Waraji Japanese Restaurant

Awesome sushi!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My friend and I tried this place for the first time together after seeing it on TikTok and were not disappointed. Our server Kayla gave us so many great suggestions since we didn’t know where to start, and she was truly knowledgeable about the menu, keeping dietary restrictions in mind. She even informed us about the differences in sake based on how it’s made. That really stood out to me because it was way more than what we asked for. And she was so sweet.

Per Kayla’s recommendation, we selected the firecracker shrimp to start and asked her to choose our second app to surprise us. She brought us wings, which were good. We were hoping for something a little more fun though. The shrimp reminded me of a better version of the bang bang at Bonefish. Definitely would get that again.

I ordered the Finding Nemo roll and it was so good! I’m a crab lover so I was sold immediately. My friend’s Icon of the Sea roll was good too. If I had to pick which one I preferred more it would be the Finding Nemo. We also got the Cloud sake flight because my friend had never tried sake before and I wanted us to have options. My favorite was the matcha, but everything went down smooth. Their sake menu was about 5 pages long, so there’s something for everyone. I love the fact that they had flights because it was a great starting point for people who are indecisive (like me) or sake newcomers.

Overall I had a great time. The ambiance was elevated - it honestly didn’t fit the outside environment at all. You could definitely go there for a fine dining experience. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that the service was a little slow at times - we had to ask another server for Kayla to come back when we were ready for the check. This was on a Tuesday night and they weren’t super busy. I’ll definitely be back though!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Richard was our waiter and he was great. The food was amazing, the restaurant was clean and nice, and there was no issues.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delicious!!! My husband ordered the Kat su Chicken and I ordered one of the sushi rolls our server suggested and it was so good! Our server was Richard and he was great! We forgot to take a picture of the food it was so good! We will definitely be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent food, large portions. Service was solid. Not an inexpensive meal.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had a wonderful experience and will certainly be back. We went to celebrate our wedding anniversary and the food was amazing, the service was also top notch. Richard was very personable and attentive all night. 10/10

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This was my first time at Waraji and it was great. I got a sweet dragon sushi roll and the salmon teriyaki. Too much for me to eat at once but it was so good. The Tokyo drift cocktail was perfect and my server, Dylan, was amazing. I’ll definitely be back soon!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Kourts is the best. We have been coming here for a little over a year, and the food us great, the service is excellent and we always have a wonderful time. Kourts served us over first time here and many times after and he is truly amazing! There is a neighborhood atmosphere, and it is always full. We truly enjoy it and it is our go to restaurant in Raleigh.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Delicious sushi and great service. Erin did a fantastic job serving us and Kenny made amazing sushi!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food was absolutely delicious, and the service was top-notch! I wish I could have tried everything on the menu. I had the spicy seafood udon and some sushi—both were incredible. Our server, Erin, was amazing—so attentive and thoughtful (she even brought me hot sauce, which I absolutely loved!). The sushi chef, Allen, also did a fantastic job—the sushi and seaweed salad were fresh and delicious. I highly recommend this place!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best sushi I've had in Raleigh! Mikki makes some amazing stuff Everytime I go.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Tucked between a tax prep and a dry cleaner, Waraji is the sushi ninja you didn’t know you needed. Rolls slap harder than your aunt’s potato salad, sake flights hit like a haiku, and the vibe is pure Tokyo-meets-Triangle.

Chef Mikki? Certified raw fish rockstar. He slices like a samurai and serves up rolls so good they’ll make you rethink every gas station sushi mistake you’ve ever made.

You’ll leave full, slightly buzzed, and spiritually aligned with soy sauce. Raleigh, you lucky duck—Waraji is weird, wonderful, and wildly worth it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Waraji is hands-down my favorite sushi spot! The quality is unmatched, and the sushi is absolutely amazing every single time. Mikki, the sushi chef, is truly the best! Just tell him what you like and he’ll create something incredible for you. The restaurant itself is beautiful and has such a welcoming atmosphere.

My fiancé, our close-knit group of friends, and I come here every Tuesday, and it has become a tradition we look forward to each week. From the owner and manager to the chefs and servers, the entire staff makes you feel right at home. Their friendliness and attention to detail really set this place apart.

If you’re looking for authentic, high-quality sushi with top-notch service, Waraji is the place to go! 🍣✨

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I went to Waraji on a Tuesday night to celebrate my birthday with my husband. We got a fabulous sake recommendation from our server, Kayla, who was friendly and charming. She took wonderful care of us throughout our meal. Shabu shabu, the Japanese hotpot dish we ordered, was absolutely delicious. It was the perfect combination of a hearty and healthy meal. We will definitely be coming back for more of it come winter season! The cherry on top was the staff bringing me a matcha ice cream (on-the-house) and singing me happy birthday. This is our second time dining at Waraji, but each time we have, their service and food just blows us away. Thank you so much to their staff for a beautiful evening!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Sake and nigiri were on point! Really awesome for date night! We sat at the sushi bar and had a great experience. We will be back!

Edit: 9/16/25 this place continues to be my favorite place in all of the triangle. I really enjoyed talking to Allen and having the best lunch. I did miss Kenny today, but Allen did the best job.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5