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Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
Neighborhood: Hollywood
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After a LOOONG day today, we have decided instead of french in Eagle Rock, we will just go somewhere local... whats better than my comfort food after a hectic day?
In order to satisfy my no-seafood bf, we went to Shintaro instead of Sushi Ike, so at least he can have some chicken...
I ordered my usual, sea urchin, sweet shrimp, yellow tail and a Caterpillar roll; and of course, teriyaki chicken for my man. Sushi was gooood; sea urchin, sweeet~ sweet shrimp and yellow tail, decent and the Caterpillar roll, i never had eel that faaaatty, YUM!! bf said the chicken was a little dry, but the sauce was good, he would give it a 7 (out of 10).
Shintaro has a very zen, japanese ambiance, we both loved it!! our server was great~ she might be the owner or the manager there, she checked in with us at least 3 times in an hour, not to mention the other servers came by and took the empty plates too...
Although Shintaro can't beat our favy Haru sushi; it is definitely our top choice of sushi when I have one of those cravings and we dont feel like driving all the way to Haru... But yes, I am a fan~
Don't go here cause you'll take my spot. Seriously. I'll punch you in the face if you are there and there are no seats.
Can I say hamapeno! Ichiban!
Any samurai warrior or Geisha in the region will tell you that this little bamboo hut tucked away in a tiny village of commerce is the Land of the Rising Sun. As a Ronin, I prefer to stray from such communal consensus; however in this case, I can honestly say without hesitation, that Shintaro is the waSHITsu!
I had been finding in my travels along Mount Lee that other houses of sushi were falling a few bonsai trees short of a full Japanese Garden of flavor, so I grabbed a palanquin to the corner of Franklin and Highland in search of true enlightenment.
Upon arriving, I realized that though the exteriors were nothing to send a Makimono home about, the interiors were as killer as the 18 Skills of Ninjutsu. The mood was dim, soft, and sexy; and even the novelty of projecting cinematic Kabuki onto the walls didn't bukkake the zen-like ambiance that remained as cool and tranquil as a Shaolin Monk.
When a cutie in a Kimono arrived to take my nigirizushi order of Salmon Roe and Fresh Water Eel, she did so in such a pleasant, professional manner that I didn't even detect the Shinobi-iri trained busboy who dropped off the tea and sake I had just ordered. The same could be said of the shogun chef in the kitchen. This kendo master of the sushi katana had my dishes sliced and diced in a matter of minutes! And what flavor! Well done, Sensei.
So if you've been chasing that golden dragon, but you don't want prices that will blow you over like the divine winds of the kamikaze, then rickshaw your ass over to Shintaro for a meal that's fit for a Feudal Lord, and worthy of four out of five throwing stars.
GOOD Just like japanise cars! lol
My husband and I have been to Shintaro several times and each one was a delight! Their nigiri melts like butter in your mouth. The rolls are excellent, too, but I think nigiri is where they take the cake. The decor is much better than the strip mall location initially implies. Silent Kurosawa movies are projected onto the wall, which adds a nice edge to the relatively simple, clean surroundings that I find well-suited for a Japanese restaurant. The price is more affordable than some trendier spots, but the sushi can stand tall next to any of its local competitors.
This is my new sushi place for sure. Went here for the second time in a week last night. I have had a great experience both times. Fast, friendly service. Very fresh fish and creative entree's. I also really like the ambiance. Nice but not overly pretentious. Definitely will be back again.
On our way in, my friend and I noticed a makeshift sign on the sidewalk outside the door that said something about the food being horrible...luckily, it wasn't true.
We both ordered rolls; the food was really good and the presentation was beautiful, but the portions seemed small...and it took quite a while to get our food (we were there on a Thursday night, so it wasn't incredibly busy).
I haven't tried any other sushi places in Hollywood, and I know I'm probably spoiled by restaurants in less-expensive towns, but Shintaro's just a little too skimpy on the portions for my taste.
I opened up an account to yelp this place. That's how bad it was. I wanted to share my experience with the rest of the world so no one would have to go through what I went through here.
