O-Ku

We went for my wife's birthday and she got both a custom menu and a custom stemless wine glass. Cool touch.
The food and service was good. Attentive service, full glass. Just know what you're ordering. Otherwise what kind of loud where we are at and cold by the windows.

Visited 5 months ago

The hands down best sushi and places to eat in Charlotte! Every time we go we have the best experience. The food, the drinks, the atmosphere, the service.... So great!

Our most recent visit was a birthday dinner for my son and his friends, and everyone agreed it was literally the best eating out experience they've ever had!

We have been, and will continue to be, frequent customers.

Visited 7 months ago

O-Ku is a highly awarded North Carolina sushi restaurant for good reason. I recently enjoyed an early birthday dinner as a first-time customer. I made a reservation for my small party and received a message from the restaurant asking about my likes. Notes to which they absolutely applied! When I say they go above and beyond service, I mean it! Everyone was so friendly and gracious. The food was elevated, fresh, and beautifully presented. The lighting was a bit too romantic for my taste, but that (and the parking situation outside their control) were my only hangups. O-Ku is a new favorite! Thank you all for making my evening!

Visited 4 months ago

I celebrated my birthday here and it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had! The service was great and the food was delicious. We had the salmon usuzukuri, chicken teriyaki, salmon and lemon roll, red dragon roll, and potato roll. Everything was so yummy and fresh! For dessert we got the donuts and cheesecake. Everything was excellent! They certainly spoil you for your birthday. We will definitely be back!

Visited 5 months ago

Very pleasant experience. The quality of the food was excellent. All the seafood was very fresh. We tasted different items from across the menu, and everything tasted amazing. The mocktail matcha limeade was great. Recommend 👍

Visited 7 months ago

WOW. Probably the best overall dining experience I have had since moving here!

My sister and I made a res at 8 but they were busy and tables were sitting longer than anticipated. They accommodated us (within 10 mins) with seats at the sushi bar incase we didn’t want to wait.

Justin took care of us and he was AMAZING! Good energy, wonderful recommendations and kept the wine glasses full! Also, Lauren (manager) heard it was our first time dining with them and made an effort to share a story or two with us. The time they took to talk with us during busy hours was unexpected and SO refreshingly NICE!

But the FOOD!!! Seriously SO good. 100% recommendation this place to any and all who are in the Charlotte area. 10 Stars!

Visited 10 months ago

Been here a couple times and had great experiences each time. The food is awesome and the staff are excellent as well. Last time we were amazed by the Duck Buns appetizer and can't wait to have them again. All the sushi we have had has been very good, the Mermaid and the Vegetable Tempura were the highlights of our most recent visit.

Update: It just keeps getting better, O-Ku Nori is delicious, must try it.

Visited a year ago

I took my boyfriend here for surprise and did the omakase dinner with sake pairing, the entire experience was awesome start to finish. The staff even gave him a gift for his birthday, I highly recommend, the courses were paced perfectly to where to can really enjoy just about every bite of you food and leave nice and full. The service was perfect, staff was super friendly to chat with and love our anime stuff :), we felt very welcomed and had a great time!

Visited 9 months ago

Sarah was the sweetest 🫶🏾

Visited 3 months ago

Everything is always great. The staff is friendly, well informed of the menu, and genuinely try to make your experience memorable. The sushi we ordered was definitely better than some other slots close by. Prices are reasonable. Parking can be challenging.

Visited 3 months ago

Interesting bites and great service. They like to surprise you

Visited 3 months ago

Wonder food and service.

Visited 3 months ago

Amazing service, ask for Kayla you won’t be disappointed.

Visited 3 months ago

Best sushi in charlotte! Ryan is our guy!

Visited 4 months ago

Great place, came here on my birthday and they were super nice, Lauren was great!

Visited 4 months ago

Stick with the sushi, and you're good. Fresh sushi and great service.

Visited 4 months ago

This place is awesome! Me and my wife did our birthday celebration here and it was phenomenal! The service is top notch, food is superb! The entire staff make you feel right at home, while dining there.

Visited 4 months ago

What a great experience. From start to finish. The cocktails were delish. I had the mint and lychee mocktail and it was fabulous. The service was excellent. Are they training for a ⭐???? The yuzu eclair was a little bit of a let down in texture but the rest of our meal, ALL of it was exceptional.

Visited 4 months ago

I’ve dined here casually, but the magic is in a celebratory occasion. A birthday dinner and anniversary dinner were both made super special by the staff at O-Ku. The GM is lovely, the service is great, and the food is fantastic. I can’t recommend this place enough for your next celebration!

Visited 4 months ago

I highly recommend this place for sushi, drinks, and overall vibe. The staff was great and very attentive aside from being a very busy night. Our waiter was great. The food was fantastic. I highly recommend the wagyu. You can part per piece versus getting a whole slab which I loved.

Visited 4 months ago

Been here a couple times and had great experiences each time. The food is awesome and the staff are excellent as well. Last time we were amazed by the Duck Buns appetizer and can't wait to have them again. All the sushi we have had has been very good, the Mermaid and the Vegetable Tempura were the highlights of our most recent visit.

Update: It just keeps getting better, O-Ku Nori is delicious, must try it.

Visited 4 months ago

Wonderful food and fantastic service. We will definitely be back!

Visited 4 months ago

Reggie was phenomenal! He was energetic and kind. The food was delicious and the tuna was fresh. They had nice little accompaniments for the water and a lovely atmosphere.

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

Amazing Omakase, and Justin is the best server ever! Phenomenal fish quality and service is 10/10.

Visited 4 months ago

O-Ku is a highly awarded North Carolina sushi restaurant for good reason. I recently enjoyed an early birthday dinner as a first-time customer. I made a reservation for my small party and received a message from the restaurant asking about my likes. Notes to which they absolutely applied! When I say they go above and beyond service, I mean it! Everyone was so friendly and gracious. The food was elevated, fresh, and beautifully presented. The lighting was a bit too romantic for my taste, but that (and the parking situation outside their control) were my only hangups. O-Ku is a new favorite! Thank you all for making my evening!

