Ridiculously slow male waiter at the front of the store. Not only took him an hour to clear 2 tables in the front, he also was wandering around talking to a couple who was eating at the bar. He even took his mask off to talk to them. Couldn't get his attention at all. A few tables who were sat at least 10 minutes before my boyfriend and I still were waiting for him to take their order. Even when I asked a different worker if we could put in our order, she didn't help and simply said he would be serving us. There's no sense of urgency from this place so if you have time to waste then come here. read more

This used to be my fiance's favorite restaurant, but the food was just okay this last time we went. The shiitake mushrooms were burned, and the tofu was bland. The wagyu beef was not worth the money. Chicken meatball, hearts, thigh with leek and bacon/mochi yakitori were good. The biggest turnoff was the terrible service. My fiance and I and our two friends at our table ordered on separate bills. My fiance and my food came out at an okay pace, but our friends' was slow and one of the dishes they were waiting on possibly got misdelivered to another table. Our waitress never brought the raw chicken menu we asked for, and she disappeared throughout the entire service. On top of this, the food is expensive (it has always been expensive but was worth it before). The atmosphere, however, is unique in the Bay Area and feels authentic. read more

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By far the best yakitori place every. " sorry we are out of chicken skin" Note: they only serve one chicken skin skewer per table & they run out of it with the first 1,5hr. Also, they don't take over the phone reservations, you have to go there in person & put your name down for the same day! Photo 1: matcha tiramisu + cream puffs Photo 2&3: Wagyu & chicken yakitori . This was only 20% of what we ate Follow @livatravel on IG for more places to eat read more

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Showed up for our 8:30 pm reservation. And they pretty much had zero food left. They knew we were coming. They could have sent us a notification that they were out of 90% of the menu. Mind you, we commuted 30 min to get there. We assume because they were listed in the Michelin guide, they were a reputable restaurant. We did not just walk into the restaurant. We had a reservation. They knew we were coming. They charged our credit card in advance. If you know someone is coming to dinner, you should have food. read more

We've been here twice. The first time the food was AMAZING. We were raving about it to our friends. So much so that we went two weeks later with a friend . Two ate many servings chicken skewers and one was a vegetarian. The chicken diners both were i'll over night and the next day. While the vegetarian was fine. We can only infer that despite chicken being the primary thing on the menu the restaurant is prone to the same poultry-based bacteria that you would expect at lesser restaurants. We were disappointed and probably won't go back. read more

Love this place. Wonderful moody ambience -- just the kind for sipping a highball (yum!) or beer and noshing on some chicken skewers. Why 4* instead of 5? It is definitely $$$$. I wouldn't come all the time, but would definitely come as an occasional treat! Some notes: * Chicken wing - amazing combination of fat, salt, meatiness, esp with Toki highball * Chicken meatball - best thing we ate. The sauce + yoke were just a mini orgasm in my mouth * Shitake - salty, but oh so good * Thigh with leak - deeply smoky, needs more negi * Squid ink fried rice - so much umami / ham / onion throughput * Bacon mochi - satisfying but would probably save the room for squid fried rice. Ranks above onigiri in hubby's book. About a tie with the onigir in mine. * Pork belly - meh. Not bad, but probably would try something else next time. It was chewier/ less crispy than I expected * Skin - I liked the crispy bits. Hubby loved it. I wasn't into the non crispy bits To try next time: chicken neck, Chicken with turnip read more

I been here before and I really enjoyed it in the past. We have been craving this place for weeks and when we came we were highly disappointed. We waited a really long time and I noticed others were being seated and receiving their food quickly. We were being overlooked by our waiter and I understand she was busy because I seen her running but couples seated even after us had their food. We were told multiple things were out and it was frustrating to know things were out because we weren't being attended to. I wish we would have just stayed at the bar because the bartender was a really chill guy and our food came out super fast there. We were apologized to but we won't be back for a while. read more

TLDR: Great Atmosphere average food. Came here for valentine's day expecting a huge wait but we were seated immediately. The food was kind of tapas style so we ordered quite a few things. Skewer Omakase: Didn't try this because it was all meat Crab Croquettes: Ok, It was a little more creamy and less crispy than I expected/hoped. It came with a huge bed of shredded greens that paired really well with the croquettes. Ramen: Not bad, the noodles were more reminiscent of Hong Kong Wonton noodles than ramen though. Hamachi: Pretty standard, raw fish covered in sauce. A little bit sweet for my taste. I was disappointed because they said the fish was flown fresh just the other night but the sauce covered any of potential fresh taste. Salted Mackerel: Not bad, a little bit salty for my taste. Squid Ink Rice: My favorite, this was great and was exactly what I was craving. Should have just ordered four of these. Overall, if it's Izakayas, Kiraku is way better in terms of taste and pricing and it's nearby. read more

Ippuku - Our carafe of sake - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

WOW! I have been meaning to try this place in a long time! So it was my turn to choose a place for date night and voila. They say most of the time this place is packed and you may need a reservation. I tried calling in advance but the man said reservations ended at 7. Luckily it was late in the evening and mid-week so he said that could just drop in. We get there and we're seated right away. Right away, I am loving the ambiance. It is SUPER Japanese. It looks and feels like you're in an old school Japanese restaurant. Sake and beautiful Japanese beers on display at the bar. And the seating where you have to take your shoes off. They even had heaters and feet warmers underneath the tables. This place is an Izakaya type of Japanese place so lots of small 1-2 serving sized dishes to eat typically with sake (Japanese rice wine). A little expensive because all the little dishes CAN add up. I have no proof to show but the restaurant says no pictures! So I respected the restaurants policy. But it made the experience better. Live in the moment and just enjoy the food and the company you're with. read more

To be honest this was a restaurant I went to sue to incessant hunger and it's not fair to judge everything based on how fast you gulp down their food but.... Sigh.. I gulped down their food and it was great. read more

The world just needs more izakayas & yakitori joints. Went here in 2017 & I miss the sake & yakitori pairings. I love finding places that actually serve the tasty bits - scapula, cartilege, hearts - but still manage to keep mainstream appeal. read more

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If you plan on visiting Ippuku you should not come with the expectation of leaving full unless you have the money to fork over for the amount of dishes it would likely take to fill you up. It all depends on how big your appetite is! Even with that being said, I came for dinner with a party of four and still left with a bill (before adding addt'l tip) to roughly around $120. One of my friends made the reservation via phone. Upon first walking into Ippuku, I noticeably was drawn in by the dimmed lighting and wooden fixtures. Plus, bonus points for feeling the warmth/heat as you entered the restaurant saving us from the winter chills. There was booth seating, seating for two people - these seats had smaller tables, but looked quite intimate and was unique in my personal opinion, and also had (towards the right side seats for larger parties where you sat on the floor and had to take off your shoes! I also noticed there was a VIP room, ooooh ahhhh! For drinks we ordered hot sake for the table. Before we placed our order they also gave us a small bowl of cabbage-like salad along with what I believe to be a mayonnaise based dressing. Food-wise we ordered bacon wrapped mochi, pork belly, beef tongue, gyozas, quail eggs, crab croquettes, and grilled rice balls. Unless otherwise specified, you typically received two of each dish listed on the menu. Overall, my favorite dish of the night had to be the pork belly! Something about the fatty deliciousness of pork I can't explain! The beef tongue was good as well, though admittingly chewier than I am accustomed. We added some chili flakes and this really helped added some oomph to it! The bacon mochi was also good and worth trying, but my friends and I seemed to enjoy the mochi's texture moreso than having it wrapped in bacon. While the other food we ordered were good, they weren't anything I would run home to my mama about. For example, the quail eggs were literally quail eggs on skewers and the grilled rice balls tasted as described but with the added soy sauce flavor. Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Ippuku! The atmosphere combined with the yakitori really helped to add to the authenticity and quality of the meal. I would come back, but likely would eat a bit before coming to keep my bill budget friendly, but by all means if you're down to go for the gold (aka spend all da cash monies) come here ready to chomp chomp chomp away! The booths and atmosphere also if you want to take note, prob would make for a great date option especially if they really love yakitori! read more

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In terms of quality of the food, this establishment deserves five stars. The only reason I have not given it same is because I tend to hold my five stars reviews for French and Chinese cuisine. read more

This small shop is an amazing izakaya (Japanese gastropub), lightly dimmed with wooden tables and chairs topped with extremely comfortable cushions. They even offer a blanket to keep you extra comfy... The Wagyu simply melts in the mouth; however, it was so oily that it covered the flavour of the beef. It was accompanied by a side of green tea salt which pairs very well with the meat.. read more

Ippuku - Wagyu kushi yaki - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

After seeing the Yelp reviews, I had very high expectations for this place. However, I would say that it's a little overhyped. I don't see the reasoning behind the long wait when there are other Japanese places in Downtown Berkeley. You're paying for the aesthetics and the authentic Japanese bar atmosphere. The food itself is okay. This place is known for the Yakitori. The meat is splendidly grilled but portion size is very small for the price you have to pay. Other items, such as the ramen, squid ink fried rice, gyoza, etc. are decent but not as flavorful, also tastes like something you could get cheaper elsewhere. read more

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We had a party of six when visiting this restaurant, so we ordered five omakase (each order has five skewers of assorted yakatori). However, our waitress told us we could only order one omakase order for the whole table at one time. The problem was that we had six in our party, so one person always did not get a skewer. Furthermore, our waitress was very slow, so it took her for ever to make additional orders for yakatori. Additionally, we had our 79 year old mother in law with us, who does not know how to use chopsticks, but our waitress said they did not have any forks they could give her. Our waitress seemed to have an attitude, and was not friendly. The restaurant was very dark, and they did not allow flash photography. Our table was decorated with a cheap Godzilla poster. The food was average, and way overpriced for what it was. read more

The quality of yakitori COMPLETELY depends on who is cooking your food. Sometimes they pay attention - other times, they don't (and don't have enough skill). The Head chef is by far the best, though he's ultra rude to his staff, and he's not often there. Still, a good place to stand at the bar and eat yakitori standing. Compared to Japan, it's about a B- on its best days. On its worst days, you'd wish you may have gone somewhere else. Why not as good as Japan? Cutting and Cooking that is not as precise (along with skewering). So you'll end up with uneven cooking of pieces. And quite simply, the chickens don't compare. Also, Tare here is on the sweeter side and the Shichimi is S&B Shichimi, cheap 7 spice rather than the yakitori chef making his own shichimi. It's IMO better than Rintaro (and not as expensive) and likely the best Yakitori around, though. read more

How come no one told me how cool Ippuku is? When I asked my sister how it was she kinda shrugged and said, "Yeah it's cool." No, no no! What she should've done is grab me by the shoulders, shake me a couple of times and scream, "Wendy, you have not had Japanese food in Berkeley until you go to Ippuku! Go and make a reservation right now. I will not release you from my iron grip until you promise to eat there." Then I would've discovered sooner that not only is Ippuku a restaurant with good food and good sake, it is a complete dining experience. When you step in you feel like you've stepped into an alleyway in Japan. While I am not Japanese, everything certainly felt authentic, from the menu I couldn't read to the citrus-y pepper spice in the bamboo jar on the table. Whether it was truly authentic or not, I walked away feeling like I had a very unique and special experience. The sweet egg, grilled chicken shoulder blade, and corn fritters were our favorites. The mochi wrapped in nori had good sauce but was a little sticky and hard to manage. The crab croquettes were good and creamy, but not really worth the $9 for two little croquettes. The sake we had was good and slightly sweet. It was by far the most expensive thing we had. Each of our dishes was $5-9 but the sake was $28. I guess we were expected to drink a lot of sake and try multiple kinds. When we kept asking the server for recommendations she would say something like, "Well, here is a good, light sake to start with." We tried to communicate we would only order one sake for the night. She finally understood and said, "Okay, I'll order the larger size for you." Ha! We definitely ended the night with bright red, happy faces. CORRECTION: I talked to my sister about this review after posting it and it turns out, she did practically shake me by the shoulders and tell me I had to eat at Ippuku. Whoops. I should have listened to her back then. I guess I was playing the role of a dense big sister quite well. Oh well. Moral of the story: Eat at Ippuku! read more

