I’m no stranger to sushi, but after trying hand rolls for the first time at Handies Douzo, I surprised even myself with how quickly the dish became a favorite.
The restaurant feels like home, and not just because it’s literally in a house on White Oak Drive, but the bar seating, friendly servers and relaxed atmosphere make the space ideal for any day of the week.
The bar seating, which is shaped like a horse shoe, sits all the guests together. Currently, there are clear dividers to keep neighbors of different parties separated due to COVID-19. In the middle of the seating, servers work together to explain the menu, answer questions and serve the food.
Since the seating is so limited, reservations are definitely recommended.
The server that went over the menu with me said the best way to enjoy a variety of the hand rolls was to order the set of five, which included the BGB Sake, Negitoro, Kani, Spicy Tuna and Avocado.
The rolls came out one at a time. This gave me ample opportunity to enjoy each one without having to immediately jump to another.
BGB Sake is king salmon and was folded in with warm rice with a seaweed wrapped around it. The combination of the cold fish and warm rice was something I really enjoyed with every hand roll. The seaweed wrap gave it a salty crispy layer and wasn’t chewy at all.
My favorite thing about salmon is its lack of “fishiness.” In the roll it was soft with a hint of sweetness.
With the Negitoro there’s an option to add Bowfin Caviar, and I did. The Negitoro, which is tuna, had a rich flavor and a fatty texture. The caviar gave the roll what I’ll describe as a splash of ocean water. It wasn’t in-your-face fishy, which I liked. The texture was like little jelly beads.
The Kani, crab, is the first roll that come with a slice of cucumber wrapped with the meat and rice. The balance of crispy seaweed, warm rice, melt-in-your-mouth crab and crunchy cucumber was perfect.
Like the Negitoro, the Spicy Tuna features fatty tuna. This one I’d recommend to anyone trying sushi for the first time. The flavor is mild and fresh, and the spice gives it a kick.
The Avocado hand roll was fun. It came with avocado, cucumber, rice and cilantro. There was added seasoning and crunch in the roll that added to the layers of flavor and texture.
Each roll was different, but something that was consistent was that great balance of flavor, texture, and temperature in every roll.
Next I ordered the Kanpachi Crudo, which came with four pieces of Amberjack fish in Thai chili and sanbaizu sauce. Slices of cherry tomato and onion were placed over top. It smelled and tasted slightly fruity. The Amberjack is a very soft fish that is gummy to bite into. The combination of fruity with the fish was interesting.
As I was leaving the restaurant, the servers all said “See you tomorrow,” as they had done with all the leaving customers, but I couldn’t help thinking they just might.
Handies Douzo
Address: 3510 White Oak Dr.
Hours: 4-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Pricing: $10-$29
Kid-friendly: No
Alcohol: Yes
Healthy options: Yes
Star of the show: BGB Sake hand roll
