When in the mood for hand rolls, this hidden gem of a restaurant on the Lower East Side is promising. Wabi Nori stands out in ambiance and friendly service while serving contemporary Japanese cuisine. The stylish and small interior contributes to an intimate dining experience.
While they are known for their sushi hand rolls, their menu varies in regular and standout options. Wabi Nori’s authentic tapas-style dining is ideal for a date or small group, as well as being perfect for those not as knowledgeable on sushi. When I went with two of my friends, we chose our hand rolls individually rather than their set options.
Their sets range from three to six hand rolls, all including spicy tuna, salmon and yellowtail. Beyond the three-piece hand roll set, the inclusions are bay scallops, crab and lobster. Wanting both regular and signature handrolls, we ordered our hand rolls individually.
Some specialty hand rolls include miso cod, Miyazaki Wagyu, bluefin otoro or bluefin chu-toro. I recommend ordering your hand rolls individually to make sure you get all their specialty ones. Initially, I ordered three hand rolls, assuming they would be enough, but having been left wanting more after three, I would say four is an adequate number of handrolls.
If you’re going out with a group, their appetizer options are easily shareable and light. Our first appetizer to come out was the crispy rice tuna. They came in three pieces, each with a fried, crispy rice bottom layered with tuna, avocad.
