We didn't make a reservation and just walked in, but if you're planning to get a booth or table, I definitely recommend reserving ahead of time. We arrived around 5:30-6:00 PM and were told the next available table wouldn't be until 8:30, so we ended up sitting at the bar instead. Luckily, the barstools were comfortable, so I didn't mind at all. The service was great--fast, attentive, and the bartenders were really friendly. The drinks were also really good. I had a lychee martini that was strong but delicious. We also tried a few of their shots--they had a unique, acquired taste. The only one I didn't enjoy was the Hierba shot because the aftertaste reminded me of licorice, which I'm not a fan of. But if you like licorice, you'd probably enjoy it. As for the food, everything was amazing. The yuca balls were a 10/10. We also had the "Pulpo Anticuchero", which was a Spanish style octopus that came with roasted potatoes that were cooked perfectly--crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, very fresh and flavorful. I ordered the arroz con mariscos (seafood rice), which included calamari, octopus, squid, and more. It was really good, and the portion size was huge--definitely enough to feed 3-4 people, so keep that in mind when ordering. The ambiance was really nice as well. The music was good and not too loud, which made it easy to enjoy the overall vibe. Overall, I'd give this place a 10/10. read more

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An afternoon of volunteering followed by an amazing date night here. Food was more than delicious, flavors were on point. It was our first time and my hubby isn't into raw fish but I loved the maki and shrimp croquettes. Great ambiance and service as well. Definitely make a reservation in advance, bar was cool but not super comfy. Our waitress Jonathan gave great recommendations. Next time will definitely try the tiger milk ceviche. read more

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Nice place to visit. Great food. Love their drinks. Great night vibe. So much to see and LOVE

House music + great food. Excellent service. Live DJ. Please never stop the house music! Really makes the experience read more

Yunta is hands down one of the best fusion restaurants I've experienced to date. Their Peruvian-Japanese (Nikkei) concept is executed flawlessly, and it shows in every single detail. From the drinks alone, you can tell they take their craft seriously. The cocktails are incredible, but what really stood out to me were the mocktails. Thoughtful, well-balanced, and not an afterthought like they often are which I appreciated very very much. I've now tried just about everything on the menu, and every dish has been consistently amazing. That kind of consistency is rare and says a lot about the kitchen. This has become my go-to spot for special occasions - anniversaries, birthdays, or whenever I have friends visiting Charlotte. Without fail, everyone leaves saying it was the most memorable dining experience they've had here. The ambiance is cozy and intimate, perfect for both celebrations and a really good night out. And the service!!! Truly exceptional. The team takes their time to walk you through the menu, explain dishes, and make sure you feel taken care of. Easily a 5/5. A restaurant and staff worth celebrating! read more

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If you're heading to Yunta Nikkei, make a reservation. We walked in around 5 PM on a Friday and got incredibly lucky to be seated quickly before it got packed. The ambiance here is top-tier--great cool house music with a DJ giving off Rüfüs Du Sol vibes. Service was 10/10; my water was never empty. For the food, we started with the Poseidon Causita. The fish on top was incredibly fresh and went perfectly with the potato base. The absolute standout was the Lomo Saltado--probably one of the best I've ever had, especially with the green dipping sauce. The Arroz con Mariscos was also awesome and a massive, filling portion. My only critique of the night was the Tuna Sushi; it just didn't taste fresh, and something was off about the rice. We finished with the Guanábana dessert, which was a really interesting mix of soursop and caramel. It's definitely worth a try, but I already have my eye on their crème brûlée for next time. read more

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Where do I start with this place? The ambiance, the service, the food 5 stars all around. The lighting was dark and moody and the little table lamps were perfect for highlighting the food items as they were delivered. We ordered so much food and cocktails. We started with the tostones which was the perfect complement to the ceviche trio. The Trio was absolute perfection- the freshness and the flavors were exactly what I was looking for. All three were perfect. We also had the Mariscos Al fuego which was a taste of yummy buttery grilled seafood. Tasty but not meant as an entree. We also had the octopus which was tasty but a bit hard to chew. The Peruvian pineapple was the best possible cocktail to pair with all the dishes. I loved everything about this place. read more

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Yunta is an upscale Peruvian restaurant that is always crowded and difficult to get a table unless you have a reservation, which we did. There is a lovely (small) enclosed patio, bar seating and booths. The restaurant is small and crowded and gets very noisy in the evening. This was the first time a restaurant has asked us to leave our table after the 1.5 hour time slot (listed on their website). Our service was very slow compared to other tables causing us to go over the 1.5 hour time and when asked to move we were quite surprised since it was due to slow service. We quickly finished our meal and left (dissatisfied). Prices were very high for the amount of food received but I guess you're paying for the ambiance. When you're seated you're offered a bowl of spicy roasted corn to snack on. We also started with the grilled/ charred edamame which was oily and spicy, the panza nigiri was fresh but only 4 pcs, the verde tiradito was flavorful but small for a main entree, the lomo saltado was overpriced with few potatoes and tough beef, both drinks - Peruvian Pineapple and Mancora Margarita were well made and refreshing. Our favorite was the chocolate lucuma dessert - beautifully made and delicious. read more

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Ambience- great ambience. It's a low light environment with a live DJ that plays instrumental music. The tables are situated snuggly together and each table has a little yellow light lamp and it really feels like a modern, New York City style, eatery. It's quite a big establishment but is packed to the brim with people so make a reservation! I sat on the patio outside and it was a great space for fresh air while still feeling cozy and intimate. Service- incredible service. Our waiter was attentive and informative. No notes. Food- the complimentary appetizer is this fried/puffed corn that they refill on your table if needed. This was a perfect light snack to have when you're just talking with friends and waiting for your food. If you've ever had the gas station snack called a Corn Nut, it's very similar to that but seasoned with just salt and it's a little more airy As for the food, it would take too long to genuinely review everything but these are the heavy hitters . The Peruvian seafood risotto was the best version of itself I've ever had. It's creamy, flavorful, and the seafood is perfectly cooked and plentiful. I don't understand how they pack so much flavor and so much food into this dish. The portion is very generous. And it made for perfect leftovers the next day. It felt so luxurious and the presentation really matched the energy of the restaurant. The salmon nigiri and the scallop nigiri with truffle butter was absolutely phenomenal. These are the only nigiri I've tried here but listen to me when it say the flavor of these two was unlike anything I've tried. The addition of yuzu in the salmon perfectly cuts through the fattiness of the salmon. And the rice is perfectly cooked and a little warm. The scallop with truffle butter is torched at your table and the subtle earthy flavor of the truffle butter (if you like truffle) is incredible and creates for the most luscious buttery and comforting bite. Both were incredibly tender pieces of nigiri and given that there's only 4 pieces per serving, you're forced to really savor and appreciate each bite. This is definitely something I will order again. Ceviche- the best ceviche I've had at least in the Carolina's. The fish is cut into generously sized cubes, which make for a hearty and flavor packed bite each time which I really loved. I feel like a lot of places I've been to serve too small of a portion of the fish is cut too small or whatever the case. The punch of citrus and spiciness complimented the ceviche SO well. This is perfect to share with 1-2 others. Grilled octopus and roasted potatos- there aren't many places that serve grilled octopus in Charlotte but of the places that do, this place does it the best- hands down. The octopus has a perfect char and it's not chewy at all. It's warm and has a wonderfully soft, citrusy, and ever so slightly bouncy bite to it that you'd want from octopus. And as for the potatoes, while roasted potatoes are nothing unique, somehow these found a way to make their mark. These were a great accompaniment to the octopus in that it contrasted well by being a heavier and creamy counterpart. Potatos are flavorful and perfectly cooked. Maki roll- we ordered one roll to share and while it tasted good, it didn't feel elevated or special in any way. You can get something very similar at places like Pisces (sushi restaurant in charlotte) I would skip this going forward in preference for the other dishes I talk about above. read more

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Yunta Nikkei is an inviting and aesthetically pleasing restaurant for drinks, catching up with a friend, or date night. Catching up is exactly what my friend and I did! Enrique provided really great service at our table and giving recommendations. We love that! 10/10 Drink(s): Sprite (which was crispy and fresh) and S. Pellegrino sparkling water. Starter(s): Leche de Tigre ceviche (10/10) Entree(s): Arroz Chaufa (10/10) and Fino Maki (10/10) We will be back for sure! read more

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Yunta has everything I look for in a place with a vibrant nightlife: good food, good drinks, good music, and excellent service! The restaurant was very well decorated as well. The Peruvian fusion menu was diverse enough to offer something everyone would like, including several gluten free options. Our bar tender was extremely attentive, he made sure we had fun and were well taken care of. You definitely need to book a table here in advance. We came on a Saturday night with no reservation and we were seated at the bar after roughly 30 minutes, the wait was longer for a full table. I will definitely be returning (with a reservation next time!) read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Charlotte! The food is absolutely amazing I have not gotten anything I don't like. The ceviche is fresh, portions are big and fully of flavor. The yuca balls are a must try. Recently went for a birthday and the service was wonderful, the manager even came over and laughed with us. Awesome vibes, they have a Dj on the weekends and an open kitchen. 10/10 recommend for date night or birthday. read more

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I have been wanting to try Yunta forever since I first saw them pop up in social media. It definitely passes the vibe check from the moment you step inside. There was a live DJ by the large bar area that faced the open kitchen, beautiful lighting, and cozy seating throughout. Our main server was super sweet and patient as we took our time figuring out the eclectic menu. Everything we ended up ordering was a win. The drinks were beautiful and delicious, the food was creative, and everything was plated skillfully. I'm still thinking about the chicharron! Do yourself a favor and make a reservation asap, it's an experience! read more

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Words aren't enough. My new favorite in Charlotte (to no one's surprise since their sister La Lima is my reigning champion). Every dish was flavorful, perfectly cooked and served at the perfect temperature. The staff were so kind and helpful with questions about the menu. The setting is absolutely gorgeous in the day or night time - can't wait to go back. Get the whole menu!!!! You can't go wrong. read more

Yunta Nikkei - Beef Nigiri - Peruvian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I tried the yuca balls, the cruella roll, arroz chafa with pork belly, and the beef anticucho. I have zero complaints, our waiter was super nice, the service was incredible, and the food all came out great. I will be coming back to try the ceviche and nigiri for sure. I could have eaten like 30 of those yuca balls! read more

The food was soooooo good omg!!! Everything we ordered was 10/10. My favorites were the pork belly dish they have on their seasonal menu and the grilled octopus. I felt like I was in a restaurant in Tulum because of their ambience and the popping dance music. The service was also excellent and attentive. I wish they had a location in Northern VA! Will definitely be coming back if I visit Charlotte again. read more

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One of the best restaurants I've been to!! Yunta is Peruvian/japanese fusion, which I was so excited since this was two cuisines I loved and the fusion makes me excited to see what's in store. A fantastic start with the beef nigiri. I know beef and nigiri sounds ironic, but this was SO GOOD!! They torched the beef pieces in front of you and the sauce and seasoning on top was incredible. The tuna ceviche 100/10. Wow. SO FRESH and flavorful with a little bit of lime. They ask for spice level and they recommended mild and have the chili sauce on the side. Thank goodness we did that, the chili sauce on the side was no joke!! If you like raw fish, get the ponjo tradito. It's thinly sliced tuna in thi citrus ginger sauce that I honestly can drink haha. Soooo fresh. All the sauces and details of each plate was perfection. I also got the passion fruit cocktail and it was delicious and not too sweet. Service was incredible, the waitress we had gave us really good recommendations and she was honest if something wasn't the best. read more

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We loved Yunta. We stopped by on a Friday night. It was hard to get reservations before 8:30 so we wound up arriving there late evening. We found parking fairly easily in the neighborhood and walked in. Restaurant had low lighting with a DJ playing mixed house music. It was loud and space was limited even to stand and wait for our table. We ordered a few small plates --our favorite were the yucca balls and shrimp croquettes. We also ordered the pork belly and Udon Noodles as the entree. The drinks were also really good. Service was prompt and helpful. Our waitress knew the menu and guided us as best she could. Once we paid we were invited to sit at the bar by the bar manager since they likely needed our table for another party. read more

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This place is so good. I came here again with my hubby after I dropped in one afternoon in the summer with friends. Let me tell you. You don't want to pass this place up. He had beef nigiri which was delicious (great if you don't want raw fish), and Ponja Tiradito which he loved. I had Yunta Ceviche after having tasted a bite the first time I came and knew I had to have my own. It did not disappoint. It's cold, slightly sweet from the Peruvian corn and sweet potatoes, but bright with citrus flavors. It's super fresh, but be advised, it is a filling dish because of all the amazing seafood proteins. We also shared the Chicharron and that was just ok. Something didn't quite come together for me and the pork part was dry and needed more flavor. But I almost hate to say that because everything else I've had here is amazing. The staff is nice and the manager on both occasions was very involved- greeted us, asked how the food was, helped bring drinks over when need be. Basically acted like a true manager. Loved that. Yunta is a great place to experience. Sexy vibes and awesome food! And don't forget your reservation. Even week days at lunch can be busy. read more

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Yunta is the shining jewel in South End offering nothing short of great value of Peruvian fare in the sharp and beautiful ambiance. Kenneth and the rest of the team stood out providing the kindest service on a snow day for the most adventurous customers a wonderful dining experience when other restaurants throw in the flag. The Lomo Saltado and Pulpo Anticuchero are my favorites! read more

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I was in Charlotte for a birthday and he wanted to go to Yunta Nikkei. Absolutely loved the vibe and there was a DJ right by the table. We started with the ginger Miso Soup, which was warm and tasted phenomenal. We also had the Chicharrones that was shared with the table and hey were super flavorful with the right amount of meat and fat combination. Also, we had the Shrimp Gratin, with roasted garlic rocoto, pisco, and a little bit of parmesan cheese. The best drinks were the Pisco Sours, hands down. The service was quick and great and we had a great time enjoying the food and the DJ. I highly recommend overall for everything but especially the food. read more

Yunta Nikkei - Peruvian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

My friend and I came in from out of town to visit and thought this would be a nice place to have an experience and dinner. When I say this place is a vibe, it is that girl. Please, please, please know that this restaurant is going to be packed. Especially on a weekend... If you can get a reservation, please do because we waited for 45 minutes to an hour just for two people. There was a DJ playing house music, that was a nice addition to the atmosphere. Now let's get to the food... The food was fire. We loved everything we had from the Ramen to the steak Nigiri. The drinks were also really good. This would be really cute for a girls night out. Not necessarily date night... Because it's pretty loud in there and you can hardly hear each other talk but also if you've been dating for a while, this is fun. I'd go back... But only with the reservation read more

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Took myself out on a little solo date and snagged a seat at the bar. The vibe was relaxed but still lively -- perfect for treating yourself without it feeling awkward.. I started with the gratin and that was delicious and followed with the Fino - Fresh and light but with just enough kick from the jalapeño. The caviar on top...a nice little flex. Service at the bar was friendly and easygoing. Never felt rushed or overlooked. Great spot whether you're solo or with friends. I'll definitely be back. read more

Yunta Nikkei - Fino - Peruvian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Best restaurant in charlotte. It's so creative and delicious. The service was amazing.... Please remember it is in South end, so it's going to be loud. I can't even begin to choose a favorite dish. Just try as much as you can. You will not be disappointed. I cannot get over how amazing this place is. read more

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Great place for a dinner date! The atmosphere was modern, and upscale but yet still feels casual as well. The food was great. Every dish was presented nicely and the flavor was great. The Service was also great! The staffs were attentive and very friendly and always came to check up on us at the right time. read more

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Yunta is a unique staple that's very authentic. Although a little dark in some spots, the food is always made fast and fresh. Our waiter was very helpful, funny and very knowledgeable about the menu. Definitely make reservations and enjoy! read more

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It's always a yummy time at Yunta! We came this trip for a friend's birthday. She loves their ceviche and it is really truly fantastic, so I don't blame her. I tried the passion fruit juice and it was sooooo good and they give you a big glass full. I really appreciate that. You also have the option to order a pitcher which is pretty cool too. This trip I had ceviche, can't remember which one but it was amazing. I'm sure they all are honestly. So fresh, so tasty. I also ordered the Udon Noodles for my meal, which has: Steak, Shrimp, Red Onion, Aji Amarillo, Cherry Tomato, Cilantro. This was sadly not that great. It wasn't bad, but it lacked flavor. I had to ask for salt & pepper and that didn't help it. Someone seated next to us sent a dish back too, so maybe it was an off day in the kitchen. I didn't send mine back but I didn't finish it either. I'll probably just stick to small plates if I come back, those always seems to be really good. It's always fun and lively in here. Service is on and off in my experience. Some servers/bartenders are nice, some seem annoyed. Good visit overall though. read more

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This was the BEST date night!! My boyfriend and I celebrated on a date night here and had the best experience. The lighting was moody and the decor was classy, I LOVED the music in this place. Service was above and beyond, and the food was fantastic! The ceviche was truly the star of the show, we tried the yunta ceviche with "medium" spice and WOW. It had a tart and spicy kick to it and was SO delicious. The sweet potato and corn paired beautifully with all of the other flavors. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

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Yunta is an amazing place to eat. I loved every minute there. The food was really good and the people were very friendly and welcoming. The ambience was very nice as the place was comfortable and quiet for the most part. I can see why this is a tough place to get into. If you're coming to town, or are locals, you need to put this on your to-do list. Only thing I would suggest is to have this place start using OpenTable versus Resy. My daughter, along with some of her friends had issues reservations vanished. read more

Great experience at Yunta! The sushi was fresh and the ceviche was to die for! Service was amazing, they refilled our drinks often, cleaned the plates from the table as soon as we finished eating and were super attentive. read more

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I choose to spend my birthday dinner here at Yunta, and it was a 10/10 experience. We initially made a reservation for 2 for dinner around 7pm and it was fairly packed when we got there( so definitely make reservations ahead of time). We were immediately seated at a back booth and greeted with waters and a beautiful selection of sales both cold and hot. We started with the Sho Chiku Bai Nigori with was deliciously sweet and creamy. To start we ordered the Yunta Ceviche and the presentation alone was amazing but then the taste only elevated it so much more. Honestly if I came for just the ceviche alone I'd be a happy girl. We didn't stop there..we ordered the Ponja Tiradito which was a tuna sashimi dish that was so fresh and the sauce was light and refreshing. We then ordered the Parrillero Maki roll with was a great main to share. The flame torch show to sear the top of the roll was a unique and great experience. They brought us a dessert for my birthday and we also ordered a chocolate Lucuma which was recommended by our waitress. I loved the personal touch with the polaroid camera when they brought out the desserts. I think Yunta is definitely one of those places where it gives off the best kind of experience, service, and quality of food. I can't wait for another excuse to celebrate again at Yunta! read more

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Every dish at Yunta was carefully thought-out and flavorful. The tuna nigiri was incredibly fresh, and the ceviche was the perfect balance of rich and zesty. The cheesy Peruvian corn side was sweet and rich--and a perfect shareable size. The parrillelo maki roll (tempura shrimp, avo, torched tuna) was just okay for $20--most of the flavor came from the sauce. The steak skewers were flavorful but lacked a sear and came undercooked (medium rare was requested). I had heard that Yunta goes "all out" to celebrate birthdays, and we did get a yummy tiramisu cupcake with a sparkler for my mom's birthday, but I was surprised when they charged me $9 for it since I didn't order it. The ambiance is a bit chaotic. It's a small restaurant, and the tables are very close together. It's also fairly loud, between the thumping house music and conversations of tables next to you. I think it's a great place to go out for some trendy bites and drinks, especially if you like a live DJ. read more

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Excellent food. Awesome service. Great music. Don't hesitate to try this place. Must haves: chicharron, Que guevada drink, and any of the ceviches! AMAZING. And don't forget the passion fruit crème brûlée read more

My friend and I loved our experience so much! We ordered a logos array of items: Yunta Ceviche, Ponja Tiradito, Parrillero Maki, Arroz con Mariscos, and Brasa Potatoes! Everything came out amazing and the servers made sure we knew exactly what we were getting and a little bit of the history behind the flavor profiles. 10/10 experience! read more

Excelente servicio! Visitamos el lugar mi hermana, mi mamá y yo por el día de las madres. Breiner hizo nuestra experiencia increíble, nos explico a detalle todo, nos ayudó con el menú e incluso nos trajo el postre con una vela y fotos para tomarnos entre familia. El ambiente espectacular y muy lindo. Recomendadisimo!!! Excellent service! My sister, my mom, and I visited the place for Mother's Day. Breiner made our experience incredible; he explained everything to us in detail, helped us with the menu, and even brought us dessert with a candle and photos for us to take as a family. The atmosphere was spectacular and very charming. Highly recommended!!! read more

Went with the work crew -- 17 of us -- and the dishes just kept flowing! I'll be honest, I'm not even sure of everything I tried, but it was all fresh and full of flavor. If something didn't hit the mark, it was more about personal taste than the quality of the food. Anything with salmon was absolutely delicious. I'm a little sensitive when it comes to texture, and a few items danced on the edge of that for me -- but I could still recognize the quality of food how well everything was prepared. I really enjoyed tasting flavor combinations I wasn't expecting. The presentation was top-notch. The skewers were my favorite! The risotto rice was also great but I'm watching carbs so I kept that away from me. Oddly enough, with everything we tried, we didn't order any sushi -- so I'll definitely have to go back for that. The staff was fantastic -- attentive, quick, and friendly. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but they still managed to accommodate our large group. We ended up sitting outside without realizing it would be 98 degrees. It was HOT, but the staff provided ice and water, eventually, the heat just faded into the background. All in all, great food, great drinks, excellent service, and a memorable experience. Would absolutely return! read more

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Yunta is the best culinary experience & restaurant in Charlotte. Easy #1 spot. 10,10, 10s across the board. They serve Peruvian Asian fusion cuisine in a really swanky and intimate environment. The menu is perfectly crafted too. Everything pairs and compliments each-other. All of the dishes are DELICIOUS. My favorite thing on the menu is the arroz con mariscos. It's super hearty and comforting. It's also a hugeeee portion. In terms of their appetizers - the yucca balls are my favorite. They're VERY cheesy and melty on the inside but crispy on the outside. All of their cocktails also get 5 stars. If you've never been here before, try the pisco cocktails as it is Peruvian signature. I had an espresso martini as well as a spicy marg. Both were poured to perfection. This is a PHENOMENAL date night spot. Great for girls night. Great for a special occasion. They sometimes have DJs on the weekend but this isn't a place you'll really dance. It's just very vibe(y) and more intimate and sleek. I've sat at a table and the bar and service has always been great. Everyone is genuinely helpful and knowledgeable on the menu and ready for recommendations. They're typically fully booked on weekends. Reservations here during peak hours can sometimes be hard to snag. You should book as far early as possible to guarantee a table. Yunta is worth every penny spent here. read more

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Loved our first experience and came back again. Came 5:30PM on a Friday - just ahead of the crowd and there was plenty of space at the bar. It filled in quickly over the next hour. Mixed reactions on the food this time around. The Ponja Tiradito ($19) was really tasty as was the Panza Nigiri ($16). The Tuna Nigiri ($16) was pretty dry and the Vegan Maki ($16) was a little disappointing as the sweet potato was minimal at best. Portion sizes in general seem a little light considering the price. Overall, we like the place and the food for the most part is pretty good....however is a little spendy for the portions. read more

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Loved our date night here at Yunta. I feel like this restaurant is something Charlotte needs! Up scale feeling with affordable and delicious food, great service, and good drinks. We had the ceviche Classico, fino maki, salmon belly nigiri, and pulpo anticuchero and the pulpo was to die for!! So delicious and probs the best octopus I've ever had. So flavorful and tender. We also really enjoyed the ceviche. You get a lot for an app. Fino maki was good as well but caution, the jalapeño is spicyy. Now the salmon belly I probably wouldn't order again just because the flavoring for it was too acidic for my taste but we'd definitely come here again! read more

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I was super excited to try this restaurant after hearing so much about it. This place is a Japanese Peruvian fusion. We got a few dishes. I think my favorite were the two maki's that we got. The a lo pobre (from the brunch menu) was also very good. The steak was super tender and the potato's were juicy. The seafood fried rice was good but it just wasn't anything special. I got there maracuya (passion fruit) juice which really complemented the meal well. read more

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