AMAZING experience. delicious food, spectacular service, and complimentary parking.. what more could you want.. our waiters went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and everything we had was yummy but definitely recommend the hand rolls (hamachi was my favorite) bonus points for being fun to eat hope to be back soon! read more

Norman's Japanese Grill - King salmon nigiri, oh godzilla handroll, hamachi handrolls, shrimp tempura handroll - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Norman's was genuinely some of the best food I've ever had in Texas. If they aren't Michelin rated already, they absolutely should be. Every dish was incredible, but the standout for me was the A4 wagyu nigiri -- unreal. The corn and miso ravioli was a very close second and honestly one of the most memorable dishes I've had in a long time. The service was impeccable from start to finish: attentive, knowledgeable, and welcoming without ever feeling overbearing. You can tell every detail here is intentional. I'll be thinking about this spot for a long time. read more

See all

concepts like this make me cry because i love cpg and hospitality so much the manager was so chatty and sweet and gave us free ube ice cream that was incredibly impressive. corn ravioli is quite possibly top 3 things that have entered my mouth. otoro sashimi soooo fatty and the octopus perfect soft (8/8 tentacle rating according to jake shane pussy score) they did such a great job incorporating western and japanese influences while keeping the charm of both read more

See all

Tiffany provided some of the best service I've ever had! I believe the other employee that consistently checked on us was Josiah, but I could've gotten his name wrong... My boyfriend and I came to celebrate our anniversary, and the entire staff was so kind and pleasant. It really made our day special. The food and drinks were fabulous, especially the udon carbonara and the oh Godzilla hand roll! read more

Kept seeing this place on TikTok, so I had to try it wit a friend who came into town from Houston. It was busy, so we sat at the bar. Our bartender, Mark (I think was his name), was so sweet, knowledgeable, and he was so easy to talk to. Got the Snowblood Spritz. The sake was forward, but very refreshing with the shiso leaf. We had the Miso Cod first which gave us a great start; it was extremely butterfly and savory. After, we tried the Oh Godzilla had uni on top which was super oceany flavored which overpowered the bluefin taretare and caviar. After, we tried the Udon Carbonara. It was good and creamy, but it wasn't anything special-it felt like a standard pasta. We tried a Pork Belly skewer which was very fatty for our liking, but if you like fatty Pork Belly, it's definitely for you. We then finished off with the Duck & Kurabota Pork Skewers which was incredible! The hot Japanese mustard paired very well with the skewers! Overall, the best things we had were the Miso Cod handroll and Duck & Kurabota Pork Skewers. Definitely recommend. My friend and I thought the food was okay, but the service was exceptional. I think it was the best service I've ever had because it was a great balance professional, but also personal as well! Ambiance was great as well, very beautiful. Service definitely carried! read more

Norman's Japanese Grill - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This place is AMAZING!! It is now one of my favorite restaurant in DFW. There's a variety of Japanese dishes to choose from. Every individual dish has a unique flavors and special garnishes. The New Zealand salmon is the best salmon dish I've ever had. Cooked to perfection and I love the bed of charred bok choy. Some of the crudo dishes had an interesting pop of sourness that came from fingerling limes that I really enjoy. I also like the interactive way of eating the hand rolls where the seaweed sheets are given separately and we pick up the rolls ourselves, leaving the seaweed crunchy with each bite. My only complaint would probably be the apple cobbler. They puréed the apple and it was very salty. It would have been better if it was bits or chunks of apple. Last but not least our waitress Tiffany was awesome. She's super sweet and everything she recommended was delicious. She put some thought into arranged our dishes to come in certain order from light to heavier. The complimentary valet is a nice touch because there's really no parking there. read more

See all

This place immediately landed in my top three restaurants in Dallas. Everything from the food to the atmosphere hit. The vibe is casual but elevated, which is exactly my sweet spot. I love an open kitchen, and next time I'm absolutely sitting closer to it. It adds so much energy to the room without feeling chaotic. Service was excellent. Huge shoutout to Julia, who was incredibly knowledgeable and helped guide the experience in a way that felt natural and thoughtful, not scripted. Every dish was genuinely good. Ranking them from favorite to least favorite, though I would order every single one again without hesitation: Best hamachi nigiri Shrimp skewers Grilled asparagus Apple crumble cobbler Meatballs Dumplings Snow crab nigiri Octopus skewers, only last because they weren't as crispy as I personally prefer, but still flavorful and well done Overall, Norman's Western delivers across the board. Strong execution, confident flavors, and a space that feels intentional without trying too hard. Easily a repeat spot and one I'll be recommending a lot. read more

See all

Reservations - I saw they had a link on Resy, but that seems to only show limited time slots (for early or late dinners), so I called and left a voicemail for the day we wanted to go and got a text confirmation later. I would recommend doing the same! There is valet parking at the restaurant. Our waitress and the servers were all very nice and helped with recommendations if we asked! Food - I got the Snowball Spritz to drink, shared the Curry Katsu small plate, Corn & Miso Ravioli, Charred Octopus skewers, and then shared the Ube Ice cream & Japanese cheesecake desserts. Everything was yummy, but my favorites were the Corn & Miso Ravioli and Charred Octopus skewers. I will make plans to come back just for those - the blend of sweet corn & savory brown butter complimented the ravioli, and the char on the octopus was perfect! Overall - The vibes are fun and it's a great dining experience. Norman's would be great for a friends dinner, date night, or small work group - it was quiet enough for easy conversation but still a lively atmosphere. The menu has something for everyone, or they even have 2 offerings of pre-set meals if you aren't sure where to start. read more

See all

Could only get a 4:30p res and it's totally worth it. The crudos are all refreshing and flavorful, the hand rolls are a perfect two bite treat. Udon carbonara is worth the hype. Attentive service, inside is very trendy and patio looked fun too! read more

See all

During my last December trip to the Plano area, we had dinner here with a group of friends. The 6 of us squeezed into a cozy booth, probably more suited for 4 adults. The interior is fun and festive and the staff seem to be mostly beaming with happiness, so a definitely fun environment for Japanese cuisine. We mostly ordered separately but also shared a few of their small plates. The Miso Cod, Hamachi, and Charred Octopus were the standouts for me for my first visit here. To wash all of this down, I had a few of their Perfect Summer non-alcoholic drinks(Watermelon, Yuzu, Green Tea) which is recommended by me. Service was friendly. This is a fun environment so definitely a bit more on the loud side, and not for a quiet date kind of restaurant. read more

Was honestly so disappointed. Went on priority list for weeks to get a reservation to this place. Finally got one and it dissapointing is what it was. I got the wasabi mezcal drink and I was skeptical cause I don't love mezcal snd it's premade- they said it didn't taste like mezcal and they would Replace if we didn't like. It is very much strong mezcal and they never came back and checked. We got some handrolls- none were worth the price. Underwhelming in flavor. The corn ravioli was the best thing we ate but no one warned us it was so sweet and they should have told us or served it last. Beans were good but overpriced. Carbonara was their most popular item And it was flavorless, just salty. Biggest disappointment outside of handrolls. Overall the vibes are neat but the food is very underwhelming. read more

See all

Came for a special birthday dinner! Ambiance had western influences but it's definitely a sushi spot. Tried a bunch of small dishes and the staff was very helpful in helping us decide how many plates to get! Would return to try more of the menu. read more

Norman's Japanese Grill - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

See all

Dallas food scene does not disappoint. Banger after banger! Norman's was such a vibe in every way. décor/ambiance, staff, crowd, music, dish ware (about to order a set of these from replacements), food, valet. I enjoyed everything about it. Super chill spot. I love looking around a place and feeling like yep, this feels really good! Service was outstanding at every turn, from booking to table side and valet. Our food was delish. Everything is pretty much family style besides the hand rolls but I even had a bite of my besties. This proves to me how much I enjoyed the food because I typically would not eat off of anything he's put his mouth on and that went out the window when it came to his hand roll selection. I had an old fashioned. Their whiskey menu is top tier, quickly glancing over to spot all my favs. We ordered a shrimp tempura and Miso cod hand roll. I'm loving the way I can count on all my dining establishments to offer bumps of caviar atop menu items. Seriously understanding the assignment around here. The edamame hummus, curry katsu, corn and miso ravioli, and duck & pork robusta skewers were all quite tasty! If I had room for a couple other dishes, I would have tried the udon carbonara and shrimp & sausage dumplings. This is such a fun spot. If you're going out with girlfriends, on a date or with the fam- Norman's will not disappoint. I look forward to returning in the future for more menu items, I don't think you can go wrong with any choice here. In closing, Norman's has match books- we came up with a theory not too long along. If you have matchbooks you're probably a 5 star joint. If you're a 5 star joint but don't have match books, I probably shouldn't give you 5 stars because match books exemplify 5 star behavior ;) read more

See all

Had my birthday dinner at Norman's, and it was absolutely incredible from start to finish. Every single person we encountered -- from the valet to the servers, brought great energy to our night. Our server, Sarah, was the highlight of the front of house. She was sweet, attentive, and walked us through the entire menu like a pro. You could tell she genuinely loves what she does. We decided to go with the "KUCHISABISHII" at $99 per, and it was well worth it. It gives you the chance to try almost everything on the menu, and my wife and I were absolutely blown away by the flavors and creativity of each dish. Norman's truly delivers a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. Warm, unique, and unforgettable. The ambiance, vibe is unmatched. The place is beautifully decorated and furnished. You really feel that authentic western Japanese vibe when you enter this place. There was a saying on the menu that reads, "I eat not because I'm hungry, but because my mouth is lonely" -- Norman's is exactly that kind of place. We will definitely be back! read more

See all

This is now my second time visiting Norman's, and it's a gorgeous space with decent food. (3.5/5 overall) Atmosphere (5/5): Gorgeous space and restaurant for date night or catch up with friends. Not so great for larger parties as the areas inside and outside mostly have seating for 2-4 people or there are 3 bar areas you can grab dinner or drinks at (chefs table, bar and then outdoor). The outdoor area has seating and heaters / fans during winter or summer. There's complimentary valet parking in the lot outside and it's quite small off a main road, so definitely have to valet. Service: (4/5) service is amazing as always in the Duro Hospitality Group. They are accommodating and listen to your needs. I will say the second time I went it was a Saturday and quite busy; service was not as great as we waited for 30 min to get someone's attention at the bar just to order drinks as we were waiting for our table to be ready. Food: (3/5) was not blown away by the food. Overall it was way too salty the second time we visited, almost inedible. The servers were great and made up for it by giving us another dish, but I left disappointed as the first time I went it was better. Expect Americanized Japanese food, which is totally fine as that's the theme of the restaurant. However way too salty. The hand rolls are small and bite sized and come deconstructed, my favorite being the lobster or the tuna uni. The miso ravioli was decent and milder in flavor which I liked, the uni carbonara was good but nothing special. I did enjoy all the drinks and the dessert! Overall would still come back for the good vibes and drinks and a few apps, but wouldn't be my go to always. read more

See all

Norman's Japanese Grill is out of this world. I honestly wish I could give this place six stars. Everything they put in front of us was fantastic, and we didn't have a single miss all night. The whole menu has this authentic feel, and they really nail the Texas-Japanese fusion they're going for--it works incredibly well. The decor even took me back to my trip to Japan, but with these really cool Texas elements blended in. It's such a unique vibe, and they pull it off perfectly. The udon carbonara absolutely lived up to the hype--everyone at the table loved it, and it's a must-order. The corn miso ravioli was so good it had me wanting to lick the plate. We also tried the Korean fried chicken, the chicken skewers, the dumplings, and some sushi. Every single dish was a hit. I think I've officially found my new favorite spot to eat in Dallas. We'll definitely be back, and hopefully soon. If I had to point out one small area for improvement, the outdoor seating could use better shade. The sun was right in my eyes until it went down. They have some curtains, but they don't fully block the setting sun. Other than that, this place crushed it. Highly, highly recommend. read more

See all

I had such a nice time here that it now makes so much sense about why it was so difficult to get a reservation! Our server, Alexandra (I believe), was so kind and knowledgeable about the whole menu. She helped us decide between things and gave great recommendations. Our favorite was surprisingly the duck meatballs followed very closely by the udon carbonara. I you're a matchbook collector, they have them here! read more

See all

Norman's is way too pricey for what you get... I ordered all of the handrolls to try. What they called "handrolls" would be considered as nigiri in other sushi places. That's how small they are. They are good but small portions. Not surprisingly the nigiri are very fusion. I thought the taste was ok. The sauce and toppings overshadowed the taste of the fish. I was excited to try the udon carbonara. I liked it however I didn't think it was anything special. My friends thought it tasted like mac & cheese. The plating for the desserts were very nice but it's nothing you haven't had before... The service was good. The ambiance was nice. Can be a little bit loud. Overall Norman's could be cheaper for what they're providing diners. read more

See all

Saw this place on an influencers page on instagram and thought, what a cool idea to have a Japanese-Texas fusion restaurant. Now unfortunately, I am not the biggest sushi eater but my boyfriend loves it and it was his birthday. I loved how easy the parking is. It's right off of Fitzhugh and they have valet. The restaurant was dimly lit upon entering with a brighter room to the right of the door where the hostess stand is. Once seated, Lauren (Amazing btw) let us know a little bit about the restaurant and gave us some of her recommendations. She recommended the udon carbonara which 10 out of 10! My boyfriend got sushi, I can't remember which one so please excuse me, but I think it was the one with the caviar and he said it was really good. We also got the A5 beef, which was very delicious. We also opted for the salmon, however, it was a tad bit too sweet for my taste. We also got the duck meatballs, which I really didn't like. And we received some free asparagus from Lauren, which was actually delicious and seasoned very well. All in all, I will recommend that people try this place. Even though this restaurant is mostly sushi, I really enjoyed the options they had for the non-sushi lovers. read more

Norman's Japanese Grill - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Quick heads-up on reservations: Resy shows limited time slots (mostly early or late), so I'd recommend planning ahead or giving them a call. We went at 4:45pm on a Sunday and the place filled up fast. Valet parking is also available, which makes things easy. This spot is intriguing right off the bat with its Japan-meets-Texas concept. The design reflects that blend really well--casual but elevated. They mention "business casual," though it's not strictly enforced. The open kitchen adds great energy to the space and makes the whole experience feel lively without being overwhelming. Service from the servers was excellent overall. Our main server, Angel, was fantastic--friendly, attentive, and genuinely invested in us having a great meal. Her recommendations were spot-on, and she brought us the sea bream nigiri, which ended up being delicious. The only hiccup service-wise was with bussing. A few times, as soon as we finished the last bite, bussers tried to take plates (and sauces!) before we were truly done. Minor, but noticeable--especially when you still want the sauce. As for the food, it really didn't miss. Some dishes stood out more than others, though. The madai snapper nigiri was insanely good--we immediately ordered another round. One off-menu special, called the Monster, didn't quite land for us. It tried to elevate an existing nigiri but ended up doing a bit too much. Overall, Norman's delivers confident flavors, solid execution, and a space that feels welcoming yet elevated. It's energetic but still quiet enough for easy conversation, which I always appreciate. Definitely worth checking out. read more

Norman's Japanese Grill is such a great new addition to Dallas. I've been wanting to try it and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I'll definitely be back, already planning my next visit. We started with the edamame hummus, which was different in the best way, and the fried chicken was so good. We also did a couple types of sashimi and everything was super fresh. The udon noodle carbonara completely stole the show. It's definitely rich, but honestly worth it. One of those dishes you keep thinking about after you leave. I had a Ketel One martini with extra blue cheese olives and it was perfect. Service was amazing, Maddy took great care of us and made everything feel easy and relaxed. We sat on the patio and even though it was 34 degrees outside, you would never know. It's fully enclosed and heated, and even the cushions were warm which I thought was such a nice touch. Overall just a really great experience. This is 100% going to be a regular spot for me. read more

Norman's Japanese Grill - Edamame Hummus - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

See all

Rating: 3/5 Overall, disappointed. Not sure what the hype is and overpriced. Made a reservation one month in advance with very limited slots to choose - our reservation was at 4:30pm on a Sunday. 2 stars for its service and the atmosphere and the concept. I'll rate and explain one by one based on what we've ordered - we ordered 6 things + a cocktail (didn't take picture) in total (Rating: 1 Worst to 5 Best) 1. Otoro sushi - 2.5 stars Looked fancy but the i did not enjoy the flavor. I didn't get the taste of tuna but all the other flavors. I got a bite of something slight crunchy not sure what that is. Whatever's on top completely overwhelmed the entire nigiri. 2. Oh Godzilla - 4 stars (-1 cuz of the price) Spoiler alert: this is only one that I actually like. It came with a really cure Norman cowboy style instruction on how to consume the handroll. The uni and caviar were super flavorful that complements the tatare really well. However, $14 for one is so expensive for its size and price! I'd love to order 1 more so my bf and I could each have our own. But $14 is really a big stretch. 3. Duck & Kurabota Pork Meatball - 1 star Overcooked and overgrilled. That's all I have to say. The quality felt like the meatball I'd get from low quality Mediterranean place. 4. Carbornara Udon - 0.5 star MAJOR DISAPPOINTED! I came here because of this dish. This dish concluded how I felt about the food quality. The carbornara udon was ABNORMALLY salty. I never had such salty carbornara, let alone a carbornara udon. I asked my bf if he could taste how salty it was, and he said it was probably the cheese. I tried taking one noodle at a time so to separate with the sauce. It didn't help :(. I had amazing carbornara udon before in LA, and this is absolutely not what I expected. It really ruined my meal :( 5. Beef Caparccio - 3.5 star My second favorite after the O Godzilla handroll. The wagyu was very tender and tasty. The papaya to me was a little unnecessary but it was a nice add on. No strong critique here. 6. Corn and Miso Ravioli - 3 star Recommended by one of the servers. I love the sauce. I really savored the sauce. The ravioli itself was shaped like a siu mai which I thought it was pretty cute, but the taste of the stuffing did not make so much sense. Corn on top but miso in the bottom. I got a nice sense of sweet corn in my first bite and the I got to the bottom, the saltiness of the miso hits a little too hard. I had to use so much sauce just to cover the saltiness. I'd rather they mix the corn and miso flavor together than separating into two different flavors. Bill total (including cocktail $21, excluding tips): ~$190 I am not trying to be harsh at all with the reviews, but I am here to give honest reviews and express my genuine disappointment. The restaurant was indeed very crowded and popular. Personally, I would not come back again. read more

See all

This place gets pretty busy, for a guaranteed spot, make sure to book a reservation. We came in on a Saturday and got seated after waiting around 20 minutes. The parking situation is tight but they have a free valet service. Food here is good but pricey. I enjoyed the udon, it was creamy and smooth. The tuna was fantastic as well. I would recommend people to try this place and I would come back again. read more

Norman's Japanese Grill - Blue fin toro - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

See all

First off, I love the Duro hospitality group!!! Norman's was no exception as the interior was fun and thoughtfully designed. I would point out that this is definitely more of an Asian Fusion over a Japanese restaurant but I don't think Dallas cares about that? Lol. I still ordered the gochujang chicken and hamachi with tom kha sauce. I still ordered the hand roll that was part DIY with a cute cowboy telling me how to eat it. Overall, the food was tasty. Service-wise, our waitress was very attentive and extremely professional. The server seemed in a rush and impatient. The food came out reasonably quick, but they seemed to have forgotten one dish we ordered which was the cold smoked hamachi. I'm glad we didn't cancel the order because that was probably the overall favor dish. read more

See all

Duro does it again! I should start by saying Sister is one of my favorite restaurants in Dallas, so I was coming in with expectations! They were met, Norman's was fun, playful and more of an experience than I was expecting. The staff all worked so well together, we had Hannah and Julia who were both great! I was here for a date but there were tons of groups as well. They have an ample outdoor space which will be great on a nice night! We ordered a pretty large array of food and were impressed with it all. The hand rolls were about 2 bites per hand roll and my husband and I shared 4. I think we liked the tempura and lobster best. The dumplings were really good, probably my favorite of the night! My husband devoured the carbonara and we both really loved the bluefin otoro. We also had a cobbler, not sure it's on the menu but it tasted so homemade and was definitely the icing on the cake! read more

