We have been to Japan so many times, and Musashi is our go to restaurant if we are craving for some authentic Japanese food. We like the Karaage, Shrimp Tempura, Agedashi Tofu, Chawan Mushi, and Chirashi. The price is very fair in Berkeley. If you want To come here with a group of friends, highly recommend to make reservation!

I can't begin to share how humbled I am to have such an amazing dining experience with the staff at this traditional joint. You can taste the attention to detail that was put into the food. Had the poke tuna with radish pasta and the 72 hour miso marinaded black cod. The cod, oh my GOD. I'd go into more detail if I was getting paid to write this review. Suffice it to say, you need to visit. This joint is a refreshing experience from the otherwise typical American favored Japanese dishes; expand your palette, dine here and open yourself up to the experience.

We sat outside on a Tuesday early evening after a hike in the Berkeley hills. The slow arrival of our waitress foreshadowed the service pattern for our visit. We ordered an appetizer and sake wine when our water arrived, then waited more than one quarter hour for their arrival. I knew our visit was a failure when the wife reported she was feeling cold and preferred to take home the rest of our order. The waitress apologized for the delay in service, which was respectful, but it really wasn’t her fault. I believe she was the only server for two rooms and the two outdoor tables. I’ve worked as a busboy and a waiter. She was presented with an impossible task. Although the sashimi and seaweed appetizers were tasty and fresh, and despite residing only a few blocks away, we won’t return to Musashi. 11/1/21

Very good sashimi and rolls. A little slow to initially get service but overall a nice restaurant. We ate a lot and spent a lot. Could have ordered less and been very happy with the meal.

The Musashi Japanese restaurant is great. The wait, was not long at all. I did, the outdoor dining. There only 2 tables available outdoor. The waitor is very nice! I ordered mixed tempera and, my favorite sushi Ikura. Both were good. I did, get, rice first. Then miso soup came and, salad came last. I will be back for more. No problem with the waiting time. The place did get busy. However food was ready promptly! I am pleased when the tempera so delicious! Overall experience was nice!

I went here when the restaurant just opened at 5pm and had to wait 45 min before receiving my food for a table of two. The salmon roll was okay, but the rice was kind of hard and the seaweed was hard to chew. I also ordered the weekly special that is served until 7pm but it was not great. I would not eat it again. So this restaurant is terrible at both OG dishes and their special dishes. I’m confused at the price point of this restaurant and the level of service I received. Ruined my Valentine’s Day and left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Great neighborhood place. Authentic, non complicated. Great Agedashi tofu! Great fish specials.

A delicious array of options! I wish i had seen the chalkboard of sushi available in the 2nd room before we left/ordered. It had the day's specials. The shochu list is great, and very yummy. The staff is attentive and thoughtful in many ways, even though we stashed ourselves away in a corner -- we were never forgotten!

Musashi offers a delightful culinary journey with its impeccable fusion of traditional Japanese flavors and modern presentation, creating a dining experience that is both authentic and innovative.

I ordered a Nabeyaki udon, the portion was very small for $22 and chicken tasted yucky/ a bit slimy I had to pick all the tiny pieces out. The broth was very delicious though, I wouldn’t recommend getting udon here there are way better places in Oakland. I didn’t order any sushi but everyones sushi looked delicious, maybe I’ll go back and try some rolls.

Ohitashi (spinach) is refreshing and comes in a fairly generous portion. Chirashi is so beautiful. 🥹Judging from other reviews, mini set seems to have the same selection but half the size. I am going back to England soon so… And it is a tall and huge bowl with almost two layers of fish in thick cut. Shrimp, scallop, octopus, albacore, hamachi, mackerel, akami, cute squid and shiso rolls, salmon and ikura, flounder(?)… literally everything on the menu and probably more. The fish is mostly plump and fresh, although the red meat fish especially the albacore, tuna, and tail part of mackerel is fishier than normal. Tamagoyaki is homely, eggy and not too sweet. Yes mini size should be more than enough for a normal human. Yes I ate too much. In summary, the chirashi don has great value, gorgeous presentation, and overall fair quality.

Very reliable and simple Japanese restaurant right off of shaddock. We live nearby and frequent this place. It’s pretty simple Japanese dishes, but it’s all executed well with good ingredients at a reasonable price. The atmosphere depends a little on where you sit. The color temperature on their light fixtures are not consistent and you could get stuck under a colder (bluish hue) light, which isn’t ideal. There is sometimes an out door table or two, which is great if you have a dog. Overall - it is a passable ambiance. Service is solid with friendly staff. Overall - it’s a good spot. We keep coming back.

Don’t typically write reviews but for something rated so highly I expected so much more. Truly, one of the worst sushi places I’ve ever been to. Our avocado was browning, our rice mushy and overcooked, the fish was flavorless. Our ramen was overly salty with just 3 pieces of meat. We spent $65 for two people (two rolls and a ramen) and left hungry and dissatisfied. The service was horrible. We stood waiting for 20 minutes with our name on a list before anyone even acknowledged us, just to sit at the bar that was open the whole time we were there. Food took forever and was an overall expensive and unenjoyable experience.

They have a really great and fresh fish selection. Including some hard to find varieties. Always made with care and delicious. A nice selection of sake as well.

Service was great however food was hit or miss. There chawanmushi was great salmon was good, but the yakitory was not, green tea came frozen, uni was really bad. Chicken skin was bland

I found it pretty good, my partner liked it more. Much of what we didn’t order on the menu looked delicious. I would go back!

This is a true hidden gem. The quality of food here is phenomenal. I've been get food to go for years, but had time to dine in recently. Service was good even though they were packed. But i only have 4 stars for atmosphere as I perfer a cozier sushi dining experience.

I love their Happy Hour for the small bites. Very affordable and fun! Highly recommend. The food is very tasty!

Laughable customer service. More people were waiting outside than eating at the restaurant. Empty seats inside but they were not being filled. For 30 mins 4 parties left but only one party got seated. Do not recommend.

Very authentic--probably one of the better sushi restaurants in Berkeley at a reasonable price point. That being said, be prepared to wait; the service was incredibly slow.

Our last minute decision turned into our favorite meal of the month! My housemates and I hadn’t even realized that Musashi was only three blocks from our house so as soon as we saw that we booked it to the restaurant hoping there wasn’t a line. Thankfully we were seated immediately. Ive been to quite a few Japanese restaurants in the bay area but none of them, except this spot, have ever brought us side dishes before we ordered our food! It was simple boiled sweet potatoes but it was a great way to settle our stomachs before we took a look at the menu. The menu had a great variety of things but we didn’t want anything too big, so both of us ordered one mini set each. I had the Salmon and Ikura Don and my housemate had the Tuna Poke Don. Each set came with miso soup and traditional pickled items. The best part about the mini sets is that they’re only $19 each! I’ve had food from Musashi before, but only their premade rolls and nigiri that they sell at Yaoya-San in El Cerrito. Even those rolls are pretty good quality despite sitting in a fridge all day! But wow, we were super pleased when we tasted how smooth and buttery the salmon was. The tuna in the poke was also nice and firm, and not water-logged. I appreciate that Musashi takes pride in the quality and presentation of their food. Definitely a new go to spot since they’re so close by!

This was the 1st Japanese restaurant I had ever been too & have to say was worried if I was gonna like anything they had to eat. I ordered the Teriyaki chicken. It came w/ soup, salad , rice & steamed veggies. I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since. It was so *Delicious* to say the least!! And I also had some Plum wine. Now Im not a wine fan but this wine OMG was the BEST wine I have ever had in my entire life. This is no joke. It was the best I'd ever had!! You have to check this place out. And try the Teriyaki Chicken & Plum wine!! You won't be sorry. I can promise you that!!

Have been eating their take-out sushi plates and platters for decades. Boxes are available at Tokyo Fish and Yaoya-San. Japanese American friends order platters for Japanese New Years banquets. Dine in tempura is ample and tasty. Tonkatsu is OK. Tried a wappa set recently, steamed fish or meat over shredded egg and rice with a side of chawanmushi (savory egg custard). Friendly service.

The sushi here is make with excellent quality and the prices suit it. Come here if you value refined classic textures and balanced plating for your sushi places.

Dined in. Lovely staff and excellent food. Quaint ambiance. We ordered almost completely off the happy hour menu right around 7 pm, plus a few vegan rolls (there are 7 or 8). The two of us left full and relaxed for $68.

I'd say... Good! This place reminds me of the beautiful time I spent in Japan. The place is unpretentious but the service is good and the food is what I would love to find in a proper japanese restaurant. Thank you!