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Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
206 W Main StCarrboro, NC 27510
(919) 942-6848
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
45 reviews for Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Definitely best sushi around Chapel Hill." In 6 reviews -
"Spicy tuna roll was perfect, as were the yellowtail, salmon..." In 4 reviews -
"...soup, a salad with ginger dressing, maybe some gyoza or..." In 3 reviews
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45 reviews in English
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Review from Jon M.
Chapel Hill, NC
4/17/2012
Akai Hana is the best sushi I've found in the Durham-Chapel Hill area. As Raleigh is the land of leprechauns and unicorns as far as I'm concerned I never really venture over there to eat, so I know nothing about the sushi places there.
My girlfriend and I have been to numerous sushi places in the area looking for a place we can call home and we finally found it at akai hana. the sushi menu is not the most extensive you'll find, but the rolls are tasty, the fish is fresh and the rice is good. And on top of it all, its pretty reasonably priced.
We eat at Akai Hana 3-4 times a month and are happy and satisfied each and every time. Its not the best sushi you'll ever have, nor is it the most adventurous or elaborate, but it is very good, consistent and reasonably priced. A perfect little gem in Carrboro. I can honestly recommend akai hana without reservations.
enjoy. -
Review from Laura M.
Indianapolis, IN
10/16/2011
Well, I don't have any big complaints about Akai Hana, but I don't feel the need to run around naked in the streets yelling about how awesome it is, either. It's really hard to get good sushi in this area without killing your budget, and Akai Hana is an ok place to grab a sushi lunch for around 10-15 bucks.
My metric for judging sushi is how hard I have to fight with my nigiri to bite it in half. I do not want to look like a fool gnawing at my fish to avoid stuffing the whole thing in my mouth. For the most part, Akai Hana lets me avoid this scenario. The fish isn't melt-in-your-mouth consistency, but it's decent.
They have good specialty rolls for around 10 bucks each, so it's fun to go for dinner and get sushi to share. For people like me who think that cream cheese + sushi = horrible abomination, they are accommodating about leaving it out. The servers are really wonderful and friendly.
Parking can be a pain, but overall it's a solid place to go for your sushi. -
Review from Leela S.
Chapel Hill, NC
10/12/2011
After driving past Akai Hana numerous times and continually remarking, "We must try it sometime", we finally did. I was in a non-sushi mood, which is rare (unprecedented even) for me, but we ordered a rainbow roll to kick things off. The fish tasted clean and fresh. It was a little cream cheesy, but nonetheless a good opener to our meal.
We then enjoyed variations on a teryaki theme. I had the salmon teryaki dinner while Joel went for the steak teryaki combo. Both were really very good - well cooked proteins, great sauce, simple sides, ample portions. Joel's combo included mixed tempura which was quite delicious, and a California roll which I did not sample. Dinners come with miso soup (always good, especially on a cold rainy night like tonight) and salad (a bit overdressed).
Service was lightning fast and courteous. We were out of there in just over an hour for $32/head after tax/tip. Next time I'll do the sushi bar justice. -
Review from Andrew D.
2/16/2011
If you can accept that most (or all) Triangle sushi is mediocre ... then you are choosing between a place like Shiki or Tasu, that serves Wacky Rolls!, or a place like this, with stuff like "Sushi Regular".
It's usually half or 2/3 full, and it's in downtown Carrboro. And the bill is always $10-20 higher than you want it to be. -
Review from Joseph G.
New York, NY
9/15/2010
Meh. I've experienced better. Thanks Yelp, I could not have put it better myself.
Overpriced mediocre sushi. There are better options in the area (though all are a drive away from downtown Chapel HIll/Carrboro). I want Akai Hana to be good, I really do, since it's steps away from my door. I do take-out from there when I get a sushi craving, but as a dining experience it leaves a lot to be desired. -
Review from Wilson K.
Durham, NC
9/11/2010
Aki hana means red flower. This was our good-old sushi stand-by in a tough neighborhood. What more can I say than this was as good as it got.
But, and I'm not making this up, if you go on Saturday night you can hear a guy (who seems to be paid by the establishment) do Beetles covers on piano and harmonica!
Careful of the mosquitos if you sit outside in summer. -
Review from S J.
Chapel Hill, NC
5/1/2011
maybe i've had too much good sushi too often at good prices in the tri-state area has me spoiled.
I went to akai hana because my friend highly recommended it to me. He said it was a good date place, and I can see that from the interior dining atmosphere. but thank god we were in a group and I didnt end up going here on a date...awkward
I was unimpressed. the service was ridiculously slow. The actual waitress wasn't bad at all I think it was just the kitchen that took a long time.
It took about an hour from the time we ordered to actually have our food in front of us-(and it's not like our party of 5 ordered a lot of food...avg 1 roll each)
The seaweed salad as an appetizer was sub-par. I know they probably don't even make this themselves, but the flavor was a bit off and the seaweed soggier than usual. the salad was unimpressive and the ginger dressing was very watery.
The sushi itself was decent. Nothing incredibly special.. especially for the price. I suppose akai hana is competitively priced (wait, I mean there aren't many sushi places around here anyway) but I would rather bring me $ elsewhere next time. Don't think I'll be going back if its out of my own wallet. -
Review from Christina G.
Durham, NC
7/30/2008 1 photo
Akai Hana, thank you for showing me the true sushi light. Before you, I paid homage only to tempura; but now I've seen the error of my ways and am spreading the sushi word.
When I was lost and drifting toward Jade Palace, you saved me from misplaced faith in their Chinese food with a savory and inexpensive lunch special: rolls, nigiri, and miso. I tasted the goodness of your sushi, and hungered for more!
Again and again I was called humbly to your doors. With friends or with dates, you always strike the perfect note. Your delicious and smooth nigiri never fails to disappoint, nor your rolls to gratify.
Dearly devoted,
ChristinaListed in: Carrboro!, Sushi -- it's what's for…
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Review from Biv R.
Chapel Hill, NC
9/17/2011
I wanted to like this place because its the only sushi place I could find with an outdoor patio. We had the spider roll and something with eel. Both had too much rice and the seaweed was too chewy. It tasted like pre-made sushi. It wasn't bad but wasn't good either.
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Review from Courtney W.
Chapel Hill, NC
2/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
Mmmm, my fiance and I love Akai Hana. OK, you have to admit there aren't very many places in the US, much less in small-town NC, where you're going to find 100% authentic Japanese sushi (and I've been to Japan a few times and have had sushi from Tokyo to Nagoya to Osaka to tiny little villages where they didn't speak a single word of English). That said, I love Westernized sushi, and so that's what I like when I go out in the West. And Akai Hana does it well for not a huge price!
We usually get the same thing - some miso soup, a salad with ginger dressing, maybe some gyoza or sweet potato croquettes...and of course, crunchy shrimp rolls and spicy tuna rolls. It's interesting, because the spicy tuna roll always seemes to be fixed a little differently - sometimes it has Sriracha, sometimes not, sometimes spicy mayo, sometimes not....but that inconsistency doesn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, I kinda like it. And if I'm ever in the mood, I can ask for a little dish of Sriracha to spice it up as needed.
Right now they have a tuna tataki appetizer and some mushroom tempura app that I'd like to try...and I'm sure I'll have a chance, since we head there about once a week! -
Review from Miles M.
Carrboro, NC
4/9/2011
I love treating myself to Akai Hana. It is a little on the expensive side but very worth it. Great sushi, great sake. It could bare to lose the 'best of 80s pop rock" background music but I suppose that doesn't affect the flavor of the food. And with good company, who cares. *hearts*
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Review from Henry S.
Manhattan, NY
5/16/2008
If you're looking for great sushi in the Triangle area, look no further than Akai Hana. They have a good selection of rolls (I recommend the Hurricane) and great Sashimi for those who prefer something more basic. The service is typically prompt and the servers are great with recommendations and Saki pairings. Also, due to the cashier system, it makes it easy for groups to split the check at the front.
No, Akai Hana is not the cheapest restaurant, but good sushi is never cheap. I'd rather pay a few extra dollars and get fresher sushi then default to the stale $5 tray at Harris Teeter.
Just a tip, you can always park at the auto shop across the street when parking isn't directly available in front of Akai Hana. -
Review from Karla M.
Chapel Hill, NC
11/18/2009
I'm not sure why the sushi here received rave reviews. The veggie tempura was good, but the rest was lacking. The teriaki was drowned in sauce (to the point of being nearly soup), which makes me curious as to what they were trying to cover up.
The sushi was mainly rice. The fish was okay, but for what they charge, I expect more than paper-thin slices on huge balls of sushi rice. All the fish was seriously bland. I'm not sure where they buy their fish, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is farm-raised and frozen for longer than sushi regulation requires. The rolls were basic which, when done right, can be very good and refreshing. However, these were small, mostly rice, and lacking any sort of flavor or uniqueness.
All that said, I would have considered going back, but the miso is the straw that broke the camel's back. We were there earlier than the dinner crowd, so I expected good, fresh miso. After all, it is hard to screw up miso. It was clearly old, reused soup - I don't even want to know how old. The seaweed was slimy and inedible, and kept breaking down. The soup was an odd olive green color. -
Review from Minnie P.
San Francisco, CA
4/6/2011
I freakin' LOVE this local gem! If I wasn't in San Francisco, I'd be at Akai Hana right now, sippin on Sapporo on the outdoor patio! Seriously, the best sushi in the area - though it depends on your perspective. Allow me to illustrate: if you're looking for mayo-laden, franken-"sushi" with price-tags to match the cocktails, you're going to be disappointed (and to be frank, I'm disappointed in you). If you're looking for FRESH food that hasn't deviated from its simple and authentic course, then look no further. I've been to most of the sushi restaurants in the Triangle and I can definitively say Akai Hana has the best spicy tuna roll in the area. I also love that its locally owned and run - it's a nice vibe that I'm happy to support. For the critics, you can keep the trendy, overpriced, clusterf*** sushi rolls in Durham - thanks!
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Review from Cristina K.
Raleigh, NC
10/12/2008
I first ate at Akai Hana back in 1998 or 1999. There weren't many sushi restaurants in the Triangle at that time, but even then, Akai Hana had it going on. I've taken scads of people to Akai Hana over the years. No one has ever left disappointed. We've ordered plates and plates of sushi. I've dined outside. I've dined at the bar. I've dined in both small dining rooms. I've waited on the benches outside for hours. I just love this place.
The sushi is very fresh. It is well-prepared. I used to drive from Cary to Akai Hana, before discovering Waraji and now Hayashi. I love both the Nigiri and Maki sushi here and have tons of faves under both headers. I consistently enjoy the Toro Sashimi, Unagi, the Tamago, and the Spider Roll.
They have a pianist on weekends to crank up the atmosphere a notch. Careful on how you time this place there is ALWAYS a wait. -
Review from Hoa N.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 9/14/2009
hum..I've come back many times... the service here is just not up to par anymore. It's so spotty. One time I came with a friend and later joined another group of friends, the waitress/waiter was so impatient. Obviously, wasn't happy when I jumped from one table to the other. The other time, we asked for more water... the waitress just brought us some and said... this is not my table, I'm just helping... I have no idea what kind of service is this. It made the night less pleasant.
So.. I would recommend only if you get a good server... otherwise, you might to try elsewhere.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/7/2009
Wow.. the fish here is actually pretty good. The portion is fine. I think the price is reasonably… Read more »
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Review from Ben M.
Durham, NC
12/9/2008
Akai Hana may not get a totally unbiased review from me. For it is here that I discovered that I didn't have to be scared of sushi. I was with a group of friends that all had more world experience, more class, and far more refined tastes that I did (or probably still do, let's be fair). So when they suggested we have dinner at Akai Hana, I pretended to be enthusiastic.
When the time came to order, rather than trying to dazzle anyone with my knowledge of which rolls tasted like what, I fed them some line about the guy making the sushi knowing what was best and ordered the plate where they pick your sushi and roll for you. I was a fan by the time we were done.
Since then, I've gone out and about the Triangle looking for good sushi. I've found plenty. Some of it okay, some of it very good, but no one or two places that I would put ahead of Akai Hana, which I eventually drift back to when I'm in the greater Carrboro metro area and feeling like sushi. A feeling that, thanks to my snooty friends and Akai Hana, I get quite frequently. -
Review from Dwight S.
Carrboro, NC
Updated - 1/22/2011
The miso is seriously unacceptable - sodium city with questionable seaweed. All salt, no miso flavor. It's just gross (and I love miso).
Service is awkward. Atmosphere is vaguely sad.
Any sushi restaurant should, if nothing else, be experts at making sushi rice. Epic fail at Akai Hana every time I've visited - it's always undercooked and terribly seasoned, if at all.
Sashimi is of very mediocre quality. Rolls fall apart - quality is barely a step up from Harris Teeter. I'm not being hyperbolic, it's really just terrible. I am truly baffled by all the positive reviews for this place.
Yes, sushi is expensive, but price and value are two very different things. Value at Akai Hana is incredibly poor. Go to Yamazushi in Durham for the real thing.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/24/2010
Carrboro deserves better!
This is acceptable in a pinch, but is really quite mediocre. My sashimi… Read more »
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Review from Sierra D.
Arlington, VA
2/9/2008
This sushi is excellent for the area, but not compared to larger cities where there is more options. Akai Hana has limited options for sushi....but what they have is delicious.
I've heard they have early bird dinner specials that are a great deal, but I have yet to eat that early. The boxed dinners they serve are generous, including salad, miso, steamed veggies, rice, meat and a six piece roll.
Some of the servers are not very friendly, I perfer to eat at the bar and watch the chefs roll the sushi. The sushi chefs are very professional and friendly and always offer suggestions.
Overall, a good place for sushi, but don't expect the the variety and options of a more traditional sushi bar -
Review from Sweet T.
Carrboro, NC
7/30/2008
Akai Hana is a super solid house of Sushi. We've been going there for years and it is one of the most consistent places around. We almost always get the miso soup, green salad with ginger dressing, vegetable tempura and a mixture of nigiri, maki and the occasional sashimi. Also, my lady LOVES the Kitsune Udon soup. I can recommend everything above but some of the other plates I've had (teriyaki salmon, etc....) were mediocre.
The service is almost always very good, especially at the bar where sometimes the sushi chef, Pujo, will hook you up with something special. -
Review from Samantha E.
Alexandria, VA
1/31/2011
Overpriced and not very good. I would much rather go to Shiki or Kanki for good Japanese and sushi.
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Review from Jason R.
Carrboro, NC
2/26/2011
I am presently eating a take-out order from the Carrboro location, and am horrified to have gotten some grilled chicken with some steamed veggies on the side with a little teriyaki sauce on the side that was called "Hibachi" on their menu. The sushi tasted fine, but not worth the price and the portion size makes certain that I will need to eat something else really soon!
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Review from Owen S.
Durham, NC
3/27/2008
This is a solid, consistent restaurant with great sushi, an amazing miso-based salad that just has to be really unhealthy 'cuz it's so good, and an always present front house manager/GM/host who always directs more than adequate service to your table. Partially open kitchen that looks very clean, and a solid and long-term stance in the local community.
Major downside is the parking; be prepared for potentially scary "dive in" attempts at parking as they only have store-front parking spots that from afar appear as if they actually are just part of the curve of the road.
Overall, for Carrboro/Chapel Hill great sushi (though I think other places, Sushi Yoshi in particular, provide equally good sushi with a less, um, eccentric vibe) and attentive but vaguely drone-like staff, and as it is now a bit of a community institution, particularly as it is owned by a local "famous" writer, perhaps that alone warrants a visit. It's definitely a local haunt. -
Review from Luke C.
Durham, NC
2/14/2010
Akai Hana is pretty good. The sushi and sashimi are fresh and better than most in the triangle. The service, although quick, can feel pretty rushed during dinner time. The decor is clean and they have a few booths as well as small tables. We had a table and wondered if it would be more fun at the sushi bar.
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Review from Shankar N.
Chapel Hill, NC
2/12/2010
I'm not that into esoteric sushi, but like Japanese food. Akai Hana was clean and comfortable. The service was friendly and prompt. Everything tasted great - from the tempura shittake mushroom appetizers and the miso soup through the sushi platter, to the saba noodles (w/ shrimp). Prices are reasonable and I can easily recommend this place to others.
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Review from Richard H.
Chapel Hill, NC
8/23/2010
Sushi is expensive in general. This place is quite good and reasonable. Ate there twice and I was happy both times.
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Review from Leah P.
San Diego, CA
11/18/2007
This is for sure the best Japanese restaurant we have found so far. I cried for several months when we first moved here, nostalgic for the abundant choices of sushi, udon, and chicken katsu that we took advantage of in San Francisco (we love you Hotei and Ebisu and always will!) But when we stumbled upon Akai Hana, a little thrown off by the neon red sign, we instantly fell in love. Spicy tuna roll was perfect, as were the yellowtail, salmon and tuna nigiri we tried. All I can say is I hope they do take-out. Big ups to Akai, thank you for saving me.
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Review from Will C.
Chapel Hill, NC
9/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
Good fresh sushi. Sit outside if you can
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Review from Nicole M.
Asheville, NC
2/25/2009
Seriously good sushi and udon. Excellent service. Beautiful space. My absolute favorite restaurant in Carrboro.
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Review from Charles D.
Gainesville, FL
10/24/2006
Overpriced, but the food is solid. Compared to everything else in Carrboro, this joint is where it's at.
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Review from Surf R.
San Francisco, CA
10/3/2006
If you find yourself far away from real Japanese food, Akai Hana is a good call for the Triangle. It's average Japanese food made better than average by virtue of location. I won't complain too much since it was in walking distance of my old house.
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Review from Emile P.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2008
What can I say, great sushi! Definitely best sushi around Chapel Hill. It is a little more pricey, but along with the sushi, the edamame, miso soup is excellent.
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Review from Erin K.
Charlotte, NC
12/23/2006
I think this is the best sushi place in the Chapel Hill area. The pojo roll is awesome!! It can be a little expensive, but they have an awesome early bird special. Also they have decent food for people who aren't into sushi.
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Review from Jason C.
New York, NY
7/19/2007
A little more expensive than it should be, but the service, ambiance and food are all supportive of the reputation this place has. If you are in the mood for sushi, this should be your first stop in the area.
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Review from Sarah A.
Chapel Hill, NC
12/30/2005
One of the best sushi restaurants in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. Ambience features the occasional jazz pianist. Wonderful sushi, sashimi and udon bowls. The location is somewhat small (space is divided with tables and sushi bar), though and it can get quite busy on Friday nights and weekends. Parking is also quite limited. Overall, though, worth any hassle you might encounter.
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Review from Dov C.
Chapel Hill, NC
8/6/2007
Akai Hana delivers consistent meals - not mind blowing or exceptional, but never any disappointments. it is very standard sushi & Japanese fair. If you have a hankering for Nori or Nigiri, they can satisfy.
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Review from Evan H.
Portland, OR
6/9/2009
After a positive experience at Oishii, we decided to take a shot at another well-reviewed sushi place in the area. We went to Akai Hana after 8 on a Friday, were promptly seated, and ordered miso, fried oysters, two rolls of sushi (spicy California rolls and one of the specialty rolls with salmon), and a small carafe of sake.
The miso was good (although I should note that Oishii bolsters theirs with vegetables, which may not be traditional but makes it exceptional), as it is practically everywhere, and the three little oysters were quite fresh. This was not so great for S., who was unenthusiastic about their briny notes, and thus the oysters became a vehicle for the interesting dipping sauce that they came with--something with Worcestershire sauce that did a great job of masking the taste of the sea.
The two rolls were unspectacular. The spiciness (we impulsively asked for it as an add-in--the same seasoning as is used in the spicy tuna roll--and the server/kitchen graciously accommodated us) of the California roll was nice. The roll was certainly not bad, it just didn't knock our socks off. The roll with salmon was disappointing, because the fish was somewhat tough and flavorless. As natives of the Pacific Northwest, this made us miss home. Since we were hungry, we ate it, though, and it wasn't bad--the sushi was definitely still in A-OK territory.
Yet after the light appetizers and two rolls of sushi, we were still hungry. So our server, who was cheerful and generally excellent, finally mentioned the two special rolls on the board. Both sounded wonderful, and we chose the one with Yellowtail (I forget what else was in it).
We were glad we ordered this last roll. The fish was fresh and the flavors wove intricately together--the best sushi roll I've had on the East Coast, hands down.
Ambience-wise, there is a nice-looking small area to sit outside. The inside is bright and feels good for dates, families...practically any occasion. The prices are slightly higher than Oishii's, and the food slightly less outstanding, but overall we though it was good. And that last roll... The 'Green River Roll'(?) or something... Wow. -
Review from Rachit S.
Raleigh, NC
6/17/2008
Decent food. Although I made the mistake of getting the bento box. Stick with the Sushi!
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Review from MustangQT M.
Northport, AL
1/3/2010
Both my boyfriend and I have lived in New York for several years combined, so we're fans of good sushi and were looking for a place to try out. Akai Hana was right down the street so we decided to try it out.
The decor and layout is nice and spacious. The food is actually pretty good too. But my major issues are with service and price. We ended up having two different waitresses and it was pretty spotty service as someone else commented. I admit I drink water pretty quickly but it took a while for anyone to fill it up again. They weren't exactly the friendliest waitresses either.
Then there's the price. Why is sushi so expensive down here?! The sushi was ok but for the price it was unbelievable. We ended up spending more than we would have liked to and we didn't even get an appetizer or dessert.
So overall I think it's ok, but I won't be going there again. -
Review from Jethro T.
Carrboro, NC
11/14/2010
Hands down the best sushi I've ever had! I go back time and time again and it's always top notch, delicious, reasonably priced, and has great specials. If you go, sit at the bar and chat with the chefs!
