Pros: fresh and light, healthy food that tastes delicious. Nice presentation and I always appreciate vegan options. Cons: understaffed (one server for the whole restaurant when it was full!) and way overpriced. My boyfriend and I ordered three entrees, which were spaced long in between because the server was so busy we couldn't get her attention. We were still hungry after but decided to leave instead of shelling out another $15. I would come here more if it was affordable. Portions are small, albeit pretty. But if I want vegan, I'll go to Cafe Tibet down the street or Chinese food. It's just too expensive to come here. read more

Being a vegetarian, I always found it difficult to eat Japanese food without having to worry about meat or seafood in my dish. So eating at Cha-Ya was a relief from that worry! I went with a friend and we ordered a meal that came with two entrees, a salad, and miso soup, which we had split into two bowls. One of the entrees was a sushi platter that had various vegetarian sushis. The other was a gyoza hot pot that had lots of vegetables in it. The food was really good, maybe a little bland, but it was a bit pricey. I felt satisfied afterwards, but that "full feeling" went away after a few hours. Would I go back? Maybe when my sushi cravings kick in. read more

Unassuming fantastic vegetarian restaurant in the middle of this gourmet ghetto. Atmosphere is like a casual diner. It has two front doors. On the right side is the kitchen and two small tables. On the left is the main dining area. Two of us split an appetizer of fried vegetables that came with a delicious salty dipping sauce. We then split a main dish of soup with dumpling, loads of vegetables, and a good broth. It came with a delicious misu soup and a bowl of rice. Along with this lunch also ordered a jasmine tea which was enough for both of us. Service was a bit slow and table was wobbly but the delicious food more than made up for it. I recommend you try this place even if you are not vegetarian. read more

I ate dinner here with a friend, though I live out of the area and have not been able to eat here in over 2 1/2 years. The food was still extremely delicious and one-of-a-kind, however my "compare and contrast" experiment with tonight versus two years ago made me note a few things which caused me to give a star or two lower than what I would have expected to award the restaurant prior to tonight: expect to wait outside for a bit while their ~5 tables plus ~7 person bar cycle through. they switch people from their tables quite a lot to pack in more people to the restaurant. while this is in general nice to make a slightly less of a wait for everyone in general, its a little frustrating to be asked/told to move after the second time. the staff aren't the friendliest, and they've never been; but to a couple who obviously had never been to the restaurant, and were unfamiliar with the dishes/how to eat the food, the waitress was actually rude. it was a little embarrassing. price increase; I can't give exact numbers, but it seems to me that what I ordered which would cost $7 a couple of years ago, now costs around $12. The prices across the menu were quite a bit higher- to their defense: they were as inexpensive as an average sushi restaurant (vegetarian dishes) before, and this was under-priced, but at the prices now; this will only be a seldom treat for me. read more

So, here's the thing. I went here in early 2005 with Miriam W & LOVED it. I'm pretty sure I had the vegetable tempura. In any case I remember being absolutely thrilled with it & loving it & wanting to go back so so so badly. Here we are in June 2008 & I haven't been back yet & my vegetarian friend is in town from LA. She wants to know where a good place to eat is in SF or Berkeley. Welllllllllll I know this GREAT vegan place around the corner from my apartment! Except this time, it wasn't great. It was... fine. 5 months later I have to admit that I don't remember what we ordered, but I recall not being hugely impressed with it. & the service? Atrocious. However, I can hardly blame her -- one waitress for the whole restaurant (sure, it's a small restaurant, but still!)? That's tough, man. But forgetting what we asked for FOUR TIMES is a bit much for me. If I still lived in Berkeley I'd give this place another try; I sort of get the feeling that I went on an off-night. At least my veggie friend liked it! read more

The food here is soooo good! I also love the cozy little atmosphere! I brought my parents who are in no way vegan, and they loved it! I'm definitely coming back! read more

Cha-Ya - The Kansai Set Noodle Dinner with the Sansai soup! - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

