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!
Steak & Chicken combo. Excellent. Love their white sauce. 😁
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Timothy Opas
Pretty good
Catherine Coman
Best local hibachi! Used to get hibachi blue but they are terrible now. I’m so glad that I found Nakato express as my new hibachi go to! Hibachi vegetables and spring rolls are delish
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Avery Sullivan
I have been coming to Nakato for 16 years (since I was 15). This has long been my favorite hibachi on Earth and that remains true after trying many other spots around the globe.
The yum yum sauce is phenomenal - I’m not sure how they achieve it, but it’s the absolute best yum yum sauce I’ve ever had. All of the hibachi entrees are lovely - generous portions with a perfect ratio of rice, zucchini, onions, mushrooms, and protein.
The prices have remained very low for the restaurant’s lifetime. They could easily raise them, and I would still be more than happy. I have appreciated seeing the same staff over the years; Nakato will always feel like home.
I've been going for years now. You can watch the food being prepared through the window if you want. Staff is super friendly. They deliver through doordash, but you can order over the phone to pick up or eat right there so you dont have to wait. Yes, recommended for lunch or dinner .. ---------- In these pandemic times, nothing like an easy pick... we keep ordering from Nakato, yes. The food is yummy. ---------- I'm back again.... It seems the people have changed but the food is still delicious :-) ----------- Coming over and over.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rhylen Amado
Food is really good. But very unfriendly server/cashier.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
Jackson Howe
The food is fantastic and the service is even better. The workers are so kind and can get to know you. Best place for Japanese food!
Parking: There is many free spaces callable but the lines are hard to see
Wheelchair accessibility: There is a ramp on the side to get up.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Yum Yum Sauce
Kara Burke
Not the friendliest folks
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Sherri White
I ordered the hibachi steak and it was delicious! Steak was tender and the whole plate was flavorful.
I rely pretty solidly on Google reviews, so I give credit where credit is due. This is by far the best hibachi we've had in the area (Kanki included). Huge portion for the price and the veggies were so fresh. We all absolutely loved our meals, which were ordered to-go. We will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Hibachi Steak, Yum Yum Sauce
Leslie Boyd
Hibachi chicken, steak, and shrimp was fantastic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sherry Marks
I couldn’t pass not giving a review on this hibachi restaurant. All I can say is their food is super fresh very good quality of meats of vegetables of how they prepare it. Me and my sons dine in once a week at least and we absolutely love it if you’re in the neighborhood, and you wanna spot for hibachi give this a try you won’t be disappointed ?there super nice people also
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nellie
food was cooked fresh and was very delicious. and everything was very clean which is always a great bonus
Chris Jungclas
Hands down the best hibachi place in town. My only gripe with this restaurant is that my wife and I always seem to want it on Monday which is the only day they’re closed.
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!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steamed Dumplings, Steak Chicken Shrimp Hibachi, Hibachi Chicken and Steak, Steak Soba
Steak & Chicken combo. Excellent. Love their white sauce. 😁
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pretty good
Best local hibachi! Used to get hibachi blue but they are terrible now. I’m so glad that I found Nakato express as my new hibachi go to! Hibachi vegetables and spring rolls are delish
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have been coming to Nakato for 16 years (since I was 15). This has long been my favorite hibachi on Earth and that remains true after trying many other spots around the globe.
The yum yum sauce is phenomenal - I’m not sure how they achieve it, but it’s the absolute best yum yum sauce I’ve ever had. All of the hibachi entrees are lovely - generous portions with a perfect ratio of rice, zucchini, onions, mushrooms, and protein.
The prices have remained very low for the restaurant’s lifetime. They could easily raise them, and I would still be more than happy. I have appreciated seeing the same staff over the years; Nakato will always feel like home.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Chicken Shrimp Hibachi, Yum Yum Sauce
I've been going for years now. You can watch the food being prepared through the window if you want. Staff is super friendly.
They deliver through doordash, but you can order over the phone to pick up or eat right there so you dont have to wait.
Yes, recommended for lunch or dinner ..
----------
In these pandemic times, nothing like an easy pick... we keep ordering from Nakato, yes. The food is yummy.
----------
I'm back again.... It seems the people have changed but the food is still delicious :-)
-----------
Coming over and over.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is really good. But very unfriendly server/cashier.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
The food is fantastic and the service is even better. The workers are so kind and can get to know you. Best place for Japanese food!
Parking: There is many free spaces callable but the lines are hard to see
Wheelchair accessibility: There is a ramp on the side to get up.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Yum Yum Sauce
Not the friendliest folks
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
I ordered the hibachi steak and it was delicious! Steak was tender and the whole plate was flavorful.
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Hibachi Steak
Restaurantji Recommends
I rely pretty solidly on Google reviews, so I give credit where credit is due. This is by far the best hibachi we've had in the area (Kanki included). Huge portion for the price and the veggies were so fresh. We all absolutely loved our meals, which were ordered to-go. We will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Hibachi Steak, Yum Yum Sauce
Hibachi chicken, steak, and shrimp was fantastic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I couldn’t pass not giving a review on this hibachi restaurant. All I can say is their food is super fresh very good quality of meats of vegetables of how they prepare it. Me and my sons dine in once a week at least and we absolutely love it if you’re in the neighborhood, and you wanna spot for hibachi give this a try you won’t be disappointed ?there super nice people also
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
food was cooked fresh and was very delicious.
and everything was very clean which is always a great bonus
Hands down the best hibachi place in town. My only gripe with this restaurant is that my wife and I always seem to want it on Monday which is the only day they’re closed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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