Pros: solid and unique menu, beautiful space, easy parking Cons: space is small so reservations are a good idea I ate solo here a few days and I'm glad that I happened to find this unique spot on Yelp! I ordered the ocean trout special which included nigiri and sashimi as well as a hamachi collar bento box special that included soup and salad. The hamachi collar is an old go-to for me at any sushi spot and the fish was well-prepared. The only thing missing was a tangy dipping sauce for the fish. Salad and miso soup were spot on. The ocean trout was excellent both in portion size and taste. I didn't try the drink menu but there also seems to be an extensive wine, sake, and beer list. The restaurant is tiny, a small bar and limited high-top seating as well as outdoor tables (although you're right on University just a few blocks from the highway so that's not super pleasant). Either come very early or make reservations. Definitely recommended! read more

Greeted by sushi chefs and host upon arrival. Sat at bar which made it super fun. Variety of dishes, ordered mostly sashimi. Delish. Loved the vibe. read more

Butterfish Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Pros: Ambiance was great, i loved the hole-in-the-wall, intimate setting. Service was top notch, the servers constantly checked in on us and made sure everything was going well. Sashimi was pretty fresh which was nice and they had a good selection. Cons: really long wait for food that didn't feel worth that long of a wait. We had a resy at 730pm and we didn't get in until 810pm, which felt a bit ridiculous given that we had a reservation. Food also took a while to come out. Crostini: 5/5 best thing we got! It had the perfect flavor combo and textures. Definitely recommend this one, i was very happy with this one Arctic roll:2/5 there wasnt any flavoring and it didn't taste like anything besides the fish. I'm a little disappointed with this one since it looked promising. The roll was also pretty small Bluefin tuna emperor roll: 4/5 really good! Flavoring was nice balance and the sashimi was really fresh. Nigiri set: 5/5 really fresh and good selection of sashimi. What you expect out of a good nigiri set read more

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Sushi was so fresh - like butter!! Had a lovely experience. Definitely an upscale vibe without the price tag. Loved watching the sushi get made right in front of us. It was a lovely experience I'd definitely go back read more

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I loved this spot when it first opened- but after the last 3 visits it's unfortunately time for me to admit they've changed for the worse. Their umi masu lover roll for example has even gone as far to substitute cucumber for avocado even though it still lists it as such on the menu. The service is not great also- but that's always been the case. Similar with the overly hot temperature they keep the inside at. Oh well. On to the next one. read more

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I had a really great experience here. I tried the tasting spoon and the handroll set, both chosen by the chef, and everything was super well put together. I came in later in the evening, close to closing, but never felt rushed. Even without a reservation, I was able to get a seat in a reasonable amount of time. The space is small and cozy, with a really nice vibe. Prices were surprisingly fair, too. Definitely one of those spots you could see yourself coming back to often. read more

New sushi spot in Berkeley. We came in with a large group for the soft opening on Sunday. The staff was wonderful but I think they are still figuring things out. The food came out a bit slow and we had to remind staff about a few orders. The food was incredible! Quality, presentation, freshness. This spot served some of the tastiest oysters I have ever had. I would come back just to order them! The menu is also unique for a sushi place because they have Inari. I like the clean design of this space and the Aesop products in the bathroom are always a win for me. This place is full of potential and I can't wait to come back. read more

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The ambiance, service and food were exceptional! Sushi here is fresh, innovative and beautifully plated. The vibe gives date night. The pricing is reasonable for this level of dining. I love butterfish as a sushi and not many places serve it. Adding it as one of the go-tos. read more

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Butterfish is a new West Berkeley sushi restaurant by the team behind Thai Table. We came in on a sleepy Wednesday night which was great as we got to interact with the staff who were very friendly and prompt. We ordered a set of 5 hand rolls, a specialty roll with unagi, and a steamed egg. The plating and flavors on all of the dishes were excellent. My favorite was probably the scallop hand roll, but everything was good. We finished our meal with a matcha cheesecake that was absolutely killer. My one gripe if I had to pick one would be that it would be nice if they served the hand rolls one at a time as soon as they're ready. The nori wrapper gets chewy and soft very quickly so it's important to serve it fast so it still has a bit of crisp. We really enjoyed our meal and will definitely be back. I'm looking forward to them serving sake and beer soon so I can enjoy a cold beer with my sushi. read more

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It was a pretty small place so the only thing that takes a while is waiting for a to go order when it's busy. But that's 100% understandable. I wasn't hungry when trying this role but jt was very tasty!! I appreciate when a place really does use real crab. It was very soft and the flavor was just spot on. Great food on this street read more

Butterfish Sushi - California rolls real crab - Sushi Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Delicious SUSHI! Nigiri was also very fresh! Service was really sweet and the ambiance was so chill and really nice. Looking forward to coming back! read more

Do yourself a favor and sit at the bar. The head chef provides a wonderful experience. Food is great. Service is delightful. Solid sushi place in West Berkeley. read more

This is such a cute little sushi restaurant, I don't think I had ever seen it and yet I pass by it all the time! My dad is in town for my birthday, so we went to get sushi here - we went with the chefs choice sushi platter, which has some of the most delectable, melt in your mouth sashimi and nigiri I have ever had in my life. The service was also the perfect balance of being attentive without hovering, available for answering questions, but I never felt rushed. Also, I really enjoyed the music, which was electronic covers of 80s songs! I think this is a great place to go get really good sushi if you're with either one special person, or a very small group (seating is limited - we got a reservation, and if you wanted to make sure that you would get seated, I would recommend that. That said, there was seating at the bar!) read more

We had planned on going to another Japanese restaurant but it was closed on Mondays, so I looked at Yelp and Butterfish looked good so we gave it a try. This is now my favorite Japanese restaurant. If you're looking for traditional Japanese comfort food like noodles and tempura, this is not your place. If you're looking to have your tastebuds delightfully surprised and food beautifully present, then you'll be delighted like I was along with my friends who joined us in being delighted. read more

Butterfish Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Amazingly tasty. Smoked hamachi best ever. I mean, sushi doesn't get better than this. Small but mighty restaurant.

Wow! What an incredible sushi dinner to wrap up a long work day! Service was beyond amazing! 3 dishes recommended! All were delicious! Small space but absolutely worth it! read more

Second time here. First table they sat us at was dirty- like filthy. We came back for the crab over albacore. That's why the second star. It's delicious. Everything else was gross. The crab crostini was so covered in sauce it was incredible. Hard pass. read more

This place just understands what it means to bring value to their food and overall eating experience. The quality of the fish is incredible for the price points, the atmosphere is warm, the music is wonderful, and the staff are friendly. I've gone two days in a row, let's see if I'll keep it up. read more

Butterfish Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

It's a great restaurant with a good variety in the menu offerings, at an affordable price point. I'm going again!

This is one of the freshest sushi restaurants we've experienced on the entire west coast - and boy, do we try sushi restaurants, all over the country. Maybe THE freshest. Our server was sweet as could be, and speedy. The food came astonishingly fast. Not one disappointing note: the rice was impeccable; the fish a melt-on-your-tongue treat; the atmosphere just right for enjoying some serious sushi. This will be a starred, bookmarked go-to from now on, in a sea of otherwise unremarkable sushi restaurants. read more

Very good. I got their food delivered so I cannot give 5 stars because I don't know what in house dining is like, but the sushi was very tasty. I would certainly order again. read more

Very cute, small spot with amazing, fresh sushi! We ordered the sparkling sake, hamachi collar, and the pacific roll. All were very delicious and would order again. Love that the hamachi had a smokey flavor to it. Plate included a salad, miso, and rice. Total bill was around $86. We went on a Monday around 12:30 and got seated right away. It also wasn't crowded which was nice. Take note that they do close at 2:30 for lunch service then reopen in the evening for dinner service. Parking is street parking and metered. Can be hard to find parking around the area. Staff was very attentive and kind. I would come back here again for a lunch! read more

Me and my Son found this amazing sushi place in Berkeley. Service and food was amazing. Definitely will be back. read more

Butterfish Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Butterfish is the absolute best sushi around!!! I adore the recipes, combination of foods and flavors and the presentation is beautiful.

La atención y la comida es deliciosa y el ambiente es muy agradable voy muy seguido con mi esposo nos encanta su comida read more

Butterfish Sushi - Pescado sabroso - Sushi Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Excellent sushi. Had the best glass of sake I have tasted in my life here. The ambience is cool and very sleek. We came for a birthday celebration and it was really special. Will be back soon! read more

A great experience of casual luxury! The atmosphere was classy and all the staff and other patrons were relaxed so we felt very comfortable the whole time. We came in a little before closing but the server was super nice and didn't rush us. The menu was beautiful, with so many tasty dishes. We got miso soup, rice, the spicy tuna roll, california roll, creamy scallop roll, shrimp tempura roll, Atlantic roll, bluefin roll, and the rainbow roll. The miso soup came at the perfect temperature and was qualitatively umami! All the fish was super fresh, like melting in your mouth! The sauces were delicious and the rice had a nice balance of vinegar. Overall we had a wonderful meal and time, I would definitely recommend Butterfish Sushi! read more

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We went there tonight for an early dinner, our first time here. Everything we had was excellent. The ambience and service were also very good. We'll be back. read more

Butterfish Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

The fatty tuna is chef's kiss! The space is small but the food packs a punch. The perfect sushi spot does exist!

Finally got to try this place out. I went pretty early in the evening so there were plenty of seats. Sat at the bar and had an amazing experience. I ordered the Umi-Masu combo, which was a weekend special. It came with four pieces of Sashimi and 4 pieces of Nigiri. I opted for the smoked version. The smoke flavor wasn't as prominent, but the presentation was fun and whimsical. I also ordered a few different nigiris. I picked the sake toro, hamachi toro and Hokkaido scallop. I also got ikura sashimi style. All of the nigiris were delicious. The hamachi belly and sake toro were my favs. The scallop was very good, but had a very light scallop flavor. All of the fish was very fresh. The one dish I was a little disappointed in was the ikura. I'm a huge ikura lover. This one was pretty tasteless (I love when ikura is marinated). It was fresh, but still had a little of the membrane attached. This was the one thing I could have done without. Before finishing I ordered the fresh oysters. They were the small variation, which are my favorite. They were good, not the best oysters I've ever had, but I appreciated the ponzu and yuzu tomago that they were garnished with. I also ordered a miso soup to finish off the order, which they included on the house. The customer service was amazing. They were very attentive and friendly. They cleared plates quickly and checked on me the perfect amount. I also really appreciate the presentation and attention to detail on every plate they sent out, for all of my plates, but also all of the other diners. To top it off, the gentleman server was a Pokemon fan so we had a nice discussion about card collecting and Pokemon Go. Cant go wrong with a fellow Pokemon fan. I will definitely be back to try their hand rolls, inari selection and their arctic roll! read more

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If I could give this place 10 stars I would. The staff and service is absolutely fantastic. The spot itself is so welcoming and cute. We had service at the bar top and were taken care of by a server and the chef. Oysters were out of this world delicious and refreshing. The spicy tuna roll melted in my mouth, as did every single piece of sashimi. Miso soup was hot and flavorful. So so glad we found this gem. Will come back the next time I'm in town. read more

Butterfish, where have you been all my life in the East Bay! What a jewel! Freshest of fish and beautiful presentation. In love with this intimate sushi restaurant. We stumbled upon it on our way to another restaurant and are so grateful that we did! Service was warm, welcoming and prompt! It was a deliciously endless parade of nigiri, rolls, and nigori sake. Standouts were Oysters, creamy scallop roll, Hamachi and crab small plate, and scallop/uni nigiri. Oh, and that parade was very reasonably priced. We're returning next week - can't wait! read more

