43 Best Japanese Restaurants near Hercules

“I come twice a month. This place is my go to for Japanese comfort food. I love the gyudon just the way they prepped it. Saucy, sweet and savory just like I remember from childhood in Asia. Sushi and sashimi are fresh (enough). Bento is reasonably priced. Atmosphere is good. Not pretentious like some of the Japanese restaurants in this area. They actually play Japanese tunes.“

“Sushi bar runs by Chinese? Why not?
The origin of sushi has to trace the sushi’s roots back to China—and even further, to Southeast Asia. The earliest form of sushi, called narezushi, was a method of preserving fish by fermenting it with rice. This technique likely developed in the Mekong and Irrawaddy River basins and was adopted by the Baiyue people of southern China. The Han Chinese documented it as early as the 4th century BCE.
So yes, Chi ese gave sushi the practice beginning.

Twice we dined here, savoring sushi not from a Japanese bar, but from a Chinese family’s hands—gentle, precise, and quietly proud. The flavors whispered of history: from riverbanks in southern China to the bustling streets of Edo. Sushi, reborn and reimagined.“

“Good food, great, friendly service. Going to a new restaurant with young kids can be a bit harrowing, you never k ow how kid friendly the atmosphere will be. The server could not have been nicer. Chicken Katsu was some of the crispiest I’ve had!“

“Very beautiful!!!! Vale a pena conhecer“

“The chirashi don comes with a generous portion of sashimi, and the bento box is also quite substantial. Though the flavors are definitely mediocre. It's great value for the price, with attentive service. Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.“

“The best omakase around!!“

“Came in this small but cozy restaurant for a quick lunch bite and was surprised by the ambiance. I got the pork chop over rice and was surprised on how authentic it tasted. Crispy and homey - good blend of veggies and meat. Definitely a spot for casual get-togethers or a quick lunch. I would come back to try the food they didn’t have in stock (certain foods weren’t available depending on the days of the week or month)“

“We are regulars here - absolutely delicious, always fresh, and decently priced to-go sushi options! Not to mention super friendly and kind service. Recently they threw in an extra toro nigiri (for free) with the cutest note written!! Can’t recommend Itani Sushi enough :)“

“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!“

“I had Salmon over rice Togo. When I pick up my food, I opened it but I didn’t see any vegetables in that. I asked him and he said that I should order the meal if I would like to get small salad too. (I ordered wrong tho) but he so nice:) he gave me the vegetable salad for free of charge. I will definitely come back. I like to support local and good people, plus their food is so yummy and fresh too.“

“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.“

“service and quality are top notch“

“The food is great!!! Crew is awesome!!! Dine by the sea!!! Highly recommended!!!“

“Cool sushi spot, atmosphere was very chill. I was pretty much the only one eating at the time. Sashimi was good, the 49er roll wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be but this pace was still great. Staff was very courteous and the food came really fast. They also give you large portions. You'll get full fast at this spot.“

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

“From the moment I walked in, I was impressed with the welcoming service. The staff was friendly and made us feel at home, offering great recommendations. The sushi was fresh and beautifully presented, with each bite bursting with flavor. I especially loved the signature rolls and sashimi. The ambiance was serene and cozy, with a minimalist design and soft lighting that created the perfect atmosphere for a relaxed meal. It’s the ideal spot for a special night out or a casual sushi craving. Will definitely return!“

“Customer friendly & quick service. Food is great.😋“

“Great food and quick service! A must try place if you’re in the area!“

“Amazing food and service. Ambiance on point as well“

“Fantastic! Can’t wait to go back!“

“As great as it gets local sushi at affordable prices. Good clean taste with nice touches of flavor that excite the palette. I got a crazy monkey roll and some chefs nigiri that was perfect for my refined taste. I ended the night with halibut nigiri (shown here) and walked out happy“

“Ramen, gyoza, high quality sushi are always in order. This place would make you want to come back again whenever you can. Staff is super friendly, polite, respectful and provides the most outstanding customer service I’ve encountered accross many restaurants. Definitely you’d love this place.“

“There was an important item left out of my order last night. But when I went back today, the Asst Manager Brandon went over the top. He really hooked me up. Their food is good, but their service and attitude is the best!“

“Food is always fresh and is Always made to order. Never disappointed me.“

“So glad to find out they reopened after being closed a while during the pandemic. Currently you have to pre-order a day in advance for pickup so it takes a little planning but so worth it.Their fried chicken is so crispy. I ordered it with waffle fries and they say they only fire up the fries just before your pickup time so that they're fresh. When I went to pick up my order, they let me know it would just be a few minutes because the fries were finishing and when he came out with my order, he said he accidentally made the salad but included both the fries and salad and threw in a vanilla pudding. Everything was so delicious. Even the bonus pudding had flecks of vanilla bean and tasted so much better than the instant stuff. The chicken and fries were enough for 2 meals.“

“Benicia has so many restaurant choices. This one is a must try! A small family owned Japanese restaurant for dine in and take out. You can sit at the small Sushi counter or at a table in the small dining room. The people are nice and friendly and they have a good selection of Sushi Rolls and other dishes. We made a reservation just in case. Free parking is on the street. Casual dining for family, business and date nights.

Vegetarian options: vegetarian dishes are available.

Kid-friendliness: They have kid friendly meals

Wheelchair accessibility: no stairs“

“Island Special Rolls are amazing!!! Phoenix, Pearl, Orinda and Super Star are a few of our favorites!!! #sushigood“

“This is our fourth time coming here and we're always so impressed with the delicious, fresh, creative,unique dishes that are beautifully presented. It's an unpretentious atmosphere and a great value as well. A true Berkeley institution!“

“Absolutely best sushi. The chef is extremely passionate and talented, and it shows in the food and the service that is a lost art in current times. The prices are extremely fair for this quality of sushi. I think it's honestly worth more, but the lower prices make it more accessible. They have excellent vegetarian and vegan options. Highly recommend spicy crunchy tuna roll, futomaki roll, shitaki maki vegetable tempura, and my partner recommends the white dragon roll.
I have a crab allergy and have never had any issues here.
Service is good and the atmosphere is nice. The restaurant is decorated and has a nice feel.
In the picture: white dragon roll, spicy crunchy tuna rolls, vegetarian Bento box with veggie tempura and shitaki maki. Highly recommend this place.“

“This restaurant is very good. The galbi was excellent so was the quality of the fish especially the sashimi. My s was delicious as well I ordered the rainbow roll I recommend it. Do not put Ponzi sauce on anything just have the straight fish with wasabi Ginger if I could give them six stars I would. Hope it stays the same quality. The food servers were great, both Yang, and Mia gave me exemplary service.“

“Asaka is a friendly neighborhood sushi bar and Japanese restaurant and I enjoyed dinner very much. They were extremely polite and courteous, very good service and food is served quickly.

The restaurant is decorated nicely and has a charming feel to it. Not overly modernized yet a modern feel. Yet also a cozy sushi bar feel. Well done!

Three of us had a couple bento boxes and a nigiri and sashimi combo. Dinner requires three item bento, and the tempura was the star. Nicely battered and fried just right. Chicken teriyaki was chicken teriyaki, if you know what I mean. The California rolls were good… they go the extra mile and mince the imitation crab as opposed to some places that just slice a little chunk. And the spicy tuna roll was not really spicy but tasty enough.

The sashimi and nigiri were very fresh and decently portioned. I prefer smaller and higher quality, which is what they served. They could go a little hotter on the wasabi. Theirs was mild.

And of course miso soup and salad with that sesame dressing I love. Fun meal, great place.“

“Small shop with warm food and an open fridge section of sushi. There was also a wall of snacks. Prices are very reasonable. No verbal communication which I think is fine but the woman dropped my packed sushi upside down and then tossed it into a bag. Sushi rice was a bit too hard for my liking.“

“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!“

“Stopped by before a visit to the nursery. Had heard of this place from Check Please Bay Area too. The CalBear roll was soooo good. Not your typical roll. Sweet and savory in one bite. We also had the poke roll which was really nice and not too spicy. Our server was really friendly. Great tea and the restrooms super clean.“

“I always get the vegetable tempura it comes with rice and we also get the California sushi rolls it’s always fresh and delicious best sushi and Japanese food I think it’s family run everyone there is very nice high quality ingredients and food you won’t be disappointed

Kid-friendliness: My son n had fun he’s 6 years old they have television and music very nice atmosphere“

“经常更新季节性的鱼类…😋新鲜…主要的是老板很帅☺️…😜“

“Excellent foods, friendly staffs! We really love to have dinner here~ Absolutely, I will visit again when I come back to Berkeley!“

“Hidden gem in El Cerrito, food was tasty and served promptly. We had beef appetizer, miso soup, nigiri tuna an yellow tail, suno mono and regular salad. The suno mono was good, but not as great as the other dishes. Our waitress was very attentive and smiled a lot, that’s probably just how people from Nepal are. We will be returning to checkout happy hour when they have their special deals.“

“Absolutely,I recommend your restaurant, good good and friendly staff.“

“Reminded me a lot of when I visited Japan From the wonderful servers fast food prep ambience of inside the restaurant and most importantly the meals were very good and so much to pick from 😁“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kauro Sushi is an absolute gem! The moment you walk in, you’re greeted with a warm atmosphere that instantly makes you feel at home. The sushi is top-notch—each piece is fresh and bursting with flavor. I especially loved the salmon nigiri; it practically melted in my mouth! The staff is friendly and attentive, making the dining experience even better. If you're looking for a place that serves amazing sushi with a soulful vibe, Kauro Sushi is a must-visit!“

“🍣Yo Sushi🍣

We stopped by Yo Sushi and ordered the Crazy Monkey and Vallejo rolls — and wow, these rolls were massive! Definitely a great value for the size. The flavors were solid and satisfying, especially the Crazy Monkey, which had a good mix of savory and creamy textures.

We did come in close to their closing time, so the rice wasn’t as fresh as we would’ve liked — a little dry — but the overall taste still held up. A bonus: they were really generous with the wasabi and ginger, which we always appreciate.

If you’re craving sushi in the area and don’t mind slightly late-day rice, this place delivers on flavor and portion size. We’ll definitely be back to try them during peak hours next time! 🍣“