Shiki Kitchen

Great tributes to Shiki! Over a decade ago, I used to go there regularly for all-​you-​can-​eat. I was hungrier and cheaper back then and one particular Homer Simpsonesque night Shiki jovially begged me to quit eating. I left a 30% tip and held myself back a little from then on. He was always good to our group.
Career moves, cheaper apartments and changing taste in nightlife drew me away from the neighborhood but I always meant to go visit Shiki again.

Shiki has been closed for awhile now, but there is plenty to miss. When it was around, it was a unique alternative to the usual Japanese eateries in the East Village, especially around St. Marks, Manhattan’s closest enclave to a Japantown. Like any establishment, it wasn’t perfect but was a strong fixture for the neighborhood.
My initial visit was all for their AYCE sushi. Long before there was New Ashiya and Kumo ruling the AYCE scene, it was Shiki that was among the early adopters. Sure the variety was not as scalable as many current places, but what was available was well made and fairly fresh. Shout out to the salmon nigiri and their fabulous handrolls.
There was also a Brazilian element to the menu, which was a clear nod to the regional variety of sushi in Latin America. Most notably their samba roll, a lovely concoction of mango, shrimp tempura, unagi eel, avocado, and topped with roe that was more popular than any traditional sushi in the house. Another winner was the Ipanema roll, which was the same as the samba except with pineapple and fried banana, was surprisingly addicting.
The place was small and certainly better for a date than a group of sushi lovers, caked in hand crafted origami and a collection of vintage of photos of Shiki’s childhood. Anyone who visited could sense the personal touch and history about the place, which only wanted to make me come back more.
Then there was Mr. Shiki himself, a proud and vibrant owner, and was full of personality while he greeted his customers and made every roll with a little bit of love. If only life didn’t end so early, perhaps this little slice of sushi heaven would still be around.
Rest in peace Shiki.

RIP SHIKI!!!
This is hands down the best place for sushi. It is unique and I love how Shiki decorated this place with the kirigami– cut out origami. I tried replicating his Brazilian sushi rolls at home and never did I came close. I have been here around 10 times because when it was open I was still in high school and I would only come here for a treat for myself.
The service was always attentive and friendly. The bathroom was very clean. I still remember that the sink was outside the bathroom.
I always come here for the Brazilian sushi rolls.
Ipanema roll– the banana tempura on the top with eel, avocado
Samba roll– eel, avocado, mango and shrimp
lobster roll– I forgot the brazilian name that it had but it was damn good.
Fried green tea ice cream– love love love this. It came in a shape of a ball with crispy tempura on the outside and creamy ice cream inside. It cant get any better.
Bento boxes– very typical– you can get this anywhere

I’m not trying to make a habit of reviewing places that are closed, really. But I really, really liked this place the one time I came here on a date a couple years ago. The paper cutouts all over the place were fun and I ate some of the best sushi I’ve ever had here. I’d never had eel sushi before but they turned me on to it and broadened my sushi horizons through many other tasty varieties.
The best by far was the Ipanema roll. I still think about that. It was a roll that included banana tempura on top. Can’t remember what else was on it but it was damn good, even though the description sounded potentially disastrous. I’ve lived around the corner from here for months now and haven’t gotten around to going back, now I’ll never get the chance. And that right there is probably the reason it’s closed. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.
However, I’m happy to always have the memory of a sake buzz on one of the best dates with one of the best people ever. Perhaps it wasn’t the guy at all, but just the amazing places he took me to…

Warning: Do not go here when drunk. Your hunger and lack of monetary responsibilities will cost you.
I ordered way too much food. Of course I ate it all and passed out. It was good though. I think.

We ate an early dinner there tonight and were very pleased. We chose the all-​you-​can-​eat sushi, which was a bargain at $ 19.95 and it came with some good miso soup & green tea. The service was very pleasant, the interior was cozy (and not crowded at that hour on a Saturday, although keep in mind that it’s a small place) and we left feeling quite satisfied.

Pretty good deal on sushi, so I’m told. They come as «2 for 1» so it’s 8.50 for 12 pieces of avacado mango. I got the teriyaki tofu which was 7.95 and wasreally good. Came with soup and salad, and it always comes with tea. Giddy up.

Shiki kitchen has the best salmon around — the best salmon I’ve ever tasted or can ever imagine tasting, period.
That said, all of the other sashimi I’ve had there have been fine but not distinctively awesome. It always tastes fresh and good, but only the salmon wows.
But the salmon really, really wows.
Did I mention that the salmon is good?
And the prices are really reasonable, and they’ve got a $ 20 all-​you-​can-​eat special.
However…the maki rolls can be off and on. Frankly, sometimes their crunch is not crunchy. I cannot enjoy stale crunch. And their specialty Brazilian rolls are too big, sometimes I cannot fit them in my mouth in one bite and that makes me sad, because I want to eat fish and crunch and mango together, not seperately.
But even with stale crunch and just o.k. non-​salmon sashimi, the cute and nice owner/​chef, the décor, the homey feel, and the amazing salmon keep me coming back and giving it 4 enthusiastic stars.

