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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.
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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
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.
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!
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
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.
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
Was excited to try this place after hearing lots of good reviews, and was disappointed by the food. The atmosphere of the place is a very traditional japanese dining with intimate booths, and service was very attentive. Our waitress was incredible and we even saw her go sit with guests and explain the menu! The food fell short to expectations. Sashimi [10/10] Starting with our favorite, the sashimi assortment came with 3 different kinds of fresh fish and three pieces each, perfect for my group of three. Fresh, flavorful, and pleasantly surprised by the fresh grated wasabi, we gave this a 10/10. Assorted Pickles [6/10] Fresh ingredients that however fell short in pickled flavor and instead tasted like chopped up vegetables. Gyoza [8/10] Delicate wrapper allowed the well seasoned and juicy chicken to shine through. However the filling was a majority cabbage and the sear of the gyoza overwhelmed any of the chicken flavor. Yaki Nasu [5/10] Plain, skinned eggplant that had very little seasoning. Waiter even suggested using the provided soy sauce and admitted that there was little flavor. Omakase Skewer [8/10] Chefs selection included Heart, thigh, breast, and wing. Breast piece was quite dry, however charcoal flavor wasn't overwhelming in the way it was with the gyoza. However there was no other exciting flavors aside from the flavor from the grill. Karage [9/10] Tender and juicy with a crunchy exterior, came with a lemon which donated to the flavor. Would've hoped for more flavor in the crust Squid [9/10] Tender, fresh, buttery, flavorful. Squid was perfectly seasoned and flavorful, and would have appreciated if all of the dishes were as well executed as this dish. Tofu Skin [2/10] Texture was not for me which is a subjective qualifier. However, flavor was very bland and I would not have ordered this again. For the high price tag, we will probably not be back due to the lack-luster dishes. read more
9 months ago
Fantastic yakitori beer house restaurant located near UC Berkeley. I especially like the tsukune with egg yolk. The bacon mochi was also surprisingly good. Friendly staff. Great atmosphere and ambiance. read more
1 year ago
We loved this place! Excellent atmosphere and delicious food. It's a small-plates thing, so know you'll be purchasing quite a few items. Our favorites were the agedashi tofu, the braised pork belly, and the onigiri which was properly charred and crunchy. A good chunk of vegetarian/vegan options, and little to no dairy, so good for a variety of dietary needs. Staff was very kind--we got especially good tips from the friendly staff person who was dropping off our dishes. read more
1 year ago
I went to Ippuku with some friends after walking over from campus, and I was immediately enchanted by the "speakeasy" feel of the hole-in-the-wall restaurant tucked behind a curtain. Our group of five had a reservation, but due to the limited seating, we were asked to wait about 15 minutes to be seated. To kill time, some members of our party went ahead and started ordering drinks at the bar. We started off our order with the potato salad and chicken gyoza, followed in quick succession by: knee cartilage, thigh with leek, scallion pancake, minced chicken egg yolk, chicken skin, squid, bacon-wrapped asparagus, bacon-wrapped mochi, pork belly, and yaki onigiri. (Note that the knee cartilage is available in extremely limited quantities - we got the last order of the day.) We only ordered 1-2 plates of each dish for our table, and this turned out to be plenty of food for the group to share. Highlights for me were the potato salad - not at all what I was expecting but extremely creamy and delicious - and the satisfyingly crispy bacon-wrapped mochi. From an experience standpoint, the restaurant provides a very intimate setting with cozy seating and dim lighting. We were well taken care of during our visit, and we already discussed coming back for round 2. read more
2 years ago
Ippuku has some good food but it is definitely thriving due to its location because there's no way it would survive anywhere else. Unfortunately, it's doing so well that I doubt they'd fix the issues anything soon. First of all, it's SO hot in there - there's no AC or fans of any kind, which makes it so difficult to enjoy an izakaya. Second, because they're so busy, the staff are mean and never available. I do feel bad because they're clearly understaffed but I'm also a customer here to enjoy the dining experience yk? Once again, because they are so busy, the food comes out astronomically slowly. It took about 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes to get all of our food and we wanted to order more skewers after trying some but dreaded that wait time. The whole time, remember you're also sweating in the dimness. On to some pros, they finally have online reservations god bless. I used to spend my evenings calling them and hoping they'd pick up so I could place a reservation. They accept walk-ins but you'll be waiting a while - perhaps as much as it took to get our food lol. My menu highlights are the bacon mochi, chicken thigh, chicken oyster, and the scallion pancake. Mehs include the corn tempura and the squid. The definitely skip are the beef, the chicken patty stick, and the broth with rice ball. Ippuku you have good food especially for being in a collegetown but izakayas are about the experience and you give me nothing but stress!! read more
