Cultured Pickle Shop

What a gem! Some of the best fermented foods I've ever tasted, and I regularly go to farmers markets and places like Rainbow for similar products. Glad I stopped by on a Saturday as they were busy with brunch. The owners took the time to explain the items I picked out despite being busy with dining patrons. Unique and photogenic!

This space works primarily as a fermentation/ culturing space but on weekends they host a rice and pickles meal for 22 dollars (as of this posting) with a few additional and delicious add ons.
To start, the bowl is compiled of 7-8 different projects each with their own complex flavors and textures. After the bowl, you're served a delicious sweet bite. The owners give you a run down of each item in the bowl so you understand the process and intentionality behind the days spread. We ended up sitting at our table for a while because they had an assortment of fermentation cookbooks to browse while eating.
After finishing our meal, we checked out their Deli case which was wonderfully stocked with kimichis, cultured veggies, kombucha, and other seasonal specials. What was particularly exciting was their yuzu koshu and umeboshi! My spouse makes her own kombucha but their flavor profiles here are so unique that we had to buy a couple bottles.
The owners are happy to chat with you about any fermenting / culturing questions you have and offered to take us into their fermenting cave (i.e. A walk in fridge set to optimal fermenting temperatures) to show us projects they have been working on (some of them are almost 10 years old!). They've been in the fermenting game for a long time and are a delight to talk to. We loaded up on goodies from their shop and can't wait to come back whenever we can!

Brunch here was a magical and delicious window into the possibilities of fermented foods. I may never look at a pickle or daikon the same way again.

Outstanding rice and pickle bowls in the weekend. Exceptional variety of fermented and pickled vegetables. These people understand pickling and fermentation.

Absolutely amazing food! There is low-key, sunny, dog-friendly outdoor seating. Staff was really kind and helpful showing us the ropes our first time eating there. For dine-in there's a delicious fixed menu. I highly recommend if you're into innovative, bright and fresh foods. Excited to come back!

What a hidden gem, absolutely amazing food, make sure to stop by on weekends for fantastic 3-course lunch, so good!

Update: still is the #1 place for taste, beauty and health in s bowl anywhere in the Bay Area. Their food is magical, full of love and nutrients, and the taste is divine.
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OK... This is one of those recommendations that I hesitate to share because they pertain to a place that's so perfectly amazing, and yet so lovingly intimate, that you almost don't want to spoil it by telling anyone else about it. But if I did that, I'd be doing the opposite of what Alex, Kevin and company have created here. It's all about slow, fermented, raw food and drinks. The best best best (have I said best yet?) Kombucha and Sauerkraut, tenderly fermented with loving kindness to perfection. There's surely a reason why this place is so close to Rudramandir... Seriously, don't walk, run to Cultured, and then sit and take your time to relish every mind-blowing flavor in the bowl they serve you. It's really that good.

These folks are absolute pickle artisans. They really elevated ingredients in ways I never would have expected. A must-try, memorable weekend lunch experience.

An amazing store! The owners are so friendly and the to-go bowls are absolutely delicious. So worth pre-ordering.

Wonderful weekend lunch -- the rice bowl felt like a walk in a garden (beautiful colors and textures). I don't know alot about pickled foods, so I was a little apprehensive. However, I found each bite to be delicious, including the Kombucha, and sweet bite at the end. Highly recommend, one of a kind. Fun place to see where the food is made.

This is one of my favorite shops. The care and dedication that's put into each pickle is clear. The skill and knowledge Alex and Kevin have is a true treasure trove. Whenever I'm in the bay, I always make sure to stop by and load up

The best sauerkraut in the Bay Area and beyond! I sampled quite a few high-quality fermented foods all around the world, and this little factory store takes the crown.

Obsession doesn’t even cover it. The best kombucha frankly, ever. Also all their fermented foods are delicious and unique. The pickle bowls on the weekend are a must.

Excellent place for all things fermented. Lots of unique and unusual offerings, all delicious and tasty. When I was there, Manresa's chef was in front of me, getting an assortment of goodies to try. Love the flavors of everything o get. Inspiring place and products.

Embrace the bacteria! Awesome, obviously knowledgeable and passionate shop for all foods fermented- I tried the spicy dills, hot sauce and a super tasty kombucha! And that’s just for beginners- several seasonal kimchi and other fermented veggies including some oddities like pumpkin stock the modest but packed refrigerated shelf that is their whole store, just in front of the sprawling open kitchen and prep area behind. If you’re serious about your SCOBYs give it a shot!

I showed up at the Berkeley farmers market specifically looking for The Cultured Pickle. It was worth my travel time! Only an hour left remained and I was happy that there were a few items available. I purchased 2 different sauerkraut bottles and a small chili paste as well as a Ginger Tumeric kombucha. This was my first time trying anything fermented outside of a pickle. The Cultured Pickle makes eating fermented vegetables enjoyable.

Absolutely the best kombucha! And the people who work here are simply wonderful and incredibly friendly.

And to those complaining about their hours, they attend three Berkeley Farmer's markets, one of which is on Saturdays. So stop your whining.

Some of the best fermented foods I’ve ever had. They are very friendly and healthy. Though the items are costly, they are of tremendous help to my challenged digestive system.

Lovely fermentation corner. We tried their celery grapefruit booch, their kimchi brine, their cultured gomashio, and their umeboshi. They were all delicious and special!

Fantastic selection of fermented foods with highly innovative combinations. My favorite is the Chili Paste and there are always multiple kombucha flavors that make it hard to choose just one.