Thanks to @J_L’s report I had a fantastic dinner at Shin Sushi. I enjoyed it more than my most recent meals at shunji and shiki with mori-san. i said it. And since it’s in le fucking valley it was about half the price. @Ns1, yes it was south of $185 ($131 before tax and tip). Paging @Chowseeker1999.
Everything was spot on, from the gari (ginger), the seasoning, the temperature, fish to rice ratio, and the density of the rice. The shari was packed so loosely you could see it almost collapse from its own weight when placed in front of you and it just falls apart in your mouth.
Chef take-san was really friendly and informative. They didn’t have the variety as shunji (no kohada, anago, or mirugai) but they’ve only been open a couple weeks. I’ll be back.
Highlights - scallop, tuna, uni, babies, engawa, kuruma-ebi, sardine, snow trout, kanpachi, saba, salmon, tamago.
tuna, okra, tomato, eggplant
light and refreshing, delicious.
hotategai - scallop
kasugo - baby sea bream
i love eating babies
inada - baby yellowtail
ama-ebi - sweet shrimp
kurodai - black sea bream
maguro - lean bluefin tuna
meaty, bloody, incredible.
chu-toro - medium-fatty bluefin tuna
even better, perfect balance of oils and fat.
ma-iwashi - sardine
seared snow trout
soft, fluffy, and oily, so good
saba - japanese mackerel
tombo - albacore tuna
sake - seared salmon
kanpachi - yellowtail
engawa - halibut fin
the best engawa i’ve had in LA, oily and tender but still had a nice bite
ikura - salmon roe
kuruma-ebi - tiger prawn
awesome, so sweet
madai - wild sea bream
santa barbara uni
tamago - ume, shiso, bonito
tekka maki
kanpyo (teppo) maki
unagi
hotate no isobeyaki - nori-wrapped scallop
torotaku
uni round 2
tofu mousse, black sugar
update
A couple more highlights that i didn’t have during my first visit were the albacore toro, otoro, and barracuda. I asked Take-san about his liquor license and he said about 2 more months.
My only quibble was the pacing was a bit too fast so the neta was served slightly too cold at times. I was the only customer at the time so that may have been a factor. Besides that, another solid OOE omakase at Shin Sushi.
deep fried halibut served cold
Refreshing
gari
kasugo - baby sea bream
maguro - lean bluefin tuna
kurodai - black sea bream
hotategai - scallop
inada - baby yellowtail
kamasu - seared barracuda
kuruma-ebi - tiger prawn
chu-toro - medium-fatty bluefin tuna
kohada - gizzard shad
seared snow trout
ama-ebi - sweet shrimp
sake - seared salmon
suzuki - sea bass
isaki - grunt fish
saba - japanese mackerel
kanpachi - yellowtail
albacore toro
santa barbara uni
madai - wild sea bream
ma-iwashi - sardine
otoro - fatty bluefin tuna
negitoro
baked crab roll
tamago
head miso
after-dinner dinner
burgundy escargot - garlic, parsley, butter
I don’t care for fast food #snailedit. This should be described as butter and garlic garnished with nautilus (nautili?).
omelette (the ludo tamago) - boursin pepper cheese, chives
Is the after-dinner omelette considered second dinner or first breakfast? #askingforafriend
not toto
Had another great meal at shin sushi. Business has really picked up, when we arrived we got the last two seats at the counter and two tables were occupied. Pacing was also understandably slower and Take-san ran out of uni (no second rounds) and his new castella-style tamago that @Chowseeker1999 had.
In other sushi news @beam may find interesting, Take-san says his friend yoshi-san, formerly of mori and sushi ginza onodera, will be opening his own place in playa del rey.
Highlights
Scallop
Chutoro
Baby sea bream
Sanma
Saba
ma-iwashi
Uni
Le valley. Come for the sushi and free parking, stay because there’s a sigalert on the 405.
scallop, arsley pesto
menegi - baby green onion
#salad
kasugo - baby sea bream
hotategai - scallop
kurodai - black sea bream
ikura - salmon roe
maguro - lean bluefin tuna
sanma - mackerel pike
madai - wild sea bream
tombo - albacore tuna
isaki - grunt fish
ma-iwashi - sardine
chu-toro - medium-fatty bluefin tuna
saba - japanese mackerel
sake - seared salmon
kanpachi - yellowtail
kohada - gizzard shad
uni - santa barbara sea urchin
lobster
anago - sea eel
hotategai - scallop
miso
Shin Sushi
16573 Ventura Blvd
Encino, CA 91436
(818) 616-4148
Hopefully soon.