Walk-in at Ippuku in Berkeley came with a pretty long wait, and there is no online waitlist which makes 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. read more

Ippuku - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This place has been on my want to go list for a while, and I finally got to try it! We didn't make a 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! read more

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Holy crap, this place is worth the hype. Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. The seating and decor is adorable and makes you feel like you're on the streets of Japan. The tables are heated! Food is a little slower to come out but our waitress was lovely and we were frequently checked on. As for the food, we ordered a lot. We got the : Blackened Cod Squid Ink Fried Rice Ippuku Salad ( highly recommend) Fried Oysters Assortment of Chicken skewers Peppers Mushrooms Sesame Ice Cream Everything was amazing. Every single thing. But for me the standout was the Cod. read more

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Appreciated the small dishes for variety, but quality differed between dishes and I also found many of them lacked flavor. My favorite dishes were the negima (thigh with leek), the shisho making, and the goma yogoshi (spinach in sesame paste) for their more unique tastes. I wouldn't recommend the Nama-Yuba nor the mochi wrapped in bacon or nori. Service is good with the plates coming out in intervals to accentuate the dining experience which has beautiful booths or tatami mats for seating. Would recommend making reservations since the restaurant gets packed quite easily. read more

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Fantastic izakaya that specializes in chicken skewers in downtown Berkeley! Parking can be tricky - street parking or parking lots are your best bet. We got there right as it opened and so we were seated right away. It might be good to make reservations especially when school is in session. There's booths (with heaters!) and tatami areas where you take your shoes off and sit on the floor. The food was excellent! We got the salad, gyoza, rafute, skewers, negiyaki, gyuutan, and crab croquettes. Izakayas are places to drink so they serve small plates for sharing. It seems they have some bigger plates but we did not order any. The salad was refreshing and rafute, negiyaki, and crab croquettes were very tasty. The chicken skewers were fresh and flavorful. It is great for small groups and a date. Definitely recommend!! read more

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Ippuku is a Japanese izakaya place right by the Downtown Berkeley BART station. I went on a weekday right after work and we didn't have any trouble getting a table, but after 6pm, it got more packed. If you want to sit at the kotatsu tables then highly recommend a reservation. I tried their oden, uni-bonara, chef's choice 5-skewers, yaki onigiri and rice porridge. I thought they were all pretty good, but little pricey. It's a great place to get drinks w friends and hang out, but it reminded me of how the izakayas joints are in Japan. read more

Parking is tough... but honestly, what isn't tough for parking in downtown Berkeley? Once you're inside, though, everything else is fantastic. The vibe is very Japanese izakaya--dim lighting, cozy booths, noren-style curtains you walk through, and a bar right up front. There's even bar-style seating outside, which is a nice touch. They also have larger group seating areas where you take off your shoes, which makes the whole experience feel immersive and authentic. Walking in, it genuinely doesn't feel like you're in Berkeley anymore, and that's part of the charm. Service was excellent--attentive without being overbearing. We came here for our anniversary dinner and ordered a ton: skewers, noodles, a green onion pancake, and some dishes we don't usually see. One standout was the bitter melon tempura, which was surprisingly fresh and delicious. If you like bitter melon, definitely try it. Portions were generous for the price, too. We also ordered a fish dish (I wish I remembered which one), but it was cooked incredibly well--honestly one of the best fish dishes we've had in a while, even though we don't usually go out of our way for fish. Yes, it can feel a bit pricier, but that's pretty standard for izakaya-style spots, and in this case, it was absolutely worth it. We'd definitely come back. 10/10--just brace yourself for the parking. read more

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A friend recommended Ippuku to me and since I trust their taste, I had to come. Good thing I got there right as they opened because I didn't have a reservation for what looked like a poppin' Sunday evening. I don't know what on earth to order but my server, Lorie, helped me out graciously. I had five dishes and an adult beverage to round it out. And I would order all the same items and more-- and ideally to bring one or more friends with me so we can split food and I can try more things!!! The starter cabbage with mayo was a refreshing start. And I thankfully ordered the black sesame spinach (served cold) immediately after and whew-- what is in that?! It's a perfect size for one person so if you were thinking to share, order two... because you won't want to share. It gives off a peanut-y after taste and I wished I had more! As far as "main" dishes go: I had chicken neck (I am sorry-- I don't know the Japanese name at the top of my head!), pork belly skewers, pork belly appetizer (they were prepared differently and I suggest ordering both!), and sweet potato with butter glaze (kinda reminded me of a honey actually). Everything was amazing. Tender. Flavorful. My adult beverage was an Okinawa Paloma, which I would order again. A fun twist on a classic! Definitely loved the vibes, the people, and just everything about it. If you're looking to "treat yourself", I say yes to Ippuku! read more

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Delicious food! We ordered the sampler and also grapefruit Chu hi! The samplers were good! It came with thigh, breast, heart, and wings. My favorite was the heart! I enjoyed the gamey taste. Although I thought it needed more seasoning, I enjoyed the skewers. We added more shoyu and togarashi from the sauce options on the table. I thought they also cooked the skewers perfectly, it wasn't too dry. I also enjoyed squeezing the grapefruit for our Chu hi. Overall, fun night out with friends! read more

Ippuku - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We came before a Pixies show at The Greek and it was honestly very hard to leave. The interior design is amazing and has a mix of traditional and eclectic, a hint of the cool weirdness is their website design as well: https://ippukuberkeley.com/ The menu is very expansive and had some interesting stand-outs like Squid Ink fried rice. This is the one I really wanted to try but we were so full after we skipped it. The big thing to note is they take much longer than other Yakitori places for the dishes to come, I want to say at least 15 minutes but the quality was very good. Chicekn Yakitori Pieces: Thigh, wing, gizzard, cartilage. The gizzard and cartilage are challenging to cook right and they were some of the finest I've had in the Bay Area so if you like these cuts I would try them here. Hi-Balls: Japanese cocktail made of soda and whiskey. We had the lemon and plum ones and both were excellent. Korokke: Perfect fried potato balls with nice creamy mashed potatoes inside. These came out first and set the bar very high. read more

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For an early birthday celebration, I wanted to take my companion out. I chose Ippuku because we'd never been and I wanted to surprise him with something new. In all honesty, it was an okay experience--a one-and-done. Ippuku is a Berkeley staple. As an izakaya, it will transport you to Japan. It's intimate, somewhat upscale for bar bites, but also mysterious and laid back. Lots of diners here come in larger groups or for dates--it's loud and a popular destination. I made reservations in advance, which I recommend because it's a popular spot. The service was kind and courteous from everyone who helped us. Food came out quickly and we were checked on throughout our meal. He and I shared: Negima, Hatsu, Tsukune, Goma Yogoshi, Mentai Poteto Salad, Dashi Maki, and Ika Suki Cha Han. Out of the yakitori, I liked the negima the best. They were nicely grilled and juicy but lacking a burst of flavor that I'm used to. Similarly with our appetizers, they were fine but not as seasoned. None of the items blew me away. As a Japanese girl, I used to hit up izakayas and yakitori spots almost weekly. For what I got here, I'd pay 1/4 of the price normally. So to pay as much as I did and the quality to not deliver was disappointing to say the least. As other reviews stated, portions aren't too big and it's quite expensive. An izakaya experience and yakitori in Berkeley is rare. My take on Ippuku is that if this is your first experience you'd be impressed, but if you know this cuisine I'd skip it! It's a hidden spot and easy to pass up off Center Street, but look for groups of people outside. A mix of metered and free street parking only. read more

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Busy place. Reservations recommended. Authentic and comfortable vibe. Decent service. Staff were friendly and helpful. We tried an assortment of skewers. Good: Teba (wing), thigh oyster, momo, yaki onigiri, mentaiko potato salad I found the liver, heart, kawa (skin), and gizzard to be a little undercooked in the center. The outside was properly charred with the charcoal flavor but the center was much softer. Perhaps this was the cooking style of the chef. An assortment of sakes and shochu are available. Averaged about $115/person for food, drink, tax,& tip read more

Ippuku - Bitter melon tempura - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ippuku is a solid Japanese izakaya in downtown Berkeley. We spent about $235 before tip for three people, which included around 17 skewers, uni udon, a few appetizers, and two drinks. I made a reservation for 7 pm on a Saturday, and the place was packed when we arrived. We were seated right away, but the server let us know the grill was backed up and skewer orders would take about 50 minutes. That was fine with us since we started with appetizers. Parking: Mostly metered street parking and parking structures. We got lucky with curbside parking nearby for $5 for 2 hours, paid through a nearby ticket machine. Service: Overall pretty good. Our server was really busy helping multiple tables, so we had to wait until they were free to make additional requests. They accidentally spilled one of our drinks, but made up for it with complimentary sesame ice cream, which was creamy and had really strong sesame flavor. Food: For appetizers, we ordered eggplant, squid, karaage, and uni udon. The karaage was crispy, but I wished it came with mayonnaise, which seemed to be a common request from other guests. The eggplant was fine but felt small for the price. The uni udon was creamy but also had a distinct fishy flavor. For skewers, we tried quail eggs, tomatoes wrapped in bacon, beef tongue, the omakase gushi (five chef-recommended skewers), and chicken liver. The chicken thigh was juicy and flavorful. The beef tongue was another highlight, served as a thick cut of meat with shishito peppers that paired well together. Overall: If you're in the area and craving comforting skewers at a higher price point, Ippuku is worth a visit. It's popular, lively, and the skewers are solid with a few real standouts. read more

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Ippuku is an izakaya serving up great vibes with an array of yakitori, alcohol, and other dishes. Came here with some friends on a Sunday evening. We sat at the Japanese style booths where we needed to take off our shoes. Definitely love the intimate vibes! Our server was amazing! He was attentive, answered all our questions, and friendly. Food was great! We were given a complimentary cabbage with a dipping sauce. The agedashi tofu and scallion pancake were great starters! We really enjoyed the savory and smoky flavor the items we ordered. My favorites included the wagyu with matcha salt and the kawa (skin). I even went out of my comfort zone with trying out knee cartilage and heart, and I'm glad I tried it here! Our bill was quite hefty, but we wanted to try a bunch of different items. I only had 2 gripes. 1. We came at 6 (an hour after opening), but there were a few items that were unavailable. Which included the omakase set. 2. Items took a long time to come. Our server did state the cook on the grill was new, so I do give them grace there. And the food was great, so at least they do care about the quality! This doesn't deter me from trying Ippuku again though! I wanna go back and try the items I didn't get to try this time around. Come here for great vibes and great food! read more

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Great fun spot in Berkeley! There was a wait but we stood at the window / bar and were able to get some drinks while we waited. The inside is so fun with tatami mats and tables that require taking off your shoes - it felt very much like a night out in Japan. The food was also so delicious - we even tried some toriashi which was interesting and done well! The skewers were well cooked and the uni carbonara was so good. Would definitely go back read more

Ippuku - Uni carbonara, Toriashi - A bowl of creamy yellow pasta topped with seaweed and a piece of uni, alongside a plate of sliced sashimi with garnishes, are on a wooden table. - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

TL;DR Ippuku looks better under the cloak of night. Streaming sunlight through the clerestory does the restaurant a disservice. You'll probably want to come here during the winter; seeing as how darkness doesn't engulf the Bay area untill 9 o'clock during summer. You may think this a tad extreme. Go ahead, test my claim. They do right by the chicken. Knee tendon yakatori is supple, but even more so the chicken tail. Breast tendon crunches. Sasami is exciting (dangerous) and requires a secret handshake. Potato salad with cod roe is blah. Cool Japanese liquor hangs from the bar. They have a Japanese/American bartender with an interesting phenotype. read more

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Cozy little spot- reminds me of Midnight Diner with the dimmed lights and japanese food. The menu has some good options- we both got the omakase sets. I liked everything besides the chicken hearts as it's not my thing and had my partner eat it. I was hoping I could've told them no hearts but it was the chef's choice. I want to come back to try their other yakitori varieties- looking at the chicken shoulder and cartilages haha. Big amount of shochu offerings, whisky and beer! Friendly service. Do note , the hostess stand is inside behind the curtain. read more

Ippuku - Omakase set - chicken wing, hearts, breast, thigh and thigh/green onion - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

First time at Ippuku for Izakaya. Our waiter was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable and made some good recommendations. We sat at a table and I appreciated the heater underneath since it was cold. They had a bidet in the restroom! For drinks we ordered Suntory Premium Malt beer and Mito No Kairakuen Umeshu (plum wine). The beer was refreshing and perfect pairing with yakitori. The Umeshu was slightly sweet with slight taste of plum. We ordered skewers: Negima (thigh with Leek) -moist and had a teriyaki sauce; Shiso Maki (breast rolled with shiso and plum) was our least favorite because it was slightly dry; Kurobuta Bara (black pork belly) was good and served with a pineapple tasting sauce; Gyu Tan (beef tongue) was our favorite , it was tasty and moist and had that char grilled smoky scent; Yaki Imo (sweet potato) was delicious and served with shoyu butter. We came right when it opened at 5 p.m. and was seated right away. read more

