Pa’s Papa

A true hidden gem! This small, hole-in-the-wall Japanese spot blew me away. The food was incredibly fresh and flavorful, and the service was warm and attentive. Don’t let the modest exterior fool you—this place delivers big on taste and hospitality. Highly recommend!

Really great! We ordered two bentos for our family of 3 and we were surprised by how much food we got! We could have easily split one bento and had enough! The teriyaki beef was great and the katsu and tempura were tasty and not greasy at all. We’re happy to have another good restaurant in the neighborhood!

Ordered pick up tonight. 2 bentos (salmon and beef). Great portions. Good/tasty food. Not salty. Price is really good. I would definitely eat here again. Clean, and good service. Nice to have a new place in the neighborhood to spend money.

Really excellent American-style sushi, especially for the price. Portions were huge and the staff is super friendly! Will definitely come back again.

Just discovered this new sushi spot in the Laurel. Had the John Roll and Hamachi Kama. The hamachi was grilled to perfection. The roll was very tasty. Ate in but, they do take out

Delicious and reasonably priced Japanese restaurant in the Laurel. Food was fresh & great portion sizes. Beef teriyaki & chicken katsu was on point…..Already been here twice this week.

We are so excited about this restaurant! The food was good with a surprisingly big selection. And the service was above and beyond - it almost made us feel like we were back in Japan!

Tempura and tonkatsu was super crispy and not greasy at all. Teriyaki sauce was tasty and not too sweet or thick. All around great dinner!

Genuinely cannot believe there’s not a line out the door for this place, the poke bowl is delicious, generous, and outcompetes any chain poke restaurant by far.

Saw this place opened, had to try it. Sushi is delicious and the rolls are big! Love the California and Dragon Rolls!

Great food, great prices and great portions

Great bento box

Food is delicious and serving is large!

Great food! great people

So delicious 😋

Got the pork tonkatsu and Kansai roll. Roll was huge really delicious and the fish inside super tender and fresh. The pork tonkatsu was massive and well made. Super crispy and tender get a side of the house curry too it’s rich and complex!

yummy n big portions

Finally some sushi near me ! I got a sushi party tray for a birthday before, it was a hit. My kids enjoy the curry rice with Katsu.

I was so happy to find this place! It’s a casual Japanese restaurant. This place seems to specialize in takeout, but there’s tables and seating if you want to dine in. I tried their chicken katsu bento and I was blown away with the quality and portion size. A bento can easily feed 2 if you don’t eat large amounts. Food is definitely on the heavier side. They also serve sushi. Would definitely come back to try them.

If you just want a quick quality bite or a casual date, this is your place. Their portion is humongous and quality is phenomenon! I’m definitely coming back next time. And besides sushi, I’d also highly recommend the mussels.

Delicious food with great portions for the price! I usually finish my meal, but I felt like I still had a whole meal to take home after. Crispy fresh chicken katsu, not greasy. They were also very accommodating for my partners sensitivity to gluten! We were just walking along the street when we found this place, and I am happy we stopped in. Casual and good vibes

The portions are generous, food is delicious! Beef teriyaki was a highlight and the special rainbow roll is so good!

This is a great casual restaurant. I usually go for the sushi (always yummy) but this last time I ordered the lunch meal. I was blown away by the value, it was so much food and all so good!

Get the Pa’s Papa Box! Very worth it. The portions are big and it can be two meals in one day. I got the chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, and salmon teriyaki. They all taste great and the quality of food is good!

Jonathan G

Delicious food with great portions for the price! I usually finish my meal, but I felt like I still had a whole meal to take home after. Crispy fresh chicken katsu, not greasy. They were also very accommodating for my partners sensitivity to gluten! We were just walking along the street when we found this place, and I am happy we stopped in. Casual and good vibes

Amanda

This is a great casual restaurant. I usually go for the sushi (always yummy) but this last time I ordered the lunch meal. I was blown away by the value, it was so much food and all so good!

Darryl San Pedro

Get the Pa’s Papa Box! Very worth it. The portions are big and it can be two meals in one day. I got the chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, and salmon teriyaki. They all taste great and the quality of food is good!

I was looking for a Japanese restaurant nearby home and found this gem. The sushi was tasty and fresh! It’s cafeteria style where you order from the counter which makes it casual. I needed a pick me up and Courtney, the cashier/host was so friendly which made my day. Kudos to the chef owner who knew the Laurel district needed a Japanese restaurant. The food and service were phenomenal! This is my new sushi spot, for sure. 🙏

Stopped in for lunch after a nearby hike and had the mixed poke bowl. It was fresh, tasty, and a generous portion. The place is small — maybe five tables — and you bus your own dishes, but it was comfortable and just what I was looking for after the hike. The staff were very friendly and even let me charge my phone at the counter while I ate. Overall, a good casual spot for a solid meal. 4★ Food | 5★ Quantity | 5★ Friendliness

Okay, this is the fourth time we’ve been here this week so, I think we’ve crossed the official “rating your favorites” threshold. Pa’s Papa is ‘official’ in my heart for three reasons: 1. Every time I come in there’s a genially kind and friendly, LOCAL face to greet us! They hire folks from the neighborhood and I think that’s awesome and so “Official Oakland!” 2. Each visit our food has been so fresh, well seasoned, thoughtfully presented, packaged * and delicious The servings and pricing truly fair. *I teased the owner for teaching his young, new cashier how to properly bag hot soup like an official Oakland Chinese restaurant! 3. It’s a hella nice vibe. Every time. Music is upbeat, the restaurant is immaculately clean, and it’s a POSITIVE VIBE… that truly matters in this moment in time. I appreciate it.

Pa’s Papa Japanese Restaurant is our new take-out spot for sushi, bento box and fried chicken! The food is always fresh. The staff are polite, efficient, and genuinely welcoming, creating a pleasant experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who appreciates generous portions of fresh, delicious Japanese cuisine at a reasonable price.

This place is great if you're looking for a quick, casual lunch or dinner. The place is clean and no frills. Serving portions are large and amazing for the price. This is my local go to spot for bento boxes and I'm so glad they set up shop in the Laurel.

Great food amazing value serving above standard flare such as grilled yellowtail collar and seared nigiri. What I thought would be a standard chicken teriyaki came pipping hot/fresh with abit of char/smokey flavor from the grill! Will definitely return! 2pm after 10% off and I got a free bottle of water!

Popped into Pa's Papa for dinner and we're so glad we did! Delicious, fresh food; quick, kind service; comfortable atmosphere. We ordered the dragon roll, vegetable tempura, chicken katsu, veggie udon, and veggie gyoza. Had a TON of leftovers that we'll enjoy tomorrow. So glad to have a great Japanese restaurant in the neighborhood!

Please eat here! This is a great spot ! Also very affordable and great portions! Food was fresh hot crispy and very tasty Authentic and service was outstanding Staff was more than accommodating and very hospitable Very kind to myself and my daughter who is only two ! Great people! Great food ! Wonderful atmosphere ! Very clean !

First time eating here and first time trying fresh wasabi! Yummmy!! The portions are huge! The food is very flavorful and the customer service on point! I will definitely be going back!!

Pa's Papa – Laurel District, Oakland Stopped in for a casual bite and left pleasantly full. The service was friendly and attentive, and portions were generous for the price. We tried the beef udon, spicy tuna roll, Make It Hot roll, and karaage chicken. The beef udon had a comforting, savory broth and tender noodles, solid comfort food. The karaage chicken was the standout: juicy, tender meat with a light, crisp batter packed with flavor. The rolls were fresh, with good-quality fish and balanced flavors. The menu is solid, but I do wish they offered nigiri or sashimi alongside the rolls, and a ramen option in addition to their udon. That said, the freshness of the fish and overall execution makes this spot worth returning to. Verdict: Good neighborhood gem for fresh, flavorful Japanese comfort food, especially if you’re craving udon or fried chicken done right.

Ate here for dinner, food was delicious and great portions. The service was great and I was served within 5-10 minutes.

Salmon teriyaki and chicken teriyaki were perfectly cooked and delicious. California rolls were super tasty. Portions are large, especially for the price. Food came fast.

Tiff

This place is great if you're looking for a quick, casual lunch or dinner. The place is clean and no frills. Serving portions are large and amazing for the price. This is my local go to spot for bento boxes and I'm so glad they set up shop in the Laurel.

Bonnie Tendencia

First time eating here and first time trying fresh wasabi! Yummmy!! The portions are huge! The food is very flavorful and the customer service on point! I will definitely be going back!!

Family Affair

Please eat here! This is a great spot ! Also very affordable and great portions! Food was fresh hot crispy and very tasty Authentic and service was outstanding Staff was more than accommodating and very hospitable Very kind to myself and my daughter who is only two ! Great people! Great food ! Wonderful atmosphere ! Very clean !

Carolina Yu

I was looking for a Japanese restaurant nearby home and found this gem. The sushi was tasty and fresh! It’s cafeteria style where you order from the counter which makes it casual. I needed a pick me up and Courtney, the cashier/host was so friendly which made my day. Kudos to the chef owner who knew the Laurel district needed a Japanese restaurant. The food and service were phenomenal! This is my new sushi spot, for sure. 🙏

L R

Pa’s Papa Japanese Restaurant is our new take-out spot for sushi, bento box and fried chicken! The food is always fresh. The staff are polite, efficient, and genuinely welcoming, creating a pleasant experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who appreciates generous portions of fresh, delicious Japanese cuisine at a reasonable price.

May Lam

Great food amazing value serving above standard flare such as grilled yellowtail collar and seared nigiri. What I thought would be a standard chicken teriyaki came pipping hot/fresh with abit of char/smokey flavor from the grill! Will definitely return! 2pm after 10% off and I got a free bottle of water!

Abraham McAllister

Stopped in for lunch after a nearby hike and had the mixed poke bowl. It was fresh, tasty, and a generous portion. The place is small — maybe five tables — and you bus your own dishes, but it was comfortable and just what I was looking for after the hike. The staff were very friendly and even let me charge my phone at the counter while I ate. Overall, a good casual spot for a solid meal. 4★ Food | 5★ Quantity | 5★ Friendliness

Rachel Pledger

Popped into Pa's Papa for dinner and we're so glad we did! Delicious, fresh food; quick, kind service; comfortable atmosphere. We ordered the dragon roll, vegetable tempura, chicken katsu, veggie udon, and veggie gyoza. Had a TON of leftovers that we'll enjoy tomorrow. So glad to have a great Japanese restaurant in the neighborhood!

Kendra Capen

Salmon teriyaki and chicken teriyaki were perfectly cooked and delicious. California rolls were super tasty. Portions are large, especially for the price. Food came fast.

Simply Sotera

Pa's Papa – Laurel District, Oakland Stopped in for a casual bite and left pleasantly full. The service was friendly and attentive, and portions were generous for the price. We tried the beef udon, spicy tuna roll, Make It Hot roll, and karaage chicken. The beef udon had a comforting, savory broth and tender noodles, solid comfort food. The karaage chicken was the standout: juicy, tender meat with a light, crisp batter packed with flavor. The rolls were fresh, with good-quality fish and balanced flavors. The menu is solid, but I do wish they offered nigiri or sashimi alongside the rolls, and a ramen option in addition to their udon. That said, the freshness of the fish and overall execution makes this spot worth returning to. Verdict: Good neighborhood gem for fresh, flavorful Japanese comfort food, especially if you’re craving udon or fried chicken done right.

Kaz Yeghiazarian

A true hidden gem! This small, hole-in-the-wall Japanese spot blew me away. The food was incredibly fresh and flavorful, and the service was warm and attentive. Don’t let the modest exterior fool you—this place delivers big on taste and hospitality. Highly recommend!

Margaret So

Delicious and reasonably priced Japanese restaurant in the Laurel. Food was fresh & great portion sizes. Beef teriyaki & chicken katsu was on point…..Already been here twice this week.

Al L

Just discovered this new sushi spot in the Laurel. Had the John Roll and Hamachi Kama. The hamachi was grilled to perfection. The roll was very tasty. Ate in but, they do take out

Jason Nguyen

Really excellent American-style sushi, especially for the price. Portions were huge and the staff is super friendly! Will definitely come back again.

Kelli Harding

Really great! We ordered two bentos for our family of 3 and we were surprised by how much food we got! We could have easily split one bento and had enough! The teriyaki beef was great and the katsu and tempura were tasty and not greasy at all. We’re happy to have another good restaurant in the neighborhood!

brenan cheong

Ordered pick up tonight. 2 bentos (salmon and beef). Great portions. Good/tasty food. Not salty. Price is really good. I would definitely eat here again. Clean, and good service. Nice to have a new place in the neighborhood to spend money.

Love the dragon and lion King roll. I also love how the dragon roll was rolled not traditional style... Great rolls

Affordable sushi? Yep

I wanted to like this restaurant & had really been looking forward to trying it. Sadly I will not be returning & cannot recommend. Got 49ers roll and CA roll, both were on par with Safeway sushi -- bland rice, low quality crab, tiny amount of avocado. The space at night is too bright to enjoy a meal, and the garbage needed to be taken out -- we were two tables over and could smell it. I recommend going to Mijori on Grand Ave -- less expensive, higher quality, better ambiance, and they deliver. Or pick up sushi at Berkeley Bowl.

I visited Pa’s Papa Japanese Restaurant for lunch and ordered the salmon teriyaki bento with shrimp tempura and a spicy tuna roll. Unfortunately, the experience was very disappointing. The rice in the bento was cold and had a crust on top, as if it had been sitting out for hours before being served. The same issue applied to the spicy tuna roll—the rice was cold and hardened, and the tuna itself didn’t look fresh. The color of the spicy tuna filling was a dull, burnt orange and it was oddly warm, which raised concerns about how it had been stored. The shrimp tempura was also not what I expected—it appeared to be butterflied shrimp and was served as five thin pieces rather than full, intact tempura shrimp. The texture and preparation felt more like standard fried shrimp than light, crispy tempura. The only redeeming part of the meal was the salmon teriyaki, which seemed relatively fresh compared to everything else. The miso soup was also good, and I could see how their udon bowls might be tasty. My friend, who ordered the spicy tuna salad, also commented on how not fresh the tuna seemed, which reinforced my concerns. Overall, this was a very disappointing experience, and while a couple of items showed potential, I would not return to try other dishes.

Food is really good and fresh! Very tasty

Worst sushi i ever tasted in my life

Very disappointing experience. The sushi was incredibly mediocre — $16 for what was essentially a $6 roll with a thin slice of salmon on top (49er roll). The service was unfriendly and unaccommodating. No water was offered, and there’s no self-serve option — you have to explicitly ask. The atmosphere didn’t help: harsh, glaring lights, loud radio commercials playing for minutes at a time, and a noticeable diaper-like smell at our table. When I asked for a paper menu to avoid using a QR code, I was met with a shrug. Overpriced, uncomfortable, and underwhelming. I won’t be returning.

The 5 stars must be from friends and family. I did not find the food , and service very good. The shrimp tempura tasted more like oil than shrimp. The dipping sauce had no flavor at all. It tasted like water and brown food dye. The spicy tuna tasted cheap and old. Barely got through the meal. Sure it’s affordable but at what cost?

Adrianne Grayson

The 5 stars must be from friends and family. I did not find the food , and service very good. The shrimp tempura tasted more like oil than shrimp. The dipping sauce had no flavor at all. It tasted like water and brown food dye. The spicy tuna tasted cheap and old. Barely got through the meal. Sure it’s affordable but at what cost?