We heard about this place through friends and bookmarked it as one of the spots to try. Securing a reservation was quite easy, depending on the time.
Upon arrival, we noticed the sushi bar dominating about one-third of the eatery. The ambiance is best described as elegantly minimalistic. The host greeted us warmly and led us to our seats at the sushi bar. As we browsed the menu, we chose the following:
Appetizer - Winter Special: Miso braised leeks - 3.5/5 stars. The outer leaves were still intact, making it less than ideal as we consumed this appetizer. Thus, I deducted half a star for that. I did enjoy the char on the leek and the sauce.
The Signature Set, which includes 5 temaki rolls (U-shaped): 1. Tuna poke - 5/5 Stars. Simply divine. The crispy shallots gave it a textural contrast to the tuna temaki itself. 2. X.O. Scallop - 4/5 Stars. The scallop should have been the star; however, the X.O. sauce was used too generously. It overpowered the scallop, preventing us from fully appreciating its sweet, buttery, and briny notes. 3. Coconut Shrimp - 3/5 Stars. The shrimp was made into a paste and deep-fried. While this is a favorite among many, according to the itamae, the flaked coconut and breadcrumbs provided plenty of crunch, but the shrimp’s natural sweetness and juiciness were lost. 4. Salmon Serrano - 5/5 Stars. Fresh and perfectly balanced by the sharp and delicious heat of the serrano peppers. 5. Cucumber Black Sesame - 4/5 Stars. Bold in flavor, which surprised me since it was the final temaki in the set. I was expecting something lighter and sweeter, as most Japanese restaurants end their sushi with the final piece with sweetness. The sauce is plum-forward, and the black sesame masks the cucumber’s lightness.
The seafood is extremely fresh, but the itamae, at times, drowned the temaki with the sauce. Ideally, the sauce should enhance, and not overshadow, the seafood. The size is their temaki are generous compared to many other sushi restaurants.
The service was polite and attentive. The itamae explained each piece as it was served, and the servers ensured our cups were always full. While the sushi bar occupies about one-third of the space, there are also tables that comfortably seat groups of four or more. Despite the spacious layout, reservations can still be difficult to secure.
Street parking is available, though the ease of finding a spot varies depending on the time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Jack
Food was incredible. Sitting at the Temaki Counter is the way to go, and the chef hands the pieces right to you. The fish was incredibly fresh, with so many options for starters and hand rolls. While most places would charge you an arm and a leg for this experience, Nami Nori was quite reasonably priced for such delicious food. Loved the atmosphere and interior design as well.
farah
Could not recommend more! We had a lovely experience at the sushi counter. The food is outstanding but I also really love the ambiance. And the entire staff is that perfectly balanced combo of warm, friendly & professional service
Patricia
This was my second time there and it was just as amazing as the first. All the staff is incredibly kind and the food is so fresh and delicious.
Sandrine Plaga
The staff was so attentive and welcoming! Would definitely come back just for the amazing service. It’s difficult to find vegan sushi and this place has the best plant-based sushi I have had!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yammi C
Tried this hand roll restaurant for the first time, and it turned out to be a really fun experience. Unlike the usual pre-rolled versions, here the seaweed and fillings are served separately — the nori comes in an elegant little box, while the rice and fish are neatly plated on the side. You get to roll it yourself at the table, which adds a nice touch of interaction and freshness. The seaweed stays incredibly crispy, and the freshly rolled texture is miles better than the pre-made kind.
Also tried adding a $38 portion of caviar for a little indulgence. Prices aren’t cheap — most rolls are around $9 each, and the uni roll goes for $28 — but the quality makes it worthwhile. The sashimi selection isn’t huge, yet being able to enjoy Hokkaido uni feels like a real treat.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Mochurros, Temaki Set
Kevin
Over-priced Japanese food. For between $8 and $12 you get very small 'handrolls' that look more like small tacos (the nori/seaweed being the taco shell). These are very small and you will easily spend way more than you expect. Giving this a fair rating as the nori was very crispy. There are plenty of other restaurants that offer better food and value.
