Among the more popular vegetarian restaurants in Berkeley. Affordable all vegan menu offers a wide variety of options from sushi rolls, soups, salads, rice bowls, noodles, combination sets, to desserts. Small & cozy, busy on weekends. Note: sugar maybe not vegan, ask. No credit cards accepted but they do have an atm. Open Mon 12:00pm-3:00pm, 5:00pm-8:00pm, Wed-Sun 12:00pm-3:00pm, 5:00pm-8:00pm. Closed Tue. Hours many vary - call ahead.
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1686 Shattuck Ave (at Francisco between Cedar & University), Berkeley, California, USA, 94709
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- Cash only
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Last update on 12 Jan 2024 by villain
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82 Reviews
First Review by spidey
JKay
Points +156
Fully Vegan Japanese restaurant, cash or Venmo only! (5/5 green stars) - Edit
Cha-ya has been around for decades and it’s still a good choice for tasty, vegan Japanese food. Yes, it’s actually a fully vegan restaurant even though it’s more widely known as “merely” vegetarian. If you search for vegan Japanese restaurants in Berkeley, the limelight may be stolen by Tane Vegan Izakaya, also on Shattuck Ave. But Cha-ya is well worth a visit for lovers of Japanese food and/or vegans and vegetarians. It’s not as hip or stylish as Tane (honestly, Cha-ya could do with a bit of a makeover) but they do the best version of several Japanese dishes that I’ve had. From the website: “no product derived from animals of any kind are ever used” (no meat, dairy, fish, gelatin, etc.).
Read moreDefinitely considering having the agadashi tofu and goma ae to share (or have all on your own). Then, one of my favorites is the Taku-Sui which is described as Pot stickers, tofu, zucchini, nappa cabbage, snap peas, asparagus , broccoli, cauliflower, silver noodles, and mushrooms in a light broth and served with a ponzu citrus sauce. This dish has inspired me to make something similar at home, quite often. The Cha-ya nabe is similar but with delicious fresh ingredients like kabocha squash and spinach instead of the potstickers. Another favorite, if you’re in the mood for lots of salty miso, is the Dengaku: Broiled eggplant tofu, and portobello mushroom with miso-paste glaze.
There’s a second branch in The Mission district in SF and remember that this Berkeley branch is Cash or Venmo ONLY!
I’m also giving Cha-ya 5/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact because Cha-ya is a completely vegan restaurant. Adopting a plant-based diet is the top thing you can do to mitigate climate change, deforestation, animal cruelty, and food scarcity. They could do a better job at providing information on ingredient sourcing, however (e.g., is any pesticide-free or organic?)
Please join in and include a Green Stars rating with your own reviews!
Pros: Casual, Consistent, Delicious food
Cons: Restaurant could do with a makeover
Guest
cyanic_eevee
Points +369
Hearty taste - Edit
The Yasai had some great toppings, the carrots were heart shaped! The avocado tempura roll was nice too. Only drawback is while ordering delivery they keep the udon in the soup, so it was pretty soggy when it got there but still good.
Read moreGuest
SusanW
Points +33
Fresh and Delicious - Edit
One of my favorite places. Really excellent veggie sushi. Best miso soup I’ve ever had. Lots of healthy options. The only place I will eat veggie tempura. Highly recommended.
Read moreGuest
artoonie
Points +265
Simple delicate flavors - Edit
I love coming here for gentle meals. The Moon Garden is such a pretty dish, very lightly seasoned.
Read moreGuest
ynwa
Points +2016
All vegan Japanese - Edit
Try the miso soup and dumplings. The vegan roll is quite big individually so a bit hard to eat.
Read moreGuest
SarahS88
Points +2097
Delicious and very reasonably priced - Edit
Delicious options, so tasty, always kind and reasonably priced
Read moreGuest
Geeokonkwo
Points +459
Delicious n fresh! - Edit
Consistently great! Can have my yums😋 and eat my veggies too!
Read morePros: They know how to prepare veggies well!, Love an all vegan spot💯, They accept Uber eats coupons😅
Cons: Where's the ramen??
Guest
madmadgrrl
Points +262
Fresh & yummy - Edit
Food is very healthy & elegant. Favorite!
Read moreGuest
jfnoubel
Points +47
Just delicious - Edit
Tasty, great menu, lots of choice and cruelty free. What more can we ask?
Read morePros: The menu
Guest
Gopala108
Points +2920
All vegan Japanese food is done right here! - Edit
I recently visited Cha-Ya with my friend & loved the food as well as my experience here. I spent a week in Japan a few years ago & was difficult to be vegan in Japan as fish & meat stock is in lots of things however my survival skill I learned was to seek out shojin ryori which is seasonal cuisine that happens to be vegan. The shojin ryori cuisine & items found at Macrobiotic restaurants in Japan was amazing!
Read moreI was delighted to find out that all of the menu at Cha-Ya is shojin ryori. Me & my friend split a few dishes including a sea vegetable salad, two sushi rolls, & one of the popular entrees. All of it was well presented, simply seasoned, & flavorful. I really love the vibe of Cha-Ya is pretty relaxed with amazing food as it isn't too upscale. There is also a Cha-Ya in San Francisco.
All vegan Japanese food is done right here!
Pros: All vegan Japanese food is done right here!
Guest
livegreenwearblack
Points +313
The BEST Vegan Japanese Food! - Edit
I remember waiting on the sidewalk in a long line for the cash-only vegan sushi that everyone wanted. If you look at the restaurant -- you'll see that the right side is slightly separate from the left. The right side is the original part of the restaurant which had one tiny bathroom and only space for 4 tables, plus a few seats at the sushi (bar squeezing in maybe 10-12 people). Then - VOILA! - the nextdoor neighbor moved and Cha-Ya expanded their dining room into the other side and improved the bathrooms. It doesn't seem too long ago but was probably close to 10 years ago.
Read moreNow there's plenty of seating and the food is still excellent -- it is amazing that they are able to maintain such great quality and reasonable prices for 20+ years.
I highly recommend that you order the avocado tempura urumaki - it's my favorite dish. They also have an outstanding kinoko miso - and the kinoko noodles are also really good.
Do not miss Agadashi Tofu! Berkeley Roll & Shattuck Roll are also amazing - along with the Goma Ae
Pros: Kinoko Miso, Shattuck Roll, Agadashi Tofu
Guest
GoodNewsVeg
Points +366
Clean, Delicious Food - Edit
We eat lunch here at least once a week and never get tired of it. The sushi is incredible, the soups are outrageously good, and the appetizer specials change frequently - all delicious. The atmosphere isn't much, but the food makes up for it. So great to have a place to eat that doesn't load the food with salt, sugar and oil. Just lots of fresh flavor. Thank you, Cha-ya! p.s. They only take cash or Venmo.
Read moreGuest
RobertD
Points +125
Always so good - Edit
From sukiyaki to rolls everything is great
Read morePros: Easier ordering now with online for pickup or deli, Everything is so good
Cons: None
Guest
AshleyLorden
Points +1238
Healthy, comforting, delicious - Edit
Though it’s not exactly cheap, Cha-ya offers accessible Japanese food that’s totally worth the price. Same menu as sister restaurant in SF. Call or order online for pickup, or dine in with tranquil indoor seating. There are some less-healthy options available but most of the menu is healthy whole foods served with care. I enjoy the food and like to support this business.
Read morePros: Completely vegan with healthy whole foods , High quality food
Guest
karzazen
Points +554
Close at 3pm drove all the way waste gas for nothing - Edit
We arrived at 3:03. Happy cow says they close at 8pm. Lady said they close at 3pm and she won't even take us. We drove all the way from airport. It was a 35 mins drive . Waste time waste money .
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-01-09
Pros: Closed at 3pm , Drove all the way here for nothing , Water time waste money
Cons: Waste time waste money , Close at 3pm didn't update, Arrived at 3:03 they won't take us
foon
Your last two reviews were 2 stars cause a place didn’t seat you when you didn’t bother to call ahead and check that they would… maybe there’s a lesson there
Read morekarzazen
Strange how businesses knows how to advertise the hours as close at 8pm but don't bother to add close at 3pm and reopen ..... Instead the potential client got scolded. So you don't bother to ask if I try to call but nobody picked up... It's hard it is being a vegan I don't need strangers to add to my stress. I guess that's why the plant based movement is going to fail. Vegans are just mean to other vegans.
Read morekarzazen
The whole point of Happy Cow for users is so they don't have to go look at website or Google. I am warning other users they don't have to bring their whole family there and get rejected. We were only 3 mins late. I asked the lady to change the hours she kinda brushed me off.
Read morefoon
HappyCow is a database run by volunteers. The way to warn other users is to edit the hours on HappyCow to match what’s posted on the website, not to leave the restaurant a bad review. Just practically speaking, many more people will look at the hours than at the review. If you want to help, that’s more useful.
