Umai Nori

We visited Umai Nori on Sat. and had an absolutely amazing experience🥹 The food was incredibly delicious and the service was outstanding. Among all the sushi spots in D.C., this one truly stands out as the best. The quality of the dishes and the freshness of the fish were simply exceptional—it was all so flavorful and well-prepared. Although I don’t remember our server’s name exactly—Maybe riley? They were attentive throughout the entire meal, constantly checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. Our water was always filled, and nothing was ever lacking. To top it all off, we were given complimentary mochi ice cream at the end, which was such a lovely surprise and made our visit even more memorable. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant again!

My husband and I were in the DC area so we decided to give Umai Nori a try. I really like the ambience! Their salad was surprisingly good. It had a taste of peanut in its dressing. Nothing special about the miso soup. California Hand Roll was very meaty! It was a combination of real crab meat and imitation crab meat. We also ordered Shrimp Tempura Traditional Roll, which was surprisingly big but it makes sense for the price. The Mango Madness and 007 Specialty Rolls were also good. My favorite is their large Crab Wonton (last picture)! Parking was the only thing that was difficult but there is an available parking garage nearby or plenty of street parking options.

Absolutely stellar experience at Umai Nori! I'm still thinking about the incredible meal I had. The crab roll was perfection – crispy, flavorful, and beautifully presented. I also tried one of their chicken bowls, which was packed with fresh ingredients and had a fantastic sauce. Everything was so fresh and delicious. The drinks paired perfectly with the meal, and the overall ambiance was great. Highly, highly recommend for top-notch sushi and Japanese cuisine.

IF I COULD GIVE THIS PLACE 10 STARS I WOULD!! I went the other night before a play at The National Theater so I was in a rush. As soon as I got there I was greeted and proceeded to the sushi bar. Everything came out fast. My server was pleasant and made sure that my experience was top notch even though I was on a time crunch. The food was so good. I’ll definitely be back when I have more time so I can enjoy more from the menu. The crab wontons!!!! STUNNER

First time trying Umai Nori and it was a hit! We ordered the sushi set and the tuna & salmon combo from the lunch special, and were totally blown away by both the quality and portion size. The fish was incredibly fresh, buttery, and clean-tasting. Great quality for sure. The portions are super generous. The sushi set came with 6 pieces of nigiri, a spicy tuna roll, and mixed tempura. The combo included 6 nigiri and two high-quality rolls. Both also came with miso soup and salad. Honestly, we were shocked by how much food you get for the special. It’s amazing value. 10/10 recommend! The interior is simple, sleek, and spotless. Service is warm and efficient. They even played fun birthday music to help another table celebrate. Wholesome vibes all around. I’ll definitely be back to try more from the menu!

I’ve been to many sushi places, but this one is truly outstanding. The quality, freshness, and presentation of the sushi are on another level. Every bite was pure perfection! The service was exceptional, and the atmosphere made the experience even more enjoyable. They truly deserve a Michelin award, and I can confidently say this is the best sushi restaurant I’ve ever visited!

Took an Uber from the White House to here on a day right after my previous stop at the Dolphin Cafe. There is a paid parking lot entrance right next to the entrance of this restaurant. We were promptly seated on the upper level. I ordered the intriguing matcha martini. The heat was burning me up and the ingredients sounded like it will help me cool down (😜). The drink did not disappoint. It did the job. The sushi rolls we ordered were all good. My spicy tuna was so fresh I could barely tell I was eating raw fish wrapped in a perfect roll. Our waitress was a pretty young lady that was attentive and always had that beautiful smile on her face. I font think I got her name. I marking this as a favourite to return back another day.

Umai Nori is the place to go when you want to try interesting sushi. We walked in without a reservation on a Friday night and got seats at the bar, with clear view of the staff preparing the sushi. We appreciated that the bar seats had backs to them, which made the dinner much more comfortable. The food here is incredible. The hand rolls, more like sushi tacos, were very interesting albeit difficult to eat. We loved the Nigiri collection, which felt like getting a tasting experience. Service was great, especially in clearing away dishes to help manage our limited space at the bar. Umai felt a bit like a hip sushi joint in midtown Manhattan, which we quite enjoyed. We'd happily return.

