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    Nori Bar

    4.5 (385 reviews)
    ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    NORI BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Takeout box for 4 ROLL SET - Build your own
    Jennifer N.

    My coworkers and I used the DoorDash app to get lunch from Nori Bar. We all got the 4 roll set where we got to pick each of our rolls and if we wanted any other extra sauces. We kept raving about the packaging and how they were so cute! The fish we got was so fresh and was also surprised to see edamame I forgot what rolls my coworkers chose but they all loved it! For reference, I got Maguro, Unagi, Spicy Ahi, and Hamachi as my choices I was also surprised at how quick our order arrived

    Hamachi crudo
    John C.

    Went for a light lunch before running errands nearby. It's a casual nori bar but you need reservations due to limited seating. Everything we had was pretty solid and in line with its price point. The rice and filling were balanced and cucumber salad was refreshing. Would come again! Parking is available in the theatre garage.

    Julie C.

    I had Nori bar bookmarked for a little while, and finally had the chance to try it out with my daughter for a late lunch. We made reservations at 2:30 PM and we're here for happy hour. We ordered the deluxe platter, spicy dynamite cake, and chicken skewers. The food was so good! The deluxe platter had a combination of spicy Ahi rolls and some sashimi. Spicy dynamite cake was not too spicy, but had layers of rice, avocado, and spicy Ahi with sauce, and Nori wrappers on the side. Chicken skewers you can order them individually, in a set of three or five and we opted for three. Service was very friendly and attentive. We finished everything. The three items we ordered the cost was $60, adding tip and tax was around $75. The restaurant is very small. Seating only at the bar hence in the restaurant name. Definitely would like to come back and try some of the other options.

    Table setting
    Mark Y.

    First time here after seeing some other yelp friends post their reviews over the past year or so. Overall experience I'd say was good. The Friday we went was the day of the heavy thunderstorm so a coworker had to bow out leaving just two of us. The storm must've made others skip going out also because there were only two other people dining. Everything we ordered was fresh with my favorites being the Pork cheek Cher siu nigiri and the Uni handroll. The Unagi handroll and Maguro w/creamy avocado handroll were both good as well. Joe really liked the Blue crab w/truffke kanimiso handroll as well. Other things we got were: Nigiri flight (5 piece sampler of there premium nigiri,) various nigiri...Aji, Kampachi, Tai, and Hamachi. The sampler was a good starting point while the others were ok. Service was attentive and friendly, waters refilled often. I'm kinda on the fence about the QR code ordering system, it was convenient to be able to order when you wanted and not having to wait for a server to come by but I did miss the interaction with the servers when ordering. It was a good experience, I'm always open to trying sushi places I haven't been to and some if the take out roll sets looked interesting, something I'd be back to try.

    Chas S.

    A favorite spot for a pleasant but quick dining experience. You'll definitely need reservations (Open Table) but with tablet ordering and a choice to be served piece by piece or all at once, you actually could be in and out pretty quickly. I'm not sure when they added ramen but my neighbor's bowl looked pretty solid. A few other menu tweaks and additions since they opened and a nice technology improvement which now allows you to order the sushi temaki sets through the app. Something for everyone here now. Free parking in all the nearby structures. I kinda love coming to this spot and this micro-neighborhood within the new Kakaako.

    Blue crab hand roll
    Joe K.

    A rainy night changed our party from 3 to 2 last minute. No worries ...2 at a sushi bar is much more manageable for conversation. 2 was also better for ordering nigiri which all came in pairs. Segue: the menu is available at your seat... specifically tied to your seat. You order directly from your QR link and you run a tab as you go along. Most of what we ordered was shared. So the separate ordering and tab thing might have been weird...but we figured it out. Getting back to the rainy night...the place was empty. That meant as we ordered things were served almost immediately. Plus side: no waiting. Down side: Also no waiting - everything served at once. The nigiri (we had flights plus additional plates), sashimi, and hand rolls were all very fresh and tasty...SUPER FRESH UNI! We also did a flight of 6 sakes (in super cute cups with koi on the bottom). Food was a 5. Ambiance 4.5 (kind of an awkward entry way with take out boxes pilled high). Service just plain weird and awkward...nary a word spoken to us...although they fawned all over the woman sitting next to me that refused to order in the app...hard to rate but it left me feeling the place is more 4 than 5.

    salmon, tuna, and hamachi sashimi
    Diana K.