The quality standards made a come back. There's an ATM inside the restaurant now, so the cash-only rule is less annoying. The servers are very nice (as always), and do their best when it's busy and they're under staffed. It's nowhere near as good as Shizen, but it's pretty consistent and that counts for something. read more

lest ye be found rocking, shaking, sweating, deeply, endlessly in need of a fix - the crack cocaine heroine needle in your arm comprised of a meal at Cha-Ya's, in a wholesome, family-friendly sense:) More specifically: 1. Soba salad (be sure to get lots of the juice on it 2. Seaweed Salad - I know, but don't lament that there isn't more straight up wakame - the other stuff rocks and the white stuff, some kind of cashew cream dip? excellent. 3. Most essential (if it's just 2 of you, would start out ordering 4 orders so you'll have a few to snack on later that day, more if you want proper leftovers) The Cha-Ya Roll. The most satisfying pieces of food you can put in your mouth, ever. ever ever 3 meals a day for the rest of your life and never grow tired of it - The Cha-Ya roll. God it's good! p.s. the staff are super friendly too! read more

Wow, the food here is so so good. The Soba Salad is one of our favorites. It is a cold soba salad with lots of goodies like carrots, green onion, burdock, edamame, and strawberries bundled on top. The Dobin Mushi (mushroom soup) is sublime with good earthy flavors. Our young kids love the Cha-Ya Roll and the Vegetable Roll. The Cha-Ya soup used to be on the specials list, but now is a regular part of the menu and is really good. There is usually a small line, but the wait is short and well worth it. Definitely a great restaurant. read more

This place is delicious. It's healthy and the food comes quickly. A few of the dishes - the Soba noodle salad and Cha-Ya roll are amazing, I crave them for weeks at a time. The preparation is beautiful. I honestly don't understand and of the bad reviews! If anything, read the menu carefully since there are many options, and order carefully based on what you like. But everything I've had has been delicious! read more

Ahhhh just like I remembered. Same name but somewhat completely different menu! And have their prices gone down?? Oh wait.... it only seemed that way because this was my very first time eating here for lunch!!! haha Well, I think the harusame option (clear noodles made of potato starch) is new though, or at least I don't remember it from the last time I was here so it must have come sometime within the last two years. And their "cash only" policy seem to be much more obvious now. Anyway, I got the three usual items that I've always ordered everytime - kinoko noodle soup (with harusame this time), eggplant roll and inari. While the eggplant and inari were just as I remembered (same taste and same size), somehow, today, I felt like the kinoko soup was the best it's Ever tasted - Full of Flavor and just the right amount of whatever seasoning they put into it and I'm a big fan of harusame now! It totally satisfied my appetite and craving for really good soup and I'm not even 100% vegetarian! And it comes Piping Hot every time - perfect for those super cold rainy days. Whether you dine in or take out there's really no difference - the food is consistently good and it's the same portions - they don't skimp on anything! But if you come for lunch versus dinner there is a little bit of a price difference (not that big - just a few dollars), however, portions are exactly the same so it's almost better to come for lunch. read more

I don't want to come off as anti-vegan. That would be a little odd (considering I am, although the possibility of being a self-hating vegan is possible I suppose), but not completely impossible. The issue is that this place just isn't that good. The food is average, the service average, and the place kind of dingy. If this were Omaha, maybe you could excuse it as the only good vegan place for a thousand miles. However, this is Berkley. The best vegan restaurants in the world are within a few minutes. There is a lot of potential in this place, and I wish they would use it. read more

For vegetarians, Cha-Ya is the best. But the wait is not. Berkeley's location is so cramped. I think it's great, but not worth waiting over 30 minutes. Instead, go to the one in San Francisco in the Mission where the wait is a lot shorter and the hot food is cooked better. Or, order takeout when you see a huge line and just eat it outside or bring it home. Foodwise, I recommend the rolls over the hot entrees and I highly recommend the mushroom soup. Order the summer roll. Try the teas. Noodle dishes are great. Avoid the tofu custard, it doesn't taste very good. They serve Takara (Berkeley's local) sake, organic too! read more

No meat for ten months. I'm doing totally fine with that, actually i feel healthier. So finding little gems of veggie restaurants really excites me. This place was awesome! I have to say I was very scared by the appearance of some of the dishes...but I was adventurous and it was totally worth it. I couldn't tell you the name or ingredients of anything i ate, but everything was delicious. Even the terrifying looking tofu porridge thing...it took me like four tries before i could actually put it in my mouth, buy YUM it was great. Pretty good prices. Tiny restaurant, however we went on Saturday at 6 and got a table right away. read more

I love simple, delicious food and they really know what they're doing. Best of all - vegan. Healthy vegan, not junky vegan. Couldn't recommend it more. read more

