SHIN Japanese Kitchen & Bar in Oxford

Authentic Japanese food. The only downside is that they only accept cash.

This is my favourite restaurant in Oxford. I go all the time and I love to bring our friends when they come to visit and they always enjoy it as well. The food is wonderfully homely and leaves you feeling great after a meal here. It's delicious and affordable and it's my go to after-work food delivery (I go for the beef bento box). When we go in person, we go for sushi and it is divine. There is such good quality and variety. Honestly, I just love this restaurant and I would recommend it to anyone.

the food was really late. the fish was not fresh but the sushi was nicely presented. as for the yakitori, the skewers took over 45 minutes to come in a half full restaurant an hour before closing time. we had to ask the waiters 3 times before they arrived. i would understand if it was a dish that took time but skewers on the grill is not exactly a lengthy cooking time. the taste was nice but the skewers all marinate in the same sauce, so it all tastes the same. the waiters were understanding but maybe the chefs inside had miscommunication? my wife was upset that we had to wait till 9:15pm to eat when we arrived at 8:30.

What a fantastic dining experience. Lovely staff and the food was exceptional

It can be hard to find good food in the area but this place stands out! I've yet to have something here I did not like. Nice, quiet, and high quality place!

Outstandingly good food at good prices. Highly recommended 👍

Sells foie gras - is this level of animal cruelty really necessary?

Amazing food and great service from the staff. We had tonkotsu ramen with pulled beef and the short rib spicy ramen and both were amazing. The portions were massive and all components came together to create a lovely, balanced ramen. Sadly I'm not a local, otherwise I'd keep coming back for more. Great job!

Informal cafe-style sushi - great food and great value

It's okay, no fuss, the dining environment is good, you can chat slowly, but you need to note that they only accept cash

It was a lovely surprise to eat nice Japanese food near the coach station. The restaurant is clean and the ambiance is nice. The food came out fast with a perfect presentation. The lady that was serving us was very good, very polite, patient and approachable..

It is a very good and beautiful place. I recommend it🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Thank you for the meal. It was delicious 🙏🏻🙏🏻 The tonkotsu ramen was the best!

Lobster ramen was ok but lobster was chewy and overcooked. Beef bimbinbap was PERFECT and chicken ramen was nice too. Would return for more!

Very nice food. We have been many times. A shame that the menu has changed recently and two of our favourites have gone.

We ordered two Karaage chicken ramen and a chef's selection of sashimi, but unfortunately, both were disappointing. The ramen broth lacked flavour, and the noodles didn’t taste authentic either. On a positive note, the chicken was well-fried and crispy, in proper Japanese style. However, the sashimi was even more disappointing. While the salmon and tuna were somewhat acceptable (though not very fresh), the rest of the selection was subpar. For the price, it’s definitely not worth it – better to stick to just the salmon or tuna if you order.

This was the best sushi restaurant in my life, and I have visited many in different countries. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is amazing you feel like you want to stay more and more, the service was fantastic and we were very nice taken care of. I would really recommend you if you want to eat something tasty and to feel that it was worth it😍

Super delicious food at a reasonable price! Not many nice Japanese places in Oxford but this is for sure on my list now! Staff were great; attentive and friendly!

My family and I came here for dinner during our short trip to Oxford and I can definitely say that this is one of the restaurant that you must visit when you're there. We ordered shokudou bento, lobster ramen, and takoyaki and they come with generous portion (for the price) and they are also very delicious. The only issue we had when we came is that the store only accept cash, but bank transfer is also acceptable. I suspect the EDC machine might be down during that time.

Qué comida increíble, nunca antes había oído hablar del lugar, volvería una y otra vez. Debby y Alayna eran estrellas, y el servicio era fabuloso.