    Got the sashimi special (salmon, ahi, amberjack) and it was super high quality and delicious. Heads up, their nigiri rice is pre-made with soy/gluten in the vinegar, so ask about allergies. Staff is super kind and helpful though.

    BLUE CRAB HANDROLL**
    Brooke Y.

    Love going here and was so excited to see they had lunch specials! I normally only save Nori bar for elevated dinning experiences or special occasions due to the price and portion size, but to my surprise they had a very reasonable lunch menu. We loved the spicy dynamite bowl it was a filling portion and tried the blue crab truffle hand roll which was incredible. The service was quick and friendly. They have QR codes for you to have no contact ordering but the staff is there to help. It's so fun to watch the chef prepare your hand rolls right in front of you! Parking in the Ward area is free and in a walkable neighborhood.

    Maddie M.

    Absolutely love, love, love it here. Nori Bar has such a chill, intimate vibe--it feels like a little hidden escape. The ambiance is cozy and low-key, perfect for a relaxed night out. That said, it's definitely best for small groups. I wouldn't recommend going with more than three people since seating is at the bar--honestly, two is ideal for the full experience. Service is smooth and efficient, with most of the ordering done through their app, which makes everything feel seamless and easy. Every roll we tried was solid, but the crab and truffle hand roll completely stole the show. It was so good I'm still thinking about it. The balance is perfect--the sweetness of the crab with the richness of the truffle--and they don't hold back on the truffle. It's not just a hint; it's bold, present, and absolutely delicious. I would come back again and again for that roll alone. She's the star of the menu

    Hamachi Kama

    Walked over earlier this week with some buddies. I didn't realize how small this place was, so thankfully I'm glad we made a reservation. Got seated right away. This isn't no Genki Sushi so don't expect to get your order within a few minutes. The handrolls and nigiri are all made-to-order. Which was totally fine with me. I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen - the broth was rich and creamy and I really enjoyed it. It did fill me up so I just ordered 4 handrolls. They have an option to select "less rice" which I probably should have. Super easy to order - either with the server or scan the QR code and order via Toast. My buddy got the Hamachi Kama, always a good choice. I think I want to try the Golden Egg next time, it looked good! Not bad pricing - $5 - $7 per handroll, which you may think is overpriced, but the fish was fresh and tasted great. Overall, it was great experience and since it's walking distance, I think I'll visit again!

    Jenna R.

    Nori Bar Happy Hour! Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Stopped in again recently. My sister wanted to try Nori Bar and I wanted to try more things as well. Made reservations for 4:30pm via OpenTable. We were notified that it was Happy Hour until 5pm, perfect! Ordered a bunch of stuff on the Happy Hour Menu: Spicy Dynamite Cake ($18- shared between the 2 of us), Yakitori Chicken Skewers ($3/ea), Sochu Cocktails ($7/ea). I also wanted to try the other hand rolls so I ordered the 4 piece set, my favorite ones are still the blue crab and the spicy ahi. This place is still pricey but the food and drinks are good. I definitely still recommend trying this place. After coming here for happy hour, I can only see myself coming for happy hour and not during regular menu hours because of the price.

    Happy Hour Menu
    Karlo G.

