Shinobi is an authentic handroll bar located on Al Wasl.
Step inside Shinobi and you’ll feel like you’ve landed in a New York subway station. From the subway style menus to the graffiti covered walls and metal tables and chairs, every detail leans into that quintessential underground NYC aesthetic. At the heart of it all is the open handroll bar, where you can watch the chefs expertly prepare each roll to order.
While the handrolls are the main reason to visit, don’t skip the rest of the menu. We began with the grilled baby corn, glazed with honey truffle and finished with shichimi and ito togarashi, giving it a sweet and spicy kick. The Padrón peppers came lightly charred with a generous serving of rich den miso for dipping.
The Shinobi Salad was fresh and full of texture, combining crispy shiitake, avocado and spinach with a creamy goma dressing. Next came the salmon tataki, where slices of salmon were paired with mustard miso and dry miso for a simple yet flavourful dish. We also ordered the crispy rice tuna, with crisp golden rice topped with fresh tuna for the perfect combination of crunch and freshness.
Then it’s time for the handrolls. Whether you order a few favourites à la carte or opt for one of the handroll sets, every roll is made to order and served one at a time.
We quickly got a little carried away and ordered far more than planned-spicy tuna, yellowtail, negitoro, salmon and otoro truffle. The yellowtail with jalapeño salsa and yuzu soy was vibrant, the negitoro was rich with just the right amount of crispy shallots, and the otoro truffle was an indulgent treat. Even the simple salmon, with spicy miso and crispy shallots, was a standout. Every roll was packed with high quality fish and is best eaten straight away, while the nori is still perfectly crisp and the rice is warm.
We wrapped up with the homemade ube soft serve, finished with a sprinkle of sea salt. Rich and creamy, this vibrant purple dessert was a fun finish to the meal.
Shinobi is casual and buzzing, the kind of place you’ll want to linger over one more handroll.
Shinobi is located in Villa 8, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 2 and is open daily from 5pm-12 am.
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