I had been meaning to visit this place for a years now so when some good friends came into town, I took that opportunity to take them here to Iza Whiskey & Eats. For some reason I didn't expect the restaurant to have a layout like it did (it was a bit small) but nevertheless, I was glad to get a table and have a good experience, even though we didn't have a reservation. Parking was easy also, as there is a nearby parking garage just a few steps over, that was close and plentiful. That accessibility easily takes away a bit of anxiety, because many times when a restaurant is in Chapel Hill, you worry if you'll ever find a spot on Franklin, especially on the weekends. Fortunately, that is not a problem here. I ordered Hamachi and sushi rolls, while my guests had a rice dish, ramen and sushi - all of which was delicious. The server was very attentive and kind - we had such a great experience and will be back! read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Yellowtail and jalepeno! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Visiting the area and found this on Yelp... I was not disappointed. We came late but everyone was still so attentive. The food came out fresh and had lots of flavor. My friend loved the shrimp chill noddles and I loved the poke bowl. Really cute place, had a Japanese flare. I would recommend this place. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Poke Bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Great food, good service and nice atmosphere. Visited my daughter and was lucky enough to try Iza Whiskey. Very glad we did. We have the crab Rangoon and edamame to start. The crab Rangoon were the best I have ever had. The wonton skin was light and very crispy. The filling was plentiful and delicious. The money were fresh and very flavorful. For dinner, we had the general towels chicken Their Iza special role and spicy tuna roll. Everything was outstanding. Very fresh and so much flavor. My only complaint would be that the don't have a simple hot sake. The one we had was good, but $34 for a bottle was a little expensive. Outside of that everything was excellent. Sorry no picture. We were starving and ate to fast. read more

We went out for a work team dinner. The blackberry bourbon smash cocktails were next level! We ordered a variety of food, including the edamame, gyoza, tuna tartar, crab Rangoon, spicy udon, and more. The service was particularly attentive. I recommend the tuna tartare to share. read more

Tried Iza for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by the options. By recommendation of Yelp, I went for the chili garlic noodles which were really tasty. My husband went for sushi which he said was good but not filling. We ordered takeout at 7:30 on a home football game Saturday so we expected there might be delays but the staff kept me informed while I waited. The inside ambience was really nice and there's lots of outdoor seating so we hope to try it again sometime soon. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Chili Garlic Noodles - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

We ate at Iza about 2 years ago and it was fantastic. We had not been back, but decided to go there for Mother's Day. The ambience is great, but unfortunately we found the food to be mediocre this time. The six of us shared some sushi rolls, hibachi dishes, and Bi Bim Bap bowls. I told my wife that I'd probably not go back there again and she said she was thinking the same thing. For the record, we are "foodies" and have very high standards for freshness and great food. Consider us to be "tough graders". 3-stars. read more

While visiting my alma mater in Chapel Hill, I came across this cool restaurant...and had to stop in to check it out. The place was quite stunning, with lotsa bold colors. Since this was possibly a hopping late-night hangout, the place was pretty empty when I arrived earlier. For some reason, I didn't expect the foods to be as smashing as the ambiance. However, I was SO wrong! I tried their Miso Soup...and it was possibly one of the best I've ever had...with a generous dose of seaweed and tofu. Also, I tried their Chili Garlic Noodle w/ Shrimp, and it was beyond good. All-out DEE-Lish!! This was possibly the favorite restaurant I visited during my recent road trip to the Triangle Park area. read more

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I went here for an impromptu dinner date and was impressed by the abundant selection of whiskey and sushi, as well as the cozy yet sophisticated vibes. The food was delicious and the service staff were welcoming. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Iza Whiskey and Eats - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

3.5/5 but rounded up. We came here twice during a week long visit to Carrboro. Japanese / Chinese / Korean inspired menu items and solid cocktails. The udon noodles are delicious - just drenched in tastiness. We also had various sushi offerings and the chili garlic noodles - all of which were good - although the short rib served with the chili garlic noodles was very tough - hard to chew. Attentive staff and good atmosphere. Recommend this place for dinner. read more

Hands down some of the worst service I've experienced. Took forever to get drinks, despite the bartender just hanging out. It was like our tickets got lost or something? Appetizers came out with dinner, instead of ahead of time, but were still missing 2 apps. Had to ask for them again. Dinner came out without sauce on the dish, despite it being core to the dish. Kitchen "forgot" to put on the sauce I was told. Not sure what was going on tonight... Just overall bad experience. We waited over an hour for everything. Food definitely wasn't worth it. read more

This place is so good for a fun Friday night it has such good food and service I would come here every day if I could read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

