KAZU-NORI
DOWNTOWN L.A. HANDROLL BAR IS A CUT ABOVE

From the sensational sushi-minded folks behind the ever-expanding Sugarfish, and the phenomenal Nozawa Bar in Beverly Hills, where I had one of the best sushi dinners of my life, comes KazuNori, The Original Hand Roll Bar in downtown Los Angeles. As the name suggests, KazuNori specializes in hand rolls.

KazuNori’s objective is to focus on the experience of eating hand rolls that feature the freshest fish from the oceans’ waters along with Nozawa’s signature warm, loose rice. “Eating a hand roll that’s passed to you from the chef just moments after it’s made is truly something special, says Tom Nozawa, one of the founding partners of Sushi Nozawa, LLC. “We think that experience is worthy of its own restaurant, so we created KazuNori.”

Known as temaki, hand rolls are similar to the more common cut sushi rolls, except hand rolls are not cut. Hand rolls are best enjoyed quickly after they are made for optimal taste and texture. At KazuNori, the hand rolls are made with the highest quality nori and are served to each patron by the sushi chef within seconds after they are prepared so guests can experience hand rolls the way they should be eaten and enjoyed.

At KazuNori, which seats 25 guests around the bar, in addition to its patio seating, the commitment to quality is unwavering, just as it is at Sugarfish, where only the freshest fish, along with specially harvested seaweed, house-made sauces, and their signature warm rice are served. KazuNori is the first restaurant of its kind, and while I’ve never been the biggest hand roll fan, there’s no denying the freshness and tastiness of these rolls.

During our recent visit for dinner, we happily sampled the compact menu where the Daily roll changes between toro and yellowtail. Meal options include ordering 3-Hand Rolls (Daily Hand Roll, Bay Scallop or Cucumber, and Blue Crab) for $10.50; 4-Hand Rolls (same as 3-Hand Rolls along with Salmon) for $13; or 5-Hand Rolls (same as 4-Hand Rolls plus Lobster) for $17.50.
It’s hard to beat KazuNori prices for the quality and quantity of sushi you get. For the price of five hand rolls here, you may pay more or as much for one specialty roll at other sushi restaurants. And the quality and freshness is never in question so this is as good as it gets for bang-for-your-sushi-buck in downtown.
In addition to hand rolls, KazuNori’s menu also offers a daily sashimi dish, as well as cut rolls for guests who want to eat in the outdoor patio or take their meal to-go.

KazuNori is located at 421 S. Main Street. Hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am to 11pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am to Midnight; Sunday 12pm to 10pm.

Story by Jose Martinez

Some Photos Courtesy of KazuNori