Decent spot....but you better plan ahead becuase there seems to be a considerable wait for a table each time we have visited. We were lucky to grab a spot at the bar for the two of us (they recently opened the bar back up to full capacity). Decent selection of local brews including Triple C and Noda. My bride isn't a sushi person and went with the avocado roll ($11) and really liked it. I ordered the Scottish Salmon Sashimi ($4) and Tuna Wrapped Roll ($14). The sashimi was excellent and the roll was decent but seemed a little spendy for the amount of tuna. Service from AJ and the team at the bar was excellent! read more

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Opted to make reservations for a Friday night and so glad we did to skip the wait! We had the BEST service ever - Jewel was so kind and patient with us. We started with the miso soup & cauliflower. Both were delicious. For rolls, we loved the salmon and lemon roll, mermaid roll, and spicy tuna roll. Our drinks pulled the meal together, choosing the Shiso Pretty and the Shogun. Can't wait to come back because you definitely can't go wrong with anything on this menu! read more

O-Ku - Salmon And Lemon Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This has gone completely downhill. Unimaginative sashimi with poor service and management nowhere in sight. Do not recommend.

Excellent experience. The service was top notch (I forgot our servers name) and the food delicious. Because it was our first time they gave us complimentary tuna sashimi which was so good. The salmon belly nigiri was melt in your mouth and the lobster entree was so good. Will go back for those two alone. read more

I love coming here. The sushi is super fresh. They have great specialty dishes, fun atmosphere waiters and staff are excellent sceneries not bad either. read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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First time visit. We had been craving sushi and had been recently disappointed in the quality of some of our previously favorite spots. We tried O-Ku on friends' recommendations. Ryan was an excellent server, and all of their suggestions were 100% spot on. My partner does not care for sashimi, nigiri, or carpaccio but tried all options brought to the table and may now be a convert! The suternes pairing with the foie gras was a delight I had not had the pleasure of enjoying before, but I will definitely be ordering everywhere going forward. Lauren (newer GM) came out and gave us a sample of their o-ku nori, I will be ordering this next time as a starter. The space is open and modern while feeling intimate and not loud. We thoroughly enjoyed our date night dinner at O-Ku and will be returning and recommending. Keep up the excellent service and delicious food! Ordered: Traditional edemamme Yellowfin carpaccio Foie gras nigiri Waygu nigiri Red dragon roll Green eggs & hamachi Duck buns read more

If you are looking for delicious sushi spot, look no further. Someone recommended O-Ku to us while we were living near the area. We have been here many times since it was suggested we stop by. It is absolutely one of our favorites. The atmosphere is upscale but very modern. The food is excellent every single time. The service is always top tier . Everyone is friendly and very accommodating. Your glass will never be empty. Today Reggie took care of us and he was phenomenal. He was attentive but also fun. There is plenty of seating inside. I do not believe they have outdoor seating. It can be very busy especially on Mondays and Wednesdays for happy hour. It is from 5-7pm. I would definitely recommend coming here during happy hour and MAKE A RESERVATION. They do allow walk ins but making sure you get a seat is going to be key here. It is good for smaller groups ..less than 6 people I think would fit well. Overall if you haven't come here, what are you waiting on read more

O-Ku - Red Dragon and Tuna Wrapped Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I've lived in South End for a while and always wanted to try Oku. I hate to say it was an extremely weird experience. I had a 6:30pm reservation on Friday March 13th for 2, and we had a nice high top by the bar. The server seemed really sweet and gave us a rundown of the menu when she arrived. I was really hungry and we were kinda in a rush, so we skipped drinks and asked if we could put in all our food right then (I also didn't want to use her table for too long). She changed her tone immediately and looked confused, took the order and walked away before I could even ask for a non-alcoholic drink. It was extremely obvious she was annoyed at the small order. Her section was full of younger people drinking, so she was busy and came back only twice the rest of the time we were there- once to plop fruit in our waters and once more to give the check. Never asked if we wanted something else to drink besides water, how's the food etc. We got salmon sashimi, otoro sashimi and volcano roll, all were amazing. A manager (I think) came by at one point and gave us a complimentary appetizer as it was our first time there, and that was nice. However, I felt so much awkwardness and tension the entire time. Super disappointed in my first time here. read more

