Decent sushi but unagi/ eel was not super fresh. A portion of fish was the tiniest I've seen in a roll. Ordered a miso and green side salad. Misso was a bit watery and salad was not very fresh, from a bag and underdressed. read more

Manpuku - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Manpuku gets crowded around lunch time, so beware! A total of three of us went to the restaurant for some noontime sushi. We intended to eat there, and were a bit taken aback by how small the space is. The three of us ended up eating at the "bar" area. The rice is a bit too sweet for my liking, but I enjoyed the creativity of the rolls (I had a roll with mango and unagi -- very nice!) Overall, not very high quality sushi, but served at a good price. read more

This place is more quantity than quality. Stopped here for lunch on more than one occassion with coworkers. Had the ramen and gyoza the first time. Not that impressed. Actually there was something a bit off with the dashi in the soup. Gyoza was , meh. I've had better. The next time I was there I opted for the sushi. Not the best, not the freshest. Just OK. read more

Typical Korean owned Japanese joint that serves a variety of fusion rolls that pile tons of different fish and mayo sauces into a large roll for a pretty good price. The value is fairly good, but the quality and flavor is lacking. I've definitely had better value at places like Sushi Arigato in Sacramento, but for the location you can't beat the price. 2.5 stars for food flavor and value. p.s. Don't get the Ramen, it's mushy (ramen noodles are supposed to be chewy!) and tastes like the broth is made with gochu jan and not salty enough. read more

So, Manpuku. Freshest fish? Not really. Most diverse menu? Meh. Service? Like a dorm cafeteria. Sustainable sourcing? Pfft, unlikely - I mean, how else do they keep sushi that cheap? But Manpuku has a couple things going for it: their service is lightening-fast, dirt-cheap, and given that, totally satisfying. Usually we opt for nicer sit-down sushi restaurants, but if the sushi craving hits and we're in a rush, this is our best bet for quick take-out sushi that doesn't taste like it's from the corner store deli. read more

Great prices, good portions and decent quality for the price. You order at the register and then seat yourself. Keep your receipt on the table. What I didn't like was the fact they don't bus their tables enough so as you walk thru... some tables are filled with dirty plates. I ordered the sashimi app, tempura veg app and we also ordered a few bento boxes. The food was ok. Not bad for the money. If you want fast food Japanese that's good, this is your spot. read more

This place was definitely worth the trip! Solid 4 stars So I've been hearing about this sushi place in Berkeley that is really cheap and has good quality sushi. They weren't kidding! spicy tempura rolls are $4.75, dragon rolls are $6.25, CA maki is $2.75 ($3.85 deep fried)!!! Manpuku's menu consists of a pretty decent selection of maki and nigiri, ramen, udon/soba, and bentos (they even sell mochi near the front). Unlike some other places, at Manpuku you order at the register first. I was handed their menu and began to stare at awe at the prices. After a brief moment, I collected myself and ordered the spider roll ($4.25), tempura roll ($4.75) and the ashby maki (fried hamachi and salmon, $6.25) My friends ordered the sushi combo A (CA roll, tuna/salmon roll and assorted nigiri...$9.99), the NY roll and the spicy tuna maki. The sushi came in a little over 5 minutes. Ashby maki (5pc): Don't order this. It was alrite. The taste was great and I enjoyed their rice(It was firm, mushy like a lot of other places). However, there was too much rice. Spider roll (5pc): ORDER THIS! The cons? It fell apart on me sometimes. That's about it. The taste was great and it was pretty cheap. Tempura Roll (5pc): This was pretty good. I hate how they don't clip the tail. Sure you know what your eating is shrimp and it adds to the appearance but it is annoying taking it out. You can have the spicy version for the same price. I also had a salmon and the NY roll...The salmon was clean and fresh but the NY roll was nothing special The atmosphere was alright. Manpuku is a hole in the wall place where the walls are adorned with artwork from local artists...it feels like a nice little neighborhood hangout. I love their music selection too. They were playing jazz when I went...and when I say jazz I mean REAL jazz (coltrane and miles davis) and not that kenny g stuff. Furthermore, it has one of the cleanest public restrooms I have ever seen. The service was wonderful. The food arrived an a little over 5 minutes and the staff was friendly. In short: great food, their prices are amazing, they have additional items posted on the wall above the register, you park on the street, this place is a wonderful choice (especially if you're on a budget), I'll probably be back. read more

