Downtown Berkeley’s modern Japanese izakaya Fish & Bird will serve its last round of small plates and sake on June 14, closing after dinner service that night. Owner Yoshika Hedberg announced the decision this week and said she plans to step away from restaurant life after six and a half intense years on Shattuck Avenue.
According to KRON4, the restaurant shared on Instagram that June 14 will be its final service. Hedberg told the San Francisco Chronicle that the lease at 2451 Shattuck Ave. is up and she chose not to renew. "It’s been a great six-and-a -half years. I love our regulars and I’m going to miss them a lot," she said.
Why Hedberg Is Stepping Back
Hedberg told the San Francisco Chronicle that Fish & Bird had slipped out of the black as sales softened while ingredient and operating costs climbed, and the timing of the lease made renewing a nonstarter. The departures of co‑owner Asuka Uchida and chef Shin Okamoto over the last two years left Hedberg running the restaurant solo, the paper reported.
What Fish & Bird Brought To Downtown Berkeley
Fish & Bird opened in January 2020, just weeks before the pandemic upended dining, introducing Berkeley to "sousaku" cooking, a creative and contemporary style of Japanese cuisine that blends local ingredients with Japanese techniques, according to Resy. Guides praised its seasonal, shareable plates and playful spins on staples like katsu curry, as noted by the Michelin Guide.
Final Service And How To Visit
Diners hoping for a farewell visit should check Fish & Bird Izakaya for reservations and takeout options as the restaurant heads toward its June 14 finale; the site lists current hours and booking details. The dining room sits about four blocks from the UC Berkeley campus, according to KRON4.
Hedberg thanked guests for their support and said she is "semi‑retiring" after a roller coaster run that included the pandemic’s highs and lows, per Berkeley Eats. There is currently no public information about who might take over the Shattuck Avenue space after June 14.
