Hanabi Japanese Cuisine
110 N 1st Ave W, Duluth, MN, 55802
Hanabi Japanese Cuisine Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Duluth for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Duluth for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Duluth for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
110 N 1st Ave W
Duluth, MN, 55802 - Phone (218) 464-4412
- Website https://www.hanabimn.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Elgrande F.
Very nice place with a fantastic lunch deal. 9 bucks for soup or salad/4 pc California roll/rice and entree. Great service and perfectly cooked food. Park close and be prepared to fight in the neighborhood though. Worth the battle
(4)Anne M.
Exceptional sushi, rivals anything in the Twin Cities. Comfortable atmosphere, pleasant wait staff, but best of all we've never been disappointed with any of the sushi rolls!
(5)James L.
I am from San Francisco, CA. This is by far the most authentic sushi in the Midwest. The atmosphere was amazing, the waiter was awesome! The food was freshly prepared and I had no complaints! I wish I remembered my order, but I was too busy enjoying my food! I will travel back just for the sushi!
(5)Dorothy L.
4stars cause I haven't tried the other sushi place in Duluth to compare. Delicious maki rolls - $$ combos. Date night atmosphere. Was pleasantly surprised that they had takoyaki. Would have a perfect night if were not for the table next to us who had a shitfit because they were charged incorrectly -- everyone makes mistakes. This sweet waitress, bless her for keeping her cool cause these guys were either too dumb or inebriated to comprehend her that the bill would be refunded in a few days and that they themselves are not a credit card company that could immediately process it for them. Excellent customer service from their staff and manager for not punching them in their uncouth behavior. TLDR: tasty foods, $$ prices/maki rolls, sexy ambiance, tip the waiters/waitresses well.
(4)Connie X.
The service here was absolutely fantastic. The kitchen is very accommodating; the three of us ordered a bowl of udon, and we requested our server to bring us two extra bowls so that we could split it. When the udon arrived, it was already split for us in the bowls, and presented nicely so that we each got a half egg, snow pea, etc. The soup was just a little salty, but it made the noodles and other contents taste great. They also followed our request to reduce the oil and soy sauce in our garlic broccoli. The end result was a light, but still very flavorful dish that highlighted the broccoli's flavor. Our server was also very good. We were lost for which rolls to order, so he made great suggestions based on what we had already ordered. And of course, he managed very well with all the requests we had. And now moving on to the actual food! The sushi here is cheaper than what I could get back home. $22 for 18 pieces of sashimi? I am sold. The fish was fresh and flavorful, and so tender! Great quality for the price. We also ordered the mango shrimp roll, and the soft shell crab roll. The mango shrimp was so juicy and creamy, it was absolutely delicious. The soft shell crab tasted a little bit "fishy", but the rest of the roll that it came with more than compensated. This was really a wonderful experience. The price was right, the sushi super flavorful, and the service just outstanding. I highly recommend it.
(5)Davis R.
Absolutely delicious! Every single thing I ate was wonderful! Good Japanese restaurants aren't very easy to find in Minnesota but Hanabi is a real treat. (And this is coming from someone who has been to Japan.) Everything from the sushi to the rice to the miso soup was superb!
(5)Veronica C.
FAVORITE sushi place in Duluth. They have an amazing lunch menu & their prices are not bad at all. The staff is awesome. Always super nice and friendly. Just thinking about the place makes me want sushi!
(5)Eric S.
What a great surprise. Service was very good. Both rolls we had were excellent. My teenage girls enjoyed the pan fried noodles (they are not the easiest to please)!! I would have never went here had it not been for yelp! Thank Yelp......
(4)Destiny H.
Really good sushi, I went there for my birthday and the guy who helped us was really helpful and had good suggestions
(4)Alana F.
It's very hard for me to give five stars to any restaurant. I have been eating sushi for 34 years and I'm very very picky about the quality of my sushi. This place does not look like much from the outside it is actually kind of an odd part of town, but don't let that fool you this is a great place. The atmosphere is upbeat with music and televisions and a full bar. The sushi is very well done and is very fresh. They do have happy hour but it's not not much cheaper. It's only by a couple of dollars, but it's still happy hour. Definitely the best sushi restaurant I've been to in Duluth.
(5)Dale H.
Huh! Don't understand the negative reviews. The meal I had here was very good. I ordered the sashimi dinner and it was delicious. Fresh and nicely prepared. Service was very good as well. Efficient, friendly service. Overall, a very nice meal.
(4)David R.
Very good sushi. A real find for MN. We lived in Japan in a fishing village and Tokyo and have eaten sushi all across the USA and in Canada. This rates among the best we have ever had in the Midwest. I can only think of one or two Twin Cities' places I would rate above it. We had a lot of sushi and appetizers and left very full for a fair sushi bar price. My only complaints are the "crab" in the rolls was artificial crab meat. That is OK in a California Roll, but when the menu says crab, I want crab. The lobster was real. The other funny thing is that at least some of the staff did not know how to properly pronounce Hanabi. They kept saying haNAbi. Also I can not say they were very friendly but the service was good. Do not worry about the location. Downtown Duluth has always been a bit funky. It is a very popular and trendy place.
