Neighborhood jewel where Little Italy/Columbia District/and the Harbor meet! Calming, traditional ambiance, balancing small tables, the sushi bar with two or three chefs busy at their craft. Japanese beer and sake, the freshest nigiri, sashimi, large choice of rolls and other favorites arrive, beautifully arranged on elegantly dressed tableware. A great place for a private date or fun with friends! Plenty of shareable dishes! Moderately priced and worth every penny. read more

An extra star for the thoughtful and child-friendly service. I brought my 6 year old here for sushi after trying to get into Sugarfish and then Azuki. There was no wait here but parking was a nightmare and there is almost no street parking right around the restaurant which is near the trolley tracks. I recalled coming here for a light dinner with my husband many years ago and thinking it was good, but expensive. I asked if they had Japanese soda for my daughter because it was not on the menu, and they said no, but after we came back from the bathroom the host had found one for us. They gave us chopstick helpers and were very nice. We ordered braised pork belly as an app and wagyu nigiri, albacore, hamachi, salmon belly, 2 salmons, and unagi. I think that was all. They nicely split the order so half had no wasabi for the kid. They were very considerate and I appreciated it. The food however took a while to come out. The braised pork belly was ok, but the fat had not rendered as well as at some other places so we ate around it. The flavor was good though. The hamachi was probably the best item-tender and tasty. The albacore was standard and a generous piece, but the salmon was a bit tough and my kid who usually inhales salmon tasted and then left the salmon. The wagyu had good flavor but was surprisingly chewy. For $26 I would expect it to melt in your mouth but it was not easy to bite through. The eel was very tender but had a weird taste, and was disappointing. I found myself chewing on a scale from maybe the salmon and was overall underwhelmed by the food. The bill for a soda and the sushi came to almost $150 after tax and tip for me and a 6-year old. Usually my husband and I and my kid go to places with better quality and pay the same price for the three of us. Will not be back. read more

Quality of fish is great and sushi is quite decent. However, I had a very unpleasant experience and would have given 2 stars but the servers' actions at the end compel me to give the establishment a pass. I was dining alone and only ordered 4 hand rolls (not on the menu but they're able to turn almost every cut roll into a hand roll). I waited 40 minutes for the hand rolls which is excessively long. I sat at the bar and was not greeted by the sushi chefs which is the norm. I alerted the server who sat me and he apologized for the experience, explaining that the chef was backed up on rolls. Though I appreciated this, my server also missed an item that I ordered which left me with 3 hand rolls. At the end, the manager comped my order and while leaving gave me my missed roll to take to go. Knowing that I had an unfortunate experience, all of the servers continued to check up on me and showed attentiveness at the end of my meal. However, in the initial 30-40 minute wait time I was not given any service -- note that I was noticeably disappointed -- and with a small store it should not have been difficult to complete a check-in in that time period. Although the gestures at the end were very appreciated, I am still wary of ever returning to this restaurant due to -- lack of acknowledgement and inconsistent service from the sushi chef, possibility of wasted time/incredibly long wait for the meal, and distracted staff that mistook my order read more

Shino Sushi - Scallop hand roll - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Here at comic con and looking for a nice place for dinner and this was close to our hotel. The reviews were great so we checked it out. The place is quaint. The service quick and friendly. Food was delicious. Got the Philly roll, salmon sashimi and vegetable tempura. All in a nice small sushi joint in little Italy. read more

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Service was great, ambience was good, food was disappointing. The nigiri was delicious, everything else not so much.

If you're looking for a truly authentic, high-end Japanese dining experience in San Diego, Shino Sushi is hands down the top choice! We booked the chef's omakase course, and from the first delicate appetizer to every piece of nigiri at the end, it was nothing short of art. The fish was impeccably fresh--especially the otoro and uni, which melted in your mouth alongside the perfectly seasoned sushi rice. The master chef not only has incredible craftsmanship but also kindly shares the origins of each fish, making the whole experience feel so special and immersive! read more

The food was delicious!! I loved the nigiri & the toro toro roll. I've never had a roll like the toro toro before! The combination of the toro, truffle oil and pickled radish was just perfect! And I loved the Kobe beef nigiri! The service was pretty slow. When we got seated, they asked if we could finish within 45 mins for the next reservation & we said yes. The rolls took more than 30 mins to come out. So we did our best to finish quickly. The vibe of the restaurant is dimmed lights, dark inside to have this romantic feel. They were playing EDM music kind of loud! read more

