I'm so glad I found Shema Sushi! I ordered the salmon avocado roll which was so fresh with a good balance of fish veggie and rice. The spicy tuna roll was actually quite spicy haha. So heads up about that. The chicken teriyaki was SO flavorful and the sesame seeds added another layer of flavor. It also came with salad side and soup. we also tried the beef yaki udon- the beef is actually bulgogi!!! A sweet marinated Korean style. Flavors were on point. Definitely coming back!!! read more

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Small place with quality food. Really enjoyed their blue fin tuna and kani and cucumber salad. Service was good. read more

Shema Sushi - Sushi regular blue fin tuna and spicy tuna roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

Shema you are amazing!!!! We have always just passed by wondering how it would be.. finally came here last night and can say it's hands down the best sushi in Rochester. Some of the freshest sushi I've ever had. The texture of the rice was perfect and flavors of the fresh fish were outstanding. Highly recommend the out of control roll. We got the Philadelphia roll, himachi maki mono and eel crunch roll, all SO great! We were in sushi heaven!!! The selection of rolls and how you can order them is so unique, unlike anything I've seen done in Rochester. This place is now my number go to for sushi.. totally in LoVe. Our waitress was beyond attentive and super friendly. Very clean place!! Really looking forward to going back to try their noodles bowls, combo boxes and of course more sushi! read more

Service was great. The food was good too. I don't think it tops "Keep it Rollin'" for me though. I like the flair they give sushi. This is much more authentic though, so if that's your thing, absolutely try this place. Very clean establishment and they also have a huge parking lot. read more

Shema Sushi - Yellowtail Roll, Pheonix Roll, and Tuna Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

Absolutely delicious! We went once pre-covid and really enjoyed the food and experience. I recently ordered takeout and was so impressed. If you want authentic sushi, you can't go wrong! I recommend all of the sushi included in the pictures (labeled on the lid in the first picture). read more

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If you're looking for creative rolls and fresh sushi, Shema has it down. This place gets great light and has a nice atmosphere for a sushi night out. The menu is extensive too. Beyond sushi, they offer noodle bowls, teriyaki, udon, katsu, and desserts. We usually start with edamame, which are warmly steamed and perfectly salted. I could munch on those forever. I always opt for something with salmon in it and then a spicy tuna roll. Dan's pick is sushi deluxe, which comes with a salad and miso soup. (I get to have the miso soup, my fave). Recently, I tried the sunset roll and will go for that again in the future. Their spicy tuna has good heat, one with bite rather than lingering. If you're going for sake, the Yuzu Shuwah was delicious. Reminiscent of Fresca soda with the right hint of sweetness. Thanks to our waitress' recommendation for that one! read more

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So far, my favorite sushi restaurant in Rochester. I tried three amigos and sweet salmon which were good. Salmon sashimi pieces were thin but average-sized. Their spicy chirashi is probably my favorite here. I've also tried beef yaki udon once but was not impressed. I have a feeling that their food besides sushi isn't very impressive. The servers and chefs have always been nice. read more

Shema sushi is a gem in terms of sushi spots in Rochester. This is due mostly in part to their amazing specials on offer. Additionally, we believe this to be the only sushi restaurant [that we have tried so far] in Rochester to serve blue fin tuna. And yes, there is a bit of controversy regarding the capture and consumption of blue fin, but ethics aside, it is perhaps one of the best pieces of sushi that we have tried in Rochester. You only get two pieces with an order, but I dare say that it is worth it. The fish is amazingly fatty and great even on its own. We also tried the Niagara roll which I believe to be one of the most creative rolls I've eaten thus far. This one is salmon, tuna, and snapper wrapped in pickled radish (instead of rice or seaweed) and topped with crab and three types of tobiko. It didn't hurt that the roll was amazing as well. In addition to these, we tried the bulgogi, nabeyaki udon, and the takoyaki. Everything here was great and fairly priced. Food was served quickly and on-time, everything tasted good and fresh, and the service was great. read more

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Third visit, and this place is still knocking my sushi socks off! By far the freshest, most innovative sushi in all of Rochester, but it doesn't stop there! There are a ton of fusion dishes, bibimbap bowls, ramen - the list goes on. My favorite is lunch options, especially the Chirashi plate. My last visit, however, was the visit of a lifetime. I have been hunting down BlueFin Tuna Belly for at least 10 years now, but this unicorn Tuna was nowhere to be found in Rochester. Viola - here it was on the menu! Fresh, beautifully sliced nigiri that was sweet, buttery, and just delicious, unlike anything I have tasted before. To top it off, chatting up the Server resulted in extra Toro pieces on my Chirashi plate as a wonderfully kind and respectful gesture to the fish and the consumer. You will not regret your first, second, or tenth visit - this place is for real. The experience is definitely worth the price of admission here, a real sushi gem! read more

Shema Sushi - BlueFin Tuna Chutoro (Toro) Belly - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

Oh my. FANTASTIC sushi. Truly high quality! I'm kind of a sushiholic and this place is really good, very much above average. The service was genuinely friendly, too. read more

Delicious Japanese food!! I've lived in Japan for two years and Seattle for ten, and this place hits all of the marks. I love the hand rolls, udon, and agedashi tofu. So lucky to have this gem in Rochester. read more

We grabbed some sushi at Shema for lunch, and it was worth the trip from the Port of Rochester. The restaurant itself was really comfortable but classy. They had some special off-menu features which was nice, and the lunch menu - while pricey ish for lunch - had SO MANY choices and each option came with tons of food. The fish was of good portion and as fresh as it gets. My only complaint was that their ginger dressing is rather boring, and they seem to have a ventilation problem that causes the fire alarm to go off, and consequentially the fire department to show up. I would return in a heartbeat. read more

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After some drinking at Swan Dive next door, we decided to check out Shema Sushi as my husband says he's passed by so many times and has always wanted to check it out. Upon walking in, it's truly an authentic Japanese dining atmosphere. Small & quaint. The sushi was hands down the BEST I've ever had, and I've had some exceptional sushi. The tuna and salmon was so fresh it just melted in my mouth. The texture like velvety butter. The had o-Toro as a special, something i have always wanted to try and it did not disappoint. I will tell all my friends to try Shema and without question my husband and I will be frequent patrons. Great job on striving to be the best sushi restaurant in Rochester!! read more

Terrible service. We waited for more than 40 minutes after ordered. When we asked the staff, she suddenly yelled that other table had waited for an hour already. Then she pointed a pen at us, and demanded us to LEAVE NOW. Very bad attitude. This is my second time there, and I recommended many friends to go. But I will never be there again. Very DISAPPOINTED!!!! read more

Such delicious sushi!! The servers were sweet and the fish was so fresh. My friend from Hawaii said it was the only place she gets sushi in rochester because it taste fresh like she used to get back home... thats enough to make me keep going back! read more

Plans for a night out on the town would probably be my deciding factor to choose Shema over another when I'm craving sushi. I'll start with the cons. The prices are a little higher than other Japanese restaurants. You're paying for the Alexander/East Ave location and atmosphere. I wouldn't recommend going there with young kids. Not just to Shema, but I don't think that area is kid-friendly in general. Along with that brings up the issue with parking. I'm usually not so lucky to find street parking, but they have a couple of parking lots in the area that charge $5. Also, I wasn't drawn to their limited menu (lunch - maybe dinner has more options). I wanted rolls, but the combos weren't enticing for the pricing. Ordering a la carte would've been overpriced for lunch. Furthermore, I don't recall seeing any hibachi tables so it's just sushi and kitchen items. The cons do not overshadow the pros. Pricing and parking is expected in that area. Shema is a trendy spot in prime location. It's convenient to have dinner there and enjoy a night out within walking distance. To me, that's the advantage Shema has over the influx of Japanese restaurants over the past couple of years. Even though they don't offer some traditional menu items, like chirashi, they compensate with unique items such as Japanese fries and in-house specials. Shema serves a decent amount of fish and it tastes more fresh than some of the other places I have tried. I ordered the sushi lunch, which comes with eight sushi pieces and the usual ginger salad and miso soup. The salad dressing was unique. After a few bites, it reminded of the flavor of tuna fish. It was more textured than creamy like pureed ginger and carrots. It's nice to see they are not skimpy on the tofu and seaweed in the miso soup, which was filled to the top of the bowl. There were two good-sized pieces of fish: red snapper, salmon, tuna, and white tuna. Each piece dissolved in my mouth with a slight sting from the wasabi used to stick to the soft rice. If it melts, it's fresh. Service was a little slow initially, but once the food started to come out, each dish was out in a timely manner. The owner was very friendly when she came over to chat with us as we were eating the tootsies that were brought with the bill. As I was walking out, I glanced at a wall covered with photos of her customers. I heard that she brought this memorabilia from her old Webster location. She seems to care about building relationships and getting to know her customers. This place is definitely worth a try. read more

