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    Shimizu Sushi

    4.1 (908 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Shimizu Sushi Takeout or Delivery

    Shimizu Sushi Photos

    Business Info

    SHIMIZU SUSHI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Shimizu Sushi

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    Ameebi, Mendocino, Fire Cracker
    Edrian D.

    Testing, testing, may I have your attention please... Sushi gem found in Oakland! Pro Tip - Make a reservation, limited seating and this place packs up pretty quick! Table for 6 @6:30. Bill came to about $50 a person. Great sushi places cone far and few between, but this place hits! Came with a few friends for dinner to catch up and boy we were in for a treat. Chicken teriyaki bento - this is perfection, nothing beats that perfectly cooked chicken. It was super moist and fully cooked through. The teriyaki sauce is most definitely house made - perfectly glazed with the right amount of sweet and salty. And of course how can you go wrong with veggie tempura. Nom nom nom nom nom The rolls on today's menu were: Flaming Dragon - was definitely a show stopper! The chef came out of the kitchen with the roll a blazing and we were caught off guard. A little dazzle dazzle :spirit fingers: The roll itself had deep fried shrimp in the middle rolled in rice with salmon and tempura shakes with some type of spicy bbq sauce. Lord oh lord I can eat two of these to myself. Mendocino - consisted of spicy tuna, avocado, salmon, cucumber and tobiko. Super smooth with a kick! Fire Cracker - on to more spicy (yes we love spicy) spicy scallops spicy cucumber and tobiko! Tobiko makes everything better with that fresh umami burst. Ameebi - who doesn't like sweet shrimp? And yes eat the head! All in all, solid 5 and will definitely be coming back. Not to mention, the staff were super nice and didn't bother you. They were attentive and knew exactly when to approach the table. I would recommend this place as a gathering for small groups or a fun family dinner. Possibly date night with the partner. Cheers!

    Lion king and flaming dragon rolls
    Yee W.

    We came here around 4pm ish on a Saturday night. Our friend treated us to dinner and recommended this sushi place. The restaurant was nice and clean, small but had a good amount of tables. It wasn't busy when we walked in and were seated immediately. We did a family style, mostly sharing so we ordered California roll, lion king and flaming dragon. Two bento boxes, one was beef and the other was teriyaki chicken. The flaming dragon was cool because it came out on fire. Everything tasted delicious. The bento boxes had a great amount of selection of food for the price. Service was good. They also have stamp cards and Tuesday is double stamps. I wouldn't mind coming back again.

    Joyce L.

    A solid 2 star Japanese restaurant. Was surprised by their overall 4 stars rating. For a $23.50-25.50 bento box, I expected more. The taste was meh and yet, they only gave you a few pieces of meat. More importantly, the sashimi quality was subpar, tasted like a C/C- grade quality. Was definitely disappointed and will not return.

    Lion King, best sushi.
    Neema C.

    We love the foods (ordered bento boxes and sushi), the service and the unique Japanese decorations. We appreciate the fact that it's one of the few authentic Japanese restaurants in the East Bay. Love love love.

    Bento box with beef galbo and salmon sashimi
    Phil L.

    I've been here multiple times for sushi since 2016 to now and I have been well served by this restaurant's tasty food. Their sushi is pretty solid. The bento box has plenty of food, but the galbi/short rib was a bit modest (portion wise) to my liking. Service was attentive and friendly, ambiance was very modest and centralized in simplicity, where simplicity is best. I would come here more often if parking wasn't such a hassle (yes they have a parking lot but it's small)

    Nicole M.

    This place is so yummy. It is a bit small so definitely plan to either way or try to make reservations whenever possible or if if you're able to take it home to eat. The place is small, but cutely decorated inside. The staff is extremely accommodating.

    spicy killer cross section
    Blu M.

