Review Sashimi Shinsengumi - Crows Nest

This is hands down some of the best sushi i’ve had in my life. I have been dreaming about getting to Japan for meals but these are amazing and definitely one of the best Japanese Restaurants in Australia. They are a 10 star restaurant

Best sashimi in the north. So delicious, high quality and fresh af. FYI They only do take away. Just went to the park nearby to eat it in the sun.

Absolutely delicious deluxe platter, so fresh and a variety of sashimi on the platter. Good for entree for small group or meal for 3 people or so with other side dishes.

indeed amazing food quality! Love the $45 sushi platter!

You can get the best Sashimi in Australia. The sushi platter (you need to book) is also very delicious! You must try. I always dream about Sushi @Sashimi Shinsengumi. The owner couple is very nice. Great customer service!!

This place never disappoints and always lives up to expectations. Their sushi and sashimi is fresh and delicious. It’s a hidden gem that’s extremely popular and I definitely know why.

Only bought the sashimi here as you need to order the sushi. But from the multiple times I’ve had the sashimi has been so fresh and nice. It’s on the pricier side but the cost justifies for the quality would love to try the sushi one day.

I never got the chance to experience the omakase but the sashimi platters are amazing! There are many different types of sashimi included in the deluxe platter ($140) and it’s extremely fresh. Ordering via SMS for pick up was easy with Tomoko, I have ordered more than once and will definitely keep coming back!

Divine - Made a purchase for a takeaway sashimi platter on a friday evening right before the omakase service. When we opened the door to the unpretentious eatery, my partner and i were overwhelmed by the intense aromas of various different seafoods preparing to be served. We called 10 days ahead for a $150 platter - split $40 sushi and $110 sashimi/Aburi (aburi was specifically requested). All fish/shellfish is chef's choice (omakase) - pictures will be posted for those who would like a reference. Please note: * Wasabi not present in nigiri sushi. * Wasabi is grated and not of the usual powdered varietal * Pickled ginger provided Sushi - 12 pieces ($40) 5 pieces aburi - 2x Salmon Belly, 1x Kingfish, 2x Anago (freshwater eel) 7 pieces nigiri - 1x Scampi, 1x Uni, 1x Snapper, 1x Aji (Mackerel), 1x Scallop, 1x Chutoro/Otoro, 1x kingfish Fish is the star, rice portion leans towards the small side; balanced with vinegar. Would request wasabi in the sushi for my future orders. Salmon belly was divine; anago was sweet and delicate. Would recommend eating lighter flavoured pieces before moving onto more heavily flavoured items. Sashimi/Aburi - xx pieces ($110) Chutoro: 5+ pieces (can't go wrong - aged to perfection; melt in your mouth) Salmon: 7+ pieces (texture was firm, cut expertly, incredible) Ika (Squid): Sliced thinly (think julienne) 16+ pieces (amazingly sweet - initial texture; almost crunchy then melts away - highly recommended with soy and wasabi; seperately) Scampi: 4 pieces (divine; summer is the season for this, creamy and sweet; drop of soy with lemon/wasabi if you want your palate to pop) Spotted sweet shrimp: 8+ pieces (name says all; pull the tail off and suck for all you're worth) Scallop: 8+ pieces (soft - sweet - screamy; i mean creamy) Kingfish: 6+ pieces (aged to perfection; the most masculine fish on the platter; strong in texture and taste; firm and confronting strong flavoured fish - my partner argued otherwise; but this is what it is now!) Kingfish aburi: 6+ pieces (taste and texture firms up even more with the char of a blowtouch, subdues the fattiness; drop of lemon elevates the experience) Akami (lean tuna; the red stuff): 4+ pieces (brilliant - an item which really tests the chef; from fish selection to fine tuning the aging process to serving it. Best akami i have had ANYWHERE; so much character in a bite, texture is sublime; firm on arrival melts on first bite, you can taste the care given to this lean cut; a mirage of flavours - my pick of best item on the platter) Snapper belly aburi: 5+ pieces (Torching takes away the sticky texture from the fat; none of the chewiness you can get from leaner cuts of snapper) Snapper: 6 pieces (Great for a change of pace; considering the ample amount of heavy flavours on the platter; subdued fish flavour) Scampi Aburi: 1 piece (awesome - <3 my girlfriend) Otoro: 4 pieces (decadent - "cook it on your tongue" Aji: 4 pieces (fat and strong - definitely cleanse your palate with the provided pickled ginger before eating anything else) Uni: 1 portion (4 serves) - ridiculous...ly delicious. Sweet; Salty creamy, treated and cleaned very well after taken from the shell I would just like to extend my thanks and gratitude to Matsui-san and his wife; the meal was decadent and nothing else compares in terms of flavour, technical expertise; produce selection, treatment and service. Umami was everywhere. We will definitely be back, whether that be an omakase offering or a takeaway platter; only luck will tell. There is a reason why Sashimi Shinsengumi is the most sought after japanese omakase in Sydney; and we should really all be grateful they are honourable enough to charge you a no-frills price on their offerings. Gochisosama!! David

Just had an amazing experience with Matsui San and Tomoko San. Great professionalism and warm hospitality. The most helpful host in their cosy shop. I have been trying to get in for 2 years and I can honestly say the wait is worth it. Try your very best. Superb quality food and best value in Sydney. Thank you to the lovely couple.

So fresh and delicious. Can’t rate it highly enough. Personal service and the chef even remembered who in the group didn’t like wasabi and didn’t apply it to any course. Fabulous!!!!

It is truly best of the best Sushi rice Sashimi Everything to its perfection Forget about fish market - no where to compare with this shop.

this place has the best sushi in Sydney. Goodluck getting a booking because everyone who has been here will be trying their best to get back in here

Was lucky enough to get a booking and went there last night. I have to say the service and quality is top notch. Very reasonably priced for what it is. The chef was so friendly and even served us extra sushi. I can totally see why it is so hard to get a seat at this restaurant. I would give it 6 stars if I could. For those of you that always call but don't get through never give up hope. Keep trying.

The chef was very friendly and we had a excellent evening of good food! Generous servings of fish at top notch quality. Chef has a very rich experience in his travels, so do not hesitate to ask about some of them. Really glad we got a booking and had the pleasure of dinning in an intimate setting.

The best sushi in Sydney. I recommend takeaway sashimi and sushi too. Never disappointed.

Honestly the best sushi I have ever had Well worth it !

Best takeaway sashimi in Sydney. So convenient not to have to go to the fishmarkets or to have to play Russian Roulette with dull tired looking fish from a fish shop. Mr Matsui only sells fresh seasonal sashimi at extremely reasonable prices. The sushi platters are sensational and generous. It's all good honest sushi where you can actually see and taste the fish. You won't find it hidden under lashings of mayonnaise, sticky sauces and mysterious deep fried crunchy things that don't belong on sushi.

A hidden gem. Best variety, best-tasting, most reasonable (worth twice as much) sushi restaurant in Sydney. A bit hard to make a reservation (must have 5 or more, and quite popular), but once you are there, you are in for a real treat.

We had an incredible meal at Shinsengumi! Matsui-san took great care with every piece and each serving was very generous. A master at work and so friendly too! Gochisosama deshita!

Wonderful evening of good company, great conversations and amazing food. Thank you Matsui San and Tomoko san for your authentic Japanese hospitality.

An absolutely sublime experience. Authentic and intimate, shinsengumi is sure to impress.

What an amazing night we had. Best � outside of � the � is so fresh and with 35 years experience.. perfection.

All of the food was absolutely delicious! Service was amazing and so friendly. Definitely best sashimi in sydney!

Thank you for your wonderful deluxe sashimi platter. It makes my last dinner for 2016 the best! Happy new year!

The BEST and Fresh sashimi I’ve eaten by far!! My favourite would be the prawn, it is so sweet and to die for!! Even though it’s take home, the quality is still to perfection. All I want is to eat this again and again!! Check them out @sashimishinsengumi !!💕 😋

If you're lucky enough to call in (after 300 tries in one sitting for me), you're in for a delightful and humble experience!<br/><br/>Be immersed in a unique home-style omakase. The Sushi Chef, Mr. Matsui is very open to questions so feel free to ask him anything 😊.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣<br/>⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣<br/>The amazing thing about his artisan skills is the balance he creates. I personally don't like wasabi but there was a perfect tune between the homemade soy sauce, rice, seafood and wasabi that makes you feel like it shouldn't be eaten any other way 🎶

Rating 4 Truely an experience to have the omakase here. Right from the trying to call up 2 months before at the 1 hr specified time slot & repeat redial until the line cut out. My friends had been taking turns in calling, after about 9 months of trying they finally got through & got a table for 6. There’s nothing fancy about the set up 2 big stainless steel tables for 2 tables of 6. Chef prepare & service each individual piece of sushi right in front of you. Quality were top notch, each piece was unique & melt in your mouth. Doesn’t seem like a lot, but we were all stuff by the end, lost count of how many piece we actually had. Persistence was well rewarded.

Lunch <br/>Can pre order $25, $35, $45 Sushi box<br/>Or purchase sashimi<br/><br/>Dinner pre book only, 2 months waiting! <br/>Minimum 5 people.<br/>Very limited space.<br/><br/>Good quality fish.<br/><br/>Good quality fish

We only got takeaway from here as getting a spot for the omakase is close to impossible. This is a very small and humble Japanese restaurant that offers a variety of fresh sashimi for takeaway. Sashimi is alway fresh and loved the tamagoyaki - it was nice and fluffy with the right amount of sweetness.

For $45 sushi takeaway box i expect it to be perfect! There was no wasabi!!!

(4.5 stars)<br/> The phone lines at Sashimi Shingengsumi open to the public just six times each year. In a frantic, one-hour time slot on a Monday evening, the tiny Crows Nest restaurant manages to book out their quota of twelve seats for every single Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening in the next two months. After being thwarted once, I upped the ante by using a team of callers, including a friend’s daughters who are well-versed in securing K-pop tickets. Success! A table for six is obtained in the tiny restaurant run by Shinji Matsui and his wife Tomoko. It’s a strictly BYO, cash-only business, so after warning each of my five guests to bring booze, mineral water and their $80 tithing in cash, I cross off the days until my omakase adventure. Anticipation is a big part of dining, and the difficulty of securing a table here really adds to the excitement. We arrive early and mingle outside on the quiet street. Peering inside I can see...

"Apparently if you’re wanting to dine at Sydney’s best Omakase Sushi pedlars, it takes a team of people manning phones all day to even get a shot at a table. They open for bookings just one day in every month, and if you’re fortunate enough to get through, you’ll need five friends at the ready to clear out a calendar date and converge punctually upon this small shop, for the sushi experience of your lives..."

After several failed attempts to secure a spot at Shinsengumi for the last few months, we decided that if we couldn't go for the omakase, the omakase could come to us. We ordered two platters of mixed sushi and they were beautiful. Fresh thick slices of assorted seafood on well-formed sushi rice. The platters had the standard salmon, tuna, kingfish, tamago varieties but the more expensive option also included calamari, uni, scampi, scallops and anagao. They were also able to lightly torch (auburi) some sushi for those who are averse to raw fish. It was a great decision to order takeaway and I'd recommend this if you haven't managed to score a seat either. Obviously the quicker you consume it, the better.

After trying to get a booking for over a year, she finally picked up my call!! Was a dream come true! Everything was so fresh! Can’t wait to come back one day! Highly recommend! Also for only $80, you get 20 courses!!

