Kata Nori Hand Roll Bar

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 - Incredible Hand Rolls and Impeccably Fresh Fish Kata Nori absolutely blew us away! The hand rolls were so good — each one served fresh and packed with flavor. My wife couldn’t stop raving about the yellowtail Hamachi, saying it was some of the best she’s ever had. I tried the Uni, which wasn’t quite my thing, but that’s totally on me for ordering something outside my usual. Still, the quality was undeniable. The fish overall was incredibly fresh, and the rice was perfectly seasoned — so good, it made us want to try rolling our own sushi at home. We ordered a few of the 4345 roll specials, and every bite delivered. The drinks were another highlight. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and helped us pair the right drinks with our food. Everything from the service to the flavor felt thoughtful and well-executed. It’s such a shame that this is just a pop-up — we really hope they stick around or come back in the future. Until then, we’re just glad we got to experience it. Five stars all the way! ✨

This is the absolute BEST place I've ever had sushi. The concept is brilliant! Their execution is perfect. I literally ordered everything on the menu, and it was all incredible. I've eaten sushi all over the country, and this place is amazing. Highly recommend.

I'm extremely delighted with this hand roll bar!! The service was amazing, everyone was incredibly and hospitable, the food was AMAZING, crafted right there before you, made fresh and served at a perfect pace to enjoy every bite. Don't expect to have all your food to be served in 10 minutes, that's not the concept here. We were a party of 10 and we all loved it. Highly recommend it. You need reservation otherwise they are rightfully crowded.

This place blew me away. Every dish had a wild burst of flavor that hit just right. It was super fresh, super bold, & just overall delicious. The atmosphere was on point too. They had an early 2000s playlist that took me back in the best way & the vibe in the room felt chill but still elevated. Oh & the Service? Top notch. Huge shoutout to Ann & the rest of the team for making it such a great experience. Definitely a spot I’ll keep coming back to.

Incredible food!! Loved the vibe of the smaller space and very personable experience sitting up at the bar top. Entire staff extremely nice and the food was even more incredible! Make sure to try the daily specials too! Wish I took more photos but we were too focused on enjoying the delicious food!

Such a fun bar service for sushi! The service was so attentive and helpful. The sushi was delicious! The lychee martinis was so refreshing! Loved the kinoko mushroom dish! Also had the 4 head room special with hamachi, spicy saki, spicy tuna kani all very good. Loved the kani the best. The sashimi chu toro melted your mouth. The crispy sonopana was great too! Definitely a sushi dream spot!

Okay, this place? Absolute sushi sorcery. After my husband did some next-level Yelp-stalking, we waltzed in at 1pm sharp and summoned the four nori plates and hamachi crudo like sushi royalty. One bite in and I was like—is this love? Because those hand rolls? Silky, snappy, salty-sea perfection. The crunch of the nori, the chill of the fish, the bright pop of acidity—it was a symphony in seaweed. I nearly cried. I absolutely considered selling my soul for a tray of ten more. And don’t even get me started on the sake—priced like a steal, sipped like a dream. But the real secret sauce? The staff. Total pros. Chill, kind, attentive without hovering, and they actually see you. Like, “tell me your hopes and dreams while I pour this Junmai Daiginjo” kind of service. If I lived here, they’d have to name a seat after me. Maybe even a shrine. Until then… I’ll just dream of those hand rolls and plot my return.

Our first impressions were unsettling and unsure of what to expect. We made a reservation in advance for our friend’s birthday and there was a wait time. Their waiting lounge area was nice and you can order drinks while you wait. As we approached the dining area, we were astounded by the concept! Everything is delicious here and we were blown away by how they’ve perfected the items on their menu! The handrolls, crudos, small plates - phenomenal!! If you do not have a palate of enjoying raw fish and the concoctions, this may not be for you. The owner even made a round to greet guests and we will most definitely be coming back!

I first tried Kata Nori's hand rolls during the Cafe Caphe Lunar New Year pop-up event in January. We arrived at the event a little late, so the only hand roll selection was the avocado hand roll, in addition to their delicious crudo options. Because I'd heard a lot of good things about Kata Nori and had upcoming reservations for my sister's birthday, I wanted to see what I could anticipate before my first visit, so I ordered the avocado roll. I expected it to be just another avocado roll, but was pleasantly surprised to find that it exceeded my expectations. Not only did the avocado taste fresh and wonderful, but the flavors of the hand roll blended perfectly in my mouth. Reminiscing about the fresh flavors of the avocado hand roll, I couldn't wait for my sister's birthday so I could reorder it and try even more options. Unfortunately, my phone did not eat first. So I don't have many images to share, except from this particular picture of my Martini. That's not to say I didn't enjoy my time at Kata Nori; some may argue that the cuisine was so wonderful that I forgot to take pictures. Although some may mistake the place for another sushi restaurant, it's safe to say that you won't find anything similar to a standard California sushi roll. But don't let that discourage you from booking a reservation at Kata Nori; if you're up for it, prepare for a fantastic evening of fresh ingredients, flavors, and fish. Also, be prepared to shell out a decent amount of $$. Because by the time you're finished, you've probably ordered half of the menu items. Nevertheless don't worry, you won't recall how much the meal cost because you'll probably be making plans for your next visit here.

