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Shinju Sushi

4 star rating
based on 58 reviews

Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese

Neighborhood: Washington Square West
930 Locust St
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 351-6265
Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
No
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
Yes
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
None

58 reviews for Shinju Sushi

Review Highlights   

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"philly roll and dragon roll) and the more creative rolls (e." (in 32 reviews)
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"Solid sushi, good atmosphere, great prices, and BYOB." (in 18 reviews)
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"The space is very small, so a reservation is key." (in 5 reviews)
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Photo of Matt S.

 

0

6

Matt S.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
10/30/2009

You can't go wrong with the place.  Solid sushi, good atmosphere, great prices, and BYOB.

While I'm certainly not a sushi connoisseur like some other reviews, I would like to think that I can taste the difference between good and bad sushi.  Shinju Sushi consistently impresses me with their fresh, creative rolls.

Worth noting is that this place is SMALL.  Reservations can be good idea.  Also, the service can be a bit slow but never inattentive.  Considering the size of the space, their almost non-existent kitchen and great prices I've never found the service to be a problem.  Just don't expect to dine and dash.

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Photo of Sub S.

 

8

31

Sub S.

Manchester

UK

4 star rating
10/14/2009

Go here!

Rolls are interesting and not the usual fare. The ambiece is nice for dates or small groups, though if there is an obnoxious table in the restaurant everyone is bothered. Nice fish, nice apps. BYOB policy.

Pros: Rolls, rolls, rolls

Cons: Can get loud

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Photo of Claire O.

Elite '09

19

58

Claire O.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
9/27/2009

First off, the agedashi tofu is out of this world. I'm very picky and sometimes restaurants can get it wrong, but Shinju has it down,

The rolls are inventive. The hako sushi is probably my favorite so far - pressed box sushi with spicy tuna, "crunch" (which I assume is panko), topped with unagi and tobiko. Great flavors. The BCT roll that everyone was raving about didn't really do it for me - way too rich and creamy for my taste. We also ordered the shrimp tempura roll and spicy tuna, as well as ikura nigiri (salmon roe).

I'd have to order sashimi or nigiri in order to comment on the quality of the fish, so I'll probably update this review when I get around to that. I also did take-out so I can't comment on the service.

Prices were a touch steep. The hako sushi was worth the $12.50 but generally I think the other rolls were overpriced.

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11

64

pracheta t.

Easton, PA

4 star rating
11/16/2009

really romantic and cute =] it's a really small place but I've gone there with one other person and with half a dozen other people and each time, there is always more than enough room. The food is so so so so good and the people that work there are really nice. this place is super relaxed and tucked away in a nice neighborhood.

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Photo of Lauryn Z.

Elite '09

11

39

Lauryn Z.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
Updated - 11/6/2009

We had dinner at Shinju last night, and since my last review was about a year ago, it's time for an update and I'm happy to report that nothing has changed- the sushi is still the best I've ever had...the fish is always fresh & melt in your mouth delicious every time ...and the rolls are unique and creative, miso soup is excellent & its byob with the Foodery just around the corner. We left with a wonderful 'food high' totally wondering why we would ever bother going anywhere else in Philly for sushi...

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    9/28/2008

    After walking by Shinju Sushi on numerous occasions, we finally decided to give it a try.  It's… Read more »

Photo of Everett R.

Elite '09

12

41

Everett R.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
11/5/2009 1 photo

Met my good buddy there for a mutual b-day treat and we split six high quality rolls.  The standard fair was right on target (e.g. philly roll and dragon roll) and the more creative rolls (e.g. soft shell crab) really pushed me over the edge.  It's BYOB - we got a 6 pack of heineken for $11 @ the Locust Bar right next door (which is pretty good for that part of the city), which went perfectly with the fish.  It's a small restaurant that gets pretty noisy at peak dinner time, but I'll take lively over eerily silent any day.

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Photo of Sara L.

 

0

6

Sara L.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
11/8/2009

Mmmmmm - I love this place!  While I usually do take out from Shinju, I finally dined in last night so I feel equipped to write a proper review.  The space is very small, so a reservation is key.  I would not describe the service as slow or poor; rather, it is unhurried.  Sushi is a meal for lingering anyway (we did for 2.5 hours), and excellent sushi takes time to prepare.  Our waitress was pleasant and attentive, and quick to respond to requests.

Between our group of three, we had miso soup, salads, shrimp shumai, veggie gyoza, naked gyoza (a curious and excellent sushi-nacho fusion on a fried wonton), volcano roll, katsu maki, hand rolls and salmon nigiri.  With the sole exception of the mushy, oversteamed veggie dumplings that tasted of nothing but cabbage, the food was excellent.  Fresh flavorful fish, interesting rolls, beautiful presentation, melts in your mouth rice.  Yum.  After all that gluttony, we had room for only a bowl of red bean ice cream shared for dessert.  It was tasty, but I did not notice much flavor difference from vanilla.

The prices are reasonable - final bill was around $60 (before tip), and all three of us were full and happy.

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Elite '09

10

73

Grace T.

Arlington, VA

4 star rating
9/1/2009

Creative rolls, reasonable price, good salads and miso soup, overall good eating here!

I interned literally 20 steps away from here so my boss and I would eat here pretty often. For take-out or dine-in. Expect to do some ease dropping if you dine-in cause you will for sure hear your neighbor's conversation. There are only about 8 tables in the place, BUT you can order take out walk a little bit down to Washington Square park or sit outside by the newly renovated Jefferson University courtyard.

Can't say how their cooked Japanese entrees are, but the old intern boss said they were pretty good. Almost positive she eats here at least once a week, so it is that good!

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Elite '09

22

235

Zoe P.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
10/12/2009

If there's one thing my bf and I love, its sushi. Our relationship was born from sushi - our first REAL date was a sushi dinner during college. We love sushi so much we get take out more often than we should for our health if Jeremy Piven is any indication of the consequences of too much sushi.

But it had been AWHILE since we last had sushi (and by awhile, I mean like a month), and we were craving it. I didn't want to order from our usual Vic and instead opted to try out Shinju since it seemed to have a nice selection of special rolls for relatively reasonable prices. We called in our order and leisurely walked over to pick it up (and once there were informed of its new location and name: Fat Salmon!). Once home with our prize we gorged, and boy was it great.

Edamame (always good - and if not, FOR SHAME) quickly lost ground to the four rolls we ordered.  The Volcano Roll had crabstick, avocado, cucumber inside and spicy tuna, wasabi tobiko on top with crunch on the side - their menu said crab MEAT, but no its merely a California roll that's been amped up and made tastier. The Kai Roll had eel, tuna, shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber and tobiko all wrapped up in one very, very large roll - too big for my mouth, but my bf was able to manage them and gobbled them up. The Fuka Roll had tuna, salmon, white fish, scallion, flying fish roe mixed in spicy sauce inside with all the same fish chopped with spicy sauce on top with crabstick added - best roll of the night in my opinion, it was just fantastic and SO MUCH FISH. The Spicy Scallop Roll was also phenomenal, which was perplexing only because it was literally JUST scallop, nothing else. We're pretty sure that their spicy sauce is the secret behind all their amazing sushi rolls, its the best we've tasted in awhile. And for all that food the bill was pretty reasonable. I can only hope that when they change locations they will continue to provide quality, delicious sushi at their reasonable prices.

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Elite '09

19

38

Frank S.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
8/7/2009

If you can find a spot in this place of the size of a shoe box, consider yourself lucky. I had not been here for over a year an now that I went back I found some of the freshest sushi I have had in town (including S in Collingswood) for a very reasonable price. Excellent miso soup, not overly salted like in so many other places, super fresh salad with delicious ginger dressing, both complimentary. I had chirashi, including the shrimp, which is usually not my favorite in it, every bite of fish was really good. Same for my friends maki sampler. Only downside, there was no tamago in the bowl, which I think goes really well with chirashi, but hey.. It's byob and there is a great beer place right around the corner a 10th and Pine.

Now that I wrote the review, I am actually pretty regretful to tell everyone about it ... ;-)

Warning! Too small for big groups!

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Elite '09

6

39

Mindy Y.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
Updated - 10/10/2009

Shinju is moving to 7th and Walnut.. and they're changing their name to Fat Salmon.  Fat Salmon?? Yes, Fat Salmon.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    9/28/2009

    I love this place. Shinju earned their 5th star by one special feature-- they have takeout AND… Read more »

Photo of Kim C.

Elite '09

17

74

Kim C.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
10/8/2009

This is my go-to place for sushi. Nothing fancy, no frills, reasonably priced, they do takeout and delivery ($15 minimum), and fish has always tasted fresh. I've been going here and will continue to go here for all my sushi needs in Philadelphia.

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0

19

s l.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
9/28/2009

Great little (seriously, little) spot in Washington Sq West.  It's rare that I leave a sushi place stuffed, but after the old school roll and the lipstick roll (I think?) and sharing an order of the very good, light agedashi tofu, I was just that.  

I wish I stopped at the Foodery first though.  Next time I'll come armed with some Hitachino XH.

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Photo of Cassie K.

 

1

6

Cassie K.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
8/14/2009

Loved it!!  I love sushi but have to admit that I mostly limit myself to California Rolls (I am a Sushi Chicken).  This place is great for Sushi Chickens!!  I got a roll called the BCT which had bacon, tomato, and the roll was topped with avocado.  I think the C was for cheese but whatever it was, it was delicious!  The roll portions are large and the prices very reasonable.  The menu had a lot of other fun looking rolls so I will definitely be back to try them out...maybe even some with actual fish in them depending on how brave I am feeling or the size of the wine bottle I bring :)  

As others said, this place is small so I would definitely call ahead for a reservation...even during the week!

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Elite '09

49

223

josh f.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
4/21/2009

If you like fresh sushi, awesome prices, a sweet dinning environment, byo's, and service with a smile I suggest you drop everything and run to Shinju. Holy Sashimi Batman! It was that good. My lady and I were having a birthday plan fail as it rained all day and night yesterday and the Phillies game was rained out. With all that suck going on she had the bright idea of checking the Yelp for good sushi. Well Yelp, you did it again. On your recommendation we set out to have an epic birthday sushi experience.

We started with some piping hot edamame and then ordered 4 rolls. I don't remember what any of them were called except for the Miss Sake Bomb which was eel. They were all delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. The food came out a tad on the slow side, but that was fine as we had the edamame to snack on while we waited. Our server was super friendly and everyone in the place was all smiles. This place is small so I am glad we made reservations. It was a packed house on a Monday night. As I looked around all I saw were happy faces. It seems everyone else was really digging their experience at Shinju. I'll go back again and again. I'll bring friends and family. I loved it. It was a great birthday dinner.

Cheers Shinju sushi. Cheers.

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3

12

Justin M.

North Wales, PA

5 star rating
9/14/2009

great sushi!
love the intimate atmosphere!
i frequent this sushi spot often. one of my favorites.

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Photo of Sisi L.

Elite '09

10

53

Sisi L.

Philadelphia, PA

2 star rating
4/21/2009

This place is ok. It's pretty small, so everytime I'm there, I get wedged between the wall and the table with only room to breathe, or my chair is touching the chair of the person behind me.  When it's busy, it's hard to have a private conversation because the tables next to you are only 1 foot away.

The fish is pretty fresh, but the rolls and nigiri are about 30% smaller than every other sushi place that i've been to.  I usually get the "sushi for 2" and it comes with 5 pieces of fish and 1 roll per person. Normally this would be enough food for me, but  because everything is so small, I'm always still hungry!

If you are into hand rolls and maki, i'd suggest going to Green Garden around the corner. The prices are lower and you get bigger portions and the same tastiness and quality. My boyfriend's main complaint about Shinju is that the wasabi is really bad quality. It breaks up into powder form immediately in soy sauce, as if it's just horseradish and food coloring.

If you are really into sushi, or any japanese food for that matter, the yummiest sushi i've had is actually at Sagami, in New Jersey. It's worth the toll!!

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Elite '09

41

71

missy p.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
Updated - 2/16/2009

I spent my entire Valentine's day in bed watching anime on youtube and hiding from couples. PDA on VD is rampant and kind of makes my skin crawl. Get a room, people!

So where were we? Oh yeah. Me. My bed. Anime. Anime characters eat a LOT it seems and their cartoon food looked so good that watching it made me crave sushi more than ever!  I called up shinju and picked up an assortment of sushi and a seaweed salad to take home. When I got home, I nommed down while thinking 'Hell YES! Best Valentine's day ever!'

Sushi is better than sex.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    1/31/2009

    I'm a sushi snob and this is the best fairly priced sushi in Philly. It's *almost* as good as… Read more »

Photo of Eric V.

 

1

19

Eric V.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
6/12/2009

Definitely the best sushi I've had in a while... and the prices are great.

Oh.. and I ordered one of the lunch roll specials.... and the rolls were HUGE.

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34

49

Daria M.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
3/5/2009 1 photo

Stopped in solo for a quick snack. Had a pickled plum roll. It was good, but there could have been more pickled plum in it and less cucumber. I asked for spicy sauce on the side and was given a generous amount with no extra charge which I appreciate greatly.

The restaurant is small, intimate, quiet, clean and cozy-feeling, although I was privy to my neighbors' conversation a bit too much due to the close proximity, I think it was because it was midday and there were only the two of us in there. The service was fast, attentive and polite. I would come back again from the look of all the yummy maki, if I knew they did veggie-substitutions, since there were only a handful of veggie rolls on the menu, but I was too daydreamy to ask that day.

Overall, a positive experience! I give kudos. :)

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2

24

Scottie B.

Princeton, NJ

4 star rating
6/5/2009

Went here twice while in town for a conference.  The first time, with my girlfriend, she got the vegetarian combo and I a spicy tuna creation (Hoki Sushi I think).  She loved hers and I was pretty pleased with mine.  We got there around 5 on a Sunday and found the place empty.  The second time, with my labmates we all ordered at least two rolls and there was high praise.  This time (7:30pm on a Tuesday) the place was quite full but we still found a table.

As always with sushi, it doesn't fill you up so feel adventurous to order at least two rolls.  The interior is quite small (but not cramped) and includes a sushi bar.  Our waitress was very nice and never far but not interrupting.  And we couldn't believe the price, very reasonable.

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Photo of Alix H.

Elite '09

16

76

Alix H.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
5/13/2009

Shinju is definately yummy, but for the price I just want MORE!!!!!!!!
My boyfriend and I are CA transplants to Philly so we are excited about finding all the best places to eat, but for the same price at the place back home you get 2-4 more pieces per order. bummer.  It's still tasty and we will be coming back.  As for the complaints about it being too small--- it's COZY !! :)

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Elite '09

23

74

cassie t.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
2/22/2009

I'm a huge fan of this place's proximity to my house, ambiance, service, and their SPECIALTY ROLLS (for more traditional sushi and sashimi I don't think I would go here)!

The ambiance is quite different from your average sushi restaurant, it's kind of dark, intimate (small, but not as small as vics!) and swanky, kind of trendy but not so much that it's annoying.  They play an interesting mix of jazz and the like.  Also, awesome pictures of these sashimi characters with smiley faces in different situations all over the walls.  Tiki sushi bar looking thing in the back too.  

My seaweed salad was kind of expensive at $6 but it was pretty huge.  The specialty rolls are what really stands out here.  Many different really creative combos at great prices. Compared to Vic's most all of the specialty rolls were cheaper.  I got the Locust, I think it was like a California roll inside topped with tempura spicey tuna and some delicious sauce.  Holy crap it was good!

One off thing was that there was an overpowering smell of something like Glade tropical air freshener, but maybe it was just the day.  

Regardless, I will definitely be back!

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Photo of brad C.

 

2

24

brad C.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
3/6/2009

Looking for a place near Broad St for sushi, Shinju came up.  I'm usually a patron of Vic, but this place offers similar value with more inventiveness.  The "Lost Rainbow" offers a really wonderful mix of textures and flavors, combining thinly sliced crunchy cucumber with tender salmon.

The only knock on them was the Agedashi tofu, which is one of my favorite dishes.  This deep fried tofu is supposed to be crisp on the outside, warm and creamy on the inside, and dipped in a bit of broth. Shinju's was drowning in sauce, leaving the breading on the tofu gelatinous and impossible to eat with the rest of the dish. But affordable sushi places always leave something to be desired in their appetizers.

Brad's rating scale (out of 5):
Food: 4
Price: 5
Decor: 3
Service: 4
Wild card: Byob!

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Elite '09

123

129

Jenna C.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
Updated - 11/24/2008

My review from last year is no longer enough. Shinju might be my favorite place to go, in the city. It is quiet and friendly.  

While the service can sometimes feel a little slow, it's in actuality just un-rushed.  The sushi is delightful (assuming you like fusion rolls) and always presented well.

There are some places that breed hostility.  You know, those restaurants you frequent when you're fighting with your significant other.  Shinju is the exact opposite of those. I have never had a bad experience or a bad time, here. I don't think it's possible to be unhappy in this tiny byo.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    4/6/2007

    This place is adorable!

    There's not much to say that hasn't been covered by Caitlin and George... The… Read more »

Photo of D M.

 

2

21

D M.

Alexandria, VA

1 star rating
4/4/2009

Based on the reviews below, the wife and I ate here last night. What a massive disappointment. The service and the atmosphere both get 1 star. The food gets 0 stars.

Lets start with the atmosphere. The place is tiny - maybe ten or twelve tables plus a small sushi bar. But instead of being tiny in a mellow, relaxing way, it was tiny in a cramped, table on top of table way. I found myself yelling across the ikea-like table at my wife just to hold a conversation.

The service was unbelievably slow. Even though there was an empty table when we arrived, it took ten minutes to get seated. Then we waited -  no exaggeration- 25 to 30 minutes to have our order taken. After that, we waited again for water, and again for the appetizer, and again for food, and again for the check. I'm pretty chill about service, and when-you-get-a-chance kind of guy, but this was silly.

Sushi is hard. I get it. And I get that there are different styles of sushi, how you pack the rice, what type of seaweed you use, whatever. Shinju does a loosely packed roll, wetter than normal. Which sounds fine in practice, but given the quality of vegetables used, it tasted like mush. I couldn't finish my plate - that just doesn't happen with sushi. Terrible. The seaweed salad I had as an appetizer was mediocre, making it the best thing about the place.

Then it was three a.m. this morning. I didn't drink a drop last night. But I still got that feeling, you know the one, were last night's partying has caught up to you and its time to see the toilet from a new angle. The chunks were in my throat, I was out of bed and running to the bathroom. Nothing came out, and fine, fine, it could have been anything. Then the same feeling came over me again, and again I was flying out of bed. And then my wife this dawn. Food poison. Yum. Zero stars.

This place reinforces for me the disparity in quality reasonably priced sushi restaurants between Philly and DC. How could a place this bad get such excellent ratings? I suspect the BYOB policy helps. If your sloshed, who cares how long the service takes? who cares what the food tastes like? I do, and I won't be back.

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Photo of Emilia M.

 

4

29

Emilia M.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
4/1/2009

I have visited Shinju Sushi only 3 times, but each time I have brought a different friend, and each time it has been absolutely amazing!

Shinju's specialty rolls are to die for. There is something for everyone on their menu, included a roll with kobe beef, as well as two rolls that somehow manage to incorporate bacon. I'm not a huge bacon fan, but I took my friend for his birthday and he was amazed!

The place is super small, so I recommend calling ahead and getting reservations. They will only hold your reservation for 15 minutes after you're supposed to be there, but I think that is a pretty fair policy considering I once went without a reservation and had to wait a pretty long time.

I definitley recommend Shinju, and after your meal you should definitely try the Moki ice cream. (If you read my other reviews, you'll see I'm a big fan). Added Plus: It's a byob, which means that you can have any beer or wine you want with your Sushi,

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Elite '09

42

135

faye b. s.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
2/5/2009

I've been on a mission to find a good sushi place other than Vic. Don't get me wrong; Vic is my other man (second to my husband, of course), but sometimes he gets a little pricey. Using Yelp's magical powers, we found Shinju Sushi.

When we walked up, I was almost afraid the place was closed because it was so dark. I guess it's a Philly thing to have dark restaurants? We were seated quickly...granted, there were only two other groups there. The waitress took our drink orders and brought them out fairly quickly, but the edamame and actual sushi/rolls we ordered took a bit longer.

We had salmon and yellowtail nigiri (our basis for comparison), as well as a couple of rolls: the smoking volcano and the spider roll. The nigiri was a touch over just passable; the rice was a little undercooked, but the fish was good, if not a little thin. I like my salmon big and thick!

The rolls, however, were SO GOOD. The smoking volcano roll was my favorite of the two-- crab stick, tomato, and cream cheese roll, topped with spicy tuna and tobiko. Mmmm! I'm normally not a huge fan of rolls, but make it right and I love them! The spider roll was a little generic, imo, but it was still very yummy.

I'm still undecided if I think the size of the rolls is a bad or good thing. The smoking volcano came with 6 fairly small pieces, and the spider roll came with 5 larger pieces. I'm all about quality over quantity, but I'm so used to having huge 8-piece rolls that this was a little surprising. Nevertheless, I enjoyed what we had at Shinju and definitely wanted more!

Price is on par with Vic, but I think there you get more food-- because of the bigger rolls and bigger pieces of salmon and yellowtail. Granted, I would recommend this place based on our experience last night.

Had I gotten nigiri alone, this place would have gotten three stars, but with the rolls, a solid four stars. Minus one star for how dark it is inside, though...I actually wanted to pull out my flashlight!

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Elite '09

48

218

Christopher R.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
1/19/2009

Better than average sushi and the prices aren't jacked up like a lot of places in the area.  BYO, which is huge, and the first time I went there our server was knowledgeable about which sake to serve hot and which to serve cold.  

The only problem is that it can get pretty cramped since the space is so small and well-loved.  I made a reservation last time and they actually kept it even though I was a bit late and all the tables were full, which impressed me.  Sorry to whoever had to wait because of me, by the way.

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7

2

Tom G.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
7/27/2009

I order sushi from this place at least once a week. While the space is small and the tables close together this somehow adds to the charm. The staff is always friendly and glad to see me (perhaps because I drop as much money as I do). When picking up takeout and bring the dog to pick up my order they not only bring my order outside they  sometimes bring treats for the dog.  My personal favorite is the Locust roll - if you go you MUST try this roll.

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8

8

Melanie M.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
12/18/2008

Wow! I have walked past this place so many times since it is right around the corner from my apt. I finally decided to check it out after my friends were raving about it. They were right about this place! Everything was so delicious! I have never had so sushi so fresh in my life. The tuna sashimi does melt in your mouth. We also had the Locust Roll (the perfect mix of flavors and crunchiness). The M & M with marinated beef was also different and fantastic. Service was great and the BYO part is another plus.

We have gone back 3 times now and can't wait to take all of our friends there so that they can enjoy sushi done right!

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0

11

Alexis M.

New York, NY

4 star rating
2/15/2009

This place would be delicious if only for being intimate, friendly, and fresh. But they deliver too!! This must be new, because I just *rediscovered* this place, and I don't remember it delivering.
Tons of variety in the roll arena, and very fresh sushi/sashimi. Also, I love the selection of vegetarian rolls, especially the Ume Kappa roll (what other place that's this down-to-earth uses Japanese pickles and umeboshi?).
As for price, this place is one of the few I know of that is reasonably priced AND decent quality. I don't think you can pay less than this without sacrificing quality.

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180

480

Chrissy R.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
8/19/2008

I always stop by here when I have family in the hospital.  Yes, it's morbid, depressing sushi.

Yummy though and they do cheap and quick takeout.

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1

21

Clarissa D.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
5/16/2009

One of my favorite places in the city.  BYOB.  Well priced, generous, and well made sushi dishes.  Nice dark candle lit atmosphere.  I come here all the time with my friend and our bill is usually $30 or less.  They also do a great lunch special.

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7

17

Rachel K.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
6/18/2008

Came here on my birthday and I became a fan.

Great little cozy location.
Shinju is known for their "fusion" style sushi and they definitely took the award for that!
The rolls were smaller and a bit pricier then what im used to @ Mizu or Raw. But every bite makes up for it! I love how each dish comes with illustrations! hah

The bad thing was:
too dark, byob, and one time they ran out of rice so my party had to wait one hour!

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5

19

Joshua S.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
6/25/2008

This is one of the few sushi places I have been to since I moved from Hawaii that compares to the spots on island.  

The place is very tiny, so I tend to make reservations when I go, although they are usually only needed on the weekend.  It is a BYOB, but  I'm a student so I don't mind paying a third of the price to by a six pack of Ichiban from around the corner.  

The rolls are fantastic, with many fusion rolls that are as fun to decide over with your date as they are to eat (although I agree with Lori that they are too fragile for the undextrous.  They are a little pricey, but there has ever been an uttered regret from my table come check time.  The sashimi and edamame are usual additions to the meal, as well.

All in all, go in a patient mood (the service runs a little slow and the chefs take their time perfecting your roll) and you won't be disappointed.

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7

13

nico t.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
4/8/2008

My favorite sushi spot in town. the decor is bright and cheery, but the lights are dim, creating a great sushi atmosphere. as others have said, it's a tight fit most of the time.

the reasons i love this place start with its location. it happens to be just around the corner from my apartment. but that's not all. they have a good selection of vegetarian sushi options, which works well for weirdos like me that like sushi but don't eat fish. the wait staff are friendly and helpful, and the chefs will make stuff not on the menu if you ask nicely (not common among locals).

the prices are about average for a decent sushi place, though the vegetarian tempura is a little pricey, but i can't resist. it's my favorite. they put a spicy mayo on it that is just the right amount of zing for me.

the menu has a huge variety of "fusion" options in addition to standard sushi fare. they've even added a vegetarian option to the fusion menu, which i like to think was the result of my continuous efforts to get them to expand their veggie options.

In short, if you're in the neighborhood and like sushi, eat here.

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3

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Felicia Q.

Ridley Park, PA

3 star rating
7/13/2008

Sagami was closed for summer vacation, so my sushi-craving hubby and I trekked downtown to Shinju. After a good omen of finding a primo parking spot with a broken meter (score!), we walked into the tiny, cozy byob and sat amidst the young, sporty and hip couples around us. We had a reservation for 7 on a Saturday, which I think was a good idea because the place filled up by about 7:45.

They have some really unique-sounding and looking (see pictures in the funky menu) rolls, but they also have all the traditional stuff.

I highly recommend this place if you cannot get to Sagami (Sagami is the one-paw-waving-kitty statue standard; it's is the next best thing to flying to Japan as far as I'm concerned, although for some people driving to Jersey is probably on their short list of "things to avoid when I can").  

The service at Shinju was great, the wine we brought was great, the tempura shrimp was more like lightly-fried shrimp, unfortunately, and the slices of fish on the sushi deluxe plate we ordered was a bit on the thin side - MINOR, nit-picky complaints. The space is nice, and it's not expensive at all.  

We will definitely go back.

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2

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John R.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
3/9/2008

I dined here one cold winter afternoon.  After dashing in and out of the New Year's Mummers parade, my girlfriend and I were wandering the streets hungry and we stumbled upon Shinju Sushi.   It is such a cute little restaurant.  It's BYOB.  The vibe is casual and romantic with definite mood lighting going on.  I would not suggest you come here with a group, or even with more than another person.  The place just doesn't have that many tables.  I think the whole restaurant can seat like 20 people, but for a date, planned or unplanned, this was the perfect spot.

The quality of this place is no secret to the locals, almost every seat in the place was taken as we walked in.   The waitress told us that it would be a 30 minute wait for a table.  No matter we decided, as we saw one of the like 3 or 4 seats at the sushi bar was open.  Luckily, my girlfriend and I have tiny butts.  We both scooched onto the stool, wrapped one arm around each other and ordered our sushi like some two headed monster I guess.

We got an appetizer of age tofu (fried tofu with dashi in a light soy broth) and a miso soup.  We then ordered a few standard rolls (eel, salmon) and a special roll ( I should have written it down but you know the names never make much sense anyway).  The amount of fish in our rolls was pretty good, the quality was good, and for a great price.  The total bill came to under $30.

By no means is this a must visit place, there are actually plenty of good sushi options around philly.  However, I think shinju will become my local sushi spot.  Vic is all the way on the other side of town for me.  Bring your next date here, it's a good place for an intimate dinner.  Plus girls like sushi restaurants.  The place is small and full, but didn't feel crowded or loud.  If you're good friends you can just share a seat at the bar.

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2

48

iarhyme i.

Princeton, NJ

5 star rating
5/13/2009

I have visited TONS of sushi restaurants. NJ, NY, and PA.  I am extremely picky and rate my sushi on creativeness, freshness, and flavor.  This is the most amazing place.  Every time i go, i am satisfied and happy.  Even when dropping $90, this is worth it.  Don't bother wasting your time trying out sushi restaurants- this is it.  THE BEST EVER.

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