Sumo Roll
Sumo Roll, located at 2173 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, is a beloved spot in Downtown Berkeley, offering a delightful fusion of traditional Japanese flavors with modern twists. The restaurant is known for its sushi burritos, which have earned praise for their freshness and well-balanced flavors. With a variety of around eight sushi burrito options, Sumo Roll ensures that there's something for every palate. The Hawaiian Sushi Burrito stands out for its perfect umami, making it a must-try for first-time visitors and regulars alike.
The ambiance at Sumo Roll adds to its charm. The decor follows a traditional Japanese aesthetic, creating a cozy, quiet, and calm atmosphere, making it an ideal place for a relaxed meal. Whether you're stopping by for a casual lunch or a Friday night sushi craving, the welcoming environment is a key part of the dining experience.
Beyond the delicious food, the service at Sumo Roll is top-notch. The attentive staff, like Helen, who remembers regular customers' preferences, ensures a personalized dining experience. From gluten-free soy sauce requests to a side of pickled ginger, Sumo Roll caters to various dietary needs with a smile. The restaurant’s friendly service is a recurring highlight for those who keep coming back.
Despite the occasional crowd, especially during the school year when the nearby university is in full swing, the wait is always worth it. For those arriving by car, it’s advisable to arrive a bit earlier to find parking, though the restaurant's close proximity to the Bart station makes it easy to reach by public transit.
In addition to the sushi burritos, Sumo Roll also serves generous steak meals, adding variety to its menu. The steak dishes are well-loved for their substantial portions and flavorful profiles. Whether you’re a sushi aficionado or craving a hearty meal, Sumo Roll offers a satisfying dining experience with delicious food, excellent service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Sumo Roll Reviews
We had a craving for sushi last night and decided to go to Sumo. Friday night, it was packed since the university is in full swing. We had to wait for about 20 minutes but as usual it the food was well worth the wait. We've been going there for years. The waitress, Helen, knows us by name and our quirks (gluten free soy sauce and lots of pickled ginger) and she always takes good care of us. We've been to many sushi restaurants and my daughter said tonight that " this is hands-down, my favorite sushi place." I have to agree with her. Downtown Berkeley is always packed during the school year so leave a little extra time to find parking if you're visiting by car. If you're coming in on Bart, it isn't a problem it's very close to the station.
Sumo Roll, in my opinion, has really good sushi burritos. Better than Sushirittos! The ingredients are fresher, and its a sit down restaurant. The lovely woman who served us explained very nicely and in detail about the Sushi burritos we asked about.
I would rate this place as a 4.5! Was in the area and wanted some casual sushi for dinner. Doesn't seem like there's a specific sushi spot in the area that's particular popular, but I came across this spot on yelp and the reviews looked pretty good. Bonus points for being conveniently located (only a 2-min walk away from the BART station)! Also, the overall restaurant (and restroom) was clean, so that's always greatly appreciated in Berkeley. The prices of the sushi rolls were definitely not cheap, but the taste and quality were good. We got an order of the lion king and the 49ers to share between the two of us. Both were delicious and was the perfect portion size for us. I would definitely come back if I'm in the area and craving some sushi. BTW don't be like me and forget to check in on yelp for that 10% off your bill!
This is at the top of the list for my sushi spots in the vicinity of Berkeley campus. The restaurant is relatively relaxed and quiet with indoor seating and, as a smaller place, the food can take a little longer to arrive (20-30 minutes). This is no dealbreaker but just something to keep in mind. The food itself exceeded all of our expectations. Splitting the sushi burritos into three, we didn't expect each one to be particularly sizable, but they're bigger than any of us expected and the flavors are spot on. I've had sushi burritos before, but they've always felt engineered, with the sushi part being an after thought. This place truly serves what I'd consider a sushi burrito. The three rolls we got were the golden spider, 49er, and mexico city spicy tuna roll. They were all great. Admittedly, I rarely think sushi is bad since it's my #1 comfort food, but this place sets itself apart by letting the flavors of the fish carry the bite. The 49er roll, for instance, tastes like a bite of fatty salmon adorned with other complimentary flavors, rather than a bite of rice and seaweed with an added bit of fatty salmon. There are a few other sushi spots in Berkeley but this is the one I'd go to. If you're a sushi lover, I bet this place won't disappoint!
Lovely restaurant in Downtown Berkeley, we came in the afternoon & ordered a Hawaiian Sushi Burrito & the steak meal set. Sushi burrito was so delicious! I loved it, flavors were fresh and well balanced with the perfect touch of umami. I'm so excited to come back, they had around 8 sushi burrito flavors which I love! The steak meal was a generous portion and delicious too. Service was great, the server who helped us gave amazing recommendations and was very attentive. Ambiance is lovely as well. The decor is very traditional Japanese aesthetic, cozy and quiet with calm atmosphere. Overall, I loved it & am excited to return!