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Manpuku

3.6 (1.5k reviews)
ModerateJapanese
Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Updated over 3 months ago

Manpuku Photos

MANPUKU ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Manpuku

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Unagi donburi and Maguro donburi
Joanne M.

We go once a month to get our haircut on college and afterwards we go to Manpuku. This time to bought masubi, two sweet bean mochi, an unagi donburi and a white tuna donburi. I usually split the donburi because we both love unagi and white tuna(maguro). Manpuku is a wonderful place and their food is consistently delicious!

Already ate the salmon nigiri.  so hamachi and tuna is left lol
Brittany E.

Found this on yelp. Had a job that was up the street and decided to che k them out. Such a cute lil place. Walked in and saw they had rolls ready to go and bigger boxes with nigiri and stuff. Edamame, ginger, and pickled ... uh I forget the name. But they had grab n go stuff. Menu was cute and short simple and delicious!! I told the cashier I'd never been here before. It's nice you can order one piece of nigiri it gave me a chance to try multiple things without getting too full. After I ordered she said I could pick a seat and they had tea and water at no charge help yourself. Wow!! Tea was delicious!! not to mention the roll I got was yummy. Nice fish quality as I eat lots of sushi very often. Picked a table n sat down. Expected my number to be called but the lady brought it out for me. Such a cute little " self serve" spot. Second time they were just as friendly and nice and accommodating.... When I work out here I will definitely come here I usually go to hashtag Poki. But this place was better and different.

Chirashi
Kevin W.

Manpuku is my favorite mom-and-pop place for grab and go items within the Berkeley area. Upon entering, there is an area for grab and go items where you can get prepared bento boxes with an assortment of rolls and nigiri, prepared rolls, and other sushi items. They also have a second prepared food areas with hot items such as musubis, teriyaki chicken bowls, and a fridge full of beverages for grab and go. If you're wanting to dine in, you can grab a menu and order with the front staff before getting a number to sit down. There is complimentary hot tea and water for you to get. Although I have been here countless times for the grab and go options, I decided to dine in a week ago. I ordered the Chirashi and a dragon roll and it was reasonable for Berkeley prices. The hostess also gave me a complimentary miso soup, which was extremely nice. The portions were reasonable for the Chirashi and the size of the roll was adequate - definitely can fit each in one bite. I would say that the quality of their fish is adequate, but it's a good spot to fulfill a sushi craving. All-in-all, I would give this place a solid 3.5 stars. Definitely not a place if you have a party over 4 people, as seating is a bit limited. I primarily enjoy the convenience and friendliness of the staff.

Chicken teriyaki - A black plastic bento box features four compartments with different foods. One contains steamed white rice, another has a fresh salad with lettuce, cucumber slices, and shredded carrots. A third compartment holds bean sprouts mixed with shredded carrots. The largest section contains grilled meat, possibly chicken or pork, topped with a dark sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The box is placed on a wooden table, with a clear plastic container lid nearby.
Stephanie Y.

First off, as an Elmwood area resident for 8 years, I can't believe I haven't popped in here before. But I did it, and can share. 3.5 stars is very much on point. While everything is fine, nothing stood out. What bumps this review to 4 stars vs 3, is although portions aren't huge, prices are reasonable for Berkeley. I've been going to other Japanese spots with just the same, if not less quality, and paid more. I went with nigiri, rainbow roll and a bento box with teriyaki chicken and gyoza. The gyoza are a hard pass. The nigiri was solid! While they don't have a ton of exotic fish, they have the main stays of tuna and salmon and they were fresh with a nice size piece of fish. The rainbow roll was fine, although the crab salad was very mayo-y. The chicken teriyaki made with boneless chicken thighs was solid. A heaping portion of rice, a subpar salad and a small-ish serving of saucy, but tasty chicken teriyaki. Inside was cute, with a long narrow dining area with a sushi bar, and seemingly popular on a Monday night. While I don't think I'd make this a regular spot, I live nearby, it was fresher than some other spots I've had and prices were reasonable.

Miso Soup
Emma C.

I lived in Elmwood for a while and always wanted to try this spot. For some reason, I had the impression it was takeout only--but I was totally mistaken! They do offer food to go, but there's also indoor seating. Funny enough, it took me moving out of Elmwood and getting a recommendation from a friend to finally check it out. That said, I'll gladly make a special trip to Manpuku whenever I'm craving sushi--even though there are places closer to where I live. The interior is cozy and inviting. Seating is a bit limited, but we went on a weekday and were seated right away. One thing to note: you order and pay at the counter. They have all the standard sushi options plus a great selection of specialty rolls. Prices are incredibly reasonable, especially for the area. They even offer complimentary tea, which was a nice touch! We ordered the salmon bento box--the salmon was perfectly cooked, and the salad and pickled veggies that came with it were absolutely delicious. The miso soup was rich and flavorful, and both the rolls we tried was super fresh and tasty. Service was quick, everyone was friendly, and the interior is honestly just adorable. Such a cute and charming spot for sushi- I can't recommend this place enough!

Annie W.

This is a very casual, reasonably priced, small restaurant for good sushi. You order at the counter and they bring it to your table. This was my first visit, but my friend's go-to inexpensive sushi place that's within walking distance of her house. I had the rainbow roll so I could taste different pieces of fish and it was good; not the very best sushi I've had, but definitely good. My companion had the "Elwood", which is the mushroom and spinach roll and she loved it. She said that's always her go-to when she comes here. She also had the unagi roll (I think) and she enjoyed that, too. I'd certainly return if I'm in the area. The friendly wait staff and complimentary tea were an added incentive to come back!

A black rectangular sushi platter displays an assortment of sushi rolls with different ingredients and toppings, including slices of fish, avocado, and drizzled sauces. The rolls are arranged in rows, showcasing a variety of styles such as maki and uramaki, with some garnished with sesame seeds and lemon wedges. The platter is set on a wooden table, with small bowls and napkins visible in the background.
Olivia C.

This is good sushi! There wasn't a roll we ordered that I didn't like. My favorites were the aloha roll and the manpuku roll. The staff are so helpful and friendly and we got seated pretty quickly despite being a larger group. Manpuku has limited seating but offers convenient take out options.

Montage of images from Manpuku
Ed U.

Now here's a compact spot that has never made my radar. However, I was exploring the Elmwood neighborhood since a revamped AC Transit bus line made the area a lot more accessible to me. I was able to slip into one of the tables for two along the side wall since the lunch rush was done. The menu was pretty packed, especially with sushi rolls and nigiri. I started with the $5.50 Oshitashi. It was competently assembled with spinach, sesame seeds, bonito flakes, and plenty of ponzu sauce (photo: https://yelp.to/sEWN8vocZY). I decided to get the $18.95 Chirashi, a good price for twelve pieces of fresh mixed sashimi over sushi rice (photo: https://yelp.to/hubaCJXU4v). It came with a welcome cup of hot miso soup (photo: https://yelp.to/Swc5fls3sX). A fine unexpected lunch indeed. FOOD - 4 stars...a solidly fresh chirashi to be had here AMBIANCE - 4 stars...tiny but well organized and maintained SERVICE - 4.5 stars...timely and attentive TOTAL - 4 stars...genuinely satisfying Japanese spot RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

Cute spot. Think it used to bigger before they made it smaller after Covid. My friend introduced me to here since she's been going here for years. The crunchy roll is like 5-6 dollars, their pricing is good for rolls they are small and not too big like sole sushi spots. Easy to eat. I love unagi so I always get their dragon roll or Manpuku roll. One has cream cheese in it as well which is good. Always stop by when I'm in the city.

Rainbow roll, negihama, and beef curry rice dish

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3 months ago

Went here twice on my visit. Everything was delicious and well priced. I'm coming back every time I'm in Berkeley

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9 months ago

Very affordable in berkeley. Friendly service. 5 starssssssssssss. Support local restaurant.

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9 months ago

Good size portions- Not sliced too thin. Like a lot of places these days. Casual, priced reasonable.

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Manpuku Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Manpuku

Do they offer an all you can eat option?

No, they do not offer AYCE.

Any gluten free friendly offerings on the menu?

Sushi is gluten free, the soy sauce may contain wheat but rice, fish, and seaweed are naturally gluten free.

View All 4 Questions

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Kiraku

Kiraku

(1.8k reviews)

$$

5 stars Expensive…read morebut a worthy splurge. I will note that they don't serve Highballs as a drink option for added authenticity but their drinks menu is otherwise complete for an Izakaya. Skewers: Beef intestines: fatty, perfectly charred and marinated Pork belly: delicious but the least interesting Lamb + okra: nicely prepared and delicious Pickled Sakana leaves: deliciously pickled and salty on its own but worked perfectly as a skewer meat accompaniment Chicken karage: perfectly cooked and juicy Beef+lamb potstickers: homemade and presented in the traditional style. Very good Roasted tea leaf pudding was delicious

Honestly one of the top meals I've had in the bay in a while. Made a reservation for Friday 9PM,…read moreand it was still very lively and packed. Would order again/changed my brain chemistry: - Suzuki carpaccio: my bf didn't like this as much as I did since he thought it was too acidic, but I thought it paired well with the rest of the dishes... nice acidity but then sesame and umami aftertaste - Beef intestine skewer: melts in your mouth, actually insane - Beef tongue skewer: also melts in your mouth and also insane, loved that the flavor was distinct from the beef intestine skewer - Soy sauce marinated shrimp: so much flavor infused and the texture is amazing Good: - Roasted tea blanc manger - Smoked unagi: very tender & different flavor than typical japanese unagi, which I appreciated - Mini kaisen donburi: tasted very fresh, though not sure why but the fattiness of the salmon didn't come through as much Skip: - Pork belly, thought this was standard... not bad but it was tougher than I expected and the sauce was ok - Homemade tofu/yuba spoons: if you're getting the kaisen, I would skip. it's basically a lot of the same ingredients but there was what I think was the tofu skin in there and idk why but the texture reminded me of bland playdough a bit - Black cod: good flavor and smokiness but idk if it stood out

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork Katsu Curry

Nippon Curry Berkeley

(54 reviews)

$$

Telegraph Ave

Delicious Japanese curry. Love the house made curry that is so rich and delicious. Good portions,…read morehearty plate, and fresh. I give it a 4.5 because the chicken katsu was not as juicy and tender as I expected. The chicken karaage was excellent. Juicy and tender, perfectly crispy. It had a great blend of garlic and ginger.

Came here on a weekend day and saw that this place was pretty empty, but had a sign for…read more"award-winning" curry, so we stopped by. We were not disappointed. There are a few seats at a counter and then another 2-3 seats at a window-facing table. We sat at the counter and ordered a chicken karagge curry and a veggie croquette curry. The food was so good I ordered a chicken katsu curry to-go, which they pack well, separating the curry from the chicken so it doesn't get soggy. We both thought it was the most delicious curry we've had in awhile. It was very creamy and had perfect texture. However, the only complaints I have are that: 1. The veggie croquette was a little odd with fewer veggies and more mush inside, though still fresh and tasty. 2. Although I ordered a veggie curry, the base was still a "beef curry" and there were little pieces of beef in my curry. This made the dish much heavier than I thought and not something I expected. So this place might not be best for vegetarians given the default options. 3. They ask if you want pickles on the side, as if they would charge extra, but I don't think they do. Overall though, I would definitely come back and maybe ask if they have other curry bases and see how those might be. Overall, a very solid Japanese curry place.

Noodle Dynasty - Lamb and Tomato Lo Mein 番茄羊捞面 ($14.99) - I found the sauce too sweet.

Noodle Dynasty

(450 reviews)

$$

Telegraph Ave

One of the best spots for noodle soup in the Bay Area. I've tried coming here on 3 different…read moreaccounts and the line was always too long to fit my agenda. After the long anticipation, I was able block off my calendar and finally try this place on a Friday night. We had a part of 7 and it was more challenging to find a table to fit all of us. Especially with the wait, I would recommend coming here with parties of 4-5 max. The restaurant was mainly filled with students from the nearby college so it's very lively and packed. Usually when my anticipation is high, my expectations are higher and I'm usually disappointed but this did not disappoint!! The broth was so flavorful and the noodles had the perfect consistency of bounce and chew. The meats were tender and on top of that, the portions are huge and very reasonably priced! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but highly recommend the House Special Beef Rib Noodle Soup if it's your first time.

Came here on a Sunday evening at 7:00pm, the line was long but it moved pretty quick and we got…read moreseated in around 20-30 mins for party of 2. We ordered the beef noodle soup with the 8‑hour broth, the pickled cabbage and fish fillet noodle soup, and a cucumber appetizer. Everything was really tasty, both noodle soups hit the spot with generous portion. The cucumber was refreshing with balanced sesame seasoning. Definitely a place we'd come back to just to try more things on the menu. Highlights for me: The daikon in the beef noodle soup is so soft and flavorful and the portion of noodles they give you. We got the non‑spicy broth with thin noodles, which ended up being super similar to the noodles in the pickled cabbage and fish fillet soup. The pickled cabbage in other bowl gives this extra kick that makes it stand out.

Oken - Yukhwe Onigiri- Two piece crispy rice, beef tartare, quail egg, perilla.

Oken

(60 reviews)

Rockridge, North Oakland

Planned a friend date and suddenly I knew what it felt like to be a guy…read more With no context of what the girl likes, and judging by her taste in make up, catalog of stamps from around the world, and a diverse palette Bob Ross could paint with, I provided two options. Oken was 1st choice while the 2nd choice was somewhat more casual. MAGURO CARPACCIO - FRESH MAITAKE TEMPURA - Great texture, not greasy BAECHU SALAD - lots of flavor and love a crispy topping WAGYU KALBI SHORT RIB SSAM - TENDER af, great flavor STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE - subtle, not too sweet Asian fusion can sometimes be a hit or miss but Oken executed every dish beautifully. Make reservations because this place fills up quick. Good date spot. Great service. Amazing food.

Came here on a Friday night and had to wait over an hour to get seated at a table. Highly recommend…read moremaking reservations ahead of time if you don't want to wait. We ended up seating at a shared communal table for dinner. We ordered maguro tuna carpaccio and hamachi hand roll set as appetizers to start. Carpaccio was very thinly sliced with interesting Asian fusion flavors. I loved the hamachi handroll set; well seasoned thick cuts of fish. We also shared the ocean trout and mentaiko pasta for entrees and both were good. Crispy skin on the fish was excellent. The pasta was buttery but felt like it was missing something. We got yogurt soju and Sauvignon blanc wine, both were really good. Small restaurant with small tapa style plates. Great vibes and suitable for date night. Prices were high for the amount of food but amazing service!

Manpuku - japanese - Updated May 2026

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