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Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant

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206 W Main St
Carrboro, NC 27510

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(919) 942-6848
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Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant - Carrboro, NC
Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant - Carrboro, NC
Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant - Carrboro, NC
Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant - Carrboro, NC
Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant - Carrboro, NC
Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant - Carrboro, NC
Reviews
( 18 )
( 16 )
( 2 )
( 4 )
( 0 )

Best

We go to this place so often that the sushi chefs know us. It's our standard date night restaurant, and we were so excited when they made the special, ""White Star"" sushi, a regu...

Worst

When I first moved to Chapel Hill and had no idea where to go, Akai Hana was my weekly stop for sushi...However I soon discovered better places in the triangle-like sushi blues-an...

Love Akai Hana's Sushi by Heart 11/8/2008

I just ate at Akai Hana yesterday, their sushi are the freshest I've ever tasted. The sushi are simple but the fish are so fresh. When i put a piece of sushi roll in my mouth, I wanted to order again and again. My favorite sushi are scallop roll, rainbow roll, tuna, salmon, everything with fresh fish in it! Yum! I'm telling you, they have the freshest sushi. I just love Akai Hana's sushi by heart. Also, I have no problem with Akai Hana's appetizers, they have a lot of choices than other Japanese restaurants I have ever been to. The best appetizer for me is their special one called Ika Geso, if you like fried tempura squid, over cucumbers and ponzu sauce hmmm... delicious. Their tempuras are the best! Their ginger salad are the best too! I can't find other ginger sauce as good as Akai Hana's. Keep up the good work Akai Hana! more
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I wouldn't eat sushi anywhere else... 11/8/2008

I love this place. If you like fresh fish, akai hana is the place to eat sushi. It's unbelievable!! The service is excellent, the lighting is great. I highly recommend the seaweed salad, miso soup, and the pork dumplings as an appetizer. YUMMY!!!! If you are not a big fan of fresh, raw fish, maybe try the steak teriaki or a hot noodle soup. Both are Bangin'!!! Then last, but not least, try the mochi. The wine selection is a winner too. cheers! Pros: ambience, parking, service, quality, quantity, lighting, merchandise more
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Japanese death cuisine 10/14/2008

I have been to Akai Hana about ten times in one year. The wait staff are nice, pleasant folks that I would bring home to mom and dad. As ""Cutting edge"" as Carrboro is, they should be more conscious of their patrons' tastes. Aged tofu with fish scales, deep fried vegetables and soup with fish broth are a few of the almost vegetarian choices listed from the menu. Not to discourage the owners from hiring an all Mexican kitchen staff in a town that has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the state, but the food is not cooked/prepared in the sense of what it should be in a traditional Japanese restaurant. The food/drink menus are limited and bland; the food is always under/over cooked. I really want this place to succeed and I whole heartedly support it, but the food is terrible. Pros: The waitresses are the best in the city. Cons: The food is gross. more
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Akai Hana - Hold on a minute. 9/21/2008

We had a wonderful meal and terrible service at our latest visit to Akai Hana restaurant. My expectations were only partially met because the waitstaff, in my opinion, wanted to be elsewhere. They rarely checked to see if we had everything we needed, and did not crack a smile for the entire evening! When I am a guest in a restaurant, I expect to be treated with class & style - something Akai Hana needs to improve upon. more
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Super Japanese Food.....You don't have to have a Chef to beat on a table to enjoy this..Great Service too. 8/30/2008

Well I have been reading reviews from people from the Left Coast and NY saying that Akai Hana Resturant in Carrboro was not up to the standards of the resturants in NY and California... Hello...this is Carrboro NC and as a matter of fact, A. Hana has great sushi and entrees. They have their fish frown in twice a week and every meal I have ever had has been exceptional. The Master Chef (Pujo) and Bob the owner are top notch people and the wait staff is super.... I have been going since they opened and I have noticed that the waitstaff turnover is very minimal... Which is a good sign of a well run business... When you go....have fun and experience the different offerings... And, if you still don't like it.....just move back to where you came from In the meantime....enjoy the Best Sushi Around more
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Rushed us out of restaurant 30min before closing 7/2/2007

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday on a Friday night, when Akai Hana is supposed to be open until 10:30pm. Pros: Decent sushi Cons: Rushed to get us out of the restaurant more
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Average Sushi Restaurant 5/23/2006

I only give high recommendations to those that I consider the best in the nation, such as Sakagura in NY, Yuzen Kan in LA, Kubota in SJ, etc. Akai Hana is your generic Japanese restaurant with not much in originality to offer. Seriously, there's nothing on their menu that I thought was unique. The food and service is decent, but I would argue against any review that would rank it exceptionally high. more
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This is the place 4/24/2006

Sharing a meal with someone should always be an adventure as well as enjoyable. Akai Hana fits the bill. This is the perfect place to take a break and explore the wonders of Japanese cuisine. The atmosphere is very warm and the staff enjoys helping customers learn about the different selections offered - even the ordering experience was fun. Bigger and faster are not always better when you are looking for a place to spend time with a friend. Pros: inexpensive, great staff, good eats more
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Good place in Carrboro 5/10/2005

Overall, I would highly recommend this place. They serve good authentic Japanese food. Their miso soup, tempura or anything from the kitchen are excellent. Their early bird special served from 5 to 6, especially the teriyaki chicken, is a great deal. For sushi, I would get rolls because their nigiri sushis are not as good as the rolls. Their appetizers are very good. The only thing I don't like is their agedashi dofu. This is a place to go for authentic Japanese food if you are in Carrboro/Chapel Hill. They don't take reservations, and the restaurant is not too big. It's sometimes hard to get a table if you have a big party. more
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Not a big fan 11/27/2002

When I first moved to Chapel Hill and had no idea where to go, Akai Hana was my weekly stop for sushi...However I soon discovered better places in the triangle-like sushi blues-and realized what I had been missing. Although the sushi is very fresh and the crunchy roll is heavenly, there is such a limited selection that it almost is not worth it. In addition the place is so small that generally you have to wait even on a weekday to get seated. The host/hostess are fairly cold as well. I went with some friends a few weeks ago and had a horrible server who was incredibly hostile...It's just not worth it....Now that I have seen what else is out there, I will not be going to Akai Hana. Pros: crunchy roll, fresh fish Cons: cramped space, staff, lack of selection more
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no stinky fishies here 10/4/2002

Overall no complaints! its a great place for a dinner date!! Wonderful sushi, good atmosphere and friendly service.... Pros: good service, great lighting Cons: pricey more
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always the best 9/19/2002

we've been here on many occasions and always been impressed by the consistant high quality of the sushi and the service. Has a nice personal feel to the place. Very popular. Have tried several other sushi restaurants, and although I've nor been dissappointed by them, I rate Akai Hana as the best in town more
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Fresh fish, Raw service 8/22/2002

Thought the sushi was fine, but disappointed with bad service. more
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10 8/7/2002

Excellent teriyaki beef, sushi is fresh and the waitstaff is remarkable. A highly pleasureable experience. Pros: Food, service Cons: parking, small more
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I left my heart in San Francisco 8/7/2002

Because I thought I left the good sushi too. But not since discovering Akai Hana. The atmosphere and service are top rate too! Pros: great location Cons: can't eat it daily more
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Great Sushi With A Wait 7/5/2002

Akai Hana was the first place I was introduced to with good sushi in the area. However, since then I have been found closer, more friendly establishments with equivalent sushi without the wait. I'll forgoe the crowd and hit Shiki near Southpoint versus trekking to eat the same fare. Pros: Ambiance, Sushi, Entertainment Cons: Wait, Waitstaff more
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Perhaps the worst service I've ever had 6/5/2002

If you enjoy waiting an hour or two for your food to be served, this is the place. If after waiting 45 minutes, you enjoy finding out that their out of a key ingredient in your selected meal choice, Akai Hana should be your choice. If uninspired fare is to your liking, you've found it. I do like the miso so I'll give them a little credit for that. more
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Menu for Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant


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Owner Message

  • Carrboro's Favorite Sushi Bar

Editorial

  • In Short
    Akai Hana keeps it simple with a small sushi bar, a scattering of tables--both inside and on the brick patio outside. Triangle up-and-comers mingle with health-minded Weaver...

  • 3/14/2005 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Sun 5pm-9pm, Mon-Fri 10am-2pm, Sat 5pm-10:30pm
  • Payments: Visa, American Express, Discover, Master Card
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