(4)Claudia V.
Someone brought their A game! I went to this restaurant with my boyfriend after exploring the North Shore. We started with the tuna tartare. It had mango, avocado, and lychee. On top was a wasabi foam and rice crackers. Amazing! It was light and refreshing. I was skeptical about the combination, but the sushi chefs are sushi chefs for a reason. Trust them! The dumpling soup was flavorful and the dumplings were as well. The Kiss of Fire roll is ok. The Sriracha and jalapeño overpowered the rest of the roll. The Phoenix is a touch better. The Queen was outstanding!! Don't be afraid of all the ingredients- trust the sushi chefs. The different elements come together and I savored every bite as I appreciated the different flavors and textures partying in my mouth. If you would like a party in your mouth, get the Queen roll!! The service was good, although the restaurant was understaffed. The ambiance is fun and romantic. Don't miss this delicious restaurant if you are in Duluth.
(4)Calvin F.
The environment is good, the food is so so and the boss is not very friendly, although the boy serving me is very nice. I would definitely try something else next time. Btw I am from big city with a lot of nice Japanese restaurants, so I could be a bit picky here. I ordered a small soup, a salad, a teriyaki and a drink. Something very basic but enough for an old man like me. It costs me $29 and I give $4 tips.
(2)Jenna S.
Ok, living where I do I'm pretty spoiled when it comes to Japanese food, and I love sashimi! I came intending not to order any (lil iffy about freshness), but when I got here the place was jam packed and things looked ok so I gave it a try...If I ordered rubber it would have been ok, not fresh at all! The baked mussels were meh - different. The Angel roll was the bomb tho! I would have gave this place a higher rating but we didn't get acknowledged when we came in, ran out of cups...so didn't get drinks for a while. Prices are high, and area and parking isn't that great. I recommended Zen House unless you came for the bar or something. Didn't try sushi there but they have more/better traditional Japanese food than here.
(2)Helana S.
I will not get sushi any where else! The prices are worth it and you can take out! The servers are awesome they always treat me well. Wish I could go more often!!
(5)Crystal L.
Considering this was one of the few sushi places in Duluth it was pretty good. I've had a lot of good sushi before from all over, so nothing impressed me, but nothing was dissatisfying either. The cocktails are fun! I got the Godzilla's Island while waiting for a table. Good service and pretty diverse menu. We got the Spider Roll, Anchor's Tattoo, Yellowtail Jalapeno and Rainbow. Honestly, everything was pretty blah - but the Anchor's Tattoo roll was amazing so definitely get that or one of their specialty rolls.
(2)Eric H.
Very good sushi for Duluth, MN! Surprising actually. Nice atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff. The Veggie Deluxe Roll is very good! The Volcano Roll is pretty good too. They have quite a few different Roll options. Get a variety of them and share with your friends!
(3)Sheryl M.
Surprised by the negative reviews. Was in town for a triathlon and this place was in walking distance from the Holiday Inn. Shumai dumplings were steamed but not soggy. Had 4 sushi rolls, really enjoyed 3, one was a little too saucy- but that was an ordering error. Fish was fresh, service was pleasant and efficient.
(4)Kelly R.
Wow. You leave Duluth for a while and when you come back it's like you never left New York. GREAT sushi. My mom and I split the three roll lunch special ($11) with asparagus, eel and avocado, and philadelphia (cucumber, cream cheese, salmon) rolls. The philadelphia rolls blew me away. I thought I didn't even like salmon sashimi! It was a lot of food. It came with miso soup or salad, too. Cool atmosphere, good service. Would love to try their cocktails sometime; they sound really good!
(5)Tristan C.
Ever want to try to eat sushi at your favorite nightclub. Well, this is as close as it gets. Full blast nightclub music, a pretty "high" waitress and delicious sushi. This is Hanabi at its soul. You got a white bartender with japanese head band playing beard and moustache with a whip cream, did I mention the "high" waitress and great sushi? Well, this place is it. You probably miss it if you dont really look for it since it looks like a hole in the wall type of restaurant, and then you enter the restaurant feeling like you are entering into a basement greeted with low dim light bar in the front, pretty busy dining room and empty sushi bar, then you officially landed in Hanabi. Miso soup too salty, but thats probably because I come at the end of the night when the soup is getting to the bottom of the pot. Roll no 9 are so so, I love the northshore roll and that spicy roll really kick ass. I do like their meat on the stick appetisers. All and all, Hanabi is one pretty nice sushi joint and you have to absolutely stop by and try it when you are in town, they have one pretty waitress whose so high you can spot it miles away. LOL
(4)Allison M.
