Himari — Restaurant in Houston

So the fish was great, which I'm not surprised because of its affiliation with Handies Douzo. Ergo, most of the nigiris & crudos were great with good flavor combinations to highlight the fish. The Spicy Chopped Scallop Gunkan was amazing for the nigiris! As per the rolls, the Bacon - Scallop was a bit odd in terms of actual execution, but the Curry Salmon was really good! I think the issue I had was that for they have the same approach of less rice, their rolling and shaping of the rolls & nigiris was pretty shabby compared to what you expect for Handies-related and this price range. The approach of less but more potent sauce to not overpower the fish works great with Handies and on some of the dishes here, but not on the roll - I think they just need better construction of the rolls to highlight the flavor profile (or with the Bacon maybe switch up the sauce & seasoning), also tighter rolling. The nigiris, though were good, also stuck between being more authentic vs more hip and while the fish quality is stunning, some of them came out quite unremarkable. The tempura was quite disappointing: the variety was 2 onion rings, 2 sweet potato pieces (for my order they also came out borderlining if not just raw) and 2 shrimps (these 2 were great though, delicate & not overcooked at all). It was also quite oily and not evenly coated for the potatoes. It's not expensive per se at $11, but you definitely will get better set somewhere else for that price. Now for the service: I'm not sure if I just went at not the right time, and I'm sure since they're still new it'll need a bit of a learning curve, but the staff are a bit...confused and not as organized? Service at Handies has been top-notch for me even when their Montrose location just opened, from everyone there so I was a bit taken back. One of the chefs was very nice, friendly & easy to talk with, who took the initiative to greet, arrange and check up on guests, but he shouldn't have to do that. I was seated quickly but the wait staff who greeted me was a bit confused and did not do so or check up on me until that one chef drew the attention so. Some on the cooking team were also a bit awkward, and it doesn't give a smooth friendly vibe as the Handies locations, but I mean it's not their job to do so. I hope they get more organized in the future cause overall, they have lots of good material to work with, lots of them were good dishes and lots of room to grow, and I can tell at least that one chef was very passionate about how the place is doing and was very nice. Overall I had more expectations, but it was not a bad experience per se. Not sure I would drive up that far for their fish though if Handies, Kokoro & Aiko are...

Himari is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates a fusion of Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine. It's located in the Stomping Grounds, a retail and culinary space in Houston's Garden Oaks area. Open since spring, this spot has quickly become a favorite. The shared Astro Turf play space with the neighboring businesses makes it an excellent choice for families. There is also a free shared parking lot.

Under the expert guidance of chef-owner Tye Nguyen, an alum of Uchi, and co-founders Patrick Pham, Andrew Lin, and Daniel Lee (the team behind Handies Douzo, Kokoro, and Aiko), Himari offers an exceptional dining experience.

[COCKTAILS]

+Old Fashioned (Bourbon and Bitters) for $14 - 3.5/5

[ROBATA]

+Shishito Peppers (Lion Pepper and Roasted Cashew Butter) for $6 - I loved these shishito peppers. They were blistered to perfection and the sauce was incredible. - 5/5

[MAKIMONO]

+Negitoro Maki (Fatty Tuna, Cucumber, Avocado, and Negi Dare) for $16 - 4.5/5

[HOUSTON RESTAURANT WEEKS]

This was a special menu for Houston Restaurant Weeks where Himari provided a custom menu with a crudo, maki, sashimi, and mochi for $39.

First Course (Crudo): Sakeviche (Big Glory Bay Salmon, Fish Sauce, Peaches, and Serrano) - I like everything here, but I think it would have been better without the fish sauce. - 3.5/5

Second Course (Maki): Spicy Crunchy Tuna (Spicy Tuna, Jalapeño, Cucumber, and Tempura Flakes) - 4/5

Third Course (Sashimi): Akami (3 Pieces of Bluefin Tuna Topped with Wasabi) - 4/5

Fourth Course (Mochi): Vanilla Chip Mochi Ice Cream - This was probably one of the best mochi ice creams I have ever had. I love simple vanilla with crunchy chocolate chips, so I may be biased. Himari got this mochi ice cream sent in from Mochidoki (New York). They can also be found at Central Market grocery stores for cheaper, but I couldn't find this specific flavor. I am now a big fan. - 5/5

Himari stands out not just for its food, but for its inviting atmosphere and dedication to quality. This restaurant is a fantastic addition to Houston's...

Now I know great sushi and seafood, having worked at Uchi and an array of high end restaurants throughout my life. This restaurant is simple in the decor but big on the service and atmosphere. Every track that came on had my nephew and niece bopping in their seats. The manager Jo took sooo much time to make us feel special and brought over ducks for the kids to play with at the table and was so kind with them that by the end they were fast friends. She is a natural with customer service. The wait staff was great, our waters were always full, and everything we needed was brought before asking for it. The food was flavorful and filling! Prices were really great too, especially coming from California. The spicy yellowtail and crunchy tuna were highlights for me because they just bursted with flavor. Kinoko is often my favorite piece of my meal but here it had to be the miso caramel ice cream that just finished it so perfectly. And again they were kind enough to bring the kiddos bowls of ice cream for them to enjoy, so they weren’t left out. The place even has a gated area in the front of the restaurant that was perfect to let them run off some steam after the meal. I will be back and I encourage you to try it...