About
Welcome to KazuNori | Santa Monica, a delightful gem nestled in the heart of downtown Santa Monica, California. Known for its vibrant sushi scene, KazuNori stands out with its fresh, handcrafted sushi rolls made to order, right before your eyes. As you step into this intimate and trendy spot, you can sense the dedication to quality that has made it a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
One of the hallmarks of KazuNori is its emphasis on freshness and simplicity. The restaurant specializes in hand rolls, allowing guests to indulge in a bountiful array of flavors. From the pristine scallop roll, which one enthusiastic reviewer claimed could be enjoyed every day, to the mouthwatering toro hand roll—a culinary highlight that has diners dreaming long after they've left—each bite is a celebration of what sushi should be.
During my visit, the experience was enhanced by the welcoming ambiance and attentive service. The counter-style seating offers a unique opportunity to watch skilled chefs artfully assemble your meal, creating a mesmerizing show that elevates the dining experience. The dimly lit interior fosters a perfect atmosphere for casual conversations, making it a suitable spot for both intimate dinners and outings with friends.
Despite its popularity, KazuNori maintains a friendly atmosphere where lines move quickly, ensuring that even during peak times, you won't be waiting long. Many customers marvel at the service, which is characterized by attentiveness and efficiency. Whether you're enjoying lunch, dinner, or a quick snack post-beach, KazuNori delivers a consistently satisfying experience.
If you’re seeking a dining experience that combines the freshest sushi with an energetic vibe in Santa Monica, look no further than KazuNori. With its commitment to high-quality food and guest satisfaction, it's no wonder patrons describe it as the "Starbucks of sushi." Come for the hand rolls, stay for the ambiance, and savor every moment at this culinary hotspot.
“ Love Kazu. I've been here 4-5 times now and will continue to do so until I have reason not to! If you like handrolls (or think you might), Kazu is the place for you. Their menu is simple: it's pretty much just handrolls. They make it easy with set menus of 3-6 rolls depending on how hungry you are. They prep the rolls skillfully in front of you for maximum freshness! The price is very reasonable- you're eating high quality, fresh fish just steps away from the ocean in Santa Monica! Under $30 for 6 rolls. Hard to beat that. ”
“ I love LA. Only here can you find an amazing little restaurant that just serves hand rolls. We ordered the set of 4 and set of 5 which frankly was a lot of food but every bite was delicious. I particularly enjoyed the toro, scallop and lobster ones. Seating is bar style in a big square with the chef's preparing the rolls in the center. Great place to come alone or with one other perso- wouldn't recommend it for a group. Loved it. Recommend! ”
“ Consistent, good. Always has the one cup sake. What more can you ask for? It's the Starbucks of sushi. ”
“ This is a wonderful spot for a great meal. They have fresh fish and great service. U cant go wrong with either the pre-set 6 piece or picking ala carte. If u dont see what u like, ask them! I didn't see uni on the menu but they had it available. The restaurant has no wait on a weekday for dinner and is open fairly late as well. Super delicious and cant wait to be back ”
“ This place is such a gem! The fish is as fresh as it can get and every piece on the menu is delicious. Also fun that they make it in front of you! My absolute favorite is the scallop, could eat it every day for the rest of my life haha. I've been to three different locations and have been equally as satisfied with all of them. The only downside is that there sometimes can be a wait and I wouldn't be in a group of more than three people since it's a bar setting. Love it either way, and can't wait to go back! ”
“ This hidden gem is one of my favorite spots in Santa Monica! The place typically has a line as it doesn't seat many people, but it tends to move quickly. Service is great. It is counter style where you watch them make the handrolls in front of you. The place is dimly lit and you're able to easily converse with the person next to you. I love the 6 hand rolls with an additional of a shrimp roll. My favorites are the shrimp and scallop. ”
“ This is in downtown Santa Monica a block away from the beach! There's lots of available parking nearby. This location mirrors the others with the food quality and interior design with the bar counter. The hand rolls are still as delicious as ever with that fluffy sushi rice and fresh seafood. There's also a private bar area. I got to try their 10th year anniversary menu which included new and old items. The best handroll by far (I'm still dreaming about it) was the Toro Handroll. SO GOOD!! My other favorites that I've tried before were the Bay Scallops, Crab, and Lobster Handrolls. We were served the Yamaimo Handroll at the end which is a Japanese yam but I wasn't a fan of this one and couldn't finish it. The Sashimi items were great as well, I enjoyed the Albacore Sashimi a lot. The service was great as always. The chefs are really attentive and will start serving the next menu items as soon as you and your group has finished eating them. I love Kazunori so much! ”
“ Parking: Hectic, there's a parking lot available but it's really inconvenience when you're just doing pick up. (I won't judge the restaurant based on the parking but it is a huge deterrent for me to come back) I ordered the hand roll kit, crab rolls, salmon rolls, shrimp, and a few others I have forgotten by now. I don't recommend ordering the hand rolls kits unless you want to entertain kids or want it for the next day. Just get them pre made. I didn't eat my rolls until an hour later and it was in great shape. The crab, salmon, and shrimp rolls were finely chopped with mayo and wrapped in your typical rice and seaweed. It was simple and tasty but i don't think it was $400 tasty. It's great if you're looking for something simple. For me, it was good but considering the price tag, it didn't hit the mark for me. All in all, would not come back to this location ”
“ This was a fun experience! It's a very popular spot, and we got a seat for two after about a 20 minute wait on a sunday evening. The food tasted fresh and the service was attentive. I will say - be aware that you won't have a gluten free soy sauce option and that the scallop hand roll has gluten in it. But they are very accommodating and will exchange it for another one. The sodas come in surprisingly old fashion glass bottles which adds to the charm. I think six rolls each filled us up 85% - leaving just enough room to go scavenge for dessert around Santa Monica. Nice spot! ”
“ Love Kazu. I've been here 4-5 times now and will continue to do so until I have reason not to! If you like handrolls (or think you might), Kazu is the place for you. Their menu is simple: it's pretty much just handrolls. They make it easy with set menus of 3-6 rolls depending on how hungry you are. They prep the rolls skillfully in front of you for maximum freshness! The price is very reasonable- you're eating high quality, fresh fish just steps away from the ocean in Santa Monica! Under $30 for 6 rolls. Hard to beat that. ”
“ I love LA. Only here can you find an amazing little restaurant that just serves hand rolls. We ordered the set of 4 and set of 5 which frankly was a lot of food but every bite was delicious. I particularly enjoyed the toro, scallop and lobster ones. Seating is bar style in a big square with the chef's preparing the rolls in the center. Great place to come alone or with one other perso- wouldn't recommend it for a group. Loved it. Recommend! ”
“ Consistent, good. Always has the one cup sake. What more can you ask for? It's the Starbucks of sushi. ”
“ This is a wonderful spot for a great meal. They have fresh fish and great service. U cant go wrong with either the pre-set 6 piece or picking ala carte. If u dont see what u like, ask them! I didn't see uni on the menu but they had it available. The restaurant has no wait on a weekday for dinner and is open fairly late as well. Super delicious and cant wait to be back ”