Kirala continues to be a favorite. The casual, friendly atmosphere and the very fresh fish is comforting. Friday 11.8.24 arrived about 7pm and the wait was short enough that we could wait at the bar inside and not in a line outside. It was lovely to see friends there dining at a table, so got to chat with them before waiting for our sushi bar seats. Once we went to the back bar to wait, it was probably only 10-15 minutes. We sat in the middle of the sushi bar, directly in front of the specials board and I noticed how sparse it was. It used to be packed with options but not so any more. Then, while ordering, I asked for ankimo, which is something I consistently ordered here for years and years. In fact I think Kirala was the first place I ever had it. Sadly, they don't offer it any more - at all. So we ordered some basic nigiri and it was all very good - especially the unagi...Kirala is the ONLY place where I know it will be warm when it's served. I appreciate that immensely. Okay...so no ankimo....let me go ahead and order their tempura ice cream for dessert. Nope. They also no longer do that. I saw green tea and vanilla ice cream (large glass containers full) be delivered to a table so they carry those...they just don't tempura it any more. Harumph lol. I'll always come back to Kirala, but I'm sad about the missing menu items.
D D
This place is amazing! Took a long time for someone to come take our order but they were really busy. Food came relatively quick and service was friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
John
There are so many things to choose from on the menu but the robata grilled items and donburis are my favorites. The waits during peak times can be rough but there is a list and the hosts do the best they can to accommodate both small and large groups.
It's a legacy established sushi place in Berkeley. Great variety of Japanese Cusine. Rolls are limited but delicious. It's a bit pricy but good quality. Service a bit slow and messy sometimes but OK. Free and paid street parking available. Accessible by ramp but narrow paths inside. Only outdoor seating. Credit card payment incur extra 4%, cash preferred.
Parking: Free street parking and free Berkeley bowl across the street ?
Wheelchair accessibility: Entry ramp but narrow inside
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Deluxe Sushi Dinner, Tuna, California Roll
Isaac Lomprey
They were so nice to us :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mickael Lebon
Great experience ! We were 6 and everyone enjoyed their order. I would recommand the gyoza and the beef teriyaki.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hunter Wiley
Poorly cut sushi. Yellow tail sashimi had tendons in it and was red colored first time. They brought me a knife to cut it out and I was shocked. They re-did it and second time it had a bone in it. I’ve had sushi for over 20 years and never had such a high price with chewy bone filled fish.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Erik Weathers
4% credit card fee - on top of all the other taxes and fees we are charged living here in the bay area. F that.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shawn Baise
I had the best mushroom soup here. Then Salmon Teriyaki was cooked to perfection and so good! I enjoyed the quaint environment.
Good to see this place has kept up quality after all these years. Menu is a little chaotic, with many things on the specials board being unavailable, but such a sweet place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
joseph hall
Sashimi were fresh. Sushi was one of the best I've tasted in the Bay Area. Waiting in a long line was worth it. Parking is a little difficult.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Green Tea Ice Cream, Deluxe Sushi Dinner, Seafood
Clayton Hakes
Great date night spot. Some of the best sushi I’ve ever had and I’ve been to Japan.
Kirala continues to be a favorite. The casual, friendly atmosphere and the very fresh fish is comforting. Friday 11.8.24 arrived about 7pm and the wait was short enough that we could wait at the bar inside and not in a line outside. It was lovely to see friends there dining at a table, so got to chat with them before waiting for our sushi bar seats. Once we went to the back bar to wait, it was probably only 10-15 minutes. We sat in the middle of the sushi bar, directly in front of the specials board and I noticed how sparse it was. It used to be packed with options but not so any more. Then, while ordering, I asked for ankimo, which is something I consistently ordered here for years and years. In fact I think Kirala was the first place I ever had it. Sadly, they don't offer it any more - at all. So we ordered some basic nigiri and it was all very good - especially the unagi...Kirala is the ONLY place where I know it will be warm when it's served. I appreciate that immensely. Okay...so no ankimo....let me go ahead and order their tempura ice cream for dessert. Nope. They also no longer do that. I saw green tea and vanilla ice cream (large glass containers full) be delivered to a table so they carry those...they just don't tempura it any more. Harumph lol. I'll always come back to Kirala, but I'm sad about the missing menu items.
This place is amazing! Took a long time for someone to come take our order but they were really busy. Food came relatively quick and service was friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
There are so many things to choose from on the menu but the robata grilled items and donburis are my favorites. The waits during peak times can be rough but there is a list and the hosts do the best they can to accommodate both small and large groups.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chawan Mushi, Agedashi Tofu, Vegetable Tempura, Deluxe Sushi Dinner, Black Cod, Sukiyaki, Nabeyaki Udon, Sunomono
Highly recommend family friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's a legacy established sushi place in Berkeley. Great variety of Japanese Cusine. Rolls are limited but delicious. It's a bit pricy but good quality.
Service a bit slow and messy sometimes but OK.
Free and paid street parking available.
Accessible by ramp but narrow paths inside.
Only outdoor seating.
Credit card payment incur extra 4%, cash preferred.
Parking: Free street parking and free Berkeley bowl across the street ?
Wheelchair accessibility: Entry ramp but narrow inside
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Deluxe Sushi Dinner, Tuna, California Roll
They were so nice to us :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great experience !
We were 6 and everyone enjoyed their order.
I would recommand the gyoza and the beef teriyaki.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Poorly cut sushi. Yellow tail sashimi had tendons in it and was red colored first time. They brought me a knife to cut it out and I was shocked. They re-did it and second time it had a bone in it. I’ve had sushi for over 20 years and never had such a high price with chewy bone filled fish.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
4% credit card fee - on top of all the other taxes and fees we are charged living here in the bay area. F that.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the best mushroom soup here. Then Salmon Teriyaki was cooked to perfection and so good! I enjoyed the quaint environment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fish
Restaurantji Recommends
Good to see this place has kept up quality after all these years. Menu is a little chaotic, with many things on the specials board being unavailable, but such a sweet place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sashimi were fresh. Sushi was one of the best I've tasted in the Bay Area. Waiting in a long line was worth it. Parking is a little difficult.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Green Tea Ice Cream, Deluxe Sushi Dinner, Seafood
Great date night spot. Some of the best sushi I’ve ever had and I’ve been to Japan.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Agedashi Tofu, Fish, Deluxe Sushi Dinner, Seafood, Roll, Black Cod, Deluxe Sashimi, Tuna
Pretty Terrible Staff and management!
Service: 1
Amazing food and service. Definitely recommend the Beef Teriyaki! The rock-n-roll roll is also delicious as well as the Inari.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roll
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