This is an authentic Japanese restaurant run by Japanese, we thoroughly impressed with both the food and the authentic experience, the restaurant was well decorated in Japanese style, which remind me the time in Japan. From the moment we entered Shin Japanese Kitchen and Bar, the experience was uniquely authentic. The waitress kindly informed us that the restaurant only accepts cash, which wasn’t an issue as there are nearly by ATMs. When we placed our order, she carefully asked if we had any allergies, ensuring that the meal would be safe and enjoyable for everyone- this kind of thoughtfulness really stood out. They served variety of dishes, Ramen, curry rice, Sashimi bowl, Bento Box, Yaki Soba /Udon / Noodles, Sushi, Gunkan, Hosomaki, Temaki, Sashimi..etc. They also serve Japanese dessert, homemade Matcha Tiramisu, Dorayaki, Mochi and Daifuku Mochi. We ordered Tuna Zukushi, Tobiko Gunkan, Lobster Ramen and Spider Temaki, every dish was prepared with exceptional care. The sushi was served on bamboo leaves, adding a thoughtful touch to the presentation that reflects the restaurant’s commitment to the authenticity. The freshness of the tuna and tobiko was outstanding with each bite full of flavour. Even the ginger served alongside the sushi was perfectly prepared, fresh and sharp, just as you’d expect from a serious Japanese kitchen. The lobster ramen was equally impressive, with a rich savoury broth but the lobster perhaps a bit overcooked. It was clear that the Japanese chef takes great pride in every detail, making the entire meal feel like a genuine Japanese experience. If you are in Oxford and want an authentic taste of Japan, Shin is the place to go. I’ll definitely come again.

Very nice sushi and the best gyoza I've tried

Good atmosphere, pleasant service and the ramen is highly recommended.

Gorgeous ramen and the most fresh and flavoursome chef sashimi selection. Committed, perfect customer service. Cash only, though, or online bank transfer. Very much recommend this warm, vibrant place.

I must say, Shin Japanese Kitchen and Bar exceeds all expectations. The atmosphere captures the essence of Asian style beautifully, creating a warm and inviting environment. The staff strikes the perfect balance between friendliness and professionalism, ensuring every visit is delightful. What truly sets this restaurant apart, though, is the skill of the chefs, highlighted by the mesmerizing view of their craft through the glass wall. The meticulous attention to cleanliness and organization only heightens the experience, allowing the stunning presentation and incredible flavors of the food to shine. Every dish is a testament to authentic Japanese cuisine, consistently satisfying my Asian friends who attest to the genuine ingredients and remarkable taste. However, the real gem of Shin Japanese Kitchen and Bar is an extraordinary Romanian chef. This talented individual not only brings unparalleled culinary skills but also exudes warmth and genuine hospitality. Since my first visit in 2020, he has been the primary reason I return time and again. His passion and dedication are evident in every dish he prepares, as seen in the photos and videos of his meticulous work. The delightful atmosphere, combined with this chef's expertise, creates a unique and unforgettable dining experience. The restaurant would undeniably lose its special charm without his presence. Each visit is a joy, and I truly believe my continued patronage is a testament to his exceptional contribution to this fantastic establishment.

Best Japanese in Oxford. Excellent, fresh, quality Japanese food with great service. And I've had Japanese in over 15 countries, so trust me

I love this sup 😇😍 but I expected to see a little more seafood! it was a portion of mixed seafood 🦞 with one shrimp 🥹 everything was very tasty, but for that price I expected to see at least a little more seafood 🥹 the staff was polite and food and beer 🍺 was really tasty 😋

Delicious Japanese food! Sushi, Ramen - loved it! Authentic flavored. A bit expensive but worth the money.

Teníamos dos cajas de doblez diferentes que nos pareció que no eran nada especial. La tempura vegetal adicional estaba bien, pero lejos de derretirse en la boca. Sin embargo, lo que más nos opusimos fue que se agregara un cargo por servicio a la factura, pero no se mencionó en el menú o se describió como "concesionario". Este es un precio engañoso que las Normas Comerciales reprimirán si se notifica. Mencione el cargo por servicio en el menú o programe su caja para etiquetar el cargo como "discrecional". ¡Lo que está haciendo actualmente no es aceptable!

