Iki Nori

I heard about Iki Nori through social media and it's been on my "must try" list for awhile.Well that day finally came and I have to admit, outside of NYC, Iki Nori is one of the best hand roll spots I've been to.Things I tried:- Toro Caviar hand roll - the toro was very excellent quality as was the caviar. Lower end caviar can taste offensive when paired with something as delicate as toro, but the caviar at Iki Nori was just barely salty, adding a refreshing twist to each bite.- Salmon Truffle hand roll - this roll was actually my favorite. The salmon was very buttery, even more so as it was lightly torched, and there were copious amounts of truffle shavings on top.- Uni Scallop hand roll - the scallop was amazing, but while the uni was fresh, it didn't seem to pack any flavor? I think for this one the scallop yuzu hand roll would be a better alternative, especially for the lower price point.- Hamachi carpaccio - the hamachi was excellent quality but the sauce it was in was missing something that would've really balanced out the flavors.- Toro carpaccio - amazing. I have no notes other than you should get it.- Matcha-tini - I'm a huge fan of espresso martinis, but this matcha one converted me into hoping that this becomes more mainstream at other restaurants as well. Definitely get it - Ume Highball - this was disappointing and tasted mostly of tonic. I'd skip it.The service was also great as we were consistently getting checked up on and provided water refills. The chefs also gave us a few amberjack nigiri and an ice cream dessert on the house! I'll definitely be back as Iki Nori completely blows KazuNori out of the water.

Heard about this place through instagram so I wanted to check it out. I got a chance to come here on a Saturday night without reservations and had to wait about an hour to get seated. The restaurant is pretty small, so you either wait outside or by the limited seated by the host stand. The parking is also a bit tricky, I think there's limited street parking but we parked in a garage (not free). The restaurant only has bar seating, which is nice if you want a cozy intimate dinner. scallop uni (3/5): The dish was good, but it tasted exactly like the scallop uni hand roll (just without the nori. For some reason, I thought it would have more substance but it tastes exactly like how it sounds: uni on top of scallop. It is light and refreshing, and it does come with a lot of pieces, so it might be a good appetizer to share. caviar toro (6/5): This hand roll was the star of the show. This was first on the hand roll menu and it did not disappoint. Everything about it was amazing, the texture, the flavor, the crispiness of the nori, the caviar. I would honestly come back and just order this hand roll and be more than content. scallop uni hand roll (3/5): This handroll was okay. Like I mentioned, it tasted exactly the same as the scallop uni dish, just with nori. It was good, but it didn't stand out. salmon truffle (4/5): This is my second favorite hand roll here. It was good and the truffle added a nice taste to it. I wish these handrolls were a little bigger, given that it is a bit pricey for what you're getting. However you do taste the quality. Overall, great experience.

Had to check this place out after The Infatuation said it dethroned KazuNori as the handroll king. In my opinion KazuNori still reigns supreme. But, it's still a solid spot, good quality, and they even offer non-handroll food options like hot appetizers, baos, cut rolls, sushi, and sashimi. Came early on a Friday evening and put our names on the waitlist but it was still an hour wait as the sushi bar sits 10 or maybe 12 people. Since we were starving, we decided to head down the block to its sister restaurant, Iki Ramen, to get a little bite first. When we did get seated, the service is great, you do get served relatively quickly, and you're in and out for your meal. Fish is high quality and the accoutrements/toppings pair nicely. My favorites were the Bluefin Toro and A5 Wagyu handrolls.Pro Tip - Iki Ramen didn't have any wait when we went and they also offered the same special handrolls featured at Iki Nori! So naturally I had to try them at both to compare - and surprisingly I liked the ones at Iki Ramen better. Specifically, the A5 Wagyu handroll was more charred and the pieces of meat were way larger. Basic/standard handrolls are not offered here though.

Main complaint is this place is small with very limited seating. It will likely test your patience. Iki nori specializes in high quality handrolls presented beautifully in little holders. Food quality is also excellent though the price does reflect that. The chefs are also happy to make modifications or do special requests. Came here with my gf and we were even treated to some chef specials on the house. Service is friendly generous and attentive. Would definitely come back!

Iki Nori has been all over my FYP, and people are saying it's better than Kazunori. I'd say, if you're looking for a less traditional, more unique experience, then yes, give it a try. But overall, the service didn't quite compare to Kazunori. During dinner, they forgot our rolls twice, and we had to ask multiple times. The server apologized and brought them out quickly afterward. He did comp us free dessert, which was nice. The server was friendly but forgetful. Parking-wise, there's street parking available and a paid lot nearby. Seating is VERY limited, so either go early or be prepared to wait.Seaweed cucumber salad: A unique twist on a typical salad--very lemony. I'd give it a 5/10. Spicy tuna tacos: fish was so fresh and spice was perfect but the avocado was hard and not mushy / ripeSpicy tuna and salmon hand rolls: Solid. The same as Kazunori.Salmon truffle hand roll: SO good, easily a 10/10. Black cod avocado hand roll: The absolute best thing we had. 11/10Spicy toro special hand roll**: Not worth it; stick to a plain hand roll instead. Yuzu soda: It was decent. Sea salt dessert: Better than the yuzu one.

Taste: 5Creativity/Authenticity: 5Atmosphere: 4Service: 5Bang for your buck: 5This place needs no introduction, but if you haven't eaten at any iki restaurant, do yourself a favor and get yo a$$ here!! One of my favorite times to enjoy some of the best sushi In LA is on Monday, why we'll most sushi spots are closed on Monday and one of the best sushi chef works here on Monday's and you can get to experience sushi like you've never had before. Chef Yoji was the first chef that was able to pair fish and cheese together! Holy moly! But get the omakase and let the master do his thing! The place is small and it's more bar seating than intimate table dining, great for a date, and if you love sake they have so many options to choose from! The service here is deserving of a 5 star restaurant and I will keep coming back til they ban me haha. Thank you again for the best service and experience i will be back!!

Came here for lunch on a quick LA trip. They have massive 16 seats which were all full during lunch rush! Still got seated really fast.Ordered the 4 piece hand roll set which came with: Toro, spicy tuna, salmon abcs blue crab. The fish was fresh, my favorite was the toro, melts in your mouth. The rolls were well timed, too keep the crispy texture of the nori.Also got the scallop uni sashimi which came with 6 pieces. Loved how the yuzu and truffle was subtle and not over powering.

My first experience here was exceptional. All the sushi was delicious, creative, and filling. However, I found tonight's experience to be a lot less thrilling. I did the Omakase for $125. I ordered several additional items in order to feel full. I also didn't find the sushi to be as delicious as before.

Hand rolls here are incredible. The flavor, the texture, everything is amazing. I hate to say it, but don't come hungry or else you'll easily spend over $200 on a dinner for 2. Must try the salmon burrata if you love salmon!! They incorporate honey truffle and yuzu. It's amazing, it's fresh, it's creamy... It's a small portion, but still easily shareable. We also tried the scallop uni sashimi- another great appetizer. Uni was fresh & sweet. It features white truffle oil, yuzu, and sea salt. Delicious combination of flavors in my mouth. Didn't get to try any of the cocktails, but I will next time. :)Street parking or parking garage behind the establishment.

Excellent sushi and really unique handrolls. Everything was delicious! The restaurant is very tiny with only bar seating of less than 20 seats. The turn around is pretty quick so it is definitely worth the wait! Parking is on the street. Area not the best but food makes it worth the drive. Will be coming back in the future!