Modern-Style Temaki: The Hand Roll Trend Taking Over Big US Cities Lands in Rosemont

Over the past few years, a new way of serving temaki has been reshaping sushi counters in major North American cities. Gone is the tightly rolled cone you have to eat in two bites before the nori goes soft: enter the open hand roll, designed to be seen as much as it is eaten. At Aji, we've been watching this trend closely, and today we're launching our own version.

What is modern-style temaki

Traditional temaki is a tightly rolled cone of nori, filled with rice and fish, meant to be eaten right away while the sheet is still crispy. Modern-style temaki keeps that same crispy nori, but presents it open, like a pouch rather than a sealed cone. The filling is no longer hidden inside: it's piled on full display, with contrasting textures (crispy tempura bits, caviar, sauces) and often a more generous portion than a classic temaki.

The result is a dish built for the eye as much as the palate: each creation becomes a small composition, easier to share visually before it gets shared at the table.

A trend born in the United States

This open hand roll format was popularized by specialty restaurants in major US cities. Nami Nori, founded in New York, is the best known example: starting from a single location, the concept has since expanded to several states, carried by a simple, effective formula, open, colourful, generous temaki, served in a casual sushi bar setting. The format's success has inspired a wave of similar counters across several big cities in the country.

Modern-style temaki at Aji

At Aji Bar Sushi & Izakaya MTL, we wanted to offer our own take on this trend, not a copy, but the same spirit: nori that stays crispy, ingredients on full display, the chef's finishing touch on every creation. The Modern-Style Temaki lineup joins our menu of fresh sushi and izakaya sharing plates, at 929 St-Zotique Est, in Rosemont.

The five signature creations

Five versions make up the lineup, each on crispy nori, topped with tempura bits and a touch of caviar:

• Salmon, fresh and generous
• Spicy tuna tartare
• Crab, premium blend
• Yellowtail (hamachi), with jalapeño
• Scallop, premium, with caviar

Want to try them all? The 5-temaki combo for $45 lets you go through the full lineup in a single visit.

Why open instead of rolled

The open format isn't just about looks. Tightly rolled nori softens quickly against a moist filling; left open, it stays crispy longer, and the filling can be piled more generously without becoming hard to eat. It's also, simply, more appetizing: you see what you're eating before the first bite.

Modern-style temaki isn't a passing fad: it's a logical reinvention of a classic, one that puts freshness and the chef's hand front and centre. In Rosemont as in New York, the idea stays the same: less hiding, more enjoying.