Shirubē
Izakaya restaurant · Santa Monica
424 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Highlights
Sashimi, comfort food, late hours & private dining room
Sashimi, comfort food, late hours & private dining room
"Shirube can be the first stop of the night for a pre-dinner drink and a snack or you can enjoy an incredible dinner for under $100 per person. Both are excellent paths. This izakaya serves grilled, fried, and noodle-y dishes, all of which are prepared in front of you at the bar. Most plates fall under $25, including fried corn ribs coated in shoyu butter, grilled duck breast with a beautiful pink center, and a silky egg custard topped with a pile of roe. And if you want to keep things light, there’s a great sashimi platter for two that costs $45." - brant cox, sylvio martins, arden shore, cathy park
"There are plenty of tables at this casual Santa Monica izakaya, but if you want a show that'll outdo any those street jugglers you just saw did, grab a seat at Shirube's bar. You'll have a courtside view of the small but mighty kitchen, equipped with a charcoal grill and a slushie machine with frozen yuzu mojitos. Chefs swiftly flip gorgeous wagyu steaks over hot coals, slice yellowtail with razor-sharp knives, and adorn tiny egg custards with jewels of roe. Be sure to get the chewy mentaiko udon, crispy corn ribs, and mackerel sashimi that’s blowtorched in front of you." - brant cox
"Some might question eating sashimi next to a Chevron, but those people are missing out on the beauty of Shirube. This izakaya chain from Tokyo perpetually an easy, low-key spot to walk in and eat reasonably priced small plates that look fancier than their prices suggest, like like glistening sashimi platters, plump duck breast grilled over charcoal, and crab egg custards topped with roe. We prefer sitting at the kitchen-side bar and splitting the excellent wagyu steak with some sake, but there’s a good amount of tables if you bring friends." - sylvio martins, brant cox, garrett snyder, cathy park
"Imported directly from Tokyo as one of the city’s earlier izakaya chains, this Westside spot balances an expansive menu of fish and drinking-food classics in a long, energetic space that fills up as soon as the sun sets. Come early for happy hour deals like fried corn ribs in shoyu butter or poke sushi tacos in nori, and wash them down with crisp mugs of Sapporo. The sashimi platter (typically $50) arrives with 10 generous slices of fresh fish laid over pebble ice, each sauced or topped with an aromatic for extra punch: the tuna in particular shone, as did the silky salmon, and the bonito was singled out as "meaty, tender, gently seared, and sporting spicy grated ginger flecks as a contrast." A higher-end izakaya should always have great sashimi, and this one delivers. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest" - Eater Staff
"Japanese restaurants are often very conducive to solo dining, especially at Shirubē in Santa Monica, which has a bustling open kitchen for people eating at the counter to watch. Assemble a meal of sashimi, chawanmushi, crab croquette, and karaage along with other izakaya bites, all washed down with top-flight sake or ice-cold Japanese beer. Most people are going to order the pre-sliced whole mackerel blackened at the table (or counter seat) with a butane lighter. It’s definitely a must-order, even for solo diners. Reservations are available, which is good because Shirubē can get busy during peak hours." - Rebecca Roland
