Can someone please tell me why a place as awesome as Manpuku non-existent in my hometown?! Or maybe I just don't know about one yet ... But anyway, I've gone here more than five times; I just haven't gotten the chance to write a little something something about it. It's quite a small joint, and it isn't exactly a good place to take a big group of friends, but nonetheless, there's a sense of coziness when you enter the restaurant. Order your food, grab some free tea (or water), and sit around for a bit. I always buy a sushi roll (anything with BBQ eel, salmon, or avocado is fantastic; in my opinion, it's real fresh and consistent) to go along with my ramen which turns out to be around $10. My small appetite cannot consume both orders, but I get it anyway, because how could you get one without the other when you come to a place that serves both, right? read more

My nephew has been talking about this place for so long, saying how good it was. So...we figured, we'd give it a try since we happened to be in the area. Well, cheap to say the least! That's for sure! However, the sushi is definitely not fresh, but you get what you pay for. It's definitely a spot where you see tons of college students come for a quick bite and for that cheap price. I also tried their chicken udon (fried), I think it's called Yaki something..it wasn't bad, but it wasn't the greatest, it was edible. Eh! Would I come again? Possibly, but definitely not at the top of my list of places to go when in the area. read more

I like this place. The food is good and pretty cheap. The way it works is that you get in line at the cash register, place your orders, then either wait around if you're getting take-out or try to find a seat if you're eating in. You can't save seats here because they will kick you off your table if you don't have a receipt. The person with the lowest receipt number gets the first seating priority. Only bad part about this place is that it's a REALLY small establishment with tons of people waiting around. There have been times where I come with people just to leave moments later because it was impossible to sit together. It also gets really tough maneuvering around people/tables to get your self-served water/tea. read more

I have never seen prices for a Japanese restaurant so low. It's a bargain to eat here, and with it's prime location on College Ave, it makes it a perfect choice for the cost-minded foodie. Get ready for a unique experience though. You order and pay before you're seated. It's self serve water and tea. And there's not enough space for a party larger than 4. Honestly, the quality of food left more to be desired. The ramen probably was the biggest joke of a ramen I have ever had. This was disappointing since I heard some good things about the ramen. The broth tasted watered down, and the noodles didn't taste fresh. I ordered the Manpuku ramen, which was supposed to be "spicy", but totally was not. But all is forgiven based on how little I paid for my meal. Everything was so cheap, I wanted to order more just to make up for how much I normally would spend. On the plus side, their spicy tuna roll was good, and I do love me some spicy tuna. read more

Good quality sushi for hella cheap. If you ever feel like you want to deal with traffic and parking, this place will satisfy your sushi appetite without feeling the sushi price. The future wife and I almost always stop here, when she hears of a sale at near by Jeremy's which is maybe 3 storefronts down. the The cash register area/waiting/ordering/line up area is fairly small right at the entry, we've always just stood outside after our order is place, and it always takes at the most 8 minutes. Sushi is not blow your head off, but it's good. What can I say, it's a Japanese place that owned and run by Koreans. read more

Thay treat you like a enemy, stuff is very mean ,I was so tried and and hungry even sit at the table you have to wait like a dog front of the door never going back there again . read more

I -heart- Manpuku. It's cheap, it's fast, its friendly, there's always seating, the avacado is always ripe, the Winter Ramen is always good, big bentos, plenty of vegetarian options, self service tea, the tables are clean, the bathroom smells nice... It's good for simple japanese counter food. Perfect for cheap dates over sushi rolls and it's surprisingly kid friendly. (My kid loves it!) read more

