Cha-ya

Pros: Great vegan food, fast service, good prices.
Cons: Small dining room may produce long waits. Then again, perhaps not...

This relative newcomer maintains a low profile on the southern edge of Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto. It takes some audacity to open an eatery in this vaunted district and some sound culinary chops to remain in business, what with all the stiff competition. ...

Pros: Nearly perfect cuisine is beautifully presented.
Cons: Restaurant is TINY, has a wait, and too-busy servers.

This Japanese restaurant is more creative (tempura-fried sushi) yet more traditional (delicate and well-balanced; nothing soaked in sugary teriyaki sauce) than any other I've visited. The cha-ya roll is a must, and the pot stickers are phenomenal.

Pros: excellent food, reasonable prices
Cons: limited seating, difficult parking

I have to just confess -- given that I could eat here every night and not be bored, this is by default my favorite restaurant.

This place is popular and small - if you don't get their early, just order carryout and pick it up on your way to the guerrilla drive in or wherever you are going. Yeah - it's tiny, the staff don't all speak perfect English, they are busy with many customers but the food is outstanding. Who says vegans & vegetarians ONLY want healthy food? Give me fried sushi rolls, man! I love the agedashi tofu (no fish sauce! no bonito flakes!)

The prices are great - two people can stuff themselves like pigs for less than $20 each! Some of the dishes leave a bit to be desired -- I'm not a fan of the tofu custard (ick!?!) but there are many yummy rolls, the kinoko udon and the kinoko miso are rockstar.

Try the avocado tempura roll - it's astonishingly tasty (you'll order a second one, I promise!).

If you can't manage to get there early, and don't want take out - it's worth the wait!