    Really tasty spot for sushi in the Piedmont area! Shimizu Sushi is conveniently located on Piedmont Ave in Oakland, in close proximity to a lot of cute shopping and best part, Fentons for dessert! I came here with my mom for a nice meal to catch up with each other and we both totally found a new favorite spot. We went around 6 pm and we did not have to wait long to be seated; about 10 minutes. The staff were really nice and super on everything. the restaurant itself is not too big and has a cute vibe. It is a stand alone restaurant with nice decoration, so it made for a perfect experience. We got 4 rolls (Venus, spicy Juno, delicious, and spicy killer rolls) 2 types of tempura (soft shell crabs and veggie combination). All were incredibly good! My favorites had to be the soft shell crabs, spicy killer, and spicy Juno rolls. The quality of the fish is really fresh and the taste is spot on, especially in the albacore. I appreciate the fact that these rolls were quite sizable. Specialty rolls deserve to be big! These ones did not disappoint. The rice to fish ratio was great as well. Flavors were balanced and nothing overpowered the actual flavor of the seafood, which is a must! Just right :) The tempura were all really good too. The batter was friend perfectly and the oil tasted clean, which is so so important. Great with a squeeze of lemon! Shimizu is a fantastic spot for some fresh fish. If that floats your boat, you gotta give this place a try.

    Emily J.

    I wanted to love this place but unfortunately it completely missed the mark. The biggest issue was the price, I am all about paying for high quality sushi but this was mediocre at best for a marked up price. The sushi rolls were bland and way too big. When we split them apart it was a little bit better but there was absolutely no flavor. One role had hot sauce just d dumped on top, It didn't help that the sushi chefs were watching TV on the big screen behind the counter for the majority of the time. My older daughter ordered the beef udon and it was almost inedible. Small pieces of gelatinous beef floated on top. Large chunks of vegetables bobbed up like drowned fish. It was just a mess in a massive bowl. Again, the worst part was getting a bill for two rolls and a bowl of udon for 70 dollars. I hope either the price goes down or the quality goes up.

    Chicken teriyaki bento box with tempura and gyoza
    Hannah L.

    Absolutely delicious!!!!!!!!! I LOVE their bento box! The chicken teriyaki was amazing and I love that they give tempura and gyoza with it! It is also very nice that they give you 3 options for the bento boxes so instead of gyoza you can get sashimi or a California roll instead of you prefer. My fiance got the flaming dragon roll which was so cool because it actually was on fire (see video). I have never seen this before! He also really enjoyed it! Soooo good!!! Highly recommend! The service was great, friendly and fast. Very nice ambiance, nice and clean.

    Outside. Storefront. Freestanding building. Landscape orientation. 0.7x zoom.
    Daniel B.

    I give Shimizu Japanese Cuisine three stars. It's not bad. My sister introduced us to this place. She comes here when her and her husband's go-to sushi joint, the Judoku Sushi location in Rockridge, is closed. That said, I think the two restaurants' hours are largely the same. I think Shimizu has slightly more seating, especially inside. Both places are popular and we've had to wait at both. Coincidentally, on the night we visited Shimizu, my sister recognized one of the sushi chefs from Judoku working here. We visited on an ordinary Monday for dinner. Around 6:25pm, the dining room and sushi bar were full. Unlike Judoku Rockridge, Shimizu has no outdoor seating. However, something that's nice about Shimizu (and that Judoku Rockridge doesn't have) is free dedicated parking. Shimizu has a small paved lot with about seven spaces. We got lucky and were able to snag one. We wrote our name on a paper waitlist at the check-in table inside. Party of six. We waited about 40 minutes. We had to wait outside on the sidewalk with a couple other groups. We finished dinner and left around 7:50pm. At that time, the dining room was still full, to give you a sense of how busy it was. Shimizu Sushi opened in June 2010. This is a simple, humble neighborhood sushi joint. There's no pretense about it. It's a no-frills experience. The dining room was cozy and seats were placed closely together to maximize space. At dinnertime, the menu featured a wide variety of sushi rolls plus common types of nigiri and sashimi. I didn't notice any specials except for an Uni Shooter (which we got - more on that below). In addition to sushi, there was a decent variety of Japanese appetizers, entrees, and bento boxes. There's also a touch of Korean on the menu with BBQ Beef Short Ribs (a.k.a. galbi, $15.50 a la carte, about $25 as part of a bento dinner) and a Spicy Fish Bowl (a.k.a. hoe-deopbap, $32.50). Here's what we got: Appetizers * Agedashi Tofu ($9.90) - deep-fried tofu, radish on top with tempura sauce * Pan Fried Gyoza ($11.50) - 6 pieces of pan-fried potstickers Udon * Nabeyaki Udon ($17.90) - chicken, fishcake, egg, noodles, and vegetables in broth; shrimp tempura served on the side Sushi & Sashimi * Chirashi ($32.50) - chef's selection of fresh sashimi, served over sushi rice Nigiri (price per 2 pieces except for Toro) * Hamachi ($8.50) - yellowtail * Tai (8.90) - red snapper * Toro (market price = $9.50 per piece) - fatty tuna Shimizu Special Rolls * Ladybug Roll ($17.50) - salmon, avocado covered with scallop, avocado, tobiko Shimizu Spicy Rolls * Mendocino ($17.50) - spicy tuna, cucumber with salmon, avocado, and tobiko on top * S.O.S. Roll ($18.50) - spicy tuna, yellowtail, radish sprouts covered with spicy salmon, jalapeno, and tobiko Special * Uni Shooter ($11.90) Drink * Marble Soda ($4.95) - Ramune Japanese soft drink; my niece chose strawberry flavor Everyone at the table got miso soup, included with our orders. My nieces devoured their miso soup, Agedashi Tofu, and Pan Fried Gyoza. These are good, safe choices that suit almost any palate. Shimizu's Agedashi Tofu and Gyoza were standard and didn't stand out from the same dishes at other Japanese restaurants. The Nabeyaki Udon was A-OK. The portion size was generous and there was a good balance of ingredients. This was a fairly simple and straightforward comforting dish. If you like udon, you should be satisfied with it. I was a bit underwhelmed with the Chirashi, but I'm also spoiled by my neighborhood izakaya back home in Atlanta ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/ginya-izakaya-atlanta-4 ). When I ordered it, I requested no shrimp due to my shrimp allergy. My Chirashi came with three pieces each of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and albacore tuna plus two pieces of tamago (cooked egg). These are the cheapest, most basic kinds of sushi. For a Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area, I expected more variety. Also, the quality of the tuna wasn't great. The fish was still a bit too frozen and the texture was off. That said, all of the fish slices were nice and thick so I'll give them that. I recognize Chirashi can vary widely from restaurant to restaurant and even from day to day at the same restaurant, so it can be a bit of a gamble. The Hamachi, Tai, and Toro nigiri were all pretty solid as were the Ladybug, Mendocino, and S.O.S. rolls. I'm not a big rolls guy, but I do love nigiri. I think this place does a nice job with both nigiri and rolls, so you probably won't be disappointed there. Aside from the tuna in the Chirashi, I thought the quality of the fish was good and fresh. The Uni Shooter was interesting. It had uni, tobiko, spring onion, and other ingredients. It was a savory shot. Service was excellent. Kristine was our server and she was terrific. Shimizu has a loyalty card at dinner. You get one stamp for every $25 spent. After 10 stamps, you get $10 off.

    Inverleith F.

    It's not often that we eat sushi but when we do, Shimizu is the place to go in Piedmont Avenue in Oakland. The fish is the freshest around and the tempura is crispy yet delicate. Hubby had ordered the tempura as a starter and it is a generous basket of fried goodness. The vegetables are all generously sliced and cooked just right. Vegetables included broccoli, pumpkin, sweet potato, asparagus and zucchini. When my bento came, there was more tempura including a shrimp. It was a generous portion as well. The tuna sashimi had three nice slices that just melted in my mouth. Hubby really enjoyed his roll which was not too spicy at all. Fish was very fresh and flavorful. The place is small and the staff is attentive and nice. They have a small parking lot which has lots of warnings about not having any valuables visible. Unfortunately this is the state of Oakland so be street smart okay? Do support this great local business. Your tummy will be happy!

    Melting albacore
    Emmeline W.

    We were actually in the area to scope out the newly-opened MENSHO and immediately walked off after seeing the huge line. LOL. Though Shimizu was marginally less busy, we were able to get a seat on a Sunday evening right away. And for the better-- the food and service were fantastic! Very pleased we came across Shimizu by chance. Recommend parking in the back residential areas (only about 3~ min walk) if their lot is full. Very cozy, casual atmosphere with quirky decor. Despite the crowds, we never found ourselves with waiting, or with empty glasses or dirty plates for long. Service is exceptionally attentive and organized. HAMACHI KAMA: Grilled exceptionally well-- it flakes apart in your mouth. Tastes like chicken. IMO is already delicious without the sauce MELTING ALBACORE: Have never seen anything like this at a sushi place before L O L. Raw fish on top of a lump of crab salad??? NGL one of the best appetizers I've had at a casual sushi spot. Surprisingly refreshing and balanced, esp if you like crab salad. The daikon + tobiko give it a satisfying crunch. SASHIMI PLATTER: These slices are CHONKY. Huge pieces without skimping on flavor. Our favorites were definitely the scallop and salmon-- fresh, buttery, and sweet. Just the right amount for a light lunch. Very intrigued by their bentos for next time.

    Lunch Bento - Kalbi, Tempura, & Tuna Sashimi
    Scott L.

    Still excellent. Went for a late lunch on a Saturday. Parked in their small lot where you do not leave any valuables in the car including anything electronic. Had the three item lunch bento of Kalbi, Tempura, and Tuna Sashimi. The three chunky pieces of sashimi were of very high quality - melt in your mouth, a definite surprise in a lunch bento box. Wife had the Saba nigiri, also nice pieces of fish, and the flaming dragon roll. Everything as good as we remembered from our last visit 5 years ago.

    S.O.S. Roll

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    Business owner information

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    Great service & absolutely delicious food! It was even better than previous visits which have always been good. Love the restaurant!!!

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    Page 1 of 23

    Ask the Community - Shimizu Sushi

    Are they open during May's shelter in place?

    I saw when I picked up my dinner tonight that they are now open 4-8:30 daily! Takeout only obviously. I just order by phone and it's ready when I get there.

    Are you guys open during SIP?

    They are now open 4-8:30 daily. Order by phone and pick it up, though I've seen people order outside.

    Which day is double stamp day?

    Tuesday!

    Do they offer sashimi on AYCE menu?

    Yes they have great Sashimi, not sure what you mean by Ayce

    Does it have air conditioning?

    Yes!!

    Do they have real crab or just imitation?

    They use imitation crab, but real crab is available upon request (extra charge).

    What's the parking situation like, if any?

    The restaurant has a small parking lot. There are around 10 spaces including a handicap space. Commercial metered parking on Piedmont Avenue with residential parking on the side streets. Parking can be a challenge at times on busy Piedmont Avenue.

    What time is lunch on Saturday/Sunday? Meaning when is the period of time that certain food is cheaper because it's lunch pricing?

    They open for lunch around 12 and stay open for dinner. I was there at 3 on a Saturday and there were other tables too.

    View All 10 Questions

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    Judoku Sushi - Seafood Udon

    Judoku Sushi

    4.0(722 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    In the past have ordered here via DD but recently was super impressed with the hamachi kama! It…read morewas a complete entree! Carrots, bok choy, bonito, sliced scallions, it was visually appealing, huge portion, fresh and cooked well. Sauce was like a watered down teriyaki, prefer ponzu, but I never really dip, preferring just a squeeze of lemon. Ahhh-mazing.

    Judoku is a local, sushi spot located on the corner of Piedmont. When you walk in, you are greeted…read moreby lucky cat statues and various art pieces adorning the walls. The lighting is dim, providing a more elevated atmosphere. We came during lunch and surprising there was only 1 other guest there at the time. The staff seated us right away and we were able to order within a few minutes. The menu has a great assortment of sushi, bento boxes and more so if you're in a larger group, there is something for everyone. As a group of 3, my friends and I decided to split the meal family style and ordered bento boxes and a few rolls. The food came out within just a few minutes. The rolls are visually appealing and very appetizing. They held together nicely, although the spicy scallop roll was falling apart - however I do think scallop is trickier to work with so I didn't mind it. The bento boxes offered a great quantity of food for the price, so it was worth it! What stood out to me was the crisp texture of the tempura and katsu - only callout here is that the katsu was cut into thinner slices which you might not prefer if you like thicker slices. Overall, I'm glad I found this gem and I'm looking forward to a future visit!

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    Super cute patio

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    Mensho - Signature Smoked Toripaitan Ramen

    Mensho

    4.5(642 reviews)
    0.0 miPiedmont Ave, North Oakland
    $$

    Stumbled upon this ramen place that happened to have a michelin star/ guide for the last three…read moreyears! The wait was about 30-45 mins for a party of two at 7:30pm on a Saturday. Considering other reviews, I don't think we waited too long. We ordered two of their top ramens, although the matcha duck one was enticing, I did like the Garlic overload on my ramen. The fried enoki mushrooms were also good, I just wish the portions were a bit bigger for both dishes. Staff was also quick and helpful going through the menu with us first timers. We sat at a shared table but I like how they had a divider to separate the spaces. Pretty small restaurant and they only have street parking so if you want to try, I recommend going early! We were lucky to snag a spot right in the front!

    Yummy ramen would recommend the chain…read more I've tried this ramen chain at their Houston location as well. This time I ordered the signature smoked & Black Vinegar Karaage. The noodles are the highlight for me. They're bouncy and have a nice texture. The bowl is packed with flavor. The Karaage was good, crispy, absorbed the sauce well, there were also pieces of soft eggplant as well. I would go lighter on the sauce or have the excess on the side. The sauce became overpowering the more chicken I ate. I think the Houston location had better service. This location felt cramped, loud and cold. There is only street parking at this location, there is Fentons a few doors down but there's more parking in the surrounding neighborhoods. The Chicken ramen at Mensho is the best I've tried in the U.S thus far

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    Mensho - Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken

    Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken

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    Khatan Sushi

    Khatan Sushi

    4.4(71 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Was craving sushi/omakase and found this spot on Yelp. Came on a weekday and was able to find…read moreparking on the same street. It wasn't busy during the time I came which was nice. Server and Chef were super friendly and welcoming. While I waited, the chef brought me a nice little sample to try. Really refreshing and delicious. I ordered a lychee lemonade and edamame to start. Both really good. I had to refrain from drinking and eating it all so I didn't get full before my food came. Would order both again. (Maybe add some liquor in the lemonade lol ) For my main dish, I went with the 10 piece nigiri omakase and upgraded $10 to include toro. Pieces of fish were huge and delicious. Surprisingly the toro wasn't my favorite but still was really good! The shrimp head was a nice treat! I ordered dessert even though I was stuffed cause I couldn't help myself: matcha tres leche (which I was told was their most popular dessert). It didn't disappoint! Restaurant was clean and well taken care of. They were updating the signs on the window as well which I'm sure is going to look great. If you're in the area, give them a try. Already looking forward to my next visit!

    Don't sleep on this spot!!! Small local corner shop with biiiiig flavor. My partner and I were…read morelucky to find Khatan on Yelp while browsing Japanese spots we had yet to visit. The space is very cozy, quiet, almost unassuming. For a Saturday evening, there were only 3-4 parties around us. I was relieved as some of our favorite sushi spots in this area tend to require reservations. We were welcomed graciously and were happy to hear the staff's recommendations. SALMON SPECIAL: !!! Pretty unique! I loved the beet-marinated salmon, this was nice and sweet. The green curry was interesting, though outshone by the former. TUNA TATAKI: A LOT of topping for a tataki...! Like overflowing! I liked it ^_^ But a lot of onion and texture. I mainly was curious towards the ponzu soy mayo, which didn't fail to be bright and flavorful. BACON OF THE SEA: My partner is the BIGGEST fan of salmon skin so this was a must-have. SO good. Crispy outside, tender inside, plus all the fatty goodness throughout. SAKE DON: Supa fresh!! With thick cuts. The rice is seasoned well, not too sour. I could've done without the lemon slices, but it might be someone else's cup of tea. Overall, pretty solid sake don :3 We got lucky with parking and found a spot across the street... But I'd come a bit earlier to scout out the area if you've driving.

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    Khatan Sushi - Dining area.

    Dining area.