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Omg. Manpuku is one of the best cheap sushi places I've ever been been to! When the girlfriend and I got there, it was packed; however, the free self serve tea and the surprisingly short wait kept us busy. I believe the short wait may be due to the fact that you pay before you eat. I got the chirashi bowl for 10$ and she got an udon with tempura on the side for 8.50$. And we both got an aloha roll and the red dragon. Each around 8.50$. All of it was amazing The chirashi bowl was pretty big for what you pay for; fresh ingredients too! The udon and tempura were nice and hot when they served it to us. I was also impressed with the size of the bowl. You can order said bowl by itself for around 6$. Finally, the sushi rolls were nice and big. In my opinion, the aloha roll was one of the best rolls I've ever tasted. Overall: great cheap; fresh sushi, big portions, and a decent wait time will definitely see me back to Manpuku. The only disappointment I have is not finding this hidden gem sooner. read more

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Manpuku: A good way to satisfy massive sushi cravings without spending too much money or going to a buffet. Not to be confused with Ippuku, the upscale, foodie-oriented robatayaki and tapas restaurant in Downtown. (Not to worry, I'm going to offer more detail than a dictionary definition-like Yelp review) For the longest time I thought Manpuku was some fancy sushi place on par with Ippuku, but it's essentially the opposite--a solid menu that just about covers any standard Japanese dish that may be on your mind. In fact, the choices are so complete, making decisions can be agonizing, especially with the low prices which allow you a budget for several sushi rolls. Oh, and to address the elephant in the room for Cal students--this is way better quality than Tako Sushi. I opted for vegetarian sushi because I was in a pretend-to-be-healthy mood... and this would be a place to have decent vegetarian sushi. In Berkeley we trust. Tropical Maki (deep fried asparagus and mango, $2.95): One of those odd rolls that sound hit-or-miss, this turns out to be a hit. Strange though it may sound, the tempura coating, asparagus, and mango go well together, remotely reminiscent of sweet and sour pork. Elmwood (shitake and spinach, $2.75): It's exactly as I expected, very health-tastying with the spinach and hearty with the fleshy mushrooms. Futo maki (big vege roll, $3.25): Not bad, but you can get futo maki anywhere and there didn't seem to be anything special about the one here, except for being pretty big (I had to eat it in two bites and I almost always eat sushi whole). 3 maki rolls was quite filling and towards the end I was having trouble finishing it even though I was rather hungry to start with. (Maybe the Ici's ice cream I had beforehand had filled me up--on that note, highly recommend Ici's if you are in the area.) Also, just a warning that their wasabi is decently spicy, which I didn't expect from a place that seemed to have a more quantity-over-quality focus. I got here a bit after 6pm on a weekday and it was surprisingly packed, so I would suggest getting to-go. They also have a bunch of pre-packed sushi, Nijiya market style if you are super on-the-go. Tips: - Take a look at the online menu ahead of time, or walk up to the cash register to grab a paper menu while waiting in line. With all the choices, it's helpful to have extra time to ponder over the menu and come to terms with your inner cravings. - Don't fall victim to the Thai Basil logical fallacy--remember that even though you are getting take-out which is supposed to be fast and convenient, it's still a restaurant and they need time to make your food (though they are notably faster than Thai Basil) read more

