Ippuku

2130 Center St. [Map]

Berkeley, CA 94704

Ph: (510) 665-1969

Hours: Wed-Thu, Sun 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm

Price range: $$$$ (Entrees more than $25)

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Chef-owner Chikara Ono recently relocated his homey B-Dama izakaya from Piedmont Avenue to roomier digs in downtown Oakland's Swan's Market (and renamed it AS B-Dama using the initials of two of his chefs.) There's plenty of communal seating in the shared space (Cosecha and Taylor's Sausage are neighbors) either at wooden tables or at the counter. Although their previous offerings have been pared down, there's still quite a few of the familiar favorites included on its revamped menus; be sure to check out the bulletin board that announces rotating daily specials. The lunch menu features bento-style sets and sushi rolls, while there's more elegant entrees for dinner like fresh sashimi platters and broiled fish. Their substantial portions are perfect for sharing between 3-4 diners and, of course, there's a number of sake and beer options to choose from to wash down your chicken karage or agedashi

tofu.

AS B-Dama

Swan's Market, 907 Washington St. [Map]

Oakland, CA 94607

Ph: (510) 251-1113

Hours: 11:30am-2pm; 5:30-10pm; Closed Sunday

Facebook: AS B-Dama

Price range: $$ Entrees ($11-$17)

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A perennial favorite of Berkeley residents for over 15 years -- the evening crowds frequently lined up for a table are a testament to its revered status -- Kirala serves up marvelous sushi and other traditional Japanese dishes. As you can only order items from its sizable list of yakitori at night, try and sit front and center to the robatayaki setup so you can get your skewers piping hot off the grill. Ground chicken wrapped in shiso leaves, a juicy lamb chop , ground chicken stuffed in bell peppers, grilled mackerel and salmon are absolutely delectable, while the grilled shishito (Japanese bell peppers) topped with shredded dried bonito flakes will give you a subtly spicy kick. For raw dishes, the ocean trout sushi, as well as the eel and avocado roll are superb, and the ikura (salmon roe) sushi and uni (sea urchin) will appeal to more adventurous palates. If you sit at the bar, chat up the bartender and have him recommend you some beer, sake or sake cocktails off of their prodigious menu; the Tedorigawa "Yamahai Junmai" is crisp and dry. Two other items of note are their seafood gyoza and kaki, or fried oysters. They also host a to-go spot within Epicurious Garden for bento boxes, sushi and other quick meals. And learn more about Kirala in this previous episode of Check, Please.

Kirala

2100 Ward St. [Map]

Berkeley, CA 94705

Ph: (510) 549-3486

Hours: Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm; Dinner: Tue-Thu 5-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 5-10pm; Sun 5-9:30pm

Price range: $$$ Entrees ($18-$24)

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A pop-up restaurant located inside Garden House 4 nights a week, Abura-Ya is a collaboration between Adachi Hiroyuki, Angelo Hernandez, and Rodrigo de la Reza that specializes in Japanese fried chicken (read more about their business from East Bay Express). While there's no alcohol served yet, they cook up a variety of dishes that would be right at home in an izakaya setting. With a cornstarch marinade and seasoned with shio koji and pepper (but with no added corn syrup or sugar), their all-natural, boneless chunks of fried chicken thighs are prepared with an assortment of flavors, such as curry, Japanese BBQ or agave ginger teriyaki. Prices vary depending on portion size and orders are served with sliced raw cabbage and miso ranch dressing. Check their handwritten menu board for other savory items to sample; one evening featured tako poke carpaccio, or sliced boiled octopus, lemon jalapeño salt and sesame oil; vegetarian okonomiyaki, sans the usual seafood but topped with mayonnaise, tonkatsu sauce and sprouts; raw sesame kale salad with sesame ponzu dressing; roasted beets crostini with avocado, miso ranch dressing, lemon jalapeño salt, sprouts and Parmesan cheese on toast. It's cash only, so be sure to hit the ATM before you go.

Abura-Ya

380 15th St. [Map]

Oakland, CA 94612

Ph: (510) 835-9515

Hours: Wed-Sat 6-10pm

Facebook: Abura-Ya

Twitter: @ABURAYAOAKLAND

Price range: $$ Entrees ($11-$17)

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Situated on the main drag of downtown Walnut Creek in a former meat market, Sasa's rustic contemporary interior has a long bar, high tables, a cozy, window-facing lounge and a quiet, heated outdoor patio for patrons to enjoy their Japanese-style tapas. Also open for lunch, this Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant's daytime menu has many of the same California-fusion items served in the evening. Try the steamed spinach with chilled sesame dressing and bonito flakes, or moromi, a glass of crunchy, raw vegetables accompanied by a barley miso dip. Highlights include sashimi omakase, chicken meatballs seasoned with a ginger-soy glaze and sesame seeds, salmon yakitori with sea salt, lemon and sancho pepper and tempura shrimp lettuce wraps with walnuts, black sesame seeds, miso aioli. "Izakaya Tuesdays" (from 4PM until closing) and "Wine Wednesdays" offer specials on select dishes and drinks. Check online to learn more about their sake, cocktail and alcohol menu.

Sasa

1432 N. Main St. [map]

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Ph: (925) 210-0188

Hours: Mon 11:30am-9pm; Tue-Thu 11:30am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-10:30pm; Sun 12-9pm

Facebook: Sasa Walnut Creek

Twitter: @Sasa_Restaurant

Price range: $$$$ (Entrees more than $25)

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Located in the Dublin Ulferts Center as Koi Palace's Dublin outposts, Yakitori West opened in July in the space formerly occupied by Yakitori Hiroshi. There's no bar, so customers sit either at wooden tables or one of the few traditional zashiki tables with recessed floors. The restaurant's best dishes are their solid sashimi and fish offerings: hamachi carpaccio in a yuzu sauce; hirame or halibut; ankimo (monk fish liver); sea bass misoyaki, or grilled wild Chilean sea bass with soybean paste. (Although on a recent visit, the maguro steak, or grilled tuna belly, was a tad overdone.) Fried bites like their pork gyoza dumplings, soft shell crab and yaki onigiri with bits of seaweed and salmon go well with a carafe of their house hot or cold sake. You can order individual yakitori skewers or dig into a chef's omakase sampler. They also sell a small range of beer, wine and sake and have a short list of desserts, including green tea ice cream.