We found this restaurant when we went to a dessert spot next door recently so we decided to go here for dinner before our dessert again! Cute little hole in the wall. Good sized menu, very helpful gentleman working the register and all the green tea & water you want to grab yourself with the cutest cups. Miso soup was delicious!! We all got rice bowls, they were all a very good size and very tasty! We all enjoyed our food very much! Your bowl also comes with a side salad that my husband really enjoyed! Definitely coming back!! read more

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Good big portions, breading on katsu was not too thick/overpowering of the chicken which is nice. I also liked the egg on top read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Katsu don - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

love the foods, the owners are very nice. Good for lunch and dinner daily, I recommend the spare rib bento and the 排骨饭 read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Bento - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My absolute favorite Taiwanese spot in the bay. I know it says Japanese Restaurant but its truly a Taiwanese spot as the owners are Taiwanese and their Japanese food just doesn't hit as hard. Fried pork bento was amazing and has a cute interior seating space. Pricing is amazing as a broke college student and just overall amazing spot with nice service and unbeatable Taiwanese food read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Aki Japanese Restaurant is a place I went typically in regards to people visiting my department and going out to eat with the visitor/speaker. It was a little nicer for the vicinity and a good Japanese food option close to the building my department was in (McCone Hall) on the University of California, Berkeley campus. Ordering was straightforward and in my experience we did not encounter long waits. The bento box option allowed for sampling of a few different offerings in one go. Seating was available at larger table(s), which was nice when we had a medium to larger group size and still wanted to hear everyone speaking. Main highlights from me, consistent and close. read more

Came in this small but cozy restaurant for a quick lunch bite and was surprised by the ambiance. I got the pork chop over rice and was surprised on how authentic it tasted. Crispy and homey - good blend of veggies and meat. Definitely a spot for casual get-togethers or a quick lunch. I would come back to try the food they didn't have in stock (certain foods weren't available depending on the days of the week or month) read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Went to get a bite at the food court and they were out of a lot of food to order from... so I got rice shrimp temporary plate, and the vegetarian noodle soup with the mixed tempura veggies! The tempura on the shrimp had too much batter and way too thick and greasy. The soup was OK. Didn't really like the broth. What's nice is they have free green tea and water that you can serve yourself. The service was good. The lady that took the order was nice so was the guy that brought over the food I just wish it had more flavor and not just greasy but again they were out of a lot of food. I really wanted to try the teriyaki chicken or the short ribs. Oh well next time. The place was nice and cozy and clean. read more

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Wow! The portions are gigantic, and every single bite of the food is simply amazing! I can't wait to come back here! read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Katsudon - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Generous serving sizes for a very reasonable price. My curry katsu don was mouthwatering and 100% authentic. Limited inside/outside seating and can get very busy in the early afternoon. Great service, but wait times could have been better--they might have been understaffed in the kitchen. Miso soup is included with each meal. Also, their pink hello kitty soy sauce bottles are adorable. read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Katsu don, curry katsu don, pork over rice - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Super cute spot with great service and super yummy food. Their katsudon is crispy and flavorful, and not dry!! Which seems impossible to find sometimes! I also appreciate their free green tea. Big fan of this spot read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Katsudon - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

I eat here 2-3 times a week. I love their Pork Chop over rice, and their Beef Stew over rice!

I'm an avid customer of Aki Japanese Restaurant. I've tried their beef noodle soup, miso udon, chicken teriyaki don, and tempura don. My favorite must've been the tempura don because it was fried just right -- crunchy exterior with a succulent interior. As for the other dishes, the beef noodle soup had very hearty broth that I loved, but the beef quality wasn't the best. The miso udon had a lot of vegetables and was very healthy, warm, and invigorating, especially on a cold day. Chicken teriyaki rice might've been my least favorite -- the chicken was dry and there wasn't much flavor to the dish. However, I keep coming back because the service has been absolutely wonderful. The food is decently quick, and I love the ambiance. They also serve hot tea (and you can refill as much as you like) and a bowl of miso soup for free, which is a big bonus for me! Will definitely drop by when I'm around the area. read more