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The service was friendly and welcoming. The rolls were awesome. As a bonus they had Japanese beer on draft and the saki was delicious. Like any other high quality sushi establishemt you must be willing the pay the price. In other words "You Get What You Pay For". Would definitely want to eat here again. read more

Shino Sushi - Perfectly made jalapeño spicy roll....Phenomenal to the last bite.....I want more - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Shino Sushi + Kappo really impressed me--super fresh fish, beautiful presentation, and a calm, intimate vibe. You can tell everything is made with care, and the quality is top tier. We made reservations just a day ahead, and it filled up fast--definitely a popular spot! Next time, I'd love to sit at the counter to watch the chefs in action. Every dish that came to our table felt special and thoughtfully prepared. The uni and seasonal sashimi were definite standouts! Lots of umami with every bite/sip. Service was friendly and very attentive. The whole experience felt relaxed yet elevated--perfect for date night or catching up with friends over excellent sushi and a solid sake selection, all without the trendy hype. I'll absolutely be back! read more

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Have been here a few times- made reservations the day before for 6pm on a weekend and have not had any problems. The sushi here is very fresh! We've gotten a variety of things each time, but we always always get the toro toro roll ($29)! It's a bit expensive for a roll but soooo good and so worth it! There is plentiful negitoro and the crispy garlic pieces are so good. The tuna don ($32) has a lot of tuna pieces and comes with miso soup which is nice. We've also gotten several of the sashimi combos and those were also very good. We also usually get a bottle of sake and the prices are reasonable in my opinion. Overall, service is always very good and we always leave satisfied. read more

Shino Sushi - Toro Toro Roll - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Great sushi spot we found while staying in San Diego. The sushi was good and service was great. Staff were friendly and attentive. The restaurant has a large sushi bar area and ample seating, but outside area. We ordered some appetizers, Agedashi tofu, Gyoza, and Seaweed salad. They were all good, but especially liked the tofu with its lightly crisped skin, soft texture and sauce. We ordered the Albacore, Spider, Rainbow, Caterpillar, and Heat wave rolls. All were fresh and sushi size was very good. Overall, a great experience. Happy Nom Nom! read more

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Our hotel was near by and this was open late. We weren't expecting much but it was one of the best sushi places we have been to in a while! The fish was incredibly fresh, melt in your mouth and the waitress who served us made excellent recommendations. A hidden gem. It is a smaller restaurant with high ceilings so it can get loud. Reservations are highly encouraged. read more

Shino Sushi - Fresh Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna Special - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came back here to give it a second try (first time was solid, not my favorite place and I felt like everything tasted fairly similar but fresh sushi) and enjoyed it a lot more this time! Servers were kind and attentive even on a busy Friday night. The San Diego roll was great, and the miso soup was also a hit. Cozy spot with fresh fish and classic options read more

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Great chefs, nice waitress, poor customer service by the boy in the front seating customers. I called on Sunday to make a reservation for the following Thursday for my friend's birthday. I requested the chefs table for two. The boy sat us at a high top at the bar and I asked if he could honor my reservation as there were many seats open at the chefs table and he said "you didn't reserve that". I told him the woman who answered confirmed it with me on Sunday and showed him my call log. He ran off came back and said "I talked to her and you're wrong, you didn't ask for that!" and ran off for the second time. He was rude, condescending and did not try and rectify the situation for a paying customer. On top of this, the chefs table seats sat open the whole time from 8-9 pm when we were there. Hope management addresses this with him, and make sure you confirm the chefs table before you arrive! read more

Sushi was good but definitely not worth the price point. I feel like the price matches the location rather than quality. Wasn't bad but it didn't blow my mind. Waitress was really nice read more

The fish is very fresh here. Definitely go for the nigiri. It's amazing. Their Toro is incredible, and must try albacore sashimi. I could skip the rolls next time, nothing too special read more

Loved this place. The salmon nigiri was spot-on. Super fresh and had that melt-in-your-mouth quality that makes you really want to savor each bite. The agedashi tofu did not disappoint either. The interior space is cool and artsy. Love the modern vibe alongside the sushi bar. read more

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First time here in a while. We got three rolls. The Delmar the Heat Wave in Spicy tempura. The Delmar was amazing. Definitely try the Rice lager. Lite delicious. Trinity was so friendly and knowledgeable She recommended an amazing saki . We will start to frequent more often. Chill vibe amazing service Solid sushi read more

Shino Sushi - Del Mar - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Authentic sushi. Calm atmosphere. Walking distance to shore line. Sushi chef was charming. Absolutely love it.

Very tasty and fresh sushi. Delicate flavors. The hand rolls were amazing. The staff was amazing. Very attentive. Felt at home.

High quality fish. Very tasty. Not inexpensive at all. Very attentive staff as well. Reservations are recommended (especially if you want a sushi bar seat). Would definable eat here again. read more

I've only been here twice and the first time I came was not impressed but last night, everything was absolutely amazing! We sat at the sushi bar right in front of Tom, who is awesome and so sweet and he prepared some of the most amazing sashimi and nigiri's For us. Sitting at the sushi bar is my favorite and I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys the interaction with the chef. We started with the jalapeño Hamachi and also had the Toro Toro roll, salmon nigiri, the spicy Hamachi roll, and ended off with the fatty o-toro roll which is the belly/fattiest part of toro. WOW so amazing and everything melted in our mouthes! The quality of the fish here is unmatched. So fresh and so delicious. read more

Shino Sushi - Jalapeño Hamachi Jalapeno Special - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Walked in and found a seat at the bar. The staff was very professional and attentive. Sushi chefs were not playing around. The Verry Belly Belly Sashimi was wonderful. The roll did not disappoint. Great little date spot.... I will be back. read more

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Freshest fish I've ever had! The chefs are from Japan and create art with food. This place is a hidden gem but must be celebrated! I come here once a week and still can't get enough. All the nigiri's are perfect along with the crispy rice, hamachi jalapeño, kitchen sink roll, and albacore crispy onions. My mouth is watering writing this. read more

The kitchen sink is one of the best rolls in San Diego. Every bite is so fresh and packed with flavor. The rest of our order was great too, but this one has stuck with me since our visit. After leaving the museum of contemporary art on a Saturday we wanted to walk somewhere for dinner. We didn't have reservations during peak dinner time so I didn't have my expectations high. I'm so thankful I called Shino sushi, I didn't think there was any way they would have a table, but they managed to get us in! I'd recommend making a reservation if you can though. Service was great. Food was great. I was a little bummed I saw other tables around us get thank you mochi at the end of our meal and we didn't. A trip to salt & straw after satisfied that craving read more

Shino Sushi - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Fun spot! We made a reservation for 4 and got a nice corner table in the 2nd dining room. Our server was fantastic and provided us some of her fav's and gave us the scoop on the saki selection. We had everything from starters, to rolls to sashimi and even a roll that wasn't on the menu. Top quality sushi and priced well within the expected for SD. I mean you're right next to the ocean :) I was so hypnotized by the sushi I only took a few pics. read more

Shino Sushi - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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We had a reservation due to popularity. The waitress was attentive and made us feel welcomed. She answered our question both of the food and the area. The sushi was brilliant. Fresh and delightfully presentation. Would come back any time we are in town. read more

Amazing! This sushi is AUTHENTIC and delicious. Go here if you want to get away from sugary sauces and have real, fresh seafood and flavors.

Shino is a nice atmosphere, excellent service, and tasty sushi. A bit hard to find - the front door is exactly adjacent to the train tracks. read more

Shino Sushi - Golden Eye snapper. Ever heard of it? - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

This is my first time visiting Shino Sushi! The restaurant looks very cool and a nice vibe but the food is mediocre. Ambiance: There is a ton of seating and essentially two stories of different tables. There is dimmer lighting with a louder noise level. The server was decent, she had a lot of tables to manage so we can't blame her. Crunchy salmon roll: I honestly did not really like this roll. I had better from other restaurants. The crunch was just too overpowering. There was not enough eel sauce. I feel like I was mainly eating tempura flakes rather than a salmon roll. read more

Shino Sushi - Crunchy Salmon Roll - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I was in town for work and found this place near my hotel. Sadly, this restaurant served me the worst sushi I've ever eaten in my entire life. I never thought I would ever describe sushi as DRY, but that's exactly what it was. Horribly dry and seriously lacking in flavor. Would not recommend this place at all. read more

This place is amazing! Always such great service and they remember my order every time. A hit and run each time I visit. If you're looking for a shushing spot to take care of you, this is it. read more

We made a reservation last night for dinner. The place was quiet and a little of the dark side. We were sat immediately, and our server came to drop off waters and fill our shoyu dishes. We ordered the Midori and it was super good. Not super super sweet. We ordered the yellowtail Kama for a starter. It was really good, we needed more ponzu though. Very crispy on the outside and flavorful on the inside. For our entrees, we ordered the threesome roll, the kitchen sink roll, the surf clam sushi, tuna sushi, the mackerel sushi and a yellowtail cucumber hand roll. They call nigiri "sushi." The rolls were delicious. The only sushi that wasn't our favorite was the mackerel, it was on the drier side. I would go back!! The menu seems very basic but it's so good. read more

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great food and service! staff was so funny and honest with her recommendations! Chu toro melted in my mouth! toro toro roll is great if you love truffle! will come back here! read more

Shino Sushi - Toro Toro Roll - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Right around the corner from where we're staying this weekend .. definitely make a reservation since it does get crowded. Service was fenomenal and all the recommendations were on point, all the nigiri we ordered was fresh and the rolls specially the toro with truffle oil super tasty. There was a party sitting at the bar very loud and drunk and it made it kind of hard to enjoy the music and conversation since the place is on the small side. Again prices in downtown San Diego are high so around $200 is pretty much the norm. read more

Great sushi spot close to Waterfront Park. Made a dinner reservation two days previous via phone. The sushi was delicious, and very fresh. Highly recommend the Very Belly Belly sashimi combo, which comes with 2 chu toro, 3 salmon belly, and 3 yellowtail belly - melt-in-your-mouth good! Also tried the fatty toro and unagi sushi. The chu toro was surprisingly better than the o toro, but the unagi was perfection. I would love to come back and try the omakase dinner! My only suggestion is to add a way to book reservations online. read more

Shino Sushi - O toro and Unagi sushi - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Delicious fresh perfection. I came to this little spot with a coworker and the omakase was to die for! Everything was so perfectly curated. Service and ambiance was on point. I can't wait to come back in the future! read more

Shino Sushi - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I'll start by saying this place ranks in my top five sushi bars. I'm visiting San Diego for work and Shino is just around the corner from my hotel. They are definitely more upscale than your average "hole in the wall" sushi bar you might find in San Francisco or the like. First impression was it was obvious the restaurant owner(s), chefs, and staff care about the experience patrons have in their establishment. The environment was modern but classy. It was easy to get an intimate feel in the place, even at the sushi bar. The wait staff was meticulous and on point. I loved how attentive to traditions they were as well. Our server, Trinity, didn't just make sure waters were filled and plates were cleared in a timely manner, she made sure to pour the sake every time there was an empty cup (In Japanese tradition it is bad luck to pour your own sake). I've had wait staff pour the first cup in restaurants before, but not every single one. Keith (our sushi chef) was great. He was quick with the knife, but had some of the best cuts I've seen with sushi and sashimi. And quality was the best I've had since the last hole in the wall I found on a trip to S.F. Three years ago. Every piece melted in your mouth. It doesn't matter what you are in town for, if you love sushi and find yourself in downtown San Diego for the night, you have to spend your money at Shino. 100% worth the cost. read more

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A real sushi restaurant off the beaten plan. We ordered takeout and the lady at the check-in couldn't have been nicer. Brought us sake and water while we waited. The food was first rate. Highly recommended read more

Fresh sashimi! I loved all things tuna at this spot. Tonight was sushi for convenience as it was up the block from Waterfront Park. The crowd appeared to be regulars from the high-rise apartments surrounding the bay. Everyone was dressed very casual. Not what I would choose for a date night as it can get loud with the patrons feeling right at home. Quality over quantity here. It will easily burn a hole in your pocket. The tako was a teeny bit chewy, but I liked the sashimi so much I had the chopped toro for "dessert." They have two dining room sections. The menu is fairly purist with traditional sushi options and a small teriyaki section. read more

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