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Omakase is definitely the way to go if you have a group and aren't picky. When some of our friends came to visit from Japan two years ago I arranged an omakase at Waraji and they loved it. It was a TON of food and I have no idea how the eight of us finished it all lol.
I was going to ask about this, eva. I hate trying to pick out rolls from a menu and I suffer from menu paralysis. When I'm craving sushi, I just want to go in and do the chef's choice. Is Waraji the best place in the triangle to do this? Are there others you can recommend?
If you're looking for a more casual place, there is a place in RTP called "Teriyakin" owned by Japanese-Americans from Japan by way of California (per the website). It's really good and is one of the few Asian places I actually see Asians eating at.
They have Japanese music and magazines in the quaint little restaurant. I ran across this on Yelp looking for places to eat in the deadzone that is NW Cary. Absolutely delicious.
:: Teriyakin' Delicious ::
10970 Chapel Hill Rd., Morrisville, NC 27560
Store Hours:MON-SAT: 11AM-8PM
Phone: (919) 443-2279
I would think any sushi place in the area would do omakase. You could call ahead to make a reservation and tell them you're looking to do omakase to give the chef a heads up. Or do what my husband and I sometimes do, sit at the bar and go, "I dunno what I want just make me something." lol I've never had a bad roll doing this at Waraji!
evaofnc, if you ever with the lottery and open your izakaya and ramen shop, please put in a Japanese style karaoke place upstairs. I wonder if Big Echo offers franchises overseas?
Oh man Big Echo would be awesome! There's Star Karaoke on Capital that is Japanese-style but I think it's owned by Koreans. Cool thing is it has half off drinks before 8pm and you can bring your own food (or order delivery lol).
I am a self-confessed snob of Japanese food since I lived there for awhile and have the same frustration as you. Here are the ones in the area I know are Japanese:
Waraji: Owner is from Shimanoseki. The sushi is the best in the area imo. The kitchen food is generally too salty but they crank out a decent oyako-don and shabushabu. Don't bother with the ramen.
Hayashi-ya: Okay so the owner is Korean but lived in Japan for many years. The food is hit or miss but we've had good luck with the izakaya items.
Kashin: Owners are from Japan (forget where exactly). They do good sushi and decent kitchen items. Also one of the few in the area that has mostly Japanese cooking the food.
Teriyakin': Owners are from Yokohama and Hokkaido. They do Japanese yatoi food. I like the okonomiyaki and yakisoba though it's not as good as what you'll get in Japan. But I think to accomplish that special flavor you'd have to fail your health inspection haha.
Yamazushi: The owner is nikkei-jin but studied in Osaka I think it was. They do kaiseki here which I recommend doing but it'll cost you some dough.
There may be some others in this area but those are the main ones. If you can read Japanese, I recommend picking up a free copy of Triangle Shot. They'll often do a write up of new, real Japanese places when they open. I swear if I win the lotto in going to open a proper izakaya and ramen shop in town.
Oh man Big Echo would be awesome! There's Star Karaoke on Capital that is Japanese-style but I think it's owned by Koreans. Cool thing is it has half off drinks before 8pm and you can bring your own food (or order delivery lol).
I love Korean Nore-bang (sp?!)
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