This place has been on my list for a while, and it totally lived up to the hype. Just make sure to make a reservation ahead as they are filled up quickly especially during peak dinner hours. Everything we ordered was delicious. My favorite dish was the kakiage tempura with tiger prawns - crispy, light, and packed with flavor without feeling heavy. The sashimi was fresh and the ramen was also surprisingly good with a rich broth. The food is definitely on the pricier side, but the quality and execution made it feel worthwhile. There's easy parking in the lot behind the restaurant, which made the whole experience much more convenient. Can't wait for my next visit. read more

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Came here for dinner, loved the kakiage - it's a must to add shrimp imo, the thick juicy bites of shrimp are great and make the dish stand out. We ordered the mentaiko pasta, miso black cod and a paper crane to drink. The pasta was great, and had a little spicy kick to it, and the miso black cod was so good!! Very umami flavor with the mushrooms. Delicious cocktail as well. Overall really impressed with the meal- and we had a really attentive waiter- he made sure we were taken care of and refilled our waters pretty often. Will definitely be back to try rolls and the ramen! read more

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Started with a drink and the iyasare kakiage tempura which has burdock root, onion, sweet potato, shiitake, enoki, carrot, shungiku, and bonito soy dipping sauce. Highly recommend the iyasare kakiage tempura, wish it had some less sweet potatoes and more of the other ingredients, but overall it was savory and very sweet from the sweet potatoes. I enjoyed the kara-age curry rice which is a japanese style fried chicken thighs in a tokyo style curry sauce, a small salad, and koshihikari rice. They gave sooooo much kara-age chicken and it was quite filling. Good dish to share with others. Lastly, we had to try the iyasare mentaiko pasta which is a spicy cod ros, spaghetti, ikura, shiso, and kaiware. It's quite heavy and creamy, but definitely worth trying if you like the ingredients! read more

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My family and I were walking on Fourth St. looking for somewhere to go for lunch when we stumbled upon Iyasare. The first thing we noticed was the lovely decor. The next thing we noticed was the excellent service. We never wanted for anything for very long. We were a bit surprised that a bento box "special" was $48. Actually, everything was very expensive. But when I must admit they everything tasted really good. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. On a side note, I also really enjoyed the exfoliating hand soap in the bathroom. I will likely only visit this restaurant for special occasions or when we feel like splurging on really good Japanese food. read more

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Saw this on the Michelin Guide so wanted to give it a try. On the edge of Berkeley, the location and ambience makes it a nice spot for a date. The food itself was solid, with the best dishes being the Chef's Recommended tuna tartare and branzino. The rolls were fine, nothing out of the ordinary. While the dishes were enjoyable, the price was on the more expensive side. For the quality of the food ultimately it's difficult to say that it's entirely worth it. For a dinner for two, you're looking northward of $150 and while that's fairly common in the Bay, you can find better restaurants at that price point. read more

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I had a lovely dinner here! Bacon mochi - signature dish, worth a try. It's pretty salty, but the texture of the mochi is so good Sake ikura don - loved this. Came with plenty of rice and the fish had really good texture. Nice portion of seaweed salads too Branzino - a special when I went. A classic grilled branzino, nice smoky flavor but quite small and probably wouldn't order again. read more

Iyasare - Sake & Ikura Don - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Iyasare is a perfect dinner spot that truly doesn't disappoint. The interior and outdoor seating are beautiful, and the staff is incredibly helpful. Our server, Andy, was super attentive and gave some excellent recommendations that we all loved. Some of the highlights were the Kakiage tempura with shrimp, agedashi tofu, mentaiko pasta, and karubi. The kakiage tempura was incredibly creative: the mix of vegetables and shrimp was crispy, complemented by the broth and a variety of powders, making every bite different and enjoyable. The broth of the agedashi tofu was so savory and delicious that I could drink it on its own. The flavor perfectly complements the silkiness of the tofu. The mentaiko pasta was creamy with a nice spiciness, and the roe provided great pops of umami. The karubi had a great charred smokiness and was extremely tender, easily the most tender short rib I've ever eaten. While not mentioned individually, everything else we had was also excellent. They also serve one of the best cheesecakes I've ever had. Iyasare is a place I would recommend to many. Its beautiful ambiance, great location, and thoughtfully prepared food make it a spot I would gladly come back to again and again. read more

