Located in the Haymarket, parking can be a bit of a challenge, but it's absolutely worth it. The restaurant has a great setup inside with an open kitchen and sushi bar. Seating is limited, but it feels cozy and intimate. The staff was outstanding from the greeter to the servers, friendly, attentive, and welcoming. The menu has a great variety, from ramen and teriyaki boxes to rice dishes and sushi. We started with the soft shell crab appetizer, which was incredibly fresh with a light, perfectly crisp tempura batter. For our main course, we went with a selection of sushi, and it was phenomenal. The fish was extremely fresh, served at the perfect temperature, and every flavor paired beautifully. One thing I really appreciated is they don't smother their sushi in sauces, they let the freshness and quality of the fish speak for itself, the way it should. Quite possibly the best sushi in town!! read more

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Visiting Lincoln for two weeks and decided to try some sushi on my first night. Pros: Sunday has happy hour all day, including some food items. The service was decent. Cons: It just didn't hit the mark with me. I ordered chicken karaage, two handrolls, and the tuna roll for dinner. The handrolls were probably the best bites of the night. I didn't care for the batter on the karaage nor the dipping sauce (sweet soy based sauce). Not what you would normally get when ordering karaage. The tuna roll was pretty inconsistent, with some pieces having giant chunks of tuna and nothing else while others had a huge chunk of avocado. It wasn't tightly rolled and the rice didn't taste seasoned. In fact, the more I think about it while looking at my photo, the more those disappointing feelings are coming back. read more

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Hard to find parking along this street. We chanced upon a lot almost right in front of the restaurant. They seated us immediately. We were early on a Sunday. We ordered a variety of stuff. As appetisers We ordered fried calamari, it's only now that I realized I didn't grab a pix of the calamari. It was decent with a creamy sriracha sauce. I then had my agadashi tofu. It was crisp and nice. The batter could be lighter and the tofu could be the softer kind... - to me that would be nirvana. But for this- it was good. My handroll and sushi was fresh and delicious. It was a good afternoon with the good food My drink happy sumo- was nice just didn't really do it for me though. Ambiance was nice and zen. I like it. We will be back. read more

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Great option in downtown Lincoln if you're in the mood for some Japanese fare. I highly recommend their ramen and a few of their specialty rolls. The place is nicely situated but don't have a lot of space. That being stated, the wait time can get long. Now for some critique....we came here for a late dinner and seemed like the staff were too busy even to acknowledge folks coming in the door. Other than this, its still a place I would recommend for folks to try out. read more

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Hello All Well, here I am in Go Big Red Land! I stopped into Shokunin in a really cool neighborhood around the University Of Nebraska- Lincoln. It was happy hour which was sweet!! It ends a 6pm. I had two types of rolls. Spicy Tuna and Kiss of Fire. My first was a spicy tuna roll. Good flavor but my rice had dry edges and the roll did not seem very fresh. Dont know if they were prepared early or not. They did come to my table super fast. My second set of rolls were fresher. Thank you. Service was good. Not great but good. I will probably be back. I just hope they are not pre making certain things then serving. Sushi is sooo good fresh. Thanks read more

Shokunin - Japanese Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

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This is such a hidden gem. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is relaxed and casual. Generally, the service is always polite and very fast. The prices are really reasonable and their happy hour is awesome! read more

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Went here with my friends to celebrate a birthday, it was our first time here. Amazing service and food, I recommend the tonkotsu ramen. read more

Shokunin - Tonkotsu ramen - Japanese Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

Went in for lunch. The restaurant is in an older building giving a good vibe. I had the calamari as an app and the spicy seafood ramen. It all was delicious. Loved it read more

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Staff was not knowledgeable of the menu or side sauces. Staff was quick to take order and leave table. I asked for a specific bottle of sake and she said they didn't have it. I opened the menu and what do you know. It's RIGHT THERE on the menu. I then asked for ponzu, a basic staple at sushi restaurants, she said no we don't have it. So we asked again and what do you know. THEY DO HAVE IT. We had to flag down other servers to add items to our order. We got a blank state from all staff, zero personal attention or acknowledgement. ZERO SMILES or basic human decency for their patrons. Sushi was okay. If you actually like sushi and eat it a lot this place won't impress you. Huge menu of the same 3 fish offered in different combinations. Some of which didn't taste fresh. The Jalapeño appetizer was raw jalapeño and unmelted cream cheese that was served cold when marked it as being "deep fried". Horrific service will keep me from giving this business my money in the future. read more

