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Ijo Izakaya

4.1 (193 reviews)
Updated over 3 months ago

Ijo Izakaya Photos

IJO IZAKAYA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Classy
Quiet
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Ijo Izakaya

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Menu
Nancy C.

Small restaurant on Shattuck in Berkeley. It shares about a block long space with other dining places. There's outdoor seating. We sat inside as it was a little windy and found it to be quite cozy and chill. They weren't too busy. Our nice server promptly came with waters, and after a few minutes we ordered our food selections. We ordered two two-item bento boxes and other family ordered sushi rolls, skewers, agedashi tofu. We were hungry that I forgot to take pictures of some of the items! Food was delicious, staff was nice and love the ambiance. Ample street parking nearby.

Tofu Avocado Salad
Y S.

We were visiting from SoCal and stopped in for lunch. There was something for everyone. My son loved the salmon rolls and salmon sushi. My daughter said her udon was really delicious and I enjoyed the tofu & avocado salad. The service was really nice, and they were very understanding of an antsy little boy causing trouble ;) they even gave us some complimentary strawberry mochi dessert. Very nice!

Tofu Avocado Salad
Daniel D.

Great food, clean place and great service. We ordered karage and ramen to try the basic Japanese food and it was good. Also try a tofu avocado salad. Overall a great place

Chirashi Don and assorted skewers!

Ijo Izakaya was great! A lovely meal with my kid and we had the chirashi don, assorted skewers, and the miso cod, which was particularly tasty. The service was swift and attentive

Soft Softshell Crab Roll

Went to check out Ijo Izakaya on Monday evening during the happy hour. We got yellowtail carpaccio (fave!), aburi tuna nigiri (2nd fave), kushiyaki set, soft shell crab roll, & aburi salmon roll for 2 ppl. Portion is good & ingredients feels pretty fresh. A good neighborhood izakaya for date night

Mentaiko Cream Udon
Jessica S.

Updating my review to add updated menus and reviews for new dishes I tried! The poke salad was great - refreshing and tasty. I would reorder this one, it balances well with other dishes. The Katsu Don was also really good. Katsu was tender and the dish was well seasoned. Substantial portions too, which I always appreciate! One thing is they no longer give free mochi at the end anymore :( its ok though, still a great spot and I will be returning!

Entrance
Dylan S.

Ijo Izakaya is definitely a place you shouldn't underestimate. TONS of menu items and wide variety of options. Izakaya's are my favorite spots for getting many different Japanese bites. I stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and was sat immediately. Smaller restaurant but their food is large in flavor/quality. Staff was welcoming and always checking in on me. I ordered: Yellowtail Carpaccio Ikura (salmon roe) Eel Salmon Sashimi Dynamite Roll Everything was very fresh and good size portions. Ikura (salmon roe) can be very fishy but it was not fishy at all and I loved it. The eel was almost butter like and melted in my mouth. Really great quality all around and would highly recommend stopping by.

Tonkotsu Ramen
Rita C.

this place is a small place for japanese food. To be honest, it didn't give me a very authentic japanese food feeling, especially when eating. What we got: lion king roll (4/5): it was pretty good but very expensive for not that much of a roll. the flavors were good and there was fish on too and the salmon on top was VERY big, but also the california roll in the inside wasn't that impressive nabeyaki udon (4/5): pretty solid udon, on the sweeter side but it was basically just napa cabbage, a few pieces of chicken, and udon. I personally just felt meh, ESPECIALLY because nabeyaki udon shoukd be served in a donabe or an iron pot and it was just in a bowl. kimchi cream udon (4/5): not very flavorful to be honest and just felt very creamy. it looked really good and the noodles were a good texture, but lacked kimchi or gochujang flavor tonkotsu udon (4/5): it was okay. the noodles were a bit softer than my liking, but also thinner than usual ramen noodles. it was okay and the soup wasn't very special. katsu don (4/5): it was good but just like a normal katsu don, nothing special.

Menu
Eva C.

Not sure if there's been a recent change if ownership, but the restaurant was dead at lunch hour, we were the only ones there. The food was nothing special, price is ok, menu also changed from what's being posted. We had gyudon, geso-kara, yaki-corn (best out of 4 items tried, but also like other postings said, they forgot all the toppings, just got grilled corn), and shishito peppers (it wasn't just grilled, was tossed with garlic). Restaurant is Chinese owned, and the server did not speak ANY English. She finally went and got the manager to come take the orders. Overall, it's a ok restaurant if you dont have any other options, but we went there seeing the good reviews, not at all what the reviews states. So we were a little disappointed.

Super Nigiri Combo

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11 months ago

I've coming here for years now and there's always great service, food, and vibes. Also have a great happy hour.

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1 year ago

Honestly one of the best staffs that I've had the pleasure of being served by. The food is absolutely amazing! I rec the kimchi cream udon.

