Krill

★★★★☆ 4.2 (96) • $$

"I enjoyed our dinner at Krill. I found this place thanks to Yelp. I give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Good food and service.This is an Asian restaurant from the Giorgios restaurant group, a group that has grown to well over a dozen restaurants in the Triangle. I know them best for Chapel Hill restaurants Bin 54 (steakhouse), Kipos (Greek), and Osteria Georgi (Italian). I think this is their first attempt at an Asian restaurant. Krill opened on July 22, 2022 next door to Durham Bottling Company in downtown Durham. Free parking is available in a dedicated gravel lot next to the restaurant. The restaurant is named after krill, a type of small crustacean, illustrated in the restaurant's logo (looks like shrimp).This restaurant isn't "authentic," traditional Asian, but more Asian with a twist. I've seen this place marketed as "Southeast Asian," but we had some dishes here that were East Asian, such as gua bao (Chinese) and soba (Japanese). If you couldn't already tell from the pictures and other reviews, this is a hip and trendy spot.There are multiple indoor and outdoor dining spaces including a sidewalk patio, a covered and enclosed patio, the main dining room, and a separate indoor bar room. Asian/Asian-inspired artwork and Asian lanterns decorate the industrial-like spaces (e.g., exposed brick, exposed ductwork). My friend commented the interior "looked a bit like a Friends set," meaning the decor looked 2000s.It wasn't too busy during our Tuesday 7-9pm visit. The crowd trended late middle age, which I thought was kind of interesting. I see more of that in Chapel Hill, not downtown Durham. Most of the staff looked young.I booked our reservation using OpenTable. Book your reservation using OpenTable and earn dining points which can be used to redeem restaurant discounts, Amazon gift cards, hotel stays, and magazine subscriptions.Krill is open for dinner only. Our server, Michelle, told us the menu changes constantly. She also said Krill is best experienced when everyone at the table shares family-style (the Asian way).During our visit, the food menu was straightforward with about a couple dozen dishes, from Peking Duck Lumpia Rolls ($14) to Crab Khao Soi noodles ($22). The drink menu was full bar, featuring local and imported beer, wine, cocktails, and a small sake list.Here's what my friend and I shared:Cold* Chilled Soba and Dashi Broth ($12) - edamame, daikon radish, gingerHot* Pork Belly Bao Buns ($14) - pork belly adobo, pickled vegetables, cucumber, pork flossWok* Stir Fried Bok Choy ($14) - shimeji mushroom, Fresno pepper, hoisin oyster sauceGrill* Coco Adobo Drumsticks ($16) - papaya relishLarge Shares* Whole Fish with Pineapple Ensalada (Market Price = $36) - red onions, tomato, fish sauce, scallions, cilantroI also got a Lychee Limeade ($9) for myself. It was made with lychee puree, lime oleo, and lychee Calpico. Before putting in my drink order, Michelle warned me that other customers thought the Lychee Limeade was too sweet. It was indeed sweet, but I didn't have a problem with it. I thought it tasted good and refreshing, full of lychee flavor. It came with a fresh lychee on top.Overall, everything was good. In hindsight, we probably should've gotten a side of Jasmine Rice with Furikake ($6) or Miso Potatoes ($8) to go with our bok choy, chicken drumsticks, and fish. I recommend doing that.The only dish I wouldn't order again, out of convenience, is the Whole Fish with Pineapple Ensalada. We knew what we were getting into when we ordered the fish, but it was still just too many bones for me (a lot to pick through). The fish was red snapper. It was fried nice and crispy and had good flavor. The pineapple salsa was very good, colorful with generous portions.The Chilled Soba with Dashi Broth and the Pork Belly Bao Buns were terrific. They were my two favorite items. Soba is a simple dish and Krill does it right. I'm used to mori soba where the noodles and broth are separated, but Krill serves their soba as a noodle soup (cold). It's yummy and full of umami.I was impressed with the Pork Belly Bao Buns. Over the years, bao has popped up on more and more restaurant menus. However, in my experience, they've been hit or miss. What impressed me about Krill's bao was the quality of the ingredients (fresh, high quality) and the execution. The pork belly adobo was pretty much perfect. Thick, rich, succulent slices inside fresh, fluffy buns. In addition to the customary pickled veggies, I appreciated the added touch of pork floss (something I grew up eating a lot as a kid).The Stir Fried Bok Choy and Coco Adobo Drumsticks were solid. The bok choy was fresh and the portions were plentiful, including the other ingredients like the mushrooms. Yum. There were four Coco Adobo Drumsticks and they were tasty and meaty. The flavoring was salty and savory. Satisfying.Michelle did a great job. All of the staff were polite and attentive."

Juju Asian Tapas + Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (703) • $$$

"Food is stupendous Service was mehhhAmbiance was noisy and hard to hear and be heard, tables way too close to one another.The bill was eye bulging too. The food was very good though, albeit modest portions."

Chai's Asian Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.7 (177) • $$

"Exceptional experience. Truly exceptional The duck soup and tofu lo neon were our entrees of choice and there was a uniqueness and freshness that made them both delicious and memorable The supportive tram environment from. Seating to payment was so efficient and friendly. The manager was kind and visited each and every table. Loved that. As we were leaving, one of the sweetest young waitresses said I had a smile that lit up a room. That keept me smiling all the way home. Thank you all foe such a great dining experience."

Fuji Steak House

★★★★☆ 3.7 (29)

"Fuji remains reliable. If you have been a regular over the years, you will find your favorite menu items have not changed a bit! Love everything on their menu except for the miso. Skip that. It is a watery, bland version of a dish that should have much more depth and richness of flavor. Best ginger sauce around! Buy a pint of that and their pink sauce to take home!"

