One bottle limit and corkage at a BYOB place? Out of the gate this place is already behind. The rest was nothing to write home about. There are better options in walking distance.
(3)
Phoebe W.
Oh dear, I've been neglecting my Yelp account for quite some time. Probably because I've been spending so much time at Nori. This place has become a staple for my friend and I. Its a small place with quick, courteous servers and super tasty rolls. It's probably the most "Americanized" sushi I've had, but I have no shame because it's just THAT good. Favorite rolls are: Fire Dragon, Crunchy Spicy Tuna, and the Chicago Crunchy Crazy (not for people who are freaked out by fish eggs, they really pile on the tobiko) There's a Yelp check-in deal for Nori, but you can only use it with a party of 4+ people, which is pretty disappointing considering that I can probably eat as much sushi as 4+ people.
(4)
Ryan C.
I really enjoy this sushi place. I get take out from here all the time and the rolls never disappoint. Their spicy miso soup is a personal favorite. I have eaten in the restaurant twice and enjoyed the atmosphere.
(4)
Victoria O.
This is my favorite neighborhood sushi place! Its awesome for take out and just as awesome for dine in. Perfect date night spot! The staff is great and knowledgeable!
(5)
Eleanor K.
I rarely venture into Lincoln Park but I really liked this place! I almost auto-passed because of the location (too close to students) but I guess that helps keep the prices reasonable! Our server was relaxed/normal dude, they got us in last minute and wine was half off!! (wednesday night), tables were a little crowded together (it's a small place) and I really appreciated the affordability of a good number of their rolls. If you want to go the extra mile and get a specialty roll to split, it will be ample and delicious. it is both casual and intimate.
(5)
Anthony P.
Our party had a really enjoyable time here. Toro Sushi on Clark had an insane wait, so we looked around for other places, and this one had a short wait. The maître d' was simply amazing. Very polite, he tended to us well during our short wait. Knowing that this place was BYOB, we came prepared with a few bottles, and he was quick with the ice bucket to get it chilled. The gyoza were good, and we all loved our rolls. The Monster roll was a particular treat. We definitely plan on returning!
(4)
Chad V.
Great sushi, great prices and semi-sleek cozy atmosphere. Just like everyone else, I come here because of the groupon. Yes I have had better sushi but this place gets 5 stars for me because the food is consistent, service is fast and the price is super affordable (with the groupon). I tend not to order their Nigiri or Sashimi as I find their Maki (the crunchy, creamy and fatty rolls) to be better.
(5)
m d.
Best sushi ever. Period.
(5)
Anne S.
nori never disappoints for fast and delicious sushi
(4)
Casey H.
I never write reviews but I absolutely loved Nori. The server was so friendly and gave great suggestions. Can't go wrong with half priced wine bottles of wine. Loved the tropicana roll! Definitely suggest trying this place out.
(5)
Carol M.
Nori, nori...you ain't very bore-i....at all! Edamame - salty mmm Miso - miso good! Crunchy Chicago Crazy Crispy Curls - Crazy Cookey Crunchie Goodness Snow White - And the 7 delicious flavors in my mouth (or more...?) Red Bean Mochi - muchas gracias magnificent mochi (with a cherry on top!!) Every bit was very delicious. Maybe it was because it was freezing out and we brought a hearty red wine to accompany the meal....but it felt SO GOOD. Yes.
(5)
Prix L.
Love it and everytime my family comes, they love to go! its fresh, and not expensive at all! Great deals on Monday all day and before 6pm from tuesday to sunday half off as well. The waitresses are very nice always and its a garatee place to have good sushi. Make reservations!
(4)
Erinn D.
I have only got take out from here but it's a great alternative to my favorite sushi place. They are really quick and the food tastes fresh. It's typically really busy when I stop in so that is always a good sign.
(4)
Danny W.
A good place and a good deal if you get their non-specialty rolls. Also BYO!! So that's good for one additional star.
(4)
Taylor W.
I absolutely love Nori. Makes my taste buds tingle :D going there tonight for half price maki. An since I just start to eat sushi, there staff is very knowledgeable about what they have and what's a good suggestion. NOMNOMNOM
(5)
Sarah K.
WIthout a doubt, Nori is our go-to sushi joint! My boyfriend and I have visited on several occasions and have not had a single complaint. The miso soup is wonderful, not too salty. The seaweed salad is excellent as well. The rolls and nigiri are always fresh and well made. I always choose simple maki (california, rainbow, alaskan, spicy tuna), while my boyfriend usually selects a signature roll. We have always been more than satisfied with the maki and nigiri we have ordered. The service we've received at Nori is fantastic. Wait staff is attentive and not overly invasive. BYOB is also a great benefit to coming to Nori. If you are looking for a consistent sushi experience you MUST go to Nori. They won't let you down.
(5)
Laila C.
Went on a Sunday afternoon with 2 friends and was able to enjoy their half off special (which is everyday from open to 6pm). I was a little skeptical about half off sushi at first but the rolls looked good and fresh. Nothing spectacular but 3 people were able to eat for less $40 with tax and tip! Cheap cheap!!! The 3 of us split the caterpillar (my fav), rainbow, salmon avocado, soft shell crab, teka, negihama, and another roll that was too unmemorable. Everything tasted pretty good, fresh although not a ton of fish. I would definitely come back if I just wanted to grab some quick sushi. p.s. also their half off deal applies to take out too! kind of amazing.
(3)
Jack P.
I love to talk about value when it comes to dining out. And after visiting Nori for lunch, and experiencing that Post-Sushi Visceral Elation, or PSVE, I can say this place is a good value, with quality food, fine classy service, in a really nice room which resembles a nice little lobby bar/restaurant in a hotel. I ordered miso soup, which had a little fishy hint to it, and I don't mean that in a negative way, a Dragon Roll, and a nicely crunchy soft-shell crab roll. Both rolls were a healthy size, and tasted extremely fresh.And 50% off at lunch. Great deal. On a weekday at lunch, the number of staff exceeded the number of clients, so service was more than adequate, but nicely understated, polite and friendly. All I can say is whoever that guy was who invented sushi (Alexander Graham Sushi?), is Domo-Arigato to you, dude! You make my tummy feel so good.
(5)
Chuck W.
Really fresh fish, great service, and very reasonably priced. Also walking distance from the best barcade in the city! How can you go wrong?
(5)
Stu S.
My wife and I came here for lunch on Monday. We weren't expecting a whole lot, but ended up getting very good sushi at half price. Awesome!
(4)
Richard H.
Vegetarian Sushi review INCOMING!! Nori is a fantastic spot for sushi in general and I really enjoy it because they seem to actually take the same care with their veg sushi as they do with the more expensive and intricate rolls. I have gone with non-veg friends who have ordered specialty rolls and non-veg rolls and absolutely loved them...so I am confident that Nori does indeed do a very good job all around. My favorites are just the sweet potato tempura, avocado, and their veg specialty roll...the Mo Yasai (so awesome). Nori has 3 locations in Chicago and I have been to the Lincoln Park and Edgewater ones (not Wicker Park yet). They were similar but Lincoln Park gets the edge in ambiance. All in all, this is a great spot to go out for sushi, drinks if you'd like and just have a nice night. They also do special deals throughout the week, so checking them out on Twitter and FB can definitely be advantageous.
(5)
Casey A.
This place is very trendy and urban. It's really good sushi and when you have a groupon, you can't go wrong. I had seaweed salad and my friend had some soup for apps.. The presentation of the rolls was great, no issues. Fresh ginger is ALWAYS a plus. We each had a couple Asahi beers, which is the beer that my sister who lived in Japan for 20 years suggests. The waitress was very helpful and the busboys were quick.
(5)
Robert W.
Mediocre sushi. Better than supermarket sushi but not great. Prices are about average. Service was friendly but very slow considering we were the only people there. Ambiance was very pleasant and contemporary.
(2)
Nycole H.
This place has really cute decor and pretty good sushi. They had this awesome strawberry role that was really unique and creative. I can't say that this would be a place to return but it was good to try out for one time. The flavors of the roles really ran together and were not very flavorful and distinctive. The spicy tuna role was pretty mushy. Definitely an average place. BYOB is always a good thing though. That was worth a star on its own.
(3)
Happiness L.
Thanks to Groupon I decided to give this place a try. The BEST tempura I ever had. Just the right amount of crispiness and not overly greasy. We also had the scallops (spicy) and the Japanese curry dish (nice flavor and not spicy). I wish I could order the curry dish with regular pork, chicken, or shrimp that isn't fried. Main entrees are very sharable as we each took home left overs. I recommend this place. PS They also have a daily special on their rolls.
(4)
Mary L.
UPDATE: I HAD SENT THIS AS AN EMAIL BEFORE I DECIDED TO PUT IT ON THE INTERNET, SINCE USUALLY THEY OFFER SOME TYPE OF APOLOGY. BUT I HAVE NOW SENT IT TWICE AND I HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. I'M SURPRISED THEY'RE NOT OUT OF BUSINESS WITH ALL OF THE REPORTS OF GETTING FOOD POISONING. I was not very happy with my experience. When we first walked in we were greeted by a host who was clearly upset that we had shown up. There were two of us, but we were awaiting two friends. We put in reservations for a soft 9:00 after being told that we would probably have to wait till 9:30, that's fine. It was about 7:30 when we made the reservation so we had to kill 2 hours around the city. When we got back at exactly 9 o'clock it was like we had inconvenienced them with our presence, as if they were surprised we had shown up. It was only 2 of us from our 4 person party so we told them to take their time on getting a table ready. When the table became ready we sat down with our bottle of vodka, the nice waitress explained the BYOB policy (which I even researched before we went and found nothing on a no hard liquor policy) and she took my alcohol to the kitchen to hold for me. I understand liability but it came back significantly more empty. I would have said something at the restaurant but I didn't notice till I got home. I don't know if someone drank it or spilled it but I didn't feel comfortable to keep it so I threw it away. Continuing with the night, after she told us the policy, my friend decided to run next door to grab some beer, leaving me alone at the table to wait for our other two friends. It was only about 9:18 and we had told the other two that 9:30 would be fine to meet us there (as we were put under the impression that 9:30 was more feasible). I sat alone scanning the menu and was approached by the rude host who said "Um are your other friends coming because this is four, and now it's just you so..." Excuse me? I made reservations, I am not bothering you, we're trying to abide by your rules and make this easy for THE RESTAURANT by telling our friends to come later in case NORI was running behind. I thought I was the customer, I should not be catering to your staff. Besides there were plenty of empty tables around us and I looked at the host sheet before we were sat. There was only one other party after us. The food was great, sushi was fantastic, we got three rolls and two apps. Wonderful. Except the beef wrapped asparagus was clearly made with cheap meat. As the night ended all four of us ladies needed to go to the bathroom, two went and came back saying they had to use the mens room because someone was sick or something in the womens bathroom. Myself and the other friend took our turn for the bathroom and waited as an attendant cleaned the mens bathroom and the womens was still occupied by a drunk woman. Another girl approached complaining that the drunk girl in the bathroom had now been in there for half an hour. The employee cleaning the men's bathroom just looked at us and said "Oh I don't know what to do." And left it up to three customers to get this drunk person out of the bathroom. I was then called a "bitch" by the drunk customer as she told me "she didn't need to put up with this bullshit." The employee just stood there and did NOTHING. So now I've been harassed by the employees and the customers. Needless to say it was a horrible experience. It was supposed to be a nice dinner to celebrate not being able to be home for Easter and how PERFECT that it's right off the train. But I seriously never EVER want to feel that awkward when I am going to be spending one or two hundred dollars on a meal.
(1)
Bret B.
My Groupon would have expired in a few days if I hadn't changed my schedule to have an early lunch (11:15am) here today. When I arrived, there was one other table occupied; when I left shortly after noon, there were two tables besides mine. The food was presented relatively quickly, and relatively attractively. None of it was bad, just sort of blah. Miso Soup ($1 with entree): very bland, despite abundant green onions; I think they skimped on the actual miso. Shumai ($6.50): I love these little steamed dumplings with shrimp, but Nori's version were downright soggy. Served with a cabbage and carrot salad with miso dressing, plus a one-dimensional dipping sauce. Softshell crab appetizer (not the roll)$7.50): I actually expected this to be presented in the tempura style, but it was dipped in a very thin flat batter, and overly fried in oil that was too hot. The exterior was too brown, while the interior was quite moist but not quite cooked through. Also served with a cabbage and carrot salad, with some mesclun, and a miso dressing, and the same one-dimensional dipping sauce. Gyoza ($7): as with the Shumai, I like to order these to test a restaurant's technical abilities. Nori failed. These gyoza had spent time in skillet, but they were limp and soggy, without that nice crust that one expects in well-prepared gyoza. This dish was also served with the same salad, same dressing, and same dipping sauce. Chirashi Donburi ($20): chef's selection of sashimi served on rice, accompanied by steamed and salted edamame and a seaweed salad. This is a lot of food for $20, and the chirashizushi was tasty and beautifully presented, if not actually sliced with much expertise. The edamame were fine; the seaweed salad was truly flavorless. Service was adequate and friendly. All of this would have led me to rate this with a 2 or 3. What dropped them to 1 was the fact that I asked to have my leftover food wrapped to take with me, and when I got home, some of the food was missing. It wasn't that they left out a container; they removed some of the food before putting it into containers. When I pay for the food, I expect it in the "to go" bag. I can't remember when I last experienced this, and I'm still pissed about it. Sadly, I have another Groupon for their Edgewater location. Not looking forward to THAT experience.
(1)
Kelly C.
I went there with a couple girlfriends before a night out and the sushi was pretty good - nothing out of this world but solid. The service was good with no major problems. I was going to give them 3 stars but bumped it up because they didn't charge us the $7 corkage fee for our second bottle of wine...winning! We started off with edamame - pretty hard to screw that up. Now for the rolls: -Grand Caribbean - consensus of the table that this was our favorite - the strawberry and mango compliment this roll perfectly -Crunchy Spicy Tuna - got this on a recommendation from the server - it was good kinda plain for me but had a nice bit of spice -Fire Dragon - had a nice kick to it -Ninja Maki - also a recommendation from the server - it was okay nothing overly special to me Their menu is extensive and narrowing it down to just a few rolls was tough - there were a lot more I wanted to try. We did have a groupon and they gave us no hassle for using it like some places do so I appreciate that. I will be back especially to check out their happy hour deals!
(4)
Ashley B.
I went here with my boyfriend because we got a LivingSocial coupon and it was well worth it! We did wait a bit longer than we expected after making reservations, but we were given some warm edamame while we waited, which I thought was a really nice gesture and made the wait totally worth it! A word to the wise though, while this place is very cute and cozy, it's also super small, so BE SURE to make reservaitions! After we were seated, we immediately ordered the gyoza dumplings, which weren't the best I've ever had, but they were still very tasty. We each got two of the Maki rolls and were told that they were half off that night. Our waitress said the coupon we had would only work for full-price items, but that she'd and it up and see if it made more sense for us to go with the half-price or the coupon, which I thought was really helpful. Our food was delicious! It ended up being $22 for four Maki rolls (not signature ones, but they were just as good), gyoza, and a bowl of rice. Normally it would've been $45 so we got to keep our coupon to use for another day, and I will DEFINITELY be back! I gave it four stars out of five because the staff was awesome and the food tasted great. I'll be back again to see if it deserves another star!
(4)
Jason H.
This place is a perfect go-to for quality sushi. Small place, so definitely make reservations. It's BYOB, but there is a liquor store next door with a good wine/saki selection. The Gyoza, Caterpillar, and Rainbow maki are excellent. BUT, you can't leave without trying the Banana Maki. Sounds weird, but you won't be disappointed. Order it after a few other rolls - it's a perfect dessert!!
(4)
Shayna N.
If you enjoy sushi for the taste of fresh fish, this place is hugely lacking. However If you are into lots of rolls that mask the true taste of fish, this might be your new favorite spot. We got there at 7p on a Friday night and all the tables were booked for the evening. Luckily we were only two and could be seated at the bar immediately. Overall I judge sushi by the fish and authenticity, I'm not into lots of cream cheese in my rolls nor do I love tons of fried tempura (I like some fried options but not all). That being said this place definitely caters to a white person crowd. Meaning, great fried rolls, but only average fish. In terms of nigiri we had: - sake - hamachi - sake toro - saba it was all just OK. Hamachi was a little tough, mackeral was kinda flakey and the toro should have been waaaaay more tender. We had even asked the server to ask what the freshest fish of the day was, and this was all they had to offer? A little disappointing. Moving on. The Fire Dragon Roll was super delicious! - Tempura Shrimp and Avocado wrapped with Tuna topped with Spicy Shrimp, Scallions, and Sweet Sauce They also had a small but decent sake list. I ordered a higher end Daiginjo sake, and the server asked if I wanted it heated? Clearly she does not know much about sushi. Either way - it was fine, but there's so many other places in chicago to get delicious fish (this isn't one of them) I probably won't return.
(3)
Mike S.
I'll take an average roll please. If it's not too much to ask, can I have some average service and average time to receive our food on night where we are the only people in the restaurant? Many thanks. Nori Sushi - simply average. Not a bad place, and decent rolls, but nothing out of the ordinary for Chicago sushi.
(3)
Kayee I.
I walked into Nori on day one of my two-day sushi binge earlier this month and gladly made my way around its take-out menu. Service was slow to greet customers at the door/counter--I got the sense that they were training new hosting staff--but were friendly and helpful when they did come around. Since it was my first trip here, I ordered a couple of staple items (spider and spicy tuna maki rolls) for a point of comparison, the Sushi Bento (four pieces of sushi and a California roll), and then one of their signature makis (i.e., Red Nori roll with spicy tuna, spicy shrimp, avocado wrapped with tempura crumbs, red tobiko and unagi sauce). A hostess handed me my takeout bag within the 15-20 minute window I was promised. Everything was deliciously fresh and traveled well. The spider maki maintained its spectacular crunch despite my 30 minute commute all the way home. The decor is very modern and chic--I'm a fan of the brick wall interior behind the sushi bar. Nori offers awesome sushi deals. Fan them on Facebook or request to get their weekly texts. Way to positively utilize social media! I'll definitely be back to try other signature maki rolls.
(3)
Samra M.
This place doesn't look like much on the outside, you walk around lincoln park seeing sushi places all the time, so what makes this one so great? Well, first off, I took my lil brother on a sushi adventure today and this was our first stop (his and my first time ever being here, I decided to take him here because of all the ratings and raves about this place on this site LOL so I just had to try it myself and drag my little brother along with me for the ride), and it definitely will not be the last time I ever go here. We were greeted with smiles and were seated right away (we got to pick where we sat and we chose the booth, because 1) i don't like when people stare in the window and watch you eat and 2) it's winter so I assumed it would be cold, or would make me feel cold by the window). We sat and reviewed the menu looking over all the choices they had. The one that i personally always get at sushi place is the shrimp tempura roll (Ebi Tempura Maki), The Dragon Maki, and the Unagi Q Maki. Ebi Tempura Maki (4/5)-- I was a fan because the shrimp they give you is pretty big compared to other places and it had just the right fillings, plus it came out warm The Dragon Maki (5/5)--BY FAR why this place gets a 5! And the reason why I'll be coming here again. Their Dragon Maki was delicious and their eel was perfect Unagi Q Maki (5/5)-- Since their eel was perfect from the Dragon Maki, this one was great as well! No knowing that the Maki's were half off, we got the bill that was supposed to be around 30 dollars, and it came back as 14.60. I was even more happy than I was after finishing the sushi we had. Overall: Great service, great sushi, great eel =]
(5)
Amanda F.
I hate to do it, but I am going to have to ding a very fast and affordable sushi delivery option for a bad spicy tuna roll. The delivery was super fast (under 30 minutes) and the prices were comparable to other sushi takeout places. I also took advantage of the free spicy tuna roll that came with ordering $45 or more. Apparently, there is no such thing as a free spicy tuna roll. I wish I had not eaten the fishy, sloppy maki. The rest of our order was pretty unadventurous, as no one in the group really wanted to fork up the money or calorie intake for the specialty rolls on a Tuesday night. The Miso soup was heartier than expected and the Philly roll was as expected. The Negihama Maki was fresh but very skimpy. The tempura options we sampled, the sweet potato and the ebi tempura makis, were very tasty and our favorites of the night. One of our party ordered the Nori Sashimi Ume platter which comes with 12 pieces of sashimi, a california roll, and miso soup. She was very pleased with the freshness, taste, and size of of the platter. It seemed like the deal of the night. Bottom line....sushi is fish but shouldn't be fishy. I will continue to search for a go-to Lincoln park sushi delivery place....sigh.
(2)
Virginia H.
If you are looking for an amazing sushi place? Make Nori your next stop. I have been going to the Diversey location since it first opened. I have introduced all of my friends to this little gem. I am either going or ordering out about once a week. I cannot get enough. They have great maki rolls half price at lunch! Delicious!
(5)
Jamie B.
I can't say too many bad things about Nori, but I will say that I liked them better when they had first opened about a year ago. Now that they've become more popular, I've found that their prices have gone up and the consistency and portion size of what they are serving has gone down. They do still have 50% off maki from 11-6pm everyday and 50% all day Monday, so I can't complain too much about the prices since this is a rarity at sushi places. The quality of the sushi is pretty good as well. My favorite rolls are the sweet potato maki and the ebi tempura (all affordable). The signature rolls are good but they are definitely pricey.
(4)
Long Q.
I like this place. I came here because of a groupon special. They have a happy hour special with half off on hand rolls, but I couldn't use it with my groupon. I ordered a sashimi and nigiri combo plate along with a special soft-shell crab roll. My waitress was a very pretty blonde (No she is not an Asian popstar). Unfortunately, it was her first week working there and she had no idea what the items on the menu were. She brought the food to my table and started to tell me which fish is which but after salmon and tuna, she couldn't name anything else. She was apologetic and I forgave her since it is not easy to recognize the fish types after they were fileted into delicious pieces. Other than the waitress' lack of experience, the food was great. The rice was on point! the fish was fresh! the price was decent! I will definitely come back!
(4)
Izzy N.
Best damn sushi as indicated on one of the pictures posted? My ass. It's just another spot for a whole bunch of shit all up in your rice and fish. That seems to be pretty popular in this city. Spicy mayo, glitter, honey, old tempura crumbs, hair extensions, cream cheese, fried pumpkin, lets put it all in there. TA DA. Delicious. Not really. But if you're into that, it's here. Fish and rice with a buncha shit on it so you won't gag at the fact that you might actually taste the fish. For that kind of sushi I'd rather go closer to home like at Friend's every once in awhile. Now that I've been to Nori, I can look at it just as I look at the 7 Eleven down the street. With a blank and ::blink:: blink:: type of Oh it's just you glance. I came in for lunch solo and was seated at the bar. It's an undesirable area since guess what you'll be staring at the entire time? a black wall. It's too low to get a good view of the sushi chefs. I wasn't happy and felt ignored in the little corner by myself. Staring at a black wall is not how I want to spend my lunch. So off to another table I went. Service was kind of crappy. I felt ignored and the vibe just sucked. On the bright side my rolls were all half off. I stuck with some sashimi and mostly simpler rolls. It was alright but yes, I've experienced better so 2 stars it is.
(2)
Pham D.
My friend and I went to see a movie about sushi last night at nearby Landmark. Naturally, afterwards, we craved some sushi for dinner and thank god Nori is right next to the train.We walked in at 9pm, and it was crowded. Fortunately, they were able to seat both of us right away. I had the sushi ume platter which comes with spicy miso soup which was delicious. Next came 5 assorted sushi pieces and a california roll that were fresh and amazing. It was a lot of food, but it was so good that I ate it all.I can't wait to come back and try their specialty rolls. The Monster looks like A BEAST! There's so much food going on in there! The service was also amazing. Our server was very nice and observant. She gave us plenty of time and wasn't pushy. Also, this was one of the few places in the area that takes Level Up, the pay by phone app ( thelevelup.com/join/74955 ) It made paying so fast and effortless. We were in and out in no time and it was great!
(5)
Kelly K.
Came here with a Groupon and unbeknownst to me, they happened to also have half priced maki at the same time (not valid with Groupon). However, this made it super crowded and the two waitresses were disorganized and unable to handle the rush. The maki rolls were good, but the service took FOREVER. Three stars for service, 4 for food.
(3)
Christa R.
Pretty good. Not a lot of space and their AC isn't the best. We were a little toasty in there one night in June. Service was good and the sushi was probably better than average. I will definitely go back. Probably not with a big group this time.
(3)
Alizabeth L.
I am so sad to give "new Nori" a terrible review. I used to love coming to Nori for great sushi, appetizers and BYOB. Since the renovation Nori has changed for the worse. It was uncomfortably warm, to the point that our fish was sweating. We got the sashimi platter, which included two pieces of imitation crab stick (kinda cheap) and had extremely chewy overcooked shrimp as well as one piece of fish that smelled so bad we sent it back. They gave us a hard sell to buy their booze as the greeting (spoke so quickly we couldn't get a word in), and apparently only allow one bottle of wine per table now. The wine glasses we got were dirty. They brought us our bill while we were still eating, without checking to see if we wanted to order more. Regarding the renovation it looked fine but took away character in place of cramming the maximum number of tables next to each other. Our table was inches from the table next to us and so loud we had to literally yell at each other to have conversation. I texted everyone I know who used to frequent Nori because I wouldn't want them to waste their time or money going back. Ukai is a 10 minute walk away and doesn't have any of these issues. Goodbye, Nori :(
(1)
Katie R.
I LOVE NORI! We used to live right down the street so it was a weekly (or more:) treat. Now we are farther but I will still make the trekk to get the delish sushi and amazing deals. The restaurant is small but clean and simple and the service is always good. This is my favorite place to go for sushi for sure!!
(5)
Ashlee S.
One of my favorite sushi spots in the Lakeview area. It gets a bit busy around dinner time and you may have to wait a few minutes for a table if you didn't make a reservation, but totally worth the wait. Try the sweet potato maki!
(5)
Krissy M.
First tried Nori because there was a Living Social for it, now it's one of my favorite spots for sushi!
(5)
Kristen K.
One of my favorite sushi places. Love the amount of specialty rolls. A little bit pricey but well worth it. Make reservations ahead of time and byob.
(5)
Kathleen M.
Awesome service. I had a reservation for 8:30 for two and unfortunately a few tables didn't want to leave so the great staff were very honest and we ended up sitting at the bar and drinking a few glasses of wine. The bar was awesome and we stayed there and ate/drank for a few hours. We ordered five rolls and they were excellent. Great service and excellent food!
(5)
Jayde L.
Nothing exciting. I'm not sure where the solid 4 stars is coming from.. I'm thinking maybe it's their half price specials. Good place just to get a meal over with really, there's a lot better places in Chi.
(3)
Laura G.
Sushi, BYOB, and 50% before 6pm! This place is too good to be true! The sushi was delicious, but my favorite thing on the menu by far was definitely the "spicy fire ball" appetizer. It was the perfect combo of rice, spicy tuna and sweet sauce. Its a definite must if you go.
(4)
Alex R.
I don't know how many sushi places I've been to anymore. It's all just a blur. The world spins around me in a see of special maki and gyozas. Anyway... onto the review. We bought a Groupon to Nori a few months back and with the sudden realization that it was expiring in a week, we hightailed it to Nori on a Saturday night. I won't lie, I was confused by the reservation system. I think you can't make a reservation the day of, but you can always sit at the 5 person sushi bar. After putting our names down, it was only a 10 minute wait until they cancelled someone's reservation for being 10 minutes late. How nice for us. :-) The setting was intimate. We ended up speaking with both of our table neighbors as there was about 5 inches between the tables on either side, so conversation was bound to happen. As for the food, we ordered the asparagus beef appetizer. It was much larger than anticipated and quite good. Afterward we ordered three rolls: the Oy Masai, Tokyo Maki, and Crunchy Spicy Tuna roll. Presentation was just fine, all of them came out on one big platter. As for the sushi itself, the crunchy spicy tuna roll was a real disappointment. It wasn't crunchy at all. The whole thing had the same consistency throughout and there was very little flavor. On the plus side the other two rolls were great. The Oy Masai was deep fried and almost melted in your mouth and the Tokyo had fantastic mix of fish which all came together great. Overall, this place was worth it and our total bill came out to $50 for 2 people which is totally reasonable. Not a bad inexpensive date night, but there are better sushi joints out there. I can't say we would have come if we didn't have the Groupon.
(3)
Andrew L.
The sushi here is okay. It's mostly maki which is Japanese for roll, that people come here to eat. I love the banana maki, tokyo maki and dragon maki. The rainbow maki was good but as of late it tastes like a sewer. Plus we shouldn't be eating this anyway since the Tuna is endangered so it works out I suppose. Oh and you need to make reservations now since everyone and their mother's mother's mother's mother's mother's mother goes here.
(3)
Angela W.
BEWARE of the waitresses at this restaurant!! My husband and I went there from a Living Social Special. Ambiance was good, a bit small...so very quaint and cozy. Goyza and Tuna Tartare were AMAZING!! very fresh. Rolls were good (Chicago, Red something...), but too much rice. Overall, I'd say it was good sushi and we were just about to add it to our list of new sushi places to go to. Then we got the bill...and as I was checking it over, I noticed that the waitress already added 18% to our bill. Mind you, it wasn't posted anywhere that this would be added and the waitress neglected to tell us she'd done it when she dropped off the credit card receipt. My husband didn't see that it was included and was about to write in ANOTHER tip when I pointed it out. So when I questioned her about it, she said that they add it for the Customer's convenience... WHAT!?!?! yeah right!! That was sooo sneaky and deceitful! I told her that we typically tip 20% anyway, and that everything was good, but this one thing was enough to keep us from coming back. She didn't even apologize, but said she'd tell the manager..yeah right..she's the one who charged it. Last I checked, it was illegal to add something to the bill without notifying the customer of it. We won't be going back....and it's too bad because the sushi is good.
(1)
Sharon S.
I've always wanted to try Nori Sushi so when I saw the Living Social deal, I thought what better than this opportunity? My friend and I went there last night. We made a reservation, were seated and the service was great, besides the bussers not understanding any English. The interior of the restaurant was also nicely decorated. We ordered 4 items off the menu - Goma-ae, lava bomba, and 2 rolls. The food tasted great and was well presented but we'd say a bit overpriced. For 4 items, our check came to $60+. We got out check and almost just paid without looking. We had asked for extra ginger and they charged us $1 and never told us it was extra charge. And then noticed they automatically charged 18% gratuity. There was only 2 of us. I'm pretty sure that's illegal. I've see places write a note on their menu that they would charge gratuity if there's more than 6 people or something, which I still think is rude, but for 2? Hell no. People should be tipping on how well they thing the service and food is, not by the guidelines of a restaurant. We won't be going back. The food was great but not that great. Maybe they only charge those with Living Social coupons gratuity, but it's ridiculous and rude. Bye Nori.
(2)
Rhonda G.
Dined here with a friend and I think i've found a new easy to get to mid-priced sushi spot. Fresh delicious sushi, slightly small place but they take reservations so take advantage. Some of the tables are really close together so don't go spilling all your family secrets. Service was attentive and fairly quick. Nothing jumps out as completely fantastic or magnificent but it was a great place for a casual, inexpensive dinner. Keep this one in your back pocket!
(4)
Viv C.
I don't know why this restaurant is so popular. It is always packed. Please make a reservation before you go. Their service is pretty fast and accurate; however, the distance between tables are so narrow, so they may drop chopsticks or napkins while they are rushing to serve you. Food is not impressed.It's pretty average sushi restaurant. but their sushi is not that fresh. It makes me wonder why people are so in love with this restaurant. BYOB? Location? maybe both. I may not go back this again since ITTO sushi is way much better and it's walking distance from Diversey brown line.
(3)
Johnny P.
Rolls are always fresh with lots of flavor. Ambience is fun and staff is friendly. One recommendation is to avoid the Ikura (large orange fish eggs), which have a strange flavor here...not bad, just strange.
(4)
Carley M.
BEWARE!!!!! SCAM ARTISTS!!!!!!! I presented my LivingSocial coupon/deal as we were wrapping up, and she charged an 18% gratuity to my card, and told me this was LivingSocial's policy. TWO times I had to tell her that was not in writing ANYWHERE, and finally she said "okay okay since it's not in writing I will take it off". I called LivingSocial to report and they said this is NOT standard, and it's considered malpractice. SO PLEASE don't support this place. The food is not worth the money, and to be honest who knows what they do with credit card/debit card information.
(1)
Jeff R.
Keeping with the Sushi theme, I went to Nori for lunch on Monday following my Sunday night dinner at Macku.It wasn't exactly planned, but I was meeting Joanna for lunch and she saw that they serve half priced maki from 11am-6pm. Yes, half price rolls for 7 hours. We decided to give it a go since it's new, carved out from space from Penny's Noodles next door. For the $23 we spent on an order of gomae and 4 maki rolls, the food was good. Is it the best sushi on the block, not likely. But it was fresh and good and perfect for lunch or an early dinner. My room mate says good sushi isn't cheap, and I agree. However I am also looking for cheap sushi that is good, and this qualified. Unlike the gomae from Macku, this was served traditional with only sesame dressing. We ordered four rolls for the two of us because we were hungry: Ebi Tempura, Spicy Tuna, Unagi-Q and Rainbow. The spicy tuna was more mayo and less tuna, but tasty none the less. The rainbow was standard, nice to have fresh avocado at the start of spring. My favorite though was the Ebi tempura, a great combination of crunchy tuna with avocado and unagi sauce. Again, not ground breaking but I could eat a lot of sushi when they only cost $3-4 each. When you combine good food with friendly service and a convenient location you get a recipe for success. Next time I'll go back for 6pm BYOB sushi dinner with a group of friends. Maybe you should too.
(4)
Carson K.
DO NOT order take out from here. First of all, it took FOREVER to arrive, and we're less than 10 blocks away. No, we did not feel like picking up, but that doesn't mean the food should be any less quality. We ordered edemame, 2 miso soups, a sashimi platter and a salmon teriyaki. Here's what's up people: The sashimi was not good -- not good quality slices, chewy and was even warm! Ew! The salmon teriyaki was awful -- not a good cut, was fishy and slimey, with lots of skin. Edemame was a healthy portion, ok. Miso soup was eh. I'd like to find a good sushi places in Lakeview/Lincoln Park, but NORI IS NOT IT. Sorry folks.
(1)
Sal O.
My fiance and I just hit this place and I was totally disappointed. The interior is cozy and tasteful and that was about the extent of the good times. First, a general pet peeve of mine. I refuse, on general principal, to pay more than $0.75 for a can of soda. Nevermind almost 2 bucks for a can of Coke. If you are a restaurant, invest in a g**d@mn fountain machine. It's not only cheap to operate but it's a good profit center. Plus it leaves your customers happy. Second, our meals were terrible. I ordered the tempura which was so thickly battered and greasy that the taste of the veggies and shrimp was lost. My fiance ordered the salmon teriyaki. It was overcooked and the sauce was clumpy and seemed like it came from a Sam's Club vat. The final straw was the terrible service. I don't know why we were given picnic-style paper napkins when there were piles of cloth napkins, but I'll roll with it. Our waitress was never around. And they pinned a 18% gratuity on our check without any signs posted in the restaurant. They said they had it posted on restaurant.com but that is not kosher because we used Living Social. Not only will I never be back but I'll actively encourage people not to come here. For a better experience, just go to Shiroi Hanna.
(1)
Tom R.
Went to Nori for the first time last night (Tuesday). We made a 7pm reservation and the place was packed when we got there. We started with the calamari which I'd have to say was probably my favorite part of the meal. Very crispy breading, a little bit of snap to the calamari itself but still very tender. It also came with a honey wasabi dipping sauce that was much better than I had expected. We proceeded to order four more rolls for dinner - Crunchy Spicy Tuna, Philly, Red Nori, and the Fire Dragon. The Red Nori was definitely my favorite but, to be honest, I wasn't overly impressed with any of the entrees. The Philly had far too much cream cheese and avocado so it became a soft, indiscernible mess while we ate it. The Red Nori was the only roll that really had the contrast in textures that I prefer while eating sushi. All in all, it was a good, serviceable meal at Nori. The location is great; the value is spot on with other restaurants in the area and the fact that it's BYOB while still having a wine and sake list is a plus.
(3)
Jeff R.
Very nice presentation, fast and friendly service, and great monday night half off regular maki rolls deal. Definitely enjoyed our dinner there!
(4)
Adam M.
We had a Groupon for Nori and I felt that this place was pretty good for sushi. They had all the classic sushi/maki choices with a few extras. My favorite roll by far was the Ninja Maki which is Sweet Potato Tempura and Avocado topped with Torch Spicy Kani Kama and Unagi Sauce. We actually wound up ordering more of this particular roll. Other than this the place was good but not great for sushi. I recommend staying away from the Crab Shogun. The "torched crab meat" on top tasted like smoked leaves. I heard they have 1/2 off Monday's so I will go back but only on a Monday.
(3)
Kelly B.
The half priced maki rolls before 6 make this my go-to neighborhood sushi spot. It's cheap, but good quality... And pretty delicious. I don't know why everyone is complaining about the 18% auto grat for living social discounted checks. I think it makes sense. A lot of morons tend to tip based on the total after the discount, when they should be tipping on the amount before the discount. Also... The auto grat is 18% of the total before tax. If you got good service, it's pretty standard to tip 20% of the total after tax... So I don't see what the big deal is because this place is awesome.
(4)
Laura W.
Nothing like half price sushi to get people in the restaurant before 6pm. I like to eat dinner early so I'm always in restaurants before 6pm. I am not used to places being crowded at that time so Nori's happy hour really threw me off. We had the shrimp shumai for an appetizer and the number of pieces are generous. For the half price rolls we had; soft shell crab (decent), seared scallops (I didn't detect as much scallop as I assumed there would be), and the dragon roll (my favorite). I would be willing to go back to try some of the other half priced rolls, it is a good way to sample the menu without running up the tab. It is also BYOB but I noticed on the menu they have restrictions about what you can bring. Beer/wine only, no hard liquor. The first 6 pack or bottle of wine aren't charged a corking fee, but any more after that there will be a fee.
(3)
Rebecca H.
It's nice that it's byob, I've just had better.
(3)
Will I.
I am updating my review not because the quality or price of the food has changed, but because of mismanagement. A place as small as Nori with as good of specials as it has should not take reservations. 6-8 reservations fills the place up, which means that nobody else can get in within an hour window. This has grown apparent with the increased popularity of its Monday night half off special. Because of the reservations, either through people not showing up or showing up late, tables sit empty for up to an hour while people are turned away at the door. At a larger restaurant, this isn't a big deal, because they can accommodate this. A small place ends up losing customers by this off-putting management practice while looking empty and mismanaged. Nori, stop taking reservations. Stop trying to be something you are not (a large restaurant). You will be guaranteed business without them. Most likely, you will get more business because such a policy would allow you to fill all of your tables at all times with a higher rate of turnover. It would be more efficient, profitable, and would allow you to serve a larger number of customers in your limited space. Your establishment is a gem, don't let your exclusionary policy, not to mention the rude manager (now affectionately referred to as the "gatekeeper") I had the pleasure of dealing with last week, ruin that.
(4)
Jackie P.
They have half price maki! How can you not love a place that has half price maki?! It's impossible and for that it gets 5 stars. The place is cute, the service is great and the food is great too. If you need to know that. But you don't. They have HALF PRICE MAKI!
(5)
CeeCee Y.
I actually really like this place. I just wish they'd extend their half price maki deal to delivery as well. BYOB too, love that. I'd recommend their spicy tuna roll and soft shell crab maki.
(3)
Katarina X.
Half-price maki every day (how they do it, I'll never know) It is an unbeatable, fresh and tasty value. I like the sushi, the service is good, they pack the take-out like colorful little art installations... especially the sweet potato tempura maki which is a scrumptious little bite of heaven! I HATE that they have a $15 Credit/Debit Card minimum purchase. I took off two stars for this lame, inconvenient, customer-averse policy. But here is how and where you can report them for violating their merchant contract: consumerist.com/2007/12/… I'd go more often if they did not enforce but alas, they do and thus I avoid. Enough complaints? That policy will change and I'll eat more sushi from Nori.
(3)
Alex R.
Came here on Monday for half price maki - great deal! (Apparently everyone else agrees so it is a good idea to make a reservation) Delicious sushi, BYOB, and friendly service. A great overall experience :)
(4)
Alexandria C.
Ahhh sushi. I love you. Not many foods appeal to me as much as the raw flesh of freshly slaughtered (yet often imported?), ectothermic aquatic organisms. If I was to mention the foods that take precedent, I would likely be imprisoned, or placed in solitary confinement. The qualities this cuisine possesses are almost enigmatic (Too much? Well you must be a sushi hater then, therefore you suck.) What's not to like? The stratigically sliced morsels, cut with industry standard knives, artfully presented by the hands of trained professionals, often served alone and/or rolled/atop delicious vinegary rice, and complimented by delectables such as seaweed/pickled ginger/wasabi/sake/wine/beer/and...it's a little blurry after that. Since sushi has become the new Ugg, it is not difficult to find a nearby establishment. For many reasons, Nori has been my go-to place for quite awhile now, and 92.16% of the time I am 99.78% satisfied. Those are some pretty good stats! I was surprised at how good the food was the first time I ate here considering it's located in an area that seems to be the death row of many new restaurants. I like that their menu is relatively standard. I am a purist, and firmly believe that at least limiting the amount of fruit and fish rolls offered is a good choice. If you need to put a strawberry on your tuna (not an innuendo), something ain't right. While Nori offers this crap, they don't do it out of necessity. When their fish is good, it's GOOD. Melts in your mouth good. Sh*t, you don't even need teeth to eat here! If you have dentures, no problem. Just order some take-out from, go home, de-teeth, and enjoy! For your gumming pleasure, I recommend the escolar, maguro, hamichi, sake toro, and red tobiko. Personal favs. As far as the prices go, they're not too bad. For the maki fans, everyday between 11 and 6 they are half price. For dinner, the bill for 2-3 people, eating a fulfilling amount of nigiri/sashimi, is usually around $70. The service has always been a hit or miss. A lot of the waitresses seem to have PMS. 50% of the time I order out for this reason. However, I do like the atmosphere. It's small, but not cramped. The decor is tasteful, and the lights are not bright. So on top of it all, it's a good place to bring an ugly date. =) Mmmmmmm
(4)
Kimme O.
If you like: 1. Annoying easy listening tunes 2. Sushi that falls apart 3. 'Fried Sweet Potatoes' that are actually sweet potato fries from your local grocer's freezer 4. Slow service this is the place for you. 1 star because I had to and another for half off Mondays for rolls. If you're even thinking about giving this place a try despite my review go on a Monday so its less of a waste.
(2)
Nicole O.
I have been here a few times and had okay service, love the special sushi rolls they have! However, tonight I called ahead to see if there was seating available before I ventured out into the cold and they said they had plenty of seating available. We arrive at the restraunt and 80% of the restraunt is empty and the host tells us that there is no seating available and insists we must have called another location until we show him our phone log. Needless to say, there are many other more excellent sushi restraunts in the area that will be receiving my future business.
(1)
Cooper T.
Sushi was very fresh, great deal on the maki rolls for 1/2 off at lunch. Small place with very friendly service. I will definitely be returning!
(4)
Bree N.
As a vegetarian, I'm always excited when I have a lot to choose from on a menu and it was this that made me want to give Nori a shot. There's a specific part of the menu for vegetarian maki - I went with the simple avocado maki & the sweet potato tempura maki. The only problem with the sweet potato tempura was that the sweet potato wasn't fried in the tempura like I've had at other sushi places, so it was a little harder and less crispy than I would have liked it. Other than that though it was delicious. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because I was misled about the corking fee. Other reviews say there isn't one for the first bottle, but when we got there we were told no matter what there was a charge of $7 per bottle. So my boyfriend and I had to save our wine for home, which isn't a huge deal, but it was a little annoying for a BYOB place to charge so high of a fee for one bottle of wine.
(4)
Jay R.
I remember when you had to search to find a sushi place in Chicago. They are still not on every corner like Starbucks or Walgreens but if you are craving sushi you won't have to look very hard. Nori is a great place to not have to look to far for, and I live in the hood so my sushi craving is cured with ease. Quality fresh fish and unique rolls plus good service and the kicker they have a stellar 1/2 price deal. Everything is 1/2 price from the Nori maki roll section of the menu before 3 everyday and all day on Mondays. I can eat the hell out of some excellent sushi for the cost of fast food. Some of my favs The Ninja Maki - Sweet potato tempura and avocado topped with torched spicy kani kama, unagi sauce and tempura crumbs Tekka Maki - Fresh big eye tuna ( whole piece not the chopped up stuff) Escolar Jalapeno Maki - Escolar and jalapeno Spicy and buttery all in the same bite Soft Shell Crab Maki - Soft shell crab, avocado, cucumber, masago mayo, unagi sauce and scallion A great neighborhood place but worth a trip to get here also.
(4)
Latisha P.
Came for dinner! Solid sushi that will have you satisfied. Didn't try too much but we were happy with the rolls we got. ROLLS Heartbreaker roll (4 stars): good textures good salmon Caribbean (4 stars): strawberry and mango combo was surprisingly good. Lighter roll. SERVICE Kate is awesome! So sweet and gave great suggestions, thanks Kate for taking care of us!
(4)
Nicole L.
Just a heads up there are some reviews claiming 1/2 price rolls before 6 PM. This is not valid. Also, be aware that the check-in offer for one free maki is only for parties of 4 or more. So don't expect a free roll on date night. Okay now that all of that is cleared up lets talk about the actual sushi. Overall sushi was just fine. Don't think I'd come back. Also service was pretty bad and my waitress walked away from me in the middle of my sentence but I chalk that up to the language barrier.
(2)
Keith C.
Decent sushi joint. They don't have AYCE but do have BYOB. However, you can only use 1 bottle per party. You can bring more bottles but they won't let you drink them. They will hold for you until you leave. Corkage fee is $7. Service could be a little better. It took them a while to bring us a menu. I wanted 2 pieces of uni as part of my order but the waitress came back and said that the uni wasn't fresh and didn't recommend it which was nice on her part. Sushi came out fast and the fish was fresh. If i needed sushi and was in the area, i could see myself coming back.
(3)
Scott O.
Went for lunch here last week and loved it. A new favorite sushi spot for lunch. The special lunch boxes are the way to go. I got the maki box with 3 different kinds of maki (6 apiece for a total of 18), with miso and a salad with ginger dressing. And the sushi was fresh and delicious. And the red bean mochi was great (the green tea, not so much). I would recommend the special lunch boxes though there ARE 1/2 price rolls till 4PM. You just have to ask and they will tell you yes. Not all the sushi but one whole page.
(4)
Lucas W.
The sushi is very good, but it's unnecessarily pricy. Also, it may be BYOB, but if you bring beer, there'll be a $1 charge that they don't tell you about because they do actually sell a couple beers. Got a couple rolls and seemingly every roll was double digit prices except the typical simple things like spicy salmon or spicy tuna. The fish was always high quality though and the rolls very flavorful. If you're alright paying more for some sushi which while above average doesn't reflect the price, then Nori's a good option. I may go back, but I feel I can get sufficiently high quality sushi elsewhere for a portion of the price.
(4)
Teddy H.
Okay sushi, sub-par service. 90 minute wait on a Monday when most tables are open? Not buying it. I want to love but not sure it's worth the condescending attitudes you are greeted with at the door.
(2)
Patty C.
I had a decent lunch here. Their makis are half-price before 4pm, and they have lunch specials. I ordered the sashimi lunch special and a seared scallop maki. The scallop maki was okay, nothing special. The sashimi lunch box came with a miso soup, side salad with ginger dressing, gyoza dumplings, and a Cali maki. I'm not a big fan of miso soup, but theirs was pretty good. The sashimi was fresh, the gyoza was good, and the salad was good too. The Cali maki was okay. Overall, everything was decent. I ordered green tea as well, and my total was about $20 before tips.
(3)
Jessica A.
This is one of my go-to sushi spots. Especially for their half price Nori maki at lunch time. I have been there many many times for both lunch and dinner service and have not once been disappointed. The service is always nice. Not overly attentive (as is usually the case with sushi places) but not bad. Some of my favorite maki include: spicy shrimp (perfect amount of spice), ninja maki, and Tokyo maki. Those are must trys!!! Go to Nori! You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Justine M.
Great sushi. One of the better spots I've had. I suggest getting the Chicago Crazy and Red Nori. Loaded sushi, but hits all textures. The service was GREAT. I went with a friend with diary diet restrictions and the waitress was very accommodating and sweet. The inside is small so I assume it gets crowded during peak times. I went on a weekday around 5:45 and not too many people dining. The perfect crowd comfort. I've also ordered delivery via their online ordering system and delivery is fast. I also suggest trying the calamari with the honey wasabi mayo. My favorite sushi in the lincoln park area so far.
(4)
Liam R.
Came here with a groupon and a bottle of white wine and left full and happy. Here is in between: out on a date around nine on a Saturday night and came here even though they said they were full. We were promptly sat at the sushi bar and they brought out ice for the wine. We ordered crab And cream cheese rolls and beef asparagus wraps for appetizers. Both tasty but some of the asparagus was tough. We then order two Maki rolls one was unagi and the other was crab tempura. We are not fans of fancy rolls. The crab was so good we ordered another. To finish of our groups we had bananas tempura. I was too full to finish. Definitely a great spot with simple elegant and ever type of roll in between. I will be back for sure. Check in to receive a free maki roll As an update I have been back a few Monday's for half priced maki. Always satisfying and cheap when you bring your own wine. Glad it was in my neighborhood
(4)
Daniel G.
A Lakeview sushi delight! I had the usual miso soup, the dumplings and an unforgettable roe in cucumber sashimi. Great
(4)
Jialing L.
Found this place last year when I was apartment hunting in the Lakeview/Lincoln Park area. Came in for lunch and ordered the soft shell crab entree. There was so much food; it came with a salad, rice, mashed potatoes and the soft shell crab. I usually don't have any leftovers but I actually had to take part of it with me because I was so full. Really enjoyed the dish but it was a little pricey. Service was decent and the I liked the decor of the restaurant.
(3)
Evie H.
My friends and I came on an impulse move Saturday because they love the sushi here. We made a reservation for 6:30 and got seated right away. To start off we ordered the agedashi tofu and the fried calamari. The tofu was soft and silky which was tasty but it could be a bit more fried on the outside. It'd be nice if they added some green onions and grated daikon on top too! The fried calamari was perfect for me because I couldn't taste the squid at all. The honey wasabi dipping sauce was excellent and they were nice enough to give us extra sauce on the side. I got the Japanese curry entree which to my surprise was HUGE. It comes with a fairly hefty portion of tossed salad with ginger sauce, miso soup, a scoop of Japanese potato salad, a scoop of rice, two HUGE cutlets of meat (I got chicken) which was breaded and fried perfectly, and a big bowl of curry with potato, carrots, and asparagus. Dare I say I loved every bite of it. The meal was so large that when I asked for a to-go box, the server thought I didn't like the food and that's why I didn't eat any of it....Quite the opposite actually! My only bit is that I would like the curry to be slightly thicker and less soupy. Oh and throw in some more vegetables! Otherwise, no complaints. Great service, great food.
(4)
christina h.
