Excellent, wonderfully fresh fish. We've been several times since they opened, and never received anything but the finest sushi & excellent presentation. This is not like the chain sushi places, no fake "Krab" here! Sophisticated setting, clean & classy. Reasonable prices for substantial servings. So great to have this on the north bank of the river!!! read more

Great service. Expensive but tasteful cocktails. The bar feels intimate. Delicious roll and poke bowl. I wish I remembered the names. read more

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Sushi was fresh. Appreciated the sake flights. Server was very pleasant and checked on us with a good cadence. read more

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Myah was a great server! This place is so cute and hip, and I love the little bar area. We went for happy hour and they have very cool drinks that you should try. I would not get the stuffed mushrooms next time they were not good. They were bland and you only get two during happy hour. Tuna roll and spicy edamame were delicious. Happy prices were open, but I feel like it's a little expensive for what you get. read more

This is a spot on the waterfront without the waterfront view. There are a couple of cozy tables in the bar, where the rest of the restaurant isn't as special. Service was great--friendly and attentive. The menu was fairly simple. The signature rolls were on the pricey side--around $25 each. Cocktails were nice. They also have sake flights. We ordered edamame and shishito peppers, which had dried fish in top. There were more spicy peppers than usual. I don't think I'd order that again, though it was unique. We ordered the Geisha Roll, which sounded better than it was. There was a flavor I did not like in the fish. The Mr Sakai roll was everyone's favorite. We also got the rainbow roll, which was fresh and good and the scallop roll. I liked the microgreens. The hubs and I agreed--the rolls were fine, but not special or great. We both like the option of tempura and they don't have any fried food. We usually get a mixture of rolls. So, maybe this place is more for sushi purists. read more

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Great atmosphere, delicious sushi! Stopped by on a weekday afternoon for lunch and was seated quickly, no wait. The staff was very kind. The atmosphere feels upscale but not stuffy. The table settings are pretty stoneware and fit the vibe beautifully. I ordered the Sake Temaki Hand Roll (Salmon). It was fresh and yummy! I also got the 2pcs King Salmon Nigiri. The fish tasted good. Overall pretty high quality, not fishy at all and smooth. I would definitely come here again and try more. I was very pleased! read more

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The sushi is so good. We love the Geisha roll, the Pacific Northwest roll, and the Green Dragon roll. The fish is amazing and then there is the sauces. Geisha roll has a cilantro sauce that is amazing and they use a fig sauce on the Green Dragon that adds complexity to the flavors. This is the best sushi restaurant in Vancouver. read more

ShinSen Sushi & Lounge - Half eaten rolls from top to bottom: Green Dragon, Geisha, Pacific Northwest - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

Great atmosphere. Feels like a higher end sushi place. The rolls are quite good and the drinks are excellent. Service was quick and prompt. Overall great experience. Children friendly. read more

Showed up Friday night at 7pm without a reservation and we're able to get seated! Staff was very friendly. Resturant had a nice ambiance, little lamps on every table. Made for a nice date night spot. We got 2 rolls and a crab hand roll. Drinks were funny and fish was great. Definitely recommend it. Very happy vancouver water front is getting new resturants read more

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Definitely an anniversary or special date night type of restaurant. Pricey. Good ambiance, stellar service, no wait on an early Saturday evening. Parking was okay (paid street parking & paid lot parking). We were swiftly offered any table of our choice. We opted for a small table with ambient lighting near the bar. The bartender was sweet and personable. The food took a bit long but ordered drinks to sip on. The lychee martini came with real lychee and was tasty to drink. My favorite was the hot sake which was only $8! Great flavor and great price. The tuna roll was more fatty than I like but the Waterfront roll was absolutely delicious. It was a nice night out but because the prices are high I'd reserve a meal like this for a special occasion. read more

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Not very good, way below what I expected when I came in for lunch. The person I dined with ordered a spicy tuna roll and chicken udon noodle soup. I ordered a bunch of nigiri. The food came out painfully slow. That order turned into a two hour lunch basically. The fish didn't seem that fresh. My buddy completely finished the spicy tuna roll and half the soup before my nigiri was served. The restaurant wasn't that busy either. Cannot recommend to others. Way overpriced, uneven dining experience with fish that seems less than fresh. I think at one point I saw a food runner trying to put together some of the sushi rolls for tables. Seems to want to be an upscale place without the upscale experience. read more

Best sushi in Vancouver. Fresh fish, udon soup is my favorite. Owner and stuff are very friendly and provide a great service. Highly recommend read more

Shinsen Sushi & Lounge in downtown Vancouver is a culinary gem. The beautifully designed restaurant and friendly staff set the tone for an exceptional dining experience. We chose to sit in the bar area which is an intimate retreat perfect for sipping unique signature cocktails. I ordered a LYCHEE MARTINI, made with vodka, lychee, elderflower syrup, and lemon. It was not only delicious it was beautiful. We also ordered a California Roll to share. It was a delicious and elegantly presented dish featuring real crab mix, avocado, cucumber, tobixo, and sesame. For dessert we chose a cloud cake with cream and fresh berries. It was melt in your mouth delicious and a perfect dessert for a very warm day. Shinsen is an ideal spot for any occasion, whether it's a romantic date or a night out with friends. read more

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Stopped by on Sunday, 07/21 for dinner and was seated immediately. Place wasn't too packed since they'd only been open for about 2 weeks. Order was taken promptly since it wasn't too busy, and food came shortly after. Pros: + Chefs and servers are all family and they're nice and friendly! + Bar seating available + Central location to hotel/residential buildings and the waterfront Cons: - I got diarrhea after, but it's all good cause the food and service was great! What I Ordered: + Veggie Udon (added chicken); 4/5 + Hamachi sashimi; 5/5 I ordered hamachi sashimi and they gave me hamachi belly sashimi! So nice! It was def tasty, but either the fish or the noodles landed me on the toilet. But I ain't even mad! Will return if I'm in Vancouver again! read more

ShinSen Sushi & Lounge - jul 21, 2024 - hamachi toro (i actually ordered hamachi but chef was kind enough to give me the toro version); 5/5 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

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Very cool to see a fun, quality, sushi place for date night. If you're looking for a sushi date night then I would give this a solid 4, however there are a few sushi spots in Vancouver that I would prefer for an every day type sushi dinner. Let's break it down: The fish on the nigiri was super high quality - real crab, thick cuts of fish, and clean tasting. The cocktails were incredible - we went with the whiskey options. The staff were very attentive and friendly and the ambiance felt very intimate for a date night. However - the rolls themselves were fine - nothing revolutionary but decent options. The cost was a little high but this was expected being on the waterfront. Also worth noting that the nigiri came with wasabi already in it. Overall a solid option to round out the options on the Vancouver waterfront read more

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We arrived before the dinner rush and were welcomed in without a reservation. Walking in, we were pleased with how deceptively large the interior felt and it is cozy, too. I hope the pictures can speak for themselves - portions are definitely generous for the nigiri and I feel as though the prices are very fair, especially for a spot in the Waterfront area. Everything tasted fresh and was rich with flavor! I think over time, service will get buttoned up, there's always growing pains near opening. Honestly, though, I don't have anything to complain about! Please come enjoy! We know we're already planning the next time to visit. PS lol @Taylor K, they definitely missed out by having a bad attitude read more

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The bowl was delicious and the service was excellent! The only thing to pick on was that the tuna, while fresh, the membrane in the sashimi was too hard to chew thru and they got in between the teeth easily. Regardless, the chef said if there is a preference on the fish, he could adjust the fish per the customer's desire. Friendly and good to know! read more

ShinSen Sushi & Lounge - Chirashi Bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

Ambiance was nice. Fish was fresh. Large portions. Tasty. Serviice was a tad bit slow. read more

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Paul did an excellent job. Food was great service was even better. He held the restaurant open for a bit after close for us. Would absolutely come back. read more

ShinSen Sushi & Lounge - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

have never been so disappointed with a restaurant, let alone one on the waterfront that should know how to handle a busy Friday night. I had a 7:30 PM reservation and arrived right on time with my friend, only to find out they had already given away our table. Instead of being prioritized, as any reservation holder should be we were left waiting another 20 minutes while walk-ins that came in after us were being seated ahead of us. When we were finally placed in the bar area, things only got worse. Service was painfully slow; it took ages just to order drinks, and then we sat there for over an hour with no food in sight. No one could give us a straight answer about where our order was or why it was taking so long. We weren't the only ones--tables around us were also visibly frustrated, waiting just as long. By the time our sushi finally arrived, it was almost 9 PM and the restaurant was preparing to close. The rolls themselves were... fine, but absolutely not worth the hassle. This place clearly cannot handle the volume of guests they book on a Friday night. The disorganization, lack of communication, and complete disregard for customers with reservations is astonishing. We left feeling frustrated, disappointed, and wishing we had asked for a refund. Save yourself the trouble--there are plenty of sushi spots that know how to treat their guests. We won't be back. read more

Just has a couple rolls. One was the chefs special. Can't remember the name but it was probably the best roll I've ever had. It had avacado and REAL crap inside and seared salmon on top with dollup of cupie mayo. What I liked best was that there was NO crab salad or cream cheese on the menu! Very authentic. read more

Along the Vancouver waterfront you'll find that Shinsen has some of the best sushi on both sides of the river! Their customer service is top notch, and their inventive rolls are absolutely amazing! They even created a roll that my husband tweaked, and now offer! The Aaron roll is definitely a spicy and delicious roll to try! The teriyaki salmon hit it out of the park! It's so good!!! One thing that stuck out to me was the freshness and quantity, they do not skimp on the rolls, the Dungeness crab abi roll is a standout! I honestly don't think you could go wrong with anything off their menu! It's all amazing! I can't believe I didn't snap any pictures of our food.... It was so good, we all had our chopsticks picking up rolls by the second! read more

The food was mediocre. The mushrooms were dry and un seasoned. The misi soup was warm. No tempura because of no fryers, Didn't realize. Service was great, server very nice. Will not go there again because of food. Rolls were very expensive. read more

It's okay but honestly the quality has gone down and it is now considered overpriced to me, as a result. $17.00 for a gin and tonic, with what tasted like flat, stale tonic and a drop of gin. Disappointed and have to update my original five star review. read more

The rolls were okay, with good fish quality from what I could tell, but did not have the best flavor. Unfortunately our service was terrible. We waited over 15 min for our order to be taken, waited nearly 30 minutes for our food and had to flag down the waiter for water refills and for the check. The shishito peppers are a joke. There were 7-8 peppers (see picture) for $11, and the sauce was not very good on them. I've had some killer shishito peppers at sushi restaurants and these don't pass muster. 10-20% overpriced in general. Will maybe be back for some sashimi and rolls but there are plenty of amazing sushi restaurants over the bridge, so maybe not. read more

ShinSen Sushi & Lounge - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

Really fresh creative fish. Sake tasting was fun, and great service. Fairly reasonable prices consider the quality of the fish.

Excellent food quality , service and ambiance. Very high quality rolls especially Samurai roll. Unagi nigiri best I've had in recent memory. Highly recommend. Paul was our server, very helpful with recommendations that we found valuable. Specialty cocktails were amazing. Seriously amazing with floral ingredients that add to the experience visually as well as taste! Easy 5 stars! read more

Walking in I'm always blown away by the visual. The restaurant is well set up and decorated. The food comes out quickly and is always fresh. The vegetable udon and the spicy tuna roll are my favorites. The servers, cooks, and hosts are kind and helpful. I feel that I can ask anyone anything and they don't hesitate to help. read more

This place was not it. The sushi was bland and made cheaply. There was barely any fish in the rolls we had. It was almost all rice, and the rice itself was flavorless. When you charge almost $30 for a roll, it needs to live up to the cost. When we saw and tasted the sushi, my wife almost wanted to cry. We felt like we were being take advantage of. It's sad when you choose to spend your night out, especially in today's economy, for disappointing food. The drinks however were very good, and the service was excellent. We hope the employees are being compensated well because they deserve it. Bottom line is we'd skip the place for sushi and come only for the drinks. read more

Biggest waste of money period. Sushi was bland, more rice than filling. Each sauce side is $2 (spicy mayo) etc Don't waste your money here and go elsewhere! read more

The sides and sushi roles were really good. The server was attentive. Decent prices for waterfront. I personally enjoyed the food. Gives a nice zen feel. read more

ShinSen Sushi & Lounge - California roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

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Very, very loud...can't have a conversation. Food is fine, but for the price it is not worth it. There are so many sushi restaurants in the area with better food for 1/2 the price. read more