I come here all the time! One of my friends introduced me to Manpuku my sophomore year of college, and I've been hooked ever since. I've tried quite a few things here, so i'll just run down the list. Hot King Roll - my favorite roll! it's just fresh tuna on top of their california roll topped with hot sauce and green onion. i love it! Spicy Scallop Nigiri - my favorite sushi here. it's full of spicy goodness. California Roll - if you read any of my other sushi restaurant reviews (and there are quite a few), this is the ONLY place with memorable california rolls. they are just so good and creamy and addicting. i crave their california roll, but i also crave spicy tuna, hot sauce and green onions, so the hot king roll is perfect for me. Spider Roll - I had it once here and it was too crispy and overcooked. Spicy Tuna Roll - it was okay, but one of my friends is obsessed. Shrimp Tempura - I don't normally order tempura, but it was okay. Curry Ramen - they are known for their ramen, but I've only had it once and have never had the desire to have it again. Try their hot tea. I don't know what it is, but their hot tea is so good! Service: Decent. The people are friendly enough, but sometimes it could take a while for them to clear the tables. Atmosphere: You don't come to a place like this for the atmosphere. The seating is very limited, and it's basically a hole in the wall. I can eat the hot king roll and spicy scallop nigiri every other day. (seriously!). Seating during peak hours (lunch & dinner time) can be a pain, so I suggest getting takeout. Otherwise, come in during off-peak hours. You can also call in your order ahead of time! There's a $10 minimum for credit cards. Note: It's not high end snobby sushi. But the sushi is good, the rolls are delicious, and best of all, cheap! read more

The situation: You're hungry, very hungry. The problem: Your wallet is light, very light. Solution: Manpuku Lots of food with their combos for the price. Tastes pretty good. The decor leaves something to be desired, but you come here for the food, not the dining experience. read more

Don't come here with more than 4 people, because you'll be hard pressed to find seats. Cheap and good sushi and sashimi, yummy ramen, and tasty bento boxes -- that about sums up Manpuku. They also have some take-out food at the front. read more

Great sushi, friendly staff, great prices. 10/10 Once a older lady embarrassed my wife after her card got declined. the bank blocked the card because of a suspicious online purchase. It was kind of funny when she told me what happened. apparently the lady didn't really want to know explanations and said to my wife: - NO MONEY NO SUSHI!!!! hahahahahahaahh :S We love the place anyway!! hahaha... actually I am going there right now! read more

I guess I just don't get the appeal. Plus I got a serious burn there - a bit on that later. It's crowded. Cheap? Hmmm....inexpensive, OK. Not cheap. The sushi was, again, OK. But its a pain in the ass to get a table, and there is always someone bumping up against you or looking over your shoulder while they are waiting. Just a pain, and the food is not really goo enough to put yourself through it. On the burn.... I ordered some bowl of chicken and noodles. It was not brought to the table with the rest of the food. After waiting for several minutes, I asked the waitress and she went to fetch it. When it came, I dug right in. The flavor was good, but it was not very hot. On this cold night, I expected some hot soup. Well, a couple bites later, I was rewarded with SCALDING hot soup. This was obviously the job of a microwave oven. It was not boiling/boiled water. It was a hot spot in the food that burned the roof of my mouth and my tongue. So all in all, no need to go back. It was not expensive (but not cheap), and the flavor was OK. But they microwave the soups, and it's a pain in the butt to get in and out. Plus you always have someone's butt in your face when you're eating. read more

Cheap and delicious sushi! The menu isn't the most extensive, and definitely sometimes I want a place with more variety. But they have all your basic rolls for really good prices! They also have pretty good ramen, although I usually stick with the sushi when I come here. There's not very much seating in here, so a lot of times I order it to go and just take it home, but I've never had to wait too long to grab a seat, and since you order at the counter before you sit, you can get your order in even if you're still waiting to grab the next table. read more

We walked into a very busy restaurant and were greeted and seated fairly promptly. After 5-10 minutes of no further staff contact and one server rushing around, we figured out that they only had one waitress for the entire place. Things got more crowded, and still no one to even take our drink order. We left. Too bad--the menu had some tasty-sounding options. read more

