50 Best Japanese Restaurants near El Cerrito

“I've been a regular customer for 20 years. I've been going to Katana-ya with my parents since I was little, and even now, after getting married, I bring my wife back. Tokyo Feng is still as delicious as ever. Their sushi has been infused with innovative elements, and the flavor and texture have improved. The portions are generous, and the prices are affordable! Tokyo Feng, we hope you continue to do better and continue to do well for another 20 years!“

“This place is so worth it. My family has been going for 10+ years, almost since the beginning of the restaurant when it was in a different location. Aki-San will tell you when you’re eating something wrong, but it’s not mean-spirited. You should definitely ask him about his life and his journey to becoming a sushi chef. The sushi is the best you will ever have, even better than sushi I had when I visited Japan. It may be very expensive, but if you have the means it is extremely worth the price. Don’t ask for specific things, get what he recommends (but don’t be scared if you have diet restrictions to ask for something that works). Is is an amazing experience so if you go really enjoy it.“

“Excellent take-out. Love their unagi, spicy crab salad, every roll that I’ve tried. And they are so nice!!“

“This sushi spot is pretty great! I'm a big sushi lover and had never been here before. The restaurant itself is small inside but the sushi is well made and you can tell they put effort into it. All the sushi and sashimi was fresh and tasted great. I would definitely recommend this place and I will definitely be back. Thank you!“

“Came here for sushi and was honestly impressed. The fish was very fresh, and you can tell they care about quality. Every piece was clean, well-cut, and nicely balanced — nothing was overloaded with sauce, which I really appreciate. The sushi tasted simple and authentic, letting the ingredients speak for themselves.

The atmosphere was another big plus. The space is clean, calm, and comfortable, making it easy to relax and enjoy the meal. It’s not too loud or crowded, and the overall vibe feels welcoming and unpretentious. A great place to sit down, take your time, and actually enjoy good sushi.

Service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Overall, this is a solid sushi spot with great food and a really pleasant atmosphere. I’d definitely come back and recommend it if you’re looking for quality sushi in a comfortable setting.“

“What a treat! Highly recommend“

“Best Japanese Curry in town !“

“This place has officially ruined ramen for me. Because if I go somewhere else, I’ll compare it to this place, and just be like, “Damn, I should’ve just gone to Taniku Izakaya instead.”
Perfectly cooked noodles in a flavorful broth, both the crab and the pork that I have gotten have been amazing. They can adjust the spiciness on the broth if you can’t handle too much spice, which is nice. The portions are generous, but not so huge that there ends up being a huge bowl of broth even after you finish your noodles. Delicious gyoza, as well.
It’s a nice, cozy, hole in the wall spot.“

“Excellent Japanese cuisine, service and staff are wonderful and helpful“

“If you want the freshest fish downtown has to offer.... go to Sanraku“

“awesome a must try, this is a hidden gem“

“I got the romano beans and the fried chicken. I didn't know the fried chicken was chicken wings--- which it doesn't say and I don't like, but I ate it anyway. Wanted to try the chocolate cake (which is on the online menu) but it wasn't on the menu anymore. Will come back to try other things another time. Good service and nice ambience.“

“Omg! The Ribs are amazing!“

“Quality is key with any meal. Roger-San is all about quality. Sit at the bar if you can!“

“Eating is a kind of happiness, taste is a kind of interest“

“Fresh ingredients, friendly staff, and delicious food and veggie options!“

“Probably the best meal I’ve ever had, super fun, exciting, every bite was perfect. Intimate and fast process“

“Amazing, amazing, amazing!!! Perfection. The attention to detail and the warm service was great from the jump. The entire 17 course meal and sake pairing was one of the best meals that we've ever had. I don't say this lightly, it was flawless.“

“Great sushi place on Polk. Nice bar counter seating. A few other tables. Intimate setting. Food is fresh and innovative. Great wide selection of different fish to choose from. Sushi chefs are informative and friendly. Only downside is parking is difficult in the area. Take Uber!“

“awesome service and amazingly fresh sushi! open from 4:30 to 9:30. on Geary near masonic“

“I genuinely don’t know how they make this profitable at this price point.

The quality of the food and the level of service are honestly surprising for what you pay. Every course feels thoughtful and refined, yet the atmosphere remains relaxed and comfortable rather than overly formal.

One thing I especially appreciated was the pacing. Tasting menus often suffer from long gaps between dishes, which can make the experience drag, but here the flow was smooth and efficient. It never felt rushed, but it also never felt slow or boring.

The portions were perfectly designed. Instead of a few heavy plates, they serve multiple smaller dishes, which keeps you engaged and comfortably satisfied from start to finish.

If there’s a sushi add-on option, absolutely get it. It was one of the highlights.

Even the smallest details are clearly intentional. The restroom is stocked with Le Labo hand wash, the amenities are meticulously curated, and the all-black aesthetic throughout the space shows how much care has gone into every element of the experience.

Right before the dessert course, the chef personally came out to greet the guests, which added a warm and memorable touch.

The only downside? It’s incredibly hard to get a reservation😅“

“had a great experience here at the counter with a group of 6. not too busy, and they cooked the meats for you to perfection. i thought the meal was done well, would’ve preferred more seafood / seasoning, and definitely greasy so had to replenish the banchans a few times.“

“I have been meaning to write this review for years. Apologies for Jimmy and Ron for not writing it sooner.

First, I have to write about the people because they are the reason I love and will always love Kibatsu. Then, I'll write about my favorite dishes and the food.

The People:
I have been going to Kibatsu since 2014 so 12 years now. Before Kibastu, they were Sugoi Sushi in the Mission. I discovered them because they did catering for University of San Francisco. My college roommate and I befriended the young sushi chefs that came to the university, hung out with them once the sushi bar had officially closed and they encouraged us to come visit their Sugoi Sushi location.

Eventually we did and it became our Friday or Saturday night routine. Sometimes, we would splurge and go during the week (which for us as college students was a lot). But we loved them. Calvin, Ronald, (so sorry, I am totally blanking on the third guy's name but I see his face in my mind!) and Jimmy. The first three were the sushi chefs and Jimmy was the waiter - he always made room for us and always saved us our favorite booth in the front of the restaurant, closest to the windows. He remembered our classes and asked us how school was going. He always treated us to on the house mochi ice cream after each dinner. We would spend hours and hours there, camping out and chatting or doing our homework in the mood-lit, rustic, tastefully interior-decorated intimate setting, amid the hubbub of conversations and people enjoying the sushi. I remember Sugoi and those times really fondly - it was our safe space, our home away from home (dorm). Other times, we'd bring our friends. I can't even count how many people I and my roommate recommended this place to or brought there.

Then after we graduated, in 2018, they moved to the Haight and invited me to their opening night omakase which was a gift to everyone they invited. How sweet, thoughtful and amazing is that? Between Sugoi and Kibatsu, my partner and I met and Jimmy always remembers my partner and his two boys and asks about them when they're not with me. The boys love it here because of the large portions and how nice everyone is.

On my birthday this year, I decided I wanted to spend it at Kibatsu and Jimmy (who is now a sushi chef!!) and company went out and got me a birthday cake and brought it out before the rest of the dessert as a surprise. I almost cried. This is why I love Kibatsu and those who work there.

The Food:
The starter we always go for is the tataki dish which is albacore with delicious fried onion. The gyoza is always also a great way to go. We always get the omakase which is a true omakase with the different small plates, sashimi and nigiri. I love the salmon and umimasu nigiri as well as the negi salmon. Something special that Kibatsu does is they always surprise you with little gifts from the sushi chefs. For this past new year's they surprised us with a whole tray of steak and jumbo shrimp - a gift on the house. Their kindness never ceases to surprise us!

So there are some of our top favorites food wise and why Kibatsu has a special place in my heart. I hope you go and I hope you love it as much as I do. They work really hard, are so extremely kind and deserve the best.“

“Kuidaore is a wonderful restaurant! I highly recommend including it in your visit to Jack London Square.
Food: The fish is fresh, delicious and high quality. The small plates are creative and have all been really flavorful and well-balanced (I have just 1 more on the list to try). My only criticism is that some of the fish is so tender it can be difficult to get the whole bite from the plate to my mouth. The handrolls are really good, each one is packed with fish and the seaweed is super crispy - exactly what you'd want. They'll let you split them between 2 people if you want to be sure to have room to try a lot of them. There are a few expensive, very fancy ones - think edible gold, wagyu, caviar...incredible to taste and beautiful presentation. Their miso soup is delicious and an inexpensive extra that you should definitely try.
People: The staff are amazing! So welcoming and accommodating. After a few visits, our favorite waitress recognized us and had our drinks started before we even sat down! The chef/owner is friendly and checks in on customers when she can.
Atmosphere: The chairs are awkwardly tall but it gives you a great view of the handroll station. It's an intimate setting that's very comfortable. The only negative is that when it's busy it gets pretty noisy.
To reiterate, I definitely recommend going here if you're in the area!“

“Akari’s fixed seafood and meat menu is incredible. The fish is fresh, featuring Hokkaido scallops and uni directly from Japan. Pacing and portions were perfect. While the decor could be warmer and more curated, the food quality is amazing. A must-visit—we will definitely be back soon!“

“Jo's awesome. We had a great experience. Highly recommended for birthdays or just being together 👯‍♀️💯👍“

“Great fried chicken, and my friends food truck is there!“

“Nigiri combo is excellent! I can’t wait to try the sashimi combo next. I came just before they were closing for lunch and people were steadily coming either to pick up or eat-in up until their closing time. It seemed they were regular customers who are keeping this place a secret and happy to say, I am on it already. Can’t wait to go back.“

“Truly excellent place that has been here in the neighborhood forever. We've been coming here or getting orders togo for a decade and it's been the same folks running it the whole time and they are superb.
2025 update - still going strong. great food and great service!“

“Really interesting take on Ramen broth. The beef broth is rich yet not too thick. I prefer a richer Paitan but this is also good. Black garlic oil also adds more depth to the soup.

The noodle is bouncy and chewy with a strong smell of egg noodle.

Crispy mushroom is good but can be a little too salty to finish by a single person. A touch of something citrusy would help cut through the greasiness after half a dish.“

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

“It has been so long since I’ve had a sushi dinner this great. Every cut of fish was so fresh and tasty. The service was incredible. I loved how knowledgeable and tasteful the staff and chefs were. I absolutely recommend coming here if you love nigiri and sake. All the food items were great. The sake flight was such a fun experience. Definitely will be coming back!“

“The atmosphere and presentation of the food was extremely chic! The meal was delicious!!“

“Excellent food, excellent service. We loved it. We had Shrimp Tempura Roll, Sexy Roll, Edamame, Miso Soup, Kirin Beer. Can’t wait to go back again.“

“Sushi was great and Ti the owner was very generous.“

“friendly service and tasty food“

“LOVE this place—we’ll be back again for sure!

Top notch food, and
Service was super-fast & polite.

Really outstanding sushi rolls.
Beautiful presentation, fresh popping flavor,
High quality tender fish.

Miso soup was simple but tasty, not too salty.

The *cloudy sake* was nice, a more earthy version of the typical sake flavor i’m used to.“

“Outstanding personal service. Sushi Burrito (several to choose from) are my favorite, Miso Soup, and a Beer or Sake. I recommend that you come and get some 🌯“

“Holy crap, I don't have to go to Berkeley for a good Izakaya anymore? Ok good is an understatement this place is stellar.

Super friendly fast service. Absolutely delicious food.

None of the skewers were over cooked. They all had a nice charred taste without being overwhelming. Even their rolls had super unique flavors.

Solid cocktail selection with a broad sake selection.

Would definitely recommend this spot. They've only been open a month and a half but operations are humming smoothly.

Not too crowded, super laid back vibe.“

“9 items 🍱 bento & udon are awesome 👏“

“Delicious food and friendly staff“

“Outdoor patio seating is available for all dog-lovers to enjoy their Sushi 🍣/ Ramen🍤🍜. And please ask staff for some water for the lovely ones🐶🐱 if they are exhausted from their walk. 😘“

“Life without sushi is no fun. That's why Manpuku is so needed. Whether pieced or in bowls, Manpuku brings both traditional and fusion in a delightful and pleasant way.“

“The ramen tastes very good, the soup base is rich and the noodles taste great“

“I went alone here and my experience was really really good. The ambience is not the Greatest here but oh boy I loved the food and the service. First to start off they gave complimentary miso soup and salad. Miso soup was just so good and it was a cold windy day. I needed a hot soup.

I was craving katsu curry and rice and they had that. And it was really good. I really wanted a little bit more curry 🍛 but it's fine I enjoyed it. I also had hot sake and it was piping hot.

Highly recommend this place for taste. It was a peaceful dining experience out here.“

“One of my favorite things about this place is how close everything feels. It’s a smaller venue, so you’re never far from the stage, which makes the whole show feel way more immersive. If you really want the best seats, show up a little early and have dinner there before the performance—they’ll usually put you right up front. It’s honestly the perfect setup: good food, a fun crowd, and live music just a few feet away. The vibe is friendly and relaxed, like you’ve stumbled onto a great local spot that people in the know keep coming back to. Nights here always end up being memorable.“

“Heard great sandos
We order here for lunch
I like the cleanliness, and modern Japanese style of cooking croquette or the egg and everything else
The counter gentleman reminds me of my Japanese teacher in high school, Mr. Morikawa
I included aftermath photo“

“What an amazing place for sushi. I was town and a local suggested this place an I was not let down. I started with the spicy garlic edemame which he's a great kick of spice. I them had akani red tuma dashing and a flame roll. The sushi was perfect and the spice of the flame roll was squelch with my Nigerian sake! I could eat at the this place daily.“

“This is a local authentic sushi place. Chef is friendly and good listener if you have special inquiries. Sushi are freshly made to order with generous portions.
Good varieties of sushi, nigiri and sashimi plus non-sushi items. Ask staff for veggie options but some are clear through menu.
Place is clean and organized with responsive waiter.
Atmosphere is good for groups, meetup, seniors (flat floor) and small parties. Will return for orange spicy salmon (Netscreen) roll.

Vegetarian options: Veggie options available. Check with staff.

Parking: Free and paid street parkings“

“Great food, service was great. Would recommend to anyone“