33 Best Japanese Restaurants in Oakland

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

“one of my favorite places in the country to eat. whenever I'm in the Bay area, in here“

“I’ve been coming here for years now and just now decided to write a review. The sushi is amazing, I’ve made my way down the list and tried all the rolls but my favorite ones are the Shiki, Samurai and the Double Sake. They are super fresh and so delicious. They’re always as delicious as the last time. Also, service is super nice, they recognize me at this point and are always happy to see me come in again. My favorite sushi spot in Oakland hands down. Also for a great price!! Don’t sleep on Sushi Park!!“

“Really delicious and fresh fish here. Staff is attentive and helpful. We went relatively early and there was no wait. The timing of the food worked well too. If there is any hesitancy it's just that the cost adds up quickly (about $50- per person) with two cocktails and two sparkling waters and no dessert.“

“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.“

“My sister and I went out for dinner and jazz and felt super entertained with the award winner headliner quality talent, Sandoval and his 7 piece group. I love Yoshi’s SF & Jack London Sq, Oakland- for years…..💙“

“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.“

“Massive portions and incredibly fresh fish!
If you are looking for a heavy-hitting, delicious meal in the Laurel District, the Tuna and Salmon Poke Bowl from Pa's Papa Japanese Restaurant on MacArthur Boulevard is an incredible choice. They absolutely do not skimp on the ingredients, making it easily one of the best value-for-money bowls in Oakland. The cubed Ahi tuna and salmon are incredibly fresh, bright, and have a beautiful, buttery texture. This vibrant bowl is packed with an array of fantastic flavors and textures, featuring a savory scoop of spicy tuna paste, rich crab salad, creamy sliced avocado, crunchy sea cucumber pickles, edamame, and vibrant seaweed salad. Everything sits on a perfectly seasoned bed of sushi rice that holds up nicely without getting soggy. They pack everything beautifully, making it the perfect healthy, fast-casual comfort food to grab for lunch or dinner“

“Been hot so was craving soba. That and the tempura really hit the spot. But what I really want to highlight is the service. My daughter was craving tonkatsu ramen and she’s really shy when speaking to people. So she didn’t clarify that she wanted ramen and not the plate. She was a bit disappointed but she loves katsu everything so she was ok with it. Our waitress overheard and came by and gave us a bowl of ramen noodles and broth on the house. For something that we were at fault for.
Just can’t rave about it enough. We will be back for sure. Also for those amuse bouche of tuna and avocados too.“

“Lovely little sushi place with very friendly staff, delicious sushi with generous portions and reasonable prices. Everything we ordered was fresh and really hit the spot. Lots of standard options plus some interesting, innovative rolls as well. Kid-friendly place, which is helpful for families. The only tricky part is parking but that’s a Montclair issue, not the restaurants fault.“

“Our favorite neighborhood sushi spot! We’ve been here numerous times and it never disappoints. Atmosphere, freshness of fish, flavor, quality of food all very solid and consistent. One note is that it is pretty cozy in there so on a busy night expect to be in close proximity to other diners :)“

“I wish I could give this place 10 stars, genuinely had the best night with my besties. All credit goes to the owner Z!!! This man is such a gem— he’s so kind, funny, humble, and made us feel so welcomed into the space. The food was 19/10, we will definitely be returning and bringing all our friends/family here! Thank you Z for such an unexpectedly special night <3“

“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.“

“All the food looks amazing! Unfortunately, a most of the fishes on the nigiri was kind of tasteless so it's hard to distinguish between the pieces. I didn't like the fish eggs because it was slightly fishy - this might be my personal palette though. The eel with avocado and cucumbers was really tasty.
Note, I suggest looking at what you're purchasing because the fish pieces might slightly differ in size. And for the price your paying, you probably want the bigger pieces like how I would.“

“Quick and affordable made to order onigiri with vegan/plant based options. I like the spicy tofu triangle, the teriyaki tofu and the kimchi tofu triangles are good as well. They usually throw in complimentary edamame if you get a few, and they have other options as well. More of a grab and go atmosphere but they are fast and friendly to me, and the condiment section is loaded with good stuff like free sesame seeds, teriyaki sauce, Japanese spice, Sriracha, shoyu etc. I like this for a nice light meal for some protein and energy after a work out or so.“

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

“This was a surprise dinner my friend invited me on. The hand rolls are so fresh and delicious. I had 5 amazing rolls that come out one at a time for freshness m. The server was super sweat and helped me pick out what I wanted. The menu does also have set options, but I decided to do individual rolls. I definitely recommend stopping by if you’re in the Oakland area.“

“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!“

“We showed up just 15 minutes before closing, fully expecting to be turned away, but they still happily took our to-go order and treated us with amazing customer service. The food was absolutely incredible! Every roll was fresh, beautifully prepared, and packed with flavor. The salmon with lemon was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, the eel roll was perfectly balanced, and the baked rolls were rich, loaded with toppings, and seriously some of the best sushi we've had. Nothing tasted rushed, even though they were about to close. You can tell they truly care about their customers and the quality of their food. We'll definitely be back and recommending this place to everyone.“

“I’ve had the great joy and pleasure to eat omakase all over the world - including Japan, and this was the best meal of my life. The thoughtfulness, sustainability and conscious touch to every little thing made this Omakase experience above the rest. Additionally, our wonderful Chef sang accolades/praises about all of the sources he gets the pieces of the meal from, but did not once brag about himself. He needs to be bragged about! Chef Joji Nonaka is incredible. The art, precision, talent, and thoughtfulness he has is unmatched.
I’ll be chasing this meal for the rest of my life.“

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

“I recently placed a large group order from Khatan, and everything was excellent. The food was fresh, delicious, and full of flavor. The owners also provided exceptional service and truly went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. It has definitely become a favorite restaurant!“

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

“This is one of our favorite spots to go as a family with our 2 year old. The salmon nigiri has such a generous, fresh cut of fish, and everything that comes by is delicious. The lady who runs it is welcoming, kind, and attentive. When we order drinks or anything off the menu, it always comes so quickly, which is impressive given it’s just one lady and robot for all the customers. I hope this place is around for 20+ more years so we can keep coming back!“

“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.“

“Well I wish I could post a photo of delish rolls I ordered but they are already gone.

I think I found the one. The small sushi spot with lots of flavor. Fish is fresh. Service is excellent and prices are reasonable. I knew it was going to be delish when I saw lots of takeout orders being picked up by other locals. So happy to have stumbled upon Judoku. Yummy 😋

I bet my roommate won’t be happy when he realizes it’s all gone already … will be back for more 😋“

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

“I went with a close friend, and for her, this place is a go-to—but for me, it was pure sushi heaven!

The rolls were fantastic, and the dynamite roll lived up to its name—fresh, juicy, and bursting with flavor. The sashimi was perfectly fresh and absolutely delicious. Every bite was a treat!

It was surprisingly quiet for a Saturday lunch, making it a relaxing and enjoyable experience. The service? Attentive and efficient, with everything arriving just right.

I’m already looking forward to coming back. Thank you for such a great meal! 🤛🏽💗“

“Great food and excellent service! The sushi was fresh, the dishes were full of flavor, and everything was beautifully presented. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant had a clean, welcoming atmosphere. Definitely one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Oakland. I’ll be back!“