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Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
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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.
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.
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.
Wow.. the fish here is actually pretty good. The portion is fine. I think the price is reasonably… Read more »
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.
I ate at Akai Hana with friends shortly after I moved to Carrboro a few years ago, and I have not been back since. I've had much better sushi in the area at the little place off Franklin Street (I care about quality of food, not decor, which Akai Hana exceeds at) and at Shiki Sushi in Durham-- even at the Japanese steakhouse/sushi restaurant on 15/501.
Akai Hana is overpriced, simply not that great of sushi, and we also had an unfriendly waitress. That adds up to an unsatisfactory experience for this diner. My friend paid for my dinner, and I felt ripped off on his behalf.
The best sushi restaurant in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. The location is extremely convenient and they really go out of their way to provide excellent service. Try the sushi bar -- the chefs are extremely friendly and prepare some truly exceptional sushi creations. The sides were great too, be sure to try the miso soup and side salad.
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,
Christina
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.
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.
Seriously good sushi and udon. Excellent service. Beautiful space. My absolute favorite restaurant in Carrboro.
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
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.
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.
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.
Decent food. Although I made the mistake of getting the bento box. Stick with the Sushi!
There may be a better sushi bar in the triangle area, but this one is easily the best in the Chapel Hill - Carrboro area. Infact, this is easily our favorite restaurant in town.
The tempura shrimp is amazing, is is the pork cutlet. Where Akai Hana excels, however, is in their sushi: fresh, well seasoned and expertly presented.
I've read other reviews that are less impressed with their miso soup and salad dressing. The salad and dressing are one of the favorites of my group. I personally like the soup very much as well although the pieces of tofu could be bigger to get a little more of the texture sensation they provide.
If there is a down side, it is with a single one in the wait staff who can't seem to be bothered to refill a drink, but will badger you for that plate in front of you. The rest of the wait staff, as far as we can tell, is absolutely superb- know when to approach you, are sure to bring your food out just as soon as it is ready, and otherwise be as pleasant as possible.
akai hana is our "go-to" date spot. it's convenient to downtown carrboro, the sushi is always good, (try the pojo roll), and they are hyper-vigilant about keeping my glass of diet pepsi full at all times. that being said, i'm not the absolute best sushi around (for that, try the lantern), and the drink list could use some sprucing-up.
Very cool place, much more flair for detail and quality than I am used to in a typical Japanese dinner restaurant. NOTE: I can't comment on the sushi because I've never tried that portion of the menu.
Akai Hana is a small sushi bar and restaurant just off the Weaver Street/Main Street drag of Carrboro. Their food is savory and more artfully prepared than most ubiquitous Japanese places. The terriyaki sauce is amazing and the meats are grilled perfectly. However, I do not like their miso soup at all and I'm not the biggest fan of the salad, but mainly because I hate miso with a passion.
Definitely a cool place to hang out with friends or a quiet date place with plenty of seating for just two.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I've been coming to this place for years and the food is always excellent. The Miso soup is great and the fish is always fresh. The unagi (eel) is outstanding but you can't go wrong with some tuna. All of their rolls are made to order so they are very fresh and nicely prepared. The staff, some of whom have been working there for years are friendly and helpful. They have a loyal following, but there always seems to be a table available without too much wait. One of the best sushi places around for sure!
This is the closest thing to decent Japanese food I've been able to find locally. However, the prices are much higher than I expected. But if budget is not an option, definitely try this place out. Teriyaki is good, sushi is fresh and good. Home style Japanese food at its best. As mentioned by other reviewers it is better than average, but not stellar. The 4 stars is because I've never been able to find anything else close in authenticity or consistency near by.
Overpriced, but the food is solid. Compared to everything else in Carrboro, this joint is where it's at.
Carrboro, NC
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Chapel Hill, NC
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