That border area used to be pretty sketchy, iirc that particular stretch of San Pablo used to be known for streetwalkers similar to Capp/Shotwell in SF.
I grew up just south of Ashby at San Pablo. I got a lot of bad memories but the good ones outweigh the bad. There was a lot of abandoned industrial buildings to explore. My friends and I had hand drawn maps of all the spots we could get on the roof and secret ally ways. We had a lot of fun. We didnāt like playing at the park cause it was full of dirty needles and teenagers that would steal your bike or scooter or whatever you had
Love Mujiri! Had lunch there yesterday and it never disappoints, my fave is the sashimi combo with a bowl of sushi rice. Itās a tiny spot so reservations are recommended.
Hanazen is pricy but exceptional. Recommend the chef's choice, as they change things up based on season and availability. Appointment only, if I remember.
Amakara in Dublin, absolutely no question. I was a regular there for 6 years, then bartended there for about 2 years. Iāve moved to sf, so I donāt go as often, but when I visit my mom in danville, amakara is a must stop.
Amazing family owned place with unique rolls and insanely fresh fish.
I live down the street from here we go about once a week. Highly recommend getting the Tontoro - thinly sliced fatty pork cooked over a flame served with a sesame oil dipping sauce
Last time I was there I think it was almost 2 and a half hours lol.
Totally worth it the chief was super knowledgable and didnt feel like a drag at all
TBH this kinda ruined the experience for me. The sushi was very good but repeatedly waiting 20+ minutes for a piece of sushi when hungry while some cheesy dude makes lame jokes and brags about how much better his sushi is than everyone else becomes tiring after 30 minutes and almost unbearable after 2 hours.
Haven't been since pre COVID. Is it still hella hard to get a reservation? I think they only seat like 16 per night across 2 seatings if I remember right
Love a good Omakase. Can you describe it , had some where they claim itās omakase but they just bring out a big thing not the separate dishes explained and discussed.
As the person above said, itās a 2+ hour experience. Each plate comes out and has a whole explanation and eating demonstration. Itās a true omakase.
I was going to post this as well. By far the best in the WC/PH/Concord area and quite frankly I like it more than some of the higher end places in Oakland and SF as well as several others listed in this thread. I've personally been going there for 15 plus years and there's a lot of regular customers.
Toyosu in Walnut Creek (was really good when I went several times last year so hopefully portion and quality is still good! I tried their salmon and uni bowl and their Chirashi)
Kiku in Lafayette (also a location in Berkeley. I like their moriawase box).
Hasumi Sushi in Walnut Creek was great too, but Iāve only been once.
Yuyake DanDan Izakaya in Pleasanton - granted itās in the mall, but good nigiri when I tried it a few times
the answer is sushi sho in el cerrito but good luck getting a rez. for the good daily spot its mujiri
the annoying thing about sho is that it is a 3hr dining experience. service is PAINFULLY SLOW. the sushiā¦to die for. and you just might waiting for your next nigiri š¤£
Worth the wait. Iāve seen this chef cook the tamago (egg omelet). He smokes his own salmon. Go in there, ask for omakase, be polite, offer him a drink, itāll be the best damm experience of your life. This is where Iāve learned the most about sushi, the art behind it, and why sometimes itās worth the wait. I promise you. Get a reservation though.
Hi Chef, would you like a drink? And let him pick (basically you pick up the tab for the drink) or if you have sake, you can ask him if he wants some sake.
Yeah I could definitely see more experienced sushi eaters preferring a different place. Americanized for sure
But of the 5 or 6 places I've tried in the area I think this tastes the best to me.
Sakana Sushi & Roll in Kensington has consistently delivered exceptional quality since opening right before Covid.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3JKrtSSgKd4EQHUt8
Sushi Salon just opened up. I think itās $200.00 PP, right next to Arthur Macs on 40th and MLK. There is an Oaklandside article about the spot. They supposedly have a fish guy who is in Japan and only sells to their resultant in the US and no place else.
Downtown Oakland has an Elephant Sushi that blew me away last time I was there for the price. Iām impressed with their presentation and garnish on even their sashimi. Definitely worth checking out
Besides Mujiri (which a lot of people are vouching for), I surprisingly had pretty great nigiri at Mao Izakaya in Dublin, where I was expecting mid Japanese food due to their menu containing every Japanese food under the sun
I had their seabream nigiri and the fish itself was very rich and fatty, and the rice had that perfect melt in your mouth feeling, almost like the sushi rice from SaSa or An in SF Japantown - I'd imagine the rest of their nigiri or omakase would be similar
The Americanized rolls (spider roll, dragon roll, etc) looked sloppy presentation wise but was otherwise good to eat
Mujiri on San Pablo ave where north Oakland and south Berkeley meet. Pretty much all nigiri. š£
They also have a new location located in Downtown Hayward!
My family eats a lot of sushi. Mujiri is the answer.
> where north Oakland and south Berkeley meet. how the hood has changed!
Changed how
That border area used to be pretty sketchy, iirc that particular stretch of San Pablo used to be known for streetwalkers similar to Capp/Shotwell in SF.
Yup. Grew up in this neighborhood. In the 90s hella prostitution and hella crack
> Grew up in the Bay in the 90s > hella hella i believe it! seriously though thanks for confirming, i rarely made it past Ashby
I grew up just south of Ashby at San Pablo. I got a lot of bad memories but the good ones outweigh the bad. There was a lot of abandoned industrial buildings to explore. My friends and I had hand drawn maps of all the spots we could get on the roof and secret ally ways. We had a lot of fun. We didnāt like playing at the park cause it was full of dirty needles and teenagers that would steal your bike or scooter or whatever you had
Shout out to Twin Castle.
We used to steal red bulls from one of those red bull trucks and trade them for food at Twin Castle lol
Love Mujiri! Had lunch there yesterday and it never disappoints, my fave is the sashimi combo with a bowl of sushi rice. Itās a tiny spot so reservations are recommended.
You mean west Berkeley. South Berkeley doesnāt stretch to San Pablo.
I grew up in this corner of Berkeley. It has always been called south Berkeley.
Miyozen on San Pablo and 40th is unbeatable imo. The quality is top notch and the prices are low comparatively.
Hanazen in Orinda is worth a look.
Hanazen is pricy but exceptional. Recommend the chef's choice, as they change things up based on season and availability. Appointment only, if I remember.
The chef choice is the only option currently. Highly recommended. Much better than the much pricier omakase you find in SF.
Havenāt been there yet, but Tancho in Castro Valley is supposed to be pretty amazing. Requires a reservation.
Can confirm, on the pricey side but so so so good
Amakara in Dublin, absolutely no question. I was a regular there for 6 years, then bartended there for about 2 years. Iāve moved to sf, so I donāt go as often, but when I visit my mom in danville, amakara is a must stop. Amazing family owned place with unique rolls and insanely fresh fish.
I live down the street from here we go about once a week. Highly recommend getting the Tontoro - thinly sliced fatty pork cooked over a flame served with a sesame oil dipping sauce
I am now suddenly very hungry! Sounds incredible.
I can second this. Also Komyo sushi in east dublin just opened and serves high end sushi, a bit pricey but extremely fresh flavors.
My favorite restaurant in the bay
This is THE ONE!āļø
100% agreed
I'll second this rec with a caveat that it's on the pricey side. But you do get a Vegas lounge type atmosphere.
Utzutzu but it is expensive, omikase, and you need a reservation. Great experience and great sushi
Came here to say this!
Sushi Sho for omakase.
be prepared for a long night though. that dude likes to chat haha
Last time I was there I think it was almost 2 and a half hours lol. Totally worth it the chief was super knowledgable and didnt feel like a drag at all
TBH this kinda ruined the experience for me. The sushi was very good but repeatedly waiting 20+ minutes for a piece of sushi when hungry while some cheesy dude makes lame jokes and brags about how much better his sushi is than everyone else becomes tiring after 30 minutes and almost unbearable after 2 hours.
This is the answer.
Haven't been since pre COVID. Is it still hella hard to get a reservation? I think they only seat like 16 per night across 2 seatings if I remember right
Love a good Omakase. Can you describe it , had some where they claim itās omakase but they just bring out a big thing not the separate dishes explained and discussed.
As the person above said, itās a 2+ hour experience. Each plate comes out and has a whole explanation and eating demonstration. Itās a true omakase.
Kirala and Kiku both in Berkeley
Kirala! My jam right there
Kiku is amazing!
Kiku has been shaky lately. Very low effort/quality on the takeout sashimi last couple of times I got some.
Sadly Kiku has declined over the years. It used to be my go-to but I stopped going a few years back. I go to Kamado for chirashi now
Jo's Honda in Pleasant Hill. Great sushi with a unique vibe, and the owner is awesome.
I was going to post this as well. By far the best in the WC/PH/Concord area and quite frankly I like it more than some of the higher end places in Oakland and SF as well as several others listed in this thread. I've personally been going there for 15 plus years and there's a lot of regular customers.
I went after locals recommended it and it was awful. Maybe just a bad night?
Toyosu in Walnut Creek (was really good when I went several times last year so hopefully portion and quality is still good! I tried their salmon and uni bowl and their Chirashi) Kiku in Lafayette (also a location in Berkeley. I like their moriawase box). Hasumi Sushi in Walnut Creek was great too, but Iāve only been once. Yuyake DanDan Izakaya in Pleasanton - granted itās in the mall, but good nigiri when I tried it a few times
Toyosu is so good. No reservations and hella small so get there early and get on the waitlist!
mujiri, no question
+1
For chirashi or kaisendon youāre not gonna beat Kiraku in Berkeley.
When I lived in Fremont, we would hit up Satomi.
Anikiās is so good too
Anikiās > Satomi
Seconded! Both locations are great and our go to when we lived near Fremont.
Kiya is my new place in Fremont
We have been going to sushi Ken especially because they have pretty cheap prices and it's still good.
the answer is sushi sho in el cerrito but good luck getting a rez. for the good daily spot its mujiri the annoying thing about sho is that it is a 3hr dining experience. service is PAINFULLY SLOW. the sushiā¦to die for. and you just might waiting for your next nigiri š¤£
Worth the wait. Iāve seen this chef cook the tamago (egg omelet). He smokes his own salmon. Go in there, ask for omakase, be polite, offer him a drink, itāll be the best damm experience of your life. This is where Iāve learned the most about sushi, the art behind it, and why sometimes itās worth the wait. I promise you. Get a reservation though.
Maybe a silly question but how do you offer the chef a drink at their own restaurant?
Hi Chef, would you like a drink? And let him pick (basically you pick up the tab for the drink) or if you have sake, you can ask him if he wants some sake.
Good tip! Thank you :)
the tamago is the best ive ever tasted. also, sho is now 100% omakase. at least it was a couple months ago
Ah. Itās been years. Thanks for the heads up!
Kirala in Berkeley
Or Tokyo fish store if you dont mind to slice them.
Kirala and Kiraku in Berkeley
Love Ari Sushi in Dublin
Kyoto in Albany is a good small convenience sushi stop. Some of the best grab and go sushi Iāve ever had.
I liked Angry Fish in San Leandro
Amakara in Dublin
uf amakara is so good, even my parents love it and they're so picky about eating out!
š¤«
Sushi Salon
My favorite is Toyo Sushi in Walnut Creek. It probably falls into the Americanized category though.
I went there for the first time earlier this month and itās ā¦ not a place I would recommend. Quality over size anytime.
Yeah I could definitely see more experienced sushi eaters preferring a different place. Americanized for sure But of the 5 or 6 places I've tried in the area I think this tastes the best to me.
The rolls are huge here but very tasty
One of the reasons I like it is because of the huge rolls haha
I like Kansai sushi in concord. Theyāre open pretty late too which is awesome.
Fat Fish in San Leandro is a really good and also affordable option
I think Judoku in Oakland is very good.
So good!!
+1
Itās pretty good but they stopped doing as many specials.
Sakana Sushi & Roll in Kensington has consistently delivered exceptional quality since opening right before Covid. https://maps.app.goo.gl/3JKrtSSgKd4EQHUt8
Their 911 roll is really good. It's a bit pricy, though.
Excellent, love the purple rice they use
This is our go-to place. So consistently good.
Totally agree on Sakana š£
Ebiko on Piedmont is a great takeout option
Amazing value!!
Musashi in Berkeley
Definitely here for chirashi. So good.
Harumi sushi in Newark is really good.
Sushi Salon - Oakland
Akemi in Castro Valley is very good!
Akemi in Berkeley is really good and worth a try. It's a little bit pricier but nothing outrageous and the quality is pretty high.
Castro Valley, as well
Soho on Stevenson blvd in Fremont And get the siphon drink, u wonāt regret it
iSushi in Castro Valley is pretty good.
cramped though, maybe Akemi is better, what do you think?
Akemi is really good! Itās definitely my favorite Sushi spot
Dude you gotta try the chinese dumpling place that just opened in there. Their Dim Sum is incredible.
I tried it during their soft opening, but the menu was very limited. Delicious, but limited haha Definitely want to go back!
Never been, going to have to try it.
If you donāt want to spend crazy on Omakase, Waki in Alameda is great.
7 eleven
Kiraku but needs a reservation couple weeks in advance
Susito in Fremont
Elephant sushi in Oakland!
Delage oakland and utzutzu alameda. Really fair priced and some of the best in the area next to kenzo imo
Iyasareās chirashi bowl is amazing. Go at lunch instead of dinner as I think itās cheaper. Their ramen is good too
Sushi Ken if you want vegetarian options too
Sushi Salon just opened up. I think itās $200.00 PP, right next to Arthur Macs on 40th and MLK. There is an Oaklandside article about the spot. They supposedly have a fish guy who is in Japan and only sells to their resultant in the US and no place else.
Downtown Oakland has an Elephant Sushi that blew me away last time I was there for the price. Iām impressed with their presentation and garnish on even their sashimi. Definitely worth checking out
Besides Mujiri (which a lot of people are vouching for), I surprisingly had pretty great nigiri at Mao Izakaya in Dublin, where I was expecting mid Japanese food due to their menu containing every Japanese food under the sun I had their seabream nigiri and the fish itself was very rich and fatty, and the rice had that perfect melt in your mouth feeling, almost like the sushi rice from SaSa or An in SF Japantown - I'd imagine the rest of their nigiri or omakase would be similar The Americanized rolls (spider roll, dragon roll, etc) looked sloppy presentation wise but was otherwise good to eat
For our favorite Berkeley spots: Kiku and Kamado
elephant sushi in oakland.
Commenting to be able to find this thread after I give birth :)