Welcome to Taki Nori Hand Roll Bar
At Taki Nori Hand Roll Bar, we celebrate the art of sushi with a modern twist. Located in the heart of San Mateo, our cozy spot invites you to experience the freshness of hand rolls, expertly crafted right in front of you. Each dish, from the delectable Shrimp Tempura Roll to the rich Chu-Toro, showcases the finest ingredients, emphasizing our commitment to quality. With a vibrant atmosphere and attentive service, we aim to create not just a meal, but an experience. Join us for a culinary journey that blends tradition with a contemporary flair, ensuring that every bite ignites your taste buds.
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144 E 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401 Hotline: (650) 581-1269
Welcome to Taki Nori Hand Roll Bar, a delightful haven for sushi enthusiasts nestled in the heart of San Mateo, California. Located at 144 E 3rd Ave, this charming eatery specializes in handcrafted sushi rolls, or hand rolls, that embody the rich flavors of Japanese cuisine. From the moment you step inside, you are enveloped in an atmosphere that celebrates the delicate artistry of sushi making.
The star of Taki Nori is undoubtedly its exquisite hand rolls, which feature a harmonious balance of fresh ingredients and bold flavors. Options like the Tuna Roll—slices of bluefin tuna paired with crisp cucumber—and the enticing Spicy Tuna Roll, which combines spicy bluefin tuna with seaweed salad, exemplify the restaurant's commitment to quality and authenticity. Prices for each roll range from around $5.75 to $12.95, making gourmet sushi accessible to all.
- Signature Rolls: Highlights include the Chu-Toro Roll—a luxurious medium fatty bluefin tuna belly adorned with fresh wasabi—and the crunchy, savory Soft Shell Crab Roll.
- Bowls and Combos: For those seeking variety, the Hand Roll Combo B offers a delightful assortment of salmon, spicy tuna, sukiyaki beef, and snow crab, presenting a feast for both the eyes and the palate.
- Bento Boxes: The Popcorn Chicken Bento Box serves crispy chicken alongside fragrant rice and fresh vegetables, offering a hearty option for diners.
What sets Taki Nori apart is not just the food but the entire dining experience. Customers rave about the fresh ingredients, quick service, and the unique seating arrangement, primarily around a bar where you can watch chefs skillfully prepare each roll. This interactive experience builds anticipation and enhances the enjoyment of each beautifully presented dish.
Despite its small size and cozy ambiance, Taki Nori manages to create an inviting atmosphere for both quiet dinners and casual meals with friends. Diners often cite the friendly service and prompt attention as key factors in their enjoyment. One patron, Sarah B., shared her love for the efficient and precise order handling, especially appreciating the cute packaging for takeout orders. Meanwhile, other visitors have applauded the crispiness of fried items like shrimp tempura and soft-shell crab, praising their freshness and robust flavors.
However, some reviews suggest that the restaurant occasionally runs out of popular items, a testament to their quality and demand. The well-loved sushi tacos, for instance, have been noted as a must-try, although patrons have expressed disappointment when they are unavailable. Nonetheless, this minor inconvenience does not overshadow the overall dining experience—a blend of exceptional sushi, playful atmosphere, and exceptional service.
In conclusion, Taki Nori Hand Roll Bar is a standout destination for anyone craving authentic Japanese hand rolls, set against a backdrop of skilled craftsmanship and an inviting atmosphere. Whether you are a sushi connoisseur or a newcomer to this culinary delight, Taki Nori promises to leave a lasting impression with each delicious bite. So, next time you find yourself in San Mateo, take a moment to indulge in the flavorful offerings of this gem and experience the joy of fine sushi in a unique setting.
I LOVE TAKI NORI One of my favorite sushi spots in san Mateo ! I love ordering it on DoorDash. I've never actually ate inside so I don't have much to say on the overall ambience. Yet they always get my order right and even if I have modifications, they just go ahead and do it for me. My favorite is the spicy tuna, and also the tempura crab hand roll. It is a DIY to make the hand roll at home, but the packaging so cutely I'm obsessed with it! I do wish that they would give you more ginger and wasabi for when you order it to go order please don't skip out on that
We've dined here twice already and each time was great. Nice atmosphere, quick service, and fresh hand rolls! Try the sushi tacos
We did a last minute reservation on a Monday night and there wasn't any wait. We were seated at the counter with 4 ppl as the few tables were occupied. Bar seating is probably most ideal for the food since they deliver immediately. I tried several rolls, salmon belly, soft shell crab, chutoro, unagi, and hamachi and loved them all. They ran out of cucumber and gave us avocado instead for all of them which I thoroughly enjoyed. If you're looking for a quick eat of reasonable quality, this place hits the spot.
Came here on a friday night with a friend with no reservation around 6pm and was seated immediately! Lucky! We ordered Combo B and sides of hamachi sashimi. The fish was all great. The sukiyaki beef was also pretty good but not something I would order next time because I'd prefer to stick to fish. The snow crab handroll was too mayo-y though. I had to add lots of wasabi to help balance it out. Overall good and would come back! I think next time I would pick my handrolls individually and maybe try some of the special ones
I ordered the combo c which came with shrimp tempura, hamachi, unagi, salmon belly, and scallop for 35$ and also the sushi tacos! the quality of everything was so good. my boyfriend got the shrimp tempura with snow crab and i think that was definitely in my top three as well alongside the unagi and scallop! the hot green tea was also good! the service was good i love sitting at the bar and seeing them roll it in front of you
Located in downtown San Mateo - you'll have to find street or nearby garage parking. We had a reservation and they seated us right away. The interior is pretty small, with mostly bar seating and maybe a handful of tables. It's a small cozy setting and pretty quiet. Only one bathroom for entire place. Service was friendly but minimal interaction. When you sit at the bar, you can see them make the rolls, and they place them right in front of you. The food comes out one by one pretty quickly. We were bummed that they were out of the sushi tacos because we were looking forward to trying it. Everything else was available. We didn't come that close to their closing time, and it was a Saturday night, so it was odd that they ran out of one of their seemingly most popular appetizers. We tried the spicy edamame, truffle hamachi, combo C, soft shell crab roll, and yuzu toro roll. Truffle hamachi was great - I loved the flavors of everything put together, and the jalapeño gave a nice kick. The soft shell crab was one of my favorites - simple but you can taste the quality of the crab. Honestly the shrimp tempura was one of my favorites. The tempura was freshly made and lightly crisped and tender on the inside. We thought the yuzu toro was okay - while the toro was good, it was pretty thin and the yuzu flavor was very subtle - I don't think it was worth the extra $$. The scallop was very fresh and yummy, but there was a strong wasabi flavor with each bite - perhaps with the rice? Definitely on the pricier end given the portions, but overall good quality. Hopefully they adjust portions on the sushi tacos so they don't run out easily again!
Stopped by at 5pm on a weekday and it was basically empty, which was great because we grabbed 2 seats at the bar.Eating at the bar is always more fun because you can see the handrolls being made and they serve you one by one so the seaweed doesn't get soggy. They have a good selection of fish but the standouts for us were: chu-toro and salmon belly! It was a little tough to get the server's attention to get the menu back to order more rolls and they never came to refill water... but the sushi was made very quickly. Parking can be a little tough in downtown San Mateo but if you park a little further away and walk, you'll find spots.
We came here on a Saturday afternoon for my birthday lunch, and it wasn't crowded at all. We sat at the bar and got to watch the chef make all the handrolls right in front of us! The vibe is cute and fancy casual, and all the rolls were so good. We shared Combo C and the Ultimate Combo, and the presentation was on point, especially the Ultimate Combo. They replaced the lobster with tuna tartare, which I didn't mind at all. The Wagyu was delicious, and the final Taki Special was the cherry on top! tuna, uni, caviar, and gold flakes, wow! Everything was amazing, and we had a great experience. Definitely coming back!