Overall a great spot for Japanese tapas. The atmosphere is cozy and energetic, and the menu has a lot to explore. Just be ready for a wait and slightly higher prices compared to other places nearby. read more

Kiraku has been hailed as THE izakaya spot, but despite its strong reputation, it fell short of expectations. We were able to get a spot on a weeknight and the tiny restaurant was packed at 7 PM. The menu is extensive and thoughtfully curated, but the execution didn't really justify the steep prices. Some of the fish dishes were not as fresh as I hoped, and the desserts were underwhelming. I would maybe come back to try the nigiri omakase, but I'm probably better off going to an actual omakase restaurant for that. For the cost, the overall experience felt underwhelming. I'd say it was decent but not remarkable. read more

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Impressive! Cozy, intimate izakaya, with great food, and service. I think Ive tried more than half the menu at this point, and continually find dishes that surprise and delight. Here are some of my favs: Sushi omakase sampler: Fresh fish, good selection, with a little bit of fusion flavors. Sushi is a great mid meal delight in between the more succulent grilled dishes. Couple months ago they had tenmi cut of bluefin tuna, and just last week summer yaitokatuso skipjack tuna (bonito). Grilled beef tongue: The best I've ever had! Great flavor, and surprisingly super tender. Beef tongue is known to be a little tough (like a harder gummy bear), with the flavor being more about the beef texture. However, the beef tongue here has a great saucy flavor, and the beef tongue is the most tender I've seen in the US and Japan-- It really just melts in your mouth. Mini kaisen don: Pretty swanky bowl of goodness that has toro,uni, ikura, and salmon over rice. Fish head stew: Not for everyone, but if you are into fish head, this has a great soy flavor, and you can pick at all your favorite fish head parts. Service is great, and wait staff is super friendly. You can find street parking, but in evening lots of restaurants nearby also filling up, so it can start getting a little harder. If you order sake, they let you pick your sake cup to drink from.. small touch, but super cool. The one fault I can find with this place is that it's too small and/or too popular, and easily books out. I've done walk in twice and had to wait about 60-90 min each time. read more

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A little small hole in the wall, forgot why I saved it in my bookmarks lol but was a little disappointing. ~foOod~ American wagyuy beef tatami was a little underwhelming. Wasn't cooked too well to be soft and sashimi like, felt like a thin blow torched rare steak and it's mainly just ponzu served. 2.5/5 Sweet shrimp is always delicious. A must get!! 5/5 Beef tongue was fairly good. Tasted more like short rib tbh but I'm not tripping! 4/5 Donburi was ok, needed maybe some sauce? Was really plain. 2.5/5 Never really a uni pasta guy but nothing wrong with it! If you like it get it! read more

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I've been to Kiraku a few times now, and it's consistently one of the better izakayas in the East Bay. The place has that cozy, slightly bustling vibe you'd expect -- dim lighting, a warm wooden interior, and chatter that somehow adds to the charm instead of feeling noisy. The food leans traditional but with a few creative twists. The grilled skewers are always solid, and the sashimi tastes fresh every time. My personal favorites are the uni tofu and the karaage -- super flavorful without being greasy. The portions are small (as expected for an izakaya), but everything feels thoughtfully made. Service is friendly and polite, though sometimes a bit slow when it's packed -- totally understandable since it's a popular spot. Prices are mid-range for the area: not cheap, but fair for the quality. Overall, Kiraku delivers a very authentic, comforting Japanese pub experience. It's perfect for a casual night out with friends, a date, or even a solo dinner with sake. Just make sure to go early -- they get busy fast. read more

Long wait time but we went to a bar nearby. The food was very authentic and worth the price. read more

Kiraku - Corn Tempura, Garlic Edamame, Unagi Skewer, Bluefin Tuna Maki, Beef Sirloin Skewer - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

Kiraku has a really nice balance of good food and atmosphere. The space is a bit tight, but that adds to the cozy, busy feel. We tried a variety of dishes and most of them were flavorful and well made. The skewers were probably my favorite part of the meal. I'd recommend it for a casual night out. read more

Was on the wait time for over 1 hour, got a text to head over the table was ready. It wasn't. People that came after me got sat. And continued to wait and never got sat down. read more

3.8/5 Overall, a solid izakaya spot. Personally, I've just been to other ones with similar quality and lower prices and there was nothing calling me back here. My biggest complaint was how overpriced the mini kaisen don and chazuke were. There was about half a bite of salmon with the chazuke so the dish gave much more style than substance. The fish special was also quite bland. Standout dishes: meat skewers, brulee read more