Best service I have ever had any where in the US all the food was perfect never use yelp to leave a review because it wastes time that should show how good this place is. MISS KAY WAS PERFECT

So, I popped in today for the first time, and seriously, the staff were super nice and the vibe was just awesome! If you're into City Pop, you are going to lose your mind over this place. And the sushi? Man, it felt like forever since I had sushi that actually tasted like sushi. You know how some places just pile on the rice and you can't even taste the fish? Not here. The rice amount was spot on, and the fish on top was huge. Seriously delicious and super satisfying. I'm definitely going back, no question. And honestly, if you're thinking about going for the first time, you'll totally have a great meal. 오늘 처음 방문했는데 직원분들도 너무 친절하시고 분위기도 너무 좋았어요!! 특히 시티팝 좋아하시는 분들은 진짜 환장합니다. 초밥은 간만에 초밥같은 초밥 먹은거 같네요. 올려져있는 회보다 밥만 많아서 맛도 못느끼는 초밥이 아니라 진짜 밥 양도 적당하고 올려져 있는 회도 커서 너무 맛있게 만족스럽게 먹었습니다. 다음에 무조건 또 갈거구요 혹시나 처음 가시는 분들도 충분히 즐겁게 식사하고 올수있을것 같아요.

Came here for lunch because we were craving some sushi and had rolls! Service was fast and super friendly. Prices were very reasonable considering the portion size. Ambiance is very casual-- it's a good place to come for a quick lunch or dinner. We both ordered the 5 handroll set. Overall the fish was pretty fresh and they def didn't skimp out on the toppings-- really good bang for your buck! As for cons, the handrolls were pretty hard to eat... and some of the handrolls were better than the others (spicy salmon and spicy scallops were good, but the ebi tempura was soggy and the white fish handroll was a bit flavorless).

Came here to post-celebrate my birthday with my partner. The inside looked as if we were in NYC with the two floor seating arrangements, and the interior was nicely decorated. We were seated at the counter, which I haven't had the experience of doing so until dining here. What caught my eye was the Sashimi Mori - chef's choice of fish neatly presented in a 3x3 bamboo box. The sashimi mori was close to an omakase experience - there were a few names of the fish I didn't quite catch and that's okay. Overall a nice assortment of white fish, salmon, and tuna as well as scallops, clams, and mackerel. Though we weren't told an order of how to eat it, we ate it based off of what we thought was the least fatty fish to the fattiest fish, in this case toro. The fish was super fresh, and I loved using the radish and perilla leaves as palate cleansers. We also wanted to try some regular rolls as well. We went with the hamachi negi roll and the toro negi roll. The nori that they use for the classic rolls was premium - probably the best nori I've had outside of Japan. The hamachi roll had a good amount of fish and the toro roll was topped with an abundance of butter-like toro. Even though it wasn't my birthday on the day, they still went out of their way to provide a complimentary birthday mochi. Since we also were at the counter, the chef's also provided a seared wagyu nigiri professionally presented with sauce and edamame beans. 15/10 experience. We were already planning on coming back, but the birthday mochi and the wagyu nigiri (which I couldn't find on the menu?) cemented our decision to come back. Highly recommended Umai Nori for your sushi cravings and special events!

Excellent quality Sushi! Big cuts of fish and great rolls! The beef Bento box was large as well! Chicken Donburi (spicy) looked amazing! I only had the nigiri and the rolls - both excellent. Will be back again. Parking literally right next door!

Exceptional. Everything. They certainly fly the fish first class from Japan because the freshness and quality of fish was in a league of its own. Everything is delicious but the seared salmon belly appetizer is a must order. I don't have a picture because I was in awe and needed to eat it immediately. The hamachi crudo hand roll was also top tier. The rolls were amazing. Not too much going on which I appreciate because you could still taste the excellence of the fish. There was a delicate balance in the range of flavors and textures. The presentation is just the icing on the cake to appropriately justify how incredibly delectable everything was. From the lovely and attentive service to the breathtaking food I would say if you want impressive and not showy sushi go to Umai Nori. No more research necessary. The only caveat is once you eat their food, nothing else will measure up.

I highly recommend Umai Nori to any sushi lovers. Their price point, adjusted for DC, for a family sushi restaurant is reasonable. The service was commendable; the servers were attentive and took the time to explain the dishes. Most importantly, the food's presentation and taste were great! The Nigiri Collection (12 pieces for $48) was spot on. At least half of the collection were chutoro or otoro. The $48 was, without a doubt, underpriced! The appetizers of gyoza, yaki dori, and mixed tempura (I think they were all about $10 each) were a great way to start our lunch! These appetizers could have went wrong by being oily. Fortunately, Umai Nori did these apps Justice! My wife really liked her beef donburi bowl. I've honestly never seen that many beef slices in one bowl. Even though it was $32, the portion size was more than appropriate for the $! Finally, the special appetizer was a nice surprise. I loved its fusion of crunch, sourness, slight spiciness, and freshness from the raw squid. Swing by the restaurant and ask the chefs for this secret item. Overall, the lunch was super enjoyable! We will definitely go back! 5/5 for sureeeeeeee!

Amazing! Soooo good! Fancy high end experience, well worth it! 6 set Handrolls....everything is delish. $48 - Toro negi - Hottie scallop - Kanpachi - Torch me slowly - Spicy salmon with fried wonton shell - Mango tango (Any hand roll can substitute seaweed wrap for the fried wonton shell, which is very unique) Four pieces seared salmon belly. $18.50 for four pieces -- amazing, instagrammable and delicious! Complimentary soup and salad The service was top notch and the ambiance has a cool vibe. Definitely want to come back!

The restaurant is a typical American-style Japanese spot--nothing particularly special. It's actually the only decent Japanese place in the North White House area, and it's already fully booked most of the time. We showed up right when it opened to try our luck with a walk-in. The host was kind enough to let us dine for 45 minutes, which worked out perfectly for us. We followed a recommendation and ordered the Seared Salmon Belly as an appetizer--great choice. They lit the fire at the table, and the salmon belly got a nice sizzle with a rich, slightly smoky flavor. The lemon slices underneath were surprisingly sweet, with just the right hint of tartness--really tasty. For mains, we each got rolls and handrolls. The taco-style handrolls were massive--seriously, each one is the size of two you'd get in Manhattan. Everything was super fresh and very filling. We could barely finish!

We needed a Sushi/Sashimi fix and we may have found a new winner in the city. We arrived before their break time between lunch and dinner (3-5pm) on a Friday afternoon around 2:20. Reservations are always recommended but we came at a time when it was pretty empty. We believe the Owner who greeted and welcomed us is Korean. She was very nice and explained the menu to us and the Lunch Specials. The restaurant is tidy with bar and table seating. We had a Sushi Set which came with mixed Tempura and a Sushi/Sashimi Combo. All Lunch Specials come with soup/salad. The food is fresh and the assortment is great. The Sushi Chef also gave us two (2) special Sushi pieces on the house. The Lunch Specials are around $30 each. Sake and Beer options are available along with teas and non alcoholic drinks. Thank you for the great meal and be prepared to leave satisfied with a full stomach.

I am lucky that they are now open on Sundays because I was craving a hand roll and googled "best hand rolls in DC" and Umai Nori popped up and google wasn't lying. I placed a takeout order and it was some of the best sushi I've had in DC (and I've lived here for almost 20 years!). The takeout was so neatly organized and might sound silly to say, but elegant. The napkin with the dark wood chopsticks. The containers that were all the perfect size for each item. The sauces wrapped up in plastic. It was a beautiful presentation. My order: - Crunchy Rice - Salmon Avocado Hand Roll - Spicy Tuna Hand Roll - Roll Me a Fatty Roll Everything was fresh and the flavors were so, so good. I almost can't pick a favorite but I do have to go with the Roll Me a Fatty Roll because it truly melted in my mouth. My picture doesn't give the meal justice. They have such an interesting menu and I'd love to go back in person and try more items.

Came here with a friend because we were craving Japanese food and sushi. Previous reviews left looked promising so we walked in. Both me and my friend were from out of town and visiting the area. The food was good. Sashimi were nice and fat. Nigris were good with just the right amount of rice. I had the Unagi don (eel rice bowl) and that was amazing. Good portion with a lot of unagi. I'm always on the lookout for a good unagi don and this place did not disappoint. Plating could have been better. The bowl was pretty small but deep so pretty deceiving. This made it kinda hard to access the rice at the bottom. Service was good. There is a 2nd floor so seating doesn't look like it would be an issue. Parking isn't the greatest as you have to street park. Prices were okay

Third time eating here. Quality of the fish is great. Recommend ordering sashimi and not nigiri though-- this is another sushi place that subscribes to the mystifying belief that Americans don't like vinegared sushi rice. Wha? Where did that crazy idea come from? That is literally what "sushi" means. Disappointing. Equally disappointing, ordered a shochu and not only did they not have it, the waitress had never heard of it. But she helpfully brought me a soju. Guys, you're a Japanese restaurant, come on. That's like not having beer at a burger restaurant.

