Step into Shin Sushi, an unassuming Encino gem where Chef Take-san serves an intimate, Michelin-starred omakase experience packed with fresh, seasonal delights.
"A meal at Shin Sushi costs around $240 a head, but if you’re in the market for a once-a-year omakase experience, you won’t find fresher, more unique fish than at this Encino institution. The chef, Take-san, will chat with you the whole time you’re there, probably ask you about your favorite football team, and offer his own predictions for the upcoming season even if you aren’t totally sure what football is. Then he’ll get to work making sushi standouts that include oysters with firefly shrimp, sea eel, and baby barracuda." - brant cox, sylvio martins
"Shin Sushi is exactly what you’re looking for in a once-a-year omakase spot—incredible, hard-to-find fish prepared in interesting ways, and a memorable experience that’ll tide you over until the next time you decide to drop around $250 on sushi. The chef, Take-san, will chat with you the whole time you’re there, ask you about your favorite football team, and offer his own predictions for the upcoming season. Then he’ll get busy making you a fantastic, fresh meal, including in-season standouts like freshwater trout from Nagano, sea eel, and Mexican uni." - garrett snyder, brant cox, sylvio martins
"You just got a bonus. And not just any bonus - the kind of bonus where you can say “F*ck it,” and head to Encino to pretend you’re LeBron James for a day. And while LeBron’s probably eating at Nobu, you know that you can find better sushi at Shin, the strip mall spot right off the 101 behind an Office Depot. Come early, and you might be the only person sitting at Take-san’s bar, but you’ll still get the full show, including Washington oysters, Japanese conch, and bluefish from Boston that tastes so fresh you can practically hear it talking about Bill Belichick. Add in some sake, and you’ll go a bit over $100 - but what else are you going to do with that bonus, save it?" - brett keating
"Shin Sushi brings a refined omakase experience from chef Taketoshi Azumi, whom patrons refer to as Take-san. The Michelin-starred omakase includes an appetizer, miso soup, and 14 pieces of sushi." - Matthew Kang
"It’s good to have a long-term plan. And even though we’re not sure what fortune we’re going to stumble upon to achieve it, our long-term plan involves becoming a regular at Shin Sushi. Because even though this Encino strip mall omakase spot is expensive, they’re also one of the best, most soul-curing meals around. The omakase here is around $100, and will involve 12-14 pieces of simple, perfect nigiri. Chef Take-san will chat with you from behind the bar, tell you about his favorite football team, and make you want to come back this weekend for dinner. And even if two omakases in a week is a bit unrealistic, you’ll still feel like a regular here when you’re back for your next special-occasion meal." - brett keating