13 Best Japanese Restaurants in Durham

“Delicious food! I took my adults (offspring - can't bring myself to refer to them as children) here for a special dinner. Everyone was so happy with their meal. My son had the bento and enjoyed it all, daughter and hubby had the chef choice sushi flights and really enjoyed everything. I select pieces of sushi, sashimi and rolls that I wanted to try! Every bite was delicious, so good in fact that I added two pieces of the tuna belly sashimi to my hubby's take out order (final four game, you know priorities). Hot tea and miso soup to start, they have a nice selection of Japanese beers. Here's the thing, my kids both have shellfish allergies and additionally my daughter has egg and nut allergies too. Every thing came to the table perfectly, they adjusted their flight and bento accordingly. It's hard to eat out and trust no cross contamination but they've eaten there before without issue. This is huge for me. Great sushi, good service experience and care in food handling! It's a win, win, win!“

“Wow, one of the best meals and dining experiences these foodies have ever had! We added the wine and sake pairings for each course. That was nice and made the decision making easy. Each of the 7 courses was fantastic. We'll be going back for sure. It was cool being able to chat with the chef as she was preparing the meals. She was busy so we made sure to limit the chatter, but that interaction and the highly knowledgeable wait staff took the whole experience to the next level.“

“This is our go to sushi restaurant in chapel hill/ durham. The sushi is consistent and delicious. The sushi chef is one of the best I’ve seen in this area. It’s always superb sush. My particular favorite is going during their lunch special , which includes weekdays and Saturdays. My children love the sushi and we get a couple of the triples that include 3 rolls with soup or salad. We love their spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail, Philadelphia roll, and generally the rest of their menu is all really amazing. The price is amazing and we always devour all the food. If you are someone who cares about quality, ratios, and consistency, then you will love it like we do. They do have a list of fancier rolls that we occasionally get and are also amazing. But we keep coming back because we hit the perfect balance between amazing cost and amazing, delicious food. You get the best quality and the best price here and it’s so worth it! Highly recommend it!“

“We went here since it was close to our hotel. We were more than pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. If you like oriental noodle dishes like Ramen or Pad Thai this is a great place to check out. Our waitress was pleasant, fast, and efficient. The decor is not very fancy but the food more than makes up for it.“

“As much as I wanted to hate this place, I simply could not. I'm a die-hard Crabtree valley Mall old school fan. I've been going there since I was in high school in the '80s. But the streets at SouthPoint gives you a more upscale cosmopolitan feeling. Nordstrom's in Macy's anchoring the mall really seal the deal for me. I absolutely will be back but don't tell anyone I came b/c I'm still a Crabtree valley Mall fan“

“A part of my order was not delivered, although I ordered on their direct website. when I called to ask for a refund, I was told that they would not do so because they are only responsible for making the food. Noone offered to contact the driver service to rectify. Instead, when I mentioned that I could only choose to not use the restaurant again, I was laughed at. Very unfortunate. I used to greatly enjoy this location. UPDATE: The restaurant reached out, apologized, and are doing what they can to make it right. I appreciate the follow up, and I totally will go back. The food is good, and they are one of the few places in that part of Durham that isn't a chain.“

“This place has a pretty good sushi deal for lunch, especially if you're getting multiple specialty rolls. Their hot food is good too (according to my friends - I'm a sucker for sushi). They tend to be quick,so you can fit this sit down meal within an hour on most days. It's usually not *too* busy for lunch, but once in a while I've had to wait for a seat. After having been to Akashi multiple times, I can say it's pretty solid and a good choice for sushi at lunchtime.“

“This is by far my favorite place in Durham!! I try to go here at least once a week, but I definitely go once a month. The service is great, I have yet to run out of sweet tea in my glass!! The food is warm and oh so good! I have a 3 plate system to get the most for my money. 1st plate is get a little bit of all my favorites. DON'T PILE YOUR PLATE HIGH!!! 2nd plate would be to try new things (I've tried everything, so I use this one for seafood), and the 3rd plate is a mixture of seafood and my favorites that I want to eat again before I leave.Vegetarian options: They do have selections of rice, noodles, and greens.Parking: The parking lot is huge. If you can't find parking then you shouldn't be driving! I've seen it packed, but I have never seen it so full that there was no parking. And that's more of a testament to how BIG the lot is.Wheelchair accessibility: I believe there's a wheelchair ramp to get on the sidewalk. There are 2 double door entrances before you enter the restaurant. Unless you have a big body chair then there is plenty of space to maneuver your chair in the seating area, as well as in the food area.“

“It's important to clarify that this is an authentic Japanese tea service, by appointment only. It is not meant to be a lunch/dinner service (they used to do Kaiseki but now they do tea ceremony only), so please plan ahead. They maintain an intimate and authentic experience so each time only 2-3 people could get in, for good reasons. My husband and I signed up on their waitlist at least 6 months in advance, and when I received the call from the owner, I was so thrilled.They did a very thorough job telling you what you can expect and how to prepare for it before coming. Please be punctual. Chef Yamazawa and Ms. Yamazawa would wait to greet the guests in Japanese Kimono outside the house (and they'll walk you through the procedure before you enter the tea house), so it really doesn't feel nice to the host if you're late.About the place: They convert their residence to provide an authentic tatami experience inside (but you'd be hard to tell from outside). There's only parking space for one car (which is the driveway at the front of the house). We were a bit confused at first as we didn't mean to drive "into" the gate, but the host helped us right away so nothing to worry there. Once inside, they'll share with you everything about Japanese tea ritual, what to do, what it means (as each Japanese tea session is almost a meditation session that encourages guests to explore their inner peace and to live in the present moment), etc. I love to learn about the culture, their stories (why deciding to transition from a restaurant to a Japanese tea house), and everything.It's worth noting that it is not allowed to take photos during the tea session. I appreciate the disconnection from social media and phone to enjoy serenity for a nice afternoon! (After everything's wrapped up, you're welcome to take photos at the entrance)Overall, this is a cultural experience for ~2h long, rather than a lunch/dinner thing (there will be a little bit snacks/desert as part of the tea ceremony, but don't count on them to feed you). Highly recommend!“

“This is my favorite sushi restaurant. The food is exceptional, very fresh and made to order. The sushi is what I am there for, but their noodle dishes and fresh vegetables are also delicious. It’s my favorite place to go with friends and sit for an extended time. They are very patient with us coming for lunch and staying through most of the afternoon. They offer a menu section of BOGO sushi rolls— generous portions freshly made. My friends and I always get a box to go, though we usually have to order additional food because we have sat for several hours and consumed everything we ordered. I have an actual list on my phone of all of the different rolls we have tested out to make sure we always get our favorites plus remember to try a few new ones. Even right after Covid when I was very worried they might not be able to reopen, when they were seating people far apart, the food was fresh and made to order. That cannot have been easy and I applaud them for the losses they must’ve taken during that time. I am so grateful they are still open! My favorite place to sit is parked in a booth at the back, but I have seen the private dining areas for parties and I’ve seen them push together tables for large groups out in the main rooms. There’s a lovely bar. The restaurant is both family-friendly and good for date night, or for just hanging out with friends. I take my sushi very seriously and think this is the best place in the area for it. There’s a much smaller restaurant in my own town nearby that is near and dear to my heart, but it’s hard to compete with a giant like Shiki Sushi.Parking: Parking is plentiful around lunchtime and a little bit busier at dinner. It’s directly in front of the storefront.“

“Alright, let's give Kurama its moment in the spotlight! While Kanki may have its loyal following, Kurama has some shining qualities of its own.First off, Kurama's food? It's like a flavor adventure waiting to happen. From their sushi rolls bursting with freshness to their teriyaki dishes that hit all the right notes, Kurama knows how to please a palate.And let's not forget about the ambiance. Stepping into Kurama is like stepping into a cozy corner of Japan, with its charming decor and inviting atmosphere making you feel right at home.But perhaps Kurama's greatest strength lies in its staff. Friendly, attentive, and always ready with a recommendation, they go above and beyond to ensure that every dining experience is a memorable one.So, while Kanki may have its perks, Kurama holds its own as a delicious destination worth exploring. Who knows? You might just find your new favorite dish hidden among its menu offerings!“

“I always rave to everyone I know that Sushi Love is my favorite sushi restaurant in Durham. The sushi is awesome, the prices are honest, the drinks and saki selections a great, and the variety and I trigue of their offers in the sushi menu are above par--they have everything from traditional style, delectable sushi to fun and intriguing and fun new styles to try + a wholeeee menu of awesome Asian appetizers and dishes that fit every guest dietary preference/need/desire. Though we normally go there for the sushi ? I also love many of their non-sushi dishes and apps as well. The place is always packed and busy, a good sign and testament of killer yummy food. I have non-jokingly asked the staff and manager many times to please please please open a new location in North Durham so I can come eat more often ?☺️.I worked in restaurants my whole life until I graduated college, it is very hard work to work in and/or run a restaurant, to wait tables, to be a food runner and busser, dishwasher, and to be a bartender, which is what I did from age 21-32. I loved the work, even though I know and remember it is very hard work. It is often underappreciated--the labor itself but also the skills you acquire and master in this industry. Our waitress on our recent visit was great--super attentive, friendly, personable, and helpful. Overall we experienced (and always do here) great** service. She was awesome and when we mentioned how kind the manager was to us during our dining she said 'yes she is such an amazing boss and person, I love working here!' and I have to say, I worked in restaurants up and down the East Coast as well as in Italy..... and I can only say I had that feeling at only two restaurants I ever worked at....out of like 15 places at least over the years. I had two restaurant jobs where I knew my boss and/or the owner was a good person who cared about the work and the guests and who cared for the employees. It is a rarity in our world: having a restaurant with great food, great staff, *andddd* an amazingly good person running/owning the restaurant. A super rare thing. I really really respect that ?? and am grateful we met Jane during our recent visit and to find out that the owner and manager of one of our favorite spots that we have been patrons of for a couple years now is like that: a good person, who *cares*, it really makes the food and drinks taste that much better, sincerely .We will continue to be patrons and keep hoping ? that one day more Sushi Love locations nearer to North Durham will open up, but either way we will keep loving Sushi Love ? ??“

“This is a little hidden gem.I was able to order my food and eat it in a reasonable amount of time because I was on my way to a program.The staff was kind and helpful.The steakbox was a good choice because it had all my favorite things.The only thing that took away from the meal was the steak was chewy and not enough vegetables.“