50 Best Japanese Restaurants near San Pablo

“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.“

“Great food and great service“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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 🌯“

“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.“

“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 :)“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“service and quality are top notch“

“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.“

“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!“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

“Best Japanese Curry in town !“

“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.“

“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!“

“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)“

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

“Been ordering from Jungdon for a while now and figured it's time for a review. I always order one of their Deluxe sets - Anshim is my go to and Deungshim is 2nd fav since I like my katsu a bit chewy. Tried the chicken and cheese katsu too but they're just ok imo.
~$30 a set sounds high at first but I can easily have it over 2-3 meals, which is awesome.

Flavor is also consistent - Always love how the potato salad, cabbage slaw, sauces and katsu come together! Miso soup is a great addition too given East Bay is quite often a bit cold.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Nice and accommodating 😘😘😘“

“great food & great service!“

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

“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.“

“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 .“

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Food was fresh! Service was great. The tables were clean!“

“Sushi is good! Got the snow crab roll, salmon skin hand roll, spicy tuna roll, Berkley roll and salmon roll and they were all good! No food poisoning either so major plus! We got there right at 11am, and it's a cute little place. Felt like we were in Japan based off the decor! The place is small, right when you walk in the main area where the sushi bar is at you may be able to have 18 people in this room at the most! There is another side that has some seating. So definitely not a place for large groups! The service was on point, gentlemen making the sushi was very kind but when we asked to split or check per item, he was confused. He replied if I wanted to split it evenly and I said no I'd like it to be split per item of what each person ordered and it was like I was speaking a different language to him. He was able to figure out what I meant but this is the only negative thing I would say, don't assume people are on the same check. Staff need to make sure they ask prior to combining checks to save the confusion for the future. Also another side note, it is Berkeley and this location is located and what looks to be the ghetto. I am not from that area at all but do not let the location deceive you. This is a very good place! Prices are reasonable for the size of the sushi rolls. Average price is roughly $16 per roll and you get eight pieces out of each roll. If back in the area we'll definitely go back.

Also a major plus, we were given complimentary edamame!“

“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!“

“I gave this location a try on Friday. I was the first one. My takeout order came out pretty quickly. It took 10 minutes. I ordered a spicy one and it had some kick to it. I wish the portions were a little bigger. Fortunately, I ordered a side item to help fill me up. For the price, I would say, it is above average... but not as good a value as Curry House when it was still around.“

“Everything. Best of everything.“

“Very good quality of food 👍“

“I really like the food at this place. The sushi is yummy (if you like lots of sauce and Americanized sushi, which I do.) However, the rolls can be pretty expensive, and sometimes too large/ full of rice for my liking. Also the restaurants interior is a little out dated and uninviting. Street parking on Piedmont can be a challenge, but there’s a paid lot nearby.“

“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).“

“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!“

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

“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.“

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

“经常更新季节性的鱼类…😋新鲜…主要的是老板很帅☺️…😜“

“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.“