I love this place so much, have been here for years and their food never fails to impress me. Definitely check for reservations ahead of time if you can because it gets busy. Kiraku is definitely one of the best izakaya spots in the Bay Area with a wide range of dishes and fresh seasonal ingredients. You can't go wrong from their tempuras, to sushi, to skewers. Highly recommend bringing a friend so you can maximize trying different dishes. Prices are a bit higher, but well worth it. read more

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tried their corn tempura with green tea salt, and it was amazingly light, crispy, and sweet. It was a really unique and delicious dish

I've had kiraku bookmarked forever and was super excited to try it out! Let me just say, I only tried the Kaisen don, but this might have been the best Kaisen don I've had. It comes with uni, toro, tuna, ikura, scallop, and shrimp, including the fried shrimp head. Everything tasted super fresh! Also, I don't know what they season the rice with - some kind of furikake or shiso or something - but it was amazing! It gives the rice so much more flavor and really elevates the taste. I def want to come back and try the other izakaya they have. Everything looks so good. The restaurant is quite small, with only a handful of tables, but it was packed even on a weekday night around 7/8. Def seems like a popular spot! read more

Kiraku - Kaisen don - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

Another great experience at Kiraku. A small restaurant with great personality and excellent service, we love the vibe here! Make a reservation on Yelp as far in advance as you be can, and the wait is minimal (otherwise it could be 60-120 min) We were excited to see an omakase set added to the menu along side quite a few new items over the last year. I started with takowasabi, delicious as always and corn tempura with green tea salt along with a warm sake selected by our server. Then fish tempura and a 18 pc (two of each selection) sashimi plate. Then one of our favorite miso place cod plates along with a pork belly skewer. Then we shared a 12pc omakase and wrapped up with a negitoro maki. So happy to be back and we can't wait for our next visit! read more

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So-don't eat here! We had dinner tonight with friends. Food was ok-a bit pricey. The last thing we ordered was the Negi toro roll-which tasted kind of fishy-definitely wasn't great. BUT, on the way home, we had to pull off the freeway so my wife could throw up violently and repeatedly . We barely made it home where she continue to throw up the rest of the night. It was our 1st and obviously our last time going here. Not sure if the fishy smelling Negi Toro Roll did it but it was definitely something from this restaurant. read more

Wow, amazing food here and honestly probably the highest quality meal I've had during my stay in NorCal. Appetizers: We tried the Tsunami Sampler with Takowasabi, Aburi Mentaiko, and Umesuisho. The Aburi Mentaiko and the Takowasabi had lots of flavor while the Umesuisho was a little lighter to offset the strong flavors of the other two appetizers. Highly recommend the aburi mentaiko. We also gave the iburigakko a try which had a strong smoky flavor. We were surprised to see this on the menu as it's a dish from Akita. The cream cheese with the Iburigakko went really well together. The corn tempura was a great simple dish, my wife loved it. Sushi: we tried a mix of items off the specials menu that included the. Bluefin Tuna Negitoro Maki, Temaki A5 Miyazaki Beef with Hokkaido Uni and Yuzu Sauce, Botan Ebi with Yuzu Sauce, and the Deluxe Kaisen Box. The presentation on all the items were done extremely well. The bluefin negitoro was a little light on the salt but probably just my preference. The yuzu sauce on the Botan Ebi was spot on, I went back for a second round. They offer two ways to prepare the heads, miso soup and fried. The fried heads were seasoned nicely. The A5 Miyazaki Beef temaki was just butter! Really delicious and creamy with the Hokkaido Uni. The Deluxe Kaisen Box was very beautifully presented with a great mix of fish options. The Tuna Tataki was amazing. Just a light splash of shoyu and you're good, no need to drown it or risk making it too salty. Dessert: we were so full already from the main meal, but wanted to sample the sweet potato brulee and it was amazing! Such a great way to end a great dinner. Service: The staff was extremely friendly and made us feel welcome and regularly checked in on us to add any other menu items to our order and regularly filled our water. Overall, loved the food, coming from Hawaii we always have a wide selection of fresh fish and sushi but we could use a Kiraku branch back home. Will add this to our list of must visit restaurants when we return. Mahalo to the Chef and staff for the excellent food and service! read more

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solid japanese food bUT be aware if you book through yelp there is 50$ minimum spend and the owner is not LAX about it. she will make sure you hit the quotas, which kind of sucks because we were really full and really tried to but it. love the corn fritters, the skewers beef tongue was kind of weird tasted like pork belly. read more

Kiraku - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

Kiraku isn't just a restaurant--it's a late-night Tokyo alleyway disguised as a cozy Berkeley gem. The moment you walk in, it hums with energy--laughter, sizzling plates, clinking glasses--and you know you're in for something special. This place is a flavor playground, and every dish that hits the table feels like a well-kept secret. We started with the uni toast, and honestly, I'm still thinking about it. Creamy, briny uni on perfectly crisp bread, balanced with just enough acid--it's like a love letter to umami. A must-order, no questions asked. Then came the gyu-tan (beef tongue), grilled to smoky perfection. Tender, savory, and served with a little citrus that made the whole thing sing. It's bold, it's comforting, and it pairs ridiculously well with a cold sake. Speaking of drinks, the sake selection is no joke--carefully curated and perfect for sipping between bites of karaage. The menu is full of surprises--small plates that pack major character. It's the kind of place where you order one more thing five times in a row, and every bite is worth it. Service was fast, friendly, and just the right amount of chill. Kiraku is the spot you bring your foodie friends to when you want to show off. No frills, all flavor. An izakaya that makes you feel like a regular even on your first visit--and trust me, it won't be your last. read more

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Impressive! Cozy, intimate izakaya, with great food, and service. I think Ive tried more than half the menu at this point, and continually find dishes that surprise and delight. Here are some of my favs: Sushi omakase sampler: Fresh fish, good selection, with a little bit of fusion flavors. Sushi is a great mid meal delight in between the more succulent grilled dishes. Couple months ago they had tenmi cut of bluefin tuna, and just last week summer yaitokatuso skipjack tuna (bonito). Grilled beef tongue: The best I've ever had! Great flavor, and surprisingly super tender. Beef tongue is known to be a little tough (like a harder gummy bear), with the flavor being more about the beef texture. However, the beef tongue here has a great saucy flavor, and the beef tongue is the most tender I've seen in the US and Japan-- It really just melts in your mouth. Mini kaisen don: Pretty swanky bowl of goodness that has toro,uni, ikura, and salmon over rice. Fish head stew: Not for everyone, but if you are into fish head, this has a great soy flavor, and you can pick at all your favorite fish head parts. Service is great, and wait staff is super friendly. You can find street parking, but in evening lots of restaurants nearby also filling up, so it can start getting a little harder. If you order sake, they let you pick your sake cup to drink from.. small touch, but super cool. The one fault I can find with this place is that it's too small and/or too popular, and easily books out. I've done walk in twice and had to wait about 60-90 min each time. read more

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A little small hole in the wall, forgot why I saved it in my bookmarks lol but was a little disappointing. ~foOod~ American wagyuy beef tatami was a little underwhelming. Wasn't cooked too well to be soft and sashimi like, felt like a thin blow torched rare steak and it's mainly just ponzu served. 2.5/5 Sweet shrimp is always delicious. A must get!! 5/5 Beef tongue was fairly good. Tasted more like short rib tbh but I'm not tripping! 4/5 Donburi was ok, needed maybe some sauce? Was really plain. 2.5/5 Never really a uni pasta guy but nothing wrong with it! If you like it get it! read more

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Kiraku has been hailed as THE izakaya spot, but despite its strong reputation, it fell short of expectations. We were able to get a spot on a weeknight and the tiny restaurant was packed at 7 PM. The menu is extensive and thoughtfully curated, but the execution didn't really justify the steep prices. Some of the fish dishes were not as fresh as I hoped, and the desserts were underwhelming. I would maybe come back to try the nigiri omakase, but I'm probably better off going to an actual omakase restaurant for that. For the cost, the overall experience felt underwhelming. I'd say it was decent but not remarkable. read more

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Food and service and ambiance is great. Small portions enabling you to focus on the conversation

I've been to Kiraku a few times now, and it's consistently one of the better izakayas in the East Bay. The place has that cozy, slightly bustling vibe you'd expect -- dim lighting, a warm wooden interior, and chatter that somehow adds to the charm instead of feeling noisy. The food leans traditional but with a few creative twists. The grilled skewers are always solid, and the sashimi tastes fresh every time. My personal favorites are the uni tofu and the karaage -- super flavorful without being greasy. The portions are small (as expected for an izakaya), but everything feels thoughtfully made. Service is friendly and polite, though sometimes a bit slow when it's packed -- totally understandable since it's a popular spot. Prices are mid-range for the area: not cheap, but fair for the quality. Overall, Kiraku delivers a very authentic, comforting Japanese pub experience. It's perfect for a casual night out with friends, a date, or even a solo dinner with sake. Just make sure to go early -- they get busy fast. read more

Long wait time but we went to a bar nearby. The food was very authentic and worth the price. read more

Kiraku - Corn Tempura, Garlic Edamame, Unagi Skewer, Bluefin Tuna Maki, Beef Sirloin Skewer - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

Deliciously seasoned and fresh izakaya! Every single item we ordered was delicious, I wish we could have kept on eating our way through the menu. The sushi was fresh, the fried items were light and crispy, the cooked items were tasty and succulent. Highly recommend coming here, but definitely make reservations in advance and come with an appetite so you can try as many items as possible! The service is extremely polite and attentive and the items come out quickly. read more

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Food is really good. I really like the sashimi don and uni don. Also all the appetizers are very tasty and well balanced.

The food was tasty, the place had a nice vibe, and it's a good spot for a casual night out.

3.8/5 Overall, a solid izakaya spot. Personally, I've just been to other ones with similar quality and lower prices and there was nothing calling me back here. My biggest complaint was how overpriced the mini kaisen don and chazuke were. There was about half a bite of salmon with the chazuke so the dish gave much more style than substance. The fish special was also quite bland. Standout dishes: meat skewers, brulee read more

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This place is my new favorite izakaya in the Bay! Food was really tasty and reasonably priced, and service was exceptional. They have a lot of really interesting things on the menu, and everything that came out of the kitchen looked fantastic. Some of my favorites were the suzuki carpaccio, corn tempura, and tender beef tongue skewer. Excited to return and try more things next time! read more

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I came here again after having such a great time last time (and finally being in Berkeley again). This time I came before opening as I had a reservation for right when it opened, and even though it was a weekday, there was already a line. I highly encourage to reserve a table before coming here, or you might not be able to get one at all. This time, I ordered some favorites from my first time trying: beef tataki, the omakase, and fried corn. However, I also ordered a couple new items: the tuna collar, marinated crab, and scallop risotto. Everything was phenomenal once again and the presentation was great. Out of everything I ordered for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by the collar. I've never had it at a restaurant before, and it was delicious (the portion was huge too). From what I know, this is a special item. Would definitely come back again next time I'm in the area. read more

Cozy, intimate restaurant with the best service with a smile in Berkeley. I eat a lot of Japanese food and the freshness of the sashimi was surprising! We unfortunately weren't super hungry due to a late lunch so we enjoyed bites more than "meal" type dishes. What I totally recommend: . Sashimi Sampler, very fresh . Salmon sashimi, creamy . Corn Tempura, familiar yet unique . Agedashi Tofu, generous sauce . Fresh fish tempura - also lovely Would try something else next time: . Nasu Miso, too sweet . Beef intestine skewer, too rich but had a bone marrow feel to it if you like that . Beef tongue, not particularly standout . Yuzu chicken udon, odd essence Tip: Definitely make a reservation. read more

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What a treat!! I love coming to this place. The ambience and the service is so good! I love getting the nigiri and the corn. Will def come Back again read more

Kiraku - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came at 5 before they opened to join the waitlist and didn't get seated until 7:15 and this place is honestly not worth the wait or the hype. We were told by the host at 5:30 that if the people who made a 6pm reservation didn't show then we would get their table, so we stood outside for an hour in the cold and rain. Not sure why she would say this because not many people wouldn't show up for a reservation without notifying the restaurant. If we knew the wait was going to be 2 hours we would've gone somewhere indoors to kill time. Yuzu salmon crudo tostada - 6.5/10 Grilled squid 6/10 Beef tongue 8/10 Corn fritter 8/10 Okinomiyaki - 7/10 Cod nanban - 6.5/10 Mini chirashi don - 7.5/10 Uni carbonara - 7/10 Dessert - 7/10 I would only come here if I had a reservation and it wasn't on my own dime. Disappointing considering all the hype. read more

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Good spot for dinner in Berkeley. A bit on the pricey side, but the quality is consistent. The food was solid and the atmosphere felt relaxed but still lively. read more

Solid restaurant overall. Great flavors, good vibe, and a nice place for dinner with friends or a date.

Waited over an hr to sit down, poor planning on my part and didn't have a reservation. The place is pretty small and the tables are all pretty close to each other. We ordered a couple of different plates but by far our favorites were the Suzuki carpaccio, beef tongue skewer, and smoked unagi. Coming back but next time with a reservation. read more

Thank you to the waitress yesterday Saturday evening that just went above and beyond. She brought out a tray of sake cups so we could choose our own cups (fun!). All our food orders came out perfectly cooked and timely. Our water and table was cleared out quickly. This has been the best experience we had restaurant dining in a while. read more

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This was the best izakaya I've had in the Bay Area. Literally everything we ordered from the menu was amazing, you cannot go wrong with any order. The interior is super small and so seating is very limited. However, it's worth the wait. I recommend putting your name down right as they open for dinner. Parking is street parking only, which can be a bit chaotic in Berkeley. I will definitely be back! read more

I would highly recommend getting a reservation for this place because it is super busy all the time. I've been wanting to eat here so badly and finally I decided to get a reservation for a Friday night. I was in a group of 3 people and we were seated soon after we arrived. The restaurant is a small, cozy place that smells amazing! The menu has a lot of options and it got overwhelming really quickly because everything sounded so good and we wanted to try as many different things as we could. Our server was super friendly and was really helpful in recommending popular dishes. The server also recommended that we order from the specials menu first and then from the regular menu. Although the restaurant was very busy, the service did not suffer and our waters/drinks were refilled promptly. Highlights: beef intestine skewer, jumbo squid, unagi skewer, and corn tempura. All of these were so delicious! The beef intestine is a must try! For dessert my sister and I shared the sweet potato brûlée and it was great! The taste wasn't too sweet and you can also taste the sweet potato. Overall, I would come back to try their new stuff and I think that this place is a great gem in Berkeley. read more

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Not realized we have been to the restaurant before, we came back after few years! I still remember this place has good food and their menu has changed. This is a small place and the space is limited. Highly recommended to make reservation! Parking is a challenge so go earlier and plan for looking for street parking. We love the food. Everything is amazing! read more

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It's a very small restaurant and very busy. The servers are very nice but it's definitely busy. The food was very small portions, very izakaya style and a bit on the pricy side. I would say the most worth it is the omakase set. The Kaisen don is delicious but so small. It's definitely good to try if you don't mind spending some money! read more

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I got a sample of different types of skewer this time: * Tender Beef Tongue Skewer: 5/5. Still the favorite out of the ones I ordered. Tender and flavorful as usual. * Beef Intestine Skewer: 3/5. A bit too fatty/burned. Not very flavorful. * Beef Sirloin Skewer: 4/5. Taste/texture ok. Nothing too memorable. * Lamb & Scallion Skewer: 4/5. Taste ok but doesn't have very rich flavor. Be mindful that the sauce is some kind of wasabi? Also ordered a salad which was pretty balanced (and I needed some greens). Would rate it 4/5. Roasted Tea Blanc-Manger as dessert: 5/5. Pretty well made. The roasted tea flavor is pretty distinct and the dessert was not overly sweet. read more

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5 stars all the way! Extensive menu, stellar execution, flawless service, lively ambiance. While everything we ordered was delicious, there were some absolute standouts. The beef tongue skewer: best beef tongue I have had, ever. Tender and juicy on the inside with a perfect grilled flavor on the exterior. Tempura fish and vegetables: perfectly fried and battered (I want to try more tempura items here!). Seasonal desserts: the roasted tea blanc manger and matcha mont blanc were the perfect end to a meal, beautifully composed and lightly sweet with balanced flavors. Definitely save room for dessert! We made reservations in advance via help: highly recommended given the popularity of this restaurant. I am already looking forward to a return visit! read more

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Enjoyed my meal here. Everything felt fresh and nicely cooked, and the menu had a lot of interesting options. It's a bit busy, but that's expected for a popular spot. read more

Wanted to go for a long time but don't go to Oakland much and they only open at 5:30pm. Passing by again and thought probably doing a takeout, nobody answers the phone, only web orders (I was driving!), and later on checking prices the $18 squid is now $24. I mean, how hard I have to try to just eat a couple overpriced dishes? Bye! read more

I love this place, one of my fave spots to eat in Berkeley. Several others must feel the same way as there is always a line at the door even before they open. Make reservation if you can, or show up right when they open at 5:30. Every time I've been here the food is solid, service is good, and the vibe is chill. My faves are the corn tempura, beef tongue skewer, pork belly skewer, mackerel, and cod in miso. My son had the buta-kim when he was here and it was his favorite thing. The sashimi is always fresh and delicious, no frills just really excellent pieces of fish. read more

I promised we'd come back, so here we are. Corn tempura, pork belly yakitori, beef tongue, sake sashimi, grilled squid, clams in miso soup, Asahi draft beers and warm sake. In my opinion, anything you order from the menu is going to be a hit. Service was excellent once again. Quite a busy night after a CAL men's basketball game. The wait for the table took some time because we didn't reserve our table through Yelp. The restaurant was playing some good Japanese pop music which is a plus. Makes the ambiance more relaxing and enjoyable. Definitely will be back for the hat trick. read more

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I love Kiraku! It's me and my boyfriend's go-to spot for special occasions in Berkeley. I've gone for our birthdays and anniversaries. They have a daily menu so it's fun to try new things along with getting our favs (corn tempura, carpaccio, toro). Also somehow always see the same server and she is the SWEETEST and always recognizes me :D The restaurant is very cozy and has a great vibe for a date/small groups. Be prepared to spend about $50 per person though ! read more

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Well worth the wait! The small cozy restaurant is definitely high end in price and experience and worth every cent. Not one item disappointed me, the food came in well timed intervals where I wasn't waiting for the next item long. My favorite bite was the miso pork belly which i ended up ordering more of. The uni carbonara was also a favorite, perfectly creamy and buttery with the bits of uni. read more

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Went here for my wife's birthday and had a great experience. Service was great, food was delicious, and it was a good energy for even how small the place was. We ordered the corn tempura, tofu skin w/ ikura and sea urchinnigiri sampler, pork belly, beef intestine, beef tongue plate, chicken cartilage, chazuke, and Roasted Tea Blanc Manger. Honestly everything was good and I would order it all again. The ice cold beer on draft was the full complete experience. read more