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

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

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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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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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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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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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

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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Solid 4.5 stars on the fried chicken. Go there regularly. Nice staff, efficient, consistently high quality.

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

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

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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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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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

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 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

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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This place is an absolute gem. Super safe for celiacs, and easy to navigate for other food intolerances, too. The chicken is essentially plain until you choose what sauce you want on it, so it's easy to dodge specific ingredients you can't eat. The charred veggies are amazing, too. The space is tiny, so even though it technically has a table or two, it's essentially a take-out spot. It's worth going in person to pick up your order, though. The vibes are delightful - fun, good-natured punk energy. read more

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

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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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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This place definitely has its own unique vibe with a bunch of unique decorations, merch, free stickers, etc. I ordered oyakodon and some chicken wings and it turned out great. There's a cozy seating area too. The line was a little long on the specific day I went, but wasnt too bad. 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

Some pieces were really dry. I like that there isn't a lot of batter, not overly seasoned, gluten free but I like my skin on. Felt 'healthier' than normal fried chicken. Super generous portions, would like an option of sauce on the side, the habanero miso was good but I prefer to dip. The sancho dry rub was barely there and I am going to go against the grain and say the dill ranch was kind of blah. Wasabi slaw needed some acid to brighten up - very one note. Liked how the chicken was on a big bed of cabbage also. Fiber is our friend. When ordering on DD - it says dark thigh meat, but there was definitely white breast meat. Dry and unappetizing. Love their logo with the BART images. Affordable, but I wouldn't order again. read more

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5 stars for delicious food, great value, and hard working helpful employees. Minus 1 star for the frenetic thrash metal punk music that's always playing so loud so as to preclude any real conversation. I wish I could eat there but I'm forced to take my yummy dinner home. Oh crap, when did I become my father? read more

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

Love this spot!! The service is always super kind and friendly. The food is amazing! We're still trying to work our way through the menu to try all of the different things but this time around we opted for the tater tots( not pictured), Tokyo tofu, rock and roll cabbage salad, skirt steak and 2 chicken wings with umami salt and yuzu cheesecake (not pictured). Everything was delicious!! & I want like 10 more cheesecakes. There's so much to look at around the restaurant && I had a good laugh when the skeleton in the bathroom startled me. I'll be back to try other menu items soon! read more

Aburaya - Miso Ranch - Izakaya Near Me - Oakland, California

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Only people that know how to have fun need to go here. Only people that love great food with large quantities need to go here. Only people that enjoy bad ass versions of rock 'n' roll need to go here. Only people that like a killer beer selection need to go here The chicken was absolutely incredible. The deviled avocado was spectacular. The serving we received was enough for two meals for like 11 bucks. When quality and value come together... It's an awesome blend. Did I mention there a fun place with great rock 'n' roll great food and great beer? Only people that like that need to go here. read more

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Tasty vegan and gluten free options, cool punk ambiance and soundtrack, and helpful caring service.

We ordered the 8 piece chicken, and it came with two seasonings. You order at the counter and go find your own table, and clean up after yourself. It's pretty much self served. The food came out relatively fast. Chicken was juicy and crunchy on the outside. For additional $3, you could add salad and rice to make it a bowl. It was overall delicious and inexpensive, will come back if I'm in the area. read more

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