2.5 stars. As a regular of this restaurant since 2011, I've been ok with every change Nori has made, including decor, communal seating changes, no more discount cards, etc. Nori recently made some changes which has made me re-write my last review. Now they charge a $7 corkage fee for each bottle including your first, which I think is ridiculous considering your first bottle has always been free. Sushi is good quality, but most sushi restaurants don't have corkage fees, and the ones that do don't charge more than $5. I used to come here once a week, but since the recent change, I will not be coming here as often. Seriously, why should I eat here and pay to drink my bottle when I can drink it for free somewhere else? They also now add an automatic 18% gratuity on parties of 5 or more. Maybe its their way of trying to be more upscale. But the reality is, this is a neighborhood sushi joint not an upscale downtown restaurant. Nori needs to reevaluate its changes, is this really gonna get you more business? Seems greedy to me. And the worst part is, servers will only end up getting jipped on their tips. I used to tip 20% here but now have started tipping 15% to cover their corkage fee.
(2)
Jay J.
Very solid sushi spot. A little pricey but good sushi, byob and a great Lincoln Park/Lakeview neighborhood restaurant. Rainbow sushi, spicy tuna, strawberry Sunday roll and spicy miso soup are all delicious. Monday half price if you dine in.
(4)
Katie E.
I wish I could be giving this restaurant a better rating, but we had to walk out before we could even eat anything. It was our friends birthday, we had reservations for 7:30 (which we even arrived a little early for). At around 20 minutes after our reservation time we saw the same 4 tables that were still open from when we got in. We asked how much longer the wait would be, considering we had made reservations. The man stated that he could not tell us, because then we would be staring at the customers waiting for them to get up. We were a little frustrated at this point, but decided to stay. 25 minutes in the tables are still open, and they seat a group that had just walked in. At this point we were a little confused, but decided to wait. After 30 minutes of tables that were STILL open, and us still standing at the register, we finally decided to leave. We told the representative to go ahead and cancel our reservation, because we were not waiting any longer. After we voiced our dissatisfaction, it was then he decided to tell us we can be seated. At that point we were pretty upset, and decided to leave anyway. As we were outside we received a call from the same man, asking us why we had left. I told him yet again that we had left because we were not waiting any longer for a table we had reserved well in advance. It is quite frustrating to wait for your customers to get upset and leave to tell them that the table is ready. The tables had the same set up from the time we got there to when we left. There are plenty of other great sushi places in the area where they actually treat their customers well, and have great fresh food (ie: Kyoto). Overall we were all quite unsatisfied with this experience.
(1)
John H.
One of my favorite places for sushi. I just went here with my girlfriend for lunch, been here a bunch of times. The quality is always high and the service is excellent. I always go for the half priced maki special before 4 when I can. My favorite appetizers are the fireball with spicy shrimp, the beef and asparagus roll, the gyoza, and I'm not a fan of edamame but theirs is pretty good. I have never, not once had a bade meal at this location. Note: The location on Diversey is the best. The location on Milwaukee has a weird smell to it sometimes and the quality of the food is not consistent. I would give the location on Milwaukee 2-3 stars and I won't go there anymore.
(5)
Dallas F.
This Nori location rarely lets me down. Ive been consistently satisfied with their maki and the entrees. While the food is good, the daily specials keep me coming back. Before 4pm the Nori maki rolls are half priced. I do like a good deal, and Nori delivers!
(4)
Allyson H.
Great lunch specials! Everyone enjoyed their food which was served quickly and was delicious
(4)
Jess P.
Really good sushi and it's half price often!! The king salmon roll is really unique and really delicious. It's a great place for lunch!
(4)
Lina W.
I came here for 1/2 off select sushi rolls happy hour special with friends and a bottle of wine. Service is very attentive, kind, and just fantastic overall. The sushi rolls were alright, but not mindblowing. We had the spider roll, tokyo roll, banana roll, rainbow roll, and caterpillar rolls all for about $34 after tax, which is a fantastic deal. There is a bit too much rice for my taste and not enough fish, but we did leave feeling very full. If you like cheap sushi rolls and byob, this is the spot.
(3)
Natalia K.
I've been to the Nori in Wicker Park so I already knew to expect inventive and delicious rolls and would give it full stars, but the space, like in Wicker Park, is just too small. Small is fine, but then you have to be more exclusive and not stuff so many tables in the restaurant. Make people wait or get a bigger space. My friend and I were so cramped and we had to move tables over to move in and out of our seats. Make bench communal seating, because at least that would be easier to navigate around. A groupon brought me here and delivery would bring me back because I just don't like being squished in among strangers and having to listen to their conversations and munching. The food is kind of worth it though. We started with the cheesy roll because I love a crab rangoon and this was a lighter version of it. Our rolls were the Chicago Crunchy Crazy, Fire Dragon, and Crab Shogun. We loved all three and I don't remember which was my favorite because I'm pretty sure I didn't have one. Yes, Nori, I crave your food, but please make me more comfortable next time so I have room to really enjoy it!
(4)
M K.
Great food and menu selection over all. Servers are friendly. Mondays are half off Nori Maki Sushi and lunch is always half off on Maki Sushi. :-D Great deal without having to buy a deal from separate sites. Can get really busy, but it is worth it. I would recommend this in place of RA Sushi.
(4)
Julie Y.
Came here for dinner the other night and the fish was really fresh and good. The service was also great and idk if it is only on Tuesdays but they had half off all their wine and sake. They don't have hard alcohol. Def recommend this place if your in the area. Also heard the other food that isn't sushi is great as well.
(4)
Mary S.
My husband and I came by here on a Friday night, without reservations, and were quickly seated. It was about 630p but by 8p they were hoppin! We started with the honey wasabi calamari which was I was glad it was only the circle bites of the calamari and not the actual squid looking ones. It was very good and just the right amount of sauce to leave you wanting more. We then went on to order multiple sushi maki, with some insight from our waitress: Grand Caribbean - said to come with mango and strawberry but I didn't taste any of that and could barely even see the strawberry in the roll, it was a good roll but tasted fairly basic of just tempura shrimp and wasabi mayo Spicy Tuna Maki - your standard spicy tuna but this was good and now chewy, I actually thought it was better than the Grand Caribbean only because I got what I expected Fire Dragon - this was recommended by our waitress and was our favorite of the three, it had a lot of flavor to it but the flavors all complimented one another. Unfortunately this one I think we only got 8 pieces of whereas the others we got 10, so go figure we liked it the best Being a bit of a sushi-snob I can be difficult when rating sushi places, but overall this was a good experience and I would definitely go back to try some more rolls.
(3)
Kimberly P.
Terrible service - HUGE attitudes. From the host to the wait staff. Sushi was terrible. The restaurant has an antiseptic smell and the food tastes like it too. Go to Tanuki just north on Sheffield!!!
(1)
Jon M.
The sushi is not good and not fresh. Service was just ok.
(1)
Lauren B.
I really love Nori. The rolls are smaller but I don't mind because of the quality of the rice. It's also BYOB and all day Monday and every other day for lunch all maki rolls are half off. The waitstaff and atmosphere are also very pleasant. They also have a decent saki, wine and beer selection as well.
(4)
S.A.M. R.
Been coming here for a while.. They have uped their prices multiple times .. They do Half off maki rolls for lunch so maybe this is to compensate ? I will not come and pay full price because I don't think it's worth full price . $9 for a spicy tuna roll - I know better places to get one for less The rolls this time we're very small as well . They also now have a corkage fee if u have more then 1 bottle of wine. $7 / bottle for large parties beware Overall good food though which is why we keep coming back .service has also improved Id love to give 3 1/2 stars because food is good but not worth the price for the portion size
(3)
Martha C.
Can't believe I haven't reviewed my go to for take out sushi yet! Been here multiple times for take out since it was near my old place. Overall, the sushi is pretty good. Only once did I have a bad experience, and it happened to be a Sunday evening, which if lore is correct, is a bad time to get sushi. Favorites include the seared scallop maki, sweet potato tempura and the escolar or salmon sashimi. Online ordering is easy and take out usually can be picked up anywhere between 15 minutes after ordering and 45 depending on how busy the restaurant is.
(4)
Hasnat A.
Upon arriving at Nuri sushi though the hostess was acting like a a complete dick and therefore I give it a -1 star but the food was really good when the waitress brought out her balls of fire I was surprised and ever so pleased. I got the spicy tuna fireballs and let me just start of by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of putting those balls in my mouth. What a taste and the aroma so splendid! I've never in my life enjoyed the pleasures of putting balls in my mouth as I did on this particular day at Nuri Sushi! Oh yes, and the shushi was great too... Enjoy daddies!
(4)
Jesse T.
It should be known that there is no ramen here. If you searched ramen and this place came up, you are being lied to. That said, this place is pretty good. Very generous portions. The staff and atmosphere are both good, as well. Just don't expect any ramen.
(3)
Katy K.
Nori's lunch special is what keeps bringing me back. I sometimes will order pick up twice a week because of how cheap it is. I've also never had an issue of them messing up my order, they are always prompt and on time and food is always great. I don't know what I'll do if i end up moving away from here!
(5)
Sofiya C.
Love. Love. Love. I have been here at least 5 times (between this location and the Milwaukee ave one). Always impressed at how delicious and fresh the sushi is here. My fave 3 are the strawberry (forgot official name), grand Carribean, and the Giza (smoked salmon)... Aside from all the other amazing rolls they have there. It's byob. They take reservations (I highly recommend). Service has always been good! Honestly this is the place I will keep coming back to for many years as long as it's around!
(5)
Brian O.
My favorite go-to sushi spot! BYOB and very fresh fish! BTW this location is better than the one in Wicker Park.
(4)
Corey E.
I lived in this neighborhood for years and never knew this place was there until my dad told me about it. I took my him here for Sushi on his birthday and was thoroughly impressed. We had so many rolls that I lost count and they all were some of the freshest sushi that I've ever had. I also enjoyed the fact that it was BYOB and there was a Walgreens right across the street that had some good Merlot wine that we picked up before going. The restaurant is small yet nice, clean, and very sociable.
(3)
Annie M.
I am so torn with how to rate Nori. There are so many positives, but when it comes down to it: I'm just not impressed with the quality of their sushi. They recently renovated the place, and it looks great! They definitely cram WAY too many tables into a small space, but it makes the wait shorter, so I guess it's not too bad. The staff is excellent. I can't say enough good things about every single staff member I've encountered there. Even when there's a long wait time or it's hectic half-price sushi Monday, they're always so nice! And the fact that they have half price sushi every Monday is just phenomenal! All regular rolls (which include some of the "fancier" rolls) are on special so you can eat your heart out. Unfortunately, every time I've been there for the past few months, I've had to throw the towel in early after eating a piece or two that just didn't taste right. Usually my problem is with my favorite roll (the Alaska roll) so my money is on the salmon being the culprit. The specialty rolls are always great, because there's so much other stuff mixed in and/or the fish is cooked. Honestly, if you're a sushi newbie, this place is great and you'll absolutely get your money's worth, just steer clear of the Alaska or salmon rolls (at least on Mondays)...stick with rolls with a variety of ingredients. Also, it's BYOB and there's a wine store about 3 doors down with plenty of selection! They uncork the first bottle per table for free I think.
(3)
Lauren E.
Excellent sushi delivery. I have never eaten in the restaurant, but have been extremely impressed every time I have ordered. I am often underwhelmed by delivery sushi. I find the rice gets a bit stale on the commute and the food loses its appeal by the time it arrives at your door. Not at Nori. The first time I ordered was for a friends birthday. We ordered a lot of sushi for a group of girls. Everyone was commenting on how it was the best delivery sushi they had experienced in the city! We ordered a combination of standard and specialty rolls and all were excellent. We also ordered edamame and gyoza that were well prepared and enjoyed by all. I would highly recommend Nori - particularly their specialty rolls!
(4)
Sam N.
I have been here a few times now and I can say that I enjoy each and every visit more than the next one. Its a hot, hip crowd of young professionals who are sharing sushi and bottles of wine. The people who are the proprietors of the place have their heart on the pulse of the people who go there and spend their shekels there. They had the TV on the last time I was there to Thursday Night football because people like watching football during their sushi eating. My favorite soup is the Gyoza soup which has a twangy flavor because of the scallions. YUMMY YUMMY. Nice vibe. Call ahead of time to find out what the "fresh of the day is"
(4)
Mykie H.
The food and service are phenom but the wait is always sort of a buzz kill. Nori boasts fresh fish, unique combinations, and it's BYOB. Their carry-out lunch special means 50% off their Signature Maki (that's 26 rolls to choose from, half off, every day during lunch). They also have bento boxes that are inexpensive and last me a solid two meals. Great date night atmosphere and easy to pick up, Nori is my husband and I's favorite sushi joint in the city. And it just so happens to be 2 blocks away. Winning!
(4)
Rawlins R.
I've been here twice. My first time here was with a GroupOn. Upon my second visit it was the day before Christmas Eve which was a Monday so all the other sushi options were closed. Nori Sushi is always half of sushi on Monday so I suggested we come here. We had a party of five and the place was packed at the time but the host was able to get us in earlier than he had thought. Still not sure if this is BYOB or if they serve alcohol or both but we brought our own beer from the liquor store next door. The sushi here is really good even though I call Nori Sushi the McDonald's of sushi, only because there are so many locations. You will get a high quality dining experience and won't be disappointed. When checking in I noticed the free special roll offer but I was told that this does not work on Mondays. According to staff when participating in the half off sushi all other deals do not apply. My only suggestion would be to add this disclaimer somewhere within the Yelp Discount when you check in. It could be misleading and potentially draw someone in for the wrong reasons.
(3)
Karla B.
We stopped in on Wednesday and got our favorites. But we also ordered the Snow White role. It has crab meat, escolar, apple and ebi, topped with seared squid and special sauce. The seared squid was so tough it was inedible. I had one piece of the roll and didn't eat anymore. After going to Nori a couple times a month for almost 2 years, we had our first bad roll. Still really good sushi, but stay away from the Snow White.
(3)
Bridget E.
This is my favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago. I'm not the biggest sushi snob but I think it's incredible PLUS they have half priced sushi options between lunch hours ( sorry I can't remember what they are exactly:11-4?) and BYOB makes all my girlfriends really happy for cocktail hour meet ups.
(4)
Allison G.
Nori is conveniently located by the Diversey brown/purple el stop. Its a tiny little sushi bar with attentive service, a variety of rolls, and BYOB. My friend and I came here for dinner last night and shared a big bottle of white wine, which they provided an ice bucket for. She ordered a noodle dish which came with miso soup and salad- it was SO much food! Be aware they are HUGE. I ordered two rolls- the futo maki (a favorite of mine, and wow Nori did a great job!) and the mexican (it was good, but I think next time I'll try the caterpillar for a bigger flavor). Ended up being about $45 with tip for 2 people. Not bad, but I hate paying full price for sushi, so I've got my eye out for the Nori groupons, otherwise this will definitely be a new go-to lunch spot or Monday night dinner (half off maki!).
(4)
Gregory S.
I really enjoy this spot. Quaint, boisterous atmosphere. The waitresses are very friendly, the sushi is really good, and its BYOB. Definitely worth a visit, and will be going back for sure.
(4)
Stephanie H.
This was a waste of calories, I should have just gone next door to Penny's. The name of this restaurant is accurate in that it's a neighborhood sushi bar because it implies 'hey you have no food in your house so come down here for some mediocre food because you're also too lazy to go to the store and cook'. I think these yelp reviews are inflated. I started with the gyoza miso soup which I liked and then got the blandest bowl of udon imaginable. I think shopping mall food courts do just as good a job or better. The tempura I got with it was good though. The 2 sushi rolls were just so boring. I can smother fish with a lot of stuff too and make it taste good. If you don't care about tasting the fish or about flavors in general then this is your place. I also got some mint tea. My total bill with tip was like $55 which is too much for bland boring food. Will not go back.
(2)
Dahee W.
I can't believe this is my first review because I come here all the time. I love it so much! The maki is half price every day till 4, and all day on Mondays. You really can't beat that anywhere. The sushi is delicious, well made, and fresh. And very fairly priced. Try this place out for lunch if you haven't yet!
(5)
Kristen P.
I enjoyed each of my two experiences here. The place is a bit small, so you will be sitting close to your neighbors. The sushi is very good, and there are some exotic types of rolls on the menu that I've never seen before. This is also a BYOB establishment...beyond the first bottle, you have to pay a small corkage fee of $1, no big deal. LIKE.
(4)
Joey F.
Very good Sushi. They have a wide variety of rolls that are different then other places in the city. Every roll that we got was very tasty. It is also BYOB which is just another plus.
(4)
Wayne H.
We ate here out of convenience one night. We were meeting some friends after dinner at a close by comedy theatre. Fortunately we were able to get a seat right away on a busy night. This place had decent sushi and is BYOB, but we didn't have anything that was memorable. I would prefer to go to one of Chicago's much better sushi spots.
(3)
Tian S.
Great place, recently renovated. Very friendly staff. Good food and reasonable price. Half price sushi all day Monday and till 4pm on other weekdays. Also offer free Wi-Fi, great for study or work on your laptop while having lunch. Love this place!
(5)
Katie P.
This is becoming one of my favorite local sushi spots. They have an extensive menu with a ton of creative rolls. The fish is super fresh! If you eat in, be sure to get a reservation as they can book up quickly. It's also BYOB (there's a liquor store conveniently next door) with the first bottle free and then the second is a $7 corkage fee. Totally reasonable. In general the restaurant is on the smaller side so it's not the best for big groups but rather 2-4 people per party. I've also ordered delivery from them many times. Each time the order is accurate, quick and comes with all the fixins you need.
(4)
Danielle O.
What a fantastic experience - start to finish! My boyfriend and I decided we wanted sushi at 6:00pm on a Friday. We called to see if we could get a reservation at 7:30. The woman answering the phone was very courteous and took the reservation enthusiastically. When we showed up, the restaurant was completely full, except for our table, which was the best table in the house. They sat us right away and immediately got us an ice bucket for our byob wine. The waitress was so helpful and attentive. She was there when we needed her and left us alone when appropriate. She was extremely friendly and responsive. I was very impressed with the service. The sushi was delicious! Wow! So fresh! We got the fire dragon roll, a spicy tuna, and ginza roll, plus some sort of sashimi. Everything was great. My boyfriend loved the fire dragon, and I was crazy about the ginza! The sashimi was perfect. My boyfriend is allergic to avocado, and they were more than happy to take out the avocado out of all the rolls. The thing that I found great was they gave me a plate of sliced avocado for me to put on top of my rolls. I thought it was very thoughtful, especially since I love avocado but can never eat it on sushi when I'm sharing with my boyfriend. They didn't rush us out when were taking our time finishing our wine, but we're very prompt when we asked for the bill. The ambience was dark and romantic, while being modern. The only note I would make is that they don't have brown rice - no complaints on that. Just a note, not a complaint. For two special roll, one regular, and 2 pieces of sashimi, plus tax was under $40. Such a great deal. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Monica M.
Nice and open ambiance, delicious sushi (I really like the signature maki, especially the Ginza and Snow White) and our waitress was super friendly. I took my best friend from my hometown here, and now we've agreed to make it a tradition...we tried to eat slowly so it would last forever. Give it a shot!
(5)
bridget l.
Kate was our server the other day, and we loved her! Our service was fantastic, and quick! The chili oil was excellent we had a scallop hand roll, sashimi plate, dragon roll and all was wonderful. Great job Nori! Clean, and delightful. :)
(4)
Lucy P.
Really good sushi, always. A great place to go with a group of friends or on a date. They remodeled and the interior of the restaurant is now much more open and looks really cool. Had a great time with our server last time and took shots together. Would highly recommend.
(4)
Matt N.
A little bit pricey, but loved the food. Went here for a date and got an appetizer and 3 rolls. BYOB which always makes dinner more fun. Great service. All in all, quite pleased and will definitely be back.
(4)
Alissa S.
So good! they have great happy hour specials on their rolls. My friends are obsessed with this place so I used to go a lot with them. Its small and cute inside and its fun to sit at the bar and watch the chefs make the sushi up close. The reason i give it a 3 stars is because I am a vegetarian who doesnt eat fish and they dont have any creative rolls for people like me. If you dont eat fish the only thing you can look foreword to is the typical avocado roll or a fried piece of vegetable rolled up in rice.. nothing special. But its BYOB and a fun place to go out with your girlfriends
(3)
Karolina M.
They don't even deserve a one star, just left felt like calling the health department and telling them they are serving raw fish with no air condition on, warm sushi . Literally waitress didn't even finish taking the order before she left the table. Waited for our food for 30 minutes and came out in pieces.. Again warm .. Literally intolerable to even eat the last roll so we sent it back . No flavor food was disgusting . Living in Vegas and traveling the world I know good sushi
(1)
Christy L.
I had the pleasure of eating sushi three times this week, and Nori was my favorite! It's not only a great value but also has a great selection of tasty rolls! So bring a bottle of wine and enjoy a cute neighborhood BYOB sushi restaurant. I recommend a reservation on the weekend. While not awful, we had to wait about 15 minutes on a Friday night at 8pm.
(4)
Jennie K.
I love coming to Nori. I usually stop by during their happy hour. The customer service is great. There is one guy in particular who is just always so sweet and welcoming. The sushi has always been fresh and delicious. I recommend this place!
(5)
Andrew A.
pricey and good. only lack of 5th star is due to menu not matching what was online. otherwise, been eating there for years and love it.
(4)
Stephany D.
I live in between Tanuki and Nori. This place is hands down a better place based on 1) price and 2) taste. First off, I eat Sushi 2-3 times a week. My main rolls are spicy tuna and Alaskan salmon. I order these rolls at almost every sushi place I eat. I also order miso soup at almost every place I go. The rolls were perfect. Fresh, sweet, perfectly sized and they give you 8 rolls instead of 6! I ordered them during lunch so they were 1/2 the price. Miso was good but nothing extraordinary. Portion size was slightly larger than average for takeout and I also got 10% off when ordering online as a first time customer. Seriously so convenient, so good.
(4)
Alicia C.
This place is way overrated judging by the average of 4 Yelp stars. I live in the neighborhood so I stopped by 1 evening for dinner with my partner. Menu is full of extremely "dressed up" sushi -- with lots of fringe (e.g., sauces, dressing) and lots of "package" options with unnecessary accompaniments to justify higher prices. I ordered basic rolls to test their caliber and they are lacking. The yellowtail of my negi hamachi roll was off / not fresh and the rice of my salmon avocado roll was too mushy. Also, for its quality, way overpriced. They're trying to go for a "chic" club feel but the corners they cut in their decor just make it seem cheap, dime-a-dozen faux Japanese restaurant.This is only good sushi if you are a college student with limited options and brought up in rural Iowa.
(2)
Chelsea E.
Great sushi! Me and my boyfriend come here all the time on Mondays because they have happy hour all day (half off nori maki)! Service is always great and the food is always consistent and delicious. My only complaint would be that since they remodeled and decided to participate in groupon, the place has become the hip sushi place in the area so it's almost always packed with a wait. Be sure to make reservations if your going to go and don't be shy either. With the new remodel, your fellow diners table is fairly close.
(4)
Adriana K.
My favorite place for fresh sushi. Very friendly staff and the owner is normally on-site as well. Try and hit the Monday 1/2 off specials as well. Nice and simple dine in experience off of Diversey stop.
(4)
Anna K.
Although, as many have noted, the prices are a little expensive, it was worth it for the experience. Deciding to have suhi on a whim on a Saturday night, we were lucky to get a table for 2 without a reservation. Our server, whose name I can't totally recall but I think it was Amra or Emra, was SO nice and accomodating. She helped us choose a sake, and described the different kinds to us without ever being condescending or trying to upsell us. She was vey helpful throughout the whole night, and we enjoyed everything we ordered. I will definitely be eating here again when I am in the area.
(5)
Whitney W.
This place is small, but very cute. I went there with a friend yesterday and lucky me, they had 1/2 off wine and sake. The waitress (I can't remember her name) but she was a cute, tall, slim young woman. Super bubbly, informed, and got me excited to eat there! The food was great, and did not take very long to come out. My friend and I ordered a sake that had a carbonated, citrus taste to it, amazing! Really, really like this place
(5)
Kelly Y.
My husband and I went to Nori for the first time on Friday, and we really had a good time. I ordered the Chirashi, and was surprised to see it came with a really generous portion of fish (along with miso soup, edamame, and seaweed salad!) I really felt like I got a great value for my meal. The appetizers we ordered were good as well- the tuna tartar was not what I expected because it was seared and served over a salad, not what I consider the traditional dish when I think of tuna tartar. The service staff was friendly and on top of everything. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Maureen C.
Definitely good for rolls. I love their rolls. I also tried a couple of the sashimi - the seared hamachi toro w/ spicy menu -- well I didn't think it would work but it was really good. Friendly service, good rolls, good fish. Will definitely keep coming back. =D
(4)
Annie L.
I had my birthday dinner here few months back. * Definitely not suitable for larger groups. * Sushi was decent; nothing memorable. * Thumbs up for BYOB. * Waitresses were nice, but kinda floaty. (She forgot one of our orders all together.) * Here's the reason for the 3 stars. The person I talked to over the phone to make a reservation was not accommodating. I had originally made a reservation for 13 and added one more a day after and they said they absolutely cannot do that. I was the one to suggest reserving 2 tables of 7 which they reluctantly agreed to. And heads up, they request your credit card # in case you're a no show and it was something ridiculous like $50 per person that doesn't show up. If it was going to be crammed, then they could've politely suggested they weren't the best venue for a group of 14. I can see Nori being a good place for people that want a quick bite to eat. Big groups, stay away.
(2)
Joni R.
Banana roll.... Forever and ever.
(4)
Danielle D.
The strawberry sundae roll is to die for! This is my favorite sushi in Chicago so far!
(5)
Sean H.
As always upon first bight the sushi tasted good. I miss sushi and then I get it and then I bite the sushi and at this time there is a flavor explosion in my mouth which I appreciate. This is called the blinding lover stage of sushi. At this stage it's very hard to tell whether the sushi is good or not. Now you eat the rest of your sushi and get a true feel. In this case there were several disappointments. The highlight was squid that tasted like a large old sea creature dipped in cat litter.
(2)
Angie K.
I popped in here on Tuesday afternoon after 2 other sushi places were closed (very bizarre for Lakeview). It's as if the stars aligned and they were pointing for me to come here. I walked in with my Shiraz in tow (BYOB) and my out-of-town friend around 1pm. We were immediately seated in a cute, modern dining area with dark wood tables, black chairs and near the window. This interior of this place is very clean, fresh and looks brand-new. Our (pretty cute) server immediately approached us, explaining that all maki sushi was 1/2 off because it's happy hour. I was happy indeed. We ordered edamame and spicy miso to start which you can't mess up. Then we ordered the ninja, dragon, tokyo and spicy octopus rolls. All of them were amazing! The ninja was definitely my favorite and I could've sworn it tasted better for being 1/2 off. I really have no other complaints other than the food taking a little long, even though we were the only patrons. Also, the parking really blows. You will get a ticket if your meter runs out and spots are few and far between. I found a deal from checking in on foursquare for 1 free signature maki (the expensive rolls) but the server said I needed to have 4 people with me. I asked if I could order 4 rolls and receive the special, but he wouldn't budge. Oh well. Next time, I'll bring more friends and take the train. The service was great. My water was refilled about 10xs since my friend and I lost track of time and spent 2 hours drinking and chatting. I'll definitely pass by Nori again!
(4)
Marisa P.
Went there and the service was not good. I just moved into the city and was looking for a good sushi place and I wouldn't recommend my friends here. It's very pretty inside and has the potential. But the service was almost unbearable. Sushi was alright but I've had better.
(2)
Mark C.
Service and atmosphere were great, but the food left a lot to be desired. Maybe we just went on a bad night, because other people in these reviews really seem to like it. My sushi rice was dry and crunchy, though, and my date's chirashi was more pickled veggie than fish.
(3)
Jackie N.
The food comes out really fast and you can bring one wine bottle (they also sell alcohol). The ambience is fine but nothing special. The sushi was fresh and I liked what I ordered but I didn't try anything crazy so it's hard to say if this place blew me away or not
(4)
Colin A.
Thank you Groupon for leading me to my favorite Chicago sushi place. Amazing prices, great service and awesome rolls. Try the Strawberry Sundae and Banana Tempura rolls. I wish the dining room was larger, make a reservation before you go just to make sure you can get it.
(5)
Vanessa P.
My friend and I have a standing date to come here every so often after our accounting class. It's right off the Diversey Brown Line and BYOB. The latter is of utmost importance, trust me. The wait is never that long, especially if we just sit at the sushi bar. We've had quite a few of the rolls, but my favorites are still the Grand Caribbean (who knew mango and strawberry would taste so good in a sushi roll?) and the Shrek (a poor name, but overall good). The servers are always on top of things and even when we have a coupon ( restaurant.com ), are nice as can be. I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
(4)
Jill W.
Went here on a Monday to try the half price Nori Maki. Got the bill and it was FULL price. Apparently I ordered the Nori "Signature" Maki which was not included in the half price only the Nori Maki is. This is VERY confusing and my server did not mention what we ordered was not part of the deal. Why else would I be here on a Monday night. This place is shady!
(2)
Autumn H.
Great fresh and fun sushi. The price is fair. Service is rude and this location is a bit cramped. But it's worth it.
(4)
David M.
Great sushi, friendly service. The $20 sushi platter is a great deal. The only drawback is the giant TV, but at least the sound is not on.
(5)
Risa P.
We went here last Saturday for dinner...and you really do need a reservation, this place is tiny! We got a good time but had to sit at the sushi bar. Which was nice except you kind of felt like you were sitting on top of the person next to you. Also, I wish that the sushi bar was lower so we could actually see our sushi being made--that is the best part of sitting at the bar! We got the miso soup and edamame as starters. The soup was pretty good and warm on a cold January night. The edamame was hot and salted pretty well. I probably would not get the soup again as it was not that much to right home about but it was pretty good. We also got the spicy tuna, the escolar and jalapeno. and the Shrek roll. The spicy tuna was good though not really rolled well...and the escolar was yummy too though I was expecting more of a spicy aspect of it. The Shrek roll was quite good and huge! I liked the tofu element on top. Our waitress was incredibly nice and helpful. She explained the menu to us and was so smiley and nice. She was very helpful and sweet. Also the hostess was very nice and smiley. So that was nice. I would definitely be back it is a great place to have in the neighborhood. Nothing exceptionally spectacular but definitely yummy.
(4)
Stefanie P.
Basically, now that I moved to this neighborhood, I never cook. Nori is one of the main reasons for that. Their sushi is reasonably priced, and it's half off before 6pm! Where else can you get TWO rolls for $7 in this city? Nowhere! And I've always been pleased with the quality. My only negative feedback is that when you get takeout, instead of cups of soy sauce they give you packets. How am I supposed to dunk my sushi in there? I usually end up just pouring it on the top before I eat it, which is less than ideal. Ah well, a small price to pay.
(4)
Tommy O.
Good sushi, good atmosphere.
(4)
Simma Down Na H.
Brought my friends here to celebrate my sister's birthday. I believe everyone left very satisfied. Their maki are super delicious. so "delich-" that I came back the next day (Monday) for happy hour by myself. Their maki menu gets pretty wacky moving away from authentic but pretty adventurous. The place is small yet classy. If you got a big party avoid the busy days or make reservations. What's even better...it's BYOB! Will be back for some more!
(4)
RT S.
Woohoo! As good as it gets! Nori is located in Lincoln park, parking is a problem, but it's worth it. The service is prompt, friendly and very helpful. Their spicy tuna, shrimp tempura and rainbow rolls are delicious and flavorful. The best part is they're 1/2 off from 11-6pm. The Nori special deep fried tuna was excellent with a taste of savory, sweetness, and crunchiness. Their salmon sushi is fresh and thick. I think it's the best sushi bar so far in Chicago land. Yes, better than Sushi Mon and Toro and Coast sushi!
Conveniently located restaurant with friendly staff!! They're from Thailand so you can expect a lot of smiles :) Sushi is always consistent, restaurant is clean and has a nice intimate atmosphere. They also have a maki menu that's half off until 6pm! I highly recommend the soft shell crab and salmon skin maki YUM!!
(5)
Nick B.
Nori saved my life last night. I got out of a movie late last night at the Webster Place on Clybourn and Diversey. The movie ended at about 9:30PM and I found myself stumbling through Lincoln Park looking for food. I was starving, but everything closed at 10PM! Lame. Anyway, fortunately the stars aligned and I came about Nori. We arrived a little after 10PM and were seated right away. Small, stylish, sleek, and downtempo lounge music. Perfect. Found out Nori was BYOB so I ran next store to 7-11 two grab two bottles of wine. Convenient! For starters, I went with the deep fried tofu and edamame. Both solid stuff. Loved the tofu and can't complain about the edamame. For the sushi rolls, my friend and I went with two orders of the sweet potato tempura, asparagus tempura, and she went with a California roll. WOW. The veggie rolls were outstanding! I was particularly into the asparagus rolls which were recommended. Very sweet. Overall, very impressed with Nori. Awesome prices, BYOB, chill, and comfortable. The service was also very friendly and helpful. Loved it.
(4)
Laura C.
Half price sushi from 11AM-6PM everyday? I'm in. While I've had better sushi, it's hard to beat the price. They have my standard go to rolls (spider, dragon, tempura shrimp) as well as more simple ones (spicy tuna, philly). The decor is modern Asian fusion. Located near the Diversey brown line, Nori is easy to get to. We ordered take out, so I'll have to update my service review once I dine here again. And I will.
(4)
Nicole R.
So good! I love Nori, I've only gotten delivery, and they are QUICK! The food is beautiful and tasty, and they have half off before 4 I believe when you dine in.... Highly recommend! The nori cheesy rolls are mm mm good!
(5)
Bobby G.
Ive been here twice and the sushi is pretty delicious and my god is it pretty. It's a quiet dark ambience and as long as you byob you can escape with a 30-40$ bill for two happy people. I have to say the fire dragon roll is really awesome but the eel is underwhelming. It's good but the special rolls are where they get you. I liked it better the first time. But come on, its a byob sushi place. How can you mess that up?
(4)
Trevor H.
I dunno what some people are complaining about but this place is awesome. I tried Nori for the first time with the LivingSocial deal with two friends, one who comes all the time. He recommended some maki that we should try. I had the Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll and the Sweet Potato Tempura. Awesome. So delicious. I now have a trio of sushi places that are my go-to places (Ringo and New Tokyo are the others). The service was fast and polite. I am sure they were a little overwhelmed that night because of the LivingSocial deal but the front desk was really polite and the waitress was great
(4)
Susan F.
Great little BYO sushi place with nice decor, but limited seating. Located right under the Diversey brown line, this place is great for a girl's night or group outing before the bars, where ever you choose to go! There was limited seating, but while we waited, they gave us glasses and a corkscrew for our wine, how nice! The staff was very accommodating and friendly. As for most BYOs sushi places, I would suggest going in a group. We only had 5 which was the perfect size. Another table across from us had about 8 and had probably been there for 3 hours boozin! I remember actually liking the miso soup, which is hard to say, it's really not my fave. Gotta love California rolls, Philadelphia, and the Dragon. Not too shabby They have specials every day which you just can't beat! I wouldn't mind coming back here and having a nice intimate date and getting drunk in the corner ;)
(4)
Mary H.
I went to Nori for the first time last night and left feeling pretty impressed! The sushi is very good and the rolls are incredibly unique. Goat cheese in a roll? Yes please! In the future I will definitely make a reservation, but the wait wasn't terrible (about 15 minutes at 8 PM on a Wednesday). The service is friendly and helpful - and we never felt rushed. I will be back!
(4)
Sebastian Y.
Cheap sushi is a plus. They did not put enough in our maki to be satisfying though. Also, slow and inattentive service when we are one of 2 tables is inexcusable. The "check in" free roll only applies when you have a party of 4 or more.
(2)
Ellen D.
YUM! This place is super cozy and absolutely delicious! Best part? It's BYOB, which is pretty rare for such a classy place. The wait is usually pretty long, but it's well worth it. There's a liquor store right next door, which definitely makes it easier to get sauced during dinner. This is a great date place, and the prices aren't that bad for the quality of food you get. Overall, Nori is pretty frickin awesome.
(4)
Marshall M.
This place ROCKS!!! My friends and I come almost every Monday evening for sushi and we LOVE it. All of the food is so fresh and delicious and the service is great. AJ and the rest of the staff always make us feel so relaxed and welcome and the food always fills our huge appetites. The best part about Nori are the incredibly awesome specials they have on different days. Our favorite is the 50% off all classic rolls they offer on Monday evenings!!!! You have to check this place out.....we started going on a recommendation from a friend over 2 years ago and we have been going almost every week ever since. NORI, WE LOVE YOU!!!!! :)
(5)
Jessica C.
I'm going to be a little long winded to get down to how my experience at Nori happened. I was looking all over Chicago for a great sushi place for my boyfriend's 30th birthday - some place that could accomadate a big group. I called Nori and they were able to get 10 of us in on Saturday night (the group ended up being 8). Unfortunately, everyone arrived late but the hostessed still seated us, thank goodness because our last guest arrived 45 minutes late. My group all mentioned it was some of the best sushi they'd ever had. We also had great wait staff attending to us. Some noteable items: Calamari roll, crunchy spicy tuna
(5)
Rafa M.
Visited this spot 3 times now..and every single time have had a very pleasant experience. The staff is friendly the cheffs can be seen in the back making the food and will greet you if not too busy...also attracts a good crowd. The sushi is quite possibly the best sushi Ive tried. my favorite has to be the one with strawberries and chocolate sauce. What I really like about small places like this is that you expect to receive sub par food because they are the underdog. they are a small place that is somewhat difficult to find. But they make up for it in their people and their food. Good Job Nori! I give 4 stars because well...I don't want them to stop working on making it better!
(4)
Abby M.
We went for the 1/2 price sushi yesterday (after 6p.m. on Mondays). Both the sushi and service were good. They were a little slow, but they were also pretty busy in there. We ordered a lot of sushi and I was not a fan of the salmon skin roll and the calamari was only ok; however, I did really like everything else that we ordered. They have a lot of rolls that are 1/2 price and it is BYOB. I would definitely go back - and not just on a Monday. It isn't a huge place and got fully pretty quickly (after 8:00 p.m.), so get there early if you're going on a Monday night.
(4)
Michael L.
The Strawberry Sundae roll was like no sushi roll I have had before, it was very delicious. The Fire Dragon roll was also good. The place is small but the atmosphere is cozy.
(4)
Lauren D.
I'm always looking for good, cheap sushi restaurants - a friend of mine came here after her hairdresser liquored her up during her highlights (don't ask) and then she recommended we try it. Waited about 10 minutes on a Friday night at 9pm - it's pretty small so I would imagine you'd wait a lot longer earlier on in the evening. Their signature rolls are amazing - some of the best I've tasted. I'm personally a huge fan of unagi maki and nigiri and I probably had my fill of that for the rest of the year. Fast service, and it's BYO. Also, they have great specials during the week. Definitely coming back!
(4)
Larry B.
If a sushi meal at a BYOB restaurant comes in at $40 a person, I expect the sushi to be better than this. Sure the ingredients seemed fresh but the signature recipes were kinda wonky and didn't taste right. If you want to pay this much for sushi I would recommend going to Tank Sushi in NorthCenter - if you want to pay less and get better sushi go to just about any other sushi restaurant in the neighborhood. Yuki Hana is one of my favorite sushi places and it is way cheaper than this.
(1)
Lisa H.
Thank you Yelp, for coming to my rescue once again!! Spent the sunny afternoon out at the LP Zoo - and finally saw the damn Red Panda!! I swear, that panda dislike the crowd + Chicago weather. Three visits to the zoo and I've only seen the panda ONCE! Unbelievable! Anyway, we were craving sushi after the long day and didn't feel like leaving the house. Mind you, this was around 10:30pm as well, so it was incredibly difficult to find a sushi delivery place that's still open!! After surfing Yelp (yay for great recommendations!), I stumbled across Nori. 4.5 star restaurant, boasting fresh sushi at great affordable price? Sounds like my type of place ;) But WHY didn't Nori have a website?! Thankfully, I googled the restaurant and found the menu on Zuppler - cool online order system btw. You can get points/ rebate if you order online, so definitely check Zuppler out. Back to the sushi. Nori offered free rolls at $30 / 40/ 50 purchase, which was a GREAT DEAL because it's soooooooooooo easy to spend over $30 on sushi...! We ended up order 6rolls for $52 after tax/delivery charge of $2.50. NORI TOTALLY DESERVE 6 OUTTA 5 STAR RATING!!! The sushi were incredibly fresh, I loved the smoke salmon in my Philly roll and all the Sashimi were incredibly buttery! I highly recommend the Green Nori roll - seaweed salad, salmon, avocado wrapped in soy bean paper!! Definitely my new favorite roll!! I've never had other sushi wrapped in thin soy bean paper before, it was a refreshing surprise to my taste bud!! P.S. Nori's delivery service is AMAZING! They mixed up my order and was missing a roll, so I called back after checking + recounting the rolls, and the server double-checked with the kitchen & sent me my roll within 15min!
(5)
Krystle S.
I absolutey love the 50% off sushi for lunch!! Great deal. I totally recommend it. But if you go in for the lunch special, expect to receive crappy service. It's a little bit of a trade-off here. My friend and I were waiting for 10 minutes before we got waters and were asked for our orders. But we only paid $15 for plenty of food. With regards to the atmosphere, it's a really cute, cozy place. It's on the smaller side, but I like those types of settings when you want an intimate feeling.
(4)
Vivien S.
Slightly over-related. The rolls are pretty average. I suppose it's a better deal during the half-price period. The chefs are extremely friendly though, especially if you sit near the bar. The seafood is really fresh and the fried udon is pretty authentic. It's close to Knead Massage so it's a great place for lunch/ dinner after a refreshing massage!
(3)
Emily B.
1/2 Price Maki before 6 BYOB Cute little place. Ordered online and to-go. It was fast and easy AND CHEAP! Had the soft shell crab roll and the Ebi Tempura Roll. Both were delicious and fresh. Could see how it could get crowded fast. I like it better than Sushi Para II.
(4)
D. C.
After reading reviews here and seeing a menu we got in the mail, I knew I wanted to try it--particularly to see if the unique Strawberry Sundae roll could replace my beloved Godzilla roll from another place. Beyond that, my expectations were pretty low in terms of what the space was like--I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant itself is far nicer than I expected; definintely classy and trendy. Our server was very nice and attentive. Our water glasses were topped off before they ever had a chance to get even half empty. I even enjoyed the presentation of the food on the clear glass trays they use. * Strawberry Sundae Maki: Expensive, but I thought it was well worth the money as it was so delicious and different. I thought it was even better topped off with a thin slice of the strawberry garnish. If the idea of the strawberry sauce on sushi sounds too bizarre, don't worry--when mixed with all the other flavors of the roll it really just adds a different sweetness to it. * Escolar Jalapeño Maki: Actually nowhere near as spicy or fishy as I thought it would be. The escolar was nice and mild and didn't seem to have much of any fishy taste at all. Got more jalapeño flavor rather than jalapeño heat and that's what I prefer. * Spicy Octopus Maki: Also very tasty and love the sesame oil flavor. Enjoyed the contrasting crunch of the masago mayo in an otherwise creamy/mushy type roll. With all that said, though, it's still your average "spicy _____ maki". * Spicy Tuna Maki: We also ordered the Spicy Tuna Maki, but I didn't try it. Looked like it had nice big chunks of tuna in it. I assume it also falls ino the average "spicy _____ maki". * Sweet Potato Tempura Maki: While not much of a sweet potato person, I actually really enjoyed this roll. The sweet potato was still slightly firm and didn't have the overwhelming characteristic sweetness that turns me off of them. The tempura batter definitely made a difference but, then again, I'll eat almost anything if it's deep-fried... I will definitely be going back and will likely splurge on that Strawberry Sundae Maki whenever I can. I wish it were just a bit closer as I'd probably stop by quite often, but I'm lazy. That's OK, I can use it as an incentive to get my exercise both before and after pigging out on their tasty sushi.
(5)
Allison C.
We waited FOREVER for our sushi! It was an eternity. It was not even that busy and it was not during the 1/2 price before 6pm either. The rolls were great but the sushi platter was just ok. The fish was generous and fresh but it kind of all tasted the same and sort of had a "preserved" overall flavor to it. BYOB was great, they bring you a bucket of ice and an opener. There is a liquor store next door which makes it easy. It's also located right below the Diversey stop. Also a plus, it was extremely inexpensive. One drawback for us was that horrible techno/rave music. I couldn't wait to leave.
(2)
Nick S.
After a late night I acquired munchies among other things, and grubhub told me that Nori still delivered. I was excited to say the least, a good mind told me that ordering sushi at the time of the night was a terrible idea but my judgment was clouded. The flavor was unimpressive as well as the rolling technique. I found some of the rolls to fall apart.. and I'm not a newbie either. I'm not going to comment on the actual quality of the fish b/c honestly, I knew what I was getting into ordering that late. Delivery was on time, prices aren't too bad. Would I go back again? probably not..
(2)
Monica B.
I went there last night for the first time, and I must say it was darn good. Monday's (all day) are half off NORI sushi (not to be confused with signature Nori, or vegetable nori) but the Nori menu is pretty big. Anyway, I get there at like 6:35 and the host said "ohhhh I have reservations at the open tables for 7 pm, can you finish by 7?" most people would be offended, (I assume) but not me! I say "yup! as long as you get your sushi out quickly, I can eat it quickly!" This means they bump my sushi rolls to the front of the line. GO ME! So I got very quick service, and excellent rolls. I ordered the sweet potato maki, banana maki, and crunchy spicy tuna. all were VERY well made, and very good. The banana was a new one for me, and I must say, the flavors were wonderful, and I am still thinking about how awesome it was to have a fruit taste mixed in with my fish roll. The service is so diverse. Waitress, white. Water filler, black. Food deliverer, hispanic. Sushi makers, asian. Interesting to me! Overall, good experience. I would go back every Monday if I could.
(5)
John F.
Wow, love this place! Sushi is amazing. The BYOB rules are lame, it wasn't like that before, but they changed it. Otherwise it would be a 5 star for sure. Good for a date or small group.
(4)
Tracy S.
I hate to give a 1 star review to anyone, I really do. But I just got take-out from Nori for the first time, took one look at it when I got home and threw it out. Literally. I'm sure you could imagine how bad sushi would have to be to pitch it in the garbage. Nori is relatively new and since it is at my el stop I figured I'd give it a shot. I wasn't expecting a gourmet sushi experience, just a solid one. Shine is my normal go-to for "everyday" sushi and let's just say that preference has been confirmed. What I ordered: * Edamame- fine. Nothing special, but then again, it never is. I did eat this. * Yellowtail/scallion roll- literally the smallest, most poorly rolled maki I've ever seen. I'm not sure how they even made it this small. And I don't like the rolls you get at some places that are huge and overstuffed. I could barely even tell there was fish in it. *Sashimi (2 pieces salmon, 2 pieces yellowtail, 2 pieces tuna)- This is where I decided it was inedible. I don't know if they gave me the wrong stuff or what, but I was unable to identify which fish was which. The salmon (I think) had a very unnatural color. The pieces were large (unlike the roll), too large actually. It just looked so unappetizing, I did not feel safe eating it. I got take out so I can't comment on the service, but the lady who took my order was pleasant and I got my order fast. But that can't make up for inedible food. From the other reviews, it sounds like people like the deals here. That's all well and good, but for the same price you can get much better quality at Shine. And that's just what I did.
(1)
Elli T.
Best sushi I've had in Chicago. I have yet to try a roll I haven't liked, and I eat there once or twice a month. Although I've ordered take-out several times because I live in the neighborhood, it's definitely a place I'd rather dine in at. The interior is very cute (the ambiance makes it equally perfect for a date or a girls night out) and the service is great. I love Nori!
(5)
Heidi G.
Nori will revolutionize your (sushi) life. I've been going to Nori since it opened and EVERYTHING about it is wonderful. Fresh fish, BYOB, friendly service, and an awesome host (thanks for seating us, Clint). For some decadent, life-affirming maki, try the zombie roll. It's a cozy place--make reservations if you want to get seated before 8!
(5)
Sean F.
This is the 2nd time I have ate at Nori...the 1st time I ordered for delivery and thought it was excellent! The Spicy Tuna is great and so was the the California roll. For the 2nd trip I physically went in this past weekend and branched out more. For an appetizer I got the fresh yellow tail tuna salad and the soft shell crab...both GREAT! The crab was tender and flavorful without being chewy and the tuna seemed really fresh with a tasty special sauce. We went crazy on the rolls getting seared scallop roll (5/10), spicy tuna roll (9/10), spicy octopus (0/10 didnt try) and the Strawberry Sundae (8/10). This place is def worth trying if in the area and its BYOB...dine in for sure to take advantage of the 1/2 off maki rolls!
(4)
Bobby T.
Great sushi, BYOB with no fee, and excellent customer service - this place simply deserves no less than 5 stars!
(5)
Vi N.
I love and adore this place. It's always so cozy and intimate. I've gone here for date night and girl's night out and it's always a good time. Love their sushi and it's byob! It's also half off maki before 6pm, which is an awesome deal. Just make sure you make reservations if you plan on dining on a Thursday or Friday night... The place tends to get pretty packed.
(5)
Shannon H.
Friendly wait staff and decently-priced sushi. I'm a huge fan of their deals on Mondays. We had to wait quite a while and saw another group seated before us (when they arrived after), however, the food was delicious so we didn't mind too much.
(4)
d b.
Good but not great. I only eat rolls so keep that in mind. I judge a roll by the rice and the quality of the fish. The fish was average quality but the rice had a slightly mushier texture and the roll was looser than I prefer. A decent price for the staple rolls so possibly bump up to 3.5 stars.
(3)
Iwona C.
If you are a sushi fan this is a place to visit! Always fresh, perfectly seasoned suhi rolls, quick service and friendly staff make this restaurant a must to go. Affordable prices make it even better!
(5)
Halyna S.
This is my go-to sushi place! Even if I have to wait 30 minutes or so to be seated, I would definitely come back there again. Really fresh and tasty sushi!
(5)
Joshua P.
My favorite Sushi place in the city. Delicious and interesting creations all over the menu. The room is small and intimate. Additionally, its BYOB, what more do you want? I recently saw a living social deal and jumped all over it, just another reason to return. Suggestions: the fireball and the snow white! My family came in to visit from South Florida. There you can find a plethora of Sushi places. After taking them to Nori, my mom agreed, this is the BEST sushi she ever had. I concur....
(5)
Brian S.
So, it's Thursday night. I live 6 blocks from the restaurant. I order 3 rolls and some apps through Zuppler. Order is confirmed through the website within 5 minutes. Yet, here I am after an hour and a half and after getting on the phone with Nori, learn that the order is leaving within the next 10 minutes. Are you kidding me? The sushi here is mediocre at best, and thought I was just going to get a quick fix. As it turns out, the guy on the phone didn't even apologize for the delay. Do yourselves a favor and order from elsewhere.
(1)
Amanda C.
I definitely will be returning to Nori for takeout and dining in. The staff is accomodating and willing to make rolls that don't appear on their menu, the sushi is awesome, and their 1/2 price maki rolls before 6 are such a great deal! I like the variety they have in their menu, especially with the veggie rolls. Of these, I ordered the sweet potato roll which is now a favorite roll in my personal sushi library. The restaurant itself is very small and has a cozy atmosphere.
(4)
Tanya T.
I'm a bit hesitant to write this only because I don't want my favorite sushi spot to become even busier! Love, love, love, love the place. I have yet to come across something I didn't like on the menu. The service is pretty great, although there is a host that sometimes can come off rude. The food and the rest of the staff make up for it!
(5)
Jules H.
I miss my Sushi X, so in search of a substitute, thought I'd give Nori a whirl. Both times we went for the happy hour, so I strayed from the signature maki to order off the half price menu. Our rolls were frsh and very good. I also am in love with their ginger salad dressing. Nice they don't fill your late with brown iceberg lettuce and give you real greens. However my only complaint was that at our most recent visit, our dishes glasses and menus were a bit dirty! YUCK! They were more than accomadating when we requested new ones though.