Come here to kick off my birthday night with my friend for my favorite martini! This is the only place in Kansas City that I've been to that makes it perfectly and correctly! Everyone was so nice and made my night here special. I also tried two of the blue crab hand rolls that were a 10/10. Great place for social time, date or drinks. They also have a lounge area if you just want to hang out and drink. Highly recommend coming here.

What a special dinner! Came here to celebrate our daughter's fiancé's birthday. Reservations for 5:30pm and we were running a little late but they held our table for us. Cute little restaurant. Everyone sits on a U shaped table as they make the hand rolls in front of you. Flavors were delicious with wonderfully seasoned and well planned dish after dish we ordered. We each had the "4 roll set" and for a fifth hand roll had the hotate hand rolls. I think my favorite was the crab but the spicy tuna was a close 2nd. This was my first time having Japanese hand rolls and it is a delicious twist on sushi. The crispy seaweed paper really add to the sushi rice and fillings in each roll. We also ordered: Hamachi Crudo - had red orange slices and is amazing. A special of the day tuna crudo Kinoko (another favorite of mine with mushrooms thinly sliced and deliciously seasoned) Sunomono (cucumbers with seasonings) Madani sashimi Special of the day Sashimi Service was top notch. I really enjoyed the slow pace at which they brought you the food. They gave you enough time to enjoy each bite (and enjoy good conversation) and not hurry you or keep you waiting too long. For that special occasion or just a night when you want to be pampered with a delicious meal this place is hard to beat!

I haven't tried any other Japanese restaurants in Kansas City but when I'm there and want sushi, I'm coming here! I tried the wagyu and spicy sake hand rolls which were delicious - I liked the wagyu better. The hand rolls were great fresh but then the seaweed was harder to bite through after a few minutes of being served so I recommend eating the rolls right away rather than waiting. I loved the ambiance and space. The seating concept around the sushi bar counter is a cool experience!

We had an amazing dinner at Kata Nori. It's a very small and charming space, so reservations are necessary but worth it. We sat at the bar and watched the chefs prepare handrolls, crudos, and sashimi. It's a lively atmosphere and the food comes out quickly. The staff is kind and patient about explaining the options, especially for someone like myself who is not a sushi pro. We started with a four handroll set and moved on to furikake rice, kinoko, maguro, the walu walu, and finished with green tea and yuzu ice cream. I really cannot say anything negative about any of the dishes. Everything was fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented. We absolutely loved the kinoko (king trumpet mushrooms delicately prepared with a yuzu vinaigrette), the maguro (a refreshing dish with watermelon and blue fin tuna), and the walu walu (the only cooked dish which is a mild, perfectly baked escolar with crispy leeks). Absolutely wonderful! The drinks and sake options are also awesome and, should you choose to bring your own wine, the corkage fee is $25. If you love fresh seafood and sushi, put Kata Nori on your restaurant list!

I have been raving about Kata Nori for well over a year and honestly, I'm ashamed of myself for not yet bringing every single one of my friends here. Why do I go anywhere else? That's really what I should be asking myself. To have a place like Kata Nori in KC makes me feel very proud. This establishment is high class, authentic, FRESH, quaint and personalized for each person. The experience is not one that I have had the pleasure of having ever in any city I've been in. I'm sure it exists, but I'm also sure that Kata Nori could stand up to any competitor. Every single one of the hand rolls, crudos, sashimis, drinks and more are amazing. I especially enjoy the mushrooms, the scallop hand roll, the watermelon crudo and the special barracuda sashimi. I highly recommend both visiting Kata Nori (book in advance, it is small!) and their instagram account for some beautifully curated sneak peaks at what they have to offer.

Absolutely delicious. Kata Nori is the perfect place to go on a romantic low-lit date cozied up to the small bar. Kata Nori is also the perfect place to impress your friends and family with how cool you are -- but only a small group of friends and family. This is not a restaurant to bring more than about 4 people. It's a beautiful, intimate counter space built for small groups. Definitely make a reservation if you're going on a weekend because there are only about 25 seats. They have a small lounge area for you to wait and drink if you take your chances with a walk in. First Friday weekends are particularly busy! The menu is concise but powerful! I can make no conclusive recommendations for how much food to order -- every time I go, I just black out and keep ordering food until I can't eat anymore. The hand rolls are only a couple of bites each, and the small plates are indeed small. The hand rolls are prepared fresh at the bar before your very eyes. They are presented to you, and you are to eat it immediately while the nori is still crunchy, the rice still a little warm, and the seafood fresh. Order a hand roll set or several at a time, and your meal is perfectly paced out by the chefs. The three hand roll set is a solid place to start. Despite only "hand roll" being in the name of the restaurant, don't sleep on the crudo and small plates! The kinoko mushroom dish is my absolute favorite thing on the menu. There's a great selection of cocktails, beer, wine, and sake. The Snow Maiden unfiltered sake changed my mind on not liking sake! Limited to street parking in Crossroads or finding a paid lot somewhere. Only a few blocks from the Crossroads streetcar stop!

Loved this spot. Everything was fresh and delicious. Place was busy. Make a reservation. We got the five roll combo.

Great experience last night. The quality of the fish is top notch and the service was excellent. We had 5 hand rolls, a crudo, and the mushrooms between 2 women. It was the perfect amount of food. The fatty tuna hand roll was my favorite. They all have some type of texture in them which is just a little bit different than sushi rolls. I wanted a spoon to eat the scallops with because the sauce was wonderful. And finally the mushrooms!! These are must if they are on the menu. They are fabulous and the sauce is again perfect.

Probably one of my top favorite restaurants here in KC! These hand rolls are something I've never experienced. I am used to eating traditional sushi. The sushi chef makes everything on the spot so everything is crunchy and fresh! The rolls I ordered were the hamachi, the spicy tuna, and the spicy sake. I would have to say that they were all great but the hamachi had to have been my favorite, I easily could've eaten 5 of them. I also ordered the walu walu which was served in a bowl it as baked escolar, topped with crispy leeks, and octo vinegar, the octo vinegar really enhanced everything and took the flavors to the next level. The baked escolar was similar to sea bass but less light and more meaty with a drier consistency. I am already planning my trip back here. I came during lunch time but I would make reservations ahead of time cause I could see to is place filling up. They seem to have limited seating because the only seating I saw was around the sushi bar.

Ok love this place everyone so friendly, the flavors and quality of food spot on! My only suggestion would be I really was missing having miso soup but that's me! Also next time going to see if alternative for the crisy shallots while I love them...my body does not so had pretty bad reaction....but I knew I probably would! It's just not usually a issue with Japanese food , rarely have I had garlic,onion,shallots be a ingredient but pretty heavy forward in there menu FYI for all you FOD people!

Hands down one of the best sushi places I've been to in the KC area. The overall experience was phenomenal. You can order as you eat. The rolls, sushi pieces, and plates are made and given one by one. The crudos served are amazing. The food was just exceptional. When you eat the sushi you can taste the thought and art that goes into creating the food. My favorite dish was the special of the night. The owner came out and instructed my party to eat it our eyes closed enjoying every bit of it. This was more of fine dinning and the prices are on the higher end but I think it was worth the experience overall. However, even with a reservation we had to wait an additional 30 minutes. It is a very small restaurant with bar sitting only. So even if you get a reservation I recommend coming earlier. Overall, I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a good sushi place with a great experience.