This is a nice sushi place for handrolls. Having been there twice, I'd say that the sushi taste here is subpar from higher-end sushi, but is better than most affordable sushi locations around the DMV. The environment is clean and bright, and they have a two story building that you can choose to sit upstairs or downstairs. As with the sushi, the rolls are crunchy, especially the Spider roll and the spicy salmon rolls. However, there's a lack of actual fish/seafood taste for spicy salmon and eel when it comes to the sushi, as it might be overpowered by other tastes that's added on, such as the roes for the caterpillar roll. They are nice enough to provide miso soup and salad that comes with each pickup order. Overall, 7.4/10 for the food, rounded up for the service!

We had an extremely bad experience here. The waiter only brought out 1/4 of our order. 3/4 of the order he brought out the exact same part of the order that he brought out in the first place then told us the kitchen was behind and about to close so he would adjust our bill. I paid with out looking at the itemized bill until I was back at my hotel and was charged for the entire bill and food we never receive. I had high hopes and researched the best sushi in DC before visiting and came here because of the high review. Despite the hiccup with the service I found the place just standard sushi restaurant and nothing to brag about.

This place was amazing! The food was fresh and delicious. You could taste the quality of the seafood in the sushi and hand rolls! My absolute favorite thing was the spicy scallop nigiri, 1000x recommend! The sushi rolls were all beautifully crafted. The decor is beautiful and the service was great! We got there a little before their closing time for dinner and the staff were still super welcoming and attentive.

Fresh sushi, amazing service, amazing ambiance. Quick FYI there is a cash price and a credit card price ($1.60). Overall the prices are reasonable given the location and the amazing food + service. Highly highly recommend!

Had a wonderful birthday dinner here with great fish and attentive service. Will come back with friends. The bar was open and I got a seat quickly, though it began to fill up.

Great selection! Nigiri was very good and staff was very attentive. Will return if I am ever in DC again.

I visited Umai Nori on a Tuesday evening to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and had high hopes based on a friendly reservation call the night before. The person I spoke with seemed attentive, noted our special occasion, and offered helpful recommendations, so I was excited for the experience. The Arrival: When we arrived, the hosting stand was unattended, and a staff member waved us to the sushi bar without asking about our reservation. I clarified that I had reserved a table, and while initially dismissed, we were eventually moved to a table after some confusion. The Food: The food was the standout of the evening. We started with an 11-piece nigiri sampler and 4 pieces of seared salmon belly (we did not get what we paid for. Came at the end. Served 2 pieces), paired with sparkling sake--a star recommendation from our server. The sake was light, perfectly sweet, and reasonably priced, so much so that we ordered a second bottle especially since they are small. For entrées, the Flying Dragon Roll was a masterpiece--generous in portion, stunning in presentation, and absolutely delicious. My boyfriend ordered the Roll Me a Fatty, which, while visually appealing, didn't suit our personal taste as much. The Confusion: Service felt disorganized. The order of food delivery didn't flow: we received the nigiri first, followed by soup and salad, and later our entrées. After mentioning the birthday in brief conversation with the server, our server brought out the seared salmon belly, which we assumed was complimentary due to the mix-up and smaller portion ( 2 piece vs 4 piece) than originally ordered as starter. It was so confusing we genuinely forgot we ordered it. However, we were charged the full price for the dish, which felt misleading. The Ambiance: The sleek, cozy atmosphere is perfect for a quiet, intimate dinner. The seating seems limited (possibly more upstairs), so reservations are advisable, though our experience suggested they might not always be handled consistently. Final Thoughts: Despite the service hiccups, the high-quality food and reasonable prices make Umai Nori worth revisiting. I'd recommend CLEAR communication and customer advocacy with the staff to ensure your expectations are met. The potential here is undeniable, and with a bit more attention to service, Umai Nori could become a top-tier spot.

Nice restaurant for a quick lunch. The seafood was fresh and like a normal sushi restaurant. This isn't Nobu grade but solid for a sushi spot. Good value for the price.

the BEST Wakame & 3 set hand roll in the city! only complaint --- the plastic wrapper around the hand rolls to-go is really difficult to take off and basically caused the hand rolls to fall apart before I got to take my first bite!

