My friend made a reservation at Ginza Shimada (銀座しまだ) the other day, so I decided to visit. As its name suggests, Ginza Shimada is located in Ginza area, though slightly away from the bustling main streets. From the outside, it exudes the refined atmosphere of a Japanese restaurant, but it’s actually a stand-up izakaya.
This venue has no seats except for four around a single table. These seats and a few standing areas are the only spaces available for reservation.
Although the table is meant for four people, both the table and chairs are quite small, leaving little room for bags. We ended up squeezing our belongings between the chair backs and ourselves or placing them on the floor.
Why is Ginza Shimada so cramped? The answer lies in their philosophy. They minimize costs on space to provide high-quality dishes comparable to those at upscale Japanese restaurants at more affordable prices. Shimada is operated by the same company that manages popular restaurants like “Ore-no-Italian“, “Ore-no-French“, although Shimada doesn’t include “Ore-no” in its name.
Once we managed to settle in, we made a toast. I ordered a Hakushu Highball (Hakushu whisky with soda). Their drink selection is minimal—just beer, Japanese sake, highballs, shochu, plum wine, and oolong tea. That’s it.
We ordered a lot—almost everything on the menu! Here are some of the highlights:
Boiled daikon radish
This simple yet delicious dish reminded me of Kyoto-style oden. The daikon was simmered to perfection.
Boiled shiitake mushrooms
Another simple but satisfying option.
Potato salad
This was so smooth it resembled cream.
Fish cutlet
A specialty from Tokushima, this deep-fried minced fish cake was seasoned with curry powder, giving it a spicy kick.
Dashimaki tamago
Unlike regular tamagoyaki, this one was made with dashi stock, which enhanced its flavor.
Herring and eggplant.
Strongly seasoned, it paired perfectly with Japanese sake. Herring is a classic taste of spring.
Snow crabs cream croquette
Packed with crab meat, these croquettes were bursting with flavor.
Sea urchin with spiny lobster jelly
Though my photo doesn’t do it justice, the dish had a beautiful orange hue and a rich lobster flavor.
Japanese black wagyu beef cutlet
This tender beef cutlet was served with brown sauce. Personally, I’d prefer it with simple wasabi and soy sauce.
Kakiage of Kuruma prawn and lily root
Served with salt, the combination of kuruma prawns and lily root was delightful.
Grilled ebi-imo
A type of taro and a Kyoto specialty, “ebi-imo” is named for its resemblance to shrimp (=ebi). Its sticky texture was enjoyable.
Soft roe, ebi-imo and turnip in a hotpot.
Another dish featuring ebi-imo, this hotpot had a mild flavor and was perfect for the chilly weather.
Seared Duck with Uruoi and Chrysanthemum Greens Sauce
“Urui” is a type of hosta leaf. The slightly bitter sauce captured the essence of early spring.
Bachiko
It is dried ovary of sea cucumbers. I had never heard of it before, so this was my first time trying it. The texture was thick and sticky, and it tasted amazing!
Tamagokake gohan
Typically made with just three ingredients: egg, rice, and soy sauce. But here, it’s taken to the next level with a generous amount of shredded Parmigiano Reggiano! There’s an egg underneath all that cheese, but you can’t see it in this photo because the cheese completely covers it!
This photo shows the dish after it was mixed together. It may look like ordinary tamagokake gohan, but the addition of Parmigiano Reggiano gives it a rich, savory flavor. It was absolutely delicious, and now I want to try making it at home!
Rice with minced chickens and burdock root
It was seasoned with soy sauce and sugar, creating a flavorful topping for the rice. It paired so well that we wished for more rice to enjoy it with! :p
Karasumi soba
This is their specialty ! Karasumi is mullet roe, and as you can see, this soba was generously topped with shredded mullet roe! We gently mixed it all together before eating. The soba itself had a mild flavor, allowing the mullet roe to truly shine as the star of the dish. It was superb!
Overall, Ginza Shimada delivered a unique dining experience with its compact space and exceptional dishes. If you’re looking for an affordable yet high-quality Japanese meal in Ginza, this is the place to go.
About
Name Ginza Shimada (銀座しまだ)
Open Dinner
Credit card Available
Reservation Available
URL Website, Instagram
Google Map