2 years ago
Came here with the kids (5 and 8) and while it wasn't our usual date night, it was still delicious food. Taking off one star for a extended lull between our order and an order of the chicken salad and one skewer od their $25 wagyu a5 steak which took over 35 minutes, which when you have kids, is an eternity. Luckily I had my iPad and a movie on, but other than that, the meal was delicious and good. The space is kid friendly and intimate. Kids loved the food and they also brought out mayo that didn't have any spice that looked like Mickey Mouse which was a cute and nice touch I appreciated and my 5 year old really loved. Thank you! read more
3 years ago
I've been a long-time Ippuku fan, and was very glad to return after so many years. Ippuku did not disappoint! Everything is as good as I remembered! | Food | Standouts tonight: - Nama-Yuba: fresh tofu skin with ankake (dashi sauce) and wasabi. I can never resist yuba when it's on the menu and this one was outstanding! It was so good I ordered an extra one to bring home for the hubby. - Chicken thigh oyster: Crunchy skin on the outside and juicy on the inside. Sooo good! - Omakase: While ala carte orders of skewers come in two skewers per order (except for tsukune/chicken meatball), an omakase order includes five skewers. It's both a great deal and offers good variety. Our omakase includes: chicken neck, negima (chicken thigh with leek), chicken heart, chicken thigh, chicken shoulder blade. I especially liked the chicken shoulder blade! | Service | We didn't have a reservation and arrived ~10 mins prior to opening this Friday evening in hopes to get a walk-in table. We lucked out and were first in line. A line quickly formed behind us and there were easily 10+ people behind us by the time doors opened at 5 pm. Doors opened right on the dot at 5 pm; we were welcomed into the restaurant and seated right away. Service throughout our meal was great! We felt both well cared for and given privacy to chat over dinner. read more
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a decent experience. Parking is available on the street and/or in parking garages nearby. The BART station is nearby. Made a reservation via Tock and our table was ready upon arrival. There is a $30 deposit per person along with a $2.25 procesing fee. The deposit was applied to the final bill. Our table was alloted a 2 hour window despite the restaurant being merely half full on a Sunday evening. Staff was cordial although there were some bizarre interactions. For example, omakase chicken yakitori wasn't available. Interestingly enough, merely a few items on the were "low in stock"... Halfway through the meal, our waitress informed us that the credit processing machine "was down" and that we would need to pay for the bill in cash?!? ...I wonder what other diners did if they didn't have enough cash on hand?!? Started off with the dungeness crab croquettes and they were excellent and world class. There was done of dungeness crab and the potatoes were super fluffy and fried to perfection. There was a nice bed of cabbage with sauce underneath too. The fried fish with tartar sauce was also excellent. Super fresh and light friend topped with super flavorful tartar sauce. The negi-yaki scallion pancake was decent, although a touch on the drier side and heavy on the sauce. The A5 wagyu ribeye cab skewer cooked rare was excellent. Marbling was excellent. Flavor was on point. Surprisingly, I found the chicken yakitori, the house special, probably the weakest with the chicken breast being very dry along with thigh with leeks...bummer. The restaurant was also a touch warm for a late summer evening. I did notice that perhaps they didn't have air conditioning as the windows were open... read more
Can't believe I have never written a review about this place. Whenever I am craving for yakitori, this place pops up in my head. Everything is so good here. Besides their chicken skewers, I also love their bacon wrapped mochi. Their whole grilled squid is also exceptional. It has the perfect balance of flavors and it's on my must order list whenever I visit. To complete the meal, my go-to items are their yaki onigiri, squid ink fried rice and chicken ramen. I definitely recommend reservations in advance. If you decide to walk-in, you need to arrive before the restaurant opens else you will find yourself waiting for a long time. This place has a cozy ambiance and reminds me of Japan. They also have attentive servers which gives you a great experience from beginning to end. read more
1 year ago
7 months ago
3 years ago
