The drinks were good. Services was good. Food is not the most authentic for a Taiwanese foodie, however still 7.5/10. But the price is too high in this Izakaya for the portion…If you want to feel somehow full and have one drink it’s easily 50e plus.

Aivan huikea paikka! Tunnelma, palvelu ja ruoka- kaikesta täydet pisteet. Oltiin viettämässä täällä vuosipäivää avopuolison kanssa. Syötiin vain alkuruokia kahdestaan ja otettiin toinen kierros parhaimpia.

Käytiin ystäväni kanssa kuukausittaisella dinnerillä tässä japanilaistyylisessä izakaya-ravintolassa. Puitteet miellyttävät ja veivät mut tunnelmissaan Japanin reissun muisteluihin. Ravintola tarjoaa kaksi puolta, baarimaisen puolen ja enemmän ruokailuun keskittyvän puolen, jossa illastimme hiiligrillin vienossa tuoksussa Sharing is Caring -menun. Menu oli osaltani vehnätön lukuun ottamatta soijakastiketta. Ainoastaan menun Crispy Rice sovellettiin minulle sekä jälkiruoka Yuzy Sorbet, mistä jätettiin pois siihen kuuluva sitruunakakku. Ruoka oli oikein maukasta, tarjoilijakin oli mainio ja paikan sisustus neonvalovessoineen oli hieno. Todettiin yhdessä ystäväni kanssa ravintolan yltäneen tän vuoden kuukausittaisissa dinneressämme ykköseksi ja lokakuussa jo mennään. Ruoka olisi saanut myös täydet 5 tähteä, mutta jälkiruoka jätti osaltani toivomisen varaa.

Chicken dishes are generally good. The staffs are helpful and friendly. I especially like the atmosphere here. It feels like half restaurant, half bar. It will be an ideal place for a weekend with friends, where you can get good Asian food, nice drinks, in your Friday mood to have a party.

Otettiin valmis menu izakayan puolelta. Edamamet meni koko setin parhaimmistoon, mikä on hieman huolestuttavaa 😅 ruokaa oli juuri sopiva määrä, mutta makua olisi saanut olla paljon enemmän. Viimeinen kana-annos oli kuiva ja mauton ja olisi kaivannut jonkin kastikkeen lisäksi. Ravintolassa oli kaksi isoa porukkaa samaan aikaan minkä vuoksi tarjoilijat olivat kiireisiä ja meidän viini unohdettiin tuoda. Myös meteli ravintolassa oli sitä tasoa että keskustelu oli haastavaa. Kokemuksena ihan ok, mutta menisinkö uudestaan, ehkä en.

Japanese style food. That's what this is about. Apologies for Japanese people if you guys (and gals) consider this differently, but in my opinion everything was great. We had this "all table"-choice from the menu and it was worth it! Again, I have had great dishes from all over the world, but not from Japanese kitchen before this one, so bear in mind this. Japanese beer, should I mention, is great, at least this Kirin was - just as the gin were, which was Japanese also. Overall, food was great along with the service. Nothing to complain 👍🏻

Shinobi: A Culinary Misadventure My recent visit to Shinobi, an Izakaya-style kitchen tucked away on Helsinki's Albertinkatu, left me with mixed feelings. Despite having a reservation (booked by sending direct email), my companion and I found ourselves a bit disoriented upon entering the Japanese-inspired establishment. We were presented with two options: left or right. Unsure of which path to follow, we gravitated toward the area where the staff was stationed. It was still early in the evening, and after verifying our reservation, we were seated on the izakaya side. Glancing at the menu, we quickly noticed discrepancies from the options we had seen online. The offerings were fewer, and the prices seemed more modest. We shrugged it off, assuming that the menu had changed to accommodate the availability of fresh ingredients. Besides, other diners around us seemed to be enjoying their meals, which gave us a glimmer of hope. The service at Shinobi was undeniably kind, and the decor, particularly on one part of the restaurant, was somewhat intriguing. However, I couldn't help but notice an odd mixture of English and navy-themed elements within the broader Tokyo-inspired ambiance. This puzzling selection struck me as out of place. Additionally, as I examined the business cards, I couldn't help but observe a noticeable accumulation of dust in the entrance area. Not exactly the most welcoming sight for guests. The food itself turned out to be good, aligning reasonably well with its price point. However, it didn't leave a lasting impression that would make me yearn to return. As I researched for this review, I discovered that we unintentionally ended up on the izakaya side, whereas our reservation hopes and the menu we had seen online were intended for the Shokudo side. Furthermore, the lack of a noteworthy sake selection—or any discernible selection at all—was a disappointing revelation. The menu simply stated "Glass of Sake," which was underwhelming for a Japanese-themed establishment. In conclusion, my experience at Shinobi was a mixed bag. The staff was delightful, which added a touch of warmth to the evening. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that the establishment's primary focus was on cocktails and drinks, rather than delivering a truly immersive culinary journey. While this may be acceptable for an izakaya-style venue, it left me pondering whether we had made a regrettable choice or had been inadvertently led astray.

Japanese styled pub food, small bites and bigger dishes also. The menu of 8 dishes is well worth it, but for us, served in a bit of a rush in just over one hour. The onsen tamago is a nice and rarely seen treat, but here served unfortunately a bit cold and overcooked. Great service. Beer selection could be a bit more varied. Great cocktails. The most important thing: the rice was perfectly done in all courses.