Kiraku had a lively and friendly atmosphere. The food was amazing! The chef’s choice sashimi was very delicious.
Cala
My fav izakaya in bay area over the years, the most authentic food and vibes, quick-changing seasonal menu. Never had enough, never be bored. Only thing is I wish the waiting line is shorter!
E. Valley
Best Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area. The chef is providing art of cousins.
Karen Lin
holy shit!!!! my favorite restaurant ever!!!
SYDNEY
Food was ideal for me. I had the abalone with creamed spinach, the carbonara, and clam miso. The waitresses clearly work very hard to tend to everyone. The chefs make sure the meals are up to par. It does take a long time to be seated which is worth noting if you’re traveling from afar. However, after eating the food I am glad I waited. To be candid it was a 2 hour wait, but this goes to show how in demand the food is. Furthermore, they prep the food fast and as soon as one table leaves someone takes that spot so they restaurant should not be blamed for the long wait.
Hannah Jin
Second try of kiraku. Still THE BEST Japanese restaurant in Berkeley area. ————— Amazing desserts. The mont blanc is a must try.
Joanne Yuen
I love this place so much, have been here for years and their food never fails to impress me. Definitely check for reservations ahead of time if you can because it gets busy. Kiraku is definitely one of the best izakaya spots in the Bay Area with a wide range of dishes and fresh seasonal ingredients. You can’t go wrong from their tempuras, to sushi, to skewers. Highly recommend bringing a friend so you can maximize trying different dishes. Prices are a bit higher, but well worth it.
Z M
Edit: coming back to say more cuz this honest review got reported 🤐😭😭 Super mediocre food and barely any space to move in the restaurant. The service was decent. Very unfortunately, we tried 10+ dishes including some that are highly recommended by the reviews, but barely half were good. You also can’t really tell from the photos but the portions are very small even for izakaya. We drove down to Berkeley and had only one meal there so I picked Kiraku since a lot of people say this is the best place in the town - very disappointed.
liz I
Sooooo good, staff is super friendly and helpful, our friend has serious dietary restrictions and our waitress was so patient. It does get loud and the seating is pretty tight just a heads up for the karens out there.
Phuong Luong
Loved my experience here! In the permanent menu, I ordered the curry croquettes and the grilled Angus beef tongue which I highly recommend - the flavor is so deep and smoky and it was perfectly cooked. The deep fried salmon nanban in the daily menu is a bit of a let down because the crispy shell got soggy, but the cod-kale kaganawa style was delightful.
This is a place for people who really like cool foods. Interesting foods and busy restaurant culture. The place is small and is a powerhouse. Tight seating (strongly suggest reservations) and no frills. Just good food and service. I'll be back.
Michael Chang
Delicious food, excellent service, lively atmosphere. Kiraku has it all.
Best described as Japanese tapas, Kiraku's menu is filled with many small plates that are perfect for sharing. Our party of four had a hard time deciding what to order. We wanted to try everything!
Finally, we settled on the 12-piece omakase, 9-piece sashimi sampler, miso black cod, grilled angus beef tongue, takowasabi (octopus marinated in wasabi), karasumi (dried fish roe), aburi mentaiko (seared spicy cod roe), beef intestine skewers, pork belly skewers, the ankimo mousse appetizer, agedashi tofu, corn tempura with green tea salt, and 3 pieces of o-toro.
Everything was delicious, with my favorites being the ankimo appetizer, beef tongue, and of course all of the nigiri and sashimi.
Service was extremely friendly and attentive. The food came out fast, which is good because there was a long line of people waiting at the door.
The space is cozy so you'll be squeezed in with other diners, but it was completely comfy.
Give this place a try! Get there early and add yourself to the wait list if you can't get a reservation.
Tavis Kammet
One of the best restaurants in Berkeley. Tough to get a seat and expensive but so worth it!
Hua Feng Kuan
Kiraku is the only exceptional Japanese restaurant in Berkeley without having to venture out. That said it is ALWAYS packed and busy. A reservation is high encouraged and/or expect to wait.
The place is small and cozy. Their sake selection is great. I’ve eaten there multiple times and the experience has been great with and without sake.
The minimal employees are quick and efficient, just right for the space and number of people. Despite them being busy, you never feel pressured to leave or eat fast. Kiraku is a special addition to Berkeley and we appreciate them being here for the locals.
Christine Amirbekyan
An unexpected jem we found today in Berkeley, the food was great and authentic, excellent service and atmosphere!
Kiraku had a lively and friendly atmosphere. The food was amazing! The chef’s choice sashimi was very delicious.
My fav izakaya in bay area over the years, the most authentic food and vibes, quick-changing seasonal menu. Never had enough, never be bored. Only thing is I wish the waiting line is shorter!
Best Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area. The chef is providing art of cousins.
holy shit!!!! my favorite restaurant ever!!!
Food was ideal for me. I had the abalone with creamed spinach, the carbonara, and clam miso. The waitresses clearly work very hard to tend to everyone. The chefs make sure the meals are up to par. It does take a long time to be seated which is worth noting if you’re traveling from afar. However, after eating the food I am glad I waited. To be candid it was a 2 hour wait, but this goes to show how in demand the food is. Furthermore, they prep the food fast and as soon as one table leaves someone takes that spot so they restaurant should not be blamed for the long wait.
Second try of kiraku. Still THE BEST Japanese restaurant in Berkeley area.
—————
Amazing desserts. The mont blanc is a must try.
I love this place so much, have been here for years and their food never fails to impress me. Definitely check for reservations ahead of time if you can because it gets busy. Kiraku is definitely one of the best izakaya spots in the Bay Area with a wide range of dishes and fresh seasonal ingredients. You can’t go wrong from their tempuras, to sushi, to skewers. Highly recommend bringing a friend so you can maximize trying different dishes. Prices are a bit higher, but well worth it.
Edit: coming back to say more cuz this honest review got reported 🤐😭😭
Super mediocre food and barely any space to move in the restaurant. The service was decent. Very unfortunately, we tried 10+ dishes including some that are highly recommended by the reviews, but barely half were good. You also can’t really tell from the photos but the portions are very small even for izakaya. We drove down to Berkeley and had only one meal there so I picked Kiraku since a lot of people say this is the best place in the town - very disappointed.
Sooooo good, staff is super friendly and helpful, our friend has serious dietary restrictions and our waitress was so patient.
It does get loud and the seating is pretty tight just a heads up for the karens out there.
Loved my experience here! In the permanent menu, I ordered the curry croquettes and the grilled Angus beef tongue which I highly recommend - the flavor is so deep and smoky and it was perfectly cooked. The deep fried salmon nanban in the daily menu is a bit of a let down because the crispy shell got soggy, but the cod-kale kaganawa style was delightful.
Restaurantji Recommends
This is a place for people who really like cool foods. Interesting foods and busy restaurant culture. The place is small and is a powerhouse. Tight seating (strongly suggest reservations) and no frills. Just good food and service. I'll be back.
Delicious food, excellent service, lively atmosphere. Kiraku has it all.
Best described as Japanese tapas, Kiraku's menu is filled with many small plates that are perfect for sharing. Our party of four had a hard time deciding what to order. We wanted to try everything!
Finally, we settled on the 12-piece omakase, 9-piece sashimi sampler, miso black cod, grilled angus beef tongue, takowasabi (octopus marinated in wasabi), karasumi (dried fish roe), aburi mentaiko (seared spicy cod roe), beef intestine skewers, pork belly skewers, the ankimo mousse appetizer, agedashi tofu, corn tempura with green tea salt, and 3 pieces of o-toro.
Everything was delicious, with my favorites being the ankimo appetizer, beef tongue, and of course all of the nigiri and sashimi.
Service was extremely friendly and attentive. The food came out fast, which is good because there was a long line of people waiting at the door.
The space is cozy so you'll be squeezed in with other diners, but it was completely comfy.
Give this place a try! Get there early and add yourself to the wait list if you can't get a reservation.
One of the best restaurants in Berkeley. Tough to get a seat and expensive but so worth it!
Kiraku is the only exceptional Japanese restaurant in Berkeley without having to venture out. That said it is ALWAYS packed and busy. A reservation is high encouraged and/or expect to wait.
The place is small and cozy. Their sake selection is great. I’ve eaten there multiple times and the experience has been great with and without sake.
The minimal employees are quick and efficient, just right for the space and number of people. Despite them being busy, you never feel pressured to leave or eat fast. Kiraku is a special addition to Berkeley and we appreciate them being here for the locals.
An unexpected jem we found today in Berkeley, the food was great and authentic, excellent service and atmosphere!
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