By far the best lobster tempura roll EVER! This place is more than amazing!
(5)
M P.
One of my favorite sushi places in the city. It was great when it was Shinju and a BYO, so I was skeptical about the new location and non-BYO status... but the food proved me wrong. The decor is clean and modern, there is a lot more space, the rolls are still fabulous and the service was great. On busy nights (Fri/Sat), you need a reservation. They also kept their prices pretty low, which is impressive given their new location and remodeling. Dinner ended up about $20-$25/person.
(5)
J P.
If you like fresh sushi, awesome prices, a sweet dinning environment, byo's, and service with a smile I suggest you drop everything and run to Shinju. Holy Sashimi Batman! It was that good. My lady and I were having a birthday plan fail as it rained all day and night yesterday and the Phillies game was rained out. With all that suck going on she had the bright idea of checking the Yelp for good sushi. Well Yelp, you did it again. On your recommendation we set out to have an epic birthday sushi experience. We started with some piping hot edamame and then ordered 4 rolls. I don't remember what any of them were called except for the Miss Sake Bomb which was eel. They were all delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. The food came out a tad on the slow side, but that was fine as we had the edamame to snack on while we waited. Our server was super friendly and everyone in the place was all smiles. This place is small so I am glad we made reservations. It was a packed house on a Monday night. As I looked around all I saw were happy faces. It seems everyone else was really digging their experience at Shinju. I'll go back again and again. I'll bring friends and family. I loved it. It was a great birthday dinner. Cheers Shinju sushi. Cheers.
(5)
Meredith B.
great quality sashimi
(4)
George R.
Based on Caitlin C.'s yelp review, I went here to get some excellent sushi for a great price... and it was amazing. The restaurant is very intimate and the decor has a lot of spirit. It isn't trying to say trendy and it isn't traditional. It really speaks to the spirit of its own character without bowing to what a sushi place should or shouldn't be. So many choices for sushi! There were special platters, featured sushi dishes, and of course a la carte options as well. The presentation and quality of taste is amazing. There are also a great variety of appetizers to choose from as well. I had a hard time deciding what I was going to get, but in the end I decided on Tekka maki, a special sushi dish, and the Gyoza beef dumplings which I shard with my friend. As mentioned in the other review, this is a BYOB, so just bring what you want and they'll give you glasses as soon as they have found you a table. For dessert, they have three ice creams: Mocha, Green Tea, and Red Bean. I opted for the red bean and my friend chose the green tea. Red bean is definitely the way to go. The green tea was, well, it tasted like frozen unsweetened green tea. Its verisimilitude to the drink was uncanny. So, my recommendation is to stick with the other two more sweet ice creams if you are looking for a dessert treat. Get reservations as there often will not be an open table between prime dining hours. Tip: This place is right down the street from the Walnut Street Theater. I would definitely eat here before a show!
(4)
Elijah C.
Whenever I go out of state I plan on eating at a Japanese place that has some great sushi. While in a little bit of a rush I was still able to order two rolls that are worth trying. They are called the Dancing Vampire and the Mr. Shiro.
(5)
Everett R.
Met my good buddy there for a mutual b-day treat and we split six high quality rolls. The standard fair was right on target (e.g. philly roll and dragon roll) and the more creative rolls (e.g. soft shell crab) really pushed me over the edge. It's BYOB - we got a 6 pack of heineken for $11 @ the Locust Bar right next door (which is pretty good for that part of the city), which went perfectly with the fish. It's a small restaurant that gets pretty noisy at peak dinner time, but I'll take lively over eerily silent any day.
(5)
Carissa J.
Fat Salmon is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in Philadelphia. The atmosphere is fun, and the sushi is delicious. I am vegetarian, and I love the fact that they have different vegetarian rolls besides an avocado or cucumber roll. The only qualms that I have with this restaurant are that the staff always makes it a problem when there is a party of more than 2 people and that the service is TERRIBLE. The waiters make it a point to not make eye contact with you when you try to beckon them to your table. It's actually remarkable how much they ignore you. One night it took my friends and I over an hour to get our sushi- unacceptable. Fortunately, the wonderful food and trendy atmosphere override the terrible service, and I will say that I will go back there again.
(4)
Sub S.
Go here! Rolls are interesting and not the usual fare. The ambiece is nice for dates or small groups, though if there is an obnoxious table in the restaurant everyone is bothered. Nice fish, nice apps. BYOB policy. Pros: Rolls, rolls, rolls Cons: Can get loud
(4)
S K.
Doesnt get better for us vegetarians. The Old School and Lipstick trace are to die for.
(5)
Nicole S.
I went for lunch. Everything was great. They were pretty busy and the food took a little longer than I expected to come out, but sushi was fresh and very good.
(4)
A F.
Usually enjoy this place for both food and atmosphere. Service on last visit was horrible!!! Went in for lucnh with a friend this week at 12:15 had to wave down a waiter to take our order even though it was not that crowded. Received our salads but no food after 35 minutes. Had to wave down hostess and complain and was told she would inform the manager who then never came to our table to apologize or inform us about why our food was taking so long. Had to walk out of the restaurant in a huff with NO FOOD and NO EXPLANATION of the bad service!!!! Will never return and now angry b/c this is the closest sushi place to where I work. I guess I will have to venture out for my sushi. Sorry Fat Salmon you need to work on your customer service.
(1)
YEN A.
The food was so good... I really enjoyed it. :x They have a lot of different kinds of sushi. I went there with 4 more people. We needed to reserve before we came. Definitely, I will be back with my boyfriend. It is also good place for couple.
(5)
Sisi L.
This place is ok. It's pretty small, so everytime I'm there, I get wedged between the wall and the table with only room to breathe, or my chair is touching the chair of the person behind me. When it's busy, it's hard to have a private conversation because the tables next to you are only 1 foot away. The fish is pretty fresh, but the rolls and nigiri are about 30% smaller than every other sushi place that i've been to. I usually get the "sushi for 2" and it comes with 5 pieces of fish and 1 roll per person. Normally this would be enough food for me, but because everything is so small, I'm always still hungry! If you are into hand rolls and maki, i'd suggest going to Green Garden around the corner. The prices are lower and you get bigger portions and the same tastiness and quality. My boyfriend's main complaint about Shinju is that the wasabi is really bad quality. It breaks up into powder form immediately in soy sauce, as if it's just horseradish and food coloring. If you are really into sushi, or any japanese food for that matter, the yummiest sushi i've had is actually at Sagami, in New Jersey. It's worth the toll!!
(2)
D K.
My friend and I were in the mood for sushi and looking for a place within walking distance. Seeing the positive reviews of Fat Salmon, we were looking forward to dining at the restaurant. The decor of the restaurant is cool and sleek and ideal for parties of two. There is also a sushi bar that is first come, first served. Beware that those sitting at the "front" portion of the sushi bar will experience gusts of wind from the restaurant door opening - not ideal in the winter. As for the food, the sushi was fine - there was nothing that made it stand out. The service on the other hand, could use improvement. We asked the hostess to seat us at the bar and she told us that it would be about a ten minute wait. That was perfectly fine for us as it was Saturday night. When seats opened up, she proceeded to seat the party of two that had arrived AFTER us not only before us, but also at a prime place at the sushi bar. When I asked her why she had not seated us first (as we had arrived first), she told us that she was planning to seat us in a corner of the bar. This was definitely not preferred because it's darker, right up against a wall, and looks a bit like a forgotten corner of the restaurant. And, in any case, why would you seat the party that arrived after us, first? Especially, since we are both parties of two. Additionally, the staff does not seem to be trained on the menu. When the hostess and server were asked a question about the menu, neither knew the answer. Makes you wonder about the quality of the establishment if those working in the restaurant don't know the food they are serving. Also, the item I ordered only came with four pieces of sushi, but was priced like a full meal. While I'm used to smaller portions at sushi restaurants, this was smaller than I was expecting and the server did not mention anything about how small it would be. While she didn't have to, it would have been nice (and something that's often done in other restaurants). Also, my friend added extra avocado to her salad and was charged more than she had been told the addition would cost. There weren't necessarily any glaring issues with the restaurant, but there were enough small inconsistencies in service that made the experience less than memorable. Will I go back? Perhaps, but there are better sushi places in the city.
(3)
Pauline S.
I came here to share a bunch of rolls with friends, and I am relatively impressed. I love tempura flakes and spicy mayo, and these rolls were no disappointment. It was moderately affordable for sushi and geared more towards the warm/cooked savory flavors rather than raw/sweet.
(4)
Cassie T.
I'm a huge fan of this place's proximity to my house, ambiance, service, and their SPECIALTY ROLLS (for more traditional sushi and sashimi I don't think I would go here)! The ambiance is quite different from your average sushi restaurant, it's kind of dark, intimate (small, but not as small as vics!) and swanky, kind of trendy but not so much that it's annoying. They play an interesting mix of jazz and the like. Also, awesome pictures of these sashimi characters with smiley faces in different situations all over the walls. Tiki sushi bar looking thing in the back too. My seaweed salad was kind of expensive at $6 but it was pretty huge. The specialty rolls are what really stands out here. Many different really creative combos at great prices. Compared to Vic's most all of the specialty rolls were cheaper. I got the Locust, I think it was like a California roll inside topped with tempura spicey tuna and some delicious sauce. Holy crap it was good! One off thing was that there was an overpowering smell of something like Glade tropical air freshener, but maybe it was just the day. Regardless, I will definitely be back!
(5)
Grace L.
Per my other reviews, I've been looking for a reasonably priced and great quality sushi in old city. I used to frequent the prior establishment at this same location. When it closed I was dismayed that my local sushi place had closed. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that another sushi place was replacing it. Almost as soon as Fat Salmon opened, I ordered sushi for lunch. Great quality!! Great price. Fat Salmon became my go-to place to satisfy my sushi fix. However, I haven't gone to Fat Salmon since March and as of right now, I don't plan to. As I stated, I ordered my lunch special from Fat Salmon almost weekly. Although I don't currently have a menu in front of me, from what I recall, their lunch specials are served until 3 PM. One afternoon, ~240 PM I called to order my usual sushi special (3 hand rolls + soup or salad for $10.50 - seriously good deal)(mind you, I had done this many times before as I usually take a late lunch) . I was curtly told, our lunch service is closed (or we stopped serving lunch). I ask, but doesn't lunch service end at 3 PM? response: Yes but we stop taking orders 30minutes before for employee lunch. I had ordered from Fat Salmon at least 20 times before I was told this new lunch rule. I tried to sweet talk my way since the menu said lunch until 3 and I didn't know about this rule, etc. etc. Bottom-line: If your takeout menu says "until 3 PM," you have to take orders until 3 PM. I didn't get sushi that day, nor do I think I will be going back anytime soon (it's already been 4 months!). Honestly, this really annoys me bc you can't find quality sushi for a reasonable price downtown any more and this place would have been a keeper. Because of this incident, I have been actively searching for other sushi places in old city so satisfy my sushi fix. Guess I'll have to save money and go to Morimoto's. With that said, the food deserves 5 stars but the lunch issue downgraded it to 3 stars.
(3)
Michael H.
Sushi was very good and fresh. I had their steamed shrimp shumai, they were very good but small. Atmosphere is nice and Service was very good.
(4)
Jenna C.
My review from last year is no longer enough. Shinju might be my favorite place to go, in the city. It is quiet and friendly. While the service can sometimes feel a little slow, it's in actuality just un-rushed. The sushi is delightful (assuming you like fusion rolls) and always presented well. There are some places that breed hostility. You know, those restaurants you frequent when you're fighting with your significant other. Shinju is the exact opposite of those. I have never had a bad experience or a bad time, here. I don't think it's possible to be unhappy in this tiny byo.
(5)
Faye S.
I've been on a mission to find a good sushi place other than Vic. Don't get me wrong; Vic is my other man (second to my husband, of course), but sometimes he gets a little pricey. Using Yelp's magical powers, we found Shinju Sushi. When we walked up, I was almost afraid the place was closed because it was so dark. I guess it's a Philly thing to have dark restaurants? We were seated quickly...granted, there were only two other groups there. The waitress took our drink orders and brought them out fairly quickly, but the edamame and actual sushi/rolls we ordered took a bit longer. We had salmon and yellowtail nigiri (our basis for comparison), as well as a couple of rolls: the smoking volcano and the spider roll. The nigiri was a touch over just passable; the rice was a little undercooked, but the fish was good, if not a little thin. I like my salmon big and thick! The rolls, however, were SO GOOD. The smoking volcano roll was my favorite of the two-- crab stick, tomato, and cream cheese roll, topped with spicy tuna and tobiko. Mmmm! I'm normally not a huge fan of rolls, but make it right and I love them! The spider roll was a little generic, imo, but it was still very yummy. I'm still undecided if I think the size of the rolls is a bad or good thing. The smoking volcano came with 6 fairly small pieces, and the spider roll came with 5 larger pieces. I'm all about quality over quantity, but I'm so used to having huge 8-piece rolls that this was a little surprising. Nevertheless, I enjoyed what we had at Shinju and definitely wanted more! Price is on par with Vic, but I think there you get more food-- because of the bigger rolls and bigger pieces of salmon and yellowtail. Granted, I would recommend this place based on our experience last night. Had I gotten nigiri alone, this place would have gotten three stars, but with the rolls, a solid four stars. Minus one star for how dark it is inside, though...I actually wanted to pull out my flashlight!
(4)
Erin R.
Excellent sushi - very creative and reasonably priced. Great place for cozy dinner for 2 or 4 people. Seaweed salad also excellent!! I plan to go back very soon!!
(4)
elanya m.
amazing food..had the deep fried tofu and four other specialty rolls which were all to die for..def check it out sushi lovers!
(5)
PixieCat X.
Best sushi restaurant in philly. That is all.
(5)
Brianna M.
As a avid sushi lover, I would give this place three stars at most. It's not terrible, but not amazing. I enjoy eating udon quite a bit and I was glad to see they had that on their menu. The broth is quite tasty but I guess since its only an appetizer, the amount of udon noodles they give you is quite pathetic. I don't really recommend any of their "fancy rolls" since I don't think they are worth the price but the regular ones such as crunchy spicy tuna is not bad. The roll size and thickness(?) is appropriate.
(3)
brad C.
Looking for a place near Broad St for sushi, Shinju came up. I'm usually a patron of Vic, but this place offers similar value with more inventiveness. The "Lost Rainbow" offers a really wonderful mix of textures and flavors, combining thinly sliced crunchy cucumber with tender salmon. The only knock on them was the Agedashi tofu, which is one of my favorite dishes. This deep fried tofu is supposed to be crisp on the outside, warm and creamy on the inside, and dipped in a bit of broth. Shinju's was drowning in sauce, leaving the breading on the tofu gelatinous and impossible to eat with the rest of the dish. But affordable sushi places always leave something to be desired in their appetizers. Brad's rating scale (out of 5): Food: 4 Price: 5 Decor: 3 Service: 4 Wild card: Byob!
(4)
Eugene B.
If you are looking for a great sushi place that is relatively inexpensive this is the place to go. The service is above average. The ambience is pretty hip with a cool blue tint to the restaurant and most importantly the sushi is AMAZING. If you are a fan of the traditional Nigiri/Sashimi sushi, you'll love it, but if you are willing to experiment, Fat Salmon has some of the wildest rolls, but they are all delicious. The icing on the cake is that this is BYOB. If you are looking for a great date night, go to Fat Salmon. There is parking on the street after 6:30pm.
(4)
Peng M.
Had a great time there. Enjoyed the food.
(4)
Eric V.
Great prices and the sushi is definitely the best I've had in a while! The place is pretty small, so I've only ever gotten takeout (which they have ready in a surprisingly short amount of time). The only issue I come across is that I have no clue how to eat their (delicious) rolls with chopsticks. Imagine one of the trick exploding cigars.. after it exploded. That's kind of how they're shaped. Nonetheless, they're awesome.
(4)
Christopher R.
Better than average sushi and the prices aren't jacked up like a lot of places in the area. BYO, which is huge, and the first time I went there our server was knowledgeable about which sake to serve hot and which to serve cold. The only problem is that it can get pretty cramped since the space is so small and well-loved. I made a reservation last time and they actually kept it even though I was a bit late and all the tables were full, which impressed me. Sorry to whoever had to wait because of me, by the way.
(4)
Miss Z.
My go-to Sushi place for lunch during the week. I almost find it impossible to tire of the menu, since there are so many interesting choices. They have great lunch deals and the chicken donburi is delicious and satisfying. Nice vibe, nice staff and good, fresh sushi.
Fat Salmon is one of my favorite sushi spots in the city. Let's begin with the ambiance. The interior has just enough lighting, not too dim, not too bright. The theme color is blue and white (goes very well together) and makes the restaurant look clean and classy. You can pretty much see the whole restaurant once you walk in because it is fairly small with tables along the walls of one side and other side is the sushi bar. This is a great spot for a sushi date. I love the special rolls at fat salmon, the come with pictures on the menu too. We started with the deep fried tofu with spicy scallops. The tofu was delicious, it felt lightly battered rather than deep fried (not a big deal because I prefer it that way anyway). We ordered the hako roll (a rectangular shaped sushi roll) and the blossom; both were delicious. Although the rice broke off easily on the hako. Never have i left this place feeling dissatisfied with my meal and dining experience. I hope to come back and try more of their special rolls and appetizers. I was dissapointed that they don't have Kani salad, a crab stick salad, usually my favorite appetizer at sushi restaurants. Best of all, price is reasonable, sushi is presentable and delicious.
(5)
Jason K.
This is my favorite sushi place in town. The fish is always very fresh and flavorful. They have a lot of 'fancy' special rolls and if that's you're thing you'll be in love. Some have mountains of veggies in spicy sauce, another has pick de galo on top. They also have a list of more traditional rolls. The tempura is delicious and the miso is legit.
(4)
Snehal M.
Being a vegetarian, I am usually limited to basic veggie rolls when I go to a sushi place. It's not bad but it wouldn't hurt to have some variety. Well fat salmon has that variety! This place has the most amazing vegetarian rolls. I always get the lipstick trays and old school roll but I am looking forward to trying a lot more as I go back. My friends who aren't vegetarian love the sushi over there but even they order the aforementioned veggie sushi rolls. Love this place and will be frequenting and trying more rolls
(5)
Roberto G.
Very good sushi - many options to choose from both "classics" and house specialties including a roll that has bacon involved Decent wine list Awesome atmosphere Friendly staff Will definitely be back here!
(5)
Samuel M.
A great sushi surprise a few blocks away from the liberty bell in Philly. Original plates, the salmon was excellent, they have a nice looking bar, always crowded. A gem when you arrive to Philly. Ambience is very casual. Reasonable prices. A great place to go.
Great sushi ,Great atmosphere--Trendy Tables are kinda small and cramped together but it worked out well...accept for when the waitress goes in between the tables to take the accompanying patrons order and her rear-end was literally brushing the table! Ordered: Plum Saki--YUMMY! Comes in a cool carafe that houses ice. If you're not a fan of traditional Saki you may want to try the plum as it is sweeter and does not taste like rubbing alcohol. Garden salad with ginger dressing--tasty but DRENCHED with the ginger drenching so much so that I had to drain it into another bowl. I also asked for a fork (as it is kinda hard, but not impossible, to eat salad with chop sticks) but the waitress forgot :( VOLCANO roll (6pcs) Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado, On Top - Spicy Tuna, Wasabi Tobiko w/Crunchy on the side.-delicious! ROLLING FIRE (6 pcs) Shrimp Tempura, Cucumber, On Top - Broiled Spicy Scallop sauce(Crab Stick, Scallion)Cool presentation in that it kinda looks like a volcano. The sushi is placed in a circle, topped with artificial crabmeat and covered in spicy sauce. I think they over did it with the spicy sauce. It literally tasted like someone went to town with hot sauce. Unfortunately, it made It hard to actually taste the flavors of the roll. TENPI roll(6 pcs) Inside-Cucumber, Avocado / On Top-Tuna -highly recommend White tuna (albacore) sushi--was very tasty and fresh (serving size is two pieces) I would visit this location again :)
(4)
Johnny H.
Fat Salmon is excellent! With lots of options for sushi while visiting Philly it's easy to get pointed to Marimoto or any of a number of other choices. I'm sure many of them are excellent but you will not be disappointed with Fat Salmon. My coworker and I decided to go to Fat Salmon because they seemed to have a good number of special maki roll options. So, bear in mind that I was looking for a large number of interesting and flavorful maki rolls to try, as opposed to standard sushi or boutique, TV-hyped quality. When it comes to variety, Fat Salmon absolutely crushed the mark. I tried the rolling fire and super dragon rolls. There may be higher-grade sushi/maki out there, but Fat Salmon's rolls were delicious and good quality. Food was made quickly despite their being fairly busy during the dinner our. Staff were kind and courteous. Cool atmosphere to the place, great spot for a quick and casual dinner or date. If I lived in Philly I would be in here all the time!
(4)
Sam F.
Excellent food, excellent service. This is my new nice sushi place. The chef really knows how to craft vibrant and delicious rolls.
(5)
Smrithi D.
Fat Salmon has been bookmarked for sometime now so I was excited when my coworkers suggested we go here for lunch last week. The decor is amazing! A cool blue modern feel that would be great for a casual turned romantic dinner. I'm a vegetarian and FS had the best sushi rolls and selections I've ever tried!! Can't go wrong with any of the rolls with avocado and the veggie roll. Both go great with a side of spicy mayo. Will be returning very soon!
(4)
Henry Y.
Pros: -Decent sushi. I recommend going for a bunch of their combos with a friend. -Wow, that salad dressing. -ICE CREAM TEMPURA Cons: -I recommend making reservations 24 hrs in advance.
(4)
Eric H.
Sushi was amazing! But the takeout was so slow. Wait about 20 minutes after they say to come. Still waiting for my food.... 40 minutes later. Get it together people. How long does it take to roll up some fish.
(4)
Jeniz P.
Never been before but heard great things. Great things confirmed from eating the sushi boat, and great things are happening in my toilet. A+++ seller would buy from again.
(5)
Shari D.
Came here for my birthday dinner, after a visit to the Mütter Museum... Had to brave a spring snowstorm to get to Philly! It was worth it!! Fat Salmon had fresh, delicious sushi & sashimi! Their agedashi was perfection! We enjoyed some cold sake and Soju, too... Got a teeny buzz going before a show at The Trocadero. Absolutely a wonderful way to walk around in the snow: full of yummy Japanese food, warmed by sake and arm in arm with my sweetie! Service was excellent, too! We'll definitely be back!!
(5)
Roopa S.
Satisfied all of my sushi cravings. Amazing selection of rolls-- especially Vegetarian rolls (I don't eat seafood)-- and so I was definitely excited by this place. Everything tasted great and fresh-- the spicy sauces were definitely spicy-- and the green tea fried ice cream for dessert was absolutely amazing. The service was extremely slow-- not sure if I came on an off-day, but this was definitely a huge complaint of mine. We waited around 40 minutes for our food to arrive, and we even asked several times through the night about the status of our order. The waiters and waitresses were not accommodating, friendly, or warm... That being said, the ambiance and decor are cool. The food is good. The options are there. Prices are not too high. Great spot for sushi downtown!
(4)
Reyana F.
best sushi place in Philly. The atmosphere is futuristic-y with neon blue accent lights and modern white furniture, but the real winner is the Mr. Shiro roll (and I'm guessing by the other reviews, the rolls with the chili sauce). Service was great and the prices were super affordable for the quality of the fish. Everything was delicious- definitely recommend the Mr. Shiro and Hako, and the steamed shrimp shumai to start. Can pass on the Spicy Tuna Crunch though, the specialty rolls are the way to go here. Definitely recommend for a casual bite or first date!
(5)
Jason K.
This was literally the BEST SUSHI I have ever eaten. I ordered the Sashimi for One + the Fancy Sushi (Tuna). I have been eating sushi for decades and all around the country (San Francisco, LA, Las Vegas, Dallas, Chicago, Miami, NYC, etc). The quality of the fish was exceptional. Every pieces letdown my mouth. Service was amazing. Philly has truly impressed me during my visit. Thank you Fat Salmon, you were amazing!!!
(5)
Danan R.
This is one of my favorite sushi places in Center City (the other is Morimoto, as a point of reference). The rolls are creative, delicious, and perfectly portioned, and the fish is fresh. Service is great as well and the dimly lit ambiance is trendy and comfortable. We shared the following: 1. Hako: Pressed Box Sushi with Spicy Tuna and Crunchy on the inside, and Eel & Tobiko w/Eel sauce on the outside. I absolutely loved this as it was the perfect combination of eel, spicy tuna, and crunch with a great balance of perfectly cooked rice to fish. The tobiko on top was a nice finish. 2. Lost Rainbow: Spicy Crab Stick with Scallion and Masago on the inside and Tuna, Salmon, and White Fish w/Ikura sauce on the outside. This was a nice twist on the classic Rainbow with the addition of spicy sauce and scallion and Ikura sauce. Definitely try this if you are a fan of spicy and Rainbow rolls. 3. Mr. French Kiss: Spicy Crab Stick w/Scallion Masago & Crunchy on the inside, and Shrimp & Bacon & Onion Tempura w/Tartar sauce on the outside. This was my friend's favorite. It has the same filling as the Lost Rainbow but the tempura was a great addition and added a nice, fried twist. The bacon flavor was pretty faint, though. 4. Dragon: A tried and true classic with beautifully layered slices of avocado topped with sesame seeds and Eel sauce. 5. Spicy Tuna Crunchy: This is definitely a step above the traditional spicy tuna roll. The crunch definitely makes a difference and I will most likely ask for extra crunch next time. It's a great place to get delish sushi while catching up with friends or on a date. The seating is actually designed more for 2-person tables but they do have larger seating options in the back. Worth a visit if you love sushi and are in the Center City area.
(4)
Brittany R.
I went on a Friday with a friend. We beat the Friday night reservation crowd and were seated right away which was nice, but our service was awful. We believe the waitress forgot to put in an order because my sashimi sat on the counter waiting to be delivered for about 15-20 mins. We saw several other tables get served before us even though they sat down after. I usually get sashimi so I expect to pay more for my food but Fat Salmon is definitely higher priced than other Sushi Bars in the city. However, the sashimi pieces were generous and everything tasted very fresh. I also liked the presentation in the boat.
(3)
Tina N.
Delicious! Service was great. Very helpful. Didn't rush us. Can't beat cost for quality. I'll be back.
(5)
Yla A.
Fat salmon is delish! Great sushi and you can order take out. Very bold and hip inside. I think it is an ocean themed wall?? I mostly do takeout since it is close to my work but we have done business lunches there. Vic is still the best in the city in my opinion but this is a close 2nd
(4)
Bridget C.
Best sushi in the city! Lots to choose from always leave full and very satisfied, staff is great
(5)
Djuan S.
Came here with one of my friends for a quick bite to eat. The menu is very exhaustive and reasonably priced. The set up is primarily for dates but there was one larger table for a large group. There is a sushi bar that's very intimate as well. The atmosphere is very cute. My meal was 13 plus tip. I would definitely come here again.
(4)
Niki K.
I went to Fat Salmon because my boyfriend was in town for lunch as was craving sushi. Since I work in the area, I figured what the heck - they had good food last time. First, we had trouble finding the place. The windows were so dark, I instinctually thought it was closed, and was actually annoyed when it wasn't reported on here as such. Finally, we realized that it was open, and went in. It was about 12:10pm, so we figured it would be busy, but we got seated right away. The lunch menu was on the back and didn't say what anything was. Since we were on my lunch break, we figured that we would just order a few rolls. It took nearly 10 minutes for our waitress to show. While she was lovely, this was now 20 minutes into my 1 hour lunch break and we didn't even have our drinks. It was ridiculously loud - so much so that we couldn't hear each other across the table. There was a girl with a particularly loud laugh which echoed and drowned out the rest of the room. It's not her fault she has a good laugh, but the acoustics in a restaurant should never be that good. We ordered our food (two rolls each) at 12:20pm. We received them at 12:45pm. Yes, they were tasty, and by this time the joint was jumpin'. But 25 minutes for 4 rolls? As it was, we had to eat in the last 10 minutes so that I would have time to get back to work. The food was tasty, fresh, and robust, though not filling - and had I had more time, I would have ordered another roll or two. It's like they don't realize that their main clientale at that time of the day are people who are on lunch - that means from the moment they leave their desk to the moment they get back they have between 30 min - 1 hour. Oh, and the bill for our 4 rolls (and 2 miso soups)? $28, plus tip. I remember why I don't go there often. And, I don't think I'll be going back for lunch again.
(3)
Robert H.
Hip place. Strange blue lighting with white tables worked. Ethnically diverse crowd. A little on the younger side but certainly a few exceptions. Sushi was well-priced--about $6-10 for a 6 piece roll. Excellent flavors. I tried 3 different rolls. Favorite was the #15 with eel, avocado, and cream cheese. Would return for lunch or dinner!
(5)
A. Jordan R.
Sushi was really good, service is mediocre. I asked if they had real wasabi as opposed to the "regular" stuff and no one knew the answer. C'mon! You only need to know like 5 things about sushi. The staff didn't know what to pair the fish with. They didn't even know the difference between each roll. Decent food, horrible service. I probably wouldn't come back here again with so many better options. But, I didn't hate it, either.
(3)
Marius G.
Favorite sushi spot across the city. Very nice decor, small/intimate space, and prices are pretty reasonable. Sushi quality is excellent as well.
(4)
Doo Wee T.
I had a date nite with my girlfriend from collage. She said the roll is very good, but I am more sashimi lover. She had roll with spicy sauce and shrimp tempura roll, I didn't take a bite, but looked like pretty decent. I had chirasi bowl served with miso soup and salad on the side. Its really hard to find a fine chirashi don around center city area; I always go to NY just to have chirasi don. I could say that fat salmon is pretty good for their chirasi, and wish that they could cook the tamago little sweet.. The highlight of the meal was tempura ice cream!!! Love it :)
(4)
Manosai E.
A bunch of my friends have recommended I check out this place and I finally had the chance to go for lunch on a Thursday. The interior has a modern feel to it and looks like it would be great for happy hour drinks after work as well. I got the combination lunch special, choice #3 which is one choice from the sushi bar and another from the kitchen, along with a miso soup or salad. I ordered the vegetarian lipstick trace rolls and chicken katsu. The rolls consisted of mushroom and were topped with avocado slices and a drop of spicy mayo sauce. I was more excited about the chicken katsu than the rolls but the chicken ended up tasting a little too dry for my liking. The rolls were delicious and though rather large in size, easy to chow down. I ended up paying around $18 for my meal with tax/tip but this was because we are in a party of 6 so 20% gratuity was tacked on. Overall, it was definitely worth trying and I enjoyed my food but I don't anticipate coming back because I crave it.
(4)
Jay W.
Ultra modern looking sushi spot with icy neon lighting. I liked the variety in sake and Japanese beer that they had available. I love that they listed all of the sushi that came in the Sushi Dinner for 2 (my lady friend usually won't order this unless she knows what's in it). This place seems like it prides itself on fancy, creative "special rolls" rather than simple sushi. However the simple sushi that I ordered was pretty good. I just wish that Tamagoyaki (egg sushi) was included in the sushi dinner. The miso soup and ginger salad that came with dinner were good, especially the salad. The service was friendly and quick to fill glasses.
(3)
Alisa A.
Atmosphere is really cool but they have some interesting things on the menu that you should definitely ask about before ordering them.
(3)
Dennis D.
Eh. Like others have said, the service is super bad. I mean, super bad. Like really really bad. I came at a busy lunch time (around noon) and sat by the bar by myself. Took about 10 minutes before someone could bring me water. I tried to flag down the waiter multiple times. By the time he came over, he actually started taking the order of these two women who had just sat down! I was very annoyed at that considering he had been ignoring me for 10 minutes. Well, ended up ordering some hot tea, the vegetable tempura appetizer, some simple rolls and some salmon nigiri. Everything was just ok. The quality of the fish was average. Not the worst, but definitely not impressive. Combine the quality of the fish with the terrible service, and I doubt I will ever go back there.
(2)
Fam B.
Absolutely love this place. 5 stars definitely for the food! The place is small and seats fill up, so it's usually best to call and make a reservation for evenings (even on weekdays). The atmosphere is nice--great place to go on a date. My must recent visit we ordered the following: Hako, Katsu Maki, Volcano, and Super dragon. The Hako and Super Dragon were delicious--the sauces do not overwhelm the fish. You really can't go wrong with the special rolls here, everything is so fresh. When it's busy, it can take a while to get your food, so appetizers are a must for the long wait. Their gyoza is decent. Definitely will save this place for special celebrations and when I need more than the mediocre sushi I typically settle for in the area.
(5)
Julian P.
This IS the best sushi restaurant I have ever been to. So many different rolls, everything is fresh and well portioned. Try the Fuka roll its my favorite. Also the saki menu is on point. Amazing decor and without a doubt the perfect date night spot!
(5)
Wendy G.
Cafeteria quality sushi! After reading so many 5 star reviews I couldn't believe I was eating in the same restaurant. Yes, the interior is nice and modern, our service was very good, however I was shocked at what people thought was good sushi. We ordered four 'special' rolls and not one was special. The pieces were to big and piled with ingredients that didn't add up to flavor. I agree the food is reasonably priced, which makes sense because you get what you pay for.
(2)
Mike W.
This place is my go to sushi joint in the city. The sushi is expertly prepared, they always have the most interesting options and the prices are extremely affordable. This past Friday was our second visit, I really need to get back here more often. We ordered a Kirin and a Sapporo to sip on and 6 sushi rolls to share as follows: 1. Fancy Sushi - Rice wrapped with a piece of fish w/Spicy Chopped fish (tobiko,Scallions) & Wasabi Tobiko on Top W/Crunchy on the bottom 2. Lava Roll - INSIDE - Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado, ON TOP - Asparagus w/Broiled Octopus sauce(Scallion, Spicy sauce & Mayo) 3. Miss Sake Bomb - IINSIDE - Eel, Avocado, Crunchy, ON TOP - Lightly cooked Salmon w/ Tartar sauce 4. Rolling Fire - INSIDE - Shrimp Tempura, Cucumber, ON TOP - Broiled Spicy Scallop sauce (w/Crab Stick, Scallion & Fried Tofu Skin ) 5. Salmon Yaki Roll - INSIDE - Asparagus, Avocado, Crunchy w/spicy sauce, ON TOP - Broiled Salmon w/Eel Sauce 6. Midori Roll - Oshinko, Dried Gourd, Mountain Burdock, Shitake, Cucumber w/Inari Our waitress actually brought us some complimentary edamame. She said the kitchen was backed up and she was sorry for our wait. We didnt even notice the wait to be honest, but it was very much appreciated nonetheless. It helped hold us over until the sushi arrived. As always, the plating at Fat Salmon is fantastic. They are masters of their craft. They bought it out in a few different plates as it became ready. Each and every one of the rolls was delicious. Even the most obscure combinations seem to work here. Tarter sauce on a sushi roll? Chalk it up, its tasty. The standouts for me were the Rolling Fire and Fancy Sushi rolls. They were all great, but these two in particular were fantastic. I loved the spicy chopped fish on top of the fancy sushi roll. It really packed some nice heat into it. The rolling fire roll had some delicious flavors and textures to it. The broiled spicy scallop sauce was amazing. This is by far the best sushi I have had in Philly. Its definitely worth visiting again and again.
(5)
Maurice P.
Whenever we are in Philadelphia, we always make sure to go to Fat Salmon. We love the blue and white ambience, always complemented with cool music. Each dish is a work of art as the many photos here illustrate. The service is cheerful, knowledgeable and quick
(5)
Julia C.
Great variety, great service, delicious food! The ambience in this place is incredible--especially at night! I'm in love with the interior design & it certainly provides a one of a kind dining experience.
(5)
Ramen F.
Ambiance: It was modern - generally minimalist with some surprising splashes of flash (the lights bordering the sushi bar). The tables are very close to one another, so the noise level was a little loud. The feeling isn't intimate, unless you are talking about intimacy with other tables. I was able to hear and follow the discussions of the people sitting at tables on either side. Which wasn't a problem for me, but perhaps not a place you would want to go for a first date or with someone you aren't really comfortable with. Service: The waiter was helpful and pleasant. Food: This is the best sushi that I have had in Philly, and it is as simple as that. I like salmon but never loved salmon - it turns out that I was wrong about that and I love Fat Salmon's salmon. Get salmon on the Fancy roll, it was so good that it has ruined me from enjoying all other rolls!! The Rock and Roll and Dragon rolls were also yummy. It almost seems like a shame to get the regular rolls because the special rolls are so fantastic. The spicy tuna roll was good, but not as exciting as the other rolls. The deep fried tofu was an unexpected delight, I got the recommendation from reading through yelp and it was certainly warranted. Overall: Definitely recommended. Get the Fancy roll with salmon.
(5)
Angelina D.
AMAZING! The "Sleeping Volcano" roll was like a party in my mouth. It was just so fresh and delicious. I also had the "Blossom" roll and that too was delicious. I didn't have one thing that I didn't love. Even the cocktails were great. I had a "Ginger Snap" martini and sweet sake sampler. I enjoyed the atmosphere and even the service was great. All I can say is that I will most definitely be back again and again and again. :)
(4)
Christian B.
Possibly the best sushi I've ever had. Easily the best sushi in Philadelphia! Good service too. Prices reasonable too.
(5)
Cecilia P.
Fat Salmon is definitely great for lunch. I had the #1 lunch special (2 rolls and miso soup) and left feeling very pleased. The service was great and the restaurant's atmosphere is cool and inviting. I work right around the corner so I'll definitely be visiting Fat Salmon again very soon.
(5)
Alex C.
Fat Salmon is slightly better than average sushi in a sleek space. The emphasis is on over-the-top Americanized sushi loaded with fried items and "crunchy" (aka Panko bread crumbs). Over the 8 or so special rolls that we tried, nothing was terrible, but nothing stood out. The lone exception is the Super Dragon -- a Dragon roll on steroids. It's so large, you can barely eat it without making a fool of yourself. The beer menu has an extensive Asian selection, but the prices are relatively steep. Service is adequate, if unremarkable. For better sushi, try Zento (BYOB) from the former Morimoto Sous-Chef, Uzu (also in Old City) or Morimoto for a splurge. I've heard good things about Umai in Rittenhouse, but haven't been.
(3)
Samantha J.
Sushi tasted fresh & was delicious. Prices were very reasonable- $40 for 2 special rolls, 2 glasses of wine & a generous tip. The atmosphere was calming- lights were dim & there was a blue hue throughout. Service was a bit slow, but everything else about the experience definitely made up for that.
(5)
Charles S.
My friend and I had Sleeping volcano, Curry katsu don(hope name is correct), Steamed vegetable Koza, Green tea Mojito, and Green lotus. Sleeping volcano was the first roll i have ever tried cream cheese in it, and it was nice try for me who likes dairy products. Curry katsu don could serve almost for two small stomach people I guess. It was a bit blackpepper spicy and katsu (it was ckicken katsu) was I dare to say the BEST I have ever had in philly area. Steamed vegetable Kyoja was soft and tasty and its color was green so it made me felt i was eating a healthy food. Beverages, green tea mojito and green lotus, were good, and they were kinda weak alcohol. Basically it was an descent experience for me to have dinner in Fat Salmon and i would definitely like to go back and try other foods too. AND waiters and waitresses (especially SAM the waiter served us) were so friendly and kind so that my friend and i felt comfortable. They were obviously contributing to make this nice place even nicer. Strongly recommed.
(5)
Laura N.
Favorite sushi in Philadelphia. This place is tiny so try to make reservations. They can be made online on their website which makes it pretty convenient. My favorite rolls at the moment are the rainbow roll (so fresh and a little hint of sweetness) and the blossom roll (has a lime, avocado cream on top that is unique but delicious). Then you have their spicy rolls...every time I come to fat salmon, I swear I'm not going to order a spicy roll. I'm a wuss when it comes to spice and after a few of these rolls my stomach engulfs itself in flames, however---I order one every single time. The sauce isn't your ordinary spicy mayo. It's a complex silky deliciousness of flavor and spice. I usually get the fuka roll. It's a little messy, but really good. Stay away from the sake sangria. It was a disappointment.
(4)
Dhvani D.
Being vegetarian, I'm not always the biggest fan of sushi places because my options are usually limited to avocado or cucumber rolls. This place is awesome for vegetarians as there are so many options and they are so yummy! Their special rolls are where all the fun stuff is - my favorites are the old school (most fav) and the tofuholic...they are rolls stuffed on the inside with tasty mix of veggies/tofu and have different sauces/toppings on top...and they can be spicy! The seaweed salad and miso soup are good too. Ambience is fun on the inside and service is good too. Def place to check out!
(4)
Rich G.
I have been to dozens of Japanese rest/sushi joints in my life. While I am not a snob, I know what is good. I would rate a sushi joint based on the quality of the food in relationship to the price. I could care less about the decor, service, rude chefs, etc. Give me good, fresh fish at a good price and I will come back often. I have ordered all types of things so no way I could comment on individual items, I just know that I have enjoyed everything that was ordered. Fat Salmon meets those 2 requirements, so I am giving my 1st 5 star review. The service I have experienced there has always been excellent. I have always gone during the week, just as they open for dinner. If anyone asks me for good Sushi places in the city, I always recommend Fat Salmon....the name is super easy to remember too.
(5)
Helen C.
Fat Salmon is delicious. I've eaten here three times and the sushi and sashimi has been consistently fresh, delicious and of high quality! That alone is enough to keep me going back, since that's typically my go-to order at a sushi joint. This restaurant is appropriately named, because my favorite is actually their salmon - always a great cut of the fish and just perfect. The staff has been very pleasant and attentive for each of my visits; prices are good; and the atmosphere fun and comfortable. Overall, I think it's a great place to meet up with a friend to catch up over some delicious sushi. The BYOB is also a plus! The only con for me is actually the maki, despite all the positive reviews for the rolls. I will give them that some of their specialty rolls are unique, but so far they have been very hit or miss for me. I've only enjoyed maybe half of the specialty rolls I've tried, and most of the ones I did like were kinda just okay. There have been rolls that we did not even bother to finish or take home with us. I know sushi places these days like to get creative with their rolls, but sometimes it goes a little far. And then of the ones that were not interesting/crazy-sounding combinations, they were plain and nothing special. I guess it comes down to personal preference.
(4)
Tasha A.
I'm torn....my first time eating at Fat Salmon the sushi was awesome, I had the Philly Roll & the Dancing Vampire Roll with Salmon Nigiri; however, the service (at lunch time) was incredibly slow. We've found it difficult to get in and out of Fat Salmon at lunch in 1 hour. On the flip side, the dinner service is pretty quick. Yesterday for the first time we ordered sushi to go (maybe that was a bad idea), but it just didn't taste as good or fresh as it has tasted in the past. My Dancing Vampire Roll was incredibly fishy (which hasn't happened before). I was sadly disappointed, but I guess in the grand scheme of things going into the restaurant is the obvious best choice.
(3)
Stacie L.
Absolutely had an amazing time! I never knew this place existed until about last week when my friend told me and suggest we go. It didnt seem like much on the outside and I had to find the place to realize where it was. But once you go in, the setting is amazing. Sushi chefs are in front of you making their food so I felt comfortable that everything was fresh. The lighting is dimmer than most restaurants but it was a nice setting. Great for a date *hint hint* LOL. I had the shrimp tempura lunch box for I think !2 dollars and it was amazing and filling! I never expected sushi to fill me up so fast! The service was amazing, our waiter came up every so often and asked us how we were and always refilled our glasses without hunting him down (unlike certain places I have been too). Definitely going back there when I get paid. :]
(5)
F R.
Fat Salmon is the 2nd sushi place I have really fallen in love with. I'm a vegetarian, so I don't know about the fish options, but I love the Old School roll, the veggie tempura roll, and the tofuholic. The veggie tempura roll is nice and spicy, but the Old School roll is really spicy, but so tasty I can't stop eating no matter how much it hurts. The Agedashi tofu is my favorite appetizer. I once had a bite of the Deep Fried Tofu before I realized it had scallop in it, but it was fantastic. The only things I have found disappointing are the gyoza, and the edamame every once in awhile gets a bit over cooked if we get take out.
(4)
Sara H.
After reading so many overwhelmingly positive reviews on Yelp, I decided to give Fat Salmon a try on a Friday night with my boyfriend. The atmosphere was cool, the service was friendly and helpful and the place was packed to the brim--though it should be noted that it's a BYO and we saw 2 separate parties bringing in cases of Bug Light! Rock on! The three stars, however reflect the fact that the sushi itself was not all that impressive. For the price, it's not bad, but by no means is it the best sushi in the city--or really even noteworthy. The rolls are very creative (the white forest is topped with pico de gallo salsa--yum) but the execution is somewhat sloppy--and the quality of the ingredients doesn't seem to be exceptionally fresh. But maybe we went on an off night? Overall, I'd say--Fat Salmon gets props for price, service and creativity.
(3)
Vanessa L.
Good, fresh sushi!
(4)
Sarah B.
Since sushi is the best food known to man, I used to eat it weekly in LA nevermind the mercury poisoning risks or whatnot. I went to college in San Diego where sushi was aplenty. I also recently visited Tokyo where I had fresh sushi right by the fish market. So my sushi standards are a bit high. In Philly, I put on "goggles" knowing I should expect inadequate sushi. The last time I ate a roll it felt like I was chewing on a rubber snail. Finally, le beau and I discovered Fat Salmon--moderately priced, tasty sushi!!!!!!!!!!!! Something I would've eaten in LA!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were so excited that after we both had multiple rolls, we ordered another one to share. We definitely didn't exercise "hara hachi bu" here!
(4)
Jacqueline C.
Although I am not a fan of the name change (Shinju was so much cooler), they got everything else right. First FS kept everything good about about the old spot (namely the fresh and innovative sushi) and fixed the things that were holding it back from sushi greatness, namely: - More tables translates into shorter lines - More space; tables are further apart (you can still talk to your neighbors, you just don't have to anymore) - More sushi chefs = less time waiting (and drooling over your neighbors food) Bottom line: This is the best sushi for your $$$ in Philly!
(5)
Meghann p.
I love this place...the prices are so reasonable...I love the maki rolls and it is BYOB! What can be better? I have been back 4 times in the last month with different groups of friends...and everyone loved this place. I always recommend Fat Salmon for sushi lovers!
(5)
Lee K.
Pretty small but a nice little sushi joint. Decor is pretty gimmicky in a Starr-ish kinda way but is nonetheless presentable. The specialty rolls had a good bit of variety and the few we tried didn't give us dysentery so we were happy. Try the smoked squid in ponzu sauce salad, it's phenom.
(4)
Sarah Z.
Simply the best. Better than all the rest. When I have to move away, this is the place I'll come back for. It is my favorite.
(5)
Sara L.
I did lunch with a friend at the new incarnation of Shinju that is Fat Salmon yesterday, and was impressed with how this restaurant has grown. It is a true testament to the management and excellent food to be so successful with a small establishment in the current economy. The head chef, menu and much of the staff remain largely identical to Shinju. It seems like more specialty rolls appear on the new menu, but my old favorites were there as well. They have increased their prices slightly, but not as much as I feared when I first heard about the move. Our meal consisted of naked gyoza with spicy tuna, sleeping volcano and rolling fire rolls, and a few pieces of nigiri and sashimi. The food was all excellent. I am impressed when a sushi place not only offers brown rice as an option, but gets the texture right to work perfectly in sushi. I am surprised to read complaints about the service. I have always found them to be friendly and efficient. Sometimes the food takes a little while, but when it arrives, the complexity of the preparation and presentation makes it obvious why. This is not a restaurant for hurrying. The decor is a complete turnaround from the humble dark wood that I so loved at Shinju. The new space is much more sleek and fancy, typical of what you would expect from a high-end sushi restaurant. This, combined with the liquor license application in the window, makes me believe that high-end sushi restaurant is where they are headed. This is not a bad thing in itself, but the city already has a couple of those. I will probably always feel a little nostalgic for the tiny, unassuming neighborhood place that you would hardly even notice walking by.
(4)
Jillian G.
I've been to Morimoto, Haru, Vics...all of which were very different and wonderful, but Fat Salmon, yes formerly known as Shinju is CHEAP and ranks up there with the top guns of Sushi in Philadelphia. I have been there 3 times since it has opened (BYOB until April I was told) and have tried about 16 of the rolls...(I realize I sound like a fatty) but my favorites were: 1. Fancy Sushi - really awesome roll, haven't had anything like it anywhere else. Basically a piece of salmon sashimi wrapped around sushi rice with spicy salmon on top laying on a bed of crunchies. 2. Salmon Yaki - I don't usually go for any cooked fish in my rolls, but this really was awesome with the eel sauce. 3. Spicy Scallop - always order it when I see it, definitely up to par here. Rolls that looked awesome but really were not: 1. BCT - bacon and cream cheese, hard to go wrong here but not really what I hoping it would be....not enough BACON! 2. Rolling Fire - I was told this was too hot to handle for most people. They really got me excited. It was not hot. It's fresh and also does take out. I would make a reservation if I could. Every time I am there they are holding 4 or 5 tables in a 15 table place for people who eventually are suppose to come in. It's silly.
(5)
Danielle K.
Love, love, love this place! My husband and I have been fans since it was shinju on Locust St. Make sure to make a reservation if you are planning on going for dinner. Some of our favorites are "old school", " lipstick trace" , and veggie tempura roll.
(5)
Eileen H.
I couldn't decide between giving this place 3 or 4 stars, but I settled on 4 because I would definitely go back. We ordered the agedashi tofu, shrimp tempura tofu, smoked salmon, fluke, and yellowtail nigiri, their Rock N Roll special roll, and their Shochu samplers. I'll start with the decor. It's very ultra white, space age modern looking. Interesting take on decor for a sushi restaurant, of which I'm not sure if I am a fan but I can't say I hate it, either. Now for the food. The agedashi tofu was nothing special, i.e. don't bother ordering this dish. The shrimp tempura udon was pretty good, but not fantastic. I did like how they served the 2 shrimp tempura on the side so that it doesn't get too soggy in the broth. It also came with a zucchini tempura fritter. The nigiri was pretty much to my expectation, although they did something weird to the smoked salmon and yellowtail that made it look like the texture of cube steak. It was very odd and I assume its purpose is to tenderize the fish. The Rock N Roll was a commitment. Each piece, or roll, was pretty thick and stuffed with both salmon and tuna, then topped with "crunchy" topping and a sweet eel sauce. The waitress explained that it is called eel sauce because they mix in powdered eel. I have no idea what that is. In summary, they have a variety of sushi options, to the point where their menu is overwhelming, as well as many non-sushi options. They also seemed to have a pretty good sake selection. Their service is fine- nothing remarkable, though. I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a nice, reasonably priced sushi joint that serves alcohol.
(4)
Kelly F.
Delicious! It was the Friday after Thanksgiving and what my boyfriend and I wanted more than anything was a meal that didn't have a shred of turkey in it. What we found was super friendly service, delicious sushi and apps and a full bar. This place has boosted to my favorite sushi place in the city. The baby octopus was spectacular! We couldn't finish all the sushi, so our waitress wrapped it up with much care and we had it the next day. Can't write enough good things and can't wait to come back.
(5)
Anne Ligon H.
Fantastic food, craptastic service. We had a reservation, and arrived there precisely on time. No one even acknowledged us for another ten to fifteen minutes. After that time, a guy ushered the group that was there before us to their table, then came back and told us we could join them - I guess he thought we were with that group, which is why we were never acknowledged. An honest mistake, but it was just the first of many lapses in service. Once we were seated, a waiter took our order - we ordered a few rolls, a beer for each of us, and some edamame for an appetizer. We got our beer, then about...40 minutes later got our rolls. No edamame. We asked about it (I think we were polite and friendly, but the food runner looked terrified and confused - maybe I had trouble masking my pissed-off face?), and apparently the waiter had forgotten to put in our order. Oh well. Anyway, the food was delicious - we ordered three rolls, and ended up getting one more because we were extra hungry. However, we did have to wait a really, really long time for our second roll as well. Definitely great food, and cool decor. However, definitely not for those in a hurry or those who expect a lot from a waiter/staff.
(3)
Adam R.
Food was incredible. My lady and I split edamame, then we both got our respective rolls for dinner. My favorite was easily the B.C.T. Bacon inside of a sushi roll is brilliant and more people should do it. The wait staff, however, was some of the worst I have ever experienced. Working in two different restaurants, I'm accustomed to a level of quality in waiting that, in all honesty, really isn't that hard to get to. Nobody greeted us when we sat down. 3 or so minutes after we sat, our 'first' server came up to us and the only words that came out of his mouth were "Hi" and nothing after that. There was an incredible sense of awkwardness, and then he said "Are you ready to get something?" I kindly told him that we were still looking, so he said "Okay" and then walked away. Then our 'second' server came by, who was a younger woman that was a lot friendlier than the server before her. My lady order tea from her and she brought it with haste, as well as took our appetizer orders and than eventually or dinner orders. I simply wondered if the servers on staff at Fat Salmon spoke to each other at all before handling our table? It's a norm for servers to either have a specific table set to themselves, our discuss which server gets which table so the tip can be sorted out justly. It felt like neither was the case, and they just jumped on us without even talking about it. After our dinner was over I paid with my card, which was surprisingly declined, to which the male server walked over and said "Your card was declined" handed it to me, then walked away without saying anything else, leaving us to wait for somebody else to take our secondary form of payment...which was about another 5 minutes out of our day. All in all, I give Fat Salmon a 3/5 stars for their wonderful atmosphere, excellent food, very reasonable prices...and inexperienced wait staff.
(3)
Marty D.
This was a lunch for two experience. Service was courteous but slow conisdering there were only a few diners. All the fish was well prepared and very fresh. Odd that the uni here costs more that at Mori Moto.The atmosphere is just ok, kind of industrial and I'm not a big fan of exposed electrical connections in the ceiling. It's not cool, it's just lazy/cheap. Yeah, I know it's about the food but it's not really is it? All in all, ok vaue for money but no real reason to go out of my way for a return dinner.
(3)
Amanda M.
I absolutely love the atmosphere and the food /service in this place! Def a 5 star!
(5)
Heman P.
Its really great. You got to try it if you like sushi.
(4)
Haseeb A.
Great sushi place. I used to live on the same block and would order their take out sushi all the time. However, nothing compares to eating in. The atmosphere is amazing and service is great. The entree's that they offer are delicious, but again, nothing compares to the sushi. They have a great variety of sushi so there is always something new to try. They also have some Japanese beer which I had never tried before coming here and it was very good.
(5)
b w.
ABSOLUTELY the best sushi I've ever had. I don't claim to be a sushi pro, but I've been all over the east coast w/ work and I've experienced sushi in many of the big cities (New York, Cape Cod/smaller New England towns, Boston, Baltimore, DC, and all over Florida) and this location is by far the best I've ever had. Also, the prices are extremely reasonable, their most expensive roll is around 15.00 dollars and that's one of the huge specialty rolls. I believe their website has a full menu w/ prices. Please check this place out if you're in downtown philly, you wont be disappointed.
(5)
Pramiti S.
I took my college roommate visiting from DC to Fat Salmon and was really happy with the service, food, and atmosphere. Their menu had so many options and the avocado salad was relatively large and very good. They also had every Hitachino beer including their stout which is hard to find, but it was severely overpriced at $10 for 11.2 ounces. However, while the lighting was a little cheesy, we had an amazing time with great sushi, plum saki, sapporo light, and a fantastic server. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a girls night/date night/ or a group night. I also highly recommend the plum saki and their special roll, the Hako roll. SO GOOD! I will definitely be back especially considering it's great sushi for an even better price.
(4)
Melanie M.
Wow! I have walked past this place so many times since it is right around the corner from my apt. I finally decided to check it out after my friends were raving about it. They were right about this place! Everything was so delicious! I have never had so sushi so fresh in my life. The tuna sashimi does melt in your mouth. We also had the Locust Roll (the perfect mix of flavors and crunchiness). The M & M with marinated beef was also different and fantastic. Service was great and the BYO part is another plus. We have gone back 3 times now and can't wait to take all of our friends there so that they can enjoy sushi done right!
(5)
Scottie B.
Went here twice while in town for a conference. The first time, with my girlfriend, she got the vegetarian combo and I a spicy tuna creation (Hoki Sushi I think). She loved hers and I was pretty pleased with mine. We got there around 5 on a Sunday and found the place empty. The second time, with my labmates we all ordered at least two rolls and there was high praise. This time (7:30pm on a Tuesday) the place was quite full but we still found a table. As always with sushi, it doesn't fill you up so feel adventurous to order at least two rolls. The interior is quite small (but not cramped) and includes a sushi bar. Our waitress was very nice and never far but not interrupting. And we couldn't believe the price, very reasonable.
(4)
Alix H.
Shinju is definately yummy, but for the price I just want MORE!!!!!!!! My boyfriend and I are CA transplants to Philly so we are excited about finding all the best places to eat, but for the same price at the place back home you get 2-4 more pieces per order. bummer. It's still tasty and we will be coming back. As for the complaints about it being too small--- it's COZY !! :)
(4)
Chrissy R.
I always stop by here when I have family in the hospital. Yes, it's morbid, depressing sushi. Yummy though and they do cheap and quick takeout.
(4)
Anna Marie C.
yum yum yum. so i made the trek halfway across town for some sushi tonight (after reading the rave reviews here on yelp!). so it's my own fault for not reading the reviews as thoroughly that i did not notice that it was byo. i will correct that mistake next time. in any case, it was damn tasty. there are your standard sushi fare...and then there's the quite fab funky rolls. i had the locust (tempura tuna and crab and avocado and and and....) and the lady vampire (yes, i ordered it purely for the name). and it lived up to its yelp hype. oh, and they make one kick ass agedashi tofu. i seriously judge places based on how authentic their tofu is...and this place is quite hardcore. so next time, there will be sake and sushi for me. rock.
(4)
Matt S.
You can't go wrong with the place. Solid sushi, good atmosphere, great prices, and BYOB. While I'm certainly not a sushi connoisseur like some other reviews, I would like to think that I can taste the difference between good and bad sushi. Shinju Sushi consistently impresses me with their fresh, creative rolls. Worth noting is that this place is SMALL. Reservations can be good idea. Also, the service can be a bit slow but never inattentive. Considering the size of the space, their almost non-existent kitchen and great prices I've never found the service to be a problem. Just don't expect to dine and dash.
(4)
Rachel K.
Came here on my birthday and I became a fan. Great little cozy location. Shinju is known for their "fusion" style sushi and they definitely took the award for that! The rolls were smaller and a bit pricier then what im used to @ Mizu or Raw. But every bite makes up for it! I love how each dish comes with illustrations! hah The bad: too dark, byob, and one time they ran out of rice so my party had to wait one hour!
(4)
Joshua S.
This is one of the few sushi places I have been to since I moved from Hawaii that compares to the spots on island. The place is very tiny, so I tend to make reservations when I go, although they are usually only needed on the weekend. It is a BYOB, but I'm a student so I don't mind paying a third of the price to by a six pack of Ichiban from around the corner. The rolls are fantastic, with many fusion rolls that are as fun to decide over with your date as they are to eat (although I agree with Lori that they are too fragile for the undextrous. They are a little pricey, but there has ever been an uttered regret from my table come check time. The sashimi and edamame are usual additions to the meal, as well. All in all, go in a patient mood (the service runs a little slow and the chefs take their time perfecting your roll) and you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Gustavo B.
Its a trendy, not so expensive , great spot for couples and even small groups, for a fun, great sushi dinner. Can get busy on weekends, so make sure you make a reservation. Staff is super friendly and service is very good. Their specialty rolls selection is pretty decent, as well as the regular, vegetarian and tempura options. They have now a new menu, with even more stuff. By the way, it is no longer BYOB.
(4)
Kaye I.
should i even tell you about this place?!? Shinju is awesome!!! Delicious Sushi, Best prices in town. Only draw back is the place in tiny, but it's cozy and warm with their friendly staff. Did i mention BYOB!! They are planning to move to a larger location so maybe till then you could go to Fuji mountain so I can be sure to get a table here :) Perhaps I should add that i am fairly new to sushi and I am still getting alot of the fried stuff on the menu, but my genuine sushi and sashimi eating friends like this place as well.
(5)
Joe J.
Just came back from dinner at Fat Salmon. Ill start off by saying a really good place and I very much enjoyed it, and most importantly the food. The decor is really cool. I found it comforting. The place is pretty small, consisting of all two person tables and a large bar seating area. The tables are really close to eachother which I cant blame them on since it is small, and once you get over the initial awkwardness with being close to people you dont know it doesnt matter anymore. Just google image "fat salmon philadelphia" if you wanna see the inside. ***definantly make a reservation*** ~~i went there today which is monday night and it was still completely full. i didnt see anyone ever waiting but it was constantly full so i can only imagine what it would be like on a friday or saturday. With my reservation we got seated immediately. The service was kind of slow but not unbearable. They filled the waters pretty quick but after that it took about 10 minutes for our waitress to come. Then another 10 again after our drink order. But it was ok because we spent most of the time looking at the menu. The waitress was really nice, personable, and knowledgeable. We had a few conversations with her and everyone just seemed overall pleasant. Now to the food. For starters we had the edamame. I had no idea what it was, all i knew was that a lot of people like it. When i came i was really disappointed to find out it was just soy beans with the pod covered in salt. Nonetheless they were still fun to pick at. It was 4.50 which wasnt bad. I wouldnt recommend getting it at all though, I just find it a little pointless. Between the both of us we got 5 rolls. Ill put them in decending order of which i liked best: ~Rolling Fire: INCREDIBLE. not only the best sushi i ever had, but also one of the best things ive ever put in my mouth. A lot of people are concerned about its spice factor, but to me it wasnt that spicy. Even if you dont like spice you NEED to get this. it was incrediblleeeee. ~White Forest: Second favorite. It was salmon tempura. What made this so unique and great was the salsa-like-thing and sour cream on top. The mixture of that with the tempura made your mouth go nuts. definitely absolutely recommend. ~Hako: Third favorite. The only reason i got this one was because all the reviews said it was incredible. didnt live up to my expectations but was still good sushi. dont let this deter you from getting it, just not as good as i expected. gives you 8 pieces though which is nice. ~Dancing Vampire: Fourth. Didnt really stand out to me but of course tasty. It would have been great alone but compared to all these other incredible sushi on my plate it just didnt match up. again, i dont recommend this one not because it was bad but there are other better things. ~Fancy Sushi: Eh, it was alright. Expected it to be better. The biggest downfall for me on this one was that it only came in 4 pieces. Taste was good but out of the 5 we got to me it was the least impressive. Dessert we got vanilla tempura ice cream. ABSOLUTELY get this if you are getting dessert. Actually even if you arent getting dessert.............get dessert....just so you can try this. Overall it was a great experience and would go back any day. Recommend completely. -----------------------------FOUR MONTHS LATER------------------------------------------ So just went back tonight and loved it again and just had to write about it. Originally I gave it 4 stars but after tonight it jumped to 5. Ill just talk about the rolls. This time we got rolling fire (had to get it again), white forest (she had to get that again), sepia pleasure, mr shiro, and lost rainbow. Lost rainbow was GREAT. to me better than white forest, everything worked so well. Mr Shiro i was not that impressed. The whole thing in your mouth tastes a scale of 6 on a 10 but you can taste something is off. I tried the topping seperately....and thats what it was. It was so fishy and dry I didnt like the top at all. Yet the actual roll made it ok. But atleast the roll was 8 pieces so that was ok. Wouldn't recommend this one though. Then lastly the surprise of the night was sepia pleasure. Was not expecting this to be as good as it was. It was surprisingly great. Actually really great. Third next to lost rainbow. First is still rolling fire of course. Then once again we got ice cream which was just as good this time. GET IT. also went to doma which i heard was another popular sushi rest in the city, personally thought this was better than doma
(5)
nico t.
My favorite sushi spot in town. the decor is bright and cheery, but the lights are dim, creating a great sushi atmosphere. as others have said, it's a tight fit most of the time. the reasons i love this place start with its location. it happens to be just around the corner from my apartment. but that's not all. they have a good selection of vegetarian sushi options, which works well for weirdos like me that like sushi but don't eat fish. the wait staff are friendly and helpful, and the chefs will make stuff not on the menu if you ask nicely (not common among locals). the prices are about average for a decent sushi place, though the vegetarian tempura is a little pricey, but i can't resist. it's my favorite. they put a spicy mayo on it that is just the right amount of zing for me. the menu has a huge variety of "fusion" options in addition to standard sushi fare. they've even added a vegetarian option to the fusion menu, which i like to think was the result of my continuous efforts to get them to expand their veggie options. In short, if you're in the neighborhood and like sushi, eat here.
(4)
Bernadette F.
Amazing inventive sushi and cocktails that were very affordable. The special rolls were almost the normal price. Attentive service. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Josh W.
I think this is the best sushi spot in the city. After having to write a scathing review about another place in Philly, I felt it only just I write a nice review about a place I love going to. There's always something new to try, the atmosphere is great, the service is wonderful. The food is just excellent all around. Never had a bad meal here. I wish I could try everything but it will take me many moons and many stomachs. Go here if you love sushi. This is the place.
(5)
SF G.
Overall was disappointed with this restaurant. The server seemed lost most of the time. Also, when we made reservations for 12 they sent us to 3 different tables in separate sections of the restaurant...not quite the ambience we were looking for when sharing a meal together. Good selection of sake. Waitress recommended the Rolling Fire roll...it sounded so good. Unfortunately, it is so drenched in their spicy sauce that you can't really taste anything else in the roll. Who even knows if their fish is fresh since I couldn't discern the flavor. Other rolls I tried I was not in love with. Some were quite heavy handed. Overall, I prefer fresh fish that you can taste despite the competing flavors. The restaurant is trendy and chic but could use some help redecorating their menu and/or being more authentic.
(3)
Don K.
Went for my second time here this week. I thought this was some of the best sushi I have had in a while. Special rolls were all very good sized. All the fish tasted fresh. We had no problems with any of the rolls we ordered. Alcohol is expensive, which is really the only reason I dinged it a star. It looks like they have some good lunch specials, which I would love to check out some time.
(4)
Elena S.
This is a solid, consistently good sushi place that is decently priced and a great option for lunch or dinner (great lunch specials, btw). The quality of the sushi is really good - maybe not quite as great as Morimoto, but pretty darn close and way less expensive. And I think it's just as good as pricier sushi places, like Zama or Raw. The vibe is also modern and pretty, and the service is super friendly and efficient. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for something nicer than Mizu or Vic's, but you don't want to spend a fortune for sushi.
(4)
Patti F.
4 stars for being BYO & having reasonably priced delicious sushi. 3 stars for service. The space was intimate. I would recommend going on a week night to beat the crowd.
(4)
s l.
Great little (seriously, little) spot in Washington Sq West. It's rare that I leave a sushi place stuffed, but after the old school roll and the lipstick roll (I think?) and sharing an order of the very good, light agedashi tofu, I was just that. I wish I stopped at the Foodery first though. Next time I'll come armed with some Hitachino XH.
(4)
They Call Me L.
We were here on Saturday evening earlyish, Memorial Day weekend. It wasn't terribly busy. Service was good. Their sushi was tasty. We several rolls, including the vampire. Had the small sashimi, too, and that was really fresh and yummy. Beautiful space and decor.
(4)
Alex F.
Fat Salmon is the re-opened Shinju sushi- after eating at shinju only once and being very impressed, my girlfriend and i returned to Fat salmon to see what they had. The menu is same with an addition of more special rolls. The ambiance and size of the restuarant too are much better than the closet sized shinju. I would've given Fat Salmon 5 stars, however, there were 2 things that did not impress me. The service was not very good. We brought beers and it took about 10 minutes for a server to bring us a bottle opener, then when they did, they took it away so we had to go through waiting again when we had to open our next beers. it also took a little over an hour for us to get our food, even though we came for a late dinner and the crowd was dying down. This may be (and hopefully it is) just a product of opening a new restaruant, so if you go just make sure your mindful of waiting. The other thing is that they seem to be applying for their liquor licence. So no more BYOB, which is a shame. I love BYOB. All that aside, the food is Fantastic and well worth the wait! the servers are freindly even though they take awhile too.
(4)
meg B.
This place has such great ratings so my expectations were high when I had dinner here last night. I was so disappointed! The appetizer shumai and gyoza were not tasty, unsatisfying, and obviously store-bought frozen. I couldn't eat them. The fish itself was average. The sushi menu has more cooked fish options than raw ones. The guy at the next table asked the waitress "what's sashimi?" Seems like this place may attract patrons who are not very sushi-saavy? The rolls were ok and well-priced but definitely not special. I will not be coming back nor will I recommend this place to anyone.
(2)
Edu A.
Shinju used to be Philly's best kept secret sushi and rolls spot. Then the Yoo brothers gave us Fat Salmon, a very trendy spot just about across the street from Washington Square. Sophisticated ambience, excellent service, and definitely the best rolls in the city. And the price is great, which is different from other sushi places that are overpriced and not as good in quality or creativity. Highly recommended for lunch break if you are in Center City, or for a romantic evening. Very beautiful decor and lighting. Try Hako sushi, very delicious. And don't forget to try their spicy tuna crunch roll, my second favorite. And don't believe bad reviews of users that are apparently trying to advertise other restaurants of similar style, claiming to know their sushi. It's almost a crime to say thatcFat Salmon's food is not great. It is hands down excellent!! I'm a real costumer and I approve this message!
(5)
ivy h.
The interior here is beautiful and the food is great. Also hanging out with my girl Gina ;)
(5)
Gordon N.
WOW! great food and service. What more can one ask for.
(5)
Lauryn Z.
We had dinner at Shinju last night, and since my last review was about a year ago, it's time for an update and I'm happy to report that nothing has changed- the sushi is still the best I've ever had...the fish is always fresh & melt in your mouth delicious every time ...and the rolls are unique and creative, miso soup is excellent & its byob with the Foodery just around the corner. We left with a wonderful 'food high' totally wondering why we would ever bother going anywhere else in Philly for sushi...
(5)
Mindy Y.
Shinju is moving to 7th and Walnut.. and they're changing their name to Fat Salmon. Fat Salmon?? Yes, Fat Salmon.
(5)
Jon S.
We love this place for the vibe and the great, inventive food and we like the new location. We have eaten here several times and I guess it was usually half full. Tonight got there at 7:30, full house and unbelievably noisy. Tip: go early or go late.
(5)
K E.
Best sushi east of Broad. Probably my favorite sushi in the city.
(5)
Jay P.
Awesome, really fun and affordable sushi place. Try the bct! Service is acceptable, but sometimes a bit disappointing. Great dinner for the price.
(4)
Caitlin C.
This is a hidden BYOB gem that I am trying to tell all my I-think-I-know-it-all-Philly-foodie friends about. And now I am telling you. Let's start with their motto: "Till the fat salmon sings." This sushi joint is funny, creative and colorful. The walls are painted yellow, green and orange, but don't worry - it is dimly lit at night for date dinners as well. Although it is probably only 400 square feet, Shinju has a little Tiki Bar (aka: sushi bar covered in palm reeds) and about 10 tables. The walls are lined with a graphic artist's portrayal of dancing, cartoon-like sushi pieces. Anything you get here is going to be delectable. And I don't know what everyone's Genji deal is . . . this is a lot better! To make your choice a lot easier, I have created a menu for you and your loved ones. Caitlin's Menu: Beef Gyoza (Japanese dumpling) to start Rock & Roll (tuna, salmon, cucumber inside; tempura crunch outside) M & M (marinated beef inside) Spicy Tuna Crunch (tuna, tempura crunch, cucumber, tobiko) Green Tea Ice Cream At this point of the meal you are converted.
(5)
Mum D.
Fat Salmon, what an intriguing name for a restaurant. And where does a restaurant experience start? With the name. Then you walk in the door. At Fat Salmon you are greeted by a gorgeous hostess, who unlike many other places is also friendly and very accommodating. Step 3: server. Also friendly and ready to answer any questions we had. N4. Food. It was a lil strange we had to wait for a miso soup over 15 min considering the fact they were closing, but whatever. I won't nitpick, because it was good. Drinks? My Green tea sake shake was disappointing, should have had some simple syrup in it maybe and more flavor, but it was drinkable. Then came my bento box with seared salmon. My fish surpassed any expectations I had. I mean...this was CRISPY-SKINNED, PERFECTLY SEASONED, exploding with flavor! Way to go, Fat Salmon. The only thing on my plate I wasn't crazy about was the dumpling. It was heavy and chewy, too doughy and you could barely taste the filling. Otherwise , great food. I wish we had gone a lil earlier so they don't rush us out the door. Also glad the owner finally stopped charging his employees credit card transaction fees etc and they FINALLY get their tips in full...
(3)
Clarissa D.
One of my favorite places in the city. BYOB. Well priced, generous, and well made sushi dishes. Nice dark candle lit atmosphere. I come here all the time with my friend and our bill is usually $30 or less. They also do a great lunch special.
(5)
Kim C.
This is my go-to place for sushi. Nothing fancy, no frills, reasonably priced, they do takeout and delivery ($15 minimum), and fish has always tasted fresh. I've been going here and will continue to go here for all my sushi needs in Philadelphia.
(4)
Lisa B.
This is my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. The special rolls are creative, and their spicy rolls are just that. . .when they say spicy, they mean it! These are rolls with a kick! They are also large and very reasonably priced. Spicy Tuna melts in your mouth. Hako is my all-time favorite: inside Spicy Tuna and Crunchy, on top Eel & Tobiko with Eel sauce. Mmmm! Another delicious creation is the Volcano: inside Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado and on top Spicy Tuna with Wasabi Tobiko & Crunchies on the side. The Dancing Vampire is another winner: inside Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy while on top is Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy). I've taken out-of-towners here who have loved it. The bad part is that it's now become quite popular, is no longer BYOB, and is not very large. So the last 2 times we tried to drop in, we were met with an hour or more wait, forcing us to go elsewhere. And this is even during the week sometimes! So reservations are suggested.
(5)
Katy D.
I am in love! I have found a sushi place that is not overpriced (I'm looking at you, Raw) and has amazing quality. I went with my husband and got a "sushi for 2" platter. It came with miso soup and a salad. The sushi platter was a generous mix of nigiri, sashimi, maki, etc. It was enough for both of us to be full and happy and that's really all I can ask for. The service was just ok, but even at Shinju, they never really had the service part down. The fish was so fresh and the rolls were SO good. They did not use a ton of rice in each roll like other sushi places, which I like. I will definitely be back, fat salmon. Also, I thought the mural inside was pretty awesome. I do wish they were staying BYOB, but there's really not enough Sake options in the city stores anyway, so hopefully they can offer a good selection when they get their liquor license.
(5)
Mai H.
Pretty decent sushi for a decent price. Tonight the rice was a little mushy for some but still ok in my book. I love the volcano and dragon rolls. Service has always been a little slow but I don't mind a little slowness ar byo's. And speaking if which, not sure how much longer that will last since it looks as though they're applying for a liquor license. I'll still be coming back.
(4)
Bryce P.
I moved to Philadelphia recently, and was looking for a reliable place for sushi... Found it here at Fat Salmon... Staff is great, decor is modern/trendy. VERY reasonable prices for sushi, that in my opinion, is better than that of Morimoto. Try the Fancy Roll with Salmon. Currently BYOB (no corking fee), though they are getting their liquor license soon.
(5)
Gabrielle T.
Fantastic! I'm really picky about my sushi and it's been 6 months since I've had it; I'm from Boston and was convinced I'd never have anything as good as my favorite place back home... until I experienced Fat Salmon. I did some serious recon on this place before I made a reservation. I walked by a few times (it's just around the corner from my house) and it seems like it's always packed- good sign #1. I popped by and got a take-out menu and was amazed by the wide selection and the creative, tasty-sounding rolls. The third time I walked by, I stopped in to make a reservation for the following week and met with the hostess, who was awesome. Even though they had lots of reservations for the time we requested, she put us down for corner seats at the bar and said that she'd work on getting us a table. So group of friends and I went out to Fat Salmon on Tuesday night and we were all very impressed. We were happy to find that we'd ended up getting a nice little table for four in the back. The decor was great; we really liked the wallpaper and the mural featuring the pieces of tuna and salmon sashimi was so cute. The service was excellent as well... whoever yelped that it was bad must be mistaken. Our waitress, Jessica was extremely attentive, friendly, polite, and personable. The three of us were waiting for our fourth to arrive, and she came over to tell us that she'd try to put our order in before a 6-top that had just arrived because she didn't want us to have a long wait. She helped us choose our dishes and gave great advice on some tasty rolls that we ended up completely devouring. Needless to say, she got a big tip. Best part: It's a BYO, and if you bring cold beverages, (i.e., Asahi super cans) they'll keep them in the fridge until you're ready to imbibe. If you bring Sake, they take it back to the kitchen, warm it up, and bring it out in a lovely serving set for you. The food: everything was hands-down delectable. The four of us had green tea, our alcoholic beverages, some edamame, and miso soup to start with. The miso soup was some of the best I've ever had. Even my friend (who might be considered an expert in Japanese culture and cuisine) was impressed. We ordered the following rolls and ate every single piece: Hako Sushi, Rock and Roll (SO DELICIOUS), Yellow Tail Roll, Enkai, Spicy Tuna and Spicy Tuna Crunch (can't go wrong), Spider Roll (my favorite!), and Shiitake roll (decent). The best part is that it was all so tasty, and so affordable! I'm definitely going to become a regular at Fat Salmon and I highly recommend it to any sushi aficionados out there. Grab your chopsticks and enjoy!
(5)
Tom G.
I order sushi from this place at least once a week. While the space is small and the tables close together this somehow adds to the charm. The staff is always friendly and glad to see me (perhaps because I drop as much money as I do). When picking up takeout and bring the dog to pick up my order they not only bring my order outside they sometimes bring treats for the dog. My personal favorite is the Locust roll - if you go you MUST try this roll.
(5)
Angela C.
Update 1 year later - We have since come here many times and have learned what to order for the best experience! I always get the sashimi for 2, he gets 3 different kinds of rolls, usually a rainbow, a volcano (the spicy one?) and something else, wild card I suppose. You have to order it this way because if you say you are sharing, there will be LESS sashimi on the plate! Also, we get to share the soup and salad that comes with the sashimi meal. The fish, esp the salmon, has been melting in our mouths. I personally like the scallops and tuna. The white fish is good but after 2 pcs I would look for something else. This amount of food is just right for my hubby and I. Of course we bring our wine or beer. The bill usually comes out to $60 which is unheard of in Texas where we are from for this quality and quantity. As always, make sure you call ahead for a reservation! We went on Halloween early evening to celebrate our anniversary (only our "going out" one, not wedding) and to our surprise, this area was very quiet and we didn't see anyone with crazy costumes. Anyways, this place is tiny! With about 9 tables close together. But the decor is very mellow and pretty. You feel comfortable as soon as you step foot indoor. The service was good and attentative. We had about 6 rolls: 3 specialty, 2 traditional, 3 sashimi and brought our own white wine. Love BYOB places here. The tuna was OK, doesnt melt in your mouth but OK. Salmon was much better. The special rolls were the best. Ingredients were fresh and pairing were good. Not crazy outrageous, but good. Overall, for the price, which was super cheap compare to where we came from ($66 total) originally, it was a good experience. We will definitely go again for a low key special occasion. PS. It did start to get crowded later on around 8:30pm so I would recommend making reservations.
(5)
Charlie G.
This place is CLOSED. Windows papered over, etc... Glad I walked across town, NOT. There were indications that they would reopen. Call before going to this place. Did they move? Fat Salmon, maybe?
(1)
Patrick M.
I love shinju and I'm not even the biggest sushi fan in the world. Fresh, tasty, and inventive fare is the name of the game, all at very reasonable prices and BYOB to boot. It's an unassuming hole in the wall type place, with maybe eight tables and a sushi bar that seats 3-4, but whatever it lacks in size it more than makes up for in quality. My favorite sushi place hands down. My only complaint is I wish they'd switch from the smooth jazz soundtrack to something a bit more, um, palatable ;)
(5)
J B.
This place is great for any sushi lover. We have been three times and haven't had any complaints. There is a great selection on the menus and even some rolls that I have never seen before. The seafood is always fresh. The size of the restaurant is great as well and while giving you privacy at your table. We will return to Fat Salmon.
(5)
Mike H.
The sushi was definitely good quality and the prices aren't bad at about $5 for most order of nagiri (2 pieces) and $8-10 for most specialty maki. The service was fine--nothing amazing (i.e. they didn't rub my feet during dinner)--but I was completely happy with it. The decor was nice - the restaurant is smallish, but nice and intimate with low lights, nice decorations, candles on the tables to light everything, and hilarious dancing sashimi pieces decorating the walls. The only thing frustrating about the place is the reservation system. I walked in with a party of two at 7:40p and despite the fact that there were three empty tables for two, I was told that I had to wait 30-45 minutes to sit. I did get a call on my cell phone 20 minutes later telling me that there was a cancellation and an open table--I could take it, but I had to be done by 9:45p because there was another group coming in. Of course I could have made a reservation, but at a place that small with only 10ish tables, having so many of them reserved is problematic for walkins. Overall, I thought it was a great experience and I highly recommend it.
(4)
Marvin L.
was a big fan of shinju, now i am a huge fan of fat salmon great atmosphere creative rolls fresh fish friendly owner and servers see you again soon!
(5)
Jen K.
Fat Salmon is ok sushi. Its run of the mill. Not bad, not great, just kinda there.
(3)
Josephine A.
Just so everybody knows-- this place isn't located at 9th and locust anymore. It's at 7th and Walnut. And it's called Fat Salmon. The phone number hasn't changed.
(3)
Justin M.
great sushi! love the intimate atmosphere! i frequent this sushi spot often. one of my favorites.
(5)
Rachel W.
AMAZING! My favorite sushi place in the city. I only wish they could expand so we could get a seat easier but the food & Lena (our fave server) are the best. I can't wait for our photo to be added to the wall. :)
(5)
Amy A.
One of the best sushi places in Philly! Great service, great atmosphere. When I pick up my food, they will bring it outside for me because usually I will be walking my dog. Their spicy scallops over fried tofu is delicious and a must-have. I used to go to the Asian Bistro in Old City, but they've been cutting their portions and service is always slow. Make sure to call ahead at the Fat Salmon on weekends and make a reservation, they are usually packed.
(5)
Mike C.
I only order fat salmon for takeout, but it's always so delicious. I was very disappointed that they stopped being a BYOB right before I discovered this place. The rolls are always big portions compared to the other sushi places in center city that I've had. My girlfriend is obsessed with the yellowtail roll. So simple, yet so delicious. The miso soup isn't too salty, and is one of the better ones that I've had.
(5)
Erica S.
My friend and I went here for dinner because she was close with the owner... The place was tiny so it was hard to locate at first. There is no place to park so you need to really look for a spot before entering... Just like the outside, the inside was tiny as well. The service wasn't all that great though because they didn't directly approach us when we entered, didn't come by to take our orders until we waved our hands toward them, and the food took quite awhile to be served. Their sushi rolls were great (had Locuste, Rolling Fire, Rock and Roll) but I've tasted better... The place was tiny so it was very crowded and loud but I liked that. I think the food tastes better when eating around crowded area filled with people. I didn't get a chance for the dessert because of the parking spot and people waiting outside in the freezing cold but I guess that can wait until next time. Overall, I think this place is a good place to go to with a close friend or two.
(3)
Karen B.
Shinju is my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia (though I haven't been to some of the pricier places). I remember the restaurant being cozy and inviting, with fun and cheeky wall decor. The fish was fresh and delicious, and the special rolls were inventive in a tasty way. A couple of the rolls were rather spicy, but they were marked as such on the menu. Service was fairly prompt, although it was a bit understaffed and there were times when it was a bit difficult to catch our waitress. Still, the food more than made up for it. I will certainly go back!
(4)
y f.
Our go to sushi place in the city - have tried other sushi restaurants but always end up coming back to fat salmon. The highlights are their rolls, and, while their fish is excellent, they also have many veggie friendly options - in fact, my favorite roll is the old school (spicy mayo sauce is amazing!). Overall, awesome place with friendly & efficient service.
(5)
Eric W.
Delicious sushi (make sure to try a few of their special rolls) and nice atmosphere. Very affordable and our waitress was attentive and polite even though we stayed a little after closing time.
(5)
Kristin D.
I love this place. It is small and quaint, the sushi rolls are innovative and are good. Where can you go for sushi for 2 and get in and out under $50. I suppose its because it is BYOB, but is also the reason why l like it. The sushi blows Raw out of the water. I would not put it in the best sushi in the world category, but its pretty decent. The only complaint I have is we went last night, and when we sat down, there was only 1 other table occupied. Shortly after, 2 more tables arrived, and the waitress placed them on each side of us. It seems that the seating of tables should be more like the unspoken urinal rule (not that I would know). If at all possible don't place tables right next to each other. If it would have been busy, I wouldv'e understood.
(4)
Lori H.
I usually don't dine out on Saturday nights as I prefer to go out when restaurants are slower but I did. Maybe this attributed to the excruciatingly slow service but I am not likely to go back. I also did not care of the designer rolls that we purchased as they were too fragile to eat with chop sticks.
(3)
Eve G.
My sushi crusade brought me here (that and plus insistent recommendations from friends). There is something about eel, I must admit. And so we came. Atmosphere was somewhat cold. Blue light waves on the walls, grey bar area minimalistically crowded, dark host stand... not a color palette i normally associate with sushi spots, but hey, whatever, i dig it. kinda. Anyway, food itself was great. really good. spot on rolls, eel and what-not. bento boxes 2 times the size of zama's. I loved it. What I didnt love was our waitress telling us we can only order now and she wont be able to order anything else for us later. We came in at 2:10 for lunch and they were closing at 2:30. So that 2nd beer I wanted to order after I was done with my first one was out of my reach. I guess going over to the bar and getting a bottle would be rule breaking surpassed only by PDoA. Much No-No at Fat Salmon's. And of course we couldnt order desert or get coffee as we were finished with our entrees, cause our check was closed (and on the table BEFORE we got those entrees). So that was REALLY weird. Anyhow food itself was great. Concept and service? Not so much
(4)
lori m.
obsessed with this place. everything i've ever gotten here is awesome. the chilled tofu with seaweed salad is my favorite app...if you can, i'd call ahead for a reservation. save room for the fried ice cream...so good!
(5)
Sally f.
loved this place! what a fun time! beautiful interior! friendly service! delicious sushi!!!!!!!! cant get enough sushi!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
jack j.
I used to go to shinju (their old restaurant) or however you spell it, very often. I was nervous to see if the place would change i.e. price, food, ambience. I am happy to report that everything is the same if not better. The place is super modern and the food is still the best sushi philly has to offer. Awesome food, really inexpensive, nice people. It's still byob but not for long, they applied for a liquor license.
(5)
Justin E.
Best overall sushi experience I've had taking cost, quality, service into consideration. For a downtown address it's a little out of the way from everything else. I highly recommend Shinju.
(5)
Jennie K.
great service, great FRESH sushi, great variety on the menu, plus they just got a liquor license. who could ask for more??
(4)
Dana J.
Wait-how has bacon not been put into a sushi roll before? It's on everything else and yet Fat Salmon is the first sushi place I've ever been to that has it as a roll. Honestly, it gets 4 stars for this reason alone. This is a cute little sushi bar. It reminds me of a Japanese fast food restaurant with the cutesy character on the menu. It is small though, so even at 8 on a Tues we had to wait 20 minutes for a table. I liked the variety of special rolls they had. Besides the BCT which had the bacon, I tried several others that were all reasonably priced and fairly unique. It is easy to see why this is considered one of the best in Philly.
(4)
Brooke P.
I think I found my new favorite sushi spot in the city. We didn't have reservations on a Thursday night, and found that although it was pretty crowded, we were able to get seated in 5 minutes. The ambience of FS is trendy and chic, the design clean and simple with a high tech vibe. I love sashimi and the sashimi plate for 1 was definitely more than enough for one person- I actually shared it with my friend and it was still plenty. The feshness of the fish and the selection was awesome. The best sashimi- which doesn't surprise me, given the name of the establishment, was the salmon. Melted in my mouth. The combination of the food and the fact that it's a byob make this my new top spot in Philly. The only thing that could use a little working on is the timing of how the food is brought out, but the waiters were super helpful, very pleasant and did not rush us into ordering. I would go back to FS tonight and in fact, I already know where I'm going for my birthday in September!
(4)
Lowie T.
oh i love a good fatty salmon any day, so with a name like this it just calls to me! not only is the name delicious, it doesn't fail to deliver great sushi- fresh, generous portions, and at a great price! i especially love the lunch specials. i always get the (no surprise here) salmon special- salmon maki, w/ 2pcs nigiri, & sashimi - soup or salad for only $10.50! and it's one thing if the quality is good and it's cheap, but small...but the portions are just right. not ridiculously large that you feel skeptical, but definitely enough that it feels like an actual lunch deal. in general, their portions are pretty generous though, even for dinner. the place is very modern & trendy looking, lots of sea blue back light, but also casual at the same time. very versatile. a great place to have a casual dinner/quick lunch, as well as a very nice sit down special occasion dinner. the entrance is easy to miss walking down walnut street so keep your eyes peeled! don't be surprised if u walk by just to walk backwards again. i think this would also fall under "great date with great ambiance for an affordable price" spot =)
(4)
Jeremy G.
Reservations were easy and friendly. The decor and atmosphere was good. Visually, Fat Salmon looked excellent. The lighting is excellent. They could use some sound deadening material placed in the restaurant as all of the hard surfaces reflect every sound in the restaurant, making what could be a quiet intimate place very loud. The menu is creative. Staff is extremely friendly and professional. The reason I rated Fat Salmon one star is that they served us bad fish. My date had to run to the restroom three unhappy times during the meal. My stomach was considerably grumbly. I think it may have been the whitefish in one of the Makis that we ordered. I had high hopes for Fat Salmon, but will not be returning.
(1)
Nic H.
A decent, well-decorated sushi-bar near Independence Mall with the cutest mascot ever (a little dancing salmon sashimi). I've been here over 5 times and had good experiences. The warm sake is always good and house sake is a reasonable price. Wait staff is friendly and attentive. Make a reservation if you can because otherwise it might be tough to get in, especially on a weekend. There are a lot of dates going on here, my favorite thing to do is people watch the dates to see how they are going.
(4)
John N.
Came here for lunch two days ago. Having tried Raw and Morimoto, it was time to try something new in Philly. The location is very weird, maybe not where you'd expect to find a Japanese restaurant. The inside is indeed small, maybe a little too much so. However, it is decorated just fine, so it's not as if it's ugly or anything...just the dining room is a little on the tiny side! I got a spicy tuna and veggie tempura lunch bento with green tea, my friend just some sushi. I asked for separate checks, and was politely told that I couldn't do separate checks. Weird, somewhat inconveniencing, but whatever. Prices were about typical for a Japanese restaurant. The food though, was delicious. The sushi was very fresh and satisfying. The tempura was good too. I know it's hard to mess up fried vegetables, but the bento box was arranged very nicely, and everything tasted fresh, hot, and just delicious. Separating the food from the location, it is definitely five stars in taste. However, dining is more than just food, so I have to give Shinju a four, but the food is so good, and without a doubt a five/five. Will return and would highly recommend!
(4)
Priya H.
My husband and I love this place. It is right in our neighborhood, reasonably priced and consistently delicious. With innovative rolls like the Dancing Vampire and Old School, it's always a delightful surprise. Their more basic rolls are not to be missed either including the Tensai which was fantastic in its simplicity. Overall, a great addition to the neighborhood with nice ambiance, good prices and fresh and consistent sushi.
(4)
Bixley T.
Shinju is by far my favorite sushi place in the city. Yes it's tiny, yes it can get crowded, yes the rolls can sometimes be smaller than what you're used to, but the quality is outstanding. The special rolls are some of the most unique and well thought out combination's I've come across. Definitely try the "lipstick trace" (fantastically refreshing and vegetarian, meets your palet in between tastes like sorbet in between courses) and the "duo roll" (an eel masterpiece). If you're looking for better value stay of the special roll menu and go for standards like spicy tuna, etc. Or better yet check them out for lunch. Shinju has a special lunch menu at prices you cannot beat! Service is generally pleasant, and they light rock salt candles at night which lend to the ambiance. Oh! They have posters of sushi characters that are made to resemble movie posters- kitschy and adorable. Love this place!
(5)
Jason B.
Shinju is great. Tons of variety and really great combo rolls that you don't find at other places. Nice staff and reasonable prices. This is my number one sushi destination in Philly.
(5)
Hanan B.
Sometimes it takes a while for the food to get ready or for a hostess to come get you seated. In other times, all goes great. A hit or a miss with timing. But the actual food is great which makes it worth the wait. For lunch, the lunch menu combo is fabulous and very affordable. The dinner is also great and I like the modern ambiance. The waiters are always nice and professional. Again just the days when we have to wait before being seated or before the order is taken are the only down side but you will be happy when the food comes.
(5)
Gautam T.
I took my girlfriend here for a dinner to congratulate her for passing her board exams. She loves sushi and is very meticulous when determining if the sushi is amazing. This place passed with flying colors. I thought this was some of the best sushi in town and my girlfriend agreed. We had 4-5 different rolls. Tempura Shrimp, Scallop rolls, and two of their specialty rolls; one of them being a mexican roll. The mexican roll had pressed pico de gallo on the rice with salmon inside the roll. This was by far the best roll. It tasted like a little piece of mexico in your mouth. Absolutely phenomenal. Beside the food being awesome. The ambiance is quite swanky, it seriously feels like you're swimming and eating fresh fish. Oh yeah and did I mention this place is super cost effective.
(5)
Andrew H.
Been here a couple times now. The sushi is fun and inventive. You can stay with the traditional options or venture into their specialties. They have options that will meet the needs of everyone; including those who don't want raw fish or even people who don't like seafood. My favorite dish is the octopus appetizer. The staff is friendly and the decor is nice. My only complaint is that the seating is tight due to the small space of the restaurant.
(4)
Laura F.
I have been wanting to have sushi in the city for a while, and this was one of the places with the most good reviews. I think they have SO MANY reviews because of their location, not because it is amazing sushi. I got the Volcano Roll and a Yellowtail Roll. It was very fresh sushi and flavorful, just not the best sushi I've ever had. The volcano roll was spicy, but did not burn my mouth. Oh yeah and I had miso soup, it was very good. Prices were what I am used to paying - glad it was not overpriced for their location. Service was pretty slow, that was the biggest negative for me.
(4)
Anonymous P.
Overrated seems like... avg sushi realky nice decor but the serving size is small, seems like the fish isnt fresh , tempura was alright... Pass
(3)
Katherine M.
Best options for vegetarian sushi that I know of in Philadelphia. Service is always great. Love it!
(5)
B M.
Very good quality sushi for the price point. The special rolls are all delicious and some are really inventive. Contemporary atmosphere, good service, and inexpensive drinks round out the experience. One of the best sushi spots in Philadelphia, and by far the best when factoring in price. Skip the trendy rittenhouse and Starr sushi restaurants and just go here.
(5)
Jericho T.
This place is my go-to sushi place in Philly. The first time I came here I splurged on a sushi boat for 2 with my friend. I think I teared up a little when I took a bite of their salmon. I can literally write an essay about how their salmon is so fatty, tender, and melts in your mouth like butter but that wouldn't be reasonable. Their sushi presentation is beautiful of course, and their quality of fish is probably one of the best. Other than the food their interior is chic, but a little small which should be a warning to all of you so make sure you always reserve!
(5)
Ron H.
I was an early adopter of Fat Salmon, eating here 2-3x's a month since they first opened. I was really excited when they were a BYOB as I prefer a sparkling sake with my sushi and it its rare to find it at restaurants. For their first year, it was hands down the best. The rolls were massive, the rice was perfect in sweetness and arrived table side at the perfect temperature. The nigiri sushi was criss-cross scored and allowed the fish to perfectly lay over the rice while offering an ideal surface for dipping in soy. There are the usual restaurant specific rolls, but nothing really stood out quite like the B.C.T. Roll, a non-fish option consisting of crispy bacon, cucumber and tomato topped with avocado and spicy sauce. I moved out of the neighborhood and made the trip back after they won (what i thought was a well deserved) Best of Philly for 2012. Tonight, the restaurant was crowded, but with no reservation we were able to be sat at the sushi bar after only 10 minutes. My ice tea came in a can, unopened. I later ordered a diet coke and got the same unopened can with a glass of ice. Not what I'm expecting from a "best of" restaurant. The sushi came out on a black wooden tray, a little unappetizing, but the food had always been so good, I didn't mind. The BCT roll is still awesome, hihgly recommended and something I've never seen anywhere else. Had a few pieces of nigiri, but the tuna seemed almost pink in colr and "spongy"...it reminded me of what you get in the supermarket sushi counter. Looks like it had been sitting out all week and was borderline freezerburnt. The Red Snapper was fresh as always. The volcano roll seemed overly spicey and I couldn't eat more than two pieces before needing to order another drink to cool down my mouth, while the Kaze roll used the same bland tuna as the nigiri and for a lack of better term, tasted "fishy". Had 2 other specialty rolls but honestly don't remember what they were it was so bland. Service was slow and unattentive, I noticed the other tables around us also waiting for their serves and meals. It's a very trendy looking interior with bold white surfaces and counter and cool blue back lighting. This is definatly not a kid friendly restaurant! I don't know if they've just moved from a 5 to 4 star place but is disappointing due to my past 6 star experiences, or if it was just an off night, but this dinner was a 2-3 star experience at best, saved only by the BCT roll. When you can go into a supermarket and buy pre-packaged rolls of the same quality as the restaurant you're going to, why bother going? Look for a second follow-up review, I'm not giving up this fast, but my current recommendation to friends is Zama for the best sushi in Philly.
(3)
Ben S.
Love this place. The food's really delicious and fresh, the service is terrific, and it's cheap! Just went for dinner, had a roll and a salad and green tea and it came to 10 buckeroos. Awesome. Great date spot too.
(5)
Sue K.
I like this place . I like the way this place is set up and of course amazing Sushi !!!
(4)
Sandy X.
Soooo good! Staff was friendly and service was great. Sushi was amazing and I'll definitely be going back more often.
(4)
Shannon P.
Unfortunately my first impression of Fat Salmon was a tense encounter with the hostess, who informed us that we barely made the 15-minute "grace period" even though we were in the door within 10 minutes of our reservation time and had to wait roughly 6 for her attention. We had also attempted to call 3 times on our walk from the subway stop, only to get a busy signal. When I mentioned this to her she just sighed and said "Yeah our phone is always ringing" as if that was an acceptable response. Despite all that we were seated and treated to a delicious meal. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and ended up taking half of our order home. We got the Sushi for Two platter with miso soup and upgraded to two seaweed salads (rather than the basic green salad), edamame, and decided we had to order at least one special roll. The waitress recommended a few and of those we picked the Dancing Vampire. I really didn't like this roll - the mix of sweet and spicy didn't hit the right notes for me, but there are plenty of other options for us to try next time. In the end, Fat Salmon is not my favorite sushi in the city but I would happily return again. Just be sure to be at your reservation early!!
(4)
Job M.
The thing with sushi is, even when it's bad (but still fresh) it's still pretty good. This place is REALLY good, but it's still just sushi. The rolls are rolls, the fish is fresh, but it's nothing different you can;t just find anywhere else. One roll i will mention that I've never had before and is a must-have is the Old School Roll. It's just veggies but it's topped with sauteed onions and shiitake mushrooms. It's pretty GD amazing. This is the place you take a date who wants sushi. Pro Tip: Make a reservation. It's a small restaurant and it fills up quick.
(4)
Annie L.
This is a go to for sushi in the city. Their lunch specials are superb and I love dinner as well. We have our usual orders for rolls but will switch up the special rolls because they all are great! They don't use rice as fillers so the rolls are actually great quality.
(5)
Marie S.
4 stars and 440 reviews? Really? My review will deviate from the mean signicantly. My friends and I arrived Fat Salmon at 6:00pm on a Wednesday night. Despite not having a reservation, we were able to get seated right away. Together, we ordered the chirashi, sushi for 1, and spicy roll combo. We were promptly served salad and miso soup after ordering. But for the next hour, we watched jealously as patrons seated after us were served their meals first. When we finally received our entrees, it became evident that the jealousy we felt was unnecessary. The tuna did not taste right, the fluke was mushy, and the sushi rice was soft and underseasoned. Fat Salmon is clearly no haven for sushi purists. Maybe we should have ordered the more elaborate specialty rolls. Added toppings and sauces would have masked the horror beneath. If all you care about is ambiance, head over to Fat Salmon for your next dinner date. If service and quality matter to you, I strongly recommend going elsewhere.
(2)
Sabrina P.
Surprisingly, I have not written a review for Fat Salmon considering I eat here at least once a month. The sushi is excellent and at a very affordable price. The Seaweed Salad is delicious and a large enough portion for two people. This is my favorite appetizer along with the Fried Shrimp Dumpling which is to die for. My favorite rolls (in no particular order) are: Rolling Fire, Blossom, Hako, Salmon Yachi. The dessert is good too. The Mochi Ice Cream (Vanilla) is so good if you want to try something different! Why did I give it four stars instead of five? I wish they had more drink options. There is sake and wine. I would love a some kind of drink menu. We typically go with a group stay for a long time and I would love to have some drinks with my dinner. This brings me to one of my tips: If you're going to have more than a glass of wine, your best bet is to get a bottle. You get more bang for your buck this way. Most of the time I just put money towards the rolls since there is nothing very intriguing as far as drinks are concerned. The other reason I gave it four stars is because it is a bit crowded. The only and largest table is for six. These aren't monumental issues, but my reason for not giving five stars. Here is another tip: It is best to make a reservation, especially on the weekend! The staff is always very attentive and the food comes out fairly quickly, even on the weekend when they are at maximum capacity.
(4)
Anthony S.
After trying a couple sushi places in Philly so far, Fat Salmon is by far my favorite. To start, they have a phenomenal agedashi tofu. However they prepare the mushrooms to go on top of the tofu is superb, and the sauce/broth that it sits in is delicious. The sushi was very high quality. We got five rolls for two people, which is more than enough, and it was hard to decide which was my favorite. The fancy sushi definitely still stands out in my mind. The crunchiness of the tempura, and the root vegetables that it's served on really appeal to my texture pallet. We did try one roll that was a plum or fig paste with some other vegetable that I've never heard of. It wasn't terrible, and I wouldn't get that one again, but I wanted to try something new and I'm glad I did. Bottom line: I'm a fan of Fat Salmon and will definitely be back.
(5)
N B.
The food here is amazing. The customer service is great very nice atmosphere. Good prices. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Dan S.
I got a hardcore craving for sushi tonight and wanted to try Fat Salmon. It's a small restaurant, colorfully lit and modern looking. We were seated at the sushi bar where the chefs make the rolls. I wish you could see them a little more as it would be fun to watch them make them all. We ordered 5 rolls and an appetizer, the Agedashi Tofu, Spicy Tuna, Spider, Cucumber, Yellowtail, and House Special. The appetizer was absolutely delicious. The rolls came out on a platter together and each one was better than the last. I washed everything down with a Hitachino Ginger Ale, a great Japanese brew. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Deb S.
Salmon teriyaki was very good.
(3)
Matt K.
You know, my only problem with this place was that the green tea tasted like a frigid cup of pain. On a positive note, try the Philadelphia roll. I mean, they better damn well know how to make it.
(4)
Courtney C.
probably the best sushi I've ever had. EVER. & I've eaten a lot of sushi. rolls are unique & intriguing. I got the locust & the white forest. the white forest, with pico de gallo & a dollop of sour cream, is my absolute favorite- combines my most favorite flavors (Asian/Mexican) into one, amazing roll.
(5)
Eunni C.
Ordered my usual. Sashimi platter with salmon, salmon roe, Tuna and uni. They were somewhat flavorless. Rolls seemed good with all the sauces etc but sashimi wasn't that good. And personally I am not fan of blue neon light with food presentation. Not so appetizing.
(2)
Nico L.
I've been here once before. This time it was better. I went for lunch and ordered a roll and a Yakitori. A bit too many veggies that didn't mix well with the beef. The roll however, perfect. Clean. The server was prompt. Everything else was wonderful. Too bad the weather was cold.
(4)
Rozena R.
Wonderful spot! Ambiance was perfect. Everything I got was well prepared and filling, the amount you got was equivalent to the price. My friend ordered an eel roll and the chefs actually forgot to put eel! But they were more than accommodating for their mistake, quickly bringing out a fresh eel roll and then removing the price of the eel roll from the check. There is a reason they are doing well and this is why. I'd go again and again.
(5)
Ilker U.
Fat Salmon is one of the best sushi restaurants I have ever eaten. I always order seaweed salad if I am in a Japanese restaurant. Fat Salmon's seaweed salad is by far the best ever I have eaten in my life. It is so fresh and tasty we ordered the second one. Their fried shrimp dumpling is so delicious, we ordered 3 more orders after the first one. :) I don't order cooked sushi or rolls but my sister ordered one cooked beef and friend shrimp roll and they were both very tasty. No wonder why, we couldn't have a dinner without a reservation. I would strongly recommend Fat Salmon for sushi lovers.
(5)
Denise K.
This is my go to sushi place. It's affordable and the sushi is always so fresh and delicious!! It's usually easy to get a reservation. Don't forget to get the ice cream Mochi for dessert!!
(4)
Emma Mae V.
My boyfriend and I came to Fat Salmon on a Saturday night for our anniversary. I was surprised to see that the restaurant never got full, but it kept the noise level down and the environment soothing. I loved the decor and the lighting. It was darker, but still nice and romantic. I enjoyed being able to see the chefs counter in the middle of the restaurant, but it would have been cooler if their workspaces were exposed as well, allowing us to see them make the sushi. The sushi itself was very tasty, and we found that it was decently priced. However, had we ordered more than one roll each, our bill would have been a lot more. We both agreed that this would be a good compliment meal, but it would not be a reasonable full meal. We also ordered the fried vanilla ice cream. My boyfriend didn't care for the breading, and I only liked it while it was warm, which wasn't for very long. All in all, we had a really nice experience with good service. I would definitely return.
(5)
Brittany D.
Yum yum yum!!! Went here on a quick trip to Philly and it was really good. We sat down and started with drinks, lots of sake to choose from. They had a sake sampler so we first started with that. It was nice to have a variety to choose form, not many sushi places have the samplers. We picked an appetizer that caught both of our eyes, smoked squid salad. And there was so much sushi to choose from so it took awhile to pick out anything else. The appetizer was very very good. Fresh, not chewy at all. While having the appetizer my boyfriend was drinking his last glass in the sake sampler (comes with 3) and the glass just broke out of no where. They were very helpful with the situation and gave a whole new sampler complimentary. We did not even have to order anymore sake because of this, the samplers are generous pours. We then decided to pick out one of the rolls with eel (I love eel and this sushi place has the most eel I have seen on a menu) The roll was unabara, which was eel, masago, avocado, topped with eel, eel sauce, and wasabi tobiko. That was delicious! We also tried a vegetarian roll, something we never ordered before. It was the Midori roll. I was telling the waitress I don't love the rice and she went light on the rice for us which was very very nice. I was already getting full so we ordered shrimp shumai as well to finish up our order. These were delicious! I would recommend Fat Salmon for anyone looking for sushi in Philly. Very trendy interior, I could see it being a really cool late night place.
(5)
You W.
Good taste, for both food and atmosphere. Foods here have good looking, as well as fancy names.
(5)
Jianna E.
I absolutely love Fat Salmon! They have the best sushi I think I have ever had. They have a Rock N' Roll roll, which had I felt like I had died and gone to heaven! They also had an ice cream tempura dessert, which I devoured. It is Tuna, Salmon, Cucumber, with Crunchy and eel sauce on top. The restaurant has a modern vibe to it. If you love sushi, I highly recommend going to Fat Salmon
(5)
Anna Y.
This is my favorite sushi restaurant in the city ! I have been here quiet a few times and I am pleased each time. I always order miso soup and sashimi for two. The miso soup is good but I am still searching for THE ONE. Sashimi for two is way more than enough, you actually dont have to order any rolls, but their rolls are so good ! I have been trying 2-3 different rolls each time I come here and they were all pretty tasty. Sushi are well presented , I think they have really talented chefs. The decor here is cool, it's great for a date night . Waiters are nice and professional.
(4)
Aria S.
The best sushi I've had in my life! (And I've been to Japan!) I'm vegetarian, and usually sushi options are limited to avocado rolls/cucumber rolls, etc, which I still love, but this place was so innovative with the options, I was blown away. There were definitely at least 10 cool, interesting, vegetarian sushi options. The salad/soup is good too and the wine is a decent price! It is a really nice restaurant too with a cool, trendy feel. It gets loud though, so wouldn't recommend if you are trying to get to know someone. Fun for a girls night out! Get reservations though!
(5)
hibba u.
I finally went to Fat Salmon after walking by it daily for 2 months straight on the way to work. I met a friend for lunch, I was early but they still seated me which was great. We both ordered the lunch specials which are $14.50 and include soup or salad, not a bad deal. I got the crunchy spicy tuna and the shrimp tempura rolls, both of which are my go to when I am trying a new sushi place. The sushi was awesome and my friend loved his as well (don't remember what he got). We both were slow in ordering and the server didn't seem to mind which was great, we didn't feel rushed which I always appreciate. The sushi was fresh and the fish was all great quality. What more can you ask for? The only downside was that our food took exceptionally long to arrive considering it was lunch time, I know sometimes places do get busy and are backed up but this was longer than it should have been regardless. Not the end of the world but just annoying. The decor was trendy and the restaurant was very clean. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jean-David F.
I'm not a big sushi guy but I decided to give this place a try and I'm glad I did! Everything was great. We got the naked gyoza it was awesome. For entrees we got the super dragon and rolling fire and those were awesome. And we finished off with the fried ice cream which was awesome lol. And the prices were reasonably low!! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a cool sushi place. Oh and the service was very good.
(5)
Diana H.
It's a nice restaurant with a nice, modern decor. The food is also tasty, although I prefer Kabuki's sushi. When I came in on a Sunday night, as the first of a group of five, there was no one standing at the front desk by the door. I had never been here before, and because no one behind the bar/kitchen greeted me, I decided to walk into the restaurant to find someone. This was perhaps stupid of me, but I think it was just a sort of reflex, lol. The girl behind the bar was busy and said she'd be with me in a second. She then walked passed me on her way to her front desk station, and called me from there. This was a little awkward! I walked over, only to be walked back to where I came from and to be seated. Thank you! So, the sushi was good and the waitress was very nice. We all ordered hot tea on a cold winter night, and our mugs were never once empty before she poured us more of their delicious hot tea. She was also very patient when we just kept on chatting without deciding on what to eat. When we were close to finishing our dinner, one of my friends decided to order some food to take home to her husband. After we finished and paid for our dinner though, she had to ask for it again, as it seemed they had forgotten about it while they did charge her for it. Some minor details, but overall it was a nice dinner in a nice setting that wasn't too expensive.
(4)
William W.
The dancing vampire was very hot and spicy. I was humiliated by my friend cuz I usually considered myself can eat a lot of spicy:( Their sushi is typical American sushi. (in a good way) The dinning environment was very delightful. The pricing was average. I would recommend any American sushi lovers to visit their place.
(5)
A. P.
AMAZING selection of vegetarian sushi, not the usual boring cucumber/avocado stuff. Get the Old School roll if you like spicy. It's a really small place so make a reservation or be prepared to wait around.
(5)
Alex V.
Always full but you can sit by the bar! Quick service for quick dinner! Delivery / pick up is very convenient. California rolls are delicious!
(4)
paul k.
This is why I like Yelp. In Phily for a few hours and was craving sushi. Found the Fat Salmon and have to say was some of the best sushi I've ever had. We live in LA which has slime great places but the food here was so fresh, the service was very good and the prices reasonable
(5)
Jennifer G.
had a great time made reservations , parking was nearby. this was my very first visit and I will deff return again. prices were gook, saki was good and sushi was good. staff was very friendly.
(5)
Steve B.
As usual the yelp ratings were spot on. Had a great meal here. Super fresh and giant selection. Soup and salad came with the sushi platter for two. Great atmosphere too! Highly recommended.
(4)
Shyanie K.
Sushi here is amazing! We ordered the salmon sashimi, crunchy spicy salmon roll, scallop roll and 2 specialty rolls. The food was brought out very quickly, water glasses always stayed full and the waitress was always easy to reach! Will be back again to try more rolls!
(4)
Mattie C.
Birthday dinner! Boyfriend treated me to a very nice sashimi platter dinner here. Right off the bat I love the name of the place, and the atmosphere is very sleek and dark with blue neon lighting. We got a sashimi platter for two that came with miso soup and small salad. The side salad they served here was bigger than the those at most places and had more of the sauce on it - I was pleased. And the sashimi platter was excellent - the fish was very fresh and decently sized and, well, delicious. It is hard to describe sashimi really because it is so simple. I did not like the appetizer we got, which was fried tofu in spicy scallop sauce. The sauce was ick and the dish was generally really hard to eat. The tofu became gooey and stretchy in my chopsticks and I kept dropping it, splashing it in the sauce after I had just made an effort to wipe the sauce off. Besides the appetizer, the main meal and the ambiance were excellent. Service was prompt and friendly and the prices weren't outrageous. One BIG note though, others are reporting on here it is BYOB. It is NOT BYOB, I repeat, NOT. The waiter told us that they changed that policy so if you are planning on drinking your own drinks, skip it. Luckily, we had forgotten to stop at the liquor store while running late for our reservations and ended up just drinking some Kirins. I had a great time here and would definitely go back!
(4)
M N.
SOOOOO good. The sake bomb is so delicious. I can't even remember the names of all the different rolls I've had but I have never been disappointed!
(4)
Megan G.
Good sushi and good prices! I had the dancing vampire. It was good, a little spicy and a little crunchy but not too much of anything. Accommodating - they squeezed our large group in before the next one came and also made no fuss about splitting our checks which is just so appreciated.
(4)
Laura H.
I highly recommend getting their take-out lunch special, grabbing your hunny, and having a picnic in Washington Square Park. The park is right next door and offers a great alternative if you're not into the super trendy vibe that is Fat Salmon, which is pretty dark inside with electric blue lighting. It has a full bar which can really add to the price of the bill, especially when you're used to mostly byo sushi places. You also can't beat the lunch special, I usually get the one that allows you to pick 2 specialty rolls for $15. And the specialty rolls are awesome! That's why I recommend this for a lunch spot: stuff yourself, skip the bar and save sushi dinners for a BYO.
(4)
Sarah A.
I'm an avid sushi eater and I loooved Fat Salmon! I love a place where the rolls are big, so you don't feel like you are being ripped off. I left full, which rarely happens with sushi places. I had the Miss Sake Bomb and the Rock&Roll and for someone who usually doesn't steer away from the regular salmon roll it was awesome!!! Definitely in my top 3!
(5)
Connie L.
1. Variety 2. Fresh 3. Trendy ambience Consumed: (In order of preference) Lost Rainbow Dancing Vampire Miss Sake Bomb Spicy Tuna Crunch Shrimp Tempura Alaskan Roll I love sushi and hailing from Seattle, where there's always fresh seafood, this place is comparable! The sushi was very fresh and I really liked the variety of choices. The Lost Rainbow was my favorite. The texture and flavor was top notch. Dancing Vampire came closely second with the crunchiness and kick of chili flavor. Mmmm, I'm really inspired to embark on a sushi making adventure. Also, their rolls come out in sixes, go in a group of 3 or 6--perfect for sampling.
(4)
Dani M.
Great atmosphere and fantastic food! The sushi was the best I've ever had, along with the sashimi. However, the best part of the dinner had to be the mochi ice cream. Definitely a must!!! Will hope to come back to try even more sushi and sashimi.
(5)
Jonathan S.
I rarely review anything. This place is great.
(5)
Cindy T.
Love Fat Salmon. Been here a couple of times for date night and every time is a great experience. Went around 6pm both nights so no waiting but around the time we leave at 7:30p-8pm, there's a line of people waiting for tables. Sushi is fresh and there are a lot of options for the traditional roll or if you want something funky and different. Last week, we have the fried dumplings which were very flavorful and the veggie tempura which was a very large portion. Then we had a few specialty rolls. I really enjoyed the Fat Futo roll with all the different types of fish (salmon, tuna, yellowtail) in one roll and the M&M roll which had marinated beef in it. Everything was so delicious that even though we were full, we continued to eat so that's a good sign that the food was good but bad idea for us because we ended up in a food coma afterwards. With a full stomach, we still saved a little room for dessert. We picked the vanilla fried ice cream and that was also a large portion, enough to feed 4-5 people comfortably even though it was just the two of us. The tempura skin was a bit thick and not as crispy as what I would have liked but it's fried ice cream, so it was yummy either way.
(5)
Jevon Y.
Compared to Vic's, Fat Salmon is slightly more expensive, but also better quality. The food was good and the service staff was really friendly in explaining what the different types of rolls had. I would really recommend the Mr Shiro roll if you do go! I can't remember which roll was it exactly but it was more spicy than normal. You might want to be careful if you can't really eat spicy rolls! On a whole, the food was really good and I would definitely go back again!
(4)
Lea T.
Modern and casual this restaurant has a comfortable atmosphere without being pretentious. Ideal for a first date or dinner with friends, Fat Salmon is on the smaller side but still has some larger tables of groups 6-8. Reservations are suggest for parties larger than 4. Lunch Specials come with miso soup or salad and range from $7.00-$11.50 including sushi, maki, tempura lunch box, yakinku lunch box, or teriyaki lunch box. Fat Salmon offers tempura, tekiyaki, katsu, and yakiniku dinner entrees as well as fresh sushi. For something really special try one of the Fat Salmon speciality rolls. My favorites include the blossom roll, locust roll, rolling fire, or volcano roll. They also offer a variety of Japanese beer, sake, and wine if your interested. Really a great spot to check out if you want fresh and exciting sushi in a relaxed atmosphere :)
(4)
V. I.
Cute little place in Washington Square. Love how they have a sake sampler option, honestly haven't seen that before on a menu. The food and service is pretty average. The sushi selection they have is pretty creative, like the M & M or sake bomb roll but honestly I prefer more normal rolls like the dragon or spider roll.
(3)
James G.
There were seven of us for dinner and we all enjoyed our meals. My wife and I had the Sashimi for Two and it consisted of 30 pieces of fish all of which were very fresh. Others had Sushi platter, Chirashi, and Salmon Teriaki all of which were very good. For some reason, even though we live two blocks away, we haven't been here in years but certainly will be back.
(5)
J X.
Boyfriend was nice enough to treat me out when he came to visit. Everyone here was so nice! The waitress was so friendly and great at explaining the menu and the different rolls. I recommend the sashimi for one/two - they give generous portions for very reasonable prices. I LOVED the super white tuna.
(5)
Jasmine W.
Went here for my boyfriends birthday dinner earlier in the year and it was great! The ambiance is the selling factor, it's small and intimate, but very modern. The restaurant was fairly busy and filled close after we were seated. I order tempura which was very good and my boyfriend ordered three different sushi, all of which he enjoyed. Overall, it was a great experience, They even gave him Japanese ice cream on a beautiful decorated plate.
(4)
Ashley T.
the best AND I MEAN THE BEST sushi i have ever had in my life. went with 2 girlfriends. the 3 of us shared 5 rolls and it was perfect. - volcano roll - old school roll - blossom roll - dancing vampire roll - rolling fire roll honestly EVERY ROLL was amazing... you cant beat this place. There's a reason it's rated Philly #1 sushi place. will be back soon!!!
(5)
Flora W.
Went here with friend at late dinner time and no seat at all. We were told to be waiting for 30-40mins for seats at the bar. It took only like 10-15mins to get a phone call from the waitress that two seats were available. We had Sushi&Sashimi for 2 and it came out with 2 miso soups and 2 small salads. Everything was so delicious and fresh! I never forget the taste of sashimi, they were so goood.
(5)
Zikang H.
The ambient is really trendy. Fresh food, good service. But you have to wait 30 minuets to get your food if you are coming during 6-7 on weekends.
(4)
Lindsey E.
The atmosphere the food and the service was definitely excellent. It was a little cozy but definitely had great ambience. Also the plum sake wine was really good. And it was actually more affordable than I thought. And they have such a wide selection of sushi. The staff was attentive and kind and very prompt.
(4)
Tara L.
Good variety of sushi. The special rolls were relatively cheap, but the regular rolls were a little more expensive than usual. The service was really fast. Warning: the spicy tuna is actually really spicy! Really cute and intimate environment.
(4)
Ryan Z.
Philadelphia is lucky to have this gem of a restaurant! Fat Salmon has everything you could want in a restaurant let alone in a sushi joint. 1. The food is outstanding. Whether you are trying sushi for the first time or 100th, this place will always leave you satisfied and at an affordable price. The food from the kitchen is also on point and this is coming from someone who has dined in Tokyo and some of the best japanese/sushi restaurants in the US. 2. The service is fantastic. The owner/manager - Jack is everything you could want from someone who is running the restaurant. Unbelievably professional and so nice. I will be a customer for life. 3. Decor/ambiance is great. You almost feel as if you are in a trendy NYC spot. Short story- this place is 5.0/5.0, I would recommend it to anyone that lives in the area or visiting and looking for a great meal. (Luckily I live around the corner and come here once a week)
(5)
Susanna L.
Greatttt. Smaller than I pictured, but the decor was wonderful! It reminds me of the inside of spice 21. Like everyone said here, the wait was a little long- but I don't blame them because the place was packed for a friday night and there were like only 3 people working at the sushi. My friends and I ordered a whole bunch of sushi to share- I don't really remembered what we ordered but, the highlights was the special roll and the other special roll with the 4 pieces and really spicy, everything else was pretty good as well. Except, with all three of us agreeing that the lipstick green roll wasn't that great and the one with the huge cooked salmon on top was kind of gross. Other than that great experience. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. The sushi however is a little bit on the more expensive side, like 6-12 dollars depending on the roll.
(4)
K W.
i came here on recommendation from a friend who knows how much i love nigiri sushi and sashimi. i was super impressed with the fish i ordered. everything was incredibly fresh, and despite being pretty busy when i came to dine, the food came out quickly. this will be my go-to spot for reasonably priced sushi in philly.
(5)
Kimberly Y.
Disclaimer: I'm pretty picky with seafood and don't eat sushi at all. I came here because my roommates love sushi, which they seemed to really enjoy their sushi. But be warned: Fat Salmon doesn't have much else besides sushi. I have gotten the udon noodles (pretty good, but tiny portion), gyoza (average quality, so not great for the price), and katsu (pretty bad, to be honest). I even left some katsu on the plate because I couldn't force myself to finish. The atmosphere and lighting is very cool, but the service is lacking. Since the place is pretty small, there can be a long wait if you don't reserve before hand.
(3)
Liz F.
Fat Salmon is so great! It looks too hip to skip if you were to glance in from the outside, but it has a really approachable, friendly, casual environment inside. The sushi? Phenomenal. My new favorite. My dining partner got some interesting curried dish. I'm not sure what it was, but he loved it. I usually have to somewhat drag him to sushi but this place has solid non sushi options, too! They have an interesting selection of saki and japanese beers if you want to drink. The service here was great. We saw a waitress chase a guy down Walnut Street who left is leftovers on the table. That's devotion. Would I come back? Duh. All the time. AND they do take out for sushi on the go !
(5)
Candice M.
Best sushi in philly! My husband and I have been going here since they opened. We use to go to their previous location on locust street, years ago. We have no complaints. Can't get enough of this place!
(5)
Victoria B.
1- smelled bad 2- humid 3- horrible service 4- everything is either deep fried or with 'crab stick' 5- I felt sick after
(1)
Connie T.
I'll never return here again. The food here is pretty good but the service sucks! Come here if you want good food but bad service.
(1)
Ayana P.
Excellent sushi, horrible wait. No explanation, just money off the bill. The other half of our group, who were seated in a different area, finished eating by the time we got our food. It ruined what would have been a great experience at Fat Salmon.
(3)
Samantha Y.
There aren't many sushi places in Philly, and if there is, it's usually not fresh or authentic enough. Fat Salmon has been the best sushi I've had here! Absolutely delicious and the interior gives off a chill vibe to dine in!
(4)
Rita G.
Excellent fresh sushi and miso. Also had the seaweed salad-- yum. Clean bathrooms to boot. Fast friendly service. Excellent dinner choice.
(5)
Mel T.
I lived in Japan for seven years, so I'm pretty picky about the sushi I eat. Fat Salmon offerings are decent and definitely worth a visit. Large selection of sake which we tried and enjoyed. Server was attentive and knowledgeable. No doubt, I will return--probably for take-out. Great dinner!
(4)
Kiran S.
Came here for my birthday last week. To be honest, I really don't see the hype with this place. I've definitely tasted better sushi. The only thing I really enjoyed was the ambiance. Our food took almost 40 minutes to show up to our table... And I wouldn't call 6 pieces of sushi dinner. Definitely not coming back.
(2)
Cody M.
This is an awesome place. The sushi is fresh, service is great, and the non-sushi options are great. I ordered a pork katsu and spicy tuna crunch roll. I'm a pretty big eater, but I still ended up taking home some of the katsu. Great portions. I do wish they offered more non-sushi, Japanese entrees, but it's obviously a sushi restaurant.
(4)
Feli F.
A great way to impress sushi eaters and non-sushi eaters alike. There are a lot of impressive dishes for people with seafood allergies and vegans. I never leave this place anything but stuffed and the price is so right!
(5)
S. H.
Truly a delightful experience. I really loved both the sashimi and the cooked fish rolls. I just discovered my new favorite Japanese sushi restaurant. It's the best I've ever had. :) A treat, for sure.
(5)
Yenn N.
Had a dinner reservation here and so far this place gets 3 stars . I wish they had cocktails mixed drinks etc since they don't have a full bar , would've gone so well with my sushi dinner . Sushi was delicious , fresh , and fulfilling . But the seating gets packed so quickly so I had to make a reservation , that's why one star is subtracted from my review . Overall , I would go back again and try something else on their menu .
(3)
Chin R.
Great food and service, lots of sushi options. I went here with coworkers for a brunch and it was great.
(4)
Christine B.
I've been wanting to go to fat salmon for a long time, but I'm just not in that area very often. Finally had a chance to check it out in between some afternoon drinking and a birthday party. This was more of a snack spot so I just got a salmon avocado roll and the dancing vampire roll. They were both really good. I mostly eat the 3 for $10.95 roll specials, and it's amazing what a difference the good quality makes. The salmon pieces were huge and the avocado was perfectly ripe. The dancing vampire had a really nice spice. I kind of want to go back again immediately. Really wish they delivered.
(4)
Michael H.
This is probably our favorite sushi in Philly (Vic Sushi is probably tied, but totally different ambience). Everything is creative, fresh, and delicious. We've ordered for take-out and dined in - the real test of sushi is how it travels and this is great.
(5)
Ann S.
The night after my visit to Morimoto, I was still on a Japanese high, so I went to Fat Salmon for some more. I had some very tasty rolls (Blossom and shrimp tempura) and nigiri (salmon, smoked salmon, and mackerel). The fried beef gyoza was also very tasty. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant in general is quite trendy and attractive.
(5)
Helen N.
I love fat salmon, if you are like me, a person that love specialty rolls, then this is the place to go. Most sushi places in philly charges an arm and a leg for specialty rolls, but this place is reasonable. Their sashimi is average. Personal favorites: 1) Dancing Vampire 2) Mr Shiro 3) Hako Service is decent.
(5)
Lauren M.
If I could give a negative star I would, I went into this place at 9:30 with a girlfriend and we were meeting another friend. We sat down ordered and then were told that our friend who not be allowed to enter the restaurant if she wasn't by 9:45- mind you she was not eating and we had already ordered her a drink. All food was orders by 9:30. The waiter was very unprofessional. He bad mouthed the managers about how they had ridiculous rules but would not enforce them. Meanwhile the hostess starred at us the entire dinner. We were all excited to eat here and heard great reviews. We were let down by the unprofessional and rude staff. Compliments to the chef but, we will not come back.
(1)
Allen I.
I continually seem to keep coming here. The quality of the product is very fresh though it is not authentic it is still very good. I'm a sucker for that fat futo. My girlfriend loves coming to this place which has a strong reasonin which I give them business. Service is pretty good but you probably should make reservations
(4)
Holly V.
The food was ok. I got the the Philly role and spicy hand roll. both were just ok-nothing special. I went on a Sunday and service was still slow when no one was in there! The place is alright regarding decor. Small and nothing special. I heard so many great things about this place and was soooo disappointed :(
(2)
Jackie B.
This is one of the best sushi places I've eaten at in philly. I love it because it is the only place I've seen that actually gives you a large size piece of raw fish in or on your sushi roll. It is never mushy and all the rolls are creatively designed and have a unique combination of ingredients. Not to mention there are 20-30 rolls to choose from so you can always find something you like. The only downside is every time I try and make a reservation they are full unless you go really late so we usually do take out.
(5)
Courtney J.
I arrived at Fat Salmon with some co-workers just as they were opening for lunch. We'd heard great things about this place and were happy to finally check it out. The atmosphere was really nice. I liked the soft blue tinted lights and the modern white tables. We were seated after a few minutes. There are quite a few lunch specials to choose from ranging between $8 - $14. They all come with miso soup or your typical American Japanese restaurant ginger salad. The waitress came over to take our drink order. One person in my party ordered seltzer with lime. It took a while for the waitress to come back, but when she finally did, she told us that didn't have seltzer, but Perrier. My friend said that was fine. She disappeared for a while. We were ready to order and wondering when she'd come back. Finally she comes back with the drinks and said that they were still cutting the lime in the kitchen. Really? It takes that long to slice a lime wedge? We weren't off to the best start, but whatever. We were hungry. Finally, we ordered. I decided on the nigiri set with the salad. We ordered the vegetable tempura appetizer to share. The appetizer came out along with the lime slice. It was a pretty good amount of veggies and included broccoli, sweet potato, and bell peppers. The taste was fine, but it was just lukewarm. Tempura is so much better when it's fresh out of the oil. The other strange thing was the dipping sauce that accompanied it. It was not the usual dashi stock, but instead what tasted like a rice vinegar, soy, and shichimi togarashi (red pepper spice mix usually served with udon noodle soup). It wasn't bad, but just not what I'd serve with tempura. Also the container was too shallow to dip it in. Ten minutes later, when we only had one piece of tempura left, the waitress comes by and sets down a bowl of sauce on the table. We ask, "What's that?" She says, "Oh the sauce for that is supposed to be this, but you don't have to use it," and walks away. A little strange, and a little too late. Then the main course arrives. It looked really good. I ate a piece of nigiri and was turned off by the temperature. It tasted okay, but the whole piece was warm. I don't like my sushi cold, but it should be room temperature, not warm like it's been cooked. I think the sushi chef didn't fan the rice, and got in a hurry and used it before it cooled completely. The warm rice ended up heating the fish. Also, the rice itself was falling apart and it was hard to pick up the pieces. This also was most likely a result of improper cooling. I've never had that kind of problem before anywhere. What a disappointment. The fish itself was not nearly as good as Sagami in Jersey, or even remotely close to what I've had in Japan. I also tasted one of my co-workers rolls, and it was very bland. I'm glad I went for lunch and not dinner because at least I walked away disappointed without a huge bill. With lots of other places to go in Philly, Fat Salmon would not be at the top of my list for high quality sushi even though their dining room looks lovely.
(2)
Norma M.
The sushi was excellent and offered a wide variety. The portions are generous for the price and enough to share. The naked gyoza was a unique and delicious dish and I suggest you get two orders because you can't eat just one. The only reason I won't give it a 5 star is due to the service but I think it was due to a waiter who was new.
(4)
Tyshawn T.
Fried. Ice. Cream. DO IT! Fuka Roll and Rainbow Roll. DO IT! This place is hip. Very nice crowd. A good place for a date. The drinks were subpar though. I'd still return because the sushi was great.
(5)
Amanda C.
Review Summary: Ambience: 4/5 Food: 5/5 Service: 3/5 Yes it's true, the wait for food and seating can be long and this place is definitely a little pricier than some other sushi restaurants in town but oh, how I love it. When I do come here, I usually get their special rolls, which have all been so delicious. I especially like the Rolling Fire because of its extra spicy kick. I don't get the nigiri/sashimi very often, mostly because my poor wallet can't take the hit, but I once tried the mackerel and it was the best I've tasted in Philadelphia. Finish your meal off with a tasty plate of fried ice cream (this dish always makes me feel like a delighted child, but they've tweaked the ice cream just enough to kick things up a notch) and voila! Come to the Fat Salmon. You won't regret it.
(4)
Sherry T.
I was here a few years ago for a family line dinner with my sorority. I was immediately drawn in by the ambience. I feel like the atmosphere of a restaurant or any place at all can either add or take away from an experience. The decor definitely added to my experience here. The sushi and food was up to par and I'm not even that huge of a sushi fan.
(5)
Jennifer C.
This place is super trendy and cute. Totally love the atmosphere - it's definitely great for date night. The boy and I showed up for dinner at about 7PM and it only had a couple other tables. I was surprised. However, crowds started pouring in at about 7:45PM. For food, we shared a dancing vampire roll and some other special roll that I forgot. The dancing vampire was interesting, but tasty. We both had the chirashi. Fish tasted fresh. It was pretty filling, and it actually made me wish we didn't order the 2 special rolls. Service was excellent here. The waitresses came by to refill water, wipe down the table + check on us quite often, but not too intrusively. Only thing is...I think this place got us sick. Both of us had upset stomachs about 20 min after the meal. Maybe coincidence, maybe not. You make the call.
(4)
Erin B.
I'd heard a lot of great things about this restaurant from friends, yelpers, etc. In September / October my coworker and I grabbed a quick lunch while we waited to have our engagement rings cleaned over on jeweler's row. I remember the sushi being ok, not mind-blowing, but not horrible. (The only reason that I am giving the second star.) So, when my cousin from Jersey said he was in town and wanted to grab lunch near my office today, Fat Salmon it was. MAJOR MISTAKE OF THE DAY. Our first clue should have been the flightiness of the hostess. She literally took forever+ minutes to seat us, which is entirely unacceptable for a weekday lunch, especially when there were several tables available. We eventually decided to seat ourselves at the bar area. After perusing the menu, we were both sorta disappointed at the abundance of "crab stick" on the menu... (ain't nobody got no time for crab stick)! We then waited forever +2 minutes for the waitress to take our order. Forever+10 minutes later our food finally came and we were neither under or overwhelmed. The worst part of the lunch was the end... The waitress finally brought our card to us and b/c she took forever +20 minutes to fetch it, another waitress came over to pick it up and offered her apologies. At that point, our original waitress returned to our table and dropped off the credit card of a patron from another table - an identity thief's dream!
(2)
Ty B.
Fat Salmon saved my night. I was looking forward to the 1st date with a new guy I'm seeing. He loves sushi and I love Thai so we were going for Umai. Although Yelp told me Umai was open at 8pm on a Sunday night - it wasn't. I frantically searched for nearby sushi spots only to find Fat Salmon right.next.door. Not wanting to chance it I called and reserved a table with ease for 830pm. Fat Salmon is a bit small on the inside and dimly lit at the tables in the back which is where we sat, but because we reserved a table we didn't wait long at all. My date wanted to sit at the raw bar but unfortunately that's first come first serve. Besides you can order the same thing at a table. Sitting at the raw bar just gives you more of an authentic feel. The service was great. We sat down and were offered water. I'm a foodie so I always have a bunch of questions about how I can cater the menu to my needs. The waiter was really patient and detailed in explaining everything to us and offering suggestions. We ended up choosing an eel dish, a lava dish, a regular dish to share and the saki sampler. The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is because the wait for our food took forever! We were really hungry and disappointed that our first choice was a fail. (Umai serves sushi and Thai and Thai is my ultimate favorite cuisine). Our stomachs were grumbling as we sipped our starter beers. I understand though. Sushi is essentially raw food and I'm sure the cook took the proper precautions in preparing our meal but we were so hungry!! On Sundays Fat Salmon closes around 9 or 10. Remember our reservation was for 830. We ended up being one of the last tables eating. I'm pretty sure the group at the only other table were family or close friends of someone at Fat Salmon. The busboys started cleaning up tables and putting chairs away while we were still wrapping up. Not cool. Other than that the service, food and drinks were great. But I know now if I ever go back - go early.
(4)
Jackie S.
This place just rocks. Great, fresh sushi. Loved the atmosphere, and a really pretty walk through Washington square. One of the best sushi restaurants in the city.
(5)
Jia T.
My friend and I finished our dinner in 10 minutes but waited for exactly 43 minutes after we placed the order (According to my check-in history). There were 4 sushi chiefs at the sushi bar but it still took so long. I had Sleeping Volcano roll and Rolling Fire roll (See picture). The sushi tasted good but not worth for waiting so long.
(3)
Kelly P.
a solid 4 star experience. Shrimp shumai, gyoza, Alaskan roll, Dancing Vampire, Rolling Fire - all perfection. I could have done without the M&M roll. Something about marinated beef with all that raw fish just does not make sense. Service was good. Went on a Monday around 6:30 and didn't seem to need our reservations, but an hour later the place was packed.
(4)
Elle W.
This is by far my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. I have not had one thing that was not delicious. Last night I had the Blossom Roll and the Lipstick Trace and both were excellent. My fiance get's the Bacon Roll and loves it so much. Highly recommend this sushi.
(5)
Stephen K.
This is a must try once place! You will most likely go back. The quality and selection blow any other place out of the water. I am a fan of sushi and frequent a place in Princeton that has great value mixed with quality. The quality at Fat Salmon makes you believe they caught the fish minutes before your ordered. The price is amazing for being a high end restaurant in center city. Almost what you would pay per roll anywhere else, if not cheaper surprisingly. The decor is a very modern low lite vibe. The placed seems to be always packed and reservations are a must. On a Friday night, two friends and I made reservations at 7:30 for a 9pm table. We ordered the following items: Edamame ($4.50) Seaweed Salad ($6.00) BCT Roll ($9.50) INSIDE - Bacon, Cream Cheese, Tomato, Cucumber ON TOP - Avocado w/Spicy sauce Dancing Vampire Roll ($9.50) INSIDE - Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy ON TOP - Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy) Fancy Sushi Roll ($10.50) INSIDE - Rice wrapped with a piece of fish w/Spicy Chopped fish (tobiko,Scallions) ON TOP Wasabi Tobiko ON BOTTOM Crunchy Tempura Cruncy Spicy Tuna Roll ($6.00) Spicy tuna w/ Crunch and Masago Tekka Roll ($5.00) Tuna I could of skipped the Tuna Roll. Though a great classic and a good way to tell the overall quality of a place. I would have preferred an additional specialty roll. All of their speciality rolls we tried were amazing. Our favorite was the Fancy Sushi Roll, followed by the BCT. I mean come on! It has tons of bacon in each bite. How can you not love that.
(5)
Eric P.
Very nice, innovative sushi place in Center City Philadelphia. Stopped in on a Friday night. Called in for a last minute reservation (9:30 PM) and they were happy to seat us. This night we were in a sushi only mode, so we didn't venture out to try any of the Appetizers or Kitchen Specials that they had to offer. The menu had a nice array of different combinations of sushi. We opted for the Fancy Sushi, Locust, Hako, Rolling Fire and Dancing Vampire. All of them were delicious and fresh. I must say that they do go a tad bit overboard with their sauces on top of the sushi, so it detracts from the flavor of the fresh fish. Presentation was excellent, it all came out in one plate in a nice, appealing order. Service was top notch. Our waitress was very attentive, without being over bearing. We were the last people to leave their restaurant, but we never felt rushed. We couldn't leave without trying dessert, so we opted for the fried vanilla ice cream, which was amazing, and huge ! All in all, we would definitely return to Fat Salmon. A few weeks ago, we went to Zama, and this place blew Zama out of the water, in both food and service. Well done Fat Salmon !
(4)
Flavia C.
This is a great neighborhood spot. The decor is sexy & fun with nice lighting. They have lots of options when it comes to rolls, some are very inventive. I had the Rolling Fire & Dancing Vampire & some yellowtail. The sushi was fresh and the taste combos worked perfectly. The presentation was lovely & the service was attentive without being intrusive. The prices were very reasonable. I will def. go back
(4)
Katrina C.
What a fun spot for sushi! The specialty rolls are very "Americanized" but luckily I'm very American. I'm sure in some places it is sacrilege to glob spicy mayo all over your sushi, but I live for it. My party of 2 didn't have reservations on a Saturday night but luckily there were a couple spots right at the sushi bar. Pretty much everyone there appeared to be on a date. It has a very good vibe for that with the intimate tables and moody blue lighting. They had a team of at least 4-5 chefs behind the sushi bar cranking it out. We ordered a few different rolls with names I can't recall, but I made sure to take note of the Sepia Pleasure which was phenomenal. For 4 rolls and 2 drinks we left at about $40 per person with tip. I would definitely return.
(4)
Nicole O.
Best sushi in Philly. I could eat 1000 spicy tuna rolls and be happy. The fish is always fresh and served perfectly. GO!!
(4)
Codi B.
The seaweed salad was huge, and delicious. Crunchy eel roll of sorts was my favorite by far, with a spicy salmon in second. Three rolls, three apps, a bottle of broadbent, great service, and a bargain of $85 for a check. We'll be back!
(5)
Michael H.
The sushi had only gotten better now that they moved to their current location. The fancy Tuna and salmon skin rolls are amazing. Check them Out!!
(5)
Alicia J.
Food is so good....but the place is small.
(3)
Ashley S.
My boyfriend and I came here for lunch on Valentine's Day, and it was great! We shared the seaweed salad as an appetizer, and it was definitely enough for both of us. We ordered the spicy tuna, Alaskan, and Dragon rolls which were all excellent. They put all the sushi on one plate, but they split it up so that the Dragon roll divided our plate, and we had equal amounts of the tuna and salmon rolls on each of our "halves." They are definitely going for a trendy look for the restaurant, and the decor is modern with all white furniture and little lights hanging over each table that you can definitely hit your head on. A little corny. Otherwise, our waitress was really nice, and the food is great for the price!
(4)
Peter K.
Very good sushi in Philadelphia! A little trendy and expensive, but good.
(5)
Jennifer R.
Pretty expensive but pretty damned worth it. Absolutely incredible sushi. Very fresh and innovative. If you're a sake lover, they have a great sake sampler
(5)
Kelly S.
Sushi was good, had volcano roll, dragonfly and rainbow. Specialty rolls much better than hands rolls. Good service, nice ambiance. Perhaps a bit loud. Avocado salad left something to be desired...dressing was great, avocado a bit too firm.
(4)
Colleen M.
Being a vegetarian I am usually limited when it comes to Japanese food but I never turn down anything with avocado or veggie tempura so I tried Fat Salmon and was so excited to see several unique and delicious veggie roll options! I had the avocado salad which was a meal in itself but then still managed to house a Tofuholic roll which consisted of cooked and tempura veggies inside and tofu and delicious sauces on the outside. Yummyyyyyy. I will totally go back to try the other veg options!
(5)
Christina W.
I went with a group of six to Fat Salmon on an overwhelmingly hot day before heading over to Old City for First Friday. Our meal was refreshing, cost-effective, and surprisingly very filling. We had made a reservation for four (which was the maximum they allowed), but showed up with six, and they accommodated us very willingly, adding an extra table to ours. Attentive and helpful service overall. For a group of six, we ordered: 1. The mixed roll combo (Alaskan roll, spicy tuna roll, shrimp tempura roll, for $20 total) 2. The Dancing Vampire roll 3. The Miss Sake Bomb roll 4. The Lost Rainbow roll (for about $10-13 each). We were able to switch out the spicy tuna roll for the spicy tuna crunch roll for an additional dollar (the difference is fifty cents but they said they had to round up to the next dollar). Each type of roll came with six individual pieces, facilitating the sharing process. The combo came with a salad and a bowl of miso soup. The house dressing on the salad was creamy and acidic, with hints of sesame and ginger. We asked what the dressing contained and the waitress was able to list out all the ingredients for us. My favorite roll was the Lost Rainbow roll, which came with many different types of fish on the outside and crab stick on the inside along with masago (fish eggs) and crunch. My friends loved the Miss Sake Bomb roll, which has eel on the inside, cooked salmon on the outside, topped with tartar sauce. I thought that roll was a little too heavy for me, especially with the tartar sauce, but it was new and interesting for me to have cooked salmon combined with eel. I also enjoyed the Dancing Vampire, which has tuna and salmon wrapped around it and is topped with chili sauce, with only vegetables and crunch on the inside. Although the combo rolls were obviously not as exciting, they contained a very solid shrimp tempura roll and you can't really go wrong with spicy tuna crunch. The fish was very fresh. The bill came down to about $11 each (wow!), and although we were not expecting it to be adequately filling, we were full all night (with only a few bites of ice cream at Franklin Fountain to finish off the night). I'm guessing it was because the special rolls were so incredibly dense, so that was a nice surprise. Perfect for a hot summer day.
(5)
Irene Y.
Moved away from philadelphia 4 years ago, but recently on an east coast tour came back to fat salmon (previously known as Shinju) because this is hands-down our favorite sushi place ever. This is coming from someone who lives in LA two miles away from Little Tokyo. This place is a cannot-miss for anyone living in Philly. It's BYOB. Very reasonably priced. And their spicy tuna with crunch and fancy salmon roll.. there is nothing to compare to that. The old shinju was really romantic for a date-night. The new fat salmon is a little bit more modern appearing, but also seems well-lit.
(5)
Shannon S.
I love this restaurant! I have eaten in many times. I have sent people there who actually text me and say it was the best sushi they've had. The owner of Barsky's on jewelers row sent me here one day when I was famished after a day of looking at rings (seriously! it's hard work figuring out what you want on your hand the rest of your life). I think the ambiance is very hip. There are seats at the sushi bar, two- and four-person tables next to that in the front, and more seating plus a bigger table in the back. I always order dumplings but I think they changed the menu item when we came back for our last visit on 3/28. Anyway, the beef steamed dumplings are great but the sauce is different too, not really a ponzu. Still good. We also get sweet potato roll and this one was perfectly coated in panko, fried and then rolled. Tasted great. Usually I order a few other rolls but this time we came after an event because when I was craving nigiri so I got two pieces of salmon on rice (my usual). It melts in your mouth like butter. I never thought I would say this but I think I would rather eat a ton of salmon nigiri from Fat Salmon than a filet mignon from my favorite steakhouse. It's a close race, folks. I think we ordered a salmon roll too but not sure. I asked the waitress why the salmon here is so darn good and she asked the manager who said that they use only premium salmon in both the sushi and the rolls, which I guess means that other places use less desirable cuts of sushi in the rolls and maybe the sushi too. I believe him!!!!! We will always be coming back here.
(5)
Cat N.
I went here for my friend's birthday. I am in love with this place. The decor and ambiance is absolutely great. It looks so trendy. It's got mostly tables for two, but there are several tables for bigger groups towards the back. I met my friends here. They had already been seated. I work in the area. As soon as I sat down, someone came by to see if I wanted anything to drink. I ordered the Naked Tuna Gyoza and I ordered a Fancy Roll and a Rolling Fire Roll. I'm not sure about what my friends ordered. But OMG, the naked gyoza is AMAZING. I ordered it because I thought it was such a weird combination. Its like raw tuna on top of a thin chip with pico de gallo and sour cream on top. They give you about 5 of them for $7. It was SO good. It's such a weird but delectable combination. I love the presentation of their sushi. They have menus that show you what their specials look like. Although i feel like they could have better specials, they did have unique rolls that I've never seen before. My Fancy roll and my Rolling Fire were alot for myself and a friend to share. They're like a good size for a roll, but they also had a bunch of other things on top of the roll, which filled me up too. I really liked the Fancy roll. The Rolling Fire had so much going on on top of it that I just got full halfway in. It was still good, but if you're getting the Rolling Fire just for yourself, it might be all you need. The service was great. They were always filling up our drinks and checking up on us. It was a good amount of attention because sometimes its kind of annoying to be constantly checked up to the point where it is distracting to your conversation. I HAVE to bring my boyfriend back here! He would love this AND he needs to try the naked gyoza!! MUST TRY; Naked Tuna Gyoza (if you like tuna tartare, TRY THIS!), Fancy roll
(5)
Sam R.
Fat Salmon I wanted to like you. Your reviews seemed so promising which I why I chose to visit you... I was just here yesterday evening with a friend, to catch up & have some good sushi. They have a lot of options on their menu however, when you read what is in some of there special sushi rolls, it doesn't sound too appetizing. I saw bacon as on of their ingredients in one of there rolls. Bacon doesn't belong in sushi... I ordered the shrimp shumai as an appetizer, it was ok but, it was a little cold. For my entree I ordered the Lost Rainbow Roll & the Spicy Tuna Roll. I didn't like the flavor of my rolls. The spicy tuna was a little too spicy & salty. The Lost Rainbow Roll, I didn't like how crunchy it was & the sauce they used inside the roll. They also don't bring out appetizers & entrees together. You get yours as soon as it is prepared. If you go out to eat I feel that you should be served at the same time. Its rude to eat while someone else is waiting for there food and its awkward. They also took away our appetizer plates without, asking if we were done and I was still eating as our plates were being taken away. Wow ! I guess they had decided we were done with our appetizers at that moment. Then it took forever for my friends entree to come out & then they forgot the sashimi that she had ordered. When she reminded them they did bring it out, & told her "it was on the house." Which was nice. I did like the ambiance of the place & the modern decor. I did like the dim blue lighting, very calming.
(3)
Danielle D.
For me, a dining experience is about the quality of food and the service. The sushi here was some of the best sushi I've ever had in Philadelphia! However, holy lord the service was awful. Our waiter didn't check on us once and took forever to even ask us if we wanted a drink after being seated. I sat with an empty glass of wine and still no sign of waiter for waaaay to long. We would've stayed to order another drink & roll had service been even remotely decent but left instead. Do take out if they do it!!!
(3)
Kelly T.
Eventually, the money for my lunch was refunded to my card. However, I am still so disgusted with their attempt to serve me spoiled food and cover it up, that I am not upgrading my review.
(1)
Zack H.
Went here for a business lunch with a client of mine, his choice, I love sushi, so sounded great to me. This place did not disappoint, great food, great prices. We didn't have any cocktails, so I can't comment on how they were, however, the sushi was exceptional, particularly the salmon (hence the name). Had two different rolls, and sashimi and everything was outstanding. Would highly recommend this place, very reasonably priced too.
(5)
Joanna D.
I really like this place! I consistently have a great meal here. Service is good! Food is even better.. Love the blossom roll, spicy scallop roll and the salmon skin roll minus the eel sauce!
(4)
Megan M.
I've only eaten inside once, but I've grabbed sushi to go a bunch of times. The sushi is excellent, as is the decor. My only complaint is the very relaxed service. Sometimes take out is ready 20 min after stated time.
(4)
Di P.
I am giving 5 stars to a place that *almost* had crappy service. But i'm not a freakin' monster and the food was that perfect. The hostess was clearly super new to hosting (like fresh out of sophomore year of college) and the manager was obviously trying to teach her without completely holding her hand. It appeared to be rocket science for her to let us know how long the wait would be and I was basically putting words into her mouth ("like, fifteen minutes? fifteen minutes, right? i think you want to tell me fifteen minutes TOPS is the wait"). Almost-husband and I got four rolls listed in order of who I'm crushing on from most to least: tied for number 1: #1 Mr. Shiro: eel tempura, cucumber, crunchy inside and broiled white tuna with tomato on top. Time it took to eat the whole roll: 3 short frenzied minutes. #1 Tofuholic: Asparagus, Yam, Gourd Tempura w/Spicy sauce and Soy sauce & Mayo Marinated Tofu, Asparagus, Scallion, Cucumber,Tomato on top. Time it took to eat the roll: 10 minutes of me savoring every beautiful bite. #4: M & M: Marinated Beef, Cucumber, Oshinko and on top Spicy Crab Stick w/Scallion #3: Dancing Vampire (cucumber and asparagus in the inside, tuna and salmon in chili sauce on top) They were ALL great and if they kept on bringing me rolls I wouldn't stop eating. Which only happens to me when the sushi is really freakin' good. Usually all the raw fish kinda tops me out after a bit, but not here. No sireeeee. And I was happy that they had an awesome amount of vegetarian options. And lots of rolls without avocado (overshare: I'm newly allergic and it makes me puke immediately, so sad). Also, this place is in a sorta in-between neighborhood for going out-- like not a lot of people milling about, but inside of the restaurant was really trendy. Dark with neon blue lighting and all white mod furniture. But luckily I'm in a relationship where I now have "let myself go" and am okay wearing sneakers in a trendy restaurant without feeling psychotically self-conscious. Everyone else looked great so I felt like one screw-up is okay. But I promise to put myself together soon, baby. Side bar, they have a full bar, no longer a BYOB... however they're lacking in a cocktail menu. If they had some fun cocktails it would be FABULOUS. But I had a carafe of plum sake and let all my worries go.
(5)
Tiki S.
The restaurant is a little small but cozy. The wait can be a little long but we were lucky. We waited about 10 minutes before we were seated. The tea is self serve which was welcome on such a cold night. Each of the specialty rolls we ordered were very good. There was no roll we ordered that we didn't like. The service is fast and efficient. I'll definitely come back here again!
(4)
Megan D.
I was very happy to find this restaurant on a recent trip to Philadelphia--it definitely hit the spot! When we arrived around 7:30pm, the place was jam-packed and we had to make reservations to come back around 8:30pm to get a table. That ended up working really well because we went had a drink before dinner, but if you're looking to eat right away, I'd recommend calling ahead. I ordered the Rainbow roll and the Salmon Yaki roll and I enjoyed both. Their sushi had just the right ratio of rice to other ingredients, and the fish tasted very fresh. Plus, the wait staff was all very friendly and accommodating. If you're in town and in the mood for sushi, this place is a sure bet.
(4)
Alex H.
I'm a sushi fanatic; I could eat it morning, noon, and night. I do demand, however, that it be perfect in taste, color, variety, and presentation. I'm not quite ready to give Fat Salmon the kudos that other Yelpers have given it. I didn't feel that their sushi was the epitome of what good sushi is, but maybe I'm being a bit harsh. I started with the negimaki. The beef should have been the most tender cut; there was more al-dente-ness than I'm use to with this dish. The dish did come dressed with a variety of sauteed vegetables, even a few potatoes. You would have to accept that this is American-style Japanese food, however, because it's a bit unusual to serve it that way. I washed that down with a Hitachino Red Rice Ale. It was $10 bucks for a 12 oz. bottle....expensive! At least it was truly imported from Japan and not an Asahi or Sapporo from Molson in Canada or a Kirin Ichiban from the people at Budweiser. This is a general pet peeve of mind, by the way. For my main dish I had the Sushi Deluxe. The choice of fish was described in the menu as 'Tekka Maki & 11pcs Nigiri (Chef's Choice)'. It was all basically the same fish; at least, it tasted that way. The waitress went down the nicely stacked line of negori - "salmon, white tune, hamachi, maguro, etc., etc., etc." The whole time I was thinking to myself, "Where is the variety?". At most sushi joints, there's tamago, ikura, a cooked shrimp, some unagi in the mix, but not this place. At $23 bucks, I wasn't happy that I may have to order my favorite from the Ala Carte menu. I'm with Joelle B.... I, too, didn't feel there was an assortment of fresh (fish) selections. Variety should be the name of the game. Why have 'gari' (picked ginger) to clean the palate when the fish looks similar and taste basically the same. I was personally disappointed in Fat Salmon.
(2)
Geoff c.
I was in a rush, so this may not be the best review... but, oh well. The rolls were really good. Flavorful. Well-put. Even the california tasted good (caveat - i would not go to a sushi place and judge from their california rolls, but friends in my party happened to get it with the sushi-for-2 plate and i tried it). Tried a variety of 5 of their other special and regular rolls. They were all pretty good. The ngiri was not the best I've had, but it'll do. The venue is a sort of modern-fusion decor. Not much space inside. Staff was accommodating and attentive. I'll have to come back to try more, when I'm not in a hurry.
(4)
Kitty L.
I'll be straight to the point. I had better sushi. I went to a place with faster service and tastier food. I got to the restaurant a little past 6pm. I don't think we placed our order until 6:45pm? We ordered about 5 special rolls. Our food didn't come out until around at least half an hour later. Really? The restaurant wasn't even that full. Why does it take that long? We asked our server and she said usually special rolls take 30 minutes to make. Wow, now you tell us??? The special roll menu wasn't all the fascinating. Most of the crab sushi rolls were made with crab imitations and most of them were spicy. I can't eat a lot of spicy stuff but this never bothers me when I go out to eat as there are always several things for me to pick from that are not spicy. This restaurant wasn't the case. Out of the 5 special rolls we ordered, I only ate 1. I had to order other more traditional rolls to fill myself up. I don't need to go here for traditional rolls. You go to Sagami for that! Ok that's enough. I don't think I'll come back to this place.
(2)
Regina F.
Fat Salmon is pretty much the only sushi place that could make you roll out like a Fat Salmon. If you're craving sashimi or sushi even, don't come here. The tamago and roe sushi were only okay...but if you're looking for adventure and rolls as crazy, delicious and colorful as Carnival, scurry on over to a booth at Fat Salmon. The Rolling Fire takes the spice of Sichuan fare and blends it with the delicacy of Japanese cuisine. It's spicy enough to nix the wasabi and just eat plain. It's moist enough to forget the soy sauce before plummeting a very large cylinder into your mouth. The spicy scallop is expertly melded with crab stick in an aioli unlike any other - it's sirracha, yes, but there's chili oil too. The fried scallions on top make for an artful presentation. Inside, you'll enjoy shrimp tempura and an alleged cucumber...but you probably won't notice the cucumber other than its crunch. The cooling powers of that watery melon are defeated by the spice of the roll. The Dancing Vampire was okay, but by the time I got to taste it, my papillae had their expectations risen too high by the Rolling Fire. While I would contend that I should go back and try the Dancing Vampire again with a clean palate, this would mean abandoning the Rolling Fire, which is really just silly and an abomination against the Fat Salmon.
(4)
Ha T.
I've only gotten take out for lunch once from Fat Salmon, and I was really impressed! I ordered the Alaskan Roll lunch special, which comes with two pieces of salmon sashimi, two pieces of salmon nigiri, and a soup or salad. The salmon was GORGEOUS! The color was so vibrant and glossy. The texture, so melt-in-your-mouth tender and creamy. I've nver been so in awe from the presentation of just the fish itself, rather than the arrangement of several fancy sushi rolls presented together. For $11.35 including tax, for the quantity of sushi and fish, the size of the salad (bigger than many other salads I've gotten with sushi lunch specials), and the quality of that fish, made this lunch special an absolute steal! It might not be as filling as other 3-roll lunch specials, but it was quite the bang for your buck. Accompanied from an iced tea from the Cooperage cafe and set in Washington Square Park on that gorgeous afternoon made for an phenomenal lunch break. I can't wait to come back to Fat Salmon and try everything else!
(5)
Rupal P.
As a vegetarian, the food here is wonderful! The vegetable fried goyza is delicious and the best I've ever had. Love the Veggie tempura and the Tufoholic rolls!
(5)
Liz S.
The niguri had pefectly cut fish over a generous blob of wasabi, the entire meal wiuld have been amazing except for the oder of the chop sticks. Whatever brand they use treats the wood in something that just reaks and completely killed my appetite...
(3)
Laura C.
The sushi here is slightly pricier than average but it's totally worth it. I'm so happy that I discovered such a fantastic sushi restaurant in the Washington Sq., West neighborhood. I ate at the sushi bar the other day and my overall experience was very positive. I've only been here once but once was enough to establish it as my go-to sushi restaurant.
(5)
Elizabeth D.
I have been wanting to try Fat Salmon for a while and since we were in the area, we popped in for dinner. They do take reservations (via phone) and I was surprised to see how busy it was for a Wednesday night! The restaurant is small, but with very cool decor - I loved the light fixtures! The have lots of 2 tops, and a big sushi bar. After a brief wait, we were seating at the sushi bar. Deceptively large amount of leg room which was welcome! Their house pinot grigio was pretty good for $6 & they have a large variety of sake and beer. We split the spicy roll combo ($20) & the Volcano roll ($9.50). The combo comes with miso soup and ginger salad (which we split) - both were pretty standard for sushi places. We both enjoyed all the rolls - the presentation is great and the fish was very fresh. I will say that it was not THAT spicy, but everything did have a nice kick. Just don't expect to be blown away by spiciness. The prices are right on point and the service was very good. It's a great sushi place in Washington Square.
(4)
Vivian T.
This place is yummy for special/funky rolls. you have to adjust your expectation of "japanese food" when you are coming here. sure it's japanese food but I would almost say this is like Americanized japanese food. it's not a place where I would go to get real sushi or sashimi but it is a good place for different rolls that are basically different permutations of the same ingredients: eel, avocado, salmon, tempura, soft shell crab, tuna, spicy tuna, mixed with permutations of outside in roll, inside out roll, spicy or not spicy sauces, etc. Rolling fire, mr. shiro, white forrest, I can't even remember the ridculous names but the point is, they are all yummy and delicious. Besides the crazy roll, they also have the usual suspects: california, dragon, veggies rolls etc. they even have regular japanese stuff to order but I think your best bet are the delicious rolls!
(3)
Rebecca N.
Delightfully corny decor, a selection of predictable items, a few good beers, a few good wines, friendly and prompt servers, and reasonable prices: the perfect place to take a platonic lunch date. There are so many other fish in the sea.
(3)
Larisa S.
The atmosphere is fun. The food tastes great and the prices are somewhere in the middle between the dinky take-out and Marimoto. The food came out very quickly. I also like the location right by the park. I would definitely come here again.
(5)
Adam G.
Wow. A friend and I went here on a busy Saturday night. Although the waitstaff was pretty slow, the food was excellent. My date and I ordered four rolls of different varieties of taste and texture. It was outstanding. I can say this visit presented the best sushi I had ever eaten. I will be returning. I do wish they had a more diverse dessert menu, though.
(5)
Jo L.
Just came here tonight with my boyfriend for our anniversary and because there was a 20% discount from the 2012 Dine Out Japan. The first thing I noticed here were the blue lights! Love it! And the lamp they had next to the receptionist booth. Then I noticed how there were mostly business looking people there. Probably just got off of work. And finally, I noticed that if it was a guy and a girl dining out, all the girls but one sat on the inside booth and the guys sat on the outside. Time for sushi! We ordered the Hako, Katsu maki, Lost Rainbow, M & M, and Shrimp tempura. The boyfriend looked at the picture and the first thing he said he wanted was the "box shaped one" (Hako) only because it was box shaped! =P But out of the 5 that we ordered, that was my favorite one. We didn't really like the M & M but I think because it wasn't fish but instead was beef. But then again.. We ordered it because we wanted to try beef sushi. Random other things: Their menu cover is really cute and I like their water glass. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Veronica F.
I work in the neighborhood. Everyone RAVES about Fat Salmon. The truth is, it's really good. The restaurant is a little small, the food is a bit overpriced, and the service can be a little slow. That being said, the food is pretty consistent and high quality. The best value for lunch is the bento box, they are quote generous-- easily a "dinner portion" size. Standouts for me are the veggie tempura and the Lipstick Trace roll (squash and mushroom topped with spicy avocado sauce). My meat eating friends claim the beef teriyaki is the best in town. For a consistent, quality Japanese lunch or dinner in Old City-- this is a good choice.
(4)
Karen F.
I had wanted to try Fat Salmon for quite some time and yesterday I got a chance to have lunch there. For $13.50 they were offering a special holiday lunch. You got a choice of soup or salad (I had the iceberg salad with tasty ginger dressing), and either 2 maki, 1 maki and 1 cooked item or 2 cooked items. I chose 2 of the specialty maki which normally are $7.50 - 9.50 on their own - so this lunch was a good value. Ask for sauces on the side - alot of the special rolls are loaded up with semi-spicy mayo and tempura crunch. The regular lunch menu is also a great price point. Dinner prices are a little high but not crazy. Cool, icy-blue decor made it feel like Christmas. Service was quick and efficient. I can't wait to go back. I will try the sashimi and then render a TRUE verdict. For now though, I still stand that DOMA is the best sushi spot goin' in Philly these days. (Save for Morimoto which is cost prohibitive.)
(4)
D K.
BEST SUSHI EVER. Seriously the salmon selection here is totally awesome. Great yellowtail toro great salmon toro and a variety of other types of very fresh fish. AND if you like dessert, be sure to try the tempura ice cream. Holy shit they bring a softball sized piece cut into quarters with cherry and chocolate sauce. Really good for two but if you are like me...just for one!!! A must try for any sushi lover in the area. The decor is modern and dress is casual. Great for business dinners, or if you wanna just stuff your face with great fish and great sake.
(5)
Sarah T.
GREAT lunch specials! Just make sure you have a little time since they get really busy at lunch time. But they do a good job trying to accommodate everyone :)
(4)
Andrea R.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. My boyfriend and I wanted to go out for sushi one night and just chose this place at random, ends up being our restaurant. We go there regularly and the Fancy Sushi is our favorite. Don't forget to try to mochi ice cream for dessert!
(5)
Isabelle K.
I love sushi, and presumably so do you. And if you love sushi, you'll love Fat Salmon. I finally made it out here with my boyfriend after hearing many good reviews from friends. We were looking for quick, good sushi with a casual vibe. Fat Salmon was exactly what we wanted. The restaurant itself is gorgeous! It has a dimly lit, ultra modern date night atmosphere. Whether you're taking out your honey or your bff, this is an ideal spot to grab dinner. Style's important but we came for one reason: the food. Their menu is extensive, and it was a nice touch that their signature roll menu features pictures of the rolls. Normally, I go straight for signature rolls but none sounded that interesting so I kept it simple with a tuna roll, a Kai roll (an oversized roll with eel, tuna, shrimp tempura and avocado, and an order of salmon sashimi. Nothing too fancy but man, was it good! Their rice is a little firm and has good flavor. The fish was very fresh, even late on a Sunday night. My boyfriend kept it simple and got a yellow tail roll, a spicy tuna roll, and a shrimp tempura roll, all of which he loved. We also started with grilled baby octopus as an appetizer, which was great in a ponzu sauce over a bed of veggies. Complete with two glasses of wine, and a MASSIVE ball of tempura red bean ice cream (that tasted like it was coated in a light fried sugar cookie!!!! yummmm), the bill only came to $80, which is a steal in my book for that much sushi! I would give it 5 stars if the signature rolls were more creative but for freshness and flavor, I'll definitely be back soon!!!
(4)
Giedrius T.
Ok so I'm hold right now for like 10 minutes it's 7:27 so the manager knows who was a hostess at that time. I can hear what's happening on the other line and the girls is not really busy. She's laughing etc... Why am I on hold I don't know. Food is great though. Get more professional people to work for you
(1)
Matt O.
I just moved down to Philly not that long ago from NYC and I know good sushi when I eat it. This was by far not the best but it was pretty damn good. Cool ambiance in the place with a large menu. I was pretty impressed by the sushi and the freshness. Tuna sandwich rolls were great. Frequented this place a few times and dont plan on stopping anytime soon
(4)
Kirby J.
A bit pricier than most sushi places in town, but the rolls are huge. Seating is kind of cramped- if you have a coat or bag, there's not going to be much room for it. Huge drink menu, lots of veg options.
(4)
Cassidi B.
I surprised my husband to a sushi dinner for his birthday. I have heard a lot of great things about Fat Salmon and they were all true! We made a reservation online and the day before they called to confirm. Which was really nice! When we arrived the table was ready for us. The restaurant was kind of cheesy modern but for a sushi restaurant it was perfect decor. Our sever was friendly, quick, and very knowledge. The sushi was affordable and very tasty! For 5 people we only spent $160! We got a bunch of their special rolls and they were really good. I would come back here again and again.
(5)
Jess M.
YUM. just super good sushi- definitely my favorite place. Cool ambiance too.
(5)
Karen Y.
for a place called fat salmon i expected salmon belly, but it's not really a place i would order nigri or sashimi or even the katsu don. paying more than $10 for this dish is highway robbery. I have been to nicer japanese restaurants in california that don't even charge this much for it. but i suppose it's the price to pay for people who are eating with sushi lover that don't eat fish but want meat. it's definitely fusion, japanese-ish restaurant. however, i wouldn't pass up going here with vegetarian friends. there is a good selection of rolls for them and i much prefer the vegetarian options here more than the fish rolls. the rolls are definitely combinations that are not found elsewhere and delicious. the wine list is well paired with the food they serve. service is attentive and it was a nice place to get together for a night among friends.
(3)
Ky T.
Great sushi and a good variety of rolls. My favorite thing about this place is the selection of spicy rolls. They have a variety not just the standard spicy chopped tuna/salmon and the rolls are actually spicy.
(4)
Traci R.
I never give 5 stars because I can always find SOMETHING that wasn't quite up to par. That was not the case with Fat Salmon. In summary: The food was flawless, the service was speedy and friendly, and the ambiance was trendy but not overly so. In explanation: It was a double date and to start we ordered the Baby Octopus and theTofu. I was a bit wary because I don't eat either of those foods BUT they were both awesome! The baby octopus was my favorite for sure. As a card-carrying Meateater, i had no desire to try the tofu but I'm so glad I did! My date and i ordered the Hako, Sleeping Volcano, and the White Forest rolls. ughhuiasudhaskudh goodness gracious they were good!! The White Forest roll was so unexpected because it had pico de gallo and sour cream on it but i highly recommend it! Definitely not good for big groups. But for smaller groups, it wasn't too loud in there or too dark. Just a perfect little sushi bar!!
(5)
Rob Z.
BIG SUSHI So l didn't really know what to expect but heard of this place being a secret hot spot. My girlfriend's friend suggested it and we came here on a double date. So the prices are fair and l was thinking of eating a little incase I'd empty my wallet and still be hungry like many other sushi places. After our order came, l realized why the place is named Fat Salmon. The rolls are noticeably bigger. Probably around 50% bigger in mass overall. With this knowledge, the prices become very fair lol. So me and my girlfriend split 5 rolls and realized we wouldn't finish it. The sushi in general was great and l always had to bite half of it each time. Environment wise, it was great for a date. A bit corky and trendy. I'm not dating master but l think this place would impress your date if they've never been here before. Service was friendly and I plan to come back here again sometime very soon. sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/h… sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/h…
(4)
Jason B.
Great sushi, great service, we usually stop here before we see a show. Usually make reservations, you never know. One of our favorite stops for great sushi.
(5)
Gary G.
This place is quickly becoming my go to for more expensive sushi places in the city. Raw used to be my go to- but either they have fallen off or I just like this joint better. The rolls are good, the ambiance has a nice feel to it, even though its small and your basically touching elbows. Go check it out if your around there, you won't regret it, its better than Raw and Crazy Sushi.
(4)
Amar R.
Old school veggie sushi is amazing and so are the salmon rolls. The green tea icecream tempura is a definite order everytime I go here!!!
(5)
Taleah J.
I consider myself a sushi-phile. I love it. I actually stumbled upon this place because I was looking for another sushi spot (Fusion Grille) which closed down. Lo and behold a block away, Fat Salmon pops up. I ordered the lunch special for 14.50 which came with miso soup. I ordered something amazing called a "Dancing Vampire" and the Salmon Teryaki. Well..... the Dancing Vampire has to be Jesus Christs favorite food because its soooooo good. Imagine this, Cucumber.. Asparagus...Crunchy bits..topped with Tuna and Salmon in Chili sauce. Are you still there? Or did you leave to go get some yourself? This place gets 4 stars because not only is the quality of the sushi stellar, they also go the extra mile with presentation. I wish I had taken a picture of my food, but alas... I tore into it faster than Lindsay Lohan and a vial of cocaine. I will definitely be frequenting this spot more often. P.s.- my only complaints are that my salmon teryaki was a little overcooked and this place offers close to 50 different options and its a little overwhelming. I mean come on... variety is the spice of life, but it also makes ordering complicated.
(4)
Vinny P.
I've visited Fat Salmon a number of times and for some reason, it still flies under the radar for me. Even when I have conversations with others about where they go for sushi in philly, I still somehow seem to forget about it. It's time for that to stop. I've always had very good service and really excellent food here. The decor is kind of funky and their lighting resembles a certain, I don't know what. To me it's quite futuristic looking but then again, picking out decorating styles is something that I have no clue about. Food-wise, it's difficult for me not to get a sashimi platter. I realize that this limits my exposure to other kinds of fish on the menu but it's just such a great value and the taste is pretty exquisite. The last time I was there, I tried two rolls that I never had before. I really enjoyed the fuka roll and even though it had a ton of stuff both in and on it, I still was able to get all of the flavor. The crying (dancing, singing, something) vampire roll was also really good but for me the fuka stood out. So in essence, I'm sorry Fat Salmon. I'll do my best to sing your praises and visit more often.
(4)
M W.
Pretty cute place, very modern and clean. Service was good, Inexpensive and sushis were delicious. Worth a second visit.
(5)
Ryan D.
Great tasting and fresh fish. The Sushi & Sashimi for 1 is the perfect size for 1. Skip the Sake Sampler (unless you really prefer cold sake) and pick ur favorite hot sake. As always, make sure to pick up a fresh- or salt-water Eel nigiri for the perfect after dinner treat.
(4)
Rosta M.
Great food and always a smiling host despite the wait.. Couple things however; 1. The wasabi is like clay. Anyone who knows real sushi knows fresh wasabi should melt in the soy sauce 2. Keep it simple, American sushi places love to over do it and put so many sauces on their sushi (including the shriracha mayo in everything which is so old school). Keep it fresh and simple. And always try to reduce the amount of items you have no menu
(4)
Katie A.
love love love this place!!! the BCT roll is amazing- who would think that bacon and sushi would be so amazing together? awesome ambiance, reasonably priced, friendly staff and delicious food! my favorite sushi place in the city :)
(5)
Erica M.
We go to Fat Salmon often and it just seems to have gone downhill. The rolls just weren't that great on our last visit - I can't put my finger on what it was, they just weren't anything special (and we ordered special rolls). The presentation was very good, but flavor not so much. We will probably go back to see if it was a fluke, but I came home disappointed.
(3)
Katrina C.
I went here on Sunday of 4th of July weekend. The place was pretty empty, yet we were told that we had to sit at the sushi bar, because they had no available tables. There were 3 of us, so it was a little awkward. I was very skeptical that the place would really fill up on Sunday, July 3rd, but we went with it. After we ordered, our server offered us a table, saying that someone missed their reservation. That was nice. We ordered seaweed salad and avocado salad to start. I love the ginger dressing that always comes on avocado salad, and I also love seaweed salad. Both were very good, especially the seaweed salad. We ordered 6 rolls for 3 people, and even with the salads - were a little worried it might not be enough. Ha! We got : spicy tuna, alaska, eel and cucumber, dragon roll, yellowtail and scallion, and a fancy one called miss sake bomb (or something). The rolls were very well presented and even though they were only 6 pieces each, each piece was very large! All 3 of us loved different rolls - so that means they were all very tasty. The Miss Sake Bomb wasn't as good as we were expecting - the cooked salmon on top threw me off, but it was still tasty. Plus: My friend asked for gluten free soy sauce, and was told that they didn't carry it. The server felt bad though, so she apparently went and found a bottle (not sure how) so that my friend could have soy sauce! 5 stars because it's the best sushi I've had in Philly, I think. Not saying it's the best, but I loved it.
(5)
Ace J.
Mmmmm Fat Salmon. Every time I go there it's a new experience: Sushi--super delicious, just writing about it makes me want to go there and get three different rolls. They're all really fresh and have a little bit of a twist to them, too. The atmosphere--it's BLUE! It's nice and romantic, and the staff really makes you feel welcome. Sake--my favorite part about Fat Salmon. The Sake comes in this little container that makes you want to take shots every minute. And it's so good!! Overall, the restaurant's in a nice location right next to Washington Sq. Park, and it offers that good Japanese-American sushi we all crave a few times a month.
(4)
Brian M.
Really very mediocre. Sushi was decent enough but nothing stood out and there are definitely much better options in the city (Zento, Izumi to name a few). Interior here is different in that it's ultra-modern white space type thing which is cool if you're into that sort of decor. Just doesn't feel particularly welcoming to me. Surprised this place won Best of Philly considering there are better alternatives.
(3)
Joelle J.
Awesome awesome fresh sushi! Went there with a few friends one night and we just couldn't stop eating! Must try
(4)
Maggie D.
Yay sushi! This place is super good. Everything is fresh and awesome, they also have a lot of vegetarian rolls, even some speciality, fancy rolls which I usually don't get to have! It's fun to be a part of things. Only possible fault would be that the service can be a bit slow, but it's always packed when I go so I can't really be too mad about it, especially since when the food does come it's really exciting and you forget about how long it took...mmmm sushi
(5)
Kelly C.
i had a very good expereince there. :) even though the restaurant isn't big. the white table tops and decor created a more spacious impression. in addition the blue lights reflecting on the shiny white tops made it very modern and chic. I was happy with the food! one of my favorites was the "Fancy Sushi" - this design with the salmon wrapping the rice instead is very popular in Hong Kong, but this was my first time seeing it in America. The salmon with the sharp taste of scallion made it very enjoyable and different. My 2nd favorite was the "Dragonfly" which is eel on top of tempura shrimp roll. We decided to neglect the sauce b/c most of my expereinces they always drench the sushi with eel sauce making the rice too mushy... so I just told them to hold the sauce all together. The combination of nigiri and tempura shrimp turned out to be fantastic! You get the fish AND the fried shrimp yum~ Another favorite is the "Volcano Roll"... Their verison is spicy tuna on top of a california roll~ yum and the extra crunch on the side just made my day. You can never go wrong with that. If you see my pictures, you'll notice their placement of the sushi on the plate. it is very strategic! all their portions for the rolls are in even number of pieces, perfect for tables of 2s. Also they like to do a symmetrical division of the sushi, so it's like you get your own portions while you're also sharing! it worked out perfectly so i'm not over reaching something or my date n i aren't going back and forth saying "you have this piece... YOU have this piece" lol no excuse now. in conclusion, yes! i would love to come back ps. this is a place where a reservation is highly recommended.. even if you have to do it on the day of or like 3 hours b4!
(4)
Ronnie J.
We love Fat Salmon. Go there at least twice each month and the food and service are consistently excellent. Best salad with ginger dressing anywhere and most creative offering of sushi, even for vegetarians. Highly recommend.
(5)
Dave B.
I took my girlfriend here for her birthday and we were both blown away by the quality of the food and the trendy ambience of the restaurant. I promised that I would FINALLY try sushi and wasn't disappointed! I can finally say I'm a "sushi fan" now. I recommend bringing a spouse or small group for a fun night out with good food and a quality drink menu!
(5)
Jason L.
I highly recommend this place for people who loves sushi and visiting Philadelphia. I do recommend making a reservation. I was there at 6pm and there were a few tables available. More people came at 6:30, that's when I saw people waiting. The food was excellent. We had the Firefly and Fancy Salmon. I wished we ordered more rolls cause we weren't as full as we expect. And the service? For me, there was nothing to complain about
(5)
Bella H.
This was my first time here with a group of co-workers for lunch. Arriving at the place, it had a bubbly, ocean vibe. The restaurant was very decorative, especially the graphic walls and the lights surrounding the sushi bar. Love the sushi here. It was fresh and perfectly placed on the plate. It was the best spicy tuna I have ever had in my life. Everyone at the table was pleased with their meals. I gave it four stars because the service was horrible. Our server rarely check on the table. She gave us a wrong order and told us when she got to the table. She did offer to make a new roll, but why would you willingly give us the wrong dish? Our water glasses did not get refilled until we got our checks, which is kind of pointless. The table took forever to clear and checking out also took long, which shouldn't have because we decided to evenly split the check. She also gave us another customer's check. Maybe she had a high volume? I would say service was poor, but definitely a wonderful place for sushi.
(4)
Clare D.
Without a doubt, sushi has become a very popular dinner choice among Americans. There are dozens of sushi restaurants in Philadelphia. Some are good, but most are just okay. Some try to reel in diners with gimmicky rolls or fusion flavors from other cultures. Fat Salmon does a lot of things right and wrong. My friend Chris W and I liked the cool vibe of the restaurant. It looks like a lot of thought went into the decor. The special maki rolls are very unique and artistic. There's a lot to be said about chefs keeping with the Edo-style sushi traditions, but fushion sushi can be good, too. My Naked Gyoza, for example, was delicious. Who would've thought to combine Mexican pico de gallo salsa with spicy salmon on a fried crisp? Chris liked his Grilled Baby Octopus. I thought it needed a lot more octopus. Everything was just drowned in too much pungent sauce. The Fancy Sushi was good. I don't know why they mixed the panko crumbs with slivers of radish. The panko would've been better inside the roll. The Lipstick Trace was okay. Chris doesn't like cucumber and, unfortunately, the crunch of the cucumber was probably the one thing missing from this vegetarian roll. The Lobster Roll was a complete miss. The lobster was dry and had no flavor. Chris joked that it should've been cooked in butter. I was very disappointed with it. The Sea Urchin nigiri was very good. It tasted delicate and fresh, like "flowers from the ocean," as an old friend used to say. Perhaps the saving grace of all of the rolls was the Hako Roll, a square sushi made with eel and spicy tuna. It was tasty, well-balanced in all of its flavors - sweet and spicy, soft and crunchy - that I feel compelled to give it its own rating apart from my overall rating. Yes, my friends, the Naked Gyoza and the Hako Roll deserve five stars. If you go to Fat Salmon, these are my two yummy recommendations. Unfortunately, everything else ranged from bad to just okay.
(3)
Adam F.
Fat Salmon is a trendy yet casual spot for sushi. Sake flights are great. Sushi is consistently good (although it won't blow you away). It's open fairly late too, so great if you want to grab some sushi and drinks before going out to the bars/clubs. If you are looking to get there at normal dinner time, definitely pick up a reservation -- the place gets packed.
(4)
Steve F.
Personal favorite, go whenever I can. The 'fancy sushi' is a MUST.
(5)
Ron G.
The short: Pros: vast selection, above average fish quality, great date/2 person place to eat, reasonable prices Cons: terrible for groups, excessive use of spicy sauce Fat salmon is heavily reviewed and mainly favorably. Its a great place for 2ppl, 4 at most. Its really not a good place for groups. What I ate: Fried tofu: ordered due to several reviewers recommendations. Lightly fried, however, doused in spicy sauce, a bit too much really. We couldn't get through it bc it was too filling. Tasty dish overall. Rock& Roll: tuna, eel sauce, bits of tempura on top, tasty but gimmicky, not a sushi snobs cup of tea. Dancing vampire: asparagus/cucumber inside, tuna/salmon/spicy sauce on outside, fish quality was very good, filling. Overall, if you are a sushi purist, not sure this is the best place in the city. But if you have a small party and want to eat both traditional and "fusion" sushi in a fun atmosphere, this is a good choice.
(4)
Stephanie P.
#22 For "Dine Out Japan", my boyfriend and I perused reviews for every single restaurant participating. The results were close, but something about the reviews for Fat Salmon made it the winner. So, we headed out toward the Washington Square neighborhood that Monday. The entrance of the restaurant was very unassuming - I almost didn't notice it - and it looked like every other storefront on the street. However, walking in, you experience an entirely different sort of ambiance. The blue lighting makes the place seem almost ethereal and the wall in the far back on the right has some interestingly colorful depictions of Japanese culture. Otherwise, the place is very minimalist with tons of white. I loved the use of texture inside as well - the wall opposite the sushi bar was especially mesmerizing. =) But, enough about interior design. The hostess was polite and efficient, however our server was not. She was attentive at first, getting us our water straight away and taking our orders in a timely fashion. However, after that, she seemed to have dropped the ball. It might have been the fact that there was a swarm of people that came in after us, but it would have been nice for her to drop by every so often. The miso soup was delicious though and our food came out rather quickly. We ordered the Naked Gyoza, which was amazing. The spicy tuna was so fresh and flavorful and the deep-fried Gyoza skin added the perfect crunch. As for our main course, we ordered the Sushi & Sashimi for 2. The presentation was awesome. The boat itself looked high quality and the overall organization of our food was very pleasing to the eye. The sashimi was what really made the meal - every single slice was so tender and soft, yet slightly chewy. Everything tasted SO fresh and each piece of sushi/sashimi melted in my mouth with flavor. BEST SUSHI EVER, not gonna lie.
(5)
Simon L.
The food here is fantastic! The only thing I am not too comfortable with would be the atmosphere, it's a little too dark and the tables up front are placed too close to each other.
(4)
Edward M.
Had my first visit here recently and determined to come back for more. A friend and I sat at the bar and tried several rolls with salmon, tuna, and/or veggies. All of them tasted fresh and yummy. The dessert, however, was a little questionable. We got the tempura ice cream. It was tasty (I mean, come one, it's ice cream and fried batter), but lacked a sense of freshness. I'm not sure how and where it was made, but the batter shell was cold and getting soggy. Done right, tempura ice cream is served as soon as it's made while you can still note the contrast between the hot exterior and the chilly interior. Next time, I'll probably just get the ice cream by itself (red bean or green tea, natch). The decor struck me as some sort of swanky-wannabe, but I didn't pay much attention to it. The bathroom door handle has an odd, and somewhat annoying, locking mechanism. You've been warned. Pricing was reasonable. Oddly, splitting the bill on two credit cards resulted in two merchant receipts but only one, unified, customer receipt (good thing paper tears easily, if you need your receipt). Service was friendly and reasonably attentive/speedy for a busy weekend evening.
(4)
Triza B.
Yum, raw fish! Seriously though, I haven't been very impressed with sushi here in Philly, but Fat Salmon changed my mind. The sushi was flavorful, the ingredients were fresh, and the ambience in the restaurant was nice. I just have to talk about the salmon though....it had the perfect amount of fattiness to give it good flavor. Definitely some quality Fat Salmon (har har)! I am definitely going back for more.
(4)
Catherine L.
Feed me sashimi and I'm happy. Feed me sashimi here and I'll be very happy. Fresh, fresh fish. Fun, big Maki rolls, interesting (but relatively safe) combinations and super affordable house sake (hot, please!). Beautiful plating. Prices reasonable. White and dimly lit spaceship interior. Feel comfortable ordering conservatively as portions on the whole, are generous. Don't make reservations online via their website (system's faulty) and call instead.
(4)
Yiwen S.
for some reason, i didn't have a good impression of this place when it was shinju and located farther away. maybe the walk made me grouchy? because my most recent experience at fat salmon was pretty damn good. although it relocated, fat salmon is still in a rather quiet part of town, which has its pros and cons depending on what you prefer. despite this, it was still packed at 8pm on a thursday night -- good thing we had made reservations. fat salmon is no longer a byob, but this plays in my favor. i love eating sushi with warm sake, which is difficult at best to coordinate when you have to bring your own sake. their house sake is good, but not heated up nearly enough, so be sure to drink it fast or else it'll cool by the time you're only halfway through your meal. prices are decent in the context of the sushi world. you can't really expect to pay $2 for nigiri and get fresh, good quality fish. so, suffice to say, you get what you pay for here. *just another stunning example of why japanese people are so amazing as we pay tribute to their incredible resilience in the wake of such tragedy.
(4)
Therhyme R.
After coming for another four years, I thought I would do an update. Yes, it is still AMAZING. The restaurant is clean, bright, cozy, and perfect for any occasion even a special one. What can I say, the sushi here is heavenly. We have brought family and friends here over the years and they have all become faithful fans that can't get enough as well. Every roll is delicious, and I have yet to try such creations elsewhere. Every time I consider going to eat at another sushi place, no matter how good the reviews, I always come back here. The sweet taste of Fat Salmon sushi just keep calling my name until I give in. Every time I come here its a celebration of the palate. The sushi is large, flavorful, and a sauce filled extravaganza that explodes with flavor. Now, I must say the service is slow because it takes them a while to prepare their creations and the place is usually pretty full. However, if you aren't starving and can have an appetizer, it is worth the wait. One more thing: Sometimes they are a bit inconsistent and will put an ingredient into their sushi that I did not see 5/6 months ago (like scallions) but if you ask them they can leave it out. Depending on the night/day you go and on the sushi chef that prepares your rolls you will be able to taste a difference. However, the place is still absolutely delicious and it makes my heart sing with joy every time I pop a sushi roll into my mouth. I hope they continue to keep up the excellent work and fulfilling my ultimate sushi dreams.
(5)
Britty H.
Coming from the west coast and having an abundance of bomb sushi places here, I was so happy to find Fat Salmon. I read the Yelp reviews before coming and made a reservation when I went on a Friday night. This place is pretty average priced in my opinion, but their miso soup was really cheap! My boyfriend loved it and he doesn't rave about just any sushi place. The decor is super modern and cute! A small place but that doesn't bother me because it makes it more intimate.
(5)
Noheli T.
I've been wanting to go to Fat Salmon for over a year now and it seemed as if every time I tried to make a reservation the restaurant was booked! That's a great sign over all but terrible for desire to give it a try. I was finally able to get a table on Saturday and it was amazing! The overall decor is modern and the restaurant was very clean! The food was outstanding! At first glance the menu is very overwhelming but after taking some time to go through all of it you find some serious gems. We ordered the dragonfly roll and some other roll, that I can't remember but I believe that the name was spina or spena. We also ordered one of their regular rolls and everything was just so yummy and the presentation was beautiful! The house wine is also good and the service was top notch. Fat Salmon is definitely one of the best sushi places in the city!
(5)
Juliana K.
Went for lunch. Great lunch specials and prices. Volcano roll is fantastic. Attentive service. Nice decor. One of the best sushi places in the city.
(4)
Karen B.
fat salmon didn't really do it for me upon first visit, but i'd be open to giving it another try. everything about lunch today was just "meh." the steamed veggie gyoza were unevenly heated and were so soft, they would break into mushy halves every time i tried to pick one up with chopsticks. the spicy tuna roll had similar issues -- the pieces were prone to falling apart. they tasted pretty good, though. service wasn't anything to write home about, either. it's not that our server had a bad personality -- she just didn't seem to have one at all.
(3)
Franny G.
I recently went to Fat Salmon for the first time for a friend's birthday and was impressed by both the quality and selection of special rolls. The menu was extensive, and they included pictures of many of their specialties, which I appreciated. I ended up going with the Hako roll and absolutely loved it - if you like eel, I would recommend you try this one. They clearly take pride in the presentation of their rolls as well as their quality. In addition to the sushi, they had one drink in particular that really stood out to me - I believe it was the green tea mojito. A friend ended up ordering one and the entire table eventually ordered their own because it was so delicious and unique. I have already recommended Fat Salmon to all of my friends and plan on going back as soon as I get the chance!
(4)
patricia c.
I was attracted by the lights and I stayed for the food. It's a really nice spot that my boyfriend and I ran into last night for dinner. I would deff recommend this to any of my friends.
(4)
Jenn S.
i absolutely love this place! not is the place very nicely decorated, but it has decent sushi with interesting "special rolls." I also went with a bunch of vegetarian friends, and they were able to find many delicious options.I like their combo of ingredients for sushi (very creative), and the price. service was also great.
(5)
Jordan F.
Ive been reading reviews about Fat Salmon. Some good some bad I wanted to see for myself. I have to say that it was beyond my expections. There service was perfect. I cant say anything bad about this place. The food was out of this world. I order the "white forest" roll very different salmon tempua and pico de guio not what you would expect from a japanese sushi place. Very delicious and of course I got my usual spicy tuna. And I think decor was gorgeous. I just night become a regular here.
(5)
Wooj H.
Definitely a fan. One of the best places in Philly to get sushi. Great food, great atmosphere, great price.
(4)
Sook K.
Are you serious?? Based on the reviews from YELP I went here on a first date totally hyped. The place was cute but tight, a nice date spot. I got sushi 1 and my date got fish curry. As soon as I saw my plate I knew it wouldn't be good, and my date barely ate his dish. I'm asian, I know my asian food, this place was terrible.
(1)
Lacy D.
I really enjoyed this restaurant this past weekend. My husband and I called for a reservation on Friday night around 7 and they had a 9:30 reservation available. I ordered the white tuna tempura and the scallop sashimi. Both were delicious. I haven't found these specific dishes around where I live so I enjoyed being able to try something new. The restaurant wasn't too loud and I liked the atmosphere. I would definitely come here again.
(5)
Chris B.
Found this place in the Philadelphia Magazine as best sushi in Philadelphia, so I decided to try it out for dinner. The decor is modern and sleek, but the place is fairly small, so it might not be the best for bigger parties. NOTE: I was starving when I came here so that probably had an effect on my review of the food. Regardless, we started off with some miso soup and fried beef gyoza. Miso soup was pretty good but nothing special, but the gyoza were spectacular. Very crunchy and the ponzu sauce they came with was so delicious that I saved it for my sushi. Me and my sister both got 2 different rolls each. There are a lot of different rolls here, so it was a little hard to decide, but everything we had was great. Their specialty rolls are very creative and one that stood out had sour cream, pico de gallo, and some other stuff, and tasted like a perfect blend of sushi and Mexican food. The best part was that after 2 sodas, 2 miso soups, 3 orders of gyoza, 4 orders of sushi, our meal was only $75 (that's including a $10 tip). I would definitely recommend this place if you want some interesting sushi rolls, and the price just makes is that much better.
(5)
Ben P.
Contrary to my first review of my non-experience here, I gave them a second chance. I swear on the life of Phillie Phanatic that I walked in with an open mind, ready to be completely turned around. The verdict: No biggie. Service was ok, although the used chopsticks stuck in pages of my menu were a pretty unappetizing way to start a meal. Sushi itself was fine. Nothing I haven't seen before. Decor is something left over from a sushi joint in SOHO in 1999 but that's ok. I know I can go to Sumo for the same level of service and food for less money or go to Doma for way better sushi and service if I'm looking to spend little more money.
(3)
Aisha L.
I came here for my birthday and LOVE sushi. Nothing stood out for me here, nothing really popped off the page. The sushi was yummy and fresh but the prices were a teeny bit high. The service wasnt fantastic but it wasnt bad either. I feel like this place just truly is in the middle. I would probably go again.... If I cant find some place better.
(3)
Liz R.
Continuing the hunt for great sushi in the city, we stopped by Fat Salmon for lunch this week. Based on the reviews, blogs, and the PhillyMag's "Best sushi in Philly for 2012" award, we were surprised that it didn't have a line waiting for it to open and was empty when we walked in at 11:30 - only a couple of patrons joined us (tourists) by the time we left. The space is beautiful and trendy, white and blue techno-modern minimalism. We ordered from the lunch menu, which was difficult as there was an abundance of great choice and variety. Sadly, the earth did not move from under my feet and I was not able to bow down to Japanese deities in thanksgiving for delivering me to my new favorite sushi spot. The dream continues... Service was excellent, plating was good, and the portions were small. My expectations were high and they were not met. It was fine but not great, and not worth the premium price. Three stars
(3)
Sarah K.
I love the name. Only thing I dislike is that the service is sometimes a little pretentious, as is the decor (but at least that is nice to look at).. The dessert, mango mochi icecream, was so good.. and the red bean tempura ice cream.. I loved it. I think next time, I'd probably ask them to lay off the chocolate drizzle though. The M&M roll (marinated meat with oshinko, spicy crab stick) was good, but I felt that the meat was a little too rubbery/tough and that the fat could have been rendered more. Other than that, everything was delicious. Rock & Roll roll was really good. Definitely coming back to try the other unique special rolls (I'm really interested in the Miss Sake Bomb, Lost Rainbow, and Lava)
(4)
Diane V.
Cant say enough good things about this place!! The atmosphere is laid back, cool and modern , the sushi is extremely fresh and flavorful and you just cant beat the lunch prices, just the best! I could eat here everyday !
(5)
Lauren H.
This place never disappoints. Ever. Although I have to say, I liked it better as Shinju. It was a warmer, more intimate environment. Fat Salmon is a bit cold and too modern for my taste. But, the menu and sushi is the same, so I'm still a loyal fan. :) Get the Hako Sushi. Your life will be complete.
(5)
Dee M.
LOVED IT. Food accurately photographed and described, Try: Avocado Salad--- a meal in itself GINGER SNAP COCKTAIL-- exceptional
(4)
Donna A.
Very good food; won't be back until they resolve their strike .
(5)
Cece B.
I came here for my boyfriends birthday, anticipating a good meal. What I got was the best sushi I've ever eaten (and I've had a lot of sushi!) Get the lipstick roll - it was amazing! And shrimp tempura. Loved it!
(5)
Liz S.
Elegant decor, friendly service, and--most importantly--fresh, succulent fish. The salmon nigiri was outstanding. Also, my husband (who is not the biggest sushi fan) was quite pleased with his "special" rolls, dancing vampire and sepia pleasure. I am knocking off one star because I thought it took a little too long for the food to come out, but really, I'd give the place 4.5. I will be returning for more! For the gluten-concerned: they offer gluten-free soy sauce, but their crabstick contains wheat, so that's a no-go. P.S. Make a reservation! The place was full by 7pm, despite it being a rainy night.
(4)
Dredge K.
I would give it a 2 for food but I'm giving it a 3 because I appreciated our server. I ordered 6 rolls for 2 people and she suggested that 2 per person would suffice. I don't like to have leftover sushi so I particularly appreciated this. The spciy scallop roll was ok, but the other 3 rolls all became a blur. Each had different ingredients (salmon, eel, shrimp), but because the sauces they used were similar, and many of the rolls have crunchy fried components they all ended up tasting the same. I think that more than anything else, their rolls hide the seafood rather than highlighting it.
(3)
Shirley Y.
Many friends recommended me to try this place and I'm glad I did! The ambiance was nice and good for a nice date or birthday. It was small but intimate. The staff was very attentive and made sure my water was full and table was clean. The price wasn't bad. We ordered the sashimi for two and the fish was fresh but wasn't a huge variety which I was a bit disappointed. I ended up ordering a uni nigiri since I was craving it and it was fresh, which made me happy. I would try ordering some nigiri next time instead. The rolls sounded yummy but I'm not a huge fan of them.
(4)
Jen L.
Knowing nothing about this restaurant but ending up here on a ladies' night out, I must say that I left this little blue oasis quite the satisfied sushi customer. The interior decorators for this place were smart: the gentle blue lighting on white furniture instantly put me at ease when I first walked in with my friends. It wasn't gaudy or pretentious; the chic decor got me in the mood for some much needed sushi therapy and allowed me to forget all the profanity being thrown at me by a specific Center City panhandler (cough, at 16th and Sansom) on my walk over to the restaurant. The house sake and standard edamame / shumai appetizers were nothing special, but they did a fine job in preventing me from raiding other customers' sushi plates that were placed tantalizingly above my head at the sushi bar. Now the sushi ... wow, the fish just melts in your mouth! I sampled my friend's sashimi platter, which was amazing, and I very much enjoyed the Miss Sake Bomb and Vampire rolls. I'm convinced that the Miss Sake Bomb was made to simulate what sex would taste like if it were a sushi roll, and I appreciate that it wasn't named "Mega-orgasm" roll or something overly obvious. This roll is much too lady-like and sexy for that. One thing I hate about some sushi places is that they will load up as much rice as possible in their rolls and skimp on the fish ... not here, they use just enough rice to keep the rolls together so that your taste buds can focus on all the other wonderful flavors swirling around in your mouth. The quality of the rolls was wonderful for the price, which was between $9.50 and $15.00 for the specialty rolls. I have eaten much worse fish for the same price elsewhere. I can't comment on dessert, unfortunately, because I ate too much fish. Bottom line: This place is definitely worth a try.
(5)
Rachel K.
This place has THE BEST SUSHI in town...no wonder it's always crowded! TRY: Deep fried tofu with broiled spicy scallop sauce - great appetizer for sharing Pork katsu ANY sushi or rolls - ALL of their ingredients are FRESH *Lunch specials SERVICE: Good. AMBIANCE: Date night. Girls night out.
(4)
Lily Z.
At first glance at the sushi menu, your mind has a "WTF asparagus in a sushi roll?" moment which then proceeds to happen more than once. After you get over the fact that they are a fusion restaurant, your belly starts to growl and you let it do the ordering, so in a few minutes you have asparagus in your face. Although a little on the pricier side, Fat Salmon cranks out delicious sushi rolls. We also ordered the shrimp tempura appetizer (not worth it for $9, but it is plated very nicely). For dessert we had the tempura ice cream which was HUGE and completely worth the $6. It could have fed 4 people but of course I ate for 3 :)
(4)
Abby W.
Oh hello, how is it we never met before recently? After a long hard day of kickball games and referee duties, Ely and I swung by this place to try another sushi spot in our never-ending quest for that perfectly balanced roll of excellent rice, beautiful fish, and slightly chewy nori. They nailed it. I inhaled my yellowtail scallion and alaska rolls (the rolls by which I judge all sushi places- if you can't make those well then I don't give a damn about your special rolls) after taking the edge off my hunger with excellent miso soup and shrimp shumai. The soup could have done with more tofu but the flavor was great and the shumai were delicate and divine. Ely got his usual alaska, rainbow, and some other special rolls I can't remember and he loved them all. I only wish they had more special roll options that don't have a ton of sauce. Service was a little disjointed considering they weren't very busy, and the ambiance was a little strange for a sushi spot- it felt more like a club. The total damage was only about $45, slightly less than Sushi Planet and slightly more than Terryin. If only they delivered! I'll be going out of my way at least twice a month to pick up a fresh fix of sushi heaven.
(4)
Brianne J.
Maybe the best sushi I've had, definitely best in Philly. So fresh, so delicious. We ordered baby octopus (YUM!), chicken katsu, seaweed salad (amazing!), sushi for 2, as well as uni and scallop nigiri. Sushi for two included 6 california rolls (best california rolls I've had?), 6 (damn good) spicy tuna rolls, and 2 each of the following nigiri: tuna, yellowfin tuna, white tuna (maybe the best thing I ate all night), salmon, eel, and red snapper (maybe the second best). It also came with a nice miso soup. Decor was great, service was excellent and professional, and the house saki was lovely. It was a TON (too much) food for the two of us, and I probably wouldn't order the katsu again, but everything else was perfection.
(5)
Michelle J.
There are so many unique rolls - all of them extraordinarily delicious - that it took my boyfriend and I nearly 15 minutes to finalize our order. Their specialty rolls are piled high with toppings and I just love that. (I especially loved the Rolling Fire!) I'm not going to deny that Morimoto is miles above this place, but why waste the extra bucks going there when you can just come to Fat Salmon, relax, and not stress over the bill in the end? My date and I were surprisingly pleased with this place and would not at all mind coming back again. P.S. - try their tempura ice creams; they are to die for.
(5)
Dara S.
This place is a killer deal. Downtown Philly. It's got some style but is mostly casual. I was there right at opening on a Sunday evening, and was second in a line of three -t he hostess took forever to get us seated - dealing with phone calls and such - the girl behind me threw a lot of attitude but I could also tell she comes there a lot. Service was a little distant and slow but killer deal! I got an appetizer that merged sushi with ceviche - delicious! And a great roll. Cheap wine too. I would eat here ALL THE TIME if I lived in Philly.
(4)
Joelle B.
Don't know how so many people like it here...it's like fake sushi. I didn't feel there was an assortment of fresh selections, so forget sashimi. Was it ok? Yes. Good? Stretching it. It's like the sushi you get for lunch, not for dinner.
(2)
Stephanie Y.
I give them stars for having a swanky decor, creative fancy rolls, and good service. Except ... why do a lot of the fancy rolls have crab stick, which I suspect is imitation crab meat. I avoided ordering those rolls, but did order the Mr. French Kiss, Rock n' Roll, Fancy Sushi, Miss Sake Bomb, yellow tuna with scallion, kame and a few nigiri. My friends really liked this place, so I had some expectation for these rolls and they looked delicious in the pictures on the menu plus I played 2 hours of tennis. Unfortunately, most of the rolls were flavorless.... no sweetness from the fish, no aroma from the sauce, even the rice was mushy. I did not feel satisfied and now I really want sushi again to fix my craving. Huge disappointment!!!
(3)
Pira T.
Great food. Awesome sushi. worth the price. Try everything you wont regret it. Great service. Make sure you make reservation before you come in. I never see this place empty. Nice interior. nothing bad to say about this place at all.
(5)
Mony K.
I have been going to this place since it was known as Shinju back when it was small and cute. It's bigger now, modernized but the food is still as good as it was back at Shinju. This is what's known as my "first date" restaurant. It has never disappointed any of the dates...to date. So that has to count for something right? Focus on their specialty roles. I usually pick two and my date will pick two. Make sure you make reservations so you don't look like a tool. I love all their specialty roles but if I had to pick one: Super Dragon Roll.
(5)
Angela B.
Walked a mile in the rain by myself with no umbrella to get here. Worth every step! The dancing vampire roll is fabulous and the hamachi was sublime. The hostesses were fantastic, as was the waitstaff. Five stars - no doubt.
(5)
Ali R.
I initially stepped into this place because it looks really cool from the outside, but the food was meh... I will say that their tuna tacos are pretty good. What I didn't love was how loaded their speciality rolls were. I'm generally a fan of clean sashimi or simple rolls, but all the rolls were piled with mayo/crab sticks.. it was just too much for me. Also, one of my rolls had plastic wrap on it, which the waitress immediately apologized for and took off our bill. Don't think I'd come back here, but it's worth trying out.
(3)
C J.
Super cute decor, awesome service. I tried the scallops teriyaki - scallops were cooked to perfect & absolutely delicious. The waitress was accommodating, friendly, and very professional. I would definitely go back!
(5)
Stephen G.
One of the best sushi bars in town. I've had a lot of bad luck looking for good sushi in the city, so its a shame this was one of the last places I tried. The fish is always very fresh and the rice is well prepared; not too mushy, not too grainy, a little on the wet side for sure, but that's how I like my rice. I wish they had a slightly larger selection of fish to choose from. There's nothing too crazy here, just your standard selection of Americana sushi, but their specialty rolls really are delicious. A few are a little wild for me, but the dancing vampire, hako, and lost rainbow are some of the best rolls I've had. Good miso soup too
(4)
Walter L.
I am genuinely surprised by the freshness of their sushi. I ordered chirashi, which is my gold standard for all Japanese restaurants. Usually it comes with low grade tuna (pure red), and few other fishes. They instead served with marble pattern chu-tora (top second-tier tuna), with generous slices of salmon and red snapper (not sure about the last one). It also comes with shrimp and tamago, which are standard. One issue I have with them is the soy sauce. It is so flavorless for some reason. I know I don't want the sauce to overpower the original fish flavor, but it gotta have some flavor of its own. Otherwise, the portion is on the small side--if you want quality over quantity, it's worth it ($21 for chirashi). Food came at reasonable speed, which is great for meeting friends but bad if you are in a rush.
(4)
Kimberly S.
Hooolleeeeeeeyy crap. I just had a heavenly umami orgasm in my mouth. (Sounds much dirtier than it should.) It's 20 degrees out and the "feels like" is 9! Naturally I was craving a hearty warm soup for lunch. I ordered the plain udon soup to go, not to be confused with the shrimp tempura or vegetable tempura udon soups, and it was only $5.50, and it was amazing! They separate the ingredients from the broth; Like Enterprise Rent A Car, "they give you the tools to be your own boss." The broth was full of flavor, the noodles were cooked perfectly, the scallions and fried tofu were great additions and although I usually hate mushrooms, I loved these! It was such a great depth of umami flavors and good texture combinations as well. I've been coming to Fat Salmon fairly often since it opened and I've been on the fence about their sushi, which is what I've always ordered up until today. Sometimes I find it to be very fresh and delicious, other times it's rather disappointing. It also drives me insane that their online menu says lunch specials come with soup AND salad, yet they refuse to honor that. When you love miso soup and ginger dressing as much as I do, it puts you in a really tough position. Nevertheless, their awesome udon soup has totally redeemed them!
(4)
Zoe P.
I was so sad when Shinju closed to move to a new location - but so freaking happy when they reopened as Fat Salmon (and quite pleased by the new name, too). And after seeing the changes they've experienced, from the new beautiful interior design to the new additions to the menu, I have to say: change can be very, very good. Of course I had to start trying out the new special rolls that they added, so that's precisely what I did: Dancing Vampire: cucumber, asparagus, crunchy inside and tuna & salmon in chili sauce on top: Yum, yum, that chili sauce really makes this roll what it is. Mr. Shiro: eel, avocado, crunchy with spicy sauce inside and broiled white tuna (marinated in spicy soy sauce) with tomato on top: So pleasantly surprised by this roll, the combination of textures and flavors is actually really nice. My bf's favorite one of the evening. White Forest: tempura (shrimp or salmon, we got salmon) with spicy sauce inside and pico de gallo with sour cream on top: MmmMmm, an interesting twist on sushi with great results. We've also tried other rolls again that were on their original Shinju menu, and they remain amazing and awesome and really you should just get your sushi at Fat Salmon because you will not be disappointed. My only minor gripe is that the special rolls have only 6 pieces, unlike the usual 8 at other places. If I'm paying that much for the special rolls, it would be nice to have those two other pieces. My eyes love the artistry, my taste buds love the flavors, but my stomach loves food and loves me more when I don't skimp on it.
(4)
Charlie W.
I have super high expectations for Sushi, so I was a little weary having tried a few places in Philly and being less than impressed. The atmosphere is dim, intimate, and friendly. We had a larger group of 7 for a birthday dinner, so we were given the only real spot available for a larger group. I had made reservations earlier in the week. It's not ideal for larger groups, because there really is only one spot for them seeing as it's a smaller restaurant. Their menu is super reasonable, and they have an INSANE amount of speciality rolls at great prices. During dinner the waiter and a few others working had been paying close attention to a few gifts being exchanged and figured out who the birthday girl was (I had mentioned it was a birthday dinner during the reservation, but only to stress the importance of the seating arrangement). After we had all eaten dinner, and the table was cleared, they came to our table with a MASSIVE bowl of tempura fried ice cream with candles for the birthday girl...I was the one who set this whole dinner up, and I was completely blindsided by this. It was a pleasant surprise for both her, and the table, because the ice cream was enough to share with all seven us. A very kind and thoughtful gesture. And the tempura fried ice cream was surprisingly delicious. I'm not a fan of anything fried, so I ate cautiously and then furiously because it was so delicious. Try it! And yes, it was free of charge for us that night. Thank you to all the great people at Fat Salmon! I recommend highly!
As I stood out front perusing the window menu, a woman entering the restaurant turned to me as she opened the door and said, "It's legit. Seriously." So on the word of this stranger, I decided to head inside too. She was right. It's legit. My favorite dish of the evening was the Agedashi Tofu. Perfectly fried, seasoned, and plated. The Tuna Nigiri was probably the best I've ever had. We also tried a couple of their creative rolls: the Volcano and the Miss Sake Bomb. To be honest, I wasn't immensely impressed with either, but that has more to do with me not liking the ingredient combos. (Tartar sauce on top of the Miss Sake Bomb was a huge turn off.) The preparation and portion size was perfect though, and the service was nice. If Fat Salmon were local to me, I would not hesitate to go back and try some other rolls.
(4)
Tom B.
I was super bummed to hear that Shinju Sushi had closed its doors, but then I was super excited to hear that it was reincarnated as Fat Salmon. The new digs alleviate Shinju's greatest shortcoming: That it was miserably cramped and small. This venue is much more open, and includes a couple of offset areas so larger parties can get a bit of privacy. I sat in one of these, under a strange metal awning, which was nice and cozy and afforded a level of intimacy unimaginable in the previous location. The main dining area are much more chic than Shinju's, with the main attraction being the textured West wall bathed in blue light. Unfortunately, Fat Salmon does retain one shortcoming of Shinju's: The service. There was a big fuss about how many glasses we needed and who was drinking what, and then the beer and wine glasses were the same. It also took forever for our rolls to arrive. Hopefully these are just some new location kinks that will be worked out soon enough. Even more unfortunately, it looks like Fat Salmon may be losing one of its greatest perks; that's right, there was a big orange "Notice of Public Hearing" sign in the window, meaning they are looking to get a liquor license. It would break my heart (and my wallet) if Fat Salmon ceased to be a BYOB. Finally, a note or two on the sushi. The rolls are quite creative, and the fish is quite fresh. There is very little to complain about here, except maybe that it seems like a ton of the rolls have eel sauce on them. I'm sure that same fact makes another customer very happy, though. BOTTOM LINE: Fat Salmon is the more comfortable and chic reincarnation of its predecessor, Shinju. It does away with one of Shinju's shortcomings (smallness) but retains another (service). However, the price can't be beat: I paid $21--tip included--for some edamame, one-and-a-half rolls, and an order of yellowtail nigiri. Plus $8 for the sixer of Coors Light* I picked up on the way. Overall, a highly recommended BYOB sushi bar. *PROTIP: If you are looking to get some beer on your way, skip Pac-A-Deli... They don't have any Asian beer, which is why I was stuck tapping the Rockies (not that that's a bad thing).
(4)
Walt L.
This place rocks!!!! Originally, we loved this place in it's BYOB days. We love it now after they pulled the rare feat of jumping from BYOB to liquor licensed place. The warm house sake is pretty good. We go here all the time. Our favorite rolls are the Dancing Vampire, Locust Roll, the Sleeping Volcano, and the Rock n Rolla. The shrimp shumai is banging. The salads are good. My wife loves the fried green tea ice cream. Overall, I love this place. My favorite place in town. The food is so good I asked my wife (girlfriend at the time) to marry me after a dinner there. %)
(5)
Gina V.
Fat Salmon is, by far, one of the best sushi restaurants I have been to. It has a quiet, intimate ambiance and is especially a good atmosphere for couples. It is a little pricey, but the quality of the food is worth every penny. I have no problem spending money on top-quality food, and Fat Salmon is definitely Grade A. Everything I ate was delicious.
(4)
Christiana G.
I have been to Fat Salmon many times, and I have never been disappointed. The quality of their sushi is fantastic (I am very picky when it comes to sushi) and they specialty rolls are phenomenal. They have a large selection and they can satisfy any sushi whore's taste buds (vegetarian, spicy, etc.) By far my favorite sushi joint in Philly.
(5)
Kristin W.
We came by on a Friday night without reservations - the place looked pretty empty, but the hostess looked nervous when we said we didn't have reservations; however, we were able to be seated immediately. I ordered the Chirashi Don and asked that all shellfish be substituted out. I got a generous portion of fresh fish (although two of the substitutes were the sweet egg). I also substituted a second salad for the miso soup. Great food, cool ambiance - I will be back!
(5)
Younjin L.
Okay place to have sushi. Definitely over priced for the quality of the fish. I probably won't come back here again. Still looking for a good sushi restaurant.
(2)
M G.
"Decent, but hit and miss on some items." This was a good sushi place for Philly. Some of the combination rolls were nothing special and some, like the tofu roll (yes tofu roll) were very good. We had a party of 6 so there was a lot to try. I don't remember the names of the rolls. However, I had negiri too and it was fresh and decent. The uni was very good. One negative thing about this place for me personally was the rice. It was too soft and milly. This should be the star ingredient and it missed the mark. The sake were also ok. Do the sake flight it's a good deal and the sakes are better quality than the house sake which we also had. Overall it was a fun dinner but I will not be rushing back here very soon.
(3)
Ritu K.
The hazards of growing up in California- there's amazing cheap sushi on every corner. Not the case in Philly, but I've certainly tried some decent, albeit expensive, sushi in the city. Fat Salmon is a nice addition to the sushi offerings in the city. The decor is sleek and modern. I felt like a homeless person in my work scrubs but whatevs. The sushi was tasty, although I thought we ordered one too many rolls covered in spicy sauce. We're talking drowning in spicy sauce. Was there fish under there- hard to say. If I head back I'm definitely ordering more nigiri. The problem with this place- its ridiculously loud to carry on a conversation. We were seated in the back corner and apparently all the sound carried back to the corner and settled there. I could have probably started screaming at the top of my lungs and not looked like a crazy lady. With 5 of us at the table there was alot of yelling back and forth. The other problem the back corner also meant they forgot us. We received one plate of sushi and then sat there for what seemed like an eternity for the second plate. At that point I was ready for dessert, breakfast, anything... The sushi was comparable to other sushi joints in the city and a vast improvement from Shinju- just not sure I would return...
(3)
Tony O.
Once again the #8 Lunch Special hits the spot! Their ginger dressing with the salad is really good too! The steamed gyoza is one of the best around.
(5)
Brad P.
I like this place. Fat Salmon has a smooth, well crafted modern-oceanic interior design that reminds you that you are in a seafood restaurant(which is helpful just in case you are like that guy in Memento and need constant reminders of where you are and what you are doing). Their menu is an interesting mix of standard sushi options and 2 pages of very silly maki rolls. If you are serious about getting traditional, Japanese-style sushi then you should probably avoid these pages, which feature rolls containing items such as beef, fried onion, and bacon. Personally, I think their creativity shows more of a sense of humor rather than a desire to insult the origins of their cuisine. At the very least, these items could appeal to those friends of yours who have never tried sushi because they can't get behind the idea of eating raw fish(and you must cure them of this trepidation). Perhaps seeing familiar items like swine and bovine on the menu will put them at ease and allow you to open their mind a little to some excellent food. I tried the Salmon Yaki, Dancing Vampire, yellowtail/scallion roll, and smelt roe nigiri. All items were pretty good. The price wasn't terrible and the service was decent. Also, now that I know it is a BYO, I'm going to head back for dinner at some point.
(4)
Lois L.
I brought my mom and sister who were visiting from out of town yesterday night for a 6pm reservation. The decor is cool and hip and the music's not too loud. Maybe not the most "authentic" Japanese decor, but a cool experience nonetheless. We ordered Katsu Maki, Lipstick Trace, Lost Rainbow, M&M, and the Volcano. The only caveat was that we ended up with an Alaskan (non-special) Roll instead of the Katsu Maki and the whole time we were eating, we were like...where's the Katsu and later saw the bill for an "Alaskan Roll." Our waiter didn't really seem to process what we were saying too quickly and seemed dazed and out of it sometimes... maybe it was just a long day? at 6pm? or our Californian accents were just too hard to comprehend? We decided it wasn't a big deal anyways and didn't do anything. The service was pretty nice though so I think they would have reacted to the situation generously if we had mentioned it. Anyways, all the rolls were fantastic and my mom remarked, "you really can't go wrong with any of the rolls." I wish they served miso soup and a simple green salad like basically every Japanese restaurant that I've been to, but the experience wasn't too marred by their absence. Overall, I'd recommend the place for the vibe (predominantly 20s) and the creative rolls. I suggest making a reservation for weekend nights though since the place filled up while we were there. The bill came out to less than $50 for five rolls, which was a pleasant surprise for such a good meal.
(4)
Christin K.
New favorite sushi place. Fresh, well-cut, creative specialty rolls. Friendly and unpretentious service, good selection of sake, beer selection is meh.
(5)
Nhut T.
At fat salmon, my friend and I tried the combination handrolls, and several of their specialty rolls. The sushi would been otherwise delicious if it weren't for the very soggy rice they used. They either added too much vinegar or used too much water when making the rice. I would try this place again to see if this is just a one time blooper. Service was excellent, however.
(3)
Jo D.
Maybe I am spoiled in NYC. The sushi was super bland. I got the spicy tuna and cucumber and it tasted like nothing - so I used the wasabi in the soy sauce, I swear it was the most bland wasabi I have ever had in my life. I used all the wasabi and had to get more. very very mehhhhhhh. so then decided to get dessert - another disappointment. We got the tempura green tea ice cream - the green tea ice cream was fine but the tempura was super soggy and oily. I have had it a few times before in the city and when done right - its amazing. If this is the best philly has to offer for sushi - I will not be having sushi in philly again =/
(2)
David A.
I have been to this place twice now and will never go back. Really wanted to like this place since I love sushi and this opened around the corner from my apartment. Nice design, bright lighting. TERRIBLE service both times. And sushi is just ok. First visit waited forever after ordering. They were very busy. Sat at sushi bar. Sushi chefs have NO interaction with customers here. They hardly notice you are there. Roll and sushimi were fresh but nothing special. The other night it was late and I wanted something light. Figured I would give it another try. Not too busy; probably only half full...about 25 people. I sat at sushi bar for almost 20 minutes without even a glass of water. Three wait staff were maybe 10 feet away and talked the whole time without looking in my direction. Walked out hungry. Will never return. I will go to Morimoto or Raw when I want Japanese.
(1)
Alex K.
Fat Salmon has great sushi, there is no doubt about that. If you are looking for good sushi, with some pretty cool ingredients, look no further. There are two things about Fat Salmon that I would change however. I once tried to go with a larger group of friends and they required a minimum of around $20 a person (give or take) because we were a big group (we had 8 people). The second thing I would change if possible were the prices, but I am cheap, and honestly, the food is quality so I guess in the end it was worth it. I can dream though!
(4)
Victoria L.
Major upgrade from the old Shinju location! Great place for quality sushi - when you're in the mood for something more than the average spicy tuna take out. The standard rolls are good, but there is a great variety of fancier rolls.
(4)
Ted S.
Really good food, service was not good at all had to ask at least 5 times for someone to find server, never cleared old dishes and glasses from table. Too bad for such great food to be ruined by lousy service.
(1)
Vanessa C.
This is definitely a sushi favorite. Their special rolls are amazing! It's made well and when it comes to your table, it looks great and tastes like it! I don't know who their sushi chef is but he creates miracles! It opens for lunch and then closes to reopen for dinner. And although, street parking is a bit difficult to find, this place is probably my number one in the city for sushi. The ambience is very modern and it can be a little quiet at times even though there is conversation going on. Great for couples and small groups. Recommended this place to friends and they all said they loved it. It's worth to try this place at least once.
(5)
Christine A.
Are you looking for a swanky sushi bar to impress your out-of-town friend's eyes and taste buds while keeping your wallet happy? Or that family/friend who's wary of eating raw fish, but you want them to experience sushi/rolls? Fat Salmon is the place for you. I've walked by this place countless times during the day and never gave it a second glance with its simple white decor. But at night, the electric blue lights pop and give the place a trendy vibe. Service was friendly with a good balance of attentiveness. Food.... Each specialty roll had a creative name to go with its creative combination. I considered ordering Mr. French Kiss just to say the name! But once I started studying the ingredients, I was disappointed to see so many crab-stick containing rolls. (Why fake meat?) Many remaining rolls had tempura something or others. What was left had 'slightly cooked' or broiled fish. So in actuality, the majority of their rolls don't contain REAL sushi. After much deliberation, we finally picked on the following: -Sepia Pleasure: my personal favorite. Tasted like they just made the cream cheese; the texture was beautiful with the eel and -White Forest (Salmon): Would you think pico de gallo and sour cream? very interesting. -Dragonfly -Spicy Tuna Crunch They were all very tasty. The combination of flavors and textures were wonderfully delicious. The diameter of the rolls were so big, we considered cutting them in half to fit our big mouths. Not only was my stomach content, my wallet was happy. For the four rolls and 2 orders of hot sake, our bill was under $50. All in all, it was a pleasant experience.
(3)
Jennifer T.
Majority of rolls are very, very creative - not typical straightforward plain boring sushi (though they have that too, if you're into that). My last two visits were disappointing, I finally figured out why: most of the more creative rolls also feature some type of cooked meat/seafood/fish, or something tempura-ed. Not showcasing a lot of raw fish. Also, almost every roll is doused in some type of sauce (spicy, eel, etc.) which detracts from the actual contents of the roll. Again, not a bad thing, just not MY thing. My first date with the boyfriend was at Shinju, now Fat Salmon. It will always have a special place in my heart, but it just isn't the same. Womp womp.
(3)
H L.
Went here for lunch. Everything our table had was excellent. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Loy G.
decent prices for decent sushi. go for the special rolls. you get what you pay for in terms of fish quality at fat salmon. freshness seems like it's hit or miss depending on the night. sashimi was just okay. the sushi just falls a little flat here when standing on its own. unfortunately, you have to hit up the more expensive sushi spots in the city if you're looking for consistently good sashimi or chirashi. fat salmon's strength is mid-grade sushi presented in novelty rolls for reasonable prices. the menu at fat salmon has devoted two full pages of colorful photos and detailed descriptions to their special rolls. quite noticeably, their special rolls have some combination of spicy sauce, eel sauce, or crunch. the additives definitely serve their purpose in masking the quality of the fish, but honestly this results in some pretty tasty rolls. fat salmon fills that niche of satisfying my sushi craving without having to dig too deep into my pockets.
(3)
Allison D.
Definitely recommended!!! My boyfriend and I went to Fat Salmon for the first time tonight and it has been the best sushi I've had in Philly so far. Next time we go I'll make reservations, it was so busy that we sat at the bar. It was no problem for us, though some people might mind. We got the edemame & shrimp shumai to start and they were both awesome. We're pretty new to sushi still so our rolls we ordered some plain rolls. California roll, spicy tuna crunch roll, shrimp tempura roll & alaskan roll. They were all amazing. Very fresh & tasty. For dessert we got the ice cream tempura. It was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was great. The place looks great. Our servers name was Jessica and she was the best. So nice and helpful. Answered all our questions and knew a lot about the menu. Will definitely be returning soon!!
(5)
MC L.
The waiter forgot to put in our order and forget we were sitting there. This place sucks. Then he pretended it was coming. The hostess gave us a coupon and said, "Not sure if youd want to come back but here is a coupon." Um, no. I have eaten here, though, for work, and its not bad. Its close to work, so there isnt much else. Umai Royal next door is cheaper and just as good, just not as crazy combinations.
(1)
Elaine L.
Best salmon in Philly so far! The fish tastes so fresh and the pictures of the rolls makes each roll so delicious. The prices are quite decent for sushi in Philly and everything just tastes so fresh. Did I mention FRESH???? I came with two other girls and we had the duo roll, miss sake roll and super dragon roll. All there were huge hits in my book and I could have eaten a lot more than just one roll for sure. Will definitely recommend this place for any sushi cravers who I know.
(4)
Dennis D.
Good selection of Japanese beer and delicious sushi. One of my first sushi experiences and would recommend this place. Knowledgable and attentive staff.
(4)
Christine G.
Love this place, Love the Old School Roll, its vegetarian, but super spicy, and over the top delicious. Their fish is fresh, the seaweed salad is the best I've had in town. This is my go-to sushi place. And its reasonably priced. I usually get take out but the eat-in service is good and the place is hip, good date spot.
(5)
Ryan S.
Great sushi. Great service. I feel like the floor layout is slightly claustrophobic.
(4)
Rockit O.
Whatever Fat salmon is...it is defiantly NOT Japanese! Take away the swanky lighting, the modern decor, and you are left with sushi that is reminiscent of any food court sushi at your local shopping mall. Start with the sushi bar that is so high, you can not see your chef, and he can not see you. Any proud Japanese sushi chef will want to interact with you and see your expression when you bite into his masterpiece. It is so hard to find authentic sushi when traveling, and yelp is certainly no help. If you like a roll factory then Fat Salmon is for you.
(1)
Richard D.
Sushi is very skillfully made and flavors are great. Ambience is wonderful also. Weakness is the flavor of the fish itself. But the ingredients added make it taste great anyway.
(4)
Steve I.
Stopped in for lunch. The service was very fast and attentive. Liked the modern decor. The lunchtime prices are very inexpensive considering the quality of the food. Got the #6 tuna assortment which was accompanied by a very nice miso soup, not too salty. The fish was very fresh and tasty and the rice was excellent. Will try to make this a weekly lunch spot.
(5)
Dung H.
This place is great for affordable, delicious sushi! I came here on a Friday night and was able to get parking right in front of the restaurant (no valet parking taking up spots... which is typical near in this part of the city). This restaurant was more modern in decor than I expected but I was pleasantly surprised when I got there. The waitress seated us right away and was very attentive the entire time. I ordered shumai to start with and my friend got the pan seared salmon appetizer. The shumai was very tiny and bland. I would not order this again. My friend said that the salmon was very good. It came in a decent portion with lots of vegetables. I tried the veggies... which were in a pretty good sauce. I ordered a specialty roll (Dragonfly roll) and a normal Alaskan (salmon, cucumber, avocado). Both were very good!! For the price I paid, it made things even better. I'm sure this isn't the best sushi place in the city but it definitely fills any and all sushi cravings I have. Attentive service, a peacefully quiet dinner and decent sushi for a college student on a budget! I would definitely come back.
(4)
Michael K.
attended with my girl and three teenage girls we yelped this and realized it won Best of Philly 2012 for sushi decor: blue. swanky. food: miso - good shrimp tempura - didnt eat that so cant really say but the girls liked it chicken teriyaki - rave reviews from three teenage girls super dragon - big roll...i'm talking a huge mouthful if you decide to do it in one bite. it was just ok duo - the best roll of the night. really flavorful salmon yaki - good miss something or other - good service was good and not great. what was great was the price. that was a surprise. super affordable and we had take home! here's the story: i like to try different sushi places. i was expecting to be blown away by melt in your mouth sushi. i wasnt. i was actually disappointed that didnt happen. best of philly? for ambiance maybe...i was disappointed
(3)
Paige G.
Fat Salmon was incredible! I went for lunch with my friend. We both did the $14.50 lunch combination special. Usually with the lunch special the roll selection is not great, but here it was awesome. The sushi was so delicious (better than Zama in my opinion) and for $14.50 for two great rolls and a salad, you can't beat that. The service was excellent as well! I will def be back.
(5)
Clara L.
Decor and space remind me of generic LES/ Upper West side sushi places. Asian modern with a touch of ikea. Fresh sushi, good portions. Great homemade spicey sauce!!! Warning: this is legit heat. I put hot sauce on everything, and I would buy this sauce in a bottle. Try old School or Volcano Roll. The best vegetarian rolls, surprisingly. I have yet to discover amazing sushi in Philly. This place is the best yet.
(4)
Daria M.
Stopped in solo for a quick snack. Had a pickled plum roll. It was good, but there could have been more pickled plum in it and less cucumber. I asked for spicy sauce on the side and was given a generous amount with no extra charge which I appreciate greatly. The restaurant is small, intimate, quiet, clean and cozy-feeling, although I was privy to my neighbors' conversation a bit too much due to the close proximity, I think it was because it was midday and there were only the two of us in there. The service was fast, attentive and polite. I would come back again from the look of all the yummy maki, if I knew they did veggie-substitutions, since there were only a handful of veggie rolls on the menu, but I was too daydreamy to ask that day. Overall, a positive experience! I give kudos. :)
(4)
Anna S.
Nice restaurant. Cool, cute decor and delicious food. Plus our server was really pleasant. Absolutely no complaints. Really enjoyed the meal.
(4)
Sana A.
Very welcoming staff. The entire lunch was a delight in the beautiful contemporary interior of white with blue lighting. Went there during lunch time, the place was busy, but the service was very quick. The menu has a great number of options of their creative rolls and the waitress made it really easy to make any alterations. Ordered some plain cali rolls, dancing vampire, and rock and roll. Loved rock & rock and placed a second order of it. I asked for spicy sauce instead of eel sauce, I felt like the spicy sauce takes over the taste of the roll. Will def go back when in Philly next time. Hopefully they have some great hot dishes for the hubby, because he doesn't do sushi :/
(4)
Jen A.
Ordered the Spicy Tuna Crunch, Dancing Vampire and the Agedashi tofu. Everything was great and the fish was very fresh. Will definitely order again!
(5)
Rogelio R.
I was not impressed with the place. The ambiance is not for me. It is very trendy and a tad too dark for me. (But the blue lighting does look great). The prices were a bit high for my taste, that the quality of food did not make up for. This is a place to try but is not for me.
(3)
Christine N.
I heard great things about this place before I came and it met my expectations. This place has great sushi and wine that goes along with that. This place is also good for those people who want cooked fish. The atmosphere is great with the bluish walls and dim lights. A great place to relax with a few people. I went with 6 people (a bigger group than that normally would fit there). With the sushi and wine, the bill can come out a bit, but my company, the quality, and atmosphere there was worth it. The deep fried tofu is a must get appetizer and so far, I've liked everything I had on the special roll list.
(4)
Alison W.
Love this place! The sushi I scrumptious and super fresh. Definitely make reservations or sit at the bar. My favorite: the spice crunchy tuna roll.
(5)
Sonia S.
I have been going to Shinju/ fat salmon for years. If you are going there, do NOT go at peak times (i.e. Fri./Sat. night after 7 pm). They get slammed with customers and cannot speed up. They end up giving you some free edamame if your food is taking forever. This is why I always go around 5-6 pm, when they first open for dinner service. The staff is less stressed and they know us pretty well now. I have had sushi from Pod and Morimoto. They are not as good at this place. Say hi to Lina for me. She's awesome! Order the rock and roll and also the lipstick trace. My 2 faves! Hubby likes the Fuka Maki for the sheer amount of sushi it provides. Also, you MUST order the green tea tempura. I ask Lina right at the beginning of the meal if they have it every time I go.
(5)
Mary W.
Fat Salmon is a fabulous restaurant in the city to relax and enjoy great food. I'm a huge fan of raw sushi but if you are not, this is the PERFECT sushi spot for you! The menu offers plenty of cooked yet delicious rolls. I must comment on the deep fried tofu appetizer, which has become my all-time favorite dish at this restaurant. My friend and I went back just to eat this dish. Silky soft tofu is lightly battered and fried, topped with a irresistible spicy sauce. It's a burst of flavor and texture in your mouth! You can not leave Fat Salmon without trying their deep fried tofu appetizer!
(5)
Joanne W.
Pretty good sushi and decently priced...but the kitchen side would not be recommended. Service is okay, could be a little more attentive, especially if you're one of the last tables. It'd be easier to kick me out if you come to the table...
(3)
Andrew U.
Favorite Sushi joint in Philly for me, for value and for deliciousness. Lost Rainbow roll and super dragon are my favorites! Every few weeks I'll come here to get my sushi fill. The decor is also modern and the wait hasn't been too long for a walk in on a saturday night (30 mins for a bar). If you want a table, be sure to make a reservation on a busy night otherwise you may have to wait! Edit: After having a go at other sushi places in town, Fat Salmon remains at the top. Have been here multiple times since this review and have never been dissatisfied.
(5)
Rebecca L.
I have to be honest, I'm probably the only person I know who isn't a fan of sushi. You're probably asking yourself why in the world would she go to a sushi restaurant if she don't like sushi? Wow, great question. I've been hearing from my roommate since she moved here in April that Fat Salmon is DELICIOUS, the best sushi she's had in the city. I had a friend in town who loves sushi so I decided now was the best time to check it out. We got to the restaurant a little after 6 on a Wednesday night and were seated almost immediately. We ordered the edamame, piping hot but perfectly salted, and seaweed salad, which was delicious, for appetizers. We split 3 rolls from the Special Rolls section (pictures included in the menu!), Blossom, Lava and Volcano. LOVED them all. Yes, that's right. I actually enjoyed sushi. Prices were fair, fish was fresh and delish, and the wine was CHEAP ($5 for the house wine? Give me 5). I'll be back.
Yum!! I love sushi and I'm picky about it, so giving this restaurant 5 stars really means something. Came here for a date night with the bf on a Thursday after having walked by it before and later read the reviews. Ambiance is fun and night clubby, though it was a little loud when we first got there - don't come here during popular hours for a super intimate date. The menu has pictures of all the specialty rolls, of which there are a TON. It was really hard to choose from all the offerings, and they even had lots of creative non-shellfish options (a huge plus for us, because my bf is allergic and usually can only have one or two rolls on the menu). Once chosen and ordered, our sushi was fresh and delicious, lots of flavor and not too much rice. Sushi perfection. We also ordered tempura green tea ice cream for dessert. The portion was HUGE and again, the dish was yummy. Service was also good - our waitress was a bit swamped because they were short a busboy, but we never waited that long for anything and she was always friendly. I'll definitely be back here. By the way, Fat Salmon is no longer BYOB! We bought a bottle of wine on our way here based on a prior yelp review, but were informed of the changed status when we arrived.
(5)
Joseph D.
Had an excellent dinner here... actually impressed by the freshness of the food! Sushi in Philadelphia has been having a tough time in the past year, but this place puts it back on the map. Delicious, original, and I love the style. The presentation is clean and appealing as well, and they keep the restaurant very clean.. It's a fairly new place and still growing, but I have no doubt it will stand apart if they keep raising the bar like they are.
(5)
Jaime B.
Incredible doesn't even begin to describe this amazing sushi spot. I'm super picky when it comes to good sushi. This place exceeded all my expectations. I started with the Green Salad. The dressing was a creamy ginger dressing that was delicious! I ordered two specialty rolls that were incredible. I love spicy rolls and boy were they spicy! The price is very reasonable too.
(5)
Dee D.
I ordered take out and hands-down it was THE BEST sushi I've had...ever. The fish is fresh and melts in your mouth and the flavor lingers. The pieces are generous without using too much rice. Very satisfying meal. My husband even enjoyed it and he's not crazy about maki rolls.I ordered the spicy tuna crunch roll, dragonfly roll (replaced the eel on top with fresh salmon for only $1 extra) and the kai roll. They were all so very delicious. My faves though were dragonfly and tuna crunch. Also, the hostess (I don't recall her name anymore as I went there 2 weeks ago) was kind and helpful in answering my questions and accommodating my requests. Am looking forward to actually dining there, enjoyed the nice relaxing atmosphere as I waited on my rolls which were being crafted fresh to order and in a very timely manner.
(5)
pracheta t.
My previous review was for Shinju..so i am updating it to reflect Fat Salmon! The bright blue LED lights is the first thing you notice even before walking in. What a change - so trendy! I went with my girlfriend and even though we were surrounded by couples on dates we still felt totally comfortable. They have an amaaazing selection of specialty rolls - even vegetarian ones. And the roll itself was...fat. Def didn't skimp on anything. So super yummy, I'll def go back.
(4)
Jennifer N.
Fat Salmon is the perfect lunch take-out spot for me. I used to be devoted to Tampopo on Sansom, but they closed, so I decided to check out the lunch specials at Fat Salmon. I can say this -- you get tons of food for a very reasonable price. All of the lunch specials come with a choice of Miso or Salad. I am a big fan of the miso. So satisfying during this chilly time of year. So far, I have tried the No. 1 (Cali roll, spicy tuna roll, tuna and salmon nigiri) and the No. 5 (1 Midori Maki, 4 pcs sushi (Inari, Shitake, Avocado, Asparagus). No. 1 was good, but nothing special. The No. 5, however, is my new favorite. It is all veggie, but the flavors really sing. The avocado and asparagus are so simple, but tasty due to the freshness of the ingredients. And all for $9.18 with tax.
(4)
Christine R.
Fat Salmon is one of my favorite places to go for sushi in the city. The quality of sushi is always fresh and delicious. Fat Salmon is known for creative fusion rolls which are no doubt amazing. However, the regular rolls are just as good. I love the Fuka roll which is one of their mixed spicy rolls. The menu is pretty big with plenty of a selection. Fat Salmon also has a full bar. I am not sure if it's BYOB though. The decor seems modern-chic and dimly lit. I think it's a great atmosphere for quiet conversation with a good friend or a date.
(5)
Caren C.
This is my favorite sushi place in Philly! I am a little sad that it is no longer Shinju or that they are no longer BYO, but I still love them. If you are on a budget try the lunch specials. For about ten dollars you can get a salad, two rolls and a drink. While it might not be the most exciting thing on the menu, I crave on a weekly basis the spicy tuna roll. If you are feeling a little more adventerous, I would try the Volcano or the Fancy Sushi Roll. The service is always great and they wrap the rolls up nicely if you want take-out.
(5)
Lan H.
It started with an idea: it's a sushi lover's birthday. We should take her to a great sushi place in the city. Fat Salmon. The name has a personality :-) The master minds behind this bubbly name must have been the same ones who conjured the interior design. The blue lights, the wavy-textured walls, the entire dining experience...all share a common theme: simple, fun, and made me (and birthday girl and co) feel like I was in another world. The master minds of the menu were hugely inspired by various oddities and beauties, such as "The Sleeping Volcano" and "Mr. French Kiss," two different types of specialty rolls. The phrase "I live to eat" is 100% applicable here! The food was arranged such that the plating itself was delicious enough (as if you weren't already excited to each anyway once you stepped into the restaurant ;-)). But then, the flavors will boggle your mind! Fat Salmon, I hope, will continue to inspire me through its dining experience for as long as it is accessible to me :-) oh! And the birthday girl was beyond happily full of sushi by the end of the meal :p
(5)
Chris S.
Fat Salmon (nee Shinju) essentially keeps the same traditions as the old place on Locust. Except, now, when I walk in wearing scrubs and have disheveled hair, I feel like a beggar walking into the Ritz Carlton. The wavy blue walls and their opulent lighting and carbon-fiber-like floors make the former location at 9th and Locust look like a cheap dive bar. So, naturally, I would think the prices would skyrocket....ESPECIALLY now that they have a liquor license and you can get your drink on without hauling it yourself. Surprise! This place still gives you great sushi at a good value. But I'm not here to talk about value, I'm here to talk fish! Fays s. and I got our usual: some sort of roll + pieces of salmon & yellow tail nigiri. This is our general standard for judging US-based sushi places (rolls aren't sushi...but they fill me up). Sure enough, the quality is just as I remembered it before it moved up town two blocks. In fact, I think it even got better...the yellow tail was almost comparable to flavor/texture to the best medium-fatty tuna (not quite o-toro) I've had. What a treat! Yes, I got a $2 bowl of miso soup...which tasted as it should. Faye s. made fun of me because I paid $2 for...miso soup (when we had packets that would taste the same at home and cost $0.50. Whatever, it was raining and I wanted some darn soup. Next time I come here, I think I'll try to ditch the scrubs.
(4)
Alexandra W.
Can someone explain this Shinju vs. Fat Salmon business? Which is it? And why 'Fat Salmon'? I agree with Kathryn, though. Shinju sounds much nicer. The sushi is really good. I can appreciate an interesting, creative roll despite the fact that it isn't the traditional way to serve sushi. We ordered four of them, whose names I can't remember for the life of me. I do remember, however, that they were so good. Be warned, the portions are strange. Some rolls come with 6 pieces, some with 5 and some with 4. My only grievance is that if I'm paying $10+ for a roll, I want 6 pieces. Of course, my favorite one only had 4. Also, they have tempura ice cream! Get this to share, though. I made the mistake of ordering one for my self. THIS portion is quite large.
(4)
Christine R.
good sushi, not the greatest. good prices. good service. i would come back or recommend it.
(4)
Beth R.
Fat Salmon started out as a BYO, but has since acquired a liquor license. I thought my experience here was on par with Izumi, not quite as awesome as Doma, and better than Umai Umai. Izumi has a slight edge bc of their outdoor seating, but FS has center city location, plus a huge menu of fancy rolls complete with photos and crazy names. The decor is modern and fun. As for the food, my favorite part of my meal was the steamed beef dumplings appetizer, but the tuna and shrimp rolls I had were both good too.
(4)
Patrick C.
Shinju is hands-down my favorite sushi place in all of Philly! I'm a little bummed that it's no longer a secret as it fills up pretty fast. But the place has awesome specialty rolls, fresh fish, BYOB, and reasonable prices. I'm a fan of their non-traditional rolls, especially the 'Locust Roll,' which comes with deep-fried spicy tuna on top - I swear it's the stuff dreams are made of! Even if you're not big on sushi, surely you can get behind the B.C.T. roll, which is basically bacon-sushi (seriouly! it works) combined with a philly roll. Take your date! Even though she'll think it's going horribly wrong when she follows you into the Locust Bar - she'll quickly find that you're only ordering a six-pack to go. In a matter of minutes she'll be at a candle-lit table enjoying a perfect little appetizer called "naked gyoza" - super impressed that such a thing even existed and that you knew about it! I'm taking this too far. Just go!
(5)
Dan C.
Last Monday I ventured into Fat Salmon for some sushi with friends and was hoping all the great yelp reviews didn't let me down. The food was great, I got a miso soup and a few of their specialty rolls. The rice was perfectly cooked, I hate when it is under/over cooked. I went to Morimoto a few weeks back and the sushi at Fat Salmon was just as good, if not more fresh (and definitely better priced!) But what REALLY blew me away was the incredible service. We had a beautiful waitress (I think her name was Jessica) who was incredibly friendly and attentive. It was such a refreshing change to have someone who was not only really knowledgeable about the menu but so personable and caring. She even gave us some recommendations for bars in the area we could go to after! I will definitely be coming back to Fat Salmon, not only for the great food but the awesomeeee service!!
(5)
John B.
First of all, let me first start off by saying when it comes to Japanese food and Korean food, I'm particularly harsh. I'm a big food snob...what can I say. With that said, this place is just okay. If I could sum up this place (most sushi places in Philadelphia, for that matter), they have a variety of maki's--but not much else. People who are looking for good, fresh sashimi and nigiri experience will be disappointed here. People who are looking for different twists in maki's will be satisfied. Also this place would be good for people who are not so thrilled with the idea of raw fish, since they have a lot of maki's with "crab sticks" (the imitation crab meat made from cooked fish). So while I *might* come back here for spicy tuna roll, I would go somewhere else for the rest.
(2)
Danielle L.
I'm glad we picked this place! The service was great, they were so friendly there! The sushi tasted amazing and fresh! I had the rainbow roll and my friend had spicy tuna. Best we ever had! Drinks were delicious and the atmosphere was great, too! It was even full and we got seated right away!
(5)
Steven S.
I have loved them since they were Shinju. The FRESHEST sushi and the best apps and salads. The nigiri and sashimi are incredible. Regularly order green salad, shumai, Unagi, Tumago, Saba, squid, and many rolls ... out-freaking-standing. We have had everything from this place, and it's all the best and the freshest in Philadelphia. I have been to a number of sushi places in Philadelphia and elsewhere, and this place is right up there. So lucky to be a few blocks from here.
(5)
Paul L.
I'd like to think I know about something about sushi and after trying the new metamorphosis of the old Shinju, I think I'm content. Given losing Aso was hard and I attribute that to the less than ideal location it possessed by contrast maybe the interior decoration has something to do with it too. Now Fat Salmon has managed to transform the space into something hip and trendy. Food-wise, it's a little on the pricey side as with any other sushi place. The selection range from the standard selection of nigiris with a wider range of specialty maki rolls. Between the two of us, we ordered a deep fried shumai and the sushi & sashimi platter for two which comes with two soups and two salads. Normally, that wouldn't be enough food. We're used to ordering rounds of sushi, but somehow that turned out to be quite enough. Everything turned out fresh and tasty, I'm impressed with the quality of salmon and white tuna. I'm also very happy about the shrimp tempura rolls that comes with. Service was good, food is fresh, my only complaint is the somewhat strong dangling table light. I'm sure the sushi can be more tricked out but all in all, it was satisfying. It's recommendable.
(4)
Jaclyn P.
Great sushi that is artfully prepared! Reservations are really important on weekends, but if you make one in advance, they will get you seated right away! Really nice variety and the quality of the ingredients is obviously much higher than that of the many sushi bars throughout Center City. Waitstaff was courteous and the food arrived quickly. Highly recommended for seekers of great sushi :)
(5)
Farida A.
So many choices!! Fabulous decor, creative and delicious sushi rolls. And it's cheap as hell! I had sushi and sashimi at Morimoto for lunch and came to Fat Salmon for dinner - you'd think I would've been sick of sushi or that Morimoto would've raised the bar too high for me to enjoy Fat Salmon, but no - I loved it. If I lived in Philly, I would definitely frequent this place.
(4)
Kim B.
Fat Salmon is a great, reasonable priced place in the city. I came based on the positive Yelp reviews and wasn't disappointed. The waiter was pleasant and helpful in providing recommendations. We tried several specialty rolls and my favorite has got to be the Fancy Sushi. The ingredients were fresh. The place is modern-sleek. My only drawback was they didn't have a high chair. My husband and I took turns holding baby. So yes this isn't really a place to bring kids given tables are so close to each other.
(4)
Rosa V.
The name "Fat Salmon" alone made me like this place. I'm a fan of restaurants that put effort into ambiance and Fat Salmon goes above and beyond the calling. The blue lighting of the restaurant gives the semblance of a swanky cocktail lounge amidst historic Philadelphia. BUT the sensory delights don't stop at lighting. The sushi is the star. And the selection is fantastic! So many unique rolls to choose from, and a great collection of spicy ones. You are sure to find something you like or simply have the chance to expand your palette. Very reasonably priced, casual, great service, and soooo delicious!
(5)
Jack S.
Service was very good, but the rolls were very mediocre. Gloppy is the technical term I'd use.
(3)
Alex C.
Went here for dinner. Bill came out to be around 79. Still doesn't compare to Sushi Tomo in So. Cal. where it's AYCE for 25 for dinner. Interior: Very modern fancy. Got blue leds running along the bar and fancy white wavy wall for the tables. Small place though. Food: Pretty good. Ordered the Sush/Sashimi for 2, Shrimp Tempura Appetizer, a soft volcano roll, and a spicy tuna roll. All were fresh and tastey. I personally like the salmon and the white tuna :) The yellowtail was kinda fishy. Service: Good Overall: 4 stars :D
(4)
Matthew B.
This place is a lot of fun. Definitely be sure to have a reservation, though, if you are going to go there on a Friday or Saturday. I have been there a few times now and it is always crowded. One important thing to note - if you haven't been there in a while, it is no longer BYOB. Thankfully the hostess who took my reservation informed me of that, or I would have been carrying a bottle of wine around with me for no reason. It's not very expensive - four rolls and a couple of drinks for two people was around 60.00. The sushi is different than most of the rolls I have encountered, and is definitely designed with a non-traditionalist audience in mind. One roll in particular - the M&M roll, was awesome. There's another one with pico de gallo and sour cream that's tasty, too, but I can't remember the name. It's the white forest roll or something. Service isn't excellent, but the wait staff is friendly and there isn't much to complain about. They just don't really seem to be in any kind of hurry. In conclusion, it takes me about 30 minutes to get here and I never balk at making reservations when the idea pops into my head.
(4)
Mari C.
Went to Fat Salmon for dinner: It is hands down AMAZING sushi but I thought the service was lacking a bit. I had three waitresses during my entire meal (not sure why they all switched up like that) and it took a really long time to get rolls out to us. Also, at any point in time there were 3 or 4 sushi rolls with saran wrap on top of the bar, which makes you feel like you aren't getting the freshest rolls. We noticed our rolls sitting there for at least 20 minutes before it was brought to our table. Either way, the food is really good...I highly recommend the agedashi tofu appetizer and the sepia pleasure. The prices are great too!
(4)
Laura B.
This is a great lunch spot for people who work near the federal courthouse at 6th and Market or other spots in Market East. It wasn't crowded, we had great service, and there are a ton of lunch specials around $10. I got the Vegetable Tempura Lunch Box, which came with more food than I could eat. Tons of interesting vegetable tempura (squash, zucchini, sweet potato, eggplant, etc.), half a California roll, rice, two dumplings, and a salad to start with. Very yummy. And now I'm stuffed.
(5)
Todd V.
I ordered the spicy pork Japanese bbq lunch box. The flavors were pretty muddled and not much else in the box made up for it. The tuna roll was bland and too soft. The gyoza were ok. I had heard great things about this restaurant but Im not really sure why people like it so much. If you cant make a good tuna roll then I am not sure you can make any sushi right.
(2)
Grace T.
Creative rolls, reasonable price, good salads and miso soup, overall good eating here! I interned literally 20 steps away from here so my boss and I would eat here pretty often. For take-out or dine-in. Expect to do some ease dropping if you dine-in cause you will for sure hear your neighbor's conversation. There are only about 8 tables in the place, BUT you can order take out walk a little bit down to Washington Square park or sit outside by the newly renovated Jefferson University courtyard. Can't say how their cooked Japanese entrees are, but the old intern boss said they were pretty good. Almost positive she eats here at least once a week, so it is that good!
(4)
Tracy W.
My favorite since it was tiny Shinju. Creative rolls, always fantastic. Miss that it's not byob anymore, but I'll deal.
(5)
Abigail T.
I love Fat Salmon! Actually, I don't like salmon at all. But, at Fat Salmon that's not a problem - especially, during lunch, the best time to get sushi. Fat Salmon has great lunch specials. It has some of the best prices around, and they allow you to change something for a $1 extra, which at these prices is a great deal. I'm a simple girl, so I get the #3 and sub an extra tuna nigiri for the salmon. At $10.50, I'm satisfied!
(5)
Frank S.
If you can find a spot in this place of the size of a shoe box, consider yourself lucky. I had not been here for over a year an now that I went back I found some of the freshest sushi I have had in town (including S in Collingswood) for a very reasonable price. Excellent miso soup, not overly salted like in so many other places, super fresh salad with delicious ginger dressing, both complimentary. I had chirashi, including the shrimp, which is usually not my favorite in it, every bite of fish was really good. Same for my friends maki sampler. Only downside, there was no tamago in the bowl, which I think goes really well with chirashi, but hey.. It's byob and there is a great beer place right around the corner a 10th and Pine. Now that I wrote the review, I am actually pretty regretful to tell everyone about it ... ;-) Warning! Too small for big groups!
(5)
April W.
I ate here tonight with my boyfriend and we had a great time! We are far from sushi experts, but we really enjoyed everything we ate. The staff was all really friendly and the atmosphere was nice. We went around 5:00 and by the time we were leaving it was starting to pick up. The waitress said they were booked for the night so they must be doing something right.
(4)
Claire O.
First off, the agedashi tofu is out of this world. I'm very picky and sometimes restaurants can get it wrong, but Shinju has it down, The rolls are inventive. The hako sushi is probably my favorite so far - pressed box sushi with spicy tuna, "crunch" (which I assume is panko), topped with unagi and tobiko. Great flavors. The BCT roll that everyone was raving about didn't really do it for me - way too rich and creamy for my taste. We also ordered the shrimp tempura roll and spicy tuna, as well as ikura nigiri (salmon roe). I'd have to order sashimi or nigiri in order to comment on the quality of the fish, so I'll probably update this review when I get around to that. I also did take-out so I can't comment on the service. Prices were a touch steep. The hako sushi was worth the $12.50 but generally I think the other rolls were overpriced.
(4)
Leslie P.
I think we all need that go to sushi place where you know a few rolls you just adore and everything else is great. The kind of place you say to you friends or significant other, "why don't we just go to _____?" and they oblige because they, too, love it. I feel like Fat Salmon would be a wonderful contender for that kind of place: a staple sushi restaurant. I say this partially because people talked about the decor and how cool the place was. And it is cool, don't get me wrong. But it is not one of those restaurants where the whole thing is "an experience." It really is much more about the food. Two girlfriends and I went to share some fancy makis and drink prosecco (BYO). We started with salads. The green salad with ginger dressing was just what I wanted and a great starter to any sushi meal. My friend ordered the seaweed salad. It was enormous. Generally seaweed salads are in little small bowls and pale in comparison to the size of the restaurant's house salad. At Fat Salmon, the seaweed salad is twice the size of the house/green and could easily be shared by two people for a starter. We ordered 5 rolls to split. I looked at the menu online before I arrived, but I was happy to see tasteful pictures of the super fancy rolls. I think this will come in handy especially as I go back to Fat Salmon and I try to remember which rolls I have had and liked. There are SO MANY to choose from. And, I would caution that yes, the fancy rolls are super yummy, but not to ignore what they call "regular makis" and their tempura and spicy makis which fall behind the specials' spread. Sometimes too many fancy rolls is just too rich! We ordered Lipstick Trace (upon a recommendation from a friend), Dragonfly, Dancing Vampire, and Lost Rainbow on the fancy menu and a spicy tun roll from the less fancy section (which was still fancy and special, but I digress). At Fat Salmon, they tell you what is inside the maki and what is outside (because both are part of the equation). We decided after the meal that the outside is the most important indicator of what the maki will taste like--it is the part that touches your tongue first and more aggressively. I think we especially liked the Lipstick Trace (which is vegetarian), the spicy tuna, the Lost Rainbow, and the Dragonfly. The Dancing Vampire with its sweet chili sauce was the one we had leftovers of. It was very sweet and apparently did not come in first place. Best part was the bill came to less than 60 bucks--split three ways, we all felt like we got a great deal. Which again, brings me back to the whole "staple restaurant" argument. There are times for Morimoto and the like, but if you love sushi, you need to find a place that will give you lots of room to explore, is always tasty, and doesn't break the bank. Fat Salmon? SCORE!
(4)
Zachary D.
Fat Salmon is great except for the food. As someone who actually likes good sushi, I wish they spent half as much time working to get good fish as they do trying to make the place look trendy.
(2)
Emilia M.
I have visited Shinju Sushi only 3 times, but each time I have brought a different friend, and each time it has been absolutely amazing! Shinju's specialty rolls are to die for. There is something for everyone on their menu, included a roll with kobe beef, as well as two rolls that somehow manage to incorporate bacon. I'm not a huge bacon fan, but I took my friend for his birthday and he was amazed! The place is super small, so I recommend calling ahead and getting reservations. They will only hold your reservation for 15 minutes after you're supposed to be there, but I think that is a pretty fair policy considering I once went without a reservation and had to wait a pretty long time. I definitley recommend Shinju, and after your meal you should definitely try the Moki ice cream. (If you read my other reviews, you'll see I'm a big fan). Added Plus: It's a byob, which means that you can have any beer or wine you want with your Sushi,
(5)
Brian P.
Awesome! The sushi is some of the most fresh fish in the city. It's a fun atmosphere, definitely trendy but can be pretty loud. Overall a great place with great food. Perfect for a night out with friends and a great place to bring people from out of town. Portions are reasonable for the price. I would highly recommend it.
(4)
B B.
We ordered sushi, before we were supposed to see a movie at the Ritz about sushi. We ended up skipping the flick and just relaxin' outside. But, that relaxation was helped by the fish that we had eaten just a while before. The shrimp rolls were great, and I loved the shiso leaves that accompanied the mackerel sashimi. fresh. reasonable prices for the location. pretty sweet.
(4)
Gary S.
This business was formerly Shinju on Locust Street. I reviewed it under Shinju, which is now closed. Same chef, same great, artistic sushi. Highly recommended! And now in a much more comfortable, stylish setting...
(4)
David T.
so so...nothing special
(2)
Marysa M.
Every roll that I tried was delicious and so reasonably priced!
(5)
Chris T.
Good, fresh soosh. Japanese appetizers left something to be desired. Friendly service in a nice space. Probably more accurate to give it 3.5 stars.
(4)
Mara K.
Recently learned that this place is no longer BYO... what a disappointment. Still love the sushi, but will miss the added BYO bonus.
(4)
Oski B.
CLOSED! Great place to come if you feel like wasting money on a cab ride from University City. Come for the sushi and you'll be sorely disappointed. However, if you're into butcher block paper covering the windows, you're in luck!
(1)
Cory B.
I initially was thinking about going to this place based on a recommendation from a friend and knew that I was for sure going when I checked out what the rest of you were saying. First, this place is amazing!! Very small on the inside (like maybe 10 - 15 2 person tables and a 4 seater sushi bar although one of those seats might be uncomfortably close to the wall). However, the place has a very good atmosphere to it. My first thought when I walked in was that it would be a great place for a date (and I am taking my wife back there tonight). Second, the food was great. I had the pork katsu appetizer (I have a weakness for anything fried) which is served with the traditional katsu sauce (kind of a sweet sauce) but it was kicked up a little bit by this dollup of some wonderful mayo/mustard combination (I am sure that there is a name for this, but I have no clue what it is). I then went to one of my old reliables for sushi - Spider Roll. It was, simply perfect. The size of the roll actually surprised me a little bit. The roll was cut into on 4 pieces but they were huge. I have since heard that Shinju refers to this as a "square roll". Needless to say, I was happily stuffed when I left. The service was excellent. I agree with Jenna C. about the speed of service: felt somewhat slow but it is actually more of an un-rushed feel. It was great though. The place is a BYO which always rates high in my book. Somewhat more pricey than your average sushi joint (my bill with tip was about $20) but it is well worth it. I highly recommend this place for any of you out there that love sushi and are looking for a little bit more of an upscale feel while still being reasonably priced.
(5)
Andrew M.
Great place or fresh sushi. There was only one time the sashimi was stale, but it was towards closing time and figured it's only natural. Friendly service and cool atmosphere. It brings walnut street, this side of town, more interesting. Only wish they delivered!
(4)
M B.
food: amazing service: terrible everyone loved the sushi, it really is great, there are so many interesting rolls to pick from. BUT it took about 1.5 hours to get our sushi (on a week night), and our waitress was MIA the whole time. she asked us about our check and us paying before we even got our food, and then we never saw her again. another server dropped the check, which had the gratuity included. just kind of ridiculous.
(2)
Jeremy B.
So happy to have this place (Shinju) back in my life. Fresh, delicious and worth a trip. The standards of Shinju in a new beautiful space, perfect. They are still a BYO until they get their license.
(4)
Alexis M.
This place would be delicious if only for being intimate, friendly, and fresh. But they deliver too!! This must be new, because I just *rediscovered* this place, and I don't remember it delivering. Tons of variety in the roll arena, and very fresh sushi/sashimi. Also, I love the selection of vegetarian rolls, especially the Ume Kappa roll (what other place that's this down-to-earth uses Japanese pickles and umeboshi?). As for price, this place is one of the few I know of that is reasonably priced AND decent quality. I don't think you can pay less than this without sacrificing quality.
(4)
D M.
Based on the reviews below, the wife and I ate here last night. What a massive disappointment. The service and the atmosphere both get 1 star. The food gets 0 stars. Lets start with the atmosphere. The place is tiny - maybe ten or twelve tables plus a small sushi bar. But instead of being tiny in a mellow, relaxing way, it was tiny in a cramped, table on top of table way. I found myself yelling across the ikea-like table at my wife just to hold a conversation. The service was unbelievably slow. Even though there was an empty table when we arrived, it took ten minutes to get seated. Then we waited - no exaggeration- 25 to 30 minutes to have our order taken. After that, we waited again for water, and again for the appetizer, and again for food, and again for the check. I'm pretty chill about service, and when-you-get-a-chance kind of guy, but this was silly. Sushi is hard. I get it. And I get that there are different styles of sushi, how you pack the rice, what type of seaweed you use, whatever. Shinju does a loosely packed roll, wetter than normal. Which sounds fine in practice, but given the quality of vegetables used, it tasted like mush. I couldn't finish my plate - that just doesn't happen with sushi. Terrible. The seaweed salad I had as an appetizer was mediocre, making it the best thing about the place. Then it was three a.m. this morning. I didn't drink a drop last night. But I still got that feeling, you know the one, were last night's partying has caught up to you and its time to see the toilet from a new angle. The chunks were in my throat, I was out of bed and running to the bathroom. Nothing came out, and fine, fine, it could have been anything. Then the same feeling came over me again, and again I was flying out of bed. And then my wife this dawn. Food poison. Yum. Zero stars. This place reinforces for me the disparity in quality reasonably priced sushi restaurants between Philly and DC. How could a place this bad get such excellent ratings? I suspect the BYOB policy helps. If your sloshed, who cares how long the service takes? who cares what the food tastes like? I do, and I won't be back.
(1)
Dung N.
I wouldve given this place a five star rating but it the service stinks. The sushi is phenomonal and among my faves are the Naked Gyoza, the spider roll, spicy tuna crunch and the lost rainbow. Everything is fresh tasting and everything you would want in a sushi place except for the service. The last two times that i have been here during lunch ive probably waited amybe 20 to 30 mins for the food to come. And its not like the sushi chefs are overwhelmed, its the waiters and waitress' that are slow. we literally saw our food made and had it sit on teh counter for 10 minutes before it came to our table. and when we looked around for our waiter..we found him chatting in the back with other watiers. what gives?! ill just order to go next time. thanks.
(4)
Yill C.
Love, love, love this place....went to it as Shin Ju and will continue to go. The reviews that complain about it not being traditonal Japanese, it's NOT and it does not pretend to be....the reviews that complain about the service, are ridiculous as well, they are far from pretentious and they may be a bit slow, but not enough to warrant some of the comments on here. The flavors are great, the fish is very fresh (we get both the rolls and the sushi), if you love sushi and are tired of the same ole, same ole, come here!!!
(5)
Louis T.
As I get ready to flee the country, I realize this is yet another go-to place that I haven't reviewed. Though it looks a little more like a bus stop inside than its predecessor Shinju, Fat Salmon is reasonably priced, the fish is very fresh, and the preparation is solid. If there's a downside to it, I guess it would be the slightly hard decor and over-abundance of slightly gimmicky rolls. But if you just stick with the straightforward options, you won't go wrong. The fifth star is for consistency over a bunch of seminar dinners and random stop-ins, though, not because it blows you away.
(5)
Bee R.
Yummy!!! Definitely recommend the "fancy sushi" roll!!! Great prices and really delish!!! Great find :)
(5)
Sophia C.
I got takeout for lunch last week from here, and their lunch specials are seriously a steal! I paid a total of $17 for a salmon tempura and dancing vampire (one of their specialty rolls) and a side salad with awesome ginger dressing. It would have only been $14 and some change, but the hostess that took my order was so attentive over the phone and gave me extra dipping sauces when I came to pick it up, don't forget to tip them a little something! Definitely the perfect spot to walk to on my lunch break, and definitely coming back.
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! I love this place. The food here is absolutely delectable! I've tried just about everything and I don't have any complaints! Service is always pleasant and timely and the decor... Being an interior designer and avid lover of modern design, I swoon every time I step foot in this restaurant. Sleek, modern, glossy and beautifully lit. There's nothing about Fat Salmon that I don't love. Except for maybe when they briefly close from 2:30 - 5:00pm to prep for dinner. They should never close their doors!
(5)
Katarina M.
YUM!!!!!!!! Best sushi in Philly so far. And great prices. Got the Blossom, the Lava, the Mr. Shiro, and the Fancy Sushi. All phenomenal. Only the Lava was really spicy. I think most of the others were supposed to have some spicy in them based on the menu description, but they were all fine, and I'm not great with spicy. The Mr. Shiro was my favorite. Also each of us had a green salad with ginger dressing. Standard for a Japanese restaurant, and very good. Fine service. Great looking restaurant. All in all we each had a drink and shared the above and it was $24 per person including a generous tip. DEFINITELY coming back. And soon.
(5)
Brian H.
Great sushi and you can literally TASTE the freshness. Very creative rolls definitely for the intermediate to advanced sushi eater. I have been eating sushi for a few years now and I grow tired of simple samon or tuna rolls. The chefs here take it to the next level! Although this was my first time eating here I was told that it was a BYOB....it IS NOT. Not sure what changed but I ended up taking my huge bottle of white wine back to the car :/. Other than that sushi was delicious - the Pork KATSU was unbelievable GREAT value..."party in a box!" Beware you will be served Sashimi, Seawed Salad, Tofu...also comes with Miso Soup and Salad.
(4)
Julia S.
Meh. Just had a Dancing Vampire and Spicy Tuna roll from Fat Salmon. To be certain, the place is beautiful and very stylish. To me, it almost seems like you are in an iridescent, water filled fish and the white accents are the bones. Definitely a romantic spot for a date. Oddly enough, it smells kind of fishy in there as well. Like tuna , which I like. But I've yet to go to another sushi place that smells quite like this one. I'm not blown away, which I should be for the price and reputation of the place. I have definitely had spicy tuna rolls that are MUCH better in the suburbs. Ota-Ya in Newtown to be exact. They just blow everyone away, I guess. And as far as the quality of the special roll, the Dancing Vampire, I've had better special rolls at Ooka of Willow Grove (Lobster Dynamite best roll EVER), Oishi of Newtown and ToKai of Northeast Philadelphia. It was a good roll. Not a great roll. It needed some kind of kick. And I would have appreciated if it was cut smaller, as one piece was hard to maneuver bite-wise. So, I guess it was good enough to visit again, but I won't be dreaming about it and waiting with baited breath for my next opportunity to order. So...kind of lukewarm at best for me.
(3)
Nancy M.
I had a really yummy birthday dinner here on a Sunday night. We made a reservation which was a good thing because the place was full. Despite being busy we were seated immediately and served promptly, though not rushed. While waiting for dinner our server rushed over and explained that someone had mistakenly delivered our sushi order to the wrong table and they were making us a new plate immediately and would reduce our bill by 20% as an apology (not necessary but delightfully nice - and they didn't forget). The sushi was delicious and well made as was the miso soup to start. I live in a resort area in Massachusetts and thought the prices were very reasonable in comparison. I'd definitely go back. Very cool decor. My only complaint was the restaurant was quite noisy.
(4)
Martha G.
I gotta say that their lunch specials are pretty good here; I've never been for dinner. You can get a lot of food for not that much, $14 plus tax and tip. Sometimes service is spotty, however. I've had a shrimp and veggie tempura lunch special, and it was mostly veggie, few shrimp, but it was yummy. And the special sushi rolls are quite yummy. Check it out for lunch.
(3)
Soyoung K.
+1 star for the delicious yellow tail negimaki and the spicy tuna roll. +1 star for the great presentation of the dishes. +1 star for all the creative makis. +1 star for the beautiful decor. absolutely LOVE the lighting. +1 star for the BYO. Hooray! +1 st
(2)
Karina A.
The best sushi I have ever had in the city, hands down. I love you Fat Salmon! I LOVE LOVE their deep fried tofu appetizer. So good and unique texture.
(5)
Victoria L.
Fat Salmon is the PERFECT place to get some amazing sushi. My friends and I were so happy with the food, service, and atmosphere. We asked the waitress for the most popular options and ordered the Dancing Vampire, Rolling Fire, Blossom, and Unakyu. My absolute favorite were the Dancing Vampire (made with cucumber and asparagus crunchy with tuna & salmon on top) and Rolling Fire rolls (shrimp tempura with broiled spicy scallop sauce on top). I loved the shrimp tempura in the Rolling Fire roll, and the sauce that topped it was the perfect addition to the dish. These two options were definitely the spicier ones, but not too spicy. Even my friend who usually opts out of spicy foods loved these rolls! They also had a nice sweet and spicy taste with every bite. Fat Salmon is the perfect place to take all sushi lovers! I know for sure I'll be back to try the other rolls!
(5)
Linda X.
The amostphere is nice, but the food were just okay....My boyfriend is a huge fan of sashimi, but he didnt like the sashimi that much because its not fresh. And the worst part is they didnt have Uni for him.
(2)
A.T. K.
If you're looking for good-quality sushi and a trendy, modern vibe, this is the place for you. It looks very modern and chic inside with the white furniture and mood lighting. The staff is really friendly and full of great recommendations off the menu. We ordered a LOT of food. Be warned, the Seaweed Salad appetizer is HUGE and could be split in to and maybe even three. The Dragonfly roll is as fabulous as everyone hypes it up to be, but it's nothing too special since most trendy sushi places seem to have a "dragon" roll of some kind. But the uni I had was great quality and the other nigiri sushi (salmon, tuna, yellowtail, etc.) were fresh and melted in my mouth - the way good sushi was! I think for the prices and the atmosphere, it's a great place to go.
(4)
Amy H.
Great food! Great service! I am new to the city and was recommended this place and I was not disappointed. I had access to good sushi restaurants growing up in Florida and Fat Sushi doesn't disappoint.:)
If you're looking for high-quality/great tasting sushi at an affordable price...Fat Salmon will give you a foodgasm every single time. No joke. Foodgasm (Urban Dictionary)- "Eyes rolling back in head and moaning while possibly shouting "this is so freaking good!"and taste so overwhelming you have to take breaks between bites to keep from shutting your system down." Anytime I have visitors from out of town, I take them here and order the following: - Old School - Rolling Fire - Spicy Salmon Naked Gyoza - Seaweed Salad Just prep yourself to handle all that spicy goodness ;P
(5)
Tiffany T.
Ah, I really like this place. I've been here probably 5 or 6 times over the last couple years. Any time someone comes from outta town that wants some no frills sushi -- fancier than Vics but less than Morimoto -- this is my go- to spot Agedashi tofu -- this time was a bit too sweet, salty and heavy. The batter still needs work -- I understand it's hard dish to execute, to keep the batter light but just my personal opinion Still love the Lost Rainbow rolls -- I really love their special rolls Biggest reason for 3 stars was our service. It was slow -- not too many customers. It was about 9:30pm so they close around 10pm -- not like it was packed dinner rush. Waited quite a while.. a while.. a while.. then our 3 sushi rolls came out. Then I asked the server if the agedashi tofu was still in the kitchen or he forgot... He apologized, came out with it about 7 minutes later. Surprised a restaurant of this caliber wouldn't comp that on the house -- as what is the POINT of an appetizer once my entrees have already arrived.?? Definitely minus one yelp for that.
(3)
Olivia K.
Fat salmon is possibly my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. Always get the fried green tea ice cream here because for $6 the size is so worth it. I also had the sushi and sashimi combo for 2 which can really be split among 3 people if you also get the fried ice cream. The portions were large and I think worth the $49.95 price tag. Get a nice selection of sushi, maki, and sashimi. The lunch combinations here are about $14 for either 2 rolls, 2 entrees or a roll and an entree. I got the roll and entree combo with the dancing vampire roll which was a little spicy but very good. For $14 definitely worth it. The only thing that was weird was when I went I was given a seat at the booth even though I kept asking for a table and there were tables free during the entirely of my meal. If the tables were reserved there should be a policy for no shows and the table should be given to an actual customer.
(5)
Brett K.
I've been looking to try new sushi restaurants in Philly and this was the first one that I tried. It's delicious and they have an extensive menu (I felt bad for the waitress because I was so indecisive). They have some pictures of the specialty rolls in case you haven't seen or heard of them. Every piece that I ordered was delicious, especially the Red Snapper sashimi. I will definitely be back here and have recommended it to multiple people.
(4)
Jessica S.
I came here for a weekday lunch as I had heard great things and still hadn't been to this sushi place just a few blocks from me. We walked in around 1pm on a Monday and the restaurant was less than half full with many empty tables available. Right away, we were turned off by the service and staff. The hostess was on the phone when we entered and did not acknowledge us for about 5 minutes. Then, she said there were no tables ready for us to sit down yet and proceeded to go to the back for another 5 minutes. When she came back, she again was on the phone and we felt so ignored that we debated leaving. Sorry, but how long does it take to put 2 sushi plates, silverware, and 2 glasses on a table? And why couldn't we sit down while this occurred? It seemed a little ridiculous, but I really didn't want to give up the prospects of delicious sushi so we decided to wait it out. Finally, we were seated, but the bad service didn't end there. We waited another 10 minutes to have our order taken! Thankfully, we didn't have anywhere to be, but if this was a lunch break from work, we would have definitely been more pissed. We finally ordered and we opted for the edamame for an appetizer and each got a lunch special. Their lunch specials are very reasonably priced. I ordered the salmon special which was an alaskan roll, 2 pieces of salmon sashimi, and 2 pieces of salmon nigiri. My husband got the tuna lunch special which was the same idea, except with a spicy tuna roll and tuna instead of salmon. Both came with either miso soup or a green salad. After about 15 minutes, we had not received our appetizer or our soup/salad. We had been there for over a half hour without any food! We both thought this was insane.. especially for a lunch time hour where it wasn't super busy and the food requires minimal cooking. Thankfully, we finally got our food (I feel like I've said finally way too much in this review, but that basically sums up our feelings!). The edamame was a large portion and was salted perfectly. The green salad was meh, some of the lettuce was kind of gross and I could have used a little more dressing as the bottom of the salad was dry and bland. Both of our sushi platters were fresh and delicious. Lunch cost us under 30 dollars, which was more than reasonable for sushi. We left feeling happy with the food but underwhelmed by the service and the overall experience. I would consider coming back to try the special rolls, but would only go when I was not crunched for time.
(3)
Colin S.
I've had a lot of sushi all over Philadelphia, and Fat Salmon is still the place I recommend above all others. The fish is very good quality, and the value for dollar here is pretty much un-matched anywhere else in the city. Their house (cold) sake is very good and very affordable. The sushi and sashimi combos give a lot of food for the money. If you're looking for good sushi, and nice environment, and solid drinks for a great value, check out Fat Salmon. note: they do takeout as well, and it's equally good.
(5)
Christine V.
I love everything about this place. Great atmosphere, great food, friendly service, and very reasonably priced. I came here with two of my girlfriends on a quest to satisfy our sushi cravings. Between the three of us, we ordered three of their featured rolls and one of their smaller rolls. Upon recommendation, we ordered the dancing vampire, the rolling fire, and the blossom roll as three of the bigger rolls and the unakyu (eel and cucumber) roll as the smaller one. Dancing vampire and the rolling fire rolls were two of the spicy rolls but they were definitely our favorites for the night. The dancing vampire definitely has more of a sweet and spicy component to it due to the chili sauce they use. Even with the spice, the taste of the fresh tuna and salmon were not underwhelmed. The flavors blended very nicely together, and the crunch from the cucumber and asparagus added a good texture. The rolling fire roll had a heap of shredded crab stick with spicy broiled scallop sauce on top of it. The other two rolls were also very well-made and tasted great. Nothing disappointing about our experience at Fat Salmon. I can't wait to come back here to try some of their sashimi!
(5)
Ancy T.
I wasn't a sushi fiend, until I had fat salmon. I have been to this restaurant so many times, it's probably an unhealthy addiction. I once went 3x in one week. You can't beat this high quality sushi at such an affordable price. I love ordering a few specialty rolls to share with friends... I'm pretty sure I've tried them all. My most memorable ones are the old school roll and the roll with Pico de gallo (I forget the name)... ugh so good. Honestly, everything on that menu is fantastic in every way. I even had sashimi for the first time and it was amazing! My only complaint is that food takes awhile to come out so make sure you order right away (take a look at the menu before you get there) and get an appetizer so you have something to nibble on on the meantime. Make sure you make reservations.. you can even do it online! Oh also, I personally like ordering drinks when I'm out, but don't even bother doing that here.. save the extra money on some more sushi rolls or just enjoy a small bill!
(5)
Tanisha M.
I love fat salmon , really intimate and cute set up although a little cramped feeling. Delicious sushi and has something for everyone as I went on two occasions with two picky eaters and they both found something they enjoyed. My faves are the Dragonfly and Rolling Fire so good! The service is usually spot on but my last visit we were rushed during our meal despite coming in almost two hours before closing and ppl were sat after us and not bothered once- still comes back cause it's great that just was an weird night for me. Oh it can be packed most nights but they seat you as quickly as possible.
(4)
Johnny N.
If you're in central Philadelphia and you just want a nice quiet sushi dinner, this is the place. Ambience is very casual and you'll probably see a lot of couples who are on their first date. The food? Yummy! Definitely your traditional Japanese fusion sushi and the presentation is very colorful, classy and delicious. I highly recommend their Sepia Pleasure Roll. Whatever you order, you'll definitely come out satisfied.
