When in the mood for hand rolls, this hidden gem of a restaurant on the Lower East Side is promising. Wabi Nori stands out in ambiance and friendly service while serving contemporary Japanese cuisine. The stylish and small interior contributes to an intimate dining experience. While they are known for their sushi hand rolls, their menu varies in regular and standout options. Wabi Nori’s authentic tapas-style dining is ideal for a date or small group, as well as being perfect for those not as knowledgeable on sushi.
When I went with two of my friends, we chose our hand rolls individually rather than their set options. Their sets range from three to six hand rolls, all including spicy tuna, salmon and yellowtail. Beyond the three-piece hand roll set, the inclusions are bay scallops, crab and lobster. Wanting both regular and signature handrolls, we ordered our hand rolls individually. Some specialty hand rolls include miso cod, Miyazaki Wagyu, bluefin otoro or bluefin chu-toro. I recommend ordering your hand rolls individually to make sure you get all their specialty ones. Initially, I ordered three hand rolls, assuming they would be enough, but having been left wanting more after three, I would say four is an adequate number of handrolls. If you’re going out with a group, their appetizer options are easily shareable and light.
Our first appetizer to come out was the crispy rice tuna. They came in three pieces, each with a fried, crispy rice bottom layered with tuna, avocado and topped with jalapeno and sprouts. These small bites are perfect for sharing. These crispy rice cakes tasted as luxurious as they cost, reminding me of this same signature appetizer at the trendy Nobu restaurant. Although our initial order did not include it, our second appetizer was my favorite. We decided we did not feel full after the first round of hand rolls, so we ordered the karaage. This Japanese fried chicken is seasoned with sprouts and comes with a side of aioli sauce and lime. The small pieces are delectable in flavor while being light and fried on the outside. The aioli sauce compliments the crispy texture and personally left me wanting more. Compared to the crispy rice tuna, the handful of karaage pieces leaves you feeling more full and are just as easily shareable. In accompanying the hand rolls, the crispy rice tuna and karaage paired well together.
After we finished our initial order of crispy rice tuna, our first round of hand rolls arrived. Throughout the meal, each of us ordered four hand rolls. My first hand roll was salmon, drizzled with wasabi paste and topped with sesame seeds. At first glance, the hand roll was smaller than I had hoped and I finished one in about two bites. The crunchy nori and the fluffy rice paired nicely with the salmon flavor. This hand roll feels like a staple to their menu and I recommend ordering at least one. Along with the salmon, this first course included spicy tuna and crab. Although I did not eat the spicy tuna, their crab hand roll tasted as promising as I hoped. On top of the crab was tobiko, or flying fish roe. While hardly tasting the tobiko, the crab itself tasted more prominent than the salmon. Before getting to our specialty hand rolls, I felt the salmon and crab were a satisfactory introduction to expect even better for what’s to come.
Next, our specialty Miyazaki Wagyu hand rolls arrived. We all wanted to try this wagyu and, considering its elevated price compared to the simpler hand rolls, we had high expectations. Grilled tenderly and topped with fresh scallions, this wagyu was packed with flavor. It was harder to eat in bites like the first two hand rolls, but one bite served it justice. Adding soy sauce enhanced the beef flavor even further, and this quickly became my favorite hand roll. We all agreed that this specialty hand roll is the one to get, especially knowing that wagyu beef is the highest quality. Wanting more after eating my third hand roll, I settled on ordering the lobster hand roll. It is not a specialty, but this lobster hand roll felt sophisticated, slightly more pricey than the regular hand rolls. Like the crab, the lobster taste was rich in flavor and was distinctive to the sea. I admired how they do not bring out all your hand rolls at once, so that you can savor them individually and enjoy your appetizers on the side. My final ranking of hand rolls is wagyu, lobster, crab and then salmon, all of which are close in rating.
For dessert, we tried the hojicha tiramisu. A Japanese take on an Italian dessert, it was sprinkled with hojicha powder, the tiramisu is creamy and rich. It does not exactly mimic traditional tiramisu in being dusted with chocolate, but the hojicha powder makes this contrast interesting. Even if you’re not a hojicha lover, this dessert is pleasantly delicious.
In a group setting, individually ordering hand rolls allows for everyone to get what they want, while the appetizers allow for easy sharing. If you’re willing to spend a bit on a night out, the portion to price value is ideal. The exclusive and intimate atmosphere contributes to an appreciation of the food, as well as knowing the hand rolls are being made fresh behind their sushi bar. Wabi Nori is perfect for both newcomers and lovers of Japanese cuisine.