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Deliciously seasoned and fresh izakaya! Every single item we ordered was delicious, I wish we could have kept on eating our way through the menu. The sushi was fresh, the fried items were light and crispy, the cooked items were tasty and succulent. Highly recommend coming here, but definitely make reservations in advance and come with an appetite so you can try as many items as possible! The service is extremely polite and attentive and the items come out quickly. read more

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This was the best izakaya I've had in the Bay Area. Literally everything we ordered from the menu was amazing, you cannot go wrong with any order. The interior is super small and so seating is very limited. However, it's worth the wait. I recommend putting your name down right as they open for dinner. Parking is street parking only, which can be a bit chaotic in Berkeley. I will definitely be back! read more

It's a very small restaurant and very busy. The servers are very nice but it's definitely busy. The food was very small portions, very izakaya style and a bit on the pricy side. I would say the most worth it is the omakase set. The Kaisen don is delicious but so small. It's definitely good to try if you don't mind spending some money! read more

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I got a sample of different types of skewer this time: * Tender Beef Tongue Skewer: 5/5. Still the favorite out of the ones I ordered. Tender and flavorful as usual. * Beef Intestine Skewer: 3/5. A bit too fatty/burned. Not very flavorful. * Beef Sirloin Skewer: 4/5. Taste/texture ok. Nothing too memorable. * Lamb & Scallion Skewer: 4/5. Taste ok but doesn't have very rich flavor. Be mindful that the sauce is some kind of wasabi? Also ordered a salad which was pretty balanced (and I needed some greens). Would rate it 4/5. Roasted Tea Blanc-Manger as dessert: 5/5. Pretty well made. The roasted tea flavor is pretty distinct and the dessert was not overly sweet. read more

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Wanted to go for a long time but don't go to Oakland much and they only open at 5:30pm. Passing by again and thought probably doing a takeout, nobody answers the phone, only web orders (I was driving!), and later on checking prices the $18 squid is now $24. I mean, how hard I have to try to just eat a couple overpriced dishes? Bye! read more

I promised we'd come back, so here we are. Corn tempura, pork belly yakitori, beef tongue, sake sashimi, grilled squid, clams in miso soup, Asahi draft beers and warm sake. In my opinion, anything you order from the menu is going to be a hit. Service was excellent once again. Quite a busy night after a CAL men's basketball game. The wait for the table took some time because we didn't reserve our table through Yelp. The restaurant was playing some good Japanese pop music which is a plus. Makes the ambiance more relaxing and enjoyable. Definitely will be back for the hat trick. read more

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I love this place, one of my fave spots to eat in Berkeley. Several others must feel the same way as there is always a line at the door even before they open. Make reservation if you can, or show up right when they open at 5:30. Every time I've been here the food is solid, service is good, and the vibe is chill. My faves are the corn tempura, beef tongue skewer, pork belly skewer, mackerel, and cod in miso. My son had the buta-kim when he was here and it was his favorite thing. The sashimi is always fresh and delicious, no frills just really excellent pieces of fish. read more

I love Kiraku! It's me and my boyfriend's go-to spot for special occasions in Berkeley. I've gone for our birthdays and anniversaries. They have a daily menu so it's fun to try new things along with getting our favs (corn tempura, carpaccio, toro). Also somehow always see the same server and she is the SWEETEST and always recognizes me :D The restaurant is very cozy and has a great vibe for a date/small groups. Be prepared to spend about $50 per person though ! read more

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I came here again after having such a great time last time (and finally being in Berkeley again). This time I came before opening as I had a reservation for right when it opened, and even though it was a weekday, there was already a line. I highly encourage to reserve a table before coming here, or you might not be able to get one at all. This time, I ordered some favorites from my first time trying: beef tataki, the omakase, and fried corn. However, I also ordered a couple new items: the tuna collar, marinated crab, and scallop risotto. Everything was phenomenal once again and the presentation was great. Out of everything I ordered for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by the collar. I've never had it at a restaurant before, and it was delicious (the portion was huge too). From what I know, this is a special item. Would definitely come back again next time I'm in the area. read more

What a treat!! I love coming to this place. The ambience and the service is so good! I love getting the nigiri and the corn. Will def come Back again read more

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

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Cozy, intimate restaurant with the best service with a smile in Berkeley. I eat a lot of Japanese food and the freshness of the sashimi was surprising! We unfortunately weren't super hungry due to a late lunch so we enjoyed bites more than "meal" type dishes. What I totally recommend: . Sashimi Sampler, very fresh . Salmon sashimi, creamy . Corn Tempura, familiar yet unique . Agedashi Tofu, generous sauce . Fresh fish tempura - also lovely Would try something else next time: . Nasu Miso, too sweet . Beef intestine skewer, too rich but had a bone marrow feel to it if you like that . Beef tongue, not particularly standout . Yuzu chicken udon, odd essence Tip: Definitely make a reservation. read more