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

By far my favorite sushi in Charlotte. I first discovered them in Charleston back in 2013 and was floored when they finally opened a location here in the Queen City. I am very picky about my fish, but here it is super high quality. There isn’t a thing on this menu that you won’t love.

Visited 4 months ago

I hit O-Ku for a team dinner and the entire meal was middling at best. The shishito peppers were overly blistered and the sushi was uninspired. The carpaccios were the only notable menu item.

The service was also pretty bad. I ordered an additional item when we finished with the primary meal and it took another 25 minutes to come out.

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi is not like it used to be. I used to love this place I rather pay more than reduce the quality and quantity of the see food. Now is more rice and tempura pieces makes sushi bulky but not tasty

Visited 4 months ago

Oku is an incredible dining experience! Thank you to Will, Carson and the entire Oku team for helping my husband and I have one of the most memorable meals of our lives tonight! The food and service were both top notch. We were blown away and we can not wait to come back the next time that we are in Charlotte. Thanks for showing us what southern hospitality is all about!

Visited 4 months ago

All items were above average and a good value. Sat at the bar and had amazing service.will go back for sure! Caught the last few minutes of happy hour pricing, which was great.

Visited 5 months ago

Good sushi

Visited 5 months ago

I liked the ambiance, service was friendly and helpful, Sushi was yummy. Not kid friendly, so looking forward to going again sans kids.

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

One of the best dining experieces Ive had in some time. Went with group of six and ordered the recommendations from our waiter. Food and service was outstanding.
Was pleasantly suprised with the bill as I thought it would have been more expensive. Probanly the best sushi in Charlotte.

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

I celebrated my birthday here and it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had! The service was great and the food was delicious. We had the salmon usuzukuri, chicken teriyaki, salmon and lemon roll, red dragon roll, and potato roll. Everything was so yummy and fresh! For dessert we got the donuts and cheesecake. Everything was excellent! They certainly spoil you for your birthday. We will definitely be back!

Visited 5 months ago

We love Oku! Vibes are right, food is fresh, and drinks pack a punch. Wonderful place for a date night, or to celebrate life! Highly recommend :)

Visited 5 months ago

Justin was our server, and he was absolutely fantastic! He kept the night fun and lively, going above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing experience. He definitely deserves a promotion! On top of the incredible service, the food and drinks were outstanding—some of the best we’ve had in Charlotte. Highly recommend this place for a great night out!

Visited 5 months ago

Fantastic fresh food with an ever changing menu but even better staff to make your experience one of a kind every time!

Visited 5 months ago

reggie made my first experience here AMAZING. he’s the best!!

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

The food is great! But now they require $100 minimum per person and 20% gratututy for a large party. This new policy just seems unreasonable but to each their own. Just go with a small group and you'll have fun.

Visited 5 months ago

It was a special date night and I have to give a shout out to our server Meiling. Meiling knew it was our first experience at O-Ku and blew both me and my date away with her menu knowledge, recommendations and speedy service with food and drinks. As someone who manages and runs my own business, I always admire someone who takes pride in what they do and can make a new customer feel so welcomed. I’d highly recommend O-Ku for their diverse menu and delicious sushi & nigiri! Also highly recommend you request Meiling, she is awesome! Will definitely be a returning customer.

Visited 5 months ago

Great experience and delicious food! Do yourself a favor and get the bluefin carpaccio!!

Visited 5 months ago

We went for my wife's birthday and she got both a custom menu and a custom stemless wine glass. Cool touch.
The food and service was good. Attentive service, full glass. Just know what you're ordering. Otherwise what kind of loud where we are at and cold by the windows.

Visited 5 months ago

Love coming here for happy hour with friends!

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

Extremely over rated. Food was super average, drinks were subpar, service was even worse. Do not recommended.

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

It's easily one of my favorite sushi spots.

Happy hour rolls are a must! And it's a great spot to take your girlfriend out to celebrate her being so amazing

Visited 6 months ago

oku is always a win for me. i come regularly for special occasions and it never missed. favorite things to order: sugar and spice cocktail, green eggs and hamachi roll, and the negitoro maki. just trust me and order them. it’s so stinking good. i likely be back at least once in the next month haha

Visited 6 months ago

My first visit to O-Ku will definitely not be my last! I went to dinner here with my son and daughter for a random family night out. Immediately upon arriving, we were greeted by Rachel, the general manager, who was warm and friendly and took us to our table. Our server Carson was quick to greet us and make us feel at home. From that moment on it was a whirlwind of first class service! Our drinks were prompt and refilled regularly, our plates arrived in a timely manner, and we were extremely pleased with all the flavors in the food. Every single dish we tried was even better than the last. I have not seen my kids eat that much in one sitting in a long time! Carson was great with suggestions and making sure we had everything we needed. He is one of the best servers I have ever had. He came by often enough to make sure we were doing well without being intrusive or overbearing. The atmosphere is beautiful and has a warm ambience. I can’t say enough good things about this place, the food, and especially the staff. I look forward to returning and trying more items on the menu. Thank you, Oku for a memorable night out!

Visited 6 months ago

Had the absolute best time at O-Ku tonight. Our waiter was amazing and gave us such a great experience for our anniversary. I wish we got his name, but he was absolutely one of the best waiters I’ve had at a restaurant. Can’t wait to spend the next anniversary here. Thank you O-Ku and your incredible staff!

Visited 6 months ago

Food was pretty top notch. One of the better meals I have had in a long time and was memorable. 100% would come back.

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

The service and atmosphere were great. The only reason the review is not a 5-star is because I felt the menu was limited. There was not great variety besides the usual fare you find at all sushi restaurants. I would recommend the black magic roll.

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Came in to celebrate a friend anniversary, and to our surprise they had took off the very roll we were looking for (we come in a little often). Kayla did a phenom job recreating it and finding new things to let us try out for a change. I have an obsession with the chef's fried fish, and was surprised with a tender yellowtail last night. Oku is always going to be our one of one spot, and it never fails us. Make sure to stop in and ask for Kayla, and let the gm know she's so cool :)

Visited 6 months ago

Reggie was amazing by far the best service I’ve received in Charlotte he was very kind and attentive the food was amazing vibes a1 highly recommend this place

Visited 6 months ago

Went to dinner with the family last night for my wife's birthday. O-Ku really took care of her for her birthday starting with Happy Birthday printed on her menu and every single waiter, waitress or host wishing her Happy birthday. Our waiter extraordinaire Justin whom we've had before is over the top awesome. And yes, appetizers, dinner and cocktails was delicious as always. A favorite place for us, see you guys soon.

Visited 6 months ago

I came here to treat myself to some sushi for my birthday and I was absolutely blown away with the level of service and hospitality at O Ku. My server, Mei Ling was very pleasant and attentive. Since it was my first time at the restaurant, she explained the various menu items to me which is always nice. She sent out a complimentary appetizer which was delicious, along with a birthday tiara and sash :). I got the lemon salmon roll which was a 10/10, very fresh and flavorful. I also got the mermaid roll which was delicious as well. For my drink I got the lychee mint mocktail which I enjoyed. Not only was the food and service good but O-Ku has a cute and aesthetic vibe as well. I feel like getting all 3 of those at one restaurant is hard in Charlotte so they are now high on my list. Can't wait to come back and try more things from the menu!

Visited 6 months ago

Recently I had one of the best dinners of my four years living in Charlotte at O-ku in South End. They went above and beyond to make sure we were accommodated in the seat we wanted and that our food came out on time. We felt like we were our servers only table which was certainly not the case, as it was a Friday night. 10/10 will be back!

Visited 7 months ago

Very pleasant experience. The quality of the food was excellent. All the seafood was very fresh. We tasted different items from across the menu, and everything tasted amazing. The mocktail matcha limeade was great. Recommend 👍

Visited 7 months ago

Have been here a handful of times and not once have we been seated within 10 minutes of our reservation. It's good food but frustrating for something so simple to fix

Visited 7 months ago

We just had the most extraordinary experience at O-Ku. We arrived in Charlotte last night, tired and emotionally worn out after a long weekend with Hurricane Helene in Asheville where we live. We mentioned to our wonderful server Lauren that we had come from AVL after dealing with fallout from this historic storm. Suddenly, the whole restaurant mobilized and made our experience so special. We were treated to special appetizers and an incredible dessert, and our server told us her own Asheville story. Reggie, another server, was so welcoming and kind to us that he made me cry when he brought over the appetizers. The manager, another Lauren, came by and chatted with us about our experience as well. I cannot say enough about the excellent sushi, the wonderful service and the kindness that was directed our way. O-Ku showed us a special kind of hospitality that made us feel warm and safe here in Charlotte. The silver lining of Helene is the great sense of community that you get from caring for neighbors, friends and family; today, O-Ku felt like our family, and Charlotte felt like our extended community, ready to welcome us with hot showers, cell service, and wonderful sushi. Thank you O-Ku - we ❤️ you. Arigatou gozaimasu for taking care of us when we needed it most.

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

On the pricey side. I don't mind paying but presentation and quality of sushi should have been much higher for the money. Thr service was top notch and atmosphere is more of a brewery instead of high end sushi.

Visited 7 months ago

The hands down best sushi and places to eat in Charlotte! Every time we go we have the best experience. The food, the drinks, the atmosphere, the service.... So great!

Our most recent visit was a birthday dinner for my son and his friends, and everyone agreed it was literally the best eating out experience they've ever had!

We have been, and will continue to be, frequent customers.

Visited 7 months ago

Always the best experience at O-Ku! Food is phenomenal but service is 100 levels above that! Especially when you get the pleasure of having Ryan as your waiter :) Ryan provides Michelin star level service all while it feels like you’re talking to your best friend. Come not just for the food, but for an elevated experience!!!!!

Visited 7 months ago

Delicious sushi! Thank you for the champagne to celebrate our engagement!!

Visited 7 months ago

Great food and service

Visited 7 months ago

Excellent Food and Service

Visited 7 months ago

Really had gone downhill. Food was just okay. Cocktails were horrible. We sat at the bar and ordered gin martinis and they were room temp. Asked for slightly dirty. Picture attached. Used to love this place.

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

I have been coming here since it first opened, spent birthdays here and just a night out. Always great food no matter when you're visiting. One of the best in CLT. Don't miss it.

Visited 7 months ago

Had a great dining experience at O-Ku to celebrate a birthday and our first night out as new parents. The O-Ku team asked a couple of question prior to our coming and surprised us with really thoughtful gifts as well as a couple of dining surprises. I’d recommend this restaurant for special occasions as the team went above and beyond what I’ve seen elsewhere to ensure service and experience were both top notch.

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Amazing place. Food is top notch, service is warm, competent, and feels genuine(not forced), and atmosphere is relaxing despite always being busy. Management took above and beyond care of us during our anniversary back in April; we won't forget that. Everytime we have visited everything been consistently excellent.

Visited 7 months ago

Enjoyed a special dinner with my Grand children. The food is wonderful. The service could not be better! They knew what we needed before we did. Can't wait to have an adult dinner here. I'll be back

Visited 7 months ago

The food was great, presentation was nice and the atmosphere was top notch. I got the Kouyou Roll, which was full of flavor and the fresh Wasabi added a nice kick. My date got the south end tofu which was also tasty.

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

This is your date night sushi spot, you're gonna spend a little more and you're gonna realize it was worth it when you do. My wife has Celiac and there is an entire gluten free menu for the allergy which is a welcomed sight. When they're busy service can get a little slow, but their attention to detail (esp with an allergy) is wonderful.

If you're like me and can never figure out what to get go with the Nigiri sampler and an app or 2, some hot sake and good company make it an excellent spot.

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Food was very good, sold out of a lot of options towards the end of the night.

Visited 8 months ago

Great restaurant. Definitely not an omakase type of restaurant. Do not order their omakase $175 / person. Their ama ebe is not as fresh and did not to a great to tempura the head. Did not even provide tempura sauce.

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

While the food is obviously incredible I think what makes this place stand apart from others is the incredible service and atmosphere. I highly recommend going here for birthday as a treat you so amazingly. Honestly, I’ve never been cared for quite like I have at a restaurant before since going here.

Visited 8 months ago

We are visiting from out of town, and hoping to try the best sushi spot in Charlotte….

Duck buns were awesome. Sushi was just average. Reading through the menu sounded exciting, as there is a unique list of quality, higher-end ingredients and creative combinations compared to a typical sushi restaurant. But the end result wasn’t anything special unfortunately, and everything was seemingly over-rated. The Black Magic Hako had SO much rice, it was impossible to taste the other high-quality toppings. We go out for sushi quite frequently, and I would normally not feel compelled to leave a review. But..

In all fairness, I would rate the sushi three stars. The reason for my one-star rating here is because the water temperature in the bathroom sinks is DANGEROUSLY hot. When we told our server about it out of concern for others, she just stared at us blankly. Fortunately, another employee overheard and said she would look into it, but that is where it ended. Neither could have been more apathetic that our daughter scalded her hands. And it seems like the promise to look into It was just lip service.

Hoping this review makes some difference to someone, but in all likelihood that no one cares, here’s a warning that even halfway between cold and hot is WAY too hot for an adult to be able to keep their hand under the water for more than a second. If you have the water all the way in the hot position, you’re going to leave with second-degree burns.

Visited 8 months ago

We have been going to O-Ku every couple months for various occasions, it’s my son’s favorite place. On his 13th bday, naturally he chose O-Ku. We made a reservation as we normally would and notated that it was for his “birthday celebration.” Now, it’s important to know my son loves art, and wherever we dine, he typically draws a picture and leaves it on the table, signature in tow. He has done this a couple times at O-Ku, and when they saw his name on the reservation, they made sure to create a special night for him. Upon arrival, there was a gift waiting on the table and a note from the O-ku team. They gave my son an art set full of all the essentials and he was over the moon. This is what it’s all about… A world where we appreciate each other, remember the little things and show gratitude. Well done O-ku, fans for life.

Visited 8 months ago

Freshest seafood around, the quality and flavor of the food is phenomenal. Service staff are always going above and beyond, price is steep but you definitely get what you pay for and it’s well worth for high quality! The blue fin carpaccio is a must get!!

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

This is the best sushi in Charlotte. Our waiter Reggie was amazing. We try to go here for all our special occasions.

Visited 8 months ago

The location, atmosphere, food, and service were amazing. Highly recommend this place!

Visited 8 months ago

Best dining experience in charlotte as of late.

Came for my birthday and the details end to end were unexpected.

Food - Top quality, presented well and delicious. A few items we enjoyed were the eddamame with tuffle, Salmon Usuzukuri, Salmon and Lemon Roll, Yellowtale Carpaccio, green eggs & hamachi and the chocolate lava cake for dessert. Had a glass of red and white too that were great.

Service - Unmatched. Justin was our primary server and was very dialed into his role. Every single staff member that came across our table (6-7 ppl) went out of their way to say happy birthday and thanks for coming. Went as far as giving us a sample of a dish we were debating but passed on just to know for future reference.

Value: for 5 items, 2 glasses of wine and the exceptional service I was surprised at how reasonable the final bill was for two people.

Visited 8 months ago

It took literally 2 hours to get our food .. the sushi had a fishy taste .. the server was nice enough to bring a miso soup while we waited .. not coming back

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Amazing service and food!! The manager and staff were amazing.

Visited 9 months ago

I visit often. Great food and fun ambiance. Sweet and spicy is the drink! and lobster hand rolls are the best!

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

The absolute best sushi experience I’ve had to date. Cocktails were also fantastic. Ryan was our server and he was flawless. Can’t wait to go back!

Visited 9 months ago

Had a good time at the bar here last night. Good food and cozy atmosphere. But what made our experience even better was the service we received at the bar. I don’t know the names of the bartenders but the service we received was top-notch! Will def go back!

Visited 9 months ago

Ok I’m a little late to write this review but let me say, Oku is one of my top 3 fav restaurants of all time and I don’t even live in charlotte (sad)- though I do make a reservation every time I’m in town. The food is phenomenal, the service impeccable. During my last visit I ordered the shogun cocktail (one of my regular orders) and it tasted a bit off. I didn’t want to complain, but our server recognized I wasn’t loving it and immediately offered to take it off the bill and offered an alternative drink (which I ended up loving!!). Oku rarely messes anything up and if they do, they will do everything perfectly to fix it. 10/10 restaurant, I hope to come back many many times more.

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Went for my bday dinner and the service was amazing, everyone was very genuine. Fresh plates after apps and meals, pre bussing, and fresh tasting sushi. We had Justin as our server and he was great, amazing night:)

Visited 9 months ago

Amazing experience at this restaurant! Our waiter Joari was awesome, 💯 on service, the receptionists were awesome too! 💯 on food, everything we got was so delicious and tasted really fresh. The atmosphere was also great, a little noisy at times. Super location with free parking nearby, and options to go for a little walk after diner. We will be back for sure 😉 Muchas Gracias Joari!!

Visited 9 months ago

The hot and heavy sushi roll is delicious. The atmosphere is elegant, but casual. And Trey provided fabulous service.

Visited 9 months ago

I took my boyfriend here for surprise and did the omakase dinner with sake pairing, the entire experience was awesome start to finish. The staff even gave him a gift for his birthday, I highly recommend, the courses were paced perfectly to where to can really enjoy just about every bite of you food and leave nice and full. The service was perfect, staff was super friendly to chat with and love our anime stuff :), we felt very welcomed and had a great time!

Visited 9 months ago

great restaurant. sushi is fabulous

Visited 9 months ago

Best selection of Sashimi I've come across in Charlotte

Visited 10 months ago

Best sushi in charlotte. Went for a birthday dinner. Server was absolutely amazing. The resturant made me feel so special. I even got a menu that said happy birthday.

Visited 10 months ago

I’ve been here a few times and the food quality is well worth it. On this last visit however and I’m not sure why the service was brutally slow.
We were literally there for 3 hours.

Visited 10 months ago

My family went to O-Ku in Charlotte to celebrate a birthday. It was by far the best sushi I've ever had. The atmosphere was perfect and I can't think of a single place in the world with better service. It was a dining "experience" that will bring us back whenever we are in town.

Visited 10 months ago

My husband and I went to O-ku for the first time tonight to celebrate my birthday and had a great experience. The food was excellent and the service was impeccable. Our waitress took the time to explain several aspects of the menu and offer recommendations. Every staff member who came to our table wished me a happy birthday, which made my night feel really special and festive. The atmosphere was fun without being too loud and upscale without being too stuffy. Would absolutely recommend this restaurant.

Visited 10 months ago

My wife took me to O-Ku for my birthday celebration, and it was remarkable in every way! We started with drinks at the bar and were greeted promptly with a smile. I highly recommend the "Mandalorian" for the perfect amount of citrus and spice before your meal. Our server once seated, Reggie, was terrific. Not only did he help us with our order being first-timer's, but he did all the little things that made us feel like royalty during our visit (ask about the Japanese sweet scallop). The salmon and lemon roll is perfectly light and flavorful, while the potato roll had a great blend of sweet and savory. If you want to go nigiri, try the wagyu, you will be happy you did. The restaurant has a great open floor plan with a welcoming atmosphere as well, just off the East/west Blvd light rail stop. We will be back!

Visited 10 months ago

We went with friends for my birthday and had a superb experience from start to finish. Trey was an amazing server and was wonderful at helping me avoid things I don't eat. The entire staff made sure we were taken care of all night in a way that seemed effortless including filling drinks, delivering food, and cleaning the table.

The south end shrimp, scallop nigiri, black magic hakozushi and potato rolls were all fantastic. The birthday pavlova at the end was a fantastic treat!

Visited 10 months ago

Great vegan sushi options and the ambiance is amazing!! Also really great service!

Visited 10 months ago

Best Sushi in Charlotte!!!

Reggie is an awesome server!!!

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

WOW. Probably the best overall dining experience I have had since moving here!

My sister and I made a res at 8 but they were busy and tables were sitting longer than anticipated. They accommodated us (within 10 mins) with seats at the sushi bar incase we didn’t want to wait.

Justin took care of us and he was AMAZING! Good energy, wonderful recommendations and kept the wine glasses full! Also, Lauren (manager) heard it was our first time dining with them and made an effort to share a story or two with us. The time they took to talk with us during busy hours was unexpected and SO refreshingly NICE!

But the FOOD!!! Seriously SO good. 100% recommendation this place to any and all who are in the Charlotte area. 10 Stars!

Visited 10 months ago

If I could give them more than 5 stars, I would!

We thoroughly enjoyed every part of our experience. From the moment we walked through the door, we felt welcomed and comfortable. For starters, the hostess asked us if we were celebrating anything, and took notes about what brought us to the restaurant. All of the wait staff and cooks were very warm and appeared happy to be there.

The quality of the food was excellent. All the seafood smelled and tasted very fresh. We tasted about 12 different items from across the menu, and everything tasted amazing. The mocktails were very good as well; we each tried the matcha limeade.

The cleanliness of the table, restrooms, room, and place settings was spotless.

The waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu, anticipating all our needs and several questions, teaching us about certain ingredients and methods we asked about.

10/10 will return!

Visited 10 months ago

Our celebration at O-Ku

O-Ku has become a regular celebration spot for my wife and I over the years. From anniversaries to college graduations, and more. Yesterday my wife and I celebrated our anniversary at O-Ku once again, this time with our first child, and this was one of the most special celebrations we have ever had.

When my wife made the reservation, they sent back a questionnaire about us and she filled it out. When we arrived for our reservation the table was ready and there was a gift on the table! It was two custom mom and dad T-shirts that were themed with a favorite hobby of ours as a family, and then the GM, Lauren, came over to talk with us and share how they had been anticipating our visit and just made us feel so special. Then she went and got another gift which was a sushi onesie for our daughter!

The food was as incredible as always, the Black Magic roll, the Shishito Peppers both favorites. And our waitress Mei-Ling brought us some Salmon Usuzukuri to try as a surprise, and is now an immediate favorite! So good! The mocktails we ordered were also delicious!

The food, the staff, the personalized gifts, the atmosphere, everything made it one of the most special celebrations we have had. Thank you to the team at O-Ku for helping us celebrate 4 years of being married!

Visited 10 months ago

Food was excellent and would give 5 stars but they do not have a non alcoholic beer choice which is very disappointing! Hard for some people to be comfortable without that option especially with alcoholism being so rampant in our society!

Visited 10 months ago

2024-06-03 Another great experience at O-ku. Kayla is a top notch server. I can't remember the last time we've had such good service. She is the epitome of what an excellent server should strive to be. The entire staff was amazing. And they went Above And Beyond for our birthday celebration. I highly recommend everyone coming for their birthday or special occasion. O-Ku does an excellent job with this type of thing. There were 4 of us. 2 of us ordered sushi and 2 of us ordered hot meals. The hot meals aren't like they were the first time we came. They're more like tapas size entree portions. The tofu meal was excellent. The salmon meal was sadly waay overcooked. Those who ordered sushi enjoyed it. They have a couple of vegetarian sushi options, which was perfect for one of us. We also got the truffle edamame and the cauliflower appetizer, both excellent! One person got a soda and someone else hot tea. No dessert this time. And the total came to around $120. The food service from appetizer to dinner was slow. It was like that the first time we came too. Totally worth it though and plan to come again. Thank you O-Ku for brining your A-game! Yum!

2023 The restaurant ambiance is lovely (warmly lit, high, wood plank-type ceilings, industrial, comfortable, trendy), although Very loud. The service from Ryan and Hayley was very good; a little slow getting the initial order in, but other than that, great personalities, thoughtful, knowledgeable, quick with water refills and check-ins, helpful and went above and beyond to make sure the vegetarian, in the group, had good options, from which to choose. The food didn't all come out at the same time (sushi and hot food each come from 2 different kitchens.). We had to wait at least 3-5 minutes for all dishes to be served. I would suggest checking the menu and pricing, before coming, to make sure both work for you. Our party ordered 2 sushi dishes each (for those that ordered sushi) to make the portion size work for them. Everyone enjoyed their sushi. The truffle edamame dish was Amazing! If you like curry, coconut milk udon noodles, you'll like that dish. It came in a small bowl.  Enough for one meal, but nothing for take home. The chicken teriyaki was just the other side so so (in a bad way) and I would not order it again. The chicken did not seem "high end" to me.  It seemed like cheap pieces of meat were used. They were gristly and small parts and pieces were hanging from another...And the dish was drenched in the sauce. Even though it's definitely enough for one person, I would have thought that there would have been more. The flavor was ok/good. Note: If you exchange white rice for fried rice, it's very good, but very subtle. The desserts, although expensive, were excellent! For those curious about pricing, only one person had 2 beers and the dinner tab for 6 people was $300 before tip. If you're looking for a very nice, trendy feeling place for dinner with some foodie flair, this is definitely an option. I would definitely come back. I would just make different dinner choices. One sushi meal each and water would yield a dinner tab of just $30 for 2 people. So it's possible that every pocketbook size could enjoy a night out here. I would say if you're in the mood for sushi, make reservations and try it out!

Visited a year ago

This place was amazing! We ended up being able to snag 2 spots at the bar even during its busy time. The hostess (I forgot to get her name) was very sweet & accommodating. Cody the bartender was attentive & kind! The food was so so so good. I got the black magic hakozushi & the lychee martini. Both were *spectacular* on my taste buds. The menu has a variety of seafood that isn’t as common which is also a plus. I highly recommend! We’ll be back for more!

Visited a year ago

Went here for a friend’s birthday dinner and it was such a great experience! The gave us a complimentary sample of a chef selection and the entire staff was very attentive to not just our table but everyone’s around us. The food as very fresh and filling. I got the Spider Roll (waitress selection) and it was great! Definitely returning!

Visited a year ago

They treat you well for a birthday, food was great and prices not bad for Charlotte!

Visited a year ago

La comida y el lugar es espectacular pero el servicio no estuvo nada bueno. No hay valor precio y calidad pero como siempre es valioso el lugar por la compañía y ese día era espectacular!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

$180 for 2 people 5.30.2024. Low quality old sushi. Also they forgot to ever bring out the mermaid roll which they were reminded more than once. Funny they did not forget to add it to the bill though! Thankfully the waiter removed it after i told her the situation. Will not come back

Visited a year ago

The best service I have ever received in my life! Our server, Tony, was incredible and so was the food and atmosphere. 10/10

Visited a year ago

Celebrated a special occasion here. This establishment made it one of the best nights of my entire life. First, the food was incredible, you will never forget the deliciousness of the food especially the Toro and Wagyu nigiri.

But what really put this place over the top was the service. So kind, so attentive. They made my party and I feel truly special. They even printed a special congrats message on the menu! The level of detail and care was incredible. If you’re in Charlotte GO HERE PLEASE.

Visited a year ago

Overall great experience at O-Ku. O-Ku has a dim-lit ambiance with a tolerable level of trending background music. Elegant modern decore and clutter-free seating arrangements. The hostess was very nice and attentive. Our server Jo-Jo was on point. Jo-Jo was very knowledgeable about the menu and worked well during busy hours. The team that day communicated and operated well. Most of them seemed to have great chemistry. We sat at the sushi bar and were delighted by the craftsmanship of the team behind the counter. Jo-Jo answered all our questions about the menu, and we received our food in a timely manner. We ordered from each part of the menu and were astonished by the unique menu items, delicious and fresh flavors, as well as each dishes presentation. After we finished our meal, we ordered the Japanese churros and Ice Cream Mochi. Unfortunately, they were the lowest point of the experience. The dessert items took over 30 minutes to come out. The churros seemed as if they were left out or stale, and the Ice Cream Mochi were average. Thank you, O-Ku and our server(Jo-Jo), for a pleasant experience!

Visited a year ago

Came for happy hour which is 50% off rolls. Ranking the rolls we tried
1-mermaid roll. Fried w salmon and scallops
2-spicy tuna crunch
3-red dragon roll
4-rainbow roll
5 tuna roll

Majority of their rolls are shrimp tempura,
would like to see more fish options. It’s a little pricy if it wasn’t half off but I’d still come back!

Visited a year ago

Possibly my favorite restaurant experience ever. Service was amazing by everyone, our server Kayla was excellent. I made a reservation for my boyfriend for his birthday, they messaged me asking his interests, and there was a personalized gift waiting for him at the table. So cool. Food was also amazing. They deserve your business, highly recommend.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

READ IT ALL!!! We had friends in town for a birthday celebration and it was our first time checking this place out! Just WOW! From the time we walked through the door it was an amazing experience! The staff is unlike anything I’ve ever see ! SO incredibly friendly, hilarious, familiar with the menu and just made this dining experience extra special! Tony was our waiter and I could not say better things about this guy! Lauren, the GM (I believe) was also incredible! Both the type that we didn’t even care if the food wasn’t good, they made us want to come back already! But the food? 100000/10! We’re big fans of Nobu, this BLEW it out of the water! Food is incredible! We had so many things but my favorite was the salmon sashimi and the lobster and mushrooms! But literally nothing bad to say about any of it! Already made a reservation to go back!

Visited a year ago

Trey (I do believe that was his name) was our server and he was amazing! I celebrated my birthday here and they made me feel so special and Trey really just made the night amazing!

Visited a year ago

Shout out to Haja and Daneen at the bar! Came here for my first time tonight and it was incredible. Daneen was our bartender and although she never stopped making drinks as the orders came in; she was available for questions and provided exceptional service to me and my guest. I highly recommend O-Ku. The short ribs were delicious as well.

Visited a year ago

I honestly can’t write all I want to about how good Oku is in one review. The service was unmatched as they made my friends and I feel like royalty. The food was delicious and very tasty.
I can’t wait to come back!

Visited a year ago

We visited O-Ku tonight as a family of 4 with two small kids and we all loved the experience. Our server, Trey, was top of the line and really took everything to the next level with his recommendations and even a couple of complimentary surprises. The whole staff worked together seamlessly, the ambiance was gorgeous, and the food was beyond all expectations.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Terrific rolls and specialty foods. Great service

Visited a year ago

The location is nice. The server was considerate and pleasant. Now, the food..was good. It wasn't anything special or extraordinary in quality. If you are looking for simply great sushi, this may not be it. But, for a diverse group of taste palates, everyone can find something they will be satisfied with. It's a solid 4 stars.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Every time I go with my fiance for a special occasion it's been an amazing experience. We make sure to always go for birthdays, work promotions, and anniversaries, everyone is always so sweet. I can't have dairy due to an allergy, but thanks to a heads up they got me a special dessert so I could still celebrate. Best sushi spot I've ever been to. Thank you as always O-ku 💜

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

We celebrated our anniversary here, and the staff was incredibly hospitable in making the celebration memorable. The food was amazing. Yes the menu is pricey, but absolutely worth it. The quality of food is top notch. Our server (I believe his name is Justin) was incredible and gave amazing recommendations. Will definitely be back!

Visited a year ago

We had the best time celebrating our anniversary at O-ku!!! Loved everything about our dinner! The interior design is creative too!!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Waited two months for our reservation and it was absolutely worth it! An incredible experience was had and will definitely be back!!!!

Visited a year ago

Hostess and server were stellar! Funny and gave great recommendations. Food is tapas style here, but the service was quick and impeccable.

Great place for a cocktail and a quick catch-up with friends or go on a date… Look for JoJo, he’ll take care of you

Visited a year ago

This restaurant is sooo good 👌 we went for dinner and ended up going again the next evening because it was so good. All of their sushi rolls were great. The flavors were delicious and everything was fresh. I got a cocktail which was amazing 😍
Our server was enthusiastic and friendly!

Visited a year ago

I can see that business owners changed because the food is not fresh and the service has significantly changed. Stop covering everything with spicy mayo.

Visited a year ago

One of the better spots for sushi in the city, also the most expensive.

The interior space and service are great - if you're going out to eat and want good atmosphere, this is a great choice. It has a nice, polished vibe without being too formal, and has some vibrant energy without being over the top.

The nigiri list is only a bit above average as far as types of fish, but well above average in number of overall choices. When I stopped in for example, they had 4 cuts of tuna, 3 cuts of salmon, and 3 types of uni - including US domestic and Japanese. Nicely put together and presented.

Having been to ~30 sushi places in the area, the price point here is by far the highest, but you're getting good stuff at a nice place. I'd recommend it for a splurge.

Visited a year ago

I visited O-Ku in Charlotte for the first time on Monday night between 4pm-7pm. On Mondays and Wednesdays between 4pm-7pm all sushi is half off except for the kouyou and hot & heavy rolls. This deal is for dine-in only!

I ordered the spicy tuna crunch, mermaid, and spider rolls.

The spicy tuna crunch roll was meh and nothing special. Just a typical spicy tuna roll with tempura crumbs on top.

The mermaid roll was spectacular and super tasty. I loved the tempura batter on the outside which gave it a nice crunch and all the ingredients inside paired really well together. 10/10 sushi roll.

The spider roll was not like any spider rolls I have had in my lifetime. I really like the salmon on top of the spider roll. Overall, a really yummy and tasty roll. Also, a 10/10 and would 1000% recommend!.

The ambiance was really nice and service was incredible. Although, I did not order a drink, the drink menu looked really good!

They have other locations in other cities like Raleigh, NC, so go on their website and see if there is a O-ku near you! Give this restaurant a try!

Visited a year ago

Very busy, book ahead!
The sushi is delicious, it is on the higher price range, but fresh, good quality with a superb presentation.
Tunas belly was so soft it melted! Get duck buns!

Visited a year ago

Alright, will start with the good stuff, the food was extremely delicious, it is actually crazy, I dont even eat raw fish, like at all, but here, I just obliterated it. The server was very nice and knew the ingridients of all meals.

For the bad now, $17 for thin slice of wagyu nigiri and it is only 1 piece too? You guys can't be serious with this, even the sushi chefs felt bad for us for ordering it and sent us complimentary 2 piece salmon nigiri for free(I guess after they saw my face when the wagyu nigiri was brought to the table). I would understand like 2-3 pieces, which is standard usually, but 1 is absolute insanity. You can get a full size steak for like the price of 2 of these, so it makes 0 sense. The managers were completely useless during the rush time, they were just standing, chatting with each other and sometimes even distracting the chefs just to have a random conversation. The servers were running around trying to get the orders in, while these 2 just stood there doing nothing, they were not even expediting the orders that came in or anything, just 0 effort. It took our server about 15 min to finally write down our order just because he had so many tables assigned to him, trying to get to everyone, while at least 2 other servers were just chilling there, without doing anything or just talking to those 2 useless managers I mentioned earlier.

I will, of course, come back, but not during rush hours, that is for sure. 4 stars instead of 3 just because the food was phenomenal.

