Karai Hand Roll Bar & Ramen

Located inside Rodeo 39, Karai is a hidden gem. Super tiny establishment, but we were lucky enough to walk in and sit right away.Service was prompt and attentive. The menu isn't large but the choices available were wonderful. I honestly didn't feel like anything was missing. We ordered two hand roll sets and it was definitely the way to go!The crab roll was tasty, the spicy tuna excellent, but the star of the entire meal was the toro hand roll. It was *chef's kiss, unbelievably delicious!!! We've since been back twice, and this time with our son who ordered the ramen.It was spicy, which is the way he likes it and full of flavor.I mentioned earlier that the service was attentive, but I should add that they were very personable and make you feel special. I know that sounds weird, but I love a little extra care when I go out and eat.I can't recommend this place enough. I'll be back soon with my daughter this time. She's missed out twice already.

*** No cash accepted ***Karai Hand Roll Bar & Ramen is one of many eateries inside Rodeo 39 Public Market with bar seating and a tablet ordering system at the bar.[Parking]: Our party arrived at 11 AM when the shop opened, so there were plenty of available parking spots; however by 1 PM on weekends, the lot was packed.[Menu]: The most popular item is the Cinco which is a preset five-handroll combo featuring toro, yellowtail, scallop, crab, and salmon. The sushi chef serves one hand roll at a time and only prepares the next roll after you finish the one in front of you. Other handroll combos include Quatro (yellowtail, salmon, crab, and scallop, Seis (salmon, shrimp tempura, and crab), Yubu Combos, and Lunch Combo (available Monday to Friday only).***Cinco (toro, yellowtail, scallop, crab, and salmon - $26): As other Yelpers have mentioned, the hand rolls here are very similar to Kazunori's handrolls - warm rice + fresh seafood = great hand rolls. I thought all five were very solid and the final roll (toro) even came with a small beach umbrella as a cute decor.***The sushi chef was very friendly and constantly checked in on our party. While I enjoyed all the hand rolls, I still left only 50% full. If you are looking for great taste rather than a filling meal, then this is not a bad spot to check out; however, if you want to leave somewhat full without spending more than $30 pre-tax, then you might want to order a ramen bowl instead. For full transparency, I did not get a chance to try their ramen.

My friend and I tried this place recently because she really wanted to try it. She's a fan of Kazunori (I am not lol). I was surprised by how much I liked everything I got here. We split their "cinco" which is a 5-handroll set, and they serve them slowly, at the pace you eat them, which is nice. It feels really relaxed and not rushed, as opposed to Kazunori. Way more of a chill vibe.I will say that they are pricey for the amount of fish in each roll. I feel like there are better deals on hand rolls at several different places in and around LA. But overall a good spot and worth the try.

Full transparency, it's been a long while since I've been to Rodeo 39 and I came here craving Banh Xeo Boys. After discovering that BXB had closed, I ended up at Karai simply because it was the only restaurant I found at Rodeo 39 that had some plant-based items.For dine-in, there's bar seating and a small tablet for ordering. For take-out, there's a tablet near the door for ordering. Either way, the food comes out fairly quickly.King Yubu Avocado and King Yubu Seaweed are solid snacks. Good flavor and filling. Is $4.50 each a standard price point for this type of item? I honestly don't know but I personally wouldn't purchase this on a regular basis. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/karai-hand-roll-bar-and-ramen-stanton?select=xrbryVpsXvrb12iVDqcRXAEdamame is solid. Hard to mess up. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/karai-hand-roll-bar-and-ramen-stanton?select=2H2Wu4zZ0GZxLMAtffsavgMiso soup is good. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/karai-hand-roll-bar-and-ramen-stanton?select=6hk00ieA3tZhcnVN-gIVMACucumber seaweed salad was light and refreshing. Thinly sliced and good flavor. A tiny bit sweeter than I would have liked but that's just my preference. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/karai-hand-roll-bar-and-ramen-stanton?select=kQ3c_SQLASAG-yPGGu7C9wWould I eat here again? Only in a pinch. Food is solid but doesn't necessarily stand out. I would have love to order the Vege Ramen but unfortunately, their noodles contain egg. At least I'm grateful for the staff sharing that information with me.

Quick lunch spot primarily known for their handrolls and ramen - Handrolls (3.5/5) : 5 handrolls for $26 - salmon, crab, scallop, yellowtail, and toro with caviar. Decent handrolls for good value (you even get the toro with carviar!). Rice to fish ratio was a little off - there was too much rice in all the handrolls. The fish was chopped up to a mush-consistency, leaving little room for texture. Yubus (4/5): 4 for $17.50. I actually enjoyed the yubus more than the handrolls. The sweetness from the tofu wrapper was a nice touch complimenting the rice and toppings. You get to choose your yubu toppings. Chicken Karaage (3.5/4): nothing special. Fried chicken goodness dressed with eel sauce and spicy mayo. Tonkatsu Ramen (4/5): Ramen noodles were al dente and the soup was flavorful. The ramen even comes with a whole seasoned egg!You order from an iPad, and food comes out fairly quick. Ambiance is casual with counter seating only. Tip: For the best deals, go during lunch for the combos: Choice of ramen + handroll ($19.95) Choice of ramen + yubu ($18.95)

I never got the chance to try Karai when it replaced Nandomo by HiroNori, by chance I saw that they had a lunch deal so I thought that was the perfect opportunity to stop by. We were greeted when we walked in and the staff was friendly. We immediately noticed that this restaurant was Korean owned so we expected a more Korean style ramen. The chairs and the bar seating was a little uncomfortable due to the height of the table, but it wasn't a big deal. I ordered the spicy tonkotsu and salmon skin hand roll lunch special, which was about $20. The ramen broth was different than traditional Japanese broth in that it was made with Korean dash, giving it a unique but identifiable flavor that's familiar to Korean Soon Tofu. The hand roll was enjoyable, but best eaten right away, which can be difficult when you get both around the same time. Overall a decent spot for a quick lunch, but nothing yet that begs me to come back.

Karai is a fresh and somewhat new! addition to the Rodeo39 food hall scene that needs some help. With Banh Xeo Boys and Kra Z Kai closing down in 2024, this spot is the boost we all needed.The hand rolls for take-out have Japan-style packaging to ensure the Nori stays crispy when you finally get home to unwrap your snack.Great quick lunch spot and solid lunch special deals make this place a great pit stop during office or Remote work days!

Ordered from a machine and got the edamame and vege ramen--and double checked that it was vegetarian (it was! though not vegan; there are eggs in the noodles)The edamame was a little salty, but tasty. Definitely overdressed; you'll find a pool of sauce at the bottom as you're eatingThe vege ramen had a really nice broth that was very well balanced. My main gripe was that there weren't enough veggies (just fried tofu and the typical ramen toppings of green onions, bean sprouts, mushrooms, fried onions, seaweed). I also liked the little salad that came with it.

Ok this is a great additional to Rodeo 39I have been a regular Ramen eater, a frequent visit at a Japanese owned Ramen shop 1 mile from my place.This shop's ramen bowl definitely hits!The soup - nice thick salty flavor with a slow base burn from the spiceThe Chashu - There is no lean meat. The whole piece was great.Egg - a whole egg?!Noodle - just the right amount with the right textureServing time - less than 3 mins since i ordered5 stars no question

We've already ate at two other places, but we decided we needed to try something here, too. My cousins and I ordered the set menu with the six handrolls, and tried two handrolls each. I got the Lobster and Scallop. I also tried a bit of the Blue Crab. We all enjoyed it. I thought the Lobster one had a bit too much sauce, and the lobster was too overcooked. And the Blue Crab could've used a bit more of something, like mayo or seasoning.