50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Moraga

“We were visiting a friend in Moraga and stopped by for dinner. Based on the recommendations, we ordered seafood soup, salt and pepper fish, and asparagus chicken. We were very pleased and all the dishes were excellent. Service was wonderful and attentive. Highly recommended.“

“Sean Paul and the team are incredible. This is without a doubt the best restaurant in Oakland. Every dish was 11/10. Perfect service aside - the balance of each dish was outstanding- get the tempura Cesar- the wagyu bo Ssam- the hand roll dish!!!!! Literally everything was delicious- will be going back and bringing each and every one of our friends. Michelin star ⭐️ 100% without a doubt.“

“This restaurant just became my favourite Japanese restaurant in the area. We ordered two lunch combo with Katsu, Beef Teriyaki and Deep fried gyoza. First came complimentary miso soup once we sat down. Very thoughtful. Lunch combo start at $14.50 and $1 to $4 extra depending on what you order. Food was served in an efficient manner. They even gave us 6 dumplings on the house. Katsu was good. Not too much coating. Teriyaki wasn’t too sweet. Staff were friendly and efficient. Overall a very good experience.“

“My friend and I came for lunch, and we had a lovely afternoon. I got a poke bowl that was fresh, filling, and flavorful. My friend had a gorgeous sushi roll and miso soup. I ordered the house sale hot, and she got hot tea. The service was prompt and friendly without being overbearing. The overall vibe was popping over to a friend’s house and they just happen to have banging Japanese food. It was also a great value. I plan to come here again for sure.“

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

“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 🌯“

“We found this place online and decided to give it a try. The restaurant itself is a bit small, good for small groups of up to four. And you can use the tablet to put in an order.

We ordered the Omakase, the dill roll, and the baked unagi roll. The fish was fresh and delicious, but their rolls were a bit too heavy in flavor for me. I had to keep eating ginger to cleanse my palate.“

“Very good meal, service was great, I'll definitely be back.“

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

“Absolutely amazing nigiri! They share a space with Jungdon Katsu which means you get the best of both worlds.
The nigiri was amazingg!! We got some to try their nigiri, we were mainly there for the Katsu. But the portioning was so good with the Tuna that we ordered more (and we even got a bit of a bonus from the chef).
The fish ratio to rice was spectacular.
I've seen poor reviews about the service/speed, which I could see happening if things get busy. There was one server for all the tables, the food is made to order so it takes a bit to get your food. We went on a Thursday night and had one party ahead of us. The food took 20 mins to get to us. However the KATSU was PIPING HOT! The nigiri was also quick to arrive.
You order via QR code and the server was polite so I couldn't see anything to complain about the service besides the speed.

The place is a bit hard to find but I liked the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant.
Overall amazing experience. I'll be writing my review for Jungdon Katsu as well!“

“Every roll was fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. The staff were welcoming and attentive.
In the end they offered me plum wine but I asked for ice cream and they accommodated.
I’ll definitely be coming 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!“

“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 :)“

“Excellent sushi again and again. Highly recommend this restaurant. Great service and fresh fish every time.“

“First time here and probably last time too. I hella liked how the inside was decorated reminded me of a restaurant in Japan. Kinda disappointed though. I hella love sushi. But the sushi selection was small. Nothing caught my eye. The only thing I did enjoy with my meal was the ikura. The waitress’s don’t even check up on you to see how your doing. We we’re seated all the way in the back. I asked for more water and it never came. And for those 2 reasons I won’t come back.“

“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.“

“This is a great spot! The service was great and very fast. The person serving us was very nice and attentive. We had the karage and sushi combo which came with more fish than we were expecting! Everything was very fresh and nicely presented. They had a lot of different seating areas -- it was two of us this time but would be suitable for bigger groups too. I always love getting an Andes mint after dinner too:) Definitely recommend and will be coming back!“

“OMG. I’m a sushi lover and this is my new favorite lunch spot. Happened to be in the area for lunch, which just happens to be their happy hour! We ordered one of everything on the happy hour menu and were BLOWN AWAY. Soooo good, we ordered 2nds of most of the items. Floored how good the oyster mushroom tempura on their HH menu is. Like. Chef’s kiss! All of the fish items in HH were top shelf. So good, we ended up ordering multiples. Staff was so helpful and happy. Can’t wait to come back.“

“Okay, this is the fourth time we’ve been here this week so, I think we’ve crossed the official “rating your favorites” threshold. Pa’s Papa is ‘official’ in my heart for three reasons:
1. Every time I come in there’s a genially kind and friendly, LOCAL face to greet us! They hire folks from the neighborhood and I think that’s awesome and so “Official Oakland!”
2. Each visit our food has been so fresh, well seasoned, thoughtfully presented, packaged * and delicious The servings and pricing truly fair. *I teased the owner for teaching his young, new cashier how to properly bag hot soup like an official Oakland Chinese restaurant!
3. It’s a hella nice vibe. Every time. Music is upbeat, the restaurant is immaculately clean, and it’s a POSITIVE VIBE… that truly matters in this moment in time. I appreciate it.“

