18 Best Japanese Restaurants in Cary

“The sushi is amazing. The “M Special” is my personal favorite. Most recently, I got the Gyudon (beef bowl) and it was super tasty. Just be warned it’s a lot of food! Also, their miso soup is so so good! I love that they offer a lunch menu on Saturdays.“

“Amazing!! The restaurant is beautiful inside! The staff is absolutely wonderful and very friendly! The food was DELICIOUS!! Our new favorite ramen spot in the area and in our top favorite restaurants overall! You need to try it! We will deff be back!!“

“Ramen and sushi were both outstanding! Prompt, friendly service. Highly recommend!“

“Cozy little place with great food!! Their garlic ramen was amazing!!“

“Nakato Express is an absolute gem of Japanese cuisine in Cary. My boyfriend and I stopped here on a whim while passing by playing Pokémon GO.

When we entered and we both were blown away by the decor. The dining area was clean, organized, and looked amazing. Plants, statues, and a torii gate pulls the space together in a way only Japanese decorations can.

We ordered the steak and shrimp soba, chicken and steak hibachi, an order of steamed dumplings, a side of fried rice (I was rather hungry), and finally two bottled soft drinks. They have a fountain drink machine, but that was out of service when we came. Had they not had other drink options, this would have been worse, but they provide bottled and canned drinks as well.

The dumplings were amazing! They came with a side sauce that had a kick to it. I personally am not fond of spicy anything, but the sauce was great. The chicken was great, well cooked and seasoned, and the chicken didn't taste dry at all. The steak was perfectly marinated and cooked, just the way steak should be for a Japanese dish. The shrimp was phenomenal and well cooked and seasoned as well. My only complaint with the food is that the sauce the soba was cooked in got overwhelming near the end. A minor complaint when you consider the serving size to price.
And I almost forgot, we dined in, and the woman behind the counter came and brought us our food to the table. I was not expecting that at all. A very pleasant surprise!

Overall, Nakato Express is the perfect place for high-quality Japanese food on a budget. We spent about $40 between the two of us, and that's with one super hungry person.

Thank you for an amazing experience! We can't wait to come back!“

“I highly recommend this place to visit! The food is definitely better than in many similar establishments. Very responsive staff does their job perfectly.

Prices are above average, but there is something to pay extra for. The quality of food is clearly different from other establishments. I definitely recommend this restaurant!

There is a very cozy hall in the national style.

Dietary restrictions: There are clearly many items that fit into the category of dietary dishes

Parking: Enough free seats right in front of the establishment

Kid-friendliness: Definitely yes

Wheelchair accessibility: Quite accessible, located on the ground floor“

“I highly recommend eating from this establishment! I was pleased with absolutely everything. And the responsiveness of the staff, and the cleanliness of the kitchen and the cleanliness of the hall. And of course delicious, healthy food. I was especially pleased that the cook cooked the meat exactly as I requested. I've ordered different food here several times, and so far I've been pleased with everything! I absolutely recommend visiting!

Vegetarian options: They can be seen in the menu.

Dietary restrictions: It is quite possible to choose something dietary.

Parking: There is parking at the plaza. Usually with a lot of empty seats.

Kid-friendliness: Definitely food suitable for children.

Wheelchair accessibility: The establishment is located on the ground floor, without obstacles for wheelchair users.“

“I ordered through uber eats. They had a special for buy one get one free on their salmon box. I also got a California roll. I thought the sushi was good. I had no problems with ordering and will likely order again. I have seen a lot of negative reviews from other customers regarding uber orders. While I can't speak to their experience, I had no issue with my meal. The sushi, again, was good. Not perfect, but as good as I could expect from delivered sushi. EDIT: ordered again the same thing. No problems. Good sushi.“

“Last Thursday, me and my family came here for the first time to celebrate my older son’s birthday, thinking it was a fancy dine-in restaurant. Unfortunately it a to-go restaurant but because it was raining so hard, we decided to stay and give the food a try. Thankfully we stayed because the food ended up being amazing and now my son won’t stop asking to go back.“

“First time and will not be the last time I eat here! The best and most fresh sushi I’ve had in a very long time! Would recommend and can’t wait to take the rest of my family here :)“

“We have ordered from this restaurant twice. The broth in the Niku Udon is incredible; it is almost unreal how beefy the flavor is. Highly recommend; we haven't tried much else from this restaurant so it's hard to give a full review. We did get the gyoza this time and found them okay; I probably wouldn't get those again, but I'll definitely go back for the Udon.“

“Super cute restaurant! I had the Excalibur roll, some of the best sushi I’ve had. Lots of seating and amazing decorations. Food presentation is beautiful here. I recommend checking this place out!

Kid-friendliness: Small kids menu“

“Best sushi in Raleigh area hands down! I miss the Korean menu items but understand Covid and inflation makes it hard for small businesses to not change and adapt! We drive forty minutes for the sushi too!“

“This place is authentic. It feels like I'm sitting in a small sushi bar in Japan. It doesn't present the glamour of an upscale American restaurant but the sushi is honestly the better than any of them. The rice in the roll was better than anything I've had in the US and the fish tastes very fresh.“

“10/10 food, service and atmosphere! My friends and I ride out from all areas of NC on our motorcycles just to get the sushi here. I recommend anyone who hasn’t tried this place to go there, you’ll thank me later! :)“

“Shared cashew chicken with white rice. Also had wonton soup and spring roll - all delicious! Recommend!“

“The food is decent. Some dishes can't find anywhere else, but the service is kind of disappointed. We tried to call and even wave hands to server many times but no response until she thinks it's time to check on us even I waved when she look to our direction.“

“This is an authentic Hibachi/Teppanyaki restaurant (they grille in front of you) with a kind and diverse staff, mainly from Asian descent. It is well designed and quiet. While it is sort of expensive the experience is worth every penny. The staff will take time to make your experience extra nominal. They also take time for your children too! Good 10/10“