Kirala

Folks have been tipping me over to Kirala for years now. The trouble is, I didn’t get around to visiting this Berkeley mainstay of Japanese cuisine until last winter. I’ve been making up for it ever since.

Kirala is hands down the best Japanese restaurant that I’ve been to in the East Bay, and their sushi is exceptional. The first time I went, I ordered a plate of gyoza to share with my dining companion. These dumplings were delicate, slightly crispy, and piping full of oniony meat.

We also had a plate of unagi and avocado roll along with a spicy tuna roll. I’m usually not a fan of spicy tuna, but this was good, though the unagi and avocado were even better. Savory, salty, creamy, crispy…oh man. These maki hit all the right notes.

The real standout of our meal, though, was the sashimi. Our plate included tuna, bonito, salmon, albacore, and yellowtail. It’s among the freshest sashimi I’ve ever tasted, and gorgeously presented at that. So delicious, so simple!

I’ve visited Kirala several times since this first visit and the food and service have been solid. Quality comes at a price, though, so be prepared to wait. Even on a weeknight, expect to see a line of hungry visitors waiting for a seat. Kirala is worth the wait.