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Umai Nori
Umai Nori: Fresh hand rolls and sushi, praised as among DC's best.
4.8
Japanese
$$
Umai Nori: Fresh hand rolls and sushi, praised as among DC's best.
Umai Nori is a Japanese restaurant and sushi spot at 1147 20th St NW in Washington, DC. Reviews praise welcoming, efficient staff and quick seating, with fresh, flavorful sushi and standout hand rolls. The menu features a 5-roll set, crispy rice, and donburi beef bowl, with miso soup and salad—often ending with complimentary mochi ice cream.
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Fresh, flavorful hand rolls including spicy salmon and tuna, available in sets or individually.
High-quality sushi and sashimi made with premium fish, featuring rolls like the 911 and salmon avocado.
Hearty rice bowls such as the Donburi beef bowl, served with miso soup and salad.
Curated sets like the 5-roll hand roll set, offering a taste of multiple favorites in one meal.
Book a table for a smooth experience, with attentive service and timely seating.
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Overall rating
Ronald Ali
Had a reservation for 8:25 PM, but these folks said, “Nah, come on in now.” That alone set the vibe right. No awkward waiting, no staring at your phone pretending you’re not hungry—just straight to the table. Staff was welcoming, smooth, and on point, and the sushi? Fresh, flavorful, and worth showing up early for. Respectful, efficient, and delicious. That’s how you do it. 🍣👏
Richard Gross
This has consistently been my favorite restaurant since they opened. The hand rolls are absolutely fantastic. Sushi is very good as well, but I always go for the handrolls. The 5 roll set is my go to since it gives me a little taste of almost everything. You just need to go.
Bailey Klapp
Good food! You need to book a reservation if you go past 6pm. The whole place had reserved signs, even at the bar top seating which is where we sat. We got there at 5:30 and they told us we had 1 hour to eat, which was fine! The sushi was fresh, I would say a little on the expensive side compared to NJ prices but that’s the city for ya! I got the crispy rice, salmon avocado roll and 911 roll. I regret the 911 roll, I like jalapenos on my rolls but GOOD LORD that thin slice of jalapeno was sooo spicy that my mouth was BURNING 🤣 the crispy rice was delicious and the salmon avocado roll was divine. My fiancé got two rolls which I forget but the one with the baby greens was delicious! 😋
Christopher Pearson
20th Wedding Anniversary, and this place absolutely lived up to its reputation. The reviews are accurate. 10/10. Ordered 4 set temaki hand rolls, followed by several additional individual orders. Also ordered the Donburi beef bowl. Both the bowl and set order came with excellent miso soup and salad. Some of the best we’ve had in the US. Globally competitive quality and flavor. Personal favorites: Spicy Salmon in wonton wrap and the Spicy Tuna. Must try place for anyone in DC area!! Happy eating.
Colloali James
We visited Umai Nori on Sat. and had an absolutely amazing experience🥹 The food was incredibly delicious and the service was outstanding. Among all the sushi spots in D.C., this one truly stands out as the best. The quality of the dishes and the freshness of the fish were simply exceptional—it was all so flavorful and well-prepared. Although I don’t remember our server’s name exactly—Maybe riley? They were attentive throughout the entire meal, constantly checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. Our water was always filled, and nothing was ever lacking. To top it all off, we were given complimentary mochi ice cream at the end, which was such a lovely surprise and made our visit even more memorable. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant again!
