Kuriya Japanese Kitchen Introduce
For discerning diners in California, especially those in the East Bay, the quest for an extraordinary Japanese culinary experience often leads to a standout establishment. In Albany, nestled on San Pablo Avenue, Kuriya Japanese Kitchen has firmly established itself as a beloved local gem, celebrated for its exquisite sushi, diverse menu, and truly memorable dining atmosphere. It's a place that captures the essence of Japanese artistry, delivering dishes that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Kuriya Japanese Kitchen is not just another Japanese restaurant; it's a destination where the freshness of ingredients, the skill of preparation, and the warmth of hospitality converge. From the moment you taste their "buttery and fresh" nigiri to admiring the "stunning" presentation of their sushi platters, it's clear that every detail is crafted with care. Patrons consistently rave about the "melt-in-your-mouth delicious" quality of their sushi and the creativity of their rolls, some even beautifully shaped like flowers. Whether you're a sushi connoisseur, a ramen enthusiast, or simply looking to explore authentic Japanese flavors, Kuriya Japanese Kitchen offers an experience that has many customers returning "the next day for more."
Kuriya Japanese Kitchen is conveniently located at 809 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706, USA. This prime spot on San Pablo Avenue places it in the heart of Albany's vibrant commercial district, a bustling corridor that connects various East Bay cities. San Pablo Avenue is well-known for its array of local businesses, shops, and eateries, creating a dynamic and accessible neighborhood feel.
Getting to Kuriya Japanese Kitchen is generally straightforward for those in the East Bay. For drivers, street parking is often available nearby, though it can be busy during peak dining hours. Its location makes it easily reachable from neighboring communities such as Berkeley, El Cerrito, and Richmond. For those who prefer public transportation, numerous AC Transit bus lines run along San Pablo Avenue, providing convenient access. The restaurant is well-integrated into the local fabric of Albany, making it a natural choice for residents seeking high-quality Japanese cuisine without traveling far. While specific accessibility features beyond its general location are not detailed, its prominent position on a main thoroughfare typically indicates ease of access.
Kuriya Japanese Kitchen provides a comprehensive suite of services designed to cater to various dining preferences, ensuring a delightful and convenient experience for all guests.
- Dine-in Service: Enjoy the inviting ambiance of the restaurant, perfect for everything from a casual meal to a gathering with a "big group" of friends or family. They also offer outdoor seating, which can be covered and heated for comfort in various weather conditions.
- Takeout: For those who prefer to enjoy their Japanese favorites at home, Kuriya Japanese Kitchen offers efficient takeout services.
- Delivery: Customers can conveniently order through various third-party delivery platforms, including Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Fantuan, bringing fresh Japanese cuisine directly to their doorstep.
- Online Ordering: Their official website and associated delivery platforms facilitate easy online ordering for both pickup and delivery.
- Lunch and Dinner Service: Kuriya Japanese Kitchen operates split shifts, serving both lunch (typically 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM) and dinner (4:30 PM - 9:00 PM or 9:30 PM on weekends), Tuesday through Sunday. They are closed on Mondays.
- Vegetarian Options: Their menu includes a range of vegetarian-friendly dishes to cater to plant-based diners.
- Kid-Friendly Options: Kuriya Japanese Kitchen is welcoming to families, offering options suitable for younger diners.
- Sake Selection: For adults, there's a selection of sake, noted by customers to "flow all night" for those enjoying a celebratory meal.
- Gift Cards: Gift cards are available, making it easy to share the Kuriya experience with others.
Kuriya Japanese Kitchen garners consistent praise for several key features that contribute to its standing as a top Japanese restaurant in the Albany area.
- Incredibly Fresh and Buttery Nigiri: This is a major highlight, with customers frequently describing the nigiri as "to die for," "buttery and fresh," and "melt-in-your-mouth delicious." This speaks to the high quality of their fish and expert preparation.
- Stunning Presentation of Sushi Platters: The visual appeal of their dishes is highly lauded. Reviewers mention "vibrant colors and an eye-catching arrangement," including "unique floral-shaped rolls" that are both "beautiful and delicious."
- Creative and Flavorful Sushi Rolls: Beyond classic nigiri, the rolls are celebrated for their creativity and "perfect balance of texture and taste," offering a wide variety that "truly caters to every sushi lover."
- Exceptional Quality and Consistency: Customers repeatedly emphasize the consistent excellence of the food quality, whether dining in or ordering takeout, reinforcing its reliability as a "new go-to sushi spot."
- Friendly and Great Service: The staff at Kuriya Japanese Kitchen are consistently described as "so kind" and providing "great service," creating a welcoming and pleasant dining experience.
- Diverse Menu Beyond Sushi: While sushi is a highlight, Kuriya Japanese Kitchen offers a broad menu that includes savory ramen, mouth-watering bento boxes, sashimi, tempura, and other authentic Japanese dishes, ensuring there's something to delight every palate.
- Welcoming for Groups: The restaurant is noted as being accommodating for "a big group" with a "big appetite," making it suitable for various social gatherings.
- Authentic Japanese Experience: The overall quality of the food and service provides an authentic taste of Japanese cuisine, highly recommended for those "looking for high-quality sushi."
While specific daily or weekly promotions are not widely advertised publicly for Kuriya Japanese Kitchen, their commitment to providing "high-quality sushi" at a price that justifies its value is a constant. Many restaurants of this caliber focus on the consistent excellence of their offerings rather than frequent discounts. However, like many establishments, Kuriya Japanese Kitchen may occasionally feature seasonal specials or participate in local restaurant events, which would typically be announced via in-store signage, their official website (if they have one that displays this), or through their social media channels. Customers ordering through third-party delivery apps like Fantuan sometimes report specific percentage-off promotions (e.g., "30% off"), though these are platform-specific and subject to change. For the most current information on any promotions or seasonal menu items, it is always recommended to check their online presence or call the restaurant directly.
To experience the exquisite Japanese cuisine at Kuriya Japanese Kitchen, you can use the following contact details:
Address:
809 San Pablo Ave
Albany, CA 94706, USA
Phone:
(510) 903-1019
For those living in California, particularly within the dynamic East Bay communities of Albany, Berkeley, and beyond, Kuriya Japanese Kitchen stands out as an exceptionally suitable and highly recommended local dining destination. Its strategic location on San Pablo Avenue ensures easy accessibility, allowing residents to enjoy a premium Japanese meal without extensive travel, whether driving or using local transit.
What truly makes Kuriya Japanese Kitchen a local favorite is its unwavering dedication to delivering an unparalleled Japanese dining experience. The consistent praise for their "incredibly fresh" and "buttery" nigiri, coupled with the "stunning presentation" and "creative" nature of their sushi rolls, speaks to a culinary standard that is truly exceptional. This focus on high-quality ingredients and artistic preparation resonates deeply with Californians who appreciate fresh, meticulously crafted food.
Beyond the superb food, the restaurant’s warm and friendly service, highlighted by customers as "great" and "so kind," creates an inviting atmosphere perfect for any occasion – from a solo treat to a large group gathering where the "sake flowed all night." The diverse menu, offering not only top-tier sushi but also savory ramen, bento boxes, and other authentic Japanese dishes, ensures there's something to satisfy every craving. For those seeking convenience, the robust takeout and delivery options via popular platforms mean that Kuriya Japanese Kitchen's delights are always just a call or click away. In essence, Kuriya Japanese Kitchen offers a harmonious blend of authentic flavors, artistic presentation, and heartfelt service, making it an indispensable part of the Albany culinary landscape for any local Japanese food enthusiast.
Kuriya Japanese Kitchen Photos










Kuriya Japanese Kitchen Location
Kuriya Japanese Kitchen
809 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706, USA
Kuriya Japanese Kitchen Reviews
Incredible place. The nigiri was to die for, buttery and fresh. Came here with a big group and a big appetite. The sake flowed all night.Edit- came back the next day for more. Spectacular.Edit part 2- it’s my FAVORITE sushi restaurant in the area. Great service.
