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.

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.

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.

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.

A cozy sushi spot - loved the ambiance, the fish was fresh and the rolls were filling. Very fast…read moreand attentive service.

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.

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!

Ordered the Tori Shio and it really hit the spot. The broth is clean, light, and comforting without…read morebeing bland. The shredded chicken was tender and generously portioned, and the soft-boiled egg was cooked perfectly with a rich, jammy yolk. A friend ordered the Spicy Tan Tan, and I tried a few bites. Flavor-wise, it was excellent -- rich, bold, and deeply savory -- but it was extremely spicy. Definitely delicious, just something to be aware of if you're sensitive to heat. We also shared a hand roll, which was a great addition. Fresh, well made, and nicely balanced, with good quality fish and seasoned rice. A solid bite to have alongside the ramen. Overall, everything was filling and genuinely delicious. Ingredients tasted fresh, portions were generous, and the flavors were thoughtfully done. Daijobu is a great spot in Raleigh with an excellent ambient for dinner. Service is great as well, staff is very nice.

Our server Naomi was a true delight for lunch this past Friday. She was efficient and super nice…read more It was our first time trying the ramen at Daijobu, and it is stellar! We had the spicy miso ramen that sported a lot of chicken and a delicious broth. Very bold yet balanced flavors. As for the three hand roll set that we ordered we found out we are not real fans of hand rolls. I should have looked up what makes a hand roll a hand roll. (It's the nori, the seaweed wrapper, that sets it apart in the world of sushi.) The salmon, yellowfin tuna, and crab were so fresh that they tasted fishy to us. Again, I believe it's user error that this dish didn't fly with us. We used the soy sauce mixed with wasabi to disguise the fishy taste. Lesson learned.

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.

The sushi here is really good! Prices aren't too bad for the area. Would definitely return!read more

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.

This location is the best one in Raleigh, I love it. I get the steak hibachi every time it's so…read moregood and very filling, the veggies (along with all other ingredients) taste fresh. TJ has comparable prices to some iffier places. The people are nice and most seem to get take out but I usually just eat it there because I get too excited which I never regret the ambiance is good enough for me!