Tapas Restaurants near Berkeley, CA

“Roses is is a great choice if you are looking for a really special restaurant for a private party. Great food and great atmosphere. Try the Japanese Old Fashion cocktail.“

“ and they put their own twists on classic Spanish tapas dishes.

I was happy to see a nice little neighborhood spot like this absolutely jumping on a Saturday evening for dinner. And service was still professional, fast, and as friendly as possible considering the crowd. Reservations highly recommended.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Wow! What an experience!! So much fun and mystery packed into a cool hole in the wall. The pawn master was absolutely amazing, she was so quirky and fun and really brought the experience to life. The menu was fancy and delicious. Will 100% come back“

“A safe place for a celiac person to enjoy the food ride of their lives!!!

This was one of the best food experiences in my life! It was not just a meal...but an EXPERIENCE! Each bite, you went on a journey of flavors and textures that kept changing in your mouth. Layers of deliciousness 😋.

They change their menu up a lot. We had the celery root ceviche that was out of this world! We were not going to order it at first but the waiter said it was the best thing on the menu...and she was RIGHT!

This was followed by the fava bean battered pork belly and the short rib entree that was so tender that an impure thought could cut it! It was meat candy!

The for dessert we did this dark chocolate cake and the olbea!!!! Do NOT miss out on the oblea! Both were just so divine!

The only pain I experienced was wishing I had another stomach to fit more food!

Oh and the mocktails were GREAT!“

“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.“

“yes.

confit de canard was super overrated but loved the gigot d'agneau, couteaux, et pain perdu. orange wine delish too

loved the vibes loved all the red loved how there was no english menu too yes pretentious inaccessibilty (wish i was joking)

lucked out with a same day late evening res“

“Excellent cocktails that everyone enjoyed.“

“Very good food, wine and ambiance“

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

“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“

“Charming, with a hip, understated, classic,
slightly retro vibe. Excellent food and wine selection. Not inexpensive, but that’s true of most nice places in the bay area.. they specialize in expensive but tasty small bites, not entrees“

“I had a great time here for Wednesday night's Big Weird Trivia! Pub trivia is more fun when there is a great food menu and specialty cocktails are available! Our table ordered tacos, chips and guac, a vegan burger and fries, lemon hummus, spinach balls, fresh rice paper hand rolls. As the winners of the night's trivia quiz, we were also gifted a desert of cinnamon toast crunch chips!

I highly recommend for food, cocktails, and trivia host, Micah!“

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

“The decor was festive and abundant in the best way possible, and the cocktails looked unique and curiosity-piquing. I narrowed my choices down to a Cafe Sua Daddy and the Soy Sauce Old Fashioned.

I love a savory drink and the sweet caffeinated espresso martini-esque drink had a thick blanket of just-salty-enough foam reminiscent of the salt cream that tops a boba drink. The Soy Sauce Old Fashioned catapulted me back to my childhood, eating slabs of tofu drenched in shoyu at my grandma's house. I loved the custom soy bottle presentation, it was just strong enough to tolerate being poured over a large rock while maintaining its flavor.

My partner had the Umami Tots and Mapo Tofu. I couldn't resist the siren song of some crispy potatoes dunked in chili oil cream, but managed to hold myself back on the tofu- even though it smelled amazing.

Can't wait to return and try the new seasonal drinks, along with more snacks.“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and the tasty food !“

“A Hidden Gem!

I was initially hesitant to come here because, at the time of writing, this place had fewer than 100 reviews. But I’m so glad I gave it a chance!

This place is genuinely good and definitely worth revisiting. My only criticism is that the chicken in the tom yum soup was a little dry, which honestly isn’t shocking. A lot of places dry out their chicken, and getting it right is hard!

But the Thai papaya salad and beef Laab Seen were excellent. Bright, spicy, flavorful, and absolutely worth ordering. This place deserves more attention!“

“Absolutely a great experience! Ambiance was nice. Place was very busy with lunch crowd but the server was very attentive to all. The beef dumplings and the beef and lamb schwarma was amazing! The sangria was tasty! Highly recommend coming to this restaurant!“

“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!“

“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!“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Punchdown - Wine Bar + Bottle Shop delivers an exceptional wine experience with a thoughtfully curated selection, knowledgeable service, and a relaxed yet stylish atmosphere. Whether you’re enjoying a glass in-house or exploring bottles to take home, the quality and care are immediately noticeable.
The ambiance is warm, inviting, and effortlessly cool—perfect for casual tastings, date nights, or catching up with friends in a comfortable, wine-focused setting. It has a unique charm that makes every visit feel special.
The staff is friendly, attentive, and highly knowledgeable, always ready with great recommendations tailored to your taste. Their passion for wine truly enhances the experience.
If you’re looking for excellent wines, a welcoming atmosphere, and expert guidance, The Punchdown - Wine Bar + Bottle Shop is a fantastic choice. Highly recommended and well deserving of five stars! 🌟🍷✨“

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

“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.“

“Wonderful experience eating wonderful foods“

“Only stopped by this place for a quick drink, but it definitely left a great impression. Looking forward to coming back and trying more from the menu next time. The drink menu features plenty of options including those from Japan.

The edamame ended up being the highlight of our visit, which was done really well!

Service was great throughout, and we really enjoyed the overall vibe of the place. It had a relaxed atmosphere that made it easy to settle in, even for a short stop.

Would definitely return and recommend checking it out!“

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

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

“Stopped by for dinner on a Monday night. Took my son who is a picky eater and he loved everything we had. We started with the house cut fries with truffle aioli. They were hot and well seasoned, and definitely a generous portion. My kid went through 4 containers of aioli. Then we had the crispy spiced chicken wings, which were in fact perfectly crispy, well seasoned and paired with an awesome tamarind sauce. We finished off with a pepperoni pizza, perfect crust, tasty sauce and a good amount of pepperoni and basil. Hats off to Chef James and his team for the great food. My son and I definitely did a happy dance with each bite.

The drinks were tasty as well. I had a regular margarita and a delicious mezcal based margarita, I can't remember the name of it. Bartender Aaron and our server Reily went above in beyond in making sure we had everything we needed.

It was a fantastic experience and will absolutely be coming back again and recommending the place to friends and family.“

“I recently attended a lunch celebration at Co Nam for my niece’s high school graduation, and it was a wonderful experience from beginning to end.

The food was outstanding. Every dish I tried was beautifully presented, fresh, and full of flavor. The shrimp rolls were light and refreshing, the grilled prawn citrus salad was vibrant and delicious, the garlic noodles were packed with flavor, and the roti with curry dipping sauce was impossible to stop eating. Everything that came to the table was thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented.

What impressed me just as much as the food was the service. Our group spent hours at the restaurant enjoying the celebration, taking photos, and catching up with family. Throughout the afternoon, the staff remained warm, attentive, and accommodating. Even as we lingered well after lunch, they never made us feel rushed and continued to provide excellent service.

The atmosphere was perfect for the occasion. The restaurant felt inviting and the attention to detail throughout the space complemented the celebration beautifully.

It's easy to find a restaurant with good food. It's much harder to find one that pairs excellent food with genuine hospitality. Co Nam delivered both. I left impressed not only by the quality of the meal but by how welcome they made our entire group feel.

Thank you to the Co Nam team for helping make such a special day even more memorable.“

“Always a great time! congrats“

“The view is amazing! Love the history ❤️“

“What a cool lounge/bar to experience! The vibe was amazing and the 360 views were stunning of the surrounding city! It's first come first serve, just sit at any open table and that means you might do a few circles around the entire lounge to snag one. Definitely worth a look, but do be prepared for high prices on food and drinks... we bought a tuna app and 2 drinks for nearly a $200 bill :/“

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

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

“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! 😘“

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

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

“This place is Amazing!! To the food, the atmosphere, and most importantly our server Tyler. He was attentive, pleasant and recommended some of the most amazing Italian food I’ve had in a long time. Thank You Tyler for being amazing! We will be back! 💯“