Hello Nori - King West — Restaurant in Toronto

Hello Nori, the much-anticipated sushi bar from Vancouver, has finally made its way to Toronto, bringing along all its West Coast hype. Located in the bustling King West district—an area known for its blend of nightlife and financial high-rises—the restaurant has created an inviting space that feels at home among Toronto’s trendy eateries. Despite the grand opening, Hello Nori’s spacious design comfortably accommodates the crowd, providing an enjoyable dining experience without the claustrophobic feel that often accompanies new, buzz-worthy restaurants.

The interior is beautifully designed, with striking wooden art installations hanging above a 360-degree sushi bar that seats over 20 guests. This setup not only offers a unique, interactive experience but also allows the sushi chefs to serve up hand rolls in quick succession, perfectly suited to the walk-in-only dining model. The service is warm and welcoming, with the staff efficiently tending to guests—a testament to Hello Nori’s commitment to fast yet quality service, ideal for those on a quick lunch break or in search of a casual evening out.

As for the prices, they’re quite fair, especially considering the premium ingredients on offer. A set of six hand rolls comes in at $36, featuring options like toro (fatty tuna), Hokkaido scallop, lobster, snow crab, and Ora King salmon. In addition to the hand rolls, they also offer a selection of oshizushi (pressed sushi), à la carte sushi, sashimi platters, and drinks, all reasonably priced for the quality of fish.

Unfortunately, the food itself doesn’t quite live up to the ambiance or the hype. While the fish is undeniably fresh, and each hand roll arrives wrapped in crispy nori with warm, well-textured rice, there’s a lack of creativity and bold flavors. The hand rolls tend to follow a repetitive flavor profile—under-seasoned rice and fish paired with a creamy sauce or a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Each roll is enjoyable, but they lack the unique toppings or inventive pairings that could elevate each bite, leaving me wanting a bit more culinary excitement. There’s no standout seasoning or inventive touch that makes you pause and savor.

In summary, Hello Nori offers a pleasant experience for those in search of a quick, fresh hand-roll fix, particularly if you’re already in the King West area. However, it might not be worth going out of your way if you’re seeking a truly memorable sushi experience. I’d give it a 3.5/5—satisfying for what it is, but lacking the “wow” factor to make it a...

I couldn't be more excited that Hello Nori has expanded from Vancouver to Toronto! As someone who has been a loyal fan of their innovative handroll sushi for years, I’ve been eagerly anticipating their arrival in the city, and I’m thrilled to say that they have absolutely nailed it.

From the moment you walk in, you feel the same vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere that made the Vancouver location so popular. The sleek and modern interior creates a comfortable space, perfect for enjoying a delicious sushi meal with friends or even a solo outing. The Toronto location stays true to the brand’s concept offering a fast casual experience while still delivering premium quality sushi.

But the real star here is, of course the handroll sushi itself. Hello Nori’s handrolls are a game changer in the world of sushi. The quality of the fish is outstanding it’s always fresh, flavourful, and perfectly sourced. You can taste the difference with every bite. The handrolls are thoughtfully crafted, packed with bold flavours, and wrapped in perfectly crisp seaweed that holds everything together without becoming soggy.

I also appreciate the variety of options on the menu, from traditional sushi rolls to more unique, creative handrolls that offer something new to the taste buds. And their sauces and toppings really elevate each roll, adding a distinctive twist to the traditional sushi experience.

Another thing I love about Hello Nori is the fast and friendly service. It’s clear they’ve perfected the art of speed without compromising on quality. Whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch or settling in for a more leisurely meal, the staff is attentive, welcoming, and always ready to make recommendations if you’re not sure what to try.

Having Hello Nori in Toronto feels like a gift to sushi lovers like me. It's great to have a high quality, handroll focused sushi bar in the city that brings something fresh and exciting to the table. If you're in Toronto and craving exceptional sushi, I can’t recommend Hello Nori enough. I’ll definitely be...

My fiancée and I went around 3 PM on a Saturday as we knew the place was very popular. I think we went at a very good time as there was still a decent-sized crowd but still enough seating where we could have an empty space next to us. The bar seating definitely works best if you go as a couple or with a friend as it will be difficult to have conversations in large groups.

The atmosphere was relaxing, décor was great, and the staff were very friendly and attentive (especially our server Tony). We both ordered the 6-hand roll set menu which were served in sequential order: tuna, yellow tail, salmon, scallop, crab, and lobster. The staff did a great job of monitoring our eating pace so that the next hand roll isn’t served too early that it becomes cold. The nori was nice and crispy and the rice warm when served. The flavour of each one was excellent and each hand roll tasted better and better the more you ate. The truffle lobster was our favourite.

We also ordered the nitro matcha tea (unlimited refills by the way which was a really nice perk) and the ice-cream mochi dessert. The nitro matcha drink was very refreshing and goes well with the meal. I really appreciate the staff for asking for our feedback and tailoring the sweetness level of the drink to our liking. I highly recommend giving the drink a try. I felt bad for refilling so many times but it was just too addicting.

The cost was excellent for the quality of food, service, ambience, and the experience that you are getting. We were definitely full by the end of the meal.

We joked with our server that my fiancée and I could eat handrolls like Kobayashi eats hot dogs. So we bounced around an idea of a 10-hand roll set menu which would include some of the other hand rolls on the menu that we would have liked to try (blue fin tuna, unagi, etc.). We meant it as a...