We stopped by the transfer food hall for lunch and I decided to check out Yatai Sushi and Taco bar…read more I'm super picky when ordering sushi outside of Seattle, but the reviews were excellent and so I decided to give it a try. I ordered the cucumber roll and the hamachi sushi roll. I'm super picky about my hamachi because I want it to be very fresh and the hamachi in my roll from Yatai was perfectly fresh. In fact, it's the best I've had in quite a while, even in Seattle. The rice was also perfectly cooked and the staff were very nice and helpful. A couple of other family members ordered a chirashi bowl and the crispy salmon both were beautifully presented and also delicious. Yatai is a great spot for sushi. I don't give many five-star reviews but I've given two of them today in Raleigh. Both were very well earned.

Here's a polished version of your Yelp review:…read more Their sushi and sashimi is great. We go back at least monthly for their amazing and unique rolls. The only thing on the menu I would not recommend is the Birria Bun - It's a bit bland to be nice and they don't serve it with any consommé, which is a huge bummer

I have been in search of a good pho spot in North Carolina for a while and I think I have finally…read morefound it. This restaurant is authentic and the broth here really hit the spot for me. The also has all the side condiments you would want to go with your pho which is hard to find around here. The service was also amazing, they sat us down quickly, took our orders almost right away, and the food came out in about 10-15 minutes. The restaurant itself was well decorated, bright, and clean. I will 100% be coming back when I am in the area.

Second visit. First time, slow service but good food. We gave grace…read more This time? A reminder that aesthetic does not equal execution. The space is lively and well-designed. It photographs beautifully. Unfortunately, restaurants aren't judged on lighting. We ordered everything upfront: Banh Xeo (explicitly no shrimp due to a shellfish allergy), Cha Gio, Pho Tai, and the Chef Special. Somehow, not everything was entered correctly. The Banh Xeo arrived covered in shrimp. Allergy clearly stated. It was sent back immediately. We were told they could remake it, but it would "take a while because it takes a long time to make." Banh Xeo takes under 10 minutes in a properly run kitchen. We declined and assumed the rest of our meal would arrive promptly. It didn't. The egg rolls weren't just fried, they were fully baptized in oil. One bite and it felt like chewing on a sponge that lost a fight with the fryer. Then we watched tables seated at least 15 minutes after us receive their food before we did. When we asked about the remainder of our order, we were told it had "just been added" and would take a while. Pho taking 35+ minutes in a Vietnamese restaurant isn't high volume. It's disorganization. The Chef Special was decent. The pho, which should be the backbone of the menu, was underwhelming. Several tables around us had incorrect orders or long delays. The owner circulated, but instead of urgency or accountability, the energy felt inconvenienced. Here's the reality: great atmosphere can draw people in once. Food and leadership bring them back. If you're going because it looks trendy and buzzing, go in with eyes open. The aesthetic might be the star of the room, but the food should be.

Bida Manda mean "father and mother" in Sanskrit. This restaurant was started by siblings (a…read morebrother and a sister), and they named their restaurant to honor their parents. What a great idea! I like to come here for one dish: the squash curry or the pumpkin curry. It's either vegetarian or vegan, so yeah, it's pretty much the highlight of the menu as far as I'm concerned. It's called the Manda Curry or Mom's Curry: Slow-cooked house coconut curry with fresh root vegetables, jasmine rice, and pumpkin. It reminds me of Vientiane Palace's Squash Curry. Upscale ambience!

Wow is mainly what I can say. I am a huge fan of Asian cuisine generally, but Bida Manda has been…read moreone of the more unique experiences I've had with Asian food in quite some time. The two times I went recently, it was a packed house, so reservations are definitely recommended. There's plenty of street parking within a close walk of the restaurant. We ordered the chicken wings, lettuce wraps, and the pork belly soup. All of them were packed full of flavor and prepared to perfection. The chicken wings had an incredible, almost tempura-like batter to them. And the pork belly soup - omg - there's a reason it's the dish they most recommend. I will definitely be back!

This restaurant has been on my list to visit for a couple of years. I was finally able to go. It…read morewas fine. Nothing spectacular. The reason I gave it 4 stars was because the dumplings were disappointing. They were not warm and the dumpling dough was thick. We got the David's dumplings and the crispy spicy wontons. The wontons were better. I liked the crispy dough but they weren't spicy at all. The entree meals were better. I had the Malaysian curry soup which had a nice kick and was steaming hot. It had lots of different toppings in it which was nice. My husband got the fried rice. It was also really good. The Chinese sausage complimented the rice well and there were plenty shrimp in it too. If I went back I would forgo the dumplings and just go straight to having the entree.

First of all, I love the ambiance there. The exposed bricks are so pretty to me! They also have…read moresuch a huge space. They even have a private event room as well! Secondly, the food!!! We ordered a lot of food (2 appetizers and 3 entrees ) and our eyes were not bigger than our stomachs because we finished all the food We are proud big backs lol What we tried and how we'd rank them: David's Original Half Fried Dumplings Malaysian Curry Noodle Soup Open Top Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai Dumplings Sautéed Green Beans David's Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage Make sure to ask them for their house made chili oil! It's spicy but a little sweet. We were both fans. My friend even asked if they sell it

I recently checked out Fun DipPot with a friend, and it was my first time trying malatang! I'm more…read morefamiliar with hot pot where you cook everything yourself, so it was a nice change to just pick out what I wanted and have the staff cook it for me. There was a wide selection of ingredients to choose from, and you can customize the broth flavor and spice level however you like. I really liked how you can grab exactly what you want in the quantity you want--no worrying about ordering too much or too little like with hot pot. The service was friendly and fast, and there was plenty of seating inside. There isn't a dedicated parking lot, but we found a paid lot just a short walk away, so it wasn't too bad. Overall, it was a fun and tasty experience--I'll definitely come back to try out more ingredient combinations next time!

Located on Hillsborough street (street parking), this self-serve fast hotpot joint is one of my new…read morefavorites! While your larger restaurants will have a lengthy wait at times, Fun Dippot seems to always be moving people through! You grab a bowl and tongs, pick your toppings, grab your noodles, then pick a base. It is weight based but so reasonable IMO, plus you can bring home anything you don't finish. We moved through with ease and sat down to enjoy our food in less than 10 minutes. The inside is very open, clean, and minimalistic. I will definitely be back!

The staff had good customer service, fast with taking orders and brought out the food fairly…read morequickly. The food was hot, fresh, and delicious. Very nice, cozy, and modern theme. Give them a try if you want some authentic food. Worth the try! Don't walk but run!!!!! 10/10 everything was delicious

This was my third and last visit…read more The lady who waited on me was impatient, impolite, and irritable. She spent most all of my visit sitting at a back table and reading. The shrimp, beef, & chicken meal would've been okay if the beef hadn't been questionably fresh (I didn't eat any after the first bite) and the tough, overcooked shrimp. I tipped 15% because the service was terrible. Aside from the lady yelling, "It's okay?" from the kitchen, she never checked on me. Usually, I tip between 25-30%. After I paid and left the restaurant, the rude cashier followed me out to my car. Pointing to the receipt & tip, he yelled, "This is it?? %15 tip??" The only positive thing that I can say about Chuan Cafe is that the Diet Coke was good.

This place use to be a Thai food restaurant and it was always empty and not good lol. Glad they…read morechanged it up and put in an Indian food place. Second time I've had Indian food and it's much better than my first experience. Food was fresh, and the waiter was pretty attentive. We sat outside and the ambiance wasn't too bad but they should have some music playing inside/outside. Food 8/10 chicken could be a little bit moist for the buttered chicken but overall I'm happy! Will be coming back here for sure, it has so much potential and I'm looking forward to it.

