Aki Japanese Restaurant

I'm an avid customer of Aki Japanese Restaurant. I've tried their beef noodle soup, miso udon, chicken teriyaki don, and tempura don. My favorite must've been the tempura don because it was fried just right -- crunchy exterior with a succulent interior. As for the other dishes, the beef noodle soup had very hearty broth that I loved, but the beef quality wasn't the best. The miso udon had a lot of vegetables and was very healthy, warm, and invigorating, especially on a cold day. Chicken teriyaki rice might've been my least favorite -- the chicken was dry and there wasn't much flavor to the dish. However, I keep coming back because the service has been absolutely wonderful. The food is decently quick, and I love the ambiance. They also serve hot tea (and you can refill as much as you like) and a bowl of miso soup for free, which is a big bonus for me! Will definitely drop by when I'm around the area.

Aki Japanese Restaurant is a place I went typically in regards to people visiting my department and going out to eat with the visitor/speaker. It was a little nicer for the vicinity and a good Japanese food option close to the building my department was in (McCone Hall) on the University of California, Berkeley campus.Ordering was straightforward and in my experience we did not encounter long waits. The bento box option allowed for sampling of a few different offerings in one go. Seating was available at larger table(s), which was nice when we had a medium to larger group size and still wanted to hear everyone speaking. Main highlights from me, consistent and close.

Went to get a bite at the food court and they were out of a lot of food to order from... so I got rice shrimp temporary plate, and the vegetarian noodle soup with the mixed tempura veggies! The tempura on the shrimp had too much batter and way too thick and greasy. The soup was OK. Didn't really like the broth. What's nice is they have free green tea and water that you can serve yourself. The service was good. The lady that took the order was nice so was the guy that brought over the food I just wish it had more flavor and not just greasy but again they were out of a lot of food. I really wanted to try the teriyaki chicken or the short ribs. Oh well next time. The place was nice and cozy and clean.

Generous serving sizes for a very reasonable price. My curry katsu don was mouthwatering and 100% authentic. Limited inside/outside seating and can get very busy in the early afternoon. Great service, but wait times could have been better--they might have been understaffed in the kitchen. Miso soup is included with each meal. Also, their pink hello kitty soy sauce bottles are adorable.

Ambiance: really cute decors aged interior. Very Japanese with the little wooden tables benches and dividers. You wouldn't think there would be a decorated restaurant in this hole in the wall across from campus but there you have it. A pleasant surprise. Food: interestingly they have a mix of Taiwanese and Japanese food (actually quite a lot of Taiwanese food -- half the menu is bilingual with Chinese translations). Soup was packed with flavor and the beef was nice and tender. I really enjoyed it and honestly this place is such a huddle gem.

** The following review reflects my dining experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **Oh my, this one took me way back. Even Mr. Peabody could have built a Wayback Machine that goes as far back as my undergrad days, and I believe he and Sherman went as far back as Ancient Greece. I used to eat at Aki's all the time when I had time between classes, and it's still in the same back-of-the-mini-mall location with the same sliding glass door entrance. Believe it or not, I had not been back in all these years, probably because I associated Aki's and its semi-hidden location with my struggling unformed years.Now I'm more formed, probably more fossilized really, and a sweep of nostalgia came over me as I walked by. It's the pandemic, I think. Anyway, I saw mostly Asian youngsters darting by and thought maybe Aki had become a happening hot spot. Nope, it turned out they were heading to Seoul Hotdog next door, a true hipster magnet with ornately designed corn dogs their specialty. Aki's was as still as a tomb by comparison. Unhip and geriatric as I am, I ordered the veg-friendly $12 Vegi-Fish Bento.It consisted of slices of a seared mock fish that was close enough to real cod to satisfy. It was sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds and so was the lightly fried tofu cake, also quite savory good. It came with a generous side of vegetable tempura and rice (photo: https://bit.ly/3cl1UqW). I'm guessing the recipes haven't changed in all these years, and that's a good thing, trust me. I let the manager know about my long-ago history with Aki's, and she welcomed me back with socially distant arms. She also let me know the place has changed hands three times since then.FOOD - 4.5 stars...hearty bento boxes with plenty of tempura like I remember AMBIANCE - 5 stars...for consistencySERVICE - 5 stars...she treated me kindly even as I became that old man talkin' 'bout the good ol' daysTOTAL - 5 stars...thanks for the memoriesRELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

Tasty Taiwanese food! Came for the Taiwanese beef noodle soup (sold out) so got braised meat over noodles instead. Generous portions. Great people. Will be back for that beef noodle next time!

My go-to on Northside of campus to grab a quick lunch with friends or colleagues. I remember eating here freshman year after staying overtime in lab, past dining hall hours. I got the chicken teriyaki bento box, which came with california rolls, miso, tempura, rice, salad, etc. (The fish bento I ordered during my most recent visit also came with chicken). I also recommend their Katsu plates and rice bowls (gyu-don). Once I also ordered the classic 肉燥飯 to-go but ended up finishing it really quickly in the plaza.

Great food and great service. It is a small place but you get really good Japanese and Taiwanese food. It is not cheap but nothing in Berkeley

By sheer location alone, I get why Aki is so popular-- proximity to the UC. LMAO. Gotta love broke college students for keeping mediocre businesses afloat. Still, real estate near the university is high, and I gotta give them props for feeding the next generationFor COVID safety purposes, seating is limited and patrons/staff must wear masks. Interior is REALLY cute. Tiny booths with Japanese-themed paraphernalia all about. Most, like my friend and I, opt for takeout. Others dine at the communal seating area in this cozy plaza. CHICKEN TERIYAKI: On the sweeter side. Generous portions + decent rice. Chicken is tender and absolutely coated in teriyaki glaze. I could see my college self eating here all the time. Adult me would prefer to spend a little more and eat elsewhere LOLLooking at reviews, Aki has been a cornerstone in Berkeley for quite some time-- and likely will continue to be. Good for the price + not bad for student life.