What a blessing it is to have this spot in Downtown Oakland. Not only are the food and staff great at Aburaya, they operate a gluten-free kitchen (with the exception of some beers and a few desserts). I've enjoyed the BBQ and miso garlic chicken flavors so far and will slowly work my way through the rest of the flavors. Next on my list is to try their fried chicken sandwich, which is on a Mariposa bakery gluten-free roll. For appetizers, I've the fried delicata squash and asian pickles, both were really good! read more

It's been a while since I had Aburaya so I was so excited to come back and treat myself! This tjme, I tried a few different items from the menu and ordered delivery. I was able to schedule my order through the Aburaya website, which is fulfilled via DoorDash. Starting with the gluten free fried chicken sando, this was massive and delicious! I would consider it to be more of a messy fried chicken sandwich as it's packed with the sides - tomato slices, cabbage slaw, dressings and more. The only down side is that the bottom bun did get a little soggy due to the sauces soaking up. Otherwise, the chicken was marinated and fried well which kept me coming back for more! This time, I also tried the 4-piece fried chicken in the orange honey aioli flavor. It's described on the menu as being sweet and while it was, I also found it to be quite balanced due to the saltiness coming from the soy sauce and marinade. I appreciated the consistenty of the aioli as well since it didn't feel too heavy but was still able to coat the chicken well. And the chicken itself was fried beautifully and remained juicy! For dessert, I had the vegan matcha chocolate cake and this blew my mind. Usually with vegan baked goods, it can be challenging getting the right consistency and texture, but the cake was moist and soft. It had this rich chocolate flavor that was pretty addicting. Along with the green tea icing, I absolutely enjoyed every bite. I love Aburaya and can't wait for my next visit! read more

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Ya gotta try Aburaya if you haven't yet! It is the best Japanese fried chicken in Oakland! The venue is on the smaller size, very cozy and filled to the ceiling with chicken knickknacks. It's a fun vibe and they have some extra items you can pick from on their shelves - drinks, spices, ramen, etc. They have a great selection of sandwiches to rice places with several different flavors to try. I really enjoy the curry seasoning and the garlic miso seasoning. You can definitely taste the seasoning and the different flavors added, they do not skimp out on seasoning their food. Though I tried the Ponzu seasoning and it didn't stand out too much to me.. Anyway, the service is great! The team seems extremely friendly and they're always willing to recommend something to you if you're new. They also offer free item off the happy hour menu, if you beat the register in a game of Rock Paper Scissors. I really do enjoy it here and it's a routine to come here on Wednesday nights after run clubs in the area!! Try them out! read more

Cool place with a good vibe, feels a tiny bit grungy and they had good music. I ordered my meal for takeout and it came out quick. The miso garlic chicken tasted great, and the best part - I ordered a 4 piece and they gave me 5. Instant five stars for that. The dry rub was great, super flavourful and not greasy. Chicken tasted fresh and not super processed. My only complaint is the salad lacked flavor and there was not enough sauce to put in the chicken and sprinkle on the salad. Same goes for the rice, when you would get a bite with the chicken and rice it taste great but I was left with a lot of left over rice without any sauce I'd come back for sure 8/10 read more

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What a lively restaurant. I ordered the 4 piece gluten free fried chicken (garlic miso - one of their most popular options). It did not disappoint. It was also boneless. What a treat to find gluten free fried chicken! For an additional $3 you get cabbage, a small salad with light dressing and white rice. At this establishment you order at the counter and when it's ready they'll call your name. The food was delicious and if I lived close by I'd be there every week! read more

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God I forgot how delicious this place is! I recently went back to dine in after a longggggg time, and its even more amazing than I remembered. I love getting their cabbage and salad with the miso ranch. It's so tasty. This time, i decided to try a new chicken flavor: Yuzo Jerk Sauce. It was a great combination of sweet, savory, and spicy. I really enjoyed it, an would definitely get it again. The vide of this place is very cool and dive bar-esque. It just get super packed (which makes sense) and seating is very limited. The good thing is the service is always very fast, making the wait for the food or a table bearable. read more

Aburaya - yuzu jerk sauce Fried Chicken (4 Pieces) - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

Aburaya is a new favorite of mine! I'm obsessed with their ethics and values that you can see posted up on the wall. It's an edgy twist on Japanese Fried Chicken, with cool art work, affordable eats, and it seems like a community staple for sure. Many people opt in for takeout but I decided to dine in with my friend. It's casual style dining, no service it is self service at the counter. Additionally, they had options for snacks and drinks. We had some jelly sake, sapporo, and there were goodies to try from. They also had free stickers. My meal was plentiful and lasted me some leftovers afterwards. I'm coming back one day! The staff is nice and had great recommendations. I recommend trying it out if you're in the area, won't disappoint. read more

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Gotta love this place! The food is always consistent and the portion sizes are amazing for the price! I always love the side salad and dressing they use! Also as a gluten free girlie their chicken is automatically gluten free! I love their garlic miso and umami salt! Great place for lunch or take out order. Very casual spot but the food will not disappoint! read more

Today i tried the Japanese fried chicken tights, rice, salad and salsa verde wasabi sauce. I added more flavor using soy sauce, as Teresa kindly recommended, this pairing of wasabi, spy sauce, rice and fried chicken was delicious. Also i love the music, vibes of the staff and the eclectic decoration. Always I have an anazing meal and moment when i come here. read more

Aburaya - Rice breaded chicken thighs with salsa verde wasabi sauce. - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

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I only got to try their limited menu at their booth for the inaugural Oakland Freedom Run and it was phenomenal! Loved that they even had vegan options too. Staff was great and so quick with their food prep. It was a limited menu so I can't wait to try their brick and mortar locations in Oakland and Berkeley soon! read more

Aburaya - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

Had the 4 piece fried chicken, had to be the most flavorless, boring meal I have ever had in my life. What a colossal waste of money. Tell your friends to save their money. The ad says best Japanese restaurant in California. Seriously is there a California in outer space where it is the best Japanese food because no one there has ever taste good Japanese food? And to make the meal ever more untaste worthy, the chicken was overcooked. Seriously, this is awful. read more

Cozy little space with a side eating space but limited seating. A few two top tables outside too as well as a few tables in the main room. Order at the front and then find a seat! All the utensils are in the front room and with a dirty dish bin in the bottom~ They really know their chicken- it was moist and had so much flavor. I really enjoyed the fried chicken sando sauce, it was so tasty! - also tried the yuzu jerk sauce- tasty but also reminded me a little tiny bit of curry sauce heh Service is friendly~ I will be back to try the other flavors! read more

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This review strictly for delivery through doordash only. We got this fairly quick within 30-45 minutes from ordering which wasn't bad at all. It was hot upon arrival. I just air fried it a bit more for a little crunch. This was my first time having it and wow this was so delicious for some chicken. I ordered the 4pc added salad & cabbage & it was a really huge portion I was pretty full. It could only choose 1 flavor unfortunately. My boyfriend ordered the xxtra spicy karalina miso & yuzu jerk and the jerk sauce was pretty yummy. I definitely want to come back to try this in person and try other flavors out. read more

Aburaya - 8pc xxxtra spicy karalina miso & yuzu jerk sauce - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

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This place is awesome!! A little hole in the wall bursting with character inside. I mean you've got funky swag and lots of legit Japanese products and a wide selection of sake and other drinks. of course I'm sure their main speciality is the fried chicken so you gotta try that. It was crisp, hot, and perfectly seasoned. They have so many sauce choices too! I wish I could try it all. Service is quick in spite of the single lane line up. They use a speaker/intercom to call you up, which makes it easy to hear when your order is ready for pick up. I'd love to visit again if I'm in the Oakland area. Since it's in the city, parking is mostly street though there may be some nearby paid lots within walking distance. read more

Aburaya - Funky decor - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

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No wonder it's an Oakland staple, this place shmacks! It's a little easy to pass in downtown, but once you're inside, it's like nowhere else you've been. Japanese fried chicken is already hard to come by, and this place specializes in it! Before you even get to order that classic 4-piece plate, you're greeted with a bunch of fun snacks, international beers, and other bits and bobs. I've tried two flavors out of the 14 rubs and sauces they have. The Kogarashi honey is delish -- if you reaaalllyyyy enjoy wasabi heat. Garlic soy is classic and always a good and safe choice. I'm definitely going back again so I can try all the other flavors. The chicken itself is juicy and tender, I cant imagine any spice or glaze ruining it at its core. (I stomached the wasabi despite my mistakenly ordering it because I just wanted Aburaya that bad) read more

Aburaya - Garlic soy Fried Chicken (4 Pieces) - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

Our lunch at Aburaya was so filling and satisfying! Each of us ordered their 4 pieces chicken with rice and salad. We were so hungry but thought the 4 piece portion was a bit much. We couldn't finish our lunch and brought it home with us as the portion was quite large. For the chicken flavor, We got their habanero miso, Karashi honey and garlic miso. All flavors were very tasty and the chicken was so juicy in the inside. We also got their tater tots and cucumber salad. The tater tots came with some delicious toppings and sauce. The cucumber salad tasted so light and refreshing. They also serve some interesting alcoholic drinks (beer and sake) local and from Japan. There are plenty of seatings area inside as people come and go. Will return to try other items and flavors. read more

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Really good chicken, really good vinegar on the salad. Well seasoned and fried, very light. read more

Aburaya - Nanban Salad - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

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Looks like almost the entire audience of the Taylor Tomlinson comedy show at the Paramount and I had the same idea to come here for a pre-show dinner. I enjoy trying different restaurants in the area anytime I come up for a show at the Fox and Paramount but none have been this busy, which is a testament to their popularity! The online menu is pretty overwhelming in its options but at the register it was more clear: pick a protein (chicken or vegan), pick a dry rub OR sauce , pick a base (rice/salad/cabbage/combo). And then with options to order appetizers or dessert or non-fried protein entrees (but then why are you here?) Overwhelmed with the 10+ sauce or dry rub options I played it safe and went with Japanese BBQ sauce. It was a little too sweet for my tastes so I wish I had tried one of the more out there options. The chicken was flavorful and while not super moist, it wasn't dry. I got two pieces on top of the rice+salad+cabbage combo and this was like $11 and more than enough food for me. Wild! The salad came with a lovely sesame dressing but the cabbage was raw and roughly chopped, so a little hard to eat. The chicken also came with a ranch that I keep thinking about because it was unique. Not like traditional American ranch, a little closer to a Greek taziki because of some herb in there. Logistics: - indoor and outdoor seating but it fills up fast beware, and you need to wait in line to order before grabbing a spot - limited street parking nearby - almost everything is gluten free (especially the batter) except for some of the desserts read more

Aburaya - Two fried chicken with BBQ sauce, rice, salad, cabbage - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

walked in on a tuesday a little before lunch rush hour and ordered at counter! cutlery and napkins available on the side. don't be fooled, there's additional seating on the side of the restaurant. food: crunchy cucumber refreshing, saltier as you get to where the bulk of seasoning is placed. use the cucumber to reset ur tastebuds in between bites of different chicken. orange honey aioli: the chicken itself was moist seasoned plainly. chicken has yellow mild sweet sauce. the miso ranch served on the side is deceptive in the best way, looks heavy but tastes light with slight tang. garlic miso: dry rub was a bit disappointing. i expected it to be coated with the powder but it was more of a light dusting so it was a bit plainer compared to the other chicken. i def plan on going again to try their different sauces on their menu read more

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Found this small Japanese restaurant while looking for some places to eat before seeing a show at the Fox Theatre. The sauces here are quite extensive and I definitely would like to come back and try other ones. I had the teriyaki sauce on my fried chicken and my partner did the BBQ and Umami salt which was certainly plentiful and a great meal with salad and rice included. It was well worth the price and I would certainly get it again. Overall I will definitely come back again to try more sauces and dry rubs! read more

Aburaya - Teriyaki Chicken - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

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The Fried chicken burrito from Aburaya is absolutely delicious. The size of the burrito is big and has avocado, tomato, onion, slaw, rice and greens with it. The real standout is the Spicy Rock'n'Roll BBQ fried chicken. The bold, spicy flavor pairs perfectly with the savory roasted seaweed, creating a rich and satisfying taste combination. read more

Aburaya - Nori Wrapped Fried chicken burrito - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

I received this recommendation from a friend, and the restaurant vibe is quite unique and odd. In their main room is part of the kitchen, a few tables, the ordering counter, and a display of merchandise. The room next to it has more seating available for around a few dozen people. I ordered a mushroom side dish along with one of their chicken specialty dishes, which was their Fried Chicken with dry Garlic Miso seasoning. While the chicken was flavorful, I felt like there was a unique seasoning factor that I was looking for for a place that is known for their chicken. I did enjoy the mushroom side dish a bit more. I'd love to try their other dishes in the future in the heart of downtown Oakland! read more

Aburaya - Japanese Fried Chicken with Garlic Miso seasoning (right) and Mushroom side dish (left) - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