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Delicious. Here's what we ordered for two people: cabbage appetizer (included), grilled mochi, spinach salad, chicken thigh, and chicken breast. Portions are small, as you'd expect with izakaya. The most special part was our waiter. He was really knowledgable about the restaurant. He recommended a bunch of dishes for us and also gave us a background on the architecture and interior design. He somehow had all the time for this while managing a ton of other tables on Valentine's Day! read more

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I love this place! This spot is a bit hidden but once you get in you feel like another world inside! Walking in on a Friday at 5-5:30 is possibly without a reservation. There are tatami style seatings for larger groups, seatings that face toward one side (by the entrance) and booth style. Our server was really friendly. The service was a bit slow so I wouldn't dine her if you don't have ample time. I recommend the tofu (in the pic), the special pork belly appetizer and grilled mackerel. The Japanese yam skewer taste very raw and bland in a good way but personally I don't find it impressive. The chicken karaage was good too but I was surprised it didn't come with any dips. I would skip the Brussels sprout skewer though aesthetically great, i found it to be gimmicky. Over i love the complimentary cabbage. Overall, def will come back ! Also--heated toilet ?? 10/10. read more

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Great service! Came here when they opened and was sat quickly. Got their negima, mochi bacon, hatsu, and oyster thigh skewers. Ramen paitan, squid ink rice, crab croquette, and firefly squid, grilled squid, omelette Whew that was a decent amount of food for 3 people. We left very satisfied and happy - everything was delicious! Some items were more savory and salty and we needed more water. Refills came often, but it would be nice if there was a pitcher for the table. Overall great spot! read more

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Wow! Haven't been here since before the pandemic...looks like Feb 10, 2020. 5 years have passed and it still maintains excellence in ambience, food, and service! I can't say enough that I love this place. And it's so funny that my attendance is so episodic. I guess it's good to forget about something so good. Only to come back to it and be amazed to enjoy it all over again! read more

Reserved online that same day and got counter seating. Parking is tough since it's in downtown Berkeley. 15 min after your RSVP time, they will give automatically your spot to the next guests. We got there in time. Service was quick and attentive. Some tables had no chairs but pillows, shoes must be taken off to sit. The restaurant nights are dim and dark so hard to take photo. The food was good, seasoning is plain though. A lemon is provided for most fatty meat/screwers. We also got a beer and a cocktail. I got the Oolong tea cocktail, never had it before and it wasn't my cup of tea. We got everything in the photos and more (Ippuku ramen, chicken karaage, chicken knee, chicken gizzard, fried onigiri). This restaurant is on the pricier side however the prep of the chicken and screwers were well done. Even the chicken karaage didn't come with sauce so we used the complimentary cabbage's sauce as a dip. Something to think about. Overall it was a good experience. read more

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Ippuku is my go-to izakaya in the Bay Area! I've been here multiple times over the past couple of years and they never disappoint. From their tapas dishes to their yakitoris, all of their dishes never miss. I also LOVE the 80s city pop vibes of the restaurant! So cozy, kinda nostalgic/retro and overall just great vibes. ~The Food~ I love their Yakitoris! These are some of my go-to's: - Negima (thigh with leeks) - Tsukune (ground chicken) - Mune (chicken breast) - Kawa (crispy chicken skin) A must-try is their Yaki Onigiris! Essentially grilled rice balls, brushed with a sweet soy glaze. They have a nice smokiness and crunch but fluffy sweet rice on the inside. Umami goodness. ~Tips~ - Highly recommend getting a resy ahead of time if you can! Otherwise, you can get there right when they open and you may be able to get a table with no wait! - Pricing wise, each dish is pretty small (being a tapas style) so it can add up, but I think it's definitely worth it! - Parking can be a bit of a struggle, but that's just downtown berkeley in general :) read more

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This small restaurant peaked my interest as it was mentioned on the Michelin guide, so we stopped by at opening time at 5pm and got seated right away at a private booth by the front bar. It's a small unassuming spot with traditional japanese seating and vibes. Mushroom tempura and bacon wrapped mochi were the highlights here - both were hot and fresh with a nice crisp. The menu offers small plates that make it easy to taste a diverse selection of things. We also got the omakase kushi skewers (5), which was a great variety: chicken wing, thigh, neck, heart, beef. We also got the wagyu skewer as well, but this was just okay compared to the other items we tried. read more