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1 year ago

Beautiful, tasty, and affordable! The food reminded me of my trip to Japan, one of my fondest memories.

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1 year ago

Had the pork Katsudon and although a little salty, it tasted great! Super fulfilling! Decent pricing to portion ratio as well!

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1 year ago

Tried the Salmon Roll and Sexy Roll, both were great. Very helpful staff and nice atmosphere, would come again!

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Ijo Izakaya Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Ijo Izakaya

Are you still open for take out or delivery?

Hi Lauren, Yes, we are open for take out and curbside pickup.… Read more

Is there still happy hour? If so when is it

5-7pm but only drinks no food

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Kiraku

Kiraku

(1.8k reviews)

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5 stars Expensive…read morebut a worthy splurge. I will note that they don't serve Highballs as a drink option for added authenticity but their drinks menu is otherwise complete for an Izakaya. Skewers: Beef intestines: fatty, perfectly charred and marinated Pork belly: delicious but the least interesting Lamb + okra: nicely prepared and delicious Pickled Sakana leaves: deliciously pickled and salty on its own but worked perfectly as a skewer meat accompaniment Chicken karage: perfectly cooked and juicy Beef+lamb potstickers: homemade and presented in the traditional style. Very good Roasted tea leaf pudding was delicious

Honestly one of the top meals I've had in the bay in a while. Made a reservation for Friday 9PM,…read moreand it was still very lively and packed. Would order again/changed my brain chemistry: - Suzuki carpaccio: my bf didn't like this as much as I did since he thought it was too acidic, but I thought it paired well with the rest of the dishes... nice acidity but then sesame and umami aftertaste - Beef intestine skewer: melts in your mouth, actually insane - Beef tongue skewer: also melts in your mouth and also insane, loved that the flavor was distinct from the beef intestine skewer - Soy sauce marinated shrimp: so much flavor infused and the texture is amazing Good: - Roasted tea blanc manger - Smoked unagi: very tender & different flavor than typical japanese unagi, which I appreciated - Mini kaisen donburi: tasted very fresh, though not sure why but the fattiness of the salmon didn't come through as much Skip: - Pork belly, thought this was standard... not bad but it was tougher than I expected and the sauce was ok - Homemade tofu/yuba spoons: if you're getting the kaisen, I would skip. it's basically a lot of the same ingredients but there was what I think was the tofu skin in there and idk why but the texture reminded me of bland playdough a bit - Black cod: good flavor and smokiness but idk if it stood out

Ippuku - Sashimi combo: tuna, fatty tuna, sea urchins and ?

Ippuku

(1.5k reviews)

$$$

Downtown Berkeley

Walk-in at Ippuku in Berkeley came with a pretty long wait, and there is no online waitlist which…read moremakes planning difficult. We were seated around 7:30 (which is still prime dinner time imo) only to be told that many of the menu items had already sold out, which was disappointing. The items that were still available were good and we still had a nice time overall. FYI, the non-alcoholic beverage selection is quite limited. At this price point, the wait plus the number of sold out dishes makes us question whether we would come back.

This place has been on my want to go list for a while, and I finally got to try it! We didn't make…read morea reservation and walked in instead. We waited for about 30 min and the restaurant texted us once the table was ready. We ordered quite a few dishes and started with Omakase gushi, which came with chicken breast, thigh with leek, heart, cartilage, and minced chicken. We also ordered the oden set, sasami, tori tataki, gyu-tan, enoki bacon, and buta bara. Evertyhing tasted pretty good, but the most impressive dish was sasami with umeboshi, which was inner bresat with umehad was the inner breast with umeboshi. It was my first time trying raw chicken, and it tasted really good. The chicken breast was really tender, with a tuna-like texture, and without any slimy or odd flavors. Ever since then, I've been telling my friends to try it. The Tori Tataki was seared chicken breast sashimi with ponzu, which tasted a bit plain compared to the sasami. So I would highly recommended to get theeir sasami!

Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya

Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya

(442 reviews)

Downtown Berkeley

Top contender for Japanese cuisine in Berkeley--equal parts sophisticated and scrumptious…read more Highlights include: - Sea Bean & Corn Tempura: a savory funnel cake worthy of a Michelin star thanks to its texture and the side of matcha salt - Salmon sashimi: succulent with fresh wasabi - Wagyu Shime Special: insane price for insane flavor--a generous portion of veggies and wagyu in a big ol' iron bowl of bubblin' broth

