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    Kai Sushi and Sake Bar

    4.2 (494 reviews)
    Closed • Closed
    Updated 1 month ago

    Kai Sushi and Sake Bar Photos

    KAI SUSHI AND SAKE BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Sushi pick 3
    Chastity H.

    Kai Sushi & Sake Bar is one of our favorite sushi spots in Raleigh, especially for their awesome BOGO sushi deals. It's such a great value and the rolls are always fresh and flavorful. We always start with the miso soup ,simple but really comforting and well done. The vibe is cozy, the staff is friendly, and even when it gets busy the service is solid. If you're looking for good sushi without breaking the bank, this place is definitely worth checking out.

    Salmon roll and tuna roll
    Kellie D.

    First time to Kai but I've always heard good things about it. It was a nice night so we requested to sit outside. Waiter brought menus and waters quickly. They also bring complimentary edamame to the table which is a nice touch. Menu was extensive. By the time the rest of my party was ready to order I really hadn't decided and just ordered simple tuna and salmon rolls. Son and his girlfriend both ordered bento boxes and husband ordered the spicy tuna bowl with black rice. Mine was not much food as I should have expected but bento boxes were a ton of food so they shared. I tasted husband's bowl which was spicy as described. Loved the black rice. Sushi and sashimi were good quality. Definitely a good option for sushi in Raleigh.

    Nice crowd on a rainy Saturday night
    TJ L.

    Birthday dinner for favorite child and ashamed to say it's been 6 yrs since I've been back. So glad some things never change. The rolls are LARGE, delicious and works of art. The Hibachi chicken dish was easily enough for two. Waiter was attentive and polite. Promise myself to not wait so long to go back.

    Sandy S.

    The food was good . No chopstick trainers for kids . It was very hot in there no a/c . There is a $3 charge for credit card . No music. No wifi . Very limited seating inside . It is nicely centered in a good area .

    Sushi
    Brittany L.

    Love this place. It's a little small and can get busy with a wait on a Saturday night, but it's worth it! Been a couple times now and the food and service is consistent. They have a good sushi deal that can't be beat for the area, about $31 for 3 signature rolls.

    Black widow with Masada and screaming o
    Sarah A.

    This sushi place was a good option for a to go spot. The service was pretty fast and I was able to get two different sushi options to try. I definitely did enjoy the sushi and the flavors were pretty nice. The place wasn't too busy when I went to pick up my food so it was very simple to get my to go order. There are spaces inside the restaurant to eat and it is a cute little vibe if you wanted to sit down and enjoy your meal there. Overall, I would definitely come back here for sushi

    David S.

    Solid choice for sushi. I feel like so many sushi places have gone down hill but this one has remained solid. They have raised their prices but at least it still tastes good!!! I love the rolls with the black rice. They seem to have the best flavor. Very much enjoy their takeout special. Main complaint: it is so hard to get them on the phone because the phone is always busy. So many people trying to call in all at the time the place opens. I don't love eating inside because of it being loud but it is definitely one of the best sushi spots in the area.

    Simone L.

    First off the dinning room is small so get there earlier. It is not the place for large groups!! We were sat at the sushi bar which was great for my friend and I ! They brought us Edamame as an appetizer and I ordered the Fuji apple sake! It's one of my favorites and they price on the menu is for a half bottle which you can take home if you don't finish! For dinner we did 5 rolls for $50! And all of the rolls were fresh and amazing! I am allergic to seaweed and they have soy wrap which was greatly appreciated!! If I didn't live so far away I would have already been back TWICE lol!!

    Special roll Sushi menu
    Jean H.

    This is a top sushi place for us. We go for the 5 roll special, though there is also a 3 roll special. We liked everything we tried except the Raleigh pop-- too much fried on the outside made it too rich and can't really taste the filling. Very nice presentation. It's a little pricey, but all good sushi are these days. It's a cute restaurant, on the small side. We went for late lunch and there was only one waitress. She was so busy! Menu via QR code. Once we placed the order, our rolls came out fairly quickly. I'd recommend for a date night.

    Shannon B.