Visited a year ago

We have eaten sushi for decades all over the world and O-ku is as good as anywhere.
The sushi is amazing-the chef's are so talented. Service is always impeccable. We have been here many times over the years and always have a wonderful experience

Visited a year ago

This is an excellent sushi restaurant. They have a very high level of awareness of gluten , which is important for me having Celiac disease. Our server was very knowledgeable and attentive as to my dietary needs and suggested options and modifications as needed. We had a delicious meal and will certainly go back when we are next in Charlotte. They have some interesting variations on standard themes; for example their cherry-flavored crème brule was delicious!

Visited a year ago

Came in for a quick bite during their happy hour (weds 4-7 half off sushi!) and grabbed seats at the bar. Our bartender Deneen IMMEDIATELY greeted us and took her time going over suggested sushi rolls and cocktails. She was so friendly and kind and didn’t rush us at all. She consistently checked in and made sure we were taken care of. Made for a super enjoyable evening. Thanks Deneen for incredible service! It didn’t go unnoticed!

Visited a year ago

Had dinner by myself at the bar. Great atmosphere, with several bar tenders behind the bar making it happen. I ordered a vodka gimlet to start and well worth it. The sushi was fantastic. I had the Chutoro, Akani Nigiri sushi as well as the crispy roll. All were delicious!

Visited a year ago

We celebrated our four year anniversary at O-Ku tonight and had an amazing experience. The service was amazing, the food was even better. They even gave us some flowers to bring home for our anniversary. I would absolutely recommend eating here and will be back.

Visited a year ago

Ryan was probably the best waiter I’ve ever had, I’d come back just for him. Service was amazing, food was on point

Visited a year ago

We enjoyed the dining experience here, and our server Kayla was excellent. The menu was a little pricey but all of the dishes - including the veggie ones for our vegetarian guests - were enjoyable.

All in all, a fun night with quality ingredients used throughout. Parking can be a hassle for sure, but would likely come back next time I want something fancy.

Visited a year ago

The waiter was awesome and the food was delicious! If ever in Charlotte, I'll definitely be stopping by again! The duck buns were my favorite!

Visited a year ago

I'm not one to care much about service as long as it is good enough, but the service at O-Ku is exceptional and the best in Charlotte in my opinion. If you are celebrating (anniversary, birthday, etc.), this is the place to do it - they go above any beyond with their specialized menus, staff's well wishes, and occasional free extras (bites or champagne). Sushi is high quality and duck buns are fantastic. Pricier than other Charlotte sushi spots, but the service and atmosphere are top tier.

Visited a year ago

Awesome good! Very busy place

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

I had a late night craving for sushi.
Food was delicious.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Excellent food. Rarely get excited about eating out because I go out 3-4 times per week for work. This food is unbelievable. The single pieces of sushi is where it's at.

Visited a year ago

Great sushi experience

Visited a year ago

The best sushi in South End, probably all of downtown Charlotte as well! The service is second to none and the half off rolls on Monday and Wednesday is clutch. Don’t even mess with the other places around South End (except for Yamazaru of course, if O-Ku is busy and you don’t want to wait, yet still want amazing sushi and Asian dishes, hit Yamazaru!)

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

One of the best sushi spots in Charlotte!!! I’ve never been disappointed. Food cocktails and desserts are great! Highly recommend O-ku.

Visited a year ago

I went to O-Ku for the first time recently for my partner’s birthday and it was so sweet of them to have a birthday table card as we sat down. Our server was Tony and he was very helpful, patient, and amazing. Overall, the food was impeccable and high quality, especially the sashimi. My favorite from the sashimi is the fatty tuna (otoro). Tony was very kind to surprise my partner with salmon usuzukuri for his birthday. The truffle ponzu sauce is an addictive taste. My overall experience dining here was amazing and I’m definitely returning. It is a restaurant to splurge on yourself, so do beware that you’ll spend a hefty amount.

Visited a year ago

Our waiter Ryan was incredible and really made it a memorable night. We asked him for his recommendations on what to order so we could try new things that we may not have ordered ourselves. Wow, the dishes we had were 10/10. I made sure to take a picture of the bill so I could remember my favorite dishes to order next time! No exaggeration, I believe this was the best sushi I've ever had. O-Ku is my go-to sushi spot.

Visited a year ago

Appetizers are highly overpriced. Some items included a table scoop of fish at 28 dollars.... Profit Ratio is phenomenal 😜😜. All roles are fairly the same as everywhere else at this level. Strongly recommend the Potato Roll! Very interesting twist on American Sushi. It was delicious!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The sushi didn't have much flavor, wasn't able to taste the vinegar in the rice or any hint of wasabi which left just a lot of fish and rice flavor.
The hot food options were good that we had.

Visited a year ago

Great food and amazing service.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Amazing place, not to sound cheesy, but a breath of fresh air. Service is perfect and so friendly. It's not my first rodeo, and I will definitely be back here. Thank you for your kind service.

Visited a year ago

Absolutely incredible experience and some of the best sushi I’ve had

Visited a year ago

8.5/10

Visited a year ago

This is our go to spot for sushi. The ambience and customer service are top notch. The attention to detail and how the hosts and servers remember your preferences is next-level. Customer service gets 10/10. This is why we go back again and again.
And of course the sushi, appetizers and drinks are amazing. We love the Hot and Heavy, Mermaid, Dragon, Spider, Salmon/Lemon rolls.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Treatment from restaurant on celebrating my retirement was phenomenal coupled with the best service and sushi was 5 ⭐️!

Visited a year ago

If I could leave more stars I absolutely would!! I went for my birthday and the staff went above and beyond to make me feel special. Food and service is unmatched! Probably the best we’ve ever had. Cannot recommend enough!

Visited a year ago

Great authentic Japanese food . Had the chirashi and otoro . Tasted as good as it looks

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

It is ok, but more of a bar than sushi bar.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago