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✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
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Hours
| Friday | 5–10:30 PM |
| Saturday | 5–10:30 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 5–9:30 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 2022 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 922-8566
Menu Photos
Related Web Results
Izakaya Shodai 初代居酒屋 (@izakayashodai.oakland) – Instagram
Modern Izakaya Experience Premium sake • Curated bites • Creative plates. Tue–Sun | 5–9:30PM 2022 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612 …
Izakaya Shodai – Review – Uptown Oakland – San Francisco
Izakaya Shodai is a Japanese spot in Uptown Oakland by the Yakiniku Shodai team. … 2022 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, California 94612. A. Apple Maps.
An S.F. Wagyu beef hot spot is opening a new Japanese restaurant
Izakaya Shodai is opening at 2022 Telegraph Ave. in Uptown Oakland with small bites and a selection of Japanese spirits in a casual setting.
Reviews
Brad Hubbard
The food was delicious and the staff were friendly and welcoming. Sit at the bar, have a chat with the chef when he comes out to say hi!
Do not miss the curry (fries or udon) or the chicken karrage! Everything was great but those stood out.
If you get the curry fries some will be stolen by whoever you’re sitting with. Be prepared.
… moreDo not miss the curry (fries or udon) or the chicken karrage! Everything was great but those stood out.
If you get the curry fries some will be stolen by whoever you’re sitting with. Be prepared.
Jamie Dawson
I attached a photo of the inside of the building to capture the vibe.
Both my wife and I had a great time eating here. I got the 8-piece Sashimi sampler and enjoyed all the pieces, but strongly recommend the salmon.
Would overall recommend it if you are looking for sushi place with a chill Oakland vibe.
… moreBoth my wife and I had a great time eating here. I got the 8-piece Sashimi sampler and enjoyed all the pieces, but strongly recommend the salmon.
Would overall recommend it if you are looking for sushi place with a chill Oakland vibe.
Erich Nachbar
A fantastic addition to the Oakland food scene. Jeffrey went above and beyond as a host and made us feel genuinely welcome. The food was outstanding across the board. The Suntory beer on tap was a refreshing change from the usual Sapporo and Asahi. Standouts were the Cajun albacore and the hamachi ceviche—absolutely incredible—but honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
… moreJoanne Yuen
Update:
Came back again and the udon tasted even better than the first time! Got to try the wings this time which were superb, they also changed their potato salad to a perfectly breaded potato croquette. Uni was on the menu, so we got some nigiri’s as well as topped it on our udon! Their clam risotto was also super unique and had a ton of texture. Another big surprise was the crab cake sushi roll which was a deep fried sushi roll stuffed with real crab meat, and they do not skimp on the crab! Overall another amazing experience again and I cannot wait for the full menu.
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They say good things are worth waiting for and I waited all year for izakaya shodai to open, and it did not disappoint!
Gorgeous modern interior inside with plentiful seating. Soft opening so menu is more condensed but gives a good idea of what to expect from this establishment.
I tried the mentaiko udon, beef tongue skewer, tuna tataki, and was also given the curry fries on the house. Fav was the beef tongue, proper cut with a perfect smokiness to it since it was grilled over charcoal, just salt and pepper is the way to go! Mentaiko udon did not skimp on the mentaiko, most places just add a creamy sauce to cover up the fact that they don’t have enough mentaiko, whereas shodai is generous with it. Noodles had a perfect bounciness to it, only slight miss is it was a tad oily, but otherwise delicious and came with a side of potato salad. Tataki was seared to perfection with great sauce and flavoring. The curry fries were also good, I think it might be better if the curry was on the side for dipping so the fries can retain its crispiness; but it was refreshing to see a dark curry dish whereas most places usually serve light curry.
Cannot wait to come back and see what else is to come. Had a chance to speak with the managing partner Andy, and there are definitely some additions to the menu that I will for sure want to be the first to try (hello uni dishes!)
… moreCame back again and the udon tasted even better than the first time! Got to try the wings this time which were superb, they also changed their potato salad to a perfectly breaded potato croquette. Uni was on the menu, so we got some nigiri’s as well as topped it on our udon! Their clam risotto was also super unique and had a ton of texture. Another big surprise was the crab cake sushi roll which was a deep fried sushi roll stuffed with real crab meat, and they do not skimp on the crab! Overall another amazing experience again and I cannot wait for the full menu.
——
They say good things are worth waiting for and I waited all year for izakaya shodai to open, and it did not disappoint!
Gorgeous modern interior inside with plentiful seating. Soft opening so menu is more condensed but gives a good idea of what to expect from this establishment.
I tried the mentaiko udon, beef tongue skewer, tuna tataki, and was also given the curry fries on the house. Fav was the beef tongue, proper cut with a perfect smokiness to it since it was grilled over charcoal, just salt and pepper is the way to go! Mentaiko udon did not skimp on the mentaiko, most places just add a creamy sauce to cover up the fact that they don’t have enough mentaiko, whereas shodai is generous with it. Noodles had a perfect bounciness to it, only slight miss is it was a tad oily, but otherwise delicious and came with a side of potato salad. Tataki was seared to perfection with great sauce and flavoring. The curry fries were also good, I think it might be better if the curry was on the side for dipping so the fries can retain its crispiness; but it was refreshing to see a dark curry dish whereas most places usually serve light curry.
Cannot wait to come back and see what else is to come. Had a chance to speak with the managing partner Andy, and there are definitely some additions to the menu that I will for sure want to be the first to try (hello uni dishes!)
Baptiste Dubois
I’m honestly very surprised by the positive reviews, because our experience was the complete opposite.
The food was not fresh and extremely disappointing. We ordered the fried chicken, curry fries, curry rice, and croquettes none of it was good. The fries tasted like basic frozen fries, the croquettes had no real flavor or interest, and the curry was bland and underwhelming. The fried chicken also didn’t feel freshly made everything tasted like it had been reheated and served lukewarm.
On top of that, the staff was disorganized, and more concerning: we clearly mentioned a shellfish allergy, yet we were still served curry containing shellfish. That’s not just careless, it’s unsafe.
Overall, this was a big contradiction compared to the reviews we had read beforehand. Based on our experience, I would not recommend eating here. Save yourself the disappointment
… moreThe food was not fresh and extremely disappointing. We ordered the fried chicken, curry fries, curry rice, and croquettes none of it was good. The fries tasted like basic frozen fries, the croquettes had no real flavor or interest, and the curry was bland and underwhelming. The fried chicken also didn’t feel freshly made everything tasted like it had been reheated and served lukewarm.
On top of that, the staff was disorganized, and more concerning: we clearly mentioned a shellfish allergy, yet we were still served curry containing shellfish. That’s not just careless, it’s unsafe.
Overall, this was a big contradiction compared to the reviews we had read beforehand. Based on our experience, I would not recommend eating here. Save yourself the disappointment
Whitney Chu
Fantastic dinner. We got the shrimp skewers, moriawase sashimi and uni udon. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Very tasty, highly recommend this spot!!
… moreVictoria Yelensky
This place is a must-visit in Oakland!!
The food is out of this world amazing!! We just got back from 3 weeks in Japan, the nigiri and sashimi were on a par with the best we had in Japan. The chicken thigh skewer was hot, tender, juicy and had a fantastic smoky flavor – straight from the grill, as it was!
The owner is super friendly (served us complementary drinks and some appetizers to celebrate their soft opening). If you are looking for high quality Japanese cuisine in Oakland you must try Izakaya Shodai!
… moreThe food is out of this world amazing!! We just got back from 3 weeks in Japan, the nigiri and sashimi were on a par with the best we had in Japan. The chicken thigh skewer was hot, tender, juicy and had a fantastic smoky flavor – straight from the grill, as it was!
The owner is super friendly (served us complementary drinks and some appetizers to celebrate their soft opening). If you are looking for high quality Japanese cuisine in Oakland you must try Izakaya Shodai!
Joshua Nederhood
Kind staff and an innovative menu with top quality ingredients. We got the ume scallop starter (surprisingly smoky), uni udon (indulgent), and Red Dragon roll (excellently savory).
… moreJenz
We had a great experience here and will definitely be coming back!! The food was fresh, well done balanced, and clearly made with care. We ordered a mix of sushi and hot dishes, and everything came out beautifully presented and full of flavor. The fish tasted very fresh, and the rice was perfectly seasoned, not too sweet, not too vinegary.
The atmosphere was warm and comfortable, making it a nice spot for both a casual dinner and a special occasion. The staff was attentive without being overbearing, and our server was happy to explain menu items and offer recommendations.
Overall, this place strikes a great balance between quality, authenticity, and a relaxed dining experience. Highly recommend if you’re looking for solid Japanese food and friendly service.
… moreThe atmosphere was warm and comfortable, making it a nice spot for both a casual dinner and a special occasion. The staff was attentive without being overbearing, and our server was happy to explain menu items and offer recommendations.
Overall, this place strikes a great balance between quality, authenticity, and a relaxed dining experience. Highly recommend if you’re looking for solid Japanese food and friendly service.
Noah Patawaran
I’ve been waiting for this place to open forever and I’m so glad they did! They are soft opening this week so the menu is slimmed down but everything I ordered was killer. Prices were fair for the quality and everything was plated so beautifully. I wish yall nothing but the best!
… more