The Most Flavorful Japanese in Charlotte

Yunta Nikkei

★★★★★ 4.7 (427)

"YUNTA is an absolute gem, offering a unique blend of Peruvian and Japanese cuisine that takes dining to another level. The food is incredibly fresh and flavorful, and the cocktails are equally impressive--beautifully crafted and delicious.Though it's a smaller spot and can be challenging to snag a table without a reservation, especially for groups, sitting at the bar is the way to go. The vibe is fun, casual, and perfect for soaking in the experience.This is one of those places you'll keep coming back to. If it were closer, I'd probably be here all the time! I highly recommend it for an unforgettable dining experience. Yucca tostones and ceviche are always great, & don't skip the sushi!"

Otto Izakaya

★★★★☆ 4.1 (490) • $$

"Awesome food and friendly staff!We had been the last ones a few times - but still excellent food and service!"

Baku

★★★★☆ 3.9 (510) • $$$

"BAKU is my absolute go-to spot in the neighborhood for meeting friends for a drink and some sushi. While I've never really dined downstairs in the restaurant, the upstairs bar is such a vibe that we always end up there instead. The space is super cute, whether you're grabbing a spot at the bar or lounging in the seating area.On busier nights, especially if you're with a group of four or more, I'd recommend making a reservation--it can fill up quickly! Yes, it's on the pricier side, but I usually come here for the cocktails and the ambiance, and it never disappoints.If you're looking for a chic spot to enjoy great drinks, light bites, and an elevated atmosphere, BAKU is the place to be. Highly recommend!"

Be-Em Asian Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4 (395) • $$

"I loooooove their pho! So good! I come with my friends or sometimes by myself! Love the little place, the service is great and so is the food!!!!"

Wasabi

★★★★☆ 4 (366) • $$

"This is for the locals @ lunch.Of ALL the sushi place in downtown Asheville (well...Asheville doesn't have an "uptown " so that by itself sounds silly - I should know...I grew up here)...the restaurant has THE best sushi lunch deal.My go to is a 2 sushi lunch with a small green salad..$14 MAXNow while they are not beating everyone else by say $10...they are offering (a) fast turnaround of a pick up order (b) include a salad and (c) do it for $3-$4 cheaperAdd in just nice/friendly staff and you have a place that can keep locals fees on there lunch breaks...without breaking the bank (I should know...I work for one...)"

Inakaya Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (315) • $$

"We chose Inakaya Japanese Restaurant based on its great reviews, and were not disappointed! On a Saturday night, our party of 3 got seated right away. The interior was spacious, with Japanese-inspired decor, including a display case of antiques. There was seating available at the sushi bar, where you can watch your food be prepared, but we opted for a table. For starters, we ordered the Shrimp Shumai, Baked Mussels, and Oily Tuna Sashimi to share. I'd never seen Toro/Fatty Tuna be called "Oily Tuna" before, but it was delicious. It tasted fresh and high quality. The Shrimp Shumai were very standard, and expectedly tasty. We really liked the Baked Mussels, as well, which were prepared with spicy mayo and masago. For my entree, I got the Pink Panther Roll, which was very good. I ended up picking off the jalapeños on top, because the jalapeño mayo was spicy enough. Other than that, the flavor combination was great. My friends also enjoyed their Fiesta Roll and Takoyaki Roll. Service was quick and incredibly friendly! Our server was so sweet, proactively poured refills of my Iced Tea, and gave us helpful recommendations. She advised that their Mochi Ice Cream wasn't the best, and recommended the Fried Cheesecake instead. She also requested that the Fried Cheesecake be cut into 3 pieces, although it usually comes as two. Pricing was also super reasonable - would return!"

Umi Japanese Fine Dining

★★★★☆ 4.1 (317) • $$

"Omg!!! Fresh, the flavors...the salmon, tuna crab, avacado....delicious!! I hope they tip share, because their Sushi Chrfs are "rolling it out"!!Crowded Sunday after church, but I've yet to see the parking lot empty, except when closed. Great atmosphere, service and sushi!!"

