Cute Japanese spot in downtown Benicia!…read more Been getting takeout here for years and haven't dined in until recently. My bestie and our kids had a solid yummy lunch. Pulled out all the stops and got the agedashi tofu, salmon kama, unasake/eagle rolls, combo sashimi, and sake maki for the kiddos. Service was friendly, food was pretty good, and the ambiance was clean and welcoming. Recommend lunch here and then some dessert at One House bakery or the ice cream spot down the street!

This is one of those restaurants where I have discovered my favorite dishes on the menu, and I tend…read moreto order the same things every visit. Maki, miso, and hot tea or Saki. I get different maki each time, but my favorite is the basic spicy crunch. No matter what else I get, I add a spicy crunch. I've had the yakitori a couple times. Excellent. will confess that even though I have been here thirty times I haven't really experienced the entire menu, mostly because I'm fairly ignorant when it comes to Japanese dishes and I don't order what I don't understand. You can navigate the Japanese menu. You will fall in love with this place Someday I will go ahead and be brave. Of course I love their sushi as well. It's just a comfortable eating experience. It's a place I can pop in without a moment notice and have a wonderful meal. I love the atmosphere and the friendly chefs and waitresses.

This review is long overdue, but only because I had to seriously consider whether I wanted to gate…read morekeep this place (kidding! Mostly). My friend and I happened to walk in right at 5 p.m., landing perfectly at Happy Hour (truly, divine timing). But honestly, it's probably the best time to come. We were seated quickly, and so begins our alcoholic adventure. I can't speak much to the fish, but everything we ordered was a hit. First: get the lychee beer. I'm not even big on alcohol, but I somehow ended up three or four rounds in... heh. Anyways, the yakitori (we got pork belly and chicken thigh) were juicy and packed with flavor, and the karaage was crispy, tender, and perfect with the sauce. We actually ordered multiple rounds of everything and left feeling very full and very festive. Overall, Public Izakaya is a gem tucked behind an unassuming storefront. The ambiance, the food, and yes, the beer, makes it an easy go-to whenever I'm back in the city. Consider me a convert!

Came into town last night to catch a show at the Masonic Auditorium & we were looking for a bite to…read moreeat & some drinks before the show. Since there isn't much to do around the immediate top of Nob Hill, we came back down to explore the neighborhood around Union Square & found Public Izakaya as our dinner spot. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but once you enter the doors, you enter a world that is classically Tokyo/Shinjuku. Decor is everywhere, on the walls, the ceiling, with toys, figurines, art, plants, anime, lanterns, books, and other sort of interesting, authentically Japanese trinkets. The interior space is very appealing and everywhere you look, you'll see something that catches your eye & imagination. They put a lot of work into decorating this space! It's big & small at the same time. Tables are a plenty, but space is tight. It's really hard to get around in here, you'll have to squeeze between people, tables, chairs, and just walking to the bathroom or your table, you'll have to zig-zag and squeeze past many obstacles. But, it's worth it, and classically Japanese Izakaya, and judging from the packed restaurant on a Friday night, everyone came here to socialize, eat, drink, and hangout & have fun. Music was also very pop-py Japanese, so it really set the right mood for an energetic & fun experience. The service was great. Lots of wait staff roaming around the restaurant ready to take orders & answer questions. Prices are fairly affordable, and offers you a chance to try many small dishes, or splurge on larger entrees. Since we were going to a concert that would go well into the night, we wanted to keep or food intake light, and alcohol intake heavy! The cocktails are good, diverse, creative, authentic, and tasty, but rather small for $15. There is no bartender, the drinks come out to you from the kitchen, but service was fast & efficient. We tried a Lemon Sour, Lychee Mojito, and Ume Shiso. Each were well crafted & presented, but pretty tiny and with very little alcohol, but lots of flavor. We ordered the Mushroom Hot plate, Agadashi Tofu, and salt & pepper broccoli. Food was tasty, portions small, and everything was pretty salty & oily. It's an Izakaya, so I did expect small plates to share in between sips of drinks, but I think the food kind of missed the mark. I ended up feeling a little sick from the salt & oil in the food, but the alcohol kept me going. I think we will come back to try some fresher seafood & Sushi next time, and skip the heavy fried appetizers. Might also stick to wine, beer, or sake, as the cocktails were pretty pricey & small & weak in alcohol. But, it's a really fun, upbeat spot. Lots of eye candy to look at as you are hanging out, eating, drinking, and having fun. The decor & atmosphere is so fun, creative, detailed, and pop-culture Japanese. I really felt like I was transported to an Izakaya in Tokyo for the hour that we were there. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, and I'd like to go back to explore the menu as well as artwork & displays around the restaurant. We had 3 drinks and 3 appetizers, and our bill was around $100. We left satisfied with our Japanese Izakaya experience here, only disappointed by the size & weakness of the alcoholic cocktails, the saltiness & greasiness of the fried foods, and I even felt a little bit fat trying to squeeze into the aisles & tables of the restaurant as a 6' 150" thin asian man, lol. Oh well, I guess Tokyo is dense and Japanese spaces are supposed to be small, tight, and narrow. That mostly added to the authentic Japanese Izakaya experience. PS, it's pretty loud & crowded & busy here, so don't expect to have a calm, quiet, and peaceful conversation here, you'll have to shout above the music, chatter, and noise of the urban jungle here, which actually adds to the classic Izakaya experience. It was a lot of fun, but not a lot alcohol. 3 cocktails and I didn't even catch a buzz!

Came here for dinner with my sister and brother-in-law at their recommendation, and I can…read moredefinitely see why they keep coming back. The restaurant was packed and seating is pretty limited, so I'd highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time. The atmosphere is lively and energetic with casual Japanese eatery vibes, and service was friendly throughout the meal. Everything felt creative, rich in flavor, and very texture-focused. Here are the highlights: * Ankimo Mousse (monkfish liver) with sweet potato chips - Made with truffle paste, capers, and chives. Absolutely delicious. The mousse was rich and savory but surprisingly fluffy in texture -- honestly a savory girl's dream. The sweet potato chips added just enough sweetness and a snap to balance the richness of the liver. 9/10 * Bluefin Tuna & Tsubugai Sashimi Nuta - Bluefin tuna, sea snail, broccolini, and fresh wakame tossed in a sweet Kyoto yuzu miso vinaigrette. Kind of like a sashimi-seaweed salad. I really liked the vinaigrette and especially the texture of the sea snail. I'm not sure all the ingredients fully came together cohesively, but it was still enjoyable overall. 7.5/10 * Yuba (house-made tofu skin with ikura and uni) - Served as single bites on spoons. SO good. You can really taste the difference between house-made tofu skin and store-bought. It's much more delicate, creamy, and tender, with a mild soybean flavor that balanced the richness of the uni and salmon roe beautifully. The textures in this bite were incredible. 9.5/10 * Iberico Pork Jowl Skewer with miso marinade - I honestly prefer pork jowl over pork belly. The fat and meat are more integrated instead of layered, so every bite is tender, juicy, and flavorful with just the right amount of chew. So good. 9/10 * Clam & Cilantro Ramen - I've never had a ramen broth quite like this. It was slightly creamy and deeply flavored from the clams, and the cilantro added a lot of depth and freshness. The noodles had a great texture too -- chewy and bouncy. Everything worked together perfectly. 9/10 * Uni Carbonara Pasta - Pasta with parmesan, uni, and ikura. They do not skimp on the uni or roe here. Super creamy and rich with bursts of saltiness from the ikura. The texture was great, but I honestly wished it had just a tiny bit more salt to really make all the flavors pop. It was almost there for me. 7.5/10 * Desserts - We tried two desserts, including the sweet potato brûlée. Both were delicious. One had a silky panna cotta-like texture, while the sweet potato brûlée was creamy, lightly sweet, and had the perfect crackly sugar top. 9/10 Overall, such a fun meal with a lot of unique dishes and flavor combinations. There are still so many things on the menu I want to try next time. I'll definitely be back.

I've been to Kiraku twice before this visit, and I felt like the food quality was stronger prior…read more The food comes in a timely manner, staff is mindful to not fill your table as it's a small space. The standouts were the corn tempura, the sushi and the beef okonomiyaki. The skewers were good but not great; I felt the pork belly was a tad salty, and some of the pieces of the beef were slightly overcooked + chewy. The black cod was flaky but I wish it was marinated a bit more with the miso for stronger flavor. I wish I did not order the spring roll or the foil wrapped salmon. The spring roll was soggy bc the filling inside was so damp and lacked seasoning & flavor. The salmon was very dry, but the mushrooms were flavorful and juicy. Definitely recommend reservations or be ready to wait at least 45 minutes. The inside is quite small, tables as well, so be ready to sit pretty close to your neighboring patrons. Very lively atmosphere that can get loud, but could also be fun!

