ShinBay

Basis for my starred ratings (which skews heavily to the food or drink):
1 star: Never again.
2 stars: Poor food, poor experience, extraordinary measures in order for me to come back.
3 stars: Average, nothing really special, nothing particularly bad.
4 stars: Very good, would definitely return.
5 stars: A favorite, one of the best.
Just adding another 5-​star review for this place. One of my favorite restaurants in Phoenix. Been here a few times and typically opt for the max number of courses. On our last visit, we ordered a bottle of sake (Dassai) and received the following:
Ever so slightly seared fluke in grapeseed oil — excellent
A small salad with trout and tuna sashimi — very good, the dressing especially
A sashimi course with aji (horse mackerel), kanpachi (amberjack), and uni (sea urchin) — excellent
Tsukuri Six which consisted of: o-​toro tartar, ankimo (monkfish liver), shrimp with a little caviar, Hokkaido scallops, Kumamoto oyster with uni, and octopus. The ankimo, shrimp, and oyster were excellent. The scallops were very good. The octopus and o-​toro tartar were the weakest of the six.
Wagyu beef, ishiyaki-​style — excellent
Nigiri course inluding: kanpachi, o-​toro, toro, and two other fish I don’t remember — excellent
Chawanmushi with seasonal fruit — excellent.
That’s a lot of excellent dishes. Some things I’ve had on the menu every single time (the fluke, o-​toro tartar, oyster, octopus, Wagyu), and a couple of these I’ve gotten a little tired of, but there is enough variation from visit to visit that I still love this place. This visit, we had the most raw preparations than we’ve ever gotten before.
The setting is trendy and serene. The service has always been excellent. I’ve never been disappointed in the food here. I don’t think you’ll be either.

We absolutely loved everything about ShinBay, including the understated Japanese design, the service provided by chef, John and his staff, and of course the food. Each plate is meticulously plated and well executed. You can taste the freshness of the ingredients which are sourced globally but mostly from Japan, like the Wagyu beef, Hokkaido shrimp, etc. My favorite bites were definitely the nigiri and the Kumamoto oyster with uni. Highly recommend and definitely call in advance. To not compromise their quality, they only take 25 people per night. Talk about being a perfectionist. We will definitely be back.

Terrible experience!!! READ ALL NEGATIVE REVIEWS!
Go in for dinner and make a reservation and give my credit card to only hold the reservation. We show up to a completely empty teriyaki looking run of the mill place and are told it’s a set chefs menu and it’s not even Valentine’s Day keep in mind they don’t even offer to show what the tasting menu is!
We decide to just have drinks. We’re told we can’t even do that! How absurd to not even let us pay for drinks! We then say we are leaving and they tell us we owe for the two chefs tasting!!! THAT WE DIDNT EVEN ORDER! I tell them we will pay for the reservation fee but not for two dinners we didn’t even look at or order!
The rude manager comes over and tells us its policy! No where did anything state if you don’t want what’s on the menu that they charge you!!! That place is a total joke! I would have gladly paid a cancelation fee but not the whole dinner price! They were upset that the place was completely empty on a Saturday night and I can see why!!! HORRIBLE I WOULD STICK TO SUSHI ROKU

Definitely the absolute worst experience ever in a restaurant. We made reservations on ²⁄₁₃. A day before Valentine’s Day. We come to find out that the restaurant is have a preset menu.
To begin, the server does not even put out what the pre-​mixed menu is. We find out woth the table next to us that 2 of the few dishes on the testing menu is Abalone and Uni. 2 dishes my girlfriend and I don’t eat. So before we order anything we nicely tell the server that we are not interested in dining and that we would pay the cancellation fee for the reservation.
She comes back n demands the whole dinner price of $ 250 and says you have to pay even if you don’t eat. On top of that the manager becomes argumentative!
Bottom line he was so mad because they only had 3 sets of clients eating there.
Please refer to all the negative reviews. They all had the same thing about the staff and management and basically trying to force you to pa for food that you can not eat.

Perhaps the worst service experience I have ever had in dealing with a restaurant.
They claim to want to work with you on making it a special experience but have an elitist and non-​service oriented attitude. Weeks ago my wife emailed to make a reservation and to explain some food allergies for one of our family members. The note was not warmly met but after going through things with John. He reviewed this several times and agreed. We eat often at Masa and other great Japanese restaurants and they are all very thoughtful and inclusive.
Then 20 minutes prior to the reservation John called and said they had changed there mind and the «chef» could not work with the food allergies. We were in the car and on our way. We love fine dining but to be exclusionary and arbitrary is disgusting.
If anyone cares about patronizing an establishment that is inclusive do not go to ShinBay. Our family member was treated as someone not worthy.
Fine dining is not just about «food» but also about a great warm experience.
Shin Bay is incapable of providing this.