Read morekarzazen
We are from out of town we told her we had just arrived from airport . She didn't really want to help. If you are so good at reading websites go check their website it didn't mention 3pm close. It says 8:30pm last seating. If you come to my town we would not be so rude to start arguing about your comment of restaurants who forgot to update their website about the hours. I feel I am being attacked right now and being punished because my family and I come from out of town and didn't know most restaurants close at 3pm. Stop attacking me and my family. Vegans are mean to other vegans. Don't worry, if I can help it I won't come back to Oakland. So just STOP! LIFE IS HARD BEING A VEGAN ALREADY!
Read moreForman
I was trying to help😳 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻
Read morekarzazen
Help the restaurant owners or me? I feel like you are trying to put me down . It wasn't a help I am sure you know it.
Read moreForman
Wow. When I see a person having a problem on HC I look into it. I see there is no way to communicate with this restaurant with out calling them. I looked at there website and messaged Happy Cow to update the posted hours. Did you notice that? HC also added to call ahead cause the restaurant seems to be F’ed up with there hours. Don’t know what else to say.
Read morekarzazen
This is great for HC users !
Read moreGuest
ajaff
Points +216
Never disappoints - Edit
This place constantly delivers. Very good vegan sushi options!
Read moreGuest
Mimi710
Points +640
So comforting - Edit
Cha-ya is so comforting, especially after a cold bike ride out of the Berkeley Hills, but also anytime. There is lots to chose from. I've never had an item I didn't like there. An old boss who was not vegan and lived in Japan for the military for 7 years was impressed by the authenticity of the restaurant. Definitely give Cha-ya your business.
Read moreThey used to be cash only, but started taking Venmo during the pandemic. I'm not sure if that is still the case or not.
Updated from previous review on 2022-10-04
Pros: yummy food, lots to chose from
Guest
ChristianeBrossi
Points +50
Fantastic vegan Japanese! - Edit
Every time I go there the food is fantastic, beautifully presented and satisfying. I highly recommend it.
Read moreGuest
JacobBuenodeMesquita
Points +22
Great vegan spot for warm soups and bowls and more - Edit
Delicious, all vegan despite presenting as vegetarian. Wish they had outdoor seating.
Read moreCons: No apparent outdoor dining
Guest
aner1kind17
Points +1289
Average - Edit
It was good, but not great. I had the mushroom noodles, gyoza, and curry rice. It felt a little like Shangri-la but without the large portions and flavoring.
Read moreGuest
villain
Points +8173
Ready quick and delicious - Edit
Getting our food took a little less than 10 minutes and it was delicious. The agedashi tofu is the best I've had and the vegan roll was a great option.
Read morePros: Fast preparation
Cons: No outdoor seating
Guest
Djo
Points +140
Delicious Japanese Food - Edit
I’ve been here many times. My fave is the soba noodle curry soup. But everything is tasty. Great to be able to eat Japanese without the meat.
Read morePros: All vegan, Wonderful flavors, Friendly staff
Guest
2or3godzillas
Points +16
Disappointed - Edit
The vegetables used for the center of the sushi were not fresh at all
Read moreCons: Old, (not rotten), but not fresh ingredients
Guest
andersedson
Points +44
Vegan Sushi - Edit
This was my first experience with vegan sushi and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely return here
Read moreGuest
zacharyzollman
Points +435
food is great, some room for improvement - Edit
The food that I’ve gotten here is delectable and beautiful. It seems like there are a lot of options but the menu isn’t labeled with vegan items so there’s some ambiguity. The space itself isn’t extraordinary and the payment options could be more expansive.
Read moreGuest
misabella
Points +3314
Superb Sushi! - Edit
This place is amazing. I can honestly say that everything I’ve tried so far, including the potstickers and agedashi tofu, were the best I’ve ever had, vegan or not.
Read moreEverything is so wonderfully delicate yet absolutely richly bursting with flavor and perfectly balanced.
The cucumber and plum sushi was amazing; I was so curious to try this interesting combination and so pleasantly surprised, just the right amount of tangy sweetness from the plum. The ginger was also the best I’ve ever had, easily. So delicate it practically melts in your mouth!
The only drawback nowadays is that dishes like the tofu would be even more outstanding eating warm straight away, but even with COVID and the necessity of waiting a bit to eat, everything is still delicious (which says something in itself).
I can’t wait to come back here!
They only take cash or Venmo
Updated from previous review on 2021-04-23
Pros: Amazing food, Good, friendly service
Cons: Not the optimal cuisine for takeout in COVID time
Guest
theresa.ktw
Points +42
delicious vegan sushi and gyoza - Edit
Haven’t had the luxury of a deep fried roll since going vegan! So yummy. The gyoza was great. Very quick service as well. Thank you Happy Cow for introducing me to this place! I’ve been walking past this place for years and didn’t know how great it was.
Read moreGuest
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