WTF? This place is disgusting, DISGUSTING!! And I have no idea what people on here see in this place. Am I spoiled by living in San Francisco and having the absolute best cuisine in all of the country? I think not. Maybe everyone is just too drunk off some hot sake that by the time your food gets to your table, anything'll taste good.
Let me tell you about this place. First of all, the staff are reets. The three of us in our party got seated pretty quickly but after that, it was like please, make us wait longer and try and make us feel just a little bit more uncomfortable. My waitress was giving me looks like Kati from Paranormal activity and anytime I made any sudden movement, she would spaz out with the most confused look on her face? We ordered a couple of rolls but when asked if we could hold onto the menu, she said no and that she'd bring it back later. She wouldn't even let me keep the pencil. Okaaaaay lady. I have no plans of running off with your menu, especially after this experience, trust me! But even still, I was thinking okay, no big deal. She's a f'in weirdo but hopefully the food will make up for it, given it got such good reviews from all the local yelpers.
I have a test. Anytime I try a new sushi roll, I test the California roll. I don't order anything else. If the cali roll is good, I can then move forward in building trust. But tonight, we were starving, we went straight for the kill. Cowboy roll, Shintaro roll, shrimp tempura roll, rainbow roll, dragon roll, shrimp hand roll, cali roll, eel-avocado roll. With this selection, you figure you can't go wrong on all? Oh-yes-you-ca-an! The fish doesn't taste fresh at all. The cali roll is all mushy and mayo-ey in your mouth and the shit falls apart before I even get to wrap my second chopstick around the sushi piece. The rice is overly sticky and the sushi is served room temperature. Wtf? The shit practically dissolves in your mouth. Maybe if they even packed the damn things tighter, they might be able to fool the sushi virgin. That's the best way to describe this sushi: mushy, oily, and unfresh. I don't give a fuck if it's 100 degrees out there, don't ever serve me room temperature sushi again! I'll tell you about yourself! The only roll I can prop out of any of them is the rainbow roll which I would give at best, on a good day, 3 stars.
And the prices? I'm cool with paying good money for good sushi. But charge me $7 for a california roll again that only has 6 pieces. Fuck that shit. Your specialty roll that costs $14 only came with 5 mutha fuckin pieces spread out loosely all over a plate.
If you're a sushi rookie and haven't really explored what real sushi is supposed to taste like, be my guest and start off bad here so that every place you go after will have the lowest of expectations. If you're a sushi afficionado however bypass this shit. When you see Shintaro, RUUUUUN!!!! Run as fast as you can in the opposite direction!!!!!
If you ever hit up San Francisco, check out the following: Nama, Shimo, and the sushi spot inside the Metreon. This is what you should use as a benchmark.
Shintaro is the BEST sushi you can get in LA when you're in the mood for delicious sushi without a scene and willing to pay normal prices.
Of course you could always go to the high-end sushi route where you know you'll run into celebs or paparazzi, but that also means you're willing to pay $13 for a drink. Sometimes I go the 1/2 price route where the beer and wine are $3 and the sushi is 3/4 rice, 1/4 fish. But when you want great sushi and are willing to pay, Shintaro is at the top of the list! The prices are reasonable! Shintaro isn't cheap but the prices are 100% worth it.
The servers are always very sweet, the sushi is always fresh, and the environment is fun when the restaurant is bustling. Projecting black and white old Japanese flicks on the wall adds to the fun element in this place.
Don't leave without getting a double shrimp roll!!
(If you're realllly into seeing celebs, I have run into Vince Vaughn, Green Day, and some cast members from Buffy in here. Just sayin')
I'm not much of a sake connoisseur, but they serve my favorite sake here: Jozen. It's the clear/pink bottle. Jozen has a sweet after taste to it. Let me tell you, enough of this and you'll be feeling pretty good. It's a creeper. You'll drink it like it's a martini, eat your sushi, and chat. About an hour later when you have to get up out of your seat to use the restroom, it'll kick.
The atmosphere here is real chilled. The lighting is not too bright and perfectly dimmed so you're still able to see your tablemates. On the weekends it might get packed especially when there's an event at the Hollywood Bowl. Parking is decent, but sometimes hard to find since Shintaro shares it with other stores like Subway and Starbucks.
