Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone, One Sushi Bite at a Time! So, I'm on a little journey to expand my palate and become more adventurous when it comes to sushi! It's not something I eat regularly, but I'm all about trying new things, so I decided to stop by Nori Nori in Houston's Chinatown area. And let me just say, I'm so glad I did! Of course, I had to kick things off with an Espresso Martini! And baby, it did NOT disappoint! Smooth, delicious, and definitely a great way to start my experience. Next up was the A5 Wagyu Nigiri, and OMG! I really enjoyed this one! The beautiful sear added such a nice touch, and the flavor was absolutely delicious. So good that I ended up ordering it a second time! Now, here's where things got interesting! My sushi chef, Tu, and I had been chatting about how I was trying to step outside my comfort zone and become more adventurous with sushi. Well, he took that as his opportunity to introduce me to something new! He recommended a hand roll but wouldn't tell me exactly what it was until AFTER I tried it. Y'all, it was DELICIOUS! Turns out, it was a Spicy Tuna Hand Roll, featuring spicy tuna, crunchy onions, crispy seaweed, pineapple, and this unique combination of flavors and textures that I honestly wouldn't have thought to put together. But somehow, everything worked beautifully! The pineapple added a nice contrast, the crunchy elements gave it great texture, and surprisingly, I barely noticed any heat from the spicy tuna. I was pleasantly surprised and proud of myself for trying something different! Look at me expanding my sushi horizons! And because I believe in ending things on a fabulous note, I wrapped up my experience with a Caviar Bump! But Tu took it up a notch by adding a little edible gold glitter! Now THAT'S my kind of extra! A little luxury, a little sparkle, and a whole lot of fabulousness! Beyond the food and cocktails, what really made this visit special was the hospitality and conversation. I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Tu, who was personable, knowledgeable, and willing to help me explore something new. I also had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Kong, the owner, and genuinely enjoyed our conversation. There's something special about visiting a restaurant where you can enjoy great food, have meaningful conversations, and feel comfortable enough to try something outside your usual routine. Overall Experience: 5/5 Nori Nori was definitely a win for me! Delicious food, a fabulous cocktail, wonderful hospitality, and a little gold-glitter luxury to top it all off! I'll absolutely be back, and who knows what sushi adventure Tu will introduce me to next! read more

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Nori Nori was as expected! I made a Saturday dinner reservation for 2 and we sat at the sushi bar. The space was small and modern. Service was excellent and I believe it was the owner who stopped by to check on us a few times throughout the night. I came here for HRW but after a bit of back and forth, I decided to go with the tasting menu as it was just too good of a value. We started with a Lycheetini and a mezcal on the rocks, and shared a bottle of sake. Their tasting menu was very extensive with many different options. I chose to start with the oysters and the hamachi crudo, followed by the nigiri flight with the fatty tuna (which literally melted in my mouth). I also had the lobster truffle, toro hand rolls, the lamb lollipops, the truffle mushroom pasta, and ended with the ube cheesecake for dessert. Quality, care and attention to detail were top notch for a restaurant at this price point and as a sushi snob that has had the chance to have had eaten at most of the good sushi spots in Houston, I look forward to returning for future diners including reverse happy hour as well as the AYCE omakase. read more

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My boyfriend and I decided to spend some time down in Houston during the Fourth of July weekend. We asked one of our friends for food recommendations and she suggested NoriNori. We love sushi, so we were excited to see what the restaurant had to offer! NoriNori is a sushi restaurant on Bellaire Boulevard in the Chinatown area of Houston. It was not busy at all when we arrived for dinner on Saturday. We were REALLY hungry, so we were glad we didn't have to wait to be seated. We decided to order a few starters to share, the Nori Fries and Oyster Shooters. The fries were warm and crispy! My boyfriend isn't a fan oysters, but he was pleasantly surprised this time around with these ones. The Oyster Shooters were dressed in Tabasco vinaigrette, masago, sake ponzu, green onion, and lemon. We also ordered eight different nigiris. There were a few that we requested, but our waitress would come back shortly after to inform us a few of them weren't available. It was unfortunate, but we opted for other choices that were available. The selection of nigiris we had were good, but not amazing. We ended up not ordering as much as we would have liked because it seemed like the quality and prices of items were not up to our standards. We were in and out of the restaurant in under an hour. The ambiance of the restaurant is intimate and classy. A nice spot for date night. It's really clean and the staff were friendly. The quality and price of the fish were the main downfall of our experience at the end of the day. read more