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** The following review reflects my dining experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. ** Oh my, this one took me way back. Even Mr. Peabody could have built a Wayback Machine that goes as far back as my undergrad days, and I believe he and Sherman went as far back as Ancient Greece. I used to eat at Aki's all the time when I had time between classes, and it's still in the same back-of-the-mini-mall location with the same sliding glass door entrance. Believe it or not, I had not been back in all these years, probably because I associated Aki's and its semi-hidden location with my struggling unformed years. Now I'm more formed, probably more fossilized really, and a sweep of nostalgia came over me as I walked by. It's the pandemic, I think. Anyway, I saw mostly Asian youngsters darting by and thought maybe Aki had become a happening hot spot. Nope, it turned out they were heading to Seoul Hotdog next door, a true hipster magnet with ornately designed corn dogs their specialty. Aki's was as still as a tomb by comparison. Unhip and geriatric as I am, I ordered the veg-friendly $12 Vegi-Fish Bento. It consisted of slices of a seared mock fish that was close enough to real cod to satisfy. It was sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds and so was the lightly fried tofu cake, also quite savory good. It came with a generous side of vegetable tempura and rice (photo: https://bit.ly/3cl1UqW). I'm guessing the recipes haven't changed in all these years, and that's a good thing, trust me. I let the manager know about my long-ago history with Aki's, and she welcomed me back with socially distant arms. She also let me know the place has changed hands three times since then. FOOD - 4.5 stars...hearty bento boxes with plenty of tempura like I remember AMBIANCE - 5 stars...for consistency SERVICE - 5 stars...she treated me kindly even as I became that old man talkin' 'bout the good ol' days TOTAL - 5 stars...thanks for the memories RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u read more

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Tasty Taiwanese food! Came for the Taiwanese beef noodle soup (sold out) so got braised meat over noodles instead. Generous portions. Great people. Will be back for that beef noodle next time! read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ambiance: really cute decors aged interior. Very Japanese with the little wooden tables benches and dividers. You wouldn't think there would be a decorated restaurant in this hole in the wall across from campus but there you have it. A pleasant surprise. Food: interestingly they have a mix of Taiwanese and Japanese food (actually quite a lot of Taiwanese food -- half the menu is bilingual with Chinese translations). Soup was packed with flavor and the beef was nice and tender. I really enjoyed it and honestly this place is such a huddle gem. read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - beef noodle soup - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

My go-to on Northside of campus to grab a quick lunch with friends or colleagues. I remember eating here freshman year after staying overtime in lab, past dining hall hours. I got the chicken teriyaki bento box, which came with california rolls, miso, tempura, rice, salad, etc. (The fish bento I ordered during my most recent visit also came with chicken). I also recommend their Katsu plates and rice bowls (gyu-don). Once I also ordered the classic 肉燥飯 to-go but ended up finishing it really quickly in the plaza. read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Fish bento - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Always wanted to try this spot since it was right next to Seoul Korean Corndogs, but was closed bc of COVID, came in today and got their Fish Katsu bento box! Their Katsu was great! Nice and crisp with a drizzle of sweet katsu sauce on top, that with the teriyaki chicken and tempura veggies, this is HELLA food for $12! I would note that they gave a "small" amount of rice for the bento, but I'm willing to take the lower rice to meat/veggie ratio if that means I'm getting some quality and quantity out of it in terms of everything else in the bento! It was so good I bought another one for dinner to-go! All this, atop of their great customer service and hole-the-wall feel, Aki gets from me! read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - BENTO BOX Fish Katsu with Teriyaki Chicken and mixed Tempura veggies - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

By sheer location alone, I get why Aki is so popular-- proximity to the UC. LMAO. Gotta love broke college students for keeping mediocre businesses afloat. Still, real estate near the university is high, and I gotta give them props for feeding the next generation For COVID safety purposes, seating is limited and patrons/staff must wear masks. Interior is REALLY cute. Tiny booths with Japanese-themed paraphernalia all about. Most, like my friend and I, opt for takeout. Others dine at the communal seating area in this cozy plaza. CHICKEN TERIYAKI: On the sweeter side. Generous portions + decent rice. Chicken is tender and absolutely coated in teriyaki glaze. I could see my college self eating here all the time. Adult me would prefer to spend a little more and eat elsewhere LOL Looking at reviews, Aki has been a cornerstone in Berkeley for quite some time-- and likely will continue to be. Good for the price + not bad for student life. read more

