on a roll

Houston sushi stars open new hand roll restaurant with speakeasy-style bar in West U

Houston’s newest hand roll restaurant has opened its doors. Norigami is now open for dinner daily with a speakeasy-style bar next door.

Started as a pop-up at Hidden Omakase, Norigami is the latest concept from Tuan and Thy Tran. Located in West University Place (2715 Bissonnet St.), it joins both Hidden Omakase near the Galleria and Sushi by Hidden in Rice Village in the Trans' portfolio. As at Sushi by Hidden, chef Jimmy Kieu leads the kitchen.

While both of their first two restaurants are tasting menus, Norigami is an a la carte experience where diners may order from a menu of hand rolls and shareable plates. Hand rolls are available individually or in three, four, or five roll sets.

The restaurant’s hand roll choices include creations such as yellowtail with cucumber and agua chile, spicy salmon with avocado and jicama, and blue crab with yuzu mayo and fried leeks. Diners may also splurge on rolls made with A5 wagyu, toro and caviar, or the signature Menage Foie Gras — a $26 hand roll with uni, toro, wagyu, foie gras, and caviar that’s adorned with edible gold.

Small plates options include crudos made with yellowtail, bluefin tuna, or salmon. The Steak & Eggs is a variation on beef tartare with pickled red onions, mustard, quail egg, and caviar.

Similar in style to other hand roll restaurants such as Hando and Handies Douzo, Norigami’s seating consists of a 24-seat, U-shaped counter. Design details include origami cranes, colorful LED lighting, and a speakeasy-style entrance.

Speaking of speakeasies, Norigami also includes Hidden Bar, a companion cocktail lounge that also serves as a waiting area. Its design features more origami cranes and an Ace of Spades champagne wall. Bartender Hao Ma (Bludorn, Wooster’s Garden) has created Hidden Bar’s cocktail menu.

“We are excited to bring the Norigami concept to a permanent location in Houston,” Kieu said in a statement. “After doing pop-ups for a while, now more Houstonians will be able to experience what we have to offer.”

Photo by Michael Anthony

Find hand rolls, crudos, and other bites at Norigami.

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Stay trill, owls

Bun B serves up smash hit smash burgers at Houston's Rice University

Photo by Quit Nguyen

Bun B is bringing Trill Burgers to Rice University.

Faculty, students, and staff at Rice University will have a fresh new dining option when classes resume for the fall semester. Trill Burgers will open its fourth Houston-area location on campus beginning Monday, August 17.

Located at the Rice Memorial Center, the new Trill Burgers will serve the restaurant’s signature smash burgers, which are available in either beef or vegan versions. That starts with the OG Trill Burger, made with two smashed beef patties, pickles, caramelized onions, Trill Sauce, and American cheese on a Martin’s potato roll. A vegan version uses plant-based smashed patties, vegan sauce, and vegan cheese. Burgers will be sold individually or as a combo with fries and a drink. Students will be able to use their campus dining dollars (Tetra) to purchase their meals.

Bun B, a Houston hip-hop legend and co-founder of Trill Burgers, has long had ties to Rice University. In 2011, 2013, and 2015, he served as a distinguished lecturer, co-teaching Religion and Hip-Hop Culture with Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Distinguished Professor of the Humanities.

“This is truly full circle for me,” Bun B said in a statement. “To bring this brand to Rice University where I once taught is a major moment for Trill Burgers and for myself.”

In addition to Trill Burgers, Rice is also home to locations of breakfast favorite Dandelion Cafe and salad and sandwich concept Local Foods Market.

“We are excited to build upon this long-standing relationship while giving the Rice community an authentic taste of Houston,” Beth Leaver, Rice’s assistant vice president of housing, dining, and hospitality, added. “Trill Burgers brings a distinctive and celebrated part of Houston’s culinary culture to the Rice campus. I am often asked about adding a great burger option, and this partnership fills an important gap in our dining portfolio.”

While the restaurant is open to the general public, its proximity to the original Trill Burgers location (3607 S. Shepherd Dr.) means it will likely appeal primarily to people who are already on campus. Initially, the restaurant will be open from 11 am-5 pm.

Opening at Rice comes at a time of continued growth for Trill Burgers. In December, the restaurant opened in Missouri City. It is expected to open a new location at Westheimer and Hillcroft (7616 Westheimer Rd.) as soon as this month.

burgers rice university openings bun b trill burgers