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    Cha-Ya

    4.0 (790 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Cha-Ya Takeout or Delivery

    Cha-Ya Photos

    CHA-YA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Cha-Ya

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    Reviews With Photos

    Cha-Ya Roll
    Emma M.

    The food is always a hit, as someone who doesn't eat any fish, this place is absolutely wonderful catering. The service is well, and foods brought to your table quickly. Small place with only about 10 tables, very cozy and makes eating the meal even more special. This is a go to spot whenever I'm in Berkley as the flavors are Individually noticeable, yet come together so pleasantly.

    Sea Vegetable Salad
    Cynthia C.

    Delivery order was a bit sad looking after the travel. Quality and taste made up for it. Especially loved the potato croquette in the curry and the way they steamed the veg separately was super inspiring. Back in the college days I used to just boil it all together and it was mushy/absorbed all the individual flavors. Definitely get the sea veg salad and the summer greens roll - super refreshing. Everything was topped with Kaiware sprouts and a variety of carefully selected/handled veg. Bookmarked forever, definitely will be a go-to healthy delivery selection if they stay in our range!

    Rice vegetable bowl
    Mary K.

    Not the best vegetarian sushi place I have been to. Service was ok, the place needs an update and smelled of bleach. Not well lit. The food was ok,nothing special. The napkin on the table they use for silverware is a hard bathroom paper towel! Wow... Asparagus was cold. The veggies rice bowl was bland no flavor and had a weird smell. I think it was the bowl and spoon, Maybe the dishwasher needs fixing... the bun was way too hot, I had to cut in half to cool off. I believe it was microwaved not steamed. And the plate color was scraped/scratched off. Time for new plates. To pay its cash or Venmo app only.

    Gyoza Cha-Ya Roll Inari Kake Noodles
    Lisa G.

    It was disappointing. Everything tasted the same from the lack of seasoning and same sauce poured on everything.

    Cucumber salad
    Christine L.

    Everything was beautiful and very fresh! Such a unique restaurant that offers a vegetarian's dream for Japanese food. Very healthy and guilt-free food that looks and tastes like it's made with love. I wish there were more locations!

    Delicious food
    Anandita S.

    The food could have little more flavorful with spices. The customer service was amazing and super polite. Its clean place but not fancy.

    Soba Roll

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    2 years ago

    Great vegan food! Novel textures and flavors. Venmo or cash only. All of the dishes we tried were incredible.

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    Page 1 of 20

    Ask the Community - Cha-Ya

    Does anyone know if Cha-ya is open for takeout during shelter in place?

    They just reopened and have posted a sign in their door. They're open for takeout Wednesday-Sunday from 12p-8p!

    Is this open during the pandemic (delivery or takeout)?

    They just reopened and have posted a sign in their door. They're open for takeout Wednesday-Sunday from 12p-8p!

    Is this place strictly vegan?

    Yes, they are strictly vegan.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Noodle Dynasty

    Noodle Dynasty

    4.5
    (467 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    After a good day of hiking in Berkeley, I've decided to be a tourist around the area since I'm…read moreoriginally from Manteca, Ca. Walked around the University area and wanted something I haven't tried before. Finally I stumbled onto Noodle Dynasty. Never had fresh pulled noodles before and plus the atmosphere was welcoming. Restaurant was packed and servers were very attentive and friendly. The dining area is small but it had so much character, you kinda forget about it. I ordered through a tablet where I ordered and paid first. Refreshments were a plenty with my own pitcher of water! I ordered the house special noodles with bone ribs, spicy, and also the cucumber salad. Both were amazing!! The cucumber was worth the $7.99 since they use large portions of high quality cucumbers. The broth of the noodle soup was amazing also! Never, have I had Chinese inspired noodle soups like this before. It was rich and deep with flavor. The dried peppers and the nuts gave it a good texture and you can taste the freshness of the noodles. The bone on Ribs were so tender and they gave a generous amount. So perfect! All in all, I totally recommend this spot! I don't know any spot in the San Joaquin county that even comes close to this. Great job!

