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    Muracci's Berkeley

    3.5 (394 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese Curry
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Muracci's Berkeley Photos

    MURACCI'S BERKELEY ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Pork Katsu Curry
    Jon H.

    Best value and taste consistently for two decades. Hands down best Japanese katsu curry in the Bay Area! I started coming here since they first opened in the S.F. financial district. I saw the owner walk in delivering food and talked to him since I remember him cooking from the early days. He said he still makes the curry sauce daily and delivers it to his shops. Always a good sign owners are personally involved in operations! Kudos for legacy business and passion for upholding quality!

    Chicken Katsu Curry
    Su T.

    For the portion size to price comparison, this is a dependable and tasty spot to go for chicken katsu curry. My friends in berkeley and I used to always go here! I always had issues with curry being too watered down but Muracci's is always pretty good!

    How cute are these cups for the kiddos!
    Helen T.

    Glad my family & I stumbled across this cute cozy place after a day of hiking. It was getting chilly outside and this was perfect. We got the curry udon, the Katsu curry, and tried the fried Japanese potato. Our kids got the karaage and udon noodles. We basically cleaned up the plates. Kids & I loved the drink ware and dinnerware that were served for the kids! They even provided coloring mat and crayons to entertain the kids.. that's always a plus. Our server was attentive and asked if we needed water refills and quick delivery of food.

    Katsu udon
    Thiri T.

    I ordered the katsu udon and it was pretty solid! I got the spicy level but could've gotten extra spicy. The udon was perfectly cooked and the curry sauce was creamy. I loved the boiled veggies on the side for extra crunch. The portions were huge but the katsu would have been a bit more tender. Definitely the highlight of my meal was the very friendly staff and coloring paper. They gave us crayons and paper to draw on so we could put it up later on the wall. It was very wholesome and cute (:

    Beef cut
    Kaelin C.

    The beef curry never disappoints. Today I got it with potatoes and it was the best decision ever!!! They're very generous with the potatoes and the beef. The sauce is heavenly!! Service is great although I mostly order takeout. The fried gyoza was amazing too. I highly recommend muraccis.

    Salmon Fry Curry (Extra Rice and Extra Curry)
    Wesley L.

    Saw a sign a while back that the free extra curry / rice promotion for students has returned and wanted to give it a try. The special is for dine-in only and you can't share 1 plate between people. Ordered the fried salmon because I was looking to try something new. The portion was MASSIVE and I was excited to dig into a plate of rice & curry (honestly with the fried salmon on the side). Jokes aside, it was pretty tasty but not spicy at all even thought I ordered their hottest level. They also offer brown rice which is a nice healthier option. Honestly if I'm in the mood for just curry and rice, I will probably come here. The staff was really nice and kept refilling my water as I went through this salty meal. It's a smaller restaurant with a moderate amount of seating, but they also do takeout. Good vibes, affordable, and generous portions. All things students look for in a college town

    Tarek S.

    We came here after we tried to go to Champions but it was closed despite saying that it was open on Yelp (and other platforms) That's actually the second time we tried to go there. But I digress I was thrilled to find this place as I had promised my son that we would go for Japanese curry. I was very impressed by the large portions and the flavorful roux of the curry. The beef was very tender, and the egg and the katsu were fried perfectly. Service was a little careless but they were friendly enough. So overall it was a very good experience The price is pretty reasonable too and I think it should accommodate all budgets. Great choice and I'm sure we'll be back.

    meat curry
    Mito I.