Asia Pot

★★★★★ 4.5 (11)

"Asia Pot occupies the former Pearl 88 Chinese restaurant. If you remember how the place used to appear, Asia Pot did a BEAUTIFUL makeover. The setting is as appealing as the cuisine. They are not your typical Hot Pot restaurant where you cook the raw food in the soup in front of you. Asia Pot's Hot Pot has an urban twist. The broth in the hot pot(s) was hot (temperature) and tasty, with fresh ingredients and a variety of proteins. A delicious culinary experience is Asia pot. I'll be back!"

50Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.5 (4)

"So here's the thing, I really, really wanted to love this place. I follow several food content creators, one of which recommended this establishment. I had this on my wishlist for sometime. Due to timing and distance I hadn't tried previously. The restaurant is located in an unassuming community kitchen with ample parking and seating. The service was warm and inviting. I was immediately greeted and placed my order. Unfortunately, due to unexpected hiccups I had a longer than normal wait time (25 mins or so). The staff was very apologetic and offered to comp an item. I never received the comp, but no worries I appreciate the thought. I ordered the gumbo, rib plate, and cornbread as an appetizer. The gumbo was clearly the star of the show and worth the wait. While I'm not a gumbo aficionado, I found the roux to be complex and appropriately spiced, in both in spice and heat levels. What I didn't like and I would have increased the scoring from a 3 to a 4 was the okra. I'm a okra fan. So I'm guessing he included fried okra to account for non okra fans. The okra didn't travel well and I didn't particularly like. However, all the other elements were very tasty. The rib plate was pretty good. I guess they fried the ribs and sauce after? The sides were fine. I would be perfectly happy with traditional sides, but I appreciated the creativity. I definitely think this establishment is worth a try. Try it and see for yourself. Non traditional soul food: 3.9Correction: refund processed and was received the next bank day."

M Kokko

★★★★☆ 4.2 (561) • $$

"I give M Kokko a solid four stars. My wife and I really enjoyed the food, drink, and service here. M Kokko's Korean fried chicken is the best we've had to date in the Triangle. It was exceptional. And it looked much better than the versions we saw pictures of on Yelp that were posted in 2021. So if it was good then, then it's probably even better now (2024).M Restaurants is our favorite restaurant group in the area. They've set a standard of excellence in Durham. The M stands for Michael as in the founder, owner, and chef, Michael Lee. His wife brushed the "M" logo that represents their brand. M Kokko opened on September 27, 2016 as a Korean fried chicken joint. It's next door to M Sushi, the best sushi restaurant in the Triangle (in my opinion).M Kokko and M Sushi are hidden on the back corner of a brick building in downtown Durham. There's a small city-owned-and-operated parking lot next to the restaurants (Lot 32), but it only has 10 spaces and is often full. Alternatively, you can park on the street or in the nearby Durham Centre Parking Garage at 300 W Morgan St. For all of these options, hourly rates are enforced Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm.M Kokko is first come, first served. Unlike the other M Restaurants, M Kokko doesn't take reservations. There's a touchpad at the entrance where you can sign your party up for the waitlist. My wife and I got lucky and were seated right away around 5:30pm on a Saturday. We got the second-to-last two-top. When we arrived, the dining room and uncovered makeshift patio were almost completely full.The restaurant is very small and the space is simple. I counted exactly 22 seats inside. I didn't count the outside seats, but if I had to guess, maybe 8-10. The patio was string-lit. Inside, the tables were small and placed closely together. The vibe was casual and the place was bustling.The restrooms are shared between M Kokko and M Sushi.The main food menu was limited to eight dishes plus four desserts. Beverage-wise, they offered cocktails, sake, beer, and wine. M Kokko and M Sushi share alcohol. One of the cocktails we got here was the same as what we got at M Sushi.Here's what we had:Cocktails* Ginger Peach Mule ($17) - Tito's Handmade Vodka, ginger, peach, lime, Fever-Tree Ginger Beer* Blueberry Ginger Smash ($18) - 1792 Bourbon, rosemary, lime, simple syrupFood* KFC Wings ($17) - Garlic Soy* Ramen ($17) - pork chashu, black garlic oil, bamboo shoots, soft-boiled egg* Hainan Chicken ($17) - poached chicken, cucumber salad, chili, and soy sauce; Singapore's national dish* Biang Biang Noodle ($15) - smoked tofu, yu choy, cilantro, crispy shallots, pickled mustard, black vinegar, and chili oilDessert* Coconut Sorbet ($11) - served in a coconut shell with "tropical fruit"The Ginger Peach Mule was excellent. That's the cocktail we had before at M Sushi, except it was $14 there about a year-and-a-half ago and $17 here. The price difference wasn't too surprising given recent high inflation. This is one of those sneaky strong drinks. It was cold and refreshing.The Blueberry Ginger Smash immediately reminded me of another cocktail I had at M Sushi and didn't like, the Purple Haze Hot Sake & Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur. While fundamentally different ingredient-wise, both cocktails reminded me of Dimetapp cough medicine. My wife liked the Blueberry Ginger Smash though, so it wasn't all bad.One of the dishes we wanted to try here was the Jia Jiang Mian (zhajiangmian), Chinese noodles with fermented black bean sauce. Unfortunately, they were out. Since we were one of the first seatings of the day, I think they had been out of Jia Jiang Mian for multiple days. That was disappointing.The KFC Wings were outstanding and I have to admit, better than I expected. This was among the best Korean fried chicken I've had anywhere, that I can recall, and this includes a lot of the tried-and-true Korean fried chicken chains. Everything about them was perfect. They got the extra crispy and crunchy texture just right. The wings were nice and meaty *and* juicy. Overall, the wings were incredibly flavorful and well balanced. If I had to nitpick, there could've been a bit more sauce. Along with the Garlic Soy flavor we got, other KFC flavors here included Spicy and Nashville Hot.The Ramen was solid. In Durham, we still prefer the ramen at Rose's because the noodle quality and texture was better there (from our experience). Also, M Kokko's ramen broth isn't the richest nor the most complex. That said, I do think it's tasty and worth ordering. The Hainan Chicken was yummy as well. This is a staple, straightforward, comforting rice and chicken dish and M Kokko did a fine job with it. My wife liked the Biang Biang Noodle more than the Ramen, but I thought the opposite. The noodles were wide, appetizing, and had nice texture.The Coconut Sorbet was light and delicious. Recommended.Service was fantastic. Kailey was our server. Everyone we interacted with was great."

