Cha Ya – Japanese
This serene sanctuary invites guests to discover the artful depths of plant-based Japanese cuisine, where minimalist aesthetics meet a vibrant explosion of seasonal flavors. The kitchen transforms humble ingredients into edible poetry, from the smoky char of robata-grilled skewers and the ethereal crunch of golden tempura to the meticulously composed beauty of the signature Moon Garden. Every dish, whether a silken bowl of agedashi tofu or a plate of delicate, hand-folded gyoza, offers a mindful journey through texture and tradition in a space that feels worlds away from the bustle outside.
1686 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA https://chaya-berkeley.com/Rating: 4/5 (1 reviews)
Cuisine: Japanese
Price range: $
Dietary options: vegetarian, vegan, high-protein, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, pescatarian, low-sodium, heart-healthy, whole30, paleo, plant-based, low-fat, glp1, mediterranean, dash-sodium-reduced, high-fiber, anti-inflammatory, low-cholesterol, gerd, south-beach, tlc, renal, alkaline, zone, volumetrics, macrobiotic, slow-carb
Currently closed
Hours
- Wednesday - Monday
- 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
What diners are saying
Celebrated for its fresh and savory dishes, guests rave about the impressive food quality that makes a lasting first impression. Diners highlight the helpful service and pleasant environment, noting that the attentive staff and welcoming atmosphere create a consistently high-quality experience that keeps them coming back.
Menu
Small Dishes
- Agedashi Tofu - $10.35: Deep fried tofu in special sauce, garnished with grated daikon and ginger, kaiware, scallions, and shredded nori. (4 pieces) Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Robata Yaki - $9.75: Broiled pieces of Portobello mushroom, red onion, asparagus, eggplant, and zucchini. Served on 2 skewers with Robata sauce Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Plant-Based, Alkaline Available at: dinner, lunch
- Ten Bou - $11: Sticks of yam, carrots, banana squash, atsuage tofu, and green beans, lightly battered and deep fried, served with tempura sauce. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Pescatarian, High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Gyoza - $9.75: Vegan pot stickers, pan-fried and served with Gyoza sauce. (6 pieces) Available at: dinner, lunch
- Mikuri-Age - $13.75: Breaded and deep fried asparagus, eggplant, onions, kabocha pumpkin, mushrooms and atsuage tofu on skewers, and a vegetable croquette. Served with special miso-based sauce. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Hasami Age - $12.65: Sweet corn and organic atsuage tofu wrapped in a soybean sheet and nori sewed. lightly battered and fried with tempura style. Served with an organic almond sauce. Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
Main Courses
- Hangetsu - $15: Portobello mushroom layered with atsuage tofu, dipped in light batter and deep fried. Served with kiwi fruit sauce. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based Available at: dinner, lunch
- Dengaku - $14.35: Broiled eggplant tofu, and portobello mushroom with miso-paste glaze. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Moon Garden - $14.35: Steamed tofu custard with broccoli, carrots, shimiji mushrooms, kabocha, atsuage tofu snow peas, asparagus, zucchini, brocclini, soybeans and gingko nuts. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Vegetable Tempura - $14.35: Eggplant, yam, asparagus, carrots, kabocha, mushrooms, green beans, and broccoli. lightly battered and deep-fried. Served with Tempura sauce. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, DASH Sodium-Reduced Available at: dinner, lunch
- Taku-Sui - $16.1: 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. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Cha-Ya Nabe - $16.6: Napa cabbage, spinach, red onion, carrots, mushrooms, kabocha, broccoli, cauliflower, lotus roots zucchini, snap peas, snow peas, silver noodles, and tofu Sukiyaki broth. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Fat, High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Cha-Ya Delight - $16.1: Seasoned organic brown rice topped with carrots, kabocha, broccoli, cauliflower, lotus roots zucchini, snap peas, snow peas, hijiki, atsuage tofu, shiitake, broccolini, pickled burdock and daikon, and kiaware. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Tonchi Nasu - $16.1: Eggplant stuffed with Satsuma potato, corn, hijiki, carrots, and soybeans. Lightly battered and deep fried, tempura style. served with a special ginger sauce. Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Hana Gomoku - $16.1: Sushi rice served in a medium bowl, mixed with seasoned shiitake, green beans, lotus roots, carrots, tofu pouch, yam cake an hijiki. Topped with various cooked vegetables. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Curry Rice - $15: Organic tofu, kabocha, onions, celery, carrots, broccoli, snap peas, cauliflower, zucchini, and mushrooms, asparagus, kiaware, vegetables croquette with golden curry rice sauce. Choice of white or organic brown rice. Dietary tags: Low-Sodium, High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
Soups
- Dobin Mushi - $9.75: Clear soup with spinach, shimeji, eryngii mushrooms, tofu, carrots, and gingko nuts. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, GLP-1, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, Alkaline, Macrobiotic, Slow-Carb Available at: dinner, lunch
- Kinoko Miso - $11: Miso soup with Portobello, shimeji, eryngii mushrooms, tofu, scallions, and kaiware sprouts. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Alkaline, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Vegan Soup - $11: Organic beans, split peas, lentils and brown rice. (10 oz. size) Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- House Miso Soup - $3.5: A small bowl of miso soup with wake sea vegetable, tofu, and scallions. (Small 8oz) Dietary tags: High-Protein, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC, Alkaline, Renal, Macrobiotic, Slow-Carb Available at: dinner, lunch
- Special Pumpkin Soup - $5.75 Available at: dinner, lunch
Salads
- Senroppon Salad - $12.5: Shredded daikon, turnip, cucumber, carrots with atsuage tofu, radishes, soybeans, kaiware, and toasted pine nuts. Soy-vinaigrette dressing. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Soba Salad - $13.25: Soba noodles topped with various seasonal vegetables. Sesame-oil vinaigrette dressing. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Sea Vegetable Salad - $10.25: A variety of marine vegetables including seasoned hijiki served with a creamy sesame dressing Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
- Sunomono Salad - $6.5: Sliced cucumber and radishes with golden raisins, wakame, silver noodles, and toasted organic soybeans. Non-oil rice vinaigrette Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Goma Ae - $11: Blanched spinach and broccolini, topped with a sesame dressing. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Shira Ae - $11: Blanched spinach with seasoned root, carrots, shiitake, green beans tofu pouch and yam cake, served with a tahini-tofu dressing. Dietary tags: Mediterranean Available at: dinner, lunch
Sushi
- Hosomaki Combo Dinner - $23: Choose any three HOSOMAKI ROLLS listed below. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner
- Sushi Combo Dinner - $23: One Kappa Roll, one Vegan Roll, and two Inari. Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Cha-Ya Roll - $12.65: Asparagus, yam, avocado, and carrots, lightly battered and deep-fried, Tempura style. Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Shattuck Roll - $12: A large roll with asparagus and yam Tempura. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, DASH Sodium-Reduced Available at: dinner, lunch
- Garden Roll - $12.65: A large roll with asparagus, spinach, avocado, cucumber, broccoli, pickled burdock, and kiaware sprouts. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, High-Fiber, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Vegan Roll - $12.5: A large roll with spinach, atsuage tofu, cucumber, broccolini, pickled burdock, seasoned shiitake and campy gourd, and pickled ginger. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Vegetable Tempura Roll - $12.65: A large roll filled with Tempura of banana squash, carrots, yam, and green beans. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, DASH Sodium-Reduced, High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Summer Green Roll - $12.65: A large reverse roll with avocado, cucumber, and kiaware sprouts, topped with sea vegetable salad. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Subaru Roll - $13.25: Organic brown sushi rice mixture, carrot, asparagus, atsuage tofu, and seasoned shiitake, rolled up with an outer layer of mustard green. Available at: dinner, lunch
- Starlight Roll - $12.65: Organic brown sushi rice, eryngii mushrooms, spinach, and asparagus, rolled up with an outer layer of avocado. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Haku Roll - $12.65: Sushi rice with fried yam, shiitake mushroom, rolled up with an outer layer of avocado. Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
Noodles
- Vege-Tofu Curry Noodle - $15.5: Curry soup topped with tofu, kabocha, onions, celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, mushrooms, and snap peas. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, GLP-1, Anti-Inflammatory, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Yasai Udon/Soba - $14.3: Cooked vegetables served with a bowl of udon or soba Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Vegetable Tempura Udon/Soba - $18.5: Vegetable Tempura served with a bowl of udon or soba. (Noodles and Tempura are served separately.) Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Sansai Udon/Soba - $14.3: Edible bracken, bamboo shoots, carrots, and enoki and wood ear mushrooms. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics, TLC, Renal, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Kinoko Udon/Soba - $14.3: Mushroom medley: shimeji, eryngii, portobello, and oyster mushrooms. Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Wakame Udon/Soba - $14.3: Wakame sea vegetable. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Renal, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Kitsune Udon/Soba - $14.3: Seasoned tofu pouch. Dietary tags: Pescatarian, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Kake/Zaru - $11.5: Plain noodles topped with scallions, kaiware, and shredded nori. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
Sides
- Edamame - $6: Soybeans boiled and lightly salted. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Alkaline, Macrobiotic, Slow-Carb Available at: dinner, lunch
- Steamed White Rice - $4 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Seasoned Organic Brown Rice - $4.5 Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Inari - $6.3: Stuffed seasoned tofu pouch. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC, Alkaline, Renal, Macrobiotic, Slow-Carb Available at: dinner, lunch
Desserts
- Yellow Moon - $7: Deep-fried organic banana, topped with azuki bean sauce and green tea sauce Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Slow-Carb
- Pear Compote - $7: Lightly sweetened fresh Bosc pear, served with vanilla flavored organic soy milk and green tea sauce. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian
Restaurants near Cha Ya
- Ijo Izakaya — Japanese
- Party Sushi — Japanese
- Sobo Ramen — Japanese
- Ippudo — Japanese
- Marugame Udon — Japanese
- T-Bear — Japanese
- Sushinista — Japanese
- Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya — Japanese
- Musashi — Japanese
- Kirala — Japanese
- Kyoto — Japanese
- Masa — Japanese
