I always visit the drive thru which always seems to be relatively quick. Good Food and never had an issues here. The prices are fair and the food was always good... 3 stars because they stopped serving sushi which we always enjoyed read more

Good, fast, kind! What more can you ask for? This is a cute little restaurant, but don't let the small exterior deter you! The service has been on point the last 5 times I've been. They are always on top of it, and the food comes out so fast!! Speaking of the food, delicious. I've tried a variety of bowls, soups, and their salad. All have been top tier! This is a great small town Japanese place to go with the family! read more

The food is amazing!! I love the fact that they have bottles of shrimp sauce because I love to drown my food in it haha. I normally get the steak and chicken combination plate and my steak is always cooked perfect! The service is outstanding every time i go here I am made to feel at home even with pregnancy hormones haha. I tried there sushi and it is also amazing. The dining area could be updated but besides that I bring my family here all the time and never one complaint! Keep up the good work! read more

Hands down the best Japanese in Hickory. Very fairly priced and the portions are well sized.

A friend who is a player on the Lenoir-Rhyne Soccer team recommended this spot as it's frequented by the team and they enjoy it. I checked out reviews ahead of time and was a tad skeptical. First let me address the smelly bathroom-yes, the women's room had an unpleasant odor, however I noted this is an older building and it looks as if they've done all they can do outside of ripping up plumbing to aleviate this-they stay on top of cleaning floors and have air fresheners all around. I saw this as trying to do what they could with this situation. As long as you're not eating dinner in the bathroom, I think you'll be good. I was informed the Soccer team enjoys they teriyaki bowls, so I ordered one for my guest and one for my child. The food was cooked fresh and there was so much of it. If you're an average person who is not burning a million calories playing soccer, you'll have some to take home. I am gluten intolerant, so I opted for the sushi. Like an old lady, I brought my own gluten free soy sauce (and check to make sure that was ok), however they do have some available in packets there if you forget yours. The sushi was very fresh and delish, I had a few rolls that kinda fell apart, but it didn't stop the enjoyment of the dish. Last, we were waited on by Josh and he is nothing short of amazing. He made sure we had what we needed and was great at offering suggestions and generally all around fantastic at checking on us. He also kept our cups full and got us to-go cups on the way out the door. This man is the epitome of fabulous customer service and frankly give the guy a raise, or a medal, or both because there needs to be more people like him! While Nara might not be everyone's cup of tea, it certainly hit the spot on this occasion and is worth a try especially if you've got hungry athletes to feed. read more

The absolute worst sushi I have ever seen. Literally was served rotten fish. Then only given a partial refund. It also did not help that the restaurant was 90 degree's inside. Avoid like the plague!!!! read more

Nara has been here at this location for years and years. I remember growing up eating here, and nothing has changed... EXCEPT for the prices of course. The ONLY thing I've eaten from here in all of these years has been the hibachi chicken plate and the chicken teriyaki plate, both which are amazing and some of the best in Catawba county! I also enjoy Fuji in Conover and Sakura on Springs rd, all 3 including Nara are similar. I don't care for any other Japanese take out restaurants in the area. So if you're craving Japanese, those are my 3 go to's depending on what area I'm in at the time. Nara has a drive thru, and you don't have to call ahead. Food is done fairly quickly. The only bad thing about this restaurant is the parking lot- it can be kind of tricky leaving the parking lot and pulling back onto 127. Lastly, I do believe they have sushi which I would love to try when I'm back in North Carolina, because sushi is my weakness! read more

See all

I remember Nara's when I was growing up to be the best Japanese restaurant that there was, and somewhere I always insisted on going. I had incredibly fond memories of the delicious teriyaki chicken, the amazing sweet carrots and the crisp, fresh broccoli. I don't know if it's changed or if I've just tried a few other restaurants since then, but it's not quite the same. As far as chicken teriyaki goes, Nagano's is better. Hands down. And Sarku Japan in the mall is even better. So go to one of those instead. As far as sushi, it's incredible. Seriously. As a kid, I was far too stubborn to eat any sort of raw fish, but as an avid sushi lover in my adult years, I had to opt for it and I'm glad I did. The sushi at Nara's is fantastic and certainly something you should go for. Overall, it's great sushi and just okay Japanese food and maybe that's all it needs to be. read more

I have to say driving by I was not interested in stopping in but I am a sushi nut and my husband loves hibachi so we gave in since there is no sushi places around . We walked in super surprised . Clean and a bunch of people. The prices were great and the food was very good!!! I can only assume they used msg like a lot of food like that but I only say that because it doesn't settle with me well . That would have to be the only bad thing I can say about them. I will definitely go back and I'm so happy we found a reasonably priced sushi/Japanese place! If you have been searching for good food at a good price... give it a shot!!! read more

Called ahead to order food and had to wait behind people ordering at the window. What's the point of ordering ahead if it just means my food sits by the window getting cold while other people order onsite in line in front of me? Follow Donte's example and make people order ahead if they are in the drive thru! or at least have those that don't call ahead move or have a separate line. On top of the complete inefficiency of the window- they are not taking COVID concerns seriously. The person ahead of us paid with cash; the girl at the window then handled our credit card, handed us a pen and asked us to sign our receipt all the while wearing the same gloves. When we said something her response was "we already handled your food, so what's the difference?" Wow! Great response from during a pandemic. If they think all of this is a joke that's fine, but they won't have our business. Thanks for letting us know your employees don't take sanitation seriously. read more

Flavorless hibachi chicken. Had to add my own soy sauce to get any flavor. Chicken taste at boiled.

I was incredibly disappointed by my visit to Nara, they do not have the traditional Japanese dishes I desired. This restaurant serves very Americanized Japanese fare such as Teriyaki chicken and various Hibachi dishes. You will not find Tonkatsu, Omurice, or even miso soup. Nara offers sushi but the rolls were very modified versions of the typical Japanese offerings; I opted to avoid the sushi given the descriptions and uncertain fish quality. I ordered the Teriyaki chicken with carrots and fried rice. My food was delivered extremely quickly; however, the dish was mediocre. The chicken was lackluster and the carrots tasted like they were from a box. The fried rice was a complete disappointment, it was essentially rice with some carrots and corn. The restaurant seemed incredibly dirty; the ceiling, carpet, and walls all need serious attention. The kitchen looked clean from a distance and the restaurant managed to get a 94 on their health rating. The only good thing I can say about Nara is that the staff is friendly and the food is cheap ($6.50 for lunch). read more

See all

Nice location and nice ambiance the fish in the sushi was fresh and good quality but the rice was too sticky.

First time dinning here. Hubby and I both got hibachi steak. It was very bland; had to douse it in soy sauce. Since returning home BOTH OF US have been violently sick. Pretty sure it's food poisoning. Won't be back ever. Used ladies room before leaving. Smelled like sewer water upon entry then realized I was walking on a wet floor. Bottom of my pant legs soaked up the water. GAG! read more

Decent food, but the worst drive through/pick up window in Hickory. Why do you allow people to place their order at the window and allow them to wait until ready holding up those who called ahead? WTF? read more

It's got amazing food! And the sushi is amazing!! (If u like it) there are not many Japanese I'll eat. I could eat this all the time If I had the tim lol and it's not bad on price either read more

Keep an open mind when eating here people. Japanese restaurant with everyone in the kitchen cooking is spanish. No big deal, as long as my sushi guy is Asian. I've had sushi at places were people are not asian and it wasn't the same experience. Sushi was very good. The side salad was a joke. read more

Me and my husband stopped through here on a day trip to Hickory. Just clicked 'Asian' on the GPS. We were oh-so-surprised. My husband got the typical hibachi chicken plate and I got hibachi chicken and stage entree which came with a choice of salad or soup. I chose the salad but only had the option of white sauce or ginger sauce as my dressing. I chose white sauce and it was great! And the meat was well cooked but still tender. The vegetables were great, the rice was okay compared to some of the rice I've had. My only complaint (and this is with a heavy heart) were the carrots. They were delicious so I gave my 9 month old a good helping because they were so tender. I finally asked the waitress how they were cooked and she said "with about a bag of sugar". Other than that, this is in my top 3 Japanese restaurants. read more

This place has gone downhill alot in the last several years. We ordered take out from Nara at least once a month because the prices were so reasonable and the food was delicious. The last time I ordered our "standard fare" the prices had gone up 1$ to 2$ per entree and the quality had gone down the same percentage. The food was lackluster. I ordered the Hibachi steak and they didn't add any sauce. The Chicken Teriyaki was likewise extremely dry. I couldn't identify what was in the spring rolls. The rangoons were burnt. Finally it was difficult to tell the difference between the steamed rice and the fried rice. They were both a dirty brown color... I will avoid it in the future. read more

They are one of the best Japanese restaurants in hickory area, in my opinion! I have never gotten a bad meal from here. And the service is always really good. Last time I went I got the teriyaki flounder and I didn't even know they had flounder. Also the sushi here is really good! Never disappointed me whatsoever. I highly recommend this place. The tables are decorated nicely each has a table cloth and they have pretty artwork here too. As far as prices go they are pretty cheap. You get what you pay for, and you get massive portions of food. It's well worth the money! If you're in the area or live here and never have tried it, I definitely recommend checking it out sometime! read more

Update: someone new or different was working the drive thru and takeout ordering. Our order was so wrong. Be careful and make sure to verify your order!! We always order takeout from Nara. The food is very good and always fresh. They never get my order wrong, which is a plus because my orders are always complicated and usually involve special requests. The plates of food are huge and the price point is very reasonable for the amount of food you get. If you're not a binge-eater of Japanese takeout, your plate will definitely last for 2 meals! read more

If you come here expecting authentic Japanese food, then you will be disappointed. But if you come here expecting delicious food then you'll love it. I've been here for lunch, dinner, and midnight snacks, and I've been pleased and satisfied every time. It's inexpensive and it's relatively healthy. Their take out is also good. The service has always been great and I haven't had to wait too long to be helped. The servers and staff are polite and helpful, always willing to recommend something if you're not sure what to get. read more

Not the best sushi I've ever had but it wasn't bad either. Our waitress was very kind and came back regularly to check if we needed anything. The menu is under $13 so it's not too bad. Also, I was told that they no longer serve alcohol because they no longer have their liquor license. read more

Nara Japanese - a plate of sushi and rolls - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

This place is great! It is so helpful that there is a drive thru and the food is so delicious. I highly recommend eating here for lunch and dinner. read more

Prices were on par with the usual Asian restaurant prices. Also really clean. Service was good. My problem was that although the food tasted fresh it had no flavor. Even used the shrimp sauce to help but Teriyaki Steak shouldn't need it. Even the egg rolls were bland. You can also hear every single sound out of the kitchen. You could hear all of their conversations and it was a bit annoying. Probably won't be going back since there are better options in Hickory for Asian food. read more

Great food, great service. Me and my wife love the hibachi shrimp and chicken and I love there Cali rolls

Food was decent standard hibachi fare at low prices, but cleanliness of the place left something to be desired. Windows and windowsills needed cleaning. Needs new carpet. Parking lot needed cleaning. It makes me wonder what the kitchen looks like. I don't think I'll be going back. read more

Got takeout from this place a little while ago. It was very modestly price and the quality of the food was very good considering. I got Hibachi chicken, which comes with rice, mushrooms, and carrots, for less than $6. Each takeout order comes with plenty of "seafood sauce", a concoction who's ingredients remain a mystery but still manage to make my mouth water. The portions were also large enough that there is leftovers for lunch tomorrow. The egg roll appetizer was more like a spring roll, and was also very good. I'll absolutely be going back. I may check out the nearby Nagano with a very similar menu, but slightly higher prices... but Nara left little to be desired. read more

It's not very good, but it's cheap and you get a lot of food. A staple of the Hickory experience!

Delicious and consistent. We came in about 15 minutes before they closed and planned on getting take out but decided to dine in and eat quickly so not to hold up the staff. The gentleman at the front register (owner?)was super kind and accomodating. Will definitely be back... read more

The chicken teriyaki was a sad attempt ... watery & weak sauce. I'm not sure why they serve CHINESE Fried Rice at this place. They didn't even come close to right. The side dish was sweet carrots ... like candied yam sweet. What the hell. read more

Love this place! Always fast and great service! The catamount roll is my favorite on top of the jumbo honey shrimp

Good fast food Japanese. Old PIzza Hut building, so the decor is a bit spartan.

High quality ingredients, basic foods like teriyakis. Sushi is higher quality than most places. They use less vinegar in their rice which gives you sushi texture and a great rice flavor. Waitresses are nice and communicate. Should stop by if near, wouldnt recommend driving 15+ mins to try it. read more

We got hibachi chicken and teriyaki scallops. Our order arrived quickly, but the staff was a bit scattered as I got the wrong order but no big deal. The food was barely okay and we got out with tip for just under $20. This restaurant is a prime example of you get what you pay for. Cheap prices, cheap food, disinterested wait staff and the cashier did not even say thanks for coming. Truly a food stamp worthy experience. read more

The plating looks simple for the dishes I order, but the flavor delivers such a punch you wonder how it got in there. Great chefs, family atmosphere and reasonable pricing will have you back for more. If you haven't tried Nara, make it a date and give your stomach a treat! A+++ read more

Fast and friendly service. Food prep tends to be better than most of the Japanese restaurants I've visited in the area. If you're not a fan of fried rice, ask to substitute vegetables or white rice. read more

this is very good Japanese takeout.... Service was quick and the squid salad was especially good

Very slow drive thru. Food is ok but the staff, young teenage kids, don't seem to care about the customers at all.

We really enjoyed our takeout, they give you so much food for your buck. All their meals are prices reasonably and taste great.