This is a great casual spot for some good Japanese fried chicken. I got the oyako-don and it was loaded with savory egg and crispy fried chicken. for $15 this is an amazing deal, as the amount of protein I'm getting is a lot. The salad and red pickles provided an interesting contrast to the flavor which was a huge plus. The rice was well cooked and had a lovely aroma. Service was self-serve but it did not take too much time for them to prep. I would definitely come back here often. read more

Aburaya - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

We went during their happy hour and basically ordered everything off the menu. I was really happy with all of the vegetable options we ordered. My fiance has been to this restaurant many times. I do wish their front desk service was a little kinder. This is a self pick up and bus restaurant. read more

I've only ever gotten one dish here, the oyakodon. It's so ridiculously good, I don't know why I'd eat anything else. On top of that, one serving of this dish is huge, easily two small meals. And for those of us who can't handle gluten, this dish is extra delightful. Perfect comfort food. read more

I got dinner here with a friend here last Tuesday. No reservations were needed but we got here a little after they opened at 5:30pm. The 8 piece fried chicken was more than enough for the both of us. I loved that it was boneless and pretty light on the batter but crispy, nevertheless. It didn't come with rice but I suggest getting it as a side that goes with the chicken pretty well. It's a nice place to grab a bite to eat before heading to a show at Fox Theater which is very close. read more

Aburaya - Fried Chicken (8 Pieces) - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

So good! And so busy! This place is so close to my work and it came highly recommended. It does get really busy after 12pm, and the lines can get long and the small dining area fills up. The inside of the store is SO cool and has such a unique decor. I loved the vibe, and the staff are all so friendly and helpful. I got the 4 piece garlic miso bowl, and it was amazing. Quite possibly some of the best fried chicken I've ever had, as it wasn't overdone with the frying and it was juicy and tender. Perfect balance! I'd love to come back and try more of the menu. read more

Chicken inside was lacking seasoning. It was so bland. We asked for salt, and the seasoning that came with it just to make it work. Was so excited about it too! Service was great. Ambiance was great. Would not come back for the food read more

Aburaya - Shichimi & sansho - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

All the rumors are true! These place is so good!!!! I loved the Oyakodon. The chicken was the best chicken I had in the area. For the price, I was impressed with the quality and taste. read more

Aburaya - Absolutely Amazing Oyakodon - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

Place has been here for awhile so I've been here quite a bit. Parking is tough at times but I promise you it's worth the hassle. You can order ahead on the web so that's a plus if you're in a rush. They have an extensive selection of import beers and you can buy a bottle of just about every sauce to bring home. Menu changes with the seasons so there's always some variety. Staff is cool and will answer any questions about the sauces and make suggestions if need be. Theres is about 7/8 wet and 7/8 dry flavors you can choose and they are all unique, even the familiar flavors have some unique notes (bbq, teriyaki and kharashi (wasabi honey) all my go tos). Chicken is A1 and worth the trip on its own (prices are moderate in my opinion) but the sides are also very good. Had the Rock and Roll Cucumber and Rock and Roll Cabbage (both specials) both very tasty and a good accompaniment to the chicken. Cucumber was def better but I saved a bit of cabbage and once it got to sit for a few hours in the fridge, we had a different contender. Kobucha Squash was absolutely a banger, I know it's seasonal but that's a keeper. All the sides were roughly $4 each and there's a few more I didn't mention but I appreciate the variety. Dining room can get a lil tight at times but theres alot of cool stuff on the walls to check out while you wait for your order. I'd eat here all the time if I lived closer and I'm considering buying a shirt next time I pull up Side note: took the most finicky eater I know and he ate everything I gave him lol. Place is really a gem read more

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What a gem in Oakland! Best place to get your fried chicken fix and they have happy hour all day on wednesdays! In addition to sake and beer they also have bottles of wine from local wineries. I love the interior- huge stuffed hairy spider on the ceiling, chickens/ roosters along the shelves. They have fun treats and gifts in addition to their menu! There's just so much to look at - everything is visually calling your attention. So fun and vibrant! The staff is really nice too, really patient with questions and will give their recs on the menu. Looking forward to coming back and bringing more friends! read more

Aburaya - Fun merch displays - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

This place slaps. Fantastic lunch spot in the area that I grabbed for the first time on a work trip. They offer some delicious fried chicken and honestly massive portions. Wound up going with the fried chicken rice bowl with the bbq sauce. The chicken was delicious and tender packed with a ton of flavor. I loved how many options the place had as well in case you wanted to try some different variations. The restaurant itself is pretty small with just a few tables so I would say that take out is probably the best way to go for most who visit. But this place I would absolutely go back to again if I'm in town. read more

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Delicious Japanese food. Some faves here: - Sautéed a chicken Teriyaki Bowl - Fried Chicken - Fried Chicken Sando - Aburaya Tator Tots Enjoy! - read more

I love this spot they are the best great service amazing food. I recently found out that I have a gluten allergy and majority of their menu is gluten friendly, basically being the only spot I go to for gluten free chicken! Solid proportions definitely a new regular here. :) read more

Aburaya - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

Love the food, the ambience is cool and hip. Everyone working there is really friendly. The Oyakodon is delicious, I have a hard time branching out because of how much I like it, and it is at a great price for how much food you get. It's rare to find a legitimately delicious and healthy dinner for under $15. I only wish they were open for even more hours or had a SF location! read more

Came here at about noon on a weekday to grab lunch with my husband and I can see why this place has such high reviews. You order your food first before taking a seat. Seating here can get limited during lunch so just a heads up. The chicken here is really juicy and delicious and cooked to perfection. This place has Okinawan fusion and I totally see it. I ended up getting the 2 piece fried chicken with bbq sauce and it was so good. My husband got the loco moco with rice underneath. The loco moco was super good and the rice had the perfect amount of sauce to rice ratio. I would definitely come back here and try the other food they offer. read more

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DO NOT give "Aburaya Japanese Fried Chicken" your business, in Oakland or wherever else they have a location. I experienced/witnessed a level of racism that I haven't experienced from an establishment before. Their food is good (was good, because I don't think I'll ever order from them again) and seems to get a lot of business but what they did yesterday was uncalled for. To refuse to take orders from a group of people just because they put table covers on a few tables because they were celebrating a birthday and expecting a lot of people thus would order a lot of food from your establishment is unfathomable/mind-boggling/crazy/insane to me. They took my order not knowing I was with the party. They told me I could sit anywhere and tables aren't reserved. I said I was with the party so apparently that's what made them cancel my order without telling me anything! I'm sitting there waiting for my name to be called and nothing. After waiting in line for 30-40 min people from the party were trying to order food and they refused to take their order. Everyone was calm, no one yelled or seemed angry, they just seemed confused/dejected. Well I was mad but when I was told the party was going to another restaurant, a soul food restaurant, I was for it. I just wished I would have asked for my order and seen what they would have said. How are you going to cancel my order without telling me, just because I'm with a birthday party. Racism is real and still exists unfortunately and in Oakland of all places. (Oh, I forgot to add, if it wasn't obvious, the people trying to order and were declined were African-Americans.) read more

Yelpers got it right again!!! Aburaya is legit! Food is incredible. Served super fast but cooked perfectly. The chicken is incredible. Crispy outside. Tender juicy inside. Seasoned perfectly. The Sansho pepper has a little surprise kick. I love it! The salad dressing is 5 star. They have a special B Side menu. Teriyaki Steak over rice was insane. Small spot but super friendly staff read more

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Had this back when we visited for the W2E concert. Chicken was very big and juicy but unfortunately lacked flavor and should've been paired with pickles to cut the greasiness. I've had better karaage chicken elsewhere (Ramen Nagi's). Flavor felt like it catered more to the Western tastebuds. The rice wasn't really nice either. read more

Aburaya - Garlic Miso & Shichimi Karaage - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

Came here on a weekday night before a show at the Fox and this is definitely a spot I will be wanting to go to before a show, the food was delicious! First time here, so we decided to go with their Japanese style fried chicken, with the habanero miso sauce and their umami salt. We got the 8pc meal with rice and salad. The 8pc was honestly good for 3 people, because each piece as a good size. The chicken was perfectly cooked with a good balance of crispy and juicy. They do chicken right here! The habanero sauce was the perfect balance of heat but not too much. I just wish they put more sauce! The umami salt, we couldn't really taste the umami flavor and ended up needing to purchase additional sauces ($1.50 each) to elevate the dish. We ended up getting the Jerk sauce and bbq on the side, and the jerk sauce was hella good! Definitely would order that next time around. It's great when you find a spot that has a balance of good food and value. We spent less than $40 for the 8pc meal + sides and couple of NA drinks, and left really full. So much so I didn't need a post-show meal, as I was still full lol If you are planning to dine-in, it's self seating, and you'll order at the counter. If you are planning for pickup/to-go, best to do it online to save time. They have some pretty cool merch too! Loved the theme and ambiance of the spot and definitely will be coming back for more. read more