Delicious food, fresh cocktails, and wonderfully attentive staff. looking forward to our next visit!

My husband and I are long time fans of Shinmai Shokudo, so when we heard that there was a sister location- Shinmai Kumo, we knew we had to give it a try! We started off with the Korokke- wolfed those down so sorry there's no pic. But they are so creamy and pillowy while having a perfectly crispy exterior! The hubs and I split the Sukiyaki Linguini and the Curry Flatbread- it was so nice they gave us tongs to divvy everything out! This combo is so good together! These are true fusion dishes. The curry flatbread had lightly crunchy bottom, a silky and flavorful curry as the sauce, blistered tomatoes, and a cheese that had some great stringy pull- yum! The linguini was a nice chewy al dente with a giggly, jammy onsen egg that marries the sweet sukiyaki sauce to the dish. A mild Parmesan paired with the beef is also a great combo! They also have this really fun passport encouraging guests to try different beverages, lunches, and meals! We are definitely coming back for the egg sandos, some omurice, and the seasonal gnocchi special! Very excited to put this in our restaurant rotation! read more

Shinmai Kumo - Sukiyaki Linguine - Japanese Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Love their food & staff. Asian-Italian fusion, just like my ex-wife! The main dishes are all great. The curry flatbread tastes like curry. Will go again. read more

Saw that the owners of Shinmai opened a new spot and wanted to check it out. I'm not a huge fan of fusion, but wanted to give this spot a try. We got a wide assortment of items and our favorite dish ended up being the omurice. The portions are surprisingly big - although the price is slightly high for the triangle area. My matcha was roughly $9. Docking points as most of the items we had were just okay. Nothing to write home about, and the price point seemed a bit high for what we got. Wished they had oat options for the drinks as I'm sure a bunch of my fellow lactose intolerant Asians can relate to. Ambiance was nice although there was a small fly that kept swarming our table during our meal. Service was friendly as well. Good spot to grab a small bite and chat with friends. read more

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Really wanted to visit Shinmai Kumo due to its unique concept. I had a pleasant visit and really enjoyed the service and vibe of the restaurant. It felt homie but also modern when we entered which is a hard balance to attain. The staff was very friendly, attentive, and provided great recommendations. I visited during a time there was a promotion to receive a free drink upon ordering up to a certain amount per person. The free drinks were a pleasant surprise and made the dining experience extra sweet. My favorite dish was the unagi avocado flatbread but all of the dishes have well balanced flavors and are a unique twist on classics. I highly recommend visiting Shinmai Kumo for a special dining experience. read more

Shinmai Kumo - Unagi Avocado Flatbread, Mentaiko Spaghetti, Sukiyaki Linguine, Suika Shrub, Ichigo Spritz, Yuzu Matcha Einspanner - Japanese Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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FUN itameshi spot (italian-japanese fusion)!!! the wasabi fries were SO YUMMY and i really liked the sukiyaki even tho my husband didn't bc he thought it was too sweet, so that's something to keep in mind! the omurice was also GREAT. and the servers were so helpful in helping us decide what to order! read more

Shinmai Kumo - Sukiyaki Linguine - Japanese Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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This is place is amazing. The food, the service, and the atmosphere are all amazing. It is a small restaurant but the attention to detail is excellent. The restaurant is clean and with nice decor. The staff service is polite and friendly, I felt they passionate about their job and want to provide great service. The food and drinks were excellent. I got their Sukiyaki Linguine, it is not heavy considering it is a pasta dish with great flavors. I also love their takoyaki, it was also amazing. I will love to come back soon. read more