It was the weekend before my wife was about to start a new job in nanotechnology so we decided we should have some sushi. We skipped the babysitter and brought our 14-month-old with us to Shokunin. We called ahead to see if we needed a reservation but at 4:45 p.m. on a Saturday they said there was plenty of availability. Parking is a bit tricky when there are large events in the Haymarket however at 4:00 on a Saturday we found a spot right in front of the restaurant. The ambiance inside is somewhat dark with drawings of horses and samurai and other Japanese themed items. Our server was kind and courteous and brought a bowl of sticky rice for our daughter and we ordered their spiciest sushi roll and a salmon lovers roll. The salmon lovers roll was just fine. Good flavor, fresh. The spicy roll was not very spicy though my wife said it was tasty. We were worried that the other patrons would be thrown off by one year old sitting next to them as they had a date or enjoyed sushi with friends however there were two other children under 2 years old also in the restaurant. I'm a bottomless pit when it comes to food and so trying to get full eating sushi is an expensive endeavor in which I do not engage, but we had two rolls and Waters for about $40. PS I have a strong aversion to eel and octopus. So my choices were limited given that eel and octopus both feature prominently in many of the menu items. read more

Shokunin - The salmon lovers roll, their spiciest roll, and sticky rice. - Japanese Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

Good taste and good service, the noodles taste like you enjoy it in Japan, which is amazing and I recommend this restaurant read more

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Service and food was amazing. Another great sushi option for Lincoln. Vibe was great too. read more

Shokunin - Japanese Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

Staff was not knowledgeable of the menu or side sauces. Staff was quick to take order and leave table. I asked for a specific bottle of sake and she said they didn't have it. I opened the menu and what do you know. It's RIGHT THERE on the menu. I then asked for ponzu, a basic staple at sushi restaurants, she said no we don't have it. So we asked again and what do you know. Shocker.... THEY DO HAVE IT. We had to flag down other servers to add items to our order. We got a blank state from all staff, zero personal attention or acknowledgement. ZERO SMILES or basic human decency for their patrons. Sushi was okay. If you actually like sushi and eat it a lot this place won't impress you. Huge menu of the same 3 fish offered in different combinations. Some of which didn't taste fresh. The Jalapeño appetizer was raw jalapeño and unmelted cream cheese that was served cold when marked it as being "deep fried". Horrific service will keep me from giving this business my money in the future. read more

ELIZABETH IS THE BEST SERVER EVER!!!! She went above and beyond, she was extremely sweet and welcoming, and she was hilarious!

Eric R. and I have started a tradition. He has completed the Gravel Worlds yesterday and a year ago today (150 miles) and both times we went out for sushi after. Last year, it was much later but this time he was hungry and showered and ready to go. I had Shokunin bookmarked, and it looked to be a very high quality sushi bar from the yelp reviews and photos. I dropped him off thinking it might have a wait as I found parking at the garage across from Pinnacle Bank Arena. By the time I walked over, he was at the sushi bar with a Sapporo. Our server was super cool. I did not get her name but she was wearing whale earrings and let us ask her 100 questions. We started with salmon belly and yellowtail belly nigiri, seaweed salad, a negihamachi hand roll, and 2 rolls: Shokunin super toro and super rainbow. It was beautifully plated and that fish was oozing fatty deliciousness. I had asked if the sushi bar was out of anything and the chef said only uni, to my dismay (it is so hard to get) but as we waited to order more, he had "one piece left" and gave me uni nigiri (not gunkan). It was shockingly huge (see photo) - like a big piece of fish rather than roe piled into the gunkan. I really lucked out with this treasure from the sea! Next, Eric R. opted for the spicy seafood ramen of which he barely made a dent and I packaged to go (we traveled with a cooler). I ordered mackerel and amaebi nigiri which included the fried heads, and we left deeply satisfied with our bellies full. The service was great, and the chef was really kind even though he was busy. A lot of people were sitting outside so the restaurant inside was not as crowded as I anticipated for a Saturday night. I would definitely return here and do think this tops the many sushi bars in this downtown area, of which there are quite a number! Itadakimasu! read more

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Best Sushi!! Great service! Nice vibe! We enjoy the sushi here even after spending time in Japan-it's that authentic!