This restaurant is absolutely amazing. Highly recommend! Bookings are extremely hard to make but if you manage to get a booking you won’t be disappointed! Everything was fresh, of high quality and executed in a skillful manner. The chef was also very nice. Can’t wait to dine here again :)

If you’re mad keen on Japanese like we are, then you will most certainly want to check out Sashimi Shingensumi. But be warned, it’s not an easy feat to get a booking. Why? Firstly, the restaurant only seats two tables of 6 people. Secondly, the restaurant only takes reservations 6 times a year. This is part of the charm though, right? The phone line for bookings opens up on a Monday evening, in the third week in February, April, June, August, October, December. You cannot book via text or facebook messages. We had all hands on deck to make those phone calls one evening with about 5 people calling many times over the evening, we managed to secure a booking a month later.

Never tried their takeaway but if the fish is like anything in their omakase, it's worth it. Their sushi omakase sessions are available for booking at least 1 month in advance. Because they can only serve a limited number of people a night (12 people max), it has created an aura of exclusivity around the experience. You will need to follow their Facebook page to find out when the next 'booking' time will be. <br/><br/>We were lucky enough to secure a booking in November 2017 and got to experience a 16 course omakase + dessert. 16 COURSE OMAKASE for $70pp. I think it's the cheapest omakase I've seen around. The affordable price definitely won't last though as it does appear to be increasing every few months. <br/><br/>Every dish was delectable and skilfully prepared. It's nothing fancy, just pieces of sushi one after another, until we were full to the brim. The chef even gave us extra pieces at the end when he presumably had some leftovers (I had to give mine away because I was so full! T_T) <br/><br/>Ambience wise, there's not much there. You're practically sitting inside of the kitchen, so it's not exactly romantic or classy if that's what you're looking for. The chef and presumably his wife are both friendly and accommodating :)

After hearing good reviews from Zomato and Good Food, I drove past Crows Nest and intended to reserve a slot with Sashimi Shinsengumi for a meal several weeks or months later. After making arrangements with the chef, I found some sashimi and sushi in the refrigerator and ordered the kingfish sashimi.<br/><br/>To my big disappointment, the sashimi was not fresh and borderline stale. In other words, it was not a fresh catch. The texture was hard and the pungent smell of the sashimi suggested minimal methods were used to enhance the taste of the sashimi. I threw the box away after two slices. Horrible.

I only can review the sushi bento because I never succeeded to book my spot for omakase. This shop is entirely for take away stuff. The omakase booking process is painful and I never even group up 5 people to book a spot. So If you look for a nice sushi restaurant to eat I wouldn't recommend this shop. It is just the way they operate. Even so, I highly recommend their sushi platter menus. The quality is really great. I always order my platter weekly and never feel disappointed. You have to order it in advance and tell them the pickup time. The shop is also cash only so make sure you bring enough cash when you pick up.

When March bookings re-opened for Sashimi Shinsengumi’s new Crow’s Nest location at 9am on February 21, the entire booking period was snapped up in 70 minutes. Desperate callers still ring chef Shinji Matsui and his wife Tomoko as late as midnight to try and sweet-talk them into securing them a spot. A restaurant that attracts this level of demand is something most Sydney restaurateurs would kill to possess, but that’s exactly what Sashimi Shinsengumi has achieved – and all Matsui-san did was to do what he’s always done: make darn good sushi. I can’t help you secure a booking, but I can show you exactly what you’ll be missing out on

So super fresh and authentic with very reasonable prices for what you get. The sashimi just melts in your mouth with the right amount of fluffy rice and variety of fish. The -0.5 is just for "ambiance" or lack of but the food is just fantastic. Always booked out off the bat so happy I got to finally try it :) will be back probably at their new location! Lovely lovely people.

The takeaway food available during lunchtime is limited to sashimi, egg omlette and pickled ginger so there is not much choice. However, their salmon sashimi was fresh and, at $10, is pretty good value. Dinner here requires booking several months in advance and is limited given that the restaurant may close at any time to make way for a new Crows Nest Plaza building with Coles :(

We were very warmly welcomed here and given extra attention as we spoke homely Japanese to the chef so thia review is biased.<br/><br/>The fish is exceptional in choice and variety. I cannot fault the sushi chef. He has precision and passion and hia blade is so close to hia heart it is in sync with his every move.<br/><br/>A sushi chefs hands and knife experience makes them a kitchen samurai. Fish needs to be handled utterly quickly, and coldly without risking food poisoning. He demonstrates this for us.<br/><br/>The tuna is bang on. He selects the best cut. He serves according to a no waste policy so the other tables if he recognises a pattern of waste he will reduce his servings as even though you pay for it, the quality and cut of fish will never be brought back if you waste it.<br/>so, newbie sushi sashimi diners be aware.<br/><br/>The food price is dead on affordable for $60 per person we had about 20 plus sushis each and soup. The difference is straight up live serving and no fuss or fancy decor.<br/><br/>Check it out for lunch as well, night time dining is by appointment only and is fully booked out till May. They will be closing soon if the. development approval means they move, keep an eye out on their facebook page as they might start up in neutral bay.<br/><br/>

There's currently a two-month wait to get a table at Sashimi Shinsengumi. Why? For $60 you score an 18-course omakase, a Japanese dining style that translates to "I leave it to you". It's a demonstration of trust in the chef, allowing them to decide what will be served. At Sashimi Shinsengumi, this means an appetiser, fifteen pieces of sushi, soup and dessert.

Closest to a Japanese omakase you can get outside of Japan. Mr. Matsui has 35 years of experience and he personally hand rolls and serves all of his sushi. I could not fault any of the 16 sushi's served to me but some highlights were the grilled eel and scallops which are sourced from Japan. I also really loved the sea urchin which was buttery and fresh. It was delightful to try a couple of atypical sushis such as alfonsino and yellowtail. <br/><br/>At one point, chef disappeared into the kitchen for a good 20 minutes and out popped the most superb tamagoyaki (rolled omelette), soft and fluffy with a tinge of sweetness. <br/><br/>Miso soup was superb! Just lacking the little clams that you typically get in japan, but still extremely hearty. The dinner experience ended with home made mochi and I sincerely thought I had gone to heaven. Fantastic textures, not too chewy nor sweet and coated with a light dusting of peanut and best of all, it was served warm! <br/><br/>I would 100% entrust my omakase sushi journey with Mr Matsui. He is undoubtedly the real deal!

Fresh quality nigiri done really well and right in front of you. Need to book at least one month in advance and i do believe you need a few people to make a booking.

The best valued sushi omakase in Sydney - appetizers, miso soup, 15 nigiri, freshly made tamagoyaki and dessert for just $60pp - unbeatable.<br/>Nothing fancy but delicious, fresh, unpretentious nigiri, made in front of you by the sushi master.<br/>Sashimi shop by day and omakase dinner served at night - truly an experience.

Overall, the whole 2 hour experience vindicated the one month in advance booking. Providing a genuine and authentic Japanese experience at such a discounted price, I would definitely make my way again when I want to treat myself a little more than just having sushi train. While some could argue that the miso soup could have been cooked longer to enhance the salmon flavour, or certain types of seafood could be more fresh, there’s nothing that could replace this as perhaps one of the premier traditional japanese omakase experiences in Sydney. Don’t miss out as Mr. Matsui maybe on to bigger and better things in the near future!

Fantastic quality sashimi. Really really good. I eat my fair share of sashimi and this place do really fresh, good quality sushi and sashimi. If you book in advance, they also have a omakase offering. You get something ridiculous like 18 pieces of sushi for $55. Brilliant value, especially given the quality of fish you're getting. Oh, just do go expecting atmosphere and ambiance. It's not a restaurant, but rather, a shop in a small shopping complex. Bright lights and sterile looking environment with metal tables etc. It's not where you go for a first date! :)