Kai Sushi & Sake Bar is one of our favorite sushi spots in Raleigh, especially for their awesome BOGO sushi deals. It's such a great value and the rolls are always fresh and flavorful. We always start with the miso soup ,simple but really comforting and well done. The vibe is cozy, the staff is friendly, and even when it gets busy the service is solid. If you're looking for good sushi without breaking the bank, this place is definitely worth checking out. read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Sushi pick 3 - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Nice sushi options. I got the Piano roll which is one of my favorites. Lunch has a deal: 1 roll + soup + salad. Salad was good, just greens and shaved carrots. The only suggestion I have is that the salad could be chopped more and tomato or cucumber could be added. It came as a bowl of very large leaves, making it difficult to eat without a knife. Service is great, staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Ambiance: feels private and comfortable. Nice place for conversation. It's on the smaller side, probably 12 tables and about 10 seats at the sushi bar. read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Shrimp tempura roll - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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We are regular at this sushi bar. Quality and price ratio is on point, we will continue to support them as long as they stay in business

First time to Kai but I've always heard good things about it. It was a nice night so we requested to sit outside. Waiter brought menus and waters quickly. They also bring complimentary edamame to the table which is a nice touch. Menu was extensive. By the time the rest of my party was ready to order I really hadn't decided and just ordered simple tuna and salmon rolls. Son and his girlfriend both ordered bento boxes and husband ordered the spicy tuna bowl with black rice. Mine was not much food as I should have expected but bento boxes were a ton of food so they shared. I tasted husband's bowl which was spicy as described. Loved the black rice. Sushi and sashimi were good quality. Definitely a good option for sushi in Raleigh. read more

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Birthday dinner for favorite child and ashamed to say it's been 6 yrs since I've been back. So glad some things never change. The rolls are LARGE, delicious and works of art. The Hibachi chicken dish was easily enough for two. Waiter was attentive and polite. Promise myself to not wait so long to go back. read more

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Kai is our weekly sushi to go spot. Can't beat the 3 rolls for $30. The fries jalapeño appetizer is amazing too!

Love this place. It's a little small and can get busy with a wait on a Saturday night, but it's worth it! Been a couple times now and the food and service is consistent. They have a good sushi deal that can't be beat for the area, about $31 for 3 signature rolls. read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The food was good . No chopstick trainers for kids . It was very hot in there no a/c . There is a $3 charge for credit card . No music. No wifi . Very limited seating inside . It is nicely centered in a good area . read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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HVAC is always out of sorts. Wait staff is good and sushi is average. Better choices in Raleigh.

This sushi place was a good option for a to go spot. The service was pretty fast and I was able to get two different sushi options to try. I definitely did enjoy the sushi and the flavors were pretty nice. The place wasn't too busy when I went to pick up my food so it was very simple to get my to go order. There are spaces inside the restaurant to eat and it is a cute little vibe if you wanted to sit down and enjoy your meal there. Overall, I would definitely come back here for sushi read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Black widow with Masada and screaming o - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

First off the dinning room is small so get there earlier. It is not the place for large groups!! We were sat at the sushi bar which was great for my friend and I ! They brought us Edamame as an appetizer and I ordered the Fuji apple sake! It's one of my favorites and they price on the menu is for a half bottle which you can take home if you don't finish! For dinner we did 5 rolls for $50! And all of the rolls were fresh and amazing! I am allergic to seaweed and they have soy wrap which was greatly appreciated!! If I didn't live so far away I would have already been back TWICE lol!! read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Solid choice for sushi. I feel like so many sushi places have gone down hill but this one has remained solid. They have raised their prices but at least it still tastes good!!! I love the rolls with the black rice. They seem to have the best flavor. Very much enjoy their takeout special. Main complaint: it is so hard to get them on the phone because the phone is always busy. So many people trying to call in all at the time the place opens. I don't love eating inside because of it being loud but it is definitely one of the best sushi spots in the area. read more

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I ordered takeout sushi from here and it was really good! The deal they offer for 3 rolls for 30.99 is a really good price for quality sushi and they also have a 5 rolls for 50.99 special as well. I ordered the Diablo, Darth Vader, and Surf and Turf roll which were all really good! What more can you ask for good quality sushi at a good price! read more

Ordered online. Website said 33 min. At 50 minutes, food still wasn't ready. Picked up and no spoons available for soup even though we asked for them. One of two orders of dumplings was missing and the salad had no dressing. We used to come here for dinner often but clearly they aren't prepared for the takeout orders. Very disappointing. read more