    They open at 5 and since I was very hungry, I asked them to sit indoors around 4:45pm until they…read morestart serving. Not only were they accommodation but they allowed me to order early. I did not expect that at all. I ordered tomato and egg lo mein - it was a very comforting dish. I did not have any leftovers.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Lamb Brisket Noodle Soup 羊腩面 with Thick Noodles ($13.99) - lamb brisket is better on rice than on noodles. Soup is too sweet.
    Lamb Brisket Noodle Soup 羊腩面 with Thick Noodles ($13.99) - lamb brisket is better on rice than on noodles. Soup is too sweet.
    2025 Menu

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    2025 Menu
    Noodles Fresh

    Noodles Fresh

    4.4
    (260 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    This place is super clean (including bathrooms!), quick service, easy to get a table…read more The food is always delicious, filling, and you leave feeling good. The soup is extra soothing if you're sick or under the weather! Price is affordable and service is good. Would recommend if you're in Berkeley and looking for a clean, non-greasy Chinese food spot.

    Noodles Fresh Berkeley 物超所值,分量十足,味道极佳。…read moreWù chāo suǒ zhí, fènliàng shízú, wèidào jí jiā. 好正嘅食物超值 You know, I don't normally go to Chinese restaurants because they seem to have the exact same menu and not a lot of choice for vegetarians. Growing up in Wisconsin in a small city at the tip of Lake Superior Chinese restaurants were just about the only ethnic food available throughout the country. Exotic as they may seem to have been and widespread Nationally which is partly due to the Chinese building the railroads cross country. Chicago Cafe (Woodland, CA): Founded in 1903, academic research suggests this spot near Sacramento is the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the U.S. and California. These days I prefer Vietnamese or Thai all day long because the flavors are better and more variety and cleaner with respect to how the dishes are prepared. Well, I stumbled into this spot today and I was rather blown away. Large portions, low prices, excellent variety and top notch service. And a huge portion for only $13.95. I had the vegetable rice, complementary hot sauce and a nice iced cold five dollar Heineken. OK, this is a spot to put on your list. See you there!!! And now here are some interesting factoids: While thousands of Chinese immigrants first came to the U.S. to build the transcontinental railroad in the 1800s, it was the subsequent decades of legal discrimination that forced a marginalized community to turn the restaurant industry into their primary means of survival and citizenship. The "Lo Mein Loophole": In the early 20th century, U.S. courts recognized restaurant ownership as a pathway to obtain merchant visas. This loophole sparked a massive boom in the creation of Chinese restaurants, particularly luxury "chop suey palaces".

    Photos
    Asian mural
    Asian mural
    Best brown rice
    Best brown rice
    Jiangxi stir-fry 表妹炒粉 - House special GFA Rice noodle with flank steak beef, bell pepper, baby bok choy, & spicy chilies

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    Jiangxi stir-fry 表妹炒粉 - House special GFA Rice noodle with flank steak beef, bell pepper, baby bok choy, & spicy chilies
    The Noodle Thai Restaurant

    The Noodle Thai Restaurant

    3.8
    (957 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Started off with the fresh rolls and corn cakes. The fresh rolls lived up to their name of being…read morefresh and they were a good size with a perfect crunch. The corn cakes were fried just right so they were golden on the outside but soft on the inside and the slaw and sweet sauce elevated it. I would get both appetizers again. For entrees we had: Mama Pad Kee Moa (3.5/5) - instant noodles with fresh veggies and very thin beef. Flavor was good, but the beef missed the mark because it was lacking. Massaman Gai Curry (5/5) - the curry was so flavorful in this dish and the soft potato complimented it very well. Definitely the winner of the night. Chicken Khao Pad (Fried Rice) (3/5) - rice was a little too dry and the thinly cut chicken again did not pop out in the dish. Overall, very fresh and authentic Thai dishes. Service was fast and attentive. There are plenty of seating options to dine in, but I also saw a lot of take out orders. Street parking can be difficult on Shattuck but easier to find on the side streets.

    No complaints about the service; they were quick and very friendly…read more Unfortunately, I was not the biggest fan of the food. The green curry noodles came with vermicelli, and I wanted to try it since it's what they recommend, but it just was not the right texture for the curry I felt. The flavor of the curry itself was not super flavorful. I felt like more coconut milk could have been added to coat the noodles more. The spring rolls were good. I enjoyed the peanut sauce. We also sat at the front by the door, and it was rather cold in that seat.