I've never totally thought the atmosphere (especially the clubby music) went with the experience of eating in a Japanese restaurant, but I've never had a bad meal here. The food is fresh tasting, and it's great for a quick lunch or dinner. It's never been busy during the times I've been there, so the service has always been quick and helpful.
(3)Naomi H.
I thought this place was good after reading those positive reviews. But I was disappointed by the unfresh food and bad service. I was so regret eating at this place that the bad service ruined my vacation mood!
(1)Raffi M.
Very trendy place, but very fresh food. Prices are a tad expensive, but the quality is up there and if you come during happy hour or during the lunch specials the prices are great. Many authentic entrees to choose from, so many specialty sushi rolls, and a full bar with a diverse selection makes Hanabi a great place to come to many times. You can choose to sit at a table or at the sushi bar. The sushi bar offers a view of the chefs, the fresh fish, and there is also a television off to the side. Table settings have chop sticks, soy sauce, and a soy sauce ramekin. Very clean atmosphere, and as I mentioned, it is geared toward being trendy. I came during lunch, and it was not too busy. Although I came at lunch, I decided to order off the regular menu. I tried the dumpling soup, which had pork dumplings and tofu in their miso soup. The broth did not seem too salty, and the dumplings were tender, tasty, and warming. Lots of flavor in this soup. In addition, I ordered the North Shore roll. So many fantastic things about this roll. Sure, it was one of the higher priced rolls, but it had a lot of components. Several types of roe (caviar) garnished on top. The seaweed salad topped on top of the roll was great, and I adored the crunch topping on the roll. As usual, the roll was served with pickled ginger and a dab of wasabi. The fish was fresh, the restaurant did not emanate any fishy odors, and the service was pretty friendly (albeit a tad slow). Probably one of the better Japanese restaurants in Duluth.
(4)Gina A.
Pros: Huge selection of sake! Sake flight sampler available. Wide bar selection. Quality of fish for sushi and sashimi is good (it's Duluth). Large and entertaining selection of cooked and raw rolls. Staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and very pleasant and friendly. Nice ambiance to the restaurant. Cons: Slow service! Their front of the house staff has no sense of urgency.The six times I've been there over the last two years, I've always had to stand at the front too long to be greeted and seated. And twice I sat at the bar and the same thing -- inordinately long wait time.The restaurant was never packed. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, they just take their time and work at a relaxed pace. *Food DOES come out to the table in satisfactory time -- so the chefs are working at a fast pace. I have not had their cooked entrees (teriyaki, hibachi, noodles), so cannot comment on those menu items.
(3)A M.
I went over the lunch hour for a business meeting. It was fairly empty but by noon it was pretty busy. This was only my second time trying sushi so I had no clue what to choose. The menu is quite large. The waitress was super patient and gave good advice. I tried the Boston and Philadelphia rolls. I was able to try both with a small salad for $8. It was a ton of food for the price. Food was amazing. It was a great place for a business meeting and I would definitely go back.
(5)Toby P.
I can attest to the negative reviews. This place needs help. I went for lunch and before even sitting down I stepped on what I can only describe as the biggest cockroach I've ever seen. When I asked to talk to the manager I was told he was unavailable. I sat at the bar and waited but after 20 minutes was told he was on the phone and would not be talking with me. I guess he prefers his wait staff does the managing. Would never eat here again.
(1)Ten P.
Sushi special rolls are very goood! And my favorite is veggie deluxe roll and chunchy roll. There was this lady server who was very mean, overly throwin' out the plates on our tables like wtf, if i were a manager undercover, i would have fired her right away like get the shit out of the here yo biatch!! Such a bad service but i tell ya, there are other goood servers. Either way my point is, since we're paying for the foood, we deserve to be treated better than getting plates thrown on my tables like it's straight to the point- we deserve more respect. Anyway, this place has a veryy unique style of its own though, go try some and if you get shitty server like we did, do not leave penny for the tip, simple yo!
(3)Aric W.
I was pretty excited about eating here after reading all the positive reviews. Unfortunately, this place fell way short of expectations. The decor is trendy but also feels a little hollow...it was ok but didn't convey the modern elegance I think they are going for. Feels a bit "clubby". The food was brought to our table in record time, maybe 5 minutes after ordering. I've never had sushi brought to me that quickly which as a bit off putting and made me wonder if they had rolls pre-made. There were 4 or 5 sushi chefs working which was probably why it came so quickly. The sushi itself was good, but didn't live up to the hype. I've had equal or better quality and bigger portions at a couple of different establishments in Fargo for quite a bit cheaper. The service was just flat out bad. Our waitress didn't check on us until after our food was gone....which was bad because she forgot to give us the small dishes to put soy sauce in. Seems like a small detail but it derailed my sushi eating ritual and affected the experience negatively. The poor service along with the average sushi and underwhelming decor will keep me from frequenting this establishment again.
(2)Kari W.
Pretty good sushi...just hard to park the car but the best sushi....and there food there r great to the beef teriyaki shrimp teriyaki r really good there too...but the last time I was there the food didn't taste the same so hope next time I come The food taste like before
(4)Shannon H.
I didn't think there would ever be a restaurant in Duluth where I would eat Sushi. But upon entering Hanabi, I knew this place was legit. Came with a group of people for lunch and everyone left satisfied. Not the best sushi I've ever had, but not bad at all. It is the best you will find in the Duluth or anywhere close. I was actually bummed I didn't get a chance to go back the last time I was home.
(3)Mark B.
Here is an amended review of Hanabi that I feel compelled to write. I have been going to Hanabi since it opened a few years back. While I realize that times change, I can't get over how their portion sizes have changed (smaller) so drastically. Today's lunch special rolls were so small, it was amazing. There was barely enough rice to go around the roll. I'm ok with smaller portions, but it's become ridiculous. I'm not kidding when I say that each piece of my spicy tuna roll was about the size of a Hershey's kiss or a Rolo! On a brighter note, one thing that has remained constant is the level of service. Our server, Katie was so nice and helpful, it almost made up for the tiny sushi rolls! When taking our order she thought one of us had ordered a tuna roll and he really had ordered a spicy tuna roll. She came back to ask how everything was, we pointed out the mistake and she had the correct roll back to our table in a matter of minutes! I will continue to recommend Hanabi to everyone I meet, but perhaps caution them on the lunch sized portions.
(2)Kelsey K.
When I moved back into the north woods I was not prepared for how strong my sushi cravings got. Thankfully I discovered Hanabi on a visit. I now crave sushi but at least I don't have to drive 5 hours for it...now only 2. :) I love their lunch specials...adore the eel roll with avocado. MM! Quite often I am made jealous by friends that have taken a photo of their meal at Hanabi and post it on facebook. If you are in Duluth and wanting some sushi make sure to check this place out. Side notes: the interior is sorta a cold feel about it...maybe the modern touch. Also parking outside can be a bit random (don't forget to feed those meters).
(4)The B.
This is the most authentic and best tasting Japanese food in the Duluth area, bar none. The portion sizes are good and service is equal to the task. I used to live in Japan and I really enjoy eating here, I haven't had a bad meal yet. I bring my friends, family and employees to eat here. Prices are realistic for the most part, some of it can get pricey but you get what you pay for, the food is delicious.
(5)Sara W.
Hanabi is definitely a must go to when visiting Duluth. This quaint restaurant offers lunch specials Monday through Friday until 2:30pm and there is an abundance of options to choose from! I went with a group of 4 and we decided to split 2 lunch specials ( 3 rolls for $11 and 2 rolls for $8) as well as a few of their specialty rolls. The spicy crab roll off the lunch menu is a must, as it has lots of flavor, with the perfect amount of spice and an added crunch. The California rolls were delicious as well, but the Jalapeño rolls we could have done without, as they lacked flavor or pizazz. On to the specials, the Downtown roll was out of this world! It was an interesting mix of lobster and sweet potatoes. They initial kick of spice and the after taste of the potatoes is done perfectly. Their sake is also well priced and a great addition to any meal. We opted for a bottle of the Fuji Apple and got around 1 glass each. If well priced, delicious sushi is your idea of lunchtime fun, this place is your go to spot.
(5)Margaret B.
Although it has been a while since I ate here, I cannot get it out of my mind because it was so delicious. Sushi makes me nervous, but the lovely server helped me pick, and my friend and I shared the most tasty meal I have ever had in Duluth. The Salmon was perfect, and the mango sushi as well as the asparagus sushi made me a convert to how yummy sushi can be. I wish I remembered the full names of the sushi we ate, but we did steer away from raw fish. My more experienced friend gasped and laughed as I took a forkful of what I thought was avocado and stuck it in my mouth. Then I gasped! Lesson learned: not avocado but Wasabi!! Pickled ginger follow-up helped cool me off thankfully. I do need to return to this gem of a place. It was very busy, but very efficient.
(5)Meghann F.
This little gem is a go to place for good sushi and Japanese food in Duluth. The bar was nice, got to sample some different wines before ordering - although the plum wine was a little too sweet for my palate. Service was a little slow, but they were really busy, so that's alright. Was there for a friend's bday and they brought out some Mochi ice cream for dessert - delicious! All their sauces are home made and the dressings were excellent 4 stars instead of 5 because the food was excellent - one of the dishes - chicken w/ soba noodles - was kind of mushy and tasteless - maybe its just the dish? maybe they should only have this type of thing in soup? The spicy chicken teriyaki was delicious and very spicy. The rainbow roll and the dragon roll were excellent as well as the cruncy shrimp roll. I'm impressed and will definitely go back.
