Norinori Test Kitchen & Izakaya blends modern Japanese dining with a creative, approachable menu that balances traditional flavors and contemporary presentation. The space has a clean, minimalist design with a mix of counter and table seating that creates a relaxed atmosphere without feeling overly formal. I stopped by to try their newly launched brunch menu, which adds an interesting daytime twist to an already solid lineup. The spicy scallop handrolls were easily one of the highlights of the meal. The scallops tasted incredibly fresh with a natural sweetness that paired nicely with the gentle heat from the spicy sauce. The rice was well seasoned, and the crisp nori added the perfect amount of texture, making each bite balanced and satisfying. They were simple, well executed, and something I would absolutely order again. The tonkatsu sandwich was just as impressive. A thick piece of pork katsu stayed remarkably juicy while maintaining a crisp, golden crust, all served between soft, pillowy slices of bread with just the right amount of savory sauce. It managed to be rich without feeling heavy and easily ranks among the better Japanese sandos I've had in the area. Service throughout brunch was warm and attentive, with dishes arriving at a comfortable pace that made it easy to enjoy each course. Even as the restaurant became busier, everything felt well organized, and the kitchen did a great job serving items like the handrolls while the nori was still perfectly crisp. Norinori's brunch menu is a welcome addition to Boston's Japanese dining scene. Between the fresh seafood, thoughtfully prepared hot dishes, and consistent execution, it offers something that feels both familiar and unique. Whether you're stopping in for a few handrolls or a more substantial meal like the tonkatsu sando, it's a place that's easy to recommend and one I'll gladly return to. read more

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The food was disappointing and definitely not worth the price. Everything we ordered was overly mushy, and the texture made it difficult to enjoy. For what they're charging, I expected much better quality and preparation. The portions also felt small compared to the price. Unfortunately, this was one of those meals where you leave wondering what you actually paid for. There are much better options for the same price...or less. I wouldn't return. read more

Norinori - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Came here with a friend to finish out our Notoro restaurant group tour! This is at the end of the green line in Cleveland Circle. I loved the izakaya theme, with the dark and suave decor and the beer mugs for water and beverages. We shared the spicy edamame and the nori fries, both of which were solid. The fries came coated in a flavorful nori seasoning and were served with a tasty mentaiko mayo. We each ordered a set of the handrolls - I got the classic set (tuna, salmon, yellowtail) and my friend got the spicy set. We also each added a snow crab Cali. The handrolls were delicious, definitely a bit smaller than the Matsunori versions. The spicy ones seemed to lack any spice? I'd come back for the handrolls and to try more items on the menu. read more

Norinori - Snow Crab Cali - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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4/5 - 8/7/26 I stopped by Norinori in Brookline for lunch and came away impressed. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, which creates a more intimate atmosphere. Because of the size, the servers were always nearby, making the service attentive and efficient throughout the meal. For lunch, we ordered the Classic Hand Roll Set ($15), Signature Hand Roll Set ($17.50), Tonkatsu Don ($16) with Nori Fries (+$2), and the Curry Tonkatsu Don ($16). The hand rolls were definitely the highlight of the meal. The fish tasted fresh, the nori was crisp, and each roll had its own unique flavor profile. I especially enjoyed the variety offered in the Signature Set, which made it fun to try different combinations. The Tonkatsu Don was also very good, with a crispy pork cutlet and a generous portion for lunch. The curry version added another layer of flavor without being overpowering, and the Nori Fries were a great side to share. One thing I appreciate about Norinori is that it's a more approachable way to experience the Notoro Hospitality Group. While it isn't inexpensive, it is noticeably more affordable than its sister restaurants, Matsunori and Mai, making it a great option if you're looking to try their food at a lower price point without sacrificing quality. The restaurant has a modern Japanese aesthetic and felt clean and welcoming. It wasn't overly busy when we arrived, and service remained quick despite a steady flow of guests. Overall, I'd give Norinori 4/5 stars. The fresh hand rolls, flavorful lunch bowls, attentive service, and more accessible pricing compared to its sister restaurants make it a spot I'd happily return to for a quality Japanese lunch in Brookline. read more