Come during their Happy Hour deal, Monday and Wednesday from 4-7pm, for half priced sushi! O-Ku has a very nice ambiance that gives off up-scale vibes. It did take a while for our sushi to come out, but I guess that means they make it fresh. The rolls were delicious! The raw fish was really fresh. The flavors all melted together. You honestly can't go wrong with any of their rolls, they know what they're doing. My only complaint is that the sushi rolls seem a tad bit smaller than what I'm used to. Service was A+! Our server was very attentive and super sweet. Would recommend checking this place out for your sushi needs! read more

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So fire. I've tried the chicken teriyaki, potato roll, shrimp salad app and 2 raw fish dishes and loved them all. I don't even like sushi and this potato roll was sooo good. Worth the price and experience. Staff was very attentive. I love going here for a special occasion/night out. read more

O-Ku - Potato Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Anniversary dinner in charlotte, and it was perfect! We were gifted a thoughtful book that matched us as a couple. Food was on point, ambiance was intimate And cozy. Our server jewel was so precious and attentive. read more

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This restaurant was flavorful but I felt it was more of a tapas style when it came to the portion of the hot plate we ordered (the chicken teriyaki), the sushi was fresh. The restaurant was clean and decorated nicely. The waiter was good but when we were ready to order he seemed to be taking care of all the tables around. Overall I probably will not be back due to the portion size for the price. read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Came on a Saturday night, and the restaurant was INCREDIBLY busy with a 3.5 hour wait. The restaurant is nicely dimmed and definitely romantic, though quite loud and evidently busy. Takeout was only an hour wait, so we ended up taking out three rolls of sushi - potato roll, spider roll, and mermaid roll. The spider roll was $17 and not worth it. I've been to other places where the spider rolls were MUCH better and much more generous with the soft shelled crab. I honestly wouldn't have known there was soft shelled crab in the sushi. Definitely won't be getting that again. The potato roll was $15 and very delicious! Specifically, the sauce was so good - not even sure what it was! But it came with shrimp tempura, eel sauce, and fried potato wrapping the sushi. The Mermaid roll was $14 and also delicious with its sauce. It comes in a roll of 6, but was sized pretty well. Overall, the food was good but not worth the price for takeout. I can see myself feeling it worth the price if I had the experience of dining in, but takeout wasn't impressive for the price. read more

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We came here for a group dinner when some of my coworkers were in town. I had always heard great things about this place and I'm happy we chose to listen! The ambiance is intimate but it's a very open concept. It's pretty dark and noisy though so I wouldn't recommend it for groups much larger than 6. I gave up on conversations coming from the other side of our own 6 person table quite quickly. I ordered two mocktails and both were very good but all of their mocktails seem to be very sweet. I enjoyed the peach one though and would definitely get it again! This is a great sushi place if you're looking for some variety as a vegetarian as well. Most sushi spots have the same two rolls every time and I feel like I'm waisting money on cucumbers but they really pulled through. After two rolls I was quite stuffed and happy. We split a few deserts amongst the table and y'all, the chocolate lava cake and the mochi green tea ice cream were both fabulous. I totally recommend them. I would definitely suggest this place again but maybe for more of a casual night with friends or a double-date or smaller group! read more

O-Ku - Inside - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Tony & Ryan made me cry. TEARS OF JOY. I celebrated my 24th birthday tonight and everyone on the staff made me feel special. The service at Oku will be some of the best in Charlotte. The restaurant is an open floor plan with exposed brick, cool lighting, and industrial feel. The environment is intimately dimmed and perfect for chatting, THE FOOD IS THE SHOW A breakdown of what we ordered: Miso soup 5/5 -classic Squid salad 4/5-sharable and refreshing Cauliflower 4.5/5 Salmon sashimi (chef curated) -6/5 made me cry Crispy rice 4/5 Potato roll 5/5 MY FAVORITE mermaid roll 3/5 Green egg 5/5 RAINBOW ROLL (make it spicy) 5/5 Spicy Tuna 4/5 read more

O-Ku - Potato roll, Salmon And Lemon Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This update is long long long overdue. My husband and I did indeed come back and give O-ku another chance on Dec 30th and to say the new manager, Lauren, has restored the peace and order to one of my favorite restaurants in Charlotte would be an understatement. The restaurant was once again full! Everyone was truly enjoying themselves and everything was clearly explained. No off the menu offers without pricing. We had a lovely server who paid excellent attention to detail and they took great care of us. The hostess were also doing a phenomenal job. I am happy to report my bad experience was an exception to a normally wonderful restaurant. Food was great and we can not wait to return. read more

