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O Chamé
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Asian Fusion Japanese, Asian Fusion [Edit]
1830 4th St(between Virginia St & Hearst Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94710
Neighborhood: Fourth Street
(510) 841-8783
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 3 pm
Mon-Thu, Sun 5:30 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
248 reviews for O Chamé
Review Highlights
"The caramel balsamic gelato was unique and orgasmic."
(in 15 reviews)
"Come here for fantastic udon in a very delightful setting."
(in 91 reviews)
"Soba had the wheat taste but was not rough at all."
(in 56 reviews)
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248 reviews in English
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Review from Noa P.
Emeryville, CA
1/20/2012
Not sure why this place only has 3.5 stars right now. Went there for dinner last week for the first time and was very impressed with the food. I had the yellowtail sashimi salad appetizer, the beef bravette main course, and the flowerless chocolcate torte for dessert. All were very good!
If you go and order these three things you will not be disappointed. The price may be closer to $$$ it was about $90 for 2 of us with one drink each.
Give the place a try it's solid! -
Review from David W.
1/15/2012
Hrmmm... Came here tonight, and was not super impressed, having a hard time deciding between 2 and 3 stars. At least the decor was very nice, from the space itself to the bowls and plates.
We ordered the eel appetizer, panko bread crumb fried mackerel, udon soup with squid, and the poached pears for dessert. The eel was the one thing we really liked -- it was tasty in a sweet sauce, served with endives. The mackerel was not amazing but it was pretty good. The udon was also good but not particularly memorable; if I were to order it again I would get beef or something else instead of squid to add more flavor to it. Lastly the pears were kind of just... pears in a pool of sugar syrup.
So the food was uninspiring but fine. Then add though that in this pretty small restaurant, not once did our waitress come by our table without first being summoned by the hostess, who kept noticing we needed to order/our plates were done/we needed our check. Not worth it. (But thanks to the hostess!) -
Review from Stu S.
Oakland, CA
12/27/2011
We had lunch here yesterday. Even at 2 pm, we had to wait; it is a very small place.
The seared yellow-tail sashimi was a supper-yummy appetizer, even at $14.5. The braised leeks were amazingly good and the horseradish sauce had just the right amount of heat.
We got a Grilled Salmon Bento ($17.5). The salmon was very fresh, but somewhat lacking in flavor. The Vegetable Tempura had minimal grease and came with a kinda blah dipping sauce. The Spinach with Sesame was very good without resorting to lots of sugar, as is the case in many other restaurants. It came with small portions of very tasty Kimpira Gobo, and Takuan Pickles.
They offer several teas for $3, and we enjoyed the two different ones we had.
The noise level is nearly too high to have a conversation. Many of the tables for two are closely spaced together, as was ours. When the server took the order of our neighbor, I moved our table, because her derriere was only inches from our food. -
Review from Joe B.
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've wanted to try O Chamé for years, and when the opportunity of a Groupon presented itself I couldn't resist. It was a holiday weekend, 4th street was brightly lit with Christmas cheer, and it the weather outside wasn't too frightful. (a bit cold, though)
Great service from a friendly, attentive server- Yoshimi was the best. Started out with the arugula, egg, and beet salad. You can't get a more balanced salad for a veggie, so I was pretty pleased to see this on the menu and it tasted great.
I was fighting a cold, so the tofu skin soba noodles with shiitake mushrooms and spinach sounded perfect. I buried my face in that bowl and didn't come up for air until I polished off the whole bowl. They will do a veggie broth if you request it, and it really hit the spot. I think I had the soba noodle sweats after I finished, and that's a good thing for a cold!
The salted caramel balsamic ice cream was just about the most viscous ice cream I've ever had. Long strings of delicious salted caramel ice cream cling to your spoon for dear life because they know there's no way they're escaping your belly. Delicious and a fun dessert to play with!
Perfect winter dinner treat - I know I'll be back for some of those delicious noodles. -
Review from Sandra P.
San Francisco, CA
2/4/2012
If you don't rate O Chame' 5 stars, I can only assume you got the name wrong when you did your review. This place is aweseome!! My friend and I went here for lunch this week and it was absolutely great. It was a chilly day and we both talked about getting soup. She recommended O'Chame', and me, never having been to Berkeley in my life, said yes right away because I wanted A. Udon noodle soup and B. to see Berkeley, if only on my lunch hour. WOW...what a great restaurant! Our service was excellent and the restaurant was super clean. Our table was set up with a rock with chopsticks resting on it so the chopsticks didn't hit the table. Cool! So we ordered the onion and mushroom pancake. I am not a lover of mushrooms, but this was just terrific. Then we each had Udon noodle soup. Mine had roasted breast of chicken and hers had a smoked fish. YUM!! It was hot, the noodles were awesome, and we both were so happy with our soups. They had tables outside for dining too. Great meal, great atmosphere, great place. Definitely a "must eat at soon" place if you're looking for Japanese food in the Berkeley area!
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Review from Jessica P.
Emeryville, CA
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
A cold, wintry night wandering through the colorfully lit holiday scene of 4th street in Berkeley led us to O Chame for some warm udon (ok, and a groupon). It's very soothing inside, dim lighting, minimal design and a warm staff.
Great service and an attentive waitress. We didn't order any drinks but the water glass was always full. The arugula salad app was small but tasty. I wouldn't suggest sharing if you were really hungry, heh. The dressing was really flavorful though and I could tell it was a combination of simple ingredients that really hit the mark.
My agedashi tofu was great, an addiction of mine...so I usually order it whenever I see it on a menu. Unless you really mess with the broth, you can't ruin it for me. It was a nice, hearty portion too. I slurped and savored every last bit.
For my main meal, I ordered the shrimp tempura udon but secretly pined for the bf's spinach and shiitake bowl of goodness. I have to say I liked the vegetarian broth better.
For dessert, I made the bf go out of his comfort zone with the salted caramel balsamic ice cream. Let's just say we were practically licking the bowl...
I'd definitely come back for a quiet, mellow dinner. The other plates looked tasty and a group next to us pretty much ordered the whole menu and I could hear the moans of culinary orgasms over and over again.... -
Review from Jill T.
12/5/2011
I haven't given many 5 star reviews lately but really feel like this place delivers! Came here on a busy Saturday night with a groupon deal I had purchased. We were told it was all booked up for the night but we could possible be accommodated at the bar. Within 10 minutes the very sweet hostess said we could take a seat at the bar.
We checked over the menu and found a limited number of selections...this can be really good and sometimes not a great thing because if they don't do those things well its a bad deal.
We ordered the crab cakes and the tempura. Both very well done.
We ordered a bowl of soba noodles with pork shoulder and the Hawaiian walu-again both excellent! For desert we asked for a recommendation from the bartender who was also our server. She made an awesome recommendation for the balsamic caramel gelato! Amazing.
Overall it was a very enjoyable evening...great food, nice atmosphere, our server was so nice and engaging, the hostess who I think was likely the owner was super sweet and accommodating. I left feeling good, full, and happy to have found somewhere that provided great food, great service, and seemed to be happily trying to do so.
Another perk of sitting at the bar, there was a window you could see into the kitchen. It was fun to watch the chefs work and watch the detail and care they took into the preparation of each dish!
Give this place a try...you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Maggie M.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2011
Lovely decor and great dishes that walk the line between traditional and fusion. Had the trout ramen, the steak and the yellow tail sashimi. Portions were great and the flavors were definitely there thought the items were pricey ($14 for ramen, $24 for steak, $10 for sashimi). Add to that the East Bay amateur hour service/wait staff and that's how we arrive at three stars. The service dragged on. We were there after they had closed and they forgot to package and give us our steak leftovers. Boo.
If they get their service together I would go back just for that trout ramen. -
Review from Josiah B.
San Ramon, CA
12/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
WOW. This place is an experience. It's the cutest restaurant with the cutest staff and best culinary creations on 4th street (next to cafe m :D). I've been here 3 times and I have never been disappointed. Why the hell does'nt this place have at least a strong 4 star rating? I see people saying that the service they experienced was sub par but honestly, the service is great. I've never had a problem.
Come here for pretty much anything on the menu but the Udon...oh my.... definitely the best. -
Review from Andrew W.
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review has been skewed by my Groupon coupon. You have been be warned.
i thought this place was going to be empty at 7pm but the entire restaurant was filled. I didn't have reservations, so I thought I was going to have to wait forever but there just happened to be a table for two in the back. Before ordered, I carefully read the groupon conditions and decided to maximize the value by ordering the most expensive dishes I could.
Mixed baby salad greens with yellowtail sashimi for appetizer, grilled wagyu steak and panko crusted deep fried swordfish for entrees and the yuzu mango granita with vanilla ice cream for dessert. First, I must mention O Chamé provides a nice helping of veggies. Normally, I don't eat veggies when I eat out. Terrible I know but I can't imagine spending more than $5 on a salad.
The mixed baby green salad was not special. Just some greens tossed in a vinaigrette on top of six pieces of yellowtail. After this appetizer, I was expecting the meal to go downhill but the entrees won me over. The flavor taste so light and refreshing, no heavy cream or fatty sauces here. Wagyu was cooked very nicely. The green chard, edamame beans, and chanterelles went well with the beef. The panko swordfish had a great dipping sauce. Poured the sauce on top of my rice to give it flavor. And I ate the endives and eggplant was sides. As for dessert, the vanilla ice cream was good.
Without the Groupon, I would have rated O Chamé lowered because the entrees are very pricey for the amount of food you get. I would have probably gotten udon instead to save a few bucks. But with a Groupon, O Chamé was fantastic.
What I recommend:
- Grilled Wagyu Bavette Steak with Green Chard, Edamame Beans and Chanterelles -
Review from Yvette C.
Emeryville, CA
1/24/2012
Love Japanese....................O Chame, not so much.
Had a Groupon and dragged a friend here. Food was small, and overly fermented. My mussel salad was the best thing. Everything was just ..............not right.
We both left hungry and unsatisfied.
Doubtful there will be a return visit.................. -
Review from Jen O.
11/21/2011
O Chame, please invest in some heat lamps for your front door area. I was on a date and wanted to look seductive by baring my shoulders, but instead I had to wrap myself up in my scarf because we were seated near the door that people kept walking in and out of. Writing this review and thinking back to that night is making me cold. Brrrr.
The staff was very friendly, especially the hostess. Either there were quite a few regulars, or this hostess was just super friendly because she was hugging pretty much everyone who came in.
The seared yellowtail with leeks and horseradish was a very tasty appetizer. I was not so impressed with the entrees, though. My boyfriend's salmon with broccoli rabe tasted like the kind of thing I usually cook at home, and I am not a good cook. My udon was good, but the smoked trout floating in it not so much. The saltiness overpowered everything.
I might come back here to try another type of udon, but I'd skip on the entrees if I were you. -
Review from Kendra M.
Castro Valley, CA
12/16/2011
I've been here three times, and I know I'll be coming back for more. Why? The food is fresh and and delicious. I also love the fact that O Chame actually includes a decent amount of vegetables on your plate. While I've been to many Japanese restaurants, O Chame is the best of both worlds. Their non-traditional and traditional style of cooking and food courses leaves my stomach happy - without the sense of heaviness I've felt at other Japanese restaurants. That's how I want my stomach to feel, especially on a hot date. Fresh and tasty :]
On my last visit:
Grilled scallops with seaweed and napa cabbage - yes.
Soba with smoked trout, enoki mushrooms and spinach - yes.
Sherry custard - double yes.
However, I've eaten here only special occasions. This means that, as a help-me-I'm-a-broke-college student, I'm not coming here for a casual dinner. Regardless, from the friendly service to great ambience and fresh food, I love to love O Chame. -
Review from Alan C.
San Ramon, CA
1/18/2012
I came here because a co worker decided to get take out from there. I spent $15 for unagidon (eel over rice) for lunch to go. It was 2 pieces about 3 inches each of eel and about half of fist of rice. Not worth it I would rather goto Kirala instead. They definitely have better portions for lunch takeouts.
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Review from Grace C.
11/20/2011
J and I used a Groupon for dinner here, so we got a $71 meal for only $31. Awesome deal.
FOOD
- Seared Yellowtail Sashimi with Leeks and Horseradish: really good, but expensive because it's yellowtail ($14.50 for 6 small slices)
- Wagyu Steak: J loved this ($24.50)
- Special of the day, Panko-crusted Swordfish: good but not worth the price ($24.50)
- Yuzu Mango Granita with Vanilla Ice Cream: the granita is basically a mango sorbet with chunks of yuzu (citrusy fruit that's kind of like passionfruit) - delicious! ($7.50)
SERVICE
At 8:30pm on a Saturday, every table was still taken, so you may have to wait. Servers were great but a little slow - we had to wait a while before ordering.
AMBIENCE
Loud but nice decor.
Overall - The Wagyu Steak & Seared Yellowtail are excellent. Without a Groupon, we'll probably be back to try cheaper items, like the udon & the lunchtime bento boxes. -
Review from ABE E.
Berkeley, CA
1/31/2012
Love this restaurant! It is beautiful, the food is excellent and the waiters are pleasant and attentive.. I come here every chance I get.
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Review from Megan R.
Emeryville, CA
12/4/2011
Meh.
Good food, but I've had better. Good service, but food took a bit longer than it felt like it should have, the restaurant was awkwardly set up, and the water girl was more attentive than our waiter. We used a Groupon and when walking out, the overwhelming taste in my mouth was that the restaurant was more interested in the bottom line than our dining experience. And hey, they're a business, that is absolutely their prerogative. It just won't necessarily be a dining experience I'll be repeating any time soon. -
Review from C. Y.
Berkeley, CA
10/19/2011
O Chame executes my vision of the perfect bowl of udon. The chicken udon is as good as it gets, with the perfect balance of heartiness and cleanness; the oyster udon was delicious as well. The only soup that I wouldn't recommend is the pork shoulder. Although the meat was extremely tender and simply melted in my mouth, it was too sweet for my taste, and the flavor of the soup didn't complement the meat as well as it did for the others.
Minor complaints:
The quantities are rather small for the price you pay (but the udon is prepared so perfectly that I honestly don't mind it). Also, I find the menu to be a little limited. I admit that this is rather particular, but the price points on the dinner menu could be more varied to satisfy a wider breadth of customers -- e.g., if you didn't want udon or soba (~$14 a pop), you would be forced to order an entree, which are at least $10 more expensive (~$24 each). I would love if they introduced some mid-range priced entrees!
Overall, this is an extremely cute restaurant, and the space, food, and waitstaff are fabulous. -
Review from Beini S.
Berkeley, CA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
The appetizers make this place. The onion pancake with corn is scrumptous, as is the sauce. The tempura is good, nothing special. Braised Karubi Pork Ribs with with Ginger and Lemon is a hit or miss. I've had it twice - once the ribs were falling off the bone tender, the other time it was just medicore. Miso soup for $4.50 is atrocious to me.
The udon is nothing special, although it is good. I've always gotten the Braised Beef or Pork Shoulder, I prefer the pork, it has fantastic texture. Tried my friend's who got Smoked Trout, neither of us liked it because it had a very fishy aftertaste/smell.
Overall, this place is overpriced for what it delivers, although the food is decent so I walk away full and happy enough.
Honestly if I'm in this area, Tacubaya is where I'm more likely to be. -
Review from Emily E.
Richmond, CA
11/10/2011
I'd give this place 6 stars if I could. Delightful broth, beautiful food, very friendly service, and pleasant ambiance. Oyster udon was the best I've had anywhere. What I love the most about this restaurant is that they have some fancy fare with a great wine and sake list, but they also have some affordable fare as well. If you like udon noodles please come to this restaurant, you will not be disappointed.
Very romantic place for dates, too. -
Review from Joanne W.
Alameda, CA
This is a place you go to when
1. you're craving noodles
2. you're bring a date
3. you're feeling splurgy
My bf got the wagyu, and he loved it! I got the soba with duck breast and spinach. The broth was fantastic. Loved the ambiance. Service was great, just wish the food came a little faster. But definitely try the caramel balsamic gelato for dessert, you'll be hooked!
Definitely going back. -
Review from Annie F.
Updated - 7/20/2011
Not sure why I gave this 4 stars. Ochame has the fanciest/best soba noodle soups in the Bay. Their appetizers - ALL of them - are killer. Everytime I have those onion pancakes or tempura or scallops I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. And their sherry custard is a winner.
This is a great place to go to for a fancy restaurant when you don't want to break the bank. It's classy & upscale, but their huge soups are splittable and cost under $20.
Oh, they're also one of the few places that serves Merry Edwards Sauv. blanc half bottles!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/20/2008
This place is like a upscale noodle house and I love it. VERY fresh, basic, healthy but tasty.… Read more »
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Review from Michael B.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 10/12/2011
Keep your eye on the bill. On 3 separate occasions the staff added items like drinks or appetizer to my bill that I did not order. I had to wonder how many other unsuspecting diners have had the same experience, but never knew.
When I talked w/ the owner, he was cool and unapologetic.
Nothing close to even an apology. As a result, I recommend staying away . Part of the dining experience is service and graciousness and this place is lacking.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/12/2011
The food is well-prepared, tasty and the ambience is peaceful.
When we walked in and asked for a… Read more »
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Review from Sabrina N.
Berkeley, CA
9/6/2011
I decided to stop by here because i've walked past it so many times when I come to 4th street for some shopping.
One of the things I like most about that place is how quiet it was and how the waiters had very good timing with when to approach to ask if you were ready for your order and if we liked our food.
The pork shoulder is so tender! :) I would recommend this to the red meat lovers out there. Make sure to get Udon noodles with, the Soba noodles didn't really absorb the favor of the broth as much as I liked. -
Review from Kat A.
Oakland, CA
12/1/2011
Sad to say, we had the rudest waitstaff (ANN) during our work luncheon with my boss. Whilst we were a calm group, she said to herself, loud enough to hear, "get this f***ing table out here". Additionally, our work lunch for 10 took over two hours (slow food to table). Water was rarely filled. And the piece de resistance, throwing down 6 spoons for our shared desserts. The food was good, but all I'll remember was the sour faced waitress that couldn't muster any manners.
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Review from Iliana P.
Emeryville, CA
6/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love this place! The restaurant is elegant and comfortable. We had the Arugula Salad and Eel as appetizers and they were both delicious, (definitely not stuff-your-face portions, but well worth it). Next, I had the Udon Noodles with chicken breast and it was outstanding, the chicken was perfectly cooked and the broth was very flavorful (make sure to add the chili powder for an extra kick!).
Great service and the surrounding location is perfect for a stroll after dinner. -
Review from Steve M.
Bronx, NY
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ok, I agree with all the other reviews about the food -- it is wonderful and a great japanese fusion place. Not the kind of place to go to if you're looking for sushi, but whatyou do get is a pared-down choice of some great things.
My only issue with the place is that it was too darned hot the night we went there! I'm sure it was just a/c on the fritz, or the fact that I just drove in from Mendocino through the torturous and twisty CA1 highway, but the heat did distract from enjoying the evening fully!
I will say that I will go back there the next time I get to Berkeley. -
Review from Elena E.
Oakland, CA
8/4/2011
The Beef Shoulder udon is silky and flavorful, the Salmon bento box is perfectly proportioned and the Wagyu Steak with chard, edamame and enoki mushrooms is a delight.
The service is friendly and the kitchen is fast. It's a great date night spot but if you aren't in the mood to be romantic, there is lots of patio seating if you want to sit outside and people watch on 4th St. -
Review from Mel B.
Hercules, CA
2/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
O Chamé, more like O Shame! For a restaurant with a great setting at a great location, right in the middle of 4th St in Berkeley, O Chamé serves a very mediocre food at best.
My sister, daughter and I had lunch the other day at O Chamé because the place looked really beautiful. We stated off with Miso Soup with Wakame Seaweed and Green Onions and it was really bland. There was no taste what so ever, it was like drinking tap water.
Then my two-years-old daughter and I shared the Unagi Donburi - Unagi over Rice with Blanched Spinach and Takuan Pickles. It was okay, nothing special, but the portion was so small that I think we got three Unagi sliced in half to make it looked more and it cost $14.50. My immediate thought was we could have gotten double the size for less the price at any Japanese restaurant.
My sister's Grilled Atlantic Salmon with Sweet Potato and Green Bean Tempura, Burdock Root, Spinach with Sesame, and Takuan Pickles ($17.50) was a little bigger, but again nothing to brag about. I know it was a lunch menu, but the price to portion ratio was ridicules.
So still being a little hungry we both got some dessert. We both got the Sherry Custard ($6), MEH no good, my sister couldn't even finished hers.
Even with a very mediocre food I still have to say, this spot is really a nice place to just hang out. Sitting at O Chamé's outside dining, under the large tree, sipping lemonade, on a nice sunny day, was really relaxing. Too bad the food didn't complement the setting. -
Review from Vanessa G.
Oakland, CA
3/29/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Been here for dinner and now for lunch - the bento box lunches REALLY impressed me. it was sooo amazing - i ordered the vegetarian bento and it was filling and so freaking good, didnt miss the meat at all!
The night I went for dinner i wasnt impressed with the menu but the items I ordered - agedashi tofu and ahi - were really good.
I can't believe i've passed this place by so many times and not gone in. Do you yourself a favor when you're hungry shopping on 4th street and stop in! you wont be disappointed! -
Review from Melisa L.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 4/2/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Came back with family today.
We ordered the following:
- Tofu Skins (Aburage), Shiitake Mushrooms and Spinach with soba and vegetable broth 13.50
- Smoked Trout, Spinach and Enoki Mushrooms with soba and fish broth 15.50
- Hawaiian Walu, Spinach and Enoki Mushrooms with soba and fish broth 15.50
Everything was wonderful. The trout was perfectly smoked. The only minor complaint my parents had was that their broth was too salty, especially at the bottom of their bowls :T1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/20/2011
Had the Soba in clear fish broth with Roasted Oysters, wakame seaweed, and daikon sprouts :] It was… Read more »
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Review from lovetoeat a.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2011
Charming little restaurant. Love the dragon carving on the wall, it was so subtle one might not notice it.
The salad with yellowtail was refreshing, the duck appetizer was a bit too salty.The Kobe bavette steak was excellent!! So tender, melt in your mouth! Excellent salmon too. The udon with trout, the broth and the chewy noodles were great, but the trout salty.
The caramel basalmic gelato with roasted figs was ..hmmm interesting, but we finished coconut panna cotta with yuzu and mango, delish!! And the cheesecake too!
Attentive service, and most charming was the lady owner, working the room, talking to guests, and saying good bye as they leave. -
Review from Rachel M.
Costa Mesa, CA
Updated - 3/12/2011
Mmmmmmmmmmm
Next time you think about going to Zut, do your self a favor and go to O Chame instead... Delicious food, amazing staff, amazing outdoor seating & cozy indoor tables. I love it here!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/5/2010
so freaking good.
i wasnt expecting to go there.. i always thought it was a vegetarian soup house...… Read more »
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Review from gwynnie p.
San Francisco, CA
10/6/2010
I see it is 3 years since I last attempted to eat at O Chame (thank god for yelp to help me keep track of my super fabulous lifestyle). Way back in '07 they pissed me off by not honoring a reservation, today they pissed me off by being overpriced and serving up flavorless food.
And come on, a restaurant on 4th Street in Berkeley, CA serving "Atlantic Salmon"? Unbelievable. -
Review from Teri K.
Berkeley, CA
9/26/2011
My idea of perfection.
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Review from Gayle G.
Oakland, CA
4/7/2011
When some of my other "go-to" restaurants have dropped off the list, O'Chame is still there, like a friendly beacon. Almost nothing has changed at this restaurant in many years and that's the way I Iike it. The Japanese pancake still remains a must order. Always a peaceful respite.
And you can usually get a beautiful Bento box to go if you are in a hurry. -
Review from Risha L.
Oakland, CA
8/26/2011
I always look forward to coming to O Chamé when I'm in town--the food is reliably good: fresh ingredients, interesting flavor combinations, and generous portions. I always leave feeling satisfied, but not too heavy. Today I had the beef bavette obento box and it was delicious--the meat had a lovely oaky flavor, and was balanced by the pickled cucumber and sweet potato tempura sides. I'm also a general fan of their udon.
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Review from Emily H.
Berkeley, CA
4/24/2011
The food is a solid four stars, but I would say the overall experience tends to hover between three and four. Most of the food is good, and it's always exactly the same. You definitely get the sense that the same couple of cooks have been preparing the exact same dishes for a very long time.
My biggest issue with the overall experience is that they course the dishes too quickly and there's no room on the table, which creates the effect of feeling crowded and rushed.
The food, however, is good, clean and flavorful. -
Review from Angie C.
Updated - 10/17/2010 25 Check-ins Here
We've been coming here for years -- O Chame is consistent in both service and quality of food. There is a reason O Chame has stayed on the San Francisco Chronicle's top 100 restaurants list for all these years -- best bowl of udon noodles you can find in the San Francisco Bay Area. Monterey Bay squid is my favorite flavor, with smoked trout and simmered pork shoulder being close seconds.
I'm a fan of the salads at O Chame. From the wild arugula with golden beets and a salted egg, to the grilled eel with endives, to a mixed green salad worthy of Alice Waters, all of O Chame's salads are fresh and tasty -- perfect for whetting the palate.
Never say no to dessert. My sister and boyfriend both love the caramel balsamic gelato, while I'm a fan of the green tea ice cream. Recently however, I've been thinking that wagashi is the perfect end of an exquisite meal at O Chame. Traditional Japanese confections for the win!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/13/2007
I love this place - the food is delicious, the ambiance is earthy and warm, and you always walk away… Read more »
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Review from Derrick V.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2010
I was excited to try the soba here, but for the price I'd expect the soba to be fresh made in house. Not likely as the noodles were soft without much bite. It didn't help they were sitting in the hot broth, and not on a separate plate.
However the broth in my grilled sardine soba was very good and the rest of the elements were great.
Our appetizers of sashimi and eel were good too.
Make your own soba or don't overcook the noodles, and they'd get 4 stars.Listed in: Soups of the Asian Variety