I love Korean kimchi. I love it with my sushi. (Repeat) Wow, that rhymes! I am amazed at how many sushi places have Korean food. Manpuku has really nice pre-made sushi boxes- I guess they are bentos, and little to-go tubs of kimchi and other pickled goodies. My partner Peter and I usually get the big fish boxes and split a CA roll w/ tobiko box. I grab the Hello Kitty pink drink and he gets the white "milk infused" orange-flavored fluid from the to-go fridge. The pink stuff tastes like the smell of anti-freeze, but in a good way, if that is possible. Manpuku staff are efficient and friendly. We have only sat down to eat there once. The sushi was the same high-quality, fast/fresh as the to-go boxes. Manpuku is our default "quick dinner" location, usually because Peter is up the street talking to Johnny, the owner of Boss Robot Hobby and I am once again cranky and starving. "Can we please go now???" It's also interesting to me that with the sushi boxes we buy, Manpuku staff always includes 4 sets of chopsticks- it must be some kind of immaculate thing- Peter and I are both eating for two? read more

Manpuku is in my opinion, the best bowl of ramen in the entire Bay Area. Anyone who wants to challenge this statement is more than welcome to do so. It would be MY pleasure to search for a better bowl. I've read all the reviews of Manpuku, and i must say i dont know why so many people say this is a sushi restaurant. Thats like going to a steak house and saying you liked the potato salad. If you actually like the sushi, or the takeout, then great. If you want to know about ramen, then please read on. A good honest Shoryou Ramen is hard to find indeed, and the "normal" ramen here really takes the cake. Lets start with the basics. Noodles: the noodles are "al dente," which for anyone who doesnt study noodles means lightly cooked. They still have some "give" to them and this adds to their chewy-ness. Noodles should not sit in broth for more than 30 minutes, so eat fast and hearty. After that they become soggy and there is no way to recover them. Body, texture and flavor are important in this category, and Manpuku serves up a medium bodied, smooth and tasty noodle. A good way to "test" noodles is to smell them after they have sat in the broth for a few minutes. You may discover a strong smell of soda water...ewww! Broth: whomever said that it is the broth that unlocks the synergy of ramen was correct. It is what brings to life all the ingredients involved. Shoryou broth should always be clean and clear, with jewels of fat glistening on top. There should not be chunks of fat as in the Kyushuu Ramen. A good broth will have hints of pork, chicken, veggies and fish...a hearty blend for a well balanced flavor. The smell of the broth should overpower the smell of the pork (the pork should NOT smell!) Tasting the broth should always involve bringing the whole bowl up to your mouth and drinking deeply and hearty. Do not be shy here. Take 2-3 good sips if you need. Loudly slurping your noodles is a good way to taste the noodles and the soup at the same time. The Pork: most people pass by this ingredient without so much as a second glance, and in all seriousness, this is the way it ought to be. However, this is the deal breaker. Manpuku's pork is soft and does not smell. It is loosely packed (not hard or dry) and soaks up the broth well, taking some flavor from the broth, as well as giving some of its own characteristics. The pork slices should always be submerged the whole time. Drain them appropriately when tasting. You dont really want broth dripping off them. Do not eat them with other ingredients, eat this one on its own, then sip soup if you must to wet your throat. Others: the veggies appropriate for ramen range from bean sprouts (fresh or steamed), pickled bamboo shoots (pickled do not get soggy), a rectangle of seaweed, etc. These are garnish, much like parsley. They are there to offer more taste and texture contrasts. The fresher ingredients offer refreshing moisture when your mouth is too hot. The richer ingredients offering a break from all the normal flavors. As there is no hard requirement or standard in this category, garnishes range greatly with each establishment. One should not nessesarily judge this category, but rather be aware of what additional compliments (or detriments) it adds to the overall quality. Non-Ramen: Chahan (fried rice): the chahan here is exceptional, in both flavor as well as texture. Most other places will serve this and within 5 minutes it is dry, crackly and tasteless. Manpuku's is moist and warm through and though. Scrap some of the red ginger into the mix for a small kick. Eat this with the spoon from your ramen. Gyoza (pot sticker): most gyoza lack garlic. These do not. Gyoza are usually smaller and thinner than chinese pot stickers. They should be moist on the inside and chewy on the outside. You will loose nothing by dipping these into the accompanying sauce or using shoryou. Service on gyoza vary. Sometimes you get them right away, sometimes you get them after you are completely done eating. Wadever. Hot tea is provided for free at the front. It may seem odd to drink hot tea with hot broth, but warm liquids aid greatly in digestion, and you will need all the help you can get after stuffing yourself. Culturally, ramen is more or less a fast food, akin to our hamburgers, so people are used to eating them on the run, inhaling them like In N Out burgers. Slurp loudly! This will allow you to suck some soup in with the noodles while it is still hot. Sip later when it has cooled a bit. Enjoy! (*Note* for anyone who does not understand soggy noodles, heres a little experiament you can perform for yourself. Pick up a Cup-O-Noodle or some equivalent cup noodle and add water to it. Let stand covered for 10-15 minutes, then open and try to eat. You will notice the noodles do not keep their shape and your chopsticks/fork will disintegrate them with the slightest touch) read more