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Ambiance was weird, so dimely lighted I barely saw the food. Sitting was comfortable and interesting for young people but probably not so much for family and group. . Squid balls, this was the worst dish, the crust was great texture but a lot of butter was put into the squid ball that I almost threw up . Chicken wings, decent but not marinated, like the grilled texture . Bacon wrapped (quail eggs?), not bad but lags flavor . Okonomiyaki, this was the worse Japanese pancake I have had, there was some squid I guess but almost like chowing grass There was likely another dish that I missed. Service was good but given the very underwhelming food and upscale prices, thumbs down for me. I specifically chose grilled dishes because this one was known for that. Now I would avoid yakitori for a long time, tried before and have been wondering what the fuss was about, it is reputed to be very expensive (compared to other cultures' grills, which is very much true). read more

A unassuming hole in the wall in Downtown Berkeley. The outside has little to no signage but the food is authentic Japanese yakitori. The menu offers nice choices between traditional grilled proteins and vegetables. The chicken, pork belly and sashimi were delicious. The simplicity of grilled Japanese eggplant and king mushroom were a nice compliment to the flavorful meats. The Japanese hefeweizen was so smooth and thirst quenching. read more

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The interior decoration is very remniscient of traditional Japanese cuisine. The quality of food is amazing, but portions are on the smaller end. This is somewhere you'd want to go for sharing and enjoying skewers. Chicken tastes fresh and tasty, as if it's farm fresh. The waiter said the chickens are butchered in house. Service was great initially but towards the end it was hard to catch our server. Other servers don't really help each other, as they directed requests to our server. read more

Reservations highly recommended as this is a busy joint! Good Yakitori dinner spot, some of my favorites are pork belly skewers, squid ink fried rice, liver, gizzard, Negima, Tsukune and I always try something new each visit as well. They don't overly season their yakitori and food here, so if you want something lightly seasoned this place is for you. I prefer my yakitori and food much more seasoned. read more

The kara age is very good as is the chicken gyoza, the mountain potato, the bacon mochi, quail eggs, and enoki mushrooms. The service was solid and the dishes were delivered fairly quickly. The overall feel of the restaurant was very cool. Seating arrangements have you sitting on cushions, shoeless, inside of the table itself which makes for a very good experience. read more

Ippuku serves up delicious Japanese comfort food in a warm, intimate setting that's perfect for catching up with friends over drinks. Portions run on the smaller side, and the food came out a bit slowly -- but that's because everything is made fresh to order, which I totally appreciate. My absolute favorites were the squid ink fried rice and the bacon-wrapped mochi -- both were packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. Normally I never eat liver, but their version completely changed my mind: tender, rich, and not dry at all. The grilled chicken breast was also impressively juicy, which is rare since it can easily turn dry. The staff were attentive and friendly, making the whole experience even better. A cozy, authentic Japanese spot that's worth lingering at. read more

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Great Japanese izakaya in Berkeley, delicious food and friendly service. Will be back soon. read more

Ippuku - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Ippuku delivered wonderful service in a beautiful space with delicious food. From the welcome to the table/booth (glad they were slightly westernized and had wells for our legs!) and complimentary cabbage with aioli sauce through the chef's choice yakitori to the finishing mini ramen bowl, everything that came to the table was praised and devoured. Drink options (we enjoyed some zero proof, sake, soju, and beer) were also terrific (and our server always left us with a filled carafe of water). Highly recommend! read more

One of the best izakaya/yakitori experiences I've had. They specialize in chicken skewers and I would hands down recommend trying them all. They're simply seasoned but have a big taste. And I don't usually love chicken. My favorites were the chicken skin, chicken thigh oyster, pork belly (we ordered more of these), and sweet potato. The bacon wrapped mochi is interesting, but not as good as the others. One big critique is that they brought out the squid ink fried rice 10 minutes after we finished all the skewers- rice should have been served alongside the proteins, so timing could be improved here. We walked in right at opening since reservations went fast, so definitely grab a res when planning to go. I'm eyeing their floor-level group tables next and definitely want to try more of their menu (eyeing the oden and squid!) read more

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Great izakaya spot! We got tree house seating this time around and it felt very intimate. I loved the whole experience, and our food tasted so yummy. The stand outs for me were the fish cake, and chicken skewers. We had a birthday and the server made sure desert came out. read more