Good option for quick & cheap lunch food if you live/work close by Let's be honest. No one makes an intentional commute here for the sole purpose of trying Aki out. It has average to below-average food, depending on what dish you order. --udon: eh, ok, you will get by --Taiwanese spicy beef noodle soup $11: decent, kind of skimped out on meat, noodles ok SERVICE: Not really any, but they bring the food out to you even if you choose to sit outside (just let them know). The staff is really nice! LOCATION: Many CS/engineering Berkeley students frequent Aki w/in the Hearst Food Court during lunch (pre-COVID). JUST SO YOU KNOW: Aki isn't really a Japanese restaurant. It sells a mix of Jap/Chinese/Korean food. It says Japanese b/c there are already food places here in the food court that advertise themselves as Korean, Chinese, & Indian. Indoor & outdoor tables are available. Free water & tea provided. CC accepted. read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - taiwanese spicy beef noodle soup - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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名字上看这是一家日料店。但卖的不是寿司这类的日料，而是咖喱和盖饭这类的。这里还是我一个台湾朋友介绍的。朋友在这里吃了猪脚饭，说是很不错。 我去这里吃的是台湾肉燥饭。$12有找，现在来说是非常良心价格。绝对是学生们的福音。肉燥不少，还有菜，卤蛋和豆腐，还加一碗味增汤。绝对的高性价比。 这里的位置也很校园风。蜗居在一条路边上的一条小巷一样的地方。里面有7、8家店，卖的都是简餐。亚洲餐居多。 我吃过后又介绍给另一个台湾朋友。她也去了，反馈也不错，说是很台湾味道。 所以、喜欢台湾料理的朋友可以试一试哦！ read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - 肉燥饭 - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Doesn't look like much when walking past the entrance, but Aki's is secretly a great spot for authentic Taiwanese food. Of the times I've been here, I was very impressed by their stewed pork rice and braised beef rice. The stewed pork is tender and cooked with the proper spices, while the braised beef is cooked with Sichuan peppercorns, which is one of the most authentic ways to preparing this dish. Overall, of the places in the small dining area, Aki's standout for the best food and having the most options. read more

After reading the yelp reviews, I wasn't expecting much from this place, but it pleasantly surprised me. The food here is really cheap and the portion sizes are generous which is what I want as a college student. It might not be the best Japanese food, but it's affordable compared to many other Japanese restaurants. I got the katsudon and it was actually very good. One problem with katsudon is that sometimes, the egg is cooked too much and it becomes scrambled eggs. The egg here was still runny and creamy which is how it's supposed to be. The pork was tender, but I wish that the breading was a bit more crispy. Overall though, it was very satisfying. I saw after I ordered that this place also serves Taiwanese food. There are barely any Taiwanese restaurants in Berkeley so I was pretty excited. I saw some of the Taiwanese dishes that came out and they actually look authentic. I will definitely come back to try their Taiwanese food and also more of their Japanese food. read more

Everytime I went to a Chinese restaurant w my family, I would always order fried spare ribs. Ever since I came to the US for school, I have been craving some golden spare ribs and this little gem pretty much satisfied my cravings! It could have been crispier but taste-wise, I really enjoyed it. The beef udon was good but the noodles were overcooked and wasn't the udon noodle type I was thinking of. I think the broth itself could have had more flavor. Will come back one day and try more of their menu though! :)) read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Beef udon - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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They need to work on the quality of their food. Their California roll was very not Japanese sushi styoe- the imitation crab was very powdery and inedible and the rice is way too sticky, and their pieces are cut to an awkward size. Their udon is not actually using udon noodles and just has average vege + sesame oil soup flavor. read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Spicy beef noodle soup $12.50 - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My son and I go to Aki's weekly before math class. There's dozens of cheap delicious eateries near Euclid around North Gate of Cal campus, but we always come back to Aki's because: "it's the best!" -my 9-year old, who always maxes out on tip because the family is so kind.Bento Box read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bento - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Bro wtf this is ducking amazing worth the $13!!?!? This is insanely good. Anyone who comes in and doesn't have a natural pallet to this cuisine will get their taste buds explotares with great combination of Asian oriented dishes! I love it and will define my recommend to ANYONE AND EVERYONE too stuff!!! TOP TOP TOP read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great food and great service. It is a small place but you get really good Japanese and Taiwanese food. It is not cheap but nothing in Berkeley read more

AMAZING place! I've been coming here for a few months and it's never missed once. They have spectacular food and very kind and helpful staff. The inside of the restaurant has a cool Japanese theme. My preferred orders are the Chicken Tempura Bento Box, the Three Cup ChickenBento BoxBento Box (both pictured here) and the Chicken Teriaki. read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Chicken Tempura Bento Box - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I'm torn between giving Aki's three or four stars. On one hand, I had the one of the most authentic Taiwanese beef stew in Berkeley here. On the other, after I finished eating I had a film-like taste on my tongue that lingered for hours. I didn't eat anything else in between. But the beef stew itself was good while I was eating! The spices were so on point, like the kind that is used in Taiwan to make soy sauce braised beef stew. There were daikon (I love!), carrots, beef, and cilantro on top. It was plated beautifully, actually quite unusual for restaurants in this food court, and came with a bowl of soup plus steaming hot tea! If it weren't for the weird taste afterwards, I'd definitely want to order this again. read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Beef stew - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Beautiful food but flavorless. The meat was delicious and tender but flavorless. The soup was flavorful but not the noodles. Sweet owner but would not buy this again. Maybe another dish though! Saw someone order a cutlet rice and another order a pork knuckle rice that looked good. Beef noodles: $11 read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Beef brisket noodles, tender melt in your mouth meat but flavorless. Soup was yummy but noodles did not suit or soak up flavors. - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