This is one of the few izakayas that hit the spot. All meats are fresh daily from jidori chicken and grilled with binko tan charcoal. There is a wide selection of different types of skewers, ranging from breast, thigh, gizzards and even liver. It is very delicious! There is three types of seating within ippuku (sans bar seating), and reservations need to have a card/ deposit before booking on Resy. Would reccomend array of the chicken skewers depending on your preference of organ and/ or meat and the squid. We ordered omelette and fritters and also the mountain yam (but the stars of the show were the chicken skewers) We also drank and I got the black sesame spirit which was very surprisingly good. My husband and I will comeback with a larger group. read more
3 years ago
I really wanted to like this place especially after so many friends recommended it to me, but I didn't think it was all there. My friend and I didn't make reservations so when we walked in we were told it would be an hour wait. This wasn't a problem, so we just walked around for a bit in the meantime. An hour passed and our table still wasn't ready, so we came back and decided to just start ordering at the bar. After we ordered and were waiting for the food, our table opened up so we got seated inside. The actual seating arrangement was really cool. I honestly never really noticed this spot when walking by, and was surprised to see that something like this existed in Berkeley. Our table was covered by a curtain, and we sat next to each other on the booth looking outwards. For food, we got the pork belly skewers, bacon wrapped mochi, and chicken omakase. The food arrived after a while, in the order it was ready rather than all together. Out of everything we had, I would say the bacon wrapped mochi was the only one that I thought was unique and good. The salty bacon complemented the slightly sweet and chewy mochi really well. The pork belly just tasted like normal pork belly with a little more char and was definitely not worth $12, while the chicken was also just average. It was cool that they give you all the different parts though. Service was also a little all over the place, which I would expect to be better at a place like this. Overall, this spot didn't really meet my expectations, but I'm glad I still gave it a try before leaving Berkeley. read more
8 months ago
I first came here for a date back in my undergrad Cal days, and was impressed by my date's choice. Years later, my boyfriend brought me here for our anniversary. They don't take reservations, and so we put ourselves on the waitlist. When I got the call that our seat was ready, and I told the hostess that we were on the way (we were a short walk away and hadn't strayed far), imagine my surprise when we got back to the restaurant, only to be told that the hostess told us she canceled our seats because she thought we weren't coming back. WTF? She told us the next table would be for us...which took about half an hour of just sitting around waiting. Even though I had ended our call with "We're on our way back," and the hostess said "Okay," I don't know what made her think we weren't coming back and had to wait on top of a really long waiting time. Once we did get seated, we sat in a cozy little booth. It was as nice as I had remembered it. Here's what we got: DRINKS: House-made Grapefruit Spritzer Mito no Karaikuen Umeshu EATS: Bacon Mochi Ikasumi Cha-han (squid ink fried rice) Ika Yaki (large hokkaido squid) Shiso-Maki (chicken breast rolled with shiso and plum) Omakase Gushi (chicken omakase) Everything was absolutely delicious! Even shared between us, we got hella stuffed. Even with the annoying wait, it was worth it. Definitely want to come back here with a group of friends. read more
8 months ago
This is my go to spot every time I am in Berkeley. The atmosphere is authentic and very well done. It is inviting, clean, plenty of seating and even a bar top. Service has always been great and the food is phenomenal. Anything from pork belly skewers to bacon wrapped mochi, to green onion pancakes and a great beer and sake selection. Never had a bad meal here! read more
3 years ago
Came here for Father's Day with a party of 7. Some tips: make your reservation early! Most of the parties being seated had a reservation. Also, try to make your reservation early in the evening. We had a 7PM reservation, but many of the items were already sold out by the time we ordered (including the chicken skin that we really wanted to try!). Favorites: Chicken Kaarage Pork belly (skewer) Neck (skewer) Bacon-wrapped mochi (skewer) Gizzard (skewer) Would pass: Chicken porridge (didn't stand out. We wanted a hot, more carb-y dish and we were choosing between this and the squid ink fried rice. I'd probably go for that next time instead!) Scallion pancake (wish it had more ingredients!) read more
2 years ago
5 star food & menu selection. The simple but intricate combos are worth exploring. Hostess was great! Veg options as delicious as meat Drink menu was on point. So much more to try. Minus a point for service. May have been understaffed. Server didn't have knowledge of dishes. Owners, your restaurant is so good. Maybe explain dish components beyond "cucumber read more
2 years ago