Finally, a legitimate sushi restaurant in Vancouver. I've been waiting months for them to open and picked my birthday today to try it out. We spent a month in Japan this year and have been craving good Japanese food ever since. This restaurant did not disappoint. The decor is beautiful and the servers go out of their way to please from the minute you walk in. Our server, Myah, was excellent. First, the sake selection was very good. We had two Tokkuri's (small 300ml bottles). The Hakutsuru Sho-Une Junmai Daiginjo and the Yaegaki Kurt-Bin were both excellent. We enjoy a smooth, dry, a bit earthy yet slightly floral sakes and these both hit the mark. The cucumber salad had a nice flavor. The seaweed salad was nothing out of the ordinary but plentiful. The chef's choice sashimi was off the charts. The fish was incredibly fresh and firm with a beautiful texture (most sashimi in this country is soft and has no texture) - It was a beautiful selection of fish with a surprise small ramekin of sea urchin. I will have this dish every time I return - it was amazing. The salmon hand roll was very good. The scallop roll was very fresh but could have had a bit more flavor. Even though we had enough to eat, we had to try the vegetable udon soup. It was a very delicious broth and a nice amount of noodles We will definitely be back! read more

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Super fresh sushi and a nice ambiance. Different than the other sushi offerings in the area. read more

ShinSen Sushi & Lounge - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

Food was mild and flavorless at best. Fresh- but if you want a flavorful roll, go somewhere else. Service was extremely slow-not to the servers fault I'm sure. Our server was the bartender but our table was across the restaurant so that didn't make sense. And don't even think about finishing your glass of water because if you want a refill they charge you $2 for a carafe OF WATER. Definitely won't be back especially with the price in consideration. read more

Sushi is nearly a total passion and ShinSen did not disappoint. We were seated and attended to quickly. The staff was knowledgeable in all aspects of the menu, and that is not always typical. As for the sushi itself, it was incredibly fresh and tasted as such. One highlight was the spicy tuna roll. It had a spice that built up and that is unique from many that I have tried. In addition, we had the Ikurathe Ikura Nigiri and it was some of the freshest I have had. The atmosphere was nice being on the Vancouver waterfront and the decor itself was very inviting. The staff was interactive without being overbearing, but at all times very attentive. The Vancouver Waterfront is still developing and this is a great addition. It's a definite "recommend!" read more

The service was so above and beyond! From the second I walked in they were so kind and attentive, making sure I had everything I need. The food was wonderful as well, very fresh! read more

We did the omakase with Chef Cameron and it did not disappoint. From first drink to last bite the entire evening was super enjoyable. You have to try the Hamachi Carpaccio and Chef Cameron's special sashimi bowl with mango was out of this world. Great food, great drinks, and the attention to detail in everything down to the lights in the foyer was fantastic. read more

From the moment we arrived the service was terrible. And once the food arrived, it wasn't very good. No ginger or wasabi on the side plus the taste was off. It took 15 min before our server greeted us. Then 30 min to get the seaweed salad we ordered. And the glass of wine was a tiny poor. So much more to share but overall a very negative experience. Will certainly never return. read more

First let me say the staff were very kind and accommodating. I went in person to place an order to go at 5:15 PM so it wasn't busy at all. one couple outside where 4 other tables were vacant, no one at the sushi bar and maybe 6 tables out of 15 or so occupied inside. it took 2 sushi chefs 50 minutes for 3 rolls and 8 pieces of nigiri sushi. I was originally told 20-25 minutes. I was very excited to try Shinsen because we always have to go to Portland to get good quality sushi and unfortunately that is what we will continue to do. Bottom line is that the rice was gummy and tasteless, and as every sushi eater knows this is a critical element. Honestly I had better rice from sushi at Safeway. Then there was the fish. The only way I can describe it is Bland with a capital B. I've been eating sushi globally for 40 years, starting way before it was the "in thing" to try. It was super disappointing. Some of the fish looked a bit fake. The uni was pink instead of yellow/brown, and the rest of the fish was tasteless. Comparing this to my favorites like Saburo's in Milwaukie and Blue Fin on Broadway where the sushi is consistently 8-10 for freshness and taste, Shinsen flavor is at a 2. Maybe they source farm-raised fish and that's contributing to the dullness or lack of flavor...all I know is that for the money we spent, which was significant, and more than we pay in Portland, we will not got back, not even in a pinch. read more