The 12 Best Handroll Bars In NYC

Cake pops, corn dogs, hot pockets—handheld foods are by far the most fun, and that includes sushi. You might know handrolls (temaki) as the cone or taco-shaped rolls that you get at the end of an omakase dinner. If you’d prefer to eat all of your raw fish and rice like an ice cream cone, you can do so at one of NYC’s handroll-only restaurants. You’ll find a variety of options on this list, from a twelve-course tasting menu to a walk-up counter where you can order a la carte.

Mari

This Korean spot from the Kochi team serves a $145 13-course tasting, the bulk of which is dedicated to U-shaped handrolls filled with marinated meat or fish topped with accessories like pickled daikon. Unlike some handroll places you may have been to before, Mari incorporates Korean sauces and spices into every two-bite roll. There are a couple tables in the back, but you should sit at the big rectangular counter in the middle of the restaurant.

Douska

If you’re used to some of the more theatrical sushi around NYC, the simple, to-the-point handrolls at Douska might appear to be wearing their birthday suits. But that won’t matter once you experience the way the fresh yellowtail, a few rogue scallions, and warm vinegary rice come together at this 12-seat sushi spot on the LES. You can go with a handroll set or order a la carte if you have your heart set on eating mackerel and monkfish liver.

Kamasu

This small restaurant in Hudson Yards specializes in temaki that look simple but pop with unique flavors. Think tuna with roasted almonds, fried onion on scallop, and kampachi with green apple and plum soy. They come in sets of three, four, and five, or a la carte. For Hudson Yards standards, the sets are priced pretty well—especially compared to the over-the-top prices at Katsuya across the same mall. This handroll bar may be too casual for celebrating a big deal, but its calm, baby blue room is great for a business meeting or a quiet solo dinner at the sushi bar. And if you do want to have a luxurious moment, they have a caviar roll on the menu.

Sushi Saint

This 10-seat sushi counter in Long Island City is the first NYC outpost of a popular handroll bar in Orlando. The portions are generous, the filling combinations are inventive, and the temaki have solid structural integrity all the way down to the last bite. Sets of three ($20 for a vegetarian trio), five ($45 or $55), or seven rolls ($80) are available, or you can order as you please a la carte, with the additional option of a $24 caviar bump. Our favorites include the king salmon with lime miso and pickled serranos and the dream team that is wagyu and mushroom jam.

Noz Market

If you’re not looking to throw down $550 at the highly rated Sushi Noz , you can get the same high-quality fish and kombu-flavored rice wrapped up in a handroll at Noz Market next door. Noz Market is a walk-in, standing-only temaki bar that serves rolls that range from $8-$25 for a la carte options like anchovy and grilled salmon paté, with sets available. (There’s also another pricey omakase counter in the back room.) Casually dropping in for a couple high-end handrolls here feels like adding a scoop of caviar on top of your day.

Daigo Hand Roll Bar

Daigo isn't trying to be "inventive" or creative, and we find that kind of refreshing. The focus at this tiny counter in the Dekalb Market is on quality fish, really good rice, and crispy nori. Unlike some other handroll spots, you order a la carte here rather than committing to a full omakase situation. You can also order everything on the menu as a rice cup—but rolls are really the move here. Eat them quickly, so the nori stays super crispy.

Temakase

Temakase believes their fresh, hot rice and crispy nori combination should be eaten within 30 seconds, and they’ve made it very easy to do so at their East Village handroll bar. The spacious dining room only has counter seating, where you’ll choose from sets of three to six handrolls to be delivered to you piece by piece at your own eating pace by someone in an Hawaiian shirt. There’s plenty of room to guarantee you a spot whether you want to pop in for a quick solo meal or linger for rounds of sake from their vaguely tropical themed bar.

Nami Nori

If all you want is good, quick sushi for under $40, Nami Nori will scratch that itch. As a rule of thumb, the least complicated handrolls are the best things here, with a couple exceptions, like the x.o. scallop. The wood-and-white-brick West Village space looks exactly like the kind of bright, minimalist apartment that mostly just exists on social media, and there’s another location in Williamsburg.

Mari.ne

Mari is wonderful, but a meal there costs more than a round-trip flight to Miami. If you need something more practical, Mari.ne is the perfect alternative. It’s from the same people, in a narrow, pistachio-colored space near Bryant Park. The setup is casual, with a single bar lined with low stools, and the brief menu is centered around handrolls with a mix of Korean and Japanese influence. Get a set starting at $25, or just choose a few, like the creamy crab salad and seared wagyu that’s sweet as bulgogi.

Domodomo

Most of the handroll bars on this list do their best work when they keep things simple, but the best rolls at Domodomo are the more complex ones. Kabocha puree and mustard seeds add an extra burst of flavor to the miso black cod, and we love the touch of tomato mayo on the salmon. The sleek, light wood and luxe details (we love a hot hand towel) make Domodomo feel a little fancy, though not quite nice enough for a special occasion. Instead, come through for a date night or celebration that calls for a small splurge, like spending the extra $5 to top your unagi with foie gras.

Maki Kosaka

Maki Kosaka in Flatiron is the casual offshoot of a fancy omakase spot called Kosaka on West 13th, which means you can expect quality fish at lower prices. They have two types of handrolls here: temaki and “grab” sushi, which are pieces of beautifully constructed nigiri that you scoop up with crisp Saga nori sheets. Have your next date night here—the big wrap-around sushi bar has enough space to give you some privacy, and there’s a lush plant shop in the front that feels like their unofficial front porch.

KazuNori

We’ve got to give KazuNori a mention, as they are “The Original Hand Roll Bar," even going as far as trademarking the claim as part of their name. The relaxed younger sibling of LA import Sugarfish is also still one of the best. Each roll is handed to you freshly made, one at a time, and they’re designed to be eaten immediately for maximum seaweed-crispness. It’s a good deal, and it’s also fast: everyone sits along a bar and you’ll probably be out in under 40 minutes.