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Now don't get it twisted, I am a fan of this place because of its portion to quality to price ratio. Not because they have IMMENSELY DELICIOUS sushi, which they do not. All the food was a bit higher in quality than average in accordance to its price. For what you pay, it's relatively good food. I could see myself coming here frequently had they better parking and was a little bit closer to me. If you need a sushi fix or a ramen fix because their ramen is pretty good for what you pay. Everything tastes fine and dandy, so nobody has to splurge on their sushi. A nice cheap best friend dinner date. It is all we need =). Philly Roll + Dragon Roll + Manpuku Ramen = $18. read more

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I give this place a 2.5 but rounded down since I thought everybody else's reviews were overly high. First of all, this place is kind of pricey for what you get. I got the Manpuku roll thinking one roll would be enough for me (I'm a small girl) but the roll came out to be only about the size of a corndog. Cost: 6.75 (7.41 net tax) The eel on the roll was pretty good but the rest of the roll was sub-par. They didn't put enough rice on it so it didn't come out round and appetizing. Instead, it just ended up looking...weak. read more

Manpuku - Meager Manpuku roll - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Manpuku is definitely a good place for students because it's tasty, cheap, and relatively close to campus. ATMOSPHERE Don't expect to find seating right away since it's one of the narrowest and smallest restaurants I've ever been to. You have the option of sitting at a small table or at the "bar," which is really just a counter in front of the kitchen. There's usually a line since it's a small place, but the wait isn't too long. The staff are friendly; they smile and are very courteous. Some of the workers are actually students, so it's nice to see familiar faces. FOOD The food here is cheap and the quality isn't too bad, considering how affordable it is. Basic sushi rolls (like avocado rolls, CA rolls) are under $5 and the fancier rolls are about $8-9 depending on how fancy it gets. Don't expect too much variety when it comes to sushi. It seems like Manpuku is known more for their other Japanese dishes, such as udon soup, fried udon, ramen, etc. The udon noodle soups and the ramen are delightful. They are flavorful and are the best remedy for a cold day in Berkeley. The fried udon is pretty good too! I usually like to get 1-2 rolls OR 1 roll and a noodle dish. There's also free water and hot tea that is all self-serve across from the cashier. The portions are big so you can expect to walk out of the restaurant with a fat belly and a fat wallet! read more

Manpuku - tempura udon soup - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

The sushi was okay! The wait wasn't too long even arriving after a large group of people. The price isn't that bad, but the sushi wasn't as fresh as we had hoped. They also have calpico which was a huge plus! Would come again! read more

Manpuku - Red Dragon roll and sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I've been coming here like once a week. Their food is cheap for the good quality and amount. Their teriyaki chicken is one of the best tasting I've had. And their sashimi is fresh fish and for about 8 dollars for a mixed sashimi appetizer or chirashi? So worth it! Their ramen is perfectly sized... large. and so warm on a cold and rainy day. the only thing is I think I will stop going because I've exhausted everything on their menu, 3 times over... but for everyone else, you should definitely go because this place is a bang for the buck. read more

A decent bowl of ramen for a good price. Skip the donburi it's overpriced. I have to say, the calling out numbers gets old. Can you just give us a number to bring to our tables? read more

You get what you pay for. This restaurant is located in the desirable Elmwood neighborhood. The service was excellent and the food came out super fast. The reason I give this place 3 starts is I ordered 4 pieces of sashimi (salmon) which was okay, the $3 small sake was good, but the caterpillar roll I had was horrible. There was barely any eel in the roll, it was mostly cucumber and rice. I guess that's what you get for an $8.50 roll. If you want okay sushi at low prices this is your place. But if you are seeking high quality sushi you will be disappointed and should try the sushi place down the street, across from Peet's coffee:) read more

Quality? It's not bad, but it isn't the best. Price? YES (it's really reasonable). Would I come back? Yes, we have already once. Do you need to come here? Yes, but I wouldn't drive hours for it or anything...if you live in the neighborhood and want some decent food for a good price, this is your choice. read more

Absolutely awful. Came here and ordered to go, it took over an hour for them to prepare my order and they did not give a warning about how much time it would take. That is terrible customer service. read more

