Nakato Express

I hate to be the dissenting voice but I must speak the truth: This place is below average.
I came here on a Sunday afternoon with a hankering for hibachi and crab rangoon. I ordered the hibachi shrimp and steak and the crab Rangoon to go so that I could eat it in the fresh air outside at their one lone, dirty table. After about 6 minutes, my order was done.
I opened the boxes only to be a bit disappointed. The rice wasn’t actually fried on the flat top, it was really just streamed rice with a little soy sauce. This was an instant deal breaker for me because of how much I enjoy the flavor and texture of hibachi fried rice. The shrimp, steak and veggies were cooked decently enough but they lacked seasoning and the onion was cut too thick to cook down to a good consistency. There was also a lot of onion which served only as a filler. They use the cheaper shoulder cut of steak which while edible, is not a favorite of mine as it is a bit tougher.
The biggest disappointment were the crab
rangoon. It was all wrapper with very little cream cheese and crab filling and the ends of the wrapper were gummy as if they’d been sitting in the fridge uncovered for a few days.
This meal for one came just under $ 14 which is outrageous for the quality. Let me put this in perspective Kanki’s lunch would’ve been about the same. There are similar places that have better quality food for about $ 10!
Though I left full (mostly because I came in so dang hungry) it is not a place I will eat again. Which is really a shame :0(I was hoping this could be my regular (cheap) hibachi joint.

I know you can’t expect a lot from an express hibachi place, but this was the worst hibachi steak I’ve ever had, the worst miso soup and the worst spring roll.
Bonus points, the soda machine’s coke nozzle was spitting up globs of foam and overflowing our drinks.
It was very quick, however.

This was a very fast and inexpensive place! We ordered 2 sushi rolls for $ 8 and they were amazing! This was also very close by! We will order from here again!

Classic scenario of «You get what you pay for.» Food is always great and service is always extremely quick. Obviously not the best hibachi you’re ever going to have but it is hard to find better in the five to eight dollar range.

Standard cheap hibachi place. Standard white and ginger sauces — Minimal dining area. There is a big window so that you can watch them cook — my 3 year old was very entertained while waiting for our take out. They have a great sanitation rating 98% which is really the only thing I worry about with these kind of places. I took pictures of the current menu.

This place has been a favorite of mine for as long as I have lived here in NC and it has been in operation. It is fast and cheap and delicious. The sushi is surprisingly decent for a hibachi express place — usually I don’t trust these kinds of restaurants with sushi. If you like seaweed salad, the seaweed salad here is pretty tasty. The hibachi steak is tender and flavorful instead of dry and hard to chew like a lot of other places. They give great sized portions, and accommodate any dietary preferences (my best friend is the pickiest eater on planet earth). I think it all tastes best with white rice instead of fried, but to each their own. The owner can tend to be very rude — especially when answering the phone. And you may get some watchful eyes from the rest of the staff. But overall shrimp sauce makes everything worth it!

Nakato Express is convenient, has fast and friendly service, and serves a very tasty hibachi chicken. I’m usually not a huge fan of fried rice but I really enjoy theirs. They’re my favorite «fast food» style Asian restaurant in Cary.

This should be your place of last resort when no other option is available or you need some fast cheap take out or you do not want some regular fast food. The guy in the front is really rude and will make fun of you on the phone if you take an extra second to order. Food is better than fast food so if you need something fast and cheap then this is your place.

Quick and easy Hibachi place that I discovered tonight. Food was good, white sauce (yum yum sauce as they called it) was thinner than what I’m used too, but still good. Only complaint is that they skimped on the meat. I got the chicken and shrimp, chicken, and steak plates for the family. Prices for everything is affordable. Everything was good overall.

Judge a restaurant for what it is. This is Nakato Express. Quick service hibachi. The place is a bit hole in the wall but why aren’t you getting Take Out at an express place anyway? All items are made fresh. I love watching the cook work the grill behind the display glass and keep all those orders straight. The owner works the register and organizes orders. He is friendly personable and remembers his regulars orders. I’m not a true regular, more of a hey I’m hungry, what’s near my apartment kind of customer. But I have never had a poor experience. I always get the Hibachi Chicken & Shrimp combo, spring roll, a drink, and sometimes fried donuts for dessert. Really recommend those!

I was not impressed. The food is extremely bland and the staff seems mad. The ginger salad was absolutely tasteless… As the dressing was watered down beyond belief. The owners obv have no care in keeping customers happy… Only a quick dollar.

I would probably give 3.5 stars if Unilocal had a ½ star option. This place is good if you need something quick and easy. I loved the seaweed salad but would probably pass again on the spicy tuna. The hibachi is by far the best bet and the housemade sauces are yum. It is a very unassuming place and rather affordable! I will return!

Love love! Super yummy! Love the sauce. Very flavorful and lots of food. Great price. Will def crave this again.

I love this place. The staff is very cordial and well organized. The sauces are way better than I have ever had at any other hibachi place. I am a vegetarian and they are so nice with being flexible and adding different veggies depending on the dish I am ordering. Super clean too! A definite once a week at least place as the prices are spot on for filling meals. I have been going for a few months now and am happy to add that they are consistent as well.

Least spicy «spicy tuna roll» ever. I shouldn’t have to resort to the wasabi or the soy sauce just to get any flavor.
The teriyaki meatballs were dry and bland, even after dipping them in what sauce there was.
Very disappointed.

Ate here while waiting for our car to be taken care of at Tint World. Food was good, place has a «hole in the wall» feel but the food was good. Ordered Hibachi Steak and Soba Chicken. The Hibachi Steak came with «fried rice,» which was disappointing because it was plain rice, not mixed with egg or veggies like I’m used to receiving at a hibachi restaurant.
Overall not bad.

I love this place, I’ve been going for years. So long the owner gave me a bunch of free fried sugar dumplings. They were amazing. I always get the vegetable Soba with Miso soup. All of there stuff is yummy and fast to receive. Also they have this «yum yum sauce» that just hits the stop for my meal. It’s obviously not authentic, but I still love it.

Love this place. Contrary to what you might think, they’re not part of that whole Japan Express chain. Not only are their prices better, but they’re very accommodating, as well — you don’t want zucchini in your dish? No problem.
I’m, unfortunately, one of those who once they find a dish they like, order it over and over — at Nakato Express, it’s their Hibachi Steak. It comes with mixed veggies and fried rice. You can’t leave this place, though, without trying their «Yum Yum» (white) sauce and Ginger sauce — they are both delish. (Their rice isn’t bad to begin with, but pour that «Yum Yum» sauce over it, and it’s fabulous.) I put their ginger sauce over my hibachi steak.
They offer a few different types of salads, but my favorite is their house salad with ginger dressing — nothing fancy, but good. I haven’t had a chance to try their steamed or fried dumplings yet, but will eventually! I did try their sushi once, when I first found the place, and wasn’t real thrilled with it — it’s the only reason they don’t get five stars from me.
Lastly, for those that pay attention to these kinds of things, their health/​inspection score is a perfect 100… don’t see that too often (unfortunately)!

Cheap. Fast. Tasty.
If you are craving that fast meal of Hibachi chicken with mixed veggies and fried rice– head here. Nothing special.
I wouldn’t order sushi from here ;-P but it fits the bill for for a cheap Japanese craving!

The sauces are goooood! If you are looking for good fast food japanese hibachi style dishes, this is the place. The crab rangoons are pretty tasty. The chicken dumplings were also pretty good. I would totally eat here again and again.