Muy buen japonés auténtico, sin duda volvería. El único problema es que es solo en efectivo, así que asegúrese de tener un poco cuando vaya.

We went to Shin for a nice lunch on a Sunday afternoon. When walking in, we were greeted and seated quickly, but unfortunately for the remainder of our stay, the service was a bit lacking. We had to go and remind the staff to serve us and on top, they forgot to bring our drinks... It can happen, but it overall felt a bit sleepy. The food itself wasn't the best Japanese food, but it's solid and you'll enjoy it. For the quality it's quite pricey though and they only take cash ! (There's an ATM close)

Great food and service! I had chicken katsu curry and my husband had a bento box

I could not believe how good the food was last night, cash only, but the quality was far superior to many other more expensive places, my chioce was sashimi, my wife had gyozas and chicken Karachi

The food was great, real Japanese style.

Visited today for the first time. I had a chicken bento and my other half had a veggie bento. Great experience, great staff, nice food. Will hopefully visit again.

OK Japanese restaurant, firstly it's cash only, not sure if it's always been like this or it's a temporary situation but it's weird they have this restriction. It's nicely decorated inside and they have some native Japanese staff working there. The menu is varied, they do ramen, bento boxes, bbq, etc.. Ramen is OK, it's not Japanese standard but no where is outside of Japan in my opinion. It's better than shoryu, I feels it's better then ramen culture. The Tonkotsu ramen was OK, the noodles were medium thickness, not hakata style thin noodles. They were firm and chewy, soup was creamy but lacked depth. Bamboo was OK, egg was Ok in texture, but the you was not a little runny, and it lacked flavour. The chashu was OK, it was seared to make it crispy, at least it was thin cut unlike ramen culture where it was too thick. The spicy duck ramen was not as good as Tonkotsu ramen, the duck was roast duck but it was sliced like Cantonese roast duck but it lacked flavour, but was not dry or chewy. The spiciness comes from the chilli sauce condiment that you can find on the table, it's not too spicy but it's nothing special. The good thing is that the food is served quickly, not like shoyu where it feels like they're ubering the food from another restaurant.

Wow! Just Wow! The sushi is delicious,

A lovely place; the waitresses were great, the atmosphere and vibe is amazing. The food, however; I ordered the champon ramen and, though delicious at the time, I've ended up with food poisoning this morning. I'm sure it's only the one-off, and I'd love to go again, I'll just maybe order something with chicken instead, next time.

Amazing authentic tasting Japanese food. The tonkotsu ramen was very flavourful I thoroughly enjoined the experience. A real find if you like or want to try Japanese food.

Amazing service from the ladies and the food is the best 🤩🤩🤩

This is THE spot in Oxford for Japanese food. Sushi is sublime, sashimi is fresh. Lobster ramen is particularly yummy on a winters day.

We ordered the poke bowl and bento box and the portions were excellent. I was so happy to get a good poke bowl in Oxford since I haven’t been able to find any nearby. The seasoning on the fish was very nice however was slightly spicy, it was not an issue for me since I enjoy spice but just to keep in mind. The pricing was reasonable and similar to other Japanese restaurants. Our waitress was lovely and helped us out when ordering and my friend went for her recommendation which she ended up enjoying. Overall nice spot for dinner 😊

The food was absolutely tasty and the portions generous. Keep up the good work.

Order online with caution!! We ordered 2 starters and 2 mains via an online delivery platform, but when the driver arrived, all that we got was one solitary (barely warm) main. I called the restaurant and when I explained they asked if we had ordered bento ... so they knew there had been a cock-up. I was told that the rest of the order would be sent with a different driver .... 30 minutes later!!! When you place one order you don't expect it to arrive in two deliveries, and without explanation (why didn't SHIN call the first driver back once they realised)?? It wasn't the first delivery guy's fault as he was only given one bag! We didn't really enjoy the food as the experience was tainted by ordering madness! If the restaurant had added a couple of extras to say sorry, we might have felt a bit better, but no.

