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What an incredible dining experience we had from delightful food to great service from Jackie. It was a very professional and enthusiastic attendant. The restaurant is nice. It's in a great neighborhood plenty of parking in the rear try to make reservations. We sat inside in a booth and the food was remarkable. From the bacon wrapped mochi to the perfectly made noodles with so much flavoring. I loved the kakiage tempura with black prawns (wow) The unagi donburi. Wow!! Everything was incredible and the Pink smoke mezcal drink was. A winner They also have an incredible sake selection.
It has been a few years since I last ate at Iyasare. I made reservations for a Sunday afternoon and was warmly greeted. We sat inside in a booth and the restaurant was busy. Our service overall was very good. There was a nice selection of dishes which were delicious and presented beautifully. We ate the eggplant dish which was prepared well, the kakiage tempura, the mentaiko pasta, the karaage, a hamachi maki sushi, and the okonomiyaki. They were all delicious and plated beautifully. They have cocktails too. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and will return to explore some of the other menu items.
Date of Visit: 7/9/2026 Visited the Japanese restaurant Iyasare located in Berkeley with my friend in early July. We sat outside in the patio, and it was warm enough with no fireplace next to our table around noon time. Iyasare was awarded with Michelin recommendation and has various Japanese foods including appetizer, tempura, rolls, etc. Iyasare Bees Knees $18 I got the cocktail made with Barr hill gin, elderflower liqueur, honey ginger syrup, and a piece of dried lemon on top for decoration. Lavender Mint $10 My friend got the lavender mint tea in a pot. Dragon Roll $23 We ordered a roll with shrimp tempura, cucumber inside and on the outside, there were unagi, avocado, tobiko, unagi sauce, and kaiware. The mixture of the fish and the sauce were amazing. Iyasare Mentaiko Pasta with Uni $44 And definitely must try is the mentaiko pasta with fresh Hokkaido uni. The spaghetti was mixed with spicy cod roe, ikura, shiso, and kaiware. On top we added the Hokkaido uni which was fresh and creamy. Iyasare Shrimp Kakiage Tempura $34 We also got the kakiage tempura with burdock root, onion, sweet potato, shiitake, enoki, carrot, shungiku, and black tiger shrimps. There was a bowl of bonito soy dipping broth on the side. Sendai Miso Soup $8 The warm miso soup has tofu, wakame, negi, and mushroom.
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.
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!
This was a 3.5, and I've been here twice with my little one. They've been very accommodating with a child. Food was decent, and service was also. I really liked the tostadas. My waitress forgot to bring me the dessert menu which is why I knocked point 5 point off.
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!
Excellent Japanese food on Fourth street. This feels like an iykyk restaurant mostly visited by locals. The tempura is not the typical style but was DELICIOUS. Mentaiko pasta was on point. Sushi was fresh and service was great. Ambiance is chic. Prices were slightly high even when factoring being in Berkeley. The $9 for Coke/sprite made me question how pricing was fixed for everything else on menu.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
A lovely Japanese restaurant located in the upscale neighborhood of Berkeley. Service here is always phenomenal from all of the staff; hosts, bartenders, and servers. I love that the staff have such a depth of knowledge of the menu. The menu occasionally changes introducing new and seasonal items. I always ask for a recommendation and the servers are always on point about what they think I would like in terms of food and drinks. I highly recommend coming here for your next date night. read more
