34 Best Japanese Restaurants in Oakland

“Rico pero lo malo es que nunca tienen basil para la sopa pho“

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

“one of my favorite places in the country to eat. whenever I'm in the Bay area, in here“

“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.“

“What we had:
3 hand rolls lunch (salmon, spicy tuna and unagi) with miso soup and edamame
4 premium handrolls options (A5 Miyazaki Wagyu, Japan Hokkaido Uni, A5 Wagyu Uni & Caviar, Uni Toro & Caviar)
Small plates: Maguro Ponzu and Tuna Tartare

This is an open kitchen setting, you can see the chef make every hand roll and serve the roll right to the dishes in front of you! The quality of the fish was excellent, everything tasted fresh, and you could really appreciate the simplicity of each hand roll. The rice was well-seasoned, and every bite highlighted the freshness of the ingredients. The premium hand rolls were definitely the stars, fatty, flavorful, if you’re a fan of uni and wagyu you have to try it.

The Maguro Ponzu and Tuna Tartare was refreshing and light, it's a great appetizer to share between hand rolls.

That said, I have to be honest, it is kinda pricey. The premium hand rolls add up quickly, so it’s definitely more of a treat-yourself kind of meal rather than an everyday sushi spot. Still, if you’re willing to spend on fresh hand rolls, it’s worth checking them out.“

“This place is very cute and casual, and the food is tasty and fresh. Excellent salmon nigiri today, very luscious. The freaky brussels (lol) were shockingly good, unusual on a sushi menu but so garlicky and good.

I’ve been here a few times over the years, but I’m leaving a review today because they go above and beyond in one particular way. They have an actual separate gluten-free menu and gluten-free soy sauce upon request. Note that we dined right when they opened so I didn’t ask about cross-contamination. However, the consideration made me feel really good about taking someone with celiac to dine here. So thoughtful. We will be back!“

“While pricese were a bit higher than I expected for the portion size, the quality was surprisingly good for take-out sushi. We spent over $60 on two omakase selections, 1 tiny uni don, 1 tiny toro don, and really small seaweed salad.

I wish they sold the scallop nigri a la carte because that was one of my favorite omakase items! Also liked one of the salmon in the omakase better than the other salmon (it looked like 2 different salmon were used). Husband raved about the toro pieces in the toro don and I enjoyed the uni don.“

“I’ve been here like 4 times in as many weeks. The hand rolls are so fresh, flavorful, and interesting. I love coming for lunch. The staff is very kind and service is great. Highly recommend the black cod with truffle butter and seared albacore with garlic aioli!“

“Great food. Service from our waiter was excellent but the delivery of food was not great. My entree came before the appetizer or my salad..... Then both our entrees,salad and appetizers were all on the table at once. Very small table....very crowded.“

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

“I travel the world frequently and this place is a staple anytime I’m in Oakland / San Francisco.

Portions are huge, staff is very kind and attentive, this place should be packed with as fresh and flavorful everything is. 10/10 would recommend!“

“We had such a great meal here. Pa’ Papas serves some of the most authentic Japanese food we’ve had in a while. We ordered the tempura, miso soup, and a few rolls, and honestly everything was amazing. The tempura was light and crispy, the miso soup hit the spot, and the rolls were super fresh.

The portions are generous too, so you really get your money’s worth. If you want Japanese food that actually tastes authentic, this is the place. We’ll definitely be back“

“My first time here. Looked like such a hole-in-the-wall from outside, but fantastic food quality.

The paper menu has mostly sushi rolls, apps, and lunch specials. On the walls are the sashimi and nigiri menus, in individual cute stickers. The sampler plates seem to have a huge variety of different fishes, and generous portions, for a reasonable price. Highly recommend dropping by.“

“Excellent neighborhood sushi spot! Got a salmon nigiri and the Fat Boy roll and it was everything I want in a roll - crunchy, loaded with savory toppings and just a complete flavor bomb. I walk past this every day as I live nearby and am glad I finally checked it out.“

“Mijori – A Classic at Lake Merritt!

This little gem has been a mom-and-pop staple in Oakland for over 30 years, and they’re still going strong. The service is consistently friendly, and the food never misses. It’s a must-stop if you’re in the Lake Merritt area.

They offer a variety of weekly specials depending on the fresh fish they receive, so there’s always something new to try. Don’t skip the tuna salad—it’s topped with their house-made spicy Korean sauce, and it’s absolutely delicious.

The sushi we ordered tonight was fresh, sweet, well-seasoned, and simply satisfying. Pair it with a cold beer or a glass of sake, and you’re in for a great evening. Come check them out—you won’t be disappointed!