Delicious. I came here after hearing about the rolls and ramen. It was very crowded for a Thursday night but it might have been for the weird seating setup they have. The seating is really narrow and there are people who just DO NOT leave even if they are done. Luckily, the waiters/waitresses will ask you to leave if this is the case and there are other people waiting. The line was really short when I got there. I ordered the avocado rolls (6 for $2.75) and the hakata ramen (pork flavored) for around $6 I think. The avocado rolls were AMAZING. The rice was great and avocados were so creamy and delicious. I am salivating just thinking about them (gross, I know). The ramen was really good too and a huge size. My roommates and I had to crowd around one little table so we could all fit and after some rearranging and putting the napkin holder on the floor it worked! In the ramen there are pieces of pork, ramen (obviously), an egg, bean sprouts, and other vegetables. It was so much food that I had to resign to taking some home...weak. The staff was friendly but I think their method of serving is ineffective. They have you put your receipt on the table and then they walk around trying to find you. That is a minor detail though. Excellent food for an unbeatable price. Plus, downtown College is so cute! I will absolutely be coming back here. Must have more avocado rolls! read more

Manpuku keeps me coming back for their price to quality. The fish is decent enough that a 12 dollar combo is worth it. If you like cream cheese in your rolls then you got to try the Philadelphia Roll. Salmon and cream cheese. Yuuuum. As for their veggie rolls, they're very cheap. The avo roll is well worth the two bucks. They load it with smooth avocado. Unfortunately they don't get very creative with their veggie rolls. You can do better manpuku! Update your veggie roll selection and I'll update my review! Their udon tastes like what I've had overseas but is over priced. If it weren't for the price I wouldn't have come back because I've had my order messed up once. They forgot about my udon once. Then when they brought it out it had fish cake in it. Then on a separate occasion there was a long back hair... Not ON my sushi roll... But TANGLED into the roll/rice. Disgusting. It took a long time to come back after that. But for the price Manpuku is good enough. The free tea is a nice touch too. Get creative with your veggie rolls please! read more

Manpuku - Sushi combo A! () - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is an affordable place for college students who would like to get sushi (as if sushi can be affordable). We came at around 2pm on a Saturday. Since its a small place and had a 20-30 wait, we decided to go to the "garage" restaurant that is affiliated with the main restaurant. From what the server told me, the "garage" restaurant had more appetizers, can serve alcohol, and was less busy than the main restaurant. Server was alright. She was not rude/sour but she wasn't nice either. She was probably tired so it's alright We ordered the Sushi Combo C, the largest sushi combo there, and the Aloha roll. We had 3 people, so we shared these two dishes among us. The price turned out to be ~$11 each when we split among us. Not too shabby. The food was good for its price. We left the restaurant with not empty stomachs. My friends said they were full. Honestly, I think I could have eaten everything by myself. But hey, I'm a hungry person at a sushi place. One complaint is that we got one miso soups since we ordered one combo. We had to pass the soup around. They were kinda stingy of their miso soups, but it's understandable since we only ordered one combo. Overall: would come back again when I'm in the sushi mood and I feel adventurous to go to the College Ave area Update: the food was alright. Now that I think about it, the quality would be on par with that of Safeway sushi. Similar to Safeway sushi, I felt like the food was somewhat safe and clean. The food was not fantastic, but it was not bland either. read more

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I cook better than this... ordered katsu curry , bland meat with little vegetable. Regret instantly. read more

Bottom Line: Decent sushi and ramen that matches expectations for the price. We needed a quick bite before catching a movie across the street and decided to give Manpuku a shot. I appreciated that vegetarian items were clearly marked on the menu in green font. I ordered two rolls: avocado maki and the Futo Maki ("Big Vegetarian Roll"). Girlfriend took a shot with the Shoyu ramen. It comes with pork but she asked to substitute chicken and they obliged even though they "don't normally do substitutions". She thought the fish in the sushi case didn't look particularly fresh, so decided against a fishy roll. I wanted beer but we discovered that beer is only served next door at the sit-down part. You order at a counter and then the food comes out by number. Ours arrived quickly and was nicely presented. Sushi was tasty enough and girlfriend was pleased with the ramen after she doctored it with shichimi togarashi and chile oil. They were very generous with the chicken! Overall, it was pretty good, especially for the price. Ambiance leaves something to be desired but fits the bill for a quick bite. read more

Manpuku - veggie rolls for a happy vegan - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Taste: 3 Value: 3 Service: 4 Came here with a friend to grab lunch, and I think I got some ramen. It was all right, but it wasn't anything special. The place itself isn't very big, so seating can sometimes be hard. The lines seem to always be really long. read more

This is a good place to go if you have nothing in the fridge and don't want to go to any other restaurant in the neighborhood. I have gotten their ramen twice and unfortunately I do not like their ramen at all (I had the champion ramen and winter ramen). Both times I came because of a craving for ramen yet both times I leave thinking "why did I come here, I should have just bought a pack of Top Ramen and some vegetables and made my own at home." read more

Ordered some ramen and some sushi, and here's my verdict: Ramen was delicious (though I'm a huge fan of ramen and it was raining torrents of rain outside and I was freezing, so this review might be a little biased in that sense). Definitely worth ordering. Sushi however was a bit of a miss. I ordered a rainbow roll (basically different kinds of fish on top of California rolls) and the fish was not too fresh. Not only was the fish discolored, but the texture of the fish made it evident that it had freezer burn and was refrozen and defrosted many times over. The fish had no taste and I really think it has the potential to make people sick. Price wise, the place is not bad for ramen (though one could argue that ramen can be made at home for less than a few dollars which I agree with). ~$6 plus change. The sushi is about the same price but for the quality, it is not worth it. I would go again if I was looking for food and warmth out of the cold Berkeley weather, but on any other day, I would skip this place in a heartbeat. read more

This place was really crowded for a tiny restaurant. Luckily after we ordered we saw someone leaving so we snagged the table. The sushi was fresh and tasty. Doesn't come with too many, ordered four different ones between two people. Normally we can barely finish two normal rolls (small appetites). But we finished all four no problem. read more

Manpuku - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Reasonable prices, relatively fast service, and tasty sushi. PROS - The food comes out pretty quickly & tastes good. - Prices are reasonable, especially considering it's sushi! - California rolls are fine NOT-SO-PROS - You have to order before you get a table: in other words, you stand near the entrance until everyone in your group figures out what they want to get. - Kind of small & cramped, so a party of 2 to 4 people is best. - Ramen was decent but nothing spectacular. - Gyoza was meh - really oily & not that crispy. - Fried california rolls - not very crunchy... which defeats the purpose of getting 'em fried - The chicken katsu (fried chicken): the chicken wasn't whole intact chicken, but rather it was cut/chopped and re-made into patties... kind of like chicken nuggets. Blegh. read more

Finally, a ramen place in the bay!! I'm sorry to say, but the ramen here does not compare to NYC! It doesn't compare to Menkuitei, it doesn't compare to Menchankotei, it just doesn't even come close!!! First off, the noodles were really waxy and almost a bit too al dente. It didn't have that spring-y, bounce-y ness that really fresh ramen has. Second, the broth was a bit too salty and it lacked distinction. It was hard to tell between a pork broth and a miso broth because they were so similar. Third, and everyone who reads my Yelp reviews knows this, but the EGG was overcooked. That's my favorite part. The runny, ooey gooey, egg that just really complements the salty ramen. No fancy egg here, just a dry, common egg. Boo hoo. Sad!! If I was in the bay area and I was craving ramen, I'd come to Manpuku because sometimes you just have to make do with what you got. But, I'd be dreaming about the delicious Ramen restaurants in NY.... Ippudo, Menkuitei, Minca... to name a few..... droooooooooooolsssssssssss. on a side note: you order from the front, find your own seat, and then the waiter/waitress brings you your food. Also, it's relatively inexpensive, definitely more of a lunch grab and go, then a dinner spot read more