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Great service and vibes! They're known for the wagyu beef tongue but I found it underwhelming. It tasted like it was just doused in soy sauce. BUT the miso butter cod was amazing - each bite melts in your mouth. The karaage was nice and crispy too, and the mentaiko udon had a good kick! Otherwise, hand rolls were alright. The seating and ambience was definitely the highlight for a night out read more

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Second time here and I'll be back yet again. All of their hand rolls are delicious - I tried the salmon, yellow tail but my favorite was the miso cod. It's a must try, and you can also get it as an entree, their version of a bento box. It comes with miso soup and a delicious cabbage salad, which I could eat all day. The mocktails are quite good, but the portion is tiny. read more

Norinori - Salmon handroll - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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The food at this spot was good but overpriced for the portions. What left a sour taste was the experience during and after dinner was all set. While we were eating 3 workers asked us how the food was multiple times. This made our group feel rushed. After dinner, we were overcharged for the rice and crab croquette. The server and manager corrected it in their system, but then they double charged our rice after waiting 10+ min. Nothing was done to turn the experience around. We will not be returning to this shady spot. Who knows how many people they took extra money from... please check your receipt before you leave. read more

Norinori - Yakiniku, Miso Butter Cod, Burrata Salad - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Being this is a fresh opened sister restaurant to Mai's and Matsunori (which we enjoyed both; matsunori a bit more then Mai's.) The IG handler was very kind and i was able to get reservations for Vday / anniversary dinner where most other places were fully booked. We arrived hour early just in case and found street parking by the green line down the block. Luckily we decided to pop in early, apparently our reservation that was locked in... haha they didn't have it in the system but not a problem. They accommodated us without issue. There is bar top seating and tables in a large space. Bigger than their other two restaurants. There did feel like a more surround sound speaker system in the space would tie something missing together more. The staff were very nice. We knew it was still soft opening essentially and there would be some things to work on. Now their hand rolls are not open faced, they are closed and rolled up fully. Our server did let us know the rolls are about 1/2 the filling as matsunori but you could double up for +$4 per roll. It's mostly rice but for the price it was good for us overall. They also had dry aged beef with cavier (4oz) for Valentines however it wasn't what we were interested in this evening. We ordered the following: - agedashi tofu: I personally didn't care for this after tasting it. Our order was not hot, and they do it in a different way than i was expecting but the flavors worked fine. I prefer the umami soup broth this dish usually is prepared with. - karage chicken: crispy, tender chicken with dipping sauce, can't go wrong i always get this if it's available. The difference is instead salty flavored karage with a spicy mayo dip, it came with a honey mustard style dip. -Nori fries: crispy, not over cooked, seasoned well with mintako mayo! I'd order 2 of these extra seasoning please! Hand rolls: 4x Miso Cod: buttery goodness like the other locations. I really enjoy the simple clean flavor of this roll and probably my favorite. 1x salmon 1x spicy salmon, fresh naturally buttery proteins. 1x spicy tuna: a favorite has sweet potatoes fries strips in there! This was good roll. 1x toro: definitely didn't get much toro in our hand roll, didn't taste this one and it usually is my favorite fish protein. Looked inside opening it up and i got a very small smear of toro. 1x spicy crab : fresh and light, i didn't get any spicy notes from our roll this evening though. 1x spicy scallop: good flavor and texture combo. I love scallops and this hand roll will be ordered again. We didn't opt for the extra fish, i thought the price point overall was good, maybe a tad more filling no need for double in my opinion. Gyukatsu: now we debated for awhile on this dish or a bowl of the miso cod entree, (will have to try the cod entree next time). The batter it's fried in was clean and crispy. The beef was a medium well (i would have liked it more medium) but overall the temp of the fish came out and it was not hot, which was unfortunate. I think it's a good dish, we got the bento (includes miso soup and salad). I would get this again but need make sure it comes out HOT. The curry sauce is good however, you only get a small amount of curry in a little condiment container (like for ketchup dip). As someone who eats a curry dish with rice typically i would want curry to be enough for the meat and rice not just to dip each piece once. Service was slammed felt like for a busy night they needed more help haha but I'm sure they'll iron out the kinks. No refills on water, until we were able to flag down our server near the end of our meal. We also were missing the miso soup and salad from our bento, which eventually came after being able to get our server. He was very nice I wasn't upset or anything. I get it slammed night and soft opening. This place will do well i believe. I like the menu and offerings overall. For me probably Nori Nori - Matsunori- Mais. Each has their stronger points than the others but that's my ranking for what we like! Will be back soon! read more

