Shin Sushi

Chef-owner Taketoshi Azumi doesn’t pad his omakase with farmers market treasures, vegan derivations, truffle salt or A5 wagyu. His Shin Sushi in Encino is a sushi bar experience stripped to its essence. Azumi directs his energies almost solely into

kind of guided culinary meditation. Even in an already crowded land of sushi shrines, his level of dedication makes Shin a destination. Azumi in action behind the bar. (Silvia Razgova / For The Times) Shin Sushi Location: 16573 Ventura Blvd., Encino

heartening homage to San Antonio. I also recently fell for Encino’s Shin Sushi, a tiny, 17-month-old omakase restaurant that showcases Taketoshi Azumi’s mastery with nigiri. And one more newish place worth addressing: Baroo Canteen, the resurrection of game

practically impossible. In the broadest terms, however, I’d have to say: ‘Edomae sushi is what an expert sushi chef makes by hand out of Japanese ingredients.'" At L.A.’s leading omakase restaurants — Kaneyoshi, I-naba, Shin Sushi in Encino and recently

between mask-wearing chefs and diners. Taketoshi Azumi, chef-owner of Shin Sushi in Encino, has eliminated walk-ins for the time being; a reservations-only system will enable him to better stagger diners at his 30-seat restaurant. An additional point of

in Tustin or are familiar with the area, before Haru Izakaya came along, there were two previous restaurants in there. Both were — you guessed it — sushi joints. Let's hope Full Moon Sushi has better luck than Fish Shin and Sushi Nizi. Not to mention