(4)Jim B.
Duluth with a Sushi Bar - simply great news! I had heard about it but until I was in Duluth for the weekend I haven't had a chance to check it out. Highly recommended - restaurant interior with a full bar (and bar seating) along with sushi bar seating. Full Japanese/sushi menu and a nice selection of alcohol beverages. Agedashi tofu was very good (can be very different at any sushi bar depending on the chef design) and the sushi deluxe meal was good. Great place and highly recommend.
(4)Chad L.
Great spot. Hill parking remember your emergency break before and after eating here. Music a bit load and very contemporary. Sit closer to chefs for lower volume. Soft shell crab and sauce was fantastic. Everything was fresh and tasty. Forgot we were in Duluth! Charles was a great server.
(4)k h.
Love. Love. LOVE Hanabi! It really is the best place to get sushi in Duluth! I went to school in Duluth and would go often. Whenever I visit I always make it a point to stop in. They have amazing maki! My two favorites are 1. Crazy Tuna, and 2. Mango Roll. I get those every time and am NEVER disappointed. There is nothing 'blah' about the sushi, and the atmosphere is always friendly. Great date night place right in 'downtown' I would recommend stopping in if you're ever in Duluth and looking for a great place to grab something to eat!
(5)Robert E.
I am not a huge sushi fan, but on a recent trip to Duluth a friend of mine took me to Hanabi and I was very impressed with the variety and quality of the dishes - we all shared our dishes with each other and there was nothing I didn't like. Definitely a place to check out if you are into Japanese food!
(4)Tod L.
Finally we had dinner here last night. Awesome. More because it even exists than for the overwhelming wonderfulness of the cuisine. It was one hopping scene at 7PM on a Friday night. Only two seats left in the place (ours, by reservation). It really doesn't feel like you're in Duluth, you"re magically transported to somewhere where sushi bar can exist in downtown Duluth. Okay, I've spewed enough. It was an awesome experience, but the food was reasonably good, not off the charts. The vibe on a Friday night was palpable. Enough fancy dressed ladies that even my wife was thoroughly entertained. Seriously, not a seat in the rather large house at 7PM. Our waiter, a lovely young woman of Asian descent named Rachel, made us feel unhurried yet got us out the door in an hour ($93 with 4 drinks). The sushi itself was unremarkable. We got the sushi deluxe ($9 I think) assortment. Oh, we moaned and groaned because we were eating sushi in downtown DLH but it was really just okay. Not bad, I don't mean that, I mean it was fine, and nothing more. The Wasabi Sumai, spicy pork dumplings (they was good) definitely kicked things up a notch or three. Sneaky hot. Did I say they was good? Then there was the Duluth roll, the Superior roll and the Number Nine roll. Someone here said they were a little over the top on their sauces. Maybe. But I will not complain on these pages. The rolls were off the hook (sorry, Guy). Every bite was orgasmic. Go here if you want this kind of cuisine. It was extremely fun. We dropped a bundle (we live 150 miles away so this was my favorite valentine's delayed night on the town) and cared not. You could still have a really good time and spend considerably less. Go Duluth!
(5)Joey J.
While I like to consider myself a reasonably intelligent human being for the most part, there are times when I readily admit my stupidity. One such moment came last week. After completing a holier-than-thou rant about how Asian cuisine in the state of Minnesota gets really watered down, a friend of mine took me to Hanabi to prove me wrong. I should add "successfully" in front of the "prove me wrong" in that last sentence. Hanabi really does do Japanese food well, better than most sushi joints I've been to anyway. I'm not a fish eater, but their asparagus roll and avocado roll are definitely first-rate. The miso soup is also very good, as is the "katsu" curry dish with breaded pork or chicken, which has always been my go-to dish at Japanese restaurants (thank you, Genma Saotome). Hanabi is a quick walk up from Canal Park and a better option than most of the restaurants in that section of Duluth. If you're up this way and looking for something satisfying, definitely head on over.
(4)Greg S.
Very good food. I have only been there once but was impressed with the food and atmosphere.
(4)Nate K.
DULUTH FINALLY HAS A SUSHI SCENE! Okay, so it is one place, and I wouldn't categorize on the same level as Origami in Minneapolis or Tokkuri Tei in Honolulu or Sushi Wabi in Chicago -- I will say that it is really good and it has the potential. I went to Hanabi last Friday night and was instantly impressed by the layout (which was well organized and had a good flow). The rolls themselves were original and very well prepared: the rice (which is a big part for me) was nearly perfect, the rolls were tightly wrapped, the fish was firm and the flavors played well with each other. The ramen was also very good - they put a poached egg (opposed to a hardboiled egg) in the center of the bowl which adds a great flavor to the soup. Lastly, Hanabi has a great wasabi pork dumpling - it is spicy and porky at the same time - and the sweet soy sauce brought all the flavors together nicely. While I only had a small portion of Hanabi's extensive menu on my first trip - the experience will keep me coming back, again and again (not to mention save me 250 miles in gas each time i have a sushi craving).
(5)Damien F.
My experience with Hanabi... Where do I start? Ordered a few things off of the menu today.. Lets start with the Miso soup... The soup was very light.. not much flavor of miso.. almost tasted watered down. Not memorable. The Wasabi Shumai was very good. Pork dumpling was firm and very flavorful. Enough wasabi to let ya know it's there, but not enough to be overpowering. Very enjoyable. The spring rolls were alright but tended to be a little too greasy for my taste. The Gyoza wasn't memorable as well.. The filling wasn't firm.. almost felt mushy. it's like these were popped out of the freezer and into the microwave. Bottoms weren't crispy or even seemed like they weren't popped into the pan and darkened before steaming them. They came out of the kitchen warm, but not very hot like they would be if they had just been pulled from a pan. The sushi is what made me want to write this review. The Kani ($4.50/2 pc.) (Japanese for Crab) was actually Imitation crab meat. Nowhere on the menu does it say that Kani is imitation crab meat. Imitation crabmeat is made up of minced white fleshed fish (usually Alaskan Pollock) that is dyed red. This imitation crabmeat is also known as Surimi. Look it up.. I'll wait.. The Sake ($4.50/2 pc.)(Salmon) was real.. But felt room temperature, dry and sticky to the touch. The pieces of fish were good sized, or maybe just seemed that way due to the small amount of rice it was served upon. The Maguro ($5.50/2 pc.) (Tuna) was also real, but like the salmon it also felt room temperature, dry and sticky to the touch. The pieces of fish were good sized, or maybe just seemed that way due to the small amount of rice it was served upon. I only ate 1 piece each of the salmon and tuna and they both made me gag. After living in Japan for 8 years, I am far from a newbie eating sushi for the first time. After debating the crab with my waitress, she offered to replace it with the king crab ($9.50/2 pc. ) to which I declined. she removed it from my bill even though I insisted on paying for it. The water, my green tea nor my dates drink were refilled over the course of the meal.
(2)Mr. Y.
Not quite 7 or Crave quality but not bad for Duluth. Motif was plain but food was pretty good. There was a special pepper seasoning for the edamame which was a great touch. Interesting rolls, but agree with other posts too much cooked/fried options for special rolls. White Tuna roll was good but greasy. I will come back next time I'm in town.
(3)Lawrence L.
In just a few months of operation Hanabi has already established itself as the go to place for celebratory dining or catching up with friends in Duluth. The "wow" factor in the presentation of the food here is huge and the atmosphere is fantastic. The wait staff is attentive, professional, and fast. In dining here at least a dozen times since they've opened in January I've never had anything less than a terrific experience. I recommend the Number Nine roll if you like a little zip in your sushi. If you aren't into sushi, the ramen soup is plentiful and delicious and their tempura is very good too. As would be expected in a Japanese restaurant there are plenty of vegetarian options as well. The only drawback is parking. Parking is on the street and it isn't very plentiful.
(5)Paul S.
Plain ginger salad was very good. Romaine with a homemade dressing. The sushi was small portion, expensive and was not the freshest I have had almost anywhere. On second thought, I guess the small portions were to my benefit.
(2)Jill P.
Food and ambiance was fine, I had chicken soba noodles it was good but sort of uninteresting in flavor. My husband got a sushi roll that had cooked steal in it and i had a bite and it was quite good, he really liked it. Overall I wasn't that impressed. However I did have a garden veggie salad and it was really good, however it was $4. I think a small salad should have been included with the meal or the price lowered so it would be easy for everyone at the table to add on a salad to their meal.
(3)Shelly F.
I really love the vibe here. Cool decor but not totally over the top. Art on the walls changes regularly. Dark and glowy. Very welcoming for adults out to enjoy a dining experience. The service is excellent and I've only waited one time for seating. The speciality rolls are delicious, especially the Superior roll and the Phoenix. The crafted martinis are also worth a spin.
(4)Jason N.
I had the Superior and Phoenix rolls and they were pretty tasty, can't complain! Will make the trip next time in town!
(5)J M.
If you like sushi and you are in Duluth, this place is the place to be. I like to call it 'Duluth's hidden gem' because it's kind of hidden downtown being up the avenue and you wouldn't expect it to look that nice until you walk in and see the bar. Wow its pretty stunning. Aside from that, the food is great. I love the lunch specials especially on the sushi. The spicy crab roll, philly, and the eel cucumber rolls are prob my fav on the lunch. They also have great specialty rolls at a higher price, I usually get the mango roll. Like the other reviews, the food is excellent here. If I were to compare it to Zen House I'd say the lunch sushi is a much better deal here at Hanabi. Just because Hanabi offers a pick and choose option with a bigger variety of sushi. The sushi also has a little bit more flavor. The only thing I can tell is that the rolls might seem a little bit smaller. A few cons from my many experiences there.. One major problem is the friendliness as some other people have mentioned. Last time I was there, the host looked at me, asked how many. I said 3, she said ok, and without saying anything else, turned around and walked towards the table. So I figured we were supposed to follow her. So we did. And when we got to the table... honestly it was hard to understand her so i had to ask a couple times for her to repeat, she turned around and gave me this pissed look and said, 'Table not ready yet' and each time she said it more loud and angrily and pointed me towards the door. I felt a little put off by that. So when it was ready, again.. she didn't ask us to follow her so now I was all afraid to walk with her to the table the second time. At several different occasions the waitresses didn't smile, they don't greet you at your table, its more like. What do you want? Ok... and then they walk away. I wish they were more personable. A simple smile and hello/welcome would make a huge difference. This is a problem with most the waitresses there. I noticed the new american girl was actually really friendly. I hope they can learn from her. One other time, there was 4 of us who ordered tea. We all got a full pot of tea.. I figured 1 or 2 pots and 4 cups to share. Not 4 pots and then seeing all 4 tea charges on the bill. That was a little ridiculous. The bar closes kinda early. I swear it was a Friday night and I tried coming in around 11pm but they were closing up. Overall the food, and atmosphere makes up for the cons
(3)Noah F.
One of Duluth's best rrsturant's! Great wait staff Awesome food!
(5)Clayton A.
The sushi is good like most sushi. A little pricey like most sushi. Service and food presentation is average, nothing special. But everyone seems to love this place. Happy hour does have $3.50 house sake. It's good, but expensive.
(4)Wendy S.
Sushi and edamame in downtown Duluth - one of the city's most highly regarded joints. Great presentation and service.
(5)Lacey P.
They REALLY like tempura here. It's in almost every roll. Our rolls were good and the service was quick. It didn't blow my mind, but it was good sushi.
(3)Nikolas B.
I have mixed feelings about Hanabi. I will admit I am not an advanced sushi/roll/Japanese cuisine connoisseur but like it a lot. I can't comment on authenticity because I have nothing to compare it to, When you visit Hanabi, don't expect to be of there with McDonald's prices, this is not cheap. They bring a small salad with a dressing I don;t care for. I it is bitter and almost matches the taste of the lettuce. You can get Miso soup which falls flat as well. I go for lunch and I can expect my bill to be around $20. The rolls they offer are very standard. Spicy crab (which is imitation crab FYI), Philly rolls, California rolls, etc. You can get 3 rolls for $9 or something like that. You can also get a tempura set which will fill you up. This has a great piece of shrimp, a tempura sweet potato (my favorite), and a roll of choice. Where Hanabi really does well is with their Devil Roll. This is packed with flavor and does have a little kick. There is about 10 pieces to it and it is worth every penny. A great lunchtime strategy is to get the Devil Roll and 3 other rolls and split it between 2 people. I will frequent this restaurant as long as it stays open.
(4)Brent J.
Rolls are great. Sushi was not fresh and not very good. Service was just ok. Very crowded on weekends.
(3)Meghan P.
I've been to Hanabi three or four times for dinner, and once for lunch. All I've had is sushi/sashimi. It's a really great lunch deal, and my overall favorite place for Duluth sushi. Overall, the fish are pretty fresh. The sashimi are pretty large, and they have an ok selection of fish. There's a large selection of creative rolls I haven't seen at other sushi places. Of these, my favorites are the Superior Roll and the Crunchy Tuna Banana. Their main fault lies in their over enthusiasm for sauces.
(4)Jennifer M.
The atmosphere here was very swanky (un-duluthy). Although the prices were high, the food was very good with a nice presentation. I went during lunch and the portions were still large but much less expensive. The service was a little slow, but the clean, modern atmosphere and great food make me give hanabi 4 stars.
(4)Laura G.
Great sushi! Duluth needed a place like this. The sushi is very very fresh and tasty. It is decently priced for sushi and the atmosphere is wonderful. It feels like you are not even in Duluth and have been transported to New York. The martini's are also very tasty.
(5)Pat R.
The food is fantastic! the service was horrible. Our waitress didn't take our drink order after 4 visits to our table. She finally took our drink order after the appetizers and miso were already on the table, and then walked past us several times before remembering our drinks and rushing them over to us. Now, we were there on a Tuesday for lunch, and while the place wasn't dead, it wasn't packed either. When we ordered, she didn't write anything down, and made my wife repeat her sushi order to her several times, repeated it back several times, incorrectly, then walked away. I had no faith that she would get it right. We are used to the sheet of paper that you either mark down or write what you want. There were 2 of us at a 4 top table, and when she brough everything she tried to cram it all into the corner of the table, instead of asking us to move some stuff or using the entirely unused half of the table. But enough about the bad service. Onto the delicious food! The gyoza was awesome, the dipping sauce sweet and tangy. The miso was mild and very pleaent, and served hot, a trend not found at a lot of Japanese retaurants. The Shrimp Fried Rice was flavorful and just the right amount of greasy (although it was touch small for the price). The sushi rolls were awesome. Fresh, very nice to look at, and arranged nicely on one bigger plate. They were light on the rice, heavy on the fillings, which is a plus in my book! Everything about the food was just right! If you go, expect great food, horrible service and decent prices.
(3)April K.
The best Japanese food in Duluth, and possibly even the best Japanese food in the state -- right up there with Tanpopo in Saint Paul. It's no wonder the place is always packed with people. There's very little not to like about Hanabi. The service is always prompt and attentive, and the food is even better. Before I review any of their other food, I'd like to stop and take a moment to rave about their takoyaki (octopus dumplings). Although it's not on the menu, it's clear that the chefs enjoy making it. It's truly fantastic, and the simply the best takoyaki I've had this side of Osaka. Really, really excellent. Anyways, all of the food in Hanabi is top-notch. Their nabeyaki udon is fabulous, filled with all the usual fixings, although I do wish they used the traditional soft egg and not a hard boiled egg. Their katsu karei (fried pork cutlet curry) is spot-on. Their sushi is pretty good, although not mind-blowing... it's simply too tall of an order for sushi to be truly excellent this far away from a major ocean. It's good. The food is all good. If you find yourself in Duluth, I highly recommend stopping in at Hanabi. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Michael F.
A big city Japanese experience in Duluth. Fresh uni at the sushi bar was my indicator--This is the real thing. Full menu as well. Companion enjoyed her tempura very much -- light and fluffy breading like it should be. On a Saturday night at least, you will want a reservation! Hopping place. Very pleasant service.
(4)Juliet H.
I'm from San Francisco, where sushi is second to Japan's, so I have high standards for sushi. I wasn't expecting great sushi in MN but at Hanabi, the sushi is TERRIFIC. On a Thursday night, the place was busy and it's no surprise. The restaurant is modern and hip, there was a full bar, and lots of seating. The prices were pricey ($12-$15 for a roll); I guess that's what you pay for overnight salt water fish shipping? Anyway, it was worth it!
(5)Shawn S.
It was OK. But if it wasn't there, there would not be any Sushi in Duluth, so I give them an A for effort. Chic ambiance. The seaweed salad was good. Sushi was competent - the fish was on the dry side but the sizes of the nagiri was good. The dumplings were not cooked correctly. Staff was friendly.
(3)Richard M.
The other reviews seem accurate. The location is not the nicest, has limited parking and the size of the place makes it crowded much of the time. That having been said, it seems to be the best sushi and sashimi place in town and would be competitive in many larger cities. Service is good, though a bit slow.
(4)Laurie V.
Growing up in Superior and my college years in Duluth I was only exposed to three kinds of fish preparation-Broiled, Deep Fried or soaked in lye. When I first moved to Chicago and people tried to get me to eat RAW FISH I thought they were gross. Then I went to Sushi Wabi and my sushi romance began. Now it is one of my favorite foods and I have always said that one of the reasons I could never move back to Duluth was the lack of good sushi. Well the excuse just went out the window! Everyone kept telling us to try this place so on this visit home we headed over for a Friday afternoon lunch. This place had been so hyped I thought that there was no way it could possibly be as good as I was told it would be. Oh it was. It was. We had the beef teriyaki combo ($9) and I was impressed at the quality of the meat. It wasn't the strongest teriyaki flavor, but it was really good. We tried the Downtown Roll and the Superior Roll and found both to be pretty darn amazing. And we threw in an Alaskan roll just for good measure. We dropped just under $50 for lunch but we were experimenting with the fancy specialty rolls. You could get some great combos for under $12 though. This will definitely be a new tradition on our trips home. On a mom note-they have high chairs and booster seats but the acoustics in the place make baby/toddler noises echo like they are being amplified.
(5)Tyler S.
Group of 5 of us went there the other day. Service was very slow. Once the food came my grilled eel roll had inedible chunks that were so hard it hurt my tooth when I bit down. I thought it was that it may have been a bone so I ate the next piece in the roll and it had the same problem. I told the waitress that there was a problem with my food. She told me that it was just from the grill and the cook was busy today. There was no attempt to fix the problem, replacement, discount, anything. I told her "well I am sorry the cook is busy, but I am still paying full price for this and I cannot eat it". She than just walked away and got our tab. Never had an experience like this before anywhere else. No, I will not be back.
(1)Kristen A.
Great sushi! I recently ate the sushi at Seven Sushi in Minneapolis (it was voted the best sushi in Minneapolis) and I thought Hanabi was far better. The service was just ok and it's kind of pricey but the amazing food is worth it.
(4)