35 Best Japanese Restaurants in Oakland

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“Good authentic Japanese cuisine! Had the tempura udon, beef teriyaki set and double salmon roll. Salmon tasted especially delicious.

Service was great, they accommodated for a party of 8 without reservation with about a 15 minute wait (friday dinner, 6pm). There is a physical waiting list upon arrival, staff was efficient and kind despite the large group inconvenience.

Would 10/10 go again, great value and great service.“

“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.“

“I was so happy to find this place! It’s a casual Japanese restaurant. This place seems to specialize in takeout, but there’s tables and seating if you want to dine in.

I tried their chicken katsu bento and I was blown away with the quality and portion size. A bento can easily feed 2 if you don’t eat large amounts. Food is definitely on the heavier side.

They also serve sushi. Would definitely come back to try them.“

“Small place, attentive staff, amazing sushi.
- Their rolls are stuffed to the brim with sushi.
- The salmon sashimi is a large portion, and super good.
- We also tried their Geta don. The tuna was amazing!! The onsen egg was really great!!!

I loved the spicy scallop roll. My friends really enjoyed the real cali roll. The hamachi roll was great too.

My only complaint is that the rice consistency wasn’t great and seemed basically unseasoned.“

“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.“

“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 takeout only spot has the MOST affordable and FRESH sashimi and sushi in the entire Bay!! The omakase box features fresh pieces of salmon, tuna, fatty tuna, roe, and scallop for $16.99. Zero fishiness at all. But my favorite is actually the seared salmon—omg it literally melts in your mouth 👌🏻👌🏻 The California roll uses actual snow crab and all their other rolls are good too. Only thing is they don’t open on weekends but they have a location in SF now. Highly recommend!“

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

“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“

“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!“

“My favorite sushi spot in the whole Bay Area. That's incredible how much food (really fresh and flavorful) you get for the prices they have. The service is always friendly and quick. We normally just walk in and get a table but on weekends dinner time there could be a wait(20-30 min). After discovering this spot a couple of years ago we always eager to cross the bridge to have the best sushi in a non pretentious atmosphere.“

“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.“

“It's delicious.
Can't believe it's my 1st time tried out this place.
I believe at least one of the owner is Korean.
So there is delicious Korean bulgogi bento box.
Will definitely go back and try more.“

“An astonishing 18-course omakase, expertly prepared, sourced in the finest sushi chef tradition of impeccable quality.
Warm and comfortable welcome with a happy-to-share chef who told us stories about his choices in making what has to be one of the finest Japanese experiences stateside.
Tiny space, superbly arranged.

I cannot recommend it enough. Not cheap but value for money if you struggle to “have something you’ve never had anywhere else” (and don’t want the 9+ hour Tokyo flight).“

“Wow!
I just went for date night with my daughter (back from college) and had the best sushi in the Bay Area!!!

The Omakase was superb!!! The highlight was hamachi with truffle and the unagi was the best I’ve ever tasted.

We also had the lion king (because which was “just right”!

Our server was terrific - she recommended the chef special, Ika Sugata (Grilled whole Squid with Jalapeño & Mango 🤩)

We also got the delicious Garlic Edamame and took an order of Matcha Tres Leche to go.

It wasn’t “cheap” but it was soooo worth it!!!

We will be back!“

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

“I was out walking my dog, and I got this craving for sushi. I had picked up delivery from here before doing Doordash, but never tried it myself. They were sort staffed so I did have to wait a bit. But it was 1000% worth the wait. I got the Lion Princess and the White Dragon. Both delicious. And the sauces on the side took it to another level.“

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

“Found this place from a post on Instagram, and it was definitely worth the visit! The service was great and made us feel very welcome. Loved the boats, and the food was high quality. We were seated right away as well. It’s a great spot for a date night and an awesome place to support a local business, especially with its great location near the Grand Lake Theater.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Best sushi I’ve had in a long time! We had three rolls — Dragon, Blue fin and mango and they were all delicious. Tasty miso also. Friendly service and super cute patio for outdoor seating with plenty of heaters for winter time! Will be back.“