What a wonderful experience. The owners were really friendly and we had an amazing service. The chef seems passionate about the food he prepares and love that he guides us through each course with the history of the food. It was also fun to watch him prepare the omakase to the rhythm of the music. I enjoyed the relaxing and intimate ambiance. I believe the chef orders the fish from Japan and you can really taste the difference in quality. The fish and seafood was fresh and did not have much of a fishy smell. As someone who likes to load a lot on my sushi and especially with the sauces, I really appreciated the simplicity and authenticity of this omakase. There is just a touch of balanced seasoning and it allows you to really enjoy and taste the natural taste of the sea. The fish itself even without a ton of seasoning already has a nice flavour to it but the chef prepared the fish in different ways and techniques which elevated the dishes. I especially loved the charcoal fragrance and the yuzu zest that he used. It was one of the freshest and best quality fish that I've had in LA. My favourite here were the bluefin toro, yuzu scallop, clam, tamago, seaweed salad, miso soup and anago which is traditionally valued in Japan and different from unagi which you will find in America. I also love that the chef uses fish broth in his miso soup which heightened the flavours and richness of the soup; probably became my favourite miso soup in LA. I'm not usually an uni person but wow, this uni was so fresh, the creamiest, sweetest and tastiest uni I've had so far. I also got the coffee jelly which was refreshing and yummy. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Shin Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Don't judge a book by its cover. This place is in a strip mall but everything is excellent. They offer authentic, traditional sushi without any gimmick. Chef is a great storyteller - he explains origin of fish and guides you what to look for. He is also creative of using simple ingredients and makes unique appetizers and sushi. There are too many places in LA just keep layering up flavors on sushi or rolls so you taste everything else but the key ingredient - fish. Those places emphasize too much on the look vs quality of food. Service is attentive and impeccable. We really enjoy our food and time there and grateful that they are able to accommodate a party of 3 for us. read more

Shin Sushi is a one star, Michelin Rated Japanese restaurant that ALMOST lives up to the hype... and I'll explain why. Owner and Chef Taketoshi Azumi and his wife operate the restaurant's entire production -as they are the greeter, chef, waitress, dishwasher, bus person etc... While the chef presented each piece artfully, his wife was attentive, kept my saki cup filled and willingly answered patrons questions as they came. I can't help but to be a tad unimpressed by the interior, ambiance and cleaning clatter during the whole Omakase experience. As I felt, the interior could be updated and refined, while the ambiance and cleaning noise could have been saved till after guest left. My stool at the end of the omakase table probably needs a new cushion too, as it felt worn out and I could feel one of the cushion coil dig into my gluteus during dinner. Anyhow, on to the food. EVERYTHING tasted exquisite, fresh and carefully prepared. I enjoyed and savored each morsel. Listed below was my Omakaze tasting and tried all the desserts (see my pics): white fish snapper isake (white fish) black snapper hotatate (scallop fr holkiado) akame (blue fin tuna) sakura cherry trout (from hokkaido) baby chives from Japan with miso soup (fish bone) sardine amberjack ink squid (from Shiba) toro (seared with charcoal, blue fin tuna) sea urchin sea eel egg For dessert: tofu mousse, lychee sorbet, coffee gelatin Free parking. Call to make reservations ahead of time. read more

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An outstanding meal on all fronts. The food was impeccable, both in preparation and quality of ingredients. Chef Take does a fantastic job blending history and tradition with his own style. He is also funny, personable, and so welcoming. His wife Yuki is a gem, and the two of them run the place by themselves. It's a very intimate meal. Reservation only, and the counter seats 8 maximum. My partner and I were one of three couples. We got to chat with Chef Take the whole time, hearing stories about his dad, snippets of his life in Los Angeles, Japan, and New York, waking up at 4 to go to the fish market every morning (dedication!), all interspersed with humor and the occasional Spanish phrase. We shared sake with him and watched him meticulously craft every piece. I loved it. Every bite was layered with flavors and distinct details. I'm still thinking about his miso soup. He knows exactly where each fish came from and how to make it shine. And the TOFU MOUSSE! Such a fabulous dessert - not too sweet! As soon as I can go back, I will. Thank you to Yuki and Chef Take for treating us to an incredible meal that felt like a warm family affair! read more

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Chef is really friendly. He makes good sushi that emphasizes the freshness of the fish. Pretty good price. I would definitely go back.