Tasu Asian Bistro - Raleigh

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (575) • $$

"Highlights if this restaurant: Big place with tons of seating areas. Waitress was niceSushi was just okSesame chicken was largeThis one of those basic, bring the whole family out for low grade sushi. It will meet the need for a sushi fix but don't expect fine quality."

Kylin Asian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (53)

"Kylin is in my regular rotation of places I enjoy eating. Their sushi is some of the best in the area- I love the ten-ten roll. The crab rangoons are delicious as well and you can't go wrong with the hibachi! Customer service is exceptional and they are FAST!"

Pandya Nad

★★★★☆ 4.3 (46)

"Wow I am impressed! Not just food court-good, but legitimately good Indian food at food court prices. I just got the rice bowl with the curries on the hot table because we didn't want to wait (mcds for the kids next door). Butter chicken very lovely and creamy and flavorful, veggie curry spicy delicious, veggie biryani had the seeds and flavor you want, chicken Tikka masala hit the spot. Worth a visit!"

Lucha Tigre

★★★★☆ 3.9 (429)

"We discovered Lucha Tigre thanks to Yelp. We enjoyed our meal here. I give this place 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Good food, for the most part, and great service. I'd come back.This is a casual, fun, Asian-Latin fusion restaurant and bar. Inside, the space is divided into two sides: bar and dining room. A big "LUCHA TIGRE" covers one of the bar walls and pop art decorates the main dining room wall. They also have a somewhat spacious, partially-covered patio. Overall, it's got a neat vibe.I booked our reservations on Lucha Tigre's website at https://luchatigre.com/ The reservation process was unconventional because instead of getting booked immediately, I had to wait for an email confirmation. On a Sunday, I got a "Pending Reservation Request" email at 2:16pm followed by a confirmation email at 2:52pm, so a 36-minute turnaround time. I got us a same-day reservation at 5pm, not a peak time as evidenced by the lack of customers upon our arrival. However, business had picked up by the time we left around 6:30.The menu had an interesting selection of food and drink. A few good examples of the Asian-Latin fusion served here include General Tso's Chicken Empanadas ($5 each), Pozole Ramen ($15.99), and Pad Thai Al Pastor ($16.99). They also serve straight-up Asian and Latin dishes like pho ($14.99) and tacos ($2 and $4 each). Drink-wise, they had a full bar with a decent selection that included tequila, mezcal, and sake cocktails. They even had a cocktail made with Japanese Suntory Whisky Toki.Here's what my wife and I had:Bebidas Especiales (cocktails)* El Conquistador ($14) - Tequila Herradura Silver, freshly-squeezed citrus, CointreauTapas* Tuna Tiradito ($16.99) - sashimi tuna with aji amarillo pepper, onions, cilantro, roasted corn nuts, and fresh citrus; Nikkei cuisine* Bulgogi Nachos ($15.99) - giant-size nachos with Korean BBQ beef, pico, kimchi, cheese, crema, jalapenos, black beansEntrees* Salmon Poke ($18.99) - raw salmon with sesame, onion, and tamari with seaweed salad, rice, and avocado* Pollo Saltado ($16.99) - stir-fried chicken, tomato, cilantro, onion; served over fries with rice and saladIn general, we were happy or content with everything. Some dishes were better than others. Beautiful presentation all around.The El Conquistador was a margarita that was more tart and less sweet. It was refreshing.I liked the Tuna Tiradito more than my wife. Tiradito is like Peruvian sashimi. I thought this dish was fine. I could see why my wife didn't like it as much because the texture of the tuna wasn't as fresh and appetizing as the tuna sashimi we're accustomed to. This tuna was a bit more "pasty" in texture. Also, the roasted corn nuts, which we think were the same as hominy, didn't add much.The standout dish was the Bulgogi Nachos. I saw pictures of it on Yelp and knew we had to order it. The portion size was huge and the Korean beef bulgogi was sweet and savory. We devoured the nachos. They were incredibly delicious and addictive. A lot of textures and flavors, and they all blended and worked well together.The Salmon Poke was solid. I recommend it if you like poke. Admittedly, it was better than we both expected because we haven't encountered a lot of great poke in the Chapel Hill-Durham area. Decent portions and fresh salmon, seaweed salad, and other ingredients. I will say the rice tasted plain and not seasoned with rice vinegar. The poke came with two sauces on the side, tamari (a type of Japanese soy sauce) and what I think was a type of curry sauce. The salmon was already nicely marinated and tasty so the sauces weren't needed.The Pollo Saltado was OK. It wasn't among the best I've had, but it was "authentic." The problems with this dish were the chicken was too dry and tough and the fries were underseasoned (not salty enough). Unfortunately, the salad was the best part of this dish.Our server Taryn was great. She was attentive and efficient. Everything we ordered came out fairly quickly. One detail I really liked and appreciated was Taryn neatly packed our leftovers and labeled and dated the boxes. That's an extra level of service you don't get at most other sit-down restaurants.Lucha Tigre opened in December 2012. It replaced the Chapel Hill location of The Original Flying Burrito: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-original-flying-burrito-chapel-hill You can find it in the Midtown Market shopping plaza, north of UNC's campus. There's plenty of free dedicated parking.I didn't have a good cell signal here and used their guest Wi-Fi. Password was Beefbulgogi1."