    My first time at Nori Bar and this spot will be on my must visit rotation when in Honolulu. Located in the Kō'ula Shops, Nori Bar serves quality sushi hand rolls, nigiri, and other japanese dishes. The space is modern, trendy, and bar top seating. Their ordering is fully automated and lightning fast. As always, I highly recommend reservations. This is a popular restaurant and gets busy very quickly. Their main menu has sashimi sets, nigiri sushi, premium rolls, and hand rolls. I ordered the 5 piece sashimi, spicy ahi, 9 piece sashimi trio (, blue crab - truffle kanimiso, and maguro roll from the main menu. And since my visit happen to still be during their happy hour period, I also ordered a toki highball and chicken skewer from that menu. Everything was fresh and delicious! My favorites were the blue crab truffle-kanimiso, spicy ahi, and maguro roll. The chicken skewers were also tasty and worth the order. Their prices are reasonable and they have a great happy hour menu. Service was fast and the QR code ordering system is very convenient. Their happy hour period is from Sunday - Thursday, 2PM-5PM.

    Trying for first time!
    Laurie Y.

    This is a very trendy restaurant that is popular but expensive! Be sure to make a reservation as it gets very busy as there are only a few seats as it is a bar counter! Since it was a cold and raining today, I ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen for $19. It was good but everything like egg is an "add-on" ! Most places there is automatically an egg in your ramen!! I also ordered the blue crab with.mayonnaise hand roll for $6.50. The Nori was soft and chewy, not crispy or fresh as expected! This place is called the NORI Bar, NOT Acceptable! Plus, ordering online, paying online, why did I tip?

    5 ROLL SET (Build Your Own)

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    Nori Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Nori Bar

    Is there any way for me to just buy a bunch of truffle ponzu?

    I'm sure you can just call and ask. I ordered it but the dish so I'm thinking you can get some containers but they won't be a lot.

    Is there Happy hour?

    They advertise a happy hour at the restaurant but it's not found on their website. It's Sun-Thur 2-5pm and has a nice, diverse selection of food and drinks.;)

    View All 4 Questions

    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

    4.3
    (4.2k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$
    Free parking
    19 years in business

    The best Tonkatsu I ever have in the State. Tender and juicy…read more The portion is big too. I am taking my whole family of 10 to eat there this Friday. J visiting from Boston

    Ginza Bairin in Honolulu gave us such a fun little taste of Japan. Before we even walked in, my son…read moresaid the sidewalk leading up to the restaurant felt like Japan, with the trees and the curtain hanging down at the entrance. That detail set the mood right away. Inside, it is definitely larger and roomier than many places we've eaten at in Japan, but it still had that warm, simple, Japanese restaurant feel. We sat at a two-person table and still had plenty of room for all of our food, which is always appreciated because nobody wants to play plate Tetris during dinner. We ordered the Wagyu and the chicken tonkatsu, and both were so good. The Wagyu was especially fun because we got to grill it ourselves at the table, making the meal feel more like an experience than just dinner. The chicken tonkatsu was crispy, juicy, and exactly what we were hoping for. I also loved that they offer refills on the cabbage and vegetables, just like in Japan. It's one of those small touches that makes the whole meal feel more authentic. The highest praise came from my preteen, who said it was the best tonkatsu he's had outside of Japan. Honestly, that is a serious review from a kid who knows his tonkatsu. Great food, fun experience, nice ambiance, and a little Japan-in-Honolulu moment. We'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu
    Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu
    Special Katsu-don set
    Special Katsu-don set
    Katasu-don

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    Katasu-don
    Tonkatsu Tamafuji

    Tonkatsu Tamafuji

    4.6
    (2.5k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$$

    Tamafuji is honestly the king of tonkatsu on Oahu, and probably in Hawaii. I like other tonkatsu…read moreplaces on island but I (personally) don't believe anyone is playing in the same league. From their breading, meat quality, and ambiance, it's all fantastic. Compared to the upstairs restaurant, I felt like I could really enjoy my entire experience because I was less overwhelmed by noise and the small space. Their service is always great and friendly :-) I can't recommend this place enough!

