Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Kirin Chinese Restaurant And Cocktail Bar in Berkeley

4.2 (127) 1767 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707, United States

Kirin Chinese Restaurant And Cocktail Bar image

Categories

Chinese restaurant
Asian restaurant
Chinese noodle restaurant
Cocktail bar
Delivery Chinese restaurant
Dumpling restaurant

Location on the map

Berkeley, Alameda County, California, US

Phone: +1 510-524-1677
Site: http://thekirin.com/

Opening hours

Monday:11:30 AM–2:30 PM
Tuesday:11:30 AM–2:30 PM
Wednesday:Closed
Thursday:11:30 AM–2:30 PM
Friday:11:30 AM–2:30 PM
Saturday:11:30 AM–2:30 PM
Sunday:11:30 AM–2:30 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.2

127 Reviews for Kirin Chinese Restaurant And Cocktail Bar 2024:

Review №1

2023-11-25 02:59:08

This place falls into the okay category for me. Its not your typical Chinese restaurant, and its not exactly fusion either. The food is decent overall, with some dishes aligning with traditional Chinese flavors while others dont quite hit the mark.Service is fine, and the food is just okay—nothing remarkable. Theres nothing that makes me eager to return; it lacks that special something to set it apart. While its a passable choice if youre in the neighborhood, there are likely more memorable dining spots worth exploring elsewhere.

Review №2

2023-11-23 01:35:26

Our pastor introduced us to this place. Since then, we have been here for dates and group events. We also ordered take out delivery. Each time, the food has been served hot, fresh, and tastes good. Good portion sizes. Customer service is good. Would ho again.

Review №3

2023-12-05 01:10:53

My husband I adore this place. I almost always get the lychee martini and the lemon pepper prawns. Pure delight.

Review №4

2019-11-02 18:01:32

Simple and clean decor with good warmth.Fairly good food, though our choices: crab and corn soup, chow fun, and ma-por tofu didnt wow me. The ma-por was probably the best dish. Im guessing they were well executed but I was just hoping for more flavor.Overall a good Chinese cuisine experience. Cool to have the Northern Chinese focus.BE HERE

Review №5

2023-08-26 20:50:59

This is the sister restaurant (actually brothers) of the recently closed Shen Yua in Elmwood. My 10-year-old daughter and I stop by because we were craving some of the favorites.We got pork dumplings which was fantastic crunch and flavor especially with soy sauce and a little bit of chili sauce 9/10She got the lemon chicken which was classic. 9/10I got the Manchurian beef. Perfectly sauced. Not too spicy but had a nice complexity. 9.25/10 Order again- yes but try the sesame beef next time... That was one of my favorites at Shen Yua.

Review №6

2023-08-21 03:37:43

This is a timeless gem of a restaurant, with unbelievable flavors that are deep and bright. The service is wonderful and has consistently been so for over ten years.

Review №7

2023-10-21 18:11:05

Very delicious. Flavorful. Extensive menu. Fabulous tea selection. Attentive service.

Review №8

2020-11-14 03:54:48

Old school Berkeley Chinese favorite a little bit more expensive and usually a cut above, in recent years has become a little dull and flavorless. I ordered the Kung Pao chicken, and shrimp dumplings, both of which were flavorless, and the shrimp dumplings were a waste of time both times I ordered them. I hope they do better next time.

Review №9

2023-04-07 04:11:16

High quality Chinese fare. Nice decor, calming & romantic for couples. Also outfitted with a long bar suitable for solo dining. Theres a beautiful garden / space in the back but it seems under utilized. A hidden gem on Solano. Wheelchair accessible, no steps.

Review №10

2023-05-09 00:48:18

I found this place when covid first hit and FELL IN LOVE. I literally drive from lake Berryessa to Berkeley JUST for their Shanghai garlic noodles alone! 10/10 recommend this place! Lemon chicken is to die for! The staff is always top tier and the experience when dining in is definitely worth the prices. Takeout is not poorly done either! GREAT PORTIONS!

