I really liked this place. Admittedly, I am not a connoisseur of Japanese food. But with that in mind, I left the restaurant a very happy camper. As others have said, this is a bit hard to find, as it has no direct road access. But having made a few wrong turns on South Boulevard and Tryon Street, I eventually got there. The place is small and I sat at the bar...and, yes, the stools at the bar are a bit awkward to get in and out of. But that truly is my only complaint. I 'fessed up to the server that I knew virtually nothing about Japanese food. I also told him that I am mostly a vegetarian. He steered me to the veggie ramen dish (it is the one right below Fire and Ice on the menu). What a great choice. The bowl was full of noodles and veggies with a broth second to none. The server also explained the four different spices/oils he gave me and what sort of flavor each would produce. Again, he was spot on.
Yes, for $12, the bowl was a bit pricey. But I left the place quite full and quite satisfied. I cannot wait to go back.