“AMAZING vegetarian & vegan restaurant!!(⁎⁍̴̛ᴗ⁍̴̛⁎)❤️?I’ve been wanting to visit this place since my second year in Berkeley, and I’m glad I finally did!You can tell they made their food with great care and the ingredients are yummy and fresh!The staff are very nice; the vibe inside is clean and chill. This is a great place for you to hang out with a small group of friends or come alone to recharge your mental health (I mean seriously, their food is tasty, healthy, and pretty!)I’d definitely come back very often to try out all other creative cuisines! “
“I wish I had taken a photo because it was prepared in an appealing way, seriously food porn. Now let me tell you... the poke I got with tuna and hamachi was off the charts. So fresh! I had chunky pieces of sushi till my last bite and I only got the small size, the portions were perfect. The sides were delicious, I got the Mac salad and edamame. The shoyu, ponzu and yuzu sauces were so tasty. I also got the spicy mayo and it was perfectly spiced. All of the toppings were fresh as well and they were not cheap on the avocado! The service was fantastic from the moment I walked in. They were busy getting orders ready but did not miss a beat when greeting me. Super helpful in checking in while I was reading the menu and deciding. They didn't forget to check in again and had perfect timing when realizing I was ready to order. Answered all of my questions, I didn't have too many questions but the responses were quick and descriptive. Everyone was attentive, polite and friendly. The ambiance was bright, energetic and perfect for lunch. I came in just before lunch started. Enjoyed my meal at the restaurant and had to give compliments because I was very impressed!!“
“Asaka is a delightful addition to the North Berkeley restaurant scene! The food is delicious, the service impeccable, and the owner generously donated a few platters of sushi ? to the Japanese American Experience event we held last month at St. Mary Magdalen Church. Come check it out!Vegetarian options: Honestly, I don't know if there are main dishes for vegetarians, but their edamame was delicious!Kid-friendliness: I think children would enjoy the food here.“
“The food was the best Japanese food I have had, including in Japan. DelIcious, unique and completely satisfying. A delightful find with excellent service. The only down side was the closeness of the tables and noise. It is now my favorite Japanese restaurant in Berkeley.“
“Overall great sushi burrito with extremely fresh ingredients but what really differentiates this place from other US restaurants is the taste and quality of their sushi rice. It tastes exactly like much of the sushi rice I've had in Japan“
“It was better before they changed their menu :( something about their sushi burritos is off and they're not as good as it used to be2023 edit: they're back to what they were before! Plus they have poke bowls now. Definitely recommend the sushi burritos now, they're so good!“
“For convenient ready made sushi, this place blew my mind. Didn't know what to expect going in and was met with melt-in-your mouth soft af salmon in their salmon roll. The rolls are a good size too. Perfect spot for someone on the go but also craving sushi. They give you chopsticks, soy sauce, and a napkin too. Thank you for the meal!“
“OMG I'M STUFFED! All of these dishes were so yummy. My fav was the potato croquettes with the curry sauce. Prices were VERY REASONABLE for four pieces per dish; just right to share. DEFINITELY I will go back. They cook to order and give you a buzzer when your dish is ready to pick up and bring to your table. We sat outside in the covered patio which was clean and tables spaced nicely. There are tables outside with no cover as well as booths inside.“
“This is a wonderful Japanese restaurant. There is often a wait for a table, but the waits are usually short. The rolls are wonderful. My favorite is the Dragon roll. There is a large menu with Japanese salads, sushi, bento boxes, sashimi, noodles and tempura.“
“Solid quantity and quality of food for its pretty reasonable price. Ordered a shrimp udon and though the noodles were not true udon, it was a solid quantity of food and came with six shrimp. And a bowl of miso soup. A nice environment too. Tastes pretty good.“
“I’ll give them four stars on the food because of the value proposition… The fish is always fresh, and the portions are more than reasonable for the price point. They have a ready to go refrigerated case that they stock for the lunch hour. You can get a sushi combo With tax and tip at the door for about $16. It will easily kill you up.Sometimes, in the evening, it can be a little backed up for to go orders. In the past sometimes they get the orders mixed up, so be sure to check your bag before you leave. They are fairly popular with locals and the college crowd.They tend to be my go to because they are close to my house, convenient, and prepare your order quickly .“
“The definition of a hole in the wall. Or maybe hole in the ground is more apt. Half-embedded in concrete, flush with the sidewalk, Sushi Cal might be mistaken as an abandoned lot-- nope, this humble restaurant is fully open and has been for the past 30+ years!After visiting both pre- and post-pandemic, I still think this is the best spot for budget sushi. Prices have somehow stayed low without undermining quality. Their cooked dishes tend to run a little bland; the sushi is what you should be coming here for. I've had a variety of rolls and nigiri here with no complaints-- Fish is good quality, veg is fresh, portions are good. And the service is excellent, their staff are always welcoming and highly attentive. Every so often, they have live musicians playing to add to the cozy atmosphere. Very pleased that this local favorite is still going strong.“
“Food: Top notch sushi. If you want the luxury sushi experience, look no further. The chef himself studied and worked in Japan. Super intelligent man with a lot of knowledge about Japanese sushi. I highly recommend getting the fish of the day. It will blow your mind by how the fish melts in your mouth. If not, get any black cod dish. I get it every time I come here.Service: Awesome staff who hustles to please all customers. Cant thank them enough!“
“A solid poke place that my friend fell in love with. I am not super crazy about this place but I have to admit that when I come to Berkeley and look for a healthy and delicious food, I check this place first. There is not a lot of options for poke but who wants many options when you know that the top two choices are the best. The mango in salmon poke is a clear fun twist and the squid in tuna is great too. The price is reasonable given the quality of the fish and other ingredients.“
“This is arguably the best Japanese Izakaya in the Bay Area. I frequently come visit from Canada and I actually make it a priority when I’m in town to visit a minimum of 1 time every 2 months. The food, atmosphere, and the staff make it the best experience- especially Angelina. 10/10 recommend to make time to eat here!“