One bright Tuesday, my friend decided that we wanted to go to a comedy show that Friday. We thought it would be a good idea to get sushi someplace before the show. All of the typical good sushi places were obviously booked for reservations and there was no way we were going to get in there. I looked outside the typical spots and found Nori. Looking at the website (at least the parts that were working at the time) and we thought the place looked good and the photos of sushi looked great -- at least what we could see from the semi-functional site. We booked a reservation and were anticipating great food. Instead, once the moment arrived, we were greeted with the most unethical faire on the planet -- vegan. In what world is Japanese food vegetarian -- let alone vegan?! Ever been to a Japanese Kalehouse? No! There is a reason for this! it was apparent that we were NOT going to get fed with real food here, but would be offered things that looked or sounded like the food that most people expect when they think Sushi. "Toona" was offered in the place out beloved tuna should have been printed. The menu was littered with various preparations of ... tofu -- are you kidding me? They had a Texas roll that had so much plantlife, it was apparently an attempt to lure in Texas Longhorns -- no, the actual animals, not college students. I'm sorry, but the Thai place next door offered better options for actual food than this place did. We ordered drinks and attempted to wave down our wait-person (complete with nose ring) so we could pay and hope to find actual nutrition somewhere. It took us easily 15 minutes of looking over my shoulder before I stood up and tracked down the host-person to help us cash out. As a kid, my family used to make fun of the idea of sushi. "Raw fish? who would want that?" But I grew to love it as an adult. I can only imagine the howls of laughter from my family if they found out I got reservations at a "fake raw fish" joint. The place is a comedy of errors. The host should be required to say "Welcome to Nori, we don't serve food here." to save everyone some valuable time. read more

The sushi was pretty good, my fiancè and I liked the volcano roll the best. The other two (rainbow and dragon) were okay. The tempura was incredibly salty, I had to finish it off because my partner couldn't stand it. Luckily, our waiter was nice enough to take it off the bill. The mushroom appetizer was super chewy, the flavor was good, but the texture was a pain in the ass. The mocktail turned cocktail we got was not worth the cost. The feel of the restaurant was very nice, though, and I appreciated our server's use of gender neutral pronouns and the male bathroom having feminine hygiene products. read more

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Great service, yummy, high quality food. Never a bad moment here! I feel like you can pick random things and they will be all great. read more

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I have to say that I am a meat eater, and I thought this place was amazing! Who knew vegan sushi could be so delicious! Great service and ambiance. The bartender named Tess, knew the menu well and had great suggestions for me, someone who doesn't usually eat vegetarian. I will definitely come back for lunch! read more

Nori - Vegan Katana ya roll on the lunch menu - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

Dinner at Nori this evening was one of the very best vegan meals I've ever had, and I've been vegan for 29 years! I went with a group of 5 meat eaters, and they tried everything and loved it all too! The miso soup was amazing, the small plates were delicious, especially the mushroom dish called chick'n Karaage and the Brussel sprouts. We ordered those twice! Everyone loved the shiitake gyoza. I am gluten-free, so we ordered every gluten-free maki roll on the menu, including my favorites, the shiitake roll and the creamy crunchy roll. The Japanese Katsu curry was a real hit. The chef brought us a special dessert for our celebration, a carrot cake that was out of this world. Our sever, Ryan, was kind, friendly, and knowledgeable about everything on the menu, and he had a good sense of humor too! Will we back? You bet! Make a reservation at Nori, this place is a true gem! read more

Pleasant seating, quiet spot. Good place for a chat with friends or lovers. Overall tasty food on the slightly pricy side relative to ingredients. read more

Nori - Molten Chocolate Lava Cake - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

