M Nikkei opens in downtown Durham
Chef Michael Lee's newest M Restaurants concept brings Japanese and Peruvian cooking to the former M Pocha space.
M Nikkei, the newest restaurant from chef Michael Lee's M Restaurants group, is now open at 101 E. Chapel Hill St. in downtown Durham. The restaurant took over the space that housed Lee's Korean street food spot M Pocha and held its grand opening on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, Axios Raleigh and The Raleigh Local reported.
The name refers to Japanese emigrants who settled in other countries, the restaurant explains on its website, bringing Japanese cooking techniques together with native Peruvian ingredients. The menu centers on sushi hand rolls and robatayaki, the Japanese style of charcoal grilling.
Opening dishes listed on the menu include yellowtail ceviche with Peruvian limes and leche de tigre, bluefin tuna tiradito, Hokkaido scallop crudo, grilled bronzino and a layered prime New York strip. Desserts include a Peruvian-style flan made with Okinawan sugar.
M Nikkei is Lee's second new restaurant of 2026, following M Hansik, his upscale Korean concept that opened this summer, according to Axios Raleigh. The restaurant's website lists dinner hours on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and offers an online waitlist.
About this story
By Sotwire Desk. Written by Sotwire Desk from the sources below. Not a company attestation.
Sotwire Desk. Written by a named Sotwire editor from the sources cited below. Not a company attestation. Sotwire corrects errors publicly.
Key facts
- M Restaurants
- Durham, NC
- Launches
- Desk reported
- Sotwire Desk
- 101 E. Chapel Hill St., Durham
- Nikkei (Japanese and Peruvian)
- Oct. 29, 2026
- Michael Lee
- M Pocha
Key events
- Soft opening, per The Raleigh Local
- Grand opening
Sources
- M Nikkei - 5 points, Durham, NC · M Nikkei · accessed 2026-11-02
- M Nikkei - Food Menu · M Nikkei · accessed 2026-11-02
- Chef Michael Lee's M Nikkei opens this week · Axios Raleigh · accessed 2026-11-02
- New Restaurants in the Triangle: October 2026 Openings · The Raleigh Local · accessed 2026-11-02