I've done the omokase here a couple of times as well as a la carte a few other times. While the rolls are decent and hold their own against most sushi options, where this place really shines is with the omokase. What made me think to right this review was a recent trip to Tokyo where I ate at a well regarded (but not necessarily elite) Ginza omokase joint. Towards the end, the thought popped into my mind, "Not as good as Kurama." I'd say this place could compete in Ginza, let alone Keene, New Hampshire. We're lucky to have it. read more

Picked up a late take out order of Crispy Rice, salmon sashimi and salmon avocado rolls. All the fish was fresh and I loved the crispy rice. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Restaurant is small and was pretty empty after 8pm but Main Street was pretty empty too![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Kurama Omakase - Crispy Rice with salmon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Keene, New Hampshire

I'm really impressed by this place! They were very friendly, and the food was amazing. The best sushi I've had in quite a while! I'll be back. Highly recommend them to anyone in the area. I came back for a second visit and was not disappointed! The chu-toro was silky and delicious, the salmon had a perfect finish of lemon zest, the buri was easily the best yellowtail I've ever had, and the spicy girl roll was spicy and delicious. This is my favorite sushi place! read more

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Oh $hit! Keene, you don't know what you have. THE ONLY OMEKASE IN THE WHOLE STATE OF NH!!! You would have to go to Portland, ME or Boston, MA to come even close. The chef trained in Manhattan and it shows. How and why Keene NH become the lucky town to catch Chef Kevin boggles the mind. Manchester and Portsmouth are the typical towns you associate high end food. I almost don't want to write this review for fear of making it impossible to get in here. Don't let the the divey unassuming dining room fool you. This place could compete with the big boy sushi spots in NYC. All of this fish is imported from Japan and it's very fresh. Another guy at the bar told who lives nearby and was coming 3-4 times a week until his credit card told him to cut it out said all other sushi is $hit and now he's spoiled. Wish they had a place closer to me. For now I'll make the hr drive. read more

Kurama Omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - Keene, New Hampshire

Sushi here is amazing. Keene is very lucky to have this little gem. As of this writing the Omakase at $85 here might be the best deal in all of New England. Many of their ingredients are sourced from Japan and you can really taste the quality and attention to detail. The only things I think they might be able to approve upon, is using fresh grated wasabi and perhaps upgrading their furniture. However at this price point and the friendly service, it is absolutely forgivable. read more

We were on a road trip and looking for a place to eat when we stumbled upon this place. Immediately upon walking in, we were greeted in such a warm and friendly fashion. It felt like we were visiting a friend we hadn't seen in a while. The host was also our waitress. The service was so attentive and friendly. The ambiance was very clean and simple. We ordered appetizers, and they arrived on the table piping hot. I love when food that is supposed to be hot actually arrived as if it just came off the pan or out of the oven. It felt as if it was made fresh for us in that moment. The sushi arrived later and tasted so light and fresh. I wish I lived closer because I would definitely be a regular there. Another thing to note - we arrived around 2/230 pm. There was no wait, but as we were waiting for our meal, there were at least three groups of regulars that were also there for a late lunch. Our waitress knew their orders and maintained a friendly/positive/warm attitude for all of the patrons. read more

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Kurama is a hidden gem and such a lucky find! We had a fantastic sushi experience here - the fish is fresh and tasty, miso soup generous, service friendly and flawless, and vibes relaxed and chic. We started with miso soups and the Crab Rangoon appetizer and all was excellent. The miso soup was packed full of tofu and seaweed and had a great flavor. The Rangoons were very generously packed full of cheese and crab and so lovely! Then we moved onto our sushi rolls. I got the Kurama Roll which had snow crab, cream cheese, avocado inside and masago outside and the roll is deep fried - guess I was in the mood for crab and cream cheese haha! It was absolutely fabulous! My hubby had the Ginza Roll which had spicy tuna and mango inside with salmon and avocado outside - delicious and everything was so fresh! Our server was positively delightful!! So friendly and all smiles and laughs - she just lit up the restaurant! Inside is a very relaxing ambiance and chic too - they have tables and booths and also bar seating. Prices are very decent for the quality and area. Location is excellent - just off the main downtown area in adorable Keene. We walked here from our hotel so I'm not sure about the parking. read more