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Tried this place during HRW and it was so good! The salmon and scallop crudos were refreshing and the oyster shooters had a nice kick to them. The handrolls were filled to the BRIM and all were pretty good. My favorites were the hamachi and the salmon. The mushroom one was very alright to me. I also really enjoyed the truffle mushroom pasta. I was incredibly overfilled by the end of the meal. Service is also great here and I love the intimate vibes of the place. read more

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Small sushi bar more of a lounge. there is seating at the bar and some on the side along with some small round tables. They have some specials throughout the week. I tried their omakase which was a reasonable price of $70 per person. They also have a good happy hour for drinks. The service was also great. The omakase we had was a 10 course. All of the dishes had its own unique flavor. First was a nigiri of yellowtail, scallop, otoro, and foie gras. My favorite was the scallop. read more

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Delicious and fresh food, plus the drinks were AMAZING. Service was 100 and the ambiance was amazing too. read more

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Really fresh great food! Generous portions on the handrolls. Staff was nice, owner was present and very welcoming. We went for restaurant week and enjoyed the curated menu. I recommend the oysters shooters and the truffle pasta was filling! We didn't get cocktails because nothing sounded appealing on the cocktail menu but sake was good! read more

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My first omakase experience but hopefully not my last. Stopped by for dinner one evening with friends and we were seated at the sushi bar. We opted for norikase and it did not disappoint. Each dish was curated perfectly to take advantage of the best ingredients in season. The flavors were refreshing, dellicious, and it was clearly created by someone who understanda flavors. From a mushroom pastry, to handrolls, to nigiri, to the best bite of oyster (it had ice cream infused into the dish!), all the way to foie gras silky smooth egg, this was amazing. Almost as good as the food was the head chef and his staff taking their time to explain and interact with us throughout the night. He is self-trained with an obvious talent. A great night. read more

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Scallop foie gras nigiri is a must try! It's seared, smokey, buttery, and just amazing. I spammed those all night, but also had the chance to try out their handroll set and other dishes and drinks. I loved the hamachi handroll and also the spicy scallop (can you tell I love scallops). Both were zesty, bright, and refreshing. I also recommend the mango sticky rice cocktail, the foam on top was so good and it sorta tastes like coconut and pandan-y, but a great dessert drink. The staff and service was great, the chefs are very kind and the owner/manager hangs out and is very interactive with the customers! Great atmosphere and definitely worth checking out. read more

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Good food, great service, nice dim ambiance. Liked the omakase, left very full and satisfied. read more

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The food here was HEAVENLY. I came specifically for the Nori Box as advertised on social media and it absolutely surpassed expectations. It was accompanied by nori on the side and was perfect for 2 to share. Each row was distinctly unique, and bursting with flavor. The tuna had to be my favorite out of the selections. Don't forget to order the caviar for an extra pop of flavor! I also ordered the Chawanmushi which is the steamed eggs with foie gras, I added on the uni and... this dish was just heavenly. Perfectly rich and umami, with a melt in your mouth texture. UGH! I'm obsessed. The service was great - the staff was attentive and the ambiance was intimate and laid back. Highly reccomend. read more

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Good vibe, good service, i enjoyed dining here in general and will be back Food wise, i really like the lamb chops and soft crab hand rolls. It's very filling and the flavor is rich. Their truffle pasta is good. They are generous with the mushrooms. Probably the best thing I like is their dollar tinis is great value. Pretty strong and it's only $1 each. read more

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Nori Nori was a really good experience for Mother's Day lunch. The ingredients tasted super fresh. The oyster with Chutoro was definitely my favorite, it was a very refreshing and flavorful bite !I should've ordered more but maybe next time. The owner, or at least I think he was the owner... was incredibly nice. He started us off with passion fruit sake shots that were so good, and they also gave all the mom's roses for Mother's Day, which was such a thoughtful touch! I ordered the mamakase which included 10 courses for $70. We started off with the sweet shrimp crudo and the gochujang flavored scallop crudo. Both were super flavorful and refreshing. Then the nigiris came out and they were all really good. The seared scallop with foie gras was amazing! It literally melts in your mouth. Then the hand rolls came out! The filling was really good but the seaweed didn't stay crunchy long. The last item was the egg custard with foie gras. Now this dish was PACKED with flavor. It's such a great combo, I can't believe this was included in the Mamakase special! Everything was great, even the durian crème brûlée surprised me. It didn't have that overpowering durian smell at all and was delicious! Overall, it was a really nice lunch, and I'll definitely be back. read more

