Hana Sushi Marks Grand Opening in Hampden, Serving Omakase

Hana Sushi staged its official grand opening in late February at 1103 W 36th St on The Avenue, occupying the former Souvlaki space and signaling a new Japanese dining option for Hampden. A photograph from the event is credited to Jane Godiner/Staff, and the business lists its address and phone as 1103 W 36th St, Baltimore MD 21211, (443) 869-2503.

The restaurant’s arrival followed a phased rollout: the team planned an opening on Saturday Jan. 10 that would be “by reservation only for the first 30 days,” and the Hana Instagram account announced a separate grand-opening party scheduled for Saturday 2/21 from 12pm-3pm that would be “open to walk ins and reservations.” Public notices and local roundups later described the grand opening as occurring in late February, with an “official grand opening on Saturday” noted in an image caption.

Owner-operator Tina Chen leads Hana; Chen also operates Yama Sushi in Ellicott City, which the new Hampden location is explicitly distinct from the Yama in Greenspring Tower Square. The Baltimore Sun headline highlighted involvement from the “Yama Sushi team” and flagged omakase as part of the new restaurant’s offering, positioning Hana as a modern Japanese sushi and yakitori spot with omakase service in Hampden.

Hana’s beverage program is being led by Jake Tarr, who worked on the opening team at Bunny’s Buckets & Bubbles and most recently served as bar manager at The Duchess, located across the street from Hana. A member of the team identified as Liang described the drinks menu as “robust,” noting a focus on traditional Japanese spirits such as sake and whisky. Liang also estimated that “most diners will land around $75 per person for ‘a good evening out’ — with plenty of room to go higher for a splurge or lower for a more casual meal.”

Hours and operations are listed on Hana’s site as 11 AM - 10 PM, Monday - Sunday, and the business says it will remain open through what Liang calls Hampden’s typical “3-5 p.m. lull.” The restaurant’s website frames its approach with the tagline “Authentic Craft, Spirited Taste” and an Our Story statement that reads in part, “Hana celebrates the beauty of imperfection, the elegance of the seasonal cycle, and the power of food to evoke deep-seated memories.”

Hana’s opening arrives amid a busy stretch of late-winter food and drink activity in Baltimore: Geno’s Steaks is scheduled to open a Power Plant Live! location on March 5, and the Baltimore Museum of Industry’s Liquid Courage tasting took place on Feb. 28. As a new omakase-capable sushi and sake bar on The Avenue, Hana adds a higher-end dinner option to Hampden’s commercial strip while operating daily hours and a beverage program designed to draw evening traffic to 1103 W 36th St.