We've eaten here twice a few years ago and completely forgot about this gem until I ran out of ideas on where to go for my bday. It was a last minute decision to come here for my bday dinner, but boy, their menu has changed quite a bit. The menu is more expansive which is great! We were able to try a variety of dishes. We ordered a dragon roll, aji nigiri, agedashi tofu, Suzuki yaki, and the tiger prawn kakiage tempura. Everything tastes fresh and amazing, except for the Suzuki dish - maybe I'm just not a fan of sea bass? I felt it was kinda too undercooked for my liking, but my hubby said it was cooked perfectly. The seasonal veggies were green beans, squash and zucchini which were a bit underwhelming. Now the other dishes - wow! Dragon roll was nicely made - the shrimp tempura was still warm! Yes, a bit on the smaller side, but I'd rather have a good quality sushi roll than a big crappy tasting roll. The agedashi tofu had lightly fried eggplant, fried shiso leaf, seaweed, bonito flakes and lotus root in a slightly salty broth - I loved it. Tofu was so soft and light, but the eggplant was the star of the entire dish. I'd definitely order it again! Finally, the kakiage tempura with prawns, we ordered it because I had a good view of the kitchen and saw this dish go out over and over again. Plus, we kept getting a whiff of it when the servers walked by with it. We actually had it before a few years back, but couldn't remember if we liked it or not. But thank goodness we got it cuz I really enjoyed it. It came out hot and prawns weren't over cooked. I really appreciate that every dish came out hot. They really have a great kitchen team and servers. Everything was coordinated to ensure prepared food that was ready to serve would be immediately served. That's how great restaurants operate! Last thing to note: the entire meal came out to $156 including tax and tip. Pretty pricey, so it's one of those places that you come to if you can afford it or have a celebration. read more
11 months ago
I absolutely LOVE this place! It's a place I meet with my mother a few times a year as she also loves this place. The food has always been amazing. Some items do change but there are staple items that remain in the menu that I order each time I visit. It may sound simple but I do love these miso Cesar salad. I also love and have to get the Kakiage Tempura with black tiger shrimp. This is a must get item. Get it without the shrimp if you cannot eat shellfish, it is still amazing. It comes with togarashi, seaweed and match to flavor it up more if wanted. The poppo yaki is another item I always order. The marinated squid is tender and delicious! Another item I like that is very simple but tasty is the agadashi tofu. From there many other items get ordered. Ikura rolls, uni, and tuna belly. They offer different ramen bowls and each is flavorful and filling. The Suzuki yaki (sea bass) is very moist. My wife tends to get the donburi bowls which are beautifully out together and fresh seafood. I usually end the meal with an order of the unagi but the desert change and are also delicious. This is a must visit restaurant. It is pricey but the quality and service is worth it. The atmosphere is vibrant and ambiance is electric. They offer bar seating, indoor and outdoor seating. Reservations are needed. read more
2 years ago
Best Duck Ramen in the World We came for our 20th Anniversary , we keep coming back for it when is in season read more
3 years ago
Our daughter made reservations for us here to celebrate our 25th anniversary. The restaurant was very accommodating. We were immediately seated as we arrived. The restaurant had a good trendy vibe. The wait staff was very attentive. We ordered the following: Chicken Karage 5/5: this was the first time I had Karage that brought me back to the Karage I tasted in Tokyo, Japan. I have been searching since 2016. The only place that came close to the flavor was at Sushi Kashiba in Seattle. I found it here. Bacon Mochi 5/5: my wife wanted to try this as she read a lot of people raving about it. The soft texture of the mochi with the caramelized bacon wrapped in a crisp nori skin was wonderful in texture but also flavor. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Herb Oil Poached Black Cod 5/5: my wife ordered this. The fish was cooked perfectly with a great sear. The herbs consisted of mushrooms, and ikura among other ingredients. The depth of flavor was very good. Nigiri - scallops, albacore tuna, salmon and toro 5/5: the fish was excellent. It was fresh and cut perfectly. Cheesecake 4/5: we wanted to order the chocolate devils cake, but they were sold out. We then opted for the only other dessert, which was the cheesecake. I normally don't care for Japanese cheesecake, as it is too light. I normally enjoy heavier cheesecakes. This one was heavier than Japanese cheesecakes with a nice graham cracker crust. We enjoyed this as well. Overall, I was very surprised how the dishes we ordered made us feel like we were in Tokyo again with a California trendy vibe. The only difference was the prices, but I would definitely return again to try other items in the menu. read more
Amazing service and delicious food. I celebrated my birthday with my husband and friend and was really delighted by the excellent service and quality of the food. The waitress at the front greeted me happy birthday right when my friend told her about our reservation. The inside of the restaurant is small and intimate and there are also some small outdoor tables. We sat indoors and right as we sat down, a bartender approached offered me a complimentary birthday drink. I chose the hot sake. I was offered more cups so I got to share this with my husband and friend. For the food, we ordered the Iyasare kakiage tempura, hamachi, and geisha roll for shareables. We then had our own entrees. I got the udon and my husband and friend both got the karaage curry rice plates. We all enjoyed every single item. We took some of our plates to go as we got full from our shared foods in the beginning. Love the attention to detail from the staff here and I also got to see the chefs cooking in the kitchen from where I sat. I had such a lovely experience. read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
Foods are wonderful and taste absolutely better than expectation. I highly recommend the Kakiage tempura! It may be a bit pricey but I personally think it's worthy. Will definitely come again! read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
Delish! Amazing cocktails, service and food. The tempura kakiage was out of this world, a must order. The Agedashi tofu was the best I've ever had and my husband's churashi was a work of art. We'll be back! read more
Incredible food with thoughtful and friendly professional service. The restaurant was bustling at lunch with a casual upscale ambience - indoor seating and two outdoor areas (one off the sidewalk area). So many delicious dishes to choose from and our server took a lot of time to help us choose a balanced selection. Agedashi tofu (highly recommend) was stunningly delicious- with silken tofu, perfectly crisp thin layer on the outside, and grilled Japanese eggplant and seaweed. Burdock root vegetables tempura with dipping sauce- a signature popular dish. If you like waffle- like shapes and light crispy textures made of savory latticed burdock root and vegetables, then this will be a favorite. The added shrimp was definitely the way to go. The Chirashi was super fresh and delicious selection of sashimi with two types of roe. The grilled fresh eel was the star and outdid the tamago. The Geisha roll - shrimp tempura, tuna roll with a spicy mayo was fresh and really great portions. Excellent overall and highly recommend. Would definitely return to try many more dishes. read more
3 years ago
This area is relatively newer and has many new, popular restaurants that always have a full house even if it's a Tuesday Lunch time, so get your reservations They have great sushi's, entrees and some interesting flavors. This place offers a wide variety on their menu but each item is flavorful so you won't regret dining here. And their spiciest sushi roll is the best ever roll!! read more
Excellent Japanese restaurant. Friendly service and fresh, delicious food. The outside seating area was lovely. I went on a weekday close to opening and was able to get a table without a reservation. We wanted something light to eat so settled on sharing sushi and a chicken salad. Both items were fantastic and I wish I had more time to try other items on the menu. Nice presentation and exceeded my expectations. I would recommend this restaurant for a nice occasion or date. I'm a fan and will return again. read more
Iyasare, located on 4th street in Berkeley is an incredible Japanese restaurant. They continually make playful and innovative dishes that push boundaries in the best way. Their flavors and presentation are exquisite. Their aesthetic is clean, modern and Japanese inspired. We love going and sitting outside when the weather is nice. They have heat lamps so you don't get too chilled with the bay breeze. The service is excellent. They are very attentive and gracious. The menu constantly changes but we went to celebrate my new job and here is what we got: -Spicy Miso Edamame ( These were delicious. Perfectly cooked, garlicky and umami) -Mixed Vegetable Tempura (perfectly cooked, super crispy in an umami broth) -Vegetable Shoyu Ramen (delicious, comforting and so fresh) -Okonomiyaki Pancake Ginza Style (this dish wasn't my favorite, it tasted a bit bitter, it was ok but everything else was excellent) -Suzuki Yaki (the sea bass is always my favorite, they cook it perfectly, it's a generous portion and the sides are always so complementary) I highly recommend this restaurant for any reason but definitely for special occasions and fancy dates. read more
2 years ago
Been here twice. Had great food both times. Nice place for weekend brunch followed by some shopping. Prefer to sit outside, because it's loud and dark inside. My only complaint is that their plating is sometimes more aesthetically oriented than food oriented. Case in point, our tempura was plated inside a pool of dashi, which meant it was soggy by the time it arrived. This ruined an otherwise outstanding dish. I explained this to waitress whose response was OK I'll let the kitchen know with no follow up. read more
Great sushi in North Berkeley area. - Burdock fritter is a must try. Definitely add the shrimps. They added to the texture of the dish. - Chirashi bowl: very fresh. It's huge too. - Vegetable curry: decent Japanese curry with a lot of veggies. I would come back to get the fritter again. read more
2 years ago
Excellent. The food was excellent. Loved the atmosphere and the outdoor dining. Service was great too. We were finally able to find a place in the East Bay that served Okonomiyaki. The Karage was great too as well as the Dragon Roll. We topped it off with the Yuzu dessert. Definitely coming back. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
This place was SO GOOD. The service was great and he gave great recommendations. Came here around lunch time on a Thursday and it was so nice inside and outside. Love how it's decorated and the restaurant was very modern. We ordered the spicy chicken and BEWARE it is beyond spicy. Like I was crying and my friend even started trying to wipe the sauce off. So definitely be careful and maybe order the non-spicy version if you can't handle spice. We also got a rice bowl with fresh fish which was so good and the fish was so buttery. We also got tea and rice which is one of my fave Japanese dishes. The sushi was great as well! Will definitely be coming here again because it was THAT GOOD. read more
I've been here two times and both times have been amazing! I was first introduced to this place when my friend took me here for my birthday. I recently took my brother here for his birthday. Definitely a great spot for a nice meal! I've tried and would recommend all the following items: - Iyasare kakiage tempura: This is a must-try/order appetizer for the table! The best tempura I've ever had. The different dipping powders given on the side adds a nice touch to it. Fried perfectly and it doesn't give off an oily taste - Ocean umami: Beautiful presentation, very fresh and tasty - Sendai hot chicken: It does have a good spicy kick to it and I'm all for it! - Chirashi don: All so fresh! - Geisha, zeitaku, & kazan rolls: Reasonable sized rolls, all delicious Workers were all so welcoming and helpful! For both visits, I asked them for sake recommendations and both bottle purchases did not disappoint. Always convenient when you can make reservations so I highly recommend making one on their website to ensure you get a table and not have to wait! read more
7 months ago
2 years ago
We had the honor of dining at Iyasare for date night after hearing so many good reviews from friends and family. This place lives up to the hype! Their ramen was amazing.. super rich broth, tender chasu, and fresh veggies. The portion size of the fish in the Ikura Don was definitely on the smaller side.. I left feeling slightly hungry still which is a little disappointing knowing how much we paid. However, at the end, it didn't really matter to me because our overall dining experience was divine. We had the pleasure of having Jackie as our server! She was helpful, knowledgeable, and just an overall an amazing human being! So glad we got to chat with her at the end of our meal. Be prepared to spend some $$$ read more
I try to come here every time I'm on 4th street! I haven't had a single thing there that I didn't absolutely love. The tempura??? Nothing like I've ever had. The miso soup is incredibly flavorful and the agedashi tofu is one of my favorites. I rarely order rolls because the tempura is so filling but I refuse to not order the tempura!! there's an extensive drink menu and the place is small with a very chill vibe. I prefer the outdoor seating when the weather is nice because there's nothing better than a drink, fire food, and Berkeley people watching! read more
1 year ago
Awesome place for creative and delicious Japanese food. The cocktails are yummy. The service is impeccable and the staff is very friendly. read more
3 years ago
Hubbers suggested this place for my birthday lunch. So what's a girl do? Check out their menu, of course, OF COURSE! I found a few interesting plates, but my initial overall impression was... meh. BUT! I'm not one to judge without giving it a try (plus it's been awhile since I last came through this part of Berkeley) so, might as well make a day of it. Made reservations (requested patio seating because we planned on taking the pup with us) and mentioned we were celebrating a birthday. We arrived 15 minutes earlier to allocate extra time to find parking. Still wr barely made it to our reservation time - but don't fret, they will hold your spot for 15 minutes. We were welcomed and seated immediately, pup in tow. Our server acknowledged we were celebrating a birthday, so she offered a glass of champagne. (I welcomed it immediately, of course!) Hubbers put in his cocktail order and we both immediately got to studying the menu. We got it down quickly, though... JAPANESE SEA SALT EDAMAME: Hubbers ordered it spicy, but there was barely any heat at all. They were very tasty, though! Off to a good start! OCEAN UMAMI SALAD: What a pretty dish! It's too bad there were only three bites. But each bite contained explosions of flavor! The freshness of uni, scallops, roe plus the nori purée. I took my time with the bite I got, this is one excellent combination! I wish we got more than three bites, though... SPIDER ROLL: It's a two-in-one for me. I love fried soft shell crabs and wanted a roll at the same time, so this was a perfect choice. Cut in 5 pieces. The rolls are slightly bigger than what I'm used to. The veggies added refreshing taste and texture. Delish. IYASARE KAKIAGE TEMPURA (w/ black tiger shrimp): my fellow Yelpers were raving about this (shrimp is a must have) and it didn't disappoint. I mean, who doesn't like anything fried, and the shrimp as definitely a good idea. Each bite was crispy, crunchy, seasoned well. Didn't even really need the bonito broth/dip. Plenty to share with three or four people. GINDARA: My choice for main. I chose this because I love grilled black cod. I also thought the enoki was a bonus! I was excited to see its final plating but ended up being disappointed when it was delivered: why did it come in broth?! I even had to double check the menu to make sure it was under the"Grill & Sauté" section and I assumed the "gravy" (not sure why it was in quotes) part of it was something on the side. Needless to say, I felt a bit misled. I took a bite of the fish which was good! That part was done right. Then it went downhill from there: the enoki mushrooms were plain, the broth was bland, the roe (as much as I love it) was barely a saving grace. I ordered a side of rice to go with it, but that, too, was a waste. There was way too much going on that the cod just ended up being neglected rather than being the centerpiece of the plate. They completely missed the mark on this. Had they sautéed and seasoned the mushrooms, use it as a bottom layer, top the fish and roe with the micro greens... might have been way better than what I got. I very barely enjoyed this dish, if at all. SAKE & IKURA DON: Hubbers main. Now THIS, is a dish. It tastes better than it looked and it looked really good. He was nice enough to share a few bites, and if I liked it, so did he. Maybe even more than I did. FOOD: 3. 1 for my main dish, 5 for the rest. SERVICE: 5. Our server was fire! VALUE: 2. Pricey. But given location wise... still don't feel like it was worth it. PARKING: Street and public parking lots. Always an issue in these parts. Plan ahead! OVERALL: 3.25. It was a nice setting on a nice day. Good run, but not great. An okay stop overall, mediocre at best. Would I return? That'll depend on a lot of factors, but the biggest challenge here is that I don't live anywhere near here, plus there are plenty of other eats nearby I would much prefer to try first, so... we'll see. read more
Came here on a weekday and got seated in a few minutes. The bowl of ramen we ordered was pretty decent, nothing too special. The highlight of the meal was definitely the lyasare kakiage tempura. The crunchy texture with a subtle salty flavor is so addicting, I recommend! read more
Great vibes and environment, but just alright food. We were a party of 3 and had a reservation on a Saturday night, and got there a bit early. They didn't seat us until a bit past our reservation time. No issue there as we didn't wait too long after our reservation time. We all love sushi, notably the raw fish stuff, but we all wanted to try a bit of everything. We ordered a couple items to share to start - Bacon Wrapped Mochi - really nice concept. Good texture and flavor. Not bad at all. Looks like you can split a piece in 2, but nope, really difficult to do so. It comes with 4 pieces, so I'd recommended getting multiple orders if there are more than 4 people at the table that wants to try. One of us had 2 pieces of these after failing to dividing the last piece. Spicy Fried Chicken - forgot what the dish was called, but we wanted the full spicy. It was really good; I def felt the spiciness to this! One of the best things that we had here, and it wasn't even the raw stuff. We all ordered the bento dinner that came with a variety of items - various tempura, veggies, sashimi, rolls, etc. I think we were all a bit disappointed with the bento, mostly because the rolls were rather bland and the sashimi was just mediocre. The hot stuff was way better during our night here. We also ordered some drinks, but they didn't arrive. We got our food and we reminded them and they apologize and gave us our drinks and made it up to us that way. That was nice, though we'd prefer to have receive the drinks earlier. Ah well! This was my second visit to Iyasare. The first time I went was for lunch a while back and tried their curry, salmon bowl, and some tea. My thoughts then was, "oh wow, pricey," but their outdoor seating area had some good lighting and great vibes. I enjoyed the environment and their hot food. The salmon bowl years ago was pretty decent, so perhaps it was the night that we went where the raw stuff was just meh. read more
2 years ago
Food was great and was presented well! I ordered the Tekka Don ($28.50) and a Yuzu Hibiscus Palmer ($8). The fish had a nice, clean flavor; tuna tends to have a grainy, metallic flavor, but this was fatty and rich. I do wish the drink had a little more yuzu in it, though, as it was mostly tea. The desserts looked great, though I didn't order one. I'll have to come back and try it next time. read more
3 years ago
Celebrated our anniversary here tonight. Their special Ocean UmamiHokkaido scallops, ikura caviar, uni, nori puree, ume, shiso were so good - like a party in your mouth. Kids had the Sendai ramen and enjoyed it. My husband had the chirashi. My Hamachi Ikura don was good but I felt that the cuts of fish were the thinnest I've ever had at Iyasare to date. My husband gave me his hamachi from the chirashi and it was definitely thicker than the slices on my bowl. That's my sole feedback area - to make sure their cuts are uniform for the bowls. The Brussel sprouts are addictive and I have to ask how they are cooked. The seasoning is so umami and the sprouts are fresh. The desserts were delicious and I'm glad we ordered both. It's not a restaurant we usually visit with our kids but it is Spring Break and I'm grateful the staff were so accommodating and friendly. read more
4 years ago
Took a speaker out to dinner here and it was a definite hit! There's both indoor and outdoor seating, although there isn't heat outside. We decided to sit indoors for that reason. Our waiter, Fernando, was extremely knowledgeable and all of his recommendations were phenomenal. We ordered several dishes for the table, including the Iyasare kakiage tempura with black tiger shrimp. This was my absolute favorite dish. It was as if they took shrimp and made a pancake with the tempura batter instead of coating each of the shrimp in the batter. Just delicious! Both salads were delicious, especially the mekyabetsu. The Brussels sprouts were cooked to perfection! Not too salty, just the right around of umami, yum! I also really enjoyed the teppan yaki. The plate was still sizzling and searing the rice as it was brought to the table, giving the bottom rice a nice crust. It had kimchee too and it was the perfect flavor blend with the steak and veggies. The ramen was good but not great. I didn't appreciate the thickness of the noodles and the broth wasn't anything to write home about, but it was tasty and filling. The pork was delicious though! Finally the drinks were excellent, alcoholic and nonalcoholic! The yuzu Palmer was a big hit at our table, and I really enjoyed their version of a lychee Martini (it's over ice). Will definitely be coming back!! I didn't care for the bacon mochi but the rest of the table enjoyed it. read more
2 years ago
Food: Variable. A mix of flavors, some of which are truly exceptional. - Ramen: it was fine and served its purpose. (First order, last year) - Crab Roll: it was served warm and didn't meet my expectations. The warm temperature affected the texture and taste, making it difficult to enjoy. I gaged and regurgitated all of it. This was alarming and unpleasant. (Ordered last year and refunded by diff manager) - Kara-age Chicken was exceptional! The flavors were terrific, and the chicken was deliciously tender. (ordered to go -today) - Veggie Rolls: disappointingly small portion size for the price. Additionally, the take-out tax, tip, and overall prices made the experience not worth it for me. (ordered to go - today) Service: - Attentive, in general, especially from the host. Mandatory tip: - BEWARE OF THIS PRICE GOUGING AND "TAKE OUT GRATUITY" WHEN THERE IS NO SUCH "TAX" FOR DINING IN. Ambiance: - Airy and pleasant, with indoor and outdoor seating options. read more
My husband and I had dinner at Iyasare the Thursday before Christmas. This restaurant is located conveniently on 4th St. in Berkeley. When we checked online, it looked like the restaurant closed at 8 pm, so we tried to call to confirm. No one picked up and there was no way to leave a message. Even though it was just after 7:30 when we arrived, we figured we'd try to get a table. They asked if we had a reservation, and while we didn't, and while it was close to what I presumed to be their closing time, they figured out a way to accommodate us. Turns out their last seating happens at 8 pm? We were initially seated at the lower bar, but as soon as a spot opened up, we were able to move up to the higher bar. There is outdoor (some with heat lamps) and indoor seating. It was pretty busy. We had some food options in mind, but when we asked our bartender and server, we made some changes. We stuck to the Big 3 Sashimi dish we wanted to start off with from the Osusume menu (2 pieces each of sake, maguro, and hamachi). Omg, hands down, favorite dish because it was SO fresh and flavorful. Melt-in-your-mouth goodness! The unagi and ikura nigiri were great! We were planning to order the Japanese Katsu curry and steak dish, but ended up ordering the Iyasare Kakiage Tempura which was uniquely different from any tempura I've ever had before. Instead of the heavy-handed soggy batter, this was packed with different vegetables and prawns in a lighter, crispier dish. This came highly recommended both by our server and the bartender. There were six pieces. We got through four and the last two pieces were just as delicious the next day for leftovers. The sauce and three seasonings were divine and just made the dish extra special. The okonomiyaki pancake (and I can't believe I'm saying this) just felt like it had... too much going on. The wildly different flavors just didn't mesh for me. The spider roll... was okay. Not bad, just nothing special or particularly delicious. Drinks were good. The prices, generally, were high. The tempura was $30! The kirin was $14! Overall, we really loved the ambiance and most of the food was really, really good. We definitely want to come back and try other dishes. read more
1 year ago
Iyasare is one of the best Japanese restaurants in Berkeley. My girlfriend and I decided to celebrate Iyasare for Valentine's Day, and the food and service was nothing short of amazing. I made a reservation ahead of time, so we were seated immediately. The server was very kind and gave us several recommendations, and we ordered most of them. For our appetizer, we ordered the Kakiage Tempura w/Black Tiger Shrimp, and it was honestly my favorite item on the table. It was very crunchy and flavorful, and filled with a lot of shrimp! We also shared a Chirashi Don and Okonomi Pancake. The Chirashi Don was filled with a variety of different, fresh sashimi. I liked how the cuts were pretty big and filled you up. The Okonomi Pancake was delicious as well, and unlike other Okonomi pancakes I have tried before, it packed a pickled ginger taste. I will definitely come back again to try their other signature dishes! Tip: Many of the dishes at Iyasare are large and meant for sharing! read more
2 years ago
Very good food and Service, I am so happy when I eat there i'm hundred percent recommended. read more
More info about Iyasare
1830 Fourth St
Berkeley, CA 94710
Fourth Street, West Berkeley
Directions
(510) 845-8100
Call Now
Visit Website
http://iyasare-berkeley.com/
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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.
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34 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Iyasare - japanese - Updated November 2026
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