I remember years ago Shiki Kitchen had an origami cutout of Dubya hanging on a wall. I forgave them because the rest of the dining area had plenty of other cool origami to distract me. The one thing that you’ll notice here is the warm and friendly service give to all patrons. If you come here a couple of times, you will be remembered! I remember Shiki, himself, greeting me by name, how about that?
I do come here for the affordable all you can eat special. The food is a fusion Japanese-​Brazilian, but is perfectly fine considering the fact that you are getting 20% more choice on the menu. Shiki’s dining room is not big, but cozy and has a nice ambiance. I’m glad they’re still going strong through their many years in the East Village.

What a nice surprise. After finding out Ishikura was closed (someone Unilocaled it in september throwing me off to the fact it’s been closed since June), the salesgirl at Think Boutique told me about Shiki and the small man who runs it who also sometimes sings Kareoke. Hoping to get my dose of fish and love songs from the owner my friend and I chose Shiki. It’s a brazilian sushi joint, a combo I didn’t know existed. The prices are really reasonable, 12 peices of sushi for $ 6 bucks. The more creative rolls are pricer but i’ll pay anything for frind banana on top of my eel avocado mango roll. We got free edamame and hot sake at the end of our meal. It’s a small place but they open all the windows so you have the feeling of being outside. Their all you can eat sushi for $ 19.95 special is tempting but they make you eat the rice, and I don’t like rules like that.

I had come here once before on a whim just because I happened to be passing by and had a taste for some nigori. It was quaint, quiet, dimly lit, and playing old Japanese love songs. Upon inspecting the menu, I saw the standard sushi rolls, along with a section of rolls that were Brazilian influenced. Interesting.
I came back just as randomly as I had the first time, only this time I did the all you can eat sushi which was definitely well worth the $ 19.99. The walls and ceilings are adorned with pictures and paper cutouts/​origami created and compiled by the owner, a kind, humble, older gentleman who I’ve seen each time I’ve been there. Definitely a fan.

Oh My God! This place left me so full and satisfied. The service was extremely pleasant, nice lady, funny and polite. She sit us at the bar (which I didn’t mind at all). The music was extremely weird but in a good way, the place itself has a cozy vibe as in, all the food and drinks came from love (I mean it!).
Now the food, holy Toledo! 19.99 for all you can eat sushi IT’S GREAT! You choose the rolls you want, and how many of each kind and when that tray lays in front of you, you eat and eat and eat. It’s very fresh and very tasty! Can’t wait to go back again!

Brazilian fusion sushi best describes this restaurant, as bananas figure prominently in many of their rather avant garde maki. I’m not sure whether I’m a fan of the effect, but a friend and I were here for a quick jaunt and needed to eat expeditiously.
The décor is quaint and moderately cozy. The food was definitely edible, but I wasn’t blown away. We had plum wine (not sure the brand), and I became full.
The only caveat is that I ate after a jaunt at Ippudo, and I was definitely not that hungry.
That, of course, can bias one quite a bit.
Prices were fair, and service brisk. I’m just not planning on going back that soon…
PS. Use Portuguese and not Japanese here

I love those little menus they give you at sushi joints that have the pictures of the different types of sushi — it makes it so much easier to order. Sure, I’ve been eating sushi for a while but everyone needs a reminder now and then.
There’s apparently only so many times we can go to New Ashiya, and since June 18 is international sushi day, and we wanted a lot, we stopped by here with the goal being to explore new types of food places while still cramming our maws full of delectable raw fish.*
And for that, Shiki did the job. It’s kind of a small joint, especially compared to New Ashiya which is just down the block, but what it lacks in expanse, it makes up for in budget-​style bathrooms.
Ok, ok, that’s not being fair. But they did totally remind me of the paint-​strewn, black-​and-​white checkerboard tile bathrooms my grandparents had growing up.
But all that did not deter from the immense amount of sushi they brought out — and quickly. We’re known for being voracious eaters, and usually we have to wait an extended period of time between orders while, I assume, they wait for me to realize I’m actually full. Sorry, guys, I have a separate sushi stomach.**
The menu isn’t particularly varied, but they have the basic types of pieces and rolls that you’d expect. Nothing fancy, but it’s also $ 5 to $ 6 cheaper than Ashiya, so I wouldn’t complain. The fish was also fresh (on a Thursday) even if the pieces were a little small.
The Dining room is set up in a U-​style surrounding the sushi counter and there’s a small karaōke machine*** on the right side which we didn’t take advantage of, but I’m sure is quite a hit by the time the 21-​year-​olds hit 1 a.m. on their first Friday night of freedom.
Only real downsides? Not really set up for large groups, so when the volleyball team came in and sat next to us, there’s limited room to maneuver and it’s hard not to listen in to their conversation. Though I will say there was no one doing sake bombs, which is a welcome reprieve after the $ 30 all you can drink setup at Ashiya.
* — And rice. They ask nicely that you not turn it into ayce sashimi.
** — It’s like a dessert stomach, but for sushi.
*** — Separate ways, y’all.

find yourself in the E-​Ville craving sushi without the hype?
check out shiki.
VERY reasonable prices, VERY generous portions.
and the quality is there.
it’s got all the charm of a small family business… and has never been overly crowded or busy when i have stopped in.
shiki is my go to place when i want consistent quality at a great price.
and the service is stellar and down home.

When I was still going to school and living in the city, I was only 3 blocks from here. My friends and I would come to eat whenever we had enough saved up and craved sushi enough to blow our tight budgets. The ceviche is pretty awesome and the fish is super fresh. Of course Shiki and his wife are always there. They remember us every time and bring warm sake over at the end of each meal :) A lot of the artwork was taken down.
I was horrified a few weeks ago though, because right when I cheerfully rounded the corner to reach their door — they were closed! And not just closed… but closed by the health department! Looking it up online, the infractions are kind of scary… but as long as they have already/​do reopen, I have faith they will clear up all the issues. The Brazilian rolls are just so refreshingly tasty, the chirashi better than average, the service fantastic…

3 star sushi, 4 star experience and I’ll explain why in a bit.
I came here for a meeting accompanied by my chief officer of technology and awesomeness, Mr. Sean T. It seems like your fairly standard East Village sushi spot. Basic Japan-​esque décor, average prices, pretty good sushi — I ordered a few rolls. Everything tasted fresh, but unexciting.
We were about to go on our way, a solid 3 star review already forming in my mind, when all of a sudden what I can only assume to be the owner (is this the famous Mr. Shiki?) decides to come out and serenade the lingering late-​lunch customers with his rendition of «I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You». Now, while karaōke normally makes me want to gouge my eyes (and ears) out, for inexplicable reasons, this just put a smile on my face.
Also, they have a Unilocal sticker. That alone is worth an extra star.

Brazilian sushi? With that, Shiki Kitchen got me all curious. I’m always up for those creative rolls with bizarre fillings like jalapenos, bananas, mangos, sour cream, tempura bits, etc. In fact, I’m happy to find these US-​origin sushi, like California and Spider rolls, newly emerging in the upscale sushi bars in Tokyo.
FOOD: Unfortunately, our meal here was a little disappointing. First off, there was a large piece of paper in my miso soup, which immediately put me on alert. Then came the rolls — a bunch of them — that were prepared very sloppily and had VERY little fish and a LOT of rice. Same with the nigiri. With so much tempura and sauces, we couldn’t taste much of the sashimi. And the fried bananas were way too sweet for me.
SERVICE & AMBIANCE: I was really happy with the service. The people here, including the Japanese owner (?) who came around the tables greeting guests, were so cheerful and approachable. Over all, the place is small, but intimate, and offers a fun atmosphere for you and your friends.
SUM: 2 stars for food; 4 stars for the awesome staff

Wonderful neighborhood sushi spot.
If you have friends that like to eat a lot of sushi, they have a reasonably priced all you can eat special.
The food is memorable and delicious. Brazilian Sushi may sound a bit bizarre but it is worth a first try. You will be coming back for more. The crunchy mango roll is a favorite.
Service is quick, efficient and friendly. If you go often, they remember you easily and welcome you heartily.
Master Shiki is darling and what a talent! He personally has crafted every single piece of origami in the place. When you get there, you’ll see what a feat that is. The place is covered floor to ceiling with his art. He also has a great voice and has been known to karaōke in the restaurant when in fine fettle. He has stamped the restaurant with his genuine character.

This is a favorite spot that I return to on occasion… it’s a Brazilian sushi joint, meaning Brazilian influenced sushi — lots of crunch pieces, the addition of tropical fruits (mango), and ceviche.
I typically get the ceviche of the day, which is the same every day — a mix of salmon, octopus, crab, shrimp, and a whitefish. It’s a big portion, so you really don’t need to eat much more after this actually (I always order too much). The sushi pieces here are gigantor, and likely not at all «proper».
There are lots of vegetarian sushi options here, although the plum wine isn’t really all that exceptional. There is little to be said for the décor, but the staff is friendly.
All in all, a 3 star, slightly unusual but otherwise ordinary sushi joint with cheap to moderate prices that I come back to out of habit.