Waraji Japanese Restaurant

5910-147 Duraleigh Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612, United States

Waraji Japanese Restaurant
About This Sushi Bar

Waraji Japanese Restaurant is known for its authentic traditional Japanese cuisine, visual beauty and outstanding taste. Offering an extensive selection of sushi, sashimi & authentic Japanese cuisine. We have the largest Sake selection in the Carolinas. Our Sake "flights/samplers" change monthly and allow you to try 4 outstanding regional Sakes with your meal. We also feature a unique selection of Japanese microbrewery rice-based beers. Our sushi menu includes the highest quality sushi and sashimi and a wide variety of specialty house rolls (The Scary Jerry, Hinata, The Waraji Roll, and The Sweet Dragon just to name a few) Our authentic kitchen offers a full menu of tempura, teriyaki grilled items, nabeyaki udon, and over 30 appetizers.

Sushi Reviews
Sushi Experience №1

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №2

Im so glad today I visit Waraji for first time with my family we loved it , I try the fire dragon roll was delicious and teriyaki to , is a great place for have a good time in family the sushi chefs are really profesional and our server cha was amazing really kind with great recommendations definitely we come back soon

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №3

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №4

Another great dining experience at Waraji with our favorite server, Joseph. He's very knowledgeable and always makes great menu and sake suggestions. From the Vegetable Tempura to the Teriyaki Chicken to the Mango Ice Cream, everything was wonderful.

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №5

I had an incredible experience. I visited the restaurant, and it's definitely a place I will return to. The food was delicious, and Shaiel's service was amazing-kind, friendly, and always with a smile. A very pleasant place, highly recommended.

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №6

The food is very good, I really recommend it everyone was very attentive, especially my waitress Shaiel a girl from Venezuela was very detailed at the time of our meal. I'll be back soon

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №7

The vibes were immaculate and the food was great!! I got the bento box, which was delicious and filling. Maxine and Sydney were absolutely wonderful and made sure I had everything I needed ☺️

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №8

I went for the first time, and I loved it, the food is tasty, the place is beautiful and the staff is super nice.
I was served by a Venezuelan girl Zayel, and she was very nice and helpful.
I totally recommend it

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №9

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №10

Another great dining experience at Waraji. Our server, Joseph, made some excellent sushi and sake recommendations. Everything was on point.

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №11

Incredible rolls and service at the sushi bar. Busy Saturday night. Rolls were THE BEST we have found in the Raleigh / Durham region. Hands down. Worth the wait and the drive.

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №12

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!

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №13

If you are in town come get some delicious food and best service. Ask for CHAYEL. Best experience eating out and the food was also superior to similar food. Chayel should be the standard for food/customer service. My wife and I left more than pleased.

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №14

Waraji is truly a Raleigh staple for sushi. Momo is sweet and the most amazing manager, she really seems to keep things held together there. And Maxine is a well rounded server, she is funny, efficient, makes good recommendations and has great people skills. Very proud of her and how passionate she is about Waraji and sushi.🍱

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №15

We dined here for a special occasion. It was very loud and they were very busy however, we never felt rushed. Our server, Joseph, was friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. He made great recommendations and was patient with all our questions. We enjoyed our experience and will dine here again.

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №16

Wonderful dining experience, waitress was very nice and helpful, and the food was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was very nice as well. The eel sushi was incredible.

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №17

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №18

Loved the restaurant and our server, Maxine! She was so sweet and gave great recommendations. The Ebi Shumai and Guacamole roll were delicious. Definitely recommend trying!

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №19

We had lunch at Waraji on New Year’s Eve and had the most fantastic experience. The sushi was positively delicious (the rolls are big) and sour server Maxine was absolutely lovely. She gave great recommendations, she was warm and positive and she made our experience even more enjoyable. Honestly, between the great food and great service, we couldn’t have been more pleased with our first experience at Waraji. We’ll be back!

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №20

Fresh, high quality fish and consistently good service. I personally prefer nigiri and uramaki rolls over the specialty ones. I’m very picky with sushi restaurants but I’ve been coming to Waraji with my family for years! Always really good service for large parties. Would not recommend the mochi ice cream though, it’s artificial tasting, overpriced, and the texture is not like authentic mochi.

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №21

Maxine was a great waitress! Very attentive and fun! Food was delicious as well!

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №22

Amazing sushi in a very convenient location! Maxine took excellent care of us, and had great recommendations for appetizers, sushi, and sake! Highly recommend.