Review №11

2020-08-16 23:25:32

As always it never fails. Great food great drinks great service and good prices. We love this spot. The owners know us but she treats everyone just as nice and equally. Recommend to anyone who is looking for this cuisine.

Review №12

2023-12-04 01:37:43

I like eating there, food is delicious and good serves

Review №13

2023-03-01 03:33:22

Now that Im in a better mood Im editing to 4 stars because their food is quite good (albeit overpriced) and they deserve a better review. Be aware though, RICE IS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR ORDER. If only restaurants would make this as clear on their menu as I just did, then customers ordering delivery wouldnt be left stranded eating dishes like Kung Pao Chicken etc...without rice!

Review №14

2018-10-23 00:59:27

It’s American-version Chinese food, not real Chinese food. The only good thing is the decoration, with a large window you can look into the kitchen. However. Since I can stare at the kitchen, I notice none of the chef is Asian. Maybe that’s the reason why the buns are stiff, the eggplant are flavorless, the chicken is deep fried.

Review №15

2023-08-20 06:28:32

Food is delicious! The place is clean with a rustic look.

Review №16

2021-07-22 23:14:59

Very friendly staff. Good food and good lunch specials.

Review №17

2022-08-26 03:59:51

The Kirin beef is very tough! Please use better cut beef or slice them thinner. We ordered another Eggplant dish. The skin of eggplant were too burned, this dish need flavor. The only one good dish is the Sissily chicken soup. You have very good servers. The waiters are friendly. That make up for the tough beef. I suggest you offer a few real Northern dishes otherwise, you should not claiming you are a Northern Chinese restaurant! Such as Northern salad and bread items. Thank you for considering my opinion.

Review №18

2022-11-17 12:06:14

Been going here for more than 10 years. Quality is the same and is top-notch. Won’t find these flavors in any usual Chinese restaurant. Can’t recommend more!

Review №19

2019-12-06 02:44:56

Very nice . Gd drinks n Great food . N server was perfect.Thank you .

Review №20

2022-06-18 02:13:32

Great food! We ordered braised fish, cumin beef, noodle soup, potstickers, green beans. Everything was delicious and spicy and well flavored. Attentive and friendly service.

Review №21

2022-05-29 14:22:35

Upscale, high quality, and delicious food available to dine in, take out, or be delivered by a service. Beautiful facility with a full bar. Friendly, yet professional service. A good dining experience, whether you eat in or take it home!

Review №22

2022-06-12 01:56:24

What happened to Kirin? It seems like during the pandemic they changed suppliers on proteins; chicken quality went way down. Still some great dishes here, but staples dont perform like they used to, and there are better to be found elsewhere.Pity, we have been going here for over 25 years.

Review №23

2021-06-18 00:54:13

Kirin is back and better than ever. The dining room has been remodeled and the bar space expanded. It looks very nice and the heat and noise of the kitchen has been minimized. The food tasted so fresh and delicious. Delightful to see some of the old crew too.

Review №24

2018-11-14 07:52:57

We’ve been multiple times and never had anything bad. The chefs are creative and careful and it shows! Excellent, fresh ingredients and interesting dishes. The boa is addictive, the sauces and spices are stunning. Well worth the price!

Review №25

2021-03-31 20:12:56

Solano Ave has so many great places and Kirin is no exception. Their food is consistently yummy and they have a decently sized menu. Youll be able to find a favorite dish but dont let that stop you from trying new things. This is our go to restaurant for Christmas when dining in is an option, but take out works out great because we will never be mad about Kirin leftovers.

Review №26

2019-02-09 17:36:12

Kirin is wonderful! They have a great bar, great food, and a fun atmosphere.Our favorite things are the soup dumplings, the Manchurian beef (its crispy and delicious), and the sizzling rice soup.We actually ended up having our rehearsal dinner there for our wedding. They have a great private dining room in the back. This place is really well priced. Highly recommend.