Probably the best place I've had for sushi here in the Lincoln area! The nigiri is a great size and sushi has always been very fresh! My favorites here are the seared salmon, ikura, and any of the rolls! The ramen is pretty flavorful and the marinated egg is perfect each time. Service can be kinda slow sometimes when it is busy but honestly worth the wait read more

Our favorite Sushi spot in Lincoln! Go here; you will be satisfied. This little gem is hidden on the north side of the Haymarket area, and it has been our favorite since it opened. The fish is always fresh, and the selection of maki rolls is incredible. The cuts of the sashimi and sushi are divine. In addition, the tempura, fried tofu, and spicy edamame appetizers are incredible!! I highly recommend everything you could order here. The restaurant dining area is cozy and relaxed at the same time. There's not a lot of space, which makes for a community/intimate feel. It's neat to see what others are ordering and how they interact. A few TVs are on the wall, but they're not distracting. Service is also top-notch. There's a host, wait staff, and busers to handle all manner of seating, ordering, cleaning, and ensuring you have an enjoyable time. The wait staff is also knowledgeable, something I have always appreciated. read more

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The service is so friendly! You can taste that every sushi is made with heart and soul! Even from a simple California roll, it tasted fresh and so flavorful idk what they did but it was incredible! We also got spicy salmon roll, spider roll, and shiitake mushroom roll! Everything was made so well. The happy hour menu was slightly cheaper but not much, but it was a treat coming here! My friend has been raving about it and I'm glad we got the opportunity to try it finally read more

Pretty good! I went for Happy Hour with some friends which was cheaper but not not much. The rolls were all pretty tasty, a good size and not overly sauced. Service was fine. The inside was had the same vibe as a lot of other smaller sushi places. A decent option for sure. read more

Nice people. Bluefin Tuna Nigiri style was really good. I do not recommend the ramen or the hand rolls (temaki). All that to say, this the best sushi you are going to find in the Haymarket. read more

Shokunin - Tonkotsu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

Every time my fiancé visits town, we always have to go here. Best quality sushi in town. Service was great even though we had a mess up in our order, I believe Jason then manager fixed it for me right away and was super nice about it. Will be back again !! read more

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Fantastic sushi that's the best I have had in Lincoln and would rival the best places in Omaha. I really enjoyed Shokunin and went to this restaurant on back to back weekends. The nigiri was my favorite; they were very generous with the size and the flavors were fantastic/fresh. Overall, very traditional rolls in general (nothing incredibly creative like you might find at Yoshitomo in Omaha) but still all executed very well. I highly recommend Shokunin and would go back for sure. read more

Shokunin - Japanese Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

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Very nice sushi and Don, wait time could be a little bit long, but it worths it. Service is good, but I think they are a little bit under staffed. Overall a great place. read more

Great food and free miso soup. Relaxing ambience and friendly waiter. The steak teriyaki and tofu app was very good read more

Shokunin - Japanese Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

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server we had was so rude. she was rolling her eyes and making snarky comments before we even ordered. not impressed. left and went to blue next door. read more

Overall a really great experience and I felt high-quality sushi rolls. For me I think the only thing keeping them from five stars would've been a larger selection of more traditional sushi and sashimi but again this should not deter you from trying them because it was a wonderful experience. The staff was very friendly and helpful which only further enhances the experience in meal in my opinion. Additionally I had the tea which I typically have when having sushi as I find the warm tea to be a great palate cleanser and I do recommend that as well. When in town I highly recommend that you drop in and try the spicy tuna that's what I had and it was very good. read more

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I was very excited to try Shokunin Sushi. From the reviews, it looks like it's only been open a couple months, but reviewers raved about it. We went on a Wednesday and arrived around 5:00 (they opened at 4:00). We were the first customers. I was a little disappointed they didn't have plum wine. I was more disappointed they didn't bluefin tuna belly. I had prepared. I knew exactly what I wanted and when they told me they couldn't prepare bluefin tuna belly sashimi, I told them I had to reevaluate my life. The waiter said they could provide bluefin tuna belly nigiri, but I didn't want rice getting in the way. I appreciated the honesty and unwillingness to serve less than perfect bluefin tuna belly sashimi. We ordered edamame and I planned on and did order the Ika-sukada-yaki, or grilled squid. I made a fool of myself when the waiter let us know the ika-sukada-yaki would be out in a few minutes and I asked, "and the squid?" Well... live and learn Japanese. Oh... since they didn't have the bluefin, I opted for the salmon. Each of the chef's selection sashimi is supposed to be five pieces, but the chef provided three pieces of salmon and three pieces of salmon belly. The waiter said the chef provided salmon belly since the bluefin wasn't available. Oh my! More on this later... Okay, I guess later is now. The salmon belly.. I'd never had it. I guess I've never had any fish belly. I didn't know what to expect. I was shocked. The salmon belly was flavorful. I didn't put anything on it and it seemed a bit bland at first. As I swallowed, I noticed an amazing, almost smokey flavor filling my palate. It was if I was struck by a flavor wave that just kept giving. Many thanks to the chef for providing an experience that was a first for me. Oh... and the ika-sukada-yaki, aka grilled squid, was just a delicious as I expected. It had a lovely, grilled flavor reminiscent of steak. The delicate sauce with sesame seeds was a perfect compliment to the squid. My friend has the Donkotsu Ramen. She really enjoyed it. I'd come back again and again if I lived anywhere near Nebraska. read more