If you're looking for Indian food in Raleigh that delivers on both flavor and overall experience,…read moreSoul Flavorscapes of India is an easy recommendation. This is a 5-star restaurant, but not in a formal, special-occasion sense. It's a more approachable kind of 5: thoughtful, well-executed, and genuinely enjoyable. The kind of place you can go for a relaxed dinner or to host friends from out of town, and still feel confident in the quality of the experience. I went with my husband and a family friend who was visiting, and it was a great setting for catching up. The ambiance strikes a nice balance between polished and comfortable. I especially liked the rich blue tones inside and the overhead lanterns, which give the space a warm, inviting feel. There's also a outdoor patio, though at 96 degrees, we opted to sit inside. I'll admit I didn't do a great job capturing photos, but everything we ordered was excellent. We started with samosas, veg pakora, and beet cutlets (which my husband hadn't had since moving to the U.S. for grad school over a decade ago). We also ordered a mango lassi, the bread basket, malai kofta, balti chicken, and lamb biryani. A few highlights: Portions are generous The spice levels are accurate "medium" and "medium hot" both had a noticeable level of heat, which isn't always the case locally The lamb biryani stood out (my husband said it's the best biriyani he's had in North Carolina) Service was also great. The owner stopped by our table multiple times and was warm and engaging. She even shared how to make a strawberry lassi with our friend, which was a thoughtful touch. One practical note: the restaurant is downtown, and there's a surface parking lot directly next to it that uses ParkMobile, which makes parking straightforward. We're already planning to return.

Our company held a team dinner at Brewery Bhavana, and it was truly an experience. Right in the…read moreheart of downtown Raleigh, this upscale brewery blends historic brick charm with a stunning custom library and unique touches of elegance at every turn. We enjoyed several small plates, and not a single dish disappointed. Every bite was memorable. The atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for date night, a girls' night out, or even a quick lunch while enjoying a good read. A beautiful space, incredible food, and an unforgettable evening.

This is a one stop shop, brewery, flower shop, library/book store and dim sum restaurant!…read more The food. Really really good dim sum. I stopped in just a they were opening on a Friday and thank goodness I showed up when I did, this place gets packed quick and you should book a reservation to be on the safe side. I was most excited about the duck egg rolls but ended up being my least favorite not because they were slightly on the dry side. Flavor was good, and the hoisin honey sauce really helped! The seafood dumplings were second best, stuffed full. The soup based was amazing and it also came with some bread for dipping in the leftover sauce. The pork and chive shumai were my favorite! A little bit bigger than bit sized but worth the mouth full! Absolutely would recommend. I'll 100% be back for more food. The bar side looked to be more casual, the dinning room was full of high tea attire so I did feel a little under dressed, thought it would be slightly more casual. They have the cutest library with free books to read but only while you dine in. The flower and book shop are in the middle of the space. Super cute, limited options but great for a last minute bouquet!

Senegalese cuisine needs to make it to the top of your food list if it's not already on there…read more Hady's had some of the best food I've had in international cuisine. The lamb was tender and melted off the bone, the fufu was soft and hearty, and the plantains were scrumptious. The restaurant itself was very very clean, service was fast, and the bathrooms were spotless. I can't understand why it took me so long to try Hady's, but this will quickly become a staple.

I was in the mood for oxtails on a week night after the snow in Raleigh. Placed that were open late…read moreand considering the weather were far and few between but Hady's was open. We made the trek from the north side of town over and it was worth it. The place is immaculately clean and the menu is an extensive list of cuisine from all over the world. From Jamaica to Ghana and place in between. I know this could be a difficult balance to strike, but it was done well. I ordered the oxtails with rice and peace and plantains. The order was a nice size but I do feel the oxtails portion could have been bigger. Lots of sauce but not a lot of meat. The seasoning on it was very well done. Spicy but not too spicy. Well balanced. I enjoyed it along with my well portioned sides. The person with me got jollof rice and chicken. They said the rice was good and the grilled onion on top of the chicken was perfect. The chicken wasn't to their personal taste but looked well portioned and prepared. They also had a variety of bottled drinks to choose from like mango and hibiscus drinks. I would go back.