Nakato Japanese Restaurant in Atlanta: What to Know Before You Go

If you’re looking for a longstanding Japanese restaurant in Atlanta that combines teppanyaki theatrics, traditional dishes, and a sense of history, Nakato Japanese Restaurant on Buford Highway is one of the city’s best-known names. This guide walks you through what to expect, how to plan a visit, and how Nakato fits into Atlanta’s broader international dining scene.

Where Nakato Is and How It Fits Into Atlanta Dining

Location:
Nakato Japanese Restaurant
1776 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
(Located just off the Buford Highway corridor, near Morningside/Lenox and Midtown)

Buford Highway and the surrounding area are known across metro Atlanta for international cuisine, especially Asian restaurants. Nakato stands out here as a Japanese restaurant that blends classic teppanyaki, sushi, and more traditional Japanese dining in a single space.

For Atlanta residents, Nakato is often considered:

• A special-occasion spot (birthdays, anniversaries, family gatherings)
• A place for group dinners and interactive hibachi-style meals
• A solid option for Japanese cuisine if you’re near Midtown, Buckhead, or Virginia-Highland

Dining Experience: What to Expect Inside Nakato

Nakato is divided into a few distinct areas, which shape your experience depending on what you’re looking for.

Teppanyaki / Hibachi Tables

One of the main draws is the teppanyaki area, where chefs cook on a large flat grill at your table.

Typical experience:

• You’re seated around a shared grill with your group (and sometimes another small party).
• A chef prepares your meal in front of you with knife tricks, flames, and interactive moments.
• Meals usually come with soup, salad, vegetables, rice, and your choice of protein (like steak, chicken, shrimp, or combo plates).

This section is especially popular for:

• Birthday dinners 🎉
• Work outings and team dinners
• Families with kids who enjoy the show

If you’re planning a group gathering in Atlanta and want something interactive without being too formal, this is a practical option.

Traditional Dining Room

If you don’t want the hibachi show, Nakato also offers a quieter, more traditional dining room. Here, the focus is on:

• Sushi and sashimi
• Tempura, teriyaki, and grilled dishes
• Noodles and small plates

This side tends to be better for:

• Date nights
• Smaller groups
• Diners who want a more relaxed, conversation-friendly setting

Sushi Bar

Nakato typically features a sushi bar where you can sit and watch chefs prepare rolls and nigiri. For Atlanta sushi fans, it functions as:

• A mid- to higher-tier sushi option within the intown area
• A place to try classic rolls plus more traditional styles like nigiri and sashimi

Menu Overview: Popular Options and How to Navigate It

Menus can change over time, but most Atlanta diners at Nakato encounter three main categories: teppanyaki, sushi, and traditional Japanese entrées.

Teppanyaki Favorites

Common choices include:

• Steak and shrimp combos
• Chicken and steak
• Seafood-focused plates (shrimp, scallops, or fish)
• Vegetarian or mostly-vegetable plates (availability may vary)

Meals often include:

• Miso soup or clear soup
• House salad with ginger dressing
• Grilled vegetables
• Steamed or fried rice

For cost-conscious Atlanta families, teppanyaki can be a practical value when you factor in the “dinner and a show” aspect and the portion sizes.

Sushi and Sashimi

The sushi menu usually offers:

• Nigiri (fish or seafood over rice)
• Sashimi (sliced fish without rice)
• Classic rolls (California, spicy tuna, etc.)
• Specialty rolls with sauces and toppings

If you’re splitting items with a group:

• Order a sushi combo or chef’s selection to sample multiple types of fish.
• Pair it with a few shareable appetizers like gyoza, edamame, or tempura.

Traditional Japanese Dishes

On the non-hibachi side, you’re likely to find:

• Tempura (lightly battered and fried seafood or vegetables)
• Teriyaki chicken or beef
• Grilled fish entrées
• Rice and noodle dishes

For someone in Atlanta who’s newer to Japanese food, these are approachable entry points—familiar ingredients prepared with Japanese seasonings and sauces.

Atmosphere: Is Nakato Right for Your Occasion?

Atlanta has a wide range of Japanese and Asian restaurants, from casual strip-mall noodle spots to upscale omakase counters. Nakato sits in a middle-to-upscale, family-friendly space.

Good Fits for Nakato

Nakato typically works well if you want:

• A birthday or celebration venue with hibachi
• A place to bring out-of-town visitors to experience teppanyaki
• A pre-show or post-event dinner if you’re in the Midtown/Buckhead area
• Somewhere with both sushi and cooked entrées on one menu

When to Consider Other Options

You might look elsewhere in Atlanta’s Japanese scene if you’re seeking:

• Extremely minimalist, ultra-traditional omakase
• A very casual, quick, low-budget meal
• Late-night izakaya-style dining

Nakato tends to attract diners who want a blend of comfort, showmanship, and reliability rather than cutting-edge or ultra-formal dining.

Practical Details for Atlanta Diners

Reservations and Wait Times

For teppanyaki in particular, reservations are often recommended, especially:

• Friday and Saturday nights
• Holidays
• Graduation weekends or big event weekends in Atlanta

Walk-ins may be possible, but Atlantans often find that having a reservation reduces waiting, especially for larger parties.

Parking and Getting There

Nakato is located along a busy intown corridor, and most visitors:

• Drive and park on-site or nearby
• Use rideshare from Midtown, Buckhead, or surrounding neighborhoods

If you’re visiting Atlanta and staying in central areas like Midtown or Buckhead, the drive to Nakato is usually straightforward and relatively short outside peak rush hours.

Group and Family Dining

For Atlanta families and groups, Nakato is practical because:

• Teppanyaki tables are naturally set up for groups.
• The menu can accommodate a range of preferences, from sushi to fully cooked dishes.
• The show-style cooking often works well with mixed-age groups, including kids and older adults.

If you have very young children or people sensitive to loud noises or open flames, you may want to consider seating in the traditional dining room instead of hibachi.

How Nakato Compares Within Atlanta’s International Cuisine Scene

Atlanta’s Buford Highway corridor is packed with international restaurants—from Korean BBQ and Vietnamese pho to Chinese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and more. Nakato stands out as:

• A long-running Japanese restaurant with roots and recognition in the area
• A place that combines entertainment (teppanyaki) with traditional Japanese offerings
• An option that’s familiar to many Atlantans as a go-to for special dinners

If you’re exploring international cuisine in Atlanta, you might build a day or weekend around:

• Lunch somewhere else on Buford Highway (Korean, Vietnamese, or Chinese)
• Dinner at Nakato for a Japanese teppanyaki or sushi experience
• Dessert or coffee at another nearby international spot

This approach lets you experience the breadth of global flavors that make Buford Highway and its surrounding areas such a key part of Atlanta’s food identity.

Quick Reference: Nakato at a Glance

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Visit

For Atlanta locals and visitors alike, a little planning can make the meal smoother:

• Reserve ahead for hibachi, especially on weekends.
• If you’re noise-sensitive, request the traditional dining room.
• For large groups, confirm seating and timing when booking so everyone can be at the same table.
• If you have dietary restrictions, call ahead to ask about options and how they can adjust dishes.
• To sample more, share a sushi platter plus a couple of hot appetizers at the table.

Nakato Japanese Restaurant remains a recognizable name in Atlanta’s international cuisine landscape, especially for those wanting a Japanese dining experience that blends familiar favorites with tableside cooking and a sense of occasion.