favorite spot in berkeley!!! came during rush hour so luke and francisco helped me out. bowl tasted…read moredelicious and fish was fresh too. would definitely come again!! got to even meet the manager, luis -- what a cheerful guy

This is one of my staples in the area for a quick lunch--I've probably been here 15+ times in my 4…read moreyears at Berkeley. The fish and produce are always fresh and high quality, and I've never had any stomach issues afterward. I also haven't seen another poke place cut their salmon into such large, satisfying chunks. One thing to note is that the small and medium sizes use the same bowl, but you get two vs three scoops of protein. They also offer crab salad as a side rather than a protein, which is a nice perk. And if you order in store, you can choose unlimited sides--something Snackpass doesn't allow. For sauce, I recommend a combo of a soy-based option like the black unagi with some sort of aioli (miso, sriracha, wasabi crème). It helps balance out the flavors so your bowl doesn't end up too salty. I will say, however, that the amount of food you get is highly dependent on whoever makes your bowl. Some of the staff will pack it to the brim, while others are more conservative. Nonetheless, you can't really go wrong with any combination of ingredients and sauces.

My first time here, and definitely will be back. Ever since I had real Japanese food in Japan, I've…read morebeen on a hunt for authentic Japanese food, and this spot did not disappoint! It is so fresh, so good, my whole family was impressed! We were a big party, and luckily it was not too busy! We were served fast, and we all tried different dishes, mine was the Unagi, my son got the Omurice, and my other son got the Chicken Katsu! Street Parking, close to UC Berkeley, we will be back!

A charming little hole-in-the-wall that totally delivered! My kids were craving sushi, and this…read moreplace hit the spot perfectly. The portions were generous, the fish was impressively fresh -- exactly what you want on a hot day. The couple who owns it are warm and welcoming, which gives it a real neighborhood gem feel. If you're anywhere near downtown Berkeley, it's absolutely worth a stop.

Amazingly delicious rice buns in the Koja braised beef koja burgers. Small but filling. Yummmm…read more The k fries are also delicious. Best deal is the two tacos fries and a soda for $14.25. Worth coming back soon. Very walkable.

I like the concept and vibes of this place. Service was a bit slow and we were the only customers…read morethere on a Saturday afternoon... The short rib was tender and had good flavor, and the rice bun was super crispy & yummy. I just wish the koja had more to it....it was just meat and lettuce, but it needed a cold, crunchy, and tart aspect like kimchi or something! The umami fries were not good unfortunately; they were soggy, too saucy, and I wish they layered things instead of dumping everything on top.

stopped by when i was craving poke and this spot did not disappoint! the fish was very fresh and…read morethe portions are very generous. you have the option to do a classic poke box or just grab a 1/4 of the fish ala carte (with mix-ins & sauce but no sides). the workers here are always so nice and helpful. they're also willing to explain what the items are on the menu if you're not sure! haven't tried any of the onigiri/musubi but they do have lots of delicious looking options if poke isn't your style or you're looking for something more snackable. they also have options like an unagi box (cooked eel) and salmon teriyaki if you're not into raw fish!

I was really craving poke, and this was so satisfying. My bf picked up a 3-protein bowl for me with…read moretuna, salmon, and hamachi with spicy mayo and ponzu with tons of toppings. The fish tasted so fresh and the sauces were delicious. The crab salad was also really good and normally that's iffy to me. I'm definitely coming back here when I've got a poke craving.

I'm surprised that I haven't written a review for Sakana in Kensington yet. My wife and I have…read morebeen coming here for a few years now and they have yet to disappoint us. Everything we have had has been fresh, delicious, and well presented. The sashimi, specialty rolls, baked rolls (cooked ingredients besides tobiko), nigiri, and vegan/vegetarian rolls have all been excellent. I like the purple rice they use (sushi rice mixed with black rice) as it helps them stand out in both flavor and healthy offerings. The service is consistently on point too. Our servers have always been very courteous, attentive, and hard working. I appreciate that they can offer this level of food and service in a casual environment. I heard that they opened up a location in Albany within the last year or so that we have yet to visit. They do a great job and we're looking forward to dining with them for years to come.

Overall 4.5/5 stars…read more Pros: The quality of the fish was very fresh. They have unique purple rice in their sushi rolls. The sakana roll was definitely unique in flavor and had chunks of mango in it. Portions are huge. (For 2 ppl I think 3 rolls shared would be enough) Amazing service from staff. Cozy small mom and pa spot. Cons: Parking is small and very limited. Space is small not too much seating. Some rolls were too saucy like the Bay Scallop (Baked) one

This place has been one of my go-to restaurant to get authentic Hunan style Chinese dishes!…read more Every time I go, I always order a delicious cold fresh young coconut to drink, Xiao Long Baos or Pork Dumplings as appetizers and their Beef Noodles soups (spicy). If you're a rice person, and love flavor + variety, their eggplant with minced pork, braised pork belly, stir fried beef with peppers, steamed egg with minced pork and cauliflower are my go-to dishes! The service here is very friendly and quick; as for ordering, you order through an iPad. I love the vibes of this restaurant, definitely a great place to have a meal with your friends and family or a big celebration! I do recommend if you have more than 10+ in your party, call ahead so they can seat you properly!