Wow! That is about all I can say. This little nondescript gem is something right out of Japan. As soon as we walked in through the hanging noren curtain we were hit with the reality that this was not your typical sit down restaurant. The hanging bottles above the bar, floating tables that hovered over guests offering intimate settings for 2, and the horigotatsu style private booths for larger groups all bring you to a place that is so not Berkeley. We got there towards the end of the evening so a lot of the dishes we wanted to try were sold out as we ordered, but honestly that was a great sign because we knew whatever we did end up getting would be amazing. Every dish we got was more delicious than the next but honestly my favorite was the very simple Zosui, a porridge of rice and chicken that took me straight to my childhood filled with warm comfort foods. The service was impeccable and they made sure we were taken care of even though we were the last ones to leave for the night. Thank you Ippuku and the entire team for creating a beautiful space and equally amazing dishes! read more
1 year ago
I've come here a couple times and Ippuku never disappoints! I love the izakaya concept and the small plates offered - you can order as much or as little as you want depending on how hungry you are. There is usually a wait so I would recommend making a reservation or coming early to get a table. I've sat in the normal booths and in the ones where you have to take off your shoes and enjoyed sitting at both. All the food is really good; a couple of my favorites: omakase chicken skewers, bacon wrapped mochi, pork belly (thick cut one). The service is relatively quick and the plates keep coming as they are made, which is nice. Depending how much you order, the bill can be high but I think it's worth it. Highly recommend checking this place out if you want delicious Japanese small plates! read more
1 year ago
Dimly lit, romatic/intimate spot for some bites and drinks. Skewers were all well seasoned and charred to perfection. I also got a chicken udon to have some hot food to go with the skewers. We got a grapefruit and lemon Chu-Hi which was refreshing! read more
3 years ago
I love the place. It's so authentic, and the food is SO good. Quite pricey though. You can easily rack up quite a bill. Our waiter recommended that we order 3-5 dishes per person. We each ordered four dishes, and we were SO full I ended up taking a dish to-go. When you are seated they bring you a warm towels and a plate with raw cabbage and some mayonnaise dipping sauce. There are so many yakitori options, mostly chicken dishes. I ordered the chicken thigh and it was so smoky and delicious. I also ordered the king trumpet mushroom, also so good. We got the agedashi tofu, and it was amazing. Ippuku salada: so light and refreshing. The dressing went perfectly with the seasonal greens. My absolute favorite dish though is the onigiri. It is PERFECT. There is no filling, but the rice is so flavorful with a sweet taste, and the outside is gloriously crunchy. Just writing about it makes me want one so badly! The restaurant does take reservations, but they get snatched up quickly. They take walk-ins, and the line gets pretty long. We weren't able to get a reservation so we went to wait for the restaurant to open. On Saturday night, we started waiting around 4:40 and we were first in line, so we were seated immediately once the restaurant opened--yay! read more
1 year ago
This is my favorite restaurant. I literally do a happy dance in my seat every time I begin eating here. I don't do this other places, just Ippuku. Ippuku does yakitori right - they use an authentic grill with binchotan charcoal. They source delicious chicken and infuse their yakitori with the smell and taste of the Japanese charcoal. It's so overwhelmingly delicious. My favorite is negima (chicken thigh with green onions) but the mochi wrapped in bacon is a close second. In addition to the yakitori, their other dishes are incredible. I'm obsessed with their starter of cabbage and mayonnaise/miso. So much so that sometimes I now make this into a lunch for myself at home. My absolute favorite dish is their tempura - they will use maitake mushrooms or fiddlehead ferns and coat them in a light and airy batter and give you matcha salt. That matcha salt is gold and I hoard it every time to use with all the other items I order. Their karaage is perfection as well. I love so many of their dishes it's hard to name each one. These are dishes that make me feel like I'm back in Japan. They are flavorful, light, and also beautiful to look at. They also serve their food on beautiful plates and vessels. In addition to the food, the atmosphere is lovely. The restaurant features reused wood throughout their interior, which gives the place such a unique, warm vibe. Some tables are booths and some feature sunken floors for larger groups. All (I think!) have kotatsu heaters underneath to keep you warm on chillier days. I LOVE kotatsus so this is such a nice feature. Also, a random note, the bathrooms are super stylish with beautiful painted tiles showing Japanese folklore stories featuring frogs, foxes, and other traditional Japanese characters. I want to live at this restaurant if I could - eating yakitori all day and enjoying the warm, yet introspective interior. Go to this restaurant if you haven't. It's such a gem of a place. I'm so happy I live in a world where Ippuku exists. read more
WHEN: Wednesday, 5/17/23 PARKING: paid street parking available Talk about an experience. Ippuku specializes in izakaya style Japanese food with grilled meats and a variety of small plate options. The restaurant is sandwiched by stores with big signs and gives off a mysterious hidden vibe to it. I've been told the wait is extremely long so they recommend making a reservation. We made a reservation the day of for counter seats and the experience of sitting right in front of the people making the yakitori and playing everything 100% made the experience better. What we ordered: 1. Chef's Choice Omakase ($20) -- for $20 you get 5 different kinds of chicken meat skewers. We received the breast with leek, breast, tail, thigh with leek, and neck. The meat is grilled to perfection; each skewer was medium rare in the middle and juicy and tender 2. Fiddlehead Tempura ($10) -- root like vegetable with a very unique taste; slightly slimy like okra; wont order it again 3. Beef tongue ($16) -- tender and delicious, but would skip next time 4. Minced chicken with egg yolk ($10) -- looks like a corn dog and comes with a pasteurized egg yolk you dip the chicken into 5. Chicken liver ($10) -- extremely melt in your mouth, so good 6. Mochi wrapped in nori ($10) -- grilled mochi was delicious; big fan of savory mochi The service was amazing and the interior transports you to Japan. Such a good place but be careful the price is not cheap at all. Savor the skewers and take it all in. read more
Came here on a Sunday and waited 40 minutes to get seated, not bad! We ordered korokke (crab croquette), dashi maki, bekon mochi, negiyaki, ika sumi (squid ink rice), and buta bara (pork belly). Food came out faster than expected and we were able to enjoy each dish individually as they were served one by one. My favorite was the crab croquette. The outside was so crispy and warm, while the inside was creamy and flavorful. Portions are small so be careful as the bill will add up quickly, but overall a great experience and I would come again! read more
2 years ago
When you go somewhere 4 times typically you expect at least one of those times to be let down by the food. This is not the case with Ippuku. The consistency of great food and service with reasonable prices has kept me coming back. I look forward to more meals under the traditional Japanese booths with warm ambiance for intimate moments between friends. I get the omakase everytime I go then order around it with delightful appetizers, but what is surprising is that their sashimi quality is very good as well as their chicken. I truly think this is a restaurant that has good food for almost everyone. read more
This was really good! I've yet to find anything that rivals the izakaya stalls in Tokyo but this is close. We started with the kinpira rennkan and the rafute (pork belly in bkack sugar sauce). OMG! Both were so good. Then the rest was a feast of great yakitori! Chicken Breast Cartilage, Hearts, thigh. Then on to beef tongue, bacon wrapped mochi, maitaki tempura, and shishito and I'm sure more but can't remember. I really wanted the knee cartilege but it is such a favorite they sell out in the first hour of opening. We had the paloma cocktail and it was very good. Granted the run was too salty. The service was prompt but our server was so quick she often left before we could get another order in. She was a bit dodgy... read more
Managed to get a seat here easily one evening. I don't know if that's often the case. What you have here is a pretty classic Izakaya that could be tucked away in Kyoto somewhere. Small and cozy there's chicken and drinks for days as you kinda order through the menu. It seems like it does get a little confused as to who is waiting on your table and how to get service (least from my n=1 experience) but people are friendly and things will happen, might take a little time. That said, it's Berkeley...so maybe I should chill a little because I know I'll be back here. read more
In downtown Berkeley for izakaya. We arrived before opening on a Friday night by only 10 minutes and were the first in line. We got a table right away without a reservation. We were seated in a rather private booth like all the tables there which I like. The おまかせ串 (omikase gushi) where chef chooses 5 is a good place to start and then add more stuff. All of the dishes were really good and what I'd like expect from an izakaya. Do want to say our waitress was awesome and had checked on us at every turn. Maybe it helped we were at the end by the computer but still awesome service. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
More info about Ippuku
2130 Center St
Ste 101
Berkeley, CA 94704
Downtown Berkeley
Directions
(510) 655-1969
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Visit Website
http://ippukuberkeley.com
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Ask the Community - Ippuku
What are the gluten free options? Curious if I can bring my friend who has celiac.
What is the parking situation around this place? Easy to park? Is there a lot or all by luck street parking?
Street parking in the evening is possible within few blocks south of Center. There are also parking lots near by such as Allston Way, Center street Etc. You can see them on Google map. BART station is super close.
Do they serve Bonjiri?
Yes. It is on their menu, yakitori of all parts of a whole chicken.
Is a reservation a must on a Fri/Sat night?
It would help. It is crowded and we did not have reservations and had to wait about 40 minutes.
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Ippuku - bars - Updated May 2026
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