We were planning to spend our Anniversary weekend in Hickory, so like always, I searched on Yelp…read morefor the best restaurants & reading the reviews on Umi, had my attention! I called & l/m 5 days ahead & the owner clearly states what times are available each day that week since they only have 5 tables. The owner called me back within an hour & confirmed our reservation. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the owner & she immediately wished us a Happy Anniversary & had 2 roses in a vase for us to keep. Very romantic & quiet setting. The Bibb salad with the soy & Yuzu dressing was delicious & so fresh! We had the smoked salmon roll, steamed lobster roll & tuna tataki and all were delicious! This husband & wife team restaurant is a hidden gem (it's tucked in a plaza behind a gas station, so at night, it may be easy to miss!). If you're a sushi lover & will be in Hickory, call in advance & make your reservation! We are already looking forward to our next visit in the spring when our daughter's lacrosse team plays LR!

What an experience. Only four tables in the restaurant, but the atmosphere is absolutely relaxing…read moreand romantic. Went here for an anniversary meal and I've never had better sashimi or sushi. You can tell everything is fresh and taste great.

What a shining gem in this Walmart shopping center!…read more The decor and atmosphere make you forget you're in Marion up in the mountains. The coy fish tank and sit up bar with all the little details make you feel like you're in a ramen bar in Japan. I ordered the mocha boba tea and really enjoyed it along side my pork bahn mi, the grilled pork did really well with the crisp pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and toasty French bread. Wasn't a huge fan of the spring roll, they were served Luke warm, I like the vermincili noodles cold. I would like to come back and try the extensive ramen menu, we just weren't in a hot broth mood this time.

Having recently returned to Western North Carolina after living in San Diego for 35 years one of…read morethe things we were prepared to give up was Pho. Well, life in Marion just got a whole lot better! We had dinner at Sakura a couple of weeks ago and have since returned two more times. I had the pho which is a traditional Vietnamese soup. The broth was excellent and the version I got had brisket and eye of round, it was delicious! My wife got the vermicelli and said it was authentic. We also had egg rolls which were also delicious! We haven't tried the Ramen but will eventually get around to it I'm sure. I highly recommend Sakura as the staff is friendly and the food is delicious!

Food was delicious and staff was wonderful! I would definitely recommend to everyone,read more

Decided to Yelp this last minute as We were starving after going on a date to the Lazy 5 Ranch. You…read morecan never go wrong with Asian. I'm obsessed with their food and culture tremendously!! This place received excellent reviews and seemed star worthy, so we went. As soon as we walked in, the young ladies at the front were smiling, friendly and professional. But the food was not what I expected. Some sushi rolls didn't have much of a taste which seemed very odd to me. Then some were really good. Crab rangoons were literally nothing special, so wouldn't get those again. I am not sure if we would return. If we did, I would only try the Ramen next.

The food brought back memories for me. The Vietnamese iced…read morecoffee? Delicious! Pork chop dinner? Yum! The restaurant is clean, bright and cheerful. Love that they do not wait to bring food until everything is ready. You get to eat the food while it is hot.

Fantastic food, atmosphere, staff. Very clean, fresh food, nice choices!…read more Definitely stop here and have a leisurely lunch.

Wowwowowowow!!! This place was PHENOMENAL from start to finish. We've been back twice since our…read morefirst time and it just keeps getting better. The staff and the vibe in the restaurant are both so chill and welcoming. I love how the servers have all been so knowledgeable of the menu; different types of broth, flavors, and how to recommend what to order!! I've gotten two spicy dishes and they have had a decent kick to them, so beware if you are cautious around spicy things. We love the gyoza appetizer with the pancake on top and edamame. And of course, the ramen is so amazing!! If you love ramen and gyoza and a great time, try Kazoku out!!

This place has been on my radar for a while, but I don't live close (probably a good thing because…read moreI would be here everyday). Saturday afternoon, made plans to stop in and check it out (off peak lunch time -2pm-ish). They were moderately busy... for good reason! Had the Black ramen and it was . Gone in 60 seconds but super flavorful and delicious!! We also had the fried shrimp shu mai with dipping sauce... piping hot and delicious!! Our server was super friendly and took care of us. Actually the entire staff really took care of us and you can tell in the food as well. A lot of love, passion, and great ingredients go into all their entire menu. Location wise, this place is definitely a "sleeper" place just because it's tucked back in Stonecrest across from the movie theater. The dining room is cozy but there are booths and tables.... Small outdoor dining area with a handful of tables too. Overall a great place to get great ramen! Just wished it was closer but again, I would be here daily getting ramen.

Menya seriously exceeded expectations. I wasn't expecting this level of ramen, especially from the…read morevegan option--but wow. The broth had so much depth of flavor, honestly comparable to some I've had in Japan. You can sit at the counter or at a table, but I'd recommend the counter--it was fun watching them prepare everything. Really impressive spot and a great option even if you don't eat pork or beef.

We visited Menya late one Saturday afternoon in May for an early dinner…read more You order (and pay) via a QR code using the Toast app, so ordering is very simple. We started with the pork gyoza, which were delivered quickly and were delicious. For our entrees, I had the Tonkotsu Black with added braised tofu, and my husband had the Spicy Tantan. I don't usually like eggs in my ramen (because they are never cooked enough), but Menya cooked theirs perfectly soft boiled, and I loved the flavor the egg added to the soup. Both soups had complex flavors, and we loved them. The tofu was great--thinly sliced and flavorful, if a bit salty--but I am not sure I'd need it again. My husband thought his soup was perfectly spicy. A note about parking - if you can park in the lot in front of the building, you scan a QR code, and open a parking time block. (I believe Menya paid for a 2-hour block.) You then enter the information on an iPad at the back of the restaurant to validate your parking and start the clock. It was easier than I expected, and I'd definitely use this parking service again. And if you can't get a spot in the lot in front of the building, you can park on the neighborhood streets just one or two blocks away. All told, it was a great meal for a reasonable cost. We'll definitely return!

Had a really nice dinner here. I easily parked in the shopping center parking lot which had plenty…read moreof space. We got a table for 3 on a Friday night (around 7) without an issue. We split the #4 chewy rice cakes appetizer which was delightful. It was mostly sweet but towards the end of each bite packed a spicy kick. I love the chewy texture of the rice cakes. I had a dolsot bowl for my entree. It was packed with beef, egg, and veggies. It was served hot, in a stone bowl, and was delicious! The restaurant filled up quickly but I don't think there was ever a wait. Service was quick and attentive!

We're so glad we made a stop at Dae Bak Korean Restaurant after coming back into Charlotte from a…read morelong road trip. On a chilly evening, this place was just the cozy spot we needed. We were seated right away, and the staff was super friendly from the start. The food was absolutely fantastic. We tried the bulgogi with rice and a mild sundubu, and the portion sizes were generous. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. We also really enjoyed the little side dishes--especially the kimchi, bean sprouts, and cucumbers. And the kids got a kick out of the steamed egg, which arrived so hot it looked like a little volcano steaming away. All in all, a fantastic spot to unwind and have a great meal--highly recommend

My daughter and I are having a staycation downtown. I let her pick what she wanted for dinner. She…read morewanted ramen, so we found this place across from our hotel. It was a little complicated to find, but it was so worth it! The staff were friendly and the food was delicious. We were sad to find out this location would be closing. Guess we'll have to find the one on Woodruff.

If you like noodles, check this place out. And great on this chilly day…read more Friendly & quick service. Family friendly. And if you've never used chopsticks, fear not, they have these handy chopstick helpers. (See photo) Tried the Shoyou Ramen and Beef Udon. Good portions and tasty but if you want more noodles, you can buy extra