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Food is exceptional. We had the blue fin carpaccio which melted in your mouth. The mermaid roll, tuna crispy roll and shishito peppers were amazing. Atmosphere and service are A+. Make sure to have a reservation otherwise you are seated at the community table which I was fine with. Also try to go on a happy hour day (Mondays and Wednesdays) read more

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I love sushi and have been missing BOGO deals in Charlotte, but recently found out O-ku does BOGO on Monday and Wednesday's for happy hour- game changer! The place is really nice and the service is incredible. They even come around with fruit slices for you to choose for your water. The rolls are about $15 each, so the happy hour is a great deal. read more

O-Ku - Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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O-Ku is a nice sushi restaurant in South End, perfect for a date night. We went during sushi happy hour (half price rolls from 4-7pm on Monday and Wednesday) on a Monday and had a very nice experience. They took our temperatures at the hostess stand before seating us. All employees wore masks and gloves. We had the dumplings, dragon roll, rainbow roll, and mermaid roll. Everything was really fresh/good and service was good too. read more

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Food was fantastic, service was awesome and happy hour was affordable. Unfortunately, the wait time to get our rolls was under par. Took about 30-40 min to get 6 rolls. We then ordered another at 6:59 pm and didn't get it until 7:29 on the dot. Great place with great food otherwise. UPDATE: Our waiter acknowledged the wait time it took for our rolls and took two of our rolls off our bill. 5/5!!!! read more

When it comes to sushi quality, you get what you pay for. And, when it comes to O-Ku, they probably could be charging far more than they do. This place hands-down has the most exceptional quality sushi in the Charlotte area. We visited "O-Ku To Go" (their temporary re-branded name during the Covid-19 pandemic) early on a Saturday night for pick up. We wanted to support them during this tough time, so we bought a lot of different items (and made sure to tip heavily -- since they're basically working for tips). This was our first visit, so we were taking a gamble, but I can say for sure that everyone coming out of this exchange won! :) Here's what we had: Shishito Peppers - Good simmering heat on the grilled peppers, but definitely not too hot. Also, the portion size for these was HUGE. Plenty to share for a whole family or group of friends. Salmon Uzuzukiri - No, my friends, that's not butter you just ate, that's salmon! The quality of this fish was so amazing and the cut and sauces were just perfect! It literally melted in your mouth like butter! If you even mildly like sashimi, this will make you fall in love with it! Yellowtail Carpaccio - Another great one! I loved the contrast of the sweeter mango with the heat of the serrano pepper. But the flavors didn't over power the taste of the yellowtail. They simply complimented it. Seaweed Salad - Exactly as expected. Not too sweet or overly dressed. Good light crunch. Salmon and Lemon Roll - We loved this one. I am pretty sure my husband "accidentally" ate more than his share of what we were splitting. And he's not even a big sushi person! I've never had lemon on sushi, but it works so well on cooked fish, it makes so much sense to have it on raw as well! Red Dragon - Classic delicious roll. I'm a sucker for anything with tempura shrimp and avocado in it. Tempura was well done, not overly breaded. Tuna Wrapped Roll - Tuna on the outside and spicy tuna and cucumber on the inside. What more can you ask for, really? And the light sauces they top it with compliment the roll perfectly. We also got the to go version of the Sugar and Spice kit (just add ice and vodka). It was really great! I opted to skip the sugar rim and to go a little more heavy-handed with the vodka, tailoring to my personal state. (But, hey, that's the beauty of the mix-your-own-drink option, right?!) All in all, I came into this worried that we would spend a lot of money and only equally satisfied as we are with other sushi places around the area, but oh boy was I wrong! Between the quality of the cuts of fish and the sourcing from the best markets in the world (including local sustainable sources), their food stands out far above the rest in the Charlotte area. We will definitely be back! read more

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It was just ok. Service was extremely slow and sushi was good but not amazing . I don't get the hype .

I am not a Sushi fanatic but I loved this restaurant. I had the Mermaid Roll which was lightly fried and scrumptious. We shared a bit and also enjoyed the Potato roll as well as my mixed drink - The Shogun. The ambience is cozy and the service was friendly and attentive to our needs. Highly recommended. I will return. read more

O-Ku is a must try sushi restaurant. We showed up on a Saturday night and only had to wait around 30 minutes for the shared table. We had plenty of room and it was like having our own table. You need to start off with the Dumpling Dim Sum, hands down the best dumplings I've had! We got a few sushi rolls to try and they were all so good. I loved the Red dragon roll and the potato roll was different than any other sushi roll I've had! I can't wait to come back to O-Ku. read more

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My wife and I had a fabulous experience at O-Ku! We want to give a special shoutout and thanks to Jewel for taking such great care of us. All the other members of the staff we interacted with were wonderful and so friendly too. Jewel went above-and-beyond to make sure our first meal at O-Ku was special, including taking extra care to make sure my gluten-intolerant wife was well taken care of. O-Ku has an entire special GF menu with an incredible amount of variety of delicious options- this restaurant is a phenomenal options for GF folks. You'll be in heaven. All the food we tried was fantastic, flavorful, and beautifully served. The cocktail we tried was also wonderful! We'll definitely be back. Thank you again, Jewel! read more

Overall okay. The sushi rolls are yummy but fairly small. Get ready to wait for your food if you come here, and potentially be prepared for a server with an attitude and little interest in helping you with the menu. The biggest disappointment from my last trip here is that the happy hour deal suddenly changed to a much more limited menu that's not nearly as good of a deal. My friend and I used to frequent O-Ku happy hours as our tradition but will probably be finding a new spot now. read more

This is an upscale Japanese and sushi restaurant. Food is very good but pricey for the amount you get. We went on a Monday so they have half price sushi rolls which is a great deal. The sushi roll menu is pretty limited. Not many rolls have whole pieces of fish in it. The food is very good and fresh. Drinks are expensive but really good and the have a lot of unusual/different cocktails. Service was great at first but our waiter was hard to find near the end of the meal. I wanted to Oder dessert but couldn't find him so when he finally showed up we just got the bill. You definitely should have a reservation. read more

It's not cheap but the customer service and quality are incredible. Perfect vibe for a date night or if you're looking for great food

My first experience at O-Ku was absolutely incredible. I booked a reservation for 6 for a friend's birthday and the staff at O-Ku made sure the birthday girl felt special by paying close attention to detail with bright smiles and kind words. Our waiter, Joari, was professional, welcoming, and so helpful when it came to food selection. We ordered appetizers, and about 5 different sushi rolls. The food and its presentation were amazing. The ambiance in the restaurant was moody, calming and well kept. I would recommend this restaurant for any and all occasions. I will be returning again! read more

O-Ku - Avocado Tuna Wrapped Roll (left) and Red Dragon (right) Edamame - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I actually just popped into O-KU for after work cocktails on a Thursday. They were actually very busy, as they have 50% off all sushi rolls on Thursday's so there was bit of a wait... it was over an and hour and a half wait for a table for 2 at about 5:30 pm. I opted to squeeze in at the bar. The ambiance is bustling and the lights are dimmed so this place could be a great date night spot. Although the bar area was packed, the bartender/waitress was very friendly and attentive. I ordered a cocktail called the ShoGun which reaching and delicious...it's made with gin, basil, agave and citrus! My friend ordered the Yo mint Lychee and added vodka, which was good but not as good as my cocktail. While sitting there chatting I was enticed to order sushi, so we ordered the red dragon, hot n' heavy and the potato rolls, which are unfortunately not pictured because they were devoured immediately... lol! So yeah... go for the sushi, you won't regret it! read more

O-Ku - The ShoGun - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I'm probably gonna get scolded for this: but I was not impressed. For all the hype I've heard about this place, the sushi was mediocre. The service was OK.... I felt like when I needed something the server was nowhere to be found, and when we didn't need anything people were hovering. The prices seem to bit high for what you get. For the nigiri you pay per piece, and it's a thin cut of fish. We also had to make a reservation three weeks in advance because of how booked this place was... But now I'm not sure why. See for yourself. read more

I stopped in here while I was in Charlotte for work and sat at the bar. The bartenders were friendly and they made me an amazing old-fashioned. The quality of the sushi was insane. I'll be back in a few weeks with my daughter for her birthday and we've already made reservations. I highly recommend this spot! read more

Amazing ambiance at this great little sushi place! Their edamame is a must get! I got the lychee martini and the salmon lemon roll. The lemon roll is so refreshing especially paired with the ponzu sauce! read more

This place set my senses on fire. When we walked in the door we were immediately greeted with warmness from the hostesses. Small wait and the. We went to our seats. We have two servers and their names escape me but I believe one's was named Ryan but both were excellent and worked in tandem as a team. Everything we at was delicious. The mermaid roll was so fresh so flavorful. Not that super fishy taste you get sometime. I think I finished my duck bun in like three seconds. I definitely was hungry AND it was that good. The a5 wagyu had an amazing sear and melted in my mouth Now on the drinks!! Hello Kitty is probably one of the best if not the best drink I've tasted. The sake was smooth but you know sake is sake. Last but not least the dessert. It had way more flavor than expected to be with it being like a powders sugar pie but overall it was fun to eat and I'm glad I tried it!! Oh and the kitchen is amazing and sent us a small bite on the chip for it being our first time! It was absolutely wonderful. read more

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Sushi was excellent! Service was superb!!! You got to try the smoke salmon crispy rice outstanding!

Probably my favorite spot in Charlotte! I've been coming here for a while now, even had my bachelor party dinner at the location in Charleston! Food is perfect from start to finish. Staff is amazing. The ambience is prefect even down to the lighting. Everyone helps everyone and they execute to a T! Nick the GM is one of the best around. Topher and Chelsea behind the bar are the best if you get a chance to sit at the bar! First come first serve. The entire staff looks out for one another. The best all around! Thank you read more

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Everything about this restaurant was outstanding. Very nice setting. The service was perfect and the server was knowledgeable. Most of all the quality of the sushi was beautiful and incredible. If I ever go back to Charlotte, that is definitely a place I will be taking my clients. I left very full and very impressed. read more

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O-Ku Charlotte happy hour was on a roll and exceptional as always. Happy hour is Monday and Wednesday 5-7. You definitely need to make a reservation and cash out on this awesome deal. Parking in front or can light rail and walk in. Rolls wise I ordered three since half off sushi! I paired it with a glass of white wine.The Mermaid roll on far right was my favorite. The Rainbow roll with spicy mayo in the middle and Tuna wrapped roll on far left. Water came with an orange, lime or cucumber slice. Could choose multiple as well to put in your water. Great spot for catching up with a friend or a first date. #bergerknowsbest read more

O-Ku - Mermaid Roll Rainbow Roll Tuna Wrapped Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This place is delicious however their Monday/Wednesday happy hour used to be so much better! The menu thinned and does not offer many options for vegetarians. Good date vibes but it is a bit expensive. Will go back just less often now that happy hour is different. read more

Ambience: lots of Edison bulbs, brick, exposed warehouse struts and soft lighting. Dark tones overall but small hints of Asian influences. Music was more modern and upbeat. 9/10 Customer service: Reservations are on a texting system that reminds you when you're getting close to your reservation time AND when your table it ready. I did not receive that second text and had to ask about my table after 20 minutes of waiting at the bar. Server was pleasant and knowledgeable and gave an immediate alternative for wine that was out of stock. 8/10 Cocktails: Unimaginative and incredibly boring appearances. Both drinks listed below used the same exact glass. For a place with a "specialty cocktail" menu, you'd expect some creativity and craftsmanship for a $14-$15 drink. Sugar and spice cocktail - too spicy, not well-balanced. Sugar did not help. This burned my tongue. 4/10 Lychee Martini - smooth, subtle lychee flavor. Very balanced, not liquor-forward. Garnish needs work. 8/10 Spider Roll - creamy, fried to perfection, fresh 9/10 Edamame - perfectly salted and steaming when presented to us. 10/10 Squid sashimi - bathed in citrus, full bodied flavor 7/10 Octopus sashimi - bathed in citrus. Good and fresh but nothing to rave about 6/10 Hamachi Nigiri - fresh, easy on the palate 7/10 Negihama - it's good but definitely the least exciting. Good for people experimenting 6/10 Kuri Squash Custard - complex and delicious. Tastes like a mix of pumpkin spice and butternut squash soup. This dessert alone warrants a visit to O-Ku 10/10 Overall: I spent a little over $80 (excluding 2 cocktails at the bar and including 2 glasses of Malbec we had) but I left hungry. It's sad to say that only 3 menu items really stood out to me. I'm a bit of a harsh critic for sushi since I've spent 2 years in Japan, but most everything was fresh and room temp, just not fantastic. Worth a visit. Not worth a second. read more

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