This meal was excellent! My partner and I ate here recently and were blown away by everything we…read moreate. The service was great and felt very intentional, with each dish coming out one by one so we could savor everything individually. We started our meal with marinated mackerel toasts. These were life changing! The flavor was incredible. I wish we had ordered 20 more. Next we had the snow crab miso begna cauda. The broccoli was roasted nicely, and the dip was rich and full of flavor. After that, we had the wagyu cutlets. These were nice and crispy, but we could have skipped this one. Next we had an order of clams, and two skewers (bluefin tuna and lamb). Finally, we got the uni carbonara pasta, which was creamy yet light. We were feeling a little hungry still, so at the last second we ordered the beef tongue and the sweet potato brulee for dessert. The beef tongue was delicious! We ordered it because we saw a nearby table had ordered it, and it looked amazing. It did not disappoint! The flavor was perfect, and the beef melted in our mouths. These sweet potato brulee was also exceptional! I would absolutely recommend Kiraku for your next night out!

Had dinner at Kiraku last week. It was a big disappointment!…read more During the pandemic, my husband and I found this restaurant for take out. Everything we ordered was delicious. One of my husband's favourites was the fish porridge. However, after a few times, they decided not to make it anymore. It's a shame cause it was their best dish even though my husband normally doesn't like porridge, he thinks they made the porridge so good that he can give it an exception! Fast forward to last week, we decided to give Kiraku a try again - dine in. I noticed that they have quite a strict policy in reservation (if we don't show up, they automatically charge a fee and we have to spend at least $50 pp like other high end restaurants which I guess it's ok because it's hard to do business nowadays). When we arrived, we were greeted and seated right away. The restaurant was very small, obviously all the tables were very small as well. There was hardly any room for the wait staff to walk/move around and my head/arm got hit a couple of times by their elbows. That was not the worst though. The place was so loud that we could not hold a conversation. I felt that my ears and my head were hurting by all the noise from people talking and the sound of the dishes clinking. However, that still was not the worst! We looked at the menu, my husband doesn't eat raw stuff (I did tell him that they have lots of cooked items). I asked the wait staff what kind of fresh sashimi they have since I have a craving. She told me they have blue fin tuna. I was so excited so I placed that order. Here comes the break down of my disappointment: 1. Blue fin tuna, turned out that they actually didn't have. So I had to choose either salmon sashimi or torched mackerel. I don't like to order salmon sashimi since most of the salmon restaurants serve is not wild caught so the farm raised salmon often tastes fishy. I decided to order the torched mackerel at the wait staff suggested. It was a big mistake....the mackerel was so fishy that I couldn't finish the whole thing. My husband ordered the chicken karaage and the snow crab with torched cabbage which were only ok, we also had the tender beef tongue skewer which was good, black cod miso which my husband said I cook that one much better, we also had jumbo squid and gyoza which were only ok. Our dessert was probably the best - the sweet potato brûlée. We have decided to scratch this restaurant off our dining list because the food was just not good enough for us to give it another try! I guess I am spoiled by the excellent Japanese food in Singapore, Japan and Australia, this place just cannot compare to any of the places we had but I am sure I can find other better Japanese restaurants in California!

Butterfish Sushi provides some of the best service and flavors in Berkeley. Recently, their Salmon…read moreSkin Roll shocked me as one of the best rolls I have tried in the Bay Area. It combined crispy salmon skin with snow crab in a creamy mayo and was topped with daikon radish, avocado, cucumbers, unagi sauce, yuzu tobiko, and ikura. This rich combination really showcased the ingredients at Butterfish. The Arctic Roll serves as a fantastic scallop-forward addition to any meal, and in combination with the formal yet cozy atmosphere, it makes Butterfish one of the best bites in Berkeley.

A neighborhood gem with fresh & creative sushi…read more The restaurant is small with a few tables on the sidewalk. We were only able to secure the first lunch seating for our party of 6. The staff were knowledgeable and attentive. (I was amused by the "tablet" that grew into a handtowel when water was added) We ordered Smoked Hamachi Roll (a must & IG worthy), fresh oysters, Hamachi Roll, Pacific Roll, Sushi and Sashimi Set, Hamachi Collar set, 7 handroll set. The fish is so fresh and rice-ratio was perfect. We had such a pleasant dining experience. Butterfish will be our go-to spot for sushi in Berkeley area

Food was mediocre. Okra skewers were extremely tough and had to spit it out after chewing a while…read more Service was mid also.

Joe-son made a plan drive up from LA to surprise mom..He was hidden in the back of my car as we…read morepicked up Gio. When we arrived at Ippuku he popped up like a Waks-in-a-box......she "aaaieeeeeeed!" big success! Seated as night was approaching and ordered a 45mil sake carafe @$45. yummy Kokuryu. Will first list foods that won't get again....1. interesting but tiny teeny bowl tofu skins 2. tasteless watery egglant dish(worst thing). 3. and an ok but boring egg omelet. now for the winners: gyoza with a delicious filling encased in a delicate traslucent skin; 1/2 crispy skinned grilled mackeral (my fav!) grilled chik butt (a bit lite on salt..soy fixed it;) then to Joes objection I ordered smelt tempura... objection waived..we all loved it; wagu beef on a stick great (Joes fav); Scallion pancake quite good but which weirdly came toward the end of the meal & had to ask for it numerous times??? why Did it come so late.? anyway we finished with onigiri sesame crusty grilled rice ball and another in a delicious rich chicken broth.....asked our server for the check! wait a minute...something was amiss...missing items? when the bill arrived we were right! 3 grilled different chicken skewers that were missing in action were on the bill ....what? informed the staff ...the manager arrived & asked if we now wanted them...too late baby its too late.....the bill was corrected and almost $40 was deleted.... sooooo again the service here can leave much to be desired similar to missing items on our former visit. still many great dishes as well as its visually stunning interior & plus...ATTENTION! Women...your toilet seat is heated which Gio gushed about & adored! next time I'll have her photo the seat

The atmosphere is absolutely gorgeous! The dim lighting, the beautiful bar with the mirror, and the…read moreoutdoor seating and lighting, everything about this place is so beautiful. The service was amazing from the moment we walked in. From the hostess who seated us to our waiter, everyone was so welcoming. Our waiter Vicente, was very attentive, polite and professional. And the food... so fresh, so tasty, and full of flavor! Everything we tried, from the ramen to the bento box and sushi, was delicious. We also ordered a fish dish that was absolutely amazing. I could go on and on! This was my first time eating here, and I will definitely be back! Yummy!!!!

This place was hella expensive. Miso soup wasn't free either - it's like $9 wth! The saikoro bites…read morewas not what I expected either. I was hoping there'd more of a crunch to the sticky rice. It was just okay for me; I wouldn't order it again. The ramen was pretty stacked, which should be the case cuz it was $28. The gindara was definitely the best item for the night. I highly recommend getting that one if you come here. Overall impression for me is this place fits the neighborhood but it's not it for me.

Still all these decades later, Kirala meets the mark. We sat at the sake bar in the back with two…read morekids and it worked well. Service by Taka was great - attentive and quick. Only lag was when we ordered 2 nigiri at the end and it took a really long time but I think the sushi chefs lost the order or something. Delicious sukiyaki, chicken skewers, cold tofu, salmon rolls, hamachi sashimi, Ikura and uni, tuna and Ikura nigiri, and hamachi Kama (not sure why they charge $21 and then $7 for a large when it is two small dollars that came out though). Decent wine selection - Chardonnay was good. Restaurant itself is fairly loud, especially with a baby that kept crying. But it might have been crying because it was loud. Owners should consider the Constellation System by Meyer Sound to make the dining experience more enjoyable for patrons. As this is a longtime bastion of Japanese food in the Bay, they should really invest in the sound portion of their restaurant. Prices have gone up since the last time I was here but it's not totally unreasonable. Good quality food and service. Love this place.

Kirala isn't just another Japanese spot for us--it's a reminder of how far we've come. My wife used…read moreto only treat herself to Kirala when she was younger--on special occasions when a bonus check came in. Now, we get to dine here as a family, and that nostalgic treat feels all the more satisfying. Food (4 stars) + Ribeye teriyaki was a hit--tender, cooked to perfection, and the kids loved it! + Lamb chop was a standout--one piece, but perfectly grilled, juicy, and tender. I could eat 2 of these with a bowl of rice and it would be a hearty meal! + Chicken karaage was solid--crispy, good portion, and a nice appetizer. It's basically a Japanese version of chicken strips that is way better than nuggets. + Salmon sashimi for the kids never disappoints. ~ Chirashi bowl was fresh and filling, though standard compared to other spots. There was a lot of rice which if we knew that we probably would've skipped the extra bowl I ordered to eat with my lamb chops. For the somewhat premium pricing, I wish they provided fresh chopped wasabi. ~ Stuffed mushroom skewer was just okay--tasty but nothing special. I guess for mushrooms it does taste kinda like a chicken meatball which could be a good thing. Service/Ambiance (4 stars) + Attentive and thoughtful service, especially accommodating a broken foot. They let my family wait at the bar instead of standing. + Ambiance is that classic Japanese vibe, busy but comfortable. Maybe not high-end, but definitely a place that feels special--especially now that we can afford it!

Food was delicious…read more Service was great Would recommend this Japanese restaurant to anyone who wants authentic Japanese cuisine

Really Good Japanese ramen. A must try. Great service…read more Relaxing ambiance. Great for any size party and occasion.

WHEN: Sat @6pm…read more PARKING: There is metered parking around, and is free after 6pm. It may be a bit tricky especially around meal time, but keep circling and you'll find a spot near by enough. This cute little ramen shop has such perfect lighting coming through thanks to thier skylight. We weren't actually hungry so we shared the following: TONKOTSU - $16.50 (Regular) Pork Belly Chashu, Bamboo Shoots, Red Onion, Wood Ear Mushrooms, Green Onion, Ajitama Egg. You get a choice of noodles to pick: 1.) Hakata - Thin Straight 2.) Sapporo - Medium Thick Wavy Figured since it's my first time here, I choose the most basic version of their bowl of ramen. I chose Sapparo and for some reason expected it to be thicker/wider, but regardless it was still good! The presentation of this bowl is just gorgeous, served on a small wooden platter. The red onion is chopped, and the pork Belly is quite tender. Regarding the egg, you get just half. Overall this bowl of ramen is creamy, rich, and the right amount of flavor and salt. But still make sure to drink at least a glass of water! CREAMY CHASHU PORK CROQUETTES - $8.50 I have never seen anything like this so I must give it a try! It actually didn't come out piping hot, so I was able to drive in right away! It was definitely creamy (like ramen) and had pieces of the Chau's pork, encased in a crispy and warm batter that was deep fried. It also comes with a katsu sauce and I really enjoyed it. The staff was friendly and didn't make us feel bad for ordering enough of just one, but man I was so full. Had to walk around downtown Berkeley for awhile.

I really love Tsuruya so writing this review stung a bit. Tsuruya snuck in additional tip amount…read morethe last time we dined here. It was only a couple of dollars more but tip fraud is never acceptable. We rarely deviate from our usual order so the posted transaction felt off to us. We were able to confirm and report to the credit card company. I recommend you guys take pictures of your receipts and verify the transactions. Hope this doesn't happen to y'all!

I will be thinking of Mensho for a very long time. I have had ramen in Japan and Mensho comes very…read moreclose to ramen in Japan. The chicken broth is so rich and creamy. The noodles cooked perfectly with a small bite, their proteins are tender and flavorful. I would absolutely recommend!

A great restaurant with a wonderful variety of vegan noodle dishes! We visited as a group for…read morelunch, and the place was packed. We ordered several different dishes, and all of them were delicious. You can also watch the noodles being prepared in the kitchen near the entrance, which adds to the experience. I ordered the vegan Tantanmen extra spicy. The broth and toppings were really flavorful, and the eggplant was a highlight. We also tried the corn wings, which were so good that we kept ordering more! It's a bit pricey, likely because of the location, but the overall food experience was excellent. This restaurant now ranks second on my personal ramen list. Whenever I'm back in the area, I'll definitely return to try the other vegan noodle flavors.

Top contender for Japanese cuisine in Berkeley--equal parts sophisticated and scrumptious…read more Highlights include: - Sea Bean & Corn Tempura: a savory funnel cake worthy of a Michelin star thanks to its texture and the side of matcha salt - Salmon sashimi: succulent with fresh wasabi - Wagyu Shime Special: insane price for insane flavor--a generous portion of veggies and wagyu in a big ol' iron bowl of bubblin' broth

Ate Christmas dinner here with my mom as our celebration tradition is usually a Japanese…read morerestaurant. The ambience was intimate and cozy yet elegant, and the staff was very attentive and kind. I loved the decorations, the plates and silverware, and the food was just as intentional in flavor and selection. For appetizers we had: Anchovy Stuffed Olives Tempura - Tempura Spanish alives stuffed with anchovies $9 Kombu Tsukudani - Premium Hokkaldo kelp, say sauce, bonito, shiso, sesame seeds, enjoy with sake or rice $6 For our meal we had: Saba Bouzushi - House-cured saba mackerel bouzushi - stick-shaped sushi, also called battera, served with shiso, sesame, scallions, topped with Hokkaido shiraita kombu, ten pieces $29 Gindara Yuanyaki - Local black cod marinated in soy sauce and shikuwasa Okinawan citrus juice served grilled $34 Steelhead Trout Nabe - Norwegian ocean trout raised sustainably in the clear, cold ford where the seawater meets fresh meltwater from the glaciers in the mountains. Enjoy the rich flavored, melt-in-your-mouth fish, hotpot with dashi broth, mushrooms, napa cabbage, burdock, clear noodles, tofu, mizuna, scallions, yuzu kosho $39 We've been to many izakaya spots and this place had some of the most unique flavors I've tasted. The Saba Bouzushi stood out to me because it reminded of Filipino paksiw but as a roll! The Gindara was buttery and soft and had a yummy smoky flavor. The Nabe was perfect for a rainy evening - hearty, fresh, and so well balanced in flavor (I loved the yuzu kosho the had us add for a citrusy, peppery flavor)

The sushi is amazing!!! I especially like the black dragon roll and the sakana special roll…read more Looking forward to go there every time!

I loved sushi made using purple rice. It adds a beautiful and tasty punch to pristine delicious…read morefish. The server was very happy to explain to me how the shop came to use the purple rice, which is a combination of White and black rices. It is more influenced by Korean cuisine than Japanese, but you just gotta love the inventiveness and style. This place adds to the wonderful sushi options in this neck of the woods worth the drive, worth everything.