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    Mai Japanese Express

    3.0 (148 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed Closed

    Mai Japanese Express Photos

    Business Info

    MAI JAPANESE EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Mai Japanese Express

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    Tuna tataki, squid salad
    Lauren K.

    This was some of the best sushi I have had and the service was really fast and very friendly. Nice atmosphere inside and very quiet/intimate. I am going to come back for sure. The portions were great as well. Very surprised by the tuna tataki and squid salad, that was delicious! Highly recommend coming here. The prices were very reasonable here as well.

    Chicken hibachi
    Lawrence C.

    Go to staple in Arysley with great Japanese food. Service is ok and they can work on the ambiance a little bit to be more inviting. Typically get food to go but it's fine to eat inside also.

    Ocean Roll (tempura crab, yellowtail, avocado, crème cheese, topped with aioli mayo)
    Nate S.

    Look, this is no high dollar fancy pants sushi bistro but I was pleasantly surprised today giving Mai a shot for dinner. Food was fresh, the service good and prompt and it was clean and didn't smell like fish and cleaning chemicals which tends to be the case so often with places like this. I ordered 3 rolls: California roll, Ocean Roll & Hot lava roll. My only complaint is that there's cheaper imitation crab in many of the rolls which seems to be used as a filler. I'm glad I went--while not overly fancy, Mai scratches the sushi itch.

    Kids chicken plate
    Donut D.

    Yes, the restaurant is at a convenient location with plenty of parkings and seemingly clean. The staffs were attentive and service was quick but only 2 stars for me. The sashimi and sushi rolls i ordered were not fresh. The salmon was lack of the fresh texture and the color was more like a faded orange. Very disappointed. The tempura was very greasy. Their known habachi was ok.

    Dumplings
    Megan P.

    I went here for lunch and ordered take out. The staff was friendly and the service was quick. There was plenty of parking at this location. There prices are reasonable. I ordered some sushi and some dumplings and they were good. I will be returning to try some other things on there menus.

    Salmon & Shrimp 6oz
    Kierston D.

    The staff is nice, restaurant is never full so it's easy to get a seat. The food is okay for the price you pay. My shrimp today tasted very old unfortunately. Hoping next time is better

    My receipt. ‍‍
    Shondra H.

    Food was ok. Sushi was fresh-sort of. It's kind of weird tho. It's like the place has no soul in it. I quite figure it out. Oh yeah. GIVE MORE RICE ON YOUR HIBACHI PLATES!!! I had the kids chicken and my boo had the adult size, but the rice proportion was the same. They used imitation crab on the sushi tho. Oh well.

    Richard H.

    What a nice place. The kitchen uses see through walls. So you can see what and how they prepare your food. This place is roomy with tables and booths. They only have one small tv but it is showing kids shows. I ordered a lot of sushi but nothing remarkable. When I left I was full but I dropped $35 in the place. This place is very homey and a place I would frequent if I were in the neighborhood. But it's not special or has anything out of the ordinary. It is a good place for a good meal.

    Shrimp fried rice
    Mina A.

    My experience wasn't good at all. Of course you all know I am a fried rice lover. This place was not it. The quality was off. There was like 3 shrimp that they cut each one by 3's. The rice was hard and had alot of lumps of rice stuck together. The workers all was at the counter eating food. I do not recommend this place from my experience. Was a waste of money

    Soft-shell crab
    Amanda W.

    I went in on a Monday afternoon and it was super slow so the waitress was super attentive and the food came out very fresh and quick. The dragon roll was good and the sushi prices are relatively cheap. I really liked the soft-shell crab, it was super crispy and freshly fried. It didn't taste too oily either. I wish I could try the other rolls so I would definitely come back again if I'm in the area! Not sure how the restaurant runs when it's busy but I would definitely recommend this place for a quick lunch.

    Plum wine
    Dawn R.

    This is the second time in a week I've had Japanese hibachi. Lol ! My husband and I had a craving for steak. We initially tried to go to the restaurant inside Embassy Suites, but it was ridiculous. They had closed their restaurant and were trying to run it from their bar/lounge area. So, we wanted to stay nearby and chose Mai. This place has been here FOREVER and is right around the corner from me, but I've never been there. I'm glad we checked it out. I started out with the salmon avocado roll ($6). It was good and a decent size. We both got the steak and shrimp hibachi (large size $16). The portion size was perfect. They asked my husband and I how we wanted our steak cooked, but not sure why they even bothered to ask. I asked for mine medium; he asked for his medium-well done but what they gave us both was well-done. Not a hint of pink anywhere and the meat was a bit dry and firm as a result. I really disliked the shrimp sauce. They gave us a pool of it in a dish and it was the consistency of Campbell's soup out of a can before you add liquid. It looked like it had come straight out of a jar. I put just a bit into the rice and it was just ok. I guess after having absolutely phenomenal sushi and hibachi earlier this week, I got a bit spoiled. This place will work in a pinch and the parking is easy in front of the restaurant. Our waitress was fine, but pretty much left us alone other than ordering food. I got a plum wine and it was good. This is a cheaper option if you want to forego the entertainment of one of those restaurants that give hibachi performances and would rather not socialize around a grill. This was just a sit at your own table and order. There are 2 entrances to the restaurant. One facing the street you come into Arsley on, and one facing a common plaza area with other restaurants. We'll likely come back for the cheaper hibachi pricing. It satisfied our shrimp and steak craving, so that's what is important.

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    11 months ago

    great experience every time, wide variety of sushi options as well as hibachi and fried rice.

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    1 year ago

    Chicken hibachi takeout was dry and unseasoned, and the broccoli was old. The rice also had no seasoning.

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    Musashi Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Delux

    Musashi Japanese Restaurant

    4.2(303 reviews)
    5.3 mi
    $$

    Fantastic food. The Zara Soba was as I remembered it in Japan. The Katsu Jyu was very good as well…read more It came with miso, salad, seaweed salad, and pickled cucumbers. Not a fan of the dressing on the salad. Service was prompt and friendly. They have seating at the bar, booths, tables, and a Japanese style table where you sit on cushions on the raised floor. Definitely want to try the other dishes.

    My husband and I are big fans of their Bento Boxes...so we returned for more. As always there was a…read moreline, but this is one of very few places in town that's worth the wait. We both had the Chicken Bento Boxes again...and we loved it. I've had Bento Boxes in dozens of Japanese restaurants, but this place offers such a perfect combination of items (everything we love!)...Tempura, Kaarage Chicken, Shumai, Seaweed Salad, Sushi Rolls, etc.etc. Plus, this bento box includes the salad and soup! Frankly, I wanna try other items on the menu, but I'm so addicted to this Bento Box, I just can't seem to tear away from it. My husband feels the same! Also tried their hot Sake...but think I prefer the cold version. BTW, I noticed some renovations. They now have darker Cherry Wood (?) flooring and cabinetry (behind the sushi station, that is). However, they still have some original light wood chairs and tables. Also, they separated some of the tables (Yay!)...so not as many "communal" tables like before. Anyway, think this is a good sign that this place plans to stay awhile longer!

    Photos
    Musashi Japanese Restaurant - S Lunch

    S Lunch

    Musashi Japanese Restaurant - Gindara

    Gindara

    Musashi Japanese Restaurant - Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura

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    Bonzai Thai Cuisine - Pad See Ewe Chicken!

    Bonzai Thai Cuisine

    4.3(197 reviews)
    2.8 miSteele Creek
    $$

    Food was phenomenal, had some appetizers, the pad sew ew and shrimp pho... so incredibly delicious…read more The apple cream soda cocktail was a 10 out of 10 and the Sapporo beer was ice cold and delicious on a very hot day. Service was outstanding as well, I highly recommend this restaurant!!

    This p/$$÷d me off. My husband and I both ordered beef. He ordered pad see ew ($17). I ordered…read moredrunken noodles ($17). The restaurant gave us BOTH mostly chicken to save on cost and there was barely any beef. See hubby's order and it is ALL chicken (WHICH SHOULDN'T EVEN BE IN THERE !) and just a couple of pieces of beef. In fact, when they brought it to the table, even the waitress thought it was chicken until the (manager?) pointed to some beef under the noodles. One: this should be on the menu as beef & chicken if they are going to do this. Two: this is deception. For this reason I took off a star from my last visit (which was 3 stars because their curry was like a soup instead of an entree - I didn't like it either.) The fried pork pot stickers ($9) were very good. Their chicken wings appetizer with Thai BBQ Sauce ($12) were very good. The Thai tea was good and served in a cute mug. We sat in a booth, which was nice. However, the table next to us had a huge hole in the seat of the material in that booth. My opinion is that the owner does not put effort into the food or the restaurant trying to save money. In my opinion, they are participating in deceptive practices by the substitution of chicken for beef dishes due to cost (see photos for evidence). The waitress was nice. I recommend going elsewhere for Thai food.

    Photos
    Bonzai Thai Cuisine - Interior ... outdoor patio available

    Interior ... outdoor patio available

    Bonzai Thai Cuisine - Ginger dish!

    Ginger dish!

    Bonzai Thai Cuisine - Ugh.

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    Ugh.

    Fuji Japanese Steakhouse

    Fuji Japanese Steakhouse

    3.1(327 reviews)
    3.7 miSteele Creek
    $$

    I usually don't write reviews, but I just HAD to for this 10/10 restaurant. To start, I would…read morehighly recommend going to Fuji for lunch and/or dinner! The service is incredible and everyone is the friendliest. If the service is great, the food is even better! I absolutely LOVE the hibachi and teriyaki, especially the steak, chicken, and salmon options (the chicken was verrrry juicy). That's not all though! The fried rice is the best I've had and mixing it with their house-made sauce was soooo gooooood. They have so many tasty sushi options too! Along with the food and service, the restaurant's hibachi area is super exciting with food made live in front of you while the normal seating area is quieter and perfect for a nice meal. Overall, I loved the service, food, and ambiance and would DEFINIETLY RECOMMEND coming here!!!

    Overall, I give Fuji 4 stars. The food was absolutely delicious, the staff was friendly, and the…read moreatmosphere was very nice. We had a great dinner, but there were three things that kept it from being a 5-star experience. First, the air conditioning. I understand it's a hibachi restaurant and the grills naturally make the dining room warmer, but I've eaten at many hibachi restaurants over the years and have never experienced one this hot. Everyone at our table was sweating, and it became pretty uncomfortable. Second, the appetizer. The salad was fantastic--they certainly didn't skimp on the dressing--and the soup was absolutely delicious. However, the "appetizer" consisted of just two shrimp. Since I ordered the Hibachi Steak & Scallops, two shrimp were a nice addition, but I wouldn't really consider two shrimp an appetizer. My girlfriend ordered the Hibachi Chicken & Shrimp, so her appetizer was simply two more shrimp. It would have been nice to have another appetizer option instead of just adding shrimp to every meal. Third, the chef. The food was cooked perfectly and was absolutely delicious, but the hibachi experience itself was missing the entertainment. One of the things that makes hibachi special is watching the chef combine excellent cooking with fun tricks, conversation, and interaction with the guests. Our chef prepared the meal well and did the classic onion volcano, but beyond that, he simply cooked. It lacked the energy and engaging performance that I've come to expect from a hibachi restaurant. Those three things aside, the meal itself was outstanding. The salad, soup, steak, scallops, chicken, shrimp, fried rice, and vegetables were all excellent, and the portions were very generous. The friendly staff and delicious food definitely make Fuji worth visiting, and with just a few improvements, it could easily earn that fifth star from me. Overall, I give Fuji 4 stars. The food was absolutely delicious, the staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was very nice. We had a great dinner, but there were three things that kept it from being a 5-star experience. First, the air conditioning. I understand it's a hibachi restaurant and the grills naturally make the dining room warmer, but I've eaten at many hibachi restaurants over the years and have never experienced one this hot. Everyone at our table was sweating, and it became pretty uncomfortable. Second, the appetizer. The salad was fantastic--they certainly didn't skimp on the dressing--and the soup was absolutely delicious. However, the "appetizer" consisted of just two shrimp. Since I ordered the Hibachi Steak & Scallops, two shrimp were a nice addition, but I wouldn't really consider two shrimp an appetizer. My girlfriend ordered the Hibachi Chicken & Shrimp, so her appetizer was simply two more shrimp. It would have been nice to have another appetizer option instead of just adding shrimp to every meal. Third, the chef. The food was cooked perfectly and was absolutely delicious, but the hibachi experience itself was missing the entertainment. One of the things that makes hibachi special is watching the chef combine excellent cooking with fun tricks, conversation, and interaction with the guests. Our chef prepared the meal well and did the classic onion volcano, but beyond that, he simply cooked. It lacked the energy and engaging performance that I've come to expect from a hibachi restaurant. Those three things aside, the meal itself was outstanding. The salad, soup, steak, scallops, chicken, shrimp, fried rice, and vegetables were all excellent, and the portions were very generous. The friendly staff and delicious food definitely make Fuji worth visiting, and with just a few improvements, it could easily earn that fifth star from me.

    Photos
    Fuji Japanese Steakhouse
    Fuji Japanese Steakhouse
    Fuji Japanese Steakhouse

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    Tokyo Kitchen - Fried gyoza

    Tokyo Kitchen

    4.1(21 reviews)
    0.4 miSteele Creek

    This is a no frills, mostly takeout type of order-at-the-counter place. There are 2 tables that…read morecan sit 2 people each in their hallway next to the kitchen, leading to the bathrooms. If you can handle that, the food is worth it. Love their chicken egg rolls. Their steak and shrimp combo is fantastic. They give a side of shrimp sauce. I could eat here once a week ! You can upgrade to wagu steak if you want, but honestly their regular steak is great. You can get it over rice or noodles. I love the candied carrots. Their veggies are very good and you get a decent quantity of everything. The owner and his son/ nephew ? are very nice and polite. Located in a strip mall. Definitely recommend trying this place out.

    The service is above and beyond . I am in the process of treating breast cancer and due to the…read morechemotherapy, there is not much that I am able to tolerate well, without getting nausea. However the garlic noodles are a win for me, also the shrimp. I've never met the staff face to face, just have spoken with them over the phone. Placing my orders via DoorDash. Well yesterday and today I received a little something extra with my order. And I want to say thank you so much for your support and act of kindness and love. This really means a lot to me especially since I have been feeling a little overwhelmed and not my best. You made my day and put a smile on my face

    Photos
    Tokyo Kitchen - Menu

    Menu

    Tokyo Kitchen - Sushi roll forgot the name

    Sushi roll forgot the name

    Tokyo Kitchen - Very expensive side of mushy, greasy, sweet carrots

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    Very expensive side of mushy, greasy, sweet carrots

    Konnichiwa - Charlotte

    Konnichiwa - Charlotte

    4.3(269 reviews)
    6.8 miDilworth
    $$

    I was coming home after days of traveling and asked my husband to pick a place to eat not too far…read morefrom the airport because I was going to be starving once I touched down. So his choice was here. Google directions suck they took us around the back to the parking garage for the 2nd level and since we have never been here before it took us a few minutes to figure out how to get down to the first level. When we entered there was a waiter taking an order and no one else on the floor so we had a little bit to get seated even though there were only two other parties in the restaurant. We were able to sit wherever we wanted so I sat with a view of the screen with the replay of the Brazil FIFA game on. My husband wanted the unagi don but didn't order because the price seemed high. The table next to us all ordered bowls and the serving size was huge so my husband regretted it. We order takoyaki, spicy wings, and 3 rolls Godzilla, Hadouken, and Master Roshi. The wings had amazing flavor but were not spicy. Takoyaki was flavorful and the perfect temperature. I get a lot of takoyaki that is entirely too hot and have to crack them open to cool before eating them. My husband did not enjoy the Godzilla roll he said the topping was too much and didn't add to the flavor. But enjoyed the other two. I enjoyed all three rolls the flavor was fresh and very little need for soy sauce fine without it. If we are ever in Charlotte with time to eat I would stop here again.

    We came in the middle of the afternoon so pretty much were the sole focus of the waitstaff…read more Delightful service. Had probably the best sushi we've ever had- quality ingredients, nothing felt overdone or unnecessary. Will be back again and again when we are visiting Charlotte.

    Photos
    Konnichiwa - Charlotte - Indoor seating

    Indoor seating

    Konnichiwa - Charlotte - Good size portions as you can see

    Good size portions as you can see

    Konnichiwa - Charlotte - Streetview

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    Streetview

    Mai Japanese Express - japanese - Updated September 2026

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