Kirala

My girlfriend and I have been here twice, we just ate here for lunch recently and tried to order a shrimp tempura roll but the waitress told us it wasnt on the menu. Thats weird... we had it last time for dinner. Oh well, we ordered our meal and began eating. During the meal, a middle aged man to our left making small talk with the sushi chef asked about a shrimp tempura roll. The two sushi chefs glance at one another and give eachother a conspicuous nod as one reaches behind the counter and pulls out what appears to be a piece of shrimp tempura. Befuddled, my girlfriend and I sat there and watched the sushi chef make and serve the man what appeared to be a shrimp tempura roll, after we were told it wasnt on the menu. We asked the man sitting next to us, "is that shrimp tempura?" Dumbfoundedly, he gives us an exasperated "uhhh" then looks to the sushi chef and asks "what is this again?" The sushi chef informs us that yes infact it is shrimp tempura, to which we responded "can we get one of those then?" The chef looks at us and says its not on the menu and that we cant order it. The man clearly wasnt a regular, it was lame that we knew the chefs made a shrimp tempura for the man next to us yet refused to make one for us. The sushi is overpriced for what you get, not worth the time or money for service like that. We left a few cents for the tip and vowed to never return. I suggest you never return either. more

Let's start by saying the sushi was really good - I've had tastier tuna poke but it was still tasty. The high-points were the sushi & a special, braised short ribs - absolutely delish. I also liked the minced chicken appetizer but it wasn't a favorite at our table. The definite downers were the asparagus wrapped w/beef & the garlic beef - the vegis w/this dish were excellent but the beef was very dry (it was dry w/the asparagus as well). Service was good and nice. We got there early (about 6p) and it was pretty packed but we got seated immediately. I will go again and try a noodle dish as every one we saw looked amazing. Pros: Sushi, good waitress Cons: Beef dishes dry. more

The food at Kirala is so good that it overcomes the wait. The fish is nice and fresh, the robata dishes are nicely prepared, not drenched in teriyaki sauce like a lot of places around here; just basted on. Speaking from a Japanese guys point of view, this place is very good, and i know whats good and whats not. Trust me, haha. Pros: Food, Drinks, a bar serving sake and beer while waiting. Cons: The wait, parking, over crowded. more

This is my favorite Japanese restuarant in the Bay Area. The fish is extremely fresh and they have a cool grilled skewer menu. This place is also vegetarian friendly. THe downside to this place is no reservations and it's always super crowded. more

but don't expect a quiet, romantic setting. Been coming here for years. This place has excellent sushi and people wait for up to an hour to get it. It's not a large restaurant so it's crowded and often loud. Sometimes louder when someone's been hitting the (very nice) sake bar. Can't emphasize the quality enough! Always fresh, delicious fish that is well-prepared. Service isn't the most attentive but they are friendly and again, you won't care after your first taste. It's wins Best Of for a reason! Pros: the BEST sushi you've had Cons: not the best amience you've experienced more

This place has a line going around the corner on weekends, and they don't take reservations. It does get crowded and loud but the sushi is exquisite, fresh, and simply great.\r \r They are a bit pricey but it's worth it as an occasional treat. Get their early on the weekends or better yet, going during the week. more

the fish is always fresh! always! i have tried other sushi places... expensive ones, regular ones, trendy ones, and nothing has ever come close to the quality of Kirala. the price is a little on the high end for an east bay joint but comared to some places in the city, its a bargain. i highly recommend the robata scallops & bacon asparagus. for sushi, go for anything! its all delicious. worth the wait if you come during peak hours. try coming around 9PM when its slowing down, and the sushi chefs will often kick down freebies at the end of the night. Pros: sushi, robata, sake Cons: long wait, crowded more

I love Kirala. I can over look a wait for the food there. I love their sushi it is very fresh. I was joking with a friend on about how in the back they must a tank with the fish swiming around for them to serve sushi that tasted that good. I love the robata grill. I recomend the baby Lobster tail and the wasabi chicken. Pros: Excellent food, Fresh sushi Cons: Pricey, No Reservations more

This restaurant is always lively and packed. Not only do they have an array of fantastic japanese food, tranquil music, friendly service, and a great atmosphere makes this place a fantastic date spot. Try their grilled skewers they're definitely one of their more popular items. With a huge array of different ingredients, pick your favorite! more

The food served from the robata grill is very good. The sushi is fresh and decent portion. The only negative factors are: 1) parking can sometimes be tough, 2) make reservations or else you're not being seated for ages, and 3) it can get a little pricey. But still a recommended restaurant. Pros: Robata grill more

Service, ambience not recommended. UC students and young professionals mistakenly think Kirala has good sashimi/sushi. From the perspective of a native Japanese, the sushi and sashimi is of poor quality and should be avoid. The balance of the menu is mediocre at best. Pros: cheap, good size serving Cons: bad sushi rice, bad raw fish, poor ambience more

i've frequented this place and will continue to do so even when i move to southern california. not only is the food better than what i had straight in japan but the service is excellent. the sushi chefs are friendly, fun and clearly experts at what they do. the prices are fine because you get what you pay for. more

If you're looking for good sushi in the Berkeley area, definitely check out this place. They also have really good grilled items including the scallops and the asparagus. more

During my college days at Cal, my friend and I frequented Kirala; after graduation, didn't visit Berkeley much, but we still look forward to dinners at Kirala like it was our first time. The food is spectacular, it is considered the BEST sushi in the east bay, but moreover, the BEST sushi in the bay area despite the long wait. Pros: Food Cons: No reservations, Long wait more

Despite the long wait for a seat, Kirala serves the best sushi in the east bay. During the long wait, sit at the bar and enjoy some sake. You can rest assured that they are serving you the best sushi since the chefs are japanese unlike most places nowadays and also these chefs do have quite a character. Their California roll and rock n' roll are awesome but look for their daily sushi/sashimi specials because toro is to die for. Pros: japanese sushi chefs, best value for lunch, best ca roll Cons: , crowded, no ambience more

Kirala has been around for years, as evidenced by the pictures adorned throughout the restaurant of long-time diners. The crowds are still there, and the food is fresh and tasty as ever. However, I cannot get over the fact that the prices are outrageously high. The robata grill, one of Kirala's main selling points, produces great tasting fare. But $4.00 for one skewer is just not fair. The rolls are also expensive ranging from $7 to $12 per roll. Paying $150 for four people dining on just sushi and robata skewers is too much. If we had wine and beer, the price would have been much higher. Another thing is that the restaurant does not take reservations, which is not a good selling point. Pros: Fresh food, Good presentation Cons: , Noisy, Not a good value more

Kirala made me feel like I was back in Tokyo, hanging out at a Ginza sushi joint. In other words, the fish is extremely fresh, the beer is plentiful, and the customers are packed in tight. Despite the crowds, it's worth it. Everything was delicious, including the sake. Pros: Food, Tokyo atmosphere, Great bartender Cons: , Loud more

the wait is worth your while. if you like sushi, you came to the right place. With the Jazzy atmosphere yet Traditional sushi you want, Kirala has always been Bayarea's Best! Try it and it won't let you down. Check out the Specials, some are very rare to find around here. more

Kirala has some of the freshest sushi I have ever had during my 20+ years of sushi eating. I have been visiting this establishment for well over 12 years and it is still the best sushi in the Bay Area as far as I am concerned. Yes the wait can be brutal at times but its worth it. Make sure you try the grilled items as well. The baby lobster tail is fantastic ! more

THIS IS THE BEST JAPANESES RESTARANT I'VE EVER ATE IN THE EAST BAY AREA! Pros: GREAT TASTING FOOD, FRIENDLY STAFF, BEST SUSHI Cons: CROWDED, LONG LINES,WORTH WAIT more