Another great dining experience at Nono! This was our first time coming by since the merge with…read moreBubu. There were many more tables added to the restaurant as well as many more staff members working. Service was super fast and friendly, and portion sizes were impressive! :) recs: spicy tuna tostada, salmon sashimi

Came for happy hour, stayed for the salmon sashimi! Great HH spot if you know what to order. The…read moresalmon sashimi and tuna crispy rice were the clear standouts. The shrimp and chicken wings also hit at happy hour prices. Skip the miso cod, pork cheek, and wagyu hand roll - not worth it when better options exist. Would return to try the carbonara and mapo!

It's been a million years since I've been back!…read more We had a girls night and decided to do izakaya. It used to be really hard to get a table and the waits were crazy! But now, it's much easier and not as crowded. Yay for us but sad for them. Also the clientele has vastly changed. They have more families coming in with kids. Guess that just means I can bring mine next time! All the things we ordered were just as I remembered! Tasty and hit the spot! Tuna tartare and the hamachi carpaccio were very tasty. We had a couple skewers, tried the uni scallop udon which was good. The pork belly curry special was fun to eat! A deconstructed banh mi. The pickled veggies were a nice touch. Service was wonderful and food came out quick. We did get a bowl of ramen to share at the end of the meal. Broth was a tad bit too salty but I like their springy noodles. Get the kikusui sake if you go! Easy and smooth to go with the food. I'll be back with the kids! Satisfied!

Izakaya Sozai is a quaint Izakaya located in the Sunset District on busy Irving Street. Street…read moreparking can be a challenge in the semi commercial and residential area. Went on a Wednesday night for early dinner right when they opened at 5pm. QRCode menu for their specials and a hard copy menu also available that lists most of their items but not all. They were out of Shisito peppers, miso clams, and fried sea bass Kaarage that night. No worries as the menu is extensive. We had: - Chili Fried Crab Appetizer, which was nice and crunchy, with a good sweet chili garnish. Perfect with a pitcher of beer - Chicken Kaarage, nice large chunks of fried chicken, also good with beer - Eggplant Miso, the chunks of eggplant are roasted in the oven and comes out on a hot sizzling platter, my wife loves eggplant whereas I like but don't care for the chewiness of the outer skin - The Early Bird Tonkatsu Ramen and Veggie Gyoza Combo, like the soup stock, didn't care for the veggie gyoza - Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice, wished it was Poki versus very chopped up tuna - Bone Marrow with Toasted Bread, decadent and a dish to be shared by at least four people because it is rich - Miso Cod, wish there was more tasty fish, my MIL loved the fish... - Kinako Mochi with Matcha Ice Cream and Red Beans, the fried mochi was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, complemented by the creamy matcha ice cream, not a fan of red beans though.... Ambiance was dark, with plenty of windows since the restaurant is on a corner. It gets dark early after switching to daylight savings in California. Can get pricey...Service was excellent by the lone front end employee that night. Liked the chili fried crab, chicken Kaarage, and miso cod...

great little place in berkeley! it's a bit small but still cozy and usually has a waitlist around…read moredinner time. the sushi and gyudon wasn't really anything special, but i did really like the tofu & udon! the agedashi tofu has a nice crisp on the outside so it fast before it gets soggy in the sauce! the carbonara udon has great flavor -- i could honestly eat a whole meal of just the udon overall this place is a staple, no complaints!

2nd Visit. I'm smitten with the menu and vibes. $6 Kyuri:…read morerefreshing vinegary counter to the fried and grilled items. $12 Crispy Chicken Knees: very karage like. Excellent. $6 Bacon+Oyster: Least surprising. Tasty at least. $4.50 Chkn Skin: kinda sweet! In a good way, charred, and fatty. Delicious. $31 Ika Yaki: delicious

Came here at around 6 PM on a Tuesday and got seated immediately! It got busier about 10 mins…read moreafter. Super cute & decorated inside, and staff was so nice! Okonomoyaki tater tots - 8.5/10 from a potato lover!! This does have some sort of cheese on it so beware if you don't eat it Hamachi Hand Roll - 9/10 SO GOOD. I think the rice is mixed in with soy sauce. It was super flavorful which I wasn't expecting Scallop Hand Roll - 8/10, the yuzu on top was absolutely delicious & scallop was very soft. Kobe Skewer - 7/10, it was good but nothing extraordinary. It'll hit the spot if you like meat skewers Yuzu Tori Skewer - 7/10, same as the kobe skewer, but the yuzu on top was delicious Niku Ramen - 8/10, good portion & very very flavorful. I'm glad that they gave a lot of meat in this. I shared this & they provided an extra bowl without me asking :) It's also not super spicy. Hokkaido Milk Pudding - 8/10, the pudding itself was so good but the sauce was a little too sweet for me. However, my partner has a sweet tooth and loved it :) Will totally come again, everything was so yummy and so glad to have tried it!

