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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We celebrated my husband's birthday at Waraji last night and he was absolutely in Heaven. He raved…read moreabout the sushi as did our friends that we went with. They all said it was the best sushi they've ever had. I was super impressed by the expansive drink menu. I ordered a nice red blend and plan to order a Sake flight next time. I loved the atmosphere and didn't realize it was so big inside. Our server was super nice and helpful when ordering. I ordered the teriyaki chicken without onions and our server was so awesome that she let me know that the ginger dressing on my salad contained onions. She wanted to make sure I didn't have an allergy. How amazing?! The chicken teriyaki and the veggies it was served with were absolutely AMAZING! Seriously, IDK what they did to those veggies but this may have been the best meal I've ever had! They gave my husband a scoop of mango icecream with a candle in it for his birthday. Love that! We are looking forward to our next visit to Waraji.

I'd been craving sushi, something unfussy yet exceptional and wanted to take my husband somewhere…read morenew. Waraji, a beloved neighborhood institution, felt like the obvious choice. Knowing how quickly their tables disappear, I checked for reservations on the drive over, fully expecting disappointment. Instead, a small miracle: an open table. I booked it before the screen could change its mind. Upon arrival, the host greeted us with the gentle chaos that only a true local favorite can produce. Our table wasn't quite ready "just waiting on a few folks to wrap up" so we lingered near the entryway, watching the ebb and flow of diners. A brief mix-up had us nearly escorted to a table before being pulled back, but within minutes we were seated, no worse for the detour. Our spot was perfect: a front-row view of the sushi bar, where chefs moved with the quiet intensity of people who know their craft is being watched and appreciated. The restaurant hummed around us servers weaving between tables, the soft clatter of plates, the low murmur of regulars who clearly consider this their second home. Our server, whose name I wish I'd caught, was a standout. Attentive without hovering, candid about the kitchen running a bit behind, and consistently thoughtful with updates. His honesty made the experience feel more intimate, more human. Cocktails arrived first, followed by a parade of sushi and small plates. Everything was fresh, balanced, and deeply satisfying, the kind of meal that doesn't need theatrics to make an impression.

It was a great choice to come to Umiya Raleigh!! The food was great as always!Mario was so…read moreattentive and welcoming. Any question we had about the food he would explain it with detail. We will definitely be coming back!!!

Umiya is hands down the best all you can eat (AYCE) sushi spot I've been to, and it's not…read moreparticularly close! What sets it apart is the quality of the fish. You're not getting tiny, low-effort pieces. The cuts are generous and fresh. I leaned heavily into the AYCE sashimi (tuna, salmon, red snapper, yellowtail, etc.), and every round delivered. It felt much closer to a traditional sushi experience than a typical AYCE setup. Service was also a big plus. The staff was very attentive, consistently checking in and bringing out orders quickly, which kept the experience smooth and enjoyable without long waits between rounds. For the price and quality, it's an incredible value and a place you can really enjoy without feeling like you're compromising. We will absolutely be going back!

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

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

One of my absolute favorite ramen spots in Raleigh! Their Tonkotsu Ramen is my go-to, along with…read moretheir chicken & pork gyoza. The Creamy Chicken and Lemongrass Ramen are really good too.

Ohhh yes to this Ramen spot! My first time here and I can't wait to return. It's located in a…read moreshopping plaza tucked in the back. When you enter, it's a cute, quiet setting with a relaxed, laid back atmosphere. The service here immediately made the experience start off strong. Everything was so fresh. The hot sake was delicious and certainly pure. My starters were great portions and filling as you can tell from the photos. I couldn't pick one, I started with three lol And my Tonkotsu Ramen was chef's kiss! This is my new absolute favorite Ramen spot in the area. I've traveled to Okinawa a couple of times and truly enjoy Ramen, and honestly, this location has the best tasting food that makes me feel like I'm right back.

I had a great experience at Omakase by Kai in Seaboard Station for lunch! I ordered the chicken…read morebibimbap, and it was absolutely delicious--fresh ingredients, perfectly seasoned, and beautifully presented. The flavors were well balanced, and the portion size was very satisfying. The iced tea was also excellent! The waiter was wonderful--very welcoming for my first visit and took the time to explain everything and answer all of my questions, which made the experience even better. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and you can tell a lot of care goes into both the food and service. I'll definitely be back to try more items on the menu. Highly recommend!

Just recently came here for a friend's birthday. Beautiful restaurant inside. The staff however was…read morenot very friendly. Not rude but definitely wasn't trying very hard to ensure we had a good first experience. Usually, the waiter/waitress will ask if you've been before or if you're out for a special occasion. Neither question was asked. When we got our sushi the waiter/waitress didn't bother telling us which sushi roll was which, as this being both of our first times, I was quite disappointed by the lack of communication/ customer service. They were also out of Waygu beef and couldn't make the Rolls Royce sushi roll we asked for --which was a huge disappointment. The sushi rolls I got were really good. I wouldn't say they were excellent. The price was slightly lower than other places but still expensive. They did give you a good portion, so I really liked that bc I was full with just 2 rolls! I did really like 1 of my friend's rolls, but the other one had too much fish. I don't think I would come back, just bc with better sushi options + better customer service just right down the road, it wouldn't make sense to come back here and be disappointed again. Not at these prices. I used to LOVE their sister/original restaurant Kai Sushi in Raleigh, It used to be my absolute favorite but their quality went wayyyy down hill!! We haven't been back there in a year bc last time we went it was awful. They also have an outdoor patio but it looks dirty and the chairs are metal so they look really uncomfortable. It definitely needs a makeover bc it's a cute space, it has so much potential. They also don't have Diet Coke, if anyone is wondering. lol but they do have Coke 0 tho.

We stopped by the transfer food hall for lunch and I decided to check out Yatai Sushi and Taco bar…read more I'm super picky when ordering sushi outside of Seattle, but the reviews were excellent and so I decided to give it a try. I ordered the cucumber roll and the hamachi sushi roll. I'm super picky about my hamachi because I want it to be very fresh and the hamachi in my roll from Yatai was perfectly fresh. In fact, it's the best I've had in quite a while, even in Seattle. The rice was also perfectly cooked and the staff were very nice and helpful. A couple of other family members ordered a chirashi bowl and the crispy salmon both were beautifully presented and also delicious. Yatai is a great spot for sushi. I don't give many five-star reviews but I've given two of them today in Raleigh. Both were very well earned.

Here's a polished version of your Yelp review:…read more Their sushi and sashimi is great. We go back at least monthly for their amazing and unique rolls. The only thing on the menu I would not recommend is the Birria Bun - It's a bit bland to be nice and they don't serve it with any consommé, which is a huge bummer