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!

Stopped by Sushi Mon for lunch earlier. When you arrive parking can be a little tricky as you're…read moresurrounded by office buildings. We ended up parking by the regions bank building and walking across the street. To locate the front entrance of Sushi Mon you'll proceed into the office building and the entrance will be off to your right. Walking in the restaurant feels modern, upscale, sleek, intimate, and trendy. Since we arrived for lunch during the week they were running a few lunch specials. I ordered the sushi combo (6 pieces of nigiri and a Sushi Mon hand roll) with a miso soup. The miso soup was a pleasant surprise and was delicious quite filling as it contained cabbage, salmon, and mushrooms. The 6 pieces Nigiri was also well balanced and had a good selection of sushi (amberjack, salmon belly, cooked shrimp, etc.). The Sushi Mon hand roll was good but had a bit of heat to it. Overall, visiting Sushi Mon for lunch was a good experience and I'd likely return if I'm in the area

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 love Ajisai. It's one of my go to spots for sushi in the downtown Raleigh area. The have a good…read moreselection of rolls to choose from but also offer a lot of other items. The sushi for 2 is definitely a great value. Plenty of food for two people. The food not only tastes good but also looks good. I like their presentation. Definitely try their wasabi tuna dumpling!

Great start to loving Japanese dishes! My husband and I made a 7:45 pm reservation on a Saturday,…read moreand sat in the main dining room. Little light tapers stood in the middle of the table. Not too bright nor dim. Our waiter, Dylan, really treated us well. Before we ordered anything, Dylan gave us each a very, warm terry-cloth wash cloth for our face and hands. Nice touch. We just had water to drink, but that's okay. My husband's entree was very spicy! We began with the Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura. The shrimp was quite fresh, and the flavor gave a great mouthful of taste and some oiliness (but, not dripping). Flavor! Also, we ordered Negimaki, which are grilled beef-wrapped scallions with teriyaki sauce. One bite is the way to eat those. Love the chopsticks, too. We were each served Miso Soup and two small salads (with ginger dressing). Sure did like that (the soup had good flavor, but was a bit salty for our tastes.) My entree was Teriyaki. I am not familiar with a lot of Japanese dishes, but I do know this flavor. I ordered the Steak. This came with stir fried vegetables with a good flavor of cabbage. I liked those. White rice completed my dish. My husband ordered the Spicy Seafood Udon. This proved to be more spicy than it appeared. This dish included vegetables, udon noodles, shrimp, hokkaido scallops, squid, green mussels, in a savory & spicy garlic butter sauce. We had food leftover, so we got some containers and packed them for home. We will come back here, and perhaps eat outside (sure, the view is of a parking lot), but the high tables and the torchieres give it a nice atmosphere - perhaps as the weather turns cooler, we will enjoy being outside. We spent over $100 without alcohol. Prepare for that, but, it's worth the drive and it's worth your time and money.

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'm so glad I finally got to try this place. Everything was great, from the vibes, to the service…read moreand the food! I have also been looking for a sushi that incorporates lemon for a long time now...I was so excited to see that O-ku had one! I had the crispy rice, edamame, salmon & lemon maki, and clouds of white cocktail. I genuinely loved everything; even the tastes I tried of my friend's dishes and cocktails too. The sushi was fresh and some of the best I've had in Raleigh. This place is super cute and cozy. A great atmosphere for a date night or night out with a group. I'll be back for sure.

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!

Gem in the middle of Crossroads Cary shopping center. Japanese food that is fresh, delicious, and…read moresometimes innovative when the chef has unique ingredients available. The atmosphere is small family run and minimalist Asian decor,

Loved the whole experience here. I came with my wife and our young daughter (4 years old). The…read moreserver was very sweet to her and even brought out a to-go cup with water, such a thoughtful gesture. The interior felt just like the small corner restaurants I grew up with in Japan, but a bit cleaner and more polished. Zaru Udon was one of my favorite dishes growing up, and Kashin delivered a nostalgic, comforting experience. Thank you! The yellowtail was also spot on, fresh and flavorful. For dessert, we had the sakura mochi. Loved, loved it. Sweet, warm, and perfectly gooey. Just perfect.

I've heard so much about Shinmai Shokudo, and finally got the chance to visit! While this spot does…read moreclassics well, there were some letdowns; however, we had a good experience overall: - Spicy Tan Tan Ramen (Rich pork broth, spicy ground pork, bean sprout, wood ear mushroom, chives, cilantro, green onion, 1/2 seasoned soft-boiled egg, thin straight noodles): Definitely my favorite dish! The broth had great depth, the spice provided a nice kick, loved all the different toppings but I do think there could have been more pork. - Tonkatsu Ramen (Signature rich pork broth, pork belly, bamboo shoot, wood ear mushroom, green onion, 1/2 seasoned soft-boiled egg, thin straight noodles): Same great broth as the tan tan, chashu was perfectly fatty and tender, liked all the toppings again. The noodles themselves didn't really stand out to me. - Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box (Dashimaki, shrimp shumai, salad, pickles, rice, miso soup): Ehh... this was fine, but I'd definitely skip it next time. For the price, the quantity and quality of everything but maybe the chicken (which was smoky but way too sweet) was lackluster. - Chicken Curry Don (Panko breaded chicken cutlet, Japanese-style curry sauce, potato, carrot, onion, nori): The chicken was crispy, but quantity was so small. Curry was tasty, but inadequately warmed. - Raindrop (Plant-based ice jelly, brown sugar syrup, soybean powder): Such a unique dessert- ofc the visual is great, but the texture was interesting and it was subtly sweet too. Ambiance is nice, but the space is pretty small. Service was fast and friendly. There's plentiful parking. 7.5/10 would recommend!

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!

Great sushi spot in downtown Raleigh!…read more Had such a good experience at Daijobu! They don't take reservations, but service was really nice and very quick, so it was an easy experience from start to finish. The hand rolls were a 10/10 and the crispy tuna rice was definitely my favorite. We also tried the chicken karaage, which was SO good. Everything came out fresh and quickly. I also really liked the price point for sushi here. It feels like a great option for a casual sushi night without spending a fortune. They're from the same team behind City Market Sushi, another Raleigh staple. I definitely want to come back to try the ramen next time! Would definitely recommend if you're looking for good sushi in Raleigh!

Enjoyed my experience here. They do not take reservations and it is a small restaurant. Ordered the…read more5 hand roll which came with salmon, yellowtail, blue crab, scallop, and toro. They were delicious. For my entree I got the tonkotsu ramen which was also very tasty. Overall very good spot for small groups.

Tucked in between the Trader Joe's and Szechuan Mansion hot pot, this spot is in a hot area! The…read moreinterior is clean and well decorated, and feels comfortable to have large groups or parties. Came by during lunch and tried their omakase combo, and it is a delicious way to get multiple items for a good price! I ordered the sushi and sashimi combo (includes side salad and miso soup) for $16, and an appetizer of edamame (~$8). The fish was fresh and I loved the ginger dressing on the salad. Our server was very attentive and gave great service. All of the staff were friendly. My friend and I were able to enjoy our meal without feeling rushed.

Food was good. Chill atmosphere. I had the beef fried rice and the spicy girl specialty roll. I'd…read moreget it again.

Portions were good but overall food lacked flavor. White sauce was salty. $60 for a family of 5…read more Not worth it in my opinion

The best last minute meal I could get on short notice in route home from a busy day. I enjoyed the…read moresteak and chicken with rice. Very quick and it's okay. The staff here are extremely pleasant and helpful. The space was clean and well lit.

The Restaurant week menu was great!…read more Flounder/Sea bass/Dessert option was a recommendation and was amazing. Service, and community make this restaurant one of the top in Raleigh.

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.