Review №27

2017-09-24 03:14:18

This is a nice Chinese restaurant in Albany. Great tastes and vibe

Review №28

2017-09-16 04:35:42

I was disappointed. I had not been there before. It looked like an elegant place, so I expected the food to be good. On the waiters recommendation, I ordered the steamed scallops. And while the presentation was very nice, the dish lacked subtlety, and substance.There were six scallops served in six tiny glass bowls, each on a bed of vermicelli rice noodles. They were over-cooked and totally overwhelmed by garlic. The promised scallions showed up as one small piece in only one of the three that I ate. The cilantro garnish was fresh and really the best thing about the dish. For 19$, I recommend to go somewhere else, or order something else. This is not the thing to get if you want decent meal or like vegetables with your seafood.

Review №29

2019-07-10 00:40:27

Best Chinese restaurant in town. Everything is fresh. They have an open kitchen so customers see their food being prepared. Great variety and spicing. Also nice atmosphere except it gets noisy at times due to the high ceilings.

Review №30

2019-05-24 14:20:50

Shared a family gathering meal at Kirin. Great menu selection of well-prepared food. Note that rice must be ordered as a side. Portions allowed us to take some home for lunch the next day. Service was matter of fact. We were seated at a long table that made visiting a challenge, but we were so busy eating that we could overlook that inconvenience.

Review №31

2018-12-29 21:56:20

Superb as always, although almost want to take off a star for prices, but its such high quality ingredients its really hard to. I always get the same thing, the hot and sour soup, loaded with protein ingredients, a cut above every other chinese restaurant Ive ever been to, although this last visit had less of the hot and sour flavor I crave so much from here. But wow so filling and tasty, packed with ingredients. Ice tea was great too!

Review №32

2021-10-30 12:25:19

Fancy and upscale interior, very professional staff but wait... the best part was the food! Possibly the nicest veggie dumplings weve tried in the East Bay.

Review №33

2018-05-05 16:05:02

Over the years Ive had many great meals at Kirin. The food is always excellent, very well prepared. I particularly love the soups, but everything seems to have just bit more flavor than the same dish anywhere else. I like seeing the kitchen in the middle of the room, especially when theres a flame up. The decor is nicely dark without being difficult to see, which gives the place a more intimate feeling. And the waitstaff are quick and attentive, without being intrusive. Kirin would be a great place for a date, now that I think about it.

Review №34

2018-08-11 00:45:13

Love this place! The food is consistently great, the teas are delicious, and the staff is beyond kind and attentive. Things here are served family style, and we always end up taking some leftovers back home for later.

Review №35

2021-08-26 01:29:46

Wish we lived closer to enjoy Kirin more often. Food and service were all awesome. Pot stickers, sizzling rice soup and dry fried chicken are some of our favorites.

Review №36

2020-12-15 02:57:46

Its awful food. The fish in the shaoxing wine fish dish was not fresh. My tongue is still smarting from the super salty mu shu shrimp dish. Hot and sour soup was just alright. About the only edible thing was the white rice.

Review №37

2018-06-07 14:29:01

Wonderful, surprisingly authentic food (spent four months living in China) for a very reasonable price. The tea-smoked duck was particularly tasty. Service was a bit slow.

Review №38

2017-03-13 13:49:38

Pretty good American Chinese food. Main dishes come out in huge potions on large plates clearly meant for sharing. The food was tasty and came out very quickly, and good price for the portions (~$15 for a large plate). The chinese vegetable garden was really great - garlicy and well cooked vegetables. Decent amount of street parking available Sunday night.

Review №39

2018-03-04 06:49:51

Too bad the service is so indifferent — the kitchen deserves better support, especially at Kirin’s premium prices. Our server overlooked us for the adjacent couple, who arrived after we did. My salad came before my (delicious gin basil) cocktail. My companion’s second beer was ordered but never delivered, yet it appeared on the bill. Their website says happy hour is 4:30 to 6:30, yet our server said the cutoff was 6 and charged me full price even after I politely pointed out the advertised timeframe. The food, as always, was great. (Garlic lamb had no spicy heat — maybe we have to ask for that?— but the chili oil on the table corrected it.) I had my favorite ceviche which is superb and unlike anywhere else, and the wonderful Chen’s chicken salad, another dish only at Kirin. Even so, it will be a long time before I return.Given the poor service we experienced, it’s ironic that Kirin’s website discourages patrons from ordering carryout. In their house, I sure didn’t feel the love.

Review №40

2021-06-12 03:04:18

Do not trust website prices! Have to give 1 star because they upped their prices 40%, dont give an itemized receipt, and i had to argue w the guy to get any credit. Food is good but -4 stars for managements lack of care to relate important info to customers!!!!Edit: oh yeah, and a $1 package fee??? Give me a break...

Review №41

2019-01-30 15:58:06

I called in an order and asked for Chicken Chow-main, dumplings, garlic chicken & RiceW/Shrimp Snow Peas. I was not given a total price over the phone...I should have asked but it should also be given. When I arrived I was surprised and the boxs ad asked about the orders and was shocked to see a bill for $68. The man at the front, a young guy, said that rice and snow peas were 2 different orders and the small box of shimp I orders was $18! I was visibly upset and even said I was upset but he rang me up and still shocked and not wishing to make much of a scene, left. I got to my car and decided to call and tell them again I was pretty upset. Explained I was upset that I was not given the total over the phone, etc. he just range me up and I was still upset. He offered to credit me the $2.75 rice....Now I left a $6 tip....he told me he woudl remember for future customers to try and do this.... not helpful to me.As a business owner myself, as soon as I knew there was confusion with the food in the restaurant I would have offered to remove the items, and if one of my guests had called me 1 minute after leaving my place of business I woudl have told them to come back and left figure it out. I never want a guest to leave unhappy or even angry. Its my commitment as a business owner to make sure my customers are happy.This did not happen and I am still upset by it the next morning but that is on me to get over.Also, the food is usually really good and tasty. We just ate here in December but the food seems to be more oily then before, granted it just might have been tainted due to my experience but the other member of my party that had no idea about the interaction made the same comment about the food.I am giving 2 stars because the food and service in teh past have been very good.I will try a different restaurant in the future before I make another take or or pop in order for dinner.

Review №42

2019-12-25 18:47:17

Horrible experience! Had a 7pm reservation and they made us wait 45 minutes. Obviously they don’t understand the concept of reservations as they seated people as the walked in and didn’t see ANY tables being held. BTW we were not the only party experiencing this same issue. As far as the food goes our dumpling were ice cold!Avoid this restaurant at all cost!!!

Review №43

2014-05-30 20:25:09

Kirin is a great place to have Chinese food if you are looking for a step above greasy takeout. The restaurant has a lovely atmosphere and is really quiet. The tea is great and one entree is large enough to feed two people (we often still have some left over even then).

Review №44

2022-09-10 20:29:50

My first visit. Twice cooked pork lunch special was tasty & and ample. Frie dly service. I will be back.

Review №45

2022-03-04 03:53:26

Quality and Happy Hour Menu Merge Nicely

Review №46

2022-07-30 02:37:28

Consistently great Chinese food. Definitely on the pricier side but not outrageously so for the quality of the food.

Review №47

2015-04-15 00:35:24

Best Chinese weve found in this area, specializing in the earthy, spicy cuisine of north and western China. Killer prices during happy hour, reasonable at any other time. Attractive space, friendly and professional service, and most importantly, good food.

Review №48

2016-08-02 01:09:54

Great food. Had the Red Pepper Chicken and the Dry Asparagus and loved both of them. Nice view of the kitchen behind a giant glass wall - nice touch.

Review №49

2022-02-12 18:32:51

This place is legit. Amazing mixed drinks. Dumplings were good! They offer brown rice

Review №50

2021-07-23 23:58:49

Authentic northern Chinese food! Nothing like any other Americanized Chinese foods on every other corner. Great atmosphere, great food and awesome service. Highly recommend it 👍

Review №51

2016-12-08 01:01:37

Been going to Kirin for over 20 years and love the food. Now that I am laid up with knee surgery, I find they do not accept credit cards via the phone line and I have to struggle to find a way to pay for take out. Pretty sad.

Review №52

2016-05-22 22:18:43

Excellent Chinese Food, great environment and very good for pick-up (no delivery) but I still make big orders and its all perfect. Highly recommend.

Review №53

2017-01-26 21:20:32

First time going there today and I had the seshuan chicken (or however you spell it) and it was very delicious. Great quality and great size for the price. Definitely worth checking out!

Review №54

2019-12-18 05:14:54

Great food and service. I had black mushrooms with baby bok choy. The sauce was excellent. I love the open kitchen. Nothing to hide.

Review №55

2023-06-08 21:55:13

Lunch time its good and pretty empty

Review №56

2019-02-17 08:07:01

The food is always good but they really went out of their way to be mean today! Its odd being as how great the service was the first time I dinned here

Review №57

2019-06-05 20:29:48

Great food. Never disappoints. Service is prompt and professional, but dont expect extra friendly.

Review №58

2022-11-22 02:03:38

I just ordered a hot and sour soup for my sick friend. It was VERY good.

Review №59

2018-12-30 07:29:27

Delicious, classic chinese food, great selection of teas, and even better service. try the potstickers and the tea smoked duck, you will not be disappointed

Review №60

2019-03-23 19:38:31

Has dinner last night. It was excellent. This place has the best Chinese food in town by far.

Review №61

2017-06-24 03:51:14

The atmosphere is great, and the food spectacular. I would put in for slightly larger teacups that do not resemble shot glasses.

Review №62

2018-02-26 02:39:38

Great Spot. We go there a lot. We have traveled extensively in China and they always deliver a great meal.

Review №63

2022-10-13 00:59:29

The food tasted very salty but seemed fresh.

Review №64

2022-07-31 06:25:51

Food very tasty and very spicy 🥵. We ate everything!

Review №65

2017-12-28 23:08:36

The best Chinese food in town! Always fantastic, love the visible kitchen and speed of service.

Review №66

2019-02-03 13:49:46

The food is excellent. Weve been here a number of times and I love it!

Review №67

2019-02-12 18:13:28

Ive been eating here for years and this may be the best Chinese food in Berkeley. Parking could be a problem as there is only street parking

Review №68

2018-09-06 09:28:42

I have been going here for years. Really good food. Excellent service.

Review №69

2016-07-03 18:12:30

Delicious, high quality Northern Chinese cuisine. A little pricey, but worth it.

Review №70

2018-10-25 03:50:58

Great food.Awesome service.Friendly staff.Definitely recommend.

Review №71

2020-10-23 03:09:41

Love their noodles. Great food, fast service and pickup times

Review №72

2020-01-02 02:53:15

They always have excellent service, fantastic food and a great atmosphere.

Review №73

2019-03-25 03:09:27

I go for the spicy green beans and the garlic eggplant. Atmosphere is sleek and modern

Review №74

2017-12-15 22:56:37

I always love when ever someone invites me here! Great place for celebratory dinners!

Review №75

2016-11-14 02:46:29

Really cool place for Chinese thats a step above those cheap take out places. Must try the cherry pork 🍒🐖❤️😋😀😍

Review №76

2020-01-26 04:42:00

Service was slow, but it was really busy that night. Food was really good, made up for the waiting.

Review №77

2016-07-09 21:39:51

Nice small gourmet dishes with delicious flavours. Different from other Chinese restaurants.

Review №78

2018-11-07 05:33:33

The cherry pork was really tasty, so were the shrimp dumplings.

Review №79

2019-10-20 21:27:41

The interior was very nice, but the food was just okay.

Review №80

2019-03-16 01:53:09

Loved the food. The vegetable bao was really good

Review №81

2021-03-17 02:09:37

Very tasty food. Hoping to dine in post-covid.

Review №82

2021-11-23 07:18:02

Noodles were under seasoned. Cocktail 🍹 👍🏿

Review №83

2019-12-09 04:09:09

Above average in every respect. Good lunch value.

Review №84

2017-01-10 19:17:28

Great happy hour menu, great food and soup!

Review №85

2017-06-01 09:04:07

Good food in busy modern Chinese restaurant with bustling open kitchen.

Review №86

2017-09-03 14:13:28

Being coming here for years. Great place. My kids love it too.

Review №87

2017-05-30 23:24:07

Fresh ingredients well prepared. Lots of variety on the menu.

Review №88

2019-03-27 03:11:57

Excellent versions of classic modern American Chinese food.

Review №89

2018-08-09 00:44:39

Best Chinese food in the area! Staff is lovely!

Review №90

2022-09-25 23:20:41

Love this place. Authentic and quiet.

Review №91

2019-11-27 05:59:48

Tried Kirin out for happy hour, and everything was amazinggggg.

Review №92

2019-02-19 03:58:28

I just cant believe the experience I hd here! Both waitresses were so rude!

Review №93

2018-04-20 20:57:26

Really tasty in my opinion. Solid understated service.

Review №94

2020-12-26 09:38:41

Waited over 35 min in the rain for my food that was over 45 min late

Review №95

2019-03-17 03:00:17

They were very mean I will never come back here again.

Review №96

2018-04-23 04:08:01

Very good Chinese food and service!

Review №97

2015-05-31 03:27:01

Very good food and nice place on solano

Review №98

2018-04-13 18:06:23

Great martinis, different and interesting Chinese food

Review №99

2017-10-07 23:19:16

Food over priced and not very good

Review №100

2017-10-15 18:15:38

Good food in a comfortable atmosphere.

Review №101

2019-09-03 03:46:12

Best. Place. Ever.

Review №102

2018-02-27 02:18:41

Top notch... High end... Expensive.. But amazing

Review №103

2018-06-22 14:20:35

Clean & neat, carefully prepared, no slop.

Review №104

2021-08-24 01:58:50

Food is good & Service is good too

Review №105

2015-09-02 15:43:07

Solid chinese food in an upscale environment.

Review №106

2018-06-02 16:26:33

Every Dish I had was delicious

Review №107

2018-06-26 01:32:33

A favorite Chinese restaurant in Albany, California.

Review №108

2019-09-11 05:36:10

Very vegetarian friendly Chinese restaurant.

Review №109

2018-01-28 20:18:27

Good place for Chinese food and a cocktail

Review №110

2020-07-11 12:59:51

Food not very good this visit.

Review №111

2017-06-21 03:38:28

Very good. Healthy too.

Review №112

2019-03-28 00:48:37

Our main go-to for Chinese food!

Review №113

2019-05-25 02:35:53

Fantastic vegan options.

Review №114

2019-12-29 07:35:48

Excellent resturant to go.

Review №115

2018-08-02 04:13:28

Every dish was fantastic

Review №116

2017-12-26 05:07:17

Way way way too salty... And overpriced!

Review №117

2020-04-22 21:45:39

Best potstickers around!

Review №118

2017-01-22 03:06:00

Lemon chicken is good.

Review №119

2018-05-30 19:59:36

Food is really good!!!

Review №120

2018-05-17 14:21:54

This restaurant is amazing

Review №121

2017-11-28 20:45:00

Excellent food.

Review №122

2023-10-23 21:23:14

Still one of the best!

Review №123

2016-10-08 03:33:53

Try the cherry pork!

Review №124

2017-06-30 04:27:30

Idk

Review №125

2022-01-14 03:49:26

SALTY EVERYTHING!

Review №126

2022-10-25 00:48:10

Excellent food for me and my wife. We loved it. I recommend it for people who like to enjoy good Chinese food.

Review №127

2019-03-31 21:56:03

Expensive foreign food