Glad we called ahead of time to make a reservation for 6 since the place is pretty small and can only probably handle one large group. The freshness, quality, and QUANTITY of fish is probably one of the best in the Bay Area. The thickness of the slices of fish and eel we had was WOW. The hamachi belly and negitoro were our favorites out of the nigiri. Other people in our group ordered the uni and was a show stopper when we saw the sheer amount. The only downside was they only serve sake by the glass not by the bottle which made it more expensive for drinks since we had a larger party. read more

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Amazing food always. I love the saki here and the toro. Also, the oysters were off the charts. read more

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We got the 10-piece nigiri plate, a veggie roll -- or maybe two -- and chawanmushi. The fish was actually quite good: ten different types, all well handled. That was the only strong part of the meal. The chawanmushi was very disappointing. It had no dashi flavor, and none of the expected sense of discovery -- shrimp, chicken, etc, tucked within the custard. This version was essentially plain custard, save for the window dressing on top: flying fish roe, thinly sliced mushrooms, and microgreens. The veggie rolls were uneventful: avocado and other fairly ordinary vegetables. They had that familiar problem of vegetarian sushi that seems to punish vegetarians rather than reward them. The room was loud and hip, with a semblance of atmosphere. But aside from the quality of the raw fish, the meal was far more style than substance. read more

A small cozy space. A sushi bar that probably fits 8 people and 4 tables (of 2) ppl. Not very good for big parties or family-friendly. A place to come with your girlfriend to chitchat. Vibes are trendy and chill. The miso soup has good umami flavor. Tartare or Artic roll didn't really stand out for me. I would say the fish is pretty fresh. My kiddo enjoyed the Saba dinner. A nicely seared and grilled Saba with good flavor. The inari rolls were the winner of the night. Similarly to a handroll concept but in an inari tofu skin instead. The freshness of the fish overall is what keeps the rating up. Parking is limited but if you're patient you can score street parking right in front. Customer service was a bit lackluster. I'm not sure if they were busy but the waitress gave us the bill without asking if we were done or needed dessert. Didn't really care to ask if we needed a high chair for our toddler. Other than that I'd be back if I had a sushi craving. read more

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It seems like the Bay produces sushi restaurants ad infinitum, so while competition is fierce, I do hope Butterfish becomes a mainstay. The recently opened Butterfish is a notch above your casual sushi establishment but still cheap enough to not be considered an expensive meal (by Bay standards). My party dined here on a Saturday night at 6, apparently right before they drew the dinner crowd as foot traffic really started to increase around 6:30. We ordered a few dishes to share, namely, the chawan mushi, Alaskan roll, rainbow / bara don, miso black cod, and a Chirashi. While pricy, the fish quality is admittedly good and you do get what you pay for. The service is also awesome; our waiter was attentive and even kindly let us drink the Asahi beer on display as it was out of stock otherwise. I won't say their food is to kill for, but if you're in the Berkeley area fixing to try something new, perhaps give them a try. read more

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the hype is real!!! the softest, fattest, juiciest freshest fish ever. beautiful but the price to match. i think hands down best sashimi tapas i've ever had. also amazing service and cute little spot so definitely reserve in advance read more

Amazing food and service but too bad restaurant is so tiny. Very cute place and reminds me of Japan. Hardly any room to sit so be prepare to wait for a table. My hubby loves the sushi that we come here every time we visit our kids. The only problem is that there are not a lot of option for people who have seafood allergy or do not eat raw fishes. I loved the fried hamachi with rice, salad, and miso soup combo. I highly recommend this sushi place for those sushi lover out there. read more

Although I used Yelp/Open Table to make reservations online for 8pm, the restaurant didn't seat us until after 8:30. There was a kiosk at the door to add your name to the waiting list, but it already showed my name on the waitlist "via Yelp", but that didn't seem to matter at all. It was really confusing. It also didn't seem like the servers or hosts were going outside to check on the waitlist and the folks waiting to be seated at all. Some people left because they got tired of waiting. I didn't realize how small the place was until I got inside. It probably only seats 20 people, and it's fairly tight. We got bumped into and we couldn't avoid bumping into others. Our server never brought us water and seemed to forget about us. The workflow of the restaurant seemed chaotic and inefficient. I'm not sure if it's due to the tight space or being a newish restaurant, but it felt jarring. Sometimes the server took our order, sometimes it was someone else... sometimes the chef? It was unclear what the actual process was supposed to be. The food itself was delicious. The quality was fresh and the flavors and textures were complimentary. We ordered miso soup, edamame, one of the special rolls, an Atlantic roll, and the tasting spoons (4). Note to self: tasting spoons are not for sharing. There was no way to do it. I tried to pick at it with my chopsticks so my date could have the other half, but the chef seemed to scold us by leaning over and said it's supposed to be one bite. What is the most polite way to share one bite of fish on a spoon? No good answer here; order with the intention of eating all 4 spoons by yourself. read more

So amazing! I went twice and I can safely say I will be coming back. The sushi is so fresh and delicious! The chefs and servers are so sweet, attentive, and accommodating, never felt out of place or unwanted!! read more

Butterfish Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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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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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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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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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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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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

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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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

This was some of the most gorgeous sushi I have ever seen. And the quality was exceptional. I only wish I had discovered Butterfish sooner!

I'd heard a lot about this place and it didn't disappoint! Really great service, refreshing to not have omakase and have the option to order just a small amount of sushi. Sake menu was really interesting, and the service was really pleasant, staff had good recommendations!! 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

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

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!

Came here for celebrating our kiddo's graduation. The staff were very kind and welcoming and had great recommendations. The smoked hamachi roll is absolutely worth getting! Our kiddo said they felt transported to Japan. read more

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

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

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

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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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

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

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

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