I love this place. The sushi and ramen are amazing I would bet that everything on the menu is great. The service is always kind and helpful and the ambiance is perfect for a date night or any dinner evening. I frequent this place and 100% recommend to anyone. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Seared salmon sashimi special - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Great price point for delicious sushi. Friendly staff and there is a parking garage right next to the restaurant. read more

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Fantastic spot with great service. Solid whisky selection that goes well with a number of sushi selections. My Dovetail pour paired really nicely with multiple (fresh) sashimi and nigiri options. Really enjoyed chatting with the owner and the staff. Definitely will be back next time around. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Whiskey pour at Iza. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Had a great experience at Iza! Casual ambiance with lots of variety on the menu. Excellent service and great recommendations. The food was great -- got the garlic chili oil noodles, a few rolls, and their special which was salmon with miso butter. Would absolutely return! read more

Really cool place! Great concept. Loved the sake recommended by the owner and the impeccable service at the bar. I had the bento sushi box. Sashimi was fresh and delicious. Next time, I will try a whisky off of the huge list. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Sushi bento box and sake. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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When searching for a late-night dinner option after my brother's graduation in Chapel Hill. I came across Iza! The restaurant was surprisingly relatively busy around 9 pm, but there were still plenty of tables open for us. The interior was nicely decorated and I enjoyed the atmosphere! Throughout our meal, our waitress was so nice and apologized for the wait time for the food even though we didn't have to wait long. The menu had many options from various Asian cuisines, and we ended ordering the shrimp yaki udon noodles, green curry chicken, twisted mango by sammy roll, carolina roll to share, and sweet and sour chicken. We were surprisingly able to finish everything we ordered and it was all delicious! The owner even stopped by at the end of the meal to congratulate my brother on graduating! Overall, I had a great time at Iza and would come back! read more

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This place was amazing. I went for a birthday dinner with a large party, and initially we wanted to sit inside. However it was a nice night, and once we got there we changed our minds. Despite already setting up our table, they were so nice and accommodating and moved our seats outside. The service was great, with the owner going above and beyond. If you go, definitely get the garlic noodles- they were a 10/10! read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Chili Garlic Noodles - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

I came here for my birthday dinner. I was in a party of 4 and wanted to sit outside because it was way too quiet for a birthday dinner inside. Riley was a great server and was very accommodating and nice. However, the all of food was bland and the iza crunch tasted like floral cleaner. When I requested a swap or refund on one roll, I was denied both options for both options I still had to pay. Don't come here for bday celebration. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Skull island and Iza Crunch - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Great food, everything from the rolls to the karaage was really tasty. The service was also phenomenal, I think one time the owner served our table and he was fantastic. I've been here several times and I'd definitely come back again! read more

Good but pricey! Came here for dinner when my parents were in town! The sushi is great. Very fresh. Our waiter was very friendly and excited to take our order. Very small place but it wasnt very crowded when we got there. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Appetizer - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Dined here last night after work with my co worker. It was walking distance from our hotel which was great. I enjoyed our meal. We ordered a ton that wasn't included in the pictures but I will say the spyder roll was amazing. I will say the hot stone steak small plate was not really worth it but everything else was delicious. Chili garlic noodles so so good! Overall nice spot as our server was super helpful and accommodating. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Shrimp Chili Garlic Noodles - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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I stopped in for dinner on a Sunday evening (before the rush). The parking lot was small so I ended up parking a block down. The main door is not the one by the patio seating, it's the one close to the their parking lot. I was able to get a seat but noticed that most tables had a "reserved" sign. Must be good right? I was here for Sushi so I went straight for the Sushi menu. There weren't many options, which was a plus in my book. I'm not a fan of an overwhelming sushi menu with 100 different types of rolls. The menu had basically less than 10-12 sushi roll options. I went with the "007" and "Spicy Tuna" Rolls. First bite -- was delicious but as I started to eat it, I noticed bits of hard and uncooked rice. I didn't want to believe it at first and thought it may had been from the crunch of the tempura but as 110% Asian brother, I know when I'm chewing on uncooked rice. The texture says it all. I confirmed it at the end of my meal when the rice was stuck to my teeth. Ahh... Overall, I really wanted to like this place. I really did because the customer service was good but I came from the food which quality did not live up to the high price tag. That was my experience $30 later... I stopped in for dinner on a Sunday evening (before the rush). The parking lot was small so I ended up parking a block down. The main door is not the one by the patio seating, it's the one close to the their parking lot. I was able to get a seat but noticed that most tables had a "reserved" sign. Must be good right? I was here for Sushi so I went straight for the Sushi menu. There weren't many options, which was a plus in my book. I'm not a fan of an overwhelming sushi menu with 100 different types of rolls. The menu had basically less than 10-12 sushi roll options. I went with the "007" and "Spicy Tuna" Rolls. First bite -- was delicious but as I started to eat it, I noticed bits of hard and uncooked rice. I didn't want to believe it at first and thought it may had been from the crunch of the tempura but as 110% Asian brother, I know when I'm chewing on uncooked rice. The texture says it all. I confirmed it at the end of my meal when the rice was stuck to my teeth. Ahh... Overall, I really wanted to like this place. I really did because the customer service was good but I came from the food which quality did not live up to the high price tag. That was my experience $30 later... read more

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We enjoyed the food, drink, and service at Iza Whiskey & Eats in downtown Carrboro. This is a solid sushi/Asian-fusion-type restaurant and bar, especially for the area. If Iza was located in a bigger city, I'd give it four stars, but for Carrboro-Chapel Hill, this place is great (giving a generous five). Having dined out a lot in Carrboro and Chapel Hill over the past three years, we came into Iza with tempered expectations. I'm happy to report that we did not leave disappointed. I like this place and recommend it. Iza opened in November 2020 in the old One Fish Two Fish Poke Joint space (https://bit.ly/40ydINW) in the East Main Square shopping center. Free surface parking is available in the shopping center's lot. That's where we parked, but be sure to read the signs about restrictions. Also, plenty of parking is available in the nearby deck (you can't miss it), which belongs to the Town of Carrboro. I really like the restaurant and bar space here. It's beautiful, as are the drinks and dishes. This place exudes a trendier, upscale ambiance, but still keeps things casual and unpretentious. And it's not all just for show. The chefs and bartenders back up the look with well-executed food and drink, and excellent customer service. Interior features include a prominent kabuki mural (I love it), Asian lanterns and pendant lights, well-stocked shelves of whiskey, and a large illuminated Buddha head. Outside, there's a fairly spacious, uncovered, string-lit patio. During our visit, the menu offered a nice variety of both small and large plates. You can dine here tapas-style or everyone can get their own main dish. The sushi menu consisted mainly of rolls ($9-17 each). There was a Sashimi Platter ($36.90), but to our surprise, no nigiri other than the toro special that our server told us about. Conversely, with "Whiskey" in the business name, the bar's extensive drink menu did not come as a surprise. The drink menu we received contained a list of 111 whiskeys. There were whiskey flights ($25-50), sake, cocktails, wine, beer, and more. Below is what our table of four ordered. I think I missed a drink or two. We doubled up on some of the apps due to portion sizes. This should give you a good idea of what Iza has to offer. Appetizers * Ishiyaki BBQ with 3 oz A5 Wagyu Steak ($60) - cook it yourself on a hot stone, served with Himalayan salt and chimichurri sauce * Salmon Tiradito x2 ($13.90 each, x2) - sashimi-style salmon plated with onion truffle sauce, chive oil, garnished with micro greens * Okinawa Scallops x2 ($15.90 each, x2) - in each, two seared U10 scallops served with uni butter saffron, shiso pesto, and micro greens * Tuna Tartare & Chips ($14.90) - spicy tuna tartare topped with avocado, mango, citrus dressing, spicy mayo, and eel sauce * Tamarind Cauliflower ($10.90) - lightly-fried cauliflower glazed with a sweet, tangy tamarind sauce Entrees/Sushi * Pork Tenderloin Tonkatsu ($19.90) - pork lightly breaded with Japanese panko breadcrumbs and served with steamed white rice, cabbage, and tonkatsu sauce. * Korean-Style Sashimi Poke Bowl ($15.90) - assorted sashimi mixed with Korean "tanguiri" sauce, served atop sushi rice, garnished with micro greens, scallions, cucumbers, avocado, and rice seasoning * Iza Crunch Raw Specialty Roll ($14) - cucumber, tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and shiso inside, topped with spicy mayo and tempura crunch on the outside Specials (not on menu) * Toro Nigiri x2 (each set of 2 pieces for $16, x2) - fatty bluefin tuna belly Cocktails, Mocktails, and Whiskey * Japanese Sour cocktail ($14) - Suntory Japanese whiskey, citrus * Feeling Peachy mocktail ($4) - fresh lemon juice, peach syrup, club soda * Whiskey #94. Suntory Toko Japanese Whiskey ($14) - requested neat In general, everything was outstanding. Fantastic quality all around. In order, my favorites were the Toro Nigiri, Okinawa Scallops, Tuna Tartare & Chips, and Salmon Tiradito. All of the seafood was really fresh and delicious. The chips that came with the Tuna Tartare were creative - they were nori (seaweed) tempura chips. The Scallops and sauce were succulent. If you love nigiri, I highly recommend Iza's Toro. It was legit. The Pork Tenderloin Tonkatsu was appetizing, served bone-in. I thought that was unique because I'm not sure I've seen tonkatsu served bone-in before. Both the Poke Bowl and the Iza Crunch Roll were solid. I couldn't figure out what the Korean "tanguiri" sauce was, but the poke came with tuna and salmon and they were marinated well. The one dish I have to knock, though, is the Ishiyaki BBQ with A5 Wagyu. Simply put, I didn't think it was worth the money. I love Wagyu, but this particular Wagyu was too fatty. I think I would've been happier with the much less expensive Ribeye option ($18.90). The drinks were terrific. As mentioned above, service was excellent, from our hostess Shaye to our server Aurora. Everyone was friendly, warm, and polite. They seem to have a wonderful team here. read more

