Tapas Restaurants near Berkeley, CA

“Pretty good food. I think we will go back“

“Showed up a little early & got seated early. Wonderful meal with my friend. Neither of us had ordered the cheese plate before & we devoured everything. Our server was sweet & recommended a good dessert that was not on the normal menu. It was delicious! Always a good spot for good food & good wine.“

“This is one of our favorite places, though the quality/taste of the food is variable. In other words, you need to know what to order because they do some things better than others, which isn't too surprising given the many choices in their menu. My recommendation is to get the mentaiko carbonara, IMHO the best thing they serve.“

“Why was the cabbage so good? She stole the entire table. Pleasantly fried & juicey chicken sandwich- not spicy but very well seasoned with a nice lil kick. Great burger- it's what I came for & I shall return to it; the sauce alone. Sweet potato fries at NO UPCHARGE!!!!! And yes, the bevvies are worth it. Ask your bartender for their preference and please do tip where able!“

“Super delicious 👍 I never eat Japan food super good like this before.“

“If you're in the mood for a great night out, this bar is a hidden gem that delivers in both food and atmosphere. As soon as you walk through the door, you're greeted by a warm, inviting ambiance. The lighting is soft but not too dim, the décor is cozy yet stylish, and the sound level strikes a perfect balance — lively enough to feel energizing, but quiet enough to carry on a conversation without shouting.

The food is what truly sets this place apart. While many bars serve standard snacks or pre-packaged appetizers, this one takes its menu seriously. Every dish is thoughtfully prepared and packed with flavor. The appetizers, including hummus and pita, or seasoned steak or chicken skewers are perfect for sharing over drinks.

The bar staff is friendly and knowledgeable, happy to recommend drinks based on your preferences or suggest food pairings. The cocktail list is creative and the beer selection is varied, making it easy to find something that suits your taste.

What makes this bar truly special, though, is its welcoming atmosphere. The staff makes an effort to connect with patrons, and it’s clear that regulars are made to feel like family. Whether you’re there for a casual drink, a light meal, or a night out with friends, this bar hits all the right notes. It’s a place that feels like a home away from home — comfortable, fun, and full of great vibes.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for delicious food, a great drink, and a place where they can relax and enjoy the company of others!“

“This is a quick serve onigiri restaurant in downtown Berkeley. It's awesome to be able to get fresh onigiri in the East Bay and they include edamame as well. We split a plate of 3 and got the short rib(x2) and the unagi. Very small inside the restaurant, very much a get your food and go type place, but there is some room to eat standing up. They were quick, well priced and delicious. The perfect quick bite.“

“Food is great ! Service is so so . They did forget a dish and were a bit slow even after the happy hour rush ended . They brought the bill before asking whether we wanted dessert ( we did ) this time and the last time we came . Still I’d go back as the food is too good!“

“Dining with Abstract Table is an art experienced through the eyes and palette. Each course was beautifully and thoughtfully created to delight the senses. I can’t wait to see what they dream up next!“

“Loved the speakeasy vibe, creative concept

The food was also very good, exceeded expectations. Have returned and highly recommended

The only knock is that it’s located in a bit of a sketchy neighborhood“

“I have been twice and so far everything has been delicious. I need to go back a few more times to try everything on the menu. Don't forget to save room for dessert. The cocktails are fantastic.“

“Not a huge fan of the seating layout. I sat on the left side to avoid the loud chatter of people but that meant being on a hard bench with uninteresting decor. Empanadas were wonderful, the ceviche with coconut milk was a pleasant surprise. I wanted to try the arepa but it seemed like the portion was tiny. The chicharron was very flavorful!“

“Excellent cocktails that everyone enjoyed.“

“Very good food, wine and ambiance“

“This has got to be one of the most underrated restaurants in the Bay if not the state, actually the country! Global dishes with an innovative touch and soulful take. And the owner/chef is a super cool dude. I am recommending this spot to all my foodie friends ;)“

“The food is artisan caliber, the atmosphere is welcoming and intimate, and our family GOTO!! ❤❤❤❤❤“

“Just amazing. Pop-up street food doesn’t get better than this.“

“I’ve been coming here for years to meet w/family & friends to celebrate or anytime just because or to unwind in the comfy lounge & experience MKT Bar’s excellent service you find in a Four Seasons & the drinks are simply the best! Today was my daughter’s boyfriend’s 1st time here & he understood 💯 why we love MKT Bar & he is an awesome bartender!“

“I love Mediterranean food and this place is fantastic! Every dish we tried was amazing and their whiskey sour is consistently excellent and never disappoints. I’ve returned several times, and the food quality is always so good. But it’s not ideal for date nights, as most evenings feel like team events with large groups, making it quite loud and crowded“

“Food was perfect. Spicy and tasty and salty and everything you want for enjoying with a cocktail. The drinks were all unique and tropical and delicious and I wish I could have tried them all. The ambiance and the staff were just awesome. Thank you!“

“best ive ever had these are the chef personal family recipes he brought from his country to share with us in America absolutely delicious and very intimate you feel like you are being welcomed in someones home and eating at their table ... you can feel the love in the food its not just a job for the chef but his passion and you can absolutely taste it !!!! I highly recommend you try it“

“Absolute favorite neighborhood bar! Drinks, food and vibes are always amazing ❤️✨

EDIT: I love Asiento even more now, after we hosted our wedding afterparty here! Debi, the owner, is an absolute rockstar. She was so incredibly helpful throughout our planning process, and genuinely cares about your event and guests. She specifically brought custom meals to guests with dietary restrictions, engaged with our friends, and was so fun and attentive at the same time. This place is such a gem and I’m so grateful to Debi and her team for creating such a wonderful bar. Everyone raved about the cocktails and food! Whether you just want a night out or want to throw a party…Asiento is the best!“

“Strong cider, strong playlist, staffed by legends.“

“Thank you, Le Petit Paris 75, for welcoming the Richard Crook trio to your delightful club. Always a friendly atmosphere, amazing cocktails, and awesome music line ups!“

“Great experience!great food! family oriented.. takes you back to your roots. We had a huge group. we all tried something different, and we shared everything. it was all delicious. for dessert we had the churros with the Mexican melted chocolate ...delicious!!!!“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and the tasty food !“

“Happy hour menu is so good. The skewer platter is a great meal and also much love to the agedashi tofu. I drank a lot of hot sake and enjoyed just hanging out. I would avoid the beef tongue because it was a bit dry. The wagyu beef skewer was spot on.“

“First brewery of the day and what an excellent neighborhood brew pub sitting on the corner of Bryant St and Cesar Chavez St. A lot to choose from so we went high ABV with the Hazed & Confused Double Hazy IPA at 9%. We both enjoyed it.“

“Love this place! Wine and tinned fishes what more could you ask for. Their selection of tinned fish is vast and I love how many different types and flavors there are. They also had some nice non-tinnned fish, empanadas, burrata and spreads. The perfect accompaniments for wine! Everything came with so much warm bread. We probably ordered too much, but no regrets.

They are dog friendly and the service was great! I saw they do popups sometimes so I'll have to check those out. Can't wait to go back.“

“Excellent costumer service love their drinks and happy hour. Food is delicious I recommend it to have drinks !“

“I had an awesome night at District Oakland—definitely one of the better dining experiences I’ve had in a while. We sat at the bar and were lucky to have Teddy taking care of us. He was quick, super friendly, funny, and just had great energy overall. You could tell he actually enjoyed what he was doing, which made the whole vibe that much better.

Teddy gave us spot-on recommendations for everything we ordered. The margherita pizza came out perfectly blistered with fresh basil and gooey cheese—simple but done right. The burrata with prosciutto and crostini was rich and flavorful, and the spinach arancini with that tomato sauce might have been the sleeper hit of the night. Everything came out fast, hot, and delicious.

Also, gotta say—the Prosecco Teddy recommended was probably the best I’ve ever had. Crisp, refreshing, and way better than anything I’ve been served at most restaurants.

Service was on point from start to finish. I’ll definitely be back soon, and I’ll be asking for Teddy again.“

“We had the most wonderful dinner tonight at Noren Izakaya! Everything was fantastic from start to finish! From the service to the cocktails to the variety of food, to the dessert! Japanese yakitori and grilled street food and even sashimi! My new favorite! A must if you live or are visiting San Francisco! Oh! And tonight is not the night to skip dessert! 😘“

“Always a great time! congrats“

“Wonderful experience eating wonderful foods“

“The FOOD. The FOOD. The FOOD. The FOOD.“

“A gem!! The papaya salad is a crinkle cut like a french fry and an absolute surprise and delight. I’ve heard the buns are to die for and look forward to trying those next time. They crush it with the soft lighting and vibes too. Maybe I’ve just gone in on slower nights but I don’t know how this spot isn’t packed all the time.“

“Josh and Jace made our night! Thank you for the hospitality ��“

“Staff is great. Roof top bar mucho Bueno . Love this place“

“Definitely a great spot! It’s certainly not guaranteed that you’ll have a spot, but our group of 4 managed to get seats. Our server, Don was a great host and made us feel comfortable and not rushed at all. You’re much more likely to find seats as a smaller group, but it’s worth checking it out.“

“I loved the drag on Sundays ! It was amazing“

“First time there…food and drinks amazing.. will definitely go back..👍🏽“

“The view is amazing! Love the history ❤️“

“The ingredients are very fresh, the restaurant atmosphere is very good, the service attitude of the staff is also very good, and I had a great time eating“

“I had some business on Lombard Street, and did much better than I expected so I decided to go downtown and get some pasta, I was going to go see Wingfoot Charlie but missed my street, and did an illegal left turn and ended up right in front of Zingari Steakhouse & Pasta Restaurant...what luck! I was in the mood for some seafood pasta, so I asked for something resembling scampi and a baguette, and they sure delivered...home run all the way! 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆“