It's important to clarify that this is an authentic Japanese tea service, by appointment only. It is not meant to be a lunch/dinner service (they used to do Kaiseki but now they do tea ceremony only), so please plan ahead. They maintain an intimate and authentic experience so each time only 2-3 people could get in, for good reasons. My husband and I signed up on their waitlist at least 6 months in advance, and when I received the call from the owner, I was so thrilled.They did a very thorough job telling you what you can expect and how to prepare for it before coming. Please be punctual. Chef Yamazawa and Ms. Yamazawa would wait to greet the guests in Japanese Kimono outside the house (and they'll walk you through the procedure before you enter the tea house), so it really doesn't feel nice to the host if you're late.About the place: They convert their residence to provide an authentic tatami experience inside (but you'd be hard to tell from outside). There's only parking space for one car (which is the driveway at the front of the house). We were a bit confused at first as we didn't mean to drive "into" the gate, but the host helped us right away so nothing to worry there. Once inside, they'll share with you everything about Japanese tea ritual, what to do, what it means (as each Japanese tea session is almost a meditation session that encourages guests to explore their inner peace and to live in the present moment), etc. I love to learn about the culture, their stories (why deciding to transition from a restaurant to a Japanese tea house), and everything.It's worth noting that it is not allowed to take photos during the tea session. I appreciate the disconnection from social media and phone to enjoy serenity for a nice afternoon! (After everything's wrapped up, you're welcome to take photos at the entrance)Overall, this is a cultural experience for ~2h long, rather than a lunch/dinner thing (there will be a little bit snacks/desert as part of the tea ceremony, but don't count on them to feed you). Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chad Stinner
* Google images does not do the location justice. It looks like a normal home and that is intentional. It is a tea house, for private events, not open to the public. *Their transition from restaurant to tea ceremony was masterfully done. While it's a very different experience, they definitely kept to the same standard as their restaurant. From the moment you arrive (even before you exit your car) until you leave you are their only focus.It's a smaller and more intimate experience yet did not disappoint. The explanation of what's about to happen and setting expectations made it work seamlessly. There were also plenty of opportunities to ask and engage in questions / provide feedback.As you look around you'll find that everything was hand crafted, even the tea house itself. You are given ample time to enjoy the experienced and are never rushed.Definitely well worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Will Hare
Once in a lifetime experience. I'll never forget my evening here. I'm already shouting at other friends to go here and have this experience. The food is great, but the environment is the star of the show.
Steph S
Hard to give this anything other than 5 stars, intimate setting, chef is this older japanese gentleman and server is his wife. Waitlist is months long and the price is not cheap.Best thing to do is let go and allow the chef take you on an adventure. From his handmade plates and silverware, to the garnishes from his home garden, and presentation of the food. Food itself was enjoyable but the combined experience heightened the sensation. Lucky to have this in NC, much less our small town of Durham.
Gina Nordin
Dinner here is an experience. The attention to detail and execution of the meal is impressive and the food was fantastic. Thank you so much!
Stephen Shan
Hard to give this anything other than 5 stars, intimate setting, chef is this older japanese gentleman and server is his wife. Waitlist is months long and the price is not cheap.Best thing to do is let go and allow the chef take you on an adventure. From his handmade plates and silverware, to the garnishes from his home garden, and presentation of the food. Food itself was enjoyable but the combined experience heightened the sensation. Lucky to have this in NC, much less our small town of Durham.
Theresa D.
A reservation only place....very authentic Japanese cusine. I recommend the dumplings, the scallops and eggplant. We were given a complimentary appitizer...family business...a wonderful experience. All food served on handcrafted pottery made by the owner. If you are looking for edamme or sushi rolls, this is not your place. Next i will try the lunch menu which had tempura.
Jesica Averhart
Our experience was beautiful and artfully guided. Chef Yamazushi's eight course menu was skillfully designed, beautifully prepared and delicious. *Also as a bonus, the assorted pottery made by chef was a treat. Yamazushi lives up to its reputation as the most authentic Japanese cuisine in the Triangle.
725kathyk
The atmosphere here is calming and beautiful. The food was absolutely wonderful and we all left feeling relaxed and like we'd had a spa day.
Panpan Z.