Best service, great food, not sure about it being the best sushi in Phoenix. All dishes were good, each bite was scrumptious. I was most disappointed when I got the otoro glazed with a soy reduction… sacrilege! This might have been the best otoro in Phoenix… soiled by a reduction.
Great for a nice dinner, not sure we’ll come back.

Wow! Where to begin. I must admit this has been in my bookmarks list for over a year, but after I heard that this was a Top 100 2015 Open Table Restaurant in the ENTIRE United States, I Immediately made reservations for this past Saturday. I was surprised to see only about 8 tables in total an a very small «bar» seating area. As expected, service and the food was stellar. We did the six course price fix of $ 130 per person not including Sake. My wife and I were full by the fourth course. A full review of the approximately 15 items we had are way beyond the scope of this review, but reading other Unilocalers reviews gives an accurate description of the type of food to expect. Additionally, it is my understanding that the menu changes daily depending on the availability of the seafood. The whole dinner took approximately two hours. With tip, two bottles of Sake, bottled water, the bill was a bit over $ 400 dollars. I will probably return once or twice a year as a destination.

Omakase… wagyu…intimate setting… outstanding service… creative plating… inventive perfectly crafted dishes…
Unforgettable meal!

I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world and not only eat some amazing food, but some seriously fresh and amazing sushi. After moving back to the valley of the sun I never in a million years thought that I would encounter some seriously amazingly fresh and might I add authentic sushi.
I came here and was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to try the omakase menu. Each course was better than the next. Fish was beyond fresh, presentation was magical and service was spot on. I couldn’t have asked for a better meal, I still have dreams about that particular evening that I was able to enjoy my dinner at ShinBay. I will def be back and if you haven’t ever been… WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!

Another place that I would go back in a heart beat, their tasting menu is a delight and an experience one must indulge in. (Unlike the tasting menu at Canlis in Seattle, WA — that place is only good for ambience, service and wine –food was a blah in all aspect)
The attention to details, presentation and most importantly the well balanced flavors. wow!
Love this place, every time I go back to Phoenix, I would make reservation to this place and nobuo teeter house.
The other is right next to shinbay (roka akor), great but not as amazing (worthy of a 4 stars for sure)

What an amazing meal. We had the four course dinner and a wonderful bottle of Dassai 23 sake. Each course was better than the prior. The mushrooms and clams sautéed in sake were fabulous. Finishing with a delicious array of sushi on the final course. Spectacular meal. Well worth the price!

I travel extensively for work, so I tend to eat sushi 1 to 2 times per week as it is my go to, healthy meal on the road. I don’t like to stray from my favorites very much, but as a birthday treat, my girlfriend wanted to take me here because we’ve heard such great things. Sadly, we were both a bit disappointed.
Don’t get me wrong, the quality of the sushi here is top notch. You will not find better quality anywhere.
However, we found the dishes to be relatively boring and uninspired. With our coursing, one of the dishes was a simple sliced Kobe beef that we had to cook on our own… A bit of a disappointment when we are paying approximately $ 100 per person for service. Another dish was a seared ahi tuna salad… again, excellent quality, but something I can get pretty much anywhere.
Lastly, the waitstaff was not knowledgeable for a restaurant of this supposedly high caliber. I ordered a nigori sake as I typically do. The waiter did not know that it needed to be shaken prior to serving, so when he poured it, it was clear, leaving all the sediment at the bottom. As I was trying to explain his mistake, he just wasn’t understanding it. Eventually another member of the staff came over (someone from the kitchen I believe) as they understood the dilemma. To my dismay, they simply took the glasses of sake they had poured, poured them back into the bottle, shook it up, then poured our glasses again. Can you imagine a high-​end restaurant pouring a glass of wine back into a bottle and then serving it?! Never!
Again, the quality of the sushi was impeccable… Comparable only to what I had in Japan at the fishmarket. This quality alone warrants the three-​star rating. Had this not been the case, I probably would’ve rated them lower. If you want the absolute best quality sushi you can get in the area and are willing to pay an exorbitant price for it, then this place will certainly fit the bill. I, however, will not be going back as I can find restaurants that provide a far better overall experience for half the price.

My boyfriend recently had a big birthday, and I recently saw that as an excuse to go to ShinBay.
Seriously — if you’re a foodie, you need to do this at least once.
Don’t listen to the reviews about quantity. The food was plenty. We had the 6-​course Omakase and were stuffed by course four. Do I regret the other two courses? NOPE. Because this was some of the most delicious and beautiful food I have ever eaten. Please refer to the photos for each course and get ready to salivate. They speak for themselves.
Service was impeccable, as expected. Our server was extremely attentive. Everyone greeted us by name. The staff even gave my boyfriend a birthday card!
Amazing experience, overall. Would definitely come again.

So can you imagine, spending 60 $ on a cab everyone said it was a slow week, walking in to a empty restaurant and being told they we full. Without even offering an reason to turn a dumb tourist away.
Beware. This guy is a piece of work. Never been turned down like a piece of dirt befor. Stay away. Happy birthday!!! Love Phoenix but this place just made us feel. like we were a pair of stupid Denver dumb asses. Thank you mister

ShinBay is the ultimate fine dining experience for anyone that loves Japanese and/​or seafood. I’ve been here twice and had wonderful dinners both times.
The first time we had a 5 course meal. I was blown blown away by the quality of the fish and the attentive service. My favorite course was steamed mussels in a sake broth. I can’t even describe how delicious it was!
The second visit was a special occasion and we had the 7 course meal. Again, so very delicious. My highlights were the sushi with some delicate seasonings and some special type of lime, and the kobe beef which we cooked to our liking at our table. Excellent service again (the same server). I’m a water fanatic and she must have filled my glass a dozen times.
We have recommended ShinBay to two couples that enjoy an occasional high end meal (and who have high standards) and they loved it, too.

I haven’t had Japanese food this good since I was in San Francisco. Each aspect of this restaurant has been carefully thought out and crafted to perfection. From the relaxing, zen-​like interior, to the fabulous food, you are guaranteed to have a great dining experience here.
The menu is prix-​fixe, with options ranging from 3 course to 6 course. The 5 and 6 course meals have to be reserved 24 hours in advance, and the menu is strictly chef’s choice (Aside from any dietary restrictions). We decided on the 4 course meal. For our four course meal, one of the courses had 2 different options to choose from, and we had the option of getting one of each and sharing it. Each course was exquisite, with a perfect blend of flavors. We started with a hirame dish, followed by a trio of marinated tuna, a perfect blue point oyster, and a lightly fried blue shrimp. We continued with a mixed mushroom and clam dish, a cook-​your-​own wagyu beef and vegetable dish, and ended the meal with a lovely nigiri sushi plate.
Dessert was complimentary and was a divine chawanmushi with fresh fruit.
Service was perfect.
Definitely a must-​dine if you are in the Phoenix area!

Thoroughly impressed given that it is kaiseki in the very very land locked Phoenix after all…
It’s Sunday night and we were the only people there at 7:30PM, then only 1 more couple joined the restaurant around 8PM. I was quite surprised by emptiness here, made me worry slightly for a quick second but that was quickly dissolved as the first dishes came out and can’t said I minded too much. It’s a nice respite from all the very loud restaurants in LA.
1. Sashimi: Fluke has a nice texture to it but I found it just a tinsy oily.
2. Tsukuri (6 tastes): Kanpachi, firefly squid, blue shrimp, Hokkaido scallp, oyster with uni, octopus. Everyone was very good. My favorite was probably the shrimp, it’s deep fried after all =) And the oyster-​uni combination. Least, though still good, was the squid, it had a slightly different taste to it that I can’t quite describe.
3. Mushroom and clam soup: 5 different types of mushrooms which I loved, my friend is not a mushroom fan, so more for me! My bowl didn’t have too much broth in it though.
4. Toubanyaki: Grade A3-​A4 Washugu beef, very tender and tasty. I really enjoyed the accompanying salt and sauce as well. Maybe you do need to go up to A5 for it to be «melt in your mouth like butter» feel but this was still fantastic.
5. Sushi course: I honestly can’t tell you what is what but every piece was very fresh. My favorite was by far the otoro, which was probably 1 of the best I’ve had to date. Now that is like butter.
6. Dessert: Chawanmushi (egg custard) with fruit. This was fantastic, tasted like a very light version of crème brûlée without all the sweetness. Really nice with fresh fruit on top.
Overall: Fantastic dishes and honestly at $ 100 per person and considering the generous portion sizes, this is a great deal (at least by LA standards). Sake list is also very reasonable priced. While not every bite was my favorite ever, given the standards for location and value, this is a 5 star place!

Looking for a place to take an out of town guest from Japan, this place came up on Unilocal search. After reading several reviews, I realized they used to have a restaurant in Ahwatukee and I dined there 10 years ago. What I remember from 10 years ago was the chef would stay quite but be very observant to guests dining. Their facial expression as they have first bite, conversation and speed they eat and serve the next food.
The food they serve here is kaiseki style. Great place to entertain guests with Japanese omotenashi. Five course meals requires 24 hrs advanced notice. With the same day reservation, you have a choice of 3 or 4 course meals. I highly recommend the group to order the same amount of course meal to better enjoy the way they serve food.
The chef watched us eat the first course meal, and decided to use firefly baby squid for the second course meal. The hometown I grew up is famous for this squid and I was very happy to see them. This type of squid is only available from the end of April to early May. I never thought I would ever run into this firefly squid in Phoenix or even in U.S. For the chef to choose this ingredients, it really shows he know the food.
He only uses high quality ingredients and serve food in a speed each guest eats. True kaiseki in a way served at a tea ceremony. Then why not five stars? It’s rice. Rice used for sushi wasn’t perfect. I am sure he made it that way for type of fish he used for the night, but it was not what I wanted.

I’m updating this review to reflect a premium omakase experience I had at ShinBay. I’ve struck up a good rapport with the GM who is very thoughtful and remembers all my preferences.
ShinBay has a super relaxed and very sophisticated vibe that belies its albeit fancy strip mall envisions. The itamae is Japanese and runs the show. Some of the servers are Japanese too. The authenticity of the Kaiseki experience runs the gamut from the fine woods at the bar to the beautiful pottery. I’ll stop boring you with the superlative accoutrements and move to the food!
1) Hirame sashimi with five sauces — perfect light way to begin. The freshness of the fluke and the varied and thoughtful spices reminded me that I’m in for a treat!
2) Best salad ever — more specifically, bigeye tuna from Hawaii (now in season), with fresh greens, freshly grated wasabi root, and a homemade sesame dressing. Oh and okra! I’m a huge salad snob and this was the perfect match of greens, proteins, and a touch of savory/​sweet goodness
3) Sashimi course — well cut and plated. Good mix of flavors and especially textures. Amberjack (meaty), Santa Barbara Uni (buttery), Amaebi (delicate), Mirugai (crunchy), and Toro (fatty!). Fresh wasabi made its appearance again and oh how I relished it
4) Six tastes — I took some close ups of these, as a distant picture doesn’t do this course justice. This type of dish is a staple at two of the best Japanese restaurants in LA (Mori and Shunji), and Shinbay’s holds its own. There was a) Toro, wasabi, pine nuts, avocado tartar with Japanese ginger, and a crisp wafer and lotus root for dipping, b) Ankimo with Japanese radish, c) Firefly squid with Japanese relish, d) Hokkaido scallop seared and topped with truffle and truffle oil (out of this world), e) Kumamoto Oyster with Santa Barbara Uni and Japanese jelly, and f) Marinated Spanish Octopus (Tako) with a touch of spice. I was in dreamland
5) Green Tea Soba with Sea Bass — Savory soup time, and wow was this outstanding. Having flown in from the East Coast I was still trying to shake the ice out of my hair, so this hit the spot. The green tea soba noodles were rich and yet refreshing, there was a good portion of sea bass to add flavor, and in addition, daikon radish, scallions, fresh wasabi, and even bamboo made an appearance. All were delicious. The kombu (kelp) at the bottom was great at the end, as it had soaked up all the flavors and become more pliable
6) Mushroom and clam soup — Another savory dish, and something that I have had before and they recalled I loved. It is served with five different types of mushrooms over about a half dozen clams and is topped with a shredded Japanese pepper
7) First sushi course — Some excellent sauces really brought these fish to life. a) Sayori was delicate and a nice way to start, b) Second Fish — ?, c) Odoro Ebi (tiny shrimp) has a nice bite to it and is a rarer find, d) I believe this was madai served with a special sauce that I was told has been used in Japan even prior to soy sauce (sweeter and I enjoyed it very much), e) then Aji which was beautifully fresh and well presented and garnished with grated ginger
8) Second sushi course — I took close ups of these, since this was so wonderful. a) Mirugai — started big with a crunchy bite, b) Ocean Trout — loved this with the garnishment, c) Kampachi belly — rich cut, d) Toro from Japan — sublime, e) Santa Barbara Uni — I loved ending on a sweeter note
The shari at Shinbay is good and served right about room temperature. Having been in LA recently, I was getting used to the warm-​rice thing, but I think Shinbay’s works well since there is more attention to the sauces and since they plate five pieces of nigiri at a time, too warm rice would affect the neta (fish) temperature
9) Dessert course — this is a consistent treat at Shinbay. Fresh berries with a light sauce over a slightly sweet egg custard

There are two things you need for this restaurant: reservations and a sense of adventure. I’m an avid sushi connoisseur but I’ll be the first to admit the tasting menu pushed my culinary boundaries.
An extensive sake menu is available and they serve each bottle in a nifty little box of ice to keep it cold.
Service was exceptional and they were quick to answer questions, repeat things, etc. They were also extremely diligent about accommodating several food issues in our group (dairy and gluten).
The food was exceptional. Mind you, I didn’t love everything that was put in front of me (and just between you and I, there were a few things I couldn’t bring myself to try) but the preparation was awe-​inspiring.
If you’re a fan of things that swim or just eke along underwater, come here.