Last night, Umami and Maki-chan went to Shinn . . . actually, it's "Sushi Izakaya Shinn," but everybody calls it Shinn. It's relatively new place on Beretania near Mini-Garden, so Umami recommends making reservations if you want to go before 8 or so. Umami made reservations for Friday on Wednesday and the earliest he could get was 6:30 at the robata . . . and that was the last seating for 6:30.
 |
| View from the robata bar. Main entrance is beyond the screen in background. |
Service was timely and attentive. Umami deferred to Maki-chan for most the dishes, which guarantees some interesting choices! First up, though, two salads.
 |
| Beef Tataki Salad |
The Beef Tataki Salad ($12) is dressed with Ponzu Sauce, and lemon and tomatoes, because you can never have too much lemon. Very bright, zesty dish, but not really a green salad, so if you want veggies, you'll have to look elsewhere. And vegans obviously need not apply.
 |
| Salmon Skin Salad |
Shinn's Salmon Skin Salad ($8) is a straightforward interpretation of the dish. Only wrinkle is the fried vegetable strips garnish. Maki-chan thought it was gobo, Umami thought it was sweet potato. Means it was probably squash. Maki-chan also thought dish was overdressed, but Umami thought it was fine. Means more for Umami!
 |
| Shio Motsuni |
Motsuni ($5) is a stew of pig intestines, "other" internal organs, and vegetables. Yes, offal stew! Shio Motsuni is salt-based broth, as compared to Miso Motsuni, which is a J-pop boy band. Pungently aromatic, definitely not for everyone, Umami found it intriguing. Maki-chan, of course, loved it.
 |
| Tsukune - shio |
Can't sit at the robata bar without ordering some skewers! Tsukune ($2.50 per skewer) is chicken meatball. This one is shio style, with a little lemon for zest.
 |
| Shiitake Mushroom - shio |
Shiitake Mushroom ($2 per skewer) - very simple, smoky. Earthy. Might say it exhibited umami, heh!
 |
| Shishamo |
Shishamo ($2 per skewer) is a salt-water smelt. Grilled and eaten whole, very subtle, mellow, not overly fishy taste.
 |
| Gyutan |
Gyutan ($3.25 per skewer) is grilled beef tongue. More tender than you'd think, and an intense, albeit slightly different, beef flavor.
 |
| A Little Sushi - Uni on the left; Chutoro on the right |
There's also a sushi bar in Shinn, that served up a couple of beautiful, like buttah, bites of uni (sea urchin roe, $7 per piece) and chutoro (fatty, but not too fatty, tuna belly, $6.50 per piece). Sooo good!
 |
| Chawanmushi |
Chawanmushi ($7) is a savory egg custard. Umami's not a fan generally, so Maki-chan had it all to herself. Sadly, she didn't care for it either! Oh, well!
Just an aside: Umami loved the wood counter at the robota bar . . . give the place (and Umami's photos) and earthy integrity!
 |
| Karaage Chicken |
Karaage Chicken ($6.50) was beautifully done, delicately seasoned, fried enough to crisp the batter, but leaving the meat juicy.
Finally, two soups: Miso soup ($3) was dark, salty, but not spectacular.
 |
| Miso Soup |
 |
| Shio Udon |
Shio udon ($5) was also not spectacular, but was warming and comforting and a nice way to end the meal.
Plenty of other menu items to try, so Umami will be back!
Sushi Izakaya Shinn2065 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 946-7466
No comments:
Post a Comment