A very cute spot for tasty Thai Japanese food! I came for lunch with friends while visiting Evanston. It took a little longer for our orders to come out but we got them and they all tasted great. I got the tantanmen ramen which was good, not the best but still tasty. My friends got the Tom yum ramen and the tamarind noodles which I tried. The Tom yum broth had a strong shrimp flavor which was good and the tamarind noodles, we realized was pad Thai once I tried it. It was one of the best pad Thais I've had in the Midwest as it wasn't super sweet like most Thai restaurants. I would come back again and try other dishes. read more

Shinsen - Tantanmen Ramen Noodle - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

We shared the gyoza appetizer and the calamari appetizer. The gyoza were good, but pretty expensive for what you get. They did come upside down with some crispy stuff on top, which was interesting but didn't make it taste that much better in my opinion. On the other hand, I loved that calamari appetizer. For my entree, I got the Summer Zaru Udon special. It felt a little plain with just the two crabs, some Udon and some stuff sprinkled on the Udon, and it wasn't that filling, but with the appetizers, it was enough for me. It was my first time having tempura soft shelled crab, and both the crab and the noodles tasted great after dipping it in the sauce they provided. read more

Shinsen - Zaru Udon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I love this place!! My favorite is the creamy tum yum ramen! All of their food is super flavorful and you have to try the Thai iced tea!

Loved this Japanese Restaurant! My husband and I had double date with our friends on a Friday night here. We were able to make reservations the morning of and when we got there, they were super busy! Only waited 5 minutes for our table. We shared all or our dishes as they're shareable size and we ordered about 8 different items! Not one disappointed us. I can't remember all of the items we ordered, but the ones that stick out were the Black widow roll, refreshing roll and the Ishiyaki!! Yum! Oh and this place is BYOB :) read more

Shinsen - Black widow - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I first discovered Shinsen during Covid, when I ordered delivery regularly. This was my first in-restaurant visit with the entire family, grown adult children as well as grandchildren. We ordered a little bit of everything.. appetizers, sushi, fried rice, we brought our own bottles of wine (very reasonable corkage fee) ... the works. Everything was delicious (as it always is). Shinsen was apparently short-handed, because everything took a long time. It took 15 minutes to bring out our water and menus, longer to return and take our order. Once the order was taken, food kind of dribbled out from the kitchen, one appetizer at a time... including when we'd ordered two orders of gyoza only one order came out, and the second order came out a full 10 minutes later. Everything was delicious... I really can't complain about the food itself. Tasty, elegantly and beautifully plated. In fact the shallot-fried rice arrived in a fabulous large stone bowl on a wooden board (I'm used to it arriving at my home in a plastic container)... very pretty... but the waiter really should have warned us that it was epically hot to the touch... because I burned the @#$% out of my hand when I touched it, as the stone bowl had clearly been in the oven. We were fortunate it wasn't one of the grandkids who'd touched it! I'm really hoping that they just had an off night, and were short-handed. I only saw one waiter the whole time I was there and from the way food was trickling out of the kitchen, I'm going to guess they were short-handed in there, too. I like the food, and I'd really like to return, but I'm hesitant. The food was 5-star, but I can only grant them 3 stars for the review due to the poor service. read more

Beautiful space, attentive service. The tan tan ramen was delicious. I will definitely return.

I had booked a table at Shinsen before Covid-19, but sadly had to cancel when everything shut down. I was excited to see they had patio dining so called for an outdoor table for this past Saturday night. Be sure to call ahead since they only have a few tables outside. We grabbed a favorite bottle of wine (they are currently BYOB) and ran out of our crazy household eager to escape the bedtime routine and enjoy the food that so many yelpers have raved about. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't in our favor and just as our food was about to come out it started to rain. We were about to ask for our food to go (even dinner in our car better than dealing w/ bedtime), but the sweet waitress mentioned that no one would be dining in the restaurant for over an hour so we could have it to ourselves. While I'm not comfortable dining in quite yet, we decided that having the restaurant to ourselves was safe enough. And so we had our first dine in experience in awhile and enjoyed their truly delicious food: - Tamarind noodles - Black Widow Roll - Skirt Steak Robata - Shisito Pepper Robata I'd order the same exact things next time since it was all so good, but I doubt you can go wrong with anything on their menu. For dessert we share a creme bruelee that had a pumpkin taste to it. It was also so good and we were so happy with the food that we asked if they do delivery to Glencoe. Unfortunately they don't, but I would happily drive to Evanston for takeout or more patio dining. We finished just in time as their 7:30pm reservations started coming into the restaurant. They sat them more than 6 ft away, but I"m still not personally ready to dine in. Opening a restaurant is difficult at any point, but I imagine especially difficult during this pandemic. Please support this amazing new restaurant thru delivery (if you're lucky enough to be in their delivery radius), takeout, patio dining or at whatever level you feel most comfortable. We'll be back soon! read more

