KazuNori: The Original Hand Roll Bar — Restaurant in New York

KazuNori at The Hugh is an absolute gem for sushi lovers, particularly if you’re into hand rolls. Nestled in the bustling Hugh food hall on Lexington Ave, this spot brings the authentic experience of fresh, made-to-order hand rolls from the same group behind the renowned Sugarfish. The setup is casual and sleek, with bar seating that lets you watch the chefs craft each roll in real-time.

The menu is straightforward but hits all the right notes. You can choose from sets ranging between $17 and $33, with options like yellowtail, salmon, crab, and toro—all wrapped in perfectly crisp nori and paired with warm rice that ties it all together. The attention to detail is impressive: each bite balances the freshness of the seafood and the slight crunch of the seaweed.

For first-timers, the 5-roll set is a great way to explore the flavors, but the lobster and bay scallop rolls are definite standouts if you’re feeling adventurous. Plus, they offer an à la carte option for customizing your own selection. The atmosphere is fast-paced yet welcoming, making it a great spot for a quick, high-quality sushi fix in Midtown. They even serve sake and Japanese beer, and gratuity is already included in the price—a nice touch that elevates the experience.

Overall, it’s a 5-star experience, perfect for sushi purists who appreciate quality...

This was my first time at this location while visiting New York City, and it came highly recommended by a few friends. It’s run by the same owners as Sugarfish, for anyone familiar with that spot in LA or here in NYC.

The menu is simple and easy to follow, with lots of hand roll options. I went with the six-roll combination to try a variety of flavors, and it did not disappoint for $36. They also offer three, four, and five-roll sets. Beer and sake are available too.

The wait was about 20 to 30 minutes when we arrived around 8 PM, with roughly 15 people ahead of us. It’s first come, first served, so expect a short wait, especially if you have a larger group. We had five people and got lucky, but smaller groups will likely be seated faster. The seating area is small, fitting around 20 people total, so ordering to-go is a good alternative.

The restaurant is inside an indoor food hall on the first floor of a building. It’s cozy and compact, but clean and welcoming. Staff were friendly, and I’d definitely come back next time I’m...

Me and the wife's first time eating here and the first time eating this type of hand rolled "sushi". THIS IS NOT sushi or sashimi or like any "sushi" we have ever had. This is pâté, and to the extreme, all of the meat in the rolls and "sashimi" is this paste. This must be all the off cuts from the good fish they sell across the street ground into a paste. Keeping the rolls to only the seaweed wrap, warm rice, and fish paste was very simple and really had no real flavor. Leaving the fish in a sliced manner would have been a much better experience. They should remove the word "sashimi" from the menu as what I ordered was not "sashimi" but a clump of paste on my plate. Just weird. The food was ok at best, and service was fast. An ok atmosphere but very cramped at the counter. They put in about 5 too many stools to cram you elbow to elbow. The service was fast and the server very nice. She took time to explain how it all works. I will not go back as this is not for me or my wife. I prefer traditional sushi, thinly sliced or...