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A friend reserved a 7 pm dinner for a group of 5 and we were fully settled and eating by 7:30. Service is good and the restaurant felt pretty traditional with how you're seated! We ordered miscellaneous skewers, sashimi, and appetizers to do family style. None of the skewers really caught my attention- most were pretty lightly seasoned and the sashimi was mediocre. read more

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by far best yakitori spot i've had in the bay. great meat quality, smoky binchotan. wear something light and machine washable esp if you sit at the counter (we smell like smoke and it's very warm near the grill). favs were squid ink fried rice, bonjiri, sori, and tsukune. only nit is some skewers aren't seasoned enough even after a dip in tare. we made use of the tare/tama from the tsukune and their sansho and shichimi. worth making a res two weeks in advance and driving 30 mins each way. read more

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The food was amazing! I don't go to fancy restaurants often so at first, the portions looked small to me but once I ate the food it makes perfect sense the portion sizes they serve! I usually feel bloated and/or can't finish my food at most restaurants in America so it was nice to have these portions that felt just right! I was able to leave the restaurant feeling full and satisfied instead of slow and bloated. More importantly, the food quality was just amazing! The inside of the korokke (I believe was crab croquette) was so creamy inside and delicious, not oily or greasy like most croquettes I've had! The meat from the rafute (if I recall right was braised pork belly) was so tender, my boyfriend was able to pull a piece apart with his chopsticks. My boyfriend ate most of the gyu-tan (meat skewers) but the parts I tried of it (thigh, neck, and wing I think) were very yummy! He also enjoyed the heart!! I know it seems over the top to talk about the cabbage mayo side but it really was good! My boyfriend asked the waitress how to eat it and she gave some options like breaking a piece off like a chip or just taking a bite of the piece, et cetera. We ended up going with the chip idea since I had food gloves on me and it was a lot of fun to eat and a good break between the salty taste of food! Thank you to her as well for answering our questions and explaining the gyu-tan! :) Our server was Sam and he was very cordial and attentive to us! I was wary about portion size and he answered my questions when I asked about how many pieces of meat there would be and their respective sizes. Thank you very much for your patience and service Sam! The ambiance of the restaurant is gorgeous! They really made do with the space they had. It feels bigger than it might actually be. The dim lighting adds an air of sophistication and elegance to the space. It was nice seeing the section of seats where you had to remove your shoes to sit! It kind of adds to the immersion. read more

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This spot is literally just a hole in the wall, and I can't believe it took me so long to finally try it. The restaurant's aesthetic is fantastic! I'm obsessed with the ceramic plates and the condiment caddy. I love the concept of the kotatsu, where you can take off your shoes onto the platform and dine comfortably in a cozy atmosphere. The staff was very friendly, and the food was exceptional. I especially enjoyed the squid ink fried rice, karaage, grilled squid, bacon-wrapped mochi skewer, beef tongue skewer, shiitake mushroom skewer, eggplant, and the complimentary cabbage appetizer, which was incredibly crunchy and fresh--I've never had anything like it. The bacon-wrapped mochi was delightfully soft and chewy, pairing perfectly with the salty bacon, creating a great balance. The ambiance, service, and food all exceeded my expectations, and I can't wait to return and try everything else read more

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My partner took me here for my birthday last week! I remember when this restaurant first opened in 2009, but it wasn't until 2012 that I had the chance to first dine at this cozy izakaya. The darkened entrance and hanging fabric make one feel like they are stepping into a secret dining den. The overall low light is accented by colorful bottles behind the bar and spots of illumination at each table. Ippuku is definitely doing its best to serve up Japanese bar mood. and before I forget, the calligraphy art in the restrooms was beautiful and cute! We had a great server who thoughtfully explained dishes we were curious about and offered recommendations. She also drank some sake with us and poured a little extra! Now the meal. Here's my best attempt to recollect what we ate (menu not available on line and photos on Yelp are older menus): a sashimi appetizer, pickled cucumbers, yakitori: chicken thigh with leek, pork belly (the condiment was a superb mixture of tanginess and pepper, but not spicy), crab cakes, squid ink fried rice, fried salmon skin, and bacon-wrapped mochi. The bacon-wrapped mochi was novel and delicious! Sweet and savory gooeyness with some crisp in one bite! I would definitely go back and order this dish again. We finished with green tea gelato, always a solid choice. I recommend taking your time with the menu, order a couple dishes then a couple more, and then a couple more. read more

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