I really like this hole-in-the-wall type Japanese restaurant. This was my second time here, and I got the same thing - curry katsu don. I visited during lunchtime on a Saturday. My entree came with miso soup, which came out promptly. The katsu curry, however, took about 20 mins, which seemed a little late. However, the restaurant was a little busy, so that's okay. The food was tasty, but I think it could have been a little better. I think there may have been a little too much curry on my katsu, as it overwhelmed the meat. I still enjoyed the food, though. read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Curry katsu don - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Aki is pretty mediocre, but the tonkotsu is somehow really homey and tasty, and I find myself craving it way too often. Also, environment-wise, it is the nicest place to sit on Northside. I've been too scared to really try much other than the tonkatsu - pork katsu with egg. I got noodle soup once and the broth was intolerably salty. I'll probably try the bento boxes at some point, but whenever I come here, I just want to get tonkatsu. read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Tonkatsu - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Getting to the restaurant is a real treat. You walk down what I can describe as a small alleyway of food shops that made me feel like I was walking through the markets of Japan. Even better is the restaurant itself! It's a nice hole-in-the-wall with the Japanese style wooden interior with sliding windows and the zen-like atmosphere. Really loved it. Unfortunately the Beef Udon I ordered was subpar. It was a bit salty and just meh. Nothing really jumped out nor felt like it matched with the whole energy of the space. Would I come back? Only to show friends and family this cute little area but probably not as a returning patron. read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Beef Udon - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Update: Tried something new today!! First time trying the chicken katsu with egg. This is my new favorite! This is better than some other restaurants who sell it at a much higher price. Definitely try this is you're here. I only ever get the eel sushi rolls. Theyre very generous and even allowed me to substitute cucumber for avocado. It's quite value and i hear the katsu with egg over rice is very good too. I think this place is underrated. read more

The people there kept my backpack safe whene I left it there... thank you!! The food it really good. I like their sashimi bento box. It's a fun place to eat with friends. :3 read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant has a respectable Fish Teriyaki Donburi, with complimentary​ Red Tea and Miso soup to boot. The fried fish was not bad, although the amount of rice they give for it a bit much! A good place to check out if you're on Northside during lunch time! read more

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bad service, food not great either. my stomach hurt after and i was sweaty i will not be returning read more

The salt and pepper wings are very tasty and reasonable price! The tempura udon was also very tasty! Would definitely recommend! read more

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If you're looking for a restaurant with a home-y atmosphere, then Aki is the perfect place. There's a particular magic to the way the warm lights hit each booth during the evening; it's as if you and whatever company you're with are at the center of attention, sitting in isolation from everybody around you. It's a cozy and intimate setting that's perfect for the often gloomy weather Berkeley has to offer. I'll admit that for all the beauty in the interior design, Aki's seating arrangement isn't entirely the best. I don't mind the clustered seats next to each other, but the minimal amount of space available for both my backpack and my legs makes me feel cramped after 30mins of sitting down, and the chairs/booths aren't exactly the most comfortable either. I've come here twice already, and I was impressed with the beef stew noodle soup that I ordered. The soup was heavily infused with beef but not to the point where it overpowered everything else. It was quite possibly the best broth I've had in recent memory; it didn't have that diluted flavor I'm normally accustomed to, and it was so warm yet so vibrant that I would call it the star of the dish, but that honor goes to the beef itself which was cooked so well that it felt as if though it practically melted in my mouth. There was minimal chewing involved which is a plus for me. I wouldn't have enjoyed vigorously chewing a protein whose consistency was in direct opposition to the liquid it was submerged in. It almost feels like a cardinal rule, which I'm glad they understand perfectly well at Aki. Overall, I highly recommend coming to this one of a kind hole-in-the-wall in North Berkeley. It's well worth viewing the inside of the place and experiencing the feeling of being at home on a cold, rainy day and eating some soup to keep you warm. read more

Aki Japanese Restaurant - Beef noodle soup - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Not sure why the overall rating is so low. They have excellent Taiwanese dishes (pork chop or minced pork over rice) and I've never had a bad experience here! read more