We had a nice dinner here on Friday night! I knew I could not be in town for the YEE opportunity here, so I suggested to Eric R. that we try it while we were in town for the Heartland Tea, Coffee, and Chocolate Festival this past weekend. We showed up without a reservation, and a server said we could be accommodated. Then the host came up and suggested we could if we were willing to eat quickly, and be out in under a half hour. Eric R. said sure, if the food came out quickly, we can do our best. Then the host told us we could leave to go drink somewhere else and get called when a spot opened up. However, we did not want to do that, so we just said we would wait in the lounge. After only a few minutes, she took us to our seats at the sushi bar. When we were seated, someone went over the menu with us and suggested favorites. Besides the handrolls, the other items on the menu are for sharing. There were also a few specials of the night. Our server came over and was unaware of our limited time frame and seemed unconcerned about it. The menu has "mocktails $7" so I asked about it and she said she could make something tailored to my taste. I asked for a yuzu soda since I saw they had topo chico on the menu, and she made it happen! Eric R. was bummed because two teas are listed but they are cold, not hot. He stuck with water. We ordered the kinoko, isaki sashimi special, salmon belly sashimi, and for me: negitoro, hamachi, and uni handolls, for Eric R.: negitoro and hotate handrolls. The kinoko came out first, and the mushrooms were sliced like sashimi with a yuzu dressing, crispy shallot, and chives. They were very unique! My hamachi temaki was so flavorful, and had crispy shallots and cilantro in it, which led Eric R. to order it after he got his other two. We both enjoyed the negitoro, oozing with fatty deliciousness, accompanied with a wasabi relish. My uni temaki was heavenly with shiso leaf inside. The isaki sashimi was thinly sliced and served with its own sauce separate from the sake toro which came with soy sauce. They were served on a plate of shredded daikon and shiso leaf. The salmon belly has grated ginger and chopped green onions on it too. It was melt-in-your-mouth fresh! I also ordered a sardine nigiri from the specials menu to finish, which had grated ginger on top. Everything was fresh and delicious, The servers were upbeat and refilled waters quickly. The chefs crafted handrolls to order and spaced them out so they would have crisp seaweed when served to us. It was a very nice experience, and the quality is great. Itadakimasu!

Best sushi spot in KC! Love the ambiance and chill vibes. Service is quick and very accommodating. Every dish is so good, best crudo and handrolls in town!

This place is so unique and definitely worth a visit. The owner is Vietnamese and we introduced ourselves to him. He is the sweetest and even gave us free ube ice cream dessert for my birthday. We got two hand rolls each, the wagyu steak, and the tuna watermelon. The hand rolls were superb! It was so intimate to see the chefs making it in front of you. The tuna and watermelon was honestly one of the best dishes I've had. They complimented each other so well. The wagyu steak and rice was a bit disappointing though. I was expecting more steak and was sad to see it was served in such tiny portions. The rice was pretty average with furikake. The ube ice cream was the best way to end the dinner! It wasn't too sweet but very creamy and had a unique flavor. Please give this place a try if you haven't!

Loved it! If you like sushi this place is a must. It's super small so you do rub elbows with your neighbor but the food was great. The hand rolls are honestly so simple and perfect. I think it was better than the other stuff on the menu so I'd suggest splurging on the rolls!

Another check-in because we stop in for our lunch break quite often now. Sushi is always good quality, nori is always crunchy & fresh, the vibes is always immaculate (we have not been there during dinner still) but so far, in the last 6 ish or more times we've been, we've loooooved every single item. This last time, I finally gave in & tried the wagyu which was a bit too fatty but at least they had a meat option for those that don't do fish. I will continue to stick with the hand rolls & crudos here because it wont get better than this in KC i promise you that. Were starting to have our favorite dishes & usually the owner &/ server is greeting us or having us try a new creative dish which we LOVE. its always an experience here & we'd like to make it a tradition to keep coming here for our work lunch breaks

What a fantastic experience! Chris, our server, was extremely helpful and guided us through the menu options and the night's specials. Fish was fresh and delicious. I had 3 hand rolls and shared a crudo which was plenty to eat. Trying Sake for the first time was a great experience, totally loved the bamboo tray and cups used to serve it, along with the lesson by Chris. Great bar seating that as it filled up, increased the energy of the room. Had a great lounge area with comfy seating for a cocktail. Can't wait to come back!

I cannot overstate how delicious the food was especially at the price point. The hand rolls were all simple yet flavorful and delicious. But the standouts for me were the two crudo dishes we had. Absolutely insane flavors- as good of a bite I've had in a 3-star Michelin restaurant. Will definitely be returning to try more of the menu.

Y'all... I want a world-class handroll bar in KC as much as anyone, but this is not it. You'll have a much better sushi experience (for way less $$$) somewhere like Prime Sushi, Brookside Sushi, or Sushi Uni (Overland Park). First off, there's the fish. Truth be told, I'm not sure how anyone is reviewing the quality of the fish in these posts because you can't taste the fish. Sure, the texture is good, but you can't taste the fish in the handrolls because they're already pre-seasoned and the fish is cut remarkably thin. The worst offender among the thin fish (never thought I'd write that, but here we are) was the Kanpachi Sashimi. It was $20 for four slices, but you could've stacked a few dollar bills and it would've been thicker than each slice. The pictures don't do it justice. Sashimi in Japan is always cut generously because you're eating, well, just a slice of fish. Bottom line--the beauty of sashimi is the taste of the fish, and Kata Nori failed to highlight that in the crudos, the hand rolls, and the sashimi we tried. Two stars instead of one star because the flavors and sauces were solid. Still, I'm not hoping to pay $5 per sashimi slice to taste yuzu and nori. Then the service just wasn't there. We waited 45 minutes without food before the chef and waitstaff realized our order had been sent to a different table, and when the 5 Handroll Set came, one of the handrolls was the wrong order. Let's not even talk about the first time we tried to come here and were told to wait for an hour, only to be told an hour later that they were booked out. Finally, the ambiance wasn't what it was hyped to be. I think people like Kata Nori because it's a small space and has a rounded countertop, but the white and blue mural ruins the dark atmosphere of the place, and it's a difficult space to have a real conversation in because the countertop is so small and the mood is quiet. Compared to other rounded countertop experiences I've had in Japan, it just wasn't a comfortable place to eat and talk, and compared to other nice restaurants in KC like Corvino and Farina, there are much nicer places to sit down to a fine dining experience. If you still want to go and try Kata Nori, here are some tips: - Definitely get a reservation at least a week in advance - Do not order the wagyu--the price you pay is enormous and the portions are very small - Do not order the furikake rice. Furikake is Japanese rice seasoning. You sprinkle it on your rice, there's nothing easier to make. You can buy enough to last you a month with how much they charge for this dish.

"I didn't know food could be this good" "I didn't know food like this existed in Kansas City" For $40 you could have the best meal of your life. Amazing food, amazing service, great vibes. Because of how the restaurant is setup, you'll get your first handroll within 5 minutes of putting in your order. Must trys: Hamachi handroll, negitoro handroll, hotate crudo, maguro crudo, kinoko small plate

Kata Nori is amazing! You need a reservation to get a seat, but it was definitely worth it! All the servers were knowledgeable about their rolls and gave stellar recommendations for what they thought was good. They were attentive when our water was low and refilled promptly. They even checked in every so often to make sure our orders were put in and coming out timely. Their playlist for the evening was stellar and wasn't too loud, so you could still hear others talking. It definitely set the mood perfectly! This is a hand roll bar served omakase style. I got the 4 hand rolls and some a la carte rolls to supplement it. Each hand roll is made right in front of you to ensure freshness and the seaweed stays crispy. Everything was perfectly seasoned and was really fresh. My favorites were the yellowtail and toro hand rolls! This is an amazing addition to the Kansas City area and has quickly become one of my favorite Japanese spots.

Ate here last Friday celebrating my cousins birthday & I must say it was a great experience! From beginning to end! Decor was simple from what I remember. Not too much but not plain. Service was top notch. Shots after shots. The owners were very friendly & wait staff was great. As for food, it was delicious. Unfortunately I'm not a fan of too much raw foods but I can eat some. I opted for the Wagyu & rice since it was cooked & that was very crispy & satisfied my big tummy. I ordered the spicy sake (salmon) since I love salmon. It was raw but good. I washed all that down with a couple Lychee Martini. My overall favorite experience there was great & I would definitely return & open my palette to some more different raw items on the menu.

Overall, a nice hand roll bar and a great introduction for those new to the style/dish. Service was great and the one-page menu still has a good variety. Prices were reasonable. Went on a weekday night and most of the 25 counter seats were full. There are lots of seats in what looks like a waiting area at the front, so it might get louder when busier. The hand rolls and crudo were good, but the standout for me was the sashimi. I was surprised to taste avocado in a couple of the hand rolls and the sauces just overwhelmed the fish. Although I think the sauces were heavy-handed, most people would probably enjoy them. The flavors were great, but I just wanted to enjoy the fish more. 4 hand roll set ($24): -spicy sake: The salmon was the first hand roll to come out. It had avocado, which I associate with California-style sushi. It didn't taste bad, but it wasn't what I was expecting or wanting. -hamachi: The yellowtail had cilantro which seemed like an unusual pairing. -spicy tuna: This was noticeably saltier than the other rolls, but not sure why. -kani: The crab also had avocado which felt like it competed with the crab rather than complement it. Negitoro hand roll ($9): delicious with the lightest wasabi flavor. The fatty squishy texture works. I recommend this, although like the other rolls, the fish itself seemed secondary. Hirame crudo ($15): kind of salty? Clearly decent fish quality but it was swimming in sauce. The flavors were great, but just too much (for me; I think most people would find it fine). Kinoko ($9): Good, definitely recommend. The soft thin slices make this great. However, it had too much sauce, even though I loved the yuzu vinaigrette. Kanpachi sashimi ($12), hamachi sashimi ($12): Soft and not fishy at all. My favorites. Hotate sashimi ($15): Soft with the slightest bit of chew scallops have. I noticed the salty bitterness from yuzu and salt more than on the hamachi despite being in the same dish but it worked well with the cucumber.

Kata Nori Hand Roll Bar is a new spot for Japanese hand rolls in Kansas City. It's located in the east part of Crossroad, just opposite Mission Taco. This place sticks to the traditional style of a Nori bar, with counter seating only. This means you get your hand roll fresh right from the chef. I visited with a close friend at 5pm, right when they open, and it got busy quickly, so booking ahead might be a good idea. It was my first visit, and I was pretty excited. I've eaten a lot of Japanese food and had omakase in NYC because of work trips, so I was looking forward to seeing if it matched up. And it did! The service was quick and friendly. We began with a few hand rolls, then tried some crudos and sashimi from the menu. You can watch the chef make everything fresh and hand it to you directly. I loved my Hamachi handroll, and my friend KeeYoung's Uni Handroll was also incredible. We shared a variety of crudos that were all fresh, well put together, and tasty. The kanpachi sashimi was super fresh too. We also had the wagyu rice with seared Japanese A5 wagyu, and it was really good. They've got a nice selection of cocktails, beer, and sake. The atmosphere was laid-back. My friend and I had a great time chatting, enjoying the food, and just having a relaxed evening.

I live in Dallas but visit Kansas City often for work. A co-worker suggested this place and we tried it (my first time). If I could forward my mail there and live in the ceiling, I would! The hand rolls were amazing! We had two Small Plates but I don't recall the names but they were both good. Martini was perfect. Coming back in January and will definitely be eating there. There is street parking if you're lucky but there is a parking lot next door which was very cheap.

Hand roll places are very popular in the DFW area (where I'm from), so it's nice to see one in KC! The chefs make the food right in front of you, so you know the food is fresh! And they time it well between the parties sitting at the table to give you one item at a time, so no one is waiting too long. We shared the hamachi crudo and kinoko small plate. And then I got the 3 hand roll set. Like I said, everything tasted fresh and the flavors in each dish/roll came together well. The ambiance is also great, perfect for a date night or small group of friends! Definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time!

Everything about this place is 5 stars or higher. Maybe 100 if possible. I am a snob when it comes to sushi. Been a little over 2 years since I've been on a hunt to find my new favorite sushi place. And this place is it! Fresh quality hand rolls, great atmosphere, and outstanding service. Can't ask for more. I ordered almost everything on the menu. The food is incredible. Everything hit the spot like it should. The uni was to die for. Buttery, fresh, melt in your mouth, so good that we had to go for a 2nd round. Just go!! Highly recommend. 100/5

My expectations for this place was really high, and I was very excited to try this place out. But it was just ok. Dont get me wrong, service was spectacular and the fish was fresh. It was missing flavor. The seasoning that is used in their spicy hand rolls were great. The other ones really lacked wasabi. The addition of more grated ginger, or even a scallion would have been great. Don't forget to ask for wasabi and soy sauce, it's only given when requested. It is pricier. For the three handroll set, a tuna belly sashimi and a glass of sake, it was 60$.

I brought my 14mo son in the establishment and the hostess was super understanding, luckily that particular night it was pouring rain and the seating area was empty & let him run around. Apart from that I enjoyed the food, hand rolls were their signature dish which some were good and some were decent. I did enjoy the service and would come back to this place next time I'm in town.

KC's very own hand roll bar! Hubs and I made a dinner reservation during the weekday, and we were able to find free street parking right across the restaurant. Ambiance is warm and welcoming with the dimly lit lights and friendly faces. Seating was similar to omakase style seating with an intimate U-shape and chefs behind the counter, although some menu items came from the kitchen. I also appreciated the hook beneath the table to hang my purse. Our main server was great in giving us recommendations and advising us how to pair different items. The chefs were super nice, made sure the food was how we wanted, and accommodated some of our requests. We asked for fresh wasabi based on some of the other reviews (not on the menu). It was a nice touch but beware it's an additional $7. To start off, we ordered the 3 hand roll set for each of us, which included the spicy sake, hamachi, and spicy tuna. Each roll came at different times and in different orders for us since they make it fresh and recommend eating it right away. All of them were good, and I need to try all of the other ones! We ordered two crudos: the Hotate and Maguro. The Hotate was really refreshing and my favorite of the two. My husband's favorite was the Maguro - it's served on top of watermelon and some herbs that compliment the tuna oddly enough! We also ordered the Chu Toro sashimi and Sake Toro sashimi. My goodness, both were fresh, buttery, and delicious. The Chu Toro had this garlic/green onion situation to pair, and it went well with the flavor of the tuna. I don't love ginger, so I liked the Sake Toro on its own. Would definitely recommend both. Lastly, we ordered the Kinoko. Neither of us love mushrooms, but this was SO good. I don't even know how they made mushroom taste like that. Didn't really taste like mushroom since it absorbed the sauce it was in. We will come back for this!

New restaurant alert in KC Kata Nori in the Crossroads, specializing in hand rolls and other Japanese small dishes. Restaurant vibe has that clean Japanese aesthetic and seating is at the bar so you get to see them make every hand roll. Started with nice selection from sake and drink menu. For food, we each chose to do the 3 hand roll selection including salmon, spicy tuna and yellowtail. Fish is very fresh and each hand roll is made to order then served immediately to keep that nori nice and crispy. Highly recommend the wagyu rice dish, probably our favorite of the night. We also had a few of the crudo dishes which were also excellent. 5/5 stars and will absolutely be back. Glad to see KC finally has a real hand roll place, minus all the fried and Mayo "sushi" you see so often.

I have been waiting for this place to open! I believe this is Kansas City's first hand roll bar?! I visited Kata Nori during their soft opening (made reservations in advance online). As I walked in, I was greeted with friendly staff and even got to chat with one of the owners Nam! Once we were seated, it was a U-shaped counter, there was hooks underneath the table for you to hang your purse. It was really neat to see the chefs work their magic making the hand rolls. I wanted to try everything from the hand rolls to small plates. It was very delicious and flavorful! I can't wait to visit them again as they add more items to the menu!!

This was my first time trying Kata Nori and I loved it! It's very limited seating so definitely make a reservation. The staff was very helpful in explaining how everything works and making recommendations. The hand rolls were definitely my favorite - we tried most of them and really enjoyed. Will definitely be back!

I have been stalking this place on social media and patiently waiting for them to open! My friends and I were finally able to reserve a spot during their soft opening. We studied the soft opening menu well so we knew what we were going to order but we went hungry and everything sounded so good so we all ended up ordering a lot of food! HAND ROLLS: We went with the 4 hand rolls which included spicy sake, spicy tuna, Hamachi and kani hand rolls. I really enjoyed each one so didn't have a favorite. The rice was prepared perfectly! Spicy sake is usually my favorite but I didn't like the spicy paste used in there. I told the sushi chef that there was something in the spicy sake I didn't like but couldn't tell what it was. He was so kind to go through each item with me and we figured out it was the spicy sauce that was used. We ordered another one without the sauce and I definitely preferred it without! It had a much more refreshing taste to it. SASHIMI: Otoro was buttery and very flavorful. Some pieces were chewy Salmon belly was delicious and melts in your mouth! CRUDOS: Hotate Crudo was good but I think the Maguro was the favorite out of the crudos we tried. SMALL PLATE: O.M.G. the Kinoko was the star of the night! I wanted to dip everything in that yuzu vinaigrette! It deserves its own category on the menu The restaurant itself is so beautiful! The murals on the walls were gorgeous! I really love the ambience and the energetic vibes they had there. The service we received was excellent. Everyone we met was so welcoming and attentive. Our drinks stayed full and dishes came and were cleared away in a timely manner. Overall, we will definitely be back to try more items on the menu. The price was higher than most places but it was to be expected because of the quality and presentation of each dish, which was definitely an expression of art and culinary excellence.

Absolutely excellent experience. We had a reservation and the reservations were falling a little behind so we waited in their lounge and ordered a delicious drink. The ended up comping us with the friends and family discount which was awesome. The food was excellent and service was fast! Loved our experience.

When some of your friends decide to open an unique spot that serve fresh hand rolls, you gotta RSVP and tried it. Love the service and environment already when we walk in. Friendly smiles and tasty rolls. My first time and won't be my last time. It's so good to try a handful of dishes. I'm a huge fan of raw fish and how it is prep, no cook sushi/sashimi here. They definitely make it so good, you can get carry away and order a bunch. This is a very nice addition to the crossroads. Perfect for a date, friend or group hangout.

Quite possibly the best sushi in the city. Always very fresh and flavorful. And great attentive service. Just make sure you make a rezzy!

Every single dish we were served was incredible. And this is coming from a West Coast transplant, ai cannot recommend this place enough.

Best sushi in KC. Great service and clean atmosphere. Order the maguro Crudo, you won't regret it. Def recommend for anyone in the KC area.

Came here with a party of 4 on a Wednesday night and was pleasantly surprised by the service and the food quality! It's bar style seating with dim lighting. The service was so amazing even before we arrived. We tried calling but, they didn't pick up and couldn't believe they called us back! We wanted to see if we would be able to get seated if we arrived at 9:45pm. The person who picked up was so warm and friendly and even put us down. We were so happy they took us despite them closing at 10pm. Once we arrived, our experience was so amazing because of Vayline! She even gave us recommendations for our stay here in KC after we left! We ordered the following: - hamachi crudo - sake crudo - spicy salmon hand roll - spicy tuna hand roll - spicy hamachi hand roll - negitoro hand roll - hotate hand roll - avocado hand roll - wagyu rice We loved everything, especially the negitoro and would definitely come back if we weren't just visiting for the Bay Area.

This is a must try if you're in the crossroads area downtown KC. I'll keep this sweet, short and simple because Kata Nori exudes all of that and then some. Yup I just contracted what I just said but here we go. - Atmosphere = inviting, personal, cool, and chill vibes. Wall adorned by hand painted murals of notable fixtures around KC paired with touches of cherry blossoms and waves. -Staff = knowledgeable about the menu, great service, and inviting - Menu = simple and yet overwhelming because my wife and I wanted to try everything. A couple of fun facts both business and personal. 1) Fresh fish get delivered multiple times a week straight from Japan. 2) my wife is not a fish fan and yet Kata has made her a fan of Kata. Every dish ordered was fresh, crisp, and not fishy if that makes sense. Drinks were amazing. I had the Matcha IPA and it wasn't bad lol. Not a huge matcha fan but a regular IPA connoisseur I found this choice refreshing. I ended the meal with a Kata's spin on a Japanese old fashioned and it was delish. Wife ordered two lychee martinis because she enjoyed it that much. Now for what we ordered Hand rolls equivalent of the size of a street taco aka 2-3 bites worth - spicy tuna, scallops, wagyu, spicy salmon, and blue crab (wife ordered another spicy tuna for round 2) Crudos (Shareable) - Hirame = flavored forward, sweet, citrusy - Maguro = refreshing and I never thought watermelon and fish would be and is a good combo. Small plates - Kinoko = mind blowing. It's genius and absolutely insane what they did with pure mushrooms. Circling back to the staff, we couldn't decide so our waitress took matters into her own hands and took care of us. The hand roll sets is an easy way to cover your bases if you can't decide. Eat, live, love and laugh. We sure did tonight.

Honestly, this is the best restaurant in Kansas City - an entirely different caliber of sushi and service. The fish is flown in fresh, and it shows in clean, sharp flavors that are masterfully paired by Chef Pham such that each bite is surprising and satisfying. We had five hand rolls, the kinoko, the kanpachi crudo special, the walu walu, the furikake rice, and madai and sake toro sashimi. Every single dish was executed perfectly, and our favorite was the kanpachi crudo which was bright and punchy. The service was excellent - thoughtful and knowledgeable. The restaurant is beautifully laid out, and the space is warm and inviting. A nice selection of sakes. Honestly, this is food and service beyond what we even knew to expect - next level KC. Will definitely come back again and again.

Cannot speak highly enough about this fantastic restaurant. It's a cozy communal bar seating restaurant with the best sushi in the city. It's a small space so I would definitely recommend a reservation, especially if your party is larger than two. The food is so fresh and flavorful. I regularly dream about the hamachi hand roll. They have amazing daily specials as well so make sure to take advantage of those. The food comes so quickly and service is wonderful. They were kind enough to give is a free crudo when they overheard it was my fiancés birthday! This is really a special place where we always bring our out of town guests so we can give them an incredible experience and show off the best of the KC food scene.

The whole experience was well worth it. The rolls, the wagyu rice and the lychee martini were delightful on my tastebuds. Would absolutely come back!

Being from the Bay, seeing a hand roll spot in KV was skeptical... however, this was up to par for California standards and even so with Kazu Nori in SoCal. I loved how these rolls were already dressed and you didn't need to add anything else. Loved our server and enjoyed how spacious the bar was as well. Would easily come back again.

This hand roll concept is exactly what KC needed. The seating area is small and intimate to make sure the sushi chef can accommodate making everyone's sushi hand rolls fresh. It's by far the best sushi I've had in Kansas City. You can tell the quality of the fish was of the upmost importance. I will say the menu seems carefully curated so it is smaller. hand rolls have to be your group's thing as there isn't much beyond that but we enjoyed every single dish. Our favorite was the hamachi hand roll. The sushi chef even explained some changes he made to the roll recently and it was so good that we ordered two more even though we were full.

Incredible spot and really cannot wait to go back!! Everything was so good! Hamachi hand roll was my favorite!

Great sushi place! Love the atmosphere and the food was great! Slightly overpriced, but still enjoyed it'