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Iyasare

4.0 (984 reviews)
PriceyJapanese, Bars
Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Updated 2 months ago

Iyasare Photos

IYASARE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Iyasare

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Reviews With Photos

Hanabi
Nihar P.

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.

Nasu-miso
Jianming L.

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.

Kakiage Tempura
Elaine R.

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).

After All Spritz
New W.

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.

Unagi Don
Timmy P.

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.

Lovely drinks that were sparkling
Deanna D.

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!!

Yaki Soba
Tricia M.

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.

Andrea B.

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.

Alex A.

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.

Coconut matcha cheesecake
Patricia F.

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!

Iyasare Kakiage Tempura with black tiger shrimp
Amanda S.

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!

Mochi Bacon
Huong T.

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.

Nicole M.

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.

Charshu Miso Ramen

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Iyasare Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Iyasare

Does this spot actually close at 8 pm on Thursdays? I tried calling and no one picked up-- they don't have a voicemail set up.

If we make a 7pm reservation for Sunday, will we be kicked out at 7:30 when the restaurant "closes"?

Nope

Hi can we walk in tuesday and the phone is no one picm up?

Possibly depending on what you're willing to do. Heated patio is usually the first to go. There has always been bar and communal tables if everything else is gone.

How much is their omakase?

The omakase is $75 for 12 pieces of nigiri! What a great deal!

Are there any gluten-free options?

Yes, check with your server. One of our party is gluten free and she was advised by the server as to what was available.

View All 8 Questions

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We were in the neighborhood, hungry, and knew the area lacked abundant food offerings. We had seen…read morethe cute little Dojo Dog food truck (well, food trailer) before -- and this time gave it a try. Glad we did! Rebecca was running the truck with her husband, and they were warm, friendly, and hard-working. That same care reflected in the food. Comforting flavors, big portions, and just what we needed. ---- Food ---- The hot dogs here are big, delicious, and fantastic value for the price. Wushu Dog: Loved this one. Inventive and delicious. Great texture, topped with pork sung and crispy cabbage, plus katsu sauce and Japanese mayo. Savory, crunchy, and satisfying. Sumo Dog: Japanese curry beef chili with cheese and fresh scallions. Hearty, comforting, and perfect for that chilly evening. Fried Foods: We didn't try, any but they serve fries and potstickers too. The fries seemed to be a crowd favorite at Great Notion Brewery next door (which is partnered with Dojo Dog). Definitely getting them next time. Rebecca told me she enjoys experimenting with new dishes, and the creativity shows. Looking forward to trying more! ---- Drinks ---- We didn't but drinks as we were enjoying beer at Great Notion, but Dojo Dog also offer drinks like milk tea. ---- Bonus ---- As I mentioned, they partner with Great Notion, one of our FAVORITE bars in the Bay with the best smoothie beers and stouts. You can bring your Dojo Dog inside and pair it with their awesome beers. Inventive hot dogs + beer = awesome evening ---- Vibe ---- Cute little food truck, family-run charm, friendly service, and an endearing hole-in-the-wall feel. The whole setup feels local and community-driven. In fact, it was originally created by Berkeley students. Very cool. ---- Overall ---- Amazing hot dogs, great beer next door, friendly owners, inventive sides, and a fun, low-key vibe. It will hit the spot every time. Can't wait to come back and try more from their menu!

This little truck has delicious, unique and huge hot dogs! I got the spicy sriracha dog which came…read morewith seared cabbage, spicy aioli, sriracha and pork floss. It was a massive hot dog packed with flavor and for the area, a very good price. Also very friendly staff!

Asaka Sushi & Bar - Hamachi Capaccio

Asaka Sushi & Bar

(193 reviews)

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Berkeley Hills

I stopped by here for a quick bite as I'm heading to the city. The parking was a little bit of a…read morehassle, but that was to be expected. The restaurant itself was very cute & cozy. Our waitress was quick & greeted us with a smile & brought waters. The menu had a lot of options to choose from, so it wasn't hard for us to find something we wanted to try. We decided on the tempura mix, Mango Crunchy Roll, & the Hopkins roll. The tempura was good, just wish we ordered it a little bit more crispy. When it came to the rolls, both were amazing! They were huge & definitely got us full pretty quick. Our waitress made sure to check in on us during our visit & kept our waters filled. For dessert, we got the mochi ice cream. You can never go wrong with mochi ice cream as dessert(; overall, we had a great meal! The service was nice, restaurant was clean, & food was great. I'll definitely stop by if I'm ever in the area again.

