Manpuku

Regarding the price of the items on the menu as they relate to the quality of the food, this is easily the best sushi restaurant in the east bay area. I've been to every sushi place in Berkeley and am quite amazed at their pricing in comparison to some of the more popular places. $7-$8 dollars for what is almost universally $11-$12 at every other sushi bar in town. Also, they have the best hand rolls I've ever had! (Try the salmon skin rolls in particular).

Wonderful staff. Been going here for 15+ years for sushi, sashimi, bento, etc. So appreciate the ramen here that I only recently discovered the udon. Experience is always strong whether dining in or to-go. Note there is a larger seating side next door. My kids discovered Ramune soda here.

the best, cheap, eat-in japanese place in the east bay 🙏🏼😚😋🩷

Very nice sushi and Japanese restaurant. It’s small with a long counter and 5 or 6 small tables. You order food and pay first at the cashier before you sit at a table. That’s a bit odd since you really cannot give a tip until afterwards since you don’t have a clue about the service. The food is very good with great flavors and there’s decent quality and quantity. We ordered a tempura roll which was really delicious and only cost $6.85! We also ordered a rainbow roll for $11.85 which was good although the sushi was a little thin. The nigiri was better with more quantity and the quality was also very good. We spent $55 for dinner with tax and were full. Yes, we left a tip in cash…

One of our favorite place for dinner. We usually order here every Friday. Best sushi and Japanese cuisine. Everything is so delicious and so fresh.

Really nice place to have delicious food and be served by kind staffs!! Definitely to go again soon~!! Again visited with more friends and all were satisfied with good food and kind service! Especially the boss of the restaurant was so nice~! Small and cozy place to enjoy the meal~

This place is a gem. Cannot believe can find such an economical option for sushi during inflation. Everything we ordered is perfect and the size of some Maki is surprisingly large. My only wish is that they add some holes to the to-go box for tempura so that it doesn't go soggy. That being said, it is very easy to restore the tempura to crispy after a few minutes in an air fryer :) Would definitely order more from here.

This place was awesome! It was bit busy at lunch but that's not surprising given their quality and prices. Lots of people getting lunch to-go as well as lots dining in. I got chirashi and the others I was dining with got bento boxes. I will absolutely be back here. It reminded me of some of the places I seen in Tokyo, got tea was included with the meal.

Delicious food with great prices! I got a huge miso soup for the price of a tiny one at another restaurant. Highly recommend!

great value for great sushi. The portions are the same but ive never found sushi for a lower cost anywhere else.

Great food, great prices. Solid choice for a quick lunch for 1-2 people. A larger dining room opens up for dinner so normally it's just a few small tables and counter seating.

You’ll leave this place with a Manpuku (full belly) and a satisfied smile on your face :)

Love-love this place. One of my top Japanese restaurants in the the bay. Food is always great, service is very fast and friendly, price is very decent 👌.

DYJ1948

Very nice sushi and Japanese restaurant. It’s small with a long counter and 5 or 6 small tables. You order food and pay first at the cashier before you sit at a table. That’s a bit odd since you really cannot give a tip until afterwards since you don’t have a clue about the service. The food is very good with great flavors and there’s decent quality and quantity. We ordered a tempura roll which was really delicious and only cost $6.85! We also ordered a rainbow roll for $11.85 which was good although the sushi was a little thin. The nigiri was better with more quantity and the quality was also very good. We spent $55 for dinner with tax and were full. Yes, we left a tip in cash…

Natenapa Serdynski

One of our favorite place for dinner. We usually order here every Friday. Best sushi and Japanese cuisine. Everything is so delicious and so fresh.

Kwon영랑

Really nice place to have delicious food and be served by kind staffs!! Definitely to go again soon~!! Again visited with more friends and all were satisfied with good food and kind service! Especially the boss of the restaurant was so nice~! Small and cozy place to enjoy the meal~

Hannah Johnson

This place is a gem. Cannot believe can find such an economical option for sushi during inflation. Everything we ordered is perfect and the size of some Maki is surprisingly large. My only wish is that they add some holes to the to-go box for tempura so that it doesn't go soggy. That being said, it is very easy to restore the tempura to crispy after a few minutes in an air fryer :) Would definitely order more from here.

Andrew Hom

great value for great sushi. The portions are the same but ive never found sushi for a lower cost anywhere else.

Omega Rae

This place was awesome! It was bit busy at lunch but that's not surprising given their quality and prices. Lots of people getting lunch to-go as well as lots dining in. I got chirashi and the others I was dining with got bento boxes. I will absolutely be back here. It reminded me of some of the places I seen in Tokyo, got tea was included with the meal.

Wei Cheng Ng

You’ll leave this place with a Manpuku (full belly) and a satisfied smile on your face :)

Alethea D

Delicious food with great prices! I got a huge miso soup for the price of a tiny one at another restaurant. Highly recommend!

Francisco Pareja-Lecaros

Great food, great prices. Solid choice for a quick lunch for 1-2 people. A larger dining room opens up for dinner so normally it's just a few small tables and counter seating.

Genesis T

Love-love this place. One of my top Japanese restaurants in the the bay. Food is always great, service is very fast and friendly, price is very decent 👌.

Favorite sushi in Berkeley, everything is so fresh and the prices are insanely cheap. Large miso soup is only 3.50

My favorite spot for lunch on College Avenue in the Elmwood. Delicious rolls, savory Miso, and friendly service.

I absolutely loved the food here, everything tasted fresh and delicious. The ramen was comforting and flavorful, and the sushi rolls were perfectly made. Portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable for the quality you get. The atmosphere is cozy, and the staff was friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend Manpuku if you’re craving good Japanese food in Berkeley! My boyfriend and I were on a hunt for our new favorite Japanese place. I think we might have found it! ❤️

Kristina Martin

Favorite sushi in Berkeley, everything is so fresh and the prices are insanely cheap. Large miso soup is only 3.50

Rinda Bartley

I love this place! Authentic Japanese food, consistently well-prepared. Manpuku has been a family and neighborhood favorite for many years!

Tapasya Cheulkar (Tappy)

I absolutely loved the food here, everything tasted fresh and delicious. The ramen was comforting and flavorful, and the sushi rolls were perfectly made. Portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable for the quality you get. The atmosphere is cozy, and the staff was friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend Manpuku if you’re craving good Japanese food in Berkeley! My boyfriend and I were on a hunt for our new favorite Japanese place. I think we might have found it! ❤️

Love this place! The rolls are cheap and of great quality!! Also I love their ramen! They are delicious and great comfort food! Though it is quite small inside, it makes hanging out with friends more cozy :D

Great place for ramen or udon and a little sushi. Not authentic but hey, for the price you can't go wrong. Friendly service but servers are too bright. Maybe they are mostly students and not too experienced. Still very acceptable good service.

Good ramen, pretty inexpensive. There are two entrances: one on the left for a more recently remodeled, slightly more formal sit-down experience, and one on the right for take-out and a less formal setting. I've been here off and on over the years, mostly eating in on the less formal side of the divide. Maybe it's a nostalgic illusion but I feel like this place used to have more of a soul. At some point, staff started turning over quickly and the people working there generally started to seem less happy. But hey, the more formal side of their operation is a nice improvement and the food and service was good last time I was over there. I wouldn't go out of your way to get here but it's a decent place if you're in the area.

Manpuku is great. You can get a $13 rainbow roll for $7 here. It's not the best sushi in the world, but it's damn good, and the rating gets kicked up for being so cheap. This is my go-to sushi place, but only for take out. It doesn't have much sitting room and it fills up quickly.

I’ll give them four stars on the food because of the value proposition… The fish is always fresh, and the portions are more than reasonable for the price point. They have a ready to go refrigerated case that they stock for the lunch hour. You can get a sushi combo With tax and tip at the door for about $16. It will easily kill you up. Sometimes, in the evening, it can be a little backed up for to go orders. In the past sometimes they get the orders mixed up, so be sure to check your bag before you leave. They are fairly popular with locals and the college crowd. They tend to be my go to because they are close to my house, convenient, and prepare your order quickly .

Sushi is a bit on the smaller side but the combo meal is a total steal. Shared it with a friend and we were both very happy!!

Best way to describe this place is Sushi fast food. You get a decent sushi at a very economical price. Each piece of sushi cost about $1.75 to $2.50 and hand rolls will set you back about $5.00. Tea and water are self serving and free of charge. You would order from a menu at the cashier and given a ticket. Find any open seating and when you're food is ready one of their waiter will shout out the ticket number. Service was prompt and you get your money's worth. The sushi was good and decent for quick fix. The tempura could've use another minute in the fryer and the soft shell crab batter was a bit too thick. Parking in this area can be challenging so you may have to drive around the blocks a few times.

Cozy, very affordable, and in a nice location. It's a little cramped during the day, but even that has a little charm to it. It seems to open up a good bit more in the evening. The young girl working the counter was helpful, and the sushi was pretty standard--but good nonetheless. Definitely worth a try.

The food (noodles and sushi) is great and reasonably priced. They have really good combination (sashimi and rolls) platters to share. It does get crowded here, so depending on the time, you may have to wait a few minutes for a table. Street parking only, but I've always been able to find a spot within a block.

Cheap sushi and kitchen options. I find the food from the kitchen to be average, but great for the prices and portion. You can get a nigiri here for below $2 (slightly smaller than standard) which is dirt cheap for sushi. Be careful how much you order though, as it does add up super fast.

This place has two doors. One for the take away and one for the dine in. You'll get a decent quality sushi with a cheap price. My favorite is the Dragon Roll. they also serve other Japanese food menu than. I feel glad to find this place. I will definitely come back.

It was alright, good price for decent food. They have cool insulated metal cups for hot tea!

I go here regularly for the large pre-made sushi bento. At just over $10 after tax, it is an amazing meal. The pre-made sushi is always fresh at lunchtime, and the quality ranges from "much better than store bought" to occasionally very good. I have never used table service just because I don't have time.

This place is pretty good. There were no seats left at lunch Saturday rush. So they took us to the restaurant next door and sat us down there. It was a little weird but we figured they must have an understanding. Well not the case. The other place next door told us we weren't allowed to sit there and escorted us back over to Manpuka. At this time, there were 2 seats open so we sat there. Otherwise everything was good. Chicken Katsu was crispy.

Really well priced sushi for the area. The seating inside is nice and has a home vibe to it. Small seating arrangements though. Was interesting to order, you order at the register and then they bring the sushi out, so no waiter just a busser. Sushi was pretty average, but for the price, I thought it was good.

If you’re on a budget Manpuku is your place. You can get the most common bentos and sushi rolls here but I prefer the donburi bowls (unagi if they have it). It’s a tight spot and seating is limited but you can sit at the counter if you’re flying solo. Parking on College is always hit or miss. Good spot.

Devon Meadows

This place is pretty good. There were no seats left at lunch Saturday rush. So they took us to the restaurant next door and sat us down there. It was a little weird but we figured they must have an understanding. Well not the case. The other place next door told us we weren't allowed to sit there and escorted us back over to Manpuka. At this time, there were 2 seats open so we sat there. Otherwise everything was good. Chicken Katsu was crispy.

hailey k.

Really well priced sushi for the area. The seating inside is nice and has a home vibe to it. Small seating arrangements though. Was interesting to order, you order at the register and then they bring the sushi out, so no waiter just a busser. Sushi was pretty average, but for the price, I thought it was good.

John

If you’re on a budget Manpuku is your place. You can get the most common bentos and sushi rolls here but I prefer the donburi bowls (unagi if they have it). It’s a tight spot and seating is limited but you can sit at the counter if you’re flying solo. Parking on College is always hit or miss. Good spot.

The service is good but the food has really decreased in quality. My manpuku ramen is supposed to have fishcakes in it. I found a single close. Fishcakes are stupid cheap so for 10 dollars id expect more than one slice. The broth and ramen noodlrs are also bland and generic

I normally love their food but I just picked up teriyaki salmon bento box and when I got home I realized the salmon was COMPLETELY raw…. It was disappointing the rest of the food I ordered was good

No service this restaurant ! If you have more than 4 people you have to find every thing by self !

The sushi/nigiri is not worth the price, there’s barely any sushi in the combos. Since sashimi is usually more expensive anyway, in my opinion just go to higher-end place. The bentos are pretty decent for the price, can see them as everyday grab and go meals.

Cheap price with decent flavor. Chirashi and rolls are super tiny👎🏻, though bento boxes and chicken katsu plates are generous. Good for a workday lunch/ quick dinner.

Ramen/Udon was OK, my udon was too salty and my gfs ramen was bland, but the gyoza was delicious and crispy, the side of chicken katsu I got was also very juicy and well made, and my gfs tempura was "yummy". Would definitely recommend coming here for appetizers. Food is also pretty cheap which is nice!

Very average sushi restaurant. At the front is a take out section. Even if you are dining in you have to pay up front . The decor and vibe definitely fast foody and hole in the Wally. The food itself was OKAY, not as fresh as I would have liked to have. The slices of chirashi could have been bigger but I was still okay with it. Miso Soup was super average and kinda tasteless. The best thing that I had was the spicy tuna maki which was cheap and delicious, would definitely have that again. Service was alright, nothing to write home about. All is all not a bad experience and I may return for a cheap sushi fix but high quality Japanese eating this was not so set your expectation bar right!

Hannah Jin

Cheap price with decent flavor. Chirashi and rolls are super tiny👎🏻, though bento boxes and chicken katsu plates are generous. Good for a workday lunch/ quick dinner.

Elijah H.

Ramen/Udon was OK, my udon was too salty and my gfs ramen was bland, but the gyoza was delicious and crispy, the side of chicken katsu I got was also very juicy and well made, and my gfs tempura was "yummy". Would definitely recommend coming here for appetizers. Food is also pretty cheap which is nice!

Shiv G

Very average sushi restaurant. At the front is a take out section. Even if you are dining in you have to pay up front . The decor and vibe definitely fast foody and hole in the Wally. The food itself was OKAY, not as fresh as I would have liked to have. The slices of chirashi could have been bigger but I was still okay with it. Miso Soup was super average and kinda tasteless. The best thing that I had was the spicy tuna maki which was cheap and delicious, would definitely have that again. Service was alright, nothing to write home about. All is all not a bad experience and I may return for a cheap sushi fix but high quality Japanese eating this was not so set your expectation bar right!

Rizal Zakaria

The service is good but the food has really decreased in quality. My manpuku ramen is supposed to have fishcakes in it. I found a single close. Fishcakes are stupid cheap so for 10 dollars id expect more than one slice. The broth and ramen noodlrs are also bland and generic

The chef doesn’t know how to keep fresh Sushi. The rice of pre-made Sushi is frozen like ice, dry and hard, unable to swallow. A real Japanese cook will be mad on what they are doing. When we complained, the waitress simply said sorry because the refrigerator is set too cold. If you know it’s too cold, why don’t you keep it in right temperature instead of keep selling it to the customers? I understand the price is attractive probably it’s why there are so many positive reviews. I never expected it has the same quality as Sushi Sho which is just five minutes away. But it does fail to conduct the best practices and please show respects to the food and professional of cooking.