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Akahana Asian Bistro
Category: Restaurants Asian Fusion Asian Fusion [Edit]
1308 The PlazaCharlotte, NC 28205
Neighbourhood: Plaza Midwood
(704) 817-9365
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 11 pm
Sat 11 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
48 reviews for Akahana Asian Bistro
Review Highlights
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"Akahana also had some really great drink specials." In 5 reviews -
"...every day, with B1G1 specials on Tuesdays and Thursdays." In 3 reviews -
"...huge and there are plenty of rolls to choose from for BOGO." In 11 reviews
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48 reviews in English
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Review from Rachel W.
Charlotte, NC
4/9/2012
My husband and I really love this place. We've only had the sushi, so I can't speak for the whole menu, but we've been very pleased every time. The prices are good, and the BOGO deal is pretty great! It's definitely a place we will return to time and time again.
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Review from Donovan C.
Lancaster, SC
4/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
They have excellent Pho Dac Biet! But their keg was frozen so I could not get the beer special of the day and had to get a glass of Stella instead.
Next time I'm in the area I will try their sushi.
ddc -
Review from Amanda M.
Seattle, WA
3/28/2012
One spider roll with greasy limp crab and iceberg lettuce please.
No thanks. -
Review from Todd S.
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
We decided to try this place after a recommendation and several reminders from our favorite server at Carpe Diem.
The quality of food at Akahana matched my expectations. I rarely have high expectation for restaurants that have huge menus and broad food styles. Akahana serves up the usual suspects from the usual Asian countries, and they do an admirable--though definitely not spectacular--job with their food.
My pho was tasty. I've certainly had much, much better pho, but, as previously mentioned, I never expected to consume the best of anything here. Ginny had a few sushi rolls, all of which I considered to be on par with similar items at Sushi 101.
If you're in the area and you're hungry for a decent meal, Akahana fits the bill. If your expectation is to have the most fabulous Asian dish you've ever experienced, this will not fit the bill. -
Review from Suzanne S.
Charlotte, NC
3/14/2012
Akahana had won my heart when I found out they advertised buy one get one free sushi everyday - but then I took it back. In theory, the BOGO deal seemed amazing but after a visit, I realized it was a big disappointment and honestly, pretty misleading. The sushi rolls are nearly double the price I pay at other locations. $12 for a typical roll with tuna, avocado, cucumber and a special sauce and it's is mediocre in size? Yeah, I better be getting a second one!
The service was good and I thoroughly enjoyed the $2 martini specials. The curbside appeal was bleh since it's located in a strip mall. However, the interior is nice but not spectacular. I don't have a reason to return in the future but it wasn't my worst sushi experience either. -
Review from Jimmy D.
Updated - 12/8/2011 3 Check-ins Here
So Akahana what's up? Do you hate me that much that you always pair me up with the very inattentive waiter that messes up my order every time?
Leanne C.'s review pretty much sums up our experience there. I got told I could have cake, then the cake was a lie, then there was cake again. Quit playing with my heart! I would've ordered some food to go with the cake if you hadn't taken almost an hour to bring it out of the freezer. My love of dessert for dinner is unrivaled, but this was really crappy cake that I ended up giving away because I couldn't stomach it's frozen sickly sweetness. I suggest that you inform people next time you're serving them cold chocolate cake because I kind of envisioned a warm fluffy moist piece of chocolate yumminess.
Service was awful, bad, below mediocre, crap, pick any negative adjective you like. Sake was ordered at the start of the meal and came out near the end after we had said we didn't want it anymore since it was so late, at least our server realized how big of a mess that was and comped us for it.
I hate the stupid BOGO deal, just price your stuff reasonably because I don't want to always eat 2 rolls when I come here. I think I'll have to end my relationship with you here for a while Akahana.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/26/2011
This place confuses me a bit. Is it a Vietnamese restaurant? There seems to be Chinese food… Read more »
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Review from Shauna H.
Updated - 12/23/2011
I've gone twice more to Akahana and either my taste for sushi has become a bit more snobbish or Akahana has gone a bit downhill.
Let's first start with the atmosphere, serious techno beats at 6:30pm on a Thursday is not relaxing. The lights were bright - and it's not really a club atmosphere so why the club music? I am not a big person by any means but I felt as though I was sitting in a little kids chair, I could not imagine if I were a bigger guy.