Shema Sushi - Sushi lunch - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

Pros: * Japanese dishes like sushi or noodle soup are the best I have ever tasted. * Nice place, warm and clean. * Good service, the owners are also very nice. Cons: * The restaurant is kind of small so it's hard for groups over 6 people * Korean dishes are ok but not impressive, need to improve. read more

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Shema is one of my favorite go-to sushi spots in Rochester! I typically order the spicy combo roll box, which includes 3 spicy rolls. As you can see from the photos, they don't overpower the rolls with extra rice. They have the perfect proportions of rice to fish. Also, I've never had any issues ordering on their online portal and my food is always ready several minutes before the expected time. If I could order shema everyday, I probably would. read more

Shema Sushi - Spicy roll combo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I've eaten here many times and gotten takeout a few times as well! Their sushi is really good every time, I've never had a bad meal! The atmosphere in the restaurant is just alright which is why I'm giving 4 stars. Overall highly recommend! read more

Shema Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

This is the best sushi we have had in Rochester. Consistently the freshest and most well balanced sushi. Going back again tomorrow and got inspired by the recent review photos. read more

I love the Tempura Udon from Shema Sushi, the sushi is also very yummy. They have delicious desserts as well! Small and comfortable space, great for dates or meeting up with a friend or two. read more

Amazing sushi! Very high quality fish (and I'm from LA where we take our sushi very seriously). We absolutely loved their sashimi and crunch rolls. Ask your server for the chef's specialty roll and he will prepare a original roll with that days specialty fish! Can't say I'll be in town again to visit again but I had an amazing dinner here and the service was terrific as well! read more

Shema Sushi - Salmon, tuna, and shrimp crunch roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

A recent change in ownership, this place doesn't disappoint! The menu has a wide variety of items from sushi /sashimi to teriyaki dishes, donburi, bulgogi and eclectic truly tasty appetizers. There is clear talent in the kitchen here! The sushi is ridiculously fresh, and while not as many speciality rolls, it outdoes Plum House 10x on the items they have in common. Highlights: Golden Bridge Roll and Tuna Avocado Salad (deconstructed but fab) Perfectly situated in the east end, with free parking, Shema is a great place to start your evening downtown! So check it out!! You will love read more

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We ate delicious sushi that tasted very fresh. The unagi, bbqd eel, was very tasty too. The biggest downside was the show service and the food took very long to arrive. The salad and miso soup were served without any utensils nor did we get any water. We had to go and ask for these. I recommend this restaurant but don't go when all the tables are occupied unless you want to wait a long time for good read more

The sushi is good but a tad overpriced for the quality. If you go for the nigiri you better like wasabi since it comes with every piece. Great traditional vibes and the wait staff is knowledgeable. read more

First off, I would like to say that the food here is absolutely amazing, you will not be disappointed. So far as i know, this is the only restaurant in town where you can get takoyaki balls. That is essentially an octopus pancake ball with sweet sauce's on top. You will have to order online, and some of the rolls are a bit more expensive than they are at other places, but the food is delicious and the people who work there are nice and friendly. And to clarify that while the shrimp tempura roll is more expensive, it is made with two shrimp. I look forward to enjoying more of what's on their menu. read more

Great sushi, lots of selection. Service was ok. Tables inside. Parking in the back was posted as $10 but I've seen other reviews that say it's free if you mention the tenant you're eating at Shema. We ended up parking on the street. Miso soup was some of the best I've had. The crunchy shrimp and crunchy salmon rolls were big (6 pieces each) and delicious. My friend got the sushi deluxe combo which came with a soup, salad, 6 California rolls, and 6 pieces of sashimi (Chef's choice). He liked most of them - some we couldn't identify. Overall, excellent sushi joint and would definitely return. read more

Best sushi in Rochester!! It has such a small and cozy atmosphere and their food is just to die for! (Phoenix roll and Takoyaki are particularly out of this world.) If you've been looking for a new sushi spot, shemas my top recommendation read more

I have read all the other reviews on yelp about Shema and was very excited about coming here to try the sushi. In all honesty though I was quite disappointed. The location was ideal and the atmosphere of the restaurant was very quaint and welcoming; while service was subpar. Now to talk about the Sushi rolls... WEIRD !!! and so weird not even worth attempting (IE cheeze wiz on sushi) =NOT OKAY/COL read more

There is better sushi elsewhere. We went to Shema Sushi, excited full of high hopes based on reviews and pictures, but they fell short. I will say though their appetizers, the takoyaki and soft shell crab were the highlight of our dinner and were good. We got 4 different types of sushi and three of the four tasted the same, along with rolls being super small. For the price and leaving hungry, we were disappointed and felt like we could have went to Wegmans and got better, more filling sushi at a better price. read more

Shema Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

Shema is my go-to spot for sushi. Gluten-free options are clearly marked on the menu, the spicy sauce is gluten free, and they always have gluten-free soy sauce available. The staff are very friendly, the food is high quality, there are often plenty of tables available. read more

the $19 sushi lunch box i ordered came with four pieces (!) with a fist sized rice ball... just rice, nothing else. i love sushi so i've ordered sushi lunch box in many restaurants but i've never had a restaurant give a rice ball and four pieces of sushi only. While other components of the box (tempura, salad, soup) was good, the main part of the lunch box was disappointing for the $19 price tag, at least for me. It was a not so pleasant surprise to see what was inside. read more

So impressed with our first visit! Delicious sushi beautifully presented. Great selection of rolls and specials. The appetizers we ordered were fantastic, especially the age tofu! Loved the Bibimbab bowl with the fried egg on it. Lots of flavor. Service was a little bit slow but it was a Friday night and the place was full . Will definitely go back! Only advice is to put some kind of online reservations maybe through Opentable. read more

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This has to be the best sushi in Rochester. You really can't go wrong with any of their rolls or anything on the menu and they have more variety than anywhere else. I recommend this place to everyone :) read more

Shema Sushi - Sumo roll on the left is my favorite ! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

Sashimi boat...yes please! Came here with 2 friends to celebrate and we were able to try a little bit of everything! The boat was filled with a great assortment of fish and rolls. Miso soup and salad accompanied this boat for all 3 of us as well. If you're looked to try out some new types of sashimi, I'd recommend stopping by! read more

Shema Sushi - Miso soup and salad for all! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I got some simple miso soup and shrimp tempura but it was delicious! The staff was very friendly and my food was made pretty fast too. The food was super affordable which is always a plus. read more

Disclaimer: I am from Japan, and I tend to be a little...you know, "judgey" when it comes to Japanese food. Shema sushi, this is not operated by a Japanese owner. However, I give them 5 STARS! Their food was amazing. Quality and presentation were fantastic. My server was also amazing (how many times can I say "amazing" in this review?) that he pronounced Japanese fish words really great. He told us a little trick of when we want more tea, when we are ready to order so we don't have to catch him but he will be watching for our move. I had a sushi plate- which looked amazing, and it was fresh and nicely presented. The sushi plate came with Miso soup- which was delicious. I definitely suggest this place if you are looking for a great and creative sushi. read more

Shema Sushi - From the left, spider roll, salmon roll and volcano roll. Yum - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Terrible service. Barely acknowledged. Sushi edible... Not sure why it's so highly rated. If you have transportation go elsewhere. Disappointed read more

Sushi is my thing. It doesn't take a lot to please me or make me happy when it comes to fresh and good quality ingredients. Shema's sushi didn't fall short of my expectations. The food was good and our server was awesome. I had very little to complain about. We had miso soup to start. It was your usual miso, but with a bit less seaweed and bigger chunks of tofu. The rolls we tried out were the Spicy Salmon, Philadelphia, Shema and Love. The Spicy Salmon and Philadelphia were your typical standard rolls but with great flavor in both. The salmon was particularly fresh in both rolls. The Shema roll was my favorite of the bunch- it was shrimp tempura topped with spicy tuna. Amazing! I would suggest staying away from the Love roll. Was underwhelmed by the flavor as well as the soft shell crab but that could be that I'm not particularly fond of soft shell crab. Whatever you end up trying at Shema, make sure it includes the spicy mayo. Their's was the best I've ever had. read more

Shema Sushi - Spicy salmon, Shema, Philadelphia, love. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

Don't ask for GF options to be made! I used to love them for sushi..even didn't mind waiting long waits bc it was that good. But went for ramen on a recommendation...I am GF so most places happily replace the noodles for Soba (buckwheat is GF and not actually wheat)...and they flat out REFUSED not once but 3xs.She even came out of the back kitchen to rudely refuse to make it bc they thought it didnt taste good that way...I said "I like it and I'm the one eating it right?" Then she said no again and tried forcing other food options at me!!! SO at that point I was furious...I left and went to FUROSHIKI on Park Ave. and they happily made it that way for me!! And it was better service and cheaper! read more