Ebiko: This New Oakland Restaurant Serves Stunning (and Affordable) Sushi To-Go | Eater SF

"I found Ebiko to be a takeout-only sushi spot David Liu opened in September on Piedmont Avenue (in the former Gaylord’s Coffee space) where his passion for pristine fish and artful, modern presentations is obvious. In just weeks it has built a following for a super-fresh, ever-changing selection of nigiri, rolls, and bowls offered at modest prices: the cold case often features little cups of uni with Japanese cucumber, black masago, and orange salmon roe atop sushi rice; eel nigiri; pale-pink seared salmon (aburi) topped with a sprinkle of black roe; and an artful kaisen don rice box crowned with crab meat, sashimi slices, ikura, and an edible viola. The seven-piece omakase nigiri varies through the week (often salmon, bluefin tuna, otoro, hamachi with a dab of yuzu kosho, and sea scallop, with wasabi and pickled ginger). Rolls include eel, spicy tuna, vegetarian futomaki, and salmon avocado, and daily specials rotate from spicy salmon rolls to chutoro poke bowls and deluxe kaisen don with sweet shrimp (heads included), salmon roe, sea urchin, red crab, and assorted sashimi. Liu and his team make everything fresh onsite daily, which explains why items like the salmon nigiri, tsukemono pickle sampler, and edamame taste so fresh. He’s planning to add hot donburi curry and sushi party platters soon, and the shop also stocks a range of Japanese snacks (wasabi peas, Pocky, Pretz, Mhapi Sriracha peas, Calbee shrimp chips, white truffle potato chips) and eclectic drinks (Hojicha iced tea, iced coffee, Kimino and Ramune soft drinks, and Izumu MTN WTR)." - Maria C. Hunt