Waraji Japanese Restaurant

I had a great time at Waraji! The food was delicious and fresh, but what made the experience truly outstanding was our server, Dylan. He was attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. Honestly, the best service I could ask for. Highly recommend Waraji, and be sure to ask for Dylan!

My go-to spot for traditional Japanese food! I usually get sukiyaki, Nagoya wings, and grilled fish when I come with family or friends so we can share family-style. The fish quality is consistently good every time I visit. Plus, their warm and welcoming service gives it that cozy local restaurant feel that I love. 🫶🏼

A great place with great service! The food was amazing and so was the sever Joseph! He was so friendly and helped us choose what we should get for a first timer at sushi and we loved it! Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to try sushi and in a fancy restaurant. Will be going again soon!!

this place is the perfect mix of upscale and cozy without the high price tag. loved the vibe! the servers and host were super friendly, and the food was amazing. the menu is huge—i could’ve easily ordered everything. this might just be my new go-to sushi spot in raleigh. definitely coming back to try more. i’d recommend making a reservation ahead of time and dressing nice casual—nothing too fancy, just a little dressed up.

I had an incredible experience at Waraji Japanese Restaurant in Raleigh. The food was absolutely delicious—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. What truly made the visit outstanding, though, was the service from Shaiel. From the moment we sat down, she was welcoming, attentive, and made us feel genuinely cared for. She anticipated our needs without us even having to ask, explained menu items with enthusiasm, and checked in at the perfect times without ever being intrusive. Honestly, it was the best service I have received at any restaurant in a long time. If you’re visiting Waraji, I highly recommend asking for Shaiel—she will make your dining experience unforgettable. Between the amazing food and her outstanding service, this was a 10/10 visit. I’ll definitely be coming back!

we came here for a friday date night. we absolutely loved it! everything from the food, drinks and service exceeded our expectations. the service was really attentive and kind despite it being super busy that night. the ambiance was chatty but still really nice. we started with the matcha ipa and matcha love drinks, as matcha lovers we were not disappointed. there is such an extensive menu for both food and drinks that there is something for everyone. the flavors were really good and their sushi was really fresh too. the portion sizes surprised me as they were more generous than the usual portion sizes of restaurants for this price. i highly recommend making reservations especially for the weekend. we will definitely be coming back and i recommend giving this place a try!

This restaurant had been saved in my to-do list for far too long, and we finally made it here for dinner last Saturday. They had a wait time of about 30 minutes, so we checked in and opted to sit at the sushi bar while waiting for a table. After enjoying a Volunteer roll at the bar, we were moved to a table where we relished a Matcha Love alongside Stuffed Jalapeños, a Guacamole roll, and a Scary Jerry roll. The cocktail was extremely good, and the sushi was excellent! Our server was attentive, too. Highly recommend visiting! Can't wait to be back.

Had a delicious birthday dinner here! Our server Kevin made excellent recommendations and added to our experience! Tastes reminded me of home! Will definitely be coming back!

Have an amazing time and full tummy at Waraji last night! Like typical Saturday, the restaurant was packed! The food was phenomenal! I forgot to take a picture but the whole squid soy butter sauce is my fav! Sushi were fresh and tasty! All appetizers were yummy! Momo the manager was awesome and takes good care of us! All staffs are very attentive and informative! I love mama lady who came around and check and chitchat with us! Would recommend for dine in experience!

Sydney is the absolute best. Highly recommend this restaurant for sushi in Raleigh. It’s a time you won’t want to miss out on! Thank you for a wonderful night Syd!

They were able to seat us on a short notice on a busy Saturday afternoon! The food was great and they had a good selection of menu items. Our server Shaiel was awesome and made the experience better.

We have been looking for the best sushi in Raleigh. I believe we found it! Don't let the strip mall setting fool you, this sushi is fantastic. Our waitress and the host were lots of fun. We got the sushi for two, which came with soup and salad. Highly recommend! We visited on a Friday night and was glad we had reservations.

I have been a few times and the food is amazing. Their cocktails are tasty and a must try. I will definitely be back for more.

Atmosphere was great with table seats and a bar. The drink selection was excellent and expertly crafted by our server and bartender Celeste. If your in the mood for Sushi or Izakaya style food, the menu has you covered. The Tonkotsu Ramen broth was rich and flavorful, and the pork chashu was seared crispy on the edges. Of the small plates available I chose the Nagoya wings which had a unique and spicy flavor which left me wanting more. It was all topped off with Strawberry Mochi ice cream. Service was prompt and attentive quickly clearing the table of empty plates. I definitely recommend and am eager to return to try out more of the menu.

I love this place so much, I went there for 2 times for lunch and dinner! My favorite here is Uni sashimi. There’s so many different options for sushi and variety of Japanese cuisine. If you’re around Raleigh area, you have to come to this restaurant!

My fiance and I were missing the incredible Japanese eateries from our trip to SF, CA, and hoping to find a local place that might have donburi as well as sushi; so we ate there last night (Sunday). It was my second time and I felt compelled to leave a positive review. Service was spot on. The veggie tempura, toro sashimi, katsudon, and side salad were superb, and the pyramid sake flight, goma-ae (cold spinach salad with sesame dressing), and tuna-avocado roll were excellent.

This that place was a pleasant surprise, for sure! I had gone here maybe 15 years ago and while the food was pretty good, the atmosphere wasn't great. They have updated the place in a big way! The atmosphere is really classy and comfortable. The service was really great, as well. The main draw here is the food. From start to finish, it was absolutely amazing! The Miso soup was delicious to start, and the sushi rolls were superb. I really loved the Ramen bowls. They were probably the best I've had ever! Highly recommended and I'm glad I went back!

My bestie and I had a wonderful dining experience with fresh ingredients and very attentive staff. The hostess, Celeste, was kind and welcoming with a positive attitude. Our waiter, Eddie, was professional, patient, and gave great recommendations. All food was delicious with big portions and the staff created a comfortable atmosphere.

I’d been craving sushi, something unfussy yet exceptional and wanted to take my husband somewhere new. Waraji, a beloved neighborhood institution, felt like the obvious choice. Knowing how quickly their tables disappear, I checked for reservations on the drive over, fully expecting disappointment. Instead, a small miracle: an open table. I booked it before the screen could change its mind. Upon arrival, the host greeted us with the gentle chaos that only a true local favorite can produce. Our table wasn’t quite ready “just waiting on a few folks to wrap up” so we lingered near the entryway, watching the ebb and flow of diners. A brief mix-up had us nearly escorted to a table before being pulled back, but within minutes we were seated, no worse for the detour. Our spot was perfect: a front-row view of the sushi bar, where chefs moved with the quiet intensity of people who know their craft is being watched and appreciated. The restaurant hummed around us servers weaving between tables, the soft clatter of plates, the low murmur of regulars who clearly consider this their second home. Our server, whose name I wish I’d caught, was a standout. Attentive without hovering, candid about the kitchen running a bit behind, and consistently thoughtful with updates. His honesty made the experience feel more intimate, more human. Cocktails arrived first, followed by a parade of sushi and small plates. Everything was fresh, balanced, and deeply satisfying, the kind of meal that doesn’t need theatrics to make an impression.

visited for the first time tonight, everything was exceptional from the service to each staff member we interacted with (especially our server Eddie), to the food, drinks (LOVED the Sakura Bloom) and overall vibe of the restaurant. Will definitely be back. For dinner I’d definitely recommend making a reservation online because it can get busy especially on weekends!

Been here a handful of times in the last 14(?) years. Had lunch here again recently. Great service, fresh and deliciously impressive sushi. They’ve always been consistently good. Just knocked off one star because I’m not as big of a fan of the more modern section near the bar—but I’m sure others love it! So glad we stopped by.

Let’s start with incredible Sashimi, Rolls, freshness of the fish, and flavorful recipes in the entire sushi menu. This is why we come here. Every appetizer we have had here has been absolutely worthwhile. Entrees and the specials they run are creative and cover many areas of Japanese cuisine.Couldn’t say enough about consistent quality service and of course our favorite server Kevin O….the tall bartender with glasses is always friendly and hospitable (sorry, couldn’t remember his name) The one item I would mention would be the high prices for hibachi meals and some other chicken and pork entrees. So glad they have expanded their restaurant and menu!! You have to go to Waraji!

Such a great experience! Sidney, thank you so so much for making our son's birthday "the best birthday ever!!!" (His words :) ) Such a wonderful experience and the food is always amazing, we can't wait to come back! We can't say enough great things about Sidney, she was truly the best part of our experience! She knew the menu so well and had such great recommendations, such a knowledgeable and professional server. Thank you Sidney and thank you Waraji for another great memorable meal. ❤️

Beautiful atmosphere, phenomenal food and sushi, the staff is fun and professional. If you sit at the sushi bar and order directly from them it’s very fast and they are fun to engage with. You can ask them to make something not on the menu and they’ll make you special things to try. One of our favorite places to get sushi in the state!

My wife and a did a date night at a tatami table last night. We were lucky enough to have Julie as our server - she was kind and sweet, and had such a positive energy! When we couldn’t decide what to get, she provided some suggestions, and they were perfect! Everything (both food and drinks/sake!) she suggested was delicious! Definitely will be going back soon!

Lovely dining experience! I came by myself and sat at the sushi bar and exclusively ate sushi, so cannot comment on any other food offerings. You're greeted at your table with a warm towel for your hands. The sushi was delicious. Rice had good flavor and the selection was nice. I wish they had ama-ebi, but if they did then maybe I missed it on the menu. The miso soup was also good and you can tell they make it themselves (vs a packet). I would come back again!

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!

I love being able to sit at the sushi bar and observe. It’s also cool they offer other seating options - traditional/tables/high tops. But, the food quality was poor last night - I ordered katsudon and the fried pork was both soggy and cold.

Waraji has seen a lot of success since the last time I’ve been, which is amazing for them. As expected the food was delicious. We had a reservation was seated right away. Our server was prompt and polite, and the drinks were a fun addition to the meal. I wish I would try other items, but for one of the only restaurants in NC that actually serves Sukiyaki, I get that every time I eat here. I wish they would have included more vegetables in the Sukiyaki and less noodles because it feels like filler. Overall a great experience, and if we’re feeling Sukiyaki again and are in Raleigh we wouldn’t hesitate to stop by again.

Sushi is fresh and authentic. Had the chirashi bowl, it was excellent and packed full of sashimi. Also highly recommend the tofu appetizer and tempura. Service was mediocre, a bit hard to get the servers attention even though it was not busy at all. Otherwise food was amazing. Would definitely come back.

We went here for a date night. We ordered the teriyaki box dinner which is a great deal. You get a salad, miso soup, tempura, roll, and teriyaki. It was all very good. The tempura serving was massive. I asked for the beef medium well and when they served it to me they said “well done” and it was definitely well done. We also got gyoza, udon soup, and a specialty roll. They were all excellent. The service was not good. Our waitress was busy giving attention to her larger tables. She would disappear for long periods of time. We had to wait over 10 minutes for our check after she brought the boxes for our food (so she knew we were done). We were seated by a door that led to outdoor seating and it was annoying to have it keep opening and the servers hit my husbands chair a couple times going in and out.

The Teriyaki Chicken and Steak were both cooked to perfection and delicious. The veggie side actually stole to show in my opinion. The sesame wings were okay but the flavor is a bit strong and way too much sauce, but very crispy and overall still good. Dumplings though pan seared, were extremely soft but still delicious flavor. And my husband said the sushi (shrimp tempura) was delicious.

I've been to waraji before. This time was a mess. I was seated at the sushi counter, was told it was first come first serve. I had to wait a while until a server noticed me. They had to ask if I needed a menu, rather than giving me a menu. Once I got them in you I was able to order an appetizer as well as an entree. The appetizer came out fairly quickly. The entree took nearly 30 minutes to come out, only coming out once the waiter notice that I had not received my food. While the sushi is high quality I was very surprised that this restaurant has fallen down in quality in recent years. I'll give it another shot, but I was disappointed this time.

I had such high hopes. It was so cold that ours noses were running! The salmon nigiri was so chewy because they left the skin on only 1 person in our party of 6 could eat it. Blue fin was a touch too warm, gave it a fishy undertone. Waiter forgot our miso, and only stopped by a few times. Beautiful presentation, friendly staff, great appetizers. Sadly we won’t be back.

We had reservations for two. The vibe and decor is pretty average. We had the Ika butter as appetizer and three types of rolls (Futomaki, Crunchy, Tempura) as entree. The food was decent but overpriced, it did not blow me away. Some of the rolls were also too big to eat comfortably. The service was disappointing. I hate when the server is pushy and is trying to get you to order something soon when you’re having a conversation. Overall, it felt like a fake-fancy restaurant with decent food.

We sat promptly for our 7 pm reservation however were not even greeted for 15 minutes. We ordered at 7:20. We ordered 2 beers, edamame, miso soup, shrimp tempura, and 3 sushi rolls. The soup came out relatively quick which was nice since it was for our daughter. The beers took almost 15 minutes. We received the edamame and shrimp but by 8:15 when we still didn’t have our sushi (ordered almost an hour prior) or the second round of beer we had ordered, we decided to leave. They rushed the sushi and packed it go however only took the two beers off since we hadn’t received them. There was no manager in sight and no other offering to take anything off the bill. It’s unfortunate because the food is incredible, but maybe when you’re understaffed, close sections. Make it so that the staff isn’t in the weeds the entire time and so that the guests that are there can actually enjoy a timely meal, especially when it’s an expensive meal.

Must have come on an off day, miso soup wasn't good, salad was meh. I ordered cherashi, which was pretty looking but not very good, slices of sashimi we're way to large. The restaurant was also sort of dirty-ish. There was food from previous evening on chairs and sushi bar. My soy sauce jar was actually stuck to the sushi bar. I am in general not a complainer, however this place was billed as best sushi on Raleigh, and while I certainly could see that potential, I did not have that experience. Maybe your visit will be better, however sadly I will not be returning. I will have to continue to look for "best sushi" because it is my favorite food!

What was supposed to be a celebratory birthday dinner for my son-in-law did not turn out well for our party of four. The problems were not with the food, which was good, but with the service and kitchen. Dishes were not served at appropriate times and some were served ridiculously late. While I can’t count how many times the waiter kept saying “I’m sorry”, there was no attempt by the restaurant to offer something to make us feel a bit better. Most restaurants of this caliber would have comped a meal or made some other offer. But no such offer was made. The first problem was that my daughter knew what she wanted as an entrée and told the waiter. The remaining 3 of us needed a bit more time to make our choices. Instead of waiting for everyone to make a selection, the waiter ended up bringing my daughter’s entrée at about the same time as a shared appetizer was delivered, which was about an hour before the rest of us got our entrees. The second problem was that it took over an hour from the time we ordered our entrees until they were delivered. Those were the entrees for the remaining 3 of us. At one point the waiter told me our sushi was being prepared and would be out in 8 minutes. It was already quite late, but it didn’t arrive until at least a half hour after that. For the record, we had a 6:30 dinner reservation, arrived on time and were seated about 5 minutes after. We left the restaurant 2 hours later. Not a memorable experience in a positive way!

We were seated quite quickly despite not having made reservations, that was nice. However after we ordered our sushi, it took about an hour for it to arrive. The waitress did apologize for that so at least it was acknowledged, almost left when a couple next to us had been served the food and we had arrived way before them. Food was OK, satisfactory nothing bad, nor special... expecting a bit better considering the price. Might give them another chance but this was disappointing.

waited an hour and a half for the worst sushi roll of my life. everyone at the table agreed mine and theirs were disgusting. the fish tasted sour and pungent. taste aside, the roll was extremely sloppy the presentation was awful. i ordered two, but the server forgot to put one in. i told him to just cancel because i didn't want to wait for the other, glad i did after tasting the first. half of the table had their food come out after 30 minutes while the rest of us waited. i can't believe people claim this as good sushi in raleigh, it was my worst meal in raleigh by far. for our table of 6 there were only enough menus for 3 people. we waited 15 minutes for chopsticks before having to grab them off another table. so disappointed.