Stopped by here for dinner on our way back from Tahoe, and had a good meal…read more The restaurant is huge, with super high ceilings, a second floor and big doors that were open to keep the place fresh. Service was what you've expected from any Chinese restaurants, effective, but not attentive, which is fine by me. Here are the items we ordered: Spicy fried chicken with chillis: 5/5 one of the best ones in the Bay Area! Definitely a must order dish if you're into this dish. Boiled fish soup with Zi su leaves: 4/5 broth is very flavorful. The fish is a bit fishy. It's spicy and numbing and yummy! Steamed egg: 3/5 standard steamed egg, tasted fine but very expensive for what it is. We ordered it since we have people in our party who don't eat spicy food, and this was one of the few options available. Scallion pancakes: 4/5 very crispy, oily ( I'm not complaining), and also a bit spicy. Stinky tofu: 3/5 the tofu itself doesn't have flavor. You need to dip it in the sauce. The sauce was ok. Wouldn't order again. Fried sweet rice flour sticks with peanut powder and brown sugar: 3/5 this tasted like store bought frozen stuff. I can get this for much cheaper and make it at home. Bing fen: 1/5 this is not the real deal. It tasted like jello with brown sugar. The real Bing Fen is supposed to be chewy, and should come with lots of toppings. Definitely won't get this again.

I didn't realize there was a Japanese market in the area! I wanted to make poke nachos, but didn't…read morewant to drive to the fish market in Albany. I was able to find almost everything I needed at this market. They have sashimi, seaweed salad, imitation crab sticks, packaged and prepared food, meat, snacks, etc. It's a nice little store with a lot to offer. I'd come back again.

This is a small, what looks like a family-run spot, that I really enjoy visiting. The staff are…read moreconsistently polite, welcoming, and always happy to help, which makes a big difference every time I stop by. I usually come here to pick up snacks, and it's become a favorite for my little one, they absolutely love the Meiji chocolate, and this is the closest place where I can reliably find it. Even though the store is on the smaller side, it should meet your daily needs. You'll find essentials like dairy and fresh fruit, along with more specialty items like miso paste and a variety of Japanese seasonings. It's compact, but thoughtfully organized, and has most things you will need without feeling overwhelming.

Awesome!!!! Got…read morethere Saturday at 8:45am expecting a big line before , like there was on my first trip there a yr ago. No line, parking with open slots, we were #2 in line. 9am doors opened, greeted from the staff, "Welcome in". Came for the fresh sashimi and Hawaiian goods. We just got back from Maui. Found the pre-sliced sashimi. The fish monger overheard our conversation. I was explaining the fish assortment to my wife. He also gave us for Free, Fresh Wasabi root to shave on our fish assortment. I had him cut a few pieces of Tako for us. They we went shopping for Hawaiian goods. S&S Siamin, char sue Manapua, guava Jam etc This is such a great market

Only place I need to visit for my sushi fix. Always the freshest ingredients. Get there early (like…read morewhen they first open or close to it), all of the most popular items sell out fast. Today, I arrived around 2:30p. There were still items available, for me they were my second or third go to items - although I did get a couple firsts. At Tokyo Fish Market, I get my mochi fix (ice cream and shelf), eel and mackerel sushi, tamago and tako sashimi, unagi musubi and onigiri, tako and seaweed salad, flavored aloe waters and chicken katsu (for lil one). All things Japanese can be found here to satisfy whatever craving you may have. I have been coming here for over 20 years now, the quality has never varied - always excellent. I have made special requests, last minute, staff are great at trying to accommodate if they can. I definitely recommend Tokyo Fish Market to locals and those in surrounding areas. The prices are super reasonable. There is definitely no other place like it around here. Only con, parking, especially if you arrive the first few hours after they open. Their parking lot is small and tight, fitting three cars and ADA when you first enter and three to four cars before the exit. There is metered street parking directly in front and down the block, including across the street. It is about a 5 minute drive from the Gilman exit, make a left at the light right after Berkeley Bowl. I get off the Albany exit and ride down San Pablo so I can try to park on the same side as the market. If the weather is nice out, grab your wants from here, take a blanket (all have benches, availability limited) then drive to a nearby park for a picnic and play. Options include Aquatic Park, Cedar Rose Park and Strawberry Creek Park (5 min drive) to Berkeley Marina and Caesar Chavez Park (10 min drive with an off leash dog park onsite and a pathway circling the water). Enjoy!