The food was very meh, the yakitori didn't taste like they used tare and I couldn't smell if they actually used coal/binchotan since my chicken was really burnt. The only plus side is the larger portions.The ramen was also meh. Just salty with a little bit larger than normal portions.The only upside is that this place opens late.2/5 not worth getting shot walking around oakland
Katya s.
No more sushi/shashimi :(Loved the idea and combination of both. There are many Ramen and Sushi spots in the area that are seperate and good. Izza was great quality on both fronts until they weren't. The raw fish component is missed.
Emmeline W.
Whaaaaaaa the menu was reduced and they have much less sushi now :( From what I know, management changed hands and Izza's now in a transitional phase. The first time I was here on a double date, the food was outstanding! All four of us were raving about the fish quality and more. The second time I visited, most of their options were cooked... And very average quality. They went from god tier small plates to B-tier entrees. That being said, staff are very courteous and attentive, and Izza overall is a decent dinner option.Located in downtown Temescal. Lots of street parking, along with their own lot nearby-- just be careful not to leave anything visible in your car (lots of break-ins). Seated right away both times on weekend evenings. Open late.Pls bring back the old menu ;_;
Thu T.
The udon was simply outstanding. Each bowl was piping hot and served with generous portions of thick and chewy noodles in a rich and savory broth. The variety of toppings was impressive, with everything from succulent shrimp tempura to tender slices of beef.What really impressed me, however, was the level of customization available. The menu offered a variety of broths, noodles, and toppings, allowing me to create the perfect bowl of udon to suit my personal preferences.The service was also exceptional. The staff were friendly and attentive, always ready to provide recommendations and ensure that I had everything I needed. They play hella goood Kpop music.
Chanh Huynh
I had the black garlic pork ramen and my wife had the pork tonkotsu. We also ordered some other appetizers and they were all great. Well priced and great service as well.No more sushi on the menu though.
Kaitlin T.
My friend and I was looking for a dinner spot and we stumbled upon Izza! I was expecting this place to be more izakaya like with small plates and drinks, but not many people in the restaurant were choosing the small plate option. We decided to share a pork skewer, the tonkotsu ramen, and the spicy pork. I thought the tonkotsu ramen and the spicy pork to be very basic dishes. The pork belly skewer was definitely the best dish that we tried. I would go back to try more of their izakaya.
Tiffany Phu
Went here thinking they would have sushi and they are going through a menu change so heads up that is in the works.Overall the service was great I had John who was so kind and attentive. The place has parking too so if you don’t find anything on the street try going into their lot.I ordered the fried tofu appetizer and fried beef sandwich. The tofu was delicious and the beef was perfectly crispy. Only issue was the sauce on the beef was super salty. I usually like salt and when I gave feedback John was so receptive and offered to take it off my bill even when I declined he insisted.Overall I’ll be back when they have updates to the menu!
Abigael Osana T.
After a long day, I wanted to grab some Japanese curry, so we stopped by here! We were greeted by the waitresses and seated immediately. They served us miso soup, which is something I alwayssss look forward to when visiting Japanese restaurants. Unfortunately, I was too blinded by my hunger and didn't thoroughly read the menu so I ordered the wrong thing, getting the regular tonkatsu and not the curry tonkatsu, but that was totally on me!! My friend ordered the chicken karaage bowl. Even though I got the wrong thing, I was still very much satisfied with the tonkatsu! The crispy crust was amazinggg. They gave a lot of pieces, too, which I definitely got full from easily! I also loved the music they were playing, as they obviously knew their audience (Rihanna for the win)! definitely coming back to actually carefully read the menu and try the curry next time lol!!
Tiffany P.
Went here thinking they would have sushi and they are going through a menu change so heads up that is in the works. Overall the service was great I had John who was so kind and attentive. The place has parking too so if you don't find anything on the street try going into their lot. I ordered the fried tofu appetizer and fried beef sandwich. The tofu was delicious and the beef was perfectly crispy. Only issue was the sauce on the beef was super salty. I usually like salt and when I gave feedback John was so receptive and offered to take it off my bill even when I declined he insisted. Overall I'll be back when they have updates to the menu!
Yuli O.
* I placed an order from Izza via third party delivery, so I did not get to experience the service or step foot into the establishment but I hope to visit in person soon!*I am always skeptical ordering ramen via delivery, but Izza did not disappoint! I ordered their veggie ramen which came loaded with noodles, veggies, and an added egg. The noodles and the broth were separated for delivery which I greatly appreciated. I asked for them to put the spice on the side and my request was honored! The broth was incredibly flavorful and creamy. I was able to spice it to my liking which I enjoyed. The noodles were soft and cooked to perfection. The ramen came with tofu which was crispy and flavorful. All of the veggies tasted super fresh! I am not the biggest fan of egg whites, but the yolk added a creamy and salty consistency to some of my bites. I highly recommend trying this place and hope to visit them in person soon!
2/3/2023-Late night dinner with the seastar 1 Star - They have their own lot which made parking super easy. Didn't have to drive around looking for parking on a busy Friday night. Plus, it felt safer to park in their well-lit parking lot.2 Star - Service was good and attentive. The servers were all friendly and I appreciated them filling up our water glass frequently. 3 Star - They're open late with lots of adult beverage selections from Sake to Soju. Seems to be a perfect place to drink at night.The food was okay. Majority of what we ordered were served with mayo. Either a dollop of mayo or a side of mayo. It got real boring, real fast. Every yakitori was too sweet and salty. It made it hard to enjoy. The beef skewer and chicken gizzard skewer were too rubbery and tough. The ika-yaki left a grainy mouth-feel. Probably didn't clean the insides well. Trumpet skewer, brussel sprout skewer and the eggplant skewer....eh....The only thing that was truly enjoyable was their Izza salad. Clean, crisp and refreshing. The ponzu-like sesame dressing brought all the ingredients together pretty well. The lightness and freshness of the salad was much needed from all the heavy selections.The menu vs the online menu are different. The online menu is what lured us in, only to find out, actual menu didn't serve most of what I wanted to try. If you're thinking this place offers raw fish selections, better check their menu in person before sitting down. Definitely felt deceived.Only 1 stood out among the 11 things that we ordered - Izza Salad. The odds were not impressive. Glad to have given this joint a try though. Will there be a next time? No, thank you.
Jiamei L.
Loved the chicken karaage here! I was craving ramen and my boyfriend has visited this place in the past, so I wanted to give it a try. We ordered the:- Black Garlic Pork Ramen (4/5)- I love this type of creamy broth for ramen! They have an assortment of ingredients in this ramen, so there are a lot of different flavors. Personally, for me, I only like savory items in my ramen, so next time, I would consider getting it without bamboo shoots and corn. - Chicken karaage (5/5)- So crispy and tender! I fell in love with the sauce. It is so addicting-- savory with a hint of sweetness. *highly recommend! - Ikayaki (3/5)- The soy sauce given on the bottom was a bit too much/too salty and it made the squid very salty. Overall, I would come back for the chicken karaage. The ramen was good too. They also give a yummy complementary salad side. However, there were 2 instances where the servers gave our order to the wrong table and we were also served another table's order. That could be improved.
Trisha A.
My boyfriend and I looked for a ramen spot in the Oakland area. One of our favorite spots had a long wait, so I did more research and saw this place has ramen. Ambiance: The restaurant had a lot of of open space with its high ceilings, minimalist and low-key interior. We were able to get a table right away. Service: Our waitress was nice. They gave free side salads as appetizers which was a nice touch. My tea took a while to come out but when we followed up, they mentioned they ran out of hot water. I'm assuming that's why our ramen took a while to come out too. Overall service was good. Food: I had the Tonkotsu Ramen and my bf the Tonkotsu Ramen extra spicy and with extra noodles. I liked the broth and texture of noodles. The one gyoza inside was a surprise and pretty soggy. The chashu was okay. My bf said his ramen had a lot of sriracha but not actual spice and the extra noodles were not necessary. We also shared the Beef Tongue and Chicken Gizzard yakitori, recommended by our waitress. I like the flavors but both were too chewy for my taste. My bf had the Asahi beer and I the ginger tea. The mug, albeit didn't fit in with the rest of the tableware, was big and gave me a hefty gingery pour.
kalvin Fogata
This is my second time coming here and the first time was really great. However this time could have been better. The vibe felt a little off and the staff was not as warming. But they are getting three stars this time primarily because the presentation of the black garlic ramen was definitely not what I was expecting. Normally there would be way better presentation but I felt that the ramen was not presented in the best way it could have. Just look at the picture. It came out like that. But aside from that the skewers were great. Although the chicken heart is kind of weird normally there would be a few hearts on a skewer but it really feels like one skewer had a few chopped up pieces of a heart maybe not even a whole heart. But yes three stars just because of the ramen all the other skewers were delicious. I hope the next time I go there it's better. I would normally give this place four stars
Brittany T
Highly recommend the chicken curry ramen! The outdoor seating option is very nice.
The food was very meh, the yakitori didn't taste like they used tare and I couldn't smell if they actually used coal/binchotan since my chicken was really burnt. The only plus side is the larger portions.The ramen was also meh. Just salty with a little bit larger than normal portions.The only upside is that this place opens late.2/5 not worth getting shot walking around oakland
No more sushi/shashimi :(Loved the idea and combination of both. There are many Ramen and Sushi spots in the area that are seperate and good. Izza was great quality on both fronts until they weren't. The raw fish component is missed.
Whaaaaaaa the menu was reduced and they have much less sushi now :( From what I know, management changed hands and Izza's now in a transitional phase. The first time I was here on a double date, the food was outstanding! All four of us were raving about the fish quality and more. The second time I visited, most of their options were cooked... And very average quality. They went from god tier small plates to B-tier entrees. That being said, staff are very courteous and attentive, and Izza overall is a decent dinner option.Located in downtown Temescal. Lots of street parking, along with their own lot nearby-- just be careful not to leave anything visible in your car (lots of break-ins). Seated right away both times on weekend evenings. Open late.Pls bring back the old menu ;_;
The udon was simply outstanding. Each bowl was piping hot and served with generous portions of thick and chewy noodles in a rich and savory broth. The variety of toppings was impressive, with everything from succulent shrimp tempura to tender slices of beef.What really impressed me, however, was the level of customization available. The menu offered a variety of broths, noodles, and toppings, allowing me to create the perfect bowl of udon to suit my personal preferences.The service was also exceptional. The staff were friendly and attentive, always ready to provide recommendations and ensure that I had everything I needed. They play hella goood Kpop music.
I had the black garlic pork ramen and my wife had the pork tonkotsu. We also ordered some other appetizers and they were all great. Well priced and great service as well.No more sushi on the menu though.
My friend and I was looking for a dinner spot and we stumbled upon Izza! I was expecting this place to be more izakaya like with small plates and drinks, but not many people in the restaurant were choosing the small plate option. We decided to share a pork skewer, the tonkotsu ramen, and the spicy pork. I thought the tonkotsu ramen and the spicy pork to be very basic dishes. The pork belly skewer was definitely the best dish that we tried. I would go back to try more of their izakaya.
Went here thinking they would have sushi and they are going through a menu change so heads up that is in the works.Overall the service was great I had John who was so kind and attentive. The place has parking too so if you don’t find anything on the street try going into their lot.I ordered the fried tofu appetizer and fried beef sandwich. The tofu was delicious and the beef was perfectly crispy. Only issue was the sauce on the beef was super salty. I usually like salt and when I gave feedback John was so receptive and offered to take it off my bill even when I declined he insisted.Overall I’ll be back when they have updates to the menu!
After a long day, I wanted to grab some Japanese curry, so we stopped by here! We were greeted by the waitresses and seated immediately. They served us miso soup, which is something I alwayssss look forward to when visiting Japanese restaurants. Unfortunately, I was too blinded by my hunger and didn't thoroughly read the menu so I ordered the wrong thing, getting the regular tonkatsu and not the curry tonkatsu, but that was totally on me!! My friend ordered the chicken karaage bowl. Even though I got the wrong thing, I was still very much satisfied with the tonkatsu! The crispy crust was amazinggg. They gave a lot of pieces, too, which I definitely got full from easily! I also loved the music they were playing, as they obviously knew their audience (Rihanna for the win)! definitely coming back to actually carefully read the menu and try the curry next time lol!!
Went here thinking they would have sushi and they are going through a menu change so heads up that is in the works. Overall the service was great I had John who was so kind and attentive. The place has parking too so if you don't find anything on the street try going into their lot. I ordered the fried tofu appetizer and fried beef sandwich. The tofu was delicious and the beef was perfectly crispy. Only issue was the sauce on the beef was super salty. I usually like salt and when I gave feedback John was so receptive and offered to take it off my bill even when I declined he insisted. Overall I'll be back when they have updates to the menu!
* I placed an order from Izza via third party delivery, so I did not get to experience the service or step foot into the establishment but I hope to visit in person soon!*I am always skeptical ordering ramen via delivery, but Izza did not disappoint! I ordered their veggie ramen which came loaded with noodles, veggies, and an added egg. The noodles and the broth were separated for delivery which I greatly appreciated. I asked for them to put the spice on the side and my request was honored! The broth was incredibly flavorful and creamy. I was able to spice it to my liking which I enjoyed. The noodles were soft and cooked to perfection. The ramen came with tofu which was crispy and flavorful. All of the veggies tasted super fresh! I am not the biggest fan of egg whites, but the yolk added a creamy and salty consistency to some of my bites. I highly recommend trying this place and hope to visit them in person soon!
Restaurantji Recommends
2/3/2023-Late night dinner with the seastar 1 Star - They have their own lot which made parking super easy. Didn't have to drive around looking for parking on a busy Friday night. Plus, it felt safer to park in their well-lit parking lot.2 Star - Service was good and attentive. The servers were all friendly and I appreciated them filling up our water glass frequently. 3 Star - They're open late with lots of adult beverage selections from Sake to Soju. Seems to be a perfect place to drink at night.The food was okay. Majority of what we ordered were served with mayo. Either a dollop of mayo or a side of mayo. It got real boring, real fast. Every yakitori was too sweet and salty. It made it hard to enjoy. The beef skewer and chicken gizzard skewer were too rubbery and tough. The ika-yaki left a grainy mouth-feel. Probably didn't clean the insides well. Trumpet skewer, brussel sprout skewer and the eggplant skewer....eh....The only thing that was truly enjoyable was their Izza salad. Clean, crisp and refreshing. The ponzu-like sesame dressing brought all the ingredients together pretty well. The lightness and freshness of the salad was much needed from all the heavy selections.The menu vs the online menu are different. The online menu is what lured us in, only to find out, actual menu didn't serve most of what I wanted to try. If you're thinking this place offers raw fish selections, better check their menu in person before sitting down. Definitely felt deceived.Only 1 stood out among the 11 things that we ordered - Izza Salad. The odds were not impressive. Glad to have given this joint a try though. Will there be a next time? No, thank you.
Loved the chicken karaage here! I was craving ramen and my boyfriend has visited this place in the past, so I wanted to give it a try. We ordered the:- Black Garlic Pork Ramen (4/5)- I love this type of creamy broth for ramen! They have an assortment of ingredients in this ramen, so there are a lot of different flavors. Personally, for me, I only like savory items in my ramen, so next time, I would consider getting it without bamboo shoots and corn. - Chicken karaage (5/5)- So crispy and tender! I fell in love with the sauce. It is so addicting-- savory with a hint of sweetness. *highly recommend! - Ikayaki (3/5)- The soy sauce given on the bottom was a bit too much/too salty and it made the squid very salty. Overall, I would come back for the chicken karaage. The ramen was good too. They also give a yummy complementary salad side. However, there were 2 instances where the servers gave our order to the wrong table and we were also served another table's order. That could be improved.
My boyfriend and I looked for a ramen spot in the Oakland area. One of our favorite spots had a long wait, so I did more research and saw this place has ramen. Ambiance: The restaurant had a lot of of open space with its high ceilings, minimalist and low-key interior. We were able to get a table right away. Service: Our waitress was nice. They gave free side salads as appetizers which was a nice touch. My tea took a while to come out but when we followed up, they mentioned they ran out of hot water. I'm assuming that's why our ramen took a while to come out too. Overall service was good. Food: I had the Tonkotsu Ramen and my bf the Tonkotsu Ramen extra spicy and with extra noodles. I liked the broth and texture of noodles. The one gyoza inside was a surprise and pretty soggy. The chashu was okay. My bf said his ramen had a lot of sriracha but not actual spice and the extra noodles were not necessary. We also shared the Beef Tongue and Chicken Gizzard yakitori, recommended by our waitress. I like the flavors but both were too chewy for my taste. My bf had the Asahi beer and I the ginger tea. The mug, albeit didn't fit in with the rest of the tableware, was big and gave me a hefty gingery pour.
This is my second time coming here and the first time was really great. However this time could have been better. The vibe felt a little off and the staff was not as warming. But they are getting three stars this time primarily because the presentation of the black garlic ramen was definitely not what I was expecting. Normally there would be way better presentation but I felt that the ramen was not presented in the best way it could have. Just look at the picture. It came out like that. But aside from that the skewers were great. Although the chicken heart is kind of weird normally there would be a few hearts on a skewer but it really feels like one skewer had a few chopped up pieces of a heart maybe not even a whole heart. But yes three stars just because of the ramen all the other skewers were delicious. I hope the next time I go there it's better. I would normally give this place four stars
Highly recommend the chicken curry ramen! The outdoor seating option is very nice.