This family owned Japanese place is your normal Korean owned Japanese restaurant. It's good food and the sushi is fresh since there are a lot of customers. It's not an amazing array of sashimi, but it has your ramen and donburi and rolls. This place is best for either ramen or rolls. The Ramen is pretty decent and cheap and the rolls are decent as well for the price. There is very little seating, getting it to go would be better. Parking is also an issue unless you park a couple blocks away. read more

Can't go wrong with a bowl of Ramen on a cold day. Food is good and cheap. Place is small with limited seating. I don't recommend big parties. Parking can be a hassle. read more

They say you get what you pay for, and that is sure true about this place. Maybe it's because I'm japanese, but I found the sushi gross, not just because of the quality of the fish, but also the preparation, which was less than meticulous. Shrimp tempura is supposed to be butterflied and the batter light as a feather. This shrimp tempura was neither, resulting in rubberiness. The ramen was mediocre--overcooked noodles, tasteless broth. Did not satisfy my ramen lust. The positives: Free, help yourself tea in the waiting area.The ramen broth was lower in sodium than most. And this place is very inexpensive. Good for students, but those with more disposable income should go elsewhere. Life is too short to eat crappy sushi. read more

I went with a few friends to this crowded little shop. They have you order first before sitting to make the limited amount of tables they have to more effectively cater to the customers. I got the unaman maki (unagi & mango) and the negihama maki. My friends got the katsu curry and the chicken teriyaki bento. The unaman maki was quite delicious. The mix of sour and sweet mangos with the salty sweet unagi was quite a nice combination. The negihama maki was alright. Not the freshest fish, but what can i expect at 2.70 a roll? The rolls were cut really disproportionally; the six pieces looked like a commercial for AT&T's raising the bar. The katsu curry had an insane number of large cut potatoes in the mix. The chicken teriyaki was a overcooked and dry. However, the portions were quite large and cheap. This place is quick, cheap and crowded. The food quality is what you would expect of the price. The service is rude, but fast. A good place for poor college students to quell sushi cravings once in a while. read more

I really like this place! Very very reasonable price, exciting rolls, great quality, fast service. So not exactly where I'd take a first date since the setup is such that you order at a register, they give you a number and then bring your food over, but a great great place to come for a casual lunch or quick dinner. I used to hate the hype about this place but it's for a reason. The sushi is legitimately really good. Personal recommendation: red dragon roll! oh my goodness, it's so good. I would eat this roll for every meal, everyday - no joke (I've come very close). Second: hot king roll. Both of these have some spicy sauce but by no means overwhelm you with spice just flavor. I've never ordered their noodles but I've been with many friends who have and have only good things to say. Their takeout is really fast - if you call ahead it'll be ready by the time you get there and then you can eat your sushi wherever your heart desires. Seriously, competing with Kirala for the best sushi place in Berkeley. read more

My friend and I ordered the mixed sushi set (20+ sushi feast!) and a large Salmon Shioyaki bento box for $28 (tax and gratuity included) for dinner. I was giving him a birthday treat and the food did not let my efforts down. We had to wait 10-15 minutes for dine-in but you can order at the counter first so the food appears to be served real fast once you sit down- mysterious and satisfying! I thought 20 sushi, grilled salmon, rice, Asian slaw, miso soup, and orange slices would be just about the right portion for 2 but we were both full at T-6 sushi. The tempura, salmon, and assorted sushi were fresh and crunchy where fresh and crunchy were called for. Thumbs up for that. The bento box was also generous in both size and flavour. The restaurant is on the small-side given the spillage of customers but that's kinda what reassures you that it's a place for great eats AND cheap eats, right? If I lived closer I would probably invade their grab-n-go takeout area too frequently for my own good, no matter how economic their sushi cost compared to other places. read more

