Waraji Japanese Restaurant

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5910 Duraleigh Rd 147
Raleigh, NC 27612

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(919) 783-1883
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Waraji Japanese Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Waraji Japanese Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Reviews
( 72 )
( 38 )
( 9 )
( 8 )
( 10 )

Best

Run, don't walk to this place if you are looking for the best sushi around. These guys are masters at what the do and the flavors are out of this world.

Worst

We used to come here every weekend and recently We noticed they increase the price but the food quality is not as good as it used to be and I have never see any high end restauran...

Yum! 9/25/2004

Waraji is exceptional. We don't visit that often - maybe once a month - but Richard, Masa, Cozzie, Mama, and the servers remember us. Both the sushi and the Japanese cuisine are wonderful. Service can be slow if they are busy, but is always polite and gracious. Great for a date; great value; great atmosphere. You can't go wrong here. Pros: fresh fish, talented sushi chefs, great service more

Excellent Sushi 8/11/2004

By far the best sushi in Raleigh. Great selection of sushi with an excellent display. Very great service! Will definitely be back! Pros: Great Sushi, Nice Restaurant, Friendly Staff more

Regularly pleased 5/2/2004

I've been coming here for quite a bit. I've never been disappointed. In my opinion the seafood and the vegetables appear and taste more fresh than most of the Sushi places I go to in the area. The service has always been prompt, and attentive. The edemame here is excellent, and the vegetable rolls-kappa maki for example, have some wasabi added to give it a bit of a zip. Pros: Great food, Excellent waitstaff more

Sushi freak LOVES Waraji 2/12/2004

Excellent. But you need to know what to ask for. If you want your standard California roll with fake crab, go to Harris Teeter...don't take up precious space at Waraji. Start your meal with a bowl of warm edamame, hamachi kama, ika-butter and ice cold Sapporo. Follow with fresh sake, hamachi and toro sashimi, crisp uni and unique rolls. Scallop Banzai and Caterpillar (minus fake crab) both with ""tobiko"" are my favorite rolls. Hint: ask for tobiko (flying fish roe) or they'll give you masago (smelt roe). If you don't know the difference, as we New Yorkers say ""fughedabout it..."" Pros: Food, Service, No reservation needed more

Best sushi in NC 12/19/2003

I'm now a resident of Charlotte, but can tell you that from my year in Raleigh, you won't find better sushi than Waraji anywhere in NC. Try the ""Volunteer Roll"" -- you won't be disappointed!! more

Incredible! 12/5/2003

My husband and I have been eating sushi in the Raleigh area for about 4 years now. After trying Sushi Blues (Great Atmosphere, not so great food) and the Kanki (Great Food, not so great for those that don't want screaming children running around the restaurant) we stumbled upon Waraji. While the atmosphere is not fancy, upscale, the sushi is hands down the best we have ever had. Great service at the bar, and a good place for a quiet, adult dinnter. Will definately be going back. Pros: Food, Price, Service Cons: Atmosphere more

One of the better place for sushi 7/4/2003

As you would expect from a place such as Raleigh, majority of the Japanese restaurants are terrible. However, Waraji is probably the closest you can get to authentic sushi in this town(after Kuki), as you would expect from the experienced chefs(also owners). I wouldn't say the service was great, but was not bad. Definitely give this place a try. Pros: good sushi, decent service, decent parking Cons: service can be better more

Sushi at its best 7/1/2003

Waraji has become one of our favorite restaurants in the area. We miss the great sushi we had in California and find Waraji does a great job with their sushi..generous portions, friendly staff, lively setting. Pros: sushi, nabeyaki udon, service Cons: strip mall setting more

Disappointing 7/1/2003

Waraji was recommended to me by a freind in Durham as the best Sushi in the triangle however the food was mediocre (Octopus and yellowtail really poor) The service was terrible, I ordered a Miso Soup which never arrived and the server didn't even check on us after the initial order was taken. I won't be going back! Pros: Parking Cons: service, food, price more

