Shinkai Sushi Japanese Fusion — Restaurant in Alhambra

Finally a great tasting Japanese restaurant with amazingly fresh ingredients and doesn't skimp out on the thickness of each cut, 美味しい! Just a quick tip before reviewing, if you like Salmon Collar (Kama), make sure to get here by opening time and order it right when you sit down. Any minute later, they can either run out because other guests already ordered it or simply because they didn't get any shipments in that morning.

Now let's get to the good stuff. Shinkai is located in the same plaza as Lunasia so if you drive by a plaza on Main St with tons of people waiting to eat dim sum, that's where Shinkai is located. When you enter the restaurant, it's dimly lit and it's not as big as you'd imagine. I've frequented this restaurant twice already and I'm a huge fan of their food. Just a warning though, your food may come out slow at times but try not to take it out on the workers since I'm certain their kitchen may be understaffed. Your miso soup will be the fastest though, and so will the tea/water =)

I visited yesterday with my dad and we're both big fans of their Salmon Skin Salad. The portion is big enough that you'll feel full at the end of it. They don't skip on the avocado either so it's worth it your buck. With his salad, he wanted the udon but by the time we finished almost our entire meal, they informed us they "ran out" of udon. Not sure why they wouldn't have just told us before we ordered or during the middle of our meal. That was the only thing that I was irked about because they should've told us earlier and not towards the end, like 30-40 minutes after we ordered. This goes back to the slow service I mentioned before but I didn't want to make a stink out of it.

For my combo, I ordered their Sashimi Combo with my salad. The chefs cut a generous amount for each slice of fish and they all tasted amazing. I wanted to order more but we had Kama on the way so I'll save more sashimi for next time.

If it is your first time visiting the restaurant, you'll notice that the prices are on the higher end but I do believe that the price you're paying is for the quality you're getting. The cheaper Japanese restaurants you may be used to paying probably cannot compare in terms of quality and taste; you'll have to weigh your pros and cons. Overall, I highly recommend trying this place if you haven't already because you won't regret it and you'll want to come...

I'd only come in to Shinkai Sushi one time in 2021 before my visit yesterday. Prior to their 2019 opening, it was also a high end Japanese restaurant called Toro's which I went to twice. For my lunch on Tuesday, I enjoyed my sashimi salad and blue crab handroll. I am not sure why people rate this place poorly. They are a bit expensive, but aiming to be a high end Japanese restaurant. For one, I would never go to a sushi place and order pasta expecting it to be their specialty. Also, I believe this place is owned and staffed by Chinese people, so if you don't like it, don't come in.

So, I got the salmon skin salad, and the portion was huge. It literally came in this giant bowl I could wash a baby in. Additionally, their salmon and tuna sashimi cuts are so fresh, smooth, and buttery. They added some other stuff to my raw fish platter I don't know the name of, lobster head soup, and additional seaweed with ginger and wasabi to make up for paying more, whereas at other Japanese restaurants they only serve me sashimi on a platter for that same dish. Also got the scallop sushi; that was good too, and pieces of meat huge and fresh. Furthermore, I like that their seaweed salad also uses cucumbers and seaweed knots, not just the grassy stuff that I find at other Japanese restaurants.

Abalone sashimi was pretty tasty too; I hadn't seen this dish anywhere outside of Japan.

With that being said, it is very easy to pay more than $100 for a meal here, probably even one person if you order different things to try. I did. Also, they had a lot of people for Tuesday lunch waitlisted since they don't seat people at the bar for the "regular" lunch special menu, just appetizers. Besides that, there's not much seating available.

Will come back when I need to...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Shinkai Sushi, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by the friendly and attentive server, Alex, who truly went above and beyond to make my dining experience outstanding.

Alex was not only knowledgeable about the menu but also took the time to understand my preferences and make recommendations tailored to my taste. They were patient with my questions and provided excellent suggestions for sushi rolls and sashimi options, ensuring that I had a delightful culinary adventure.

The quality of the sushi at Shinkai Sushi was top-notch. The fish was fresh, and the rice was perfectly seasoned. Each bite was a harmonious balance of flavors, showcasing the skill and expertise of the sushi chef. I particularly enjoyed their specialty rolls, which were beautifully presented and bursting with unique combinations of ingredients.

The ambiance of the restaurant was inviting and cozy, creating a comfortable dining experience. The decor was tastefully done, providing a relaxed and intimate setting to enjoy a meal.

Overall, I cannot recommend Shinkai Sushi enough, and the outstanding service provided by Alex made the experience all the more memorable. The delectable sushi, friendly atmosphere, and exceptional service combine to make Shinkai Sushi a must-visit sushi place. Whether you're a sushi aficionado or new to Japanese cuisine, you're guaranteed to leave with a satisfied palate and a...