Kirala

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2100 Ward St (at Shattuck Avenue)
Berkeley, CA 94705

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(510) 556-3093
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Kirala - Berkeley, CA
Kirala - Berkeley, CA
Kirala - Berkeley, CA
Kirala - Berkeley, CA
Kirala - Berkeley, CA
Kirala - Berkeley, CA
Kirala - Berkeley, CA
Kirala - Berkeley, CA
Kirala - Berkeley, CA
Reviews
( 12 )
( 27 )
( 5 )
( 7 )
( 5 )

Best

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 a...

Worst

The rice was hard and the service was bad the first time I went. I gave them another try but the food just isn't that great. It's pretty pricey for what you get.

Oooh la la, Kirala 2/1/2003

Who cares that you'll likely have to wiat? Go to the bar & get a drink. Great sushi, one of the few robata grils around the bay, good rolls, decent prices... you can't go wrong here. Pros: fresh fish, great crowd Cons: you gotta wait more
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pretty darn good! 1/27/2003

been to many Japanese restaurants in the bayarea and this is probably the best I can afford (sorry, can't afford a $200 per person meal in a high-end Japantown sushi joint). We usually skip the robata and go straight to the fresh fish. My nigiri recommendations are uni, suzuki, amaebi, oyster, and salmon (smoke and fresh). For rolls, try the rainbow and the spicy tuna. Good sake selection but it is a bit over-priced. Good food, friendly service. It is worth the wait! more
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never failed me yet 12/27/2002

Pretty much everyone I know likes sushi and everyone who I've taken here has enjoyed it. The wait sucks, there's no reservation taken, pretty crowded, but I've always gone back to stick out the wait ever since I was a student at Berkeley (5 years ago). Pros: always clean Cons: crowded more
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not vegetarian friendly 12/23/2002

i took my sister here for her birthday and she was not too impressed. the service could use improvement--the waiter scowled at us after we asked to have the butter removed from our potato on a skewer appetizer. the wait is VERY long--be prepared to wait up to an hour before you're seated. Pros: good ambience Cons: LONG wait more
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All Hype 12/14/2002

The rice was hard and the service was bad the first time I went. I gave them another try but the food just isn't that great. It's pretty pricey for what you get. more
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Good but is it worth the wait? 12/1/2002

On my first exploration, Kirala showed good potential. However, the potential was marred by some real problems. I went specifically for the robata. What I had was fairly good, though 1) the ume chicken was described as basted where in fact ume paste was squirted a la ketchup a grilled chicken piece. 2) the bacon used in bacon wrapped asparagus was too salty, marring an otherwise nice bit of texture and flavor. My nigori (unfiltered) sake was so thick im guessing i got a whole bottle's worth of sediment in one glass. Which suggested they didnt know to shake the bottle with each pouring. Service was extraordinarily slow; 45 min between a 4 pc order and service. With all that, they showed enough promise that I'd give them a second chance. Pros: intruiging menu, robata grill, varied sake selection Cons: overworked grill chef, very slow service more
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good food if you can get in 10/14/2002

The sushi here is great, as is the atmosphere. However, the restaurant does not take reservations and can have 2 hour waits. Because people decide to hang around, the waiting areas are crowded with nowhere to sit. The neighborhood isn't savory either. Pros: good food, nice staff Cons: long waits, no reservations, not near anything more
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Fans of Kirala should get out more 10/7/2002

Proof that people in Berkeley need to get out more. With its trendy loft-style decor, Berkeley folks are apparently fooled into thinking Kirala is actually good. Unfortunately, its way overhyped, and they don't take their sushi very seriously. The rice isn't done properly (falls apart when you bite into it). The fish isn't fresh, meaning it's more pungent in a bad fishy way, and leaves a funky after-taste. Also, the seaweed is sub-par: it's tough and too chewy. We also caught them *re-grilling* unagi which had already been grilled; a big No-No! The overall quality of their rolls leaves much to be desired. They lack subtlety and sophistication. It's not horrible, but you can find much better sushi in SF. Actually, no, I take that back. Berkeley yuppies - keep flocking in droves to Kirala. I don't want to wait hours for a table at *my* favorite sushi bars. more
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Disagree 9/27/2002

This place is good, but not great like it's hyped up to be. Try the grill, that's pretty good. more
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cali review 8/13/2002

Although it was really crowded, the service was good, the sushi was excellent and very fresh tasting. Great place to eat with friends. Cons: parking more
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Raw fish rarity 8/13/2002

Kirala is the best sushi on the face of the planet...enough said. Pros: Excellent Quality Cons: Not the best service, VERY CROWDED, On the expensive side more
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Decent Place 8/9/2002

Kirala is decent if you don't mind the crowd and wait. They have good grill and usually parking is not a problem. Price is average for the food, I think. Pros: Grill, Parking Cons: It's in Berekeley... more
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nah uh. 8/5/2002

-Long wait to get a table. Pros: hefty portions, feel fabulous, variety of sake Cons: pricey, bad service, spend 1/2 time waitin more
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ok 7/11/2002

Usually has really good sushi, but not all the time. Cons: long waits more
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Not really good as I thought 5/21/2002

My husband and I were so disappointed about the food. The sukiyaki with seafood was not fresh, and my favorite meal is Chirashi which tasted digusting and fishy (not fresh at all). However, the waiter was very friendly. If you like to dine in over there, please place an order for sushi only. Pros: friendly staff more
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Menu for Kirala


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This popular Berkeley restaurant features eclectic Japanese cuisine with a focus on sushi and grilled skewer dishes.

Owner Message

  • What a treat to find an excellent neighborhood restaurant like Kirala.

    Kirala is not just another good Japanese restaurant and sushi bar. Kirala has one-of-a-kind sushi creations and delicious specialties from Robata grill that you will not find anywhere else. For 15 years, it's been consistently voted one of the Best Japanese restaurants, where loyal patrons spend a relaxed evening ordering tasty appetizers and main dishes, while enjoying Japanese beer and premium sakes from Japan.

Editorial

  • In Short
    The minimalist decor centers on the long, curved sushi bar--a popular destination for Cal students and young professionals. Toro tuna, yellowtail and an avocado-laden Caterpillar...

  • 9/8/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon 5:30pm-9:30pm Tue-Fri 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-9:30pm Sat 5:30pm-9:30pm Sun 5pm-9pm
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa, American Express, Diner's Club
  • Neighborhoods: South Berkeley
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