See all

Godzilla handroll, Lobster Handroll, Hamachi handroll, Edamame hummus, Udon carbonara, Bluefin otoro crudo, Duck and pork meatball skewers Okay I will be fully honest--my expectations for this place were sky high and maybe that was the problem. I have been such a huge fan of the Duro group and every single one of their restaurants in DFW, and was so beyond thrilled to hear about Norman's and hear for months the hype surrounding it from all my friends who have visited. We planned a large group dinner here on a weekday night, about 12 or so of us. They seemed quite overwhelmed with us--the food took over an hour after the last of our group was seated to start coming out. One of my friends was so hungry waiting that he started eating the soy sauce! Then they kept getting our dishes mixed up and we had to hunt down our two adjacent tables to find what we ordered. The handrolls they do this fun style where you wrap it yourself, which is cool but it doesnt mix the fillings obviously, so theres this awkward chunk of rice at the bottom. The fish in the handrolls was great though. The edamame hummus is excellent! The brown stuff in the middle was a touch too sweet but this was such a great dish. Bluefin otoro crudo was solid, duck and pork meatball skewers pretty good. Udon carbonara was the thing I was most excited for--it was all over social media, and my friends raved about it. And it was super...just okay. The udon was weak and soggy, the bacon super dry, and the entire dish just much too salty. I left this place very confused and disappointed. The service and quality of food were nowhere near the standards I have been used to with other Duro group restaurants. I wonder if this place may simply not be suited for large groups? Not sure if that had a significant impact on the quality of the food as well read more

See all

Everything about Norman's is legit. From the service to the food to the ambiance, all spot on. I feel like I took a trip to Japan whilst in my cowboy boots. The drinks were phenomenal and I gotta give a shout out to Linda! She brought it all together and made the experience an 11/10. Can't wait to come back! read more

Norman's has been a go to since they opened! The service and ambiance is always on point from the moment you walk in to when you leave. We started out with the shrimp tempura and miso cod hand rolls, excellent flavor! For small plates we did the edamame hummus which had good flavor and paired well with the crisps. I probably wouldn't order it again though. We also got the Korean fried chicken which is always a must. We did the corn and miso raviolis and it is always a hit. The way the corn and miso pairs with the ravioli is nice. For crudo we did the tuna akami poke and bluefin otoro. Both pieces were very fresh and the ponzu sauce on them tasted amazing. I always look forward to going back and trying new things. This place never misses! read more

See all

Favorite items: shrimp and langostino dumplings and edamame hummus. The vibe of the restaurant is moody, but inviting- lots of detail has gone into the decor of the restaurant including designs in the hexagonal tiles on the walls, the story on the menu, and the matches or wooden statute on the table. Our server was really great and friendly; he gave us some great food recommendations and checked on us frequently. The reason for the missing star is price to quality of the items ordered. Each "hand roll" only came with one piece of sushi, that you then "rolled" yourself by grabbing a separate seaweed wrapper and using that to pick up the piece of sushi. The price is not for a whole roll, but an individual bite. Furthermore, the sushi only comes in 2-3 pieces. Normally, I accept the higher prices of items and call it the "Dallas tax", but the prices here seemed to be next level. I will also admit, I did not know anything about this restaurant before arriving (my husband made the reservations for our anniversary), so I didn't do any research. We did attempt to try the meatballs (recommended to us by the server), but he forgot to input them, and they did not make their way to our table which ended up being a positive! We were done by the time they would have come out. The only reservation available was at 9pm on a Thursday; the restaurant closes at 10pm. We were able to be seated about 10 minutes before 9 (we got there early just in case we could get in early). At about 9:30-9:40, a lot of the servers were pretty obviously cleaning the restaurant and starting to group up and talk to each other or say goodbye from across different places. It felt like we had overstayed our welcome, and we did not leave after 10. Not pictured: Bluefin Otoro (Crudo), FATTY BLUEFIN TUNA - OTORO (Sushi), YELLOWTAIL HAMACHI - BURI (Sushi), Bluefin Tuna (Sushi) read more

See all

Everything was outstanding. The menu had a lot of unique, interesting dishes -- none of which initially sounded appealing to me -- but I was so pleasantly surprised. The udon carbonara and the Romano beans were my favorites. The gem lettuce salad with the ginger dressing was delicious too. Our waitress was super nice and attentive. Great vibes, great food. Definitely a must-try while in Dallas. read more

See all

Highly recommend. The staff is fabulous and the food is even better. 12 out of 10. Cocktails hit and the energy is infectious.

