The sushi was really good. I ordered the dragon roll and it was amazing. The eel was so fresh and you can't beat the prices. Love it!!

Perfect if you're looking for SPEEDY, FILLING, and CHEAP ramen. It's delicious and casual.

I love this place! For a couple years I was eating sushi about two times a week (conservative estimate) and Manpuku is the reason I wasn't totally broke. The ratio of taste to price is very high. Fish quality I would say is high medium. I love the chirashi, rock and roll, spider roll and philadelphia. I'm not a huge noodle fan but I've heard it's pretty good here too. Wait staff is always nice and attentive. Ambiance is very (long) hole in the wall, which I like. But not fancy if that's what you're looking for. Not the place to impress your (shallow) date but definitely good to feed your sushi need. read more

Lately I have been on a weird search for Japanese ramen. It's one food that I have found that just isn't replicated here in the States with any degree of talent, or particularly well for that matter. All of the problems that ramen has here in the States boils down to one thing: the broth. I went to Manpaku hoping that it was going to bring the ramen hard to the dome when it came to this particular cornerstone of Japanese food. I moved back from Japan Fall last year, 2010, so my point of reference is as that. I have had ramen from the country that does it well, and quite frequently. It's important to note that Manpaku is not in a restaurant from Japan. It is a restaurant in Berkeley, CA USA that does Japanese food. They make no claims about importing product, ingredients, chefs or anything from Japan. I went in there with these realistic expectations and was immediately happy to see an icepack cooler next to the register with wasabi, pickled ginger and other stuff. I assume they were some sort of fresh, made-in-store deli items, so that was great. The place itself is a clean, long, half bar - half seated corridor with an exposed kitchen. A lot of ramen bars in Japan are literally five to ten seat bars where you order from a machine, sit in front of the chefs, they make what's on your ticket and then slide a bowl of the stuff down in front of you. In a really non-ceremonious kind of way too. My nostalgia did not get the better of me because, baby, this wasn't just a ramen restaraunt. They have soba and udon dishes, bizarre Americanized sushi, Don - or bowl dishes, and, well, other stuff - all of which I wasn't into on this visit because I came for one thing and one thing only: ramen. The shoyu and miso ramen were the first two kinds of ramen that had been sitting there on an edge of my mind and wouldn't you know, there they were, the first two ramens on the menu were shoyu and miso. It was nice to see that they even had champon ramen and maybe like five other different kinds of ramen. The place is legit. At least that is what I am thinking. I still hadn't ordered anything, but at $5.50 for a bowl of a great soup thing is a price you just cannot beat. If you could, you may want to think twice about eating it all. I ordered the shoyu (soy sauce) ramen from a nice lady and added a bottle of Oi Ocha brand green tea from the freezer behind me. it Again, this tea is common apparently round here in the Bay. That's pretty good too because Oi Ocha is the only tea worth your time. So I got a 20oz. bottle of real green tea and an order of ramen, which i have traditionally come to expect to be served in a giant hand washing basin. I didn't expect things to be as similar as I have previously experienced mainly because this is not another country! This is 'merica or whatever. At 4pm on a Thursday the kitchen staff was composed of three or four people, some asian, one of them not asian. Not that any of that really matters. However how many times have you stepped into an any number of chinese, indian, japanese, turkish, greek, or ethiopian restaurants and been greeted by a beaming anglo-saxon shaped face? You look back into the kitchen and you got goateed, retired bikers making falafel. I sat down and checked in on foursquare. Being confronted with non-ethnic people in an ethnic eatery is not a terrible thing if you're just going to eat, but if you go to someplace with the intention of replicating some sort of expectation or experience then it is always nice to get something that feels authentic. Well, my argument is pretty weak here. The good news is is that Manpaku doesn't really have to worry about anything like this. My ramen had arrived! A quick check revealed that all the things that should be ramen were in there: bamboo shoots, two slices of salty pork, nori sheets, ramen noodles, half moon shapes of fish cake, half a hardboiled egg, all in a toasted color broth. There was a surprise too - squares of tofu. Being that tofu is great and also inherently something that could go into ramen, what a bonus! As the british would say, I tucked right into that big dog bowl of a soup. I spooned some broth into my mouth to see if they had done it. They had just kind of done it. Instead of feeling like they had a big vat of the stuff simmering away it tasted like maybe I was the only person to have ordered the shoyu ramen in the last four hours. It was not bad by any stretch, but it was just a very basic thing. Didn't pack the salty punch I hoped for. The noodles were great. That al dente style helps you slurp the things up the way you ought to. The sprouts could be left out. Everything was formed up just fine. This was not a bad bowl of ramen I had myself here. The shining star of the soup would be the pork though. It even tasted of that braised shochu, sukiyaki sauce. A real staple flavor. With the price like that I won't hesitate going there again very soon. read more

About as good pork broth ramen as I've found in the East Bay. Wish they had a beer license tho'

Cheap sushi! I go here so often, I save a PDF file of their menu on my phone. The aloha roll (6.95) is really good! Just don't expect that one roll to fill you. Fried California roll is cheap (3/4$) and to die for. The bento box deals are a really good steal at manpuku. For anywhere form $6 to $9 you get a quality, filling bento box with the standard goodies: rice, miso soup, salad, meat, etc. & strangely enough they always put one single stick of broccoli in one of the partitions. Just one single broccoli. But it's seasoned pretty nicely and maybe it's just the "free sample" effect but it's a pretty good tasting broccoli. The only thing I wouldn't recommend getting here is their ramen which is cheap, but not very good. read more

Super efficient, great food, inexpensive. Totally our jam when we're feeling sushi. All around great.

Very affordable Japanese food for students! The Hakata ramen is my favorite, and one of the few good ramen in town. Good variety of sushi selection. The Servers were nice even though the students here don't give good tips. read more

I ordered tenzaru soba and Hakata ramen. The both food were horrible and the service was so poor. Don't recommend it.

Well... it was crowded and college street is a nice area around there so I figured good! You pay then you wait for your food. This is the bad part- I am OK with the sushi of course but the teriyaki bowls and miso should be the appropriate temperature. I got an Ashby roll and a tempura roll that was pretty good- the tea was just cafeteria style and nothing special. So if you want an ok meal that is average, this is your place. I only went once; it could be better at another time (or worse?) but has steadily good prices for what you get. read more

I'm from out of town and had been craving sushi so I Google searched some local places, found this one, and gave it a try. I ordered the dragon roll and miso soup, and was thoroughly disappointed. The roll was lacking all the appealing, healthy color it had in the menu photo, and the soup tasted like hot, vaguely miso flavored water. What really was irritating though was a waitress who repeatedly leaned over the table to take the napkin dispenser, or another time the soy sauce, or a third time the jar of chopsticks to refill them when each item was already ninety percent full. Personal preference, but on top of sub par food I was frustrated that someone kept hovering and giving the impression that I was in her way. Would not recommend. read more

DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was the worst dining experience ever! I am in the process of contacting the state of CA because I am not sure how this place is passing for an establishment. I came here with my girlfriends for sushi. First- you have to pay for your food...which was bizarre. The food and fish look old. I ordered tuna hand roll and Ramen, which I asked for with only shrimp. My hand rolls came out first then my Ramen---I had barely finished my hand rolls before the waiter picked up my plate and placed the Ramen. My Ramen had muscles, calamari, shrimp, fish, seafood. I decided not to say anything. I ate the muscles and they hand sand in it!!!! When I put the muscles in my mouth all I tasted was grain!!! My girlfriend ordered the salmon roll....when it arrived there was fat dripping off the side of the roll. She called the waiter and asked for something different. We didnt even ask for our money back, we asked to replace our meal with something else. The waiter returned and said no sorry we dont do that. We then asked for a refund the waiter said sorry we dont do that either. I asked to speak to the manager and they told us the manager was gone for the day. I said call him because this is ridiculous. They refused to call the manager. They called another woman who came over and asked what was wrong---we tried to explain to her that the food was dirty, like literally dirty!!!! She laughed! She said sorry that was what you paid for so you have to eat it. At this point there was no use in arguing they did not understand what we were saying. This place lacks customer service and etiquette. As a restaurant your job should be to make sure your patrons are happy....I have sent the manager a message he hasn't even bothered to respond. This place is fraud. I literally came home and vomited. Hope this place gets shut down ASAP...I'm making it my mission to call the state of California and send food inspection to this disgusting place. read more

Manpuku - Seafood ramen with sand in it - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is steadily good for the price. Very cheap rolls, drinks, and other dishes like ramen and chirashi, my go to. The chirashi bowl is tasty and filling, and the dragon roll is one of my favorites. The ramen here is also good for those cold days and the beer prices are.... MUAH... Low. read more

