Iyasare, Berkeley Review

Reviewer: Foodnut.com

Iyasare Berkeley Exterior

Iyasare is a Japanese Restaurant in the posh Berkeley 4th Street corridor. We were passing by and decided to finally give it a try. Without reservations, we dined at the bar. Pacing was way off, but the food was fabulous. Definitely want to try more next time!  We came back for lunch in Spring 2019 and found the food just as good.

Michelin The Plate Rated for 2019.

Be sure to check out the Amazon 4 star store nearby. They carry only top rated items. Pretty cool and only of 3 in the USA.

Food Picks:
Sendai Mule ($14) bulleit bourbon, cocchi americano, yuzu, ginger beer is their take on a Moscow Mule. A bit too much ice, but a nice balanced drink. Hidden potency.

Japanese Mojito ($12) ikkomon shochu, shiso, yuzu, simple syrup, sparkling water is a nice variation of the classic with lots of yuzu flavor.

Iyasare Berkeley Ichiba Salad

ORGANIC ICHIBA SALAD ($10) mizuna / baby kale / cherry tomato / radish / apple / tamari-yuzu vinaigrette was fabulous.  A nice balance of sweet and savory. Get it if you are vegetarian.

Iyasare Berkeley Bacon Mochi

BACON MOCHI ($13.50) crispy nori seaweed / grilled mochi & smoked bacon / housemade teriyaki is a bit chewy and crunchy, yet a nice contrast in textures and savoriness.

Iyasare Berkeley Kara age Curry Rice

KARA-AGE JAPANESE CURRY RICE Lunch ($21) tamari-garlic marinated fried chicken / mizuna salad / Japanese rice hit the mark.  The curry is a bit spicy but the egg-less battered chicken was crisp and tasty.

Iyasare Berkeley Salmon

SAKE YAKI Lunch ($20) grilled tamari-konbu cured salmon / sendai miso / wakame / bean sprouts / housemade teriyaki is sure to satisfy those who do not like ramen or raw fish. Really cooked well.

Iyasare Berkeley Ramen

SENDAI MISO RAMEN Lunch ($17.50) bean sprouts / mizuna / bamboo shoot / chicken & dashi sendai miso broth was also done well. A robust broth with lots of al dente noodles.  Not cheap but worth it.

Iyasare Berkeley Ocean Umami Scallops

OCEAN UMAMI ($19) hokkaido scallop sashimi / ikura caviar / japanese sea urchin / nori ponzu / chive oil was great. Could have ordred another. Very delicate with the uni’s flavor powering the neutral scallop.

Iyasare Berkeley Umami Gyu Niku Wagyu Bavette steak

UMAMI GYU NIKU ($35) wagyu bavette steak / grillled cabbage / root vegetables is a good sized beef dish. Super tender meat. Well done.

Just OK:
None

Would not reorder:
None

Restaurant Map:


Overall Rating: (Very Good 2.5)

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