Jan 18, 2025 · Alethea DThe sushi platter was absolutely amazing! The presentation was stunning, with vibrant colors and an eye-catching arrangement. Every piece of sushi was fresh, flavorful, and prepared with care. The rolls were creative, with a perfect balance of texture and taste, while the nigiri was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The variety offered in this platter truly caters to every sushi lover. I especially loved the unique floral-shaped rolls—both beautiful and delicious! Highly recommend for anyone looking for high-quality sushi. Will definitely order again!
Jan 06, 2025 · Shanzhuang ZhaoFebruary 23, 2025Of course we had to come back to see Chef Jackie and his family and of course we sat at the bar again. As always, we let Chef Jackie decide what to serve us and we are always SO excited and satisfied.This time, Chef Jackie served us the Scallop Crudo, which was beautiful raw scallops in a ponzu and olive oil sauce with sprouts; the freshness of the scallops paired with the acidity of the ponzu was so new and refreshing. We also had several nigiri. The quality never disappoints and surpasses so many other restaurants that we have been to. The sushi taco was such a fun mouth experience texturally and flavor wise. The tuna tataki was AMAZING. The ponzu and fresh cracked black pepper was SO fun and tasty. Our favorite sushi restaurant and our favorite family.As always, thank you Chef Jackie and family. ❤️======================2024We came here one night on a whim and are SO HAPPY we did! SIT AT THE BAR FOR AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.First, the service was amazing and unforgettable! We sat at the bar and ordered sushi all night. Chef Jackie made all our food with love and explained each fish to us. He and his family opened this restaurant 3 months ago, but they have been in the business for decades. You can tell they put a lot of care and thought into their food.Next, the fish had amazing quality and was so delicious! You can taste the freshness of each fish, and they're each so different and unique in their own way! Chef Jackie also talked us through how they transport, clean, age, and prepare their fish.Such a wonderful experience. We will definitely be coming back for more food and for the people!!THANK YOU, CHEF JACKIE AND FAMILY.
Feb 24, 2025 · C AWe had a deeply disappointing and distressing experience at this establishment and, based on it, I would not recommend visiting. In short, on Mother’s Day, our blind family faced an inequitable waitlist process, inconsistent and dismissive treatment, and were ultimately yelled at, physically nudged, told we could not take photos for an online review, and had the police called on us by staff.On Mother’s Day, my partner, our toddler, and I chose to celebrate at this location. Upon arrival around 5:50 PM, we were informed there was a waitlist. Staff pointed us to a sign-up sheet and told us there were three parties ahead of us. We waited outside in the cold for nearly 50 minutes.During that time, we overheard the front staff receiving a call about a large party. Shortly after, a group of eight arrived and was seated immediately. Others in line waiting outside with us mentioned tables were being combined to accommodate them. This confused us, if tables were available, why hadn’t we been seated earlier? We asked to speak with a manager inside to better understand the seating policy. While waiting near the entrance, three staff members gave inconsistent explanations: first claiming there was no separate reservation system, then stating that the large party had made a reservation two weeks in advance. As we tried to clarify, the interaction escalated. A male staff member began yelling and physically nudged me out the door, saying they had the right to refuse service and we can’t take photos of their entrance for online review. Shortly after, they threatened to call the police.We remained outside to communicate our side of the story to the Albany Police. The officers listened to both sides and expressed empathy but explained there was little they could do since no crime had occurred. They confirmed the establishment name and address, then suggested we share our experience in writing.This is that review. We want others to be aware of what we experienced: an inequitable waitlist process, dismissive treatment, and an encounter that left us feeling torn down, especially on a day that was supposed to be celebratory.We lost over an hour and a half of our day and had to rush home to get our toddler to bed. The only bright moment came as we were leaving, when a kind person who witness the incident ran up to us and expressed sorrow for our experience, and handed our child a small toy, noticing he was hungry and growing restless.
May 13, 2025 · Ann Wai-Yee Kwonglovely place to sushi. The food is very delicious. The fish is very fresh and they have a great variety. Have many species sushi rolls, nigiri and appetizers you must to try. We sat at the bar. Chef Jackie made all our food and explained each fish to us. The potato toro tartar special recommended by the waiter, very delicious. The service and atmosphere were amazing. serves were fast and waiter was nice too.I had a wonderful experience and will definitely coming back. I recommend this place to everyone!
Oct 20, 2024 · susan Hu
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