Ippuku

"One of the most stylish, intimate Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area, Ippuku is mostly known for serving the East Bay’s most delicious chicken skewers and izakaya-style dishes, earning it a spot on Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list. The yakitori specialist, with its (shoes-off) tatami-style tables, also has one of the best Japanese beer and sake lists around." - Dianne de Guzman

"Berkeley stalwart Ippuku transports diners to Japan with its unique setup and izakaya dishes." - Dianne de Guzman, Clair Lorell, Paolo Bicchieri

"Can’t swing a ticket to Tokyo? Dinner at Ippuku is the next best thing. With its low Japanese-style tables, extensive woodwork and enormous selection of sake and shochu, it feels like an authentic izakaya transplanted into a corner of downtown Berkeley. The low-profile entrance adds to the feeling that you’ve lucked upon a special dining secret—assuming you don’t stroll right past it, that is. Yakitori is the big draw here, with smoky, salty chicken thighs, necks, hearts and gizzards arriving fresh off the binchotan. Other excellent small plates include korokke, or golden-brown Dungeness crab croquettes, crisp on the outside and with a creamy interior, or yaki-imo, caramelized white sweet potato with a sweet-and-salty glaze." - Michelin Inspector

"Darkened corners, bamboo mats, and Japanese whiskies make Ippuku a mini-adventure in downtown Berkeley. Spin through the yakitori menu of grilled chicken knees, or order the secret chicken tartare for an extra intrepid evening." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff

"A Berkeley Restaurant’s Instagram Films Are a Pandemic-Times Delight. Ippuku’s whimsical videos are the best thing going on Bay Area food Instagram." - Luke Tsai