Shirubē
Izakaya restaurant · Santa Monica
424 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Highlights
Sashimi, comfort food & unique dishes with late hours
Sashimi, comfort food & unique dishes with late hours
"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
"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
"This Tokyo import from one of the chefs who popularized the izakaya concept has expanded to a new restaurant steps from Third Street Promenade. Expect a solid sake menu, well-sliced sashimi plates, and an incredible seared filet of mackerel that fills the room with the aroma of blackened fish skin. Sitting at the counter affords the best view of the action from the open kitchen. Most of LA’s great izakayas tend to concentrate near the South Bay or Little Tokyo, so Shirubē is a shining beacon of casual Japanese food on the Westside." - Matthew Kang
"There are plenty of tables for groups inside this casual Santa Monica izakaya, but the bar seats are where you'll get the full Shirube experience. That includes a courtside view of the small but mighty kitchen, equipped with a charcoal grill and a spinning slushie machine full of frozen yuzu mojitos. Chefs here mean business: they 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 right in front of you. " - brant cox