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This restaurant has the same owners as Matsunori so my expectations were that it would be similar. They have bento "boxes" here which is different from Matsunori so we tried the Miso Butter Cod and Yakitori bentos. They arent in actual boxes but just bowls and come with salad and miso soup. The cod was delicious and I would highly recommend that. The yakitori was a bit tough but flavorful. We also got a Salmon Ikura roll. The rolls are all half the price but also half the size. You can add more of the filling for $4 extra. For appetizers, we got the nori fries and karaage. They were both good but nothing particularly special about them and I think a little expensive compared to the quality of the other items on the menu. Our server was great and always checked in on us. The general ambiance was just okay. The place seems like it's trying to be fancy-ish/higher end but the tables and chairs don't quite fit that theme. read more

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Soft opening review. On this day the heaters were broken. Everyone had jackets on inside. A bit rough for the winter but hopefully it'll be fixed. The staff tried to make the best of it. Speaking of the staff.... they were amazing. Really tried to make the best of it all. So friendly. Very attentive. The best part of the night. I don't know how they weren't freezing. The place looks exactly like the restaurant that was here before. The interior hasn't changed a bit. Maybe they will dress it up. The food. This was the soft opening menu so it is subject to change. Handrolls. Pretty good. Nothing too crazy, but the prices are really fair. It's basic but the prices reflect that. $5 for a salmon Handroll is pretty good even if it's basic. Hard to get good photos of handrolls. Nori fries were so good. The only app on the menu right now. It's worth getting. They have some bento box options but you can order the proteins for less money just ala carte. You must get the Yakiniku. That was excellent. Definitely the stand out dish. Tender steak. The most enjoyable dish. I had a slight issue with the fried chicken. It's listed on the menu as fried chicken but apparently unbeknownst to me, it's done in sous vide style first. So expect semi pink and chewy chicken. One bite told my brain it was raw but the chef said it's just sous vide. I've had steak done that style but never chicken. It's just not for me. They took it off the bill as we didn't eat it. That was super nice. The menu doesn't indicate sous vide so I was expecting a deep fried golden chicken breast. This is a dish I will avoid unless it's only prepared by frying in the future. Even when it came out it was a pale color fried batter, not at all like the darker Katsu chicken color I was expecting. Overall... soft opening was good. They're still working on things so can't judge them too hard. The staff was the stand out. Looking forward to an updated menu read more

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The hand rolls here were great! Everything tasted pretty fresh and came out in a timely manner. All the staff were extremely friendly and attentive which was wonderful. The ambiance offers a very chic and modern vibe which was perfect for some drinks and appetizer's. The only issue I found was that the automatic tip started at 22% which seemed a bit distasteful. Other than then, great place and I'd come back again. read more

Norinori - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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Great food and vibes at NoriNori! The bento set is pretty worth it with the amount of food given. My dining partner and I ordered the beef tongue bowl which was so delicious - beef tongue was tender and melted in our mouths. The set comes with miso soup and a salad. We also ordered the karaage which seemed like it was fried in a rice flour batter to give it the extra crunch and taste. We also ordered a handroll each and while my handroll was only $5, I wish it was more packed. It looked like they skimped out on the fish. There is an option to order double protein but that's also almost double the price. Service is mainly great though one suggestion I'd make to them is to be flexible with their rule about the full party being there before being seated. I arrived on a Tuesday around 5:30pm and they wouldn't seat me until my other dining partner arrived (I told them they would be here in 10-15 mins). The place was basically empty besides one other table of two. I understand why the rule was there but it was a little silly given the situation. I did see however when I was mid dining that they eventually sat non-full parties... read more

Norinori? More like no-way, no-way. Test kitchen? Not sure what they're testing, but I think it failed. I have a mathematical theory - that the closer a restaurant is to a hotel, the worse it is. They are located in proximity to a population of jetlagged non-locals, I think their tastes depend on what airline they came in on. And if they're choosing to stay in Brookline, wellllllll This place is comically bad. They sell bento boxes that come as a series of disordered plates, which is not only a lie but also kind of defeats the purpose. A bento box lets you kind of wander around different tastes and choose your own adventure. This is just an excuse to lock you into 4 things and then give you less of each. The handroll I ordered was a study in sadness. It had been sitting somewhere warm for what I estimate to be the entire day, turning the nori to that stuff you use to stick posters to the wall. The fish was fine but I feel like it was looking down from the afterlife in horror at how it had been served. And for dessert? Green tea matcha mochi - roughly the shape and consistency of the ones you get from Trader Joe's. Staff is nice. They even asked for feedback, bless their hearts. read more

We were able to visit Norinori during their second week of soft opening! It's a new, reasonably priced handroll spot that opened in Cleveland Circle, right by Boston College. If you're familiar with Matsunori Handroll Bar in Brookline & Mai in Seaport, a fun fact is Norinori is managed by the same group, NoToro Hospitality Group! Very similar to both restaurants but prices are friendlier. Most rolls here were around $5-6 & they have bento boxes (comes with choice of protein, rice, soup, & salad) for ~$19-27, depending on the protein you choose. The only handroll they have that is more than $5-6, is the toro roll ($11). Still decently priced though in my opinion! Here's all the dishes we ordered: --Hand rolls -- -spicy salmon ($5.50) -salmon ($5) -spicy tuna ($5.50) -spicy scallop -spicy blue crab ($6) -miso butter cod ($6) ; ordered 4! -toro takuan ($11) For hand rolls, if you want more fish, you can pay $4 extra per roll for double fish. Exception for toro-- $6 extra. Server told us that the rolls are smaller than the ones at Matsunori, ~1/2 the fish in the rolls here & have more rice to fish ratio. All the rolls were delicious + fresh, but our favorite was the miso butter cod... SOOO GOOD! Highly recommend. --Appetizers-- -chicken karaage -agedashi tofu -nori fries ($11) We thought this was an interesting take on agedashi tofu... wished we could've enjoyed it hotter; arrived lukewarm unfortunately so it wasn't a big hit for us. We're used to this dish in a broth & we enjoy drinking the broth with the tofu. The chicken karaage came with a honey mustard sauce. I personally prefer a spicy mayo dip & savory taste more, over this sweet take. The nori fries were the best app we ordered. Fries were crispy & mentaiko mayo sauce paired exceptionally well! --Bento Boxes-- -gyukatsu bento $27 ($22 for just the beef cutlet). Comes w/ rice, miso soup, & salad. Initially, the gyukatsu came on its own, followed by the rice, however, after 20 min we realized that the two other sides that the bento boxes come with likely won't come. So, we tried to get the attention of our server & other staff that came near our table but it was pretty difficult getting the attention of anyone lol. Eventually, we were able to notify our server that we never received the rest of the sides & he was able to grab them for us in ~10 min. We understood that soft opening can be hectic, so it was no problem! This beef cutlet was pretty delicious & I love that the restaurant offers bento boxes with sides. I feel like not many restaurants do bento boxes in general & if they do, it's usually only a lunch special + not an option at all for dinner, so I thought that was cool! ***for the bento boxes, you have the option to choose if you want rice, salad, & soup for a few dollars more. Or can opt for just the protein!*** Overall, I'd say, Norinori is my favorite of the three handroll restaurants. It's affordable and seemed to offer more options other than hand rolls on their menu! Definitely plan to visit again soon. Parking: it's a bit tricky. There is a parking lot w/ meters by Cafe Landwer but it gets packed quick. Also meter parking by the train. read more

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Great date night spot! Had a craving for hand rolls and decided to check out Norinori. All the hand rolls were fresh and a good amount of fillings. Our favorites were the Miso Butterfish and Snow crab cali hand rolls. We also tried the Nori fries, Lychee Martini, and some Japanese whiskey, all were great. We came on a Tuesday night so it wasn't that crowded but the staff were great! They had great suggestions and we had a great time. Will be returning to try the rest of the menu. read more

NoriNori Test Kitchen is a standout. Everything feels intentional and thoughtfully prepared. We ordered all the beef bento boxes plus the fried one, and each was solid -- flavorful beef, great texture, and well-paired sides. The fried beef was especially good. Hand rolls were excellent across the board: eel, miso butter cod, toro takuan, spicy tuna, and salmon. The eel was rich and satisfying, and the miso butter cod was easily a favorite -- buttery and full of flavor. High-quality Japanese food done right. Would 100% return. read more

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Had the pleasure of dining at Nori Nori during their soft opening today. They specialize in bento boxes with options like beef, chicken, or fish, along with a nice variety of hand rolls. The restaurant is from the same owners as Matsu Nori and Mai. I ordered the yakiniku bento box, and it was excellent -- especially when paired with the wasabi. Definitely a must-try. read more

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Everything was so yummy and fresh! Our server Anthony was very welcoming, kind, and gave us great recommendations. The Miso butter cod bowl, the Salmon ikura handroll, and the toro handroll were my personal favorites. Will definitely be coming back to try more of the handrolls and sets :) read more

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Shandelle was very friendly and checked on us often to confirm that we good. We ordered nori fries, beef tongue, yakiniku, gyukatsu, spicy yellowtail, spicy salmon, spicy tuna, eel, blue crab, miso cod, and toro. My hungry boyfriend was so excited that taking pictures was not an option. He immediately started eating.... His favorite were the eel and the yakiniku. My favorites were the spicy yellowtail and the gyukatsu. My boyfriend also loved the wasabi and ordered it three separate times... he so crazy. read more

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Duc isn't just a server, he's the undisputed GOAT. LeBron chases greatness. Duc already caught it. This man anticipated everything before we even asked. Water? Already there. Recommendations? recommended. Empty plate? Gone before I realized I finished it. The food at Nori Nori Izakaya was incredible! If Duck ever enters free agency, every restaurant in the country should be offering him a max contract. Nori Nori better lock him down with a supermax (or a nice little bonus) because this is generational talent. 10/10. I'm pulling up again, and if Duc isn't my server, I'm requesting a trade -- in all seriousness, great stuff, will be back for brunch! read more

I don't typically do negative reviews but this was pretty rough. We got in, got told there was a 20 minute wait. I checked in at 25 minutes, they said five more minutes. They clearly forgot to check the waitlist as people were sat before us who came in after. I told them after 50 minutes we were waiting to be seated still and they sat us. We put in our order and they sold out of basically everything on the menu, people who arrived after us were eating the menu items we drove in to get from out of town. I'm sure the food is great (we got some hand rolls that were good) but we didn't get to have what we came in for. I'd like to come back and experience this place properly, but I'm overall pretty disappointed. read more

Amazing experience! Duc was our server, and he was amazing! He shared one of his recommendations, the Spicy Yellowtail Hand roll, it was so delicious. It had the right amount of spice and the yellowtail was fresh, nothing was overpowering and all the ingredients complimented each other. I say it's a must try if you're in the area. read more

Favorite new spot in the area. Will definitely be coming back! Loved the gyoza and the bento boxes, hand rolls were OK but great for the price!! I felt like they were almost there in terms of full ambiance and experience, but missed the mark in a few areas, probably just getting used to be open but the service was a little fast and pushy (super nice though, just felt like they hovered a bit and gave us our check before we were done). The chairs and tables needed work and the beautiful dishes were accompanied by paper straws and cheap napkins, which didn't fit the vibe?? Also we got the matcha ice cream and it felt like they just took them out from a Frozen package you get from Trader Joe's. Maybe some garnish or something would've helped make it more special. Overall though, fantastic first experience and will be our new fav date spot. Partner thought the drinks were just OK. Not very strong and inventive, although I did like my matcha martini. read more

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I really wanted to like this place but I left disappointed and full of rice. 5/5 service 5/5 ambience 2/5 parking/accessibility if you don't live in the area 2/5 handrolls (seriously, all rice) 4.25/5 non handrolls items (notorious for small portions) We were charged 4 bucks per water bottle when tap water would have been fine. There was no mention of an up charge, and we weren't given an option for tap mind you it's a "casual place". The place uses the term "rice forward" is their way of kindly saying the amount of fish you're getting is about close to nothing. Rice is 85-90% of the handroll, truly not an exaggeration. My party was pretty applaud by the amount of rice and lack of fish. I think the prices and troop here would be worth it if they actually provided fish in the handrolls. Service was wonderful! read more

Ordered the signature hand rolls and beef tongue! Super juicy and flavorful :) Super great vibes and decor read more

Norinori - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

This is an excellent addition to the neighborhood! Delicious drinks and fresh tasting food. The service is attentive and friendly. Cute ambiance. So happy it's here! read more

Nori Nori absolutely delivers. Everything we tried was excellent, but the standout dish was the beef tongue..perfectly prepared and full of flavor, easily the best bite of the night. Honorable mentions go to the monkfish liver hand roll and the snow crab Cali hand roll, both of which were outstanding and beautifully balanced. If you're into high-quality Japanese food and unique cuts done right, this spot is a must visit. Will definitely be back. read more

Norinori - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

This place is great! I love matsunori, but this place is going to be my new go-to. Our server Christian was lovely, it's a more casual vibe with a larger menu and drinks! Miso cod always slaps, but the ankimo was a sleeper hit, and the mango calipo sour was sooo killer. read more

Absolutely tremendous food. The Wagyu beef tongue is to die for. I ordered two portions and was still craving it when I got home. The meat was incredibly juicy and buttery, truly unforgettable. I will definitely be back. Customer service was excellent, the staff was super friendly, and the food quality and presentation were A+ at a great value. This is fine dining at its best, another outstanding Kevin Liu establishment. read more

Norinori - Wagyu beef tongue - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Had a great meal with friends. I had the miso butter cod bento. I was the informed you can add on a protein! I added the A5 beef tongue. Must go back to try more dishes. read more

Norinori - Miso Butter Cod - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Stopped by NoriNori during its soft opening. It's always exciting to see a restaurant group launch a new concept that blends elements from their other spots. I'm already looking forward to coming back to try the upcoming menu additions! Although they're currently serving dinner only, I think NoriNori would do exceptionally well for lunch. The bento box concept offers generous portions at a great price point, making it both satisfying and approachable. I also love that you can add a side of a different protein to complement your bento--we ordered the Wagyu beef tongue, and it ended up being our favorite dish of the night. read more

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It used to be good but now they doubled the prices on the main dishes and the menu has changed completely with all prices jacked up substantially, and the entree no longer includes the full set (miso soup, cabbage, and rice), and several items sold out. read more

I went in with my boyfriend for dinner and were very excited. We had Annie as our server, who was exceptional and helped us with the menu. I came for the bento and was super excited to have beef tongue. The flavor was simple and addicting, it felt like a piece of home. The fries were stellar and I would definitely come back for the and the sauce the come with is to die for. I also loved how the bento completed the salad and the miso soup it came with. Staff were super attentive during our time there and we ended up chatting away. Definitely coming back. read more

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Came here on Sunday night, and it was absolutely phenomenal! The beef tongue bento was so tender and tasty! The chicken nanbaan was also a top pick for me! (Great for gym rats looking for a high-protein meal). We also ordered the miso butter cod which was so buttery and melted in our mouths. The hand rolls were delicious! Loved the salmon ikura and spicy scallop! The food was paired nicely with the drinks we ordered! We enjoyed the forbidden mai tai, which came in a cute octopus cup. For those who like a more refreshing cocktail, I'd recommend the mango calpico sour. But our favorite was the matcha martini! Overall, excellent service and shoutout to Christian for serving us! He was so attentive and made sure our meal was perfect! read more

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Our server Tasha was so sweet! Food was amazing and the ambiance of the restaurant is so nice, definitely will take another visit soon! read more

Norinori - handrolls lychee martini - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

We originally tried to eat at Norinori on 2/14, but ended up coming back the day after as the wait was advertised as 1h30 (ended up being 2h30! before we got the text that our table was ready). In short, the pacing was off, the portions were small, and the meal lacked flavor. We ordered a Yakiniku Bento to share, 3 handrolls each, and an order of Gyoza (totalled $50/pp). The "appetizer" gyoza came out last and was completely burnt on one end, the handrolls were basically entirely rice (the $11 toro roll had three small pieces of toro). Last, the Yakiniku meat was cut super thick and bordering on well done. Overall, the food lacked flavor, and was generally poor quality. The service and ambiance were fine, definitely nothing to write home about. Definitely not worth waiting (if ever worth eating in general). We ended up going to Mai after and had a way better experience for only a slightly higher price point. read more

Norinori - Yakiniku Bento (very different to previous photos), and the Gyoza. - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

They open at 5:30pm for dinner but there will be a line because the restaurant is new and small. Try to line up around 5pm to get seating otherwise you'll be stuck outside in the cold. Once we were in the waiter was very nice and told us his recommendations and specials. The food itself was mediocre. We tried all three of the beef bentos: Beef Tongue, Yakiniku, Gyukatsu and each ordered a handroll all for ~$120, making it about ~$40/person. Our rice and meat came first then after a little bit of the wait, the miso soup and salad came out. Despite being a "bento" where you expect unified presentation all in one, everything felt disjointed and came at different timing. The presentation was very poor despite essentially paying ~$40/person. The portions are small-average and came with very little rice. Everyone in my party came out of the restaurant hungry. If you're a big eater, this might not be the place for you. The only one that might be worth your time is the Beef Tongue, primarily because of the sauce it came with. The Gyukatsu, despite being breaded beef somehow tasted like chicken katsu and the curry sauce tasted like boxed curry. The Yakiniku, the meat was extremely bland despite having a "Yakiniku sauce" and was completely well-done. The handrolls were mediocre and barely had filling, there was an option to "double the price to have the same amount of filling as Matsunori". While we were eating, the staff would come and take our plates and bowl mid-bite. As soon we all were midbite into our handroll, a staff came over (while our mouths were full) asking if they could take the plate. Then they would keep consistently come back asking to take our bowls and other plates when we were not done eating. This could just be bumps because they are in their soft opening. But if I had to wait 1-2 hours for this food in the cold, I would be extremely upset. I don't think I plan to come back if this is how the food and service will continue to be. It's just hyped because of TikTok and Instagram food influencers. read more

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Came in to eat to try some east coast sushi since we just moved here from CA. Our waiter Jamie was SO nice, warm, and attentive. We ordered the miso cod, the arrangement of hand rolls (the tuna and yellow tail were the best), we ordered some mocktails, zucchini, cabbage salad, steak, and mochi. Everything was absolutely divine. Our favorites were the steak, cabbage salad, zucchini, and miso cod. The cod and our second round of zucchini took a little longer than expected so they compt that for us (which they didn't have to but so appreciated). We loved it and will definitely recommend it and come back!!! read more

Soft opening review. Great spot for sushi and bento. The sushi rolls were priced right and tasted very fresh. I also tried the bento box Wagyu burger -- fried just right and super tender. Everything hit the mark. Will definitely come back. read more

Norinori - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Our first time at NoriNori and we had all the high expectations from the Notoro Group, as Mai and Matsunori were such a huge hit, and it did not disappoint one bit. NoriNori had beautiful ambiance and lighting that creates a chill and casual vibe. Our group did end up ordering most of the bento boxes to share. I definite trying the Beef Tongue, it was so good we forgot to take a single picture of it. All the Handrolls were a standout as usual. Our server Annie was super helpful and guided us through the menu. Her attentiveness made our experience an 11/10 one. We will definitely be coming back in the future! read more

Norinori - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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