We started with the spring rolls which were downright gross in my opinion. The pork just had a really funny flavor and they were over-cooked. My boyfriend ate them, but he eats everything ...he even said so himself, so I doubt he really liked them either.
We split four rolls 1) Florida- good flavor, the avocado was fresh and perfect. The tuna is that mashed chopped-up kind and it was just be so much better if it was just a nice small piece of raw tuna. I also felt like all the rolls were a bit warm.
2) Orange Blossom- Again with the chopped tuna, but at least they had a nice salmon piece. I liked this roll flavor-wise but again with the oddly warm temp.
3) Surf & Turf- It was ok, but I prefer cowfish Burgushi. The meat was just odd ( couldn't tell if it was lightly seared, raw etc.) Just not a huge fan
4) Spider Roll- Worst spider roll I've ever had. It was inedible for me- I had one slice and gave up. It honestly tasted like it had sand in it, even my boyfriend had trouble with this one.
So overall awful atmosphere + lackluster sushi means I probably will not be returning BOGO or not.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/1/2011 ROTD 9/10/2011
Solid 3.5 not the absolute best but certainly not close to the worst -Went to Akahana for lunch… Read more »
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Review from Leanne C.
Updated - 11/22/2011 3 Check-ins Here
*giant sigh of disappointment* So, in my last update, I mentioned that this was no place to write home about. Well you can now! If you feel like being negative...
So I ordered a veggie roll (8 pieces, $12. Are you kidding me?!) and my friend ordered some sort of salmon roll (8 pieces, $12 also...). Jimmy ordered chocolate cake.
And then we waited. And waited. And waited. And waited.... and 20-40 minutes later, we were finally served. Jimmy's cake was literally one of those generic three-layer-take-out-of-freezer-and-thaw cakes. Super sweet, cold and high in preservatives. Sushi places usually have some sort of mochi, ice cream or sweet rice- not here! My sushi was barely cut all the way through and not laid out too nicely. It was pretty disappointing.
The server I have had before and he was awful and not very attentive... I thought it was maybe because he was doing prep work at lunch. Thennn there was this time. He wasn't working any other tables once we ordered and the service was still awful. Miscommunication with the bar (my friends ordered sake and it came INCREDIBLY late), Jimmy's cake (they said they were out of cake after 20 minutes, then brought some out 10-20 minutes later), and of course a long time until we got our food.
Oh Akahana... tweak your staff, adjust your sushi prices (get rid of the buy one, get one free and just make them reasonably priced), lower the terrible music and get some decent desserts. Then we'll talk again.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/11/2011
Any place that offers buy one, get one free sushi has my attention. With that being the main draw… Read more »
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Review from Karen B.
2/27/2012
6 words: buy-one-get-one-free-sushi. And 3 more words: nightly-drink-specials. But if those options aren't your cup of tea, a) you're crazy and b) the menu has so much more... including tea. Assuming you or your dinner partner like asian food (of any form: Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, etc.), Akahana offers a variety of choices. Service is good, without being overly attentitve. Small wooden tables are scattered throughout the restaurant, and the bar provides good viewing to a few televisions. The atmosphere is rather loud, even if it's not at capacity, but it's fine if you're looking for a casual experience (probably not great for a first date or romantic night out). But back to the BOGO sushi - it's valid every night (including Friday/Saturday), and it covers all their sushi options, which are already reasonably priced and generous in size. What more are you looking for?
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Review from S. A.
Charlotte, NC
11/3/2011 2 photos
I'm torn.
Just left Akahana. We got carry out.
My daughter really enjoyed her lunch. And it was a decent portion size for the price. (She got the Chicken Lettuce Wrap for $6.)
My lunch was $4, for two spring rolls. Not bad but I can't be sure it was worth the price. The rolls were small and the garnish (curly thinly shredded carrots) and a few handfuls of the small white thin puffy noodles (?) were painfully meager.
I have pictures. Judge for yourself...
I'm sure my daughter will eat there again. Me? Maybe. Maybe not. -
Review from Nicole W.
6/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's taken me a while to finally get this review down...and I think it's because I really want to love Akahana but, overall, I just kinda like it. The interior is pretty slick, the menu a large Asian compilation, the staff was friendly and efficient but overall, the food was what held back this review from a 4 star. This ambivalence has delayed my review, but here we go.
BOGO sushi every night now. Yup. Every night. While this is pretty great (as our bill for four rolls and an appetizer was under $40) it's also a little worrisome. Did Akahana jack up the prices of all the sushi to accommodate this special? Or, instead, are they serving smaller or fish of a lesser quality? Well, while the portions were ample, the sushi tasted fine, but not great. Here's the run down.
Asian Summer Roll: 4/5: A fresh, nicely stuffed shrimp Vietnamese inspired spring roll with a thick dipping sauce. Go easy on the sauce.
Spicy Tuna: 3/5: The spicy tuna, while it tasted fine, was strangely very, very red. Like atomic red. Kudos for not slathering the tuna in mayonnaise, but the bright red color frightened me.
Crunchy Tuna Roll: 2/5: Too heavily fried for my tastes and again with the fire engine red tuna?
Cherry Blossom Roll: 4/5: Fresh, tasty and delicious. I would go back just for this roll.
Mt. Fuji Roll: 3/5: A little too sweet - if I recall correctly it was topped with mango and a too much sweet sauce. Could be delightful if it was suaceless.
I may head back to Akahana for lunch or to pick up some sushi to go...it's definitely worth another try, if not just for BOGO!Listed in: Plaza Midwood Delights, Sushi Satisfaction, Eating on The Cheap
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Review from Wei T.
9/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wait... BOGO for all rolls that are already decently priced? What is this, sushi-heaven? I was a bit overwhelmed by all of the sushi rolls offered, but this was a good problem. Having said this, I can't remember what I ordered, but it was fantastic, and I'll definitely be back when I visit Charlotte. Akahana also had some really great drink specials.
Even if this place wasn't BOGO with the rolls, it's still worth a visit.
P.S. The waiter was a bit awkward... but he got the job done. -
Review from Kenny R.
8/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The service was good, but that was about it. I wanted something asian for lunch and was on my way to the wonderful dim sum place down central when I saw BOGO sushi. So, I stopped and went in. The fish at the sushi bar looked good, so I decided to eat there.
The ambiance felt like it was recently something else and they just painted over it and added a fountain. It took a second for me to be seated, but my waitress was quite responsive.
I opened the sushi menu to see that most of the rolls were about twice the price they should be(at least for this side of town), so this BOGO was really "you have to buy twice as much to get it for the normal price." I tried to order some hand rolls, but they said that wasn't included in BOGO. So, then I tried to order some nigiri, that wasn't included either. I asked, why does it say BOGO sushi, and the waitress told me sushi meant rolls. I quickly corrected her and stated that no, sushi means rice. I probably shouldn't have done that, but I don't like misinformation.
I was feeling kind of cheap but was really hungry so I went with the hibachi chicken. There were many other options, and I guess I chose the worst.
First I got my salad, nothing special, but not bad. Then came my food, a nice sized plate of food. Little bits of chicken and such with a nice sized order of rice. Oh, it was so dry, I really didn't enjoy it at all. I guess I should have gone with the over-priced sushi, but I doubt I will return to find out.
Sorry guys, there are sooooo many sushi places in town these days, gotta get me on the first impression. -
Review from Elisabeth P.
Charlotte, NC
1/16/2012
Is this my favorite sushi place? No. Is it a great value for sushi? Yes. I visit Akahana mostly because it is walking distance to my house and they have Buy One, Get One Free rolls EVERY DAY. And this is why my boyfriend and I continue to frequent Akahana. That and their stellar drink specials. Their sushi is pretty good to just ok. We have finally got down pat the four rolls we like best- and order these every time. I can't wait to try the new pho they are now offering too.
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Review from Lauretta M.
Charlotte, NC
8/7/2011 21 Check-ins Here
Given that I live within walking distance and sushi is my new favorite past time, it all works out. However there are a few things to take note of:
#1: I have eaten here on so many different occasions, both with friends and alone. The customer service is VERY hit or miss. It's never consistant. They are either on track with the food, drinks and are 110% amazing at everything. Or the food is mis-ordered, glasses sit empty, and one time my plate actually sat behind the counter for 5 minutes only to have another patron ask to take photos of my food (another 5 minutes) before it was served.
