Sake Express II — Restaurant in Mount Holly

Let me just start by saying I came to Sake Express for a quick bite and left feeling like I had just experienced the best service ever invented—and that “service” was Ashley. Yes, the food was fantastic, the place was clean and inviting, but Ashley? She’s the reason this review exists.

From the moment I walked in, Ashley greeted me with such genuine warmth and energy, it was like seeing a longtime friend. She knew the menu inside and out, offering thoughtful recommendations based on what I was in the mood for. I went with her suggestion—a perfectly seasoned teriyaki chicken and fresh, crispy egg rolls—and it was honestly perfection. Every bite tasted like it was crafted with care.

But the real magic? It wasn’t just the food—it was how Ashley made the entire experience unforgettable. She checked in just enough to make sure everything was great, cracked a few well-timed jokes, and made everyone in the restaurant feel like they were in the right place at the right time.

Ashley isn’t just an employee—she’s the heart of Sake Express. If this place was a machine, she’d be the engine, the spark, and the polish all in one. It’s not every day you walk into a local spot and walk out thinking, “I need to tell everyone I know about this place.” That’s the Ashley Effect.

If you're in Mount Holly and haven't been to Sale Express yet, you’re missing out. But don’t just go for the food—go for the experience....

The food is good but the service is terrible. Three times in a row I have called an order in and when I get there they tell me they do not have my order. The first time they asked if I called the right place, which I confirmed by showing the girl the number I called. So they just never entered my order. The second time they could not find my order and reentered my order only to find my original order print out still attached to the printer, a good laugh to them. And then today one of the servers said a lady called in and canceled my order. Which did not happen. They asked the server which phone number was it that canceled and she could not remember. So the server probably canceled the wrong order and they will have food made for a customer that is not coming. That was the last time I will be going there. Luckily there is another Sake in Belmont that is much cleaner and professional. Do yourself a favor and drive the extra 10 minutes and...

A little Oasis on the road into Mount Holly (the back way) where you will surely encounter more than a few other fans, haphazardly arrayed in their cars and vans and SUVs. Outside they sit as the friendly and hard-working staff inside assemble the perfect middle-class American weekday take out version of Japanese cuisine. It ain't highbrow, but fried rice (and your choice of protein with veggies and sweet carrots) sauced in velvety pink shrimp sauce certainly soothes both the stomach and the soul. I have yet to fully appreciate the subtle distinctions between teriyaki this or hibachi that. Seemingly it involves a long standing feud between two warring clans of ninjas, one's token symbol an emerald stalk of broccoli, the other by a humble grouping of mushrooms. But I digress. Stop off at Sake Express Ii . . It's great fare at a good price and not so exotic you can't take grandma...