Nami Nori Design District

"Nami Nori makes sense for the Design District. It’s perfect for an unsubstantial meal right before purchasing a $500 belt from Gucci across the street. It has the bright and clean look of an Apple Store, and it’s as transactional as one too. The sushi restaurant, which comes to us from New York, specializes in taco-shaped handrolls you can assemble yourself (unless you’re sitting at the sushi counter, in which case they’ll just hand them to you). They range from good to slightly underwhelming. The rice has a pleasant saltiness from a quick soak in soy sauce, but we crave more from the fillings themselves. The salmon serrano lacks spice, and sometimes the fish gets lost in the busy handrolls. The tuna poke tastes almost indistinguishable from the scallop. photo credit: Sebastian Lucrecio photo credit: Nami Nori Miami photo credit: Sebastian Lucrecio photo credit: Nami Nori Miami The temaki sets of five are the most financially responsible decision one can make here. They range from $24 to $32, and you can easily spend upwards of $50 if you follow your instincts and go a la carte. The non-handroll portion of the menu has small plates like a (not so) spicy tuna dip that are generally not worth the extra money. Come starving and you might accidentally wrack up a special occasion bill for an otherwise casual lunch. The dining room is covered in wood that looks like it came from Japanese cypress trees used to make saunas. But during the weekend lunch rush, there is nothing relaxing about the place. Servers frantically dart around the dining room, which is narrow enough to cause the occasional handroll to go tumbling off its tray. The pros of Nami Nori (decent handrolls) just aren’t quite enough to make it a spot worth prioritizing. For good handrolls in a similarly sleek space, go to Omakai Hand Roll Bar instead. Food Rundown photo credit: Mariana Trabanino Tempura Misto These tempura shrimp and vegetable fries are topped with calabrian chili and come with a yuzu aioli. They’re crispy, spicy, and they're almost more exciting than the temaki sets. If you get something other than handrolls, make it this. photo credit: Sebastian Lucrecio Nami Nori Salad The wasabi oil and rice chips are the only ingredients separating this from a simple wedge salad. Still, it’s a refreshing starter that'll temporarily hold down a grumbling stomach. photo credit: Mariana Trabanino Signature Set This is the best and most efficient way to do Nami Nori. The set includes tuna poke, scallop, coconut shrimp, salmon serrano, and cucumber black sesame handrolls. It’s a nice representation of the handroll options, and a fine lunch if you're not that hungry. photo credit: Sebastian Lucrecio Spicy Tuna Dip Our server said it was to die for. It’s not even worth chipping a nail. photo credit: Nami Nori Miami Spicy Lobster At $12, the spicy lobster temaki is one of the more expensive handrolls on the menu, but it’s not worth it. The lobster is bland and uneven in temperature." - Mariana Trabanino