Iza Whiskey & Eats

★★★★★ 4.6 (253) • $$

"We enjoyed the food, drink, and service at Iza Whiskey & Eats in downtown Carrboro. This is a solid sushi/Asian-fusion-type restaurant and bar, especially for the area. If Iza was located in a bigger city, I'd give it four stars, but for Carrboro-Chapel Hill, this place is great (giving a generous five). Having dined out a lot in Carrboro and Chapel Hill over the past three years, we came into Iza with tempered expectations. I'm happy to report that we did not leave disappointed. I like this place and recommend it.Iza opened in November 2020 in the old One Fish Two Fish Poke Joint space (https://bit.ly/40ydINW) in the East Main Square shopping center. Free surface parking is available in the shopping center's lot. That's where we parked, but be sure to read the signs about restrictions. Also, plenty of parking is available in the nearby deck (you can't miss it), which belongs to the Town of Carrboro.I really like the restaurant and bar space here. It's beautiful, as are the drinks and dishes. This place exudes a trendier, upscale ambiance, but still keeps things casual and unpretentious. And it's not all just for show. The chefs and bartenders back up the look with well-executed food and drink, and excellent customer service. Interior features include a prominent kabuki mural (I love it), Asian lanterns and pendant lights, well-stocked shelves of whiskey, and a large illuminated Buddha head. Outside, there's a fairly spacious, uncovered, string-lit patio.During our visit, the menu offered a nice variety of both small and large plates. You can dine here tapas-style or everyone can get their own main dish. The sushi menu consisted mainly of rolls ($9-17 each). There was a Sashimi Platter ($36.90), but to our surprise, no nigiri other than the toro special that our server told us about.Conversely, with "Whiskey" in the business name, the bar's extensive drink menu did not come as a surprise. The drink menu we received contained a list of 111 whiskeys. There were whiskey flights ($25-50), sake, cocktails, wine, beer, and more.Below is what our table of four ordered. I think I missed a drink or two. We doubled up on some of the apps due to portion sizes. This should give you a good idea of what Iza has to offer.Appetizers* Ishiyaki BBQ with 3 oz A5 Wagyu Steak ($60) - cook it yourself on a hot stone, served with Himalayan salt and chimichurri sauce* Salmon Tiradito x2 ($13.90 each, x2) - sashimi-style salmon plated with onion truffle sauce, chive oil, garnished with micro greens* Okinawa Scallops x2 ($15.90 each, x2) - in each, two seared U10 scallops served with uni butter saffron, shiso pesto, and micro greens* Tuna Tartare & Chips ($14.90) - spicy tuna tartare topped with avocado, mango, citrus dressing, spicy mayo, and eel sauce* Tamarind Cauliflower ($10.90) - lightly-fried cauliflower glazed with a sweet, tangy tamarind sauceEntrees/Sushi* Pork Tenderloin Tonkatsu ($19.90) - pork lightly breaded with Japanese panko breadcrumbs and served with steamed white rice, cabbage, and tonkatsu sauce.* Korean-Style Sashimi Poke Bowl ($15.90) - assorted sashimi mixed with Korean "tanguiri" sauce, served atop sushi rice, garnished with micro greens, scallions, cucumbers, avocado, and rice seasoning* Iza Crunch Raw Specialty Roll ($14) - cucumber, tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and shiso inside, topped with spicy mayo and tempura crunch on the outsideSpecials (not on menu)* Toro Nigiri x2 (each set of 2 pieces for $16, x2) - fatty bluefin tuna bellyCocktails, Mocktails, and Whiskey* Japanese Sour cocktail ($14) - Suntory Japanese whiskey, citrus* Feeling Peachy mocktail ($4) - fresh lemon juice, peach syrup, club soda* Whiskey #94. Suntory Toko Japanese Whiskey ($14) - requested neatIn general, everything was outstanding. Fantastic quality all around. In order, my favorites were the Toro Nigiri, Okinawa Scallops, Tuna Tartare & Chips, and Salmon Tiradito. All of the seafood was really fresh and delicious. The chips that came with the Tuna Tartare were creative - they were nori (seaweed) tempura chips. The Scallops and sauce were succulent. If you love nigiri, I highly recommend Iza's Toro. It was legit.The Pork Tenderloin Tonkatsu was appetizing, served bone-in. I thought that was unique because I'm not sure I've seen tonkatsu served bone-in before. Both the Poke Bowl and the Iza Crunch Roll were solid. I couldn't figure out what the Korean "tanguiri" sauce was, but the poke came with tuna and salmon and they were marinated well.The one dish I have to knock, though, is the Ishiyaki BBQ with A5 Wagyu. Simply put, I didn't think it was worth the money. I love Wagyu, but this particular Wagyu was too fatty. I think I would've been happier with the much less expensive Ribeye option ($18.90).The drinks were terrific.As mentioned above, service was excellent, from our hostess Shaye to our server Aurora. Everyone was friendly, warm, and polite. They seem to have a wonderful team here."

Mr Dumpling

★★★★☆ 3.8 (327) • $$

"Hubby and I along with his brother and our sister-in-law stopped in for dinner while we were visiting Apex.My brother-in-law had been there before so he ordered a variety of menu items for all of us to share. Here's what we had:--chili-fried diced chicken - spicy and delicious! The chicken was diced small, fried well and super flavorful. They served this dish with plenty of fried chilis, eat these at your own risk!--dan-dan noodle - simple and flavorful. The noodles were cooked perfectly. I really liked this item.--pan-fried pork & cabbage dumplings - my least favorite item but still good. The pan-fried exterior was excellent but I wasn't a huge fan of the cabbage.--cream cheese wonton - very yummy! Sweet, crunchy, creamy. A unique take on the classic rangoon.--General Tso's chicken - very good! Different than any other General Tso's chicken I've had. Felt like a true Chinese dish not the American style General Tso's you find everywhere.--wonton in red chili oil - one of my favorite items! The wonton had great texture and was infused with yummy chili oil. The filling was amazing, too.Give Mr. Dumpling a try today!"

