Time well spent at Ippuku
“Ippuku” means “break” or “to take a break”. It doesn’t surprise me that this place made it into the Top 100 of the San Francisco Chronicle last spring, I surprised myself that I had’t taken a break here all this time. How can I call myself a Berkeley food blogger without eating at Ippuku?
Maybe it’s the signless entrance that camouflages the izakaya in the dark, minus the dimly lit sake bottles on the side and the closed door, which I can never open correctly from the inside. Maybe it’s my distrust of Yelp reviews. But I brushed through the cotton curtains to enter that long, dark, narrow, stark simple structure, saw the half-shadowed faces immersed in quiet enjoyment, and the wooden platform, on which you can sit seiza style (flat kneeling) or dangle your feet under the table like a true Westerner; from that moment, I decided that it’s a lovely place, no matter how the food was. Of course, the food was good.
The most written thing about Ippuku must be the collection of all-part chicken edibles. Every single blog and its best buddies have something to say about (and a picture of) the omakase gushi ($14, 5 chef-choice skewers), which might include gizzards ($6.50), hearts ($6.50), shoulders ($6), necks ($6.50), breasts ($6), wings ($6.50), thighs ($6), tails ($7), varying throughout the night. They also have knee cartilage ($7) and breast cartilage ($7), which gets sold out before 6 pm. Growing up, I’ve had my shares
of chicken from head to toe to bone marrow, and I still clean the chicken bones to its dryest whenever possible, so this is old game. It’s not that “Ippuku uses every part of the chicken to its best effect”, Ippuku simply uses every part of the chicken and (hopefully) convinces the Western palate that white meat isn’t everything (if it is anything). The chewy crunchy gizzards and hearts made me feel at home.
New to me was the lightly seared chicken breast, raw inside, dappled with ume ($8, sasami ume). Its rawness saves the white meat from being all dried up, the salty plum tickles the tongue. I like it more than I expected.
There are some good-but-not-brilliant things, such as the tsukutama ($7, minced chicken with an egg yolk), the negima ($6.50, chicken thigh with leeks), the aosa tenpura ($7, Okinawa styled seaweed tenpura), and the giant grilled Eastern Pacific squid ($10, ikayaki) (ok, so it was giant for 2 girls).
Granted that izakayas in the States are always expensive, there are also the blatant rip-offs: ikada ($5, grilled leeks), which is negi, and none of us knew what “negi” was at the time, or grilled yamaimo ($6), a white yam that is crunchy outside and sorta slimy inside (củ mài in Vietnamese). Oanh said that they’ve had it raw at another izakaya, and I think I would prefer this grilled version dusted with sea salt.
Then there are the oversalted ones: a juicy deboned and grilled quail ($10, uzura maruyaki), which Kristen and I split by each pulling a wing and a leg, and 2 pieces of pork belly ($8, kurobuta bara). But these are best tempered with a sip of genmaicha, whose seaweed flavor might seem strange at first.
Among my favorites must be the mushy jaga bata ($5, mini potato with butter), which I combined with Rau Om‘s tofu misozuke for a briny but creamy note. The simple but refreshing kyo-salada ($6, “mizuna with onsen egg and crunchy jako“, or water greens with poached egg and crunchy dried anchovy). And the chewy, glistening, charred bekonmochi ($5, bacon-wrapped plain mochi) was magnificent.
The shushoku (post-drinking dishes) are richer than ever: a fatty, sweet, brownish yellow chicken broth for the tori udon ($7) and chunks of beef in the niku jaga ($12, a thick stew of meat and potato).
These stomach cementers demand a sweet ending, which we couldn’t afford the first time due to a time constraint, but I made up for it the second time by ordering two desserts ($7 each): a matcha affogato (green tea soft serve), cleansing and herbal, and a kuro goma sundae (black sesame soft serve), gentle and nutty. The kurogoma ice cream came with 2 white mochis and a scoop of anko (red bean paste). I love black sesame ice cream no matter what it comes with.
Photography used to not be allowed? I was taking pictures like crazy. Smoke issue after 7 pm because of the grill? I have been here until 10 pm. Undertrained staff? Our hostesses were helpful both times. Ippuku seems to have ironed out any technical problem it might have had 2 years ago, and although its food isn’t flawless, it is perfect as a whole.
Click to see the whole album of 20 Ippuku dishes, uploaded at Photon Flavors.
Address: Ippuku
2130 Center Street #101
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 665-1969 (reservation is recommended, you never know which night is booked)
I like this weblog its a master peace ! Glad I detected this on google .
1I have read several good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to make such a wonderful informative web site.
2Whats Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & assist different customers like its aided me. Great job.
3Great site. Lots of helpful information here. I’m sending it to several buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks in your sweat!
4This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
5Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually know what you are speaking about! Bookmarked. Please additionally seek advice from my web site =). We may have a hyperlink change agreement among us!
6I just couldn’t go away your web site before suggesting that I extremely loved the standard info a person supply on your visitors? Is going to be again steadily in order to check up on new posts
7Thank you for every other informative blog. The place else may just I get that kind of info written in such a perfect manner? I have a challenge that I am simply now operating on, and I’ve been on the glance out for such information.
8Generally I don’t read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do so! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, quite nice post.
9Hey, you used to write excellent, but the last few posts have been kinda boringK I miss your tremendous writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
10Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
11Hey, you used to write excellent, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your great writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
12Thanks , I’ve recently been looking for info about this topic for a long time and yours is the greatest I’ve discovered so far. But, what about the conclusion? Are you sure in regards to the supply?
13Good write-up, I am regular visitor of one’s site, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
14This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
15Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this before. So good to search out anyone with some authentic thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this web site is something that’s wanted on the internet, somebody with a bit of originality. useful job for bringing something new to the web!
16Some really excellent info , Gladiola I found this.
17Hi my friend! I wish to say that this post is amazing, nice written and include almost all significant infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.
18I like this weblog very much, Its a really nice situation to read and obtain information.
19Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.
20I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.
21I conceive this web site has some rattling superb info for everyone :D. “America is not merely a nation but a nation of nations.” by Lyndon B. Johnson.
22What i don’t realize is actually how you’re not really much more well-liked than you might be now. You’re very intelligent. You realize thus considerably relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from a lot of varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs nice. Always maintain it up!
23I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
24Hello, you used to write great, but the last few posts have been kinda boringK I miss your tremendous writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
25I got what you mean , appreciate it for posting.Woh I am happy to find this website through google.
26You got a very fantastic website, Gladiolus I found it through yahoo.
27I wish to convey my respect for your kind-heartedness giving support to individuals who actually need guidance on your idea. Your very own dedication to getting the message all through was really significant and have constantly empowered employees like me to get to their dreams. Your amazing warm and friendly hints and tips entails a whole lot to me and somewhat more to my colleagues. Warm regards; from all of us.
28Merely wanna input on few general things, The website design is perfect, the subject material is rattling good : D.
29There are some attention-grabbing deadlines in this article however I don’t know if I see all of them center to heart. There’s some validity but I will take hold opinion till I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want more! Added to FeedBurner as properly
30I have learn a few just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much effort you set to create any such great informative site.
31Thanks for some other informative blog. The place else may just I am getting that type of information written in such a perfect means? I have a project that I’m simply now running on, and I have been on the glance out for such info.
32Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web site is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you’ve on this blog. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched everywhere and just couldn’t come across. What a great web site.
33Hello there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
34Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all folks you actually recognise what you’re talking about! Bookmarked. Please additionally consult with my web site =). We may have a hyperlink exchange agreement between us!
35Real great info can be found on website. “Life without a friend is death without a witness.” by Eugene Benge.
36You need to take part in a contest for among the best blogs on the web. I’ll suggest this web site!
37Hey just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both show the same outcome.
38The minimum did not cause any surprises for me. I entered a slightly larger amount than necessary and kept the process smooth.
39Thanks , I have just been looking for info about this topic for ages and yours is the greatest I have discovered till now. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?
40Hello very nice website!! Guy .. Excellent .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally?KI am happy to seek out numerous useful information here in the publish, we want develop extra techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
41I used to be very happy to find this net-site.I wished to thanks on your time for this glorious read!! I positively having fun with every little little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
42What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & help other users like its helped me. Great job.
43Magnificent web site. Lots of useful info here. I’m sending it to some friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your sweat!
44Valuable information. Lucky me I found your site by accident, and I am shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
45Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
46I’ve learn several good stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much attempt you put to create the sort of magnificent informative website.
47Aw, this was a very nice post. In concept I wish to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and actual effort to make an excellent article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and under no circumstances seem to get something done.
48I got what you mean , thanks for posting.Woh I am thankful to find this website through google.
49Hello my friend! I wish to say that this post is awesome, nice written and include almost all significant infos. I would like to see extra posts like this.
50