Kinme

Best Sushi in Town! Kinme delivers every single time. The sushi is unbelievably fresh, the combos are creative and hit every craving, and the service is top-tier. Big love to owner Nancy for running such a smooth operation. Evan and Danny make you feel right at home, and major props to the chefs in the back — true masters of their craft. If you haven’t been to Kinme yet, you’re missing out. Simple as that.

Absolutely incredible experience at Kinme Sushi! The quality of the sushi, the presentation, and the atmosphere are unmatched. Huge shoutout to Danny for the warm welcome, Evan for the amazing service and Nancy for the attentive and friendly service as always. Every visit feels like a special occasion. If you’re looking for top-tier sushi and exceptional hospitality, this is the spot!

I love coming here, this is my 3 or 4th time and it's amazing. Always order the custom rolls because they are beyond expectation and tasty all the time. It is BYOB and bring some great drinks to go with some memorable food. The staff is also wonderful and on point all the time. The are so friendly and vey helpful. I will absolutely keep coming back and hope them nothing more then a packed house and great business.

We tried the phantom roll, miso salmon roll, crunchy spicy crab roll, and almost every flavor of mochi. Everything was absolutely perfect! Be back soon!

I had an incredible dining experience at Kinme, the BYOB Japanese sushi spot! The Phantom Roll and South Pacific Roll were absolutely amazing, bursting with flavor and creativity. The Peach Tea was a delightful surprise, truly phenomenal. The friendly staff and cozy ambiance made it a perfect evening. I can't wait to return for more! Highly recommended! Edit: Came back again and it’s clearly the best sushi spot in Philadelphia. This place DESERVES more love and recognition!

Cute place. It's pretty small. I didn't dine in but it seems like an intimate dining spot. There's good variety on the menu. Lunch special seems great but did not get to try. Got the mixed assortment which comes with a California roll, tuna roll, and salmon roll for $21. It's good price for downtown Philly. Sushi lacked a bit of flavor tho, but prices not bad.

Everything was excellent and my server was so helpful. Hands down best sushi Ive ever had with rolls that are familiar to the typical American sushi, yet so highly elevated. Its also byob. Atmosphere is very nice and comforting. Intimate but not too in your business. The fellow guests there were all nice as well. I wouldnt give out 5/5 for anything either, it really was a spectacular time and delicious. Will definitely be going again with friends

High quality sushi!! Small spot in center city offering imaginative specialty rolls. Tuna crispy rice!!! Highly recommend. Service was excellent. Byob! Lots of rotating specials. A really fun place and I’ll definitely come back.

intimate and cozy byob sushi spot in the gayborhood neighborhood of center city. absolutely obsessed with their creation rolls! kinme is a great spot for fun rolls, their creation rolls are creative and use elevated ingredients. legally blonde 2 has to be my favorite roll in philly! i've always loved a spicy tuna roll, and the additions of blue fin toro and yuzu miso make the roll absolutely divine. the roll is pricey, but rightfully so. i could kill two of the rolls by myself, it's the perfect special occasion roll for me. i'm a huge fan of toro, and i love that kinme is one of the few spots in the city that incorporate toro into their rolls. the buttery fat melts in my mouth, and these rolls always satisfy my toro craving. all of their fish is super fresh, and everything i have had so far has been delicious. of their appetizers, i really enjoyed the crispy tuna rice. the rice is perfectly crisp, and the fish is super flavorful. they also have a board with fun specials! i really enjoyed their perfect couple roll which had spicy scallop inside and toro on top. my biggest complaint is the service. service is slow, and we unfortunately had to wave our waitress down several times to take our order. it almost felt like they were actively avoiding eye contact with us... i was thinking about docking one star for the service, but the legally blonde 2 roll is too good to warrant anything short of 5 stars. would recommend this spot for a date night or special occasion!

The sashimi plate was fresh and delicious and the dumpling sampler was very good, as well. The restaurant is small, but comfortable and the staff are very friendly and accommodating.

Love this small cozy spot in center city Philadelphia , so many to choose from , fishes are very fresh and variety , creation roll are amazing as well , especially Alladin , fidder & 2021. A must try spot !!