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More of a 3.5 but food was great and service was good issue is with the price while the pressure of 1.5 hours for our table. Background So our appt was 12pm but parking was hard for half our party who didnt make it til 12:15-20. The waitress was initially attentive and got our drinks , but didnt get our order til about 12:35-40. Mind you the management came (repeatedly) to tell us our table was only til 1:30pm . Which is fine although would be nice if they said so in the rsvp. One of our food didnt not come til 1:15pm. Which btw was the okonomiyaki and unfortunately the bacon/pork was burnt I think they forgot or left it too long. Drinks were great. 9/10 The shiso smash and Collins were great not too sweet and very refreshing. Food was great. Highly recommend the iyaser kakiage tempura - 10/10 we added shrimp +$9. Chirashi Don was great too 10/10 - sashimi was very melt in your mouth fresh. My friends enjoyed the yaki soba and duck ramen both very rich and lots of umami. 8.5/10 Vegetable curry rice was good. 8/10 Okonomiyaki 7/10- good flavor but was burnt Nice elegant furnishings with a tranquil outdoor area. Pretty pricy considering they push yout out the door after 1.5 hours ~$470 (2 appetizers, 5 drinks, 5 entree, 3 miso soup). read more

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A relatively pricey but excellent Japanese restaurant. The dishes look refined and taste like fine dining, and the fish is very fresh. This is easily one of the top three Japanese restaurants we've found in the Berkeley area. read more

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We had a light and enjoyable weekday lunch for three. The dining room wasn't too loud (as it is when this place is full); we were able to hear our conversation. Drinks to start, then we shared the Gindara (wild black cod w/umami-mushroom broth), Ohitashi (spinach, edamame, asst. veg w/sweet sesame miso dressing) and Nasu-Miso (miso-glazed eggplant w/cauliflower puree). Each choice was delicious; I appreciated the veggie knife work in the Ohitashi, and the cod melted in your mouth. We debated whether the gindara was better than Sushi Ran's miso cod (alas, Iyasare's was a very close 2nd!). We finished with the tiramisu w/berry compote (w/dusting of matcha on top). Everything was excellent: the food, our server, the ambience. We were asked if we wanted the dishes brought sequentially or together, serving utensils brought for sharing, the bill was split (3 different cards) smoothly and efficiently. Domo arigato Iyasare. read more

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Yes! Beautiful, fresh, thoughtful Japanese food! Highly recommend the tempura which was different than any tempura I've had before and want to have again soon! Sushi rolls were classic done with flair and care. Nigiri melts in your mouth. Great date night or with friends! They allow dogs on their patio!! read more

Iyasare - Lovely drinks that were sparkling - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food: 4.5/5 everything was super delicious and fresh. Plus the portions were HUGE. Only downside was the rice in the Don was a little bit bland. Service: 5/5 all staff were very welcoming and attentive the entire time we dined Ambiance: 5/5 we are in the outdoor, hooded patio, and it was so nice! The trees above had nice lighting and the decor in the restaurant was very modern and chic. read more

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The sashimi was just so so, the star of the show was the kakiage tempura. Make sure you get it with the tiger prawns. Ryan, our bartender, was a delight! His drinks were creative and delicious, strong and reasonably priced for the neighborhood. I'll come back again to try other dishes, but the boss should give Ryan a raise. His customer service is top notch! read more

Iyasare - Five piece mixed sashimi $25 - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Had some great dishes with super fresh ingredients. They were a Michelin rated restaurant back in 2018. Cons: a miss on the grilled octopus as it had a really strong liquid smoke taste and the mango purer just didn't work well with the other flavors. Made a rsvp, however needed to wait at the check in stand for 15 min in the cold before anyone showed up. Then another 10 min before our table was ready. They sat us by the door -- so it was super freezing. Cramped seating. Would have expected a bit more attention to detail to match their pricing. read more

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Awesome meal on their patio on a Tuesday night. Great service, great food and drink, beautiful atmosphere! Will be back to order exactly the same meal again: Bacon Mochi, yaki soba, short ribs. read more

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Artfully and minimalistic design, friendly staff, fresh and delicious food. Came for lunch on a Thursday and it was pretty busy, but it appeared they were still taking walk-ins. It wasn't very noisy even with the lunch rush. Everything we had was delicious. I highly recommend the kakaige tempura WITH the black tiger shrimp. The salad was also crisp and refreshing. The staff were also very friendly and gave good recommendations. We shared everything, even the ramen (not pictured) and they even brought little bowls for us to share it. Great way to try multiple dishes! read more

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I highly recommend you have a reservation. This place is extremely popular. We grabbed a reservation a few days in advance and even then it was for outside. Luckily it didn't rain, but it was cold. They did have outdoor heaters that did help a little bit. They offer a good variety of sushi, my sushi was fresh, especially the salmon. It was topped with lemon which added a nice flavor. You have to try the bacon mochi. This was my first time, it was mochi wrapped in bacon served in seaweed, YUM!!!! This place is on the pricer side, so it won't be an everyday place for me, but I will be back!!! Our wait staff was friendly and came by a few times to check up on us. We were able to find street parking, but it was mid-day on weekday, so might be harder during prime time, especially on the weekend. read more

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Sadly, the food is very mid. We ordered the nigiri selection excited to try some really delicious fish. The uni was definitely fresh and delicious, but the rest were just forgettable. We also got the duck ramen. It said it had matsutake mushroom in it and we're big mushroom people so we were excited, but it ended up being maitake mushroom and was very salty overall. The service was great though. The staff is awesome and they were able to seat us quickly/were very attentive the whole time. The restaurant is also really beautiful and vibey. read more

After more than a decade of visits, Iyasare still feels like a hidden gem that never loses its charm.The food is always fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and beautifully presented. I especially love their okonomiyaki.On a nice day, it's the perfect spot to relax, enjoy a peaceful lunch by the patio.The staff are always kind and attentive. read more

Iyasare - After All Spritz - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Highly recommend this place if you're in the area or planning to travel to the area By far, one of the most yummiest food places in the Bay. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable The place is beautifully decorated with a modern twist. The ambience is phenomenal. read more

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I showed up with a very last-minute reservation on an extremely cold day last week and was lucky enough to be seated indoors. Even though it was a very busy New Year's Eve, the staff were incredibly helpful and prompt--from the host to our servers. Everyone was attentive and welcoming throughout the night. The food quality was excellent. We ordered the chirashi don, which came in a generously sized bowl, and added uni. I finished all the fish but couldn't quite get through all the rice. For small plates, we tried the mochi bacon, and for another main dish, we ordered the Wagyu steak with trumpet mushrooms and kimchi. Everything was very well prepared. While the space was a bit tight, the noise level was still manageable, even with how busy it was. read more

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Celebrating a special milestone, we went to Iyasare without a reservation ~ we arrived at 5:00p during a weeknight around opening and grabbed an outdoor seat on such a beautiful evening. The vibes were high ~ the exterior had a beautiful scent and loved how tranquil and serene I felt while ordering a spicy marg (delicious!) I noticed there's a beautiful sake menu, wine, Japanese craft beers (and local brews), and mocktails. After seeing an episode of Check, Please! Bay Area on this spot, we had to order the widely popular and signature starter dish, Iyasare kakiage tempura with the black tiger shrimp (lotsa yummy things in here including sweet potato, shiitake, onion, and more). See pics for visual! The texture, flavors, and the bonito soy broth for dipping is quite delicious..I could eat this and be good-to-go, but we wanted to try a few more things from the menu. The dishes are very shareable, so we tried the Chashu miso ramen and the Kara-age Curry Don. The ramen broth was so comforting, same with the curry. I enjoyed the chicken being more nugget-like than strips, made for a fun plate. Such great portion sizes ~ we were on a special outing so we were prepared to pay a bit more for the experience and value. Would love to come back for a date night and try a few sushi rolls, the Bacon Mochi, Little Gem Miso Caesar, and sip Japanese whiskey. Service was great and understanding to baby needs, and metered parking available/lots around 4th street available although usually have to do a few laps unless you get lucky! read more

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Incredible food, so flavorful! Shared a deluxe bento box and sushi roll amongst the two of us. So glad we left room for dessert- the coconut matcha cheesecake was divine. Outdoor seating ambiance was perfect and service was friendly. Overall, 5+ stars! read more

Iyasare - Coconut matcha cheesecake - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

My first time at this delicious Japanese restaurant. The cocktails, rolls, nigiri, and tempura were incredible. The service was warm and polished. Prices were reasonable considering the quality of the food. read more

Iyasare - Salad - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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i ordered the chirashi don! the fish quality here is really good. -1 star though because the sushi rice seemed overcooked and was clumpy, so i did not finish the rice. we also had the cheesecake for dessert which was also good! read more

Iyasare - chirashi don - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Stopped by for lunch on a Sunday. We had made prior reservation, expect some wait if you come in during peak hours. Food was pretty good, the katsu curry was my favorite. The vegetable tempura was crispy and delicious. We sat outside and enjoyed the afternoon sun in the patio. The deluxe bento box came with california roll, three sashimi and salmon. Definitely generous portion size. The staff were friendly and service was great. Would come again to try something else. read more

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First time trying Iyasare and perhaps I picked the wrong thing from the menu. We sat at the counter, which was very nice. Very friendly and good service. Attractive place. And busy at lunch but the ramen I got was just not very good. I eat a lot of ramen and this was not up with the best. Very bland, lacking in flavor . I got the one with minced chicken and it seemed to have no seasoning. Broth was bland. Husband got the vegetarian ramen and he liked it ok . And for over $20 you have to pay extra for an egg. I wasn't impressed. read more

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Hands down one of my top favorite restaurants in the Bay Area. I have been here maybe 3 times and I'm still dreaming about it! Their Iyasare kakiage tempura is an absolute must as is their poppo yaki! Their poppo yaki is so unique that some of the squid is grilled and the other is fried. Their chirashi don is also my go to. There isn't anything on that menu that I do not like. The service is always top notch and their tea is delicious! Love their atmosphere as well, great to go on a date or with friends! read more

Came for lunch on the weekend and got seated right away. It's a nice Japanese restaurant in the shopping area. I got the salmon don bowl which came with fresh pieces of fish on top rice and some side toppings. The fish was pretty fresh and good but everything was so plain. It would have probably been better with some sauce or different types of toppings to give it some more flavor read more

Iyasare - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Solid tasting food, good service, though quite pricey Chasuhu miso ramen broth was complex, tasty, well seasoned. Good amount of cha shu pork slices. Good portion of chewy noodles. Though unsurprising in these times, egg is not included and is an add-on for $4.50 (lol). $28 is steep (when we just got ramen in Japan for $7 and no tipping) but it's tasty. Miso cod is a nice portion. Tasty. But doesn't come with rice (meh), so added as a side. $40 Server Kat was friendly, attentive, and helpful for our extra requests for our toddler. 5 stars for her. read more

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they use canola oil in the fryer, they use Kewpie mayo with soy oil. We had a res & our table was inside & immediately ready no wait. It's a small space inside. Outside is a nice patio (when the loud train isn't passing by). We had Kakiage Tempura w shrimp $34 - it's fried, it's good, decent portion Okonomiyaki pancake - $29 49er roll - $22 geisha roll - $25 cheesecake - 14 everything was good but for the price I would hope for orgasmic. The sushi rolls were nothing special. Just average. Cheesecake was nice & light, but the chopped canned madarin pieces in syrup on it were not my ideal. I might go back at some point to try the salads & yakimono. read more

Iyasare/癒され (heal) is a Japanese spot on Berkeley's 4th and Hearst. Location part over. Funny story. Around 4 months ago, my original plan was to go to Okkon because word on the street is that a family in Oakland makes a good okonomiyaki. Unfortunately, I did learn that there is no physical restaurant. So, instead of feeling defeated and deciding to go home, I pivoted to Iyasare for the okonomiyaki because I remembered that Iyasare Bar is the name of Wakamoto Norio-san's old site, which brought me over to the Berkeley spot. (I kid you not people.) I also got both desserts. The place just gave me good vibes. I like how a staff member saw me wearing a Valkyries hat, and she was hyped for the season. Lisa was my server, and just when I remembered how I was in Berkeley to have Peet's coffee, she also reminded me that Teance is a Berkeley company. No komugicha (Teance doesn't have a komugicha), but there is the local chrysanthemum tea for those that don't want caffeine. Besides, I was okay with having houjicha early in the afternoon anyway, and it is Lisa's favorite tea, which should tell you people not from the Bay or even a place like L.A. that the teas from Teance are good. So, is the place fancy? Well, yes, but the food is good though. True, you have sushi, but I wanted the okonomiyaki. Kind of a bummer that they don't have modanyaki, but having Tokyo/Ginza okonomiyaki or an okonomiyaki for that matter as opposed to the Osaka/Kansai style makes up for the scenario. It may be the worst okonomiyaki I ever had, and normally, you'll instantly think that you should never get their okonomiyaki, but in this case, it means it actually is good. Just not Honolulu good. (Yes, I tell people that Honolulu and all of Hawaii make the way better Japanese food.) Iyasare just had bad luck of seeing me eat enough okonomiyaki, and if I had to give a reason why theirs is at the bottom, the best way to explain would be that the places I've been to just, to use a video game explanation here, have been the okonomiyaki spot versions of Koshiro Yuuzou-san. In other words, they are very good, and a place has to wonder how it can be as good at the process as Koshiro-san making music. The flaw. You know how when you ask most commonly here your Filipino or Mexican friend where is the best Filipino or Mexican food place at, and they tell you instantly the words of "My mom's!" now? Iyasare is not immune to the scenario. If you ask your Japanese friend where is the best Japanese food place at in the Bay Area, the person will say "My mom's!" at the drop of a hat, not Iyasare. While the place is bold for trying to put twists on classic Japanese food and brilliant for having Berkeley and Bay Area drinks, the place makes me wish it also carries Itou En mugicha should I decide to come here late and more importantly, not deriving away from traditions too much. I know that I gave E-40's lumpia spot Lumpia Company a perfect score, but even though Iyasare has the same idea, the reason why I can't give the place a perfect score is because placing too many twists in Japanese food can ruin the experience. Iyasare does have boldness. While it is good on certain fronts like being bold, it does falter in others like being too ambitious. Check the reviews and images yourself to see if the place tickles your fancy. +/Iyasare's incredible and bold for great service and trying tasks not common in Japanese spots. -/The place is too ambitious at trying new tasks and flavors. read more

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A good-enough (but definitely somewhat disappointing, given its reputation) meal that I overheard someone describing as "Japanese food for white people." I'd describe it more as a buffet restaurant with better ingredients, and there's too much variety - ramen, sushi, sashimi, salads - to really stick the landing. Everything is fresh, but there's little soul to the meal. The best way to highlight what felt frustrating is the Ocean Umami dish. It's high-end ingredients, uni on top of scallops, with salmon roe and a shiso leaf. But that shiso leaf overpowers everything. The uni is delicious on its own, but I could barely taste it. The roe is great, but it falls off the plate. And the scallops are fresh - even though it's the full scallop... not everyone's a fan. And to top it off, the restaurant is aware that most people come in groups of two or four. So why are there three pieces? Why not two, or four? read more

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Incredible! Make a reservation as Iyasare is always booked out-- and for good reason. Their sashimi dons are generous in portion and incredibly fresh and flavorful. I also recommend the miso eggplant which was savory and delicious. read more

Iyasare - yellowtail don - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Went with my son and family to treat him for father's day meal. The place was amazing food was spectacular and I love the hostess's and servers. The place was quaint and had outdoor seating. Really fun place to go. When in the bay area Iyasare will be my go to for Japanese. read more

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A Japanese restaurant with vibrant and variety menu items from ramen, sushi, sashimi, to Japanese salads, and veggie options. Food is fresh and delicious. Location is great for hangouts and shopping. Service might be a bit slow but responsive. Indoor and outdoor patio seating. Good for kids, seniors, meetup and couples. There are free parking and paid street parking available but still may be difficult depending on timing. read more

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Always love this place. Missing Shilla as a waitress but will survive. Expensive, my favorite sashimi salad went from $23 to over $30+. However, it is always worth it. Try the fabulous tempura with shrimp that everyone orders. read more

Third time at Iyasare. Had a reservation for outside on a Sunday evening. We were seated promptly and ordered some drinks. They had some outdoor heating for the patio but it was still a bit cold. We chose the shrimp tempura, the sake don and the unagi don. The shrimp tempura was excellent as always. Probably my favorite dish here. The sake and unagi don were also delicious, great ingredients with nice toppings, good rice and some greens. As desert we good the chocolate mousse which comes inside some pastry dough. That was the only dish that was a little disappointing. Just not a lot of flavor and the pastry dough was pretty dry. Overall still a great meal, due to the desert and the high price I can't give it five stars though. Our server was friendly and attentive and was able to answer all of our questions regarding the menu. read more

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Iyasare was one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Berkeley. Sure, it was a bit pricier than other places, but there were reasons for the higher cost -- the food quality and the meticulous service. Unfortunately, my latest visit resulted in a dish that had overcooked, fatty meat in what was supposed to be an elevated version of gyu-don -- and the rest of the dish was so bland that soy sauce couldn't save it. The second failed dish was their mentaiko pasta, which contained a tiny appetizer portion for the same price as an entree. The dish cost almost 30 dollars, but contained about a dollar's worth of pasta drowning in sauce. I understand that this is an elevated dish, which, by the way, was very delicious. My question for the chef is -- why skimp on the pasta when it's one of the least expensive ingredients? As we move through these challenging times, my suggestion for the owner of Iyasare is not to skimp on pasta and rice -- two of the lowest-priced ingredients a restaurant can profit from. If this is the future of eating out, my advanced cooking skills will come in handy. BB read more

We have been coming here for years so this review is long overdue. Their food is consistently great and service is wonderful. Between my husband and I, we always order the kakiage tempura with shrimp and sashimi salad, plus another entree to share depending on what we feel like eating. If there are more people in our group we will also add a bacon mochi. When I order the ramen I ask for the soup extra hot. The sushi is solid but not exceptional if you are used to eating sushi at places that specialize in sushi. read more

Iyasare - Branzino - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California