Nice place for Mother's Day The yellow tail sushi nigiri was the best. The wings are excellent but the size of them has really shrunk. So probably won't order again as there was not a lot of meat on them. The Gogo roll was good but it was a lot of rice. More than I remember. Love the ambiance here and will still Come back read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - Cucumber and seaweed mixed salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

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I have a hard time reviewing this place because I expected more service from a place one spends $600 at. There were only a few of us in the restaurant because it was raining. We booked a 1:30pm reservation for 7 (4 kids). Nobody told us that they were closing at 2pm so when they told us it was last call for food and drinks, I was shocked and to be truly honest, angry. This place is not cheap. It seemed they were more interested in closing their books than giving my family (serious sushi lovers) the respect and patience we deserved. Frankly, they lost out as we would have purchased more sushi, but were pressured to order before last call, when we got our first order at 1:45. I won't be returning because as good as the sushi was, I prefer better service and not being rushed out the door. read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

Delicious, fresh sushi. Great service at the sushi bar, and it's always refreshing when the chef accepts your offer to buy him a beer as he's preparing your dishes. It's not inexpensive, but good sushi rarely is. I come here for a treat. read more

Went for some winner's sushi after a good day at Del Mar. Had a bunch of various nigiri sushi pieces - both the norm on their menu and some of the day's specials. Everything was fresh and delicious and not overly pricey. Would def come back! read more

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Back again from last summer to this convenient location from where my friend and I were staying, we came for lunch on a Saturday around 1:30. The restaurant was barely occupied, 2 tables. We sat outside. Yuka our server was fairly attentive. We ordered a pitcher of beer (great deal), while deciding what to order. We ordered a Protein Roll, Red Devil Roll, Spider Roll and a Negihama Roll along with an order of Gyoza.The fish was fresh, the quality was OK. My Protein Roll and Gyoza were excellent, the other rolls were OK.... It did the trick. If you are in the Del Mar Beach area and are craving Japanese... this place will cover you. Atmosphere: nice patio seating. Service: good. Food: good read more

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Shimbashi Izakaya was such a treat! Everything was fresh and delicious: Assorted nigiri appetizer Miso soup Lobster salmon roll Halibut nigiri California roll with real crab The shaded outdoor patio with ocean breeze is perfect, and inside feels like a traditional Japanese spot. Staff were amazing and so kind. Can't wait to come back! read more

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I came into town and was craving fresh sushi. I had three rolls and THEY WERE DELICIOUS! Fish was fresh, lotsOf options and rolls were creative. Service was EXCELLENT and the patio was beautiful! I plan on coming back tomorrow! read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

I was craving uni. This place hit the spot! We sat outside in the shade on their patio on a beautiful sunny summer day in San Diego with a little glimpse of the ocean. Parking in the garage took a little circling to find. Got seated without a reservation, but seemed like reservations are prioritized. read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - Chirashi bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Great service, super friendly employees, and some of the best sushi I've had in San Diego, especially if you like real crab in your sushi (no imitation crab here). Everything was fresh and delicious. We ordered the baked mussels (10/10) and the Hot Crab Roll alongside a few other speciality rolls and all were amazing. read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - Hot Crab Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

First time coming here and it is a hidden gem. We had the shrimp shumai and the garlic edamame and they were both very good. We also had the shrimp tempura roll and a crunchy roll that were very fresh and tasty. The time from ordering to getting our food was very quick. We will return read more

I love this spot! My husband took me here years ago when we first started dating. We came back & the quality is still amazing. It might be a bit tricky to find for first timers if you park in the parking structure, but during the day it has many cute spots for a quick photo op. Service is pretty good. Everything was made quickly, the quality of the food was fresh, & they have good sake options. The scallops & black cod was so buttery, I could eat it everyday if I could. Beef tongue was good, especially when you add a pinch of salt to it. Steak was the perfect size since we like to order a lot of stuff to share. The calamari is amazing! She's thick, juicy on the inside & crispy on the outside. Not too much batter either, just how I like. The duck was probably one of the best items hands down. The sauce that it's cooked in is perfection & goes so well with the mushrooms on the side. It's great for bringing friends, coworkers or even for a date. We come here often now & I'm so happy they stay consistent with the quality. read more

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I came here for a late lunch (by the way they close at 2). There are lunch specials for reasonable prices, considering sushi prices in this area are astronomical. I got two rolls and a soup for under $20. Sushi was ok. There is outdoor and indoor seating. read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - Lunch special - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

fantastic food. waygu, protein roll, caterpillar role, tekka maki, nigiri, haikassan sake. we enjoyed ourselves very much. sunset views from the restaurant were also amazing. Service was stellar. read more

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This was my first time eating at a restaurant alone: The hostess/waitress was really nice and patient. The interior was nice and had a theme. The music was relaxing with jazz or piano. Lots of seating available-- outdoor, indoor, at the bar. I sat at a two person table near the restrooms at the back of the restaurant. There's no physical menu, just two QR Codes-- one for drink and the other for food. I ordered the pork cutlet ($15) and a sprite ($3). The sprite was nice and cold and she even put ice in the cup which was nice. The pork cutlet doesn't come with rice (she mentioned), but luckily it came with shredded cabbage, one piece of lettuce, a lemon wedge, and sauce. The sauce was tangy and vinegary. Very nice addition to cut through the fried part. I've never had pork cutlet before so I'm unsure if all of them have bite when you chew. It felt like it was a tad dry, but I'm not sure if it is supposed to be that way or not. Overall, a great lunch for a long walk. Everyone working there was really nice, they welcomed you in and said goodbye when you leave too. read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - QR Code Menu - Pork Cutlet $15 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

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We have been coming to this place for a few years now; every time we are in the area, we always plan for a dinner in this place. Unfortunately tonight will be our last. We still love the ambiance and food but the service was just brutal. Masae, our server, was not attentive at all and also very rude; after trying our hardest to justify our time and money spent here, we just couldn't accept the service level and decided to cut our dinner short. We will not be back. So sorry because we have fond memories tied to this place and will no longer be able to re-live it. read more

Was pleasantly surprised by this place. The food was very tasty and service was fast (keep in mind we did come at opening which was 5 pm so not busy). I would come again. read more

Very charming location with a cute patio that overlooks the water--get outdoor seating. Pretty hefty menu with lots of options. Their sushi rolls were falling apart a bit, but good flave overall. Best part was the atmosphere and location! read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

shimbashiizakaya is the spot for you if you are looking for sushi with an incredible view! Their outdoor patio offers stunning views of del mar beach! We tried: * Chicken karaage * Assorted vegetable tempura * Silverio roll * Shrimp lover roll * La Fresca roll * Tuna nigiri * Shrimp nigiri They have excellent food and service with Gorgeous Views Check them out! read more

We came here on a Friday evening and had a lovely dinner overall. The fish was super fresh and full of flavor--definitely the highlight of the meal. We sat on the patio, and they had heaters going which made it much more enjoyable despite the chill. The desserts were delicious! Service was great too; the waiters were quick, polite, and kept things running smoothly. A solid spot for seafood in Del Mar! read more