    My cousins highly recommended this place, and after seeing so many Instagram posts about it, I knew…read moreI had to give it a try. We attempted to make reservations, but they were completely booked until the following month. Since we didn't want to miss out, we decided to order their most popular tonkatsu meal to go instead. When we arrived, there were already a lot of people waiting outside. I went in to check on our order, and they let me know it would be another 10-15 minutes. Since it was a hot day, we wandered over to the crystal-themed shop next door while we waited. It had lots of interesting items to browse, although we ended up leaving empty handed. About 15 minutes later our order was ready, and we Ubered back to our hotel, which only took a few minutes. When we opened everything up, the portion felt a bit small for the price. The tonkatsu itself was tender, but for us it didn't quite live up to all the hype. I did appreciate that you can choose clam soup instead of the traditional miso soup, and there are different rice options as well, which is a nice touch. Overall, it was a good meal, but not one that completely wowed us given the price. It's possible the experience would have been different dining in, but with the long waitlist and the hot weather, takeout was the better choice for us.

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Making the sauce
    Making the sauce
    Mix Katsu Set

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    Mix Katsu Set
    Marugame Udon

    Marugame Udon

    4.5
    (14.1k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Taste good and quality. Long line but fast served food. I will go back again. My daughter love udon…read morealso she will give. 5

    It's a rare treat when I fall in love with a place and rave about it so much that I have to have it…read moreagain. Not only that, but I have to bring my significant other along to share in the deliciousness! I don't know how I'm just now talking about Marugame Udon. When I first came here, my friend and I decided to give it a try because we saw the longest line and wanted to see what all the hype was about. There was a couple in front of us who said they come here every time they visit Hawaiʻi and that it's a must-do stop on every trip. When you walk in, it's a small place. You can watch a team member washing the noodles and portioning them into bowls right in front of you. Then you choose your bowl size, small or large, and select your broth. After that, you get to choose from a variety of fried items and other à la carte options displayed on a warmer. Seating can be limited because of how busy this place gets. You line up to get your food, pay for it, grab your condiments, utensils, and a cup of water, then find a seat and enjoy. I've already been here twice, and after writing about my experience, I need to make a third visit happen very soon! There are not enough days off in a week to enjoy all of the amazing food on this island, but I'm going to do my best to experience as many places as I can. This place is totally worth the 45-minute commute from Wahiawa.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Kake Udon
    Kake Udon
    Inside seating

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    Inside seating
    I-NABA

    I-NABA

    4.4
    (800 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    TL;DR This might be…read moremy favorite Japanese restaurant in town. Undisputed soba champion. ----- I'm surprised I haven't written a review for i-naba yet. This place has been a staple for my family ever since we moved back to O'ahu a few years ago. Bottom line? The soba noodles here are utterly fantastic. They are, in my humble opinion, the best on the island, and some of the best soba noodles I've ever had. I don't think anywhere else in Honolulu comes close. You come here to eat soba. Period. In addition to the soba being phenomenal, the other offerings at i-naba are also similarly great. Their tempura in particular is outstanding. I typically order the Jumbo Shrimp Tempura Bowl & Soba or the Dx Tempura Bowl & Soba. Plus an upgrade to a large size soba! The tempura is sooo good. It's crispy, light, and airy. The jumbo shrimp is especially succulent and tender. And the ingredients are always perfectly seasoned with the sweet and savory house sauce. Yummmy! If you're looking for the best soba and awesome tempura, this is your spot!!!

    Everytime I asked my Japanese clients which Japanese restaurant they enjoyed most in Honolulu,…read moreInaba consistently came up. And now I know why. I finally had lunch here a couple weeks ago and damn was my tempura and soba set broke da mout. The soba is housemade with a chewy consistency that I love. I had it cold with the dipping sauce and wow wow wow. So good. My friends suggested I get the shrimp and vegetable tempura as well which amazingly stayed crispy the whole time I savored each bite. Probably 30 minutes. Light crisp batter on perfectly cooked shrimp and veggies. Damn it was good. The service was great as well and I cannot wait to go back. Nice warm atmosphere and there's a free parking lot. It gets busy during lunch and dinner, so get there early or make a reservation. Enjoy!

    Photos
    I-NABA
    Tempura Zaru soba with edamame rice
    Tempura Zaru soba with edamame rice
    Hana soba

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    Hana soba
    Kaimuki Shokudo

    Kaimuki Shokudo

    4.2
    (458 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Delicious soba and donburi! Fast and friendly service. Takes reservations. Large and spacious…read moredining area. Lunch and dinner menu are completely different. Will need to come back for dinner. Lunch and teishoku set available.

    I was really hoping to be wowed by this place because I have been eyeing it for some time…read more But... it was overall mid. We had the saba, which I would say was good. 3/5 Beef curry, which was ok, but the rice was dry. It seemed a tad bit undercooked. Enough to notice and be disappointed by texture and lack of moisture, so I didn't really eat the rice. Curry and beef was quite ordinary. 2/5 Chicken karaage was the only thing I did really like. Best I've had? No. But still great. 4/5 Rump cap was just really disappointing. No flavor and it was not tender. 1/5 Unagi chazuke had good flavor but again the rice was dry. Here is where the service did not impress me. The man who came to pour the broth did it so fast like he was in a rush, maybe he was, that droplets of the broth ricocheted onto my outfit went through and reached my thighs and actually hurt. I didn't react because... well... I didn't want to seem whiny. But that was not ok to be in such a rush that you cause harm or pain to a customer. 1/5 for the service, 3/5 for the dish Overall, wanted to love this place but it sadly disappointed. I didn't even bother to order the honey toast because everything else was overall just ok.

    Photos
    Just an opening 11/15/25. The restaurant was filled within minutes. Featuring Yelp Elite All Star Donna O.
    Just an opening 11/15/25. The restaurant was filled within minutes. Featuring Yelp Elite All Star Donna O.
    Chicken kaarage
    Chicken kaarage
    Their famous " Honey Toast"

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    Their famous " Honey Toast"
    Rinka

    Rinka

    4.1
    (655 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Highly recommend the sushi sets for lunch at Rinka! Stopped in for a lunchtime double date on a…read moreSunday in early March and was able to get seated without a reservation. I got the Sashimi Set, which came with rice, mini udon, chawanmushi, and 2 small side dishes. The fish was fresh and I liked the variety of foods in the set that all complemented each other. The meal was filling. Service was friendly, and the ambiance was lovely with plenty of seating.

    Just ate here for dinner, had to use a Resy credit. Had reservations for two at 5:30 pm…read more Service was good, wife and I were seated promptly, given waters, and didn't have to wait too long for orders. Vibes were nice but I agree with prior reviews that tables feel a tad low and close together. I can see this place getting crowded during dinner hours, or if they get a lot of takeout orders. I ordered the blue fin bowl, wife ordered the homemade soba with tempura, and we ordered two sake flights, the "traditional" and the "light." The food was decent--I appreciated that my order included udon, a small salad, and tempura. Sake flights were pretty good. All-in with a 20% tip, it came out to ~$175, not including the Resy credit ($50 with Amex gold). With the Resy credit, I can dig it. Without it, I'm not sure. The food is tasty and portions are good, but it just feels like I've had more impressive sashimi/sushi for comparable prices elsewhere.

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Grilled unagi (deluxe)
    Grilled unagi (deluxe)
    Beef sukiyaki

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    Beef sukiyaki
    Izakaya Tenkichi

    Izakaya Tenkichi

    4.6
    (250 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Came here on a Thursday night around 6:30 for dinner. I had to circle around the parking lot to…read morefind a stall, and I believe they recently added a QR code to pay for parking. I'm not really sure how the validation works for it though. We didn't have reservations but were seated right away. To start off, I got the shikuwasa calpico drink. I feel like a lot of places don't have shikuwasa, so I'm really glad I can get it here. They also had a lot of other fun drinks on their menu that I would love to come back and try. For three of us, we ordered a bunch of small things to share. We got the brie, cold chicken dynamite, sweet potato, and hamachi roll. It also came with different types of salt to dip it in. All the food was delicious, but my favorite was the brie. This restaurant is fun and high energy. Service was excellent and super helpful. I would definitely recommend coming here!