Both chinken and beef Bento box are delicious. Tempura ramen is unsavory. Sashimi is not fresh and delicate enough. I don't recommend. It accepts cash only.

Looks nice sadly I didn't go in there .but always looks busy

We enjoyed the creative and delicious food so much that we ate here twice during our 5-day stay in Oxford. The waitstaff were mostly helpful and friendly. One or two had a negative attitude. They confused our 4-person reservation and booked us into a 2-person table, then they were annoyed that they had to find a larger table to seat us.

The food here was great, service was fast and friendly. Prices also make it great value for money!

Today was my third time visiting SHIN. My first two visits to the restaurant were great, the tonkotsu ramen was fantastic with great portions sizes and the noodles cooked perfectly. I'm very sad to say that today's visit was extremely disappointing, we ordered the beef gyudon and the pork tonkotsu ramen. The ramen noodles were overcooked , the broth watery and lacking flavour and had a mystery nut or seed which my partner had the displeasure of eating, the beef gyudon was one of the worst I've ever tasted, extremely watery and tasteless. We couldn't taste any sake or mirin at all and after adding lots of soy sauce and chilli oil we still struggled to get any flavour out of the dish, they also forgot to add pickled ginger. The glasses smelt extremely bad so we didn't drink any of the water, we weren't asked how our food was so all in all the restaurant left a bad taste in our mouths. They were close to closing but there's no excuse for these kinds of mistakes, please hire chefs that know what they're doing.

Menu looked good, but room for improvement in the service. Unlike other tables, we weren’t asked about any allergies - had they done so, we’d have explained we don’t eat meat or shellfish, and they wouldn’t have served us pork and prawns with our salmon dish…

It was served quickly, it was full of flavour. I recommend the lobster ramen, but it is cooked from frozen so the texture is compromised due to this. The ramen with fried chicken on the side had delicious spices in the batter.

Why should you go to Shin when there is an excellent choice of different food cusines in Gloucester green market just in front- simply because it is rather sublime! Delightful restaurant with lovely decor. We didn’t have a reservation but didn’t have to wait long for a table for 3. Service was quick and friendly. Only one big eater amongst us otherwise we would have ordered a lot more! We had the chicken yakitori - which was delicious and cost £7.50 for 3 skewers. Two of us chose the chicken karaage bento box- in hindsight maybe we should have chosen one of the other protein. Bento box was a good portion size of crisp chicken, seaweed salad ( thankfully tasty and not slimy!!), two pieces of sushi and generous bowl of rice. It came with a bowl of miso soup. Substantial meal with soy sauce and chilli condiment on the table. Would have liked a little more wasabi and pickled ginger. My son had the pork Yaki soba and refused to allow me to photograph it. Because it looked delicious, tasted super and deserved to be treated with respect - not subjected to silliness!!! We didn’t have dessert or drinks. Really good meal. Fun fact- the rice should be close to you while eating bento- which is similar to when you eat traditional Indian food in a thaali or banana leaf!! The only downside was they only accept cash which is clearly advertised on the door so no excuses- 4 stars because it seems so anachronistic to not accept credit cards in restaurants.

A great restaurant, wonderful food

Recommend the Sukiyaki hot pot! Great value for money for Oxford. Been here many times and would come back.

Amazing food and wonderful staff! Its truly an oxford gem. Highly recommended the sushi and hotpot!

Lovely restaurant, welcoming environment and all staff were efficient and friendly. Food was amazing 10/10 definitely go again

Gets the job done. Had a nice Tonkotsu ramen on a cold Jan day and nice sushi box in the summer. Nice solid option.

Authentic Japanese food, which is rare! Highly recommended if you want the real deal

Lovely restaurant in the heart of Oxford, our go-to place when in the city and craving ramen for lunch. We've tried their hashimaki and takoyaki for starters, both of them very tasty and well presented. For mains I'd recommend trying their tonkotsu or champon ramen, both are delicious, with silky smooth broth and full of veg, meat etc. Definitely worth a visit when in Oxford.

Great selection of delicious foods. Seemed authentic.

I was in Oxord for a week and tried three different Ramen places and found their Tonkotsu the best. Both the matcha dessert and their green tea was also very enjoyable. The place only accepted cash. I don't know if this was a temporary thing or general.

Brilliant and quick service, food is delicious. I had the teriyaki glazed eel and it was a thing of beauty

We had Ramen, and it was very good. The Ramen portions were generous and contained fresh leaf I gredients.

We found this place last minute on our trip and it didn’t disappoint. It’s tucked away behind the market. The menu had all the good things and it’s expertly prepared. It really is good. We came in for sushi, but the lobster ramen looked amazing. We had a healthy amount of sushi and a couple of flasks of sake and it came to about £75. Which was great value for what we had. Recommended!

We had the beef on rice (Gyudon). The Gyudon is certainly not Japanese style, which is fine, but it can be less oily and the cut of meat could be better… I’d recommend searching for recipe online if anyone is interested in cooking Gyudon at home - very feasible to replicate a good and authentic dish.

The food is average, too salty… one of the waitresses is extremely nice and helpful. One middle aged waitress with short black hair (who is in charge of assigning table) is extremely rude: asking “one hot pot for six people” in a sarcastic manner and rolled her eyes. When being replied “we ordered other stuff” she went chitchat with her colleagues loudly “the chinese need to chill out”. So not okay….

Gorgeously decorated interior. Incredibly quick service with delicious, generously portioned food. This place is stunning - the tables are decorated to look like they have water running through them, and the painted walls and decor are exquisite and calming. There's an ocean theme which reflects in the care given to all the seafood dishes. There don't seem to be any tables meant for more than four people, so keep in mind that this is meant to be more of intimate dining experience for couples or families. I had the takoyaki and salmon nigiri, and both were filling and delicious. The salmon was extremely fresh, although (personal preference here) I think a lemon vinaigrette or something similarly sour (or even more sushi ginger) would have further improved the rich flavors in my dishes. The restroom is also cash-only, so be prepared there. But otherwise, really lovely experience!

The Bento ‘tea ceremony’ Box is incredible value for £16. Great atmosphere … very buzzy. Attentive staff . Recommended

Easy to forget you're in Oxford, felt as though we were actually in Japan. Even though it was busy we were served quickly and the food was excellent quality. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff

Lovely welcoming place to have decent Japanese food in oxford. Service was very friendly, very reasonable priced. High recommended.

Nice Japanese food, tonkotsu ramen soup is really rich and tasty

Not local to Oxford and we were struggling to find somewhere for Sushi that was more restaurant and less of a takeaway. We stumbled across this restaurant and thought it was fantastic! Both the Sushi and noodles were delicious with staff helping us choose what we wanted.

A very pleasant, authentic-feeling Japanese diner-style restaurant with relaxed ambience, generous portions and eccentric decor. Well worth a visit if you fancy a laid-back and hearty meal; decent location for other Oxford amenities too.

Fantastic restaurant that I will be sure to visit next time in NYC.

Lovely choice of dishes. Ramen is recommended; amazing selection of appetizers. The service is always super-friendly each time we have visited. This is the ramen place to visit while the tourists queue for Ramen Kulture.

Very good quality food and well priced.

Having missed the bus we were resigned to waiting an hour for the next one but I noticed an enticing smell coming from the extractor fan by the bus station so I suggested to my fiancee we could pass the time by having lunch here. Great decision, the food was absolutely delicious and the chefs were working non stop producing exquisite dishes. Can't wait to go back there.

We ordered two Karaage chicken ramen and a chef's selection sashimi. We both agreed that the ramen is disappointed. The broth is tasteless and the ramen noodles isn't authentic too. The chicken is nicely fried though, very crispy in a Japanese style. The sashimi is more disappointed because only the salmon and tuna isn't too bad (still, not very fresh), others are not very nice. Therefore, it's certainly not worth the price (better order salmon / tuna only). Also they are shortage of staff. We've been waited for a long time to pay the bills after we alerted the waiters, but they were busy welcoming other customers and forget about us. The restaurant is pretty small, the tables are small and close to each other, we have to put some of our foods to the adjacent table because there isn't enough space.

I really like this restaurant. Seems authentic to me judging by the clientele. Not too expensive and good service. Cash only is a bit of a pain and they don’t have a proper website. They gave a Facebook page but not all of the menu is properly posted.

Fantastic Food, very friendly staff. Lovely independent restaurant, look no further for very very good japanese food.

In my opinion this is the best Japanese restaurant I've been to. The staff are very attentive and courteous and the service is great. The food is amazing, fresh and cooked to perfection. I'll be visiting regularly

The restaurant has a unique and comfortable atmosphere to it and has friendly yet straightforward customer service. The food was quite delicious alongside great presentation, especially the bibimbap and katsu curry. The hot pot was good with a lot of content in it, though as a first time for me, it seemed underwhelming. Regardless, it was a good experience. Only accepts cash, though there are a couple nearby ATMs to withdraw from.

We have been craving ramen for the longest time, and this was the third ramen place we tried in Oxford, and by far the best! The atmosphere in the restaurant is lovely. It is spacious and the decor is stunning. We ordered two Tonkatsu ramen. The broth looked a bit lighter in colour than what I am used to but it was so delicious and filling! I loved everything about it! Perhaps add an extra slice of pork next time, but 10 out of 10!

Love food definitely coming again!

Reasonably priced average tasting Japanese food. Cash only the night we were there.

Been twice now, always very good food at a reasonable price. Very clean in there, which I always look for. Only issue for me is no card payments but they do accept bank transfers, so that was ok.

Amazing food! Such spicey and nice Japanese food. Lovely staff aswell ❤️

Had a beautiful Japanese meal here! Staff are friendly, and the service is quick. The pumpkin croquettes were to die for!!! The prices were very reasonable too! Would definitely visit again!

Lovely food and friendly staff. Good portions and really tasty. Highly recommended!

Food was ok, we arrived by oxford airline bus and was pretty hungry and want to find a quick bite, price is ok average about 12 per dish. I am surprised this place takes cash only, hmrs please check this place.

Everything was so delicious, great portions and totally reasonable prices! What a gem of a place, I look forward to going back for more.

The service was lovely but unfortunately the food wasn’t that great… we were a bit disappointed

First of all, the food was really yummy, especially the karaage chicken. And the salmon there are also very yummy as well. Second of all, the staff was nice and polite.

This is the best ramen I have ever had! Amazing restaurant. Rated 4 on service as they did bring my wives food over with an allergen in it, however, this was very quickly corrected.

Tasty food, good atmosphere and quick and friendly service. Better on inside than looks on outside!

Great experience with excellent sushi

Tonkotsu ramen + extra pork belly (started eating already) 😋

Awesome chicken katsu curry! Takoyaki was a fun starter but a little mushy for my liking. Prices were good, cash only! Will be back!

This is an amazing and authentic place which I highly recommend. It’s very pretty inside and when we attended it was full of Asians which gave me even more confidence this was the right place. The food was delicious from starters to sushi and mains , all incredible. Fresh and super tasty. I highly recommend to try the octopus balls. The service was fast, staff was very friendly and professional. Will definitely come back and recommend to all my friends.

Wow! Absolutely love this place. The exterior is deceiving, it looks nothing special, but the inside is quite magic ✨You won't be short of decor to look at. I had the fish bento box which was just delicious. We are coming again.