Good sushi, but nothing special 6/26/2003

After reading the rave reviews on this site, we thought we would try Waraji, even though it's further from our house than several other excellent sushi restaurants. Sorry to say, it wasn't worth the drive. While the nigiri was generous and tasted fresh, the rolls weren't that good. I also found it noisier than many other sushi restaurants. One person in our group had a special order roll, and while Waraji priced it very well, he just wasn't happy with it compared to the same custom roll prepared at Kanki, Kabuki, Sakura, Sushi Blues, etc. We probably won't be going back any time soon. more

Lovely to look at; Lovely to eat 5/12/2003

Beautiful presentation of fresh and delicious sushi. Staff (sushi chefs) will try and make suggestions as to items that are available, that you may or may not like based on preferences, etc.. Beer, wine and sake only. A popular place for many years. Pros: food Cons: no mixed drinks more

Is Waraji slipping? 4/29/2003

Waraji has been my favorite sushi restaurant for about 2 years, and I am somewhat of a sushi fanatic. Last Monday night I took my wife and mother-in-law and our meal was not nearly as good as what I've come to expect from Waraji. The soft-shell crab was over-cooked in several of our rolls, leaving a dominant burnt/fried flavor. Also, some of the fish on the nigiri pieces was not as firm and fresh as usual, specifically the shrimp and octopus. I hope this was a rare bad Monday night, but there were 4 or 5 sushi chefs at the bar. I plan to take a group of people to Waraji soon, and if the quality isn't better then I will be (sadly)searching again for a new favorite sushi restaurant. Pros: large selection, great sushi rolls, nice tatami rooms Cons: usually crowded, inconsistent quality more

A must for sushi lovers 4/7/2003

We have been eating at Waraji since they first opened in 1997. Sushi and sashimi are great-we can't go too long without getting our ""roll"" fixes-top fave is the spider roll. Highly reccomend to anyone who like Japanese food or who wants to try it for the first time. Sushi staff helpful in suggestions. Pros: Food, Location Cons: Smoking section more

yuck 4/7/2003

I travel in my profession and have tried a lot of the sushi restaurants in town, this place is definately not on my list any more. If big portions is your thing, I have better luck with chinese buffet restaurants that serve them, definetly not impressed. Service was none existant too, I asked for a hot sake and it got served after I was done eating. Pros: big place more

a real treat 3/26/2003

Very lovely presentation and very delicious suhsi and sashimi. We are bigger fans of sushi, but kitchen items good too. Bigger variety of noodle dishes at lunchtime. Pros: Sushi!!!! Cons: beer/wine/sake only more

It's OK... 3/25/2003

I went to Waraji after hearing that it was SO much better than all of the other Sushi in the Triangle. I myself wasn't impressed. Some people complain about the service at Sushi Blues, but regardless, they have much tastier sushi. My sushi at Waraji was a bit on the bland side. The service was very friendly and helpful, but I will still choose Sushi Blues for the food and ambience. I recommend you do too! Pros: friendly service, OK food Cons: ambience, bland sushi more

Best sushi 2/18/2003

The best sushi in Raleigh by far. The service is a bit forgetful but the fresh seafood makes up for it. Pros: Best sushi Cons: Service forgetful more

Can't get any better in Raleigh. 1/22/2003

Can't get any better in Raleigh. Food was great, service was friendly, and the atmosphere was calming. Coming from NYC I have had horrible experiences with japanese restaurants in the triangle and this was absolutley not one of them. Only complaint is the drafty waiting area when inside waiting is all filled up. Pros: Good Parking, Affordable Cons: bad waiting area more

sushi that melts in your mouth 1/17/2003

By far, the best sushi around with a comfortable atmosphere Pros: fresh sushi!, variety more

Waraji IS #1 Sushi 1/17/2003

I can't believe Sushi Blues is rated higher than Waraji. I guess the ratings refer to a funky atmosphere being better than just having, well, GREAT sushi like at Waraji!! Waraji is hands down better at selection, quality, service, and price. Hmmm, now if I can just get Waraji to play my Cure CD... Hmmm... Pros: selection, value, quality Cons: visuals, music variety more
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Menu for Waraji Japanese Restaurant


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Editorial
  • In Short
    Despite its strip mall location, Waraji screams minimalist warehouse chic--an open ceiling with exposed vents and pipes, shiny black furniture, a granite sushi bar and a row of...

  • 7/10/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 5:30pm-9:30am, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Discover, Diner's Club, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Northwest
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