Get Your Roll On: Where To Satisfy Your Handroll Craving in DFW

Forget sushi rolls or nigiri. Handrolls are having a moment. Like a burrito-meets-taco mashup with seaweed swagger, these crisp, flavor-packed bites deliver freshness without the fuss.

Trendy handroll bars are giving them main character energy, spotlighting quality over quantity with curated sets and seasonal specials. With their grab-and-go appeal and camera-ready aesthetic, it’s no wonder they’re having a moment. They’re snackable, shareable and low-key addictive, like the sushi world’s answer to street tacos. Here are some favorite spots to get your roll on.

Nori Handroll Bar

2814 Elm St.Tucked in the heart of Deep Ellum, Nori is a 30-seat sushi counter that strikes a rare balance: intimate enough to chat with the chefs about the day’s flown-in catch, vibey enough to match the neighborhood’s energy (read: loud). The fish is pristine, sure, but they claim the real secret is the seaweed. It’s so fresh it crunches, delivering that ultimate ASMR bite that makes a handroll hit different.

Their cheeky set menus – “I Could Eat,” “Hungry,” “Starving,” “Hangry” and “Veggie” – offer three to six handrolls for $20 to $49. The house-marinated red crab is a crowd favorite, but the torched version takes it next-level: creamy, spicy avocado and crab, lightly blowtorched before your eyes like a tableside magic trick. Pro tip: Ask for real wasabi for dipping. It’s briny, chopped, pickled and packs a flavorful punch that puts the green paste to shame.

Otaru Sushi and Handroll Bar

408 W. Eighth St. The big U-shaped bar at this sleek spot in the Bishop Arts District has a daily board of nigiri specials that you may just want to order from. But the handrolls are a solid option as well. This cozy space has turned into a little neighborhood favorite with great cocktails as well. Otaru is a sister concept to Kome on Walnut Hill Lane, which also offers handrolls (keep reading).

Heian Handroll Sushi Bar

2960 Eldorado Parkway, McKinneyTucked away in a strip mall in the suburbs, this cozy handroll bar centers on a U-shaped chef’s counter, with just enough space for a handful (pun intended) of tables. Standouts include the Kanpachi (amberjack) topped with yuzu and crispy garlic chips, melt-in-your-mouth chutoro (fatty tuna) and the indulgent Kaisen Creamy, a decadent, slightly chaotic mix of scallops, shrimp, broccoli and onion that’s so rich you may actually need to eat it with a spoon (guilty). The Á  la carte handroll menu is split between cooked and raw selections, with set options of three, four, or five rolls ranging from $18 to $29.

Komé Sushi and Handroll Bar

8041 Walnut Hill LaneKeith Lee’s proclaimed favorite sushi restaurant is hidden in the middle of an outdoor mall. Kome is not the place you go when you’re craving a sun-drenched patio, but a sleek and modern hideaway to escape the chaos of the outside world. Guests mark their choices on a paper order form, a nostalgic nod to sushi’s pre-digital days. Handroll sets range from three rolls for $16 ($15 for vegetarian) to six rolls for $36. The salmon, yellowtail (a standout daily special), and toro – more maki-shaped than your typical handroll – are impressively fresh, easily rivaling the best in town. Insider tip: don’t miss the crab uni butter nigiri, lightly torched to perfection, or really anything on the special board, like miso black cod or sawara (Japanese Spanish mackrel) with black garlic. Chef’s kiss.