fresh! Definitely worth it - Snow Crab Tomato Salad was interesting, the tomato was prepped in a way where it was super tender with a unique texture - Clams were overcooked but had a tasty sauce - Beef Intestine Skewers were absolutely delicious and melt in your mouth! - A5 Wagyu was really disappointing, for $78 it was overcooked and lacked salt. Still super tender, but not at all what I hoped for - Kiraku Salad had burnt (and bitter) garlic on top of bitter greens, not pleasant - Yaki Udon was tasty but also bitter towards the end! Overall, it was a tasty meal but I wasn't as impressed as the first time. Given the hefty price, I might reconsider going back read more

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I love this place so much, have been here for years and their food never fails to impress me. Definitely check for reservations ahead of time if you can because it gets busy. Kiraku is definitely one of the best izakaya spots in the Bay Area with a wide range of dishes and fresh seasonal ingredients. You can't go wrong from their tempuras, to sushi, to skewers. Highly recommend bringing a friend so you can maximize trying different dishes. Prices are a bit higher, but well worth it. read more

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Great experience overall. The menu has a nice variety and the food quality is consistently good. Staff were friendly and the vibe feels lively but still comfortable. read more

I've had kiraku bookmarked forever and was super excited to try it out! Let me just say, I only tried the Kaisen don, but this might have been the best Kaisen don I've had. It comes with uni, toro, tuna, ikura, scallop, and shrimp, including the fried shrimp head. Everything tasted super fresh! Also, I don't know what they season the rice with - some kind of furikake or shiso or something - but it was amazing! It gives the rice so much more flavor and really elevates the taste. I def want to come back and try the other izakaya they have. Everything looks so good. The restaurant is quite small, with only a handful of tables, but it was packed even on a weekday night around 7/8. Def seems like a popular spot! read more

Kiraku - Kaisen don - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

Another great experience at Kiraku. A small restaurant with great personality and excellent service, we love the vibe here! Make a reservation on Yelp as far in advance as you be can, and the wait is minimal (otherwise it could be 60-120 min) We were excited to see an omakase set added to the menu along side quite a few new items over the last year. I started with takowasabi, delicious as always and corn tempura with green tea salt along with a warm sake selected by our server. Then fish tempura and a 18 pc (two of each selection) sashimi plate. Then one of our favorite miso place cod plates along with a pork belly skewer. Then we shared a 12pc omakase and wrapped up with a negitoro maki. So happy to be back and we can't wait for our next visit! read more

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Waited over an hr to sit down, poor planning on my part and didn't have a reservation. The place is pretty small and the tables are all pretty close to each other. We ordered a couple of different plates but by far our favorites were the Suzuki carpaccio, beef tongue skewer, and smoked unagi. Coming back but next time with a reservation. read more

Wow, amazing food here and honestly probably the highest quality meal I've had during my stay in NorCal. Appetizers: We tried the Tsunami Sampler with Takowasabi, Aburi Mentaiko, and Umesuisho. The Aburi Mentaiko and the Takowasabi had lots of flavor while the Umesuisho was a little lighter to offset the strong flavors of the other two appetizers. Highly recommend the aburi mentaiko. We also gave the iburigakko a try which had a strong smoky flavor. We were surprised to see this on the menu as it's a dish from Akita. The cream cheese with the Iburigakko went really well together. The corn tempura was a great simple dish, my wife loved it. Sushi: we tried a mix of items off the specials menu that included the. Bluefin Tuna Negitoro Maki, Temaki A5 Miyazaki Beef with Hokkaido Uni and Yuzu Sauce, Botan Ebi with Yuzu Sauce, and the Deluxe Kaisen Box. The presentation on all the items were done extremely well. The bluefin negitoro was a little light on the salt but probably just my preference. The yuzu sauce on the Botan Ebi was spot on, I went back for a second round. They offer two ways to prepare the heads, miso soup and fried. The fried heads were seasoned nicely. The A5 Miyazaki Beef temaki was just butter! Really delicious and creamy with the Hokkaido Uni. The Deluxe Kaisen Box was very beautifully presented with a great mix of fish options. The Tuna Tataki was amazing. Just a light splash of shoyu and you're good, no need to drown it or risk making it too salty. Dessert: we were so full already from the main meal, but wanted to sample the sweet potato brulee and it was amazing! Such a great way to end a great dinner. Service: The staff was extremely friendly and made us feel welcome and regularly checked in on us to add any other menu items to our order and regularly filled our water. Overall, loved the food, coming from Hawaii we always have a wide selection of fresh fish and sushi but we could use a Kiraku branch back home. Will add this to our list of must visit restaurants when we return. Mahalo to the Chef and staff for the excellent food and service! read more

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Everything was great from the fresh, tasty sushi to the izakaya style specialties like corn fritter, tuna rolls, tongue, gyozya. Our server was super attentive, present. And, the ambiance was a cozy but well-appointed secret Japanese "hole-in-the-wall." I can't wait to go back! read more

solid japanese food bUT be aware if you book through yelp there is 50$ minimum spend and the owner is not LAX about it. she will make sure you hit the quotas, which kind of sucks because we were really full and really tried to but it. love the corn fritters, the skewers beef tongue was kind of weird tasted like pork belly. read more

Kiraku - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

Kiraku isn't just a restaurant--it's a late-night Tokyo alleyway disguised as a cozy Berkeley gem. The moment you walk in, it hums with energy--laughter, sizzling plates, clinking glasses--and you know you're in for something special. This place is a flavor playground, and every dish that hits the table feels like a well-kept secret. We started with the uni toast, and honestly, I'm still thinking about it. Creamy, briny uni on perfectly crisp bread, balanced with just enough acid--it's like a love letter to umami. A must-order, no questions asked. Then came the gyu-tan (beef tongue), grilled to smoky perfection. Tender, savory, and served with a little citrus that made the whole thing sing. It's bold, it's comforting, and it pairs ridiculously well with a cold sake. Speaking of drinks, the sake selection is no joke--carefully curated and perfect for sipping between bites of karaage. The menu is full of surprises--small plates that pack major character. It's the kind of place where you order one more thing five times in a row, and every bite is worth it. Service was fast, friendly, and just the right amount of chill. Kiraku is the spot you bring your foodie friends to when you want to show off. No frills, all flavor. An izakaya that makes you feel like a regular even on your first visit--and trust me, it won't be your last. read more

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