There are two things I admire: Creativity and craft. And at Sushi Nunu, both are on display.
You want traditional-style sushi? Check. You want interesting (and, this is important, delicious) rolls? Check. You want izakaya eats with great sake? Check.
"We just named it 'nunu' because it's easy to say — it doesn't have any meaning," says Sunmee Son, general manager and co-owner of Sushi Nunu, which opened in fall 2023. "But when we looked up the meaning of the word, it meant the god of the ocean, so it worked out."
And while the menu is filled with Japanese favorites like katsu, karaage and takoyaki, it's the seafood fare that's the star.
"We put a little garnish on each of the nigiri to accentuate the flavor and add more color," says Son as she brings a plate of sushi. "Each garnish is the best match." For example, on the salmon, there's ginger, and on the tuna, there is green onion.
The rolls are creative and delicious, especially the black spider roll, which is covered in squid flakes. Presentation-wise, the roll might need a similar accent on top, but the inky flakes were so delicious that we boxed up what we couldn't eat, took them home and ate them on rice the following day.
All the sushi we tried was delicious and done well — and price-wise, made Sushi Nunu competitive with much more expensive cohorts. No wonder the place was crowded on a weekday evening. The secret's out.