#2: I love love LOVE the BOGO sushi, I always get the wasabi roll and depending on who's working the sushi bar depends on the amount of wasabi mayo they squirt all over it. It's easy to scrap off, but come on! Also, the tuna was alittle disturbing of a color. I do love their specialty rolls though.
#3: Great drink specials, and if they make an awful tasting drink (at least to your preference), they have remade for myself and friends, so props to the bartenders.
All in all, I frequent this place because it's very close and I love the location (grab a few rollls and parose the book store or library) and I'll keep going back -
Review from Ben S.
Charlotte, NC
3/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
My friends and I love this place. The food is OK for the price we always go with the bogo sushi rolls and share them among the table. The drink specials are pretty good. Overall its a good place to go with some friends to start a night out on the town.
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Review from larry s.
Charlotte, NC
5/25/2011
FYI to everyone..BOGO is EVERY nite now..don't know if thats a good thing or a harbinger of trying to get more business 'cause they're struggling.
This is REALLY a 3.5 star review (why can't YELP get software to let u do 1/2 stars?). Have eaten there many times, and all the sushi/sashimi I've eaten there has been really good..soups too....and I'm a big guy (6'2" 275) and I don't know where the complaints about small portions comes from; i can order 2 rolls and a bowl of miso soup and be full. Plus they run GREAT cheap drink specials on beer and liquor drinks (a $3 Yukon Jack drink in a regular glass thats a good stiff drink..C'Mon, thats killer!!)
As far as service I've never had BAD service, most of the time is decent to pretty good, they're always really friendly, and as far as helpful, itsa daily BOGO menu; the ingredients are on the menu and how its fixed; thrift a litlte CAY-ASH and go out on a limb and try something new, if u don't like it you've haven't spent much money.
I DO agree the "Night @ the Roxbury" club trash music thumping in there at 7PM is a LEEEEETLE much...maybe after 10pm guys???? -
Review from Francesca F.
Charlotte, NC
12/25/2011
Oooook. So here is a quick run through of my first visit to Akahana:
Server greets us, tells us drink specials (only part of service that was executed well.)
Dinner companion orders a $1 PBR, I say I need a moment to look at the wine list. I also ask if there will be an upcharge for subbing yellowtail for other types of fish -- he insists that no, there won't be, he's worked there a year. It takes me a few minutes to decide on which rolls I want, then I order (after being asked 3 times if I'm ready before I put the menu down). The server comes back to the table to inform me there will, indeed, be a $2 upcharge for the yellowtail. Apparently after working there a year he still wasn't aware of pricing details.. uh, ok. So I change my order, and order a Bellini. Ten minutes later, my drink still had not arrived, and when it did, it just wasn't good. Who can screw up a bellini? This place can. It was slow to boot, there were MAYBE 4 tables in the entire restaurant and 4 servers including the bartender.
So the rolls come out fairly quickly (only good part about the sushi) -- small, overpriced rolls that look like they're made for dwarves or something. No spicy mayo in my spicy yellowtail roll, WTF. Again, they were slow. In comparison to the other sushi joints in Charlotte, this place just comes in about dead last, right next to Koishi in Cotswold (which has a B sanitation grade right now.)
The check was incorrect, but I was already so over this place I just paid the overcharged price anyway and left and a 20% tip because, let's be honest, there's no way that kid is paying rent if that's his only job.
I've tried their other food via take out before and it's only ok, and very overpriced. Just try ANY other asian cuisine in Charlotte before you waste your money here. I won't be back. -
Review from Nick M.
Charlotte, NC
1/16/2012
Really liked this place when it first opened. The last two times I have been here my food (not sushi) smelled like a chemical cleaner. When I commented on it, no attempt of resolution. I guess if you go, stick to the sushi, not the plated dinners.
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Review from Julia S.
Charlotte, NC
Went back with El Husbando and discovered that:
Unsurprisingly, rolls are half the size on BOGO night.
Anything labeled "small/large" can be ordered in those proportions during dinner hours - "lunch/dinner" cannot.
