I've been to and frequented this store over decades (yes, really). And in my opinion its quality has not changed. It's still a great place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Leonardo Maldonado Ramírez
Simply the best I've tried in Berkeley.Vegetarian options: Everything is amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miso Soup, Salad, Fish, Nigiri, Roll
Logan Adams
Loved the flavor and quality of the meal! The atmosphere is always perfect and honestly I've been going here for second and its still my favorite sushi spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emmeline W.
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.
K M.
You won't be disappointed by this tiny hole in the wall restaurant that looks out of place with the rest of the neighborhood. It's size, and design undersell the brilliant and delicious food that leave the kitchen. Dishes are really well flavored, authentic and thought and care go into the most important aspect of their sushi, the rice. Quality, care and taste are consistently their top priority and and the sushi is top notch. I lived in LA several years, visited Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo and really love the quality from Sushi California and think it's even slightly better flavored and quality than Kirala, another favorite. Sushi California has extremely generous portions of sushi for the price, and do their best to put your experience and enjoyment at the forefront of your experience. The Japanese have a saying, "The customer is King!" You definitely feel like a king when you eat there or even pick up takeout with friendly greetings and recognition every time. The menu is big, I stick mostly with the sushi orders, but I highly recommend their Ohitashi (flavored cold squeezed spinach) with a hint of shoyu and sesame seeds and vinegar blended perfectly for a wonderful starter for your meal. The nigiri is artistic, super generous and a great value - but don't miss their uniquely flavored spicy tuna roll, which avoids the heavily flavoring of sesame oil that so many other places go too heavy on. Enjoy Mondays or Friday's with Hideo Date - his playing is beautiful and just sets the mood, great place to take a date or hang with a few friends. Size wise, not easy to throw a big party or anything, but call ahead and schedule take out, and they're sure to accommodate even the largest of orders. The staff and owner are charmingly thoughtful and work incredibly hard and their pride in their work and food shines.
Justin R.
This restaurant has been here for years and has never disappointed. Owner is from Japan and I almost feel like this sushi is imported straight from the mother land. Worth it
Azia Branson
Small spot and they didnt have takeout available when we came by so we dined in. You can tell everything is made fresh. Got four different rolls and they were all yummy!
anthony h.
Our go to sushi spot for eat in or to go. The sushi is very fresh and gives you great portion size. Also the price is right.
Aldis & Oligerudo
A bit shy but super kind owner, friendly atmosphere, cozy space. Bathroom was clean. There are many Okinawan menus available too. Authentic taste. You gotta try Orion beer too.
Ming F.
Food was not good. Beef teriyaki was raw and cold in the center and tough to eat. The fish was not fresh. Ginger had a weird smell (kind of like sewage). Sushi and Sashimi (Chef's choice) limited selection of fish. Salmon was so lemony, tasted they brined in lemon and also gave bad cuts. Miso soup was way too salty.
When you want an authentic nod to a Japanese neighborhood Inn with cooked foods and sushi come here. Simple not glitzy, aged decor not sleek, homey not minimalist, serene with the background chatter of families. Always a satisfying experience.
Nica Y.
This place is small and cozy, but their food is clean and delicious. It's clear that this place is frequented by regulars, a go-to place for sushi (which I think is hard to find in Berkeley). The portions were relatively small in relation to their price, but still tasty! I would highly recommend their Futomaki roll and rainbow roll. Items like sashimi are also great. And don't forget to order a bowl of udon.
Sabrina J.
Overall a solid sushi place! For the most part, the sushi rolls were delicious. However, there were moments where the chefs literally just stared at us as we ate, which was uncomfortable. And one of the two chefs sat down and hung out with some guests. I wouldn't mind this if there wasn't a 30-minute wait between when we got our third and fourth rolls (I checked the time stamps of the photos). So, here's my take on each roll: - Una Avo (6 pieces, eel + avo, $10.25) - pretty good. Just a little messy rolling. - Uni (1 piece, $8) - hard to go wrong. It was incredible as uni is. - 49ers roll (8 pieces, shrimp tempura, avocado, salmon, fish roe, lemon, $16) - I really liked the addition of lemon. It was unique, refreshing, and not too sour. Also had an ample amount of salmon on the exterior. Highly recommend this roll. - Dragon (8 pieces, ebi tempura roll wrap, eel-avo-fish roe, $17) - I was disappointed by how the eel was laid on the roll in small pieces. I'm used to the outer seafood pieces completely covering the roll. - Crab (8 pieces, crab, avocado, mayo, fish roe, $16) - They use real crab. Maybe a little heavy on the mayo, but the crab was very fresh and good. Generally, all of the rolls had great flavoring but not the best presentation. The rolls didn't seem tightly wrapped. TIP: Sushi California doesn't appear in the right place on Google Maps. If you're walking down University Avenue away from the university, make sure to keep walking and go around the corner. You will see the restaurant across from the Valero gas station. What's interesting is that the restaurant is a little sunken into the ground.. EDIT: I fixed the location on Google Maps!
Craig Van Pelt
You don’t write about your favorites. Why make getting a table harder. But after 36 years of great sushi I guess it’s time. And the staff is ok!!!
Lisa B.
Delicious fresh sushi in a relaxed, low-key environment. The salmon was to die for! Clams in sake broth were delicious.
I've been to and frequented this store over decades (yes, really). And in my opinion its quality has not changed. It's still a great place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Simply the best I've tried in Berkeley.Vegetarian options: Everything is amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miso Soup, Salad, Fish, Nigiri, Roll
Loved the flavor and quality of the meal! The atmosphere is always perfect and honestly I've been going here for second and its still my favorite sushi spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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.
You won't be disappointed by this tiny hole in the wall restaurant that looks out of place with the rest of the neighborhood. It's size, and design undersell the brilliant and delicious food that leave the kitchen. Dishes are really well flavored, authentic and thought and care go into the most important aspect of their sushi, the rice. Quality, care and taste are consistently their top priority and and the sushi is top notch. I lived in LA several years, visited Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo and really love the quality from Sushi California and think it's even slightly better flavored and quality than Kirala, another favorite. Sushi California has extremely generous portions of sushi for the price, and do their best to put your experience and enjoyment at the forefront of your experience. The Japanese have a saying, "The customer is King!" You definitely feel like a king when you eat there or even pick up takeout with friendly greetings and recognition every time. The menu is big, I stick mostly with the sushi orders, but I highly recommend their Ohitashi (flavored cold squeezed spinach) with a hint of shoyu and sesame seeds and vinegar blended perfectly for a wonderful starter for your meal. The nigiri is artistic, super generous and a great value - but don't miss their uniquely flavored spicy tuna roll, which avoids the heavily flavoring of sesame oil that so many other places go too heavy on. Enjoy Mondays or Friday's with Hideo Date - his playing is beautiful and just sets the mood, great place to take a date or hang with a few friends. Size wise, not easy to throw a big party or anything, but call ahead and schedule take out, and they're sure to accommodate even the largest of orders. The staff and owner are charmingly thoughtful and work incredibly hard and their pride in their work and food shines.
This restaurant has been here for years and has never disappointed. Owner is from Japan and I almost feel like this sushi is imported straight from the mother land. Worth it
Small spot and they didnt have takeout available when we came by so we dined in. You can tell everything is made fresh. Got four different rolls and they were all yummy!
Our go to sushi spot for eat in or to go. The sushi is very fresh and gives you great portion size. Also the price is right.
A bit shy but super kind owner, friendly atmosphere, cozy space. Bathroom was clean. There are many Okinawan menus available too. Authentic taste. You gotta try Orion beer too.
Food was not good. Beef teriyaki was raw and cold in the center and tough to eat. The fish was not fresh. Ginger had a weird smell (kind of like sewage). Sushi and Sashimi (Chef's choice) limited selection of fish. Salmon was so lemony, tasted they brined in lemon and also gave bad cuts. Miso soup was way too salty.
Restaurantji Recommends
When you want an authentic nod to a Japanese neighborhood Inn with cooked foods and sushi come here. Simple not glitzy, aged decor not sleek, homey not minimalist, serene with the background chatter of families. Always a satisfying experience.
This place is small and cozy, but their food is clean and delicious. It's clear that this place is frequented by regulars, a go-to place for sushi (which I think is hard to find in Berkeley). The portions were relatively small in relation to their price, but still tasty! I would highly recommend their Futomaki roll and rainbow roll. Items like sashimi are also great. And don't forget to order a bowl of udon.
Overall a solid sushi place! For the most part, the sushi rolls were delicious. However, there were moments where the chefs literally just stared at us as we ate, which was uncomfortable. And one of the two chefs sat down and hung out with some guests. I wouldn't mind this if there wasn't a 30-minute wait between when we got our third and fourth rolls (I checked the time stamps of the photos). So, here's my take on each roll: - Una Avo (6 pieces, eel + avo, $10.25) - pretty good. Just a little messy rolling. - Uni (1 piece, $8) - hard to go wrong. It was incredible as uni is. - 49ers roll (8 pieces, shrimp tempura, avocado, salmon, fish roe, lemon, $16) - I really liked the addition of lemon. It was unique, refreshing, and not too sour. Also had an ample amount of salmon on the exterior. Highly recommend this roll. - Dragon (8 pieces, ebi tempura roll wrap, eel-avo-fish roe, $17) - I was disappointed by how the eel was laid on the roll in small pieces. I'm used to the outer seafood pieces completely covering the roll. - Crab (8 pieces, crab, avocado, mayo, fish roe, $16) - They use real crab. Maybe a little heavy on the mayo, but the crab was very fresh and good. Generally, all of the rolls had great flavoring but not the best presentation. The rolls didn't seem tightly wrapped. TIP: Sushi California doesn't appear in the right place on Google Maps. If you're walking down University Avenue away from the university, make sure to keep walking and go around the corner. You will see the restaurant across from the Valero gas station. What's interesting is that the restaurant is a little sunken into the ground.. EDIT: I fixed the location on Google Maps!
You don’t write about your favorites. Why make getting a table harder. But after 36 years of great sushi I guess it’s time. And the staff is ok!!!
Delicious fresh sushi in a relaxed, low-key environment. The salmon was to die for! Clams in sake broth were delicious.