Fast, fresh and inexpensive Japanese food. I like to drop in when I'm in a hurry to pick up readymade rolls and seaweed salad. Glad to find a choice like this on College Ave. Once in awhile I'll eat in and get a bowl of their spicy ramen. read more

Obviously, this is not a "real" Japanese restaurant. Noticed change in ownership a few months ago. The quality of food dropped to a new low with the change, and the new people manning the counter are the most incompetent, rude & unpleasant restaurant workers we have ever had the misfortune of interacting with. Never, ever, going back. read more

The first time I ate here, I went in with a friend, and came out with two more! We met some great people when we shared a table on a packed Sunday night...shared food, talked about life, love and laughs. I love this place because the people are super friendly, food is affordable and quality, vibes are right and every time I've been, I come out happy! read more

Price is great and the sushi is decent but the service is lacking and my friends and I sometimes feel sick after eating here.

The Philadelphia Roll is to DIE FOR!!!! Also a good environment to hang out with friends. I am thankful for Manpuku read more

Cheap college "sushi" you get what you pay for. Honestly they've been in business this long because there's no quality sushi nearby and their prices appeal to Berkeley students. Not because the food is good! read more

Manpuku is a pretty good place for its PRICE. It's close to the school so price just can't be too high. We go there at least once a week. I always like sushi combo A - with 1 california roll, 1 tuna or salmon roll and 5 pieces of nigiri, for only $8.95. I think this is one of the cheapest sushi restaurants I know in the bay area. Nippon Sushi in Pacifica is another cheap place, but in terms of quality, I think Manpuku is better. Though there's always a line at the cashier(need to order and pay first), many are to-go orders, so finding a table is not so difficult. And usually we don't need to wait for too long to get our order. Average wait time is about 15 minutes and I think that's completely reasonable. read more

I went here for lunch, then I went back for dinner on the same day. It's easy to get addicted to a place that serves high quality food at ridiculously low prices. The service is fast, friendly. Although walking past on College Avenue, one might not even notice this hole in the wall. I was pleasantly surprised. It's probably not the best sashimi place however, but their rolls are pretty good. read more

Unbeatable price for the quality. People typically whine that the fish isn't as fresh as they wanted, but for $1.40 a piece? Who are you to complain. For that price, I would have expected much worse. The nigiri is, eh, okay, but the specialty rolls are where it's at. A 10 piece roll going for sub $6? I'm sold. They are pretty damn tasty too. Dinner items are not bad. Personally, I enjoyed the katsu the most. The ramen was pretty good as well. Definitely recommend coming here if you are looking for a quick sushi fix. read more

Kreaky B.'s most favorite Japanese food in the Bay. If I give out all of my secrets then everyone will show up and Manpuku might run out of sushi. read more

Hey Sushi Fans, This is my go to sushi place when I want high quality sushi at a reasonable price, in a non-pretensous setting. Man Puku's service is always fast and friendly. It's usually easy to find a seat at the sushi bar or a table as long as you're not there at peak hours. If you want to die and go to heaven, try the Aloha Roll. Thinly sliced lemon on top of a salmon roll. A divine combination. Hot tea is complimentary and always hits the spot. The neighborhood is great too. Parking can be a bit tricky, but if you park a few blocks away from the busy part of College Ave, you'll find a spot without much trouble. If you're looking for really good sushi that won't empty your wallet, look no further than Man Puku. Happy customer, Rob Shapera read more

ramen soba udon sushi .. good fast and affordable and consistent they do a pretty good job here ,, not the best but eat get full and get out..you know what i am saying read more

Their vegetarian rolls were surprisingly good. Definitely a fan of the mango and tempura asparagus roll, and the dried squash roll was not terribly memorable, but yummy. For the price, I'd definitely return. read more

I love this little Japanese restaurant! Very cheap, tasty sushi and ramen. I've tried many rolls from the plain rolls to their special rolls and they've all been consistently good. This is one of the only sushi joints my picky boyfriend will eat at. They have a selection of to-go food, which are half off after 9:30PM i believe. read more

I'm not sure where to start? I love this place. The sushi is to die for. Everytime I come, I always get a dragon roll & cucumber roll, which are amazing. I got the ramen couples times which is delicious too, a bit salty but I love it like that. I wasn't that impressed with the katsu which made me sad since I LOVE katsu. But it doesn't take away any stars from this place. Since they have the best sushi and the best prices I've ever had :) The cooks are real friendly too! I probably come here at least two to three times a week! read more

For the price, this place cannot be beat. I love their salmon avocado roll, their ramen soups, and gyoza. Three of us had a blind taste test last night of their salmon-avocado compared to Kirala's, and I preferred Manpuku, but basically none of us could tell the difference. It is also about half the price of Kirala. Then we tried the nigiri. Although the nigiri is cheaper than Kirala, it is also smaller, and all three of us preferred Kirala, but not by too much. (we tried the salmon, tuna and maki?). Our lesson - rolls are the way to go at Manpuku, and the nigiri is comparable for how cheap it is. read more

This place is great for when you want some cheap Japanese food quick. The portions are sizeable for the noodles which can be convenient if you're on a budget and want leftovers. As far as flavor goes I would say that it's decent for the price-- I still go back for the noodles every so often at least. read more

Cheap. Good sushi. Fast for pickup. noticed thay they only had limited seating. They are cheap on giving away soy sauce and wasabi.

Went here several times. Tried different items each time, and each time I was happy with what I ordered. I particularly like the Chirashi. Its not a fancy restaurant, sort of small, but its nice and bustling. The prices are very good. Will definitely go here again. read more

I'm a senior at Cal and have just found this gem of a restaurant. Sadly I wish I found it sooner! After trying every Japanese restaurant around Berkeley, Manpuku is hands down my favorite. For the cheap amount you pay, you get satisfying portions and they taste delicious. Cheap big sushi rolls. Also FREE HOT TEA! Also I love that they have a pre-made to-go section. I always get chicken teriyaki for the next day's lunch. My only problem is the seating. Its a little cramped since its a popular place, I end up always waiting for a table. If you you don't mind bar seating they have that as well. Overall for Berkeley its your best bet!!!! read more

I'm a vegetarian, so that's why it gets five stars! The three veggie rolls I sampled were all delicious and fresh. The best part-- the price hovered around two dollars a roll. I had enough to take some home. I'm trying the vegetarian udon next. read more

Ordered the Hakata Ramen and it was pretty good but the real Hakata Ramen is way better. My friend ordered salmon bentobox and it was decent. Price is awesome Aka cheap..^^ Small place and crowded. Definitely will go back to try others such as sushi and udon. read more

the name of this restaurant reminds me of the movie "apocalypto"...or "the emperor's new groove"...or some kind of mystic mayan city... sigh please excuse my ignorance... my friend and i went here on a tuesday night. now that i think of it, it was really crowded for a tuesday night! we went to satisfy our ramen craving. i had their champon and my friend had their pork ramen. the champon was good. they stir fry vegetables and seafood, and then put that in their pork broth, which makes the soup souper flavorful. HAHA GET IT?? my friend's broth wasn't as rich or tasty. it's perfect on a cold berkeley night. i didn't really like the pork in my ramen. i also thought the noodles were a slight downgrade from other ramen places i've tried, but it was chewy. and their portions are pretty good. manpuku is solid. i would come back for their champon. read more

2 stars because its cheap. The sushi and rolls are typically very sloppily made. We thought this place was ok at first, then after several consistent disappointments, have decided to never go back. read more

My husband and I love this place. It is super casual and cheap and the best part always fresh because of the daily turnover, a popular place among UCB students. Sitting at the bar is fun to watch the chefs. read more

Awesome cheap sushi! There's always a crowd and if you come with 3+ group, it'll be challenging to find a table. That said, I come here every Friday (I'm not kidding either!) and get my sushi fix here. It's a Korean-owned sushi joint so I love that they added sesame seed oil in the spicy tuna roll! Just adds a nice umami flavor~. My biggest beef w/this place isn't the actual restaurant, but how there'll be HOARDS of Cal students, which again is fine, but they come in these massive groups and pay for their order individually. This drives me nuts and makes the wait that much longer. Just have one person order and everyone pay that person holy crap! In short, this place doesn't have the finest sushi but it's cheap and the quality for your buck is good. read more

Manpuku is terrific. The food is always very tasty, there are lots of vegetarian options (including great veggie yaki soba--yum!), and the prices are a super good deal. It's informal--you order at the counter. Then help yourself to some nice hot tea. read more