Sushi Shin

The story

Sushi Shin Redwood City | Michelin-Recognized Edomae Omakase in California

Sushi Shin

At 312 Arguello Street in Redwood City, Sushi Shin offers an intimate omakase experience built on precision and tradition. Chef-owner Jason Zhan, who trained under master Hideo Kuribara at Ushiwakamuru in New York, brings over twenty years of expertise to this counter. The name “Shin” — a Japanese kanji meaning “real,” “genuine,” “new,” and “heart” — captures his approach: authentic Edomae-style sushi, executed with care and a willingness to explore.

Chef Zhan’s path includes time at Michelin-starred kitchens like 15 East, Kappo Masa, and O Ya. He returned to Ushiwakamuru in 2017, the year it earned a Michelin star. In January 2020, he opened his own restaurant in Redwood City. The restaurant weathered the pandemic and earned a Michelin star in September 2021, a recognition it continues to hold as a Michelin Recommended destination.

The menu is a sushi omakase, built around the day’s finest seafood. The gallery of past offerings gives a sense of the range: Chu Toro, Ankimo, Kohada, Shiro Ebi, Ensui Uni, and seasonal specialties like Sakura Masu and Hotaru Ika. Appetizers and cooked dishes appear too — Chawanmushi with Hokkaido hairy crab, scallop, and mushroom, or Miso Black Cod. The meal unfolds course by course, each piece of fish sliced to order, often finished with fresh wasabi.

The dining room is quiet and focused, with counter seating that puts you directly in front of the chef. Lunch is served Wednesdays and Thursdays; dinner runs Tuesday through Saturday, with two seatings on Fridays and Saturdays. It is a space for those who value the craft of Japanese cuisine and the intimacy of a chef-led meal.