Jennifer Harris
Google
Nakato Express is an absolute gem of Japanese cuisine in Cary. My boyfriend and I stopped here on a whim while passing by playing Pokémon GO.
When we entered and we both were blown away by the decor. The dining area was clean, organized, and looked amazing. Plants, statues, and a torii gate pulls the space together in a way only Japanese decorations can.
We ordered the steak and shrimp soba, chicken and steak hibachi, an order of steamed dumplings, a side of fried rice (I was rather hungry), and finally two bottled soft drinks. They have a fountain drink machine, but that was out of service when we came. Had they not had other drink options, this would have been worse, but they provide bottled and canned drinks as well.
The dumplings were amazing! They came with a side sauce that had a kick to it. I personally am not fond of spicy anything, but the sauce was great. The chicken was great, well cooked and seasoned, and the chicken didn't taste dry at all. The steak was perfectly marinated and cooked, just the way steak should be for a Japanese dish. The shrimp was phenomenal and well cooked and seasoned as well. My only complaint with the food is that the sauce the soba was cooked in got overwhelming near the end. A minor complaint when you consider the serving size to price.
And I almost forgot, we dined in, and the woman behind the counter came and brought us our food to the table. I was not expecting that at all. A very pleasant surprise!
Overall, Nakato Express is the perfect place for high-quality Japanese food on a budget. We spent about $40 between the two of us, and that's with one super hungry person.
Thank you for an amazing experience! We can't wait to come back!