Everyone shut up for a sec and listen to me! :D Chaya's is the best place... EVER. If you're a veggie you have to eat here. I know, I know Tim Robbins and hella other people said to only eat what you can and one of the selling points in being a vege is to consume less... But let me tell you. Whenever I come here I eat so much they have to shut the place down. ...I've stopped being a veggie a while back but I still eat here for a reason and it's cause the food is that good. But the most awesomest thing ever is that it's straight traditional Japanese sushi! It's tasty, it's presented in a beautiful manner and freshness is key but most importantly... It's the best sushi you will taste, with very few exceptions. read more

Tucked in between a dainty bakery and a bead store, lives a small Japanese restaurant that prides themselves on being not only vegetarian friendly but also in true Berkeley fashion- vegan. After walking in the wrong door (a mistake many make on their first visit), I was greeted by a pleasant but hurried Japanese woman. While explaining that it was in fact just a table for one, and yes I would like to eat the food here, a pair of two men making eye contact with me in between prepping vegetables caught my attention. The way they delicately sliced through mushroom and cucumber as the steam of a rice cooker blew in the background was more erotic than appetizing but thankfully I was seated before the Weeknd's latest song flowed from the speakers. I was seated on a soft cushion that laid on top of a wooden bench. I was given some time to look over the menu, and the place itself. It was small, but very clean with beautiful light bamboo flooring and open windows that were so clear you would think it was featured in a Windex commercial. Hidden near the restrooms was an ATM machine that was taped over with an "Out of order" sign. Thank goodness I had just cashed in at coin-star earlier that day because this restaurant is CASH ONLY. The amount of options they had was OUT. OF. THIS. WORLD. Want sushi? They have that. Want udon noodles? They have that. Want the perfectly crispy tempura? Thank god they have that. I ordered the said tempura (or as they call it Ten Bou), as well as kappa maki (Cucumber rolls), And the Cha-ya roll (tempura sushi with avocado,carrots, yams, and yes it's lightly deep fried). I have never loved vegetables more. The yam in the Cha-ya roll was perfectly sweet and the carrots had the most perfect crunch. The kappa maki was so good I ending up getting 3 orders to take home! That's eighteen pieces of sushi people!! And the Ten Bou. It is so golden, so pure. I still dream of the crispy outside layer and the perfectly cooked veggie hidden inside it's little golden home. As a college student, I don't have any cash to blow. But if you play your cards right, Cha-ya can be the best place to have an amazing dinner under $10! The Kappa maki roll was $3.70 for six pieces. The Cha-ya roll was $7.25 for eight pieces. And the Ten Bou was $5.50! I can't recommend this place enough. If you eat this, the thought of going vegan doesn't seem as daunting or gross. I already have made several plans to eat here with my family and my friends! read more

We had never been here and met some friends of ours with some food allergies that like this place because there are a lot of options for them. We ordered the Vegan roll which was really good, the veggie pot stickers dish and a soba noodle curry dish. The pot sticker dish ended up being a soup and that was a little bland. The curry noddle dish was a soup as well and had some more flavor, but they both needed some seasoning help. I wouldn't give this place a bad review because there was nothing really wrong, the service was great too, but I think that the meal could be elevated a little more on the flavor front. read more

Inconsistent quality. The shitty service, however, is consistent (unfortunately). There are too many other good veggie restaurants to be tortured by the bad service of this place. And besides, it's not too cozy inside either. read more

Great Vegetarian Japanese cuisine, including Vegi-sushi for a reasonable price. If you are not a vegetarian you won't feel at all deprived.

Not bad at all, especially for the vegetarian mammals within my network. An old ex was a vegetarian, so we were always in the hunt for a decent vegetarian restaurant. Of course, Berkeley was the treasure trove of a town for us. Cha-Ya delivers exactly what we expected in a good Japanese restaurant: tasty sushi rolls with fresh vegetables, crunchy tempura with lovely sweet and soft yam, savory broccoli, and my favorite, mushrooms! The only thing I remembered on a negative note, was that one of our rolls was not rolled tightly enough and when my exbf picked up his, the innards fell out ;) read more

Vegetarian sushi?! That's what I thought when I found out about this place. But I found myself very satisfied after a meal here. You won't even miss the meat in these dishes! The things they can do with tofu are amazing and delicious. Mmm...healthy! There may be a bit of a wait but generally people are seated within no time. The desserts could be a bit more substantial considering the price you pay so I don't think I'd go for dessert here again unless someone else was paying. I didn't give it a full 5 stars since this place can be a bit pricey for what you are getting but hey, if you want to treat yourself or someone else, this is a very good option. read more

Let me preface this by proclaiming, "I LOVE SUSHI". All shapes and kinds. (well, almost. I just can't seem to stomach Uni). As a former vegetarian, it wasn't too long ago that I was relegated to only veggie rolls. Cha-ya has a delightful assortment of veg-tastic sushi offerings, including vegetable NIGIRI. Awesome. The way the veggies are prepared and served often times provides a similar texture and experience to eating fish sushi, which is pretty remarkable. My cha-ya roll came out WELL after I had finished eating everything else, and I was pretty full. I was actually expecting that they'd forgotten it. I wish they had, because that roll wasn't very great (drowned in teriyaki/miso glaze), and it pushed me over the edge. Maybe we got lucky but we came around 7:30 on a Saturday evening and experienced about a 10 minute wait, so I can't harp on long lines or bad service. The prices here were decent for a sushi place... I'd say they charge average prices. Weirdly enough, the price for veggies should, in theory, be lower than fresh caught fish, right? So in my book that makes this stuff a bit overpriced. Even still, it's hard to argue with my tastebuds. I can't give this place 5 stars because honestly, even though the sushi was really good, it wasn't GREAT, as in...OMG I would rather eat here than at a sushi bar that actually has FISH. Also, the service was adequate but not fantastic. So if I ever want a break from meat, go back to vegetarianism, or have a veggie-friend to entertain, Cha-Ya is definitely where I'd take them. read more

Cha-Ya is an all-vegan Japanese restaurant. It is quite small so there is often a wait during dinner, especially on weekends. The service is attentive and friendly. The dishes are both beautifully plated and delicious. I would recommend any of their tofu or eggplant dishes. They offer a number of vegetable "sushi" rolls along with creative hot dishes, desserts, beer, wine, and sake. The prices are reasonable and the serving sizes are generous. read more

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I really like this place because when I'm in a veggie mood there is no better place to get some flavorful Japanese food that won't leave you asking "where's the fish". I had the mushroom miso soup which was absolutely delicious and had tons of different types of mushrooms in a tasty and not overly salty miso broth. We shared a tempura appetizer which was also very well done and was worth the cost. I would note that the service was very slow and they are not very helpful when multiples people are paying. There is also a per person minimum so it's not great if you're just dropping in for a snack but the food is great so it's definitely worth the minor inconveniences. read more

This exemplifies why I can't take my spouse out to Japanese other than sushi. She does not like subtle or delicate flavors. Many Japanese veg places avoid spices for religious reasons. I appreciate subtlety, but unfortunately I also did not like this restaurant. It crossed the line from subtle to bland. The ramen broth was thin. The tempura batter was way too chewy and not crispy, and also flavorless. I like that there is a vegan-friendly Japanese restaurant here, i just wish it were better. read more

Yum! I've been going to this restaurant since I was a college student. However, I moved out of the area and rarely returned. Now that I'm closer, I plan to keep this on my list of businesses to support. The people who work here always take care with the quality and presentation of the food. We ordered specialty rolls, vegetable tempura, miso soup, barley tea, and taki-sui. The tempura was still crunchy when I arrived home. The Taki-Sui is more of a cabbage soup with the crumbled remains of dumplings. I would not recommend the Taki-Sui. The specialty rolls are a must. The prices are reasonable. Bring cash or Venmo during COVID dining closure. read more

I would count this as one of the more unusual entries into the Berkeley restaurant scene, but it seems to fit beautifully with the overall feel of the town. With its vegan Japanese fare, Cha-Ya attracts more than its fair share of health-conscious, intellectual, liberal gourmands, all looking to dine at this tiny, hole-in-the-wall restaurant, and with good reason. The food, especially their soups, is fantastic, full of rich flavor, texture and color. With a great attention to detail and fabulous collection of dishes, the presentation becomes an integral part of the meal. Each tiny plate or saucer is there for the eyes to savor just as much as the morsels of delicately fried eggplant are meant for the tastebuds. Speaking as an amicable omnivore, I'm happy to report that the food is delicious, the prices are reasonable, but because it's such a tiny space to cram so many eager patrons into, I would hesitate to give Cha-Ya a full five stars. But I would still highly recommend it to ravenous veggie-worshippers in search of a fabulous meal and also to carnivores looking to explore cuisine off the beaten path. Just remember to adopt a Zen-like patience when waiting for your table. read more

It's a clear night. My stomach hurt all day; last night I stayed in the office until the middle of the night --- missed the last train to the other side of the bay and everything. My friend drove over the bridge to pick me up. In the morning, we go to the university botanical gardens, and I take home a small white narcissus arrangement that I wish my room were more in order to accommodate. We run into a few friends --- passionate about their acquisitions as well. We would fill our living rooms and stairwells with plants we hope would survive our busy lives. My friend who got married and lived in Sweden for a few years is back and comes along to eat lunch and sniff wines and browse cheeses. Then Hungarian cakes and iced coffee, and groceries for the week. The entire day I try to breathe deeply, but my shoulders feel pinched, head squeezed under a stack of books. I lie with my eyes closed and the windows open while Greg arranges his plants and pays the month's bills. After my nap I'm convinced that I feel better, but I stand to talk about dinner possibilities and immediately feel the weight again. Daylight is waning, and I'm now wishing for early morning activities like lying in the grass, walking along the coast with the sea air washing over my lungs. The decision nearly kills us --- this happens every time. In one of the most epicurean saturated areas of the nation, we can never decide where to eat. My stomach is an undulating sea of discomfort, and I feel like nothing heavy, greasy, creamy, fried, spicy, but rather, something refreshing. It takes a while for us to mutually admit that Cha Ya is a secret in the back of our minds, and when it comes forth we head out the door immediately. The streets are now illuminated by electric lights, and people are jumping in front of cars. Thankfully, there is room for two at the sushi bar. The menu is just what I want to read. The entries even in text show the promise of cleansing my state of agitation. We order two iron pots of the *earth soup*, Agedashi Tofu, *Macha Green Tea*, and Cha Ya Delight. A man grumbles next to us. The waitress comes from behind a curtain with a pile of bills on a tray and places it in front of him, takes his hand gently lays it on the pile. "Please remember to take your money." His face is red and cut with drooping lines that lull his eyes asleep, dirt soaked jacket and hands and mess of dark hair covering his ears. He does not acknowledge the money, but grumbles again. A few times he scraggles out the words, "Why would a child say that? Where would that come from?" A family of three sits next to him, the toddler daughter asking, "What did he say?" The father returns, "I don't know." "Why would a child say that? Where would that come from?" I try to breathe in the steam of my green tea, my nose close to the blue scales trimmed by gold on the round cup. I feel the eyes of the cook looking on from the kitchen curtain, and hope that a scene does not occur. In the back I wonder if instead of a steaming, clattering system of pots, pans, fires, and grease, there is instead a garden, where each ingredient is carefully plucked from the waters and the earth and placed in each vessel in meditation. I envision the hands stroking the enoki and shiitake mushrooms, daikon and burdock, ginkgo nuts, spinach and tofu, lotus root and flowercut carrots, placed into the iron vessel with the broth poured gently over --- two, side by side, in our separate states. It is almost the same dish but with brown rice, the Delight, but a complementary dish instead of repetition. He falls in and out of sleep, and I fear making eye contact --- maybe he would ask the same question over and over of me. I wouldn't know what to say. I take each sip slowly, pick up each morsel and place them into my mouth one at a time, meditating on the separate ingredients and secretly worrying that the man would be forced to leave at closing time. Sometimes I am like that --- almost asleep, yet frustrated and radiating, wanting to be left alone but not able to stand the solitude of private quarters. I desperately do not want the other customers or restaurant staff to be angry, waiting for the end of it. I flash between this worry and the realization that my body is relaxing, my mind clearing, my stomach settling. The food is at the exact right pace, a wondrous balance of taste and clarity. I feel a wash of calm over my body, and I want to nap in a library with open windows, wear short sleeves in the wind, listen to soft songs with pedestrian sounds behind. "Not yet . . . later," the owner says to the waitress, who asks in Japanese what they should do about the red-faced man now completely asleep in front of his empty dish. "He is okay." Greg and I wind around the blocks of the dark neighborhood before getting into the car again. I wonder why a man can't be left to sleep over his grumbles without my worry. read more

The food is delicious, its beautiful, it's healthy and it's unique. If you want to eat vegan and eat interesting, appetizing, filling food, come here! The service is warm and friendly, the atmosphere is relaxed and simple, and there is enough space to have a conversation without hearing your neighbors. read more

I loved everything that I had just now!! I had combination dinner "Dengaku" and "Vegetable sukiyaki." They are goooood. heavenly....comfort and cozy food. They instantly brought me back to Japan. Surprisingly, my daughter loved her vegetarian bean soup!!! (She has been very picky lately). so that will tell us something. The place got jam-packed right after they opened even though today is what...only Tuesday?? read more

The Short: I ate here with my brother and together we shared the Dengaku (eggplant, grilled portobello mushroom, and braised tofu with miso glaze), soba sushi, and Sansai soba. Overall, the food tasted great for vegetarian food! The unfortunate part was that we left the restaurant still feeling quite hungry and drained of cash. The quality of the food is on par with how fellow Yelpers have described it (unless they absolutely love meat and hate vegetables). I would rate the place higher than 3-stars if only the food:value ratio were better. For the price that I pay here, I would most likely spend it at a Japanese restaurant that had fine sashimi, which I find more appetizing and filling. However, I would definitely recommend this place to any hardcore vegetarians and vegans. Pescitarians and carnivores will definitely find better enjoyment and value elsewhere :)! Recommendations: - Sansai soba - Dengaku Pros: + Great vegetarian food. + A nice change-of-pace from your typical Japanese restaurant. Cons: - Quite pricey for vegetarian food. - Only vegetarian options available (so take friends that live without fish and meat). - Long-lines during peak dinner hours. read more

Very yummy Japanese food! (+) EVERYTHING is vegan (every roll, every noodle bowl, and every dessert). The Goma Ae salad, it's the tops. The lunch menu is large and you can avoid the long wait in the evenings. (-) a very small restaurant and the wait can be endless, cash only. read more

Yum. p.s. I have one tip for all you silly people standing out front waiting for a table to open up: Call your order in, stop in 15 min later to pay, and then head out the door with your TAKE AWAY. read more

Their portion-to-price algorithms are impossible to figure out, so it's best to share. There's not much left to say about Cha-Ya. I want to be buried with the moon garden tofu. Or the broiled eggplant. Or the mushroom miso soup. Perfect for the type of special occasion that demands a casual, unassuming space, but something a little more precious than what Berkeley usually has to offer. read more

Yeah, sorry, I wasn't very impressed by this place. Two major problems: (1) the food is VERY overpriced for being vegetarian... since the food is not incredibly filling, you have to order more than usual as well if you want sushi a la carte or appetizers, etc. (2) I went here because I wanted a "light" meal, and I have to say that the food didn't really agree with my stomach.... Like others have said - cash only, even though very expensive, and the service WAS slow (but my waitress was friendly enough). read more

Two vegetarian girls who have no clue how to use chopsticks decided to check out this spot, and had an okay time. I'm not the biggest fan of sushi in general, and I've had vegan sushi that has blown me away elsewhere. 3.5/5 for the food. The service was oddly slow and erratic, and we kept getting different waiters throughout the night. And it's cash only-- never ideal. 3/5 for the service. read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. The fact that it's vegan is just icing on the cake. Everything is incredible here. I especially like the soba noodle roll, but the menu is vast and I have so much left to try. The only drawback is that it's a bit slow and there is a long wait. If they took reservations or had a warm place to wait then it would be 5 stars for sure. read more

Sadly, most of the vegetarian restaurants I have been to strive to satisfy the inner-carnivore in everyone. In other words, their menu offers a "chicken" option, which usually consists of a lump of textured tofu masquerading as a bird. Thankfully, Cha-Ya breaks this mold -- only offering staright up and down vegetable-based dishes unpretentiously prepared in a homey fashion. We ordered the tempura udon, spring rolls and the vegan roll. All the dishes presented a starightforward fresh, clean taste. The udon broth was light and refreshing and the tempura was lightly fried (not too oily, not too soggy). The vegan roll provided an interesting texture and was surprisingly filling. The spring rolls came with a tasty sweet and sour sauce with crispy, crunchy sprinkles. We also had the soy ice cream with green tea and sweet bean syrup and pineapple chunks. I was surprised with how good the soy ice cream tasted. Overall, a very fresh, clean and satisfying meal. Good place to eat even if you eat meat religiously, very good place to eat if you are vegan. Ghetto gourmet, stand up! read more

I have been to this Cha-Ya many times and have been consistently disappointed each time. The sushi rice was ice cold, and ingredients are not the most authentic, almost seem like they use the most affordable ingredients available. I feel that they are over priced based on the quality, and especially since they accept only cash. Truly disappointed since as a vegetarian, I'd rather see a vegan restaurant do well. :( read more