My girlfriend and I both love to eat at Sushi places. We ordered the chicken katsu curry, deep fried California Roll, Philadelphia Roll, and the Salmon Avocado Roll. The sushi was very affordable as they ranged from $2.75 to $3.25 per sushi roll. The service was standard. However, I don't really like how you have to pay first at the register, and then you get your food after. I usually pay with card, so it's hard for me to determine how much tip I should leave since I usually don't have cash. The food came out at a standard time too. Our waitress was pretty consistent with filling our water cups. For the food, our chicken katsu curry was okay. The plate was plain, the curry was good, but the meat was okay. The deep fried California Roll was the highlight of our meal. It was very delicious and the portions were good. The Salmon Avocado was decent as well. The Philadelphia Roll was okay. The fish was pretty chewy, but the cream cheese did make up for it. Overall, the place was solid. I had a good time and no real complaints. However, there is nothing extraordinary or memorable about this place. read more

I was a frequent and loyal customer here for 4 years! I love this place, it's the cheapest sushi around with a fair enough quality. It's perfect for college students living nearby. It's nice to go to for a quick bite for dinner; preparation is always fast and on time. The only reason I had to take off 1 star is because of a new employee at the cash register near the latter end of my experience who seemed to need a little more training in the realm of customer service. read more

This is not mind-blowing sushi. But for the price? Hot damn. A+ for the food quality/price ratio. That said, I think the ramen is just meh. The sushi a much better option. And the kim chee's not bad at all. The ambiance is a bit overwhelming for me during prime lunch & dinner times. Line out the door, kids staring at you from the next table over (which is about 8 inches from yours), an air of vague panic from people hoping for a place to sit, slightly sketchy bathroom. But if you, say, go on a Friday at about 4 PM, you're golden. Take-out also an excellent option. read more

I just had my second visit this past weekend and it was as good as my first. I've tried a few different ramen house around berkeley but nothing compares to Manpuku; the soup is rich and flavorful, the gyoza was a little bland, but the fried rice and the sushi made up it. I love this place for its cheap sushi and ramen. My BF ordered the Ramen combo which consist of shoyu ramen, fried rice and five piece gyoza. I ordered the Champon (pork favored) ramen and let me tell you, the flavor literally took me by surprised, i didn't expect the broth to have soo much flavor. I also order the Manpuku roll which was simple DELICIOUS! My BF doesnt eat raw items, but he liked it so much he had eaten half the roll before he'd realized there was raw fish in it. The best part is he continued to eat it! LOL With all five dishes and our stomachs fulled, our bill only came up to $25! UNBELIEVEABLE! I would definitely come back on those upcoming cold winter days and have myself another bowl of ramen read more

I've had the sushi and ramen here several times. While it doesn't compare with "good" sushi restaurants, it's a solid value for a quick take out experience. Don't expect much here as the fish slices are small, the ramen is a bit gummier than I like, and much of their food is either salty or bland. For $10 what can I expect. If you need something quick and cheap to warm the tummy, then Manpuku is a winner. Totally geared for student value, the portions are healthy for the price. It's a fast, cheap and healthier alternative to a burrito next door. Do I crave it? No, but I have to give it four stars for their value. Don't expect a lot and you will walk away happy. read more

