Maki & Ramen team to open Maki Nori

The team behind Maki & Ramen is set to open Maki Nori in Soho this April, a new handroll-led concept. 

Opening on Old Compton Street on 3 April, the 60-cover restaurant is a model built around made-to-order sushi and an experience-led approach tailored to London’s fast-paced dining scene.

The ownres say Maki Nori has been developed to offer a "focused, high-quality handroll experience" without the formality or price point often associated with premium sushi.

At the centre of the concept is its '15-second roll' proposition, with sushi chefs slicing, rolling and presenting handrolls to order in seconds, ensuring each one is served and eaten at its freshest. 

A 20-seat sushi counter will act as the core of the setting, giving guests a direct view of the chefs at work, while the wider restaurant will also feature tableside service elements, including a roaming sushi cart. 

Rooted in discipline

"My approach to Japanese food has always been rooted in discipline, precision and respect for ingredients, values that were shaped early in my career and deepened during my training in Tokyo," says Teddy Lee, founder of Maki & Ramen and Maki Nori. "With Maki Nori, we wanted to create a concept that puts those principles into a format that feels focused, energetic and accessible: premium seafood, handrolls made to order, and an experience that lets guests see the craft up close. While Maki & Ramen introduced our broader take on Japanese comfort food, Maki Nori is much more specific in its focus, built around freshness, speed and the theatre of handroll dining in the heart of Soho."

Seafood is sourced from fisheries including scallops from Hikido in Japan, sea urchin from Japan, bluefin tuna from Spain and salmon from Scotland.

The team will also dry-age fish on site, with a dedicated dry-age fridge positioned at the entrance to the restaurant. 

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