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came here on a whim, cozy place yk, sick to bring the bros by for a cas bite, absolutely cratered there's no joint pad thai combo w their sister, but overall p hype. Listen, good for a vegan place is tuff, but it slapped fs, lowk would not recommend the fried shi cuz it's gonna blow u up real quick, but dope avenue for lame ass vegones like me who crave that high class subliminal black leather edgy doc marten vibe. Expensivo like crazy tho they need sum humbling on those prices or maybe I'm not in touch w austin lifestyle. If I can roll up some rice tho they got opps so don't get too cocky. service was great tho u gotta love the pseudo thrift heavy on the blunt new gen hippies that r jus tryna pay rent in atx. They know what's up. Aight I'm out. read more

The place was really goood. We went during happy hour so it was a good deal. Great service everything came out really fast. The food was good as well we only got sushi didn't get any other kind of food from the menu. The ambiance is very lovely, cute interior decoration. Our favorite sushi was the shitake 10/10 followed by the volcano and then the dragon. Least favorite was the manhattan roll. Would highly recommend read more

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Grate food I took my pregnant friend and we had such grate time. The sushi is really good! There is not such an ambiance but it's ok. Will definitely come back. read more

The food was tasty, the staff was okay, they were more attentive to other patrons around me at the bar, but not surprising. The ambiance was delightful. Had the KINOKO ramen. It was tasty, not the best I've had, but certainly tasty. The Creamy shiitake broth was full of flavor and really only part I felt missing were the baby bok choy & the black garlic espresso oil. These 2 ingredients were the main reason why I chose this ramen, & sadly they were not present. These 2 crucial ingredients would've put this ramen in the 5/5 territory. The black garlic oil especially I felt was needed in this broth, now if they put some they most certainly didn't put enough to make this broth stand out as a winner amongst broths. All the other pieces in the broth were well thought out, they were just lacking that final nudge that this oil would've given this broth. The California maki rolls were also okay, not something I'll order again, but definitely passable. This ramen however I'll make another trip from South Florida some day, & I'll try it again. I really want to have this oil be part of this ramen, and I want to experience it as they intended it to experienced. So till next time Austin. So for this reason I will be back. read more

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So delicious! We had the shiitake & spicy toona rolls on the happy hour menu and both were fantastic! Love the decor and speed of food service. read more

Great vegan sushi restaurant in Austin. We had a great service as well. We'll be coming back :) read more

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Been wanting to check Nori out for months so tonight was the night. Happy hour, we had to slide in to get a feel. The host was friendly; we appreciated the customer service right out the gate. Coco was our server; we loved her energy instantly. Come on Panama! We took it slow, with two drinks and Chikn' Bao to start. What a fluffy flavorful delight! The tempura was next, so light and crispy, the best I've ever had in my WHOLE life, and the California rolls were...well I'm out of words. But that dollop of vegan cream on top of the rolls is still a tasty mystery I'm trying to solve. The rainstorm knocked the lights out and that made our experience even more intriguingly fun. You all are stellar and I can't even believe you are here right on Guadalupe. Thank you Nori! Vegan LOVE! read more

Definitely the very best Sushi Restaurant on the planet! The flavors, presentation, service, it is all amazing. We visit a lot of sushi restaurant and this one beats them all. And yes, it is all vegan. A must try for vegan and non-vegan. Absolutely fantastic. read more

Delicious! We went for our anniversary and had the ceviche and nigiri sampler. Very impressed with the flavors and especially loved the tomato and the mushroom nigiri. read more

I've been here two times now! First time I had the special, "tuna" and "salmon" nigiri, it was mind blowing. They delicately seasoned them so that it was a burst of citrus paired with very convincing fish. Felt very close to an experience I had with Uchiko! The other rolls were more run-of-the-mill vegan sushi. But nori is slightly more flavorful and had more special care with these in comparison. everyone loved the volcano roll and the dragon roll the most! Coming from people who tried almost all of their stuff: heart of palms roll, the dragon roll, the Manhattan roll, spicy tuna, creamy crunchy, and volcano. Gyoza pot stickers were unexpectedly the bomb. Chocolate lava cake was aight, it didn't do the lava thing when I tried to break into the cake for Instagram. Super busy! Make sure you reserve if it's a party greater than 3 a couple weeks in advance!! They'll squeeze you in if its just you and a friend tho. read more

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We had a great experience. I was thoroughly impressed by the vegan nigiri- it is a very ambitious culinary task and I think it was pulled off well. The ambiance was nice and the staff were friendly and cool. The tempura was good, especially since it was gluten free. As an asian person I was a bit wary but I feel that the restaurant is generally respectful and maybe aware that a "vegan japanese restaurant" is a big red flag for whitewashing. 4 stars because it is pricey, understandable but I think it would be a lot busier if it was a bit more affordable. Ultimately the ingredients are mostly plant based, so I'm not sure if the prices are high because of the uniqueness and novelty factor. Also, the dishes came out quickly. Great restaurant, highly recommend, they clearly care. read more

Awesome place to go for a nice dinner date. My wife and I celebrated our 10th anniversary there and had a great experience!

Loved all of it and had great service- our favorites were the hearts of palm roll and the nigiri sampler. I am pescatarian but eat a lot of vegan/veggie- didn't miss the fish at all and left feeling satisfied and healthy! We need more local "nice" vegan places like this in town. read more

Yesterday, my husband and I decided to visit Nori for the first time to celebrate my birthday! We visited Shizen in San Francisco, CA, for my birthday last year, so we had extremely high expectations for vegan nigiri. However, Nori did not disappoint! First and foremost, we were very impressed by the renovated space and decor of the establishment. The restaurant was clean *and* very nicely decorated in a modern, minimalist way. The dishes also seemed decently priced, although portions were smaller than I had initially expected. Between us, we shared the nigiri sampler, tofu katsu, and yakisoba and left relatively full. We might have ordered another main dish if it wasn't for the birthday cake we were planning to share with our family afterward. Of the items we ordered, my personal favorite was the tofu katsu. Unlike the usual vegan/tofu katsu I've had before, they used soft tofu, which created a nice contrast of textures between the crispy, crunchy outside and the soft inside. The curry was also flavorful and nicely seasoned to go well with rice and small beds of vegetables. My next favorite was the yakisoba --it had a good spicy kick (which, I assume, is from the chili oil) to the noodles, and the vegetables were seasoned and cooked to near perfection. Lastly, the nigiri sampler --I would say that they were good, but I felt that the topping-to-rice proportion was a bit off (with more rice than toppings). However, my husband really liked how the sushi rice was seasoned well. All in all, dining at Nori was a wonderful experience to celebrate my birthday, and we will definitely be back to try the other items on the menu! read more

Nori - nigiri sampler and tofu katsu - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Absolutely delicious! I'm an avid sushi eater but I'm currently pregnant and this completely satisfied my craving! Great service, good drinks and food was A+! read more

Food was 10/10, the spices/seasoning gave the food life!! Service is scan the barcode and order but the staff were nice. Ambiance was nice. It gives a hippy type vibe, but it was a good time for my first time in Austin. I have def recommended this place to locals in Austin. read more

We didn't get the chance to eat here, so I can't speak to the quality and taste of the food. My partner and I had a horrible experience with the hostess. She was extremely dismissive of us, rude, and repeatedly ignored us when we were speaking to her. I understand that things may be a bit hectic during dinner service, but I believe that is no excuse for treating us this way. We walked in and went straight to the hostess to put our name on the list and ask how long the wait is. Instead of speaking with us, she asked us to step to the side and wait until she is free. As we were waiting, we noticed other parties of the same size as my group arrived immediately after. The hostess greeted them and took their name and group size. After seeing this, my group asked the hostess if we could also put my name down. She ignored us and proceeded to talk to guests behind me who were in line to put their names down as well. It's astounding that all guests that came after me were white, while my group and I were people of color. It's questionable whether or not our treatment was based on this fact. read more

The restaurant was very elegant. Food was very tasty bit pricey, but overall it was a great experience good for anniversaries and for birthday celebrations. read more

I eat at Nori AT LEAST three days a week and it is BY FAR my favorite restaurant ever. The food is amazing. Literally everything is good. Even my non-vegan husband loves it. The red cabbage and okra are our favorites. 10/10 recommend. read more

I have been vegan and gluten-free for nearly ten years, and Nori has become my favorite restaurant in the world. I'm in Austin from out of town and visited Nori with some friends. I got a few rolls and then ended up ordering it to-go several more nights during my stay. SO DELICIOUS! read more

Misunderstanding with the receipt, but how they handled it was very uncomfortable, apologies to the waitress. Clearly it was a mistake, who'd leave a .15 cent tip. It was very uncomfortable and everyone at the table felt the same was. The waiter that wasn't serving us came and grab the menu as if we couldn't order anymore food, then poured me a glass of water. I didn't drink/trust that glass of water. The food was good but how your team acted after the misunderstanding of the .15 cent tip was very unprofessional. I can't make this up, actions speak louder than words can say or read. read more

Can't believe we get to have this place. The robata cabbage, yuzu pineapple drink, and gyoza are favs. And all the sushi is to die for. Ideal for non vegans and vegans alike. Wowwwwwww!!!! read more

I absolutely love this place. The space is small and cozy with sexy lighting. The sashimi was the perfect texture...felt like true sashimi. This is my new favorite spot for sure! read more

Nori - Sashimi - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

Absolutely incredible vegan food with the spirit of the best sushi bars in Tokyo. Presentation and plating are top of the line. Menu is extensive. Impossible to make a bad selection. Space is a bit tight, but setting is comfortable anyway. read more

The best vegan restaurant in Austin. My husband (meat eater) is always down to eat here. We just had their brunch for the first time and it was amazing. read more

The food is delicious art; innovative, great colors and sexy plating. The staff is ALWAYS friendly, kind and well informed. We are so lucky to have this place. I'm grateful they have extended their hours for lunch too. read more

Food was so fresh and tasty!! I tried all different dishes and they were all delicious. The special valentines menu was recommended and did not disappoint. Service was great. Something for everyone! read more

So so good could not recommend more. Weather you are a veginarian or a meet customer the restaurant will please you well.

We went there without reservation. The receptionist asked us to wait for 45 minutes. We waited that much and again she told us to wait another 1 hour and mentioned there is no guarantee we can get the table. Totally wasted our time read more

5 stars for ambiance and service. Very friendly staff. Gyoza was delicious, as was the coconut drink. Got several different rolls and they were good. The quality and freshness was excellent. I just needed a little more flavor in the rolls.. Was happy we tried this place! read more

Nori is FANTASTIC! And this is coming from two people who are meat eaters. We never go out for vegan food, but we went because our vegan friend invited us for dinner. We have been back four times now. The flavors and textures are amazing! read more

Beautiful interior, beautiful presentation, beautiful servers...and a delicious vegan sushi selection. I love mushrooms, and all of theirs were seasoned beautifully. Even the curry bowl with tofu was just perfect. I loved everything about my dining experience, except the hefty price tag. Do you get what you pay for? Maybe. It's still a five-star experience. read more

Loved it! Apart from cramped seating, everything else was great. I didn't feel like I was eating vegetarian food. Presentation was great too. read more

-100 Food is great but service is not. Had a feeling that they want you to finish your meal fast and give room for others. We ordered starters and main at the same time, thinking they would coordinate it but all the food came really fast with the exception of my husbands, he had to wait while we ate... waitress then said we had to order dessert at once since it takes time making it (not true). In the middle of eating it she comes with the bill without us asking for it. We had by then sat at our table for less than an hour. NOT a good experience felt as if they just want your money and then for you to leave. Not coming back as the experience of being treated well is a grand part of eating out read more