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №23

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №24

They have updated the place- super fancy ($$$) now with a glossy (fancy) menu- tips on the device are 20, 25, 30 and 35% - food was good but not like the old place that it was. Going to look for a new place to be our go-to. $55 for lunch.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №25

Pretty good fish quality for the price. Definitely order their nigiri or sashimi to get a sense of that. Service was slow but we were there during prime dining hours so that could be the cause

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №26

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №27

We came here for here for dinner. This place is beyond amazing. The food is delicious, all the sushi is good. The new appertizer lamp dish is so good, and was recommended by my server Mew, she is amazing at serving us and making good drinks.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №28

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №29

The best and fresh sushi in Raleigh by far.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №30

I waited a lot to post this and cool down.. A very meaningful place for my family. We are long time customers and this is where my son fell in love with Sushi, which led to him living seven years in Japan. The dishes have been consistently excellent throughout the years; never a bad food experience. Alas, the same cannot be said about the service. I took a large group there about a year ago, for a States-side celebration of my son's Japan nuptials and I had four problems: 1) I reserved by actually driving there and selecting a table; despite the multiple reassurances that the right section was reserved for me, when we got there we were assigned to a very central, very noisy location, 2) we were immediately the target of "off the menu" sales; that resulted in the sale of two bottles of "off the menu" sake at $140 each (price not communicated until the bill came), 3) despite the fact that we made very clear that several of the guests don't drink alcohol for religious reasons, they were pressed to drink multiple times during the dinner, 4) despite multiple requests to not bring the check to the table, as soon as we were done eating the check came. Again, great sushi, but nowadays there are a lot of great sushi restaurants in the Triangle; I'm not sure I'll be back at Waraji.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №31

The famed Waraji restaurant was an underwhelming and dichotomous blend of bland, fried appetizers, succulent sushi, and a waitstaff who were more focused on fast service, quick table turnover, and a big tip than providing a pleasurable dining experience.

If you go (which I would absolutely not recommend), stick to the sushi and consider getting your order “to go”.

The experience was a true disappointment for $125 per person. Try M-sushi or O-ku if you’d like to treat yourself, and let the tourists and business diners go to Waraji.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №32

The food is always excellent. The service is also top notch. I usually get the sushi+sashimi plate and it always cures my sushi itch. Although it is a little more expensive than other sushi places, the quality is outstanding and the portions are generous.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №33

Incredible food & service

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №34

Loved it! Guacamole role sounded very weird but one of the best rolls I have had in a while. Great tempura and miso soup as well. Will come back.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №35

Best sushi in Raleigh and it isn’t even close!

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №36

This place has such good reviews and even on Find Me Gluten Free, it's highly rated, however, we are truly perplexed by the portion sizes/prices, hence my 2-star review. I ordered a tuna Aurora roll ($20). This was 4 incredibly small pieces. I understand a specialty roll to be what is produced with a regular size bamboo sushi mat. This was not that. My spouse ordered a Tekka Maki ($10) and Sake Maki ($9). We know Maki are smaller bites, but these seemed extra tiny for the cost. Everything came out on a very small plate. It took me a few minutes to realize that my roll was on that small plate of food. The flavor was ok, a little bland, my tuna was fresh, but it just wasn't worth the cost. As someone from the West coast, I've eaten a lot of sushi and sashimi, and I grew up making sushi at home, and I've never spent so much on so little. We spent just under $50 for everything, and we left very hungry. I advise you go to Cowfish at North Hills. Even though it is fusion, you can get a tuna and salmon roll for $21 and it's pretty filling (like you may want a small soup/side with it). At Waraji, you might leave hungry unless you spend $100 per person.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №37

Hidden gem, some of the best sushi in the triangle, love sitting at the sushi bar to interact with the charismatic chefs, will certainly be returning often

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №38

Great food and service. The seats were not comfortable and it was cold.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №39

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №40

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!!

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №41

I have a new favorite drink! Absolutely delicious. Food was great service was spot on!

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №42

First time, place was busy and took some time for table placement. Food was very good,but pricy. Would come back again

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №43

I love the atmosphere, they had a few tables where you sit from the ground, chefs were extremely knowledgeable and made great recommendations. Food tastes fresh!!! We had a great experience overall and I highly recommend the place. Since it was our first time, we tried a variety of roles

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №44

My party of 2 arrived at Waraji at about 6:30 on a Wednesday night for my birthday dinner. For an early dinner on a weekday night, we opted not to place a reservation as our prior date plans could run a bit long. The parking lot was quite empty, so we were shocked to step in to a large hosted event. As there was nobody staffed at the front, I looked around for an employee who could help seat us or let us know our wait time. Rather, I caught the attention of an employee who saw us waiting, looked back to the black-tie event, and turned away from us to begin making drinks behind the bar. We left without a second thought. I was thrilled to try Waraji and incredibly disappointed at the experience we had. This review is subject to change should we ever give it a second try.

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №45

I absolutely love this place! We eat here often for a dinner date night. We sit at the Sushi bar, which makes it extra special. The service is a little slow, but overall very nice place to go.