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Love this place! They had chicken katsu on their menu that i absolutely loved but unfortunately they took it off right after :/ but the service and ambiance was overall great. read more

Shokunin - teriyaki chicken - Japanese Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

Outstanding sushi! This is the best sushi I have had in Lincoln. Actually, it's among the best I have had anywhere--it's really good. I had the sushi and sashimi combo ($60) and the fish was extremely fresh. I had the freshly made chopped wasabi with it and it was great as well. read more

Shokunin - Sushi and sashimi combo. - Japanese Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

Excellent food great service Sushi is very new to me but they are very helpful in describing everything and recommending things for me to try. Don't miss out on the soft shell crab Getting better every day with the chop sticks (my kids are pros) read more

Decent service and wide variety of nigiri choices! Also had the Tonkotsu ramen. Good place to have near downtown Lincoln.

Best Ramen in town. It's Ramen with Strength. Noodles have been lifting weights and didn't skip leg day. The broth has been making significant gains and has boulders for shoulders. The egg and the pork? Well you would want these bad boys to spot you on the bench. Not much else to say. This Ramen is the exact opposite of weak. OH and Great agedashi too. Shout out to our server Agner. Will be coming back again and again! read more

I'm at a loss for words. This place is amazing. Great flavors. Great service. Large portions. We were just driving through and stumbled upon this place. Honestly the best Japanese food I've had. This was a huuuugggeee surprise after driving for hours through the rolling plains of Nebraska. We'll came back to Lincoln just for this place. read more

Wow, the ramen here is absolutely incredible. The broth is magnificent, texture of the noodles, divine. The accompanying pickled delights are bright, refreshing, and fun. But the star of the show is that unforgettable egg. They make them ahead and add from the fridge to the bowl, so the egg is a tad still cold in the middle, which threw me at first but I can't even care because the flavor is so mind-numbingly good. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Still making tasty sushi. Quick and friendly wait staff. Place has been busy both times I've stopped in. The wasabi is not as zippy as I expect still but it's good. Tonight I had the King Kong and eel with avocado. Both great choices if you like the ingredients. I forgot to take pictures. =( read more

Great sushi, make reservations as not much room inside, good prices, cool atmosphere, huge menu. Can't speak to anything on their menu other than sushi, but as a big sushi fan this places gets an A+. Nothing in Lincoln compares, and as for Omaha, well I have yet to try Yoshitomo but I have a hard time imagining it is significantly better. No need to get sushi anywhere else, eat here! read more

This place is phenomenal! Been here a couple times and the food is always outstanding and the service is very good. Last time in I met the owner who is very friendly and was able to answer an questions I asked. Would highly recommend. read more

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My favorite restaurant in town. Great food. Huge portions. Sometimes they have music from Persona 5 playing in there. Sushi is the bomb. Ramen is the bomb. Curry is the bomb. Everything I've had there is the bomb. Only thing I'd change is that the portions are a bit too big and cost more because of it. You get what you pay for and it's BEYOND delicious, but they do give a bit too much food. Could cut the amount provided down a bit and charge a little less. Just a suggestion. Ilysm Shokunin read more

Welp, we found our new go-to sushi place in Lincoln. Incredibly fresh selection! We started with the toro (blue fin tuna belly) nigiri. We have high standards for toro and blue fin after having had it in places where it was caught earlier that same day. It wasn't quite as amazing as it was in Japan and the Pacific but it was very high quality and delicious. We also had the sushi combo which was excellent and changed my mind about scallop nigiri. We also shared the tonkatsu ramen. It was seasoned extremely well with a rich broth. I think we were missing the egg but I will still order it againaha. We can't wait to go back! read more

Shokunin - Sushi combo: blue fin, fluke, salmon, Japanese something, crab (real), shrimp (so sweet, in a good way) and a tuna roll. Yum! - Japanese Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska