Nestled in downtown Berkeley, Fish & Bird serves up an enticing modern Japanese izakaya experience, where inventive small plates and sizzling yakiniku delights transform traditional fare into a contemporary culinary adventure.
"This downtown Berkeley izakaya made a name for itself for its inventive, forward-thinking small plates. Settle into the stylish dining room to enjoy sashimi, curry, and more. Try to work in the housemade soft tofu, plus a dessert to close out the meal." - Dianne de Guzman
"Fish & Bird is one of a number of ambitious Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area that never used to be a sushi restaurant per se — even if they had a couple of sashimi options on the menu — that later shifted gears. Fish & Bird is best known for its stylish, creative izakaya dishes that landed the restaurant a mention in the Michelin Guide. It’s a great place for groups who prefer different styles of Japanese food under one roof." - Dianne de Guzman, Luke Tsai
"Helmed by former B-Dama chefs Asuka Uchida and Shin Okamoto, this sleek downtown Berkeley izakaya serves some of the Bay Area’s most inventive, forward-thinking Japanese food. Think fried black cod fish cakes that ooze with melted cheese curds. It also has largely reinvented itself to focus on pure comfort food with katsu sandwiches and rice boxes." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff
"Berkeley has a fair share of casual izakayas serving passable but slightly underwhelming dishes. But not Fish & Bird. The food at this lively and a tad upscale spot downtown stars traditional Japanese dishes, zhuzhed up by the freshest seasonal produce, simple-yet-stylish presentation, and neurosurgery-level attention to detail. Lightly fried green beans topped with curry sansho salt are crunchy perfection. The housemade soft tofu is a cream bomb topped with scallions and ginger. If the night calls for seafood, the chef’s selection of thick-cut sashimi is fantastic. The menu changes daily, so no two visits will ever be the same. " - Julia Chen 1, Lani Conway
"Berkeley has a fair share of casual izakayas serving passable but slightly underwhelming dishes. But not Fish & Bird. The food at this lively and a tad upscale spot downtown stars traditional Japanese dishes zhuzhed up by the freshest seasonal produce, simple yet stylish presentation, and neurosurgery-level attention to detail. Lightly fried green beans topped with curry sansho salt are crunchy perfection. The housemade soft tofu is a cream bomb topped with scallions and ginger. If the night calls for seafood, the chef’s selection of thick-cut sashimi is fantastic. The menu changes daily, so no two visits will ever be the same. " - Julia Chen