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First time in, located just off of Main Street. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very simple interior.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered 2 specialty rolls to go one of which was a Godzilla plus a seaweed salad. The food was tasty, nothing exceptional. What challenged me is two rolls, a seaweed salad and I'm at $44.16 and it was hardly any rice around the rolls itself, the one roll was tiny. Rice is pennies. why wouldn't you have a respectable amount around each roll? I regret not taking a picture to illustrate I was not being petty. if the rules were bigger, I would've lean more towards four stars. Beyond that it was a Wednesday night I was only one in there so my order came out quickly. read more

Decent sushi place in Keene NH. Place is very simple and plain. The sushi was fresh and tasty. The rolls I ordered were very simple. I've ordered them at other places and they just were prepped a little differently but the taste was there so. read more

Kurama Omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - Keene, New Hampshire

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The service was great. Food was excellent and super fresh. 3 days later we're still thinking about it, craving more. Whenever we're in Keene again this is our go to. We are foodies and love trying new places. If you're not sure what to eat I recommend trying this restaurant you won't regret it. read more

Kurama Omakase - Bottom right is the Crazy tuna roll, so fresh and delicious - Sushi Bars Near Me - Keene, New Hampshire

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Wow! What a hidden gem this place is. Extremely high quality fish and other ingredients including A5 Japanese Waygu. This place made me think of Jiro dreams of Sushi. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Doubt this little college town knows what they have here.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This would compete with best places in Boston for sure. So happy we got to experience the omakase. read more

The sushi is delightful- [[HIGHLIGHT]]the space is a little weird though.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was good. But they didn't have a full bar, so don't expect to get anything other than saki or Japanese beer for alcohol. read more

My family and I came in here to eat before my older brother fully became a college student (Yay Keene State!) and we came in, waited for almost 20 minutes before someone came and took our orders. Then it took another half an hour for us to get our food. Meanwhile, other patrons were getting their food, whether they had been there before or after us. At one point a group of two came in and got served and LEFT in the time it took for us to get our food, and we STILL waited around 15 more minutes. The service takes ages, it's out of order, their priorities are insane and not to mention the small portion sizes, which aren't exactly crazy, but didn't make it feel like the wait was worth it. I felt so insane the entire time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Not to mention it was so loud the entire time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 1/10, don't recommend. read more

I have been twice and it was great both times. The sushi is fresh and SO good, good size portions with great prices. The owner is so kind and attentive, I have had great conversations with her both times. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very good service and atmosphere, I will be back more times than anyone can count![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If you are in Keene this is one of the must stop in spots! read more

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the rolls and salad are excellent the beef entre, not so good. overall, I thought the service was good and would go back for some rolls in a heart beat. Best around that I know of. read more

Lovely! Friendliest staff ever. So quick and caring. Miso soup was delicious and hit the spot. Had an eel avocado roll and a tuna roll. Both yum. Looking forward to coming back to try more! read more

Kurama Omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - Keene, New Hampshire

Out of the way place, but worth seeking out. Plain decor - but service and the food were superb! Staff very friendly and attentive.

Keene is very lucky that these guys chose to open here. Been to the place at least 20 times and never disappointed. K1 is a great guy as is Jafe. Top quality fish. read more

Update time. I've dined here over half a dozen times at this point, the latest being after the long, cold winter. And upon arriving on a beautiful spring day I saw that Chef Kevin has upped his game. New serving ware and, more importantly, new and delicious takes on his sushi. I'd say this latest visit was the best yet. Not much to add beyond my prior reviews other than new pics and so ... I'll get busy posting annotated pics forthwith. read more

Kurama Omakase in Keene, NH is an absolute treasure--especially if you're vegan, gluten-free, or both! Finding sushi that caters to dietary restrictions without compromising on flavor or experience can be tough, but Kurama nails it with heart and style. First off: the veggie sushi options? So good. Fresh, creative, and full of flavor--none of that sad cucumber roll-only nonsense you find at some places. They take dietary needs seriously and actually listen when you say you're vegan and gluten-free. That level of care and respect goes a long way. Also, shoutout to them for letting me order a side of rice with my meal--simple, but such a comfort. Rice is the bomb, and sometimes it's the little things that make you feel seen. The staff? Warm, kind, and seriously a joy to be around. You walk in and instantly feel like you're among friends. There's even a true sushi chef behind the counter, slicing with finesse--exactly the kind of chef you want preparing your omakase. You can tell there's passion in that kitchen. [[HIGHLIGHT]]For a small town like Keene, to have a place with this level of quality, vibe, and inclusivity? Unreal. Kurama is punching way above its weight.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would recommend this spot to anyone, whether you're vegan/gluten-free or just a lover of damn good sushi. Absolute 5 stars. read more

