Tane Vegan Izakaya: Vegan Sushi in Berkeley, CA

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Vegan sushi is probably my favorite food. To many, that might sound silly, since it’s ultimately just rice and veggies. However, when you’ve experienced imaginative rolls like those from Tane, you understand the limitless possibilities.

About Tane Vegan Izakaya

Tane Vegan Izakaya was founded by Chef Kin Lui and environmental activist Casson Trenor in 2019. After opening their first successful vegan sushi restaurant, Shizen, in San Francisco, Kin moved to his hometown of Honolulu, where he opened the first Tane restaurant. Luckily for us, the restaurant later expanded to California and is available in 3 cities: Berkeley, Highland Park, and Palo Alto.

The chefs behind Tane aim to create innovative plant-based Japanese dishes using locally sourced ingredients to support sustainability and the local economy. In addition to vegan sushi rolls, the menu includes shared plates, starter soup and salad, ramen, grilled plates (yakimono), nigiri, cocktails, mocktails, and dessert. And yes, it’s all vegan, and many items are or can be made gluten-free!

My Order & Review of Tane Vegan Izakaya

I visited Tane Vegan Izakaya with a mission to try a couple of sushi rolls, but ended up ordering gyoza, nigiri, and a Basil Mojito too (Izakaya translates to “Japanese pub,” so when in Rome!).

I started with vegetable gyoza, which are Japanese potstickers. I could taste how fresh they were, and easily downed them all. The lovely waitress recommended I try the Eggplant Nigiri and said the eggplant is supposed to mimic eel (which I’ve never tried, so I will take her word for it). The eggplant was sliced super thin with a delicate, smooth texture. It did not taste “fishy” but was packed with umami. I enjoyed it and would both recommend and eat it again.

The Pacifica Roll is deep-fried heaven. Tempura veggies rolled in rice and topped with a garlic aioli and sweet, sticky soy sauce that I am craving as I type. It’s crunchy, it’s tasty, and you have got to try it to get the hype. I was told it was a fan favorite, and I’m its new #1 fan.

One roll I didn’t order but that caught my attention is the Bangers Roll, which seems like a fun order for a date or group. One of the medallions has habanero sauce hidden inside, so it’s like vegan sushi Russian Roulette! I am scared of things that are too spicy, so I went with the Sunset Roll instead.

The Sunset Roll is similar to a mildly spicy tuna or crab roll. The filling is spicy tofu and cucumber, and it’s topped with spicy vegan mayo and seaweed caviar. The best part? The plate comes set on fire. Literally! It was a creative presentation, and I felt like was celebrating something. The roll itself is tasty too. The cucumber-and-spice duo would be a great introduction to both spicy rolls and vegan sushi in general. It seems simple, but it’s elevated enough that I think sushi or vegan skeptics would enjoy it and be wowed.

My Tane Vegan Izakaya Order

Gyoza (six)
Eggplant Nigiri
Pacifica Roll
Sunset Roll
Basil Mojito

Visiting Tane Vegan Izakaya Berkeley

The Pacifica Roll has me ready for a return visit, but there is so much more I need to try. Whether you’re vegan or just curious about plant-based sushi, Tane is a delicious example of how imaginative vegan food can be.

I got lucky and scored a parking spot directly in front of the restaurant just after they opened. The Berkeley location is on a busy street with metered parking and within walking distance of parking garages.

While I visited Tane Vegan Izakaya in Berkeley, they have 2 other locations in California, as well as the original in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Tane Vegan Izakaya Locations

Berkeley, CA
Highland Park, CA
Honolulu, HI
Palo Alto, CA

Tane’s Connection to Shizen Vegan Sushi Bar in San Francisco

In 2015, Shizen Vegan Sushi Bar & Izakaya opened in San Francisco. Shizen is a vegan sushi bar created by Chefs Raymond Ho and Kin Lui along with environmentalist Casson Trenor “as an experiment in ocean conservation through responsible dining.”¹

I visited Shizen just after it opened, but haven’t been back in years. If you can’t visit Tane but are in San Francisco, Shizen is another vegan sushi destination to add to your list.