Amazing quality with amazing service. The closest you'll get to Japanese sushi omakase

The restaurant is totally understated outside, but offers an intimate, genuinely charismatic experience once you're in. Not just exceptional cuisine, but flawless chef service that makes the entire evening feel personal and effortless. It wasn't our first time here, it certainly won't be the last. read more

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I booked this omakase experience for my parents and chef ABSOLUTELY delivered. On the food, on the experience, on the intimate settings. 100/10 on everything. They had such a great time. It felt like a gathering of friends who were catching up - the chef and his wife were sooooo nice. The food was amazing and my parents couldn't stop raving. Best date I've planned for them for sure coming back and bringing the whole family for round 2 read more

It's a very small omakase only sushi restaurant in a nondescript strip mall in Encino. It's actually very easy to miss. Inside there is a sushi counter with a few seats, only about 6 I think. The chef prefers to focus on quality fish and utmost attention to the customer service. The nigiri is very fresh, starts with a little appetizer plate. I think we had about 14-15 pieces of sushi, all made fresh prepared by the chef with expert knife precision and hand work. In fact the way he assembled and cut the fish was like an art show. We came at the earliest seating around 5:30, they prefer to seat everyone at once like in Japan. There are only 2 seatings I believe. Since it seems there were some cancellations we were actually the on party of 2 in the restaurant. Very fresh fish and great variety most I think from Japan. I only wish there were a few more nigiri, but overall very well rounded omakase. Ended with a small desert to fish the meal. read more

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what an amazing omakase experience ! chef Taketoshi handles the fish with great delicacy and his knife skills are a work of art. it was truly an experience hearing the stories and information learned about each fish we ate. it was a very intimate dining experience, which made it that much more special. this was so worth it, i highly recommend ! read more

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If you are more visual check out my video of this amazing restaurant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsk0a1j2gsM or my latest Youtube Short: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AxMFVpuNSrY Been coming here for a few years now about once a year. Shin Sushi is a true gem, run by a talented husband-and-wife duo that brings warmth and authenticity to every aspect of the dining experience! From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed like family. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, perfect for enjoying an exquisite meal. The sushi itself is nothing short of spectacular. Each piece is carefully crafted with the freshest fish, and you can taste the love and dedication in every bite -- every course was a delightful surprise, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. Shin Sushi may be a small, family-run spot, but it delivers big on quality and experience. If you're looking for an authentic sushi experience with a personal touch, look no further. read more

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I've been back to this restaurant twice in a few weeks and it has been consistently amazing! Chef Taketoshi & his wife are passionate about Shin Omakase and makes a perfect team. Love the stories behind the sushi and family history. Great sake selection and desserts too. This is a low key hidden gem located in a strip mall in Encino! read more

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These one stars are insane . You need to make a rezzy here . Duh u can't just walk in, if u don't know well now u know... This was a fantastic experience. I came here for work dinner and everything served with immaculate and fresh and very unique, I appreciate the server. I appreciate the chef. It's not easy cooking and entertaining your guests thank you guys for a lovely experience. I highly recommend it here. read more

Amazing omakase without that extravagant price tag! Although it is by no means "cheap" but definitely more affordable for the quality. I thoroughly enjoyed each piece and would recommend it to anyone that loves omakase! Our chef was friendly and had a bounce in his step as he walked around making our nigiri. No sake pairing but there is a large selection of sake. They take reservations by phone! And one of the few places the require to put down a 300 dollar deposit for a party of 2! read more

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High quality sushi served traditional style. Chef personally goes to the fish market every morning in order to select the courses for the day. Dinner has one appetizer course, 14 pieces of nigiri, and soup. Every bite was delicious, fresh, and prepared in a way to highlight the freshness of the seafood. For my dinner, we had scallops and uni from Hokkaido. I love that the maximum seating is 6-8 so that you get the full attention of the sushi chef. You get to learn about the dishes that you're being served and get a front seat view of the chef preparing your dish. The space feels clean and intimate. read more

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I love sushi but I have never experienced Omakasè (chef's choice) before. I was a little nervous, to be honest. I consider myself pretty adventurous but there are just a couple things I haven't had the bravery to try and snails are one of them. As luck would have it, sea snails were on the menu tonight but Chef Takè was very accommodating and replaced the snail for me without batting an eye. Everything we had was so delicious and meticulously prepared. It was so fun to hear the stories about Chef Takè's chef training. We dined with another really nice couple but other than that we had the place to ourselves. From the outside, you would never guess how amazing this restaurant is but the food is out of this world and they absolutely deserve their Michelin rating! Shin Sushi is not cheap, they are reservation only and they chose what you are eating, so it's a fun change to regular sushi dining. You need to come hungry because there are many, many courses. But it is worth every penny for this amazing food! Side note- you can request "easy rice" on your sushi if you are getting a little stuffed, which I did, and it was no problem at all. I absolutely love this restaurant and we hope to be back soon. You should definitely check it out!! I wish I could give this restaurant more than 5 stars! It's just amazing, you have to have the food to understand. Pictures just don't do it justice. Enjoy! read more

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Wow. What a meal. My wife took us here as a Christmas gift and we had a phenomenal time. We actually ended up having the place all to ourselves due to some cancellations. Chef Azumi has an absolutely incandescent personality and energy, and his wife was incredibly gracious and attentive. I really appreciated the detailed explanation of each dish, including the Japanese and English names of each fish, along with an explanation of how the fish was marinated or otherwise prepared. We loved every single bite, including my first experience having Uni. So excellent! This was our first Michelin star sushi experience, and I can't wait to come back. read more

I got histamine poisoning from the sushi. Not fresh or not kept cold. They were rude to me when I called and laughed at me when I told them the I violently threw up and that my husband's stomach turned too. No idea how they got a Michelin Star but it was a creepy place and beware! I was sick for 5 days after! Not fresh and/or not kept cold. The fish had histamines in it! read more

This was truly a unique experience. The chef cooks in a Japanese traditional fashion, explaining every ingredient as he prepares your food. 14 pieces of specially crafted sushi paired with a unique appetizer and dessert. The food was amazing. The service was top notch. Loved the fact that there can only be a certain amount of people which creates a unique vibe that you cannot get at most restaurants. It has been Michelin rated for five straight years and rightfully so. read more

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~~ABOUT~~ Taketoshi Azumi is indeed the real deal--he's worked for two decades at top spots on both coasts and comes from a family of sushi connoisseurs. In fact, Shin is named for the Tokyo restaurant run by his late father (spot the sign hanging behind the counter). Despite its pedigree, the vibe is laid-back and the joyful chef keep things entertaining, and solo diners feel a part of the crowd. His approach to shari is singular and it makes a delicate base for some of the more unusual nigiri around, like a tiny bundle of Japanese chives tied with crispy nori and topped with bonito. Then look forward to the very rare and lightly torched cherry trout, or sakura masu, which is a marvel thanks to its smoky outer layer giving way to melting richness. This review will be broken up into three parts: Food, Service, Ambience. Date/Time: March 29, 2025 @ 7:30 PM The restaurant has two seatings per night: 5:30 PM (6 people max) and 7:30 PM (8 people max). They are closed on Mondays. ~~FOOD~~ The menu at Shin Sushi is omakase-only. There are 16 courses. While I would've listed the menu, you probably won't be reading this review in March 2025, so it would be of no use. The menu changes each month. Course 1 is appetizers. Course 2-15 is nigiri. For our visit, miso soup was served with one course, which we were able to eat with our nigiri until Course 16. Speaking of, Course 16 is dessert. It was so amazing and authentic. The chef is extremely passionate and explains each course thoroughly. Despite the intimacy, the environment is extremely lively. If you're lucky, you can sit next to some very friendly guests as well. The couple at the end of the row our night was very experienced with sushi. The entire experience takes 2 hours - 2:15. Small variations may extend or decrease this time. It's quite filling. If dining at 5:30 PM, have a light lunch or no lunch at all and a heavy breakfast. ~~SERVICE~~ The chef is extremely passionate and explains each course thoroughly. His wife also works here as waitress. She will take your drink and dessert order as well as serve you the aforementioned miso soup, and take it away at the end of Course 16. Overall, she was extremely inviting, passionate, and friendly. The chef knows a lot of other chefs at places like Sushi Kaneyoshi, Sushi Note, and Asanebo -- all LA restaurants. ~~AMBIENCE~~ As is with most omakase restaurants, the environment is extremely intimate and you're essentially whispering when you talk. They block the windows and door as well as lock it. It's pure immersion and adds to the perfect experience even more. Overall, Shin Sushi is extremely deserving of its MICHELIN star, which it's retained since 2018 every year except 2020. Everything equally contributes to the Japanese experience. "It's like being in Chef Azumi's home in Japan, away from the corrupt country and stresses of this world to relax, eat sushi, and have a great time." read more