Ippuku is that rent boy you wound up with: boozy, exotic, and fun even if he picked your wallet clean and left you wanting more. Four of us dined here on a Monday night dropping $250 and leaving liquored up and hungry again within the hour. Ippuku is a traditional izakaya with groovy private booths that require you to take off your shoes and climb a platform in order to sit down. The waitress does the same, settling on a pillow at your table as she repeatedly takes your orders and tries to explain that menu. It's a doozy. The multi-page menu is a bit overwhelming and once the sake hits all bets are off. The waitress recommended we order one or two items per page which is probably what we did but 4 - 6 items per page wouldn't have been unwelcome. The menu is large, the portions are small. Splitting plates amongst 4 people was comical. Monday and Tuesday are supposed to be Teuchi Soba nights where focus is on handmade noodles and only a limited yakitori menu is offered. On this Monday night though, an emergency had prevented the noodle prep so the full menu was offered. Without regaling you with details of everything I ate, suffice to say that all was good but I'd have been game for more "all". I'd really enjoy going whole hog on that menu, damn the final expense. This is pretty much the approach Michael Bauer (SF Chronicle Restaurant Critic) took when he reviewed the place in 2010 and if you can afford it I'd recommend you take the same approach. In addition to the many little goodie-filled plates much sake was consumed as well as a shot of their cheapest soju which our waitress dubbed "student soju". Parents, if your students are at Ippuku you're clearly giving them too much allowance. Word. Ippuku has gone all in on the "all in" concept with a standing tip of $7 per person automatically added in. Tax has been added into the prices you see on the menu. This can make your bill somewhat of a shocker until you remember that no further tip is needed. Forget that and you'll be smacking your head in the a.m. I'd love to return to Ippuku on someone else's dime. For my money though, I'll probably head somewhere else where a solid financial investment yields me a hearty plateful of vittles. read more

I love Japanese Izakaya type establishments, aka Japa Tapas (my expression), perhaps because they offer delicious little plates that you can try so many flavors and textures in one meal. But the other reason is because most places of this up and coming food trend in the US, (they are common anywhere in Japan), is that it is Japanese owned and staffed for the most part, unlike the Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese owned Sushi restaurants staff with Latinos serving Yada Yada Whateva rolls. Now I may complain about those Yada Yada Whateva rolls having Jack-in-the-box secret sauce, Mexican spices, and Mayo on them, but Mayo on everything in an Izakaya has been a mini-trend in Japan for some 10 years, just not on your Sushi. Probably the most popular version of the Izakaya in the Bay Area are the Yakitori ones, who specialize in grilled (Yaki) chicken (Tori) on wooden skewers over a hibachi, and supplement that with a myriad of reasonably priced little side dishes and a few larger mains, and may mix in some ramen choices, cold dishes, and other grilled items. I have been wanting to come to Ippuku for a long time, having book marked it when it first opened. They are just celebrating their 3rd year in business, so time flies and I am busy. The space on Center street between the UC Campus and the downtown Berkeley BART station is really interesting. There is a small bar up front with perhaps 6 seats, and against the opposite wall are 3 counter tables in little cubby holes for two each, with a wood draw-curtain in front for privacy. Then in the middle left are private booths for 4 that are western style, and the middle right Japanese style booths (but with dangle room for your feet, no cross legged tatami style, but you take off your shoes like in Japan) but these can be adjusted to accommodate larger parties. And then in the rear, near the hibachi cook, is another small counter seating section. It has a very Japanese feel to it, which I like. I came here with my Foodie Friend extraordinaire, the MadHattrix, after taking her to her very first Football game, Cal vs. Ohio State. She had dined here before and just a few days prior, so she introduced me to her faves, and what she had tried. I picked out 3 items and left Kim to order the rest. First for me was the Uni-Pon, which was Uni (sea urchin) with Ponzu sauce (a lighter citrus soy sauce becoming increasingly popular, on sushi too.) This was great! I always order Uni in a sushi-ya (if fresh and Japanese run, the other Yada Yada places a bit risky), and a miso soaked tofu and cucumber plate (Miso-Zuke) which you have to love tofu and miso to enjoy, and later got the Chicken Thigh Oysters, which were juicy and delish. Kim ordered her fave dishes (see pics) including Bacon Wrapped Mochi skewers, Dashi Maki (Japanese Omelette), Minced Chicken Skewer with Egg Yolk, and a whole grilled Hokkaido Squid with a side bit of mayo and minced ginger. We were stuffed, but were talked into dessert, which was icy soft serve ice cream Affogato style, topped with Macha and a Sweet Soy, both fantastic, and a great contrast in sauce over a common delight. The manager comped us our Tsukemono order (pickled dish) because it came out almost last, and anyone who eats Japanese food knows this is usually the first thing to serve, which he agreed ($6 plate, so no big deal, especially on a busy Saturday night, but shows their attention to details and good service.) Most of the staff is Japanese, our waiter wasn't however, but he was good at timing, suggestions, and service, although the little dishes are run out to your table by others. I really like this place and my friends in the South Bay will be sad to know I will be diverting some of my Japa Tapas experience from Ajito, Gaku, and Izakaya (Cupertino, San Jose), and my LA friends from Musha and Azuma, for something closer in Berkeley. Go Bears! PS - pronunciation tip: all the syllables in Izakaya (e-za-ka-ya) have equal weight, accent and staccato length, so this should sound like a machine gun, NOT like an up and down sing-song Swedish Blonde with a Louisiana accent (E'-zuh-KAY'-yuh) read more

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My admiration continues to grow for this gem of a restaurant. There is an ethos that is characteristically Japanese that has shined even brighter during the year of the pandemic. While other restaurants shut their doors or transitioned to lesser takeout offerings that truly resembled a pandemic special, Ippuku leaned into the hard times with consistency, variations in their menu, all the while maintaining their customary high degree of quality. Bento boxes were included into the menu when the county shut down indoor dining. The current manifestation of the bentos are solid, but the ones in the early months of 2020 were spectacular, showcasing the diversity of Japanese cuisine and the skill inside Ippuku's kitchen. I regret not getting in on the daimyo-big-boss box that was available for just a couple weeks. If you are constantly looking at the quantity-price ratio for your meals, Ippuku may not be for you. I am not a rich man, by any means, so I limit my visits to special occasions. Lately, random Fridays get the title of a special day for me to splurge. It's always someone's birthday, somewhere. What I absolutely love about this place is that it is Japanese, top to bottom. There are a lot of places that masquerade as Japanese restaurants. Some are fine. A well-executed 3-item bento with cubes of mystery sashimi, iceberg lettuce salad with Japanese mayo, and vegetable tempura is a lunch. Some restaurants, however, are an offense, to the cuisine/culture and to their unlucky patrons. If you are having a difficult time finding a good Japanese restaurant and reviews have led to poor meal after poor meal, Ippuku is the cure. A set of the smoky skewers of chicken will set you right. And here is the thing: good food is absolutely a cure. When I have a meal from Ippuku, things settle into better focus. It settles the body and the mind. Appetites given healthy, proper satiation allows for productivity. I ate at a "Japanese" "izakaya" restaurant a few blocks away and the food was so subpar it compelled me to make more bad decisions, and I bought a lottery ticket. With all of the problems in the world, what a privilege it is to be able to partake in a meal that is honest, nourishing, made and presented with respect. Understated, but the quality speaks volumes. read more

Ippuku may be, hands down, the coolest place I've ever eaten at. My boyfriend and I discovered this place last week when we were looking for somewhere to eat - we were drawn in by the awesome facade, with its recessed entrance, noren covering the doorway, and the open window facing out where you can order drinks while you wait for a table. We knew we had to come back and try it, and tonight was the night for it. Unfortunately we didn't realize just how hard it is to get a table at Ippuku; for future reference we now know we should place reservations, but when we asked the host how long of a wait he was honest and said it would be a while, and to check back in a half an hour, and he took our name to reserve us a spot. We waited on the bench outside and enjoyed the heat lamps, and sure enough about 40 minutes later the host got us a seat at the grill. Seating here is varied; you can either choose a booth with a traditional table, you can go for the booths with low tables where your shoes must be removed (I really wanted to sit there!), there's seating along the grill, or you can stand and eat at the bar (which is inconvenient because of your proximity to the doorway). Ippuku is an Izakaya, so don't expect to come here and find traditional Japanese fare on the menu that you'd find at a sushi place; this is essentially Japanese tapas, for lack of a better way of putting it - skewers of meat or seasonal veggies, hand foods, ramen, and what would normally be considered an appetizer, like gyoza. There's an extensive list of drinks to choose from as well. We started with the gyoza, the onigiri (grilled rice balls), and the kage chicken (called "Japanese style fried chicken" on the menu), and everything was outstanding. The chicken was juicy and hot, the gyoza were cooked perfectly, and the onigiri were delicious, with a soy coating brushed on. We finished with the Ippuku ramen (chicken ramen), which was one of the best ramens I've ever had. So flavorful, despite being so simple. The genmaicha tea was a nice pairing with the meal. After reading previous reviews I was expecting service here to be painfully slow, but it was quite the contrary tonight, and I don't know if that's because we were sitting at the grill, but judging by how fast those chefs were cooking, I really don't think there would've been a long wait for food even if we'd been seated elsewhere. Also, Ippuku has a no cell phone/no camera policy. It's really not that hard to respect (despite the many complaints I've read and heard while eating tonight), and yes, many people still consider it rude that some people are so dependent and obsessed with their phones that they can't put it away for the duration of a meal. Grow up. You don't need your phone every second of the day. For all the food we got, and the tea, our total came out to $41. I thought it would be a lot more to be honest. The staff here were exceptionally nice, our waiter and waitress were very attentive, and the host was a really great guy for having squeezed us in. I absolutely will be returning here time and again. Ippuku, you're definitely "as good as it gets"! read more

Ugh, I always come back to places that I rate 5 star in my head, then want to leave a review and finally get a chance to after a 3rd or 2nd visit. And of course then the visit is totally different... oh Ippuku , why did it have to be you as well... So basically I've come to the conclusion that all the hot sake last time was the reason for my 5 star experience . Our server today seemed rushy and not too interested in us. We also came at 5:30 with reservations and plenty of open tables so being "too busy" couldn't have been an excuse. Dish after dish came out bland and blander. I was living off the soy sauce and dry peppers mixture with every bite to choke the food down. If you look you look at my first grilled squid picture u can see the second one has shrunk greatly in size . The tentacles were also so burnt and dry. The dipping sauce also tasted like it came straight from a Mayo bottle. Wasn't there a hint of lemon last time ? Chicken meatball was so wet inside the entire thing fell apart. Bacon wrapped mochi - I still like the contrast of the salty crispy bacon and the soft melted mochi, however, it lost its magic to me. Guy no Tataki - I felt sick later after eating this. Soba noodles tasted dry and grainy and the soup broth nothing special . Momo - Yes it was chicken thigh, yes it tasted like chicken thigh, anything special? NO. We should have just left once we found out that there is no squid rice on Mondays or Tuesday's, just a cold buckwheat noodle in its place. Yeah not a happy camper . $82 later we are looking for another place to grab a drink and some snacks . We won't be back. For Japanese tapas go to Kiraku instead . read more

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Ippuku never disappoints. It is near impossible to dislike their perfectly char-grilled skewers. If you are not comfortable consuming inner organs or more 'interesting' parts of chicken, you will miss out a lot here. If you have decided to eat at Ippuku, you NEED to be slightly adventurous. The good news is, everything tastes awesome. In fact, had they not told you what you are eating, you probably won't think anything strange anyway. Chicken heart, gizzard, heart cartilage are must try. The neck meat is by far the favorite of most. Closely followed by momo (thigh meat). The non yakitori winners are Ikasumi chahan (squid ink fried rice), rafute (stewed pork belly) and black sesame soft serve sundae for dessert. Chicken ramen was very skip-able. Reservation is a must on weekends unless you are willing to wait for hours. Ippuku is a highly popular spot. read more

First impression to first izakaya experience: Beautiful, minimalistic wooden booths with traditional seating. Hushed and zen atmosphere on super busy Center street in heart of dirty and grungy downtown. We 3 were the last ones in the restaurant before they closed on a weeknight, and risked landing a traffic ticket to book it here from Elmwood! 4.3 for very $$$, specialized, tasty bites!!! High quality food... less quantity. I distinctly remember the bill hovering about $88 for 3 women's appetites. We ate daintily alright.. not because we normally do, but because we had to...ration! This meal went sans drinks, and about 8-9 small plates. Shared around the table, with Japanese-speaking friend in tow: For the veghead in us, that marinated spinach dish and lotus root did it for us. Then it was (and appropriately so) onto chicken everything on stix!!!! It was all ordered 'shio' style (salted). Highly recommend the momo (thigh), nakaochi (neck), hearts, butt....We had a few orders of that. No fish.. no beef... no pork. Excellent clean, pure flavors.. Grilled so very well, these stick friends of mine that kept ending up in my mouth. I would like to venture into the seafood realm... or else anything tainted with bacon. Definite return, after some respite from the damage==== PS So dimmed in here, would be perfect rendezvous for an affair... did I just say that?! read more

Atmosphere & Location (4/5) If you have ever been to a traditional Japanese Izakaya, you will know that Ippuku follows these traditional methods from the open grill kitchen, the tatami mat seating, and dim lighting. The location is in downtown Berkeley located on Center, right next door to Sliver. Quite hard to find parking, but you can always pay for parking in the bank of america parking lot. While not your typical upscale, modern restaurant you take a date to in San Francisco, but this is a place to take someone you want to impress. The prices are steep, but you will see the reason through the superior service, and quality in food. The one thing that does throw me off is seeing Caucasian servers speaking Japanese. Service (4/5) Servers are friendly and helpful and do their best to take care of you. Our server assisted with helping us start our orders out and took our orders in two parts so we could decide with the starters before moving onto the main courses (The menu is extensive and takes a lot of teamwork to decide on what you want to order). The menu might throw you off since there is a lot of Japanese on there and no photos, but I have found that google can be your best friend in times like that, or you could also just ask your server since he/she will be willing to explain to you what the dish is. My only complaint was when I saw our server start to chat with another coworker for about 5 minutes before coming over to give us our check after we asked for it. Food (5/5) Tamago: I will always order the sweet tamago eggs whenever I see them on the menu. There's just something about lightly sweetened eggs that are beaten till fluffy and grilled that really make me happy. I personally love Japanese styled tamago, and while it is quite easy to make I love to see how every Japanese restaurant puts their personal touches on it. I probably won't order this again, its good but quite plain and not worth the price. Plating was too simple, and I think pieces should be cut for you already. Fried Sweet Corn Fritter: This was delicious, and a must order. The corn is crispy and not too oily, they salt it lightly so you can taste the savoriness on the outside, but the sweetness of the corn when you bite into it. Crispy, yet juicy. Chicken Karaage: The Karaage was quite moist, but lacking in flavor and depth. Plating was a bit too simple, and far too small for the price. I didn't like how soft the skin was either. I would pass on this next time. Fried Chicken Skin: If there is one thing you have to order at Ippuku, I would recommend the fried chicken skin. It is grilled till crispy. You can taste the slight burnt of the charcoal, which makes this dish so perfect. The fat from the skin is juicy, yet the grill makes it really crispy almost like a chip. I love this so much, and if I never had to worry about cholesterol, weight gain, or financial stability I would just live off these. Scallion Pancake (Okonomiyaki): Ippuku calls it scallion pancake, but it is just a traditional okonomiyaki. I rate this dish fairly high and must get it if I ever go again. I would suggest that the owners cut the okonomiyaki beforehand for customers, so they have an easier time separating it. Really flavorful, the okonomiyaki and Japanese mayo give it a slight sweetness, but the dried seaweed and bonito give it a nice umami flavor. A good balance of sweet and savory, and also quite filling. Grilled Goat Cheese drizzled with Honey: You either hate or love this. I personally loved it, but my friend disliked it. Not much a scent when you first get it, and it doesn't look particularly appetizing. However, when you bite into it you can taste the strong flavor and creaminess from the cheese, but it is coated with honey so you get an initial taste of sweetness followed by the complex flavor of the cheese. Omakase Grill Platter: A must order, their grilled chicken is their specialty. The Omakase plate changes everyday according to the head chefs decision, but usually a good fusion of meats. Usually breast, thigh, cartilage and for me that day we also had gizzard and boy was that amazing. It was juicy and flavorful. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus: Seen quite often in restaurants in America, yet with a heavy Asian influence at Ippuku. Must order, the fat from the bacon coats the asparagus and adds new flavor to the surprisingly sweet asparagus. One of their most popular dishes, and you can see why. Bacon Mochi: This is one of the weirdest, yet tastiest fusions I have ever seen. The bacon is crunchy, and the mochi (unflavored) is extremely soft and chewy. Salty, savory and delicious. Squid Ink Fried Rice: This was orgasmic. Definitely not something you should order on a date, but I could not resist. The fried rice was well done because you could taste each individual grain, as opposed to other places that have mushy fried rice. Really flavorful, and the scallions on top make a perfect addition. Beautifully presented and well executed read more

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Location - Hard to find, signs aren't visible, entrance looks like a shady porch. Price - No tip but $7 is automatically added if you sit beyond the front bar. Service - Recommendations were helpful. Interior - Unique; each section of the restaurant had a different table and way of sitting. Portions - Eat beforehand. Lettuce appetizer with side of mayonnaise - Delicious and light. Bacon wrapped mochi - My favorite item even though I don't like mochi! Flavors resemble bacon and bursting, gooey, hot cheese. Omakase - Delicious again. Every part of the chicken is cooked on a stick Scallion pancake - Average, good texture, less flavor. read more

Ippuku - Bacon wrapped mochi - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Pricey but super cool ambiance and decor The menu is hard to read unless you know Japanese. And the dishes are small in portions(executive calamari) but very authentic and unique. The Moshi in bacon, calamari, fried oysters and Dungeness crab croquettes all amazing I will definitely come back again Good for medium size groups or intimate settings. The saki selection is wide but overpriced. read more

The Cal kids, the hipsters, the foodies, the Japanese, and those who don't even know what they are in for... all drawn into this melting pot of hungry people who wait patiently for their turn to see what the hype is all about, while starting their night off with a Japanese beer or sake at the front bar as the smell of the robata and skewers find their noses... At this little spot that resembles something like a hallway, with table seating tucked into little caves in the walls that gives me the feeling that I might just be back in Japan once again. So tempted to order everything on the menu... Best thing to do is come with a few friends to try everything on their menu. It's not so much what you are ordering from their perfectly robata grilled selection, it's more enjoying the skillfulness their robata cooks exemplifies in each and every skewer sent out to the tables no matter what you order. I personally love things like chicken heart, beef tongue, chicken gizzard, chicken skin... So if you want to try something more than just the usual meats definitely do it here where you get the real robata experience. In Japan, you are sure to see endless bottles of beer to go with these addictive small bites as professionals wind down with laughter over more than likely perverted jokes. I know we always describe everything to taste like chicken but I found out what chicken tastes like when it's raw... Yes they serve a quickly seared chicken here raw in the middle... And it resembles the flavor and texture of seared big eye tuna. If you're feeling adventurous go for it but definitely not for the faint of heart. There are hole in the wall joints in Japan that serve clean raw chicken that won't make you sick. I'm alive and well writing this review so you should be good if you want to give it a go. The squid ink fried rice is a must here. Fluffy Japanese rice stir fried with squid and that savory slightly earthy black sauce giving it a nice tasty sticky fluffy bite with each n every spoonful. Freakishly delicious. I never leave here without having a cold serving of their matcha affogato... Simple, soft, n creamy. Even more of a treat on those ridiculously warm summer nights here in Berkeley. To die for. For a true authentic Japanese experience and a cozy setting, they are easily 4.5 stars. read more

Ippuku - Matcha Affogato... So yums - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is my first time come here！Bad experience！The waitress exactly ignore my order‍ The table next me came later than me, but got all the food before me. read more

DELICIOUS CHICKEN PARTS ON A STICK.... and then some!!! (4.5 stars) "Wash your feet and put on a clean pair of socks" and get ready to feel like your in Japan. You'd think eating raw chicken would give you salmonella and eating chicken parts like gizzards and hearts would twist your stomach. If your going to upscale your palate, be damn sure to be ready to handle the yummies you would have never expected. - Food, oh wow delicious - Price, expensive... bill for the evening was $127.21 - Portions, everything bitesize - literally - Service, on point As they would say, i am the female Anthony Bourdain of SF and now bayarea. I've traveled my ways across the bay bridge back into a land of past familiar culture, a college town, all to enhance my Japanese experience with a hardcore Yakitori style suprise for the palate. I'll have to thank my hairstylist for handing me a food magazine to read while she pampered me, eversince reading about Ippuku it was a must try for me. I had giving my friend a list of 15 expensive restaurants to choose from for his bday, my treat, and he has choose IPPUKU. HEFFER-STYLE STATUS. Mind you, Japanese restaurants are not just about Sushi. There was no sushi here as this was a Yakitori style restaurant, no parts of the chicken go to waste. ***BALLS TO THE ALL EXPERIENCE*** SOCHU (imo/sweet potato section - $10) - we ordered two of these ON THE ROCKS. it was SO strong, like 25% strong and after 3hrs we still couldn't finish our small glass of it. Strong and smooth... thats a quality alcoholic beverage. TORI YUKKE ($9) - Raw chicken, spicy chicken tartar - chicken breast finely chopped to perfection. wouldn't that be a total salonella scare, right? wrong! It was served in a bowl with dables of soysauce, sesame seeds, finely chopped and barely noticable green onion, and radish sprouts. AND RAW QUAIL EGG The best thing to do is spread the yolk all around and dip your chopsticks in for a bite. Scary and contraversional. Well, it was very creamy and tasteful with class. It's the next day and i'm not in the hosptial so it sure tells you something. 5 STICKS ($5) - it was the chef's special of the night. The chef will pick 5 parts from the chicken for us to try (there was heart, wing, gizzards, neck, tail, breast, thigh, shoulder, liver, etc). The random five we recieved: - Kokoro (heart) - Zuri (gizzards) - Nakochie (neck) - Shisomaki (breast) - Momo (thigh) Gizzards i've had before when i was a child. it's been awhile and i had them this evening, tasted like chicken (duh) - dark meat and a bit rubbery in texture. Neck was very tender, reminded me of chicken thigh and i couldn't tell if was the neck. The heart, i didnt even go there. my friend did and he liked it. I CAN BREAK HEARTS BUT I SURE CAN'T EAT ONE. It was a great experience of 5 chicken parts on skewered sticks and well worth the $5 dollars. IKA YAKI ($11) - large grilled cuttlefish. prior coming here i saw pictures of this and this was definately one of my items to order. I didnt expect it to be as large as it was. it was literally a whole squid (minus the eyeballs) sliced up. I'm so not into tenticles but they were long, when i mean long, i mean LONG. i actually popped one in my mouth for good sakes and it was tasty. BACON WRAPPED MOCHI ($6.50) - i haven't ate red meat in months but i was going to dip in just to try this. the saltiness of the bacon really complimented the mochi. mochi is bland and the texture is soft but they fried/grilled it with the bacon which gave it a crispy outside and the mochi saturated some delicious fat from the bacon. you only get two pieces. BACON WRAPPED ASPARAGUS ($6.50) - nothing special, just bacon wrapped asparaugs and it tasted exactly as that. its small, only few pieces. RICE BALLS WITH PONZU ($6) - why did i order this. waste, dont order it. it was like crispy rice in a ball with drizzled soysauce and vinegar on top. MATCHA AFFOGATO ($7) - to sum it up, green tea ontop of vanilla icecream.. maybe it should have been called ugly looking green tea ice-CREAMY delicious because it was so good. melted fast but it was still good in its cold soup form. ordered two because i dont share icecream. And the end of the night... damage was done to my wallet at $107.21 (w/tip $127.21). I guess you can say, my palate is classy =) Will I be back? this is the only place in my life will i eat TORI YUKKE and next time want to try kuro gomo sundae. JABA APPROVED. Until the next review... read more

Went here for their opening night and it was better than I expected. From start to finish, everything was excellent. Their cabbage with house made mayo, gyoza, avocado with yuzu-kosho (Japanese citrus paste with pepper - you must try it!), all the yakitori, shochu, and dessert - none disappointed. My favorites of the evening were the bacon mochi (mochi wrapped in bacon), the avocado with yuzu-kosho, shisomaki, sasami, gyu-tataki, tsukune, and the matcha sundae. I know that's a lot of favorites, but we ate a lot more than that. I don't know much about shochu, but Washi, the bartender, brought out some that he thought we'd like. I got the grapefruit chu-hi (squeeze yourself) and an imo (potato) shochu. I got the imo shochu on the rocks at first, but that didn't work for me. Washi was kind enough to make it mizu-wari for me and it was so much better after. But that's just my taste. I loved the decor - lots and lots of woodwork everywhere. You can smell it when you walk in. Loved it! Also, they have a Toto washlet in the women's restroom. BF said the men's did not have one. The heated seat was super nice because it was a bit chilly in there. I was told by a friend who went to the soft opening that the staff was a little disorganized, but they were doing just fine when we went. Granted, the soft opening was on a busy Friday night and we went on a pretty mellow Monday evening. Everyone was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. You will probably spend $40+ per person and it's well worth it. We spent about $60 pre-tip per person, but we both eat a lot. I'm so glad that the East Bay has a proper izakaya now! Also: they're open daily from 5pm-11pm daily, but they mentioned that they may stay open later (~1am) in the future. read more

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Go: -For a totally unique Japanese resto experience -To get your bow-chicka-bow-wow date vibe on -When you're craving amazing grilled meats & kinda-funky innards -When you're not SUPER hungry, or at least hit up the drive-thru before you came here -Because Bauer doesn't fuck around when he anoints his Top 10 of the year, and this place was one of 'em back in the day. Hasn't slipped since. Get: -Omakase- whatever it is for the day, get it -Thigh -Gizzard -Shoulder -Heart -Breast -Neck -Ten-Don aka shrimp tempura rice bowl -Ramen -Any of the beers or soju/sake/cocktails -- I've enjoyed the Hitachino & La Chouffe Skip: -Bacon-wrapped mochi (Even though everyone loves it, it doesn't do much for me) -Brussels sprouts-- just taste like brussels + aioli -Scallion pancake-- too much bonito flakes; better at other places -Soba (only available on Mondays & Tuesdays)-- I actually enjoy their soba, but there are way better/more interesting things to get here. -Ice cream dessert-- Wasn't super impressed. Bring back the Strauss soft serve please! Ippuku has consistently been one of my favorite places in the East Bay. It's a classy Japanese yakitori place that has maintained a top-notch menu while making little changes through the years. Fun for friends, intimate for couples, cool for groups & out-of-towners. You won't leave feeling Big Mac full, but you'll have a great time. Helpful shit to know: -There's no sign from the outside -You might have to remove your shoes depending on the table, so leave the holey socks at home. -You will be hearing and reading lots of Japanese, none of which I retained to write this review, sadly. -They have cute t-shirts! I love wearing mine. Go get you one. ($28) -The dishes are small but the bill adds up. To really enjoy yourself here, bank on at least $50pp (assuming 1-2 drinks per person). -They've started adding a $5 per person fee to the bill, in lieu of tip. So what you see is what you pay. Props to my fellow Yelpers for saying "F that!" to their No Cell Phones policy & snapping pics up the wazoo. Lighten up Ippuku, it's 2015! read more

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I loved going to izakayas when I was living in Japan so I was super excited to try this place out! The right side of the restaurant is lined with Japanese-style kotatsu setting (which I was hoping for) and gives you a sense of authenticity. YAY! (Hopefully the wooden floors in this section can be heated because the restaurant was a bit chilly in general.) On to the food. Typical izakaya menu, but even while I was in Japan, I don't ever remember my yakitori and tsukune having been that small. X*( I knew portions were gonna be on the small side, but these were a tease. And they were all salty, too. Tasty, but salty. (At least water is free!) Throughout the meal, I kept telling myself that if I ever came here again, I was gonna bring a big Tupperware container full of freshly steamed rice to 1) tone down the saltiness, and 2) fill me up because these meager portions would definitely not. The zousui (rice porridge with chicken) that we decided to order to fill us up was sooo salty that we actually took out all the broth and poured in our pitcher of water into the bowl. It was better, but still a bit salty. DX If you want carbs to fill you up, try the ramen instead. (The salty broth works better with the noodles.) My poor arteries... X( Dessert was delicious, though! A GREAT break from the salty! We got the matcha sundae (our table's favorite!!) and the matcha affogato (matcha green tea poured over soft serve ice cream). Had it not been for the desserts, I think my friends and I would have shriveled up and dried out onto the table from the intense salt overload. OH! I forgot to mention! They have a bidet in the restroom!! I was SOOO excited when I saw this! I haven't seen those since I came back to the states! I wanted to try it out and play with it but ... I was always a little skeptical about public bidets. Anyhoo, if you're coming here, bring a jacket and bring lots of money! Don't bring your appetite! (If you are, then bring a bag of bread or a container of rice with you and hide it whenever the nice servers come!) I just came back from Ippuku an hour and a half ago, and I am still eating... XP read more

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Before all these izakayas opened in Sac, I had bookmarked Ippuku for a while. There is no sign outside that states the name of the restaurant, so at first I was wondering if we were at the right place. Make reservations! Even though it was a weekday, we were told it was a hour and half wait for a table. Luckily, there was an open spot right next to the entrance. I loved the ambiance- great place for a date. There were several seating arrangement, including booths and tables where you took off your shoes and sat on the floor. Signs posted discourages photos, so I didn't take any as it was dark anyways. Before eating, we were given towels to wash our hands with. Now onto the food... As an appetizer, we were given cabbage salad. I really wanted to try their chicken tartare, but it's only available on certain days. We ordered: karaage (deep fried chicken), bacon wrapped mochi, dungness crab croquettes, grilled rice balls w/ tare, and squid ink fried rice. The chicken was my favorite, crispy and tender. The rice balls were my least favorite as I wished it was filled with something. The most interesting dish was the fried rice. I've tried squid ink pasta before, and was looking forward to their fried rice. We all enjoyed it, but agreed that it was salty. So the reason for the 2 stars, is the $7 per person table charge as gratuity. Unless you order a lot of food, that is rather steep. It ended up being more than a 40% tip. It's more reasonable for them to add a set percentage instead. While I enjoyed the food for the most part, nothing wowed me enough that will warrent another visit from me. read more

Kinda feels like you're walking into a secret back alley as you step through the curtain and into a different timezone. People cluster together in dimly lit booths, sitting cross-legged and shoeless on pillows, huddling over cups of tea. There wasn't a wait but we were asked to wait anyway; we looked around at all the hipsters and wondered if perhaps we should hit up the Vietnamese place down the street...? Or perhaps some shawarma? But stuck it out. The dishes here are small plates that are virtually unintelligible on the menu. That is, unless you've dined here multiple times or have a friend who happens to cook in the back, you're not going to know what you're ordering. There's no description - just "chicken thigh" or "cucumber." The waiter was somewhat helpful, and we ended up trying a slew of items - some were delicious, some mediocre, and some mouthfuls were secretly spit into a napkin (but please don't tell the chef). We both ended up feeling full of appetizers - a bite of fried tofu here, a fish head there - but were both still felt hungry for a real meal. Exotic gustatory experience, but probably best to go with an Ippuku expert on a night you're feeling particularly adventurous. read more

We tried Ippuku for dinner on Sat 9/18/10. It's only 1 block away from Downtown Berkeley Bart and to the Right of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream on Center. It's Japanese tapas & can be very expensive! Don't wear anything that need Dry Cleaning if you sit by the Open Kitchen or the table near the Kitchen. It'll stink like smoke!! Be prepared for a long wait to get your food on a busy Sat night - up to 2hrs to eat a big dinner, less if you don't order too much. If you get those rice balls -Yaki Onigiri- know it comes at the End of the Meal - Last Course!! We ordered lots: Omakase Gushi - grilled mixed meats chef's choice. 5 sticks for $14. Tasty, glad they didn't have Liver that night. Chicken gyoza - small & tasty. Fried tofu in broth & bonita flakes - B. liked it, I thought it was ok. Fried bittermelon - huge pile of it. I didn't try it, B. loved it. Green beans w/ sesame - I liked it fine, wish it was warm/hot, not served cold. Beef tongue - good. Mushrooms - fine, nothing special Grilled eggplant - fine, nothing special. Grilled quail $10 - Delicious, get it! Yaki Onigiri - grilled rice balls 2 for $6 - ok, nothing special. Wanted it earlier in the meal, but they serve at the very end of meal - last course. Sake - B. tried 2 cheap glasses over ice. He liked both. Credit cards taken. Our total after tax & tip over $100 for 2. Separate bathrooms in the back. Women's is single toilet/sink. Heated toilet (Yay!!) w/ the other fancy gadget (didn't try). Frog drawings along the tiled walls. read more

Ippuku opens for lunch with a limited menu of soba, donburi, and alcohol. no yakitori. wooden booth seating (shoes optional) imparts an aura of intimacy and exoticism. music: japanese instrumentals eats:ebi-ten oroshi soba(15) -tempura was spot on, soba a bit chewy -flour to make soba imported from hokkaido -many types soba, maybe stir fry would have been better pour: meyer lemon chu-hai(7) -japanese soju, totally smooth, (different from korea's harsher soju. temaki: -sevice impeccable -totally unrelated: flash images of geisha bringing food and drinks to guests as the waitresses passed by with goodies in hand. read more

Date night. I find that dating in the Bay Area is difficult. Everyone has multiple people that they're seeing, but it's all about putting yourself out there. I'm all for experiencing new things and meeting new people to figure out what type of person I enjoy being with. This was one of these dates where the two of us had a great conversation, but he was high (or seemed that way) and I was not. Also, it was just not wonderful all around so I don't see those guys again. Regardless, we had really good food. I had to get everything without sesame oil because he's allergic - makes things a little difficult to say the least. The drink: Grapefruit Sochu - it was a DIY. Seriously. Who wants to make their own grapefruit fruit for their own cocktail? Regardless, it was a decent cocktail, not the best, but not bad either. The food: Bacon wrapped mochi - yum! the sauce that came with it was good too. You really can't go wrong with bacon so wrapped around mochi - definitely always delicious. Pork Belly - It was crispy and on a stick. Again, like bacon, can't really go too wrong with pork belly. Omesake Chicken Yakitori - this ended up being a great dish. The gizzard was a bit tough and weird, but the ones that were normal (breast, wing, and thigh) were all so juicy and delicious. Chicken Tartare - this is one of the most famous dishes they have and it's actually really delicious. It comes with nori and it's actually really good to eat the tartare with the nori together. I was afraid (because of salmonella), but it appears they take really good care of their meat and make sure it's safe to eat raw. I didn't get sick! Service was spotty all night which made me kind of angry. Yes, it's hard to deal with someone with a sesame allergy, but it doesn't mean that it should take so much time to get our food. Seems silly, but honestly, makes me a bit angry that it took so long for dinner. Overall, great food, average service. Protip: definitely get the chicken tartare, it's what they're famous for! read more

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One of the best Japanese places I've been to in the Bay Area. They have a great range of yakitori. The wagyu beef was just amazing but the chicken meatballs and thigh also stood out. The space was also well done, feels like you walked into a small corner of Japan. I will say the service is really slow so don't expect attentive service. If you're ok to chill this place is definitely worth a try! read more

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