What a gem! Handroll Factory is an unassuming little spot tucked next to Tokyo Central, and it would be easy to miss if you weren't looking for it. We stopped in for a quick lunch after the gym, and I think I've found my favorite handroll spot near Berkeley. It actually reminded me of Canada's Nori Handroll Bar--but I think I liked this even more. I ordered the five-handroll set, and every roll was meticulously prepared. The nori was lightly toasted right in front of us, giving it the perfect crispness with every bite. The rice was beautifully seasoned with a subtle brown hue and a deeper umami flavor than you'll find at most handroll spots. The quality of the fish really stood out. Every slice was fresh and cut with care. The crab handroll was made with real crab, and the eel was torched right in front of us, making it especially rich, smoky, and delicious. Overall, this was an excellent handroll experience with fresh ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and great attention to detail. What makes it even better is the price - this location is insanely affordable! I'll definitely be coming back whenever I'm craving handrolls in the Berkeley area. read more

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Quality/Quantity - My wife has been here before, Tokyo Central, but this was my first time. So I wanted to check it out since she shared she was coming today. Plus we had to go to the Apple Store, see other Yelp review. While I was here, we also checked out the Hand Roll Factory. We were supposed to just get our lunch here, but ran out of time because we left spending over $100 at Tokyo Central. My wife went on a major shopping spree today?!?! Also Sake samples today at Tokyo Central. So good that I forced myself to NOT buy it. If you are following, I just got another bottle of Japanese Whiskey, more pictures to follow! I think we will come back for dinner in the future. Ambiance - Decent size location. See pictures. Not busy, and we got here at prime lunch time. Decent promotions, but I did not want too much food. And I especially appreciate the "delis" at Tokyo Central, the hot foods, prepared foods, and ready to eat seafoods, etc. Parking. Bay Street Emeryville launched gateless parking in 2022. Payment is now required before you shop, dine or play, and it's as easy as pressing a button to pay for parking! They now also offer FREE parking in our garages* from Noon to 2PM, Monday through Thursday. The Tokyo Central Specialty Market rooftop garage is intended for Tokyo Central customers. Customers receive 90 minutes of complimentary parking in the rooftop garage only. To validate parking, scan the QR codes located throughout the rooftop level or use the kiosk near the elevator and select Tokyo Central Customer Parking. Service - Good. Price - Reasonably priced for quality. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since 1965 and with your 16 locations. 2013 - Don Quijote Acquisition. 2015 - Tokyo Central was "born." read more

What a great add to the Bay St food choices! I came by myself on a weekday and grabbed a seat at the bar. I ordered their preset 5 hand roll menu, plus miso soup and iced green tea. All of the hand rolls were delicious! My favorite was the spicy salmon and I ended up ordering a second. The miso soup was a miss for me - it was basically flavorless. Service was fantastic. I could tell they were pacing my food so I was both never rushed and never waiting too long for the next roll. You could also see employees constantly changing out their gloves, which I appreciated. read more

Hand Roll Factory - Sushi Bars Near Me - Emeryville, California

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Great hand roll spot that opened next to Tokyo Central. I really wish the announcements did not ring thru the speakers. An alternate audio system is definitely recommended here to control the noise/distractions. Got the roll combo with crab, salmon, and tuna. All were great and the staff were really helpful in the choice-up. I would return here for the crab hand roll as well as the beer and edamame happy hour specials. For a quick lunch the parking spots in front of the building offer 15min free or the parking lot upstairs can be validated at the counter of the hand roll factory or the grocery store. read more

Hand Roll Factory - Combo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Emeryville, California

It's small and hidden on the side of the grocery store. But it's totally separate so don't look for them inside the grocery store. Parking right outside but also on top of the building. If that's full use the Bay Street Garage. Workers were really nice. We had a party of 6 & sat at the bar where we could see them rolling everything. Everything was delicious. In order of my favorite: Scallop Waygu Unagi Spicy Tuna I was very full or I would have tried another roll. My sushi chef said his fave was Chutoro roll. I look forward to coming back! read more

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Brief Summary: - Entrance is located separately from Tokyo Central, across from Barnes & Noble - Casual eating experience with elegant sushi interior decor - Order by filling out details on a sheet of paper and take it to the counter - Love the crispy nori - Uploaded a video recording on how to unroll the package One of the fun things that was also introduced after Tokyo Central opening is the handroll sushi restaurant. There is only one entrance and it's located outside and separate from Tokyo Central; this means that you won't be able to find this inside Tokyo Central grocery store. At a glance inside, it might feel a bit intimidating from its clean and elegant sushi restaurant like interior, but the eating experience is casual. After walking in and the staff suggests a spot, you would take a sheet of ordering paper and fill out the quantity of the handroll you want to eat. From my previous visits: if you eat at the counter, the handrolls are rolled on the spot, if you sit at the tables, they will be wrapped in the unique plastic package. Our favorites so far are: the tunas (bluefin and the spicy; I haven't tried the toro yet), the vegetable, scallop, and the yellowtail. Portion is light, so I like to have an early lunch with four rolls of fish and vegetable. read more

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Was really excited to try it, but won't be back. Rushed over to make it at 7:20 and there was a large sign on the door clearly stating they close at 8. When we tried to walk in, the door was locked and an employee indicated that they were closed... no explanation or even the slightest courtesy. I would not waste your money at a place that doesn't value your time. read more

This place is brand new and worth visiting. They only have 6 counter spaces for seating--otherwise it is all take out. There are tables outside at the mall, but on a weekend it is pretty mobbed and you might have to jockey for a table. If you want to sit at the bar turnover is pretty quick. We waited about 30 mins for all six seats. You can order by the roll or by sets of 3, 4, 5, or 6 rolls. We all did 5 and they were all delicious (the yellowtail and crab were my favorites). Their green tea is also really good. For $32 I thought it was a good deal since the fish was so fresh. Attentive service as well! read more

Hand Roll Factory - Yellowtail roll with brown rice. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Emeryville, California

Well, FINALLY, things have calmed down just a smidge after the Grand Opening of the Tokyo Central market next door to allow for us to get our feet into the doorway of this place. They only have seating for 6 at the counter as if it's a high end omakase dining experience. However, you walk thru a threshold lined with empty tables and chairs that are supposed to be used by patrons of the market who purchase pre-made bento boxes that they re-heat in the microwave as they leave the market. So go figure on that business model. But when you DO finally get to sit at the counter, it's a pleasant experience! Currently the store hours are limited to just 7 daylight hours from 11am to 6pm. And the menu is quite Spartan, but perhaps that is the charm of it. And certainly, the simplicity lends to the speed of service. FYI, they just started Take-Out service which may be an option. However, I will say that it probably does dis-service to the handrolls themselves as they are BEST enjoyed freshly made. The crispy warmth of the nori and rice will be quickly lost in the to-go boxes unless you literally just take them out and eat them outside the doors of the establishment! They have a fairly non-surprising menu. They serve the basics of sashimi and a few cooked and veggie options as well. Our cook says there is the possibility of an expanded menu in the future but this is only their 1st month in operation and they are still staffing up. What I will say is that what they do serve is executed fairly well. The nori used is prepared excellently. It hits your mouth with a crisp, warm texture that is light-years difference from those pre-made refrigerated bento boxes inside Tokyo Central! They use the Edo period method of making sushi instead of the typical modern day white rice wine vinegar which gives it a much more mild flavor while at the same time giving the rice the prototypical brownish coloring. The sashimi used is good as far as I can tell. No complaints here. Though I will say of the A5 wagyu that it wasn't as in-your-face delicious as a nigiri version. Despite the usual torch searing and salting, I think wrapping the beef up inside the rice hides a dimension of flavour that usually hits your tongue immediately when in nigiri form. So for this reason, I'm not sure if it is worth it. My partner in crime had the uni handroll. We were told the uni is local from Santa Barbara. It was not as tasty to her. Not clear how much of that is psychological knowing it's not Hokkaido uni...but take that for whatever it's worth. All-in-all I'd say this is an enjoyable experience that I would gladly have again if I do not have to wait in line for it. However, this is not something I'd choose to wait for more than 10 minutes in line. The prices are fairly reasonable but still not very cheap. For the 2 of us, we forked out ~$100 which amounted to 11 handrolls without any extras of tea, soups, or alcohol. At the end of the day, is it worth it? YES! Tasty! Filling...for a price! Better than your average "sushi place." But keep expectations in check! Because this is not a "full service" Japanese restaurant that caters to ordering teriyaki-this, agadashi tofu-that, karaage-this, udon-that, tonkatsu-this, ramen-that, etc. This is a place that you quickly ROLL through and get out...keke (our meal was just under 30 min!) read more

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The service was quick and the staff was very nice. I had the 4 roll set. I enjoyed how fresh the fish was. The chef waited for us to finished eating and gave us a few minutes to digest before serving the next one. The inside is small but there's plenty of seats at the bar. read more

Right next to Tokyo Central and diagonal from West Elm. We selected the preset 6-rolls. Rolls were very flavorful and fun to build. It comes in plastic wrapper with instructions on how to complete the assembly. There is a water cooler in the corner. The signage was a bit confusing as it stated to wait to be seated but no host was there. We just moved forward to the Order Station and seated ourselves after placing our order. read more

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Good enough and fast friendly service Rice was tasty the fish was fresh and pretty good I'd eat here again if I'm the area but not as a destination read more

As big fans of Waka Sakura in Gardena (SoCal) we were excited to have one in NorCal! Although unlike SoCal, it's a handroll bar instead of a conveyor belt sushi spot. We came at opening and got seated right away. The bar has 6 seats and there are some seated tables as well. Since they're still fairly new, they don't have the omakase set available. We opted for the 4 hand roll which was $25 and came with bluefin tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and crab. This felt like the perfect set for us. The fish tasted fresh, love love loved the bluefin tuna and the yellowtail! Very flavorful without a fishy taste, nice smooth texture. My only gripe would be the fish to rice ratio as I felt the amount of fish was small with the amount of rice. We also got miso soup which I felt was a little watered down. Overall we loved it, would definitely come back. It's located next to the Tokyo central in the bay st plaza, so parking is paid garage unless you manage to catch the free paring from 12-2pm. read more

I really enjoyed the three roll set that I got. That snow crab was sweet and light. I do think that the actual fish pieces to rice ratio was a little bit on the small side, but it's a pretty good value overall. I will try it again when they have their omakase. read more

Hand Roll Factory - Sushi Bars Near Me - Emeryville, California

The hand rolls were tasted great! Service was fast and the seaweed was crunchy and crisp! The chunks of fish were huge. Fare warning, they just opened, so the omakase hand roll set isn't ready yet and our server almost skipped one of our hand rolls. He quickly fixed the issue once we spoke up, so no biggie!! I think this spot has the potential to be great! They're still working through the kinks, but the food itself is definitely great. read more

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Went in randomly with our two kids and we all left so full and happy. Sat at the bar and Tori the guy behind the bar was super friendly and gave our kids little samples to try things. I love how they make the hand rolls right in front of you and how easy it is to devour them! High quality everything, plus seaweed especially ordered for this restaurant, lightly toasted to make it a perfect crunch and keep it in tact as you eat it. Amazing miso soup as well. Clean spot with no screens (really can't stand how many places have screens everywhere). Overall a really lovely experience! read more

