Wagaya - Emory Village

"Wagaya, which also has a sister restaurant in West Midtown, is arguably the most popular dinner spot in Emory Village, and for good reason. With affordable prices (most things under $20) and a book-length Japanese menu, we’re always down to squeeze into the noisy, close quarters. If you must have three feet of personal space at all times or have no patience to wait on a table, be here before 6pm. For sushi, get the Devil’s Breath roll (the spicy aioli adds a kick) and watch as the tuna topping is blowtorched right at your table. Another must is the classic tonkotsu with a rich broth and thin, salty slices of pork belly. After a few rolls and a few sips of the fruity Wednesday Cat (or any of their Japanese craft beers), your shoulders may relax and the chatter and activity start to feel comforting. Food Rundown Shrimp Tempura As far as starters go, you can’t really go wrong with this classic. The shrimp are decent-sized, fried until they’re golden, and served with a salty, soy-based dipping sauce. Agedashi Tofu & Mochi Deep fried cubes of tofu are served piping hot and swimming in a salty broth. A little pile of bonito flakes curl as you dunk a spoon into the bowl to gather up the warm, salty morsels. Tonkotsu There are only four ramen options, but their take on the classic tonkotsu is pretty good. The pork broth is a little creamy, and the pork belly is so tender you won’t need to chew. video credit: Juli Horsford Treasure Box This is delivered to your table covered with a glass dome that's filled with smoke. The dome is lifted, then smoke billows out and reveals a pinwheel-shaped sushi roll about three-inches high. Just know if you order this, it's for the fun presentation since the “roll” itself doesn't have much depth beyond the smoky salmon that sits on top. Devil’s Breath Spicy tuna, jalapeño, a large dot of spicy aioli, and a sprinkle of spicy tobiko on top make this sushi roll one of their spiciest options. But don’t worry, the heat doesn’t reach the danger levels, so sip on an Echigo and go in for another one." - Juli Horsford

"As one of our favorite spots in Emory Village (they also have a sister restaurant in West Midtown), it's no surprise that the narrow, tight-quartered dining room stays packed with Emory students and Druid Hills locals. Stay away during peak dining times to avoid a wait. Wagaya is our go-to when it’s a sushi in sweatpants kind of night. But don’t let the relaxed, college town atmosphere fool you, the fish and the experience get high grades (we’re talking cum laude). For sushi and a show get the Devil’s Breath, and watch as the seared tuna is blowtorched right at your table. Other rolls like the panko fried Crunchy 14th with cream cheese and three types of fish have less flair but solid flavor." - juli horsford, nina reeder

"Wagaya, which also has a sister restaurant in West Midtown, is arguably the most popular dinner spot in Emory Village, and for good reason. With affordable prices and a book-length Japanese menu, we’re always down to squeeze into the noisy, close quarters. If you must have three feet of personal space at all times or have no patience to wait on a table, get there before 6pm. For sushi, get the Devil’s Breath roll (the spicy aioli adds a kick) and watch as the tuna topping is blowtorched right at your table. Another must is the Japanese Spicy Curry Ramen with thin, tasty slices of pork and noodles. Wash it down with any of their Japanese craft beers—we like the Wednesday Cat for a fruity taste. " - juli horsford

"Wagaya is a neighboring sister restaurant to Chirori, owned by Takashi Otsuka. It specializes in ramen and sushi and has locations on 14th Street and at Emory Village on North Decatur Road." - Beth McKibben