KazuNori: The Original Hand Roll Bar — Restaurant in Los Angeles

This place is a great fast served sushi hand roll joint. If you understand the business model going in and what to expect you won’t be let down. Please read the entire review yo understand.

They started a couple around LA, main one by UCLA and another downtown. Same owners as Sugar fish(which is more of a date spot or take your time to eat spot rather). The business model at Kazunori worked so well and people loved it so they expanded many more locations. Rightfully so.

However this place works well with people on the go. It’s only a circle bar with seats all around. Servers and chefs in the middle. You order yourself on a card with pencil. Pick their ready order options of 3-4-5 hand rolls preset or order them a la carte (i believe it’s like 5.25 each starting and obviously lobster is $8 something)

They come at you fast with each roll as they keep an eye on how fast your eating them too. Or I’ve also seen them cycle around the bar continuously. The rolls are incredible and the warm rice is amazing. Not a take your time spot though as you’ll see people waiting at the front that are coming in. Obviously depends on time of day too. But the idea is to keep people moving, provide great sushi hand rolls, and great service. The saki comes in like a 8 oz or 10 oz containers as if it’s a cup. No frills or shot glasses here. 2 types a dry one or sweet. I prefer the sweeter one that’s like $11, the dry one is I believe $7.

Gratuity is included here just like it is at the sister restaurant Sugar fish. I personally love that concept and it just makes everything so much easier at the end when you pay. Awesome spot, but like I said If it’s a date and you want to take your time choose sugarfish. Love them...

Overall: Biggest tip is to really come at an off time to avoid waiting in an extremely long line! The lines you hear about is real! FOR ALL LOCATIONS. But I think regardless of the wait, Kazunori is honestly worth it. Also if you do not want to wait and want their rolls, take-out is also a very viable and another delicious alternative. Dining at Kazunori is also quite the unique experience. All the customers are seated around one bar with the chefs are in the middle. Food is impeccable. Everything is so fresh! Honestly can not beat Kazunori and Sugarfish quality and taste!

Food: In regards to their hand rolls, they truly live up to their name, KazuNori: The Original Hand Roll Bar! Handrolls are pretty simple in nature, having usually three or five major ingredients, give or take some sauces and marinade. Kazunori does an impeccable job at making something that seem so simple in nature into a very meticulous and precise process. From the moment the timer starts, the chefs are racing time to serve delicious and fresh hand rolls without compromising the quality from any of the ingredients. From the first crunch of their crisp seaweed, to the flavor and texture explosion from their fish/crustacean, all held together by the fluffiness of a blanket of freshly made rice, Kazunori's hand rolls are truly a work of art.

Price: Extremely reasonable for the quantity and quality of food...

This is a Sushi handroll joint that isn't exactly the handroll you may be accustomed to. They serve up a cylinder roll and it will be your responsibility from preventing all the filling from getting squeezed out the other end when you take a bite.

Perfect for the none sushi eater, a handroll is pulverized raw seafood wrapped in seaweed. Usually, at every other Japanese restaurant, this means tasty sushi-grade fish/seafood with a balance of ingredients such as vegetables, sushi rice, and possibly other creative items to offer a delectable combination of flavors wrapped in an easy-to-hold cone shape of Nori. Well, this is not what you will get here.

What you get here is ground-up fish placed on Nori, rolled like a cylinder, and placed in front of you on a piece of paper. Scallops are whole, but small mixed in a mayo-like substance. Unagi is cut up and placed with the rice and with little to no sauce.

Coupled with a mandatory service charge, this location may not be a first choice if you really have to get your fix here. Also, in a neighborhood that is littered with choices I would think twice before paying to eat sitting on a hard bar stool.

Although somewhat tasty in its own fashion, I do not see the value here. There is a great lack of balance, and the fillings are very single-flavored. Some rolls with only a hit of salt...