This restaurant signals precision in contemporary hand roll preparation. The rice establishes the standard. Hydration is exact. Seasoning is balanced. Grain separation remains intact. Texture registers as light, aromatic, and structurally supportive rather than dense. The rice operates as architecture. Seafood quality confirms control. Scallop and yellowtail present with clarity and freshness. Mouthfeel remains cool and aqueous. A roll incorporating a Japanese leaf anchors the experience in cultural specificity and restraint. Originality emerges through reduction. Torch application modifies surface chemistry without disrupting internal structure. Even the A5 wagyu expresses sweetness, tenderness, and balance. Iced green tea functions as a deliberate palate reset. Sensory acuity remains stable across courses. The environment supports ease and a shared atmosphere of attentiveness and enjoyment. A meaningful addition to the Bay Area's Japanese dining landscape. read more

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We had a quick and tasty dinner at Hand Roll Factory at Bay Street in Emeryville tonight. The restaurant is located a ways down from the Tokyo Central entrance, closer to the ramp up to the parking lot (90 minutes free parking!). The fish was fresh and the nori was extra crispy - thanks to the separating plastic wrapper. Most people seemed to be getting takeout, but there were plenty of empty tables to choose from (not sure why earlier reviews mention counter seating only). We paid $25 for a four roll set, $32 for a five roll set. Flavors included tuna, yellowtail, real crab, scallop and salmon. The edamame for $2.99 was cold but still good. Friendly staffer, very spare interior, we could hear all of the announcements from the grocery store through the walls. We'd go again if we are in the area, fun to pair with a shopping trip to Tokyo Central or the rest of Bay Street. read more

Hand Roll Factory - Hand rolls in their wrappers separating the nori from the rice. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Emeryville, California

Came on a Saturday at 3:40pm and there was one couple at the bar but 4 seats open so we got seated immediately. I ordered the 5 hand roll set and my boyfriend ordered the 6 piece set. Tuna and yellowtail are typically my fav, neither were bad, but they didn't wow me. The fish didn't taste fishy, so that was a plus, and the rice had some color and I didn't know if it was flavored w soy or what. If you like the taste of fish, you will love this place. It wasn't fishy, but there was also zero seasoning on the rolls. I'm guessing they want the fish to speak for itself. I appreciate a simple roll, but my fav hand roll spot does flavor their fish in the hand rolls and I think I prefer it. But again, if you like plain fish, this is your spot! read more

Pricey but delicious. Experience is pretty autonomous but the staff is super friendly.

Wow hand roll "factory" is definitely the wrong name. Whoever the manager facilitating the opening of this place needs to be fired immediately. They have 8 seats. 8. EIGHT. Total. And they have a bunch of trashy looking tables laying around the front of the place that you wind through sitting empty. They do not do to go orders. Nada. So do the math on the wait time and in the amount of money missed out on by terrible planning. Laughably bad first impression...will update if/when they get their sh#& together read more

We were outside trying to get in at 730 and the staff shook their heads at us telling us it's closed. It's supposed to close at 8. We rushed to get there at 730! Ugh. I hate this type of haphazard service. read more

Overpriced, average quality, low quantity rolls. Do yourself a favor and get some nice hand rolls from the grocery store next door and head off to the closest seafront park. read more

Next level value for excellent handroll sushi in the Bay. Perfectly seasoned sushi rice, real wasabi, and super fresh fish from Japan. Can't miss quality. Loved it all! Shout out to Tori for always making our experience excellent read more

They just opened a couple of weeks ago and I stopped in at 2:45 p.m. on the Friday before Valentine's/Presidents' Day weekend. The only seating in operation were 6 places at the bar, and all were taken, so I got 5 rolls to go. I would have ordered miso soup too, but they didn't have the lids. I did see tables and chairs, waiting to be arranged, but it's a fairly small place (the maximum occupancy sign said 45). The rolls were really yummy - with the fish tasting better than many local Japanese restaurants where I've eaten. read more

Simple menu, very straight forward and easy. Comfortable atmosphere, and good for a quick bite. Great quality products as well. Great spot when you're itching for hand rolls at the last minute! read more

Great Handrolls and good service. Glad to see handrolls places opening in Hawaii. They have a good variety. Plenty of fish in each roll.