Once in a while you come across something that changes your food life forever. A Japanese chef girlfriend who now lives in California told me about these nori cups at Tsukiji Market. They are sold at a store that I walk by every time we do a Food Sake Tokyo tour, which is about 3-4 times a week. It is a store that we often stop by as they also sell the sushi erasers that are popular gifts. I was kicking myself for not noticing these before. These are perfect for bite-size sushi. Perfect for parties or for a fun night at home.
The version above are unseasoned, while these are flavored with salt. I prefer the salty ones.
Nori cups are circles of nori shaped into small cups like cupcake papers. Just add rice, or better yet, vinegared sushi rice, and top with sushi toppings.
The first time we tried these we were celebrating a special occasion at home and Shinji pulled out all of the stops. Topping options this night included: clockwise from top left: sujiko (soy sauce marinated salmon roe in the sac), mentaiko (salted and spicy cod roe), kombu, seafood salad, maguro (tuna), kazunoko (herring roe), tobiko (flying fish roe), tuna salad, salmon, tamagoyaki (omelet), crab, and shirasu (baby anchovies boiled in salt water).
Everyone makes their own as they like.
On this night we simply did salmon sashimi to celebrate the new saké cups we purchased.
There are a few shops selling the nori cups at Tsukiji Market. The easiest one to find is Orimatsu in the outer market. While here, be sure to also take a look at the erasers in designs like sushi, bento, and wagashi (Japanese confectionaries).
Chuo-ku, Tsukiji 4-9-15
3:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Followers of the Food Sake Tokyo blog have written to me to say that the nori cups can also be found at Tokyu Hands in the bento section as well as at Kappabashi.
Food Sake Tokyo 
Oh! I love, love, love these nori cups. I’d have bought heaps back to Sydney, had I spied them when in Japan. What a breeze for easy presentation, and it’s a bonus that they taste good too. Great find, Yukari!
Perfect with kids in the house as well! Can’t believe someone didn’t think of these years ago. Hope you are well! Cheers, Yukari
Finally made it to Tsukiji to purchase some nori cups, thank you for sharing such a novelty. It’s often challenging to find something different for omiyage, your depth of knowledge is so vast and you are so kind to share it with us… why hasn’t Bourdain found you yet!
Arigato! I was just at Tsukiji the other day and the shop owner mentioned that many people are coming buy to purchase these nori cups! He was talking of you! Enjoy!
Oh, wish I could buy these in the UK!
They look just perfect.
How can I get them here in California? I’m so wanting to get my hands on some!!!
Good question. I don’t think it’s sold there, yet.
I’m in Hawaii, I won love to get some for regular dinners
The shop owners said that when Hawaiians buy from them they buy 50 packs at a time. Very popular with Hawaiians. 🙂 Mahalo!
Aloha, would love to order some of these. Where would I find the online? I live on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Mahalo, and apologies for the late reply. I don’t believe they ship overseas. Hopefully you can travel to Japan someday. Lucky that you live on my favorite island, the Big Island! I hope to return someday.
Grateful for shharing this
The shop has moved. Let me try to ask them if they have the nori cups.