What an incredible new sushi spot in Berkeley! It might be my new favorite. It's conveniently located on University Ave. with lots of free street parking nearby. The service was incredible with amazing vibes (especially the music and lighting!). I came during the soft opening so there was complimentary edamame and miso soup (even small details like the tofu in the soup were much better than other sushi restaurants). I ordered the Fresh Oysters, Sushi Deluxe Set, Oceania Roll, and Eel Cucumber Roll. Everything was fresh and delicious. I especially loved the ponzu and yuzu sauce with the oysters. There's lots of sake and dessert options on the menu as well, so I'll be coming back to try those! read more

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Butterfish Sushi is located on a main and busy street, but not much foot traffic here, as it is away from the main areas where most of the students hang / walk around. It may be easily missed from the simple exterior, but the interior is clean, modern, and sleek. Not much service, as I did a to go order, but upon walking in, the employees were friendly / welcoming - 2 stars, instead of 1 star because of the friendly service, so it was unfortunate that the experience / food was a miss. I ordered the Sake Atlantic Salmon, Salmon Avocado Roll, and Kani Crab - I specifically asked for no wasabi at all because I do not like both the smell and taste of it. Unfortunately, I received my sushi with wasabi both in the Sake Atlantic Salmon) and on the side, even though the employee repeated my order with no wasabi back to me. As they had already closed, so I could not go back - I just ended up eating it and I tried to mask the smell / taste with extra soy sauce when I usually do not use much soy sauce, so that was not that enjoyable. read more

Hidden little gem in Berkeley! The place is very small on the inside with bar seating a few tables. They're supposedly owned by the same people that run the Thai place next door. I came on a weekday and was seated immediately for a party of 4. Fish is so fresh! Absolutely loved trying all of their handrolls. Parking was available right outside on the street. Service was great, they came by often to refill our tea. They had a mint tea that my niece loved. We tried their sashimi, hand rolls and some of their popular rolls suggested by the server, they were all so yummy! Upscale and chic location, gives you a nice Berkeley vibe and fresh taste of seafood! read more

Wow! What an amazing experience. They just opened up 3 months ago. All of the servers are extremely friendly and they played up beat music. We went at 12PM on a Saturday. They have limited seating; a small bar area, a few inside tables, some outdoor tables. This is a true experience. They start by bringing you a hand towel, complimentary edamame, and complimentary miso soup. The Sapporo was extremely fresh, it may have been a draft. Their sake was extremely smooth. We ordered oysters which were very unique, it was a set of 4 oysters and I really enjoyed them. Then we also got a sashimi plate of 10, all of the pieces were fresh, it tastes like they just caught it this AM. By this point in the experience, I already decided they were 5 stars no matter if I liked my roll or not. I ordered the Atlantic roll and it was really good. Overall 10/10. You're getting an extremely high quality at a fair price. read more

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I returned to this place just two days after trying it for the first time-- that's how good it is. I've been searching for a great sushi spot in Berkeley for years and I'm so glad I finally found one that meets my expectations. The fish is fresh and high quality and the restaurant itself is small, cute, and intimate. The smoked hamachi roll is one of my favorites. They truly make dining an experience as every plate is beautifully presented. I recommend making a reservation since the space is small and fills up quickly. Definitely my new go-to sushi place. read more

Butterfish Sushi - Handroll set of 3 pieces - Sushi Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Sushi was pretty good and the service was great. It's a smaller place so maybe leave the kids at home. Good place for 2-4 people. Pricey but worth it. read more

Small venue with excellent sushi. Everything was well prepared. Best for small groups (4 or less) or date night. Party of 2 is more ideal. We had a larger group and it was 45min between the first order and the last order in our group to arrive. Everything we tried was delicious and the staff worked hard to accommodate. It was just a bit overwhelming for them even with each of us ordering 1 item. The food items are on the smaller side so would not choose this location if I had a big apettite. Also not an ideal spot for larger groups. read more

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Nice sushi restaurant on the west side of the city Definitely need to make a reservation since the restaurant is very small and popular. Food was delicious all rolls and sashimi were delicious and portions were generous. Service is good but you need to make sure to get their attention so you can place an order or you will miss last call all together. Very busy, good food and prices very reasonable. read more