    Quick Summary: - Looks soupy, but rich Japanese style curry roux - Entered hungry, left pretty full - Seats inside We entered here early evening, and we all decided that we wanted to eat curry for dinner. My relatives have eaten Muracci before, but this will be my first time. There were not many people yet; this was before class started, so there were not many students either. The staff guided us to our seats, and we browsed through the menu. We ordered four dishes in total: curry rice with beef, curry rice with pork cutlet, curry noodle, and a side of salad. It gave me a smile, when the salad arrived. If I recall, the menu displays salad with a S icon, and this also being a side dish, I expected it to be in a small sized bowl. The bowl looked medium sized in my opinion, so it was easily shared within the family. The size didn't bother us at all, but it would come as a surprise, if others also believed it was going to small too. The curry with beef or pork cutlet had different spice levels. The beef had medium, and the pork had a spicier roux (I don't remember what the level of spiciness was). The curry roux with beef was a good amount of spice, even I - with a low spice tolerance - was able to eat it with a straight face. I felt a mild burn on each bite, so it was a very comfortable spice level. The curry roux for the pork cutlet, on the other hand, had a kick. I felt it in the throat, and for this one I needed to drink water. Very good though, but water would be a must for me if I order this dish. I had the curry udon, and what I liked about this one is that the curry in this dish is different from the curry rice. It's soupier (as it should be) so it's easy for the udon noodles to wrap around the broth. The vegetables, some are large pieces but they were cooked tender. It easily broke with a fork or chopsticks. Very good food experience because we entered hungry and left full and happy. If I am feeling like eating curry, this will be a good place to return to.

    Salmon Curry with brown rice
    Tiffany D.

    We were so lucky to have gotten seats before the crowd came for dinner, we stopped by on a week night during the week around 630pm and it was great Service was slow because they had a large group take away order. But overall, the wait was worth it! I've been wanting curry for sometime. I was skeptical about eating salmon with curry because it isn't common, however, I was significantly pleased that the salmon wasn't dry & it was cooked to perfection, didn't taste fishy in my opinion. The brown rice was also cooked well. There is street parking & parking structure on Channing. Also, if you're concerned medium isn't very spicy. Overall, if you're craving Japanese curry, I'd recommend that!

    Karaage Curry
    Alexis K.

    This place is pretty par-for-the-course as far as Berkeley spots go. There's street parking on Telegraph but that's never guaranteed so if you live nearby, just walk over! The food is decent and I ended up eating most of my karaage since it was crispy, well-seasoned, and very juicy! The curry had a nice texture with that classic curry aroma. I wish there were some veggies like potatoes or carrots in it to accompany the karaage and rice but I enjoyed it. They have good deals for students so give it a try!

    Curry Omelette Curry - not good
    Jennifer J.

    My curry tasted like it had a lot of vinegar in it and was hard to eat. My egg omelette was over cooked and dry. :(

    Menu
    Lizzie S.

    I never actually had Muracci's when it was in downtown SF, and then it closed during COVID! When this other restaurant a group of friends wanted to go to was closed (on a Sunday night??) off UC Berkeley's campus, we unanimously agreed to go to Muracci's because who does not like curry?? There's really cute art from students inside, it looks like a place that serves the local community, and not just the college. I tried the chicken curry, and friends tried the beef curry and chicken katsu curry. Everything was delicious and filling and reasonably-priced. The kara-age was also very good, but it's fried chicken--it better be good! You can order ahead for takeout (no indoor or outdoor seating), or order inside--the wait was no more than 20 minutes! In short? Good food, great value.

    Zachary H.

    Overall, if you want Japanese curry, Muraccis is definitely a place. If you want great curry, it's usually not here. I've had fairly good katsu curry and curry udon here, but today I instead ordered the curry ramen. Chicken karaage Curry Ramen - Overall, it wasn't bad but you can clearly see why ramen isn't meant for curry. The noodles don't stand up to the curry soup, and it ends up being worse rice in my opinion. Chicken was alright, but not a seller. Service was great and responsive, and atmosphere was fairly normal. Overall, a place to go if you're hankering for curry but don't expect anything too amazing.

    Brown rice Tofu and Vegetable Curry

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    Muracci's Berkeley Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Muracci's Berkeley

    Are the fried gyozas vegetarian?

    Is Muraccis open now for take out during quarantine?

    Yes, they are open for takeout and dining it.

