Hello Nori - York St — Restaurant in Toronto

Review

My friend and I had one of the best dining experiences at this specific location: I had previously been to the King location, so I knew what I was getting myself into, but I have to say, the York location has a much more relaxed vibe compared to the King location (likely because this location is more new).

To start it off, the service was 20/10: everyone was super friendly and courteous, always answering any of our questions with a smile. We went in for a late lunch, and they were all extremely pro-active in cleaning and setting up for the next round of guests coming in. When my friend and I were hesitant about what to get as our add-ons, Daniel, one of the staff members, was extremely helpful in giving us some advice. He was genuine in his desire to give us the best experience, going as far as to get us two unagi hand rolls on the house because it’s his favourite and he really wanted us to try it (he was right, the unagi absolutely slapped).

We both got the 6 pcs hand roll set and agreed that we could do with a couple of à la carte hand rolls as add-ons. The combo prices make them extremely worth it, and they do not skimp out on the value by adding the cheaper rolls (like veggie rolls) to the set. In my opinion, the amount is on the smaller side, each hand roll being about 4 bites give or take, but it’s mainly because they put less rice - the amount of fish is definitely decent.

Regarding the flavour, from our experience, not a single one of the rolls had even a hint of fishiness (which was honestly really impressive). The seaweed was crispy and extremely fresh (none of the stale stuff you sometimes have the misfortune of buying at your local Asian supermarket), the rice was perfectly cooked and kept warm, with each grain clearly separated from each other and perfectly chewy, and the fish was fresh. The seasoning is on the lighter side, so you can dip it in soy sauce to enjoy. We found the soy sauce to be on the saltier side, so just be mindful of that. The ginger was not spicy, which was right up my alley, and nicely pickled, making it a great palate cleanser after the fattier rolls.

If you are looking at the add-ons, the unagi and the octopus are absolute jaw-droppers. My friend and I both thought we knew unagi but this one was not the stuff you get at your typical chain sushi store. You get the amazing smoky flavour from the torch, and the fish was thick without being overly sauced. It is also extremely fairly priced at $7 per roll. Now, I am not one to typically go for octopus (I like it well enough, but definitely not one of my go-to’s) due to its chewiness but when I say that this one was cooked to perfection? I mean it. Taking a bite of the roll was not challenging at all (the octopus did not fight back) and the light shavings of bonito flakes added some extra depth and umami to the roll. The octopus was an absolute stunner and a must-get in my opinion.

To end the meal, I highly recommend getting the ice cream mochi - they are made in-house and as the highest praise an Asian can give to desserts, it was not too sweet. The mochi was thin and deliciously chewy, while the ice cream itself (the green tea one was a standout) was nice and creamy, without being overly rich or sweet. We ended the meal with the peach pafekuto (zero proof cocktail), and found it to be the perfect end to the meal (thank you Daniel, for the recommendation).

I would absolutely recommend coming to this location if you want a nice and relaxing vibe, with outstanding service and really fresh fish. I know for sure that I will be...

Edit: After my initial review, Isaac, the Director of Restaurant Operations asked me to give him a chance to make it right to myself and my co-workers. I appreciated that he did really seem to care, and promptly set us up with an offer that was fair compensation for our first experience. He offered to let us do take-out if that's what we wanted but he asked if we'd consider dining in so that we could get the full experience that Hello Nori has to offer so we took him up on his offer. Not only did he seem to genuinely care and want to make it up to us, he took the effort to let the restaurant know ahead that we were coming, and he he called me after our meal to make sure everything went as he had hoped for us.

As for the dining experience, it was top notch. We had excellent service, the presentation of the food and the restaurant was elegant and thoughful, but the food itself was the star of the show as it should be. Every maki roll was so delicious, not a single detail was spared it seemed. The soy sauce, the wasabi, the ginger, the nori (seaweed), everything was fresh and delicious. The most impressive was the unagi, the eel was torched in front of us, and was nothing like your typical run of the mill unagi at 99% of all sushi joints, this one was not frozen eel, it was smoky, and charred in the most delightful way without being overpowering, wrapped with warm perfectly cooked sushi rice, and a crispy umami piece of nori.

Our group was really well taken care of, many went from feeling the same as I did initially, to wanting to come back, and wanting to write a positive review on their own time. Had we not had the unfortunate first experience, I would have easily given a 5-star review but I think for full transparency, honesty and integrity I've left the original review up and updated the rating to 4-star.

Original review:

Today a co-worker shared a gift card offer for $20 off with our office. 6 of us signed up and were excited to get a nice deal for lunch together. The walk was about 15 minutes from our office so we used about most of our lunch break just getting there and back, but when we got there we were told we could not use our gift cards on takeout.

Maybe we missed this detail? We all thought that but no. One of my coworkers pointed out that it did not say anywhere in the offer or fine print that take out was not allowed. The supervisor was informed of this and he just said, "Well that's what we're choosing to honour". Our group was completely disappointed, as we didn't have time to sit down, we had to quickly find something else to grab take out from and got back to work late without any time to eat our food. The coworker who brought this gift card offer to all of us felt so bad for the experience.

This is a shameful bait and switch to not have any conditions in the offer, and then be rejected with no grounds once we arrived there. Nor was there any attempt to meet us halfway or present some kind of alternative offer for our efforts. I won't be recommending anyone come to this location as they are dishonest and clearly don't care about their reputation, their word or...

A Hand Roll Revelation That Will Keep You Coming Back for More!

From the moment you step into Hello Nori, you know you're in for something special. This isn't just a meal; it's an experience, a delightful journey into the art of the perfect hand roll. I would go so far as to say that Hello Nori has set a new standard for freshness, flavor, and sheer culinary enjoyment.

The concept is simple: focus on impeccable quality, lightning-fast preparation, and the ultimate in fresh, crispy nori. Each hand roll is crafted right in front of you, a testament to their commitment to transparency and immediate gratification. The nori itself is perfectly textured with an addictive crunch that provides the ideal contrast to the melt-in-your-mouth fillings. In regards to the fillings, Which ever option you opt for; the buttery salmon, the delicate scallop, or the perfectly seasoned truffle Lobster, each ingredient shines with its own vibrant flavor. The rice is warm and perfectly chewable, providing a comforting base that elevates every bite. Clearly the chef has mastered their craft. The aburi sushi is a welcome compliment to their wonderful hand rolls. The Aburi Salmon Oshi is perfectly formed and each boasting a tantalizing char and hint at the smoky, rich flavors to come. The shrimp, (Aburi Ebi Oshi) is plump and succulent and infused with that same captivating smoky essence, offering a different yet equally delightful textural and flavor experience.

Beyond the food, the atmosphere at Hello Nori is vibrant and inviting. It's a place where you can enjoy a quick, incredibly satisfying lunch or linger for a more relaxed evening, savoring each roll as it arrives. The staff - Andrew in particular are attentive, friendly, and clearly enthusiastic about what they do, adding to the overall fantastic experience.

Hello Nori is a destination for anyone who appreciates truly exceptional sushi. It's a place where the simplicity of a hand roll is elevated to an art form, leaving you completely satisfied and already planning your next visit. If you're looking for a fresh, unforgettable, and truly delicious culinary adventure, look no further than Hello Nori. You won't be...