Shinsen - Not easy for any restaurant during covid, but especially feeling for new ones like this restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Wow what an incredible pan-Asian food experience! I've walked past this place plenty of times in my many years of living in Evanston and never thought to give it a try, but saw that it was a top 20 place to eat in the Northshore, so I wanted to see what the hype was. I ordered delivery for their shallot fried rice and my mind was blown with how incredibly flavorful it was. I then had to go in person to try a few more things because maybe they just mastered the fried rice. I got the red curry mussels and the pad see eiw. Both were incredible. Probably the best pad see eiw I've had 10/10, and the mussels were a definite 8/10. I am already planning on another visit to try more things. I'm just mad I didn't come here starting years ago. The servers were really nice, I saw one person patiently helping a table through deciding on what to order. The restaurant is clean and nicely decorated, and currently is seasonal with a cute Christmas tree. I'm pretty skeptical of pan-Asian restaurants since a lot of them seem to just throw cuisines together and never master making anything. But Shinsen really has it down! read more

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The food here is incredible! Highly recommend. Simple, authentic dishes and friendly delivery

We had an amazing experience at Shinsen during our overnight stay in Evanston. Everything that we ordered was well presented, fresh and delicious! We had two servers that were tag teaming our table so never had to wait too long to order anything. I would highly recommend this place if looking for reasonably priced Japanese food. read more

I ordered the Japanese fried rice and paid $35 for the rice with two pieces of meat. The price for this dish is horrendous for what you are served. I don't pay $35 for a 20lb bag of rice. Disappointed and won't be back. This restaurant is expensive read more

My sister was in the hospital nearby and wanted sushi, so I found this restaurant via good yelp reviews. We ordered a skirt steak bento box, black widow maki, shrimp and tuna maki. I ordered on the phone via pickup and it was ready within 25 minutes. The exterior is unassuming with cute patio seating. The interior is cozy and dimly lit. I ensured I was given silverware and asked several times about soy sauce (as my sister requested this specifically). When I arrived at the hospital and unpacked the food, there was no soy sauce despite the employee assuring me there was. I was quite upset, and called the restaurant back. The manager of the restaurant DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL to deliver me the soy sauce that had not been placed in our carry out bag. This impressed me so much and displayed so much compassion. I couldn't thank her enough and my sister was so grateful. The food overall was tasty. I enjoyed the bento box and felt it was a great portion size. The black widow maki was a hit. Overall, I would recommend this place again due to them correcting their errors with the carry out order in such an above and beyond way! read more

Food was excellent. Slow start on service but once they got in gear, they were great. We definitely go back.

Had a fun and delicious meal at Shinsen Evanston! They came and grilled steak on the hot stone at the table and the sizzling is amazing. they also made some interesting fusion ramen like Tom Yum ramen. It's one of the best Japanese restaurants in Evanston read more

Pricey, but high quality and fresh sushi. Even though we got takeout, the sushi was nicely presented, and each roll and type of nigiri was helpfully labeled. Sushi rice was well seasoned - you can definitely taste the difference between Shinsen's rice and the rice from cheaper, lower quality places. read more

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This is easily the best Asian restaurant in Evanston!! I've been here twice and the food never disappoints. Their specialty rolls are great for sharing, and I personally always have to get the pad see eiw topped with delicious grilled marinade pork. Dined: June 3, 2022 read more

Shinsen - Pad See Eiw; bento box - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Really good! Cute outdoor patio, fair prices. Service was very slow and not the best, although the staff was nice... but the food was so good I'd deal with it anyway. I had pad see ew (spell check?) which was delicious and grilled chicken kabob.. so much flavor. They had gluten free options as well. Definitely will return! read more

Shinsen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I got the miso soup and a few rolls and really enjoyed the food. The lighting was a bit dim so it was a nice date spot. The service was also really great. It was a bit pricy though for the amount of food we got. read more

Shinsen - Spicy Salmon Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I ordered delivery from Shinsen last weekend, just three maki rolls. Like too many places these days, Shinsen seems to focus too much on condiments and add-ons, rather than the fish. Two of my three rolls had fish (the other was vegetarian). The super white roll had a peculiar taste, as if the fish weren't really fresh. The spider roll didn't really taste much like soft shelled crab at all; the sauce overwhelmed the seafood flavor. Given the high ratings this restaurant receives, I have to conclude that a lot of people prefer sushi that doesn't taste like fish. Call me a traditionalist, but I do like that; it seems to be the entire point of sushi. If you like sauces and spice, you may be very happy with Shinsen, but I won't order from them again. Just not my cup of tea. read more

Food was 11/10, very cute ambiance. Best of all was the service and attention to detail. Truly a great experience, will definitely be back.