I had no idea how popular this restaurant was when I made the reservation. I was just craving…read moreJapanese food and wanted to try somewhere new with friends. When we arrived, there was already a long line out front, which set the tone. The place is small and intimate. The food was out of this world. I got the pork belly skewers, mushrooms in truffle sauce, a unagi hand roll, and a shrimp tempura hand roll. All of it was excellent, but the mushrooms and pork belly truly stood out. Every dish felt like it was made with deep care and intention. Our server was attentive throughout. We had a fantastic time. Definitely make a reservation before you go!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Just visited again last night after a few years and it was delicious! The ramen was just as good,…read moreif not better than I remember! The star of the show for me is their Pork Belly skewers - definitely a must try! Servers are always friendly, and it's nice to enjoy a more traditional setting where you need to take your shoes off. So come prepared with socks if you prefer that. Parking can be tricky as the private lot is small and shared with other businesses. But it's worth it!

Came here for date night and left so happy! Such a neat…read morespot, we're lucky to have a dining experience like this in Burlingame. It's traditional: you take your shoes off to sit on the floor. Restaurant is super clean and decorated perfectly to match the traditional style. This place is a carnivore's dream! We basically sampled each meat skewer and loved everything we tried. I recommend this place for anyone with a special celebration or a unique date night [this review was made in connection with a Toast promotion]

The small plates are great for sharing, especially the yakitori and appetizers, which are flavorful…read moreand well-prepared. Food comes out fresh and pairs well with their drink selection. Service is generally friendly, though it can slow down a bit when it's busy. Overall, a nice spot for a laid-back meal with good comfort-style Japanese food.

My friend and I decided to venture out of favorite sushi places and decided to try something new…read more We decided on Izakaya and while it was hard to get a reservation beforehand you literally call a few minutes when they open (which is pointless), but, I still got it because this place gets packed for dinner. The restaurant is small and somehow they are able to pack a few tables in for guests. Luckily, I did make that reservation and we both got there before opening (5:30pm) so we beat the rush hour dinner time. We were promptly seated and they took our drink and asked if we were ready. We were busy catching up and weren't ready and they came twice and so we just decided the bento box because we were both hungry. While the bento looked smaller than others I've been to. The quality was there and the food was just perfect. I really enjoyed the food at Izakaya. The sashimi cuts of ahi tuna is amazing, while not as big as others that are non-traditional Japanese restaurants. I love the quality and the food they offer. My friend and I both got a bento box and everything was delicious. The servers do come in and check on you regularly which I appreciated and they are really quick to get the food to you. Overall, I enjoyed the food and service and I would definitely come here and make sure I'm first in line!

Recently re-visited this established and well regarded spot in Fairfax. For those not "in the…read moreknow" -- this a true go-to spot for a fantastic sushi experience. It is very true that it is difficult to get in this spot during peak hours. A waitlist will have you on point, but you will still have to wait a little bit to get in. Trust me - it's all worth it. The team of hosts and wait staff treats you kindly, even though there's the "stress" of a wait. Once seated in the dimly lit space, everything happens more quickly. Your order is taken and it's not long before you get some plates coming your way. The food. Amazing. Simply delicious. Well thought out, fresh and well presented. I had the black sesame asparagus - the sauce so incredible. Then the sake sashimi was melt in your mouth quality. And a couple well equipped rolls satisfied every desire. Wine by the glass on the list, besides beers and sake. A must-go sushi place for the Bay Area. Along with Sake 107 in Petaluma, Kirala in Berkeley and Ebisu in SF -- this is a place you need to visit.

We experienced bias…read more My wife and I went there for our anniversary. It was my second time there. We got in line very early to make sure we would get in and have a nice seat. We were second in line. The doors opened, and the hostess seated a couple, a man and woman, in a booth. My wife and I, two women, were second. The hostess pointed us to a table with chairs up front. We told her we would like a booth. She said they save booths for parties of four. I pointed out the couple that had just been seated in a booth. She looked irritated and just pointed to the table with chairs. I politely asked for a booth again. She looked more irritated, and pointed to the worst booth. It was a booth on one side and chairs on the other, right behind the greeting podium. She walked away, and we sat ourselves in a normal booth. I was actually wondering if someone was going to ask us to move. The whole experience really put a damper on our night although we tried to pretend it didn't happen so we could enjoy ourselves. In addition, my hamachi was not good at all, and I have eaten a lot of hamachi in my time.