Natalia Bilash
When we came here this past year, it was a cool and interesting Japanese restaurant with ready made sushi-style taco rolls. Tonight (Nov 2025) when we came here for dinner it was a very different type of restaurant. The sashimi hand rolls are not completely prepared - you need to add the seaweed to the prepared rolls and add your own sauce. The vibe just wasn't there in this loud music type of restaurant with closely placed tables where you can pick up anyone's conversation. Not sure this is the type of restaurant I'd return to. Disappointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Larry
The food was delicious, as always, but I still think the back sushi bar is screaming for decor! It feels like I'm dining in an unfinished space. The large back wall could use a large piece of art to decoration to make it more inviting.
Had to ask the server for wine glasses even though he clearly saw me with wine. Then I had to ask again to have the bottle opened separately — so annoying! Also, the sushi tastes different from two yrs ago. They're no longer using the disposable plastic wrapper; instead, they've changed to a “wrap your own” style. Such a disappointing experience. Never going back!
Gerri
The temaki was delicious and creative. The restaurant is convenient to the Welmont Theater, where we had tickets for a show after dinner, and the interior was modern and clean. Service was great. What a wonderful discovery in Montclair! We will be back!
Ashley
Amazing food and experience! As someone with Celiac, it's great to be able to eat everything on the menu. The sushi is fresh and delicious every time and all the apps I've tried have been equally as good. Will definitely be coming back again. Highly recommend!
Lindsay
Was there twice in last few months and both times, the waitress forgot an item that we had ordered.
Melissa Mianulli
It’s a shame because the food is one of my favorites ever but the service is brutal. They actually kick you out 1 minute (literally 1) after “closing time”. As in they blast the lights on and said “are you all set here this room is closed”. I’ve worked in the industry and I’ve never kicked anyone out especially literally 1 minute post closing. Again, the food is some of the best out there but they need to value their clientele better
Ate at the bar and the food was so delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We heard about this place through friends and bookmarked it as one of the spots to try. Securing a reservation was quite easy, depending on the time.
Upon arrival, we noticed the sushi bar dominating about one-third of the eatery. The ambiance is best described as elegantly minimalistic. The host greeted us warmly and led us to our seats at the sushi bar. As we browsed the menu, we chose the following:
Appetizer - Winter Special:
Miso braised leeks - 3.5/5 stars. The outer leaves were still intact, making it less than ideal as we consumed this appetizer. Thus, I deducted half a star for that. I did enjoy the char on the leek and the sauce.
The Signature Set, which includes 5 temaki rolls (U-shaped):
1. Tuna poke - 5/5 Stars. Simply divine. The crispy shallots gave it a textural contrast to the tuna temaki itself.
2. X.O. Scallop - 4/5 Stars. The scallop should have been the star; however, the X.O. sauce was used too generously. It overpowered the scallop, preventing us from fully appreciating its sweet, buttery, and briny notes.
3. Coconut Shrimp - 3/5 Stars. The shrimp was made into a paste and deep-fried. While this is a favorite among many, according to the itamae, the flaked coconut and breadcrumbs provided plenty of crunch, but the shrimp’s natural sweetness and juiciness were lost.
4. Salmon Serrano - 5/5 Stars. Fresh and perfectly balanced by the sharp and delicious heat of the serrano peppers.
5. Cucumber Black Sesame - 4/5 Stars. Bold in flavor, which surprised me since it was the final temaki in the set. I was expecting something lighter and sweeter, as most Japanese restaurants end their sushi with the final piece with sweetness. The sauce is plum-forward, and the black sesame masks the cucumber’s lightness.
The seafood is extremely fresh, but the itamae, at times, drowned the temaki with the sauce. Ideally, the sauce should enhance, and not overshadow, the seafood. The size is their temaki are generous compared to many other sushi restaurants.
The service was polite and attentive. The itamae explained each piece as it was served, and the servers ensured our cups were always full. While the sushi bar occupies about one-third of the space, there are also tables that comfortably seat groups of four or more. Despite the spacious layout, reservations can still be difficult to secure.
Street parking is available, though the ease of finding a spot varies depending on the time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Food was incredible. Sitting at the Temaki Counter is the way to go, and the chef hands the pieces right to you. The fish was incredibly fresh, with so many options for starters and hand rolls. While most places would charge you an arm and a leg for this experience, Nami Nori was quite reasonably priced for such delicious food. Loved the atmosphere and interior design as well.
Could not recommend more! We had a lovely experience at the sushi counter. The food is outstanding but I also really love the ambiance. And the entire staff is that perfectly balanced combo of warm, friendly & professional service
This was my second time there and it was just as amazing as the first. All the staff is incredibly kind and the food is so fresh and delicious.
The staff was so attentive and welcoming! Would definitely come back just for the amazing service. It’s difficult to find vegan sushi and this place has the best plant-based sushi I have had!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tried this hand roll restaurant for the first time, and it turned out to be a really fun experience. Unlike the usual pre-rolled versions, here the seaweed and fillings are served separately — the nori comes in an elegant little box, while the rice and fish are neatly plated on the side. You get to roll it yourself at the table, which adds a nice touch of interaction and freshness. The seaweed stays incredibly crispy, and the freshly rolled texture is miles better than the pre-made kind.
Also tried adding a $38 portion of caviar for a little indulgence. Prices aren’t cheap — most rolls are around $9 each, and the uni roll goes for $28 — but the quality makes it worthwhile. The sashimi selection isn’t huge, yet being able to enjoy Hokkaido uni feels like a real treat.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Mochurros, Temaki Set
Over-priced Japanese food. For between $8 and $12 you get very small 'handrolls' that look more like small tacos (the nori/seaweed being the taco shell). These are very small and you will easily spend way more than you expect. Giving this a fair rating as the nori was very crispy. There are plenty of other restaurants that offer better food and value.
When we came here this past year, it was a cool and interesting Japanese restaurant with ready made sushi-style taco rolls. Tonight (Nov 2025) when we came here for dinner it was a very different type of restaurant. The sashimi hand rolls are not completely prepared - you need to add the seaweed to the prepared rolls and add your own sauce. The vibe just wasn't there in this loud music type of restaurant with closely placed tables where you can pick up anyone's conversation. Not sure this is the type of restaurant I'd return to. Disappointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
The food was delicious, as always, but I still think the back sushi bar is screaming for decor! It feels like I'm dining in an unfinished space. The large back wall could use a large piece of art to decoration to make it more inviting.
Restaurantji Recommends
Had to ask the server for wine glasses even though he clearly saw me with wine. Then I had to ask again to have the bottle opened separately — so annoying! Also, the sushi tastes different from two yrs ago. They're no longer using the disposable plastic wrapper; instead, they've changed to a “wrap your own” style. Such a disappointing experience. Never going back!
The temaki was delicious and creative. The restaurant is convenient to the Welmont Theater, where we had tickets for a show after dinner, and the interior was modern and clean. Service was great. What a wonderful discovery in Montclair! We will be back!
Amazing food and experience! As someone with Celiac, it's great to be able to eat everything on the menu. The sushi is fresh and delicious every time and all the apps I've tried have been equally as good. Will definitely be coming back again. Highly recommend!
Was there twice in last few months and both times, the waitress forgot an item that we had ordered.
It’s a shame because the food is one of my favorites ever but the service is brutal. They actually kick you out 1 minute (literally 1) after “closing time”. As in they blast the lights on and said “are you all set here this room is closed”. I’ve worked in the industry and I’ve never kicked anyone out especially literally 1 minute post closing. Again, the food is some of the best out there but they need to value their clientele better
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
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