Ma Po tofu is brown sauce with dried red pepper flakes. Still nowhere in CLT making this dish properly.
Akahana performed up to its solid, safe pan-Asian rep. Let's see if it lasts.Listed in: Vegetarian Venues in ze CLT, Belly Wellness
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/21/2011
I'm usually so sketch about pan-asian-touring menus and, yikes, 12 dollar + entrees in a strip mall… Read more »
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Review from Katherine C.
Charlotte, NC
1/14/2011
The Good:
The vibe is good inside- especially considering that it is in a strip mall. It does not look like Cuban Pete's or any of the other restaurants that have died there. It looks good.
There is a random hidden room (near the bathrooms) that looks like it would be a great room for a private party.
The sushi is average to above average. I had the Floridian- I thought it was good, it could have been spicier though.
The menu is big- so non-sushi friends can still tag along.
The prices are reasonable- on Tuesdays and Thursdays a lot of the sushi is half off.
I want to like this place. I want a little sushi place in Plaza Midwood- people want this to work.
The Bad:
It is average. The only reason why I will go back is because it is so close to my house and the competition is not strong in the area.
The waitress was sweet. Incredibly sweet. However, she informed us that she does not eat sushi. She did not know the menu. She was unable to offer suggestions. She looked in over her head. It was like having a vegan server at a steak house. It just didn't work.
I think this place can do well- even with average sushi- but they really need to have better service. Average food and average service does not make a lasting restaurant in a strip mall. -
Review from Ben V.
Charlotte, NC
2/26/2011 5 Check-ins Here
After four visits, I'm still not sure how to feel about Akahana. The portions are generous, the drink specials tend to be good, and the sushi is very solid. The service is less awesome, and the chef is kind of a [euphemism].
Does this add up to a 3? Let's see:
The menu seems to be around 55 pages long. Maybe not 55 pages, but it's a tome. There are a wide variety of southeast-asian dishes; some you're familiar with, some you likely aren't. Everything I've had has been solid but not exemplary, nothing's been bad, and I've never sent anything back.
(Except for a bottle of sake once -- it had gone south, it was awful, and I really don't want to think about it.)
The sushi's quality is good, but not as good as can be had elsewhere for the appropriate premium. I'd say it's fairly priced, maybe even a little cheap if you count the buy-one get-one-free sushi roll nights (Tuesday and Thursdays, limited selection of rolls). Some of the rolls are creative, some standard.
The spicy tuna is, as advertised, spicy.
The atmosphere seems to be aiming for somewhere this side of a dance club. Given some of the upright glass and the half-height dividers, it's perfect for a John Wu-style gun-fu shootout, especially with their typical music selection, which the kids might refer to as 'phat beats'. I'm not sure whether this is a plus or a minus. It's not a place where you're going to have a serious conversation.
The service is, as mentioned above, less than stellar. Often inattentive, obviously disinterested, not guaranteed to have heard what you ordered, but definitely not stressed about remembering it.
Plentiful parking, and next to an incredibly well-supplied collection of wallet-draining used books. Easy to get in and out of.
Summary: Good food but not fantastic, iffy service, John Wu. 3. -
Review from Tiffany N.
Denver, CO
3/4/2011 9 photos
Naturally, the first thing I do when trying out a new place is check out the reviews on Yelp and when I checked it out for Akahana, many people mentioned how bad the service was. I wanted to be the one who proved them wrong, the one to show everyone that Akahana would be my new, wonderful go to spot with terrific service but I'm sad to report I'm not that person.
I don't know if it was because they are newer and are drawing in quite a crowd on Thursday nights and the servers are overwhelmed but the service was almost non existent. We practically had to flag down our waitress to give her our order, get refills, etc. and I contemplated throwing a chopstick at our server to get her attention but with my luck, that would've either a) turn into a lawsuit or b) get violently ill from sushi gone wrong.
On the flip side, $17 for two rolls, a salad and a beer is A-Ok in my book. The sushi? Holy wonderful, fresh, yummyness batman! I was surprised by how fresh it was and how much flavor it had packed in the rolls. Some mentioned that the rolls on BOGO nights (Tuesdays and Thursdays) were smaller but I felt they were appropriate sized pieces for what they are charging (I can't remember the names exactly but got the Furious Dragon and Sweet Romeo roll). The downside about BOGO nights is that there isn't any vegetarian options on the BOGO menu and it says no substitutions on the menu.
The vibe was good-very vibrant with orange walls, moderate volume music and packed. They have a moderate sized bar area complete with the regular stuff you would expect-ESPN, Japanese beers and specials galore.
I will be back to check out Akahana.....but only when I have nothing planned afterwards so I won't mind waiting so long for my sush. -
Review from Betty B.
1/24/2011
Went here for dinner the other night. I had the massaman curry which was tasty but not served hot enough (temperature-wise). We had a lovely waitress who was well-versed on the menu and, in general, I thought the service was great.
My main beef was with the menu. Every combination and permutation of asian food is on here. And that's not so good. When a restaurant has a menu this large, I immediately think it is not living up to its potential because it is spreading itself too thin. It makes more sense to do a few things extremely well then a million things kind-of ok. In an effort to please every possible restaurant-goer, the restaurant loses it's identity and does itself a disservice. Is this a Thai place? Sushi? Chinese? I have no idea. I hope this place resolves its identity crisis and pares down the menu because I would love to see a restaurant (other than Subway) on this little corner of the Plaza succeed.Listed in: The 28205
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Review from Melissa B.
Charlotte, NC
3/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Wish I could do 2 and a half stars.....Went here for Thursday bogo night (yes it is only specific rolls and of those there are no vegetarian options???? WTF???). But what I had was on the low-end of 'fine'. The salmon when it came out in one of the rolls was room-temperature. Hmmm....I had never experienced that before. Not super appealing. The rest was 'just fine' especially for those prices.
I liked the 'green' chopsticks - instead of the throw-aways they had plastic ones that were heftier. Great job on that guys!
The bar service was better than the table service. Try not to come at peak hours on bogo night and I am sure the service would be better.
There have been many establishments in this location and this is by far the best one. I hope you stick around Akahana!!! :-D -
Review from Danielle P.
Charlotte, NC
Updated - 1/6/2011 18 Check-ins Here
Y'all we went back and tried the sushi a bit more extensively. I have to say that if you are looking for a good fresh sushi experience, you are in the right place. Their maki come with 8 pieces so I highly recommend mixing in some of their under $5 2-piece nigiri selections (smelt or flying fish roe, what what!). They are fond of adding tempura and avacado to things which cut the menu down for me, but there were still plenty of selections and they were tasty as can be.
Oh, and I wanted to hug our server. She was just the cheeriest girl I ever did meet.Listed in: The Plaza Midwood-est!, Roll up in this Place, Thai One On
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/26/2010 First to Review
Akahana lives up to its billing as an Asian Bistro and far exceeds the (admittedly low) expectations… Read more »
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Review from Danielle G.
Charlotte, NC
3/23/2011
Hey Akahana, lookit you, all sexy with your buy-one-get-one-free rolls on Tuesday and Thursday. Mmm. Yeah, you know what I like.
So, I didn't try the rolls. During this Lenten season, I gave up sugar, both simple and complex, so no rice for me. However, I did try a wide spread, which was delectable.
FOOD:
Mmmmsashimi, you never let me down. Their sashimi platter was presented beautifully, with long strips of delicate fish, fashioned into rolls. Very fresh, no odor, and a lovely selection of your usual tuna, salmon, white fish, and mackrel. I also got the squid salad, which had just the right amount of ginger kick to it. The only disappointing part of my meal were the green mussels. I'd never seen this selection on a sushi menu before, so curious, I ordered them. They tasted just like regular mussels, but perhaps a bit more tough. Let-down. :( On the upside, they do make a fabulous dirty martini, and I hear good things about their $2 martini nights on Wednesdays.
SERVICE: Attentive and playful, though not without fault. Was brought the wrong thing twice (wrong martini, and the clams nigiri-style instead of sashimi), but both instances were fixed in no time at all. We did feel like we were being rushed out towards the end. We did spend a while talking after the meal, but there were plenty of seats available, and we were still tossing back a few drinks, so it shouldn't have been an issue.
ATMOSPHERE: Chique, club-like atmosphere, with bold colors, modern lighting, and a very nice back-lit bar. The sushi bar seems a little secluded from the rest of the restaurant, but overall, this place has a modern and sexy feel to it.