    My brother has been recommending this place so I am glad I finally got to go for dinner! We got a…read moremix of regular and seasonal menu items. The hamachi with sesame sauce was ok, I prefer hamachi cooked though. The negitoro avocado rolls were tiny but decent and fresh tasting. The 5 types of tempura had a light crispy batter and were good. My favorites were the seasonal specials of hamachi kama (huge, meaty piece!), spicy chicken, and sukiyaki tofu. The spicy chicken was not very spicy at all, maybe a 1 or 2 out of 5 stars. It was refreshing and reminded me of Chinese chicken salad with the Chinese parsley and peanuts. The sukiyaki tofu was simple but good and not too sweet. The ambiance made me feel like I was in Japan and the staff were very attentive. Great service! The people preparing the food are right in the center and they are a well oiled machine cranking out dishes without breaking a sweat or raising their voices. The noise level can get a bit loud from diners having a good time.

    Photos
    Steep stairs. Much easier to navigate going up. Going down after some adult beverages? Better use the handrail
    Steep stairs. Much easier to navigate going up. Going down after some adult beverages? Better use the handrail
    Yuzu Cheese Cake ($5.50) - really sweet, especially with the granola. Would recommend getting a different dessert.
    Yuzu Cheese Cake ($5.50) - really sweet, especially with the granola. Would recommend getting a different dessert.
    Dinner Menu (1 of 12) as of 3/5/2026

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    Dinner Menu (1 of 12) as of 3/5/2026
    Musubi Cafe Iyasume

    Musubi Cafe Iyasume

    4.5
    (5.4k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $

    If you think 5,400 reviews are lying, let this one be the reason you make sure to visit this local…read morebusiness when you're in Honolulu. It was love at first bite for me with musubi and onigiri, so when I saw a spot dedicated to this deliciousness you better believe I made a point to go there! I ran even faster when StaciLei, Yelp Hawaii's amazing Community Manager, told me it's a must and gave me her list of greatest hits and must not miss items as a guide! Now I've had a lot of these in my life, and I must say, Iyasume are easily the best. See musubi and onigiri have humble origins as a quickly made homespun snack or on the go lunch, and when you spot them in the convenience environment they're often a giant ball of rice with a tinge of protein or seasoning for flavor. At Iyasume, these are culinary adventures, stacked with ingredients, all in handheld form, and the variety they offer is IMPRESSIVE! Of course musubi starts with the classic, SPAM. I had to order the kimchi + spam, shiso + spam, and unagi + tamago + spam, all of which were awesome (even the next day!). Onigiri here are actually layered with ingredients, so you get them in every bite, unlike the convenience store versions! They have a HUGE menu, and I went with spicy mentaiko and salmon, spicy mentaiko and ikura, ikura and salmon, and tuna mayo curry, all of which were great. I LOVE that they make these to order. You can see the line in the back hard at work, and they're very fast. You're sure to encounter a line when you arrive, but don't be scared, it moves quickly. I only had to wait about 5 minutes for mine to come up! Well worth it. Reasonably priced. Very filling. A taste of Hawaii and Japan in one place that'll have everyone smiling!

    Friend recommended this spot and I'm grateful she did. There were so many fresh and interesting…read moremusubis to choose from. I bought kimchi spam, eel spam, inari spam, and a furikake rice ball. Didn't really interact with staff as they didn't offer to help while I viewed the items and I selected my items fairly quickly. I found purchasing four musubis very affortable. Finding parking was tough and expensive in the area. Not the restaurant's fault and probably drivers are not the bulk of their business.

    Photos
    Inside the shop
    Inside the shop
    Teriyaki Spam & Rice with Hawaiian drink
    Teriyaki Spam & Rice with Hawaiian drink
    Black pepper spam musubi and inari-egg spam musubi

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    Black pepper spam musubi and inari-egg spam musubi

    Nori Bar - sushi - Updated July 2026

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