Hana
8116 Hampson St, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
Uptown 4: Riverbend, Carrollton & Broadmoor
Backstory
Hana opened in 1988, when you could count the number of sushi bars in New Orleans on the fingers of one hand. It has been steady state ever since, following the trends (like the current one toward immense rolls with too many ingredients) as it went.
Dining Room
The restaurant lives in a converted cottage with high ceilings, which add spaciousness to a not-very-large restaurant. They’ve decorated it fancifully and colorfully.
Why It's Essential
Hana's longevity and location--in the restaurant row anchored by the Camellia Grill--brings it an unusually loyal cadre of regular customers, many of them from the nearby universities. Being a known customer here confers even more benefits than usual. Walk in from nowhere, and you'll find a pretty good sushi bar, but nothing spectacular. But if your face is familiar, the chefs start letting you in on all sorts of unusual specialties. (You can also get that if you're a friendly, inquisitive type.) The quality is above average, the price below average.
Why It's Good
They are capable of building remarkable works of sushi and sashimi part here. Ask and receive. But they're also caught in the same current vogues of using too much mayonnaise and snow crab salad in too many dishes. The cooked side of the menu also ranges from the standard to the remarkable. With a little notice, they'll build a kaiseki menu that will remain in your mind a long time for its beauty and deliciousness.
Most Interesting Dishes
»Sushi and sashimi.<br /> Shu-mai (steamed dumplings).<br /> Miso soup.<br /> »Seafood soup.<br /> Seaweed salad.<br /> Sunomono salad.<br /> »Tuna tataki.<br /> »Tuna poke (Hawaiian-style tuna tartare).<br /> Japanese ceviche.<br /> »Irori (skewers of various meats and seafoods, grilled at the table).<br /> »Hana bento (a dinner of sushi and sashimi with many side vegetables).
Deficiencies
The sushi always seems a touch too warm for my taste, but it's not a serious issue.
For Best Results
Become a regular, or ask a lot of questions. If you don't see it, ask for it. Don't hesitate to request the unusual or ambitious dish.
Bonus Ratings
1
Attitude
1
Hipness
1
Local Color
1
Service
1
Value