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №46

Amazing food! My server, Quartz, was awesome and super attentive!!!

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №47

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №48

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №49

The bento is better than finding $1,000 you didn't know you had stashed in your nightstand.

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №50

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.

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №51

This is the best Japanese restaurant ever! I ordered Una Ju, California roll, and more! The service was so nice and were very quick to give me and my family food. I hope you eat here too!
- Aishani

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №52

Service was slower than normal but it was lunch time. Overall, enjoyed lunch.

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №53

Good food and very nice service. The Bartender Mew is very friendly and we really enjoy it.

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №54

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №55

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №56

Terrific sushi rolls, creative and classics were well rolled

Tempura was good, smoke salmon terrific

They even have drunken whale sake!!!

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №57

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №58

Waraji is definitely a Raleigh staple for quality sushi. Recommend reserving the tatami mats for a super fun but grounded alimentary experience. Must Do: request Maxine as your server, she's the best!

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №59

Used to be one of my favorite restaurants, but I can no longer recommend it. Poor service — the server actually came back by the table 15 minutes after I ordered a some additional nigiri to see if I still wanted it. The food quality has suffered as well. My Una Ju was inconsistent in texture and toughness, and could not finish it — disappointing for $34

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №60

Delicious delightful looking food! Loved the selection between apps, small plates, sushi, ramen, and full meals. Recommend trying the Ika Butter and Takoyaki, both very tasty!

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №61

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №62

Dinner tonight in the bar area. The food was fantastic and the service was amazing. Thank you for serving us, Maxine! Will come back again!

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №63

We celebrated our anniversary here, the food was great as well as our server Emily who had great service!

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №64

Best sushi in Raleigh ! Our server Richard was very attentive and had great suggestions. We will be coming back for sure. 😊

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №65

We love Waraji! Best sushi in the area. Our server, Richard, was super attentive despite being busy and is always so friendly. Great customer service, food, and all around experience!

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №66

The chirashi in the lunch menu is really underwhelming if you came for sushi. Its a small assortment of fish and half of the assortment is tamago and *imitation crab*.

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №67

Best sushi 🍣 in Raleigh for the last 20 years! None of the new ones compare! Must try

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №68

Always amazing sushi and drinks and always so consistent. Even when this place is packed, it’s always excellent!

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №69

There is no better sushi in Raleigh and probably the triangle. The quality is top notch. Love the firecracker and guacamole rolls but the toro sashimi is where it's at.

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №70

I recently visited Waraji Japanese Restaurant, and unfortunately, it was a disappointing experience. The service left much to be desired, as our waiters struggled to understand English, which made ordering quite difficult. To add to the frustration, the portions were very small, especially considering the high prices. For what we paid, we expected much more in terms of both quality and quantity. Sadly, I wouldn’t recommend this place if you’re looking for a satisfying sushi meal.

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №71

There’s a lot of free parking so it’s easy to find a spot
The restaurant looks nice and unique also clean inside and outside
They have a lot of choices for food
The service was less than okay I been waiting for the server they bring me the food menu only so I decided to get water I don’t want to wait more time to bring the menu
They bring the appetizers with the main dish at 1:00pm and he keep come around to say they close at two so I left at 1:45
I saw they have also a nice bar
The taste of the food okay I just like the atmosphere there
The price like over price overall with everything

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №72

We had dinner last weekend at Waraji and had an amazing dinner! Our server was Maxine and she was delightful. She was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu and had a cheerful demeanor. We could tell that she enjoyed her job.

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №73

Just had the most amazing lunch at Waraji with my mom. Our server Maxine, could not of been more friendly and accommodating and the food was out of this world. Can’t wait to return!

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №74

I had a terrible experience.I called to pick up my order at 5:30 PM, but it wasn’t ready until 7:20 PM. Even though I was told my pick up time would be 6:30. The hostesses were rude and unhelpful, and when we asked to speak to a manager, they refused. This lack of service and communication was unacceptable. Specially, since after we got the food we had missing items. I also called back to say something about it and they were even more rude and disrespectful saying it was their fault and that we made someone cry…really? Just because we asked to speak to a manager and got told no? Or because we simply asked when they thought our food that we paid $390 for would be done. Unacceptable. We won’t be returning. Which is such a shame because we are loyal customers who constantly take a lot of business there and always recommend it. But this isn’t the first time they’re so rude. We simply cannot justify their rude service anymore.

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №75

Amazing food and service... definitely on my short list of excellent restaurants. Fish was fresh and the menu selection is extensive.

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №76

Excellent sushi, I can see why my coworkers recommended it. The spider roll was delicious. We had a variety of other dishes, all great. I enjoyed their flight of sakes, a good way to sample several.

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №77

Had such an amazing experience thanks to my server, Sydney. She provided excellent service and made me feel like royalty. The food was incredible too. Will definitely be coming back!