My return trip to Manpuku has been a redemption of sorts. MUCH MUCH better food the second time around. Food was comped from the 1st experience, cuz the cook forgot our seafood, so I ordered the Ramen A combo which came with miso ramen, shrimp fried rice and gyoza. IT WAS A TON OF FOOD! Super good especially after doing Warrior Yoga! Haha! The ramen was Japanese al-dente and the broth pretty tasty. It was kinda Pho-like with thin slices of meat, but had the standard Japanese gimmicky-stuff like the fun, but fake looking processed meat swirly-things. You know, like the fake crab meat, colored with food dye. I have no idea what you call them, but anyone who's eaten noodles or udon, at Japanese places has seen them floating in their soup. Also found half a hard boiled egg in my soup and a few other things. Rating, B. The shrimp fried rice was good, but a bit heavy on salt or msg or whatever flavoring they used. I wish the shrimp was a little bigger and tastier...but at this price...I guess one can't really complain. B- for being a little salty. The gyoza was decent, crispy skin, flavorful meat, got 6 pieces. Rating B. Sit at the counter for a fast food cooking ambiance, and watch the Mexican guys cooking your Japanese food. They're hard working cooks, but I thought this was hilarious, and honestly, made me wonder if I was truly eating Japanese ramen, or Japanese inspired food. And nope, no sushi for me here...go somewhere else! Totally stuffed and out the door for $9.95 + tax. Free hot tea and ice water...which is all self-serve. read more

Not the best quality sushi, but what do you expect when you can get a tuna roll for $2.95? For the price, I say it's sufficient if you're craving sushi but don't want to spend a lot of money. I'd also say they're ramen is fairly decent and you get a large bowl of it, though it could use a little more spice. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Berkeley. Their food is reasonably priced and very good. I almost always get the Tempura Don and CA Roll. I have tried other rolls of theirs also and have been pleased with them as well. I'm not a huge fan of their miso soup, but with all that other food, I never need it. :) I would say to come during off hours if you wanted to eat-in otherwise, I would say do take out. But call ahead if you do, because you'll still probably have to wait in line to pay, but at least you won't have to wait for your food too. I have taken several people here who have come to visit me in Berkeley and I highly recommend this place. Just go during off hours. ;) read more

Given that I ordered the tempura roll, one of the cheapest rolls, I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised at the quality. The rice was a bit hard and dry and the tempura shrimp inside the roll was very small, and there was so much unripe avocado in it, that that was all I could really focus on. I'm usually not at all a picky eater, but I actually considered not eating the sushi and riding my bike somewhere else. That's not typically how I am, so I ate it anyways. Definitely the worst sushi experience I've ever had. To note, the bathroom in the back is also super sketchy. There's graffiti all over (and not pretty graffiti, just words written in sharpie), and little things like the soap squirted everywhere and the toilet paper wouldn't roll out and the seat covers were placed upside down and the toilet seat was wet with God knows what just kind of topped it off to say that I didn't even wanna come back to try anything better. (Also eel sauce is my favorite thing and theirs was not sweet!!!!) read more

Good and inexpensive. I've eaten here many, many times, often with my wife and others. Almost without exception everything has been good or better. The sushi pieces are small, but so are the prices. The rainbow roll and deep fried California rolls are my faves. My wife really goes for the straight California rolls. I like them too. The miso soup could be a bit richer, imo. The spinach salad this time was different than what we expected and wasn't to our liking, although the spinach was fresh. In all my visits over the years this is the only time I can remember this. I used to order the bento box with chicken teriyaki and sushi. I thought it very good and a very good deal, but it had more food than I now want, so I stopped. There are better sushi places and Japanese restaurants, but the ones I've been to are definitely more expensive. I often go here when I'm on this side of town, whether for eat in or takeout. Service has always been friendly, but since you order at the register and then they bring the food to the table contact is minimal. All the times we've asked for additional wasabi or ginger it's arrived pretty quickly. If you want to order more food you have to take your place in line again at the register. read more

At first I was really excited- super cheap sushi! Then I realized that you get what you pay for, which is awful, awful food, undercooked rice, horrible quality fish, and horrible service. I actually had to spit my food out it was that bad. I'm normally not one to complain about my food, but if I find something in it, that's the deal breaker for me. When I told the server that there was something in my sushi that definitely should not have been there (think hard, black, and gross- i had the evidence in my napkin) she gave me the evil eye before taking my plate to the counter, conferring with one of the cooks and BRINGING BACK my exact plate of food. They rudely insisted that the hard black thing in my sushi was the skin of the eel. I will never go back there. In this kind of an economy, there are too many fabulous places that serve amazing food without an attitude. I just hope I'm not sick in the morning. read more

Meh. Maybe because its cheap? But their quality is appalling..their sushi always look like they've just been slapped together by cats. read more

This place has bad reviews???? Wow!!!!!!! First and foremost "BEST SUSHI IN THE BAY AREA!!!!!!!!!!!!" Always fresh, delicious, and top notch. I love coming here correction, me and my Gf love coming here. We dine in Manpuku at least 3-5 times a month. It's a small place but there's lots of seating believe it or not. It's all about having patience and you'll find a seat sooner than later. My favorite sushi is the Rainbow & California rolls but overall I imagine everything here taste amazing!! read more

We visited from out of town with family. The five of us were seated in the annexed portion of the restaurant. The menu is full of combination plates and bento boxes so you can get a variety of dishes in one. I tried the miso ramen and chicken katsu combination with my partner. The food is good, not great, but the value for what you get makes this place worthy of regular rotation. read more

FOOD: 1.) Udon = Broth was kind of plain, but it had everything basic in udon, the pink fish cake, egg, seaweed, chives 2.) Philadelphia roll = Mmmm Didn't expect too much for the price but it was bomb, melted in my mouth and the sashimi tasted fresh yomm oiiisshiiii SERVICE: Ahh, I kinda don't like this whole ordering in the front, and no server thing, but I guess it's worth it being so dang cheap! lolz.... Ramen woulda cost $10/bowl but here it's like $5 ATMOSPHERE: Pretty much like a regular small japanese place, with a sushi bar, and small tables. read more

If Manpuku were any closer to campus, I'd be really, really broke now. The sushi is pretty fresh and the portions are pretty good (considering it's really cheap). It's not as busy during the lunchtime so you can easily find parking on the street (or take the bus) and find a seat inside. Service was pretty quick (usually ~10mins for to-go). The only major downside is having to order at the front counter before sitting; I am VERY indecisive so it takes me 20 mins alone to pick what I want to eat! The rolls are pretty good. Two rolls will probably be more than enough for lunch. Bento boxes are pretty big and filling (probably best left for dinner). Tea and water are self serve after you order (which is nice cuz I hate waiting for a waiter to come by to request for water). - Ashby Maki ($4.25): For some reason, I was under the impression the entire roll would be deep-fried, but it turns out the hamachi and salmon are deep-fried with a tempura batter and then rolled. Anyways, fairly good, though I think it's not as good as the cheaper rolls (weird, I know). - Unaman Maki ($2.95): This was rather interesting because of the mango. Overall, a more "sweet" roll than savory, but very good. - Shogun Maki ($2.80): An OK roll. The mackerel looked a bit odd, but I liked it because I love ginger. - Salmon Avocado Maki ($2.95): Just as it says. The avocado was green (yes! green!) so I was happy knowing it was somewhat fresh. Other items: - Zaru Soba: The soaking sauce was rather bland, and combined with cold buckwheat noodles, wasn't good. Definitely check this place out if you like cheap sushi or ramen or if you really want to impress a date but have no money! read more

This is one of my favorite sushi places of all time. For the price the nigiri and rolls are just exceptional, not to mention the stir fried udon noodles and seaweed salad! The seating is really limited and getting take out is recommended if you are with a large group, excellent for a casual dinner with a friend or partner that is trying out sushi for the first time and doesn't know what they like yet. If you are in the mood for really inexpensive Japanese take out that is incredibly tasty, this is definitely the place! read more

Believe the hype: this is HIGH quality sushi and ramen for your dollar. It's packed with starving students, young professionals and Berkeleyites almost every night, and with good reason. I come here on an almost weekly basis with my girlfriend, as it's down the street from my house on College Ave. Their specialty rolls are phenomenal, I highly recommend the Unaman Maki. Six dollars nets almost any bowl of ramen or udon on the menu. read more