Nori
Vegan restaurant · Central Campus ·
Plant-based sushi, noodles, and grilled tofu in a comfy space
Plant-based sushi, noodles, and grilled tofu in a comfy space
"Finding vegan sushi options in Austin isn’t unheard of—Uchi, Uchiko, and Lucky Robot all offer accommodating menus—but Nori is Austin’s first and only sushi restaurant with an entirely vegan menu. Ingredients like smoked carrots, marinated mushrooms, avocados, and cured tomatoes take the place of fish, and while none of them will have you second-guessing what you just ate, they won’t leave you disappointed, either. Start with an order of shiitake gyoza topped with apricot gastrique, grab a couple of rolls to split, then order the nigiri sampler for a six-bite intro to what vegan sushi is all about. If you want something a little heartier, there’s also ramen, yakisoba, and eggplant katsu curry." - nicolai mccrary
"Everything at Nori is 20 percent off right now, including its portable steamer that is compact enough to fit in your carry-on."
"The Heritage Japanese restaurant is all about well-made vegan sushi, leading to nigiri and rolls made with tofu, vegetables, Just Egg-based tamago, vegan caviar, and much more. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are Uber Eats and Grubhub deliveries; and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury
"Finding vegan sushi options in Austin isn’t unheard of—Uchi, Uchiko, and Lucky Robot all offer accommodating menus—but Nori is Austin’s first and only sushi restaurant with an entirely vegan menu. Ingredients like smoked carrots, marinated mushrooms, avocados, and cured tomatoes take the place of fish in most of the rolls, and while none of them will have you second-guessing what you just ate, they won’t leave you disappointed either. Start with an order of shiitake gyoza topped with apricot gastrique, grab a couple of rolls to split, then order the nigiri sampler for a six-bite intro to what vegan sushi is all about. And if you want something a little heartier, there’s also ramen, yakisoba, and eggplant katsu curry. photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel Pause Unmute It tends to get busy inside, mostly with couples on dates and small groups of friends out to enjoy one of Austin’s few moderately upscale vegan restaurants with a full bar (and a solid Happy Hour). But despite that, it never feels too loud or chaotic. It’s dark and intimate, with a Tame Impala-inspired radio station setting a laid-back tone, and lots of plants that add in a small sense of vibrancy. Head to Nori for date nights near Campus, or if you just want a Japanese meal with all-vegan options. Food Rundown Nigiri Sampler Consider this a little crash course on vegan sushi, with six bites topped with ingredients like cured tomato, cucumbers, Just Egg tamagoyaki, and marinated shiitake mushrooms. The rice is a little bit cold and densely packed, but the toppings never made us feel like we were missing out by not having any fish. photo credit: Richard Casteel Manhattan Roll We loved the smoked carrots in this roll so much that we briefly forgot it was entirely plant-based. They add a savory depth and texture that rounds out an otherwise soft roll. Grab one of these to share with the table, or just get one for yourself. photo credit: Richard Casteel" - Nicolai McCrary
"The vegan Japanese restaurant in the Heritage neighborhood is putting together a vegan six-course prix fixe menu for New Year’s Eve for $85. Dishes will include edamame and truffle gyoza, tofu steak, and maki. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury
