Shiki Japanese - Charlotte

Shiki Japanese Restaurant is a great spot located on the border of Matthews and Charlotte for sushi enthusiasts. It offers a solid lunch menu and has been voted the best in town. The portion sizes are generous, ensuring you certainly get your money's worth. While the decor may not be particularly impressive, don’t let that deter you from enjoying a fantastic meal.

I usually order for pickup, and the food is always delicious and hot! The chicken with mixed vegetables has a great hibachi flavor, and it's very satisfying.

I ordered the pan-fried shrimp dumplings, and they were not cooked properly. The shrimp inside was tiny and surrounded by undercooked dough! The kitchen staff really needs to take their time with customer orders because this is unacceptable. If I could give a zero rating and share a picture, I would. I am very disappointed!

I'm focusing solely on the hibachi experience here, as I'm not well-versed in sushi and have always been a bit hesitant to try it. Shiki doesn’t quite measure up to places like Kabuto or Nakato, where they cook the food right in front of you, but you're also not paying extra for the theatrics, so it balances out nicely. The food was fantastic, and you definitely get a lot for your money. The hibachi chicken was juicy and full of flavor, and I think the shrimp sauce was top-notch. However, the highlight of my visit was the service. I went for an early lunch around 11:30, so it wasn’t very busy, but I received my food just five minutes after sitting down. It came out so quickly that I actually wondered if it was leftover! But everything was hot and fresh. If you're looking for a quick lunch spot, this is a great choice.

I absolutely love this restaurant! The customer service is fantastic, and they offer a wonderful variety of hibachi and sushi choices. I always enjoy the onion soup as an appetizer. Usually, I go for the hibachi chicken and shrimp, but on my most recent visit, I asked the waiter for a recommendation. The hibachi salmon he suggested was excellent and definitely exceeded my expectations!