Shimbashi Izakaya - DEL MAR

I have eaten here a few times and started integrating it into one of my usual after-work places! They have a decent happy hour with lots of food and drink...

This was my first visit. It was a bit hard to find in Del Mar Plaza. Nice outdoor patio but I was a little disappointed that we did not see ocean view from...

Three generations celebrated my grandpa's 89th birthday here and it was amazing. Most of the time when a restaurant already has a great view, the food...

While I can’t say there was anything I disliked, I wasn’t overly impressed either. It's worth noting that I didn’t pay for my meal, which might influence my overall impression. However, here are a few dishes I'd recommend if you decide to visit: 1. Agedashi Tofu 2. Takoyaki 3. Mackerel The garlic edamame and scallops are also worth mentioning. I don’t usually seek these out, but the garlic in the edamame was delicious, and the scallops were wonderfully buttery. Since I didn’t place the order myself, I can’t provide a detailed rundown of all the dishes we had. I didn’t even try any rolls or the various nigiri seen in the pictures, but I suspect those would have added to my overall rating. So, keep that in mind and see for yourself how you enjoy the place!

Here’s what we enjoyed: - Soft tofu (x2) – topped with freshly grated ginger and bonito, it brought me back to my childhood. - Rainbow carpaccio (x2) – beautifully garnished with watermelon radish. - Grilled beef tongue (x2) - Assorted sashimi platter (x2) - Assorted sushi platter (x2) - Tempura - Cold soba (x2) - Stir-fried shishitos - Takowasabi (a must for octopus lovers) - Tonkatsu – the authenticity was highlighted by the side of spicy Japanese mustard alongside the traditional sauce and cabbage. - Hamachi Kama was unavailable, so we opted for miso cod instead, which also delighted everyone. I ordered a Calpico, and my husband opted for iced green tea, but we realized that our drinks hadn’t arrived until nearly the end of our meal. Even though I was pregnant and still wanted my drink, my husband was fine without it. For dessert, we shared: - Green tea ice cream (x3) – yes, three servings! - Green tea cake – the ice cream was light and not overly sweet, which was delightful. This restaurant truly exceeded all our expectations. A great bonus for us is that the patio is dog-friendly. We will definitely be returning!