Had a phenomenal experience from start to finish. The interior is darker, decorated with sleek…read morebubble accents that created a romantically modern ambiance. Even the restroom reflected an impressive attention to detail- immaculately maintained and elevated with amenities such as lotion, Q-tips, and climate control. This spot is good for a fancy date night! My husband opted for the lunch special, which included soup, salad, curry, and a side of sushi. He absolutely raved about the curry. I chose the fish wontons alongside the Raleigh roll, which was exceptional; the addition of mango on top was perfect with the lobster tempura for me. I am also always appreciative when a sushi place can accommodate my addiction to add cream cheese to any roll- they made it work! Service was prompt and attentive. The green tea leaned slightly earthy for my taste, but it did little to detract from an otherwise outstanding meal. I would gladly return and recommend this spot to groups seeking high-quality sushi in a polished setting.

I've heard lots about Ajisai and have walked past it many times…read more It was a gorgeous Friday evening. Many were seated outside, but since I was a party of 1, I decided to sit at the bar. Bin was my server, he was great. I started with the grilled scallops, they were small, but were grilled & seasoned perfectly. I then ordered the Alaskan Roll & the Ajisai Roll. Both so fresh and delicious. I enjoyed the experience. There's great ambiance, it's vibrant and modern. There's plenty of seating at the bar. There are plenty of tables inside and several outside.

Had a great meal here! We started out with edamame. Just…read morewish it was a little more salty but that's my own preference. The rock salt salmon was so yummy. We also had the black cod which was nice and buttery. Didn't realize it came with two handheld pieces and one played piece. Nice surprise! Had the seaweed salad which was good, very forward tasting. we had the truffle tuna roll and rainbow roll. both were fabulous. truffle tuna was tangy and clear cut. rainbow roll was so good we got it twice! simple but crispy and smooth. We came on a friday night, only waited about 20 minutes to be seated inside. our waiter was so nice and didn't mind us ordering a few things at a time. Would totally come back!

Visited Sushi Mon on a recommendation from a local. Initially I wasn't sure about it because…read moreseating was in what seemed to be the lobby of the building it's located in. Later I saw the actual restaurant is a bit small with a few tables and sushi bar so I'm thinking they have out grown their space and after eating the food I can understand how that happened. As mentioned it has a small footprint but we didn't wait long. Our server was very kind and provided excellent service. We started with the gyoza which were out of this world! They had the perfect char on the dumpling without making it too seared. The Sashimi plate was incredible, each piece of fish melted in your mouth. If I have to give one critique I'd say our yellow tail was still a little frozen but that didn't stop me from devouring it. Crispy Salmon Roll was light and refreshing and their Rainbow Roll was like no other I've had. My husband and I have two reference points when it comes to sushi; mine is Japan where I was introduced to it as a young Marine, his is Hawaii where had the most amazing sushi about 5 years ago. Not many places can compare to those experiences but Sushi Mon was VERY close!

We moved here 2 years ago from Los Angeles, I I grew up on japanese home cooking and this place…read morereminded me of it :) We've been to so many japanese restaraunts out here, and nearly gave up hope of trying new places until tonight and very happy we stopped in. Definitely going to be a regular.

A cozy sushi spot - loved the ambiance, the fish was fresh and the rolls were filling. Very fast…read moreand attentive service.

Let me tell you the WAYYYSSS I love this place: Quality…read moreSushi & ingredients Delicious appetizers ‍ Friendly staffers who go ABOVE & BEYOND I love sushi, but it can be expensive and spending a lot of money on bad sushi is no bueno! I was having a hard time finding a place in Raleigh that served quality ingredient sushi & was worth the price for the quantity. We found ourselves at O-Ku after a friend recommended this place as her favorite sushi in Raleigh. Immediately was impressed, as we came for my birthday & the staff signed a birthday card for me and gave me a surprise dessert. Excellent service! On my 2 year wedding anniversary we came back again bc we loved the sushi the first time and wanted to have delicious food on our special night. The staff once again surprised us with flowers on the table, a special printed menu that said 2nd year Anniversary & a dessert to go. This place is absolutely stunning inside as well. Beautiful restaurant, they also have an intimate outdoor patio with pretty lights. Highly recommend this place for a special occasion or even just a night out if you're looking for the best sushi in Raleigh! Love ya, O-Ku -- we'll be back!