What started as a free evening on a work trip turned into an unforgettable dining experience--one I'll be talking about for weeks. Norman's Japanese Grill had been on my radar for its intriguing Texas-Japan fusion concept, and the rumors were true: it's hard to get a seat at the bar. Once inside, the space feels distinctly Japanese yet unapologetically Texan--like Tokyo met Dallas and decided to throw a party. Every guest seemed genuinely happy to be there, and that energy set the tone for the whole night. My server, Linda, was an absolute pro. With grace, confidence, and spot-on instincts, she guided me through the menu. At her urging, I started with the Godzilla and Miso Cod hand rolls--each one a flavor bomb wrapped in the perfect balance of crunch and warmth. They were the standout stars of the meal; next time, I might just order every hand roll on the menu. From there, we moved to sashimi and then the unexpected addition: the Carbonara. It's the one dish not from Japan or Texas, but honestly? Who cares. It was delicious. But the highlight of the night--what truly made the experience memorable--was my interaction with sushi chef Palamino. Formerly a classically trained Italian and French chef, he's now fully devoted to sushi, bringing a lifetime of technique and imagination to the bar. He shared stories about his 85-year-old mentor, offered surprising bites, and embodied a spirit of unreasonable hospitality. Engaging, curious, generous--he transformed a simple solo dinner into a culinary event. Executive chef Mida and her team deserve the highest credit. When I asked if they were aiming for something specific, they simply smiled and said, "Make good food for happy people!" Mission accomplished, my friends. Norman's is the kind of place that turns an open night on a work trip into a memory. I'll be back on my next visit to Dallas--hopefully grabbing that elusive bar seat again. read more

See all

This place is the definition of go there for the vibes. All the decor, menus, the sunken bar, really fun. The food...is good. But extremely pricey & small portions. The hand rolls are good & I liked the fried chicken dish. The hamachi crudo was overpowered by the coconut flavor. The service is excellent. Free valet parking available. read more

See all

service is hit or miss but the dishes are A1. host was slow and took 5min+ to even get off of a phone call, after acknowledging us we waited in the bar for our table and the bartender was super sweet and gave great insight on the house cocktails in the meantime. drinks paired amazingly with the dishes. our service after being seated was subpar. the food however made the experience. the carbonara was silky, buttery, and i adored the addition of pork belly. the miso ravioli was sweet and creamy and fits into Norman's storyline. read more

Norman's Japanese Grill - small plate - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

See all

Walked in and sat at the bar! Standard Dining was already full and lively so, I knew this was going to be a great experience. Gabe and Antonio were AMAZING!! I can wholeheartedly say the service was genuine and great! I went with the Let Us Choose(there is a Japanese name for it but I forgot ) Antonio picked a REALLY good variety for me. I will definitely be coming back to try other dishes. read more

See all

It's a tad on the pricey side but pretty dang delicious. Service was excellent and the food and atmosphere was very desirable. Inside a cool building that looks like a New England seafood place the decor here is very welcoming. Everything I ate was creative and super delicious. Definitely recommend anyone to at least give it a try. read more

See all

Well, we finally got to experience Norman's, and it was worth the wait. We arrived about 5 minutes before our 8 pm reservation, and we were seated immediately. The place was hoppin' and LOUD -- fun vibes, but not a place to bring your hard-of-hearing elder relatives. The decor is fun, whimsical, and so *different* from anything else you see in Dallas (thanks to the Texas-meets-Japan theme). It's really refreshing. The menu, in my opinion, is more Asian fusion than it is Texas-meets-Japan. The carbonara, for example, is made with udon noodles. There's a cowboy ribeye served with uni butter. You get the idea. I saw another reviewer complaining about the restaurant's inability to accommodate her shellfish allergy, so I think it's important to note that I also have a shellfish allergy, and they were happy to accommodate me and did so very well. HIT dishes: - Edamame hummus: Ridiculously better than any iteration you've ever had of this. Comes with a spicy plum chutney in the middle, but even the hummus itself is divine. Only complaint is that it needed to be served with more than 6 chips for 4 people. The portion size of the hummus itself is generous (which we appreciated). - Hand rolls: Most of them had shellfish, but I loved the miso cod, which was rich and decadent (brown butter is among the ingredients). These aren't traditional, purist hand rolls, but they're impressive. Everyone who was able to try it loved the Oh Godzilla (bluefin tartare + uni + caviar). - Tempura veggies: Wowwww do NOT sleep on these. Truly the best tempura veggies I've ever had. That tempura batter is perfection, and the veggies were fresh and interesting (squash!). - Corn miso ravioli: Utter decadence, and such unique flavor. This one had our eyes rolling back in our heads. Many declared it their favorite dish of the evening. - Udon carbonara: A really solid carbonara with the twist of being served on udon noodles. Those bacon bits are divine but slippery and hard to catch if you're eating this udon with chopsticks. No complaints, but I've also never met a carbonara I didn't like. - Japanese cheesecake: Phenomenal, frankly. It was buried among toppings that all went together flawlessly. Not too sweet, not too heavy, rich yet nuanced. - Ube ice cream: Served with cherries. Light and delicious. Very clearly a fresh ube flavor made from the plant itself, not a syrup. MISS dishes: - Otoro tuna sashimi with foie gras: The slices of sashimi weren't fully cut, and our knives were woefully inadequate (?!) in our attempts to cut them apart at the base so that we each could have a slice. This led to a jumbled, squashed mess of sashimi and the (freeze-dried) foie gras being scattered. Flavors were good... - Cowboy ribeye with uni butter: This one is my fault because we requested the uni butter on the side since I can't eat uni. Unfortunately, this meant that the butter came in a side dish, shaved and cold -- so cold that it was slow to melt when applied to the steak -- and we missed out on the tableside searing of the butter. It would have been nice if they had instead served me a portion of the (pre-sliced and easily divided) ribeye and its accompaniments, and brought the rest of it with the uni butter and the full tableside searing experience. I just hate feeling like my shellfish allergy is decreasing the quality of everyone else's experience. DRINKS: - I started with the sesame-washed Kikaijima Manhattan. It tasted like drinking straight sesame oil. I rarely send anything back, but this truly couldn't even be suffered through (and everyone else at the table, after each taking a sip, wholeheartedly agreed). - Switched to the Crazy 88, a mezcal margarita with some sort of wasabi hint. Frankly, I love mezcal and love wasabi, but this wasn't my jam either. It was at least drinkable. It's served with a little side dish of wasabi peas. - For the ribeye course, I got a glass of the cab franc. It was flat and boring and disappointing. I noticed she poured it from the bottom of an open bottle that might have been open a tad too long? It's just hard to fathom exactly how their very small selection of wines by the glass could include such a miss. - The Snowblood Spritz (sampled from a friend) is delicious and refreshing but a tad on the sweeter side. - The Black Rain (sampled from a friend) is a really strong entry into the espresso "martini" game, in an Old Fashioned style. It was served with a chocolate-glazed espresso bean and instructions to eat the bean halfway through the drink. Love that. TL;DR: A fun, vibey spot with numerous incredibly tasty and unique dishes. Definitely worth checking out. Cocktails are hit-or-miss, as is (seemingly?) the wine by the glass. Sashimi wasn't properly sliced. Attention to food allergies is generally excellent, although some details of service here could be refined (give my friends their tableside uni butter searing!). We still had a great experience overall thanks to phenomenal service. Duro does it again. read more

Norman's Japanese Grill - Wine list - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This is the first time I've been to a higher end dining spot and had them unable and unwilling to accommodate food allergies. I mentioned I have a severe shellfish allergy, and initially our server said she would not be able to accommodate me. Then, she said the chef would be able to change gloves (which shouldn't this just be a common practice?) and boil my pasta in different water. Then, when serving the pasta although she came with two separate tongs, she used the same tongs for both me and my friend's dishes with her rationale being "we both got the same dish." Yes we did, but the point is that I have a severe shellfish allergy and requested there be prevention of cross contamination. Needless to say, I had an allergic reaction after dining here. If you have food allergies, this is not a spot that will care for you. The inside is cute, though! read more

Norman's Japanese Grill - Madai, akami, and yellowtail nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

See all

OBSESSED with this place! We used to be big fans of the restaurant that was here before and we are so glad that this is in its place. The food was so flavorful and gave us some new things to try! The service was quick with no wait with our reservation which made me so happy. I'm also OBSESSED with the decor so I'll be back! Thank you for such an incredible experience read more

Norman's Japanese Grill - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

See all

WOW. just WOW. Norman's Japanese Grill is a fantastic new addition to Dallas. The menu is incredibly unique (which is hard to find these days), and the ambience is great. We walked in without a reservation and were seated immediately at the sushi bar which my favorite spot, especially since you can watch everything being made. Every dish was beautifully presented and clearly made with so much care. Our surprise favorite was the corn and miso ravioli, it was so good. The hand rolls were amazing too. Shoutout to our server Connie, who was wonderful and gave great recommendations. Can't wait to go back and I highly recommend! read more

See all