Cynthia H.
Yelp
Bar none, the BEST fast-casual dining spots for hand rolls and rice bowls. My review is based on a visit on March 21, 2024.
- Staff: friendly and helpful. I was with two girlfriends and it was our first visit, so we asked for recommendations, and were provided some helpful suggestions.
- Food order: stellar. There are two options for hand rolls - 3 for $33 ($11 each) or 5 for $50 ($10 each). We ordered 2 sets of 5, because... how much could we afford to save? For variety, we also ordered the eggplant, salmon, and wagyu bowls.
- Hand rolls: The cashier said his favorite was the salmon roll, so we ordered 3 of those, and true to his word - they were super delicious. Several reviewers referenced the packaging, which I thought was ingenius (but also a little excessive from a waste perspective). To me, the best part about a hand roll is the crispness of the seaweed. The packaging preserved that perfectly, such that we could really enjoy the fresh flavors of the fish and rice in each roll and not worry about the other rolls getting soggy on us. The instructions on how to remove the packaging, and the use of the box containing the rolls - so good.
- Bowls: I thoroughly enjoyed all three bowls, but the wagyu bowl really stole my heart (taste buds). I saw some reviews mentioning disappointment over the serving size. True, there wasn't a heaping mound of wagyu, but I thought the amount was appropriate for the price point. Wagyu is not cheap, after all. The charred flavor and tenderness of the strips of beef though... beyond dreamy.
I am a huge fan of Bar Ito and find it to a hit on all levels - quality, flavor, value, service - this is high on my list of places to revisit in the near future.