"Smaller than their location in the city"   My Rating
57 Mimi710	Posted on: Thursday, April 23, 2009
	Review: The Berkeley Cha-Ya is much smaller than the one in the City, but the food is just as good. The staff here seems to be more friendly as well - although I have only been to the location in the city once so I may have been there on an off night. There are lots of things to chose from on the menu. See my review for their location in the city for more information.   Pros: yummy food * lots to chose from * Cons: smaller than location in the city * can be pricy *
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"Delicious all-vegan Japanese food"   My Rating
4 mudswallow	Posted on: Monday, July 28, 2008
	Review: I took my picky-picky, lactose-intolerant, egg-hating, vegetarian daughter here for lunch on a Saturday. There was no wait, the service was friendly and efficient, and the food was creative and delicious. (I am soooo sick of the substandard veg food served at many low-cost veg or semi-veg restaurants.) The prices were very reasonable for this quality of Japanese food. The food at Cha-Ya was superior to that served by most non-veg Japanese restaurants that I ate at prior to becoming veg a couple of years ago. There were no simulated meat dishes (yea!) We had the cold soba, tempura veggies, miso soup, sushi, and the Happy Moon dessert. It was all delicious; even my daughter loved everything. The whole meal cost $30., including drinks, tax, and a generous tip. It is possible to have a very satisfying lunch for less than $10. (if you're not a 6 1/2 foot tall athlete who prefers quantity over quality). We will return to Cha-Ya in the future, with friends and family in tow.   Pros: All vegan * Excellent food * Pleasant atmosphere Cons: * *
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"best vegan in Berkeley"   My Rating
16 vduplessis	Posted on: Saturday, July 19, 2008
	Review: wow- I have had everything on the menu & LOVED every single thing. Must get the goma ae, any of their special sushi rolls (Shattuck, Vegan, Cha Ya, etc), soba salad, & the specials posted on the wall. my only beefs: the wait staff can be rude & this one sushi chef (who is a really sweet guy!) wears the grossest violent & sexist shirts! and be prepared to wait if you come durign prime dining time!   Pros: AMAZING FOOD! * * Cons: long wait * rude staff * small tables
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"Good prices, passable food"   My Rating
97 condekedar	Posted on: Sunday, July 06, 2008
	Review: I appreciate the large, all-vegan menu at Cha-ya, but was not thoroughly impressed with the food. My kitsune noodle soup was a bit too salty and didn't stand out in any way. The tempura didn't taste right and the miso soup seemed more like a veggie soup than anything else. My chocolate mousse cake was dry. Prices at Cha-ya are good, and the space is quaint and inviting. But the food was only decent and nothing special. The service was wonky and curt and all of our dishes came out at random times. I appreciate any all-veg restaurant, but this one has some room to improve.   Pros: Vegan * Prices * Ambience Cons: Mediocre food * Service *
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"amazing!"   My Rating
10 vegan girl 24	Posted on: Monday, May 26, 2008
	Review: this place is ridiculous--all vegan japanese food. sometimes i dream about it.... where to start--you will have trouble deciding because everything sounds and IS amazing...but the gyoza are so good, the miso soup rocks, of course the sushi is delicious, and i can't remember what it is called but it is a soup noodle veggie dish that is amazing. top it all off with some warm chocolate cake (if they have it) which is like amazingness in your mouth. staff are really friendly. prices are reasonable for how delicious it all is. just be prepared--the place is small, so you might have to wait!   Pros: delicious * all vegan! * Cons: * *
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"Don't remember what was ordered..."   My Rating
8 P.NutButter	Posted on: Wednesday, April 09, 2008
	Review: but it really doesn't matter because this place was fantastic. went with 2 others and we all ordered quite a few things off the menu, and everything was fantastic! I have only been once and been meaning to go ever since. the only thing that has put me off- very small with limited seating and there is ALWAYS a wait. Aside from that, highly recommend this place...no one will be disappointed.   Pros: amazing vegan japanese * * Cons: parking * can have long wait * very small
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"Amazing Japense food!!"   My Rating
5 Qdebra7	Posted on: Wednesday, March 21, 2007
	Review: This is my favorite restaurant in Berkeley! The salads are beautiful and delicious!! We've tried every appetizer on the menu and they all are amazing - the curries are delicious too. I always have the spinach with sesame dressing salad! Many people rave about the sushi rolls, but I never have room for them. The desserts are also great. For dining out, the place is really inexpensive for the quality of the food you get!   Pros: Excellent food * Great service * All vegan rocks!! Cons: Too small a space * Sometimes there's a wait *
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"dreamy"   My Rating
13 cassius	Posted on: Monday, January 29, 2007
	Review: this is japanese food heaven. inventive, fresh, wonderful dishes. I first found this place 6 years ago, and even though I live in NYC now, everytime I'm in the bay area I must make a pilgrimage. You must love japanese food or at least be open to it to dig this place.   Pros: woman-run * creative dishes * fresh ingredients Cons: small, sometimes a wait * *
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"Cha-Ya"   My Rating
9 bavegan	Posted on: Thursday, December 28, 2006
	Review: Delicious food! A bit pricey, yes, but worth the money. Seating is limited, but the wait is not outrageous. They do a good job moving the line... I don't think the portions are too small. I always take food home with me and never have had room for dessert.   Pros: good food * * Cons: little bit expensive * *
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"It was good"   My Rating
11 spidey	Posted on: Saturday, July 08, 2006
	Review: I was up in Berkeley this week and i had to try this place out. The food was really good, their miso soup (in my opinion) was killer. I cant believe no one else has mentioned how small the portions are for the price , i mean i wasnt expecting 5lbs of food , but the soup i finished in like 2 slurps, same with my entree.   Pros: really tasty food * great variety * nice atmosphere Cons: small portions......or... * a little too expensive *
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"Delicious"   My Rating
305 Chia	Posted on: Wednesday, September 28, 2005
	Review: The food is reasonably priced and very delicious. I liked the Cha-Ya rolls. Seating is limited, and it gets busy on weekend nights, but the wait is brief.   Pros: many choices * authentic Japanese * fast service Cons: uses microwave sometime * *
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