Why Shinka Sushi Bar’s Omakase Fell Flat Despite Incredible Ingredients – Overall EV Score: 7/10
Reviewed by Tastes of Ottawa
Normally my reviews are written where each dish is rated using our EV Score (Enjoyment-to-Value Score), based on enjoyment, price paid, and benchmark pricing but since this was a set-price omakase menu, the EV Score will be given as an overall score.
Table of Contents
Shinka Sushi Bar Overview
2900 Sheffield Rd, Ottawa, ON K1B 1A4
Shinka Sushi Bar is not the kind of place you’d stumble upon by accident. It’s located in the industrial side of Ottawa, tucked away in a plaza where you’d expect to see contractors and suppliers, not a high-end sushi restaurant. In fact, it shares the plaza with a metal supplier and an insulation contractor, which makes it even more surprising when you step inside and realize the quality of food being served here. If someone hadn’t told me about it, I likely would have never known it was here — and even if I did happen to drive by, I probably wouldn’t have guessed that one of Ottawa’s most premium sushi experiences was behind those doors.
There is a parking lot out front, which is convenient, though it’s not particularly large. Still, having a lot at all is helpful compared to other Ottawa restaurants where you’re stuck circling for street parking.
Inside, the dining room feels slightly dark, but in a deliberate and structured way. The lighting sets a more refined, intimate mood, and the space is clearly designed to feel elevated. There aren’t too many tables — under 10 in total — which keeps the restaurant quiet and controlled. The smaller setup also makes it easier for the staff to focus on presentation and service, though it also means that reservations are essential if you want to dine in.
Shinka Sushi is known for being on the expensive side, and I’d even say it’s probably the most expensive sushi establishment in Ottawa. That reputation holds up when you look at the omakase price tag. For $350, it’s not an everyday meal — it’s an experience designed for special occasions or for those chasing the highest-end sushi Ottawa has to offer. To their credit, the presentation of the dishes is stunning. Each plate looks like it’s been carefully designed for photos, with vibrant colours and elegant plating. It’s the kind of food you’d want to take a picture of before eating, which matches the premium dining vibe they’re aiming for.
The staff were friendly and professional, which helped offset some of the issues I had with the overall omakase experience. They were polite, attentive, and quick to respond when needed, but the lack of chef interaction — which is usually a hallmark of omakase — left a gap in the evening.
Key Stats
💰 Price Paid: $350
😋 Enjoyment: 7.0/10
🎯 Benchmark Price: $350
📊 EV Score: 7.0/10
📌 Note: I normally assign EV Scores per dish, but because omakase is a set-price tasting menu, this score reflects the value of the overall enjoyment of all dishes.
Would return?: Yes but not for the omakase.
The Experience
I came in expecting something more traditional — where the sushi chef prepares each piece in front of you, guides you through the meal, and lets the ingredients tell a story. That wasn’t the case here. There was no chef interaction whatsoever. Dishes arrived from the kitchen without much context or flow, and the pacing was the biggest issue. At one point, we waited nearly 20 minutes between courses with nothing in front of us. It completely broke the rhythm of the meal.
If you’re hoping for that intimate, curated omakase journey — the kind where every bite is thoughtfully sequenced — you’ll probably walk away disappointed. This felt more like a tasting menu of random premium dishes than a cohesive experience.
Dish Highlights
That said, the food itself at Shinka Sushi was quite good — some dishes were excellent.
Otoro Nigiri with Caviar
This was a luxurious bite. The otoro (fatty tuna) had melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that’s incredibly rare to find in Ottawa. The caviar added a sense of indulgence, though the otoro on its own was already spectacular.
Tuna Nigiri with Uni
Didn’t look very appetizing. Some people love uni (sea urching) but I don’t. I found that the uni didn’t really meld well with this tuna nigiri.
Seared Salmon Nigiri with Ikura
A highlight of the evening at Shinka Sushi. The seared salmon was warm, tender, and soft, paired beautifully with the pop of ikura (salmon roe). Simple but delicious.
A5 Wagyu Nigiri and King Crab Legs
The A5 wagyu nigiri was very tender – as expected for A5. The added uni and caviar on top of the nigiri took away from being able to enjoy the incredibly rich, fatty, and buttery texture of the A5 wagyu. I felt that the combination of these 3 ingredients overwhelmed each of the natural flavours. It also felt like it was added on top to justify the price of the omakase.
I was expecting the king crab legs to be moist, tender, have a bit of a bounce when I bit into it but instead it was a bit dry and stringy.
Final Thoughts
Shinka Sushi Bar has all the makings of a top-tier sushi restaurant: high-quality fish, elegant plating, a moody and structured dining space, and friendly staff. The location may be hidden away in an industrial plaza, but that almost adds to its charm — it’s one of those places you’d never know about unless someone told you, and once you’re inside, the contrast between the outside and inside makes it feel even more like a hidden gem.
That said, while the ingredients and presentation were impressive, the overall omakase experience fell flat. Without chef interaction and with uneven pacing, it lacked the storytelling and cohesion that makes omakase so special. At $350, it’s hard to justify the price when the experience doesn’t match the premium positioning.
Still, I’d come back to try their à la carte menu. The dishes themselves showed enough promise that I believe there’s a lot of quality to be found here — just maybe not in the omakase format. For those seeking the most expensive and photogenic sushi in Ottawa, Shinka Sushi is likely the place. But for me, the experience needs to match the ingredients before it earns the kind of reputation it’s aiming for.