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Came here for a weeknight meal! The service was friendly, I loved the location, but food took a long time to come out and wasn't very impressive for the price. Scallops had good char and flavor, but were overcooked and sauce was split. Pork bao buns had soft & fluffy buns, but two small pieces of very chewy & flabby pieces of pork. The sushi was decent and karaage hit the spot at least! read more

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Superior customer service. The Cook came out and talked to us at the table, frequently. Told us about all the specials and was very friendly on explaining everything on the menu. He had a really good customer service and I could appreciate that from somebody who's supposed to be back there cooking but he's making time to chat with guest. The spot itself is kind of big, they have one long bar and then there are some tables there but the bar service is probably where you're going to get the best from the establishment. They have a lot of decorative bottles on the wall so it's really cool to look at to figure out what you want. The food was great. Here's my perspective of what I felt about the food below: Brussel sprouts ... The brussel sprouts dish was kind of small. But I guess it wasn't meant to be a fool plate of brussel sprouts lol. They were fried and had been tossed in a sweet kind of chili sauce and had a little bit of a kick to it I like that. Wayugo beef ... Now let me tell you how good this beef was. You've had steak, everybody has, but this was an amazing experience. It was small in portion because you're paying $20 for 1 oz so you have to keep that in mind, but just to say that you did it, was absolutely worth it. He brought out a little mini grill type situation and you cooked it right in front of yourself. It only needed to be cooked for less than a minute per size so it wasn't even that long. But it melted in your mouth. You can tell the difference between steak you could buy at the grocery store in this state because apparently this had a lot of love into it. Japanese steak is top tier! You're paying every bit of it so you can be assured that it's worth it. Again, melt in your mouth, like butter lol! Shrimp dumplings ... The dumplings were pretty good. They were small and they actually were either kind of mushy or melted in your mouth, but that a good flavor in the sauce I was in the base of the bull dipped really well with it. Shoryu ramen ... I thought that the ramen was absolutely great. And a deep broth to it dark and had a hint of spice. I added some extra chili oil obviously because that's what I do but even by itself it had enough potency enough kick and enough flavor to float without it. I would 102% go back to the spot for ramen if I was ever around the UNC area! Overall, five stars, hands down. A really great experience. read more

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Great food and awesome service. Came with my wife and sushi-lover-daughter for dinner while dropping her off for college. My wife is gluten free so they made a special roll just for her while my daughter and i shared 3 specialty rolls all of which were amazing. I had a whiskey sour with a Japanese whisky which was also terrific. Highly recommend. read more

Laith was our waiter and he was absolutely fantastic. Knew the menu back and forth and made great recommendations. We had the tuna tartare and I would come back here soley for that. One of the best bites ever. Plenty of great bourbon choices and a great date night vibe. Will come back soon read more

I will say, the food was fine, the service not so much. While our server was kind, it took 45 minutes to get our drinks, while everyone around us received their drinks ( even when they sat down after us). Honestly, I'll never go back. We sat without water for over 30 minutes. It was not that busy, I worked in the restaurant business, I get the complexities... read more

Really enjoyed our couples dinner here on a Saturday night! The ambience was better than expected, as was the food-- my favorite was the Brussels sprouts, they were surprisingly tasty and cooked perfectly. Our server, Amelia (sp?) was friendly, fun, and knowledgeable about the food. My only nit was that the cocktails were pretty mid, nothing special enough to warrant the price (in my opinion). For a whiskey eatery I expected more. Other than that, Iza was a hit! read more

It was my first time trying this place, and it was my birthday. Our server was extremely helpful guiding us through the menu- all of the choices were 10/10! Definitely want to go back! read more

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Brussels sprouts and Chili oil noodles were 10/10. The food was great but even better were the drinks and bar service!! Sarah was amazing. The rosemary 75 was absolutely delicious. I could have ordered 5! She also perfectly executed the blackberry smash and the classic margarita. We will be returning to visit Sarah and try out the sushi very soon! read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

My husband and I needed a place to try after a basketball game while in Chapel Hill. Luckily we got a reservation for this place because another party in front of us couldn't get a table when we arrived. The place is pretty small, but the food was good. We got the gyoza, which was excellent. We both got the same noodle bowl, and it was a ton of food. I'd say it was a good value based on the price, and I had enough leftovers for another meal. The major downside is the small space and being very close to other tables. The people next to us talked to their waiter for long periods of time, which was a little bothersome. I would probably go back again, but only if I could get a reservation. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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I came here with two friends without a reservation, but they didn't have any tables available for 1.5 hours. Luckily, they had theee bar seats available and we didn't mind so we sat down. By the end, we were really happy we stuck around, because we had a great time! The two bartenders seemed to be a little backed up with the dinner rush, so we received our drinks a little later than expected, but they were tremendously friendly and accommodating to personalizing drinks to our liking, so we didn't mind too much. We subbed the bourbon for gin in the blackberry bourbon smash - it was very tasty! I ordered the Carolina Roll as an appetizer, which was much bigger than I expected. It could have been an entree for me honestly. It was delicious! I also ordered the Chicken Chili Garlic Noodles as an entree. I was so full from the roll that I only had a few bites and took the rest home. For me, the noodles didn't live up to the hype of the reviews I read about it - it was a little too oily and not spicy enough for my liking. The staff brought out extra chili oil for me, so that fixed the spicy issue, but not the oil issue. Other than that, my friends and I had a blast with the friendly bartenders, cozy fusion ambiance, and delicious sushi and drinks. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Carolina Roll and blackberry "gin" smash - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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We tried this place out for my birthday tonight and it was fantastic! We had the ramen and various sushi rolls and everything was great. There is a good vibe and the atmosphere is very inviting. The owner was awesome, said hi and was personable and shared his story. Great all around and we will be back! read more

Was excited to try this place based on reviews and photos. Made reservations since it was recommended, however, the place was empty. Server was friendly and welcoming. When we sat down and the menus were on the table. They were folded paper and stained. It was disgusting-they're printed paper-replace them! For appetizers, we ordered the tuna tartar and chips which was yummy and pork gyoza which was as expected. Entrees were the miso ramen and the sweet chili noodles. Ramen: the broth was salty, the pork belly was bland and over all a let down. Noodles: stuck in one large clump and the tofu was fried to the point of being inedible. Super disappointing. The bathroom, and this is a pet peeve, had that cheap, nasty pink soap with a hand blower instead of paper towels. That's just my own OCD complaint especially when you have manually unlock the bathroom door to get out. read more

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This spot is alright. We made a reservation and got seated quickly. The place is very small so it would be in your very best interest to make a reservation online beforehand. The interior was decorated very nicely with a Japanese style; there were lanterns, cherry blossoms, bamboo, and dragon masks hanging on the walls. The tables were also cool looking too. I ordered the bibimbap which was alright. Pretty flavorless. They gave minimal beef and a ton of rice. Definitely not one of the most authentic or best bibimbaps I've tried. It was an average experience and I probably won't go again, but I'm still glad I went. read more

Iza Whiskey & Eats - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Everything about this place is fantastic. Service, food, atmosphere. We tried several appetizers, rolls of sushi, and meals... it was all incredible. Carolina roll for the win!!!! read more

Lucky for us thanks to March Madness Duke vs UNC we could actually get in at 7pm on a Friday! The servers were really great, and worked as a team so even if our server wasn't handy there was always someone filling drinks and clearing. The food we had was really good. The only reason I couldn't give 5 stars is because almost everything on the menu was spicy - and when you have someone in your group who can't handle spice it makes the meal hard. We were surprised for example that shrimp dumplings were spicy. To be fair I'm sure if we had known to ask for them to make things without the heat I'd bet the kitchen would have. So back to the good stuff - the miso soup was an umami blast so don't balk at the $5 price. The sushimi, while overpriced and very limited with only 4 selections, was extremely fresh. The rolls were really creative and delicious - but note that even having them hold jalapenos won't make the mango roll mild :-). But if you like spicy food and you can get a table this is a great choice. read more

Excellent sushi and very attentive service. Great little spot in Carrboro just by Cat's Cradle. Will definitely be back for more!!