48 Best Japanese Restaurants in Raleigh

“Inside a cute little food hall, this place makes their corner feel like an authentic sushi bar with plenty of seating, English subtitled anime playing, and an excellent music selection (I may be biased; I went on October 24th and they were playing good Halloween music and Dragon Ball Super). Despite going on a Saturday during lunch I didn't have trouble finding a seat. But also. The food. I got the salmon chiraishi and it was excellent. Your pickled radish was still crunchy, the salmon was perfect, the rice was perfectly cooked. They also have tacos and other Tex Nex offerings in addition to the Japanese menu. 10/10 absolutely fantastic“

“Made us something not on the menu and it was on the house! Waitstaff was very friendly :)“

“First visit with the kids and it was amazing. The staff were all great and the food was beyond amazing 🤩. I will definitely be back and will bring more people with me.“

“Sono was the best sushi I’ve had in a long time! Out of alllll the rolls at our table the Screaming O was amazing. The Poke roll was a close second. Great food, great service — including our server boxing up leftovers and including a fresh salad as an extra customer care touch!
If you’re in the mood for goooood sushi - check Somo out!“

“Amazing diner experience
from starter to main everything was fresh, well prepared and very tasty
The staff is discrete but friendly with good recommendations
The place is very cozy and clean and not too loud.
A 100% recommendation“

“Was solid and Abby was a beautiful and attentive waitress.“

“Delicious food! Best donuts I’ve ever had! It’s a very busy restaurant but they are working super hard and service isn’t slow. We loved the cozy atmosphere. It’s a little loud, I wish they would turn down the music
We will be returning for sure!“

“Ventured out from our normal sushi mainstay to try something new, based on something we saw on Instagram. It turned out to be a fantastic choice. Upon arrival, there was a buzz and you got the sense this was anymore traditional restaurant versus those that position themselves as trendy. There was an electricity in the air and the sound of a bell being rung whenever someone leaves a tip at the bar. We ordered the omakase. The chef personally came out to speak with us, explaining the courses, and asking about allergies. Then our journey began. We had six courses of 16 nigiri and 5 rolls the chef created for the evening. Every piece was a feast for the eyes and a treat for the taste buds. You knew it was fresh just by sight, but it all came together when you slid them in your pinhole. All in all, this was an excellent first impression. I will return and explore the menu. My only negative is very personal, because I'm a lazy driver and would prefer a closer location. Cheers!“

“My Mom and I were in this part of the Research Triangle Park (RTP) area taking care of some administrative work and decided to treat ourselves to noodles afterward. Ton Noodles came up in our search, and it certainly deserves its high rating!

We sat outside and enjoyed the lovely, relaxed atmosphere. Although the restaurant is located in a strip mall, the outdoor setting is surprisingly idyllic and peaceful.

I ordered a pork ramen dish, which I promptly wolfed down, while my Mom thoroughly enjoyed her vegetarian noodles. We even brought the leftovers home to make sure we did the food justice! 😊

The service was equally delightful. Our server was warm, friendly, and attentive, serving our food with a genuine smile. A little kindness goes a long way, and it made the experience that much more enjoyable.

Overall, a wonderful little discovery. We would absolutely visit again.

Thank you, Ton Noodles, for a lovely meal and a very pleasant experience! 💗“

“Phenomenal experience. Everything is amazing. We ate sushi, sashimi and many other options from the large selection on the menu. Everything is fresh and made to order. It way better than buffet style. We have been here 2 times in one week and will be back again very soon.“

“Great food and excellent service and all you can eat for under $20“

“I had a favorite ramen place that I go to.....but this might be the one lol! The ramen taste just like straight from Japan! The fact that I'm half Japanese and always eat ramen Everytime I go to Japan, this is hands down just like it. I will come here again when I make my trips to Raleigh and my son has made it his favorite spot as well. The employees there are nice, it's clean and quiet. Love it!“

“Absolutely amazing experience! The sushi was delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented, but what really made my visit special was the service.

I want to give a special shout-out to Omar, our server. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever felt this well taken care of at a restaurant before. He was incredibly attentive, friendly, professional, and genuinely made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. His attention to detail and the way he treated us made the entire experience exceptional.

Omar is a true asset to this restaurant. I’ll definitely be coming back, and I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great sushi and outstanding service!“

“good food. sat outside, nice atmosphere“

“I got the steak and shrimp hibachi and my wife got two types of sushi. All of the food was exceptional which surprised me because the place is a hole in the wall basically. It has 3 non-cushioned booths and some bar stools. They give you the food in take out bags which I thought was weird since they knew we were going to eat there. No public restroom. The lady that took our order was nice but English was definitely not her main language so fyi if that bothers you. I don’t care either way.“

“Uglyfish is a restaurant you'd never expect to be this good just by looking at it from the outside, but once you step inside, you quickly realize why so many people are raving about it!

I tried so many different things, including the nigiri sampler, a variety of hand rolls, sushi, tuna guac, and more. One of my favorite bites was definitely the tuna guac... it was incredibly fresh and delicious!

I'm already looking forward to coming back and trying even more. I definitely recommend this spot if you're a sushi lover like me!“

“This has been my go-to hibachi place for years!! The chicken hibachi with rice is really good and I like that they offer a spicy version as well. The girl at the front, Gabi, is really welcoming and always makes sure we have everything we need.“

“Had an amazing real good food just like at my friends house :) brings me back. Market I loved got more than I wanted :)“

“Traditional Chinese dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken often undergo arbitrary substitutions—for example, replacing chicken with scallops or beef—while the accompanying vegetables, such as American broccoli, are sometimes presented as generic greens. The core ingredients of Kung Pao Chicken are typically limited to peanuts, celery, and occasionally sesame seeds, with minor additions like carrots for variation. Despite these small adjustments, the overall preparation method remains largely unchanged: the protein is coated in batter, deep-fried, and then stir-fried again with a sweetened sauce. As a result, many variations lack genuine creativity and tend to feel repetitive in both technique and flavor profile.

As for Japanese cuisine, it is often perceived as more of a marketing concept than a reflection of everyday culinary diversity. Based on my personal experience, including interactions with Japanese classmates who appreciated my homemade meals, I have the impression that, beyond sushi, Japanese cooking is sometimes viewed as relatively limited in scope.

Regarding customer complaints that the beef is excessively tough, such feedback is not entirely unexpected. The restaurant appears to position itself within a broadly accessible price range, which is often accompanied by relatively conventional and unremarkable menu offerings. Under such a pricing model, it is reasonable to infer that many dishes may rely on pre-prepared or partially processed ingredients—frequently frozen—before being reheated or finished upon ordering.

In this context, the final quality of the dish is highly dependent on the chef’s control of timing and temperature. Pre-cooked components are particularly sensitive to reheating; even slight deviations can result in overcooking, leading to undesirable textures such as toughness in beef.

At the same time, customer expectations play a significant role. There is an inherent mismatch when diners anticipate premium, fine-dining quality while paying for meals priced at a mass-market level. Conversely, some may be reluctant to incur the higher costs associated with upscale establishments while still expecting comparable culinary standards. This tension reflects a broader and well-recognized aspect of consumer behavior, where expectations and willingness to pay are not always aligned.“

“Wonderful place for Dinner“

“Saw this new place that recently opened while visiting my cousin in town, so we decided to give it a try—and I’m so glad we did! The food was delicious, fresh, and full of flavor. Everything we ordered was really well-prepared, and the portions were generous too. The whole experience was great, and it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area. I’ll absolutely be back next time I visit my cousin!“

“My husband almost moved to Raleigh when we were engaged because of Sake House. Both our families & his job being in Virginia tipped the scale in that direction, but not by much. The sushi is excellent“

“On a motorcycle ride and decided to stop and grab some food and take a break.
Trying a new thing and bought the creamy ramen chicken soup. I actually liked it and loved the egg, corn and seaweed addition. Tried this at Morgan St Food Hall. Will be back again!

Free water and cup pitcher. Atmosphere was live last night. Pretty crowded and bar was packed.

Parking deck is on the same block.“

“This place has really good Hibachi. i would highly recommend it. the yum yum sauce is homemade and is outstanding. I'll keep coming back.“

“Since moving from NY to NC, I've been looking for a really good Japanese Steak place like a Benihana or, where I came from on Long Island, we had a place called Shiro's. I found the food at Umanmi to be excellent...and, plan to go back soon.“

“The food was absolutely banging. If I’m going to nitpick anything I would say I would want more veggies. I got the yummy chicken and it was tender, flavorful and the rice was great. Crab ragoons didn’t miss. I will be back. Great service as well.“

“Best hidden gem. Amazing food and super friendly staff. We’ll be back soon!“

“Fast service. Lovely surroundings, beautiful carved tables and great good.“

“They use the best Quality Food and always have stellar service, super clean too!“

“Total Gem! The best Hibachi place in town. Either to eat there or order to-go is always good. Great quality, flavor and value! I've tried multiple dishes and they are all good. Hibachi (any), yaki soba noodles (steak), bah mi pork is delicious too!“

“Everything the server crew was amazing“

“absolutely delicious, the food was perfectly seasoned and so so good

also the staff was very helpful, especially Emily, with recommending dishes that fit my likings

all in all it is a very clean, sweet, and cute establishment

10/10 recommend“

“Very good food and friendly relaxing awesome etc“

“It is located In a grocery store. Food is very fresh and home-made style. Ordered two dishes. Waited for about 15-20 minutes. A little bit long but you can see they are cooking inside. I am not sure if it is authentic, but definitely fresh and delicious, and healthy. Will go again.“

“Nice place. Fried dumplings were so good.“

“I've been to this restaurant a few times in the past month. The store itself is not all that glamorous, it's a bit unassuming I would say. However the food and service is exceptional. I really enjoyed both the dragon roll and the crab tempura roll when I had them and after recently trying both their Korean style honey glazed and sweet & spicy chicken. I can safely say this has now become my go-to place for fried chicken (if you haven't had Korean fried chicken, definitely check it out).“

“Great Lunch option! I get the lunch boxes for my employees and they all like how meaty and filling it is.“

“Love it the people was nice food was great“

“There is not a tastier or healthier option for the money in Raleigh. The lunch deal is less than $10 with a drink and includes delicious meat and veggies! Their sauces are fabulous! So is the service. It's a fast-food setting but fun, especially upstairs.“

“Love it the people was nice food was great“

“Awesome customer service. Dining in at the bar or to go orders. Always come to this location for the past 12 years they are the best.“

“eggplant in garlic sauce was delicious, spicy too!“

“The Spicy crab with Sriracha was amazing. I'll definitely be back.“

“Enter Hibachi 101. High pitched Asian noises greet you as you place your order for Hibachi that absolutely slaps. The inside is unassuming but why are you here??!?? To get a massage? No. You are here for the Hibachi, now eat it.

The Vegies are also very good.

Yumyum sauce = yumyumyummy“

“Walking into this restaurant/new coffee bar, felt like walking in being greeted by family. The food was amazing, and fresh! The have some great community art plans for the restaurant!!! I highly recommend for atmosphere, food quality, and ambience.“

“Tried this place first time today. Food was awesome. Got the steak hibachi and wife got the vegetable hibachi . Also got the spring rolls which were super hot and great. Both plates were great and nice and hot with great flavor. Rice was nice and fluffy not a ball stuck together. Great place for hibachi and Owner is a super nice guy. Will be back soon.“

“Great sushi, drinks and atmosphere“

“My favorite place to buy Sushi!! It's not the fanciest place but the quality of the food is very good, which is what matters most to me. Staff is always polite and welcoming. I am and will continue to be a regular customer.“