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №78

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №79

Dinner night with my friends was a huge hit! Although I was kind of hesitant to join since it was my first time trying Japanese food, I’m so glad I did. The food was absolutely delicious, served hot and fresh, and the portions were generous. The nice young lady Sydney, who was our server, did an exceptional job with recommendations for food and keeping our glasses full. The service and kindness she presented exceeded our expectations and I am beyond pleased with my experience at Waraji Japanese Restaurant. I will definitely be returning.

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №80

My experience at Waraji Japanese Restaurant was outstanding, huge thanks to my incredible server, Sydney. From the moment I sat down, she went above and beyond to make the evening special. She was not only knowledgeable about the menu but also made spot-on recommendations that made the meal even better. Her warm personality, attention to detail, and genuine care for her guests truly set her apart. Sydney’s service made the night unforgettable, and I can’t recommend Waraji enough!

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №81

Maxine was outstanding. I would come back here just to sit on one of her tables. She’s nice, professional, snd kind. Thank you Maxine.

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №82

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №83

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №84

Ordered shrimp tempura, sushi sasimo for two, fire dragon and squid something 😂😂😂 very delicious and bog portion. Great presentation too. Nice place. And Carlo is wonderful. He makes sushi and very friendly! Love this place!

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №85

Great food

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №86

Awesome experience. One if my favorites is served here and they did not disappoint! NEGIMAKI = amazing. Our server, Sydney,was awesome and helped pick out dishes for a picky 9 yr old. Thanks!

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №87

The food is great, definitely the best suchi in the area and they have been know for this for years, BUT the five stars are for Momo and the staff, they want to know who you are and really really care about your experience at Waraji. Definitely a five star staff!!!

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №88

Fine restaurant generally. Slightly outdated interior, strange booking system and kinda expensive juice. However other things are nice

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №89

Waraji is easily the best sushi spot in the Triangle! The quality of the food is unmatched, the price is great, and the service is top-notch! Kenny is hands-down the best - friendly, welcoming, and Momo is the sweetest when greeting the customers. If you’ve not tried Waraji, it’s a must-try.

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №90

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №91

Staff was great, food is authentic

2024 edit: seems like the restaurant changed hands in 2021. The quality of the food and service went down by a lot. I would not recommend this place anymore

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №92

Kenny and George are the best. They are creative, always make the best combos for nigiri, and are so kind and welcoming. I would never eat anywhere else. It’s a great feeling to walk in and feel like family.

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №93

Tatami seating this evening. The taste testing increased the understanding of Saki and how to pair it with your meal. Very filling on the portions. Really enjoyed the chefs choice sushi rolls.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №94

This sushi restaurant is a gem! The fish is incredibly fresh, and each piece is crafted with precision and care. The rice is perfectly seasoned, and the variety of rolls and sashimi options is impressive. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a fantastic place for both sushi enthusiasts and newcomers. Highly recommend for a truly authentic Japanese sushi experience!

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №95

Great service and very traditional in their practice. Sushi is super fresh and made in front of you if you go to the sushi bar. Will definitely bring my friends! Had the Banzia sushi roll.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №96

Excellent food with great service.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №97

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №98

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №99

We always have a great experience at Waraji. They serve authentic TRADITIONAL Japanese food made with fresh and healthy tasting ingredients in a chic yet family friendly environment. One other highlight was the great service we got from our waiter Maxwell.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №100

We went here for the first time, and it was excellent! Not only was our sushi high-quality and delicious, but our server Sydney was great too! She had really good suggestions, was extremely friendly and helpful, and really helped add to the overall experience. Again, the sushi was phenomenal as well! We will definitely be back.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №101

Sydney was great! All of the staff was so sweet. We went on a Friday night and it was super busy but the staff handled it well. I got the Holy Moly Roll and it was so delicious and filling. Your dinner comes with soup and salad

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №102

Really nice! They have traditional sushis, but also very gourmet ones. Really tasty !
Be careful with the spicy though... They have a grade of 1 to 10. I had the 2, and it burnt my mouth. Even the waitress sad she can only take the 5.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №103

There is nothing better on a Saturday night than sushi at our favorite place, Waraji Japanese Restaurant. This is one of the top sushi restaurants in the Triangle. Angie and the rest of the staff are so friendly and inviting. Mel, the manager (MoMo to us regulars), is always greeting guests and making sure to answer any questions new comers might have about the large variety of delicious sushi and sashimi that Waraji has to offer.

