First time going to O-ku for a birthday celebration and it was a pretty cool experience. Started off with some amazing drinks which were both strong and flavorful. My favorite was the Lychee Cosmopolitan which was a great mix of citrus and lychee. Going with the food, we got the vegetarian sushi which was nothing special but the curry noodles and street corn were fire! Great mix of spice and flavor. Was also quite filling and hit the spot. The atmosphere was bougie and high end. Was truly classy and the staff was very friendly. We went for happy hour and did wish there were veggie options available for the happy hour special. Also they don't do anything for birthdays if you are curious. Overall, great place for special occasions. Make sure to make a reservation early and if you walk in, do earlier in the day as this place gets busy. read more

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There's good sushi places and then there's *great* sushi places, and O--Ku is the latter. The food itself is what sets O-Ku apart - their sushi is top-end with ingredients and combinations one doesn't regularly see at an average sushi place. (e.g., hakozushi) In addition to the standards: maki, nigiri, and sashimi, etc. - There's other Japanese dishes as well and more adventuresome fare to be had The atmosphere was upscale-casual, nothing over-the-top one way or the other. And the service was fast and friendly. Very much recommended. read more

Meh. I scheduled a reservation for my birthday and was so excited. The fish was less than ok for the price. We did the truffle salmon app, overly salty but we were like "ok, one dish no problem." Then we did the 8 piece nigiri,three of them were inedible. The uni, which they "only had from Japan" and was almost $30 was made insanely good! Ikura tasted super fishy, no good. The wagu with foie gras, skip it for the price, underwhelming to be kind. Our server, she was serving the entire bar, fish bar and restaurant- incredible all around- she is amazing but like, no. Don't do it, go to m sushi in Durham. read more

Our Server was Xian, from the moment we were seated, she was fabulous. Xian was attentive, informative and kind throughout the entire experience. We at no point felt rushed or as if we were an inconvenience. Xian went over and beyond to make the night memorable. Checking in consistently and Ending our night with a delicious Raspberry Mousse Chocolate Cake. Thank you Xian and O-Ku for a date night to remember! read more

O-Ku - Dumplings (6) O-Ku Rock Shrimp - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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The service and atmosphere of this restaurant are why I'm giving 5 stars! Our waitress was wonderful from start to finish. The food was really good and the only negative I could say is 27 dollars for 3 scallops was too much and not worth it. We had the dumplings, edamame , and tried 2 different types of sushi and really enjoyed all of them. Our waitress surprised us with a delicious dessert . We are very thankful we choose to celebrate our anniversary here. read more

Likely the best sushi roll I have ever had. I would highly recommend this place. The service is awesome as well and the sake is decent. read more

O-Ku - Signature Kurama Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

It was a GREAT meal. The food was so good. The service was just superior. The manager on duty, Paul Francl, is a class act. He makes patrons feel welcome. Our waiter, Eric, was experienced and service oriented. read more

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I cannot say enough amazing things about O-Ku! This place is definitely an experience worth having. The food is delectable. Freshly made, unique flavorings, and so beautifully presented. Our favorites were the Waygu bites. I tend not to drink, so I also appreciated the equally adorable mocktail menu. The service was standout. We had a large birthday party and were never left waiting for drinks or food. The ambience was also gorgeous. Amazing all-around. read more

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This Place is AMAZING!! The staff went well out of there way to make me and my wife's !st year anniversary dinner sooooo special! Food was on time and on point! taste was incredible, and ambience was outstanding! There's not a place in Downtown Raleigh that can give you the service and quality of food than this spot! will be going back very soon! read more

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Came here for my birthday dinner and Nicole was our server. She was very nice and attentive. Everything we ordered was very well presented and tasted amazing. read more

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

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My family and friends have been here a few times. The environment is nice and really the only downside is the parking. Sushi: 10/10 Bites: 7/10 Chicken Fried Rice: 10/10 Buns: 8/10 Dessert: 8/10 read more

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Adam was an incredible waiter. The sushi is UNLIKE any other sushi restaurant in Raleigh. And THATS coming from a NYC girl who's been spoiled with amazing fresh seafood. Every detail was spectacular from being treated like royalty at the host stand to the surprise dessert which added a special touch to the already amazing meal. Tried the Akita roll and it was SO fresh. Highly recommend! read more

O-Ku - My sexy ladies. Happy food bellies included. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The food in this place deserves a solid 5, but there were a few things to mention that resulted in the 4. Our waiter was attentive and really helped answer our questions and make recommendations. Nothing he recommended steered us wrong! I think the main thing to note about this place is that the sushi is fresh, the cocktails are flavorful and unique, and the sushi offerings are creative. To begin we had the Usuzukuri. We are big salmon fans and always just get the salmon nigiri or sashimi, but this was the salmon on another level! The flavors just all went together. We really enjoyed this. We were between this one and the Carpaccio so the waiter offered to get us a sampler. It was small but perfect and that carpaccio was so delicious. Next, we wanted otoro and he suggested to get the otoro spoons that is more bang for your buck than the otoro sashimi. The otoro spoons were so yummy! It had caviar on it with the minced otoro and it was a perfect bite. I felt like I was on Top Chef! We also ordered the 8 pieces of Nigiri, Chef's Choice. TO be honest, we were worried it wasn't going to be the best selection of fishes but we wanted to try it so that we would get out of our comfort zone. By golly, the chef sent out some amazing fish! There were a few different white fishes that were like butter, they just melted in your mouth. It also had salmon and otoro. Hands down, the best choice we made. If come again, we will definitely be getting it again. Then, we got 3 rolls: The Angry Salmon, the Rainbow and the Tsunami rolls. All were so yummy! The Tsunami roll was different in a good way. Lastly, we each had two cocktails. I had 2 Clouds of White. It was so yummy! But they sneak up on you! My husband had a Sugar and Spice. That was flavorful, and a hit in the back of the throat with the habanero. It was delicious. He also saw a mocktail he loved and he added liquor to it. Now the constructive feedback. We came here to celebrate our anniversary. Prior to choosing this restaurant I saw a review of another couple that came for their anniversary and the received a card and a free glass of champagne each. We didn't get anything. No one even acknowledged it was our anniversary. It felt like such a different experience based on what that couple stated in their review. Small things like that go a long way so I was truly disappointed to not have received a similar experience. Another piece is that the couple next to us were offered a tray of cut fruit to add to their water. The review I read mentioned that as well. We were not offered that at all. Even the sampler carpaccio which I thought would be on the house was charged as a"Gift" for $5. This place is yummy but the fact that customers can't expect a similar experience, is disappointing. read more

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Best sushi I've had up to now and would consider budget friendly with the quality and creativity out of the dishes. They have a lobster with rice in sea weed with a butter taste....a must have. The Octopus is also amazing. We tried so many and all was excellent. Music was modern and really good....the whole restaurant left us with an incredible experience. read more

High end sushi here and it was excellent. Great service, too! Dinner on Sunday, I arrived at the Amtrak station and walked the three blocks to O-Ku where I was warmly greeted and seated immediately. A lovely waitress checked on my drink order and asked if I had any questions. Nope, let's eat! The menu is a bit tapas style and so I chose two from their chef's specialties and two sashimi items. All arrived promptly and plated nicely. The Ika Sansai (squid, cucumber, seaweed salad) was a small portion but delicious. Tangy and nicely prepared. Blistered Shishito Peppers were lovely. A little bit spicy but not excessively so. Supposedly there are hot ones mixed through, but I didn't encounter any of them. Not possible to eat with chopsticks, this is finger food. Maguro (red tuna) and Tako (octopus) were delicious. Sashimi rather than nigiri (no rice on the keto diet), good cuts and plated nicely. Not a terribly expensive meal considering the quality. I enjoyed O-Ku and would return. [Review 12479 overall, 2268 of 2019.] read more

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Great place to try. The dishes did not lack flavor, cocktails were superb. Honestly, you just have to try it to believe it. They have so much to offer from fresh sushi to cooked plates. You have to visit more than once to get a full experience . I didn't try their sushi, but looking at the tables around us, we are going back this weekend to try it out. Everything I had was delicious, NO complaints at all. read more

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This place is AWESOME. The sushi is outstanding and super fresh. The salmon on the appetizer menu is a must try. So delicate and smooth with a hint of truffle. Amazing. The cocktails were great. I'm a fairly simple sushi fan, so the salmon lemon roll was one of my favs. The black magic hakozushi was very unique and worth it for the gram. Come ready to spend money, but it will be well worth it. Top notch sushi. read more

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Haven't tried yet but will update once I have tried all three items. Service and drinks took a long time. Apps before drinks. Ambience is fantastic. Great decor music and vibes. read more

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Good sushi! I've been to a few other O-ku locations; however, this location had gnats. a few flew in our food. The service was great and the manager waived our food ticket due to the gnats. I hope they fix that point problem bc I love this place. read more

Service was good. Prices are rather pretentious for the portions and value. I wouldn't consider it the best sushi I've had it was just ok. Bowls are small. Waygu is a bit overpriced. I didn't expect Japanese quality but it's definitely not high end either. Also the seating situation is a bit ridiculous. Had to eat at the bar despite the fact they'd just opened. It's definitely a raleigh restaurant that caters to its crowd. Young people with money. read more

I really enjoyed the ambiance here. The food was also delicious. I would visit again! I ordered the Kurama Roll and would try another roll next time to explore all the rolls O-Ku offers. read more

O-Ku - Signature Kurama Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I took my daughter here for her 18th birthday meal and the food was amazing... we all ordered a selection of food and shared and it was truly delicious!. I had mentioned that it was her 18th in the booking and from walking in the restaurant to leaving after the meal, the manager and all of the staff made the meal even more exceptional... They had gone out of their way to make our menus custom for her birthday with her name and 18 printed in the center along with flowers on the table, when we were ready to leave they even presented her with a birthday card that the staff had written in, wishing her well in her selected college! The food itself was very good and up there as some of the best i nthe area for me. The manager went beyond anything I would of expected and deserves acknowledgment from above for how she made not only my daughters birthday evening but all of ours feel very special. Thank you. read more

It's a heck yeah for me! Food, service and atmosphere was everything! I took a few co-workers

This was our first time here, and I thought the food was very fresh and tasty. If you get here between 5-7 they do a happy hour, which includes several of their Sushi Rolls. The atmosphere was very trendy, and our server Nicole was very helpful with sharing some of her favorites.. we will definitely be back.. read more

What can I say? This is definitely a top place for sushi in Raleigh. Going on a date or celebrate a special moment, or just love sushi.. this is your spot. First off, parking is simple, if you have no room in front there is a parking lot next door. Restaurant is beautiful, very high end, dress up! Service was wonderful, very attentive & staff knows their menu. Food wise, the most important... sushi was amazing, worth the price (its pricey) but worth it. Definitely a great experience to share with friends. Yes, I will be coming back and recommending. read more

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This is the only Sushi I want to eat in Raleigh. Speak up if you have a contender. The Katana Roll with Wagyu and crispy onions is fantastic. . I love the Bao Buns. The wings are great. I can't remember what the little dessert donuts are called but you need them in your life. read more

We had such a fantastic time. Food was incredibly fresh. The service was amazing. We saw the manager walking around asking tables how they were doing and I can't remember the last time I saw such wonderful service. We ended up sitting at the cocktail bar which we very much enjoyed. The o-ku spoons were both our favorite. We would absolutely go again. read more

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First tried O-Ku in DC and loved it so much we had to check out the Raleigh location as well. We got the omakase in DC and it was fantastic. This time we ordered off the menu. Portions aren't huge which is perfect for trying many different dishes. Our waiter Clint took great care of us all night! Our favorites were the carpaccio, otoro spoons, rock shrimp, and pork belly. They were all so flavorful and well prepared/cooked! We also tried the black magic hakozushi, which was unique but a little underwhelming, and the emperor roll which had wagyu on top that made for a lovely combo with the lobster tempura. Ordered a couple pieces of sashimi too which were very fresh and great quality. The only thing we would not recommend is the bbq pork buns as they were a bit oily and did not have as much flavor as we would have liked. We topped our feast off with the chocolate miso torte and sata andagi donut holes. Both were delicious but the donut holes are an absolute must try! Perfectly light and fluffy with a caramel sauce that we could have drank straight from a cup. We sat outside which was a tad chilly on a February night but mitigated by the heat lamp next to our table. We were only a party of 2 and could both sit near the heat lamp, but would suggest requesting an indoor table if you have a bigger party in the colder months. Parking situation can be a little tough especially on weekend nights. Several street parking spots around the block and a small paid lot across the street but everything does seem to fill up quickly. read more

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Came here after craving some sushi and was not disappointed. I ordered the black magic sushi and it was filling, smooth and melted like butter. The rice was perfectly made and you can overall just tell (and taste) that this plate is a showstopper. The only reason for the one less star was our server seemed to forget our table at times leaving us to question when we'd order, get water, etc. but once the food was out.... All was well. read more

O-Ku - Black Magic Hakozushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

At $10 for a single piece of regular tuna sushi, this is as expensive is the finest NYC sushi venue. I don't usually post about pricing but this has somehow crossed a line in the sand for me. Perhaps fresh fish is hard to bring to Raleigh, but still. read more

O-KU delivered the BEST experience i have had at any restaraunt in the Triangle to date. First time in, had NO clue what to expect, went on a complete whimm. Host informed me that on Fridays, and around that time (6pm), they are usually full of reservations, but he was able to seat me at a booth and my journey began. My server was Dillon, who was moonlighting in from Charlotte for the day or week. Fantastic and extremely knowledgeable young man!! He got personable, while going over the menu as to ensure my visit was satisfied, by asking questions like, "had i been in before", "are there any allegies to food", "do i enjoy raw fish", "have i had truffle, before", "do i prefer sweet over dry", etc etc etceteraaaa?!!! Lol. After giving me the full run down of the menu, along with peoples favorites, he ended with the option of Chefs Choice (Omakase). I chose to leave my choices to the chefs!! Dillon had a few more quick questions to ask (really getting a feel for my taste) and off he went to put in my order. This was the beginning of my tastebud-explosion journey. Note: this dinning experience is pricier than others but you will be sure to understand why, when you visit. My first course was started out with a good sized portion/bowl of Edamame. Very crisp and flavorful, a wonderful start to any meal. 2nd course (and this is where names become a blur) was Salmon (maybe tartare). 4 folded pieces of Salmon, placed into a flat faced bowl with a delightful dressing/puree at the bottom. When i say "melts in your mouth", i pretty much mean EVERYTHING, but at the time i thought it was just the Salmon. From here my pictures (although not the best; didn't want to be the "Flash" guy) will have to tell the remainder of my journey. Two things to note the Wagyu Hanger steak and the Uni Udon!! Going back to the "melts in your mouth", comment from before, the Wagyu beef is so tender your eyes will probably roll back or close when you taste. It was here that i asked Dillon to suggest a wine for me; not sweet. I normally have gone with white wines for seafood pairing but, he delivered a perfect compliment to the meals i was having with a Cabernet Sauvignon, Routestock. A very smooth and dry wine without the sulfite bite at the end. Now, the Uni Udon, Never have i had a dish come close to what O-KU prepares; just WOW!!! It has lobster, scallop, mushroom (shiitake i assume), asparagus, all mixed in with this creamy butter like sauce. Hands down "Phenomenal". If O-KU is not already Raleighs #1 Japanese Restaurant, it should be. From the fabulous design/decor inside, to the delightful personel: (that are always on the go) staff, managers, chefs, and lastly the food and drink that they serve. I had the pleasure of not only meeting Dillon, but was met by both managers (only remember Jonathan, my apologies) and Chef Richard (who happens to be from one of my hometowns boroughs). The welcoming i received from all of these gentlemen and the Class that they and O-KU exude deserves full recognition!!! 5 stars, 2 thumbs up, round-of-applause!! read more

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I went for the first time, and the experience was incredible! We were able to try many different things off of the menu such as the pork belly, tsunami roll, otoro spoons (3), scallop, salmon, and the curry noodle. All of it was delicious! Our server was very kind and helpful. The environment was lively, and a bit loud at times. Overall a great experience, and we will be going back again! read more

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The yellowtail nigiri and salmon maki were both excellent! I had takeout and it was ready quicker than anticipated. When I picked up the food the restaurant looked beautiful! I'll have to come back to sit and enjoy a meal inside read more

Food was delicious. We loved the sushi selections and the service was impeccable. We will definitely return.

This is a great spot in downtown Raleigh for Japanese fusion food. The space is beautiful. I personally like to go for an early dinner (Monday - Thursday, 5-7pm) when they have their Happy Hour specials. A few select items on the menu (mainly under apps and some sushi rolls) are discounted by a few dollars. My absolutely favorite item on the menu is the Black Magic. It's similar to a sushi roll but without the seaweed. It's pricey but delicious. Overall it's a really nice place if you want to impress someone. My main complaint about the place is that it's very pricey. read more

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If you are looking for delicious sushi and drinks, this is the place for you! It was definitely a splurge meal, but I had a delicious appetizer, sushi rolls, and drinks. It was very worth it. There is also a happy hour that you can enjoy that makes things a bit more affordable! My two rolls were very flavorful. My drinks were the best part of the meal! They were delicious and extremely well made. It made it very easy to continue ordering more. My waitress was extremely kind and helpful. Overall, this was a great experience for me and my friend! We will be back soon. read more

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

Two very enthusiastic thumbs up! O-Ku had me at hello. Simply... wonderful. The service was phenomenal, the food was melt in your mouth delicious and oh so creative, and the space was gorgeous. I've been to pretty much every single sushi restaurant in the Triangle and this is now one of my favorites. Our waiter, Jamie, was an absolute gem! Friendly, funny, informative, knowledgeable, attentive and quite honestly one of the best servers I have ever had and I know my share of the restaurant business thanks to a childhood surrounded by the restaurant industry. He made some wonderful food suggestions and took such amazing care of us. We even got a visit from the manager to make sure our meal was nothing short of perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday dinner. The food was DELICIOUS! I'm super picky when it comes to sushi. You can blame it on my Japanese mother, trips to Japan and my food adventures across the United States and O-Ku did everything right. The fish was fresh, the rice was perfectly cooked, the portions were as they should be and the presentation was perfection. I wish I could've tried everything on the menu but there's only so much a person should eat, so they say. Just means I'll have to make many trips back to try more. Here are some of my suggestions for your own trip to O-Ku: 1) Tuna Tartare Chef Specialty. Start your meal with a little deliciousness. 2) O-Ku Nigiri! Try them all! We had the Sea Bream Marmalade which was suprisingly wonderful. Who would've thought to put citrus marmalade on Nigiri?! And the Hamachi Sunazuri was so refreshing and pure bliss in your mouth. 3) O-Toro Nigiri. Yum yum yum yum yum! 4) Sake-Ikura Signature Maki. Seems so simple yet so not. 5) Do not forget to try their cocktails. Pom-Tequi was unique and lovely and their Beets by Tre was a version of a Dirty Martini that did not disappoint. I will say that their Beets by Tre is not a drink for a cocktail newbie. read more

O-Ku - Dim lighting so my photos don't do the food justice. Tuna Tartare. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Holy macaroni - this place is amazing. From the second we walked in, until we walked out! Service was phenomenal, the food was *chefs kiss*. They offered us lemon, lime, or cucumber for our water and I was so baffled I took each we got 4 sushi rolls - the Tsunami roll (fried on the outside), Cali Crunch, Emperor (had wagyu on top ), and the Kurama. Complete with a Sapporo! We will be back! read more

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OMG! O-KU is seriously the best place I've eaten in a long time. I recently found out about O-Ku via Instagram. Another account posted about it so it was at the top of my list of places to visit and so I am Happy that we did. When I first arrived the first thing that you notice is the parking! There is parking along the street and a few garages near by which is great. We lucked up and got a spot on the street and there was a short walk. We ended up choosing O-Ku because we had just finished our family photos in the area so we didn't have reservations but I thought that we would chance it anyway! So we walked in and we were immediately greeted at the door by 2 host and what looked like a manager. I asked if I needed a reservation and she said that they leave a few seats open for walk ins and luckily we were the last table they could fill. We were seated immediately! The ambience of the place was amazing! It seemed very romantic almost like for date night but I was soo impressed to see other small families which was encouraging. There is plenty of place for seating and there is also a full drink and sushi bar. Which I would probably choose if I were with girlfriends but I was with my family. Our server name was Jeff, and he was absolutely amazing! I cant began to tell you how accommodating he was. He brought us waters on time and he made some amazing recommendations from the menu; he practically ordered everything that he recommended. He was very knowledgeable, sweet and I will always choose him when I go back. He ended up ordering the A-5 which is a piece of Salmon with rice underneath and bbq sauce on top; it was phenomenal and packed with some much flavor. My husband ordered the Rock Shrimp for his Entree and it was soo tasty if you thought you had something trying Bang Bang Shrimp wait until you try the rock shrimp, it's crispy and flavorful. I ordered the Hurricane sushi roll and it was yummy and for my son (4) I ordered him the chicken Teriyaki with rice and it comes with veggies but I knew he wouldn't eat them so I said no veggies. Also, while we waited they brought Edamame which was delicious. My husband also ordered a drink that they have just ask for the special drink ....it's non alcoholic lol! The bathroom was really nice and clean. There's only 2 stalls, it smells great in there and the hand soap smells amazing too. For all 3 of us we ended up paying around $90! But we got a lot of food and the quality was out of this world! So we didn't mine at all. I think it's the perfect spot for a date night! The ambience is just right! It's kind of dark so it probably won't be great for photos of your food but overall it's down one of the best NEW restaurants in Raleigh! Great food, amazing service and beautiful restaurant! I will definitely be back! read more

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Been here two times and each time our server has gone above and beyond. On top of this the food is amazing