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Three generations celebrated my grandpa's 89th birthday here and it was amazing. Most of the time when a restaurant already has a great view, the food doesn't need to be that good. But after the first few appetizers one word kept coming from all of us: Authentic. For a table of 7 adults, we ordered the following. Everything was solid, but the items that were absolute hits with the entire group were ordered twice. It was a perfect late summer day out on the patio. Soft tofu x2 (grated fresh ginger and bonito brought this back to my childhood) Rainbow carpaccio x2 (came with a perfect watermelon radish garnish) Grilled beef tongue x2 Assorted sashimi platter x2 Assorted sushi platter x2 Tempura Cold soba x2 Stir fried shishitos Takowasabi (for the octopus fans) Tonkatsu (the authentic marker was the side of spicy Japanese mustard in addition to the traditional sauce and cabbage) Hamachi Kama - they were out so we tried miso cod instead and this was also a crowd pleaser I ordered a Calpico and my husband ordered an iced green tea, but by the time we realized they hadn't come out dinner was almost over. Being pregnant I still wanted my drink but hubs was ok without anyways. For dessert, we split the following: Green ice cream x3 yes Green tea cake + ice cream - and the green tea cake was light and not too sweet, really nice. This place managed to exceed everyone's expectations. One of the perks for us is the patio is dog friendly. We're definitely coming back. read more

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Very authentic Japanese. My favorite dishes are the grilled steak with garlic sauce and the raw oysters. The servers and chefs are always friendly. read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - Prime Steak with garlic sauce (6 oz.) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

This was my first visit. It was a bit hard to find in Del Mar Plaza. Nice outdoor patio but I was a little disappointed that we did not see ocean view from there. It's an "izakaya", so they have an extensive small dishes menu. We went there for sushi, so we ordered sushi & sashimi combo and chrashi. I had sushi and sashimi combo. It was good and delicious but not super amazing and impressive. Fish on nigiri and sashimi were mostly the same and repeating. I wish sashimi had different kind of fish. My friend enjoyed her chirashi. Del Mar Plaza parking is one hour free, and then additional $3 every 30 min. My friend got double charged the additional parking fee by paying with the QR code. She had to input all her info just to pay a fee bucks (and then get double charged!) The parking company has no customer service to get the refund. I suggest using a pay station on the exit level and physically swiping your credit card, instead of the QR code, no need to input all the personal info in your phone to pay the parking ticket. This parking issue sort of took away from our dining experience there. read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - Sushi & Sashimi Combo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

Beautiful ambiance on the outside patio of the 15th Street Plaza. They've got a nice bar inside and there is a sushi bar and tables inside that you can sit at to. This is a great lunch spot or a beautiful place to sit on the patio in the evening. They've got everything from great sushi to cooked food and noodles. The sashimi is good pretty good quality I would say A step above your average sushi bar but not yet blue ocean or Botto or Ken's quality. I don't know what's going on with the ponzu sauce game these days but if you want some they charge you for it. read more

I came here with my coworkers after work and have mixed feelings about this place. The sushi and cooked dishes were good, but what I can't get over is why some of the sashimi dishes did not come with ginger or wasabi. We ordered the following and only ONE came with a decent amount of ginger (by decent I mean 6-8 pieces). Some came with 1-2 pieces of ginger, while others had none. - Rainbow carpaccio - NO GINGER - Salmon tataki - NO GINGER - Halibut usuzukur (sashimi) - NO GINGER - Hokkai roll - NO GINGER - Lobster salmon roll - 1 piece of ginger - Eel sushi - 2 big pieces of ginger - 2 orders of salmon belly sashimi - 6-8 pieces of ginger - Hamachi Kama - Salmom Kama - Agedashi tofu - Skewered scallops - Beef tongue - Wagu beef steak - House green salad - 2 orders of oyster shooters What I can't get over is why some of the sashimi dishes did not come with ginger. When I asked for more ginger, the waitress said there was a charge. I pointed out that some of the raw dishes did not come with ginger and she said, "it's not eaten with ginger, that's how we serve it." I've been to countless sushi restaurants, but this was the first time I was told that sashimi was not eaten with ginger. I don't mind paying $2 for a small bowl of ginger but felt all of the raw dishes should come with it. I enjoyed all of the raw and cooked dishes, but the restaurant's stinginess with ginger left a bad impression on me. We enjoyed the beautiful view of Del Mar Beach from our table and came here specifically for the view. The food was good, but not great, so aside from the view, I don't have a lot of reasons to return. read more

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The food is reliably good here but unfortunately there is also a reliably sour Middle Aged Asian waitress with the worst vibe every time I eat here who decided, after I was told to sit anywhere I like, that I need to move from a four top I chose in an almost empty patio to a two top because the four top is supposed to seat more people. Those were the words coming out of her mouth. The energy however was clearly one of taking out an unfulfilling personal life out on a customer. There are more friendly servers here who you won't see next Tuesday, but unfortunately since I seem to see her sour face every time I come, I will not be giving Shimbashi any more business. Imagine how much nicer it would be to eat there if she didn't work there.. read more

If you want to taste anything and everything Japanese, this is the place. From soups to sushi, everything is represented. Service is also great here so don't be afraid to order a lot of food. read more

I have been to this restaurant many many times as I live down the hill. I always order the omakase for $100. Unfortunately last night the fish quality was terrible. Hard to put into words but very chewy and unacceptable. I tried to talk to both the waitresses but they said no manager on staff for the night so they can't do anything. I told them to talk to the chefs as the fish was bad. read more

Great location with a small outdoor deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean like the neighboring restaurants at the Del Mar Plaza. Very authentic and delicious Japanese food. The fish was very fresh. The rolls were well done albeit fairly standard. They also offer several small hot and cold appetizers which are very good - think Japanese tapas. Service was caring and attentive. read more

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Excellent service. Excellent staff. Excellent food. Excellent atmosphere!! We celebrated our wedding anniversary here and couldn't be happier with our choice of restaurant! From the time we walked in until the time we walked out we were served with genuine smiles and caring staff. We loved our food and went overboard with ordering, but ate everything up and loved the quality and variety of their menu!!! Everything was fresh, tasty, and well balanced. What a gem! Will be coming back on our next trip to Del Mar. read more

I've been a regular customer here since I live just down the street. This time, I placed a to-go order and spent nearly $90 on sushi. After the order was paid for, I asked for some soy sauce and ginger--and was surprised to be charged an extra $3 for such a basic request. This feels like poor customer service. Charging extra for essentials like soy sauce and ginger--especially after a large purchase--can leave a bad impression. I hope you reconsider this practice, as small charges like this can push loyal customers away. read more

A true Japanese izakaya I am in love, love all they have from the sashimi, the Shabu Shabu, love the soba and tempura, I tried the Wagyu Shabu Shabu and was so oishii they only have it for Dec so come get it asap, the staff is so friendly and love how it is in Del Mar with the beautiful views not so far away, the sake is really great too:) read more

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I went here with my wife for our anniversary. We felt the staff behavior was very different from our visit last year. I think they had not been open long then. Food seemed slightly lower in quality... in general. Examples: Edamame was cool and didn't have much salt. The meat dish I ordered, at the waiters recommendation was really chewy. Tasty, but chewy. Should have gone with the Garlic meat dish. It is more popular. Yellowtail sushi was average. Things that went well: Salmon sashimi - perfect. Miso soup - great California rolls - great The seating outside was nice with the sunset. We asked for a table closer for an ocean view but were denied and told there were other reservations. We watched and no one came for about 30-40 minutes. We asked the same lady something about the menu and she gave a second negative response. Guess she didn't like us for some reason. Conversation at neighboring tables subtracted from the experience but that's not the fault of the restaurant. read more

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sushi was fresh and delicious. the pork gyoza was incredibly tasty as well! quick and friendly service really tied the whole experience together. only downside was that the patio showing sea views was full so we had to sit inside, but it was definitely worth giving a try regardless. read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Great little restaurant with an outside with lovey views. Good variety of Izakaya choices. We had the tempura (shrimp, kabocha, eggplant, green beans combo), broiled Saba with rice, teriyaki salmon, hamachi crudo with jalapeños; all delicious . They also have numerous sushi, sashimi and roll combinations as well. Sushi is excellent, tasty and fresh. Service is very attentive and friendly. read more

My daughter was craving chicken karaage and Shimbashi Izakaya popped up in Yelp as close by. The service for our phone order was polite and prompt and my daughter loved the chicken. The chicken was marinated well and stayed crispy on our drive home. It was a healthy portion so a great value as well! read more

So.. Sushi is fresh, really good, actually. Dark excellent tuna, delicious rolls.. all fine.. but we have to talk about the Menu! Just a miserable way to start a meal. There are two QR codes on the table, and no paper menus. One QR is "Drinks" and one "Food". Some tables get 3 QR codes, not sure why. One QR code goes to some iWallet site that has no visible links. The second QR code goes to a super-slow hop-scotch through iWallet and then Google Docs for the food menu. We all did the COVID QR thing, I get it.. but Shimbashi has no useable T-Mobile or Sprint service inside. We all had to get on the one phone that had service (Verizon) and start downloading a massive graphical Google Doc. We asked for paper menu, but they only had one out-of-date one with no descriptions. Limit one menu per table. (Seriously?) 10 minutes after sitting down, everyone on their phones trying to zoom into sushi pictures in a google doc, like some kind of dystopian metaverse.. I still had no idea where to find their drink menu. Hardest I ever had to work to order something. Eventually just got whatever is on draft. Would be a nice restaurant if they would kindly print some menus. Bring a laptop or iPad? Print your own menu at home? For what Del Mar sushi costs, maybe they could, I dunno, run down to Kinkos? read more

Shimbashi Izakaya - Good luck with this. First 15 minutes here you will be hating these QR codes. Maybe download the Google doc before you leave home? - Sushi Bars Near Me - Del Mar, California

During the Pandemic this was one of our rotations to support our local restaurants. We absolutely love the food here! We came by yesterday with no reservation but they were kind enough to find a table outside for us. They did let us know that they'll need that table at 7pm for a group that has a reservation. Not a problem! We ordered... Cucumber with sesame salad Shishito peppers Yellowtail with jalapenos Lemon albacore roll Silverio roll 2 Sapporo light Everything was very fresh and delicious! Definitely worth every penny! read more

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I was craving some sushi & found this spot while I was in Del Mar. They have one heck of a happy hour menu. Some of the popular dishes are $5! I wanted to try some veggie items along with some fish / chicken dishes & they had a wide range of options. I got the veggie gyoza to start. Very good. The veggie inside was a bit bland but the actual wonton was delicious. Add some hot sauce and it was just fine! The chicken was perfectly cooked & tasted great. The yellowtail with jalapeño was fresh. Would definitely order this again when I come back! The seaweed salad & smashed cucumbers were SO GOOD. I cleared every plate here real quickly lol. I got mochi for dessert, you get 2 for $6. The strawberry & mango are so yummy. The mango was definitely my favorite! You really can't go wrong with a delicious spot with great prices & services. They also have a view of the beach from the outside seating! So it's all around a great spot for your next dinner :) read more

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Had some time to spare before a cooking class and this place came up with some awesome reviews and quickly made an OpenTable reservation for 1. Customer service was so welcoming and attentive, they had great control of the whole restaurant which was fully packed. Servers, sushi chefs, and bussers were on their game and the meal was quick and so delicious. Didn't get many large items but what I did order black code, cold soba, and the garlic noodles was so delicious! For sure will be back with a larger party to order many more items to share! read more

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Horrible establishment. Worst service I've ever received in my life. Look at the other reviews and you'll see we're not the only ones with this experience. Rude staff is one way to lose my business immediately and not to mention the poor quality food. My goodness, please save your money and sanity by NOT dining here. Take the time to seek out a more authentic Japanese restaurant and not this joke of an establishment. The scam here is the location and ambiance, do not be fooled! Poor quality fish was not what I was expecting for Del Mar. The worst part is, I have been looking forward to going here for years. Incredibly disappointing experience. read more