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What an AMAZING Omasake experience we had at Shin Sushi last night! Chef Taketoshi Azumi, the owner-chef of the 5 Michelin Star restaurant, is a true artist and storyteller. He provided a story before every bite. An absolute delight! An experience that felt very personal, truly a feast for the senses. read more

Shin Sushi - Michelin awards - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Shin Sushi is different from your typical Omakase restaurant in LA. As the chef says "it is old-school and casual". I came to the one-Michelin star restaurant with my partner to celebrate Valentine's Day. None of the dishes stood out to me from the night. The fish was not the freshest and was under seasoned, there was no dynamism at all in the flavors. The most disappointing and shocking moment of the night was when one of the nigiri (barracuda) served to me had a piece of fishbone that got stuck in my gums - unacceptable, considering they have one Michelin star and are charging such high prices. This has NEVER happened to me before not even at a regular sushi restaurant. The fish was also quite gamey, especially the sardine nigiri. I found that piece especially hard to stomach. I found it difficult to finish the course and could barely make it through the sixth piece because I got so full and had to ask the chef for less rice; which he was happy to accommodate. I do not think I will be returning and to be honest am quite shocked at how this place received one Michelin star. read more

Really hospitable, and funny, sushi chef for your omakase experience. The fish and style is very traditional edomae style, so you shouldn't expect any fancy toppings and gold flakes. Most of the fish were carefully seared, cured, or smoked with just slight hints of flavor, bringing the fish's natural flavor out. My meal consisted of a good range of red/black snapper, barracuda, tuna, and clams/scallops. Overall a really delicious meal. However, if you are looking for sushi that serves more over the top things, I would recommend going to Sushi Bar instead. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience and with the final price of $240 including tax/tip + sake it is fairly reasonable compared to other places in town. read more

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Wonderful omakase dinner at Shin Sushi in early December 2023. The owner/chef, Taketoshi Azumi, thoroughly describes each item served. He typically provides both the English & Japanese name of each item, the seasonality of it, how it might differ from similar types of fish, and other info of interest. They currently have 2 seatings a night, for 6 diners at 5:30 pm and 8 at 7:30 pm. My course that evening started with an assortment of appetizers, followed by 14 pieces of nigiri, and finished with dessert. There's a short but sweet list of sake, wine and beer. The items: * Appetizer tray: conch, ankimo, mushroom, crab flavored tofu, wasabi flavored tofu, sawagani crab & ginger * Medai / red snapper from Japan * Kasugo / baby snapper w/ sakura leaf * Kurodai / black snapper, miso marinated * Hotate / scallop from Hokkaido w/ salt, yuzu * Hon Maguro / bluefin tuna marinated w soy sauce * Masu / ocean trout marinated in soy sauce * Menegi / baby scallion w/ miso soup, very popular in Japan * Iwashi / sardine from Japan, marinated in salt & vinegar * Isaki / grunt fish, white fish from Kyushu Island * Amaebi / sweet shrimp from Santa Barbara, aged 2 days to improve texture * Buri / wild yellowtail, yellow in winter, similar to yellowtail (hamachi) * Toro / fatty tuna lightly seared over charcoal * Uni / sea urchin from Hokkaido * Tamago / egg custard w ume / sour plum * Dessert: tofu mousse (choice of the tofu or coffee jelly) * Added a swell 300ml bottle of Hakkaisan Daiginjo sake Everything was excellent, but the standout items for me were the appetizers, toro, menegi and tamago. The ankimo in the appetizer set was smooth and rich; the toro was super flavorful; the menegi was a first for me, very unique and tasty; and the ume gave a great contrasting flavor to the tamago. I'll definitely return for the omakase dinner, although I'd probably want to try a different season to see how the menu changes. Pro tip: if you want a closeup on how the chef prepares each item, and/or want to engage with him as he prepares the sushi, best to find out which station he uses and ask for a seat there. On this evening he was on the far left as you face the counter, I'm not sure if he's always at that station but it is closer to where most of the fish is kept. read more