Our favorite sushi place in Cary. My husband and I had our fist date there almost 10 years ago. Still our favorite place, fish are always fresh, they have the best shrimp tempura very authentic. We have tried almost every thing on the menu, we liked everything. Definitely check this place out
BEST RESTAURANT EVER!!! The food was expertly prepared, the plating was methodical and beautiful, and the hosts were kind and thoughtful. We have all of the courses, and a wonderful dessert that the chef starting making nearly 10 hours in advance of our reservation! We finished off the meal with some earthy and smooth matcha, and then left feeling very satisfied. My family and I had a wonderful time and can't wait to return. Thank you Yamazushi!
Chloe M.
This was an amazing experience, a truly once in a lifetime meal. The hosts cared about our dining experience and thoughtfully explained the methodical and intricate preparation of each course. We can't wait to return! Best food we've ever had.
Chloe M
I have eaten all over the globe and was absolutely delighted to find this hidden gem very close to me. It's the best food I've ever had. The staff is so kind, the food is amazing, and the atmosphere is incredibly peaceful. This is a traditional style keiseki and the whole dinner takes around 3 utterly blissful hours. We left feeling full, happy, and peaceful. This is a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you Yamazushi!
Daniel Debrecht
Very high ratings for communication, customer service, and quality.From the second you enter the restaurant you feel as tho you are halfway around the world. You get lost in the food/decor. Every dish served was visually appealing, fresh, and tasty. This is a once in a lifetime experience and would recommend it. It is more of an experience than anything else.Be prepared for a long wait to get a reservation and for smaller portions than most are accustomed to. The price is also high, but it's not a place you will eat at often and the experience is worth it.
Kenneth S.
First and foremost I want to say this is a must try experience. The menu does change each time so it will be different. Let's start with the atmosphere and service. -Atmosphere is very personal and you just feel a sense of pride in the place. -Service is TOP notch and traditional in the Japanese way. If you have not experienced it this is a must. Now let's good to the food. There are 8 different courses that you will try of the course of your adventure. Each dish is handmade by the chief and obviously made with a lot of care. There is no rush to eat or anything along those lines so please take your time to enjoy every savory moment. We had a bunch of unique dishes that I can't even remember the name of. However, my favorites were the fried mushrooms, dragon fruit, and seafood hotpot. Again, everything is made by the Chief and is unique in nature. Also, it is EXTREMELY cool that the all the plates are handmade my the Chief also. Don't expect to get full off the food but you will be satisfied. However, you are definitely going to get a unique experience. The food is amazing and the experience is definitely something you will only get from this place unless your in Japan.
It's important to clarify that this is an authentic Japanese tea service, by appointment only. It is not meant to be a lunch/dinner service (they used to do Kaiseki but now they do tea ceremony only), so please plan ahead. They maintain an intimate and authentic experience so each time only 2-3 people could get in, for good reasons. My husband and I signed up on their waitlist at least 6 months in advance, and when I received the call from the owner, I was so thrilled.They did a very thorough job telling you what you can expect and how to prepare for it before coming. Please be punctual. Chef Yamazawa and Ms. Yamazawa would wait to greet the guests in Japanese Kimono outside the house (and they'll walk you through the procedure before you enter the tea house), so it really doesn't feel nice to the host if you're late.About the place: They convert their residence to provide an authentic tatami experience inside (but you'd be hard to tell from outside). There's only parking space for one car (which is the driveway at the front of the house). We were a bit confused at first as we didn't mean to drive "into" the gate, but the host helped us right away so nothing to worry there. Once inside, they'll share with you everything about Japanese tea ritual, what to do, what it means (as each Japanese tea session is almost a meditation session that encourages guests to explore their inner peace and to live in the present moment), etc. I love to learn about the culture, their stories (why deciding to transition from a restaurant to a Japanese tea house), and everything.It's worth noting that it is not allowed to take photos during the tea session. I appreciate the disconnection from social media and phone to enjoy serenity for a nice afternoon! (After everything's wrapped up, you're welcome to take photos at the entrance)Overall, this is a cultural experience for ~2h long, rather than a lunch/dinner thing (there will be a little bit snacks/desert as part of the tea ceremony, but don't count on them to feed you). Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
* Google images does not do the location justice. It looks like a normal home and that is intentional. It is a tea house, for private events, not open to the public. *Their transition from restaurant to tea ceremony was masterfully done. While it's a very different experience, they definitely kept to the same standard as their restaurant. From the moment you arrive (even before you exit your car) until you leave you are their only focus.It's a smaller and more intimate experience yet did not disappoint. The explanation of what's about to happen and setting expectations made it work seamlessly. There were also plenty of opportunities to ask and engage in questions / provide feedback.As you look around you'll find that everything was hand crafted, even the tea house itself. You are given ample time to enjoy the experienced and are never rushed.Definitely well worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Once in a lifetime experience. I'll never forget my evening here. I'm already shouting at other friends to go here and have this experience. The food is great, but the environment is the star of the show.
Hard to give this anything other than 5 stars, intimate setting, chef is this older japanese gentleman and server is his wife. Waitlist is months long and the price is not cheap.Best thing to do is let go and allow the chef take you on an adventure. From his handmade plates and silverware, to the garnishes from his home garden, and presentation of the food. Food itself was enjoyable but the combined experience heightened the sensation. Lucky to have this in NC, much less our small town of Durham.
Dinner here is an experience. The attention to detail and execution of the meal is impressive and the food was fantastic. Thank you so much!
Hard to give this anything other than 5 stars, intimate setting, chef is this older japanese gentleman and server is his wife. Waitlist is months long and the price is not cheap.Best thing to do is let go and allow the chef take you on an adventure. From his handmade plates and silverware, to the garnishes from his home garden, and presentation of the food. Food itself was enjoyable but the combined experience heightened the sensation. Lucky to have this in NC, much less our small town of Durham.
A reservation only place....very authentic Japanese cusine. I recommend the dumplings, the scallops and eggplant. We were given a complimentary appitizer...family business...a wonderful experience. All food served on handcrafted pottery made by the owner. If you are looking for edamme or sushi rolls, this is not your place. Next i will try the lunch menu which had tempura.
Our experience was beautiful and artfully guided. Chef Yamazushi's eight course menu was skillfully designed, beautifully prepared and delicious. *Also as a bonus, the assorted pottery made by chef was a treat. Yamazushi lives up to its reputation as the most authentic Japanese cuisine in the Triangle.
The atmosphere here is calming and beautiful. The food was absolutely wonderful and we all left feeling relaxed and like we'd had a spa day.
Our favorite sushi place in Cary. My husband and I had our fist date there almost 10 years ago. Still our favorite place, fish are always fresh, they have the best shrimp tempura very authentic. We have tried almost every thing on the menu, we liked everything. Definitely check this place out
Restaurantji Recommends
BEST RESTAURANT EVER!!! The food was expertly prepared, the plating was methodical and beautiful, and the hosts were kind and thoughtful. We have all of the courses, and a wonderful dessert that the chef starting making nearly 10 hours in advance of our reservation! We finished off the meal with some earthy and smooth matcha, and then left feeling very satisfied. My family and I had a wonderful time and can't wait to return. Thank you Yamazushi!
This was an amazing experience, a truly once in a lifetime meal. The hosts cared about our dining experience and thoughtfully explained the methodical and intricate preparation of each course. We can't wait to return! Best food we've ever had.
I have eaten all over the globe and was absolutely delighted to find this hidden gem very close to me. It's the best food I've ever had. The staff is so kind, the food is amazing, and the atmosphere is incredibly peaceful. This is a traditional style keiseki and the whole dinner takes around 3 utterly blissful hours. We left feeling full, happy, and peaceful. This is a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you Yamazushi!
Very high ratings for communication, customer service, and quality.From the second you enter the restaurant you feel as tho you are halfway around the world. You get lost in the food/decor. Every dish served was visually appealing, fresh, and tasty. This is a once in a lifetime experience and would recommend it. It is more of an experience than anything else.Be prepared for a long wait to get a reservation and for smaller portions than most are accustomed to. The price is also high, but it's not a place you will eat at often and the experience is worth it.
First and foremost I want to say this is a must try experience. The menu does change each time so it will be different. Let's start with the atmosphere and service. -Atmosphere is very personal and you just feel a sense of pride in the place. -Service is TOP notch and traditional in the Japanese way. If you have not experienced it this is a must. Now let's good to the food. There are 8 different courses that you will try of the course of your adventure. Each dish is handmade by the chief and obviously made with a lot of care. There is no rush to eat or anything along those lines so please take your time to enjoy every savory moment. We had a bunch of unique dishes that I can't even remember the name of. However, my favorites were the fried mushrooms, dragon fruit, and seafood hotpot. Again, everything is made by the Chief and is unique in nature. Also, it is EXTREMELY cool that the all the plates are handmade my the Chief also. Don't expect to get full off the food but you will be satisfied. However, you are definitely going to get a unique experience. The food is amazing and the experience is definitely something you will only get from this place unless your in Japan.