Great ambience, but…read more.. Venue: great ambience, lively. Food: we ordered gyoza, rock shrimp, toro spoon, various rolls, and some nigiri. insane price for sushi/ nigiri especially uni. If it was great and special, pricing would be understood but not the case here. The toro spoon had old fish taste. Sushi rice was over cooked and very mushy. Sorry but sushi roles reminded me of the ones you get in the grocery store. Duck kushiyaki was recommended and tasted somewhat bland and tough. Came here for family birthday dinner. No body really liked the dishes here. Service: our server was very kind and tried his best to accommodate us. Great ambience but I don't see any of us coming back here for food.

The owners are from the SFBA. This is as close as I can get to Bay Area ramen; however, it's…read morenowhere as good as Ramen Hajime and Hiro Nori Ramen, both in Santa Clara, CA. The portion sizes are California-style, so just be aware that you will need to get an appetizer or two, along with your entree if you want to feel like you had a really hearty meal.

Quaint Ramen Place. Came here twice. Once I came for…read moretonkatsu ramen and recently for tan tan with my family. Venue: Small Food: ordered spicyTantan ramen (spicy sesame and pork broth), tonkatsu ramen (pork broth) also ordered salmon and tonkatsu (fried battered pork). The ramen was good. I can't say it was the best I've ever had, but fair. I like the tan tan better than tonkatsu- family who tasted the broth all agreed on this. Was pretty disappointed in tonkatsu. Very thin dry, and small portion with basic sauce. Tonkatsu portion was smallest I've ever seen. Taste very mediocre. Service: twice here. Service is generally slow. Polite staffs but slow. It is a very basic ramen place here. Some will love it and some will want something more special. It's up to you to try!

Tucked in between the Trader Joe's and Szechuan Mansion hot pot, this spot is in a hot area! The…read moreinterior is clean and well decorated, and feels comfortable to have large groups or parties. Came by during lunch and tried their omakase combo, and it is a delicious way to get multiple items for a good price! I ordered the sushi and sashimi combo (includes side salad and miso soup) for $16, and an appetizer of edamame (~$8). The fish was fresh and I loved the ginger dressing on the salad. Our server was very attentive and gave great service. All of the staff were friendly. My friend and I were able to enjoy our meal without feeling rushed.

The sushi here is really good! Prices aren't too bad for the area. Would definitely return!read more

Five stars, no hesitation…read more I heard about Sono Sushi through Resy and finally made it in. It's located in downtown Raleigh on Fayetteville Street, right next to the ABC 11 studios, easy to find and a great spot if you're already downtown. The ambiance is great and fits the food well. There's a nice mix of seating, tables along the windows looking out onto the street, high top tables, traditional dining tables, and a sushi bar if you want to sit up close and watch everything being made. It feels lively without being loud, and works well whether you're there for a date night or a more casual meal. We started with the Aburi appetizer, torched salmon belly, ooba, salmon roe, Japanese seabream, yuzu kosho, and ponzu, and it was outstanding. Everything worked together perfectly, rich, bright, and balanced. I also ordered ikura and ebi, even though I meant to order ama ebi, but no regrets there. Still excellent. We shared the Poke Roll with wakame, avocado, cucumber, mango, tuna, salmon, hamachi, and Sono poke sauce, and it was very good, fresh, flavorful, and well composed without being overdone. My wife ordered the spicy miso ramen and loved it. The broth was the star, deep and comforting, and the pork chashu pieces were massive, in a good way. I went with the chicken katsu curry, panko fried chicken thigh with house curry and koshihikari rice, something I haven't had since Little Tokyo in LA a few years ago, and it tasted like home. Comforting, familiar, and exactly what I was hoping for. For drinks, I ordered the "SONO? SO-YES!" entirely because of the name, but also because I love blood orange. Casamigos Blanco tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, coconut cream, simple syrup, and blood orange juice, it was excellent. My only complaint is that I wanted more of it. My wife got the Okinawa Spritz, a play on an Aperol spritz with passionfruit, and it was even better than the original. We finished with the yuzu cheesecake. I debated between that and the ube cheesecake, but since this is a Japanese restaurant, yuzu felt right, and it absolutely delivered. Overall, everything from the food to the drinks hit. This is a place I would happily return to, and honestly, I'm already looking forward to the next visit.

Secured a resy reservation on a Saturday night table for 2, and although seated immediately it was…read moreprobably a solid 15-20 min in between each waiter interaction. I think it was just at the height of rush hour and they were doing their best- I would just pad your expected time here because it is quite popular. Loud environment, concrete floors with no rugs or anything. LOVED the Gyosa!!! Like table slapping good. Some of the best I've ever tried. Ordered the Grand Piano and Umi Kazan rolls, both good with shrimp tempura but the Grand Piano was far "denser" with the blue crab in the middle. The Umi Kazan was my favorite with the shredded crab on top. I liked the assortment of options and how you could customize if you wanted. Also ordered a Malbec wine- quite good. Our waiter was very accommodating, just slammed for the dinner rush. I'd definitely return! The neon koi fish and paper umbrellas were stunning.

This place is amazing. The wasabi fries alone are worth the trip. Pair that with the date night…read moredrink and you're good to go. I'd also recommend the curry flatbreads.

Really wanted to visit Shinmai Kumo due to its unique concept. I had a pleasant visit and really…read moreenjoyed the service and vibe of the restaurant. It felt homie but also modern when we entered which is a hard balance to attain. The staff was very friendly, attentive, and provided great recommendations. I visited during a time there was a promotion to receive a free drink upon ordering up to a certain amount per person. The free drinks were a pleasant surprise and made the dining experience extra sweet. My favorite dish was the unagi avocado flatbread but all of the dishes have well balanced flavors and are a unique twist on classics. I highly recommend visiting Shinmai Kumo for a special dining experience.

Overall: Matsumoto punches above it's weight class in terms of quality for its ramen. Highly…read morerecommend you come and try. Food: The ramen here was great. Rich flavors and high quality ingredients result in a very deep flavor you look for in a warm bowl for ramen. The quality to price ratio is great here, I think it packs the punch of a premium ramen, but at a lower price point. The curry was also fantastic, very thick curry and the tonkatsu pairs super well with it offering great variety in texture. The calamari I thought was pretty normal, nothing crazy here, thought it was a bit over priced for what was offered. Service: The service is fast, you order at the front desk and then pick your own seat. Food comes out quickly, even during standard lunch and dinner hours on both weekend and weekdays. Ambiance: The inside has plenty of seating and a fun entrance. As soon as you walk in the store you are greeted with a wide variety of drinks and small figures that you can purchase.

Parking: located at Waverly place but plenty of parking located in front of the cinebistro which is…read morelocated right next to it. Food: Got the Seaweed salad and chicken curry with rice. Seaweed salad was seaweed on a bed of lettuce. It was a unique flavor that was the first time trying. The chicken curry was absolutely delicious and flavorful and the chicken was super tender. It also included rice and you also add any protein with it. Service: when you first walk in you order your food at the front and then you can seat yourself anywhere throughout the restaurant. They were super nice and incredibly helpful. Ambiance: Included booths, tables and stools to be seated at. Had a collection of anime figurines all throughout.

Ordered the Tori Shio and it really hit the spot. The broth is clean, light, and comforting without…read morebeing bland. The shredded chicken was tender and generously portioned, and the soft-boiled egg was cooked perfectly with a rich, jammy yolk. A friend ordered the Spicy Tan Tan, and I tried a few bites. Flavor-wise, it was excellent -- rich, bold, and deeply savory -- but it was extremely spicy. Definitely delicious, just something to be aware of if you're sensitive to heat. We also shared a hand roll, which was a great addition. Fresh, well made, and nicely balanced, with good quality fish and seasoned rice. A solid bite to have alongside the ramen. Overall, everything was filling and genuinely delicious. Ingredients tasted fresh, portions were generous, and the flavors were thoughtfully done. Daijobu is a great spot in Raleigh with an excellent ambient for dinner. Service is great as well, staff is very nice.

Our server Naomi was a true delight for lunch this past Friday. She was efficient and super nice…read more It was our first time trying the ramen at Daijobu, and it is stellar! We had the spicy miso ramen that sported a lot of chicken and a delicious broth. Very bold yet balanced flavors. As for the three hand roll set that we ordered we found out we are not real fans of hand rolls. I should have looked up what makes a hand roll a hand roll. (It's the nori, the seaweed wrapper, that sets it apart in the world of sushi.) The salmon, yellowfin tuna, and crab were so fresh that they tasted fishy to us. Again, I believe it's user error that this dish didn't fly with us. We used the soy sauce mixed with wasabi to disguise the fishy taste. Lesson learned.