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    KoJa Kitchen

    4.1 (1.5k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order KoJa Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

    KoJa Kitchen Photos

    KOJA KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    I've ordered from here several times. Most of the time it's good, but the quality can be inconsistent. Sometimes the rice is very dry, and the meat is often cut into very small pieces that look more like leftover scraps than proper slices. I hope they can improve the consistency.

    Short rib bowl combo
    Zach D.

    I got the short rib combo with fries. The meat was tasty and well marinated, but the tenderness of the meat was a bit inconsistent as some of the pieces were really chewy. Food was served extremely quick. TLDR: Worth the try.

    Miso pork Koja
    Richard M.

    One of my FAVs. I have trouble deciding between the miso pork and the short rib Koja. Always spectacular. It pops, it crunches, it snaps, it soothes, it drips down your chin. Love the fries too. The atmosphere could be a bit more inviting.

    Beef Bowl, Kamikaze Fries
    Uyen L.

    I've had this chain at another location before and always thought the food was solid. This spot is near a bunch of other food places and had a decent amount of tables to sit at, which was nice. I got the beef rice bowl this time. The rice was a little too sticky for me, but not a huge deal. The seasoning and sauce on the beef and salad were really good! Super flavorful, tho a bit salty if you're eating it without the rice to balance it out. The kimchi had a good crunch and texture, but flavor-wise it was just okay. We also shared the kamikaze fries, and those were really good. Fries were crispy, not greasy, and the beef was flavorful and not dry at all. The sauce on top was tasty, but we kind of wished it was a little more saucy.

    Teriyaki Zen Koja
    Shih Fa K.

    Even though I have been to a Koja before, I had not tried a Zen Koja before, now, I regret not trying it sooner because it was really good. The service was good, and the ambiance was very casual. The only bummer is that they do not have restrooms.

    Short Rib Bowl
    Kris S.

    Awesome service and great food. I placed an order on Uber eats and it was Buy one get one free. I got the short ribs. The portions were great and the flavor was great. I would definitely order here again.

    beef bowls
    Rachel Z.

    love koja for their kamikaze fries (10/10) but the beef taco was so unappetizing. it was soggy and soaked in oil. just lifting it up the oil dripped down all over my arm and was pooled in the container. would not order again. this was terrible (2/10). the beef rice bowl is pretty good, simple and filling with good balance between veggies, rice, and meat for the cost (7.5/10)

    Beef bowl with more of everything else than beef. This is what we found when we opened our takeout container.

    We have ordered from this restaurant MANY times in the past through Uber Eats. Food has always been delicious with great portion sizes. We usually had leftovers for the next day! Tonight, when my young kids opened their orders, they told me I needed to call Uber as their food was missing some stuff. We ordered 3 full size chicken bowls and 2 full size beef bowls. We got 3 TINY STRIPS OF CHICKEN in each of the chicken bowls and about 2, maybe 2.5 spoons of beef in each beef bowl. The rest of the entree were large scoops of rice and mixed greens and some kimchi. I'm suspecting that since they offered a buy one get one free for the beef bowls, they overly skimped on the meat portions of every dish.

    Braised Pork Bowl
    Eileen X.

    Delicious! Ordered pickup and came on a weekday afternoon and the restaraunt was completely empty. Pickup went smoothly and the food was still warm and fragrant by the time I arrived home. I got the braised pork bowl, and KoJa did not skimp on the portions! There was a heaping pile of fluffy white rice accompanied with a generous amount of tender braised pork, both of which, when paired with the sweet coconut sauce, were delicious. The kimchi tasted surprisingly fresh and had the perfect crunch to it. Overall, this place is definitely worth a try and a revisit.

    Beef bowl
    Barry W.

    One line review: Decent but grade incomplete. This is Korean-inspired fast food and has to be judged on that basis. But for what it is, it is decent. Fair portions at good prices is a baseline for me for fast food. Value is paramount, and the value here is decent. The tacos were tasty, and so that gives it a little bump in my opinion. I would have given this 3.5 stars if that had been an option. The inside of the restaurant is non-descript, and the service was adequate. I parked around the corner at a meter, though one might be able to find free parking if one knows where to look (I don't anymore). The reason the grade is incomplete was that I did not actually order the koja -- a kind of Korean sandwich using rice patties for the bread -- a ridiculous oversight on my part. I really need to do that before I give this place a final grace, but so far, so good. Bottom line: I would eat here again when near campus.

    short rib bowl and kamikaze fries
    Billy L.

    I've had Koja Kitchen a few times at their Cupertino location, and it's good if you're craving Asian fusion. I always order the same thing, which is the Korean short rib bowl. Since my work was expensing lunch I also ordered the Kamikaze fries. The short rib bowl comes with furikake seasoned rice and spring mix. The short rib is tender but is on the sweet side. The seasoned rice helps balance out the sweetness. The Kamikaze fries are waffle fries with minced Korean BBQ beef, kimchi, Japanese mayo, red sauce, and green onions. The fries are good, but they are heavy. The beef and sauce on the fries are very sweet. So there is a lot of sweetness going on having a rice bowl and fries. I would recommend getting the fries to share with a group.

    Kamikaze fries
    Banjo P.

    Tasty little spot offering fusion food. I got the kamikaze fries: beef, all the trimmings, added a fried egg and extra sauce. The fries were full of flavor and presentation was bomb. Check it out!

    Rose L.

    On the pricier side for sure-- around $17 for Kami kaze fries and a chicken burger but their flavors hit right! I loved the crispiness of the kami kaze fries with the sauce and the beef bits on top, it was delicious! The chicken sandwich was a chicken sandwich with "Asian" sauces which put a nice spin on it for me! Would I order it again-- if Koja was the ONLY place open, but it was good to check out!

    Chicken Bowl

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    Page 1 of 38

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

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

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

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

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    Tsuruya

    Tsuruya

    4.6
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    WHEN: Sat @6pm…read more PARKING: There is metered parking around, and is free after 6pm. It may be a bit tricky especially around meal time, but keep circling and you'll find a spot near by enough. This cute little ramen shop has such perfect lighting coming through thanks to thier skylight. We weren't actually hungry so we shared the following: TONKOTSU - $16.50 (Regular) Pork Belly Chashu, Bamboo Shoots, Red Onion, Wood Ear Mushrooms, Green Onion, Ajitama Egg. You get a choice of noodles to pick: 1.) Hakata - Thin Straight 2.) Sapporo - Medium Thick Wavy Figured since it's my first time here, I choose the most basic version of their bowl of ramen. I chose Sapparo and for some reason expected it to be thicker/wider, but regardless it was still good! The presentation of this bowl is just gorgeous, served on a small wooden platter. The red onion is chopped, and the pork Belly is quite tender. Regarding the egg, you get just half. Overall this bowl of ramen is creamy, rich, and the right amount of flavor and salt. But still make sure to drink at least a glass of water! CREAMY CHASHU PORK CROQUETTES - $8.50 I have never seen anything like this so I must give it a try! It actually didn't come out piping hot, so I was able to drive in right away! It was definitely creamy (like ramen) and had pieces of the Chau's pork, encased in a crispy and warm batter that was deep fried. It also comes with a katsu sauce and I really enjoyed it. The staff was friendly and didn't make us feel bad for ordering enough of just one, but man I was so full. Had to walk around downtown Berkeley for awhile.

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

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    Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya

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

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

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    KoJa Kitchen - asianfusion - Updated July 2026

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