Manpuku is my go-to place for my sushi cravings. It's a quick 10 minute walk from Unit 2 (of UC Berkeley), and only a few bus stops away from campus. It's also conveniently located right near the perfect dessert place... Ici! I always try to go with one other person so we can share the sushi combos, which is a good amount of sushi for two people at a really good price. Sometimes we order some extra rolls or sushi if we're feeling super hungry. The combo comes with average-tasting miso soup. I try to stay away from the noodle and rice options because I don't think they're very good. The ramen portion isn't very filling, and the soba is bland. Their meat isn't anything amazing, either. But like I said, I go here for the cheap sushi! Service is a whole other story, though. Sometimes the cashier is super slow, and because the restaurant itself is small, seating is very limited. I've also had my order mixed up 2 out of the 5 times I've been there, which is 2 times too many. They are also slow at cleaning up (I'm not sure if you're supposed to bus your own table, but apparently no one else knows either cause the tables are never cleared) so I always end up bussing the plates of the previous patrons. read more

It's a pretty average japanese restaurant, but great for college students! Everything on the menu is super cheap, so if you didn't have a big appetite like mine, almost everything would fill you up. Great place for to-go since the wait isn't terribly long. If you have a large party heading there, expect to wait for a long time especially on a busy night. I ordered the champon and it comes in a very large bowl, yet it is only half full. The pork broth is good, but there isn't too much substance other than the noodles. Parking is extremely difficult to find on college so try looking on one of the side streets. TL;DR; Cheap japanese restaurant catered towards college students. read more

This place is OK. Its good for quick stop meal. If you come here and expect to have nice Japanese meal, you are at wrong place. Price in general are cheap - especially for rolls but not worth it. As I said, its for a quick meal. I always come here for Ramen. Champon Ramen is the Best one out of all. Very rich & smooth. Noodles are bit of wanna be authentic ramen, but good in general. Went there today, and flavor seemed little changed little Felt little saltier than usual. Rolls are not worth it. So does Sashimi. Its very small and very not fresh (Raw ones at least) But taste wise, it is ok. Not bad at all. Two and a half star for rolls & sushi. Noise level isn't bad. Just about average - not that bad for kitchen being outside. But, Can be very annoying sometimes. I heard plates and pans falling, and they dropped it again just for fun. (At least that what sounded like - they were laughing) I felt very uncomfortable because noise was just too loud & no employees seem to care about. It's A-OK place. read more

For the quality and price, Manpuku is great! The fish was fresh and menu is diverse. They have everything from ramen, sushi, sashimi, donburi, curry over rice, udon and soba noodles and so much more. We had yummy rolls (Manpuku Roll, Poki Maki, Salmon Maki, Elmwood, Salmon Avocado Maki) and Poki Maki was my favorite. Yummy spicy white tuna rolls! I wish I had ordered 2 of these. My husband really liked the Manupuki Roll with the eel and yellowtail. The shoyu ramen was just okay. It had some bamboo shoots, hard boiled egg, green onions. The broth was lacking in depth and flavor. Tempura was great. Hot out of the fryer with just the perfect amount of batter! The casualness of the restaruant where you order at the register and wait for a table to open up is not ideal for me. After receiving my first order and eating my food, if I wanted to order more food, do I have go back to the register and wait in that line again, order and pay? The price can't be beat and it's not too far for me so I may come back. The girl at the register was nice and very helpful. The guy that was helping us find a table was helpful too. Remember that it's a small place with three 4 tops. They probably can't accommodate a group larger than 5. No beer or other alcohol drinks served here. read more