    Photos
    The Noodle Thai Restaurant
    The Noodle Thai Restaurant
    The Noodle Thai Restaurant

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    Marugame Udon

    Marugame Udon

    3.7
    (926 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Vegan friendly

    I'm assuming this location has a poor star rating due to service/procedures, because the location…read moreand food itself is good. We popped in on a Sunday, right before 11, but unfortunately they were late to open the doors by about 5 minutes. Once they did open the doors, we found the tempura options weren't ready so we had to stand to the side and wait a little longer for them to get those out. They had several posters and signs up advertising the new Tomatama curry, which I really wanted but when I ordered, the employee informed me they don't offer that sauce anymore. I let her know all the signs outside say they do.. she said they didn't realize that and they have to be replaced. She was really nice, but that was a bummer. She said I could sample the sauces they do have though, so that was the consolation prize. It did help me choose between their normal curry or the new Bolognese. After you choose the udon option you want, they make your bowl and give it to you on a lunch tray, along with a paper container to put your tempura options. I went with the Big Chicken ($5) and sweet potato ($2 something). You can top your bowl with as much tempura flakes and green onions you like, which is nice because I love me some green onions. At the end, the cashier will ring you up and then you find your seat. The dining area is nice. It's well lit, aesthetic but we haaaaate the chairs with a passion. There is no back support unless you sit in a booth. I really like that all the utensils, napkins, to go items, tempura sauce, etc are all available to grab as needed. I also like that they have chili powder! A must for us spicy eaters. The tempura sauce is rich, and flavorful. A little sweet, but it balances the tempura well. They also have katsu and gyoza sauce in packets. Pro tip - use the larger cups instead of the plastic sauce cups to dispense the tempura sauce, so that it's easier to dip! Wow this was long winded, but onto the food. The regular size bowl will have you full but you can opt for a Large for a couple bucks more. My bolognese was sooooo creamy and savory, and made even better by adding the chili powder and a couple spoons of the tempura sauce. Don't ask me why, it just works. I don't know if it's just a seasonal item, but hopefully not, as the sauce works. I like that i clung to the noodles well too but def get yourself a spoon to help ladle the meat alongside each bite of noodles. The big chicken isn't that big lol But it's basically 1 chicken thigh. I appreciate the dark meat, as it keeps the meat juicy. The sweet potato had the perfect batter on it, but tbh I probably could have gone without another starch. I had a sip of the Creamy broth and the Nikutama my sisters had. Creamy broth was savory and creamy, but it didn't have a bold enough flavor for me. The nikutama is sweet af.. way too sweet for me. But i liked how tender the beef was. There's street parking, free on Sundays. I wouldn't wait in line to eat here, but for a quick, comforting meal, this will hit the spot without breaking the bank.

    Marugame is usually my fast-casual go-to for a savory, filling bowl of udon, so after moving to…read moreBerkeley, it was inevitable that I'd stop by this location. It's in a modern building in the heart of downtown Berkeley and feels spacious and clean inside. They have a digital ordering system for takeout and clear signage for where to line up if you're dining in. I pretty much always get the Nikutama, and the recipe has been consistently solid. The tempura at most Marugame locations is just average in my opinion, but it does taste better when you ask them to fry a fresh piece for you, even if it means waiting a couple of minutes. My biggest issue was the service during my last lunch visit. There didn't seem to be any problem with the kitchen or food prep--everything was already made and ready to be assembled. The delay was entirely at the ordering/plating station, where the employee putting bowls together was moving painfully slowly and seemed completely unable to keep up with a very standard lunch flow. What made it more frustrating was that other employees clearly saw the line building and did not step in to help. A massive line formed behind me, and several of us waited around 10-25 minutes just to order, even though the restaurant itself didn't seem that busy. It honestly felt like everyone was stuck on their own individual task while customers were left waiting unnecessarily. I'd still come back because the food is reliable but would immediately walk away if I saw the same employee working as this visit was genuinely frustrating. Management should make sure staff are properly trained and that the team actually supports each other during lunch service, because one inefficient person at the front can completely slow down the entire experience. Update: Popped back in on 7/8/26 around 1pm. Same employee working. Huge line. Only 2 parties seated. Line did not move after waiting 5 minutes so I had to walk away. Doubling down on my recommendation to re-hire or re-train this staff member.

    Photos
    Matcha Latte
    Matcha Latte
    Curry Nikutama Udon
    Curry Nikutama Udon
    Nikutama Udon

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    Nikutama Udon

    Cha-Ya - japanese - Updated August 2026

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