We like to start out with the sashimi appetizer, then get our favorites, the Scarry Jerry, Suzuki 500, Sweet Dragon, and the Waraji Roll. It's so awesome to sit at the sushi bar and watch the Itamae preparing the dishes. Although its not on the menu, ask for the Gunkan sushi (I didn’t post a picture of it because we ate it). If you're a sushi lover like we are, you know it's the best. You owe it to yourself to get together with friends and head over to Waraji Japanese Restaurant. You will not be disappointed, and this will become your new favorite sushi restaurant.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №104

This place came up as one of the best sushi places in Raleigh after M and Oku which we love. Overall, fine food but slightly disappointing for $150 before tip. The service on a Saturday night is an issue, we waited 40 minutes to get waters sent to the table, and order beers. Another 15 mins for food order to be taken. The food itself took a long time to arrive, and we are generally easy going about service. We felt like we were constantly having to flag someone down to ask if we could order something, and then nobody would show.

Food: so-so. To start with the good: Sashimi dinner was good, regular expected quality sashimi and nigiri. Miso soup and salad were good.

The bad: Do not order the pork belly sliders - very tough, overcooked, and very chewy fatty. Normally well-made pork belly has fat that melts into your mouth, this was awful. I would never order this again. The Holy Moly roll is pure sesame oil and you can’t taste anything else which was disappointing given the ingredients. Just a sesame oil bomb.

We probably won’t come back at the price point, instead going back to some of the better known spots.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №105

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №106

Excellent experience!!! The food is amazing! Angie was so nice and helpful with the menu. The service was top notch. Looking forward to coming back soon.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №107

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №108

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №109

I wish I remembered the waitress name...but from the time me and my best friend were there til the time we were about to leave, the waitress was amazing! Laughed at me the whole time cause apparently I couldn't stop ordering off the menu. She was also so helpful in letting us know the portion and ratings of any dish we were asking about.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №110

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №111

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №112

Our server Angi opened new doors for us at Waraji last night expanding my pallet to include several new favorites. Fabulous evening. Amazing sushi paired with a lovely unfiltered sake.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №113

Oh my God - one the best sushi dinners I have ever had -I am not *even* kidding. Just ask for Angie let her guide you! ❤️❤️. She absolutely made our night and turned it into a special event. Can't say enough about the amazing food and service.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №114

This is a top 3 sushi restaurant in Raleigh. The new Ika Butter app is great and sushi has always been great. Huge sake selection and the staff are fairly knowledgeable to help you decide which ones to get.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №115

I recently dined at Waraji and had an excellent experience, thanks to our server, Angie. She was friendly, attentive, and very knowledgeable about the menu. Angie made great recommendations, kept our drinks filled, and ensured we had everything we needed without hovering. Her warm and professional service really stood out and made our meal even more enjoyable. Thank you, Angie!

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №116

We went here for my birthday and had such a sweet time! Service to get our main course was a little slow but it was a Saturday night so we understand that. We were welcomed at our table with fresh, warm hand towels, and had a lovely waitress who was super attentive! Some of the best sashimi we have ever had. Everything was made with such quality ingredients. Grateful for this wonderful experience.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №117

Great service. Offered to walk us to car with umbrella since there was heavy rains. Food was fantastic, relaxed atmosphere.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №118

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №119

It was busy and sat at bar. Always fun to watch the chefs. Ordered a tiny ginger salad as starter which never came. Requested after meal and was charged $4. Should have been comped. Everything else delicious sushi

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №120

Average sushi for the price and the service was awful. We had a reservation for our anniversary (sure the only time we could manage to plan was @1:30 on a Sunday for lunch time) but the service was surprisingly lacking for a spot we heard raving reviews about. It took them 10+ minutes to come around and give us menus and ask for our order. Then when our food finally came out 20 minutes after ordering the waitress made us pay right away so she could leave to be with her family so we were left alone for the remainder of our meal and without the opportunity to order dessert or fix our meal. As for what we ordered we got the sushi lunch that came with a mix of six different nigiri pieces, half a cucumber and half a tuna roll with a salad and miso soup. And the sashimi lunch that was supposed to be 12 types of lunch but only had four. The fish on the nigiri was not fresh and the dressing on the salad was way too sour. We also ordered the yaki-zakana with salted and grilled mackerel which is the best item in our whole order. Really crispy and tasty (wish I had taken a photo of it). And lastly the scary Jerry roll which was a lot of different types of fish mixed together but the scallop, the togarashi pepper mayo and avocado went really well together and masked the lack of flavor and lack of freshness in the other fish. Overall 3.5/5 stars. We still want to try the dinner service out if not for the sushi for the dessert menu but wouldn’t come back for a while and definitely not for lunch.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №121

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №122

They were very busy when we were seated, so it took a while to get sushi, but the waiter did warn us. They were very friendly and the food was all delicious! We ordered some beef skewers, some vegetable and shrimp tempura, a side salad and a few sushi rolls. All very good! Their ginger dressing on the salad was very tasty. The sushi was very fresh. We also had a flight of sake, that was fun! Definitely will return when I’m back in Raleigh!