Budacai

★★★★☆ 4 (212)

"This shop is so cute! I love the upstairs area and how photo friendly they made it. The food is very tasty and I like all of the options I have to choose from when customizing my tea. It took me a while to choose everything so I appreciate the staff being patient and answering all of my questions about the menu, they were very nice. Whenever I'm in downtown Raleigh and want some small bites or something sweet, I swing by here."

Zest Sushi & Small Plates

★★★★☆ 4.2 (26)

"My experience here was nothing less than stellar. I stopped for lunch today while I was in the Cary area. I found parking behind the building and walked in to the beautifully decorated restaurant. The hostess was very friendly and I had the option of dining in ladle or out. I chose inside so I can see the restaurant. The menu hit everything that I would ever want to order. Raw oysters- sushi and and small plates. I chose the scallop crudo and tina tartare. The crudo was unique with an orange flavor which I found delightful. The tartare had such a delicious mark are and I loved the crisps that were served with it. My server was excellent and I would dine here frequently if I lived in the area. I thought the pricing was rather reasonable for an upscale restaurant. Highly recommend."

China Wok

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (72)

"Placed an order for a large group and tried many different dishes. We tried the shrimp egg foo yong, which was very good and the gravy was just right. We also ordered chicken fried rice and vegetable fried rice. Both dishes were cooked well and were very moist. We also had an order of beef lo mein, and that was cooked very well. I was pleasantly surprised as it was the first time I've tried this location. We got delivery and the delivery time was quick.Overall very satisfied with this meal."

Spring Rolls

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (185) • $$

"Best value regular prices with great specials. Diverse menu and convenient location when meeting between Raleigh and Cary or before/after events at NC State or the arena."

Mei Wei Asian Diner

★★★★☆ 3.8 (126)

"Easily some of the best Chinese food we have had in a very long time.This was our first time dining here and we will definitely be back. We ordered crab Rangoon and it was full of the cream cheese goodness. While the are deep fried there is no greasy taste or appearance to them which I find is often the case at most places. We both got an egg roll and while good, nothing spectacular and know we can do without them next time. lolWe have been on a search for GOOD fried rice and based on the pictures here on Yelp, Mei Wei's looked like it might end the search. We ordered a small chicken fried rice and it definitely hit passed the test. The only (and this is just a personal preference for me) thing I would change is adding egg, carrots and onions to it. Then it would be perfect!!!I ordered the general tso's and it was so good. The chicken was not soggy, not only is the portion enough for 2 meals, the chunks of chicken are a really good size. The hubs got the beef with broccoli and said it was easily some of the best he has had in the last 5 years. All in all, the food was amazing and this will definitely be our go to spot for Chinese."

Sushi One

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (222) • $$

"Delicious fresh sushi in a beautiful restaurant with attentive and sweet staff. Ive been here before many times and this restaurant does not disappoint. The sushi was so fresh, just the right size pieces. The ratio to fish to rice was correct and it was just delicious. The side salad is plentiful with delicious dressing and a great mix of greens. I will certainly return."

Soo Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (375) • $$

"Went with a group of 15 for lunch. They were expecting us and were able to take our orders, serve us, and let us pay in one hour. Amazing for such a large group. The chicken tenders were delicious. Great crunch and a tad spicy. Kimchi was quite good. This is not a fancy place, but it was clean and the food was hot and tasty. I need to try something else to determine if this should be 5 stars, not 4, and plan to be back soon."

Rasa Indian & Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (115) • $$

"Food was great. Let's begin with that. Everything tasted amazing. Ambiance was fine. Nothing amazing, but overall clean. We went post gym and didn't feel out of place. Nothing fancy. The service was lacking. The server was almost afraid to talk to us. We waited a long time and when we got our food one of the orders was wrong. We literally had to get up and go find the server twice."

Pho Happiness

★★★★☆ 4.1 (126) • $$

"This is a cute little restaurant on Franklin Street. The service is fast and the waiter and waitress are very nice. Everyone in our party ordered ramen and we customized our own. I liked the ramen broth. It wasn't too salty. The prices are reasonable too. We didn't have reservations but we're seated quickly.On a side note, my cousin is breastfeeding and asked for ice and they gave her an entire one gallon ziplock bag. When we were in NYC, the waitstaff gave her 5 ice cubes.I would definitely come back here when I am in Chapel Hill again."

Bida Manda

★★★★★ 4.5 (1817)

