If you’ve been to the Nori Thai and Sushi Facebook page over the past few months, you might have seen a video of sushi chef Young Yo opening the Wonder Box.

The Wonder Box, a treasure trove of fresh fish from Japan, arrives at the restaurant on Friday afternoons. Chef Yo’s unveiling is a show. He opens the styrofoam box with gloved hands and pushes the ice away to reveal that week’s splendor. Sometimes it’s stone flounder. Other times, the box contains seabass or Japanese blackhead seabream.

The unboxing has become a Friday afternoon tradition. Every week, the restaurant announces the contents of the box on Facebook, but the preparation is left to Yi as he transforms the fish into sashimi and nigiri masterpieces. That day, the patrons are at his service.

The Wonder Box is part of Nori Thai and Sushi’s expanded bar. After four months of renovations, Nori’s owner Putu Arsana and his staff christened the restaurant’s new 600-square-foot bar in late June with a grand reopening and ribbon cutting.

It was a celebratory morning as customers lined up outside. Inside, chefs prepared rolls of sushi. Some sliced sides of tuna and salmon. Others scooped rice out of rice cookers.

The reopening was also a grand welcome party for Yo, who officially joined the Nori culinary team in April. Yo’s more than 30-year career includes a tenure at Nobu in Las Vegas.

Arsana initially met Yo in Atlanta. They kept in touch for years before Arsana finally convinced Yo to join Nori’s team in Birmingham.

While Birmingham is quite the change from Birmingham– it’s much quieter– Yo was ready to commit to a new role in a new city and he’s happy to be here.

“Unless you can keep your promises, don’t say yes!” said Yo, laughing.

Arsana says the team’s culinary goal this year was the elevate the quality of its sushi and sashimi program. The restaurant started working with a fish brokerage out of Atlanta where the team can order fish directly from Japan. The brokerage flies the fish into Atlanta overnight and drives it to Birmingham on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The crown jewel is the Wonder Box, shipped in fresh on Friday mornings.

“We never know what we’re going to get,” said Arsana. “It’s one hundred percent dependent on the fishmongers out of Japan. Whatever they’ve got, they put it in a box and ship it to us.”

The sashimi is the standout of the new program. Chef Yo crafts the flavorful cuts of fish into vibrant arrangements and helms the “Chef’s Choice” section of the menu where patrons can order up to seven types of sashimi.

For those who prefer to have fish with nori or rice, Nori has an extensive menu of nigiri and sushi, including more than types of 32 rolls.

“We don’t want to be just another sushi place. People who enjoy and appreciate a good, fresh fish. They know where to get it now,” said Arsana.

Headed to Nori Thai and Sushi? Here’s what to know.

What time can I order sashimi?

Nori Thai and Sushi opens at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays and noon on Saturdays. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sushi rolls are available on the special lunch menu, but ask to see the full menu to order the full selection of sashimi and sushi if you come to the restaurant during lunchtime. Dinner is served from 3 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Nori Thai and Sushi is closed on Mondays.

When can I order a sashimi and nigiri from the Wonder Box?

The Wonder Box is available on Fridays, typically by the afternoon. Customers can call the restaurant to find out what time the Wonder Box will be ready for the day. The Wonder Box typically sells out by 7 or 8 p.m.

What spirits can I pair with sashimi, nigiri, and sushi?

Nori Thai and Sushi has a full bar, including the Thai Basil Lemon Drop, the Lychee Martini, and the Tokoyo Sidecar crafted with a selection of Suntory whisky, Cointreau, and lemon juice.

What if I don’t eat sashimi, nigiri, or any other dish with raw fish?

Nori Thai and Sushi has several sushi selections prepared with cooked seafood, such as shrimp tempura. The restaurant also boasts an extensive selection of cooked dishes including dumplings, spring rolls, soups, and noodles, Thai and Indonesian dishes.