My daughter wanted an Omakase experience for her birthday. After reading reviews and comparing a few places, I decided on O‑Ku. We'd never tried Omakase before, but we've had other curated dining experiences. Upon arrival, we were seated immediately. Our waitress was pleasant, she started on beverages, and explained that the Omakase would be a two‑hour experience...totally fine. Within the first 20 minutes, our first dish arrived and it was excellent...But then...nothing. We waited, and waited, and waited. An entire hour passed before the next dish appeared. I pulled the waitress aside to check on the delay, she explained they had a sudden influx of customers but she'd ask the kitchen to move a little quicker. The food did start coming out after that, and the managers came over to address the delay, which I appreciated, but the damage was done. I wanted a memorable birthday experience for my daughter, and unfortunately it ended up being a bit of a disappointment considering the time and cost. The food itself was delicious, but poor pacing and lack of attention to the customer overshadowed the entire experience. I didn't ask for compensation but the managers took it upon themselves to comp my wine flight. I hope this was a one off experience but I can't say that I'll return to this restaurant. read more

Solid sushi spot in Charlotte - pricey but decent quality, friendly service, and great ambiance/vibes. Recs/what we tried, best to worst: - Black magic (hakozushi) 5/5: This was such a standout, so unique and tasty! Definitely recommend. The squid ink rice and seafood was such an excellent combo/fusion plate that was just delicious. - Salmon usuzukuri (6 pcs nigiri) 4.5/5: This was pretty good and more shareable between 2 people than the nigiri. We got the pickled wasabi on the side so it wasn't spicy. - Cucumber roll 4.5/5: Simple staple but refreshing and tasty. Recommend for a vegetarian/simple option. - Top shelf roll 4/5: The first piece didn't hit for some reason, but it grew on us throughout the meal. I think it wasn't as good as expected, but still not bad at all. The servers were so sweet and friendly, and the ambiance was really perfect for a date night with the low lighting, candles, and spacious interior. They also gave us free edamame (truffle!) while we waited due to a bit of a wait/kitchen backup, which was a very nice gesture. I would come back! read more

O-Ku - Black Magic, Salmon Usuzukuri, Cucumber Maki, Top Shelf Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

We recently came here on a Thursday to celebrate my birthday. Wanting to beat the dinner crowd, I made a reservation for 5:30 p.m. At 5:00 p.m., I received a text letting me know our table was already ready--a very thoughtful touch. We arrived at 5:17 p.m., were greeted immediately, and seated right away. When I opened my menu, I was pleasantly surprised to see "Happy Birthday" printed across the top. Another thoughtful detail that made the evening feel special. Since we arrived early, the atmosphere was quiet, intimate, and honestly very romantic. We could actually hear each other talk without raising our voices. The lighting was perfectly dim--creating a cozy ambiance without making it difficult to see the menu. The service was equally enjoyable. Our waiter and waitress were attentive, friendly, and never overbearing, allowing us to enjoy our meal at a relaxed pace. As for the food, it was every bit as good as I remembered. The quality hasn't changed at all--fresh, beautifully prepared sushi with consistently excellent flavors. That's exactly why I keep coming back to O-Ku. You can always count on them for outstanding food, attentive service, and an overall dining experience that never disappoints. read more

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Amazing place! We normally come for special occasions since dinner can be a bit pricey. I recommend making a reservation or taking your chance at the bar. We LOVED the get in my belly roll, I normally don't like mustard and wasabi but the taste was faint that I didn't notice it. Thicc boy was also good, very fresh. We didn't love the spicy tuna crunch, it was fine but a bit salty. read more

O-Ku - Front left to right: Get In My Belly, Spicy Tuna Crunch and The Thicc Boy - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Great spot for a birthday dinner! Make sure y To get your reservation in because we ended up having to dine a little early (5:15), the only other time slot left was 9pm. We were a party of 4 on a Saturday, and it was my friends birthday. We were seated at a low four top and my friend received a special menu with Happy Birthday watermarked on it which was a nice touch. We ordered some drinks and then food basically tapas style. We had a variety of rolls and a couple non sushi starters like peppers and crispy shrimp. All of the plates came out at a good pace, we were able to enjoy the current before starting the next. The drinks were solid and the service was great- friendly and attentive, clearing out plates and silverware with each round. I can see why this was such a highly rated and booked spot. It's in a good central location in south end, decent parking and plenty of options to explore the immediate vicinity afterwards. @azfitfoodfun read more

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The best sushi we have had in Charlotte and we have been to several. Our waitress Angel knew her shit she guided us to stuff we might not have tried...The place is beautiful inside not too loud was able to have a great date night. Food was as amazing no regrets on what we got. I will go back it is pretty pricey but get what you pay for!!!!! read more

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O-Ku Charlotte was a beautiful spot for a birthday celebration. We had a group of 7 and overall had a really fun experience. The sushi was fresh and flavorful, and both the cocktails and no tails were great. The atmosphere and ambiance made the night feel special. The only downside was that the waitstaff mixed up our order a couple of times, but they were kind and did their best to fix it. Even with that, we still enjoyed the experience and would come back again. read more

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My boys took me here for Mother's Day dinner...and well, here's the deal. First of all, I love O-Ku (used to love)...and have been here many times before in the past. Although a bit too dark (like I could hardly see the menu!!), I've always liked the overhead music and the general vibe here. However, things were just not the same on this special occasion. I think they were short-staffed...and it caused MAJOR delays, and unattentive service. Our waiter was actually good, and he tried his best...but just couldn't get around all the tables. We had to wait at least 20-30 minutes for our entrees...and dessert must have taken another 20 minutes?? Anyway, we shared their Rock Shrimp appetizer. Despite it being a special occasion, I went kinda light...and just ordered 1 sushi roll (Red Dragon, I think?) and Seaweed Salad. My husband also got a sushi roll (??), and my son got this Chicken Teriyaki dish. For dessert, we got this "Sata Andagi"...described as "donut holes", but there were no holes...just mini-round donuts. For such a fancy name, it sure was a dull looking dessert. Overall, all the foods were totally underwhelming...as I didn't feel that any item was like OMG delish! I guess my favorites were the shrimp appetizer? I remember thinking this in the past as well, but their sushi rolls are much smaller than most...and just not that impressive. Also, the presentation of the sushi rolls were just BLAAAH. My son's Teriyaki looked ridiculously sloppy...just thrown on the plate like a 1-star restaurant! Just check my pictures, and see if I'm making any of this up. Ironically, the only food that looked nicely presented was the seaweed salad lol! WAY overpriced for such mediocre foods and lackluster presentations. BTW, I also thought their menu changed...but not for the better. Same with the drink. I got this cocktail (forgot the name), but it was terrible. Looked and tasted BLAAH. Not even strong. I was totally disappointed with this meal. I never felt this way before from my prior dining experience, so either something changed (management?), or they were short-staffed and just rushing thru. I regretted choosing this place for the special occasion...that is all. read more

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You typically think of gems as being off the beaten path--yet I completely missed O-Ku for years...despite its prominent placement at Atherton Mill! If you're looking for some of Charlotte's freshest & most innovatively presented sushi in a beautifully adorned setting bound to impress any friend/date/business associate, this is your spot. Pro Tip: There's a week night happy hour that can't be beat. Cheers! read more

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Tried O-Ku for the first time this weekend. Spicy tuna roll is fresh and spicy! The seasonal veggies are seasoned very well and paired well with the fried rice. I like that there's a sushi bar and an area with tv at the bar counter which makes the ambiance feel like a restaurant and somewhat of a sports bar. It was late when I arrive but that didn't stop our host from being super friendly and attentive. This is definitely a place to dine again and again. read more

My family and I dined in on Easter Sunday & had a wonderful time. The manager Will always has a smile on his face, great dude. Started off with the spicy edamame, almost has a Korean BBQ tang, but with chilies The duck buns were gone so fast I forgot to take a picture!! Annnd the same thing happened to the chicken teriyaki!! The Truffle Toro Roll is my all time favorite. Lemon salmon is always a classic. The Get in Mt Belly roll was good, I am just not a huge fan of the torched yellowtail. The main takeaway this trip was the A5 Wagyu nigiri and I can't express this enough. And they have REAL FRESH WASABI!! but be ready to pay for it ¨ UPDATE: Came back for a birthday dinner and had phenomenal service! They were able to accommodate us with our many different reservations update so I have to thank them for their patience! Aside from what we ordered the Chef sent over multiple complementary dishes, including edamame, sweet-and-sour, tempura, shrimp and a sushi Dorito like platter. It was awesome!! The biggest Takeaway from this trip was the scallop Oku nigiri. Hands-down one of the best profiles I have ever put in my pallet! We also did the Teppanyaki style A5 Wagyu with the hot stone skillet. It can't get any better than this. For dessert, the strawberry eclair! There is so many more words to describe that I lack in my vocabulary, to describe how good this is to you. GET IT Thank you O-Ku!!! read more

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I've been to this restaurant one other time years ago and remembered it being very good. This time going to O-Ku did not disappoint. I had to make a reservation on a Monday because this place stays so busy. The service was excellent! We even got offered lemon, lime, orange, or cucumber for our waters. For dinner I got the avocado wrapped roll and the red dragon roll. Both were very good and full of flavor. We wanted to try the potato roll but they were out of that roll. We also got the chili edamame and it was also very good. This is such a good restaurant with great service. I look forward to going back! read more

Once entering the restaurant we were seated. Our server Trey was amazing! The service food and ambience was great. Everything was so fresh had no complaints 10/10 read more

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I was a fan of O Ku for the longest time, but recently it's dropped a bit in rank for me. Specifically for their happy hour. They used to do half price rolls during happy hour, and it was all rolls except one. Now, they switched it to rolls are $9, not half price, and they took some out of the happy hour selection. Don't get me wrong, O Ku sushi is good, but I could go to my other favorite sushi spot and get just as good of sushi if not better for a lower price. read more

O-Ku - Salmon And Lemon Roll Potato Roll Mermaid Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

O-Ku is really a gem of the CLT food scene. Beautiful restaurant, great ambiance, terrific service and most importantly- DELICIOUS food. I have loved O-Ku every single time. O-Ku is well known for their sushi menu. They also have tons of nigiri and sashimi options. There's so much to recommend because so many items off the menu were GREAT. Both the yellowtail and bluefin carpaccio are delicious. The crispy rice which comes with smoked salmon on top is phenomenal. The duck buns are a must try. They're kind of similar to Bao buns but the bread they use is different and buttery. For me personally, all the fresh seafood is the highlight of this place. My recommendation is to order 2-3 different items as the plates are smaller here. As for the cocktails, there's lots of fun sake (Japanese rice wine) options on the menu and also all the classics as well. During my latest visit, I had dinner at the bar and it was a great vibe. You can tell this establishment takes service seriously. Prepare to be spoiled. Everyone was attentive, professional and also super knowledgeable. I truly have no complaints. O-Ku makes for a great date night, girls night out or special occasion. Keep an open mind with the menu and don't be afraid to try new items you haven't tried. Believe me when I say: O-Ku doesn't disappoint. read more

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We went to have dinner last night after a friend recommended it to us instead of my usual fav for sushi. We got seated and were welcomed by the GM and the entire staff was so accommodating and helpful and kind. I enjoyed the CHERRY-YUZU SODA which is a twist on the classic Shirley temple. I also loved the lobster fried rice, it was smoky but rich and very loaded with lobster. The seaweed salad was ok, it wasn't as crunchy as I'd hoped it would be but it was ok. The sushi I ordered(I believe it was a specialty) was not as great, but the presentation was beautiful. The overall aesthetic and ambiance was outstanding, it's definitely a MUST try in Charlotte. read more

From the outside, you cannot tell how well decorated this restaurant is. With a plain black door, I walked in unassuming to the unique interior design of the dining area. Great selection of sushi to choose from with each roll bringing a unique twist. I would highly recommend the Lobster Temaki starter chef specialty...it's deliciously buttered and rivaled the main sushi rolls. read more

Come here for my birthday every year. My whole family loves it, even my mom who doesn't like sushi. The special nigiri can take a while to come out so make sure to order some yummy rolls or apps and a glass or three of sake in the meantime! read more

Amazing food, best quality fish in charlotte. We sat at the bar and our bartender Ris was super kind! She made me the BEST cocktail and recommended her favorite dishes. Best sushi/nigiri spot in Charlotte. read more

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Great sushi place located on an excellent part of town. Friendly staff. Food is delicious.

My favorite sushi in Charlotte! The food is amazing and the service is always fantastic! I also like the moody ambiance. Perfect for date night and girls night out! read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Went back to celebrating #8! Did not disappoint. Justin was our waiter again, he nails it on recommendations, love for the food and balance of chating with you all while just being a rockstar waiter. We took many of his recommendations as well as some of our go to faves, the meal in itself was fantastic. The service and ambiance just tops it off. Having a place where you can enjoy a romantic night out, yet still share a good laugh without getting side eyed- while having a delicious meal . Drinks are also bomb! Didn't get too many pictures of everything, but we love this place and it's definitely one to share. read more

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10/10 No complaints. Highlights were the Miso soup, Bluefin sashimi, and the mushroom appetizer. This place is very clean and well kept you can tell. I have to tip my hat to the host Will for his warm hospitality and Jewel was very accommodating and attentive to me for my first time here. I travel for work alone which means I'm usually dining alone and I felt right at home here. Everything is so fresh - you have to try the lemon Yuzu slice, the crust is so buttery. They have their own in house pastry chef. I can't wait to come back. Thank you read more

I've been here 3x in 2 months my taste buds are convinced Chef Roman is a Sushi Samurai. If you love sushi do Omakase. You will not be disappointed. This is my Happy Place when I'm in Charlotte read more

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The food and service at O-Ku are equally incredible. The fish is high quality and full of flavor. The special rolls have great combinations of ingredients, but my favorite is their simple tuna roll. If you go Monday or Wednesday between 5 and 7, you can take advantage of their half priced sushi happy hour, which is a fantastic deal. The servers are friendly and make you feel very welcome. I love that they come around and offer you lemons and cucumbers to put in your water as well. read more

O-Ku - 4 rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

O-ku is an upscale sushi restaurant but they have plenty of other menu options as well! The best part is they do a happy hour menu with select discounted apps and sushi rolls from 4-7 Monday and Wednesday so I highly recommend making a reservation during this time. We ordered the Southend Shrimp from the HH menu and they were breaded and fried with a delicious sauce. We also ordered 4 sushi rolls from the HH menu- the mermaid, red dragon, tuna, and potato roll. All were fabulous except the tuna roll which was nothing special. The potato roll was so unique, I loved it. We ordered the cauliflower appetizer off the regular menu and I will be returning for this for sure! It had the most delicious sauce and the raisins sounded unique but were the perfect complement. As for dress code, the website did state business casual but it was not strictly enforced. read more

Delicious fresh sushi, prob helped that I ordered the sushi with lemon on top. My friend and I stopped in on a whim after walking around the Atherton Mill Area. Most of the shops close at 7 in the area. We were seated at the bar because they didn't have and open reservations. Bar service was quick and the bar tender gave excellent suggestions on what to order based on what I enjoy. We ordered 2 rolls each, 4 in total and they came on a platter to share. They also have real wasabi which was amazing. read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

My fiancé and I went here for our engagement dinner and the staff made this night so special for us! They had a gift for us at the table upon arrival, gave us a special menu, management greeted us and checked on us, and more. The ambiance was romantic but also great for friends. They had a real candle lit on the table, the lights were dim, the music was great, and the decor was upscale/chic. The food was VERY delicious. The special hand roll they had at that time was so melt in your mouth good, I could've eaten 10. The sushi rice was perfectly prepared and the fish tasted fresh. They had a gluten free menu and a couple of vegetarian options as well. All of the tempura was also gluten free! Our waitress Madison was attentive, friendly, patient, and was pretty knowledgeable about the food items. Happy to of had her as our waitress for our special dinner! read more

O-Ku - Gluten free menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Charlotte!! The sushi menu has about 10 rolls for options (which seems small but the consistency of them is always top tier). Their apps and drinks are also sooooo good! I recommend the lychee martinis!! They have a ton of variety for the people who don't eat sushi as well. I typically sit at the bar and eat but the service everywhere is always so good! The vibe in the atmosphere is great for date night, friends, family, anything! It's trendy! Also I highly recommend making a reservation days in advanced because they're always slammed!!! read more

O-Ku - Spoons - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Oh O-Ku! A first impression is what all restaurants should strive for as you never know who will walk into an establishment. My first experience pertaining to customer service will never be forgotten. I hated that for me because the food was delightful. But my second experience made up for the first mishap. Major kudos to the manager, Lauren Bachar, who made certain my next travel into town for a leisure dinner would truly be an experience in all categories (ambience, customer service, hospitality & a spectacular food spread). She laid out the red carpet which's why I'm here! *Disclaimer* The food spread that I received on October 13, 2024 may not be listed on their current menu. It frequently alters base on produce availability. Starting from the hot plates, wagyu croquette is best described in comparison to the covering of a hushpuppy. A sauce that's needed with every bite of warm wagyu wrapped inside to create a croquette. Moving along to the signature makimono is the mermaid roll which was introduced during my first experience. I had to double back while the opportunity presented itself. The chefs selection undoubtedly became the main attraction. A rare occasion for it to only be available that evening. Hamachi Kama is a yellowtail (fish) collar-fried. The amount of meat it stored could serve a party of four. By far the best educational dish I have feast! O-Ku & Lauren you have my heart! Thank you for not just making it right but getting it right. read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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My partner and I decided to give O-Ku another try and were glad to see some improvements from our last visit. Lauren helped us with our reservation and made the process easy. Not sure if the staff was aware of our prior visit since there was a slight hiccup (Lauren resolved it quickly after) but hopefully not as we wanted a more natural service experience. We went on a weekday this time to help avoid the rush, and Tony was our server. He greeted us promptly, offered thoughtful recommendations, and the food and drinks came out quickly. We started with the QC carpaccio chutoro; Rich, buttery, and delicious. Personally, I preferred it without the fried shallot but my partner enjoyed it with. Next, we tried the Thicc Boy and Top Shelf rolls. I was initially concerned the rolls might be too heavy on rice, but the flavors balanced well and each ingredient came through nicely. We ended the meal with chutoro nigiri since we know it never disappoints anywhere. Ever. Overall, it was a much smoother experience and we left with no regrets. read more

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My husband and I ate here on a Sunday night. We had reservations for our anniversary, and we were seated when we walked in. The restaurant was moderately busy with some open tables. Ambiance - It was the same O-Ku that we remembered except that it was cold inside. A lot of the other patrons had their coats on. I can understand wanting the busy staff to feel comfortable but the temperature needed to be a little warmer. Also, maybe it was just the table where we were seated but it was pretty dark at our table...we had to use our phones to read the menu. Service - Our enthusiastic server was very nice...just a little distracted or maybe pulled in too many directions. We ordered drinks. He asked if there were any allergies. I explained that my husband was extremely allergic to shrimp/crab/lobster. He repeated my information and walked away to put in the order. Imagine our surprise when we were brought my sushi roll with shrimp on the same plate as his!? Obviously, this very important information was not passed on. Not cool. They were also out of one of the sashimi orders we made. Bummer. After we finished our rolls, he took our orders for additional food. My duck buns came out in about 15 minutes, but it took 35 minutes for my husband to get his 6 pieces of sashimi. Too long. Food - My Red Dragon roll was very good. Some of the sashimi tasted metallic or a little old. My husband's roll was torched, and you could taste the butane. The duck rolls were tasty but they were missing the pickled shallot and there was little or none of the sake hoisin. I guess the server knew we weren't happy with our service because he did give us two servings of two amuse-bouche. That was a nice touch but the food overall was not what we remembered and was disappointing. Overall, not the evening we were hoping for. We were return customers who had previous good experiences. I don't think we will be back. Too many other, better restaurants in Charlotte. read more

This was by far the best experience in a restaurant I've had in forever!!! The ambiance , the staff, the lighting, menu items, food, connectedness and thoughtfulness of the staff was incredible. I celebrated a special occasion here and got custom menus based on that, every staff member (or so it felt) came to speak and congratulate us, we had impecable service by our waitress Kay, and felt completely welcome and special by every one of the staff we encountered, even the ones behind the scene. While the food and vibe of the restaurant were great, I would come back just to experience that hospitality we experienced. Absolutely a must try! read more

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Delicious, atmospheric, and such an attentive, kind, and personable staff! We went for our anniversary, and they gave us a personalized menu, many well-wishes from each of the staff, and a special complimentary hors d oeuvre! Additionally, they were attentive to my three random and specific allergies. Such a lovely experience. Can't wait to go back! read more

O-ku was just O-kay. My friend who was visiting from California, and my daughter walked in expecting to wait to be seated, but we got lucky and got a seat right away. The customer service was beyond my expectations, which is extremely hit or miss in Charlotte. The hostess was very personable, and we found out was also from California, and our waiter was extremely thoughtful which made our experience that much more pleasurable. He even surprised us with a complimentary hibachi, cause that's just how like-able we were lol! The chef was even kind enough to create a fried rice order for my daughter although not on the menu (we love a kind chef!!). I would have loved to give 5 stars, but 4 because of the black salt on literally EVERYTHING. I'm good with black salt, it's tasty, I get it. But in moderation. It was overwhelming and just too much crunch on every single order. The ambiance was dim and lovely, so would def recommend for a nice date night, or even a drink after work. All in all, had the black salt been toned down and perhaps not on every single morsel we took a bite into, I would gladly have given 5 stars. read more

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Food-10 Service-10 Ambience-10 Recommendation: Lemon salmon roll Yellowtail truffle roll And listen to your waiter - he won't steer you wrong! read more

Amazing experience for our dinner at O-ku. Made a reservation and was promptly seated and serviced. Sugar and Spice drink was amazing and the staff was so friendly and attentive checking on our table. The food was served as tapas so it came whenever it was ready. Chefs specials were great and the sushi itself was amazing. 11/10 would recommend read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Solid option for dinner in Southend. Atmosphere on point, food is high end. You won't be disappointed.

O-ku is one of the most expensive feeling experiences you can get in Charlotte while being affordable. They have half off most of the menu during happy hour Monday and Wednesday, I believe 4-6 (but don't quote me on that). They offer fruits for water which is such a small thing but makes it feel like an elevated experience, the service is always great, the manager will always check on you to make sure you're enjoying your meal and experience, and the rolls are top tier (top 3 spicy tuna rolls I have ever had in my life). read more

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Amazing dinner! All of the cocktails were made perfectly and refreshing- not syrupy tasting or too sweet at all. Extremely great service and one of the owners was there working hard to check on guests- and he brought us the yellowtail nigiri free since we almost ordered it and didn't. Great at taking food allergies or preferences into account. A nice area with easy and free parking and shopping with lulu, madewell, anthro, etc. in same parking lot. read more

O-Ku - Yellowtail O-ku Nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina