44 Best Japanese Restaurants in Raleigh

“Good drink specials throughout the week, I appreciate the infusion that these dishes provide between Mexican and Asian. I always get the sushi with a little less sauce, which always is perfect for me. It’s great to have a sit down restaurant. That’s also one you can order from the bar and take to go inside the food hall.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“I ordered pork bulgogi to go. The amount of food for the price was good. I am not a big eater by any means, but I was able to have it for dinner last night and lunch today. Both times I was quite full.

There was a little bite mixed in with the sweet which is always a great mix in my experience. I would happily order this again.“

“good food. sat outside, nice atmosphere“

“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!“

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

“Standout dishes for us was the Hot & Sour Soup, Butter Edamame and the Gyoza. Rolls were really good too and you should request the fresh wasabi. There seemed to be little tension between employees… our server seemed distracted and unenthused but with all that said we will go back!“

“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.“

“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.“

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

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

“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“

“Wonderful place for Dinner“

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

“Whenever I am in the Raleigh area and I am near, this is my favorite quick Japanese restaurant. The food and atmosphere is consistent and the quality is fresh and you receive a bang for your buck. The inside is a small quaint restaurant and I usually take it to go.“

“The atmosphere ar Kazu Hibachi was quiet, good for conversations. Appreciated the oriental interior decor. The hostess & server were kind and efficient.
The taste of our hibachi steak and hibachi shrimp was wonderfully delicious. The only problem was portion size. In this economy, I'm not sure if seafood or beef is more expensive but I'd like to see more shrimp & veggies as the other plate had steak and veggies.
I would still recommend & return for another meal.“

“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.“

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

“Love it the people was nice food was great“

“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“

“Nice place. Fried dumplings were so good.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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).“

“This place has the best Korean chicken wings. They make them to order and the homemade kimchi was the best I've ever had. It gets crowded quickly because there isn't much space in the checkout or restaurant area, but it's worth a trip.“

“Very good food and friendly relaxing awesome etc“

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

“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.“

“Love it the people was nice food was great“

“If I order take out and don't order extra white sauce, I get a cup that's barely half full. If I order one extra white sauce, I get two that are filled to the brim. Is there a happy medium that exists?

5/7 stars, will eat here again.“

“Everything the server crew was amazing“

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

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

“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.“

“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“

“Great food , good service!!!“

“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.“