Ate Christmas dinner here with my mom as our celebration tradition is usually a Japanese…read morerestaurant. The ambience was intimate and cozy yet elegant, and the staff was very attentive and kind. I loved the decorations, the plates and silverware, and the food was just as intentional in flavor and selection. For appetizers we had: Anchovy Stuffed Olives Tempura - Tempura Spanish alives stuffed with anchovies $9 Kombu Tsukudani - Premium Hokkaldo kelp, say sauce, bonito, shiso, sesame seeds, enjoy with sake or rice $6 For our meal we had: Saba Bouzushi - House-cured saba mackerel bouzushi - stick-shaped sushi, also called battera, served with shiso, sesame, scallions, topped with Hokkaido shiraita kombu, ten pieces $29 Gindara Yuanyaki - Local black cod marinated in soy sauce and shikuwasa Okinawan citrus juice served grilled $34 Steelhead Trout Nabe - Norwegian ocean trout raised sustainably in the clear, cold ford where the seawater meets fresh meltwater from the glaciers in the mountains. Enjoy the rich flavored, melt-in-your-mouth fish, hotpot with dashi broth, mushrooms, napa cabbage, burdock, clear noodles, tofu, mizuna, scallions, yuzu kosho $39 We've been to many izakaya spots and this place had some of the most unique flavors I've tasted. The Saba Bouzushi stood out to me because it reminded of Filipino paksiw but as a roll! The Gindara was buttery and soft and had a yummy smoky flavor. The Nabe was perfect for a rainy evening - hearty, fresh, and so well balanced in flavor (I loved the yuzu kosho the had us add for a citrusy, peppery flavor)

Tane Vegan Izakaya - Point Reyes

Tane Vegan Izakaya

(441 reviews)

$$

Downtown Berkeley

Wow wow wow! I didn't think it could be done but this place has perfect vegan Japanese food! It's…read morehard to get in so make sure to make a reservation. Pacifica Roll (10/5 stars) - the best thing we ate, perfect creation of flavors that don't overwhelm each other, it's perfectly savory Poke Salad (5/5) - does it tastes like fish? No. But it's a great combination of textures, you have the chewy king oyster mushrooms and soft fried tofu, the crunch of the veggies and the cashew dressing is addicting Da Bao (5/5) - I didn't like the vegan spam alone (I personally like this other brand more) but here they paired it well with veggies and plum wine sauce that makes it work. The vegan spam here is too smokey for my tastes but together it's good. Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen (2/5) - Honestly, it was the only not good thing we had. The broth was neither garlicky or miso-y. It was very mushroomy. It was all one could taste. The spam did not fit with the ramen and was very jarring to taste in the ramen. Yuzu Matcha (5/5) - It's sour but not too sour. Like it wakes you up witout making your face pucker. Absolutely cannot wait to come back!

First of all, I eat meat. And I love sushi. So I was like..,uh vegan sushi? But tbh it was good…read moreasf! I ordered the Ewa roll and Point Reyes and they were both really Flavorful and filling! I was like..there's no fish in this?! Word?! Idk how they did it but it tasted like seafood. It's a quiet little place without a lot of seating, so consider making a reservation!

The Public Izakaya - Classic Chirashi

The Public Izakaya

(724 reviews)

$$

Lower Nob Hill

The Public Izakaya is my absolute favorite izakaya in all of SF. Tucked right in Lower Nob Hill on…read morePost St, the moment you walk in, you feel like you've been teleported straight to Japan. Dim lighting, Japanese figurines, lanterns, posters everywhere, the vibes are immaculate. It's lively and buzzing but still feels cozy, and it's a great spot whether you're rolling in solo, on a date, or with a whole crew. The service is fast and attentive, which honestly makes the whole experience, which is a plus. Let's get into it: + The skewer sampler is a MUST. A little bit of everything: pork belly, chicken thigh, all of it perfectly grilled and seasoned. This is the move, especially if it's your first time. + The Big Bang roll? Yeah, that one lives up to the name. Fresh, flavorful, and hits different. And then there's the happy hour menu... and you can't beat that tbh. Every day, 5-6 pm AND 10-11 pm, $5 sushi, $5 baked mussels, $5 karaage and gyoza, $5 dynamite shrimp, $5 sake, $5 Sapporo, like are you kidding me?? In SF?? It's super rare to find deals like this, and The Public Izakaya said, "let me hook you up," and you can start with that beer (literally, for $5). This place is a no-brainer if you want solid Japanese food, great energy, and a happy hour that actually makes you happy. One of those spots I keep coming back to and will keep putting people on to. Like okay, yes. I say come here, do it, just go.

Food was okay! The udon was good but overall okay. The caterpillar roll was okay. The garlic noodle…read morewas dry. Its was all okay. Happy hour my ass! Little to no options for that menu and $5 for a small can of beer is pretty lame on their end. Was pretty annoyed to not see it be a full pint at least! Last sushi restaurant I went to in the area has a full pint of Sapporo for the same price! Y'all lackin' I also do not frick with the sf mandate extra health fee bullshit too. So lame that it's sneaky and not even on the bill sometimes.

Ijo Izakaya - sushi - Updated May 2026

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