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I'll start by saying I wasn't a huge fan of the sister store, Shinmai Shokudo, but I wanted to give this place a try because I'm a big fan of Japanese Italian fusion. Unfortunately, I feel a bit let down and think Shinmai Kumo missed the mark on several of their dishes. Pros: The interior is very nice and has a warm feel to it, flexible enough for both casual dining and a nicer night out. The menu offers a lot of options, along with several drink choices. The food came out fairly quickly, and the drinks were made almost immediately. I especially liked the Citrus Minto. Cons: The pricing for these dishes is fairly egregious. For primarily pasta or rice based dishes, you are paying in the mid 20 dollar range. Aside from the smaller portion sizes and upscale plating, I do not think there is anything in the dishes themselves that justifies that price point. With each dish, there was something slightly off that ultimately ruined it for me. The curry was overwhelmingly peppered. I understand it is meant to be a black pepper sauce, but it tasted like the pepper shaker was accidentally poured onto the dish. The Sukiyaki Linguine was very sweet, which makes sense given the ingredients, but it was not balanced at all. There was nothing to offset the sweetness, so after two or three bites, it became difficult to keep eating unless you had ordered something salty to balance it out. Mentaiko Spaghetti is my favorite dish of all time. I actually think this dish was executed wonderfully, except for the bubu arare. It may have been stale, but instead of delivering a satisfying crunch, it flattened when bitten into. I think I would have really enjoyed this dish if the texture had been there, but instead, each bite had a dull, flat chew to it. read more

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What an excellent addition to the area! I'll admit, I was a big fan of the restaurant that had been here before, and I was sad to see it go, so on my first visit here, I walked in blind (to not pre-judge). My husband and I popped in during their soft opening week, and I was really impressed at how smoothly everything went for an opening. The food was great, the server was attentive, and we left happy. Fast forward a few months, and I have now seen the reviews and learned about the sister restaurant (which is also on my list to visit), so I came back today for a solo lunch. It was just as good as the first time! The server was super sweet, my Omurice was absolute perfection, and I was so excited to hear they might be adding a favorite food item of mine to the menu. YAY! The space is beautiful, it's bright and modern, and I could not be any more delighted to have this lovely little restaurant right down the street from me. read more

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As a huge fan of the Shinmai Kumo's sister restaurant, Shinmai Shokudo, I was very excited to see the new Shinmai Kumo restaurant open in Cary. The concept for Shinmai Kumo is a mix of Italian and Japanese. The menu features Japanese inspired pastas and flatbreads, which was a really cool concept! For me the total experience had a bit of a disconnect. The ambiance of the restaurant is more on the casual side. Think more of a casual neighborhood bar in a standard strip/shopping mall with hints of upscale touches, like a rock inspired wall. The food, while high quality, is fairly expensive for carb heavy dishes like noodles. You're paying in the high teens to low twenties for individual dishes. On top of that, the portions are quite small. It gives you the feel of Italian food (minus the family size portions and perks like free bread), the taste of Asian food, the casualness of a neighborhood bar, but with expensive "nicer dinner night out" prices. I ordered the Sukiyaki Linguni and the Chicken Yakisoba. The Chicken Yakisoba tasted good, but was not that differentiated from other Asian restaurants. The Suikyaki Linguini was delicious and a unique offering. We didn't order drinks, but they looked tasty. They also have an espresso machine, which was impressive. Overall, my biggest complaint is that we did leave the restaurant hungry despite spending $50 on a night out. In terms of service, I will say I came early into the soft opening of the restaurant and found the service to be a little slow. Everyone was friendly, but it took a long while to get food and water refills. They also seemed a little disappointed when we only ordered entrees. My verdict- I'm mixed. The food was tasty, but really pricey for what you got. It's hard to think of the right occasion that fits the price value offering of a place like this, but I encourage you to give it a try. read more

Shinmai Kumo - Japanese Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

This was my first visit to Shinmai Kumo, but I've been to their sister restaurant, Shinmai Shokudo, plenty of times. I was curious to see how this one compared, so I stopped in for dinner. I ordered the Sukiyaki Linguine and the Ichigo Spritz. Both were really good. The linguine had a nice balance of flavors. The thinly sliced beef, mushrooms, and poached egg blended together perfectly, and the parmesan on top gave it a little extra za. The Ichigo Spritz was light, fruity, and refreshing, with just enough sweetness from the strawberry purée and a hint of mint. The inside of the restaurant is modern and cozy, with a mix of bar seating, tables, and a small lounge area that gives it a chill, relaxed vibe. It's the kind of place where you could come for a casual solo dinner or hang out with friends for drinks and small plates. The service was great. The staff was friendly and welcoming from the moment I walked in. My server took the time to explain the menu and checked in just enough without being overbearing. They're attentive and seem genuinely happy to have people coming in and trying the place. One thing that did catch my attention... they just opened in September and already have a sanitation score of 95.5. That's not terrible, but it's a bit concerning for a brand-new restaurant, so hopefully they'll tighten that up soon. The exposed hallway leading to the restroom was cluttered with a cart full of dirty dishes and restaurant supplies, which was an eyesore (so dont look that way lol.) Finding the restaurant, though, was a little tricky. There's not much signage outside, and at night it's hard to tell you're at the right spot until you walk in and see the name on the wall behind the bar. It's right next to North Carolina Ear, Nose and Throat, if that helps. Overall, I'd come back again to try more of the menu, especially since their dishes are creative and the flavors are solid. read more

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Walking in, Shinmai Kumo has a fun, eclectic interior. Our server was super welcoming and friendly, and quickly took our orders. I got the Ichigo Spritz to start, and it was delicious - super refreshing and just the right amount of sweetness. The Sukiyaki Linguine was initially great, but unfortunately became difficult to finish. The sweetness from the sweet soy sauce became overwhelming and overpowered everything else in the dish. Similar to another review, I also found that the price to portion ratio was lacking -- this pasta dish was around $20. I would like to come back again and try something else, though -- maybe a flatbread next time. read more

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This was our first time trying Shinmai Kumo, the newest location from Shinmai with an Italian twist, and it was fantastic. Shinmai has always been a staple for us whenever we're in Cary, so we were excited to try this location. We ordered the omurice, sukiyaki linguini, clam miso soup, and the unagi flatbread (which I somehow forgot to take a photo of). Everything was delicious, but the unagi flatbread completely stole the show. Hands down the best flatbread I've had and easily our favorite dish of the night. Service is always top notch. The ambiance is cozy and modern with a relaxed, intimate vibe that makes it perfect for a date night or a fun catch up with friends during the day. We'll absolutely be back! read more

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The atmosphere was comforting and the lady was amazing. She was our server/bartender, she was very nice and kind to us. The service was great and definitely will love to see her again. The food was good and fast preparation. Through the price was slightly higher but I had a great time there. read more

Shinmai Kumo - Yuzu Matcha Einspanner Suika Shrub Ichigo Spritz - Japanese Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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I met a friend here to dinner. The host (who I believe was the owner) was very sweet and attentive to us. I could tell she was really passionate about the food and drinks. My friend got a strawberry matcha, which she said was great! We also both got the porridge with chicken, mushroom, and egg. It was delicious and very comforting--a great meal for cooler weather. I do feel like the portion could have been 15% larger, but it was great nonetheless! Will be returning to try other dishes. read more

Shinmai Kumo - porridge - Japanese Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

The food was absolutely delicious. The egg soufflé sando was very light and fluffy and the soup, salad, and sliced sausage was a nice addition. The sukiyaki linguine was delicious. I would get both items again. The dessert was nice and creamery with a ton of strawberries. read more

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This is a unique concept mixing Japanese and Italian together. Went to the soft opening, and tried out three dishes: Mentaiko Mochi - this flatbread/pizza was definitely unique. The roe gave the bread a nice salt flavor with the mozzarella combo. The Mochi cubes was nice and chewy. It added a chewy texture to the pizza. Not sure how I felt about the corn though.... Chicken Yakisoba - tasted like a regular chicken stirred fry. I enjoyed it but it didn't really stood out much. Still very good. Sukiyaki Linguine - this was my favorite dish. The flavor of the beef with the pasta covered in Parmesan cheese. This was absolute one of the best dishes we had.. I recommend trying this simple yet flavored packed dish! The only con I really had was that the meat portion was not sufficient for us (two people). There was almost little to no meat. I'm not sure if they were being conservative due to soft opening. Either way I enjoyed my experience and will be back to try other items. Service was exceptional like their other location. Plenty of parking so no complaints there. read more

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We got vegetable spaghetti, we all averaged a 9/10 rating. Very good! Omurice. Also very good as it comes 9.5/10 Chicken curry flat bread my favorite 10/10 Hot chocolate was very good also. Our server was Maxine. Very nice and knowledgeable. Overall we came in with no expectations and left happy. The ambience was nice and uncluttered. The music was fitting. read more

I came here with my best friend for her birthday, and it ended up being such a good choice. The service stood out right away--the owners were incredibly kind and welcoming, which made the whole experience feel more personal. It was also really quiet inside, with a calm, cozy ambiance that made it perfect for actually talking and relaxing (or even studying if you wanted to stay a while). The prices were pretty reasonable for the quality, and the food itself was genuinely impressive. We ordered the sukiyaki linguini, which was easily the highlight. It had this rich, slightly sweet flavor that was made even better by the creamy egg, and the salty parmesan balanced everything out perfectly so it didn't feel too heavy or too sweet. We also tried the mochi flatbread--it wasn't my personal favorite just taste-wise, but that's more about preference than anything. It was cooked really well and had an amazing cheese pull, so if that's your kind of thing, you'd probably love it. Overall, I'd definitely come back, even just to hang out, study, or grab a quick bite. It's one of those spots that feels easy to return to. read more

This restaurant has the makings of a good restaurant, but the menu needs tweaking, and it would benefit them to add a few more dishes. I like the mentaiko spaghetti, the croquettes, and kaki fry. The yakisoba is also pretty good. I haven't tried the omurice, but my mother likes it. The salads are also fresh and nice. I don't really care for some of the stewy dishes, like the seafood stew. It's too spicy and underwhelming. The sukiyaki linguine is too sweet, as others have said. I would suggest adding a seafood spaghetti - I had the best seafood spaghetti of my life in Japan. They should make the japanese style sando (sandwiches with crusts removed and delicious fillings) a staple on the menu. I would also recommend adding Japanese hambahgu with ketchup fried rice (reminiscent of Japanese okosama lunch). Perhaps they could try some onigiri with western fillings? These are just some ideas, since I'd like to see them succeed. The drinks are delicious. Please add some alternative milks! I truly hope this restaurant does well, because I do love the concept. read more

I was so excited to see that they had Mentaiko Spaghetti on the menu that I just had to come in this week and try it. I came with my dad, an adventurous boomer. We tried the Garlic Baguette with the housemade Chicken Liver Pate as a starter and it was truly a flavor bomb. My dad ordered the Beef Rib Finger Stew and said it was very flavorful. I tried the Mentaiko Spaghetti and wow! Just wow! It was a seafood umami punch of deliciousness, especially with the pollock roe! The bubu arare (small rice crackers) gave it a nice crunchy texture. It exceed my expectations. I'm hoping to come back soon try more of the menu. So, if you're adventurous and looking for something different in Cary, you should try them out! read more

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My wife and I visited for dinner. The food, drinks, and service were all excellent. Will definitely eat there again.

The restaurant ambience is nice and cute. Service was good. I missed having omurice in Japan so I thought of giving a try. I ordered a regular omurice. The presentation is nice but it's salty. The Sukiyaki Linguine on the other hand is a must try. It's excellent. Overall the portion is err on the small size. You will definitely have room for one or two dessert. Do I recommend this place? Yes! read more

Shinmai Kumo - Sukiyaki Linguine - must try. Excellent dish - Japanese Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Delicious. Loved the egg soufflé. And the drinks were delicious! Staff was lovely. Will be back!

Food was excellent! I had the mushroom flatbread and my husband had the bolognese spaghetti. Both were absolutely wonderful! The server was young. She gave us small glasses of water, once. Took our order and that was it. We didn't see her again. Someone else delivered food. No one checked on us after that. I had to get up after trying to wave her down several times, just to ask for a to go box and check. She was checking her phone and searching for a charger quite a bit so definitely distracted. We may give it another try because the food was awesome. Hoping this place makes it read more

Just ordered takeout before the snow starts - food was excellent, on time, and service was perfect.

This place is amazing. The wasabi fries alone are worth the trip. Pair that with the date night drink and you're good to go. I'd also recommend the curry flatbreads. read more