Kiraku
| Address: | 2566 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA |
| Phone: | +1 510-848-2758 |
| Site: | kirakuberkeley.com |
| Rating: | 4.6 |
| Working: | Closed Closed 5:30–10PM 5:30–10PM 5:30–11PM 5:30–11PM 5:30–9PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 9
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Roy Chi
Kiraku is one of the most exciting and innovative Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area. Its completely unassuming and the decor is pretty plain, but you can instantly tell from the constantly out-the-door lines that theres something special here. I love everything about Kiraku -- the service is phenomenal (the owners are such sweet people), the ingredients are incredibly fresh, and the dishes are wildly inventive yet somehow seems to maintain such a strong sense of authenticity that they should definitely not be considered "fusion fare." Ive been to Kiraku so many times now that my list of favorite dishes extends much longer than Im able to type, but just know that its really hard to go wrong here. The sashimi is unbelievably fresh, so make sure you throw in some sashimi slices into your order (Amberjack, Black Throat, Salmon, Toro, etc.). The Braised Kurobuta Pork is incredibly tender, the Amberjack Kama (Collar) is delicious, the Tempura Corn is perfectly crispy, and it really just goes on and on. The more you eat here, the more youll be able to pick out your personal favorites, since there are just so many items on the menu. My personal addiction here is their Fried Chicken Cartilage. Its super simple, but they just cook it so perfectly. Its seasoned and breaded so well that its tough to imagine that something so easy could be so addictively delicious. Of course, youd have to love the crunchy-meets-rubbery texture of chicken cartilage to really appreciate this awesome dish. Make sure you end your meal with Kirakus subtly-sweet, perfectly-textured Sweet Potato Creme Brulee. With all of the incredible restaurants in the Berkeley area, Kiraku stands out because it has fresh, delicious Japanese food thats genuinely innovative and prepared so intricately. Its definitely one of the very best restaurants in the Bay Area.
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Anthony Perdue
This place is delicious! I came here with two of my friends and we pretty much just went down the menu and tried to order at least one of everything. We ordered: uni and ikura spoons, takowasabi, corn tempura, kiraku salad, buta kim, roasted duck, saba shio, wrapped salmon, and three skewers: beef tongue, pork belly, and beef sirloin. I definitely recommend the uni and ikura spoons, wrapped salmon, and roasted duck. These dishes had their own unique flavors and I would definitely get them again. The takowasabi was interesting as well. Its basically raw octopus mixed with wasabi, but it was a bit overwhelming for me. In my opinion, each piece had a lot of wasabi so it was good that it came with really small pieces of tako to prevent myself from tearing up or crying. I would pass on the buta kim. The dish is made up of kimchee, an egg, and bits of pork. While looking at the dish, you can barely see the pork let alone taste it. Unless you LOVE kimchee, skip it. Its a bit pricey here and if you want to try a lot of different things, expect them to add up. Although the place is super tiny, they have a lot of different flavors and textures. Im craving to come back already!
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Herbert Smith
Ok, I must have really high expectations when it comes to sushi... Well I guess being Vancouver kind of does that for you (for those of you who dont know, Vancouver is sort of like the Sushi capital of North America). Yes, in the freezing cold white north! Anywho, went to Kiraku after seeing rave reviews and bomb photos and was slightly disappointed. Was hoping for a authentic and unique izakaya but it turned out to be sort of like a "typical" sushi joint with a few little robata sticks here and there. Also the prices are really steep, and thats coming from someone who will dish out on Japanese food. Had the pesto yakiudon, mini rice bowl, Kiraku duck and some other appetizers. Nothing really stood out for me, even the pesto yakiudon which I expected to be something unique. The Kiraku duck which apparently is really good, was "meh" it was just seared duck cut thinly with teriyaki sauce. The seasoning and food isnt bad, it just isnt memorable or standout in any way. The service is also a little spotty since its small and there are a lot of people. Be prepared to wait for a table!
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Fabien Curto Millet
Absolutely exceptional izakaya! The dining room may be small and seem unremarkable, but what comes out of the kitchen is pure magic. The menu is extremely varied and it feels like you can make no bad choice. Here are some very highly recommended dishes: the bluefin tuna cheek meat steak (simply succulent, both meaty and tender); the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu beef sushi (super tender, and comes accompanied by a certificate of authenticity); the roasted premium Angus beef tongue with truffle oil and salt (lovely texture); the Yuba tofu skin with ikura and sea urchin (superb flavor hit); and the fresh shirauo (icefish) tempura (excellent with a drink). The place also features a lovely sake selection. Service was friendly and efficient too - from the hot towel delivered when you sit down to the end of the meal.
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Denise Dang
Really good izakaya style japanese tapas restaurant. Expect a line, though the host is really nice at accommodating and turning tables around quick. We tried a few items that were amazing, including the corn tempura. The chicken karaage and the stingray karaage were amazing! The buta-kim was flavored really well, esp with the egg, which oddly was cooked all the way through and not a soft poached/fried egg. Other memorable items include albacore tataki and soft shell crab. We also got the scallops done 3 different ways: sashimi, baked, and grilled. The sashimi was okay, and the baked and grilled ones were decent, though I never really liked scallops cooked. Overall, would highly recommend, though expect to wait in line for a bit.
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Shannon Lane
Beautiful gem in Berkeley for authentic Japanese tapas!!! Im regret for knowing this place so late :( Make sure you have to make reservation unless you dont mind to stay in line for more than an hour. The restaurant is small and all-time busy. Price is reasonable and large variety of food selection. Ingredients are fresh and some of them are imported from Japan. Foie gras is on their menu after the ban was revoked. Beef tataki and the seared duck are so decent. Yuzu mochi is nice as It doesnt taste like artificial. I cant wait for the next visit to try the rest of their menu ;)
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Joanie Chew
Our favourite local restaurant; this place never disappoints. Even though I dont drink, I love coming here to enjoy really delicious izakaya food in a cozy, welcoming environment. The menu specials change constantly so theres always new creations to try, and the stable menu items are tried and true staples (juicy karaage, flavourful fresh seafood, comforting chazuke, etc). When bone marrow or hamachi kama or tuna kama makes an appearance, dont miss out! Everything they grill or fry comes out done to perfection~
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Purple Rain
5 star food. 3 star Sevice. 1 star reception. Great food! Very very innovative. However dont believe if there anyone work at the restaurant telling you there is no wait. *My experience: when I called for reservation. The madam told me there was no wait. When we arrived there, the line was pretty long, we waited 42mins to get in. I hope she could give customer the right information next time. So far, this is my favorite Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area! #Japanesetapas
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Kari K
Every dish I tried has been great, and Ive been to this restaurant for 3-4 times. The price is more approachable than the other well known izakaya place at Berkeley. Dont bother order the kobe beef though, I didnt think it was worth it. My personal favorites are the corn tempura, black cod, & albacore yuzu ceviche. I wish they could add some yakitori items to the menu. Chicken cartilage and skin would be excellent.