Incredibly mediocre Japanese food. My husband and I both got bentos and a sushi roll. In my…read morehusband's bento, he got beef teriyaki, which came basically raw in the middle. We asked our server if that was normal, and she just flippantly told us that was how it was supposed to be. Luckily, there was no food poisoning afterwards, but the taste was definitely not as expected - think raw, slightly seared on the outside beef slices. My tempera was very thick, the tempura batter they used wasn't right. Usually, it should be nice and light. The fried sushi roll was fine. They do have a massive list of rolls - see my photo below. Everything was fine, I would probably grade it at slightly worse than a supermarket Japanese bento/sushi roll.

Sakana And Yasai - Tried the veggie poke bowl which did not disappoint!

Sakana And Yasai

(35 reviews)

$$

Authentic Japanese cuisine served in a small but charming restaurant along the Solano Avenue…read morecorridor in the heart of suburban Albany, California, Sakana And Yasai serves up some of the freshest and unique sushi rolls in the entire region. Coming from the same team that has operated the smaller Sakana Sushi & Roll on Arlington Boulevard in nearby Kensington, Sakana And Yasai took over the old Sugata Japanese Restaurant that existed here from multiple owners for decades along the corner of San Pablo and Solano Avenues. What gives Sakana And Yasai its authenticity is the fact that their ownership is authentically Japanese, which can be hard to come by, even locally in the Bay Area, which is displayed by their massive cuts of sashimi grade raw fish, thoughtfully arranged nigiri plates, and some of the most delicious sushi rolls that I have enjoyed in quite some time, thanks to the abundance of freshly sliced fish and flavor combination profiles. What brought me and two other diners here on a weekend evening for a nice dinner was the fact that one of our trio were interested in dining on Japanese food nearby and after looking at our options, I realized that Sakana And Yasai was now open for business. We decided to get to their new location early right at 5 p.m. as they open every evening for dinner at 4:30 p.m. We were lucky enough to get a table for three as they only had one more left when we arrived for dinner. What sets Sakana And Yasai apart from so many of their competitors, especially along Solano Avenue is the fact that they use purple rice in all their dishes, including their sushi rolls. Purple rice is a special blend of white and black rice, which they say are rich in antioxidants and fiber, which offers a better balance of flavor as well as makes for better overall nutrition at least so their marketing states. The menu at Sakana And Yasai is separated into categories including Appetizers, Sashimi and Nigiri, Combination, Sakana Donburi, Sakana Special, Classic Rolls, Baked Rolls, Vegetarian Classic Rolls, Vegetarian Special Rolls, Poki Bowls, Special Rolls, and their special menu that is featured alongside a wall on a board. For our first visit, we ordered their Sushi Combination C from their Combination section of their menu, which featured six pieces of nigiri and six pieces of sashimi with our choice of a California roll and served with one bowl of miso soup. We also ordered their Chicken Katsu entrée from their special supplemental menu, and we order two rolls from the special rolls section of their menu, including their Orange Blossom Roll which had salmon and avocado wrapped on the inside, and salmon and tobiko on the outside of the roll in addition to their signature purple rice, and their Three Amigos roll, which had tuna, salmon, yellowtail, avocado, tobiko all wrapped in the inside of the roll with their signature purple rice. Our Chicken Katsu entrée arrived first, and it was easy to see why it's such a popular choice. Perfectly crispy with just the right touch of salt, it delivered a satisfying crunch in every bite. This was followed by our two favorite dishes of the night, which was their sushi rolls. With generously sliced, high-quality raw fish layered over beautifully seasoned purple rice, each roll was delicious from the first bite to the last. We also loved their nigiri/ sashimi combination, as everything was prepared with such thought and precision that it felt like we were dining in a bistro in Tokyo. Our total bill for so much food, some of which we were able to take home for a late night snack, was $110, which was more than reasonable considering the amount of food we received upon our first visit to Sakana And Yasai. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience so much that our group was back days later to try once again those delectable two sushi rolls and this time their small Sashimi Combo which were nice very generous slices of the freshest raw fish including Maguro tuna, Hamachi yellowtail and Sake salmon, it was a real winner priced at only $26. We loved the rolls and freshly sliced fish at Sakana and Yasai so much that we can easily see ourselves coming back again and again to satisfy our cravings for quality Japanese cuisine. As one of the newest spots on the block, it's already proving to be a welcome addition to the neighborhood dining scene.

Found this place by luck after my go-to spot was closed for a long holiday break, and learned that…read morethis is their second location! The restaurant is small, but intimate and it looks like they even have a small private space that can accommodate 1 party at a time. My boyfriend and I ordered a few rolls to share and nigiri and thought the fish was extremely fresh, and the metal chopsticks/ceramic plates definitely add a touch of luxury. We were surprised that all of their rice was the Korean purple rice instead of the usual sushi rice. Since it's a Korean establishment, I thought it was a fun way to pay homage to the culture. The rice tastes really similar to the usual Japanese rice, but the texture is not as soft and sticky, but that's me nitpicking on the details. Service was kind and fast, no complaints.

Iyasare - japanese - Updated May 2026

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