If there’s an enduring culinary indulgence that shows no sign of slowing down, it’s sushi. What originated in eastern Asia centuries ago has evolved into a ubiquitous global experience.
It’s no surprise, then, that a sushi-centric eatery would open in the heart of downtown Cary. Zest Sushi & Small Plates debuted last spring on the ground floor of the Rogers mixed-use development and immediately resonated with locals. In a solid showing of affirmation, the readers of Cary Magazine voted it as the Best New Restaurant in the 2025 Maggy Awards.
“We are super appreciative of everyone who voted for us,” says General Manager James Yang, who hails from New York but also has a Taiwanese heritage. “We hope to become a cornerstone restaurant in downtown Cary that will be here for years to come.”
On the day we showed up, the hot spot was humming. James was hard at work preparing orders at the sushi bar.
“We want to appeal to people who enjoy progressive Asian cuisine,” James explains, adding that the original Zest location in Roswell, Georgia, opened in 2011. “With our sushi and small plates concept similar to tapas, we make sure the cold food comes out cold and the hot food comes out hot.”
A modern and airy dining room provides a perfect spot for enjoying sushi and other progressive Asian cuisine.
Zest’s expansive dining space features an exposed ductwork ceiling offset by a polished cement floor. Striking large-format marble tile squares adorn the back wall of the sushi bar. Modern white light fixtures hint at a fish-scale design, while abundant floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to pour in. It all coalesces to deliver an atmosphere that’s simultaneously casual and chic.
An approachable menu features copious sushi selections plus small-plate options like blistered shishito peppers, salmon poke crunch, and Thai lettuce wraps with chicken.
Don’t ignore the Toro Spoons specialty featuring chopped fatty meat of tuna pervaded with sea urchin, scallions, kizami, and salmon roe.
Additional small-plate standouts include the sublime yuzu crab cakes buoyed by yuzu aioli and the pineapple-tinged Polynesian pork belly with Asian slaw.
“We braise the pork belly for about five hours, so it is really tender and delicious,” James says.
For surefire handheld winners, look no further than the Korean cheesesteak with bulgogi-marinated tenderloin and the tempura-fried soft-shell crab BLT.
General Manager James Yang prepares a Toro Spoons specialty dish.
Prefer a salad? Try the nourishing Go Go Salmon with gochujang honey-glazed fish nestled atop spring mix, mandarin oranges, carrots, cucumbers, and red peppers.
Among the 15 specialty rolls listed, the most popular are the Two If by Sea comprising spicy tuna, roasted jalapeños, and garlic chili crunch and the panko-fried Chatham St. roll encompassing crab salad, avocado, sweet soy sauce, spicy mayo, and scallions crowned with spicy tuna.
The multifaceted sashimi flight presents a chef’s choice of raw offerings involving Japanese snapper, mackerel, yellowtail, and more. If you’re in the mood to “go big or go home,” the immense Tsunami Tower will regale you with six East Coast oysters, half a dozen Gulf oysters, six cocktail shrimp, lobster cocktail, and jumbo lump crab cocktail.
Three different chargrilled oyster preparations also appear on the bill of fare.
“Typically, we carry five different varietals of oysters,” James adds. Some of the jumbo bivalves come direct from Wilmington.
Desserts range from flourless chocolate torte and yuzu cheesecake to green tea ice cream and various flavors of mochi.
Zest’s robust bar program boasts an impressive array of beer, wine, sake, and cocktails. Martinis and mules stand apart, along with a small yet appealing assortment of mocktails.
“We try to be especially creative at the bar,” James says. “We have one of the bigger cocktail lists in town with about 16 specialty drinks, not including martinis.”
If you have trouble choosing a drink, order the potent Mango Sticky Rice martini infused with vodka, coconut rum, RumChata, mango puree, and toasted coconut shavings. It’s well worth the price of admission.
Be sure to check out the enticing daily specials such as Mixology Mondays with half-price specialty cocktails, Two for Tuesday featuring any two specialty rolls for $30, and Oyster Hour Thursday, when Gulf oysters are just $1 each from 5–6 p.m.
Online reservations are available and strongly recommended. Private dining provides seating for up to 30 guests. Open daily for lunch and dinner service, Zest also offers limited semi-covered outdoor seating.
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