Very cute little place. All the food tasted fresh and was very delicious. Presentation of the food was excellent as well. Has nice lunch specials and lots of sushi rolls. Will definitely be coming back to try more menu items!

This place is great! This place is byob and it's really cool that they have a chiller in the back just in case you want your sake cooled down. The waitress was amazingly animated which I loved. She was so insane as well that she thought my sake bottle I brought was so interesting so she took a shot of it without even asking (LOL I have to say that was a first). The waitress definitely gave us good recommendations for dishes to try out. We shared the 5 Spice Pork Bun. While eating it was a bit difficult, I really liked the buns. The buns were more fluffy than the usual pork buns I try. The waitress also recommended the Kani kappa salad. Usually, I think it is weird to not get a classic ginger salad at a Japanese restaurant but I thought I'd try something new. This salad is 100 percent worth getting. It had the consistency of cold slaw but didn't have the bitter taste that is typically associated with cold slaw. I think the crunch pieces on top were a nice addition as well. I ended up trying the Annie and let me tell you that the Asian pear really added this crispiness to the rolls that I haven't ever experienced before. The balsamic on top is a nice touch as well. The place also has lunch specials which I am dying to try out.

A smaller restaurant, we were seated in the corner booth which gave us some extra space. For a Friday night at 8 ish, there were maybe 5 groups there so there was no wait. The service was a little slow, (slow to order and slow for things to come out) but it seemed like the owner or manager was moving around to each table and interacting with patrons. It was a very nice touch. We ordered the dumpling sampler (pan fried). Not sure what each one was but they were tasty. Then for my main meal, I ordered a Three Musketeers Roll and the Salmon Sampler. They brought out the meal staggered. The fish tasted very fresh and each piece had nice proportions of rice. We splurged a little in going here but it was quality food. Also, it looked like there were some decent weekday lunch specials that we'll keep in mind if we are in the area.

Some of the most delicious and interesting sushi I've ever had. Vibrant, elegant and unique. Only drawback was the byob part. We didn't plan ahead and sake would have been a perfect topper.

Walked in on a Friday night and grabbed a table for two with no wait. The staff is really cool here. A few guys next to us had some extra soju which they shared with the few diners left and the staff -- super chill. Our waitress was really nice. We just wish the dishes came out a bit more quickly; it felt like there was a long time between dishes. The food was good, but not amazing, especially at the price. However, we would definitely try this little sushi shop again. I think it's such a cool/chill place to grab some casual sushi. The food is very fresh; I just think the execution needs a little work. Peppered Tuna - I liked my other roll much more, but I can't remember the name of it. The peppered tuna was just okay. I was intrigued by the name, but it was really saturated in black pepper to the point it wasn't the most enjoyable to eat. It was fine enough for me to finish, but I thought the pepper flavor really overpowered the dish -- even though the name is "Peppered Tuna." Value: 2/5 Quality: 4/5 Quantity: 3/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5

Lived close by and this is our first time trying Kinme- wish I had it sooner! Fresh fish and great service, slightly smaller sushi menu / space to eat but we enjoyed everything and would be back again. I'm used to sweet potato rolls with eel sauce, but for $6 you can't beat the price. Excited to try the lunch special. BYOB!

Ate dinner pre-theatre at Kinme last night. We started with edamame, then had special roll: wagyu beef & lobster roll. Also tried the Kinme fried rice with chicken. All dishes were tasty. We ended with Mochi. The passion fruit mochi was the best. Service was excellent. It is a small space & can get quite busy so would recommend making a reservation. We will be back!

I got the legally blonde 2 and salmon avocado mango rolls. Both were fantastic. Service was quick and fast, servers were friendly. It's byo. Atmosphere is basic but sushi quality is superb.

Might be my new favorite sushi place? I stopped in during restaurant week and the Little Sunshine roll blew me away. I'll absolutely be back in to try more!

Came here for a casual dinner date, it's very cosy and small. Staff was nice, the sushi and dumplings were just okay, we didn't love them but that could also just be may be the type we ordered. Food was fresh and well made.

I've only gotten takeout but their fish is very fresh and their rolls are very good, if just a little pricier than other places. Also like their salmon skin salad.

AMAZING sushi and service! This place is perfect for a date night or just a cozy night with friends. Really nice sushi variety and specials. And it's BYOB!

small Japanese restaurant. Incredible service. Sushi was tasty and good. I'm not a fan of their shumai and katsu. The katsu is light Japanese style with a v powerful tonkatsu sauce.

Pretty little spot here with decent sushi. Good selection of rolls and has ok ambiance inside. Prices fair. Rolls made nicely and fresh, big yummy bites. Dumplings are okay as well. Presentation on everything was nice as well. Thanks

I was amazed with Kinme's sushi! They have a 3 rolls for $18 lunch special. They provide a thick cut of fish within each roll. The quality of fish too was delicious! The lunch special also came with the option of miso soup or ginger dressing salad. I chose the miso soup and it had tofu and seaweed in it! I was impressed with the lunch special that it makes me want to come back for dinner and try their more specialty rolls. Our waiter was so polite and nice. He was consistent with refilling our waters and asking us if we needed anything. The ambiance is upscale. I love the mermaid art that greets you when you enter. It has a large amount of seating as well! I want to frequent this place!

I took my husband here for date night the other week before a movie. I agree with Azra's review, although Kinme was fine - it just didn't really scream wow for me. They had just opened, so we were the only patrons in the establishment. Service was fine, but nothing that set it apart. We started with the Crispy Tuna appetizer ($15), the Aladdin roll $16, salmon and scallop nigiri $6/7 and Salmon Mango Avocado roll $9. Everything was just ok. I enjoyed the crispy Laotian rice at Libertee more. I wanted to love the Aladdin roll, but something was missing like a pinch of salt or something to bring it all together for me. The scallop nigiri tasted very fresh and sweet. I could see this being a neighborhood favorite BYOB local spot, but personally not something I would go out of my way for.

Underrated spot for a low key but fun sushi BYO birthday dinner' Relaxed ambiance with really great rolls and service :) the apps are tasty but the sushi is great!

Best sushi I've had in a while. Service on point. Ambiance was lacking. Wish there was alcohol

The rolls here are super unique (they use not so typical sushi ingredients like balsamic, pear, etc). Wasn't super busy when we went in; they had nice service. I got the Annie Roll which felt like their take on a spicy tuna (really good)!

Great food and great service. They really put a lot of effort in each role. They really just do a great job!

This was a wonderful restaurant week experience. Make sure you get at least 0.5 extra roll of sushi/person to be pleasantly full (golden rule of sushi restaurants). BYOB Must get: crispy tuna rice, Aladdin, chicken katsu, dream bomba (peanut butter gelato with caramel) Meh: Rainbow, rock shrimp, school of rock, scorpion, sashimi amuse, Missed out: omakase, pork bun This was a very reasonably priced restaurant week steal, with an app, sushi roll, rice, and dessert for $35. My biggest surprise was how tender and crispy the tuna rice and chicken katsu was. I must admit that I've not had chicken katsu for years, but Kinme's hit that sweet spot, like a terrific chicken-n-rice dish in NYC at 2am good. The hot oil with cilantro for Aladdin was also terrific and carried that extra zing that made me rethink sushi on a completely different level. Granted, I couldn't taste the yellowtail at all with all the trimmings, but it was still delicious. The staff was also very friendly and helpful even though we had two kids in our party. This is the place to go!

What a pleasant surprise this cute little place was! We were in town visiting my son and were looking for sushi near this hotel and were fortunate enough to find Kinme. The only slight negative was that the service was a bit slow but we did show up 20 minute early! The food was super fresh and beautifully plated. We started with the seaweed salad that was absolutely delicious and the Bao buns. The pork on the sandwich was big and perfectly sweet. We ended with an 8 piece creation roll whose name escapes me (it's not on the menu on the website) with coconut shrimp topped with a mayonnaise sauce that was delicious. It was the perfect amount of food for two people. There was indoor and outdoor seating with constant flow of people and it definitely appeared to be a popular neighborhood place. It is BYOB.

This place has become my new #1 sushi. I came here on a whim since it was a BYOB place. Their creation rolls might seem like they are expensive, but they are SO WORTH IT. The sushi doesn't make you feel gross and icky from the heavy mayo and sauces like other places do. Kinme is fresh and definitely put a lot of thought into their creative rolls. Literally each roll had my mouth drop at how good it was! I came here for indoor dining and was the only party in the restaurant - so I believe this is a COVID friendly place. They also have outdoor seating for those who prefer. Additionally the service was great and accommodating with our own drinks by providing ice and a bucket. I will be coming back again and again in order to try all the other rolls I have not yet ordered!

Such an underrated casual sushi spot!! It's BYOB and has fresh fish! Impress your date by bringing them here for quality (and reasonably priced) sushi. The people here are also super nice. Been here twice now and tried a bunch of their rolls, including their special - crown salmon roll, and nirigis. Delicious and easy to walk in for a spot! If you're lucky, maybe they'll have some homemade desserts to wrap up your meal :)

*WOULD RECOMMEND* If you want quality, fairly priced sushi, maybe even a go to sushi place, Kinme is a great option. The place itself is small, very cute . Majority of the rolls are reasonably priced, under $20, and the fish were all quite fresh. Everything was pretty solid in terms of flavor. DINNER* Chirashi - great if you want to try all types of fish they have to offer. I really like the sweet shrimp and the scallops on it. Hamachi Jalapeño - pieces of yellowtail with ponzu. Very good if you like sour like I do Incredible Hulk Roll - interesting concept of using cucumber as the wrap instead of rice and seaweed. It is quite refreshing, however, tasted majority like cucumber and fish as is. Ponzu sauce did not stand out as much as I had hoped. Not my favorite Forgot name of the last roll but it has yellowtail avocado on the inside and seared fish on top. This roll was very good. VERDICT: Yes,  I would go back again. Definitely good sushi here for the price

Tucked away in the middle of the 1100 block of Locust is a little Japanese restaurant called Kinme. Specializing in outrageously delicious specialty rolls, this little gem shines with all of the other things on their menu as well. Try the mushroom dumplings- delectable sacks filled with delicious finely chopped mushrooms, and lightly pan fried, served with a delicate dipping sauce. Or go for their stir fry Tofu, using the softest, most delicious Japanese tofu, gently pan fried to a crisp, served with rice and vegetables. I also like their lunch bento boxes that offer soup or salad, fried gyoza, and a main dish for $13, an outrageous bargain that is hard to finish! But truly, everything here is made with love. The owner's husband is the sushi chef, so the whole family is invested in your dining experience to be exceptional. Treat yourself to an over the top phenomenal lunch or dinner, and go to Kinme asap! We have been going since they opened, about 6 years ago and have always, always loved our meal. Thanks to the attentive staff as well who are always kind and helpful to answer questions you may have. Kinme is a hidden gem and a real find!

My Gen-Z cuties and I went to Kinme for an iftar date to break our fast. The restaurant is very small and quaint and BYOB. We were seated right away as we had a reservation. We started with the crispy tuna rice, cheese wontons and hamachi jalapeño and each and every single one was soooo yummy. I was super excited to try the crispy tuna rice because of all the tik toks videos I've been seeing of them and it did not disappoint. The hamachi was super fresh and the jalapeño gave it the perfect kick. I had the spicy crunch salmon and the black belt specialty roll and they were both super yummy and fresh. I was really pleased and satisfied with everything I ate. I cannot wait to go back and take my fiancée. 10/10

Came in at 7:30pm on a Wednesday and were seated right away. The restaurant was busy but there were open tables. There was no mention at the time we were seated that the kitchen was having problems and it was going to be a wait. Our order was taken right away. Our water glasses were refilled a few times but no mention the kitchen was really backed up. After an hour and 45 min of being seated the waiter apologized and said the kitchen was having problems but it would be another 10 min. After waiting 2 hours we still didn't have our food so we walked out. Had it not been for the conversation and such a nice night out we would not have waited that long for our food (basic rolls, literally nothing fancy or any substitutions). I get things happen but the lack of communication and the fact we were even seated in the first place was a misstep on the restaurant.

I consistently loved coming here while I was in town. Sushi is delicious, staff is very accommodating of gluten free dietary restrictions, and the atmosphere is cozy. It is BYO, as a heads' up--I enjoyed bringing my favorite sake, and they provided glasses.

I usually do my research when going out during restaurant week to ensure they offer at least one vegetarian option per course on the prefix menu. I dropped the ball when visiting Kinme. When asked about possible veggie substitutions the various staff told me I could just order from the regular menu. I agreed because I wasnt prepared to venture out to another location, but it isn't great customer service to charge regular menu prices during restaurant week when there are simple substitutions that can be made that are cheaper than the non veggie dishes you are already offering at a discounted price. This may have been a communication misunderstanding but nonetheless my bill was more at the end of the Eve compared to my meat/fish eating friend that got the restaurant week deal. The food was good. I had the crispy sprouts, the mushroom gozya, and the veggie sushi with the Dream bomba for dessert. With all of the small restaurants in Philly, I'm pretty used to tight spaces, but for a some reason the seating in here felt off. Also, we were barely finished eating when our dessert was brought out and we were told , sorry for the rush but we are getting ready to close. There were at least 3-4 other parties of people in the restaurant at this time. Several with full glasses of wine they brought. We rushed eating our dessert and left and still the other people were there. The female staff member was very sweet but there were numerous staff members coming to our table and there seemed to be a disconnect. Maybe this was just an off night .

Was in Philadelphia for a conference and this place was recommended by a colleague's friend. I was really excited to eat here, but it didn't really hit the mark sadly. The place is cute and small, and the service was fine albeit not as friendly as I would hope, but the food was just meh. And this may be on me for not researching enough, but I wish I knew it was BYOB because with sushi you gotta have some sake and a beer.

The lunch sushi special is one of the best in the city, IMHO. Sushi is one of those things you either get right, or you don't. Kinme is definitely in the former category. It's always encouraging to see Japanese sushi chefs who are in plain sight as your food is prepared. Everything is fresh, it's also visible and obvious to the diners that the kitchen is clean. It's quiet...no sports bar vibe w TV's. One can definitely take a little respite from the rigors of the day with some hot tea and a spot of lunch. They offer a starter + 2 items from their sushi menu for $10, and 3 items (and a starter) for $13. It's silly not to jump on that. Is it the best sushi I've ever had? No. But it's very good, the space is pleasant, and the price point is great. Definitely a yes for JG.

Kinme is a hidden treasure of a Japanese sushi restaurant. I ordered two rolls: The "Legally Blonde" roll with Hamachi, jalapeno, scallion, seared blue fin toro, chives, and passion fruit ponzu. It's a burst of freshness and tangy sweetness. The spicy salmon roll with avocado is a classic favorite that hits the spot every time. With its brunch-y and welcoming vibe, Kinme is the perfect spot for a fantastic sushi experience.

I met a couple of friends at Kinme for a quick lunch and a chance to catch up. We arrived just after opening so the place was quiet with just one other table of diners. We went with their $10 onigiri or roll lunch which included two selections and a choice of a starter - salad, miso soup, shumai, vegetable spring roll, or edamame. Service was very efficient and our starters came to the table just minutes after we ordered. Everything was so fresh. I had the spicy tuna and eel avocado rolls. My friends ordered one roll and one onigiri each. We all really enjoyed this simple but very satisfying lunch at a really good price in a very cutely designed spot.

Nice experience and looking forward to going back! Food comments - I ordered the scallop roll (4.5), the shrimp, peanut and avocado roll (4) and the Aladdin (5+). The Shrimp roll and Aladdin were unique to me, and the Aladdin was outstanding. It hit every note - bright, crunchy, juicy, savory - and I highly recommend it. Other notes - They bagged the soy sauce for protection when traveling, which I appreciated. My order was ready right on time. I thought the prices were fair. Though the rolls were light on rice in my opinion, the quality made up for it. I'm mostly excited to go back, because they had enticing special roll options and lots of appetizers to try. Kinme's menu and quality food makes me excited to go back. Support this place!

Chill, byob sushi spot when you're in the mood for something a bit more elevated -- fresh fish, unique rolls and starters. Note: pricier than your average local sushi spots. Highlights: - crispy tuna rice: "from the bar" starter, rice is crispy on outside but chewy on inside, topped with spicy tuna, comes with 4 pieces - South Pacific roll: the salmon and creamy rock shrimp with soy bean wrapper worked well together, plus ours had crab meat on top. Light, meaty, delish - Toro scallion roll: we asked them to make this, toro just melts in your mouth Less enthused: - shichumi wings: wings were skinny and sauce on side was ok, wasn't what we were expecting - chirashi: fish was fresh and good variety but rice seemed lacking and quite small in portion Def would check out if you are a local.

This was my first time at Kinme, for restaurant week. I went around 5:30 so it wasn't very busy and I was seated right away. The weather was nice so I decided to sit outside. I ordered tuna crispy rice, a cowboy roll, chicken katsu, and tiramisu! It was all pretty good. Not the best sushi I've had but I would definitely come back to try some other menu options.

Delicious sushi. Best rolls I've had in Philly. Creative and fresh. Excellent service. Very attentive and welcoming. Can't wait to return!

Great sushi, the creation rolls are very unique but still so tasty. Its one of my favorite "innovative" sushi restaurants in Philly. The rolls themselves are a bit small imo for what you pay, but if you like small bites of heaven this is the perfect sushi place for you! I've added some photos of the sushi rolls we got, my personal favorites were the Aladdin roll and the School of Rock, but all the creation rolls are delicious!

ordered for take out for the first time and it was actually insanely good. the crispy rice was 10/10, and the legally blonde 1 and 2 were so good. deff would recommend and order again. we used to only order tuna bar but this might have it beat..

Vibes: intimate, quiet, casual yet slightly upscale with candles Tasting notes: -Shichimi wings: four almost fall-off-the-bone-tender wingettes/flats coated with a light, salty sauce and a bit of heat -School of rock: crunchy shrimp with just enough mayo sitting on top of each piece; the salmon to mango ratio was perfect, and the ingredients tasted very fresh -Incredible hulk: a beautiful mosaic of fish in the roll with a barely noticeable sauce; cucumber is refreshing and thinly cut; struggled to pick up each piece (but that's just probably poor chopstick skills on my part) Thoughts: -These three dishes were barely filling for two people -Didn't realize it was BYOB, so will definitely be bringing a big bottle of wine next time! -Love the quality of the fish and the fact that each roll was carefully and artfully created -Interested in the lunch sets, and wish that they had similar combos available for dinner too! -Staff is very kind and attentive

Came here with a friend for lunch. They have some nice outdoor seating, but it was too windy so we got takeout. We got the South Pacific and Fiddler. Both look aesthetically beautiful and they taste just as good. The South Pacific topped has multiple components that blended together nicely. The crunch from the tempura helps bring the whole sushi together. Sadly, I feel like the BBQ eel was overwhelmed by all the other components and become loss in the melody of flavor, but nonetheless it was delicious. The Fiddler was just as good. It's great for those that doesn't like raw sushi. You get that nice crisp with the cooked white fish transitioning into flavorful and creamy heaven. The shishito pepper is a nice addition to bring the flavors together. All in all this was a great place for me to try and definitely will be back for more. Well worth the money.

It was ok. Next time I'll eat there since this order was to-go and the experience will probably reflect better.

I'm so glad to find this place. I came here twice for lunch. Both times I'm very satisfied with my food. I ordered the lunch special. I had the salad, Spicy salmon Onigiri, Yellowtail rolls and Chirasi sushi. The portion of salad that comes with the lunch special is generous with delicious ginger dressing. The Yellowtail rolls and the Chirasi sushi are fresh (unlike other Japanese joints). The best is their Onigiri rice. It's a bit expensive than regular Onigiri rice, but it's worth it. The salmon fillings are generous and flavorful! I surely will come again if I visit Philadelphia.

I called the restaurant while I was eating to tell them how good the rolls were.. if that doesn't say it all. Fiddler and Mamma Mia were the specialty rolls we got. The fish so fresh and very respectable size and perfectly sauced. the flavors of fiddler were awesome. The philly roll is always a favorite for me with the smoked salmon and this didn't disappoint. The cream cheese soft and salmon super tasty. I got high before eating so that probably played a part but none the less it was amazing. Atmosphere: pickup Service: great!

we were the only customer that day after Christmas so we were a bit hesitant to go in. But the sushi and sashimi turned out to be really fresh and great. The crispy fry rice sushi is a surprise take, and sea urchin pieces are flavorful. It's a bit pricey.