Curry Udon Noodles at Cha-Ya in Berkeley
Wonderful! at Cha-Ya in Berkeley
Potstickers and edamame, these are a favorite at Cha-Ya in Berkeley
Vegan
Japanese
Take-out
Asian

Among the more popular vegetarian restaurants in Berkeley. All vegan menu offers various options from sushi rolls, soups, salads, rice bowls, noodles, combination sets, and desserts. Small & cozy, busy on weekends. Note: sugar may not be vegan, ask. Cash or Venmo payments only. Open Mon-Sun 12:00pm-8:00pm. Hours may vary. Call ahead to confirm information.

Venue map for Cha-Ya
© OpenStreetMap contributors

84 Reviews

First Review by spidey

Avatar Kwr_

Kwr_

Points +1267

Vegan
09 Dec 2024

Just ok

I love supporting vegan restaurants but wasn’t overly impressed with the food. We got the ten bou as an appetizer which was ok but a little bland. For mains we tried the dengaku which had an overly strong miso flavour. We also tried the taku-sui which was just ok. Nothing special.

Updated from previous review on 2024-12-08

Dengaku at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Ten bou at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Avatar sircattree

sircattree

Points +213

Vegan
27 Jul 2024

maybe a 4.5

the food was great, i loved the curry. but with the venmo or cash situation, its a minor inconvenience.

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Avatar JKay

JKay

Points +156

Vegetarian
18 Jul 2024

Fully Vegan Japanese restaurant, cash or Venmo only! (5/5 green stars)

Cha-ya has been around for decades and it’s still a good choice for tasty, vegan Japanese food. Yes, it’s actually a fully vegan restaurant even though it’s more widely known as “merely” vegetarian. If you search for vegan Japanese restaurants in Berkeley, the limelight may be stolen by Tane Vegan Izakaya, also on Shattuck Ave. But Cha-ya is well worth a visit for lovers of Japanese food and/or vegans and vegetarians. It’s not as hip or stylish as Tane (honestly, Cha-ya could do with a bit of a makeover) but they do the best version of several Japanese dishes that I’ve had. From the website: “no product derived from animals of any kind are ever used” (no meat, dairy, fish, gelatin, etc.).
Definitely considering having the agadashi tofu and goma ae to share (or have all on your own). Then, one of my favorites is the Taku-Sui which is described as Pot stickers, tofu, zucchini, nappa cabbage, snap peas, asparagus , broccoli, cauliflower, silver noodles, and mushrooms in a light broth and served with a ponzu citrus sauce. This dish has inspired me to make something similar at home, quite often. The Cha-ya nabe is similar but with delicious fresh ingredients like kabocha squash and spinach instead of the potstickers. Another favorite, if you’re in the mood for lots of salty miso, is the Dengaku: Broiled eggplant tofu, and portobello mushroom with miso-paste glaze.
There’s a second branch in The Mission district in SF and remember that this Berkeley branch is Cash or Venmo ONLY!

I’m also giving Cha-ya 5/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact because Cha-ya is a completely vegan restaurant. Adopting a plant-based diet is the top thing you can do to mitigate climate change, deforestation, animal cruelty, and food scarcity. They could do a better job at providing information on ingredient sourcing, however (e.g., is any pesticide-free or organic?)
Please join in and include a Green Stars rating with your own reviews!

Pros: Casual, Consistent, Delicious food

Cons: Restaurant could do with a makeover

Avatar cyanic_eevee

cyanic_eevee

Points +554

Vegan
17 Jul 2024

Hearty taste

The Yasai had some great toppings, the carrots were heart shaped! The avocado tempura roll was nice too. Only drawback is while ordering delivery they keep the udon in the soup, so it was pretty soggy when it got there but still good.

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Avatar SusanW

SusanW

Points +33

Vegetarian
15 May 2024

Fresh and Delicious

One of my favorite places. Really excellent veggie sushi. Best miso soup I’ve ever had. Lots of healthy options. The only place I will eat veggie tempura. Highly recommended.

Avatar artoonie

artoonie

Points +269

Vegan
12 May 2024

Simple delicate flavors

I love coming here for gentle meals. The Moon Garden is such a pretty dish, very lightly seasoned.

Avatar ynwa

ynwa

Points +2059

Vegan
16 Jan 2024

All vegan Japanese

Try the miso soup and dumplings. The vegan roll is quite big individually so a bit hard to eat.

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Avatar SarahS88

SarahS88

Points +2383

Vegan
25 Sep 2023

Delicious and very reasonably priced

Delicious options, so tasty, always kind and reasonably priced

Sushi sampler - shiitake, avocado, and soy rolls at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Bowl at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Side salad at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Vegan miso soupp at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Avatar Geeokonkwo

Geeokonkwo

Points +516

Vegan
20 Sep 2023

Delicious n fresh!

Consistently great! Can have my yums😋 and eat my veggies too!

Pros: They know how to prepare veggies well!, Love an all vegan spot💯, They accept Uber eats coupons😅

Cons: Where's the ramen??

I ate all this as one meal, haha! Starting w dessert😋 at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Vegan roll and Inari. Yum yum at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Pear compote dessert. Mildly sweet. at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Curry Brown rice combo. My number one fav! at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Avatar madmadgrrl

madmadgrrl

Points +262

Vegan
09 Jul 2023

Fresh & yummy

Food is very healthy & elegant. Favorite!

Avatar jfnoubel

jfnoubel

Points +48

Raw
22 Jun 2023

Just delicious

Tasty, great menu, lots of choice and cruelty free. What more can we ask?

Pros: The menu

Avatar Gopala108

Gopala108

Points +3813

Vegan
05 Jun 2023

All vegan Japanese food is done right here!

I recently visited Cha-Ya with my friend & loved the food as well as my experience here. I spent a week in Japan a few years ago & was difficult to be vegan in Japan as fish & meat stock is in lots of things however my survival skill I learned was to seek out shojin ryori which is seasonal cuisine that happens to be vegan. The shojin ryori cuisine & items found at Macrobiotic restaurants in Japan was amazing!

I was delighted to find out that all of the menu at Cha-Ya is shojin ryori. Me & my friend split a few dishes including a sea vegetable salad, two sushi rolls, & one of the popular entrees. All of it was well presented, simply seasoned, & flavorful. I really love the vibe of Cha-Ya is pretty relaxed with amazing food as it isn't too upscale. There is also a Cha-Ya in San Francisco.

All vegan Japanese food is done right here!

Pros: All vegan Japanese food is done right here!

Avatar livegreenwearblack

livegreenwearblack

Points +313

Vegan
03 Jun 2023

The BEST Vegan Japanese Food!

I remember waiting on the sidewalk in a long line for the cash-only vegan sushi that everyone wanted. If you look at the restaurant -- you'll see that the right side is slightly separate from the left. The right side is the original part of the restaurant which had one tiny bathroom and only space for 4 tables, plus a few seats at the sushi (bar squeezing in maybe 10-12 people). Then - VOILA! - the nextdoor neighbor moved and Cha-Ya expanded their dining room into the other side and improved the bathrooms. It doesn't seem too long ago but was probably close to 10 years ago.

Now there's plenty of seating and the food is still excellent -- it is amazing that they are able to maintain such great quality and reasonable prices for 20+ years.

I highly recommend that you order the avocado tempura urumaki - it's my favorite dish. They also have an outstanding kinoko miso - and the kinoko noodles are also really good.

Do not miss Agadashi Tofu! Berkeley Roll & Shattuck Roll are also amazing - along with the Goma Ae

Pros: Kinoko Miso, Shattuck Roll, Agadashi Tofu

Avatar GoodNewsVeg

GoodNewsVeg

Points +411

Vegan
06 Apr 2023

Clean, Delicious Food

We eat lunch here at least once a week and never get tired of it. The sushi is incredible, the soups are outrageously good, and the appetizer specials change frequently - all delicious. The atmosphere isn't much, but the food makes up for it. So great to have a place to eat that doesn't load the food with salt, sugar and oil. Just lots of fresh flavor. Thank you, Cha-ya! p.s. They only take cash or Venmo.

Avatar RobertD

RobertD

Points +125

Vegan
19 Jan 2023

Always so good

From sukiyaki to rolls everything is great

Pros: Easier ordering now with online for pickup or deli, Everything is so good

Cons: None

Avatar AshleyLorden

AshleyLorden

Points +1255

Vegan
10 Jan 2023

Healthy, comforting, delicious

Though it’s not exactly cheap, Cha-ya offers accessible Japanese food that’s totally worth the price. Same menu as sister restaurant in SF. Call or order online for pickup, or dine in with tranquil indoor seating. There are some less-healthy options available but most of the menu is healthy whole foods served with care. I enjoy the food and like to support this business.

Pros: Completely vegan with healthy whole foods , High quality food

Avatar karzazen

karzazen

Points +582

Vegan
09 Jan 2023

Close at 3pm drove all the way waste gas for nothing

We arrived at 3:03. Happy cow says they close at 8pm. Lady said they close at 3pm and she won't even take us. We drove all the way from airport. It was a 35 mins drive . Waste time waste money .

Updated from previous review on 2023-01-09

Pros: Closed at 3pm , Drove all the way here for nothing , Water time waste money

Cons: Waste time waste money , Close at 3pm didn't update, Arrived at 3:03 they won't take us

Even on their website it says last seating ... at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Avatar

foon

10 Jan 2023

Your last two reviews were 2 stars cause a place didn’t seat you when you didn’t bother to call ahead and check that they would… maybe there’s a lesson there

Avatar

karzazen

10 Jan 2023

Strange how businesses knows how to advertise the hours as close at 8pm but don't bother to add close at 3pm and reopen ..... Instead the potential client got scolded. So you don't bother to ask if I try to call but nobody picked up... It's hard it is being a vegan I don't need strangers to add to my stress. I guess that's why the plant based movement is going to fail. Vegans are just mean to other vegans.

Avatar

karzazen

10 Jan 2023

The whole point of Happy Cow for users is so they don't have to go look at website or Google. I am warning other users they don't have to bring their whole family there and get rejected. We were only 3 mins late. I asked the lady to change the hours she kinda brushed me off.

Avatar

foon

11 Jan 2023

HappyCow is a database run by volunteers. The way to warn other users is to edit the hours on HappyCow to match what’s posted on the website, not to leave the restaurant a bad review. Just practically speaking, many more people will look at the hours than at the review. If you want to help, that’s more useful.

Avatar

karzazen

11 Jan 2023

We are from out of town we told her we had just arrived from airport . She didn't really want to help. If you are so good at reading websites go check their website it didn't mention 3pm close. It says 8:30pm last seating. If you come to my town we would not be so rude to start arguing about your comment of restaurants who forgot to update their website about the hours. I feel I am being attacked right now and being punished because my family and I come from out of town and didn't know most restaurants close at 3pm. Stop attacking me and my family. Vegans are mean to other vegans. Don't worry, if I can help it I won't come back to Oakland. So just STOP! LIFE IS HARD BEING A VEGAN ALREADY!

Avatar

Forman

11 Jan 2023

I was trying to help😳 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻

Avatar

karzazen

11 Jan 2023

Help the restaurant owners or me? I feel like you are trying to put me down . It wasn't a help I am sure you know it.

Avatar

Forman

11 Jan 2023

Wow. When I see a person having a problem on HC I look into it. I see there is no way to communicate with this restaurant with out calling them. I looked at there website and messaged Happy Cow to update the posted hours. Did you notice that? HC also added to call ahead cause the restaurant seems to be F’ed up with there hours. Don’t know what else to say.

Avatar

karzazen

13 Jan 2023

This is great for HC users !

Avatar ajaff

ajaff

Points +216

Vegan
23 Oct 2022

Never disappoints

This place constantly delivers. Very good vegan sushi options!

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Few different rolls and gyoza! at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Avatar Mimi710

Mimi710

Points +640

Vegan
04 Oct 2022

So comforting

Cha-ya is so comforting, especially after a cold bike ride out of the Berkeley Hills, but also anytime. There is lots to chose from. I've never had an item I didn't like there. An old boss who was not vegan and lived in Japan for the military for 7 years was impressed by the authenticity of the restaurant. Definitely give Cha-ya your business.

They used to be cash only, but started taking Venmo during the pandemic. I'm not sure if that is still the case or not.

Updated from previous review on 2022-10-04

Pros: yummy food, lots to chose from

Avatar ChristianeBrossi

ChristianeBrossi

Points +50

Vegan
10 Sep 2022

Fantastic vegan Japanese!

Every time I go there the food is fantastic, beautifully presented and satisfying. I highly recommend it.

Avatar JacobBuenodeMesquita

JacobBuenodeMesquita

Points +22

Vegan
21 Jul 2022

Great vegan spot for warm soups and bowls and more

Delicious, all vegan despite presenting as vegetarian. Wish they had outdoor seating.

Cons: No apparent outdoor dining

Avatar Worldvegkitchen

Worldvegkitchen

Points +1307

Vegetarian
15 Nov 2021

Average

It was good, but not great. I had the mushroom noodles, gyoza, and curry rice. It felt a little like Shangri-la but without the large portions and flavoring.

Avatar villain

villain

Points +8583

Vegan
21 Oct 2021

Ready quick and delicious

Getting our food took a little less than 10 minutes and it was delicious. The agedashi tofu is the best I've had and the vegan roll was a great option.

Pros: Fast preparation

Cons: No outdoor seating

Agedashi tofu at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Vegan Roll at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Avatar Djo

Djo

Points +202

Vegan
24 Sep 2021

Delicious Japanese Food

I’ve been here many times. My fave is the soba noodle curry soup. But everything is tasty. Great to be able to eat Japanese without the meat.

Pros: All vegan, Wonderful flavors, Friendly staff

Avatar 2or3godzillas

2or3godzillas

Points +16

Vegan
23 Sep 2021

Disappointed

The vegetables used for the center of the sushi were not fresh at all

Cons: Old, (not rotten), but not fresh ingredients

Avatar andersedson

andersedson

Points +44

Vegan
11 Jul 2021

Vegan Sushi

This was my first experience with vegan sushi and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely return here

Cha-Ya Roll at Cha-Ya in Berkeley

Avatar zacharyzollman

zacharyzollman

Points +436

Vegan
13 Jun 2021

food is great, some room for improvement

The food that I’ve gotten here is delectable and beautiful. It seems like there are a lot of options but the menu isn’t labeled with vegan items so there’s some ambiguity. The space itself isn’t extraordinary and the payment options could be more expansive.

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