We ordered take out from this place and I have to say I'm very impressed with the way they handle their sushi to-go. The take out came ready with chopsticks, soy sauce, and napkins. But most importantly it held together well in the box. They had a great selection of rolls, which made it difficult for us to choose which ones to pick. There is a special that you can get for either 4 or 5 rolls, so if you're really craving sushi for dinner I would definitely recommend getting the special. read more

This is a top sushi place for us. We go for the 5 roll special, though there is also a 3 roll special. We liked everything we tried except the Raleigh pop-- too much fried on the outside made it too rich and can't really taste the filling. Very nice presentation. It's a little pricey, but all good sushi are these days. It's a cute restaurant, on the small side. We went for late lunch and there was only one waitress. She was so busy! Menu via QR code. Once we placed the order, our rolls came out fairly quickly. I'd recommend for a date night. read more

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Delicious ramen, fresh and delicious sushi, Sia was so helpful and kind and attentive. Immaculate vibes, fun lighting. Reasonably priced too (: will definitely be returning read more

The food was excellent! The air conditioning was out while we err there so it was quite steamy inside. They had fans going and were doing the best they could in that situation. But the food and service were great! read more

Heinous and painstakingly slow service - I was waiting for my pickup order for nearly an hour. It did NOT help that the lady taking to go orders would eat in front of me while waiting for orders to come out‼Overall, very disappointed with the service read more

Poor service quality- I had been waiting in line for to-go for nearly an hour, despite coming 25 minutes after I ordered.

Had a terrible experience with an online order tonight. Went to pick up our order and was given two bags of food. When I got home, we were given the wrong food. I drove back to correct the mistake and had to wait for the right food to be made and no apology was given and no discount for our time was offer the folks his food I got I've been waiting even longer and they were not offered any discount either and just have to leave without being offered anything. The young man who was working takeout orders was clearly overwhelmed and wasn't being given any help by anybody else at the restaurant. We've always had a great experience but now I'm not so sure that we'll be back. Editing to add that the rolls we received were made poorly. Any kind of communication from the staff would have made this forgivable. Everyone just seemed like they were avoiding their customers. If you aren't staffed to handle takeout, don't take online orders. read more

This place would be good but they obviously have more business than they can handle. When you order online it gives you an ETA, but when I got there not only had they not started, but the guy running the takeout orders went to ask the chef how long it would be and I heard the chef shouting about how my order isn't important when they have a restaurant full of dine in customers. Shame because the sushi is good, but I'd rather go somewhere they want my business. read more

horrible service. We went to pick up our order and they hadn't even started it yet. No manager. It's like they didn't even care I will never order sushi from here again! read more

So this was my first time ever having Sushi and it was definitely an enjoyable experience. I'm allergic to seafood so anytime I was at Sushi places I just got a chicken and rice option. Well this restaurant only had sushi and a couple veggie and a dumpling options so if I wanted to eat then that's what it was. I'm glad I sent juts settle for dumplings because the sushi roll I had was amazing. I had the Surf and Turf without the Surf. Because of my allergy the custom made a roll for me that came with beef, cream cheese, avocado and vegetables. That taste matched how good it looks as you will see from the photo I posted. I'm from out of town and was in Raleigh for a work trip but would definitely come back just for the sushi roll. read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The food is definitely the star! The service lacked care and quality. Being sat literally so close that when the other table is ordering the servers butt is right in my face less than a foot away. Didn't make me hungry. Wish there was spacing for the tables. Probably won't go back read more

Went here for the first time last night and had such a wonderful time! We sat outside, got edemame, and ordered the 5 sushi rolls for $45 special. The hardest part was choosing the rolls, but we ended up ordering: Darth Vader, Rainbow, Screaming O, Piano, and Sea Dragon It was honestly so great and the sushi paired well. It was quick and friendly service, and really cute outdoor seating on a beautiful day! Will have to come back ASAP! read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Darth Vader, Rainbow, Screaming O, Piano, and Sea Dragon rolls ; 5 for $45 special - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Fresh, fun, innovative sushi that I will keep going back for!!!. I have become so tired of the seeing the same rolls over and over and Kai has found a way to make sushi new and exciting again!! With black rice creations to their own innovative sauces and garnishes I honestly loved every roll we had. To start you off they bring you a nice warm bowl of salted edamame which is such a nice treat while you wait for your meal. They have a great list of sakes, wine and both domestic and imported Japanese beers to chose from which perfectly compliment the food. We ordered the dark night, spider roll and screaming O rolls. The last one had their special sauce on it which was delicious, creamy and spicy at the same time. We chose these rolls so we could try the tuna, shrimp and soft shell crab and all were phenomenal. They were packed with fresh fish and just the perfect amount of rice. I also liked how they garnished two of the rolls with green onion which gave it a really fresh finish in your mouth. The rolls were 3 for $35 which I think is a fantastic deal for the value and was the perfect amount of food for my husband and I. I really liked that they offer a wide array of sushi opportunities here - sushimi, nigiri, bowl, or even in a taco/seaweed wrap. And you can trust it's FRESH!! The presentation was gorgeous and the couple next to us at the bar got sushimi which also looked fabulous. The inside has a dimly lit date night bar feel. Now to the cons - this place is excellent and people in North Raleigh clearly know it so you WILL wait on a Friday-Sunday night. We waited 30 mins on Saturday showing up after 7 which is entirely reasonable but just be ready. They do not take reservations. This place is small inside so it gets loud and there are no barriers to block sound. This is a date night/couples night place. I would leave young kids at home because the space, menu and noise isn't conducive to that. We got sat at the bar and it was more than 10 mins before we were greeted, and we were only attended to because we went back to the host to ask who our server was, however we were taken care of after that. read more

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Our go-to spot for amazing sushi in North Raleigh! We love sitting on the outdoor patio during summer time. Service is always top-notch, even though it gets packed with dine-in and to-go orders! Sushi is excellent. Everything we ordered was chef's kiss. Highly recommend! read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Maki sushi - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I love Kai. I live in DC and come here every single time I visit my parents in Raleigh. It's the best sushi I've ever had! I haven't even found a restaurant up near me that tops it. My favorites are Angry Tuna, Crunchy Salmon, Screaming O, White Tiger, and Diablo. (We always get the five-roll special). We love getting a table with Mimi. Highly recommend, Kai! read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great food, excellent sushi! I tend to only eat nigiri and sashimi and sometimes maki rolls, so I don't usually eat specialty rolls. Kai always has fresh high quality fish that melts in your mouth. I usually get the 'Kai Combo A' which is a combo of sashimi and nigiri with any roll of your choice, which for me, is usually a tuna maki or salmon maki roll. read more

Stopped in early on a Sunday, and to my surprise, almost every table was taken. Always a great sign. As I was treating myself to a "solo date night" I just sat at the sushi bar, got myself one of their sake flights, which was a nice selection. Though I believe next time I would just get a bottle, for the price. Sushi is my one food I'm always critical of, as I enjoy more "traditional" sushi, Versus many of the more traditional American "specialty" rolls. I feel you get a much better sample of what you're eating when it's as simple as fish and rice. As you can see from the photos, everything looked beautiful, and it tasted the same. All of the fish had excellent texture and flavor. The scallops absolutely melted in your mouth, which if you're someone who enjoys scallop, you know how unenjoyable it can be when you get one that isn't fresh. Both cuts of tuna were perfect, though I believe the Otoro could have done without the garnish. The rice was perfectly done, which I personally feel is one of the more important aspects of nigiri. But y'all. When I tell you. The Wasabi Tobiko.....Ho-ly-cow. It was incredible. I've never seen that done anywhere else in being a huge fan of sushi for about 25 years. And I cannot explain, how good it is. The wasabi was *just enough* to put a tear in your eye, and make you forget that stuffy nose you've had. And the brine/salinity of the tobiko was just perfect. Finish it off with a sip of beer and you're in sushi heaven. Can not recommend this restaurant enough. If you live within 20 minutes. Just go. Don't order from home. Enjoy a night out! read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Tobiko Wasabi Nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Went here last night for an early dinner. Been here several times. It's been awhile. Had the large house hot saki, which was delicious. Ordered their 5 rolls for $55.00. We had the Screaming O, White Tiger, salmon maki, tuna maki, yellowtail maki and yellowtail sashimi. We forgot to take pics. Everything was yummy as usual. The service was great. Our server ended up giving us 2 complimentary edamame appetizers. We'll be back again. read more

Food service and ambiance are wonderful! We normally order sushi but last time we ordered Udon which was some of the best I have ever had!

I enjoyed my meal! It was soooo good! I would recommend to my friends and family for sure! I went to Kai for lunch with no wait then went to Solas for a quick coffee. It was perfect! Really enjoyed my roll - Darth Vader read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I find it important to try Sushi in different cities and I am so glad I found this gem in Raleigh. Kai Sushi and Sake Bar is a nice little spot on Lead Mine road with indoor and outdoor seating. You will be greeted by the host who is very friendly and will seat your party in your desired area; that is always nice versus be sat where most of the other guest are. Now the options for sushi are vast for sure! There are many iconic names on the menu that will make you interested in trying the options. The rolls that caught my eye were the Dark Knight, Darth Vader, Black Widow, and Black Panther. From those I ordered the Black Widow and Dark Knight along with the Hidden Dragon and White Tiger! Good... understatement; this food will blow your mind. The flavor, texture, size and combination of each roll are defiantly one of a kind. We ordered steam dumplings for the table as well, but the sushi rolls were the star! Check this place out for yourself, you will not be disappointed in your options. read more

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Amazing taste with the food, the workers are very nice and welcoming, the ambiance is very comfy and just a nice place to be in as well. Although there is a bit of language struggle but have patience. I do wish someday that this place will get into DoorDash, UberEats, etc for make it easier for people like me to have what they make since I absolutely love it the most compared to other nearby places. read more

I really enjoy this place! Since moving here a year and a half ago, my husband and I have visited at least six times, and we live on the other side of Raleigh! We always opt for the 5 rolls for $37 special. For the assortment of rolls offered, this is a great deal. I despise imitation crab, so that does limit things quite a bit as there are several rolls that include the stick stuff. I've also found that they can be heavy-handed with the sauces, but if you ask to go light they absolutely will. Some of my favorite rolls are: - Dark Knight - Salmon Avocado - White Tiger - Black Widow (husband's favorite) Drinks are pretty averagely priced. I think a large hot sake is $10 and beers are $6-10. It's always busy on Friday nights and sometimes Sundays, too, and they don't take reservations, but the wait normally isn't bad. The past two times we've opted to go across the street for a drink and within 30 minutes they've called letting us know our table is ready. Oh, and they do free edamame on certain days! Friday and Sunday are two of them. Definitely worth it to check out this yummy spot! read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Clockwise from top left: Black Widow, White Tiger, Screaming "O", Salmon Avocado, Crunchy Salmon - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

3 rolls for $25 - not bad! Good sushi for a good deal. I can roll with that! Just wish the menu still had all of the pre-Covid options but still great service good location, and fresh sushi. Come check it out, and you'll be singing "sashimi rollin they hatin." read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Raw raw, volcano, and the new specialty roll with fried eel - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Being new to Raleigh, I've been on the hunt for good sushi. There are so many Asian fusion restaurants around here, which has made it difficult to pinpoint a place that seems to care about doing sushi really well. Kai is the best we've yet to find. We first attempted to order from Kai on Valentine's Day, and as expected, that was impossible. Their line was busy each of our 10 attempts to call (which they warn about on their website, so I wasn't too bothered by that; it was our bad for expecting to get through on a holiday). When we finally did get to order from Kai, we got the gyoza dumplings, seaweed salad, and 3 roll special. All of the food was exceptional. My only complaint, which is specific to me, is that there are only ~4 rolls on the menu that don't contain shellfish. As someone with a bad shellfish allergy who loves sushi, this is pretty disappointing. For folx who love crab and shrimp, you'll be thrilled with the options. read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I've had Kai bookmarked for several months, so I was really excited about finally trying it tonight. The sushi met, if not exceeded, my expectations. The fish was fresh and the flavors of the five rolls we tried were really well-balanced. Definitely one of the better sushi experiences I've had in the Raleigh-Durham area, especially considering the price-point (five rolls for $36.99!). I also appreciated the complimentary edamame to start the meal. We came on a Friday at 7pm and were really glad we had made a reservation since the place was packed. The restaurant is pretty small and the tables are really close together, so I wouldn't choose this location for an intimate dinner or first date. The music they were playing overhead had a lot of bass which seemed odd and unfortunately just added to the noise level. I'd love to try their outdoor seating next time I visit. One thing to note is that there isn't much room to wait, so definitely make that reservation! Also, as someone who has to use a wheelchair from time to time, I noticed that one would not fit past the hostess stand, so likely not a good spot if someone in you party uses one. The sushi menu is pretty large but not quite as diverse as I'd hoped. Most of the rolls have some spicy element, which was fine for me but I could see this not appealing to everyone. I really loved that several of the rolls have black rice; I found it to add a nice nutty flavor and texture. Service was a little slow but friendly. I think it took about a half hour to get our sushi after ordering, but given that we came at what is likely one of their busier times, it wasn't too bad. I look forward to returning soon! read more

Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - Five rolls for $36.99 - really yummy! - Japanese Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina