So glad I got to try this super cute spot tucked on Shattuck in Downtown Berkeley. I guess they're…read moreknown for their matcha drinks, but their soft serve is also very good! Now that it's autumn, I've been looking for all the things pumpkin spice and their matcha pumpkin spice swirl soft serve really hit the spot. It had a delightful matcha tea flavor without being overwhelming and a nice light pumpkin flavor. I got it on a waffle cone and the cone was really good too! Not too sweet and nice and crunchy. There is not a lot of seating inside, but they have some cafe chairs and little tables outside which was great for us because it was a sunny day. This will be a new go to spot for me when I want a treat downtown!

This is easily one of the best matcha spots around! What sets them apart is how customizable each…read moredrink is. On top of their signature menu, they offer 7 different matcha varieties to choose from depending on your personal taste profile. The staff actually take their time meticulously whisking every single order right in front of you, which adds such a special touch to the aesthetic environment! Their sweetness levels are super balanced, so opting for regular sugar turns out perfect without masking the tea flavor. The Koku matcha is my absolute favorite so far because of how delightfully balanced it is, and ordering it as a tiramisu matcha with oat milk is an absolute must-try.

This joint could work on any corner in any city in the world!…read moreTop notch service, excellent marketing, merchandising, and staff. Mostly a walk-in window, but there is a table outside with maybe a total of 4 to 6 seat seats. They got's it all! Very delicious sandwiches. I had the cauliflower and my buddy had the chicken- off the hook- Bomb Diggity! And the potato puffs are from heaven!! Insane in the membrane. The staff is on point and remarkable . Just left there again today. Great experience as always and delicious food.

Super cute little shop with limited seating. Small selection on their menu but you come for one…read morething and one thing only, Potato Balls! They are decently priced and they give you a lot, they are dense too, so it's worth your money. I tried the Garlic and Parmesan + White Truffle, and it was good. I was expecting more of a crispiness and texture to it. When you bite into it, it loses it shape and crumbles into your mouth. The flavor though, amazing. Definitely give them a try if you're looking for a quick snack in the area!

Long time customer since my college days here. I was here the first week after they rebuilt after…read morethe fire, and so I've seen the quality start high and remain after all these years. Came for a dinner pickup to-go on a weekday evening. Things I love: - HUGE portions: all other considerations aside, I'd always default to splitting a meal or counting on leftovers. Their salads and sandwiches both are served in generous portions, which helps justify the cost, which itself is not that unreasonable to begin with. - Seating: nice areas inside, as well as an outdoor space that's shared with the neighboring bar. During the daytime when the bar is not open, the back space is a great area to spread out in, and even work in with a small group. - Staff: I read a few negative reviews about the staff here, but I have had nothing but positive experiences, especially given the high customizability of the meals here, they do a great job accommodating requests and making sure you have the meal that you're expecting. - Breakfast burritos: gotta shoutout my favorite breakfast burritos. These things literally sustained me all of junior year, and are a great value for what you're paying.

Like the other reviews state--portions are sizable! The Chef Salad is hefty and I love it. I…read moreespecially enjoyed the beans (garbanzo + kidney) and sprouts they add. Lots of fiber and protein. LOVED the thick side of sliced bread!! Lightly sweet and very earthy tasting. The menu isn't very intuitive--the "salad" menu sign doesn't show the protein options; the proteins are under the "sandwiches" sign. I admittedly stepped into the line underprepared, but the staff here could be so much kinder lol. Latte was alright. A tad too bitter for my taste. They have extensive indoor and patio seating. Great place to meet up with a friend or two and grab a quick/easy food.

Extremely flavorful chicken pho noodle soup, I can see why! They have outdoor seating and I am so…read moreglad I sat outside. It was extremely busy inside. I will be back with my family! I ate my fresh shrimp spring rolls so fast, it was so good but I was also really hungry lol I had to order the mini shrimp pancakes because it looked like it's a "must" order... The waitresses were super friendly and quick with taking my order! To the owner(s): Please do not change your ingredients in your food menu! Thank you for offering delicious pho!

This was our first time here. We started off with a simple cup of Napa cabbage soup just to see…read morewhat it was since it was only $5 and there were no pics. It was tasty. Pretty underwhelming but, it had a nice seafood forward broth and it was very hot with tiny pieces of shrimp and lots of cabbage. I'd get it again. Then we got the chicken salad. Delicious. Shrimp chips were fun and the dressing had a great balance of sweet, and vinegary flavor with lots of chicken and fresh veg. Pork bahn mi was just okay. I've definitely had better. Bread was good. Meat was pretty sparse and the pickled veg could have had more flavor. Probably would order the pho next time. Everyone seemed to have that on their tables. And the sizzling beef looked great. Service was quick and courteous. I'll be back to try more

It was my first time trying Noodle Dynasty, and it didn't disappoint! The pricing is reasonable for…read morethe very large portion size of noodles, which is definitely shareable or enough to have leftovers. I especially like that there's an option to choose between thin, thick, or rice noodles, as well as different spice levels. The food was fresh and not overly salty. Service was abrupt, but I wouldn't deem it negatively given how busy the place was--the line was out the door when we arrived. We waited 10 minutes to get in, which wasn't unreasonable, and once we ordered, the food came out quickly. The place is very small and seemingly popular. I would definitely come back. Solid 8/10.

Noodle Dynasty is a Berkeley must-try if you're in the area. There's a reason why it is always so…read morecrowded! Since there is fairly limited seating, wait times can be rough, especially if you're going during lunch or dinner rush. I've waited 30-45 minutes before. The restaurant is pretty small so tables are pretty close to each other and it may be difficult to be seated quickly if you're going in with a larger group. That asides, the food as Noodle Dynasty is unmatched. I typically get their noodle soups, which are a massive portion size, & appetizers, such as lamb skewers, spicy wontons, and chinese doughnuts. To this day, I think that the spicy wontons are the best in the area - super flavorful beyond just the chili oil taste. Definitely recommend getting these! You order on a tablet & food comes out so fast. Could not recommend this place enough!

I was craving Vietnamese coffee, and my friend suggested we try Binge, I'm so glad we did because I…read moreloved it! I ordered the egg coffee, and my friend and I also got the popcorn chicken to share. The coffee was so yummy! It had a nice, strong coffee flavor. It was my first time trying egg cream and I enjoyed it. The popcorn chicken was also tasty and it came in a generous portion. I especially liked the sauce that came with it. We placed an online order, so everything was ready as soon as we got there, which was convenient. The store was clean and spacious, and I thought the prices weren't bad! I'm definitely a huge fan of Binge and would love to come back. Makes me wish we had coffee spots like Binge back home!

I was on a matcha crave run, and was at Berkeley with my friends. I remember this location having a…read morefresh taste that wasn't heavy on the amount of sugar. I ordered a banana matcha because I had a flashback to the banana matcha I had while in Japan. I am glad I got one since it tasted familiar, but I did think it was a bit watery in texture and the matcha wasn't as strong. I would still get it again. Service is pretty quick. Ordering was through the kiosk, and it didn't take too long to come out. Also, parking is not easy. It is walkable from campus though.

Consistent food quality and creativity. You won't be disappointed. Just need to be there before…read morethey open at 5:30pm in order to get a table.

Had such a great experience at Kiraku! We ordered a bunch of dishes to share, including the tuna…read moretostadas, sashimi, assorted nigiri, sushi rolls, and a few skewers. Everything was super fresh and flavorful. Service was also great. The staff was friendly and attentive, and we really enjoyed the overall experience. Ambiance was fun for a Saturday nuDefinitely a great spot if you're looking for quality Japanese food and want to try a little bit of everything. Would absolutely come back!

Came around 5PM on a Sunday and were seated after 15 minutes. The restaurant is not super big, but…read morethey offer indoor and outdoor seating. Ordered pad kee mao, pad thai, baby back ribs, spicy fried rice and beef salad for the table to share. Food comes out quickly after placing an order.The spicy fried rice has a kick to it, but a great option if you like spicy. There was no option to select a spice level when we ordered the pad kee mao, and it came out spicy. It doesnt come with basil but instead its stirfried with green beans, red pepper and tomatoes. Can't go wrong with pad thai. It was saucy with all the flavors of sweet, salty and sour. The baby back ribs are a must try! Some pieces have bones, while others do not. The meat is deep fried, but each piece is tender and juicy. It wasn't too greasy and was delicious when paired with the sweet and sour sauce. The grilled beef salad was a refreshing dish tossed with herbs, green apple and red onions in a lime and fish sauce dressing. The one downside was that the beef was a little tough. I can see why there is almost always a line out the door. Will definitely be back again to try other items on the menu

Given the amount of hype around this restaurant, I was thoroughly disappointed…read more The pad thai was ok, akin to a food court version. Barely any tamarind. No chives. No lime. Soggy. The prata was also very soggy. It should be fluffy and flaky. The tom kha had a good base flavor but where are the other ingredients? There were just some floating button mushrooms and sunken chicken pieces.

I just learned their their Dublin location has been on my want to go list, so I was really happy to…read moresee that they opened a location in Emeryville, which is much closer to me! I'm always a fan of Japanese curry, so I got the tonkatsu curry rice, which came with a crispy pork cutlet, Japanese curry, and steamed rice. I chose the very spicy level, and it was really flavorful with a nice kick! I really enjoyed my meal and would definitely come back. Highly recommended!

We haven't been to the Public Market in Emeryville in what seems like forever, so wow, super…read moreexciting to see a few new restaurant stalls like Demiya. First timers, and kiddo approved! We ordered the Tonkatsu Curry Rice ($17), the Omurice ($20), and a side of the Corn Butter Cheese ($6). Everything was so comforting on a Sunday. The deep-fried pork cutlet was clean, thick, and super juicy, the curry was flavorful, the corn cheese was adored by our toddler, and wow..the Omurice..would order again! Essentially the Omurice is a Japanese omelet rice (tomato-based chicken fried rice wrapped with scrambled eggs). The sauce was sweet and also came with slices of hot dog inside. Yum! Would love to come back and try the Katsu Burger, Mapo Nasu Curry Rice, any of the Curry Doria, and Katsu Sandwich. Order straight from kiosk, grab a pager that alerts you when food is ready for pickup, and friendly/turn-key service. Next to Demiya there is a Photo Booth for the Public Market that's fun to do (I think it's around $2) while waiting. Public parking lot can be found across the street from the market. Complimentary water offered too :)

WHEN: Sat @6pm…read more PARKING: There is metered parking around, and is free after 6pm. It may be a bit tricky especially around meal time, but keep circling and you'll find a spot near by enough. This cute little ramen shop has such perfect lighting coming through thanks to thier skylight. We weren't actually hungry so we shared the following: TONKOTSU - $16.50 (Regular) Pork Belly Chashu, Bamboo Shoots, Red Onion, Wood Ear Mushrooms, Green Onion, Ajitama Egg. You get a choice of noodles to pick: 1.) Hakata - Thin Straight 2.) Sapporo - Medium Thick Wavy Figured since it's my first time here, I choose the most basic version of their bowl of ramen. I chose Sapparo and for some reason expected it to be thicker/wider, but regardless it was still good! The presentation of this bowl is just gorgeous, served on a small wooden platter. The red onion is chopped, and the pork Belly is quite tender. Regarding the egg, you get just half. Overall this bowl of ramen is creamy, rich, and the right amount of flavor and salt. But still make sure to drink at least a glass of water! CREAMY CHASHU PORK CROQUETTES - $8.50 I have never seen anything like this so I must give it a try! It actually didn't come out piping hot, so I was able to drive in right away! It was definitely creamy (like ramen) and had pieces of the Chau's pork, encased in a crispy and warm batter that was deep fried. It also comes with a katsu sauce and I really enjoyed it. The staff was friendly and didn't make us feel bad for ordering enough of just one, but man I was so full. Had to walk around downtown Berkeley for awhile.

I really love Tsuruya so writing this review stung a bit. Tsuruya snuck in additional tip amount…read morethe last time we dined here. It was only a couple of dollars more but tip fraud is never acceptable. We rarely deviate from our usual order so the posted transaction felt off to us. We were able to confirm and report to the credit card company. I recommend you guys take pictures of your receipts and verify the transactions. Hope this doesn't happen to y'all!