50 Best Sushi Bars near El Cerrito

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

“This was our first time here and I placed an to go order. Walked right in and was quickly greeted and placed my order with the friendly worker. I ordered a caterpillar roll, Fortune roll, Giants roll and a Sake avocado making roll. Everything was delicious and I want to return and try so other items. Beware parking is extremely difficult to find when I arrived around six pm.“

“Chef recommended Soft Shell Crab. Definitely will add to the roto. Perfectly light, crisp and oh so, tasty. Age Dashi Fried Tofu is perfect for first-timers. Paper thin dried fish is ambrosia. Perfect hide-away to enjoy food made from the soul. Encountered trainee. Your patience will bring happiness.“

“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.“

“So it was my birthday, and I really wanted sushi. There is no dearth of quality sushi restaurants in San Francisco, however almost all of them are omakase – and to be honest, I am not a huge omakase fan (and I speak Japanese, have lived in Japan, and have consumed sushi all over the world – omakase does not necessarily mean better). Kuma’s execution and fish quality is some of the best I have had in the US in a long time. I dined with my mother, who is a Hamachi kama fan, and she said it was one of the best she has ever had. The atmosphere is no frills, and there were only two staff working the floor, one was I believe the manager – but service was attentive. Overall, this is probably my favorite new place to have non-omakase sushi in the city. Definitely recommend, and you definitely need a reservation.“

“Emma ,Julio and staff great!“

“ALWAYS a fantastic and tasty dinner. ☺️“

“Five stars. My son and I had the Omakase experience at Akiko's in San Francisco, and it was hands down the best sushi we've ever had. Every course was beautifully presented, incredibly fresh, and packed with flavors that exceeded our expectations. The chefs' attention to detail and craftsmanship were evident in every bite. The service was equally outstanding, warm, attentive, and perfectly paced from start to finish. The entire evening felt like a true culinary experience rather than just dinner. If you're looking for an unforgettable Omakase in San Francisco, Akiko's is absolutely worth it. Five stars. We can't wait to come back.“

“I cannot say I had a bad experience. Everything was my favorite“

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

“Upfront the only downside: This place is a store with premade sushi and has no real seatinh besides one small bench.
However, the sushi is always freshly prepared und since the place has high turnover, the sushi never gets old. The quality of the sushi is great and not overpriced.
The staff is friendly and helpful. The free chopsticks and napkins are of higher quality than in most places and the place itself is clean and tasteful designed.“

“The best sushi place in the city!! Quality of food is 10 out of 5......“

“This was a surprise dinner my friend invited me on. The hand rolls are so fresh and delicious. I had 5 amazing rolls that come out one at a time for freshness m. The server was super sweat and helped me pick out what I wanted. The menu does also have set options, but I decided to do individual rolls. I definitely recommend stopping by if you’re in the Oakland area.“

“I think the 4.7 Google rating for this place is too high. Four stars is more like it. The food was mostly good, but there were a few items that were not so great. We got the sashimi sampler. The barracuda and tuna sashimi were excellent and flavorful even without soy sauce. The aji and sea bream sashimi were fine, but had less flavor. The yellowtail sashimi was downright sour and not fresh. We also ordered some small plates. The agedashi tofu was very nice. The grilled scallops featured an impressive presentation (scallops in their shell cooking in a bubbling broth over a small fire that died down right when we finished the dish) and a tender texture, but ultimately the taste was bland. The assorted tempura was fine although I thought the batter could have been lighter. The house salad was large and fresh – a good deal. We finished with some skewers – shrimp, chicken, zucchini, and mushrooms. The skewers ranged from solid to good. Beyond the food, we thought the service was friendly and competent. The atmosphere, however, left something to be desired. The restaurant reeked of cleaning fluid and the floor was sticky.“

“Very tasty place. It is a little bit aside from deep touristic places and usually visited by locals. The staff is very kind and prices are quite good for this quality. There are places to sit inside and outside. There are infrared wormers outside for cold evenings. The only concern is the working hours, only few hours during the day.“

“I’ve been vegetarian for 7+ years and this is BY FAR the best plant-based sushi I’ve ever had. The rolls are delicious and plated beautifully and the ramen is so flavorful. Also,
I highly recommend their yuzu lemonade if you’re looking for a tart, refreshing sip. This is a must-try for anyone looking for elevated, vegetarian-inclusive Japanese food.“

“Best non-traditional sushi that I've ever eaten“

“Great sushi, perfectly prepared and presented. So glad I walked a few more blocks to go there. Small with a very friendly staff (my 2 Buddhi’s) made for enjoyable experience. Come to town at least once a year; plan to be back.“

“The owner was wonderful, the food was very good, but unfortunately we were there for lunch when there was a convention nearby and there were large tables of very noisy guys. It would be great if there were more sound-deadening materials in the restaurant.“

“When people say a place is 'a hole in the wall', it can go two ways. In this case, it means intimate, small and you hope it's not crowded when you go because there are more fans than seats.

We got lucky, and went before (5pm) the crowd flooded in immediatelyafter we ordered. There was only one Hamachi Kama in the house, and we were the fortunate ones to have tasted it. It's clear this fish wasn't previously frozen, (if it was, they knew how to mask it) it was flaky, super fresh and flavorful.

Each piece of the Kensington roll was SO large, I'm embarrassed to share a photo of me cramming it in my mouth, because it was impossible to be graceful.

The beer with a hint of peach was a must try, it perfectly paired with everything we ordered.

All of the great reviews of how good this place is, were true, including mine.
This place is a must try!

My review is a disservice to myself, because now the line will only get longer!“

“This place did have high quality sushi and a great atmosphere inside. The nigiri and sashimi cuts were pretty small though, especially for the high price that they carried… if you’re looking for a no-frills sushi joint, this doesn’t fit that bill so much, it would make more sense for a Friday night date.“

“The best sea bass and the best sushi 🍣 Love it“

“I’ve had the great joy and pleasure to eat omakase all over the world - including Japan, and this was the best meal of my life. The thoughtfulness, sustainability and conscious touch to every little thing made this Omakase experience above the rest. Additionally, our wonderful Chef sang accolades/praises about all of the sources he gets the pieces of the meal from, but did not once brag about himself. He needs to be bragged about! Chef Joji Nonaka is incredible. The art, precision, talent, and thoughtfulness he has is unmatched.
I’ll be chasing this meal for the rest of my life.“

“Best sushi in the Marina District!“

“Been coming here for over 20 years. My absolute favorite sushi bar in SF. Do you want to be social with loud music and rainbow rolls? Then don’t come here. Do you want authentic sushi with only the best of the best fish? This is your place.“

“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.“

“Best authentic Japanese restaurant in town.“

“The food was nice. Very tasty. I like when there is a sampler platter on sushi menus so you can let the chef pick. They had 6 of these and a sushi bowl. I went with combo A. I was pleased with the choice. They have the Kurosawa Kimoto sake here. I love thise stuff. I get the 300ml. I'd get the 720, but the fiance would probably be critical of that decision.“

“Sun Sun Sushi is goated. Extremely fair prices for freshly made sushi. The owner is also very kind in a quiet way - one time, he replaced the container I grabbed from the shelf with a fresh batch he just prepared. There's also student discounts like BOGOF if you order on UberEats.“

“The best sushi place in the city!! Quality of food is 10 out of 5......“

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

“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.“

“Ron and Tony are the best! So friendly, and they explained everything, and my gosh the sushi - I mean, I have no words. I swear the last piece tasted like a hug. Magic.
And the rice.. mmmmm.

I highly recommend eating omakase with your hands here!“

“经常更新季节性的鱼类…😋新鲜…主要的是老板很帅☺️…😜“

“Late night, delicious sushi (one of the best salmon sashimi I've had), delicious sweet sake, and the host was super nice, you wouldn't think she's working a late shift 🥲
A little pricey (1 sake, 1 sashimi, 1 specialty roll, 1 basic roll = $80) , but is anything around here reasonable...?“

“Our server, Angela, made the night from go from good to great. Food was good and served quickly, even in a mostly full restaurant. They have a relatively small menu of high quality items. Didn’t save room for dessert. Well worth the trip.“

“Absolutely loved this place! The atmosphere was so vibey and welcoming from the moment we walked in. The service was outstanding, everyone was incredibly friendly, smiling, and attentive. We were seated immediately with no wait at all, and the food came out super fast. Best of all, every hand roll was absolutely delicious and tasted incredibly fresh. Such a great experience from start to finish. Highly recommend!“

“Best sushi I've ever had! Made with love � baked bass and mussels are �“

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

“Had a good experience at Butterfish Sushi. The sushi was fresh, nicely presented, and everything we ordered tasted really good. The place had a nice relaxed vibe and the service was friendly. It did take a little longer than expected when it got busy, but overall we enjoyed our meal and would come back again.“

“Fantastic food, great service!“

“Great sushi and sashimi in a loveky setting! the Lion King is the best! Fast and efficient service!“

“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.“

“I have come to this amazing establishment for over 15 years. Delicious. Efficient and amazing staff. Fresh and tummy always pleased. Yes!“

“This is a hidden gem.. also incredibly fresh and so cheap. 3$ for veg rolls. The owner is not that friendly or warm at all and pretty annoying to interact with but I think that the quality of the food is so good that she is completely entitled to act that way. If I was the owner of an old sushi shop on Solano Ave I would most likely act that way too.“

“Such a great restaurant! The sashimi and nigiri were especially good. You can really tell the fish is fresh and high quality. The ramen was really good too, and we also loved the agedashi tofu. Service was lovely as well. Definitely a place I’d come back to!“

“Food was amazing and happy hour were very decent prices. I'm definitely coming back to try more, especially the beer! Service was super fast.
I had oysters and takoyaki both were so good, perfectly cooked takoyaki ❤“

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

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

“Service was quick, food was good and parking was easy. Definitely recommend“