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Came at 5 before they opened to join the waitlist and didn't get seated until 7:15 and this place is honestly not worth the wait or the hype. We were told by the host at 5:30 that if the people who made a 6pm reservation didn't show then we would get their table, so we stood outside for an hour in the cold and rain. Not sure why she would say this because not many people wouldn't show up for a reservation without notifying the restaurant. If we knew the wait was going to be 2 hours we would've gone somewhere indoors to kill time. Yuzu salmon crudo tostada - 6.5/10 Grilled squid 6/10 Beef tongue 8/10 Corn fritter 8/10 Okinomiyaki - 7/10 Cod nanban - 6.5/10 Mini chirashi don - 7.5/10 Uni carbonara - 7/10 Dessert - 7/10 I would only come here if I had a reservation and it wasn't on my own dime. Disappointing considering all the hype. read more

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Thank you to the waitress yesterday Saturday evening that just went above and beyond. She brought out a tray of sake cups so we could choose our own cups (fun!). All our food orders came out perfectly cooked and timely. Our water and table was cleared out quickly. This has been the best experience we had restaurant dining in a while. read more

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I would highly recommend getting a reservation for this place because it is super busy all the time. I've been wanting to eat here so badly and finally I decided to get a reservation for a Friday night. I was in a group of 3 people and we were seated soon after we arrived. The restaurant is a small, cozy place that smells amazing! The menu has a lot of options and it got overwhelming really quickly because everything sounded so good and we wanted to try as many different things as we could. Our server was super friendly and was really helpful in recommending popular dishes. The server also recommended that we order from the specials menu first and then from the regular menu. Although the restaurant was very busy, the service did not suffer and our waters/drinks were refilled promptly. Highlights: beef intestine skewer, jumbo squid, unagi skewer, and corn tempura. All of these were so delicious! The beef intestine is a must try! For dessert my sister and I shared the sweet potato brûlée and it was great! The taste wasn't too sweet and you can also taste the sweet potato. Overall, I would come back to try their new stuff and I think that this place is a great gem in Berkeley. read more

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Well worth the wait! The small cozy restaurant is definitely high end in price and experience and worth every cent. Not one item disappointed me, the food came in well timed intervals where I wasn't waiting for the next item long. My favorite bite was the miso pork belly which i ended up ordering more of. The uni carbonara was also a favorite, perfectly creamy and buttery with the bits of uni. read more

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Not realized we have been to the restaurant before, we came back after few years! I still remember this place has good food and their menu has changed. This is a small place and the space is limited. Highly recommended to make reservation! Parking is a challenge so go earlier and plan for looking for street parking. We love the food. Everything is amazing! read more

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Went here for my wife's birthday and had a great experience. Service was great, food was delicious, and it was a good energy for even how small the place was. We ordered the corn tempura, tofu skin w/ ikura and sea urchinnigiri sampler, pork belly, beef intestine, beef tongue plate, chicken cartilage, chazuke, and Roasted Tea Blanc Manger. Honestly everything was good and I would order it all again. The ice cold beer on draft was the full complete experience. read more

make a reservation if you want to come to this restaurant or come right at opening. the restaurant is very small, and the seats are so close together. also, you have to spend $50/person but it's pretty easy to with their tapas. jumbo squid - 7.5/10 it's on the saltier side, but i like the flavor and the mayo dipping sauce goes well with it agedashi tofu - 6/10 interestingly thick and the ginger on top was not ideal when you get a mouthful on accident corn tempura - 7/10 i think this left the roof of mouth scratched up for days. it needs a dipping sauce chicken karaage - 7/10 i love how fried it is, but it doesn't have enough flavor salmon sashimi - 10/10 the star of the show!! literally melts in your mouth 2 black pork belly skewer - 5/10 good but nothing extraordinary 2 beef sirloin skewer - 6/10 it's described as having apple sauce on top, and the sweet hints are nice but also nothing to write home about black cod miso - 8/10 seasoned so well and so soft, i really enjoyed this mini kaisen donburi - 7/10 this is good but i'd rather just get salmon sashimi 4 pieces yuzu salmon tostada - 8/10 i absolutely love the salmon and the cream cheese on top adds a nice cooling flavor bluefin tuna toro sashimi - 8/10 you really can't go wrong with their fish quality! read more

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Walked into this Izakaya and instantly felt like Japan. Service was great. I love the tomato snow crab salad-the juice and sauces tasted so fresh with the tomato. The beef tongue tasted and felt like a short rib so it wasn't what I expected to be a beef tongue skewer. We got 3 different types of Nigiri and the ones with scallop and another type of fish were great, but the egg roe sushi was too salty to my liking. We also liked the natto tartare-a spin to eating natto! The cod skewer was also good. The famous fried corn was super underwhelmed though. Will definitely come back for their other dishes! read more

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5 stars all the way! Extensive menu, stellar execution, flawless service, lively ambiance. While everything we ordered was delicious, there were some absolute standouts. The beef tongue skewer: best beef tongue I have had, ever. Tender and juicy on the inside with a perfect grilled flavor on the exterior. Tempura fish and vegetables: perfectly fried and battered (I want to try more tempura items here!). Seasonal desserts: the roasted tea blanc manger and matcha mont blanc were the perfect end to a meal, beautifully composed and lightly sweet with balanced flavors. Definitely save room for dessert! We made reservations in advance via help: highly recommended given the popularity of this restaurant. I am already looking forward to a return visit! read more

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Amazing place, people are friendly. The sushi is very real, same i had in Japan. The vibe is calm and cozy making you want to stay there for the day. read more

Kiraku - Before entering ! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

What a gem! I felt like I traveled to Japan once more. Authentic food and good ambiance. Fast and friendly service. They filled up quickly right after opening so be here early. I will definitely be back to try more dishes as they have such a large menu. Everything is so delicious! read more

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It's probably been our 20 th visit to kiraku. So would we recommend? I think you have the answer. Great food and drink, friendly efficient service and great ambiance. One of our regular go to places in berkeley. read more

Came here a few weeks ago as Kiraku is always a favorite of ours. We ordered our usuals (beef tongue, wagyu tataki, yuba spoons, 5 kind sashimi, uni carbonara). Everything was fantastic as usual. Kiraku maintains great service and quality/taste in the food they serve! read more

Kiraku - 5 kinds sashimi - beautiful! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

you won't have a bad bite here! the precision & thought behind each dish is very much apparent. my favorite dish was the ankimo mousse - the sweet potato chips were the perfect, crunchy vessel for the rich monk fish liver! the beef intestine skewer melted in my mouth & the corn tempura reinvented how i view corn! highly recommend making a reservation because this place gets packed! read more

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Hell yea. This place is authentic izakaya style Japanese food. Brought me back to the alleys of Shinjuku and Shabuya (rolll callll.) The fish is super fresh and is sooo flavorful when done omakase style. But of course me and my friend had to go dumb and get a bunch of apps! My favorite was the beef tongue skewer and the corn tempura (why don't more places do that!?) and the cabbage was savory and saucy. The uni carbonara was also creamy and delightful. I will say it ain't cheap. I spent $100 but whatever YOLO. You'll definitely need a reservation to visit. We snuck in with a last minute 5:30 one but I imagine they are packed during peak hours. read more

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

Food is delicious, staff is very friendly. The portion isn't big considering the price. Waiting time is too long (2 hours). read more

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This was the best sushi I've had since the hole-in-the wall place in LA's Little Tokyo in the 2010s. The 6-piece Omakase is so artfully crafted - every single piece was a masterpiece. Extremely friendly and informative servers. I have a shellfish allergy and they kindly accommodated. If you can get around the $30 per person minimum, Kiraku will make it well worth your while. read more

The most delicious and extraordinary Japanese resturamt that I have ever been to. There is no other menu like the one at this Japanese resturant. Everything ordered was different and unusual and most importantly absolutely delicious. read more

This is my sixth time coming back to Kiraku, and it's still one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area. I usually order a lot of dishes when I come, and this visit was no different. That said, I did feel like the food wasn't quite as good as the last few times. Not sure if it was an off night or something else, but a few dishes didn't have the same wow factor I've come to expect. Even so, the overall experience was still enjoyable, and I'll definitely be back. Kiraku continues to be a go-to spot for solid Japanese food in Berkeley. read more

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OMG food at Kiraku was authentic and SO delicious!!! I'm so happy I found this place :) *Ankimo Mousse with sweet potato chips $22- 5 stars!!!!!!! *Otoro $20 - was very good *Mini Kaisen Donburi - $22 - 5 stars!! *Yuba with Ikura - $18 - 5 stars!! *American wagyu beef tataki - $18 - 5 stars!! *Matcha Mont Blanc - $8 - 5 stars!!! *I thought even Oolong tea there was delicious!! $2 Services - food came pretty quick although the restaurant was packed!! I've made a reservation via Yelp on the same day. I got seated on time:) They sang happy birthday to their guests at two tables while I was dining there. They turned off the light each time, it was so cute :) Ambiance - it's small place but it's so cute:) I highly recommend Kiraku! I will definitely go back and would LOVE to eat their Uni donburi!!!! read more

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