GANBEI Japanese Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (297) • $$

"What a fantastic meal!My family of three visited Ganbei Japanese Restaurant & Bar on a Friday around 5 PM. We were immediately seated and were able to sit near the back of the restaurant. The atmosphere was quiet, but trendy. The restaurant was about half full. We ordered sushi and crab rangoon to start and had the chicken hibachi and sweet & sour chicken as entrees to share.The California roll was delicious. We liked it so much that we ordered an extra one because we all wanted more. The spicy salmon roll was great and my husband ate the whole thing almost by himself. The crab rangoon was perfect and was served with a sweet & sour dipping sauce. It was just crispy enough, but not over-cooked.I really liked the sweet & sour chicken, but the chicken hibachi stole the show. We all three thought the hibachi was the best part of our meal and I would definitely order it again.Our server, Cole, was great. He was extremely attentive and checked on us frequently. They did forget the soup and salad, but we were so full from what we ordered that we didn't miss it at all. Cole apologized about missing the soup and salad and offered to pack it up to-go, but we declined as we were heading out for shopping.The total for our food, two sodas, and two beers was about $75.Everything was fantastic and we would definitely return."

King Fish Poke

★★★★★ 4.7 (232) • $$

"On my latest business trip to Charlotte I decided to give this place a try. Place is very clean and there were lots of options to add to my poke bowl. The flavors were there but it would have been nice if the cucumbers had been chopped smaller so you are able to incorporate it into your bite with the other ingredients. Also would have been nice to have the soy sauce readily available instead of having to go back up to the counter and ask for it. Other than those two minor items this place serves up some great poke!"

Umami PokéRito

★★★★★ 4.7 (224) • $$

"PROS: 1. The location offers adequate parking. 2. This is my third time eating at this restaurant before leaving any reviews and service has always been great and consistent. 3. The price is comparable to the quality of food both in freshness, preparation and taste. I typically get the burrito but this time I went for the bowl. Both winners! Highly recommend the Tuna Poké. 4. Generally quiet and never overcrowded. A great spot to eat undisturbed. CONS: None!!Definitely making a 4th, 5th...nth visit. Umami PokéRito is Pineville-Matthews hidden secret. Hopefully, not anymore."

Bachi

★★★★☆ 4 (280) • $$

"The ambiance leaves a lot of room for improvement, but the food? So delicious, fresh and clean! I often worry about ordering meats out because I'm weird about any suspect pieces. The chicken hibachi was SO good and all chicken breast.. perfect little crisp on the outside too! The owner or chef came out and it was so nice to see him checking on tables!"

Tokyo Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (221) • $$

"Flavorful and authentic. Tom Yum Goon soup is over the moon. Sushi is always fresh. Edamame is delightfully garlicky. We have eaten here multiple times and have ordered Door Dash and the food has been consistently good."

Yama

★★★★☆ 4.2 (247) • $$

"Came here with a friend for dinner on a Sunday night. They were pretty busy and notified us that it would be a 30-minute wait for a table or immediate seating at the sushi bar, so we opted for the sushi bar.Unlike mini sushi bars, this one is well-spaced with great comfortable chairs. The ambiance is much like any other sushi restaurant with few notable decorative enhancements. We were promptly acknowledged by our server, who was friendly and gave terrific suggestions. For drinks, we ordered the blushing geisha and the Tokyo Mue. We both enjoyed our drinks, and they were strong. We started our meal with the gyoza, which came out quickly, was served piping hot and was very flavorful. We each ordered one sushi roll. I got the Naughty Akami, which was delicious and a great mixture of textures and flavors with exceptional culinary execution. The other roles on the menu didn't seem as complex, which I tend to go for when looking for a particular roll. I was still a bit hungry after the roll, and ordered the calamari, which also came out promptly, and we were piping hot season and well portioned. The only criticism I'd have is that it was all rings and no tentacles which I'm not as much of a fan of but it was still really good.All in all, we had a great experience, and I will definitely return ."

Green Tea Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (272) • $$

"Three of us had perfect meals, drinks and an appetizer. The sake and mixed drink menus were great, and the food menu was more Japanese than I knew what to do with and I still found multiple items to choose from. Service and vibe inside were good, too."

Red Sake

★★★★☆ 4.2 (204) • $$

"One of my favorite restaurants! My kids love the chicken friend rice, my husband loves the chicken pad tai, and I love the crispy California roll! The appetizers are also great!"

Nakato Japanese Steakhouse

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (311) • $$

"The decor here feels outdated and could really use a facelift. Despite that, the experience had its highlights. The cooking shoe was entertaining, and the food itself was decent. You definitely are paying for the show. While I enjoyed the experience, it felt a bit overpriced for what you get. A decent option if you're looking for a fun night out, but don't expect too much beyond the show."

Sora Japanese

★★★★☆ 4.4 (181) • $$

"The nicest staff and the most unassuming little hole in the wall! I'd venture to call it 'quaint.' We spoke to a group of people - young child, mom, dad, and grandmother (the only local) - who have all been going there for years and consider it their go-to. We were seated at the sushi bar (due to lack of logistical options for a high chair), and - fun fact - that means you get crunch crab salad upon seating. YUM! Even my 2 year old was devouring it. And speaking of her, the sushi staff were so kind and amused as they let her watch them at work. My MIL, FIL, and husband all had teriyaki something (one chicken, one shrimp, one steak) and I had the Pad Thai. The servings were HUGE and each dish was equally tasty. Two separate servers stopped to drop off mints and coo at our sweet girl. We aren't local but we do come down 1-2 times/year and will DEFINITELY be back!"

KO Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.2 (197) • $

"Ordered delivery from KO and it did not disappoint. Got the spicy tuna box and miso soup. The roll was way bigger than I expected, each piece was bigger than your average maki roll. Miso was perfectly salty, not overwhelming but not bland. Will absolutely order again!"

Katana Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.6 (158)

"I absolutely love this place and make a point to visit anytime we're in the area. We always opt for take-out, and it's always ready quickly. Their pokè bowls are on point. Everything is fresh and seasoned/cooked perfectly. It's such a refreshing, light meal but the portions are big enough that you will definitely be full or have leftovers. One of my favorite places!"

Bonzai Thai Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (179) • $$

"Finally an authentic Thai place in Charlotte. Not taking away from the other spots but this place food wise, beats them all. I came on a Saturday and place was not busy, but unfortunately, had only one chef, so it was a bit of a wait but again, food made up for it.The drunken noodles were cooked to perfection! You got the hint of the wine and brandy, with the sweetness of the sauce, and that bite of salt that real thai food has. Perfect spice and you can ask to go up or downBest pineapple rice I've had in a long time. Every ingredient is layered and incorporated beautifully.Crab Rangoon was yummy, nuff said Ambiance no frills, like any cafeteria in Bangkok, minus the street dogs and noise this strip mall Thai has sold me and will be back."

Umami Sushi & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (191) • $$

"I had no expectations going into this weird little building in Matthews, but I'm so glad I did. The ambience was really nice, the service was great, and the food was solid. A lot of their sushi rolls are fried, which isn't my preferred style, but I managed to find an option that wasn't (there were a lot of choices), and we got the shumai for an appetizer. As a Matthews resident I will definitely go back."

Sushi Murasaki

★★★★☆ 3.5 (261) • $$

"Decent place. Nothing really to get too excited about. Say at the bar, had an ok cocktail and simple sushi. Nothing spectacular but ok. Great location but so many amazing spots in Greenville they need to step it up."

Somi Sushi

★★★★★ 4.6 (151) • $$

"Although I was recently here, I had to drag my hubby out here again to try their amazing Katsu. Since I knew they were short on good seatings, I had to literally drag him out of our house super-early (4:45 pm?) for the long 40-minute drive to Matthews! Based on my first experience for lunch, I thought that there might be a waiting list by 5:30 pm, so we arrived early at 5:15 pm. As it goes, we had no problem getting a good seat. It seemed they were more popular for lunch...which made sense, given their amazing lunch specials!My husband ordered the Bento with Chicken Katsu and the side of Sushi Rolls, and I ordered their Katsucurry with Tori Karaage. We also added Popcorn Shrimp as appetizer.Again, their Bento is not typical by any means...as the foods are set in a tray format, and the portions seemed much bigger. The Bento that my husband ordered was basically the same as the one I had for lunch, though he chose the Sushi Rolls over the Popcorn Shrimp. However dinner pricing was obviously higher...but their Bento was a steal...even for 25 bucks. As expected, he loved the Katsu, the Tempura, the whole works. He agreed that it's possibly the best in town...on par with Musashi's. Though highly anticipated, I didn't quite love the Katsucurry with Tori Karaage (AKA crispy chicken pieces). Think I prefer the traditional Chicken Katsu slices over these pieces. Plus, both the Chicken and the Curry tasted a bit bland. Still, I'm glad I tried it...as I was so curious about the Katsucurry with Tori Karaage (my first). Just like before, I LOVED the Popcorn Shrimp appetizer...possibly THE best version of Pocorn Shrimp I've ever had?? I'm definitely going back to the regular Katsu...not the curry version next time.Just as before, the service was really good...Fast, friendly and attentive. I could be wrong, but it seemed their decor changed a bit. New wall art? Though super-casual, the place provides a warm, cozy vibe...and surprisingly for such a casual place, they even had overhead music! Despite my disappointment with their Katsucurry, I still stand by my initial notions that I think they have the best Katsu in Charlotte...and possibly the best, most generous Bento Boxes. We'll definitely be back for more!"

