Location: Berkeley
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Most Popular Japanese food in Berkeley, California, United States
Best Japanese restaurants nearby. Discover the best Japanese food in Berkeley. View Menus, Photos and Reviews for Japanese restaurants near you.. The counter-culture, flower power center of the 60s, bohemian Berkeley has evolved into a culinary and cultural travel scene. Shift into low gear and people-watch along quirky Telegraph Avenue while checking out the bookstores and cafes. After strolling through the UC Berkeley campus, the Berkeley Rose Garden and the Downtown Arts District, head into the hills for an outdoor adventure in Tilden Park or cruise down to the waterfront park, where the San Francisco skyline sparkles across the bay.
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6. Kirala2
Overall Ratings
4 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By Karen S
My usual dish is grilled salmon with rice and veggies. A nice portion for $9 is an excellent quick dinner to take home. They also have lots of other dishes such as chicken and pork dinners, and noodle dishes, and sushi. That said, I must admit that I've kind of fixated on this one.
5. Cha-Ya Vegetarian Japanese
Overall Ratings
4 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By DrSGPrice
Major vegan menu of soups, salads, noodles, sushi and sashimi, dinner plates and sides. There is, saki, wine, beer and other beverages. Service is friendly and responsive. One of us couldnât get over the goodness of his rolls. Two of us ordered dinner plates (#s 24 & 26). Creative and filled with multiple wonderful foods. Yes, cash only so no frequent flyer miles or Membership Rewards. Nevertheless, Cha-Ya is a keeper.
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4. Ippuku
Overall Ratings
4 based on 83 reviews
Reviewed By Andreas G
My wife and I had wanted to go to Ippuku for quite some time. I have lived in Japan, and both my wife and I have spent substantial time there. I have been to izakayas in Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Tokyo, and Sendai, as well as in the countryside surrounding some of these cities. I had read the TripAdvisor reviews of Ippuku posted by others, and found them quite confusing as they ranged from wonderful to abysmal, some lauding the food or service or both, and others panning one or the other or both. It was time to pay a visit, and we did so midweek in late May, after the undergrads were gone from nearby UC Berkeley, anticipating that it would be a better time to visit the restaurant. We arrived at about 5:30 PM and were seated without any wait. As others have noted in their reviews, if you get a table near the door, you may find it quite cool. Berkeley can get quite cool at night, and we visited on one of those cool nights. We were seated a few tables in, and were spared the worst of the door breeze, but did wonder why all the windows were open. Let me suggest that if you go, that unless there is a heat wave, you may want to bring an extra layer. We were presented with menus, and informed of the specials and kitchen recommendations. Our waiter, and indeed all the servers were very good about keeping water glasses filled, and clearing dishes once they were emptied. When I ordered I asked how things would be served, and made it a point that we did not want to get all the dishes at once, and preferred that the dishes be spread out over time. They did a good job with this aspect. On our visit, service was the strongest plus for the restaurant. Scanning the menu, and particularly in light of the prior reviews and our favorites at another Japanese restaurant in Berkeley, we ordered an extensive set of items, and once we finished them, and were still not really sated, we ordered three more items. Iâll list the items below, but let me just say that there wasnât a single item that I feel a need to have again. As noted by others, portions were small for the prices charged, and for some dishes, the flavor was pretty bland. Nama Yuba (tofu skin, $8): Tofu skin picks up the flavors of the sauce it is in. I liked it, but my wife was unenthused.Karage (Japanese fried chicken, $10): Moist and tender, but I prefer Musashiâs version. I also prefer having the chicken cut into more bite-size portions. The preparation seemed kitchen lazy. Grilled chicken thigh ($8): Nothing special. Eight small pieces total on two skewers. Overpriced for what it is. Grilled pork belly ($12): two skewers with a total of six pieces of pork belly. Flavorful, but again overpriced for what it is. Bekon Mochi (bacon-wrapped mochi, $8): Donât understand what the fuss is about. Four bacon-wrapped mochi pieces total on two skewers. It was ok, but not anything that stood out. Crab croquettes ($15): two croquettes, with I doubt even a quarter cup of crabmeat between them. âRecommendedâ by the kitchen, but overpriced for what it is. Squid ink fried rice ($12): No squid, and seemingly nothing but thinly sliced Japanese green onion on top. Just rice with squid ink that was not particularly flavorful. Very skippable. Corn fritters ($10): Perhaps the dish we both liked the most, but the corn fritter at Soi4 in Oakland is even better, and a better value. I am fortunate to be in a financial position where I can afford to have meals like this, and not worry about the cost. However, I do assess value, and Ippuku scores very low on that front. I can understand the other reviews that talk about a plane ticket to Tokyo being less expensive. This is not a place to go to if you want a good Japanese meal at a reasonable price. It is unfortunate that so often small plate means poor value, but I would put this restaurant in this group. I really wanted to like this place. I have had incredible wonderful food experiences in Japan. Suffice it to say that I donât recommend Ippuku with any enthusiasm. If you have never been to an izakaya, perhaps the novelty of the experience and ambience adds to the appeal, but for me, that appeal and that motivation are missing. I have been to dozens of izakayas in Japan. There was not a single dish that I feel a need to experience again. The service was very good, the food was average, and the value poor. I much prefer to go to Musashi, where I can have excellent service, wonderful food and an excellent dining value. I have no need to revisit Ippuku anytime soon, but do intend to try the other izakaya in Berkeley for comparison purposes.
3. Kiraku Japanese Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By JJ_EATS228
With gluten sensitivities, it can be quite a challenge eating out. Our waitstaff at Kiraku was very knowledgeable of the menu and recommended the gf food for us. Moreover, the food was delicious and amazing. With excellent customer service and yummy food, we are definitely coming back. Just to give you a heads up, we came here on a Saturday night and waited an hour for a table for two. It was well worth the wait and it also gives you a chance to speak to others waiting for a table. To bypass the wait, you can make reservations but you are required to spend $40/person. Easily done at Kiraku with all the tastey eats and sake. Enjoy!
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2. Iyasare
Overall Ratings
4 based on 118 reviews
Inspired by the artisanal ingredients and simple, rustic flavors of his native Tohoku region, chef-owner Shotaro Kamio blends the obscure with the familiar for surprisingly extraordinary tastes. Craft beer, wine and sake. Seasonal, local farm-sourced ingr
Reviewed By bamboola
On Monday nights, this place serves its lunch menu - hence, dinner for the price of lunch. We booked for 5:30 p.m. when the restaurant opens. As opening time approached, a line started to form. Those without reservations were turned away.We ordered several items to share. The pork belly ramen was exquisite. The tempura with prawns was the most unique dish. Instead of individual fried pieces of vegetables and shrimp, all the ingredients were chopped and mixed into one big piece. The serving included four big pieces, each the size of a big hand. We ordered a few other dishes to share, but the tempura and the ramen were stand outs.Service was prompt and professional.
1. Kirala
Overall Ratings
4 based on 157 reviews
Reviewed By Rick N
We visited on a Thursday night with a friend who lives in Orinda and were pleased with the food here. We ordered mostly Sushi and the Sushi was fresh and tasty,. Seaweed Salad was good, Loved the squid skewers and cooked Scallops. Gindara, Hanachi, Albacore, Unagi, and king salmon sushi were all tasty. Good place and busy.
