Iyasare has been a staple of Berkeley’s Fourth Street since it first opened in 2013. Led by chef Shotaro Kamio, the restaurant highlights the Tohoku region of Japan’s regional flavors and techniques, using California ingredients, making the Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant a favorite of regulars and newcomers who venture in.
All occasions. Seriously. Although the lunch menu is nearly identical to the dinner menu, the restaurant easily pulls off a casual lunch vibe for a meal with friends or family, before becoming moodier and more intimate for dinner.
Don’t skip the drinks. The menu features a thoughtful list of wines and sake, with most available by the glass or bottle. The sake list in particular brings bottles from specific regions of Japan to this bustling corner of Berkeley alongside a handful of local sake brewers. The cocktails, meanwhile, incorporate Japanese ingredients like yuzu and shiso.