(3)
Consumer N.
Its not the best sushi in the world but it is good for the half price special from 1pm-6pm. My biggest complaint however is, when I ask for crunchy salmon skin.... Can I please get CRUNCHY salmon skin?! Thanks!
(3)
Christyn S.
This is my #1 neighborhood BYOB sushi spot to hit up! My friends and I always go here when we want a chill night and not spend a lot. Try to get in there before 6pm for half price rolls and on Mondays, it's half price all day!!! Love it.
(5)
Cassie B.
This is my go-to. You seriously cannot go wrong with half-price maki. Grab a bottle of wine (or some Sapori) from next door, and get ready for a nice evening. During the day, the service can be a bit spotty, but it is totally worth it. The servers at night are normally really nice, and I am not embarassed to report that they now recognize me. The sushi is fresh, and delicious. I have tried some of the specialty rolls too, and they are also amazing. I tend to marry myself to one place until I have a reason for divorce, and I foresee this being a long and happy union!
(5)
Monica B.
Good sushi, especially the Strawberry Roll, but the specialty rolls are a little pricey. I've never eaten inside, just delivery and take-out, but they're still my go-to casual sushi place in the neighborhood.
(3)
Chingy W.
My best friend introduce me to this quaint little place. Also, never knew it was down the block from where one of my friend lives. It's absolutely delicious! Lunch+half price maki= happy tummy & wallet. My mission is to become a regular
(4)
Tonya R.
Happiest Happy Hour EVER! As long as you are seated by 5:55PM they will give you the deal through your duration of time there. Who doesn't like half priced sushi, especially when its fun and tasty? This may not be the hippest place to dine, but who needs high ceilings, a loop location and distractions when the convenience, proximity to a liquor store (which is handy when you learn upon seating its BYOB) and friendly waitstaff, great menu and tranquil atmosphere are in the equation? If they have a roll on special that has smoked salmon skin/avacado listed, get it. You wont be disappointed. I'd never had a smoked salmon featured in sushi, only on a Sunday brunch buffet or dinner at the parents, until here. FANTASTIC! The half priced rolls are not limiting and feature both traditional maki as well as their more popular specialty rolls. There is no corking fee, that I've observed, they open your bottle and get the first one going for you and bring out an ice bucket for chilling when needed. My vote is in and Nori's got it!
(4)
Vanessa F.
I love this place. It's BYOB and I totally take advantage of the half off all maki before 5pm, eat in, or take out. It always tastes great and the service is good. There's nothing else to say, it's just a great little place.
(5)
Edwin L.
I'm gonna find another go-to place for sushi near where I live. I've frequented Nori Sushi for a few years now and the quality has slowly but surely gone downhill. I keep saying I'll give them one more chance but every time I'm further disappointed. Just yesterday I ordered a bunch of sashimi and not only is the quality of the sashimi sub-par (think pre-packaged supermarket sushi) but it's also wafer-thin! And they gave me egg omelet (tamago) for some of my Chef's choice selection of sashimi; ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! Sushi restaurant margins are way too high for them to be cheaping out on us customers.
(2)
Lauren P.
a BYOB with no corkage fee? nori FTW! the scene: 10 lovely ladies, armed with bottles for a birthday celebration. this cute and stylish sushi spot seemingly appeared out of thin air, right under the diversey brown line stop. you might notice the penny's next door is looking suspiciously smaller - they cut it in half to make room for nori. to be fair, nori isn't just a sushi bar - here you'll find a variety of hot and cold japanese entrees, including a few noodle dishes. we stuck to the sushi. standard maki ranged from $6-$13, and included your basic sushi needs and desires - philly, spicy tuna, rainbow, etc. there were tons of signature maki ($12-$15) to choose from - at least, it appeared at first. after examining the menu for a few minutes, we realized most of the signature maki seemed to incorporate tempura - either inside or out. the rolls we ordered were delicious, but there didn't seem to be that much variety between them. lots of tuna and shrimp. all rolls had 8 pieces, which was nice. favorites at my end of the table were the shrek (we ordered a second it was so good,) the sakura tuna (a nice crunch on the outside thanks to the tempura,) and the red nori (sweet with a little kick.) we weren't sure if we liked the idea of a roll tasting like a strawberry sundae - so we stayed away from the fruity options. plus, there's always next time! a few people from the table, including myself, ordered some nigiri - the true test of any place that serves sushi. i'm highly sensitive to anything remotely fishy tasting - fresh hamachi should never taste fishy. mine had a hint of it, but nothing too bad. more importantly, i popped my toro cherry last night - sashimi style. i was expecting it to be super soft since it's the fattiest cut of tuna, but our slices were tough, and super fishy tasting. bummer. one of the best things about nori has to be their daily specials. since it was ladies night (30% off for tables of three ladies or more - whoop!) we got almost $50 knocked off our bill. ri-dic-u-lous! when we walked out, i felt like we had robbed the place - the bill ended up at $20 a person. incredible for how much food we ordered. as for the service, i didn't catch our gal's name, but she couldn't have been sweeter. she was the only one working the restaurant, but didn't seem overwhelmed. she gave us suggestions on how to order and pleasantly opened all of our bottles. she even brought our birthday girl a healthy serving of green tea ice cream on the house. domo arigato! overall, it was a great meal and a wonderful experience. definitely return-worthy. a few more tips - make reservations just in case you need them - the place is pretty small. more importantly, a 7-11 and a liquor store are located next door for all of your BYOB needs.
(4)
Chloe M.
I came here recently for a business dinner and we all had a great time. BYOB and half price maki before 6 is awesome in my book. The food was great all around for our table of 7. All of us had various sushi, which was all delicious. One had their heaping bowl of spicy udon noodles, which seemed to go over really well. My favorites were the rainbow and soft shell crab.. Awesome. This would totally be a 5 star review except I felt that our table was almost forgotten. Water never refilled, took a while for the desert menu, etc. All in all, will definitely be taking the hubby back.
(4)
Kristen M.
BYOB, 1/2 price maki before 6! Although small, Nori has a great ambiance and is in a very convenient location right by the Diversey stop on the Brown Line. Rolls are delicious. They have quite a wide variety of specialty rolls and all rolls were very large.
(4)
Karen R.
Nori is a great place for a date or a girl's night out. The sushi is delicious; be sure to try one or two of their "signature maki" (we had the Tropihana which was interesting and delicious). Our server was friendly and helpful. The only small disappointed was the California roll- I've definitely had better. Also, this place is cute and small... be sure to make a reservation; I called at about 5 or 6 on a Friday night and there was no table available for even just 2 until 9:15. So if you can get a table, enjoy some great sushi! (I've also ordered delivery from here which was also very good!)
(4)
Gordon B.
Let me start by saying the maki here is awesome. The 1/2 off special on a lot of their rolls before 6pm is a steal for how good they are. The service here was top notch, too. I recommend making a reservation especially on the weekends because this place does get crowded fast. Oh and it's BYOB, doesn't get much better than that.
(4)
Sandra J.
The half price select maki before 6 was the driving force to bring me here. Not the you swoop or living social or whatever on line deal was available or the BYOB. I wanted to try this place and so we did. I have to say.. I was not impressed at all. It was very tiny and the sushi was sub par. I know it was half off SELECT rolls. Remember not all the rolls are available for this promotion nor can you alter the roll. I HATE mayo, so I asked if I can get the spicy tuna with the chili paste and I was told NO. I don't know that adding chili paste to tuna was difficult. I felt it was more rice then Nori so I was bummed. I guess all in all.. it is better than house of noodle/sushi Para 2 but not much better. You have two public trans options.. Diversey Brown line or Diversey Bus, but parking is difficult. Maybe I came on a bad day, but I doubt I will be back.
(3)
SK S.
If you're looking for overpriced rolls and long delivery times, Nori is for you! I placed my order mid-afternoon on a Thursday expecting that I would receive fast service. (I live close to the location I ordered from) However, an hour later when my food arrived I was less than pleased. Before we continue on with the negatives, the wasabi tobiko was rather tasty. It had a good flavor and was not too spicy, just right. Additionally, the salmon nigri was melt in your mouth delicious. However, the ninja roll will chop a hole in your pocket and leave you wanting more. What I received was not what I had expected. While size doesn't always matter, I expected a little larger roll given its $12 price tag. I so wanted to give this roll a chance, but I couldnt get past the fake krab lumped in a pile on top of the flat pieces. Furthermore, the roll had way too much rice and was partially falling apart when it arrived at my door. In addition to its sloppy presentation, the shredded crap, i mean crap, was doused in an overwhelming "spicy sauce" that detracted from the roll. Last but not least, I expect my tempura flakes to be crunchy, or somewhat crunchy at a minimum. Sadly, the Ninja's tempura flakes looked as though they had been sprinkled on in a hastily fashion from a grocery store brand. Furthermore, they were stale, tasteless, and added nothing to the roll.
(2)
Kate L.
This place is great. For the same price as most other sushi restaurants, you get good quality and a nice variety that you won't see at a lot of other places. The atmosphere is really nice and it's byob, which is great. My favorite roll is the Grand Caribbean, delicious!
(5)
Brad W.
Nori was our destination for a double date, and it was a treat. BYOB, friendly service, and exceptional sushi! Fire Dragon roll is pretty, and pretty tasty too. Chicago Crazy Crunch was my favorite. Colorful, flavorful, and a perfect blend of textures. I recommend Nori to anyone who considers themselves to be sushi connoisseur.
(5)
Melissa N.
If I had written this review months ago (which I should have) I would have given it 5 stars for being incredibly constructed, freshly made and the price couldn't have been better. Unfortunately, after months of loyal, weekly orders, it seems the rolls are smaller, the construction is sloppy and it makes me sad to think that we will have to find a new sushi mainstay. It seems as though they bit off more than they could chew with their half price maki before 6pm and after a few months we have seen a steady decline in quality. It really does make me sad to leave this review because they used to be amazing and I guess they'd be ok for someone trying them for the first time. But experiencing the steady decline reflects the rating. We miss you Nori. Get it together.
(3)
Claire P.
This is my second favorite sushi (#1 being Toro) although Nori has the advantage of a shorter wait and a nicer environment. The prices are reasonable but inside it feels very upscale. I have been here about 6 times in the past year and every time it has been impressive. They also have amazing specials, some nights half off maki rolls. I have had take out twice from here and one time everything was haphazardly throw in the container but it still tasted delicious. If you want sushi as tasty as Toro but without the same wait head here.
(5)
Jill W.
I've been to Nori several times since grand opening week for the half price special and the quality is such that I would even be willing to pay full price. Fortunately I don't have to. Nori participates in a number of promotions, notably half price before 6pm!
(4)
Karen L.
I have been wanting to try this BYOB sushi joint since it is so convenient to the Brown line and finally got a chance to go the other night. The menu had a lot of choices for the rolls, which was nice, but I would definitely say that the sushi quality was ok, at best. We tried a crunchy Chicago one that was good but too big... and a bit too sweet for me. The spicy tuna was good, it had a really nice kick to it. And the yellowtail and scallion was just ok. We also ordered a tuna salad that was quite tasty. Overall, if you are really craving sushi, want somewhere more inexpensive, and are in the hood, you should go there. Otherwise, I would probably look elsewhere.
(3)
R M.
Nori is in part a venture of Penny's Noodles, which downsized their square-footage to make room for Nori. No reservations in advance, but they do accept call-aheads. The atmosphere is "modern-sushi cool", whatever that means. They have dimly-lit decorative chandeliers over the bar. The chairs are hard but reasonably comfortable. If you sit near the front windows you will likely be cold. They have at least one large flat screen television mounted on the wall in the restaurant area (not the bar), which showed a football game during my first visit and was turned off during my second. I don't know what compels the restaurant owners to install a television in what would otherwise be a very pleasant space. I prefer my maki and nigiri without the noise and glow of field goals and the hyena-like laugh of the Progressive Auto Insurance lady. The service is way above average, but not an A+. Servers' tips are, at least for me, not contingent on the amount of cleavage they show, which happens to be significant here. The food presentation is thoughtful and pleasing, and the food itself delicious. Having taken advantage of the recent 50%-off specials, though, the food might be a little less delicious had I paid full price. Overall I think the rolls are a good value. The sashimi and nigiri are a bit overpriced. I do recommend the mochi--excellent. Everything I tried tasted fresh and of good quality.
(4)
Taran S.
I went here with my wife because of the living social deal and it was absolutely great! We had 3 different roles of sushi - and all of them were good. It has a convenient location right off the L and I will definitely be going back.
(5)
Mikey B.
I've been often, and it's always consistently good. However, today I had a not so good King Crab roll. I think it was just a bad day -- don't feel sick or anything, it was just bland and kind of lame. Otherwise, highly recommend!
(4)
Phil R.
The Fire Dragon Roll reigns supreme!
(5)
Pennee L.
I love this place for sushi!!!!!!!!! I live in Presidential Towers and we have a sushi place right in the building but I still travel there to eat Nori cause I love it best
(5)
P Y.
I crave the food at Nori. They give fantastic half price deals daily, the staff is friendly and professional, food arrives fresh and promptly, the atmosphere is a bit small but enjoyable.
(4)
Jean-Pierre N.
It's a nice place if you want to go out to a very small place to pay for over-priced Thai-sushi. (Correct, it's a thai place doing sushi.) The place is small which is good for the owners. (It always looks busy.) The decor is very chic and modern which makes it appealing to the young bar crowd rather than the cuisine adventurer. I made the mistake of stopping by for dinner at 6 pm. I visited with family, was seated at a table that was marked "reserved". When he seated us, he asked "if we would be done eating in 45 minutes?" Are you serious? Anyway, the food presentation could have been better, the service seemed very rushed, it was way too crowded and the bill was not worth the hassle. Great for a girls night out to have sushi and martini's, but there are so many better sushi places to visit here in Chicago that do it better. (But what would you expect for Diversey & Sheffield.)
(2)
K W.
Nori has pretty solid sushi, particularly Maki. We tried several rolls, and all were good. I recommend the Fire Dragon roll, very tasty. The service is excellent; our waitress was very patient with our slow decision-making, No corkage fee on your first bottle of wine keeps the bill reasonable. It was my friend's bday, and the waitress brought out yummy mochi ice cream with a candle, on the house. A perfect finishing touch for a tasty birthday dinner!
(4)
Tracy L.
not bad, staff is very attentive. check in and get a free signature maki if you have at least 4 people dining. great deals everyday, no wait during weekday lunchtime. great price for the amount you get served. They're not behemoth sized so you can't fit it all in your mouth at one like some places. delicious! definitely want to come back!
(4)
Jennifer J.
I consistently love this place. It's basic sushi that I can count on. Definitely take advantage of one of their deals!!
(4)
Joe M.
I have experienced better. NY sushi bars the servings are larger, same quality, same price. Was bummed they did not include miso soup and salad with by $15 sushi order. (8 small size pieces). The quality was decent though. it was OK -- just be mindful sushi roll servings are small.
(2)
Colleen O.
So, after an particularly grueling Friday night, i decided to order myself my supreme comfort food. My boyfriend was going out with the boys, and it was my turn to cuddle up to a platter of nigiri sushi. I lived in the Yamaguchi prefecture of Japan for five years when i was a little , so when i crave Japanese food. I CRAVE traditional food. I pass on the Americanized rolls, and prefer straight up fish. My stand by sushi place wasn't delivering so i figured I'd try this place. I wasn't impressed. I ordered the sushi combo platter. and a a la carte nigiri of white tuna and yellow tail. Two pieces of my sushi combo platter were grisly. When i bit into them it was like chewing a gummy piece of fish. twice. Also the way they packaged it for delivery had the pickled ginger covering a piece of fish, which completely removed any delicate flavor. I am chalking it up to a late rainy night service and merely a mistake in packaging. It is a little pricey, and by pricey i mean a 25.00 minimum for delivery before tax and delivery. ill stick with my stand by. And continue on with my quest for the perfect nigiri box.
(3)
Lauren L.
Great rolls, nice atmosphere. Best time to go is in the afternoon, half price on most of their maki rolls and all were delicious. Big portion on seaweed salad, great miso soup. BYOB. A must try: Fire Balls, deep friend rice balls. YUM. Service was OK, but who cares, its just sushi, relax, enjoy, it's good and you can't beat the specials.
(4)
Law S.
Loved everything that we had, everything was really fresh. Great atmosphere and BYO. Good prices.
(4)
Amanda T.
5 stars just for the Strawberry Sundae! Absolutely delicious!! :)
(5)
Jackie P.
I've been to a lot of sushi restaurants and this place is fantastic. If you get there before 6pm they have a 50% menu. BYOB and the service has always been terrific. I eat here at least once a week.
(5)
C M.
Every time I've walked by Nori it's been consistently busy which usually means good things, so I wanted to I give it a try. I went for dinner with a friend the other night -- we did have a reservation and were seated promptly. The atmosphere was great -- nice crowd, good feel to the place -- and our waitress was an absolute sweetheart. No attitude anywhere, even though we came in with a Groupon. We ordered rolls and sashimi -- both were very good -- and had the tempura banana with green tea ice cream for dessert -- very yummy. Is this the best sushi I've EVER had? No, but it was very good and definitely worth a return visit. Oh -- and BYOB -- bonus!!
(4)
Ania T.
best. sushi. ever.
(5)
Annika E.
It's pretty good sushi for the price.. But they used to a)have happy hour Monday through Friday and b)have no corkage fee. Now, its not a great deal for the money, it just blends in with the other sushi spots in the area..
(3)
Jen P.
Nori is a great neighborhood spot for sushi. I am lucky to say that I live around the corner and have been there a handful of times over the last month. The spicy tuna and strawberry roll are both phenom. The only complaint I have about Nori is that it recently started charging a $6 corkage fee... I mean come on, thats more expensive than some of the wine I bring in! Staff is friendly and the service is fast.
(4)
Gina B.
Nori is da bomb. Delivery is super fast and the sushi tastes fresh and delicious.
(4)
Skot R.
Delicious! Sweet waitress, cute inside. Super tasy and pretty cheap sushi. There's also a liquor store like two doors down and they've got a few kinds of sake and some japanese beers. Good place!
(4)
tessa c.
click click click! 40 minutes later 2 sushi fans were drooling over tekka don + seaweed salad + miso + edamame + hamachi don + escolar jalapeno escolar maki = mouthgasm! and i am very picky about my sushi. writing about this makes me want more..sigh.
(4)
Corey B.
The service was great and the sushi was excellent. Definitely one of the best sushi options in the Chicago area!
(5)
Kaitlin C.
Happy to be able to update my rating. They had a bit of a rough patch, but things have gotten better :)
(3)
Angus L.
The food was decent. Service was really bad. We had the most unfriendly/slow waitress. If Im in the area, maybe I would go back, but I don't feel like I would miss out on anything if I didn't.
(3)
Kelsey K.
i am mighty picky when it comes to sushi and nori hits all the high notes. it is really cozy inside with great service, amazing signature makis (fav was either the fire dragon or grand caribbean), and good specials. my girlfriends and i even made two trips in one week. we loved it that much. conveniently there is a liquor store two doors down if you feel inclined for drinks with dinner. if you love sushi, you need to try nori. it will not disappoint.
(4)
Kimberly M.
I just ordered Nori via Grub Hub. It was awful. Everything that should have been hot was cold and stuff that should have been cold was warm. Everything was soggy. They forgot the rice that should have came with the teriyaki bento box. The mushrooms had a good flavor, but the chicken did not. The fried sweet potatoes were mushy and cold. My friend liked her seaweed salad, but did not care for the sushi. I don't know why people give this place good reviews. Maybe it's better in person, but I was VERY disappointed. I don't plan on eating at this place ever again.
(1)
David M.
The food and the service is excellent. We come here every week and are always satisfied. However, for the past several weeks the skinny white guy at the door has been very rude and has no clue what he's doing. He is really bringing this place down, which is very unfortunate. Aj is a phenomenal server, I highly recommend asking for her by name, she rocks!!! If the customer service at the door doesn't change we will no longer be frequenting this restaurant. This is pretty drastic as we have been coming every single week for over a year.
(1)
Anthony M.
Okay so this place is probably one of the best sushi places i have been to. Me and my sister ordered the dragon maki which was soooo good i would give it a 5 and we also ordered the unagi q maki which was also really good but not as good as that dragon. We also had a very kind waitress by the name of Tong-Maxy.
(5)
mary m.
Great price, fun and casual decor, friendly servers, good sushi! Go for happy hour.
(4)
Kelly P.
The sushi was just OK, but what really irritated me about this place is their service. I came here during lunch with a Groupon-type coupon and ordered off the lunch menu. When I tried to use the coupon, they said the lunch prices were a 'promotion' even though they are clearly printed all over the menus and the front windows that the lunch prices apply every day during the hours of 11am to 6pm. Anyway, they forced me to pay dinner prices for the same sushi the table next to me were paying half price for just so that I could use my coupon. Rude. It ended up being a $45 lunch for two on a weekday. Of course, they added the gratuity on the entire ludicrous amount. Unacceptable. I'll never go back.
(1)
Andrew R.
Great Food! Try the asparagus!
(5)
Elena A.
Half price maki before 6. And they are good. So good that I met a friend there for lunch twice in a month. One thing though, is that I brought my baby both times, and even though they have high chairs and there were maybe 2 other occupied tables each time, I felt a little like my little guy was unwelcome. That could totally be me reading them wrong, but that's how I felt.
(4)
Mischel G.
My new favorite local sushi restaurant. The place is very cozy and you practically sit with the people at the table next to you but the food is worth it. On top of that, the surprise 50% off maki was great. I will definitely be going back.
(5)
Antonio C.
Came to Nori after a friend recommended it and it was great. The sushi rolls were very tasty and fresh. The staff was very nice and the place looked very clean. Half off on Mondays on selected items plus its B.Y.O.B This little place is better than a lot of big sushi restaurants. Check it out
(5)
Marci B.
Love this place! great sushi for me someone who loves sushi; but, can also take someone who hasn't had any sushi with me. Great price too.
(5)
Kevin K.
I have been searching for a new low-key, affordable, neighborhood sushi joint ever since Nohana started going downhill in 2007. Nori looks like it will fit the bill. They currently have a "half off maki" special that caught my eye when I was walking by this morning. Between 11am-6pm, 7 days a week you can get rolls for 50% off (approx 20 or so rolls on the special menu). This allows you to get basic rolls like tekka, salmon, spicy tuna, spicy shrimp, philly, hamachi, and such for only $3-$4. Fancier rolls like caterpillar and dragon were available for $6-$7. This made for a great deal and allowed me to order a wide variety that was presented artfully (see pic) and tasted wonderful. Nothing too fancy, but everything tasted fresh and that's how I like my local sushi shop to roll. Miso soup was tasty, edamame was cooked properly, seaweed salad was flavorful served on top of mixed greens (no cucumber thou). Also tried a mediocre fried calamari app that was tasty, but I thought the calamari rings were on the small side with too much breading. It did come with a nice wasabi dipping sauce, but I would have rather ordered 2 more basic rolls instead for the price I paid for the calamari. Nori is next to Penny's noodles on Diversey. In fact, Nori occupies the West half of what used to be a much larger Penny's (they walled off the place to separate the restaurants). Everything looks new and clean in this small space and the service was attentive, but not overkill. This is my new go to place for sushi - especially while they have the 50% off maki special. I'd recommend giving Nori a try as it's a great bang for the buck right now.
(4)
LM S.
I went back to Nori after having a so-so first time experience and it just wsn't very good! I don't know...we tried the spicy tuna / alaskan / and california roll and it just was OK. I feel that the rolls are pricier than other sushi joints (of which there are tons) and we left feeling generally unimpressed.
(2)
Nida Q.
I have used the delivery service at Nori regularly (3x a week) for a couple months and never had a problem. the food was delivered quickly and was of good quality compared to other sushi place that offer delivery. Unfortunately one day i order my usual philly roll with avacado and cream cheese, but the avocado was completely grey and obviously old. I did not eat it and called for a new order. They delivered and I suffered horrible food poisoning. Truely dissapointed that i can no longer trust my most reliable sushi place!
(2)
Debbie K.
I absolutely love this place. I have visited Nori at least 3 times this month to catch their half-price Maki before 6pm on weekdays. Every time I have eaten here, whether dine-in or take-out, the food was fresh and delicious. The spicy tuna and philly rolls are my favorite!
(5)
Sady C.
i love this place. came here with a buddy who purchased a groupon. we got there and i didnt expect the place to be packed. from outside the place isnt much to look at but when i walked in i thought it was small but intimate and had a dark sexy time vibe to it. as a looked up there a visual of how to roll a sushi on the wall which captured me and our server looked like zooey deschanel. she was new and did an awesome job. we started off with 2 signature rolls- the fire dragon and the monster. the fire dragon had shrimp tempura and veg inside, spicy shrimp on top, it was also suppose to come wrapped around with tuna but i got it without it. yummmmm i actually told my friend it was alright so he would lean towards the other roll instead while i enjoy the best one. anyway the monster wasnt traditional which i also liked. it had deep fried unagi (omg party in my pants boing!), cream cheese, veggies, cilantro, spicy shrimp on top, topped with tobiko! hell yea! the flavors combined made the roll unique and dericious!!! still hungry so we went with the terriyaki beef. came out on a long plate with sliced up beef which was marinated lightly and not like your traditional japanese terriyaki dish. came with mixed greens with ginger dressing(had wayyyyy better). it was alright im pretty sure ill just stick to sushi here. crunchy spicy tuna was bomb too btw! byob
(3)
Mary K.
Nori is one of my favorite restaurants in the city, and by far my favorite sushi place! The rolls are always great and you can't beat the no corkage BYOB. Weekly specials are great as well. The best rolls is the fire dragon. It's gotten much busier now that they have offered groupons, etc...so would recommend calling ahead.
(5)
Stacy F.
half price maki...EVERYDAY!! what more could you want?! well, maybe delivery along with that, but really i am not complaining. its my friday afternoon-work from home-staple!
(5)
Kristine C.
I absolutely love Nori. I haven't once been disappointed since the day I walked into this sushi bar. I think it's great sushi for an awesome price, and I refuse to go anywhere else! I always go in for maki rolls before 6pm for half price, and I am pretty sure the staff knows me very well by now. They are very friendly and usually joke around with me that I am always bringing in new people to the restaurant. It's true, and now all of my friends are hooked on Nori too :)
(5)
Amy E.
I have been here twice in one week since finding this gem. Conveniently located off the brown line I stop here after work for their half off maki and take it to go. The sushi is ALWAYS ready on time and the staff could not be friendlier. The quality and price of sushi is the best in town.
(5)
Jaclyn H.
DELICIOUS!!! The 'Tskaura' special maki roll is amazing, as well as many of the other specialty rolls. The common maki rolls are also tasty, fairly priced, and fun the share. Plus, the place is BYOB, so it's perfect for many occasions!
(5)
k e.
I have been here twice in the last month and very satisfied. They have great, fresh sushi and offer more than just your typical speciality Dragon/Rainbow rolls. Also, the location is great, right under the Brown line at Diversey, it's BYOB - which is a plus, the food pricing is comparable to other nice sushi restaurants and the decor is hip and lounge like but not too trendy. They also have some great specials most nights. With so many sushi places in Chicago, I may not make a trek here but would definitely do a girls/date night. What a great addition to the hood...
(4)
Tomas J.
They seem to have tons of deals, are definately affordable, friendly staff...my new favorite sushi place. The service is not perfect...but its not bad...and totally worth it.
(4)
sara T.
I have been to Nori twice now and am happy to have the addition to my neighborhood dining choices. I found the nigiri, specifically the salmon and tuna, to be tender and flavorful on both occasions. I really enjoyed the dragon maki because it wasn't drowned in Unagi sauce as other dragon maki's I have had have been. The servers are friendly and the prices are reasonable.
(3)
Elizabeth F.
Just biked approx 2 miles to pick up some take out... Nori offers 50% off their sushi before 6pm. SO WORTH IT. I am allergic to avocado (I know, it sucks!) & I did not check my sushi before throwing it on my bag & riding home again. I must admit, I had an "Oh no!" moment when I realized this when I got home, but my sushi order was perfect! Not a speck of avocado in sight; perfect little box, perfect amount of wasabi & just enough packets of soy sauce. They even gave me chop sticks & napkins. Hooray! Nori, you have won my heart.
(5)
Laura K.
I won't change the number of stars that I give because I still LOVE their sushi HOWEVER: I was not happy to find out that they now have a $7 corkage fee! What a disappointment that I will no longer bring wine with me when dining here. Also, make sure and make a reservation. I keep seeing people get turned away with super long wait times because they don't have a reservation.
(4)
Melanie A.
I absolutely LOVE the atmosphere of this restaurant! It's funny--it's located on street level, yet when I walked in, I felt like I had just walked into a basement with a brick wall. I liked the vibrant energy in the room very much. The lighting and the decor was so warm and romantic (but not overly romantic), yet they also had the baseball game on on their LCD screen. Think wine cellar + fireplace + a dash of trendy. It's a great place to bring a date. The seating is a little bit too cramped though. My seat kept hitting the seat behind me on the next table. The presentation of the food was gorgeous and very colorful. I can tell the chefs liked animals a lot, since they decorated each warm entree with a different piece of raw carrot carved into a bird/swan/etc. It was a very nice touch. I like animals too. :) There were no carrot animals on the sushi plates, but no worries, the sushi pieces were arranged fancifully and artistically into the shape of an animal, such as a dragon. It was such attention to details in the presentation that impressed me. As for the taste of the food, everything was great, except for the soft shell crab entree. It was so salty I found it impossible to finish eating the entire dish even though I was starving. With every bite of the extremely salty soft shell crab, I had to take three bites of white rice to try to balance it out. By the time I was out of rice, I had already ingested a week's worth of sodium from the crab and I still had half of my soft shell crab left to eat. I decided to take it home to eat for lunch the next day (because I don't waste food) and see if I could reinvent it into a fried rice dish by chopping it up into little pieces. Besides the crab, everything else my friends and I ordered were delicious and accurately seasoned. Just one tip, make a reservation. I went on a Wednesday night at around 8pm without a reservation and had to wait for 15 minutes.
(4)
Dan K.
I've been to this place a few times after they reopened and started canvassing the neighborhood with flyers. Definitely a nice little place to pickup some sushi (or dine in). Plus, you can't beat the 1/2 price sushi menu during the day. Good portions, everything was fresh and the service was great.
(5)
Tiffani T.
Good sushi, great service, will definitely be back. And accepted our groupon with no hesitation.
(4)
Jeremy W.
Great place to grab some great sushi at a reasonable price. They have specials from 11-4PM on their rolls. In addition to 3 rolls we got a specialty roll that was out of this world amazing. Very impressed with this place's creativity. Service was also excellent! FYI $15 spending minimum for credit card use policy.
(5)
Katie S.
My favorite sushi place in Chicago!! I eat here at least twice a month. I recommend the spicy crunchy tuna. :)
(5)
Dr. A.
It was good. Worth trying at least once, although, I would recommend making reservations since the place and occupancy is small. I had the fire dragon roll, california maki, spicy tuna and platter of sashimi with unfiltered sake. All were average taste wise, but my favorites were the fire dragon roll and spicy tuna--worth coming for these two.
(3)
Kelly P.
Let me just preface this review by stating that I have dined in this location and had a much better experience. However, my take out experience was horrendous. I joined in on a group take out order that I was going to split with someone else (ordered 3 rolls total). When my coworker returned, she said that they didn't have mine. While I ordered and paid online, they still "did not have it". I spoke with them and understand it was a simple miscommunication and being that I do not have a car, they offered to deliver it to me 2 miles away. When my sushi arrived, three orders of sushi were packed into one small container. My order of "extra wasabi" must have been over looked because I was only provided with a pea size amount. They gave me four, yes only four small packets of soy for the entire order and only one set of chopsticks (I was splitting with someone). The quality of the sushi was also not very good as a result of the wait time. I understand that take out sushi typically isn't quite as tasty as when you dine in. However, by the time I had gotten it, it had been sitting a solid hour- hour and a half. The tempura was no longer crunchy, it was all soft and room temperature. Very disappointed. While dining in is a much better option, I don't know if I will be back based upon this terrible experience. Maybe I'm dramatizing the ordeal, but after all of this, nothing was discounted, not even a free fortune cookie. Just warm, soft sushi with no chopsticks, and minimal soy and wasabi.
(2)
Shamita C.
Excellent rolls, 1/2 price rolls before 4pm, good apps, friendly and quick service. Would definitely return.
(5)
Catie R.
I have been here twice now; the first time was not that memorable but the second time was pretty great. We went with a group of 6 people and were able to use the Yelp check-in deal for a free signature maki; we decided to get the Chicago Crunchy roll. It's probably not something I would pay the $14-$15 for but it was good to get to try it out for free. Everyone at the table got individual rolls or a rice entree and then we ordered shared rolls for the table; I personally was able to try the seared scallop roll, spicy shrimp roll, and the Fire Dragon roll. The Fire Dragon was by far my favorite. I liked how the normal rolls were on the less expensive side; the seared scallop roll was only $7.50 which is pretty good in my book! Overall the service was great, the food was enjoyable, and the pricing wasn't that bad!
(4)
Taufiq H.
Excellent sushi. I came here with restaurant.com coupon but ordered from the half price maki menu . Dragon rolls are excellent! 2 people can eat good sushi for 20$ No corkage fee for byob .. awesome!! I love the place. We not visit there once a week. Right off the Diversy brown line stop
(5)
Alex R.
Had my first date here with my girlfriend, great service and great date night atmosphere. Wine special was pretty awesome, too! We'll be back!
(5)
Courtney W.
I was pleasantly surprised! I have a few sushi places that I go to all the time and I'm always wary of trying new places. I bought a Restaurant.com deal for this place, it was $3 (on special) for a $25 gift certificate as long as you spend $50 and 18% gratuity is added when you use the certificate. Since we had never been, we decided to go all out and see what this place was all about. We started with a Sapporo Light which was reasonable for $4. Bottle of wine and sake were also half price on this particular Wednesday night. We ordered the calamari with honey wasabi sauce which was outstanding, we couldn't stop raving about it. As far as sushi goes, we ordered the Strawberry Sundae Signature Maki with Tempura Shrimp, Cream Cheese, Avocado, Scallion, Tobiko, Spicy Mayo topped with Tempura Crumbs, Unagi Sauce, and Strawberry Sauce. This roll sounds weird, and trust me, it is but I loved it. I would order it again without a doubt. Next, we ordered the Chicago Crunchy Crazy with Hamachi, Escolar, Unagi, Avocado, and Spicy Mayo covered with Tempura Crumbs, Sweet Sauce, Red Tobiko, Black Tobiko, and Masago. I liked this roll as well but they used way too much tobiko, I ended up scraping a lot off so just be prepared for that. The Fire Dragon was by far my favorite with Tempura Shrimp and Avocado wrapped with Tuna topped with Spicy Shrimp, Scallions, and Sweet Sauce. It wasn't too spicy but had just enough kick. The Red Nori was a more simple roll with Spicy Tuna, Spicy Shrimp, and Avocado covered with Tempura Crumbs, Red Tobiko, and Unagi Sauce but it was still outstanding in my book. I like complex rolls but sometimes I like to take it down a notch. I had never had sweet potato with sushi before by the Ninja Roll changed my mind. This roll had Sweet Potato Tempura and Avocado topped with Torch Spicy Kani Kama and Unagi Sauce and everything was perfectly complemented, for sure a winner. For dessert, we kept it simple and ordered a scoop of red bean ice-cream which was average for red bean ice-cream but was still the perfect ending to a great meal. The service was pretty great too, although it took a while for our food to come out since the place was so small and it was packed. This place is BYOB and lots of people brought in bags from Trader Joe's down the street. They didn't give us any problems with the Restaurant.com deal which was also a huge plus, I hate when places drag their feet.
(4)
Coleen K.
Came here with a Groupon and pretty low expectations. But this place won for a solid BYOB sushi spot in Lincoln Park! Atmosphere: better than your average hole-in-the-wall sushi restaurant. This place definitely packs you in, but has a more upscale vibe than some of its neighbors like Toro and Sushi Mon. Menu: incredibly creative and varied. Their rice ball appetizer is delicious, and we tried a bunch of different rolls that were all solid. Price: Great for the quality, and BYOB makes it even better!
(5)
Susan C.
This place is one of the best sushi joints in the city. the service is fantastic, the fish is very fresh and the ambience is very nice as well. I have been here twice so far - once for lunch and once for dinner. For lunch, i had ordered the salmon teriyaki bento box which was fantastic. It came with a few california roll pieces, some tempura, soup, rice and a salad. Very filling and delicious! For dinner I had ordered the goma-ai (spinach salad) and some sushi rolls which were fantastic. I have eaten both at the Lincoln Park location as well as the Wicker Park restaurant. I will definitely be back!!!
(5)
Katie W.
I'm really sad to be writing a negative review on Nori, because for the past couple of years this has been our "go to" for a quick sushi night. Last night when coming in, we were seated right away and loving the new decor. Once sat, it took a good 10 minutes to even be seen by our server. Once we finally received our order, we were disgusted by a LONG black piece of hair. Mind you, perhaps I would have thought it was mine... except for the fact it was wrapped in the MIDDLE of the role, hanging out onto the plate. I don't know how nobody in the kitchen saw this but it was just too much to move past. Our server didn't seem that concerned when we presented it to him, but then did get the roll replaced by a new one. In years past, i would think they would have taken off the roll from the bill, or at least asked if there was anything they could do, but it was sad nobody seemed to be that grossed out. I've always loved Nori, but I'm just a little disappointed in how things were for us last night :( Also took a good 10 minutes after the waiter presented the bill to come back for it, even though as he put it down we were reaching for our credit cards... c'mon Nori, you are better than that!
(1)
Suzanne P.
Love this place. It's definitely my favorite in the city for sushi!!! We've been coming here for almost 4 years. You could say that my husband and I fell in love here. Try the caterpillar roll and the escolar jalapeño!!!! Always fresh and delicious.
(5)
Andre W.
I love the sushi here...I have dined in as well as had it delivered! The Strawberry Sundae Roll reigns supreme as it is very delicious! Not that big of a space and is usually crowded; especially on Fri & Sat evenings You can BYOB to this place and there is a liquor store a few doors down Right off of the Diversey Brown Line stop and definitely worth checking out
(4)
Lisa B.
I love Nori Sushi. It is a little too small and is often booked. I would not recommend showing up here without a reservation ANY day, because you are taking the chance you will have to wait 30-45 minutes. Not good if you are hungry! BYOB for wine and beer only, so don't try to bring a spirit and mixer. The Signature Maki rolls are truly creative; I have been to countless sushi places and was starting to feel like all the "signature" items were the same. I have been to Nori at least 10 times in the past 60 days, and they have never disappointed me. Their chefs are actually Asian (seems hard to find these days) and 4 of them are often on staff diligently working even though the restaurant is, as I mentioned previously, quite small. The flavor combinations are excellent, and even the classics taste better than you expect. Go here if you really want to enjoy your sushi the way it was meant to be enjoyed: as an art form! Tip: Mondays is half off all regular maki (doesn't include Signature Maki) no coupons required.
(5)
Diane G.
Why Nori has 4 stars is BEYOND. ME. Yes, it is BYOB---along with 90% of the restaurants in Chicago. Yes, there used to be 1/2 off Maki before 6pm---well it's before 4 pm now. The oshinko (Japanese pickled radish) inside of my oshinko maki was NOT crunchy, which to me means not fresh. Likewise, the texture and taste of the shitake maki was lacking. I appreciate that they made an effort with the presentation of their sushi, but even sushi in the shape of Willis Tower with fireworks spewing from it could not have saved the mediocrity of this sushi. To add to that, our waitress was a cold BEACH. She made a huge fuss about my friend's groupon and shot us dirty looks (Don't think I didn't see you raise your eyebrows and grimace them teeth!) Considering we were there on a Wednesday at 5pm and there were only 2 other tables present, I would have expected MUCH BETTER. Lastly, the PRICES are highly unreasonable. Their signature makis range from $13-$15. That is just not a price I'm willing to pay for crappy sushi and crappier service. I should've known to steer clear of a sushi restaurant with "Ninja Maki." ~Another meal, another lesson learned.~
(1)
Brooke H.
Disappointing sushi spot. They put way too much topping and sauces on the rolls. You can barely taste any fish. Too many other good sushi spots in this neighborhood, don't waste your time here.
(2)
Stella W.
We were trying to find a sushi place in the area and I remember seeing good reviews about this place, so when Nori popped up on the google map search and with no wait, we decided to come check it out... When I saw "Toro" on the menu, I asked the server if they have o-toro or chi-toro...she gave me a blank look....hmmm...sign of worry :S other than that, the service is pretty good... So I ordered a few pieces of nigiris to check out how solid this place is, including sea urchin, and sweet shrimp with shrimp head (the head is my favourite, but not too many places do it well)...The rice wasn't as soft, but to my surprise, the fish quality is good given this is more of a pan-asian sushi place and the server gave me that blank look.....
(2)
Tricia D.
Our GNO stumbled across Nori because it was a few doors down from Paint nail salon, and they have daily specials before 6pm everyday. On Saturday, it's half off sushi/maki rolls, and our table shared 6-7 different rolls and each shelled out a whopping $11. Score! My favorites were the rainbow roll and dragon roll. The spicy octopus and yellowtail rolls didn't really do anything for me, and the sweet potato one was tasty, but I wouldn't order it again necessarily. Service was extremely friendly. The interior is dark, sleek, and woodsy and reminded me of a therapeutic spa setting. Hey, sushi is therapeutic too. It's BYOB, but have no fear: there's a liquor store right next door.
(4)
Jenny R.
Nori will always have a special place in my heart. It's one of the first places my boyfriend and I went out to eat as a couple. I love this place. It has a nice atmosphere, the servers are always friendly, and the rolls are delicious. If you're not into sushi, they have noodle dishes that you can opt for as well. I recommend calling ahead and making a reservation because this is a hot spot on the weekends and there's not much room to wait. This place is BYOB but they have some limit as to how many wine bottles or beers that you can bring without being hit with a fee. I can't remember but what it is, but you may want to look into that if you plan on bringing a few options.
(5)
Eatie J.
Fresh uni! Great service. Clean bathrooms.
(5)
Kayla P.
This place is very nice. Everything came out quick and service was great! Defiantly a place to go on my lunch break!
(5)
Marisa A.
Big fan of Nori! The interior is surprisingly sophisticated and romantic, the service is gracious, and the rolls are suitably priced. BYOB and served alcohol. Plus, they ALWAYS have major discounts running-- check Yelp, Google Offers, Living Social, etc for free yum-yums on the regular. The fish is super fresh. Shout-out rolls: Ginza, Shrek, Fire Dragon, Red Nori, and I once tried a special that they had for Valentine's Day that was amazing. I would love to try more of the cooked dishes-- I've only had the beef asparagus roll which was everything I've dreamed of and more. I wish I could give them 5 stars, but 1) the booth seating is awkwardly high in relation to the table and 2) I tried a basic roll for the first time last night (Negihama- yellowtail and scallion) and it was inedible. Fishy, over-vinegared rice, roll wrapped too tightly. As long as I steer away from the booths and baseline rolls, this will be my go-to place for sushi in Lakeview.
(4)
Alan K.
Nori is conveniently located off the Diversey Brown Line stop. When you first walk in, it is very nicely decorated, although a very tiny eatery. However, I think this is where the buck stops. The food gave me a bad stomach ache and from the way it tasted, there was something fishy about the food. They have 1/2 off Nori Maki (sushi) during the middle of the day. Now I know why they have the specials. You essentially get what you pay for...not so fresh sushi. I think in general, their menu prices are rather high for the quality of the food. The worst maki sushi had to be the spicy tuna rolls. I think this is what made me sick. The rainbow rolls were okay. The tokyo rolls were good, but the yellowtail roll was definitely not. I would recommend to avoid this place all together especially if it made me sick which is an strong indicator that the fish was not fresh.
(2)
Meredith K.
I was pleasantly surprised about how much I like this place. At first it seemed out of control. We had a reservation but I wasn't sure where they were gonna put us. They offered the bar or a long wait. Boo!! I hate sitting at a bar for dinner. But its sushi so you can watch the chefs. It was actually fun. The waitress suggested an app that I would have never ordered, spicy fire ball. It was delicious!! It went great with my sparkling wine. Then we got a bunch of their rolls. Their special ones and some of the usuals like a dragon roll. We had so much we had to take some home. It was fantastic. My only gripe aside from it being crazy busy even if you have a reservation is the black chandeliers. I'm weird about this stuff but I had to sit under one and look up at the filth. Black really shows off the dust too.
(4)
Jon T.
Nori has lovely sushi at a decent price! The happy hour - half off the Nori Maki listings - is awesome, and the staff are friendly and helpful. Worth stopping by if you're in the neighborhood!
(4)
Shaye R.
Trendy atmosphere, they run a solid business. As for the fish, it's semi-consistent in quality. Their Nori maki and signature maki could definitely use some variety... many of the same ingredients show up in almost all of their rolls (unlike other trendy sushi places). Because of this, there are 2 or 3 makis that I always default to, and am usually happy with them. Crowd is generally 20-somethings. During the daytime they typically have reduced pricing (50% off most rolls), which makes it quite appealing.
(4)
Kaman T.
Happy hour!
(4)
Jennifer P.
My favorite inexpensive sushi restaurant in Chicago! Their happy hour deal is definitely worth it. Very high quality sushi at such affordable prices! The service is also terrific, as I never have any complaints! Also, I absolutely love how amazingly decorated the sushi plates come out. They place the rolls in various patterns on a fancy circle glass plate and do some creative sauce designs. I can never resist taking a picture of my sushi regardless of how many times I eat here. My favorites are their salmon skin maki and futo maki.
(5)
Dorsa S.
I went to Nori today right after a 2 hr wait at Chicago Gastro before seeing my doctor. They ordered food from Nori and told me it was really good. I checked their reviews and found some disgusting. Looking at their menus and considering what the secretor said, I thought I will give it a try. The tables were too close just as I read in the other reviews, but bc it wasnt busy at all there wasnt anybody sitting close to me. The maki I ordered looked fantastic and tasted really good. The only problem I had with the place and the only reason I didnt give them a five star was bc of the waitress that was serving me. She had a lot of attitude and she wasnt patient and helpful at all while taking the order. I also didnt like it when they charged $1 for the extra spicy mayo sauce that I asked for, which I had only a little bit.
(4)
Camille R.
This is my 4th year as a Japanese sushi waitress so I do have some standards and checklists pre-made when I dine in a restaurant that I don't work at. With that said, my experience at Nori was solid. Anyone can say that the food was great, atmosphere was cool, and service was fine. But the real thing that sealed the deal for me were: - Spicy miso soup was perfect. Granted most miso soups at Japanese restaurants were already made as part of the opening tasks of kitchen chefs and waitresses just have to pour it into dried seaweed and tofu bowl. However, this item tasted very fresh and had the right amount of spice. Not too spicy and not bland either. The waitress got it for me within a minute after ordering. You go girl! - The setting was very modern and classy with cute drawings of how to make Nigiri sushi and remnants of Buddha (must be Thai-related). Most of all, it was clean. And I don't mean just "clean." When you see how clean the guest check holders and the menus are, you know the people who work here have OCD. Just my kind of people. - Water was refilled at the speed of light. - I had the Seared Scallop roll and the Dragon roll. Both of which were great. The presentation was cute. The chefs mixed unagi sauce, wasabi mayo, and spicy mayo into a chain of hearts. The shrimp tempura in the Dragon roll was actually warm like how its supposed to be. Other restaurants just put really soggy and cold shrimp tempura in their Dragon rolls, which is fine if you don't know any better. But Nori made their rolls very well. Yum! - Lunch special when I dined was 50% off makis. Are you kidding me?! I didn't know about it and was expecting to pay at least $30 but my total for spicy miso soup, Dragon, and Seared Scallop roll was $14.95. Talk about a steal!! Thank you very much! - When I left the whole staff said good bye politely and my hunger was pleasantly sated. Good staff means a good and happy restaurant. So thats my 2¢. If you haven't tried Nori, then just come! You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Rick W.
Lived next to this place for a year and I must say that it might be my favorite sushi in Chicago (and I've tried just about everything). Small place so make sure you have a reservation on busy nights/weekends. BYOB so bring your own wine!
(5)
J H.
I love this place! It's a great neighborhood spot and it is nicer than a typical "neighborhood" sushi restaurant. The decor is modern and I like the atmosphere, however their new tables are sometimes more like community tables, which I personally hate. I have only been seated at one of the long tables once, and they did leave a space between our party and the next. The Grand Carribean roll is my favorite, also love the Monster, Red Nori and Fire Dragon. The staff are amazing and so kind and accomodating. BYOB is great, and you can order off the menu which is nice too incase you forgot to bring something or need more.
(5)
Lauren H.
Love this place! Amazing sushi. They also have great happy hour deals. It gets crowded so I would call ahead before you go or make a reservation. The rolls are rolled right in front of you! I have came here a bunch of times and I will be back again!
(5)
Ali J.
I can't believe I am just now giving Nori a review. This is probably my all time favorite restaurant in Chicago. It was also one of the first places my boyfriend took me and has since then been our go-to place to eat. If you try this place, I highly recommend the fireballs for an app. THEY ARE AMAZING. (Pretty much the reason that it ranks above other sushi places I've tried). I have probably tried every roll there and only disliked a couple of them... The atmosphere and service is great. They just remodeled the place and it looks nice. The only negative I would have to say is now that they have remodeled the restaurant the tables are way too close. It has taken some of the intimacy away and it makes it difficult to carry a conversation when you are practically sitting next to a complete stranger. However, this renovations doesn't keep me from going and enjoying a great meal, of course. I will we back...probably this Friday.
(5)
Colleen M.
My favorite place to get sushi. Presentation is fantastic and the sushi is so fresh! Great place for hanging out with a group of friends or even a cute date. Mondays are half off for maki. Staff is so friendly and service is quick!
(5)
Ali W.
Came here on a monday night...it wasnt that crowded...the sushi was ok...nothing too special!
(2)
Christina G.
We walked in at 6:30 on a Tuesday and it was a packed house - for good reason. I was glad we had a reservation. This place is great. Just steps away from the brown line, the sushi was worth every penny. We brought one bottle of wine with us, which we got to drink with our meal for free - no corkage charge. The space itself was very inviting and cozy. It was a little bit cramped, but they were trying to make the most of their smallish room. Based on other reviews, we started off with the sweet potato fries. The wasabi dipping sauce gave quite a kick to normally sweeter fries. For the rolls, we split 5. In all honesty, we should have only gotten 4, but I couldn't resist adding the banana one at the end. Escolar Jalapeno Maki Roll Fire Dragon Spicy tuna Spicy scallop Banana (not sure of the name of this one) Service was good and the waitress was attentive, but not hovering. She was actually the one who recommended the banana sushi as a sort of dessert. My favorite was the Fire Dragon roll, but they all were very good and tasted very fresh. my one knock - I didn't think the jalapeno roll had enough jalapeno in it. We used our groupon for $40 and had no problems with it. With the groupon discount (we paid $20 for $40), we ended up being a couple dollars over $40, so we basically just paid for the tip that night.
(4)
Hoang L.
We used our $25 gift certificate from restaurant.com . Our waitress was very nice and helpful. She gave us some recommendations and they were all really good. BYOB. Half off makis on Mondays and I think on weekdays during lunch. Check in with your Yelp app and get a free signature maki! I like this place a lot! Don't forget to make reservations because this place gets kinda packed. It's pretty small.
(4)
Chris C.
Nice
(4)
Anne M.
Gorged on a nice sushi dinner at Nori over the weekend with mr. man. Review teetered on 3.5, but pushed it up to 4 because of the byob factor. (no fee for first bottle / six pack). This place is cute and trendy and tiny - and fills up quick. Luckily - or unluckily, depending on how you look at it - we were squeezed in at the sushi bar, all the way against the wall. So, Friday night, we got in relatively quickly with no reservation, but we were crammed against the wall / in front of the sushi bar. Not ideal seats, but we went with it. Water, empty glasses and ice bucket for our byo-beers came quickly - off to a good start. We ordered a noodle entree to split, two large maki rolls (red dragon? and Tokyo something) and two small rolls (yellowtail + chives; and scallop roll with avocado). Our noodle dish showed up first, which kind of threw us off - we were expecting the rolls first. The noodles were standard/good - loaded with chicken, mushroom, carrot, other veggies. All the rolls came out at once on a large platter. I really liked the Tokyo (tempura shrimp (cold - disappointing), avocado, honey wasabi sauce, other things I'm forgetting. The Red Dragon? was good too - that one had some heat to it, but it wasn't too intense. The scallop roll was simple but good; the yellowtail tasted very strongly of off-fish (I realize it's fish, but it shouldn't smell / taste like that.....) I had one piece and didn't touch the rest of it. We were totally stuffed by the end of our meal - we could have ordered one-less roll for sure. Everything was good (except for the yellowtail) but I wasn't blown away. I'd go back because of the easy location, right by the Diversey stop and because it's byob. I'd also try and go to take advantage of their discounted happy hour maki deal.
(4)
Annie N.
I'm torn - I think this place deserve better than a 3 stars, but I can't say "I'm a fan", and whenever I click on the 4th start Yelp automatically claims that "I'm a fan." I should have tried this place out much earlier - give the fact that I live around the corner, and every time I get off work from the L I see it, and I'd think: "yummm, sushi does sound good." But it's not until my asian hoard arrived unexpectedly from out of states that I scrambled through my memories to find a place for dinner without reservation at the very last minute. We walked into Nori, and the host was very nice. He said he didn't have any tables available for our group for long, but he did have a table empty, so as long as we finish our meal in a timely manner, it shouldn't be a problem. And he would let us know when the other party arrives, so we'd have time to finish up. Seems like a good deal. So we sat, and ordered our food, and ate. I didn't want sushi, so I went with a Spicy Chicken Udon. Some of the people in our group ordered sushi and sashimi. The food didn't take long to come out. I thought my noodle was very salty. It just didn't hit the spot for me. The sushi, my friend said, was good. But I thought the rolls were on the smaller size compared to other sushi places I've been to. Then we got our check - and yes, the waitress did add 18% gratuity automatically. No where in the menu indicated something about that, and we weren't informed either. Our group was smaller than 6 (as I recall usually they add it for groups of 6 or more?). I wasn't crazy about it, but suck for her, because I usually tip 20%. They are BYOB, and also they have 1/2 price maki rolls at certain time (I think right around 5pm or so?). But I probably won't be back any time soon. I wasn't impressed - and there are so many other sushi places around!
(3)
Sara L.
I'll start off with saying don't try coming here without a reservation (at least at night at 7-8 pm)....the wait is sooo long (~2-3 hours). We ended up coming back another day..and even with a reservation, we ended up waiting an extra 30 minutes. It also took 10 minutes after being seated for someone to even come to our table to greet. The seating capacity in this restaurant is small, so I highly highly recommend not coming here with a large party. 2 is perfect. I honestly think that this restaurant is overrated. There are so many good sushi restaurants that offer amazing sushi at the same price range in Chicago. The food is pretty good here, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it was AMAZING enough to be worth the wait/price. Here are my reviews on what I ordered: -Hamachi Carpaccio- The hamachi belly is amazing!!! Basically it's sliced sashimi pieces of hamachi belly served in ponzu sauce (citrusy soy sauce) with jalapeno. If you cannot handle jalapeno, I advise you to order without the jalapeno and ask for scallions. The jalapeno does give it a good kick, but it ended up being too spicy so I ended up not eating the jalapenos themselves, but its flavor still rubs off a little onto the fish, so its not bad to order with. THIS IS A MUST ORDER..esp for you hamachi fans. You get about 9 thin pieces. (see picture) -Agedashi Tofu- it's okay..not that great compared to other Japanese restaurants. -Fire Dragon- out of all the rolls we ordered, i would have to say this one was the best. -Pom Maki- i ordered this b/c it sounded so good on the description, but it wasn't what I expected. It was just an average roll with soft shell crab, avacados, scallions. The only thing special was that they added a sweet sauce on top (pomegranate flavored?) which gave it a nice interesting taste, but it wasn't something I would want to order again. -Crunchy Spicy Tuna- When i order spicy tunas, there's a huge difference in flavor b/w spicy tuna thats chopped and mushed with spicy mayo vs. chunk of tuna with spicy sauce added. This one was the spicy tuna chopped/mushed version, which is really not my fave b/c I feel like you lose a lot of the flavor of the tuna. (This is just FYI for those who are picky about spicy tuna rolls) -Crunchy Spicy Calamari- this was on the specials menu, so it ended up being one of the more expensive rolls (~14$), but it was just like the crunchy spicy tuna roll, except with spicy calamari. This is the one the waitress recommended, so i had high expectations for this roll only to be disappointedl. It was okay, but it definitely isn't something that I would want to order again. -Banana Tempura w/ Green Tea IceCream- tempura batter is legit...banana was sweet...hard to go wrong with green tea ice cream. Loved it. Without ordering this, I don't think I would have left feeling satisfied. Overall, I feel like this isn't a place you should go out of your way to dine at. The special is great (Half off for reg makis b/w 11-6 pm), and I would def come back for the specials. However, when you wait for a long time for your food with mediocre service and pay a $85 tab before tip for 2 ppl (without any alcohol drinks), you would expect GREAT sushi for it to be worth coming back. I would say that this experience didn't meet the standards for the time and money you put into it.
(3)
Mary T.
When I saw a Living Social deal for Nori, I immediately snapped up two. What was not to like - favorable reviews, close to home, steps from the brown line and BYOB (for now at least). What I noticed on my first visit to Nori was the number of special rolls on the menu. Our friendly server told us that the special maki menu, the one that comes separate, was the result of the contest they had for regulars to create rolls. It was a really creative idea, although none of those rolls struck my fancy. I found the amount of choices a tad overwhelming, making the decision-making process tough. I found it interesting that there were several maki that included fruit - mango, strawberry and banana - alongside fish. The overall menu is large, but my eyes didn't venture from the sushi section. On my first visit, my dining partner and I split three rolls - Red Nori, spicy something or other, and a third roll. My order recollection is vague because clicking on Bookmark in the Yelp app deleted my bookmark and the notes that went with it, grrr. I did recall that Red Nori was our favorite, the spicy whatever a close second, and the mystery roll came in third. Service was attentive and I appreciated that our server notated that gratuity was already included in the total; otherwise we would not have noticed. On my second visit, a different friend and I split four rolls. Since the Red Nori was the one specialty roll that stood out from my first visit, we decided to get it again. We also went with the spicy scallop, escolar jalapeno, and alaskan rolls. We were disappointed that Nori minces the fish in the spicy rolls, but it was good all the same. At the end of the day, the Red Nori remains my favorite of all of the rolls I have tried. Service on our second visit was attentive, but this server didn't notate the gratuity already factored into the bill. I understand Nori wanting to ensure coupon-using folks tip on the full tab, it makes sense; I just think it should be made obvious to diners. The space is small, it's not really ideal for parties larger than 6. Even then, they probably can accommodate one (maybe two) groups at a time. I highly recommend making a reservation, rather than trying your luck. TIP: BYOB with no corkage, for now. I noticed a sign on my last visit that they've applied for a liquor license - boo!
(4)
Bryan Y.
I found about this place via restaurant.com deal and am thrilled that I found this place. Nori has replaced one of my top 2 sushi spots. First thing is Check-in to received a free signature maki. Please keep in mind that you need 4 guest with you to use the Yelp deal. We enjoyed every roll we ordered. I really loved the staff and excellent customer service. They didn't offer fresh wasabi, however when we mentioned it they made note to look into it. Also, the apps and sushi were served very quick even though it was a full house. Make sure to have a reservation during dinner/later week times. My second visit was during happy hour (everyday from 11am - 6pm, all day Mondays) which all of their Nori Maki's were half off. I was expecting the normal maki's to be not as good as the signature ones, but I was wrong. The maki's were just as good as their Signature makis. They have to be the best manufacturer of soft shell crab rolls, because the crab to shell ratio is heavily weighted towards crab Apps 1. Gyoza Miso 2. Lava Bombma Signature Maki Rolls 1. Fire Dragon 2. Chicago Crazy Crunchy 3. Sakura Tuna 4. Red Nori Nori Maki Rolls 1. Soft Shell Crab 2. Tokyo Roll 3. Crunch Spicy Tuna 4. Rainbow Maki 5. *Note we order all our maki rolls without cream cheese **Note the venue may be too small for large groups Dessert 1. Green Tea Tempura: Huge portion, can feed at least 2 I love this place!
(5)
Lauren T.
Please note this is a review for delivery! So having said it was delivery I am fully aware that sushi being delivered is just not the same. Anyway, I have had good sushi delivery and this was not one of the better ones. First off we ordered delivery for a late lunch and a lot of places have maki deals if you order for lunch, but they didn't have a deal. We ordered about 5-6 maki rolls, seaweed salad and the spicy miso soup. the bill was over $80, which I must admit was the most I have spent on a delivery order for two people. I must sat I was not so pleased with the freshness of the sushi. the sushi that was more fish based tasted really fishy and I did not get the fresh crispy taste and flavor from the vegetables. The spicy miso soup was good and the seaweed salad was good as well but overall I was disappointed with the quality of the sushi, for the price it was not worth it. I will probably try them again and dine in too see if it the same quality but my first impression was just "okay"
(3)
Ehow C.
This is long overdue. Back in the summer, I took my friend here for his birthday lunch, and we ordered 50% off maki. It all tasted fine, the problem was the food poisoning afterward. Luckily the birthday boy was okay, but I was definitely out for a few days. It might have been the spicy shrimp roll which he didn't eat, but it's hard to pinpoint the direct cause.
(1)
James D.
Honestly I was looking forward to this place, it had been so long since I had a good sushi meal and it was a friends birthday. First problem is the prices are astronomical. Don't get me wrong I'm used to paying a fair share for GOOD sushi. But this Sushi was mediocre at best. I really didn't think the fish was very fresh, and I also found the service to be a bit hurried. Not planning to return.
(2)
Lauren F.
I've only gotten delivery from Nori (that was super quick) so I can't comment on the restaurant itself, but the rolls I've had were great! My favorite is the Grand Caribbean-Tempura Shrimp, Mango, Strawberry, and Avocado topped with Salmon, Wasabi Mayo, and Sweet Sauce-it was every bit as amazing as it sounds. I have a thing for tempura so I also tried Fire Dragon-Tempura Shrimp and Avocado wrapped with Tuna and topped with Spicy Shrimp, Scallions and Sweet Sauce-yum as well. I've also had the Ebi Tempura Maki and California Maki and both were fresh and tasty. They're BYOB so I might have to venture into the restaurant soon!
(4)
Nikki S.
YUM YUM YUM--my friend had a group-on, but looking at their website and coming in they always have great deals. All the sushi was very very good--definitely get the Ninja Maki. I also got the Green Tea--not sure how it was different than normal green tea, but it was especially tasty
(5)
Sara E.
Half-priced sushi rolls until 6pm + me working from home around the corner = best lunches EVER. Tasty spicy tuna roll and Ebi Tempura... I've never had anything bad here but usually stick to what I know. It's BYOB, but there is a liquor store two doors down. Only downside, and this is tiny, is that they keep the restaurant *around* 104 degrees inside. But when it's cold out, that's not a bad thing if you eat fast.
(5)
Jessica S.
I am a huge fan of Nori. After living in the city for a little over a year, my boyfriend and I try to go by a rule to try a new restaurant when we go out to eat (since we have a never ending list of places to try that seems to keep multiplying). We have broken that rule with Nori and have been more than a handful of times. For the area, Nori has some of the freshest and most creative maki PLUS its a BYOB which makes me smile. The waitstaff is always super friendly and they will always guide you to a great selection if your having a hard time deciding between rolls. Nori has a sexy atmosphere that's great for an intimate date night but its also just noisy enough to go with a group of girlfriends. I would recommend the Grand Caribbean and the Fire Dragon signature rolls. The Grand Caribbean with has mango, strawberry and an impeccable sweet sauce that I think may be one of the most interesting and mouthwatering rolls I have ever had (no dramatization involved). We are moving out of Lincoln Park soon but Nori will give me a good reason to travel a little north.
(4)
Alexandra C.
I think this is the best Sushi in the entire city of Chicago, hands down. The sushi is always AMAZINGLY fresh. My absolute favorite is the Red Nori Roll-- Spicy Tuna, Spicy Shrimp, Avacado, and other delicious sauces with tempura. I want one right now just thinking about it. Another favorite is the Spicy Crunchy Tuna roll. They also have great lunch specials and BYOB!
(5)
Molly L.
Simply put, Nori has good sushi for a good price. The fish is fresh, so the sashimi is good, and their specialty rolls are creative. (My favorite one had mango on top.) Also, it's BYOB, so it's great for groups. The best part about Nori is that they have half-price maki before 6pm! I can't tell you how many times I ran off the el like a crazy person at 5:59 so I could get some cheap, yummy dinner.
(4)
Mindy S.
Nori was so-so. The edamame was over steamed, and while it is BYOB, they took the bottle in the back to open it, and didn't give us back the cork. When we went to leave, and asked for the cork, they gave us a random one. I don't think I'll be back.
(2)
Lauren H.
A little over a year since my first review and I find myself needing to post an update. Since my initial post, I've visited Nori at least 20 times, with all experiences being great! (Obviously... otherwise why would I visit that many times, right!?) Anyway, they've really amped up their service and clarified their specials/promos. The host (Clint) is AWESOME! Always friendly and willing to accommodate (even if we neglect to make a reservation). I think Lindsay has been my server every single time I've been in, and she's always great- attentive, friendly, patient, and very efficient. They seem to have added a few people to their staff, including a bus boy or 2, and a sweet gal that comes around to refill waters, which I'm sure helps with the overall efficiency of the place. I've been frequenting on Mondays (their 'half off Nori rolls' special is hard to beat!) and it seems to be one of their most popular nights.. definitely a good idea to make a reservation. I just found out they're opening a new larger location in Roger's Park (with outdoor seating!!), so of course I'm stoked for that!
(5)
Kelsey K.
So, it was a girl's night of couch and movies and what could make it any better?!?! Sushi, of course! I'm really torn between 3 and 4 stars because the food was actually really good, but I am disgruntled by a few things so I have to go with 3. 1. When we arrived, they asked us if we had a reservation. When they told us that they didn't have an opening until 930. SO, takeout it is BUT... While we were waiting on our food, I peeked at OpenTable and they had an opening for 8:30 so clearly they weren't telling us the whole truth. 2. They have a clearly posted sign stating that they won't take your CC unless you have a $15 min purchase. This is a direct violation of their merchant agreement with Visa and MC and it's really annoying when my friend had to scrounge up change in her purse when they wouldn't take her card. She got it done, but it's rude and a violation of their contract so they should either take down the sign or be ready to make exceptions to their "house policy". So, those irritations aside, the food was very good. We didn't get to experience the atmosphere much in the holding area but it seemed energetic and pleasant. I'd go back if I'm in the area again to give it a second chance but I think I'd want to check out Toro first.
(3)
Laura H.
Living close by, Ive been wanting to try this place for awhile and Im not sad that I did, although, I've definitely had better. Half priced Maki makes this place better than it actually is... otherwise, its expensive and decent... but not great. We tried the Dragon Maki (shrimp tempura, avocado, eel), seared scallop, and king california. The Dragon maki was the definite winner of the three. The scallop was unexpectedly bland... the king california uses real crab instead of imitation meat... but wasnt anything special... nor did it have a lot of flavor. Id like to give this place another shot... and try some of their more playful menu items: the strawberry sundae and snow white which are made with fruit. This place also delivers... but minimum $25 (easy to do on sushi but a lot of food if you're ordering for one)... oh and half priced maki rolls are not counted for delivery...
(3)
Jeff A.
Half price Sushi for lunch... YAY!!! I am sooo picky when it comes to sushi, and so is my buddy I dinned with... I had just got out of my gym which is practically across the street and said half price sushi, where did this place come from, apparently it came from about 3 months ago, I guess I don't pay that much attention... The place is not to big and very nice inside, we walked in, the only customers, actually got a little bit of a scowl from one of the employees, I though oh god another place I will not have to come back... Turns out he was one of the sushi chefs, my guess is he had been busy all day from half price sushi and just sat down for his lunch, as we skipped in the door, thats where I'm hoping the scowl originated... We had 9 rolls, ranging in price from 2.75 for a california roll to 6.50 for a rainbow roll, and at those prices I was soooo happy, ill be honest at full price for dinner I would not be as glowing due to the fish to rice quotient, Mayhaps they make the rolls differently for dinner, with more fish and less rice, I am not about to find out, had the rolls been more fish and less rice I would have no problem eating there for dinner at full price too, just a note if you kidz read this you may loose potential full price customers with lesser quality lunch fare, just a thought! I kept getting this pleasant, I do mean oh so pleasant zest of black pepper from a few of the rolls; it was a very welcome and unusual surprise, this place had the flavor combos down for sure! The escolar with fresh jalapeno-so buttery, the caterpillar-hmmmavocado, ohhhh-the big surprise that had I notice before I ordered I never would have ordered, but it worked, was the ell inside the rainbow roll also with a pepper essence, I normally steer clear of eel if at all possible! This place is a great lunch sushi option, I am hoping I just caught them on a overly ricey day and next time it will be more fish and who knows they might lasso me in for dinner too! Guess I will be spending more time on my AMT 100i to make up for all the rice... LOL
(4)
Michelle M.
Meh, I've had better. I ordered delivery from here and didn't think too much of it. I had the 15 piece sashimi, the vast majority of it was not fresh and tasted like grocery store sushi. The 5 pieces that were good were quite tasty, I will concede. The rolls were nothing spectacular. They do throw in a free roll or edamame if you spend a certain amount, so extra star for that.
(3)
Mike S.
Nori has really gotten their act together since I first tried them, and it is now my go-to neigborhood sushi restaurant. The food and service have improved 1000% since my first review. The servers are attentive and helpful. The rice rivals Tank in Lincoln Square and the maki offerings are creative, well thought out and very flavorful. The sweet potato roll is delicious and I get it almost every time. Other favorites are the Unagi Q, the Seared Scallop, and the Spicy Octopus maki. Of the specialty maki go for the Fire Dragon, the Caribbean or the Red Nori. The addition of half-price maki until 6pm is pure genius and has helped drive me, my girlfriend and our friends in time and time again. The signature maki is not included on the half-price discount, but you won't care ordering off this menu if you order off of the half-price maki menu. I've walked out of there numerous time stuffed to the gills for under $50. Did I mention this place is BYOB? Pick up a bottle of wine at Bodega Ramos (1134 W. Diversey) before hand. You'll be glad you did.
(4)
Lezah G.
We came here because I had a Living Social Coupon and I will definitely be back. We had two signature maki rolls and two regular maki rolls which would have been half price on Mondays if we did not use the coupon. The signature maki rolls were fantastic...some of the best I've had in a long time. The restaurant is very small and fills up quickly so make reservations if possible. My only complaint, and today it is a big complaint, is that after we were there for about 30 minutes they turned the heat down and the place got so cold that my toes were starting to freeze. They did turn the heat back up but shortly before we left they turned it way down again and the people at the other tables who had just started their meals were visibly uncomfortable. Why they would do this on a day with a minus five wind chill factor is a mystery to me. My toes are just starting to warm up as I write this!
(4)
Bizzle Z.
I love this for delivery, never been inside. Its always on time (takes an hour but who cares when its yummy & fresh!). Its delicious - fresh, interesting combinations I've never seen elsewhere. Its decently priced. I've ordered from here at least 10 times, can't complain. YUM!
(5)
Tiff H.
So the lady lives by here...and, yes, I broke down and agreed to satisfy her sushi craving (clean minds, people!) with her. How could I say no to such a sweet voice? Yes, I am weak. A few notes about Nori: 1) BYOB. 2) The lady was in charge of the menu: --Grand Caribbean - mango, strawberry, shrimp tempura wrapped with salmon/tuna/various fish...I didn't try any....being allergic to mango. --Fire Dragon - shrimp tempura, avocado, crabby stuff, some type of orange seafood topping. --Spicy salmon - pretty standard. Made just for us. --Miso Soup - again, pretty standard. 3) Total for all of this: $48ish with a 20ish% tip. 4) They have some type of special every day of the week. On the Sunday we went, it was half off appetizers. (We didn't take advantage of those.) All in all, a cute sushi place. I'd love to come back again. The tables are a bit close together and this seems to a place for the locals. I ended up getting into a conversation with the patrons next to us...because I was being a creeper and eavesdropping. I hope I come back with the lady. *sniffle*
(3)
Kris R.
this place is GREAT for 1/2 off nori maki on mondays! 2 rolls for 10 dolla - make you holla. my favorite is the seared scallop maki. i dont think i'd come any other time, bc i think there are more/better places in the city. you just can't beat their specials, though!
(3)
Janice P.
Tried out Nori for the very first time today and I can def say Im impressed! They had a very nice selection of regular rolls and a decent selection of specialty rolls. If you arrive before 6pm all the regular rolls are 50% off! I recommend the Tokyo roll and the Banana tempura roll as starter items. Byob makes this place extra swt although please note that after your first bottle/6pack the second bottle/6pack will incur a $7 dollar cork fee. Service was fast and friendly
(4)
Nicholas C.
Thanks to livingsocial, I found out about this great sushi place in Lincoln Park. The place is quite small so make reservations as the food is worth it. Despite how busy it was on a Saturday night, the wait staff was polite and we were never waiting for food. I got the Lava Bomba appetizer, a baked scallop dish with spicy mayo and avocado, and it was amazing. The Chicago Crazy roll, a mix of hamachi, super white tuna, and unagi topped with tobiko, was also delicious. In addition to my chirashi don entree, they provided us with miso soup, edamame, and seaweed salad. All in all, the food was great and I look forward to my next visit there.
(5)
Donna W.
Amaaaaazing. I've only been living in Chicago for about 5 months, but this is the best sushi I've found. We got the Grand Caribbean roll, Monster Roll and Crab Shogun roll and they were all delicious and very different. Sometimes specialty rolls tend to taste similar to one another, but not these. They all had their own unique taste. I couldn't stop raving about this place for the rest of the night. Definitely my favorite sushi place in the city thus far!
(4)
Tiffany M.
This is a tough review to write. My family and I love the food here, the problem is, the kitchen messes up food allergies and the last time we went there it caused us a trip to the hospital. Although I always found the wait staff to be a little less than stellar, the food was always good. Unfortunately, due to our last experience, we won't be able to go back. It should be noted however that the restaurant was very willing to help us with the hospital bill.
(3)
Sara S.
Very average- not sure why everyone raves about it. Its not bad, but definitely not memorable. With my bf I split 2 rolls- Chicago crazy crunchy and fire dragon, spicy udon and calamari. All okay- the spicy udon didn't have much flavor, calamari and 2 rolls were forgettable. There are definitely better places for sushi around that area. If you can get the 1/2 off special that's about the only time I would go, but even then I wouldn't be thrilled.
(3)
Joanna G.
Wow, what a great place! Super duper yum! Headed there on a very cold Tuesday night with three chicas. One had a $50 coupon for $100 worth of food from restaurant.com . Yummy sushi, BYOB, and on the cheap = great night. The place is very cute, dinned lights, nice decor, pleasant staff. Started with miso soup, very good, lots of tofu and seaweed. Decided to order as many rolls as we could. Chose the following: Rainbow - pretty good but was a bit fishy Monster - sooo good. I'm not usually into cream cheese and the works, I'm more of a purist, but not that night! Red Nori - yum, just spicy enough Crab Shogun - very good, little smoky, served with ponzu sauce which didn't really add anything, in my opinion Aloha - again, yum! Fire Dragon - it was ok, but tasty enough Finished off with mango mochi, yum. So much food, did not finish everything and we were not at $100 yet. The nice waitress did accept our coupon so all this for $50! Sorry Toro, I think I'll come here much more now, coupon or not, still very affordable and yum.
(4)
Deena D.
I've walked by this place so many times without realizing it! Swanky ambiance inside but seating is a little small so try to make a reservation. Loved the BYOB and no corkage fee, made it easy to get sauced up at dinner, hop on the Diversey Brown Line and hit the town. We stuck to some basic mahi -philly, alaskan, spicy tuna and they were pretty good. Miso is also legit and not that clear broth crap some people try to serve you. Prices are reasonable and they've got a ton of specials posted on the front window. Also if you order online for pick up on their website you get 10% off the first order. Sah-weet.
(4)
Sarah S.
I went here last Saturday with some girlfriends. We had to wait about 30-40 minutes, but they were nice enough to open up our bottle of wine and let us have a drink while we waited. This is a great BYOB and no corkage fee! As soon as we sat down, many of the other tables opened up. Go figure, right? We split some rolls between the 4 of us. My favorite was the Dragon. We also had the spicy tuna, New York, Philadelphia and Californian Crab. The sushi was very fresh and we liked every roll. I found out that they have 1/2 price sushi on Mondays! Looks like I will be going back here on a Monday soon!
(4)
John M.
This place is a mixed bag. They take reservations, apparently. Because when we showed up and were told it was a 45 minute wait, there were three separate tables with "reserved" signs on them. They did take our phone number and called us right at the 45 minute mark. Fair enough. The rolls and specials were tasty. They had an Aloha roll on their special menu, which was the best tasting food of the night. Prices are reasonable, and service was attentive and friendly. And byo is a big plus. However I do need to state the following: DO NOT ORDER THE TORO. I don't think it was even the correct fish, though the waiter assured us it was. it was orangish/red in color, and looked like it had been cooked somehow. It was chewey and unlike any toro i've ever had - and not in a good way. Stay far far away from the toro. Obviously no resaurant experience is going to be perfect, and I'll probably go back to Nori at some point. I'm a big sushi fan, and aside from the toro everything was done better-than-average.
(3)
Chelsea F.
I am confused as to why this place has four stars because I honestly did not enjoy this place at all. I went here by recommendation of a friend who swears by it so I had pretty high expectations going in. Service - our server was very nice in the beginning explaining all the specials, going over the recent contest they had, and was awesome at checking back with us once the food arrived. However, once our meal was over - I could sense that they wanted us out of there. Literally, every five minutes, we had people coming up to our table asking if we were ready to pay our bill. Keep in mind, we really weren't there that long at all. Our waitress didn't even bother to ask us if we wanted dessert. After all this ordeal, a different waitress came to our table telling us they needed the table. I am totally fine with leaving at a certain time but it would have been nice to be told this in the beginning of the meal instead of constantly bothering us towards the end only to tell us to leave. This is unacceptable in my opinion. I had something called the Red Nori and it wasn't that good at all. First of all, there's nothing more than I hate than MUSHY rolls and ALL their rolls were mushy - um, disgusting. My friend had the banana roll which was more like a dessert and was just okay. For dessert, we had green tea tempura ice cream which was good but it's pretty hard to f*** up ice cream, right? Overall- I would honestly never go here again nor would I recommend this place to anybody.
(2)
Santiago A.
Dang you, my fellow Yelpers. This place just opened and I thought I had a chance to be first to review. /sigh I liked this place. All the sushi was good. Plus, it's byob so... of course I'm going to love it. More places should byob -- parks, libraries, bus stops... I, I'm not homeless. I swear. It just makes sense. Times are tough and saving $10 or so on wine by bringing your own makes any meal better. My rating might be skewed a little because the bill was so, so low. $20 w/ tip for two people that ate a lot of sushi was sweeeet. However, this is because for a limited time, they are having 50% off the bill. It's like a reverse welcome wagon kinda thing, where they give you something for them moving to the neighborhood. In any case, it's more than enough to make it worth your while to stop on by, asap. Even if you miss the killer deal going on, the sushi is good enough (plus, sushi isn't usually too cheap anyway) that you won't feel like you're getting a raw deal. Ha... that was terrible.
(4)
anya t.
They are having 50% tasting week this week! I went there on Monday and Wednesday, so I can't go tonight (little embarrassed). I admit, I am a sushiwhore. So when there is a good sushi half off, I am there. They will ask you to fill out a survey after dinner, which is why they are doing 50% off week. Very smart! I had "Green Nori" on Monday and "Shrek" on Wednesday. I also had their seaweed salad, which was delish. I like their rolls because they don't overkill them with cream sauce and mayo. I hate mayo now, btw. Try to get there this week to take advantage of the tasting discount. Yauzi!
(5)
Maria K.
The half price maki until 6pm is awesome. Made fresh and tastes good. The place is quiet and the service is a little slow, though very friendly. I'll go again for lunch soon.
(4)
Brandon L.
Yum! Best sushi in the area, even tastes great and is fresh the next day if you have leftovers. Quick delivery as well....
(5)
C. B.
I tried Nori for the first time this week. It was kinda wonderful! The food deserves about 4-4.5 stars, but I am giving Nori 5 stars for the excellent specials they have. Half price maki rolls on mondays, yes please!! They also have other specials every weekday (I believe they are listed on their website). For the quality compared to price it was amazing! I am addicted to sushi and eat it no less than once a week. I would say this is place ranks as being #1 or #2 on my list. Try it. It will be worth it. We got 4 rolls and two appetizers for $30. Amazing. It is BYOB without a corking fee - and there is a liquor store right next door. I like. The one thing that I did not love about this place is that it is rather small and the tables are close together. It wasn't very full when we were there so this wasn't a problem, but I could see when they are busy that it would be less than ideal. Nori - this just might be love.
(5)
Jeanne M.
I can't give Nori 5 stars because it's so busy in the evenings that it's hard to get a seat, but the maki is delicious. The host is very polite and brought water to those of us waiting for a table. It is expensive but then, all sushi I've ever had has been expensive. I don't think it's a deal breaker.
(4)
Chicago J.
I'm almost tempted to give this place 5 stars, but being as I've only eaten there once, I don't want to seem too biased. My group had an AMAZING meal of California, Caterpillar, Dragon, Spicy Tuna, Spicy Octopus, Sweet Potato, Red Nori, Crab Shogan rolls, as well as several appetizers as well as sashimi. Everything was FANTASTIC. I love sushi to begin with, but I was really impressed. Knowing that they have 50% off deals will make me want to return. The absolute only criticism I have was that it took us a while to get the servers attention. We were expecting dessert, and we waited an incredibly long time for it to arrive, to the point where we thought they had forgotten about it (and us). Then an even longer wait to get the check. However, it's not going to stop me from trying this place again.
(4)
Amanda K.
My husband and I walked in on a Friday night, sans reservation *gasp!* While I would recommend having one for Friday/Saturday nights, as the place was hopping and obviously very popular, the gods smiled upon us and after less than a hour wait, we were seated. The entire wait, the very hip and friendly manager (I'm guessing he was the manager, I know he's not the owner, b/c I thought that he was and asked and he said no...) opened our bottle of wine and made pleasant small talk with us. He was so cool, my husband and I felt like we were talking to a friend we hadn't seen in a long time. Once we were seated and ordered: wow. Things just got better. Never been a fan of Asian soups, but when I tried my husband's spicy miso soup, I ordered a cup for myself - it's delicious! We ordered several sushi rolls - all very fresh and tasty, service was quick and efficient. The Red Nori roll was definitely my favorite. The dining room is not enormous, but not overly cramped. The decor - even the serving dishes - are elegant and tasteful, with enough cool mixed in not to be stuffy. Loved it, we'll definitely be back - with a reservation this time! PS: Even have ordered delivery from Nori on grubhub and it was a great experience as well. And I'm pretty leary of sushi for delivery, but no troubles. Love Nori, love it!
(5)
Caitlin U.
I come here every Monday for 50% off maki rolls... great sushi! The first time I went for the special the server didn't explain that the deal does not include the signature maki (which is a shame, because they are absolutely delicious), but the regular maki rolls are fantastic as well. I love the tokyo, the ninja, and the sweet potato was surprisingly amazing. They have a strict BYOB policy, only 1 bottle per 2 people, which cuts down on people sitting around for hours just drinking wine. Small place, usually a wait, but they don't have a problem taking your phone number and calling you. I've never waited very long.
(4)
Jennifer B.
Eh it was okay... If you don't do the half-price maki thing then it's rather expensive for just average-tasting sushi. I think it's very apropos that Nori is below the EL tracks...it's the type of place that you'll stop at on your way home from work because, well, it's there, and you're looking for a change from picking up Potbelly across the street. But the next day...you'll be back to Potbelly!
(3)
Megan M.
3 words. sweet.potato.fries. definitely a little hesitant while ordering them tho...who orders sweet potato fries at a sushi joint? easily turned out to be the best decision ever. not a single soggy fry; each fried to a perfect crisp. the honey wasabi is what really put it over the top tho. man, anything dipped in that would be delicious. i seriously considered giving this place 5-stars JUST because of this appetizer. haha ok, moving on. all the food was nicely presented (big deal in my book), and the service was great. just a heads up, don't order the chicago roll. a bit too mushy for my taste. everything else was great though. again, sweet potato fries stole the spotlight at this place. i definitely do wanna go back for their happy hour. half price rolls? can't beat that.
(4)
Emile D.
We came before 6pm, when a portion of their sushi menu was 50% off. This kind of special is not unusual. However, to my surprise, there were numerous high-end rolls that were 50% off. And they didn't disappoint; we got the soft shell crab roll, banana tempura, sweet potato, and a couple others. All were delicious. The service here is also very good. We brought a bottle of wine, and they provided a iced wine chiller (for lack of better term). And no corkage fee! 5 great rolls and miso soup for (astonishingly) $18! I defy you to find a better sushi deal than that!
(5)
Brittany K.
My three friends and I are regular's here. The one waitress knows me, and my order, by name. While on occasion, and when I say this I mean when they are really slammed, it can take a little while to get your food. But never more than 20 minutes. I try sushi everywhere and this is the place I compare it too. I have never had a bad roll. Philly maki, spicy tuna, crunchy spicy tuna and Sakura are among the rotation and they always have been excellent. I have no idea why anyone would every hate this place.
(5)
Michael S.
HALF PRICE nori maki before 6pm! Finally, a good sushi restaurant to add to the lunch circuit, and with half price maki, you're sure not to break the bank. I will admit, at first there was some skepticism based on the place having one other person in it when we sat down. But, clearly the word is out on their sushi deal, as the place definitely had some regulars come in while we were there (with one table of 20 somethings talking about how the prices were cheeeeep). The sushi was pretty basic with a few more involved rolls. All the fish was fresh, but a fifth star was withheld because, if anything, the fish used was on the smaller side. Still, with half price, fresh......and good rolls, I would be happy to go back. Perhaps this will fill up the Tuesday slot. Note -- it is BYO, which is limited to beer, and wine. Thus, leave the bottle of hard stuff and mixers at home.
(4)
Melissa E.
Not good. Didn't have sushi but the other food was greasy, gloopy and just plain gross. Thankfully I had a Living Social coupon because I would have been disappointed to pay full price. Also disappointed with the restaurant trying to "sneak in" a mandatory 18% tip. Um, there was 2 of us. I complained and our waitress said it was standard for all coupons. Well, LS doesn't state that on there coupon or website so after much discussion she removed it. Good thing given she was a horrible waitress. For sushi I am all for Shiroi Hana, for less atmosphere you get far better food.
(2)
Heidi R.
Went to Nori on Black Wednesday with my boyfriend and another couple... we made a reservation and I am glad because it was pretty busy. Great place for BYOB sushi as there are so many options in the city. We had edamame to start and then ordered several rolls. We absolutely LOVED the ninja - which was just sweet potato tempura! We ordered a total of 3 Ninjas because it was so good. We had a few others that didn't scream out anything too special but I will say the Crab Shogun which we were all most excited about was an epic failure! It's basically smoked crab on top of a crab roll. We each tried a piece and gagged. We told our server who just apologized and left it on the table. So we realized that we were going to pay for it either way we tried to salvage the remaining pieces by removing the top "torched crab" and it still had the worse taste ever. We also tried the Escolar Jalapeno Maki which was basically just a rolled up jalapeno, not too good either. All in all I was happy with my meal and I would go back just for the ninja alone!
(2)
Emma M.
I love trying different sushi places because each one has different specials, specialty rolls, sashimi, dumplings, sauces, etc. They had a lot of different specialty rolls (always my favorite) and the one I got was delicious. I think it may have been the fire dragon or dragon fire. It was huge and so decadent. We also tried the chicken dumplings that came with the most amazing dipping sauce. I'm a fan of the BYOB at sushi places so you're not spending half the bill on liquor! I will definitely come back here for more sushi!
(4)
John S.
Being the first reviewer here I am possibly going easy on Nori. There was nothing wrong with the sushi, in fact it was quite good. The staff was very friendly. The place very clean. The portions a good size, as was the menu. Read on and tell me if I was too nice. I ordered take-out asking my server if there were daily specials. She misunderstood and showed me the lunch menu (half price on sun, mon tues). I was looking for something more like the "catch of the day" though. Luckily one of the manager looking employees recommended that I try one of the chef's specialties, seared uni. Sea urchin (uni) was worth trying although it had a big too much mayo-like sauce for my taste. I always order basically the same thing, a unakyu maki, spicy tuna (chili oil - not mayo), and something else. If there is toro I usually order one or two nigiri pieces. Luckily they had toro. The toro nigiri was a fair size and a fair price, it melted away. The unakyu was good also, nice and fresh. Even though they used spicy mayo instead of chili oil I enjoyed the spicy tuna. Usually places will slather on the spicy mayo until you can't taste the fish or rice at all. I think sushi is all about proportion. This place gets it mostly right. Their consistency needs a little work. I like to get the exact same amount of fish,cucumber, avocado, etc in every piece. It was a little busy so I will let that slide as everything else was on target. The rice was cooked perfectly and they used just the right proportion. The rest of the ingredients were fresh. The rolls were tight. I would have liked to see better prices as this place is pretty expensive. $20 for a Unagi-Don or TekkaDon. The alright lunchbox deals and the half-price sunday/monday lunch makes this spot decent for lunch and possibly dinner on a quasi-special occasion (e.g., friday, second date, etc). I would like to see Nori succeed as they put the other sushi places around to shame.
(4)
Chole L.
My experience in this restaurant was BAD. The customer service was bad, the waitress had attitude on her face the whole time.. Our food was below the average. Our Thai waitress was not professional and messed up our order twice. We ordered the fried soft crab and it was way too salty and tasted bad. I will not come back again and would not recommend this place to any of my friends.
(1)
Alex H.
Solid sushi, cool atmosphere, very good service, and BYOB...how can you go wrong? My only complaint is that this place is perhaps a bit too popular for its size...we had to wait about 10 minutes to get in for our 9pm reservation.
(4)
David R.
Good sushi, good price. Nori is a great place for lunch - half-price rolls, can't beat that! Strawberry Shortcake Roll is weirdly delicious. Service was a bit sporadic.
(4)
Rachel K.
I was impressed with Nori the minute I walked in the door! The decor was very chic for what I believed to be a hole-in-the-wall sushi joint. The ambiance was that of a fine sushi restaurant without the pretentious attitude. The food was great! The specialty rolls were substantial, and you definitely feel like you are spending the right amount of money. The regular maki roll I got (salmon/avocado) was also a decent sized portion, and the salmon was just as present as the avocado. The nigiri we had was fresh and large! The pieces were on the bigger end, and I found that I could not bite the salmon piece in half. Not sure what that's about... maybe the thickness. Overall, really really good sushi and I will be back for sure. It sounds like they have a ton of promotions, so I may try to take advantage of that :) There was one issue that bugged me though. I called earlier in the week to make a reservation, and thought the girl wrote my name down. When we got to Nori, there was no record of my res and they were more or less booked. Instead of trying to accommodate, the host stuck my friend and I in the back corner at the small sushi bar. It was annoying that they couldn't just make something work. They didn't even offer us an app or anything for the inconvenience. I'm willing to let it slide because the food was great, but be careful if making a res and maybe confirm the day of??
(4)
Heidi O.
YUM. I love sushi. When my private practice first opened in February and I had too much time on my hands, I would take the brown line just to eat sushi here. Usually it would be me and one other person sitting in here around 1pm enjoying the half off maki. Not just good sushi but lots of interesting things on the menu, and really lovely presentation. BYOB is nice for groups during dinner and there is room to wait! We still haven't figured out if they take reservations though-this seems to depend on who is answering the phone, ha!
(5)
Allison S.
I have been here twice now and both times I have been left satisfied! The first time a friend of mine met me here, she lived around the corner for a while but never came here. I had received a gift card here so we decided to give it a go. The wait was about an hour, but since you can bring your own wine the manager uncorked it and brought us glasses. So we were able to sip and chat as we waited. The sushi was phenomenal and the prices were extremely reasonable. Thats why I came back a second time with another friend. This time there was no wait, the food was still delicous!
(5)
Andrew H.
Been a frequent Nori customer for quite some time now. The before 6PM deal is just stupid...and I love it. You can get tons of high quality rolls at 50% off. Even after 6PM, this is a fantastic sushi restaurant. Always fresh, always creative. The service is usually spot on as well. My only real complaint is that sometimes it's too busy. But it's deserving of the crowds and it's busy for a reason.
(5)
Maria C.
Pros... Romantic, sexy Bought a coupon from Restaurant.com for this place! It was GREAT! we had the Strawberry Sunday Roll! YUMMY and BYOB Also try the fried Green Ice Cream! OH SO GOOD!! Will go back over and over. Cons,,, Small place, make a reservation may not be so good for small children no kids menu, unless they eat this stuff. OVER ALL GREAT!!!! && Cheap total bill 3 adults $60.
(5)
Allison H.
Make sure you have a reservation. I came here with a friend at 7pm on a Tuesday night and was told it would be a 2 hours wait. Really? On a Tuesday? Luckily I planned ahead the next time my husband and I went and made a reservation so was seated promptly upon arrival. I had just expected your normal, average lakeview/lincoln park sushi place but was pleasantly surprised. My husband and I ordered 4 rolls - red nori, crunchy spicy tuna, rainbow maki, and seared scallop. All the fish was so fresh and everything was delicious. I couldn't even decide which roll was my favorite! I knew I'd be wanting to come back here! Another plus, it's BYOB and no corkage fee! Yay! The service was quick and attentive. but place was small, which is why reservations are a must. Definitely a place I'll be going back to try!
(4)
Javier Q.
I love the sushi here, and I only come on Tuesdays LOL, why? Because it's half off Sushi Maki Tuesdays!, I order 3 rolls, and all are tasty!, The atmosphere is OK, I've been to better looking Sushi joints, but the Sushi itself here is pretty yummy in my tummy!! And right off the Diversey Brown Line which is nice =]
(4)
Bob C.
Good Food, Scammy Billing. That's how Nori can be summed up. My wife and I went here after purchasing a LivingSocial coupon. The food was actually pretty solid, the sushi was really fresh, and the second waitress encouraged us to add ingredients to the maki we ordered. The first waitress vanished after placing orders and didn't appear again until it was time for the check. I guess they had a "design your own maki" contest which is really neat. The only reason this place gets three stars is the blatent bait and switch they tried to pull when we got the check. The menus actually state that parties of 6 or more will incur an 18% gratuity. (we were a party of two) The LivingSocial coupon said nothing about any added gratuity. Nori pulled this little stunt and the first waitress said it was their policy to add 18% for LivingSocial users. I angrily demanded that it be taken off which they agreed to. It's pretty well known that vendors lose money on these deal coupons, but if you are going to sign up with Groupon or LivingSocial, that's the cost of doing business. Don't try and recoup part of your losses on the back-end by charging fees not disclosed up front. I loved the food, but not sure I'll be back after their gratuity scam.
(3)
Irm C.
Bought a Groupon and went to Nori for the first time. The miso soup, appetizers and the sushi were great. Great service. Definitely going back.
(4)
Erica S.
This place was okay but it wasn't anything special. The staff was super nice but the amount of fish they give for each dish wasn't a lot and it was super thinly sliced. The place was pretty packed and we were given a one hour time limit. Umm this wasn't all-you-can-eat.
(3)
Mary W.
Love the food, but you definitely need a reservation to eat in. It's my go to place for delivery. Gotta try the spicy fireball, so good! The Caribbean maki is one of my faces as well. Service is subpar.
(4)
Ben L.
If you scroll down a few posts, you'll see my 4 star rating from a few weeks ago. I gave Nori a good rating despite the horrible service because it's decent sushi for a great price. I no longer feel this way. The service is beyond horrible. I have been seated 15-30 minutes late for every reservation. Every friggin time we ask for wine glasses while waiting to be seated it seems to just slip the host's mind. The water girl refills your water so often it's enraging (albeit comical). The waitresses are slow and lose orders. And just today I missed the 6:00 PM deadline for 1/2 price pickup orders by 20 minutes--the host and cashier, who recognized me from eating there weekly for the last 2 months, would not give me the discount. From this day forth I will avoid Nori because the quaint appeal and tasty sushi doesn't make up for the shit service. Can I swear on this?
(1)
Mary Jo M.
Located right off the Brown Line Diversey stop and BYOB typically makes it a good contender for Chicago sushi, however that is where the pros end. I feel like every time my boyfriend and I go in they've added more tables (which if you've been in, you know isn't possible). Rolls aren't anything to write home about, but the spicy udon is good. Sometimes spicy, sometimes not- guess it depends who is working in the kitchen. Service is always good, food ok, if you are looking for free entertainment via your neighbors at the next table this might be a good spot for you, but make a reservation, because apparently everyone wants mediocre sushi.
(3)
Rachel H.
I ate here around when they first opened and did a Groupon deal. We came in and had a reservation and the host said, "Let me just pull a table out for you, one moment." Little did I know that he meant he would literally pull a table out of a closet, plop it in the middle of an already over-crowded room, and pull up two chairs. Hey, whatever works? I appreciate the effort but the space is really small and it was a little uncomfortable. The menu is extensive but our waitress was a little odd. She came over and asked if we had ever been there and if she could go over the menu with us. We said sure, expecting her to point out a few of the most popular dishes and perhaps give a brief explanation of the different sections of the menu. But no. She verbatim read us the descriptions of at least 6 rolls (we can read, thanks) and took at least 10 minutes to finish up her speech on the menu. I was giving her all the non-verbal cues that this was way too much but she did not pick up on it. It was very strange. She also did not give us an ice bucket for our booze. The food was quite good, however. Not the best I've ever had but good and reasonably priced. I think they were overrun with people from the Groupon deal, so I'd be willing to go back again and hope for a little bit better service. There are several better BYOB sushi place in Chicago, however.
(3)
T Mir S.
Good sushi, good service, and its BYOB... Street parking is a bit tough but not impossible
(4)
Nirali S.
You know how sushi is really great, but when the roll is just too damn big to fit in to you mouth you can't really enjoy it? Yea, that's how my Caterpillar Maki and my Monster roll were. Don't get me wrong, they were decent tasting, well, the parts that I could fit into one bite at a time were good at least. Their tea collection is awesome, definitely try at least one of them, the ginger peach was really good. This place is fairly busy on weeknights so if you have a reservation it's better, but you still wouldn't have to wait longer than 20-30 minutes if you walked in without one. They have a lot of great deals during the week too so be sure to take advantage of them. I'll probably return when I've exhausted my list of 32094832 other places i still want to check out :)
(3)
Nikki G.
Great place, Good Sushi and rolls, Half price maki...(love it) Nice decor, and it's BYOB (no fee charge) Voted for Nori
(4)
Aby C.
I went there yesterday with 3 other friends. The food was amazing, and the service was good, until we were asked to leave! My friends had just gotten their dessert, and we were about to pop open another bottle of wine when we were told there was a party of 10 coming, and they needed our booth. We weren't happy, but we were understanding since we had been there 2 hours. We asked to speak to a manager just to let them know it would've been nice to know we were on a time limit. However, the response we got back was beyond rude and not the best way to keep customers. It would have been ok if we had been kindly asked if we could move along, but we were told we couldn't open another bottle cause they needed us out. It was just very awkward and rude. Very disappointed because the food was good, but that incident was enough to keep us away.
(2)
Julia W.
The half-priced maki is excellent- I thought the quality of the fish was very good, especially for such low prices. I would skip the agedashi tofu- I was not a big fan of the sauce that came with the tofu. The pork katsu was very delicious and a great deal for the price.
(3)
Ashley B.
Love this place....Staff is super sweet. Early bird special is amazing!!! I would recommend the tokyo roll and the dragon roll!
(5)
Ron G.
Came here with my gf and loved it. I liked the vibe of the place, the staff, the layout. I really like BYOB places. This place is way chill.
(4)
Nick D.
Nice sushi place. I would definitely recommend showing up before 6 for half price maki. Last time I had the unagi roll which was fantastic. I'm talkin' 'bout large chunks of fresh eel. It was eelisous. Also, byob so that's great. One thing: my friend ordered a cheese roll as an appetizer. It came with spicy ketchup. Now, I'm not saying it wasn't good. It was just a strange thing to have at a sushi place. Truly though, small cozy and classy yet inexpensive.
(4)
Regina F.
I am updating my review and writing another one, I guess you can call it that. I can't believe I forgot this in my original first review, but they added GRATUITY to our check... for TWO people. Maybe it's just me, but don't restaurants usually charge gratuity for a party of around 6 or more? Charging gratuity for two people?! It's actually kind of offensive and basically telling me and my friend that we won't tip anything, and auto charging us for the tip portion of the check. I'm being nice here.. because I do think the sushi was one of the better sushis I've tasted.. even though it was way overpriced.. My friend ordered Udon and it was over $10.. something that we can not only make ourselves at home, but something that didn't taste special and can be less at other restaurants. Because of the gratuity, I don't think I'd be going again.
(1)
Judd C.
BYOB and some of the best sushi... I visit a friend frequently and this BYO place is top notch food! Too bad its so small because it fills up quick...
(5)
K S.
My fiance and I go to Nori at least once a week--either dine in or carry out. And yes, the 1/2 price maki before 6PM is even good on carry out (just not delivery). If you are going to dine in, you should make a reservation, but that's a good sign. This place has very high quality sushi at reasonable prices and is BYOB. The staff is always friendly and service is fast. I do not eat fish and I've tried vegi rolls at just about every sushi place in Chicago and Nori is BY FAR the BEST for vegi rolls. My fiance devours the traditional sushi and can be kind of a sushi snob but is always thrilled with his order. I've been there with large parties of 7-8 and as long as you have a reservation its a great place for a group too. Please note there is a corkage fee though--you get 1 bottle per 2 people without a charge then the 2nd bottle there is a fee (I believe $7). Usually not an issue but worth knowing.
(5)
Meghan J.
This place is small but good. BYOB but they also have a drink menu. Sushi quality easily rivals Wakamono or Coast at a fairer price. And they don't pull a 'tude if you show up with our own bottle of Sake. Service was great, friendly, sincere and not pushy.
(4)
Vivi W.
BYOB sushi, good price, reasonable quality. Fast service.
(4)
Michelle S.
Came in for lunch, because I heard that sushi was 1/2 off for lunch. I heard right :) I was pleasantly surprised when our bill came & 50% was taken off. The sushi was very good, server was nice. Will be back!!!
(4)
Eric V.
Great sushi and good service! This not so cheap place provides delicious sushi which almost leverages the price you will pay. Luckily i came with a resturant.com coupon which certainly curbed the overall price. This place is also a little small, and can feel cramped on a busy night which appears to be a common theme here. Overall, i found this place to be great but this is a place you go to spend a little extra money. So if cheap is what you are looking for you, you should look elsewhere. This is a byob place and be wary there is corkage fee after the couple of bottles.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
James K.
One bottle limit and corkage at a BYOB place? Out of the gate this place is already behind. The rest was nothing to write home about. There are better options in walking distance.
(3)Phoebe W.
Oh dear, I've been neglecting my Yelp account for quite some time. Probably because I've been spending so much time at Nori. This place has become a staple for my friend and I. Its a small place with quick, courteous servers and super tasty rolls. It's probably the most "Americanized" sushi I've had, but I have no shame because it's just THAT good. Favorite rolls are: Fire Dragon, Crunchy Spicy Tuna, and the Chicago Crunchy Crazy (not for people who are freaked out by fish eggs, they really pile on the tobiko) There's a Yelp check-in deal for Nori, but you can only use it with a party of 4+ people, which is pretty disappointing considering that I can probably eat as much sushi as 4+ people.
(4)Ryan C.
I really enjoy this sushi place. I get take out from here all the time and the rolls never disappoint. Their spicy miso soup is a personal favorite. I have eaten in the restaurant twice and enjoyed the atmosphere.
(4)Victoria O.
This is my favorite neighborhood sushi place! Its awesome for take out and just as awesome for dine in. Perfect date night spot! The staff is great and knowledgeable!
(5)Eleanor K.
I rarely venture into Lincoln Park but I really liked this place! I almost auto-passed because of the location (too close to students) but I guess that helps keep the prices reasonable! Our server was relaxed/normal dude, they got us in last minute and wine was half off!! (wednesday night), tables were a little crowded together (it's a small place) and I really appreciated the affordability of a good number of their rolls. If you want to go the extra mile and get a specialty roll to split, it will be ample and delicious. it is both casual and intimate.
(5)Anthony P.
Our party had a really enjoyable time here. Toro Sushi on Clark had an insane wait, so we looked around for other places, and this one had a short wait. The maître d' was simply amazing. Very polite, he tended to us well during our short wait. Knowing that this place was BYOB, we came prepared with a few bottles, and he was quick with the ice bucket to get it chilled. The gyoza were good, and we all loved our rolls. The Monster roll was a particular treat. We definitely plan on returning!
(4)Chad V.
Great sushi, great prices and semi-sleek cozy atmosphere. Just like everyone else, I come here because of the groupon. Yes I have had better sushi but this place gets 5 stars for me because the food is consistent, service is fast and the price is super affordable (with the groupon). I tend not to order their Nigiri or Sashimi as I find their Maki (the crunchy, creamy and fatty rolls) to be better.
(5)m d.
Best sushi ever. Period.
(5)Anne S.
nori never disappoints for fast and delicious sushi
(4)Casey H.
I never write reviews but I absolutely loved Nori. The server was so friendly and gave great suggestions. Can't go wrong with half priced wine bottles of wine. Loved the tropicana roll! Definitely suggest trying this place out.
(5)Carol M.
Nori, nori...you ain't very bore-i....at all! Edamame - salty mmm Miso - miso good! Crunchy Chicago Crazy Crispy Curls - Crazy Cookey Crunchie Goodness Snow White - And the 7 delicious flavors in my mouth (or more...?) Red Bean Mochi - muchas gracias magnificent mochi (with a cherry on top!!) Every bit was very delicious. Maybe it was because it was freezing out and we brought a hearty red wine to accompany the meal....but it felt SO GOOD. Yes.
(5)Prix L.
Love it and everytime my family comes, they love to go! its fresh, and not expensive at all! Great deals on Monday all day and before 6pm from tuesday to sunday half off as well. The waitresses are very nice always and its a garatee place to have good sushi. Make reservations!
(4)Erinn D.
I have only got take out from here but it's a great alternative to my favorite sushi place. They are really quick and the food tastes fresh. It's typically really busy when I stop in so that is always a good sign.
(4)Danny W.
A good place and a good deal if you get their non-specialty rolls. Also BYO!! So that's good for one additional star.
(4)Taylor W.
I absolutely love Nori. Makes my taste buds tingle :D going there tonight for half price maki. An since I just start to eat sushi, there staff is very knowledgeable about what they have and what's a good suggestion. NOMNOMNOM
(5)Sarah K.
WIthout a doubt, Nori is our go-to sushi joint! My boyfriend and I have visited on several occasions and have not had a single complaint. The miso soup is wonderful, not too salty. The seaweed salad is excellent as well. The rolls and nigiri are always fresh and well made. I always choose simple maki (california, rainbow, alaskan, spicy tuna), while my boyfriend usually selects a signature roll. We have always been more than satisfied with the maki and nigiri we have ordered. The service we've received at Nori is fantastic. Wait staff is attentive and not overly invasive. BYOB is also a great benefit to coming to Nori. If you are looking for a consistent sushi experience you MUST go to Nori. They won't let you down.
(5)Laila C.
Went on a Sunday afternoon with 2 friends and was able to enjoy their half off special (which is everyday from open to 6pm). I was a little skeptical about half off sushi at first but the rolls looked good and fresh. Nothing spectacular but 3 people were able to eat for less $40 with tax and tip! Cheap cheap!!! The 3 of us split the caterpillar (my fav), rainbow, salmon avocado, soft shell crab, teka, negihama, and another roll that was too unmemorable. Everything tasted pretty good, fresh although not a ton of fish. I would definitely come back if I just wanted to grab some quick sushi. p.s. also their half off deal applies to take out too! kind of amazing.
(3)Jack P.
I love to talk about value when it comes to dining out. And after visiting Nori for lunch, and experiencing that Post-Sushi Visceral Elation, or PSVE, I can say this place is a good value, with quality food, fine classy service, in a really nice room which resembles a nice little lobby bar/restaurant in a hotel. I ordered miso soup, which had a little fishy hint to it, and I don't mean that in a negative way, a Dragon Roll, and a nicely crunchy soft-shell crab roll. Both rolls were a healthy size, and tasted extremely fresh.And 50% off at lunch. Great deal. On a weekday at lunch, the number of staff exceeded the number of clients, so service was more than adequate, but nicely understated, polite and friendly. All I can say is whoever that guy was who invented sushi (Alexander Graham Sushi?), is Domo-Arigato to you, dude! You make my tummy feel so good.
(5)Chuck W.
Really fresh fish, great service, and very reasonably priced. Also walking distance from the best barcade in the city! How can you go wrong?
(5)Stu S.
My wife and I came here for lunch on Monday. We weren't expecting a whole lot, but ended up getting very good sushi at half price. Awesome!
(4)Richard H.
Vegetarian Sushi review INCOMING!! Nori is a fantastic spot for sushi in general and I really enjoy it because they seem to actually take the same care with their veg sushi as they do with the more expensive and intricate rolls. I have gone with non-veg friends who have ordered specialty rolls and non-veg rolls and absolutely loved them...so I am confident that Nori does indeed do a very good job all around. My favorites are just the sweet potato tempura, avocado, and their veg specialty roll...the Mo Yasai (so awesome). Nori has 3 locations in Chicago and I have been to the Lincoln Park and Edgewater ones (not Wicker Park yet). They were similar but Lincoln Park gets the edge in ambiance. All in all, this is a great spot to go out for sushi, drinks if you'd like and just have a nice night. They also do special deals throughout the week, so checking them out on Twitter and FB can definitely be advantageous.
(5)Casey A.
This place is very trendy and urban. It's really good sushi and when you have a groupon, you can't go wrong. I had seaweed salad and my friend had some soup for apps.. The presentation of the rolls was great, no issues. Fresh ginger is ALWAYS a plus. We each had a couple Asahi beers, which is the beer that my sister who lived in Japan for 20 years suggests. The waitress was very helpful and the busboys were quick.
(5)Robert W.
Mediocre sushi. Better than supermarket sushi but not great. Prices are about average. Service was friendly but very slow considering we were the only people there. Ambiance was very pleasant and contemporary.
(2)Nycole H.
This place has really cute decor and pretty good sushi. They had this awesome strawberry role that was really unique and creative. I can't say that this would be a place to return but it was good to try out for one time. The flavors of the roles really ran together and were not very flavorful and distinctive. The spicy tuna role was pretty mushy. Definitely an average place. BYOB is always a good thing though. That was worth a star on its own.
(3)Happiness L.
Thanks to Groupon I decided to give this place a try. The BEST tempura I ever had. Just the right amount of crispiness and not overly greasy. We also had the scallops (spicy) and the Japanese curry dish (nice flavor and not spicy). I wish I could order the curry dish with regular pork, chicken, or shrimp that isn't fried. Main entrees are very sharable as we each took home left overs. I recommend this place. PS They also have a daily special on their rolls.
(4)Mary L.
UPDATE: I HAD SENT THIS AS AN EMAIL BEFORE I DECIDED TO PUT IT ON THE INTERNET, SINCE USUALLY THEY OFFER SOME TYPE OF APOLOGY. BUT I HAVE NOW SENT IT TWICE AND I HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. I'M SURPRISED THEY'RE NOT OUT OF BUSINESS WITH ALL OF THE REPORTS OF GETTING FOOD POISONING. I was not very happy with my experience. When we first walked in we were greeted by a host who was clearly upset that we had shown up. There were two of us, but we were awaiting two friends. We put in reservations for a soft 9:00 after being told that we would probably have to wait till 9:30, that's fine. It was about 7:30 when we made the reservation so we had to kill 2 hours around the city. When we got back at exactly 9 o'clock it was like we had inconvenienced them with our presence, as if they were surprised we had shown up. It was only 2 of us from our 4 person party so we told them to take their time on getting a table ready. When the table became ready we sat down with our bottle of vodka, the nice waitress explained the BYOB policy (which I even researched before we went and found nothing on a no hard liquor policy) and she took my alcohol to the kitchen to hold for me. I understand liability but it came back significantly more empty. I would have said something at the restaurant but I didn't notice till I got home. I don't know if someone drank it or spilled it but I didn't feel comfortable to keep it so I threw it away. Continuing with the night, after she told us the policy, my friend decided to run next door to grab some beer, leaving me alone at the table to wait for our other two friends. It was only about 9:18 and we had told the other two that 9:30 would be fine to meet us there (as we were put under the impression that 9:30 was more feasible). I sat alone scanning the menu and was approached by the rude host who said "Um are your other friends coming because this is four, and now it's just you so..." Excuse me? I made reservations, I am not bothering you, we're trying to abide by your rules and make this easy for THE RESTAURANT by telling our friends to come later in case NORI was running behind. I thought I was the customer, I should not be catering to your staff. Besides there were plenty of empty tables around us and I looked at the host sheet before we were sat. There was only one other party after us. The food was great, sushi was fantastic, we got three rolls and two apps. Wonderful. Except the beef wrapped asparagus was clearly made with cheap meat. As the night ended all four of us ladies needed to go to the bathroom, two went and came back saying they had to use the mens room because someone was sick or something in the womens bathroom. Myself and the other friend took our turn for the bathroom and waited as an attendant cleaned the mens bathroom and the womens was still occupied by a drunk woman. Another girl approached complaining that the drunk girl in the bathroom had now been in there for half an hour. The employee cleaning the men's bathroom just looked at us and said "Oh I don't know what to do." And left it up to three customers to get this drunk person out of the bathroom. I was then called a "bitch" by the drunk customer as she told me "she didn't need to put up with this bullshit." The employee just stood there and did NOTHING. So now I've been harassed by the employees and the customers. Needless to say it was a horrible experience. It was supposed to be a nice dinner to celebrate not being able to be home for Easter and how PERFECT that it's right off the train. But I seriously never EVER want to feel that awkward when I am going to be spending one or two hundred dollars on a meal.
(1)Bret B.
My Groupon would have expired in a few days if I hadn't changed my schedule to have an early lunch (11:15am) here today. When I arrived, there was one other table occupied; when I left shortly after noon, there were two tables besides mine. The food was presented relatively quickly, and relatively attractively. None of it was bad, just sort of blah. Miso Soup ($1 with entree): very bland, despite abundant green onions; I think they skimped on the actual miso. Shumai ($6.50): I love these little steamed dumplings with shrimp, but Nori's version were downright soggy. Served with a cabbage and carrot salad with miso dressing, plus a one-dimensional dipping sauce. Softshell crab appetizer (not the roll)$7.50): I actually expected this to be presented in the tempura style, but it was dipped in a very thin flat batter, and overly fried in oil that was too hot. The exterior was too brown, while the interior was quite moist but not quite cooked through. Also served with a cabbage and carrot salad, with some mesclun, and a miso dressing, and the same one-dimensional dipping sauce. Gyoza ($7): as with the Shumai, I like to order these to test a restaurant's technical abilities. Nori failed. These gyoza had spent time in skillet, but they were limp and soggy, without that nice crust that one expects in well-prepared gyoza. This dish was also served with the same salad, same dressing, and same dipping sauce. Chirashi Donburi ($20): chef's selection of sashimi served on rice, accompanied by steamed and salted edamame and a seaweed salad. This is a lot of food for $20, and the chirashizushi was tasty and beautifully presented, if not actually sliced with much expertise. The edamame were fine; the seaweed salad was truly flavorless. Service was adequate and friendly. All of this would have led me to rate this with a 2 or 3. What dropped them to 1 was the fact that I asked to have my leftover food wrapped to take with me, and when I got home, some of the food was missing. It wasn't that they left out a container; they removed some of the food before putting it into containers. When I pay for the food, I expect it in the "to go" bag. I can't remember when I last experienced this, and I'm still pissed about it. Sadly, I have another Groupon for their Edgewater location. Not looking forward to THAT experience.
(1)Kelly C.
I went there with a couple girlfriends before a night out and the sushi was pretty good - nothing out of this world but solid. The service was good with no major problems. I was going to give them 3 stars but bumped it up because they didn't charge us the $7 corkage fee for our second bottle of wine...winning! We started off with edamame - pretty hard to screw that up. Now for the rolls: -Grand Caribbean - consensus of the table that this was our favorite - the strawberry and mango compliment this roll perfectly -Crunchy Spicy Tuna - got this on a recommendation from the server - it was good kinda plain for me but had a nice bit of spice -Fire Dragon - had a nice kick to it -Ninja Maki - also a recommendation from the server - it was okay nothing overly special to me Their menu is extensive and narrowing it down to just a few rolls was tough - there were a lot more I wanted to try. We did have a groupon and they gave us no hassle for using it like some places do so I appreciate that. I will be back especially to check out their happy hour deals!
(4)Ashley B.
I went here with my boyfriend because we got a LivingSocial coupon and it was well worth it! We did wait a bit longer than we expected after making reservations, but we were given some warm edamame while we waited, which I thought was a really nice gesture and made the wait totally worth it! A word to the wise though, while this place is very cute and cozy, it's also super small, so BE SURE to make reservaitions! After we were seated, we immediately ordered the gyoza dumplings, which weren't the best I've ever had, but they were still very tasty. We each got two of the Maki rolls and were told that they were half off that night. Our waitress said the coupon we had would only work for full-price items, but that she'd and it up and see if it made more sense for us to go with the half-price or the coupon, which I thought was really helpful. Our food was delicious! It ended up being $22 for four Maki rolls (not signature ones, but they were just as good), gyoza, and a bowl of rice. Normally it would've been $45 so we got to keep our coupon to use for another day, and I will DEFINITELY be back! I gave it four stars out of five because the staff was awesome and the food tasted great. I'll be back again to see if it deserves another star!
(4)Jason H.
This place is a perfect go-to for quality sushi. Small place, so definitely make reservations. It's BYOB, but there is a liquor store next door with a good wine/saki selection. The Gyoza, Caterpillar, and Rainbow maki are excellent. BUT, you can't leave without trying the Banana Maki. Sounds weird, but you won't be disappointed. Order it after a few other rolls - it's a perfect dessert!!
(4)Shayna N.
If you enjoy sushi for the taste of fresh fish, this place is hugely lacking. However If you are into lots of rolls that mask the true taste of fish, this might be your new favorite spot. We got there at 7p on a Friday night and all the tables were booked for the evening. Luckily we were only two and could be seated at the bar immediately. Overall I judge sushi by the fish and authenticity, I'm not into lots of cream cheese in my rolls nor do I love tons of fried tempura (I like some fried options but not all). That being said this place definitely caters to a white person crowd. Meaning, great fried rolls, but only average fish. In terms of nigiri we had: - sake - hamachi - sake toro - saba it was all just OK. Hamachi was a little tough, mackeral was kinda flakey and the toro should have been waaaaay more tender. We had even asked the server to ask what the freshest fish of the day was, and this was all they had to offer? A little disappointing. Moving on. The Fire Dragon Roll was super delicious! - Tempura Shrimp and Avocado wrapped with Tuna topped with Spicy Shrimp, Scallions, and Sweet Sauce They also had a small but decent sake list. I ordered a higher end Daiginjo sake, and the server asked if I wanted it heated? Clearly she does not know much about sushi. Either way - it was fine, but there's so many other places in chicago to get delicious fish (this isn't one of them) I probably won't return.
(3)Mike S.
I'll take an average roll please. If it's not too much to ask, can I have some average service and average time to receive our food on night where we are the only people in the restaurant? Many thanks. Nori Sushi - simply average. Not a bad place, and decent rolls, but nothing out of the ordinary for Chicago sushi.
(3)Kayee I.
I walked into Nori on day one of my two-day sushi binge earlier this month and gladly made my way around its take-out menu. Service was slow to greet customers at the door/counter--I got the sense that they were training new hosting staff--but were friendly and helpful when they did come around. Since it was my first trip here, I ordered a couple of staple items (spider and spicy tuna maki rolls) for a point of comparison, the Sushi Bento (four pieces of sushi and a California roll), and then one of their signature makis (i.e., Red Nori roll with spicy tuna, spicy shrimp, avocado wrapped with tempura crumbs, red tobiko and unagi sauce). A hostess handed me my takeout bag within the 15-20 minute window I was promised. Everything was deliciously fresh and traveled well. The spider maki maintained its spectacular crunch despite my 30 minute commute all the way home. The decor is very modern and chic--I'm a fan of the brick wall interior behind the sushi bar. Nori offers awesome sushi deals. Fan them on Facebook or request to get their weekly texts. Way to positively utilize social media! I'll definitely be back to try other signature maki rolls.
(3)Samra M.
This place doesn't look like much on the outside, you walk around lincoln park seeing sushi places all the time, so what makes this one so great? Well, first off, I took my lil brother on a sushi adventure today and this was our first stop (his and my first time ever being here, I decided to take him here because of all the ratings and raves about this place on this site LOL so I just had to try it myself and drag my little brother along with me for the ride), and it definitely will not be the last time I ever go here. We were greeted with smiles and were seated right away (we got to pick where we sat and we chose the booth, because 1) i don't like when people stare in the window and watch you eat and 2) it's winter so I assumed it would be cold, or would make me feel cold by the window). We sat and reviewed the menu looking over all the choices they had. The one that i personally always get at sushi place is the shrimp tempura roll (Ebi Tempura Maki), The Dragon Maki, and the Unagi Q Maki. Ebi Tempura Maki (4/5)-- I was a fan because the shrimp they give you is pretty big compared to other places and it had just the right fillings, plus it came out warm The Dragon Maki (5/5)--BY FAR why this place gets a 5! And the reason why I'll be coming here again. Their Dragon Maki was delicious and their eel was perfect Unagi Q Maki (5/5)-- Since their eel was perfect from the Dragon Maki, this one was great as well! No knowing that the Maki's were half off, we got the bill that was supposed to be around 30 dollars, and it came back as 14.60. I was even more happy than I was after finishing the sushi we had. Overall: Great service, great sushi, great eel =]
(5)Amanda F.
I hate to do it, but I am going to have to ding a very fast and affordable sushi delivery option for a bad spicy tuna roll. The delivery was super fast (under 30 minutes) and the prices were comparable to other sushi takeout places. I also took advantage of the free spicy tuna roll that came with ordering $45 or more. Apparently, there is no such thing as a free spicy tuna roll. I wish I had not eaten the fishy, sloppy maki. The rest of our order was pretty unadventurous, as no one in the group really wanted to fork up the money or calorie intake for the specialty rolls on a Tuesday night. The Miso soup was heartier than expected and the Philly roll was as expected. The Negihama Maki was fresh but very skimpy. The tempura options we sampled, the sweet potato and the ebi tempura makis, were very tasty and our favorites of the night. One of our party ordered the Nori Sashimi Ume platter which comes with 12 pieces of sashimi, a california roll, and miso soup. She was very pleased with the freshness, taste, and size of of the platter. It seemed like the deal of the night. Bottom line....sushi is fish but shouldn't be fishy. I will continue to search for a go-to Lincoln park sushi delivery place....sigh.
(2)Virginia H.
If you are looking for an amazing sushi place? Make Nori your next stop. I have been going to the Diversey location since it first opened. I have introduced all of my friends to this little gem. I am either going or ordering out about once a week. I cannot get enough. They have great maki rolls half price at lunch! Delicious!
(5)Jamie B.
I can't say too many bad things about Nori, but I will say that I liked them better when they had first opened about a year ago. Now that they've become more popular, I've found that their prices have gone up and the consistency and portion size of what they are serving has gone down. They do still have 50% off maki from 11-6pm everyday and 50% all day Monday, so I can't complain too much about the prices since this is a rarity at sushi places. The quality of the sushi is pretty good as well. My favorite rolls are the sweet potato maki and the ebi tempura (all affordable). The signature rolls are good but they are definitely pricey.
(4)Long Q.
I like this place. I came here because of a groupon special. They have a happy hour special with half off on hand rolls, but I couldn't use it with my groupon. I ordered a sashimi and nigiri combo plate along with a special soft-shell crab roll. My waitress was a very pretty blonde (No she is not an Asian popstar). Unfortunately, it was her first week working there and she had no idea what the items on the menu were. She brought the food to my table and started to tell me which fish is which but after salmon and tuna, she couldn't name anything else. She was apologetic and I forgave her since it is not easy to recognize the fish types after they were fileted into delicious pieces. Other than the waitress' lack of experience, the food was great. The rice was on point! the fish was fresh! the price was decent! I will definitely come back!
(4)Izzy N.
Best damn sushi as indicated on one of the pictures posted? My ass. It's just another spot for a whole bunch of shit all up in your rice and fish. That seems to be pretty popular in this city. Spicy mayo, glitter, honey, old tempura crumbs, hair extensions, cream cheese, fried pumpkin, lets put it all in there. TA DA. Delicious. Not really. But if you're into that, it's here. Fish and rice with a buncha shit on it so you won't gag at the fact that you might actually taste the fish. For that kind of sushi I'd rather go closer to home like at Friend's every once in awhile. Now that I've been to Nori, I can look at it just as I look at the 7 Eleven down the street. With a blank and ::blink:: blink:: type of Oh it's just you glance. I came in for lunch solo and was seated at the bar. It's an undesirable area since guess what you'll be staring at the entire time? a black wall. It's too low to get a good view of the sushi chefs. I wasn't happy and felt ignored in the little corner by myself. Staring at a black wall is not how I want to spend my lunch. So off to another table I went. Service was kind of crappy. I felt ignored and the vibe just sucked. On the bright side my rolls were all half off. I stuck with some sashimi and mostly simpler rolls. It was alright but yes, I've experienced better so 2 stars it is.
(2)Pham D.
My friend and I went to see a movie about sushi last night at nearby Landmark. Naturally, afterwards, we craved some sushi for dinner and thank god Nori is right next to the train.We walked in at 9pm, and it was crowded. Fortunately, they were able to seat both of us right away. I had the sushi ume platter which comes with spicy miso soup which was delicious. Next came 5 assorted sushi pieces and a california roll that were fresh and amazing. It was a lot of food, but it was so good that I ate it all.I can't wait to come back and try their specialty rolls. The Monster looks like A BEAST! There's so much food going on in there! The service was also amazing. Our server was very nice and observant. She gave us plenty of time and wasn't pushy. Also, this was one of the few places in the area that takes Level Up, the pay by phone app ( thelevelup.com/join/74955 ) It made paying so fast and effortless. We were in and out in no time and it was great!
(5)Kelly K.
Came here with a Groupon and unbeknownst to me, they happened to also have half priced maki at the same time (not valid with Groupon). However, this made it super crowded and the two waitresses were disorganized and unable to handle the rush. The maki rolls were good, but the service took FOREVER. Three stars for service, 4 for food.
(3)Christa R.
Pretty good. Not a lot of space and their AC isn't the best. We were a little toasty in there one night in June. Service was good and the sushi was probably better than average. I will definitely go back. Probably not with a big group this time.
(3)Alizabeth L.
I am so sad to give "new Nori" a terrible review. I used to love coming to Nori for great sushi, appetizers and BYOB. Since the renovation Nori has changed for the worse. It was uncomfortably warm, to the point that our fish was sweating. We got the sashimi platter, which included two pieces of imitation crab stick (kinda cheap) and had extremely chewy overcooked shrimp as well as one piece of fish that smelled so bad we sent it back. They gave us a hard sell to buy their booze as the greeting (spoke so quickly we couldn't get a word in), and apparently only allow one bottle of wine per table now. The wine glasses we got were dirty. They brought us our bill while we were still eating, without checking to see if we wanted to order more. Regarding the renovation it looked fine but took away character in place of cramming the maximum number of tables next to each other. Our table was inches from the table next to us and so loud we had to literally yell at each other to have conversation. I texted everyone I know who used to frequent Nori because I wouldn't want them to waste their time or money going back. Ukai is a 10 minute walk away and doesn't have any of these issues. Goodbye, Nori :(
(1)Katie R.
I LOVE NORI! We used to live right down the street so it was a weekly (or more:) treat. Now we are farther but I will still make the trekk to get the delish sushi and amazing deals. The restaurant is small but clean and simple and the service is always good. This is my favorite place to go for sushi for sure!!
(5)Ashlee S.
One of my favorite sushi spots in the Lakeview area. It gets a bit busy around dinner time and you may have to wait a few minutes for a table if you didn't make a reservation, but totally worth the wait. Try the sweet potato maki!
(5)Krissy M.
First tried Nori because there was a Living Social for it, now it's one of my favorite spots for sushi!
(5)Kristen K.
One of my favorite sushi places. Love the amount of specialty rolls. A little bit pricey but well worth it. Make reservations ahead of time and byob.
(5)Kathleen M.
Awesome service. I had a reservation for 8:30 for two and unfortunately a few tables didn't want to leave so the great staff were very honest and we ended up sitting at the bar and drinking a few glasses of wine. The bar was awesome and we stayed there and ate/drank for a few hours. We ordered five rolls and they were excellent. Great service and excellent food!
(5)Jayde L.
Nothing exciting. I'm not sure where the solid 4 stars is coming from.. I'm thinking maybe it's their half price specials. Good place just to get a meal over with really, there's a lot better places in Chi.
(3)Laura G.
Sushi, BYOB, and 50% before 6pm! This place is too good to be true! The sushi was delicious, but my favorite thing on the menu by far was definitely the "spicy fire ball" appetizer. It was the perfect combo of rice, spicy tuna and sweet sauce. Its a definite must if you go.
(4)Alex R.
I don't know how many sushi places I've been to anymore. It's all just a blur. The world spins around me in a see of special maki and gyozas. Anyway... onto the review. We bought a Groupon to Nori a few months back and with the sudden realization that it was expiring in a week, we hightailed it to Nori on a Saturday night. I won't lie, I was confused by the reservation system. I think you can't make a reservation the day of, but you can always sit at the 5 person sushi bar. After putting our names down, it was only a 10 minute wait until they cancelled someone's reservation for being 10 minutes late. How nice for us. :-) The setting was intimate. We ended up speaking with both of our table neighbors as there was about 5 inches between the tables on either side, so conversation was bound to happen. As for the food, we ordered the asparagus beef appetizer. It was much larger than anticipated and quite good. Afterward we ordered three rolls: the Oy Masai, Tokyo Maki, and Crunchy Spicy Tuna roll. Presentation was just fine, all of them came out on one big platter. As for the sushi itself, the crunchy spicy tuna roll was a real disappointment. It wasn't crunchy at all. The whole thing had the same consistency throughout and there was very little flavor. On the plus side the other two rolls were great. The Oy Masai was deep fried and almost melted in your mouth and the Tokyo had fantastic mix of fish which all came together great. Overall, this place was worth it and our total bill came out to $50 for 2 people which is totally reasonable. Not a bad inexpensive date night, but there are better sushi joints out there. I can't say we would have come if we didn't have the Groupon.
(3)Andrew L.
The sushi here is okay. It's mostly maki which is Japanese for roll, that people come here to eat. I love the banana maki, tokyo maki and dragon maki. The rainbow maki was good but as of late it tastes like a sewer. Plus we shouldn't be eating this anyway since the Tuna is endangered so it works out I suppose. Oh and you need to make reservations now since everyone and their mother's mother's mother's mother's mother's mother goes here.
(3)Angela W.
BEWARE of the waitresses at this restaurant!! My husband and I went there from a Living Social Special. Ambiance was good, a bit small...so very quaint and cozy. Goyza and Tuna Tartare were AMAZING!! very fresh. Rolls were good (Chicago, Red something...), but too much rice. Overall, I'd say it was good sushi and we were just about to add it to our list of new sushi places to go to. Then we got the bill...and as I was checking it over, I noticed that the waitress already added 18% to our bill. Mind you, it wasn't posted anywhere that this would be added and the waitress neglected to tell us she'd done it when she dropped off the credit card receipt. My husband didn't see that it was included and was about to write in ANOTHER tip when I pointed it out. So when I questioned her about it, she said that they add it for the Customer's convenience... WHAT!?!?! yeah right!! That was sooo sneaky and deceitful! I told her that we typically tip 20% anyway, and that everything was good, but this one thing was enough to keep us from coming back. She didn't even apologize, but said she'd tell the manager..yeah right..she's the one who charged it. Last I checked, it was illegal to add something to the bill without notifying the customer of it. We won't be going back....and it's too bad because the sushi is good.
(1)Sharon S.
I've always wanted to try Nori Sushi so when I saw the Living Social deal, I thought what better than this opportunity? My friend and I went there last night. We made a reservation, were seated and the service was great, besides the bussers not understanding any English. The interior of the restaurant was also nicely decorated. We ordered 4 items off the menu - Goma-ae, lava bomba, and 2 rolls. The food tasted great and was well presented but we'd say a bit overpriced. For 4 items, our check came to $60+. We got out check and almost just paid without looking. We had asked for extra ginger and they charged us $1 and never told us it was extra charge. And then noticed they automatically charged 18% gratuity. There was only 2 of us. I'm pretty sure that's illegal. I've see places write a note on their menu that they would charge gratuity if there's more than 6 people or something, which I still think is rude, but for 2? Hell no. People should be tipping on how well they thing the service and food is, not by the guidelines of a restaurant. We won't be going back. The food was great but not that great. Maybe they only charge those with Living Social coupons gratuity, but it's ridiculous and rude. Bye Nori.
(2)Rhonda G.
Dined here with a friend and I think i've found a new easy to get to mid-priced sushi spot. Fresh delicious sushi, slightly small place but they take reservations so take advantage. Some of the tables are really close together so don't go spilling all your family secrets. Service was attentive and fairly quick. Nothing jumps out as completely fantastic or magnificent but it was a great place for a casual, inexpensive dinner. Keep this one in your back pocket!
(4)Viv C.
I don't know why this restaurant is so popular. It is always packed. Please make a reservation before you go. Their service is pretty fast and accurate; however, the distance between tables are so narrow, so they may drop chopsticks or napkins while they are rushing to serve you. Food is not impressed.It's pretty average sushi restaurant. but their sushi is not that fresh. It makes me wonder why people are so in love with this restaurant. BYOB? Location? maybe both. I may not go back this again since ITTO sushi is way much better and it's walking distance from Diversey brown line.
(3)Johnny P.
Rolls are always fresh with lots of flavor. Ambience is fun and staff is friendly. One recommendation is to avoid the Ikura (large orange fish eggs), which have a strange flavor here...not bad, just strange.
(4)Carley M.
BEWARE!!!!! SCAM ARTISTS!!!!!!! I presented my LivingSocial coupon/deal as we were wrapping up, and she charged an 18% gratuity to my card, and told me this was LivingSocial's policy. TWO times I had to tell her that was not in writing ANYWHERE, and finally she said "okay okay since it's not in writing I will take it off". I called LivingSocial to report and they said this is NOT standard, and it's considered malpractice. SO PLEASE don't support this place. The food is not worth the money, and to be honest who knows what they do with credit card/debit card information.
(1)Jeff R.
Keeping with the Sushi theme, I went to Nori for lunch on Monday following my Sunday night dinner at Macku.It wasn't exactly planned, but I was meeting Joanna for lunch and she saw that they serve half priced maki from 11am-6pm. Yes, half price rolls for 7 hours. We decided to give it a go since it's new, carved out from space from Penny's Noodles next door. For the $23 we spent on an order of gomae and 4 maki rolls, the food was good. Is it the best sushi on the block, not likely. But it was fresh and good and perfect for lunch or an early dinner. My room mate says good sushi isn't cheap, and I agree. However I am also looking for cheap sushi that is good, and this qualified. Unlike the gomae from Macku, this was served traditional with only sesame dressing. We ordered four rolls for the two of us because we were hungry: Ebi Tempura, Spicy Tuna, Unagi-Q and Rainbow. The spicy tuna was more mayo and less tuna, but tasty none the less. The rainbow was standard, nice to have fresh avocado at the start of spring. My favorite though was the Ebi tempura, a great combination of crunchy tuna with avocado and unagi sauce. Again, not ground breaking but I could eat a lot of sushi when they only cost $3-4 each. When you combine good food with friendly service and a convenient location you get a recipe for success. Next time I'll go back for 6pm BYOB sushi dinner with a group of friends. Maybe you should too.
(4)Carson K.
DO NOT order take out from here. First of all, it took FOREVER to arrive, and we're less than 10 blocks away. No, we did not feel like picking up, but that doesn't mean the food should be any less quality. We ordered edemame, 2 miso soups, a sashimi platter and a salmon teriyaki. Here's what's up people: The sashimi was not good -- not good quality slices, chewy and was even warm! Ew! The salmon teriyaki was awful -- not a good cut, was fishy and slimey, with lots of skin. Edemame was a healthy portion, ok. Miso soup was eh. I'd like to find a good sushi places in Lakeview/Lincoln Park, but NORI IS NOT IT. Sorry folks.
(1)Sal O.
My fiance and I just hit this place and I was totally disappointed. The interior is cozy and tasteful and that was about the extent of the good times. First, a general pet peeve of mine. I refuse, on general principal, to pay more than $0.75 for a can of soda. Nevermind almost 2 bucks for a can of Coke. If you are a restaurant, invest in a g**d@mn fountain machine. It's not only cheap to operate but it's a good profit center. Plus it leaves your customers happy. Second, our meals were terrible. I ordered the tempura which was so thickly battered and greasy that the taste of the veggies and shrimp was lost. My fiance ordered the salmon teriyaki. It was overcooked and the sauce was clumpy and seemed like it came from a Sam's Club vat. The final straw was the terrible service. I don't know why we were given picnic-style paper napkins when there were piles of cloth napkins, but I'll roll with it. Our waitress was never around. And they pinned a 18% gratuity on our check without any signs posted in the restaurant. They said they had it posted on restaurant.com but that is not kosher because we used Living Social. Not only will I never be back but I'll actively encourage people not to come here. For a better experience, just go to Shiroi Hanna.
(1)Tom R.
Went to Nori for the first time last night (Tuesday). We made a 7pm reservation and the place was packed when we got there. We started with the calamari which I'd have to say was probably my favorite part of the meal. Very crispy breading, a little bit of snap to the calamari itself but still very tender. It also came with a honey wasabi dipping sauce that was much better than I had expected. We proceeded to order four more rolls for dinner - Crunchy Spicy Tuna, Philly, Red Nori, and the Fire Dragon. The Red Nori was definitely my favorite but, to be honest, I wasn't overly impressed with any of the entrees. The Philly had far too much cream cheese and avocado so it became a soft, indiscernible mess while we ate it. The Red Nori was the only roll that really had the contrast in textures that I prefer while eating sushi. All in all, it was a good, serviceable meal at Nori. The location is great; the value is spot on with other restaurants in the area and the fact that it's BYOB while still having a wine and sake list is a plus.
(3)Jeff R.
Very nice presentation, fast and friendly service, and great monday night half off regular maki rolls deal. Definitely enjoyed our dinner there!
(4)Adam M.
We had a Groupon for Nori and I felt that this place was pretty good for sushi. They had all the classic sushi/maki choices with a few extras. My favorite roll by far was the Ninja Maki which is Sweet Potato Tempura and Avocado topped with Torch Spicy Kani Kama and Unagi Sauce. We actually wound up ordering more of this particular roll. Other than this the place was good but not great for sushi. I recommend staying away from the Crab Shogun. The "torched crab meat" on top tasted like smoked leaves. I heard they have 1/2 off Monday's so I will go back but only on a Monday.
(3)Kelly B.
The half priced maki rolls before 6 make this my go-to neighborhood sushi spot. It's cheap, but good quality... And pretty delicious. I don't know why everyone is complaining about the 18% auto grat for living social discounted checks. I think it makes sense. A lot of morons tend to tip based on the total after the discount, when they should be tipping on the amount before the discount. Also... The auto grat is 18% of the total before tax. If you got good service, it's pretty standard to tip 20% of the total after tax... So I don't see what the big deal is because this place is awesome.
(4)Laura W.
Nothing like half price sushi to get people in the restaurant before 6pm. I like to eat dinner early so I'm always in restaurants before 6pm. I am not used to places being crowded at that time so Nori's happy hour really threw me off. We had the shrimp shumai for an appetizer and the number of pieces are generous. For the half price rolls we had; soft shell crab (decent), seared scallops (I didn't detect as much scallop as I assumed there would be), and the dragon roll (my favorite). I would be willing to go back to try some of the other half priced rolls, it is a good way to sample the menu without running up the tab. It is also BYOB but I noticed on the menu they have restrictions about what you can bring. Beer/wine only, no hard liquor. The first 6 pack or bottle of wine aren't charged a corking fee, but any more after that there will be a fee.
(3)Rebecca H.
It's nice that it's byob, I've just had better.
(3)Will I.
I am updating my review not because the quality or price of the food has changed, but because of mismanagement. A place as small as Nori with as good of specials as it has should not take reservations. 6-8 reservations fills the place up, which means that nobody else can get in within an hour window. This has grown apparent with the increased popularity of its Monday night half off special. Because of the reservations, either through people not showing up or showing up late, tables sit empty for up to an hour while people are turned away at the door. At a larger restaurant, this isn't a big deal, because they can accommodate this. A small place ends up losing customers by this off-putting management practice while looking empty and mismanaged. Nori, stop taking reservations. Stop trying to be something you are not (a large restaurant). You will be guaranteed business without them. Most likely, you will get more business because such a policy would allow you to fill all of your tables at all times with a higher rate of turnover. It would be more efficient, profitable, and would allow you to serve a larger number of customers in your limited space. Your establishment is a gem, don't let your exclusionary policy, not to mention the rude manager (now affectionately referred to as the "gatekeeper") I had the pleasure of dealing with last week, ruin that.
(4)Jackie P.
They have half price maki! How can you not love a place that has half price maki?! It's impossible and for that it gets 5 stars. The place is cute, the service is great and the food is great too. If you need to know that. But you don't. They have HALF PRICE MAKI!
(5)CeeCee Y.
I actually really like this place. I just wish they'd extend their half price maki deal to delivery as well. BYOB too, love that. I'd recommend their spicy tuna roll and soft shell crab maki.
(3)Katarina X.
Half-price maki every day (how they do it, I'll never know) It is an unbeatable, fresh and tasty value. I like the sushi, the service is good, they pack the take-out like colorful little art installations... especially the sweet potato tempura maki which is a scrumptious little bite of heaven! I HATE that they have a $15 Credit/Debit Card minimum purchase. I took off two stars for this lame, inconvenient, customer-averse policy. But here is how and where you can report them for violating their merchant contract: consumerist.com/2007/12/… I'd go more often if they did not enforce but alas, they do and thus I avoid. Enough complaints? That policy will change and I'll eat more sushi from Nori.
(3)Alex R.
Came here on Monday for half price maki - great deal! (Apparently everyone else agrees so it is a good idea to make a reservation) Delicious sushi, BYOB, and friendly service. A great overall experience :)
(4)Alexandria C.
Ahhh sushi. I love you. Not many foods appeal to me as much as the raw flesh of freshly slaughtered (yet often imported?), ectothermic aquatic organisms. If I was to mention the foods that take precedent, I would likely be imprisoned, or placed in solitary confinement. The qualities this cuisine possesses are almost enigmatic (Too much? Well you must be a sushi hater then, therefore you suck.) What's not to like? The stratigically sliced morsels, cut with industry standard knives, artfully presented by the hands of trained professionals, often served alone and/or rolled/atop delicious vinegary rice, and complimented by delectables such as seaweed/pickled ginger/wasabi/sake/wine/beer/and...it's a little blurry after that. Since sushi has become the new Ugg, it is not difficult to find a nearby establishment. For many reasons, Nori has been my go-to place for quite awhile now, and 92.16% of the time I am 99.78% satisfied. Those are some pretty good stats! I was surprised at how good the food was the first time I ate here considering it's located in an area that seems to be the death row of many new restaurants. I like that their menu is relatively standard. I am a purist, and firmly believe that at least limiting the amount of fruit and fish rolls offered is a good choice. If you need to put a strawberry on your tuna (not an innuendo), something ain't right. While Nori offers this crap, they don't do it out of necessity. When their fish is good, it's GOOD. Melts in your mouth good. Sh*t, you don't even need teeth to eat here! If you have dentures, no problem. Just order some take-out from, go home, de-teeth, and enjoy! For your gumming pleasure, I recommend the escolar, maguro, hamichi, sake toro, and red tobiko. Personal favs. As far as the prices go, they're not too bad. For the maki fans, everyday between 11 and 6 they are half price. For dinner, the bill for 2-3 people, eating a fulfilling amount of nigiri/sashimi, is usually around $70. The service has always been a hit or miss. A lot of the waitresses seem to have PMS. 50% of the time I order out for this reason. However, I do like the atmosphere. It's small, but not cramped. The decor is tasteful, and the lights are not bright. So on top of it all, it's a good place to bring an ugly date. =) Mmmmmmm
(4)Kimme O.
If you like: 1. Annoying easy listening tunes 2. Sushi that falls apart 3. 'Fried Sweet Potatoes' that are actually sweet potato fries from your local grocer's freezer 4. Slow service this is the place for you. 1 star because I had to and another for half off Mondays for rolls. If you're even thinking about giving this place a try despite my review go on a Monday so its less of a waste.
(2)Nicole O.
I have been here a few times and had okay service, love the special sushi rolls they have! However, tonight I called ahead to see if there was seating available before I ventured out into the cold and they said they had plenty of seating available. We arrive at the restraunt and 80% of the restraunt is empty and the host tells us that there is no seating available and insists we must have called another location until we show him our phone log. Needless to say, there are many other more excellent sushi restraunts in the area that will be receiving my future business.
(1)Cooper T.
Sushi was very fresh, great deal on the maki rolls for 1/2 off at lunch. Small place with very friendly service. I will definitely be returning!
(4)Bree N.
As a vegetarian, I'm always excited when I have a lot to choose from on a menu and it was this that made me want to give Nori a shot. There's a specific part of the menu for vegetarian maki - I went with the simple avocado maki & the sweet potato tempura maki. The only problem with the sweet potato tempura was that the sweet potato wasn't fried in the tempura like I've had at other sushi places, so it was a little harder and less crispy than I would have liked it. Other than that though it was delicious. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because I was misled about the corking fee. Other reviews say there isn't one for the first bottle, but when we got there we were told no matter what there was a charge of $7 per bottle. So my boyfriend and I had to save our wine for home, which isn't a huge deal, but it was a little annoying for a BYOB place to charge so high of a fee for one bottle of wine.
(4)Jay R.
I remember when you had to search to find a sushi place in Chicago. They are still not on every corner like Starbucks or Walgreens but if you are craving sushi you won't have to look very hard. Nori is a great place to not have to look to far for, and I live in the hood so my sushi craving is cured with ease. Quality fresh fish and unique rolls plus good service and the kicker they have a stellar 1/2 price deal. Everything is 1/2 price from the Nori maki roll section of the menu before 3 everyday and all day on Mondays. I can eat the hell out of some excellent sushi for the cost of fast food. Some of my favs The Ninja Maki - Sweet potato tempura and avocado topped with torched spicy kani kama, unagi sauce and tempura crumbs Tekka Maki - Fresh big eye tuna ( whole piece not the chopped up stuff) Escolar Jalapeno Maki - Escolar and jalapeno Spicy and buttery all in the same bite Soft Shell Crab Maki - Soft shell crab, avocado, cucumber, masago mayo, unagi sauce and scallion A great neighborhood place but worth a trip to get here also.
(4)Latisha P.
Came for dinner! Solid sushi that will have you satisfied. Didn't try too much but we were happy with the rolls we got. ROLLS Heartbreaker roll (4 stars): good textures good salmon Caribbean (4 stars): strawberry and mango combo was surprisingly good. Lighter roll. SERVICE Kate is awesome! So sweet and gave great suggestions, thanks Kate for taking care of us!
(4)Nicole L.
Just a heads up there are some reviews claiming 1/2 price rolls before 6 PM. This is not valid. Also, be aware that the check-in offer for one free maki is only for parties of 4 or more. So don't expect a free roll on date night. Okay now that all of that is cleared up lets talk about the actual sushi. Overall sushi was just fine. Don't think I'd come back. Also service was pretty bad and my waitress walked away from me in the middle of my sentence but I chalk that up to the language barrier.
(2)Keith C.
Decent sushi joint. They don't have AYCE but do have BYOB. However, you can only use 1 bottle per party. You can bring more bottles but they won't let you drink them. They will hold for you until you leave. Corkage fee is $7. Service could be a little better. It took them a while to bring us a menu. I wanted 2 pieces of uni as part of my order but the waitress came back and said that the uni wasn't fresh and didn't recommend it which was nice on her part. Sushi came out fast and the fish was fresh. If i needed sushi and was in the area, i could see myself coming back.
(3)Scott O.
Went for lunch here last week and loved it. A new favorite sushi spot for lunch. The special lunch boxes are the way to go. I got the maki box with 3 different kinds of maki (6 apiece for a total of 18), with miso and a salad with ginger dressing. And the sushi was fresh and delicious. And the red bean mochi was great (the green tea, not so much). I would recommend the special lunch boxes though there ARE 1/2 price rolls till 4PM. You just have to ask and they will tell you yes. Not all the sushi but one whole page.
(4)Lucas W.
The sushi is very good, but it's unnecessarily pricy. Also, it may be BYOB, but if you bring beer, there'll be a $1 charge that they don't tell you about because they do actually sell a couple beers. Got a couple rolls and seemingly every roll was double digit prices except the typical simple things like spicy salmon or spicy tuna. The fish was always high quality though and the rolls very flavorful. If you're alright paying more for some sushi which while above average doesn't reflect the price, then Nori's a good option. I may go back, but I feel I can get sufficiently high quality sushi elsewhere for a portion of the price.
(4)Teddy H.
Okay sushi, sub-par service. 90 minute wait on a Monday when most tables are open? Not buying it. I want to love but not sure it's worth the condescending attitudes you are greeted with at the door.
(2)Patty C.
I had a decent lunch here. Their makis are half-price before 4pm, and they have lunch specials. I ordered the sashimi lunch special and a seared scallop maki. The scallop maki was okay, nothing special. The sashimi lunch box came with a miso soup, side salad with ginger dressing, gyoza dumplings, and a Cali maki. I'm not a big fan of miso soup, but theirs was pretty good. The sashimi was fresh, the gyoza was good, and the salad was good too. The Cali maki was okay. Overall, everything was decent. I ordered green tea as well, and my total was about $20 before tips.
(3)Jessica A.
This is one of my go-to sushi spots. Especially for their half price Nori maki at lunch time. I have been there many many times for both lunch and dinner service and have not once been disappointed. The service is always nice. Not overly attentive (as is usually the case with sushi places) but not bad. Some of my favorite maki include: spicy shrimp (perfect amount of spice), ninja maki, and Tokyo maki. Those are must trys!!! Go to Nori! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Justine M.
Great sushi. One of the better spots I've had. I suggest getting the Chicago Crazy and Red Nori. Loaded sushi, but hits all textures. The service was GREAT. I went with a friend with diary diet restrictions and the waitress was very accommodating and sweet. The inside is small so I assume it gets crowded during peak times. I went on a weekday around 5:45 and not too many people dining. The perfect crowd comfort. I've also ordered delivery via their online ordering system and delivery is fast. I also suggest trying the calamari with the honey wasabi mayo. My favorite sushi in the lincoln park area so far.
(4)Liam R.
Came here with a groupon and a bottle of white wine and left full and happy. Here is in between: out on a date around nine on a Saturday night and came here even though they said they were full. We were promptly sat at the sushi bar and they brought out ice for the wine. We ordered crab And cream cheese rolls and beef asparagus wraps for appetizers. Both tasty but some of the asparagus was tough. We then order two Maki rolls one was unagi and the other was crab tempura. We are not fans of fancy rolls. The crab was so good we ordered another. To finish of our groups we had bananas tempura. I was too full to finish. Definitely a great spot with simple elegant and ever type of roll in between. I will be back for sure. Check in to receive a free maki roll As an update I have been back a few Monday's for half priced maki. Always satisfying and cheap when you bring your own wine. Glad it was in my neighborhood
(4)Daniel G.
A Lakeview sushi delight! I had the usual miso soup, the dumplings and an unforgettable roe in cucumber sashimi. Great
(4)Jialing L.
Found this place last year when I was apartment hunting in the Lakeview/Lincoln Park area. Came in for lunch and ordered the soft shell crab entree. There was so much food; it came with a salad, rice, mashed potatoes and the soft shell crab. I usually don't have any leftovers but I actually had to take part of it with me because I was so full. Really enjoyed the dish but it was a little pricey. Service was decent and the I liked the decor of the restaurant.
(3)Evie H.
My friends and I came on an impulse move Saturday because they love the sushi here. We made a reservation for 6:30 and got seated right away. To start off we ordered the agedashi tofu and the fried calamari. The tofu was soft and silky which was tasty but it could be a bit more fried on the outside. It'd be nice if they added some green onions and grated daikon on top too! The fried calamari was perfect for me because I couldn't taste the squid at all. The honey wasabi dipping sauce was excellent and they were nice enough to give us extra sauce on the side. I got the Japanese curry entree which to my surprise was HUGE. It comes with a fairly hefty portion of tossed salad with ginger sauce, miso soup, a scoop of Japanese potato salad, a scoop of rice, two HUGE cutlets of meat (I got chicken) which was breaded and fried perfectly, and a big bowl of curry with potato, carrots, and asparagus. Dare I say I loved every bite of it. The meal was so large that when I asked for a to-go box, the server thought I didn't like the food and that's why I didn't eat any of it....Quite the opposite actually! My only bit is that I would like the curry to be slightly thicker and less soupy. Oh and throw in some more vegetables! Otherwise, no complaints. Great service, great food.
(4)christina h.
2.5 stars. As a regular of this restaurant since 2011, I've been ok with every change Nori has made, including decor, communal seating changes, no more discount cards, etc. Nori recently made some changes which has made me re-write my last review. Now they charge a $7 corkage fee for each bottle including your first, which I think is ridiculous considering your first bottle has always been free. Sushi is good quality, but most sushi restaurants don't have corkage fees, and the ones that do don't charge more than $5. I used to come here once a week, but since the recent change, I will not be coming here as often. Seriously, why should I eat here and pay to drink my bottle when I can drink it for free somewhere else? They also now add an automatic 18% gratuity on parties of 5 or more. Maybe its their way of trying to be more upscale. But the reality is, this is a neighborhood sushi joint not an upscale downtown restaurant. Nori needs to reevaluate its changes, is this really gonna get you more business? Seems greedy to me. And the worst part is, servers will only end up getting jipped on their tips. I used to tip 20% here but now have started tipping 15% to cover their corkage fee.
(2)Jay J.
Very solid sushi spot. A little pricey but good sushi, byob and a great Lincoln Park/Lakeview neighborhood restaurant. Rainbow sushi, spicy tuna, strawberry Sunday roll and spicy miso soup are all delicious. Monday half price if you dine in.
(4)Katie E.
I wish I could be giving this restaurant a better rating, but we had to walk out before we could even eat anything. It was our friends birthday, we had reservations for 7:30 (which we even arrived a little early for). At around 20 minutes after our reservation time we saw the same 4 tables that were still open from when we got in. We asked how much longer the wait would be, considering we had made reservations. The man stated that he could not tell us, because then we would be staring at the customers waiting for them to get up. We were a little frustrated at this point, but decided to stay. 25 minutes in the tables are still open, and they seat a group that had just walked in. At this point we were a little confused, but decided to wait. After 30 minutes of tables that were STILL open, and us still standing at the register, we finally decided to leave. We told the representative to go ahead and cancel our reservation, because we were not waiting any longer. After we voiced our dissatisfaction, it was then he decided to tell us we can be seated. At that point we were pretty upset, and decided to leave anyway. As we were outside we received a call from the same man, asking us why we had left. I told him yet again that we had left because we were not waiting any longer for a table we had reserved well in advance. It is quite frustrating to wait for your customers to get upset and leave to tell them that the table is ready. The tables had the same set up from the time we got there to when we left. There are plenty of other great sushi places in the area where they actually treat their customers well, and have great fresh food (ie: Kyoto). Overall we were all quite unsatisfied with this experience.
(1)John H.
One of my favorite places for sushi. I just went here with my girlfriend for lunch, been here a bunch of times. The quality is always high and the service is excellent. I always go for the half priced maki special before 4 when I can. My favorite appetizers are the fireball with spicy shrimp, the beef and asparagus roll, the gyoza, and I'm not a fan of edamame but theirs is pretty good. I have never, not once had a bade meal at this location. Note: The location on Diversey is the best. The location on Milwaukee has a weird smell to it sometimes and the quality of the food is not consistent. I would give the location on Milwaukee 2-3 stars and I won't go there anymore.
(5)Dallas F.
This Nori location rarely lets me down. Ive been consistently satisfied with their maki and the entrees. While the food is good, the daily specials keep me coming back. Before 4pm the Nori maki rolls are half priced. I do like a good deal, and Nori delivers!
(4)Allyson H.
Great lunch specials! Everyone enjoyed their food which was served quickly and was delicious
(4)Jess P.
Really good sushi and it's half price often!! The king salmon roll is really unique and really delicious. It's a great place for lunch!
(4)Lina W.
I came here for 1/2 off select sushi rolls happy hour special with friends and a bottle of wine. Service is very attentive, kind, and just fantastic overall. The sushi rolls were alright, but not mindblowing. We had the spider roll, tokyo roll, banana roll, rainbow roll, and caterpillar rolls all for about $34 after tax, which is a fantastic deal. There is a bit too much rice for my taste and not enough fish, but we did leave feeling very full. If you like cheap sushi rolls and byob, this is the spot.
(3)Natalia K.
I've been to the Nori in Wicker Park so I already knew to expect inventive and delicious rolls and would give it full stars, but the space, like in Wicker Park, is just too small. Small is fine, but then you have to be more exclusive and not stuff so many tables in the restaurant. Make people wait or get a bigger space. My friend and I were so cramped and we had to move tables over to move in and out of our seats. Make bench communal seating, because at least that would be easier to navigate around. A groupon brought me here and delivery would bring me back because I just don't like being squished in among strangers and having to listen to their conversations and munching. The food is kind of worth it though. We started with the cheesy roll because I love a crab rangoon and this was a lighter version of it. Our rolls were the Chicago Crunchy Crazy, Fire Dragon, and Crab Shogun. We loved all three and I don't remember which was my favorite because I'm pretty sure I didn't have one. Yes, Nori, I crave your food, but please make me more comfortable next time so I have room to really enjoy it!
(4)M K.
Great food and menu selection over all. Servers are friendly. Mondays are half off Nori Maki Sushi and lunch is always half off on Maki Sushi. :-D Great deal without having to buy a deal from separate sites. Can get really busy, but it is worth it. I would recommend this in place of RA Sushi.
(4)Julie Y.
Came here for dinner the other night and the fish was really fresh and good. The service was also great and idk if it is only on Tuesdays but they had half off all their wine and sake. They don't have hard alcohol. Def recommend this place if your in the area. Also heard the other food that isn't sushi is great as well.
(4)Mary S.
My husband and I came by here on a Friday night, without reservations, and were quickly seated. It was about 630p but by 8p they were hoppin! We started with the honey wasabi calamari which was I was glad it was only the circle bites of the calamari and not the actual squid looking ones. It was very good and just the right amount of sauce to leave you wanting more. We then went on to order multiple sushi maki, with some insight from our waitress: Grand Caribbean - said to come with mango and strawberry but I didn't taste any of that and could barely even see the strawberry in the roll, it was a good roll but tasted fairly basic of just tempura shrimp and wasabi mayo Spicy Tuna Maki - your standard spicy tuna but this was good and now chewy, I actually thought it was better than the Grand Caribbean only because I got what I expected Fire Dragon - this was recommended by our waitress and was our favorite of the three, it had a lot of flavor to it but the flavors all complimented one another. Unfortunately this one I think we only got 8 pieces of whereas the others we got 10, so go figure we liked it the best Being a bit of a sushi-snob I can be difficult when rating sushi places, but overall this was a good experience and I would definitely go back to try some more rolls.
(3)Kimberly P.
Terrible service - HUGE attitudes. From the host to the wait staff. Sushi was terrible. The restaurant has an antiseptic smell and the food tastes like it too. Go to Tanuki just north on Sheffield!!!
(1)Jon M.
The sushi is not good and not fresh. Service was just ok.
(1)Lauren B.
I really love Nori. The rolls are smaller but I don't mind because of the quality of the rice. It's also BYOB and all day Monday and every other day for lunch all maki rolls are half off. The waitstaff and atmosphere are also very pleasant. They also have a decent saki, wine and beer selection as well.
(4)S.A.M. R.
Been coming here for a while.. They have uped their prices multiple times .. They do Half off maki rolls for lunch so maybe this is to compensate ? I will not come and pay full price because I don't think it's worth full price . $9 for a spicy tuna roll - I know better places to get one for less The rolls this time we're very small as well . They also now have a corkage fee if u have more then 1 bottle of wine. $7 / bottle for large parties beware Overall good food though which is why we keep coming back .service has also improved Id love to give 3 1/2 stars because food is good but not worth the price for the portion size
(3)Martha C.
Can't believe I haven't reviewed my go to for take out sushi yet! Been here multiple times for take out since it was near my old place. Overall, the sushi is pretty good. Only once did I have a bad experience, and it happened to be a Sunday evening, which if lore is correct, is a bad time to get sushi. Favorites include the seared scallop maki, sweet potato tempura and the escolar or salmon sashimi. Online ordering is easy and take out usually can be picked up anywhere between 15 minutes after ordering and 45 depending on how busy the restaurant is.
(4)Hasnat A.
Upon arriving at Nuri sushi though the hostess was acting like a a complete dick and therefore I give it a -1 star but the food was really good when the waitress brought out her balls of fire I was surprised and ever so pleased. I got the spicy tuna fireballs and let me just start of by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of putting those balls in my mouth. What a taste and the aroma so splendid! I've never in my life enjoyed the pleasures of putting balls in my mouth as I did on this particular day at Nuri Sushi! Oh yes, and the shushi was great too... Enjoy daddies!
(4)Jesse T.
It should be known that there is no ramen here. If you searched ramen and this place came up, you are being lied to. That said, this place is pretty good. Very generous portions. The staff and atmosphere are both good, as well. Just don't expect any ramen.
(3)Katy K.
Nori's lunch special is what keeps bringing me back. I sometimes will order pick up twice a week because of how cheap it is. I've also never had an issue of them messing up my order, they are always prompt and on time and food is always great. I don't know what I'll do if i end up moving away from here!
(5)Sofiya C.
Love. Love. Love. I have been here at least 5 times (between this location and the Milwaukee ave one). Always impressed at how delicious and fresh the sushi is here. My fave 3 are the strawberry (forgot official name), grand Carribean, and the Giza (smoked salmon)... Aside from all the other amazing rolls they have there. It's byob. They take reservations (I highly recommend). Service has always been good! Honestly this is the place I will keep coming back to for many years as long as it's around!
(5)Brian O.
My favorite go-to sushi spot! BYOB and very fresh fish! BTW this location is better than the one in Wicker Park.
(4)Corey E.
I lived in this neighborhood for years and never knew this place was there until my dad told me about it. I took my him here for Sushi on his birthday and was thoroughly impressed. We had so many rolls that I lost count and they all were some of the freshest sushi that I've ever had. I also enjoyed the fact that it was BYOB and there was a Walgreens right across the street that had some good Merlot wine that we picked up before going. The restaurant is small yet nice, clean, and very sociable.
(3)Annie M.
I am so torn with how to rate Nori. There are so many positives, but when it comes down to it: I'm just not impressed with the quality of their sushi. They recently renovated the place, and it looks great! They definitely cram WAY too many tables into a small space, but it makes the wait shorter, so I guess it's not too bad. The staff is excellent. I can't say enough good things about every single staff member I've encountered there. Even when there's a long wait time or it's hectic half-price sushi Monday, they're always so nice! And the fact that they have half price sushi every Monday is just phenomenal! All regular rolls (which include some of the "fancier" rolls) are on special so you can eat your heart out. Unfortunately, every time I've been there for the past few months, I've had to throw the towel in early after eating a piece or two that just didn't taste right. Usually my problem is with my favorite roll (the Alaska roll) so my money is on the salmon being the culprit. The specialty rolls are always great, because there's so much other stuff mixed in and/or the fish is cooked. Honestly, if you're a sushi newbie, this place is great and you'll absolutely get your money's worth, just steer clear of the Alaska or salmon rolls (at least on Mondays)...stick with rolls with a variety of ingredients. Also, it's BYOB and there's a wine store about 3 doors down with plenty of selection! They uncork the first bottle per table for free I think.
(3)Lauren E.
Excellent sushi delivery. I have never eaten in the restaurant, but have been extremely impressed every time I have ordered. I am often underwhelmed by delivery sushi. I find the rice gets a bit stale on the commute and the food loses its appeal by the time it arrives at your door. Not at Nori. The first time I ordered was for a friends birthday. We ordered a lot of sushi for a group of girls. Everyone was commenting on how it was the best delivery sushi they had experienced in the city! We ordered a combination of standard and specialty rolls and all were excellent. We also ordered edamame and gyoza that were well prepared and enjoyed by all. I would highly recommend Nori - particularly their specialty rolls!
(4)Sam N.
I have been here a few times now and I can say that I enjoy each and every visit more than the next one. Its a hot, hip crowd of young professionals who are sharing sushi and bottles of wine. The people who are the proprietors of the place have their heart on the pulse of the people who go there and spend their shekels there. They had the TV on the last time I was there to Thursday Night football because people like watching football during their sushi eating. My favorite soup is the Gyoza soup which has a twangy flavor because of the scallions. YUMMY YUMMY. Nice vibe. Call ahead of time to find out what the "fresh of the day is"
(4)Mykie H.
The food and service are phenom but the wait is always sort of a buzz kill. Nori boasts fresh fish, unique combinations, and it's BYOB. Their carry-out lunch special means 50% off their Signature Maki (that's 26 rolls to choose from, half off, every day during lunch). They also have bento boxes that are inexpensive and last me a solid two meals. Great date night atmosphere and easy to pick up, Nori is my husband and I's favorite sushi joint in the city. And it just so happens to be 2 blocks away. Winning!
(4)Rawlins R.
I've been here twice. My first time here was with a GroupOn. Upon my second visit it was the day before Christmas Eve which was a Monday so all the other sushi options were closed. Nori Sushi is always half of sushi on Monday so I suggested we come here. We had a party of five and the place was packed at the time but the host was able to get us in earlier than he had thought. Still not sure if this is BYOB or if they serve alcohol or both but we brought our own beer from the liquor store next door. The sushi here is really good even though I call Nori Sushi the McDonald's of sushi, only because there are so many locations. You will get a high quality dining experience and won't be disappointed. When checking in I noticed the free special roll offer but I was told that this does not work on Mondays. According to staff when participating in the half off sushi all other deals do not apply. My only suggestion would be to add this disclaimer somewhere within the Yelp Discount when you check in. It could be misleading and potentially draw someone in for the wrong reasons.
(3)Karla B.
We stopped in on Wednesday and got our favorites. But we also ordered the Snow White role. It has crab meat, escolar, apple and ebi, topped with seared squid and special sauce. The seared squid was so tough it was inedible. I had one piece of the roll and didn't eat anymore. After going to Nori a couple times a month for almost 2 years, we had our first bad roll. Still really good sushi, but stay away from the Snow White.
(3)Bridget E.
This is my favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago. I'm not the biggest sushi snob but I think it's incredible PLUS they have half priced sushi options between lunch hours ( sorry I can't remember what they are exactly:11-4?) and BYOB makes all my girlfriends really happy for cocktail hour meet ups.
(4)Allison G.
Nori is conveniently located by the Diversey brown/purple el stop. Its a tiny little sushi bar with attentive service, a variety of rolls, and BYOB. My friend and I came here for dinner last night and shared a big bottle of white wine, which they provided an ice bucket for. She ordered a noodle dish which came with miso soup and salad- it was SO much food! Be aware they are HUGE. I ordered two rolls- the futo maki (a favorite of mine, and wow Nori did a great job!) and the mexican (it was good, but I think next time I'll try the caterpillar for a bigger flavor). Ended up being about $45 with tip for 2 people. Not bad, but I hate paying full price for sushi, so I've got my eye out for the Nori groupons, otherwise this will definitely be a new go-to lunch spot or Monday night dinner (half off maki!).
(4)Gregory S.
I really enjoy this spot. Quaint, boisterous atmosphere. The waitresses are very friendly, the sushi is really good, and its BYOB. Definitely worth a visit, and will be going back for sure.
(4)Stephanie H.
This was a waste of calories, I should have just gone next door to Penny's. The name of this restaurant is accurate in that it's a neighborhood sushi bar because it implies 'hey you have no food in your house so come down here for some mediocre food because you're also too lazy to go to the store and cook'. I think these yelp reviews are inflated. I started with the gyoza miso soup which I liked and then got the blandest bowl of udon imaginable. I think shopping mall food courts do just as good a job or better. The tempura I got with it was good though. The 2 sushi rolls were just so boring. I can smother fish with a lot of stuff too and make it taste good. If you don't care about tasting the fish or about flavors in general then this is your place. I also got some mint tea. My total bill with tip was like $55 which is too much for bland boring food. Will not go back.
(2)Dahee W.
I can't believe this is my first review because I come here all the time. I love it so much! The maki is half price every day till 4, and all day on Mondays. You really can't beat that anywhere. The sushi is delicious, well made, and fresh. And very fairly priced. Try this place out for lunch if you haven't yet!
(5)Kristen P.
I enjoyed each of my two experiences here. The place is a bit small, so you will be sitting close to your neighbors. The sushi is very good, and there are some exotic types of rolls on the menu that I've never seen before. This is also a BYOB establishment...beyond the first bottle, you have to pay a small corkage fee of $1, no big deal. LIKE.
(4)Joey F.
Very good Sushi. They have a wide variety of rolls that are different then other places in the city. Every roll that we got was very tasty. It is also BYOB which is just another plus.
(4)Wayne H.
We ate here out of convenience one night. We were meeting some friends after dinner at a close by comedy theatre. Fortunately we were able to get a seat right away on a busy night. This place had decent sushi and is BYOB, but we didn't have anything that was memorable. I would prefer to go to one of Chicago's much better sushi spots.
(3)Tian S.
Great place, recently renovated. Very friendly staff. Good food and reasonable price. Half price sushi all day Monday and till 4pm on other weekdays. Also offer free Wi-Fi, great for study or work on your laptop while having lunch. Love this place!
(5)Katie P.
This is becoming one of my favorite local sushi spots. They have an extensive menu with a ton of creative rolls. The fish is super fresh! If you eat in, be sure to get a reservation as they can book up quickly. It's also BYOB (there's a liquor store conveniently next door) with the first bottle free and then the second is a $7 corkage fee. Totally reasonable. In general the restaurant is on the smaller side so it's not the best for big groups but rather 2-4 people per party. I've also ordered delivery from them many times. Each time the order is accurate, quick and comes with all the fixins you need.
(4)Danielle O.
What a fantastic experience - start to finish! My boyfriend and I decided we wanted sushi at 6:00pm on a Friday. We called to see if we could get a reservation at 7:30. The woman answering the phone was very courteous and took the reservation enthusiastically. When we showed up, the restaurant was completely full, except for our table, which was the best table in the house. They sat us right away and immediately got us an ice bucket for our byob wine. The waitress was so helpful and attentive. She was there when we needed her and left us alone when appropriate. She was extremely friendly and responsive. I was very impressed with the service. The sushi was delicious! Wow! So fresh! We got the fire dragon roll, a spicy tuna, and ginza roll, plus some sort of sashimi. Everything was great. My boyfriend loved the fire dragon, and I was crazy about the ginza! The sashimi was perfect. My boyfriend is allergic to avocado, and they were more than happy to take out the avocado out of all the rolls. The thing that I found great was they gave me a plate of sliced avocado for me to put on top of my rolls. I thought it was very thoughtful, especially since I love avocado but can never eat it on sushi when I'm sharing with my boyfriend. They didn't rush us out when were taking our time finishing our wine, but we're very prompt when we asked for the bill. The ambience was dark and romantic, while being modern. The only note I would make is that they don't have brown rice - no complaints on that. Just a note, not a complaint. For two special roll, one regular, and 2 pieces of sashimi, plus tax was under $40. Such a great deal. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Monica M.
Nice and open ambiance, delicious sushi (I really like the signature maki, especially the Ginza and Snow White) and our waitress was super friendly. I took my best friend from my hometown here, and now we've agreed to make it a tradition...we tried to eat slowly so it would last forever. Give it a shot!
(5)bridget l.
Kate was our server the other day, and we loved her! Our service was fantastic, and quick! The chili oil was excellent we had a scallop hand roll, sashimi plate, dragon roll and all was wonderful. Great job Nori! Clean, and delightful. :)
(4)Lucy P.
Really good sushi, always. A great place to go with a group of friends or on a date. They remodeled and the interior of the restaurant is now much more open and looks really cool. Had a great time with our server last time and took shots together. Would highly recommend.
(4)Matt N.
A little bit pricey, but loved the food. Went here for a date and got an appetizer and 3 rolls. BYOB which always makes dinner more fun. Great service. All in all, quite pleased and will definitely be back.
(4)Alissa S.
So good! they have great happy hour specials on their rolls. My friends are obsessed with this place so I used to go a lot with them. Its small and cute inside and its fun to sit at the bar and watch the chefs make the sushi up close. The reason i give it a 3 stars is because I am a vegetarian who doesnt eat fish and they dont have any creative rolls for people like me. If you dont eat fish the only thing you can look foreword to is the typical avocado roll or a fried piece of vegetable rolled up in rice.. nothing special. But its BYOB and a fun place to go out with your girlfriends
(3)Karolina M.
They don't even deserve a one star, just left felt like calling the health department and telling them they are serving raw fish with no air condition on, warm sushi . Literally waitress didn't even finish taking the order before she left the table. Waited for our food for 30 minutes and came out in pieces.. Again warm .. Literally intolerable to even eat the last roll so we sent it back . No flavor food was disgusting . Living in Vegas and traveling the world I know good sushi
(1)Christy L.
I had the pleasure of eating sushi three times this week, and Nori was my favorite! It's not only a great value but also has a great selection of tasty rolls! So bring a bottle of wine and enjoy a cute neighborhood BYOB sushi restaurant. I recommend a reservation on the weekend. While not awful, we had to wait about 15 minutes on a Friday night at 8pm.
(4)Jennie K.
I love coming to Nori. I usually stop by during their happy hour. The customer service is great. There is one guy in particular who is just always so sweet and welcoming. The sushi has always been fresh and delicious. I recommend this place!
(5)Andrew A.
pricey and good. only lack of 5th star is due to menu not matching what was online. otherwise, been eating there for years and love it.
(4)Stephany D.
I live in between Tanuki and Nori. This place is hands down a better place based on 1) price and 2) taste. First off, I eat Sushi 2-3 times a week. My main rolls are spicy tuna and Alaskan salmon. I order these rolls at almost every sushi place I eat. I also order miso soup at almost every place I go. The rolls were perfect. Fresh, sweet, perfectly sized and they give you 8 rolls instead of 6! I ordered them during lunch so they were 1/2 the price. Miso was good but nothing extraordinary. Portion size was slightly larger than average for takeout and I also got 10% off when ordering online as a first time customer. Seriously so convenient, so good.
(4)Alicia C.
This place is way overrated judging by the average of 4 Yelp stars. I live in the neighborhood so I stopped by 1 evening for dinner with my partner. Menu is full of extremely "dressed up" sushi -- with lots of fringe (e.g., sauces, dressing) and lots of "package" options with unnecessary accompaniments to justify higher prices. I ordered basic rolls to test their caliber and they are lacking. The yellowtail of my negi hamachi roll was off / not fresh and the rice of my salmon avocado roll was too mushy. Also, for its quality, way overpriced. They're trying to go for a "chic" club feel but the corners they cut in their decor just make it seem cheap, dime-a-dozen faux Japanese restaurant.This is only good sushi if you are a college student with limited options and brought up in rural Iowa.
(2)Chelsea E.
Great sushi! Me and my boyfriend come here all the time on Mondays because they have happy hour all day (half off nori maki)! Service is always great and the food is always consistent and delicious. My only complaint would be that since they remodeled and decided to participate in groupon, the place has become the hip sushi place in the area so it's almost always packed with a wait. Be sure to make reservations if your going to go and don't be shy either. With the new remodel, your fellow diners table is fairly close.
(4)Adriana K.
My favorite place for fresh sushi. Very friendly staff and the owner is normally on-site as well. Try and hit the Monday 1/2 off specials as well. Nice and simple dine in experience off of Diversey stop.
(4)Anna K.
Although, as many have noted, the prices are a little expensive, it was worth it for the experience. Deciding to have suhi on a whim on a Saturday night, we were lucky to get a table for 2 without a reservation. Our server, whose name I can't totally recall but I think it was Amra or Emra, was SO nice and accomodating. She helped us choose a sake, and described the different kinds to us without ever being condescending or trying to upsell us. She was vey helpful throughout the whole night, and we enjoyed everything we ordered. I will definitely be eating here again when I am in the area.
(5)Whitney W.
This place is small, but very cute. I went there with a friend yesterday and lucky me, they had 1/2 off wine and sake. The waitress (I can't remember her name) but she was a cute, tall, slim young woman. Super bubbly, informed, and got me excited to eat there! The food was great, and did not take very long to come out. My friend and I ordered a sake that had a carbonated, citrus taste to it, amazing! Really, really like this place
(5)Kelly Y.
My husband and I went to Nori for the first time on Friday, and we really had a good time. I ordered the Chirashi, and was surprised to see it came with a really generous portion of fish (along with miso soup, edamame, and seaweed salad!) I really felt like I got a great value for my meal. The appetizers we ordered were good as well- the tuna tartar was not what I expected because it was seared and served over a salad, not what I consider the traditional dish when I think of tuna tartar. The service staff was friendly and on top of everything. We will definitely be back!
(5)Maureen C.
Definitely good for rolls. I love their rolls. I also tried a couple of the sashimi - the seared hamachi toro w/ spicy menu -- well I didn't think it would work but it was really good. Friendly service, good rolls, good fish. Will definitely keep coming back. =D
(4)Annie L.
I had my birthday dinner here few months back. * Definitely not suitable for larger groups. * Sushi was decent; nothing memorable. * Thumbs up for BYOB. * Waitresses were nice, but kinda floaty. (She forgot one of our orders all together.) * Here's the reason for the 3 stars. The person I talked to over the phone to make a reservation was not accommodating. I had originally made a reservation for 13 and added one more a day after and they said they absolutely cannot do that. I was the one to suggest reserving 2 tables of 7 which they reluctantly agreed to. And heads up, they request your credit card # in case you're a no show and it was something ridiculous like $50 per person that doesn't show up. If it was going to be crammed, then they could've politely suggested they weren't the best venue for a group of 14. I can see Nori being a good place for people that want a quick bite to eat. Big groups, stay away.
(2)Joni R.
Banana roll.... Forever and ever.
(4)Danielle D.
The strawberry sundae roll is to die for! This is my favorite sushi in Chicago so far!
(5)Sean H.
As always upon first bight the sushi tasted good. I miss sushi and then I get it and then I bite the sushi and at this time there is a flavor explosion in my mouth which I appreciate. This is called the blinding lover stage of sushi. At this stage it's very hard to tell whether the sushi is good or not. Now you eat the rest of your sushi and get a true feel. In this case there were several disappointments. The highlight was squid that tasted like a large old sea creature dipped in cat litter.
(2)Angie K.
I popped in here on Tuesday afternoon after 2 other sushi places were closed (very bizarre for Lakeview). It's as if the stars aligned and they were pointing for me to come here. I walked in with my Shiraz in tow (BYOB) and my out-of-town friend around 1pm. We were immediately seated in a cute, modern dining area with dark wood tables, black chairs and near the window. This interior of this place is very clean, fresh and looks brand-new. Our (pretty cute) server immediately approached us, explaining that all maki sushi was 1/2 off because it's happy hour. I was happy indeed. We ordered edamame and spicy miso to start which you can't mess up. Then we ordered the ninja, dragon, tokyo and spicy octopus rolls. All of them were amazing! The ninja was definitely my favorite and I could've sworn it tasted better for being 1/2 off. I really have no other complaints other than the food taking a little long, even though we were the only patrons. Also, the parking really blows. You will get a ticket if your meter runs out and spots are few and far between. I found a deal from checking in on foursquare for 1 free signature maki (the expensive rolls) but the server said I needed to have 4 people with me. I asked if I could order 4 rolls and receive the special, but he wouldn't budge. Oh well. Next time, I'll bring more friends and take the train. The service was great. My water was refilled about 10xs since my friend and I lost track of time and spent 2 hours drinking and chatting. I'll definitely pass by Nori again!
(4)Marisa P.
Went there and the service was not good. I just moved into the city and was looking for a good sushi place and I wouldn't recommend my friends here. It's very pretty inside and has the potential. But the service was almost unbearable. Sushi was alright but I've had better.
(2)Mark C.
Service and atmosphere were great, but the food left a lot to be desired. Maybe we just went on a bad night, because other people in these reviews really seem to like it. My sushi rice was dry and crunchy, though, and my date's chirashi was more pickled veggie than fish.
(3)Jackie N.
The food comes out really fast and you can bring one wine bottle (they also sell alcohol). The ambience is fine but nothing special. The sushi was fresh and I liked what I ordered but I didn't try anything crazy so it's hard to say if this place blew me away or not
(4)Colin A.
Thank you Groupon for leading me to my favorite Chicago sushi place. Amazing prices, great service and awesome rolls. Try the Strawberry Sundae and Banana Tempura rolls. I wish the dining room was larger, make a reservation before you go just to make sure you can get it.
(5)Vanessa P.
My friend and I have a standing date to come here every so often after our accounting class. It's right off the Diversey Brown Line and BYOB. The latter is of utmost importance, trust me. The wait is never that long, especially if we just sit at the sushi bar. We've had quite a few of the rolls, but my favorites are still the Grand Caribbean (who knew mango and strawberry would taste so good in a sushi roll?) and the Shrek (a poor name, but overall good). The servers are always on top of things and even when we have a coupon ( restaurant.com ), are nice as can be. I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
(4)Jill W.
Went here on a Monday to try the half price Nori Maki. Got the bill and it was FULL price. Apparently I ordered the Nori "Signature" Maki which was not included in the half price only the Nori Maki is. This is VERY confusing and my server did not mention what we ordered was not part of the deal. Why else would I be here on a Monday night. This place is shady!
(2)Autumn H.
Great fresh and fun sushi. The price is fair. Service is rude and this location is a bit cramped. But it's worth it.
(4)David M.
Great sushi, friendly service. The $20 sushi platter is a great deal. The only drawback is the giant TV, but at least the sound is not on.
(5)Risa P.
We went here last Saturday for dinner...and you really do need a reservation, this place is tiny! We got a good time but had to sit at the sushi bar. Which was nice except you kind of felt like you were sitting on top of the person next to you. Also, I wish that the sushi bar was lower so we could actually see our sushi being made--that is the best part of sitting at the bar! We got the miso soup and edamame as starters. The soup was pretty good and warm on a cold January night. The edamame was hot and salted pretty well. I probably would not get the soup again as it was not that much to right home about but it was pretty good. We also got the spicy tuna, the escolar and jalapeno. and the Shrek roll. The spicy tuna was good though not really rolled well...and the escolar was yummy too though I was expecting more of a spicy aspect of it. The Shrek roll was quite good and huge! I liked the tofu element on top. Our waitress was incredibly nice and helpful. She explained the menu to us and was so smiley and nice. She was very helpful and sweet. Also the hostess was very nice and smiley. So that was nice. I would definitely be back it is a great place to have in the neighborhood. Nothing exceptionally spectacular but definitely yummy.
(4)Stefanie P.
Basically, now that I moved to this neighborhood, I never cook. Nori is one of the main reasons for that. Their sushi is reasonably priced, and it's half off before 6pm! Where else can you get TWO rolls for $7 in this city? Nowhere! And I've always been pleased with the quality. My only negative feedback is that when you get takeout, instead of cups of soy sauce they give you packets. How am I supposed to dunk my sushi in there? I usually end up just pouring it on the top before I eat it, which is less than ideal. Ah well, a small price to pay.
(4)Tommy O.
Good sushi, good atmosphere.
(4)Simma Down Na H.
Brought my friends here to celebrate my sister's birthday. I believe everyone left very satisfied. Their maki are super delicious. so "delich-" that I came back the next day (Monday) for happy hour by myself. Their maki menu gets pretty wacky moving away from authentic but pretty adventurous. The place is small yet classy. If you got a big party avoid the busy days or make reservations. What's even better...it's BYOB! Will be back for some more!
(4)RT S.
Woohoo! As good as it gets! Nori is located in Lincoln park, parking is a problem, but it's worth it. The service is prompt, friendly and very helpful. Their spicy tuna, shrimp tempura and rainbow rolls are delicious and flavorful. The best part is they're 1/2 off from 11-6pm. The Nori special deep fried tuna was excellent with a taste of savory, sweetness, and crunchiness. Their salmon sushi is fresh and thick. I think it's the best sushi bar so far in Chicago land. Yes, better than Sushi Mon and Toro and Coast sushi!
(5)April P.
I've never had a problem with their food, in fact I really do love the freshness of the food, and décor of the place. But my feat was with the rude gal/owner who from previous reviews. Props to you for hiring, Pum. Pum is very sweet and turns over orders faster than the speed of lightening. She gives great recommendations and fills your water often. When I come back, I hope Pum serves us everytime! FYI, Saturdays are half off most sushi until dinner hour at 4 Pm! 7 rolls later, only $26 between us two. Ahhh, the little things in life!
(4)Selin D.
Conveniently located restaurant with friendly staff!! They're from Thailand so you can expect a lot of smiles :) Sushi is always consistent, restaurant is clean and has a nice intimate atmosphere. They also have a maki menu that's half off until 6pm! I highly recommend the soft shell crab and salmon skin maki YUM!!
(5)Nick B.
Nori saved my life last night. I got out of a movie late last night at the Webster Place on Clybourn and Diversey. The movie ended at about 9:30PM and I found myself stumbling through Lincoln Park looking for food. I was starving, but everything closed at 10PM! Lame. Anyway, fortunately the stars aligned and I came about Nori. We arrived a little after 10PM and were seated right away. Small, stylish, sleek, and downtempo lounge music. Perfect. Found out Nori was BYOB so I ran next store to 7-11 two grab two bottles of wine. Convenient! For starters, I went with the deep fried tofu and edamame. Both solid stuff. Loved the tofu and can't complain about the edamame. For the sushi rolls, my friend and I went with two orders of the sweet potato tempura, asparagus tempura, and she went with a California roll. WOW. The veggie rolls were outstanding! I was particularly into the asparagus rolls which were recommended. Very sweet. Overall, very impressed with Nori. Awesome prices, BYOB, chill, and comfortable. The service was also very friendly and helpful. Loved it.
(4)Laura C.
Half price sushi from 11AM-6PM everyday? I'm in. While I've had better sushi, it's hard to beat the price. They have my standard go to rolls (spider, dragon, tempura shrimp) as well as more simple ones (spicy tuna, philly). The decor is modern Asian fusion. Located near the Diversey brown line, Nori is easy to get to. We ordered take out, so I'll have to update my service review once I dine here again. And I will.
(4)Nicole R.
So good! I love Nori, I've only gotten delivery, and they are QUICK! The food is beautiful and tasty, and they have half off before 4 I believe when you dine in.... Highly recommend! The nori cheesy rolls are mm mm good!
(5)Bobby G.
Ive been here twice and the sushi is pretty delicious and my god is it pretty. It's a quiet dark ambience and as long as you byob you can escape with a 30-40$ bill for two happy people. I have to say the fire dragon roll is really awesome but the eel is underwhelming. It's good but the special rolls are where they get you. I liked it better the first time. But come on, its a byob sushi place. How can you mess that up?
(4)Trevor H.
I dunno what some people are complaining about but this place is awesome. I tried Nori for the first time with the LivingSocial deal with two friends, one who comes all the time. He recommended some maki that we should try. I had the Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll and the Sweet Potato Tempura. Awesome. So delicious. I now have a trio of sushi places that are my go-to places (Ringo and New Tokyo are the others). The service was fast and polite. I am sure they were a little overwhelmed that night because of the LivingSocial deal but the front desk was really polite and the waitress was great
(4)Susan F.
Great little BYO sushi place with nice decor, but limited seating. Located right under the Diversey brown line, this place is great for a girl's night or group outing before the bars, where ever you choose to go! There was limited seating, but while we waited, they gave us glasses and a corkscrew for our wine, how nice! The staff was very accommodating and friendly. As for most BYOs sushi places, I would suggest going in a group. We only had 5 which was the perfect size. Another table across from us had about 8 and had probably been there for 3 hours boozin! I remember actually liking the miso soup, which is hard to say, it's really not my fave. Gotta love California rolls, Philadelphia, and the Dragon. Not too shabby They have specials every day which you just can't beat! I wouldn't mind coming back here and having a nice intimate date and getting drunk in the corner ;)
(4)Mary H.
I went to Nori for the first time last night and left feeling pretty impressed! The sushi is very good and the rolls are incredibly unique. Goat cheese in a roll? Yes please! In the future I will definitely make a reservation, but the wait wasn't terrible (about 15 minutes at 8 PM on a Wednesday). The service is friendly and helpful - and we never felt rushed. I will be back!
(4)Sebastian Y.
Cheap sushi is a plus. They did not put enough in our maki to be satisfying though. Also, slow and inattentive service when we are one of 2 tables is inexcusable. The "check in" free roll only applies when you have a party of 4 or more.
(2)Ellen D.
YUM! This place is super cozy and absolutely delicious! Best part? It's BYOB, which is pretty rare for such a classy place. The wait is usually pretty long, but it's well worth it. There's a liquor store right next door, which definitely makes it easier to get sauced during dinner. This is a great date place, and the prices aren't that bad for the quality of food you get. Overall, Nori is pretty frickin awesome.
(4)Marshall M.
This place ROCKS!!! My friends and I come almost every Monday evening for sushi and we LOVE it. All of the food is so fresh and delicious and the service is great. AJ and the rest of the staff always make us feel so relaxed and welcome and the food always fills our huge appetites. The best part about Nori are the incredibly awesome specials they have on different days. Our favorite is the 50% off all classic rolls they offer on Monday evenings!!!! You have to check this place out.....we started going on a recommendation from a friend over 2 years ago and we have been going almost every week ever since. NORI, WE LOVE YOU!!!!! :)
(5)Jessica C.
I'm going to be a little long winded to get down to how my experience at Nori happened. I was looking all over Chicago for a great sushi place for my boyfriend's 30th birthday - some place that could accomadate a big group. I called Nori and they were able to get 10 of us in on Saturday night (the group ended up being 8). Unfortunately, everyone arrived late but the hostessed still seated us, thank goodness because our last guest arrived 45 minutes late. My group all mentioned it was some of the best sushi they'd ever had. We also had great wait staff attending to us. Some noteable items: Calamari roll, crunchy spicy tuna
(5)Rafa M.
Visited this spot 3 times now..and every single time have had a very pleasant experience. The staff is friendly the cheffs can be seen in the back making the food and will greet you if not too busy...also attracts a good crowd. The sushi is quite possibly the best sushi Ive tried. my favorite has to be the one with strawberries and chocolate sauce. What I really like about small places like this is that you expect to receive sub par food because they are the underdog. they are a small place that is somewhat difficult to find. But they make up for it in their people and their food. Good Job Nori! I give 4 stars because well...I don't want them to stop working on making it better!
(4)Abby M.
We went for the 1/2 price sushi yesterday (after 6p.m. on Mondays). Both the sushi and service were good. They were a little slow, but they were also pretty busy in there. We ordered a lot of sushi and I was not a fan of the salmon skin roll and the calamari was only ok; however, I did really like everything else that we ordered. They have a lot of rolls that are 1/2 price and it is BYOB. I would definitely go back - and not just on a Monday. It isn't a huge place and got fully pretty quickly (after 8:00 p.m.), so get there early if you're going on a Monday night.
(4)Michael L.
The Strawberry Sundae roll was like no sushi roll I have had before, it was very delicious. The Fire Dragon roll was also good. The place is small but the atmosphere is cozy.
(4)Lauren D.
I'm always looking for good, cheap sushi restaurants - a friend of mine came here after her hairdresser liquored her up during her highlights (don't ask) and then she recommended we try it. Waited about 10 minutes on a Friday night at 9pm - it's pretty small so I would imagine you'd wait a lot longer earlier on in the evening. Their signature rolls are amazing - some of the best I've tasted. I'm personally a huge fan of unagi maki and nigiri and I probably had my fill of that for the rest of the year. Fast service, and it's BYO. Also, they have great specials during the week. Definitely coming back!
(4)Larry B.
If a sushi meal at a BYOB restaurant comes in at $40 a person, I expect the sushi to be better than this. Sure the ingredients seemed fresh but the signature recipes were kinda wonky and didn't taste right. If you want to pay this much for sushi I would recommend going to Tank Sushi in NorthCenter - if you want to pay less and get better sushi go to just about any other sushi restaurant in the neighborhood. Yuki Hana is one of my favorite sushi places and it is way cheaper than this.
(1)Lisa H.
Thank you Yelp, for coming to my rescue once again!! Spent the sunny afternoon out at the LP Zoo - and finally saw the damn Red Panda!! I swear, that panda dislike the crowd + Chicago weather. Three visits to the zoo and I've only seen the panda ONCE! Unbelievable! Anyway, we were craving sushi after the long day and didn't feel like leaving the house. Mind you, this was around 10:30pm as well, so it was incredibly difficult to find a sushi delivery place that's still open!! After surfing Yelp (yay for great recommendations!), I stumbled across Nori. 4.5 star restaurant, boasting fresh sushi at great affordable price? Sounds like my type of place ;) But WHY didn't Nori have a website?! Thankfully, I googled the restaurant and found the menu on Zuppler - cool online order system btw. You can get points/ rebate if you order online, so definitely check Zuppler out. Back to the sushi. Nori offered free rolls at $30 / 40/ 50 purchase, which was a GREAT DEAL because it's soooooooooooo easy to spend over $30 on sushi...! We ended up order 6rolls for $52 after tax/delivery charge of $2.50. NORI TOTALLY DESERVE 6 OUTTA 5 STAR RATING!!! The sushi were incredibly fresh, I loved the smoke salmon in my Philly roll and all the Sashimi were incredibly buttery! I highly recommend the Green Nori roll - seaweed salad, salmon, avocado wrapped in soy bean paper!! Definitely my new favorite roll!! I've never had other sushi wrapped in thin soy bean paper before, it was a refreshing surprise to my taste bud!! P.S. Nori's delivery service is AMAZING! They mixed up my order and was missing a roll, so I called back after checking + recounting the rolls, and the server double-checked with the kitchen & sent me my roll within 15min!
(5)Krystle S.
I absolutey love the 50% off sushi for lunch!! Great deal. I totally recommend it. But if you go in for the lunch special, expect to receive crappy service. It's a little bit of a trade-off here. My friend and I were waiting for 10 minutes before we got waters and were asked for our orders. But we only paid $15 for plenty of food. With regards to the atmosphere, it's a really cute, cozy place. It's on the smaller side, but I like those types of settings when you want an intimate feeling.
(4)Vivien S.
Slightly over-related. The rolls are pretty average. I suppose it's a better deal during the half-price period. The chefs are extremely friendly though, especially if you sit near the bar. The seafood is really fresh and the fried udon is pretty authentic. It's close to Knead Massage so it's a great place for lunch/ dinner after a refreshing massage!
(3)Emily B.
1/2 Price Maki before 6 BYOB Cute little place. Ordered online and to-go. It was fast and easy AND CHEAP! Had the soft shell crab roll and the Ebi Tempura Roll. Both were delicious and fresh. Could see how it could get crowded fast. I like it better than Sushi Para II.
(4)D. C.
After reading reviews here and seeing a menu we got in the mail, I knew I wanted to try it--particularly to see if the unique Strawberry Sundae roll could replace my beloved Godzilla roll from another place. Beyond that, my expectations were pretty low in terms of what the space was like--I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant itself is far nicer than I expected; definintely classy and trendy. Our server was very nice and attentive. Our water glasses were topped off before they ever had a chance to get even half empty. I even enjoyed the presentation of the food on the clear glass trays they use. * Strawberry Sundae Maki: Expensive, but I thought it was well worth the money as it was so delicious and different. I thought it was even better topped off with a thin slice of the strawberry garnish. If the idea of the strawberry sauce on sushi sounds too bizarre, don't worry--when mixed with all the other flavors of the roll it really just adds a different sweetness to it. * Escolar Jalapeño Maki: Actually nowhere near as spicy or fishy as I thought it would be. The escolar was nice and mild and didn't seem to have much of any fishy taste at all. Got more jalapeño flavor rather than jalapeño heat and that's what I prefer. * Spicy Octopus Maki: Also very tasty and love the sesame oil flavor. Enjoyed the contrasting crunch of the masago mayo in an otherwise creamy/mushy type roll. With all that said, though, it's still your average "spicy _____ maki". * Spicy Tuna Maki: We also ordered the Spicy Tuna Maki, but I didn't try it. Looked like it had nice big chunks of tuna in it. I assume it also falls ino the average "spicy _____ maki". * Sweet Potato Tempura Maki: While not much of a sweet potato person, I actually really enjoyed this roll. The sweet potato was still slightly firm and didn't have the overwhelming characteristic sweetness that turns me off of them. The tempura batter definitely made a difference but, then again, I'll eat almost anything if it's deep-fried... I will definitely be going back and will likely splurge on that Strawberry Sundae Maki whenever I can. I wish it were just a bit closer as I'd probably stop by quite often, but I'm lazy. That's OK, I can use it as an incentive to get my exercise both before and after pigging out on their tasty sushi.
(5)Allison C.
We waited FOREVER for our sushi! It was an eternity. It was not even that busy and it was not during the 1/2 price before 6pm either. The rolls were great but the sushi platter was just ok. The fish was generous and fresh but it kind of all tasted the same and sort of had a "preserved" overall flavor to it. BYOB was great, they bring you a bucket of ice and an opener. There is a liquor store next door which makes it easy. It's also located right below the Diversey stop. Also a plus, it was extremely inexpensive. One drawback for us was that horrible techno/rave music. I couldn't wait to leave.
(2)Nick S.
After a late night I acquired munchies among other things, and grubhub told me that Nori still delivered. I was excited to say the least, a good mind told me that ordering sushi at the time of the night was a terrible idea but my judgment was clouded. The flavor was unimpressive as well as the rolling technique. I found some of the rolls to fall apart.. and I'm not a newbie either. I'm not going to comment on the actual quality of the fish b/c honestly, I knew what I was getting into ordering that late. Delivery was on time, prices aren't too bad. Would I go back again? probably not..
(2)Monica B.
I went there last night for the first time, and I must say it was darn good. Monday's (all day) are half off NORI sushi (not to be confused with signature Nori, or vegetable nori) but the Nori menu is pretty big. Anyway, I get there at like 6:35 and the host said "ohhhh I have reservations at the open tables for 7 pm, can you finish by 7?" most people would be offended, (I assume) but not me! I say "yup! as long as you get your sushi out quickly, I can eat it quickly!" This means they bump my sushi rolls to the front of the line. GO ME! So I got very quick service, and excellent rolls. I ordered the sweet potato maki, banana maki, and crunchy spicy tuna. all were VERY well made, and very good. The banana was a new one for me, and I must say, the flavors were wonderful, and I am still thinking about how awesome it was to have a fruit taste mixed in with my fish roll. The service is so diverse. Waitress, white. Water filler, black. Food deliverer, hispanic. Sushi makers, asian. Interesting to me! Overall, good experience. I would go back every Monday if I could.
(5)John F.
Wow, love this place! Sushi is amazing. The BYOB rules are lame, it wasn't like that before, but they changed it. Otherwise it would be a 5 star for sure. Good for a date or small group.
(4)Tracy S.
I hate to give a 1 star review to anyone, I really do. But I just got take-out from Nori for the first time, took one look at it when I got home and threw it out. Literally. I'm sure you could imagine how bad sushi would have to be to pitch it in the garbage. Nori is relatively new and since it is at my el stop I figured I'd give it a shot. I wasn't expecting a gourmet sushi experience, just a solid one. Shine is my normal go-to for "everyday" sushi and let's just say that preference has been confirmed. What I ordered: * Edamame- fine. Nothing special, but then again, it never is. I did eat this. * Yellowtail/scallion roll- literally the smallest, most poorly rolled maki I've ever seen. I'm not sure how they even made it this small. And I don't like the rolls you get at some places that are huge and overstuffed. I could barely even tell there was fish in it. *Sashimi (2 pieces salmon, 2 pieces yellowtail, 2 pieces tuna)- This is where I decided it was inedible. I don't know if they gave me the wrong stuff or what, but I was unable to identify which fish was which. The salmon (I think) had a very unnatural color. The pieces were large (unlike the roll), too large actually. It just looked so unappetizing, I did not feel safe eating it. I got take out so I can't comment on the service, but the lady who took my order was pleasant and I got my order fast. But that can't make up for inedible food. From the other reviews, it sounds like people like the deals here. That's all well and good, but for the same price you can get much better quality at Shine. And that's just what I did.
(1)Elli T.
Best sushi I've had in Chicago. I have yet to try a roll I haven't liked, and I eat there once or twice a month. Although I've ordered take-out several times because I live in the neighborhood, it's definitely a place I'd rather dine in at. The interior is very cute (the ambiance makes it equally perfect for a date or a girls night out) and the service is great. I love Nori!
(5)Heidi G.
Nori will revolutionize your (sushi) life. I've been going to Nori since it opened and EVERYTHING about it is wonderful. Fresh fish, BYOB, friendly service, and an awesome host (thanks for seating us, Clint). For some decadent, life-affirming maki, try the zombie roll. It's a cozy place--make reservations if you want to get seated before 8!
(5)Sean F.
This is the 2nd time I have ate at Nori...the 1st time I ordered for delivery and thought it was excellent! The Spicy Tuna is great and so was the the California roll. For the 2nd trip I physically went in this past weekend and branched out more. For an appetizer I got the fresh yellow tail tuna salad and the soft shell crab...both GREAT! The crab was tender and flavorful without being chewy and the tuna seemed really fresh with a tasty special sauce. We went crazy on the rolls getting seared scallop roll (5/10), spicy tuna roll (9/10), spicy octopus (0/10 didnt try) and the Strawberry Sundae (8/10). This place is def worth trying if in the area and its BYOB...dine in for sure to take advantage of the 1/2 off maki rolls!
(4)Bobby T.
Great sushi, BYOB with no fee, and excellent customer service - this place simply deserves no less than 5 stars!
(5)Vi N.
I love and adore this place. It's always so cozy and intimate. I've gone here for date night and girl's night out and it's always a good time. Love their sushi and it's byob! It's also half off maki before 6pm, which is an awesome deal. Just make sure you make reservations if you plan on dining on a Thursday or Friday night... The place tends to get pretty packed.
(5)Shannon H.
Friendly wait staff and decently-priced sushi. I'm a huge fan of their deals on Mondays. We had to wait quite a while and saw another group seated before us (when they arrived after), however, the food was delicious so we didn't mind too much.
(4)d b.
Good but not great. I only eat rolls so keep that in mind. I judge a roll by the rice and the quality of the fish. The fish was average quality but the rice had a slightly mushier texture and the roll was looser than I prefer. A decent price for the staple rolls so possibly bump up to 3.5 stars.
(3)Iwona C.
If you are a sushi fan this is a place to visit! Always fresh, perfectly seasoned suhi rolls, quick service and friendly staff make this restaurant a must to go. Affordable prices make it even better!
(5)Halyna S.
This is my go-to sushi place! Even if I have to wait 30 minutes or so to be seated, I would definitely come back there again. Really fresh and tasty sushi!
(5)Joshua P.
My favorite Sushi place in the city. Delicious and interesting creations all over the menu. The room is small and intimate. Additionally, its BYOB, what more do you want? I recently saw a living social deal and jumped all over it, just another reason to return. Suggestions: the fireball and the snow white! My family came in to visit from South Florida. There you can find a plethora of Sushi places. After taking them to Nori, my mom agreed, this is the BEST sushi she ever had. I concur....
(5)Brian S.
So, it's Thursday night. I live 6 blocks from the restaurant. I order 3 rolls and some apps through Zuppler. Order is confirmed through the website within 5 minutes. Yet, here I am after an hour and a half and after getting on the phone with Nori, learn that the order is leaving within the next 10 minutes. Are you kidding me? The sushi here is mediocre at best, and thought I was just going to get a quick fix. As it turns out, the guy on the phone didn't even apologize for the delay. Do yourselves a favor and order from elsewhere.
(1)Amanda C.
I definitely will be returning to Nori for takeout and dining in. The staff is accomodating and willing to make rolls that don't appear on their menu, the sushi is awesome, and their 1/2 price maki rolls before 6 are such a great deal! I like the variety they have in their menu, especially with the veggie rolls. Of these, I ordered the sweet potato roll which is now a favorite roll in my personal sushi library. The restaurant itself is very small and has a cozy atmosphere.
(4)Tanya T.
I'm a bit hesitant to write this only because I don't want my favorite sushi spot to become even busier! Love, love, love, love the place. I have yet to come across something I didn't like on the menu. The service is pretty great, although there is a host that sometimes can come off rude. The food and the rest of the staff make up for it!
(5)Jules H.
I miss my Sushi X, so in search of a substitute, thought I'd give Nori a whirl. Both times we went for the happy hour, so I strayed from the signature maki to order off the half price menu. Our rolls were frsh and very good. I also am in love with their ginger salad dressing. Nice they don't fill your late with brown iceberg lettuce and give you real greens. However my only complaint was that at our most recent visit, our dishes glasses and menus were a bit dirty! YUCK! They were more than accomadating when we requested new ones though.
(3)Consumer N.
Its not the best sushi in the world but it is good for the half price special from 1pm-6pm. My biggest complaint however is, when I ask for crunchy salmon skin.... Can I please get CRUNCHY salmon skin?! Thanks!
(3)Christyn S.
This is my #1 neighborhood BYOB sushi spot to hit up! My friends and I always go here when we want a chill night and not spend a lot. Try to get in there before 6pm for half price rolls and on Mondays, it's half price all day!!! Love it.
(5)Cassie B.
This is my go-to. You seriously cannot go wrong with half-price maki. Grab a bottle of wine (or some Sapori) from next door, and get ready for a nice evening. During the day, the service can be a bit spotty, but it is totally worth it. The servers at night are normally really nice, and I am not embarassed to report that they now recognize me. The sushi is fresh, and delicious. I have tried some of the specialty rolls too, and they are also amazing. I tend to marry myself to one place until I have a reason for divorce, and I foresee this being a long and happy union!
(5)Monica B.
Good sushi, especially the Strawberry Roll, but the specialty rolls are a little pricey. I've never eaten inside, just delivery and take-out, but they're still my go-to casual sushi place in the neighborhood.
(3)Chingy W.
My best friend introduce me to this quaint little place. Also, never knew it was down the block from where one of my friend lives. It's absolutely delicious! Lunch+half price maki= happy tummy & wallet. My mission is to become a regular
(4)Tonya R.
Happiest Happy Hour EVER! As long as you are seated by 5:55PM they will give you the deal through your duration of time there. Who doesn't like half priced sushi, especially when its fun and tasty? This may not be the hippest place to dine, but who needs high ceilings, a loop location and distractions when the convenience, proximity to a liquor store (which is handy when you learn upon seating its BYOB) and friendly waitstaff, great menu and tranquil atmosphere are in the equation? If they have a roll on special that has smoked salmon skin/avacado listed, get it. You wont be disappointed. I'd never had a smoked salmon featured in sushi, only on a Sunday brunch buffet or dinner at the parents, until here. FANTASTIC! The half priced rolls are not limiting and feature both traditional maki as well as their more popular specialty rolls. There is no corking fee, that I've observed, they open your bottle and get the first one going for you and bring out an ice bucket for chilling when needed. My vote is in and Nori's got it!
(4)Vanessa F.
I love this place. It's BYOB and I totally take advantage of the half off all maki before 5pm, eat in, or take out. It always tastes great and the service is good. There's nothing else to say, it's just a great little place.
(5)Edwin L.
I'm gonna find another go-to place for sushi near where I live. I've frequented Nori Sushi for a few years now and the quality has slowly but surely gone downhill. I keep saying I'll give them one more chance but every time I'm further disappointed. Just yesterday I ordered a bunch of sashimi and not only is the quality of the sashimi sub-par (think pre-packaged supermarket sushi) but it's also wafer-thin! And they gave me egg omelet (tamago) for some of my Chef's choice selection of sashimi; ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! Sushi restaurant margins are way too high for them to be cheaping out on us customers.
(2)Lauren P.
a BYOB with no corkage fee? nori FTW! the scene: 10 lovely ladies, armed with bottles for a birthday celebration. this cute and stylish sushi spot seemingly appeared out of thin air, right under the diversey brown line stop. you might notice the penny's next door is looking suspiciously smaller - they cut it in half to make room for nori. to be fair, nori isn't just a sushi bar - here you'll find a variety of hot and cold japanese entrees, including a few noodle dishes. we stuck to the sushi. standard maki ranged from $6-$13, and included your basic sushi needs and desires - philly, spicy tuna, rainbow, etc. there were tons of signature maki ($12-$15) to choose from - at least, it appeared at first. after examining the menu for a few minutes, we realized most of the signature maki seemed to incorporate tempura - either inside or out. the rolls we ordered were delicious, but there didn't seem to be that much variety between them. lots of tuna and shrimp. all rolls had 8 pieces, which was nice. favorites at my end of the table were the shrek (we ordered a second it was so good,) the sakura tuna (a nice crunch on the outside thanks to the tempura,) and the red nori (sweet with a little kick.) we weren't sure if we liked the idea of a roll tasting like a strawberry sundae - so we stayed away from the fruity options. plus, there's always next time! a few people from the table, including myself, ordered some nigiri - the true test of any place that serves sushi. i'm highly sensitive to anything remotely fishy tasting - fresh hamachi should never taste fishy. mine had a hint of it, but nothing too bad. more importantly, i popped my toro cherry last night - sashimi style. i was expecting it to be super soft since it's the fattiest cut of tuna, but our slices were tough, and super fishy tasting. bummer. one of the best things about nori has to be their daily specials. since it was ladies night (30% off for tables of three ladies or more - whoop!) we got almost $50 knocked off our bill. ri-dic-u-lous! when we walked out, i felt like we had robbed the place - the bill ended up at $20 a person. incredible for how much food we ordered. as for the service, i didn't catch our gal's name, but she couldn't have been sweeter. she was the only one working the restaurant, but didn't seem overwhelmed. she gave us suggestions on how to order and pleasantly opened all of our bottles. she even brought our birthday girl a healthy serving of green tea ice cream on the house. domo arigato! overall, it was a great meal and a wonderful experience. definitely return-worthy. a few more tips - make reservations just in case you need them - the place is pretty small. more importantly, a 7-11 and a liquor store are located next door for all of your BYOB needs.
(4)Chloe M.
I came here recently for a business dinner and we all had a great time. BYOB and half price maki before 6 is awesome in my book. The food was great all around for our table of 7. All of us had various sushi, which was all delicious. One had their heaping bowl of spicy udon noodles, which seemed to go over really well. My favorites were the rainbow and soft shell crab.. Awesome. This would totally be a 5 star review except I felt that our table was almost forgotten. Water never refilled, took a while for the desert menu, etc. All in all, will definitely be taking the hubby back.
(4)Kristen M.
BYOB, 1/2 price maki before 6! Although small, Nori has a great ambiance and is in a very convenient location right by the Diversey stop on the Brown Line. Rolls are delicious. They have quite a wide variety of specialty rolls and all rolls were very large.
(4)Karen R.
Nori is a great place for a date or a girl's night out. The sushi is delicious; be sure to try one or two of their "signature maki" (we had the Tropihana which was interesting and delicious). Our server was friendly and helpful. The only small disappointed was the California roll- I've definitely had better. Also, this place is cute and small... be sure to make a reservation; I called at about 5 or 6 on a Friday night and there was no table available for even just 2 until 9:15. So if you can get a table, enjoy some great sushi! (I've also ordered delivery from here which was also very good!)
(4)Gordon B.
Let me start by saying the maki here is awesome. The 1/2 off special on a lot of their rolls before 6pm is a steal for how good they are. The service here was top notch, too. I recommend making a reservation especially on the weekends because this place does get crowded fast. Oh and it's BYOB, doesn't get much better than that.
(4)Sandra J.
The half price select maki before 6 was the driving force to bring me here. Not the you swoop or living social or whatever on line deal was available or the BYOB. I wanted to try this place and so we did. I have to say.. I was not impressed at all. It was very tiny and the sushi was sub par. I know it was half off SELECT rolls. Remember not all the rolls are available for this promotion nor can you alter the roll. I HATE mayo, so I asked if I can get the spicy tuna with the chili paste and I was told NO. I don't know that adding chili paste to tuna was difficult. I felt it was more rice then Nori so I was bummed. I guess all in all.. it is better than house of noodle/sushi Para 2 but not much better. You have two public trans options.. Diversey Brown line or Diversey Bus, but parking is difficult. Maybe I came on a bad day, but I doubt I will be back.
(3)SK S.
If you're looking for overpriced rolls and long delivery times, Nori is for you! I placed my order mid-afternoon on a Thursday expecting that I would receive fast service. (I live close to the location I ordered from) However, an hour later when my food arrived I was less than pleased. Before we continue on with the negatives, the wasabi tobiko was rather tasty. It had a good flavor and was not too spicy, just right. Additionally, the salmon nigri was melt in your mouth delicious. However, the ninja roll will chop a hole in your pocket and leave you wanting more. What I received was not what I had expected. While size doesn't always matter, I expected a little larger roll given its $12 price tag. I so wanted to give this roll a chance, but I couldnt get past the fake krab lumped in a pile on top of the flat pieces. Furthermore, the roll had way too much rice and was partially falling apart when it arrived at my door. In addition to its sloppy presentation, the shredded crap, i mean crap, was doused in an overwhelming "spicy sauce" that detracted from the roll. Last but not least, I expect my tempura flakes to be crunchy, or somewhat crunchy at a minimum. Sadly, the Ninja's tempura flakes looked as though they had been sprinkled on in a hastily fashion from a grocery store brand. Furthermore, they were stale, tasteless, and added nothing to the roll.
(2)Kate L.
This place is great. For the same price as most other sushi restaurants, you get good quality and a nice variety that you won't see at a lot of other places. The atmosphere is really nice and it's byob, which is great. My favorite roll is the Grand Caribbean, delicious!
(5)Brad W.
Nori was our destination for a double date, and it was a treat. BYOB, friendly service, and exceptional sushi! Fire Dragon roll is pretty, and pretty tasty too. Chicago Crazy Crunch was my favorite. Colorful, flavorful, and a perfect blend of textures. I recommend Nori to anyone who considers themselves to be sushi connoisseur.
(5)Melissa N.
If I had written this review months ago (which I should have) I would have given it 5 stars for being incredibly constructed, freshly made and the price couldn't have been better. Unfortunately, after months of loyal, weekly orders, it seems the rolls are smaller, the construction is sloppy and it makes me sad to think that we will have to find a new sushi mainstay. It seems as though they bit off more than they could chew with their half price maki before 6pm and after a few months we have seen a steady decline in quality. It really does make me sad to leave this review because they used to be amazing and I guess they'd be ok for someone trying them for the first time. But experiencing the steady decline reflects the rating. We miss you Nori. Get it together.
(3)Claire P.
This is my second favorite sushi (#1 being Toro) although Nori has the advantage of a shorter wait and a nicer environment. The prices are reasonable but inside it feels very upscale. I have been here about 6 times in the past year and every time it has been impressive. They also have amazing specials, some nights half off maki rolls. I have had take out twice from here and one time everything was haphazardly throw in the container but it still tasted delicious. If you want sushi as tasty as Toro but without the same wait head here.
(5)Jill W.
I've been to Nori several times since grand opening week for the half price special and the quality is such that I would even be willing to pay full price. Fortunately I don't have to. Nori participates in a number of promotions, notably half price before 6pm!
(4)Karen L.
I have been wanting to try this BYOB sushi joint since it is so convenient to the Brown line and finally got a chance to go the other night. The menu had a lot of choices for the rolls, which was nice, but I would definitely say that the sushi quality was ok, at best. We tried a crunchy Chicago one that was good but too big... and a bit too sweet for me. The spicy tuna was good, it had a really nice kick to it. And the yellowtail and scallion was just ok. We also ordered a tuna salad that was quite tasty. Overall, if you are really craving sushi, want somewhere more inexpensive, and are in the hood, you should go there. Otherwise, I would probably look elsewhere.
(3)R M.
Nori is in part a venture of Penny's Noodles, which downsized their square-footage to make room for Nori. No reservations in advance, but they do accept call-aheads. The atmosphere is "modern-sushi cool", whatever that means. They have dimly-lit decorative chandeliers over the bar. The chairs are hard but reasonably comfortable. If you sit near the front windows you will likely be cold. They have at least one large flat screen television mounted on the wall in the restaurant area (not the bar), which showed a football game during my first visit and was turned off during my second. I don't know what compels the restaurant owners to install a television in what would otherwise be a very pleasant space. I prefer my maki and nigiri without the noise and glow of field goals and the hyena-like laugh of the Progressive Auto Insurance lady. The service is way above average, but not an A+. Servers' tips are, at least for me, not contingent on the amount of cleavage they show, which happens to be significant here. The food presentation is thoughtful and pleasing, and the food itself delicious. Having taken advantage of the recent 50%-off specials, though, the food might be a little less delicious had I paid full price. Overall I think the rolls are a good value. The sashimi and nigiri are a bit overpriced. I do recommend the mochi--excellent. Everything I tried tasted fresh and of good quality.
(4)Taran S.
I went here with my wife because of the living social deal and it was absolutely great! We had 3 different roles of sushi - and all of them were good. It has a convenient location right off the L and I will definitely be going back.
(5)Mikey B.
I've been often, and it's always consistently good. However, today I had a not so good King Crab roll. I think it was just a bad day -- don't feel sick or anything, it was just bland and kind of lame. Otherwise, highly recommend!
(4)Phil R.
The Fire Dragon Roll reigns supreme!
(5)Pennee L.
I love this place for sushi!!!!!!!!! I live in Presidential Towers and we have a sushi place right in the building but I still travel there to eat Nori cause I love it best
(5)P Y.
I crave the food at Nori. They give fantastic half price deals daily, the staff is friendly and professional, food arrives fresh and promptly, the atmosphere is a bit small but enjoyable.
(4)Jean-Pierre N.
It's a nice place if you want to go out to a very small place to pay for over-priced Thai-sushi. (Correct, it's a thai place doing sushi.) The place is small which is good for the owners. (It always looks busy.) The decor is very chic and modern which makes it appealing to the young bar crowd rather than the cuisine adventurer. I made the mistake of stopping by for dinner at 6 pm. I visited with family, was seated at a table that was marked "reserved". When he seated us, he asked "if we would be done eating in 45 minutes?" Are you serious? Anyway, the food presentation could have been better, the service seemed very rushed, it was way too crowded and the bill was not worth the hassle. Great for a girls night out to have sushi and martini's, but there are so many better sushi places to visit here in Chicago that do it better. (But what would you expect for Diversey & Sheffield.)
(2)K W.
Nori has pretty solid sushi, particularly Maki. We tried several rolls, and all were good. I recommend the Fire Dragon roll, very tasty. The service is excellent; our waitress was very patient with our slow decision-making, No corkage fee on your first bottle of wine keeps the bill reasonable. It was my friend's bday, and the waitress brought out yummy mochi ice cream with a candle, on the house. A perfect finishing touch for a tasty birthday dinner!
(4)Tracy L.
not bad, staff is very attentive. check in and get a free signature maki if you have at least 4 people dining. great deals everyday, no wait during weekday lunchtime. great price for the amount you get served. They're not behemoth sized so you can't fit it all in your mouth at one like some places. delicious! definitely want to come back!
(4)Jennifer J.
I consistently love this place. It's basic sushi that I can count on. Definitely take advantage of one of their deals!!
(4)Joe M.
I have experienced better. NY sushi bars the servings are larger, same quality, same price. Was bummed they did not include miso soup and salad with by $15 sushi order. (8 small size pieces). The quality was decent though. it was OK -- just be mindful sushi roll servings are small.
(2)Colleen O.
So, after an particularly grueling Friday night, i decided to order myself my supreme comfort food. My boyfriend was going out with the boys, and it was my turn to cuddle up to a platter of nigiri sushi. I lived in the Yamaguchi prefecture of Japan for five years when i was a little , so when i crave Japanese food. I CRAVE traditional food. I pass on the Americanized rolls, and prefer straight up fish. My stand by sushi place wasn't delivering so i figured I'd try this place. I wasn't impressed. I ordered the sushi combo platter. and a a la carte nigiri of white tuna and yellow tail. Two pieces of my sushi combo platter were grisly. When i bit into them it was like chewing a gummy piece of fish. twice. Also the way they packaged it for delivery had the pickled ginger covering a piece of fish, which completely removed any delicate flavor. I am chalking it up to a late rainy night service and merely a mistake in packaging. It is a little pricey, and by pricey i mean a 25.00 minimum for delivery before tax and delivery. ill stick with my stand by. And continue on with my quest for the perfect nigiri box.
(3)Lauren L.
Great rolls, nice atmosphere. Best time to go is in the afternoon, half price on most of their maki rolls and all were delicious. Big portion on seaweed salad, great miso soup. BYOB. A must try: Fire Balls, deep friend rice balls. YUM. Service was OK, but who cares, its just sushi, relax, enjoy, it's good and you can't beat the specials.
(4)Law S.
Loved everything that we had, everything was really fresh. Great atmosphere and BYO. Good prices.
(4)Amanda T.
5 stars just for the Strawberry Sundae! Absolutely delicious!! :)
(5)Jackie P.
I've been to a lot of sushi restaurants and this place is fantastic. If you get there before 6pm they have a 50% menu. BYOB and the service has always been terrific. I eat here at least once a week.
(5)C M.
Every time I've walked by Nori it's been consistently busy which usually means good things, so I wanted to I give it a try. I went for dinner with a friend the other night -- we did have a reservation and were seated promptly. The atmosphere was great -- nice crowd, good feel to the place -- and our waitress was an absolute sweetheart. No attitude anywhere, even though we came in with a Groupon. We ordered rolls and sashimi -- both were very good -- and had the tempura banana with green tea ice cream for dessert -- very yummy. Is this the best sushi I've EVER had? No, but it was very good and definitely worth a return visit. Oh -- and BYOB -- bonus!!
(4)Ania T.
best. sushi. ever.
(5)Annika E.
It's pretty good sushi for the price.. But they used to a)have happy hour Monday through Friday and b)have no corkage fee. Now, its not a great deal for the money, it just blends in with the other sushi spots in the area..
(3)Jen P.
Nori is a great neighborhood spot for sushi. I am lucky to say that I live around the corner and have been there a handful of times over the last month. The spicy tuna and strawberry roll are both phenom. The only complaint I have about Nori is that it recently started charging a $6 corkage fee... I mean come on, thats more expensive than some of the wine I bring in! Staff is friendly and the service is fast.
(4)Gina B.
Nori is da bomb. Delivery is super fast and the sushi tastes fresh and delicious.
(4)Skot R.
Delicious! Sweet waitress, cute inside. Super tasy and pretty cheap sushi. There's also a liquor store like two doors down and they've got a few kinds of sake and some japanese beers. Good place!
(4)tessa c.
click click click! 40 minutes later 2 sushi fans were drooling over tekka don + seaweed salad + miso + edamame + hamachi don + escolar jalapeno escolar maki = mouthgasm! and i am very picky about my sushi. writing about this makes me want more..sigh.
(4)Corey B.
The service was great and the sushi was excellent. Definitely one of the best sushi options in the Chicago area!
(5)Kaitlin C.
Happy to be able to update my rating. They had a bit of a rough patch, but things have gotten better :)
(3)Angus L.
The food was decent. Service was really bad. We had the most unfriendly/slow waitress. If Im in the area, maybe I would go back, but I don't feel like I would miss out on anything if I didn't.
(3)Kelsey K.
i am mighty picky when it comes to sushi and nori hits all the high notes. it is really cozy inside with great service, amazing signature makis (fav was either the fire dragon or grand caribbean), and good specials. my girlfriends and i even made two trips in one week. we loved it that much. conveniently there is a liquor store two doors down if you feel inclined for drinks with dinner. if you love sushi, you need to try nori. it will not disappoint.
(4)Kimberly M.
I just ordered Nori via Grub Hub. It was awful. Everything that should have been hot was cold and stuff that should have been cold was warm. Everything was soggy. They forgot the rice that should have came with the teriyaki bento box. The mushrooms had a good flavor, but the chicken did not. The fried sweet potatoes were mushy and cold. My friend liked her seaweed salad, but did not care for the sushi. I don't know why people give this place good reviews. Maybe it's better in person, but I was VERY disappointed. I don't plan on eating at this place ever again.
(1)David M.
The food and the service is excellent. We come here every week and are always satisfied. However, for the past several weeks the skinny white guy at the door has been very rude and has no clue what he's doing. He is really bringing this place down, which is very unfortunate. Aj is a phenomenal server, I highly recommend asking for her by name, she rocks!!! If the customer service at the door doesn't change we will no longer be frequenting this restaurant. This is pretty drastic as we have been coming every single week for over a year.
(1)Anthony M.
Okay so this place is probably one of the best sushi places i have been to. Me and my sister ordered the dragon maki which was soooo good i would give it a 5 and we also ordered the unagi q maki which was also really good but not as good as that dragon. We also had a very kind waitress by the name of Tong-Maxy.
(5)mary m.
Great price, fun and casual decor, friendly servers, good sushi! Go for happy hour.
(4)Kelly P.
The sushi was just OK, but what really irritated me about this place is their service. I came here during lunch with a Groupon-type coupon and ordered off the lunch menu. When I tried to use the coupon, they said the lunch prices were a 'promotion' even though they are clearly printed all over the menus and the front windows that the lunch prices apply every day during the hours of 11am to 6pm. Anyway, they forced me to pay dinner prices for the same sushi the table next to me were paying half price for just so that I could use my coupon. Rude. It ended up being a $45 lunch for two on a weekday. Of course, they added the gratuity on the entire ludicrous amount. Unacceptable. I'll never go back.
(1)Andrew R.
Great Food! Try the asparagus!
(5)Elena A.
Half price maki before 6. And they are good. So good that I met a friend there for lunch twice in a month. One thing though, is that I brought my baby both times, and even though they have high chairs and there were maybe 2 other occupied tables each time, I felt a little like my little guy was unwelcome. That could totally be me reading them wrong, but that's how I felt.
(4)Mischel G.
My new favorite local sushi restaurant. The place is very cozy and you practically sit with the people at the table next to you but the food is worth it. On top of that, the surprise 50% off maki was great. I will definitely be going back.
(5)Antonio C.
Came to Nori after a friend recommended it and it was great. The sushi rolls were very tasty and fresh. The staff was very nice and the place looked very clean. Half off on Mondays on selected items plus its B.Y.O.B This little place is better than a lot of big sushi restaurants. Check it out
(5)Marci B.
Love this place! great sushi for me someone who loves sushi; but, can also take someone who hasn't had any sushi with me. Great price too.
(5)Kevin K.
I have been searching for a new low-key, affordable, neighborhood sushi joint ever since Nohana started going downhill in 2007. Nori looks like it will fit the bill. They currently have a "half off maki" special that caught my eye when I was walking by this morning. Between 11am-6pm, 7 days a week you can get rolls for 50% off (approx 20 or so rolls on the special menu). This allows you to get basic rolls like tekka, salmon, spicy tuna, spicy shrimp, philly, hamachi, and such for only $3-$4. Fancier rolls like caterpillar and dragon were available for $6-$7. This made for a great deal and allowed me to order a wide variety that was presented artfully (see pic) and tasted wonderful. Nothing too fancy, but everything tasted fresh and that's how I like my local sushi shop to roll. Miso soup was tasty, edamame was cooked properly, seaweed salad was flavorful served on top of mixed greens (no cucumber thou). Also tried a mediocre fried calamari app that was tasty, but I thought the calamari rings were on the small side with too much breading. It did come with a nice wasabi dipping sauce, but I would have rather ordered 2 more basic rolls instead for the price I paid for the calamari. Nori is next to Penny's noodles on Diversey. In fact, Nori occupies the West half of what used to be a much larger Penny's (they walled off the place to separate the restaurants). Everything looks new and clean in this small space and the service was attentive, but not overkill. This is my new go to place for sushi - especially while they have the 50% off maki special. I'd recommend giving Nori a try as it's a great bang for the buck right now.
(4)LM S.
I went back to Nori after having a so-so first time experience and it just wsn't very good! I don't know...we tried the spicy tuna / alaskan / and california roll and it just was OK. I feel that the rolls are pricier than other sushi joints (of which there are tons) and we left feeling generally unimpressed.
(2)Nida Q.
I have used the delivery service at Nori regularly (3x a week) for a couple months and never had a problem. the food was delivered quickly and was of good quality compared to other sushi place that offer delivery. Unfortunately one day i order my usual philly roll with avacado and cream cheese, but the avocado was completely grey and obviously old. I did not eat it and called for a new order. They delivered and I suffered horrible food poisoning. Truely dissapointed that i can no longer trust my most reliable sushi place!
(2)Debbie K.
I absolutely love this place. I have visited Nori at least 3 times this month to catch their half-price Maki before 6pm on weekdays. Every time I have eaten here, whether dine-in or take-out, the food was fresh and delicious. The spicy tuna and philly rolls are my favorite!
(5)Sady C.
i love this place. came here with a buddy who purchased a groupon. we got there and i didnt expect the place to be packed. from outside the place isnt much to look at but when i walked in i thought it was small but intimate and had a dark sexy time vibe to it. as a looked up there a visual of how to roll a sushi on the wall which captured me and our server looked like zooey deschanel. she was new and did an awesome job. we started off with 2 signature rolls- the fire dragon and the monster. the fire dragon had shrimp tempura and veg inside, spicy shrimp on top, it was also suppose to come wrapped around with tuna but i got it without it. yummmmm i actually told my friend it was alright so he would lean towards the other roll instead while i enjoy the best one. anyway the monster wasnt traditional which i also liked. it had deep fried unagi (omg party in my pants boing!), cream cheese, veggies, cilantro, spicy shrimp on top, topped with tobiko! hell yea! the flavors combined made the roll unique and dericious!!! still hungry so we went with the terriyaki beef. came out on a long plate with sliced up beef which was marinated lightly and not like your traditional japanese terriyaki dish. came with mixed greens with ginger dressing(had wayyyyy better). it was alright im pretty sure ill just stick to sushi here. crunchy spicy tuna was bomb too btw! byob
(3)Mary K.
Nori is one of my favorite restaurants in the city, and by far my favorite sushi place! The rolls are always great and you can't beat the no corkage BYOB. Weekly specials are great as well. The best rolls is the fire dragon. It's gotten much busier now that they have offered groupons, etc...so would recommend calling ahead.
(5)Stacy F.
half price maki...EVERYDAY!! what more could you want?! well, maybe delivery along with that, but really i am not complaining. its my friday afternoon-work from home-staple!
(5)Kristine C.
I absolutely love Nori. I haven't once been disappointed since the day I walked into this sushi bar. I think it's great sushi for an awesome price, and I refuse to go anywhere else! I always go in for maki rolls before 6pm for half price, and I am pretty sure the staff knows me very well by now. They are very friendly and usually joke around with me that I am always bringing in new people to the restaurant. It's true, and now all of my friends are hooked on Nori too :)
(5)Amy E.
I have been here twice in one week since finding this gem. Conveniently located off the brown line I stop here after work for their half off maki and take it to go. The sushi is ALWAYS ready on time and the staff could not be friendlier. The quality and price of sushi is the best in town.
(5)Jaclyn H.
DELICIOUS!!! The 'Tskaura' special maki roll is amazing, as well as many of the other specialty rolls. The common maki rolls are also tasty, fairly priced, and fun the share. Plus, the place is BYOB, so it's perfect for many occasions!
(5)k e.
I have been here twice in the last month and very satisfied. They have great, fresh sushi and offer more than just your typical speciality Dragon/Rainbow rolls. Also, the location is great, right under the Brown line at Diversey, it's BYOB - which is a plus, the food pricing is comparable to other nice sushi restaurants and the decor is hip and lounge like but not too trendy. They also have some great specials most nights. With so many sushi places in Chicago, I may not make a trek here but would definitely do a girls/date night. What a great addition to the hood...
(4)Tomas J.
They seem to have tons of deals, are definately affordable, friendly staff...my new favorite sushi place. The service is not perfect...but its not bad...and totally worth it.
(4)sara T.
I have been to Nori twice now and am happy to have the addition to my neighborhood dining choices. I found the nigiri, specifically the salmon and tuna, to be tender and flavorful on both occasions. I really enjoyed the dragon maki because it wasn't drowned in Unagi sauce as other dragon maki's I have had have been. The servers are friendly and the prices are reasonable.
(3)Elizabeth F.
Just biked approx 2 miles to pick up some take out... Nori offers 50% off their sushi before 6pm. SO WORTH IT. I am allergic to avocado (I know, it sucks!) & I did not check my sushi before throwing it on my bag & riding home again. I must admit, I had an "Oh no!" moment when I realized this when I got home, but my sushi order was perfect! Not a speck of avocado in sight; perfect little box, perfect amount of wasabi & just enough packets of soy sauce. They even gave me chop sticks & napkins. Hooray! Nori, you have won my heart.
(5)Laura K.
I won't change the number of stars that I give because I still LOVE their sushi HOWEVER: I was not happy to find out that they now have a $7 corkage fee! What a disappointment that I will no longer bring wine with me when dining here. Also, make sure and make a reservation. I keep seeing people get turned away with super long wait times because they don't have a reservation.
(4)Melanie A.
I absolutely LOVE the atmosphere of this restaurant! It's funny--it's located on street level, yet when I walked in, I felt like I had just walked into a basement with a brick wall. I liked the vibrant energy in the room very much. The lighting and the decor was so warm and romantic (but not overly romantic), yet they also had the baseball game on on their LCD screen. Think wine cellar + fireplace + a dash of trendy. It's a great place to bring a date. The seating is a little bit too cramped though. My seat kept hitting the seat behind me on the next table. The presentation of the food was gorgeous and very colorful. I can tell the chefs liked animals a lot, since they decorated each warm entree with a different piece of raw carrot carved into a bird/swan/etc. It was a very nice touch. I like animals too. :) There were no carrot animals on the sushi plates, but no worries, the sushi pieces were arranged fancifully and artistically into the shape of an animal, such as a dragon. It was such attention to details in the presentation that impressed me. As for the taste of the food, everything was great, except for the soft shell crab entree. It was so salty I found it impossible to finish eating the entire dish even though I was starving. With every bite of the extremely salty soft shell crab, I had to take three bites of white rice to try to balance it out. By the time I was out of rice, I had already ingested a week's worth of sodium from the crab and I still had half of my soft shell crab left to eat. I decided to take it home to eat for lunch the next day (because I don't waste food) and see if I could reinvent it into a fried rice dish by chopping it up into little pieces. Besides the crab, everything else my friends and I ordered were delicious and accurately seasoned. Just one tip, make a reservation. I went on a Wednesday night at around 8pm without a reservation and had to wait for 15 minutes.
(4)Dan K.
I've been to this place a few times after they reopened and started canvassing the neighborhood with flyers. Definitely a nice little place to pickup some sushi (or dine in). Plus, you can't beat the 1/2 price sushi menu during the day. Good portions, everything was fresh and the service was great.
(5)Tiffani T.
Good sushi, great service, will definitely be back. And accepted our groupon with no hesitation.
(4)Jeremy W.
Great place to grab some great sushi at a reasonable price. They have specials from 11-4PM on their rolls. In addition to 3 rolls we got a specialty roll that was out of this world amazing. Very impressed with this place's creativity. Service was also excellent! FYI $15 spending minimum for credit card use policy.
(5)Katie S.
My favorite sushi place in Chicago!! I eat here at least twice a month. I recommend the spicy crunchy tuna. :)
(5)Dr. A.
It was good. Worth trying at least once, although, I would recommend making reservations since the place and occupancy is small. I had the fire dragon roll, california maki, spicy tuna and platter of sashimi with unfiltered sake. All were average taste wise, but my favorites were the fire dragon roll and spicy tuna--worth coming for these two.
(3)Kelly P.
Let me just preface this review by stating that I have dined in this location and had a much better experience. However, my take out experience was horrendous. I joined in on a group take out order that I was going to split with someone else (ordered 3 rolls total). When my coworker returned, she said that they didn't have mine. While I ordered and paid online, they still "did not have it". I spoke with them and understand it was a simple miscommunication and being that I do not have a car, they offered to deliver it to me 2 miles away. When my sushi arrived, three orders of sushi were packed into one small container. My order of "extra wasabi" must have been over looked because I was only provided with a pea size amount. They gave me four, yes only four small packets of soy for the entire order and only one set of chopsticks (I was splitting with someone). The quality of the sushi was also not very good as a result of the wait time. I understand that take out sushi typically isn't quite as tasty as when you dine in. However, by the time I had gotten it, it had been sitting a solid hour- hour and a half. The tempura was no longer crunchy, it was all soft and room temperature. Very disappointed. While dining in is a much better option, I don't know if I will be back based upon this terrible experience. Maybe I'm dramatizing the ordeal, but after all of this, nothing was discounted, not even a free fortune cookie. Just warm, soft sushi with no chopsticks, and minimal soy and wasabi.
(2)Shamita C.
Excellent rolls, 1/2 price rolls before 4pm, good apps, friendly and quick service. Would definitely return.
(5)Catie R.
I have been here twice now; the first time was not that memorable but the second time was pretty great. We went with a group of 6 people and were able to use the Yelp check-in deal for a free signature maki; we decided to get the Chicago Crunchy roll. It's probably not something I would pay the $14-$15 for but it was good to get to try it out for free. Everyone at the table got individual rolls or a rice entree and then we ordered shared rolls for the table; I personally was able to try the seared scallop roll, spicy shrimp roll, and the Fire Dragon roll. The Fire Dragon was by far my favorite. I liked how the normal rolls were on the less expensive side; the seared scallop roll was only $7.50 which is pretty good in my book! Overall the service was great, the food was enjoyable, and the pricing wasn't that bad!
(4)Taufiq H.
Excellent sushi. I came here with restaurant.com coupon but ordered from the half price maki menu . Dragon rolls are excellent! 2 people can eat good sushi for 20$ No corkage fee for byob .. awesome!! I love the place. We not visit there once a week. Right off the Diversy brown line stop
(5)Alex R.
Had my first date here with my girlfriend, great service and great date night atmosphere. Wine special was pretty awesome, too! We'll be back!
(5)Courtney W.
I was pleasantly surprised! I have a few sushi places that I go to all the time and I'm always wary of trying new places. I bought a Restaurant.com deal for this place, it was $3 (on special) for a $25 gift certificate as long as you spend $50 and 18% gratuity is added when you use the certificate. Since we had never been, we decided to go all out and see what this place was all about. We started with a Sapporo Light which was reasonable for $4. Bottle of wine and sake were also half price on this particular Wednesday night. We ordered the calamari with honey wasabi sauce which was outstanding, we couldn't stop raving about it. As far as sushi goes, we ordered the Strawberry Sundae Signature Maki with Tempura Shrimp, Cream Cheese, Avocado, Scallion, Tobiko, Spicy Mayo topped with Tempura Crumbs, Unagi Sauce, and Strawberry Sauce. This roll sounds weird, and trust me, it is but I loved it. I would order it again without a doubt. Next, we ordered the Chicago Crunchy Crazy with Hamachi, Escolar, Unagi, Avocado, and Spicy Mayo covered with Tempura Crumbs, Sweet Sauce, Red Tobiko, Black Tobiko, and Masago. I liked this roll as well but they used way too much tobiko, I ended up scraping a lot off so just be prepared for that. The Fire Dragon was by far my favorite with Tempura Shrimp and Avocado wrapped with Tuna topped with Spicy Shrimp, Scallions, and Sweet Sauce. It wasn't too spicy but had just enough kick. The Red Nori was a more simple roll with Spicy Tuna, Spicy Shrimp, and Avocado covered with Tempura Crumbs, Red Tobiko, and Unagi Sauce but it was still outstanding in my book. I like complex rolls but sometimes I like to take it down a notch. I had never had sweet potato with sushi before by the Ninja Roll changed my mind. This roll had Sweet Potato Tempura and Avocado topped with Torch Spicy Kani Kama and Unagi Sauce and everything was perfectly complemented, for sure a winner. For dessert, we kept it simple and ordered a scoop of red bean ice-cream which was average for red bean ice-cream but was still the perfect ending to a great meal. The service was pretty great too, although it took a while for our food to come out since the place was so small and it was packed. This place is BYOB and lots of people brought in bags from Trader Joe's down the street. They didn't give us any problems with the Restaurant.com deal which was also a huge plus, I hate when places drag their feet.
(4)Coleen K.
Came here with a Groupon and pretty low expectations. But this place won for a solid BYOB sushi spot in Lincoln Park! Atmosphere: better than your average hole-in-the-wall sushi restaurant. This place definitely packs you in, but has a more upscale vibe than some of its neighbors like Toro and Sushi Mon. Menu: incredibly creative and varied. Their rice ball appetizer is delicious, and we tried a bunch of different rolls that were all solid. Price: Great for the quality, and BYOB makes it even better!
(5)Susan C.
This place is one of the best sushi joints in the city. the service is fantastic, the fish is very fresh and the ambience is very nice as well. I have been here twice so far - once for lunch and once for dinner. For lunch, i had ordered the salmon teriyaki bento box which was fantastic. It came with a few california roll pieces, some tempura, soup, rice and a salad. Very filling and delicious! For dinner I had ordered the goma-ai (spinach salad) and some sushi rolls which were fantastic. I have eaten both at the Lincoln Park location as well as the Wicker Park restaurant. I will definitely be back!!!
(5)Katie W.
I'm really sad to be writing a negative review on Nori, because for the past couple of years this has been our "go to" for a quick sushi night. Last night when coming in, we were seated right away and loving the new decor. Once sat, it took a good 10 minutes to even be seen by our server. Once we finally received our order, we were disgusted by a LONG black piece of hair. Mind you, perhaps I would have thought it was mine... except for the fact it was wrapped in the MIDDLE of the role, hanging out onto the plate. I don't know how nobody in the kitchen saw this but it was just too much to move past. Our server didn't seem that concerned when we presented it to him, but then did get the roll replaced by a new one. In years past, i would think they would have taken off the roll from the bill, or at least asked if there was anything they could do, but it was sad nobody seemed to be that grossed out. I've always loved Nori, but I'm just a little disappointed in how things were for us last night :( Also took a good 10 minutes after the waiter presented the bill to come back for it, even though as he put it down we were reaching for our credit cards... c'mon Nori, you are better than that!
(1)Suzanne P.
Love this place. It's definitely my favorite in the city for sushi!!! We've been coming here for almost 4 years. You could say that my husband and I fell in love here. Try the caterpillar roll and the escolar jalapeño!!!! Always fresh and delicious.
(5)Andre W.
I love the sushi here...I have dined in as well as had it delivered! The Strawberry Sundae Roll reigns supreme as it is very delicious! Not that big of a space and is usually crowded; especially on Fri & Sat evenings You can BYOB to this place and there is a liquor store a few doors down Right off of the Diversey Brown Line stop and definitely worth checking out
(4)Lisa B.
I love Nori Sushi. It is a little too small and is often booked. I would not recommend showing up here without a reservation ANY day, because you are taking the chance you will have to wait 30-45 minutes. Not good if you are hungry! BYOB for wine and beer only, so don't try to bring a spirit and mixer. The Signature Maki rolls are truly creative; I have been to countless sushi places and was starting to feel like all the "signature" items were the same. I have been to Nori at least 10 times in the past 60 days, and they have never disappointed me. Their chefs are actually Asian (seems hard to find these days) and 4 of them are often on staff diligently working even though the restaurant is, as I mentioned previously, quite small. The flavor combinations are excellent, and even the classics taste better than you expect. Go here if you really want to enjoy your sushi the way it was meant to be enjoyed: as an art form! Tip: Mondays is half off all regular maki (doesn't include Signature Maki) no coupons required.
(5)Diane G.
Why Nori has 4 stars is BEYOND. ME. Yes, it is BYOB---along with 90% of the restaurants in Chicago. Yes, there used to be 1/2 off Maki before 6pm---well it's before 4 pm now. The oshinko (Japanese pickled radish) inside of my oshinko maki was NOT crunchy, which to me means not fresh. Likewise, the texture and taste of the shitake maki was lacking. I appreciate that they made an effort with the presentation of their sushi, but even sushi in the shape of Willis Tower with fireworks spewing from it could not have saved the mediocrity of this sushi. To add to that, our waitress was a cold BEACH. She made a huge fuss about my friend's groupon and shot us dirty looks (Don't think I didn't see you raise your eyebrows and grimace them teeth!) Considering we were there on a Wednesday at 5pm and there were only 2 other tables present, I would have expected MUCH BETTER. Lastly, the PRICES are highly unreasonable. Their signature makis range from $13-$15. That is just not a price I'm willing to pay for crappy sushi and crappier service. I should've known to steer clear of a sushi restaurant with "Ninja Maki." ~Another meal, another lesson learned.~
(1)Brooke H.
Disappointing sushi spot. They put way too much topping and sauces on the rolls. You can barely taste any fish. Too many other good sushi spots in this neighborhood, don't waste your time here.
(2)Stella W.
We were trying to find a sushi place in the area and I remember seeing good reviews about this place, so when Nori popped up on the google map search and with no wait, we decided to come check it out... When I saw "Toro" on the menu, I asked the server if they have o-toro or chi-toro...she gave me a blank look....hmmm...sign of worry :S other than that, the service is pretty good... So I ordered a few pieces of nigiris to check out how solid this place is, including sea urchin, and sweet shrimp with shrimp head (the head is my favourite, but not too many places do it well)...The rice wasn't as soft, but to my surprise, the fish quality is good given this is more of a pan-asian sushi place and the server gave me that blank look.....
(2)Tricia D.
Our GNO stumbled across Nori because it was a few doors down from Paint nail salon, and they have daily specials before 6pm everyday. On Saturday, it's half off sushi/maki rolls, and our table shared 6-7 different rolls and each shelled out a whopping $11. Score! My favorites were the rainbow roll and dragon roll. The spicy octopus and yellowtail rolls didn't really do anything for me, and the sweet potato one was tasty, but I wouldn't order it again necessarily. Service was extremely friendly. The interior is dark, sleek, and woodsy and reminded me of a therapeutic spa setting. Hey, sushi is therapeutic too. It's BYOB, but have no fear: there's a liquor store right next door.
(4)Jenny R.
Nori will always have a special place in my heart. It's one of the first places my boyfriend and I went out to eat as a couple. I love this place. It has a nice atmosphere, the servers are always friendly, and the rolls are delicious. If you're not into sushi, they have noodle dishes that you can opt for as well. I recommend calling ahead and making a reservation because this is a hot spot on the weekends and there's not much room to wait. This place is BYOB but they have some limit as to how many wine bottles or beers that you can bring without being hit with a fee. I can't remember but what it is, but you may want to look into that if you plan on bringing a few options.
(5)Eatie J.
Fresh uni! Great service. Clean bathrooms.
(5)Kayla P.
This place is very nice. Everything came out quick and service was great! Defiantly a place to go on my lunch break!
(5)Marisa A.
Big fan of Nori! The interior is surprisingly sophisticated and romantic, the service is gracious, and the rolls are suitably priced. BYOB and served alcohol. Plus, they ALWAYS have major discounts running-- check Yelp, Google Offers, Living Social, etc for free yum-yums on the regular. The fish is super fresh. Shout-out rolls: Ginza, Shrek, Fire Dragon, Red Nori, and I once tried a special that they had for Valentine's Day that was amazing. I would love to try more of the cooked dishes-- I've only had the beef asparagus roll which was everything I've dreamed of and more. I wish I could give them 5 stars, but 1) the booth seating is awkwardly high in relation to the table and 2) I tried a basic roll for the first time last night (Negihama- yellowtail and scallion) and it was inedible. Fishy, over-vinegared rice, roll wrapped too tightly. As long as I steer away from the booths and baseline rolls, this will be my go-to place for sushi in Lakeview.
(4)Alan K.
Nori is conveniently located off the Diversey Brown Line stop. When you first walk in, it is very nicely decorated, although a very tiny eatery. However, I think this is where the buck stops. The food gave me a bad stomach ache and from the way it tasted, there was something fishy about the food. They have 1/2 off Nori Maki (sushi) during the middle of the day. Now I know why they have the specials. You essentially get what you pay for...not so fresh sushi. I think in general, their menu prices are rather high for the quality of the food. The worst maki sushi had to be the spicy tuna rolls. I think this is what made me sick. The rainbow rolls were okay. The tokyo rolls were good, but the yellowtail roll was definitely not. I would recommend to avoid this place all together especially if it made me sick which is an strong indicator that the fish was not fresh.
(2)Meredith K.
I was pleasantly surprised about how much I like this place. At first it seemed out of control. We had a reservation but I wasn't sure where they were gonna put us. They offered the bar or a long wait. Boo!! I hate sitting at a bar for dinner. But its sushi so you can watch the chefs. It was actually fun. The waitress suggested an app that I would have never ordered, spicy fire ball. It was delicious!! It went great with my sparkling wine. Then we got a bunch of their rolls. Their special ones and some of the usuals like a dragon roll. We had so much we had to take some home. It was fantastic. My only gripe aside from it being crazy busy even if you have a reservation is the black chandeliers. I'm weird about this stuff but I had to sit under one and look up at the filth. Black really shows off the dust too.
(4)Jon T.
Nori has lovely sushi at a decent price! The happy hour - half off the Nori Maki listings - is awesome, and the staff are friendly and helpful. Worth stopping by if you're in the neighborhood!
(4)Shaye R.
Trendy atmosphere, they run a solid business. As for the fish, it's semi-consistent in quality. Their Nori maki and signature maki could definitely use some variety... many of the same ingredients show up in almost all of their rolls (unlike other trendy sushi places). Because of this, there are 2 or 3 makis that I always default to, and am usually happy with them. Crowd is generally 20-somethings. During the daytime they typically have reduced pricing (50% off most rolls), which makes it quite appealing.
(4)Kaman T.
Happy hour!
(4)Jennifer P.
My favorite inexpensive sushi restaurant in Chicago! Their happy hour deal is definitely worth it. Very high quality sushi at such affordable prices! The service is also terrific, as I never have any complaints! Also, I absolutely love how amazingly decorated the sushi plates come out. They place the rolls in various patterns on a fancy circle glass plate and do some creative sauce designs. I can never resist taking a picture of my sushi regardless of how many times I eat here. My favorites are their salmon skin maki and futo maki.
(5)Dorsa S.
I went to Nori today right after a 2 hr wait at Chicago Gastro before seeing my doctor. They ordered food from Nori and told me it was really good. I checked their reviews and found some disgusting. Looking at their menus and considering what the secretor said, I thought I will give it a try. The tables were too close just as I read in the other reviews, but bc it wasnt busy at all there wasnt anybody sitting close to me. The maki I ordered looked fantastic and tasted really good. The only problem I had with the place and the only reason I didnt give them a five star was bc of the waitress that was serving me. She had a lot of attitude and she wasnt patient and helpful at all while taking the order. I also didnt like it when they charged $1 for the extra spicy mayo sauce that I asked for, which I had only a little bit.
(4)Camille R.
This is my 4th year as a Japanese sushi waitress so I do have some standards and checklists pre-made when I dine in a restaurant that I don't work at. With that said, my experience at Nori was solid. Anyone can say that the food was great, atmosphere was cool, and service was fine. But the real thing that sealed the deal for me were: - Spicy miso soup was perfect. Granted most miso soups at Japanese restaurants were already made as part of the opening tasks of kitchen chefs and waitresses just have to pour it into dried seaweed and tofu bowl. However, this item tasted very fresh and had the right amount of spice. Not too spicy and not bland either. The waitress got it for me within a minute after ordering. You go girl! - The setting was very modern and classy with cute drawings of how to make Nigiri sushi and remnants of Buddha (must be Thai-related). Most of all, it was clean. And I don't mean just "clean." When you see how clean the guest check holders and the menus are, you know the people who work here have OCD. Just my kind of people. - Water was refilled at the speed of light. - I had the Seared Scallop roll and the Dragon roll. Both of which were great. The presentation was cute. The chefs mixed unagi sauce, wasabi mayo, and spicy mayo into a chain of hearts. The shrimp tempura in the Dragon roll was actually warm like how its supposed to be. Other restaurants just put really soggy and cold shrimp tempura in their Dragon rolls, which is fine if you don't know any better. But Nori made their rolls very well. Yum! - Lunch special when I dined was 50% off makis. Are you kidding me?! I didn't know about it and was expecting to pay at least $30 but my total for spicy miso soup, Dragon, and Seared Scallop roll was $14.95. Talk about a steal!! Thank you very much! - When I left the whole staff said good bye politely and my hunger was pleasantly sated. Good staff means a good and happy restaurant. So thats my 2¢. If you haven't tried Nori, then just come! You won't be disappointed.
(5)Rick W.
Lived next to this place for a year and I must say that it might be my favorite sushi in Chicago (and I've tried just about everything). Small place so make sure you have a reservation on busy nights/weekends. BYOB so bring your own wine!
(5)J H.
I love this place! It's a great neighborhood spot and it is nicer than a typical "neighborhood" sushi restaurant. The decor is modern and I like the atmosphere, however their new tables are sometimes more like community tables, which I personally hate. I have only been seated at one of the long tables once, and they did leave a space between our party and the next. The Grand Carribean roll is my favorite, also love the Monster, Red Nori and Fire Dragon. The staff are amazing and so kind and accomodating. BYOB is great, and you can order off the menu which is nice too incase you forgot to bring something or need more.
(5)Lauren H.
Love this place! Amazing sushi. They also have great happy hour deals. It gets crowded so I would call ahead before you go or make a reservation. The rolls are rolled right in front of you! I have came here a bunch of times and I will be back again!
(5)Ali J.
I can't believe I am just now giving Nori a review. This is probably my all time favorite restaurant in Chicago. It was also one of the first places my boyfriend took me and has since then been our go-to place to eat. If you try this place, I highly recommend the fireballs for an app. THEY ARE AMAZING. (Pretty much the reason that it ranks above other sushi places I've tried). I have probably tried every roll there and only disliked a couple of them... The atmosphere and service is great. They just remodeled the place and it looks nice. The only negative I would have to say is now that they have remodeled the restaurant the tables are way too close. It has taken some of the intimacy away and it makes it difficult to carry a conversation when you are practically sitting next to a complete stranger. However, this renovations doesn't keep me from going and enjoying a great meal, of course. I will we back...probably this Friday.
(5)Colleen M.
My favorite place to get sushi. Presentation is fantastic and the sushi is so fresh! Great place for hanging out with a group of friends or even a cute date. Mondays are half off for maki. Staff is so friendly and service is quick!
(5)Ali W.
Came here on a monday night...it wasnt that crowded...the sushi was ok...nothing too special!
(2)Christina G.
We walked in at 6:30 on a Tuesday and it was a packed house - for good reason. I was glad we had a reservation. This place is great. Just steps away from the brown line, the sushi was worth every penny. We brought one bottle of wine with us, which we got to drink with our meal for free - no corkage charge. The space itself was very inviting and cozy. It was a little bit cramped, but they were trying to make the most of their smallish room. Based on other reviews, we started off with the sweet potato fries. The wasabi dipping sauce gave quite a kick to normally sweeter fries. For the rolls, we split 5. In all honesty, we should have only gotten 4, but I couldn't resist adding the banana one at the end. Escolar Jalapeno Maki Roll Fire Dragon Spicy tuna Spicy scallop Banana (not sure of the name of this one) Service was good and the waitress was attentive, but not hovering. She was actually the one who recommended the banana sushi as a sort of dessert. My favorite was the Fire Dragon roll, but they all were very good and tasted very fresh. my one knock - I didn't think the jalapeno roll had enough jalapeno in it. We used our groupon for $40 and had no problems with it. With the groupon discount (we paid $20 for $40), we ended up being a couple dollars over $40, so we basically just paid for the tip that night.
(4)Hoang L.
We used our $25 gift certificate from restaurant.com . Our waitress was very nice and helpful. She gave us some recommendations and they were all really good. BYOB. Half off makis on Mondays and I think on weekdays during lunch. Check in with your Yelp app and get a free signature maki! I like this place a lot! Don't forget to make reservations because this place gets kinda packed. It's pretty small.
(4)Chris C.
Nice
(4)Anne M.
Gorged on a nice sushi dinner at Nori over the weekend with mr. man. Review teetered on 3.5, but pushed it up to 4 because of the byob factor. (no fee for first bottle / six pack). This place is cute and trendy and tiny - and fills up quick. Luckily - or unluckily, depending on how you look at it - we were squeezed in at the sushi bar, all the way against the wall. So, Friday night, we got in relatively quickly with no reservation, but we were crammed against the wall / in front of the sushi bar. Not ideal seats, but we went with it. Water, empty glasses and ice bucket for our byo-beers came quickly - off to a good start. We ordered a noodle entree to split, two large maki rolls (red dragon? and Tokyo something) and two small rolls (yellowtail + chives; and scallop roll with avocado). Our noodle dish showed up first, which kind of threw us off - we were expecting the rolls first. The noodles were standard/good - loaded with chicken, mushroom, carrot, other veggies. All the rolls came out at once on a large platter. I really liked the Tokyo (tempura shrimp (cold - disappointing), avocado, honey wasabi sauce, other things I'm forgetting. The Red Dragon? was good too - that one had some heat to it, but it wasn't too intense. The scallop roll was simple but good; the yellowtail tasted very strongly of off-fish (I realize it's fish, but it shouldn't smell / taste like that.....) I had one piece and didn't touch the rest of it. We were totally stuffed by the end of our meal - we could have ordered one-less roll for sure. Everything was good (except for the yellowtail) but I wasn't blown away. I'd go back because of the easy location, right by the Diversey stop and because it's byob. I'd also try and go to take advantage of their discounted happy hour maki deal.
(4)Annie N.
I'm torn - I think this place deserve better than a 3 stars, but I can't say "I'm a fan", and whenever I click on the 4th start Yelp automatically claims that "I'm a fan." I should have tried this place out much earlier - give the fact that I live around the corner, and every time I get off work from the L I see it, and I'd think: "yummm, sushi does sound good." But it's not until my asian hoard arrived unexpectedly from out of states that I scrambled through my memories to find a place for dinner without reservation at the very last minute. We walked into Nori, and the host was very nice. He said he didn't have any tables available for our group for long, but he did have a table empty, so as long as we finish our meal in a timely manner, it shouldn't be a problem. And he would let us know when the other party arrives, so we'd have time to finish up. Seems like a good deal. So we sat, and ordered our food, and ate. I didn't want sushi, so I went with a Spicy Chicken Udon. Some of the people in our group ordered sushi and sashimi. The food didn't take long to come out. I thought my noodle was very salty. It just didn't hit the spot for me. The sushi, my friend said, was good. But I thought the rolls were on the smaller size compared to other sushi places I've been to. Then we got our check - and yes, the waitress did add 18% gratuity automatically. No where in the menu indicated something about that, and we weren't informed either. Our group was smaller than 6 (as I recall usually they add it for groups of 6 or more?). I wasn't crazy about it, but suck for her, because I usually tip 20%. They are BYOB, and also they have 1/2 price maki rolls at certain time (I think right around 5pm or so?). But I probably won't be back any time soon. I wasn't impressed - and there are so many other sushi places around!
(3)Sara L.
I'll start off with saying don't try coming here without a reservation (at least at night at 7-8 pm)....the wait is sooo long (~2-3 hours). We ended up coming back another day..and even with a reservation, we ended up waiting an extra 30 minutes. It also took 10 minutes after being seated for someone to even come to our table to greet. The seating capacity in this restaurant is small, so I highly highly recommend not coming here with a large party. 2 is perfect. I honestly think that this restaurant is overrated. There are so many good sushi restaurants that offer amazing sushi at the same price range in Chicago. The food is pretty good here, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it was AMAZING enough to be worth the wait/price. Here are my reviews on what I ordered: -Hamachi Carpaccio- The hamachi belly is amazing!!! Basically it's sliced sashimi pieces of hamachi belly served in ponzu sauce (citrusy soy sauce) with jalapeno. If you cannot handle jalapeno, I advise you to order without the jalapeno and ask for scallions. The jalapeno does give it a good kick, but it ended up being too spicy so I ended up not eating the jalapenos themselves, but its flavor still rubs off a little onto the fish, so its not bad to order with. THIS IS A MUST ORDER..esp for you hamachi fans. You get about 9 thin pieces. (see picture) -Agedashi Tofu- it's okay..not that great compared to other Japanese restaurants. -Fire Dragon- out of all the rolls we ordered, i would have to say this one was the best. -Pom Maki- i ordered this b/c it sounded so good on the description, but it wasn't what I expected. It was just an average roll with soft shell crab, avacados, scallions. The only thing special was that they added a sweet sauce on top (pomegranate flavored?) which gave it a nice interesting taste, but it wasn't something I would want to order again. -Crunchy Spicy Tuna- When i order spicy tunas, there's a huge difference in flavor b/w spicy tuna thats chopped and mushed with spicy mayo vs. chunk of tuna with spicy sauce added. This one was the spicy tuna chopped/mushed version, which is really not my fave b/c I feel like you lose a lot of the flavor of the tuna. (This is just FYI for those who are picky about spicy tuna rolls) -Crunchy Spicy Calamari- this was on the specials menu, so it ended up being one of the more expensive rolls (~14$), but it was just like the crunchy spicy tuna roll, except with spicy calamari. This is the one the waitress recommended, so i had high expectations for this roll only to be disappointedl. It was okay, but it definitely isn't something that I would want to order again. -Banana Tempura w/ Green Tea IceCream- tempura batter is legit...banana was sweet...hard to go wrong with green tea ice cream. Loved it. Without ordering this, I don't think I would have left feeling satisfied. Overall, I feel like this isn't a place you should go out of your way to dine at. The special is great (Half off for reg makis b/w 11-6 pm), and I would def come back for the specials. However, when you wait for a long time for your food with mediocre service and pay a $85 tab before tip for 2 ppl (without any alcohol drinks), you would expect GREAT sushi for it to be worth coming back. I would say that this experience didn't meet the standards for the time and money you put into it.
(3)Mary T.
When I saw a Living Social deal for Nori, I immediately snapped up two. What was not to like - favorable reviews, close to home, steps from the brown line and BYOB (for now at least). What I noticed on my first visit to Nori was the number of special rolls on the menu. Our friendly server told us that the special maki menu, the one that comes separate, was the result of the contest they had for regulars to create rolls. It was a really creative idea, although none of those rolls struck my fancy. I found the amount of choices a tad overwhelming, making the decision-making process tough. I found it interesting that there were several maki that included fruit - mango, strawberry and banana - alongside fish. The overall menu is large, but my eyes didn't venture from the sushi section. On my first visit, my dining partner and I split three rolls - Red Nori, spicy something or other, and a third roll. My order recollection is vague because clicking on Bookmark in the Yelp app deleted my bookmark and the notes that went with it, grrr. I did recall that Red Nori was our favorite, the spicy whatever a close second, and the mystery roll came in third. Service was attentive and I appreciated that our server notated that gratuity was already included in the total; otherwise we would not have noticed. On my second visit, a different friend and I split four rolls. Since the Red Nori was the one specialty roll that stood out from my first visit, we decided to get it again. We also went with the spicy scallop, escolar jalapeno, and alaskan rolls. We were disappointed that Nori minces the fish in the spicy rolls, but it was good all the same. At the end of the day, the Red Nori remains my favorite of all of the rolls I have tried. Service on our second visit was attentive, but this server didn't notate the gratuity already factored into the bill. I understand Nori wanting to ensure coupon-using folks tip on the full tab, it makes sense; I just think it should be made obvious to diners. The space is small, it's not really ideal for parties larger than 6. Even then, they probably can accommodate one (maybe two) groups at a time. I highly recommend making a reservation, rather than trying your luck. TIP: BYOB with no corkage, for now. I noticed a sign on my last visit that they've applied for a liquor license - boo!
(4)Bryan Y.
I found about this place via restaurant.com deal and am thrilled that I found this place. Nori has replaced one of my top 2 sushi spots. First thing is Check-in to received a free signature maki. Please keep in mind that you need 4 guest with you to use the Yelp deal. We enjoyed every roll we ordered. I really loved the staff and excellent customer service. They didn't offer fresh wasabi, however when we mentioned it they made note to look into it. Also, the apps and sushi were served very quick even though it was a full house. Make sure to have a reservation during dinner/later week times. My second visit was during happy hour (everyday from 11am - 6pm, all day Mondays) which all of their Nori Maki's were half off. I was expecting the normal maki's to be not as good as the signature ones, but I was wrong. The maki's were just as good as their Signature makis. They have to be the best manufacturer of soft shell crab rolls, because the crab to shell ratio is heavily weighted towards crab Apps 1. Gyoza Miso 2. Lava Bombma Signature Maki Rolls 1. Fire Dragon 2. Chicago Crazy Crunchy 3. Sakura Tuna 4. Red Nori Nori Maki Rolls 1. Soft Shell Crab 2. Tokyo Roll 3. Crunch Spicy Tuna 4. Rainbow Maki 5. *Note we order all our maki rolls without cream cheese **Note the venue may be too small for large groups Dessert 1. Green Tea Tempura: Huge portion, can feed at least 2 I love this place!
(5)Lauren T.
Please note this is a review for delivery! So having said it was delivery I am fully aware that sushi being delivered is just not the same. Anyway, I have had good sushi delivery and this was not one of the better ones. First off we ordered delivery for a late lunch and a lot of places have maki deals if you order for lunch, but they didn't have a deal. We ordered about 5-6 maki rolls, seaweed salad and the spicy miso soup. the bill was over $80, which I must admit was the most I have spent on a delivery order for two people. I must sat I was not so pleased with the freshness of the sushi. the sushi that was more fish based tasted really fishy and I did not get the fresh crispy taste and flavor from the vegetables. The spicy miso soup was good and the seaweed salad was good as well but overall I was disappointed with the quality of the sushi, for the price it was not worth it. I will probably try them again and dine in too see if it the same quality but my first impression was just "okay"
(3)Ehow C.
This is long overdue. Back in the summer, I took my friend here for his birthday lunch, and we ordered 50% off maki. It all tasted fine, the problem was the food poisoning afterward. Luckily the birthday boy was okay, but I was definitely out for a few days. It might have been the spicy shrimp roll which he didn't eat, but it's hard to pinpoint the direct cause.
(1)James D.
Honestly I was looking forward to this place, it had been so long since I had a good sushi meal and it was a friends birthday. First problem is the prices are astronomical. Don't get me wrong I'm used to paying a fair share for GOOD sushi. But this Sushi was mediocre at best. I really didn't think the fish was very fresh, and I also found the service to be a bit hurried. Not planning to return.
(2)Lauren F.
I've only gotten delivery from Nori (that was super quick) so I can't comment on the restaurant itself, but the rolls I've had were great! My favorite is the Grand Caribbean-Tempura Shrimp, Mango, Strawberry, and Avocado topped with Salmon, Wasabi Mayo, and Sweet Sauce-it was every bit as amazing as it sounds. I have a thing for tempura so I also tried Fire Dragon-Tempura Shrimp and Avocado wrapped with Tuna and topped with Spicy Shrimp, Scallions and Sweet Sauce-yum as well. I've also had the Ebi Tempura Maki and California Maki and both were fresh and tasty. They're BYOB so I might have to venture into the restaurant soon!
(4)Nikki S.
YUM YUM YUM--my friend had a group-on, but looking at their website and coming in they always have great deals. All the sushi was very very good--definitely get the Ninja Maki. I also got the Green Tea--not sure how it was different than normal green tea, but it was especially tasty
(5)Sara E.
Half-priced sushi rolls until 6pm + me working from home around the corner = best lunches EVER. Tasty spicy tuna roll and Ebi Tempura... I've never had anything bad here but usually stick to what I know. It's BYOB, but there is a liquor store two doors down. Only downside, and this is tiny, is that they keep the restaurant *around* 104 degrees inside. But when it's cold out, that's not a bad thing if you eat fast.
(5)Jessica S.
I am a huge fan of Nori. After living in the city for a little over a year, my boyfriend and I try to go by a rule to try a new restaurant when we go out to eat (since we have a never ending list of places to try that seems to keep multiplying). We have broken that rule with Nori and have been more than a handful of times. For the area, Nori has some of the freshest and most creative maki PLUS its a BYOB which makes me smile. The waitstaff is always super friendly and they will always guide you to a great selection if your having a hard time deciding between rolls. Nori has a sexy atmosphere that's great for an intimate date night but its also just noisy enough to go with a group of girlfriends. I would recommend the Grand Caribbean and the Fire Dragon signature rolls. The Grand Caribbean with has mango, strawberry and an impeccable sweet sauce that I think may be one of the most interesting and mouthwatering rolls I have ever had (no dramatization involved). We are moving out of Lincoln Park soon but Nori will give me a good reason to travel a little north.
(4)Alexandra C.
I think this is the best Sushi in the entire city of Chicago, hands down. The sushi is always AMAZINGLY fresh. My absolute favorite is the Red Nori Roll-- Spicy Tuna, Spicy Shrimp, Avacado, and other delicious sauces with tempura. I want one right now just thinking about it. Another favorite is the Spicy Crunchy Tuna roll. They also have great lunch specials and BYOB!
(5)Molly L.
Simply put, Nori has good sushi for a good price. The fish is fresh, so the sashimi is good, and their specialty rolls are creative. (My favorite one had mango on top.) Also, it's BYOB, so it's great for groups. The best part about Nori is that they have half-price maki before 6pm! I can't tell you how many times I ran off the el like a crazy person at 5:59 so I could get some cheap, yummy dinner.
(4)Mindy S.
Nori was so-so. The edamame was over steamed, and while it is BYOB, they took the bottle in the back to open it, and didn't give us back the cork. When we went to leave, and asked for the cork, they gave us a random one. I don't think I'll be back.
(2)Lauren H.
A little over a year since my first review and I find myself needing to post an update. Since my initial post, I've visited Nori at least 20 times, with all experiences being great! (Obviously... otherwise why would I visit that many times, right!?) Anyway, they've really amped up their service and clarified their specials/promos. The host (Clint) is AWESOME! Always friendly and willing to accommodate (even if we neglect to make a reservation). I think Lindsay has been my server every single time I've been in, and she's always great- attentive, friendly, patient, and very efficient. They seem to have added a few people to their staff, including a bus boy or 2, and a sweet gal that comes around to refill waters, which I'm sure helps with the overall efficiency of the place. I've been frequenting on Mondays (their 'half off Nori rolls' special is hard to beat!) and it seems to be one of their most popular nights.. definitely a good idea to make a reservation. I just found out they're opening a new larger location in Roger's Park (with outdoor seating!!), so of course I'm stoked for that!
(5)Kelsey K.
So, it was a girl's night of couch and movies and what could make it any better?!?! Sushi, of course! I'm really torn between 3 and 4 stars because the food was actually really good, but I am disgruntled by a few things so I have to go with 3. 1. When we arrived, they asked us if we had a reservation. When they told us that they didn't have an opening until 930. SO, takeout it is BUT... While we were waiting on our food, I peeked at OpenTable and they had an opening for 8:30 so clearly they weren't telling us the whole truth. 2. They have a clearly posted sign stating that they won't take your CC unless you have a $15 min purchase. This is a direct violation of their merchant agreement with Visa and MC and it's really annoying when my friend had to scrounge up change in her purse when they wouldn't take her card. She got it done, but it's rude and a violation of their contract so they should either take down the sign or be ready to make exceptions to their "house policy". So, those irritations aside, the food was very good. We didn't get to experience the atmosphere much in the holding area but it seemed energetic and pleasant. I'd go back if I'm in the area again to give it a second chance but I think I'd want to check out Toro first.
(3)Laura H.
Living close by, Ive been wanting to try this place for awhile and Im not sad that I did, although, I've definitely had better. Half priced Maki makes this place better than it actually is... otherwise, its expensive and decent... but not great. We tried the Dragon Maki (shrimp tempura, avocado, eel), seared scallop, and king california. The Dragon maki was the definite winner of the three. The scallop was unexpectedly bland... the king california uses real crab instead of imitation meat... but wasnt anything special... nor did it have a lot of flavor. Id like to give this place another shot... and try some of their more playful menu items: the strawberry sundae and snow white which are made with fruit. This place also delivers... but minimum $25 (easy to do on sushi but a lot of food if you're ordering for one)... oh and half priced maki rolls are not counted for delivery...
(3)Jeff A.
Half price Sushi for lunch... YAY!!! I am sooo picky when it comes to sushi, and so is my buddy I dinned with... I had just got out of my gym which is practically across the street and said half price sushi, where did this place come from, apparently it came from about 3 months ago, I guess I don't pay that much attention... The place is not to big and very nice inside, we walked in, the only customers, actually got a little bit of a scowl from one of the employees, I though oh god another place I will not have to come back... Turns out he was one of the sushi chefs, my guess is he had been busy all day from half price sushi and just sat down for his lunch, as we skipped in the door, thats where I'm hoping the scowl originated... We had 9 rolls, ranging in price from 2.75 for a california roll to 6.50 for a rainbow roll, and at those prices I was soooo happy, ill be honest at full price for dinner I would not be as glowing due to the fish to rice quotient, Mayhaps they make the rolls differently for dinner, with more fish and less rice, I am not about to find out, had the rolls been more fish and less rice I would have no problem eating there for dinner at full price too, just a note if you kidz read this you may loose potential full price customers with lesser quality lunch fare, just a thought! I kept getting this pleasant, I do mean oh so pleasant zest of black pepper from a few of the rolls; it was a very welcome and unusual surprise, this place had the flavor combos down for sure! The escolar with fresh jalapeno-so buttery, the caterpillar-hmmmavocado, ohhhh-the big surprise that had I notice before I ordered I never would have ordered, but it worked, was the ell inside the rainbow roll also with a pepper essence, I normally steer clear of eel if at all possible! This place is a great lunch sushi option, I am hoping I just caught them on a overly ricey day and next time it will be more fish and who knows they might lasso me in for dinner too! Guess I will be spending more time on my AMT 100i to make up for all the rice... LOL
(4)Michelle M.
Meh, I've had better. I ordered delivery from here and didn't think too much of it. I had the 15 piece sashimi, the vast majority of it was not fresh and tasted like grocery store sushi. The 5 pieces that were good were quite tasty, I will concede. The rolls were nothing spectacular. They do throw in a free roll or edamame if you spend a certain amount, so extra star for that.
(3)Mike S.
Nori has really gotten their act together since I first tried them, and it is now my go-to neigborhood sushi restaurant. The food and service have improved 1000% since my first review. The servers are attentive and helpful. The rice rivals Tank in Lincoln Square and the maki offerings are creative, well thought out and very flavorful. The sweet potato roll is delicious and I get it almost every time. Other favorites are the Unagi Q, the Seared Scallop, and the Spicy Octopus maki. Of the specialty maki go for the Fire Dragon, the Caribbean or the Red Nori. The addition of half-price maki until 6pm is pure genius and has helped drive me, my girlfriend and our friends in time and time again. The signature maki is not included on the half-price discount, but you won't care ordering off this menu if you order off of the half-price maki menu. I've walked out of there numerous time stuffed to the gills for under $50. Did I mention this place is BYOB? Pick up a bottle of wine at Bodega Ramos (1134 W. Diversey) before hand. You'll be glad you did.
(4)Lezah G.
We came here because I had a Living Social Coupon and I will definitely be back. We had two signature maki rolls and two regular maki rolls which would have been half price on Mondays if we did not use the coupon. The signature maki rolls were fantastic...some of the best I've had in a long time. The restaurant is very small and fills up quickly so make reservations if possible. My only complaint, and today it is a big complaint, is that after we were there for about 30 minutes they turned the heat down and the place got so cold that my toes were starting to freeze. They did turn the heat back up but shortly before we left they turned it way down again and the people at the other tables who had just started their meals were visibly uncomfortable. Why they would do this on a day with a minus five wind chill factor is a mystery to me. My toes are just starting to warm up as I write this!
(4)Bizzle Z.
I love this for delivery, never been inside. Its always on time (takes an hour but who cares when its yummy & fresh!). Its delicious - fresh, interesting combinations I've never seen elsewhere. Its decently priced. I've ordered from here at least 10 times, can't complain. YUM!
(5)Tiff H.
So the lady lives by here...and, yes, I broke down and agreed to satisfy her sushi craving (clean minds, people!) with her. How could I say no to such a sweet voice? Yes, I am weak. A few notes about Nori: 1) BYOB. 2) The lady was in charge of the menu: --Grand Caribbean - mango, strawberry, shrimp tempura wrapped with salmon/tuna/various fish...I didn't try any....being allergic to mango. --Fire Dragon - shrimp tempura, avocado, crabby stuff, some type of orange seafood topping. --Spicy salmon - pretty standard. Made just for us. --Miso Soup - again, pretty standard. 3) Total for all of this: $48ish with a 20ish% tip. 4) They have some type of special every day of the week. On the Sunday we went, it was half off appetizers. (We didn't take advantage of those.) All in all, a cute sushi place. I'd love to come back again. The tables are a bit close together and this seems to a place for the locals. I ended up getting into a conversation with the patrons next to us...because I was being a creeper and eavesdropping. I hope I come back with the lady. *sniffle*
(3)Kris R.
this place is GREAT for 1/2 off nori maki on mondays! 2 rolls for 10 dolla - make you holla. my favorite is the seared scallop maki. i dont think i'd come any other time, bc i think there are more/better places in the city. you just can't beat their specials, though!
(3)Janice P.
Tried out Nori for the very first time today and I can def say Im impressed! They had a very nice selection of regular rolls and a decent selection of specialty rolls. If you arrive before 6pm all the regular rolls are 50% off! I recommend the Tokyo roll and the Banana tempura roll as starter items. Byob makes this place extra swt although please note that after your first bottle/6pack the second bottle/6pack will incur a $7 dollar cork fee. Service was fast and friendly
(4)Nicholas C.
Thanks to livingsocial, I found out about this great sushi place in Lincoln Park. The place is quite small so make reservations as the food is worth it. Despite how busy it was on a Saturday night, the wait staff was polite and we were never waiting for food. I got the Lava Bomba appetizer, a baked scallop dish with spicy mayo and avocado, and it was amazing. The Chicago Crazy roll, a mix of hamachi, super white tuna, and unagi topped with tobiko, was also delicious. In addition to my chirashi don entree, they provided us with miso soup, edamame, and seaweed salad. All in all, the food was great and I look forward to my next visit there.
(5)Donna W.
Amaaaaazing. I've only been living in Chicago for about 5 months, but this is the best sushi I've found. We got the Grand Caribbean roll, Monster Roll and Crab Shogun roll and they were all delicious and very different. Sometimes specialty rolls tend to taste similar to one another, but not these. They all had their own unique taste. I couldn't stop raving about this place for the rest of the night. Definitely my favorite sushi place in the city thus far!
(4)Tiffany M.
This is a tough review to write. My family and I love the food here, the problem is, the kitchen messes up food allergies and the last time we went there it caused us a trip to the hospital. Although I always found the wait staff to be a little less than stellar, the food was always good. Unfortunately, due to our last experience, we won't be able to go back. It should be noted however that the restaurant was very willing to help us with the hospital bill.
(3)Sara S.
Very average- not sure why everyone raves about it. Its not bad, but definitely not memorable. With my bf I split 2 rolls- Chicago crazy crunchy and fire dragon, spicy udon and calamari. All okay- the spicy udon didn't have much flavor, calamari and 2 rolls were forgettable. There are definitely better places for sushi around that area. If you can get the 1/2 off special that's about the only time I would go, but even then I wouldn't be thrilled.
(3)Joanna G.
Wow, what a great place! Super duper yum! Headed there on a very cold Tuesday night with three chicas. One had a $50 coupon for $100 worth of food from restaurant.com . Yummy sushi, BYOB, and on the cheap = great night. The place is very cute, dinned lights, nice decor, pleasant staff. Started with miso soup, very good, lots of tofu and seaweed. Decided to order as many rolls as we could. Chose the following: Rainbow - pretty good but was a bit fishy Monster - sooo good. I'm not usually into cream cheese and the works, I'm more of a purist, but not that night! Red Nori - yum, just spicy enough Crab Shogun - very good, little smoky, served with ponzu sauce which didn't really add anything, in my opinion Aloha - again, yum! Fire Dragon - it was ok, but tasty enough Finished off with mango mochi, yum. So much food, did not finish everything and we were not at $100 yet. The nice waitress did accept our coupon so all this for $50! Sorry Toro, I think I'll come here much more now, coupon or not, still very affordable and yum.
(4)Deena D.
I've walked by this place so many times without realizing it! Swanky ambiance inside but seating is a little small so try to make a reservation. Loved the BYOB and no corkage fee, made it easy to get sauced up at dinner, hop on the Diversey Brown Line and hit the town. We stuck to some basic mahi -philly, alaskan, spicy tuna and they were pretty good. Miso is also legit and not that clear broth crap some people try to serve you. Prices are reasonable and they've got a ton of specials posted on the front window. Also if you order online for pick up on their website you get 10% off the first order. Sah-weet.
(4)Sarah S.
I went here last Saturday with some girlfriends. We had to wait about 30-40 minutes, but they were nice enough to open up our bottle of wine and let us have a drink while we waited. This is a great BYOB and no corkage fee! As soon as we sat down, many of the other tables opened up. Go figure, right? We split some rolls between the 4 of us. My favorite was the Dragon. We also had the spicy tuna, New York, Philadelphia and Californian Crab. The sushi was very fresh and we liked every roll. I found out that they have 1/2 price sushi on Mondays! Looks like I will be going back here on a Monday soon!
(4)John M.
This place is a mixed bag. They take reservations, apparently. Because when we showed up and were told it was a 45 minute wait, there were three separate tables with "reserved" signs on them. They did take our phone number and called us right at the 45 minute mark. Fair enough. The rolls and specials were tasty. They had an Aloha roll on their special menu, which was the best tasting food of the night. Prices are reasonable, and service was attentive and friendly. And byo is a big plus. However I do need to state the following: DO NOT ORDER THE TORO. I don't think it was even the correct fish, though the waiter assured us it was. it was orangish/red in color, and looked like it had been cooked somehow. It was chewey and unlike any toro i've ever had - and not in a good way. Stay far far away from the toro. Obviously no resaurant experience is going to be perfect, and I'll probably go back to Nori at some point. I'm a big sushi fan, and aside from the toro everything was done better-than-average.
(3)Chelsea F.
I am confused as to why this place has four stars because I honestly did not enjoy this place at all. I went here by recommendation of a friend who swears by it so I had pretty high expectations going in. Service - our server was very nice in the beginning explaining all the specials, going over the recent contest they had, and was awesome at checking back with us once the food arrived. However, once our meal was over - I could sense that they wanted us out of there. Literally, every five minutes, we had people coming up to our table asking if we were ready to pay our bill. Keep in mind, we really weren't there that long at all. Our waitress didn't even bother to ask us if we wanted dessert. After all this ordeal, a different waitress came to our table telling us they needed the table. I am totally fine with leaving at a certain time but it would have been nice to be told this in the beginning of the meal instead of constantly bothering us towards the end only to tell us to leave. This is unacceptable in my opinion. I had something called the Red Nori and it wasn't that good at all. First of all, there's nothing more than I hate than MUSHY rolls and ALL their rolls were mushy - um, disgusting. My friend had the banana roll which was more like a dessert and was just okay. For dessert, we had green tea tempura ice cream which was good but it's pretty hard to f*** up ice cream, right? Overall- I would honestly never go here again nor would I recommend this place to anybody.
(2)Santiago A.
Dang you, my fellow Yelpers. This place just opened and I thought I had a chance to be first to review. /sigh I liked this place. All the sushi was good. Plus, it's byob so... of course I'm going to love it. More places should byob -- parks, libraries, bus stops... I, I'm not homeless. I swear. It just makes sense. Times are tough and saving $10 or so on wine by bringing your own makes any meal better. My rating might be skewed a little because the bill was so, so low. $20 w/ tip for two people that ate a lot of sushi was sweeeet. However, this is because for a limited time, they are having 50% off the bill. It's like a reverse welcome wagon kinda thing, where they give you something for them moving to the neighborhood. In any case, it's more than enough to make it worth your while to stop on by, asap. Even if you miss the killer deal going on, the sushi is good enough (plus, sushi isn't usually too cheap anyway) that you won't feel like you're getting a raw deal. Ha... that was terrible.
(4)anya t.
They are having 50% tasting week this week! I went there on Monday and Wednesday, so I can't go tonight (little embarrassed). I admit, I am a sushiwhore. So when there is a good sushi half off, I am there. They will ask you to fill out a survey after dinner, which is why they are doing 50% off week. Very smart! I had "Green Nori" on Monday and "Shrek" on Wednesday. I also had their seaweed salad, which was delish. I like their rolls because they don't overkill them with cream sauce and mayo. I hate mayo now, btw. Try to get there this week to take advantage of the tasting discount. Yauzi!
(5)Maria K.
The half price maki until 6pm is awesome. Made fresh and tastes good. The place is quiet and the service is a little slow, though very friendly. I'll go again for lunch soon.
(4)Brandon L.
Yum! Best sushi in the area, even tastes great and is fresh the next day if you have leftovers. Quick delivery as well....
(5)C. B.
I tried Nori for the first time this week. It was kinda wonderful! The food deserves about 4-4.5 stars, but I am giving Nori 5 stars for the excellent specials they have. Half price maki rolls on mondays, yes please!! They also have other specials every weekday (I believe they are listed on their website). For the quality compared to price it was amazing! I am addicted to sushi and eat it no less than once a week. I would say this is place ranks as being #1 or #2 on my list. Try it. It will be worth it. We got 4 rolls and two appetizers for $30. Amazing. It is BYOB without a corking fee - and there is a liquor store right next door. I like. The one thing that I did not love about this place is that it is rather small and the tables are close together. It wasn't very full when we were there so this wasn't a problem, but I could see when they are busy that it would be less than ideal. Nori - this just might be love.
(5)Jeanne M.
I can't give Nori 5 stars because it's so busy in the evenings that it's hard to get a seat, but the maki is delicious. The host is very polite and brought water to those of us waiting for a table. It is expensive but then, all sushi I've ever had has been expensive. I don't think it's a deal breaker.
(4)Chicago J.
I'm almost tempted to give this place 5 stars, but being as I've only eaten there once, I don't want to seem too biased. My group had an AMAZING meal of California, Caterpillar, Dragon, Spicy Tuna, Spicy Octopus, Sweet Potato, Red Nori, Crab Shogan rolls, as well as several appetizers as well as sashimi. Everything was FANTASTIC. I love sushi to begin with, but I was really impressed. Knowing that they have 50% off deals will make me want to return. The absolute only criticism I have was that it took us a while to get the servers attention. We were expecting dessert, and we waited an incredibly long time for it to arrive, to the point where we thought they had forgotten about it (and us). Then an even longer wait to get the check. However, it's not going to stop me from trying this place again.
(4)Amanda K.
My husband and I walked in on a Friday night, sans reservation *gasp!* While I would recommend having one for Friday/Saturday nights, as the place was hopping and obviously very popular, the gods smiled upon us and after less than a hour wait, we were seated. The entire wait, the very hip and friendly manager (I'm guessing he was the manager, I know he's not the owner, b/c I thought that he was and asked and he said no...) opened our bottle of wine and made pleasant small talk with us. He was so cool, my husband and I felt like we were talking to a friend we hadn't seen in a long time. Once we were seated and ordered: wow. Things just got better. Never been a fan of Asian soups, but when I tried my husband's spicy miso soup, I ordered a cup for myself - it's delicious! We ordered several sushi rolls - all very fresh and tasty, service was quick and efficient. The Red Nori roll was definitely my favorite. The dining room is not enormous, but not overly cramped. The decor - even the serving dishes - are elegant and tasteful, with enough cool mixed in not to be stuffy. Loved it, we'll definitely be back - with a reservation this time! PS: Even have ordered delivery from Nori on grubhub and it was a great experience as well. And I'm pretty leary of sushi for delivery, but no troubles. Love Nori, love it!
(5)Caitlin U.
I come here every Monday for 50% off maki rolls... great sushi! The first time I went for the special the server didn't explain that the deal does not include the signature maki (which is a shame, because they are absolutely delicious), but the regular maki rolls are fantastic as well. I love the tokyo, the ninja, and the sweet potato was surprisingly amazing. They have a strict BYOB policy, only 1 bottle per 2 people, which cuts down on people sitting around for hours just drinking wine. Small place, usually a wait, but they don't have a problem taking your phone number and calling you. I've never waited very long.
(4)Jennifer B.
Eh it was okay... If you don't do the half-price maki thing then it's rather expensive for just average-tasting sushi. I think it's very apropos that Nori is below the EL tracks...it's the type of place that you'll stop at on your way home from work because, well, it's there, and you're looking for a change from picking up Potbelly across the street. But the next day...you'll be back to Potbelly!
(3)Megan M.
3 words. sweet.potato.fries. definitely a little hesitant while ordering them tho...who orders sweet potato fries at a sushi joint? easily turned out to be the best decision ever. not a single soggy fry; each fried to a perfect crisp. the honey wasabi is what really put it over the top tho. man, anything dipped in that would be delicious. i seriously considered giving this place 5-stars JUST because of this appetizer. haha ok, moving on. all the food was nicely presented (big deal in my book), and the service was great. just a heads up, don't order the chicago roll. a bit too mushy for my taste. everything else was great though. again, sweet potato fries stole the spotlight at this place. i definitely do wanna go back for their happy hour. half price rolls? can't beat that.
(4)Emile D.
We came before 6pm, when a portion of their sushi menu was 50% off. This kind of special is not unusual. However, to my surprise, there were numerous high-end rolls that were 50% off. And they didn't disappoint; we got the soft shell crab roll, banana tempura, sweet potato, and a couple others. All were delicious. The service here is also very good. We brought a bottle of wine, and they provided a iced wine chiller (for lack of better term). And no corkage fee! 5 great rolls and miso soup for (astonishingly) $18! I defy you to find a better sushi deal than that!
(5)Brittany K.
My three friends and I are regular's here. The one waitress knows me, and my order, by name. While on occasion, and when I say this I mean when they are really slammed, it can take a little while to get your food. But never more than 20 minutes. I try sushi everywhere and this is the place I compare it too. I have never had a bad roll. Philly maki, spicy tuna, crunchy spicy tuna and Sakura are among the rotation and they always have been excellent. I have no idea why anyone would every hate this place.
(5)Michael S.
HALF PRICE nori maki before 6pm! Finally, a good sushi restaurant to add to the lunch circuit, and with half price maki, you're sure not to break the bank. I will admit, at first there was some skepticism based on the place having one other person in it when we sat down. But, clearly the word is out on their sushi deal, as the place definitely had some regulars come in while we were there (with one table of 20 somethings talking about how the prices were cheeeeep). The sushi was pretty basic with a few more involved rolls. All the fish was fresh, but a fifth star was withheld because, if anything, the fish used was on the smaller side. Still, with half price, fresh......and good rolls, I would be happy to go back. Perhaps this will fill up the Tuesday slot. Note -- it is BYO, which is limited to beer, and wine. Thus, leave the bottle of hard stuff and mixers at home.
(4)Melissa E.
Not good. Didn't have sushi but the other food was greasy, gloopy and just plain gross. Thankfully I had a Living Social coupon because I would have been disappointed to pay full price. Also disappointed with the restaurant trying to "sneak in" a mandatory 18% tip. Um, there was 2 of us. I complained and our waitress said it was standard for all coupons. Well, LS doesn't state that on there coupon or website so after much discussion she removed it. Good thing given she was a horrible waitress. For sushi I am all for Shiroi Hana, for less atmosphere you get far better food.
(2)Heidi R.
Went to Nori on Black Wednesday with my boyfriend and another couple... we made a reservation and I am glad because it was pretty busy. Great place for BYOB sushi as there are so many options in the city. We had edamame to start and then ordered several rolls. We absolutely LOVED the ninja - which was just sweet potato tempura! We ordered a total of 3 Ninjas because it was so good. We had a few others that didn't scream out anything too special but I will say the Crab Shogun which we were all most excited about was an epic failure! It's basically smoked crab on top of a crab roll. We each tried a piece and gagged. We told our server who just apologized and left it on the table. So we realized that we were going to pay for it either way we tried to salvage the remaining pieces by removing the top "torched crab" and it still had the worse taste ever. We also tried the Escolar Jalapeno Maki which was basically just a rolled up jalapeno, not too good either. All in all I was happy with my meal and I would go back just for the ninja alone!
(2)Emma M.
I love trying different sushi places because each one has different specials, specialty rolls, sashimi, dumplings, sauces, etc. They had a lot of different specialty rolls (always my favorite) and the one I got was delicious. I think it may have been the fire dragon or dragon fire. It was huge and so decadent. We also tried the chicken dumplings that came with the most amazing dipping sauce. I'm a fan of the BYOB at sushi places so you're not spending half the bill on liquor! I will definitely come back here for more sushi!
(4)John S.
Being the first reviewer here I am possibly going easy on Nori. There was nothing wrong with the sushi, in fact it was quite good. The staff was very friendly. The place very clean. The portions a good size, as was the menu. Read on and tell me if I was too nice. I ordered take-out asking my server if there were daily specials. She misunderstood and showed me the lunch menu (half price on sun, mon tues). I was looking for something more like the "catch of the day" though. Luckily one of the manager looking employees recommended that I try one of the chef's specialties, seared uni. Sea urchin (uni) was worth trying although it had a big too much mayo-like sauce for my taste. I always order basically the same thing, a unakyu maki, spicy tuna (chili oil - not mayo), and something else. If there is toro I usually order one or two nigiri pieces. Luckily they had toro. The toro nigiri was a fair size and a fair price, it melted away. The unakyu was good also, nice and fresh. Even though they used spicy mayo instead of chili oil I enjoyed the spicy tuna. Usually places will slather on the spicy mayo until you can't taste the fish or rice at all. I think sushi is all about proportion. This place gets it mostly right. Their consistency needs a little work. I like to get the exact same amount of fish,cucumber, avocado, etc in every piece. It was a little busy so I will let that slide as everything else was on target. The rice was cooked perfectly and they used just the right proportion. The rest of the ingredients were fresh. The rolls were tight. I would have liked to see better prices as this place is pretty expensive. $20 for a Unagi-Don or TekkaDon. The alright lunchbox deals and the half-price sunday/monday lunch makes this spot decent for lunch and possibly dinner on a quasi-special occasion (e.g., friday, second date, etc). I would like to see Nori succeed as they put the other sushi places around to shame.
(4)Chole L.
My experience in this restaurant was BAD. The customer service was bad, the waitress had attitude on her face the whole time.. Our food was below the average. Our Thai waitress was not professional and messed up our order twice. We ordered the fried soft crab and it was way too salty and tasted bad. I will not come back again and would not recommend this place to any of my friends.
(1)Alex H.
Solid sushi, cool atmosphere, very good service, and BYOB...how can you go wrong? My only complaint is that this place is perhaps a bit too popular for its size...we had to wait about 10 minutes to get in for our 9pm reservation.
(4)David R.
Good sushi, good price. Nori is a great place for lunch - half-price rolls, can't beat that! Strawberry Shortcake Roll is weirdly delicious. Service was a bit sporadic.
(4)Rachel K.
I was impressed with Nori the minute I walked in the door! The decor was very chic for what I believed to be a hole-in-the-wall sushi joint. The ambiance was that of a fine sushi restaurant without the pretentious attitude. The food was great! The specialty rolls were substantial, and you definitely feel like you are spending the right amount of money. The regular maki roll I got (salmon/avocado) was also a decent sized portion, and the salmon was just as present as the avocado. The nigiri we had was fresh and large! The pieces were on the bigger end, and I found that I could not bite the salmon piece in half. Not sure what that's about... maybe the thickness. Overall, really really good sushi and I will be back for sure. It sounds like they have a ton of promotions, so I may try to take advantage of that :) There was one issue that bugged me though. I called earlier in the week to make a reservation, and thought the girl wrote my name down. When we got to Nori, there was no record of my res and they were more or less booked. Instead of trying to accommodate, the host stuck my friend and I in the back corner at the small sushi bar. It was annoying that they couldn't just make something work. They didn't even offer us an app or anything for the inconvenience. I'm willing to let it slide because the food was great, but be careful if making a res and maybe confirm the day of??
(4)Heidi O.
YUM. I love sushi. When my private practice first opened in February and I had too much time on my hands, I would take the brown line just to eat sushi here. Usually it would be me and one other person sitting in here around 1pm enjoying the half off maki. Not just good sushi but lots of interesting things on the menu, and really lovely presentation. BYOB is nice for groups during dinner and there is room to wait! We still haven't figured out if they take reservations though-this seems to depend on who is answering the phone, ha!
(5)Allison S.
I have been here twice now and both times I have been left satisfied! The first time a friend of mine met me here, she lived around the corner for a while but never came here. I had received a gift card here so we decided to give it a go. The wait was about an hour, but since you can bring your own wine the manager uncorked it and brought us glasses. So we were able to sip and chat as we waited. The sushi was phenomenal and the prices were extremely reasonable. Thats why I came back a second time with another friend. This time there was no wait, the food was still delicous!
(5)Andrew H.
Been a frequent Nori customer for quite some time now. The before 6PM deal is just stupid...and I love it. You can get tons of high quality rolls at 50% off. Even after 6PM, this is a fantastic sushi restaurant. Always fresh, always creative. The service is usually spot on as well. My only real complaint is that sometimes it's too busy. But it's deserving of the crowds and it's busy for a reason.
(5)Maria C.
Pros... Romantic, sexy Bought a coupon from Restaurant.com for this place! It was GREAT! we had the Strawberry Sunday Roll! YUMMY and BYOB Also try the fried Green Ice Cream! OH SO GOOD!! Will go back over and over. Cons,,, Small place, make a reservation may not be so good for small children no kids menu, unless they eat this stuff. OVER ALL GREAT!!!! && Cheap total bill 3 adults $60.
(5)Allison H.
Make sure you have a reservation. I came here with a friend at 7pm on a Tuesday night and was told it would be a 2 hours wait. Really? On a Tuesday? Luckily I planned ahead the next time my husband and I went and made a reservation so was seated promptly upon arrival. I had just expected your normal, average lakeview/lincoln park sushi place but was pleasantly surprised. My husband and I ordered 4 rolls - red nori, crunchy spicy tuna, rainbow maki, and seared scallop. All the fish was so fresh and everything was delicious. I couldn't even decide which roll was my favorite! I knew I'd be wanting to come back here! Another plus, it's BYOB and no corkage fee! Yay! The service was quick and attentive. but place was small, which is why reservations are a must. Definitely a place I'll be going back to try!
(4)Javier Q.
I love the sushi here, and I only come on Tuesdays LOL, why? Because it's half off Sushi Maki Tuesdays!, I order 3 rolls, and all are tasty!, The atmosphere is OK, I've been to better looking Sushi joints, but the Sushi itself here is pretty yummy in my tummy!! And right off the Diversey Brown Line which is nice =]
(4)Bob C.
Good Food, Scammy Billing. That's how Nori can be summed up. My wife and I went here after purchasing a LivingSocial coupon. The food was actually pretty solid, the sushi was really fresh, and the second waitress encouraged us to add ingredients to the maki we ordered. The first waitress vanished after placing orders and didn't appear again until it was time for the check. I guess they had a "design your own maki" contest which is really neat. The only reason this place gets three stars is the blatent bait and switch they tried to pull when we got the check. The menus actually state that parties of 6 or more will incur an 18% gratuity. (we were a party of two) The LivingSocial coupon said nothing about any added gratuity. Nori pulled this little stunt and the first waitress said it was their policy to add 18% for LivingSocial users. I angrily demanded that it be taken off which they agreed to. It's pretty well known that vendors lose money on these deal coupons, but if you are going to sign up with Groupon or LivingSocial, that's the cost of doing business. Don't try and recoup part of your losses on the back-end by charging fees not disclosed up front. I loved the food, but not sure I'll be back after their gratuity scam.
(3)Irm C.
Bought a Groupon and went to Nori for the first time. The miso soup, appetizers and the sushi were great. Great service. Definitely going back.
(4)Erica S.
This place was okay but it wasn't anything special. The staff was super nice but the amount of fish they give for each dish wasn't a lot and it was super thinly sliced. The place was pretty packed and we were given a one hour time limit. Umm this wasn't all-you-can-eat.
(3)Mary W.
Love the food, but you definitely need a reservation to eat in. It's my go to place for delivery. Gotta try the spicy fireball, so good! The Caribbean maki is one of my faces as well. Service is subpar.
(4)Ben L.
If you scroll down a few posts, you'll see my 4 star rating from a few weeks ago. I gave Nori a good rating despite the horrible service because it's decent sushi for a great price. I no longer feel this way. The service is beyond horrible. I have been seated 15-30 minutes late for every reservation. Every friggin time we ask for wine glasses while waiting to be seated it seems to just slip the host's mind. The water girl refills your water so often it's enraging (albeit comical). The waitresses are slow and lose orders. And just today I missed the 6:00 PM deadline for 1/2 price pickup orders by 20 minutes--the host and cashier, who recognized me from eating there weekly for the last 2 months, would not give me the discount. From this day forth I will avoid Nori because the quaint appeal and tasty sushi doesn't make up for the shit service. Can I swear on this?
(1)Mary Jo M.
Located right off the Brown Line Diversey stop and BYOB typically makes it a good contender for Chicago sushi, however that is where the pros end. I feel like every time my boyfriend and I go in they've added more tables (which if you've been in, you know isn't possible). Rolls aren't anything to write home about, but the spicy udon is good. Sometimes spicy, sometimes not- guess it depends who is working in the kitchen. Service is always good, food ok, if you are looking for free entertainment via your neighbors at the next table this might be a good spot for you, but make a reservation, because apparently everyone wants mediocre sushi.
(3)Rachel H.
I ate here around when they first opened and did a Groupon deal. We came in and had a reservation and the host said, "Let me just pull a table out for you, one moment." Little did I know that he meant he would literally pull a table out of a closet, plop it in the middle of an already over-crowded room, and pull up two chairs. Hey, whatever works? I appreciate the effort but the space is really small and it was a little uncomfortable. The menu is extensive but our waitress was a little odd. She came over and asked if we had ever been there and if she could go over the menu with us. We said sure, expecting her to point out a few of the most popular dishes and perhaps give a brief explanation of the different sections of the menu. But no. She verbatim read us the descriptions of at least 6 rolls (we can read, thanks) and took at least 10 minutes to finish up her speech on the menu. I was giving her all the non-verbal cues that this was way too much but she did not pick up on it. It was very strange. She also did not give us an ice bucket for our booze. The food was quite good, however. Not the best I've ever had but good and reasonably priced. I think they were overrun with people from the Groupon deal, so I'd be willing to go back again and hope for a little bit better service. There are several better BYOB sushi place in Chicago, however.
(3)T Mir S.
Good sushi, good service, and its BYOB... Street parking is a bit tough but not impossible
(4)Nirali S.
You know how sushi is really great, but when the roll is just too damn big to fit in to you mouth you can't really enjoy it? Yea, that's how my Caterpillar Maki and my Monster roll were. Don't get me wrong, they were decent tasting, well, the parts that I could fit into one bite at a time were good at least. Their tea collection is awesome, definitely try at least one of them, the ginger peach was really good. This place is fairly busy on weeknights so if you have a reservation it's better, but you still wouldn't have to wait longer than 20-30 minutes if you walked in without one. They have a lot of great deals during the week too so be sure to take advantage of them. I'll probably return when I've exhausted my list of 32094832 other places i still want to check out :)
(3)Nikki G.
Great place, Good Sushi and rolls, Half price maki...(love it) Nice decor, and it's BYOB (no fee charge) Voted for Nori
(4)Aby C.
I went there yesterday with 3 other friends. The food was amazing, and the service was good, until we were asked to leave! My friends had just gotten their dessert, and we were about to pop open another bottle of wine when we were told there was a party of 10 coming, and they needed our booth. We weren't happy, but we were understanding since we had been there 2 hours. We asked to speak to a manager just to let them know it would've been nice to know we were on a time limit. However, the response we got back was beyond rude and not the best way to keep customers. It would have been ok if we had been kindly asked if we could move along, but we were told we couldn't open another bottle cause they needed us out. It was just very awkward and rude. Very disappointed because the food was good, but that incident was enough to keep us away.
(2)Julia W.
The half-priced maki is excellent- I thought the quality of the fish was very good, especially for such low prices. I would skip the agedashi tofu- I was not a big fan of the sauce that came with the tofu. The pork katsu was very delicious and a great deal for the price.
(3)Ashley B.
Love this place....Staff is super sweet. Early bird special is amazing!!! I would recommend the tokyo roll and the dragon roll!
(5)Ron G.
Came here with my gf and loved it. I liked the vibe of the place, the staff, the layout. I really like BYOB places. This place is way chill.
(4)Nick D.
Nice sushi place. I would definitely recommend showing up before 6 for half price maki. Last time I had the unagi roll which was fantastic. I'm talkin' 'bout large chunks of fresh eel. It was eelisous. Also, byob so that's great. One thing: my friend ordered a cheese roll as an appetizer. It came with spicy ketchup. Now, I'm not saying it wasn't good. It was just a strange thing to have at a sushi place. Truly though, small cozy and classy yet inexpensive.
(4)Regina F.
I am updating my review and writing another one, I guess you can call it that. I can't believe I forgot this in my original first review, but they added GRATUITY to our check... for TWO people. Maybe it's just me, but don't restaurants usually charge gratuity for a party of around 6 or more? Charging gratuity for two people?! It's actually kind of offensive and basically telling me and my friend that we won't tip anything, and auto charging us for the tip portion of the check. I'm being nice here.. because I do think the sushi was one of the better sushis I've tasted.. even though it was way overpriced.. My friend ordered Udon and it was over $10.. something that we can not only make ourselves at home, but something that didn't taste special and can be less at other restaurants. Because of the gratuity, I don't think I'd be going again.
(1)Judd C.
BYOB and some of the best sushi... I visit a friend frequently and this BYO place is top notch food! Too bad its so small because it fills up quick...
(5)K S.
My fiance and I go to Nori at least once a week--either dine in or carry out. And yes, the 1/2 price maki before 6PM is even good on carry out (just not delivery). If you are going to dine in, you should make a reservation, but that's a good sign. This place has very high quality sushi at reasonable prices and is BYOB. The staff is always friendly and service is fast. I do not eat fish and I've tried vegi rolls at just about every sushi place in Chicago and Nori is BY FAR the BEST for vegi rolls. My fiance devours the traditional sushi and can be kind of a sushi snob but is always thrilled with his order. I've been there with large parties of 7-8 and as long as you have a reservation its a great place for a group too. Please note there is a corkage fee though--you get 1 bottle per 2 people without a charge then the 2nd bottle there is a fee (I believe $7). Usually not an issue but worth knowing.
(5)Meghan J.
This place is small but good. BYOB but they also have a drink menu. Sushi quality easily rivals Wakamono or Coast at a fairer price. And they don't pull a 'tude if you show up with our own bottle of Sake. Service was great, friendly, sincere and not pushy.
(4)Vivi W.
BYOB sushi, good price, reasonable quality. Fast service.
(4)Michelle S.
Came in for lunch, because I heard that sushi was 1/2 off for lunch. I heard right :) I was pleasantly surprised when our bill came & 50% was taken off. The sushi was very good, server was nice. Will be back!!!
(4)Eric V.
Great sushi and good service! This not so cheap place provides delicious sushi which almost leverages the price you will pay. Luckily i came with a resturant.com coupon which certainly curbed the overall price. This place is also a little small, and can feel cramped on a busy night which appears to be a common theme here. Overall, i found this place to be great but this is a place you go to spend a little extra money. So if cheap is what you are looking for you, you should look elsewhere. This is a byob place and be wary there is corkage fee after the couple of bottles.
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