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    Kuidaore Handroll Bar - Hotate (scallop) Crudo - fresh, zesty, hint of chili

    Kuidaore Handroll Bar

    4.5(131 reviews)
    2.8 miJack London Square
    $$

    Tried this place on Saturday afternoon when I was at Jack London Square with my family. It was…read morepretty good. Ordered the 3 roll lunch special along with 2 extra California rolls. The handrolls tasted fresh and delicious. The servers and the chef were both really polite and provided good service. I was satisfied with my lunch and I would be happy to come here again when I am in the neck of the woods.

    We went to Kuidaore Hand Roll Bar for dinner and overall had a really nice experience. The staff…read morewas incredibly sweet, welcoming, and especially considerate about my allergies. I had a few dietary restrictions, and they were patient, accommodating, and made me feel comfortable ordering, which I really appreciated. The food was fresh and enjoyable, and the overall atmosphere felt relaxed and inviting. You can tell the team cares about creating a good experience for guests. The only challenge during our visit was the speed of service. It seemed like one person was handling both drink service and taking orders, even though there were additional staff members working besides the sushi chef. I think dividing responsibilities a bit differently could really help improve the flow of service and make the overall dining experience even better. That said, everyone was kind throughout the night, and we still enjoyed our dinner. With a few small adjustments, this place could really shine even more.

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    Kuidaore Handroll Bar - Sake cocktails

    Sake cocktails

    Kuidaore Handroll Bar - Salmon King (seared salmon, jalapeño, spicy aioli, unagi sauce, tobiko)

    Salmon King (seared salmon, jalapeño, spicy aioli, unagi sauce, tobiko)

    Kuidaore Handroll Bar - Truffle salmon

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    Kirala - Lunch special Bento box

    Kirala

    3.9(1.9k reviews)
    2.3 miSouth Berkeley
    $$

    Still all these decades later, Kirala meets the mark. We sat at the sake bar in the back with two…read morekids and it worked well. Service by Taka was great - attentive and quick. Only lag was when we ordered 2 nigiri at the end and it took a really long time but I think the sushi chefs lost the order or something. Delicious sukiyaki, chicken skewers, cold tofu, salmon rolls, hamachi sashimi, Ikura and uni, tuna and Ikura nigiri, and hamachi Kama (not sure why they charge $21 and then $7 for a large when it is two small dollars that came out though). Decent wine selection - Chardonnay was good. Restaurant itself is fairly loud, especially with a baby that kept crying. But it might have been crying because it was loud. Owners should consider the Constellation System by Meyer Sound to make the dining experience more enjoyable for patrons. As this is a longtime bastion of Japanese food in the Bay, they should really invest in the sound portion of their restaurant. Prices have gone up since the last time I was here but it's not totally unreasonable. Good quality food and service. Love this place.

    Kirala isn't just another Japanese spot for us--it's a reminder of how far we've come. My wife used…read moreto only treat herself to Kirala when she was younger--on special occasions when a bonus check came in. Now, we get to dine here as a family, and that nostalgic treat feels all the more satisfying. Food (4 stars) + Ribeye teriyaki was a hit--tender, cooked to perfection, and the kids loved it! + Lamb chop was a standout--one piece, but perfectly grilled, juicy, and tender. I could eat 2 of these with a bowl of rice and it would be a hearty meal! + Chicken karaage was solid--crispy, good portion, and a nice appetizer. It's basically a Japanese version of chicken strips that is way better than nuggets. + Salmon sashimi for the kids never disappoints. ~ Chirashi bowl was fresh and filling, though standard compared to other spots. There was a lot of rice which if we knew that we probably would've skipped the extra bowl I ordered to eat with my lamb chops. For the somewhat premium pricing, I wish they provided fresh chopped wasabi. ~ Stuffed mushroom skewer was just okay--tasty but nothing special. I guess for mushrooms it does taste kinda like a chicken meatball which could be a good thing. Service/Ambiance (4 stars) + Attentive and thoughtful service, especially accommodating a broken foot. They let my family wait at the bar instead of standing. + Ambiance is that classic Japanese vibe, busy but comfortable. Maybe not high-end, but definitely a place that feels special--especially now that we can afford it!

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    Shimizu Sushi - japanese - Updated June 2026

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