    So this was my first time ever having Sushi and it was definitely an enjoyable experience. I'm allergic to seafood so anytime I was at Sushi places I just got a chicken and rice option. Well this restaurant only had sushi and a couple veggie and a dumpling options so if I wanted to eat then that's what it was. I'm glad I sent juts settle for dumplings because the sushi roll I had was amazing. I had the Surf and Turf without the Surf. Because of my allergy the custom made a roll for me that came with beef, cream cheese, avocado and vegetables. That taste matched how good it looks as you will see from the photo I posted. I'm from out of town and was in Raleigh for a work trip but would definitely come back just for the sushi roll.

    Darth Vader, Rainbow, Screaming O, Piano, and Sea Dragon rolls ; 5 for $45 special

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    4 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    2 months ago

    We love coming to eat at Kai, on the patio for a beautiful afternoon. White tiger is one of our favorite rolls.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 months ago

    We are regular at this sushi bar. Quality and price ratio is on point, we will continue to support them as long as they stay in business

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    11 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Kai is our weekly sushi to go spot. Can't beat the 3 rolls for $30. The fries jalapeño appetizer is amazing too!

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    9 months ago

    HVAC is always out of sorts. Wait staff is good and sushi is average. Better choices in Raleigh.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Poor service quality- I had been waiting in line for to-go for nearly an hour, despite coming 25 minutes after I ordered.

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Kai Sushi and Sake Bar

    Do they not do hibachi now at all?

    No they do not serve hibachi anymore

    Why is the phone line always busy? I love this olace but can never get through to place an order anymore.

    Because they're always super busy..one time I sat there for 40 min with the menu before they came to take my order...

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    Sushi Mon - Tuna and otoro nigiri

    Sushi Mon

    4.5(467 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    •$$

    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

    Photos
    Sushi Mon - Interior

    Interior

    Sushi Mon - Nigiri Omakase. $45. Includes miso soup, chef's choice of 8 pieces nigiri, hand roll, tamago. See my review for description of each nigiri.

    Nigiri Omakase. $45. Includes miso soup, chef's choice of 8 pieces nigiri, hand roll, tamago. See my review for description of each nigiri.

    Sushi Mon - Inside. Sushi bar and dining room. This is pretty much it. They had additional seating outside in the office lobby which was weird.

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    Inside. Sushi bar and dining room. This is pretty much it. They had additional seating outside in the office lobby which was weird.

    O-Ku - Gyoza

    O-Ku

    4.4(387 reviews)
    7.5 mi•Warehouse District
    •$$

    O-Ku delivered one of the best dining experiences I've have had in a long time. The food was beyond…read moredelicious from start to finish. The sushi was beautifully presented and packed with flavor, the beef skewers were tender and perfectly charred, and the small plates like the mushrooms, gyoza and lobster bite were all standouts. Every dish felt thoughtful and expertly executed. The drinks were superb and paired perfectly with the meal, and the desserts were the ideal ending to a perfect dinner. We tried several to share and each one was gorgeous and delicious. Service was exceptional, and a special thank you to manager Kenny for being so attentive. He checked on us throughout the night, made great recommendations and truly made us feel taken care of. We cannot wait to come back.

    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.

    Photos
    O-Ku - View into the restaurant from our table

    View into the restaurant from our table

    O-Ku - Mont Blanc

    Mont Blanc

    O-Ku - Bar area

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    Bar area

    City Market Sushi - Ultimate Rainbow Roll and Panko Scallop roll

    City Market Sushi

    4.6(385 reviews)
    7.7 mi•Fayetteville Street
    •$$

    Today was my 3rd lunch visit at City Market Sushi. The first time I went I ordered the San Bento…read moreBox and loved it so much I've ordered it every time I've been back! Every bite is delicious and fresh - seaweed squid salad, 3 slices of sashimi, 2 pc nigiri, 4 pc spicy tuna roll, eel on rice, and my favorite, the hamachi jalapeño. I think their specialty rolls are on the smaller side for the cost but they're delicious! Unagi Dragon Roll ($21) - the eel on top of each slice is a little crispy. It's so good! Truffle Hamachi Roll ($19) - soft shell crab and cucumber roll topped with spicy yellow tail and crispy garlic chips Service is always outstanding! Parking on the street is extremely limited but there is a large parking garage ($1/hr) around the corner on S. Blount St.

    TLDR: Tasty Food, okay service, not the best description of the food…read more Went for dinner for the first time today. We were able to make a reservation easily online through their site. Arrives at 6pm on a Friday night, not too busy! The place started to fill up by 7pm. I wanted to know what sushi came in the nigiri plate order and the server refused to ask the kitchen which was really weird that they couldn't tell us what we were going to be eating and we had to wait until the plate would be in front of us? I really wanted uni and chose the restaurant because it had uni on the menu only to be told they almost never have it. We ordered: Ika geso - 10/10 loved this dish Truffle roll - so tasty but there was no truffle, it tasted like a kimchi roll We ordered some nigiri, fish was all very fresh and delicious Rainbow roll - this was a great roll, 10/10 delicious flavors. I think the flavors of the food were really great, but it's pretty pricey, and the service could have been better.

    Photos
    City Market Sushi
    City Market Sushi - Panko Scallop (top) & Ultimate Rainbow (bottom)

    Panko Scallop (top) & Ultimate Rainbow (bottom)

    City Market Sushi - Pork belly

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    Pork belly

    Ajisai Japanese Fusion

    Ajisai Japanese Fusion

    4.2(756 reviews)
    6.7 mi
    •$$

    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!

    Photos
    Ajisai Japanese Fusion
    Ajisai Japanese Fusion - Pork Gyoza.

    Pork Gyoza.

    Ajisai Japanese Fusion - Girl On Fire

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    Girl On Fire

    Waraji Japanese Restaurant - Sushi and Sashimi Dinner

    Waraji Japanese Restaurant

    4.1(721 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    •$$

    My daughter and I would like to thank your amazing staff - Jun & Aaron - for the kindness on…read moreWednesday. They went out of their way to help us with our flat tire, in the August heat. We are so grateful for the care they gave to make sure the car was safe. Bravo and we can't wait to come dine with you and hopefully see you again. Kindness for the win!

    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.

    Photos
    Waraji Japanese Restaurant - Sake Flights

    Sake Flights

    Waraji Japanese Restaurant - Shamoo Roll, Caterpillar Roll, Spicy Tuna Temaki, Tako nigiri

    Shamoo Roll, Caterpillar Roll, Spicy Tuna Temaki, Tako nigiri

    Waraji Japanese Restaurant - Whiskey Flights

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    Whiskey Flights

    Bida Manda - Crispy Rice Lettuce Wrap Dinner

    Bida Manda

    4.5(1.9k reviews)
    7.7 mi•Fayetteville Street
    •$$

    Ambiance is beautiful low lights with natural wood and brick and a beautiful lounge area …read more Bar has a beautiful bamboo surrounded setting that takes you to the natural setting of Laos. For the food, the crispy pork belly soup was unbelievably delicious . We had the whole baked Red Snapper and that was in a league of its own. The perfect compliment was the dad's fried rice. The drinks were phenomenal as well we had a multiple of them. Come experience it for yourself you won't be disappointed What's the downside? If I had give a critique, the food may have been a bit salty, but that's not unexpected with some of the sauces used. The service was amazing! I highly recommend it and would come back again

    I have not been to Bida Manda in years. It is a classic in downtown Raleigh and highly regarded as…read morethe predecessor to Brewery Bhavana. We came in with some friends on a Monday to celebrate a birthday. My friend has a gluten and dairy allergy, which was actually no problem here. So if that is a dietary concern for you or a loved one - this is a great spot to bring them! We were all able to enjoy a majority of the food. My partner and I both enjoyed a mocktail version of the roselle freezy - it was amazing! Either as a mocktail or a cocktail, you should try this drink. For starters, we had the crispy chicken wings, spring rolls with veggies, and the lettuce wraps. We all enjoyed the chicken wings so much that we got a second order of them. I enjoyed the spring rolls much more than the lettuce wraps as they had more flavor to them. For dinner, we shared an order of the Manda Amphone's Curry and the chicken pad thai. I originally did not expect to be blown away by the pad thai - boy, was I wrong. This is hands down the best pad thai I have ever had. If you love pad thai, you need to try theirs. I also thoroughly enjoyed the curry. Both dishes were rich and flavorful and came with enough to share between 4 adults. Overall, not having been to Bida Manda in 10+ years, I was impressed and will definitely return.

    Photos
    Bida Manda - The lounge.

    The lounge.

    Bida Manda - Fresh Summer Rolls Dinner

    Fresh Summer Rolls Dinner

    Bida Manda - Digestive shot (lemon, lime, pineapple, sugar)

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    Digestive shot (lemon, lime, pineapple, sugar)

    Kai Sushi and Sake Bar - japanese - Updated September 2026

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