It's on 2 of my lists. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- Address33 Carmine St, New York
- From my guide, updated September 2026.
Nami Nori specializes in temaki sushi (hand rolls) so don’t expect to find omakase or nigiri on offer. Modern and minimalist, the restaurant is the perfect locale for a first date you wish could last a lifetime, especially if you score a seat at the sushi counter.
The menu has a handful of tantalizing appetizers (don’t sleep on the miso soup and shishito peppers), but the hand rolls is where this popular West Village sushi restaurant sings. The spicy crab dynamite is a non-negotiable order in my book, but if you’re having a hard time choosing, opt for the signature set instead and let the chef do the hard work for you.
Nami Nori (33 Carmine Street, West Village) is a hand roll bar, which means you’re getting individual temaki rolls assembled to order. Each one is $6-8, and you can easily make a meal out of four or five of them for under $40.
The lobster hand roll is obscene. The spicy tuna is exactly right. And the nori (seaweed) is warm and crispy, which makes a bigger difference than you’d think. Cold, chewy nori is the enemy of a good hand roll, and Nami Nori understands this.
This is my go-to for a fun dinner that doesn’t feel too serious. The vibe is casual, the sake list is good, and you’re in and out in an hour.