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №123

I lived in Japan for 2 years and this is about as close as you can get! The food tastes like authentic Japanse cuisine!! I started out with a sushi sampler and the the shrimp and vegetable tempura, then had the chicken katsudon bowl, along side a Sapporo draft, it was like being back in Japan again. The manager and staff were so kind and told me when to come back for specials. My new favorite place in Raleigh!!

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №124

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №125

We went there for lunch. Everything was delicious. Amazing foods and service! We will be back !

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №126

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №127

My only quibble with the items I tried was that the tuna tataki had a slightly fishy taste. Other than that, it was prepared well. The selection of rolls featured a lot of tempuras, and some had an interesting twist (ha!) of being 'inside out'. That is, fish on the outside and rice on the inside, then coating in the middle.

The cocktails were the deliciously dangerous sort, where they are so well made, that you don't taste a lot of alcohol, but it's in there.

Wait staff were attentive and we were never left waiting for anything overlong. There's outside eating, and a nice atmosphere inside.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №128

Been a couple decades since I was last here and remembered how great the sushi used to be so I made it a point to come again this time. They've expanded into the space next door.
100% not disappointed! Still some of the best sushi I've had anywhere, great service nand very nice atmosphere. Will be back when I'm in the area again.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №129

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №130

Good, but for the price not great. Mind you, I'll pay extraordinary amounts of money for a good meal even if it might seem unwise; however, this one I felt pushed my boundaries. First off, the Sake selection is out of bounds. I've never seen a more robust and exciting selection and their cocktails were spot on tasty. I was very impressed with their Nigiri/Sashimi options (although their special rolls weren't memorable). Urchin, Toro, A5 wagyu (although I'm not sold that this was true Japanese wagyu. It was quite fatty, tough and not as melty as I recall A5 wagyu to be). Fish portions were rather generous though compared to other spots. Service was a little slow, took us a good 20 minutes + to get our final check. Once I received the bill, I wasn't necessarily floored but I also didn't expect it to be as high as it was and if the bill doesn't equal the experience for me, I have a hard time wanting to make a return trip.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №131

Waraji is my new standard for good and well done sushi.

Every dish was beautiful, and the chefs picked out excellent sashimi pieces. The waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu, and even offered us fresh wasabi (not the horseradish paste, actual fresh wasabi). It was divine. I almost asked if I could buy some to go.

They have an EXTENSIVE sake selection as well, that has something for everyone.

Good news: Everything was so perfect, I wanted to try more but was too full.

Bad news: Everything was perfect. Now I have to come back frequently.

Definitely worth a visit!!

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №132

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №133

Excellent Sushi!

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №134

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №135

The portion sizes are huge! We were so full after.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №136

BEST SUSHI but uneven experience- No place else is close on quality and taste but Management and service can be terrible! This is revision of my prior 5-star review due to recent visit on a SLOW week night- waited OVER 60 minutes to get our sushi during which time zero check-in from waitress, had to waive down others for water, soup and salad dishes never cleared and half-pour on wine. There was no reason for this! Only 2 other parties eating in and 1 take out pick up. When we had to complain, the manager was very nice but didn’t make up for the rest. Some of the original staff (Victoria) are excellent but she was assigned to take out only. The waitress we got was THE WORST I’ve ever had- no training? IDK. Salmon skin roll was so bad I had to ask for it to be redone.

The food here went bad after new ownership a couple years ago but the original owner came back temporarily to help them and now it’s pretty much back to its original stellar quality. The quality of the fish, the secret sushi rice recipe and the signature rolls Masa created (honeymoon roll, Mary roll, etc) are all there plus super crunchy skin in salmon skin roll, great spider roll and almost-as-good salad dressing. SO much better taste than any other sushi I’ve ever had- there’s really no comparison. I would not order anything but sushi here. On the down side- be prepared for VERY long wait times when it’s busy.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №137

The staff was friendly and the service was percent. They accommodate my gf with gluten free sushi.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №138

Rare authentic Japanese restaurant. The decorations completes the atmosphere. Plus the food taste great and looks wonderful too.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №139

Incredible sushi. One of the best in Raleigh if you haven't been here and love sushi, plan your trip now.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №140

Waraji is a great place to go. I am a fan and will be back.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №141

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №142

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №143

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №144

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №145

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №146

This is my fo to place for sushi 🍣

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №147

This is one of our go-to sushi restaurants. Food is consistently good. Service is excellent.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №148

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №149

Excellent sushi!!

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №150

I’m Japanese. I took my in-lows to dine here as they don’t flight and never came to Japan and also cooking Japanese food is limited here. They loved all the food and beverages and I highly recommend as well! The owner is not Japanese now but they kept very well.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №151

Love coming to this place! Definitely some of the best sushi in the Triangle!

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №152

Our goto sushi place for 8 years really disappointed us last night for dinner. The sushi is still very good but the disorganization in the front of house was really awful. We waited 15 minutes for anyone to come over to our table. We waited almost an hour after we placed our order to receive our food. Our waitress did not check on us during that time and when she arrived to ask how our food was she seemed surprised we did not actually have any. We had similar experiences the last two times we visited. Please please fix the front of house issues and give us back our favorite sushi restaurant.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №153

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №154

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №155

It was a great dinner experience for me and my wife. We went for the first time with 2 other friends’ family, and they didn’t disappoint. My favorite sushi was the deluxe sashimi and fire dragon roll. For people who don’t eat raw fish, you can try the Nabe-Yaki Udon, it is surprising good (I rarely order cooked dish at a sushi restaurant lol)
I would take friends or family there again when they are in town.

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №156

Excellent sushi, service and atmosphere. They expanded not that long ago too so there are plenty of tables. They also have an outdoor seating area. A bit pricey, but about what you'd expect for a sushi restaurant. I suggest going for lunch when the prices are a bit lower.

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №157

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №158

omg it was so good, like the sushi, amazing, katsudon, incredible, and from my mom she said they have a great sake menu and its just over all great. literally this place is such a vibe

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №159

Love this place fish was good and the service was spot on. Only complaint they do not serve soy paper. Will be back.

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №160

I pretty much gave up finding a good Japanese restaurant in NC, but this place was highly rated by my colleagues, so I thought I would give one more try.

It was bit of disappointment. I had Tempura Udon. Tempura was nothing special. The quantity overall was good, but taste was not. The soup base was completely off. I could not say what it was. It was just terrible. Bad after-taste was lingering for hours, and I finally got sick. It ruined my whole day.

Very few sushi places offer gyu(beef) tataki, so I had to try. Beef was rather tough, and too vinegary. The best beef tataki I had was in Ohio some 30 years ago, believe it or not :-)

The quality of fish was better than other places in the triangle area, but I don't think it is worth coming back. Also the price was bit too high for the quality and taste.

I am truly done with Japanese restaurants in NC

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №161

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №162

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №163

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №164

Wonderful Japanese food -- the best I've had in NC; reasonable prices; extensive selection of saki. Waiter was very helpful in helping us find dishes that were peanut- and shellfish-free. A bit too noisy for old ears.

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №165

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №166

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №167

Beautifully presented delicious sushi - as always!
I always enjoy watching a customer who really knows authentic sushi place an unusual order. Today there was a discussion about monk fish liver.
These tremendously knowledgeable sushi chefs can make anything!

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №168

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №169

Have been here twice and was blown away both times by the quality of the fish. The first visit I played it safe with more of the Maki style rolls. Recently, the sushi chef recommended the sashimi lunch and it was outstanding! A Great selection of nigiri, sashimi and maki rolls with salad and miso soup. I had not ventured into the realm of sashimi up until that point. The chef was very friendly and helpful and made the selections for me. Everything was outstanding. Sit at the sushi bar in the back for a great experience. The team was very helpful in guiding me through my meal.

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №170

Authentic Japanese sushi with the largest selection of Sake I've ever seen.

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №171

One of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in the area!

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №172

Moving to NC from southern California 16 years ago made me search hi & lo for authentic sushi. Waraji is so consistent in delivery and presentation. Not the fanciest I have had like in NYC, Los Angeles or Mexico City, but always good and our go to every time we crave Japanese or sushi.

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №173

Server was great. Service time was slow. My guess is, either they were understaffed, or have too many tables.

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №174

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №175

このエリアで間違いなく一番の日本食レストランだと思います。
次は座敷でゆっくり食事がしたいです。😏

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №176

The food is delicious. Huge variety. Staff is friendly and helpful. Great sake selection.

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №177

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №178

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.

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №179

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №180

Best sushi in Raleigh.

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №181

We waited a long time for the order. The food did not like much

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №182

Best Sushi in the Triangle and amazing Japanese Wine and Beer selection. Love Orion 🍻

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №183

Fantastic birthday dinner! The spicy edamame and spicy tuna roll were absolute rockstars. Everything from the nigiri and sashimi assortments to the perfectly portioned "regular size dinner" sushi was amazing. The chef totally listened to our request for a nori-free chef's selection, and the ginger salad dressing was the perfect compliment to everything. And to top it all off, our server Sydney was incredible! Super attentive, enthusiastic, and she made the birthday extra special with a surprise Japanese ice cream for both of the people in our party celebrating their special day. Sydney then led the group singing Happy Birthday. Couldn't have asked for a better night!

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №184

Our new go to!!!!

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №185

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №186

Exceptional dining experience every time! The food is delicious, service is fantastic, and the atmosphere is great. Just tried two of their new dishes - Icon of the sea roll and spicy seafood udon pasta - and they are sooo good! If you have not been here, it is a must try! The cocktails are great too :)

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №187

I had the Shamoo roll... It was oversized, too big for one bight and fell apart as soon as you bit into it. The Tokyo Drift cocktail was a whiskey, smoked infused beverage that was way too sweet. Other people in restaurant were enjoying their food... I however did not.

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №188

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №189

Definitely one of the best spots for the best sushi experience at Raleigh.

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №190

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №191

My goto place for sushi, quality rolls, fish is fresh and generous. Find the service hit or miss, probably could do with more wait staff with less tables. They are hurting the customers and their bottom line when staff is always in the weeds. Not the best sushi I have ever had, but the best I have had in Raleigh.

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №192

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №193

I have finally found a Japanese restaurant where the food is as authentic as it can be. Quality. Presentation of food and taste of food was of the utmost essence. I am not a fan of the ginger dressing that is in the salad, however this establishment's ginger was very good. Clean facilities.

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №194

Waraji Japanese Restaurant was the single best Japanese restaurant that I’ve ever eaten at in North Carolina…and I’m Japanese! Very authentic and the food was fabulous! The service was top notch. It’s now my favorite restaurant.

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №195

Excellent sushi, one of our favorites in town!

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №196

After sitting at our table for 15 minutes with zero acknowledgment from any waiters, and watching another table receive prompt service, we decided to leave. The menu was promising and we were bummed to leave but the lack of service was unacceptable.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №197

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №198

We were so excited to finally eat here! We checked out the online menu before coming, and it said there was an omakase option for $85. When we arrived, we didn’t see that option on the menu so we asked about it. Our server said they could do it but asked us how much we wanted to spend. My husband said he saw $85 online and our server seemed puzzled by that amount. I’ve never been asked how much I wanted to spend on omakase so it was a little awkward and odd. The food was great. I had takoyaki, a roll, and a few nigiri pieces. My husband’s omakase spread was great and very filling. The Paper Crane cocktail was amazing, while the Okinawa Breeze was way too much raspberry. It needed something else to balance it out. Overall we enjoyed it and will be back, but I think there needs to be some clarification on the omakase.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №199

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №200

Great place, friendly staff

Visited a year ago

Sushi Details
  • 18 sushi photos
  • 200 sushi reviews
  • 4.5 Sushi Rating
  • Reservations: +1 919-783-1883
  • Menu Website: http://www.warajijapaneserestaurant.com/
  • Sushi Address: 5910-147 Duraleigh Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612, United States
  • Sushi Map: 35.8593336, -78.71243369999999
Specialties
  • Sushi restaurant
  • Asian restaurant
  • Cocktail bar
  • Authentic Japanese restaurant
  • Japanese restaurant
  • Restaurant
Sushi Hours
  • Sunday: 12–3 PM–5–9 PM
  • Monday: 11:30 AM–2 PM–5–9 PM
  • Tuesday: 11:30 AM–2 PM–5–9 PM
  • Wednesday: 11:30 AM–2 PM–5–9 PM
  • Thursday: 11:30 AM–2 PM–5–9 PM
  • Friday: 11:30 AM–2 PM–5–9:30 PM
  • Saturday: 11:30 AM–3 PM–5–9:30 PM
Service options
  • Outdoor seating: Available
  • Kerbside pickup: Available
  • Takeaway: Available
  • Dine-in: Available
  • Delivery: Available
Highlights
  • Great tea selection: Available
Popular for
  • Lunch: Available
  • Dinner: Available
  • Solo dining: Available
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible car park: Available
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance: Available
  • Wheelchair-accessible seating: Available
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet: Available
Offerings
  • Alcohol: Available
  • Beer: Available
  • Cocktails: Available
  • Comfort food: Available
  • Healthy options: Available
  • Private dining room: Available
  • Small plates: Available
  • Spirits: Available
  • Vegetarian options: Available
  • Wine: Available
Dining options
  • Lunch: Available
  • Dinner: Available
  • Dessert: Available
  • Seating: Available
Amenities
  • Bar on site: Available
  • Toilets: Available
Atmosphere
  • Casual: Available
  • Cosy: Available
  • Trendy: Available
  • Upmarket: Available
Crowd
  • Family friendly: Available
  • Groups: Available
  • Tourists: Available
Planning
  • Dinner reservations recommended: Available
  • Accepts reservations: Available
Payments
  • Credit cards: Available
  • Debit cards: Available
  • NFC mobile payments: Available
  • Credit cards: Available
Children
  • High chairs: Available
Parking
  • Free of charge street parking: Available
  • Free parking lot: Available
  • Parking: Available