A horrible experience. It took over 20 minutes for our order to even be taken, and then our 6 sushi rolls took well over an hour. Absolutely ridiculous. Avoid this place at all costs. read more

Update: Kurama still rocks! I've been coming here for 2 years now and the quality and service are still top notch. Chef Kevin is a master at his craft and of course Jafe and Jimmy crushing it back in the kitchen. Not many people see the kitchen crew, but trust me they rock. For waitstaff you have Gap, who will welcome you and make you feel like family while making you smile. I try to make it down at least once a week to get my fix, but lately it's been twice and I live 30 miles away! They just celebrated two years of business and here's to the next few decades. On that note... I'm hungry, I'll see them today. read more

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Superb service superb food The calamari was out of this world. Sashimi was fresh. The rolls were immaculate Thank you Gap for making our first visit awesome read more

The service was fantastic even though it was Valentine's Day evening and very very busy. It is a small restaurant with a very friendly atmosphere. The sushi was very fresh and we appreciated the guidance from our server. If you like sushi this is an excellent option. read more

Great food and great service. Restaurant is down the alley. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice interior.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Not busy at all.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is old time Country chic, which is curious for a Japanese restauran[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]t. The food however was good. I will probably go back. I had some Tuna sashimi and it was good. As good as raw fish can get with nothing wrapped around or under it. Lots of smaller plates in the app list and enough to pretty much satisfy any type of eater. read more

It was my day off and I had an appointment at the vet in Claremont and, you know, I wanted to make a trip of it and take myself out for lunch/dinner. So I periodically get into Yelp and just check around and see if there is something "promising" out there that is new or that I might have missed. Imagine my SURPRISE to discover an omakase spot in Keene! I was excited. I finished up at the vet Wednesday afternoon and drove over to Kurama Omakase. I arrived shortly after 5pm and parked in one of the spots on the street right outside. Kurama looked very empty, but the "Open" sign was lit, so I went in. Now! Here's the thing. I REALLY want to support Kurama Omakase because they are the ONLY restaurant anywhere in Vermont or New Hampshire (that I know of) who are even attempting to offer Omakase. From what I could gather, the sushi chef is also the owner. Which is another thing I REALLY want to support. In all honesty, Kurama is the only restaurant I have ever been comfortable even trying to eat Omakase at in VT/NH. These are big things. I would like more people to be able to experience Omakase and Kurama is out here making that happen and doing a good job at it. The sushi counter is very nice, big, roomy, L shaped. A good number of people can sit and have Omakase. The Omakase being served here is Edomae style. Which is the oldest, most traditional style developed in Tokyo area (before refrigeration). The focus in Edomae is individual pieces of fish (sushi) that have been "flavored" in some way. My Omakase at Kurama included classic flavors: freshly zested lime, truffle, fresh shiso leaf, etc. Pieces were well executed. Flavors were good. Fish was good. I, personally, don't love Edomae style. What I love is all the crazy, "fusion" type creative combining of ingredients to make bites that are deeply layered with flavor and texture. But I also get that the market for that kind of Omakase does not yet exist in Keene, NH. The only thing I'm going to "ding" Kurama on with their Omakase is serving a pre-made, frozen mochi ice cream as the dessert portion of an $85 meal. That's not okay. However! The SHOWSTOPPER at Kurama was the Crispy Rice roll that I had after my Omakase. I decided to order something off their regular sushi menu to give it a try. The Crispy Rice roll is deep fried sushi rice with your choice of chopped fish (I chose salmon), guacamole, scallions, roe, Teriyaki sauce and spicy mayo. DELICIOUS!!! Also wonderful mix of textures. Great mouthfeel. GET THIS ROLL. The real problem at Kurama is the atmosphere. It's not great. The team needs to work on maintaining and professional workplace. Of course this is a problem that can be fixed and if you came with a group of people it would not matter as much. And if you get take out it won't matter at all. But it was not a great Omakase experience for me to dine alone. They should work on that. If you are offering an elevated dining experience, like an $85 Omakase in Keene, NH, the ENTIRE experience needs to be elevated. Kurama needs to STEP UP their service in the dining room. read more

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This place may not look like much from the outside, but the service and food were spectacular! The omakase service was comparable to a sushi restaurant in Japan with an American flare. The Hakutsuru sake was oishi (delicious) and they were able to accommodate my husband's gluten free request. They even had real wasabi- such a treat! If you are a sushi enthusiast, this is a must try gem hidden in the small town of Keene! Please move to Newport, RI! :-) read more

AMAZING SUSHI. I'm not even from New Hampshire and this is still some of the best sushi I've had -- it rivals my favorite joint in Midtown Manhattan!!! The place looks a little sketchy upon first glance, but do not pass it by. I brought my sushi-hating family here to try to convince them otherwise, and they were all converted today!! Everyone loved the food. read more

Hands down the best sushi in town! We have had the Omakase experience and really enjoyed it too. My son loves the takoyaki and Black Dragon roll. It's all amazing and the best quality. read more

Kurama Omakase - Takoyaki! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Keene, New Hampshire

This is a gem of a restaurant tucked away in Keene, New Hampshire. Their authentic Japanese cuisine is off the chart delicious! We loved the wide variety of maki rolls we sampled on our last visit, but the Calimari salad was absolutely the best Calimari I have ever had. read more

Kurama Omakase - Calimari salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Keene, New Hampshire

This is my favorite place to get sushi in the area. Seems to be better than any spot in concord and just as good as some spots on the seacoast. Not quite like the sushi in Japan, but that'd be tough to beat in Keene . Clean bathrooms, prompt razor precision service and a great volume on the ambient jazz. Lovely experience, will be back. read more

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Tonight we tried Gyoza & Takoyaki or "Bomb of Happiness" as recommended by our friendly waitstaff. The tuna was super fresh, the wasabi less intense, and there was no big band music to be heard. This place keeps us coming back for more House Red, House White, happiness bombs & and no lines on a busy Friday night. read more

Kurama Omakase - Spring roll, tuna avocado maki roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Keene, New Hampshire

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Great sushi! Best in Keene! We did takeout and cannot wait to go back for the Omakase.

Great sushi. Nice and small for a great guest experience. Crunchy rice is the best in the sushi roll.

New Sushi restaurant replacing Tokyo Express. Renovated interior and sushi bar.Real high quality fish and great staff! Haven't had sashimi this fresh in this area. Owners from NY and know how to provide great sushi and service. Our first dinner here so thought we'd test them on sashimi and a few rolls. Absolutely on point! Fresh well prepared and presented. They have a full bar, beer, wine and a great sake selection which we enjoyed with dinner. They feature Omakase which is a chef selection of Japanese fish prepared at the bar in 4 courses. We will definitely return for that! Highly recommend for the sushi lovers in Keene! read more

We had a great lunch today. Top quality food and wonderful, welcoming staff!! I particularly enjoyed the chef's choice. We had the pleasure of trying some new sushi that I would not ordered so I'm glad the Chef chose them for us. Seaweed salad is just outstanding. I hope you get a chance to dine there for a meal soon. read more

The quality of the sushi is unmatched. I've gotten sushi at Michelin star restaurants and it seems weird to say the best sushi I've had is in Keene NH. Treat yourself and do the omakase menu at least once and be open to foods you have never tried, but add the regular menu to your regular rotation. I love the otoro tuna with truffle oil, the salmon is unbelievable- I haven't had anything I didn't like yet. read more

Basically, I'm so over New England sushi. That's because I did a couple of postgrad years in L.A. and learned what REAL sushi is supposed to taste like. So once a month or so I go and get average fish from places like Osaka in Noho. Just okay. *sigh*. Well then. An old boyfriend from Brattleboro (not kidding, he knows me) calls and says, "meet me in Keene. I have some sushi for you." Am I crazy? Drive all the way to Keene? For sushi? What's the catch? The catch is this place. We split an Omakase dinner plus some stuff (dragon lady roll?) and I was blown away. Rather than go into detail, as some of the other reviewers have, just go. You like sushi? It's worth the drive. Oh, and the boyfriend insists I mention the beautiful young woman roaming around the place bringing out food. Just get her to smile at you. *sigh* read more

We were looking for sushi and happen to come across the restaurant while searching. This is not Americanized food. You will not see teriyaki on the menu. Our waitress was very friendly. The fish is fresh. So far we have dined there twice as we brought our son there when he came to visit. Our first visit we ordered crab Rangoon, calamari, avocado salad, Trust the Chef Lite, and Ginza Roll which were all delicious. Finished with a selection of macaroons. Our second visit my son ordered the Gyudon (beef bowl) which he liked. We all shared in the Trust the Chef, Salmon crispy rice roll and miso soup. Finished with a selection of Mochi Ice cream. One day we would like to try the Omakase. It's a small intimate restaurant so reservations are good for during busy dining time. read more