Masa Sushi & Asian Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (214) • $$

"Stopped in on a Friday night and almost all the tables were full. Always a good sign! It's a small space, but there are a good amount of tables. At the back you can also see where they make the sushi. All of the staff was friendly and very attentive. Drinks stayed refilled and food came out fast. You can order sushi items or Chinese dishes. We went for the Chinese combination plates which come with rice and egg roll or spring roll. My husband had the Kung Pao chicken with brown rice. I had crispy scallion chicken with fried rice. Our daughter had plain lo mein noodles. It was a lot of food and a great value. The food was good for a small little spot. Crispy scallion chicken was crispy, but I like bigger chunks of chicken. Sauce was sweet and a little spicy. Fried rice was okay with not a lot added to it. Egg roll was good.Overall a pleasant experience and good value. We'll stop by again and try sushi next time."

Mr.Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.4 (156) • $$

"We are new to Asheville and decided to try Mr Sushi because it's close to where we live. We always enjoy supporting local 'Mom n Pop' businesses, as opposed to corporate, and we were not disappointed. It almost feels like grandma is lovingly making your favorite dish from behind the sushi bar. The service was excellent. Our server was friendly, attentive, and very accommodating. He didn't seem to mind at all that we ordered sushi 3 more times after our initial order. The sushi is fresh, well prepared, and delicious. The atmosphere is laid back, unpretentious (it's located in a small strip mall) and simple in decor. This is a welcoming place with great food and my family and I were able to relax and enjoy our time together after a long week. We're definitely going back for more."

New Asian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (158) • $$

"Delicious food and great service. Definitely my favorite Chinese food in the area. I suggest the sesame chicken. It's dope."

Umi

★★★★★ 4.8 (120) • $$

"What a hidden gem! I was visiting my mother-in-law and needed my sushi fix. I drove here to get a table but they only take reservations unless you're lucky enough to find a free table. I wasn't lucky enough to get a table the first night. So, I called then left a message for a reservation and got one two days later. I still needed my sushi fix and I went to another restaurant that had 4 stars on Yelp and it was horrible. Don't go waste your time or money on sushi anywhere else. There's no bar seating here and only 4 tables total. This is a small husband and wife duo that is turning out amazing quality food and perfect service. Starting with the apps I had a miso soup that was perfect. It wasn't too salty, and had the perfect amount of tofu with the most perfect texture. Their Ikayaki (grilled squid) was amazing. I'm a sucker for squid and there's tasted like I was in Japan again. I think they use butter and soy sauce. Again it was perfect!The tempura appetizer was light battered to perfection and included a variety of asparagus, sweet potato, zucchini and eggplant. Not sure if they use the same veggies every time but they were all delicious. For sushi I got the sashimi plate that included beautiful cuts of tuna, yellowtail, salmon, octopus, squid and roe and yellowtail roll. Excellent presentation and taste. Everything I had was excellent! I will definitely be making reservations in the future when I come back. Eating here is the closest experience to being served in Japan and I live in Hawaii. I feel like that is saying a lot. Hickory y'all have a hidden gem here! 10/10 would recommend to any sushi lover or traditional Japanese food. Tips:* Make reservations, will probably have to leave a message* To go orders need to be called in before they open * Try and eat everything that you can"

Heiwa Shokudo

★★★★☆ 3.8 (181) • $$

"Our experience here was incredible. We came on a Friday around 6. It was already full (being a tiny restaurant) so we waited about 5-10 minutes and we were able to get a table. We had edemame, the caterpillar roll, vegan tempura, tofu hotpot, and beef stir fry udon. It was all delicious! I was thrilled the tempura batter was vegan so I could enjoy it. The hotpot with the ginger sauce was flavorful and tasted fresh and clean. It's a tiny restaurant so be prepared to wait."

Phoenix Thai & Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (163) • $$

"Food and service are amazing. We had tried this place several years ago, but had not gone back. We have rediscovered it thanks to a friend and will be going regularly. The curry is my favorite, but there's something for everyone."

Tsuki House Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar

★★★★☆ 3.6 (198) • $$

"Finally! Delicious hibachi in Charlotte. The sauces were really fresh and flavorful, all the vegetables had a great taste and texture, and the meat was tender. I ordered a medium, rare, filet mignon, and it was prepared more on the rare side.I thought that fifty two dollars for one entrée with one veggie roll was pretty steep pricing for takeout. The portion size were reasonable, but not large, and hibachi includes fried rice, but not noodles.Would definitely return for the flavor, less jazzed about the pricing."

Saku Yakitori & Sushi Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (145) • $$

"Ok so I came here on a Saturday for a birthday dinner with a few friends. This place was packed! The bar was full and all tables were taken so a reservation is the way to go. My entire table seemed to really enjoy their sushi and the street corn. I would skip the "fried rice". It wasn't worth it in my opinion. It lacked flavor and was just extremely basic. I tried the chicken skins and I mean it tasted just like how I expected so if chicken skins are your thing, go for it but I don't see a need to order again. The decor was cute, nice chairs and tables, flowers hanging from above, the typical IG aesthetics honestly. Parking is next door, it was $15 or you can try to find street parking but it was difficult on a cold Saturday night. Overall. I enjoyed my time out. I am not a huge sushi fan so I am not sure this would be a frequent occurrence for me."

Konnichiwa

★★★★☆ 4.3 (138)

"Absolutely LOVE coming to Konnichiwa over in Lexington because it is by far the best sushi I've had near me! Their staff is so kind and they have such a relaxed atmosphere, it makes for a great casual night out or even a nice date not on the weekend! I have to rave about their sushi because it is always beautifully assorted and laid out in the most unique ways. Presentation is always a 10/10 with flavor knocking it out of the park! Each location has unique rolls and I can't wait to try out other locations, but Konnichiwa Lexington is easily my new go-to. Even their takeout is phenomenal!"

Koishi Restaurant & Sushi Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (184) • $$

"Visited Koishi while staying down the street for dinner. Upon walking in it is a dim lighted ambience with a nicely decorated interior with a sushi bar. The service was great our waitress was very attentive. The menu is quite extensive with different Japanese, Chinese, and Thai options. For appetizers I got the teriyaki skewers and my fiance got the Shrimp Tempura rolls to start off. They both were excellent. For our entrees we got the glazened shrimp and sesame chicken with fried rice and broccoli. The jumbo glazed shrimp were good. The sesame chicken and broccoli tasted like it was microwaved. The fried rice is just fried rice with and egg. My rice had eggshells in it. So overall an okay an experience. I would return to try more sushi rolls."

Coral Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.9 (165) • $$

"Was out with friends for New Years, and wanted sushi, so we looked all over the place and this was one of the few places open late enough. And thank god this was the one, the experience was great. They have the largest selection of sushi I've ever seen at a restaurant, with many different flavors and textures, and every one that we tried was great. I'd talk about the alcohol, but as the driver I didn't get the opportunity to try any. That said, they had a decent amount alcoholic beverages, with a pretty wide variety of wines. To round off the experience, staff were friendly and attentive, helping us when needed. Only possible downside I could think of is the place is rather small, making it possibly difficult at busier times. All in all a great time, would absolutely recommend if you're in the area. 4.5/5"

Osaka Japanese Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.7 (177) • $$

"Cute location. Strip mall so plenty of parking. Easy to find. Very simple and clean on the inside. The menu is excellent. A wide range of different options and different kinds of Japanese themed food items. It's definitely not very traditional Japanese but great for American- Japanese if that makes sense. The bento box, the sushi flights, the hibachi--all wonderful. I was pleasantly surprise, the hibachi wasn't soaking in Greece or oil, it was like slightly steamed. Looked really lovely and healthy and just lightly sauced. Would go back just for that part. The service was fast and friendly. No issues at all. Most of the staff spoke Spanish so definitely not really authentic but it was perfect for lunch. Easy in and out as well."