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I'd been wanting to try this place for a while, and Houston Restaurant Weeks gave my family the perfect excuse to finally visit. Since the restaurant is fairly small, I recommend making a reservation, especially for parties larger than two if you'd prefer a table over the sushi bar. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and while the food came out a little slower than expected, the elegant atmosphere and quality of the experience made the wait worthwhile. My family and I ordered a variety of dishes from the Houston Restaurant Weeks dinner menu, the tasting course, and the à la carte menu. Without a doubt, my favorite was the Nori Box, which my sister and I shared. Each piece of fish, including the scallop, salmon, tuna, hamachi, and toro, was paired with its own topping that complemented the seafood beautifully, making every bite unique. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Scallop Crudo and the Truffle Mushroom Pasta from the HRW menu. While I did not get to try The Core 4 myself, my dad could not stop talking about it. Another standout was the Lollipop Lamb Chops, which were incredibly tender, flavorful, and definitely worth ordering. For dessert, we shared the Durian Crème Brûlée. The aroma of durian was much stronger than the flavor itself, which I actually appreciated since I'm fairly neutral on the fruit. The one thing I would skip next time is the Hibiscus Breeze. It had an artificial floral taste that reminded me far too much of scented hand soap. Overall, this meal lived up to my expectations. Between the high-quality seafood, creative dishes, and inviting atmosphere, I can definitely see myself returning to work my way through the rest of the menu. read more

NoriNori - The Nori Box - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

We had Kaitlyn as our server! Best service you can get. Food was delicious. The ambiance was Very lively, favorite was the lamb chops. read more

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We had a great experience at NoriNori during their happy hour on Friday night. We got to try so many options and it's a great competitor to Handies Douzo if you're looking for more options to choose from. We walked in and it was busy Friday night and the music was popping. It does get a bit loud I could not hear the waitress but that's fine. Here is what we got- *Truffle mushroom pasta - 9/10, delicious * Spicy garlic edamame - 8/10 * Otoro nigiri - 10/10, honestly just really good nigiri which is standard in my opinion * Chutoro nigiri - 10/10 * Scallop Foie Gras nigiri - 10/10, absolutely melted like butter * BGB salmon hand roll - 7/10 * Hamachi hand roll - 8/10 * Spicy bluefin tuna hand roll - 9/10, my favorite!!! * Lychee tea - 7.5/10, basically a lychee green tea but the presentation was so pretty Great option for date night, girls night out or anything in between. Hand-rolls were great and I'll be back to try more menu items read more

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I went here for my birthday. They put out a cute little sign, and the staff was so kind. The inside has a nice ambiance and vibe. Table seating is limited for larger parties. The Happy Hour drinks are such a good deal. On Thursdays, they have $70 10-course omakase, which is chef's choice. The server will explain each of the dishes for you. Their Thursday deal is definitely worth it for omakase. The oysters and chawanmushi were definitely my favorites. The oysters were a good size, plump, and juicy. The chawanmushi was something different that I had never tried before and am so glad I got the chance to. The handrolls were the perfect ratio with not too much rice. Additionally, we got the crab dip, nori fries, and uni pasta. The fish was fresh. The dishes were unique. They put care into the quality and presentation of what they are putting out. They are worth the hype. I would highly recommend and will be coming back. read more

My husband and I came here to try their Omakase all you can eat at their 6 o'clock on Sunday. Time limit is 90 minutes. If you don't have any allergies , love raw fish, and can do a little bit of spiciness. You should definitely put this on your list. Almost everything was amazing. There was just 2-4 things I'm not a big fan of but so many more items I would order again. The staff are very kind and chatty. They truly show their passion into this. We had a good talk about almost everything and learned some new stuff. They have a day of menu for their omakase. After that menu is done, they give you a random dish, one after another, until the 90 minutes is up. For us, we were able to go through their menu of 15 items in almost an hour then spent the rest of the time trying off the menu items. I think we had about 26? before time was up. Along with some drinks and shots. We were extremely full at the end but I'm glad I didn't tap out early!! For those who are worried some things might be too spicy, the heat disappears after a few seconds so I won't worry about it. We came at night with reservations. The resturant is set for dates or friends get together/catchup who enjoy eating sushi. The bar table and high chairs were sturdy and there were purse hooks under the bar table. I look forward to them growing and expanding their drink menu. read more

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Came back for a quick bite before rounding the evening out with ramen. It was just 2 of us so we decided to get the nori box. Highly recommend. Every fish selection had great flavour, and it was actually kinda fun building your own bite sized hand roll. I think you could safely have at least 4-5 bites of each type of fish total. Left us feeling satisfied. Ube basque cheesecake was more like Ube cake than cheesecake- but still delectable nonetheless! read more

NoriNori - Ube basque cheesecake - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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We've been to NoriNori many many times. NoriNori is that girl -- the kind of spot you go to when you wanna feel a little fancy but still leave happily stuffed. The sushi is fresh, the presentation is giving art museum, and every bite feels expensive in the best way. Yes, your wallet might blink twice, but honestly? Worth it for the vibes alone. read more

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Tried Nori Nori recently and overall had a great experience. We started with the 5 banger set of hand rolls and the uni pasta, which was rich and flavorful. I wasn't wowed by any. After that, we ordered more nigiri like chutoro, otoro, scallop, foie gras, and kinmedai. The foie gras and chutoro were absolute standouts and easily my favorites of the night. The dessert at the end of our dishes was also my favorite. It was a matcha cream brûlée and my only complaint was that it was only filled 1/4 of the cup served. The only reason this isn't a full 5 stars is that some of the fish was still a bit cold when served. Also felt like the service was okay while sitting at the bar. I've had much friendlier vibes from the chefs at other sushi places. Still, high-quality fish and a solid menu so would definitely come back. read more

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Visiting again with my brother for lunch on Saturday. Was seated right away at the bar. The restaurant is fairly empty, nice and quiet. Opted for the lollipop lamp chops because I remember being really impressed with them last time. Glad to say that it is still very impressive, juicy and flavorful with a great sauce and salad. The truffle mushroom pasta was nice and creamy, rich but not overly cloying. We ended up taking most of it home to go. Finally, had the nori box. This was definitely an experience. From top to bottom in the picture was spicy tuna, scallops, tuna, salmon, and hamachi. It had good mix in's and each row was enough for 3-4 scoops with the provided wooden spoon to make your own mini hand rolls with the small nori sheets on the side. The fish was great, not too fishy, with the seasonings and sauces pairing well. The salmon had an interesting crunchy texture too. The nori box was $65 and easily fed two. This is definitely a finer end type of restaurant but it's also nice and casual. In total, ended up being about $150 for two people, but I was full and satisfied. I would really love to be able to try their AYCE Norikase, it seems like a really cool experience. Maybe next time! read more

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One of my favorite spots to go to in Bellaire. The staff and owner are a vibe, always know how to have a good time and likes to get to know their customers. I've been here multiple times for birthdays and special events and it seems like the best place for it. Last I came here for their mamakase and the price point and courses were perfect. $70 for 10 courses and I was full by the 8th course. I enjoy their scallop crudo and foie gras chiwarmushi (probably spelled that wrong). Their handrolls are also good and honestly can't go wrong with any of them. Definitely recommend their oysters though whether it's the oyster shooters or murder point. The only reason why I took away one star are because of parking gets stupid after 9:30pm and after hours tend to get loud/drunk. I did at first expect this place to be quiet and perfect for date night but it's more for like 'girls night' or birthday parties. read more

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NoriNori is one of my favorite restaurants in the Chinatown area! The fish is always fresh, and I love that they have an assortment of items beyond sushi/handrolls. Some of my favorites are the handroll sets, truffle pasta, and lamb chops! From the handroll sets, the BGB King Salmon, Toro, and Hamachi are my favorites. They really pack the handrolls with a lot of fish, and I like the unique combinations they put for each one. The seaweed stays crispy as they have a protective covering until you are ready to eat. The nigiri set was great as well and had a well rounded selection of fish. The truffle pasta is great and the lamb chops are very tender. For my birthday they surprised me with free matcha crème brulee and it was great. Service was great and the ambiance of the restaurant is nice for date night or for a special occasion. Overall, I really enjoy NoriNori and will probably go back again! Definitely book a reservation if you are trying to eat during dinner on the weekends, but if not there is plenty of seating. read more

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Amazing food. I loved the intimate setting. Service was great. For appetizers I got the oyster shots, Hokkaido scallop crudo, and miso soup. Oyster shots had a good flavor. My favorite appetizer was the Hokkaido scallop crudo. We decided to try the chef's 10 item special for $70. Everything was incredibly fresh and flavorful. I enjoyed it all! We also decided to try the hand roll set "the sugar daddy". Omg everything was sooo good! What a great spot, I definitely will be coming again. read more

Tucked inside a plaza amongst several other eateries on Bellaire, NoriNori is a small, welcoming restaurant that serves everything from happy hour to dinner, omakase, and even AYCE omakase. I like that they have good deals during happy hour and reverse happy hour. The interior is dim and atmosphere is vibey, space is quite tight if you dine in at a regular table. The menu includes a handful of apps, sushi, sashimi, and of course, handrolls which seem to be a big thing in Houston. The service was great and attentive, while the timing of the food was fantastic. The fish was fresh and nori was crisp (those plastic wrappers really help with the seaweed crispness, though not the environment). Drinks were tasty and there are mocktail options for those who prefer to go sans alcohol. I'll be back for omakase with friends to see how it compares to other similar restaurants. read more

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Girls night out on a Tuesday evening for all day HH at Nori Nori was great! We had reservations for the sushi bar. Located in a popular restaurant center with Jasmine so be aware, parking may be limited and congested. On a weekday, we didn't have any issues. The sushi bar has hooks below that allows use ladies to hang our purses. During the month of August, NoriNori was participating in the Houston Restaurant Week event. I end ordering from the restaurant week menu and the HH. I got to enjoy both the salmon and scallop crudos. The Core of handrolls (bgb salmon, toro, hamachi, and trio mushroom) . Entrees i also tried the truffle mushroom pasta and Lollipop lamb chops. The truffle was subtle and sauce was creamy. The lamb chops were cooked perfectly and seasoned where you didnt even taste any of the natural gamey you may get from lamb. Additional Handrolls i got were spicy scallop and shrimp tempura. I also got the foil gras scallop sushi. I seriously enjoyed every dish. The quality was great and the seaweed paper was perfectly crisp. We were also encouraged to try one of their signature items, the foil gras chawanmushi, which is steamed egg with foi gras and caviar. It was superb. You can also add on uni. Drinks were yummy and they even had mocktails. My Lychee tea was sweet and refreshing. Chef was entertaining, welcoming, and friendly. Getting the hint we were there for a friend's birthday and a girls night without the kids, the while crew made our night so much fun. The food, drinks, and ambience was surprising for the hidden sushi bar on Bellaire. Highly recommended and can't wait to go back as a date night. Hubby was jealous. read more

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I came for the Yujo Matcha event but ended up staying to eat sushi for lunch at the counter. Though the waitress took a really long time to come back and take my order, the sushi chefs were amazing and super skilled. Sitting at the counter, you obviously get to watch them make it and the presentation is 10/10! I got the glory bay salmon, spicy tuna and toro handrolls. Each one was delicious! The interior decoration of Nori Nori is so pretty, very aesthetically pleasing and they have a really beautiful moon on their wall. They have a sticker that says they're voted top spot for romantic date nights and I'd probably agree. especially at night, I bet the inside is so beautiful. The exterior is easy to notice and there's plenty of parking as well. I'd definitely come back! read more

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Amaing hand rolls and great service! My bf made a reservation ahead of time and it's good idea because the place gets booked out fast on the weekend. We sat at the bar, we got the full show of how the chefs make the rolls, even got to cheer with the chef with some sake they make in house :) Fish quality is fresh and delightfully yummy. I really like the toro and hamachi rolls. Toro is fatty rich and melt in my mouth. Hamachi is cirtusy and refreshing to eat. I was surprise the nori box is diy, but I guess it makes sense since it's a share box for two people. Chill vibe indoor, can hear everyone's chitchatting as the background noise but it's not loud. I'd say it's a good choice for a date night or celebration for something special. Amazing service too. read more

NoriNori - Nori fries - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Had an amazing date night at Nori Nori! We ordered the Nori Box to share with some hand-rolls and fries. All the food was tasty, and the fish was very fresh. Staff were very kind and helpful, always checking in. We even had a shot of sake that they make in house with our sushi chef We found out that they also have a happy hour! Will definitely be back again read more

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Hand rolls were DELICIOUS!!!!! Packed with so much flavor. I felt like I could eat 10!!! The toro hand roll was my favorite the texture with the crunchy seaweed, soft rice, and tender tuna was perfect. I will be back to try their pastas and other hand rolls. read more

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Came here a few times with my partner for their Sunday AYCE Omakase for my birthday and anniversary. We love this place so much for sushi! The omakase gave us a good idea on what we like best. Now, we come and order off the à la carte. The foie gras chawanmushi and hamachi hand roll are our favorites. The owner is so nice and friendly, love it when he's around! read more

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Absolutely delicious! The whole experience and chef here was amazing! The way they incorporate each hand rolls and nigiri's together was indescribable. We go here pretty often and sometimes we switch it up from, the nori box, the hand rolls, and the nigiri's. You can't go wrong with either of those! The pricing here listed along with their quality Is totally worth it! Chef Cong is truly a people's person! read more

My husband and I truly enjoyed our omakase experience here! I will never forget the foie gras chawanmushi. I dreamt about it for days after eating that dish!!! Service was fast, drinks were good and food was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend this place for an omakase experience because it is totally worth the price you pay! read more

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Came on a Thursday at 520pm (we had reservations for 530pm made online) and was promptly sat. Service was friendly and it was just in time for happy hour which on Thursday's is from 4-6pm. It was also Houston Restaurant Week as well so we decided to try it out. HH we ordered Scallop foie gras, Kinmedai, and Shimji Aji. All 3 delicious but the scallop foie gras was by far my favorite. So buttery and the flavors melded well together. Also ordered the chamanmushi and that was one darn good steamed egg. HRW we ordered Scallop crudo, the core, and truffle mushroom pasta. Scallop crudo was beautiful and delicious. Was close to slurping up the sauce. The core were solid my favorite was the hamachi I believe. The truffle mushroom pasta was OK. I wouldn't go out of my way to order it. Overall would come back and now I'm super curious about the AYCE omakase that's on the weekends read more

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We came on a Sunday and got some of the a la carte menu items! We tried the 5 banger; which includes the spicy bluefin tuna, spicy scallop, shrimp tempura, toro and hamachi. The hamachi was my favorite. I also tried the lobster truffle which was a 10/10! My friend was celebrating her birthday and they made a cute sign for her and gave her free sake shots! Great service and fun ambiance. We'll be back! read more

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We went for HRW and had the salmon and scallop crudo, nigiri flight, the core 4 hand rolls, lobster sando, and the lollipop lamb chops. The nigiri flight and the lamb chops were by far our favorite of the night. They do not skimp or cheap out the nigiri flight - it had otoro, hamachi, and other premium fish that were good size pieces. The lampchops have a great demiglaze with them. Didn't love the lobster sando, I was expecting it be toasted but nothing bad. Our waiter was very friendly and offered recommendations. I also love when they give you the HRW right off the back instead of hiding it. It's high end sushi but a casual vibe which i appreciate. I would definitely come back!! read more

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My go-to spot for special celebrations! Had a 3-yr anniversary dinner with my bf here and a few months later a grad dinner with my friends. Honestly this spot has some of the best sushi in Houston. Definitely a high-end restaurant and a little pricey, but it's honestly worth it. The servers all seem on the younger end, but they're all chill and professional. I highly recommend getting the oyster shooters, the truffle pasta, the bone marrow app, the nigiris, and handrolls (basically the whole menu). Oh, and did I mention they offer $1 martinis? Atmosphere: beautiful, dim, intimate, and cute for pics :) read more

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[3.5/5] I went for the AYCE offered on Sundays (set times, we rsvp'd). Detailed review for those who haven't gone before. The space: --Clean and beautifully designed --2 Bathrooms behind a door at the back, be careful it's pretty dark after the first door Experience: --Omakase did not start on time --Chef gave us the instructions that the AYCE is true omakase style in terms of it is all up to the chef, you can't pick and choose what you get. It starts with a set of courses (ours was 15-courses, see picture of menu) and then the AYCE part comes after that --Stated that the average they get to is around 25 total courses, but they will try to get to 30 (we got to 23 rounds before time ran out) --All young chefs joking together and having a good time, they were one of the best parts of the experience! They showed us the whole fish that they used for each course during the nigiri portion. Great to see where your piece comes from. --Def not traditional by any means (expected with the concept of AYCE omakase) Food: --Smoked salmon cornet {3/10}: A spin on cream cheese bagel and lox, the cone was sweet like ice cream.... 3/10 --Oysters: Namjim ~ more sweet, herby 7/10 Ponzu toro ~ great brine, best of the two, 8/10 --Amaebi chili: {8.5/10} Sweet shrimp on top of jelly. Good spice, weird jelly, didn't taste really like coconut. Balances of sweet and spicy. --Scallop crudo: {7/10} Decent, vinegrette was too sweet and overpowered the scallop taste. --A5 Wagyu tartare: {7/10} The toast and shallots gave the flavor profile of Lays sour cream and onion chips.... Interesting! --Kanpachi nigiri: {5/10 as is, 8/10 without the orange flavor} Very orangey. Overpowered the fish. --Madai nigiri: {9/10} Topped with black garlic, really nice. --Kinmedai nigiri: {6/10} My piece was kind of fishy. --Yagara nigiri: {8/10} Red trumpet fish with dried persimmon. The fish was super soft and delicious. The persimmon was too sweet (sweetness seems to be the theme of this dinner). --Shima aji: {8.5/10} Always a good one. --Toro: {10/10} So sofffftttt, topped with wasabi. --Hokkaido uni: {8/10} Very creamy and fresh --Spicy tuna hand roll: {9.5/10} Soybean paper, daikon, fried shallots. Good spice, sweet daikon, and good crunch throughout with crispy nori, a little too sweet but good. --Spicy Hokkaido scallop handroll: {10/10} Yummm! Good typical Americanized handroll with cucumber and kewpie flavor. Fried garlic. Delicious! --Foie gras chawanmushi: {10/10} Another great one! Very savory and umami sauce. Charred corn and fois Gras and some caviar. Here we start the AYCE part: --King salmon topped with yuzu: {8/10} Kinda mushy but good flavor --Hamachi handroll: {9/10} Green apple was a good addition that added a nice tartness. Piled high with fish! --Otoro nigiri: {9.6/10} No surprises here --Salmon crudo: {10/10} Gochujang vinegrette and pickled Asian pear --Scallop and foi gras: {10/10} This is where things started to go downhill flavor-wise: --A5 Wagyu handroll with pickled red onions: {0/10}This was marinated in something (according to the chefs) called mam nem used in Vietnamese cuisine. This is a sauce that is made from anchovies and is very fermented and overlyyyyyyy salty. I grew up eating viet food and this was not a good interpretation of it. My viet friend struggled to finish this. Any good memories of prior courses were hard to remember after this piece. --Unagi nigiri: {4/10} Sweet. Sweet. And sweet. --Lobster truffle handroll: {4/10} So sweet and creamy that I couldn't taste or smell the presence of truffle. Very filled, unfortunately super sweet. At this point in the meal, one of the chefs asked if we were full. I looked around and pretty much everyone looked like they could go a few more courses. We were told that our time/meal has concluded. Honestly, for the price of $150/person for 23 courses, this is a good deal that included a decent number of memorable pieces. Unfortunately, there were just a few misses that remained in my memory more strongly. I believe if I had went to order à la carte or from the happy hour, I think my experience and rating would be a lot higher. A truly unique dinner made more enjoyable by the people! read more

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Came to order the nori box to go! Saw that they had a HH that night and came back for the HH deal and wow! I am so glad I came back. The HH deal was so good in terms of value and price. The service was quick and friendly. I ordered as I went, which made it nice and relaxing. Pretty swanky and nice vibes. Music was hitting. Drinks: lycheetini and espresso martini The lycheetini was okay, I think it was a bit too lemon-y. The espresso martini was SO good. Probably one of my fav espresso martinis I've tried so far. And the price for it made it even better!! I started off with the Hokkaido scallop crudo. For the nigiri, I tried: - amaebi - madai - scallop foie gras - chutoro For the hand rolls, I tried: - spicy tuna Everything tasted so fresh and delicious! Everything melted in my mouth I also appreciated that the wasabi was fresh wasabi! Bonus po Highly recommend going during HH! You will not be disappointed!! read more

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