Great food! Love the crispy tuna roll and excellent service! Will definitely be back!

The food is excellent as is the service and the atmosphere. The mussels are the best you will find anywhere and the sushi is top notch. I also love the steak robata. read more

The food is great. I've been here 4 times and the service is always truly terrible. Sooooooo slow. Food takes an hour. I think they're equipped for 2-3 customers at a time and when they get a half full restaurant, they are zero equipped to handle it. Drinks took 40 minutes. I can't do this again. I can't do this again. I want to like it but I've done read more

This place is tiny but delicious! Everything right down to the soy sauce is made in house. We ordered sashimi, edamame, pork skins, chicken gizzards and tuna tar tar. Every last bit was delicious. The ama ebi had some of the latest fried heads I've seen! The server was super friendly and everything was so fresh! You really must check this place out! read more

Shinsen - My sashimi pieces. Fatty tuna, salmon belly and tuna along with a pork chip in the back. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I just came for takeout but was overall a nice experience. When I went inside to pick up my food the staff was extremely friendly. My food was ready on time and they were just packaging it up when I got there. The food itself was really good! I find that sushi takeout in general can be inconsistent, but that was not the case here. The sushi traveled well, was fresh, and tasted great. On top of good food they gave me a couple complimentary cookies that were very cute and tasty. They also put in a personalized note which I thought was a very sweet touch. I definitely recommend checking out Shinsen. The food and the service are both great and you'll be supporting a local business. Win win :). read more

Shinsen - Sweet thank you note - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Worst food Ive had in Evanston .. the tofu was just fried no seasoning I couldn't enjoy it ,to the point the sauce didn't make any different. I know the noodles would be a bit different but it was extremely sour and sticky. Great potential in the sauce that came with the tofu so I just used that for the noodles. up throwing the noodles away and the white rice wasn't even filled to the top. The over all experience was very lack luster. Next time I'll be going downtown Chicago for my noodles . read more

Shinsen - The receipt for the order for 1 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

A Japanese-Thai fusion restaurant in Evanston- please give this place a check out! The food, ambiance, and people are just overall great! Sake Don : My friend got this and said the fish was super fresh and the bowl came together well! Also to note: My never gives 10/10 ratings. But she gave this bowl a 10/10 if that gives you indication of how much she liked this bowl : $20.00 (+tax) Tantanmen Ramen: I liked this ramen! I think I would have liked the broth to have had a deeper taste but was still a good amount of fatty and salty. The noodles were a bit thicker and plumper than your usual ramen noodles but I didn't mind it! : $15.00(+tax) read more

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Great food best maki ! Great service! The ambiance is so relaxing I love the vibes there. read more

Shinsen - Black hornet - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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This is the first place I've ever been to with such positive and high ratings. It did not disappoint and is in fact more than deserving of being a 5 star establishment. The ambience, service, and food is top quality. It is a byob restaurant and they do not charge a cork fee. Can it get better? Yes it can. I went with a party of six and we each ordered different platters, all of which were amazing. My favorites were the mussels, black widow roll, and pad thai. The black widow roll had a perfect combination of ingredients and sauce. The mussels had a tasty curry sauce and came with two japanese bun rolls which were exquisite. The pad thai had the perfect blend of sweet and sour with delicate vegetables. The ramen had a comforting taste with a silky broth. The other rolls were also delicious in their own way. The fried rice was alright as it was more on the crispier side and I prefer a softer texture. Lastly, the dessert was exotic and delicate to the taste. Whoever cooked the food made it with passion and talent. I can tell this establishment really cares about serving quality food to it's customers. Bring your own bottles of wine and they'll provide the ice and cups! Our waitress was attentive and kind. I highly recommend anyone in the area or stopping by evanston to give this place a try. It's one of the best restaurants I've been to and I will definitely be coming again. I want to tell everyone about it and bring all my friends-- that's how amazing this place is! read more

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Every now and then you discover a restaurant that just touches your heart - Shinsen is one of those gems. My companion and I were driving back to Evanston from Nebraska in desperate need of a delicious meal after a long drive. We ended up ordering from Shinsen and were blown away!. We both ordered the chirashi bowl, these were little jewels of fish on top of rice. As an ikura and tamago lover, I loved digging into the fluffy kernels of rice to find those bits. The taste of the sea in the ikura complemented the rice perfectly. The tamago was clearly freshly made with the perfect balance of sweetness. The chirashi bowls were the perfect treat after such a long drive. Shinsen was also kind enough to include two butter cookies in the take out, a delightful surprise to finish the meal! They also included a beautiful hand written note to thank us for ordering. Shinsen is clearly a restaurant with such passion behind it that cares deeply for their customers. Let's all care for Shinsen back and support their business during these trying times! They go beyond being a restaurant and are such a part of the Evanston community. read more

Shinsen - Chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Was very happy with the food and service here. Would highly recommend you go to have dinner at Shinsen.

Wow! These folks have dialed up this category of takeout. Amazing robota, rolls, and bento. And the most pleasant delivery person ever (go direct to resto site and order). Evanston has a real treasure with this place. read more

We didn't care for the sushi at Shinsen. Everything tasted really watery; that's the best way to describe it. We have always wanted to try their Thai dishes, so we will probably be back at some point for those. read more

Really great service and really great sushi. The noodles aren't their best speciality. I would just go for the sushi. read more

Shinsen - The outside - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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We dined in on Sunday afternoon. This was my first time at the restaurant and I was always curious as to what the dining experience would be like because I would pass by the restaurant all the time. Well, I walked out feeling very happy and full! I ordered the Thai Iced Tea, which tasted delicious and was unlike any other tea I've tried in Evanston or Chicago -- it has a wonderfully rich taste. I would recommend it. For my entree, I ordered the Choo-Chee Tofu dish because it's vegetarian and gluten free. It was very tasty and this was my first time tasting the dish -- I had nothing like it before. It came with a bowl of white rice. First of all, I want to mention that the tofu is really key here. It was perfectly cooked, so soft on the inside that it melts in your mouth and the exterior had a wonderfully crisp texture. The vegetables in the dish were great and the rest of the dish was exquisite. I could tell it was prepared with love and care. Speaking of love and care, the service at this restaurant is fantastic. I feel wholeheartedly cared for and attended. My order was taken perfectly and our waitresses were very friendly and helpful. Bathrooms were clean as well. There is outdoor seating with a reservation, however I heard there is a wasp problem in the area outside so we chose to dine inside. Looking forward to coming back! read more

Shinsen - interior design showing custom neon sign near the bathroom area - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I think this is one of the better restaurants I've been to in Evanston. The sushi was good (but nothing special) but the curries were really good. The atmosphere was nice, and BYOB is always a fun twist. I'd highly recommend that folks in the area stop by. read more

Although the ambience and food of Shinsen were amazing, our experience was hindered by the service we received. After one member of our party didn't receive her meal until after the rest of the table was finished eating, her dish was not comped and there were very few apologies offered. When this was mentioned to a hostess after receiving our check, lackluster excuses were made. Aside from this, the food was excellent. Definitely recommend the spider roll, as well as the fried rice. Bummed what could have been an amazing meal was marred by the service. read more

Shinsen - Spider Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I have been going to this restaurant regularly since 2021. Had takeout and dined in upon several occasions and was never treated as badly as I was this past Saturday. I came here April 27, 2024 for a date with my boyfriend. It was quite busy, so we waited for a seat to open up. When we got to our seat, we were handed menus and began deciding what to order. Because it was busy, we had to wait a little before getting our orders in. Again, we understood it was busy and accepted that things might be a little slower. After we order our food, a lot of time goes by. After 40ish minutes, we get my appetizer and my partner's main meal. For the next hour, I am left with no food while my partner completely finishes his food. All the while, we are trying to get the attention of the waiters who actively ignore us. After realizing nobody will come to our table, we walk up to the staff and tell them our issue. They were dismissive and we were treated as a nuisance and a problem. When we realize no staff member will do anything to help us, we asked for the manager. The manager refunded us that meal and gave us a coupon for next time, but when we tried to use the coupon, they did not even accept it! My partner had to ask for it back because they did not even use it towards the meal. They just took the coupon back and gave us no discount. At one point, I would have considered this a great restaurant. But if you want to relax and enjoy your food with friends/date, this is not the vibe. read more

Damn this place was tasty! All the fish was tha bomb fresh. Most everything was well priced for the high quality. I'll pay an extra couple dollars if it is awesome. The atmosphere was lively and the lighting is perfect for Friday night, dimly lit date night. Met the chef owner breifly, super friendly, working hard. There are a lot of sushi places to go around Evanston, this one is mine. Period. Ps I'll definitely be excited when they get their liquor license but byob is also very very fun sometimes. read more

Came here with my family, and it was such a delight to find this gem so close to home! The atmosphere is classy and modern, while still being extremely comfortable. The service was impeccable, and the staff should be highly commended for how attentive and friendly they are. To top off this already incredible experience, you also get the delight of eating absolutely incredible food. The ingredients are fresh and delicious, and I can't wait to come back for more. read more

Shinsen - Spider Maki and Spicy Tuna Maki, and one of the delicious Mocktails - Sushi Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois