Food: 3.5 Service: 5 Ambience: 4 Order: Chicken Katsu Date/Time: 2/7/2026 5pm Crowd: 1/4 full This restaurant is tucked away in the back of the shopping center on the corner of Glenwood and Oberlin. Parking lot is average for the size of the shopping center but it's pretty packed. The service here is really great and the servers all seem to like their jobs. There were 2 coming out to deliver everything for the 10 of us. The set up inside is very nice with the dining area consisting of tables/chairs until you reach the sushi bar then booths on the side of that area and is very nicely decorated. My Chicken Katsu order had good presentation but the chicken was bland even with the katsu sauce. It wasn't the best I've had. I took a picture of a sashimi dish which was also a nice presentation but didn't get to try it. They certainly seem to key in on the sushi so that may be the thing to go for. But, like most sushi places, the prices were pretty high. If you're looking for a special dinner out, and you like really like Japanese cuisine, I'd recommend trying it. Maybe just not the Chicken Katsu. Service and ambience is great to provide you a nice dinner out. read more

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First time trying this place out and what drew me here were there prices. We went during lunch and did the hibachi shrimp and chicken combo which was $12.95 and it came with either soup or salad. I chose the miso soup and they bring out yum yum and ginger sauce to the table. It's not like kanki they don't cook in front of you but if you're sitting at the bar the chef is behind the counter cooking. It's pretty small inside as well.For the price, the portion size was pretty good. I would come back again and maybe try some sushi. read more

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then food wasn't good taste bland drinks was bad silver spoons was dirty and overcharged

Very nice food, good service. Place was dead, too bad, had nice food. A bit small and off the beaten path. The sushi bar was cool read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - Sushi bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Stopped in for dinner with my wife and we were really impressed with the food. The restaurant is kind of of hole in the wall but that's actually where I've found the best food. The hostess was extremely nice and the service was great. We will definitely be visiting this restaurant again. read more

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Favorite place to get sushi in Raleigh! Quiet atmosphere and fresh delish sushi. Love their hand rolls too!

The food and service were excellent! We ordered clear soup with mushrooms, and it was very flavoured. The salmon and tuna sushi were super fresh and tasty. The place was pretty quiet, which I enjoyed very much. The cardboard menu needs to be replaced; it's quite old and not in good shape. Other than that, I would give 5 stars. read more

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I've had hibachi from several places in the area and unfortunately this was the worst. The steak was beyond dry, the shrimp wasn't edible and overall there was zero flavor. They give you a lot but I ended up throwing it out after a couple of bites it was that bad. read more

The sushi was amazing. The service was great! I asked if they were able to turn my spider roll into a hand roll and they did with no problem even though it isn't an option on the menu! read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - Spider Hand Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I'm not sure why people aren't talking about how wonderful this place is. I have been coming here for years, and as my appreciation in sushi and knowledge has improved with time, as have my thoughts about this place. For one, the sushi is always fresh. The fish is inexpensive and they give you a lot! Like way more than most. Tuna belly is only $8 for 2 pieces. The rice is sticky and not overpowering in flavor. Pairs perfectly with the fish. Everything is just so very good. They kind of over do it with the portions. For example, a tuna avocado hand roll has 3 pieces of avocado in it and 2 pieces of tuna. Really remarkable place. I highly recommend. They need more recognition for sure. read more

Terrible service and even more terrible food... Had to literally throw it away it was so bad... Do not recommend! read more

Got a late dinner with a couple of friends about an hour before the restaurant closed. We were the only ones there. Went for two simple rolls: the crunchy spicy salmon roll and the crunchy spicy tuna roll, which came with 6 pieces each. (It seemed like the salmon and spicy tuna were actually mixed into each roll.) I thought the rolls were very good and I had zero complaints. Prices were very reasonable. Taste | 4 Atmosphere | 4 Presentation | 3 Service | 3 OVERALL | 4 read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - a plate of sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Ok. For all of the California roll and Hibachi people. This review is not for you. New York, San Francisco, some of the best sushi ever. NC ..... Hako is the only place to go. The fish is always super fresh and tender. Fong ( I think ) does an amazing job preparing and delivering the best Sushi in the Triangle and as far as I am concerned, the freshness rivals any big city. No replacing NY sushi, for the experience, but the freshness is always there!!!!! So. Go. Enjoy your sushi. It is some of the best!!!! read more

Tucked away in a plaza off of Glenwood Hako is a super solid dinner spot. I wasn't super in the mood for sushi when I went in so I had a roll and sampled some other things off the menu. I started with the classic crab Rangoons and they were quite good, we accidentally got an order of edamame as well! For rolls we got spicy tuna and shrimp tempura both super tasty. Our friends got a whole bunch of rolls and they definitely have a lot of things you don't see on the menu a lot of places. They got a roll with broiled cheese and scallops on the top that looked super tasty. They also have a sweet potato vegetarian roll that everyone raves about. Service was good, the space is small so the waitress is pretty much always around if you need to call her over. I'll be back! read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Some of the best sushi in town, worth the extra cost. The inside isn't fancy, that makes the experience even better, no frills, quality fish. People who gave this 3 must have just because of the environment and the fact they don't do BOGO. read more

I went in on a Friday night and the place was a lot more empty than I expected. There was actually only one other table of people dining in. First of all, it's extremely small. With there being no one there, it had a cozy feel to it though. Even though it was tiny inside, the style of the restaurant was nice. I sat at the bar and had crab Rangoon as an appetizer and ginger chicken as my entree. The crab Rangoon was very fresh and really really good. The ginger chicken was good as well, served with rice and vegetables. They gave a LOT of food. My brothers ordered sushi platters and because it was a hibachi grill, they made these humongous sushi platters right in front of us. The chefs were very nice and checked on us a coupled of times. The waitress seemed a little hasty, but she got the job done nevertheless. I would recommend and return here... read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - Crab Rangoon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I was really impressed with this establishment and I think they're taking COVID precautions seriously. As for the food, I've tried an assortment of roles and so far I've been impressed. The first time I ordered from Hako, I got the crunchy spicy roll combo - which was okay. Three rolls for a little under $17 seemed decent enough, and it came with a soup/salad. I'll admit, I wasn't blown away and I don't think I can say that this was the best sushi I've had in Raleigh. But it did the job and I was by no means disappointed. As for COVID precautions, Hako is not allowing customers to dine at the restaurant. When you walk in the front, a table is blocking your entrance into the establishment, and someone is right there at the register waiting to take your order. Hand sanitizer is also available. Hako also has a rewards program type thing, where if you make enough visits and spend $20 or more, you get a stamp on a card that will eventually get you $20 off an order. So overall, I think the food is okay, the COVID precautions are top notch, and the value is decent. Would recommend at least trying it out. read more

Our favorite sushi place in Raleigh and we've tried most of them. Fish is fresh. Portions are generous. Prices are fair. Staff is friendly. Recommended. read more

From the other reviews, I assume this place is the Haru Sushi that delivers on Postmates. If not, disregard this, as I've only eaten from here via Postmates delivery. That said, it's just ok. The sushi is pretty good and is delivered looking as beautiful as it would in a restaurant. The stars off really come from the hibachi entrees. I've tried them twice now, and they're just not great. Shrimp comes over-cooked, steak has been flavorless, the vegetables are primarily onion, and the rice is inconsistent in delivery. Sometimes it's fried, sometimes it isn't - it's a surprise! The entree comes with a white sauce and a ginger-based sauce that both help, but the flavor just isn't there overall. Good if you're hungry, but not worth the price (a jumbo shrimp hibachi entree is $18.95). If you're getting delivery, you're better off sticking to the sushi. read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - $19 - Jumbo shrimp hibachi entree delivery, zucchini & onion requested as only vegetables. Lots of food, but the flavor just isn't there. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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A small Japanese place in the tiny shopping center with Harris teeter, the service was quick and food was fresh. Not the best sushi in the area, but if you are close by definitely go here instead of Kanki in the mall. read more

To start I got the spicy miso soup which was so good. Definitely a unique option. I also got the chief roll which is mainly cucumber and good if you're looking for a healthier option. The scary jerry was delicious. Very low key atmosphere. Will be returning. read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - Scary Jerry - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Noticed that the fish that they used are not on ice. All the rolls in my order were flavorless and took about 45 minutes to receive my food while there were only 3 other tables of two people in the restaurant and one of them was already served. Halfway through my meal, my stomach started to hurt. read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - Salmon skin(?) not sure. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Who doesn't love a great sushi dish, this location is very nice, the staff is amazing the crunchy tuna roll was simply amazing. The prices read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

They have changed their name, but it's same owner this was my first time and I tried the Scary Jerry roll, this is best sushi I have eaten. They use higher quality fish even the ginger is first quality. This is not a buy one get one free sushi restaurant but my one roll had 8 pieces it was all I could eat and it was $12.95. The owner trained in Japan for 2 years and has been in business at this location for 16 years. My wife and I will not be in a hurry to return to a buy one get one again we will definitely return here. read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Had to run in to the grocery to pick up a few things, and after one bad experience years ago, I can't bring myself to buy grocery store sushi. I had a craving for it, though, so enter Hako. Small spot with quick service. I had a tuna roll and a couple pieces of sea urchin sushi. Price is reasonable. Although it wasn't bad, the restaurant had kind of a strange odor: like a cleaning agent type of smell, mixed with old water. I can't exactly describe it, but every once in awhile I caught wind of it, which took away from the entire experience. Other than that, status quo. read more

Tucked away in Glenwood Village (next to Harris Teeter), Haru dishes out pretty decent Japanese food. The space is small and cozy with a sushi bar in back. I'm not a big sushi fan and ordered up some salmon hibachi instead. Nothing much to brag about, but tasty. My lunch-mates gave mixed reviews on the sushi. Overall it's an ok spot if you're in that area of Glenwood: too far away from S. Glenwood for Sushi Blues and not close enough to Crabtree Valley for Kanki's. Haru will satisfy your hunger but it probably won't blow away your tastebuds! read more

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We had the scary jerry and freedom roll, and yes, this place doesn't offer bogo like the big sushi joints in the triangle, but I didn't mind--this is definitely higher quality sushi than those aforementioned places. I enjoyed every piece of sushi we ordered and left satisfied. I did decide to take a star off because we were seated in the back close to the kitchen and there was a very strong smell of bleach and it was very off-putting because it smelled like a sterilized bathroom..so I will suggest that you tell the hostess you want to be seated in the front end of the restaurant. Oh, and they have a loyalty card that isn't lunch-only! Woohoo read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - Scary Jerry and Freedom rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Freedom Roll is probably top 3- of my favorite all time rolls! Chefs choice-Sashimi was amazing! read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - Freedom Roll! Yummy! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Haru has some of the freshest fish in Raleigh and often gets in the most unusual fish available in downtown. I would give them a 5 star, but the environment isn't up to the same standard as the food. The staff are super friendly and really want you to leave happy, but often they are understaffed so the wait can be unreasonably long. The sashimi is always great, the steamed shumai is some of the best I have had and the custom rolls are interesting. My wife and I also appreciate that they don't focus on fried rolls (if I wanted fried, I'd be eating at Bojangles or Beasleys). The "Amazing Roll" with eel and toro is a particular standout. Also the kampachi and fatty yellowtail are usually excellent sashimi choices. Pro Tip: If you are ordering for takeout (which I recommend) add 10-20 minutes for however much time they say it will take - trust me, you won't be early. read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - The Amazing Roll - doesn't look as amazing as usual because we devoured a few bites before I remembered to snap a pic... Mmmm - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

A recent lunch visit here was eye opening and not in a good way. Admittedly(you know this if you have read my other reviews) I am super critical when it comes to food. To start I was the only person in the restaurant on a Friday at Noon. I asked is it ok if I changed one of the fish on a roll as I don't like Un cooked Salmon. I was told yes no problem and I selected a less expensive replacement. Five minutes into them making it I'm asked almost in passing is it ok that it is "a few more dollars"? Of course it isn't so just leave the salmon off. Mind you the rest of my order was 20 plus dollars of Sashimi. So, the order of Tuna, Peppered Tuna, and Surf Clam Sashimi arrive with the Phoenix roll with the Salmon on it. The server was then told It would not be eaten that way and what would she like to do about it? Five minutes goes by translating back and forth and no resolution. So without eating anything I asked to pay for my Tea and leave. Which led to five more minutes of discussion. Easily explaining why this place is so empty. Zero chance of a re-visit!! read more

Absolutely fantastic. Amazing food. Sushi was immaculate and delicious. Service was friendly and quick. Simply fabulous! I ordered the spider and kamikaze rolls. Scrumptious! Looking forward to having fatty tuna next time. Can't wait to return! read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - a plate of sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Located in a strip mall, this quaint little sushi var provided a cozy and warm atmosphere. It was empty with the exception of one couple sitting at a table. i sat at the counter\bar watching the chefs prepare my meal. The staff was very polite and tentative. I sampled the Crab Rangoon which was unexpectedly warm and fresh. My sushi platter was prepared neatly and very cold. I like cold sushi. The food was delicious and full of flavor. Overall a great experience. (12/29/12) read more

Hako Japanese Restaurant - Sushi platter consisting of a Philly, Tuna roll, and Eel. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

3 stars only because we were served with plastic silverware the first time we dined here. Their hibachi is okay- definitely not great. However their sushi is amazing! They have some of the most variety in sushi rolls, and it is all super tasty. My favorite was the peanut avocado roll. Would recommend coming here just for the sushi- not so much for the hibachi. read more

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great food, but terrible service. waited over an hour and they didn't check on us. Had to ask over and over

Jewel box inside and has had great food available for take out during the COVID-19 closures.

Food is amazing. Service is great. We get take-out from this restaurant about every other week. Their fish is very fresh and the portions are huge. The sushi menu is extensive and they have great roll combos you don't see elsewhere. Some rolls even offer you a choice of what fish you want. This is not a bogo sushi restaurant. It's worth it. The hibachi is flavorful and large portions. I have had the salmon and the shrimp hibachi and have never been disappointed. Honestly, the food is so good, I typically get a hibachi and a roll because I can't choose just one. And ....then I'm stuffed. Honestly, I'm stuffed after the hibachi but shovel in the sushi for fun. read more

Oh man, I don't know where to start. Everything was off. The rice was off, the fish was off, and the whole atmosphere was off. First off (pun intended), the rice was way off. We must have gotten the previous day's rice or something because it was the wrong consistency and it just fell apart. You almost had to eat the sushi with a spoon. Good sushi rice should hold it's form and it's texture should be solid but smooth. Secondly, the fish was way off. The tuna neither looked fresh nor smelled fresh. We actually returned it after taking a bite out of it. Of course, the waitress glared at us and completely denied it's non-freshness, but that's beside the point. The salmon was the same. It was actually lukewarm. Maybe their bar fridge was broken? Either way, we didn't feel comfortable eating some of the fish. The atmosphere reminded me of a take-out Chinese restaurant. The sushi chefs were conversing loudly with one another and there was practically no ambiance. The only positive I could gather from the whole experience was that I didn't suffer food poisoning. I'd usually like to give restaurants second chances, but I think I'll pass on this one. read more

Had a nice lunch here last week. It is definitely a little hole in the wall, but the experience was pretty good. Glenwood Village, on the corner of Oberlin and Glenwood, has all these random little places that are certainly better than they appear. It has pretty standard decor and not much for ambiance, but the staff is all super friendly and quite attentive. I noticed that their menu, in its entirety has quite an array of choices so much that it seemed overwhelming. Their bar is small, but appears to be well-stocked with lots of beers and wines. The sushi chefs appeared pretty into what they were doing as well. I thought, for lunch, it was a tad pricey for me considering lunch specials are supposed to be well "specials" and a deal. My choice was the Sushi Combo: Crunchy Spicy Salmon Roll, California Roll, Avocado Roll for $9.95. That price isn't so bad, but the avocado wasn't awesome and the other rolls were kind of standard. My friend got the Sushi and Sashimi Lunch Special which was Chef's choice of sushi & sashimi for $12.95. Each order also came with Miso soup. Overall, I'd say quite enjoyable, but not out of this world. read more

I lived literally across the street from Haru for several years and it is one of my favorite spots for sushi in the area. I have never had a bad experience there. Everything is so good, from the octopus salad, to the Amazing roll (totally lives up to its name). I tend to stick with the sushi rather than other entrees so I cannot give reviews for that. It's not super cheap, but definitely comparable to other sushi restaurants in the area, and cheaper than some. I like that they serve beer and sake, and it is very reasonably priced also. I've ordered to-go food several times and they have never screwed up my order. Not once. Hugely impressive to me since I know a lot of places half-ass to-go food since most to-go customers don't tip (I do, but I've worked in the industry too long). I love that it's so small and cozy (tucked right next to Glenwood Grille). There is plenty of parking, also a plus. It's quiet enough to really enjoy conversation with your friends or a date. The staff is friendly and I like that you can sit at the bar and watch them actually prepare your rolls if you like, or even ask for recommendations. Long story short: 5 stars, because I've never been disappointed. Every time I take a Haru virgin to eat there, they end up wanting to go back, and that's really the best recommendation I can imagine. read more

Wow - did I eat at the same place as my fellow Yelpers? A professed sushi fiend, I'm always down to try a new purveyor of all things raw. So we roll into Haru for lunch and are one of only two groups in the place. I should have known something was up when my hot tea wreaked oddly of something decidedly... not tea-y. Got the feeling I might've just paid a buck seventy five for dishwater?? Next came my roll, and I use that term loosely - not the most expert job there, it was sort of falling apart and - SURPRISE! - not what I ordered. My Crazy Spicy Salmon roll featured imitation crab meat. Not a lick of salmon in that puppy (believe me, I checked). So as not to be totally negative, I did like the ginger dressing here. And that's all I have to say about that. read more