Sumo Roll: Cozy and affordable Japanese food in Berkeley

Sumo Roll

I think I may have just stumbled on another great affordable sushi place that can accommodate my need for low prices without making me miss out on my Japanese favorites! Sumo Roll is a place that does it all, proudly serving Japanese and Japanese-inspired cuisine for prices you can afford in an environment that embraces a Japanese aesthetic. It embraces both coziness and curiosity, frugality and quality, and best of all, traditional recipes and modern tastes. The result is a uniquely enjoyable dining experience that reminds you of Japanese culture.

The ambiance here alone makes it a great place to grab a bite alone or chill with friends.  The decor, complete with some tastefully chosen Japanese artwork, pairs nicely with the soft Japanese music to give off an old-fashioned Japanese vibe. The service is friendly and goes at a nice, leisurely pace. Consider your time here and abbreviated trip to Japan that will allow you to escape the daily grind back in California.

And the food here does not disappoint. Classics like tekka and sake maki are made with great care for tradition and come with all the right touches, like good soy sauce, plenty of wasabi, and more than enough pickled ginger. The fish comes nestled on a lovely bed of soft, sticky white rice, and unless you order it without, these maki rolls come with a delightful bit of green onion for flavor.  The hamachi avocado rolls are also a safe bet. With the same rice, this roll is inverted so that the rice, which is rolled in delicious sesame seeds, is on the outside. The hamachi and avocado make a nice team, and the result is tasty and impressive. For the adventuresome type, you can try the sushi burritos, which are impressively thick and filled to the brim with delightful Japanese ingredients. Everything is affordable and freshly prepared.

Your money stretches further here than you would expect. The traditional rolls are a good size (the size you would expect) and come eight to a plate. The sushi burritos come cut in half and are so big that they’re hard to hold. There’s a good amount of sushi-grade fish used on everything. I took a look at what the other patrons were eating and saw they had impressive portion sizes for the prices as well.

I’m so glad I finally discovered this place! I love finding good food in the Bay Area for great prices, and this cozy, Japanese-style restaurant certainly fits the bill. It’s yummy, inexpensive, and a really peaceful place to relax. It just might become my new go-to in the area for sushi!