Have not had Sizzling Lunch (or any Taiwanese sizzling plate) in a minute! It was a much needed visit. My friend and I both came on a Monday night (10% student discount all day on Mondays and Tuesdays with valid student ID!) and were seated promptly. The lighting is pretty bright, and the ceilings are stall which gives a feeling of spaciousness. We both ordered the Garlic Beef Pepper Rice (I added egg, but there's plenty of other add-ons and substitutes you can try!) through the QR code on the table. We received our orders in less than 10 minutes! When you get your food, you mix it yourself to cook the meat and toppings and melt the garlic butter into your food. There's also salt, pepper, togarashi, teriyaki sauce, and a vinegar-based sauce you can add to your sizzling plate to enhance the flavor! My food was an easy 10/10. Overall, it was so worth coming here! I'd love to come back again in the near future. (: read more

Sizzling Lunch - Garlic Beef Pepper Rice + egg - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

Just under 4 stars $16.50 kurobuta pork belly udon sizzling plate. Very good. This relies on carmelization and oil to deliver flavor at the table. Basically, good street food. Can eat again. But it's heavy. Also, the portion size to price could be a bit better. read more

Sizzling Lunch - Kurobuta pork belly udon. No adds. - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

It is so clean here and the staff is fairly quick. I got the beef udon and it was delicious! The corn cheese was okay.

First time to this Berkeley location since it had moved from Telegraph Ave. Walked in and the door notified everyone that someone had walked in. There's a wait to be seated sign but I was motioned to the counter since it was just me. I sat down and scanned the QR code to begin the ordering process. A cup of cold water was brought and I quickly ordered my beef pepper rice. There are options to remove items if you don't want green onions or corn, for example. It did take awhile for it to come out given that there was only two people in front of me who hadn't yet received their food. So if you have an hour lunch, this may not be the best place for you to go. That being said, if you have the time, the flavor and experience is worth the try. I would have wanted a few more slices of beef to mix with the rice, corn and green onions to feel more full. The rice however was perfect. Crunchy rice from the sizzling plate was spot on. The plate was hot enough to quickly cook the very thin strips of beef. I also had added on the garlic shoyu and teriyaki sauces that were at the counter. Definitely would recommend for the experience but maybe not if you're hungry and only want to order one dish. Server was polite and the restaurant itself was clean. The restroom is out the back door and is a little dark but also clean. Would I go back? Absolutely if I have the time! read more

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I wanted a quick meal, so I ordered the Onion Beef Pepper Rice, which came with Green onions, corn, garlic butter, salt, pepper, and Fried Crispy Onion. The portion size was great, but the flavors felt a bit mild for me. I ended up adding the garlic shoyu and teriyaki sauces, though I could mostly taste the sweetness and saltiness. Overall, it was a mixed experience. But I'll definitely come back to try it again another time. read more

Sizzling Lunch - Onion Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

I didn't realize Sizzling Lunch moved to Shattuck! There's only street parking and it can be rough depending on what day and time you go. I stopped by twice in one week (because it was so good). Once on a Saturday around 6pm, I had to drive around for like 15 minutes before I found parking and another time on Monday around 5pm and lucked out on finding parking right in front. When you get seated, you'll scan the QR code to put in your order. You can pay through there or at the register. I ordered the garlic beef and corn cheese. It's definitely recommended to add all of the sauces and seasoning on the table otherwise it's going to taste bland. I wasn't the biggest fan of the corn cheese, I think it cooked too fast and got too crispy at the bottom for my liking. Overall I would obviously come back. Staff are super nice. The restaurant is spacious but can get full. read more

Sizzling Lunch - Garlic Beef Pepper Rice Cheese Corn - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

We came for my sister's birthday with a group of 13. Usually it's very overwhelming having to order for everyone and everyone ordering all at once lol. However, the ordering process here made it so easy! You scan a QR code from the table and you just place your order, that's it! No one takes your order, but they are on standby if you need anything! I got the spicy garlic beef pepper rice with an egg and it was very tasty! I like how crispy the rice gets when you just leave it alone for a bit. The spice level was just enough for me. There are sauces that you can add to the dish if you need more flavor. They also offer Sugar Mama Sugarcane! We didn't get any when we came in, but we've had Sugar Mama before and it's one of the best sugarcane drinks! read more

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If you're looking to have a good hot plate sizzling lunch or dinner this is the place to go plenty of seating and no wait unlike other places in the area. Friendly service and food is quick to arrive because the meat choice will cooks on the hot sizzling plate you have to flip and mix everything together a little different but good! The wings had a nice batter crunch. There are no paper menus so you do have to have a phone to scan the barcode to order. The food was good and satisfying. Will definitely be back since it's close walking distance. read more

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Yum! I was craving Sizzling Lunch in the middle of a 2 hour car ride and rushed over thinking there might be a long line. Parking was a nightmare but we were seated right away! We sat by the window and was annoyed by the flies but the food made up for it. A hot sizzling plate of food never misses. I'll be back but perhaps will sit somewhere else in the restaurant? read more

Sizzling Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The food was amazing!! I took a video of my partner's and friend's meals but the food I personally ordered were the Tempura Shrimp with Curry Sauce and Takoyaki. The tempura was PERFECT! The best tempura I've ever tasted, it was wonderfully crispy on the outside and the shrimp wasn't rubbery or chewy at all. The curry sauce was a perfect mix and the plate stayed hot for a good while! The takoyaki was also incredible! The octopus wasn't rubbery or overly chewy at all either. :) I look forward to trying this place's food again in the future. The service was nice! There was only one server at the time we came in but she was very accommodating and cordial. When we had an issue with one of our cups, she was quick to help out and resolve the issue by both replacing the cup and drink. The ambiance is good! Decor is simple and nice. One concern is that there were a lot of flies at the window inside the restaurant. And I unfortunately did see one land on two customers' head (two different ones). There was a total of four just sitting on the blinds. Maybe something to keep an eye out for in the future, considering there are many tables near the window. read more

Sizzling Lunch - Takoyaki - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was pleasantly surprised at how fast, affordable and tasty the food was! It's a large space with plenty of seating where you order at the table with a QR code. The food came out so quickly, within 5 minutes of ordering and it was indeed sizzling hot. The flavors were delicious for the garlic pepper beef rice and I added lots of the teriyaki and soy sauce. I also got the udon as well and prefer the rice myself because it got crispy on the hot plate. We were in and out in no time. For a fast quick meal I definitely would recommend! read more

Sizzling Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

===TL;DR=== - Garlic beef pepper with udon - Garlic beef rice with kimchi ===TMI=== Not sure if it's me, if I grew out of it, or this place is just not hitting the same anymore. Classic sizzling plate meal where you get to add sauces of your choice at the table. It was alright. Flavors were ok. I think they're good for a quick and hassle free meal. iPad orders. When I went, the table and seat was kind of dirty. read more

Sizzling Lunch - Garlic Beef Pepper udon - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

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In all honestly, this spot is ok! But nothing to call home about that is for sure. I placed a pick up order at Sizzling Lunch to get a quick dinner to hold me for the night. I already knew that the experience wouldn't be as good considering I was getting everything precooked rather than having the actual sizzling plate experience, so I don't let that hinder my overall score. It took about 50 minutes for my order to be complete. Why? I am unsure! I ordered a garlic beef rice and an order of chicken wings, and the restaurant was not busy at the time (5 pm). So I do not know! The beef rice was definitely the best part. The rice was flavorful and the beef was good. Do wish there was more protein but it is ok. I also enjoyed the sauce that was served with it. Yum! The thing that got me were the wings. What bird was killed to make these? They were SO small and dry! I was hoping that the flavor would at least make up for the negative so far but even that was lacking which is upsetting :( Just not the most tasty moment. I have had sizzling lunch in the past and it has been good, but each experience I have had at this specific location has been leaning towards lackluster :/ I do not think I will return unfortunately! read more

Sizzling Lunch - the wings, all but one smaller than my pinky - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Had the pleasure of dining at Sizzling Lunch recently, and the staff were extremely kind. I ordered the spicy garlic beef pepper rice, and was very excited to receive the quite literally sizzling plate! The food itself was okay -- definitely need to take a pair of chopsticks to flip and cook other sides of the beef while the plate is hot -- and was *very* spicy. By itself, the dish was missing quite a bit of flavor (that or my tongue was just numb from the intense spice), but they have bottles of teriyaki sauce and various other seasonings available to add to your liking. Two cups of iced water later, I left as a full and satisfied customer. Thank you Sizzling Lunch! read more

Sizzling Lunch - Front desk - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Wow! I was quite blown away by how delicious the food was here. Back in OC, we have something similar called Pepper Lunch, though it is not as good as it was here. I think what really made this dish so tasty was the seasoned butter that they used!! Really added such nice depth and richness to the rice when mixed all together. The spicy sauce that came on top of the rice was also sooooo good and well seasoned, though it was a LOT spicier than I anticipated. It's the kind of spice that builds up in your mouth the more that you eat it. I also had the potato croquettes and they were perfection. So crispy on the outside, soft and a bit sweet on the inside, it pairs so nicely with the main dish. Would definitely recommend this place!! Portions are pretty big. read more

Sizzling Lunch - Spicy Garlic Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

If I could eat here every day without having digestive issues, I WOULD. I looooooove sizzling lunch. Service is incredibly quick--there's barely any wait time between ordering and getting your food. The food arrives on sizzling hot stone pans, and I absolutely adore getting to mix everything up and scraping the crispy bits of rice off the bottom. I usually just order the classic garlic beef pepper lunch, but my boyfriend ordered the curry beef rice with cheese. I tried some and it was MOUTHWATERING. If you are a fan of curry, it is a must try! It's definitely on the heavier side, though, so be prepared to spend some time on the toilet later. The interior is so cute and spacious, and they have a good range of seating options. The bar style tables make it very solo dining friendly. Pro tip: drench your rice in the spicy miso sauce. I can eat that sauce straight. read more

Sizzling Lunch - Curry Beef Rice with Cheese - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

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First time at this location and the food was great! We ordered virtually through the QR code scan, then the server was quick to attend us. There are lots of tables inside for seating. Very clean place and many people out eating ranging from friend groups, families, and more. The food was delicious! Loved the cucumbers, tempura shrimp, and beef udon. They were all flavorful read more

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Good food and service. The cheese fries are actually really good. I hate the ordering system with the online QR code and Toast. I wish they either took our orders the regular way, had people pay in advance at the cashier, or have a tablet provided (like at the Fremont location, or Haidilao) instead. A bit confusing for groups sharing and/or paying together as each person's order was separate, on separate bills using different online tabs. I saw a group of 2 get 3 plates on accident, presumably because one of them ordered for both of them and the other ordered one just for themselves, and I'm sure this happens relatively frequently. read more

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udon noodles were unfortunate:/ super mushy from the get go, and pretty unpleasant. The rice is always always the move at this location. They did give a whole lot more butter than before compared to the other Berkeley location, which made it pretty greasy. Everything was dripping in oil. I do wish they gave just a bit more corn and beef, but it do be like that sometimes. not much service goes on here but the food came out SUPER fast! Very spacious inside and lots of seating read more

Sizzling Lunch - Beef Udon, Spicy miso pepper rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

Just as tasty as their Fremont location. But with better ventilation! Great attentive service, definitely a hit with the college crowd. Located in a newer building, but parking can be challenging being in Shattuck Ave. read more

My friends and I came here on a Saturday recently and had the worst customer service experience possible. My friend waited 20+ minutes while everyone else's food came, and when she asked our server (beard and dyed red hair), he said he would put in that order manually. 10 minutes later he comes out with TWO of the same dish and when we let him know about the misunderstanding he was extremely rude and condescending towards us. He gave the order to a nearby table for free and when we later asked for napkins, he ROLLED HIS EYES AND SLAMMED THE NAPKINS down on our table. He kept giving us dirty looks throughout as well. Food was ok and ambiance was ok but I will not be coming back. read more

Sizzling Lunch is one of my favorite restaurants! I especially love the beef udon sizzling plate. The way I eat this meal is I put the meat on top of the noodles so they don't overcook, and then I douse the garlic shoyu over all of it. So delicious! The service is awesome each time and very accommodating to our 1 year old. The restaurant itself is comfortable, clean, and spacious. This is a great family-friendly calm spot. read more

This place is t that bad. It would probably be better if it wasn't for the sticker shock. Portions are a bit small for close to $16 for the minimum meal. Where they get you is all the add on's to make it better. There was only one person working when we got there, but the menu is all online and you order from your phone. The knuckle head part of me actually paid for a tip even though the only time I saw someone was when they brought out the food ‍. The place is clean and nicely organized so no need to worry about sanitation. Overall, if I had saved extra money, this place would be a nice place to splurge on. Family got the sizzling beef rice, udon with shrimp and the potato croquettes. Again, it's a little pricy for the quantity but I suppose to quality is pretty good. read more

I've left a review for their previous Berkeley location but thought I'd do another for their new one on Shattuck. Still difficult-ish to find parking nearby but I find myself craving and going about once a month. The food is good as always, we enjoy the garlic pepper rice with beef and even tried their no rice veggie version for low carb option. Sad that the tofu appetizer was out last time (please keep them in stock I love them ) Also shoutout to the young, tall fella (FOH staff), who is always super nice and respectful - also saw him chasing down a customer with a phone that they left behind, good looking out! read more

Sizzling Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

It's was quick, tasty and no frills. Perfect for a college student! Service was meh & ambiance was pretty lack luster. It was in an over sized glass walled eatery. read more

Sizzling Lunch - Curry Beef Udon. I think. - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I got the Kimchi Beef Pepper Rice and Cheese Corn it was straight bussing. Service was nice and the restaurant itself was comforting. I would definitely come back on mamas read more

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I really loved Sizzling Lunch! I have been to Pepper Lunch before which is really similar, but I was still blown away by the combo options and the actual food. At this location, you seat yourself and order from the QR code site. The food comes out pretty quickly, and it is sizzling hot. My partner and I shared the Beef Curry Rice Plate and the Kurobuta Pork Belly Plate (with kimchi), and we also got a Cheese Corn Plate. It was all so delicious! I think the plates are great but the sauces that are on the tables really add more flavor - my favorite was the Teriyaki sauce. It's a super hearty meal and I really enjoyed how buttery it is. Would 100% come back! read more

Sizzling Lunch - Beef Curry Plate - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This used to be one of our favorite places for a quick meal. But this time around we are so disappointed! The portion size was reduced quite a bit (I used to have trouble finishing to now eating the whole thing and not quite full?) and they took away the spicy miso sauce! We love the food and format but this is going in the wrong direction... read more

It's so entertaining to have your food come out sizzling. You get even more steam when you put on some sauce (I prefer the garlic shoyu). The garlic pepper rice is definitely the star, so don't miss that. Cheese Corn: Just as the name implies, this is cheese and corn. Though the heat comes from the bottom so only a few corn kernels get browned, not the cheese on top. In fact, some cheese was partially not melted. Still ok, since cheese is magical no matter how you have it. Garlic Beef Pepper Rice: I can totally understand why this is the signature dish. The rice gets a nice crispy brown bottom, like those stone bibimbap bowls. The beef is thin and cooks quick, with nice browned bits. Plus lots of fried garlic taste with nice butter and pepper too. This alone is worth the visit! Beef Udon: Not as good as the garlic beef pepper rice. Udon is just so thick that it doesn't get crispy on the hot pan, just a little browned and still mushy. Plus no garlic flavor, so kinda bland. Needed a lot of sauce from the table. Will definitely skip this next time. Calamansi Sugarcane: Very refreshing and very sweet. Was a little like lemonade, though not as tart. Kinda pricey though since there was a lot of ice in the cup. read more

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My best friend and I had a sizzling time at Sizzling Lunch! While driving, she spotted the restaurant and we both were eager to try it. We arrived shortly after opening. The inside is spacious, clean, and bright. Super casual with food coming out quickly! Ordering is done through the iPad and you pay at the front, so not many interactions with the workers who occasionally check on you and bring you your items. I've been so curious to try pepper rice so I had the Salmon Pepper Rice while my friend got the Beef Udon. Both our dishes came out sizzling hot and we mixed it. We were provided various sauces to enhance the flavor--which I recommend doing so! The salmon was bite-sized and nicely cooked but I wish there was more of it! The rice had a good texture and savoriness to it thanks to the corn, scallions, and garlic butter. Portions were typical to pricing, and both of us left stuffed after! Sizzling Lunch is a popular spot amongst Cal students. The food is quite good and everything comes out efficiently! The restaurant is easy to find on Shattuck Ave. with paid street parking and neighborhood parking around. read more

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Sizzling lunch is dope, food was delicious and it hit the spot. Not sure what I had because my friend did the ordering but it was a dish with garlic rice, meat and egg. She got udon noodles instead of rice for her. So you seat yourself and order off your phone after you scan a QR code and they bring the food out to you. The place itself is very spacious with good lighting. The only thing I would say would stop me from coming here is parking. Spent about 15mins looking for parking. But other than that this place is great! If I was already in the area I would eat here again read more

Sizzling Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

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It is a really big space and the service is quick! I ordered the beef udon and cheese corn. Both were super tasty and affordable. They had good portion sizes too. read more

Sizzling Lunch - Cheese Corn - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Highly recommend the garlic beef pepper rice, cleared my plate. I think the garlic shoyu sauce on the table has some kind of crack or msg in it; It really makes the dish addicting. Would not suggest ordering the spicy rice dish, because it's just the normal one covered in chili powder, and there's already a jar of chili pepper on the table for you to add as you please. All ordering is done digitally with a QR code, food came in a about 15 minutes. Bathroom is weirdly far away with no mirror and a bunch of toilet paper all over the floor . read more

Sizzling Lunch - Garlic Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Sizzling Lunch Berkeley has moved! They're now at 1987 Shattuck in Downtown. Having gone to both grand openings, I'm glad to see they're still doing well and offering the same options with some new items. I waited half an hour to be seated (as to be expected with their 50% promotion) and the staff was super accommodating the whole time. The new restaurant layout makes a much better use of space and has room for bigger & smaller groups. I ordered a lot of their appetizers, a deluxe plate, and a few plates to-go. The portions were sizable and more than I could finish. I especially like their chicken karaage, but their cold tofu was interesting as well. They got me in and out within half an hour which is also impressive considering everything I ordered. Also their sauces always complement their dishes (with a new spicy miso option). Definitely like this atmosphere better for a sit-down restaurant than the rush of Telegraph. Hopefully will be back soon read more

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It's so simple yet so good. We love this place. Vibes are 10/10 and food is 10/10. The servers be hustling it too, they're very attentive read more

Sizzling Lunch - Garlic Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

Casual dining, easy self-ordering, great food! Like any restaurant where there is an element of "cook your own food", there is a bit of a learning curve to get your food how you like it. I've eaten here twice with my family now, and it was better the second time around. Let me tell you what we did differently! The first time we ate here, we mixed our food right away and accidentally overcooked/undercooked some meats and got our rice a little too greasy. We also didn't use any condiments. The second time, we took our time. We made sure to sear our meats on both sides, before even touching the rice. If your order the pork, I recommend you cooking your meat thoroughly before mixing the rice. If you order beef, start mixing your rice after the first flip. For us, this ensured that the meats were cooked to our liking: the pork perfectly crispy, and the beef medium rare. Secondly, mixing the rice after cooking the meat resulted in a toasty crust at the bottom, adding great texture in every bite. Another tip, if you order beef, make sure to place your meat on top of your rice after mixing, so that it doesn't get overcooked by the sizzling plate. Use the condiments! The garlic soy sauce was sooo good, and added so much flavor to the rice. The teriyaki and spicy miso were great on the meat. Order the kimchi! They make it sour and spicy, without too much of a fermentation taste (a good beginner kimchi for those who have never had it). It is also shredded cabbage instead of the usual chopped squares. Also, while you order from the tablets at each table, servers still bring you your food. They were super nice and helpful, and very welcoming! I wish I could give Sizzling Lunch 4.75 stars, because really the only thing keeping me from giving 5, is that they were sold out of some appetizers, and that they didn't have sesame oil. All in all, Sizzling Lunch is a great restaurant that I will definitely visit again. read more

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I didn't realize that the Telegraph location was closed so we ended up on Shattuck. This was our first time at the new location. It didn't have the same vibe as Telegraph. The staff is friendly, but maybe they were just busy? Our seats were dirty, we had to ask for napkins and our water wasn't refilled. Food is great, but the experience was not. I hope this was a 1 off because we really enjoy eating at Sizzling Lunch. Our go to items are the garlic beef pepper rice with extra meat, I get the spicy version, and my son will get the pork belly. If we're super hungry, then we'll get the cheese corn and maybe the takoyaki. read more

Wanna hear me and my friends and we really loved it. The food had a lot of flavor and really nice service and ambience. read more

Sizzling Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California

I got the spicy garlic beef for ~$17. It was tasty, the ingredients were good, and the food came out really fast. I especially enjoyed how the rice crisps up at the bottom and you can let the beef cook to your preferred doneness. The sauces were good too, the garlic shoyu was my favorite. That being said, I left hungry. The portion size is small considering it is 15-17 dollars. The service was ok, you order on your phone and I was caught off guard by the server plopping my platter down and sliding it towards me. I'm not offended by it, just noting it down. Maybe I'll come by again if I'm feeling sizzling crispy rice but otherwise I'm probably gonna have to pass on it. read more

I was excited to try Sizzling Lunch, as I had heard it was similar to Pepper Lunch, which had been on my radar for a while. We walked in on a Tuesday night and had no issue getting seated right away as a party of 6. I ordered the Garlic Beef Pepper Rice and Hiyayakko cold tofu. The cold tofu was great to pair with the sizzling hot beef pepper rice. In terms of the main dish, it was fun to cook the beef and mix it together with the rice, garlic butter and sauces. There's a bit of a learning curve to make sure that you don't overcook your beef and after the plate cools down, there's a nice crispy layer of crunchy rice at the bottom. However, I felt like most of the flavor comes from the sauces and the dish itself was quite basic (beef and rice). At the end of the day, I would say don't come expecting to be gastronomically blown away, but we did leave warm and full from the hearty meal and experience. read more

Sizzling Lunch - Garlic Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Berkeley, California