F & F

We were skeptical about maki hand rolls, but Kazu Nori completely blew us away. The nori was thin and crispy, the rice perfectly subtle, and the fish—especially the toro—was outstanding. Incredible variety, great quality, and surprisingly reasonable prices ($20–$25 for 4–5 rolls). Easily our favorite food experience in LA.

Mark McGowan

It's an absolutely delicious hand roll spot, and you're not going to get better quality per dollar for sushi anywhere else in the city imo. The 4 in service is just because the service isn't mind blowing, but it's perfectly acceptable and you get your food quickly unless they're extremely busy. Great spot and hard recommend!

Catherine Cruz

You have to try! Great sushi! Very nice customer service and clean space. Because of the layout we couldn’t eat inside (we have a baby) so we take out and ate on our B&B. I got a say that I never saw in USA so much care on a delivery. They gave us everything we need, the food was impeccable and super beautiful, tasteful. They think about everything to you have a great experience even in home.

Kymberly B

My son and I really enjoyed our dinner here. The hand rolls come out fast. We love that the rice was hot and the fish was cold and the seaweed was crunchy. We wish we knew that you could trade out some of the set hand roll options prior to ordering. The restaurant doesn’t sit many people. But we were able to get seated fast.

+2

Gagik Virabyan (Gavi)

This place was very interesting! First of all, the food was fresh, delicious, and full of flavor. I really like the setup — quick in, eat, and out. The cost for the quality is surprisingly low, and it’s a no-tipping establishment, which I appreciate. Instead, there’s a flat 16% service fee added to the bill. Overall, a great experience and definitely recommended!

Tommy Park

Nice, clean, trendy spot right near Santa Monica boardwalk. Fresh hand rolls made to order on the spot right in front of you with seating similar to omakase format/bar style seating. You fill out your order on a piece of paper, marking what and how many of each you want. Can’t go wrong with their set options. Decent size hand rolls that come out just on time as you’re about to finish your roll. Can be a bit of a wait to get in but worth the wait and it’s usually short since it’s a fast style service

Ms May

This spot is all about high-quality, fresh ingredients, and you can taste the difference. The hand rolls are crafted right in front of you, ensuring every bite is perfectly fresh, with warm rice and melt-in-your-mouth fish. The simplicity of the menu allows them to focus on what they do best - and they absolutely nail it! The ambiance is casual but lively, with a bar-style seating that makes it a fun experience. The staff is friendly and efficient, which only enhances the overall experience.

+2

Jay AG

This place js my new favorite sushi spot. The rice is warm and fresh so soft it kind of melts away. The fish! No matter what fish it was! The fish would all just melt! I had Toro, Yellowtail, Salmon, Bay Scallop, Crab, Lobster, Albacore, and Eel! They were all equally delicious.

+6

Serena Young

This place went beyond my expectations. The concept is that they have to serve the roll to you within a few seconds of making it. So the nori is super crispy, the rice is beautifully warm, and the fish is cold and fresh. I love the concept of these rolls being super small and handheld. It makes the experience even more sensory. I loved exploring the interesting options and the fishes that I hadn’t heard of before. Honestly, there is no way to go wrong on the menu here. Loved every second of it.

Ariel A

So happy to have one in OTP now! We went the night before Thanksgiving and it was maybe a 30 minute wait? The server came out and said aloud “wow this is the longest line I’ve seen so far”… so that’s good? There seemed to be some logistical issues with seating but just opened recently so I think they’re still getting into the groove. Fish was great fresh and nori was crunchy as always. Parking is plentiful bc it’s a little off center of downtown proper. The customers approaching seem confused but for everyone wondering there are NO reservations. You just stand in line and you get seated as seats free up — no you do not put your name down, just stand in line. If it’s busy, you wait in line inside or out if too long. Once you get inside, you’re given a slip of paper and you choose your desired hand roll set (3,4,5+ rolls with options to add more/ al la carte etc), drinks, etc. When you’re seated, you hand it to the waiter and enjoy the experience :) There’s only 20 seats max, only bar seats w purse hooks. They serve sake, beer, teas (ice green tea is great matcha-y) and soft drinks. Pro tip - it’s all handheld food for the most part. Use the toilet prior and wash your hands with the “unscented soap” for best experience.

Mayi Barov

I love KazuNori in Santa Monica. It’s in a great location, and I enjoy their fresh hand rolls prepared right in front of you. The quality is always fresh, with great choices on the menu, and the staff are attentive. The restaurant is always clean, has a nice ambience, and also offers good sake.

Rachaphon Wangtepanukhor

A chic place serving mostly handroll. I recommend getting the 4 handrolls set and if that doesn’t fill you up, you can order more. If you are keen to try everything, you can always ask for less rice. Everything taste good, so order away.

+3

Dinh N

The service and kindness of the staff was very high. Fish rolls were enjoyable however I only ask that more higher quality sake to be available. 4.5 stars. Recommended spot to come chill with a couple friends. Big groups need not apply, there is only bar style seating.

+2

Xenia Khan

Atrocious service, but phenomenal food. I probably won’t go back specifically because my server was not only pretentious, but didn’t explain tip was already included in my bill total. He just said, "Anything you can give is appreciated". It wasn’t until after I left the restaurant that I noticed there was automatic gratuity included. Moreover, I just found the service and environment to be highly uncomfortable.

I had high expectations for Kazunori, but the experience was genuinely awful—and that was entirely due to the service. (Thanks Scott) From the very first words out of his mouth, Scott, the man who served us, was incredibly rude and condescending. It was our first time ordering, and instead of explaining the menu or being even remotely welcoming, he continuously made us feel stupid for asking basic questions. His tone was dismissive, disrespectful, and frankly entitled, as if we were inconveniencing him by being there. The breaking point was when we asked for a refill on a Coke. Scott bluntly said, “We don’t do refills,” without any explanation or courtesy. When we tried again—wording the request differently—suddenly it was fine and he brought another Coke. So apparently it wasn’t about policy, it was about him needing us to phrase things exactly the way he wanted. Completely unnecessary and uncomfortable. Great food means nothing when the service makes you feel unwelcome and talked down to. Dining out should not feel like walking on eggshells or being scolded for not knowing an unspoken script. Until Kazunori addresses staff behavior like this, I would absolutely not recommend this location—especially to first-time customers.