PRICE: Average pricing for all items, but great deals on the specials mentioned beforehand. Definitely worth checking out.
Overall:
It's nice to know there's a place where I stuff my face with decent sushi even when I'm broke. Thank you, Akahana. -
Review from Neha N.
Charlotte, NC
4/26/2011
Went there on a Tues night for the BOGO sushi night and surprisingly found out that they are now doing BOGO sushi all day, everyday. Yep, you heard me right, Everyday, which is a good thing so I don't have to wait for a Tu or Th to enjoy some good, cheap sushi.
I'm a vegetarian and I loved the rolls that my sister and I ordered. We got the fresh, vegetable laden Zen Roll which was scumptious. And for free we got the Sweet Garden roll with came with a sauce drizzled on it which was really damn good.
Our server was really sweet and attentive. No complaints. The only thing I can say that it was a bit empty. I'm sure things will pick up though or if nothing else, we'll be back very soon. Thank goodness, it doesn't just have to be on Tuesday or a Thursday! -
Review from Adam W.
Charlotte, NC
2/17/2011
Short and Sweet:
Customer Service is so-so. It could be better. But they're mostly busy when I go here.
The sushi is awesome. The menu is huge. There is also plenty for non-sushi people.
It's on the pricey side for being in Plaza-Midwood. It's a little more expensive than Jade on some rolls.
Basically:
If you don't care too much about paying for good sushi and don't get your feelings hurt on customer service. -
Review from Matt L.
Charlotte, NC
11/26/2011
The Sunday night we went had a decent number of tables, considering it was 9 PM! It's got a neighborhood vibe, probably attributable to being in Plaza-Midwood. They had on the American Music Awards on the TVs behind that beautiful neon-lit bar, so we were able to watch something other than a sporting event. Food was pretty good...we ordered a bowl of wonton soup, seaweed salad and chicken lettuce wraps. It was all flavorful enough without feeling like you just took in your sodium intake for the week. Will go back next time we feel like Asian food close to home.
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Review from K W.
Portland, OR
10/18/2011
Go for cheap drinks and 2 for 1 rolls, not for high a quality foodie experience.
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Review from April L.
Charlotte, NC
9/27/2011
I've been to Akahana a few times and I loved each time. You can't beat sushi and going next door to Rita's for frozen custard.
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Review from Lauryn C.
8/9/2011
BOGO yay! I've only stopped in for lunch - BOGO for lunch is a good deal well it's a good deal for dinner too -but it's almost too much food for lunch. The menu is huge and there are plenty of rolls to choose from for BOGO. My rolls we're delicious - it's a little pricey but I was really pleased with all the options on the menu and the ambiance was awesome.
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Review from Leah Z.
Charlotte, NC
3/7/2011
Akahana, I've got a bone to pick with you. I'd heard many, many positive things about this place and was ready to love it. Plus, we live in the 'hood and I want to help keep something going in this spot.
I should be upfront about the fact that we were not in the best mood that night, so when our extremely sweet and upbeat served came around and announced that she'd just tried eel for the first time last night and then really, really, really wanted to give me her suggestions from the sushi menu I was not thrilled. She took my suggestion rejection like a pro, to her credit, and proceeded to place our order. On the plus side, it came in a very reasonable amount of time. On the minus side, yikes. My order was a couple of rolls and several pieces of nigiri. The rolls were okay- not remarkable. I ordered some maguro. It was whitish-pink-grey. It smelled very strong. It was decidedly not ahi or it was in such bad condition that it was unrecognizable. When clearing the table, my server wanted to know if there had been a problem with it, insisted that the chef told her it was maguro, and then after my explanation of how it should look didn't take it off the bill. Sigh. Akahana, we're breaking up. Though I will never return, you might want to hire some servers that know about sushi and have a talk with your chefs or suppliers. And add some kids' menu items.
(I am giving you that two stars out of the goodness of my heart- I really should make it less.) -
Review from Noll K.
Charlotte, NC
4/8/2011 1 photo
Finally got to Akahana. Might as well get this out of the way - yes our waiter sucked, as many have experienced. Galen, if you are reading this, perhaps you should just sell records at Sam Goody's. Or sort the tchotchkes at Manifest...
But we did sit at the bar (no, the sushi bar); and got along rather well with the head chef and the owner. Seems as though they have their sh!t together. We discussed throughput, prepping and sourcing, yadda yadda. We ate sake nigiri (nice), ikura gunkan (nice) and a few rolls I can't remember the names of. Washed it all down with Asahi and all was good.
Bottom line is I think this one will stick in this somewhat cursed location. The sushi was really good, the cook staff is good, the atmosphere is good. The wait staff will turn over, just "wait." -
Review from Jean-Chris M.
Charlotte, NC
Updated - 3/24/2011
Hit up Akahana again and can confirm that the sushi is still tops and that they still haven't a clue when it comes to fried food. BUT I must add that the Tom Kha Gai soup (Thai coconut chicken soup) was the BEST I've ever had on the East Coast. A meal in itself, it's sweet and savory, spicy and citric--so satisfying! I will definitely be back to sample more of the Thai offerings.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/16/2011
Such a large menu, which covers several different Asian cuisines, is always a red light to me. I… Read more »
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Review from Bill T.
Charlotte, NC
11/30/2011 21 Check-ins Here
Est at this place quite often, but just now getting around to write a review. I mainly get sushi when I go here, but have tried regular menu items a couple times. The sushi is fantastic and at a great price (buy 1 get 1 Rolls everyday of the week)!! The other menu items that I've tried have been good as well. I would recommend this place to anyone
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Review from Kristin F.
Charlotte, NC
5/3/2011
We finally tried this place out after hearing both good and not so good reviews from locals in the 'hood. First things first, we went on a Monday night, at 7 o'clock and the electronic/techno music was so very loud that we sat at the table closest to the door in hopes it would be somewhat muted. Not so much. They even turned it up at one point and we were literally two out of, oh, five customers in the joint. There was no dance party goin' on. Seemed to me like they were trying to take a page out of Nikko's book, but there is a reason (actually, several) that I avoid that place at all costs. I like to be able to hear my husband talk and not watch him wince as he tries to eat sushi while his head throbs with pulsing bass. Our service was average, and since business was slow, we got lots and lots of walk-bys from the rest of the waitstaff and managers. Hovering is the best way I can describe it. I am a server myself, so I get the sometimes uncontrollable desire to harass your tables with attention when it's slow, but this kinda felt more like they were watching to see if we were going to steal the chopsticks.
On to the food. We shared two sushi rolls, the standard Dragon and Caterpillar. He likes eel, I like soft shell crab, so it's the usual for us. Both were decent and nicely presented, no complaints. We also had shrimp, pineapple, and cashew fried rice and the portion size was huge. Definitely enough to share, although hubby would have gladly put it down by himself I think. This was, of course, after we both added a generous amount of Siracha, as the dish was pretty much bland without it. It was listed as a "Thai" dish on the menu, so I think we both expected some heat, but it was missing. The rice and shrimp, however, were both perfectly cooked. A little bit of regional cuisine confusion on the giant menu was the downfall here, I think.
We both had bellinis that were on special and they were pretty lackluster. The drink specials catered more to the party crowd (like the music) with stuff like sake bombs and red bull and vodka being featured instead of more dinner-friendly options like wine or beer.
For the record, my review is 2.5 stars. I want to like this place and will go back to try some other things....just probably from the take-out menu this time. -
Review from Dave H.
Charlotte, NC
1/19/2011
I have eaten here twice today; the food is that good. My friend suggested this place for lunch. I had the Spicy Lemongrass Chicken, which was delicious, but not spicy. While looking over the menu, we saw that Akahana has hibachi. My friend texted his wife (a big hibachi fan), and we decided to come back for dinner. At dinner all five of us enjoyed our meals. For dinner, I had the Spicy Basil Chicken (again, not spicy except for the jalapenos mixed in). The service was decent, but could have been better. But the food and the atmosphere are fantastic. This is another great restaurant choice in Plaza Midwood. I defintely recommend anyone to enjoy dinner here.
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Review from Jason S.
Charlotte, NC
5/6/2011 4 Check-ins Here
The private party room is cool and great for a party with friends!