Don’t forget to follow for more Great foodie stops @Only1christinelu“

“Kotobuki is our go to sushi spot. We eat there regularly, eat in and take away. The sushi is always fresh and very good -- sashimi & rolls. My kids like the generous combo boxes. They have a great variety of rolls, Ramen, and plated meals. The staff is friendly and service is excellent! A plus, we can watch a sporting event there. ;)“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Quick and affordable made to order onigiri with vegan/plant based options. I like the spicy tofu triangle, the teriyaki tofu and the kimchi tofu triangles are good as well. They usually throw in complimentary edamame if you get a few, and they have other options as well. More of a grab and go atmosphere but they are fast and friendly to me, and the condiment section is loaded with good stuff like free sesame seeds, teriyaki sauce, Japanese spice, Sriracha, shoyu etc. I like this for a nice light meal for some protein and energy after a work out or so.“

“e ended up here completely by chance after the place we’d planned on going was closed, and honestly, I’m so glad it worked out that way. Someone suggested we give this spot a try, so we did—and wow, what a find. We went with the filet mignon and salmon plate with fried rice and veggies, and everything came out hot, fresh, and clearly made right then. The flavors were so good we didn’t even touch the sauces. Total hidden gem. Can’t wait to come back!“

“We showed up just 15 minutes before closing, fully expecting to be turned away, but they still happily took our to-go order and treated us with amazing customer service. The food was absolutely incredible! Every roll was fresh, beautifully prepared, and packed with flavor. The salmon with lemon was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, the eel roll was perfectly balanced, and the baked rolls were rich, loaded with toppings, and seriously some of the best sushi we've had. Nothing tasted rushed, even though they were about to close. You can tell they truly care about their customers and the quality of their food. We'll definitely be back and recommending this place to everyone.“

“Great people, fresh ingridients, authentic taste. Love it!!“

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

“first time here. loved it most definitely coming back. 🥰“

“100% recommended if you like New York strip steak and lobster with garlic butter sauce; it's one of the best, and the fresh, high-quality vegetables and garlic fried rice are absolutely delicious. And let's not forget the cocktails: True Romance and Yummy Yummy Drink, and the Yummy Yummy Roll and Piedmont Roll, the house specialties. Excellent service—just raise your hand for your next order!“

“I like to go with friends to this place with my highest recommendations. I visit this place often. This recommendation is always successful. The dishes they serve are flavorable and the stuff is generous and cooperative. always when we go to this place we enjoy a lovely evening. I warmly recommend this restaurant.“

“I came here with my friends while we were on a field trip and the atmosphere was super cozy, they had good R&B playing and it was lowkey aesthetic. I had the dragon roll, my friend had the sushi bae roll and we both shared the philly roll. We really liked the sushi and we finished it super fast. The staff was super sweet and super awesome, then when they told us about the pictures that they took for their poloroid wall, my friends and I were super excited. We had a really nice experience here and it was very hospitable. I will definitely be back when I have my next field trip in Oakland. Loved it!“

“This restaurant has an amazing ambiance, delicious food and friendly and professional staff. I definitely would recommend!“

“Very clean, excellent menu with very creative rolls. The nigiri 🍣 sushi is fresh and the best I’ve had to date. Personable, knowledgeable and friendly staff. Japanese beers are on point, cold and priced right. This a “locals favorite” which feels very welcoming and the freshness will be bringing me back. Cheers!“

“Love this place, I go about once a week. All the meats are really good and seasoned especially when paired with the spicy mayo or even extra teriyaki sauce which isn’t needed in just a big back. The stars of the show is the short rib triangle, and the buldock and unagi are ok too.“

“Well I wish I could post a photo of delish rolls I ordered but they are already gone.

I think I found the one. The small sushi spot with lots of flavor. Fish is fresh. Service is excellent and prices are reasonable. I knew it was going to be delish when I saw lots of takeout orders being picked up by other locals. So happy to have stumbled upon Judoku. Yummy 😋

I bet my roommate won’t be happy when he realizes it’s all gone already … will be back for more 😋“

“Second time eating here. Service was great. Food delivered to your table with a short wait time. Love the mango tea, not too sweet. The croquettes were piping hot and so delicious 😋 Dragon roll is my favorite Very nice place for a quick and flavorful meal.“

“This is my favorite sushi spot in Oakland. Always delicious food and great service. Hate the new iPads for self order. Like why would I come to a restaurant and not interact with the very staff? Not a fan of tech taking people jobs. Keep people employed in Oakland! I will say, the day I have to order from a kiosk, I’m not going.“