Was super excited to come try this place but left disappointed. I called in the afternoon to make a reservation and when I arrived to my reservation they said I didn't have a reservation. We ordered the hand roll set that's suppose to come with soup and salad. Both my boyfriend and I didn't get the soup or salad. They also messed up on his mango tango hand roll , so we mentioned it to our waiter. His response was oh I didn't make that, like I understand you didn't make it but he was missing the whole crab and mango on his handball we had to ask him if we can get another one as it wasn't our mistake.

I've been here twice for dinner and I think it might be my new favorite restaurant! Reservation recommended. We ordered the following: Crunchy Rice Salmon, honey, spicy tuna, avocado, 14 - One of my favorite things here and it comes with 3. It is a rectangle of crunch rice with a ton of salmon on top/spicy tuna and sliced avo on top. Will get these next time. Gyoza Pan fried pork dumpling, umami chile shoyu, 8 - Delicious and each little gyoza comes placed onto a slide of lemon. Crab wonton Lump crab, cream cheese, yuzu chili, 15 - Served differently than typical wontons. They look more like egg rolls and are bigger and delicious. Will get these next time. Tuna Poke Dip Tuna, jalapeno, onions, cilantro, mango, wonton chip, 19 - This comes with a scoop of tuna and some chips. More chips are needed. Kara-age Lollipop Fried chicken wing, sweet & spicy garlic gochujang, 12 - This comes with 4 little chicken wings. Sushi - all were delicious and I would order again! - Triple salmon roll - Spicy Salmon - Spicy Scallop

Possibly some of DC's best sushi. The nigiri was amazing. The hand rolls were also spectacular and unique. Definitely get a set if you're trying this place. This place is great. Have been thinking of that hand roll sampler fondly. This is a must try for sushi lovers!

Had a delightful lunch here on a Tuesday. Simple & Modern interior decor, comfortable atmosphere. Street parking is very difficult to find here. But they do have reasonable walking distance paid parking garage options. Staff and chef were professional and considerate. They were out of green tea, which was a surprise to me, and chef offered us a salmon kama on the house as a good token, we were surprised and grateful for this gesture. Here is what we ordered and our feedback: - sushi & sashimi combo: great selections of fish by the chef, fresh seafood, great value - Unagi Don: delicious fatty Unagi, big portion, reasonably price d - specialty hand rolls: we ordered both the egg samplers and the toro hand roll, delicious, delicious, delicious, so glad we decided to give it a try, not only the presentation is pleasing to the eyes, also very scrumptious to the taste. Highly recommend recommended as a must try. Our overall experience was very satisfactory. Highly recommended by IG @WineDinenVacay

Absolutely LOVED our dinner here. Specialty rolls and hand rolls were delicious. Service was amazing. Can't wait to return!

Booked a reservation here to celebrate a friend's birthday--and it absolutely delivered! Service: From the moment we arrived, the staff was gracious and accommodating. Despite a few in our party arriving fashionably late, our waiter was incredibly patient and attentive throughout. He made sure we felt taken care of and even offered thoughtful recommendations, which was much appreciated since it was everyone's first time dining here. Starters: We ordered the Crab Wontons and the Kara-age Lollipop. The Kara-age was hands down the table favorite--flavorful and had the perfect sweet and spicy balance. The Crab Wontons weren't what I expected, but in the best way! They were not only shaped differently but also had a surprising texture combo of the wrapping and the creamy crab filling. Main: We shared a bunch of rolls and some sashimi for the table, including the Spider Roll, Roll Me a Fatty, 911 Roll, 3 Amigo Roll, plus yellowtail and flounder. Honestly, everything was delicious. The fish tasted super fresh, and the presentation was on point. Everyone left happy and full. Extras: I was low-key obsessed with the ceramics and glassware they used. The little details like that really added to the vibe. And they played a lot of K-Pop over the speakers during our meal (Which is great if you are a fan like myself) Cost: Overall, the price for both the food and drinks felt fair and pretty much what I expected!

Would definitely come back if there were reservations . No reservations when I went so we ended up waiting an hour to get seated but it was well worth! Got the hand roll set and it was delicious. They had just opened so they gave us complimentary sushi which I thought was a nice gesture.