The fellaz and I always come here to get our buzz on prior to heading off to our main destination in Hollywood. The location of this restaurant is perfect for that since it's slighty north of Hollywood Blvd. We sometimes end up parking in the area, drink/grub at Shintaro, then walk down to Hollywood to the hot spots.
Besides having a nice bar full of different sakes, beer, and hard liquor, the food here is pretty good. The sushi is fresh. The staff is friendly and helpful. It's also a good spot to bring a date or just hang out withe buddies.
Service: 4 stars
Value/Taste: 4 stars
Decor/Ambiance: 3.5 stars
Medium size restaurant with about 15 tables and seats about 15 at the sushi bar. I overheard the hostess saying that if you sit at the sushi bar, you can only order sushi and not the hot foods (entrees & noodles).
Very good & highly recommed: Yellow-tail (delicious!) Scallop (delicious!), Spanish Mackerel (Mmm, Yum!), Beef Tataki (3 sets of 4 thinly slices of medium rare beef) and Rainbow roll (california roll topped with tuna, salmon, yellow-tail, albercore, and shrimp).
Decently good: Uni (a bit too bitter), Salmon, Eel & avocado roll, and Black cod.
6 orders of sushi dishes (the scallop was so good we ordered it twice)
2 appetizers (Black Cod & Beef Tataki)
2 rolls
2 cups of hot green tea
----------
About $75 including tax
Reservations recommended.
Parking: Small parking lot with mostly compact spaces. There's also a parking lot across the street that probably charges $8-$10 for parking.
Great sushi for the price..but it is not aesthetically pleasing at all. It's located in a ghetto looking strip mall and the inside, while comparable nicer to the exterior, is simplistic to the extent of being boring. I usually sit at the bar, but last night we sat at a table and the ambiance was a zero.
Food is great though...things to try outside the normal sushi..
Sake clams are pretty decent
Spicy tuna on crispy rice
And for you non-sushi people who get stuck going to sushi places..the beef tataki was surprisingly good...the first time I ate meat at a sushi bar..lol
Octopus, albacore, and tuna were nice and fresh. The tuna tataki was okay, but def. nothing great. The uni was decent (I asked our server how fresh it was, since I'm super picky with my uni, she replies with "fresh, all our sushi is fresh") -_-" ya I meant specifics..she wasn't very nice nor helpful..I had to shave off tip at the end.
All dishes are well presented and I recommend sitting at the bar, always..but esp. here..
Friend: Stop, stop, stop, . ..
Me: What?! what? what???
Friend: There, there, there
Me: What??? The liquor store?
Needless to say, not exactly a prime location. We navigate by landmarks and locations: If we were A GPS system, we would say " In quarter mile, make a right into a ghetto plaza next to a liquor store"
We were in the area trying to catch dinner before Wicked, so we wanted something quick. Perfect spot, close by, and fast service. The place was very cute and cozy.
Like most sushi restaurants, they have the usual sashimi menu, special rolls, and some dinner combinations. They also have a pretty big sake list and a full bar!
FoOOoood;
Albacore salad with ginger dressing: Good, the slices of albacore were a little on the thin side.
Fire dragon roll: Spicy tuna on albacore: Spicy tuna a little on the mushy side.
Sashimi combination: Good quality, fresh.
Cons: Parking is horrible, we lucked out and got a spot right away. The spaces are also really small. Leave the hummer at home.
Lighting: too dim for me, I like to eat with me eyes.
Overall would try this place again, but I wouldn't trek all the way over just to eat here.
Having this place walking distance from my officeis great! Very good quality fish and good prices (expect to pay about $30/person). It doesn't have the atmosphere of a Koi or Katsuya, but it is nice enough inside (carved in the more simple sushi place style) and who cares that it is in a strip mall...aren't most great legit sushi places???
It's great for a stopover before a night at the Bowl...you can even call ahead and do take out to eat at the Bowl. The albacore with crispy onions and their salmon sashimi are particularly good. Everything is solid except I am not a big fan of the spicy lobster roll.
Shintaro is a hidden gem, located in a strip mall, nestled amongst the likes of Subway, Starbucks and a liquor store.
This is my favorite neighborhood spot for a nice Japanese dinner. The prices are very reasonable and the food is consistently satisfying! There are several occasions when it is far beyond exceptional as well!
Must trys are the Salmon Carpaccio, the Shiro Maguro Sushi, Black Cod, &Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice. Always ask the server or Sushi chef what they recommend that visit, that way you are sure to get the freshest of the fresh!
The service here is very friendly, plus I love that there will most likely be an Akira Kurosawa film projected on the wall during your meal. RAD!
The atmosphere was nice. I liked watching Seven Samurai projected on the wall by the sushi bar. The sushi chef perfectly organized and presented our order.
But I think I will try their specialty dishes next time. All the great looking dishes floating past me toward salivating mouths and starved, desperate eyes made my sushi look boring - even though it was perfectly good!
Turn-off: Tense staff. Relaxation and enjoyment were a struggle. Giving a time limit for ordering??? Yes, they said, "Order in 5 minutes, please." I'm not one to sit in restaurants for hours, but freaking relax. I'll try to go back during off-hours, maybe it will be more laid back.
Last nights foodie adventure began at the intersection of sushi and craving. The group of us piled in the car and headed out on a quest of another not so well known sushi bar in Los Angeles. We have been trying different Sushi restaurants over the past 6 months that serve quality, gourmet, fresh and fusion items but also provide a good atmosphere and vibe along with easy accessibility and various neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
After a recommendation from fellow foodie and friend Tina Paredes we proceeded to Shintaro Sushi in Hollywood (on Highland just north of Franklin Avenue). She had been there several times before and we were all excited to try another local sushi venue.
I had driven by the non descript strip mall location many times before on my numerous journeys to both the Hollywood Bowl and the 101 freeway entrance at Highland but never thought much of venturing to this hidden treasure. I am sure grateful that I had the opportunity this time because I had been missing out.
The spacious Japanese inspired interior has a lofty/industrial vibe fused with traditional Japanese art and décor. Bamboo accents highlight the space and lounge music plays in the background. Our party consisting of 4 was seated immediately to a large table with bench seating on side. It felt like the entire restaurant was our Oyster, parden the pun but I am enthusiastic about my indulgence in all things culinary moreover the delicacies from the sea.
After a quick glance at the menu I was ready to have a beer and unwind from the day and so was the group. To my surprise I noticed that pitchers of Kirin Draft were available for the amazing price of $10. That translates to $2.50 cents per beer and that means that you can get more beer for your buck. That is a welcoming sign considering any savings is welcomed these days.
While we waited for our beverages we all looked over the menu and ordered family style sushi rolls along with a few choice pieces of nigiri sushi. Additionally we all ordered various Miso Soups included a house special "Shrimp Miso" I have had fusion Miso soup before of the clam variety, but shrimp miso was something new and interesting considering my infatuation with shrimp and lobster bisque. To my surprise the bowl of soup accompanied a huge "Santa Barbara Prawn" loaded with bright red roe. The soup had a nice miso texture coupled with a savory seafood broth. I had a smile on my face with every bite until it was gone.
For our main course rolls we ordered some unique rolls including house specials such as the Cowboy roll, Hot night roll, Double Shrimp roll, spicy tuna and crispy rice. In addition we enjoyed the Eel avocado wrapped California roll, spicy tuna roll and California roll. The choice nigiri selections that I ordered included Ahi tuna, spicy Scallop and Octopus. Everything was prepared to my liking with good-sized portions that were not too overwhelming. Plate presentation was top notch. The Cowboy roll is made with spicy tempura lobster, asparagus and avocado and served with a chili sesame sauce and is a unique offering. The Hot night roll is a variant of the shrimp tempura roll and includes spicy tuna on top. A similar creation is the Double shrimp roll with chopped shrimp in spicy mayo on the outside and warm shrimp tempura inside.
All of these selections illustrated the artistry behind the Sushi Chefs at Shintaro, Hollywood. The next time you want to venture out of your area for a sushi buzz Shintaro is the place. Traditional entrees for the non-sushi inclined guest include Rib Eye steak Teriyaki, Baked Black Cod, Udon, Tempura and various baked appetizers from seafood to vegetables.
SERVICE: super attentive and wonderfully friendly!
ATMOSPHERE: comfortable lighting; nice/simple decor
FOOD: mmmm haven't found better sushi in LA so far!
RECOMMENDED: Dragon Roll
EXTRA: Japanese black and white films projected on the wall during dinner
Ok, I guess the people on here that described Shintaro as being in a run down strip mall with scary homeless people have never really lived life on the wild side. For instance walking with no shoes on in the Tenderloin, or just plain walking around downtown LA when art walk isn't going on.
Yah, it was a strip mall... but I'd hardly call it seedy or dirty. Yah, there were a few homeless people... but umm... hello, we live in a city!
Shintaro was yummy and super cute on the inside. I would recommend the Japanese eggplant in sweet miso as a starter. The soba noodles were average, and the veggie tempura light and fluffy. LL liked her sushi...fish was fresh.
Shintaro doesn't break the bank either. It's all doable, so go ahead and take a walk on the wild side... do do do do do do do ...
This is one of my favorite sushi places! And the guy I'm seeing, it's his fave sushi place too. So it's very easy to set up a date which goes something like this:
"Hey what are you doing?"
"Nothing"
"Hungry?"
"Yep, lets go to shintaro"
"I knew there was a reason I was dating you"
And off we go. The place is cute and cozy. The wait staff are attentive and sweet. The prices are very reasonable. The sushi is incredible. It literally melts in your mouth and is so fresh I expect it to jump off my plate and take a walk across the street. They have this dish, Dynamite that kicks ass. We get it every time and never get tired of it. This is a great date place and I would strongly recommend it. Your date will love you and they will be so happy you might get lucky!
The prices need to go down for it to get four stars. The decor is great, but the fish is mediocre. I ordered a bunch of fish and let me tell you, they all tasted the same. And when I say the same, I mean no flavor whatsoever. It was very strange. My friend with me, who had never tried sushi, felt the same way. I was pretty bummed because I was really excited to try a new place AND to convince someone to love sushi as much as I do. The tuna tare tare was the best thing we ordered, and pretty much any restaurant can make that good. Sorry if I'm sounding harsh, I was just disappointed. Maybe it was an off night? Our bill for the two of us was almost $70. I would say the sushi was worth about $45.
I live in the neighborhood, and I walk down to Shintaro a few times a month. To my mind it's kind of a laid back sushi place: low-key decor, mid-range prices, fresh fish, and while you might see a celebrity there (I saw Vince Vaughn a few months ago at dinner, but that guy's allergic to Blockbuster nights), it's not too scene-y.
As to complaining about the mini-mall location or the one or two homeless people outside, both points seem minor and a little bit clueless. More valid are the criticisms about service, which can be inattentive depending on your server, or price, depending on your budget.
People I've seen here (once each):
Kim Kardashian
Bennifer II
Kim Kardashian's Ass
Who knew all those losers could appreciate excellent sushi???
I'm a fiend for the unagi - perfectly tinged soft crispyness with a delectable softness to the meat. Live sweet shrimp is def. worth checking out - just ask about the price beforehand as it can get a little pricey. The decor is understated - it feels very simple and straightforward - not quite elegant but very serene. I'm a regular - this is my ideal sushi spot! I do the omakase twice a month and it's been amazing every. single. time.
I wish I got his name but the sushi chef at Shintaro made the whole experience for me. A friend and I sat at the counter and just ordered piece by piece. She got the uni and the sushi chef overheard that I didn't like uni. He said that they carried super high grade uni and made me a special sushi the traditional way - no nori, just a dollop of wasabi and some fresh lemon juice. IT WAS AMAZING! My ebi (made super fancy and twisted), giant clam and yellowtail were very good, high quality and super fresh as well.
Shintaro is actually quite good.
it's in a shitty strip mall in hollywood. weird. i would have never gone to this place but a guy took me here. the food is great. they have avocado tempura. it's epic. they do a nobu style dish with hamachi and japapenos which is also good. we love the salmon carpaccio and the clam miso soup. hand rolls are great and you can get them with soy paper. their tapas menu has some treats. overall a good place. this is now my go-to sushi night spot. i don't even consider other places. i just go here.
on a weekend it can get pretty busy so call ahead and put your name on the list. have an iced green tea and enjoy the nice subdued atmosphere inside. once you are in there and eating you will totally forget that you are eating sushi in a hollywood strip mall.
Excellent sushi. Interior is nice but a bit uninspired. Quick, friendly service although I went early in the evening when there were only 3 tables eating.
A bit on the pricey side but the quality is there. Very fresh. Cheap lunch menu. Parking is a pain but worth the trip. On the MUST list.
so as i'm writing this long review about shintaro my roommate comes in and wants me to check out another site, so i'm nice and go ahead then i notice i've lost my entire entry about shintaro. SUCKS big time.
heres the clif notes version:
great fish quality (very fresh and melts in your mouth)
cooked food is good
rolls are decent, but not the high point of shintaro. not a big portion on the rolls
price is typical maybe slightly on the higher end
its well decorated inside and a good place to come with friends or a date
you might get to see adam levine from maroon 5 there like we got to too!
You need more ecstatic caterwauling? Well, step right up. Yes, this place rocks. It's the Larry Fine of Sushi Restaurants. It sits there, not in your focal range, between two busy H'wood landmarks and not far from the 101, in the middle of an anonymous yet unforgiving strip mall parking lot. A Subway, a Starbucks, a pizza place, a cleaners all beckon. Shintaro waits like a wallflower, but once you make eye contact, ZAP! You will tango til you're sore.
OK, maybe that's a bit thick. How many Tom Waits' references can accidentally get dropped in ? (2, I guess). And Stooges? WTF?
I lucked out. A friend took me to lunch. Ordered everything (some of which I had researched before here on Yelp). It was fricking awesome. And I don't care if the world knows it! Why? Cuz parking is such a bee-atch!
Shintaro has become my safety sushi, if you get me. The food is always delicious, and the service is impeccable. I can't think of anything working against Shintaro in the countless times I've gone... I've encountered the token angry-white-woman-yelling-english-at-the-poor-sush i-chef more times than one might hope, but I couldn't hold that against them.
It is a private and intimate restaurant, whether at the bar or at a table. *knock on wood*, but I've never even had to wait for a table here, come to think of it. That isn't to say that it isn't always packed in there. I suppose they are just really quick in serving people.
Plus, the waiting staff consists of the most gorgeous women on the planet for you ladies and gentleman that can appreciate these things, and they just started projecting black & white japanese films on the wall. Eye candy everywhere.
My staples: the Tuna Tartar, Dynomite, fresh water eel sushi, albacore sashimi with crispy onions, spanish mackerel sashimi and sweet live shrimp if they have it.
Just went on a casual date here, and it was the perfect atmosphere for just that. It was a wednesday evening, so we were sat at the sushi bar immediately. The place was not filled, but busy, which is a good sign for a week night. And a B&W samurai movie was projected on the wall to our left. it felt like an unassuming hip place. the lighting was dim enough for intimate conversation, which I always appreciate.
Of course, it comes down to the food. We had a few rolls, and all of them were super satisfying. Spicy tuna not too spicy, the sizes were nice, the eel was smooth, even the sake had a good flavor to it.
I have absolutely no complaints about the food. I do have one complaint, and it's about the service. The waitress was attentive at first, but then she disappeared and we had to have the sushi chef find her in the back to get our check. then she didn't come by to pick up our card to pay. We must have stayed there for an extra 20 minutes looking very finished with our meal just because she didn't give a hoot if we payed. But then more good conversation ensued.
We were on the search for some good Japanese and ended up here. So happy I did. Waited about 10 minutes, and seated at the sushi bar. One friend ordered the dragon roll and loved it. Another friend had the chicken teriyaki plate and enjoyed it. Have a horrible memory, so I had a hot dragon roll and another one. Everything was yummy and everyone was nice. Service was quick. Would for sure come here again.
I used Urban Spoon on my iPhone to find this place. We were in the mood for sushi and anything would do at that time of night.
We rolled up to Shintaro, which yes, is in a small strip mall that looks like all the other ones you'll see on the corner. But once you walk into the restaurant, you would swear you weren't in a strip mall.. it was dimly lit inside with candles at each table and a movie being projected onto the wall above where we were eating! The sushi bar looked great, too.
I liked the sushi a lot... fresh fish most definitely. I was however disappointed in their roll choices... it seemed like almost all of their rolls had mayo in it! Even the shrimp tempura roll, which I didn't order and found odd that they put it in there. I settled on a tuna roll and their Caterpillar roll, which was my favorite -- eel, cucumber, and topped with avocado and sauce. My friend ordered the rib-eye teriyaki dinner, which was very tasty and well cooked.
What I didn't like was their Dynamite starter... I didn't really want to eat anything heavy, but when it came it was this baked dish with baby scallops, shrimp and mushrooms with this cheesey-breadcrumb topping on it. Very creamy, and it tasted good, but after a while I was over it.
Kind of crazy how we found this place on a whim with my precious phone, but I'm glad that we tried it. I'd tell people to check it out.
The food was ok but it was a little too pricy for what we got. I wouldn't want to go again to pay for that.
Service was good. I am allergic to Avocado and I ordered two kinds of rolls that don't include Avocado as an ingredient on the menu (Avocado is included in other rolls on the menu).
I thought that was safe but turned out after we ate three quarter of my rolls (I only had two), I looked closely and found Avocado in it. Then I started panicking.
Not that I am super allergic to it or I am gonna die or something, but it wasn't pleasant to get paranoid.
I talked to waitress and she was willing to eliminate my orders from the bill (actually, not too willing by saying "you ate all that and then found out about there was Avocado in it?"). I wasn't too happy with the question but I understand she wasn't completely unreasonable.
So be careful and always ask what is exactly in your rolls if you go there.
Seasoned sushi-holics of L.A. know not to look past the roadside strip mall for great Japanese grub so don't pass up Shintaro based on exterior appearance. Inside lies a separate world of minimalist decor and chill music; look at the parking lot as a blessing.
Living within walking distance for years I've sampled a couple of the items on the menu. For the lighter offerings hit up the miso soup, seaweed salad, garlic green beans (underline garlic), and baked green mussel. The king of the appetizers here would be the Hamapeno, consisting of yellowtail sashimi pieces with slices of fresh jalapeno pepper covered with some bomb-ass vinegarette; don't go here without ordering this delectable treat.
Other than this everything else hits the spot thoroughly; the yellowtail in general is superb and their salmon is buttery as well. Outside the realm of raw fish try the Nabeyaki Udon and salmon teriyaki. Great service and decent cold saki selection to boot; I miss the hell out of this place so don't pass it up if you get the chance.
I'll be honest, I'm the type to judge a book by it's cover. However, DO NOT let Shintaro's shady location hinder your judgments. I would have honestly never given it a try because of where it's located (okay, I'm a little snobby), but for some reason I did and it has since completely changed my outlook.
Walking into Shintaro is otherworldly. It's an escape from everything that gets on your nerves: The high priced, over rated, over designed, over hyped restaurants that pop up left and right.
Shintaro is genuine. It's authentically charming. It's exactly what a night out for sushi should be. It's tranquil environment is just what one might need after a hectic day. Shintaro is an excellent place to unwind, relax, drink sake and eat fresh and delicious sushi.
The hostess is always quit to welcome you with a smile on her face and offer you a table wherever you like or the bar if it's not full. I personally always sit across from the bar near the window so I can watch the old Japanese films they project onto the wall adjacent. However, sitting at the bar is fun as the chefs are some of the nicest in town. I'm a magician and always have my cards out and once they asked to see a trick. I was happy to stand up and show them a few and have since become one of their favorite customers.
I have visited Japan and can say first hand that Japanese are the most welcoming and sincere people on the planet, and the staff at Shintaro will prove this.
This is the best sushi restaurant I've ever been to. It's such a hidden treasure so inconspicuously hidden in that crappy shopping center with the Starbucks and everything.
You know, I've been eating sushi for a long time, but I've honestly always stuck to rolls -- really safe things. I've never been against trying anything else, but when I ordered something for myself, I usually the shrimp tempura roll or something of that variety -- beyond basic. You can hardly call that sushi really.
Anyway, this restaurant opened my eyes to how amazing fish can truly taste. The yellow tail, the salmon, the tuna. I tried toro here for the first time -- and it was just incredible. I seriously got a head change from this sushi ... like sort of rush of dopamine or something. I just felt ridiculously elated after a while, sitting there at the sushi bar with a friend mine, eating such fresh food. It doesn't compare to any food experience I've ever had in my life.
I would highly recommend this place to anyone. At least check it out so you can compare it to other places. It's just really amazing quality. I've compared it to many other sushi places after this experience (I've since stopped eating rolls) and nothing has been the same.
My friend treated me and we really went ALL OUT but I think you can eat here for normal decent prices. But, as we proved that afternoon, you can also blow a pretty penny eaten a ton of really amazing sushi that kill right in front of you. It was so incredible.
I thought the Kung Pao Kitty was good...not even close when compared to this place. The inside is totally charming, great for a date and very feng shui.
The sushi was great and so where the other dishes I ordered from here. A definite must try place for sushi in LA/Hollywood.
My friends and I had dinner here on our way to a club in hollywood. The restaurant is in a funny little strip mall with a tiiiny parking lot. Luckily I found a spot because it would have been dreadful to drive around and look for parking. We walked in and the inside of the restaurant was nicely decorated. I loved how attentive the waitresses were to making sure the candles on our tables stayed lit.
Soon after we sat down, guess who sat down at the table next to us!?! Adam Levine from Maroon 5! Pretty crazy. I think this caused our service quality to go down a bit, but no big deal.
I ordered the black cod and sashimi salad. The black cod was very tender and flaky. It was a little more salty than I would have liked it, but still tasty. The sashimi was awesome. The yellowtail was so buttery and melted in my mouth, like heaven. mmm. I would have wished that there was more sashimi on the salad, but oh well. At least the pieces were big and super fresh. It came with a piece of shrimp, tuna, red snapper, salmon, and yellowtail.
The rest of my group bought a number of rolls which looked good. The best roll of the night was the spider roll. Only $10 and probably one of the best soft shell crabs I've ever tasted.
When I come back it's soft shell crab and sashimi for me. =]
I used to live in walking distance of Shintaro but never checked it out. It's a sushi joint in a tiny strip-mall like place next to Starbucks. How could it possibly be good, right?
Well, I'm an arse. I missed out on mind-blowing sushi. SHAME on me.
Don't let the exterior deceive you my friends. The restaurant is surprisingly large with zen-like tasteful decor. Hip and pretty enough for a first date even. I know, who knew??? I'm not into the whole Los Angeles scene obsession sh*t. I go for the food. Cleanliness is a must. If the decor is nice, I'm thrilled. Shintaro had it all.
We had a wheat free cake waiting for us at my house so we ordered a light dinner:
yellow tail
spicy tuna roll
unagi roll
I've never been a fan of yellow tail. I had one bad experience with it -- fishy, chewy and sinuous -- made me almost vomit. My friend placed an order for yellow tail sashimi. 5 small pieces of yellow tail for $14. The sashimi looked velvety smooth. I was drawn to it. I couldn't help myself, I had to have a taste. This is coming from the girl who avoided yellow tail like the plague. OH.MY.GAWD. The yellow tail melted in my freaking mouth. I could have eaten 5 lbs of yellow tail. I started getting way too excited for the rest of the meal to come. Shintaro did not disappoint. The unagi and spicy tuna rolls were heavenly. I think we may have moaned. We did little talking. Just stuffing our faces + moaning = good food
Shintaro rocks. The price is more than reasonable for the quality. Suck up the Highland/Franklin clusterf*ck and get some Shintaro now! There's free parking!
This is the kind of place you might not expect to be that good- given that it is in a strip mall. But I was pleasantly surprised by the good fish- especially the black cod and some of their other specialties. I personally found the atmosphere a little stale- but I had good company so that made up for it. The service was average- they forgot our mixed drinks for about 15 minutes, but overall it was prompt and friendly. And the prices were very reasonable for sushi. I am definitely a fan and will be back here!
All Drinks Half Price Thu. &…
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
Happy Hour and Tapas Menu
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
Category: Sushi Bars
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