A new modern Japanese concept from TAO Group Hospitality just landed in NYC’s Lower East Side, and they’re meshing tacos and hand rolls into one incredibly delicious bite.
Dubbed Sake No Hana, the elevated dining destination offers a unique culinary experience with a menu that’s rooted in Japanese cuisine but paired with playful Western techniques and tastes.
That’s to say on the menu you’ll find a vast selection of Temaki, or the classic sushi hand roll in its most basic form.
However, nothing about these hand rolls are basic.
Instead, the roll’s crispy nori outer layer is formed in the shape of a taco shell. So, essentially, it’s the best of both worlds!
These taco hand rolls are filled with ingredients such as salmon ikura (red caviar) with soy, spicy tuna with togarashi (a common Japanese spice mixture), and toro with wasabi soy and crispy scallions.
Beyond the rolls the menu also offers endless other dishes to choose from. Chili crunch edamame and shishito peppers are among snack options, small plates include the likes of spicy tuna tartare and hamachi and salmon poke, large plates consist of dishes like prawn and asparagus tempura and crispy soft shell crab, and tons of nigiri options and sushi rolls also make up the menu.
And, to be honest, that’s not even half of the menu.
The beverage program, led by an all female team, also deserves a massive shoutout as the menu consists of whimsical cocktails, zero-proof sips inspired by Japanese fashion and streetwear, 20 different types of sake, and a “Women in Power” tasting flight.
Standout cocktails include Liquid Swords a savory old-fashion-esqe cocktail filtered with Japanese coral, Kusama Full Happiness infused with Szechuan peppercorn, Harajuku Icon served in a gold ceramic Buddha, and Fxxing Rabbits with 19 altos blanco, la gritona reposado, vanilla, matcha, and mint.
And the dining experience all goes down in a dramatic, festive space that makes you feel like you’ve left the LES and traveled straight to Japan! The space is buzzing with energy, making it the perfect spot for a first date, a lively birthday celebration, or anything in between!
You can learn more about Sake No Hana and make your reservation here.
🍣 Sake No Hana
📍 145 Bowery
⏰ Sunday-Thursday 6 p.m. – 11 p.m., Friday-Saturday 6 p.m. – 12 a.m.