Shiro Japanese Bistro

I've heard promising reviews for this California based sushi joint, so I had to give them a go. Located downtown, they do have a parking garage for free 4 hour guest parking. The restaurant had a chill vibe and was not overly loud. Once we ordered our food, it took a lengthy 30 min or so to receive our appetizer. This was quite a let down as there were not many patrons inside the restaurant at the time. There also seemed to be a reasonable amount of staff on the payroll. The app that we chose was the hot line crispy gyoza. There were a lot of flavors here to unpack. From the garnished parmesan, the 911 sauce that the gyoza were tossed in along with an additional green sauce. The gyoza were nice and crispy as promised and the 911 sauce complimented them with a bit of tang and sweet. The parmesan was an interesting choice that some may be a bit taken back by, I didn't mind it though. The nigiri were pretty good, though personally, the wasabi was a bit overpowering. The lobster robbery roll and the kimchi roll were both solid, though the lobster robbery were our preferred. Prices here are a bit inflated, but when has good quality sushi ever been cheap? Service was decent and overall vibe passed the vibe check. Nothing extraordinary, but a reccomend in the end. 4.3/5

We went here for a date night and it was the perfect spot! We had one of the best meals we’ve had in a while! We ordered the crispy toro which was 100/10, would come back just for this dish 🤤. We also got the wagyu teriyaki and Chilean sea bass which were also delicious! Looking forward to coming back!

Sigh…Truly the best sushi in SA! So good I want to gate keep but food this good has to be shared. Perfect for a date night or a nice evening out! Matthew and Victor always deliver amazing service and vibes are great. 5/5!

Shiro delivers exceptional sushi in an intimate setting that elevates the San Antonio dining scene. This compact Japanese restaurant focuses on quality over quantity, offering a carefully curated menu that showcases the chef’s expertise. While sushi rolls take center stage, a handful of additional options are present but expect plenty of fish, including an impressive but pricey nigiri menu. The focused menu means every dish receives proper attention, resulting in consistently outstanding flavors that justify the higher price point. The restaurant’s intimate size does require advance planning. Reservations are essential given the limited seating, but this constraint also ensures a more personal dining experience. The investment in both time and money pays off handsomely for anyone who appreciates authentic, high-quality sushi. For serious sushi enthusiasts, Shiro represents the gold standard in San Antonio. The combination of skilled preparation, premium ingredients, and intimate setting creates a dining experience that transcends the typical restaurant visit.

Today’s service was phenomenal. Jameson welcomed us with kindness right from the start—greeting us on the phone and guiding us through the parking validation process, which set a great tone for the evening. Once we arrived, we dove into a few happy hour items, and let me just say—the Soul Sisters roll were YUM! Definitely the highlight of the evening. We also tried the crispy tuna roll from the happy hour menu, and it did not disappoint. We couldn’t resist ordering a couple more items from the regular menu—the Truffle Hibachi and the Playmate Roll. Pro tip: that hibachi sauce is to die for. Keep it on the side and dip each roll, trust me. Thank you again for making my sisters birthday feel so special, especially after an unexpected moment in her life. This dinner was exactly what we needed, delicious, comforting, and memorable. We’ll definitely be back on Tuesday for your amazing specials… and maybe even Sunday! Huge thanks to Jameson again. You made our night.

In San Antonio, there are only three high-end sushi restaurants and this is one of them. Tucked away in the Jones and Rio apartment building, this restaurant provides an exquisite culinary experience. The dining room is quite small so I would encourage that you make a reservation. The sushi is absolutely divine. See photos for evidence. The fish is very high-quality service is lovely and they have a wide variety of cocktails to offer as well. It is a bit pricey so I would save this for special occasions like birthdays, or special date nights.

There’s a lot going on in every roll with the flavor profiles. It was unique and delicious! If you like more straight forward sushi with one focus of a flavor then you might not like it. Would come here again! Everything was fresh and the fried shishitos were perfect!

This is the best Sushi in San Antonio... hands down. The atmosphere is relaxed and the service excellent. Manny took great care of us. The Chilean sea bass is amazing.

Best sushi I've ever had! Service only adds to the experience. This place will not disappoint! If you're anywhere in San Antonio, make the pilgramage!!

This may just be the BEST sushi restaurant I've been to in my LIFE! My husband and I ate here last night to jointly celebrate my belated birthday, an overdue date night, and his BOLC graduation. The place is beautiful with a lovely patio, and overlooks the River Walk. It also has a parking garage conveniently located in the same building two doors down. The staff was incredibly warm. Our waitress, Lizzie was extremely attentive and knowledgeable about the menu items. Her recommendations were solid, starting with the Cono del Sur ...sauvingon blanc (I believe). Everything we ordered was delicious! We started the seafood dumplings and demolished them before I could think to snap a picture. Each of the pictured items had high quality ingredients, exquisite textures and complex flavors. We ordered the Crispy Toro along with 3 special rolls: Fresh Start, Lobster Robbery, and Garlic Princess. Our favorite was the Fresh Start roll, followed by the 2. Crispy Toro (not much food but worth it), 3. Lobster Robbery, and 4. Garlic Princess. Do NOT miss this gem on the north end of the River Walk!

Best sushi restaurant I've been to so far in SA! I decided to try this spot out for my birthday and I was really impressed. I have yet to find a sushi restaurant here that has blown me away and this spot checked almost all my boxes. I got the crab croquettes, garlic edamame, lobster roll, and shrimp tempura roll. since I am pregnant there was only limited items I could try. Service was awesome, our waiter was super attentive the whole time and ambiance was so lovely. I love the pink lighting

Growing up with authentic Japanese food, this is one of my top off places that nail the authenticity in San Antonio. If you're wanting a more upscale vibe, Shiro is your place! Their menu sometimes rotates a bit so be sure to follow them on their social medias to stay in the loop on their seasonal offerings. I love the natural light in Shiro and how bright and joyful the staff is. You always receive a warm welcome when you walk into Shiro. I personally enjoy the loop of the projector screen of various clips from Japanese pop culture, from music videos to commercials. You can choose to sit indoors, out on the scenic patio overlooking the famous Riverwalk, or at the sushi bar for a more casual setting. My favorite dish at Shio is the Bara Chirashi. This one is for all of the raw sushi fans out there. The assortment is diverse and fresh, from octopus and ikura, to salmon and yellowtail, you will not find better quality sushi anywhere else in the region. Even the rice is cooked so well and is tasty. If you're not into raw sushi, Shiro offers traditional Japanese dishes with subtle modern twists like teriyaki and soba as well as rolls that have cooked elements to them. I also thoroughly enjoy the Japanese beverage offerings at Shiro. While they sell out quickly when it's in stock, I cannot gatekeep the Kyoto White Yuzu Ale. It is from a craft brewery in Japan and has a crisp, light flavor with hints of yuzu lemon that is perfect for our hot and humid Texas weather. They also have a great selection of sake as well. If you don't know where to go or what to choose, whether it be food or beverage, the staff is so helpful! Shiro is amazing and is a place we find ourselves frequently. This is a great choice for celebrations or showing the city of San Antonio to out of town friends!

Second time visiting for family birthday dinner! We ordered the Shirashi dish which is combination and several fresh fish - really great. My favorite is still the seafood gyoza and shishito peppers but can't go wrong with anything since their ingredients are so fresh, always quality taste.

Came here for an anniversary dinner. We ate at the sushi bar. Restaurant is kind of small but perfect date night environment. They have happy hour until 6 PM. We got there right at the cusp. House sake is only $10. The rising shrimp, crispy spicy tuna and nachos were amazing. The nacho had grilled ono with a mango salsa and sweet potato trips. It was a ratatouille of flavor with umami, smokiness, and sweetness. Crispy tuna just melted in your mouth although it is fried. Rising shrimp was also delicious. For dinner we just ordered more rolls to include summer snow, spicy aguri and toshi+Shiro. The aguri was a little fishy for my liking. The summer snow was my favorite. Came with a ponzu sauce, had all the seafood (crab, tuna, salmon) and had some jalapeno that gave it a kick. The toshi+Shiro was similar to a rainbow roll with tuna at the center but also topped with ebi, salmon and more tuna. Our waitress was Lizzie. She was super attentive and checked in on us very often. She made sure we got all our happy hour items in before 6. She was phenomenal.

Probably one of the BEST sushi places that I have ever been to and we eat a lot of sushi ...great place ...def going back

This was the first good sushi I have had in San Antonio. Recommend for a good date night vibe! The service was good and the food excellent.

This is now our like 10th visit; can't get enough. If there is a place to be adventurous it's here! Don't think we've ever ordered the same thing twice. Tonight reading the menu I thought eh i don't know if we'd like this one- the Fresh Start- Matthew our incredible waiter mentioned it was one of his favorites. We ordered it. Oh my goodness. One of the best things I've probably ever had. The chefs food is actual poetry. Never been to another place like it. My best tip is just go for it- try it. Promise there is nothing subpar on the menu. If you get a chance ask for Matthew too! He is so charming and knowledgeable. Again, we will be back time and time again.

I really wanted to like this place. But on a Saturday evening, service was slow. The place was packed though. But the rating is based on the sushi. They use too many ingredients. It's way overcomplicated. Sushi should be subtle, but this is the opposite. It's like the Vegas of sushi. Not really my style. It's OK. Also street cleaners while outside dining lol that was weird .

Hands down best sushi I've had; ever. We're big sushi and nigiri lovers and have found Shiro to be outstanding. It gives Uchi in Austin a run for its money. Shiro is a small restaurant and highly busy. You can expect a bit slower service but the food quality is amazing. Bring layers, it can be a bit chilly inside. We're already planning our next trip to Shiro. Highly recommended!

Probably one of the best sushi places in San Antonio. You'll pay a pretty penny but it's worth it. Service is always wonderful, knowledgeable and helpful. It's a small cozy restaurant with an outdoor patio overlooking the Riverwalk. If you've never tried it I'd definitely come here. I'd recommend it to a friend or for a date.

Exceptional experience! The food and service was 10/10, and we couldn't have been happier to have made this reservation. Huge shout out to our server, Matthew, who provided wonderful suggestions and fantastic service.

Sushi rolls had great presentation and high quality taste. Service was excellent, sat outside on their patio and enjoy the music that was playing across the street.

The atmosphere, staff and (most importantly) the food is beyond amazing. The staff are so accommodating and the sushi is top notch every time I go.

This is, for sure, the best sushi in San Antonio. It's small, crowded, and takes a while for the nigiri to come out. But it's worth it. This is real sushi, not the Americanized mediocre stuff that's so common. Check out some of the other dishes like the gods gift, as well. Also - the matcha ice cream is the best I've had anywhere.

Great sushi and Service. Casual ambience. Small place to sit parking is the challenge.

My favorite sushi place hands down, best fish and amazing service plus a very laid back ambience where you relax and enjoy everything. Highly recommend.

Great quaint sushi spot in SA. It's one of my faves. Their all day happy hour menu on Sunday is everything and makes things more affordable! The food is fresh! And they make the sushi right in front of you!

Shiro serves the freshest nigiri we have ever experienced in the States. The chef is brilliant with flavors, creativity, and balance with his dishes. Service is excellent and friendly. The patio is lovely for dining outside and they even have warm heaters on chilly days. We appreciate and respect Shiro!

Wonderful dinner experience with fresh, quality sushi, attentive staff, and parking was free (validated) and easy! The otoro sushi melts in your mouth! Uni was the best we tasted.

Food here is great....pricy but great quality. One of my favorite sushi dishes is here truffle hamachi. Great service. Wouldn't come here for dinner if you only have an hour. Sometimes (2-3 times out of my 6 times here) its taken an hour to get a piece of sushi or edamame strangely.

**Shiro - 5 Stars** Shiro is hands down my favorite sushi restaurant in San Antonio! The fish is always fresh and delicious every time we visit. We usually order the chirashi bowl, which is consistently outstanding. The happy hour menu is also a delight and offers great value. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for top-notch sushi in the area.

Food was amazing! We went for our good friends birthday and food was impeccable. Service was great, ambiance was great and overall a great restaurant in San Antonio. 10/10 will be back again. Next time order more macaroons!! It's always sold out!

Went a third time with reservation for a birthday dinner! We ordered a variety of different rolls to share and also the croquette appetizer. I was disappointed that the macarons were unavailable but we got the yuzu pie and sweet potato ice cream. I think the ice cream was too salty but everything else was great!

A great choice for a lovely dinner on a Saturday night! I would definitely recommend a reservation and getting there early because parking in the garage is pretty limited. The food was super good and very fresh! The fish wings were my favorite, they were just cooked so that the salmon and yellowtail collars were fall apart tender and the generous cuts of sashimi were so so fresh! It also seemed like they took great care in preparing each dish and everything came out perfectly.

Upscale sushi worth the luxury. The Service was very clean and professional. We shared two rolls and each one had their own complexity. The spin the restaurant has on classic rolls is great. The crispy garlic and the seared fish were a highlight.

Had an amazing birthday dinner here. The entire experience was 10/10. Superb ambiance, delicious, fresh and high-quality ingredients, and great service. I received a complimentary glass of champagne for my birthday which was greatly appreciated. I can't wait to come back and try more items. The entire menu was carefully crafted and thoughtful,everything sounded delicious. The sauce with the karage was amazing and a little bit spicy and verty tangy and flavourful. We ended up keeping to dip other items in there. You can tell a lot of care and attention to detail goes into every dish. This is definitely a standout place in San Antonio that you will love if you're into Japanese food and adventurous flavors with beautifully crafted presentations.

This sushi place has the BEST edamame and gyoza that I've EVER had! And I go to a lot of sushi places. They had great service - they recognized they were busy and taking awhile so they brought us drinks on the house - the wait was well worth it! We sat outside by the riverwalk and it was a relaxing time. I will have to go again before I leave Texas.

This place is still my favorite sushi restaurant in San Antonio. Great quality fish. Quick and attentive service. Good atmosphere!

Wow this place was such a great experience. From the food to the service to the ambiance, it was all 5 stars. Standouts for me were the blue fin tuna and the soft shell crab wrap, but you can't go wrong with anything you choose at this place. Sitting at the sushi bar was also very cool seeing the chefs prepare the food.

Shiro's has the best quality sushi or omakase in San Antonio. For raw fish lovers, make sure to order their 25-piece omakase. The price is worth it! From the moment you step in, the warm ambiance sets the stage for an unforgettable experience. Make sure to reserve a seat at their sushi bar to sit in front of the chefs to see your omakase being assembled. Their omakase is well prepared in presentation with nicely sized cuts. Each bite of sushi will give a testament to their freshness and quality, making it the absolute best in town. The attention to detail and personalized touch elevate Shiro compared to other restaurants. Shiro is perfect for dinner whether it be with friends or a date!

This place was incredible. The restaurant itself was small and cozy, it was loud but not too loud. We sat at the bar so we could see the chef making the rolls which was so fun! We ordered Beef Tartar which came in nigiri form with a raw beef mush over rice, mush is a bad word to use because it was delicious ! Then we had nigiri-- escolar and wagyu. They were both amazing. The wagyu was smokey, and flavorful and it MELTED in my mouth. When I finished it I was genuinely sad it was over. Then we had 2 rolls, one was called the play- something and I don't remember the name of the other one but some of the best rolls I've had in my life. The were full of flavor but no one flavor is overwhelming. It was just perfect. I recommend this to anyone who loves sushi!

Everything here is delicious. We always do the Exclusive sashimi and is presented like a piece of art. This is a great little place!

I could get verbose as this place never, ever, disappoints. I'll simply say, no place in San Antonio, no place in Texas and possibly beyond has better or fresher sushi!! Every new dish they add moves them that much closer to nirvana!

Celebrated my birthday at Shiro, this was not my first visit nor will it be my last. The sushi was amazing and I rank it up there with Uchi in Austin. If you have not tried Shiro, you are missing out - definitely a must. During this dining experience we did not have any rolls - all nigiri and sashimi with the A5 hot rock.

Went here on a Saturday night, prolly around 8. We went here with my family and a kid. The host said that they are busy and lack of staff, and I checked their website, I didnt find an online reservation, so I thought they dont take reservation We waited for years just to sat down. I wanted to sit insite bacoz I got a little one and it was kinda chilly. But she said she will contact the owner. Anyways, We sat down outside, waited again for so long. Decided to take food to go. Food- it was good. Food I think pricey. Location- looks like a regular restaurant in my opinion Overall, its great.

Beautiful restaurant right above the river. I sat out in the patio and had a great view. The food was amazing and so fresh tasting. I started with the crab croquettes which were good but not noteworthy. I had the drunken whale sake which was light and fresh tasting and served with cute sake glasses. My friend and I split 3 specialty rolls: the raging bull, I choose you, and the playmate. We enjoyed them all but the playmate was both of our favorite then the raging bull (spicy!) and our least favorite was the I choose you roll. The wait staff was nice but the service was so slow, not sure if it is always like that but if it is expect and lengthy meal. I highly recommend this place, you can tell the ingredients are high quality.

There's not a lot of sushi restaurants in San Antonio that can compete with Shiro! Ambiance is very cozy and intimate. Dinner menu looks very thoughtful - they have a menu for each night of service. The sushi was very fresh and the sauces are artfully crafted! We got the lobster nigiri, which had a brown butter sauce on top that melted in your mouth. The Playmate Roll was fresh and the cilantro sauce had a great kick to it. There wasn't anything in the nigiri sampler that I didn't like! Lastly the miso corn on the cob was incredibly - very unexpected flavors but it worked so well together. Highly highly recommend!

My wife and I spent a night in San Antonio celebrating our anniversary and came here for dinnee on the recommendation of a friend. Great little neighborhood tucked away between the Pearl district and River Walk and we walked on the River Walk to get here from our hotel. She started off with a miso fish broth that was the best miso soup we've ever had--really light on the fish flavor to the point it was there, but didn't overshadow the miso. The Arkami Carpaccio was next and was also one of the best things we've ever eaten. The waygu tartare was a little sweet (must have been some kind of light Japanese sauce stirred in to it before plating over sushi box rice, but anyone else would probably love it--I'm just not a sweets guy). my Snowcrab nigiri was also very good as well as my wife's sampling of various other fish. Ambiance and Atmosphere were both pleasant with anime playing on one TV and some pretty seating outside. Service was friendly and made us feel important somehow. It's a little pricey, but for an aniversary worth every penny. The matcha ipa was very good, too. 5 stars for sure!

High quality food, good service, but a bit too pretentious for a sushi bar. Absolutely no special orders They are loath to wander off the menu. Rolls were skinny. But nigiri pieces were large. If you're looking for traditional sushi and a more customer oriented experience, go somewhere else.

First time trying this out for date night and I Have to we drove into the parking lot notice signs to scan for parking. When you scan it takes you to a screen for a code ( you get the code from your server) we didn't know that until I went in to ask. The code is good for 4hrs of parking!! We started off with the shrimp gyoza which was amazing! The sauce and gyoza was perfect pair. We ordered the saucy sassy and Arrigato roll and man they were good that I didn't even need soy sauce, I repeat DID NOT need soy sauce to dip. Sake starts off at 9$ for "juice box" Must try this place!

First off, Nineteen Hayku calling themselves the 'Premier' Japanese food in San Antonio is an outright lie. Shiro easily earns that title with a menu and kitchen that churns out thoughtful, eccelctic, authentic and flown-in-fresh cuisine. The dining room is intimate and simple,.focusing the energy of the flow directly into the open kitchen. My only.quibble about the meal were the room acoustics, as everything was cement and hard surfaces, leading the space to be incredibly loud at all times. Pork Chasu was perfectly charcoal grilled. Pepper Fin was executed beautifully. Bright flavor in the citrus soy counterbalanced by the rich tuna. Sea Bass was flakey, buttery and swimming, perhaps a bit too much, in a delicious marinade. Rolls: Yozora and Tropic Thunder. Both solid and generously portioned. Service was outstanding but not over bearing or intrusive. Our server was there when we needed him and a ghost when we didn't. What makes Shiro so strong is that they know they don't need a huge, overly designed space to prove they're at the top of what they do. You don't come here for a rowdy Bachelorette or to livestream dinner. You come here to enjoy truly delicious, calculated food.... Which is why we eat out in the first place, no? Shiro proves that San Antonio is moving forward with higher end concepts that work. Highly recommended.

Literally the best service and hospitality! Fresh food every time with out a doubt ! Totally recommend this chic place for a cute vibe.

Amazing! A little pricey for the servings but great flavors and unique menu. Would definitely go back.

Had heard about this place so was keen to check it out. Food: 4/5 because the chicken (recommended by server) was a let down as was the shrimp roll on their happy hour menu. The gyoza, shishito peppers on the other hand were delicious. The nachos while tasty were difficult to eat from the bowl they were served in. The sashimi took forever to get - we suspect server forgot to ring it up. Service: 3/5 - our server didn't seem to know a lot about the food served in this restaurant or didn't seem very knowledgeable about sushi. Ambience: 3/5 - kinda small but clean enough. Parking garage was a nightmare to deal with. Overall, while good, I would not venture to say it's the best in San Antonio let alone Texas. Not sure if I'd return given the number of other good sushi options in the city.

First time at Shiro, went in around 1pm on Sunday and got in time for the happy hour. We ordered shiro roll, mixed tempura, shishito pepper, seared toro, soba noodle, bara chirashi and we left full and in awe. Shiro Japanese Bistro is a small and intimate Japanese restaurant that offers an authentic dining experience. The ambiance is cozy, creating the perfect setting for enjoying their delicious Japanese cuisine. The menu features a wide range of traditional dishes, and the food is prepared with great care and skill, resulting in a very good and authentic Japanese dining experience. Whether you're a sushi lover or enjoy other Japanese specialties, Shiro Japanese Bistro is definitely worth a visit.

Amazing experience! Quality of the food and service was top notch! Pricey, but absolutely worth it.

This place is amazing, I've never had a bad experience here. Although you do need to make reservations a little in advance or be prepared to wait, it's worth it. The price point for the food quality is spot on (actually even better than other major sushi places and what they're charging for comparable items) The gyoza pot stickers are worth more than their $13 price tag. The one down side is no cocktails only sake, wine, few select beer. But that's okay! They specialize in sushi not cocktails so I don't mind.