Omakase Room by Shin Introduce
### Introduction / Overview
For New Yorkers seeking an unparalleled and deeply personal sushi experience, Omakase Room by Shin stands as a beacon of culinary excellence in Midtown West. This isn't merely a restaurant; it's an intimate journey curated by a "once in a generation chef," Shin Yamaoka, who brings his masterful touch to every exquisite course. Here, the traditional art of omakase, meaning "I'll leave it up to you," is elevated to a sophisticated symphony of flavors, textures, and impeccable presentation.
Diners consistently describe their visits as "everything we could have wanted and more," highlighting the fresh fish, incredibly flavorful dishes, and the seamless interaction between guests and the chef. The ambiance is designed to be intimate, often providing "great views of the chef at work," allowing patrons to witness the meticulous preparation of each piece. Whether celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in a desire for the finest sushi, Omakase Room by Shin promises a phenomenal experience, complete with thoughtfully crafted drink pairings that truly enhance each course, making it a truly memorable and highly recommended destination.
### Location and Accessibility
Omakase Room by Shin is conveniently located at 145 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, USA. This prime address places it directly in Midtown West, a bustling and highly accessible neighborhood in Manhattan. Situated just a short walk from major landmarks like Rockefeller Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Theater District, it's an ideal spot for those working in the area, attending cultural events, or residing nearby.
The restaurant's central location ensures excellent connectivity via New York City's extensive public transportation network. Multiple subway lines (including the B, D, E, F, M, N, Q, R, and W trains) and numerous bus routes have stops within comfortable walking distance, making it effortlessly reachable from virtually any part of the city. While the experience within is exclusive, its easy accessibility means New Yorkers can readily access this culinary gem for a special occasion or an unforgettable dining experience.
### Services Offered
Omakase Room by Shin specializes in delivering an exclusive and refined omakase dining experience. Here's a breakdown of their services:
- Chef's Omakase Menu: The core offering is a multi-course omakase menu, typically consisting of 14 courses. This chef-curated selection features seasonal appetizers, savory egg custard, and a progression of expertly prepared sushi pieces using the freshest daily fish (e.g., Kanpachi, Madai, Salmon, Bluefin Tuna, Eel, Uni, Ikura, Seasonal Shellfish). It concludes with a hand roll, miso soup, and tamago.
- Intimate Dine-in Experience: The restaurant provides an intimate setting, often with counter seating, allowing diners to observe Chef Shin at work and engage directly with him and the staff. The design fosters a personal and attentive atmosphere.
- Optional Drink Pairings: A highly recommended service is the thoughtfully curated drink pairing menu, which includes a selection of wines and sakes chosen to perfectly complement each sushi course. This enhances the flavors and overall dining journey.
- Dedicated and Knowledgeable Service: Staff are praised for their phenomenal service, explaining the origin of each beverage and dish, and contributing to a welcoming and celebratory atmosphere.
- Reservations Required: Due to its exclusive nature and limited seating, reservations are essential and can be made via platforms like OpenTable and Resy. Prompt arrival is crucial to ensure the full omakase experience.
- Accommodation for Celebrations: The restaurant is well-suited for special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays, with staff often including thoughtful celebratory touches.
- Dietary Restrictions (with limitations): While they aim to accommodate, it's crucial to inform them of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when making a reservation. However, due to the nature of the chef's menu, they may not be able to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, rice-free, or broad seafood/raw seafood restrictions without advance notice.
### Features / Highlights
Omakase Room by Shin distinguishes itself through a collection of exceptional features and highlights:
- Masterful Chef Shin Yamaoka: The central highlight is Chef Shin himself, described as a "once in a generation chef" and a "culinary luminary." His expertise, dedication to sourcing premium ingredients, and innovative menu creations are the driving force behind the restaurant's acclaim.
- Incredibly Fresh Fish: Customers consistently praise the fish as "fresh as it gets." The menu proudly states that it may change daily based on fish market availability, emphasizing their commitment to serving only the best and freshest seasonal seafood.
- Thoughtful Drink Pairings: The optional wine and sake pairing menu is "highly highly recommend," noted for being "very thoughtful" and truly enhancing each course. The staff also explains the origin of each beverage, adding an educational element.
- Intimate and Beautifully Designed Ambiance: The restaurant offers an "intimate" and "beautifully designed" space, often providing "great views of the chef at work." This close proximity to the culinary action enhances the personal and immersive dining experience.
- Phenomenal and Attentive Service: The service is consistently described as "phenomenal." The hosts, chef, and waitstaff take "great care" of guests, explaining dishes and beverages with detail and adding special touches for celebrations.
- Flavorful and Diverse Dishes: Beyond the sushi, the "other dishes were incredibly flavorful," ensuring a comprehensive and satisfying culinary journey through all 14 courses. The menu thoughtfully progresses through various fish and preparations.
- Special Occasion Destination: Its high quality, intimate setting, and exceptional service make it a perfect choice for celebrating milestones like anniversaries and birthdays.
### Promotions or Special Offers
As a high-end omakase establishment, Omakase Room by Shin does not typically offer traditional "promotions" in the form of discounts or coupons. The value of the dining experience is inherent in the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of Chef Shin, and the exclusive, personalized service. The "special offer" is the opportunity to secure a reservation and indulge in their unique culinary journey.
- Fixed-Price Omakase Experience: The primary offering is a fixed-price 14-course omakase menu (currently $195 plus tax). This all-inclusive price for a multi-course, chef-curated meal of premium sushi and Japanese dishes is their core value proposition.
- Optional Drink Pairing: While an additional cost, the thoughtfully tailored drink pairing menu (e.g., sake/wine pairing) is presented as an enhancement that adds significant value to the overall culinary experience.
For a restaurant of this caliber, the focus is on delivering an exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime meal. Reservations are crucial and should be made well in advance through OpenTable or Resy to ensure availability for your desired seating time.
### Contact Information
To secure a reservation and embark on an exquisite omakase journey at Omakase Room by Shin, here is their contact information:
- Address: 145 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, USA
- Phone: (212) 353-0201
Important Note: Reservations are mandatory and highly recommended well in advance due to the intimate seating capacity and popularity. They have specific seating times (e.g., Tuesday - Saturday: 6:00 PM, 8:15 PM) and a strict cancellation policy (100% charged per person for cancellations within 24 hours). Prompt arrival is essential.
### Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals
Omakase Room by Shin is an exceptionally suitable destination for New York locals, especially those who seek a truly elevated and memorable Japanese dining experience. Its suitability stems from several compelling factors. Firstly, its prime Midtown West location makes it easily accessible from various parts of Manhattan, ideal for a special occasion dinner, an anniversary celebration, or simply an indulgent evening out without extensive travel. Its proximity to major cultural landmarks also makes it a perfect complement to a night on the town.
Secondly, for locals with a discerning palate, the restaurant offers an unparalleled omakase experience crafted by a master chef. The commitment to "fresh as it gets" fish, incredibly flavorful dishes, and meticulous preparation ensures a culinary journey that stands out even in New York's competitive dining scene. The option of a thoughtfully curated drink pairing further elevates the meal, appealing to those who appreciate a holistic and expertly matched gastronomic adventure.
Finally, the intimate ambiance and phenomenal, personalized service create an atmosphere where diners feel truly cared for and celebrated. Witnessing Chef Shin at work up close, combined with the detailed explanations from the staff, transforms dining into an engaging and educational event. For New Yorkers looking to celebrate a milestone, treat themselves to an exquisite culinary performance, or simply experience sushi at its absolute finest, Omakase Room by Shin is a definitive choice that promises a "once in a lifetime meal" and an experience to cherish.
Omakase Room by Shin Photos










Omakase Room by Shin Location
Omakase Room by Shin
145 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, USA
Omakase Room by Shin Reviews
We came here for an anniversary and it did not disappoint!! I loved how intimate it felt and the hosts and chef took great care of us. We got the pairing and thought it was perfect with the menu. The fish was as fresh as it gets and the other dishes were incredibly flavorful. Will be back!
Mar 31, 2025 · Samantha ThomasWe came from D.C. and L.A. for my mom’s 70th birthday celebration and it was everything we could have wanted and more! The restaurant was beautifully designed with great views of the chef at work. Highly highly recommend the drink pairing menu. It was very thoughtful wine/sake list tailored by the chef that truly enhanced each course. The service was phenomenal, our waitress explained the origin of each beverage and included a birthday celebration finale. We even took pictures of some bottles because we knew we would HAVE to try those again. A once in a lifetime meal by a once in a generation chef. 10 out of 10 would recommend.
Nov 15, 2024 · Ste JohGraciously kind service. I never got her name, but she truly made the night memorable. The chef was amazingly fun and cool, bringing a relaxed and chill vibe to the evening. The minimalistic atmosphere perfectly complemented the experience. Every piece of sushi was a hit! Fresh, delicious, and thoughtfully crafted. From start to finish, it was a marvelous adventure. I highly recommend it. For the quality, it’s definitely worth it.
Oct 03, 2024 · DannyGreat Food, Chef was very hospitable; easy to chat to, and waiters were very friendly.To start with the food:The Chawanmushi was very tender, and the plant gives it a pleasant minty scent.Now your sushi progression begins.I’ll give you the highlights.Madai, a firm white fish with a squirt of Sudachi zest.Toro Temaki, fatty tuna with rice hand roll. The fatty tuna provided flavor, and gave a nice taste.Uni Temaki, uni with rice hand roll. The uni provided a nice nutty umami flavor.All of the pieces on the menu were a hit, and I highly recommend this place.
May 25, 2025 · Hongkang MeiTLDR: Omakase Room by Shin is quite unassuming but if you're more into traditional omakase, worth a visit. Very unique shari and some nice signature items.Surprised not one person has reviewed this spot but let's break the ice baby. Very unexpected meal but we enjoyed our omakase here very much. They occupy the space that was Kaiseki Room by Yamada. This is a restaurant from The Group. Grand Boucherie, Omakase Room by Mitsu, etc. It's a long very serene bar with lots of wood. For $175, it's a 14-course omakase. While the amount may not seem like much, the pieces are filling and we definitely didn't need extras - although I did get some.The first appetizer was grilled Hokkaido scallop, olive oil and a dab of yuzu kosho. Nice texture, kind of like pen shell but not as chewey. The yuzu kosho went well with the olive oil with the citrusy bit of spice.The second was a chawanmushi with Hokkaido uni. What was interesting is the uni was partially cooked giving it an interesting bouncy like texture to contrast with an incredibly fluffy egg custard.Then your nigiri progression starts. I won't bore you with all the details but the standouts..Madai. Nice firm white fish, a dusting of sudachi zest and such a nice pairing with his shari. His shari is very dark but not quite as sour/salty as you'd think. Good texture and mouth feel.Hagashi toro. This is a very premium cut of toro, typically taken from the top of the tail or the base of the belly. There is a lot of labor taken to remove all the sinew to just leave luscious fatty tuna. This with the shari was absolutely wonderful.Hagashi toro with iburigakko temaki. I thought the nigiri was good but the temaki was even better. The same cut but mixed with iburigakko, pickled and smoked takuan or radish. That crunch and smokiness went perfect to make this a very special hand roll.Hokkaido uni temaki. Not common for you to get something like this but it is packed full and with so much nutty umami flavor.Definitely will be back. Chef was very hospitable and great to chat with. He's been in the game a long time and it shows in his craft. If you've been on the fence, give it a try.
Aug 11, 2024 · Patrick Wong
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