I don't even know how to explain why I love this restaurant so much but I do, I really really do. To me it is the dream sushi place, absolutely delicious, affordable and fast. I love coming here, love love love. The rolls are always fresh and so good and you get free tea! It is such a small restaurant but for some reason that doesn't bother me. Even if you are a little cramped you will find somewhere to sit and it's worth it because the prices are so reasonable. Every time I've gone there I've been so overwhelmed by the awesomeness of the sushi that I couldn't bring myself to order the soup even though it also looked really good but I finally did order the Udon Curry Broth soup and it was so good I wanted to marry it! Seriously if you love sushi rolls and aren't a millionaire and don't mind small spaces, this is the place for you. Part of me doesn't even want to write this review because I don't want it to get any busier! read more

Rolls here taste decent and are super cheap. The raw fish looks fresh and I've yet to have any weird stomach problems. The people who work here are super nice, especially this one woman who was pretty much all smiles! I also like that they have FREE tea! Seating is very limited so you probably will have to hover for a bit. I got the salmon and avocado maki ($2.95) along with the Rock 'n Roll (eel and avocado for $3.xx). Two rolls for less than $7 is a sweet deal in my books. The eel had a thin sort of weird texture and they don't put a lot of sauce but the avocado was nice. The salmon was your typical (it's not really supposed to taste like much anyway). Overall, they are a lot like Tako sushi except some rolls might be slightly cheaper. I do prefer the combinations and greater sense of variety at Tako, though. Poor college students (and other frugal people) come here! (3.5/4) read more

Manpuku - Salmon & Avocado Roll - Japanese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Sushi on college for reasonable prices at a decent speed. Kind of a small restaurant, and pretty busy. read more

Came here last night and it was eh. Nothing really stands out but the price. You order at the counter first, then you get seated. You get your own tea and water and the commune counter. I got the hakata ramen and we shared a sushi roll (forgot what it was). I deducted one star because the ramen only one piece of pork in it. I guess that is why this place is cheap. I don't know if I will be back..maybe try their bento box. Parking around here is always hard so I would not make a special trip out there for this place. read more

I don't understand why everyone raves about Manpuku and why it is always so busy... The sushi quality is not good at all. I've ordered the Sushi Combo A and Sushi Combo B which comes with some pieces of California Roll, Salmon Roll, and various Nigiri. The meal is definitely filling, but I'd rather try other sushi places than here. I also don't like it that you have to order first before sitting. read more

Good enough. But not spectacular. I assume it was highly rated because of the price. The food is below mediocre but the good price makes up for it I suppose? I probably wouldn't want to come back but came to see what the hype was about. We ordered a ramen (gigantic bowl, but not a whole lot of ramen) and a roll. read more

I eat sushi frequently. Like, multiple times a week frequently. I can't get enough of the fish, salt, rice, and all the other gloriousness that goes into making a good roll. I've been to Manpuku on numerous occasions when the craving for sushi hits me, or when I find myself a little hangry. Living right down the street, the price and speediness are big temptations. However, when the price and preparation time is so low, something else will be lacking, and in this case it's quality. Granted, I think Manpuku is EXACTLY what you pay for as long as you're not expecting fresh-from-Japan fare, and it's definitely a cut above the sushi from Safeway down the street. The rolls taste fine and they have a good assortment, they're not too small and they're not little rice bombs with a sliver of fish. The shrimp/veggie tempura is more like deep-fried (I find that a good tempura should feel very light and not like true *fried* food), but it hits that craving. That being said, I won't be going back to Manpuku any time soon. I've thrown up the last several times I've eaten there. It wasn't food poisoning, so I don't know if there's something cheap they're adding to their food that my body can't handle or what, but the fact this has happened on multiple occasions makes me a little wary of what they're adding into their food that they don't at some of the "ritzier" places. If you need something quick and cheap, go to Manpuku. If you're looking for high quality sushi, make sure you pass and hit up a different joint. For a few bucks more a roll, Mitama down the street towards Oakland will make you feel like a million bucks (and their fish is truly straight from Japan :) ) read more