Kazunori handroll bars (2012)
Chef Kazuhiro Hamamoto opened the first Kazunori in Los Angeles, a small counter serving sushi hand rolls made to order. The format spread to multiple California locations and became a template for fast, affordable Japanese dining.
Kazunori locations drew long lines and proved demand for the handroll format.
Handroll bars became a recognized restaurant category across California, with imitators in San Francisco, San Diego, and beyond.
Oii Handroll's name and format point to this same category. Its Mira Mesa location would join an established niche with several competitors already operating in San Diego.
