Pricey - but worth it! Hands down the BEST sushi in Birmingham! I haven't had sushi like this in years. My daughter and I always order the Jari Jari roll and the Jinsei Special roll. Yummm!!! A trendy chic atmosphere, but not overwhelming. Owner/manager and staff are attentive and accommodating. I strongly suggest trying this spot at least once. read more

Had a very nice meal, fish was very fresh and was quality product, the server was very knowledgeable and made solid suggestions. I wanted to see more app/starter options but was happy with the Asian glazed wings and tuna tartare served in endive cups, the tuna had a great soy based vinaigrette. Finished the meal with assorted nigiri, uni was fresh (good sign) and the foi gras was soooooo decadent it was almost too much for the average man, but not for me...... Though it was no NOBU, it was a very clean and well kept facility with what felt to be an attractive upscale clientele. My trip to Birmingham was short but I'd re visit this place again for the fish quality and chill neighborhood atmosphere. For this Sushi full service restaurant in Birmingham Alabama I give it a 4.1 out of 5 read more

My husband and I have failed to find a sushi restaurant we truly in Birmingham. We like to eat large quantities of sushi and have held off on trying Jinsei because of the nigiri prices. We finally decided we wanted to try it and were willing to pay whatever for some yummy sushi. The seating situation is very interesting- when we got to the restaurant, the inside was empty with the exception of the sushi bar, but the wait staff told us we could only sit at the inside alcohol bar or this one table at the very front that faced the door, at the time, all of the other tables inside were not options. They also had bar set up outside that face this window that opens to the inside bar. Since all of the options seemed bad, we chose this one. The music was playing very loud and the bar was very cramped (big table right behind the seats). We started with the their popular tuna tartare over deep fried rice. It had that taste of old oil and the tuna was fishy tasting. Since the first option was less than great, we decided to order two rolls to see how they were before ordering a bunch of nigiri. We got the Jinsei special roll. Again, it was very fishy and left a lot to be desired. At this point, I did not want to order any nigiri because so far the fish we had did not taste good and the nigiri is some of the priciest I have seen. We decided to call it a night a get take out from somewhere else on the way home read more

Absolutely worst experience ever! I ordered a glass of pinot noir $18, fine, no worries, the poor was not good. I made a comment to my waitress. The manager comes over to demonstrate in front of everyone how it's done with water!!! Absolutely insulting, when I wanted to pay my tab after being totally insulted, no one around at all. I get up, go towards the insulting manager, he waved his hand in my face and told me to get OUT! I told him he should be ashamed of him himself if this is how he runs a restaurant and treats people. Again, get out! Because he was to worried about his cell phone. DON'T GO HERE! THEY ARE RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL TO YOUR HARD WORKING MONEY! read more

Jinsei has been consistently good for over 10 years. The seafood is always fresh. I understand they get their seafood flown in every day and it is of the same quality as the famous Nobu restaurant. The owners are super cool. Just a cool vibe. My fave! read more

It seems we're always looking for good sushi. This place has the best sushi in the 205. Hands Down. THE FOOD: Tuna Kdaoma (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jinsei-sushi-birmingham?select=Qi1ychI-pljOCJ38U9V8WQ#n0y0DYi44Jag1jJJy5OW7Q) - OMG - 2 DIE 4 (go on Mondays - $13 dish for $8) . At a table of 4, we end up getting three of these for apps. Along with the "mixed" edamame (IMHO - GRILLED are the best) and an order of green beans. mmmm ... not too greasy, very crispy. Love the sauce the come with. (warning: this is not much different than you get at a certain "mall food" restaurant - so if you're wanting not so normal stuff, then avoid those. There's plenty of other great stuff to choose from. The Red Dragon, the Bangkok, Bubblegum, and Jari Jari were on our table last time we were in. All these rolls are between 12-15. I've paid more and I've paid less. The Tuna Tataki and the Hamachi are both pretty good as well. And ... if you're lucky (real lucky) you might get to try something that's not on the menu. (and that did't come from me). THE DRINKS Being the bubbly girl that I am - I love that they've recently amped up their Bubbles selection as of late. If there's any one cuisine that goes with bubbles, it's sushi. Wait. I didn't really mean that. Who am I kidding - EVERYTHING goes with BUBBLES!!! THE VIBE The bar scene is pretty hoppin' - and the cocktail list is really one of the best in Birmingham. Go in for the Mojito - quite possibly one of the best I've had. I like the strawberry one. I also like the Blackberry Julep. They also have a great selection of sakes. We had the Snow Maiden last time we were there (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jinsei-sushi-birmingham?select=Qi1ychI-pljOCJ38U9V8WQ#Qi1ychI-pljOCJ38U9V8WQ). THE DEALio Sushi can get expensive. Check out the specials on their website. Sunday is $8 rolls - that's pretty much half price. Tuesday's special is on the Kadoma. There will also be some drink specials that will allow you to taste something you'd not otherwise have (and be surprised that it's now your fave drink ever) because it's too costly. THE VERDICT GO. You have to try it. If you want good sushi - this is your place. Just be mindful of the fact that (as you can see from some other reviews) the place is a tad on the small side. There's not a ton of seating for big groups - maybe 2 tables can hold more than 4 ppl. But they are always willing to accomodate you and the bar area is more like a lounge, so it's comfy to hang out and wait for a table (or you can even eat there if you're short on time). read more

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Jinsei has some of the best quality of sushi in town. I'm not a huge maki guy and tend to prefer nigiri. The toro, which may have been bluefin but I forget now, is good and generally so are most of the tuna options. I'm not a big eel fan. I also love the kadoma tuna, any of the tempura options, and the miso cod. With that said, they can be somewhat expensive and it's a small place. I think they have like four 4 tops and two 6 top booths at most plus the stool seating and low tables in the front. Due to their tiny size, they are not so great for crowds over 4 people and I do not believe they take reservations. However in nicer weather, they do have the outside patio/seating available. In about 7 experiences there, the staff has been nothing but great to me and the pacing has been fine, but I tend to eat and order sushi family style and do not mind some pacing of the dishes for delivery. Sunday or Monday allows a discount on the rolls. read more

($12) Cucumber Mojito -- Excellent! ($6) Tempura Green Beans -- Excellent! ($10-15 each) Sushi in general -- Excellent!!! I completely agree with Eunice -- best sushi and mojitos. Don't try to come with a big crowd -- not enough space. Be prepared to spend a lot of money. read more

One of our favorite sushi spots in Birmingham. However, their wine bottle prices are consistently more than 4 times the glass price - and they try to sell by the bottle. Fix your prices! read more

Used the last of our Superdeals--but know that we'll be coming back for sushi when we need our fix! We treated ourselves this week and had the Snow Maiden Sake with our meal. Not too sweet and the carafe hits the spot when you want something cold with your sushi. We had the tempura green beans to start--these are very tasty but they appear to come out different each time. They could have been cooked a little bit longer, but still very good. We always go for the Jinsei Special. Trust me, it's a no brainer. This week we decided to have the kadoma tuna. I can eat this with just wasabi on it--no need for soy sauce, although David prefers to dip it in his soy mixture. Overall, we enjoy Jinsei--prices are a bit steep, but when we want to treat ourselves, it's a good go-to place. I like the atmosphere and the staff is incredibly helpful/pleasant. We sat at the bar this time and that made for one of the better experiences. Not sure how much we love the three tables by the bar that are all on top of each other. You can hear EVERYTHING your neighbors are saying--and that's just awkward. They may want to rethink that design. read more

I would highly recommend this sushi restaurant. I ordered a few different nigiri and a Jinsei special roll for dinner along with cold beer! The fish was very fresh and the cuts were generous. The service was rather fast. The place got pretty packed by 6pm on a Wednesday night. read more

Sexy little place. Great for a Sunday night date night. Kadoma tuna a must--even though it's smaller than it used to be. Ceviche used to be the best I've ever had but they don't include as many seafood items anymore. It's more like a salad with seafood in it. But still delicious. My husband takes our young daughters here for date night frequently. Even great for them...cook steak on a rock! So fun. Last bonus for me... They serve Sancerre. read more

When I want sushi I go to Jinsei. Its worth the drive from Tuscaloosa. The specialty rolls are always on point. The service has always been great and very helpful. My girlfriend loves their mojitos and I enjoy their nice selection of whiskey and bourbon. They also have $9 dollar rolls on sunday so if your on a budget check it out then. Usually very busy so except to wait for a table but its definitely worth it. read more

Best sushi in Birmingham, and I still remember this place very fondly. Went here multiple times a couple of years ago when I lived in Birmingham; was even just having a conversation with a good friend a couple of nights ago and trying to recall the name of the roll that had the bits of jalapeno in it (it was a tuna based roll, so if anyone on here can help me out with the name for if/when I make my way back there).. They can make a good Sapphire martini, in fact a couple of their "girly" house drinks were even impressive enough for me to swill, and I'm a pretty stodgy 'cigar and whiskey and porterhouse' kinda guy.. The decor fits right in in some of the west-coast cities, or NYC .. But very definitively not Birmingham and that, ultimately, is why I'm a fan. read more

Jinsei is a wonderful sushi restaurant with a few French twists. And since those are two of my favorite styles of food and dining how could I help but fall in love with this place? Jinsei is by far one of the best culinary experiences in the area but not exactly the best dining experience. Let me explain. First the good. The sushi is impeccable and rivals anything I have had the world over. The way they make the allusion to Pomme Frites with their Tempura Fried Green Beans is subtle, thoughtful and so delicious. The wait staff are wonderful and the atmosphere is like being inside a hip bento box. And their Champagne selection is wonderful if maybe only slightly limited. The very good but not so good for your waistline. If you are on a date or flying solo take a seat at the sushi bar. It is entertaining and it gives you a chance to preview what is on the menu and also chat with the sushi chefs. I will warn you though that you will want to eat each and every last roll that comes off that bar. Now the really not so good. They don't take reservations. The dining room is very small to say the least. And when filled to capacity some patrons are made to eat in the "lounge" area which is no more than a tight corridor of banquettes and tiny stools. Never the less I will continue to patron this fine if not a little odd establishment on a very frequent basis. Give it a try. If you can look past some of the short comings you will find a culinary experience not soon to be forgotten. I know I can't go a month without hitting this place up. read more

For B'ham this is the best sushi around. And Sunday nights are the time to go with 9 dollar for all sushi and $6 sakeritas which are awesome. The sushi is all fresh and the rolls are imaginative. Start with some tempura green beans which come with a great spicy aioli. Just know it's a small place so it doesn't take much for a wait to start. Just grab a sakerita and hang out till ur table is ready read more

Jinsei is a good spot for good sushi. We always enjoy ourselves. Pro tip: don't sit at the tables in the window area in the front. The sound bounces around the window and makes it nearly impossible to hear the person across from you. read more

I'm not a big sushi fan (a once a month kinda gal), but my date insisted that we visit Jinsei Sushi, as he claimed it was the best sushi in Bham. We arrived at 7:00PM (Wednesday night) and the place was packed. We walked in, and I was overcome by the small space and the number of people! It was still hot (and humid) outside, but we could at least hear each other if we grabbed one of the few remaining tables on the patio. Within 10 minutes, all of the other tables were occupied, so I don't know where folks were sitting or how long the wait was. We started off with drinks - I had the blackberry mojito (not sweet at all, which I like), and my date had the strawberry margarita (too sweet for my liking). We ordered two appetizers: the grilled edamame, and the tempura fried green beans. The edamame arrived fairly quickly, but the green beans never made it out. It was fine since we had ordered plenty of sushi, but our waitress never acknowledged that it was left off of the order (minus 1 star). The edamame was steamed and grilled, which gave it a nice, distinctive flavor. After our appetizer, we waited almost 30 minutes for our 3 rolls to arrive: It was disappointing how slow service was. We ordered the Bangkok, Jarijari, and Madori rolls. They were flavorful (and all very different), and we enjoyed all three, but the price seemed a little steep for the amount of food (minus one star for slow service and price). I could see myself visiting Jinsei again for special occasions, but I don't see this as my regular go-to spot for sushi in Homewood. read more

I think I have made a dating decision regarding Sushi: If you can't wait for sushi until you have been on at least 7 dates, then hit up Jinsai. Eating sushi on date 6 and under is a pretty uncomfortable situation for ladies. God forbid, it is a large roll. That being said, I recently went to Jinsai on date #2 and it was really fun! The sushi was so good you don't even care. I don't remember the names of the dishes, but my date and I had some beef sliders, a volcano of tuna goodness, and then a shrimp roll with a dot of mayo in the middle. It would have been understandable if my date questioned my sanity based on the noises I was making while eating each yummy bite. And the cocktails... I dream about their Cucumber Mojito. The delicious food and drinks made for an easy and fun date. read more

Kadoma Tuna = best thing ever! Also would recommend the spicy hotake, red dragon, and sachihoko rolls. If you're feeling something not sushi, the kobe wrapped asparagus was amazing. Diva is spot on with her recommendations!! read more

More trendy than foodalicious Nothing that jumped out Good selection of fatty fish for sashimi Rolls were creative but nothing spectacular Seated early after being told we had a 30min wait read more

Really, I have paid more for sushi, so it wasn't terrible, though with a couple glasses of bubbly and a nice tip it was still $100 for two. Quality was good, food was delicious, though I think there was definitely more filler than fish. That is how they get a good portion size though. We showed up on a Friday night at 6:30 and were the last ones able to be sat before the wait started and were put on the end of the bench with a small table. It was cozy, but fun. Service was attentive and again, quality and taste were good. We will definitely return when in town. read more

Super cute, yet small place down that is serving up high quality sushi and a more upscale atmosphere. Cute interior with a few bar seats, patio and dining tables. Most patrons were on the dressy side - something different than the other sushi places we have tried in the area. We didn't make a reservation and for a Saturday night around 8:30p the place was pretty dead. My party of three was seated promptly at a low dining table - two dining chairs and a bench that was not the same height as the chairs. It was weird.. You would think they would add a cushion or something to make it the same height. Our Waiter wasn't overly friendly, actually he wasn't personable at all - but our order was correct, everything came out timely and our drink glasses were never empty. We started with grilled shishito peppers, edamame, & six tebasaki wings. The portions were larger than I was expecting, but overall all good choices to share. The wings were outrageous - super flavorful and crunchy! We then moved onto a Spider roll, Red Dragon roll and the Shirohama roll. All were a good size, rolled well and included a good combo of ingredients. Their menu includes apps, specialty sushi rolls (no basic, ie, spicy tuna, but maybe you can ask?), hot entrees and cold entrees. Full bar, decent wine choices and a fun cocktail menu. 4 stars for the atmosphere, and good food - could have been 5 if the waiter had a personality. This may be a little pricier than other spots in the area, but the food is high quality and well prepared so you'll end your meal feeling satisfied with both the amount you spend and the delish food. read more

The two stars are for the food. Zero stars for atmosphere - awful! No music, just loud plates being thrown around by un-attentive staff. Nothing special about this place anymore, it's been going downhill for a while. read more

We love this place! Great sushi! Make sure to come and try them out on a Sunday! Sunday's all rolls are $9! Yep you heard right! It's a small place but really trendy and great atmosphere! The quality of fish is brilliant and the rolls are pretty unique some are standard but no california or to generic. I enjoy sitting outside the best because it's not so stuff and lots of people bring pets and it's just really fun out there. David is normally our sever! The service there is outstanding! They create a great experience every time. read more

Jinsei Sushi - The best rolls on the menu! Try the wolf! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This is a cool place to hang out. Good vibe and really good Sushi. I always order the same things: Kadoma Tuna which is really, really good, the River Rock beef, and Cucumber Mojitos. All of these never disappoint me. read more

Jinsei is a classy, upscale, sushi lounge located within SoHo square. The ambience within the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. It has such a chill, relaxed, and sleek atmosphere. A great place for an intimate dinner date. They have a beautiful outdoor patio which is great for cool evenings to dine outside. Inside, offers a dimly lit, very lounge-y beautiful dining space. I will say that it is quite small inside, I can't imagine it'd be very pleasant on crowded nights. Also, some of the indoor seating is a little awkward with how low the sofas are as opposed to the chairs. Definitely do try to get a table with all chairs if possible. The upscale ambience and atmosphere also comes with a comparable price tag for the food. However, if you take advantage of their Sunday evening specials, $5 off all chef special sushi rolls, Jinsei's prices are on par with every other sushi spots within metro Bham. I ordered three rolls, the jarijari, red spider, and sachihoko. As a sushi enthusiast, was it THE best sushi I've ever had? Of course not. However, it was delicious none the less. Service here was spectacular! The con of the small indoor dining area actually becomes a pro in this regard. Servers are constantly within reach, my table was consistently cleared off of plates, and my glass, never empty. Also a plus for offering hot towels for the guests. Dining here was a solid 4.5 stars. read more

Jinsei Sushi - Sachihoko roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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If you want high quality, authentic sushi in Birmingham go for Jinsei. Having been to Japan I've struggled liking any American sushi, but Jensei has turned that around. This place is dimly lit and feels much more retro than other restaurants. Jensei is a smaller restaurant that could use some more space to ease up the vibe and needs more comfortable seating if you decide not to sit at the bar. read more

A great place for good sushi. It was very close to our hotel so had to try it out. Their sake nigiri and hamachi nigiri were great and fresh. I loved their tofu agadashi. It wasn't too breaded or over fried. The sauce was great too. The soft shell crab was a miss to me however. It was too much breading and not enough crab. Their fig serrano roll was different but great tasting! It worth a try. Cute ambience for dinner! The sushi bar staff were friendly and very efficient. read more

The best sushi in the state of Alabama. It's located in the new condo area of homewood named "So-Ho", could they actually come up with something original? Excellent cuts of fish, perfect rice, and excellent presentation. The place is a little small, but they also have outdoor seating during warm weather months, which in Birmingham means 10 months out of the year. Jinsei has a great wine list and good cocktails. I would recommend this place for just drinks. It's going to be a little pricey for sushi, but well worth it. Simple, low tone house music playing and nice service allows you to enjoy your meal. read more

Cute decor, but table was super sticky when I went with my mom for a snack a little after the lunch wave. My chair had soy sauce on it too. My mom LOVED her roll-- said it was the best she's had. I think it was some sort of raw salmon roll that was fried. My veggie roll was nothing special. Veggies were crispy and fresh but rice seemed under-seasoned. Server was personable when he was around, but he didn't come around often. Seems more like a night-life place. I'd go again. read more

I had high expectations, based on prior reviews. Unfortunately, I left very underwhelmed. I thought it was expensive for what I got. 6 pieces nigiri (most $4-6) per piece, 1 Bangkok roll, and 1 beer was $54 without tip. The service was very fast. So fast, that I think the roll was made ahead of time. The roll was a little mushy, but nigiri was tasty. Overall, there wasn't anything special about the rolls or sashimi (tuna, salmon, hibachi, shrimp, eel, octopus, etc.). I wouldn't go back. read more

Jinsei serves up good sushi, albeit more of the "Crimson Tide Roll" or "Super Dragonfly Roll" variety. Located in a chic Homewood strip mall, the clientele when I ate dinner there was mostly locals. Translation: lots of Mountain Brook/Hoover types. Nice people, but like the denizens of most affluent suburbs the world over, they tend toward the standoffish if you aren't local. Clean, hip and tasty. read more

This might be one of the best sushi places In the southeast. They are so consistently on point. Every sushi roll has always been amazing. To add the service and ambiance are top of its class. I have tried most of the menu and would go back for sake and sushi anytime! read more

Hot kiss cocktail = heaven. The tuna kadoma was delicious as always love the fresh jalapeños with the cool tuna. It gets better every time I try it. Tempura green beans, Holy Moly, they are super crispy but not oily at all. D and I shared the Bangkok roll and Kobe beef sliders. The roll was good nothing too fancy. The sliders were okay. Taste the BBQ sauce before dipping; it tasted like it had hints of coffee, cinnamon, and lots of sweet. Gross or just not for me. Then we ordered the wings. I was very disappointed. They tasted like On Taps version of Asian wings. My friend b ordered the rock shrimp. I could have sworn they were supposed to be crunchy but they were soggy swimming in a lemony aioli. I will be going back as overall, most of the food was delicious. read more

Dropped in here for a quick lunch. Ordered a miso soup and couple of rolls. Miso soup was a bit salty. Crunch roll wasn't that crunchy drenched and sitting in sauce. Alabama roll was decent. Over-priced for what you got. Service was friendly and prompt. read more

Jinsei Sushi - Alabama roll to the left, Crunch roll to the right - Sushi Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I really, really love this place, and yesterday I noticed they are now open for lunch, which just thrills my heart! The kadoma tuna and the cucumber mojito are my favorites. I order them every time I go. The tempura green beans and veggies are also really wonderful. All of the sushi I have ordered has always been very good. Jinsei would get 5 stars from me if the restaurant wasn't so cramped. Wish they would expand! read more

I have to say since I have moved from Savannah to Birmingham, this has been the best place I've eaten yet. Hands down the best sushi in town! Hats off to this fine establishment!! Thank you David for recommending this place and thanks to the rest of the staff including Micah, Ricardo and Nate!! Not to mention everyone else who was kind enough to take time out of their very busy Sunday night schedule to make a couple "newbies" to the Birmingham/ Homewood scene feel at home!!! read more

Jinsei Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

They advertise they are open. But don't keep the hours they advertise. Came from across town and checked to online sources saying they are open but closed early because the owner just wanted to. Hostess was rude but having a drink at the bar. Good luck. read more

Jinsei Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

We've tried other Japanese/sushi places though not all and found that Jinsei is the best so far. It's our go-to place.