“I’ve been eyeing this place for months and finally was in the mood for sushi. The bento box was very fresh and delicious. I got the salmon teriyaki and spicy tuna. I also got the uji time ice cream. They offer a variety hand make ice cream that changes every week. This week I got the purple potato one. It was a perfect meal for an early dinner and the staff was very nice.“

“Our favorite sushi spot! Always delicious sushi options, excellent staff and service! We really appreciate that they have tamari as a gluten-free option for soy sauce. If you haven’t stopped by here - think of this place the next time you want sushi!“

“service and quality are top notch“

“I walked in with low expectations only because not that many people were in the restaurant. I was proven wrong quickly. The food was amazing and the service was great. I can't stand it when you get giant sushi rolls. These were small and very fresh. The dudes rolling the sushi were bout the business. Tashiko was a great waitress and she made our 10 year old picky eater feel special and went out of her way to make sure she had a good experience. The salad dressing is amazing , the nigiri and rolls were awesome as was everything else. Great little date spot. Highly recommend.“

“Excellent place for good sushi. We went for dinner on a Sunday evening and the place was packed. Despite that we only had to wait about 5 min (they said 10-15). The restaurant is clean and we'll appointed. Staff were all friendly with excellent service. The food was delicious. We will happily return.“

“One of the best sushi spot in the bay. The food just feels and tastes fresh. Portions are nice and flavors are there. The sashimi is amazing, the specialty rolls are all really well done. You can tell they care about their craft. Ive had delivery and the food is still amazing. You know delivery sometimes reduces the quality of the food.“

“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“

“Best Japanese Curry in town !“

“EDIT: I felt its necessary to make the amendment that, although walking in without a reservation was a thing previously, we've now had multiple visits where we've stood at the counter for 2 hours never to be seated.

You can still eat the whole menu there, but its generally very crowded.

Getting reservations seems to be catered towards friends, or some type of mysterious system, as we no longer have been able to get a reservation even weeks in advance. The food is still the same.

Original Review: I can’t believe that I haven’t left a review for Ippuku; this is as close as you can get to a Tokyo alley izakaya, from the sasami raw chicken special menu (to do for), to the epic yakitori, to the massive shochu selection.

By far one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in the Bay Area, we’ve been here a good 30 times over the years and it has never once changed at all, thankfully!!! Never want it to change, it does everything so well.

Hokkaido squid, chicken oyster, chicken tartare, agadashi tofu, crab croquettes, these are some favorites.

Make a reservation if you can, but otherwise we often walk in and are seated within an hour. Fun to hang out at the bar and wait.“

“The best omakase around!!“

“Think of the part last time you ate teriyaki...dried chicken with a bunch of gross sauce. This place perplexed me... the chicken and shrimp are perfectly cooked, with just enough sauce. The care in the prep is beyond anything you'd expect for what you'd think is a simple dish. I honestly can't think of another place that makes food this juicy, and with care. It's been on my weekly lunch rotation for a reason. Shame it's in a dead city bc you can tell they care when restaurants around them only care to make a buck.“

“Love this place, I feel safe and the food is incredible“

“Awesome sushi poke place that is very generous with its portions! The staff is very friendly and helpful in getting all of the ingredients you like as well as telling you if something cost extra!

I ordered a large bowl which cost $20

The store is also very clean and if there's anything highlighted or shown for sale, they'll also let you know!

Overall, the ordering process was very smooth!“

“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)“

“What a great find. We wanted sushi and just had moved in to the neighborhood and tried out Yokoso for their sushi and it did not disappoint. We started with the Tuna sashimi and it was awesome. Great rolls. Great and friendly service and cute inside. And after all that, the price was more than fair. I recommend 100%.“

“In all my travels, I look for what I call "happy food." Happy food for me is healthy, nutritious, tasty, nicely prepared, and served by smiling people in a clean environment. Oori exceeded all my happy food requirements and then took me for a ride through food blissfulness worth each bite. I had chicken teriyaki, grilled salmon, and spicy tuna triangles. On the side, I complimented it with miso soup and ginger. Each flavor was distinct and made my taste buds ooh, ahh, and wow for more. I'll be back here for more without question. I felt like I was dining at a 5-star restaurant and found the food reasonably priced.“

“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.“

“Update:

Came back again and the udon tasted even better than the first time! Got to try the wings this time which were superb, they also changed their potato salad to a perfectly breaded potato croquette. Uni was on the menu, so we got some nigiri’s as well as topped it on our udon! Their clam risotto was also super unique and had a ton of texture. Another big surprise was the crab cake sushi roll which was a deep fried sushi roll stuffed with real crab meat, and they do not skimp on the crab! Overall another amazing experience again and I cannot wait for the full menu.
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They say good things are worth waiting for and I waited all year for izakaya shodai to open, and it did not disappoint!

Gorgeous modern interior inside with plentiful seating. Soft opening so menu is more condensed but gives a good idea of what to expect from this establishment.

I tried the mentaiko udon, beef tongue skewer, tuna tataki, and was also given the curry fries on the house. Fav was the beef tongue, proper cut with a perfect smokiness to it since it was grilled over charcoal, just salt and pepper is the way to go! Mentaiko udon did not skimp on the mentaiko, most places just add a creamy sauce to cover up the fact that they don’t have enough mentaiko, whereas shodai is generous with it. Noodles had a perfect bounciness to it, only slight miss is it was a tad oily, but otherwise delicious and came with a side of potato salad. Tataki was seared to perfection with great sauce and flavoring. The curry fries were also good, I think it might be better if the curry was on the side for dipping so the fries can retain its crispiness; but it was refreshing to see a dark curry dish whereas most places usually serve light curry.

Cannot wait to come back and see what else is to come. Had a chance to speak with the managing partner Andy, and there are definitely some additions to the menu that I will for sure want to be the first to try (hello uni dishes!)“

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

“We had a Lion King Roll (this was baked so was a bit surprised but it was good), tonkatsu donburi, and a 2-item bento (beef teriyaki and tempura). Good value bento box…good sized portions and tasty (really enjoyed the salad which had a delicious creamy sesame dressing). My wife enjoyed the donburi which I had a bite of and thought it was delicious. We will be back to try other things on the menu.“

“Ever since Jo's Sushi Bar closed, I've been searching for a comparable sushi place and I'm glad to say, The Shoya fits the bill. I judge a sushi place not on their rolls but the quality of their fresh fish and sushi rice...and this place doesn't disappoint. We got the 10 piece nigiri omakase and and sushi combo (7 piece nigiri and roll) as well as the tekka don and tempura and wvwrything was well prepared and delicious! The sake was served in a cool looking dispenser I've never seen before, which was a nice touch! I'm not in Pleasant Hill very often but I'm happy to know this will be my go-to spot for great sushi when I am in town.“

“Nice and accommodating 😘😘😘“

“I think this could make a fun date spot.

I thought the sets were reasonably priced, but maybe it’s because I’m comparing it to SF pricing.

Every bite was great, but I think next time I’ll ask for less rice or maybe even none.“

“When I'm craving sashimi or sushi that's fresh and reasonably priced, I always head to Ebiko.

Ebiko is a quick stop-and-shop in Piedmont, wish fresh sushi, nigiri, sashimi and more! It's mainly for takeout. The service is good and friendly! Mainly just the chefs in the back and hostess/cashier. Since it's a shop without seating, the vibe feels like a convenient store with snacks and drinks as well.

Parking can be a pain, but if you emergency park, I'm sure you'll be in and out under 5minutes.

Overall, great store for sushi and I would always recommend friends to stop by here when visiting!“

“My partner and I just went for the first time - it will be our new typical date night spot! The reviews were great so we thought we’d check it out - we were pleasantly surprised by the immediate seating at 630PM on a Saturday, and the decor was nice. We ordered the gyozas, miso soup, California roll, rainbow roll, and dynamite rolls and they were all fantastic and beautifully presented. The owner of the restaurant also dropped off a complimentary appetizer (mushrooms) and dessert (chocolate ice cream). Overall, fantastic hospitality and very good fish. We will be back!“

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

“Sushi Moyama offers delicious and value friendly Japanese food with generous portions, especially their sushi! The staff are friendly and provide Good service, making the dining experience even better. Highly recommend supporting this local restaurant!“

“It is at the same location as Alley’s. Order at kiosk, food come out from the bar counter, and send back bowl to bar counter afterwards.
The ramen was tasty and the soup base was rich. We had original, red, and black tonkatsu. The red tonkatsu was hot, but very flavorful .“

“Ever since the Marugame Alameda location opened, it’s been a main staple for my routine! The staff are kind and attentive, and the food is delicious. Compared to other locations, I’d say the Alameda location is among the better ones I have visited over the years. Even though the location is fairly new, opening this past year, it’s helped heightened my expectations of Marugame locations. I highly recommend coming here and ordering the Gyudon!“

“Great atmosphere, great food, great service. Highly recommend Yokohama Sushi! 👍“

“The freshest sushi I’ve ever had in this area. Hands down. Will definitely be back!“