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    Shinmai Shokudo

    4.4 (96 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Order Shinmai Shokudo Takeout or Delivery

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    SHINMAI SHOKUDO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Kid's dining set
    Becca R.

    Walked in and immediately were greeted by the nicest people. They even brought out a kid's dining set for my son! We ordered a chicken teriyaki bento box and beef don and both were really good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was very clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Can't wait to go back again and try more on the menu!

    Pork jowl was amazing
    Janet C.

    We all loved the pork jowl and kurobata pork sausage skewers. The server was attentive. The rib eye steak was more like a crying tiger and felt more like skirt steak than ribeye. It was chewy and thin. The seasoning was nice and spicy but not what we expected. The fish cake udon is nice too, again, a simple dish. Squid not bad but not amazing. The portion is generous but we probably wouldn't order it again. Very delicious. The tonkatsu is very clean and not that flavorful which is good if you want something simple. I ended up requesting some chili paste for an extra dollar which was totally worth it. The matcha affogato was nice but the vanilla ice cream was icy (perhaps from the tea freezing after making contact with the ice cream? It seemed like it might have been due to it melting and refreezing). Love the raindrop dessert which was beautiful to look at and fun to eat. [[HIGHLIGHT]]All in all we loved this restaurant. There were some hits and some misses and the decor and presentation was absolutely beautiful especially when they brought out the initial drinks on a cute serving tray.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I also recommend the yuzu sparkler (non alcoholic) which was delicious.

    Cherry tea
    Michael H.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]After a day of flying I needed some delicious comfort food in a relaxed and unhurried environment. Wow is that what I got.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Located in a newer looking strip mall with plenty of parking. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice outdoor seating area for when the weather cooperates.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Greeted at the door by at least three women and seated at a nice quiet two top. Service was so good. Sweet lady saw it was my first time and explained the menu and gave me guidance. I chose the cherry tea as it was not caffeinated and would be very relaxing and it was awesome. A bit of a sweet finish but delicious and warmed and soothed the soul after a day of dealing with airports and travelers. The udon was very good also. Very creamy and relaxing. The warm saucy noodles gave me the warm comfort feeling I was seeking. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The flow of traffic in and out was amazing. This is a busy place and on peak evenings this could pose a challenge so plan ahead.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Ran C.

    Craving something hot and spicy - and since my friend didn't argue, Shinmai is where we ended up for dinner while in Cary. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Got there late - late enough that we did close the place down. Still busy - only two empty tables. Not that big of a dining space but to have a full house that late, was a good sign.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] At least it was to me. But - let's start again but with parking. It's located in what I would consider a standalone building of a strip mall. But I didn't see the strip - just the building. There were other shops - all closed except the sandwich shop - meaning, lots of parking. Free. Whenever traveling with a rental car - I'm always surprised to find free parking. Living in LA (Los Angeles) - trained me to expect to. Service was good. Other than one mishap - where I was given someone else's order, the staff was attentive and friendly. Like I mentioned already - it was almost a full house but it was near closing time so tables started to empty meaning the two FOH team were able to focus on the remaining guests. The food for me, was not hot and spicy. Or, I should clarify, it was decent enough, just didn't hit the spot for me. Temperature of the broth was hot enough - but not piping. It was the spiciness that was a let down for me. I needed to remind myself where I was and the spice level was probably toned down for the demographics. I might also have been given some chili powder or sauce had I asked, which I didn't. Good enough that I did finish the bowl but not so great that it's etched in my memory vault. Again, I'd like to reiterate, it wasn't bad - I liked my meal (Tan Tan) however, I didn't love it. The noodles were al dente and the broth had flavor, not watered down. And the tea was excellent - had several refills (of the pot). So, good enough to finish everything and that I'd go back. But not before I try other places in the area.

    Menu.
    Michael C.

    I ordered the temporar and the okonomiyaki. The tempora was quite good. Was very different than anything I've seen before. When I lived in Japan. It had a tiny amount of cabbage and was not very substantial. I'm not sure I would come here again if the meal was on the pricing side

    Plain Carbonara Udon
    Shanelle Y.

    The waitresses here were the sweetest ever and everyone working was super friendly. I was dining with 5 others and although the entrees came out pretty fast, they were all brought to the table at different times which was kind of awkward (there was at least a 10 min difference between when the first and last entrees were brought out). I ordered the unagi don and it was very yummy and had a good portion of eel, but there was less than a cup of rice underneath so overall, the portion size was kind of small, especially considering the price. For almost $20 I expected a little bit more, but oh well. The ramen bowls seemed bigger so if you want better value and a bigger portion, maybe don't order the don.

    donburi
    Jessica G.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Solid spot with a cozy vibe and really good food all around.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The ramen hit the spot with a flavorful broth, and slightly chewy noodles and the donburi was also tasty with well-balanced seasoning. Portion sizes felt just right: filling without being overwhelming. For dessert, I tried the dewdrop cake, which was very light and refreshing, a nice way to end the meal without feeling too heavy. Staff were super nice and attentive throughout, which made the whole experience even better. The original location is in Oakland CA, and this spot carries over the same quality and care. Overall, a place I'd come back to (great for comfort food and a relaxed meal)

    Agedashi tofu $9
    Sarah K.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]What a quaint place with bursting flavors![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I wouldn't categorize the food here as authentic, because there are a lot of fusion dishes. Their flavor profile is strong and delicious! I had the wasabi fries and agedashi tofu as starters and shareables. The tofu were so good, but I say the portion is quite small for the price. It really is a portion to simply taste the tofu if you're sharing it with another person. I had the carbonara udon with kimchi bacon and I enjoyed every bite. It tastes exactly as the description - udon, carbonara, creamy with kimchi and bacon. The service was wonderful even when they were busy on a weekend lunch time.

    Carbonara Udon with Salmon
    Hattie J.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Dining at shinmai_shokudo had me feeling like I was back in Japan![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very cute, minimal interior with a few tables both indoors and outdoors.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There may be a wait depending on what time of day you come because it's pretty small. Our waters were slow to come out but otherwise service was great! Really enjoyed everything we ordered. Can't wait to come back and explore their menu further! What we ordered: Ochazuke w/ salmon belly, katsu curry, udon carbonara, corn korroke, and takoyaki

    Pot of Rose Tea, decaf
    Queenny C.

    We went in on a Tuesday evening and yet, the restaurant was full, only one table for two was available but we were party of 4 The lovely server (I asked for her name but now I forgot) was very nice and smart, she politely brought the bills to 2 tables and within 15 minutes we were seated, orders were taken after 3 minutes and food came out in ten! Very efficient! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is small, with cute decoration. It was full but not noisy, everyone seemed to be happy with the food so ambiance was cool.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered 2 Gyozas (each came with 5 pcs), 3 bowls of ramen and 1 chicken katsu set, all were very good. Also this location served beer. We also had the ice cream on the house because we were celebrating 2 birthdays. This place will be our go to when we crave for Japanese food, and will try other dishes.

    Divya S.

    Wow. Truly delicious. This is a super quaint, elegantly decorated restaurant that provides phenomenal service and exceptionally delicious food. You can tell that special attention was given to all of the details in this spot- from the tableware to the menu and not to mention the presentation of food! Miso cod was easily my favorite app with the pork jowls following that. We each also ordered a rice bowl but we were so excited to eat that I forgot to take pictures. We will be back to explore more of their menu!

    Jennifer J.

    I came here on a Tuesday with friends and really enjoyed my experience! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was small but we were seated pretty comfortably for a group of 5[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and the service was very good as well! My friend and I both got the Kabosu refresher and it tasted lovely! I try mocktails often and so many places overdo it on the sweetness level. This mocktail was just the right level of sweetness. For appetizer we shared the takoyaki (ask for the spicy roulette where they hide hot sauce in one of them - that was fun), Wasabi fries, and gobo chips. I got the oyakodon and the raindrop for dessert while my husband got the carbonara udon. We enjoyed everything and would be down to visit again!

    Daikon Salad
    Sally M.

    If I could give this place 10 stars, I absolutely would. Shinmai Shokudo is my favorite restaurant for ramen, hands down. The Tonkotsu Ramen ($17) is perfection -- a signature rich pork broth with pork belly, bamboo shoot, wood ear mushroom, green onion, and a perfectly seasoned half soft-boiled egg. The broth is beyond... it is so flavorful, comforting, and unbelievably delicious. Every bite reminds me why I keep coming back. My other favorite that I have to order every single time is the Daikon Salad -- crisp, refreshing, and full of flavor. It balances the richness of the ramen beautifully. And to complete it all, I always get the Rose Cherry Tea -- light, fragrant, and absolutely soothing. The food comes out fast, consistently well prepared, and beautifully presented. You can tell the kitchen takes great pride in what they serve. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The only thing I wish they had is more seating because this place is that popular.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] During rush hour, expect a wait -- but it is worth every single minute. I keep telling myself I should venture out and try other soups here, but the Tonkotsu is so tasty that I just cannot shy away from it. I know I am probably missing out on some incredible dishes, but it is hard to turn away from my favorites. Shinmai Shokudo truly delivers every time -- consistent, delicious, and easily one of the best dining spots in Cary.

    Garlic oil, spicy sauce

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    Legit Japanese food and atmosphere similar to that of what I had while traveling Japan

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    Kinoko Ramen

    Kinoko Ramen

    4.7
    (29 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    I visited Kinoko Ramen on Jan 12, 2026. It was noon, and I was the only dine-in customer. There was…read moreno wait time for a table. Water and menu were provided the moment I sat down. I had already looked at the menu online and knew what I wanted: shoyu ramen. The order was served with a spoon, a side plate and a paper towel. There was 1 soft-boiled cut into two halves and ample amounts of scallion, menma and braised pork belly. The latter had a rich flavor, helped in no small part by the pork and chicken broth. Not only that, the broth complimented the rest of the ingredients; the egg was enjoyable. My only (minor) complaint is the portion size of the ramen itself. It was smaller than I would like. The lady that served me was probably (best guess) the owner. Her service was impeccable. In addition, Kinoko has a pleasing amenity not found in most restaurants: an AC outlet at every table that was by the wall. This was very handy for a heavy user of laptops and phones like myself. Although there was music playing in the background, it wasn't loud. The server and I were able to hear each other, and I could also hear the voices of others at the bar. The restroom had an interesting decor of newspapers for wallpaper. That was something I didn't see elsewhere. If you love good ramen, come to Kinoko Ramen. If you like a quiet place to dine in, come to Kinoko Ramen. Perfect scores in food, service and atmosphere.

    We've only ever ordered take out from here so I can't speak for ambiance. We've never had issues…read morewith our order and it's always been fresh. We love the ramen and chicken karaage.

    Photos
    Bar seating, posted June 2025.
    Bar seating, posted June 2025.
    Chashu Rice Bowl - Braised Pork & green scallion cooked in house chashu sauce served over rice. Garnished w/shredded seaweed. (March 2026)
    Chashu Rice Bowl - Braised Pork & green scallion cooked in house chashu sauce served over rice. Garnished w/shredded seaweed. (March 2026)
    Restroom wallpaper

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    Restroom wallpaper
    Masa Sushi & Ramen

    Masa Sushi & Ramen

    4.4
    (238 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    The facility this restaurant is open used to have my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant prior to…read morecovid that was closed during 2021 and since then I did not enter the shopping complex because I was so sad to saw that place close. This week my teen reminded me that a new Ramen place has opened in the same facility so I decided to give it a try. The ambience is cozy, though I found that tables are very close to each other, so it is very hard to keep a conversation going without you either disturbing the other table or worrying about having someone else listen to your conversation menu is fine. I did not care for sushi because I was there for Ramen. Besides, they have a vegetarian Ramen is what I was looking for, my daughter ordered a teriyaki Ramen. My vegetarian Ramen had a lot of tempura in it, which defeated the purpose a little bit for me because it was a little oily. The taste was more or less like a red curry and there was very less vegetables mostly it was sweet corn and one or two bok choy on the other hand my teen, who is very hard to please loved the teriyaki Raman and is already planning to go back this weekend to try the other ones , all in all I gave this place a four star because the umami of the Ramen was very comforting, even though I did not like the taste much

    I took my boys to Masa Sushi & Ramen to celebrate my older son's birthday, and this year was a much…read morebetter one than last, when he spent his birthday in the hospital. So spirits were high right from the start. For the record, I've been here a handful of times before, usually for lunch, but this was my first dinner visit. Parking was easy and plentiful, and even though the restaurant was fairly busy, we were seated right away. Always a nice win. We kicked things off with a bowl of edamame that was perfectly salted. The boys went with miso soup, which was flavorful but came out lava hot. Like, ice-cube-required hot. Tasty, but proceed with caution if you have kids. For sushi, we kept it simple and solid with a mix of one classic and two specialty rolls: Spicy Tuna, Phoenix, and the Crunchy Roll. All were fresh, well-made, and hit the spot. Food came out quickly, service was friendly and attentive, and the overall value felt right. Since we live nearby, this will definitely stay in our regular rotation. A great, easy dinner spot for sushi with family.

    Photos
    Masa Sushi & Ramen
    Tonkatsu Ramen - soooo good!
    Tonkatsu Ramen - soooo good!
    2 pc unagi nigiri

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    2 pc unagi nigiri
    M Sushi - Cary

    M Sushi - Cary

    4.5
    (136 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    My view on sushi as a whole has completely changed...in an absolutely amazing way…read more Omakase Style: basically translates over as "I leave it up to you." The chef curates a multi course and highly personalized tasting menu. My wife and I had the pleasure to partake in this unbelievable experience for our 21st anniversary, and it was hands down one of the best meals we've ever had. Not this month, not just sushi, not just in NC...but one of the top meals of all time anywhere. We had the Grand Omakase, which came out to 10 courses in total. I won't go into detail on each and every course, but let's just say that each and every course was of the highest quality fish, sushi or meat we've had anywhere. From the sushi flown out straight from Japan, to the beluga caviar and A5 Wagyu, and everything in between. We've had sushi across the nation and overseas, 100s of times. This has taken the top #1 spot out of all of them, especially with what we were served in the Grand Omakase package. Impeccable service, 8 sushi chefs all working efficiently at once in an open style sushi kitchen, all within a classy (but not pretentious by any means) establishment. The Grand Omakase package here is one of those bucket list items for anyone who loves sushi, top shelf meats and fish, and enjoys a high level foodie experience.

    M Sushi is the talk of the town with high recommendations and a "must go" reputation, so of course…read moreit's one of the first places I try since moving to Cary. Sadly, I am sorely disappointed. Hailing from Florida, I'm used to high quality raw fish and M Sushi does not deliver this. Claiming they source their fish from Japan may be true, but I question how they store and prepare the fish, as it did not taste fresh. I tried the chirashi bowl, which was not what I was expecting: served on vinegar rice and shaved tomago, the fish was cut into chunks, not the thin slices well trained sushi chefs deliver. The fish tasted bad. Their sushi rolls can make up for the fish flavor by adding over powering ingredients, but their mismatched flavors, like spicy tuna and some kind of fruit sauce, didn't work. The only good thing I had was the truffle white fish dumplings, they were spectacular. Which makes me think I might still enjoy the other M restaurants. Sorry guys, this place just isn't it. My server was excellent, very attentive and knowledgeable.

    Photos
    Bar area.
    Bar area.
    1 of 8 from the Omakase Lite
    1 of 8 from the Omakase Lite
    M Special Maki

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    M Special Maki
    Noodle Boulevard

    Noodle Boulevard

    4.5
    (1k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Delicious!! This was…read moremy first time having ramen, and my friend suggested we go here, and I'm so glad we did! Noodle Blvd is located in a spot that you could easily miss, but it's easy to get back on track. I pulled into the gas station parking lot beside the restaurant, then just turned right into the restaurant parking lot. The parking lot is fairly small, so be warned about that. My friend was there when I arrived, and he sat at the bar. When I walked in the door, I was greeted with smiles and waves. It was very inviting, which is fitting for a ramen restaurant. My friend ordered us Lychee Margaritas, and oh my goodness, it was so good! We decided to visit right at opening on a Saturday, so the bartender was still preparing some of the ingredients needed for the margarita. The bartender informed us that it's usually better once a key ingredient sits for a while, but I loved the drink regardless. I ordered edamame for an appetizer, which came quickly and was good! Since I've never had ramen before, I asked our server what he recommended, and he told me about some of their most popular dishes. He told me the N9. Chicken Curry Ramen was a favorite of his and the patrons, so I decided to order that. It came quickly, and I was immediately in HEAVEN upon my first bite. I loved every bite after! I decided to play it safe with the spice and got level 2, but I can definitely go up a level or 2 since I love spicy. Highly recommend, and I will be back! Worth the drive from Clayton, where I live.

    The service was good, waitress was pleasant, no issues there…read more A busy weekday night, a loud group at the big table in the middle didn't bother me as I was at the bar. The short rib ramen was good, but the noodles were short, like they were cut or made short on purpose. The shrimp shumai was disappointing. Small bite sized portions, but they were soft. After cutting into one, I found out that they use rice as a filler with a bit of shrimp. I've never seen rice used in shumai, unless it's Shanghai sticky rice shumai. Also got a unagi don togo, it was good, just a bit small on the portion of eel, but it's hard to mess up an unagi don.

    Photos
    Inside restaurant
    Inside restaurant
    Black Garlic Miso Ramen (spice level 4, on a scale of 1 to 6)
    Black Garlic Miso Ramen (spice level 4, on a scale of 1 to 6)
    Vegetarian Ramen

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    Vegetarian Ramen

    Shinmai Shokudo - japanese - Updated July 2026

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