"I enjoyed our dinner at Bida Manda in downtown Raleigh. This restaurant is fairly unique, especially in North Carolina, because it specializes in Lao food. Lao cuisine is similar to Thai cuisine, but it's not exactly the same. Generally, I thought the food and drink here were good and service was great. I recommend this place.Bida Manda opened on September 5, 2012. It's next door to Brewery Bhavana, across from Moore Square. Both businesses, which are popular and have become Raleigh staples, have the same owners: brother and sister, Vansana ("Van") and Vanvisa Nolintha. Brewery Bhavana opened on March 29, 2017.A fellow Yelper recommended Bida Manda to me years ago, but also made me aware of the employee allegations that came out against Van: https://carolinas.eater.com/21611662/bida-manda-bhavana-brewery-misconduct-sexual-assault-allegations-van-nolintha-raleigh During our visit, Bida Manda appeared alive and well.My coworkers and I had a Monday night reservation at 7:30pm. Around that time, the place was completely packed - bar and dining room. It was really loud. It looked like there were other work groups there too.Due to the popularity of this place, even on a Monday night, I recommend making a reservation. Bida Manda is on OpenTable and awards dining points (not all OpenTable restaurants do), so that's a plus.You can park on the street or in the nearby Moore Square Station parking deck. During my visit, street parking was metered Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm. I couldn't find street parking, so I parked in the deck. The deck is located behind the restaurant, in the same block. Its address is 233 S Wilmington St. It was free to park in the deck outside of Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm. Note: If you park in the deck, you have to walk by the bus station, which can have some sketchy characters.Bida Manda means "father mother" in Lao. The restaurant was named in honor of the Nolinthas' parents. Large black and white photos of the parents are suspended above the hostess stand and are among the first things you'll see upon entry. The interior has exposed ceilings, pendant lighting, concrete floors, and Tolix chairs.Below is a list of what four of us ordered and shared, plus my single cocktail (the others got drinks too, but I didn't document them). This list should give you a decent idea of what Bida Manda offers and how much it costs.Cocktail* Berry Old Fashioned ($15.00) - bourbon, blueberry, cinnamon syrup, bittersAppetizers* Crispy Rice Lettuce Wraps ($16.90) - "served as afternoon snack in Laos, this is our most beloved appetizer at Bida Manda," hand-tossed crunchy coconut rice with fresh herbs, fried garlic, shallot crisp, peanuts, eggs, lime, and baby romaine lettuce; served with housemade caramelized sweet chili sauce* Luang Prabang Lemongrass Sausage ($16.90) - aromatic housemade pork sausage with fresh herbs, jasmine rice, ground pork belly, and served with pickled ginger* Lao Beef Jerky - Seen Savahn ($15.90) - housemade fried dehydrated beef with peppercorn, sesame seeds and spices, served with charred tomato jeow, and a side of sticky riceEntrees* Crispy Pork Belly Soup ($26.90) - "traditionally served as breakfast in Laos," coconut curry broth with lime leaf, julienned vegetables, peanuts, eggs, fresh herbs, rice noodles, and crispy pork belly* Green Papaya Salad ($16.90) - hand-julienned unripe papaya, tomatoes, peanuts, housemade tamarind dressing, and sticky rice; with fresh Thai chili added to heat preference* Duck Laab ($26.90) - hand-tossed meat salad with fresh local herbs, spicy lime and fermented Padek fish sauce, shredded galangal, toasted rice powder, and sticky rice* Sea Bass Mok ($40.90) - eight ounces of aromatic sea bass marinated in a housemade curry with coconut cream, wrapped in a banana leaf and baked; served with sticky rice* Kua Mee Lao - Pad Lao ($24.90) - caramelized fried rice noodle, julienned egg omelette, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, peanuts, and fried tofu (can also choose pork belly or shrimp for your protein)Dessert* Purple Rice ($10.90) - "traditional Laotian dessert" with purple sticky rice, fresh mango, coconut custard, and palm sugar tamarind caramel sauceOverall, I thought all of the food and drink were fresh and tasty. There wasn't a single bad item. Everything was presented beautifully as well. For me, the standouts were the Lemongrass Sausage, Crispy Pork Belly Soup, Green Papaya Salad, Duck Laab, and Purple Rice. That said, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the items listed above. They were all enjoyable in their own unique way. For example, I thought the quality of the Sea Bass was very good. It was tender and flavorful.Service was exceptional. Two examples: (1) Our server neatly packed and labeled my leftovers. (2) One of my coworkers wanted some of the local cookies, but they were sold out. The manager got my coworker's name so he could set aside free cookies for her the next time she visited. How nice and thoughtful of him."

Sushi Iwa

★★★★☆ 3.8 (521) • $$

"Lunch sushi and sashimi is full of variety and flavors.The Seaweed Salad is fresh and crispy lettuce,tomatoes, carrots, and plenty of Seaweed with ginger dressing.The steamy hot sweet and sour soup is packed with many flavors, tofu, mushrooms, and umami tastes is very warming and satisfying."

Sushi Suyu

★★★★★ 4.6 (100)

"I give Sushi Suyu 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. If this restaurant was located in a bigger metropolitan area, like Atlanta, I'd give it a solid 3 ("OK"). For the Triangle, it's good, but not great like M Sushi in Durham and Sushi Mon in Raleigh. That said, I don't regret making the 25-minute drive from Chapel Hill to Apex to try it.Sushi Suyu is located in historic downtown Apex. The town is lucky to have this place. If it wasn't for this restaurant, I'm not sure my wife, friend, and I would've ever "gone out" in Apex. My friend, who's lived in Raleigh for many years, had never been to Apex until we dined here. The downtown area is small and quaint, what you'd expect of an old North Carolina town. The commercial part spans only a couple blocks. It's nice to walk around.Sushi Suyu shares a building and small parking lot with other businesses. The lot only has nine spaces. There is, however, plenty of free parking down adjacent Templeton St and around the corner, in the back, on Temple St. We parked for free in the public parking lot across the street, at N Salem St and Seaboard St, next to the fire station.We visited on a Monday around 6:15pm. The place was busy when we arrived. At one point, I think every table was taken and one or two parties had to wait. At the time of our visit, the restaurant catered to walk-ins and accepted a very limited number of reservations. We were walk-ins and were seated immediately.The restaurant isn't huge, but it's spacious enough. An outdoor, umbrella-covered, string-lit patio is available when weather permits. Inside, there's a small five-seat sushi bar in the back. The dining room is partitioned into a few different spaces. The interior design is simple and clean-looking. Tables are placed closely together. The atmosphere is casual.I found out about Sushi Suyu after seeing one of my Instagram friends' stories with the restaurant's "sushi ladder." "Sushi ladder" is how it was described to me. They're actually more like "sushi stairs." It's gimmicky, but it works for the business because it looks great on social media and draws new people in (like me). On the menu, it's called the Nigiri Moriawase (assorted nigiri) 10-piece chef's choice platter ($32).The 10 pieces I got were tuna, salmon, beet salmon, yellowtail, red snapper, amberjack, scallop, squid, surf clam, and eel. Surf clam was the only thing I didn't see on the regular menu. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed with my 10-piece because it didn't look as good as the other platters I'd seen on Instagram and Yelp.First, my platter only had five steps instead of six or even 10. Yeah, I know, a trivial thing, but it's part of the fun of ordering this dish. More importantly, the pieces of nigiri I received weren't as high-quality as the ones I'd seen online. For example, most of the pieces I got were plain while the ones I'd seen online had been cut and/or dressed up in particular ways, with way more care and attention to detail. I'm fine with getting "plain" nigiri, but even these plain nigiri - such as the most basic kinds, like tuna and salmon - were simply cheaper quality. Finally, the accouterments I received were less than I expected. Online, I saw wasabi paste, pickled ginger, kizami wasabi, and lime or lemon. All I got was the standard wasabi paste and pickled ginger.Based on pictures I'd seen, including on Sushi Suyu's official Instagram page, I expected the nigiri to be higher-end, but what I actually received was more run-of-the-mill quality. Maybe the night of our visit, the B team was in or maybe the restaurant has changed to using cheaper-quality sushi, I don't know. Anyway, I don't mean to criticize too much. I still enjoyed it. For Apex, this is good. My wife and friend also enjoyed a variety of nigiri, which included a-la-carte orders (e.g., red snapper and amberjack, 2 pieces for $9) and the 6-piece chef's choice platter ($20). If you're wondering what "beet salmon" is, it's beetroot-cured salmon. I was told they cure it in-house.Other items we ordered included Truffle Salmon Carpaccio (seared salmon, fried onions, tobiko, truffle oil, soy mustard, apple aioli; $15), a Trio Plate (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, fried onions, tobiko, apple aioli, soy mustard; $18), Tempura Shrimp ($11) with assorted tempura vegetables, Sweet Spicy Edamame ($6), pan-fried pork Dumplings (6 for $9), a Spicy Tuna Classic Roll ($7), and a Hamachi Fever roll (shrimp tempura, avocado on the inside, seared yellowtail, microgreens, garlic chips, Sriracha aioli, sweet soy on top; $16). Overall, everything was tasty and beautifully presented. They generally do a nice job with the presentation here. Of these other items we ordered, my favorites were the Truffle Salmon Carpaccio and the Trio Plate, both of which were very similar.We also got a K-Pancake with Ice Cream ($9) for dessert. I highly recommend it. It was delicious.Our server was Jess and she was fantastic. Nolan was great too.Sushi Suyu opened in May 2022."

Jays Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.6 (84)

"First time eating here the service was very good the Waitress(Brianna) was friendly and professional - the food was really good. I enjoyed Bulgogl Fries and the freshness of the Seafood A very good dining experience."

Fusion Nine

★★★★☆ 4.1 (55)

"Fusion NineINTRO: Restaurant located off of Morrisville Parkway.Chicken Lollipop, Dal Tadka, Sizzling brownie- food was delicious and was definitely enjoyable. Food was plenty for two people. Sizzling brownie was an exciting dessert and was a great way to end the night.Parking/ location: Hard to find since it is tucked right next to the badminton club and is not visual from the actual road. However, there was plenty of parking space but arrived later at night so not at the busiest hours to see how that may be.Ambience/Service-There was an outdoor and indoors part of the restaurant. Despite these sections it was on the smaller side. The indoor section included a bar. The outdoor section was lighted nicely and tucked within trees and leaf décor which gave it a romantic atmosphere. The waitress was excellent and very attentive, but the food arrived too quickly including dessert was served while we were beginning to eat the actual meal."

Twisted Noodles

★★★★☆ 3.5 (214) • $$

"Love the location, parking is great. You can literally park in front of the building for pick up. Interior design is beautiful and cozy if you're in the mood to dine in!Consistently cooked to perfection, I won't go anywhere else in Chapel Hill for wide rice noodles. The price is extremely fair for dinner ranging from $13 is a huge bargain for a full meal in this area!Posting this after my second day in a row of dining in at their restaurant. Needless to say: REPEAT CUSTOMER FOR LIFE"

Spicy 9 Sushi Bar & Asian Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (377) • $$

"Sushi is buy 1 get one free.. not a bad deal so next time I come I will probably get the same.. I ordered the pad see ew with chicken and it was really good. I enjoyed it, my co workers got edamame and drunken noodles and sashimi.. I didn't eat the sashimi but the drunken noodles and the edamame were good.. I can't wait to come back and get some more.. the service was good too, our waiter was super attentive to our needs.."

Nai Thai 2

★★★★☆ 4.3 (85) • $$

"Doesn't look much on the outside but let me tell you. This place is a little gold mine here in Goldsboro. Has a cool bar area and it's a cool little spot. The Satay is a great street food and the peanut sauce was so good! The chicken was high quality! The Tom sum or papaya salad is very refreshing change with it being a hot summers day. I like spice and I asked for a 3 out of 1-5 spice level. It was really good! I would even say authentic. If I was living in Goldsboro this is my Go-To!!! The pricing is pretty steep for the portion size that is my only thing that I have as a negative with this spot!"

Red Bowl Asian Bistro

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (186)

"Best Chinese, Good Thai, and passable sushi in the Cary/Apex area. It's a great date spot but can handle groups. If you are hankering for New York style Chinese, this is your spot. The service is amazing. 10/10 reccomend."

iPho Sushi Kitchen & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.5 (153) • $$

"As a Californian, it's so hard to be impressed with sushi in many other states, but this place was AMAZING! I love that they had both pho and sushi options and everything was so tasty and authentic tasting. Prices are also quite reasonable. I definitely recommend this place for anyone craving Asian fusion."

M Pocha

★★★★☆ 4.2 (155) • $$

"We had a great dinner at M Pocha in downtown Durham. Our well-traveled friend from Nashville, who ate with us here, said it was the best meal he's had in a year. He told me I could quote him in my Yelp review. In barbecue circles, he's known as Speedy of the Barbecue Bros: https://bit.ly/3KlTpgdI personally wouldn't go as far to say this was the best meal I've had in a year, but it was certainly very good. I give M Pocha a solid four stars.If you're not familiar with the "M Restaurants" of Durham, they're among the best Asian restaurants in the Triangle. Their most popular restaurant, M Sushi ( https://bit.ly/3QnVQTo ), has the best sushi in the Triangle, in my opinion. M Restaurants set the bar high. The "M" stands for Michael, Michael Lee, chef-owner of the M Restaurants.M Pocha is named after Korean street tents/stalls called pojangmacha. While Michael is Korean and this restaurant was inspired by pojangmacha or "pocha," the menu spans a variety of Asian cuisines, from Chinese to Thai. Like many restaurants in this part of Durham, M Pocha doesn't have a dedicated parking lot. My friends got lucky and found a spot in the nearby free lot off Morris St (same block). Otherwise, it's metered street and surface lot parking. If you don't want to park on the street, I suggest parking in the municipal lot at 111 W Chapel Hill St. You can walk through a brick alley and across Five Points to get to M Pocha. Parking is enforced Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm, except for city holidays.This is a small restaurant. If I recall correctly, the max occupancy I saw on the wall was 49 people. Reservations are recommended. Like all the M Restaurants, except for M Kokko, M Pocha is on OpenTable. Book your reservation using OpenTable and earn dining points which can be used to redeem restaurant discounts, Amazon gift cards, and hotel stays.Here's we, four adults and two kids, shared:Cocktails* Cocktail of the Day ($16) - some sort of whiskey sour cocktail with egg white (I don't remember the exact description)* House of the Rising Sun ($20) - Hibiki Whisky, Bekseju (Korean herb wine), charred lemon, miso caramelSmall Plates* Lobster "Mac" & Cheese ($26) - crispy rice cakes, Mornay sauce, herb breadcrumbs, chili poached lobster* Shrimp Toast ($17) - Japanese milk bread, white shrimp, wasabi sweet chili sauceDumplings* Meat Mandu ($12) x2 - traditional Korean dumpling: ground pork, mushrooms, chili crisp, kimchi, buchu chives; handmade fresh daily* Crab Shumai ($16) - crab meat, shrimp, kani, cabbage, scallions, yuzu and truffle ponzu sauceMeat* Chicken Karaage ($14) - marinated fried chicken, special spicy dipping sauce* Spicy Pork Buns ($17) - DIY steamed buns, spicy Korean BBQ pork, pickled cucumbers, ssam* Meat Plate ($48) - grilled galbi marinated Korean short rib, dry rub Iberico pork chop, duck fat pickled oyster mushrooms, seasonal kimchi, grilled onions, choice of rice or side salad (we chose rice)Rice* Chashu Don ($19) - braised pork belly, gravy, spicy cucumber salad, six-minute egg, scallionsNoodles/Soup* Xiao Mian (Chongqing Fire Noodles) ($19) - alkaline noodles, ground pork, gai lan, pickled mustard greens, housemade chili oil, sesame sauce, peanuts, cilantro* Drunken Noodle ($16) - stir-fried rice noodles, tofu, broccoli, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, beech mushrooms, Thai chilis, spicy chili sauce, peanuts, Thai basilSides* Chili Crisp Garlic Fries with Kimchi Aioli ($6)* Kimchi (regularly $5, but we got this for free; I think it came with a dish or maybe we got it because we ordered a lot)In general, everything was very good to excellent. I think the group favorite dishes were the Lobster "Mac" & Cheese, Shrimp Toast, Spicy Pork Buns, and Xiao Mian. My favorites were the latter two. The buns were freshly steamed and the pork was succulent. I enjoyed the Sichuan hot and numbing spice of the Xiao Mian. Every dish contained high-quality ingredients and was presented beautifully.I also really liked and recommend the Chicken Karaage for a simple, comforting fried chicken dish. The Drunken Noodles were tasty and are worth getting as well. M Pocha's Drunken Noodles can stand up to the best Drunken Noodles I've had in the Triangle. The noodle texture was terrific.What kept me from giving M Pocha five stars was the Meat Plate and Chashu Don. While tender and good quality, the pork chop on the Meat Plate lacked flavor. The Chashu Don pork had fantastic slices of pork belly and a perfectly-cooked egg, but there was too much rice and it was just soaked in sauce (didn't taste the best).We and the table next to us got complimentary dessert. It was like a sweet version of Crab Rangoon.The cocktails were well-made, refreshing, and delicious.Service was great. Our server was Ben and he did an amazing job. The dishes were paced as they were ready. Due to the limited table space, Ben was quick and creative in making more room for us as new dishes arrived.M Pocha opened in June 2019."

Bulkogi at Boxyard RTP

★★★★★ 4.5 (69)

"For those in RTP who want good and quick Korean, this is the place. The bulgogi was marinated and seasoned appropriately, the vegetables were fresh and crispy, and the rice was good too. Try it with kimchi for some extra heat. The kiosk ordering was pretty quick (I don't think they take cash?) and allows for customization. I recommend this place if in the area and craving for good Korean (think they also do tacos)."

Kazu Hibachi

★★★★★ 4.5 (62)

"We met some friends here for dinner and I'm glad we came. Usually when I think of hibachi, I tend to think of sitting around a flat stove and the chef flipping a knife. However this is different. They cook it in the back and bring it out. I actually like this better, as it gives you a chance to talk while waiting on your food. The food came out very quickly and was delicious. I can definitely see coming back!"