    How is this different from the one in San Francisco on Kearny? Thanks in advance!

    The Berkeley location definitely has more seating options and in general is more spacious. It's better to bring friends here to sit down and enjoy the meal. At the Kearny location, there are stools and tables facing a wall directly adjacent to the… Read more

    View All 4 Questions

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    Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork Katsu Curry

    Nippon Curry Berkeley

    4.4(55 reviews)
    0.2 miTelegraph Ave
    $$

    Delicious Japanese curry. Love the house made curry that is so rich and delicious. Good portions,…read morehearty plate, and fresh. I give it a 4.5 because the chicken katsu was not as juicy and tender as I expected. The chicken karaage was excellent. Juicy and tender, perfectly crispy. It had a great blend of garlic and ginger.

    Came here on a weekend day and saw that this place was pretty empty, but had a sign for…read more"award-winning" curry, so we stopped by. We were not disappointed. There are a few seats at a counter and then another 2-3 seats at a window-facing table. We sat at the counter and ordered a chicken karagge curry and a veggie croquette curry. The food was so good I ordered a chicken katsu curry to-go, which they pack well, separating the curry from the chicken so it doesn't get soggy. We both thought it was the most delicious curry we've had in awhile. It was very creamy and had perfect texture. However, the only complaints I have are that: 1. The veggie croquette was a little odd with fewer veggies and more mush inside, though still fresh and tasty. 2. Although I ordered a veggie curry, the base was still a "beef curry" and there were little pieces of beef in my curry. This made the dish much heavier than I thought and not something I expected. So this place might not be best for vegetarians given the default options. 3. They ask if you want pickles on the side, as if they would charge extra, but I don't think they do. Overall though, I would definitely come back and maybe ask if they have other curry bases and see how those might be. Overall, a very solid Japanese curry place.

    Photos
    Nippon Curry Berkeley - Inside

    Inside

    Nippon Curry Berkeley - Mixed Seafood #1 Ebi, Kaki, Kani Cream

    Mixed Seafood #1 Ebi, Kaki, Kani Cream

    Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork Katsu Curry karaage

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    Pork Katsu Curry karaage

    Masa Ramen Bistro - BROKE DA MOUTH!

    Masa Ramen Bistro

    4.5(320 reviews)
    0.8 miDowntown Berkeley
    $$

    Brief summary: - Good portions - fills up more than its…read moreappearance - Liked the equal balance of the broth and noodles with protein - Close to Trader Joe's - Indoor seating Ramen is a dish that has started sprouting in Berkeley, and this is one of them .I decided to go there for dinner with the family before heading to the Trader Joe's across the street to stock up on groceries. We entered a few minutes before peak dinner times, so there were seats to choose and sit from. By the time we left, mostly all the seats were filled up, so I would suggest coming in early. I liked the naming for each of the ramen dishes, some I recognized the names from Hawai'i. For this round, we ordered 3 different types of ramen: the Kuni, Broke da Mouth, and the Miso Hungry. These orders also came around the same time. A notable elements I liked about the ramen was that the noodles were chewy and springy, and the broth was smooth and easy to drink. I also didn't have the urge to drink lots of water either, so the seasoning was perfect. The other element was that I got to enjoy the ramen's broth and noodles as the stars of the dish, and the proteins, like the pork were supporting roles. For me, what I enjoy ramen are the broth and noodles, so I'm happy that these are prominent in the dish, rather than me having other chow down a thick slab of pork. This restaurant hit the right marks for what a delicious ramen is for me, so I'll come back, and maybe try their other broths.

    I thought I had reviewed this place already, but Yelp doesn't seem to think so?…read more I had ramen with a black garlic broth. It was perfectly cooked, service was great, would definitely go back. Ambiance was Christmas music (meh).

    Photos
    Masa Ramen Bistro - Dining space

    Dining space

    Masa Ramen Bistro - Broke da mouth ramen

    Broke da mouth ramen

    Masa Ramen Bistro - Inside

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    Inside

    Tada Ramen & Yakitori - Tonkotsu Ramen

    Tada Ramen & Yakitori

    4.4(135 reviews)
    3.7 miGrand Lake, Lower Hills

    Food was so good! I just moved from SF and have been to spots like Marufuku Ramen and Hinodeya…read moreRamen Bar, and this place definitely compares. I got the Tonkotsu and the grilled pork was delicious, super flavorful with a nice char on the edges. Had that nice grilled flavor. I got the spicy on the side since I wasn't sure about the heat level, and ended up using about 3/4 of it. It paired really well with the broth, which was rich and full of flavor. The yakitori was also really good. I tried the king oyster and the chicken thigh, and everything was cooked perfectly. I finished everything. The atmosphere is great, the art and menu are really fun, and the service was super friendly. Really excited to have this as my go-to ramen spot. Definitely bringing friends and family here when they visit.

    Tada Ramen & Yakitori in Oakland was a bit of a rainy day pivot for us. I'll start by saying I'm…read morehella biased, I love Marufuku over in Temescal, but we wanted to dine in for lunch and found out they were only doing pickup. So we ended up here instead. For starters, we got the enoki chips, and they were such a fun, unique treat. Super crispy with a great texture, I'd absolutely order them again. We also tried the Tada bun. It was good, but it felt like it was missing something to really make it pop. I really appreciated the variety on the menu, especially the starters and curries. There are so many options that I'd definitely come back to try something different next time. If you're vegan, this is actually a great spot. They have three vegan ramen options, which felt special since most places only offer one. My partner ordered the spicy vegan ramen and thought it was terrific, though we both agreed the broth wasn't as rich as we're used to. I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The broth felt a bit underwhelming, and the pork flavor came across stronger than I expected. That said, I'd definitely come back, especially because of the thoughtful vegan options. Next time, I'll probably try the Chashu Bowl, which looked really good when it came out at another table. The space isn't very big, so it's probably not ideal for groups larger than 4-6, but it would be great for a casual date night or cozy lunch.

    Photos
    Tada Ramen & Yakitori - Inside

    Inside

    Tada Ramen & Yakitori - Mochi Bacon Skewers

    Mochi Bacon Skewers

    Tada Ramen & Yakitori - Unagi Skewer

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    Unagi Skewer

    Kitchen Story - Chicken and waffles, very good.  Waffles so sweet, syrup was unnecessary.

    Kitchen Story

    4.0(1.4k reviews)
    1.8 miNorth Oakland
    $$

    Living down the block for years this is the first time I've been to kitchen story. The weekends…read morewhen I would drive by seems like there's always a lot of people here so I made a reservation reservations online and you have the option to choose if you want to sit outside inside or upstairs. I reserved for three to sit in the main dining room. The next day we arrived right on time for our reservation and still had to wait about 10-15 minutes and was asked if we could sit outside and then we were seated upstairs. I was a little bummed we didn't get to sit in the lower dining room like I booked on our reservations. It was still cute upstairs and good company always makes brunch even better. The servers were quick and helpful. I wanted something light so I just ordered the chicken and waffle bites. My husband got French toast and a side of chicken and my friend got a main entrée of a sandwich with some fries and a little soup. All of the food that came out looked amazing even at other people's tables. For brunch, the price is a little pricey, but I would like to come back to try other entrées when I'm more hungry. We asked one of our servers if he had a light as I brought a little candle to celebrate my friend's birthday, and as he lit it, he also decided to join in with us as we sang happy birthday, which I thought was really sweet. He did not have to do. He even got other tables around us to sing happy birthday as well. It felt like a special moment for my friend, which was a nice surprise. I did really appreciate this part and look forward to coming back.

    We visited Kitchen Story for a spontaneous Mother's Day brunch. I will say this is a popular brunch…read morespot, so be prepared for a bit of a wait. We arrived shortly after 10am and our wait was just under 30 minutes. The restaurant is cozy (on the smaller side) but has an interesting layout. There's seating both indoors, outside, and upstairs. You may have to squeeze by a few tables to make your way to the restroom. Customer service was friendly and attentive. Pricing for food & drinks was a bit high. Our total for 2 entrees and 2 drinks was $60 before tip. We ordered two drinks (orange juice and an iced mocha) which were provided promptly. The orange juice was a little too sour and my mom had to add some sugar to improve the taste. The iced mocha was good, not too sweet. One thing to note the wait for our food took much longer than expected, and it may have been due to how busy it was. My mom opted to order the salmon yuzu benedict and I got an egg plate (scrambled eggs) with a side green salad. My mom mentioned the potatoes lacking salt but she enjoyed the salmon benedict. I thought the scrambled eggs were good, but slightly bland & needed salt and pepper. The side green salad was alright, but the vinaigrette had a bitter aftertaste. Overall, the meal was pretty good and timing wasn't the best. I'd likely return for brunch on a non-peak day. Definitely recommend joining the yelp waitlist prior to arriving if you can!

    Photos
    Kitchen Story
    Kitchen Story - Mascarpone Stuffed Deep Fried French Toast the outside was more crunchy than expected. Was a bit tough to chew.

    Mascarpone Stuffed Deep Fried French Toast the outside was more crunchy than expected. Was a bit tough to chew.

    Kitchen Story - Korean FC & Waffles Breakfast

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    Korean FC & Waffles Breakfast

    Noodle Dynasty - Lamb and Tomato Lo Mein 番茄羊捞面 ($14.99) - I found the sauce too sweet.

    Noodle Dynasty

    4.5(457 reviews)
    0.0 miTelegraph Ave
    $$

    One of the best spots for noodle soup in the Bay Area. I've tried coming here on 3 different…read moreaccounts and the line was always too long to fit my agenda. After the long anticipation, I was able block off my calendar and finally try this place on a Friday night. We had a part of 7 and it was more challenging to find a table to fit all of us. Especially with the wait, I would recommend coming here with parties of 4-5 max. The restaurant was mainly filled with students from the nearby college so it's very lively and packed. Usually when my anticipation is high, my expectations are higher and I'm usually disappointed but this did not disappoint!! The broth was so flavorful and the noodles had the perfect consistency of bounce and chew. The meats were tender and on top of that, the portions are huge and very reasonably priced! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but highly recommend the House Special Beef Rib Noodle Soup if it's your first time.

    Noodle Dynasty opened 3 years ago where Thai Noodle 2 was. Infrastructure, seating similar with a…read moreslight change of decorations. They opened 15 minutes early on Mother's Day. Inside seating only. Waited to be seated per notice. Given a tablet to order on. I didn't know how to turn it on. Associate did so. Staff spoke Mandarin, Cantonese & English. Ordered on tablet, paid. Got water soon without a cup. It arrived minutes later. Soup came within 10 minutes. After soup came, no check-ins. Offerings (Chinese): appetizers, lo mein, noodle soup, specialty stir fries, soup, stir fries... Slurps: lamb noodle soup in 8-hour broth (16.99) - boiling hot broth had savory unami. - overcooked, slightly mushy thin noodles mixed with boiled radish slices, sesame seeds, cilantro, green onions. No veggies Semi-tasty lamb slices. -pretty good. Not wowed. Many new Chinese noodle shops have opened in Berkeley in the past year. 4 ish stars. Service: wham bam! Thank U ma'am/man. None after bringing entree. Quality: reasonable. Quantity: ingredients skimpy. May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

    Photos
    Noodle Dynasty - Dining room

    Dining room

    Noodle Dynasty - Lamb Brisket Noodle Soup 羊腩面 with Thick Noodles ($13.99) - lamb brisket is better on rice than on noodles. Soup is too sweet.

    Lamb Brisket Noodle Soup 羊腩面 with Thick Noodles ($13.99) - lamb brisket is better on rice than on noodles. Soup is too sweet.

    Noodle Dynasty - 2025 Menu

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    2025 Menu

    Kiraku

    Kiraku

    4.4(1.8k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Really great restaurant. Was able to easily make a reservation on Yelp for 5:30 on a Wednesday…read more They have an iPad in the front that you can waitlist on, but you can also check-in for your reservation on it. Inside is definitely cozy and you'll be sitting fairly close to the tables next to you. Service was really fast and easy - no complaints at all! The food was all great. Standouts were garlic edamame, 6pc omakase, beef tongue, pork belly, negitoro maki, corn tempura, & sweet potato creme brulee. Edamame was lightly charred and salted well, with generous amount of garlic flavor. Omakase was fresh and tasty, although a tiny bit small so definitely perhaps get your own instead of sharing one order between two. Beef tongue was hands down the best thing. I thought it was a boneless short rib with how tender it was (can break apart with chopsticks). The pork belly was also soft and went well with the spicy miso. Negitoro was fresh and the wasabi was grated very well. Corn tempura was perfectly fried and very crispy while still being soft inside. Lastly, the creme brulee was a great dessert. You do get a hint of the sweet potato. Would love to return to try other dishes!

    Came here for dinner with my sister and brother-in-law at their recommendation, and I can…read moredefinitely see why they keep coming back. The restaurant was packed and seating is pretty limited, so I'd highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time. The atmosphere is lively and energetic with casual Japanese eatery vibes, and service was friendly throughout the meal. Everything felt creative, rich in flavor, and very texture-focused. Here are the highlights: * Ankimo Mousse (monkfish liver) with sweet potato chips - Made with truffle paste, capers, and chives. Absolutely delicious. The mousse was rich and savory but surprisingly fluffy in texture -- honestly a savory girl's dream. The sweet potato chips added just enough sweetness and a snap to balance the richness of the liver. 9/10 * Bluefin Tuna & Tsubugai Sashimi Nuta - Bluefin tuna, sea snail, broccolini, and fresh wakame tossed in a sweet Kyoto yuzu miso vinaigrette. Kind of like a sashimi-seaweed salad. I really liked the vinaigrette and especially the texture of the sea snail. I'm not sure all the ingredients fully came together cohesively, but it was still enjoyable overall. 7.5/10 * Yuba (house-made tofu skin with ikura and uni) - Served as single bites on spoons. SO good. You can really taste the difference between house-made tofu skin and store-bought. It's much more delicate, creamy, and tender, with a mild soybean flavor that balanced the richness of the uni and salmon roe beautifully. The textures in this bite were incredible. 9.5/10 * Iberico Pork Jowl Skewer with miso marinade - I honestly prefer pork jowl over pork belly. The fat and meat are more integrated instead of layered, so every bite is tender, juicy, and flavorful with just the right amount of chew. So good. 9/10 * Clam & Cilantro Ramen - I've never had a ramen broth quite like this. It was slightly creamy and deeply flavored from the clams, and the cilantro added a lot of depth and freshness. The noodles had a great texture too -- chewy and bouncy. Everything worked together perfectly. 9/10 * Uni Carbonara Pasta - Pasta with parmesan, uni, and ikura. They do not skimp on the uni or roe here. Super creamy and rich with bursts of saltiness from the ikura. The texture was great, but I honestly wished it had just a tiny bit more salt to really make all the flavors pop. It was almost there for me. 7.5/10 * Desserts - We tried two desserts, including the sweet potato brûlée. Both were delicious. One had a silky panna cotta-like texture, while the sweet potato brûlée was creamy, lightly sweet, and had the perfect crackly sugar top. 9/10 Overall, such a fun meal with a lot of unique dishes and flavor combinations. There are still so many things on the menu I want to try next time. I'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    Kiraku - Ankimo chips & dip

    Ankimo chips & dip

    Kiraku - Nigiri sampler

    Nigiri sampler

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    Muracci's Berkeley - japacurry - Updated May 2026

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