While in DC on a Saturday I was looking for a quick place to grab lunch and Yelp brought me here. All of the sushi that I tried was fresh and delicious. They are known for their umi temaki (hand roll) and I can see why. Think sushi taco. The service was great. They were kind enough to give me 4 items on the house (edamame, miso soup, shrimp tempura, extra spider hand roll). With all the extras I ended up needing to take food home. I learned that the hand held is best eaten at the restaurant. While the seaweed shell wasn't soggy as some Yelpers suggest, it wasn't as firm as the one I had at the restaurant. I loved the set up of the seating around the sushi bar. Pro tip: order the salmon head ($10) which isn't listed in the menu.

Chef Sonny Lee, and the other chefs culinary skills are amazing . It was our first time eating at Umai Nori and we were not disappointed. We ordered a great variety of sushi poke to dunberri steak and spicy chicken and more. Each one was plated beautifully with amazing fresh ingredients and so flavorful . we sat upstairs, which was nice. The salad with ginger dressing is so tasty and the tempura is nicely battered not too heavy. The sushi is to die for!! we ordered an assortment as you will see in the picture and had the best time. The upstairs was a little busy, but our waiter was so kind and at the end we spoke with the Chef to rave about how how wonderful everything was

Phenomenal: I think this is the best value sushi I've found in DC thus far. I came for lunch on a weekday with a friend and was seated promptly. The space itself doesn't look like anything fancy, but the service was welcoming and efficient. My friend ordered the nigiri collection ($44) and I ordered the set of five hand rolls ($38). The nigiri collection is absolutely massive: it is gorgeously presented, and the cuts of fish are huge. The hand rolls are also sizable, with generous portions of fish and toppings. I thought the food was absolutely delicious: each hand roll had a unique combination of flavors and textures, the fish was fresh, and the dishes were clearly prepared with care. The waiter even brought us some complimentary soft shell crab (!), which was perfectly crisped and delightful. I'm so glad DC has Umai Nori now: it strikes the perfect balance for diners who are looking for sushi quality that's a cut (really, several cuts) above your usual takeout sushi spot but who aren't looking to shell out for a place like Nobu or Nakazawa. I can't wait to be back!

4.6 stars We knew this place was gona live up to the hype when we ate the miso and salad. The salad especially had an amazing dressing, supposedly sesame seed dressing. We got the lunch special B and I added fatty tuna roll! The Scallop nigiri was insane! It melts like butter in your mouth and had a great taste. My 2nd fave was the fatty tuna roll, it was so smooth and flavorful. The eel was so flavorful and had great texture. The shrimp was really good too. The only complaint was the rice was a lil hard and broke apart. The waiter was very patient with us, explaining everything to use even tho he was busy. Very clean and neat inside. Price was decent for the quality of the fish.

I visited Umai Nori last night for the second time. I sat at the bar. Kay was my server. Service was five star! The food was amazing. I had the Six set and I added Uni. The best bit of the night was the salmon belly!

My new favorite sushi place in DC!!! They're known for their hand rolls! Generous portions, very fun, so delicious and refreshing. Service is quick, and staff is very attentive and kind. Highly recommend for their Lunch Specials for great deals. We got the lunch sushi set for $29 and the 6 hand roll set for $40. It was MORE than enough. We even had leftovers to bring home. We got complimentary salad (so good) and miso soup to start. They give a nice moist clean towelette. It was nice quality like you could reuse it?! Even their disposable wooden chopsticks were made super nice and with quality. I contemplated taking it home with me LOL. All the cuts were fresh, and everything was made with care. A chef from the counter even gave us a complimentary yellowtail collar!! Made our day, and it was super flavorful.

I returned for dinner and went with the Chirashi and Sushi Roll Combo. I made a last-minute reservation, but they were able to accommodate me. This time, I was seated on the second floor, which was quiet and comfortable. I was pleasantly surprised by how much sushi came with the Chirashi. As always, everything was fresh and delicious. I'll definitely visit again!

This is the best sushi I've had in DC (I don't go to any super fancy places). The speciality rolls and hand rolled were delicious and HUGE, I've never had this much fish on my sushi rolled. The fish all tasted really high quality and melted in my mouth. The staff was all super friendly and the subtleties of the restaurant were very nice and high quality, nice chopsticks, nice plates, wet naps for wiping your hands. Highly recommend checking this place out, and call in to make a reservation because it is def getting popular

Creative takes on sushi in modern open space with attentive staff. Sit at the counter to see all the action! Sat at the counter on the first floor for dinner on a Friday night. It was packed and had a line by the time we were finished. We both got the hand roll 6 set and it is a lot of food! I would say 1 hand roll here is probably double the size of most other places so I would go a la carte or get the 4 or 5 set instead. I liked the spicy salmon and mango tango the best but the rolls do get a bit soggy after a while even with the wrapper that they have. Chef threw in a freebie for us which was nice! I'd love to come back to try non hand roll sushi items and some tempura!

Their hand rolls are hit or miss. Some were a bit lacking in flavor. Would come back to try the nigiri set though.

WOW!! Umai Nori is still in their soft opening but are already off to an amazing start! We came right after work at 530 on a Thursday to a mostly empty restaurant though it started to fill up by time we were leaving around 7. The ambience is quaint, quiet, and unassuming. They play fun music at a soft level and this is SUCH a relief compared to the outrageous noise levels of most restaurants these days. Our service was outstanding. Our server was extremely attentive and friendly. The food was incredible! The specialty rolls are huge! You really only need one to feel full alongside a smaller role. We tried so much: the seaweed salad, the the tuna poke, the mango madness and mango tango rolls and a salmon avocado roll as well as the chicken lollipops. Everything was awesome -- so flavorful and so fresh. The mango madness roll was my favorite but the real surprise standout is the free house salad that comes with your meal!! The peanut dressing is fabulous! I also can't describe how pretty all the plates and bowls are! We took a good amount of our meals home and they send you with really nice sushi containers, soy sauce, chopsticks, and even a wet wipe in a takeout bag. A really small but awesome touch of service. They don't have cocktails yet but have a selection of beer and wine and sake. We went for soft drinks but will be excited to come back when their bar is up and ready. Overall RUN don't walk to Umai Nori -- definitely a new sushi fave!

Came here on July 4. It was open (yay!) and very busy. I got the Chirashi bowl. $29: GREAT PRICE Portions of fish were Generous. I was very happy with my order. Ambiance was fine. Service was great, despite the long wait to get seated. Staff was friendly. My sushi snob friend from NYC said this place is average (in quality of fish). My palate for sushi isn't as refined, and I don't hunt for Michelin star restaurants. But I think this place is great if you don't want to drop $200 for dinner at a sushi place.

This is an absolute gem of a restaurant!!! One of those rare places that has great food, amazing staff and beautiful restaurant. I enjoyed the six piece set and that was the perfect amount of food. The highlights have to be the tuna but really they were all good. I must add the complimentary miso soup was extremely good as well. Staff is top notch and super friendly... read any of my reviews and you'll know that the staff can make or break a restaurant for me. Overall a great experience and one that I would highly recommend. Please go and enjoy!!!

New Japanese restaurant that has a lot of hand roll options that remind me of a really good hand roll restaurant in NYC. Umai Nori was a great option for dinner this past Friday evening. The only thing is that it's $$$, but that's unfortunately most restaurants in DC. Their hand rolls are split into various sections. I am a classic/traditional sushi kind of person so I prefer just fish, minimal seasoning and sauce. However, there are a couple interesting options under their "Signature" section (more sauce and creative) that I considered. For hand rolls, they give you a bottle of lightly sweet soy sauce (I think) that you can use so you don't need to dip it on the SALMON AVOCADO HAND ROLL - 8 Your typical salmon and avocado with no crazy seasoning or sauce. This was a good classic and the salmon was fresh and fatty. The avocado was sliced very thinly and delicately. A standard but solid option, nonetheless. YELLOWTAIL SCALLION HAND ROLL - 8 Lots of yellowtail on here topped with even more scallions. Yellowtail and scallion is one of my favorites, so I'm probably a bit biased. I think there was a sweet potato chip in this (?), which I ate before eating the roll. The yellowtail was fresh TORO NEGI HAND ROLL - 13 Super creamy and super fatty. This was under the "Primo" section but still a classic hand roll that doesn't have an overwhelming amount of sauce or anything. There is a nice wonton chip on top that was good but I ate that without a hand roll. Definitely a classic. KANPACHI HAND ROLL - 11 This one was the fun and saucy option with a strong truffle flavor. The chives were a good touch and same with the sweet potato crisps. This was definitely one of my favorites and I would get it again. I would like to come back to try the SASHIMI MORI or other hand roll options. The fish here was fresh and tasty. The service was pretty good, too, but maybe a bit inexperienced given it's still in its recently opened phase.

The best sushi spot in DC, hands down! The staff are so friendly, the ambience is cozy, and the rolls are the most delicious I've had in the area. 10/10

There's so many sushi spots in the area and I'm really glad I chose Umai Nori. I made a reservation and was greeted and seated promptly. Service was amazing in general, I felt attended to by all the servers. The nigiri platter is an excellent choice for my raw fish lovers. The fish felt so fresh and intentional. The tuna nigiris just melted in my mouth (lean and fatty). The house salad and miso soup were classic but delicious starters. I ended off my meal with a vanilla mochi. This place would be a great option for a date night, it's not crowded and they don't play their music too loud.

I was in DC for a short trip, and was staying near the Lincoln memorial. I had just landed earlier in the afternoon and had wanted to look for something nearby for a quick easy dinner, but the nearby options failed me. So I put myself in the adventurous mood, and expanded my search radius a little more broadly in hope of finding something more special... ...and that's when Umai Nori caught my eye. Although it had opened not too long ago, its yelp reviewers were off the chart and I felt that I *had* to test it out. Even if it was going to be a longer walk and somewhat out of the way. Yes, with my SoCal sushi standard... ...and boy did it meet if not exceeded my expectations! For a Japanese restaurant where I set out to test the freshness of their sushi and the "worth" of their food, I like to order chirashis, which give me a good sample of their fish variety, freshness, and portion size. So ordered the chirashi dinner, I did, which was $29, I believe. The price is a little more than what I'd get back in SoCal, but what you get is worth every penny. First of all, despite the fact that I ordered takeout and walked ~15-20 min back to my hotel, the presentation was excellent. It featured ~8 types of fishes x 3 pieces each + tamago. I loved the thick cut which allows you really taste the fish. The variety included not only my favorite salmon, but also salmon belly and tuna belly! And sweet shrimps! The fish really offered a melt-in-your-mouth type of experience given the cut and the freshness. All of this on top of tasty sushi rice. The only thing is that they forgot(?) to give me wasabi, which I didn't know until I got back but it was fine because of how fresh the fish was. The meal also came with a typical Japanese salad and miso soup. The chopsticks that came with were of ridiculously good quality, too. I don't know when I'll get to visit the area next, but just thinking about this makes my mouth water again...

The chef was exceptional and the food was fresh and unique. We enjoyed the soft opening and we are excited to eat here again. The space is quaint so be sure to make a reservation! We went in a weekday lunch and the experience was fabulous. They are known for the temaki sushi, handrolls. There were creative additions plus your standard sushi options. We didn't get to try the appetizers but we were so full. We shared the 5 set temaki and a sushi roll combo off the lunch menu. Love how thick the cut and freshness of the sushi. Our favorites were the mango tango and the kanpachi. The spicy tuna roll was absolutely delicious for such a common item. Overall loved the ambiance and we are so happy we tried it!

I came here around noon on a Wednesday for a solo lunch. Considering all of the high ratings, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get a seat. To my surprise, there were plenty of patrons during this time but they still had open seating available. The space is not huge by any means so most seating is at the bar. There's one table that sits two people if I recall correctly. I overheard that there was an upstairs but it was reservations only. The staff was attentive and service was quick which is nice for those in a lunch break; actually, most of the people dining seemed to be on their break. My eyes were bigger than my stomach this day so I ended up ordering a lot more than I needed to. The hostess brought over all that I'd ordered and told me they gave me one on the house. Miso soup hit the spot. It was flavorful, hot, and not diluted. Oddly, I loved the bowl it came in because it made me feel like I was drinking miso soup at home. Every piece of sushi was perfection. My favorite are always the Uni and toro so I had high expectations. Umai Nori did not disappoint. The hand roll came with a clear wrap to keep the nori crispy. At the end of the meal, the check came quickly. I loved going here by myself. I was able to eat sushi, zone out, play on my phone, and relax. I can't wait to come back next time I'm in DC.

I kept hearing that this was the place to go near downtown DC and I was not disappointed. The place could not be more authentic, everyone was asian and most of the clients were also asian. Let's start with the fish, it looks like they fly it in every day, it was so fresh. I try to have sushi when I travel and this by far is in the top 5 places I have ever been to. Get the Rainbow roll and the dragon and if you have a few extra dollars get the Chefs choice. The waitress was really nice and they had a ton of sushi chefs, we got great recommendations. The place is not fancy but is well lit and has 2 floors for dining. I would not miss this place if you are visiting DC.