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Shin provides a refreshing experience with an excellent variety of tastes and textures that deviates from a typical sushi regimen. Chef Azumi has an electric personality that can't help but brighten the room with smiles all around. The colorful ways he described the sushi gave me a greater depth of understanding of his art. Azumi's hand-picked ingredients from the morning shine with the care he puts into each piece. Some were seared quickly, others were baked. Some had a smooth rich flavor while others had the plump and firm texture. The grassy Japanese chives were a pleasant surprise! I really liked that each sushi was so unique despite being dressed with similar sauces. I didn't feel like I was ever forced to differentiate minute variations in taste from piece to piece but rather that I could be immersed in a symphony of distinct flavors through the direction of the chef. Thank you Chef Azumi for the experience! Make sure to book in advance because there's limited seating. They offer 2 dinner sessions, and we recommend eating at the bar for a front seat view of the master chef making each sushi piece. read more

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Simply incredible! A sushi experience like no other. Very minimalist simple classic sushi environment that offers Nigiri exclusive fish from Japan, in house tofu, miso soup like you have never tasted before, the fish that you cannot get in a regular sushi bar, sake selection unmatched. No soy sauce, no wasabi, the ginger is organic special select, just enjoy. Jazz music, the chef prepares the sushi with a rhythm, explains every serving where the fish came from. By the way the absolute best Uni I have ever had. It was from Mexico! All of these is for a hefty price tag of $270 per person! If you can afford it, then enjoy. I think it's worth it. read more

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Everything from the intimacy of the restaurant to the top end food was incredible. What an experience!

Probably the worst reservation experience I've ever had. How do you get a Michelin star and not know the basics of reserving. Clearly a language barrier but, outdone by the poor attitude of the individual taking the reservation. read more

I ate at Shin over 2 years ago now but it's still among the top 2 places in LA that I recommend people try, especially if they're looking for a more upscale & personalized experience. Chef Take is a funny, honest, and open person that will tell you about each dish you try. And you definitely have to try it--I never knew miso soup could be so good! The Toro was my favorite dish of the night--probably the single best piece of fish I'd ever had. But everything was spectacular, and I'm looking forward to going again! read more

Tucked away in a nondescript strip mall in Encino is this traditional no-frills omakase experience. Before our reservation date, I got a call confirming the reservation as well as an emphasis on arriving on time. Though the first seating is 5:30, the restaurant itself opens at 5:25 so there's not a big benefit on arriving really early. Being timely at any omakase spot is important though, the pacing is really precise and I've seen instances where a late patron will be behind a dish the entire meal, it throws off the chefs flow. I recommend always arriving on time / a bit early for any nice meal. Chef Taketoshi expertly sources some of the best ingredients and uses his discretion in enhancing the natural flavors of each fish. He's got a killer personality to boot - the chef knows how to crack some hilarious jokes! So don't be shy and definitely strike up conversations with him, he's got some great stories from being a sushi chef all his life. He's definitely passionate about what he does. There were some really unique fishes served, and I always appreciate new ingredients. I've eaten alot of omakase sushi dinners throughout my life so it's pretty uncommon for me to not be somewhat familiar with a fish / region. Some of the noteworthy items I had that I never had prior was snow trout, 2 day aged amaebi (I have had it but never aged), and seared Canadian Uni. My first time actually having uni from Canada, and the uni being seared as well! There was not a single bad dish throughout the entire dinner. Our server who I think is actually the chefs wife was extremely timely on refilling our sake and was so kind. Now let's talk a bit about the restaurant itself. I find alot of times people get too wrapped up or put too much emphasis behind ambiance and decor. Nice ambiance will always elevate an establishment, but I find people feel it goes the opposite way and can negatively impact how they felt about the food. This location is definitely not upscale in any regard, and I actually believe some people may feel it somehow lowers the entire dining experience for them, even to how they perceive the quality of the fish. If you come here know that even though the decor is really bare bones, the food is of a very high caliber and extremely delicious. Is this the best sushi establishment in southern California? No. It's a lovely experience though and 100% worth a visit at least once, especially for such an affordable price. Per person after tax and a bottle of sake our bill was $240 per person. For the LA area it would be hard to find better quality for the price quality of fish. Shin Sushi is definitely deserving of their star, and I would highly recommend this place to anyone who's on the fence. Just an extra note for anyone who's curious. I'm from the OC area and still highly recommend Omakaese by Gino for those who are interested in discovering new places to go. It's one of my favorites and I highly encourage everyone to give it a try. read more

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Shin sushi is beyond amazing. Almost indescribable but alas, we must perform the Yelper duties and bring this review to life! If you would like to watch my dining experience, I somewhat vlogged my dinner! https://youtu.be/PpEXWM1pqwY I booked a spot with Chef Azumi about two weeks prior to my Thursday night dinner. Besides me, there was only another couple so three of us enjoying an intimate and quaint evening here. You would never suspect a Michelin star Omakase joint next to a feed store and liquor store with a Norm's at the entrance of the plaza but hey, never judge a book by its cover! My dinner was at 5:30 and I arrived a bit early unsure about seating or entering, but the doors remained closed until about 5:20. I entered and was greeted by Daniel, the only waiter here. He sat me at the bar still close to the chef and I had a moment to take in the simple yet amazing interior of a classic Japanese sushi restaurant. I ordered a Dasai sake that came in its own carafe and it was strong but not overpowering, slightly sweet and washed down smoothly. Soon after, dinner began! You start off with an amazing appetizer platter of squid, kabocha, tofu, and ginger. Chef does a phenomenal job at explaining each and every dish - the origins of the ingredients, textures and smells, what seasonings or cooking methods he used, and sometimes how to eat them. For the appetizer he said to eat the squid with the mustard miso he prepared right underneath it. I devoured everything on the plate! Then came the big lineup - the sushi! I believe we had 15 sushi pieces so 16 total courses with the appetizer, plus dessert. Each piece of sushi was so unique and you could tell Chef takes the time to individually prepare not only your own piece right in front of you, but he makes distinctions selecting and how to prepare each fish. Some pieces even come from the same fish species, specifically the snapper which he said one is an adult and the other is a young fish so they each had unique tastes and textures. Some of my absolute favorites for the night were the seared toro, Hokkaido scallop, uni, and sweet shrimp. But don't let that discourage you from the rest - every. single. piece. made me go "mmm" "ooo" "wow". So fresh, delicious, and meticulously crafted! Chef had prepared three desserts including a lychee sorbet, mango sorbet, and tofu mousse with black sugar syrup. I really could not decide so I asked Daniel to surprise me and to my absolute surprise, he brought me all three! The sorbets were cool, refreshing, smooth and fruity while that tofu mousse was out of this world, so creamy yet firm with the caramelized and toasty sugar sauce. The main omakase came to $144, after the sake and tax it was $178. I have definitely seen pricier options in LA without less praise and of course, restaurants and chefs and environments nowhere near as fun, interactive, immersive, and exciting as that which Chef Azumi brings you. I can not wait to return and will happily do so! read more

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The interior gave off a very welcoming vibe, not fancy at all, and gives out a somewhat traditional Japanese vibe. A very nice ambiance to begin with. The most memorable dishes to me were the appetizer plate, yuzu Hokkaido scallop, seared toro, aged bluefin, and the dessert we chose - tofu mousse. The appetizer definitely stood out the most with the crunchy crab on top. though chef Take has a Michelin star, I wouldn't call this the BEST omakase experience I have ever had. Chef was very easygoing and engaged during our dinner, we enjoyed the interactions a lot. However I felt like something was missing from the menu mainly because no sashimi was served. Overall I would still recommend Shin Sushi because the experience was pleasant and enjoyable, and the price point is reasonable. read more

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ORDERING: In consideration of the percentage third parties take from the restaurant when you order online, I decided to directly call in my order of two Deluxe Bara Chirashis ($48 each) and a Tofu Mousse ($6) shortly after they opened at 5PM. The lady who picked up was very nice, and the call was over in a minute (literally, according to my phone lol). It was set to pick up on Sunday (4 days in advance, but I just wanted to get it out of the way as this is for an occasion). On the day of, the same lady (I believe Yukiyo?) was able to accommodate a personal birthday note typed in Japanese, which I very much appreciated. :,) FOOD: Bara Chirashi was soooo good, soy sauce wasn't even needed. The fish, especially the Uni, were practically melt-in-your-mouth and so fresh tasting (fishiness taste was nowhere to be found). Tofu Mousse, which we shared between 2, was fluffy and the syrup was NOT overwhelming at all! It added almost a nutty, gingery flavor? I don't know how to quite explain it, but I felt healthy eating it, hahaha. The fresh wasabi was great!! Though I might have been too excited as my taste buds were shocked by the hit of heat. Yellow radish (I believe this was what it was; similar to what's provided in Korean cuisines but more natural looking) was also provided on the side, was something was unique to our experience. PACKAGING: The delicately placed fish was DSLR worthy as it was arranged in an aesthetically pleasing and colorful array. Came with a hand-cut leaf decoration. Was able to chat a bit with the chef and Yukiyo, upon pick-up. Very friendly! Hope to get to know them both better when indoor dining is open again - would love to come back to try the omakase. read more

Shin Sushi - Deluxe Chirashi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is a real Omakase experience. Intimidate. Considered. A work of art. The outside is very unassuming - it's in the back of a quiet strip mall, roughly in the north west area of the mall (plenty of free parking). Interior is clean, simple. Cuisine is fantastic. Delightful fish, thoughtfully prepared to showcase the fish itself. Chef will walk you through each course, sharing insight on himself and his craft. Nothing is overdone- everything has balance. Even the anchovy (iwashi) was full of wonderful anchovy flavor without being overpowering (I tend to like gamier sushi, such as Saba, so I can be tolerant of excess but did not find it here). Great selection of fish from a variety of locations, with plenty from Japan. Chef is humble and you can feel his passion. One regret I had was my own fault, my husband suddenly got sick and was unable to go. I should have called ahead to let Chef know and regret it after seeing his effort behind the experience he created. Hope it says something that I left my husband at home because I didn't want to miss out (sorry, not sorry). I hope to be back soon! I recommend for people who want to experience a culinary journey with the craftsperson who curated it. read more

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This was an amazing experience: Chef is so fun to watch and every.single.bite was perfect. I loved how intimate the experience was. I will be back! read more

My husband booked this place for our anniversary and the experience is better than I even expected. Due to Covid, they only have 3 tables available each time and one round of omakase is around 2 hours with one appetizer and 10 dishes to follow. It's a small place but the chef really made the experience personal for us. He likes to chat with his customers and even offered us extra desserts for our anniversary. Even though it's traditional sushi omakase, the flavor and some of cuts were new to me. I can definitely feel the chefs thoughts and heart in the food he made. Everything is super fresh and tasty. Service is top notch. Definitely would come back for more. read more

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Intimate omakase dinner with the best sushi chef. Traditional and simple but very special and delicious! Get the tofu mousse for dessert read more

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I had a very wonderful dinner at Mori sushi many years ago and at that time Take-san was the itamae behind the sushi bar, standing in front of the cutting board serving the omakase to me for the entire night. His sushi making skill was exceptional and left me with an excellent impression, so it is just a matter of time for me to go visit his own sushi joint Shin Sushi at Encino. Shin served traditional edomae style sushi which is on the same par with all the top rated sushi bar in LA. Chef Take create perfect combinations of flavors from all different types of fresh ingredients, together with his art of presentation, it certainly gives you one of those memorable meal experience. Since it was a celebratory dinner arranged by my friend and it was in the early seating at 5:30pm, I didn't plan to bring a line up of sake to drink with the sushi omakase because I knew we won't have enough time to finish up before the next party show up, so tonight I just ordered 2 bottle of sake off from Shin's menu. Shin has a minimalist sake list but they are all with rich, dynamic and full-flavored characteristics, I end up select the Katsuyama Akatsuki and the Tatsuriki Yoneda and to my surprise, the Yoneda box turns out to have an Akitsu inside. For those who are not familiar with the Tatsuriki label sake from Honda Shoten, Akitsu was one of their top label sake which used only the highest quality Yamada Nishiki rice, often aged in the bottle for years before release, the texture and taste is so complex that not many other sake can match. I guess the error could be made somewhere in the distributor when they take out the bottle and apply the English version of the description label, the bottles were somehow placed back into the wrong box. It must be my lucky night to have an upgrade due to someone's mistake along the logistic line from Japan to the US. Take-san is a fun, friendly sushi chef and also good at what he does. It's really fun to interact with him during the the whole dinner and talk about sake and sushi. This is for sure one of the best sushi experience although it was a lot shorter than my usual omakase dinner, mainly because it was the first seating. I'll definitely recommend to make reservation on the 2nd seating to be more relaxing and without the pressure to end the dinner. read more

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Trying this Omakase place for the first time and it was an amazing experience. Each piece tasted sweet and savory. Some the fish seemed like it would be fishy but they weren't! I would definitely recommend this place! The chef was really cool and explained each dish. The service was great as well! But you need a reservation and make sure to arrive on time. 14 course Omakase for $425 w/tip. read more

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Had an amazing meal on Saturday night wIth reservations for 2 at 7:30pm. To the handful of bad reviews, or the ones looking at reviews for guidance - you need a reservation and you should only come here for omakase. I believe there are two seating times, and do not expect to be able to walk in and grab a seat. That said, we had a wonderful time. It's entirely run by Chef Taka and his wife, which is why they keep to reservations (for prepping ingredients in advance) and a pretty strict 8 - 9 person bar seating. Each dish is spaced out perfectly to give you time to drink, chat, ask questions, or just enjoy the view of the chef prepping each course. We got hot green tea and a small carafe of sake to share. The omakase is between 12-14 courses, which was more than enough for me. You have the option of adding more if you choose. We ended up adding on enough courses so that we ended up with 17 or 18... I can't remember how many, but we were stuffed! The explanations, attention to service, and quality of seafood were fantastic, but I will note a few things: 1. It's a family run place -- their 15 month daughter is there sometimes, but is pretty well behaved. The whole omakase group and I thought she was the sweetest, with grandma nearby taking care of her. 2. While high quality, this doesn't measure up to, say, luxury omakase spots in SF or LA. Just a different vibe, but delicious and impressive nonetheless. 3. This is authentically Japanese omakase - it's about the fish, rice, and fresh wasabi (made in house!), and is true to its flavors. No wacky ingredients or gastronomy here. In the end, it was about $300 (post tax) for two people including our small sake and dessert. Each dish is charged individually, so omakase could run anywhere from $85 - $150 pp depending on how you order. We were STUFFED and could have easily stopped at 12 courses. Don't skip out on dessert - the tofu one with brown sugar reminded me of Taiwanese sweet tofu (but thicker like Greek yogurt) and the homemade hojicha ice cream was delicious. Incredibly reasonably priced omakase. Run, don't walk, to Shin Sushi! read more

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