Aburaya — Restaurant in Oakland

Super disappointing... I really wanted to like this place. Went last week and ordered the family pack which was a lot of food and also ordered the fried cauliflower and fried edamame. Sadly I'd say the edamame was my favorite! The fried cauliflower seemed more like cauliflower blanched in oil with a smidge of seasoning. I would have rated 0 stars but the girl who took my order over the phone was very friendly and helpful. Unfortunately the girl who rung me up was not, she wasn't rude per se but I didn't appreciate the fact that she assumed my change back was going straight into her tip jar. Pretty shady way to get your tips!!! I was already planning to tip well over the few dollars I was supposed to get back but because of the fact that she pre tipped herself and couldn't even tell me how to reheat the chicken for when I ate it later...her loss! When I asked her how to reheat the food she just said 1-2 mins maybe in the oven?!? Nothing about temperature....she didn't even bother to ask any of the other employees who were probably way more competent than she was. I was hoping the chicken would make up for the already bad experience but unfortunately it was super bland and pretty dry when I reheated it. I didn't think that my first attempt at making karage chicken would be any good but it was 1000× better than what I got from Aburaya. Maybe I came on an off day but unfortunately I will not be returning nor recommending this...

I really don't get the hype. I've gone here three times. I got the chicken sandwich twice and then the burrito. First of all of you've had a chicken sandwich literally anywhere else you'll be disappointed. The chicken sandwich has a "bun" which is essentially only two barely toasted slices of bread and waaay too much of this lettuce medley that frankly doesn't go with the chicken. I live close by so I took it home to eat and by then the bread was so soggy you couldn't pick the whole thing up. I had to eat it with a fork or look like a ravenous animal to finish it. I thought it may have been a fluke so I went in and ate there. Same thing. Soggy bread out the gate, too much greens, chicken is in there but you can't find it over everything else. You can't pick it up to eat it. It's a mess.

I went there a third time and the burrito is basically the chicken sandwich in burrito form. Too much greens, rice that you can't taste, a couple pieces of chicken and the feeling of disappointment. I'm sure I could just get the chicken, but honestly there are plenty of better chicken spots nearby with better variety. I'm done with soggy food. I feel like I spent more money on greens than chicken. I won't...

I can see how others would rate this place 4-5 stars but it was just ok for me.

I'm not a fan of thigh and dark chicken meat, so that probably affected my rating. However, maybe 3. 5 stars at best for me given the following. We ordered the fried pork Katsu, 15 pieces of chicken and two fish tacos.

Fish tacos were pretty good, although flavor was muted and salty. The best thing about the pork was the Katsu sauce and mustard side dip (fresh and strong). Sadly, the pork chop was thin & dry and the crust too hard. Would not order this again.

Having read many reviews, we avoided the wet sauce for the chicken and did two dry rubs - miso garlic & schichimi (chili & orange zest). The rubs were disappointingly muted - barely tasted garlic and orange zest, hard to taste the difference between the two rubs other than one being darker in color. Sadly, the chicken pieces seemed also over cooked /fried and dried out.

If I were to come back, it would only be with friends who want to eat here & I would just stick with the fish tacos. In summary, wasn't good/great for me, but I can see how others would like it.

Too bad Bon Chon chicken opened in Berkeley and...