Shinoda is a Japanese restaurant in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, a location that commands a beautiful view of scattered islands at the center of the Seto Inland Sea. A 10-minute taxi drive from Imabari Station, the restaurant sits on a busy street close to the Port of Imabari, attracting food lovers from near and far with creative dishes conjured up from local ingredients by Chef Yusuke Shinoda.
Chef Shinoda’s attitude towards ingredients looks like that of a producer rather than a cook. For example, the fish is prepared by paying attention to all the details, from the amount of blood removed to the control of storage temperature, with help from a local popular fisherman, Junichi Fujimoto. The beans are produced by carefully controlling the entire process from the selection of the type of seeds to the timing of harvest in cooperation with Satoshi Mori from Mori Organic Farm on Omi Island. The corn featured in the Japanese mixed rice with seasonal vegetables is grown by Hiroto Niida from TETSUJIN Farm, harvested just before sunrise to maximize its taste. Thus, Chef Shinoda pays attention to every detail to create each dish as he intends it to be.
The chef’s choice meal consists of around 10 courses, starting with an aperitif, followed by Shinoda’s specialties, such as sweetfish grilled with salt over charcoal, which the chef proudly describes to be “tastier than anywhere else,” and rice with sweet bell peppers and dried baby sardines seasoned with Japanese pepper, featuring precious California Wonder peppers available around mid-August. They are characterized by a well-thought-out combination of ingredients that enhances each flavor despite their simple seasoning. The desserts are also crafted right in front of guests by Chef Shinoda, who spares no trouble in bringing them to perfection.
The drink menu is also carefully curated. The beer list offers Umenishiki beer developed by a Japanese sake brewery as Ehime’s first local beer. The sake list always includes Junmai Daiginjo Ai brewed by Ishizuchi Sake Brewery as a limited label for local restaurants in Ehime. Needless to say, Chef Shinoda, involved in the selection of rice for this sake, purchases it by the tank. The wine list also offers a variety of wines. Sometimes, depending on the booking situation, magnums are opened and offered by the glass.
With a five-seat counter, the dining room is adorned with hanging scrolls and paintings to give a sense of the season. The exclusively crafted bowls with paintings to tell a story of Imabari are Sakurai lacquerware traditionally made in Imabari. Sake is served in glasses created by a local glassblower, Yasuomi Kajikawa, while foods are presented on plates crafted by local artists, such as Koh Ichino and Momoko Ishii. Enjoy exclusive dishes at Shinoda with your family, partner, friends, or colleagues to discover the charm of Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture.
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* The availability of this webpage does not guarantee that the restaurant presented provides services in English, unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that English services may also depend on staff availability at the restaurant.
Access
10 minutes by taxi from the west exit of Imabari Station