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    Kin Nori Bar

    4.8 (67 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Kin Nori Bar Photos

    KIN NORI BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Spicy salmon temaki
    Jessica C.

    Kin Nori is a very cute and intimate bar only seating sushi restaurant. They have happy hour 4-5pm Wed-Sat which is generally when we would come. Our favorites are the spicy salmon temaki - its is not minced salmon with sriracha which is not really what I like. There is a decent bite of salmon with some chili crunch on top (not too spicy). The spicy yellowtail temaki has slices of jalapeño on top, still good but I prefer the salmon instead. The nigiri pieces are on the smaller side, you can definitely eat it in one bite. We like trying the small plates or specials too, they are all very tasty. Kin Nori has some delicious bites but I would say it is a bit on the pricey side. If you can stop yourself with just a few temakis during happy hour or have self control, it wouldn't be so bad. I just really like sushi so had to order a few more items - so yummy though!

    Hot sake and kokuto whiskey twist
    Jennifer L.

    Tidbit! If your dining partner is beef-over-fish, Kin Nori has them covered with wagyu options throughout the menu. Book it for a date night on Tennyson. Honestly every bite across the nigiri and small plates earns its place. The fish is clean and fresh in that way where it just melts. And the drinks hold their own, not an afterthought. The room was quiet when we went, but the warmth was immediate. It was just one chef and our server who knew the menu like a friend's kitchen, so the whole thing felt somewhere between neighborhood gem and special occasion. Kin Nori may be my new favorite sushi spot in Denver, edging out some heavy competition. If you've been sleeping on Tennyson Street for sushi, wake up.

    Kwang V.

    Hip, trendy, lovely bar seat at Kin Nori bar. Friendly, attentive, thoughtful service. We paid about $85 for two lunch dishes came with miso soup. Very tasty, quality, fresh fish & rice, but I felt like I'm still hungry after this almost $100 lunch meal & it is just not worth the value unless you are willing to pay more.

    Scallop temaki
    Nina C.

    It was super excited to try this place, came in at 6 PM on a Thursday and you could hear a pin dropping inside with just a few people at the bar and barely any sound on the music. It's set up like an open concept of sushi bar, with seating surrounding the chef and bartenders in the middle. I started with the soba tea, I love the smokiness of it, and it was the perfect size cup. We tried several of the special menu, including the sashimi app which was delicious, and several nigiri. The quality of fish was amazing, but I didn't love how saucy they already were, not only the nigiri but the sushi rolls as well, it seems like they put a bit of soy sauce on the plate before putting down the pieces, and it soaked up into the rice. We tried the scallop hand roll, and it was super yummy, but things started taking a long time to come out, it seems they just had one sushi chef working for the entire bar. everything was still really good but for the price I expected a slightly better experience, at $260 for 2 of us without any alcohol, it could have delivered a little something extra to remember.

    Chef's special
    Aundya A.

    This locally owned gem has quickly become a favorite in Berkeley. With its intimate chef-counter seating, it offers a front-row seat to some of the best sushi in the area. The Chef's Set was a masterclass in balance, but the absolute star was the Seared Toro with Garlic Butter and Ponzu. The richness of the fish paired with the bright citrus was incredible. We also loved the Kumo Roll, which was perfectly baked and topped with a unique mango purée and puffed rice for a great crunch. We washed it all down with a crisp bottle of Dassai 45 and ended on a high note with refreshing yuzu sherbet. It is the perfect spot for anyone who appreciates high-quality fish in a focused, unpretentious setting. The Order: * Dassai 45 Sake * Chef's Set (6pcs Nigiri + Temaki + Snow Crab Miso Soup) * Seared Toro Fatty Tuna (w/ Garlic Butter & Ponzu) * Kumo Roll (Baked Salmon, Blue Crab & Mango Purée) * Assorted Temaki Rolls * Yuzu Sherbet

    Strawberry ice cream and matcha 'affogato' - Pass on this.
    Niki S.

    Go here if you really really really care about the sushi, where the fish is sourced, and the way it's made. Don't go here if you're not a sushi connoisseur and/or you want to be full after spending Lots of money. If you're just as happy to eat sushi at Hapa, Blue Sushi, Go Fish, or Aki, this isn't really a place you need to go. This is one of those places where you will pay a high premium for a small bite of food and you will be expected to savor it. The food itself - excellent. No notes (save for the dessert). The fish melts in your mouth and is absolutely delicious. The rolls are well composed and beautifully presented. I could have eaten 10 of the hand rolls because they were delicious but also small (but I didn't because they are $9+/pp). We ordered the matcha affogato ($14) and it was a miss. The ice cream tasted freezer burned (she literally pulled out of the freezer, pre-scooped) and the matcha was lukewarm and premade. It didn't function as intended since affogato works because of the intense bitterness of espresso. This dessert should have been maybe $7, and even then, I wouldn't tell you to order it. As mentioned in several of the reviews, the service is very slow. We went on a Wednesday night where there were a total of 7-9 diners the entire time we were there, and the food took a While. That's fine. We were there for the conversation and ambiance more than satiating our hunger. What was a little tedious was that we watched the two staff members take at least 3 shots with another couple and barely checked on us if we needed another drink or anything else. Just... weird. The acoustics of the place are not great. It was a mostly empty restaurant and there were moments where it was quite loud (mostly during the aforementioned shot taking). I would not want to be in there on a weekend night where it's full - I think it would be entirely too loud. Overall, worth a visit, but again, only if you really care about fish.

    Temaki Aburi Scallop
    Nancy T.

    I can't praise Kin Nori enough!!! Yes, they have rolls but they excel in elevated sushi. The fish is such great quality and fresh. The mix of garlic butter, ponzu, FRESH WASABI, aburi, tobiko, and caviar keep me coming back. I also love how they cut the fish and their rice ratio I always get whatever they serve with garlic butter & ponzu, the temaki aburi scallop, and the Negitoro Fatty Tuna w/ Fresh Wasabi & Chives. But the amberjack surprised me the most today! It was so sweet and the texture was like ama ebi and a scallop- will be adding it to the rotation.

    Kasia W.

    Really good quality, great atmosphere and service. I do wish they still had the spicy tuna hand roll from the last time I went but still good.

    Umi special roll
    Holly C.

    The sushi here was delicious and beautifully done. I loved the design of the restaurant with the bar surrounding the sushi prep area. The mural was gorgeous although I think that's left over from the previous tenant. Service was super friendly. The chef came over to help us at one point when the server/hostess was busy. About $80 per person with drinks, desserts, and tip. Very reasonable for such high quality food.

    Seared Halibut
    Optimus R.

    Lovely spot, husband wife team work hard. The food is quite tasty. The spices are well used and creative. Temaki are delish, sashimi is good although little too much sauce / spices that it's hard to taste the actual fish. Alcohol list is great with a few Japanese beers and sake. Overall a good spot, albeit pricey with slices of fish that could be a bit more generous. Biggest draw back: it is SLOW. Good things come to those who wait but let's be honest, sometimes wait weighs in on the overall experience. Perhaps one more chef to expedite things?

    Umi sushi roll, lychee+ drink

    First time here and absolutely lovedddd this spot. Service was amazing, food and drinks were incredible.

    Benjamin R.

    Let me start by saying, this place is gorgeous. The aesthetic? Immaculate. Moody lighting, trendy colors, and vibes so good I briefly considered signing a lease and just moving in. It's the kind of spot that makes you want to take pictures of your water glass because everything looks good. Now onto the food. The sushi? Super fresh and plated like it's ready for its close-up on a Netflix food doc. The sashimi was flavorful, though a bit heavy-handed on the seasoning, as if the chef said, "Let's spice things up... literally." And while the sushi was delicious, the slices were so thin I considered offering mine a protein shake. For the prices, I expected at least a sushi grade cut (this was nobu school of cutting sushi). But let's talk service: it was... let's say, "leisurely." You will not be in and out. In fact, bring a book, maybe download a movie or two. I aged like a fine miso, but hey, at least I had time to fully soak in the ambiance and question all my life decisions. All in all, it's a solid spot if you're not in a rush, love aesthetics, and aren't afraid to wait a bit (or a lot) for beauty on a plate.

    Mark F.

    This place is so perfect for that experiential visit for next level food and a great sushi bar atmosphere. This was our first time since the space became Kin Nori, and we were NOT disappointed. They kept the same set up as the previous place, which was a great call. The openness as you walk in, with a perfect bar that allows you your personal experience within that beautiful openness. We caught HH here, and loved it. Some clubby sort of background music provided uplifting energy without interrupting the meal conversation. Great balance. Wife had a wine, I had the Orion rice lager ($8), and we shared a saki bottle ($24), and the three temaki for $8 each. The saki was high quality. Each of the temaki were good in their own way. The yellowtail typically would win for me, but we both agreed the salmon won this food battle. All were excellent though, including the other one, the blue crab. The miso soup was also quite tasty. I was also told by expert sushi wife that this was probably the best sushi she has had in Denver in quite a while. And THAT is definitely a high compliment. The open prep area is great, of course, and the space itself is so inviting. The wasabi is fresh wasabi, and I even could tell the quality difference from other places. And their presentation of each portion of food is immaculate. It looks phenomenal before it actually tastes phenomenal. That would be a great tagline for them, in my opinion. Wassa was our server, and she was on point, very friendly, helpful with our selections, and elevated our experience overall even more. The value from the regular menu to the HH one was a pretty minimal delta to me, but what I WILL tell you is this. I am happy to pay the price if the experience and quality of food surpasses the value of that price. It did, without a doubt. We both walked out very happy, it was incredible sushi, I highly recommend stopping by this place, and see you there...

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    4 months ago

    Phenomenal food and service. Recommend to anyone in the area. The owners are incredible. 10/10.

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    5 months ago

    Really good Spicy Salmon Temaki and Umi Roll. I would return again :) The drink I got was a lychee Mule and it was very tasty

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    11 months ago

    Had the tasting menu which was pricey (but her its Denver). Super duper yummy 20/10 would recommend

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    11 months ago

    The owners are so welcoming and the sushi is amazing. The menu is small but that's good because they do it so well!!

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    Ask the Community - Kin Nori Bar

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    Kin Nori Bar - sushi - Updated July 2026

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