(4)
Roz P.
Really amazing food! Some traditional and some of their own. Wear something smart casual.
(4)
Priya R.
It's a great sushi place for many reasons. 1) there are photographs with all of it's menu items. I don't know about you, but this is a big deal to me. Everything is simply laid out, and you can see what you will be ordering before you actually order it! 2) It's not a cheap sushi place, but is definitely better quality. The concept of, you get what you pay for certainly applies here. 3) The atmosphere is fun and hip and in a poppin' location. It's got a modern look to it with a friendly and attentive staff. Overall, It made for a pretty fun date and was super fresh sushi. We came here hoping there was a happy hour (there wasn't) but left still feeling satisfied with the quantity of food we got for out wallets. If I had to recommend one roll, the fancy sushi was just superb. But that's because any opportunity to get some large hunks of fresh fish, this is it.
(4)
Christine S.
Great sushi. Interesting ambiance - seems to try to hard in being hip and trendy. But the food is good. There was a fried eel roll that I ADORED. The fried ice cream dessert was mediocre though - don't bother getting it.
(4)
Jim B.
Every once and a while when you're growing up someone may ask you which super hero you would be if you could. Some people say Superman so they can fly, others may say Batman so they'd be rich and cool... ...Me? I'd be Aquaman. Sure, the scaly orange and green tights are kind of a drag. Riding that stupid sea horse as a mode of conveyance doesn't compare to the Batmobile. Doing the breast stroke isn't in the same league with flying. However, as Aquaman, I could summon all those delicious fish from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, march them all to the back door of Fat Salmon's and right into the waiting arms of their fantastic sushi chefs so they could carve 'em up and serve fresh Volcano Rolls and Super Dragon rolls! Best of all, if that were to happen then I believe a 10 % discount might be in order for me (fingers crossed!). So you can keep your x-ray vision, metal claws and invisibility powers. You can jump all the tall buildings with a single bound in the world and it isn't going to save you money on sashimi! Ha ha ha ha! Suckers!!!
(5)
Jin Z.
Best Vegetarian Sushi Ever! Was in Phili for a conference and ended up eating here twice because the sushi was so good. I came with someone who is vegetarian so we had both the "Tofuholic" and I think the other one was "Old School." These were hands down the best vegetarian sushi both of us ever had. The Tofuholic was a great balance of refreshing vegi and creamcheese based topping. I was very impressed with the Old School because it was sushi with a warm topping that worked out so good. In most places vegetarian sushi feels like an afterthought, but here it feels thoughtful, artistic, and most importantly mouth wateringly delicious. Their regular sushi was also delicious. The fish was fresh and everything was tasty and well balanced. I recommend sharing their tempura icecream. Tempura is icecream encased in a fried batter. It was amazing but also a rather large portion. Fat Salmon did a great job on making the perfect batter.
(5)
Ruth K.
If I could give 6 stars, I would. And I have no photos because my kids attacked my plate. My husband and I both had the sashimi for 1- phenomenal. Best fish we ever had and we lived in hawaii 3 years. We also had the fancy tuna and the lost rainbow. Service was meticulous. I don't know how our final dinner in Philly could have been any better
(5)
Sir-ahh L.
The sushi was absolutely delicious! Our service was great from beginning to end and our waitress was easily able to answer all questions. The wine was amazing, the ambiance was on point, and it was more than reasonably priced. We have definitely found our sushi spot in the city.
(5)
Carmen S.
Super-fresh, great service, AWESOME sushi!!! Ask for Taylor she's super helpful on selections and super friendly!!! Thanks Taylor
(5)
Boyang Q.
Went there with my roommate before he moved out. The place is a decent Japanese roll and salami place. I had the dancing vampire roll which caught my attention due to its intriguing name. The taste was good tho not as exciting as its sounds. The salmon sashimi is very good. At the time we were there however, there was a mass 'water recall' and we notice the ice water was extremely turbid. Overall it's a good place to get Japanese sushi and sashimi but unfortunately nothing stunning.
(3)
Abby B.
Look, I'm not one to try sushi places that are new to me. When it comes to raw fish, I know what I like and I tend not to sway. However, I kept hearing amazing reviews for Fat Salmon, so while I was in the area, I happened to have a sushi craving and just had to check it out. We went early on a Saturday evening, like 5:00. We immediately got a table despite not having reservations, most likely because we dine like we're senior citizens (early). We started with the Naked Gyoza Tuna appetizer, which was delicious, but a bit heavy on the pico de gallo. We both ordered speciality rolls, the Dragonfly and the Sleeping Volcano, both of which were very tasty and fresh. Is this good sushi? Yes. Is it a great value? Yes. If I was in the area again and had a hankering for sushi, I would certainly dine here again.
(4)
Ann P.
very good food - fresh and plates were gorgeous. Servers need to know where the fish comes from - I like to know the origin of what I am eating especially raw.
(4)
Sundi P.
Fun, hip sushi restaurant. Great sushi and service. This place had quite a line by the time we left. I would recommend going as early as possible to get a seat because it's not a big place.
(5)
Alyssa R.
Love this place!! It's half way between me and my friends apartments so we always meet here. The sushi is always so fresh and delicious!! One of my favorites in the city. Their sashimi is always delicious and a very generous portion compared to other restaurants. I am a big fan of the rainbow roll and their spicy tuna rolls. Only complaint is as of the last time I was there, there was no option for a roll without rice. Sometimes I like to keep the carbs down and appreciate an option. But rolls are big and they have brown rice. Also they have a decent selection of house wines at about$6 a glass which is a great addition to the delicious sushi. Highly recommend it.
(4)
Maria K.
Very fresh delicious sushi at a great price. Customer service was prefect and the whole ambiance is pleasant and welcoming.
(5)
Anonymous A.
Love this place! If you're in need of a sushi fix you've found your spot. The wait staff is super friendly and the rolls are very creative. They have all the classic sushi rolls and then they have rolls that are truly innovative like the Mr. French kiss which is my favorite - shrimp, bacon and tartar sauce? Yes please! My sister wouldn't even try sushi until I took her here and she loved it! You seriously must go!
(5)
Michelle T.
Grilled octopus and vampire roll!
(5)
Chuck K.
Delicious sushi for an unbelievable price. It's not the fanciest sushi but it was damn good. The location is sleek modern and most importantly clean. No wait late on a weeknight.
(5)
Jennifer M.
Sushi. I love me some sushi, especially when it's super fresh, presented to me creatively, and I have lots of options to explore. Last night transported me to Fat Salmon. This was my first time here, and certainly not my last. This place was legit. The atmosphere is vibrant and futuristic. I digged it. Blue lighting, white furniture, and color-changing vases. It was a small place, so don't think you can just roll in with a big group. Since we didn't have reservations, we were sat at the sushi bar. We brought a bottle of pinot grigio, but alas, it's not BYOB anymore! That sad face turned into a happy one after I ordered their sake-tini (sake, gin, cucumber, and club soda). It was refreshing and light, and went well with our sushi choices. The menu had a ton of options, but I was all about the special rolls! I loved how they put pictures next to the names on the menu! Who needs to read the description when you've got pictures? We ordered the Dancing Vampire, Lava, Lost Rainbow, and the Miss Sake Bomb. Solid choices. My favorite was the Dancing Vampire because it had a nice spicy kick. The Lava roll had too much of their octopus sauce (scallion, spicy sauce, and mayo), and since I'm not a fan of mayo, I avoided that orange concoction to get to the roll. Our server was attentive and pretty friendly. Not a long wait for sushi, either! I'm definitely coming back to this place when I'm craving sushi. I highly recommend this place. p.s. They played some sexy music in the bathroom. I knew I would dig this place!
(5)
Hernan P.
Great food at a reasonable price. Excellent service with a nice environment. Location is not the most active by night and it can be difficult to get a table on weekends. Must call for reservation well in advance to get a table on busy hours. Overall one of the best sushi places in downtown Philadelphia!
(5)
Rachel S.
Very very good!!! My friend and I tried the sushi deluxe for two (see photo), Seaweed Salad, Spicy Tuna and one other roll I can't remember. All were fresh and fantastic! Service was impeccable, noise level normal, decor was beautiful. I loved it! We had saki and a bottle of white wine.
(4)
Shannon R.
When I go out for sushi, I tend to have to make do with an avocado roll and leave it at that. I couldn't believe my eyes when I sat down at Fat Salmon and saw EIGHT different veggie rolls on the menu. Are you kidding me, is this real life?! And then my jaw hit the floor when I saw six kinds of vegetarian nigiri. Have I died and gone to the big veg sushi bar in the sky? It took all my will power not to order everything, so I settled on two rolls: shiitake and midori. They were kind of skimpy and not total flavor bombs, but they filled me up and were way better than some standard veggie rolls I've had in the past. I was impressed when they brought out a bottle of tamari for another customer, very cool. The place is pretty trendy, great if you want to break out your cute heels and not feel over done, but perhaps a little much for the casual afternoon sector. The service was slow but pleasant - it took us close to an hour for lunch, but we weren't in a hurry. I will definitely be back to try every single roll and nigiri! I feel spoiled silly by all the options and can't wait to dive face first in it all.
(4)
Michael G.
Best sushi I've ever had! I see why they won the 2012 Best of Philly for sushi! I came here recently for lunch wanting sushi and someplace new. Yelp reviews helped me to pick Fat Salmon. After walking almost a mile from where I work, I entered into a mid-size modern contemporary restaurant with a blue sea wall and white tables. The bench seating was too soft and squishy for me to be comfortable, so I took a chair. They also have tables in a rear section. I ordered a lunch special with soup. This gave me the choice of two rolls and miso soup. I chose the Locust Fried (INSIDE - Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado / Spicy Sauce ON TOP - (Spicy Tuna Tempura OR Broiled Spicy Tuna) w/Eel Sauce)), and the Dancing Vampire (INSIDE - Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy, ON TOP - Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy)). WOW! Two rolls were almost like four because of the amount of food on top of the roll. They were put together perfectly with minimal rice and maximum everything else. The Dancing Vampire top was so smooth in texture - and I really don't like salmon. But here I really did! The miso soup was also nice and hot with plenty of taste and greens inside. One of the best I've had in a while. Service I felt was a little slow, but there were a few other customers in there (was not really packed at all, though) and they had to make the rolls! But, the water lady server was almost helicopter-like waiting to drop off a new splash of water when my glass was 1/2 full. Staff was very friendly. Fat Salmon has now ruined all of my other sushi places as I'll be disappointed that I did not walk the mile to get here again to eat. $15.66 for lunch for 1 not including tip, no drinks. Very well worth it.
(5)
Stacy M.
We tried Fat Salmon for lunch. We ordered the lunch combo with salad, chicken katsu, California roll, rice and gyoza, the sushi lunch and an additional spider roll, order of Himachi and Unagi. It was fine - but nothing special. The atmosphere was fairly nice. Food was ok - nothing more.
(3)
Steve M.
Of the more decent side of the sushi in the area with a reasonable price. The layout has a relaxing ambience that is ideal for an after work dinner. The sushi is well crafted and is just as the name implies; fat. Be sure to come with a hungry stomach because it shouldn't be hard to satisfy here.
(5)
Marian R.
ok, this one will be tricky. there is absolutely nothing wrong with fat salmon, but i am not their hugest fan (hence the a-ok rating). i love sushi, not just because i love eating raw fish, but i also appreciate the knife skills involved with the preparation (and i love beautiful, fishy presentation as well). fat salmon uses good quality fish, but their presentation has no artistry and their cuts of fish are way too big. this is why this review is hard to write, who would complain about too big pieces of sashimi? if that is your thing (bang for your buck) then i think that i can guarantee that you will love this place. i want beauty and deliciousness. so there. :) but - their rolls are very good (especially the salmon yaki), and i will probably stick to them in the future. service is attentive and upbeat, definitely all sorted out there. and they will soon be getting a liquor license, and that never hurts.
(3)
Hannah K.
This restaurant deserves 4.5 but 4 stars will suffice. One of my absolute go to sushi restaurants in Philadelphia. The restaurant itself is pretty small, a handful of 2 top-tables & a couple of 4-top tables, plus the sushi-bar seating. Cute decor, all white, with a cool color changing wall, pretty standard decor in an asian restaurant these days. But onto the food. Every time I come here, there are always 2 rolls that I get. The Mr. French Kiss roll (described as "spicy crab stick w/scallion, masago. On top: shrimp & bacon, onion tempura w/tartar sauce") & the Rolling Fire roll (described as "shrimp tempura, cucumber. On top: broiled spicy scallop sauce.") These rolls are a mouthful! So yummy! I've tried some of the other rolls like the pressed Hako roll & a handful of the standard sushi rolls such as the spicy tuna, spicy scallop, & the Philadelphia roll. The Hako roll wasn't too impressive, but the $12.50 price tag sure was, making this the 2nd most expensive special's roll on the menu. 2 appetizers that I love & really really really encourage anyone who goes to Fat Salmon to try: the Naked Gyoza (described as "spicy tuna or salmon with masago, scallion & pico de gallo, sour cream") & the Tofu (which has the same broiled spicy scallop sauce on it that the Rolling Fire roll has). YUMMY! I don't know what's in that broiled spicy scallop sauce, but if I had the chance, I would eat it with everything that I possibly could. It's finger licking delicious. The service was impressive, with the servers paying attention to each table even when the restaurant was packed. Never was my water not refilled, nor was I not checked on at the appropriate time. The only downside to Fat Salmon are the prices of the sushi & the wait time. Granted good sushi is on the pricier side , but some of these rolls don't deserve such high price tags. Also the wait time for the sushi is painstakingly long sometimes. Oh & another pet peeve of mine, when the sushi pieces are so big that it's hard to eat. I understand that the sushi is jam packed with delicious things inside, but please try to make it easy to eat. In all, this has to be one of the better sushi restaurants in Philadelphia! I hear that they've just received their liquor license, so I'll be looking forward to some new yummy cocktails.
(4)
Cassie K.
Loved it!! I love sushi but have to admit that I mostly limit myself to California Rolls (I am a Sushi Chicken). This place is great for Sushi Chickens!! I got a roll called the BCT which had bacon, tomato, and the roll was topped with avocado. I think the C was for cheese but whatever it was, it was delicious! The roll portions are large and the prices very reasonable. The menu had a lot of other fun looking rolls so I will definitely be back to try them out...maybe even some with actual fish in them depending on how brave I am feeling or the size of the wine bottle I bring :) As others said, this place is small so I would definitely call ahead for a reservation...even during the week!
(5)
Patty L.
Fresh, quality sashimi with an eclectic selection of rolls that are very reasonably priced in a super sleek and modern atmosphere. Service was great! Could have had a more extensive drink menu for us lushes but if you love sake, you're in the right spot!
(4)
Rachel B.
This was a fun place to go with a group of friends. Had good rolls and good service! Lots of variety in the rolls! Some of the rolls were a little "interesting" which I stay away from. Like things with fruit in them and such. I expected it to be a little more "trendy" inside considering the name. It wasn't super amazing, just regular average sushi. Also had edemame for our group, which needed some salt. I'll go back to try it again! BYO!
(3)
John R.
I dined here one cold winter afternoon. After dashing in and out of the New Year's Mummers parade, my girlfriend and I were wandering the streets hungry and we stumbled upon Shinju Sushi. It is such a cute little restaurant. It's BYOB. The vibe is casual and romantic with definite mood lighting going on. I would not suggest you come here with a group, or even with more than another person. The place just doesn't have that many tables. I think the whole restaurant can seat like 20 people, but for a date, planned or unplanned, this was the perfect spot. The quality of this place is no secret to the locals, almost every seat in the place was taken as we walked in. The waitress told us that it would be a 30 minute wait for a table. No matter we decided, as we saw one of the like 3 or 4 seats at the sushi bar was open. Luckily, my girlfriend and I have tiny butts. We both scooched onto the stool, wrapped one arm around each other and ordered our sushi like some two headed monster I guess. We got an appetizer of age tofu (fried tofu with dashi in a light soy broth) and a miso soup. We then ordered a few standard rolls (eel, salmon) and a special roll ( I should have written it down but you know the names never make much sense anyway). The amount of fish in our rolls was pretty good, the quality was good, and for a great price. The total bill came to under $30. By no means is this a must visit place, there are actually plenty of good sushi options around philly. However, I think shinju will become my local sushi spot. Vic is all the way on the other side of town for me. Bring your next date here, it's a good place for an intimate dinner. Plus girls like sushi restaurants. The place is small and full, but didn't feel crowded or loud. If you're good friends you can just share a seat at the bar.
(4)
Barb B.
Out-freakin-standing!!! That's it.
(5)
Yuan H.
Delicious delicious delicious!!!! My whole office is obsessed with this place. The lunch menu is a great deal and always fills me up. I salivate when I walk past this place even when I am full. The staff is always great, and timely with food. The lunches are packed neatly and they give you a dipping dish for soy sauce. Everything is so thoughtful but not overbearing. For dinner, try the sake sampler. It's reasonably priced and adds a nice kick to dinner time.
(5)
Winnie Y.
I usually am hesitant on trying new sushi places, especially at a cheaper joint, since I am head over heels for an authentic grade A Japanese place in NYC, but I must say Fat Salmon hits home for being a delicious, quality meal that doesn't kill my wallet. I've been here a couple of times and have tried various rolls, such as the Lost Rainbow, Dancing Vampire, and Miss Sake Bomb. I've liked all of them. Plus, the restaurant's environment is trendy! For those who are thrilled to try innovative sushi roll creations that are of high quality, please visit Fat Salmon. I will say though that because I am a fan of sashimi, I do not imagine this being the place for that.
(4)
Nikki L.
Fat salmon offers a modern, trendy vibe complete with white tables, white chairs, and bright blue neon lighting. In keeping with the decor, it's paired with Americanized Japanese food. There's different sushi rolls covered with a mishmash of ingredients like cream cheese, eel, shrimp, cucumber, spicy sauce etc. The food is decent, but I can't do too much of these rolls. The superdragon was a crabstick, cucumber, avocado, tobiko, tempura roll with rice covering the outside, topped with some nori on top, then eel and wasabi tobiko. The roll was drizzled with eel sauce. It wasn't as heavy, or drenched in sauce like I thought it would be. The kame Those who like Americanized-Japanese style will love this place.
(3)
Candice H.
I am quite a fan of this place! The atmosphere is a bit dark for my liking, especially at the bar, but the food is on par! My go to at every sushi place, which is a pretty good tell if their sushi is good: Chirashi bowl. For $21, you get soup and salad with it, so it's a pretty good deal. Large cuts of fresh sushi. You can add ikura for $1 - again, not bad. Reservations are recommended on the weekend, or it's dark bar seating only. You can't see the Chef's make sushi, which is usually the plus at sitting at the bar. They placed a white wall in front for privacy I guess. Seats aren't that comfortable either. Still, would love to go back because the sushi is fresh!
(4)
Stacey G.
Excellent sushi with new and inventive rolls, great service and decor with very reasonable prices. I ordered the edamame, tofuholic roll and cucumber/avocado roll. The tofu roll was amazing, I've never even heard of it before. I am definitely coming back for more of this. A few of my friends got the rolling fire roll (it's spicy) but they loved it! Great for a group of friends! Excellent sushi!
(5)
Christina E.
Um. Interesting. Cute, cool ambiance. Alright sushi. Seems like a fun, trendy date spot.
(3)
Carol C.
My favorite sashimi place around this area used to be Sagami. However, my last experience there was tainted after I was deliberately told by our server to order food from the kitchen and not the sushi menu unless, I wanted to wait an additional 2 hours. No thanks. I was in need of finding another sashimi place, since I don't trust most Philly sushi restaurants for purely raw fish. I came here after many recommendations, and this place definitely lived up to the hype. For about $50, we ordered the sashimi platter for 2. Every slice was perfectly cut and fresh. I am super picky about sashimi quality, as my brother is an avid fisherman, and this place definitely impressed.
(5)
Angela W.
Not a huge fan when it comes to sushi/sashimi dolled up with dressings and an overload of fillings. After returning from Japan with traditional sushi, I can't endorse this place even though it's seems to always be popping. My favorite is still Sagami in Collingswood, NJ if you want a traditional taste of Japan. However, a recent yelp friend also suggested if you want it without the extra accouterment, then you can always ask they don't put it on- always another option! This is the place to be if you just want sushi and is going for a burst of flavors with innovative rolls called "Rolling Fire" or "Dancing Vampire" haha. I always find it fun when sushi places are modernized for a city feel, and you'll know that when they give you sushi on a plate decorated with lights to illuminate the meal! Presentation here is very well done!
(3)
Shirley Y.
Many friends recommended me to try this place and I'm glad I did! The ambiance was nice and good for a nice date or birthday. It was small but intimate. The staff was very attentive and made sure my water was full and table was clean. The price wasn't bad. We ordered the sashimi for two and the fish was fresh but wasn't a huge variety which I was a bit disappointed. I ended up ordering a uni nigiri since I was craving it and it was fresh, which made me happy. I would try ordering some nigiri next time instead. The rolls sounded yummy but I'm not a huge fan of them.
(4)
Yuan H.
Delicious delicious delicious!!!! My whole office is obsessed with this place. The lunch menu is a great deal and always fills me up. I salivate when I walk past this place even when I am full. The staff is always great, and timely with food. The lunches are packed neatly and they give you a dipping dish for soy sauce. Everything is so thoughtful but not overbearing. For dinner, try the sake sampler. It's reasonably priced and adds a nice kick to dinner time.
(5)
Winnie Y.
I usually am hesitant on trying new sushi places, especially at a cheaper joint, since I am head over heels for an authentic grade A Japanese place in NYC, but I must say Fat Salmon hits home for being a delicious, quality meal that doesn't kill my wallet. I've been here a couple of times and have tried various rolls, such as the Lost Rainbow, Dancing Vampire, and Miss Sake Bomb. I've liked all of them. Plus, the restaurant's environment is trendy! For those who are thrilled to try innovative sushi roll creations that are of high quality, please visit Fat Salmon. I will say though that because I am a fan of sashimi, I do not imagine this being the place for that.
(4)
Nikki L.
Fat salmon offers a modern, trendy vibe complete with white tables, white chairs, and bright blue neon lighting. In keeping with the decor, it's paired with Americanized Japanese food. There's different sushi rolls covered with a mishmash of ingredients like cream cheese, eel, shrimp, cucumber, spicy sauce etc. The food is decent, but I can't do too much of these rolls. The superdragon was a crabstick, cucumber, avocado, tobiko, tempura roll with rice covering the outside, topped with some nori on top, then eel and wasabi tobiko. The roll was drizzled with eel sauce. It wasn't as heavy, or drenched in sauce like I thought it would be. The kame Those who like Americanized-Japanese style will love this place.
(3)
Candice H.
I am quite a fan of this place! The atmosphere is a bit dark for my liking, especially at the bar, but the food is on par! My go to at every sushi place, which is a pretty good tell if their sushi is good: Chirashi bowl. For $21, you get soup and salad with it, so it's a pretty good deal. Large cuts of fresh sushi. You can add ikura for $1 - again, not bad. Reservations are recommended on the weekend, or it's dark bar seating only. You can't see the Chef's make sushi, which is usually the plus at sitting at the bar. They placed a white wall in front for privacy I guess. Seats aren't that comfortable either. Still, would love to go back because the sushi is fresh!
(4)
Stacey G.
Excellent sushi with new and inventive rolls, great service and decor with very reasonable prices. I ordered the edamame, tofuholic roll and cucumber/avocado roll. The tofu roll was amazing, I've never even heard of it before. I am definitely coming back for more of this. A few of my friends got the rolling fire roll (it's spicy) but they loved it! Great for a group of friends! Excellent sushi!
(5)
Christina E.
Um. Interesting. Cute, cool ambiance. Alright sushi. Seems like a fun, trendy date spot.
(3)
Carol C.
My favorite sashimi place around this area used to be Sagami. However, my last experience there was tainted after I was deliberately told by our server to order food from the kitchen and not the sushi menu unless, I wanted to wait an additional 2 hours. No thanks. I was in need of finding another sashimi place, since I don't trust most Philly sushi restaurants for purely raw fish. I came here after many recommendations, and this place definitely lived up to the hype. For about $50, we ordered the sashimi platter for 2. Every slice was perfectly cut and fresh. I am super picky about sashimi quality, as my brother is an avid fisherman, and this place definitely impressed.
(5)
Boyang Q.
Went there with my roommate before he moved out. The place is a decent Japanese roll and salami place. I had the dancing vampire roll which caught my attention due to its intriguing name. The taste was good tho not as exciting as its sounds. The salmon sashimi is very good. At the time we were there however, there was a mass 'water recall' and we notice the ice water was extremely turbid. Overall it's a good place to get Japanese sushi and sashimi but unfortunately nothing stunning.
(3)
Angela W.
Not a huge fan when it comes to sushi/sashimi dolled up with dressings and an overload of fillings. After returning from Japan with traditional sushi, I can't endorse this place even though it's seems to always be popping. My favorite is still Sagami in Collingswood, NJ if you want a traditional taste of Japan. However, a recent yelp friend also suggested if you want it without the extra accouterment, then you can always ask they don't put it on- always another option! This is the place to be if you just want sushi and is going for a burst of flavors with innovative rolls called "Rolling Fire" or "Dancing Vampire" haha. I always find it fun when sushi places are modernized for a city feel, and you'll know that when they give you sushi on a plate decorated with lights to illuminate the meal! Presentation here is very well done!
(3)
Victoria L.
Fat Salmon is the PERFECT place to get some amazing sushi. My friends and I were so happy with the food, service, and atmosphere. We asked the waitress for the most popular options and ordered the Dancing Vampire, Rolling Fire, Blossom, and Unakyu. My absolute favorite were the Dancing Vampire (made with cucumber and asparagus crunchy with tuna & salmon on top) and Rolling Fire rolls (shrimp tempura with broiled spicy scallop sauce on top). I loved the shrimp tempura in the Rolling Fire roll, and the sauce that topped it was the perfect addition to the dish. These two options were definitely the spicier ones, but not too spicy. Even my friend who usually opts out of spicy foods loved these rolls! They also had a nice sweet and spicy taste with every bite. Fat Salmon is the perfect place to take all sushi lovers! I know for sure I'll be back to try the other rolls!
(5)
Linda X.
The amostphere is nice, but the food were just okay....My boyfriend is a huge fan of sashimi, but he didnt like the sashimi that much because its not fresh. And the worst part is they didnt have Uni for him.
(2)
A.T. K.
If you're looking for good-quality sushi and a trendy, modern vibe, this is the place for you. It looks very modern and chic inside with the white furniture and mood lighting. The staff is really friendly and full of great recommendations off the menu. We ordered a LOT of food. Be warned, the Seaweed Salad appetizer is HUGE and could be split in to and maybe even three. The Dragonfly roll is as fabulous as everyone hypes it up to be, but it's nothing too special since most trendy sushi places seem to have a "dragon" roll of some kind. But the uni I had was great quality and the other nigiri sushi (salmon, tuna, yellowtail, etc.) were fresh and melted in my mouth - the way good sushi was! I think for the prices and the atmosphere, it's a great place to go.
(4)
Amy H.
Great food! Great service! I am new to the city and was recommended this place and I was not disappointed. I had access to good sushi restaurants growing up in Florida and Fat Sushi doesn't disappoint.:)
(4)
Tiffany T.
Ah, I really like this place. I've been here probably 5 or 6 times over the last couple years. Any time someone comes from outta town that wants some no frills sushi -- fancier than Vics but less than Morimoto -- this is my go- to spot Agedashi tofu -- this time was a bit too sweet, salty and heavy. The batter still needs work -- I understand it's hard dish to execute, to keep the batter light but just my personal opinion Still love the Lost Rainbow rolls -- I really love their special rolls Biggest reason for 3 stars was our service. It was slow -- not too many customers. It was about 9:30pm so they close around 10pm -- not like it was packed dinner rush. Waited quite a while.. a while.. a while.. then our 3 sushi rolls came out. Then I asked the server if the agedashi tofu was still in the kitchen or he forgot... He apologized, came out with it about 7 minutes later. Surprised a restaurant of this caliber wouldn't comp that on the house -- as what is the POINT of an appetizer once my entrees have already arrived.?? Definitely minus one yelp for that.
(3)
Olivia K.
Fat salmon is possibly my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. Always get the fried green tea ice cream here because for $6 the size is so worth it. I also had the sushi and sashimi combo for 2 which can really be split among 3 people if you also get the fried ice cream. The portions were large and I think worth the $49.95 price tag. Get a nice selection of sushi, maki, and sashimi. The lunch combinations here are about $14 for either 2 rolls, 2 entrees or a roll and an entree. I got the roll and entree combo with the dancing vampire roll which was a little spicy but very good. For $14 definitely worth it. The only thing that was weird was when I went I was given a seat at the booth even though I kept asking for a table and there were tables free during the entirely of my meal. If the tables were reserved there should be a policy for no shows and the table should be given to an actual customer.
(5)
Brett K.
I've been looking to try new sushi restaurants in Philly and this was the first one that I tried. It's delicious and they have an extensive menu (I felt bad for the waitress because I was so indecisive). They have some pictures of the specialty rolls in case you haven't seen or heard of them. Every piece that I ordered was delicious, especially the Red Snapper sashimi. I will definitely be back here and have recommended it to multiple people.
(4)
Roz P.
Really amazing food! Some traditional and some of their own. Wear something smart casual.
(4)
Sir-ahh L.
The sushi was absolutely delicious! Our service was great from beginning to end and our waitress was easily able to answer all questions. The wine was amazing, the ambiance was on point, and it was more than reasonably priced. We have definitely found our sushi spot in the city.
(5)
Carmen S.
Super-fresh, great service, AWESOME sushi!!! Ask for Taylor she's super helpful on selections and super friendly!!! Thanks Taylor
(5)
Jessica S.
I came here for a weekday lunch as I had heard great things and still hadn't been to this sushi place just a few blocks from me. We walked in around 1pm on a Monday and the restaurant was less than half full with many empty tables available. Right away, we were turned off by the service and staff. The hostess was on the phone when we entered and did not acknowledge us for about 5 minutes. Then, she said there were no tables ready for us to sit down yet and proceeded to go to the back for another 5 minutes. When she came back, she again was on the phone and we felt so ignored that we debated leaving. Sorry, but how long does it take to put 2 sushi plates, silverware, and 2 glasses on a table? And why couldn't we sit down while this occurred? It seemed a little ridiculous, but I really didn't want to give up the prospects of delicious sushi so we decided to wait it out. Finally, we were seated, but the bad service didn't end there. We waited another 10 minutes to have our order taken! Thankfully, we didn't have anywhere to be, but if this was a lunch break from work, we would have definitely been more pissed. We finally ordered and we opted for the edamame for an appetizer and each got a lunch special. Their lunch specials are very reasonably priced. I ordered the salmon special which was an alaskan roll, 2 pieces of salmon sashimi, and 2 pieces of salmon nigiri. My husband got the tuna lunch special which was the same idea, except with a spicy tuna roll and tuna instead of salmon. Both came with either miso soup or a green salad. After about 15 minutes, we had not received our appetizer or our soup/salad. We had been there for over a half hour without any food! We both thought this was insane.. especially for a lunch time hour where it wasn't super busy and the food requires minimal cooking. Thankfully, we finally got our food (I feel like I've said finally way too much in this review, but that basically sums up our feelings!). The edamame was a large portion and was salted perfectly. The green salad was meh, some of the lettuce was kind of gross and I could have used a little more dressing as the bottom of the salad was dry and bland. Both of our sushi platters were fresh and delicious. Lunch cost us under 30 dollars, which was more than reasonable for sushi. We left feeling happy with the food but underwhelmed by the service and the overall experience. I would consider coming back to try the special rolls, but would only go when I was not crunched for time.
(3)
Christine V.
I love everything about this place. Great atmosphere, great food, friendly service, and very reasonably priced. I came here with two of my girlfriends on a quest to satisfy our sushi cravings. Between the three of us, we ordered three of their featured rolls and one of their smaller rolls. Upon recommendation, we ordered the dancing vampire, the rolling fire, and the blossom roll as three of the bigger rolls and the unakyu (eel and cucumber) roll as the smaller one. Dancing vampire and the rolling fire rolls were two of the spicy rolls but they were definitely our favorites for the night. The dancing vampire definitely has more of a sweet and spicy component to it due to the chili sauce they use. Even with the spice, the taste of the fresh tuna and salmon were not underwhelmed. The flavors blended very nicely together, and the crunch from the cucumber and asparagus added a good texture. The rolling fire roll had a heap of shredded crab stick with spicy broiled scallop sauce on top of it. The other two rolls were also very well-made and tasted great. Nothing disappointing about our experience at Fat Salmon. I can't wait to come back here to try some of their sashimi!
(5)
Ancy T.
I wasn't a sushi fiend, until I had fat salmon. I have been to this restaurant so many times, it's probably an unhealthy addiction. I once went 3x in one week. You can't beat this high quality sushi at such an affordable price. I love ordering a few specialty rolls to share with friends... I'm pretty sure I've tried them all. My most memorable ones are the old school roll and the roll with Pico de gallo (I forget the name)... ugh so good. Honestly, everything on that menu is fantastic in every way. I even had sashimi for the first time and it was amazing! My only complaint is that food takes awhile to come out so make sure you order right away (take a look at the menu before you get there) and get an appetizer so you have something to nibble on on the meantime. Make sure you make reservations.. you can even do it online! Oh also, I personally like ordering drinks when I'm out, but don't even bother doing that here.. save the extra money on some more sushi rolls or just enjoy a small bill!
(5)
Tanisha M.
I love fat salmon , really intimate and cute set up although a little cramped feeling. Delicious sushi and has something for everyone as I went on two occasions with two picky eaters and they both found something they enjoyed. My faves are the Dragonfly and Rolling Fire so good! The service is usually spot on but my last visit we were rushed during our meal despite coming in almost two hours before closing and ppl were sat after us and not bothered once- still comes back cause it's great that just was an weird night for me. Oh it can be packed most nights but they seat you as quickly as possible.
(4)
Priya R.
It's a great sushi place for many reasons. 1) there are photographs with all of it's menu items. I don't know about you, but this is a big deal to me. Everything is simply laid out, and you can see what you will be ordering before you actually order it! 2) It's not a cheap sushi place, but is definitely better quality. The concept of, you get what you pay for certainly applies here. 3) The atmosphere is fun and hip and in a poppin' location. It's got a modern look to it with a friendly and attentive staff. Overall, It made for a pretty fun date and was super fresh sushi. We came here hoping there was a happy hour (there wasn't) but left still feeling satisfied with the quantity of food we got for out wallets. If I had to recommend one roll, the fancy sushi was just superb. But that's because any opportunity to get some large hunks of fresh fish, this is it.
(4)
Christine S.
Great sushi. Interesting ambiance - seems to try to hard in being hip and trendy. But the food is good. There was a fried eel roll that I ADORED. The fried ice cream dessert was mediocre though - don't bother getting it.
(4)
Bridget C.
Best sushi in the city! Lots to choose from always leave full and very satisfied, staff is great
(5)
Djuan S.
Came here with one of my friends for a quick bite to eat. The menu is very exhaustive and reasonably priced. The set up is primarily for dates but there was one larger table for a large group. There is a sushi bar that's very intimate as well. The atmosphere is very cute. My meal was 13 plus tip. I would definitely come here again.
(4)
Jim B.
Every once and a while when you're growing up someone may ask you which super hero you would be if you could. Some people say Superman so they can fly, others may say Batman so they'd be rich and cool... ...Me? I'd be Aquaman. Sure, the scaly orange and green tights are kind of a drag. Riding that stupid sea horse as a mode of conveyance doesn't compare to the Batmobile. Doing the breast stroke isn't in the same league with flying. However, as Aquaman, I could summon all those delicious fish from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, march them all to the back door of Fat Salmon's and right into the waiting arms of their fantastic sushi chefs so they could carve 'em up and serve fresh Volcano Rolls and Super Dragon rolls! Best of all, if that were to happen then I believe a 10 % discount might be in order for me (fingers crossed!). So you can keep your x-ray vision, metal claws and invisibility powers. You can jump all the tall buildings with a single bound in the world and it isn't going to save you money on sashimi! Ha ha ha ha! Suckers!!!
(5)
Jin Z.
Best Vegetarian Sushi Ever! Was in Phili for a conference and ended up eating here twice because the sushi was so good. I came with someone who is vegetarian so we had both the "Tofuholic" and I think the other one was "Old School." These were hands down the best vegetarian sushi both of us ever had. The Tofuholic was a great balance of refreshing vegi and creamcheese based topping. I was very impressed with the Old School because it was sushi with a warm topping that worked out so good. In most places vegetarian sushi feels like an afterthought, but here it feels thoughtful, artistic, and most importantly mouth wateringly delicious. Their regular sushi was also delicious. The fish was fresh and everything was tasty and well balanced. I recommend sharing their tempura icecream. Tempura is icecream encased in a fried batter. It was amazing but also a rather large portion. Fat Salmon did a great job on making the perfect batter.
(5)
Ruth K.
If I could give 6 stars, I would. And I have no photos because my kids attacked my plate. My husband and I both had the sashimi for 1- phenomenal. Best fish we ever had and we lived in hawaii 3 years. We also had the fancy tuna and the lost rainbow. Service was meticulous. I don't know how our final dinner in Philly could have been any better
(5)
Barb B.
Out-freakin-standing!!! That's it.
(5)
Colin S.
I've had a lot of sushi all over Philadelphia, and Fat Salmon is still the place I recommend above all others. The fish is very good quality, and the value for dollar here is pretty much un-matched anywhere else in the city. Their house (cold) sake is very good and very affordable. The sushi and sashimi combos give a lot of food for the money. If you're looking for good sushi, and nice environment, and solid drinks for a great value, check out Fat Salmon. note: they do takeout as well, and it's equally good.
(5)
Johnny N.
If you're in central Philadelphia and you just want a nice quiet sushi dinner, this is the place. Ambience is very casual and you'll probably see a lot of couples who are on their first date. The food? Yummy! Definitely your traditional Japanese fusion sushi and the presentation is very colorful, classy and delicious. I highly recommend their Sepia Pleasure Roll. Whatever you order, you'll definitely come out satisfied.
(4)
Abby B.
Look, I'm not one to try sushi places that are new to me. When it comes to raw fish, I know what I like and I tend not to sway. However, I kept hearing amazing reviews for Fat Salmon, so while I was in the area, I happened to have a sushi craving and just had to check it out. We went early on a Saturday evening, like 5:00. We immediately got a table despite not having reservations, most likely because we dine like we're senior citizens (early). We started with the Naked Gyoza Tuna appetizer, which was delicious, but a bit heavy on the pico de gallo. We both ordered speciality rolls, the Dragonfly and the Sleeping Volcano, both of which were very tasty and fresh. Is this good sushi? Yes. Is it a great value? Yes. If I was in the area again and had a hankering for sushi, I would certainly dine here again.
(4)
Ann P.
very good food - fresh and plates were gorgeous. Servers need to know where the fish comes from - I like to know the origin of what I am eating especially raw.
(4)
Sundi P.
Fun, hip sushi restaurant. Great sushi and service. This place had quite a line by the time we left. I would recommend going as early as possible to get a seat because it's not a big place.
(5)
Alyssa R.
Love this place!! It's half way between me and my friends apartments so we always meet here. The sushi is always so fresh and delicious!! One of my favorites in the city. Their sashimi is always delicious and a very generous portion compared to other restaurants. I am a big fan of the rainbow roll and their spicy tuna rolls. Only complaint is as of the last time I was there, there was no option for a roll without rice. Sometimes I like to keep the carbs down and appreciate an option. But rolls are big and they have brown rice. Also they have a decent selection of house wines at about$6 a glass which is a great addition to the delicious sushi. Highly recommend it.
(4)
Maria K.
Very fresh delicious sushi at a great price. Customer service was prefect and the whole ambiance is pleasant and welcoming.
(5)
Job M.
The thing with sushi is, even when it's bad (but still fresh) it's still pretty good. This place is REALLY good, but it's still just sushi. The rolls are rolls, the fish is fresh, but it's nothing different you can;t just find anywhere else. One roll i will mention that I've never had before and is a must-have is the Old School Roll. It's just veggies but it's topped with sauteed onions and shiitake mushrooms. It's pretty GD amazing. This is the place you take a date who wants sushi. Pro Tip: Make a reservation. It's a small restaurant and it fills up quick.
(4)
Annie L.
This is a go to for sushi in the city. Their lunch specials are superb and I love dinner as well. We have our usual orders for rolls but will switch up the special rolls because they all are great! They don't use rice as fillers so the rolls are actually great quality.
Sushi was amazing! But the takeout was so slow. Wait about 20 minutes after they say to come. Still waiting for my food.... 40 minutes later. Get it together people. How long does it take to roll up some fish.
(4)
Jeniz P.
Never been before but heard great things. Great things confirmed from eating the sushi boat, and great things are happening in my toilet. A+++ seller would buy from again.
(5)
Vanessa T.
Fat Salmon is one of my favorite sushi spots in the city. Let's begin with the ambiance. The interior has just enough lighting, not too dim, not too bright. The theme color is blue and white (goes very well together) and makes the restaurant look clean and classy. You can pretty much see the whole restaurant once you walk in because it is fairly small with tables along the walls of one side and other side is the sushi bar. This is a great spot for a sushi date. I love the special rolls at fat salmon, the come with pictures on the menu too. We started with the deep fried tofu with spicy scallops. The tofu was delicious, it felt lightly battered rather than deep fried (not a big deal because I prefer it that way anyway). We ordered the hako roll (a rectangular shaped sushi roll) and the blossom; both were delicious. Although the rice broke off easily on the hako. Never have i left this place feeling dissatisfied with my meal and dining experience. I hope to come back and try more of their special rolls and appetizers. I was dissapointed that they don't have Kani salad, a crab stick salad, usually my favorite appetizer at sushi restaurants. Best of all, price is reasonable, sushi is presentable and delicious.
(5)
Jason K.
This is my favorite sushi place in town. The fish is always very fresh and flavorful. They have a lot of 'fancy' special rolls and if that's you're thing you'll be in love. Some have mountains of veggies in spicy sauce, another has pick de galo on top. They also have a list of more traditional rolls. The tempura is delicious and the miso is legit.
(4)
Snehal M.
Being a vegetarian, I am usually limited to basic veggie rolls when I go to a sushi place. It's not bad but it wouldn't hurt to have some variety. Well fat salmon has that variety! This place has the most amazing vegetarian rolls. I always get the lipstick trays and old school roll but I am looking forward to trying a lot more as I go back. My friends who aren't vegetarian love the sushi over there but even they order the aforementioned veggie sushi rolls. Love this place and will be frequenting and trying more rolls
(5)
Roberto G.
Very good sushi - many options to choose from both "classics" and house specialties including a roll that has bacon involved Decent wine list Awesome atmosphere Friendly staff Will definitely be back here!
(5)
Samuel M.
A great sushi surprise a few blocks away from the liberty bell in Philly. Original plates, the salmon was excellent, they have a nice looking bar, always crowded. A gem when you arrive to Philly. Ambience is very casual. Reasonable prices. A great place to go.
(4)
Ilker U.
Fat Salmon is one of the best sushi restaurants I have ever eaten. I always order seaweed salad if I am in a Japanese restaurant. Fat Salmon's seaweed salad is by far the best ever I have eaten in my life. It is so fresh and tasty we ordered the second one. Their fried shrimp dumpling is so delicious, we ordered 3 more orders after the first one. :) I don't order cooked sushi or rolls but my sister ordered one cooked beef and friend shrimp roll and they were both very tasty. No wonder why, we couldn't have a dinner without a reservation. I would strongly recommend Fat Salmon for sushi lovers.
(5)
Joey M.
Great sushi ,Great atmosphere--Trendy Tables are kinda small and cramped together but it worked out well...accept for when the waitress goes in between the tables to take the accompanying patrons order and her rear-end was literally brushing the table! Ordered: Plum Saki--YUMMY! Comes in a cool carafe that houses ice. If you're not a fan of traditional Saki you may want to try the plum as it is sweeter and does not taste like rubbing alcohol. Garden salad with ginger dressing--tasty but DRENCHED with the ginger drenching so much so that I had to drain it into another bowl. I also asked for a fork (as it is kinda hard, but not impossible, to eat salad with chop sticks) but the waitress forgot :( VOLCANO roll (6pcs) Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado, On Top - Spicy Tuna, Wasabi Tobiko w/Crunchy on the side.-delicious! ROLLING FIRE (6 pcs) Shrimp Tempura, Cucumber, On Top - Broiled Spicy Scallop sauce(Crab Stick, Scallion)Cool presentation in that it kinda looks like a volcano. The sushi is placed in a circle, topped with artificial crabmeat and covered in spicy sauce. I think they over did it with the spicy sauce. It literally tasted like someone went to town with hot sauce. Unfortunately, it made It hard to actually taste the flavors of the roll. TENPI roll(6 pcs) Inside-Cucumber, Avocado / On Top-Tuna -highly recommend White tuna (albacore) sushi--was very tasty and fresh (serving size is two pieces) I would visit this location again :)
(4)
Johnny H.
Fat Salmon is excellent! With lots of options for sushi while visiting Philly it's easy to get pointed to Marimoto or any of a number of other choices. I'm sure many of them are excellent but you will not be disappointed with Fat Salmon. My coworker and I decided to go to Fat Salmon because they seemed to have a good number of special maki roll options. So, bear in mind that I was looking for a large number of interesting and flavorful maki rolls to try, as opposed to standard sushi or boutique, TV-hyped quality. When it comes to variety, Fat Salmon absolutely crushed the mark. I tried the rolling fire and super dragon rolls. There may be higher-grade sushi/maki out there, but Fat Salmon's rolls were delicious and good quality. Food was made quickly despite their being fairly busy during the dinner our. Staff were kind and courteous. Cool atmosphere to the place, great spot for a quick and casual dinner or date. If I lived in Philly I would be in here all the time!
(4)
Sam F.
Excellent food, excellent service. This is my new nice sushi place. The chef really knows how to craft vibrant and delicious rolls.
(5)
Smrithi D.
Fat Salmon has been bookmarked for sometime now so I was excited when my coworkers suggested we go here for lunch last week. The decor is amazing! A cool blue modern feel that would be great for a casual turned romantic dinner. I'm a vegetarian and FS had the best sushi rolls and selections I've ever tried!! Can't go wrong with any of the rolls with avocado and the veggie roll. Both go great with a side of spicy mayo. Will be returning very soon!
(4)
Henry Y.
Pros: -Decent sushi. I recommend going for a bunch of their combos with a friend. -Wow, that salad dressing. -ICE CREAM TEMPURA Cons: -I recommend making reservations 24 hrs in advance.
(4)
Roopa S.
Satisfied all of my sushi cravings. Amazing selection of rolls-- especially Vegetarian rolls (I don't eat seafood)-- and so I was definitely excited by this place. Everything tasted great and fresh-- the spicy sauces were definitely spicy-- and the green tea fried ice cream for dessert was absolutely amazing. The service was extremely slow-- not sure if I came on an off-day, but this was definitely a huge complaint of mine. We waited around 40 minutes for our food to arrive, and we even asked several times through the night about the status of our order. The waiters and waitresses were not accommodating, friendly, or warm... That being said, the ambiance and decor are cool. The food is good. The options are there. Prices are not too high. Great spot for sushi downtown!
(4)
Reyana F.
best sushi place in Philly. The atmosphere is futuristic-y with neon blue accent lights and modern white furniture, but the real winner is the Mr. Shiro roll (and I'm guessing by the other reviews, the rolls with the chili sauce). Service was great and the prices were super affordable for the quality of the fish. Everything was delicious- definitely recommend the Mr. Shiro and Hako, and the steamed shrimp shumai to start. Can pass on the Spicy Tuna Crunch though, the specialty rolls are the way to go here. Definitely recommend for a casual bite or first date!
(5)
Jason K.
This was literally the BEST SUSHI I have ever eaten. I ordered the Sashimi for One + the Fancy Sushi (Tuna). I have been eating sushi for decades and all around the country (San Francisco, LA, Las Vegas, Dallas, Chicago, Miami, NYC, etc). The quality of the fish was exceptional. Every pieces letdown my mouth. Service was amazing. Philly has truly impressed me during my visit. Thank you Fat Salmon, you were amazing!!!
(5)
Connie L.
1. Variety 2. Fresh 3. Trendy ambience Consumed: (In order of preference) Lost Rainbow Dancing Vampire Miss Sake Bomb Spicy Tuna Crunch Shrimp Tempura Alaskan Roll I love sushi and hailing from Seattle, where there's always fresh seafood, this place is comparable! The sushi was very fresh and I really liked the variety of choices. The Lost Rainbow was my favorite. The texture and flavor was top notch. Dancing Vampire came closely second with the crunchiness and kick of chili flavor. Mmmm, I'm really inspired to embark on a sushi making adventure. Also, their rolls come out in sixes, go in a group of 3 or 6--perfect for sampling.
(4)
Dani M.
Great atmosphere and fantastic food! The sushi was the best I've ever had, along with the sashimi. However, the best part of the dinner had to be the mochi ice cream. Definitely a must!!! Will hope to come back to try even more sushi and sashimi.
(5)
Jonathan S.
I rarely review anything. This place is great.
(5)
Danan R.
This is one of my favorite sushi places in Center City (the other is Morimoto, as a point of reference). The rolls are creative, delicious, and perfectly portioned, and the fish is fresh. Service is great as well and the dimly lit ambiance is trendy and comfortable. We shared the following: 1. Hako: Pressed Box Sushi with Spicy Tuna and Crunchy on the inside, and Eel & Tobiko w/Eel sauce on the outside. I absolutely loved this as it was the perfect combination of eel, spicy tuna, and crunch with a great balance of perfectly cooked rice to fish. The tobiko on top was a nice finish. 2. Lost Rainbow: Spicy Crab Stick with Scallion and Masago on the inside and Tuna, Salmon, and White Fish w/Ikura sauce on the outside. This was a nice twist on the classic Rainbow with the addition of spicy sauce and scallion and Ikura sauce. Definitely try this if you are a fan of spicy and Rainbow rolls. 3. Mr. French Kiss: Spicy Crab Stick w/Scallion Masago & Crunchy on the inside, and Shrimp & Bacon & Onion Tempura w/Tartar sauce on the outside. This was my friend's favorite. It has the same filling as the Lost Rainbow but the tempura was a great addition and added a nice, fried twist. The bacon flavor was pretty faint, though. 4. Dragon: A tried and true classic with beautifully layered slices of avocado topped with sesame seeds and Eel sauce. 5. Spicy Tuna Crunchy: This is definitely a step above the traditional spicy tuna roll. The crunch definitely makes a difference and I will most likely ask for extra crunch next time. It's a great place to get delish sushi while catching up with friends or on a date. The seating is actually designed more for 2-person tables but they do have larger seating options in the back. Worth a visit if you love sushi and are in the Center City area.
(4)
Brittany R.
I went on a Friday with a friend. We beat the Friday night reservation crowd and were seated right away which was nice, but our service was awful. We believe the waitress forgot to put in an order because my sashimi sat on the counter waiting to be delivered for about 15-20 mins. We saw several other tables get served before us even though they sat down after. I usually get sashimi so I expect to pay more for my food but Fat Salmon is definitely higher priced than other Sushi Bars in the city. However, the sashimi pieces were generous and everything tasted very fresh. I also liked the presentation in the boat.
(3)
Lindsey E.
The atmosphere the food and the service was definitely excellent. It was a little cozy but definitely had great ambience. Also the plum sake wine was really good. And it was actually more affordable than I thought. And they have such a wide selection of sushi. The staff was attentive and kind and very prompt.
(4)
Tara L.
Good variety of sushi. The special rolls were relatively cheap, but the regular rolls were a little more expensive than usual. The service was really fast. Warning: the spicy tuna is actually really spicy! Really cute and intimate environment.
(4)
Niki K.
I went to Fat Salmon because my boyfriend was in town for lunch as was craving sushi. Since I work in the area, I figured what the heck - they had good food last time. First, we had trouble finding the place. The windows were so dark, I instinctually thought it was closed, and was actually annoyed when it wasn't reported on here as such. Finally, we realized that it was open, and went in. It was about 12:10pm, so we figured it would be busy, but we got seated right away. The lunch menu was on the back and didn't say what anything was. Since we were on my lunch break, we figured that we would just order a few rolls. It took nearly 10 minutes for our waitress to show. While she was lovely, this was now 20 minutes into my 1 hour lunch break and we didn't even have our drinks. It was ridiculously loud - so much so that we couldn't hear each other across the table. There was a girl with a particularly loud laugh which echoed and drowned out the rest of the room. It's not her fault she has a good laugh, but the acoustics in a restaurant should never be that good. We ordered our food (two rolls each) at 12:20pm. We received them at 12:45pm. Yes, they were tasty, and by this time the joint was jumpin'. But 25 minutes for 4 rolls? As it was, we had to eat in the last 10 minutes so that I would have time to get back to work. The food was tasty, fresh, and robust, though not filling - and had I had more time, I would have ordered another roll or two. It's like they don't realize that their main clientale at that time of the day are people who are on lunch - that means from the moment they leave their desk to the moment they get back they have between 30 min - 1 hour. Oh, and the bill for our 4 rolls (and 2 miso soups)? $28, plus tip. I remember why I don't go there often. And, I don't think I'll be going back for lunch again.
(3)
Robert H.
Hip place. Strange blue lighting with white tables worked. Ethnically diverse crowd. A little on the younger side but certainly a few exceptions. Sushi was well-priced--about $6-10 for a 6 piece roll. Excellent flavors. I tried 3 different rolls. Favorite was the #15 with eel, avocado, and cream cheese. Would return for lunch or dinner!
(5)
A. Jordan R.
Sushi was really good, service is mediocre. I asked if they had real wasabi as opposed to the "regular" stuff and no one knew the answer. C'mon! You only need to know like 5 things about sushi. The staff didn't know what to pair the fish with. They didn't even know the difference between each roll. Decent food, horrible service. I probably wouldn't come back here again with so many better options. But, I didn't hate it, either.
(3)
Cody M.
This is an awesome place. The sushi is fresh, service is great, and the non-sushi options are great. I ordered a pork katsu and spicy tuna crunch roll. I'm a pretty big eater, but I still ended up taking home some of the katsu. Great portions. I do wish they offered more non-sushi, Japanese entrees, but it's obviously a sushi restaurant.
(4)
Feli F.
A great way to impress sushi eaters and non-sushi eaters alike. There are a lot of impressive dishes for people with seafood allergies and vegans. I never leave this place anything but stuffed and the price is so right!
(5)
Manosai E.
A bunch of my friends have recommended I check out this place and I finally had the chance to go for lunch on a Thursday. The interior has a modern feel to it and looks like it would be great for happy hour drinks after work as well. I got the combination lunch special, choice #3 which is one choice from the sushi bar and another from the kitchen, along with a miso soup or salad. I ordered the vegetarian lipstick trace rolls and chicken katsu. The rolls consisted of mushroom and were topped with avocado slices and a drop of spicy mayo sauce. I was more excited about the chicken katsu than the rolls but the chicken ended up tasting a little too dry for my liking. The rolls were delicious and though rather large in size, easy to chow down. I ended up paying around $18 for my meal with tax/tip but this was because we are in a party of 6 so 20% gratuity was tacked on. Overall, it was definitely worth trying and I enjoyed my food but I don't anticipate coming back because I crave it.
(4)
Jay W.
Ultra modern looking sushi spot with icy neon lighting. I liked the variety in sake and Japanese beer that they had available. I love that they listed all of the sushi that came in the Sushi Dinner for 2 (my lady friend usually won't order this unless she knows what's in it). This place seems like it prides itself on fancy, creative "special rolls" rather than simple sushi. However the simple sushi that I ordered was pretty good. I just wish that Tamagoyaki (egg sushi) was included in the sushi dinner. The miso soup and ginger salad that came with dinner were good, especially the salad. The service was friendly and quick to fill glasses.
(3)
Alisa A.
Atmosphere is really cool but they have some interesting things on the menu that you should definitely ask about before ordering them.
(3)
Dennis D.
Eh. Like others have said, the service is super bad. I mean, super bad. Like really really bad. I came at a busy lunch time (around noon) and sat by the bar by myself. Took about 10 minutes before someone could bring me water. I tried to flag down the waiter multiple times. By the time he came over, he actually started taking the order of these two women who had just sat down! I was very annoyed at that considering he had been ignoring me for 10 minutes. Well, ended up ordering some hot tea, the vegetable tempura appetizer, some simple rolls and some salmon nigiri. Everything was just ok. The quality of the fish was average. Not the worst, but definitely not impressive. Combine the quality of the fish with the terrible service, and I doubt I will ever go back there.
(2)
Fam B.
Absolutely love this place. 5 stars definitely for the food! The place is small and seats fill up, so it's usually best to call and make a reservation for evenings (even on weekdays). The atmosphere is nice--great place to go on a date. My must recent visit we ordered the following: Hako, Katsu Maki, Volcano, and Super dragon. The Hako and Super Dragon were delicious--the sauces do not overwhelm the fish. You really can't go wrong with the special rolls here, everything is so fresh. When it's busy, it can take a while to get your food, so appetizers are a must for the long wait. Their gyoza is decent. Definitely will save this place for special celebrations and when I need more than the mediocre sushi I typically settle for in the area.
(5)
Mike W.
This place is my go to sushi joint in the city. The sushi is expertly prepared, they always have the most interesting options and the prices are extremely affordable. This past Friday was our second visit, I really need to get back here more often. We ordered a Kirin and a Sapporo to sip on and 6 sushi rolls to share as follows: 1. Fancy Sushi - Rice wrapped with a piece of fish w/Spicy Chopped fish (tobiko,Scallions) & Wasabi Tobiko on Top W/Crunchy on the bottom 2. Lava Roll - INSIDE - Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado, ON TOP - Asparagus w/Broiled Octopus sauce(Scallion, Spicy sauce & Mayo) 3. Miss Sake Bomb - IINSIDE - Eel, Avocado, Crunchy, ON TOP - Lightly cooked Salmon w/ Tartar sauce 4. Rolling Fire - INSIDE - Shrimp Tempura, Cucumber, ON TOP - Broiled Spicy Scallop sauce (w/Crab Stick, Scallion & Fried Tofu Skin ) 5. Salmon Yaki Roll - INSIDE - Asparagus, Avocado, Crunchy w/spicy sauce, ON TOP - Broiled Salmon w/Eel Sauce 6. Midori Roll - Oshinko, Dried Gourd, Mountain Burdock, Shitake, Cucumber w/Inari Our waitress actually brought us some complimentary edamame. She said the kitchen was backed up and she was sorry for our wait. We didnt even notice the wait to be honest, but it was very much appreciated nonetheless. It helped hold us over until the sushi arrived. As always, the plating at Fat Salmon is fantastic. They are masters of their craft. They bought it out in a few different plates as it became ready. Each and every one of the rolls was delicious. Even the most obscure combinations seem to work here. Tarter sauce on a sushi roll? Chalk it up, its tasty. The standouts for me were the Rolling Fire and Fancy Sushi rolls. They were all great, but these two in particular were fantastic. I loved the spicy chopped fish on top of the fancy sushi roll. It really packed some nice heat into it. The rolling fire roll had some delicious flavors and textures to it. The broiled spicy scallop sauce was amazing. This is by far the best sushi I have had in Philly. Its definitely worth visiting again and again.
(5)
Shannon P.
Unfortunately my first impression of Fat Salmon was a tense encounter with the hostess, who informed us that we barely made the 15-minute "grace period" even though we were in the door within 10 minutes of our reservation time and had to wait roughly 6 for her attention. We had also attempted to call 3 times on our walk from the subway stop, only to get a busy signal. When I mentioned this to her she just sighed and said "Yeah our phone is always ringing" as if that was an acceptable response. Despite all that we were seated and treated to a delicious meal. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and ended up taking half of our order home. We got the Sushi for Two platter with miso soup and upgraded to two seaweed salads (rather than the basic green salad), edamame, and decided we had to order at least one special roll. The waitress recommended a few and of those we picked the Dancing Vampire. I really didn't like this roll - the mix of sweet and spicy didn't hit the right notes for me, but there are plenty of other options for us to try next time. In the end, Fat Salmon is not my favorite sushi in the city but I would happily return again. Just be sure to be at your reservation early!!
(4)
Marie S.
4 stars and 440 reviews? Really? My review will deviate from the mean signicantly. My friends and I arrived Fat Salmon at 6:00pm on a Wednesday night. Despite not having a reservation, we were able to get seated right away. Together, we ordered the chirashi, sushi for 1, and spicy roll combo. We were promptly served salad and miso soup after ordering. But for the next hour, we watched jealously as patrons seated after us were served their meals first. When we finally received our entrees, it became evident that the jealousy we felt was unnecessary. The tuna did not taste right, the fluke was mushy, and the sushi rice was soft and underseasoned. Fat Salmon is clearly no haven for sushi purists. Maybe we should have ordered the more elaborate specialty rolls. Added toppings and sauces would have masked the horror beneath. If all you care about is ambiance, head over to Fat Salmon for your next dinner date. If service and quality matter to you, I strongly recommend going elsewhere.
(2)
Sabrina P.
Surprisingly, I have not written a review for Fat Salmon considering I eat here at least once a month. The sushi is excellent and at a very affordable price. The Seaweed Salad is delicious and a large enough portion for two people. This is my favorite appetizer along with the Fried Shrimp Dumpling which is to die for. My favorite rolls (in no particular order) are: Rolling Fire, Blossom, Hako, Salmon Yachi. The dessert is good too. The Mochi Ice Cream (Vanilla) is so good if you want to try something different! Why did I give it four stars instead of five? I wish they had more drink options. There is sake and wine. I would love a some kind of drink menu. We typically go with a group stay for a long time and I would love to have some drinks with my dinner. This brings me to one of my tips: If you're going to have more than a glass of wine, your best bet is to get a bottle. You get more bang for your buck this way. Most of the time I just put money towards the rolls since there is nothing very intriguing as far as drinks are concerned. The other reason I gave it four stars is because it is a bit crowded. The only and largest table is for six. These aren't monumental issues, but my reason for not giving five stars. Here is another tip: It is best to make a reservation, especially on the weekend! The staff is always very attentive and the food comes out fairly quickly, even on the weekend when they are at maximum capacity.
(4)
Anthony S.
After trying a couple sushi places in Philly so far, Fat Salmon is by far my favorite. To start, they have a phenomenal agedashi tofu. However they prepare the mushrooms to go on top of the tofu is superb, and the sauce/broth that it sits in is delicious. The sushi was very high quality. We got five rolls for two people, which is more than enough, and it was hard to decide which was my favorite. The fancy sushi definitely still stands out in my mind. The crunchiness of the tempura, and the root vegetables that it's served on really appeal to my texture pallet. We did try one roll that was a plum or fig paste with some other vegetable that I've never heard of. It wasn't terrible, and I wouldn't get that one again, but I wanted to try something new and I'm glad I did. Bottom line: I'm a fan of Fat Salmon and will definitely be back.
(5)
N B.
The food here is amazing. The customer service is great very nice atmosphere. Good prices. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Brittany D.
Yum yum yum!!! Went here on a quick trip to Philly and it was really good. We sat down and started with drinks, lots of sake to choose from. They had a sake sampler so we first started with that. It was nice to have a variety to choose form, not many sushi places have the samplers. We picked an appetizer that caught both of our eyes, smoked squid salad. And there was so much sushi to choose from so it took awhile to pick out anything else. The appetizer was very very good. Fresh, not chewy at all. While having the appetizer my boyfriend was drinking his last glass in the sake sampler (comes with 3) and the glass just broke out of no where. They were very helpful with the situation and gave a whole new sampler complimentary. We did not even have to order anymore sake because of this, the samplers are generous pours. We then decided to pick out one of the rolls with eel (I love eel and this sushi place has the most eel I have seen on a menu) The roll was unabara, which was eel, masago, avocado, topped with eel, eel sauce, and wasabi tobiko. That was delicious! We also tried a vegetarian roll, something we never ordered before. It was the Midori roll. I was telling the waitress I don't love the rice and she went light on the rice for us which was very very nice. I was already getting full so we ordered shrimp shumai as well to finish up our order. These were delicious! I would recommend Fat Salmon for anyone looking for sushi in Philly. Very trendy interior, I could see it being a really cool late night place.
(5)
You W.
Good taste, for both food and atmosphere. Foods here have good looking, as well as fancy names.
(5)
Jianna E.
I absolutely love Fat Salmon! They have the best sushi I think I have ever had. They have a Rock N' Roll roll, which had I felt like I had died and gone to heaven! They also had an ice cream tempura dessert, which I devoured. It is Tuna, Salmon, Cucumber, with Crunchy and eel sauce on top. The restaurant has a modern vibe to it. If you love sushi, I highly recommend going to Fat Salmon
(5)
Anna Y.
This is my favorite sushi restaurant in the city ! I have been here quiet a few times and I am pleased each time. I always order miso soup and sashimi for two. The miso soup is good but I am still searching for THE ONE. Sashimi for two is way more than enough, you actually dont have to order any rolls, but their rolls are so good ! I have been trying 2-3 different rolls each time I come here and they were all pretty tasty. Sushi are well presented , I think they have really talented chefs. The decor here is cool, it's great for a date night . Waiters are nice and professional.
(4)
Aria S.
The best sushi I've had in my life! (And I've been to Japan!) I'm vegetarian, and usually sushi options are limited to avocado rolls/cucumber rolls, etc, which I still love, but this place was so innovative with the options, I was blown away. There were definitely at least 10 cool, interesting, vegetarian sushi options. The salad/soup is good too and the wine is a decent price! It is a really nice restaurant too with a cool, trendy feel. It gets loud though, so wouldn't recommend if you are trying to get to know someone. Fun for a girls night out! Get reservations though!
(5)
Diana H.
It's a nice restaurant with a nice, modern decor. The food is also tasty, although I prefer Kabuki's sushi. When I came in on a Sunday night, as the first of a group of five, there was no one standing at the front desk by the door. I had never been here before, and because no one behind the bar/kitchen greeted me, I decided to walk into the restaurant to find someone. This was perhaps stupid of me, but I think it was just a sort of reflex, lol. The girl behind the bar was busy and said she'd be with me in a second. She then walked passed me on her way to her front desk station, and called me from there. This was a little awkward! I walked over, only to be walked back to where I came from and to be seated. Thank you! So, the sushi was good and the waitress was very nice. We all ordered hot tea on a cold winter night, and our mugs were never once empty before she poured us more of their delicious hot tea. She was also very patient when we just kept on chatting without deciding on what to eat. When we were close to finishing our dinner, one of my friends decided to order some food to take home to her husband. After we finished and paid for our dinner though, she had to ask for it again, as it seemed they had forgotten about it while they did charge her for it. Some minor details, but overall it was a nice dinner in a nice setting that wasn't too expensive.
(4)
William W.
The dancing vampire was very hot and spicy. I was humiliated by my friend cuz I usually considered myself can eat a lot of spicy:( Their sushi is typical American sushi. (in a good way) The dinning environment was very delightful. The pricing was average. I would recommend any American sushi lovers to visit their place.
(5)
A. P.
AMAZING selection of vegetarian sushi, not the usual boring cucumber/avocado stuff. Get the Old School roll if you like spicy. It's a really small place so make a reservation or be prepared to wait around.
(5)
Alex V.
Always full but you can sit by the bar! Quick service for quick dinner! Delivery / pick up is very convenient. California rolls are delicious!
(4)
paul k.
This is why I like Yelp. In Phily for a few hours and was craving sushi. Found the Fat Salmon and have to say was some of the best sushi I've ever had. We live in LA which has slime great places but the food here was so fresh, the service was very good and the prices reasonable
(5)
Jennifer G.
had a great time made reservations , parking was nearby. this was my very first visit and I will deff return again. prices were gook, saki was good and sushi was good. staff was very friendly.
(5)
Steve B.
As usual the yelp ratings were spot on. Had a great meal here. Super fresh and giant selection. Soup and salad came with the sushi platter for two. Great atmosphere too! Highly recommended.
(4)
Shyanie K.
Sushi here is amazing! We ordered the salmon sashimi, crunchy spicy salmon roll, scallop roll and 2 specialty rolls. The food was brought out very quickly, water glasses always stayed full and the waitress was always easy to reach! Will be back again to try more rolls!
(4)
Mattie C.
Birthday dinner! Boyfriend treated me to a very nice sashimi platter dinner here. Right off the bat I love the name of the place, and the atmosphere is very sleek and dark with blue neon lighting. We got a sashimi platter for two that came with miso soup and small salad. The side salad they served here was bigger than the those at most places and had more of the sauce on it - I was pleased. And the sashimi platter was excellent - the fish was very fresh and decently sized and, well, delicious. It is hard to describe sashimi really because it is so simple. I did not like the appetizer we got, which was fried tofu in spicy scallop sauce. The sauce was ick and the dish was generally really hard to eat. The tofu became gooey and stretchy in my chopsticks and I kept dropping it, splashing it in the sauce after I had just made an effort to wipe the sauce off. Besides the appetizer, the main meal and the ambiance were excellent. Service was prompt and friendly and the prices weren't outrageous. One BIG note though, others are reporting on here it is BYOB. It is NOT BYOB, I repeat, NOT. The waiter told us that they changed that policy so if you are planning on drinking your own drinks, skip it. Luckily, we had forgotten to stop at the liquor store while running late for our reservations and ended up just drinking some Kirins. I had a great time here and would definitely go back!
(4)
M N.
SOOOOO good. The sake bomb is so delicious. I can't even remember the names of all the different rolls I've had but I have never been disappointed!
(4)
Megan G.
Good sushi and good prices! I had the dancing vampire. It was good, a little spicy and a little crunchy but not too much of anything. Accommodating - they squeezed our large group in before the next one came and also made no fuss about splitting our checks which is just so appreciated.
(4)
Laura H.
I highly recommend getting their take-out lunch special, grabbing your hunny, and having a picnic in Washington Square Park. The park is right next door and offers a great alternative if you're not into the super trendy vibe that is Fat Salmon, which is pretty dark inside with electric blue lighting. It has a full bar which can really add to the price of the bill, especially when you're used to mostly byo sushi places. You also can't beat the lunch special, I usually get the one that allows you to pick 2 specialty rolls for $15. And the specialty rolls are awesome! That's why I recommend this for a lunch spot: stuff yourself, skip the bar and save sushi dinners for a BYO.
(4)
Sarah A.
I'm an avid sushi eater and I loooved Fat Salmon! I love a place where the rolls are big, so you don't feel like you are being ripped off. I left full, which rarely happens with sushi places. I had the Miss Sake Bomb and the Rock&Roll and for someone who usually doesn't steer away from the regular salmon roll it was awesome!!! Definitely in my top 3!
(5)
Cindy T.
Love Fat Salmon. Been here a couple of times for date night and every time is a great experience. Went around 6pm both nights so no waiting but around the time we leave at 7:30p-8pm, there's a line of people waiting for tables. Sushi is fresh and there are a lot of options for the traditional roll or if you want something funky and different. Last week, we have the fried dumplings which were very flavorful and the veggie tempura which was a very large portion. Then we had a few specialty rolls. I really enjoyed the Fat Futo roll with all the different types of fish (salmon, tuna, yellowtail) in one roll and the M&M roll which had marinated beef in it. Everything was so delicious that even though we were full, we continued to eat so that's a good sign that the food was good but bad idea for us because we ended up in a food coma afterwards. With a full stomach, we still saved a little room for dessert. We picked the vanilla fried ice cream and that was also a large portion, enough to feed 4-5 people comfortably even though it was just the two of us. The tempura skin was a bit thick and not as crispy as what I would have liked but it's fried ice cream, so it was yummy either way.
(5)
Jevon Y.
Compared to Vic's, Fat Salmon is slightly more expensive, but also better quality. The food was good and the service staff was really friendly in explaining what the different types of rolls had. I would really recommend the Mr Shiro roll if you do go! I can't remember which roll was it exactly but it was more spicy than normal. You might want to be careful if you can't really eat spicy rolls! On a whole, the food was really good and I would definitely go back again!
(4)
Lea T.
Modern and casual this restaurant has a comfortable atmosphere without being pretentious. Ideal for a first date or dinner with friends, Fat Salmon is on the smaller side but still has some larger tables of groups 6-8. Reservations are suggest for parties larger than 4. Lunch Specials come with miso soup or salad and range from $7.00-$11.50 including sushi, maki, tempura lunch box, yakinku lunch box, or teriyaki lunch box. Fat Salmon offers tempura, tekiyaki, katsu, and yakiniku dinner entrees as well as fresh sushi. For something really special try one of the Fat Salmon speciality rolls. My favorites include the blossom roll, locust roll, rolling fire, or volcano roll. They also offer a variety of Japanese beer, sake, and wine if your interested. Really a great spot to check out if you want fresh and exciting sushi in a relaxed atmosphere :)
(4)
V. I.
Cute little place in Washington Square. Love how they have a sake sampler option, honestly haven't seen that before on a menu. The food and service is pretty average. The sushi selection they have is pretty creative, like the M & M or sake bomb roll but honestly I prefer more normal rolls like the dragon or spider roll.
(3)
James G.
There were seven of us for dinner and we all enjoyed our meals. My wife and I had the Sashimi for Two and it consisted of 30 pieces of fish all of which were very fresh. Others had Sushi platter, Chirashi, and Salmon Teriaki all of which were very good. For some reason, even though we live two blocks away, we haven't been here in years but certainly will be back.
(5)
Ryan Z.
Philadelphia is lucky to have this gem of a restaurant! Fat Salmon has everything you could want in a restaurant let alone in a sushi joint. 1. The food is outstanding. Whether you are trying sushi for the first time or 100th, this place will always leave you satisfied and at an affordable price. The food from the kitchen is also on point and this is coming from someone who has dined in Tokyo and some of the best japanese/sushi restaurants in the US. 2. The service is fantastic. The owner/manager - Jack is everything you could want from someone who is running the restaurant. Unbelievably professional and so nice. I will be a customer for life. 3. Decor/ambiance is great. You almost feel as if you are in a trendy NYC spot. Short story- this place is 5.0/5.0, I would recommend it to anyone that lives in the area or visiting and looking for a great meal. (Luckily I live around the corner and come here once a week)
(5)
Susanna L.
Greatttt. Smaller than I pictured, but the decor was wonderful! It reminds me of the inside of spice 21. Like everyone said here, the wait was a little long- but I don't blame them because the place was packed for a friday night and there were like only 3 people working at the sushi. My friends and I ordered a whole bunch of sushi to share- I don't really remembered what we ordered but, the highlights was the special roll and the other special roll with the 4 pieces and really spicy, everything else was pretty good as well. Except, with all three of us agreeing that the lipstick green roll wasn't that great and the one with the huge cooked salmon on top was kind of gross. Other than that great experience. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. The sushi however is a little bit on the more expensive side, like 6-12 dollars depending on the roll.
(4)
K W.
i came here on recommendation from a friend who knows how much i love nigiri sushi and sashimi. i was super impressed with the fish i ordered. everything was incredibly fresh, and despite being pretty busy when i came to dine, the food came out quickly. this will be my go-to spot for reasonably priced sushi in philly.
(5)
Kimberly Y.
Disclaimer: I'm pretty picky with seafood and don't eat sushi at all. I came here because my roommates love sushi, which they seemed to really enjoy their sushi. But be warned: Fat Salmon doesn't have much else besides sushi. I have gotten the udon noodles (pretty good, but tiny portion), gyoza (average quality, so not great for the price), and katsu (pretty bad, to be honest). I even left some katsu on the plate because I couldn't force myself to finish. The atmosphere and lighting is very cool, but the service is lacking. Since the place is pretty small, there can be a long wait if you don't reserve before hand.
(3)
Liz F.
Fat Salmon is so great! It looks too hip to skip if you were to glance in from the outside, but it has a really approachable, friendly, casual environment inside. The sushi? Phenomenal. My new favorite. My dining partner got some interesting curried dish. I'm not sure what it was, but he loved it. I usually have to somewhat drag him to sushi but this place has solid non sushi options, too! They have an interesting selection of saki and japanese beers if you want to drink. The service here was great. We saw a waitress chase a guy down Walnut Street who left is leftovers on the table. That's devotion. Would I come back? Duh. All the time. AND they do take out for sushi on the go !
(5)
Lauren M.
If I could give a negative star I would, I went into this place at 9:30 with a girlfriend and we were meeting another friend. We sat down ordered and then were told that our friend who not be allowed to enter the restaurant if she wasn't by 9:45- mind you she was not eating and we had already ordered her a drink. All food was orders by 9:30. The waiter was very unprofessional. He bad mouthed the managers about how they had ridiculous rules but would not enforce them. Meanwhile the hostess starred at us the entire dinner. We were all excited to eat here and heard great reviews. We were let down by the unprofessional and rude staff. Compliments to the chef but, we will not come back.
(1)
Allen I.
I continually seem to keep coming here. The quality of the product is very fresh though it is not authentic it is still very good. I'm a sucker for that fat futo. My girlfriend loves coming to this place which has a strong reasonin which I give them business. Service is pretty good but you probably should make reservations
(4)
Amanda C.
Review Summary: Ambience: 4/5 Food: 5/5 Service: 3/5 Yes it's true, the wait for food and seating can be long and this place is definitely a little pricier than some other sushi restaurants in town but oh, how I love it. When I do come here, I usually get their special rolls, which have all been so delicious. I especially like the Rolling Fire because of its extra spicy kick. I don't get the nigiri/sashimi very often, mostly because my poor wallet can't take the hit, but I once tried the mackerel and it was the best I've tasted in Philadelphia. Finish your meal off with a tasty plate of fried ice cream (this dish always makes me feel like a delighted child, but they've tweaked the ice cream just enough to kick things up a notch) and voila! Come to the Fat Salmon. You won't regret it.
(4)
Sherry T.
I was here a few years ago for a family line dinner with my sorority. I was immediately drawn in by the ambience. I feel like the atmosphere of a restaurant or any place at all can either add or take away from an experience. The decor definitely added to my experience here. The sushi and food was up to par and I'm not even that huge of a sushi fan.
(5)
Jennifer C.
This place is super trendy and cute. Totally love the atmosphere - it's definitely great for date night. The boy and I showed up for dinner at about 7PM and it only had a couple other tables. I was surprised. However, crowds started pouring in at about 7:45PM. For food, we shared a dancing vampire roll and some other special roll that I forgot. The dancing vampire was interesting, but tasty. We both had the chirashi. Fish tasted fresh. It was pretty filling, and it actually made me wish we didn't order the 2 special rolls. Service was excellent here. The waitresses came by to refill water, wipe down the table + check on us quite often, but not too intrusively. Only thing is...I think this place got us sick. Both of us had upset stomachs about 20 min after the meal. Maybe coincidence, maybe not. You make the call.
(4)
Taleah J.
I consider myself a sushi-phile. I love it. I actually stumbled upon this place because I was looking for another sushi spot (Fusion Grille) which closed down. Lo and behold a block away, Fat Salmon pops up. I ordered the lunch special for 14.50 which came with miso soup. I ordered something amazing called a "Dancing Vampire" and the Salmon Teryaki. Well..... the Dancing Vampire has to be Jesus Christs favorite food because its soooooo good. Imagine this, Cucumber.. Asparagus...Crunchy bits..topped with Tuna and Salmon in Chili sauce. Are you still there? Or did you leave to go get some yourself? This place gets 4 stars because not only is the quality of the sushi stellar, they also go the extra mile with presentation. I wish I had taken a picture of my food, but alas... I tore into it faster than Lindsay Lohan and a vial of cocaine. I will definitely be frequenting this spot more often. P.s.- my only complaints are that my salmon teryaki was a little overcooked and this place offers close to 50 different options and its a little overwhelming. I mean come on... variety is the spice of life, but it also makes ordering complicated.
(4)
Vinny P.
I've visited Fat Salmon a number of times and for some reason, it still flies under the radar for me. Even when I have conversations with others about where they go for sushi in philly, I still somehow seem to forget about it. It's time for that to stop. I've always had very good service and really excellent food here. The decor is kind of funky and their lighting resembles a certain, I don't know what. To me it's quite futuristic looking but then again, picking out decorating styles is something that I have no clue about. Food-wise, it's difficult for me not to get a sashimi platter. I realize that this limits my exposure to other kinds of fish on the menu but it's just such a great value and the taste is pretty exquisite. The last time I was there, I tried two rolls that I never had before. I really enjoyed the fuka roll and even though it had a ton of stuff both in and on it, I still was able to get all of the flavor. The crying (dancing, singing, something) vampire roll was also really good but for me the fuka stood out. So in essence, I'm sorry Fat Salmon. I'll do my best to sing your praises and visit more often.
(4)
M W.
Pretty cute place, very modern and clean. Service was good, Inexpensive and sushis were delicious. Worth a second visit.
(5)
Ryan D.
Great tasting and fresh fish. The Sushi & Sashimi for 1 is the perfect size for 1. Skip the Sake Sampler (unless you really prefer cold sake) and pick ur favorite hot sake. As always, make sure to pick up a fresh- or salt-water Eel nigiri for the perfect after dinner treat.
(4)
Rosta M.
Great food and always a smiling host despite the wait.. Couple things however; 1. The wasabi is like clay. Anyone who knows real sushi knows fresh wasabi should melt in the soy sauce 2. Keep it simple, American sushi places love to over do it and put so many sauces on their sushi (including the shriracha mayo in everything which is so old school). Keep it fresh and simple. And always try to reduce the amount of items you have no menu
(4)
Katrina C.
I went here on Sunday of 4th of July weekend. The place was pretty empty, yet we were told that we had to sit at the sushi bar, because they had no available tables. There were 3 of us, so it was a little awkward. I was very skeptical that the place would really fill up on Sunday, July 3rd, but we went with it. After we ordered, our server offered us a table, saying that someone missed their reservation. That was nice. We ordered seaweed salad and avocado salad to start. I love the ginger dressing that always comes on avocado salad, and I also love seaweed salad. Both were very good, especially the seaweed salad. We ordered 6 rolls for 3 people, and even with the salads - were a little worried it might not be enough. Ha! We got : spicy tuna, alaska, eel and cucumber, dragon roll, yellowtail and scallion, and a fancy one called miss sake bomb (or something). The rolls were very well presented and even though they were only 6 pieces each, each piece was very large! All 3 of us loved different rolls - so that means they were all very tasty. The Miss Sake Bomb wasn't as good as we were expecting - the cooked salmon on top threw me off, but it was still tasty. Plus: My friend asked for gluten free soy sauce, and was told that they didn't carry it. The server felt bad though, so she apparently went and found a bottle (not sure how) so that my friend could have soy sauce! 5 stars because it's the best sushi I've had in Philly, I think. Not saying it's the best, but I loved it.
(5)
Ace J.
Mmmmm Fat Salmon. Every time I go there it's a new experience: Sushi--super delicious, just writing about it makes me want to go there and get three different rolls. They're all really fresh and have a little bit of a twist to them, too. The atmosphere--it's BLUE! It's nice and romantic, and the staff really makes you feel welcome. Sake--my favorite part about Fat Salmon. The Sake comes in this little container that makes you want to take shots every minute. And it's so good!! Overall, the restaurant's in a nice location right next to Washington Sq. Park, and it offers that good Japanese-American sushi we all crave a few times a month.
(4)
Adam F.
Fat Salmon is a trendy yet casual spot for sushi. Sake flights are great. Sushi is consistently good (although it won't blow you away). It's open fairly late too, so great if you want to grab some sushi and drinks before going out to the bars/clubs. If you are looking to get there at normal dinner time, definitely pick up a reservation -- the place gets packed.
(4)
Brian M.
Really very mediocre. Sushi was decent enough but nothing stood out and there are definitely much better options in the city (Zento, Izumi to name a few). Interior here is different in that it's ultra-modern white space type thing which is cool if you're into that sort of decor. Just doesn't feel particularly welcoming to me. Surprised this place won Best of Philly considering there are better alternatives.
(3)
Joelle J.
Awesome awesome fresh sushi! Went there with a few friends one night and we just couldn't stop eating! Must try
(4)
Steve I.
Stopped in for lunch. The service was very fast and attentive. Liked the modern decor. The lunchtime prices are very inexpensive considering the quality of the food. Got the #6 tuna assortment which was accompanied by a very nice miso soup, not too salty. The fish was very fresh and tasty and the rice was excellent. Will try to make this a weekly lunch spot.
(5)
Colleen M.
Being a vegetarian I am usually limited when it comes to Japanese food but I never turn down anything with avocado or veggie tempura so I tried Fat Salmon and was so excited to see several unique and delicious veggie roll options! I had the avocado salad which was a meal in itself but then still managed to house a Tofuholic roll which consisted of cooked and tempura veggies inside and tofu and delicious sauces on the outside. Yummyyyyyy. I will totally go back to try the other veg options!
(5)
Irene Y.
Moved away from philadelphia 4 years ago, but recently on an east coast tour came back to fat salmon (previously known as Shinju) because this is hands-down our favorite sushi place ever. This is coming from someone who lives in LA two miles away from Little Tokyo. This place is a cannot-miss for anyone living in Philly. It's BYOB. Very reasonably priced. And their spicy tuna with crunch and fancy salmon roll.. there is nothing to compare to that. The old shinju was really romantic for a date-night. The new fat salmon is a little bit more modern appearing, but also seems well-lit.
(5)
Jean-David F.
I'm not a big sushi guy but I decided to give this place a try and I'm glad I did! Everything was great. We got the naked gyoza it was awesome. For entrees we got the super dragon and rolling fire and those were awesome. And we finished off with the fried ice cream which was awesome lol. And the prices were reasonably low!! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a cool sushi place. Oh and the service was very good.
(5)
Kristin W.
We came by on a Friday night without reservations - the place looked pretty empty, but the hostess looked nervous when we said we didn't have reservations; however, we were able to be seated immediately. I ordered the Chirashi Don and asked that all shellfish be substituted out. I got a generous portion of fresh fish (although two of the substitutes were the sweet egg). I also substituted a second salad for the miso soup. Great food, cool ambiance - I will be back!
(5)
Younjin L.
Okay place to have sushi. Definitely over priced for the quality of the fish. I probably won't come back here again. Still looking for a good sushi restaurant.
(2)
Gary G.
This place is quickly becoming my go to for more expensive sushi places in the city. Raw used to be my go to- but either they have fallen off or I just like this joint better. The rolls are good, the ambiance has a nice feel to it, even though its small and your basically touching elbows. Go check it out if your around there, you won't regret it, its better than Raw and Crazy Sushi.
(4)
Amar R.
Old school veggie sushi is amazing and so are the salmon rolls. The green tea icecream tempura is a definite order everytime I go here!!!
(5)
Flora W.
Went here with friend at late dinner time and no seat at all. We were told to be waiting for 30-40mins for seats at the bar. It took only like 10-15mins to get a phone call from the waitress that two seats were available. We had Sushi&Sashimi for 2 and it came out with 2 miso soups and 2 small salads. Everything was so delicious and fresh! I never forget the taste of sashimi, they were so goood.
(5)
Zikang H.
The ambient is really trendy. Fresh food, good service. But you have to wait 30 minuets to get your food if you are coming during 6-7 on weekends.
(4)
Roma J.
If you're looking for high-quality/great tasting sushi at an affordable price...Fat Salmon will give you a foodgasm every single time. No joke. Foodgasm (Urban Dictionary)- "Eyes rolling back in head and moaning while possibly shouting "this is so freaking good!"and taste so overwhelming you have to take breaks between bites to keep from shutting your system down." Anytime I have visitors from out of town, I take them here and order the following: - Old School - Rolling Fire - Spicy Salmon Naked Gyoza - Seaweed Salad Just prep yourself to handle all that spicy goodness ;P
(5)
Jennifer T.
Majority of rolls are very, very creative - not typical straightforward plain boring sushi (though they have that too, if you're into that). My last two visits were disappointing, I finally figured out why: most of the more creative rolls also feature some type of cooked meat/seafood/fish, or something tempura-ed. Not showcasing a lot of raw fish. Also, almost every roll is doused in some type of sauce (spicy, eel, etc.) which detracts from the actual contents of the roll. Again, not a bad thing, just not MY thing. My first date with the boyfriend was at Shinju, now Fat Salmon. It will always have a special place in my heart, but it just isn't the same. Womp womp.
(3)
H L.
Went here for lunch. Everything our table had was excellent. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Tina N.
Delicious! Service was great. Very helpful. Didn't rush us. Can't beat cost for quality. I'll be back.
(5)
Yla A.
Fat salmon is delish! Great sushi and you can order take out. Very bold and hip inside. I think it is an ocean themed wall?? I mostly do takeout since it is close to my work but we have done business lunches there. Vic is still the best in the city in my opinion but this is a close 2nd
(4)
Ayana P.
Excellent sushi, horrible wait. No explanation, just money off the bill. The other half of our group, who were seated in a different area, finished eating by the time we got our food. It ruined what would have been a great experience at Fat Salmon.
(3)
Samantha Y.
There aren't many sushi places in Philly, and if there is, it's usually not fresh or authentic enough. Fat Salmon has been the best sushi I've had here! Absolutely delicious and the interior gives off a chill vibe to dine in!
(4)
Rita G.
Excellent fresh sushi and miso. Also had the seaweed salad-- yum. Clean bathrooms to boot. Fast friendly service. Excellent dinner choice.
(5)
Mel T.
I lived in Japan for seven years, so I'm pretty picky about the sushi I eat. Fat Salmon offerings are decent and definitely worth a visit. Large selection of sake which we tried and enjoyed. Server was attentive and knowledgeable. No doubt, I will return--probably for take-out. Great dinner!
(4)
Kiran S.
Came here for my birthday last week. To be honest, I really don't see the hype with this place. I've definitely tasted better sushi. The only thing I really enjoyed was the ambiance. Our food took almost 40 minutes to show up to our table... And I wouldn't call 6 pieces of sushi dinner. Definitely not coming back.
(2)
Yenn N.
Had a dinner reservation here and so far this place gets 3 stars . I wish they had cocktails mixed drinks etc since they don't have a full bar , would've gone so well with my sushi dinner . Sushi was delicious , fresh , and fulfilling . But the seating gets packed so quickly so I had to make a reservation , that's why one star is subtracted from my review . Overall , I would go back again and try something else on their menu .
(3)
Chin R.
Great food and service, lots of sushi options. I went here with coworkers for a brunch and it was great.
(4)
Jo D.
Maybe I am spoiled in NYC. The sushi was super bland. I got the spicy tuna and cucumber and it tasted like nothing - so I used the wasabi in the soy sauce, I swear it was the most bland wasabi I have ever had in my life. I used all the wasabi and had to get more. very very mehhhhhhh. so then decided to get dessert - another disappointment. We got the tempura green tea ice cream - the green tea ice cream was fine but the tempura was super soggy and oily. I have had it a few times before in the city and when done right - its amazing. If this is the best philly has to offer for sushi - I will not be having sushi in philly again =/
(2)
Holly V.
The food was ok. I got the the Philly role and spicy hand roll. both were just ok-nothing special. I went on a Sunday and service was still slow when no one was in there! The place is alright regarding decor. Small and nothing special. I heard so many great things about this place and was soooo disappointed :(
(2)
Jackie B.
This is one of the best sushi places I've eaten at in philly. I love it because it is the only place I've seen that actually gives you a large size piece of raw fish in or on your sushi roll. It is never mushy and all the rolls are creatively designed and have a unique combination of ingredients. Not to mention there are 20-30 rolls to choose from so you can always find something you like. The only downside is every time I try and make a reservation they are full unless you go really late so we usually do take out.
(5)
Christine B.
I've been wanting to go to fat salmon for a long time, but I'm just not in that area very often. Finally had a chance to check it out in between some afternoon drinking and a birthday party. This was more of a snack spot so I just got a salmon avocado roll and the dancing vampire roll. They were both really good. I mostly eat the 3 for $10.95 roll specials, and it's amazing what a difference the good quality makes. The salmon pieces were huge and the avocado was perfectly ripe. The dancing vampire had a really nice spice. I kind of want to go back again immediately. Really wish they delivered.
(4)
Michael H.
This is probably our favorite sushi in Philly (Vic Sushi is probably tied, but totally different ambience). Everything is creative, fresh, and delicious. We've ordered for take-out and dined in - the real test of sushi is how it travels and this is great.
(5)
Jia T.
My friend and I finished our dinner in 10 minutes but waited for exactly 43 minutes after we placed the order (According to my check-in history). There were 4 sushi chiefs at the sushi bar but it still took so long. I had Sleeping Volcano roll and Rolling Fire roll (See picture). The sushi tasted good but not worth for waiting so long.
(3)
Kelly P.
a solid 4 star experience. Shrimp shumai, gyoza, Alaskan roll, Dancing Vampire, Rolling Fire - all perfection. I could have done without the M&M roll. Something about marinated beef with all that raw fish just does not make sense. Service was good. Went on a Monday around 6:30 and didn't seem to need our reservations, but an hour later the place was packed.
(4)
Vanessa C.
This is definitely a sushi favorite. Their special rolls are amazing! It's made well and when it comes to your table, it looks great and tastes like it! I don't know who their sushi chef is but he creates miracles! It opens for lunch and then closes to reopen for dinner. And although, street parking is a bit difficult to find, this place is probably my number one in the city for sushi. The ambience is very modern and it can be a little quiet at times even though there is conversation going on. Great for couples and small groups. Recommended this place to friends and they all said they loved it. It's worth to try this place at least once.
(5)
Ted S.
Really good food, service was not good at all had to ask at least 5 times for someone to find server, never cleared old dishes and glasses from table. Too bad for such great food to be ruined by lousy service.
(1)
Allison D.
Definitely recommended!!! My boyfriend and I went to Fat Salmon for the first time tonight and it has been the best sushi I've had in Philly so far. Next time we go I'll make reservations, it was so busy that we sat at the bar. It was no problem for us, though some people might mind. We got the edemame & shrimp shumai to start and they were both awesome. We're pretty new to sushi still so our rolls we ordered some plain rolls. California roll, spicy tuna crunch roll, shrimp tempura roll & alaskan roll. They were all amazing. Very fresh & tasty. For dessert we got the ice cream tempura. It was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was great. The place looks great. Our servers name was Jessica and she was the best. So nice and helpful. Answered all our questions and knew a lot about the menu. Will definitely be returning soon!!
(5)
MC L.
The waiter forgot to put in our order and forget we were sitting there. This place sucks. Then he pretended it was coming. The hostess gave us a coupon and said, "Not sure if youd want to come back but here is a coupon." Um, no. I have eaten here, though, for work, and its not bad. Its close to work, so there isnt much else. Umai Royal next door is cheaper and just as good, just not as crazy combinations.
(1)
Elaine L.
Best salmon in Philly so far! The fish tastes so fresh and the pictures of the rolls makes each roll so delicious. The prices are quite decent for sushi in Philly and everything just tastes so fresh. Did I mention FRESH???? I came with two other girls and we had the duo roll, miss sake roll and super dragon roll. All there were huge hits in my book and I could have eaten a lot more than just one roll for sure. Will definitely recommend this place for any sushi cravers who I know.
(4)
Dennis D.
Good selection of Japanese beer and delicious sushi. One of my first sushi experiences and would recommend this place. Knowledgable and attentive staff.
(4)
Dung H.
This place is great for affordable, delicious sushi! I came here on a Friday night and was able to get parking right in front of the restaurant (no valet parking taking up spots... which is typical near in this part of the city). This restaurant was more modern in decor than I expected but I was pleasantly surprised when I got there. The waitress seated us right away and was very attentive the entire time. I ordered shumai to start with and my friend got the pan seared salmon appetizer. The shumai was very tiny and bland. I would not order this again. My friend said that the salmon was very good. It came in a decent portion with lots of vegetables. I tried the veggies... which were in a pretty good sauce. I ordered a specialty roll (Dragonfly roll) and a normal Alaskan (salmon, cucumber, avocado). Both were very good!! For the price I paid, it made things even better. I'm sure this isn't the best sushi place in the city but it definitely fills any and all sushi cravings I have. Attentive service, a peacefully quiet dinner and decent sushi for a college student on a budget! I would definitely come back.
(4)
Michael K.
attended with my girl and three teenage girls we yelped this and realized it won Best of Philly 2012 for sushi decor: blue. swanky. food: miso - good shrimp tempura - didnt eat that so cant really say but the girls liked it chicken teriyaki - rave reviews from three teenage girls super dragon - big roll...i'm talking a huge mouthful if you decide to do it in one bite. it was just ok duo - the best roll of the night. really flavorful salmon yaki - good miss something or other - good service was good and not great. what was great was the price. that was a surprise. super affordable and we had take home! here's the story: i like to try different sushi places. i was expecting to be blown away by melt in your mouth sushi. i wasnt. i was actually disappointed that didnt happen. best of philly? for ambiance maybe...i was disappointed
(3)
Paige G.
Fat Salmon was incredible! I went for lunch with my friend. We both did the $14.50 lunch combination special. Usually with the lunch special the roll selection is not great, but here it was awesome. The sushi was so delicious (better than Zama in my opinion) and for $14.50 for two great rolls and a salad, you can't beat that. The service was excellent as well! I will def be back.
(5)
Daria M.
Stopped in solo for a quick snack. Had a pickled plum roll. It was good, but there could have been more pickled plum in it and less cucumber. I asked for spicy sauce on the side and was given a generous amount with no extra charge which I appreciate greatly. The restaurant is small, intimate, quiet, clean and cozy-feeling, although I was privy to my neighbors' conversation a bit too much due to the close proximity, I think it was because it was midday and there were only the two of us in there. The service was fast, attentive and polite. I would come back again from the look of all the yummy maki, if I knew they did veggie-substitutions, since there were only a handful of veggie rolls on the menu, but I was too daydreamy to ask that day. Overall, a positive experience! I give kudos. :)
(4)
Anna S.
Nice restaurant. Cool, cute decor and delicious food. Plus our server was really pleasant. Absolutely no complaints. Really enjoyed the meal.
(4)
Sana A.
Very welcoming staff. The entire lunch was a delight in the beautiful contemporary interior of white with blue lighting. Went there during lunch time, the place was busy, but the service was very quick. The menu has a great number of options of their creative rolls and the waitress made it really easy to make any alterations. Ordered some plain cali rolls, dancing vampire, and rock and roll. Loved rock & rock and placed a second order of it. I asked for spicy sauce instead of eel sauce, I felt like the spicy sauce takes over the taste of the roll. Will def go back when in Philly next time. Hopefully they have some great hot dishes for the hubby, because he doesn't do sushi :/
(4)
Jen A.
Ordered the Spicy Tuna Crunch, Dancing Vampire and the Agedashi tofu. Everything was great and the fish was very fresh. Will definitely order again!
(5)
Rogelio R.
I was not impressed with the place. The ambiance is not for me. It is very trendy and a tad too dark for me. (But the blue lighting does look great). The prices were a bit high for my taste, that the quality of food did not make up for. This is a place to try but is not for me.
(3)
Christine N.
I heard great things about this place before I came and it met my expectations. This place has great sushi and wine that goes along with that. This place is also good for those people who want cooked fish. The atmosphere is great with the bluish walls and dim lights. A great place to relax with a few people. I went with 6 people (a bigger group than that normally would fit there). With the sushi and wine, the bill can come out a bit, but my company, the quality, and atmosphere there was worth it. The deep fried tofu is a must get appetizer and so far, I've liked everything I had on the special roll list.
(4)
Alison W.
Love this place! The sushi I scrumptious and super fresh. Definitely make reservations or sit at the bar. My favorite: the spice crunchy tuna roll.
(5)
Clara L.
Decor and space remind me of generic LES/ Upper West side sushi places. Asian modern with a touch of ikea. Fresh sushi, good portions. Great homemade spicey sauce!!! Warning: this is legit heat. I put hot sauce on everything, and I would buy this sauce in a bottle. Try old School or Volcano Roll. The best vegetarian rolls, surprisingly. I have yet to discover amazing sushi in Philly. This place is the best yet.
(4)
Sonia S.
I have been going to Shinju/ fat salmon for years. If you are going there, do NOT go at peak times (i.e. Fri./Sat. night after 7 pm). They get slammed with customers and cannot speed up. They end up giving you some free edamame if your food is taking forever. This is why I always go around 5-6 pm, when they first open for dinner service. The staff is less stressed and they know us pretty well now. I have had sushi from Pod and Morimoto. They are not as good at this place. Say hi to Lina for me. She's awesome! Order the rock and roll and also the lipstick trace. My 2 faves! Hubby likes the Fuka Maki for the sheer amount of sushi it provides. Also, you MUST order the green tea tempura. I ask Lina right at the beginning of the meal if they have it every time I go.
(5)
Mary W.
Fat Salmon is a fabulous restaurant in the city to relax and enjoy great food. I'm a huge fan of raw sushi but if you are not, this is the PERFECT sushi spot for you! The menu offers plenty of cooked yet delicious rolls. I must comment on the deep fried tofu appetizer, which has become my all-time favorite dish at this restaurant. My friend and I went back just to eat this dish. Silky soft tofu is lightly battered and fried, topped with a irresistible spicy sauce. It's a burst of flavor and texture in your mouth! You can not leave Fat Salmon without trying their deep fried tofu appetizer!
(5)
Joanne W.
Pretty good sushi and decently priced...but the kitchen side would not be recommended. Service is okay, could be a little more attentive, especially if you're one of the last tables. It'd be easier to kick me out if you come to the table...
(3)
Andrew U.
Favorite Sushi joint in Philly for me, for value and for deliciousness. Lost Rainbow roll and super dragon are my favorites! Every few weeks I'll come here to get my sushi fill. The decor is also modern and the wait hasn't been too long for a walk in on a saturday night (30 mins for a bar). If you want a table, be sure to make a reservation on a busy night otherwise you may have to wait! Edit: After having a go at other sushi places in town, Fat Salmon remains at the top. Have been here multiple times since this review and have never been dissatisfied.
(5)
Rebecca L.
I have to be honest, I'm probably the only person I know who isn't a fan of sushi. You're probably asking yourself why in the world would she go to a sushi restaurant if she don't like sushi? Wow, great question. I've been hearing from my roommate since she moved here in April that Fat Salmon is DELICIOUS, the best sushi she's had in the city. I had a friend in town who loves sushi so I decided now was the best time to check it out. We got to the restaurant a little after 6 on a Wednesday night and were seated almost immediately. We ordered the edamame, piping hot but perfectly salted, and seaweed salad, which was delicious, for appetizers. We split 3 rolls from the Special Rolls section (pictures included in the menu!), Blossom, Lava and Volcano. LOVED them all. Yes, that's right. I actually enjoyed sushi. Prices were fair, fish was fresh and delish, and the wine was CHEAP ($5 for the house wine? Give me 5). I'll be back.
(4)
Caren C.
This is my favorite sushi place in Philly! I am a little sad that it is no longer Shinju or that they are no longer BYO, but I still love them. If you are on a budget try the lunch specials. For about ten dollars you can get a salad, two rolls and a drink. While it might not be the most exciting thing on the menu, I crave on a weekly basis the spicy tuna roll. If you are feeling a little more adventerous, I would try the Volcano or the Fancy Sushi Roll. The service is always great and they wrap the rolls up nicely if you want take-out.
Yum!! I love sushi and I'm picky about it, so giving this restaurant 5 stars really means something. Came here for a date night with the bf on a Thursday after having walked by it before and later read the reviews. Ambiance is fun and night clubby, though it was a little loud when we first got there - don't come here during popular hours for a super intimate date. The menu has pictures of all the specialty rolls, of which there are a TON. It was really hard to choose from all the offerings, and they even had lots of creative non-shellfish options (a huge plus for us, because my bf is allergic and usually can only have one or two rolls on the menu). Once chosen and ordered, our sushi was fresh and delicious, lots of flavor and not too much rice. Sushi perfection. We also ordered tempura green tea ice cream for dessert. The portion was HUGE and again, the dish was yummy. Service was also good - our waitress was a bit swamped because they were short a busboy, but we never waited that long for anything and she was always friendly. I'll definitely be back here. By the way, Fat Salmon is no longer BYOB! We bought a bottle of wine on our way here based on a prior yelp review, but were informed of the changed status when we arrived.
(5)
Joseph D.
Had an excellent dinner here... actually impressed by the freshness of the food! Sushi in Philadelphia has been having a tough time in the past year, but this place puts it back on the map. Delicious, original, and I love the style. The presentation is clean and appealing as well, and they keep the restaurant very clean.. It's a fairly new place and still growing, but I have no doubt it will stand apart if they keep raising the bar like they are.
(5)
Jaime B.
Incredible doesn't even begin to describe this amazing sushi spot. I'm super picky when it comes to good sushi. This place exceeded all my expectations. I started with the Green Salad. The dressing was a creamy ginger dressing that was delicious! I ordered two specialty rolls that were incredible. I love spicy rolls and boy were they spicy! The price is very reasonable too.
(5)
Dee D.
I ordered take out and hands-down it was THE BEST sushi I've had...ever. The fish is fresh and melts in your mouth and the flavor lingers. The pieces are generous without using too much rice. Very satisfying meal. My husband even enjoyed it and he's not crazy about maki rolls.I ordered the spicy tuna crunch roll, dragonfly roll (replaced the eel on top with fresh salmon for only $1 extra) and the kai roll. They were all so very delicious. My faves though were dragonfly and tuna crunch. Also, the hostess (I don't recall her name anymore as I went there 2 weeks ago) was kind and helpful in answering my questions and accommodating my requests. Am looking forward to actually dining there, enjoyed the nice relaxing atmosphere as I waited on my rolls which were being crafted fresh to order and in a very timely manner.
(5)
pracheta t.
My previous review was for Shinju..so i am updating it to reflect Fat Salmon! The bright blue LED lights is the first thing you notice even before walking in. What a change - so trendy! I went with my girlfriend and even though we were surrounded by couples on dates we still felt totally comfortable. They have an amaaazing selection of specialty rolls - even vegetarian ones. And the roll itself was...fat. Def didn't skimp on anything. So super yummy, I'll def go back.
(4)
Jennifer N.
Fat Salmon is the perfect lunch take-out spot for me. I used to be devoted to Tampopo on Sansom, but they closed, so I decided to check out the lunch specials at Fat Salmon. I can say this -- you get tons of food for a very reasonable price. All of the lunch specials come with a choice of Miso or Salad. I am a big fan of the miso. So satisfying during this chilly time of year. So far, I have tried the No. 1 (Cali roll, spicy tuna roll, tuna and salmon nigiri) and the No. 5 (1 Midori Maki, 4 pcs sushi (Inari, Shitake, Avocado, Asparagus). No. 1 was good, but nothing special. The No. 5, however, is my new favorite. It is all veggie, but the flavors really sing. The avocado and asparagus are so simple, but tasty due to the freshness of the ingredients. And all for $9.18 with tax.
(4)
Christine R.
Fat Salmon is one of my favorite places to go for sushi in the city. The quality of sushi is always fresh and delicious. Fat Salmon is known for creative fusion rolls which are no doubt amazing. However, the regular rolls are just as good. I love the Fuka roll which is one of their mixed spicy rolls. The menu is pretty big with plenty of a selection. Fat Salmon also has a full bar. I am not sure if it's BYOB though. The decor seems modern-chic and dimly lit. I think it's a great atmosphere for quiet conversation with a good friend or a date.
(5)
Louis T.
As I get ready to flee the country, I realize this is yet another go-to place that I haven't reviewed. Though it looks a little more like a bus stop inside than its predecessor Shinju, Fat Salmon is reasonably priced, the fish is very fresh, and the preparation is solid. If there's a downside to it, I guess it would be the slightly hard decor and over-abundance of slightly gimmicky rolls. But if you just stick with the straightforward options, you won't go wrong. The fifth star is for consistency over a bunch of seminar dinners and random stop-ins, though, not because it blows you away.
(5)
Lan H.
It started with an idea: it's a sushi lover's birthday. We should take her to a great sushi place in the city. Fat Salmon. The name has a personality :-) The master minds behind this bubbly name must have been the same ones who conjured the interior design. The blue lights, the wavy-textured walls, the entire dining experience...all share a common theme: simple, fun, and made me (and birthday girl and co) feel like I was in another world. The master minds of the menu were hugely inspired by various oddities and beauties, such as "The Sleeping Volcano" and "Mr. French Kiss," two different types of specialty rolls. The phrase "I live to eat" is 100% applicable here! The food was arranged such that the plating itself was delicious enough (as if you weren't already excited to each anyway once you stepped into the restaurant ;-)). But then, the flavors will boggle your mind! Fat Salmon, I hope, will continue to inspire me through its dining experience for as long as it is accessible to me :-) oh! And the birthday girl was beyond happily full of sushi by the end of the meal :p
(5)
Chris S.
Fat Salmon (nee Shinju) essentially keeps the same traditions as the old place on Locust. Except, now, when I walk in wearing scrubs and have disheveled hair, I feel like a beggar walking into the Ritz Carlton. The wavy blue walls and their opulent lighting and carbon-fiber-like floors make the former location at 9th and Locust look like a cheap dive bar. So, naturally, I would think the prices would skyrocket....ESPECIALLY now that they have a liquor license and you can get your drink on without hauling it yourself. Surprise! This place still gives you great sushi at a good value. But I'm not here to talk about value, I'm here to talk fish! Fays s. and I got our usual: some sort of roll + pieces of salmon & yellow tail nigiri. This is our general standard for judging US-based sushi places (rolls aren't sushi...but they fill me up). Sure enough, the quality is just as I remembered it before it moved up town two blocks. In fact, I think it even got better...the yellow tail was almost comparable to flavor/texture to the best medium-fatty tuna (not quite o-toro) I've had. What a treat! Yes, I got a $2 bowl of miso soup...which tasted as it should. Faye s. made fun of me because I paid $2 for...miso soup (when we had packets that would taste the same at home and cost $0.50. Whatever, it was raining and I wanted some darn soup. Next time I come here, I think I'll try to ditch the scrubs.
(4)
Alexandra W.
Can someone explain this Shinju vs. Fat Salmon business? Which is it? And why 'Fat Salmon'? I agree with Kathryn, though. Shinju sounds much nicer. The sushi is really good. I can appreciate an interesting, creative roll despite the fact that it isn't the traditional way to serve sushi. We ordered four of them, whose names I can't remember for the life of me. I do remember, however, that they were so good. Be warned, the portions are strange. Some rolls come with 6 pieces, some with 5 and some with 4. My only grievance is that if I'm paying $10+ for a roll, I want 6 pieces. Of course, my favorite one only had 4. Also, they have tempura ice cream! Get this to share, though. I made the mistake of ordering one for my self. THIS portion is quite large.
(4)
Bee R.
Yummy!!! Definitely recommend the "fancy sushi" roll!!! Great prices and really delish!!! Great find :)
(5)
Sophia C.
I got takeout for lunch last week from here, and their lunch specials are seriously a steal! I paid a total of $17 for a salmon tempura and dancing vampire (one of their specialty rolls) and a side salad with awesome ginger dressing. It would have only been $14 and some change, but the hostess that took my order was so attentive over the phone and gave me extra dipping sauces when I came to pick it up, don't forget to tip them a little something! Definitely the perfect spot to walk to on my lunch break, and definitely coming back.
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! I love this place. The food here is absolutely delectable! I've tried just about everything and I don't have any complaints! Service is always pleasant and timely and the decor... Being an interior designer and avid lover of modern design, I swoon every time I step foot in this restaurant. Sleek, modern, glossy and beautifully lit. There's nothing about Fat Salmon that I don't love. Except for maybe when they briefly close from 2:30 - 5:00pm to prep for dinner. They should never close their doors!
(5)
Katarina M.
YUM!!!!!!!! Best sushi in Philly so far. And great prices. Got the Blossom, the Lava, the Mr. Shiro, and the Fancy Sushi. All phenomenal. Only the Lava was really spicy. I think most of the others were supposed to have some spicy in them based on the menu description, but they were all fine, and I'm not great with spicy. The Mr. Shiro was my favorite. Also each of us had a green salad with ginger dressing. Standard for a Japanese restaurant, and very good. Fine service. Great looking restaurant. All in all we each had a drink and shared the above and it was $24 per person including a generous tip. DEFINITELY coming back. And soon.
(5)
Julia S.
Meh. Just had a Dancing Vampire and Spicy Tuna roll from Fat Salmon. To be certain, the place is beautiful and very stylish. To me, it almost seems like you are in an iridescent, water filled fish and the white accents are the bones. Definitely a romantic spot for a date. Oddly enough, it smells kind of fishy in there as well. Like tuna , which I like. But I've yet to go to another sushi place that smells quite like this one. I'm not blown away, which I should be for the price and reputation of the place. I have definitely had spicy tuna rolls that are MUCH better in the suburbs. Ota-Ya in Newtown to be exact. They just blow everyone away, I guess. And as far as the quality of the special roll, the Dancing Vampire, I've had better special rolls at Ooka of Willow Grove (Lobster Dynamite best roll EVER), Oishi of Newtown and ToKai of Northeast Philadelphia. It was a good roll. Not a great roll. It needed some kind of kick. And I would have appreciated if it was cut smaller, as one piece was hard to maneuver bite-wise. So, I guess it was good enough to visit again, but I won't be dreaming about it and waiting with baited breath for my next opportunity to order. So...kind of lukewarm at best for me.
(3)
Nancy M.
I had a really yummy birthday dinner here on a Sunday night. We made a reservation which was a good thing because the place was full. Despite being busy we were seated immediately and served promptly, though not rushed. While waiting for dinner our server rushed over and explained that someone had mistakenly delivered our sushi order to the wrong table and they were making us a new plate immediately and would reduce our bill by 20% as an apology (not necessary but delightfully nice - and they didn't forget). The sushi was delicious and well made as was the miso soup to start. I live in a resort area in Massachusetts and thought the prices were very reasonable in comparison. I'd definitely go back. Very cool decor. My only complaint was the restaurant was quite noisy.
(4)
Martha G.
I gotta say that their lunch specials are pretty good here; I've never been for dinner. You can get a lot of food for not that much, $14 plus tax and tip. Sometimes service is spotty, however. I've had a shrimp and veggie tempura lunch special, and it was mostly veggie, few shrimp, but it was yummy. And the special sushi rolls are quite yummy. Check it out for lunch.
(3)
Soyoung K.
+1 star for the delicious yellow tail negimaki and the spicy tuna roll. +1 star for the great presentation of the dishes. +1 star for all the creative makis. +1 star for the beautiful decor. absolutely LOVE the lighting. +1 star for the BYO. Hooray! +1 st
(2)
Ramen F.
Ambiance: It was modern - generally minimalist with some surprising splashes of flash (the lights bordering the sushi bar). The tables are very close to one another, so the noise level was a little loud. The feeling isn't intimate, unless you are talking about intimacy with other tables. I was able to hear and follow the discussions of the people sitting at tables on either side. Which wasn't a problem for me, but perhaps not a place you would want to go for a first date or with someone you aren't really comfortable with. Service: The waiter was helpful and pleasant. Food: This is the best sushi that I have had in Philly, and it is as simple as that. I like salmon but never loved salmon - it turns out that I was wrong about that and I love Fat Salmon's salmon. Get salmon on the Fancy roll, it was so good that it has ruined me from enjoying all other rolls!! The Rock and Roll and Dragon rolls were also yummy. It almost seems like a shame to get the regular rolls because the special rolls are so fantastic. The spicy tuna roll was good, but not as exciting as the other rolls. The deep fried tofu was an unexpected delight, I got the recommendation from reading through yelp and it was certainly warranted. Overall: Definitely recommended. Get the Fancy roll with salmon.
(5)
Angelina D.
AMAZING! The "Sleeping Volcano" roll was like a party in my mouth. It was just so fresh and delicious. I also had the "Blossom" roll and that too was delicious. I didn't have one thing that I didn't love. Even the cocktails were great. I had a "Ginger Snap" martini and sweet sake sampler. I enjoyed the atmosphere and even the service was great. All I can say is that I will most definitely be back again and again and again. :)
(4)
Christian B.
Possibly the best sushi I've ever had. Easily the best sushi in Philadelphia! Good service too. Prices reasonable too.
(5)
Cecilia P.
Fat Salmon is definitely great for lunch. I had the #1 lunch special (2 rolls and miso soup) and left feeling very pleased. The service was great and the restaurant's atmosphere is cool and inviting. I work right around the corner so I'll definitely be visiting Fat Salmon again very soon.
(5)
Alex C.
Fat Salmon is slightly better than average sushi in a sleek space. The emphasis is on over-the-top Americanized sushi loaded with fried items and "crunchy" (aka Panko bread crumbs). Over the 8 or so special rolls that we tried, nothing was terrible, but nothing stood out. The lone exception is the Super Dragon -- a Dragon roll on steroids. It's so large, you can barely eat it without making a fool of yourself. The beer menu has an extensive Asian selection, but the prices are relatively steep. Service is adequate, if unremarkable. For better sushi, try Zento (BYOB) from the former Morimoto Sous-Chef, Uzu (also in Old City) or Morimoto for a splurge. I've heard good things about Umai in Rittenhouse, but haven't been.
(3)
Samantha J.
Sushi tasted fresh & was delicious. Prices were very reasonable- $40 for 2 special rolls, 2 glasses of wine & a generous tip. The atmosphere was calming- lights were dim & there was a blue hue throughout. Service was a bit slow, but everything else about the experience definitely made up for that.
(5)
Charles S.
My friend and I had Sleeping volcano, Curry katsu don(hope name is correct), Steamed vegetable Koza, Green tea Mojito, and Green lotus. Sleeping volcano was the first roll i have ever tried cream cheese in it, and it was nice try for me who likes dairy products. Curry katsu don could serve almost for two small stomach people I guess. It was a bit blackpepper spicy and katsu (it was ckicken katsu) was I dare to say the BEST I have ever had in philly area. Steamed vegetable Kyoja was soft and tasty and its color was green so it made me felt i was eating a healthy food. Beverages, green tea mojito and green lotus, were good, and they were kinda weak alcohol. Basically it was an descent experience for me to have dinner in Fat Salmon and i would definitely like to go back and try other foods too. AND waiters and waitresses (especially SAM the waiter served us) were so friendly and kind so that my friend and i felt comfortable. They were obviously contributing to make this nice place even nicer. Strongly recommed.
(5)
Laura N.
Favorite sushi in Philadelphia. This place is tiny so try to make reservations. They can be made online on their website which makes it pretty convenient. My favorite rolls at the moment are the rainbow roll (so fresh and a little hint of sweetness) and the blossom roll (has a lime, avocado cream on top that is unique but delicious). Then you have their spicy rolls...every time I come to fat salmon, I swear I'm not going to order a spicy roll. I'm a wuss when it comes to spice and after a few of these rolls my stomach engulfs itself in flames, however---I order one every single time. The sauce isn't your ordinary spicy mayo. It's a complex silky deliciousness of flavor and spice. I usually get the fuka roll. It's a little messy, but really good. Stay away from the sake sangria. It was a disappointment.
(4)
Dhvani D.
Being vegetarian, I'm not always the biggest fan of sushi places because my options are usually limited to avocado or cucumber rolls. This place is awesome for vegetarians as there are so many options and they are so yummy! Their special rolls are where all the fun stuff is - my favorites are the old school (most fav) and the tofuholic...they are rolls stuffed on the inside with tasty mix of veggies/tofu and have different sauces/toppings on top...and they can be spicy! The seaweed salad and miso soup are good too. Ambience is fun on the inside and service is good too. Def place to check out!
(4)
Rich G.
I have been to dozens of Japanese rest/sushi joints in my life. While I am not a snob, I know what is good. I would rate a sushi joint based on the quality of the food in relationship to the price. I could care less about the decor, service, rude chefs, etc. Give me good, fresh fish at a good price and I will come back often. I have ordered all types of things so no way I could comment on individual items, I just know that I have enjoyed everything that was ordered. Fat Salmon meets those 2 requirements, so I am giving my 1st 5 star review. The service I have experienced there has always been excellent. I have always gone during the week, just as they open for dinner. If anyone asks me for good Sushi places in the city, I always recommend Fat Salmon....the name is super easy to remember too.
(5)
Helen C.
Fat Salmon is delicious. I've eaten here three times and the sushi and sashimi has been consistently fresh, delicious and of high quality! That alone is enough to keep me going back, since that's typically my go-to order at a sushi joint. This restaurant is appropriately named, because my favorite is actually their salmon - always a great cut of the fish and just perfect. The staff has been very pleasant and attentive for each of my visits; prices are good; and the atmosphere fun and comfortable. Overall, I think it's a great place to meet up with a friend to catch up over some delicious sushi. The BYOB is also a plus! The only con for me is actually the maki, despite all the positive reviews for the rolls. I will give them that some of their specialty rolls are unique, but so far they have been very hit or miss for me. I've only enjoyed maybe half of the specialty rolls I've tried, and most of the ones I did like were kinda just okay. There have been rolls that we did not even bother to finish or take home with us. I know sushi places these days like to get creative with their rolls, but sometimes it goes a little far. And then of the ones that were not interesting/crazy-sounding combinations, they were plain and nothing special. I guess it comes down to personal preference.
(4)
Tasha A.
I'm torn....my first time eating at Fat Salmon the sushi was awesome, I had the Philly Roll & the Dancing Vampire Roll with Salmon Nigiri; however, the service (at lunch time) was incredibly slow. We've found it difficult to get in and out of Fat Salmon at lunch in 1 hour. On the flip side, the dinner service is pretty quick. Yesterday for the first time we ordered sushi to go (maybe that was a bad idea), but it just didn't taste as good or fresh as it has tasted in the past. My Dancing Vampire Roll was incredibly fishy (which hasn't happened before). I was sadly disappointed, but I guess in the grand scheme of things going into the restaurant is the obvious best choice.
(3)
Stacie L.
Absolutely had an amazing time! I never knew this place existed until about last week when my friend told me and suggest we go. It didnt seem like much on the outside and I had to find the place to realize where it was. But once you go in, the setting is amazing. Sushi chefs are in front of you making their food so I felt comfortable that everything was fresh. The lighting is dimmer than most restaurants but it was a nice setting. Great for a date *hint hint* LOL. I had the shrimp tempura lunch box for I think !2 dollars and it was amazing and filling! I never expected sushi to fill me up so fast! The service was amazing, our waiter came up every so often and asked us how we were and always refilled our glasses without hunting him down (unlike certain places I have been too). Definitely going back there when I get paid. :]
(5)
Sara H.
After reading so many overwhelmingly positive reviews on Yelp, I decided to give Fat Salmon a try on a Friday night with my boyfriend. The atmosphere was cool, the service was friendly and helpful and the place was packed to the brim--though it should be noted that it's a BYO and we saw 2 separate parties bringing in cases of Bug Light! Rock on! The three stars, however reflect the fact that the sushi itself was not all that impressive. For the price, it's not bad, but by no means is it the best sushi in the city--or really even noteworthy. The rolls are very creative (the white forest is topped with pico de gallo salsa--yum) but the execution is somewhat sloppy--and the quality of the ingredients doesn't seem to be exceptionally fresh. But maybe we went on an off night? Overall, I'd say--Fat Salmon gets props for price, service and creativity.
(3)
Vanessa L.
Good, fresh sushi!
(4)
Sarah B.
Since sushi is the best food known to man, I used to eat it weekly in LA nevermind the mercury poisoning risks or whatnot. I went to college in San Diego where sushi was aplenty. I also recently visited Tokyo where I had fresh sushi right by the fish market. So my sushi standards are a bit high. In Philly, I put on "goggles" knowing I should expect inadequate sushi. The last time I ate a roll it felt like I was chewing on a rubber snail. Finally, le beau and I discovered Fat Salmon--moderately priced, tasty sushi!!!!!!!!!!!! Something I would've eaten in LA!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were so excited that after we both had multiple rolls, we ordered another one to share. We definitely didn't exercise "hara hachi bu" here!
(4)
Jacqueline C.
Although I am not a fan of the name change (Shinju was so much cooler), they got everything else right. First FS kept everything good about about the old spot (namely the fresh and innovative sushi) and fixed the things that were holding it back from sushi greatness, namely: - More tables translates into shorter lines - More space; tables are further apart (you can still talk to your neighbors, you just don't have to anymore) - More sushi chefs = less time waiting (and drooling over your neighbors food) Bottom line: This is the best sushi for your $$$ in Philly!
(5)
Meghann p.
I love this place...the prices are so reasonable...I love the maki rolls and it is BYOB! What can be better? I have been back 4 times in the last month with different groups of friends...and everyone loved this place. I always recommend Fat Salmon for sushi lovers!
(5)
Lee K.
Pretty small but a nice little sushi joint. Decor is pretty gimmicky in a Starr-ish kinda way but is nonetheless presentable. The specialty rolls had a good bit of variety and the few we tried didn't give us dysentery so we were happy. Try the smoked squid in ponzu sauce salad, it's phenom.
(4)
Sarah Z.
Simply the best. Better than all the rest. When I have to move away, this is the place I'll come back for. It is my favorite.
(5)
Brian H.
Great sushi and you can literally TASTE the freshness. Very creative rolls definitely for the intermediate to advanced sushi eater. I have been eating sushi for a few years now and I grow tired of simple samon or tuna rolls. The chefs here take it to the next level! Although this was my first time eating here I was told that it was a BYOB....it IS NOT. Not sure what changed but I ended up taking my huge bottle of white wine back to the car :/. Other than that sushi was delicious - the Pork KATSU was unbelievable GREAT value..."party in a box!" Beware you will be served Sashimi, Seawed Salad, Tofu...also comes with Miso Soup and Salad.
(4)
Karina A.
The best sushi I have ever had in the city, hands down. I love you Fat Salmon! I LOVE LOVE their deep fried tofu appetizer. So good and unique texture.
(5)
Sara L.
I did lunch with a friend at the new incarnation of Shinju that is Fat Salmon yesterday, and was impressed with how this restaurant has grown. It is a true testament to the management and excellent food to be so successful with a small establishment in the current economy. The head chef, menu and much of the staff remain largely identical to Shinju. It seems like more specialty rolls appear on the new menu, but my old favorites were there as well. They have increased their prices slightly, but not as much as I feared when I first heard about the move. Our meal consisted of naked gyoza with spicy tuna, sleeping volcano and rolling fire rolls, and a few pieces of nigiri and sashimi. The food was all excellent. I am impressed when a sushi place not only offers brown rice as an option, but gets the texture right to work perfectly in sushi. I am surprised to read complaints about the service. I have always found them to be friendly and efficient. Sometimes the food takes a little while, but when it arrives, the complexity of the preparation and presentation makes it obvious why. This is not a restaurant for hurrying. The decor is a complete turnaround from the humble dark wood that I so loved at Shinju. The new space is much more sleek and fancy, typical of what you would expect from a high-end sushi restaurant. This, combined with the liquor license application in the window, makes me believe that high-end sushi restaurant is where they are headed. This is not a bad thing in itself, but the city already has a couple of those. I will probably always feel a little nostalgic for the tiny, unassuming neighborhood place that you would hardly even notice walking by.
(4)
Jillian G.
I've been to Morimoto, Haru, Vics...all of which were very different and wonderful, but Fat Salmon, yes formerly known as Shinju is CHEAP and ranks up there with the top guns of Sushi in Philadelphia. I have been there 3 times since it has opened (BYOB until April I was told) and have tried about 16 of the rolls...(I realize I sound like a fatty) but my favorites were: 1. Fancy Sushi - really awesome roll, haven't had anything like it anywhere else. Basically a piece of salmon sashimi wrapped around sushi rice with spicy salmon on top laying on a bed of crunchies. 2. Salmon Yaki - I don't usually go for any cooked fish in my rolls, but this really was awesome with the eel sauce. 3. Spicy Scallop - always order it when I see it, definitely up to par here. Rolls that looked awesome but really were not: 1. BCT - bacon and cream cheese, hard to go wrong here but not really what I hoping it would be....not enough BACON! 2. Rolling Fire - I was told this was too hot to handle for most people. They really got me excited. It was not hot. It's fresh and also does take out. I would make a reservation if I could. Every time I am there they are holding 4 or 5 tables in a 15 table place for people who eventually are suppose to come in. It's silly.
(5)
Eileen H.
I couldn't decide between giving this place 3 or 4 stars, but I settled on 4 because I would definitely go back. We ordered the agedashi tofu, shrimp tempura tofu, smoked salmon, fluke, and yellowtail nigiri, their Rock N Roll special roll, and their Shochu samplers. I'll start with the decor. It's very ultra white, space age modern looking. Interesting take on decor for a sushi restaurant, of which I'm not sure if I am a fan but I can't say I hate it, either. Now for the food. The agedashi tofu was nothing special, i.e. don't bother ordering this dish. The shrimp tempura udon was pretty good, but not fantastic. I did like how they served the 2 shrimp tempura on the side so that it doesn't get too soggy in the broth. It also came with a zucchini tempura fritter. The nigiri was pretty much to my expectation, although they did something weird to the smoked salmon and yellowtail that made it look like the texture of cube steak. It was very odd and I assume its purpose is to tenderize the fish. The Rock N Roll was a commitment. Each piece, or roll, was pretty thick and stuffed with both salmon and tuna, then topped with "crunchy" topping and a sweet eel sauce. The waitress explained that it is called eel sauce because they mix in powdered eel. I have no idea what that is. In summary, they have a variety of sushi options, to the point where their menu is overwhelming, as well as many non-sushi options. They also seemed to have a pretty good sake selection. Their service is fine- nothing remarkable, though. I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a nice, reasonably priced sushi joint that serves alcohol.
(4)
Kelly F.
Delicious! It was the Friday after Thanksgiving and what my boyfriend and I wanted more than anything was a meal that didn't have a shred of turkey in it. What we found was super friendly service, delicious sushi and apps and a full bar. This place has boosted to my favorite sushi place in the city. The baby octopus was spectacular! We couldn't finish all the sushi, so our waitress wrapped it up with much care and we had it the next day. Can't write enough good things and can't wait to come back.
(5)
Courtney J.
I arrived at Fat Salmon with some co-workers just as they were opening for lunch. We'd heard great things about this place and were happy to finally check it out. The atmosphere was really nice. I liked the soft blue tinted lights and the modern white tables. We were seated after a few minutes. There are quite a few lunch specials to choose from ranging between $8 - $14. They all come with miso soup or your typical American Japanese restaurant ginger salad. The waitress came over to take our drink order. One person in my party ordered seltzer with lime. It took a while for the waitress to come back, but when she finally did, she told us that didn't have seltzer, but Perrier. My friend said that was fine. She disappeared for a while. We were ready to order and wondering when she'd come back. Finally she comes back with the drinks and said that they were still cutting the lime in the kitchen. Really? It takes that long to slice a lime wedge? We weren't off to the best start, but whatever. We were hungry. Finally, we ordered. I decided on the nigiri set with the salad. We ordered the vegetable tempura appetizer to share. The appetizer came out along with the lime slice. It was a pretty good amount of veggies and included broccoli, sweet potato, and bell peppers. The taste was fine, but it was just lukewarm. Tempura is so much better when it's fresh out of the oil. The other strange thing was the dipping sauce that accompanied it. It was not the usual dashi stock, but instead what tasted like a rice vinegar, soy, and shichimi togarashi (red pepper spice mix usually served with udon noodle soup). It wasn't bad, but just not what I'd serve with tempura. Also the container was too shallow to dip it in. Ten minutes later, when we only had one piece of tempura left, the waitress comes by and sets down a bowl of sauce on the table. We ask, "What's that?" She says, "Oh the sauce for that is supposed to be this, but you don't have to use it," and walks away. A little strange, and a little too late. Then the main course arrives. It looked really good. I ate a piece of nigiri and was turned off by the temperature. It tasted okay, but the whole piece was warm. I don't like my sushi cold, but it should be room temperature, not warm like it's been cooked. I think the sushi chef didn't fan the rice, and got in a hurry and used it before it cooled completely. The warm rice ended up heating the fish. Also, the rice itself was falling apart and it was hard to pick up the pieces. This also was most likely a result of improper cooling. I've never had that kind of problem before anywhere. What a disappointment. The fish itself was not nearly as good as Sagami in Jersey, or even remotely close to what I've had in Japan. I also tasted one of my co-workers rolls, and it was very bland. I'm glad I went for lunch and not dinner because at least I walked away disappointed without a huge bill. With lots of other places to go in Philly, Fat Salmon would not be at the top of my list for high quality sushi even though their dining room looks lovely.
(2)
Norma M.
The sushi was excellent and offered a wide variety. The portions are generous for the price and enough to share. The naked gyoza was a unique and delicious dish and I suggest you get two orders because you can't eat just one. The only reason I won't give it a 5 star is due to the service but I think it was due to a waiter who was new.
(4)
Tyshawn T.
Fried. Ice. Cream. DO IT! Fuka Roll and Rainbow Roll. DO IT! This place is hip. Very nice crowd. A good place for a date. The drinks were subpar though. I'd still return because the sushi was great.
(5)
Erin B.
I'd heard a lot of great things about this restaurant from friends, yelpers, etc. In September / October my coworker and I grabbed a quick lunch while we waited to have our engagement rings cleaned over on jeweler's row. I remember the sushi being ok, not mind-blowing, but not horrible. (The only reason that I am giving the second star.) So, when my cousin from Jersey said he was in town and wanted to grab lunch near my office today, Fat Salmon it was. MAJOR MISTAKE OF THE DAY. Our first clue should have been the flightiness of the hostess. She literally took forever+ minutes to seat us, which is entirely unacceptable for a weekday lunch, especially when there were several tables available. We eventually decided to seat ourselves at the bar area. After perusing the menu, we were both sorta disappointed at the abundance of "crab stick" on the menu... (ain't nobody got no time for crab stick)! We then waited forever +2 minutes for the waitress to take our order. Forever+10 minutes later our food finally came and we were neither under or overwhelmed. The worst part of the lunch was the end... The waitress finally brought our card to us and b/c she took forever +20 minutes to fetch it, another waitress came over to pick it up and offered her apologies. At that point, our original waitress returned to our table and dropped off the credit card of a patron from another table - an identity thief's dream!
(2)
Ty B.
Fat Salmon saved my night. I was looking forward to the 1st date with a new guy I'm seeing. He loves sushi and I love Thai so we were going for Umai. Although Yelp told me Umai was open at 8pm on a Sunday night - it wasn't. I frantically searched for nearby sushi spots only to find Fat Salmon right.next.door. Not wanting to chance it I called and reserved a table with ease for 830pm. Fat Salmon is a bit small on the inside and dimly lit at the tables in the back which is where we sat, but because we reserved a table we didn't wait long at all. My date wanted to sit at the raw bar but unfortunately that's first come first serve. Besides you can order the same thing at a table. Sitting at the raw bar just gives you more of an authentic feel. The service was great. We sat down and were offered water. I'm a foodie so I always have a bunch of questions about how I can cater the menu to my needs. The waiter was really patient and detailed in explaining everything to us and offering suggestions. We ended up choosing an eel dish, a lava dish, a regular dish to share and the saki sampler. The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is because the wait for our food took forever! We were really hungry and disappointed that our first choice was a fail. (Umai serves sushi and Thai and Thai is my ultimate favorite cuisine). Our stomachs were grumbling as we sipped our starter beers. I understand though. Sushi is essentially raw food and I'm sure the cook took the proper precautions in preparing our meal but we were so hungry!! On Sundays Fat Salmon closes around 9 or 10. Remember our reservation was for 830. We ended up being one of the last tables eating. I'm pretty sure the group at the only other table were family or close friends of someone at Fat Salmon. The busboys started cleaning up tables and putting chairs away while we were still wrapping up. Not cool. Other than that the service, food and drinks were great. But I know now if I ever go back - go early.
(4)
Jackie S.
This place just rocks. Great, fresh sushi. Loved the atmosphere, and a really pretty walk through Washington square. One of the best sushi restaurants in the city.
(5)
Stephen K.
This is a must try once place! You will most likely go back. The quality and selection blow any other place out of the water. I am a fan of sushi and frequent a place in Princeton that has great value mixed with quality. The quality at Fat Salmon makes you believe they caught the fish minutes before your ordered. The price is amazing for being a high end restaurant in center city. Almost what you would pay per roll anywhere else, if not cheaper surprisingly. The decor is a very modern low lite vibe. The placed seems to be always packed and reservations are a must. On a Friday night, two friends and I made reservations at 7:30 for a 9pm table. We ordered the following items: Edamame ($4.50) Seaweed Salad ($6.00) BCT Roll ($9.50) INSIDE - Bacon, Cream Cheese, Tomato, Cucumber ON TOP - Avocado w/Spicy sauce Dancing Vampire Roll ($9.50) INSIDE - Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy ON TOP - Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy) Fancy Sushi Roll ($10.50) INSIDE - Rice wrapped with a piece of fish w/Spicy Chopped fish (tobiko,Scallions) ON TOP Wasabi Tobiko ON BOTTOM Crunchy Tempura Cruncy Spicy Tuna Roll ($6.00) Spicy tuna w/ Crunch and Masago Tekka Roll ($5.00) Tuna I could of skipped the Tuna Roll. Though a great classic and a good way to tell the overall quality of a place. I would have preferred an additional specialty roll. All of their speciality rolls we tried were amazing. Our favorite was the Fancy Sushi Roll, followed by the BCT. I mean come on! It has tons of bacon in each bite. How can you not love that.
(5)
Eric P.
Very nice, innovative sushi place in Center City Philadelphia. Stopped in on a Friday night. Called in for a last minute reservation (9:30 PM) and they were happy to seat us. This night we were in a sushi only mode, so we didn't venture out to try any of the Appetizers or Kitchen Specials that they had to offer. The menu had a nice array of different combinations of sushi. We opted for the Fancy Sushi, Locust, Hako, Rolling Fire and Dancing Vampire. All of them were delicious and fresh. I must say that they do go a tad bit overboard with their sauces on top of the sushi, so it detracts from the flavor of the fresh fish. Presentation was excellent, it all came out in one plate in a nice, appealing order. Service was top notch. Our waitress was very attentive, without being over bearing. We were the last people to leave their restaurant, but we never felt rushed. We couldn't leave without trying dessert, so we opted for the fried vanilla ice cream, which was amazing, and huge ! All in all, we would definitely return to Fat Salmon. A few weeks ago, we went to Zama, and this place blew Zama out of the water, in both food and service. Well done Fat Salmon !
(4)
Flavia C.
This is a great neighborhood spot. The decor is sexy & fun with nice lighting. They have lots of options when it comes to rolls, some are very inventive. I had the Rolling Fire & Dancing Vampire & some yellowtail. The sushi was fresh and the taste combos worked perfectly. The presentation was lovely & the service was attentive without being intrusive. The prices were very reasonable. I will def. go back
(4)
Katrina C.
What a fun spot for sushi! The specialty rolls are very "Americanized" but luckily I'm very American. I'm sure in some places it is sacrilege to glob spicy mayo all over your sushi, but I live for it. My party of 2 didn't have reservations on a Saturday night but luckily there were a couple spots right at the sushi bar. Pretty much everyone there appeared to be on a date. It has a very good vibe for that with the intimate tables and moody blue lighting. They had a team of at least 4-5 chefs behind the sushi bar cranking it out. We ordered a few different rolls with names I can't recall, but I made sure to take note of the Sepia Pleasure which was phenomenal. For 4 rolls and 2 drinks we left at about $40 per person with tip. I would definitely return.
(4)
Nicole O.
Best sushi in Philly. I could eat 1000 spicy tuna rolls and be happy. The fish is always fresh and served perfectly. GO!!
(4)
Codi B.
The seaweed salad was huge, and delicious. Crunchy eel roll of sorts was my favorite by far, with a spicy salmon in second. Three rolls, three apps, a bottle of broadbent, great service, and a bargain of $85 for a check. We'll be back!
(5)
Michael H.
The sushi had only gotten better now that they moved to their current location. The fancy Tuna and salmon skin rolls are amazing. Check them Out!!
(5)
Alicia J.
Food is so good....but the place is small.
(3)
Ashley S.
My boyfriend and I came here for lunch on Valentine's Day, and it was great! We shared the seaweed salad as an appetizer, and it was definitely enough for both of us. We ordered the spicy tuna, Alaskan, and Dragon rolls which were all excellent. They put all the sushi on one plate, but they split it up so that the Dragon roll divided our plate, and we had equal amounts of the tuna and salmon rolls on each of our "halves." They are definitely going for a trendy look for the restaurant, and the decor is modern with all white furniture and little lights hanging over each table that you can definitely hit your head on. A little corny. Otherwise, our waitress was really nice, and the food is great for the price!
(4)
Peter K.
Very good sushi in Philadelphia! A little trendy and expensive, but good.
(5)
Jennifer R.
Pretty expensive but pretty damned worth it. Absolutely incredible sushi. Very fresh and innovative. If you're a sake lover, they have a great sake sampler
(5)
Kelly S.
Sushi was good, had volcano roll, dragonfly and rainbow. Specialty rolls much better than hands rolls. Good service, nice ambiance. Perhaps a bit loud. Avocado salad left something to be desired...dressing was great, avocado a bit too firm.
(4)
Christina W.
I went with a group of six to Fat Salmon on an overwhelmingly hot day before heading over to Old City for First Friday. Our meal was refreshing, cost-effective, and surprisingly very filling. We had made a reservation for four (which was the maximum they allowed), but showed up with six, and they accommodated us very willingly, adding an extra table to ours. Attentive and helpful service overall. For a group of six, we ordered: 1. The mixed roll combo (Alaskan roll, spicy tuna roll, shrimp tempura roll, for $20 total) 2. The Dancing Vampire roll 3. The Miss Sake Bomb roll 4. The Lost Rainbow roll (for about $10-13 each). We were able to switch out the spicy tuna roll for the spicy tuna crunch roll for an additional dollar (the difference is fifty cents but they said they had to round up to the next dollar). Each type of roll came with six individual pieces, facilitating the sharing process. The combo came with a salad and a bowl of miso soup. The house dressing on the salad was creamy and acidic, with hints of sesame and ginger. We asked what the dressing contained and the waitress was able to list out all the ingredients for us. My favorite roll was the Lost Rainbow roll, which came with many different types of fish on the outside and crab stick on the inside along with masago (fish eggs) and crunch. My friends loved the Miss Sake Bomb roll, which has eel on the inside, cooked salmon on the outside, topped with tartar sauce. I thought that roll was a little too heavy for me, especially with the tartar sauce, but it was new and interesting for me to have cooked salmon combined with eel. I also enjoyed the Dancing Vampire, which has tuna and salmon wrapped around it and is topped with chili sauce, with only vegetables and crunch on the inside. Although the combo rolls were obviously not as exciting, they contained a very solid shrimp tempura roll and you can't really go wrong with spicy tuna crunch. The fish was very fresh. The bill came down to about $11 each (wow!), and although we were not expecting it to be adequately filling, we were full all night (with only a few bites of ice cream at Franklin Fountain to finish off the night). I'm guessing it was because the special rolls were so incredibly dense, so that was a nice surprise. Perfect for a hot summer day.
(5)
Tiki S.
The restaurant is a little small but cozy. The wait can be a little long but we were lucky. We waited about 10 minutes before we were seated. The tea is self serve which was welcome on such a cold night. Each of the specialty rolls we ordered were very good. There was no roll we ordered that we didn't like. The service is fast and efficient. I'll definitely come back here again!
(4)
Katie A.
love love love this place!!! the BCT roll is amazing- who would think that bacon and sushi would be so amazing together? awesome ambiance, reasonably priced, friendly staff and delicious food! my favorite sushi place in the city :)
(5)
Erica M.
We go to Fat Salmon often and it just seems to have gone downhill. The rolls just weren't that great on our last visit - I can't put my finger on what it was, they just weren't anything special (and we ordered special rolls). The presentation was very good, but flavor not so much. We will probably go back to see if it was a fluke, but I came home disappointed.
(3)
Shannon S.
I love this restaurant! I have eaten in many times. I have sent people there who actually text me and say it was the best sushi they've had. The owner of Barsky's on jewelers row sent me here one day when I was famished after a day of looking at rings (seriously! it's hard work figuring out what you want on your hand the rest of your life). I think the ambiance is very hip. There are seats at the sushi bar, two- and four-person tables next to that in the front, and more seating plus a bigger table in the back. I always order dumplings but I think they changed the menu item when we came back for our last visit on 3/28. Anyway, the beef steamed dumplings are great but the sauce is different too, not really a ponzu. Still good. We also get sweet potato roll and this one was perfectly coated in panko, fried and then rolled. Tasted great. Usually I order a few other rolls but this time we came after an event because when I was craving nigiri so I got two pieces of salmon on rice (my usual). It melts in your mouth like butter. I never thought I would say this but I think I would rather eat a ton of salmon nigiri from Fat Salmon than a filet mignon from my favorite steakhouse. It's a close race, folks. I think we ordered a salmon roll too but not sure. I asked the waitress why the salmon here is so darn good and she asked the manager who said that they use only premium salmon in both the sushi and the rolls, which I guess means that other places use less desirable cuts of sushi in the rolls and maybe the sushi too. I believe him!!!!! We will always be coming back here.
(5)
Cat N.
I went here for my friend's birthday. I am in love with this place. The decor and ambiance is absolutely great. It looks so trendy. It's got mostly tables for two, but there are several tables for bigger groups towards the back. I met my friends here. They had already been seated. I work in the area. As soon as I sat down, someone came by to see if I wanted anything to drink. I ordered the Naked Tuna Gyoza and I ordered a Fancy Roll and a Rolling Fire Roll. I'm not sure about what my friends ordered. But OMG, the naked gyoza is AMAZING. I ordered it because I thought it was such a weird combination. Its like raw tuna on top of a thin chip with pico de gallo and sour cream on top. They give you about 5 of them for $7. It was SO good. It's such a weird but delectable combination. I love the presentation of their sushi. They have menus that show you what their specials look like. Although i feel like they could have better specials, they did have unique rolls that I've never seen before. My Fancy roll and my Rolling Fire were alot for myself and a friend to share. They're like a good size for a roll, but they also had a bunch of other things on top of the roll, which filled me up too. I really liked the Fancy roll. The Rolling Fire had so much going on on top of it that I just got full halfway in. It was still good, but if you're getting the Rolling Fire just for yourself, it might be all you need. The service was great. They were always filling up our drinks and checking up on us. It was a good amount of attention because sometimes its kind of annoying to be constantly checked up to the point where it is distracting to your conversation. I HAVE to bring my boyfriend back here! He would love this AND he needs to try the naked gyoza!! MUST TRY; Naked Tuna Gyoza (if you like tuna tartare, TRY THIS!), Fancy roll
(5)
Sam R.
Fat Salmon I wanted to like you. Your reviews seemed so promising which I why I chose to visit you... I was just here yesterday evening with a friend, to catch up & have some good sushi. They have a lot of options on their menu however, when you read what is in some of there special sushi rolls, it doesn't sound too appetizing. I saw bacon as on of their ingredients in one of there rolls. Bacon doesn't belong in sushi... I ordered the shrimp shumai as an appetizer, it was ok but, it was a little cold. For my entree I ordered the Lost Rainbow Roll & the Spicy Tuna Roll. I didn't like the flavor of my rolls. The spicy tuna was a little too spicy & salty. The Lost Rainbow Roll, I didn't like how crunchy it was & the sauce they used inside the roll. They also don't bring out appetizers & entrees together. You get yours as soon as it is prepared. If you go out to eat I feel that you should be served at the same time. Its rude to eat while someone else is waiting for there food and its awkward. They also took away our appetizer plates without, asking if we were done and I was still eating as our plates were being taken away. Wow ! I guess they had decided we were done with our appetizers at that moment. Then it took forever for my friends entree to come out & then they forgot the sashimi that she had ordered. When she reminded them they did bring it out, & told her "it was on the house." Which was nice. I did like the ambiance of the place & the modern decor. I did like the dim blue lighting, very calming.
(3)
Danielle D.
For me, a dining experience is about the quality of food and the service. The sushi here was some of the best sushi I've ever had in Philadelphia! However, holy lord the service was awful. Our waiter didn't check on us once and took forever to even ask us if we wanted a drink after being seated. I sat with an empty glass of wine and still no sign of waiter for waaaay to long. We would've stayed to order another drink & roll had service been even remotely decent but left instead. Do take out if they do it!!!
(3)
Kelly T.
Eventually, the money for my lunch was refunded to my card. However, I am still so disgusted with their attempt to serve me spoiled food and cover it up, that I am not upgrading my review.
(1)
Zack H.
Went here for a business lunch with a client of mine, his choice, I love sushi, so sounded great to me. This place did not disappoint, great food, great prices. We didn't have any cocktails, so I can't comment on how they were, however, the sushi was exceptional, particularly the salmon (hence the name). Had two different rolls, and sashimi and everything was outstanding. Would highly recommend this place, very reasonably priced too.
(5)
Joanna D.
I really like this place! I consistently have a great meal here. Service is good! Food is even better.. Love the blossom roll, spicy scallop roll and the salmon skin roll minus the eel sauce!
(4)
Megan M.
I've only eaten inside once, but I've grabbed sushi to go a bunch of times. The sushi is excellent, as is the decor. My only complaint is the very relaxed service. Sometimes take out is ready 20 min after stated time.
(4)
Di P.
I am giving 5 stars to a place that *almost* had crappy service. But i'm not a freakin' monster and the food was that perfect. The hostess was clearly super new to hosting (like fresh out of sophomore year of college) and the manager was obviously trying to teach her without completely holding her hand. It appeared to be rocket science for her to let us know how long the wait would be and I was basically putting words into her mouth ("like, fifteen minutes? fifteen minutes, right? i think you want to tell me fifteen minutes TOPS is the wait"). Almost-husband and I got four rolls listed in order of who I'm crushing on from most to least: tied for number 1: #1 Mr. Shiro: eel tempura, cucumber, crunchy inside and broiled white tuna with tomato on top. Time it took to eat the whole roll: 3 short frenzied minutes. #1 Tofuholic: Asparagus, Yam, Gourd Tempura w/Spicy sauce and Soy sauce & Mayo Marinated Tofu, Asparagus, Scallion, Cucumber,Tomato on top. Time it took to eat the roll: 10 minutes of me savoring every beautiful bite. #4: M & M: Marinated Beef, Cucumber, Oshinko and on top Spicy Crab Stick w/Scallion #3: Dancing Vampire (cucumber and asparagus in the inside, tuna and salmon in chili sauce on top) They were ALL great and if they kept on bringing me rolls I wouldn't stop eating. Which only happens to me when the sushi is really freakin' good. Usually all the raw fish kinda tops me out after a bit, but not here. No sireeeee. And I was happy that they had an awesome amount of vegetarian options. And lots of rolls without avocado (overshare: I'm newly allergic and it makes me puke immediately, so sad). Also, this place is in a sorta in-between neighborhood for going out-- like not a lot of people milling about, but inside of the restaurant was really trendy. Dark with neon blue lighting and all white mod furniture. But luckily I'm in a relationship where I now have "let myself go" and am okay wearing sneakers in a trendy restaurant without feeling psychotically self-conscious. Everyone else looked great so I felt like one screw-up is okay. But I promise to put myself together soon, baby. Side bar, they have a full bar, no longer a BYOB... however they're lacking in a cocktail menu. If they had some fun cocktails it would be FABULOUS. But I had a carafe of plum sake and let all my worries go.
(5)
Mony K.
I have been going to this place since it was known as Shinju back when it was small and cute. It's bigger now, modernized but the food is still as good as it was back at Shinju. This is what's known as my "first date" restaurant. It has never disappointed any of the dates...to date. So that has to count for something right? Focus on their specialty roles. I usually pick two and my date will pick two. Make sure you make reservations so you don't look like a tool. I love all their specialty roles but if I had to pick one: Super Dragon Roll.
(5)
Angela B.
Walked a mile in the rain by myself with no umbrella to get here. Worth every step! The dancing vampire roll is fabulous and the hamachi was sublime. The hostesses were fantastic, as was the waitstaff. Five stars - no doubt.
(5)
Alex H.
I'm a sushi fanatic; I could eat it morning, noon, and night. I do demand, however, that it be perfect in taste, color, variety, and presentation. I'm not quite ready to give Fat Salmon the kudos that other Yelpers have given it. I didn't feel that their sushi was the epitome of what good sushi is, but maybe I'm being a bit harsh. I started with the negimaki. The beef should have been the most tender cut; there was more al-dente-ness than I'm use to with this dish. The dish did come dressed with a variety of sauteed vegetables, even a few potatoes. You would have to accept that this is American-style Japanese food, however, because it's a bit unusual to serve it that way. I washed that down with a Hitachino Red Rice Ale. It was $10 bucks for a 12 oz. bottle....expensive! At least it was truly imported from Japan and not an Asahi or Sapporo from Molson in Canada or a Kirin Ichiban from the people at Budweiser. This is a general pet peeve of mind, by the way. For my main dish I had the Sushi Deluxe. The choice of fish was described in the menu as 'Tekka Maki & 11pcs Nigiri (Chef's Choice)'. It was all basically the same fish; at least, it tasted that way. The waitress went down the nicely stacked line of negori - "salmon, white tune, hamachi, maguro, etc., etc., etc." The whole time I was thinking to myself, "Where is the variety?". At most sushi joints, there's tamago, ikura, a cooked shrimp, some unagi in the mix, but not this place. At $23 bucks, I wasn't happy that I may have to order my favorite from the Ala Carte menu. I'm with Joelle B.... I, too, didn't feel there was an assortment of fresh (fish) selections. Variety should be the name of the game. Why have 'gari' (picked ginger) to clean the palate when the fish looks similar and taste basically the same. I was personally disappointed in Fat Salmon.
(2)
Geoff c.
I was in a rush, so this may not be the best review... but, oh well. The rolls were really good. Flavorful. Well-put. Even the california tasted good (caveat - i would not go to a sushi place and judge from their california rolls, but friends in my party happened to get it with the sushi-for-2 plate and i tried it). Tried a variety of 5 of their other special and regular rolls. They were all pretty good. The ngiri was not the best I've had, but it'll do. The venue is a sort of modern-fusion decor. Not much space inside. Staff was accommodating and attentive. I'll have to come back to try more, when I'm not in a hurry.
(4)
Kitty L.
I'll be straight to the point. I had better sushi. I went to a place with faster service and tastier food. I got to the restaurant a little past 6pm. I don't think we placed our order until 6:45pm? We ordered about 5 special rolls. Our food didn't come out until around at least half an hour later. Really? The restaurant wasn't even that full. Why does it take that long? We asked our server and she said usually special rolls take 30 minutes to make. Wow, now you tell us??? The special roll menu wasn't all the fascinating. Most of the crab sushi rolls were made with crab imitations and most of them were spicy. I can't eat a lot of spicy stuff but this never bothers me when I go out to eat as there are always several things for me to pick from that are not spicy. This restaurant wasn't the case. Out of the 5 special rolls we ordered, I only ate 1. I had to order other more traditional rolls to fill myself up. I don't need to go here for traditional rolls. You go to Sagami for that! Ok that's enough. I don't think I'll come back to this place.
(2)
Regina F.
Fat Salmon is pretty much the only sushi place that could make you roll out like a Fat Salmon. If you're craving sashimi or sushi even, don't come here. The tamago and roe sushi were only okay...but if you're looking for adventure and rolls as crazy, delicious and colorful as Carnival, scurry on over to a booth at Fat Salmon. The Rolling Fire takes the spice of Sichuan fare and blends it with the delicacy of Japanese cuisine. It's spicy enough to nix the wasabi and just eat plain. It's moist enough to forget the soy sauce before plummeting a very large cylinder into your mouth. The spicy scallop is expertly melded with crab stick in an aioli unlike any other - it's sirracha, yes, but there's chili oil too. The fried scallions on top make for an artful presentation. Inside, you'll enjoy shrimp tempura and an alleged cucumber...but you probably won't notice the cucumber other than its crunch. The cooling powers of that watery melon are defeated by the spice of the roll. The Dancing Vampire was okay, but by the time I got to taste it, my papillae had their expectations risen too high by the Rolling Fire. While I would contend that I should go back and try the Dancing Vampire again with a clean palate, this would mean abandoning the Rolling Fire, which is really just silly and an abomination against the Fat Salmon.
(4)
Ha T.
I've only gotten take out for lunch once from Fat Salmon, and I was really impressed! I ordered the Alaskan Roll lunch special, which comes with two pieces of salmon sashimi, two pieces of salmon nigiri, and a soup or salad. The salmon was GORGEOUS! The color was so vibrant and glossy. The texture, so melt-in-your-mouth tender and creamy. I've nver been so in awe from the presentation of just the fish itself, rather than the arrangement of several fancy sushi rolls presented together. For $11.35 including tax, for the quantity of sushi and fish, the size of the salad (bigger than many other salads I've gotten with sushi lunch specials), and the quality of that fish, made this lunch special an absolute steal! It might not be as filling as other 3-roll lunch specials, but it was quite the bang for your buck. Accompanied from an iced tea from the Cooperage cafe and set in Washington Square Park on that gorgeous afternoon made for an phenomenal lunch break. I can't wait to come back to Fat Salmon and try everything else!
(5)
Rupal P.
As a vegetarian, the food here is wonderful! The vegetable fried goyza is delicious and the best I've ever had. Love the Veggie tempura and the Tufoholic rolls!
(5)
Liz S.
The niguri had pefectly cut fish over a generous blob of wasabi, the entire meal wiuld have been amazing except for the oder of the chop sticks. Whatever brand they use treats the wood in something that just reaks and completely killed my appetite...
(3)
Laura C.
The sushi here is slightly pricier than average but it's totally worth it. I'm so happy that I discovered such a fantastic sushi restaurant in the Washington Sq., West neighborhood. I ate at the sushi bar the other day and my overall experience was very positive. I've only been here once but once was enough to establish it as my go-to sushi restaurant.
(5)
Elizabeth D.
I have been wanting to try Fat Salmon for a while and since we were in the area, we popped in for dinner. They do take reservations (via phone) and I was surprised to see how busy it was for a Wednesday night! The restaurant is small, but with very cool decor - I loved the light fixtures! The have lots of 2 tops, and a big sushi bar. After a brief wait, we were seating at the sushi bar. Deceptively large amount of leg room which was welcome! Their house pinot grigio was pretty good for $6 & they have a large variety of sake and beer. We split the spicy roll combo ($20) & the Volcano roll ($9.50). The combo comes with miso soup and ginger salad (which we split) - both were pretty standard for sushi places. We both enjoyed all the rolls - the presentation is great and the fish was very fresh. I will say that it was not THAT spicy, but everything did have a nice kick. Just don't expect to be blown away by spiciness. The prices are right on point and the service was very good. It's a great sushi place in Washington Square.
(4)
Vivian T.
This place is yummy for special/funky rolls. you have to adjust your expectation of "japanese food" when you are coming here. sure it's japanese food but I would almost say this is like Americanized japanese food. it's not a place where I would go to get real sushi or sashimi but it is a good place for different rolls that are basically different permutations of the same ingredients: eel, avocado, salmon, tempura, soft shell crab, tuna, spicy tuna, mixed with permutations of outside in roll, inside out roll, spicy or not spicy sauces, etc. Rolling fire, mr. shiro, white forrest, I can't even remember the ridculous names but the point is, they are all yummy and delicious. Besides the crazy roll, they also have the usual suspects: california, dragon, veggies rolls etc. they even have regular japanese stuff to order but I think your best bet are the delicious rolls!
(3)
Rebecca N.
Delightfully corny decor, a selection of predictable items, a few good beers, a few good wines, friendly and prompt servers, and reasonable prices: the perfect place to take a platonic lunch date. There are so many other fish in the sea.
(3)
Larisa S.
The atmosphere is fun. The food tastes great and the prices are somewhere in the middle between the dinky take-out and Marimoto. The food came out very quickly. I also like the location right by the park. I would definitely come here again.
(5)
Adam G.
Wow. A friend and I went here on a busy Saturday night. Although the waitstaff was pretty slow, the food was excellent. My date and I ordered four rolls of different varieties of taste and texture. It was outstanding. I can say this visit presented the best sushi I had ever eaten. I will be returning. I do wish they had a more diverse dessert menu, though.
(5)
Jo L.
Just came here tonight with my boyfriend for our anniversary and because there was a 20% discount from the 2012 Dine Out Japan. The first thing I noticed here were the blue lights! Love it! And the lamp they had next to the receptionist booth. Then I noticed how there were mostly business looking people there. Probably just got off of work. And finally, I noticed that if it was a guy and a girl dining out, all the girls but one sat on the inside booth and the guys sat on the outside. Time for sushi! We ordered the Hako, Katsu maki, Lost Rainbow, M & M, and Shrimp tempura. The boyfriend looked at the picture and the first thing he said he wanted was the "box shaped one" (Hako) only because it was box shaped! =P But out of the 5 that we ordered, that was my favorite one. We didn't really like the M & M but I think because it wasn't fish but instead was beef. But then again.. We ordered it because we wanted to try beef sushi. Random other things: Their menu cover is really cute and I like their water glass. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Veronica F.
I work in the neighborhood. Everyone RAVES about Fat Salmon. The truth is, it's really good. The restaurant is a little small, the food is a bit overpriced, and the service can be a little slow. That being said, the food is pretty consistent and high quality. The best value for lunch is the bento box, they are quote generous-- easily a "dinner portion" size. Standouts for me are the veggie tempura and the Lipstick Trace roll (squash and mushroom topped with spicy avocado sauce). My meat eating friends claim the beef teriyaki is the best in town. For a consistent, quality Japanese lunch or dinner in Old City-- this is a good choice.
(4)
Karen F.
I had wanted to try Fat Salmon for quite some time and yesterday I got a chance to have lunch there. For $13.50 they were offering a special holiday lunch. You got a choice of soup or salad (I had the iceberg salad with tasty ginger dressing), and either 2 maki, 1 maki and 1 cooked item or 2 cooked items. I chose 2 of the specialty maki which normally are $7.50 - 9.50 on their own - so this lunch was a good value. Ask for sauces on the side - alot of the special rolls are loaded up with semi-spicy mayo and tempura crunch. The regular lunch menu is also a great price point. Dinner prices are a little high but not crazy. Cool, icy-blue decor made it feel like Christmas. Service was quick and efficient. I can't wait to go back. I will try the sashimi and then render a TRUE verdict. For now though, I still stand that DOMA is the best sushi spot goin' in Philly these days. (Save for Morimoto which is cost prohibitive.)
(4)
D K.
BEST SUSHI EVER. Seriously the salmon selection here is totally awesome. Great yellowtail toro great salmon toro and a variety of other types of very fresh fish. AND if you like dessert, be sure to try the tempura ice cream. Holy shit they bring a softball sized piece cut into quarters with cherry and chocolate sauce. Really good for two but if you are like me...just for one!!! A must try for any sushi lover in the area. The decor is modern and dress is casual. Great for business dinners, or if you wanna just stuff your face with great fish and great sake.
(5)
Sarah T.
GREAT lunch specials! Just make sure you have a little time since they get really busy at lunch time. But they do a good job trying to accommodate everyone :)
(4)
Isabelle K.
I love sushi, and presumably so do you. And if you love sushi, you'll love Fat Salmon. I finally made it out here with my boyfriend after hearing many good reviews from friends. We were looking for quick, good sushi with a casual vibe. Fat Salmon was exactly what we wanted. The restaurant itself is gorgeous! It has a dimly lit, ultra modern date night atmosphere. Whether you're taking out your honey or your bff, this is an ideal spot to grab dinner. Style's important but we came for one reason: the food. Their menu is extensive, and it was a nice touch that their signature roll menu features pictures of the rolls. Normally, I go straight for signature rolls but none sounded that interesting so I kept it simple with a tuna roll, a Kai roll (an oversized roll with eel, tuna, shrimp tempura and avocado, and an order of salmon sashimi. Nothing too fancy but man, was it good! Their rice is a little firm and has good flavor. The fish was very fresh, even late on a Sunday night. My boyfriend kept it simple and got a yellow tail roll, a spicy tuna roll, and a shrimp tempura roll, all of which he loved. We also started with grilled baby octopus as an appetizer, which was great in a ponzu sauce over a bed of veggies. Complete with two glasses of wine, and a MASSIVE ball of tempura red bean ice cream (that tasted like it was coated in a light fried sugar cookie!!!! yummmm), the bill only came to $80, which is a steal in my book for that much sushi! I would give it 5 stars if the signature rolls were more creative but for freshness and flavor, I'll definitely be back soon!!!
(4)
Giedrius T.
Ok so I'm hold right now for like 10 minutes it's 7:27 so the manager knows who was a hostess at that time. I can hear what's happening on the other line and the girls is not really busy. She's laughing etc... Why am I on hold I don't know. Food is great though. Get more professional people to work for you
(1)
Matt O.
I just moved down to Philly not that long ago from NYC and I know good sushi when I eat it. This was by far not the best but it was pretty damn good. Cool ambiance in the place with a large menu. I was pretty impressed by the sushi and the freshness. Tuna sandwich rolls were great. Frequented this place a few times and dont plan on stopping anytime soon
(4)
Kirby J.
A bit pricier than most sushi places in town, but the rolls are huge. Seating is kind of cramped- if you have a coat or bag, there's not going to be much room for it. Huge drink menu, lots of veg options.
(4)
Cassidi B.
I surprised my husband to a sushi dinner for his birthday. I have heard a lot of great things about Fat Salmon and they were all true! We made a reservation online and the day before they called to confirm. Which was really nice! When we arrived the table was ready for us. The restaurant was kind of cheesy modern but for a sushi restaurant it was perfect decor. Our sever was friendly, quick, and very knowledge. The sushi was affordable and very tasty! For 5 people we only spent $160! We got a bunch of their special rolls and they were really good. I would come back here again and again.
(5)
Jess M.
YUM. just super good sushi- definitely my favorite place. Cool ambiance too.
(5)
Karen Y.
for a place called fat salmon i expected salmon belly, but it's not really a place i would order nigri or sashimi or even the katsu don. paying more than $10 for this dish is highway robbery. I have been to nicer japanese restaurants in california that don't even charge this much for it. but i suppose it's the price to pay for people who are eating with sushi lover that don't eat fish but want meat. it's definitely fusion, japanese-ish restaurant. however, i wouldn't pass up going here with vegetarian friends. there is a good selection of rolls for them and i much prefer the vegetarian options here more than the fish rolls. the rolls are definitely combinations that are not found elsewhere and delicious. the wine list is well paired with the food they serve. service is attentive and it was a nice place to get together for a night among friends.
(3)
Ky T.
Great sushi and a good variety of rolls. My favorite thing about this place is the selection of spicy rolls. They have a variety not just the standard spicy chopped tuna/salmon and the rolls are actually spicy.
(4)
Traci R.
I never give 5 stars because I can always find SOMETHING that wasn't quite up to par. That was not the case with Fat Salmon. In summary: The food was flawless, the service was speedy and friendly, and the ambiance was trendy but not overly so. In explanation: It was a double date and to start we ordered the Baby Octopus and theTofu. I was a bit wary because I don't eat either of those foods BUT they were both awesome! The baby octopus was my favorite for sure. As a card-carrying Meateater, i had no desire to try the tofu but I'm so glad I did! My date and i ordered the Hako, Sleeping Volcano, and the White Forest rolls. ughhuiasudhaskudh goodness gracious they were good!! The White Forest roll was so unexpected because it had pico de gallo and sour cream on it but i highly recommend it! Definitely not good for big groups. But for smaller groups, it wasn't too loud in there or too dark. Just a perfect little sushi bar!!
(5)
Rob Z.
BIG SUSHI So l didn't really know what to expect but heard of this place being a secret hot spot. My girlfriend's friend suggested it and we came here on a double date. So the prices are fair and l was thinking of eating a little incase I'd empty my wallet and still be hungry like many other sushi places. After our order came, l realized why the place is named Fat Salmon. The rolls are noticeably bigger. Probably around 50% bigger in mass overall. With this knowledge, the prices become very fair lol. So me and my girlfriend split 5 rolls and realized we wouldn't finish it. The sushi in general was great and l always had to bite half of it each time. Environment wise, it was great for a date. A bit corky and trendy. I'm not dating master but l think this place would impress your date if they've never been here before. Service was friendly and I plan to come back here again sometime very soon. sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/h… sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/h…
(4)
Jason B.
Great sushi, great service, we usually stop here before we see a show. Usually make reservations, you never know. One of our favorite stops for great sushi.
(5)
Kelly C.
i had a very good expereince there. :) even though the restaurant isn't big. the white table tops and decor created a more spacious impression. in addition the blue lights reflecting on the shiny white tops made it very modern and chic. I was happy with the food! one of my favorites was the "Fancy Sushi" - this design with the salmon wrapping the rice instead is very popular in Hong Kong, but this was my first time seeing it in America. The salmon with the sharp taste of scallion made it very enjoyable and different. My 2nd favorite was the "Dragonfly" which is eel on top of tempura shrimp roll. We decided to neglect the sauce b/c most of my expereinces they always drench the sushi with eel sauce making the rice too mushy... so I just told them to hold the sauce all together. The combination of nigiri and tempura shrimp turned out to be fantastic! You get the fish AND the fried shrimp yum~ Another favorite is the "Volcano Roll"... Their verison is spicy tuna on top of a california roll~ yum and the extra crunch on the side just made my day. You can never go wrong with that. If you see my pictures, you'll notice their placement of the sushi on the plate. it is very strategic! all their portions for the rolls are in even number of pieces, perfect for tables of 2s. Also they like to do a symmetrical division of the sushi, so it's like you get your own portions while you're also sharing! it worked out perfectly so i'm not over reaching something or my date n i aren't going back and forth saying "you have this piece... YOU have this piece" lol no excuse now. in conclusion, yes! i would love to come back ps. this is a place where a reservation is highly recommended.. even if you have to do it on the day of or like 3 hours b4!
(4)
Ronnie J.
We love Fat Salmon. Go there at least twice each month and the food and service are consistently excellent. Best salad with ginger dressing anywhere and most creative offering of sushi, even for vegetarians. Highly recommend.
(5)
Dave B.
I took my girlfriend here for her birthday and we were both blown away by the quality of the food and the trendy ambience of the restaurant. I promised that I would FINALLY try sushi and wasn't disappointed! I can finally say I'm a "sushi fan" now. I recommend bringing a spouse or small group for a fun night out with good food and a quality drink menu!
(5)
Jason L.
I highly recommend this place for people who loves sushi and visiting Philadelphia. I do recommend making a reservation. I was there at 6pm and there were a few tables available. More people came at 6:30, that's when I saw people waiting. The food was excellent. We had the Firefly and Fancy Salmon. I wished we ordered more rolls cause we weren't as full as we expect. And the service? For me, there was nothing to complain about
(5)
Bella H.
This was my first time here with a group of co-workers for lunch. Arriving at the place, it had a bubbly, ocean vibe. The restaurant was very decorative, especially the graphic walls and the lights surrounding the sushi bar. Love the sushi here. It was fresh and perfectly placed on the plate. It was the best spicy tuna I have ever had in my life. Everyone at the table was pleased with their meals. I gave it four stars because the service was horrible. Our server rarely check on the table. She gave us a wrong order and told us when she got to the table. She did offer to make a new roll, but why would you willingly give us the wrong dish? Our water glasses did not get refilled until we got our checks, which is kind of pointless. The table took forever to clear and checking out also took long, which shouldn't have because we decided to evenly split the check. She also gave us another customer's check. Maybe she had a high volume? I would say service was poor, but definitely a wonderful place for sushi.
(4)
Clare D.
Without a doubt, sushi has become a very popular dinner choice among Americans. There are dozens of sushi restaurants in Philadelphia. Some are good, but most are just okay. Some try to reel in diners with gimmicky rolls or fusion flavors from other cultures. Fat Salmon does a lot of things right and wrong. My friend Chris W and I liked the cool vibe of the restaurant. It looks like a lot of thought went into the decor. The special maki rolls are very unique and artistic. There's a lot to be said about chefs keeping with the Edo-style sushi traditions, but fushion sushi can be good, too. My Naked Gyoza, for example, was delicious. Who would've thought to combine Mexican pico de gallo salsa with spicy salmon on a fried crisp? Chris liked his Grilled Baby Octopus. I thought it needed a lot more octopus. Everything was just drowned in too much pungent sauce. The Fancy Sushi was good. I don't know why they mixed the panko crumbs with slivers of radish. The panko would've been better inside the roll. The Lipstick Trace was okay. Chris doesn't like cucumber and, unfortunately, the crunch of the cucumber was probably the one thing missing from this vegetarian roll. The Lobster Roll was a complete miss. The lobster was dry and had no flavor. Chris joked that it should've been cooked in butter. I was very disappointed with it. The Sea Urchin nigiri was very good. It tasted delicate and fresh, like "flowers from the ocean," as an old friend used to say. Perhaps the saving grace of all of the rolls was the Hako Roll, a square sushi made with eel and spicy tuna. It was tasty, well-balanced in all of its flavors - sweet and spicy, soft and crunchy - that I feel compelled to give it its own rating apart from my overall rating. Yes, my friends, the Naked Gyoza and the Hako Roll deserve five stars. If you go to Fat Salmon, these are my two yummy recommendations. Unfortunately, everything else ranged from bad to just okay.
(3)
C J.
Super cute decor, awesome service. I tried the scallops teriyaki - scallops were cooked to perfect & absolutely delicious. The waitress was accommodating, friendly, and very professional. I would definitely go back!
(5)
Ron G.
The short: Pros: vast selection, above average fish quality, great date/2 person place to eat, reasonable prices Cons: terrible for groups, excessive use of spicy sauce Fat salmon is heavily reviewed and mainly favorably. Its a great place for 2ppl, 4 at most. Its really not a good place for groups. What I ate: Fried tofu: ordered due to several reviewers recommendations. Lightly fried, however, doused in spicy sauce, a bit too much really. We couldn't get through it bc it was too filling. Tasty dish overall. Rock& Roll: tuna, eel sauce, bits of tempura on top, tasty but gimmicky, not a sushi snobs cup of tea. Dancing vampire: asparagus/cucumber inside, tuna/salmon/spicy sauce on outside, fish quality was very good, filling. Overall, if you are a sushi purist, not sure this is the best place in the city. But if you have a small party and want to eat both traditional and "fusion" sushi in a fun atmosphere, this is a good choice.
(4)
Stephanie P.
#22 For "Dine Out Japan", my boyfriend and I perused reviews for every single restaurant participating. The results were close, but something about the reviews for Fat Salmon made it the winner. So, we headed out toward the Washington Square neighborhood that Monday. The entrance of the restaurant was very unassuming - I almost didn't notice it - and it looked like every other storefront on the street. However, walking in, you experience an entirely different sort of ambiance. The blue lighting makes the place seem almost ethereal and the wall in the far back on the right has some interestingly colorful depictions of Japanese culture. Otherwise, the place is very minimalist with tons of white. I loved the use of texture inside as well - the wall opposite the sushi bar was especially mesmerizing. =) But, enough about interior design. The hostess was polite and efficient, however our server was not. She was attentive at first, getting us our water straight away and taking our orders in a timely fashion. However, after that, she seemed to have dropped the ball. It might have been the fact that there was a swarm of people that came in after us, but it would have been nice for her to drop by every so often. The miso soup was delicious though and our food came out rather quickly. We ordered the Naked Gyoza, which was amazing. The spicy tuna was so fresh and flavorful and the deep-fried Gyoza skin added the perfect crunch. As for our main course, we ordered the Sushi & Sashimi for 2. The presentation was awesome. The boat itself looked high quality and the overall organization of our food was very pleasing to the eye. The sashimi was what really made the meal - every single slice was so tender and soft, yet slightly chewy. Everything tasted SO fresh and each piece of sushi/sashimi melted in my mouth with flavor. BEST SUSHI EVER, not gonna lie.
(5)
Stephen G.
One of the best sushi bars in town. I've had a lot of bad luck looking for good sushi in the city, so its a shame this was one of the last places I tried. The fish is always very fresh and the rice is well prepared; not too mushy, not too grainy, a little on the wet side for sure, but that's how I like my rice. I wish they had a slightly larger selection of fish to choose from. There's nothing too crazy here, just your standard selection of Americana sushi, but their specialty rolls really are delicious. A few are a little wild for me, but the dancing vampire, hako, and lost rainbow are some of the best rolls I've had. Good miso soup too
(4)
Steve F.
Personal favorite, go whenever I can. The 'fancy sushi' is a MUST.
(5)
Edward M.
Had my first visit here recently and determined to come back for more. A friend and I sat at the bar and tried several rolls with salmon, tuna, and/or veggies. All of them tasted fresh and yummy. The dessert, however, was a little questionable. We got the tempura ice cream. It was tasty (I mean, come one, it's ice cream and fried batter), but lacked a sense of freshness. I'm not sure how and where it was made, but the batter shell was cold and getting soggy. Done right, tempura ice cream is served as soon as it's made while you can still note the contrast between the hot exterior and the chilly interior. Next time, I'll probably just get the ice cream by itself (red bean or green tea, natch). The decor struck me as some sort of swanky-wannabe, but I didn't pay much attention to it. The bathroom door handle has an odd, and somewhat annoying, locking mechanism. You've been warned. Pricing was reasonable. Oddly, splitting the bill on two credit cards resulted in two merchant receipts but only one, unified, customer receipt (good thing paper tears easily, if you need your receipt). Service was friendly and reasonably attentive/speedy for a busy weekend evening.
(4)
Triza B.
Yum, raw fish! Seriously though, I haven't been very impressed with sushi here in Philly, but Fat Salmon changed my mind. The sushi was flavorful, the ingredients were fresh, and the ambience in the restaurant was nice. I just have to talk about the salmon though....it had the perfect amount of fattiness to give it good flavor. Definitely some quality Fat Salmon (har har)! I am definitely going back for more.
(4)
Catherine L.
Feed me sashimi and I'm happy. Feed me sashimi here and I'll be very happy. Fresh, fresh fish. Fun, big Maki rolls, interesting (but relatively safe) combinations and super affordable house sake (hot, please!). Beautiful plating. Prices reasonable. White and dimly lit spaceship interior. Feel comfortable ordering conservatively as portions on the whole, are generous. Don't make reservations online via their website (system's faulty) and call instead.
(4)
Yiwen S.
for some reason, i didn't have a good impression of this place when it was shinju and located farther away. maybe the walk made me grouchy? because my most recent experience at fat salmon was pretty damn good. although it relocated, fat salmon is still in a rather quiet part of town, which has its pros and cons depending on what you prefer. despite this, it was still packed at 8pm on a thursday night -- good thing we had made reservations. fat salmon is no longer a byob, but this plays in my favor. i love eating sushi with warm sake, which is difficult at best to coordinate when you have to bring your own sake. their house sake is good, but not heated up nearly enough, so be sure to drink it fast or else it'll cool by the time you're only halfway through your meal. prices are decent in the context of the sushi world. you can't really expect to pay $2 for nigiri and get fresh, good quality fish. so, suffice to say, you get what you pay for here. *just another stunning example of why japanese people are so amazing as we pay tribute to their incredible resilience in the wake of such tragedy.
(4)
Therhyme R.
After coming for another four years, I thought I would do an update. Yes, it is still AMAZING. The restaurant is clean, bright, cozy, and perfect for any occasion even a special one. What can I say, the sushi here is heavenly. We have brought family and friends here over the years and they have all become faithful fans that can't get enough as well. Every roll is delicious, and I have yet to try such creations elsewhere. Every time I consider going to eat at another sushi place, no matter how good the reviews, I always come back here. The sweet taste of Fat Salmon sushi just keep calling my name until I give in. Every time I come here its a celebration of the palate. The sushi is large, flavorful, and a sauce filled extravaganza that explodes with flavor. Now, I must say the service is slow because it takes them a while to prepare their creations and the place is usually pretty full. However, if you aren't starving and can have an appetizer, it is worth the wait. One more thing: Sometimes they are a bit inconsistent and will put an ingredient into their sushi that I did not see 5/6 months ago (like scallions) but if you ask them they can leave it out. Depending on the night/day you go and on the sushi chef that prepares your rolls you will be able to taste a difference. However, the place is still absolutely delicious and it makes my heart sing with joy every time I pop a sushi roll into my mouth. I hope they continue to keep up the excellent work and fulfilling my ultimate sushi dreams.
(5)
Britty H.
Coming from the west coast and having an abundance of bomb sushi places here, I was so happy to find Fat Salmon. I read the Yelp reviews before coming and made a reservation when I went on a Friday night. This place is pretty average priced in my opinion, but their miso soup was really cheap! My boyfriend loved it and he doesn't rave about just any sushi place. The decor is super modern and cute! A small place but that doesn't bother me because it makes it more intimate.
(5)
Noheli T.
I've been wanting to go to Fat Salmon for over a year now and it seemed as if every time I tried to make a reservation the restaurant was booked! That's a great sign over all but terrible for desire to give it a try. I was finally able to get a table on Saturday and it was amazing! The overall decor is modern and the restaurant was very clean! The food was outstanding! At first glance the menu is very overwhelming but after taking some time to go through all of it you find some serious gems. We ordered the dragonfly roll and some other roll, that I can't remember but I believe that the name was spina or spena. We also ordered one of their regular rolls and everything was just so yummy and the presentation was beautiful! The house wine is also good and the service was top notch. Fat Salmon is definitely one of the best sushi places in the city!
(5)
Juliana K.
Went for lunch. Great lunch specials and prices. Volcano roll is fantastic. Attentive service. Nice decor. One of the best sushi places in the city.
(4)
Lacy D.
I really enjoyed this restaurant this past weekend. My husband and I called for a reservation on Friday night around 7 and they had a 9:30 reservation available. I ordered the white tuna tempura and the scallop sashimi. Both were delicious. I haven't found these specific dishes around where I live so I enjoyed being able to try something new. The restaurant wasn't too loud and I liked the atmosphere. I would definitely come here again.
(5)
Chris B.
Found this place in the Philadelphia Magazine as best sushi in Philadelphia, so I decided to try it out for dinner. The decor is modern and sleek, but the place is fairly small, so it might not be the best for bigger parties. NOTE: I was starving when I came here so that probably had an effect on my review of the food. Regardless, we started off with some miso soup and fried beef gyoza. Miso soup was pretty good but nothing special, but the gyoza were spectacular. Very crunchy and the ponzu sauce they came with was so delicious that I saved it for my sushi. Me and my sister both got 2 different rolls each. There are a lot of different rolls here, so it was a little hard to decide, but everything we had was great. Their specialty rolls are very creative and one that stood out had sour cream, pico de gallo, and some other stuff, and tasted like a perfect blend of sushi and Mexican food. The best part was that after 2 sodas, 2 miso soups, 3 orders of gyoza, 4 orders of sushi, our meal was only $75 (that's including a $10 tip). I would definitely recommend this place if you want some interesting sushi rolls, and the price just makes is that much better.
(5)
Ben P.
Contrary to my first review of my non-experience here, I gave them a second chance. I swear on the life of Phillie Phanatic that I walked in with an open mind, ready to be completely turned around. The verdict: No biggie. Service was ok, although the used chopsticks stuck in pages of my menu were a pretty unappetizing way to start a meal. Sushi itself was fine. Nothing I haven't seen before. Decor is something left over from a sushi joint in SOHO in 1999 but that's ok. I know I can go to Sumo for the same level of service and food for less money or go to Doma for way better sushi and service if I'm looking to spend little more money.
(3)
Aisha L.
I came here for my birthday and LOVE sushi. Nothing stood out for me here, nothing really popped off the page. The sushi was yummy and fresh but the prices were a teeny bit high. The service wasnt fantastic but it wasnt bad either. I feel like this place just truly is in the middle. I would probably go again.... If I cant find some place better.
(3)
Liz R.
Continuing the hunt for great sushi in the city, we stopped by Fat Salmon for lunch this week. Based on the reviews, blogs, and the PhillyMag's "Best sushi in Philly for 2012" award, we were surprised that it didn't have a line waiting for it to open and was empty when we walked in at 11:30 - only a couple of patrons joined us (tourists) by the time we left. The space is beautiful and trendy, white and blue techno-modern minimalism. We ordered from the lunch menu, which was difficult as there was an abundance of great choice and variety. Sadly, the earth did not move from under my feet and I was not able to bow down to Japanese deities in thanksgiving for delivering me to my new favorite sushi spot. The dream continues... Service was excellent, plating was good, and the portions were small. My expectations were high and they were not met. It was fine but not great, and not worth the premium price. Three stars
(3)
Sarah K.
I love the name. Only thing I dislike is that the service is sometimes a little pretentious, as is the decor (but at least that is nice to look at).. The dessert, mango mochi icecream, was so good.. and the red bean tempura ice cream.. I loved it. I think next time, I'd probably ask them to lay off the chocolate drizzle though. The M&M roll (marinated meat with oshinko, spicy crab stick) was good, but I felt that the meat was a little too rubbery/tough and that the fat could have been rendered more. Other than that, everything was delicious. Rock & Roll roll was really good. Definitely coming back to try the other unique special rolls (I'm really interested in the Miss Sake Bomb, Lost Rainbow, and Lava)
(4)
Diane V.
Cant say enough good things about this place!! The atmosphere is laid back, cool and modern , the sushi is extremely fresh and flavorful and you just cant beat the lunch prices, just the best! I could eat here everyday !
(5)
Lauren H.
This place never disappoints. Ever. Although I have to say, I liked it better as Shinju. It was a warmer, more intimate environment. Fat Salmon is a bit cold and too modern for my taste. But, the menu and sushi is the same, so I'm still a loyal fan. :) Get the Hako Sushi. Your life will be complete.
(5)
Dee M.
LOVED IT. Food accurately photographed and described, Try: Avocado Salad--- a meal in itself GINGER SNAP COCKTAIL-- exceptional
(4)
Donna A.
Very good food; won't be back until they resolve their strike .
(5)
Cece B.
I came here for my boyfriends birthday, anticipating a good meal. What I got was the best sushi I've ever eaten (and I've had a lot of sushi!) Get the lipstick roll - it was amazing! And shrimp tempura. Loved it!
(5)
Liz S.
Elegant decor, friendly service, and--most importantly--fresh, succulent fish. The salmon nigiri was outstanding. Also, my husband (who is not the biggest sushi fan) was quite pleased with his "special" rolls, dancing vampire and sepia pleasure. I am knocking off one star because I thought it took a little too long for the food to come out, but really, I'd give the place 4.5. I will be returning for more! For the gluten-concerned: they offer gluten-free soy sauce, but their crabstick contains wheat, so that's a no-go. P.S. Make a reservation! The place was full by 7pm, despite it being a rainy night.
(4)
Dredge K.
I would give it a 2 for food but I'm giving it a 3 because I appreciated our server. I ordered 6 rolls for 2 people and she suggested that 2 per person would suffice. I don't like to have leftover sushi so I particularly appreciated this. The spciy scallop roll was ok, but the other 3 rolls all became a blur. Each had different ingredients (salmon, eel, shrimp), but because the sauces they used were similar, and many of the rolls have crunchy fried components they all ended up tasting the same. I think that more than anything else, their rolls hide the seafood rather than highlighting it.
(3)
Jen L.
Knowing nothing about this restaurant but ending up here on a ladies' night out, I must say that I left this little blue oasis quite the satisfied sushi customer. The interior decorators for this place were smart: the gentle blue lighting on white furniture instantly put me at ease when I first walked in with my friends. It wasn't gaudy or pretentious; the chic decor got me in the mood for some much needed sushi therapy and allowed me to forget all the profanity being thrown at me by a specific Center City panhandler (cough, at 16th and Sansom) on my walk over to the restaurant. The house sake and standard edamame / shumai appetizers were nothing special, but they did a fine job in preventing me from raiding other customers' sushi plates that were placed tantalizingly above my head at the sushi bar. Now the sushi ... wow, the fish just melts in your mouth! I sampled my friend's sashimi platter, which was amazing, and I very much enjoyed the Miss Sake Bomb and Vampire rolls. I'm convinced that the Miss Sake Bomb was made to simulate what sex would taste like if it were a sushi roll, and I appreciate that it wasn't named "Mega-orgasm" roll or something overly obvious. This roll is much too lady-like and sexy for that. One thing I hate about some sushi places is that they will load up as much rice as possible in their rolls and skimp on the fish ... not here, they use just enough rice to keep the rolls together so that your taste buds can focus on all the other wonderful flavors swirling around in your mouth. The quality of the rolls was wonderful for the price, which was between $9.50 and $15.00 for the specialty rolls. I have eaten much worse fish for the same price elsewhere. I can't comment on dessert, unfortunately, because I ate too much fish. Bottom line: This place is definitely worth a try.
(5)
Rachel K.
This place has THE BEST SUSHI in town...no wonder it's always crowded! TRY: Deep fried tofu with broiled spicy scallop sauce - great appetizer for sharing Pork katsu ANY sushi or rolls - ALL of their ingredients are FRESH *Lunch specials SERVICE: Good. AMBIANCE: Date night. Girls night out.
(4)
Abby W.
Oh hello, how is it we never met before recently? After a long hard day of kickball games and referee duties, Ely and I swung by this place to try another sushi spot in our never-ending quest for that perfectly balanced roll of excellent rice, beautiful fish, and slightly chewy nori. They nailed it. I inhaled my yellowtail scallion and alaska rolls (the rolls by which I judge all sushi places- if you can't make those well then I don't give a damn about your special rolls) after taking the edge off my hunger with excellent miso soup and shrimp shumai. The soup could have done with more tofu but the flavor was great and the shumai were delicate and divine. Ely got his usual alaska, rainbow, and some other special rolls I can't remember and he loved them all. I only wish they had more special roll options that don't have a ton of sauce. Service was a little disjointed considering they weren't very busy, and the ambiance was a little strange for a sushi spot- it felt more like a club. The total damage was only about $45, slightly less than Sushi Planet and slightly more than Terryin. If only they delivered! I'll be going out of my way at least twice a month to pick up a fresh fix of sushi heaven.
(4)
Brianne J.
Maybe the best sushi I've had, definitely best in Philly. So fresh, so delicious. We ordered baby octopus (YUM!), chicken katsu, seaweed salad (amazing!), sushi for 2, as well as uni and scallop nigiri. Sushi for two included 6 california rolls (best california rolls I've had?), 6 (damn good) spicy tuna rolls, and 2 each of the following nigiri: tuna, yellowfin tuna, white tuna (maybe the best thing I ate all night), salmon, eel, and red snapper (maybe the second best). It also came with a nice miso soup. Decor was great, service was excellent and professional, and the house saki was lovely. It was a TON (too much) food for the two of us, and I probably wouldn't order the katsu again, but everything else was perfection.
(5)
Michelle J.
There are so many unique rolls - all of them extraordinarily delicious - that it took my boyfriend and I nearly 15 minutes to finalize our order. Their specialty rolls are piled high with toppings and I just love that. (I especially loved the Rolling Fire!) I'm not going to deny that Morimoto is miles above this place, but why waste the extra bucks going there when you can just come to Fat Salmon, relax, and not stress over the bill in the end? My date and I were surprisingly pleased with this place and would not at all mind coming back again. P.S. - try their tempura ice creams; they are to die for.
(5)
Dara S.
This place is a killer deal. Downtown Philly. It's got some style but is mostly casual. I was there right at opening on a Sunday evening, and was second in a line of three -t he hostess took forever to get us seated - dealing with phone calls and such - the girl behind me threw a lot of attitude but I could also tell she comes there a lot. Service was a little distant and slow but killer deal! I got an appetizer that merged sushi with ceviche - delicious! And a great roll. Cheap wine too. I would eat here ALL THE TIME if I lived in Philly.
(4)
Joelle B.
Don't know how so many people like it here...it's like fake sushi. I didn't feel there was an assortment of fresh selections, so forget sashimi. Was it ok? Yes. Good? Stretching it. It's like the sushi you get for lunch, not for dinner.
(2)
Stephanie Y.
I give them stars for having a swanky decor, creative fancy rolls, and good service. Except ... why do a lot of the fancy rolls have crab stick, which I suspect is imitation crab meat. I avoided ordering those rolls, but did order the Mr. French Kiss, Rock n' Roll, Fancy Sushi, Miss Sake Bomb, yellow tuna with scallion, kame and a few nigiri. My friends really liked this place, so I had some expectation for these rolls and they looked delicious in the pictures on the menu plus I played 2 hours of tennis. Unfortunately, most of the rolls were flavorless.... no sweetness from the fish, no aroma from the sauce, even the rice was mushy. I did not feel satisfied and now I really want sushi again to fix my craving. Huge disappointment!!!
(3)
Pira T.
Great food. Awesome sushi. worth the price. Try everything you wont regret it. Great service. Make sure you make reservation before you come in. I never see this place empty. Nice interior. nothing bad to say about this place at all.
(5)
Walter L.
I am genuinely surprised by the freshness of their sushi. I ordered chirashi, which is my gold standard for all Japanese restaurants. Usually it comes with low grade tuna (pure red), and few other fishes. They instead served with marble pattern chu-tora (top second-tier tuna), with generous slices of salmon and red snapper (not sure about the last one). It also comes with shrimp and tamago, which are standard. One issue I have with them is the soy sauce. It is so flavorless for some reason. I know I don't want the sauce to overpower the original fish flavor, but it gotta have some flavor of its own. Otherwise, the portion is on the small side--if you want quality over quantity, it's worth it ($21 for chirashi). Food came at reasonable speed, which is great for meeting friends but bad if you are in a rush.
(4)
Kimberly S.
Hooolleeeeeeeyy crap. I just had a heavenly umami orgasm in my mouth. (Sounds much dirtier than it should.) It's 20 degrees out and the "feels like" is 9! Naturally I was craving a hearty warm soup for lunch. I ordered the plain udon soup to go, not to be confused with the shrimp tempura or vegetable tempura udon soups, and it was only $5.50, and it was amazing! They separate the ingredients from the broth; Like Enterprise Rent A Car, "they give you the tools to be your own boss." The broth was full of flavor, the noodles were cooked perfectly, the scallions and fried tofu were great additions and although I usually hate mushrooms, I loved these! It was such a great depth of umami flavors and good texture combinations as well. I've been coming to Fat Salmon fairly often since it opened and I've been on the fence about their sushi, which is what I've always ordered up until today. Sometimes I find it to be very fresh and delicious, other times it's rather disappointing. It also drives me insane that their online menu says lunch specials come with soup AND salad, yet they refuse to honor that. When you love miso soup and ginger dressing as much as I do, it puts you in a really tough position. Nevertheless, their awesome udon soup has totally redeemed them!
(4)
Zoe P.
I was so sad when Shinju closed to move to a new location - but so freaking happy when they reopened as Fat Salmon (and quite pleased by the new name, too). And after seeing the changes they've experienced, from the new beautiful interior design to the new additions to the menu, I have to say: change can be very, very good. Of course I had to start trying out the new special rolls that they added, so that's precisely what I did: Dancing Vampire: cucumber, asparagus, crunchy inside and tuna & salmon in chili sauce on top: Yum, yum, that chili sauce really makes this roll what it is. Mr. Shiro: eel, avocado, crunchy with spicy sauce inside and broiled white tuna (marinated in spicy soy sauce) with tomato on top: So pleasantly surprised by this roll, the combination of textures and flavors is actually really nice. My bf's favorite one of the evening. White Forest: tempura (shrimp or salmon, we got salmon) with spicy sauce inside and pico de gallo with sour cream on top: MmmMmm, an interesting twist on sushi with great results. We've also tried other rolls again that were on their original Shinju menu, and they remain amazing and awesome and really you should just get your sushi at Fat Salmon because you will not be disappointed. My only minor gripe is that the special rolls have only 6 pieces, unlike the usual 8 at other places. If I'm paying that much for the special rolls, it would be nice to have those two other pieces. My eyes love the artistry, my taste buds love the flavors, but my stomach loves food and loves me more when I don't skimp on it.
(4)
Charlie W.
I have super high expectations for Sushi, so I was a little weary having tried a few places in Philly and being less than impressed. The atmosphere is dim, intimate, and friendly. We had a larger group of 7 for a birthday dinner, so we were given the only real spot available for a larger group. I had made reservations earlier in the week. It's not ideal for larger groups, because there really is only one spot for them seeing as it's a smaller restaurant. Their menu is super reasonable, and they have an INSANE amount of speciality rolls at great prices. During dinner the waiter and a few others working had been paying close attention to a few gifts being exchanged and figured out who the birthday girl was (I had mentioned it was a birthday dinner during the reservation, but only to stress the importance of the seating arrangement). After we had all eaten dinner, and the table was cleared, they came to our table with a MASSIVE bowl of tempura fried ice cream with candles for the birthday girl...I was the one who set this whole dinner up, and I was completely blindsided by this. It was a pleasant surprise for both her, and the table, because the ice cream was enough to share with all seven us. A very kind and thoughtful gesture. And the tempura fried ice cream was surprisingly delicious. I'm not a fan of anything fried, so I ate cautiously and then furiously because it was so delicious. Try it! And yes, it was free of charge for us that night. Thank you to all the great people at Fat Salmon! I recommend highly!
As I stood out front perusing the window menu, a woman entering the restaurant turned to me as she opened the door and said, "It's legit. Seriously." So on the word of this stranger, I decided to head inside too. She was right. It's legit. My favorite dish of the evening was the Agedashi Tofu. Perfectly fried, seasoned, and plated. The Tuna Nigiri was probably the best I've ever had. We also tried a couple of their creative rolls: the Volcano and the Miss Sake Bomb. To be honest, I wasn't immensely impressed with either, but that has more to do with me not liking the ingredient combos. (Tartar sauce on top of the Miss Sake Bomb was a huge turn off.) The preparation and portion size was perfect though, and the service was nice. If Fat Salmon were local to me, I would not hesitate to go back and try some other rolls.
(4)
Chloe E.
By far the best lobster tempura roll EVER! This place is more than amazing!
(5)
Tom B.
I was super bummed to hear that Shinju Sushi had closed its doors, but then I was super excited to hear that it was reincarnated as Fat Salmon. The new digs alleviate Shinju's greatest shortcoming: That it was miserably cramped and small. This venue is much more open, and includes a couple of offset areas so larger parties can get a bit of privacy. I sat in one of these, under a strange metal awning, which was nice and cozy and afforded a level of intimacy unimaginable in the previous location. The main dining area are much more chic than Shinju's, with the main attraction being the textured West wall bathed in blue light. Unfortunately, Fat Salmon does retain one shortcoming of Shinju's: The service. There was a big fuss about how many glasses we needed and who was drinking what, and then the beer and wine glasses were the same. It also took forever for our rolls to arrive. Hopefully these are just some new location kinks that will be worked out soon enough. Even more unfortunately, it looks like Fat Salmon may be losing one of its greatest perks; that's right, there was a big orange "Notice of Public Hearing" sign in the window, meaning they are looking to get a liquor license. It would break my heart (and my wallet) if Fat Salmon ceased to be a BYOB. Finally, a note or two on the sushi. The rolls are quite creative, and the fish is quite fresh. There is very little to complain about here, except maybe that it seems like a ton of the rolls have eel sauce on them. I'm sure that same fact makes another customer very happy, though. BOTTOM LINE: Fat Salmon is the more comfortable and chic reincarnation of its predecessor, Shinju. It does away with one of Shinju's shortcomings (smallness) but retains another (service). However, the price can't be beat: I paid $21--tip included--for some edamame, one-and-a-half rolls, and an order of yellowtail nigiri. Plus $8 for the sixer of Coors Light* I picked up on the way. Overall, a highly recommended BYOB sushi bar. *PROTIP: If you are looking to get some beer on your way, skip Pac-A-Deli... They don't have any Asian beer, which is why I was stuck tapping the Rockies (not that that's a bad thing).
(4)
Walt L.
This place rocks!!!! Originally, we loved this place in it's BYOB days. We love it now after they pulled the rare feat of jumping from BYOB to liquor licensed place. The warm house sake is pretty good. We go here all the time. Our favorite rolls are the Dancing Vampire, Locust Roll, the Sleeping Volcano, and the Rock n Rolla. The shrimp shumai is banging. The salads are good. My wife loves the fried green tea ice cream. Overall, I love this place. My favorite place in town. The food is so good I asked my wife (girlfriend at the time) to marry me after a dinner there. %)
(5)
Gina V.
Fat Salmon is, by far, one of the best sushi restaurants I have been to. It has a quiet, intimate ambiance and is especially a good atmosphere for couples. It is a little pricey, but the quality of the food is worth every penny. I have no problem spending money on top-quality food, and Fat Salmon is definitely Grade A. Everything I ate was delicious.
(4)
Christiana G.
I have been to Fat Salmon many times, and I have never been disappointed. The quality of their sushi is fantastic (I am very picky when it comes to sushi) and they specialty rolls are phenomenal. They have a large selection and they can satisfy any sushi whore's taste buds (vegetarian, spicy, etc.) By far my favorite sushi joint in Philly.
(5)
Brad P.
I like this place. Fat Salmon has a smooth, well crafted modern-oceanic interior design that reminds you that you are in a seafood restaurant(which is helpful just in case you are like that guy in Memento and need constant reminders of where you are and what you are doing). Their menu is an interesting mix of standard sushi options and 2 pages of very silly maki rolls. If you are serious about getting traditional, Japanese-style sushi then you should probably avoid these pages, which feature rolls containing items such as beef, fried onion, and bacon. Personally, I think their creativity shows more of a sense of humor rather than a desire to insult the origins of their cuisine. At the very least, these items could appeal to those friends of yours who have never tried sushi because they can't get behind the idea of eating raw fish(and you must cure them of this trepidation). Perhaps seeing familiar items like swine and bovine on the menu will put them at ease and allow you to open their mind a little to some excellent food. I tried the Salmon Yaki, Dancing Vampire, yellowtail/scallion roll, and smelt roe nigiri. All items were pretty good. The price wasn't terrible and the service was decent. Also, now that I know it is a BYO, I'm going to head back for dinner at some point.
(4)
Lois L.
I brought my mom and sister who were visiting from out of town yesterday night for a 6pm reservation. The decor is cool and hip and the music's not too loud. Maybe not the most "authentic" Japanese decor, but a cool experience nonetheless. We ordered Katsu Maki, Lipstick Trace, Lost Rainbow, M&M, and the Volcano. The only caveat was that we ended up with an Alaskan (non-special) Roll instead of the Katsu Maki and the whole time we were eating, we were like...where's the Katsu and later saw the bill for an "Alaskan Roll." Our waiter didn't really seem to process what we were saying too quickly and seemed dazed and out of it sometimes... maybe it was just a long day? at 6pm? or our Californian accents were just too hard to comprehend? We decided it wasn't a big deal anyways and didn't do anything. The service was pretty nice though so I think they would have reacted to the situation generously if we had mentioned it. Anyways, all the rolls were fantastic and my mom remarked, "you really can't go wrong with any of the rolls." I wish they served miso soup and a simple green salad like basically every Japanese restaurant that I've been to, but the experience wasn't too marred by their absence. Overall, I'd recommend the place for the vibe (predominantly 20s) and the creative rolls. I suggest making a reservation for weekend nights though since the place filled up while we were there. The bill came out to less than $50 for five rolls, which was a pleasant surprise for such a good meal.
(4)
Christin K.
New favorite sushi place. Fresh, well-cut, creative specialty rolls. Friendly and unpretentious service, good selection of sake, beer selection is meh.
(5)
Nhut T.
At fat salmon, my friend and I tried the combination handrolls, and several of their specialty rolls. The sushi would been otherwise delicious if it weren't for the very soggy rice they used. They either added too much vinegar or used too much water when making the rice. I would try this place again to see if this is just a one time blooper. Service was excellent, however.
(3)
David A.
I have been to this place twice now and will never go back. Really wanted to like this place since I love sushi and this opened around the corner from my apartment. Nice design, bright lighting. TERRIBLE service both times. And sushi is just ok. First visit waited forever after ordering. They were very busy. Sat at sushi bar. Sushi chefs have NO interaction with customers here. They hardly notice you are there. Roll and sushimi were fresh but nothing special. The other night it was late and I wanted something light. Figured I would give it another try. Not too busy; probably only half full...about 25 people. I sat at sushi bar for almost 20 minutes without even a glass of water. Three wait staff were maybe 10 feet away and talked the whole time without looking in my direction. Walked out hungry. Will never return. I will go to Morimoto or Raw when I want Japanese.
(1)
Alex K.
Fat Salmon has great sushi, there is no doubt about that. If you are looking for good sushi, with some pretty cool ingredients, look no further. There are two things about Fat Salmon that I would change however. I once tried to go with a larger group of friends and they required a minimum of around $20 a person (give or take) because we were a big group (we had 8 people). The second thing I would change if possible were the prices, but I am cheap, and honestly, the food is quality so I guess in the end it was worth it. I can dream though!
(4)
Victoria L.
Major upgrade from the old Shinju location! Great place for quality sushi - when you're in the mood for something more than the average spicy tuna take out. The standard rolls are good, but there is a great variety of fancier rolls.
(4)
Christine A.
Are you looking for a swanky sushi bar to impress your out-of-town friend's eyes and taste buds while keeping your wallet happy? Or that family/friend who's wary of eating raw fish, but you want them to experience sushi/rolls? Fat Salmon is the place for you. I've walked by this place countless times during the day and never gave it a second glance with its simple white decor. But at night, the electric blue lights pop and give the place a trendy vibe. Service was friendly with a good balance of attentiveness. Food.... Each specialty roll had a creative name to go with its creative combination. I considered ordering Mr. French Kiss just to say the name! But once I started studying the ingredients, I was disappointed to see so many crab-stick containing rolls. (Why fake meat?) Many remaining rolls had tempura something or others. What was left had 'slightly cooked' or broiled fish. So in actuality, the majority of their rolls don't contain REAL sushi. After much deliberation, we finally picked on the following: -Sepia Pleasure: my personal favorite. Tasted like they just made the cream cheese; the texture was beautiful with the eel and -White Forest (Salmon): Would you think pico de gallo and sour cream? very interesting. -Dragonfly -Spicy Tuna Crunch They were all very tasty. The combination of flavors and textures were wonderfully delicious. The diameter of the rolls were so big, we considered cutting them in half to fit our big mouths. Not only was my stomach content, my wallet was happy. For the four rolls and 2 orders of hot sake, our bill was under $50. All in all, it was a pleasant experience.
(3)
Loy G.
decent prices for decent sushi. go for the special rolls. you get what you pay for in terms of fish quality at fat salmon. freshness seems like it's hit or miss depending on the night. sashimi was just okay. the sushi just falls a little flat here when standing on its own. unfortunately, you have to hit up the more expensive sushi spots in the city if you're looking for consistently good sashimi or chirashi. fat salmon's strength is mid-grade sushi presented in novelty rolls for reasonable prices. the menu at fat salmon has devoted two full pages of colorful photos and detailed descriptions to their special rolls. quite noticeably, their special rolls have some combination of spicy sauce, eel sauce, or crunch. the additives definitely serve their purpose in masking the quality of the fish, but honestly this results in some pretty tasty rolls. fat salmon fills that niche of satisfying my sushi craving without having to dig too deep into my pockets.
Came here for my birthday dinner, after a visit to the Mütter Museum... Had to brave a spring snowstorm to get to Philly! It was worth it!! Fat Salmon had fresh, delicious sushi & sashimi! Their agedashi was perfection! We enjoyed some cold sake and Soju, too... Got a teeny buzz going before a show at The Trocadero. Absolutely a wonderful way to walk around in the snow: full of yummy Japanese food, warmed by sake and arm in arm with my sweetie! Service was excellent, too! We'll definitely be back!!
(5)
Marius G.
Favorite sushi spot across the city. Very nice decor, small/intimate space, and prices are pretty reasonable. Sushi quality is excellent as well.
(4)
Doo Wee T.
I had a date nite with my girlfriend from collage. She said the roll is very good, but I am more sashimi lover. She had roll with spicy sauce and shrimp tempura roll, I didn't take a bite, but looked like pretty decent. I had chirasi bowl served with miso soup and salad on the side. Its really hard to find a fine chirashi don around center city area; I always go to NY just to have chirasi don. I could say that fat salmon is pretty good for their chirasi, and wish that they could cook the tamago little sweet.. The highlight of the meal was tempura ice cream!!! Love it :)
(4)
Anne Ligon H.
Fantastic food, craptastic service. We had a reservation, and arrived there precisely on time. No one even acknowledged us for another ten to fifteen minutes. After that time, a guy ushered the group that was there before us to their table, then came back and told us we could join them - I guess he thought we were with that group, which is why we were never acknowledged. An honest mistake, but it was just the first of many lapses in service. Once we were seated, a waiter took our order - we ordered a few rolls, a beer for each of us, and some edamame for an appetizer. We got our beer, then about...40 minutes later got our rolls. No edamame. We asked about it (I think we were polite and friendly, but the food runner looked terrified and confused - maybe I had trouble masking my pissed-off face?), and apparently the waiter had forgotten to put in our order. Oh well. Anyway, the food was delicious - we ordered three rolls, and ended up getting one more because we were extra hungry. However, we did have to wait a really, really long time for our second roll as well. Definitely great food, and cool decor. However, definitely not for those in a hurry or those who expect a lot from a waiter/staff.
(3)
Danielle K.
Love, love, love this place! My husband and I have been fans since it was shinju on Locust St. Make sure to make a reservation if you are planning on going for dinner. Some of our favorites are "old school", " lipstick trace" , and veggie tempura roll.
(5)
Adam R.
Food was incredible. My lady and I split edamame, then we both got our respective rolls for dinner. My favorite was easily the B.C.T. Bacon inside of a sushi roll is brilliant and more people should do it. The wait staff, however, was some of the worst I have ever experienced. Working in two different restaurants, I'm accustomed to a level of quality in waiting that, in all honesty, really isn't that hard to get to. Nobody greeted us when we sat down. 3 or so minutes after we sat, our 'first' server came up to us and the only words that came out of his mouth were "Hi" and nothing after that. There was an incredible sense of awkwardness, and then he said "Are you ready to get something?" I kindly told him that we were still looking, so he said "Okay" and then walked away. Then our 'second' server came by, who was a younger woman that was a lot friendlier than the server before her. My lady order tea from her and she brought it with haste, as well as took our appetizer orders and than eventually or dinner orders. I simply wondered if the servers on staff at Fat Salmon spoke to each other at all before handling our table? It's a norm for servers to either have a specific table set to themselves, our discuss which server gets which table so the tip can be sorted out justly. It felt like neither was the case, and they just jumped on us without even talking about it. After our dinner was over I paid with my card, which was surprisingly declined, to which the male server walked over and said "Your card was declined" handed it to me, then walked away without saying anything else, leaving us to wait for somebody else to take our secondary form of payment...which was about another 5 minutes out of our day. All in all, I give Fat Salmon a 3/5 stars for their wonderful atmosphere, excellent food, very reasonable prices...and inexperienced wait staff.
(3)
Marty D.
This was a lunch for two experience. Service was courteous but slow conisdering there were only a few diners. All the fish was well prepared and very fresh. Odd that the uni here costs more that at Mori Moto.The atmosphere is just ok, kind of industrial and I'm not a big fan of exposed electrical connections in the ceiling. It's not cool, it's just lazy/cheap. Yeah, I know it's about the food but it's not really is it? All in all, ok vaue for money but no real reason to go out of my way for a return dinner.
(3)
Christine R.
good sushi, not the greatest. good prices. good service. i would come back or recommend it.
(4)
Beth R.
Fat Salmon started out as a BYO, but has since acquired a liquor license. I thought my experience here was on par with Izumi, not quite as awesome as Doma, and better than Umai Umai. Izumi has a slight edge bc of their outdoor seating, but FS has center city location, plus a huge menu of fancy rolls complete with photos and crazy names. The decor is modern and fun. As for the food, my favorite part of my meal was the steamed beef dumplings appetizer, but the tuna and shrimp rolls I had were both good too.
(4)
Patrick C.
Shinju is hands-down my favorite sushi place in all of Philly! I'm a little bummed that it's no longer a secret as it fills up pretty fast. But the place has awesome specialty rolls, fresh fish, BYOB, and reasonable prices. I'm a fan of their non-traditional rolls, especially the 'Locust Roll,' which comes with deep-fried spicy tuna on top - I swear it's the stuff dreams are made of! Even if you're not big on sushi, surely you can get behind the B.C.T. roll, which is basically bacon-sushi (seriouly! it works) combined with a philly roll. Take your date! Even though she'll think it's going horribly wrong when she follows you into the Locust Bar - she'll quickly find that you're only ordering a six-pack to go. In a matter of minutes she'll be at a candle-lit table enjoying a perfect little appetizer called "naked gyoza" - super impressed that such a thing even existed and that you knew about it! I'm taking this too far. Just go!
(5)
Dan C.
Last Monday I ventured into Fat Salmon for some sushi with friends and was hoping all the great yelp reviews didn't let me down. The food was great, I got a miso soup and a few of their specialty rolls. The rice was perfectly cooked, I hate when it is under/over cooked. I went to Morimoto a few weeks back and the sushi at Fat Salmon was just as good, if not more fresh (and definitely better priced!) But what REALLY blew me away was the incredible service. We had a beautiful waitress (I think her name was Jessica) who was incredibly friendly and attentive. It was such a refreshing change to have someone who was not only really knowledgeable about the menu but so personable and caring. She even gave us some recommendations for bars in the area we could go to after! I will definitely be coming back to Fat Salmon, not only for the great food but the awesomeeee service!!
(5)
John B.
First of all, let me first start off by saying when it comes to Japanese food and Korean food, I'm particularly harsh. I'm a big food snob...what can I say. With that said, this place is just okay. If I could sum up this place (most sushi places in Philadelphia, for that matter), they have a variety of maki's--but not much else. People who are looking for good, fresh sashimi and nigiri experience will be disappointed here. People who are looking for different twists in maki's will be satisfied. Also this place would be good for people who are not so thrilled with the idea of raw fish, since they have a lot of maki's with "crab sticks" (the imitation crab meat made from cooked fish). So while I *might* come back here for spicy tuna roll, I would go somewhere else for the rest.
(2)
Paul L.
I'd like to think I know about something about sushi and after trying the new metamorphosis of the old Shinju, I think I'm content. Given losing Aso was hard and I attribute that to the less than ideal location it possessed by contrast maybe the interior decoration has something to do with it too. Now Fat Salmon has managed to transform the space into something hip and trendy. Food-wise, it's a little on the pricey side as with any other sushi place. The selection range from the standard selection of nigiris with a wider range of specialty maki rolls. Between the two of us, we ordered a deep fried shumai and the sushi & sashimi platter for two which comes with two soups and two salads. Normally, that wouldn't be enough food. We're used to ordering rounds of sushi, but somehow that turned out to be quite enough. Everything turned out fresh and tasty, I'm impressed with the quality of salmon and white tuna. I'm also very happy about the shrimp tempura rolls that comes with. Service was good, food is fresh, my only complaint is the somewhat strong dangling table light. I'm sure the sushi can be more tricked out but all in all, it was satisfying. It's recommendable.
(4)
Jaclyn P.
Great sushi that is artfully prepared! Reservations are really important on weekends, but if you make one in advance, they will get you seated right away! Really nice variety and the quality of the ingredients is obviously much higher than that of the many sushi bars throughout Center City. Waitstaff was courteous and the food arrived quickly. Highly recommended for seekers of great sushi :)
(5)
Farida A.
So many choices!! Fabulous decor, creative and delicious sushi rolls. And it's cheap as hell! I had sushi and sashimi at Morimoto for lunch and came to Fat Salmon for dinner - you'd think I would've been sick of sushi or that Morimoto would've raised the bar too high for me to enjoy Fat Salmon, but no - I loved it. If I lived in Philly, I would definitely frequent this place.
(4)
Kim B.
Fat Salmon is a great, reasonable priced place in the city. I came based on the positive Yelp reviews and wasn't disappointed. The waiter was pleasant and helpful in providing recommendations. We tried several specialty rolls and my favorite has got to be the Fancy Sushi. The ingredients were fresh. The place is modern-sleek. My only drawback was they didn't have a high chair. My husband and I took turns holding baby. So yes this isn't really a place to bring kids given tables are so close to each other.
(4)
Rosa V.
The name "Fat Salmon" alone made me like this place. I'm a fan of restaurants that put effort into ambiance and Fat Salmon goes above and beyond the calling. The blue lighting of the restaurant gives the semblance of a swanky cocktail lounge amidst historic Philadelphia. BUT the sensory delights don't stop at lighting. The sushi is the star. And the selection is fantastic! So many unique rolls to choose from, and a great collection of spicy ones. You are sure to find something you like or simply have the chance to expand your palette. Very reasonably priced, casual, great service, and soooo delicious!
(5)
Jack S.
Service was very good, but the rolls were very mediocre. Gloppy is the technical term I'd use.
(3)
Danielle L.
I'm glad we picked this place! The service was great, they were so friendly there! The sushi tasted amazing and fresh! I had the rainbow roll and my friend had spicy tuna. Best we ever had! Drinks were delicious and the atmosphere was great, too! It was even full and we got seated right away!
(5)
Steven S.
I have loved them since they were Shinju. The FRESHEST sushi and the best apps and salads. The nigiri and sashimi are incredible. Regularly order green salad, shumai, Unagi, Tumago, Saba, squid, and many rolls ... out-freaking-standing. We have had everything from this place, and it's all the best and the freshest in Philadelphia. I have been to a number of sushi places in Philadelphia and elsewhere, and this place is right up there. So lucky to be a few blocks from here.
(5)
F R.
Fat Salmon is the 2nd sushi place I have really fallen in love with. I'm a vegetarian, so I don't know about the fish options, but I love the Old School roll, the veggie tempura roll, and the tofuholic. The veggie tempura roll is nice and spicy, but the Old School roll is really spicy, but so tasty I can't stop eating no matter how much it hurts. The Agedashi tofu is my favorite appetizer. I once had a bite of the Deep Fried Tofu before I realized it had scallop in it, but it was fantastic. The only things I have found disappointing are the gyoza, and the edamame every once in awhile gets a bit over cooked if we get take out.
(4)
Alex C.
Went here for dinner. Bill came out to be around 79. Still doesn't compare to Sushi Tomo in So. Cal. where it's AYCE for 25 for dinner. Interior: Very modern fancy. Got blue leds running along the bar and fancy white wavy wall for the tables. Small place though. Food: Pretty good. Ordered the Sush/Sashimi for 2, Shrimp Tempura Appetizer, a soft volcano roll, and a spicy tuna roll. All were fresh and tastey. I personally like the salmon and the white tuna :) The yellowtail was kinda fishy. Service: Good Overall: 4 stars :D
(4)
Matthew B.
This place is a lot of fun. Definitely be sure to have a reservation, though, if you are going to go there on a Friday or Saturday. I have been there a few times now and it is always crowded. One important thing to note - if you haven't been there in a while, it is no longer BYOB. Thankfully the hostess who took my reservation informed me of that, or I would have been carrying a bottle of wine around with me for no reason. It's not very expensive - four rolls and a couple of drinks for two people was around 60.00. The sushi is different than most of the rolls I have encountered, and is definitely designed with a non-traditionalist audience in mind. One roll in particular - the M&M roll, was awesome. There's another one with pico de gallo and sour cream that's tasty, too, but I can't remember the name. It's the white forest roll or something. Service isn't excellent, but the wait staff is friendly and there isn't much to complain about. They just don't really seem to be in any kind of hurry. In conclusion, it takes me about 30 minutes to get here and I never balk at making reservations when the idea pops into my head.
(4)
Mari C.
Went to Fat Salmon for dinner: It is hands down AMAZING sushi but I thought the service was lacking a bit. I had three waitresses during my entire meal (not sure why they all switched up like that) and it took a really long time to get rolls out to us. Also, at any point in time there were 3 or 4 sushi rolls with saran wrap on top of the bar, which makes you feel like you aren't getting the freshest rolls. We noticed our rolls sitting there for at least 20 minutes before it was brought to our table. Either way, the food is really good...I highly recommend the agedashi tofu appetizer and the sepia pleasure. The prices are great too!
(4)
Laura B.
This is a great lunch spot for people who work near the federal courthouse at 6th and Market or other spots in Market East. It wasn't crowded, we had great service, and there are a ton of lunch specials around $10. I got the Vegetable Tempura Lunch Box, which came with more food than I could eat. Tons of interesting vegetable tempura (squash, zucchini, sweet potato, eggplant, etc.), half a California roll, rice, two dumplings, and a salad to start with. Very yummy. And now I'm stuffed.
(5)
Todd V.
I ordered the spicy pork Japanese bbq lunch box. The flavors were pretty muddled and not much else in the box made up for it. The tuna roll was bland and too soft. The gyoza were ok. I had heard great things about this restaurant but Im not really sure why people like it so much. If you cant make a good tuna roll then I am not sure you can make any sushi right.
(2)
Grace T.
Creative rolls, reasonable price, good salads and miso soup, overall good eating here! I interned literally 20 steps away from here so my boss and I would eat here pretty often. For take-out or dine-in. Expect to do some ease dropping if you dine-in cause you will for sure hear your neighbor's conversation. There are only about 8 tables in the place, BUT you can order take out walk a little bit down to Washington Square park or sit outside by the newly renovated Jefferson University courtyard. Can't say how their cooked Japanese entrees are, but the old intern boss said they were pretty good. Almost positive she eats here at least once a week, so it is that good!
(4)
Tracy W.
My favorite since it was tiny Shinju. Creative rolls, always fantastic. Miss that it's not byob anymore, but I'll deal.
(5)
Dan S.
I got a hardcore craving for sushi tonight and wanted to try Fat Salmon. It's a small restaurant, colorfully lit and modern looking. We were seated at the sushi bar where the chefs make the rolls. I wish you could see them a little more as it would be fun to watch them make them all. We ordered 5 rolls and an appetizer, the Agedashi Tofu, Spicy Tuna, Spider, Cucumber, Yellowtail, and House Special. The appetizer was absolutely delicious. The rolls came out on a platter together and each one was better than the last. I washed everything down with a Hitachino Ginger Ale, a great Japanese brew. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Deb S.
Salmon teriyaki was very good.
(3)
Matt K.
You know, my only problem with this place was that the green tea tasted like a frigid cup of pain. On a positive note, try the Philadelphia roll. I mean, they better damn well know how to make it.
(4)
Maurice P.
Whenever we are in Philadelphia, we always make sure to go to Fat Salmon. We love the blue and white ambience, always complemented with cool music. Each dish is a work of art as the many photos here illustrate. The service is cheerful, knowledgeable and quick
(5)
Julia C.
Great variety, great service, delicious food! The ambience in this place is incredible--especially at night! I'm in love with the interior design & it certainly provides a one of a kind dining experience.
(5)
Courtney C.
probably the best sushi I've ever had. EVER. & I've eaten a lot of sushi. rolls are unique & intriguing. I got the locust & the white forest. the white forest, with pico de gallo & a dollop of sour cream, is my absolute favorite- combines my most favorite flavors (Asian/Mexican) into one, amazing roll.
(5)
Eunni C.
Ordered my usual. Sashimi platter with salmon, salmon roe, Tuna and uni. They were somewhat flavorless. Rolls seemed good with all the sauces etc but sashimi wasn't that good. And personally I am not fan of blue neon light with food presentation. Not so appetizing.
(2)
Nico L.
I've been here once before. This time it was better. I went for lunch and ordered a roll and a Yakitori. A bit too many veggies that didn't mix well with the beef. The roll however, perfect. Clean. The server was prompt. Everything else was wonderful. Too bad the weather was cold.
(4)
Denise K.
This is my go to sushi place. It's affordable and the sushi is always so fresh and delicious!! It's usually easy to get a reservation. Don't forget to get the ice cream Mochi for dessert!!
(4)
Emma Mae V.
My boyfriend and I came to Fat Salmon on a Saturday night for our anniversary. I was surprised to see that the restaurant never got full, but it kept the noise level down and the environment soothing. I loved the decor and the lighting. It was darker, but still nice and romantic. I enjoyed being able to see the chefs counter in the middle of the restaurant, but it would have been cooler if their workspaces were exposed as well, allowing us to see them make the sushi. The sushi itself was very tasty, and we found that it was decently priced. However, had we ordered more than one roll each, our bill would have been a lot more. We both agreed that this would be a good compliment meal, but it would not be a reasonable full meal. We also ordered the fried vanilla ice cream. My boyfriend didn't care for the breading, and I only liked it while it was warm, which wasn't for very long. All in all, we had a really nice experience with good service. I would definitely return.
(5)
hibba u.
I finally went to Fat Salmon after walking by it daily for 2 months straight on the way to work. I met a friend for lunch, I was early but they still seated me which was great. We both ordered the lunch specials which are $14.50 and include soup or salad, not a bad deal. I got the crunchy spicy tuna and the shrimp tempura rolls, both of which are my go to when I am trying a new sushi place. The sushi was awesome and my friend loved his as well (don't remember what he got). We both were slow in ordering and the server didn't seem to mind which was great, we didn't feel rushed which I always appreciate. The sushi was fresh and the fish was all great quality. What more can you ask for? The only downside was that our food took exceptionally long to arrive considering it was lunch time, I know sometimes places do get busy and are backed up but this was longer than it should have been regardless. Not the end of the world but just annoying. The decor was trendy and the restaurant was very clean. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
J X.
Boyfriend was nice enough to treat me out when he came to visit. Everyone here was so nice! The waitress was so friendly and great at explaining the menu and the different rolls. I recommend the sashimi for one/two - they give generous portions for very reasonable prices. I LOVED the super white tuna.
(5)
Jasmine W.
Went here for my boyfriends birthday dinner earlier in the year and it was great! The ambiance is the selling factor, it's small and intimate, but very modern. The restaurant was fairly busy and filled close after we were seated. I order tempura which was very good and my boyfriend ordered three different sushi, all of which he enjoyed. Overall, it was a great experience, They even gave him Japanese ice cream on a beautiful decorated plate.
(4)
Ashley T.
the best AND I MEAN THE BEST sushi i have ever had in my life. went with 2 girlfriends. the 3 of us shared 5 rolls and it was perfect. - volcano roll - old school roll - blossom roll - dancing vampire roll - rolling fire roll honestly EVERY ROLL was amazing... you cant beat this place. There's a reason it's rated Philly #1 sushi place. will be back soon!!!
(5)
Candice M.
Best sushi in philly! My husband and I have been going here since they opened. We use to go to their previous location on locust street, years ago. We have no complaints. Can't get enough of this place!
(5)
Victoria B.
1- smelled bad 2- humid 3- horrible service 4- everything is either deep fried or with 'crab stick' 5- I felt sick after
(1)
Connie T.
I'll never return here again. The food here is pretty good but the service sucks! Come here if you want good food but bad service.
(1)
Julian P.
This IS the best sushi restaurant I have ever been to. So many different rolls, everything is fresh and well portioned. Try the Fuka roll its my favorite. Also the saki menu is on point. Amazing decor and without a doubt the perfect date night spot!
(5)
Wendy G.
Cafeteria quality sushi! After reading so many 5 star reviews I couldn't believe I was eating in the same restaurant. Yes, the interior is nice and modern, our service was very good, however I was shocked at what people thought was good sushi. We ordered four 'special' rolls and not one was special. The pieces were to big and piled with ingredients that didn't add up to flavor. I agree the food is reasonably priced, which makes sense because you get what you pay for.
(2)
M G.
"Decent, but hit and miss on some items." This was a good sushi place for Philly. Some of the combination rolls were nothing special and some, like the tofu roll (yes tofu roll) were very good. We had a party of 6 so there was a lot to try. I don't remember the names of the rolls. However, I had negiri too and it was fresh and decent. The uni was very good. One negative thing about this place for me personally was the rice. It was too soft and milly. This should be the star ingredient and it missed the mark. The sake were also ok. Do the sake flight it's a good deal and the sakes are better quality than the house sake which we also had. Overall it was a fun dinner but I will not be rushing back here very soon.
(3)
Ritu K.
The hazards of growing up in California- there's amazing cheap sushi on every corner. Not the case in Philly, but I've certainly tried some decent, albeit expensive, sushi in the city. Fat Salmon is a nice addition to the sushi offerings in the city. The decor is sleek and modern. I felt like a homeless person in my work scrubs but whatevs. The sushi was tasty, although I thought we ordered one too many rolls covered in spicy sauce. We're talking drowning in spicy sauce. Was there fish under there- hard to say. If I head back I'm definitely ordering more nigiri. The problem with this place- its ridiculously loud to carry on a conversation. We were seated in the back corner and apparently all the sound carried back to the corner and settled there. I could have probably started screaming at the top of my lungs and not looked like a crazy lady. With 5 of us at the table there was alot of yelling back and forth. The other problem the back corner also meant they forgot us. We received one plate of sushi and then sat there for what seemed like an eternity for the second plate. At that point I was ready for dessert, breakfast, anything... The sushi was comparable to other sushi joints in the city and a vast improvement from Shinju- just not sure I would return...
(3)
S. H.
Truly a delightful experience. I really loved both the sashimi and the cooked fish rolls. I just discovered my new favorite Japanese sushi restaurant. It's the best I've ever had. :) A treat, for sure.
(5)
Ann S.
The night after my visit to Morimoto, I was still on a Japanese high, so I went to Fat Salmon for some more. I had some very tasty rolls (Blossom and shrimp tempura) and nigiri (salmon, smoked salmon, and mackerel). The fried beef gyoza was also very tasty. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant in general is quite trendy and attractive.
(5)
Helen N.
I love fat salmon, if you are like me, a person that love specialty rolls, then this is the place to go. Most sushi places in philly charges an arm and a leg for specialty rolls, but this place is reasonable. Their sashimi is average. Personal favorites: 1) Dancing Vampire 2) Mr Shiro 3) Hako Service is decent.
(5)
Elle W.
This is by far my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. I have not had one thing that was not delicious. Last night I had the Blossom Roll and the Lipstick Trace and both were excellent. My fiance get's the Bacon Roll and loves it so much. Highly recommend this sushi.
(5)
Megan D.
I was very happy to find this restaurant on a recent trip to Philadelphia--it definitely hit the spot! When we arrived around 7:30pm, the place was jam-packed and we had to make reservations to come back around 8:30pm to get a table. That ended up working really well because we went had a drink before dinner, but if you're looking to eat right away, I'd recommend calling ahead. I ordered the Rainbow roll and the Salmon Yaki roll and I enjoyed both. Their sushi had just the right ratio of rice to other ingredients, and the fish tasted very fresh. Plus, the wait staff was all very friendly and accommodating. If you're in town and in the mood for sushi, this place is a sure bet.
(4)
Andrea R.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. My boyfriend and I wanted to go out for sushi one night and just chose this place at random, ends up being our restaurant. We go there regularly and the Fancy Sushi is our favorite. Don't forget to try to mochi ice cream for dessert!
(5)
Maggie D.
Yay sushi! This place is super good. Everything is fresh and awesome, they also have a lot of vegetarian rolls, even some speciality, fancy rolls which I usually don't get to have! It's fun to be a part of things. Only possible fault would be that the service can be a bit slow, but it's always packed when I go so I can't really be too mad about it, especially since when the food does come it's really exciting and you forget about how long it took...mmmm sushi
(5)
Simon L.
The food here is fantastic! The only thing I am not too comfortable with would be the atmosphere, it's a little too dark and the tables up front are placed too close to each other.
(4)
Ali R.
I initially stepped into this place because it looks really cool from the outside, but the food was meh... I will say that their tuna tacos are pretty good. What I didn't love was how loaded their speciality rolls were. I'm generally a fan of clean sashimi or simple rolls, but all the rolls were piled with mayo/crab sticks.. it was just too much for me. Also, one of my rolls had plastic wrap on it, which the waitress immediately apologized for and took off our bill. Don't think I'd come back here, but it's worth trying out.
(3)
Lily Z.
At first glance at the sushi menu, your mind has a "WTF asparagus in a sushi roll?" moment which then proceeds to happen more than once. After you get over the fact that they are a fusion restaurant, your belly starts to growl and you let it do the ordering, so in a few minutes you have asparagus in your face. Although a little on the pricier side, Fat Salmon cranks out delicious sushi rolls. We also ordered the shrimp tempura appetizer (not worth it for $9, but it is plated very nicely). For dessert we had the tempura ice cream which was HUGE and completely worth the $6. It could have fed 4 people but of course I ate for 3 :)
(4)
Christine G.
Love this place, Love the Old School Roll, its vegetarian, but super spicy, and over the top delicious. Their fish is fresh, the seaweed salad is the best I've had in town. This is my go-to sushi place. And its reasonably priced. I usually get take out but the eat-in service is good and the place is hip, good date spot.
(5)
Ryan S.
Great sushi. Great service. I feel like the floor layout is slightly claustrophobic.
(4)
Rockit O.
Whatever Fat salmon is...it is defiantly NOT Japanese! Take away the swanky lighting, the modern decor, and you are left with sushi that is reminiscent of any food court sushi at your local shopping mall. Start with the sushi bar that is so high, you can not see your chef, and he can not see you. Any proud Japanese sushi chef will want to interact with you and see your expression when you bite into his masterpiece. It is so hard to find authentic sushi when traveling, and yelp is certainly no help. If you like a roll factory then Fat Salmon is for you.
(1)
Richard D.
Sushi is very skillfully made and flavors are great. Ambience is wonderful also. Weakness is the flavor of the fish itself. But the ingredients added make it taste great anyway.
(4)
Tony O.
Once again the #8 Lunch Special hits the spot! Their ginger dressing with the salad is really good too! The steamed gyoza is one of the best around.
(5)
Rozena R.
Wonderful spot! Ambiance was perfect. Everything I got was well prepared and filling, the amount you got was equivalent to the price. My friend ordered an eel roll and the chefs actually forgot to put eel! But they were more than accommodating for their mistake, quickly bringing out a fresh eel roll and then removing the price of the eel roll from the check. There is a reason they are doing well and this is why. I'd go again and again.
(5)
Abigail T.
I love Fat Salmon! Actually, I don't like salmon at all. But, at Fat Salmon that's not a problem - especially, during lunch, the best time to get sushi. Fat Salmon has great lunch specials. It has some of the best prices around, and they allow you to change something for a $1 extra, which at these prices is a great deal. I'm a simple girl, so I get the #3 and sub an extra tuna nigiri for the salmon. At $10.50, I'm satisfied!
(5)
Leslie P.
I think we all need that go to sushi place where you know a few rolls you just adore and everything else is great. The kind of place you say to you friends or significant other, "why don't we just go to _____?" and they oblige because they, too, love it. I feel like Fat Salmon would be a wonderful contender for that kind of place: a staple sushi restaurant. I say this partially because people talked about the decor and how cool the place was. And it is cool, don't get me wrong. But it is not one of those restaurants where the whole thing is "an experience." It really is much more about the food. Two girlfriends and I went to share some fancy makis and drink prosecco (BYO). We started with salads. The green salad with ginger dressing was just what I wanted and a great starter to any sushi meal. My friend ordered the seaweed salad. It was enormous. Generally seaweed salads are in little small bowls and pale in comparison to the size of the restaurant's house salad. At Fat Salmon, the seaweed salad is twice the size of the house/green and could easily be shared by two people for a starter. We ordered 5 rolls to split. I looked at the menu online before I arrived, but I was happy to see tasteful pictures of the super fancy rolls. I think this will come in handy especially as I go back to Fat Salmon and I try to remember which rolls I have had and liked. There are SO MANY to choose from. And, I would caution that yes, the fancy rolls are super yummy, but not to ignore what they call "regular makis" and their tempura and spicy makis which fall behind the specials' spread. Sometimes too many fancy rolls is just too rich! We ordered Lipstick Trace (upon a recommendation from a friend), Dragonfly, Dancing Vampire, and Lost Rainbow on the fancy menu and a spicy tun roll from the less fancy section (which was still fancy and special, but I digress). At Fat Salmon, they tell you what is inside the maki and what is outside (because both are part of the equation). We decided after the meal that the outside is the most important indicator of what the maki will taste like--it is the part that touches your tongue first and more aggressively. I think we especially liked the Lipstick Trace (which is vegetarian), the spicy tuna, the Lost Rainbow, and the Dragonfly. The Dancing Vampire with its sweet chili sauce was the one we had leftovers of. It was very sweet and apparently did not come in first place. Best part was the bill came to less than 60 bucks--split three ways, we all felt like we got a great deal. Which again, brings me back to the whole "staple restaurant" argument. There are times for Morimoto and the like, but if you love sushi, you need to find a place that will give you lots of room to explore, is always tasty, and doesn't break the bank. Fat Salmon? SCORE!
(4)
Zachary D.
Fat Salmon is great except for the food. As someone who actually likes good sushi, I wish they spent half as much time working to get good fish as they do trying to make the place look trendy.
(2)
Frank S.
If you can find a spot in this place of the size of a shoe box, consider yourself lucky. I had not been here for over a year an now that I went back I found some of the freshest sushi I have had in town (including S in Collingswood) for a very reasonable price. Excellent miso soup, not overly salted like in so many other places, super fresh salad with delicious ginger dressing, both complimentary. I had chirashi, including the shrimp, which is usually not my favorite in it, every bite of fish was really good. Same for my friends maki sampler. Only downside, there was no tamago in the bowl, which I think goes really well with chirashi, but hey.. It's byob and there is a great beer place right around the corner a 10th and Pine. Now that I wrote the review, I am actually pretty regretful to tell everyone about it ... ;-) Warning! Too small for big groups!
(5)
April W.
I ate here tonight with my boyfriend and we had a great time! We are far from sushi experts, but we really enjoyed everything we ate. The staff was all really friendly and the atmosphere was nice. We went around 5:00 and by the time we were leaving it was starting to pick up. The waitress said they were booked for the night so they must be doing something right.
(4)
Claire O.
First off, the agedashi tofu is out of this world. I'm very picky and sometimes restaurants can get it wrong, but Shinju has it down, The rolls are inventive. The hako sushi is probably my favorite so far - pressed box sushi with spicy tuna, "crunch" (which I assume is panko), topped with unagi and tobiko. Great flavors. The BCT roll that everyone was raving about didn't really do it for me - way too rich and creamy for my taste. We also ordered the shrimp tempura roll and spicy tuna, as well as ikura nigiri (salmon roe). I'd have to order sashimi or nigiri in order to comment on the quality of the fish, so I'll probably update this review when I get around to that. I also did take-out so I can't comment on the service. Prices were a touch steep. The hako sushi was worth the $12.50 but generally I think the other rolls were overpriced.
(4)
M P.
One of my favorite sushi places in the city. It was great when it was Shinju and a BYO, so I was skeptical about the new location and non-BYO status... but the food proved me wrong. The decor is clean and modern, there is a lot more space, the rolls are still fabulous and the service was great. On busy nights (Fri/Sat), you need a reservation. They also kept their prices pretty low, which is impressive given their new location and remodeling. Dinner ended up about $20-$25/person.
(5)
Everett R.
Met my good buddy there for a mutual b-day treat and we split six high quality rolls. The standard fair was right on target (e.g. philly roll and dragon roll) and the more creative rolls (e.g. soft shell crab) really pushed me over the edge. It's BYOB - we got a 6 pack of heineken for $11 @ the Locust Bar right next door (which is pretty good for that part of the city), which went perfectly with the fish. It's a small restaurant that gets pretty noisy at peak dinner time, but I'll take lively over eerily silent any day.
(5)
J P.
If you like fresh sushi, awesome prices, a sweet dinning environment, byo's, and service with a smile I suggest you drop everything and run to Shinju. Holy Sashimi Batman! It was that good. My lady and I were having a birthday plan fail as it rained all day and night yesterday and the Phillies game was rained out. With all that suck going on she had the bright idea of checking the Yelp for good sushi. Well Yelp, you did it again. On your recommendation we set out to have an epic birthday sushi experience. We started with some piping hot edamame and then ordered 4 rolls. I don't remember what any of them were called except for the Miss Sake Bomb which was eel. They were all delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. The food came out a tad on the slow side, but that was fine as we had the edamame to snack on while we waited. Our server was super friendly and everyone in the place was all smiles. This place is small so I am glad we made reservations. It was a packed house on a Monday night. As I looked around all I saw were happy faces. It seems everyone else was really digging their experience at Shinju. I'll go back again and again. I'll bring friends and family. I loved it. It was a great birthday dinner. Cheers Shinju sushi. Cheers.
(5)
Meredith B.
great quality sashimi
(4)
George R.
Based on Caitlin C.'s yelp review, I went here to get some excellent sushi for a great price... and it was amazing. The restaurant is very intimate and the decor has a lot of spirit. It isn't trying to say trendy and it isn't traditional. It really speaks to the spirit of its own character without bowing to what a sushi place should or shouldn't be. So many choices for sushi! There were special platters, featured sushi dishes, and of course a la carte options as well. The presentation and quality of taste is amazing. There are also a great variety of appetizers to choose from as well. I had a hard time deciding what I was going to get, but in the end I decided on Tekka maki, a special sushi dish, and the Gyoza beef dumplings which I shard with my friend. As mentioned in the other review, this is a BYOB, so just bring what you want and they'll give you glasses as soon as they have found you a table. For dessert, they have three ice creams: Mocha, Green Tea, and Red Bean. I opted for the red bean and my friend chose the green tea. Red bean is definitely the way to go. The green tea was, well, it tasted like frozen unsweetened green tea. Its verisimilitude to the drink was uncanny. So, my recommendation is to stick with the other two more sweet ice creams if you are looking for a dessert treat. Get reservations as there often will not be an open table between prime dining hours. Tip: This place is right down the street from the Walnut Street Theater. I would definitely eat here before a show!
(4)
Elijah C.
Whenever I go out of state I plan on eating at a Japanese place that has some great sushi. While in a little bit of a rush I was still able to order two rolls that are worth trying. They are called the Dancing Vampire and the Mr. Shiro.
(5)
Carissa J.
Fat Salmon is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in Philadelphia. The atmosphere is fun, and the sushi is delicious. I am vegetarian, and I love the fact that they have different vegetarian rolls besides an avocado or cucumber roll. The only qualms that I have with this restaurant are that the staff always makes it a problem when there is a party of more than 2 people and that the service is TERRIBLE. The waiters make it a point to not make eye contact with you when you try to beckon them to your table. It's actually remarkable how much they ignore you. One night it took my friends and I over an hour to get our sushi- unacceptable. Fortunately, the wonderful food and trendy atmosphere override the terrible service, and I will say that I will go back there again.
(4)
Sub S.
Go here! Rolls are interesting and not the usual fare. The ambiece is nice for dates or small groups, though if there is an obnoxious table in the restaurant everyone is bothered. Nice fish, nice apps. BYOB policy. Pros: Rolls, rolls, rolls Cons: Can get loud
(4)
S K.
Doesnt get better for us vegetarians. The Old School and Lipstick trace are to die for.
(5)
Nicole S.
I went for lunch. Everything was great. They were pretty busy and the food took a little longer than I expected to come out, but sushi was fresh and very good.
(4)
A F.
Usually enjoy this place for both food and atmosphere. Service on last visit was horrible!!! Went in for lucnh with a friend this week at 12:15 had to wave down a waiter to take our order even though it was not that crowded. Received our salads but no food after 35 minutes. Had to wave down hostess and complain and was told she would inform the manager who then never came to our table to apologize or inform us about why our food was taking so long. Had to walk out of the restaurant in a huff with NO FOOD and NO EXPLANATION of the bad service!!!! Will never return and now angry b/c this is the closest sushi place to where I work. I guess I will have to venture out for my sushi. Sorry Fat Salmon you need to work on your customer service.
(1)
YEN A.
The food was so good... I really enjoyed it. :x They have a lot of different kinds of sushi. I went there with 4 more people. We needed to reserve before we came. Definitely, I will be back with my boyfriend. It is also good place for couple.
(5)
Pauline S.
I came here to share a bunch of rolls with friends, and I am relatively impressed. I love tempura flakes and spicy mayo, and these rolls were no disappointment. It was moderately affordable for sushi and geared more towards the warm/cooked savory flavors rather than raw/sweet.
(4)
Sisi L.
This place is ok. It's pretty small, so everytime I'm there, I get wedged between the wall and the table with only room to breathe, or my chair is touching the chair of the person behind me. When it's busy, it's hard to have a private conversation because the tables next to you are only 1 foot away. The fish is pretty fresh, but the rolls and nigiri are about 30% smaller than every other sushi place that i've been to. I usually get the "sushi for 2" and it comes with 5 pieces of fish and 1 roll per person. Normally this would be enough food for me, but because everything is so small, I'm always still hungry! If you are into hand rolls and maki, i'd suggest going to Green Garden around the corner. The prices are lower and you get bigger portions and the same tastiness and quality. My boyfriend's main complaint about Shinju is that the wasabi is really bad quality. It breaks up into powder form immediately in soy sauce, as if it's just horseradish and food coloring. If you are really into sushi, or any japanese food for that matter, the yummiest sushi i've had is actually at Sagami, in New Jersey. It's worth the toll!!
(2)
D K.
My friend and I were in the mood for sushi and looking for a place within walking distance. Seeing the positive reviews of Fat Salmon, we were looking forward to dining at the restaurant. The decor of the restaurant is cool and sleek and ideal for parties of two. There is also a sushi bar that is first come, first served. Beware that those sitting at the "front" portion of the sushi bar will experience gusts of wind from the restaurant door opening - not ideal in the winter. As for the food, the sushi was fine - there was nothing that made it stand out. The service on the other hand, could use improvement. We asked the hostess to seat us at the bar and she told us that it would be about a ten minute wait. That was perfectly fine for us as it was Saturday night. When seats opened up, she proceeded to seat the party of two that had arrived AFTER us not only before us, but also at a prime place at the sushi bar. When I asked her why she had not seated us first (as we had arrived first), she told us that she was planning to seat us in a corner of the bar. This was definitely not preferred because it's darker, right up against a wall, and looks a bit like a forgotten corner of the restaurant. And, in any case, why would you seat the party that arrived after us, first? Especially, since we are both parties of two. Additionally, the staff does not seem to be trained on the menu. When the hostess and server were asked a question about the menu, neither knew the answer. Makes you wonder about the quality of the establishment if those working in the restaurant don't know the food they are serving. Also, the item I ordered only came with four pieces of sushi, but was priced like a full meal. While I'm used to smaller portions at sushi restaurants, this was smaller than I was expecting and the server did not mention anything about how small it would be. While she didn't have to, it would have been nice (and something that's often done in other restaurants). Also, my friend added extra avocado to her salad and was charged more than she had been told the addition would cost. There weren't necessarily any glaring issues with the restaurant, but there were enough small inconsistencies in service that made the experience less than memorable. Will I go back? Perhaps, but there are better sushi places in the city.
(3)
Cassie T.
I'm a huge fan of this place's proximity to my house, ambiance, service, and their SPECIALTY ROLLS (for more traditional sushi and sashimi I don't think I would go here)! The ambiance is quite different from your average sushi restaurant, it's kind of dark, intimate (small, but not as small as vics!) and swanky, kind of trendy but not so much that it's annoying. They play an interesting mix of jazz and the like. Also, awesome pictures of these sashimi characters with smiley faces in different situations all over the walls. Tiki sushi bar looking thing in the back too. My seaweed salad was kind of expensive at $6 but it was pretty huge. The specialty rolls are what really stands out here. Many different really creative combos at great prices. Compared to Vic's most all of the specialty rolls were cheaper. I got the Locust, I think it was like a California roll inside topped with tempura spicey tuna and some delicious sauce. Holy crap it was good! One off thing was that there was an overpowering smell of something like Glade tropical air freshener, but maybe it was just the day. Regardless, I will definitely be back!
(5)
Grace L.
Per my other reviews, I've been looking for a reasonably priced and great quality sushi in old city. I used to frequent the prior establishment at this same location. When it closed I was dismayed that my local sushi place had closed. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that another sushi place was replacing it. Almost as soon as Fat Salmon opened, I ordered sushi for lunch. Great quality!! Great price. Fat Salmon became my go-to place to satisfy my sushi fix. However, I haven't gone to Fat Salmon since March and as of right now, I don't plan to. As I stated, I ordered my lunch special from Fat Salmon almost weekly. Although I don't currently have a menu in front of me, from what I recall, their lunch specials are served until 3 PM. One afternoon, ~240 PM I called to order my usual sushi special (3 hand rolls + soup or salad for $10.50 - seriously good deal)(mind you, I had done this many times before as I usually take a late lunch) . I was curtly told, our lunch service is closed (or we stopped serving lunch). I ask, but doesn't lunch service end at 3 PM? response: Yes but we stop taking orders 30minutes before for employee lunch. I had ordered from Fat Salmon at least 20 times before I was told this new lunch rule. I tried to sweet talk my way since the menu said lunch until 3 and I didn't know about this rule, etc. etc. Bottom-line: If your takeout menu says "until 3 PM," you have to take orders until 3 PM. I didn't get sushi that day, nor do I think I will be going back anytime soon (it's already been 4 months!). Honestly, this really annoys me bc you can't find quality sushi for a reasonable price downtown any more and this place would have been a keeper. Because of this incident, I have been actively searching for other sushi places in old city so satisfy my sushi fix. Guess I'll have to save money and go to Morimoto's. With that said, the food deserves 5 stars but the lunch issue downgraded it to 3 stars.
(3)
Michael H.
Sushi was very good and fresh. I had their steamed shrimp shumai, they were very good but small. Atmosphere is nice and Service was very good.
(4)
Jenna C.
My review from last year is no longer enough. Shinju might be my favorite place to go, in the city. It is quiet and friendly. While the service can sometimes feel a little slow, it's in actuality just un-rushed. The sushi is delightful (assuming you like fusion rolls) and always presented well. There are some places that breed hostility. You know, those restaurants you frequent when you're fighting with your significant other. Shinju is the exact opposite of those. I have never had a bad experience or a bad time, here. I don't think it's possible to be unhappy in this tiny byo.
(5)
Faye S.
I've been on a mission to find a good sushi place other than Vic. Don't get me wrong; Vic is my other man (second to my husband, of course), but sometimes he gets a little pricey. Using Yelp's magical powers, we found Shinju Sushi. When we walked up, I was almost afraid the place was closed because it was so dark. I guess it's a Philly thing to have dark restaurants? We were seated quickly...granted, there were only two other groups there. The waitress took our drink orders and brought them out fairly quickly, but the edamame and actual sushi/rolls we ordered took a bit longer. We had salmon and yellowtail nigiri (our basis for comparison), as well as a couple of rolls: the smoking volcano and the spider roll. The nigiri was a touch over just passable; the rice was a little undercooked, but the fish was good, if not a little thin. I like my salmon big and thick! The rolls, however, were SO GOOD. The smoking volcano roll was my favorite of the two-- crab stick, tomato, and cream cheese roll, topped with spicy tuna and tobiko. Mmmm! I'm normally not a huge fan of rolls, but make it right and I love them! The spider roll was a little generic, imo, but it was still very yummy. I'm still undecided if I think the size of the rolls is a bad or good thing. The smoking volcano came with 6 fairly small pieces, and the spider roll came with 5 larger pieces. I'm all about quality over quantity, but I'm so used to having huge 8-piece rolls that this was a little surprising. Nevertheless, I enjoyed what we had at Shinju and definitely wanted more! Price is on par with Vic, but I think there you get more food-- because of the bigger rolls and bigger pieces of salmon and yellowtail. Granted, I would recommend this place based on our experience last night. Had I gotten nigiri alone, this place would have gotten three stars, but with the rolls, a solid four stars. Minus one star for how dark it is inside, though...I actually wanted to pull out my flashlight!
(4)
Erin R.
Excellent sushi - very creative and reasonably priced. Great place for cozy dinner for 2 or 4 people. Seaweed salad also excellent!! I plan to go back very soon!!
(4)
elanya m.
amazing food..had the deep fried tofu and four other specialty rolls which were all to die for..def check it out sushi lovers!
(5)
PixieCat X.
Best sushi restaurant in philly. That is all.
(5)
Brianna M.
As a avid sushi lover, I would give this place three stars at most. It's not terrible, but not amazing. I enjoy eating udon quite a bit and I was glad to see they had that on their menu. The broth is quite tasty but I guess since its only an appetizer, the amount of udon noodles they give you is quite pathetic. I don't really recommend any of their "fancy rolls" since I don't think they are worth the price but the regular ones such as crunchy spicy tuna is not bad. The roll size and thickness(?) is appropriate.
(3)
brad C.
Looking for a place near Broad St for sushi, Shinju came up. I'm usually a patron of Vic, but this place offers similar value with more inventiveness. The "Lost Rainbow" offers a really wonderful mix of textures and flavors, combining thinly sliced crunchy cucumber with tender salmon. The only knock on them was the Agedashi tofu, which is one of my favorite dishes. This deep fried tofu is supposed to be crisp on the outside, warm and creamy on the inside, and dipped in a bit of broth. Shinju's was drowning in sauce, leaving the breading on the tofu gelatinous and impossible to eat with the rest of the dish. But affordable sushi places always leave something to be desired in their appetizers. Brad's rating scale (out of 5): Food: 4 Price: 5 Decor: 3 Service: 4 Wild card: Byob!
(4)
Eugene B.
If you are looking for a great sushi place that is relatively inexpensive this is the place to go. The service is above average. The ambience is pretty hip with a cool blue tint to the restaurant and most importantly the sushi is AMAZING. If you are a fan of the traditional Nigiri/Sashimi sushi, you'll love it, but if you are willing to experiment, Fat Salmon has some of the wildest rolls, but they are all delicious. The icing on the cake is that this is BYOB. If you are looking for a great date night, go to Fat Salmon. There is parking on the street after 6:30pm.
(4)
Peng M.
Had a great time there. Enjoyed the food.
(4)
Eric V.
Great prices and the sushi is definitely the best I've had in a while! The place is pretty small, so I've only ever gotten takeout (which they have ready in a surprisingly short amount of time). The only issue I come across is that I have no clue how to eat their (delicious) rolls with chopsticks. Imagine one of the trick exploding cigars.. after it exploded. That's kind of how they're shaped. Nonetheless, they're awesome.
(4)
Christopher R.
Better than average sushi and the prices aren't jacked up like a lot of places in the area. BYO, which is huge, and the first time I went there our server was knowledgeable about which sake to serve hot and which to serve cold. The only problem is that it can get pretty cramped since the space is so small and well-loved. I made a reservation last time and they actually kept it even though I was a bit late and all the tables were full, which impressed me. Sorry to whoever had to wait because of me, by the way.
(4)
Miss Z.
My go-to Sushi place for lunch during the week. I almost find it impossible to tire of the menu, since there are so many interesting choices. They have great lunch deals and the chicken donburi is delicious and satisfying. Nice vibe, nice staff and good, fresh sushi.
(4)
Amanda M.
I absolutely love the atmosphere and the food /service in this place! Def a 5 star!
(5)
Heman P.
Its really great. You got to try it if you like sushi.
(4)
Haseeb A.
Great sushi place. I used to live on the same block and would order their take out sushi all the time. However, nothing compares to eating in. The atmosphere is amazing and service is great. The entree's that they offer are delicious, but again, nothing compares to the sushi. They have a great variety of sushi so there is always something new to try. They also have some Japanese beer which I had never tried before coming here and it was very good.
(5)
b w.
ABSOLUTELY the best sushi I've ever had. I don't claim to be a sushi pro, but I've been all over the east coast w/ work and I've experienced sushi in many of the big cities (New York, Cape Cod/smaller New England towns, Boston, Baltimore, DC, and all over Florida) and this location is by far the best I've ever had. Also, the prices are extremely reasonable, their most expensive roll is around 15.00 dollars and that's one of the huge specialty rolls. I believe their website has a full menu w/ prices. Please check this place out if you're in downtown philly, you wont be disappointed.
(5)
Pramiti S.
I took my college roommate visiting from DC to Fat Salmon and was really happy with the service, food, and atmosphere. Their menu had so many options and the avocado salad was relatively large and very good. They also had every Hitachino beer including their stout which is hard to find, but it was severely overpriced at $10 for 11.2 ounces. However, while the lighting was a little cheesy, we had an amazing time with great sushi, plum saki, sapporo light, and a fantastic server. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a girls night/date night/ or a group night. I also highly recommend the plum saki and their special roll, the Hako roll. SO GOOD! I will definitely be back especially considering it's great sushi for an even better price.
(4)
Melanie M.
Wow! I have walked past this place so many times since it is right around the corner from my apt. I finally decided to check it out after my friends were raving about it. They were right about this place! Everything was so delicious! I have never had so sushi so fresh in my life. The tuna sashimi does melt in your mouth. We also had the Locust Roll (the perfect mix of flavors and crunchiness). The M & M with marinated beef was also different and fantastic. Service was great and the BYO part is another plus. We have gone back 3 times now and can't wait to take all of our friends there so that they can enjoy sushi done right!
(5)
Scottie B.
Went here twice while in town for a conference. The first time, with my girlfriend, she got the vegetarian combo and I a spicy tuna creation (Hoki Sushi I think). She loved hers and I was pretty pleased with mine. We got there around 5 on a Sunday and found the place empty. The second time, with my labmates we all ordered at least two rolls and there was high praise. This time (7:30pm on a Tuesday) the place was quite full but we still found a table. As always with sushi, it doesn't fill you up so feel adventurous to order at least two rolls. The interior is quite small (but not cramped) and includes a sushi bar. Our waitress was very nice and never far but not interrupting. And we couldn't believe the price, very reasonable.
(4)
Alix H.
Shinju is definately yummy, but for the price I just want MORE!!!!!!!! My boyfriend and I are CA transplants to Philly so we are excited about finding all the best places to eat, but for the same price at the place back home you get 2-4 more pieces per order. bummer. It's still tasty and we will be coming back. As for the complaints about it being too small--- it's COZY !! :)
(4)
Chrissy R.
I always stop by here when I have family in the hospital. Yes, it's morbid, depressing sushi. Yummy though and they do cheap and quick takeout.
(4)
Anna Marie C.
yum yum yum. so i made the trek halfway across town for some sushi tonight (after reading the rave reviews here on yelp!). so it's my own fault for not reading the reviews as thoroughly that i did not notice that it was byo. i will correct that mistake next time. in any case, it was damn tasty. there are your standard sushi fare...and then there's the quite fab funky rolls. i had the locust (tempura tuna and crab and avocado and and and....) and the lady vampire (yes, i ordered it purely for the name). and it lived up to its yelp hype. oh, and they make one kick ass agedashi tofu. i seriously judge places based on how authentic their tofu is...and this place is quite hardcore. so next time, there will be sake and sushi for me. rock.
(4)
Matt S.
You can't go wrong with the place. Solid sushi, good atmosphere, great prices, and BYOB. While I'm certainly not a sushi connoisseur like some other reviews, I would like to think that I can taste the difference between good and bad sushi. Shinju Sushi consistently impresses me with their fresh, creative rolls. Worth noting is that this place is SMALL. Reservations can be good idea. Also, the service can be a bit slow but never inattentive. Considering the size of the space, their almost non-existent kitchen and great prices I've never found the service to be a problem. Just don't expect to dine and dash.
(4)
Rachel K.
Came here on my birthday and I became a fan. Great little cozy location. Shinju is known for their "fusion" style sushi and they definitely took the award for that! The rolls were smaller and a bit pricier then what im used to @ Mizu or Raw. But every bite makes up for it! I love how each dish comes with illustrations! hah The bad: too dark, byob, and one time they ran out of rice so my party had to wait one hour!
(4)
Joshua S.
This is one of the few sushi places I have been to since I moved from Hawaii that compares to the spots on island. The place is very tiny, so I tend to make reservations when I go, although they are usually only needed on the weekend. It is a BYOB, but I'm a student so I don't mind paying a third of the price to by a six pack of Ichiban from around the corner. The rolls are fantastic, with many fusion rolls that are as fun to decide over with your date as they are to eat (although I agree with Lori that they are too fragile for the undextrous. They are a little pricey, but there has ever been an uttered regret from my table come check time. The sashimi and edamame are usual additions to the meal, as well. All in all, go in a patient mood (the service runs a little slow and the chefs take their time perfecting your roll) and you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Gustavo B.
Its a trendy, not so expensive , great spot for couples and even small groups, for a fun, great sushi dinner. Can get busy on weekends, so make sure you make a reservation. Staff is super friendly and service is very good. Their specialty rolls selection is pretty decent, as well as the regular, vegetarian and tempura options. They have now a new menu, with even more stuff. By the way, it is no longer BYOB.
(4)
Kaye I.
should i even tell you about this place?!? Shinju is awesome!!! Delicious Sushi, Best prices in town. Only draw back is the place in tiny, but it's cozy and warm with their friendly staff. Did i mention BYOB!! They are planning to move to a larger location so maybe till then you could go to Fuji mountain so I can be sure to get a table here :) Perhaps I should add that i am fairly new to sushi and I am still getting alot of the fried stuff on the menu, but my genuine sushi and sashimi eating friends like this place as well.
(5)
Joe J.
Just came back from dinner at Fat Salmon. Ill start off by saying a really good place and I very much enjoyed it, and most importantly the food. The decor is really cool. I found it comforting. The place is pretty small, consisting of all two person tables and a large bar seating area. The tables are really close to eachother which I cant blame them on since it is small, and once you get over the initial awkwardness with being close to people you dont know it doesnt matter anymore. Just google image "fat salmon philadelphia" if you wanna see the inside. ***definantly make a reservation*** ~~i went there today which is monday night and it was still completely full. i didnt see anyone ever waiting but it was constantly full so i can only imagine what it would be like on a friday or saturday. With my reservation we got seated immediately. The service was kind of slow but not unbearable. They filled the waters pretty quick but after that it took about 10 minutes for our waitress to come. Then another 10 again after our drink order. But it was ok because we spent most of the time looking at the menu. The waitress was really nice, personable, and knowledgeable. We had a few conversations with her and everyone just seemed overall pleasant. Now to the food. For starters we had the edamame. I had no idea what it was, all i knew was that a lot of people like it. When i came i was really disappointed to find out it was just soy beans with the pod covered in salt. Nonetheless they were still fun to pick at. It was 4.50 which wasnt bad. I wouldnt recommend getting it at all though, I just find it a little pointless. Between the both of us we got 5 rolls. Ill put them in decending order of which i liked best: ~Rolling Fire: INCREDIBLE. not only the best sushi i ever had, but also one of the best things ive ever put in my mouth. A lot of people are concerned about its spice factor, but to me it wasnt that spicy. Even if you dont like spice you NEED to get this. it was incrediblleeeee. ~White Forest: Second favorite. It was salmon tempura. What made this so unique and great was the salsa-like-thing and sour cream on top. The mixture of that with the tempura made your mouth go nuts. definitely absolutely recommend. ~Hako: Third favorite. The only reason i got this one was because all the reviews said it was incredible. didnt live up to my expectations but was still good sushi. dont let this deter you from getting it, just not as good as i expected. gives you 8 pieces though which is nice. ~Dancing Vampire: Fourth. Didnt really stand out to me but of course tasty. It would have been great alone but compared to all these other incredible sushi on my plate it just didnt match up. again, i dont recommend this one not because it was bad but there are other better things. ~Fancy Sushi: Eh, it was alright. Expected it to be better. The biggest downfall for me on this one was that it only came in 4 pieces. Taste was good but out of the 5 we got to me it was the least impressive. Dessert we got vanilla tempura ice cream. ABSOLUTELY get this if you are getting dessert. Actually even if you arent getting dessert.............get dessert....just so you can try this. Overall it was a great experience and would go back any day. Recommend completely. -----------------------------FOUR MONTHS LATER------------------------------------------ So just went back tonight and loved it again and just had to write about it. Originally I gave it 4 stars but after tonight it jumped to 5. Ill just talk about the rolls. This time we got rolling fire (had to get it again), white forest (she had to get that again), sepia pleasure, mr shiro, and lost rainbow. Lost rainbow was GREAT. to me better than white forest, everything worked so well. Mr Shiro i was not that impressed. The whole thing in your mouth tastes a scale of 6 on a 10 but you can taste something is off. I tried the topping seperately....and thats what it was. It was so fishy and dry I didnt like the top at all. Yet the actual roll made it ok. But atleast the roll was 8 pieces so that was ok. Wouldn't recommend this one though. Then lastly the surprise of the night was sepia pleasure. Was not expecting this to be as good as it was. It was surprisingly great. Actually really great. Third next to lost rainbow. First is still rolling fire of course. Then once again we got ice cream which was just as good this time. GET IT. also went to doma which i heard was another popular sushi rest in the city, personally thought this was better than doma
(5)
nico t.
My favorite sushi spot in town. the decor is bright and cheery, but the lights are dim, creating a great sushi atmosphere. as others have said, it's a tight fit most of the time. the reasons i love this place start with its location. it happens to be just around the corner from my apartment. but that's not all. they have a good selection of vegetarian sushi options, which works well for weirdos like me that like sushi but don't eat fish. the wait staff are friendly and helpful, and the chefs will make stuff not on the menu if you ask nicely (not common among locals). the prices are about average for a decent sushi place, though the vegetarian tempura is a little pricey, but i can't resist. it's my favorite. they put a spicy mayo on it that is just the right amount of zing for me. the menu has a huge variety of "fusion" options in addition to standard sushi fare. they've even added a vegetarian option to the fusion menu, which i like to think was the result of my continuous efforts to get them to expand their veggie options. In short, if you're in the neighborhood and like sushi, eat here.
(4)
Bernadette F.
Amazing inventive sushi and cocktails that were very affordable. The special rolls were almost the normal price. Attentive service. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Josh W.
I think this is the best sushi spot in the city. After having to write a scathing review about another place in Philly, I felt it only just I write a nice review about a place I love going to. There's always something new to try, the atmosphere is great, the service is wonderful. The food is just excellent all around. Never had a bad meal here. I wish I could try everything but it will take me many moons and many stomachs. Go here if you love sushi. This is the place.
(5)
SF G.
Overall was disappointed with this restaurant. The server seemed lost most of the time. Also, when we made reservations for 12 they sent us to 3 different tables in separate sections of the restaurant...not quite the ambience we were looking for when sharing a meal together. Good selection of sake. Waitress recommended the Rolling Fire roll...it sounded so good. Unfortunately, it is so drenched in their spicy sauce that you can't really taste anything else in the roll. Who even knows if their fish is fresh since I couldn't discern the flavor. Other rolls I tried I was not in love with. Some were quite heavy handed. Overall, I prefer fresh fish that you can taste despite the competing flavors. The restaurant is trendy and chic but could use some help redecorating their menu and/or being more authentic.
(3)
Don K.
Went for my second time here this week. I thought this was some of the best sushi I have had in a while. Special rolls were all very good sized. All the fish tasted fresh. We had no problems with any of the rolls we ordered. Alcohol is expensive, which is really the only reason I dinged it a star. It looks like they have some good lunch specials, which I would love to check out some time.
(4)
Elena S.
This is a solid, consistently good sushi place that is decently priced and a great option for lunch or dinner (great lunch specials, btw). The quality of the sushi is really good - maybe not quite as great as Morimoto, but pretty darn close and way less expensive. And I think it's just as good as pricier sushi places, like Zama or Raw. The vibe is also modern and pretty, and the service is super friendly and efficient. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for something nicer than Mizu or Vic's, but you don't want to spend a fortune for sushi.
(4)
Patti F.
4 stars for being BYO & having reasonably priced delicious sushi. 3 stars for service. The space was intimate. I would recommend going on a week night to beat the crowd.
(4)
s l.
Great little (seriously, little) spot in Washington Sq West. It's rare that I leave a sushi place stuffed, but after the old school roll and the lipstick roll (I think?) and sharing an order of the very good, light agedashi tofu, I was just that. I wish I stopped at the Foodery first though. Next time I'll come armed with some Hitachino XH.
(4)
They Call Me L.
We were here on Saturday evening earlyish, Memorial Day weekend. It wasn't terribly busy. Service was good. Their sushi was tasty. We several rolls, including the vampire. Had the small sashimi, too, and that was really fresh and yummy. Beautiful space and decor.
(4)
Alex F.
Fat Salmon is the re-opened Shinju sushi- after eating at shinju only once and being very impressed, my girlfriend and i returned to Fat salmon to see what they had. The menu is same with an addition of more special rolls. The ambiance and size of the restuarant too are much better than the closet sized shinju. I would've given Fat Salmon 5 stars, however, there were 2 things that did not impress me. The service was not very good. We brought beers and it took about 10 minutes for a server to bring us a bottle opener, then when they did, they took it away so we had to go through waiting again when we had to open our next beers. it also took a little over an hour for us to get our food, even though we came for a late dinner and the crowd was dying down. This may be (and hopefully it is) just a product of opening a new restaruant, so if you go just make sure your mindful of waiting. The other thing is that they seem to be applying for their liquor licence. So no more BYOB, which is a shame. I love BYOB. All that aside, the food is Fantastic and well worth the wait! the servers are freindly even though they take awhile too.
(4)
meg B.
This place has such great ratings so my expectations were high when I had dinner here last night. I was so disappointed! The appetizer shumai and gyoza were not tasty, unsatisfying, and obviously store-bought frozen. I couldn't eat them. The fish itself was average. The sushi menu has more cooked fish options than raw ones. The guy at the next table asked the waitress "what's sashimi?" Seems like this place may attract patrons who are not very sushi-saavy? The rolls were ok and well-priced but definitely not special. I will not be coming back nor will I recommend this place to anyone.
(2)
Edu A.
Shinju used to be Philly's best kept secret sushi and rolls spot. Then the Yoo brothers gave us Fat Salmon, a very trendy spot just about across the street from Washington Square. Sophisticated ambience, excellent service, and definitely the best rolls in the city. And the price is great, which is different from other sushi places that are overpriced and not as good in quality or creativity. Highly recommended for lunch break if you are in Center City, or for a romantic evening. Very beautiful decor and lighting. Try Hako sushi, very delicious. And don't forget to try their spicy tuna crunch roll, my second favorite. And don't believe bad reviews of users that are apparently trying to advertise other restaurants of similar style, claiming to know their sushi. It's almost a crime to say thatcFat Salmon's food is not great. It is hands down excellent!! I'm a real costumer and I approve this message!
(5)
ivy h.
The interior here is beautiful and the food is great. Also hanging out with my girl Gina ;)
(5)
Gordon N.
WOW! great food and service. What more can one ask for.
(5)
Lauryn Z.
We had dinner at Shinju last night, and since my last review was about a year ago, it's time for an update and I'm happy to report that nothing has changed- the sushi is still the best I've ever had...the fish is always fresh & melt in your mouth delicious every time ...and the rolls are unique and creative, miso soup is excellent & its byob with the Foodery just around the corner. We left with a wonderful 'food high' totally wondering why we would ever bother going anywhere else in Philly for sushi...
(5)
Mindy Y.
Shinju is moving to 7th and Walnut.. and they're changing their name to Fat Salmon. Fat Salmon?? Yes, Fat Salmon.
(5)
Jon S.
We love this place for the vibe and the great, inventive food and we like the new location. We have eaten here several times and I guess it was usually half full. Tonight got there at 7:30, full house and unbelievably noisy. Tip: go early or go late.
(5)
K E.
Best sushi east of Broad. Probably my favorite sushi in the city.
(5)
Jay P.
Awesome, really fun and affordable sushi place. Try the bct! Service is acceptable, but sometimes a bit disappointing. Great dinner for the price.
(4)
Caitlin C.
This is a hidden BYOB gem that I am trying to tell all my I-think-I-know-it-all-Philly-foodie friends about. And now I am telling you. Let's start with their motto: "Till the fat salmon sings." This sushi joint is funny, creative and colorful. The walls are painted yellow, green and orange, but don't worry - it is dimly lit at night for date dinners as well. Although it is probably only 400 square feet, Shinju has a little Tiki Bar (aka: sushi bar covered in palm reeds) and about 10 tables. The walls are lined with a graphic artist's portrayal of dancing, cartoon-like sushi pieces. Anything you get here is going to be delectable. And I don't know what everyone's Genji deal is . . . this is a lot better! To make your choice a lot easier, I have created a menu for you and your loved ones. Caitlin's Menu: Beef Gyoza (Japanese dumpling) to start Rock & Roll (tuna, salmon, cucumber inside; tempura crunch outside) M & M (marinated beef inside) Spicy Tuna Crunch (tuna, tempura crunch, cucumber, tobiko) Green Tea Ice Cream At this point of the meal you are converted.
(5)
Mum D.
Fat Salmon, what an intriguing name for a restaurant. And where does a restaurant experience start? With the name. Then you walk in the door. At Fat Salmon you are greeted by a gorgeous hostess, who unlike many other places is also friendly and very accommodating. Step 3: server. Also friendly and ready to answer any questions we had. N4. Food. It was a lil strange we had to wait for a miso soup over 15 min considering the fact they were closing, but whatever. I won't nitpick, because it was good. Drinks? My Green tea sake shake was disappointing, should have had some simple syrup in it maybe and more flavor, but it was drinkable. Then came my bento box with seared salmon. My fish surpassed any expectations I had. I mean...this was CRISPY-SKINNED, PERFECTLY SEASONED, exploding with flavor! Way to go, Fat Salmon. The only thing on my plate I wasn't crazy about was the dumpling. It was heavy and chewy, too doughy and you could barely taste the filling. Otherwise , great food. I wish we had gone a lil earlier so they don't rush us out the door. Also glad the owner finally stopped charging his employees credit card transaction fees etc and they FINALLY get their tips in full...
(3)
Clarissa D.
One of my favorite places in the city. BYOB. Well priced, generous, and well made sushi dishes. Nice dark candle lit atmosphere. I come here all the time with my friend and our bill is usually $30 or less. They also do a great lunch special.
(5)
Kim C.
This is my go-to place for sushi. Nothing fancy, no frills, reasonably priced, they do takeout and delivery ($15 minimum), and fish has always tasted fresh. I've been going here and will continue to go here for all my sushi needs in Philadelphia.
(4)
Lisa B.
This is my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. The special rolls are creative, and their spicy rolls are just that. . .when they say spicy, they mean it! These are rolls with a kick! They are also large and very reasonably priced. Spicy Tuna melts in your mouth. Hako is my all-time favorite: inside Spicy Tuna and Crunchy, on top Eel & Tobiko with Eel sauce. Mmmm! Another delicious creation is the Volcano: inside Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado and on top Spicy Tuna with Wasabi Tobiko & Crunchies on the side. The Dancing Vampire is another winner: inside Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy while on top is Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy). I've taken out-of-towners here who have loved it. The bad part is that it's now become quite popular, is no longer BYOB, and is not very large. So the last 2 times we tried to drop in, we were met with an hour or more wait, forcing us to go elsewhere. And this is even during the week sometimes! So reservations are suggested.
(5)
Katy D.
I am in love! I have found a sushi place that is not overpriced (I'm looking at you, Raw) and has amazing quality. I went with my husband and got a "sushi for 2" platter. It came with miso soup and a salad. The sushi platter was a generous mix of nigiri, sashimi, maki, etc. It was enough for both of us to be full and happy and that's really all I can ask for. The service was just ok, but even at Shinju, they never really had the service part down. The fish was so fresh and the rolls were SO good. They did not use a ton of rice in each roll like other sushi places, which I like. I will definitely be back, fat salmon. Also, I thought the mural inside was pretty awesome. I do wish they were staying BYOB, but there's really not enough Sake options in the city stores anyway, so hopefully they can offer a good selection when they get their liquor license.
(5)
Mai H.
Pretty decent sushi for a decent price. Tonight the rice was a little mushy for some but still ok in my book. I love the volcano and dragon rolls. Service has always been a little slow but I don't mind a little slowness ar byo's. And speaking if which, not sure how much longer that will last since it looks as though they're applying for a liquor license. I'll still be coming back.
(4)
Bryce P.
I moved to Philadelphia recently, and was looking for a reliable place for sushi... Found it here at Fat Salmon... Staff is great, decor is modern/trendy. VERY reasonable prices for sushi, that in my opinion, is better than that of Morimoto. Try the Fancy Roll with Salmon. Currently BYOB (no corking fee), though they are getting their liquor license soon.
(5)
Gabrielle T.
Fantastic! I'm really picky about my sushi and it's been 6 months since I've had it; I'm from Boston and was convinced I'd never have anything as good as my favorite place back home... until I experienced Fat Salmon. I did some serious recon on this place before I made a reservation. I walked by a few times (it's just around the corner from my house) and it seems like it's always packed- good sign #1. I popped by and got a take-out menu and was amazed by the wide selection and the creative, tasty-sounding rolls. The third time I walked by, I stopped in to make a reservation for the following week and met with the hostess, who was awesome. Even though they had lots of reservations for the time we requested, she put us down for corner seats at the bar and said that she'd work on getting us a table. So group of friends and I went out to Fat Salmon on Tuesday night and we were all very impressed. We were happy to find that we'd ended up getting a nice little table for four in the back. The decor was great; we really liked the wallpaper and the mural featuring the pieces of tuna and salmon sashimi was so cute. The service was excellent as well... whoever yelped that it was bad must be mistaken. Our waitress, Jessica was extremely attentive, friendly, polite, and personable. The three of us were waiting for our fourth to arrive, and she came over to tell us that she'd try to put our order in before a 6-top that had just arrived because she didn't want us to have a long wait. She helped us choose our dishes and gave great advice on some tasty rolls that we ended up completely devouring. Needless to say, she got a big tip. Best part: It's a BYO, and if you bring cold beverages, (i.e., Asahi super cans) they'll keep them in the fridge until you're ready to imbibe. If you bring Sake, they take it back to the kitchen, warm it up, and bring it out in a lovely serving set for you. The food: everything was hands-down delectable. The four of us had green tea, our alcoholic beverages, some edamame, and miso soup to start with. The miso soup was some of the best I've ever had. Even my friend (who might be considered an expert in Japanese culture and cuisine) was impressed. We ordered the following rolls and ate every single piece: Hako Sushi, Rock and Roll (SO DELICIOUS), Yellow Tail Roll, Enkai, Spicy Tuna and Spicy Tuna Crunch (can't go wrong), Spider Roll (my favorite!), and Shiitake roll (decent). The best part is that it was all so tasty, and so affordable! I'm definitely going to become a regular at Fat Salmon and I highly recommend it to any sushi aficionados out there. Grab your chopsticks and enjoy!
(5)
Angela C.
Update 1 year later - We have since come here many times and have learned what to order for the best experience! I always get the sashimi for 2, he gets 3 different kinds of rolls, usually a rainbow, a volcano (the spicy one?) and something else, wild card I suppose. You have to order it this way because if you say you are sharing, there will be LESS sashimi on the plate! Also, we get to share the soup and salad that comes with the sashimi meal. The fish, esp the salmon, has been melting in our mouths. I personally like the scallops and tuna. The white fish is good but after 2 pcs I would look for something else. This amount of food is just right for my hubby and I. Of course we bring our wine or beer. The bill usually comes out to $60 which is unheard of in Texas where we are from for this quality and quantity. As always, make sure you call ahead for a reservation! We went on Halloween early evening to celebrate our anniversary (only our "going out" one, not wedding) and to our surprise, this area was very quiet and we didn't see anyone with crazy costumes. Anyways, this place is tiny! With about 9 tables close together. But the decor is very mellow and pretty. You feel comfortable as soon as you step foot indoor. The service was good and attentative. We had about 6 rolls: 3 specialty, 2 traditional, 3 sashimi and brought our own white wine. Love BYOB places here. The tuna was OK, doesnt melt in your mouth but OK. Salmon was much better. The special rolls were the best. Ingredients were fresh and pairing were good. Not crazy outrageous, but good. Overall, for the price, which was super cheap compare to where we came from ($66 total) originally, it was a good experience. We will definitely go again for a low key special occasion. PS. It did start to get crowded later on around 8:30pm so I would recommend making reservations.
(5)
Charlie G.
This place is CLOSED. Windows papered over, etc... Glad I walked across town, NOT. There were indications that they would reopen. Call before going to this place. Did they move? Fat Salmon, maybe?
(1)
Patrick M.
I love shinju and I'm not even the biggest sushi fan in the world. Fresh, tasty, and inventive fare is the name of the game, all at very reasonable prices and BYOB to boot. It's an unassuming hole in the wall type place, with maybe eight tables and a sushi bar that seats 3-4, but whatever it lacks in size it more than makes up for in quality. My favorite sushi place hands down. My only complaint is I wish they'd switch from the smooth jazz soundtrack to something a bit more, um, palatable ;)
(5)
J B.
This place is great for any sushi lover. We have been three times and haven't had any complaints. There is a great selection on the menus and even some rolls that I have never seen before. The seafood is always fresh. The size of the restaurant is great as well and while giving you privacy at your table. We will return to Fat Salmon.
(5)
Mike H.
The sushi was definitely good quality and the prices aren't bad at about $5 for most order of nagiri (2 pieces) and $8-10 for most specialty maki. The service was fine--nothing amazing (i.e. they didn't rub my feet during dinner)--but I was completely happy with it. The decor was nice - the restaurant is smallish, but nice and intimate with low lights, nice decorations, candles on the tables to light everything, and hilarious dancing sashimi pieces decorating the walls. The only thing frustrating about the place is the reservation system. I walked in with a party of two at 7:40p and despite the fact that there were three empty tables for two, I was told that I had to wait 30-45 minutes to sit. I did get a call on my cell phone 20 minutes later telling me that there was a cancellation and an open table--I could take it, but I had to be done by 9:45p because there was another group coming in. Of course I could have made a reservation, but at a place that small with only 10ish tables, having so many of them reserved is problematic for walkins. Overall, I thought it was a great experience and I highly recommend it.
(4)
Marvin L.
was a big fan of shinju, now i am a huge fan of fat salmon great atmosphere creative rolls fresh fish friendly owner and servers see you again soon!
(5)
Jen K.
Fat Salmon is ok sushi. Its run of the mill. Not bad, not great, just kinda there.
(3)
Josephine A.
Just so everybody knows-- this place isn't located at 9th and locust anymore. It's at 7th and Walnut. And it's called Fat Salmon. The phone number hasn't changed.
(3)
Justin M.
great sushi! love the intimate atmosphere! i frequent this sushi spot often. one of my favorites.
(5)
Rachel W.
AMAZING! My favorite sushi place in the city. I only wish they could expand so we could get a seat easier but the food & Lena (our fave server) are the best. I can't wait for our photo to be added to the wall. :)
(5)
Amy A.
One of the best sushi places in Philly! Great service, great atmosphere. When I pick up my food, they will bring it outside for me because usually I will be walking my dog. Their spicy scallops over fried tofu is delicious and a must-have. I used to go to the Asian Bistro in Old City, but they've been cutting their portions and service is always slow. Make sure to call ahead at the Fat Salmon on weekends and make a reservation, they are usually packed.
(5)
Mike C.
I only order fat salmon for takeout, but it's always so delicious. I was very disappointed that they stopped being a BYOB right before I discovered this place. The rolls are always big portions compared to the other sushi places in center city that I've had. My girlfriend is obsessed with the yellowtail roll. So simple, yet so delicious. The miso soup isn't too salty, and is one of the better ones that I've had.
(5)
Erica S.
My friend and I went here for dinner because she was close with the owner... The place was tiny so it was hard to locate at first. There is no place to park so you need to really look for a spot before entering... Just like the outside, the inside was tiny as well. The service wasn't all that great though because they didn't directly approach us when we entered, didn't come by to take our orders until we waved our hands toward them, and the food took quite awhile to be served. Their sushi rolls were great (had Locuste, Rolling Fire, Rock and Roll) but I've tasted better... The place was tiny so it was very crowded and loud but I liked that. I think the food tastes better when eating around crowded area filled with people. I didn't get a chance for the dessert because of the parking spot and people waiting outside in the freezing cold but I guess that can wait until next time. Overall, I think this place is a good place to go to with a close friend or two.
(3)
Karen B.
Shinju is my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia (though I haven't been to some of the pricier places). I remember the restaurant being cozy and inviting, with fun and cheeky wall decor. The fish was fresh and delicious, and the special rolls were inventive in a tasty way. A couple of the rolls were rather spicy, but they were marked as such on the menu. Service was fairly prompt, although it was a bit understaffed and there were times when it was a bit difficult to catch our waitress. Still, the food more than made up for it. I will certainly go back!
(4)
y f.
Our go to sushi place in the city - have tried other sushi restaurants but always end up coming back to fat salmon. The highlights are their rolls, and, while their fish is excellent, they also have many veggie friendly options - in fact, my favorite roll is the old school (spicy mayo sauce is amazing!). Overall, awesome place with friendly & efficient service.
(5)
Eric W.
Delicious sushi (make sure to try a few of their special rolls) and nice atmosphere. Very affordable and our waitress was attentive and polite even though we stayed a little after closing time.
(5)
Kristin D.
I love this place. It is small and quaint, the sushi rolls are innovative and are good. Where can you go for sushi for 2 and get in and out under $50. I suppose its because it is BYOB, but is also the reason why l like it. The sushi blows Raw out of the water. I would not put it in the best sushi in the world category, but its pretty decent. The only complaint I have is we went last night, and when we sat down, there was only 1 other table occupied. Shortly after, 2 more tables arrived, and the waitress placed them on each side of us. It seems that the seating of tables should be more like the unspoken urinal rule (not that I would know). If at all possible don't place tables right next to each other. If it would have been busy, I wouldv'e understood.
(4)
Lori H.
I usually don't dine out on Saturday nights as I prefer to go out when restaurants are slower but I did. Maybe this attributed to the excruciatingly slow service but I am not likely to go back. I also did not care of the designer rolls that we purchased as they were too fragile to eat with chop sticks.
(3)
Tom G.
I order sushi from this place at least once a week. While the space is small and the tables close together this somehow adds to the charm. The staff is always friendly and glad to see me (perhaps because I drop as much money as I do). When picking up takeout and bring the dog to pick up my order they not only bring my order outside they sometimes bring treats for the dog. My personal favorite is the Locust roll - if you go you MUST try this roll.
(5)
Eve G.
My sushi crusade brought me here (that and plus insistent recommendations from friends). There is something about eel, I must admit. And so we came. Atmosphere was somewhat cold. Blue light waves on the walls, grey bar area minimalistically crowded, dark host stand... not a color palette i normally associate with sushi spots, but hey, whatever, i dig it. kinda. Anyway, food itself was great. really good. spot on rolls, eel and what-not. bento boxes 2 times the size of zama's. I loved it. What I didnt love was our waitress telling us we can only order now and she wont be able to order anything else for us later. We came in at 2:10 for lunch and they were closing at 2:30. So that 2nd beer I wanted to order after I was done with my first one was out of my reach. I guess going over to the bar and getting a bottle would be rule breaking surpassed only by PDoA. Much No-No at Fat Salmon's. And of course we couldnt order desert or get coffee as we were finished with our entrees, cause our check was closed (and on the table BEFORE we got those entrees). So that was REALLY weird. Anyhow food itself was great. Concept and service? Not so much
(4)
lori m.
obsessed with this place. everything i've ever gotten here is awesome. the chilled tofu with seaweed salad is my favorite app...if you can, i'd call ahead for a reservation. save room for the fried ice cream...so good!
(5)
Sally f.
loved this place! what a fun time! beautiful interior! friendly service! delicious sushi!!!!!!!! cant get enough sushi!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
jack j.
I used to go to shinju (their old restaurant) or however you spell it, very often. I was nervous to see if the place would change i.e. price, food, ambience. I am happy to report that everything is the same if not better. The place is super modern and the food is still the best sushi philly has to offer. Awesome food, really inexpensive, nice people. It's still byob but not for long, they applied for a liquor license.
(5)
Justin E.
Best overall sushi experience I've had taking cost, quality, service into consideration. For a downtown address it's a little out of the way from everything else. I highly recommend Shinju.
(5)
Jennie K.
great service, great FRESH sushi, great variety on the menu, plus they just got a liquor license. who could ask for more??
(4)
Brooke P.
I think I found my new favorite sushi spot in the city. We didn't have reservations on a Thursday night, and found that although it was pretty crowded, we were able to get seated in 5 minutes. The ambience of FS is trendy and chic, the design clean and simple with a high tech vibe. I love sashimi and the sashimi plate for 1 was definitely more than enough for one person- I actually shared it with my friend and it was still plenty. The feshness of the fish and the selection was awesome. The best sashimi- which doesn't surprise me, given the name of the establishment, was the salmon. Melted in my mouth. The combination of the food and the fact that it's a byob make this my new top spot in Philly. The only thing that could use a little working on is the timing of how the food is brought out, but the waiters were super helpful, very pleasant and did not rush us into ordering. I would go back to FS tonight and in fact, I already know where I'm going for my birthday in September!
(4)
Lowie T.
oh i love a good fatty salmon any day, so with a name like this it just calls to me! not only is the name delicious, it doesn't fail to deliver great sushi- fresh, generous portions, and at a great price! i especially love the lunch specials. i always get the (no surprise here) salmon special- salmon maki, w/ 2pcs nigiri, & sashimi - soup or salad for only $10.50! and it's one thing if the quality is good and it's cheap, but small...but the portions are just right. not ridiculously large that you feel skeptical, but definitely enough that it feels like an actual lunch deal. in general, their portions are pretty generous though, even for dinner. the place is very modern & trendy looking, lots of sea blue back light, but also casual at the same time. very versatile. a great place to have a casual dinner/quick lunch, as well as a very nice sit down special occasion dinner. the entrance is easy to miss walking down walnut street so keep your eyes peeled! don't be surprised if u walk by just to walk backwards again. i think this would also fall under "great date with great ambiance for an affordable price" spot =)
(4)
Jeremy G.
Reservations were easy and friendly. The decor and atmosphere was good. Visually, Fat Salmon looked excellent. The lighting is excellent. They could use some sound deadening material placed in the restaurant as all of the hard surfaces reflect every sound in the restaurant, making what could be a quiet intimate place very loud. The menu is creative. Staff is extremely friendly and professional. The reason I rated Fat Salmon one star is that they served us bad fish. My date had to run to the restroom three unhappy times during the meal. My stomach was considerably grumbly. I think it may have been the whitefish in one of the Makis that we ordered. I had high hopes for Fat Salmon, but will not be returning.
(1)
Nic H.
A decent, well-decorated sushi-bar near Independence Mall with the cutest mascot ever (a little dancing salmon sashimi). I've been here over 5 times and had good experiences. The warm sake is always good and house sake is a reasonable price. Wait staff is friendly and attentive. Make a reservation if you can because otherwise it might be tough to get in, especially on a weekend. There are a lot of dates going on here, my favorite thing to do is people watch the dates to see how they are going.
(4)
John N.
Came here for lunch two days ago. Having tried Raw and Morimoto, it was time to try something new in Philly. The location is very weird, maybe not where you'd expect to find a Japanese restaurant. The inside is indeed small, maybe a little too much so. However, it is decorated just fine, so it's not as if it's ugly or anything...just the dining room is a little on the tiny side! I got a spicy tuna and veggie tempura lunch bento with green tea, my friend just some sushi. I asked for separate checks, and was politely told that I couldn't do separate checks. Weird, somewhat inconveniencing, but whatever. Prices were about typical for a Japanese restaurant. The food though, was delicious. The sushi was very fresh and satisfying. The tempura was good too. I know it's hard to mess up fried vegetables, but the bento box was arranged very nicely, and everything tasted fresh, hot, and just delicious. Separating the food from the location, it is definitely five stars in taste. However, dining is more than just food, so I have to give Shinju a four, but the food is so good, and without a doubt a five/five. Will return and would highly recommend!
(4)
Priya H.
My husband and I love this place. It is right in our neighborhood, reasonably priced and consistently delicious. With innovative rolls like the Dancing Vampire and Old School, it's always a delightful surprise. Their more basic rolls are not to be missed either including the Tensai which was fantastic in its simplicity. Overall, a great addition to the neighborhood with nice ambiance, good prices and fresh and consistent sushi.
(4)
Bixley T.
Shinju is by far my favorite sushi place in the city. Yes it's tiny, yes it can get crowded, yes the rolls can sometimes be smaller than what you're used to, but the quality is outstanding. The special rolls are some of the most unique and well thought out combination's I've come across. Definitely try the "lipstick trace" (fantastically refreshing and vegetarian, meets your palet in between tastes like sorbet in between courses) and the "duo roll" (an eel masterpiece). If you're looking for better value stay of the special roll menu and go for standards like spicy tuna, etc. Or better yet check them out for lunch. Shinju has a special lunch menu at prices you cannot beat! Service is generally pleasant, and they light rock salt candles at night which lend to the ambiance. Oh! They have posters of sushi characters that are made to resemble movie posters- kitschy and adorable. Love this place!
(5)
Jason B.
Shinju is great. Tons of variety and really great combo rolls that you don't find at other places. Nice staff and reasonable prices. This is my number one sushi destination in Philly.
(5)
Hanan B.
Sometimes it takes a while for the food to get ready or for a hostess to come get you seated. In other times, all goes great. A hit or a miss with timing. But the actual food is great which makes it worth the wait. For lunch, the lunch menu combo is fabulous and very affordable. The dinner is also great and I like the modern ambiance. The waiters are always nice and professional. Again just the days when we have to wait before being seated or before the order is taken are the only down side but you will be happy when the food comes.
(5)
Gautam T.
I took my girlfriend here for a dinner to congratulate her for passing her board exams. She loves sushi and is very meticulous when determining if the sushi is amazing. This place passed with flying colors. I thought this was some of the best sushi in town and my girlfriend agreed. We had 4-5 different rolls. Tempura Shrimp, Scallop rolls, and two of their specialty rolls; one of them being a mexican roll. The mexican roll had pressed pico de gallo on the rice with salmon inside the roll. This was by far the best roll. It tasted like a little piece of mexico in your mouth. Absolutely phenomenal. Beside the food being awesome. The ambiance is quite swanky, it seriously feels like you're swimming and eating fresh fish. Oh yeah and did I mention this place is super cost effective.
(5)
Andrew H.
Been here a couple times now. The sushi is fun and inventive. You can stay with the traditional options or venture into their specialties. They have options that will meet the needs of everyone; including those who don't want raw fish or even people who don't like seafood. My favorite dish is the octopus appetizer. The staff is friendly and the decor is nice. My only complaint is that the seating is tight due to the small space of the restaurant.
(4)
Laura F.
I have been wanting to have sushi in the city for a while, and this was one of the places with the most good reviews. I think they have SO MANY reviews because of their location, not because it is amazing sushi. I got the Volcano Roll and a Yellowtail Roll. It was very fresh sushi and flavorful, just not the best sushi I've ever had. The volcano roll was spicy, but did not burn my mouth. Oh yeah and I had miso soup, it was very good. Prices were what I am used to paying - glad it was not overpriced for their location. Service was pretty slow, that was the biggest negative for me.
(4)
Anonymous P.
Overrated seems like... avg sushi realky nice decor but the serving size is small, seems like the fish isnt fresh , tempura was alright... Pass
(3)
Katherine M.
Best options for vegetarian sushi that I know of in Philadelphia. Service is always great. Love it!
(5)
B M.
Very good quality sushi for the price point. The special rolls are all delicious and some are really inventive. Contemporary atmosphere, good service, and inexpensive drinks round out the experience. One of the best sushi spots in Philadelphia, and by far the best when factoring in price. Skip the trendy rittenhouse and Starr sushi restaurants and just go here.
(5)
Jericho T.
This place is my go-to sushi place in Philly. The first time I came here I splurged on a sushi boat for 2 with my friend. I think I teared up a little when I took a bite of their salmon. I can literally write an essay about how their salmon is so fatty, tender, and melts in your mouth like butter but that wouldn't be reasonable. Their sushi presentation is beautiful of course, and their quality of fish is probably one of the best. Other than the food their interior is chic, but a little small which should be a warning to all of you so make sure you always reserve!
(5)
Ron H.
I was an early adopter of Fat Salmon, eating here 2-3x's a month since they first opened. I was really excited when they were a BYOB as I prefer a sparkling sake with my sushi and it its rare to find it at restaurants. For their first year, it was hands down the best. The rolls were massive, the rice was perfect in sweetness and arrived table side at the perfect temperature. The nigiri sushi was criss-cross scored and allowed the fish to perfectly lay over the rice while offering an ideal surface for dipping in soy. There are the usual restaurant specific rolls, but nothing really stood out quite like the B.C.T. Roll, a non-fish option consisting of crispy bacon, cucumber and tomato topped with avocado and spicy sauce. I moved out of the neighborhood and made the trip back after they won (what i thought was a well deserved) Best of Philly for 2012. Tonight, the restaurant was crowded, but with no reservation we were able to be sat at the sushi bar after only 10 minutes. My ice tea came in a can, unopened. I later ordered a diet coke and got the same unopened can with a glass of ice. Not what I'm expecting from a "best of" restaurant. The sushi came out on a black wooden tray, a little unappetizing, but the food had always been so good, I didn't mind. The BCT roll is still awesome, hihgly recommended and something I've never seen anywhere else. Had a few pieces of nigiri, but the tuna seemed almost pink in colr and "spongy"...it reminded me of what you get in the supermarket sushi counter. Looks like it had been sitting out all week and was borderline freezerburnt. The Red Snapper was fresh as always. The volcano roll seemed overly spicey and I couldn't eat more than two pieces before needing to order another drink to cool down my mouth, while the Kaze roll used the same bland tuna as the nigiri and for a lack of better term, tasted "fishy". Had 2 other specialty rolls but honestly don't remember what they were it was so bland. Service was slow and unattentive, I noticed the other tables around us also waiting for their serves and meals. It's a very trendy looking interior with bold white surfaces and counter and cool blue back lighting. This is definatly not a kid friendly restaurant! I don't know if they've just moved from a 5 to 4 star place but is disappointing due to my past 6 star experiences, or if it was just an off night, but this dinner was a 2-3 star experience at best, saved only by the BCT roll. When you can go into a supermarket and buy pre-packaged rolls of the same quality as the restaurant you're going to, why bother going? Look for a second follow-up review, I'm not giving up this fast, but my current recommendation to friends is Zama for the best sushi in Philly.
(3)
Ben S.
Love this place. The food's really delicious and fresh, the service is terrific, and it's cheap! Just went for dinner, had a roll and a salad and green tea and it came to 10 buckeroos. Awesome. Great date spot too.
(5)
Sue K.
I like this place . I like the way this place is set up and of course amazing Sushi !!!
(4)
Sandy X.
Soooo good! Staff was friendly and service was great. Sushi was amazing and I'll definitely be going back more often.
(4)
Dana J.
Wait-how has bacon not been put into a sushi roll before? It's on everything else and yet Fat Salmon is the first sushi place I've ever been to that has it as a roll. Honestly, it gets 4 stars for this reason alone. This is a cute little sushi bar. It reminds me of a Japanese fast food restaurant with the cutesy character on the menu. It is small though, so even at 8 on a Tues we had to wait 20 minutes for a table. I liked the variety of special rolls they had. Besides the BCT which had the bacon, I tried several others that were all reasonably priced and fairly unique. It is easy to see why this is considered one of the best in Philly.
(4)
Anonymous A.
Love this place! If you're in need of a sushi fix you've found your spot. The wait staff is super friendly and the rolls are very creative. They have all the classic sushi rolls and then they have rolls that are truly innovative like the Mr. French kiss which is my favorite - shrimp, bacon and tartar sauce? Yes please! My sister wouldn't even try sushi until I took her here and she loved it! You seriously must go!
(5)
Michelle T.
Grilled octopus and vampire roll!
(5)
Chuck K.
Delicious sushi for an unbelievable price. It's not the fanciest sushi but it was damn good. The location is sleek modern and most importantly clean. No wait late on a weeknight.
(5)
Jennifer M.
Sushi. I love me some sushi, especially when it's super fresh, presented to me creatively, and I have lots of options to explore. Last night transported me to Fat Salmon. This was my first time here, and certainly not my last. This place was legit. The atmosphere is vibrant and futuristic. I digged it. Blue lighting, white furniture, and color-changing vases. It was a small place, so don't think you can just roll in with a big group. Since we didn't have reservations, we were sat at the sushi bar. We brought a bottle of pinot grigio, but alas, it's not BYOB anymore! That sad face turned into a happy one after I ordered their sake-tini (sake, gin, cucumber, and club soda). It was refreshing and light, and went well with our sushi choices. The menu had a ton of options, but I was all about the special rolls! I loved how they put pictures next to the names on the menu! Who needs to read the description when you've got pictures? We ordered the Dancing Vampire, Lava, Lost Rainbow, and the Miss Sake Bomb. Solid choices. My favorite was the Dancing Vampire because it had a nice spicy kick. The Lava roll had too much of their octopus sauce (scallion, spicy sauce, and mayo), and since I'm not a fan of mayo, I avoided that orange concoction to get to the roll. Our server was attentive and pretty friendly. Not a long wait for sushi, either! I'm definitely coming back to this place when I'm craving sushi. I highly recommend this place. p.s. They played some sexy music in the bathroom. I knew I would dig this place!
(5)
Hernan P.
Great food at a reasonable price. Excellent service with a nice environment. Location is not the most active by night and it can be difficult to get a table on weekends. Must call for reservation well in advance to get a table on busy hours. Overall one of the best sushi places in downtown Philadelphia!
(5)
Rachel S.
Very very good!!! My friend and I tried the sushi deluxe for two (see photo), Seaweed Salad, Spicy Tuna and one other roll I can't remember. All were fresh and fantastic! Service was impeccable, noise level normal, decor was beautiful. I loved it! We had saki and a bottle of white wine.
(4)
Shannon R.
When I go out for sushi, I tend to have to make do with an avocado roll and leave it at that. I couldn't believe my eyes when I sat down at Fat Salmon and saw EIGHT different veggie rolls on the menu. Are you kidding me, is this real life?! And then my jaw hit the floor when I saw six kinds of vegetarian nigiri. Have I died and gone to the big veg sushi bar in the sky? It took all my will power not to order everything, so I settled on two rolls: shiitake and midori. They were kind of skimpy and not total flavor bombs, but they filled me up and were way better than some standard veggie rolls I've had in the past. I was impressed when they brought out a bottle of tamari for another customer, very cool. The place is pretty trendy, great if you want to break out your cute heels and not feel over done, but perhaps a little much for the casual afternoon sector. The service was slow but pleasant - it took us close to an hour for lunch, but we weren't in a hurry. I will definitely be back to try every single roll and nigiri! I feel spoiled silly by all the options and can't wait to dive face first in it all.
(4)
Michael G.
Best sushi I've ever had! I see why they won the 2012 Best of Philly for sushi! I came here recently for lunch wanting sushi and someplace new. Yelp reviews helped me to pick Fat Salmon. After walking almost a mile from where I work, I entered into a mid-size modern contemporary restaurant with a blue sea wall and white tables. The bench seating was too soft and squishy for me to be comfortable, so I took a chair. They also have tables in a rear section. I ordered a lunch special with soup. This gave me the choice of two rolls and miso soup. I chose the Locust Fried (INSIDE - Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado / Spicy Sauce ON TOP - (Spicy Tuna Tempura OR Broiled Spicy Tuna) w/Eel Sauce)), and the Dancing Vampire (INSIDE - Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy, ON TOP - Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy)). WOW! Two rolls were almost like four because of the amount of food on top of the roll. They were put together perfectly with minimal rice and maximum everything else. The Dancing Vampire top was so smooth in texture - and I really don't like salmon. But here I really did! The miso soup was also nice and hot with plenty of taste and greens inside. One of the best I've had in a while. Service I felt was a little slow, but there were a few other customers in there (was not really packed at all, though) and they had to make the rolls! But, the water lady server was almost helicopter-like waiting to drop off a new splash of water when my glass was 1/2 full. Staff was very friendly. Fat Salmon has now ruined all of my other sushi places as I'll be disappointed that I did not walk the mile to get here again to eat. $15.66 for lunch for 1 not including tip, no drinks. Very well worth it.
(5)
Stacy M.
We tried Fat Salmon for lunch. We ordered the lunch combo with salad, chicken katsu, California roll, rice and gyoza, the sushi lunch and an additional spider roll, order of Himachi and Unagi. It was fine - but nothing special. The atmosphere was fairly nice. Food was ok - nothing more.
(3)
Steve M.
Of the more decent side of the sushi in the area with a reasonable price. The layout has a relaxing ambience that is ideal for an after work dinner. The sushi is well crafted and is just as the name implies; fat. Be sure to come with a hungry stomach because it shouldn't be hard to satisfy here.
(5)
Marian R.
ok, this one will be tricky. there is absolutely nothing wrong with fat salmon, but i am not their hugest fan (hence the a-ok rating). i love sushi, not just because i love eating raw fish, but i also appreciate the knife skills involved with the preparation (and i love beautiful, fishy presentation as well). fat salmon uses good quality fish, but their presentation has no artistry and their cuts of fish are way too big. this is why this review is hard to write, who would complain about too big pieces of sashimi? if that is your thing (bang for your buck) then i think that i can guarantee that you will love this place. i want beauty and deliciousness. so there. :) but - their rolls are very good (especially the salmon yaki), and i will probably stick to them in the future. service is attentive and upbeat, definitely all sorted out there. and they will soon be getting a liquor license, and that never hurts.
(3)
Hannah K.
This restaurant deserves 4.5 but 4 stars will suffice. One of my absolute go to sushi restaurants in Philadelphia. The restaurant itself is pretty small, a handful of 2 top-tables & a couple of 4-top tables, plus the sushi-bar seating. Cute decor, all white, with a cool color changing wall, pretty standard decor in an asian restaurant these days. But onto the food. Every time I come here, there are always 2 rolls that I get. The Mr. French Kiss roll (described as "spicy crab stick w/scallion, masago. On top: shrimp & bacon, onion tempura w/tartar sauce") & the Rolling Fire roll (described as "shrimp tempura, cucumber. On top: broiled spicy scallop sauce.") These rolls are a mouthful! So yummy! I've tried some of the other rolls like the pressed Hako roll & a handful of the standard sushi rolls such as the spicy tuna, spicy scallop, & the Philadelphia roll. The Hako roll wasn't too impressive, but the $12.50 price tag sure was, making this the 2nd most expensive special's roll on the menu. 2 appetizers that I love & really really really encourage anyone who goes to Fat Salmon to try: the Naked Gyoza (described as "spicy tuna or salmon with masago, scallion & pico de gallo, sour cream") & the Tofu (which has the same broiled spicy scallop sauce on it that the Rolling Fire roll has). YUMMY! I don't know what's in that broiled spicy scallop sauce, but if I had the chance, I would eat it with everything that I possibly could. It's finger licking delicious. The service was impressive, with the servers paying attention to each table even when the restaurant was packed. Never was my water not refilled, nor was I not checked on at the appropriate time. The only downside to Fat Salmon are the prices of the sushi & the wait time. Granted good sushi is on the pricier side , but some of these rolls don't deserve such high price tags. Also the wait time for the sushi is painstakingly long sometimes. Oh & another pet peeve of mine, when the sushi pieces are so big that it's hard to eat. I understand that the sushi is jam packed with delicious things inside, but please try to make it easy to eat. In all, this has to be one of the better sushi restaurants in Philadelphia! I hear that they've just received their liquor license, so I'll be looking forward to some new yummy cocktails.
(4)
Cassie K.
Loved it!! I love sushi but have to admit that I mostly limit myself to California Rolls (I am a Sushi Chicken). This place is great for Sushi Chickens!! I got a roll called the BCT which had bacon, tomato, and the roll was topped with avocado. I think the C was for cheese but whatever it was, it was delicious! The roll portions are large and the prices very reasonable. The menu had a lot of other fun looking rolls so I will definitely be back to try them out...maybe even some with actual fish in them depending on how brave I am feeling or the size of the wine bottle I bring :) As others said, this place is small so I would definitely call ahead for a reservation...even during the week!
(5)
Patty L.
Fresh, quality sashimi with an eclectic selection of rolls that are very reasonably priced in a super sleek and modern atmosphere. Service was great! Could have had a more extensive drink menu for us lushes but if you love sake, you're in the right spot!
(4)
Rachel B.
This was a fun place to go with a group of friends. Had good rolls and good service! Lots of variety in the rolls! Some of the rolls were a little "interesting" which I stay away from. Like things with fruit in them and such. I expected it to be a little more "trendy" inside considering the name. It wasn't super amazing, just regular average sushi. Also had edemame for our group, which needed some salt. I'll go back to try it again! BYO!
(3)
John R.
I dined here one cold winter afternoon. After dashing in and out of the New Year's Mummers parade, my girlfriend and I were wandering the streets hungry and we stumbled upon Shinju Sushi. It is such a cute little restaurant. It's BYOB. The vibe is casual and romantic with definite mood lighting going on. I would not suggest you come here with a group, or even with more than another person. The place just doesn't have that many tables. I think the whole restaurant can seat like 20 people, but for a date, planned or unplanned, this was the perfect spot. The quality of this place is no secret to the locals, almost every seat in the place was taken as we walked in. The waitress told us that it would be a 30 minute wait for a table. No matter we decided, as we saw one of the like 3 or 4 seats at the sushi bar was open. Luckily, my girlfriend and I have tiny butts. We both scooched onto the stool, wrapped one arm around each other and ordered our sushi like some two headed monster I guess. We got an appetizer of age tofu (fried tofu with dashi in a light soy broth) and a miso soup. We then ordered a few standard rolls (eel, salmon) and a special roll ( I should have written it down but you know the names never make much sense anyway). The amount of fish in our rolls was pretty good, the quality was good, and for a great price. The total bill came to under $30. By no means is this a must visit place, there are actually plenty of good sushi options around philly. However, I think shinju will become my local sushi spot. Vic is all the way on the other side of town for me. Bring your next date here, it's a good place for an intimate dinner. Plus girls like sushi restaurants. The place is small and full, but didn't feel crowded or loud. If you're good friends you can just share a seat at the bar.
(4)
Karen B.
fat salmon didn't really do it for me upon first visit, but i'd be open to giving it another try. everything about lunch today was just "meh." the steamed veggie gyoza were unevenly heated and were so soft, they would break into mushy halves every time i tried to pick one up with chopsticks. the spicy tuna roll had similar issues -- the pieces were prone to falling apart. they tasted pretty good, though. service wasn't anything to write home about, either. it's not that our server had a bad personality -- she just didn't seem to have one at all.
(3)
Franny G.
I recently went to Fat Salmon for the first time for a friend's birthday and was impressed by both the quality and selection of special rolls. The menu was extensive, and they included pictures of many of their specialties, which I appreciated. I ended up going with the Hako roll and absolutely loved it - if you like eel, I would recommend you try this one. They clearly take pride in the presentation of their rolls as well as their quality. In addition to the sushi, they had one drink in particular that really stood out to me - I believe it was the green tea mojito. A friend ended up ordering one and the entire table eventually ordered their own because it was so delicious and unique. I have already recommended Fat Salmon to all of my friends and plan on going back as soon as I get the chance!
(4)
patricia c.
I was attracted by the lights and I stayed for the food. It's a really nice spot that my boyfriend and I ran into last night for dinner. I would deff recommend this to any of my friends.
(4)
Jenn S.
i absolutely love this place! not is the place very nicely decorated, but it has decent sushi with interesting "special rolls." I also went with a bunch of vegetarian friends, and they were able to find many delicious options.I like their combo of ingredients for sushi (very creative), and the price. service was also great.
(5)
Jordan F.
Ive been reading reviews about Fat Salmon. Some good some bad I wanted to see for myself. I have to say that it was beyond my expections. There service was perfect. I cant say anything bad about this place. The food was out of this world. I order the "white forest" roll very different salmon tempua and pico de guio not what you would expect from a japanese sushi place. Very delicious and of course I got my usual spicy tuna. And I think decor was gorgeous. I just night become a regular here.
(5)
Wooj H.
Definitely a fan. One of the best places in Philly to get sushi. Great food, great atmosphere, great price.
(4)
Sook K.
Are you serious?? Based on the reviews from YELP I went here on a first date totally hyped. The place was cute but tight, a nice date spot. I got sushi 1 and my date got fish curry. As soon as I saw my plate I knew it wouldn't be good, and my date barely ate his dish. I'm asian, I know my asian food, this place was terrible.
(1)
Emilia M.
I have visited Shinju Sushi only 3 times, but each time I have brought a different friend, and each time it has been absolutely amazing! Shinju's specialty rolls are to die for. There is something for everyone on their menu, included a roll with kobe beef, as well as two rolls that somehow manage to incorporate bacon. I'm not a huge bacon fan, but I took my friend for his birthday and he was amazed! The place is super small, so I recommend calling ahead and getting reservations. They will only hold your reservation for 15 minutes after you're supposed to be there, but I think that is a pretty fair policy considering I once went without a reservation and had to wait a pretty long time. I definitley recommend Shinju, and after your meal you should definitely try the Moki ice cream. (If you read my other reviews, you'll see I'm a big fan). Added Plus: It's a byob, which means that you can have any beer or wine you want with your Sushi,
(5)
Brian P.
Awesome! The sushi is some of the most fresh fish in the city. It's a fun atmosphere, definitely trendy but can be pretty loud. Overall a great place with great food. Perfect for a night out with friends and a great place to bring people from out of town. Portions are reasonable for the price. I would highly recommend it.
(4)
B B.
We ordered sushi, before we were supposed to see a movie at the Ritz about sushi. We ended up skipping the flick and just relaxin' outside. But, that relaxation was helped by the fish that we had eaten just a while before. The shrimp rolls were great, and I loved the shiso leaves that accompanied the mackerel sashimi. fresh. reasonable prices for the location. pretty sweet.
(4)
Gary S.
This business was formerly Shinju on Locust Street. I reviewed it under Shinju, which is now closed. Same chef, same great, artistic sushi. Highly recommended! And now in a much more comfortable, stylish setting...
(4)
David T.
so so...nothing special
(2)
Marysa M.
Every roll that I tried was delicious and so reasonably priced!
(5)
Chris T.
Good, fresh soosh. Japanese appetizers left something to be desired. Friendly service in a nice space. Probably more accurate to give it 3.5 stars.
(4)
Mara K.
Recently learned that this place is no longer BYO... what a disappointment. Still love the sushi, but will miss the added BYO bonus.
(4)
Oski B.
CLOSED! Great place to come if you feel like wasting money on a cab ride from University City. Come for the sushi and you'll be sorely disappointed. However, if you're into butcher block paper covering the windows, you're in luck!
(1)
Cory B.
I initially was thinking about going to this place based on a recommendation from a friend and knew that I was for sure going when I checked out what the rest of you were saying. First, this place is amazing!! Very small on the inside (like maybe 10 - 15 2 person tables and a 4 seater sushi bar although one of those seats might be uncomfortably close to the wall). However, the place has a very good atmosphere to it. My first thought when I walked in was that it would be a great place for a date (and I am taking my wife back there tonight). Second, the food was great. I had the pork katsu appetizer (I have a weakness for anything fried) which is served with the traditional katsu sauce (kind of a sweet sauce) but it was kicked up a little bit by this dollup of some wonderful mayo/mustard combination (I am sure that there is a name for this, but I have no clue what it is). I then went to one of my old reliables for sushi - Spider Roll. It was, simply perfect. The size of the roll actually surprised me a little bit. The roll was cut into on 4 pieces but they were huge. I have since heard that Shinju refers to this as a "square roll". Needless to say, I was happily stuffed when I left. The service was excellent. I agree with Jenna C. about the speed of service: felt somewhat slow but it is actually more of an un-rushed feel. It was great though. The place is a BYO which always rates high in my book. Somewhat more pricey than your average sushi joint (my bill with tip was about $20) but it is well worth it. I highly recommend this place for any of you out there that love sushi and are looking for a little bit more of an upscale feel while still being reasonably priced.
(5)
Andrew M.
Great place or fresh sushi. There was only one time the sashimi was stale, but it was towards closing time and figured it's only natural. Friendly service and cool atmosphere. It brings walnut street, this side of town, more interesting. Only wish they delivered!
(4)
M B.
food: amazing service: terrible everyone loved the sushi, it really is great, there are so many interesting rolls to pick from. BUT it took about 1.5 hours to get our sushi (on a week night), and our waitress was MIA the whole time. she asked us about our check and us paying before we even got our food, and then we never saw her again. another server dropped the check, which had the gratuity included. just kind of ridiculous.
(2)
Jeremy B.
So happy to have this place (Shinju) back in my life. Fresh, delicious and worth a trip. The standards of Shinju in a new beautiful space, perfect. They are still a BYO until they get their license.
(4)
Alexis M.
This place would be delicious if only for being intimate, friendly, and fresh. But they deliver too!! This must be new, because I just *rediscovered* this place, and I don't remember it delivering. Tons of variety in the roll arena, and very fresh sushi/sashimi. Also, I love the selection of vegetarian rolls, especially the Ume Kappa roll (what other place that's this down-to-earth uses Japanese pickles and umeboshi?). As for price, this place is one of the few I know of that is reasonably priced AND decent quality. I don't think you can pay less than this without sacrificing quality.
(4)
D M.
Based on the reviews below, the wife and I ate here last night. What a massive disappointment. The service and the atmosphere both get 1 star. The food gets 0 stars. Lets start with the atmosphere. The place is tiny - maybe ten or twelve tables plus a small sushi bar. But instead of being tiny in a mellow, relaxing way, it was tiny in a cramped, table on top of table way. I found myself yelling across the ikea-like table at my wife just to hold a conversation. The service was unbelievably slow. Even though there was an empty table when we arrived, it took ten minutes to get seated. Then we waited - no exaggeration- 25 to 30 minutes to have our order taken. After that, we waited again for water, and again for the appetizer, and again for food, and again for the check. I'm pretty chill about service, and when-you-get-a-chance kind of guy, but this was silly. Sushi is hard. I get it. And I get that there are different styles of sushi, how you pack the rice, what type of seaweed you use, whatever. Shinju does a loosely packed roll, wetter than normal. Which sounds fine in practice, but given the quality of vegetables used, it tasted like mush. I couldn't finish my plate - that just doesn't happen with sushi. Terrible. The seaweed salad I had as an appetizer was mediocre, making it the best thing about the place. Then it was three a.m. this morning. I didn't drink a drop last night. But I still got that feeling, you know the one, were last night's partying has caught up to you and its time to see the toilet from a new angle. The chunks were in my throat, I was out of bed and running to the bathroom. Nothing came out, and fine, fine, it could have been anything. Then the same feeling came over me again, and again I was flying out of bed. And then my wife this dawn. Food poison. Yum. Zero stars. This place reinforces for me the disparity in quality reasonably priced sushi restaurants between Philly and DC. How could a place this bad get such excellent ratings? I suspect the BYOB policy helps. If your sloshed, who cares how long the service takes? who cares what the food tastes like? I do, and I won't be back.
(1)
Dung N.
I wouldve given this place a five star rating but it the service stinks. The sushi is phenomonal and among my faves are the Naked Gyoza, the spider roll, spicy tuna crunch and the lost rainbow. Everything is fresh tasting and everything you would want in a sushi place except for the service. The last two times that i have been here during lunch ive probably waited amybe 20 to 30 mins for the food to come. And its not like the sushi chefs are overwhelmed, its the waiters and waitress' that are slow. we literally saw our food made and had it sit on teh counter for 10 minutes before it came to our table. and when we looked around for our waiter..we found him chatting in the back with other watiers. what gives?! ill just order to go next time. thanks.
(4)
Yill C.
Love, love, love this place....went to it as Shin Ju and will continue to go. The reviews that complain about it not being traditonal Japanese, it's NOT and it does not pretend to be....the reviews that complain about the service, are ridiculous as well, they are far from pretentious and they may be a bit slow, but not enough to warrant some of the comments on here. The flavors are great, the fish is very fresh (we get both the rolls and the sushi), if you love sushi and are tired of the same ole, same ole, come here!!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Chloe E.
By far the best lobster tempura roll EVER! This place is more than amazing!
(5)M P.
One of my favorite sushi places in the city. It was great when it was Shinju and a BYO, so I was skeptical about the new location and non-BYO status... but the food proved me wrong. The decor is clean and modern, there is a lot more space, the rolls are still fabulous and the service was great. On busy nights (Fri/Sat), you need a reservation. They also kept their prices pretty low, which is impressive given their new location and remodeling. Dinner ended up about $20-$25/person.
(5)J P.
If you like fresh sushi, awesome prices, a sweet dinning environment, byo's, and service with a smile I suggest you drop everything and run to Shinju. Holy Sashimi Batman! It was that good. My lady and I were having a birthday plan fail as it rained all day and night yesterday and the Phillies game was rained out. With all that suck going on she had the bright idea of checking the Yelp for good sushi. Well Yelp, you did it again. On your recommendation we set out to have an epic birthday sushi experience. We started with some piping hot edamame and then ordered 4 rolls. I don't remember what any of them were called except for the Miss Sake Bomb which was eel. They were all delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. The food came out a tad on the slow side, but that was fine as we had the edamame to snack on while we waited. Our server was super friendly and everyone in the place was all smiles. This place is small so I am glad we made reservations. It was a packed house on a Monday night. As I looked around all I saw were happy faces. It seems everyone else was really digging their experience at Shinju. I'll go back again and again. I'll bring friends and family. I loved it. It was a great birthday dinner. Cheers Shinju sushi. Cheers.
(5)Meredith B.
great quality sashimi
(4)George R.
Based on Caitlin C.'s yelp review, I went here to get some excellent sushi for a great price... and it was amazing. The restaurant is very intimate and the decor has a lot of spirit. It isn't trying to say trendy and it isn't traditional. It really speaks to the spirit of its own character without bowing to what a sushi place should or shouldn't be. So many choices for sushi! There were special platters, featured sushi dishes, and of course a la carte options as well. The presentation and quality of taste is amazing. There are also a great variety of appetizers to choose from as well. I had a hard time deciding what I was going to get, but in the end I decided on Tekka maki, a special sushi dish, and the Gyoza beef dumplings which I shard with my friend. As mentioned in the other review, this is a BYOB, so just bring what you want and they'll give you glasses as soon as they have found you a table. For dessert, they have three ice creams: Mocha, Green Tea, and Red Bean. I opted for the red bean and my friend chose the green tea. Red bean is definitely the way to go. The green tea was, well, it tasted like frozen unsweetened green tea. Its verisimilitude to the drink was uncanny. So, my recommendation is to stick with the other two more sweet ice creams if you are looking for a dessert treat. Get reservations as there often will not be an open table between prime dining hours. Tip: This place is right down the street from the Walnut Street Theater. I would definitely eat here before a show!
(4)Elijah C.
Whenever I go out of state I plan on eating at a Japanese place that has some great sushi. While in a little bit of a rush I was still able to order two rolls that are worth trying. They are called the Dancing Vampire and the Mr. Shiro.
(5)Everett R.
Met my good buddy there for a mutual b-day treat and we split six high quality rolls. The standard fair was right on target (e.g. philly roll and dragon roll) and the more creative rolls (e.g. soft shell crab) really pushed me over the edge. It's BYOB - we got a 6 pack of heineken for $11 @ the Locust Bar right next door (which is pretty good for that part of the city), which went perfectly with the fish. It's a small restaurant that gets pretty noisy at peak dinner time, but I'll take lively over eerily silent any day.
(5)Carissa J.
Fat Salmon is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in Philadelphia. The atmosphere is fun, and the sushi is delicious. I am vegetarian, and I love the fact that they have different vegetarian rolls besides an avocado or cucumber roll. The only qualms that I have with this restaurant are that the staff always makes it a problem when there is a party of more than 2 people and that the service is TERRIBLE. The waiters make it a point to not make eye contact with you when you try to beckon them to your table. It's actually remarkable how much they ignore you. One night it took my friends and I over an hour to get our sushi- unacceptable. Fortunately, the wonderful food and trendy atmosphere override the terrible service, and I will say that I will go back there again.
(4)Sub S.
Go here! Rolls are interesting and not the usual fare. The ambiece is nice for dates or small groups, though if there is an obnoxious table in the restaurant everyone is bothered. Nice fish, nice apps. BYOB policy. Pros: Rolls, rolls, rolls Cons: Can get loud
(4)S K.
Doesnt get better for us vegetarians. The Old School and Lipstick trace are to die for.
(5)Nicole S.
I went for lunch. Everything was great. They were pretty busy and the food took a little longer than I expected to come out, but sushi was fresh and very good.
(4)A F.
Usually enjoy this place for both food and atmosphere. Service on last visit was horrible!!! Went in for lucnh with a friend this week at 12:15 had to wave down a waiter to take our order even though it was not that crowded. Received our salads but no food after 35 minutes. Had to wave down hostess and complain and was told she would inform the manager who then never came to our table to apologize or inform us about why our food was taking so long. Had to walk out of the restaurant in a huff with NO FOOD and NO EXPLANATION of the bad service!!!! Will never return and now angry b/c this is the closest sushi place to where I work. I guess I will have to venture out for my sushi. Sorry Fat Salmon you need to work on your customer service.
(1)YEN A.
The food was so good... I really enjoyed it. :x They have a lot of different kinds of sushi. I went there with 4 more people. We needed to reserve before we came. Definitely, I will be back with my boyfriend. It is also good place for couple.
(5)Sisi L.
This place is ok. It's pretty small, so everytime I'm there, I get wedged between the wall and the table with only room to breathe, or my chair is touching the chair of the person behind me. When it's busy, it's hard to have a private conversation because the tables next to you are only 1 foot away. The fish is pretty fresh, but the rolls and nigiri are about 30% smaller than every other sushi place that i've been to. I usually get the "sushi for 2" and it comes with 5 pieces of fish and 1 roll per person. Normally this would be enough food for me, but because everything is so small, I'm always still hungry! If you are into hand rolls and maki, i'd suggest going to Green Garden around the corner. The prices are lower and you get bigger portions and the same tastiness and quality. My boyfriend's main complaint about Shinju is that the wasabi is really bad quality. It breaks up into powder form immediately in soy sauce, as if it's just horseradish and food coloring. If you are really into sushi, or any japanese food for that matter, the yummiest sushi i've had is actually at Sagami, in New Jersey. It's worth the toll!!
(2)D K.
My friend and I were in the mood for sushi and looking for a place within walking distance. Seeing the positive reviews of Fat Salmon, we were looking forward to dining at the restaurant. The decor of the restaurant is cool and sleek and ideal for parties of two. There is also a sushi bar that is first come, first served. Beware that those sitting at the "front" portion of the sushi bar will experience gusts of wind from the restaurant door opening - not ideal in the winter. As for the food, the sushi was fine - there was nothing that made it stand out. The service on the other hand, could use improvement. We asked the hostess to seat us at the bar and she told us that it would be about a ten minute wait. That was perfectly fine for us as it was Saturday night. When seats opened up, she proceeded to seat the party of two that had arrived AFTER us not only before us, but also at a prime place at the sushi bar. When I asked her why she had not seated us first (as we had arrived first), she told us that she was planning to seat us in a corner of the bar. This was definitely not preferred because it's darker, right up against a wall, and looks a bit like a forgotten corner of the restaurant. And, in any case, why would you seat the party that arrived after us, first? Especially, since we are both parties of two. Additionally, the staff does not seem to be trained on the menu. When the hostess and server were asked a question about the menu, neither knew the answer. Makes you wonder about the quality of the establishment if those working in the restaurant don't know the food they are serving. Also, the item I ordered only came with four pieces of sushi, but was priced like a full meal. While I'm used to smaller portions at sushi restaurants, this was smaller than I was expecting and the server did not mention anything about how small it would be. While she didn't have to, it would have been nice (and something that's often done in other restaurants). Also, my friend added extra avocado to her salad and was charged more than she had been told the addition would cost. There weren't necessarily any glaring issues with the restaurant, but there were enough small inconsistencies in service that made the experience less than memorable. Will I go back? Perhaps, but there are better sushi places in the city.
(3)Pauline S.
I came here to share a bunch of rolls with friends, and I am relatively impressed. I love tempura flakes and spicy mayo, and these rolls were no disappointment. It was moderately affordable for sushi and geared more towards the warm/cooked savory flavors rather than raw/sweet.
(4)Cassie T.
I'm a huge fan of this place's proximity to my house, ambiance, service, and their SPECIALTY ROLLS (for more traditional sushi and sashimi I don't think I would go here)! The ambiance is quite different from your average sushi restaurant, it's kind of dark, intimate (small, but not as small as vics!) and swanky, kind of trendy but not so much that it's annoying. They play an interesting mix of jazz and the like. Also, awesome pictures of these sashimi characters with smiley faces in different situations all over the walls. Tiki sushi bar looking thing in the back too. My seaweed salad was kind of expensive at $6 but it was pretty huge. The specialty rolls are what really stands out here. Many different really creative combos at great prices. Compared to Vic's most all of the specialty rolls were cheaper. I got the Locust, I think it was like a California roll inside topped with tempura spicey tuna and some delicious sauce. Holy crap it was good! One off thing was that there was an overpowering smell of something like Glade tropical air freshener, but maybe it was just the day. Regardless, I will definitely be back!
(5)Grace L.
Per my other reviews, I've been looking for a reasonably priced and great quality sushi in old city. I used to frequent the prior establishment at this same location. When it closed I was dismayed that my local sushi place had closed. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that another sushi place was replacing it. Almost as soon as Fat Salmon opened, I ordered sushi for lunch. Great quality!! Great price. Fat Salmon became my go-to place to satisfy my sushi fix. However, I haven't gone to Fat Salmon since March and as of right now, I don't plan to. As I stated, I ordered my lunch special from Fat Salmon almost weekly. Although I don't currently have a menu in front of me, from what I recall, their lunch specials are served until 3 PM. One afternoon, ~240 PM I called to order my usual sushi special (3 hand rolls + soup or salad for $10.50 - seriously good deal)(mind you, I had done this many times before as I usually take a late lunch) . I was curtly told, our lunch service is closed (or we stopped serving lunch). I ask, but doesn't lunch service end at 3 PM? response: Yes but we stop taking orders 30minutes before for employee lunch. I had ordered from Fat Salmon at least 20 times before I was told this new lunch rule. I tried to sweet talk my way since the menu said lunch until 3 and I didn't know about this rule, etc. etc. Bottom-line: If your takeout menu says "until 3 PM," you have to take orders until 3 PM. I didn't get sushi that day, nor do I think I will be going back anytime soon (it's already been 4 months!). Honestly, this really annoys me bc you can't find quality sushi for a reasonable price downtown any more and this place would have been a keeper. Because of this incident, I have been actively searching for other sushi places in old city so satisfy my sushi fix. Guess I'll have to save money and go to Morimoto's. With that said, the food deserves 5 stars but the lunch issue downgraded it to 3 stars.
(3)Michael H.
Sushi was very good and fresh. I had their steamed shrimp shumai, they were very good but small. Atmosphere is nice and Service was very good.
(4)Jenna C.
My review from last year is no longer enough. Shinju might be my favorite place to go, in the city. It is quiet and friendly. While the service can sometimes feel a little slow, it's in actuality just un-rushed. The sushi is delightful (assuming you like fusion rolls) and always presented well. There are some places that breed hostility. You know, those restaurants you frequent when you're fighting with your significant other. Shinju is the exact opposite of those. I have never had a bad experience or a bad time, here. I don't think it's possible to be unhappy in this tiny byo.
(5)Faye S.
I've been on a mission to find a good sushi place other than Vic. Don't get me wrong; Vic is my other man (second to my husband, of course), but sometimes he gets a little pricey. Using Yelp's magical powers, we found Shinju Sushi. When we walked up, I was almost afraid the place was closed because it was so dark. I guess it's a Philly thing to have dark restaurants? We were seated quickly...granted, there were only two other groups there. The waitress took our drink orders and brought them out fairly quickly, but the edamame and actual sushi/rolls we ordered took a bit longer. We had salmon and yellowtail nigiri (our basis for comparison), as well as a couple of rolls: the smoking volcano and the spider roll. The nigiri was a touch over just passable; the rice was a little undercooked, but the fish was good, if not a little thin. I like my salmon big and thick! The rolls, however, were SO GOOD. The smoking volcano roll was my favorite of the two-- crab stick, tomato, and cream cheese roll, topped with spicy tuna and tobiko. Mmmm! I'm normally not a huge fan of rolls, but make it right and I love them! The spider roll was a little generic, imo, but it was still very yummy. I'm still undecided if I think the size of the rolls is a bad or good thing. The smoking volcano came with 6 fairly small pieces, and the spider roll came with 5 larger pieces. I'm all about quality over quantity, but I'm so used to having huge 8-piece rolls that this was a little surprising. Nevertheless, I enjoyed what we had at Shinju and definitely wanted more! Price is on par with Vic, but I think there you get more food-- because of the bigger rolls and bigger pieces of salmon and yellowtail. Granted, I would recommend this place based on our experience last night. Had I gotten nigiri alone, this place would have gotten three stars, but with the rolls, a solid four stars. Minus one star for how dark it is inside, though...I actually wanted to pull out my flashlight!
(4)Erin R.
Excellent sushi - very creative and reasonably priced. Great place for cozy dinner for 2 or 4 people. Seaweed salad also excellent!! I plan to go back very soon!!
(4)elanya m.
amazing food..had the deep fried tofu and four other specialty rolls which were all to die for..def check it out sushi lovers!
(5)PixieCat X.
Best sushi restaurant in philly. That is all.
(5)Brianna M.
As a avid sushi lover, I would give this place three stars at most. It's not terrible, but not amazing. I enjoy eating udon quite a bit and I was glad to see they had that on their menu. The broth is quite tasty but I guess since its only an appetizer, the amount of udon noodles they give you is quite pathetic. I don't really recommend any of their "fancy rolls" since I don't think they are worth the price but the regular ones such as crunchy spicy tuna is not bad. The roll size and thickness(?) is appropriate.
(3)brad C.
Looking for a place near Broad St for sushi, Shinju came up. I'm usually a patron of Vic, but this place offers similar value with more inventiveness. The "Lost Rainbow" offers a really wonderful mix of textures and flavors, combining thinly sliced crunchy cucumber with tender salmon. The only knock on them was the Agedashi tofu, which is one of my favorite dishes. This deep fried tofu is supposed to be crisp on the outside, warm and creamy on the inside, and dipped in a bit of broth. Shinju's was drowning in sauce, leaving the breading on the tofu gelatinous and impossible to eat with the rest of the dish. But affordable sushi places always leave something to be desired in their appetizers. Brad's rating scale (out of 5): Food: 4 Price: 5 Decor: 3 Service: 4 Wild card: Byob!
(4)Eugene B.
If you are looking for a great sushi place that is relatively inexpensive this is the place to go. The service is above average. The ambience is pretty hip with a cool blue tint to the restaurant and most importantly the sushi is AMAZING. If you are a fan of the traditional Nigiri/Sashimi sushi, you'll love it, but if you are willing to experiment, Fat Salmon has some of the wildest rolls, but they are all delicious. The icing on the cake is that this is BYOB. If you are looking for a great date night, go to Fat Salmon. There is parking on the street after 6:30pm.
(4)Peng M.
Had a great time there. Enjoyed the food.
(4)Eric V.
Great prices and the sushi is definitely the best I've had in a while! The place is pretty small, so I've only ever gotten takeout (which they have ready in a surprisingly short amount of time). The only issue I come across is that I have no clue how to eat their (delicious) rolls with chopsticks. Imagine one of the trick exploding cigars.. after it exploded. That's kind of how they're shaped. Nonetheless, they're awesome.
(4)Christopher R.
Better than average sushi and the prices aren't jacked up like a lot of places in the area. BYO, which is huge, and the first time I went there our server was knowledgeable about which sake to serve hot and which to serve cold. The only problem is that it can get pretty cramped since the space is so small and well-loved. I made a reservation last time and they actually kept it even though I was a bit late and all the tables were full, which impressed me. Sorry to whoever had to wait because of me, by the way.
(4)Miss Z.
My go-to Sushi place for lunch during the week. I almost find it impossible to tire of the menu, since there are so many interesting choices. They have great lunch deals and the chicken donburi is delicious and satisfying. Nice vibe, nice staff and good, fresh sushi.
(4)Michelle P.
My group of four ended up at Fat Salmon for dinner last Saturday night. We didn't have a reservation and we wanted to dine around 6:30/7. All tables for four had already been reserved for the evening, but we were seated at the sushi bar almost immediately. I wasn't involved in the dinner planning for the evening, but needless to say I wasn't thrilled to be eating dinner at a sushi bar. I was probably looking for just about anything to go wrong with the evening, but the night went fairly well, and I enjoyed my Fat Salmon experience. The server did a good job working with us, despite the facts that our backs were turned towards her whenever she approached. At the beginning of the evening, she did ask us if we wanted to see menus. I thought the question to be rather silly, but otherwise she did a good job. To start, my husband and I split the edamame. The bowl was deceiving large and we had a really nice portion of edamame. It was salted, but not overly salted. All pieces were plump, juicy and most contained about 3 beans. Since I got a sushi entrée, my dinner came with soup and salad. The salad was probably one of the best Japanese house salads I've ever eaten. It consisted of peppers, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and the plentiful pour of the best ginger dressing I've ever had. The miso soup was very flavorful and had nice chunks of tofu and seaweed. For my entrée, I decided to go with the handroll combo. It contained yellow tail, spicy tuna crunchy and unakyu pieces. This was actually my first time having handrolls but I thought they were great. They were wrapped in tasty seaweed and filled with rice and fish. I'd certainly get them again. I thought the prices to be a little above the Philly market average and was disappointed that Fat Salmon wasn't BYOB. It was nice that they offered a house reasonably priced house wine option for $6 a glass. I personally wasn't a fan of the chairs at the sushi bar. They were very hard and I found I had to arch my back oddly to sit comfortably, and crane my neck to chat with the rest of my party. I glanced around and the chairs were the same at each table. Take that for what you will. As far as the sushi bar is concerned, when sitting down you could see part of the bar at eye level. Unfortunately, you were just looking at fish wrapped up, versus the sushi chefs in action. It wasn't most ascetically pleasing sushi bar experience I've ever had. Despite my reluctantly to eat at a sushi bar on a Saturday night, which I can only blame myself and my group for, I cannot find fault in my meal at Fat Salmon. It was enjoyable and I'm glad I ended up there.
(4)Vanessa T.
Fat Salmon is one of my favorite sushi spots in the city. Let's begin with the ambiance. The interior has just enough lighting, not too dim, not too bright. The theme color is blue and white (goes very well together) and makes the restaurant look clean and classy. You can pretty much see the whole restaurant once you walk in because it is fairly small with tables along the walls of one side and other side is the sushi bar. This is a great spot for a sushi date. I love the special rolls at fat salmon, the come with pictures on the menu too. We started with the deep fried tofu with spicy scallops. The tofu was delicious, it felt lightly battered rather than deep fried (not a big deal because I prefer it that way anyway). We ordered the hako roll (a rectangular shaped sushi roll) and the blossom; both were delicious. Although the rice broke off easily on the hako. Never have i left this place feeling dissatisfied with my meal and dining experience. I hope to come back and try more of their special rolls and appetizers. I was dissapointed that they don't have Kani salad, a crab stick salad, usually my favorite appetizer at sushi restaurants. Best of all, price is reasonable, sushi is presentable and delicious.
(5)Jason K.
This is my favorite sushi place in town. The fish is always very fresh and flavorful. They have a lot of 'fancy' special rolls and if that's you're thing you'll be in love. Some have mountains of veggies in spicy sauce, another has pick de galo on top. They also have a list of more traditional rolls. The tempura is delicious and the miso is legit.
(4)Snehal M.
Being a vegetarian, I am usually limited to basic veggie rolls when I go to a sushi place. It's not bad but it wouldn't hurt to have some variety. Well fat salmon has that variety! This place has the most amazing vegetarian rolls. I always get the lipstick trays and old school roll but I am looking forward to trying a lot more as I go back. My friends who aren't vegetarian love the sushi over there but even they order the aforementioned veggie sushi rolls. Love this place and will be frequenting and trying more rolls
(5)Roberto G.
Very good sushi - many options to choose from both "classics" and house specialties including a roll that has bacon involved Decent wine list Awesome atmosphere Friendly staff Will definitely be back here!
(5)Samuel M.
A great sushi surprise a few blocks away from the liberty bell in Philly. Original plates, the salmon was excellent, they have a nice looking bar, always crowded. A gem when you arrive to Philly. Ambience is very casual. Reasonable prices. A great place to go.
(4)Sooji L.
Excellent service both from the owner/manager and the waiters The fish is fresh- our go to appetizer is the shrimp tempura (comes in an assortment of shrimp tempura and other vegetable tempura- perfect to share for two without getting full). We love getting the sashimi combo. Our fave rolls are the fancy salmon (best!!) and the fuku (refreshing roll). Go fancy or go home! My fiancé and I come here regularly. Perfect (first) date spot or even for a girls dinner.
(5)Joey M.
Great sushi ,Great atmosphere--Trendy Tables are kinda small and cramped together but it worked out well...accept for when the waitress goes in between the tables to take the accompanying patrons order and her rear-end was literally brushing the table! Ordered: Plum Saki--YUMMY! Comes in a cool carafe that houses ice. If you're not a fan of traditional Saki you may want to try the plum as it is sweeter and does not taste like rubbing alcohol. Garden salad with ginger dressing--tasty but DRENCHED with the ginger drenching so much so that I had to drain it into another bowl. I also asked for a fork (as it is kinda hard, but not impossible, to eat salad with chop sticks) but the waitress forgot :( VOLCANO roll (6pcs) Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado, On Top - Spicy Tuna, Wasabi Tobiko w/Crunchy on the side.-delicious! ROLLING FIRE (6 pcs) Shrimp Tempura, Cucumber, On Top - Broiled Spicy Scallop sauce(Crab Stick, Scallion)Cool presentation in that it kinda looks like a volcano. The sushi is placed in a circle, topped with artificial crabmeat and covered in spicy sauce. I think they over did it with the spicy sauce. It literally tasted like someone went to town with hot sauce. Unfortunately, it made It hard to actually taste the flavors of the roll. TENPI roll(6 pcs) Inside-Cucumber, Avocado / On Top-Tuna -highly recommend White tuna (albacore) sushi--was very tasty and fresh (serving size is two pieces) I would visit this location again :)
(4)Johnny H.
Fat Salmon is excellent! With lots of options for sushi while visiting Philly it's easy to get pointed to Marimoto or any of a number of other choices. I'm sure many of them are excellent but you will not be disappointed with Fat Salmon. My coworker and I decided to go to Fat Salmon because they seemed to have a good number of special maki roll options. So, bear in mind that I was looking for a large number of interesting and flavorful maki rolls to try, as opposed to standard sushi or boutique, TV-hyped quality. When it comes to variety, Fat Salmon absolutely crushed the mark. I tried the rolling fire and super dragon rolls. There may be higher-grade sushi/maki out there, but Fat Salmon's rolls were delicious and good quality. Food was made quickly despite their being fairly busy during the dinner our. Staff were kind and courteous. Cool atmosphere to the place, great spot for a quick and casual dinner or date. If I lived in Philly I would be in here all the time!
(4)Sam F.
Excellent food, excellent service. This is my new nice sushi place. The chef really knows how to craft vibrant and delicious rolls.
(5)Smrithi D.
Fat Salmon has been bookmarked for sometime now so I was excited when my coworkers suggested we go here for lunch last week. The decor is amazing! A cool blue modern feel that would be great for a casual turned romantic dinner. I'm a vegetarian and FS had the best sushi rolls and selections I've ever tried!! Can't go wrong with any of the rolls with avocado and the veggie roll. Both go great with a side of spicy mayo. Will be returning very soon!
(4)Henry Y.
Pros: -Decent sushi. I recommend going for a bunch of their combos with a friend. -Wow, that salad dressing. -ICE CREAM TEMPURA Cons: -I recommend making reservations 24 hrs in advance.
(4)Eric H.
Sushi was amazing! But the takeout was so slow. Wait about 20 minutes after they say to come. Still waiting for my food.... 40 minutes later. Get it together people. How long does it take to roll up some fish.
(4)Jeniz P.
Never been before but heard great things. Great things confirmed from eating the sushi boat, and great things are happening in my toilet. A+++ seller would buy from again.
(5)Shari D.
Came here for my birthday dinner, after a visit to the Mütter Museum... Had to brave a spring snowstorm to get to Philly! It was worth it!! Fat Salmon had fresh, delicious sushi & sashimi! Their agedashi was perfection! We enjoyed some cold sake and Soju, too... Got a teeny buzz going before a show at The Trocadero. Absolutely a wonderful way to walk around in the snow: full of yummy Japanese food, warmed by sake and arm in arm with my sweetie! Service was excellent, too! We'll definitely be back!!
(5)Roopa S.
Satisfied all of my sushi cravings. Amazing selection of rolls-- especially Vegetarian rolls (I don't eat seafood)-- and so I was definitely excited by this place. Everything tasted great and fresh-- the spicy sauces were definitely spicy-- and the green tea fried ice cream for dessert was absolutely amazing. The service was extremely slow-- not sure if I came on an off-day, but this was definitely a huge complaint of mine. We waited around 40 minutes for our food to arrive, and we even asked several times through the night about the status of our order. The waiters and waitresses were not accommodating, friendly, or warm... That being said, the ambiance and decor are cool. The food is good. The options are there. Prices are not too high. Great spot for sushi downtown!
(4)Reyana F.
best sushi place in Philly. The atmosphere is futuristic-y with neon blue accent lights and modern white furniture, but the real winner is the Mr. Shiro roll (and I'm guessing by the other reviews, the rolls with the chili sauce). Service was great and the prices were super affordable for the quality of the fish. Everything was delicious- definitely recommend the Mr. Shiro and Hako, and the steamed shrimp shumai to start. Can pass on the Spicy Tuna Crunch though, the specialty rolls are the way to go here. Definitely recommend for a casual bite or first date!
(5)Jason K.
This was literally the BEST SUSHI I have ever eaten. I ordered the Sashimi for One + the Fancy Sushi (Tuna). I have been eating sushi for decades and all around the country (San Francisco, LA, Las Vegas, Dallas, Chicago, Miami, NYC, etc). The quality of the fish was exceptional. Every pieces letdown my mouth. Service was amazing. Philly has truly impressed me during my visit. Thank you Fat Salmon, you were amazing!!!
(5)Danan R.
This is one of my favorite sushi places in Center City (the other is Morimoto, as a point of reference). The rolls are creative, delicious, and perfectly portioned, and the fish is fresh. Service is great as well and the dimly lit ambiance is trendy and comfortable. We shared the following: 1. Hako: Pressed Box Sushi with Spicy Tuna and Crunchy on the inside, and Eel & Tobiko w/Eel sauce on the outside. I absolutely loved this as it was the perfect combination of eel, spicy tuna, and crunch with a great balance of perfectly cooked rice to fish. The tobiko on top was a nice finish. 2. Lost Rainbow: Spicy Crab Stick with Scallion and Masago on the inside and Tuna, Salmon, and White Fish w/Ikura sauce on the outside. This was a nice twist on the classic Rainbow with the addition of spicy sauce and scallion and Ikura sauce. Definitely try this if you are a fan of spicy and Rainbow rolls. 3. Mr. French Kiss: Spicy Crab Stick w/Scallion Masago & Crunchy on the inside, and Shrimp & Bacon & Onion Tempura w/Tartar sauce on the outside. This was my friend's favorite. It has the same filling as the Lost Rainbow but the tempura was a great addition and added a nice, fried twist. The bacon flavor was pretty faint, though. 4. Dragon: A tried and true classic with beautifully layered slices of avocado topped with sesame seeds and Eel sauce. 5. Spicy Tuna Crunchy: This is definitely a step above the traditional spicy tuna roll. The crunch definitely makes a difference and I will most likely ask for extra crunch next time. It's a great place to get delish sushi while catching up with friends or on a date. The seating is actually designed more for 2-person tables but they do have larger seating options in the back. Worth a visit if you love sushi and are in the Center City area.
(4)Brittany R.
I went on a Friday with a friend. We beat the Friday night reservation crowd and were seated right away which was nice, but our service was awful. We believe the waitress forgot to put in an order because my sashimi sat on the counter waiting to be delivered for about 15-20 mins. We saw several other tables get served before us even though they sat down after. I usually get sashimi so I expect to pay more for my food but Fat Salmon is definitely higher priced than other Sushi Bars in the city. However, the sashimi pieces were generous and everything tasted very fresh. I also liked the presentation in the boat.
(3)Tina N.
Delicious! Service was great. Very helpful. Didn't rush us. Can't beat cost for quality. I'll be back.
(5)Yla A.
Fat salmon is delish! Great sushi and you can order take out. Very bold and hip inside. I think it is an ocean themed wall?? I mostly do takeout since it is close to my work but we have done business lunches there. Vic is still the best in the city in my opinion but this is a close 2nd
(4)Bridget C.
Best sushi in the city! Lots to choose from always leave full and very satisfied, staff is great
(5)Djuan S.
Came here with one of my friends for a quick bite to eat. The menu is very exhaustive and reasonably priced. The set up is primarily for dates but there was one larger table for a large group. There is a sushi bar that's very intimate as well. The atmosphere is very cute. My meal was 13 plus tip. I would definitely come here again.
(4)Niki K.
I went to Fat Salmon because my boyfriend was in town for lunch as was craving sushi. Since I work in the area, I figured what the heck - they had good food last time. First, we had trouble finding the place. The windows were so dark, I instinctually thought it was closed, and was actually annoyed when it wasn't reported on here as such. Finally, we realized that it was open, and went in. It was about 12:10pm, so we figured it would be busy, but we got seated right away. The lunch menu was on the back and didn't say what anything was. Since we were on my lunch break, we figured that we would just order a few rolls. It took nearly 10 minutes for our waitress to show. While she was lovely, this was now 20 minutes into my 1 hour lunch break and we didn't even have our drinks. It was ridiculously loud - so much so that we couldn't hear each other across the table. There was a girl with a particularly loud laugh which echoed and drowned out the rest of the room. It's not her fault she has a good laugh, but the acoustics in a restaurant should never be that good. We ordered our food (two rolls each) at 12:20pm. We received them at 12:45pm. Yes, they were tasty, and by this time the joint was jumpin'. But 25 minutes for 4 rolls? As it was, we had to eat in the last 10 minutes so that I would have time to get back to work. The food was tasty, fresh, and robust, though not filling - and had I had more time, I would have ordered another roll or two. It's like they don't realize that their main clientale at that time of the day are people who are on lunch - that means from the moment they leave their desk to the moment they get back they have between 30 min - 1 hour. Oh, and the bill for our 4 rolls (and 2 miso soups)? $28, plus tip. I remember why I don't go there often. And, I don't think I'll be going back for lunch again.
(3)Robert H.
Hip place. Strange blue lighting with white tables worked. Ethnically diverse crowd. A little on the younger side but certainly a few exceptions. Sushi was well-priced--about $6-10 for a 6 piece roll. Excellent flavors. I tried 3 different rolls. Favorite was the #15 with eel, avocado, and cream cheese. Would return for lunch or dinner!
(5)A. Jordan R.
Sushi was really good, service is mediocre. I asked if they had real wasabi as opposed to the "regular" stuff and no one knew the answer. C'mon! You only need to know like 5 things about sushi. The staff didn't know what to pair the fish with. They didn't even know the difference between each roll. Decent food, horrible service. I probably wouldn't come back here again with so many better options. But, I didn't hate it, either.
(3)Marius G.
Favorite sushi spot across the city. Very nice decor, small/intimate space, and prices are pretty reasonable. Sushi quality is excellent as well.
(4)Doo Wee T.
I had a date nite with my girlfriend from collage. She said the roll is very good, but I am more sashimi lover. She had roll with spicy sauce and shrimp tempura roll, I didn't take a bite, but looked like pretty decent. I had chirasi bowl served with miso soup and salad on the side. Its really hard to find a fine chirashi don around center city area; I always go to NY just to have chirasi don. I could say that fat salmon is pretty good for their chirasi, and wish that they could cook the tamago little sweet.. The highlight of the meal was tempura ice cream!!! Love it :)
(4)Manosai E.
A bunch of my friends have recommended I check out this place and I finally had the chance to go for lunch on a Thursday. The interior has a modern feel to it and looks like it would be great for happy hour drinks after work as well. I got the combination lunch special, choice #3 which is one choice from the sushi bar and another from the kitchen, along with a miso soup or salad. I ordered the vegetarian lipstick trace rolls and chicken katsu. The rolls consisted of mushroom and were topped with avocado slices and a drop of spicy mayo sauce. I was more excited about the chicken katsu than the rolls but the chicken ended up tasting a little too dry for my liking. The rolls were delicious and though rather large in size, easy to chow down. I ended up paying around $18 for my meal with tax/tip but this was because we are in a party of 6 so 20% gratuity was tacked on. Overall, it was definitely worth trying and I enjoyed my food but I don't anticipate coming back because I crave it.
(4)Jay W.
Ultra modern looking sushi spot with icy neon lighting. I liked the variety in sake and Japanese beer that they had available. I love that they listed all of the sushi that came in the Sushi Dinner for 2 (my lady friend usually won't order this unless she knows what's in it). This place seems like it prides itself on fancy, creative "special rolls" rather than simple sushi. However the simple sushi that I ordered was pretty good. I just wish that Tamagoyaki (egg sushi) was included in the sushi dinner. The miso soup and ginger salad that came with dinner were good, especially the salad. The service was friendly and quick to fill glasses.
(3)Alisa A.
Atmosphere is really cool but they have some interesting things on the menu that you should definitely ask about before ordering them.
(3)Dennis D.
Eh. Like others have said, the service is super bad. I mean, super bad. Like really really bad. I came at a busy lunch time (around noon) and sat by the bar by myself. Took about 10 minutes before someone could bring me water. I tried to flag down the waiter multiple times. By the time he came over, he actually started taking the order of these two women who had just sat down! I was very annoyed at that considering he had been ignoring me for 10 minutes. Well, ended up ordering some hot tea, the vegetable tempura appetizer, some simple rolls and some salmon nigiri. Everything was just ok. The quality of the fish was average. Not the worst, but definitely not impressive. Combine the quality of the fish with the terrible service, and I doubt I will ever go back there.
(2)Fam B.
Absolutely love this place. 5 stars definitely for the food! The place is small and seats fill up, so it's usually best to call and make a reservation for evenings (even on weekdays). The atmosphere is nice--great place to go on a date. My must recent visit we ordered the following: Hako, Katsu Maki, Volcano, and Super dragon. The Hako and Super Dragon were delicious--the sauces do not overwhelm the fish. You really can't go wrong with the special rolls here, everything is so fresh. When it's busy, it can take a while to get your food, so appetizers are a must for the long wait. Their gyoza is decent. Definitely will save this place for special celebrations and when I need more than the mediocre sushi I typically settle for in the area.
(5)Julian P.
This IS the best sushi restaurant I have ever been to. So many different rolls, everything is fresh and well portioned. Try the Fuka roll its my favorite. Also the saki menu is on point. Amazing decor and without a doubt the perfect date night spot!
(5)Wendy G.
Cafeteria quality sushi! After reading so many 5 star reviews I couldn't believe I was eating in the same restaurant. Yes, the interior is nice and modern, our service was very good, however I was shocked at what people thought was good sushi. We ordered four 'special' rolls and not one was special. The pieces were to big and piled with ingredients that didn't add up to flavor. I agree the food is reasonably priced, which makes sense because you get what you pay for.
(2)Mike W.
This place is my go to sushi joint in the city. The sushi is expertly prepared, they always have the most interesting options and the prices are extremely affordable. This past Friday was our second visit, I really need to get back here more often. We ordered a Kirin and a Sapporo to sip on and 6 sushi rolls to share as follows: 1. Fancy Sushi - Rice wrapped with a piece of fish w/Spicy Chopped fish (tobiko,Scallions) & Wasabi Tobiko on Top W/Crunchy on the bottom 2. Lava Roll - INSIDE - Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado, ON TOP - Asparagus w/Broiled Octopus sauce(Scallion, Spicy sauce & Mayo) 3. Miss Sake Bomb - IINSIDE - Eel, Avocado, Crunchy, ON TOP - Lightly cooked Salmon w/ Tartar sauce 4. Rolling Fire - INSIDE - Shrimp Tempura, Cucumber, ON TOP - Broiled Spicy Scallop sauce (w/Crab Stick, Scallion & Fried Tofu Skin ) 5. Salmon Yaki Roll - INSIDE - Asparagus, Avocado, Crunchy w/spicy sauce, ON TOP - Broiled Salmon w/Eel Sauce 6. Midori Roll - Oshinko, Dried Gourd, Mountain Burdock, Shitake, Cucumber w/Inari Our waitress actually brought us some complimentary edamame. She said the kitchen was backed up and she was sorry for our wait. We didnt even notice the wait to be honest, but it was very much appreciated nonetheless. It helped hold us over until the sushi arrived. As always, the plating at Fat Salmon is fantastic. They are masters of their craft. They bought it out in a few different plates as it became ready. Each and every one of the rolls was delicious. Even the most obscure combinations seem to work here. Tarter sauce on a sushi roll? Chalk it up, its tasty. The standouts for me were the Rolling Fire and Fancy Sushi rolls. They were all great, but these two in particular were fantastic. I loved the spicy chopped fish on top of the fancy sushi roll. It really packed some nice heat into it. The rolling fire roll had some delicious flavors and textures to it. The broiled spicy scallop sauce was amazing. This is by far the best sushi I have had in Philly. Its definitely worth visiting again and again.
(5)Maurice P.
Whenever we are in Philadelphia, we always make sure to go to Fat Salmon. We love the blue and white ambience, always complemented with cool music. Each dish is a work of art as the many photos here illustrate. The service is cheerful, knowledgeable and quick
(5)Julia C.
Great variety, great service, delicious food! The ambience in this place is incredible--especially at night! I'm in love with the interior design & it certainly provides a one of a kind dining experience.
(5)Ramen F.
Ambiance: It was modern - generally minimalist with some surprising splashes of flash (the lights bordering the sushi bar). The tables are very close to one another, so the noise level was a little loud. The feeling isn't intimate, unless you are talking about intimacy with other tables. I was able to hear and follow the discussions of the people sitting at tables on either side. Which wasn't a problem for me, but perhaps not a place you would want to go for a first date or with someone you aren't really comfortable with. Service: The waiter was helpful and pleasant. Food: This is the best sushi that I have had in Philly, and it is as simple as that. I like salmon but never loved salmon - it turns out that I was wrong about that and I love Fat Salmon's salmon. Get salmon on the Fancy roll, it was so good that it has ruined me from enjoying all other rolls!! The Rock and Roll and Dragon rolls were also yummy. It almost seems like a shame to get the regular rolls because the special rolls are so fantastic. The spicy tuna roll was good, but not as exciting as the other rolls. The deep fried tofu was an unexpected delight, I got the recommendation from reading through yelp and it was certainly warranted. Overall: Definitely recommended. Get the Fancy roll with salmon.
(5)Angelina D.
AMAZING! The "Sleeping Volcano" roll was like a party in my mouth. It was just so fresh and delicious. I also had the "Blossom" roll and that too was delicious. I didn't have one thing that I didn't love. Even the cocktails were great. I had a "Ginger Snap" martini and sweet sake sampler. I enjoyed the atmosphere and even the service was great. All I can say is that I will most definitely be back again and again and again. :)
(4)Christian B.
Possibly the best sushi I've ever had. Easily the best sushi in Philadelphia! Good service too. Prices reasonable too.
(5)Cecilia P.
Fat Salmon is definitely great for lunch. I had the #1 lunch special (2 rolls and miso soup) and left feeling very pleased. The service was great and the restaurant's atmosphere is cool and inviting. I work right around the corner so I'll definitely be visiting Fat Salmon again very soon.
(5)Alex C.
Fat Salmon is slightly better than average sushi in a sleek space. The emphasis is on over-the-top Americanized sushi loaded with fried items and "crunchy" (aka Panko bread crumbs). Over the 8 or so special rolls that we tried, nothing was terrible, but nothing stood out. The lone exception is the Super Dragon -- a Dragon roll on steroids. It's so large, you can barely eat it without making a fool of yourself. The beer menu has an extensive Asian selection, but the prices are relatively steep. Service is adequate, if unremarkable. For better sushi, try Zento (BYOB) from the former Morimoto Sous-Chef, Uzu (also in Old City) or Morimoto for a splurge. I've heard good things about Umai in Rittenhouse, but haven't been.
(3)Samantha J.
Sushi tasted fresh & was delicious. Prices were very reasonable- $40 for 2 special rolls, 2 glasses of wine & a generous tip. The atmosphere was calming- lights were dim & there was a blue hue throughout. Service was a bit slow, but everything else about the experience definitely made up for that.
(5)Charles S.
My friend and I had Sleeping volcano, Curry katsu don(hope name is correct), Steamed vegetable Koza, Green tea Mojito, and Green lotus. Sleeping volcano was the first roll i have ever tried cream cheese in it, and it was nice try for me who likes dairy products. Curry katsu don could serve almost for two small stomach people I guess. It was a bit blackpepper spicy and katsu (it was ckicken katsu) was I dare to say the BEST I have ever had in philly area. Steamed vegetable Kyoja was soft and tasty and its color was green so it made me felt i was eating a healthy food. Beverages, green tea mojito and green lotus, were good, and they were kinda weak alcohol. Basically it was an descent experience for me to have dinner in Fat Salmon and i would definitely like to go back and try other foods too. AND waiters and waitresses (especially SAM the waiter served us) were so friendly and kind so that my friend and i felt comfortable. They were obviously contributing to make this nice place even nicer. Strongly recommed.
(5)Laura N.
Favorite sushi in Philadelphia. This place is tiny so try to make reservations. They can be made online on their website which makes it pretty convenient. My favorite rolls at the moment are the rainbow roll (so fresh and a little hint of sweetness) and the blossom roll (has a lime, avocado cream on top that is unique but delicious). Then you have their spicy rolls...every time I come to fat salmon, I swear I'm not going to order a spicy roll. I'm a wuss when it comes to spice and after a few of these rolls my stomach engulfs itself in flames, however---I order one every single time. The sauce isn't your ordinary spicy mayo. It's a complex silky deliciousness of flavor and spice. I usually get the fuka roll. It's a little messy, but really good. Stay away from the sake sangria. It was a disappointment.
(4)Dhvani D.
Being vegetarian, I'm not always the biggest fan of sushi places because my options are usually limited to avocado or cucumber rolls. This place is awesome for vegetarians as there are so many options and they are so yummy! Their special rolls are where all the fun stuff is - my favorites are the old school (most fav) and the tofuholic...they are rolls stuffed on the inside with tasty mix of veggies/tofu and have different sauces/toppings on top...and they can be spicy! The seaweed salad and miso soup are good too. Ambience is fun on the inside and service is good too. Def place to check out!
(4)Rich G.
I have been to dozens of Japanese rest/sushi joints in my life. While I am not a snob, I know what is good. I would rate a sushi joint based on the quality of the food in relationship to the price. I could care less about the decor, service, rude chefs, etc. Give me good, fresh fish at a good price and I will come back often. I have ordered all types of things so no way I could comment on individual items, I just know that I have enjoyed everything that was ordered. Fat Salmon meets those 2 requirements, so I am giving my 1st 5 star review. The service I have experienced there has always been excellent. I have always gone during the week, just as they open for dinner. If anyone asks me for good Sushi places in the city, I always recommend Fat Salmon....the name is super easy to remember too.
(5)Helen C.
Fat Salmon is delicious. I've eaten here three times and the sushi and sashimi has been consistently fresh, delicious and of high quality! That alone is enough to keep me going back, since that's typically my go-to order at a sushi joint. This restaurant is appropriately named, because my favorite is actually their salmon - always a great cut of the fish and just perfect. The staff has been very pleasant and attentive for each of my visits; prices are good; and the atmosphere fun and comfortable. Overall, I think it's a great place to meet up with a friend to catch up over some delicious sushi. The BYOB is also a plus! The only con for me is actually the maki, despite all the positive reviews for the rolls. I will give them that some of their specialty rolls are unique, but so far they have been very hit or miss for me. I've only enjoyed maybe half of the specialty rolls I've tried, and most of the ones I did like were kinda just okay. There have been rolls that we did not even bother to finish or take home with us. I know sushi places these days like to get creative with their rolls, but sometimes it goes a little far. And then of the ones that were not interesting/crazy-sounding combinations, they were plain and nothing special. I guess it comes down to personal preference.
(4)Tasha A.
I'm torn....my first time eating at Fat Salmon the sushi was awesome, I had the Philly Roll & the Dancing Vampire Roll with Salmon Nigiri; however, the service (at lunch time) was incredibly slow. We've found it difficult to get in and out of Fat Salmon at lunch in 1 hour. On the flip side, the dinner service is pretty quick. Yesterday for the first time we ordered sushi to go (maybe that was a bad idea), but it just didn't taste as good or fresh as it has tasted in the past. My Dancing Vampire Roll was incredibly fishy (which hasn't happened before). I was sadly disappointed, but I guess in the grand scheme of things going into the restaurant is the obvious best choice.
(3)Stacie L.
Absolutely had an amazing time! I never knew this place existed until about last week when my friend told me and suggest we go. It didnt seem like much on the outside and I had to find the place to realize where it was. But once you go in, the setting is amazing. Sushi chefs are in front of you making their food so I felt comfortable that everything was fresh. The lighting is dimmer than most restaurants but it was a nice setting. Great for a date *hint hint* LOL. I had the shrimp tempura lunch box for I think !2 dollars and it was amazing and filling! I never expected sushi to fill me up so fast! The service was amazing, our waiter came up every so often and asked us how we were and always refilled our glasses without hunting him down (unlike certain places I have been too). Definitely going back there when I get paid. :]
(5)F R.
Fat Salmon is the 2nd sushi place I have really fallen in love with. I'm a vegetarian, so I don't know about the fish options, but I love the Old School roll, the veggie tempura roll, and the tofuholic. The veggie tempura roll is nice and spicy, but the Old School roll is really spicy, but so tasty I can't stop eating no matter how much it hurts. The Agedashi tofu is my favorite appetizer. I once had a bite of the Deep Fried Tofu before I realized it had scallop in it, but it was fantastic. The only things I have found disappointing are the gyoza, and the edamame every once in awhile gets a bit over cooked if we get take out.
(4)Sara H.
After reading so many overwhelmingly positive reviews on Yelp, I decided to give Fat Salmon a try on a Friday night with my boyfriend. The atmosphere was cool, the service was friendly and helpful and the place was packed to the brim--though it should be noted that it's a BYO and we saw 2 separate parties bringing in cases of Bug Light! Rock on! The three stars, however reflect the fact that the sushi itself was not all that impressive. For the price, it's not bad, but by no means is it the best sushi in the city--or really even noteworthy. The rolls are very creative (the white forest is topped with pico de gallo salsa--yum) but the execution is somewhat sloppy--and the quality of the ingredients doesn't seem to be exceptionally fresh. But maybe we went on an off night? Overall, I'd say--Fat Salmon gets props for price, service and creativity.
(3)Vanessa L.
Good, fresh sushi!
(4)Sarah B.
Since sushi is the best food known to man, I used to eat it weekly in LA nevermind the mercury poisoning risks or whatnot. I went to college in San Diego where sushi was aplenty. I also recently visited Tokyo where I had fresh sushi right by the fish market. So my sushi standards are a bit high. In Philly, I put on "goggles" knowing I should expect inadequate sushi. The last time I ate a roll it felt like I was chewing on a rubber snail. Finally, le beau and I discovered Fat Salmon--moderately priced, tasty sushi!!!!!!!!!!!! Something I would've eaten in LA!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were so excited that after we both had multiple rolls, we ordered another one to share. We definitely didn't exercise "hara hachi bu" here!
(4)Jacqueline C.
Although I am not a fan of the name change (Shinju was so much cooler), they got everything else right. First FS kept everything good about about the old spot (namely the fresh and innovative sushi) and fixed the things that were holding it back from sushi greatness, namely: - More tables translates into shorter lines - More space; tables are further apart (you can still talk to your neighbors, you just don't have to anymore) - More sushi chefs = less time waiting (and drooling over your neighbors food) Bottom line: This is the best sushi for your $$$ in Philly!
(5)Meghann p.
I love this place...the prices are so reasonable...I love the maki rolls and it is BYOB! What can be better? I have been back 4 times in the last month with different groups of friends...and everyone loved this place. I always recommend Fat Salmon for sushi lovers!
(5)Lee K.
Pretty small but a nice little sushi joint. Decor is pretty gimmicky in a Starr-ish kinda way but is nonetheless presentable. The specialty rolls had a good bit of variety and the few we tried didn't give us dysentery so we were happy. Try the smoked squid in ponzu sauce salad, it's phenom.
(4)Sarah Z.
Simply the best. Better than all the rest. When I have to move away, this is the place I'll come back for. It is my favorite.
(5)Sara L.
I did lunch with a friend at the new incarnation of Shinju that is Fat Salmon yesterday, and was impressed with how this restaurant has grown. It is a true testament to the management and excellent food to be so successful with a small establishment in the current economy. The head chef, menu and much of the staff remain largely identical to Shinju. It seems like more specialty rolls appear on the new menu, but my old favorites were there as well. They have increased their prices slightly, but not as much as I feared when I first heard about the move. Our meal consisted of naked gyoza with spicy tuna, sleeping volcano and rolling fire rolls, and a few pieces of nigiri and sashimi. The food was all excellent. I am impressed when a sushi place not only offers brown rice as an option, but gets the texture right to work perfectly in sushi. I am surprised to read complaints about the service. I have always found them to be friendly and efficient. Sometimes the food takes a little while, but when it arrives, the complexity of the preparation and presentation makes it obvious why. This is not a restaurant for hurrying. The decor is a complete turnaround from the humble dark wood that I so loved at Shinju. The new space is much more sleek and fancy, typical of what you would expect from a high-end sushi restaurant. This, combined with the liquor license application in the window, makes me believe that high-end sushi restaurant is where they are headed. This is not a bad thing in itself, but the city already has a couple of those. I will probably always feel a little nostalgic for the tiny, unassuming neighborhood place that you would hardly even notice walking by.
(4)Jillian G.
I've been to Morimoto, Haru, Vics...all of which were very different and wonderful, but Fat Salmon, yes formerly known as Shinju is CHEAP and ranks up there with the top guns of Sushi in Philadelphia. I have been there 3 times since it has opened (BYOB until April I was told) and have tried about 16 of the rolls...(I realize I sound like a fatty) but my favorites were: 1. Fancy Sushi - really awesome roll, haven't had anything like it anywhere else. Basically a piece of salmon sashimi wrapped around sushi rice with spicy salmon on top laying on a bed of crunchies. 2. Salmon Yaki - I don't usually go for any cooked fish in my rolls, but this really was awesome with the eel sauce. 3. Spicy Scallop - always order it when I see it, definitely up to par here. Rolls that looked awesome but really were not: 1. BCT - bacon and cream cheese, hard to go wrong here but not really what I hoping it would be....not enough BACON! 2. Rolling Fire - I was told this was too hot to handle for most people. They really got me excited. It was not hot. It's fresh and also does take out. I would make a reservation if I could. Every time I am there they are holding 4 or 5 tables in a 15 table place for people who eventually are suppose to come in. It's silly.
(5)Danielle K.
Love, love, love this place! My husband and I have been fans since it was shinju on Locust St. Make sure to make a reservation if you are planning on going for dinner. Some of our favorites are "old school", " lipstick trace" , and veggie tempura roll.
(5)Eileen H.
I couldn't decide between giving this place 3 or 4 stars, but I settled on 4 because I would definitely go back. We ordered the agedashi tofu, shrimp tempura tofu, smoked salmon, fluke, and yellowtail nigiri, their Rock N Roll special roll, and their Shochu samplers. I'll start with the decor. It's very ultra white, space age modern looking. Interesting take on decor for a sushi restaurant, of which I'm not sure if I am a fan but I can't say I hate it, either. Now for the food. The agedashi tofu was nothing special, i.e. don't bother ordering this dish. The shrimp tempura udon was pretty good, but not fantastic. I did like how they served the 2 shrimp tempura on the side so that it doesn't get too soggy in the broth. It also came with a zucchini tempura fritter. The nigiri was pretty much to my expectation, although they did something weird to the smoked salmon and yellowtail that made it look like the texture of cube steak. It was very odd and I assume its purpose is to tenderize the fish. The Rock N Roll was a commitment. Each piece, or roll, was pretty thick and stuffed with both salmon and tuna, then topped with "crunchy" topping and a sweet eel sauce. The waitress explained that it is called eel sauce because they mix in powdered eel. I have no idea what that is. In summary, they have a variety of sushi options, to the point where their menu is overwhelming, as well as many non-sushi options. They also seemed to have a pretty good sake selection. Their service is fine- nothing remarkable, though. I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a nice, reasonably priced sushi joint that serves alcohol.
(4)Kelly F.
Delicious! It was the Friday after Thanksgiving and what my boyfriend and I wanted more than anything was a meal that didn't have a shred of turkey in it. What we found was super friendly service, delicious sushi and apps and a full bar. This place has boosted to my favorite sushi place in the city. The baby octopus was spectacular! We couldn't finish all the sushi, so our waitress wrapped it up with much care and we had it the next day. Can't write enough good things and can't wait to come back.
(5)Anne Ligon H.
Fantastic food, craptastic service. We had a reservation, and arrived there precisely on time. No one even acknowledged us for another ten to fifteen minutes. After that time, a guy ushered the group that was there before us to their table, then came back and told us we could join them - I guess he thought we were with that group, which is why we were never acknowledged. An honest mistake, but it was just the first of many lapses in service. Once we were seated, a waiter took our order - we ordered a few rolls, a beer for each of us, and some edamame for an appetizer. We got our beer, then about...40 minutes later got our rolls. No edamame. We asked about it (I think we were polite and friendly, but the food runner looked terrified and confused - maybe I had trouble masking my pissed-off face?), and apparently the waiter had forgotten to put in our order. Oh well. Anyway, the food was delicious - we ordered three rolls, and ended up getting one more because we were extra hungry. However, we did have to wait a really, really long time for our second roll as well. Definitely great food, and cool decor. However, definitely not for those in a hurry or those who expect a lot from a waiter/staff.
(3)Adam R.
Food was incredible. My lady and I split edamame, then we both got our respective rolls for dinner. My favorite was easily the B.C.T. Bacon inside of a sushi roll is brilliant and more people should do it. The wait staff, however, was some of the worst I have ever experienced. Working in two different restaurants, I'm accustomed to a level of quality in waiting that, in all honesty, really isn't that hard to get to. Nobody greeted us when we sat down. 3 or so minutes after we sat, our 'first' server came up to us and the only words that came out of his mouth were "Hi" and nothing after that. There was an incredible sense of awkwardness, and then he said "Are you ready to get something?" I kindly told him that we were still looking, so he said "Okay" and then walked away. Then our 'second' server came by, who was a younger woman that was a lot friendlier than the server before her. My lady order tea from her and she brought it with haste, as well as took our appetizer orders and than eventually or dinner orders. I simply wondered if the servers on staff at Fat Salmon spoke to each other at all before handling our table? It's a norm for servers to either have a specific table set to themselves, our discuss which server gets which table so the tip can be sorted out justly. It felt like neither was the case, and they just jumped on us without even talking about it. After our dinner was over I paid with my card, which was surprisingly declined, to which the male server walked over and said "Your card was declined" handed it to me, then walked away without saying anything else, leaving us to wait for somebody else to take our secondary form of payment...which was about another 5 minutes out of our day. All in all, I give Fat Salmon a 3/5 stars for their wonderful atmosphere, excellent food, very reasonable prices...and inexperienced wait staff.
(3)Marty D.
This was a lunch for two experience. Service was courteous but slow conisdering there were only a few diners. All the fish was well prepared and very fresh. Odd that the uni here costs more that at Mori Moto.The atmosphere is just ok, kind of industrial and I'm not a big fan of exposed electrical connections in the ceiling. It's not cool, it's just lazy/cheap. Yeah, I know it's about the food but it's not really is it? All in all, ok vaue for money but no real reason to go out of my way for a return dinner.
(3)Amanda M.
I absolutely love the atmosphere and the food /service in this place! Def a 5 star!
(5)Heman P.
Its really great. You got to try it if you like sushi.
(4)Haseeb A.
Great sushi place. I used to live on the same block and would order their take out sushi all the time. However, nothing compares to eating in. The atmosphere is amazing and service is great. The entree's that they offer are delicious, but again, nothing compares to the sushi. They have a great variety of sushi so there is always something new to try. They also have some Japanese beer which I had never tried before coming here and it was very good.
(5)b w.
ABSOLUTELY the best sushi I've ever had. I don't claim to be a sushi pro, but I've been all over the east coast w/ work and I've experienced sushi in many of the big cities (New York, Cape Cod/smaller New England towns, Boston, Baltimore, DC, and all over Florida) and this location is by far the best I've ever had. Also, the prices are extremely reasonable, their most expensive roll is around 15.00 dollars and that's one of the huge specialty rolls. I believe their website has a full menu w/ prices. Please check this place out if you're in downtown philly, you wont be disappointed.
(5)Pramiti S.
I took my college roommate visiting from DC to Fat Salmon and was really happy with the service, food, and atmosphere. Their menu had so many options and the avocado salad was relatively large and very good. They also had every Hitachino beer including their stout which is hard to find, but it was severely overpriced at $10 for 11.2 ounces. However, while the lighting was a little cheesy, we had an amazing time with great sushi, plum saki, sapporo light, and a fantastic server. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a girls night/date night/ or a group night. I also highly recommend the plum saki and their special roll, the Hako roll. SO GOOD! I will definitely be back especially considering it's great sushi for an even better price.
(4)Melanie M.
Wow! I have walked past this place so many times since it is right around the corner from my apt. I finally decided to check it out after my friends were raving about it. They were right about this place! Everything was so delicious! I have never had so sushi so fresh in my life. The tuna sashimi does melt in your mouth. We also had the Locust Roll (the perfect mix of flavors and crunchiness). The M & M with marinated beef was also different and fantastic. Service was great and the BYO part is another plus. We have gone back 3 times now and can't wait to take all of our friends there so that they can enjoy sushi done right!
(5)Scottie B.
Went here twice while in town for a conference. The first time, with my girlfriend, she got the vegetarian combo and I a spicy tuna creation (Hoki Sushi I think). She loved hers and I was pretty pleased with mine. We got there around 5 on a Sunday and found the place empty. The second time, with my labmates we all ordered at least two rolls and there was high praise. This time (7:30pm on a Tuesday) the place was quite full but we still found a table. As always with sushi, it doesn't fill you up so feel adventurous to order at least two rolls. The interior is quite small (but not cramped) and includes a sushi bar. Our waitress was very nice and never far but not interrupting. And we couldn't believe the price, very reasonable.
(4)Alix H.
Shinju is definately yummy, but for the price I just want MORE!!!!!!!! My boyfriend and I are CA transplants to Philly so we are excited about finding all the best places to eat, but for the same price at the place back home you get 2-4 more pieces per order. bummer. It's still tasty and we will be coming back. As for the complaints about it being too small--- it's COZY !! :)
(4)Chrissy R.
I always stop by here when I have family in the hospital. Yes, it's morbid, depressing sushi. Yummy though and they do cheap and quick takeout.
(4)Anna Marie C.
yum yum yum. so i made the trek halfway across town for some sushi tonight (after reading the rave reviews here on yelp!). so it's my own fault for not reading the reviews as thoroughly that i did not notice that it was byo. i will correct that mistake next time. in any case, it was damn tasty. there are your standard sushi fare...and then there's the quite fab funky rolls. i had the locust (tempura tuna and crab and avocado and and and....) and the lady vampire (yes, i ordered it purely for the name). and it lived up to its yelp hype. oh, and they make one kick ass agedashi tofu. i seriously judge places based on how authentic their tofu is...and this place is quite hardcore. so next time, there will be sake and sushi for me. rock.
(4)Matt S.
You can't go wrong with the place. Solid sushi, good atmosphere, great prices, and BYOB. While I'm certainly not a sushi connoisseur like some other reviews, I would like to think that I can taste the difference between good and bad sushi. Shinju Sushi consistently impresses me with their fresh, creative rolls. Worth noting is that this place is SMALL. Reservations can be good idea. Also, the service can be a bit slow but never inattentive. Considering the size of the space, their almost non-existent kitchen and great prices I've never found the service to be a problem. Just don't expect to dine and dash.
(4)Rachel K.
Came here on my birthday and I became a fan. Great little cozy location. Shinju is known for their "fusion" style sushi and they definitely took the award for that! The rolls were smaller and a bit pricier then what im used to @ Mizu or Raw. But every bite makes up for it! I love how each dish comes with illustrations! hah The bad: too dark, byob, and one time they ran out of rice so my party had to wait one hour!
(4)Joshua S.
This is one of the few sushi places I have been to since I moved from Hawaii that compares to the spots on island. The place is very tiny, so I tend to make reservations when I go, although they are usually only needed on the weekend. It is a BYOB, but I'm a student so I don't mind paying a third of the price to by a six pack of Ichiban from around the corner. The rolls are fantastic, with many fusion rolls that are as fun to decide over with your date as they are to eat (although I agree with Lori that they are too fragile for the undextrous. They are a little pricey, but there has ever been an uttered regret from my table come check time. The sashimi and edamame are usual additions to the meal, as well. All in all, go in a patient mood (the service runs a little slow and the chefs take their time perfecting your roll) and you won't be disappointed.
(4)Gustavo B.
Its a trendy, not so expensive , great spot for couples and even small groups, for a fun, great sushi dinner. Can get busy on weekends, so make sure you make a reservation. Staff is super friendly and service is very good. Their specialty rolls selection is pretty decent, as well as the regular, vegetarian and tempura options. They have now a new menu, with even more stuff. By the way, it is no longer BYOB.
(4)Kaye I.
should i even tell you about this place?!? Shinju is awesome!!! Delicious Sushi, Best prices in town. Only draw back is the place in tiny, but it's cozy and warm with their friendly staff. Did i mention BYOB!! They are planning to move to a larger location so maybe till then you could go to Fuji mountain so I can be sure to get a table here :) Perhaps I should add that i am fairly new to sushi and I am still getting alot of the fried stuff on the menu, but my genuine sushi and sashimi eating friends like this place as well.
(5)Joe J.
Just came back from dinner at Fat Salmon. Ill start off by saying a really good place and I very much enjoyed it, and most importantly the food. The decor is really cool. I found it comforting. The place is pretty small, consisting of all two person tables and a large bar seating area. The tables are really close to eachother which I cant blame them on since it is small, and once you get over the initial awkwardness with being close to people you dont know it doesnt matter anymore. Just google image "fat salmon philadelphia" if you wanna see the inside. ***definantly make a reservation*** ~~i went there today which is monday night and it was still completely full. i didnt see anyone ever waiting but it was constantly full so i can only imagine what it would be like on a friday or saturday. With my reservation we got seated immediately. The service was kind of slow but not unbearable. They filled the waters pretty quick but after that it took about 10 minutes for our waitress to come. Then another 10 again after our drink order. But it was ok because we spent most of the time looking at the menu. The waitress was really nice, personable, and knowledgeable. We had a few conversations with her and everyone just seemed overall pleasant. Now to the food. For starters we had the edamame. I had no idea what it was, all i knew was that a lot of people like it. When i came i was really disappointed to find out it was just soy beans with the pod covered in salt. Nonetheless they were still fun to pick at. It was 4.50 which wasnt bad. I wouldnt recommend getting it at all though, I just find it a little pointless. Between the both of us we got 5 rolls. Ill put them in decending order of which i liked best: ~Rolling Fire: INCREDIBLE. not only the best sushi i ever had, but also one of the best things ive ever put in my mouth. A lot of people are concerned about its spice factor, but to me it wasnt that spicy. Even if you dont like spice you NEED to get this. it was incrediblleeeee. ~White Forest: Second favorite. It was salmon tempura. What made this so unique and great was the salsa-like-thing and sour cream on top. The mixture of that with the tempura made your mouth go nuts. definitely absolutely recommend. ~Hako: Third favorite. The only reason i got this one was because all the reviews said it was incredible. didnt live up to my expectations but was still good sushi. dont let this deter you from getting it, just not as good as i expected. gives you 8 pieces though which is nice. ~Dancing Vampire: Fourth. Didnt really stand out to me but of course tasty. It would have been great alone but compared to all these other incredible sushi on my plate it just didnt match up. again, i dont recommend this one not because it was bad but there are other better things. ~Fancy Sushi: Eh, it was alright. Expected it to be better. The biggest downfall for me on this one was that it only came in 4 pieces. Taste was good but out of the 5 we got to me it was the least impressive. Dessert we got vanilla tempura ice cream. ABSOLUTELY get this if you are getting dessert. Actually even if you arent getting dessert.............get dessert....just so you can try this. Overall it was a great experience and would go back any day. Recommend completely. -----------------------------FOUR MONTHS LATER------------------------------------------ So just went back tonight and loved it again and just had to write about it. Originally I gave it 4 stars but after tonight it jumped to 5. Ill just talk about the rolls. This time we got rolling fire (had to get it again), white forest (she had to get that again), sepia pleasure, mr shiro, and lost rainbow. Lost rainbow was GREAT. to me better than white forest, everything worked so well. Mr Shiro i was not that impressed. The whole thing in your mouth tastes a scale of 6 on a 10 but you can taste something is off. I tried the topping seperately....and thats what it was. It was so fishy and dry I didnt like the top at all. Yet the actual roll made it ok. But atleast the roll was 8 pieces so that was ok. Wouldn't recommend this one though. Then lastly the surprise of the night was sepia pleasure. Was not expecting this to be as good as it was. It was surprisingly great. Actually really great. Third next to lost rainbow. First is still rolling fire of course. Then once again we got ice cream which was just as good this time. GET IT. also went to doma which i heard was another popular sushi rest in the city, personally thought this was better than doma
(5)nico t.
My favorite sushi spot in town. the decor is bright and cheery, but the lights are dim, creating a great sushi atmosphere. as others have said, it's a tight fit most of the time. the reasons i love this place start with its location. it happens to be just around the corner from my apartment. but that's not all. they have a good selection of vegetarian sushi options, which works well for weirdos like me that like sushi but don't eat fish. the wait staff are friendly and helpful, and the chefs will make stuff not on the menu if you ask nicely (not common among locals). the prices are about average for a decent sushi place, though the vegetarian tempura is a little pricey, but i can't resist. it's my favorite. they put a spicy mayo on it that is just the right amount of zing for me. the menu has a huge variety of "fusion" options in addition to standard sushi fare. they've even added a vegetarian option to the fusion menu, which i like to think was the result of my continuous efforts to get them to expand their veggie options. In short, if you're in the neighborhood and like sushi, eat here.
(4)Bernadette F.
Amazing inventive sushi and cocktails that were very affordable. The special rolls were almost the normal price. Attentive service. Will definitely go back.
(5)Josh W.
I think this is the best sushi spot in the city. After having to write a scathing review about another place in Philly, I felt it only just I write a nice review about a place I love going to. There's always something new to try, the atmosphere is great, the service is wonderful. The food is just excellent all around. Never had a bad meal here. I wish I could try everything but it will take me many moons and many stomachs. Go here if you love sushi. This is the place.
(5)SF G.
Overall was disappointed with this restaurant. The server seemed lost most of the time. Also, when we made reservations for 12 they sent us to 3 different tables in separate sections of the restaurant...not quite the ambience we were looking for when sharing a meal together. Good selection of sake. Waitress recommended the Rolling Fire roll...it sounded so good. Unfortunately, it is so drenched in their spicy sauce that you can't really taste anything else in the roll. Who even knows if their fish is fresh since I couldn't discern the flavor. Other rolls I tried I was not in love with. Some were quite heavy handed. Overall, I prefer fresh fish that you can taste despite the competing flavors. The restaurant is trendy and chic but could use some help redecorating their menu and/or being more authentic.
(3)Don K.
Went for my second time here this week. I thought this was some of the best sushi I have had in a while. Special rolls were all very good sized. All the fish tasted fresh. We had no problems with any of the rolls we ordered. Alcohol is expensive, which is really the only reason I dinged it a star. It looks like they have some good lunch specials, which I would love to check out some time.
(4)Elena S.
This is a solid, consistently good sushi place that is decently priced and a great option for lunch or dinner (great lunch specials, btw). The quality of the sushi is really good - maybe not quite as great as Morimoto, but pretty darn close and way less expensive. And I think it's just as good as pricier sushi places, like Zama or Raw. The vibe is also modern and pretty, and the service is super friendly and efficient. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for something nicer than Mizu or Vic's, but you don't want to spend a fortune for sushi.
(4)Patti F.
4 stars for being BYO & having reasonably priced delicious sushi. 3 stars for service. The space was intimate. I would recommend going on a week night to beat the crowd.
(4)s l.
Great little (seriously, little) spot in Washington Sq West. It's rare that I leave a sushi place stuffed, but after the old school roll and the lipstick roll (I think?) and sharing an order of the very good, light agedashi tofu, I was just that. I wish I stopped at the Foodery first though. Next time I'll come armed with some Hitachino XH.
(4)They Call Me L.
We were here on Saturday evening earlyish, Memorial Day weekend. It wasn't terribly busy. Service was good. Their sushi was tasty. We several rolls, including the vampire. Had the small sashimi, too, and that was really fresh and yummy. Beautiful space and decor.
(4)Alex F.
Fat Salmon is the re-opened Shinju sushi- after eating at shinju only once and being very impressed, my girlfriend and i returned to Fat salmon to see what they had. The menu is same with an addition of more special rolls. The ambiance and size of the restuarant too are much better than the closet sized shinju. I would've given Fat Salmon 5 stars, however, there were 2 things that did not impress me. The service was not very good. We brought beers and it took about 10 minutes for a server to bring us a bottle opener, then when they did, they took it away so we had to go through waiting again when we had to open our next beers. it also took a little over an hour for us to get our food, even though we came for a late dinner and the crowd was dying down. This may be (and hopefully it is) just a product of opening a new restaruant, so if you go just make sure your mindful of waiting. The other thing is that they seem to be applying for their liquor licence. So no more BYOB, which is a shame. I love BYOB. All that aside, the food is Fantastic and well worth the wait! the servers are freindly even though they take awhile too.
(4)meg B.
This place has such great ratings so my expectations were high when I had dinner here last night. I was so disappointed! The appetizer shumai and gyoza were not tasty, unsatisfying, and obviously store-bought frozen. I couldn't eat them. The fish itself was average. The sushi menu has more cooked fish options than raw ones. The guy at the next table asked the waitress "what's sashimi?" Seems like this place may attract patrons who are not very sushi-saavy? The rolls were ok and well-priced but definitely not special. I will not be coming back nor will I recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Edu A.
Shinju used to be Philly's best kept secret sushi and rolls spot. Then the Yoo brothers gave us Fat Salmon, a very trendy spot just about across the street from Washington Square. Sophisticated ambience, excellent service, and definitely the best rolls in the city. And the price is great, which is different from other sushi places that are overpriced and not as good in quality or creativity. Highly recommended for lunch break if you are in Center City, or for a romantic evening. Very beautiful decor and lighting. Try Hako sushi, very delicious. And don't forget to try their spicy tuna crunch roll, my second favorite. And don't believe bad reviews of users that are apparently trying to advertise other restaurants of similar style, claiming to know their sushi. It's almost a crime to say thatcFat Salmon's food is not great. It is hands down excellent!! I'm a real costumer and I approve this message!
(5)ivy h.
The interior here is beautiful and the food is great. Also hanging out with my girl Gina ;)
(5)Gordon N.
WOW! great food and service. What more can one ask for.
(5)Lauryn Z.
We had dinner at Shinju last night, and since my last review was about a year ago, it's time for an update and I'm happy to report that nothing has changed- the sushi is still the best I've ever had...the fish is always fresh & melt in your mouth delicious every time ...and the rolls are unique and creative, miso soup is excellent & its byob with the Foodery just around the corner. We left with a wonderful 'food high' totally wondering why we would ever bother going anywhere else in Philly for sushi...
(5)Mindy Y.
Shinju is moving to 7th and Walnut.. and they're changing their name to Fat Salmon. Fat Salmon?? Yes, Fat Salmon.
(5)Jon S.
We love this place for the vibe and the great, inventive food and we like the new location. We have eaten here several times and I guess it was usually half full. Tonight got there at 7:30, full house and unbelievably noisy. Tip: go early or go late.
(5)K E.
Best sushi east of Broad. Probably my favorite sushi in the city.
(5)Jay P.
Awesome, really fun and affordable sushi place. Try the bct! Service is acceptable, but sometimes a bit disappointing. Great dinner for the price.
(4)Caitlin C.
This is a hidden BYOB gem that I am trying to tell all my I-think-I-know-it-all-Philly-foodie friends about. And now I am telling you. Let's start with their motto: "Till the fat salmon sings." This sushi joint is funny, creative and colorful. The walls are painted yellow, green and orange, but don't worry - it is dimly lit at night for date dinners as well. Although it is probably only 400 square feet, Shinju has a little Tiki Bar (aka: sushi bar covered in palm reeds) and about 10 tables. The walls are lined with a graphic artist's portrayal of dancing, cartoon-like sushi pieces. Anything you get here is going to be delectable. And I don't know what everyone's Genji deal is . . . this is a lot better! To make your choice a lot easier, I have created a menu for you and your loved ones. Caitlin's Menu: Beef Gyoza (Japanese dumpling) to start Rock & Roll (tuna, salmon, cucumber inside; tempura crunch outside) M & M (marinated beef inside) Spicy Tuna Crunch (tuna, tempura crunch, cucumber, tobiko) Green Tea Ice Cream At this point of the meal you are converted.
(5)Mum D.
Fat Salmon, what an intriguing name for a restaurant. And where does a restaurant experience start? With the name. Then you walk in the door. At Fat Salmon you are greeted by a gorgeous hostess, who unlike many other places is also friendly and very accommodating. Step 3: server. Also friendly and ready to answer any questions we had. N4. Food. It was a lil strange we had to wait for a miso soup over 15 min considering the fact they were closing, but whatever. I won't nitpick, because it was good. Drinks? My Green tea sake shake was disappointing, should have had some simple syrup in it maybe and more flavor, but it was drinkable. Then came my bento box with seared salmon. My fish surpassed any expectations I had. I mean...this was CRISPY-SKINNED, PERFECTLY SEASONED, exploding with flavor! Way to go, Fat Salmon. The only thing on my plate I wasn't crazy about was the dumpling. It was heavy and chewy, too doughy and you could barely taste the filling. Otherwise , great food. I wish we had gone a lil earlier so they don't rush us out the door. Also glad the owner finally stopped charging his employees credit card transaction fees etc and they FINALLY get their tips in full...
(3)Clarissa D.
One of my favorite places in the city. BYOB. Well priced, generous, and well made sushi dishes. Nice dark candle lit atmosphere. I come here all the time with my friend and our bill is usually $30 or less. They also do a great lunch special.
(5)Kim C.
This is my go-to place for sushi. Nothing fancy, no frills, reasonably priced, they do takeout and delivery ($15 minimum), and fish has always tasted fresh. I've been going here and will continue to go here for all my sushi needs in Philadelphia.
(4)Lisa B.
This is my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. The special rolls are creative, and their spicy rolls are just that. . .when they say spicy, they mean it! These are rolls with a kick! They are also large and very reasonably priced. Spicy Tuna melts in your mouth. Hako is my all-time favorite: inside Spicy Tuna and Crunchy, on top Eel & Tobiko with Eel sauce. Mmmm! Another delicious creation is the Volcano: inside Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado and on top Spicy Tuna with Wasabi Tobiko & Crunchies on the side. The Dancing Vampire is another winner: inside Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy while on top is Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy). I've taken out-of-towners here who have loved it. The bad part is that it's now become quite popular, is no longer BYOB, and is not very large. So the last 2 times we tried to drop in, we were met with an hour or more wait, forcing us to go elsewhere. And this is even during the week sometimes! So reservations are suggested.
(5)Katy D.
I am in love! I have found a sushi place that is not overpriced (I'm looking at you, Raw) and has amazing quality. I went with my husband and got a "sushi for 2" platter. It came with miso soup and a salad. The sushi platter was a generous mix of nigiri, sashimi, maki, etc. It was enough for both of us to be full and happy and that's really all I can ask for. The service was just ok, but even at Shinju, they never really had the service part down. The fish was so fresh and the rolls were SO good. They did not use a ton of rice in each roll like other sushi places, which I like. I will definitely be back, fat salmon. Also, I thought the mural inside was pretty awesome. I do wish they were staying BYOB, but there's really not enough Sake options in the city stores anyway, so hopefully they can offer a good selection when they get their liquor license.
(5)Mai H.
Pretty decent sushi for a decent price. Tonight the rice was a little mushy for some but still ok in my book. I love the volcano and dragon rolls. Service has always been a little slow but I don't mind a little slowness ar byo's. And speaking if which, not sure how much longer that will last since it looks as though they're applying for a liquor license. I'll still be coming back.
(4)Bryce P.
I moved to Philadelphia recently, and was looking for a reliable place for sushi... Found it here at Fat Salmon... Staff is great, decor is modern/trendy. VERY reasonable prices for sushi, that in my opinion, is better than that of Morimoto. Try the Fancy Roll with Salmon. Currently BYOB (no corking fee), though they are getting their liquor license soon.
(5)Gabrielle T.
Fantastic! I'm really picky about my sushi and it's been 6 months since I've had it; I'm from Boston and was convinced I'd never have anything as good as my favorite place back home... until I experienced Fat Salmon. I did some serious recon on this place before I made a reservation. I walked by a few times (it's just around the corner from my house) and it seems like it's always packed- good sign #1. I popped by and got a take-out menu and was amazed by the wide selection and the creative, tasty-sounding rolls. The third time I walked by, I stopped in to make a reservation for the following week and met with the hostess, who was awesome. Even though they had lots of reservations for the time we requested, she put us down for corner seats at the bar and said that she'd work on getting us a table. So group of friends and I went out to Fat Salmon on Tuesday night and we were all very impressed. We were happy to find that we'd ended up getting a nice little table for four in the back. The decor was great; we really liked the wallpaper and the mural featuring the pieces of tuna and salmon sashimi was so cute. The service was excellent as well... whoever yelped that it was bad must be mistaken. Our waitress, Jessica was extremely attentive, friendly, polite, and personable. The three of us were waiting for our fourth to arrive, and she came over to tell us that she'd try to put our order in before a 6-top that had just arrived because she didn't want us to have a long wait. She helped us choose our dishes and gave great advice on some tasty rolls that we ended up completely devouring. Needless to say, she got a big tip. Best part: It's a BYO, and if you bring cold beverages, (i.e., Asahi super cans) they'll keep them in the fridge until you're ready to imbibe. If you bring Sake, they take it back to the kitchen, warm it up, and bring it out in a lovely serving set for you. The food: everything was hands-down delectable. The four of us had green tea, our alcoholic beverages, some edamame, and miso soup to start with. The miso soup was some of the best I've ever had. Even my friend (who might be considered an expert in Japanese culture and cuisine) was impressed. We ordered the following rolls and ate every single piece: Hako Sushi, Rock and Roll (SO DELICIOUS), Yellow Tail Roll, Enkai, Spicy Tuna and Spicy Tuna Crunch (can't go wrong), Spider Roll (my favorite!), and Shiitake roll (decent). The best part is that it was all so tasty, and so affordable! I'm definitely going to become a regular at Fat Salmon and I highly recommend it to any sushi aficionados out there. Grab your chopsticks and enjoy!
(5)Tom G.
I order sushi from this place at least once a week. While the space is small and the tables close together this somehow adds to the charm. The staff is always friendly and glad to see me (perhaps because I drop as much money as I do). When picking up takeout and bring the dog to pick up my order they not only bring my order outside they sometimes bring treats for the dog. My personal favorite is the Locust roll - if you go you MUST try this roll.
(5)Angela C.
Update 1 year later - We have since come here many times and have learned what to order for the best experience! I always get the sashimi for 2, he gets 3 different kinds of rolls, usually a rainbow, a volcano (the spicy one?) and something else, wild card I suppose. You have to order it this way because if you say you are sharing, there will be LESS sashimi on the plate! Also, we get to share the soup and salad that comes with the sashimi meal. The fish, esp the salmon, has been melting in our mouths. I personally like the scallops and tuna. The white fish is good but after 2 pcs I would look for something else. This amount of food is just right for my hubby and I. Of course we bring our wine or beer. The bill usually comes out to $60 which is unheard of in Texas where we are from for this quality and quantity. As always, make sure you call ahead for a reservation! We went on Halloween early evening to celebrate our anniversary (only our "going out" one, not wedding) and to our surprise, this area was very quiet and we didn't see anyone with crazy costumes. Anyways, this place is tiny! With about 9 tables close together. But the decor is very mellow and pretty. You feel comfortable as soon as you step foot indoor. The service was good and attentative. We had about 6 rolls: 3 specialty, 2 traditional, 3 sashimi and brought our own white wine. Love BYOB places here. The tuna was OK, doesnt melt in your mouth but OK. Salmon was much better. The special rolls were the best. Ingredients were fresh and pairing were good. Not crazy outrageous, but good. Overall, for the price, which was super cheap compare to where we came from ($66 total) originally, it was a good experience. We will definitely go again for a low key special occasion. PS. It did start to get crowded later on around 8:30pm so I would recommend making reservations.
(5)Charlie G.
This place is CLOSED. Windows papered over, etc... Glad I walked across town, NOT. There were indications that they would reopen. Call before going to this place. Did they move? Fat Salmon, maybe?
(1)Patrick M.
I love shinju and I'm not even the biggest sushi fan in the world. Fresh, tasty, and inventive fare is the name of the game, all at very reasonable prices and BYOB to boot. It's an unassuming hole in the wall type place, with maybe eight tables and a sushi bar that seats 3-4, but whatever it lacks in size it more than makes up for in quality. My favorite sushi place hands down. My only complaint is I wish they'd switch from the smooth jazz soundtrack to something a bit more, um, palatable ;)
(5)J B.
This place is great for any sushi lover. We have been three times and haven't had any complaints. There is a great selection on the menus and even some rolls that I have never seen before. The seafood is always fresh. The size of the restaurant is great as well and while giving you privacy at your table. We will return to Fat Salmon.
(5)Mike H.
The sushi was definitely good quality and the prices aren't bad at about $5 for most order of nagiri (2 pieces) and $8-10 for most specialty maki. The service was fine--nothing amazing (i.e. they didn't rub my feet during dinner)--but I was completely happy with it. The decor was nice - the restaurant is smallish, but nice and intimate with low lights, nice decorations, candles on the tables to light everything, and hilarious dancing sashimi pieces decorating the walls. The only thing frustrating about the place is the reservation system. I walked in with a party of two at 7:40p and despite the fact that there were three empty tables for two, I was told that I had to wait 30-45 minutes to sit. I did get a call on my cell phone 20 minutes later telling me that there was a cancellation and an open table--I could take it, but I had to be done by 9:45p because there was another group coming in. Of course I could have made a reservation, but at a place that small with only 10ish tables, having so many of them reserved is problematic for walkins. Overall, I thought it was a great experience and I highly recommend it.
(4)Marvin L.
was a big fan of shinju, now i am a huge fan of fat salmon great atmosphere creative rolls fresh fish friendly owner and servers see you again soon!
(5)Jen K.
Fat Salmon is ok sushi. Its run of the mill. Not bad, not great, just kinda there.
(3)Josephine A.
Just so everybody knows-- this place isn't located at 9th and locust anymore. It's at 7th and Walnut. And it's called Fat Salmon. The phone number hasn't changed.
(3)Justin M.
great sushi! love the intimate atmosphere! i frequent this sushi spot often. one of my favorites.
(5)Rachel W.
AMAZING! My favorite sushi place in the city. I only wish they could expand so we could get a seat easier but the food & Lena (our fave server) are the best. I can't wait for our photo to be added to the wall. :)
(5)Amy A.
One of the best sushi places in Philly! Great service, great atmosphere. When I pick up my food, they will bring it outside for me because usually I will be walking my dog. Their spicy scallops over fried tofu is delicious and a must-have. I used to go to the Asian Bistro in Old City, but they've been cutting their portions and service is always slow. Make sure to call ahead at the Fat Salmon on weekends and make a reservation, they are usually packed.
(5)Mike C.
I only order fat salmon for takeout, but it's always so delicious. I was very disappointed that they stopped being a BYOB right before I discovered this place. The rolls are always big portions compared to the other sushi places in center city that I've had. My girlfriend is obsessed with the yellowtail roll. So simple, yet so delicious. The miso soup isn't too salty, and is one of the better ones that I've had.
(5)Erica S.
My friend and I went here for dinner because she was close with the owner... The place was tiny so it was hard to locate at first. There is no place to park so you need to really look for a spot before entering... Just like the outside, the inside was tiny as well. The service wasn't all that great though because they didn't directly approach us when we entered, didn't come by to take our orders until we waved our hands toward them, and the food took quite awhile to be served. Their sushi rolls were great (had Locuste, Rolling Fire, Rock and Roll) but I've tasted better... The place was tiny so it was very crowded and loud but I liked that. I think the food tastes better when eating around crowded area filled with people. I didn't get a chance for the dessert because of the parking spot and people waiting outside in the freezing cold but I guess that can wait until next time. Overall, I think this place is a good place to go to with a close friend or two.
(3)Karen B.
Shinju is my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia (though I haven't been to some of the pricier places). I remember the restaurant being cozy and inviting, with fun and cheeky wall decor. The fish was fresh and delicious, and the special rolls were inventive in a tasty way. A couple of the rolls were rather spicy, but they were marked as such on the menu. Service was fairly prompt, although it was a bit understaffed and there were times when it was a bit difficult to catch our waitress. Still, the food more than made up for it. I will certainly go back!
(4)y f.
Our go to sushi place in the city - have tried other sushi restaurants but always end up coming back to fat salmon. The highlights are their rolls, and, while their fish is excellent, they also have many veggie friendly options - in fact, my favorite roll is the old school (spicy mayo sauce is amazing!). Overall, awesome place with friendly & efficient service.
(5)Eric W.
Delicious sushi (make sure to try a few of their special rolls) and nice atmosphere. Very affordable and our waitress was attentive and polite even though we stayed a little after closing time.
(5)Kristin D.
I love this place. It is small and quaint, the sushi rolls are innovative and are good. Where can you go for sushi for 2 and get in and out under $50. I suppose its because it is BYOB, but is also the reason why l like it. The sushi blows Raw out of the water. I would not put it in the best sushi in the world category, but its pretty decent. The only complaint I have is we went last night, and when we sat down, there was only 1 other table occupied. Shortly after, 2 more tables arrived, and the waitress placed them on each side of us. It seems that the seating of tables should be more like the unspoken urinal rule (not that I would know). If at all possible don't place tables right next to each other. If it would have been busy, I wouldv'e understood.
(4)Lori H.
I usually don't dine out on Saturday nights as I prefer to go out when restaurants are slower but I did. Maybe this attributed to the excruciatingly slow service but I am not likely to go back. I also did not care of the designer rolls that we purchased as they were too fragile to eat with chop sticks.
(3)Eve G.
My sushi crusade brought me here (that and plus insistent recommendations from friends). There is something about eel, I must admit. And so we came. Atmosphere was somewhat cold. Blue light waves on the walls, grey bar area minimalistically crowded, dark host stand... not a color palette i normally associate with sushi spots, but hey, whatever, i dig it. kinda. Anyway, food itself was great. really good. spot on rolls, eel and what-not. bento boxes 2 times the size of zama's. I loved it. What I didnt love was our waitress telling us we can only order now and she wont be able to order anything else for us later. We came in at 2:10 for lunch and they were closing at 2:30. So that 2nd beer I wanted to order after I was done with my first one was out of my reach. I guess going over to the bar and getting a bottle would be rule breaking surpassed only by PDoA. Much No-No at Fat Salmon's. And of course we couldnt order desert or get coffee as we were finished with our entrees, cause our check was closed (and on the table BEFORE we got those entrees). So that was REALLY weird. Anyhow food itself was great. Concept and service? Not so much
(4)lori m.
obsessed with this place. everything i've ever gotten here is awesome. the chilled tofu with seaweed salad is my favorite app...if you can, i'd call ahead for a reservation. save room for the fried ice cream...so good!
(5)Sally f.
loved this place! what a fun time! beautiful interior! friendly service! delicious sushi!!!!!!!! cant get enough sushi!!!!!!!!!!
(5)jack j.
I used to go to shinju (their old restaurant) or however you spell it, very often. I was nervous to see if the place would change i.e. price, food, ambience. I am happy to report that everything is the same if not better. The place is super modern and the food is still the best sushi philly has to offer. Awesome food, really inexpensive, nice people. It's still byob but not for long, they applied for a liquor license.
(5)Justin E.
Best overall sushi experience I've had taking cost, quality, service into consideration. For a downtown address it's a little out of the way from everything else. I highly recommend Shinju.
(5)Jennie K.
great service, great FRESH sushi, great variety on the menu, plus they just got a liquor license. who could ask for more??
(4)Dana J.
Wait-how has bacon not been put into a sushi roll before? It's on everything else and yet Fat Salmon is the first sushi place I've ever been to that has it as a roll. Honestly, it gets 4 stars for this reason alone. This is a cute little sushi bar. It reminds me of a Japanese fast food restaurant with the cutesy character on the menu. It is small though, so even at 8 on a Tues we had to wait 20 minutes for a table. I liked the variety of special rolls they had. Besides the BCT which had the bacon, I tried several others that were all reasonably priced and fairly unique. It is easy to see why this is considered one of the best in Philly.
(4)Brooke P.
I think I found my new favorite sushi spot in the city. We didn't have reservations on a Thursday night, and found that although it was pretty crowded, we were able to get seated in 5 minutes. The ambience of FS is trendy and chic, the design clean and simple with a high tech vibe. I love sashimi and the sashimi plate for 1 was definitely more than enough for one person- I actually shared it with my friend and it was still plenty. The feshness of the fish and the selection was awesome. The best sashimi- which doesn't surprise me, given the name of the establishment, was the salmon. Melted in my mouth. The combination of the food and the fact that it's a byob make this my new top spot in Philly. The only thing that could use a little working on is the timing of how the food is brought out, but the waiters were super helpful, very pleasant and did not rush us into ordering. I would go back to FS tonight and in fact, I already know where I'm going for my birthday in September!
(4)Lowie T.
oh i love a good fatty salmon any day, so with a name like this it just calls to me! not only is the name delicious, it doesn't fail to deliver great sushi- fresh, generous portions, and at a great price! i especially love the lunch specials. i always get the (no surprise here) salmon special- salmon maki, w/ 2pcs nigiri, & sashimi - soup or salad for only $10.50! and it's one thing if the quality is good and it's cheap, but small...but the portions are just right. not ridiculously large that you feel skeptical, but definitely enough that it feels like an actual lunch deal. in general, their portions are pretty generous though, even for dinner. the place is very modern & trendy looking, lots of sea blue back light, but also casual at the same time. very versatile. a great place to have a casual dinner/quick lunch, as well as a very nice sit down special occasion dinner. the entrance is easy to miss walking down walnut street so keep your eyes peeled! don't be surprised if u walk by just to walk backwards again. i think this would also fall under "great date with great ambiance for an affordable price" spot =)
(4)Jeremy G.
Reservations were easy and friendly. The decor and atmosphere was good. Visually, Fat Salmon looked excellent. The lighting is excellent. They could use some sound deadening material placed in the restaurant as all of the hard surfaces reflect every sound in the restaurant, making what could be a quiet intimate place very loud. The menu is creative. Staff is extremely friendly and professional. The reason I rated Fat Salmon one star is that they served us bad fish. My date had to run to the restroom three unhappy times during the meal. My stomach was considerably grumbly. I think it may have been the whitefish in one of the Makis that we ordered. I had high hopes for Fat Salmon, but will not be returning.
(1)Nic H.
A decent, well-decorated sushi-bar near Independence Mall with the cutest mascot ever (a little dancing salmon sashimi). I've been here over 5 times and had good experiences. The warm sake is always good and house sake is a reasonable price. Wait staff is friendly and attentive. Make a reservation if you can because otherwise it might be tough to get in, especially on a weekend. There are a lot of dates going on here, my favorite thing to do is people watch the dates to see how they are going.
(4)John N.
Came here for lunch two days ago. Having tried Raw and Morimoto, it was time to try something new in Philly. The location is very weird, maybe not where you'd expect to find a Japanese restaurant. The inside is indeed small, maybe a little too much so. However, it is decorated just fine, so it's not as if it's ugly or anything...just the dining room is a little on the tiny side! I got a spicy tuna and veggie tempura lunch bento with green tea, my friend just some sushi. I asked for separate checks, and was politely told that I couldn't do separate checks. Weird, somewhat inconveniencing, but whatever. Prices were about typical for a Japanese restaurant. The food though, was delicious. The sushi was very fresh and satisfying. The tempura was good too. I know it's hard to mess up fried vegetables, but the bento box was arranged very nicely, and everything tasted fresh, hot, and just delicious. Separating the food from the location, it is definitely five stars in taste. However, dining is more than just food, so I have to give Shinju a four, but the food is so good, and without a doubt a five/five. Will return and would highly recommend!
(4)Priya H.
My husband and I love this place. It is right in our neighborhood, reasonably priced and consistently delicious. With innovative rolls like the Dancing Vampire and Old School, it's always a delightful surprise. Their more basic rolls are not to be missed either including the Tensai which was fantastic in its simplicity. Overall, a great addition to the neighborhood with nice ambiance, good prices and fresh and consistent sushi.
(4)Bixley T.
Shinju is by far my favorite sushi place in the city. Yes it's tiny, yes it can get crowded, yes the rolls can sometimes be smaller than what you're used to, but the quality is outstanding. The special rolls are some of the most unique and well thought out combination's I've come across. Definitely try the "lipstick trace" (fantastically refreshing and vegetarian, meets your palet in between tastes like sorbet in between courses) and the "duo roll" (an eel masterpiece). If you're looking for better value stay of the special roll menu and go for standards like spicy tuna, etc. Or better yet check them out for lunch. Shinju has a special lunch menu at prices you cannot beat! Service is generally pleasant, and they light rock salt candles at night which lend to the ambiance. Oh! They have posters of sushi characters that are made to resemble movie posters- kitschy and adorable. Love this place!
(5)Jason B.
Shinju is great. Tons of variety and really great combo rolls that you don't find at other places. Nice staff and reasonable prices. This is my number one sushi destination in Philly.
(5)Hanan B.
Sometimes it takes a while for the food to get ready or for a hostess to come get you seated. In other times, all goes great. A hit or a miss with timing. But the actual food is great which makes it worth the wait. For lunch, the lunch menu combo is fabulous and very affordable. The dinner is also great and I like the modern ambiance. The waiters are always nice and professional. Again just the days when we have to wait before being seated or before the order is taken are the only down side but you will be happy when the food comes.
(5)Gautam T.
I took my girlfriend here for a dinner to congratulate her for passing her board exams. She loves sushi and is very meticulous when determining if the sushi is amazing. This place passed with flying colors. I thought this was some of the best sushi in town and my girlfriend agreed. We had 4-5 different rolls. Tempura Shrimp, Scallop rolls, and two of their specialty rolls; one of them being a mexican roll. The mexican roll had pressed pico de gallo on the rice with salmon inside the roll. This was by far the best roll. It tasted like a little piece of mexico in your mouth. Absolutely phenomenal. Beside the food being awesome. The ambiance is quite swanky, it seriously feels like you're swimming and eating fresh fish. Oh yeah and did I mention this place is super cost effective.
(5)Andrew H.
Been here a couple times now. The sushi is fun and inventive. You can stay with the traditional options or venture into their specialties. They have options that will meet the needs of everyone; including those who don't want raw fish or even people who don't like seafood. My favorite dish is the octopus appetizer. The staff is friendly and the decor is nice. My only complaint is that the seating is tight due to the small space of the restaurant.
(4)Laura F.
I have been wanting to have sushi in the city for a while, and this was one of the places with the most good reviews. I think they have SO MANY reviews because of their location, not because it is amazing sushi. I got the Volcano Roll and a Yellowtail Roll. It was very fresh sushi and flavorful, just not the best sushi I've ever had. The volcano roll was spicy, but did not burn my mouth. Oh yeah and I had miso soup, it was very good. Prices were what I am used to paying - glad it was not overpriced for their location. Service was pretty slow, that was the biggest negative for me.
(4)Anonymous P.
Overrated seems like... avg sushi realky nice decor but the serving size is small, seems like the fish isnt fresh , tempura was alright... Pass
(3)Katherine M.
Best options for vegetarian sushi that I know of in Philadelphia. Service is always great. Love it!
(5)B M.
Very good quality sushi for the price point. The special rolls are all delicious and some are really inventive. Contemporary atmosphere, good service, and inexpensive drinks round out the experience. One of the best sushi spots in Philadelphia, and by far the best when factoring in price. Skip the trendy rittenhouse and Starr sushi restaurants and just go here.
(5)Jericho T.
This place is my go-to sushi place in Philly. The first time I came here I splurged on a sushi boat for 2 with my friend. I think I teared up a little when I took a bite of their salmon. I can literally write an essay about how their salmon is so fatty, tender, and melts in your mouth like butter but that wouldn't be reasonable. Their sushi presentation is beautiful of course, and their quality of fish is probably one of the best. Other than the food their interior is chic, but a little small which should be a warning to all of you so make sure you always reserve!
(5)Ron H.
I was an early adopter of Fat Salmon, eating here 2-3x's a month since they first opened. I was really excited when they were a BYOB as I prefer a sparkling sake with my sushi and it its rare to find it at restaurants. For their first year, it was hands down the best. The rolls were massive, the rice was perfect in sweetness and arrived table side at the perfect temperature. The nigiri sushi was criss-cross scored and allowed the fish to perfectly lay over the rice while offering an ideal surface for dipping in soy. There are the usual restaurant specific rolls, but nothing really stood out quite like the B.C.T. Roll, a non-fish option consisting of crispy bacon, cucumber and tomato topped with avocado and spicy sauce. I moved out of the neighborhood and made the trip back after they won (what i thought was a well deserved) Best of Philly for 2012. Tonight, the restaurant was crowded, but with no reservation we were able to be sat at the sushi bar after only 10 minutes. My ice tea came in a can, unopened. I later ordered a diet coke and got the same unopened can with a glass of ice. Not what I'm expecting from a "best of" restaurant. The sushi came out on a black wooden tray, a little unappetizing, but the food had always been so good, I didn't mind. The BCT roll is still awesome, hihgly recommended and something I've never seen anywhere else. Had a few pieces of nigiri, but the tuna seemed almost pink in colr and "spongy"...it reminded me of what you get in the supermarket sushi counter. Looks like it had been sitting out all week and was borderline freezerburnt. The Red Snapper was fresh as always. The volcano roll seemed overly spicey and I couldn't eat more than two pieces before needing to order another drink to cool down my mouth, while the Kaze roll used the same bland tuna as the nigiri and for a lack of better term, tasted "fishy". Had 2 other specialty rolls but honestly don't remember what they were it was so bland. Service was slow and unattentive, I noticed the other tables around us also waiting for their serves and meals. It's a very trendy looking interior with bold white surfaces and counter and cool blue back lighting. This is definatly not a kid friendly restaurant! I don't know if they've just moved from a 5 to 4 star place but is disappointing due to my past 6 star experiences, or if it was just an off night, but this dinner was a 2-3 star experience at best, saved only by the BCT roll. When you can go into a supermarket and buy pre-packaged rolls of the same quality as the restaurant you're going to, why bother going? Look for a second follow-up review, I'm not giving up this fast, but my current recommendation to friends is Zama for the best sushi in Philly.
(3)Ben S.
Love this place. The food's really delicious and fresh, the service is terrific, and it's cheap! Just went for dinner, had a roll and a salad and green tea and it came to 10 buckeroos. Awesome. Great date spot too.
(5)Sue K.
I like this place . I like the way this place is set up and of course amazing Sushi !!!
(4)Sandy X.
Soooo good! Staff was friendly and service was great. Sushi was amazing and I'll definitely be going back more often.
(4)Shannon P.
Unfortunately my first impression of Fat Salmon was a tense encounter with the hostess, who informed us that we barely made the 15-minute "grace period" even though we were in the door within 10 minutes of our reservation time and had to wait roughly 6 for her attention. We had also attempted to call 3 times on our walk from the subway stop, only to get a busy signal. When I mentioned this to her she just sighed and said "Yeah our phone is always ringing" as if that was an acceptable response. Despite all that we were seated and treated to a delicious meal. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and ended up taking half of our order home. We got the Sushi for Two platter with miso soup and upgraded to two seaweed salads (rather than the basic green salad), edamame, and decided we had to order at least one special roll. The waitress recommended a few and of those we picked the Dancing Vampire. I really didn't like this roll - the mix of sweet and spicy didn't hit the right notes for me, but there are plenty of other options for us to try next time. In the end, Fat Salmon is not my favorite sushi in the city but I would happily return again. Just be sure to be at your reservation early!!
(4)Job M.
The thing with sushi is, even when it's bad (but still fresh) it's still pretty good. This place is REALLY good, but it's still just sushi. The rolls are rolls, the fish is fresh, but it's nothing different you can;t just find anywhere else. One roll i will mention that I've never had before and is a must-have is the Old School Roll. It's just veggies but it's topped with sauteed onions and shiitake mushrooms. It's pretty GD amazing. This is the place you take a date who wants sushi. Pro Tip: Make a reservation. It's a small restaurant and it fills up quick.
(4)Annie L.
This is a go to for sushi in the city. Their lunch specials are superb and I love dinner as well. We have our usual orders for rolls but will switch up the special rolls because they all are great! They don't use rice as fillers so the rolls are actually great quality.
(5)Marie S.
4 stars and 440 reviews? Really? My review will deviate from the mean signicantly. My friends and I arrived Fat Salmon at 6:00pm on a Wednesday night. Despite not having a reservation, we were able to get seated right away. Together, we ordered the chirashi, sushi for 1, and spicy roll combo. We were promptly served salad and miso soup after ordering. But for the next hour, we watched jealously as patrons seated after us were served their meals first. When we finally received our entrees, it became evident that the jealousy we felt was unnecessary. The tuna did not taste right, the fluke was mushy, and the sushi rice was soft and underseasoned. Fat Salmon is clearly no haven for sushi purists. Maybe we should have ordered the more elaborate specialty rolls. Added toppings and sauces would have masked the horror beneath. If all you care about is ambiance, head over to Fat Salmon for your next dinner date. If service and quality matter to you, I strongly recommend going elsewhere.
(2)Sabrina P.
Surprisingly, I have not written a review for Fat Salmon considering I eat here at least once a month. The sushi is excellent and at a very affordable price. The Seaweed Salad is delicious and a large enough portion for two people. This is my favorite appetizer along with the Fried Shrimp Dumpling which is to die for. My favorite rolls (in no particular order) are: Rolling Fire, Blossom, Hako, Salmon Yachi. The dessert is good too. The Mochi Ice Cream (Vanilla) is so good if you want to try something different! Why did I give it four stars instead of five? I wish they had more drink options. There is sake and wine. I would love a some kind of drink menu. We typically go with a group stay for a long time and I would love to have some drinks with my dinner. This brings me to one of my tips: If you're going to have more than a glass of wine, your best bet is to get a bottle. You get more bang for your buck this way. Most of the time I just put money towards the rolls since there is nothing very intriguing as far as drinks are concerned. The other reason I gave it four stars is because it is a bit crowded. The only and largest table is for six. These aren't monumental issues, but my reason for not giving five stars. Here is another tip: It is best to make a reservation, especially on the weekend! The staff is always very attentive and the food comes out fairly quickly, even on the weekend when they are at maximum capacity.
(4)Anthony S.
After trying a couple sushi places in Philly so far, Fat Salmon is by far my favorite. To start, they have a phenomenal agedashi tofu. However they prepare the mushrooms to go on top of the tofu is superb, and the sauce/broth that it sits in is delicious. The sushi was very high quality. We got five rolls for two people, which is more than enough, and it was hard to decide which was my favorite. The fancy sushi definitely still stands out in my mind. The crunchiness of the tempura, and the root vegetables that it's served on really appeal to my texture pallet. We did try one roll that was a plum or fig paste with some other vegetable that I've never heard of. It wasn't terrible, and I wouldn't get that one again, but I wanted to try something new and I'm glad I did. Bottom line: I'm a fan of Fat Salmon and will definitely be back.
(5)N B.
The food here is amazing. The customer service is great very nice atmosphere. Good prices. I would definitely go back.
(5)Dan S.
I got a hardcore craving for sushi tonight and wanted to try Fat Salmon. It's a small restaurant, colorfully lit and modern looking. We were seated at the sushi bar where the chefs make the rolls. I wish you could see them a little more as it would be fun to watch them make them all. We ordered 5 rolls and an appetizer, the Agedashi Tofu, Spicy Tuna, Spider, Cucumber, Yellowtail, and House Special. The appetizer was absolutely delicious. The rolls came out on a platter together and each one was better than the last. I washed everything down with a Hitachino Ginger Ale, a great Japanese brew. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Deb S.
Salmon teriyaki was very good.
(3)Matt K.
You know, my only problem with this place was that the green tea tasted like a frigid cup of pain. On a positive note, try the Philadelphia roll. I mean, they better damn well know how to make it.
(4)Courtney C.
probably the best sushi I've ever had. EVER. & I've eaten a lot of sushi. rolls are unique & intriguing. I got the locust & the white forest. the white forest, with pico de gallo & a dollop of sour cream, is my absolute favorite- combines my most favorite flavors (Asian/Mexican) into one, amazing roll.
(5)Eunni C.
Ordered my usual. Sashimi platter with salmon, salmon roe, Tuna and uni. They were somewhat flavorless. Rolls seemed good with all the sauces etc but sashimi wasn't that good. And personally I am not fan of blue neon light with food presentation. Not so appetizing.
(2)Nico L.
I've been here once before. This time it was better. I went for lunch and ordered a roll and a Yakitori. A bit too many veggies that didn't mix well with the beef. The roll however, perfect. Clean. The server was prompt. Everything else was wonderful. Too bad the weather was cold.
(4)Rozena R.
Wonderful spot! Ambiance was perfect. Everything I got was well prepared and filling, the amount you got was equivalent to the price. My friend ordered an eel roll and the chefs actually forgot to put eel! But they were more than accommodating for their mistake, quickly bringing out a fresh eel roll and then removing the price of the eel roll from the check. There is a reason they are doing well and this is why. I'd go again and again.
(5)Ilker U.
Fat Salmon is one of the best sushi restaurants I have ever eaten. I always order seaweed salad if I am in a Japanese restaurant. Fat Salmon's seaweed salad is by far the best ever I have eaten in my life. It is so fresh and tasty we ordered the second one. Their fried shrimp dumpling is so delicious, we ordered 3 more orders after the first one. :) I don't order cooked sushi or rolls but my sister ordered one cooked beef and friend shrimp roll and they were both very tasty. No wonder why, we couldn't have a dinner without a reservation. I would strongly recommend Fat Salmon for sushi lovers.
(5)Denise K.
This is my go to sushi place. It's affordable and the sushi is always so fresh and delicious!! It's usually easy to get a reservation. Don't forget to get the ice cream Mochi for dessert!!
(4)Emma Mae V.
My boyfriend and I came to Fat Salmon on a Saturday night for our anniversary. I was surprised to see that the restaurant never got full, but it kept the noise level down and the environment soothing. I loved the decor and the lighting. It was darker, but still nice and romantic. I enjoyed being able to see the chefs counter in the middle of the restaurant, but it would have been cooler if their workspaces were exposed as well, allowing us to see them make the sushi. The sushi itself was very tasty, and we found that it was decently priced. However, had we ordered more than one roll each, our bill would have been a lot more. We both agreed that this would be a good compliment meal, but it would not be a reasonable full meal. We also ordered the fried vanilla ice cream. My boyfriend didn't care for the breading, and I only liked it while it was warm, which wasn't for very long. All in all, we had a really nice experience with good service. I would definitely return.
(5)Brittany D.
Yum yum yum!!! Went here on a quick trip to Philly and it was really good. We sat down and started with drinks, lots of sake to choose from. They had a sake sampler so we first started with that. It was nice to have a variety to choose form, not many sushi places have the samplers. We picked an appetizer that caught both of our eyes, smoked squid salad. And there was so much sushi to choose from so it took awhile to pick out anything else. The appetizer was very very good. Fresh, not chewy at all. While having the appetizer my boyfriend was drinking his last glass in the sake sampler (comes with 3) and the glass just broke out of no where. They were very helpful with the situation and gave a whole new sampler complimentary. We did not even have to order anymore sake because of this, the samplers are generous pours. We then decided to pick out one of the rolls with eel (I love eel and this sushi place has the most eel I have seen on a menu) The roll was unabara, which was eel, masago, avocado, topped with eel, eel sauce, and wasabi tobiko. That was delicious! We also tried a vegetarian roll, something we never ordered before. It was the Midori roll. I was telling the waitress I don't love the rice and she went light on the rice for us which was very very nice. I was already getting full so we ordered shrimp shumai as well to finish up our order. These were delicious! I would recommend Fat Salmon for anyone looking for sushi in Philly. Very trendy interior, I could see it being a really cool late night place.
(5)You W.
Good taste, for both food and atmosphere. Foods here have good looking, as well as fancy names.
(5)Jianna E.
I absolutely love Fat Salmon! They have the best sushi I think I have ever had. They have a Rock N' Roll roll, which had I felt like I had died and gone to heaven! They also had an ice cream tempura dessert, which I devoured. It is Tuna, Salmon, Cucumber, with Crunchy and eel sauce on top. The restaurant has a modern vibe to it. If you love sushi, I highly recommend going to Fat Salmon
(5)Anna Y.
This is my favorite sushi restaurant in the city ! I have been here quiet a few times and I am pleased each time. I always order miso soup and sashimi for two. The miso soup is good but I am still searching for THE ONE. Sashimi for two is way more than enough, you actually dont have to order any rolls, but their rolls are so good ! I have been trying 2-3 different rolls each time I come here and they were all pretty tasty. Sushi are well presented , I think they have really talented chefs. The decor here is cool, it's great for a date night . Waiters are nice and professional.
(4)Aria S.
The best sushi I've had in my life! (And I've been to Japan!) I'm vegetarian, and usually sushi options are limited to avocado rolls/cucumber rolls, etc, which I still love, but this place was so innovative with the options, I was blown away. There were definitely at least 10 cool, interesting, vegetarian sushi options. The salad/soup is good too and the wine is a decent price! It is a really nice restaurant too with a cool, trendy feel. It gets loud though, so wouldn't recommend if you are trying to get to know someone. Fun for a girls night out! Get reservations though!
(5)hibba u.
I finally went to Fat Salmon after walking by it daily for 2 months straight on the way to work. I met a friend for lunch, I was early but they still seated me which was great. We both ordered the lunch specials which are $14.50 and include soup or salad, not a bad deal. I got the crunchy spicy tuna and the shrimp tempura rolls, both of which are my go to when I am trying a new sushi place. The sushi was awesome and my friend loved his as well (don't remember what he got). We both were slow in ordering and the server didn't seem to mind which was great, we didn't feel rushed which I always appreciate. The sushi was fresh and the fish was all great quality. What more can you ask for? The only downside was that our food took exceptionally long to arrive considering it was lunch time, I know sometimes places do get busy and are backed up but this was longer than it should have been regardless. Not the end of the world but just annoying. The decor was trendy and the restaurant was very clean. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Jean-David F.
I'm not a big sushi guy but I decided to give this place a try and I'm glad I did! Everything was great. We got the naked gyoza it was awesome. For entrees we got the super dragon and rolling fire and those were awesome. And we finished off with the fried ice cream which was awesome lol. And the prices were reasonably low!! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a cool sushi place. Oh and the service was very good.
(5)Diana H.
It's a nice restaurant with a nice, modern decor. The food is also tasty, although I prefer Kabuki's sushi. When I came in on a Sunday night, as the first of a group of five, there was no one standing at the front desk by the door. I had never been here before, and because no one behind the bar/kitchen greeted me, I decided to walk into the restaurant to find someone. This was perhaps stupid of me, but I think it was just a sort of reflex, lol. The girl behind the bar was busy and said she'd be with me in a second. She then walked passed me on her way to her front desk station, and called me from there. This was a little awkward! I walked over, only to be walked back to where I came from and to be seated. Thank you! So, the sushi was good and the waitress was very nice. We all ordered hot tea on a cold winter night, and our mugs were never once empty before she poured us more of their delicious hot tea. She was also very patient when we just kept on chatting without deciding on what to eat. When we were close to finishing our dinner, one of my friends decided to order some food to take home to her husband. After we finished and paid for our dinner though, she had to ask for it again, as it seemed they had forgotten about it while they did charge her for it. Some minor details, but overall it was a nice dinner in a nice setting that wasn't too expensive.
(4)William W.
The dancing vampire was very hot and spicy. I was humiliated by my friend cuz I usually considered myself can eat a lot of spicy:( Their sushi is typical American sushi. (in a good way) The dinning environment was very delightful. The pricing was average. I would recommend any American sushi lovers to visit their place.
(5)A. P.
AMAZING selection of vegetarian sushi, not the usual boring cucumber/avocado stuff. Get the Old School roll if you like spicy. It's a really small place so make a reservation or be prepared to wait around.
(5)Alex V.
Always full but you can sit by the bar! Quick service for quick dinner! Delivery / pick up is very convenient. California rolls are delicious!
(4)paul k.
This is why I like Yelp. In Phily for a few hours and was craving sushi. Found the Fat Salmon and have to say was some of the best sushi I've ever had. We live in LA which has slime great places but the food here was so fresh, the service was very good and the prices reasonable
(5)Jennifer G.
had a great time made reservations , parking was nearby. this was my very first visit and I will deff return again. prices were gook, saki was good and sushi was good. staff was very friendly.
(5)Steve B.
As usual the yelp ratings were spot on. Had a great meal here. Super fresh and giant selection. Soup and salad came with the sushi platter for two. Great atmosphere too! Highly recommended.
(4)Shyanie K.
Sushi here is amazing! We ordered the salmon sashimi, crunchy spicy salmon roll, scallop roll and 2 specialty rolls. The food was brought out very quickly, water glasses always stayed full and the waitress was always easy to reach! Will be back again to try more rolls!
(4)Mattie C.
Birthday dinner! Boyfriend treated me to a very nice sashimi platter dinner here. Right off the bat I love the name of the place, and the atmosphere is very sleek and dark with blue neon lighting. We got a sashimi platter for two that came with miso soup and small salad. The side salad they served here was bigger than the those at most places and had more of the sauce on it - I was pleased. And the sashimi platter was excellent - the fish was very fresh and decently sized and, well, delicious. It is hard to describe sashimi really because it is so simple. I did not like the appetizer we got, which was fried tofu in spicy scallop sauce. The sauce was ick and the dish was generally really hard to eat. The tofu became gooey and stretchy in my chopsticks and I kept dropping it, splashing it in the sauce after I had just made an effort to wipe the sauce off. Besides the appetizer, the main meal and the ambiance were excellent. Service was prompt and friendly and the prices weren't outrageous. One BIG note though, others are reporting on here it is BYOB. It is NOT BYOB, I repeat, NOT. The waiter told us that they changed that policy so if you are planning on drinking your own drinks, skip it. Luckily, we had forgotten to stop at the liquor store while running late for our reservations and ended up just drinking some Kirins. I had a great time here and would definitely go back!
(4)M N.
SOOOOO good. The sake bomb is so delicious. I can't even remember the names of all the different rolls I've had but I have never been disappointed!
(4)Megan G.
Good sushi and good prices! I had the dancing vampire. It was good, a little spicy and a little crunchy but not too much of anything. Accommodating - they squeezed our large group in before the next one came and also made no fuss about splitting our checks which is just so appreciated.
(4)Laura H.
I highly recommend getting their take-out lunch special, grabbing your hunny, and having a picnic in Washington Square Park. The park is right next door and offers a great alternative if you're not into the super trendy vibe that is Fat Salmon, which is pretty dark inside with electric blue lighting. It has a full bar which can really add to the price of the bill, especially when you're used to mostly byo sushi places. You also can't beat the lunch special, I usually get the one that allows you to pick 2 specialty rolls for $15. And the specialty rolls are awesome! That's why I recommend this for a lunch spot: stuff yourself, skip the bar and save sushi dinners for a BYO.
(4)Sarah A.
I'm an avid sushi eater and I loooved Fat Salmon! I love a place where the rolls are big, so you don't feel like you are being ripped off. I left full, which rarely happens with sushi places. I had the Miss Sake Bomb and the Rock&Roll and for someone who usually doesn't steer away from the regular salmon roll it was awesome!!! Definitely in my top 3!
(5)Connie L.
1. Variety 2. Fresh 3. Trendy ambience Consumed: (In order of preference) Lost Rainbow Dancing Vampire Miss Sake Bomb Spicy Tuna Crunch Shrimp Tempura Alaskan Roll I love sushi and hailing from Seattle, where there's always fresh seafood, this place is comparable! The sushi was very fresh and I really liked the variety of choices. The Lost Rainbow was my favorite. The texture and flavor was top notch. Dancing Vampire came closely second with the crunchiness and kick of chili flavor. Mmmm, I'm really inspired to embark on a sushi making adventure. Also, their rolls come out in sixes, go in a group of 3 or 6--perfect for sampling.
(4)Dani M.
Great atmosphere and fantastic food! The sushi was the best I've ever had, along with the sashimi. However, the best part of the dinner had to be the mochi ice cream. Definitely a must!!! Will hope to come back to try even more sushi and sashimi.
(5)Jonathan S.
I rarely review anything. This place is great.
(5)Cindy T.
Love Fat Salmon. Been here a couple of times for date night and every time is a great experience. Went around 6pm both nights so no waiting but around the time we leave at 7:30p-8pm, there's a line of people waiting for tables. Sushi is fresh and there are a lot of options for the traditional roll or if you want something funky and different. Last week, we have the fried dumplings which were very flavorful and the veggie tempura which was a very large portion. Then we had a few specialty rolls. I really enjoyed the Fat Futo roll with all the different types of fish (salmon, tuna, yellowtail) in one roll and the M&M roll which had marinated beef in it. Everything was so delicious that even though we were full, we continued to eat so that's a good sign that the food was good but bad idea for us because we ended up in a food coma afterwards. With a full stomach, we still saved a little room for dessert. We picked the vanilla fried ice cream and that was also a large portion, enough to feed 4-5 people comfortably even though it was just the two of us. The tempura skin was a bit thick and not as crispy as what I would have liked but it's fried ice cream, so it was yummy either way.
(5)Jevon Y.
Compared to Vic's, Fat Salmon is slightly more expensive, but also better quality. The food was good and the service staff was really friendly in explaining what the different types of rolls had. I would really recommend the Mr Shiro roll if you do go! I can't remember which roll was it exactly but it was more spicy than normal. You might want to be careful if you can't really eat spicy rolls! On a whole, the food was really good and I would definitely go back again!
(4)Lea T.
Modern and casual this restaurant has a comfortable atmosphere without being pretentious. Ideal for a first date or dinner with friends, Fat Salmon is on the smaller side but still has some larger tables of groups 6-8. Reservations are suggest for parties larger than 4. Lunch Specials come with miso soup or salad and range from $7.00-$11.50 including sushi, maki, tempura lunch box, yakinku lunch box, or teriyaki lunch box. Fat Salmon offers tempura, tekiyaki, katsu, and yakiniku dinner entrees as well as fresh sushi. For something really special try one of the Fat Salmon speciality rolls. My favorites include the blossom roll, locust roll, rolling fire, or volcano roll. They also offer a variety of Japanese beer, sake, and wine if your interested. Really a great spot to check out if you want fresh and exciting sushi in a relaxed atmosphere :)
(4)V. I.
Cute little place in Washington Square. Love how they have a sake sampler option, honestly haven't seen that before on a menu. The food and service is pretty average. The sushi selection they have is pretty creative, like the M & M or sake bomb roll but honestly I prefer more normal rolls like the dragon or spider roll.
(3)James G.
There were seven of us for dinner and we all enjoyed our meals. My wife and I had the Sashimi for Two and it consisted of 30 pieces of fish all of which were very fresh. Others had Sushi platter, Chirashi, and Salmon Teriaki all of which were very good. For some reason, even though we live two blocks away, we haven't been here in years but certainly will be back.
(5)J X.
Boyfriend was nice enough to treat me out when he came to visit. Everyone here was so nice! The waitress was so friendly and great at explaining the menu and the different rolls. I recommend the sashimi for one/two - they give generous portions for very reasonable prices. I LOVED the super white tuna.
(5)Jasmine W.
Went here for my boyfriends birthday dinner earlier in the year and it was great! The ambiance is the selling factor, it's small and intimate, but very modern. The restaurant was fairly busy and filled close after we were seated. I order tempura which was very good and my boyfriend ordered three different sushi, all of which he enjoyed. Overall, it was a great experience, They even gave him Japanese ice cream on a beautiful decorated plate.
(4)Ashley T.
the best AND I MEAN THE BEST sushi i have ever had in my life. went with 2 girlfriends. the 3 of us shared 5 rolls and it was perfect. - volcano roll - old school roll - blossom roll - dancing vampire roll - rolling fire roll honestly EVERY ROLL was amazing... you cant beat this place. There's a reason it's rated Philly #1 sushi place. will be back soon!!!
(5)Flora W.
Went here with friend at late dinner time and no seat at all. We were told to be waiting for 30-40mins for seats at the bar. It took only like 10-15mins to get a phone call from the waitress that two seats were available. We had Sushi&Sashimi for 2 and it came out with 2 miso soups and 2 small salads. Everything was so delicious and fresh! I never forget the taste of sashimi, they were so goood.
(5)Zikang H.
The ambient is really trendy. Fresh food, good service. But you have to wait 30 minuets to get your food if you are coming during 6-7 on weekends.
(4)Lindsey E.
The atmosphere the food and the service was definitely excellent. It was a little cozy but definitely had great ambience. Also the plum sake wine was really good. And it was actually more affordable than I thought. And they have such a wide selection of sushi. The staff was attentive and kind and very prompt.
(4)Tara L.
Good variety of sushi. The special rolls were relatively cheap, but the regular rolls were a little more expensive than usual. The service was really fast. Warning: the spicy tuna is actually really spicy! Really cute and intimate environment.
(4)Ryan Z.
Philadelphia is lucky to have this gem of a restaurant! Fat Salmon has everything you could want in a restaurant let alone in a sushi joint. 1. The food is outstanding. Whether you are trying sushi for the first time or 100th, this place will always leave you satisfied and at an affordable price. The food from the kitchen is also on point and this is coming from someone who has dined in Tokyo and some of the best japanese/sushi restaurants in the US. 2. The service is fantastic. The owner/manager - Jack is everything you could want from someone who is running the restaurant. Unbelievably professional and so nice. I will be a customer for life. 3. Decor/ambiance is great. You almost feel as if you are in a trendy NYC spot. Short story- this place is 5.0/5.0, I would recommend it to anyone that lives in the area or visiting and looking for a great meal. (Luckily I live around the corner and come here once a week)
(5)Susanna L.
Greatttt. Smaller than I pictured, but the decor was wonderful! It reminds me of the inside of spice 21. Like everyone said here, the wait was a little long- but I don't blame them because the place was packed for a friday night and there were like only 3 people working at the sushi. My friends and I ordered a whole bunch of sushi to share- I don't really remembered what we ordered but, the highlights was the special roll and the other special roll with the 4 pieces and really spicy, everything else was pretty good as well. Except, with all three of us agreeing that the lipstick green roll wasn't that great and the one with the huge cooked salmon on top was kind of gross. Other than that great experience. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. The sushi however is a little bit on the more expensive side, like 6-12 dollars depending on the roll.
(4)K W.
i came here on recommendation from a friend who knows how much i love nigiri sushi and sashimi. i was super impressed with the fish i ordered. everything was incredibly fresh, and despite being pretty busy when i came to dine, the food came out quickly. this will be my go-to spot for reasonably priced sushi in philly.
(5)Kimberly Y.
Disclaimer: I'm pretty picky with seafood and don't eat sushi at all. I came here because my roommates love sushi, which they seemed to really enjoy their sushi. But be warned: Fat Salmon doesn't have much else besides sushi. I have gotten the udon noodles (pretty good, but tiny portion), gyoza (average quality, so not great for the price), and katsu (pretty bad, to be honest). I even left some katsu on the plate because I couldn't force myself to finish. The atmosphere and lighting is very cool, but the service is lacking. Since the place is pretty small, there can be a long wait if you don't reserve before hand.
(3)Liz F.
Fat Salmon is so great! It looks too hip to skip if you were to glance in from the outside, but it has a really approachable, friendly, casual environment inside. The sushi? Phenomenal. My new favorite. My dining partner got some interesting curried dish. I'm not sure what it was, but he loved it. I usually have to somewhat drag him to sushi but this place has solid non sushi options, too! They have an interesting selection of saki and japanese beers if you want to drink. The service here was great. We saw a waitress chase a guy down Walnut Street who left is leftovers on the table. That's devotion. Would I come back? Duh. All the time. AND they do take out for sushi on the go !
(5)Candice M.
Best sushi in philly! My husband and I have been going here since they opened. We use to go to their previous location on locust street, years ago. We have no complaints. Can't get enough of this place!
(5)Victoria B.
1- smelled bad 2- humid 3- horrible service 4- everything is either deep fried or with 'crab stick' 5- I felt sick after
(1)Connie T.
I'll never return here again. The food here is pretty good but the service sucks! Come here if you want good food but bad service.
(1)Ayana P.
Excellent sushi, horrible wait. No explanation, just money off the bill. The other half of our group, who were seated in a different area, finished eating by the time we got our food. It ruined what would have been a great experience at Fat Salmon.
(3)Samantha Y.
There aren't many sushi places in Philly, and if there is, it's usually not fresh or authentic enough. Fat Salmon has been the best sushi I've had here! Absolutely delicious and the interior gives off a chill vibe to dine in!
(4)Rita G.
Excellent fresh sushi and miso. Also had the seaweed salad-- yum. Clean bathrooms to boot. Fast friendly service. Excellent dinner choice.
(5)Mel T.
I lived in Japan for seven years, so I'm pretty picky about the sushi I eat. Fat Salmon offerings are decent and definitely worth a visit. Large selection of sake which we tried and enjoyed. Server was attentive and knowledgeable. No doubt, I will return--probably for take-out. Great dinner!
(4)Kiran S.
Came here for my birthday last week. To be honest, I really don't see the hype with this place. I've definitely tasted better sushi. The only thing I really enjoyed was the ambiance. Our food took almost 40 minutes to show up to our table... And I wouldn't call 6 pieces of sushi dinner. Definitely not coming back.
(2)Cody M.
This is an awesome place. The sushi is fresh, service is great, and the non-sushi options are great. I ordered a pork katsu and spicy tuna crunch roll. I'm a pretty big eater, but I still ended up taking home some of the katsu. Great portions. I do wish they offered more non-sushi, Japanese entrees, but it's obviously a sushi restaurant.
(4)Feli F.
A great way to impress sushi eaters and non-sushi eaters alike. There are a lot of impressive dishes for people with seafood allergies and vegans. I never leave this place anything but stuffed and the price is so right!
(5)S. H.
Truly a delightful experience. I really loved both the sashimi and the cooked fish rolls. I just discovered my new favorite Japanese sushi restaurant. It's the best I've ever had. :) A treat, for sure.
(5)Yenn N.
Had a dinner reservation here and so far this place gets 3 stars . I wish they had cocktails mixed drinks etc since they don't have a full bar , would've gone so well with my sushi dinner . Sushi was delicious , fresh , and fulfilling . But the seating gets packed so quickly so I had to make a reservation , that's why one star is subtracted from my review . Overall , I would go back again and try something else on their menu .
(3)Chin R.
Great food and service, lots of sushi options. I went here with coworkers for a brunch and it was great.
(4)Christine B.
I've been wanting to go to fat salmon for a long time, but I'm just not in that area very often. Finally had a chance to check it out in between some afternoon drinking and a birthday party. This was more of a snack spot so I just got a salmon avocado roll and the dancing vampire roll. They were both really good. I mostly eat the 3 for $10.95 roll specials, and it's amazing what a difference the good quality makes. The salmon pieces were huge and the avocado was perfectly ripe. The dancing vampire had a really nice spice. I kind of want to go back again immediately. Really wish they delivered.
(4)Michael H.
This is probably our favorite sushi in Philly (Vic Sushi is probably tied, but totally different ambience). Everything is creative, fresh, and delicious. We've ordered for take-out and dined in - the real test of sushi is how it travels and this is great.
(5)Ann S.
The night after my visit to Morimoto, I was still on a Japanese high, so I went to Fat Salmon for some more. I had some very tasty rolls (Blossom and shrimp tempura) and nigiri (salmon, smoked salmon, and mackerel). The fried beef gyoza was also very tasty. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant in general is quite trendy and attractive.
(5)Helen N.
I love fat salmon, if you are like me, a person that love specialty rolls, then this is the place to go. Most sushi places in philly charges an arm and a leg for specialty rolls, but this place is reasonable. Their sashimi is average. Personal favorites: 1) Dancing Vampire 2) Mr Shiro 3) Hako Service is decent.
(5)Lauren M.
If I could give a negative star I would, I went into this place at 9:30 with a girlfriend and we were meeting another friend. We sat down ordered and then were told that our friend who not be allowed to enter the restaurant if she wasn't by 9:45- mind you she was not eating and we had already ordered her a drink. All food was orders by 9:30. The waiter was very unprofessional. He bad mouthed the managers about how they had ridiculous rules but would not enforce them. Meanwhile the hostess starred at us the entire dinner. We were all excited to eat here and heard great reviews. We were let down by the unprofessional and rude staff. Compliments to the chef but, we will not come back.
(1)Allen I.
I continually seem to keep coming here. The quality of the product is very fresh though it is not authentic it is still very good. I'm a sucker for that fat futo. My girlfriend loves coming to this place which has a strong reasonin which I give them business. Service is pretty good but you probably should make reservations
(4)Holly V.
The food was ok. I got the the Philly role and spicy hand roll. both were just ok-nothing special. I went on a Sunday and service was still slow when no one was in there! The place is alright regarding decor. Small and nothing special. I heard so many great things about this place and was soooo disappointed :(
(2)Jackie B.
This is one of the best sushi places I've eaten at in philly. I love it because it is the only place I've seen that actually gives you a large size piece of raw fish in or on your sushi roll. It is never mushy and all the rolls are creatively designed and have a unique combination of ingredients. Not to mention there are 20-30 rolls to choose from so you can always find something you like. The only downside is every time I try and make a reservation they are full unless you go really late so we usually do take out.
(5)Courtney J.
I arrived at Fat Salmon with some co-workers just as they were opening for lunch. We'd heard great things about this place and were happy to finally check it out. The atmosphere was really nice. I liked the soft blue tinted lights and the modern white tables. We were seated after a few minutes. There are quite a few lunch specials to choose from ranging between $8 - $14. They all come with miso soup or your typical American Japanese restaurant ginger salad. The waitress came over to take our drink order. One person in my party ordered seltzer with lime. It took a while for the waitress to come back, but when she finally did, she told us that didn't have seltzer, but Perrier. My friend said that was fine. She disappeared for a while. We were ready to order and wondering when she'd come back. Finally she comes back with the drinks and said that they were still cutting the lime in the kitchen. Really? It takes that long to slice a lime wedge? We weren't off to the best start, but whatever. We were hungry. Finally, we ordered. I decided on the nigiri set with the salad. We ordered the vegetable tempura appetizer to share. The appetizer came out along with the lime slice. It was a pretty good amount of veggies and included broccoli, sweet potato, and bell peppers. The taste was fine, but it was just lukewarm. Tempura is so much better when it's fresh out of the oil. The other strange thing was the dipping sauce that accompanied it. It was not the usual dashi stock, but instead what tasted like a rice vinegar, soy, and shichimi togarashi (red pepper spice mix usually served with udon noodle soup). It wasn't bad, but just not what I'd serve with tempura. Also the container was too shallow to dip it in. Ten minutes later, when we only had one piece of tempura left, the waitress comes by and sets down a bowl of sauce on the table. We ask, "What's that?" She says, "Oh the sauce for that is supposed to be this, but you don't have to use it," and walks away. A little strange, and a little too late. Then the main course arrives. It looked really good. I ate a piece of nigiri and was turned off by the temperature. It tasted okay, but the whole piece was warm. I don't like my sushi cold, but it should be room temperature, not warm like it's been cooked. I think the sushi chef didn't fan the rice, and got in a hurry and used it before it cooled completely. The warm rice ended up heating the fish. Also, the rice itself was falling apart and it was hard to pick up the pieces. This also was most likely a result of improper cooling. I've never had that kind of problem before anywhere. What a disappointment. The fish itself was not nearly as good as Sagami in Jersey, or even remotely close to what I've had in Japan. I also tasted one of my co-workers rolls, and it was very bland. I'm glad I went for lunch and not dinner because at least I walked away disappointed without a huge bill. With lots of other places to go in Philly, Fat Salmon would not be at the top of my list for high quality sushi even though their dining room looks lovely.
(2)Norma M.
The sushi was excellent and offered a wide variety. The portions are generous for the price and enough to share. The naked gyoza was a unique and delicious dish and I suggest you get two orders because you can't eat just one. The only reason I won't give it a 5 star is due to the service but I think it was due to a waiter who was new.
(4)Tyshawn T.
Fried. Ice. Cream. DO IT! Fuka Roll and Rainbow Roll. DO IT! This place is hip. Very nice crowd. A good place for a date. The drinks were subpar though. I'd still return because the sushi was great.
(5)Amanda C.
Review Summary: Ambience: 4/5 Food: 5/5 Service: 3/5 Yes it's true, the wait for food and seating can be long and this place is definitely a little pricier than some other sushi restaurants in town but oh, how I love it. When I do come here, I usually get their special rolls, which have all been so delicious. I especially like the Rolling Fire because of its extra spicy kick. I don't get the nigiri/sashimi very often, mostly because my poor wallet can't take the hit, but I once tried the mackerel and it was the best I've tasted in Philadelphia. Finish your meal off with a tasty plate of fried ice cream (this dish always makes me feel like a delighted child, but they've tweaked the ice cream just enough to kick things up a notch) and voila! Come to the Fat Salmon. You won't regret it.
(4)Sherry T.
I was here a few years ago for a family line dinner with my sorority. I was immediately drawn in by the ambience. I feel like the atmosphere of a restaurant or any place at all can either add or take away from an experience. The decor definitely added to my experience here. The sushi and food was up to par and I'm not even that huge of a sushi fan.
(5)Jennifer C.
This place is super trendy and cute. Totally love the atmosphere - it's definitely great for date night. The boy and I showed up for dinner at about 7PM and it only had a couple other tables. I was surprised. However, crowds started pouring in at about 7:45PM. For food, we shared a dancing vampire roll and some other special roll that I forgot. The dancing vampire was interesting, but tasty. We both had the chirashi. Fish tasted fresh. It was pretty filling, and it actually made me wish we didn't order the 2 special rolls. Service was excellent here. The waitresses came by to refill water, wipe down the table + check on us quite often, but not too intrusively. Only thing is...I think this place got us sick. Both of us had upset stomachs about 20 min after the meal. Maybe coincidence, maybe not. You make the call.
(4)Erin B.
I'd heard a lot of great things about this restaurant from friends, yelpers, etc. In September / October my coworker and I grabbed a quick lunch while we waited to have our engagement rings cleaned over on jeweler's row. I remember the sushi being ok, not mind-blowing, but not horrible. (The only reason that I am giving the second star.) So, when my cousin from Jersey said he was in town and wanted to grab lunch near my office today, Fat Salmon it was. MAJOR MISTAKE OF THE DAY. Our first clue should have been the flightiness of the hostess. She literally took forever+ minutes to seat us, which is entirely unacceptable for a weekday lunch, especially when there were several tables available. We eventually decided to seat ourselves at the bar area. After perusing the menu, we were both sorta disappointed at the abundance of "crab stick" on the menu... (ain't nobody got no time for crab stick)! We then waited forever +2 minutes for the waitress to take our order. Forever+10 minutes later our food finally came and we were neither under or overwhelmed. The worst part of the lunch was the end... The waitress finally brought our card to us and b/c she took forever +20 minutes to fetch it, another waitress came over to pick it up and offered her apologies. At that point, our original waitress returned to our table and dropped off the credit card of a patron from another table - an identity thief's dream!
(2)Ty B.
Fat Salmon saved my night. I was looking forward to the 1st date with a new guy I'm seeing. He loves sushi and I love Thai so we were going for Umai. Although Yelp told me Umai was open at 8pm on a Sunday night - it wasn't. I frantically searched for nearby sushi spots only to find Fat Salmon right.next.door. Not wanting to chance it I called and reserved a table with ease for 830pm. Fat Salmon is a bit small on the inside and dimly lit at the tables in the back which is where we sat, but because we reserved a table we didn't wait long at all. My date wanted to sit at the raw bar but unfortunately that's first come first serve. Besides you can order the same thing at a table. Sitting at the raw bar just gives you more of an authentic feel. The service was great. We sat down and were offered water. I'm a foodie so I always have a bunch of questions about how I can cater the menu to my needs. The waiter was really patient and detailed in explaining everything to us and offering suggestions. We ended up choosing an eel dish, a lava dish, a regular dish to share and the saki sampler. The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is because the wait for our food took forever! We were really hungry and disappointed that our first choice was a fail. (Umai serves sushi and Thai and Thai is my ultimate favorite cuisine). Our stomachs were grumbling as we sipped our starter beers. I understand though. Sushi is essentially raw food and I'm sure the cook took the proper precautions in preparing our meal but we were so hungry!! On Sundays Fat Salmon closes around 9 or 10. Remember our reservation was for 830. We ended up being one of the last tables eating. I'm pretty sure the group at the only other table were family or close friends of someone at Fat Salmon. The busboys started cleaning up tables and putting chairs away while we were still wrapping up. Not cool. Other than that the service, food and drinks were great. But I know now if I ever go back - go early.
(4)Jackie S.
This place just rocks. Great, fresh sushi. Loved the atmosphere, and a really pretty walk through Washington square. One of the best sushi restaurants in the city.
(5)Jia T.
My friend and I finished our dinner in 10 minutes but waited for exactly 43 minutes after we placed the order (According to my check-in history). There were 4 sushi chiefs at the sushi bar but it still took so long. I had Sleeping Volcano roll and Rolling Fire roll (See picture). The sushi tasted good but not worth for waiting so long.
(3)Kelly P.
a solid 4 star experience. Shrimp shumai, gyoza, Alaskan roll, Dancing Vampire, Rolling Fire - all perfection. I could have done without the M&M roll. Something about marinated beef with all that raw fish just does not make sense. Service was good. Went on a Monday around 6:30 and didn't seem to need our reservations, but an hour later the place was packed.
(4)Elle W.
This is by far my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. I have not had one thing that was not delicious. Last night I had the Blossom Roll and the Lipstick Trace and both were excellent. My fiance get's the Bacon Roll and loves it so much. Highly recommend this sushi.
(5)Stephen K.
This is a must try once place! You will most likely go back. The quality and selection blow any other place out of the water. I am a fan of sushi and frequent a place in Princeton that has great value mixed with quality. The quality at Fat Salmon makes you believe they caught the fish minutes before your ordered. The price is amazing for being a high end restaurant in center city. Almost what you would pay per roll anywhere else, if not cheaper surprisingly. The decor is a very modern low lite vibe. The placed seems to be always packed and reservations are a must. On a Friday night, two friends and I made reservations at 7:30 for a 9pm table. We ordered the following items: Edamame ($4.50) Seaweed Salad ($6.00) BCT Roll ($9.50) INSIDE - Bacon, Cream Cheese, Tomato, Cucumber ON TOP - Avocado w/Spicy sauce Dancing Vampire Roll ($9.50) INSIDE - Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy ON TOP - Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy) Fancy Sushi Roll ($10.50) INSIDE - Rice wrapped with a piece of fish w/Spicy Chopped fish (tobiko,Scallions) ON TOP Wasabi Tobiko ON BOTTOM Crunchy Tempura Cruncy Spicy Tuna Roll ($6.00) Spicy tuna w/ Crunch and Masago Tekka Roll ($5.00) Tuna I could of skipped the Tuna Roll. Though a great classic and a good way to tell the overall quality of a place. I would have preferred an additional specialty roll. All of their speciality rolls we tried were amazing. Our favorite was the Fancy Sushi Roll, followed by the BCT. I mean come on! It has tons of bacon in each bite. How can you not love that.
(5)Eric P.
Very nice, innovative sushi place in Center City Philadelphia. Stopped in on a Friday night. Called in for a last minute reservation (9:30 PM) and they were happy to seat us. This night we were in a sushi only mode, so we didn't venture out to try any of the Appetizers or Kitchen Specials that they had to offer. The menu had a nice array of different combinations of sushi. We opted for the Fancy Sushi, Locust, Hako, Rolling Fire and Dancing Vampire. All of them were delicious and fresh. I must say that they do go a tad bit overboard with their sauces on top of the sushi, so it detracts from the flavor of the fresh fish. Presentation was excellent, it all came out in one plate in a nice, appealing order. Service was top notch. Our waitress was very attentive, without being over bearing. We were the last people to leave their restaurant, but we never felt rushed. We couldn't leave without trying dessert, so we opted for the fried vanilla ice cream, which was amazing, and huge ! All in all, we would definitely return to Fat Salmon. A few weeks ago, we went to Zama, and this place blew Zama out of the water, in both food and service. Well done Fat Salmon !
(4)Flavia C.
This is a great neighborhood spot. The decor is sexy & fun with nice lighting. They have lots of options when it comes to rolls, some are very inventive. I had the Rolling Fire & Dancing Vampire & some yellowtail. The sushi was fresh and the taste combos worked perfectly. The presentation was lovely & the service was attentive without being intrusive. The prices were very reasonable. I will def. go back
(4)Katrina C.
What a fun spot for sushi! The specialty rolls are very "Americanized" but luckily I'm very American. I'm sure in some places it is sacrilege to glob spicy mayo all over your sushi, but I live for it. My party of 2 didn't have reservations on a Saturday night but luckily there were a couple spots right at the sushi bar. Pretty much everyone there appeared to be on a date. It has a very good vibe for that with the intimate tables and moody blue lighting. They had a team of at least 4-5 chefs behind the sushi bar cranking it out. We ordered a few different rolls with names I can't recall, but I made sure to take note of the Sepia Pleasure which was phenomenal. For 4 rolls and 2 drinks we left at about $40 per person with tip. I would definitely return.
(4)Nicole O.
Best sushi in Philly. I could eat 1000 spicy tuna rolls and be happy. The fish is always fresh and served perfectly. GO!!
(4)Codi B.
The seaweed salad was huge, and delicious. Crunchy eel roll of sorts was my favorite by far, with a spicy salmon in second. Three rolls, three apps, a bottle of broadbent, great service, and a bargain of $85 for a check. We'll be back!
(5)Michael H.
The sushi had only gotten better now that they moved to their current location. The fancy Tuna and salmon skin rolls are amazing. Check them Out!!
(5)Alicia J.
Food is so good....but the place is small.
(3)Ashley S.
My boyfriend and I came here for lunch on Valentine's Day, and it was great! We shared the seaweed salad as an appetizer, and it was definitely enough for both of us. We ordered the spicy tuna, Alaskan, and Dragon rolls which were all excellent. They put all the sushi on one plate, but they split it up so that the Dragon roll divided our plate, and we had equal amounts of the tuna and salmon rolls on each of our "halves." They are definitely going for a trendy look for the restaurant, and the decor is modern with all white furniture and little lights hanging over each table that you can definitely hit your head on. A little corny. Otherwise, our waitress was really nice, and the food is great for the price!
(4)Peter K.
Very good sushi in Philadelphia! A little trendy and expensive, but good.
(5)Jennifer R.
Pretty expensive but pretty damned worth it. Absolutely incredible sushi. Very fresh and innovative. If you're a sake lover, they have a great sake sampler
(5)Kelly S.
Sushi was good, had volcano roll, dragonfly and rainbow. Specialty rolls much better than hands rolls. Good service, nice ambiance. Perhaps a bit loud. Avocado salad left something to be desired...dressing was great, avocado a bit too firm.
(4)Colleen M.
Being a vegetarian I am usually limited when it comes to Japanese food but I never turn down anything with avocado or veggie tempura so I tried Fat Salmon and was so excited to see several unique and delicious veggie roll options! I had the avocado salad which was a meal in itself but then still managed to house a Tofuholic roll which consisted of cooked and tempura veggies inside and tofu and delicious sauces on the outside. Yummyyyyyy. I will totally go back to try the other veg options!
(5)Christina W.
I went with a group of six to Fat Salmon on an overwhelmingly hot day before heading over to Old City for First Friday. Our meal was refreshing, cost-effective, and surprisingly very filling. We had made a reservation for four (which was the maximum they allowed), but showed up with six, and they accommodated us very willingly, adding an extra table to ours. Attentive and helpful service overall. For a group of six, we ordered: 1. The mixed roll combo (Alaskan roll, spicy tuna roll, shrimp tempura roll, for $20 total) 2. The Dancing Vampire roll 3. The Miss Sake Bomb roll 4. The Lost Rainbow roll (for about $10-13 each). We were able to switch out the spicy tuna roll for the spicy tuna crunch roll for an additional dollar (the difference is fifty cents but they said they had to round up to the next dollar). Each type of roll came with six individual pieces, facilitating the sharing process. The combo came with a salad and a bowl of miso soup. The house dressing on the salad was creamy and acidic, with hints of sesame and ginger. We asked what the dressing contained and the waitress was able to list out all the ingredients for us. My favorite roll was the Lost Rainbow roll, which came with many different types of fish on the outside and crab stick on the inside along with masago (fish eggs) and crunch. My friends loved the Miss Sake Bomb roll, which has eel on the inside, cooked salmon on the outside, topped with tartar sauce. I thought that roll was a little too heavy for me, especially with the tartar sauce, but it was new and interesting for me to have cooked salmon combined with eel. I also enjoyed the Dancing Vampire, which has tuna and salmon wrapped around it and is topped with chili sauce, with only vegetables and crunch on the inside. Although the combo rolls were obviously not as exciting, they contained a very solid shrimp tempura roll and you can't really go wrong with spicy tuna crunch. The fish was very fresh. The bill came down to about $11 each (wow!), and although we were not expecting it to be adequately filling, we were full all night (with only a few bites of ice cream at Franklin Fountain to finish off the night). I'm guessing it was because the special rolls were so incredibly dense, so that was a nice surprise. Perfect for a hot summer day.
(5)Irene Y.
Moved away from philadelphia 4 years ago, but recently on an east coast tour came back to fat salmon (previously known as Shinju) because this is hands-down our favorite sushi place ever. This is coming from someone who lives in LA two miles away from Little Tokyo. This place is a cannot-miss for anyone living in Philly. It's BYOB. Very reasonably priced. And their spicy tuna with crunch and fancy salmon roll.. there is nothing to compare to that. The old shinju was really romantic for a date-night. The new fat salmon is a little bit more modern appearing, but also seems well-lit.
(5)Shannon S.
I love this restaurant! I have eaten in many times. I have sent people there who actually text me and say it was the best sushi they've had. The owner of Barsky's on jewelers row sent me here one day when I was famished after a day of looking at rings (seriously! it's hard work figuring out what you want on your hand the rest of your life). I think the ambiance is very hip. There are seats at the sushi bar, two- and four-person tables next to that in the front, and more seating plus a bigger table in the back. I always order dumplings but I think they changed the menu item when we came back for our last visit on 3/28. Anyway, the beef steamed dumplings are great but the sauce is different too, not really a ponzu. Still good. We also get sweet potato roll and this one was perfectly coated in panko, fried and then rolled. Tasted great. Usually I order a few other rolls but this time we came after an event because when I was craving nigiri so I got two pieces of salmon on rice (my usual). It melts in your mouth like butter. I never thought I would say this but I think I would rather eat a ton of salmon nigiri from Fat Salmon than a filet mignon from my favorite steakhouse. It's a close race, folks. I think we ordered a salmon roll too but not sure. I asked the waitress why the salmon here is so darn good and she asked the manager who said that they use only premium salmon in both the sushi and the rolls, which I guess means that other places use less desirable cuts of sushi in the rolls and maybe the sushi too. I believe him!!!!! We will always be coming back here.
(5)Cat N.
I went here for my friend's birthday. I am in love with this place. The decor and ambiance is absolutely great. It looks so trendy. It's got mostly tables for two, but there are several tables for bigger groups towards the back. I met my friends here. They had already been seated. I work in the area. As soon as I sat down, someone came by to see if I wanted anything to drink. I ordered the Naked Tuna Gyoza and I ordered a Fancy Roll and a Rolling Fire Roll. I'm not sure about what my friends ordered. But OMG, the naked gyoza is AMAZING. I ordered it because I thought it was such a weird combination. Its like raw tuna on top of a thin chip with pico de gallo and sour cream on top. They give you about 5 of them for $7. It was SO good. It's such a weird but delectable combination. I love the presentation of their sushi. They have menus that show you what their specials look like. Although i feel like they could have better specials, they did have unique rolls that I've never seen before. My Fancy roll and my Rolling Fire were alot for myself and a friend to share. They're like a good size for a roll, but they also had a bunch of other things on top of the roll, which filled me up too. I really liked the Fancy roll. The Rolling Fire had so much going on on top of it that I just got full halfway in. It was still good, but if you're getting the Rolling Fire just for yourself, it might be all you need. The service was great. They were always filling up our drinks and checking up on us. It was a good amount of attention because sometimes its kind of annoying to be constantly checked up to the point where it is distracting to your conversation. I HAVE to bring my boyfriend back here! He would love this AND he needs to try the naked gyoza!! MUST TRY; Naked Tuna Gyoza (if you like tuna tartare, TRY THIS!), Fancy roll
(5)Sam R.
Fat Salmon I wanted to like you. Your reviews seemed so promising which I why I chose to visit you... I was just here yesterday evening with a friend, to catch up & have some good sushi. They have a lot of options on their menu however, when you read what is in some of there special sushi rolls, it doesn't sound too appetizing. I saw bacon as on of their ingredients in one of there rolls. Bacon doesn't belong in sushi... I ordered the shrimp shumai as an appetizer, it was ok but, it was a little cold. For my entree I ordered the Lost Rainbow Roll & the Spicy Tuna Roll. I didn't like the flavor of my rolls. The spicy tuna was a little too spicy & salty. The Lost Rainbow Roll, I didn't like how crunchy it was & the sauce they used inside the roll. They also don't bring out appetizers & entrees together. You get yours as soon as it is prepared. If you go out to eat I feel that you should be served at the same time. Its rude to eat while someone else is waiting for there food and its awkward. They also took away our appetizer plates without, asking if we were done and I was still eating as our plates were being taken away. Wow ! I guess they had decided we were done with our appetizers at that moment. Then it took forever for my friends entree to come out & then they forgot the sashimi that she had ordered. When she reminded them they did bring it out, & told her "it was on the house." Which was nice. I did like the ambiance of the place & the modern decor. I did like the dim blue lighting, very calming.
(3)Danielle D.
For me, a dining experience is about the quality of food and the service. The sushi here was some of the best sushi I've ever had in Philadelphia! However, holy lord the service was awful. Our waiter didn't check on us once and took forever to even ask us if we wanted a drink after being seated. I sat with an empty glass of wine and still no sign of waiter for waaaay to long. We would've stayed to order another drink & roll had service been even remotely decent but left instead. Do take out if they do it!!!
(3)Kelly T.
Eventually, the money for my lunch was refunded to my card. However, I am still so disgusted with their attempt to serve me spoiled food and cover it up, that I am not upgrading my review.
(1)Zack H.
Went here for a business lunch with a client of mine, his choice, I love sushi, so sounded great to me. This place did not disappoint, great food, great prices. We didn't have any cocktails, so I can't comment on how they were, however, the sushi was exceptional, particularly the salmon (hence the name). Had two different rolls, and sashimi and everything was outstanding. Would highly recommend this place, very reasonably priced too.
(5)Joanna D.
I really like this place! I consistently have a great meal here. Service is good! Food is even better.. Love the blossom roll, spicy scallop roll and the salmon skin roll minus the eel sauce!
(4)Megan M.
I've only eaten inside once, but I've grabbed sushi to go a bunch of times. The sushi is excellent, as is the decor. My only complaint is the very relaxed service. Sometimes take out is ready 20 min after stated time.
(4)Di P.
I am giving 5 stars to a place that *almost* had crappy service. But i'm not a freakin' monster and the food was that perfect. The hostess was clearly super new to hosting (like fresh out of sophomore year of college) and the manager was obviously trying to teach her without completely holding her hand. It appeared to be rocket science for her to let us know how long the wait would be and I was basically putting words into her mouth ("like, fifteen minutes? fifteen minutes, right? i think you want to tell me fifteen minutes TOPS is the wait"). Almost-husband and I got four rolls listed in order of who I'm crushing on from most to least: tied for number 1: #1 Mr. Shiro: eel tempura, cucumber, crunchy inside and broiled white tuna with tomato on top. Time it took to eat the whole roll: 3 short frenzied minutes. #1 Tofuholic: Asparagus, Yam, Gourd Tempura w/Spicy sauce and Soy sauce & Mayo Marinated Tofu, Asparagus, Scallion, Cucumber,Tomato on top. Time it took to eat the roll: 10 minutes of me savoring every beautiful bite. #4: M & M: Marinated Beef, Cucumber, Oshinko and on top Spicy Crab Stick w/Scallion #3: Dancing Vampire (cucumber and asparagus in the inside, tuna and salmon in chili sauce on top) They were ALL great and if they kept on bringing me rolls I wouldn't stop eating. Which only happens to me when the sushi is really freakin' good. Usually all the raw fish kinda tops me out after a bit, but not here. No sireeeee. And I was happy that they had an awesome amount of vegetarian options. And lots of rolls without avocado (overshare: I'm newly allergic and it makes me puke immediately, so sad). Also, this place is in a sorta in-between neighborhood for going out-- like not a lot of people milling about, but inside of the restaurant was really trendy. Dark with neon blue lighting and all white mod furniture. But luckily I'm in a relationship where I now have "let myself go" and am okay wearing sneakers in a trendy restaurant without feeling psychotically self-conscious. Everyone else looked great so I felt like one screw-up is okay. But I promise to put myself together soon, baby. Side bar, they have a full bar, no longer a BYOB... however they're lacking in a cocktail menu. If they had some fun cocktails it would be FABULOUS. But I had a carafe of plum sake and let all my worries go.
(5)Tiki S.
The restaurant is a little small but cozy. The wait can be a little long but we were lucky. We waited about 10 minutes before we were seated. The tea is self serve which was welcome on such a cold night. Each of the specialty rolls we ordered were very good. There was no roll we ordered that we didn't like. The service is fast and efficient. I'll definitely come back here again!
(4)Megan D.
I was very happy to find this restaurant on a recent trip to Philadelphia--it definitely hit the spot! When we arrived around 7:30pm, the place was jam-packed and we had to make reservations to come back around 8:30pm to get a table. That ended up working really well because we went had a drink before dinner, but if you're looking to eat right away, I'd recommend calling ahead. I ordered the Rainbow roll and the Salmon Yaki roll and I enjoyed both. Their sushi had just the right ratio of rice to other ingredients, and the fish tasted very fresh. Plus, the wait staff was all very friendly and accommodating. If you're in town and in the mood for sushi, this place is a sure bet.
(4)Alex H.
I'm a sushi fanatic; I could eat it morning, noon, and night. I do demand, however, that it be perfect in taste, color, variety, and presentation. I'm not quite ready to give Fat Salmon the kudos that other Yelpers have given it. I didn't feel that their sushi was the epitome of what good sushi is, but maybe I'm being a bit harsh. I started with the negimaki. The beef should have been the most tender cut; there was more al-dente-ness than I'm use to with this dish. The dish did come dressed with a variety of sauteed vegetables, even a few potatoes. You would have to accept that this is American-style Japanese food, however, because it's a bit unusual to serve it that way. I washed that down with a Hitachino Red Rice Ale. It was $10 bucks for a 12 oz. bottle....expensive! At least it was truly imported from Japan and not an Asahi or Sapporo from Molson in Canada or a Kirin Ichiban from the people at Budweiser. This is a general pet peeve of mind, by the way. For my main dish I had the Sushi Deluxe. The choice of fish was described in the menu as 'Tekka Maki & 11pcs Nigiri (Chef's Choice)'. It was all basically the same fish; at least, it tasted that way. The waitress went down the nicely stacked line of negori - "salmon, white tune, hamachi, maguro, etc., etc., etc." The whole time I was thinking to myself, "Where is the variety?". At most sushi joints, there's tamago, ikura, a cooked shrimp, some unagi in the mix, but not this place. At $23 bucks, I wasn't happy that I may have to order my favorite from the Ala Carte menu. I'm with Joelle B.... I, too, didn't feel there was an assortment of fresh (fish) selections. Variety should be the name of the game. Why have 'gari' (picked ginger) to clean the palate when the fish looks similar and taste basically the same. I was personally disappointed in Fat Salmon.
(2)Geoff c.
I was in a rush, so this may not be the best review... but, oh well. The rolls were really good. Flavorful. Well-put. Even the california tasted good (caveat - i would not go to a sushi place and judge from their california rolls, but friends in my party happened to get it with the sushi-for-2 plate and i tried it). Tried a variety of 5 of their other special and regular rolls. They were all pretty good. The ngiri was not the best I've had, but it'll do. The venue is a sort of modern-fusion decor. Not much space inside. Staff was accommodating and attentive. I'll have to come back to try more, when I'm not in a hurry.
(4)Kitty L.
I'll be straight to the point. I had better sushi. I went to a place with faster service and tastier food. I got to the restaurant a little past 6pm. I don't think we placed our order until 6:45pm? We ordered about 5 special rolls. Our food didn't come out until around at least half an hour later. Really? The restaurant wasn't even that full. Why does it take that long? We asked our server and she said usually special rolls take 30 minutes to make. Wow, now you tell us??? The special roll menu wasn't all the fascinating. Most of the crab sushi rolls were made with crab imitations and most of them were spicy. I can't eat a lot of spicy stuff but this never bothers me when I go out to eat as there are always several things for me to pick from that are not spicy. This restaurant wasn't the case. Out of the 5 special rolls we ordered, I only ate 1. I had to order other more traditional rolls to fill myself up. I don't need to go here for traditional rolls. You go to Sagami for that! Ok that's enough. I don't think I'll come back to this place.
(2)Regina F.
Fat Salmon is pretty much the only sushi place that could make you roll out like a Fat Salmon. If you're craving sashimi or sushi even, don't come here. The tamago and roe sushi were only okay...but if you're looking for adventure and rolls as crazy, delicious and colorful as Carnival, scurry on over to a booth at Fat Salmon. The Rolling Fire takes the spice of Sichuan fare and blends it with the delicacy of Japanese cuisine. It's spicy enough to nix the wasabi and just eat plain. It's moist enough to forget the soy sauce before plummeting a very large cylinder into your mouth. The spicy scallop is expertly melded with crab stick in an aioli unlike any other - it's sirracha, yes, but there's chili oil too. The fried scallions on top make for an artful presentation. Inside, you'll enjoy shrimp tempura and an alleged cucumber...but you probably won't notice the cucumber other than its crunch. The cooling powers of that watery melon are defeated by the spice of the roll. The Dancing Vampire was okay, but by the time I got to taste it, my papillae had their expectations risen too high by the Rolling Fire. While I would contend that I should go back and try the Dancing Vampire again with a clean palate, this would mean abandoning the Rolling Fire, which is really just silly and an abomination against the Fat Salmon.
(4)Ha T.
I've only gotten take out for lunch once from Fat Salmon, and I was really impressed! I ordered the Alaskan Roll lunch special, which comes with two pieces of salmon sashimi, two pieces of salmon nigiri, and a soup or salad. The salmon was GORGEOUS! The color was so vibrant and glossy. The texture, so melt-in-your-mouth tender and creamy. I've nver been so in awe from the presentation of just the fish itself, rather than the arrangement of several fancy sushi rolls presented together. For $11.35 including tax, for the quantity of sushi and fish, the size of the salad (bigger than many other salads I've gotten with sushi lunch specials), and the quality of that fish, made this lunch special an absolute steal! It might not be as filling as other 3-roll lunch specials, but it was quite the bang for your buck. Accompanied from an iced tea from the Cooperage cafe and set in Washington Square Park on that gorgeous afternoon made for an phenomenal lunch break. I can't wait to come back to Fat Salmon and try everything else!
(5)Rupal P.
As a vegetarian, the food here is wonderful! The vegetable fried goyza is delicious and the best I've ever had. Love the Veggie tempura and the Tufoholic rolls!
(5)Liz S.
The niguri had pefectly cut fish over a generous blob of wasabi, the entire meal wiuld have been amazing except for the oder of the chop sticks. Whatever brand they use treats the wood in something that just reaks and completely killed my appetite...
(3)Laura C.
The sushi here is slightly pricier than average but it's totally worth it. I'm so happy that I discovered such a fantastic sushi restaurant in the Washington Sq., West neighborhood. I ate at the sushi bar the other day and my overall experience was very positive. I've only been here once but once was enough to establish it as my go-to sushi restaurant.
(5)Elizabeth D.
I have been wanting to try Fat Salmon for a while and since we were in the area, we popped in for dinner. They do take reservations (via phone) and I was surprised to see how busy it was for a Wednesday night! The restaurant is small, but with very cool decor - I loved the light fixtures! The have lots of 2 tops, and a big sushi bar. After a brief wait, we were seating at the sushi bar. Deceptively large amount of leg room which was welcome! Their house pinot grigio was pretty good for $6 & they have a large variety of sake and beer. We split the spicy roll combo ($20) & the Volcano roll ($9.50). The combo comes with miso soup and ginger salad (which we split) - both were pretty standard for sushi places. We both enjoyed all the rolls - the presentation is great and the fish was very fresh. I will say that it was not THAT spicy, but everything did have a nice kick. Just don't expect to be blown away by spiciness. The prices are right on point and the service was very good. It's a great sushi place in Washington Square.
(4)Vivian T.
This place is yummy for special/funky rolls. you have to adjust your expectation of "japanese food" when you are coming here. sure it's japanese food but I would almost say this is like Americanized japanese food. it's not a place where I would go to get real sushi or sashimi but it is a good place for different rolls that are basically different permutations of the same ingredients: eel, avocado, salmon, tempura, soft shell crab, tuna, spicy tuna, mixed with permutations of outside in roll, inside out roll, spicy or not spicy sauces, etc. Rolling fire, mr. shiro, white forrest, I can't even remember the ridculous names but the point is, they are all yummy and delicious. Besides the crazy roll, they also have the usual suspects: california, dragon, veggies rolls etc. they even have regular japanese stuff to order but I think your best bet are the delicious rolls!
(3)Rebecca N.
Delightfully corny decor, a selection of predictable items, a few good beers, a few good wines, friendly and prompt servers, and reasonable prices: the perfect place to take a platonic lunch date. There are so many other fish in the sea.
(3)Larisa S.
The atmosphere is fun. The food tastes great and the prices are somewhere in the middle between the dinky take-out and Marimoto. The food came out very quickly. I also like the location right by the park. I would definitely come here again.
(5)Adam G.
Wow. A friend and I went here on a busy Saturday night. Although the waitstaff was pretty slow, the food was excellent. My date and I ordered four rolls of different varieties of taste and texture. It was outstanding. I can say this visit presented the best sushi I had ever eaten. I will be returning. I do wish they had a more diverse dessert menu, though.
(5)Jo L.
Just came here tonight with my boyfriend for our anniversary and because there was a 20% discount from the 2012 Dine Out Japan. The first thing I noticed here were the blue lights! Love it! And the lamp they had next to the receptionist booth. Then I noticed how there were mostly business looking people there. Probably just got off of work. And finally, I noticed that if it was a guy and a girl dining out, all the girls but one sat on the inside booth and the guys sat on the outside. Time for sushi! We ordered the Hako, Katsu maki, Lost Rainbow, M & M, and Shrimp tempura. The boyfriend looked at the picture and the first thing he said he wanted was the "box shaped one" (Hako) only because it was box shaped! =P But out of the 5 that we ordered, that was my favorite one. We didn't really like the M & M but I think because it wasn't fish but instead was beef. But then again.. We ordered it because we wanted to try beef sushi. Random other things: Their menu cover is really cute and I like their water glass. Definitely coming back!
(5)Veronica F.
I work in the neighborhood. Everyone RAVES about Fat Salmon. The truth is, it's really good. The restaurant is a little small, the food is a bit overpriced, and the service can be a little slow. That being said, the food is pretty consistent and high quality. The best value for lunch is the bento box, they are quote generous-- easily a "dinner portion" size. Standouts for me are the veggie tempura and the Lipstick Trace roll (squash and mushroom topped with spicy avocado sauce). My meat eating friends claim the beef teriyaki is the best in town. For a consistent, quality Japanese lunch or dinner in Old City-- this is a good choice.
(4)Karen F.
I had wanted to try Fat Salmon for quite some time and yesterday I got a chance to have lunch there. For $13.50 they were offering a special holiday lunch. You got a choice of soup or salad (I had the iceberg salad with tasty ginger dressing), and either 2 maki, 1 maki and 1 cooked item or 2 cooked items. I chose 2 of the specialty maki which normally are $7.50 - 9.50 on their own - so this lunch was a good value. Ask for sauces on the side - alot of the special rolls are loaded up with semi-spicy mayo and tempura crunch. The regular lunch menu is also a great price point. Dinner prices are a little high but not crazy. Cool, icy-blue decor made it feel like Christmas. Service was quick and efficient. I can't wait to go back. I will try the sashimi and then render a TRUE verdict. For now though, I still stand that DOMA is the best sushi spot goin' in Philly these days. (Save for Morimoto which is cost prohibitive.)
(4)D K.
BEST SUSHI EVER. Seriously the salmon selection here is totally awesome. Great yellowtail toro great salmon toro and a variety of other types of very fresh fish. AND if you like dessert, be sure to try the tempura ice cream. Holy shit they bring a softball sized piece cut into quarters with cherry and chocolate sauce. Really good for two but if you are like me...just for one!!! A must try for any sushi lover in the area. The decor is modern and dress is casual. Great for business dinners, or if you wanna just stuff your face with great fish and great sake.
(5)Sarah T.
GREAT lunch specials! Just make sure you have a little time since they get really busy at lunch time. But they do a good job trying to accommodate everyone :)
(4)Andrea R.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. My boyfriend and I wanted to go out for sushi one night and just chose this place at random, ends up being our restaurant. We go there regularly and the Fancy Sushi is our favorite. Don't forget to try to mochi ice cream for dessert!
(5)Isabelle K.
I love sushi, and presumably so do you. And if you love sushi, you'll love Fat Salmon. I finally made it out here with my boyfriend after hearing many good reviews from friends. We were looking for quick, good sushi with a casual vibe. Fat Salmon was exactly what we wanted. The restaurant itself is gorgeous! It has a dimly lit, ultra modern date night atmosphere. Whether you're taking out your honey or your bff, this is an ideal spot to grab dinner. Style's important but we came for one reason: the food. Their menu is extensive, and it was a nice touch that their signature roll menu features pictures of the rolls. Normally, I go straight for signature rolls but none sounded that interesting so I kept it simple with a tuna roll, a Kai roll (an oversized roll with eel, tuna, shrimp tempura and avocado, and an order of salmon sashimi. Nothing too fancy but man, was it good! Their rice is a little firm and has good flavor. The fish was very fresh, even late on a Sunday night. My boyfriend kept it simple and got a yellow tail roll, a spicy tuna roll, and a shrimp tempura roll, all of which he loved. We also started with grilled baby octopus as an appetizer, which was great in a ponzu sauce over a bed of veggies. Complete with two glasses of wine, and a MASSIVE ball of tempura red bean ice cream (that tasted like it was coated in a light fried sugar cookie!!!! yummmm), the bill only came to $80, which is a steal in my book for that much sushi! I would give it 5 stars if the signature rolls were more creative but for freshness and flavor, I'll definitely be back soon!!!
(4)Giedrius T.
Ok so I'm hold right now for like 10 minutes it's 7:27 so the manager knows who was a hostess at that time. I can hear what's happening on the other line and the girls is not really busy. She's laughing etc... Why am I on hold I don't know. Food is great though. Get more professional people to work for you
(1)Matt O.
I just moved down to Philly not that long ago from NYC and I know good sushi when I eat it. This was by far not the best but it was pretty damn good. Cool ambiance in the place with a large menu. I was pretty impressed by the sushi and the freshness. Tuna sandwich rolls were great. Frequented this place a few times and dont plan on stopping anytime soon
(4)Kirby J.
A bit pricier than most sushi places in town, but the rolls are huge. Seating is kind of cramped- if you have a coat or bag, there's not going to be much room for it. Huge drink menu, lots of veg options.
(4)Cassidi B.
I surprised my husband to a sushi dinner for his birthday. I have heard a lot of great things about Fat Salmon and they were all true! We made a reservation online and the day before they called to confirm. Which was really nice! When we arrived the table was ready for us. The restaurant was kind of cheesy modern but for a sushi restaurant it was perfect decor. Our sever was friendly, quick, and very knowledge. The sushi was affordable and very tasty! For 5 people we only spent $160! We got a bunch of their special rolls and they were really good. I would come back here again and again.
(5)Jess M.
YUM. just super good sushi- definitely my favorite place. Cool ambiance too.
(5)Karen Y.
for a place called fat salmon i expected salmon belly, but it's not really a place i would order nigri or sashimi or even the katsu don. paying more than $10 for this dish is highway robbery. I have been to nicer japanese restaurants in california that don't even charge this much for it. but i suppose it's the price to pay for people who are eating with sushi lover that don't eat fish but want meat. it's definitely fusion, japanese-ish restaurant. however, i wouldn't pass up going here with vegetarian friends. there is a good selection of rolls for them and i much prefer the vegetarian options here more than the fish rolls. the rolls are definitely combinations that are not found elsewhere and delicious. the wine list is well paired with the food they serve. service is attentive and it was a nice place to get together for a night among friends.
(3)Ky T.
Great sushi and a good variety of rolls. My favorite thing about this place is the selection of spicy rolls. They have a variety not just the standard spicy chopped tuna/salmon and the rolls are actually spicy.
(4)Traci R.
I never give 5 stars because I can always find SOMETHING that wasn't quite up to par. That was not the case with Fat Salmon. In summary: The food was flawless, the service was speedy and friendly, and the ambiance was trendy but not overly so. In explanation: It was a double date and to start we ordered the Baby Octopus and theTofu. I was a bit wary because I don't eat either of those foods BUT they were both awesome! The baby octopus was my favorite for sure. As a card-carrying Meateater, i had no desire to try the tofu but I'm so glad I did! My date and i ordered the Hako, Sleeping Volcano, and the White Forest rolls. ughhuiasudhaskudh goodness gracious they were good!! The White Forest roll was so unexpected because it had pico de gallo and sour cream on it but i highly recommend it! Definitely not good for big groups. But for smaller groups, it wasn't too loud in there or too dark. Just a perfect little sushi bar!!
(5)Rob Z.
BIG SUSHI So l didn't really know what to expect but heard of this place being a secret hot spot. My girlfriend's friend suggested it and we came here on a double date. So the prices are fair and l was thinking of eating a little incase I'd empty my wallet and still be hungry like many other sushi places. After our order came, l realized why the place is named Fat Salmon. The rolls are noticeably bigger. Probably around 50% bigger in mass overall. With this knowledge, the prices become very fair lol. So me and my girlfriend split 5 rolls and realized we wouldn't finish it. The sushi in general was great and l always had to bite half of it each time. Environment wise, it was great for a date. A bit corky and trendy. I'm not dating master but l think this place would impress your date if they've never been here before. Service was friendly and I plan to come back here again sometime very soon. sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/h… sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/h…
(4)Jason B.
Great sushi, great service, we usually stop here before we see a show. Usually make reservations, you never know. One of our favorite stops for great sushi.
(5)Gary G.
This place is quickly becoming my go to for more expensive sushi places in the city. Raw used to be my go to- but either they have fallen off or I just like this joint better. The rolls are good, the ambiance has a nice feel to it, even though its small and your basically touching elbows. Go check it out if your around there, you won't regret it, its better than Raw and Crazy Sushi.
(4)Amar R.
Old school veggie sushi is amazing and so are the salmon rolls. The green tea icecream tempura is a definite order everytime I go here!!!
(5)Taleah J.
I consider myself a sushi-phile. I love it. I actually stumbled upon this place because I was looking for another sushi spot (Fusion Grille) which closed down. Lo and behold a block away, Fat Salmon pops up. I ordered the lunch special for 14.50 which came with miso soup. I ordered something amazing called a "Dancing Vampire" and the Salmon Teryaki. Well..... the Dancing Vampire has to be Jesus Christs favorite food because its soooooo good. Imagine this, Cucumber.. Asparagus...Crunchy bits..topped with Tuna and Salmon in Chili sauce. Are you still there? Or did you leave to go get some yourself? This place gets 4 stars because not only is the quality of the sushi stellar, they also go the extra mile with presentation. I wish I had taken a picture of my food, but alas... I tore into it faster than Lindsay Lohan and a vial of cocaine. I will definitely be frequenting this spot more often. P.s.- my only complaints are that my salmon teryaki was a little overcooked and this place offers close to 50 different options and its a little overwhelming. I mean come on... variety is the spice of life, but it also makes ordering complicated.
(4)Vinny P.
I've visited Fat Salmon a number of times and for some reason, it still flies under the radar for me. Even when I have conversations with others about where they go for sushi in philly, I still somehow seem to forget about it. It's time for that to stop. I've always had very good service and really excellent food here. The decor is kind of funky and their lighting resembles a certain, I don't know what. To me it's quite futuristic looking but then again, picking out decorating styles is something that I have no clue about. Food-wise, it's difficult for me not to get a sashimi platter. I realize that this limits my exposure to other kinds of fish on the menu but it's just such a great value and the taste is pretty exquisite. The last time I was there, I tried two rolls that I never had before. I really enjoyed the fuka roll and even though it had a ton of stuff both in and on it, I still was able to get all of the flavor. The crying (dancing, singing, something) vampire roll was also really good but for me the fuka stood out. So in essence, I'm sorry Fat Salmon. I'll do my best to sing your praises and visit more often.
(4)M W.
Pretty cute place, very modern and clean. Service was good, Inexpensive and sushis were delicious. Worth a second visit.
(5)Ryan D.
Great tasting and fresh fish. The Sushi & Sashimi for 1 is the perfect size for 1. Skip the Sake Sampler (unless you really prefer cold sake) and pick ur favorite hot sake. As always, make sure to pick up a fresh- or salt-water Eel nigiri for the perfect after dinner treat.
(4)Rosta M.
Great food and always a smiling host despite the wait.. Couple things however; 1. The wasabi is like clay. Anyone who knows real sushi knows fresh wasabi should melt in the soy sauce 2. Keep it simple, American sushi places love to over do it and put so many sauces on their sushi (including the shriracha mayo in everything which is so old school). Keep it fresh and simple. And always try to reduce the amount of items you have no menu
(4)Katie A.
love love love this place!!! the BCT roll is amazing- who would think that bacon and sushi would be so amazing together? awesome ambiance, reasonably priced, friendly staff and delicious food! my favorite sushi place in the city :)
(5)Erica M.
We go to Fat Salmon often and it just seems to have gone downhill. The rolls just weren't that great on our last visit - I can't put my finger on what it was, they just weren't anything special (and we ordered special rolls). The presentation was very good, but flavor not so much. We will probably go back to see if it was a fluke, but I came home disappointed.
(3)Katrina C.
I went here on Sunday of 4th of July weekend. The place was pretty empty, yet we were told that we had to sit at the sushi bar, because they had no available tables. There were 3 of us, so it was a little awkward. I was very skeptical that the place would really fill up on Sunday, July 3rd, but we went with it. After we ordered, our server offered us a table, saying that someone missed their reservation. That was nice. We ordered seaweed salad and avocado salad to start. I love the ginger dressing that always comes on avocado salad, and I also love seaweed salad. Both were very good, especially the seaweed salad. We ordered 6 rolls for 3 people, and even with the salads - were a little worried it might not be enough. Ha! We got : spicy tuna, alaska, eel and cucumber, dragon roll, yellowtail and scallion, and a fancy one called miss sake bomb (or something). The rolls were very well presented and even though they were only 6 pieces each, each piece was very large! All 3 of us loved different rolls - so that means they were all very tasty. The Miss Sake Bomb wasn't as good as we were expecting - the cooked salmon on top threw me off, but it was still tasty. Plus: My friend asked for gluten free soy sauce, and was told that they didn't carry it. The server felt bad though, so she apparently went and found a bottle (not sure how) so that my friend could have soy sauce! 5 stars because it's the best sushi I've had in Philly, I think. Not saying it's the best, but I loved it.
(5)Ace J.
Mmmmm Fat Salmon. Every time I go there it's a new experience: Sushi--super delicious, just writing about it makes me want to go there and get three different rolls. They're all really fresh and have a little bit of a twist to them, too. The atmosphere--it's BLUE! It's nice and romantic, and the staff really makes you feel welcome. Sake--my favorite part about Fat Salmon. The Sake comes in this little container that makes you want to take shots every minute. And it's so good!! Overall, the restaurant's in a nice location right next to Washington Sq. Park, and it offers that good Japanese-American sushi we all crave a few times a month.
(4)Brian M.
Really very mediocre. Sushi was decent enough but nothing stood out and there are definitely much better options in the city (Zento, Izumi to name a few). Interior here is different in that it's ultra-modern white space type thing which is cool if you're into that sort of decor. Just doesn't feel particularly welcoming to me. Surprised this place won Best of Philly considering there are better alternatives.
(3)Joelle J.
Awesome awesome fresh sushi! Went there with a few friends one night and we just couldn't stop eating! Must try
(4)Maggie D.
Yay sushi! This place is super good. Everything is fresh and awesome, they also have a lot of vegetarian rolls, even some speciality, fancy rolls which I usually don't get to have! It's fun to be a part of things. Only possible fault would be that the service can be a bit slow, but it's always packed when I go so I can't really be too mad about it, especially since when the food does come it's really exciting and you forget about how long it took...mmmm sushi
(5)Kelly C.
i had a very good expereince there. :) even though the restaurant isn't big. the white table tops and decor created a more spacious impression. in addition the blue lights reflecting on the shiny white tops made it very modern and chic. I was happy with the food! one of my favorites was the "Fancy Sushi" - this design with the salmon wrapping the rice instead is very popular in Hong Kong, but this was my first time seeing it in America. The salmon with the sharp taste of scallion made it very enjoyable and different. My 2nd favorite was the "Dragonfly" which is eel on top of tempura shrimp roll. We decided to neglect the sauce b/c most of my expereinces they always drench the sushi with eel sauce making the rice too mushy... so I just told them to hold the sauce all together. The combination of nigiri and tempura shrimp turned out to be fantastic! You get the fish AND the fried shrimp yum~ Another favorite is the "Volcano Roll"... Their verison is spicy tuna on top of a california roll~ yum and the extra crunch on the side just made my day. You can never go wrong with that. If you see my pictures, you'll notice their placement of the sushi on the plate. it is very strategic! all their portions for the rolls are in even number of pieces, perfect for tables of 2s. Also they like to do a symmetrical division of the sushi, so it's like you get your own portions while you're also sharing! it worked out perfectly so i'm not over reaching something or my date n i aren't going back and forth saying "you have this piece... YOU have this piece" lol no excuse now. in conclusion, yes! i would love to come back ps. this is a place where a reservation is highly recommended.. even if you have to do it on the day of or like 3 hours b4!
(4)Ronnie J.
We love Fat Salmon. Go there at least twice each month and the food and service are consistently excellent. Best salad with ginger dressing anywhere and most creative offering of sushi, even for vegetarians. Highly recommend.
(5)Dave B.
I took my girlfriend here for her birthday and we were both blown away by the quality of the food and the trendy ambience of the restaurant. I promised that I would FINALLY try sushi and wasn't disappointed! I can finally say I'm a "sushi fan" now. I recommend bringing a spouse or small group for a fun night out with good food and a quality drink menu!
(5)Jason L.
I highly recommend this place for people who loves sushi and visiting Philadelphia. I do recommend making a reservation. I was there at 6pm and there were a few tables available. More people came at 6:30, that's when I saw people waiting. The food was excellent. We had the Firefly and Fancy Salmon. I wished we ordered more rolls cause we weren't as full as we expect. And the service? For me, there was nothing to complain about
(5)Bella H.
This was my first time here with a group of co-workers for lunch. Arriving at the place, it had a bubbly, ocean vibe. The restaurant was very decorative, especially the graphic walls and the lights surrounding the sushi bar. Love the sushi here. It was fresh and perfectly placed on the plate. It was the best spicy tuna I have ever had in my life. Everyone at the table was pleased with their meals. I gave it four stars because the service was horrible. Our server rarely check on the table. She gave us a wrong order and told us when she got to the table. She did offer to make a new roll, but why would you willingly give us the wrong dish? Our water glasses did not get refilled until we got our checks, which is kind of pointless. The table took forever to clear and checking out also took long, which shouldn't have because we decided to evenly split the check. She also gave us another customer's check. Maybe she had a high volume? I would say service was poor, but definitely a wonderful place for sushi.
(4)Clare D.
Without a doubt, sushi has become a very popular dinner choice among Americans. There are dozens of sushi restaurants in Philadelphia. Some are good, but most are just okay. Some try to reel in diners with gimmicky rolls or fusion flavors from other cultures. Fat Salmon does a lot of things right and wrong. My friend Chris W and I liked the cool vibe of the restaurant. It looks like a lot of thought went into the decor. The special maki rolls are very unique and artistic. There's a lot to be said about chefs keeping with the Edo-style sushi traditions, but fushion sushi can be good, too. My Naked Gyoza, for example, was delicious. Who would've thought to combine Mexican pico de gallo salsa with spicy salmon on a fried crisp? Chris liked his Grilled Baby Octopus. I thought it needed a lot more octopus. Everything was just drowned in too much pungent sauce. The Fancy Sushi was good. I don't know why they mixed the panko crumbs with slivers of radish. The panko would've been better inside the roll. The Lipstick Trace was okay. Chris doesn't like cucumber and, unfortunately, the crunch of the cucumber was probably the one thing missing from this vegetarian roll. The Lobster Roll was a complete miss. The lobster was dry and had no flavor. Chris joked that it should've been cooked in butter. I was very disappointed with it. The Sea Urchin nigiri was very good. It tasted delicate and fresh, like "flowers from the ocean," as an old friend used to say. Perhaps the saving grace of all of the rolls was the Hako Roll, a square sushi made with eel and spicy tuna. It was tasty, well-balanced in all of its flavors - sweet and spicy, soft and crunchy - that I feel compelled to give it its own rating apart from my overall rating. Yes, my friends, the Naked Gyoza and the Hako Roll deserve five stars. If you go to Fat Salmon, these are my two yummy recommendations. Unfortunately, everything else ranged from bad to just okay.
(3)Adam F.
Fat Salmon is a trendy yet casual spot for sushi. Sake flights are great. Sushi is consistently good (although it won't blow you away). It's open fairly late too, so great if you want to grab some sushi and drinks before going out to the bars/clubs. If you are looking to get there at normal dinner time, definitely pick up a reservation -- the place gets packed.
(4)Steve F.
Personal favorite, go whenever I can. The 'fancy sushi' is a MUST.
(5)Ron G.
The short: Pros: vast selection, above average fish quality, great date/2 person place to eat, reasonable prices Cons: terrible for groups, excessive use of spicy sauce Fat salmon is heavily reviewed and mainly favorably. Its a great place for 2ppl, 4 at most. Its really not a good place for groups. What I ate: Fried tofu: ordered due to several reviewers recommendations. Lightly fried, however, doused in spicy sauce, a bit too much really. We couldn't get through it bc it was too filling. Tasty dish overall. Rock& Roll: tuna, eel sauce, bits of tempura on top, tasty but gimmicky, not a sushi snobs cup of tea. Dancing vampire: asparagus/cucumber inside, tuna/salmon/spicy sauce on outside, fish quality was very good, filling. Overall, if you are a sushi purist, not sure this is the best place in the city. But if you have a small party and want to eat both traditional and "fusion" sushi in a fun atmosphere, this is a good choice.
(4)Stephanie P.
#22 For "Dine Out Japan", my boyfriend and I perused reviews for every single restaurant participating. The results were close, but something about the reviews for Fat Salmon made it the winner. So, we headed out toward the Washington Square neighborhood that Monday. The entrance of the restaurant was very unassuming - I almost didn't notice it - and it looked like every other storefront on the street. However, walking in, you experience an entirely different sort of ambiance. The blue lighting makes the place seem almost ethereal and the wall in the far back on the right has some interestingly colorful depictions of Japanese culture. Otherwise, the place is very minimalist with tons of white. I loved the use of texture inside as well - the wall opposite the sushi bar was especially mesmerizing. =) But, enough about interior design. The hostess was polite and efficient, however our server was not. She was attentive at first, getting us our water straight away and taking our orders in a timely fashion. However, after that, she seemed to have dropped the ball. It might have been the fact that there was a swarm of people that came in after us, but it would have been nice for her to drop by every so often. The miso soup was delicious though and our food came out rather quickly. We ordered the Naked Gyoza, which was amazing. The spicy tuna was so fresh and flavorful and the deep-fried Gyoza skin added the perfect crunch. As for our main course, we ordered the Sushi & Sashimi for 2. The presentation was awesome. The boat itself looked high quality and the overall organization of our food was very pleasing to the eye. The sashimi was what really made the meal - every single slice was so tender and soft, yet slightly chewy. Everything tasted SO fresh and each piece of sushi/sashimi melted in my mouth with flavor. BEST SUSHI EVER, not gonna lie.
(5)Simon L.
The food here is fantastic! The only thing I am not too comfortable with would be the atmosphere, it's a little too dark and the tables up front are placed too close to each other.
(4)Edward M.
Had my first visit here recently and determined to come back for more. A friend and I sat at the bar and tried several rolls with salmon, tuna, and/or veggies. All of them tasted fresh and yummy. The dessert, however, was a little questionable. We got the tempura ice cream. It was tasty (I mean, come one, it's ice cream and fried batter), but lacked a sense of freshness. I'm not sure how and where it was made, but the batter shell was cold and getting soggy. Done right, tempura ice cream is served as soon as it's made while you can still note the contrast between the hot exterior and the chilly interior. Next time, I'll probably just get the ice cream by itself (red bean or green tea, natch). The decor struck me as some sort of swanky-wannabe, but I didn't pay much attention to it. The bathroom door handle has an odd, and somewhat annoying, locking mechanism. You've been warned. Pricing was reasonable. Oddly, splitting the bill on two credit cards resulted in two merchant receipts but only one, unified, customer receipt (good thing paper tears easily, if you need your receipt). Service was friendly and reasonably attentive/speedy for a busy weekend evening.
(4)Triza B.
Yum, raw fish! Seriously though, I haven't been very impressed with sushi here in Philly, but Fat Salmon changed my mind. The sushi was flavorful, the ingredients were fresh, and the ambience in the restaurant was nice. I just have to talk about the salmon though....it had the perfect amount of fattiness to give it good flavor. Definitely some quality Fat Salmon (har har)! I am definitely going back for more.
(4)Catherine L.
Feed me sashimi and I'm happy. Feed me sashimi here and I'll be very happy. Fresh, fresh fish. Fun, big Maki rolls, interesting (but relatively safe) combinations and super affordable house sake (hot, please!). Beautiful plating. Prices reasonable. White and dimly lit spaceship interior. Feel comfortable ordering conservatively as portions on the whole, are generous. Don't make reservations online via their website (system's faulty) and call instead.
(4)Yiwen S.
for some reason, i didn't have a good impression of this place when it was shinju and located farther away. maybe the walk made me grouchy? because my most recent experience at fat salmon was pretty damn good. although it relocated, fat salmon is still in a rather quiet part of town, which has its pros and cons depending on what you prefer. despite this, it was still packed at 8pm on a thursday night -- good thing we had made reservations. fat salmon is no longer a byob, but this plays in my favor. i love eating sushi with warm sake, which is difficult at best to coordinate when you have to bring your own sake. their house sake is good, but not heated up nearly enough, so be sure to drink it fast or else it'll cool by the time you're only halfway through your meal. prices are decent in the context of the sushi world. you can't really expect to pay $2 for nigiri and get fresh, good quality fish. so, suffice to say, you get what you pay for here. *just another stunning example of why japanese people are so amazing as we pay tribute to their incredible resilience in the wake of such tragedy.
(4)Therhyme R.
After coming for another four years, I thought I would do an update. Yes, it is still AMAZING. The restaurant is clean, bright, cozy, and perfect for any occasion even a special one. What can I say, the sushi here is heavenly. We have brought family and friends here over the years and they have all become faithful fans that can't get enough as well. Every roll is delicious, and I have yet to try such creations elsewhere. Every time I consider going to eat at another sushi place, no matter how good the reviews, I always come back here. The sweet taste of Fat Salmon sushi just keep calling my name until I give in. Every time I come here its a celebration of the palate. The sushi is large, flavorful, and a sauce filled extravaganza that explodes with flavor. Now, I must say the service is slow because it takes them a while to prepare their creations and the place is usually pretty full. However, if you aren't starving and can have an appetizer, it is worth the wait. One more thing: Sometimes they are a bit inconsistent and will put an ingredient into their sushi that I did not see 5/6 months ago (like scallions) but if you ask them they can leave it out. Depending on the night/day you go and on the sushi chef that prepares your rolls you will be able to taste a difference. However, the place is still absolutely delicious and it makes my heart sing with joy every time I pop a sushi roll into my mouth. I hope they continue to keep up the excellent work and fulfilling my ultimate sushi dreams.
(5)Britty H.
Coming from the west coast and having an abundance of bomb sushi places here, I was so happy to find Fat Salmon. I read the Yelp reviews before coming and made a reservation when I went on a Friday night. This place is pretty average priced in my opinion, but their miso soup was really cheap! My boyfriend loved it and he doesn't rave about just any sushi place. The decor is super modern and cute! A small place but that doesn't bother me because it makes it more intimate.
(5)Noheli T.
I've been wanting to go to Fat Salmon for over a year now and it seemed as if every time I tried to make a reservation the restaurant was booked! That's a great sign over all but terrible for desire to give it a try. I was finally able to get a table on Saturday and it was amazing! The overall decor is modern and the restaurant was very clean! The food was outstanding! At first glance the menu is very overwhelming but after taking some time to go through all of it you find some serious gems. We ordered the dragonfly roll and some other roll, that I can't remember but I believe that the name was spina or spena. We also ordered one of their regular rolls and everything was just so yummy and the presentation was beautiful! The house wine is also good and the service was top notch. Fat Salmon is definitely one of the best sushi places in the city!
(5)Juliana K.
Went for lunch. Great lunch specials and prices. Volcano roll is fantastic. Attentive service. Nice decor. One of the best sushi places in the city.
(4)Karen B.
fat salmon didn't really do it for me upon first visit, but i'd be open to giving it another try. everything about lunch today was just "meh." the steamed veggie gyoza were unevenly heated and were so soft, they would break into mushy halves every time i tried to pick one up with chopsticks. the spicy tuna roll had similar issues -- the pieces were prone to falling apart. they tasted pretty good, though. service wasn't anything to write home about, either. it's not that our server had a bad personality -- she just didn't seem to have one at all.
(3)Franny G.
I recently went to Fat Salmon for the first time for a friend's birthday and was impressed by both the quality and selection of special rolls. The menu was extensive, and they included pictures of many of their specialties, which I appreciated. I ended up going with the Hako roll and absolutely loved it - if you like eel, I would recommend you try this one. They clearly take pride in the presentation of their rolls as well as their quality. In addition to the sushi, they had one drink in particular that really stood out to me - I believe it was the green tea mojito. A friend ended up ordering one and the entire table eventually ordered their own because it was so delicious and unique. I have already recommended Fat Salmon to all of my friends and plan on going back as soon as I get the chance!
(4)patricia c.
I was attracted by the lights and I stayed for the food. It's a really nice spot that my boyfriend and I ran into last night for dinner. I would deff recommend this to any of my friends.
(4)Jenn S.
i absolutely love this place! not is the place very nicely decorated, but it has decent sushi with interesting "special rolls." I also went with a bunch of vegetarian friends, and they were able to find many delicious options.I like their combo of ingredients for sushi (very creative), and the price. service was also great.
(5)Jordan F.
Ive been reading reviews about Fat Salmon. Some good some bad I wanted to see for myself. I have to say that it was beyond my expections. There service was perfect. I cant say anything bad about this place. The food was out of this world. I order the "white forest" roll very different salmon tempua and pico de guio not what you would expect from a japanese sushi place. Very delicious and of course I got my usual spicy tuna. And I think decor was gorgeous. I just night become a regular here.
(5)Wooj H.
Definitely a fan. One of the best places in Philly to get sushi. Great food, great atmosphere, great price.
(4)Sook K.
Are you serious?? Based on the reviews from YELP I went here on a first date totally hyped. The place was cute but tight, a nice date spot. I got sushi 1 and my date got fish curry. As soon as I saw my plate I knew it wouldn't be good, and my date barely ate his dish. I'm asian, I know my asian food, this place was terrible.
(1)Lacy D.
I really enjoyed this restaurant this past weekend. My husband and I called for a reservation on Friday night around 7 and they had a 9:30 reservation available. I ordered the white tuna tempura and the scallop sashimi. Both were delicious. I haven't found these specific dishes around where I live so I enjoyed being able to try something new. The restaurant wasn't too loud and I liked the atmosphere. I would definitely come here again.
(5)Chris B.
Found this place in the Philadelphia Magazine as best sushi in Philadelphia, so I decided to try it out for dinner. The decor is modern and sleek, but the place is fairly small, so it might not be the best for bigger parties. NOTE: I was starving when I came here so that probably had an effect on my review of the food. Regardless, we started off with some miso soup and fried beef gyoza. Miso soup was pretty good but nothing special, but the gyoza were spectacular. Very crunchy and the ponzu sauce they came with was so delicious that I saved it for my sushi. Me and my sister both got 2 different rolls each. There are a lot of different rolls here, so it was a little hard to decide, but everything we had was great. Their specialty rolls are very creative and one that stood out had sour cream, pico de gallo, and some other stuff, and tasted like a perfect blend of sushi and Mexican food. The best part was that after 2 sodas, 2 miso soups, 3 orders of gyoza, 4 orders of sushi, our meal was only $75 (that's including a $10 tip). I would definitely recommend this place if you want some interesting sushi rolls, and the price just makes is that much better.
(5)Ben P.
Contrary to my first review of my non-experience here, I gave them a second chance. I swear on the life of Phillie Phanatic that I walked in with an open mind, ready to be completely turned around. The verdict: No biggie. Service was ok, although the used chopsticks stuck in pages of my menu were a pretty unappetizing way to start a meal. Sushi itself was fine. Nothing I haven't seen before. Decor is something left over from a sushi joint in SOHO in 1999 but that's ok. I know I can go to Sumo for the same level of service and food for less money or go to Doma for way better sushi and service if I'm looking to spend little more money.
(3)Aisha L.
I came here for my birthday and LOVE sushi. Nothing stood out for me here, nothing really popped off the page. The sushi was yummy and fresh but the prices were a teeny bit high. The service wasnt fantastic but it wasnt bad either. I feel like this place just truly is in the middle. I would probably go again.... If I cant find some place better.
(3)Liz R.
Continuing the hunt for great sushi in the city, we stopped by Fat Salmon for lunch this week. Based on the reviews, blogs, and the PhillyMag's "Best sushi in Philly for 2012" award, we were surprised that it didn't have a line waiting for it to open and was empty when we walked in at 11:30 - only a couple of patrons joined us (tourists) by the time we left. The space is beautiful and trendy, white and blue techno-modern minimalism. We ordered from the lunch menu, which was difficult as there was an abundance of great choice and variety. Sadly, the earth did not move from under my feet and I was not able to bow down to Japanese deities in thanksgiving for delivering me to my new favorite sushi spot. The dream continues... Service was excellent, plating was good, and the portions were small. My expectations were high and they were not met. It was fine but not great, and not worth the premium price. Three stars
(3)Sarah K.
I love the name. Only thing I dislike is that the service is sometimes a little pretentious, as is the decor (but at least that is nice to look at).. The dessert, mango mochi icecream, was so good.. and the red bean tempura ice cream.. I loved it. I think next time, I'd probably ask them to lay off the chocolate drizzle though. The M&M roll (marinated meat with oshinko, spicy crab stick) was good, but I felt that the meat was a little too rubbery/tough and that the fat could have been rendered more. Other than that, everything was delicious. Rock & Roll roll was really good. Definitely coming back to try the other unique special rolls (I'm really interested in the Miss Sake Bomb, Lost Rainbow, and Lava)
(4)Diane V.
Cant say enough good things about this place!! The atmosphere is laid back, cool and modern , the sushi is extremely fresh and flavorful and you just cant beat the lunch prices, just the best! I could eat here everyday !
(5)Lauren H.
This place never disappoints. Ever. Although I have to say, I liked it better as Shinju. It was a warmer, more intimate environment. Fat Salmon is a bit cold and too modern for my taste. But, the menu and sushi is the same, so I'm still a loyal fan. :) Get the Hako Sushi. Your life will be complete.
(5)Dee M.
LOVED IT. Food accurately photographed and described, Try: Avocado Salad--- a meal in itself GINGER SNAP COCKTAIL-- exceptional
(4)Donna A.
Very good food; won't be back until they resolve their strike .
(5)Cece B.
I came here for my boyfriends birthday, anticipating a good meal. What I got was the best sushi I've ever eaten (and I've had a lot of sushi!) Get the lipstick roll - it was amazing! And shrimp tempura. Loved it!
(5)Liz S.
Elegant decor, friendly service, and--most importantly--fresh, succulent fish. The salmon nigiri was outstanding. Also, my husband (who is not the biggest sushi fan) was quite pleased with his "special" rolls, dancing vampire and sepia pleasure. I am knocking off one star because I thought it took a little too long for the food to come out, but really, I'd give the place 4.5. I will be returning for more! For the gluten-concerned: they offer gluten-free soy sauce, but their crabstick contains wheat, so that's a no-go. P.S. Make a reservation! The place was full by 7pm, despite it being a rainy night.
(4)Dredge K.
I would give it a 2 for food but I'm giving it a 3 because I appreciated our server. I ordered 6 rolls for 2 people and she suggested that 2 per person would suffice. I don't like to have leftover sushi so I particularly appreciated this. The spciy scallop roll was ok, but the other 3 rolls all became a blur. Each had different ingredients (salmon, eel, shrimp), but because the sauces they used were similar, and many of the rolls have crunchy fried components they all ended up tasting the same. I think that more than anything else, their rolls hide the seafood rather than highlighting it.
(3)Shirley Y.
Many friends recommended me to try this place and I'm glad I did! The ambiance was nice and good for a nice date or birthday. It was small but intimate. The staff was very attentive and made sure my water was full and table was clean. The price wasn't bad. We ordered the sashimi for two and the fish was fresh but wasn't a huge variety which I was a bit disappointed. I ended up ordering a uni nigiri since I was craving it and it was fresh, which made me happy. I would try ordering some nigiri next time instead. The rolls sounded yummy but I'm not a huge fan of them.
(4)Jen L.
Knowing nothing about this restaurant but ending up here on a ladies' night out, I must say that I left this little blue oasis quite the satisfied sushi customer. The interior decorators for this place were smart: the gentle blue lighting on white furniture instantly put me at ease when I first walked in with my friends. It wasn't gaudy or pretentious; the chic decor got me in the mood for some much needed sushi therapy and allowed me to forget all the profanity being thrown at me by a specific Center City panhandler (cough, at 16th and Sansom) on my walk over to the restaurant. The house sake and standard edamame / shumai appetizers were nothing special, but they did a fine job in preventing me from raiding other customers' sushi plates that were placed tantalizingly above my head at the sushi bar. Now the sushi ... wow, the fish just melts in your mouth! I sampled my friend's sashimi platter, which was amazing, and I very much enjoyed the Miss Sake Bomb and Vampire rolls. I'm convinced that the Miss Sake Bomb was made to simulate what sex would taste like if it were a sushi roll, and I appreciate that it wasn't named "Mega-orgasm" roll or something overly obvious. This roll is much too lady-like and sexy for that. One thing I hate about some sushi places is that they will load up as much rice as possible in their rolls and skimp on the fish ... not here, they use just enough rice to keep the rolls together so that your taste buds can focus on all the other wonderful flavors swirling around in your mouth. The quality of the rolls was wonderful for the price, which was between $9.50 and $15.00 for the specialty rolls. I have eaten much worse fish for the same price elsewhere. I can't comment on dessert, unfortunately, because I ate too much fish. Bottom line: This place is definitely worth a try.
(5)Rachel K.
This place has THE BEST SUSHI in town...no wonder it's always crowded! TRY: Deep fried tofu with broiled spicy scallop sauce - great appetizer for sharing Pork katsu ANY sushi or rolls - ALL of their ingredients are FRESH *Lunch specials SERVICE: Good. AMBIANCE: Date night. Girls night out.
(4)Lily Z.
At first glance at the sushi menu, your mind has a "WTF asparagus in a sushi roll?" moment which then proceeds to happen more than once. After you get over the fact that they are a fusion restaurant, your belly starts to growl and you let it do the ordering, so in a few minutes you have asparagus in your face. Although a little on the pricier side, Fat Salmon cranks out delicious sushi rolls. We also ordered the shrimp tempura appetizer (not worth it for $9, but it is plated very nicely). For dessert we had the tempura ice cream which was HUGE and completely worth the $6. It could have fed 4 people but of course I ate for 3 :)
(4)Abby W.
Oh hello, how is it we never met before recently? After a long hard day of kickball games and referee duties, Ely and I swung by this place to try another sushi spot in our never-ending quest for that perfectly balanced roll of excellent rice, beautiful fish, and slightly chewy nori. They nailed it. I inhaled my yellowtail scallion and alaska rolls (the rolls by which I judge all sushi places- if you can't make those well then I don't give a damn about your special rolls) after taking the edge off my hunger with excellent miso soup and shrimp shumai. The soup could have done with more tofu but the flavor was great and the shumai were delicate and divine. Ely got his usual alaska, rainbow, and some other special rolls I can't remember and he loved them all. I only wish they had more special roll options that don't have a ton of sauce. Service was a little disjointed considering they weren't very busy, and the ambiance was a little strange for a sushi spot- it felt more like a club. The total damage was only about $45, slightly less than Sushi Planet and slightly more than Terryin. If only they delivered! I'll be going out of my way at least twice a month to pick up a fresh fix of sushi heaven.
(4)Brianne J.
Maybe the best sushi I've had, definitely best in Philly. So fresh, so delicious. We ordered baby octopus (YUM!), chicken katsu, seaweed salad (amazing!), sushi for 2, as well as uni and scallop nigiri. Sushi for two included 6 california rolls (best california rolls I've had?), 6 (damn good) spicy tuna rolls, and 2 each of the following nigiri: tuna, yellowfin tuna, white tuna (maybe the best thing I ate all night), salmon, eel, and red snapper (maybe the second best). It also came with a nice miso soup. Decor was great, service was excellent and professional, and the house saki was lovely. It was a TON (too much) food for the two of us, and I probably wouldn't order the katsu again, but everything else was perfection.
(5)Michelle J.
There are so many unique rolls - all of them extraordinarily delicious - that it took my boyfriend and I nearly 15 minutes to finalize our order. Their specialty rolls are piled high with toppings and I just love that. (I especially loved the Rolling Fire!) I'm not going to deny that Morimoto is miles above this place, but why waste the extra bucks going there when you can just come to Fat Salmon, relax, and not stress over the bill in the end? My date and I were surprisingly pleased with this place and would not at all mind coming back again. P.S. - try their tempura ice creams; they are to die for.
(5)Dara S.
This place is a killer deal. Downtown Philly. It's got some style but is mostly casual. I was there right at opening on a Sunday evening, and was second in a line of three -t he hostess took forever to get us seated - dealing with phone calls and such - the girl behind me threw a lot of attitude but I could also tell she comes there a lot. Service was a little distant and slow but killer deal! I got an appetizer that merged sushi with ceviche - delicious! And a great roll. Cheap wine too. I would eat here ALL THE TIME if I lived in Philly.
(4)Joelle B.
Don't know how so many people like it here...it's like fake sushi. I didn't feel there was an assortment of fresh selections, so forget sashimi. Was it ok? Yes. Good? Stretching it. It's like the sushi you get for lunch, not for dinner.
(2)Stephanie Y.
I give them stars for having a swanky decor, creative fancy rolls, and good service. Except ... why do a lot of the fancy rolls have crab stick, which I suspect is imitation crab meat. I avoided ordering those rolls, but did order the Mr. French Kiss, Rock n' Roll, Fancy Sushi, Miss Sake Bomb, yellow tuna with scallion, kame and a few nigiri. My friends really liked this place, so I had some expectation for these rolls and they looked delicious in the pictures on the menu plus I played 2 hours of tennis. Unfortunately, most of the rolls were flavorless.... no sweetness from the fish, no aroma from the sauce, even the rice was mushy. I did not feel satisfied and now I really want sushi again to fix my craving. Huge disappointment!!!
(3)Pira T.
Great food. Awesome sushi. worth the price. Try everything you wont regret it. Great service. Make sure you make reservation before you come in. I never see this place empty. Nice interior. nothing bad to say about this place at all.
(5)Mony K.
I have been going to this place since it was known as Shinju back when it was small and cute. It's bigger now, modernized but the food is still as good as it was back at Shinju. This is what's known as my "first date" restaurant. It has never disappointed any of the dates...to date. So that has to count for something right? Focus on their specialty roles. I usually pick two and my date will pick two. Make sure you make reservations so you don't look like a tool. I love all their specialty roles but if I had to pick one: Super Dragon Roll.
(5)Angela B.
Walked a mile in the rain by myself with no umbrella to get here. Worth every step! The dancing vampire roll is fabulous and the hamachi was sublime. The hostesses were fantastic, as was the waitstaff. Five stars - no doubt.
(5)Ali R.
I initially stepped into this place because it looks really cool from the outside, but the food was meh... I will say that their tuna tacos are pretty good. What I didn't love was how loaded their speciality rolls were. I'm generally a fan of clean sashimi or simple rolls, but all the rolls were piled with mayo/crab sticks.. it was just too much for me. Also, one of my rolls had plastic wrap on it, which the waitress immediately apologized for and took off our bill. Don't think I'd come back here, but it's worth trying out.
(3)C J.
Super cute decor, awesome service. I tried the scallops teriyaki - scallops were cooked to perfect & absolutely delicious. The waitress was accommodating, friendly, and very professional. I would definitely go back!
(5)Stephen G.
One of the best sushi bars in town. I've had a lot of bad luck looking for good sushi in the city, so its a shame this was one of the last places I tried. The fish is always very fresh and the rice is well prepared; not too mushy, not too grainy, a little on the wet side for sure, but that's how I like my rice. I wish they had a slightly larger selection of fish to choose from. There's nothing too crazy here, just your standard selection of Americana sushi, but their specialty rolls really are delicious. A few are a little wild for me, but the dancing vampire, hako, and lost rainbow are some of the best rolls I've had. Good miso soup too
(4)Walter L.
I am genuinely surprised by the freshness of their sushi. I ordered chirashi, which is my gold standard for all Japanese restaurants. Usually it comes with low grade tuna (pure red), and few other fishes. They instead served with marble pattern chu-tora (top second-tier tuna), with generous slices of salmon and red snapper (not sure about the last one). It also comes with shrimp and tamago, which are standard. One issue I have with them is the soy sauce. It is so flavorless for some reason. I know I don't want the sauce to overpower the original fish flavor, but it gotta have some flavor of its own. Otherwise, the portion is on the small side--if you want quality over quantity, it's worth it ($21 for chirashi). Food came at reasonable speed, which is great for meeting friends but bad if you are in a rush.
(4)Kimberly S.
Hooolleeeeeeeyy crap. I just had a heavenly umami orgasm in my mouth. (Sounds much dirtier than it should.) It's 20 degrees out and the "feels like" is 9! Naturally I was craving a hearty warm soup for lunch. I ordered the plain udon soup to go, not to be confused with the shrimp tempura or vegetable tempura udon soups, and it was only $5.50, and it was amazing! They separate the ingredients from the broth; Like Enterprise Rent A Car, "they give you the tools to be your own boss." The broth was full of flavor, the noodles were cooked perfectly, the scallions and fried tofu were great additions and although I usually hate mushrooms, I loved these! It was such a great depth of umami flavors and good texture combinations as well. I've been coming to Fat Salmon fairly often since it opened and I've been on the fence about their sushi, which is what I've always ordered up until today. Sometimes I find it to be very fresh and delicious, other times it's rather disappointing. It also drives me insane that their online menu says lunch specials come with soup AND salad, yet they refuse to honor that. When you love miso soup and ginger dressing as much as I do, it puts you in a really tough position. Nevertheless, their awesome udon soup has totally redeemed them!
(4)Zoe P.
I was so sad when Shinju closed to move to a new location - but so freaking happy when they reopened as Fat Salmon (and quite pleased by the new name, too). And after seeing the changes they've experienced, from the new beautiful interior design to the new additions to the menu, I have to say: change can be very, very good. Of course I had to start trying out the new special rolls that they added, so that's precisely what I did: Dancing Vampire: cucumber, asparagus, crunchy inside and tuna & salmon in chili sauce on top: Yum, yum, that chili sauce really makes this roll what it is. Mr. Shiro: eel, avocado, crunchy with spicy sauce inside and broiled white tuna (marinated in spicy soy sauce) with tomato on top: So pleasantly surprised by this roll, the combination of textures and flavors is actually really nice. My bf's favorite one of the evening. White Forest: tempura (shrimp or salmon, we got salmon) with spicy sauce inside and pico de gallo with sour cream on top: MmmMmm, an interesting twist on sushi with great results. We've also tried other rolls again that were on their original Shinju menu, and they remain amazing and awesome and really you should just get your sushi at Fat Salmon because you will not be disappointed. My only minor gripe is that the special rolls have only 6 pieces, unlike the usual 8 at other places. If I'm paying that much for the special rolls, it would be nice to have those two other pieces. My eyes love the artistry, my taste buds love the flavors, but my stomach loves food and loves me more when I don't skimp on it.
(4)Charlie W.
I have super high expectations for Sushi, so I was a little weary having tried a few places in Philly and being less than impressed. The atmosphere is dim, intimate, and friendly. We had a larger group of 7 for a birthday dinner, so we were given the only real spot available for a larger group. I had made reservations earlier in the week. It's not ideal for larger groups, because there really is only one spot for them seeing as it's a smaller restaurant. Their menu is super reasonable, and they have an INSANE amount of speciality rolls at great prices. During dinner the waiter and a few others working had been paying close attention to a few gifts being exchanged and figured out who the birthday girl was (I had mentioned it was a birthday dinner during the reservation, but only to stress the importance of the seating arrangement). After we had all eaten dinner, and the table was cleared, they came to our table with a MASSIVE bowl of tempura fried ice cream with candles for the birthday girl...I was the one who set this whole dinner up, and I was completely blindsided by this. It was a pleasant surprise for both her, and the table, because the ice cream was enough to share with all seven us. A very kind and thoughtful gesture. And the tempura fried ice cream was surprisingly delicious. I'm not a fan of anything fried, so I ate cautiously and then furiously because it was so delicious. Try it! And yes, it was free of charge for us that night. Thank you to all the great people at Fat Salmon! I recommend highly!
(4)Adam B.
I've been here twice, and twice I have been treated to some of the best sashimi ever. Even though I have never really been a fan of Philly, i would reside there just to be able to access fat salmon at a whim. The service is quite good and the décor very trendy modern. The second time going to Fat Salmon, my girlfriend, her sister and I got caught in a heavy downpour and were soaked upon entry. The host (possibly manager) was very nice and handed us some towel to dry off with as they were preparing our table. I don't want to get into too much detail about the experience as my girlfriend has already talked about it, but I'll just iterate, that it is utterly delicious. We have ordered the Sushi & Sashimi for 2 both times we were there and both times the fish was outstanding, thick (or fat, if you prefer), tender, flavourful and melt in your mouth. I just don't know how they do it. If only every sushi restaurant was so good.
(5)Heather B.
As I stood out front perusing the window menu, a woman entering the restaurant turned to me as she opened the door and said, "It's legit. Seriously." So on the word of this stranger, I decided to head inside too. She was right. It's legit. My favorite dish of the evening was the Agedashi Tofu. Perfectly fried, seasoned, and plated. The Tuna Nigiri was probably the best I've ever had. We also tried a couple of their creative rolls: the Volcano and the Miss Sake Bomb. To be honest, I wasn't immensely impressed with either, but that has more to do with me not liking the ingredient combos. (Tartar sauce on top of the Miss Sake Bomb was a huge turn off.) The preparation and portion size was perfect though, and the service was nice. If Fat Salmon were local to me, I would not hesitate to go back and try some other rolls.
(4)Tom B.
I was super bummed to hear that Shinju Sushi had closed its doors, but then I was super excited to hear that it was reincarnated as Fat Salmon. The new digs alleviate Shinju's greatest shortcoming: That it was miserably cramped and small. This venue is much more open, and includes a couple of offset areas so larger parties can get a bit of privacy. I sat in one of these, under a strange metal awning, which was nice and cozy and afforded a level of intimacy unimaginable in the previous location. The main dining area are much more chic than Shinju's, with the main attraction being the textured West wall bathed in blue light. Unfortunately, Fat Salmon does retain one shortcoming of Shinju's: The service. There was a big fuss about how many glasses we needed and who was drinking what, and then the beer and wine glasses were the same. It also took forever for our rolls to arrive. Hopefully these are just some new location kinks that will be worked out soon enough. Even more unfortunately, it looks like Fat Salmon may be losing one of its greatest perks; that's right, there was a big orange "Notice of Public Hearing" sign in the window, meaning they are looking to get a liquor license. It would break my heart (and my wallet) if Fat Salmon ceased to be a BYOB. Finally, a note or two on the sushi. The rolls are quite creative, and the fish is quite fresh. There is very little to complain about here, except maybe that it seems like a ton of the rolls have eel sauce on them. I'm sure that same fact makes another customer very happy, though. BOTTOM LINE: Fat Salmon is the more comfortable and chic reincarnation of its predecessor, Shinju. It does away with one of Shinju's shortcomings (smallness) but retains another (service). However, the price can't be beat: I paid $21--tip included--for some edamame, one-and-a-half rolls, and an order of yellowtail nigiri. Plus $8 for the sixer of Coors Light* I picked up on the way. Overall, a highly recommended BYOB sushi bar. *PROTIP: If you are looking to get some beer on your way, skip Pac-A-Deli... They don't have any Asian beer, which is why I was stuck tapping the Rockies (not that that's a bad thing).
(4)Walt L.
This place rocks!!!! Originally, we loved this place in it's BYOB days. We love it now after they pulled the rare feat of jumping from BYOB to liquor licensed place. The warm house sake is pretty good. We go here all the time. Our favorite rolls are the Dancing Vampire, Locust Roll, the Sleeping Volcano, and the Rock n Rolla. The shrimp shumai is banging. The salads are good. My wife loves the fried green tea ice cream. Overall, I love this place. My favorite place in town. The food is so good I asked my wife (girlfriend at the time) to marry me after a dinner there. %)
(5)Gina V.
Fat Salmon is, by far, one of the best sushi restaurants I have been to. It has a quiet, intimate ambiance and is especially a good atmosphere for couples. It is a little pricey, but the quality of the food is worth every penny. I have no problem spending money on top-quality food, and Fat Salmon is definitely Grade A. Everything I ate was delicious.
(4)Christiana G.
I have been to Fat Salmon many times, and I have never been disappointed. The quality of their sushi is fantastic (I am very picky when it comes to sushi) and they specialty rolls are phenomenal. They have a large selection and they can satisfy any sushi whore's taste buds (vegetarian, spicy, etc.) By far my favorite sushi joint in Philly.
(5)Kristin W.
We came by on a Friday night without reservations - the place looked pretty empty, but the hostess looked nervous when we said we didn't have reservations; however, we were able to be seated immediately. I ordered the Chirashi Don and asked that all shellfish be substituted out. I got a generous portion of fresh fish (although two of the substitutes were the sweet egg). I also substituted a second salad for the miso soup. Great food, cool ambiance - I will be back!
(5)Younjin L.
Okay place to have sushi. Definitely over priced for the quality of the fish. I probably won't come back here again. Still looking for a good sushi restaurant.
(2)M G.
"Decent, but hit and miss on some items." This was a good sushi place for Philly. Some of the combination rolls were nothing special and some, like the tofu roll (yes tofu roll) were very good. We had a party of 6 so there was a lot to try. I don't remember the names of the rolls. However, I had negiri too and it was fresh and decent. The uni was very good. One negative thing about this place for me personally was the rice. It was too soft and milly. This should be the star ingredient and it missed the mark. The sake were also ok. Do the sake flight it's a good deal and the sakes are better quality than the house sake which we also had. Overall it was a fun dinner but I will not be rushing back here very soon.
(3)Ritu K.
The hazards of growing up in California- there's amazing cheap sushi on every corner. Not the case in Philly, but I've certainly tried some decent, albeit expensive, sushi in the city. Fat Salmon is a nice addition to the sushi offerings in the city. The decor is sleek and modern. I felt like a homeless person in my work scrubs but whatevs. The sushi was tasty, although I thought we ordered one too many rolls covered in spicy sauce. We're talking drowning in spicy sauce. Was there fish under there- hard to say. If I head back I'm definitely ordering more nigiri. The problem with this place- its ridiculously loud to carry on a conversation. We were seated in the back corner and apparently all the sound carried back to the corner and settled there. I could have probably started screaming at the top of my lungs and not looked like a crazy lady. With 5 of us at the table there was alot of yelling back and forth. The other problem the back corner also meant they forgot us. We received one plate of sushi and then sat there for what seemed like an eternity for the second plate. At that point I was ready for dessert, breakfast, anything... The sushi was comparable to other sushi joints in the city and a vast improvement from Shinju- just not sure I would return...
(3)Tony O.
Once again the #8 Lunch Special hits the spot! Their ginger dressing with the salad is really good too! The steamed gyoza is one of the best around.
(5)Brad P.
I like this place. Fat Salmon has a smooth, well crafted modern-oceanic interior design that reminds you that you are in a seafood restaurant(which is helpful just in case you are like that guy in Memento and need constant reminders of where you are and what you are doing). Their menu is an interesting mix of standard sushi options and 2 pages of very silly maki rolls. If you are serious about getting traditional, Japanese-style sushi then you should probably avoid these pages, which feature rolls containing items such as beef, fried onion, and bacon. Personally, I think their creativity shows more of a sense of humor rather than a desire to insult the origins of their cuisine. At the very least, these items could appeal to those friends of yours who have never tried sushi because they can't get behind the idea of eating raw fish(and you must cure them of this trepidation). Perhaps seeing familiar items like swine and bovine on the menu will put them at ease and allow you to open their mind a little to some excellent food. I tried the Salmon Yaki, Dancing Vampire, yellowtail/scallion roll, and smelt roe nigiri. All items were pretty good. The price wasn't terrible and the service was decent. Also, now that I know it is a BYO, I'm going to head back for dinner at some point.
(4)Lois L.
I brought my mom and sister who were visiting from out of town yesterday night for a 6pm reservation. The decor is cool and hip and the music's not too loud. Maybe not the most "authentic" Japanese decor, but a cool experience nonetheless. We ordered Katsu Maki, Lipstick Trace, Lost Rainbow, M&M, and the Volcano. The only caveat was that we ended up with an Alaskan (non-special) Roll instead of the Katsu Maki and the whole time we were eating, we were like...where's the Katsu and later saw the bill for an "Alaskan Roll." Our waiter didn't really seem to process what we were saying too quickly and seemed dazed and out of it sometimes... maybe it was just a long day? at 6pm? or our Californian accents were just too hard to comprehend? We decided it wasn't a big deal anyways and didn't do anything. The service was pretty nice though so I think they would have reacted to the situation generously if we had mentioned it. Anyways, all the rolls were fantastic and my mom remarked, "you really can't go wrong with any of the rolls." I wish they served miso soup and a simple green salad like basically every Japanese restaurant that I've been to, but the experience wasn't too marred by their absence. Overall, I'd recommend the place for the vibe (predominantly 20s) and the creative rolls. I suggest making a reservation for weekend nights though since the place filled up while we were there. The bill came out to less than $50 for five rolls, which was a pleasant surprise for such a good meal.
(4)Christin K.
New favorite sushi place. Fresh, well-cut, creative specialty rolls. Friendly and unpretentious service, good selection of sake, beer selection is meh.
(5)Nhut T.
At fat salmon, my friend and I tried the combination handrolls, and several of their specialty rolls. The sushi would been otherwise delicious if it weren't for the very soggy rice they used. They either added too much vinegar or used too much water when making the rice. I would try this place again to see if this is just a one time blooper. Service was excellent, however.
(3)Jo D.
Maybe I am spoiled in NYC. The sushi was super bland. I got the spicy tuna and cucumber and it tasted like nothing - so I used the wasabi in the soy sauce, I swear it was the most bland wasabi I have ever had in my life. I used all the wasabi and had to get more. very very mehhhhhhh. so then decided to get dessert - another disappointment. We got the tempura green tea ice cream - the green tea ice cream was fine but the tempura was super soggy and oily. I have had it a few times before in the city and when done right - its amazing. If this is the best philly has to offer for sushi - I will not be having sushi in philly again =/
(2)David A.
I have been to this place twice now and will never go back. Really wanted to like this place since I love sushi and this opened around the corner from my apartment. Nice design, bright lighting. TERRIBLE service both times. And sushi is just ok. First visit waited forever after ordering. They were very busy. Sat at sushi bar. Sushi chefs have NO interaction with customers here. They hardly notice you are there. Roll and sushimi were fresh but nothing special. The other night it was late and I wanted something light. Figured I would give it another try. Not too busy; probably only half full...about 25 people. I sat at sushi bar for almost 20 minutes without even a glass of water. Three wait staff were maybe 10 feet away and talked the whole time without looking in my direction. Walked out hungry. Will never return. I will go to Morimoto or Raw when I want Japanese.
(1)Alex K.
Fat Salmon has great sushi, there is no doubt about that. If you are looking for good sushi, with some pretty cool ingredients, look no further. There are two things about Fat Salmon that I would change however. I once tried to go with a larger group of friends and they required a minimum of around $20 a person (give or take) because we were a big group (we had 8 people). The second thing I would change if possible were the prices, but I am cheap, and honestly, the food is quality so I guess in the end it was worth it. I can dream though!
(4)Victoria L.
Major upgrade from the old Shinju location! Great place for quality sushi - when you're in the mood for something more than the average spicy tuna take out. The standard rolls are good, but there is a great variety of fancier rolls.
(4)Ted S.
Really good food, service was not good at all had to ask at least 5 times for someone to find server, never cleared old dishes and glasses from table. Too bad for such great food to be ruined by lousy service.
(1)Vanessa C.
This is definitely a sushi favorite. Their special rolls are amazing! It's made well and when it comes to your table, it looks great and tastes like it! I don't know who their sushi chef is but he creates miracles! It opens for lunch and then closes to reopen for dinner. And although, street parking is a bit difficult to find, this place is probably my number one in the city for sushi. The ambience is very modern and it can be a little quiet at times even though there is conversation going on. Great for couples and small groups. Recommended this place to friends and they all said they loved it. It's worth to try this place at least once.
(5)Christine A.
Are you looking for a swanky sushi bar to impress your out-of-town friend's eyes and taste buds while keeping your wallet happy? Or that family/friend who's wary of eating raw fish, but you want them to experience sushi/rolls? Fat Salmon is the place for you. I've walked by this place countless times during the day and never gave it a second glance with its simple white decor. But at night, the electric blue lights pop and give the place a trendy vibe. Service was friendly with a good balance of attentiveness. Food.... Each specialty roll had a creative name to go with its creative combination. I considered ordering Mr. French Kiss just to say the name! But once I started studying the ingredients, I was disappointed to see so many crab-stick containing rolls. (Why fake meat?) Many remaining rolls had tempura something or others. What was left had 'slightly cooked' or broiled fish. So in actuality, the majority of their rolls don't contain REAL sushi. After much deliberation, we finally picked on the following: -Sepia Pleasure: my personal favorite. Tasted like they just made the cream cheese; the texture was beautiful with the eel and -White Forest (Salmon): Would you think pico de gallo and sour cream? very interesting. -Dragonfly -Spicy Tuna Crunch They were all very tasty. The combination of flavors and textures were wonderfully delicious. The diameter of the rolls were so big, we considered cutting them in half to fit our big mouths. Not only was my stomach content, my wallet was happy. For the four rolls and 2 orders of hot sake, our bill was under $50. All in all, it was a pleasant experience.
(3)Jennifer T.
Majority of rolls are very, very creative - not typical straightforward plain boring sushi (though they have that too, if you're into that). My last two visits were disappointing, I finally figured out why: most of the more creative rolls also feature some type of cooked meat/seafood/fish, or something tempura-ed. Not showcasing a lot of raw fish. Also, almost every roll is doused in some type of sauce (spicy, eel, etc.) which detracts from the actual contents of the roll. Again, not a bad thing, just not MY thing. My first date with the boyfriend was at Shinju, now Fat Salmon. It will always have a special place in my heart, but it just isn't the same. Womp womp.
(3)H L.
Went here for lunch. Everything our table had was excellent. We will definitely be back.
(5)Loy G.
decent prices for decent sushi. go for the special rolls. you get what you pay for in terms of fish quality at fat salmon. freshness seems like it's hit or miss depending on the night. sashimi was just okay. the sushi just falls a little flat here when standing on its own. unfortunately, you have to hit up the more expensive sushi spots in the city if you're looking for consistently good sashimi or chirashi. fat salmon's strength is mid-grade sushi presented in novelty rolls for reasonable prices. the menu at fat salmon has devoted two full pages of colorful photos and detailed descriptions to their special rolls. quite noticeably, their special rolls have some combination of spicy sauce, eel sauce, or crunch. the additives definitely serve their purpose in masking the quality of the fish, but honestly this results in some pretty tasty rolls. fat salmon fills that niche of satisfying my sushi craving without having to dig too deep into my pockets.
(3)Allison D.
Definitely recommended!!! My boyfriend and I went to Fat Salmon for the first time tonight and it has been the best sushi I've had in Philly so far. Next time we go I'll make reservations, it was so busy that we sat at the bar. It was no problem for us, though some people might mind. We got the edemame & shrimp shumai to start and they were both awesome. We're pretty new to sushi still so our rolls we ordered some plain rolls. California roll, spicy tuna crunch roll, shrimp tempura roll & alaskan roll. They were all amazing. Very fresh & tasty. For dessert we got the ice cream tempura. It was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was great. The place looks great. Our servers name was Jessica and she was the best. So nice and helpful. Answered all our questions and knew a lot about the menu. Will definitely be returning soon!!
(5)MC L.
The waiter forgot to put in our order and forget we were sitting there. This place sucks. Then he pretended it was coming. The hostess gave us a coupon and said, "Not sure if youd want to come back but here is a coupon." Um, no. I have eaten here, though, for work, and its not bad. Its close to work, so there isnt much else. Umai Royal next door is cheaper and just as good, just not as crazy combinations.
(1)Elaine L.
Best salmon in Philly so far! The fish tastes so fresh and the pictures of the rolls makes each roll so delicious. The prices are quite decent for sushi in Philly and everything just tastes so fresh. Did I mention FRESH???? I came with two other girls and we had the duo roll, miss sake roll and super dragon roll. All there were huge hits in my book and I could have eaten a lot more than just one roll for sure. Will definitely recommend this place for any sushi cravers who I know.
(4)Dennis D.
Good selection of Japanese beer and delicious sushi. One of my first sushi experiences and would recommend this place. Knowledgable and attentive staff.
(4)Christine G.
Love this place, Love the Old School Roll, its vegetarian, but super spicy, and over the top delicious. Their fish is fresh, the seaweed salad is the best I've had in town. This is my go-to sushi place. And its reasonably priced. I usually get take out but the eat-in service is good and the place is hip, good date spot.
(5)Ryan S.
Great sushi. Great service. I feel like the floor layout is slightly claustrophobic.
(4)Rockit O.
Whatever Fat salmon is...it is defiantly NOT Japanese! Take away the swanky lighting, the modern decor, and you are left with sushi that is reminiscent of any food court sushi at your local shopping mall. Start with the sushi bar that is so high, you can not see your chef, and he can not see you. Any proud Japanese sushi chef will want to interact with you and see your expression when you bite into his masterpiece. It is so hard to find authentic sushi when traveling, and yelp is certainly no help. If you like a roll factory then Fat Salmon is for you.
(1)Richard D.
Sushi is very skillfully made and flavors are great. Ambience is wonderful also. Weakness is the flavor of the fish itself. But the ingredients added make it taste great anyway.
(4)Steve I.
Stopped in for lunch. The service was very fast and attentive. Liked the modern decor. The lunchtime prices are very inexpensive considering the quality of the food. Got the #6 tuna assortment which was accompanied by a very nice miso soup, not too salty. The fish was very fresh and tasty and the rice was excellent. Will try to make this a weekly lunch spot.
(5)Dung H.
This place is great for affordable, delicious sushi! I came here on a Friday night and was able to get parking right in front of the restaurant (no valet parking taking up spots... which is typical near in this part of the city). This restaurant was more modern in decor than I expected but I was pleasantly surprised when I got there. The waitress seated us right away and was very attentive the entire time. I ordered shumai to start with and my friend got the pan seared salmon appetizer. The shumai was very tiny and bland. I would not order this again. My friend said that the salmon was very good. It came in a decent portion with lots of vegetables. I tried the veggies... which were in a pretty good sauce. I ordered a specialty roll (Dragonfly roll) and a normal Alaskan (salmon, cucumber, avocado). Both were very good!! For the price I paid, it made things even better. I'm sure this isn't the best sushi place in the city but it definitely fills any and all sushi cravings I have. Attentive service, a peacefully quiet dinner and decent sushi for a college student on a budget! I would definitely come back.
(4)Michael K.
attended with my girl and three teenage girls we yelped this and realized it won Best of Philly 2012 for sushi decor: blue. swanky. food: miso - good shrimp tempura - didnt eat that so cant really say but the girls liked it chicken teriyaki - rave reviews from three teenage girls super dragon - big roll...i'm talking a huge mouthful if you decide to do it in one bite. it was just ok duo - the best roll of the night. really flavorful salmon yaki - good miss something or other - good service was good and not great. what was great was the price. that was a surprise. super affordable and we had take home! here's the story: i like to try different sushi places. i was expecting to be blown away by melt in your mouth sushi. i wasnt. i was actually disappointed that didnt happen. best of philly? for ambiance maybe...i was disappointed
(3)Paige G.
Fat Salmon was incredible! I went for lunch with my friend. We both did the $14.50 lunch combination special. Usually with the lunch special the roll selection is not great, but here it was awesome. The sushi was so delicious (better than Zama in my opinion) and for $14.50 for two great rolls and a salad, you can't beat that. The service was excellent as well! I will def be back.
(5)Clara L.
Decor and space remind me of generic LES/ Upper West side sushi places. Asian modern with a touch of ikea. Fresh sushi, good portions. Great homemade spicey sauce!!! Warning: this is legit heat. I put hot sauce on everything, and I would buy this sauce in a bottle. Try old School or Volcano Roll. The best vegetarian rolls, surprisingly. I have yet to discover amazing sushi in Philly. This place is the best yet.
(4)Daria M.
Stopped in solo for a quick snack. Had a pickled plum roll. It was good, but there could have been more pickled plum in it and less cucumber. I asked for spicy sauce on the side and was given a generous amount with no extra charge which I appreciate greatly. The restaurant is small, intimate, quiet, clean and cozy-feeling, although I was privy to my neighbors' conversation a bit too much due to the close proximity, I think it was because it was midday and there were only the two of us in there. The service was fast, attentive and polite. I would come back again from the look of all the yummy maki, if I knew they did veggie-substitutions, since there were only a handful of veggie rolls on the menu, but I was too daydreamy to ask that day. Overall, a positive experience! I give kudos. :)
(4)Anna S.
Nice restaurant. Cool, cute decor and delicious food. Plus our server was really pleasant. Absolutely no complaints. Really enjoyed the meal.
(4)Sana A.
Very welcoming staff. The entire lunch was a delight in the beautiful contemporary interior of white with blue lighting. Went there during lunch time, the place was busy, but the service was very quick. The menu has a great number of options of their creative rolls and the waitress made it really easy to make any alterations. Ordered some plain cali rolls, dancing vampire, and rock and roll. Loved rock & rock and placed a second order of it. I asked for spicy sauce instead of eel sauce, I felt like the spicy sauce takes over the taste of the roll. Will def go back when in Philly next time. Hopefully they have some great hot dishes for the hubby, because he doesn't do sushi :/
(4)Jen A.
Ordered the Spicy Tuna Crunch, Dancing Vampire and the Agedashi tofu. Everything was great and the fish was very fresh. Will definitely order again!
(5)Rogelio R.
I was not impressed with the place. The ambiance is not for me. It is very trendy and a tad too dark for me. (But the blue lighting does look great). The prices were a bit high for my taste, that the quality of food did not make up for. This is a place to try but is not for me.
(3)Christine N.
I heard great things about this place before I came and it met my expectations. This place has great sushi and wine that goes along with that. This place is also good for those people who want cooked fish. The atmosphere is great with the bluish walls and dim lights. A great place to relax with a few people. I went with 6 people (a bigger group than that normally would fit there). With the sushi and wine, the bill can come out a bit, but my company, the quality, and atmosphere there was worth it. The deep fried tofu is a must get appetizer and so far, I've liked everything I had on the special roll list.
(4)Alison W.
Love this place! The sushi I scrumptious and super fresh. Definitely make reservations or sit at the bar. My favorite: the spice crunchy tuna roll.
(5)Sonia S.
I have been going to Shinju/ fat salmon for years. If you are going there, do NOT go at peak times (i.e. Fri./Sat. night after 7 pm). They get slammed with customers and cannot speed up. They end up giving you some free edamame if your food is taking forever. This is why I always go around 5-6 pm, when they first open for dinner service. The staff is less stressed and they know us pretty well now. I have had sushi from Pod and Morimoto. They are not as good at this place. Say hi to Lina for me. She's awesome! Order the rock and roll and also the lipstick trace. My 2 faves! Hubby likes the Fuka Maki for the sheer amount of sushi it provides. Also, you MUST order the green tea tempura. I ask Lina right at the beginning of the meal if they have it every time I go.
(5)Mary W.
Fat Salmon is a fabulous restaurant in the city to relax and enjoy great food. I'm a huge fan of raw sushi but if you are not, this is the PERFECT sushi spot for you! The menu offers plenty of cooked yet delicious rolls. I must comment on the deep fried tofu appetizer, which has become my all-time favorite dish at this restaurant. My friend and I went back just to eat this dish. Silky soft tofu is lightly battered and fried, topped with a irresistible spicy sauce. It's a burst of flavor and texture in your mouth! You can not leave Fat Salmon without trying their deep fried tofu appetizer!
(5)Joanne W.
Pretty good sushi and decently priced...but the kitchen side would not be recommended. Service is okay, could be a little more attentive, especially if you're one of the last tables. It'd be easier to kick me out if you come to the table...
(3)Andrew U.
Favorite Sushi joint in Philly for me, for value and for deliciousness. Lost Rainbow roll and super dragon are my favorites! Every few weeks I'll come here to get my sushi fill. The decor is also modern and the wait hasn't been too long for a walk in on a saturday night (30 mins for a bar). If you want a table, be sure to make a reservation on a busy night otherwise you may have to wait! Edit: After having a go at other sushi places in town, Fat Salmon remains at the top. Have been here multiple times since this review and have never been dissatisfied.
(5)Rebecca L.
I have to be honest, I'm probably the only person I know who isn't a fan of sushi. You're probably asking yourself why in the world would she go to a sushi restaurant if she don't like sushi? Wow, great question. I've been hearing from my roommate since she moved here in April that Fat Salmon is DELICIOUS, the best sushi she's had in the city. I had a friend in town who loves sushi so I decided now was the best time to check it out. We got to the restaurant a little after 6 on a Wednesday night and were seated almost immediately. We ordered the edamame, piping hot but perfectly salted, and seaweed salad, which was delicious, for appetizers. We split 3 rolls from the Special Rolls section (pictures included in the menu!), Blossom, Lava and Volcano. LOVED them all. Yes, that's right. I actually enjoyed sushi. Prices were fair, fish was fresh and delish, and the wine was CHEAP ($5 for the house wine? Give me 5). I'll be back.
(4)Michelle L.
A real hidden treasure! Fat Salmon is like a narrow oasis in that dead zone between Center City and Olde City, and it's worth going a bit out of your way for. I love the ambiance, which is kind of "little sister of Stephen Starr" - still very mod but somehow quieter and more feminine in execution. Personally I like how there is only one row of tables against the wall; it keeps everything very minimalist. Service is attentive but the food comes out at a snail's pace :( The sushi here is delish! I usually expect a very standard quality from rolls, but the fish in these seemed super soft and fresh. This also sounds a bit lame but for some reason I really enjoyed their miso soup and house salad!! Ah, the small pleasures in life... Also, the group of girls next to us all seemed to be enjoying these amazing looking entrées. Perhaps the donburi? All in all, great sushi, and a cute, cool, trendy place that's a little off the beaten track. Great for a date!! Just make sure you have lots to talk about while you wait, and definitely make reservations! It gets busy in here, even on weeknights! P.S. If you take any leftover sushi home, they'll repackage it for you in a little sushi takeout container, complete with wasabi, ginger, soy sauce, and disposable chopsticks. Attention to detail - love it!
(5)Cynthia S.
Yum!! I love sushi and I'm picky about it, so giving this restaurant 5 stars really means something. Came here for a date night with the bf on a Thursday after having walked by it before and later read the reviews. Ambiance is fun and night clubby, though it was a little loud when we first got there - don't come here during popular hours for a super intimate date. The menu has pictures of all the specialty rolls, of which there are a TON. It was really hard to choose from all the offerings, and they even had lots of creative non-shellfish options (a huge plus for us, because my bf is allergic and usually can only have one or two rolls on the menu). Once chosen and ordered, our sushi was fresh and delicious, lots of flavor and not too much rice. Sushi perfection. We also ordered tempura green tea ice cream for dessert. The portion was HUGE and again, the dish was yummy. Service was also good - our waitress was a bit swamped because they were short a busboy, but we never waited that long for anything and she was always friendly. I'll definitely be back here. By the way, Fat Salmon is no longer BYOB! We bought a bottle of wine on our way here based on a prior yelp review, but were informed of the changed status when we arrived.
(5)Joseph D.
Had an excellent dinner here... actually impressed by the freshness of the food! Sushi in Philadelphia has been having a tough time in the past year, but this place puts it back on the map. Delicious, original, and I love the style. The presentation is clean and appealing as well, and they keep the restaurant very clean.. It's a fairly new place and still growing, but I have no doubt it will stand apart if they keep raising the bar like they are.
(5)Jaime B.
Incredible doesn't even begin to describe this amazing sushi spot. I'm super picky when it comes to good sushi. This place exceeded all my expectations. I started with the Green Salad. The dressing was a creamy ginger dressing that was delicious! I ordered two specialty rolls that were incredible. I love spicy rolls and boy were they spicy! The price is very reasonable too.
(5)Dee D.
I ordered take out and hands-down it was THE BEST sushi I've had...ever. The fish is fresh and melts in your mouth and the flavor lingers. The pieces are generous without using too much rice. Very satisfying meal. My husband even enjoyed it and he's not crazy about maki rolls.I ordered the spicy tuna crunch roll, dragonfly roll (replaced the eel on top with fresh salmon for only $1 extra) and the kai roll. They were all so very delicious. My faves though were dragonfly and tuna crunch. Also, the hostess (I don't recall her name anymore as I went there 2 weeks ago) was kind and helpful in answering my questions and accommodating my requests. Am looking forward to actually dining there, enjoyed the nice relaxing atmosphere as I waited on my rolls which were being crafted fresh to order and in a very timely manner.
(5)pracheta t.
My previous review was for Shinju..so i am updating it to reflect Fat Salmon! The bright blue LED lights is the first thing you notice even before walking in. What a change - so trendy! I went with my girlfriend and even though we were surrounded by couples on dates we still felt totally comfortable. They have an amaaazing selection of specialty rolls - even vegetarian ones. And the roll itself was...fat. Def didn't skimp on anything. So super yummy, I'll def go back.
(4)Jennifer N.
Fat Salmon is the perfect lunch take-out spot for me. I used to be devoted to Tampopo on Sansom, but they closed, so I decided to check out the lunch specials at Fat Salmon. I can say this -- you get tons of food for a very reasonable price. All of the lunch specials come with a choice of Miso or Salad. I am a big fan of the miso. So satisfying during this chilly time of year. So far, I have tried the No. 1 (Cali roll, spicy tuna roll, tuna and salmon nigiri) and the No. 5 (1 Midori Maki, 4 pcs sushi (Inari, Shitake, Avocado, Asparagus). No. 1 was good, but nothing special. The No. 5, however, is my new favorite. It is all veggie, but the flavors really sing. The avocado and asparagus are so simple, but tasty due to the freshness of the ingredients. And all for $9.18 with tax.
(4)Christine R.
Fat Salmon is one of my favorite places to go for sushi in the city. The quality of sushi is always fresh and delicious. Fat Salmon is known for creative fusion rolls which are no doubt amazing. However, the regular rolls are just as good. I love the Fuka roll which is one of their mixed spicy rolls. The menu is pretty big with plenty of a selection. Fat Salmon also has a full bar. I am not sure if it's BYOB though. The decor seems modern-chic and dimly lit. I think it's a great atmosphere for quiet conversation with a good friend or a date.
(5)Caren C.
This is my favorite sushi place in Philly! I am a little sad that it is no longer Shinju or that they are no longer BYO, but I still love them. If you are on a budget try the lunch specials. For about ten dollars you can get a salad, two rolls and a drink. While it might not be the most exciting thing on the menu, I crave on a weekly basis the spicy tuna roll. If you are feeling a little more adventerous, I would try the Volcano or the Fancy Sushi Roll. The service is always great and they wrap the rolls up nicely if you want take-out.
(5)Lan H.
It started with an idea: it's a sushi lover's birthday. We should take her to a great sushi place in the city. Fat Salmon. The name has a personality :-) The master minds behind this bubbly name must have been the same ones who conjured the interior design. The blue lights, the wavy-textured walls, the entire dining experience...all share a common theme: simple, fun, and made me (and birthday girl and co) feel like I was in another world. The master minds of the menu were hugely inspired by various oddities and beauties, such as "The Sleeping Volcano" and "Mr. French Kiss," two different types of specialty rolls. The phrase "I live to eat" is 100% applicable here! The food was arranged such that the plating itself was delicious enough (as if you weren't already excited to each anyway once you stepped into the restaurant ;-)). But then, the flavors will boggle your mind! Fat Salmon, I hope, will continue to inspire me through its dining experience for as long as it is accessible to me :-) oh! And the birthday girl was beyond happily full of sushi by the end of the meal :p
(5)Chris S.
Fat Salmon (nee Shinju) essentially keeps the same traditions as the old place on Locust. Except, now, when I walk in wearing scrubs and have disheveled hair, I feel like a beggar walking into the Ritz Carlton. The wavy blue walls and their opulent lighting and carbon-fiber-like floors make the former location at 9th and Locust look like a cheap dive bar. So, naturally, I would think the prices would skyrocket....ESPECIALLY now that they have a liquor license and you can get your drink on without hauling it yourself. Surprise! This place still gives you great sushi at a good value. But I'm not here to talk about value, I'm here to talk fish! Fays s. and I got our usual: some sort of roll + pieces of salmon & yellow tail nigiri. This is our general standard for judging US-based sushi places (rolls aren't sushi...but they fill me up). Sure enough, the quality is just as I remembered it before it moved up town two blocks. In fact, I think it even got better...the yellow tail was almost comparable to flavor/texture to the best medium-fatty tuna (not quite o-toro) I've had. What a treat! Yes, I got a $2 bowl of miso soup...which tasted as it should. Faye s. made fun of me because I paid $2 for...miso soup (when we had packets that would taste the same at home and cost $0.50. Whatever, it was raining and I wanted some darn soup. Next time I come here, I think I'll try to ditch the scrubs.
(4)Alexandra W.
Can someone explain this Shinju vs. Fat Salmon business? Which is it? And why 'Fat Salmon'? I agree with Kathryn, though. Shinju sounds much nicer. The sushi is really good. I can appreciate an interesting, creative roll despite the fact that it isn't the traditional way to serve sushi. We ordered four of them, whose names I can't remember for the life of me. I do remember, however, that they were so good. Be warned, the portions are strange. Some rolls come with 6 pieces, some with 5 and some with 4. My only grievance is that if I'm paying $10+ for a roll, I want 6 pieces. Of course, my favorite one only had 4. Also, they have tempura ice cream! Get this to share, though. I made the mistake of ordering one for my self. THIS portion is quite large.
(4)Christine R.
good sushi, not the greatest. good prices. good service. i would come back or recommend it.
(4)Beth R.
Fat Salmon started out as a BYO, but has since acquired a liquor license. I thought my experience here was on par with Izumi, not quite as awesome as Doma, and better than Umai Umai. Izumi has a slight edge bc of their outdoor seating, but FS has center city location, plus a huge menu of fancy rolls complete with photos and crazy names. The decor is modern and fun. As for the food, my favorite part of my meal was the steamed beef dumplings appetizer, but the tuna and shrimp rolls I had were both good too.
(4)Patrick C.
Shinju is hands-down my favorite sushi place in all of Philly! I'm a little bummed that it's no longer a secret as it fills up pretty fast. But the place has awesome specialty rolls, fresh fish, BYOB, and reasonable prices. I'm a fan of their non-traditional rolls, especially the 'Locust Roll,' which comes with deep-fried spicy tuna on top - I swear it's the stuff dreams are made of! Even if you're not big on sushi, surely you can get behind the B.C.T. roll, which is basically bacon-sushi (seriouly! it works) combined with a philly roll. Take your date! Even though she'll think it's going horribly wrong when she follows you into the Locust Bar - she'll quickly find that you're only ordering a six-pack to go. In a matter of minutes she'll be at a candle-lit table enjoying a perfect little appetizer called "naked gyoza" - super impressed that such a thing even existed and that you knew about it! I'm taking this too far. Just go!
(5)Dan C.
Last Monday I ventured into Fat Salmon for some sushi with friends and was hoping all the great yelp reviews didn't let me down. The food was great, I got a miso soup and a few of their specialty rolls. The rice was perfectly cooked, I hate when it is under/over cooked. I went to Morimoto a few weeks back and the sushi at Fat Salmon was just as good, if not more fresh (and definitely better priced!) But what REALLY blew me away was the incredible service. We had a beautiful waitress (I think her name was Jessica) who was incredibly friendly and attentive. It was such a refreshing change to have someone who was not only really knowledgeable about the menu but so personable and caring. She even gave us some recommendations for bars in the area we could go to after! I will definitely be coming back to Fat Salmon, not only for the great food but the awesomeeee service!!
(5)John B.
First of all, let me first start off by saying when it comes to Japanese food and Korean food, I'm particularly harsh. I'm a big food snob...what can I say. With that said, this place is just okay. If I could sum up this place (most sushi places in Philadelphia, for that matter), they have a variety of maki's--but not much else. People who are looking for good, fresh sashimi and nigiri experience will be disappointed here. People who are looking for different twists in maki's will be satisfied. Also this place would be good for people who are not so thrilled with the idea of raw fish, since they have a lot of maki's with "crab sticks" (the imitation crab meat made from cooked fish). So while I *might* come back here for spicy tuna roll, I would go somewhere else for the rest.
(2)Danielle L.
I'm glad we picked this place! The service was great, they were so friendly there! The sushi tasted amazing and fresh! I had the rainbow roll and my friend had spicy tuna. Best we ever had! Drinks were delicious and the atmosphere was great, too! It was even full and we got seated right away!
(5)Steven S.
I have loved them since they were Shinju. The FRESHEST sushi and the best apps and salads. The nigiri and sashimi are incredible. Regularly order green salad, shumai, Unagi, Tumago, Saba, squid, and many rolls ... out-freaking-standing. We have had everything from this place, and it's all the best and the freshest in Philadelphia. I have been to a number of sushi places in Philadelphia and elsewhere, and this place is right up there. So lucky to be a few blocks from here.
(5)Paul L.
I'd like to think I know about something about sushi and after trying the new metamorphosis of the old Shinju, I think I'm content. Given losing Aso was hard and I attribute that to the less than ideal location it possessed by contrast maybe the interior decoration has something to do with it too. Now Fat Salmon has managed to transform the space into something hip and trendy. Food-wise, it's a little on the pricey side as with any other sushi place. The selection range from the standard selection of nigiris with a wider range of specialty maki rolls. Between the two of us, we ordered a deep fried shumai and the sushi & sashimi platter for two which comes with two soups and two salads. Normally, that wouldn't be enough food. We're used to ordering rounds of sushi, but somehow that turned out to be quite enough. Everything turned out fresh and tasty, I'm impressed with the quality of salmon and white tuna. I'm also very happy about the shrimp tempura rolls that comes with. Service was good, food is fresh, my only complaint is the somewhat strong dangling table light. I'm sure the sushi can be more tricked out but all in all, it was satisfying. It's recommendable.
(4)Jaclyn P.
Great sushi that is artfully prepared! Reservations are really important on weekends, but if you make one in advance, they will get you seated right away! Really nice variety and the quality of the ingredients is obviously much higher than that of the many sushi bars throughout Center City. Waitstaff was courteous and the food arrived quickly. Highly recommended for seekers of great sushi :)
(5)Farida A.
So many choices!! Fabulous decor, creative and delicious sushi rolls. And it's cheap as hell! I had sushi and sashimi at Morimoto for lunch and came to Fat Salmon for dinner - you'd think I would've been sick of sushi or that Morimoto would've raised the bar too high for me to enjoy Fat Salmon, but no - I loved it. If I lived in Philly, I would definitely frequent this place.
(4)Kim B.
Fat Salmon is a great, reasonable priced place in the city. I came based on the positive Yelp reviews and wasn't disappointed. The waiter was pleasant and helpful in providing recommendations. We tried several specialty rolls and my favorite has got to be the Fancy Sushi. The ingredients were fresh. The place is modern-sleek. My only drawback was they didn't have a high chair. My husband and I took turns holding baby. So yes this isn't really a place to bring kids given tables are so close to each other.
(4)Rosa V.
The name "Fat Salmon" alone made me like this place. I'm a fan of restaurants that put effort into ambiance and Fat Salmon goes above and beyond the calling. The blue lighting of the restaurant gives the semblance of a swanky cocktail lounge amidst historic Philadelphia. BUT the sensory delights don't stop at lighting. The sushi is the star. And the selection is fantastic! So many unique rolls to choose from, and a great collection of spicy ones. You are sure to find something you like or simply have the chance to expand your palette. Very reasonably priced, casual, great service, and soooo delicious!
(5)Jack S.
Service was very good, but the rolls were very mediocre. Gloppy is the technical term I'd use.
(3)Alex C.
Went here for dinner. Bill came out to be around 79. Still doesn't compare to Sushi Tomo in So. Cal. where it's AYCE for 25 for dinner. Interior: Very modern fancy. Got blue leds running along the bar and fancy white wavy wall for the tables. Small place though. Food: Pretty good. Ordered the Sush/Sashimi for 2, Shrimp Tempura Appetizer, a soft volcano roll, and a spicy tuna roll. All were fresh and tastey. I personally like the salmon and the white tuna :) The yellowtail was kinda fishy. Service: Good Overall: 4 stars :D
(4)Matthew B.
This place is a lot of fun. Definitely be sure to have a reservation, though, if you are going to go there on a Friday or Saturday. I have been there a few times now and it is always crowded. One important thing to note - if you haven't been there in a while, it is no longer BYOB. Thankfully the hostess who took my reservation informed me of that, or I would have been carrying a bottle of wine around with me for no reason. It's not very expensive - four rolls and a couple of drinks for two people was around 60.00. The sushi is different than most of the rolls I have encountered, and is definitely designed with a non-traditionalist audience in mind. One roll in particular - the M&M roll, was awesome. There's another one with pico de gallo and sour cream that's tasty, too, but I can't remember the name. It's the white forest roll or something. Service isn't excellent, but the wait staff is friendly and there isn't much to complain about. They just don't really seem to be in any kind of hurry. In conclusion, it takes me about 30 minutes to get here and I never balk at making reservations when the idea pops into my head.
(4)Mari C.
Went to Fat Salmon for dinner: It is hands down AMAZING sushi but I thought the service was lacking a bit. I had three waitresses during my entire meal (not sure why they all switched up like that) and it took a really long time to get rolls out to us. Also, at any point in time there were 3 or 4 sushi rolls with saran wrap on top of the bar, which makes you feel like you aren't getting the freshest rolls. We noticed our rolls sitting there for at least 20 minutes before it was brought to our table. Either way, the food is really good...I highly recommend the agedashi tofu appetizer and the sepia pleasure. The prices are great too!
(4)Laura B.
This is a great lunch spot for people who work near the federal courthouse at 6th and Market or other spots in Market East. It wasn't crowded, we had great service, and there are a ton of lunch specials around $10. I got the Vegetable Tempura Lunch Box, which came with more food than I could eat. Tons of interesting vegetable tempura (squash, zucchini, sweet potato, eggplant, etc.), half a California roll, rice, two dumplings, and a salad to start with. Very yummy. And now I'm stuffed.
(5)Todd V.
I ordered the spicy pork Japanese bbq lunch box. The flavors were pretty muddled and not much else in the box made up for it. The tuna roll was bland and too soft. The gyoza were ok. I had heard great things about this restaurant but Im not really sure why people like it so much. If you cant make a good tuna roll then I am not sure you can make any sushi right.
(2)Grace T.
Creative rolls, reasonable price, good salads and miso soup, overall good eating here! I interned literally 20 steps away from here so my boss and I would eat here pretty often. For take-out or dine-in. Expect to do some ease dropping if you dine-in cause you will for sure hear your neighbor's conversation. There are only about 8 tables in the place, BUT you can order take out walk a little bit down to Washington Square park or sit outside by the newly renovated Jefferson University courtyard. Can't say how their cooked Japanese entrees are, but the old intern boss said they were pretty good. Almost positive she eats here at least once a week, so it is that good!
(4)Tracy W.
My favorite since it was tiny Shinju. Creative rolls, always fantastic. Miss that it's not byob anymore, but I'll deal.
(5)Abigail T.
I love Fat Salmon! Actually, I don't like salmon at all. But, at Fat Salmon that's not a problem - especially, during lunch, the best time to get sushi. Fat Salmon has great lunch specials. It has some of the best prices around, and they allow you to change something for a $1 extra, which at these prices is a great deal. I'm a simple girl, so I get the #3 and sub an extra tuna nigiri for the salmon. At $10.50, I'm satisfied!
(5)Frank S.
If you can find a spot in this place of the size of a shoe box, consider yourself lucky. I had not been here for over a year an now that I went back I found some of the freshest sushi I have had in town (including S in Collingswood) for a very reasonable price. Excellent miso soup, not overly salted like in so many other places, super fresh salad with delicious ginger dressing, both complimentary. I had chirashi, including the shrimp, which is usually not my favorite in it, every bite of fish was really good. Same for my friends maki sampler. Only downside, there was no tamago in the bowl, which I think goes really well with chirashi, but hey.. It's byob and there is a great beer place right around the corner a 10th and Pine. Now that I wrote the review, I am actually pretty regretful to tell everyone about it ... ;-) Warning! Too small for big groups!
(5)April W.
I ate here tonight with my boyfriend and we had a great time! We are far from sushi experts, but we really enjoyed everything we ate. The staff was all really friendly and the atmosphere was nice. We went around 5:00 and by the time we were leaving it was starting to pick up. The waitress said they were booked for the night so they must be doing something right.
(4)Claire O.
First off, the agedashi tofu is out of this world. I'm very picky and sometimes restaurants can get it wrong, but Shinju has it down, The rolls are inventive. The hako sushi is probably my favorite so far - pressed box sushi with spicy tuna, "crunch" (which I assume is panko), topped with unagi and tobiko. Great flavors. The BCT roll that everyone was raving about didn't really do it for me - way too rich and creamy for my taste. We also ordered the shrimp tempura roll and spicy tuna, as well as ikura nigiri (salmon roe). I'd have to order sashimi or nigiri in order to comment on the quality of the fish, so I'll probably update this review when I get around to that. I also did take-out so I can't comment on the service. Prices were a touch steep. The hako sushi was worth the $12.50 but generally I think the other rolls were overpriced.
(4)Leslie P.
I think we all need that go to sushi place where you know a few rolls you just adore and everything else is great. The kind of place you say to you friends or significant other, "why don't we just go to _____?" and they oblige because they, too, love it. I feel like Fat Salmon would be a wonderful contender for that kind of place: a staple sushi restaurant. I say this partially because people talked about the decor and how cool the place was. And it is cool, don't get me wrong. But it is not one of those restaurants where the whole thing is "an experience." It really is much more about the food. Two girlfriends and I went to share some fancy makis and drink prosecco (BYO). We started with salads. The green salad with ginger dressing was just what I wanted and a great starter to any sushi meal. My friend ordered the seaweed salad. It was enormous. Generally seaweed salads are in little small bowls and pale in comparison to the size of the restaurant's house salad. At Fat Salmon, the seaweed salad is twice the size of the house/green and could easily be shared by two people for a starter. We ordered 5 rolls to split. I looked at the menu online before I arrived, but I was happy to see tasteful pictures of the super fancy rolls. I think this will come in handy especially as I go back to Fat Salmon and I try to remember which rolls I have had and liked. There are SO MANY to choose from. And, I would caution that yes, the fancy rolls are super yummy, but not to ignore what they call "regular makis" and their tempura and spicy makis which fall behind the specials' spread. Sometimes too many fancy rolls is just too rich! We ordered Lipstick Trace (upon a recommendation from a friend), Dragonfly, Dancing Vampire, and Lost Rainbow on the fancy menu and a spicy tun roll from the less fancy section (which was still fancy and special, but I digress). At Fat Salmon, they tell you what is inside the maki and what is outside (because both are part of the equation). We decided after the meal that the outside is the most important indicator of what the maki will taste like--it is the part that touches your tongue first and more aggressively. I think we especially liked the Lipstick Trace (which is vegetarian), the spicy tuna, the Lost Rainbow, and the Dragonfly. The Dancing Vampire with its sweet chili sauce was the one we had leftovers of. It was very sweet and apparently did not come in first place. Best part was the bill came to less than 60 bucks--split three ways, we all felt like we got a great deal. Which again, brings me back to the whole "staple restaurant" argument. There are times for Morimoto and the like, but if you love sushi, you need to find a place that will give you lots of room to explore, is always tasty, and doesn't break the bank. Fat Salmon? SCORE!
(4)Zachary D.
Fat Salmon is great except for the food. As someone who actually likes good sushi, I wish they spent half as much time working to get good fish as they do trying to make the place look trendy.
(2)Emilia M.
I have visited Shinju Sushi only 3 times, but each time I have brought a different friend, and each time it has been absolutely amazing! Shinju's specialty rolls are to die for. There is something for everyone on their menu, included a roll with kobe beef, as well as two rolls that somehow manage to incorporate bacon. I'm not a huge bacon fan, but I took my friend for his birthday and he was amazed! The place is super small, so I recommend calling ahead and getting reservations. They will only hold your reservation for 15 minutes after you're supposed to be there, but I think that is a pretty fair policy considering I once went without a reservation and had to wait a pretty long time. I definitley recommend Shinju, and after your meal you should definitely try the Moki ice cream. (If you read my other reviews, you'll see I'm a big fan). Added Plus: It's a byob, which means that you can have any beer or wine you want with your Sushi,
(5)Brian P.
Awesome! The sushi is some of the most fresh fish in the city. It's a fun atmosphere, definitely trendy but can be pretty loud. Overall a great place with great food. Perfect for a night out with friends and a great place to bring people from out of town. Portions are reasonable for the price. I would highly recommend it.
(4)B B.
We ordered sushi, before we were supposed to see a movie at the Ritz about sushi. We ended up skipping the flick and just relaxin' outside. But, that relaxation was helped by the fish that we had eaten just a while before. The shrimp rolls were great, and I loved the shiso leaves that accompanied the mackerel sashimi. fresh. reasonable prices for the location. pretty sweet.
(4)Gary S.
This business was formerly Shinju on Locust Street. I reviewed it under Shinju, which is now closed. Same chef, same great, artistic sushi. Highly recommended! And now in a much more comfortable, stylish setting...
(4)David T.
so so...nothing special
(2)Marysa M.
Every roll that I tried was delicious and so reasonably priced!
(5)Chris T.
Good, fresh soosh. Japanese appetizers left something to be desired. Friendly service in a nice space. Probably more accurate to give it 3.5 stars.
(4)Mara K.
Recently learned that this place is no longer BYO... what a disappointment. Still love the sushi, but will miss the added BYO bonus.
(4)Oski B.
CLOSED! Great place to come if you feel like wasting money on a cab ride from University City. Come for the sushi and you'll be sorely disappointed. However, if you're into butcher block paper covering the windows, you're in luck!
(1)Cory B.
I initially was thinking about going to this place based on a recommendation from a friend and knew that I was for sure going when I checked out what the rest of you were saying. First, this place is amazing!! Very small on the inside (like maybe 10 - 15 2 person tables and a 4 seater sushi bar although one of those seats might be uncomfortably close to the wall). However, the place has a very good atmosphere to it. My first thought when I walked in was that it would be a great place for a date (and I am taking my wife back there tonight). Second, the food was great. I had the pork katsu appetizer (I have a weakness for anything fried) which is served with the traditional katsu sauce (kind of a sweet sauce) but it was kicked up a little bit by this dollup of some wonderful mayo/mustard combination (I am sure that there is a name for this, but I have no clue what it is). I then went to one of my old reliables for sushi - Spider Roll. It was, simply perfect. The size of the roll actually surprised me a little bit. The roll was cut into on 4 pieces but they were huge. I have since heard that Shinju refers to this as a "square roll". Needless to say, I was happily stuffed when I left. The service was excellent. I agree with Jenna C. about the speed of service: felt somewhat slow but it is actually more of an un-rushed feel. It was great though. The place is a BYO which always rates high in my book. Somewhat more pricey than your average sushi joint (my bill with tip was about $20) but it is well worth it. I highly recommend this place for any of you out there that love sushi and are looking for a little bit more of an upscale feel while still being reasonably priced.
(5)Andrew M.
Great place or fresh sushi. There was only one time the sashimi was stale, but it was towards closing time and figured it's only natural. Friendly service and cool atmosphere. It brings walnut street, this side of town, more interesting. Only wish they delivered!
(4)M B.
food: amazing service: terrible everyone loved the sushi, it really is great, there are so many interesting rolls to pick from. BUT it took about 1.5 hours to get our sushi (on a week night), and our waitress was MIA the whole time. she asked us about our check and us paying before we even got our food, and then we never saw her again. another server dropped the check, which had the gratuity included. just kind of ridiculous.
(2)Jeremy B.
So happy to have this place (Shinju) back in my life. Fresh, delicious and worth a trip. The standards of Shinju in a new beautiful space, perfect. They are still a BYO until they get their license.
(4)Alexis M.
This place would be delicious if only for being intimate, friendly, and fresh. But they deliver too!! This must be new, because I just *rediscovered* this place, and I don't remember it delivering. Tons of variety in the roll arena, and very fresh sushi/sashimi. Also, I love the selection of vegetarian rolls, especially the Ume Kappa roll (what other place that's this down-to-earth uses Japanese pickles and umeboshi?). As for price, this place is one of the few I know of that is reasonably priced AND decent quality. I don't think you can pay less than this without sacrificing quality.
(4)D M.
Based on the reviews below, the wife and I ate here last night. What a massive disappointment. The service and the atmosphere both get 1 star. The food gets 0 stars. Lets start with the atmosphere. The place is tiny - maybe ten or twelve tables plus a small sushi bar. But instead of being tiny in a mellow, relaxing way, it was tiny in a cramped, table on top of table way. I found myself yelling across the ikea-like table at my wife just to hold a conversation. The service was unbelievably slow. Even though there was an empty table when we arrived, it took ten minutes to get seated. Then we waited - no exaggeration- 25 to 30 minutes to have our order taken. After that, we waited again for water, and again for the appetizer, and again for food, and again for the check. I'm pretty chill about service, and when-you-get-a-chance kind of guy, but this was silly. Sushi is hard. I get it. And I get that there are different styles of sushi, how you pack the rice, what type of seaweed you use, whatever. Shinju does a loosely packed roll, wetter than normal. Which sounds fine in practice, but given the quality of vegetables used, it tasted like mush. I couldn't finish my plate - that just doesn't happen with sushi. Terrible. The seaweed salad I had as an appetizer was mediocre, making it the best thing about the place. Then it was three a.m. this morning. I didn't drink a drop last night. But I still got that feeling, you know the one, were last night's partying has caught up to you and its time to see the toilet from a new angle. The chunks were in my throat, I was out of bed and running to the bathroom. Nothing came out, and fine, fine, it could have been anything. Then the same feeling came over me again, and again I was flying out of bed. And then my wife this dawn. Food poison. Yum. Zero stars. This place reinforces for me the disparity in quality reasonably priced sushi restaurants between Philly and DC. How could a place this bad get such excellent ratings? I suspect the BYOB policy helps. If your sloshed, who cares how long the service takes? who cares what the food tastes like? I do, and I won't be back.
(1)Dung N.
I wouldve given this place a five star rating but it the service stinks. The sushi is phenomonal and among my faves are the Naked Gyoza, the spider roll, spicy tuna crunch and the lost rainbow. Everything is fresh tasting and everything you would want in a sushi place except for the service. The last two times that i have been here during lunch ive probably waited amybe 20 to 30 mins for the food to come. And its not like the sushi chefs are overwhelmed, its the waiters and waitress' that are slow. we literally saw our food made and had it sit on teh counter for 10 minutes before it came to our table. and when we looked around for our waiter..we found him chatting in the back with other watiers. what gives?! ill just order to go next time. thanks.
(4)Yill C.
Love, love, love this place....went to it as Shin Ju and will continue to go. The reviews that complain about it not being traditonal Japanese, it's NOT and it does not pretend to be....the reviews that complain about the service, are ridiculous as well, they are far from pretentious and they may be a bit slow, but not enough to warrant some of the comments on here. The flavors are great, the fish is very fresh (we get both the rolls and the sushi), if you love sushi and are tired of the same ole, same ole, come here!!!
(5)Louis T.
As I get ready to flee the country, I realize this is yet another go-to place that I haven't reviewed. Though it looks a little more like a bus stop inside than its predecessor Shinju, Fat Salmon is reasonably priced, the fish is very fresh, and the preparation is solid. If there's a downside to it, I guess it would be the slightly hard decor and over-abundance of slightly gimmicky rolls. But if you just stick with the straightforward options, you won't go wrong. The fifth star is for consistency over a bunch of seminar dinners and random stop-ins, though, not because it blows you away.
(5)Bee R.
Yummy!!! Definitely recommend the "fancy sushi" roll!!! Great prices and really delish!!! Great find :)
(5)Sophia C.
I got takeout for lunch last week from here, and their lunch specials are seriously a steal! I paid a total of $17 for a salmon tempura and dancing vampire (one of their specialty rolls) and a side salad with awesome ginger dressing. It would have only been $14 and some change, but the hostess that took my order was so attentive over the phone and gave me extra dipping sauces when I came to pick it up, don't forget to tip them a little something! Definitely the perfect spot to walk to on my lunch break, and definitely coming back.
(5)Chérie S.
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! I love this place. The food here is absolutely delectable! I've tried just about everything and I don't have any complaints! Service is always pleasant and timely and the decor... Being an interior designer and avid lover of modern design, I swoon every time I step foot in this restaurant. Sleek, modern, glossy and beautifully lit. There's nothing about Fat Salmon that I don't love. Except for maybe when they briefly close from 2:30 - 5:00pm to prep for dinner. They should never close their doors!
(5)Katarina M.
YUM!!!!!!!! Best sushi in Philly so far. And great prices. Got the Blossom, the Lava, the Mr. Shiro, and the Fancy Sushi. All phenomenal. Only the Lava was really spicy. I think most of the others were supposed to have some spicy in them based on the menu description, but they were all fine, and I'm not great with spicy. The Mr. Shiro was my favorite. Also each of us had a green salad with ginger dressing. Standard for a Japanese restaurant, and very good. Fine service. Great looking restaurant. All in all we each had a drink and shared the above and it was $24 per person including a generous tip. DEFINITELY coming back. And soon.
(5)Brian H.
Great sushi and you can literally TASTE the freshness. Very creative rolls definitely for the intermediate to advanced sushi eater. I have been eating sushi for a few years now and I grow tired of simple samon or tuna rolls. The chefs here take it to the next level! Although this was my first time eating here I was told that it was a BYOB....it IS NOT. Not sure what changed but I ended up taking my huge bottle of white wine back to the car :/. Other than that sushi was delicious - the Pork KATSU was unbelievable GREAT value..."party in a box!" Beware you will be served Sashimi, Seawed Salad, Tofu...also comes with Miso Soup and Salad.
(4)Julia S.
Meh. Just had a Dancing Vampire and Spicy Tuna roll from Fat Salmon. To be certain, the place is beautiful and very stylish. To me, it almost seems like you are in an iridescent, water filled fish and the white accents are the bones. Definitely a romantic spot for a date. Oddly enough, it smells kind of fishy in there as well. Like tuna , which I like. But I've yet to go to another sushi place that smells quite like this one. I'm not blown away, which I should be for the price and reputation of the place. I have definitely had spicy tuna rolls that are MUCH better in the suburbs. Ota-Ya in Newtown to be exact. They just blow everyone away, I guess. And as far as the quality of the special roll, the Dancing Vampire, I've had better special rolls at Ooka of Willow Grove (Lobster Dynamite best roll EVER), Oishi of Newtown and ToKai of Northeast Philadelphia. It was a good roll. Not a great roll. It needed some kind of kick. And I would have appreciated if it was cut smaller, as one piece was hard to maneuver bite-wise. So, I guess it was good enough to visit again, but I won't be dreaming about it and waiting with baited breath for my next opportunity to order. So...kind of lukewarm at best for me.
(3)Nancy M.
I had a really yummy birthday dinner here on a Sunday night. We made a reservation which was a good thing because the place was full. Despite being busy we were seated immediately and served promptly, though not rushed. While waiting for dinner our server rushed over and explained that someone had mistakenly delivered our sushi order to the wrong table and they were making us a new plate immediately and would reduce our bill by 20% as an apology (not necessary but delightfully nice - and they didn't forget). The sushi was delicious and well made as was the miso soup to start. I live in a resort area in Massachusetts and thought the prices were very reasonable in comparison. I'd definitely go back. Very cool decor. My only complaint was the restaurant was quite noisy.
(4)Martha G.
I gotta say that their lunch specials are pretty good here; I've never been for dinner. You can get a lot of food for not that much, $14 plus tax and tip. Sometimes service is spotty, however. I've had a shrimp and veggie tempura lunch special, and it was mostly veggie, few shrimp, but it was yummy. And the special sushi rolls are quite yummy. Check it out for lunch.
(3)Soyoung K.
+1 star for the delicious yellow tail negimaki and the spicy tuna roll. +1 star for the great presentation of the dishes. +1 star for all the creative makis. +1 star for the beautiful decor. absolutely LOVE the lighting. +1 star for the BYO. Hooray! +1 st
(2)Karina A.
The best sushi I have ever had in the city, hands down. I love you Fat Salmon! I LOVE LOVE their deep fried tofu appetizer. So good and unique texture.
(5)Victoria L.
Fat Salmon is the PERFECT place to get some amazing sushi. My friends and I were so happy with the food, service, and atmosphere. We asked the waitress for the most popular options and ordered the Dancing Vampire, Rolling Fire, Blossom, and Unakyu. My absolute favorite were the Dancing Vampire (made with cucumber and asparagus crunchy with tuna & salmon on top) and Rolling Fire rolls (shrimp tempura with broiled spicy scallop sauce on top). I loved the shrimp tempura in the Rolling Fire roll, and the sauce that topped it was the perfect addition to the dish. These two options were definitely the spicier ones, but not too spicy. Even my friend who usually opts out of spicy foods loved these rolls! They also had a nice sweet and spicy taste with every bite. Fat Salmon is the perfect place to take all sushi lovers! I know for sure I'll be back to try the other rolls!
(5)Linda X.
The amostphere is nice, but the food were just okay....My boyfriend is a huge fan of sashimi, but he didnt like the sashimi that much because its not fresh. And the worst part is they didnt have Uni for him.
(2)A.T. K.
If you're looking for good-quality sushi and a trendy, modern vibe, this is the place for you. It looks very modern and chic inside with the white furniture and mood lighting. The staff is really friendly and full of great recommendations off the menu. We ordered a LOT of food. Be warned, the Seaweed Salad appetizer is HUGE and could be split in to and maybe even three. The Dragonfly roll is as fabulous as everyone hypes it up to be, but it's nothing too special since most trendy sushi places seem to have a "dragon" roll of some kind. But the uni I had was great quality and the other nigiri sushi (salmon, tuna, yellowtail, etc.) were fresh and melted in my mouth - the way good sushi was! I think for the prices and the atmosphere, it's a great place to go.
(4)Amy H.
Great food! Great service! I am new to the city and was recommended this place and I was not disappointed. I had access to good sushi restaurants growing up in Florida and Fat Sushi doesn't disappoint.:)
(4)Mandy H.
I really enjoyed this place. I'm not usually one to opt for sushi, but came here with a group and I really enjoyed everything. The décor is cool and the staff are friendly. The rolls were all really great in my opinion, although I'm by no means an expert, as I tend to let the more experienced sushi eaters order for me, but I enjoyed all the rolls my large group tried. The appetizers should not be missed either particularly the veggie tempura, the seaweed salad and the fried Gyoza. The place is pretty small, so our group of 7 was a little tight, but I'd definitely like to come back with the hubs to try some more!
(5)Roma J.
If you're looking for high-quality/great tasting sushi at an affordable price...Fat Salmon will give you a foodgasm every single time. No joke. Foodgasm (Urban Dictionary)- "Eyes rolling back in head and moaning while possibly shouting "this is so freaking good!"and taste so overwhelming you have to take breaks between bites to keep from shutting your system down." Anytime I have visitors from out of town, I take them here and order the following: - Old School - Rolling Fire - Spicy Salmon Naked Gyoza - Seaweed Salad Just prep yourself to handle all that spicy goodness ;P
(5)Tiffany T.
Ah, I really like this place. I've been here probably 5 or 6 times over the last couple years. Any time someone comes from outta town that wants some no frills sushi -- fancier than Vics but less than Morimoto -- this is my go- to spot Agedashi tofu -- this time was a bit too sweet, salty and heavy. The batter still needs work -- I understand it's hard dish to execute, to keep the batter light but just my personal opinion Still love the Lost Rainbow rolls -- I really love their special rolls Biggest reason for 3 stars was our service. It was slow -- not too many customers. It was about 9:30pm so they close around 10pm -- not like it was packed dinner rush. Waited quite a while.. a while.. a while.. then our 3 sushi rolls came out. Then I asked the server if the agedashi tofu was still in the kitchen or he forgot... He apologized, came out with it about 7 minutes later. Surprised a restaurant of this caliber wouldn't comp that on the house -- as what is the POINT of an appetizer once my entrees have already arrived.?? Definitely minus one yelp for that.
(3)Olivia K.
Fat salmon is possibly my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. Always get the fried green tea ice cream here because for $6 the size is so worth it. I also had the sushi and sashimi combo for 2 which can really be split among 3 people if you also get the fried ice cream. The portions were large and I think worth the $49.95 price tag. Get a nice selection of sushi, maki, and sashimi. The lunch combinations here are about $14 for either 2 rolls, 2 entrees or a roll and an entree. I got the roll and entree combo with the dancing vampire roll which was a little spicy but very good. For $14 definitely worth it. The only thing that was weird was when I went I was given a seat at the booth even though I kept asking for a table and there were tables free during the entirely of my meal. If the tables were reserved there should be a policy for no shows and the table should be given to an actual customer.
(5)Brett K.
I've been looking to try new sushi restaurants in Philly and this was the first one that I tried. It's delicious and they have an extensive menu (I felt bad for the waitress because I was so indecisive). They have some pictures of the specialty rolls in case you haven't seen or heard of them. Every piece that I ordered was delicious, especially the Red Snapper sashimi. I will definitely be back here and have recommended it to multiple people.
(4)Jessica S.
I came here for a weekday lunch as I had heard great things and still hadn't been to this sushi place just a few blocks from me. We walked in around 1pm on a Monday and the restaurant was less than half full with many empty tables available. Right away, we were turned off by the service and staff. The hostess was on the phone when we entered and did not acknowledge us for about 5 minutes. Then, she said there were no tables ready for us to sit down yet and proceeded to go to the back for another 5 minutes. When she came back, she again was on the phone and we felt so ignored that we debated leaving. Sorry, but how long does it take to put 2 sushi plates, silverware, and 2 glasses on a table? And why couldn't we sit down while this occurred? It seemed a little ridiculous, but I really didn't want to give up the prospects of delicious sushi so we decided to wait it out. Finally, we were seated, but the bad service didn't end there. We waited another 10 minutes to have our order taken! Thankfully, we didn't have anywhere to be, but if this was a lunch break from work, we would have definitely been more pissed. We finally ordered and we opted for the edamame for an appetizer and each got a lunch special. Their lunch specials are very reasonably priced. I ordered the salmon special which was an alaskan roll, 2 pieces of salmon sashimi, and 2 pieces of salmon nigiri. My husband got the tuna lunch special which was the same idea, except with a spicy tuna roll and tuna instead of salmon. Both came with either miso soup or a green salad. After about 15 minutes, we had not received our appetizer or our soup/salad. We had been there for over a half hour without any food! We both thought this was insane.. especially for a lunch time hour where it wasn't super busy and the food requires minimal cooking. Thankfully, we finally got our food (I feel like I've said finally way too much in this review, but that basically sums up our feelings!). The edamame was a large portion and was salted perfectly. The green salad was meh, some of the lettuce was kind of gross and I could have used a little more dressing as the bottom of the salad was dry and bland. Both of our sushi platters were fresh and delicious. Lunch cost us under 30 dollars, which was more than reasonable for sushi. We left feeling happy with the food but underwhelmed by the service and the overall experience. I would consider coming back to try the special rolls, but would only go when I was not crunched for time.
(3)Colin S.
I've had a lot of sushi all over Philadelphia, and Fat Salmon is still the place I recommend above all others. The fish is very good quality, and the value for dollar here is pretty much un-matched anywhere else in the city. Their house (cold) sake is very good and very affordable. The sushi and sashimi combos give a lot of food for the money. If you're looking for good sushi, and nice environment, and solid drinks for a great value, check out Fat Salmon. note: they do takeout as well, and it's equally good.
(5)Christine V.
I love everything about this place. Great atmosphere, great food, friendly service, and very reasonably priced. I came here with two of my girlfriends on a quest to satisfy our sushi cravings. Between the three of us, we ordered three of their featured rolls and one of their smaller rolls. Upon recommendation, we ordered the dancing vampire, the rolling fire, and the blossom roll as three of the bigger rolls and the unakyu (eel and cucumber) roll as the smaller one. Dancing vampire and the rolling fire rolls were two of the spicy rolls but they were definitely our favorites for the night. The dancing vampire definitely has more of a sweet and spicy component to it due to the chili sauce they use. Even with the spice, the taste of the fresh tuna and salmon were not underwhelmed. The flavors blended very nicely together, and the crunch from the cucumber and asparagus added a good texture. The rolling fire roll had a heap of shredded crab stick with spicy broiled scallop sauce on top of it. The other two rolls were also very well-made and tasted great. Nothing disappointing about our experience at Fat Salmon. I can't wait to come back here to try some of their sashimi!
(5)Ancy T.
I wasn't a sushi fiend, until I had fat salmon. I have been to this restaurant so many times, it's probably an unhealthy addiction. I once went 3x in one week. You can't beat this high quality sushi at such an affordable price. I love ordering a few specialty rolls to share with friends... I'm pretty sure I've tried them all. My most memorable ones are the old school roll and the roll with Pico de gallo (I forget the name)... ugh so good. Honestly, everything on that menu is fantastic in every way. I even had sashimi for the first time and it was amazing! My only complaint is that food takes awhile to come out so make sure you order right away (take a look at the menu before you get there) and get an appetizer so you have something to nibble on on the meantime. Make sure you make reservations.. you can even do it online! Oh also, I personally like ordering drinks when I'm out, but don't even bother doing that here.. save the extra money on some more sushi rolls or just enjoy a small bill!
(5)Tanisha M.
I love fat salmon , really intimate and cute set up although a little cramped feeling. Delicious sushi and has something for everyone as I went on two occasions with two picky eaters and they both found something they enjoyed. My faves are the Dragonfly and Rolling Fire so good! The service is usually spot on but my last visit we were rushed during our meal despite coming in almost two hours before closing and ppl were sat after us and not bothered once- still comes back cause it's great that just was an weird night for me. Oh it can be packed most nights but they seat you as quickly as possible.
(4)Johnny N.
If you're in central Philadelphia and you just want a nice quiet sushi dinner, this is the place. Ambience is very casual and you'll probably see a lot of couples who are on their first date. The food? Yummy! Definitely your traditional Japanese fusion sushi and the presentation is very colorful, classy and delicious. I highly recommend their Sepia Pleasure Roll. Whatever you order, you'll definitely come out satisfied.
(4)Roz P.
Really amazing food! Some traditional and some of their own. Wear something smart casual.
(4)Priya R.
It's a great sushi place for many reasons. 1) there are photographs with all of it's menu items. I don't know about you, but this is a big deal to me. Everything is simply laid out, and you can see what you will be ordering before you actually order it! 2) It's not a cheap sushi place, but is definitely better quality. The concept of, you get what you pay for certainly applies here. 3) The atmosphere is fun and hip and in a poppin' location. It's got a modern look to it with a friendly and attentive staff. Overall, It made for a pretty fun date and was super fresh sushi. We came here hoping there was a happy hour (there wasn't) but left still feeling satisfied with the quantity of food we got for out wallets. If I had to recommend one roll, the fancy sushi was just superb. But that's because any opportunity to get some large hunks of fresh fish, this is it.
(4)Christine S.
Great sushi. Interesting ambiance - seems to try to hard in being hip and trendy. But the food is good. There was a fried eel roll that I ADORED. The fried ice cream dessert was mediocre though - don't bother getting it.
(4)Jim B.
Every once and a while when you're growing up someone may ask you which super hero you would be if you could. Some people say Superman so they can fly, others may say Batman so they'd be rich and cool... ...Me? I'd be Aquaman. Sure, the scaly orange and green tights are kind of a drag. Riding that stupid sea horse as a mode of conveyance doesn't compare to the Batmobile. Doing the breast stroke isn't in the same league with flying. However, as Aquaman, I could summon all those delicious fish from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, march them all to the back door of Fat Salmon's and right into the waiting arms of their fantastic sushi chefs so they could carve 'em up and serve fresh Volcano Rolls and Super Dragon rolls! Best of all, if that were to happen then I believe a 10 % discount might be in order for me (fingers crossed!). So you can keep your x-ray vision, metal claws and invisibility powers. You can jump all the tall buildings with a single bound in the world and it isn't going to save you money on sashimi! Ha ha ha ha! Suckers!!!
(5)Jin Z.
Best Vegetarian Sushi Ever! Was in Phili for a conference and ended up eating here twice because the sushi was so good. I came with someone who is vegetarian so we had both the "Tofuholic" and I think the other one was "Old School." These were hands down the best vegetarian sushi both of us ever had. The Tofuholic was a great balance of refreshing vegi and creamcheese based topping. I was very impressed with the Old School because it was sushi with a warm topping that worked out so good. In most places vegetarian sushi feels like an afterthought, but here it feels thoughtful, artistic, and most importantly mouth wateringly delicious. Their regular sushi was also delicious. The fish was fresh and everything was tasty and well balanced. I recommend sharing their tempura icecream. Tempura is icecream encased in a fried batter. It was amazing but also a rather large portion. Fat Salmon did a great job on making the perfect batter.
(5)Ruth K.
If I could give 6 stars, I would. And I have no photos because my kids attacked my plate. My husband and I both had the sashimi for 1- phenomenal. Best fish we ever had and we lived in hawaii 3 years. We also had the fancy tuna and the lost rainbow. Service was meticulous. I don't know how our final dinner in Philly could have been any better
(5)Sir-ahh L.
The sushi was absolutely delicious! Our service was great from beginning to end and our waitress was easily able to answer all questions. The wine was amazing, the ambiance was on point, and it was more than reasonably priced. We have definitely found our sushi spot in the city.
(5)Carmen S.
Super-fresh, great service, AWESOME sushi!!! Ask for Taylor she's super helpful on selections and super friendly!!! Thanks Taylor
(5)Boyang Q.
Went there with my roommate before he moved out. The place is a decent Japanese roll and salami place. I had the dancing vampire roll which caught my attention due to its intriguing name. The taste was good tho not as exciting as its sounds. The salmon sashimi is very good. At the time we were there however, there was a mass 'water recall' and we notice the ice water was extremely turbid. Overall it's a good place to get Japanese sushi and sashimi but unfortunately nothing stunning.
(3)Abby B.
Look, I'm not one to try sushi places that are new to me. When it comes to raw fish, I know what I like and I tend not to sway. However, I kept hearing amazing reviews for Fat Salmon, so while I was in the area, I happened to have a sushi craving and just had to check it out. We went early on a Saturday evening, like 5:00. We immediately got a table despite not having reservations, most likely because we dine like we're senior citizens (early). We started with the Naked Gyoza Tuna appetizer, which was delicious, but a bit heavy on the pico de gallo. We both ordered speciality rolls, the Dragonfly and the Sleeping Volcano, both of which were very tasty and fresh. Is this good sushi? Yes. Is it a great value? Yes. If I was in the area again and had a hankering for sushi, I would certainly dine here again.
(4)Ann P.
very good food - fresh and plates were gorgeous. Servers need to know where the fish comes from - I like to know the origin of what I am eating especially raw.
(4)Sundi P.
Fun, hip sushi restaurant. Great sushi and service. This place had quite a line by the time we left. I would recommend going as early as possible to get a seat because it's not a big place.
(5)Alyssa R.
Love this place!! It's half way between me and my friends apartments so we always meet here. The sushi is always so fresh and delicious!! One of my favorites in the city. Their sashimi is always delicious and a very generous portion compared to other restaurants. I am a big fan of the rainbow roll and their spicy tuna rolls. Only complaint is as of the last time I was there, there was no option for a roll without rice. Sometimes I like to keep the carbs down and appreciate an option. But rolls are big and they have brown rice. Also they have a decent selection of house wines at about$6 a glass which is a great addition to the delicious sushi. Highly recommend it.
(4)Maria K.
Very fresh delicious sushi at a great price. Customer service was prefect and the whole ambiance is pleasant and welcoming.
(5)Anonymous A.
Love this place! If you're in need of a sushi fix you've found your spot. The wait staff is super friendly and the rolls are very creative. They have all the classic sushi rolls and then they have rolls that are truly innovative like the Mr. French kiss which is my favorite - shrimp, bacon and tartar sauce? Yes please! My sister wouldn't even try sushi until I took her here and she loved it! You seriously must go!
(5)Michelle T.
Grilled octopus and vampire roll!
(5)Chuck K.
Delicious sushi for an unbelievable price. It's not the fanciest sushi but it was damn good. The location is sleek modern and most importantly clean. No wait late on a weeknight.
(5)Jennifer M.
Sushi. I love me some sushi, especially when it's super fresh, presented to me creatively, and I have lots of options to explore. Last night transported me to Fat Salmon. This was my first time here, and certainly not my last. This place was legit. The atmosphere is vibrant and futuristic. I digged it. Blue lighting, white furniture, and color-changing vases. It was a small place, so don't think you can just roll in with a big group. Since we didn't have reservations, we were sat at the sushi bar. We brought a bottle of pinot grigio, but alas, it's not BYOB anymore! That sad face turned into a happy one after I ordered their sake-tini (sake, gin, cucumber, and club soda). It was refreshing and light, and went well with our sushi choices. The menu had a ton of options, but I was all about the special rolls! I loved how they put pictures next to the names on the menu! Who needs to read the description when you've got pictures? We ordered the Dancing Vampire, Lava, Lost Rainbow, and the Miss Sake Bomb. Solid choices. My favorite was the Dancing Vampire because it had a nice spicy kick. The Lava roll had too much of their octopus sauce (scallion, spicy sauce, and mayo), and since I'm not a fan of mayo, I avoided that orange concoction to get to the roll. Our server was attentive and pretty friendly. Not a long wait for sushi, either! I'm definitely coming back to this place when I'm craving sushi. I highly recommend this place. p.s. They played some sexy music in the bathroom. I knew I would dig this place!
(5)Hernan P.
Great food at a reasonable price. Excellent service with a nice environment. Location is not the most active by night and it can be difficult to get a table on weekends. Must call for reservation well in advance to get a table on busy hours. Overall one of the best sushi places in downtown Philadelphia!
(5)Rachel S.
Very very good!!! My friend and I tried the sushi deluxe for two (see photo), Seaweed Salad, Spicy Tuna and one other roll I can't remember. All were fresh and fantastic! Service was impeccable, noise level normal, decor was beautiful. I loved it! We had saki and a bottle of white wine.
(4)Shannon R.
When I go out for sushi, I tend to have to make do with an avocado roll and leave it at that. I couldn't believe my eyes when I sat down at Fat Salmon and saw EIGHT different veggie rolls on the menu. Are you kidding me, is this real life?! And then my jaw hit the floor when I saw six kinds of vegetarian nigiri. Have I died and gone to the big veg sushi bar in the sky? It took all my will power not to order everything, so I settled on two rolls: shiitake and midori. They were kind of skimpy and not total flavor bombs, but they filled me up and were way better than some standard veggie rolls I've had in the past. I was impressed when they brought out a bottle of tamari for another customer, very cool. The place is pretty trendy, great if you want to break out your cute heels and not feel over done, but perhaps a little much for the casual afternoon sector. The service was slow but pleasant - it took us close to an hour for lunch, but we weren't in a hurry. I will definitely be back to try every single roll and nigiri! I feel spoiled silly by all the options and can't wait to dive face first in it all.
(4)Michael G.
Best sushi I've ever had! I see why they won the 2012 Best of Philly for sushi! I came here recently for lunch wanting sushi and someplace new. Yelp reviews helped me to pick Fat Salmon. After walking almost a mile from where I work, I entered into a mid-size modern contemporary restaurant with a blue sea wall and white tables. The bench seating was too soft and squishy for me to be comfortable, so I took a chair. They also have tables in a rear section. I ordered a lunch special with soup. This gave me the choice of two rolls and miso soup. I chose the Locust Fried (INSIDE - Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado / Spicy Sauce ON TOP - (Spicy Tuna Tempura OR Broiled Spicy Tuna) w/Eel Sauce)), and the Dancing Vampire (INSIDE - Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy, ON TOP - Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy)). WOW! Two rolls were almost like four because of the amount of food on top of the roll. They were put together perfectly with minimal rice and maximum everything else. The Dancing Vampire top was so smooth in texture - and I really don't like salmon. But here I really did! The miso soup was also nice and hot with plenty of taste and greens inside. One of the best I've had in a while. Service I felt was a little slow, but there were a few other customers in there (was not really packed at all, though) and they had to make the rolls! But, the water lady server was almost helicopter-like waiting to drop off a new splash of water when my glass was 1/2 full. Staff was very friendly. Fat Salmon has now ruined all of my other sushi places as I'll be disappointed that I did not walk the mile to get here again to eat. $15.66 for lunch for 1 not including tip, no drinks. Very well worth it.
(5)Stacy M.
We tried Fat Salmon for lunch. We ordered the lunch combo with salad, chicken katsu, California roll, rice and gyoza, the sushi lunch and an additional spider roll, order of Himachi and Unagi. It was fine - but nothing special. The atmosphere was fairly nice. Food was ok - nothing more.
(3)Steve M.
Of the more decent side of the sushi in the area with a reasonable price. The layout has a relaxing ambience that is ideal for an after work dinner. The sushi is well crafted and is just as the name implies; fat. Be sure to come with a hungry stomach because it shouldn't be hard to satisfy here.
(5)Marian R.
ok, this one will be tricky. there is absolutely nothing wrong with fat salmon, but i am not their hugest fan (hence the a-ok rating). i love sushi, not just because i love eating raw fish, but i also appreciate the knife skills involved with the preparation (and i love beautiful, fishy presentation as well). fat salmon uses good quality fish, but their presentation has no artistry and their cuts of fish are way too big. this is why this review is hard to write, who would complain about too big pieces of sashimi? if that is your thing (bang for your buck) then i think that i can guarantee that you will love this place. i want beauty and deliciousness. so there. :) but - their rolls are very good (especially the salmon yaki), and i will probably stick to them in the future. service is attentive and upbeat, definitely all sorted out there. and they will soon be getting a liquor license, and that never hurts.
(3)Hannah K.
This restaurant deserves 4.5 but 4 stars will suffice. One of my absolute go to sushi restaurants in Philadelphia. The restaurant itself is pretty small, a handful of 2 top-tables & a couple of 4-top tables, plus the sushi-bar seating. Cute decor, all white, with a cool color changing wall, pretty standard decor in an asian restaurant these days. But onto the food. Every time I come here, there are always 2 rolls that I get. The Mr. French Kiss roll (described as "spicy crab stick w/scallion, masago. On top: shrimp & bacon, onion tempura w/tartar sauce") & the Rolling Fire roll (described as "shrimp tempura, cucumber. On top: broiled spicy scallop sauce.") These rolls are a mouthful! So yummy! I've tried some of the other rolls like the pressed Hako roll & a handful of the standard sushi rolls such as the spicy tuna, spicy scallop, & the Philadelphia roll. The Hako roll wasn't too impressive, but the $12.50 price tag sure was, making this the 2nd most expensive special's roll on the menu. 2 appetizers that I love & really really really encourage anyone who goes to Fat Salmon to try: the Naked Gyoza (described as "spicy tuna or salmon with masago, scallion & pico de gallo, sour cream") & the Tofu (which has the same broiled spicy scallop sauce on it that the Rolling Fire roll has). YUMMY! I don't know what's in that broiled spicy scallop sauce, but if I had the chance, I would eat it with everything that I possibly could. It's finger licking delicious. The service was impressive, with the servers paying attention to each table even when the restaurant was packed. Never was my water not refilled, nor was I not checked on at the appropriate time. The only downside to Fat Salmon are the prices of the sushi & the wait time. Granted good sushi is on the pricier side , but some of these rolls don't deserve such high price tags. Also the wait time for the sushi is painstakingly long sometimes. Oh & another pet peeve of mine, when the sushi pieces are so big that it's hard to eat. I understand that the sushi is jam packed with delicious things inside, but please try to make it easy to eat. In all, this has to be one of the better sushi restaurants in Philadelphia! I hear that they've just received their liquor license, so I'll be looking forward to some new yummy cocktails.
(4)Cassie K.
Loved it!! I love sushi but have to admit that I mostly limit myself to California Rolls (I am a Sushi Chicken). This place is great for Sushi Chickens!! I got a roll called the BCT which had bacon, tomato, and the roll was topped with avocado. I think the C was for cheese but whatever it was, it was delicious! The roll portions are large and the prices very reasonable. The menu had a lot of other fun looking rolls so I will definitely be back to try them out...maybe even some with actual fish in them depending on how brave I am feeling or the size of the wine bottle I bring :) As others said, this place is small so I would definitely call ahead for a reservation...even during the week!
(5)Patty L.
Fresh, quality sashimi with an eclectic selection of rolls that are very reasonably priced in a super sleek and modern atmosphere. Service was great! Could have had a more extensive drink menu for us lushes but if you love sake, you're in the right spot!
(4)Rachel B.
This was a fun place to go with a group of friends. Had good rolls and good service! Lots of variety in the rolls! Some of the rolls were a little "interesting" which I stay away from. Like things with fruit in them and such. I expected it to be a little more "trendy" inside considering the name. It wasn't super amazing, just regular average sushi. Also had edemame for our group, which needed some salt. I'll go back to try it again! BYO!
(3)John R.
I dined here one cold winter afternoon. After dashing in and out of the New Year's Mummers parade, my girlfriend and I were wandering the streets hungry and we stumbled upon Shinju Sushi. It is such a cute little restaurant. It's BYOB. The vibe is casual and romantic with definite mood lighting going on. I would not suggest you come here with a group, or even with more than another person. The place just doesn't have that many tables. I think the whole restaurant can seat like 20 people, but for a date, planned or unplanned, this was the perfect spot. The quality of this place is no secret to the locals, almost every seat in the place was taken as we walked in. The waitress told us that it would be a 30 minute wait for a table. No matter we decided, as we saw one of the like 3 or 4 seats at the sushi bar was open. Luckily, my girlfriend and I have tiny butts. We both scooched onto the stool, wrapped one arm around each other and ordered our sushi like some two headed monster I guess. We got an appetizer of age tofu (fried tofu with dashi in a light soy broth) and a miso soup. We then ordered a few standard rolls (eel, salmon) and a special roll ( I should have written it down but you know the names never make much sense anyway). The amount of fish in our rolls was pretty good, the quality was good, and for a great price. The total bill came to under $30. By no means is this a must visit place, there are actually plenty of good sushi options around philly. However, I think shinju will become my local sushi spot. Vic is all the way on the other side of town for me. Bring your next date here, it's a good place for an intimate dinner. Plus girls like sushi restaurants. The place is small and full, but didn't feel crowded or loud. If you're good friends you can just share a seat at the bar.
(4)Barb B.
Out-freakin-standing!!! That's it.
(5)Yuan H.
Delicious delicious delicious!!!! My whole office is obsessed with this place. The lunch menu is a great deal and always fills me up. I salivate when I walk past this place even when I am full. The staff is always great, and timely with food. The lunches are packed neatly and they give you a dipping dish for soy sauce. Everything is so thoughtful but not overbearing. For dinner, try the sake sampler. It's reasonably priced and adds a nice kick to dinner time.
(5)Winnie Y.
I usually am hesitant on trying new sushi places, especially at a cheaper joint, since I am head over heels for an authentic grade A Japanese place in NYC, but I must say Fat Salmon hits home for being a delicious, quality meal that doesn't kill my wallet. I've been here a couple of times and have tried various rolls, such as the Lost Rainbow, Dancing Vampire, and Miss Sake Bomb. I've liked all of them. Plus, the restaurant's environment is trendy! For those who are thrilled to try innovative sushi roll creations that are of high quality, please visit Fat Salmon. I will say though that because I am a fan of sashimi, I do not imagine this being the place for that.
(4)Nikki L.
Fat salmon offers a modern, trendy vibe complete with white tables, white chairs, and bright blue neon lighting. In keeping with the decor, it's paired with Americanized Japanese food. There's different sushi rolls covered with a mishmash of ingredients like cream cheese, eel, shrimp, cucumber, spicy sauce etc. The food is decent, but I can't do too much of these rolls. The superdragon was a crabstick, cucumber, avocado, tobiko, tempura roll with rice covering the outside, topped with some nori on top, then eel and wasabi tobiko. The roll was drizzled with eel sauce. It wasn't as heavy, or drenched in sauce like I thought it would be. The kame Those who like Americanized-Japanese style will love this place.
(3)Candice H.
I am quite a fan of this place! The atmosphere is a bit dark for my liking, especially at the bar, but the food is on par! My go to at every sushi place, which is a pretty good tell if their sushi is good: Chirashi bowl. For $21, you get soup and salad with it, so it's a pretty good deal. Large cuts of fresh sushi. You can add ikura for $1 - again, not bad. Reservations are recommended on the weekend, or it's dark bar seating only. You can't see the Chef's make sushi, which is usually the plus at sitting at the bar. They placed a white wall in front for privacy I guess. Seats aren't that comfortable either. Still, would love to go back because the sushi is fresh!
(4)Stacey G.
Excellent sushi with new and inventive rolls, great service and decor with very reasonable prices. I ordered the edamame, tofuholic roll and cucumber/avocado roll. The tofu roll was amazing, I've never even heard of it before. I am definitely coming back for more of this. A few of my friends got the rolling fire roll (it's spicy) but they loved it! Great for a group of friends! Excellent sushi!
(5)Christina E.
Um. Interesting. Cute, cool ambiance. Alright sushi. Seems like a fun, trendy date spot.
(3)Carol C.
My favorite sashimi place around this area used to be Sagami. However, my last experience there was tainted after I was deliberately told by our server to order food from the kitchen and not the sushi menu unless, I wanted to wait an additional 2 hours. No thanks. I was in need of finding another sashimi place, since I don't trust most Philly sushi restaurants for purely raw fish. I came here after many recommendations, and this place definitely lived up to the hype. For about $50, we ordered the sashimi platter for 2. Every slice was perfectly cut and fresh. I am super picky about sashimi quality, as my brother is an avid fisherman, and this place definitely impressed.
(5)Angela W.
Not a huge fan when it comes to sushi/sashimi dolled up with dressings and an overload of fillings. After returning from Japan with traditional sushi, I can't endorse this place even though it's seems to always be popping. My favorite is still Sagami in Collingswood, NJ if you want a traditional taste of Japan. However, a recent yelp friend also suggested if you want it without the extra accouterment, then you can always ask they don't put it on- always another option! This is the place to be if you just want sushi and is going for a burst of flavors with innovative rolls called "Rolling Fire" or "Dancing Vampire" haha. I always find it fun when sushi places are modernized for a city feel, and you'll know that when they give you sushi on a plate decorated with lights to illuminate the meal! Presentation here is very well done!
(3)Shirley Y.
Many friends recommended me to try this place and I'm glad I did! The ambiance was nice and good for a nice date or birthday. It was small but intimate. The staff was very attentive and made sure my water was full and table was clean. The price wasn't bad. We ordered the sashimi for two and the fish was fresh but wasn't a huge variety which I was a bit disappointed. I ended up ordering a uni nigiri since I was craving it and it was fresh, which made me happy. I would try ordering some nigiri next time instead. The rolls sounded yummy but I'm not a huge fan of them.
(4)Yuan H.
Delicious delicious delicious!!!! My whole office is obsessed with this place. The lunch menu is a great deal and always fills me up. I salivate when I walk past this place even when I am full. The staff is always great, and timely with food. The lunches are packed neatly and they give you a dipping dish for soy sauce. Everything is so thoughtful but not overbearing. For dinner, try the sake sampler. It's reasonably priced and adds a nice kick to dinner time.
(5)Winnie Y.
I usually am hesitant on trying new sushi places, especially at a cheaper joint, since I am head over heels for an authentic grade A Japanese place in NYC, but I must say Fat Salmon hits home for being a delicious, quality meal that doesn't kill my wallet. I've been here a couple of times and have tried various rolls, such as the Lost Rainbow, Dancing Vampire, and Miss Sake Bomb. I've liked all of them. Plus, the restaurant's environment is trendy! For those who are thrilled to try innovative sushi roll creations that are of high quality, please visit Fat Salmon. I will say though that because I am a fan of sashimi, I do not imagine this being the place for that.
(4)Nikki L.
Fat salmon offers a modern, trendy vibe complete with white tables, white chairs, and bright blue neon lighting. In keeping with the decor, it's paired with Americanized Japanese food. There's different sushi rolls covered with a mishmash of ingredients like cream cheese, eel, shrimp, cucumber, spicy sauce etc. The food is decent, but I can't do too much of these rolls. The superdragon was a crabstick, cucumber, avocado, tobiko, tempura roll with rice covering the outside, topped with some nori on top, then eel and wasabi tobiko. The roll was drizzled with eel sauce. It wasn't as heavy, or drenched in sauce like I thought it would be. The kame Those who like Americanized-Japanese style will love this place.
(3)Candice H.
I am quite a fan of this place! The atmosphere is a bit dark for my liking, especially at the bar, but the food is on par! My go to at every sushi place, which is a pretty good tell if their sushi is good: Chirashi bowl. For $21, you get soup and salad with it, so it's a pretty good deal. Large cuts of fresh sushi. You can add ikura for $1 - again, not bad. Reservations are recommended on the weekend, or it's dark bar seating only. You can't see the Chef's make sushi, which is usually the plus at sitting at the bar. They placed a white wall in front for privacy I guess. Seats aren't that comfortable either. Still, would love to go back because the sushi is fresh!
(4)Stacey G.
Excellent sushi with new and inventive rolls, great service and decor with very reasonable prices. I ordered the edamame, tofuholic roll and cucumber/avocado roll. The tofu roll was amazing, I've never even heard of it before. I am definitely coming back for more of this. A few of my friends got the rolling fire roll (it's spicy) but they loved it! Great for a group of friends! Excellent sushi!
(5)Christina E.
Um. Interesting. Cute, cool ambiance. Alright sushi. Seems like a fun, trendy date spot.
(3)Carol C.
My favorite sashimi place around this area used to be Sagami. However, my last experience there was tainted after I was deliberately told by our server to order food from the kitchen and not the sushi menu unless, I wanted to wait an additional 2 hours. No thanks. I was in need of finding another sashimi place, since I don't trust most Philly sushi restaurants for purely raw fish. I came here after many recommendations, and this place definitely lived up to the hype. For about $50, we ordered the sashimi platter for 2. Every slice was perfectly cut and fresh. I am super picky about sashimi quality, as my brother is an avid fisherman, and this place definitely impressed.
(5)Boyang Q.
Went there with my roommate before he moved out. The place is a decent Japanese roll and salami place. I had the dancing vampire roll which caught my attention due to its intriguing name. The taste was good tho not as exciting as its sounds. The salmon sashimi is very good. At the time we were there however, there was a mass 'water recall' and we notice the ice water was extremely turbid. Overall it's a good place to get Japanese sushi and sashimi but unfortunately nothing stunning.
(3)Angela W.
Not a huge fan when it comes to sushi/sashimi dolled up with dressings and an overload of fillings. After returning from Japan with traditional sushi, I can't endorse this place even though it's seems to always be popping. My favorite is still Sagami in Collingswood, NJ if you want a traditional taste of Japan. However, a recent yelp friend also suggested if you want it without the extra accouterment, then you can always ask they don't put it on- always another option! This is the place to be if you just want sushi and is going for a burst of flavors with innovative rolls called "Rolling Fire" or "Dancing Vampire" haha. I always find it fun when sushi places are modernized for a city feel, and you'll know that when they give you sushi on a plate decorated with lights to illuminate the meal! Presentation here is very well done!
(3)Victoria L.
Fat Salmon is the PERFECT place to get some amazing sushi. My friends and I were so happy with the food, service, and atmosphere. We asked the waitress for the most popular options and ordered the Dancing Vampire, Rolling Fire, Blossom, and Unakyu. My absolute favorite were the Dancing Vampire (made with cucumber and asparagus crunchy with tuna & salmon on top) and Rolling Fire rolls (shrimp tempura with broiled spicy scallop sauce on top). I loved the shrimp tempura in the Rolling Fire roll, and the sauce that topped it was the perfect addition to the dish. These two options were definitely the spicier ones, but not too spicy. Even my friend who usually opts out of spicy foods loved these rolls! They also had a nice sweet and spicy taste with every bite. Fat Salmon is the perfect place to take all sushi lovers! I know for sure I'll be back to try the other rolls!
(5)Linda X.
The amostphere is nice, but the food were just okay....My boyfriend is a huge fan of sashimi, but he didnt like the sashimi that much because its not fresh. And the worst part is they didnt have Uni for him.
(2)A.T. K.
If you're looking for good-quality sushi and a trendy, modern vibe, this is the place for you. It looks very modern and chic inside with the white furniture and mood lighting. The staff is really friendly and full of great recommendations off the menu. We ordered a LOT of food. Be warned, the Seaweed Salad appetizer is HUGE and could be split in to and maybe even three. The Dragonfly roll is as fabulous as everyone hypes it up to be, but it's nothing too special since most trendy sushi places seem to have a "dragon" roll of some kind. But the uni I had was great quality and the other nigiri sushi (salmon, tuna, yellowtail, etc.) were fresh and melted in my mouth - the way good sushi was! I think for the prices and the atmosphere, it's a great place to go.
(4)Amy H.
Great food! Great service! I am new to the city and was recommended this place and I was not disappointed. I had access to good sushi restaurants growing up in Florida and Fat Sushi doesn't disappoint.:)
(4)Tiffany T.
Ah, I really like this place. I've been here probably 5 or 6 times over the last couple years. Any time someone comes from outta town that wants some no frills sushi -- fancier than Vics but less than Morimoto -- this is my go- to spot Agedashi tofu -- this time was a bit too sweet, salty and heavy. The batter still needs work -- I understand it's hard dish to execute, to keep the batter light but just my personal opinion Still love the Lost Rainbow rolls -- I really love their special rolls Biggest reason for 3 stars was our service. It was slow -- not too many customers. It was about 9:30pm so they close around 10pm -- not like it was packed dinner rush. Waited quite a while.. a while.. a while.. then our 3 sushi rolls came out. Then I asked the server if the agedashi tofu was still in the kitchen or he forgot... He apologized, came out with it about 7 minutes later. Surprised a restaurant of this caliber wouldn't comp that on the house -- as what is the POINT of an appetizer once my entrees have already arrived.?? Definitely minus one yelp for that.
(3)Olivia K.
Fat salmon is possibly my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. Always get the fried green tea ice cream here because for $6 the size is so worth it. I also had the sushi and sashimi combo for 2 which can really be split among 3 people if you also get the fried ice cream. The portions were large and I think worth the $49.95 price tag. Get a nice selection of sushi, maki, and sashimi. The lunch combinations here are about $14 for either 2 rolls, 2 entrees or a roll and an entree. I got the roll and entree combo with the dancing vampire roll which was a little spicy but very good. For $14 definitely worth it. The only thing that was weird was when I went I was given a seat at the booth even though I kept asking for a table and there were tables free during the entirely of my meal. If the tables were reserved there should be a policy for no shows and the table should be given to an actual customer.
(5)Brett K.
I've been looking to try new sushi restaurants in Philly and this was the first one that I tried. It's delicious and they have an extensive menu (I felt bad for the waitress because I was so indecisive). They have some pictures of the specialty rolls in case you haven't seen or heard of them. Every piece that I ordered was delicious, especially the Red Snapper sashimi. I will definitely be back here and have recommended it to multiple people.
(4)Roz P.
Really amazing food! Some traditional and some of their own. Wear something smart casual.
(4)Sir-ahh L.
The sushi was absolutely delicious! Our service was great from beginning to end and our waitress was easily able to answer all questions. The wine was amazing, the ambiance was on point, and it was more than reasonably priced. We have definitely found our sushi spot in the city.
(5)Carmen S.
Super-fresh, great service, AWESOME sushi!!! Ask for Taylor she's super helpful on selections and super friendly!!! Thanks Taylor
(5)Jessica S.
I came here for a weekday lunch as I had heard great things and still hadn't been to this sushi place just a few blocks from me. We walked in around 1pm on a Monday and the restaurant was less than half full with many empty tables available. Right away, we were turned off by the service and staff. The hostess was on the phone when we entered and did not acknowledge us for about 5 minutes. Then, she said there were no tables ready for us to sit down yet and proceeded to go to the back for another 5 minutes. When she came back, she again was on the phone and we felt so ignored that we debated leaving. Sorry, but how long does it take to put 2 sushi plates, silverware, and 2 glasses on a table? And why couldn't we sit down while this occurred? It seemed a little ridiculous, but I really didn't want to give up the prospects of delicious sushi so we decided to wait it out. Finally, we were seated, but the bad service didn't end there. We waited another 10 minutes to have our order taken! Thankfully, we didn't have anywhere to be, but if this was a lunch break from work, we would have definitely been more pissed. We finally ordered and we opted for the edamame for an appetizer and each got a lunch special. Their lunch specials are very reasonably priced. I ordered the salmon special which was an alaskan roll, 2 pieces of salmon sashimi, and 2 pieces of salmon nigiri. My husband got the tuna lunch special which was the same idea, except with a spicy tuna roll and tuna instead of salmon. Both came with either miso soup or a green salad. After about 15 minutes, we had not received our appetizer or our soup/salad. We had been there for over a half hour without any food! We both thought this was insane.. especially for a lunch time hour where it wasn't super busy and the food requires minimal cooking. Thankfully, we finally got our food (I feel like I've said finally way too much in this review, but that basically sums up our feelings!). The edamame was a large portion and was salted perfectly. The green salad was meh, some of the lettuce was kind of gross and I could have used a little more dressing as the bottom of the salad was dry and bland. Both of our sushi platters were fresh and delicious. Lunch cost us under 30 dollars, which was more than reasonable for sushi. We left feeling happy with the food but underwhelmed by the service and the overall experience. I would consider coming back to try the special rolls, but would only go when I was not crunched for time.
(3)Christine V.
I love everything about this place. Great atmosphere, great food, friendly service, and very reasonably priced. I came here with two of my girlfriends on a quest to satisfy our sushi cravings. Between the three of us, we ordered three of their featured rolls and one of their smaller rolls. Upon recommendation, we ordered the dancing vampire, the rolling fire, and the blossom roll as three of the bigger rolls and the unakyu (eel and cucumber) roll as the smaller one. Dancing vampire and the rolling fire rolls were two of the spicy rolls but they were definitely our favorites for the night. The dancing vampire definitely has more of a sweet and spicy component to it due to the chili sauce they use. Even with the spice, the taste of the fresh tuna and salmon were not underwhelmed. The flavors blended very nicely together, and the crunch from the cucumber and asparagus added a good texture. The rolling fire roll had a heap of shredded crab stick with spicy broiled scallop sauce on top of it. The other two rolls were also very well-made and tasted great. Nothing disappointing about our experience at Fat Salmon. I can't wait to come back here to try some of their sashimi!
(5)Ancy T.
I wasn't a sushi fiend, until I had fat salmon. I have been to this restaurant so many times, it's probably an unhealthy addiction. I once went 3x in one week. You can't beat this high quality sushi at such an affordable price. I love ordering a few specialty rolls to share with friends... I'm pretty sure I've tried them all. My most memorable ones are the old school roll and the roll with Pico de gallo (I forget the name)... ugh so good. Honestly, everything on that menu is fantastic in every way. I even had sashimi for the first time and it was amazing! My only complaint is that food takes awhile to come out so make sure you order right away (take a look at the menu before you get there) and get an appetizer so you have something to nibble on on the meantime. Make sure you make reservations.. you can even do it online! Oh also, I personally like ordering drinks when I'm out, but don't even bother doing that here.. save the extra money on some more sushi rolls or just enjoy a small bill!
(5)Tanisha M.
I love fat salmon , really intimate and cute set up although a little cramped feeling. Delicious sushi and has something for everyone as I went on two occasions with two picky eaters and they both found something they enjoyed. My faves are the Dragonfly and Rolling Fire so good! The service is usually spot on but my last visit we were rushed during our meal despite coming in almost two hours before closing and ppl were sat after us and not bothered once- still comes back cause it's great that just was an weird night for me. Oh it can be packed most nights but they seat you as quickly as possible.
(4)Priya R.
It's a great sushi place for many reasons. 1) there are photographs with all of it's menu items. I don't know about you, but this is a big deal to me. Everything is simply laid out, and you can see what you will be ordering before you actually order it! 2) It's not a cheap sushi place, but is definitely better quality. The concept of, you get what you pay for certainly applies here. 3) The atmosphere is fun and hip and in a poppin' location. It's got a modern look to it with a friendly and attentive staff. Overall, It made for a pretty fun date and was super fresh sushi. We came here hoping there was a happy hour (there wasn't) but left still feeling satisfied with the quantity of food we got for out wallets. If I had to recommend one roll, the fancy sushi was just superb. But that's because any opportunity to get some large hunks of fresh fish, this is it.
(4)Christine S.
Great sushi. Interesting ambiance - seems to try to hard in being hip and trendy. But the food is good. There was a fried eel roll that I ADORED. The fried ice cream dessert was mediocre though - don't bother getting it.
(4)Bridget C.
Best sushi in the city! Lots to choose from always leave full and very satisfied, staff is great
(5)Djuan S.
Came here with one of my friends for a quick bite to eat. The menu is very exhaustive and reasonably priced. The set up is primarily for dates but there was one larger table for a large group. There is a sushi bar that's very intimate as well. The atmosphere is very cute. My meal was 13 plus tip. I would definitely come here again.
(4)Jim B.
Every once and a while when you're growing up someone may ask you which super hero you would be if you could. Some people say Superman so they can fly, others may say Batman so they'd be rich and cool... ...Me? I'd be Aquaman. Sure, the scaly orange and green tights are kind of a drag. Riding that stupid sea horse as a mode of conveyance doesn't compare to the Batmobile. Doing the breast stroke isn't in the same league with flying. However, as Aquaman, I could summon all those delicious fish from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, march them all to the back door of Fat Salmon's and right into the waiting arms of their fantastic sushi chefs so they could carve 'em up and serve fresh Volcano Rolls and Super Dragon rolls! Best of all, if that were to happen then I believe a 10 % discount might be in order for me (fingers crossed!). So you can keep your x-ray vision, metal claws and invisibility powers. You can jump all the tall buildings with a single bound in the world and it isn't going to save you money on sashimi! Ha ha ha ha! Suckers!!!
(5)Jin Z.
Best Vegetarian Sushi Ever! Was in Phili for a conference and ended up eating here twice because the sushi was so good. I came with someone who is vegetarian so we had both the "Tofuholic" and I think the other one was "Old School." These were hands down the best vegetarian sushi both of us ever had. The Tofuholic was a great balance of refreshing vegi and creamcheese based topping. I was very impressed with the Old School because it was sushi with a warm topping that worked out so good. In most places vegetarian sushi feels like an afterthought, but here it feels thoughtful, artistic, and most importantly mouth wateringly delicious. Their regular sushi was also delicious. The fish was fresh and everything was tasty and well balanced. I recommend sharing their tempura icecream. Tempura is icecream encased in a fried batter. It was amazing but also a rather large portion. Fat Salmon did a great job on making the perfect batter.
(5)Ruth K.
If I could give 6 stars, I would. And I have no photos because my kids attacked my plate. My husband and I both had the sashimi for 1- phenomenal. Best fish we ever had and we lived in hawaii 3 years. We also had the fancy tuna and the lost rainbow. Service was meticulous. I don't know how our final dinner in Philly could have been any better
(5)Barb B.
Out-freakin-standing!!! That's it.
(5)Colin S.
I've had a lot of sushi all over Philadelphia, and Fat Salmon is still the place I recommend above all others. The fish is very good quality, and the value for dollar here is pretty much un-matched anywhere else in the city. Their house (cold) sake is very good and very affordable. The sushi and sashimi combos give a lot of food for the money. If you're looking for good sushi, and nice environment, and solid drinks for a great value, check out Fat Salmon. note: they do takeout as well, and it's equally good.
(5)Johnny N.
If you're in central Philadelphia and you just want a nice quiet sushi dinner, this is the place. Ambience is very casual and you'll probably see a lot of couples who are on their first date. The food? Yummy! Definitely your traditional Japanese fusion sushi and the presentation is very colorful, classy and delicious. I highly recommend their Sepia Pleasure Roll. Whatever you order, you'll definitely come out satisfied.
(4)Abby B.
Look, I'm not one to try sushi places that are new to me. When it comes to raw fish, I know what I like and I tend not to sway. However, I kept hearing amazing reviews for Fat Salmon, so while I was in the area, I happened to have a sushi craving and just had to check it out. We went early on a Saturday evening, like 5:00. We immediately got a table despite not having reservations, most likely because we dine like we're senior citizens (early). We started with the Naked Gyoza Tuna appetizer, which was delicious, but a bit heavy on the pico de gallo. We both ordered speciality rolls, the Dragonfly and the Sleeping Volcano, both of which were very tasty and fresh. Is this good sushi? Yes. Is it a great value? Yes. If I was in the area again and had a hankering for sushi, I would certainly dine here again.
(4)Ann P.
very good food - fresh and plates were gorgeous. Servers need to know where the fish comes from - I like to know the origin of what I am eating especially raw.
(4)Sundi P.
Fun, hip sushi restaurant. Great sushi and service. This place had quite a line by the time we left. I would recommend going as early as possible to get a seat because it's not a big place.
(5)Alyssa R.
Love this place!! It's half way between me and my friends apartments so we always meet here. The sushi is always so fresh and delicious!! One of my favorites in the city. Their sashimi is always delicious and a very generous portion compared to other restaurants. I am a big fan of the rainbow roll and their spicy tuna rolls. Only complaint is as of the last time I was there, there was no option for a roll without rice. Sometimes I like to keep the carbs down and appreciate an option. But rolls are big and they have brown rice. Also they have a decent selection of house wines at about$6 a glass which is a great addition to the delicious sushi. Highly recommend it.
(4)Maria K.
Very fresh delicious sushi at a great price. Customer service was prefect and the whole ambiance is pleasant and welcoming.
(5)Job M.
The thing with sushi is, even when it's bad (but still fresh) it's still pretty good. This place is REALLY good, but it's still just sushi. The rolls are rolls, the fish is fresh, but it's nothing different you can;t just find anywhere else. One roll i will mention that I've never had before and is a must-have is the Old School Roll. It's just veggies but it's topped with sauteed onions and shiitake mushrooms. It's pretty GD amazing. This is the place you take a date who wants sushi. Pro Tip: Make a reservation. It's a small restaurant and it fills up quick.
(4)Annie L.
This is a go to for sushi in the city. Their lunch specials are superb and I love dinner as well. We have our usual orders for rolls but will switch up the special rolls because they all are great! They don't use rice as fillers so the rolls are actually great quality.
(5)Michelle P.
My group of four ended up at Fat Salmon for dinner last Saturday night. We didn't have a reservation and we wanted to dine around 6:30/7. All tables for four had already been reserved for the evening, but we were seated at the sushi bar almost immediately. I wasn't involved in the dinner planning for the evening, but needless to say I wasn't thrilled to be eating dinner at a sushi bar. I was probably looking for just about anything to go wrong with the evening, but the night went fairly well, and I enjoyed my Fat Salmon experience. The server did a good job working with us, despite the facts that our backs were turned towards her whenever she approached. At the beginning of the evening, she did ask us if we wanted to see menus. I thought the question to be rather silly, but otherwise she did a good job. To start, my husband and I split the edamame. The bowl was deceiving large and we had a really nice portion of edamame. It was salted, but not overly salted. All pieces were plump, juicy and most contained about 3 beans. Since I got a sushi entrée, my dinner came with soup and salad. The salad was probably one of the best Japanese house salads I've ever eaten. It consisted of peppers, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and the plentiful pour of the best ginger dressing I've ever had. The miso soup was very flavorful and had nice chunks of tofu and seaweed. For my entrée, I decided to go with the handroll combo. It contained yellow tail, spicy tuna crunchy and unakyu pieces. This was actually my first time having handrolls but I thought they were great. They were wrapped in tasty seaweed and filled with rice and fish. I'd certainly get them again. I thought the prices to be a little above the Philly market average and was disappointed that Fat Salmon wasn't BYOB. It was nice that they offered a house reasonably priced house wine option for $6 a glass. I personally wasn't a fan of the chairs at the sushi bar. They were very hard and I found I had to arch my back oddly to sit comfortably, and crane my neck to chat with the rest of my party. I glanced around and the chairs were the same at each table. Take that for what you will. As far as the sushi bar is concerned, when sitting down you could see part of the bar at eye level. Unfortunately, you were just looking at fish wrapped up, versus the sushi chefs in action. It wasn't most ascetically pleasing sushi bar experience I've ever had. Despite my reluctantly to eat at a sushi bar on a Saturday night, which I can only blame myself and my group for, I cannot find fault in my meal at Fat Salmon. It was enjoyable and I'm glad I ended up there.
(4)Sooji L.
Excellent service both from the owner/manager and the waiters The fish is fresh- our go to appetizer is the shrimp tempura (comes in an assortment of shrimp tempura and other vegetable tempura- perfect to share for two without getting full). We love getting the sashimi combo. Our fave rolls are the fancy salmon (best!!) and the fuku (refreshing roll). Go fancy or go home! My fiancé and I come here regularly. Perfect (first) date spot or even for a girls dinner.
(5)Eric H.
Sushi was amazing! But the takeout was so slow. Wait about 20 minutes after they say to come. Still waiting for my food.... 40 minutes later. Get it together people. How long does it take to roll up some fish.
(4)Jeniz P.
Never been before but heard great things. Great things confirmed from eating the sushi boat, and great things are happening in my toilet. A+++ seller would buy from again.
(5)Vanessa T.
Fat Salmon is one of my favorite sushi spots in the city. Let's begin with the ambiance. The interior has just enough lighting, not too dim, not too bright. The theme color is blue and white (goes very well together) and makes the restaurant look clean and classy. You can pretty much see the whole restaurant once you walk in because it is fairly small with tables along the walls of one side and other side is the sushi bar. This is a great spot for a sushi date. I love the special rolls at fat salmon, the come with pictures on the menu too. We started with the deep fried tofu with spicy scallops. The tofu was delicious, it felt lightly battered rather than deep fried (not a big deal because I prefer it that way anyway). We ordered the hako roll (a rectangular shaped sushi roll) and the blossom; both were delicious. Although the rice broke off easily on the hako. Never have i left this place feeling dissatisfied with my meal and dining experience. I hope to come back and try more of their special rolls and appetizers. I was dissapointed that they don't have Kani salad, a crab stick salad, usually my favorite appetizer at sushi restaurants. Best of all, price is reasonable, sushi is presentable and delicious.
(5)Jason K.
This is my favorite sushi place in town. The fish is always very fresh and flavorful. They have a lot of 'fancy' special rolls and if that's you're thing you'll be in love. Some have mountains of veggies in spicy sauce, another has pick de galo on top. They also have a list of more traditional rolls. The tempura is delicious and the miso is legit.
(4)Snehal M.
Being a vegetarian, I am usually limited to basic veggie rolls when I go to a sushi place. It's not bad but it wouldn't hurt to have some variety. Well fat salmon has that variety! This place has the most amazing vegetarian rolls. I always get the lipstick trays and old school roll but I am looking forward to trying a lot more as I go back. My friends who aren't vegetarian love the sushi over there but even they order the aforementioned veggie sushi rolls. Love this place and will be frequenting and trying more rolls
(5)Roberto G.
Very good sushi - many options to choose from both "classics" and house specialties including a roll that has bacon involved Decent wine list Awesome atmosphere Friendly staff Will definitely be back here!
(5)Samuel M.
A great sushi surprise a few blocks away from the liberty bell in Philly. Original plates, the salmon was excellent, they have a nice looking bar, always crowded. A gem when you arrive to Philly. Ambience is very casual. Reasonable prices. A great place to go.
(4)Ilker U.
Fat Salmon is one of the best sushi restaurants I have ever eaten. I always order seaweed salad if I am in a Japanese restaurant. Fat Salmon's seaweed salad is by far the best ever I have eaten in my life. It is so fresh and tasty we ordered the second one. Their fried shrimp dumpling is so delicious, we ordered 3 more orders after the first one. :) I don't order cooked sushi or rolls but my sister ordered one cooked beef and friend shrimp roll and they were both very tasty. No wonder why, we couldn't have a dinner without a reservation. I would strongly recommend Fat Salmon for sushi lovers.
(5)Joey M.
Great sushi ,Great atmosphere--Trendy Tables are kinda small and cramped together but it worked out well...accept for when the waitress goes in between the tables to take the accompanying patrons order and her rear-end was literally brushing the table! Ordered: Plum Saki--YUMMY! Comes in a cool carafe that houses ice. If you're not a fan of traditional Saki you may want to try the plum as it is sweeter and does not taste like rubbing alcohol. Garden salad with ginger dressing--tasty but DRENCHED with the ginger drenching so much so that I had to drain it into another bowl. I also asked for a fork (as it is kinda hard, but not impossible, to eat salad with chop sticks) but the waitress forgot :( VOLCANO roll (6pcs) Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado, On Top - Spicy Tuna, Wasabi Tobiko w/Crunchy on the side.-delicious! ROLLING FIRE (6 pcs) Shrimp Tempura, Cucumber, On Top - Broiled Spicy Scallop sauce(Crab Stick, Scallion)Cool presentation in that it kinda looks like a volcano. The sushi is placed in a circle, topped with artificial crabmeat and covered in spicy sauce. I think they over did it with the spicy sauce. It literally tasted like someone went to town with hot sauce. Unfortunately, it made It hard to actually taste the flavors of the roll. TENPI roll(6 pcs) Inside-Cucumber, Avocado / On Top-Tuna -highly recommend White tuna (albacore) sushi--was very tasty and fresh (serving size is two pieces) I would visit this location again :)
(4)Johnny H.
Fat Salmon is excellent! With lots of options for sushi while visiting Philly it's easy to get pointed to Marimoto or any of a number of other choices. I'm sure many of them are excellent but you will not be disappointed with Fat Salmon. My coworker and I decided to go to Fat Salmon because they seemed to have a good number of special maki roll options. So, bear in mind that I was looking for a large number of interesting and flavorful maki rolls to try, as opposed to standard sushi or boutique, TV-hyped quality. When it comes to variety, Fat Salmon absolutely crushed the mark. I tried the rolling fire and super dragon rolls. There may be higher-grade sushi/maki out there, but Fat Salmon's rolls were delicious and good quality. Food was made quickly despite their being fairly busy during the dinner our. Staff were kind and courteous. Cool atmosphere to the place, great spot for a quick and casual dinner or date. If I lived in Philly I would be in here all the time!
(4)Sam F.
Excellent food, excellent service. This is my new nice sushi place. The chef really knows how to craft vibrant and delicious rolls.
(5)Smrithi D.
Fat Salmon has been bookmarked for sometime now so I was excited when my coworkers suggested we go here for lunch last week. The decor is amazing! A cool blue modern feel that would be great for a casual turned romantic dinner. I'm a vegetarian and FS had the best sushi rolls and selections I've ever tried!! Can't go wrong with any of the rolls with avocado and the veggie roll. Both go great with a side of spicy mayo. Will be returning very soon!
(4)Henry Y.
Pros: -Decent sushi. I recommend going for a bunch of their combos with a friend. -Wow, that salad dressing. -ICE CREAM TEMPURA Cons: -I recommend making reservations 24 hrs in advance.
(4)Roopa S.
Satisfied all of my sushi cravings. Amazing selection of rolls-- especially Vegetarian rolls (I don't eat seafood)-- and so I was definitely excited by this place. Everything tasted great and fresh-- the spicy sauces were definitely spicy-- and the green tea fried ice cream for dessert was absolutely amazing. The service was extremely slow-- not sure if I came on an off-day, but this was definitely a huge complaint of mine. We waited around 40 minutes for our food to arrive, and we even asked several times through the night about the status of our order. The waiters and waitresses were not accommodating, friendly, or warm... That being said, the ambiance and decor are cool. The food is good. The options are there. Prices are not too high. Great spot for sushi downtown!
(4)Reyana F.
best sushi place in Philly. The atmosphere is futuristic-y with neon blue accent lights and modern white furniture, but the real winner is the Mr. Shiro roll (and I'm guessing by the other reviews, the rolls with the chili sauce). Service was great and the prices were super affordable for the quality of the fish. Everything was delicious- definitely recommend the Mr. Shiro and Hako, and the steamed shrimp shumai to start. Can pass on the Spicy Tuna Crunch though, the specialty rolls are the way to go here. Definitely recommend for a casual bite or first date!
(5)Jason K.
This was literally the BEST SUSHI I have ever eaten. I ordered the Sashimi for One + the Fancy Sushi (Tuna). I have been eating sushi for decades and all around the country (San Francisco, LA, Las Vegas, Dallas, Chicago, Miami, NYC, etc). The quality of the fish was exceptional. Every pieces letdown my mouth. Service was amazing. Philly has truly impressed me during my visit. Thank you Fat Salmon, you were amazing!!!
(5)Connie L.
1. Variety 2. Fresh 3. Trendy ambience Consumed: (In order of preference) Lost Rainbow Dancing Vampire Miss Sake Bomb Spicy Tuna Crunch Shrimp Tempura Alaskan Roll I love sushi and hailing from Seattle, where there's always fresh seafood, this place is comparable! The sushi was very fresh and I really liked the variety of choices. The Lost Rainbow was my favorite. The texture and flavor was top notch. Dancing Vampire came closely second with the crunchiness and kick of chili flavor. Mmmm, I'm really inspired to embark on a sushi making adventure. Also, their rolls come out in sixes, go in a group of 3 or 6--perfect for sampling.
(4)Dani M.
Great atmosphere and fantastic food! The sushi was the best I've ever had, along with the sashimi. However, the best part of the dinner had to be the mochi ice cream. Definitely a must!!! Will hope to come back to try even more sushi and sashimi.
(5)Jonathan S.
I rarely review anything. This place is great.
(5)Danan R.
This is one of my favorite sushi places in Center City (the other is Morimoto, as a point of reference). The rolls are creative, delicious, and perfectly portioned, and the fish is fresh. Service is great as well and the dimly lit ambiance is trendy and comfortable. We shared the following: 1. Hako: Pressed Box Sushi with Spicy Tuna and Crunchy on the inside, and Eel & Tobiko w/Eel sauce on the outside. I absolutely loved this as it was the perfect combination of eel, spicy tuna, and crunch with a great balance of perfectly cooked rice to fish. The tobiko on top was a nice finish. 2. Lost Rainbow: Spicy Crab Stick with Scallion and Masago on the inside and Tuna, Salmon, and White Fish w/Ikura sauce on the outside. This was a nice twist on the classic Rainbow with the addition of spicy sauce and scallion and Ikura sauce. Definitely try this if you are a fan of spicy and Rainbow rolls. 3. Mr. French Kiss: Spicy Crab Stick w/Scallion Masago & Crunchy on the inside, and Shrimp & Bacon & Onion Tempura w/Tartar sauce on the outside. This was my friend's favorite. It has the same filling as the Lost Rainbow but the tempura was a great addition and added a nice, fried twist. The bacon flavor was pretty faint, though. 4. Dragon: A tried and true classic with beautifully layered slices of avocado topped with sesame seeds and Eel sauce. 5. Spicy Tuna Crunchy: This is definitely a step above the traditional spicy tuna roll. The crunch definitely makes a difference and I will most likely ask for extra crunch next time. It's a great place to get delish sushi while catching up with friends or on a date. The seating is actually designed more for 2-person tables but they do have larger seating options in the back. Worth a visit if you love sushi and are in the Center City area.
(4)Brittany R.
I went on a Friday with a friend. We beat the Friday night reservation crowd and were seated right away which was nice, but our service was awful. We believe the waitress forgot to put in an order because my sashimi sat on the counter waiting to be delivered for about 15-20 mins. We saw several other tables get served before us even though they sat down after. I usually get sashimi so I expect to pay more for my food but Fat Salmon is definitely higher priced than other Sushi Bars in the city. However, the sashimi pieces were generous and everything tasted very fresh. I also liked the presentation in the boat.
(3)Lindsey E.
The atmosphere the food and the service was definitely excellent. It was a little cozy but definitely had great ambience. Also the plum sake wine was really good. And it was actually more affordable than I thought. And they have such a wide selection of sushi. The staff was attentive and kind and very prompt.
(4)Tara L.
Good variety of sushi. The special rolls were relatively cheap, but the regular rolls were a little more expensive than usual. The service was really fast. Warning: the spicy tuna is actually really spicy! Really cute and intimate environment.
(4)Niki K.
I went to Fat Salmon because my boyfriend was in town for lunch as was craving sushi. Since I work in the area, I figured what the heck - they had good food last time. First, we had trouble finding the place. The windows were so dark, I instinctually thought it was closed, and was actually annoyed when it wasn't reported on here as such. Finally, we realized that it was open, and went in. It was about 12:10pm, so we figured it would be busy, but we got seated right away. The lunch menu was on the back and didn't say what anything was. Since we were on my lunch break, we figured that we would just order a few rolls. It took nearly 10 minutes for our waitress to show. While she was lovely, this was now 20 minutes into my 1 hour lunch break and we didn't even have our drinks. It was ridiculously loud - so much so that we couldn't hear each other across the table. There was a girl with a particularly loud laugh which echoed and drowned out the rest of the room. It's not her fault she has a good laugh, but the acoustics in a restaurant should never be that good. We ordered our food (two rolls each) at 12:20pm. We received them at 12:45pm. Yes, they were tasty, and by this time the joint was jumpin'. But 25 minutes for 4 rolls? As it was, we had to eat in the last 10 minutes so that I would have time to get back to work. The food was tasty, fresh, and robust, though not filling - and had I had more time, I would have ordered another roll or two. It's like they don't realize that their main clientale at that time of the day are people who are on lunch - that means from the moment they leave their desk to the moment they get back they have between 30 min - 1 hour. Oh, and the bill for our 4 rolls (and 2 miso soups)? $28, plus tip. I remember why I don't go there often. And, I don't think I'll be going back for lunch again.
(3)Robert H.
Hip place. Strange blue lighting with white tables worked. Ethnically diverse crowd. A little on the younger side but certainly a few exceptions. Sushi was well-priced--about $6-10 for a 6 piece roll. Excellent flavors. I tried 3 different rolls. Favorite was the #15 with eel, avocado, and cream cheese. Would return for lunch or dinner!
(5)A. Jordan R.
Sushi was really good, service is mediocre. I asked if they had real wasabi as opposed to the "regular" stuff and no one knew the answer. C'mon! You only need to know like 5 things about sushi. The staff didn't know what to pair the fish with. They didn't even know the difference between each roll. Decent food, horrible service. I probably wouldn't come back here again with so many better options. But, I didn't hate it, either.
(3)Cody M.
This is an awesome place. The sushi is fresh, service is great, and the non-sushi options are great. I ordered a pork katsu and spicy tuna crunch roll. I'm a pretty big eater, but I still ended up taking home some of the katsu. Great portions. I do wish they offered more non-sushi, Japanese entrees, but it's obviously a sushi restaurant.
(4)Feli F.
A great way to impress sushi eaters and non-sushi eaters alike. There are a lot of impressive dishes for people with seafood allergies and vegans. I never leave this place anything but stuffed and the price is so right!
(5)Manosai E.
A bunch of my friends have recommended I check out this place and I finally had the chance to go for lunch on a Thursday. The interior has a modern feel to it and looks like it would be great for happy hour drinks after work as well. I got the combination lunch special, choice #3 which is one choice from the sushi bar and another from the kitchen, along with a miso soup or salad. I ordered the vegetarian lipstick trace rolls and chicken katsu. The rolls consisted of mushroom and were topped with avocado slices and a drop of spicy mayo sauce. I was more excited about the chicken katsu than the rolls but the chicken ended up tasting a little too dry for my liking. The rolls were delicious and though rather large in size, easy to chow down. I ended up paying around $18 for my meal with tax/tip but this was because we are in a party of 6 so 20% gratuity was tacked on. Overall, it was definitely worth trying and I enjoyed my food but I don't anticipate coming back because I crave it.
(4)Jay W.
Ultra modern looking sushi spot with icy neon lighting. I liked the variety in sake and Japanese beer that they had available. I love that they listed all of the sushi that came in the Sushi Dinner for 2 (my lady friend usually won't order this unless she knows what's in it). This place seems like it prides itself on fancy, creative "special rolls" rather than simple sushi. However the simple sushi that I ordered was pretty good. I just wish that Tamagoyaki (egg sushi) was included in the sushi dinner. The miso soup and ginger salad that came with dinner were good, especially the salad. The service was friendly and quick to fill glasses.
(3)Alisa A.
Atmosphere is really cool but they have some interesting things on the menu that you should definitely ask about before ordering them.
(3)Dennis D.
Eh. Like others have said, the service is super bad. I mean, super bad. Like really really bad. I came at a busy lunch time (around noon) and sat by the bar by myself. Took about 10 minutes before someone could bring me water. I tried to flag down the waiter multiple times. By the time he came over, he actually started taking the order of these two women who had just sat down! I was very annoyed at that considering he had been ignoring me for 10 minutes. Well, ended up ordering some hot tea, the vegetable tempura appetizer, some simple rolls and some salmon nigiri. Everything was just ok. The quality of the fish was average. Not the worst, but definitely not impressive. Combine the quality of the fish with the terrible service, and I doubt I will ever go back there.
(2)Fam B.
Absolutely love this place. 5 stars definitely for the food! The place is small and seats fill up, so it's usually best to call and make a reservation for evenings (even on weekdays). The atmosphere is nice--great place to go on a date. My must recent visit we ordered the following: Hako, Katsu Maki, Volcano, and Super dragon. The Hako and Super Dragon were delicious--the sauces do not overwhelm the fish. You really can't go wrong with the special rolls here, everything is so fresh. When it's busy, it can take a while to get your food, so appetizers are a must for the long wait. Their gyoza is decent. Definitely will save this place for special celebrations and when I need more than the mediocre sushi I typically settle for in the area.
(5)Mike W.
This place is my go to sushi joint in the city. The sushi is expertly prepared, they always have the most interesting options and the prices are extremely affordable. This past Friday was our second visit, I really need to get back here more often. We ordered a Kirin and a Sapporo to sip on and 6 sushi rolls to share as follows: 1. Fancy Sushi - Rice wrapped with a piece of fish w/Spicy Chopped fish (tobiko,Scallions) & Wasabi Tobiko on Top W/Crunchy on the bottom 2. Lava Roll - INSIDE - Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado, ON TOP - Asparagus w/Broiled Octopus sauce(Scallion, Spicy sauce & Mayo) 3. Miss Sake Bomb - IINSIDE - Eel, Avocado, Crunchy, ON TOP - Lightly cooked Salmon w/ Tartar sauce 4. Rolling Fire - INSIDE - Shrimp Tempura, Cucumber, ON TOP - Broiled Spicy Scallop sauce (w/Crab Stick, Scallion & Fried Tofu Skin ) 5. Salmon Yaki Roll - INSIDE - Asparagus, Avocado, Crunchy w/spicy sauce, ON TOP - Broiled Salmon w/Eel Sauce 6. Midori Roll - Oshinko, Dried Gourd, Mountain Burdock, Shitake, Cucumber w/Inari Our waitress actually brought us some complimentary edamame. She said the kitchen was backed up and she was sorry for our wait. We didnt even notice the wait to be honest, but it was very much appreciated nonetheless. It helped hold us over until the sushi arrived. As always, the plating at Fat Salmon is fantastic. They are masters of their craft. They bought it out in a few different plates as it became ready. Each and every one of the rolls was delicious. Even the most obscure combinations seem to work here. Tarter sauce on a sushi roll? Chalk it up, its tasty. The standouts for me were the Rolling Fire and Fancy Sushi rolls. They were all great, but these two in particular were fantastic. I loved the spicy chopped fish on top of the fancy sushi roll. It really packed some nice heat into it. The rolling fire roll had some delicious flavors and textures to it. The broiled spicy scallop sauce was amazing. This is by far the best sushi I have had in Philly. Its definitely worth visiting again and again.
(5)Shannon P.
Unfortunately my first impression of Fat Salmon was a tense encounter with the hostess, who informed us that we barely made the 15-minute "grace period" even though we were in the door within 10 minutes of our reservation time and had to wait roughly 6 for her attention. We had also attempted to call 3 times on our walk from the subway stop, only to get a busy signal. When I mentioned this to her she just sighed and said "Yeah our phone is always ringing" as if that was an acceptable response. Despite all that we were seated and treated to a delicious meal. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and ended up taking half of our order home. We got the Sushi for Two platter with miso soup and upgraded to two seaweed salads (rather than the basic green salad), edamame, and decided we had to order at least one special roll. The waitress recommended a few and of those we picked the Dancing Vampire. I really didn't like this roll - the mix of sweet and spicy didn't hit the right notes for me, but there are plenty of other options for us to try next time. In the end, Fat Salmon is not my favorite sushi in the city but I would happily return again. Just be sure to be at your reservation early!!
(4)Marie S.
4 stars and 440 reviews? Really? My review will deviate from the mean signicantly. My friends and I arrived Fat Salmon at 6:00pm on a Wednesday night. Despite not having a reservation, we were able to get seated right away. Together, we ordered the chirashi, sushi for 1, and spicy roll combo. We were promptly served salad and miso soup after ordering. But for the next hour, we watched jealously as patrons seated after us were served their meals first. When we finally received our entrees, it became evident that the jealousy we felt was unnecessary. The tuna did not taste right, the fluke was mushy, and the sushi rice was soft and underseasoned. Fat Salmon is clearly no haven for sushi purists. Maybe we should have ordered the more elaborate specialty rolls. Added toppings and sauces would have masked the horror beneath. If all you care about is ambiance, head over to Fat Salmon for your next dinner date. If service and quality matter to you, I strongly recommend going elsewhere.
(2)Sabrina P.
Surprisingly, I have not written a review for Fat Salmon considering I eat here at least once a month. The sushi is excellent and at a very affordable price. The Seaweed Salad is delicious and a large enough portion for two people. This is my favorite appetizer along with the Fried Shrimp Dumpling which is to die for. My favorite rolls (in no particular order) are: Rolling Fire, Blossom, Hako, Salmon Yachi. The dessert is good too. The Mochi Ice Cream (Vanilla) is so good if you want to try something different! Why did I give it four stars instead of five? I wish they had more drink options. There is sake and wine. I would love a some kind of drink menu. We typically go with a group stay for a long time and I would love to have some drinks with my dinner. This brings me to one of my tips: If you're going to have more than a glass of wine, your best bet is to get a bottle. You get more bang for your buck this way. Most of the time I just put money towards the rolls since there is nothing very intriguing as far as drinks are concerned. The other reason I gave it four stars is because it is a bit crowded. The only and largest table is for six. These aren't monumental issues, but my reason for not giving five stars. Here is another tip: It is best to make a reservation, especially on the weekend! The staff is always very attentive and the food comes out fairly quickly, even on the weekend when they are at maximum capacity.
(4)Anthony S.
After trying a couple sushi places in Philly so far, Fat Salmon is by far my favorite. To start, they have a phenomenal agedashi tofu. However they prepare the mushrooms to go on top of the tofu is superb, and the sauce/broth that it sits in is delicious. The sushi was very high quality. We got five rolls for two people, which is more than enough, and it was hard to decide which was my favorite. The fancy sushi definitely still stands out in my mind. The crunchiness of the tempura, and the root vegetables that it's served on really appeal to my texture pallet. We did try one roll that was a plum or fig paste with some other vegetable that I've never heard of. It wasn't terrible, and I wouldn't get that one again, but I wanted to try something new and I'm glad I did. Bottom line: I'm a fan of Fat Salmon and will definitely be back.
(5)N B.
The food here is amazing. The customer service is great very nice atmosphere. Good prices. I would definitely go back.
(5)Brittany D.
Yum yum yum!!! Went here on a quick trip to Philly and it was really good. We sat down and started with drinks, lots of sake to choose from. They had a sake sampler so we first started with that. It was nice to have a variety to choose form, not many sushi places have the samplers. We picked an appetizer that caught both of our eyes, smoked squid salad. And there was so much sushi to choose from so it took awhile to pick out anything else. The appetizer was very very good. Fresh, not chewy at all. While having the appetizer my boyfriend was drinking his last glass in the sake sampler (comes with 3) and the glass just broke out of no where. They were very helpful with the situation and gave a whole new sampler complimentary. We did not even have to order anymore sake because of this, the samplers are generous pours. We then decided to pick out one of the rolls with eel (I love eel and this sushi place has the most eel I have seen on a menu) The roll was unabara, which was eel, masago, avocado, topped with eel, eel sauce, and wasabi tobiko. That was delicious! We also tried a vegetarian roll, something we never ordered before. It was the Midori roll. I was telling the waitress I don't love the rice and she went light on the rice for us which was very very nice. I was already getting full so we ordered shrimp shumai as well to finish up our order. These were delicious! I would recommend Fat Salmon for anyone looking for sushi in Philly. Very trendy interior, I could see it being a really cool late night place.
(5)You W.
Good taste, for both food and atmosphere. Foods here have good looking, as well as fancy names.
(5)Jianna E.
I absolutely love Fat Salmon! They have the best sushi I think I have ever had. They have a Rock N' Roll roll, which had I felt like I had died and gone to heaven! They also had an ice cream tempura dessert, which I devoured. It is Tuna, Salmon, Cucumber, with Crunchy and eel sauce on top. The restaurant has a modern vibe to it. If you love sushi, I highly recommend going to Fat Salmon
(5)Anna Y.
This is my favorite sushi restaurant in the city ! I have been here quiet a few times and I am pleased each time. I always order miso soup and sashimi for two. The miso soup is good but I am still searching for THE ONE. Sashimi for two is way more than enough, you actually dont have to order any rolls, but their rolls are so good ! I have been trying 2-3 different rolls each time I come here and they were all pretty tasty. Sushi are well presented , I think they have really talented chefs. The decor here is cool, it's great for a date night . Waiters are nice and professional.
(4)Aria S.
The best sushi I've had in my life! (And I've been to Japan!) I'm vegetarian, and usually sushi options are limited to avocado rolls/cucumber rolls, etc, which I still love, but this place was so innovative with the options, I was blown away. There were definitely at least 10 cool, interesting, vegetarian sushi options. The salad/soup is good too and the wine is a decent price! It is a really nice restaurant too with a cool, trendy feel. It gets loud though, so wouldn't recommend if you are trying to get to know someone. Fun for a girls night out! Get reservations though!
(5)Diana H.
It's a nice restaurant with a nice, modern decor. The food is also tasty, although I prefer Kabuki's sushi. When I came in on a Sunday night, as the first of a group of five, there was no one standing at the front desk by the door. I had never been here before, and because no one behind the bar/kitchen greeted me, I decided to walk into the restaurant to find someone. This was perhaps stupid of me, but I think it was just a sort of reflex, lol. The girl behind the bar was busy and said she'd be with me in a second. She then walked passed me on her way to her front desk station, and called me from there. This was a little awkward! I walked over, only to be walked back to where I came from and to be seated. Thank you! So, the sushi was good and the waitress was very nice. We all ordered hot tea on a cold winter night, and our mugs were never once empty before she poured us more of their delicious hot tea. She was also very patient when we just kept on chatting without deciding on what to eat. When we were close to finishing our dinner, one of my friends decided to order some food to take home to her husband. After we finished and paid for our dinner though, she had to ask for it again, as it seemed they had forgotten about it while they did charge her for it. Some minor details, but overall it was a nice dinner in a nice setting that wasn't too expensive.
(4)William W.
The dancing vampire was very hot and spicy. I was humiliated by my friend cuz I usually considered myself can eat a lot of spicy:( Their sushi is typical American sushi. (in a good way) The dinning environment was very delightful. The pricing was average. I would recommend any American sushi lovers to visit their place.
(5)A. P.
AMAZING selection of vegetarian sushi, not the usual boring cucumber/avocado stuff. Get the Old School roll if you like spicy. It's a really small place so make a reservation or be prepared to wait around.
(5)Alex V.
Always full but you can sit by the bar! Quick service for quick dinner! Delivery / pick up is very convenient. California rolls are delicious!
(4)paul k.
This is why I like Yelp. In Phily for a few hours and was craving sushi. Found the Fat Salmon and have to say was some of the best sushi I've ever had. We live in LA which has slime great places but the food here was so fresh, the service was very good and the prices reasonable
(5)Jennifer G.
had a great time made reservations , parking was nearby. this was my very first visit and I will deff return again. prices were gook, saki was good and sushi was good. staff was very friendly.
(5)Steve B.
As usual the yelp ratings were spot on. Had a great meal here. Super fresh and giant selection. Soup and salad came with the sushi platter for two. Great atmosphere too! Highly recommended.
(4)Shyanie K.
Sushi here is amazing! We ordered the salmon sashimi, crunchy spicy salmon roll, scallop roll and 2 specialty rolls. The food was brought out very quickly, water glasses always stayed full and the waitress was always easy to reach! Will be back again to try more rolls!
(4)Mattie C.
Birthday dinner! Boyfriend treated me to a very nice sashimi platter dinner here. Right off the bat I love the name of the place, and the atmosphere is very sleek and dark with blue neon lighting. We got a sashimi platter for two that came with miso soup and small salad. The side salad they served here was bigger than the those at most places and had more of the sauce on it - I was pleased. And the sashimi platter was excellent - the fish was very fresh and decently sized and, well, delicious. It is hard to describe sashimi really because it is so simple. I did not like the appetizer we got, which was fried tofu in spicy scallop sauce. The sauce was ick and the dish was generally really hard to eat. The tofu became gooey and stretchy in my chopsticks and I kept dropping it, splashing it in the sauce after I had just made an effort to wipe the sauce off. Besides the appetizer, the main meal and the ambiance were excellent. Service was prompt and friendly and the prices weren't outrageous. One BIG note though, others are reporting on here it is BYOB. It is NOT BYOB, I repeat, NOT. The waiter told us that they changed that policy so if you are planning on drinking your own drinks, skip it. Luckily, we had forgotten to stop at the liquor store while running late for our reservations and ended up just drinking some Kirins. I had a great time here and would definitely go back!
(4)M N.
SOOOOO good. The sake bomb is so delicious. I can't even remember the names of all the different rolls I've had but I have never been disappointed!
(4)Megan G.
Good sushi and good prices! I had the dancing vampire. It was good, a little spicy and a little crunchy but not too much of anything. Accommodating - they squeezed our large group in before the next one came and also made no fuss about splitting our checks which is just so appreciated.
(4)Laura H.
I highly recommend getting their take-out lunch special, grabbing your hunny, and having a picnic in Washington Square Park. The park is right next door and offers a great alternative if you're not into the super trendy vibe that is Fat Salmon, which is pretty dark inside with electric blue lighting. It has a full bar which can really add to the price of the bill, especially when you're used to mostly byo sushi places. You also can't beat the lunch special, I usually get the one that allows you to pick 2 specialty rolls for $15. And the specialty rolls are awesome! That's why I recommend this for a lunch spot: stuff yourself, skip the bar and save sushi dinners for a BYO.
(4)Sarah A.
I'm an avid sushi eater and I loooved Fat Salmon! I love a place where the rolls are big, so you don't feel like you are being ripped off. I left full, which rarely happens with sushi places. I had the Miss Sake Bomb and the Rock&Roll and for someone who usually doesn't steer away from the regular salmon roll it was awesome!!! Definitely in my top 3!
(5)Cindy T.
Love Fat Salmon. Been here a couple of times for date night and every time is a great experience. Went around 6pm both nights so no waiting but around the time we leave at 7:30p-8pm, there's a line of people waiting for tables. Sushi is fresh and there are a lot of options for the traditional roll or if you want something funky and different. Last week, we have the fried dumplings which were very flavorful and the veggie tempura which was a very large portion. Then we had a few specialty rolls. I really enjoyed the Fat Futo roll with all the different types of fish (salmon, tuna, yellowtail) in one roll and the M&M roll which had marinated beef in it. Everything was so delicious that even though we were full, we continued to eat so that's a good sign that the food was good but bad idea for us because we ended up in a food coma afterwards. With a full stomach, we still saved a little room for dessert. We picked the vanilla fried ice cream and that was also a large portion, enough to feed 4-5 people comfortably even though it was just the two of us. The tempura skin was a bit thick and not as crispy as what I would have liked but it's fried ice cream, so it was yummy either way.
(5)Jevon Y.
Compared to Vic's, Fat Salmon is slightly more expensive, but also better quality. The food was good and the service staff was really friendly in explaining what the different types of rolls had. I would really recommend the Mr Shiro roll if you do go! I can't remember which roll was it exactly but it was more spicy than normal. You might want to be careful if you can't really eat spicy rolls! On a whole, the food was really good and I would definitely go back again!
(4)Lea T.
Modern and casual this restaurant has a comfortable atmosphere without being pretentious. Ideal for a first date or dinner with friends, Fat Salmon is on the smaller side but still has some larger tables of groups 6-8. Reservations are suggest for parties larger than 4. Lunch Specials come with miso soup or salad and range from $7.00-$11.50 including sushi, maki, tempura lunch box, yakinku lunch box, or teriyaki lunch box. Fat Salmon offers tempura, tekiyaki, katsu, and yakiniku dinner entrees as well as fresh sushi. For something really special try one of the Fat Salmon speciality rolls. My favorites include the blossom roll, locust roll, rolling fire, or volcano roll. They also offer a variety of Japanese beer, sake, and wine if your interested. Really a great spot to check out if you want fresh and exciting sushi in a relaxed atmosphere :)
(4)V. I.
Cute little place in Washington Square. Love how they have a sake sampler option, honestly haven't seen that before on a menu. The food and service is pretty average. The sushi selection they have is pretty creative, like the M & M or sake bomb roll but honestly I prefer more normal rolls like the dragon or spider roll.
(3)James G.
There were seven of us for dinner and we all enjoyed our meals. My wife and I had the Sashimi for Two and it consisted of 30 pieces of fish all of which were very fresh. Others had Sushi platter, Chirashi, and Salmon Teriaki all of which were very good. For some reason, even though we live two blocks away, we haven't been here in years but certainly will be back.
(5)Ryan Z.
Philadelphia is lucky to have this gem of a restaurant! Fat Salmon has everything you could want in a restaurant let alone in a sushi joint. 1. The food is outstanding. Whether you are trying sushi for the first time or 100th, this place will always leave you satisfied and at an affordable price. The food from the kitchen is also on point and this is coming from someone who has dined in Tokyo and some of the best japanese/sushi restaurants in the US. 2. The service is fantastic. The owner/manager - Jack is everything you could want from someone who is running the restaurant. Unbelievably professional and so nice. I will be a customer for life. 3. Decor/ambiance is great. You almost feel as if you are in a trendy NYC spot. Short story- this place is 5.0/5.0, I would recommend it to anyone that lives in the area or visiting and looking for a great meal. (Luckily I live around the corner and come here once a week)
(5)Susanna L.
Greatttt. Smaller than I pictured, but the decor was wonderful! It reminds me of the inside of spice 21. Like everyone said here, the wait was a little long- but I don't blame them because the place was packed for a friday night and there were like only 3 people working at the sushi. My friends and I ordered a whole bunch of sushi to share- I don't really remembered what we ordered but, the highlights was the special roll and the other special roll with the 4 pieces and really spicy, everything else was pretty good as well. Except, with all three of us agreeing that the lipstick green roll wasn't that great and the one with the huge cooked salmon on top was kind of gross. Other than that great experience. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. The sushi however is a little bit on the more expensive side, like 6-12 dollars depending on the roll.
(4)K W.
i came here on recommendation from a friend who knows how much i love nigiri sushi and sashimi. i was super impressed with the fish i ordered. everything was incredibly fresh, and despite being pretty busy when i came to dine, the food came out quickly. this will be my go-to spot for reasonably priced sushi in philly.
(5)Kimberly Y.
Disclaimer: I'm pretty picky with seafood and don't eat sushi at all. I came here because my roommates love sushi, which they seemed to really enjoy their sushi. But be warned: Fat Salmon doesn't have much else besides sushi. I have gotten the udon noodles (pretty good, but tiny portion), gyoza (average quality, so not great for the price), and katsu (pretty bad, to be honest). I even left some katsu on the plate because I couldn't force myself to finish. The atmosphere and lighting is very cool, but the service is lacking. Since the place is pretty small, there can be a long wait if you don't reserve before hand.
(3)Liz F.
Fat Salmon is so great! It looks too hip to skip if you were to glance in from the outside, but it has a really approachable, friendly, casual environment inside. The sushi? Phenomenal. My new favorite. My dining partner got some interesting curried dish. I'm not sure what it was, but he loved it. I usually have to somewhat drag him to sushi but this place has solid non sushi options, too! They have an interesting selection of saki and japanese beers if you want to drink. The service here was great. We saw a waitress chase a guy down Walnut Street who left is leftovers on the table. That's devotion. Would I come back? Duh. All the time. AND they do take out for sushi on the go !
(5)Lauren M.
If I could give a negative star I would, I went into this place at 9:30 with a girlfriend and we were meeting another friend. We sat down ordered and then were told that our friend who not be allowed to enter the restaurant if she wasn't by 9:45- mind you she was not eating and we had already ordered her a drink. All food was orders by 9:30. The waiter was very unprofessional. He bad mouthed the managers about how they had ridiculous rules but would not enforce them. Meanwhile the hostess starred at us the entire dinner. We were all excited to eat here and heard great reviews. We were let down by the unprofessional and rude staff. Compliments to the chef but, we will not come back.
(1)Allen I.
I continually seem to keep coming here. The quality of the product is very fresh though it is not authentic it is still very good. I'm a sucker for that fat futo. My girlfriend loves coming to this place which has a strong reasonin which I give them business. Service is pretty good but you probably should make reservations
(4)Amanda C.
Review Summary: Ambience: 4/5 Food: 5/5 Service: 3/5 Yes it's true, the wait for food and seating can be long and this place is definitely a little pricier than some other sushi restaurants in town but oh, how I love it. When I do come here, I usually get their special rolls, which have all been so delicious. I especially like the Rolling Fire because of its extra spicy kick. I don't get the nigiri/sashimi very often, mostly because my poor wallet can't take the hit, but I once tried the mackerel and it was the best I've tasted in Philadelphia. Finish your meal off with a tasty plate of fried ice cream (this dish always makes me feel like a delighted child, but they've tweaked the ice cream just enough to kick things up a notch) and voila! Come to the Fat Salmon. You won't regret it.
(4)Sherry T.
I was here a few years ago for a family line dinner with my sorority. I was immediately drawn in by the ambience. I feel like the atmosphere of a restaurant or any place at all can either add or take away from an experience. The decor definitely added to my experience here. The sushi and food was up to par and I'm not even that huge of a sushi fan.
(5)Jennifer C.
This place is super trendy and cute. Totally love the atmosphere - it's definitely great for date night. The boy and I showed up for dinner at about 7PM and it only had a couple other tables. I was surprised. However, crowds started pouring in at about 7:45PM. For food, we shared a dancing vampire roll and some other special roll that I forgot. The dancing vampire was interesting, but tasty. We both had the chirashi. Fish tasted fresh. It was pretty filling, and it actually made me wish we didn't order the 2 special rolls. Service was excellent here. The waitresses came by to refill water, wipe down the table + check on us quite often, but not too intrusively. Only thing is...I think this place got us sick. Both of us had upset stomachs about 20 min after the meal. Maybe coincidence, maybe not. You make the call.
(4)Taleah J.
I consider myself a sushi-phile. I love it. I actually stumbled upon this place because I was looking for another sushi spot (Fusion Grille) which closed down. Lo and behold a block away, Fat Salmon pops up. I ordered the lunch special for 14.50 which came with miso soup. I ordered something amazing called a "Dancing Vampire" and the Salmon Teryaki. Well..... the Dancing Vampire has to be Jesus Christs favorite food because its soooooo good. Imagine this, Cucumber.. Asparagus...Crunchy bits..topped with Tuna and Salmon in Chili sauce. Are you still there? Or did you leave to go get some yourself? This place gets 4 stars because not only is the quality of the sushi stellar, they also go the extra mile with presentation. I wish I had taken a picture of my food, but alas... I tore into it faster than Lindsay Lohan and a vial of cocaine. I will definitely be frequenting this spot more often. P.s.- my only complaints are that my salmon teryaki was a little overcooked and this place offers close to 50 different options and its a little overwhelming. I mean come on... variety is the spice of life, but it also makes ordering complicated.
(4)Vinny P.
I've visited Fat Salmon a number of times and for some reason, it still flies under the radar for me. Even when I have conversations with others about where they go for sushi in philly, I still somehow seem to forget about it. It's time for that to stop. I've always had very good service and really excellent food here. The decor is kind of funky and their lighting resembles a certain, I don't know what. To me it's quite futuristic looking but then again, picking out decorating styles is something that I have no clue about. Food-wise, it's difficult for me not to get a sashimi platter. I realize that this limits my exposure to other kinds of fish on the menu but it's just such a great value and the taste is pretty exquisite. The last time I was there, I tried two rolls that I never had before. I really enjoyed the fuka roll and even though it had a ton of stuff both in and on it, I still was able to get all of the flavor. The crying (dancing, singing, something) vampire roll was also really good but for me the fuka stood out. So in essence, I'm sorry Fat Salmon. I'll do my best to sing your praises and visit more often.
(4)M W.
Pretty cute place, very modern and clean. Service was good, Inexpensive and sushis were delicious. Worth a second visit.
(5)Ryan D.
Great tasting and fresh fish. The Sushi & Sashimi for 1 is the perfect size for 1. Skip the Sake Sampler (unless you really prefer cold sake) and pick ur favorite hot sake. As always, make sure to pick up a fresh- or salt-water Eel nigiri for the perfect after dinner treat.
(4)Rosta M.
Great food and always a smiling host despite the wait.. Couple things however; 1. The wasabi is like clay. Anyone who knows real sushi knows fresh wasabi should melt in the soy sauce 2. Keep it simple, American sushi places love to over do it and put so many sauces on their sushi (including the shriracha mayo in everything which is so old school). Keep it fresh and simple. And always try to reduce the amount of items you have no menu
(4)Katrina C.
I went here on Sunday of 4th of July weekend. The place was pretty empty, yet we were told that we had to sit at the sushi bar, because they had no available tables. There were 3 of us, so it was a little awkward. I was very skeptical that the place would really fill up on Sunday, July 3rd, but we went with it. After we ordered, our server offered us a table, saying that someone missed their reservation. That was nice. We ordered seaweed salad and avocado salad to start. I love the ginger dressing that always comes on avocado salad, and I also love seaweed salad. Both were very good, especially the seaweed salad. We ordered 6 rolls for 3 people, and even with the salads - were a little worried it might not be enough. Ha! We got : spicy tuna, alaska, eel and cucumber, dragon roll, yellowtail and scallion, and a fancy one called miss sake bomb (or something). The rolls were very well presented and even though they were only 6 pieces each, each piece was very large! All 3 of us loved different rolls - so that means they were all very tasty. The Miss Sake Bomb wasn't as good as we were expecting - the cooked salmon on top threw me off, but it was still tasty. Plus: My friend asked for gluten free soy sauce, and was told that they didn't carry it. The server felt bad though, so she apparently went and found a bottle (not sure how) so that my friend could have soy sauce! 5 stars because it's the best sushi I've had in Philly, I think. Not saying it's the best, but I loved it.
(5)Ace J.
Mmmmm Fat Salmon. Every time I go there it's a new experience: Sushi--super delicious, just writing about it makes me want to go there and get three different rolls. They're all really fresh and have a little bit of a twist to them, too. The atmosphere--it's BLUE! It's nice and romantic, and the staff really makes you feel welcome. Sake--my favorite part about Fat Salmon. The Sake comes in this little container that makes you want to take shots every minute. And it's so good!! Overall, the restaurant's in a nice location right next to Washington Sq. Park, and it offers that good Japanese-American sushi we all crave a few times a month.
(4)Adam F.
Fat Salmon is a trendy yet casual spot for sushi. Sake flights are great. Sushi is consistently good (although it won't blow you away). It's open fairly late too, so great if you want to grab some sushi and drinks before going out to the bars/clubs. If you are looking to get there at normal dinner time, definitely pick up a reservation -- the place gets packed.
(4)Brian M.
Really very mediocre. Sushi was decent enough but nothing stood out and there are definitely much better options in the city (Zento, Izumi to name a few). Interior here is different in that it's ultra-modern white space type thing which is cool if you're into that sort of decor. Just doesn't feel particularly welcoming to me. Surprised this place won Best of Philly considering there are better alternatives.
(3)Joelle J.
Awesome awesome fresh sushi! Went there with a few friends one night and we just couldn't stop eating! Must try
(4)Steve I.
Stopped in for lunch. The service was very fast and attentive. Liked the modern decor. The lunchtime prices are very inexpensive considering the quality of the food. Got the #6 tuna assortment which was accompanied by a very nice miso soup, not too salty. The fish was very fresh and tasty and the rice was excellent. Will try to make this a weekly lunch spot.
(5)Colleen M.
Being a vegetarian I am usually limited when it comes to Japanese food but I never turn down anything with avocado or veggie tempura so I tried Fat Salmon and was so excited to see several unique and delicious veggie roll options! I had the avocado salad which was a meal in itself but then still managed to house a Tofuholic roll which consisted of cooked and tempura veggies inside and tofu and delicious sauces on the outside. Yummyyyyyy. I will totally go back to try the other veg options!
(5)Irene Y.
Moved away from philadelphia 4 years ago, but recently on an east coast tour came back to fat salmon (previously known as Shinju) because this is hands-down our favorite sushi place ever. This is coming from someone who lives in LA two miles away from Little Tokyo. This place is a cannot-miss for anyone living in Philly. It's BYOB. Very reasonably priced. And their spicy tuna with crunch and fancy salmon roll.. there is nothing to compare to that. The old shinju was really romantic for a date-night. The new fat salmon is a little bit more modern appearing, but also seems well-lit.
(5)Jean-David F.
I'm not a big sushi guy but I decided to give this place a try and I'm glad I did! Everything was great. We got the naked gyoza it was awesome. For entrees we got the super dragon and rolling fire and those were awesome. And we finished off with the fried ice cream which was awesome lol. And the prices were reasonably low!! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a cool sushi place. Oh and the service was very good.
(5)Kristin W.
We came by on a Friday night without reservations - the place looked pretty empty, but the hostess looked nervous when we said we didn't have reservations; however, we were able to be seated immediately. I ordered the Chirashi Don and asked that all shellfish be substituted out. I got a generous portion of fresh fish (although two of the substitutes were the sweet egg). I also substituted a second salad for the miso soup. Great food, cool ambiance - I will be back!
(5)Younjin L.
Okay place to have sushi. Definitely over priced for the quality of the fish. I probably won't come back here again. Still looking for a good sushi restaurant.
(2)Gary G.
This place is quickly becoming my go to for more expensive sushi places in the city. Raw used to be my go to- but either they have fallen off or I just like this joint better. The rolls are good, the ambiance has a nice feel to it, even though its small and your basically touching elbows. Go check it out if your around there, you won't regret it, its better than Raw and Crazy Sushi.
(4)Amar R.
Old school veggie sushi is amazing and so are the salmon rolls. The green tea icecream tempura is a definite order everytime I go here!!!
(5)Flora W.
Went here with friend at late dinner time and no seat at all. We were told to be waiting for 30-40mins for seats at the bar. It took only like 10-15mins to get a phone call from the waitress that two seats were available. We had Sushi&Sashimi for 2 and it came out with 2 miso soups and 2 small salads. Everything was so delicious and fresh! I never forget the taste of sashimi, they were so goood.
(5)Zikang H.
The ambient is really trendy. Fresh food, good service. But you have to wait 30 minuets to get your food if you are coming during 6-7 on weekends.
(4)Roma J.
If you're looking for high-quality/great tasting sushi at an affordable price...Fat Salmon will give you a foodgasm every single time. No joke. Foodgasm (Urban Dictionary)- "Eyes rolling back in head and moaning while possibly shouting "this is so freaking good!"and taste so overwhelming you have to take breaks between bites to keep from shutting your system down." Anytime I have visitors from out of town, I take them here and order the following: - Old School - Rolling Fire - Spicy Salmon Naked Gyoza - Seaweed Salad Just prep yourself to handle all that spicy goodness ;P
(5)Jennifer T.
Majority of rolls are very, very creative - not typical straightforward plain boring sushi (though they have that too, if you're into that). My last two visits were disappointing, I finally figured out why: most of the more creative rolls also feature some type of cooked meat/seafood/fish, or something tempura-ed. Not showcasing a lot of raw fish. Also, almost every roll is doused in some type of sauce (spicy, eel, etc.) which detracts from the actual contents of the roll. Again, not a bad thing, just not MY thing. My first date with the boyfriend was at Shinju, now Fat Salmon. It will always have a special place in my heart, but it just isn't the same. Womp womp.
(3)H L.
Went here for lunch. Everything our table had was excellent. We will definitely be back.
(5)Tina N.
Delicious! Service was great. Very helpful. Didn't rush us. Can't beat cost for quality. I'll be back.
(5)Yla A.
Fat salmon is delish! Great sushi and you can order take out. Very bold and hip inside. I think it is an ocean themed wall?? I mostly do takeout since it is close to my work but we have done business lunches there. Vic is still the best in the city in my opinion but this is a close 2nd
(4)Ayana P.
Excellent sushi, horrible wait. No explanation, just money off the bill. The other half of our group, who were seated in a different area, finished eating by the time we got our food. It ruined what would have been a great experience at Fat Salmon.
(3)Samantha Y.
There aren't many sushi places in Philly, and if there is, it's usually not fresh or authentic enough. Fat Salmon has been the best sushi I've had here! Absolutely delicious and the interior gives off a chill vibe to dine in!
(4)Rita G.
Excellent fresh sushi and miso. Also had the seaweed salad-- yum. Clean bathrooms to boot. Fast friendly service. Excellent dinner choice.
(5)Mel T.
I lived in Japan for seven years, so I'm pretty picky about the sushi I eat. Fat Salmon offerings are decent and definitely worth a visit. Large selection of sake which we tried and enjoyed. Server was attentive and knowledgeable. No doubt, I will return--probably for take-out. Great dinner!
(4)Kiran S.
Came here for my birthday last week. To be honest, I really don't see the hype with this place. I've definitely tasted better sushi. The only thing I really enjoyed was the ambiance. Our food took almost 40 minutes to show up to our table... And I wouldn't call 6 pieces of sushi dinner. Definitely not coming back.
(2)Yenn N.
Had a dinner reservation here and so far this place gets 3 stars . I wish they had cocktails mixed drinks etc since they don't have a full bar , would've gone so well with my sushi dinner . Sushi was delicious , fresh , and fulfilling . But the seating gets packed so quickly so I had to make a reservation , that's why one star is subtracted from my review . Overall , I would go back again and try something else on their menu .
(3)Chin R.
Great food and service, lots of sushi options. I went here with coworkers for a brunch and it was great.
(4)Jo D.
Maybe I am spoiled in NYC. The sushi was super bland. I got the spicy tuna and cucumber and it tasted like nothing - so I used the wasabi in the soy sauce, I swear it was the most bland wasabi I have ever had in my life. I used all the wasabi and had to get more. very very mehhhhhhh. so then decided to get dessert - another disappointment. We got the tempura green tea ice cream - the green tea ice cream was fine but the tempura was super soggy and oily. I have had it a few times before in the city and when done right - its amazing. If this is the best philly has to offer for sushi - I will not be having sushi in philly again =/
(2)Holly V.
The food was ok. I got the the Philly role and spicy hand roll. both were just ok-nothing special. I went on a Sunday and service was still slow when no one was in there! The place is alright regarding decor. Small and nothing special. I heard so many great things about this place and was soooo disappointed :(
(2)Jackie B.
This is one of the best sushi places I've eaten at in philly. I love it because it is the only place I've seen that actually gives you a large size piece of raw fish in or on your sushi roll. It is never mushy and all the rolls are creatively designed and have a unique combination of ingredients. Not to mention there are 20-30 rolls to choose from so you can always find something you like. The only downside is every time I try and make a reservation they are full unless you go really late so we usually do take out.
(5)Christine B.
I've been wanting to go to fat salmon for a long time, but I'm just not in that area very often. Finally had a chance to check it out in between some afternoon drinking and a birthday party. This was more of a snack spot so I just got a salmon avocado roll and the dancing vampire roll. They were both really good. I mostly eat the 3 for $10.95 roll specials, and it's amazing what a difference the good quality makes. The salmon pieces were huge and the avocado was perfectly ripe. The dancing vampire had a really nice spice. I kind of want to go back again immediately. Really wish they delivered.
(4)Michael H.
This is probably our favorite sushi in Philly (Vic Sushi is probably tied, but totally different ambience). Everything is creative, fresh, and delicious. We've ordered for take-out and dined in - the real test of sushi is how it travels and this is great.
(5)Jia T.
My friend and I finished our dinner in 10 minutes but waited for exactly 43 minutes after we placed the order (According to my check-in history). There were 4 sushi chiefs at the sushi bar but it still took so long. I had Sleeping Volcano roll and Rolling Fire roll (See picture). The sushi tasted good but not worth for waiting so long.
(3)Kelly P.
a solid 4 star experience. Shrimp shumai, gyoza, Alaskan roll, Dancing Vampire, Rolling Fire - all perfection. I could have done without the M&M roll. Something about marinated beef with all that raw fish just does not make sense. Service was good. Went on a Monday around 6:30 and didn't seem to need our reservations, but an hour later the place was packed.
(4)Vanessa C.
This is definitely a sushi favorite. Their special rolls are amazing! It's made well and when it comes to your table, it looks great and tastes like it! I don't know who their sushi chef is but he creates miracles! It opens for lunch and then closes to reopen for dinner. And although, street parking is a bit difficult to find, this place is probably my number one in the city for sushi. The ambience is very modern and it can be a little quiet at times even though there is conversation going on. Great for couples and small groups. Recommended this place to friends and they all said they loved it. It's worth to try this place at least once.
(5)Ted S.
Really good food, service was not good at all had to ask at least 5 times for someone to find server, never cleared old dishes and glasses from table. Too bad for such great food to be ruined by lousy service.
(1)Allison D.
Definitely recommended!!! My boyfriend and I went to Fat Salmon for the first time tonight and it has been the best sushi I've had in Philly so far. Next time we go I'll make reservations, it was so busy that we sat at the bar. It was no problem for us, though some people might mind. We got the edemame & shrimp shumai to start and they were both awesome. We're pretty new to sushi still so our rolls we ordered some plain rolls. California roll, spicy tuna crunch roll, shrimp tempura roll & alaskan roll. They were all amazing. Very fresh & tasty. For dessert we got the ice cream tempura. It was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was great. The place looks great. Our servers name was Jessica and she was the best. So nice and helpful. Answered all our questions and knew a lot about the menu. Will definitely be returning soon!!
(5)MC L.
The waiter forgot to put in our order and forget we were sitting there. This place sucks. Then he pretended it was coming. The hostess gave us a coupon and said, "Not sure if youd want to come back but here is a coupon." Um, no. I have eaten here, though, for work, and its not bad. Its close to work, so there isnt much else. Umai Royal next door is cheaper and just as good, just not as crazy combinations.
(1)Elaine L.
Best salmon in Philly so far! The fish tastes so fresh and the pictures of the rolls makes each roll so delicious. The prices are quite decent for sushi in Philly and everything just tastes so fresh. Did I mention FRESH???? I came with two other girls and we had the duo roll, miss sake roll and super dragon roll. All there were huge hits in my book and I could have eaten a lot more than just one roll for sure. Will definitely recommend this place for any sushi cravers who I know.
(4)Dennis D.
Good selection of Japanese beer and delicious sushi. One of my first sushi experiences and would recommend this place. Knowledgable and attentive staff.
(4)Dung H.
This place is great for affordable, delicious sushi! I came here on a Friday night and was able to get parking right in front of the restaurant (no valet parking taking up spots... which is typical near in this part of the city). This restaurant was more modern in decor than I expected but I was pleasantly surprised when I got there. The waitress seated us right away and was very attentive the entire time. I ordered shumai to start with and my friend got the pan seared salmon appetizer. The shumai was very tiny and bland. I would not order this again. My friend said that the salmon was very good. It came in a decent portion with lots of vegetables. I tried the veggies... which were in a pretty good sauce. I ordered a specialty roll (Dragonfly roll) and a normal Alaskan (salmon, cucumber, avocado). Both were very good!! For the price I paid, it made things even better. I'm sure this isn't the best sushi place in the city but it definitely fills any and all sushi cravings I have. Attentive service, a peacefully quiet dinner and decent sushi for a college student on a budget! I would definitely come back.
(4)Michael K.
attended with my girl and three teenage girls we yelped this and realized it won Best of Philly 2012 for sushi decor: blue. swanky. food: miso - good shrimp tempura - didnt eat that so cant really say but the girls liked it chicken teriyaki - rave reviews from three teenage girls super dragon - big roll...i'm talking a huge mouthful if you decide to do it in one bite. it was just ok duo - the best roll of the night. really flavorful salmon yaki - good miss something or other - good service was good and not great. what was great was the price. that was a surprise. super affordable and we had take home! here's the story: i like to try different sushi places. i was expecting to be blown away by melt in your mouth sushi. i wasnt. i was actually disappointed that didnt happen. best of philly? for ambiance maybe...i was disappointed
(3)Paige G.
Fat Salmon was incredible! I went for lunch with my friend. We both did the $14.50 lunch combination special. Usually with the lunch special the roll selection is not great, but here it was awesome. The sushi was so delicious (better than Zama in my opinion) and for $14.50 for two great rolls and a salad, you can't beat that. The service was excellent as well! I will def be back.
(5)Daria M.
Stopped in solo for a quick snack. Had a pickled plum roll. It was good, but there could have been more pickled plum in it and less cucumber. I asked for spicy sauce on the side and was given a generous amount with no extra charge which I appreciate greatly. The restaurant is small, intimate, quiet, clean and cozy-feeling, although I was privy to my neighbors' conversation a bit too much due to the close proximity, I think it was because it was midday and there were only the two of us in there. The service was fast, attentive and polite. I would come back again from the look of all the yummy maki, if I knew they did veggie-substitutions, since there were only a handful of veggie rolls on the menu, but I was too daydreamy to ask that day. Overall, a positive experience! I give kudos. :)
(4)Anna S.
Nice restaurant. Cool, cute decor and delicious food. Plus our server was really pleasant. Absolutely no complaints. Really enjoyed the meal.
(4)Sana A.
Very welcoming staff. The entire lunch was a delight in the beautiful contemporary interior of white with blue lighting. Went there during lunch time, the place was busy, but the service was very quick. The menu has a great number of options of their creative rolls and the waitress made it really easy to make any alterations. Ordered some plain cali rolls, dancing vampire, and rock and roll. Loved rock & rock and placed a second order of it. I asked for spicy sauce instead of eel sauce, I felt like the spicy sauce takes over the taste of the roll. Will def go back when in Philly next time. Hopefully they have some great hot dishes for the hubby, because he doesn't do sushi :/
(4)Jen A.
Ordered the Spicy Tuna Crunch, Dancing Vampire and the Agedashi tofu. Everything was great and the fish was very fresh. Will definitely order again!
(5)Rogelio R.
I was not impressed with the place. The ambiance is not for me. It is very trendy and a tad too dark for me. (But the blue lighting does look great). The prices were a bit high for my taste, that the quality of food did not make up for. This is a place to try but is not for me.
(3)Christine N.
I heard great things about this place before I came and it met my expectations. This place has great sushi and wine that goes along with that. This place is also good for those people who want cooked fish. The atmosphere is great with the bluish walls and dim lights. A great place to relax with a few people. I went with 6 people (a bigger group than that normally would fit there). With the sushi and wine, the bill can come out a bit, but my company, the quality, and atmosphere there was worth it. The deep fried tofu is a must get appetizer and so far, I've liked everything I had on the special roll list.
(4)Alison W.
Love this place! The sushi I scrumptious and super fresh. Definitely make reservations or sit at the bar. My favorite: the spice crunchy tuna roll.
(5)Clara L.
Decor and space remind me of generic LES/ Upper West side sushi places. Asian modern with a touch of ikea. Fresh sushi, good portions. Great homemade spicey sauce!!! Warning: this is legit heat. I put hot sauce on everything, and I would buy this sauce in a bottle. Try old School or Volcano Roll. The best vegetarian rolls, surprisingly. I have yet to discover amazing sushi in Philly. This place is the best yet.
(4)Sonia S.
I have been going to Shinju/ fat salmon for years. If you are going there, do NOT go at peak times (i.e. Fri./Sat. night after 7 pm). They get slammed with customers and cannot speed up. They end up giving you some free edamame if your food is taking forever. This is why I always go around 5-6 pm, when they first open for dinner service. The staff is less stressed and they know us pretty well now. I have had sushi from Pod and Morimoto. They are not as good at this place. Say hi to Lina for me. She's awesome! Order the rock and roll and also the lipstick trace. My 2 faves! Hubby likes the Fuka Maki for the sheer amount of sushi it provides. Also, you MUST order the green tea tempura. I ask Lina right at the beginning of the meal if they have it every time I go.
(5)Mary W.
Fat Salmon is a fabulous restaurant in the city to relax and enjoy great food. I'm a huge fan of raw sushi but if you are not, this is the PERFECT sushi spot for you! The menu offers plenty of cooked yet delicious rolls. I must comment on the deep fried tofu appetizer, which has become my all-time favorite dish at this restaurant. My friend and I went back just to eat this dish. Silky soft tofu is lightly battered and fried, topped with a irresistible spicy sauce. It's a burst of flavor and texture in your mouth! You can not leave Fat Salmon without trying their deep fried tofu appetizer!
(5)Joanne W.
Pretty good sushi and decently priced...but the kitchen side would not be recommended. Service is okay, could be a little more attentive, especially if you're one of the last tables. It'd be easier to kick me out if you come to the table...
(3)Andrew U.
Favorite Sushi joint in Philly for me, for value and for deliciousness. Lost Rainbow roll and super dragon are my favorites! Every few weeks I'll come here to get my sushi fill. The decor is also modern and the wait hasn't been too long for a walk in on a saturday night (30 mins for a bar). If you want a table, be sure to make a reservation on a busy night otherwise you may have to wait! Edit: After having a go at other sushi places in town, Fat Salmon remains at the top. Have been here multiple times since this review and have never been dissatisfied.
(5)Rebecca L.
I have to be honest, I'm probably the only person I know who isn't a fan of sushi. You're probably asking yourself why in the world would she go to a sushi restaurant if she don't like sushi? Wow, great question. I've been hearing from my roommate since she moved here in April that Fat Salmon is DELICIOUS, the best sushi she's had in the city. I had a friend in town who loves sushi so I decided now was the best time to check it out. We got to the restaurant a little after 6 on a Wednesday night and were seated almost immediately. We ordered the edamame, piping hot but perfectly salted, and seaweed salad, which was delicious, for appetizers. We split 3 rolls from the Special Rolls section (pictures included in the menu!), Blossom, Lava and Volcano. LOVED them all. Yes, that's right. I actually enjoyed sushi. Prices were fair, fish was fresh and delish, and the wine was CHEAP ($5 for the house wine? Give me 5). I'll be back.
(4)Caren C.
This is my favorite sushi place in Philly! I am a little sad that it is no longer Shinju or that they are no longer BYO, but I still love them. If you are on a budget try the lunch specials. For about ten dollars you can get a salad, two rolls and a drink. While it might not be the most exciting thing on the menu, I crave on a weekly basis the spicy tuna roll. If you are feeling a little more adventerous, I would try the Volcano or the Fancy Sushi Roll. The service is always great and they wrap the rolls up nicely if you want take-out.
(5)Michelle L.
A real hidden treasure! Fat Salmon is like a narrow oasis in that dead zone between Center City and Olde City, and it's worth going a bit out of your way for. I love the ambiance, which is kind of "little sister of Stephen Starr" - still very mod but somehow quieter and more feminine in execution. Personally I like how there is only one row of tables against the wall; it keeps everything very minimalist. Service is attentive but the food comes out at a snail's pace :( The sushi here is delish! I usually expect a very standard quality from rolls, but the fish in these seemed super soft and fresh. This also sounds a bit lame but for some reason I really enjoyed their miso soup and house salad!! Ah, the small pleasures in life... Also, the group of girls next to us all seemed to be enjoying these amazing looking entrées. Perhaps the donburi? All in all, great sushi, and a cute, cool, trendy place that's a little off the beaten track. Great for a date!! Just make sure you have lots to talk about while you wait, and definitely make reservations! It gets busy in here, even on weeknights! P.S. If you take any leftover sushi home, they'll repackage it for you in a little sushi takeout container, complete with wasabi, ginger, soy sauce, and disposable chopsticks. Attention to detail - love it!
(5)Cynthia S.
Yum!! I love sushi and I'm picky about it, so giving this restaurant 5 stars really means something. Came here for a date night with the bf on a Thursday after having walked by it before and later read the reviews. Ambiance is fun and night clubby, though it was a little loud when we first got there - don't come here during popular hours for a super intimate date. The menu has pictures of all the specialty rolls, of which there are a TON. It was really hard to choose from all the offerings, and they even had lots of creative non-shellfish options (a huge plus for us, because my bf is allergic and usually can only have one or two rolls on the menu). Once chosen and ordered, our sushi was fresh and delicious, lots of flavor and not too much rice. Sushi perfection. We also ordered tempura green tea ice cream for dessert. The portion was HUGE and again, the dish was yummy. Service was also good - our waitress was a bit swamped because they were short a busboy, but we never waited that long for anything and she was always friendly. I'll definitely be back here. By the way, Fat Salmon is no longer BYOB! We bought a bottle of wine on our way here based on a prior yelp review, but were informed of the changed status when we arrived.
(5)Joseph D.
Had an excellent dinner here... actually impressed by the freshness of the food! Sushi in Philadelphia has been having a tough time in the past year, but this place puts it back on the map. Delicious, original, and I love the style. The presentation is clean and appealing as well, and they keep the restaurant very clean.. It's a fairly new place and still growing, but I have no doubt it will stand apart if they keep raising the bar like they are.
(5)Jaime B.
Incredible doesn't even begin to describe this amazing sushi spot. I'm super picky when it comes to good sushi. This place exceeded all my expectations. I started with the Green Salad. The dressing was a creamy ginger dressing that was delicious! I ordered two specialty rolls that were incredible. I love spicy rolls and boy were they spicy! The price is very reasonable too.
(5)Dee D.
I ordered take out and hands-down it was THE BEST sushi I've had...ever. The fish is fresh and melts in your mouth and the flavor lingers. The pieces are generous without using too much rice. Very satisfying meal. My husband even enjoyed it and he's not crazy about maki rolls.I ordered the spicy tuna crunch roll, dragonfly roll (replaced the eel on top with fresh salmon for only $1 extra) and the kai roll. They were all so very delicious. My faves though were dragonfly and tuna crunch. Also, the hostess (I don't recall her name anymore as I went there 2 weeks ago) was kind and helpful in answering my questions and accommodating my requests. Am looking forward to actually dining there, enjoyed the nice relaxing atmosphere as I waited on my rolls which were being crafted fresh to order and in a very timely manner.
(5)pracheta t.
My previous review was for Shinju..so i am updating it to reflect Fat Salmon! The bright blue LED lights is the first thing you notice even before walking in. What a change - so trendy! I went with my girlfriend and even though we were surrounded by couples on dates we still felt totally comfortable. They have an amaaazing selection of specialty rolls - even vegetarian ones. And the roll itself was...fat. Def didn't skimp on anything. So super yummy, I'll def go back.
(4)Jennifer N.
Fat Salmon is the perfect lunch take-out spot for me. I used to be devoted to Tampopo on Sansom, but they closed, so I decided to check out the lunch specials at Fat Salmon. I can say this -- you get tons of food for a very reasonable price. All of the lunch specials come with a choice of Miso or Salad. I am a big fan of the miso. So satisfying during this chilly time of year. So far, I have tried the No. 1 (Cali roll, spicy tuna roll, tuna and salmon nigiri) and the No. 5 (1 Midori Maki, 4 pcs sushi (Inari, Shitake, Avocado, Asparagus). No. 1 was good, but nothing special. The No. 5, however, is my new favorite. It is all veggie, but the flavors really sing. The avocado and asparagus are so simple, but tasty due to the freshness of the ingredients. And all for $9.18 with tax.
(4)Christine R.
Fat Salmon is one of my favorite places to go for sushi in the city. The quality of sushi is always fresh and delicious. Fat Salmon is known for creative fusion rolls which are no doubt amazing. However, the regular rolls are just as good. I love the Fuka roll which is one of their mixed spicy rolls. The menu is pretty big with plenty of a selection. Fat Salmon also has a full bar. I am not sure if it's BYOB though. The decor seems modern-chic and dimly lit. I think it's a great atmosphere for quiet conversation with a good friend or a date.
(5)Louis T.
As I get ready to flee the country, I realize this is yet another go-to place that I haven't reviewed. Though it looks a little more like a bus stop inside than its predecessor Shinju, Fat Salmon is reasonably priced, the fish is very fresh, and the preparation is solid. If there's a downside to it, I guess it would be the slightly hard decor and over-abundance of slightly gimmicky rolls. But if you just stick with the straightforward options, you won't go wrong. The fifth star is for consistency over a bunch of seminar dinners and random stop-ins, though, not because it blows you away.
(5)Lan H.
It started with an idea: it's a sushi lover's birthday. We should take her to a great sushi place in the city. Fat Salmon. The name has a personality :-) The master minds behind this bubbly name must have been the same ones who conjured the interior design. The blue lights, the wavy-textured walls, the entire dining experience...all share a common theme: simple, fun, and made me (and birthday girl and co) feel like I was in another world. The master minds of the menu were hugely inspired by various oddities and beauties, such as "The Sleeping Volcano" and "Mr. French Kiss," two different types of specialty rolls. The phrase "I live to eat" is 100% applicable here! The food was arranged such that the plating itself was delicious enough (as if you weren't already excited to each anyway once you stepped into the restaurant ;-)). But then, the flavors will boggle your mind! Fat Salmon, I hope, will continue to inspire me through its dining experience for as long as it is accessible to me :-) oh! And the birthday girl was beyond happily full of sushi by the end of the meal :p
(5)Chris S.
Fat Salmon (nee Shinju) essentially keeps the same traditions as the old place on Locust. Except, now, when I walk in wearing scrubs and have disheveled hair, I feel like a beggar walking into the Ritz Carlton. The wavy blue walls and their opulent lighting and carbon-fiber-like floors make the former location at 9th and Locust look like a cheap dive bar. So, naturally, I would think the prices would skyrocket....ESPECIALLY now that they have a liquor license and you can get your drink on without hauling it yourself. Surprise! This place still gives you great sushi at a good value. But I'm not here to talk about value, I'm here to talk fish! Fays s. and I got our usual: some sort of roll + pieces of salmon & yellow tail nigiri. This is our general standard for judging US-based sushi places (rolls aren't sushi...but they fill me up). Sure enough, the quality is just as I remembered it before it moved up town two blocks. In fact, I think it even got better...the yellow tail was almost comparable to flavor/texture to the best medium-fatty tuna (not quite o-toro) I've had. What a treat! Yes, I got a $2 bowl of miso soup...which tasted as it should. Faye s. made fun of me because I paid $2 for...miso soup (when we had packets that would taste the same at home and cost $0.50. Whatever, it was raining and I wanted some darn soup. Next time I come here, I think I'll try to ditch the scrubs.
(4)Alexandra W.
Can someone explain this Shinju vs. Fat Salmon business? Which is it? And why 'Fat Salmon'? I agree with Kathryn, though. Shinju sounds much nicer. The sushi is really good. I can appreciate an interesting, creative roll despite the fact that it isn't the traditional way to serve sushi. We ordered four of them, whose names I can't remember for the life of me. I do remember, however, that they were so good. Be warned, the portions are strange. Some rolls come with 6 pieces, some with 5 and some with 4. My only grievance is that if I'm paying $10+ for a roll, I want 6 pieces. Of course, my favorite one only had 4. Also, they have tempura ice cream! Get this to share, though. I made the mistake of ordering one for my self. THIS portion is quite large.
(4)Bee R.
Yummy!!! Definitely recommend the "fancy sushi" roll!!! Great prices and really delish!!! Great find :)
(5)Sophia C.
I got takeout for lunch last week from here, and their lunch specials are seriously a steal! I paid a total of $17 for a salmon tempura and dancing vampire (one of their specialty rolls) and a side salad with awesome ginger dressing. It would have only been $14 and some change, but the hostess that took my order was so attentive over the phone and gave me extra dipping sauces when I came to pick it up, don't forget to tip them a little something! Definitely the perfect spot to walk to on my lunch break, and definitely coming back.
(5)Chérie S.
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! I love this place. The food here is absolutely delectable! I've tried just about everything and I don't have any complaints! Service is always pleasant and timely and the decor... Being an interior designer and avid lover of modern design, I swoon every time I step foot in this restaurant. Sleek, modern, glossy and beautifully lit. There's nothing about Fat Salmon that I don't love. Except for maybe when they briefly close from 2:30 - 5:00pm to prep for dinner. They should never close their doors!
(5)Katarina M.
YUM!!!!!!!! Best sushi in Philly so far. And great prices. Got the Blossom, the Lava, the Mr. Shiro, and the Fancy Sushi. All phenomenal. Only the Lava was really spicy. I think most of the others were supposed to have some spicy in them based on the menu description, but they were all fine, and I'm not great with spicy. The Mr. Shiro was my favorite. Also each of us had a green salad with ginger dressing. Standard for a Japanese restaurant, and very good. Fine service. Great looking restaurant. All in all we each had a drink and shared the above and it was $24 per person including a generous tip. DEFINITELY coming back. And soon.
(5)Julia S.
Meh. Just had a Dancing Vampire and Spicy Tuna roll from Fat Salmon. To be certain, the place is beautiful and very stylish. To me, it almost seems like you are in an iridescent, water filled fish and the white accents are the bones. Definitely a romantic spot for a date. Oddly enough, it smells kind of fishy in there as well. Like tuna , which I like. But I've yet to go to another sushi place that smells quite like this one. I'm not blown away, which I should be for the price and reputation of the place. I have definitely had spicy tuna rolls that are MUCH better in the suburbs. Ota-Ya in Newtown to be exact. They just blow everyone away, I guess. And as far as the quality of the special roll, the Dancing Vampire, I've had better special rolls at Ooka of Willow Grove (Lobster Dynamite best roll EVER), Oishi of Newtown and ToKai of Northeast Philadelphia. It was a good roll. Not a great roll. It needed some kind of kick. And I would have appreciated if it was cut smaller, as one piece was hard to maneuver bite-wise. So, I guess it was good enough to visit again, but I won't be dreaming about it and waiting with baited breath for my next opportunity to order. So...kind of lukewarm at best for me.
(3)Nancy M.
I had a really yummy birthday dinner here on a Sunday night. We made a reservation which was a good thing because the place was full. Despite being busy we were seated immediately and served promptly, though not rushed. While waiting for dinner our server rushed over and explained that someone had mistakenly delivered our sushi order to the wrong table and they were making us a new plate immediately and would reduce our bill by 20% as an apology (not necessary but delightfully nice - and they didn't forget). The sushi was delicious and well made as was the miso soup to start. I live in a resort area in Massachusetts and thought the prices were very reasonable in comparison. I'd definitely go back. Very cool decor. My only complaint was the restaurant was quite noisy.
(4)Martha G.
I gotta say that their lunch specials are pretty good here; I've never been for dinner. You can get a lot of food for not that much, $14 plus tax and tip. Sometimes service is spotty, however. I've had a shrimp and veggie tempura lunch special, and it was mostly veggie, few shrimp, but it was yummy. And the special sushi rolls are quite yummy. Check it out for lunch.
(3)Soyoung K.
+1 star for the delicious yellow tail negimaki and the spicy tuna roll. +1 star for the great presentation of the dishes. +1 star for all the creative makis. +1 star for the beautiful decor. absolutely LOVE the lighting. +1 star for the BYO. Hooray! +1 st
(2)Ramen F.
Ambiance: It was modern - generally minimalist with some surprising splashes of flash (the lights bordering the sushi bar). The tables are very close to one another, so the noise level was a little loud. The feeling isn't intimate, unless you are talking about intimacy with other tables. I was able to hear and follow the discussions of the people sitting at tables on either side. Which wasn't a problem for me, but perhaps not a place you would want to go for a first date or with someone you aren't really comfortable with. Service: The waiter was helpful and pleasant. Food: This is the best sushi that I have had in Philly, and it is as simple as that. I like salmon but never loved salmon - it turns out that I was wrong about that and I love Fat Salmon's salmon. Get salmon on the Fancy roll, it was so good that it has ruined me from enjoying all other rolls!! The Rock and Roll and Dragon rolls were also yummy. It almost seems like a shame to get the regular rolls because the special rolls are so fantastic. The spicy tuna roll was good, but not as exciting as the other rolls. The deep fried tofu was an unexpected delight, I got the recommendation from reading through yelp and it was certainly warranted. Overall: Definitely recommended. Get the Fancy roll with salmon.
(5)Angelina D.
AMAZING! The "Sleeping Volcano" roll was like a party in my mouth. It was just so fresh and delicious. I also had the "Blossom" roll and that too was delicious. I didn't have one thing that I didn't love. Even the cocktails were great. I had a "Ginger Snap" martini and sweet sake sampler. I enjoyed the atmosphere and even the service was great. All I can say is that I will most definitely be back again and again and again. :)
(4)Christian B.
Possibly the best sushi I've ever had. Easily the best sushi in Philadelphia! Good service too. Prices reasonable too.
(5)Cecilia P.
Fat Salmon is definitely great for lunch. I had the #1 lunch special (2 rolls and miso soup) and left feeling very pleased. The service was great and the restaurant's atmosphere is cool and inviting. I work right around the corner so I'll definitely be visiting Fat Salmon again very soon.
(5)Alex C.
Fat Salmon is slightly better than average sushi in a sleek space. The emphasis is on over-the-top Americanized sushi loaded with fried items and "crunchy" (aka Panko bread crumbs). Over the 8 or so special rolls that we tried, nothing was terrible, but nothing stood out. The lone exception is the Super Dragon -- a Dragon roll on steroids. It's so large, you can barely eat it without making a fool of yourself. The beer menu has an extensive Asian selection, but the prices are relatively steep. Service is adequate, if unremarkable. For better sushi, try Zento (BYOB) from the former Morimoto Sous-Chef, Uzu (also in Old City) or Morimoto for a splurge. I've heard good things about Umai in Rittenhouse, but haven't been.
(3)Samantha J.
Sushi tasted fresh & was delicious. Prices were very reasonable- $40 for 2 special rolls, 2 glasses of wine & a generous tip. The atmosphere was calming- lights were dim & there was a blue hue throughout. Service was a bit slow, but everything else about the experience definitely made up for that.
(5)Charles S.
My friend and I had Sleeping volcano, Curry katsu don(hope name is correct), Steamed vegetable Koza, Green tea Mojito, and Green lotus. Sleeping volcano was the first roll i have ever tried cream cheese in it, and it was nice try for me who likes dairy products. Curry katsu don could serve almost for two small stomach people I guess. It was a bit blackpepper spicy and katsu (it was ckicken katsu) was I dare to say the BEST I have ever had in philly area. Steamed vegetable Kyoja was soft and tasty and its color was green so it made me felt i was eating a healthy food. Beverages, green tea mojito and green lotus, were good, and they were kinda weak alcohol. Basically it was an descent experience for me to have dinner in Fat Salmon and i would definitely like to go back and try other foods too. AND waiters and waitresses (especially SAM the waiter served us) were so friendly and kind so that my friend and i felt comfortable. They were obviously contributing to make this nice place even nicer. Strongly recommed.
(5)Laura N.
Favorite sushi in Philadelphia. This place is tiny so try to make reservations. They can be made online on their website which makes it pretty convenient. My favorite rolls at the moment are the rainbow roll (so fresh and a little hint of sweetness) and the blossom roll (has a lime, avocado cream on top that is unique but delicious). Then you have their spicy rolls...every time I come to fat salmon, I swear I'm not going to order a spicy roll. I'm a wuss when it comes to spice and after a few of these rolls my stomach engulfs itself in flames, however---I order one every single time. The sauce isn't your ordinary spicy mayo. It's a complex silky deliciousness of flavor and spice. I usually get the fuka roll. It's a little messy, but really good. Stay away from the sake sangria. It was a disappointment.
(4)Dhvani D.
Being vegetarian, I'm not always the biggest fan of sushi places because my options are usually limited to avocado or cucumber rolls. This place is awesome for vegetarians as there are so many options and they are so yummy! Their special rolls are where all the fun stuff is - my favorites are the old school (most fav) and the tofuholic...they are rolls stuffed on the inside with tasty mix of veggies/tofu and have different sauces/toppings on top...and they can be spicy! The seaweed salad and miso soup are good too. Ambience is fun on the inside and service is good too. Def place to check out!
(4)Rich G.
I have been to dozens of Japanese rest/sushi joints in my life. While I am not a snob, I know what is good. I would rate a sushi joint based on the quality of the food in relationship to the price. I could care less about the decor, service, rude chefs, etc. Give me good, fresh fish at a good price and I will come back often. I have ordered all types of things so no way I could comment on individual items, I just know that I have enjoyed everything that was ordered. Fat Salmon meets those 2 requirements, so I am giving my 1st 5 star review. The service I have experienced there has always been excellent. I have always gone during the week, just as they open for dinner. If anyone asks me for good Sushi places in the city, I always recommend Fat Salmon....the name is super easy to remember too.
(5)Helen C.
Fat Salmon is delicious. I've eaten here three times and the sushi and sashimi has been consistently fresh, delicious and of high quality! That alone is enough to keep me going back, since that's typically my go-to order at a sushi joint. This restaurant is appropriately named, because my favorite is actually their salmon - always a great cut of the fish and just perfect. The staff has been very pleasant and attentive for each of my visits; prices are good; and the atmosphere fun and comfortable. Overall, I think it's a great place to meet up with a friend to catch up over some delicious sushi. The BYOB is also a plus! The only con for me is actually the maki, despite all the positive reviews for the rolls. I will give them that some of their specialty rolls are unique, but so far they have been very hit or miss for me. I've only enjoyed maybe half of the specialty rolls I've tried, and most of the ones I did like were kinda just okay. There have been rolls that we did not even bother to finish or take home with us. I know sushi places these days like to get creative with their rolls, but sometimes it goes a little far. And then of the ones that were not interesting/crazy-sounding combinations, they were plain and nothing special. I guess it comes down to personal preference.
(4)Tasha A.
I'm torn....my first time eating at Fat Salmon the sushi was awesome, I had the Philly Roll & the Dancing Vampire Roll with Salmon Nigiri; however, the service (at lunch time) was incredibly slow. We've found it difficult to get in and out of Fat Salmon at lunch in 1 hour. On the flip side, the dinner service is pretty quick. Yesterday for the first time we ordered sushi to go (maybe that was a bad idea), but it just didn't taste as good or fresh as it has tasted in the past. My Dancing Vampire Roll was incredibly fishy (which hasn't happened before). I was sadly disappointed, but I guess in the grand scheme of things going into the restaurant is the obvious best choice.
(3)Stacie L.
Absolutely had an amazing time! I never knew this place existed until about last week when my friend told me and suggest we go. It didnt seem like much on the outside and I had to find the place to realize where it was. But once you go in, the setting is amazing. Sushi chefs are in front of you making their food so I felt comfortable that everything was fresh. The lighting is dimmer than most restaurants but it was a nice setting. Great for a date *hint hint* LOL. I had the shrimp tempura lunch box for I think !2 dollars and it was amazing and filling! I never expected sushi to fill me up so fast! The service was amazing, our waiter came up every so often and asked us how we were and always refilled our glasses without hunting him down (unlike certain places I have been too). Definitely going back there when I get paid. :]
(5)Sara H.
After reading so many overwhelmingly positive reviews on Yelp, I decided to give Fat Salmon a try on a Friday night with my boyfriend. The atmosphere was cool, the service was friendly and helpful and the place was packed to the brim--though it should be noted that it's a BYO and we saw 2 separate parties bringing in cases of Bug Light! Rock on! The three stars, however reflect the fact that the sushi itself was not all that impressive. For the price, it's not bad, but by no means is it the best sushi in the city--or really even noteworthy. The rolls are very creative (the white forest is topped with pico de gallo salsa--yum) but the execution is somewhat sloppy--and the quality of the ingredients doesn't seem to be exceptionally fresh. But maybe we went on an off night? Overall, I'd say--Fat Salmon gets props for price, service and creativity.
(3)Vanessa L.
Good, fresh sushi!
(4)Sarah B.
Since sushi is the best food known to man, I used to eat it weekly in LA nevermind the mercury poisoning risks or whatnot. I went to college in San Diego where sushi was aplenty. I also recently visited Tokyo where I had fresh sushi right by the fish market. So my sushi standards are a bit high. In Philly, I put on "goggles" knowing I should expect inadequate sushi. The last time I ate a roll it felt like I was chewing on a rubber snail. Finally, le beau and I discovered Fat Salmon--moderately priced, tasty sushi!!!!!!!!!!!! Something I would've eaten in LA!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were so excited that after we both had multiple rolls, we ordered another one to share. We definitely didn't exercise "hara hachi bu" here!
(4)Jacqueline C.
Although I am not a fan of the name change (Shinju was so much cooler), they got everything else right. First FS kept everything good about about the old spot (namely the fresh and innovative sushi) and fixed the things that were holding it back from sushi greatness, namely: - More tables translates into shorter lines - More space; tables are further apart (you can still talk to your neighbors, you just don't have to anymore) - More sushi chefs = less time waiting (and drooling over your neighbors food) Bottom line: This is the best sushi for your $$$ in Philly!
(5)Meghann p.
I love this place...the prices are so reasonable...I love the maki rolls and it is BYOB! What can be better? I have been back 4 times in the last month with different groups of friends...and everyone loved this place. I always recommend Fat Salmon for sushi lovers!
(5)Lee K.
Pretty small but a nice little sushi joint. Decor is pretty gimmicky in a Starr-ish kinda way but is nonetheless presentable. The specialty rolls had a good bit of variety and the few we tried didn't give us dysentery so we were happy. Try the smoked squid in ponzu sauce salad, it's phenom.
(4)Sarah Z.
Simply the best. Better than all the rest. When I have to move away, this is the place I'll come back for. It is my favorite.
(5)Brian H.
Great sushi and you can literally TASTE the freshness. Very creative rolls definitely for the intermediate to advanced sushi eater. I have been eating sushi for a few years now and I grow tired of simple samon or tuna rolls. The chefs here take it to the next level! Although this was my first time eating here I was told that it was a BYOB....it IS NOT. Not sure what changed but I ended up taking my huge bottle of white wine back to the car :/. Other than that sushi was delicious - the Pork KATSU was unbelievable GREAT value..."party in a box!" Beware you will be served Sashimi, Seawed Salad, Tofu...also comes with Miso Soup and Salad.
(4)Karina A.
The best sushi I have ever had in the city, hands down. I love you Fat Salmon! I LOVE LOVE their deep fried tofu appetizer. So good and unique texture.
(5)Sara L.
I did lunch with a friend at the new incarnation of Shinju that is Fat Salmon yesterday, and was impressed with how this restaurant has grown. It is a true testament to the management and excellent food to be so successful with a small establishment in the current economy. The head chef, menu and much of the staff remain largely identical to Shinju. It seems like more specialty rolls appear on the new menu, but my old favorites were there as well. They have increased their prices slightly, but not as much as I feared when I first heard about the move. Our meal consisted of naked gyoza with spicy tuna, sleeping volcano and rolling fire rolls, and a few pieces of nigiri and sashimi. The food was all excellent. I am impressed when a sushi place not only offers brown rice as an option, but gets the texture right to work perfectly in sushi. I am surprised to read complaints about the service. I have always found them to be friendly and efficient. Sometimes the food takes a little while, but when it arrives, the complexity of the preparation and presentation makes it obvious why. This is not a restaurant for hurrying. The decor is a complete turnaround from the humble dark wood that I so loved at Shinju. The new space is much more sleek and fancy, typical of what you would expect from a high-end sushi restaurant. This, combined with the liquor license application in the window, makes me believe that high-end sushi restaurant is where they are headed. This is not a bad thing in itself, but the city already has a couple of those. I will probably always feel a little nostalgic for the tiny, unassuming neighborhood place that you would hardly even notice walking by.
(4)Jillian G.
I've been to Morimoto, Haru, Vics...all of which were very different and wonderful, but Fat Salmon, yes formerly known as Shinju is CHEAP and ranks up there with the top guns of Sushi in Philadelphia. I have been there 3 times since it has opened (BYOB until April I was told) and have tried about 16 of the rolls...(I realize I sound like a fatty) but my favorites were: 1. Fancy Sushi - really awesome roll, haven't had anything like it anywhere else. Basically a piece of salmon sashimi wrapped around sushi rice with spicy salmon on top laying on a bed of crunchies. 2. Salmon Yaki - I don't usually go for any cooked fish in my rolls, but this really was awesome with the eel sauce. 3. Spicy Scallop - always order it when I see it, definitely up to par here. Rolls that looked awesome but really were not: 1. BCT - bacon and cream cheese, hard to go wrong here but not really what I hoping it would be....not enough BACON! 2. Rolling Fire - I was told this was too hot to handle for most people. They really got me excited. It was not hot. It's fresh and also does take out. I would make a reservation if I could. Every time I am there they are holding 4 or 5 tables in a 15 table place for people who eventually are suppose to come in. It's silly.
(5)Eileen H.
I couldn't decide between giving this place 3 or 4 stars, but I settled on 4 because I would definitely go back. We ordered the agedashi tofu, shrimp tempura tofu, smoked salmon, fluke, and yellowtail nigiri, their Rock N Roll special roll, and their Shochu samplers. I'll start with the decor. It's very ultra white, space age modern looking. Interesting take on decor for a sushi restaurant, of which I'm not sure if I am a fan but I can't say I hate it, either. Now for the food. The agedashi tofu was nothing special, i.e. don't bother ordering this dish. The shrimp tempura udon was pretty good, but not fantastic. I did like how they served the 2 shrimp tempura on the side so that it doesn't get too soggy in the broth. It also came with a zucchini tempura fritter. The nigiri was pretty much to my expectation, although they did something weird to the smoked salmon and yellowtail that made it look like the texture of cube steak. It was very odd and I assume its purpose is to tenderize the fish. The Rock N Roll was a commitment. Each piece, or roll, was pretty thick and stuffed with both salmon and tuna, then topped with "crunchy" topping and a sweet eel sauce. The waitress explained that it is called eel sauce because they mix in powdered eel. I have no idea what that is. In summary, they have a variety of sushi options, to the point where their menu is overwhelming, as well as many non-sushi options. They also seemed to have a pretty good sake selection. Their service is fine- nothing remarkable, though. I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a nice, reasonably priced sushi joint that serves alcohol.
(4)Kelly F.
Delicious! It was the Friday after Thanksgiving and what my boyfriend and I wanted more than anything was a meal that didn't have a shred of turkey in it. What we found was super friendly service, delicious sushi and apps and a full bar. This place has boosted to my favorite sushi place in the city. The baby octopus was spectacular! We couldn't finish all the sushi, so our waitress wrapped it up with much care and we had it the next day. Can't write enough good things and can't wait to come back.
(5)Courtney J.
I arrived at Fat Salmon with some co-workers just as they were opening for lunch. We'd heard great things about this place and were happy to finally check it out. The atmosphere was really nice. I liked the soft blue tinted lights and the modern white tables. We were seated after a few minutes. There are quite a few lunch specials to choose from ranging between $8 - $14. They all come with miso soup or your typical American Japanese restaurant ginger salad. The waitress came over to take our drink order. One person in my party ordered seltzer with lime. It took a while for the waitress to come back, but when she finally did, she told us that didn't have seltzer, but Perrier. My friend said that was fine. She disappeared for a while. We were ready to order and wondering when she'd come back. Finally she comes back with the drinks and said that they were still cutting the lime in the kitchen. Really? It takes that long to slice a lime wedge? We weren't off to the best start, but whatever. We were hungry. Finally, we ordered. I decided on the nigiri set with the salad. We ordered the vegetable tempura appetizer to share. The appetizer came out along with the lime slice. It was a pretty good amount of veggies and included broccoli, sweet potato, and bell peppers. The taste was fine, but it was just lukewarm. Tempura is so much better when it's fresh out of the oil. The other strange thing was the dipping sauce that accompanied it. It was not the usual dashi stock, but instead what tasted like a rice vinegar, soy, and shichimi togarashi (red pepper spice mix usually served with udon noodle soup). It wasn't bad, but just not what I'd serve with tempura. Also the container was too shallow to dip it in. Ten minutes later, when we only had one piece of tempura left, the waitress comes by and sets down a bowl of sauce on the table. We ask, "What's that?" She says, "Oh the sauce for that is supposed to be this, but you don't have to use it," and walks away. A little strange, and a little too late. Then the main course arrives. It looked really good. I ate a piece of nigiri and was turned off by the temperature. It tasted okay, but the whole piece was warm. I don't like my sushi cold, but it should be room temperature, not warm like it's been cooked. I think the sushi chef didn't fan the rice, and got in a hurry and used it before it cooled completely. The warm rice ended up heating the fish. Also, the rice itself was falling apart and it was hard to pick up the pieces. This also was most likely a result of improper cooling. I've never had that kind of problem before anywhere. What a disappointment. The fish itself was not nearly as good as Sagami in Jersey, or even remotely close to what I've had in Japan. I also tasted one of my co-workers rolls, and it was very bland. I'm glad I went for lunch and not dinner because at least I walked away disappointed without a huge bill. With lots of other places to go in Philly, Fat Salmon would not be at the top of my list for high quality sushi even though their dining room looks lovely.
(2)Norma M.
The sushi was excellent and offered a wide variety. The portions are generous for the price and enough to share. The naked gyoza was a unique and delicious dish and I suggest you get two orders because you can't eat just one. The only reason I won't give it a 5 star is due to the service but I think it was due to a waiter who was new.
(4)Tyshawn T.
Fried. Ice. Cream. DO IT! Fuka Roll and Rainbow Roll. DO IT! This place is hip. Very nice crowd. A good place for a date. The drinks were subpar though. I'd still return because the sushi was great.
(5)Erin B.
I'd heard a lot of great things about this restaurant from friends, yelpers, etc. In September / October my coworker and I grabbed a quick lunch while we waited to have our engagement rings cleaned over on jeweler's row. I remember the sushi being ok, not mind-blowing, but not horrible. (The only reason that I am giving the second star.) So, when my cousin from Jersey said he was in town and wanted to grab lunch near my office today, Fat Salmon it was. MAJOR MISTAKE OF THE DAY. Our first clue should have been the flightiness of the hostess. She literally took forever+ minutes to seat us, which is entirely unacceptable for a weekday lunch, especially when there were several tables available. We eventually decided to seat ourselves at the bar area. After perusing the menu, we were both sorta disappointed at the abundance of "crab stick" on the menu... (ain't nobody got no time for crab stick)! We then waited forever +2 minutes for the waitress to take our order. Forever+10 minutes later our food finally came and we were neither under or overwhelmed. The worst part of the lunch was the end... The waitress finally brought our card to us and b/c she took forever +20 minutes to fetch it, another waitress came over to pick it up and offered her apologies. At that point, our original waitress returned to our table and dropped off the credit card of a patron from another table - an identity thief's dream!
(2)Ty B.
Fat Salmon saved my night. I was looking forward to the 1st date with a new guy I'm seeing. He loves sushi and I love Thai so we were going for Umai. Although Yelp told me Umai was open at 8pm on a Sunday night - it wasn't. I frantically searched for nearby sushi spots only to find Fat Salmon right.next.door. Not wanting to chance it I called and reserved a table with ease for 830pm. Fat Salmon is a bit small on the inside and dimly lit at the tables in the back which is where we sat, but because we reserved a table we didn't wait long at all. My date wanted to sit at the raw bar but unfortunately that's first come first serve. Besides you can order the same thing at a table. Sitting at the raw bar just gives you more of an authentic feel. The service was great. We sat down and were offered water. I'm a foodie so I always have a bunch of questions about how I can cater the menu to my needs. The waiter was really patient and detailed in explaining everything to us and offering suggestions. We ended up choosing an eel dish, a lava dish, a regular dish to share and the saki sampler. The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is because the wait for our food took forever! We were really hungry and disappointed that our first choice was a fail. (Umai serves sushi and Thai and Thai is my ultimate favorite cuisine). Our stomachs were grumbling as we sipped our starter beers. I understand though. Sushi is essentially raw food and I'm sure the cook took the proper precautions in preparing our meal but we were so hungry!! On Sundays Fat Salmon closes around 9 or 10. Remember our reservation was for 830. We ended up being one of the last tables eating. I'm pretty sure the group at the only other table were family or close friends of someone at Fat Salmon. The busboys started cleaning up tables and putting chairs away while we were still wrapping up. Not cool. Other than that the service, food and drinks were great. But I know now if I ever go back - go early.
(4)Jackie S.
This place just rocks. Great, fresh sushi. Loved the atmosphere, and a really pretty walk through Washington square. One of the best sushi restaurants in the city.
(5)Stephen K.
This is a must try once place! You will most likely go back. The quality and selection blow any other place out of the water. I am a fan of sushi and frequent a place in Princeton that has great value mixed with quality. The quality at Fat Salmon makes you believe they caught the fish minutes before your ordered. The price is amazing for being a high end restaurant in center city. Almost what you would pay per roll anywhere else, if not cheaper surprisingly. The decor is a very modern low lite vibe. The placed seems to be always packed and reservations are a must. On a Friday night, two friends and I made reservations at 7:30 for a 9pm table. We ordered the following items: Edamame ($4.50) Seaweed Salad ($6.00) BCT Roll ($9.50) INSIDE - Bacon, Cream Cheese, Tomato, Cucumber ON TOP - Avocado w/Spicy sauce Dancing Vampire Roll ($9.50) INSIDE - Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy ON TOP - Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy) Fancy Sushi Roll ($10.50) INSIDE - Rice wrapped with a piece of fish w/Spicy Chopped fish (tobiko,Scallions) ON TOP Wasabi Tobiko ON BOTTOM Crunchy Tempura Cruncy Spicy Tuna Roll ($6.00) Spicy tuna w/ Crunch and Masago Tekka Roll ($5.00) Tuna I could of skipped the Tuna Roll. Though a great classic and a good way to tell the overall quality of a place. I would have preferred an additional specialty roll. All of their speciality rolls we tried were amazing. Our favorite was the Fancy Sushi Roll, followed by the BCT. I mean come on! It has tons of bacon in each bite. How can you not love that.
(5)Eric P.
Very nice, innovative sushi place in Center City Philadelphia. Stopped in on a Friday night. Called in for a last minute reservation (9:30 PM) and they were happy to seat us. This night we were in a sushi only mode, so we didn't venture out to try any of the Appetizers or Kitchen Specials that they had to offer. The menu had a nice array of different combinations of sushi. We opted for the Fancy Sushi, Locust, Hako, Rolling Fire and Dancing Vampire. All of them were delicious and fresh. I must say that they do go a tad bit overboard with their sauces on top of the sushi, so it detracts from the flavor of the fresh fish. Presentation was excellent, it all came out in one plate in a nice, appealing order. Service was top notch. Our waitress was very attentive, without being over bearing. We were the last people to leave their restaurant, but we never felt rushed. We couldn't leave without trying dessert, so we opted for the fried vanilla ice cream, which was amazing, and huge ! All in all, we would definitely return to Fat Salmon. A few weeks ago, we went to Zama, and this place blew Zama out of the water, in both food and service. Well done Fat Salmon !
(4)Flavia C.
This is a great neighborhood spot. The decor is sexy & fun with nice lighting. They have lots of options when it comes to rolls, some are very inventive. I had the Rolling Fire & Dancing Vampire & some yellowtail. The sushi was fresh and the taste combos worked perfectly. The presentation was lovely & the service was attentive without being intrusive. The prices were very reasonable. I will def. go back
(4)Katrina C.
What a fun spot for sushi! The specialty rolls are very "Americanized" but luckily I'm very American. I'm sure in some places it is sacrilege to glob spicy mayo all over your sushi, but I live for it. My party of 2 didn't have reservations on a Saturday night but luckily there were a couple spots right at the sushi bar. Pretty much everyone there appeared to be on a date. It has a very good vibe for that with the intimate tables and moody blue lighting. They had a team of at least 4-5 chefs behind the sushi bar cranking it out. We ordered a few different rolls with names I can't recall, but I made sure to take note of the Sepia Pleasure which was phenomenal. For 4 rolls and 2 drinks we left at about $40 per person with tip. I would definitely return.
(4)Nicole O.
Best sushi in Philly. I could eat 1000 spicy tuna rolls and be happy. The fish is always fresh and served perfectly. GO!!
(4)Codi B.
The seaweed salad was huge, and delicious. Crunchy eel roll of sorts was my favorite by far, with a spicy salmon in second. Three rolls, three apps, a bottle of broadbent, great service, and a bargain of $85 for a check. We'll be back!
(5)Michael H.
The sushi had only gotten better now that they moved to their current location. The fancy Tuna and salmon skin rolls are amazing. Check them Out!!
(5)Alicia J.
Food is so good....but the place is small.
(3)Ashley S.
My boyfriend and I came here for lunch on Valentine's Day, and it was great! We shared the seaweed salad as an appetizer, and it was definitely enough for both of us. We ordered the spicy tuna, Alaskan, and Dragon rolls which were all excellent. They put all the sushi on one plate, but they split it up so that the Dragon roll divided our plate, and we had equal amounts of the tuna and salmon rolls on each of our "halves." They are definitely going for a trendy look for the restaurant, and the decor is modern with all white furniture and little lights hanging over each table that you can definitely hit your head on. A little corny. Otherwise, our waitress was really nice, and the food is great for the price!
(4)Peter K.
Very good sushi in Philadelphia! A little trendy and expensive, but good.
(5)Jennifer R.
Pretty expensive but pretty damned worth it. Absolutely incredible sushi. Very fresh and innovative. If you're a sake lover, they have a great sake sampler
(5)Kelly S.
Sushi was good, had volcano roll, dragonfly and rainbow. Specialty rolls much better than hands rolls. Good service, nice ambiance. Perhaps a bit loud. Avocado salad left something to be desired...dressing was great, avocado a bit too firm.
(4)Christina W.
I went with a group of six to Fat Salmon on an overwhelmingly hot day before heading over to Old City for First Friday. Our meal was refreshing, cost-effective, and surprisingly very filling. We had made a reservation for four (which was the maximum they allowed), but showed up with six, and they accommodated us very willingly, adding an extra table to ours. Attentive and helpful service overall. For a group of six, we ordered: 1. The mixed roll combo (Alaskan roll, spicy tuna roll, shrimp tempura roll, for $20 total) 2. The Dancing Vampire roll 3. The Miss Sake Bomb roll 4. The Lost Rainbow roll (for about $10-13 each). We were able to switch out the spicy tuna roll for the spicy tuna crunch roll for an additional dollar (the difference is fifty cents but they said they had to round up to the next dollar). Each type of roll came with six individual pieces, facilitating the sharing process. The combo came with a salad and a bowl of miso soup. The house dressing on the salad was creamy and acidic, with hints of sesame and ginger. We asked what the dressing contained and the waitress was able to list out all the ingredients for us. My favorite roll was the Lost Rainbow roll, which came with many different types of fish on the outside and crab stick on the inside along with masago (fish eggs) and crunch. My friends loved the Miss Sake Bomb roll, which has eel on the inside, cooked salmon on the outside, topped with tartar sauce. I thought that roll was a little too heavy for me, especially with the tartar sauce, but it was new and interesting for me to have cooked salmon combined with eel. I also enjoyed the Dancing Vampire, which has tuna and salmon wrapped around it and is topped with chili sauce, with only vegetables and crunch on the inside. Although the combo rolls were obviously not as exciting, they contained a very solid shrimp tempura roll and you can't really go wrong with spicy tuna crunch. The fish was very fresh. The bill came down to about $11 each (wow!), and although we were not expecting it to be adequately filling, we were full all night (with only a few bites of ice cream at Franklin Fountain to finish off the night). I'm guessing it was because the special rolls were so incredibly dense, so that was a nice surprise. Perfect for a hot summer day.
(5)Tiki S.
The restaurant is a little small but cozy. The wait can be a little long but we were lucky. We waited about 10 minutes before we were seated. The tea is self serve which was welcome on such a cold night. Each of the specialty rolls we ordered were very good. There was no roll we ordered that we didn't like. The service is fast and efficient. I'll definitely come back here again!
(4)Katie A.
love love love this place!!! the BCT roll is amazing- who would think that bacon and sushi would be so amazing together? awesome ambiance, reasonably priced, friendly staff and delicious food! my favorite sushi place in the city :)
(5)Erica M.
We go to Fat Salmon often and it just seems to have gone downhill. The rolls just weren't that great on our last visit - I can't put my finger on what it was, they just weren't anything special (and we ordered special rolls). The presentation was very good, but flavor not so much. We will probably go back to see if it was a fluke, but I came home disappointed.
(3)Shannon S.
I love this restaurant! I have eaten in many times. I have sent people there who actually text me and say it was the best sushi they've had. The owner of Barsky's on jewelers row sent me here one day when I was famished after a day of looking at rings (seriously! it's hard work figuring out what you want on your hand the rest of your life). I think the ambiance is very hip. There are seats at the sushi bar, two- and four-person tables next to that in the front, and more seating plus a bigger table in the back. I always order dumplings but I think they changed the menu item when we came back for our last visit on 3/28. Anyway, the beef steamed dumplings are great but the sauce is different too, not really a ponzu. Still good. We also get sweet potato roll and this one was perfectly coated in panko, fried and then rolled. Tasted great. Usually I order a few other rolls but this time we came after an event because when I was craving nigiri so I got two pieces of salmon on rice (my usual). It melts in your mouth like butter. I never thought I would say this but I think I would rather eat a ton of salmon nigiri from Fat Salmon than a filet mignon from my favorite steakhouse. It's a close race, folks. I think we ordered a salmon roll too but not sure. I asked the waitress why the salmon here is so darn good and she asked the manager who said that they use only premium salmon in both the sushi and the rolls, which I guess means that other places use less desirable cuts of sushi in the rolls and maybe the sushi too. I believe him!!!!! We will always be coming back here.
(5)Cat N.
I went here for my friend's birthday. I am in love with this place. The decor and ambiance is absolutely great. It looks so trendy. It's got mostly tables for two, but there are several tables for bigger groups towards the back. I met my friends here. They had already been seated. I work in the area. As soon as I sat down, someone came by to see if I wanted anything to drink. I ordered the Naked Tuna Gyoza and I ordered a Fancy Roll and a Rolling Fire Roll. I'm not sure about what my friends ordered. But OMG, the naked gyoza is AMAZING. I ordered it because I thought it was such a weird combination. Its like raw tuna on top of a thin chip with pico de gallo and sour cream on top. They give you about 5 of them for $7. It was SO good. It's such a weird but delectable combination. I love the presentation of their sushi. They have menus that show you what their specials look like. Although i feel like they could have better specials, they did have unique rolls that I've never seen before. My Fancy roll and my Rolling Fire were alot for myself and a friend to share. They're like a good size for a roll, but they also had a bunch of other things on top of the roll, which filled me up too. I really liked the Fancy roll. The Rolling Fire had so much going on on top of it that I just got full halfway in. It was still good, but if you're getting the Rolling Fire just for yourself, it might be all you need. The service was great. They were always filling up our drinks and checking up on us. It was a good amount of attention because sometimes its kind of annoying to be constantly checked up to the point where it is distracting to your conversation. I HAVE to bring my boyfriend back here! He would love this AND he needs to try the naked gyoza!! MUST TRY; Naked Tuna Gyoza (if you like tuna tartare, TRY THIS!), Fancy roll
(5)Sam R.
Fat Salmon I wanted to like you. Your reviews seemed so promising which I why I chose to visit you... I was just here yesterday evening with a friend, to catch up & have some good sushi. They have a lot of options on their menu however, when you read what is in some of there special sushi rolls, it doesn't sound too appetizing. I saw bacon as on of their ingredients in one of there rolls. Bacon doesn't belong in sushi... I ordered the shrimp shumai as an appetizer, it was ok but, it was a little cold. For my entree I ordered the Lost Rainbow Roll & the Spicy Tuna Roll. I didn't like the flavor of my rolls. The spicy tuna was a little too spicy & salty. The Lost Rainbow Roll, I didn't like how crunchy it was & the sauce they used inside the roll. They also don't bring out appetizers & entrees together. You get yours as soon as it is prepared. If you go out to eat I feel that you should be served at the same time. Its rude to eat while someone else is waiting for there food and its awkward. They also took away our appetizer plates without, asking if we were done and I was still eating as our plates were being taken away. Wow ! I guess they had decided we were done with our appetizers at that moment. Then it took forever for my friends entree to come out & then they forgot the sashimi that she had ordered. When she reminded them they did bring it out, & told her "it was on the house." Which was nice. I did like the ambiance of the place & the modern decor. I did like the dim blue lighting, very calming.
(3)Danielle D.
For me, a dining experience is about the quality of food and the service. The sushi here was some of the best sushi I've ever had in Philadelphia! However, holy lord the service was awful. Our waiter didn't check on us once and took forever to even ask us if we wanted a drink after being seated. I sat with an empty glass of wine and still no sign of waiter for waaaay to long. We would've stayed to order another drink & roll had service been even remotely decent but left instead. Do take out if they do it!!!
(3)Kelly T.
Eventually, the money for my lunch was refunded to my card. However, I am still so disgusted with their attempt to serve me spoiled food and cover it up, that I am not upgrading my review.
(1)Zack H.
Went here for a business lunch with a client of mine, his choice, I love sushi, so sounded great to me. This place did not disappoint, great food, great prices. We didn't have any cocktails, so I can't comment on how they were, however, the sushi was exceptional, particularly the salmon (hence the name). Had two different rolls, and sashimi and everything was outstanding. Would highly recommend this place, very reasonably priced too.
(5)Joanna D.
I really like this place! I consistently have a great meal here. Service is good! Food is even better.. Love the blossom roll, spicy scallop roll and the salmon skin roll minus the eel sauce!
(4)Megan M.
I've only eaten inside once, but I've grabbed sushi to go a bunch of times. The sushi is excellent, as is the decor. My only complaint is the very relaxed service. Sometimes take out is ready 20 min after stated time.
(4)Di P.
I am giving 5 stars to a place that *almost* had crappy service. But i'm not a freakin' monster and the food was that perfect. The hostess was clearly super new to hosting (like fresh out of sophomore year of college) and the manager was obviously trying to teach her without completely holding her hand. It appeared to be rocket science for her to let us know how long the wait would be and I was basically putting words into her mouth ("like, fifteen minutes? fifteen minutes, right? i think you want to tell me fifteen minutes TOPS is the wait"). Almost-husband and I got four rolls listed in order of who I'm crushing on from most to least: tied for number 1: #1 Mr. Shiro: eel tempura, cucumber, crunchy inside and broiled white tuna with tomato on top. Time it took to eat the whole roll: 3 short frenzied minutes. #1 Tofuholic: Asparagus, Yam, Gourd Tempura w/Spicy sauce and Soy sauce & Mayo Marinated Tofu, Asparagus, Scallion, Cucumber,Tomato on top. Time it took to eat the roll: 10 minutes of me savoring every beautiful bite. #4: M & M: Marinated Beef, Cucumber, Oshinko and on top Spicy Crab Stick w/Scallion #3: Dancing Vampire (cucumber and asparagus in the inside, tuna and salmon in chili sauce on top) They were ALL great and if they kept on bringing me rolls I wouldn't stop eating. Which only happens to me when the sushi is really freakin' good. Usually all the raw fish kinda tops me out after a bit, but not here. No sireeeee. And I was happy that they had an awesome amount of vegetarian options. And lots of rolls without avocado (overshare: I'm newly allergic and it makes me puke immediately, so sad). Also, this place is in a sorta in-between neighborhood for going out-- like not a lot of people milling about, but inside of the restaurant was really trendy. Dark with neon blue lighting and all white mod furniture. But luckily I'm in a relationship where I now have "let myself go" and am okay wearing sneakers in a trendy restaurant without feeling psychotically self-conscious. Everyone else looked great so I felt like one screw-up is okay. But I promise to put myself together soon, baby. Side bar, they have a full bar, no longer a BYOB... however they're lacking in a cocktail menu. If they had some fun cocktails it would be FABULOUS. But I had a carafe of plum sake and let all my worries go.
(5)Mony K.
I have been going to this place since it was known as Shinju back when it was small and cute. It's bigger now, modernized but the food is still as good as it was back at Shinju. This is what's known as my "first date" restaurant. It has never disappointed any of the dates...to date. So that has to count for something right? Focus on their specialty roles. I usually pick two and my date will pick two. Make sure you make reservations so you don't look like a tool. I love all their specialty roles but if I had to pick one: Super Dragon Roll.
(5)Angela B.
Walked a mile in the rain by myself with no umbrella to get here. Worth every step! The dancing vampire roll is fabulous and the hamachi was sublime. The hostesses were fantastic, as was the waitstaff. Five stars - no doubt.
(5)Alex H.
I'm a sushi fanatic; I could eat it morning, noon, and night. I do demand, however, that it be perfect in taste, color, variety, and presentation. I'm not quite ready to give Fat Salmon the kudos that other Yelpers have given it. I didn't feel that their sushi was the epitome of what good sushi is, but maybe I'm being a bit harsh. I started with the negimaki. The beef should have been the most tender cut; there was more al-dente-ness than I'm use to with this dish. The dish did come dressed with a variety of sauteed vegetables, even a few potatoes. You would have to accept that this is American-style Japanese food, however, because it's a bit unusual to serve it that way. I washed that down with a Hitachino Red Rice Ale. It was $10 bucks for a 12 oz. bottle....expensive! At least it was truly imported from Japan and not an Asahi or Sapporo from Molson in Canada or a Kirin Ichiban from the people at Budweiser. This is a general pet peeve of mind, by the way. For my main dish I had the Sushi Deluxe. The choice of fish was described in the menu as 'Tekka Maki & 11pcs Nigiri (Chef's Choice)'. It was all basically the same fish; at least, it tasted that way. The waitress went down the nicely stacked line of negori - "salmon, white tune, hamachi, maguro, etc., etc., etc." The whole time I was thinking to myself, "Where is the variety?". At most sushi joints, there's tamago, ikura, a cooked shrimp, some unagi in the mix, but not this place. At $23 bucks, I wasn't happy that I may have to order my favorite from the Ala Carte menu. I'm with Joelle B.... I, too, didn't feel there was an assortment of fresh (fish) selections. Variety should be the name of the game. Why have 'gari' (picked ginger) to clean the palate when the fish looks similar and taste basically the same. I was personally disappointed in Fat Salmon.
(2)Geoff c.
I was in a rush, so this may not be the best review... but, oh well. The rolls were really good. Flavorful. Well-put. Even the california tasted good (caveat - i would not go to a sushi place and judge from their california rolls, but friends in my party happened to get it with the sushi-for-2 plate and i tried it). Tried a variety of 5 of their other special and regular rolls. They were all pretty good. The ngiri was not the best I've had, but it'll do. The venue is a sort of modern-fusion decor. Not much space inside. Staff was accommodating and attentive. I'll have to come back to try more, when I'm not in a hurry.
(4)Kitty L.
I'll be straight to the point. I had better sushi. I went to a place with faster service and tastier food. I got to the restaurant a little past 6pm. I don't think we placed our order until 6:45pm? We ordered about 5 special rolls. Our food didn't come out until around at least half an hour later. Really? The restaurant wasn't even that full. Why does it take that long? We asked our server and she said usually special rolls take 30 minutes to make. Wow, now you tell us??? The special roll menu wasn't all the fascinating. Most of the crab sushi rolls were made with crab imitations and most of them were spicy. I can't eat a lot of spicy stuff but this never bothers me when I go out to eat as there are always several things for me to pick from that are not spicy. This restaurant wasn't the case. Out of the 5 special rolls we ordered, I only ate 1. I had to order other more traditional rolls to fill myself up. I don't need to go here for traditional rolls. You go to Sagami for that! Ok that's enough. I don't think I'll come back to this place.
(2)Regina F.
Fat Salmon is pretty much the only sushi place that could make you roll out like a Fat Salmon. If you're craving sashimi or sushi even, don't come here. The tamago and roe sushi were only okay...but if you're looking for adventure and rolls as crazy, delicious and colorful as Carnival, scurry on over to a booth at Fat Salmon. The Rolling Fire takes the spice of Sichuan fare and blends it with the delicacy of Japanese cuisine. It's spicy enough to nix the wasabi and just eat plain. It's moist enough to forget the soy sauce before plummeting a very large cylinder into your mouth. The spicy scallop is expertly melded with crab stick in an aioli unlike any other - it's sirracha, yes, but there's chili oil too. The fried scallions on top make for an artful presentation. Inside, you'll enjoy shrimp tempura and an alleged cucumber...but you probably won't notice the cucumber other than its crunch. The cooling powers of that watery melon are defeated by the spice of the roll. The Dancing Vampire was okay, but by the time I got to taste it, my papillae had their expectations risen too high by the Rolling Fire. While I would contend that I should go back and try the Dancing Vampire again with a clean palate, this would mean abandoning the Rolling Fire, which is really just silly and an abomination against the Fat Salmon.
(4)Ha T.
I've only gotten take out for lunch once from Fat Salmon, and I was really impressed! I ordered the Alaskan Roll lunch special, which comes with two pieces of salmon sashimi, two pieces of salmon nigiri, and a soup or salad. The salmon was GORGEOUS! The color was so vibrant and glossy. The texture, so melt-in-your-mouth tender and creamy. I've nver been so in awe from the presentation of just the fish itself, rather than the arrangement of several fancy sushi rolls presented together. For $11.35 including tax, for the quantity of sushi and fish, the size of the salad (bigger than many other salads I've gotten with sushi lunch specials), and the quality of that fish, made this lunch special an absolute steal! It might not be as filling as other 3-roll lunch specials, but it was quite the bang for your buck. Accompanied from an iced tea from the Cooperage cafe and set in Washington Square Park on that gorgeous afternoon made for an phenomenal lunch break. I can't wait to come back to Fat Salmon and try everything else!
(5)Rupal P.
As a vegetarian, the food here is wonderful! The vegetable fried goyza is delicious and the best I've ever had. Love the Veggie tempura and the Tufoholic rolls!
(5)Liz S.
The niguri had pefectly cut fish over a generous blob of wasabi, the entire meal wiuld have been amazing except for the oder of the chop sticks. Whatever brand they use treats the wood in something that just reaks and completely killed my appetite...
(3)Laura C.
The sushi here is slightly pricier than average but it's totally worth it. I'm so happy that I discovered such a fantastic sushi restaurant in the Washington Sq., West neighborhood. I ate at the sushi bar the other day and my overall experience was very positive. I've only been here once but once was enough to establish it as my go-to sushi restaurant.
(5)Elizabeth D.
I have been wanting to try Fat Salmon for a while and since we were in the area, we popped in for dinner. They do take reservations (via phone) and I was surprised to see how busy it was for a Wednesday night! The restaurant is small, but with very cool decor - I loved the light fixtures! The have lots of 2 tops, and a big sushi bar. After a brief wait, we were seating at the sushi bar. Deceptively large amount of leg room which was welcome! Their house pinot grigio was pretty good for $6 & they have a large variety of sake and beer. We split the spicy roll combo ($20) & the Volcano roll ($9.50). The combo comes with miso soup and ginger salad (which we split) - both were pretty standard for sushi places. We both enjoyed all the rolls - the presentation is great and the fish was very fresh. I will say that it was not THAT spicy, but everything did have a nice kick. Just don't expect to be blown away by spiciness. The prices are right on point and the service was very good. It's a great sushi place in Washington Square.
(4)Vivian T.
This place is yummy for special/funky rolls. you have to adjust your expectation of "japanese food" when you are coming here. sure it's japanese food but I would almost say this is like Americanized japanese food. it's not a place where I would go to get real sushi or sashimi but it is a good place for different rolls that are basically different permutations of the same ingredients: eel, avocado, salmon, tempura, soft shell crab, tuna, spicy tuna, mixed with permutations of outside in roll, inside out roll, spicy or not spicy sauces, etc. Rolling fire, mr. shiro, white forrest, I can't even remember the ridculous names but the point is, they are all yummy and delicious. Besides the crazy roll, they also have the usual suspects: california, dragon, veggies rolls etc. they even have regular japanese stuff to order but I think your best bet are the delicious rolls!
(3)Rebecca N.
Delightfully corny decor, a selection of predictable items, a few good beers, a few good wines, friendly and prompt servers, and reasonable prices: the perfect place to take a platonic lunch date. There are so many other fish in the sea.
(3)Larisa S.
The atmosphere is fun. The food tastes great and the prices are somewhere in the middle between the dinky take-out and Marimoto. The food came out very quickly. I also like the location right by the park. I would definitely come here again.
(5)Adam G.
Wow. A friend and I went here on a busy Saturday night. Although the waitstaff was pretty slow, the food was excellent. My date and I ordered four rolls of different varieties of taste and texture. It was outstanding. I can say this visit presented the best sushi I had ever eaten. I will be returning. I do wish they had a more diverse dessert menu, though.
(5)Jo L.
Just came here tonight with my boyfriend for our anniversary and because there was a 20% discount from the 2012 Dine Out Japan. The first thing I noticed here were the blue lights! Love it! And the lamp they had next to the receptionist booth. Then I noticed how there were mostly business looking people there. Probably just got off of work. And finally, I noticed that if it was a guy and a girl dining out, all the girls but one sat on the inside booth and the guys sat on the outside. Time for sushi! We ordered the Hako, Katsu maki, Lost Rainbow, M & M, and Shrimp tempura. The boyfriend looked at the picture and the first thing he said he wanted was the "box shaped one" (Hako) only because it was box shaped! =P But out of the 5 that we ordered, that was my favorite one. We didn't really like the M & M but I think because it wasn't fish but instead was beef. But then again.. We ordered it because we wanted to try beef sushi. Random other things: Their menu cover is really cute and I like their water glass. Definitely coming back!
(5)Veronica F.
I work in the neighborhood. Everyone RAVES about Fat Salmon. The truth is, it's really good. The restaurant is a little small, the food is a bit overpriced, and the service can be a little slow. That being said, the food is pretty consistent and high quality. The best value for lunch is the bento box, they are quote generous-- easily a "dinner portion" size. Standouts for me are the veggie tempura and the Lipstick Trace roll (squash and mushroom topped with spicy avocado sauce). My meat eating friends claim the beef teriyaki is the best in town. For a consistent, quality Japanese lunch or dinner in Old City-- this is a good choice.
(4)Karen F.
I had wanted to try Fat Salmon for quite some time and yesterday I got a chance to have lunch there. For $13.50 they were offering a special holiday lunch. You got a choice of soup or salad (I had the iceberg salad with tasty ginger dressing), and either 2 maki, 1 maki and 1 cooked item or 2 cooked items. I chose 2 of the specialty maki which normally are $7.50 - 9.50 on their own - so this lunch was a good value. Ask for sauces on the side - alot of the special rolls are loaded up with semi-spicy mayo and tempura crunch. The regular lunch menu is also a great price point. Dinner prices are a little high but not crazy. Cool, icy-blue decor made it feel like Christmas. Service was quick and efficient. I can't wait to go back. I will try the sashimi and then render a TRUE verdict. For now though, I still stand that DOMA is the best sushi spot goin' in Philly these days. (Save for Morimoto which is cost prohibitive.)
(4)D K.
BEST SUSHI EVER. Seriously the salmon selection here is totally awesome. Great yellowtail toro great salmon toro and a variety of other types of very fresh fish. AND if you like dessert, be sure to try the tempura ice cream. Holy shit they bring a softball sized piece cut into quarters with cherry and chocolate sauce. Really good for two but if you are like me...just for one!!! A must try for any sushi lover in the area. The decor is modern and dress is casual. Great for business dinners, or if you wanna just stuff your face with great fish and great sake.
(5)Sarah T.
GREAT lunch specials! Just make sure you have a little time since they get really busy at lunch time. But they do a good job trying to accommodate everyone :)
(4)Isabelle K.
I love sushi, and presumably so do you. And if you love sushi, you'll love Fat Salmon. I finally made it out here with my boyfriend after hearing many good reviews from friends. We were looking for quick, good sushi with a casual vibe. Fat Salmon was exactly what we wanted. The restaurant itself is gorgeous! It has a dimly lit, ultra modern date night atmosphere. Whether you're taking out your honey or your bff, this is an ideal spot to grab dinner. Style's important but we came for one reason: the food. Their menu is extensive, and it was a nice touch that their signature roll menu features pictures of the rolls. Normally, I go straight for signature rolls but none sounded that interesting so I kept it simple with a tuna roll, a Kai roll (an oversized roll with eel, tuna, shrimp tempura and avocado, and an order of salmon sashimi. Nothing too fancy but man, was it good! Their rice is a little firm and has good flavor. The fish was very fresh, even late on a Sunday night. My boyfriend kept it simple and got a yellow tail roll, a spicy tuna roll, and a shrimp tempura roll, all of which he loved. We also started with grilled baby octopus as an appetizer, which was great in a ponzu sauce over a bed of veggies. Complete with two glasses of wine, and a MASSIVE ball of tempura red bean ice cream (that tasted like it was coated in a light fried sugar cookie!!!! yummmm), the bill only came to $80, which is a steal in my book for that much sushi! I would give it 5 stars if the signature rolls were more creative but for freshness and flavor, I'll definitely be back soon!!!
(4)Giedrius T.
Ok so I'm hold right now for like 10 minutes it's 7:27 so the manager knows who was a hostess at that time. I can hear what's happening on the other line and the girls is not really busy. She's laughing etc... Why am I on hold I don't know. Food is great though. Get more professional people to work for you
(1)Matt O.
I just moved down to Philly not that long ago from NYC and I know good sushi when I eat it. This was by far not the best but it was pretty damn good. Cool ambiance in the place with a large menu. I was pretty impressed by the sushi and the freshness. Tuna sandwich rolls were great. Frequented this place a few times and dont plan on stopping anytime soon
(4)Kirby J.
A bit pricier than most sushi places in town, but the rolls are huge. Seating is kind of cramped- if you have a coat or bag, there's not going to be much room for it. Huge drink menu, lots of veg options.
(4)Cassidi B.
I surprised my husband to a sushi dinner for his birthday. I have heard a lot of great things about Fat Salmon and they were all true! We made a reservation online and the day before they called to confirm. Which was really nice! When we arrived the table was ready for us. The restaurant was kind of cheesy modern but for a sushi restaurant it was perfect decor. Our sever was friendly, quick, and very knowledge. The sushi was affordable and very tasty! For 5 people we only spent $160! We got a bunch of their special rolls and they were really good. I would come back here again and again.
(5)Jess M.
YUM. just super good sushi- definitely my favorite place. Cool ambiance too.
(5)Karen Y.
for a place called fat salmon i expected salmon belly, but it's not really a place i would order nigri or sashimi or even the katsu don. paying more than $10 for this dish is highway robbery. I have been to nicer japanese restaurants in california that don't even charge this much for it. but i suppose it's the price to pay for people who are eating with sushi lover that don't eat fish but want meat. it's definitely fusion, japanese-ish restaurant. however, i wouldn't pass up going here with vegetarian friends. there is a good selection of rolls for them and i much prefer the vegetarian options here more than the fish rolls. the rolls are definitely combinations that are not found elsewhere and delicious. the wine list is well paired with the food they serve. service is attentive and it was a nice place to get together for a night among friends.
(3)Ky T.
Great sushi and a good variety of rolls. My favorite thing about this place is the selection of spicy rolls. They have a variety not just the standard spicy chopped tuna/salmon and the rolls are actually spicy.
(4)Traci R.
I never give 5 stars because I can always find SOMETHING that wasn't quite up to par. That was not the case with Fat Salmon. In summary: The food was flawless, the service was speedy and friendly, and the ambiance was trendy but not overly so. In explanation: It was a double date and to start we ordered the Baby Octopus and theTofu. I was a bit wary because I don't eat either of those foods BUT they were both awesome! The baby octopus was my favorite for sure. As a card-carrying Meateater, i had no desire to try the tofu but I'm so glad I did! My date and i ordered the Hako, Sleeping Volcano, and the White Forest rolls. ughhuiasudhaskudh goodness gracious they were good!! The White Forest roll was so unexpected because it had pico de gallo and sour cream on it but i highly recommend it! Definitely not good for big groups. But for smaller groups, it wasn't too loud in there or too dark. Just a perfect little sushi bar!!
(5)Rob Z.
BIG SUSHI So l didn't really know what to expect but heard of this place being a secret hot spot. My girlfriend's friend suggested it and we came here on a double date. So the prices are fair and l was thinking of eating a little incase I'd empty my wallet and still be hungry like many other sushi places. After our order came, l realized why the place is named Fat Salmon. The rolls are noticeably bigger. Probably around 50% bigger in mass overall. With this knowledge, the prices become very fair lol. So me and my girlfriend split 5 rolls and realized we wouldn't finish it. The sushi in general was great and l always had to bite half of it each time. Environment wise, it was great for a date. A bit corky and trendy. I'm not dating master but l think this place would impress your date if they've never been here before. Service was friendly and I plan to come back here again sometime very soon. sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/h… sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/h…
(4)Jason B.
Great sushi, great service, we usually stop here before we see a show. Usually make reservations, you never know. One of our favorite stops for great sushi.
(5)Kelly C.
i had a very good expereince there. :) even though the restaurant isn't big. the white table tops and decor created a more spacious impression. in addition the blue lights reflecting on the shiny white tops made it very modern and chic. I was happy with the food! one of my favorites was the "Fancy Sushi" - this design with the salmon wrapping the rice instead is very popular in Hong Kong, but this was my first time seeing it in America. The salmon with the sharp taste of scallion made it very enjoyable and different. My 2nd favorite was the "Dragonfly" which is eel on top of tempura shrimp roll. We decided to neglect the sauce b/c most of my expereinces they always drench the sushi with eel sauce making the rice too mushy... so I just told them to hold the sauce all together. The combination of nigiri and tempura shrimp turned out to be fantastic! You get the fish AND the fried shrimp yum~ Another favorite is the "Volcano Roll"... Their verison is spicy tuna on top of a california roll~ yum and the extra crunch on the side just made my day. You can never go wrong with that. If you see my pictures, you'll notice their placement of the sushi on the plate. it is very strategic! all their portions for the rolls are in even number of pieces, perfect for tables of 2s. Also they like to do a symmetrical division of the sushi, so it's like you get your own portions while you're also sharing! it worked out perfectly so i'm not over reaching something or my date n i aren't going back and forth saying "you have this piece... YOU have this piece" lol no excuse now. in conclusion, yes! i would love to come back ps. this is a place where a reservation is highly recommended.. even if you have to do it on the day of or like 3 hours b4!
(4)Ronnie J.
We love Fat Salmon. Go there at least twice each month and the food and service are consistently excellent. Best salad with ginger dressing anywhere and most creative offering of sushi, even for vegetarians. Highly recommend.
(5)Dave B.
I took my girlfriend here for her birthday and we were both blown away by the quality of the food and the trendy ambience of the restaurant. I promised that I would FINALLY try sushi and wasn't disappointed! I can finally say I'm a "sushi fan" now. I recommend bringing a spouse or small group for a fun night out with good food and a quality drink menu!
(5)Jason L.
I highly recommend this place for people who loves sushi and visiting Philadelphia. I do recommend making a reservation. I was there at 6pm and there were a few tables available. More people came at 6:30, that's when I saw people waiting. The food was excellent. We had the Firefly and Fancy Salmon. I wished we ordered more rolls cause we weren't as full as we expect. And the service? For me, there was nothing to complain about
(5)Bella H.
This was my first time here with a group of co-workers for lunch. Arriving at the place, it had a bubbly, ocean vibe. The restaurant was very decorative, especially the graphic walls and the lights surrounding the sushi bar. Love the sushi here. It was fresh and perfectly placed on the plate. It was the best spicy tuna I have ever had in my life. Everyone at the table was pleased with their meals. I gave it four stars because the service was horrible. Our server rarely check on the table. She gave us a wrong order and told us when she got to the table. She did offer to make a new roll, but why would you willingly give us the wrong dish? Our water glasses did not get refilled until we got our checks, which is kind of pointless. The table took forever to clear and checking out also took long, which shouldn't have because we decided to evenly split the check. She also gave us another customer's check. Maybe she had a high volume? I would say service was poor, but definitely a wonderful place for sushi.
(4)Clare D.
Without a doubt, sushi has become a very popular dinner choice among Americans. There are dozens of sushi restaurants in Philadelphia. Some are good, but most are just okay. Some try to reel in diners with gimmicky rolls or fusion flavors from other cultures. Fat Salmon does a lot of things right and wrong. My friend Chris W and I liked the cool vibe of the restaurant. It looks like a lot of thought went into the decor. The special maki rolls are very unique and artistic. There's a lot to be said about chefs keeping with the Edo-style sushi traditions, but fushion sushi can be good, too. My Naked Gyoza, for example, was delicious. Who would've thought to combine Mexican pico de gallo salsa with spicy salmon on a fried crisp? Chris liked his Grilled Baby Octopus. I thought it needed a lot more octopus. Everything was just drowned in too much pungent sauce. The Fancy Sushi was good. I don't know why they mixed the panko crumbs with slivers of radish. The panko would've been better inside the roll. The Lipstick Trace was okay. Chris doesn't like cucumber and, unfortunately, the crunch of the cucumber was probably the one thing missing from this vegetarian roll. The Lobster Roll was a complete miss. The lobster was dry and had no flavor. Chris joked that it should've been cooked in butter. I was very disappointed with it. The Sea Urchin nigiri was very good. It tasted delicate and fresh, like "flowers from the ocean," as an old friend used to say. Perhaps the saving grace of all of the rolls was the Hako Roll, a square sushi made with eel and spicy tuna. It was tasty, well-balanced in all of its flavors - sweet and spicy, soft and crunchy - that I feel compelled to give it its own rating apart from my overall rating. Yes, my friends, the Naked Gyoza and the Hako Roll deserve five stars. If you go to Fat Salmon, these are my two yummy recommendations. Unfortunately, everything else ranged from bad to just okay.
(3)C J.
Super cute decor, awesome service. I tried the scallops teriyaki - scallops were cooked to perfect & absolutely delicious. The waitress was accommodating, friendly, and very professional. I would definitely go back!
(5)Ron G.
The short: Pros: vast selection, above average fish quality, great date/2 person place to eat, reasonable prices Cons: terrible for groups, excessive use of spicy sauce Fat salmon is heavily reviewed and mainly favorably. Its a great place for 2ppl, 4 at most. Its really not a good place for groups. What I ate: Fried tofu: ordered due to several reviewers recommendations. Lightly fried, however, doused in spicy sauce, a bit too much really. We couldn't get through it bc it was too filling. Tasty dish overall. Rock& Roll: tuna, eel sauce, bits of tempura on top, tasty but gimmicky, not a sushi snobs cup of tea. Dancing vampire: asparagus/cucumber inside, tuna/salmon/spicy sauce on outside, fish quality was very good, filling. Overall, if you are a sushi purist, not sure this is the best place in the city. But if you have a small party and want to eat both traditional and "fusion" sushi in a fun atmosphere, this is a good choice.
(4)Stephanie P.
#22 For "Dine Out Japan", my boyfriend and I perused reviews for every single restaurant participating. The results were close, but something about the reviews for Fat Salmon made it the winner. So, we headed out toward the Washington Square neighborhood that Monday. The entrance of the restaurant was very unassuming - I almost didn't notice it - and it looked like every other storefront on the street. However, walking in, you experience an entirely different sort of ambiance. The blue lighting makes the place seem almost ethereal and the wall in the far back on the right has some interestingly colorful depictions of Japanese culture. Otherwise, the place is very minimalist with tons of white. I loved the use of texture inside as well - the wall opposite the sushi bar was especially mesmerizing. =) But, enough about interior design. The hostess was polite and efficient, however our server was not. She was attentive at first, getting us our water straight away and taking our orders in a timely fashion. However, after that, she seemed to have dropped the ball. It might have been the fact that there was a swarm of people that came in after us, but it would have been nice for her to drop by every so often. The miso soup was delicious though and our food came out rather quickly. We ordered the Naked Gyoza, which was amazing. The spicy tuna was so fresh and flavorful and the deep-fried Gyoza skin added the perfect crunch. As for our main course, we ordered the Sushi & Sashimi for 2. The presentation was awesome. The boat itself looked high quality and the overall organization of our food was very pleasing to the eye. The sashimi was what really made the meal - every single slice was so tender and soft, yet slightly chewy. Everything tasted SO fresh and each piece of sushi/sashimi melted in my mouth with flavor. BEST SUSHI EVER, not gonna lie.
(5)Stephen G.
One of the best sushi bars in town. I've had a lot of bad luck looking for good sushi in the city, so its a shame this was one of the last places I tried. The fish is always very fresh and the rice is well prepared; not too mushy, not too grainy, a little on the wet side for sure, but that's how I like my rice. I wish they had a slightly larger selection of fish to choose from. There's nothing too crazy here, just your standard selection of Americana sushi, but their specialty rolls really are delicious. A few are a little wild for me, but the dancing vampire, hako, and lost rainbow are some of the best rolls I've had. Good miso soup too
(4)Steve F.
Personal favorite, go whenever I can. The 'fancy sushi' is a MUST.
(5)Edward M.
Had my first visit here recently and determined to come back for more. A friend and I sat at the bar and tried several rolls with salmon, tuna, and/or veggies. All of them tasted fresh and yummy. The dessert, however, was a little questionable. We got the tempura ice cream. It was tasty (I mean, come one, it's ice cream and fried batter), but lacked a sense of freshness. I'm not sure how and where it was made, but the batter shell was cold and getting soggy. Done right, tempura ice cream is served as soon as it's made while you can still note the contrast between the hot exterior and the chilly interior. Next time, I'll probably just get the ice cream by itself (red bean or green tea, natch). The decor struck me as some sort of swanky-wannabe, but I didn't pay much attention to it. The bathroom door handle has an odd, and somewhat annoying, locking mechanism. You've been warned. Pricing was reasonable. Oddly, splitting the bill on two credit cards resulted in two merchant receipts but only one, unified, customer receipt (good thing paper tears easily, if you need your receipt). Service was friendly and reasonably attentive/speedy for a busy weekend evening.
(4)Triza B.
Yum, raw fish! Seriously though, I haven't been very impressed with sushi here in Philly, but Fat Salmon changed my mind. The sushi was flavorful, the ingredients were fresh, and the ambience in the restaurant was nice. I just have to talk about the salmon though....it had the perfect amount of fattiness to give it good flavor. Definitely some quality Fat Salmon (har har)! I am definitely going back for more.
(4)Catherine L.
Feed me sashimi and I'm happy. Feed me sashimi here and I'll be very happy. Fresh, fresh fish. Fun, big Maki rolls, interesting (but relatively safe) combinations and super affordable house sake (hot, please!). Beautiful plating. Prices reasonable. White and dimly lit spaceship interior. Feel comfortable ordering conservatively as portions on the whole, are generous. Don't make reservations online via their website (system's faulty) and call instead.
(4)Yiwen S.
for some reason, i didn't have a good impression of this place when it was shinju and located farther away. maybe the walk made me grouchy? because my most recent experience at fat salmon was pretty damn good. although it relocated, fat salmon is still in a rather quiet part of town, which has its pros and cons depending on what you prefer. despite this, it was still packed at 8pm on a thursday night -- good thing we had made reservations. fat salmon is no longer a byob, but this plays in my favor. i love eating sushi with warm sake, which is difficult at best to coordinate when you have to bring your own sake. their house sake is good, but not heated up nearly enough, so be sure to drink it fast or else it'll cool by the time you're only halfway through your meal. prices are decent in the context of the sushi world. you can't really expect to pay $2 for nigiri and get fresh, good quality fish. so, suffice to say, you get what you pay for here. *just another stunning example of why japanese people are so amazing as we pay tribute to their incredible resilience in the wake of such tragedy.
(4)Therhyme R.
After coming for another four years, I thought I would do an update. Yes, it is still AMAZING. The restaurant is clean, bright, cozy, and perfect for any occasion even a special one. What can I say, the sushi here is heavenly. We have brought family and friends here over the years and they have all become faithful fans that can't get enough as well. Every roll is delicious, and I have yet to try such creations elsewhere. Every time I consider going to eat at another sushi place, no matter how good the reviews, I always come back here. The sweet taste of Fat Salmon sushi just keep calling my name until I give in. Every time I come here its a celebration of the palate. The sushi is large, flavorful, and a sauce filled extravaganza that explodes with flavor. Now, I must say the service is slow because it takes them a while to prepare their creations and the place is usually pretty full. However, if you aren't starving and can have an appetizer, it is worth the wait. One more thing: Sometimes they are a bit inconsistent and will put an ingredient into their sushi that I did not see 5/6 months ago (like scallions) but if you ask them they can leave it out. Depending on the night/day you go and on the sushi chef that prepares your rolls you will be able to taste a difference. However, the place is still absolutely delicious and it makes my heart sing with joy every time I pop a sushi roll into my mouth. I hope they continue to keep up the excellent work and fulfilling my ultimate sushi dreams.
(5)Britty H.
Coming from the west coast and having an abundance of bomb sushi places here, I was so happy to find Fat Salmon. I read the Yelp reviews before coming and made a reservation when I went on a Friday night. This place is pretty average priced in my opinion, but their miso soup was really cheap! My boyfriend loved it and he doesn't rave about just any sushi place. The decor is super modern and cute! A small place but that doesn't bother me because it makes it more intimate.
(5)Noheli T.
I've been wanting to go to Fat Salmon for over a year now and it seemed as if every time I tried to make a reservation the restaurant was booked! That's a great sign over all but terrible for desire to give it a try. I was finally able to get a table on Saturday and it was amazing! The overall decor is modern and the restaurant was very clean! The food was outstanding! At first glance the menu is very overwhelming but after taking some time to go through all of it you find some serious gems. We ordered the dragonfly roll and some other roll, that I can't remember but I believe that the name was spina or spena. We also ordered one of their regular rolls and everything was just so yummy and the presentation was beautiful! The house wine is also good and the service was top notch. Fat Salmon is definitely one of the best sushi places in the city!
(5)Juliana K.
Went for lunch. Great lunch specials and prices. Volcano roll is fantastic. Attentive service. Nice decor. One of the best sushi places in the city.
(4)Lacy D.
I really enjoyed this restaurant this past weekend. My husband and I called for a reservation on Friday night around 7 and they had a 9:30 reservation available. I ordered the white tuna tempura and the scallop sashimi. Both were delicious. I haven't found these specific dishes around where I live so I enjoyed being able to try something new. The restaurant wasn't too loud and I liked the atmosphere. I would definitely come here again.
(5)Chris B.
Found this place in the Philadelphia Magazine as best sushi in Philadelphia, so I decided to try it out for dinner. The decor is modern and sleek, but the place is fairly small, so it might not be the best for bigger parties. NOTE: I was starving when I came here so that probably had an effect on my review of the food. Regardless, we started off with some miso soup and fried beef gyoza. Miso soup was pretty good but nothing special, but the gyoza were spectacular. Very crunchy and the ponzu sauce they came with was so delicious that I saved it for my sushi. Me and my sister both got 2 different rolls each. There are a lot of different rolls here, so it was a little hard to decide, but everything we had was great. Their specialty rolls are very creative and one that stood out had sour cream, pico de gallo, and some other stuff, and tasted like a perfect blend of sushi and Mexican food. The best part was that after 2 sodas, 2 miso soups, 3 orders of gyoza, 4 orders of sushi, our meal was only $75 (that's including a $10 tip). I would definitely recommend this place if you want some interesting sushi rolls, and the price just makes is that much better.
(5)Ben P.
Contrary to my first review of my non-experience here, I gave them a second chance. I swear on the life of Phillie Phanatic that I walked in with an open mind, ready to be completely turned around. The verdict: No biggie. Service was ok, although the used chopsticks stuck in pages of my menu were a pretty unappetizing way to start a meal. Sushi itself was fine. Nothing I haven't seen before. Decor is something left over from a sushi joint in SOHO in 1999 but that's ok. I know I can go to Sumo for the same level of service and food for less money or go to Doma for way better sushi and service if I'm looking to spend little more money.
(3)Aisha L.
I came here for my birthday and LOVE sushi. Nothing stood out for me here, nothing really popped off the page. The sushi was yummy and fresh but the prices were a teeny bit high. The service wasnt fantastic but it wasnt bad either. I feel like this place just truly is in the middle. I would probably go again.... If I cant find some place better.
(3)Liz R.
Continuing the hunt for great sushi in the city, we stopped by Fat Salmon for lunch this week. Based on the reviews, blogs, and the PhillyMag's "Best sushi in Philly for 2012" award, we were surprised that it didn't have a line waiting for it to open and was empty when we walked in at 11:30 - only a couple of patrons joined us (tourists) by the time we left. The space is beautiful and trendy, white and blue techno-modern minimalism. We ordered from the lunch menu, which was difficult as there was an abundance of great choice and variety. Sadly, the earth did not move from under my feet and I was not able to bow down to Japanese deities in thanksgiving for delivering me to my new favorite sushi spot. The dream continues... Service was excellent, plating was good, and the portions were small. My expectations were high and they were not met. It was fine but not great, and not worth the premium price. Three stars
(3)Sarah K.
I love the name. Only thing I dislike is that the service is sometimes a little pretentious, as is the decor (but at least that is nice to look at).. The dessert, mango mochi icecream, was so good.. and the red bean tempura ice cream.. I loved it. I think next time, I'd probably ask them to lay off the chocolate drizzle though. The M&M roll (marinated meat with oshinko, spicy crab stick) was good, but I felt that the meat was a little too rubbery/tough and that the fat could have been rendered more. Other than that, everything was delicious. Rock & Roll roll was really good. Definitely coming back to try the other unique special rolls (I'm really interested in the Miss Sake Bomb, Lost Rainbow, and Lava)
(4)Diane V.
Cant say enough good things about this place!! The atmosphere is laid back, cool and modern , the sushi is extremely fresh and flavorful and you just cant beat the lunch prices, just the best! I could eat here everyday !
(5)Lauren H.
This place never disappoints. Ever. Although I have to say, I liked it better as Shinju. It was a warmer, more intimate environment. Fat Salmon is a bit cold and too modern for my taste. But, the menu and sushi is the same, so I'm still a loyal fan. :) Get the Hako Sushi. Your life will be complete.
(5)Dee M.
LOVED IT. Food accurately photographed and described, Try: Avocado Salad--- a meal in itself GINGER SNAP COCKTAIL-- exceptional
(4)Donna A.
Very good food; won't be back until they resolve their strike .
(5)Cece B.
I came here for my boyfriends birthday, anticipating a good meal. What I got was the best sushi I've ever eaten (and I've had a lot of sushi!) Get the lipstick roll - it was amazing! And shrimp tempura. Loved it!
(5)Liz S.
Elegant decor, friendly service, and--most importantly--fresh, succulent fish. The salmon nigiri was outstanding. Also, my husband (who is not the biggest sushi fan) was quite pleased with his "special" rolls, dancing vampire and sepia pleasure. I am knocking off one star because I thought it took a little too long for the food to come out, but really, I'd give the place 4.5. I will be returning for more! For the gluten-concerned: they offer gluten-free soy sauce, but their crabstick contains wheat, so that's a no-go. P.S. Make a reservation! The place was full by 7pm, despite it being a rainy night.
(4)Dredge K.
I would give it a 2 for food but I'm giving it a 3 because I appreciated our server. I ordered 6 rolls for 2 people and she suggested that 2 per person would suffice. I don't like to have leftover sushi so I particularly appreciated this. The spciy scallop roll was ok, but the other 3 rolls all became a blur. Each had different ingredients (salmon, eel, shrimp), but because the sauces they used were similar, and many of the rolls have crunchy fried components they all ended up tasting the same. I think that more than anything else, their rolls hide the seafood rather than highlighting it.
(3)Jen L.
Knowing nothing about this restaurant but ending up here on a ladies' night out, I must say that I left this little blue oasis quite the satisfied sushi customer. The interior decorators for this place were smart: the gentle blue lighting on white furniture instantly put me at ease when I first walked in with my friends. It wasn't gaudy or pretentious; the chic decor got me in the mood for some much needed sushi therapy and allowed me to forget all the profanity being thrown at me by a specific Center City panhandler (cough, at 16th and Sansom) on my walk over to the restaurant. The house sake and standard edamame / shumai appetizers were nothing special, but they did a fine job in preventing me from raiding other customers' sushi plates that were placed tantalizingly above my head at the sushi bar. Now the sushi ... wow, the fish just melts in your mouth! I sampled my friend's sashimi platter, which was amazing, and I very much enjoyed the Miss Sake Bomb and Vampire rolls. I'm convinced that the Miss Sake Bomb was made to simulate what sex would taste like if it were a sushi roll, and I appreciate that it wasn't named "Mega-orgasm" roll or something overly obvious. This roll is much too lady-like and sexy for that. One thing I hate about some sushi places is that they will load up as much rice as possible in their rolls and skimp on the fish ... not here, they use just enough rice to keep the rolls together so that your taste buds can focus on all the other wonderful flavors swirling around in your mouth. The quality of the rolls was wonderful for the price, which was between $9.50 and $15.00 for the specialty rolls. I have eaten much worse fish for the same price elsewhere. I can't comment on dessert, unfortunately, because I ate too much fish. Bottom line: This place is definitely worth a try.
(5)Rachel K.
This place has THE BEST SUSHI in town...no wonder it's always crowded! TRY: Deep fried tofu with broiled spicy scallop sauce - great appetizer for sharing Pork katsu ANY sushi or rolls - ALL of their ingredients are FRESH *Lunch specials SERVICE: Good. AMBIANCE: Date night. Girls night out.
(4)Abby W.
Oh hello, how is it we never met before recently? After a long hard day of kickball games and referee duties, Ely and I swung by this place to try another sushi spot in our never-ending quest for that perfectly balanced roll of excellent rice, beautiful fish, and slightly chewy nori. They nailed it. I inhaled my yellowtail scallion and alaska rolls (the rolls by which I judge all sushi places- if you can't make those well then I don't give a damn about your special rolls) after taking the edge off my hunger with excellent miso soup and shrimp shumai. The soup could have done with more tofu but the flavor was great and the shumai were delicate and divine. Ely got his usual alaska, rainbow, and some other special rolls I can't remember and he loved them all. I only wish they had more special roll options that don't have a ton of sauce. Service was a little disjointed considering they weren't very busy, and the ambiance was a little strange for a sushi spot- it felt more like a club. The total damage was only about $45, slightly less than Sushi Planet and slightly more than Terryin. If only they delivered! I'll be going out of my way at least twice a month to pick up a fresh fix of sushi heaven.
(4)Brianne J.
Maybe the best sushi I've had, definitely best in Philly. So fresh, so delicious. We ordered baby octopus (YUM!), chicken katsu, seaweed salad (amazing!), sushi for 2, as well as uni and scallop nigiri. Sushi for two included 6 california rolls (best california rolls I've had?), 6 (damn good) spicy tuna rolls, and 2 each of the following nigiri: tuna, yellowfin tuna, white tuna (maybe the best thing I ate all night), salmon, eel, and red snapper (maybe the second best). It also came with a nice miso soup. Decor was great, service was excellent and professional, and the house saki was lovely. It was a TON (too much) food for the two of us, and I probably wouldn't order the katsu again, but everything else was perfection.
(5)Michelle J.
There are so many unique rolls - all of them extraordinarily delicious - that it took my boyfriend and I nearly 15 minutes to finalize our order. Their specialty rolls are piled high with toppings and I just love that. (I especially loved the Rolling Fire!) I'm not going to deny that Morimoto is miles above this place, but why waste the extra bucks going there when you can just come to Fat Salmon, relax, and not stress over the bill in the end? My date and I were surprisingly pleased with this place and would not at all mind coming back again. P.S. - try their tempura ice creams; they are to die for.
(5)Dara S.
This place is a killer deal. Downtown Philly. It's got some style but is mostly casual. I was there right at opening on a Sunday evening, and was second in a line of three -t he hostess took forever to get us seated - dealing with phone calls and such - the girl behind me threw a lot of attitude but I could also tell she comes there a lot. Service was a little distant and slow but killer deal! I got an appetizer that merged sushi with ceviche - delicious! And a great roll. Cheap wine too. I would eat here ALL THE TIME if I lived in Philly.
(4)Joelle B.
Don't know how so many people like it here...it's like fake sushi. I didn't feel there was an assortment of fresh selections, so forget sashimi. Was it ok? Yes. Good? Stretching it. It's like the sushi you get for lunch, not for dinner.
(2)Stephanie Y.
I give them stars for having a swanky decor, creative fancy rolls, and good service. Except ... why do a lot of the fancy rolls have crab stick, which I suspect is imitation crab meat. I avoided ordering those rolls, but did order the Mr. French Kiss, Rock n' Roll, Fancy Sushi, Miss Sake Bomb, yellow tuna with scallion, kame and a few nigiri. My friends really liked this place, so I had some expectation for these rolls and they looked delicious in the pictures on the menu plus I played 2 hours of tennis. Unfortunately, most of the rolls were flavorless.... no sweetness from the fish, no aroma from the sauce, even the rice was mushy. I did not feel satisfied and now I really want sushi again to fix my craving. Huge disappointment!!!
(3)Pira T.
Great food. Awesome sushi. worth the price. Try everything you wont regret it. Great service. Make sure you make reservation before you come in. I never see this place empty. Nice interior. nothing bad to say about this place at all.
(5)Walter L.
I am genuinely surprised by the freshness of their sushi. I ordered chirashi, which is my gold standard for all Japanese restaurants. Usually it comes with low grade tuna (pure red), and few other fishes. They instead served with marble pattern chu-tora (top second-tier tuna), with generous slices of salmon and red snapper (not sure about the last one). It also comes with shrimp and tamago, which are standard. One issue I have with them is the soy sauce. It is so flavorless for some reason. I know I don't want the sauce to overpower the original fish flavor, but it gotta have some flavor of its own. Otherwise, the portion is on the small side--if you want quality over quantity, it's worth it ($21 for chirashi). Food came at reasonable speed, which is great for meeting friends but bad if you are in a rush.
(4)Kimberly S.
Hooolleeeeeeeyy crap. I just had a heavenly umami orgasm in my mouth. (Sounds much dirtier than it should.) It's 20 degrees out and the "feels like" is 9! Naturally I was craving a hearty warm soup for lunch. I ordered the plain udon soup to go, not to be confused with the shrimp tempura or vegetable tempura udon soups, and it was only $5.50, and it was amazing! They separate the ingredients from the broth; Like Enterprise Rent A Car, "they give you the tools to be your own boss." The broth was full of flavor, the noodles were cooked perfectly, the scallions and fried tofu were great additions and although I usually hate mushrooms, I loved these! It was such a great depth of umami flavors and good texture combinations as well. I've been coming to Fat Salmon fairly often since it opened and I've been on the fence about their sushi, which is what I've always ordered up until today. Sometimes I find it to be very fresh and delicious, other times it's rather disappointing. It also drives me insane that their online menu says lunch specials come with soup AND salad, yet they refuse to honor that. When you love miso soup and ginger dressing as much as I do, it puts you in a really tough position. Nevertheless, their awesome udon soup has totally redeemed them!
(4)Zoe P.
I was so sad when Shinju closed to move to a new location - but so freaking happy when they reopened as Fat Salmon (and quite pleased by the new name, too). And after seeing the changes they've experienced, from the new beautiful interior design to the new additions to the menu, I have to say: change can be very, very good. Of course I had to start trying out the new special rolls that they added, so that's precisely what I did: Dancing Vampire: cucumber, asparagus, crunchy inside and tuna & salmon in chili sauce on top: Yum, yum, that chili sauce really makes this roll what it is. Mr. Shiro: eel, avocado, crunchy with spicy sauce inside and broiled white tuna (marinated in spicy soy sauce) with tomato on top: So pleasantly surprised by this roll, the combination of textures and flavors is actually really nice. My bf's favorite one of the evening. White Forest: tempura (shrimp or salmon, we got salmon) with spicy sauce inside and pico de gallo with sour cream on top: MmmMmm, an interesting twist on sushi with great results. We've also tried other rolls again that were on their original Shinju menu, and they remain amazing and awesome and really you should just get your sushi at Fat Salmon because you will not be disappointed. My only minor gripe is that the special rolls have only 6 pieces, unlike the usual 8 at other places. If I'm paying that much for the special rolls, it would be nice to have those two other pieces. My eyes love the artistry, my taste buds love the flavors, but my stomach loves food and loves me more when I don't skimp on it.
(4)Charlie W.
I have super high expectations for Sushi, so I was a little weary having tried a few places in Philly and being less than impressed. The atmosphere is dim, intimate, and friendly. We had a larger group of 7 for a birthday dinner, so we were given the only real spot available for a larger group. I had made reservations earlier in the week. It's not ideal for larger groups, because there really is only one spot for them seeing as it's a smaller restaurant. Their menu is super reasonable, and they have an INSANE amount of speciality rolls at great prices. During dinner the waiter and a few others working had been paying close attention to a few gifts being exchanged and figured out who the birthday girl was (I had mentioned it was a birthday dinner during the reservation, but only to stress the importance of the seating arrangement). After we had all eaten dinner, and the table was cleared, they came to our table with a MASSIVE bowl of tempura fried ice cream with candles for the birthday girl...I was the one who set this whole dinner up, and I was completely blindsided by this. It was a pleasant surprise for both her, and the table, because the ice cream was enough to share with all seven us. A very kind and thoughtful gesture. And the tempura fried ice cream was surprisingly delicious. I'm not a fan of anything fried, so I ate cautiously and then furiously because it was so delicious. Try it! And yes, it was free of charge for us that night. Thank you to all the great people at Fat Salmon! I recommend highly!
(4)Adam B.
I've been here twice, and twice I have been treated to some of the best sashimi ever. Even though I have never really been a fan of Philly, i would reside there just to be able to access fat salmon at a whim. The service is quite good and the décor very trendy modern. The second time going to Fat Salmon, my girlfriend, her sister and I got caught in a heavy downpour and were soaked upon entry. The host (possibly manager) was very nice and handed us some towel to dry off with as they were preparing our table. I don't want to get into too much detail about the experience as my girlfriend has already talked about it, but I'll just iterate, that it is utterly delicious. We have ordered the Sushi & Sashimi for 2 both times we were there and both times the fish was outstanding, thick (or fat, if you prefer), tender, flavourful and melt in your mouth. I just don't know how they do it. If only every sushi restaurant was so good.
(5)Heather B.
As I stood out front perusing the window menu, a woman entering the restaurant turned to me as she opened the door and said, "It's legit. Seriously." So on the word of this stranger, I decided to head inside too. She was right. It's legit. My favorite dish of the evening was the Agedashi Tofu. Perfectly fried, seasoned, and plated. The Tuna Nigiri was probably the best I've ever had. We also tried a couple of their creative rolls: the Volcano and the Miss Sake Bomb. To be honest, I wasn't immensely impressed with either, but that has more to do with me not liking the ingredient combos. (Tartar sauce on top of the Miss Sake Bomb was a huge turn off.) The preparation and portion size was perfect though, and the service was nice. If Fat Salmon were local to me, I would not hesitate to go back and try some other rolls.
(4)Chloe E.
By far the best lobster tempura roll EVER! This place is more than amazing!
(5)Tom B.
I was super bummed to hear that Shinju Sushi had closed its doors, but then I was super excited to hear that it was reincarnated as Fat Salmon. The new digs alleviate Shinju's greatest shortcoming: That it was miserably cramped and small. This venue is much more open, and includes a couple of offset areas so larger parties can get a bit of privacy. I sat in one of these, under a strange metal awning, which was nice and cozy and afforded a level of intimacy unimaginable in the previous location. The main dining area are much more chic than Shinju's, with the main attraction being the textured West wall bathed in blue light. Unfortunately, Fat Salmon does retain one shortcoming of Shinju's: The service. There was a big fuss about how many glasses we needed and who was drinking what, and then the beer and wine glasses were the same. It also took forever for our rolls to arrive. Hopefully these are just some new location kinks that will be worked out soon enough. Even more unfortunately, it looks like Fat Salmon may be losing one of its greatest perks; that's right, there was a big orange "Notice of Public Hearing" sign in the window, meaning they are looking to get a liquor license. It would break my heart (and my wallet) if Fat Salmon ceased to be a BYOB. Finally, a note or two on the sushi. The rolls are quite creative, and the fish is quite fresh. There is very little to complain about here, except maybe that it seems like a ton of the rolls have eel sauce on them. I'm sure that same fact makes another customer very happy, though. BOTTOM LINE: Fat Salmon is the more comfortable and chic reincarnation of its predecessor, Shinju. It does away with one of Shinju's shortcomings (smallness) but retains another (service). However, the price can't be beat: I paid $21--tip included--for some edamame, one-and-a-half rolls, and an order of yellowtail nigiri. Plus $8 for the sixer of Coors Light* I picked up on the way. Overall, a highly recommended BYOB sushi bar. *PROTIP: If you are looking to get some beer on your way, skip Pac-A-Deli... They don't have any Asian beer, which is why I was stuck tapping the Rockies (not that that's a bad thing).
(4)Walt L.
This place rocks!!!! Originally, we loved this place in it's BYOB days. We love it now after they pulled the rare feat of jumping from BYOB to liquor licensed place. The warm house sake is pretty good. We go here all the time. Our favorite rolls are the Dancing Vampire, Locust Roll, the Sleeping Volcano, and the Rock n Rolla. The shrimp shumai is banging. The salads are good. My wife loves the fried green tea ice cream. Overall, I love this place. My favorite place in town. The food is so good I asked my wife (girlfriend at the time) to marry me after a dinner there. %)
(5)Gina V.
Fat Salmon is, by far, one of the best sushi restaurants I have been to. It has a quiet, intimate ambiance and is especially a good atmosphere for couples. It is a little pricey, but the quality of the food is worth every penny. I have no problem spending money on top-quality food, and Fat Salmon is definitely Grade A. Everything I ate was delicious.
(4)Christiana G.
I have been to Fat Salmon many times, and I have never been disappointed. The quality of their sushi is fantastic (I am very picky when it comes to sushi) and they specialty rolls are phenomenal. They have a large selection and they can satisfy any sushi whore's taste buds (vegetarian, spicy, etc.) By far my favorite sushi joint in Philly.
(5)Brad P.
I like this place. Fat Salmon has a smooth, well crafted modern-oceanic interior design that reminds you that you are in a seafood restaurant(which is helpful just in case you are like that guy in Memento and need constant reminders of where you are and what you are doing). Their menu is an interesting mix of standard sushi options and 2 pages of very silly maki rolls. If you are serious about getting traditional, Japanese-style sushi then you should probably avoid these pages, which feature rolls containing items such as beef, fried onion, and bacon. Personally, I think their creativity shows more of a sense of humor rather than a desire to insult the origins of their cuisine. At the very least, these items could appeal to those friends of yours who have never tried sushi because they can't get behind the idea of eating raw fish(and you must cure them of this trepidation). Perhaps seeing familiar items like swine and bovine on the menu will put them at ease and allow you to open their mind a little to some excellent food. I tried the Salmon Yaki, Dancing Vampire, yellowtail/scallion roll, and smelt roe nigiri. All items were pretty good. The price wasn't terrible and the service was decent. Also, now that I know it is a BYO, I'm going to head back for dinner at some point.
(4)Lois L.
I brought my mom and sister who were visiting from out of town yesterday night for a 6pm reservation. The decor is cool and hip and the music's not too loud. Maybe not the most "authentic" Japanese decor, but a cool experience nonetheless. We ordered Katsu Maki, Lipstick Trace, Lost Rainbow, M&M, and the Volcano. The only caveat was that we ended up with an Alaskan (non-special) Roll instead of the Katsu Maki and the whole time we were eating, we were like...where's the Katsu and later saw the bill for an "Alaskan Roll." Our waiter didn't really seem to process what we were saying too quickly and seemed dazed and out of it sometimes... maybe it was just a long day? at 6pm? or our Californian accents were just too hard to comprehend? We decided it wasn't a big deal anyways and didn't do anything. The service was pretty nice though so I think they would have reacted to the situation generously if we had mentioned it. Anyways, all the rolls were fantastic and my mom remarked, "you really can't go wrong with any of the rolls." I wish they served miso soup and a simple green salad like basically every Japanese restaurant that I've been to, but the experience wasn't too marred by their absence. Overall, I'd recommend the place for the vibe (predominantly 20s) and the creative rolls. I suggest making a reservation for weekend nights though since the place filled up while we were there. The bill came out to less than $50 for five rolls, which was a pleasant surprise for such a good meal.
(4)Christin K.
New favorite sushi place. Fresh, well-cut, creative specialty rolls. Friendly and unpretentious service, good selection of sake, beer selection is meh.
(5)Nhut T.
At fat salmon, my friend and I tried the combination handrolls, and several of their specialty rolls. The sushi would been otherwise delicious if it weren't for the very soggy rice they used. They either added too much vinegar or used too much water when making the rice. I would try this place again to see if this is just a one time blooper. Service was excellent, however.
(3)David A.
I have been to this place twice now and will never go back. Really wanted to like this place since I love sushi and this opened around the corner from my apartment. Nice design, bright lighting. TERRIBLE service both times. And sushi is just ok. First visit waited forever after ordering. They were very busy. Sat at sushi bar. Sushi chefs have NO interaction with customers here. They hardly notice you are there. Roll and sushimi were fresh but nothing special. The other night it was late and I wanted something light. Figured I would give it another try. Not too busy; probably only half full...about 25 people. I sat at sushi bar for almost 20 minutes without even a glass of water. Three wait staff were maybe 10 feet away and talked the whole time without looking in my direction. Walked out hungry. Will never return. I will go to Morimoto or Raw when I want Japanese.
(1)Alex K.
Fat Salmon has great sushi, there is no doubt about that. If you are looking for good sushi, with some pretty cool ingredients, look no further. There are two things about Fat Salmon that I would change however. I once tried to go with a larger group of friends and they required a minimum of around $20 a person (give or take) because we were a big group (we had 8 people). The second thing I would change if possible were the prices, but I am cheap, and honestly, the food is quality so I guess in the end it was worth it. I can dream though!
(4)Victoria L.
Major upgrade from the old Shinju location! Great place for quality sushi - when you're in the mood for something more than the average spicy tuna take out. The standard rolls are good, but there is a great variety of fancier rolls.
(4)Christine A.
Are you looking for a swanky sushi bar to impress your out-of-town friend's eyes and taste buds while keeping your wallet happy? Or that family/friend who's wary of eating raw fish, but you want them to experience sushi/rolls? Fat Salmon is the place for you. I've walked by this place countless times during the day and never gave it a second glance with its simple white decor. But at night, the electric blue lights pop and give the place a trendy vibe. Service was friendly with a good balance of attentiveness. Food.... Each specialty roll had a creative name to go with its creative combination. I considered ordering Mr. French Kiss just to say the name! But once I started studying the ingredients, I was disappointed to see so many crab-stick containing rolls. (Why fake meat?) Many remaining rolls had tempura something or others. What was left had 'slightly cooked' or broiled fish. So in actuality, the majority of their rolls don't contain REAL sushi. After much deliberation, we finally picked on the following: -Sepia Pleasure: my personal favorite. Tasted like they just made the cream cheese; the texture was beautiful with the eel and -White Forest (Salmon): Would you think pico de gallo and sour cream? very interesting. -Dragonfly -Spicy Tuna Crunch They were all very tasty. The combination of flavors and textures were wonderfully delicious. The diameter of the rolls were so big, we considered cutting them in half to fit our big mouths. Not only was my stomach content, my wallet was happy. For the four rolls and 2 orders of hot sake, our bill was under $50. All in all, it was a pleasant experience.
(3)Loy G.
decent prices for decent sushi. go for the special rolls. you get what you pay for in terms of fish quality at fat salmon. freshness seems like it's hit or miss depending on the night. sashimi was just okay. the sushi just falls a little flat here when standing on its own. unfortunately, you have to hit up the more expensive sushi spots in the city if you're looking for consistently good sashimi or chirashi. fat salmon's strength is mid-grade sushi presented in novelty rolls for reasonable prices. the menu at fat salmon has devoted two full pages of colorful photos and detailed descriptions to their special rolls. quite noticeably, their special rolls have some combination of spicy sauce, eel sauce, or crunch. the additives definitely serve their purpose in masking the quality of the fish, but honestly this results in some pretty tasty rolls. fat salmon fills that niche of satisfying my sushi craving without having to dig too deep into my pockets.
(3)Mandy H.
I really enjoyed this place. I'm not usually one to opt for sushi, but came here with a group and I really enjoyed everything. The décor is cool and the staff are friendly. The rolls were all really great in my opinion, although I'm by no means an expert, as I tend to let the more experienced sushi eaters order for me, but I enjoyed all the rolls my large group tried. The appetizers should not be missed either particularly the veggie tempura, the seaweed salad and the fried Gyoza. The place is pretty small, so our group of 7 was a little tight, but I'd definitely like to come back with the hubs to try some more!
(5)Shari D.
Came here for my birthday dinner, after a visit to the Mütter Museum... Had to brave a spring snowstorm to get to Philly! It was worth it!! Fat Salmon had fresh, delicious sushi & sashimi! Their agedashi was perfection! We enjoyed some cold sake and Soju, too... Got a teeny buzz going before a show at The Trocadero. Absolutely a wonderful way to walk around in the snow: full of yummy Japanese food, warmed by sake and arm in arm with my sweetie! Service was excellent, too! We'll definitely be back!!
(5)Marius G.
Favorite sushi spot across the city. Very nice decor, small/intimate space, and prices are pretty reasonable. Sushi quality is excellent as well.
(4)Doo Wee T.
I had a date nite with my girlfriend from collage. She said the roll is very good, but I am more sashimi lover. She had roll with spicy sauce and shrimp tempura roll, I didn't take a bite, but looked like pretty decent. I had chirasi bowl served with miso soup and salad on the side. Its really hard to find a fine chirashi don around center city area; I always go to NY just to have chirasi don. I could say that fat salmon is pretty good for their chirasi, and wish that they could cook the tamago little sweet.. The highlight of the meal was tempura ice cream!!! Love it :)
(4)Anne Ligon H.
Fantastic food, craptastic service. We had a reservation, and arrived there precisely on time. No one even acknowledged us for another ten to fifteen minutes. After that time, a guy ushered the group that was there before us to their table, then came back and told us we could join them - I guess he thought we were with that group, which is why we were never acknowledged. An honest mistake, but it was just the first of many lapses in service. Once we were seated, a waiter took our order - we ordered a few rolls, a beer for each of us, and some edamame for an appetizer. We got our beer, then about...40 minutes later got our rolls. No edamame. We asked about it (I think we were polite and friendly, but the food runner looked terrified and confused - maybe I had trouble masking my pissed-off face?), and apparently the waiter had forgotten to put in our order. Oh well. Anyway, the food was delicious - we ordered three rolls, and ended up getting one more because we were extra hungry. However, we did have to wait a really, really long time for our second roll as well. Definitely great food, and cool decor. However, definitely not for those in a hurry or those who expect a lot from a waiter/staff.
(3)Danielle K.
Love, love, love this place! My husband and I have been fans since it was shinju on Locust St. Make sure to make a reservation if you are planning on going for dinner. Some of our favorites are "old school", " lipstick trace" , and veggie tempura roll.
(5)Adam R.
Food was incredible. My lady and I split edamame, then we both got our respective rolls for dinner. My favorite was easily the B.C.T. Bacon inside of a sushi roll is brilliant and more people should do it. The wait staff, however, was some of the worst I have ever experienced. Working in two different restaurants, I'm accustomed to a level of quality in waiting that, in all honesty, really isn't that hard to get to. Nobody greeted us when we sat down. 3 or so minutes after we sat, our 'first' server came up to us and the only words that came out of his mouth were "Hi" and nothing after that. There was an incredible sense of awkwardness, and then he said "Are you ready to get something?" I kindly told him that we were still looking, so he said "Okay" and then walked away. Then our 'second' server came by, who was a younger woman that was a lot friendlier than the server before her. My lady order tea from her and she brought it with haste, as well as took our appetizer orders and than eventually or dinner orders. I simply wondered if the servers on staff at Fat Salmon spoke to each other at all before handling our table? It's a norm for servers to either have a specific table set to themselves, our discuss which server gets which table so the tip can be sorted out justly. It felt like neither was the case, and they just jumped on us without even talking about it. After our dinner was over I paid with my card, which was surprisingly declined, to which the male server walked over and said "Your card was declined" handed it to me, then walked away without saying anything else, leaving us to wait for somebody else to take our secondary form of payment...which was about another 5 minutes out of our day. All in all, I give Fat Salmon a 3/5 stars for their wonderful atmosphere, excellent food, very reasonable prices...and inexperienced wait staff.
(3)Marty D.
This was a lunch for two experience. Service was courteous but slow conisdering there were only a few diners. All the fish was well prepared and very fresh. Odd that the uni here costs more that at Mori Moto.The atmosphere is just ok, kind of industrial and I'm not a big fan of exposed electrical connections in the ceiling. It's not cool, it's just lazy/cheap. Yeah, I know it's about the food but it's not really is it? All in all, ok vaue for money but no real reason to go out of my way for a return dinner.
(3)Christine R.
good sushi, not the greatest. good prices. good service. i would come back or recommend it.
(4)Beth R.
Fat Salmon started out as a BYO, but has since acquired a liquor license. I thought my experience here was on par with Izumi, not quite as awesome as Doma, and better than Umai Umai. Izumi has a slight edge bc of their outdoor seating, but FS has center city location, plus a huge menu of fancy rolls complete with photos and crazy names. The decor is modern and fun. As for the food, my favorite part of my meal was the steamed beef dumplings appetizer, but the tuna and shrimp rolls I had were both good too.
(4)Patrick C.
Shinju is hands-down my favorite sushi place in all of Philly! I'm a little bummed that it's no longer a secret as it fills up pretty fast. But the place has awesome specialty rolls, fresh fish, BYOB, and reasonable prices. I'm a fan of their non-traditional rolls, especially the 'Locust Roll,' which comes with deep-fried spicy tuna on top - I swear it's the stuff dreams are made of! Even if you're not big on sushi, surely you can get behind the B.C.T. roll, which is basically bacon-sushi (seriouly! it works) combined with a philly roll. Take your date! Even though she'll think it's going horribly wrong when she follows you into the Locust Bar - she'll quickly find that you're only ordering a six-pack to go. In a matter of minutes she'll be at a candle-lit table enjoying a perfect little appetizer called "naked gyoza" - super impressed that such a thing even existed and that you knew about it! I'm taking this too far. Just go!
(5)Dan C.
Last Monday I ventured into Fat Salmon for some sushi with friends and was hoping all the great yelp reviews didn't let me down. The food was great, I got a miso soup and a few of their specialty rolls. The rice was perfectly cooked, I hate when it is under/over cooked. I went to Morimoto a few weeks back and the sushi at Fat Salmon was just as good, if not more fresh (and definitely better priced!) But what REALLY blew me away was the incredible service. We had a beautiful waitress (I think her name was Jessica) who was incredibly friendly and attentive. It was such a refreshing change to have someone who was not only really knowledgeable about the menu but so personable and caring. She even gave us some recommendations for bars in the area we could go to after! I will definitely be coming back to Fat Salmon, not only for the great food but the awesomeeee service!!
(5)John B.
First of all, let me first start off by saying when it comes to Japanese food and Korean food, I'm particularly harsh. I'm a big food snob...what can I say. With that said, this place is just okay. If I could sum up this place (most sushi places in Philadelphia, for that matter), they have a variety of maki's--but not much else. People who are looking for good, fresh sashimi and nigiri experience will be disappointed here. People who are looking for different twists in maki's will be satisfied. Also this place would be good for people who are not so thrilled with the idea of raw fish, since they have a lot of maki's with "crab sticks" (the imitation crab meat made from cooked fish). So while I *might* come back here for spicy tuna roll, I would go somewhere else for the rest.
(2)Paul L.
I'd like to think I know about something about sushi and after trying the new metamorphosis of the old Shinju, I think I'm content. Given losing Aso was hard and I attribute that to the less than ideal location it possessed by contrast maybe the interior decoration has something to do with it too. Now Fat Salmon has managed to transform the space into something hip and trendy. Food-wise, it's a little on the pricey side as with any other sushi place. The selection range from the standard selection of nigiris with a wider range of specialty maki rolls. Between the two of us, we ordered a deep fried shumai and the sushi & sashimi platter for two which comes with two soups and two salads. Normally, that wouldn't be enough food. We're used to ordering rounds of sushi, but somehow that turned out to be quite enough. Everything turned out fresh and tasty, I'm impressed with the quality of salmon and white tuna. I'm also very happy about the shrimp tempura rolls that comes with. Service was good, food is fresh, my only complaint is the somewhat strong dangling table light. I'm sure the sushi can be more tricked out but all in all, it was satisfying. It's recommendable.
(4)Jaclyn P.
Great sushi that is artfully prepared! Reservations are really important on weekends, but if you make one in advance, they will get you seated right away! Really nice variety and the quality of the ingredients is obviously much higher than that of the many sushi bars throughout Center City. Waitstaff was courteous and the food arrived quickly. Highly recommended for seekers of great sushi :)
(5)Farida A.
So many choices!! Fabulous decor, creative and delicious sushi rolls. And it's cheap as hell! I had sushi and sashimi at Morimoto for lunch and came to Fat Salmon for dinner - you'd think I would've been sick of sushi or that Morimoto would've raised the bar too high for me to enjoy Fat Salmon, but no - I loved it. If I lived in Philly, I would definitely frequent this place.
(4)Kim B.
Fat Salmon is a great, reasonable priced place in the city. I came based on the positive Yelp reviews and wasn't disappointed. The waiter was pleasant and helpful in providing recommendations. We tried several specialty rolls and my favorite has got to be the Fancy Sushi. The ingredients were fresh. The place is modern-sleek. My only drawback was they didn't have a high chair. My husband and I took turns holding baby. So yes this isn't really a place to bring kids given tables are so close to each other.
(4)Rosa V.
The name "Fat Salmon" alone made me like this place. I'm a fan of restaurants that put effort into ambiance and Fat Salmon goes above and beyond the calling. The blue lighting of the restaurant gives the semblance of a swanky cocktail lounge amidst historic Philadelphia. BUT the sensory delights don't stop at lighting. The sushi is the star. And the selection is fantastic! So many unique rolls to choose from, and a great collection of spicy ones. You are sure to find something you like or simply have the chance to expand your palette. Very reasonably priced, casual, great service, and soooo delicious!
(5)Jack S.
Service was very good, but the rolls were very mediocre. Gloppy is the technical term I'd use.
(3)Danielle L.
I'm glad we picked this place! The service was great, they were so friendly there! The sushi tasted amazing and fresh! I had the rainbow roll and my friend had spicy tuna. Best we ever had! Drinks were delicious and the atmosphere was great, too! It was even full and we got seated right away!
(5)Steven S.
I have loved them since they were Shinju. The FRESHEST sushi and the best apps and salads. The nigiri and sashimi are incredible. Regularly order green salad, shumai, Unagi, Tumago, Saba, squid, and many rolls ... out-freaking-standing. We have had everything from this place, and it's all the best and the freshest in Philadelphia. I have been to a number of sushi places in Philadelphia and elsewhere, and this place is right up there. So lucky to be a few blocks from here.
(5)F R.
Fat Salmon is the 2nd sushi place I have really fallen in love with. I'm a vegetarian, so I don't know about the fish options, but I love the Old School roll, the veggie tempura roll, and the tofuholic. The veggie tempura roll is nice and spicy, but the Old School roll is really spicy, but so tasty I can't stop eating no matter how much it hurts. The Agedashi tofu is my favorite appetizer. I once had a bite of the Deep Fried Tofu before I realized it had scallop in it, but it was fantastic. The only things I have found disappointing are the gyoza, and the edamame every once in awhile gets a bit over cooked if we get take out.
(4)Alex C.
Went here for dinner. Bill came out to be around 79. Still doesn't compare to Sushi Tomo in So. Cal. where it's AYCE for 25 for dinner. Interior: Very modern fancy. Got blue leds running along the bar and fancy white wavy wall for the tables. Small place though. Food: Pretty good. Ordered the Sush/Sashimi for 2, Shrimp Tempura Appetizer, a soft volcano roll, and a spicy tuna roll. All were fresh and tastey. I personally like the salmon and the white tuna :) The yellowtail was kinda fishy. Service: Good Overall: 4 stars :D
(4)Matthew B.
This place is a lot of fun. Definitely be sure to have a reservation, though, if you are going to go there on a Friday or Saturday. I have been there a few times now and it is always crowded. One important thing to note - if you haven't been there in a while, it is no longer BYOB. Thankfully the hostess who took my reservation informed me of that, or I would have been carrying a bottle of wine around with me for no reason. It's not very expensive - four rolls and a couple of drinks for two people was around 60.00. The sushi is different than most of the rolls I have encountered, and is definitely designed with a non-traditionalist audience in mind. One roll in particular - the M&M roll, was awesome. There's another one with pico de gallo and sour cream that's tasty, too, but I can't remember the name. It's the white forest roll or something. Service isn't excellent, but the wait staff is friendly and there isn't much to complain about. They just don't really seem to be in any kind of hurry. In conclusion, it takes me about 30 minutes to get here and I never balk at making reservations when the idea pops into my head.
(4)Mari C.
Went to Fat Salmon for dinner: It is hands down AMAZING sushi but I thought the service was lacking a bit. I had three waitresses during my entire meal (not sure why they all switched up like that) and it took a really long time to get rolls out to us. Also, at any point in time there were 3 or 4 sushi rolls with saran wrap on top of the bar, which makes you feel like you aren't getting the freshest rolls. We noticed our rolls sitting there for at least 20 minutes before it was brought to our table. Either way, the food is really good...I highly recommend the agedashi tofu appetizer and the sepia pleasure. The prices are great too!
(4)Laura B.
This is a great lunch spot for people who work near the federal courthouse at 6th and Market or other spots in Market East. It wasn't crowded, we had great service, and there are a ton of lunch specials around $10. I got the Vegetable Tempura Lunch Box, which came with more food than I could eat. Tons of interesting vegetable tempura (squash, zucchini, sweet potato, eggplant, etc.), half a California roll, rice, two dumplings, and a salad to start with. Very yummy. And now I'm stuffed.
(5)Todd V.
I ordered the spicy pork Japanese bbq lunch box. The flavors were pretty muddled and not much else in the box made up for it. The tuna roll was bland and too soft. The gyoza were ok. I had heard great things about this restaurant but Im not really sure why people like it so much. If you cant make a good tuna roll then I am not sure you can make any sushi right.
(2)Grace T.
Creative rolls, reasonable price, good salads and miso soup, overall good eating here! I interned literally 20 steps away from here so my boss and I would eat here pretty often. For take-out or dine-in. Expect to do some ease dropping if you dine-in cause you will for sure hear your neighbor's conversation. There are only about 8 tables in the place, BUT you can order take out walk a little bit down to Washington Square park or sit outside by the newly renovated Jefferson University courtyard. Can't say how their cooked Japanese entrees are, but the old intern boss said they were pretty good. Almost positive she eats here at least once a week, so it is that good!
(4)Tracy W.
My favorite since it was tiny Shinju. Creative rolls, always fantastic. Miss that it's not byob anymore, but I'll deal.
(5)Dan S.
I got a hardcore craving for sushi tonight and wanted to try Fat Salmon. It's a small restaurant, colorfully lit and modern looking. We were seated at the sushi bar where the chefs make the rolls. I wish you could see them a little more as it would be fun to watch them make them all. We ordered 5 rolls and an appetizer, the Agedashi Tofu, Spicy Tuna, Spider, Cucumber, Yellowtail, and House Special. The appetizer was absolutely delicious. The rolls came out on a platter together and each one was better than the last. I washed everything down with a Hitachino Ginger Ale, a great Japanese brew. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Deb S.
Salmon teriyaki was very good.
(3)Matt K.
You know, my only problem with this place was that the green tea tasted like a frigid cup of pain. On a positive note, try the Philadelphia roll. I mean, they better damn well know how to make it.
(4)Maurice P.
Whenever we are in Philadelphia, we always make sure to go to Fat Salmon. We love the blue and white ambience, always complemented with cool music. Each dish is a work of art as the many photos here illustrate. The service is cheerful, knowledgeable and quick
(5)Julia C.
Great variety, great service, delicious food! The ambience in this place is incredible--especially at night! I'm in love with the interior design & it certainly provides a one of a kind dining experience.
(5)Courtney C.
probably the best sushi I've ever had. EVER. & I've eaten a lot of sushi. rolls are unique & intriguing. I got the locust & the white forest. the white forest, with pico de gallo & a dollop of sour cream, is my absolute favorite- combines my most favorite flavors (Asian/Mexican) into one, amazing roll.
(5)Eunni C.
Ordered my usual. Sashimi platter with salmon, salmon roe, Tuna and uni. They were somewhat flavorless. Rolls seemed good with all the sauces etc but sashimi wasn't that good. And personally I am not fan of blue neon light with food presentation. Not so appetizing.
(2)Nico L.
I've been here once before. This time it was better. I went for lunch and ordered a roll and a Yakitori. A bit too many veggies that didn't mix well with the beef. The roll however, perfect. Clean. The server was prompt. Everything else was wonderful. Too bad the weather was cold.
(4)Denise K.
This is my go to sushi place. It's affordable and the sushi is always so fresh and delicious!! It's usually easy to get a reservation. Don't forget to get the ice cream Mochi for dessert!!
(4)Emma Mae V.
My boyfriend and I came to Fat Salmon on a Saturday night for our anniversary. I was surprised to see that the restaurant never got full, but it kept the noise level down and the environment soothing. I loved the decor and the lighting. It was darker, but still nice and romantic. I enjoyed being able to see the chefs counter in the middle of the restaurant, but it would have been cooler if their workspaces were exposed as well, allowing us to see them make the sushi. The sushi itself was very tasty, and we found that it was decently priced. However, had we ordered more than one roll each, our bill would have been a lot more. We both agreed that this would be a good compliment meal, but it would not be a reasonable full meal. We also ordered the fried vanilla ice cream. My boyfriend didn't care for the breading, and I only liked it while it was warm, which wasn't for very long. All in all, we had a really nice experience with good service. I would definitely return.
(5)hibba u.
I finally went to Fat Salmon after walking by it daily for 2 months straight on the way to work. I met a friend for lunch, I was early but they still seated me which was great. We both ordered the lunch specials which are $14.50 and include soup or salad, not a bad deal. I got the crunchy spicy tuna and the shrimp tempura rolls, both of which are my go to when I am trying a new sushi place. The sushi was awesome and my friend loved his as well (don't remember what he got). We both were slow in ordering and the server didn't seem to mind which was great, we didn't feel rushed which I always appreciate. The sushi was fresh and the fish was all great quality. What more can you ask for? The only downside was that our food took exceptionally long to arrive considering it was lunch time, I know sometimes places do get busy and are backed up but this was longer than it should have been regardless. Not the end of the world but just annoying. The decor was trendy and the restaurant was very clean. I can't wait to go back!
(5)J X.
Boyfriend was nice enough to treat me out when he came to visit. Everyone here was so nice! The waitress was so friendly and great at explaining the menu and the different rolls. I recommend the sashimi for one/two - they give generous portions for very reasonable prices. I LOVED the super white tuna.
(5)Jasmine W.
Went here for my boyfriends birthday dinner earlier in the year and it was great! The ambiance is the selling factor, it's small and intimate, but very modern. The restaurant was fairly busy and filled close after we were seated. I order tempura which was very good and my boyfriend ordered three different sushi, all of which he enjoyed. Overall, it was a great experience, They even gave him Japanese ice cream on a beautiful decorated plate.
(4)Ashley T.
the best AND I MEAN THE BEST sushi i have ever had in my life. went with 2 girlfriends. the 3 of us shared 5 rolls and it was perfect. - volcano roll - old school roll - blossom roll - dancing vampire roll - rolling fire roll honestly EVERY ROLL was amazing... you cant beat this place. There's a reason it's rated Philly #1 sushi place. will be back soon!!!
(5)Candice M.
Best sushi in philly! My husband and I have been going here since they opened. We use to go to their previous location on locust street, years ago. We have no complaints. Can't get enough of this place!
(5)Victoria B.
1- smelled bad 2- humid 3- horrible service 4- everything is either deep fried or with 'crab stick' 5- I felt sick after
(1)Connie T.
I'll never return here again. The food here is pretty good but the service sucks! Come here if you want good food but bad service.
(1)Julian P.
This IS the best sushi restaurant I have ever been to. So many different rolls, everything is fresh and well portioned. Try the Fuka roll its my favorite. Also the saki menu is on point. Amazing decor and without a doubt the perfect date night spot!
(5)Wendy G.
Cafeteria quality sushi! After reading so many 5 star reviews I couldn't believe I was eating in the same restaurant. Yes, the interior is nice and modern, our service was very good, however I was shocked at what people thought was good sushi. We ordered four 'special' rolls and not one was special. The pieces were to big and piled with ingredients that didn't add up to flavor. I agree the food is reasonably priced, which makes sense because you get what you pay for.
(2)M G.
"Decent, but hit and miss on some items." This was a good sushi place for Philly. Some of the combination rolls were nothing special and some, like the tofu roll (yes tofu roll) were very good. We had a party of 6 so there was a lot to try. I don't remember the names of the rolls. However, I had negiri too and it was fresh and decent. The uni was very good. One negative thing about this place for me personally was the rice. It was too soft and milly. This should be the star ingredient and it missed the mark. The sake were also ok. Do the sake flight it's a good deal and the sakes are better quality than the house sake which we also had. Overall it was a fun dinner but I will not be rushing back here very soon.
(3)Ritu K.
The hazards of growing up in California- there's amazing cheap sushi on every corner. Not the case in Philly, but I've certainly tried some decent, albeit expensive, sushi in the city. Fat Salmon is a nice addition to the sushi offerings in the city. The decor is sleek and modern. I felt like a homeless person in my work scrubs but whatevs. The sushi was tasty, although I thought we ordered one too many rolls covered in spicy sauce. We're talking drowning in spicy sauce. Was there fish under there- hard to say. If I head back I'm definitely ordering more nigiri. The problem with this place- its ridiculously loud to carry on a conversation. We were seated in the back corner and apparently all the sound carried back to the corner and settled there. I could have probably started screaming at the top of my lungs and not looked like a crazy lady. With 5 of us at the table there was alot of yelling back and forth. The other problem the back corner also meant they forgot us. We received one plate of sushi and then sat there for what seemed like an eternity for the second plate. At that point I was ready for dessert, breakfast, anything... The sushi was comparable to other sushi joints in the city and a vast improvement from Shinju- just not sure I would return...
(3)S. H.
Truly a delightful experience. I really loved both the sashimi and the cooked fish rolls. I just discovered my new favorite Japanese sushi restaurant. It's the best I've ever had. :) A treat, for sure.
(5)Ann S.
The night after my visit to Morimoto, I was still on a Japanese high, so I went to Fat Salmon for some more. I had some very tasty rolls (Blossom and shrimp tempura) and nigiri (salmon, smoked salmon, and mackerel). The fried beef gyoza was also very tasty. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant in general is quite trendy and attractive.
(5)Helen N.
I love fat salmon, if you are like me, a person that love specialty rolls, then this is the place to go. Most sushi places in philly charges an arm and a leg for specialty rolls, but this place is reasonable. Their sashimi is average. Personal favorites: 1) Dancing Vampire 2) Mr Shiro 3) Hako Service is decent.
(5)Elle W.
This is by far my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. I have not had one thing that was not delicious. Last night I had the Blossom Roll and the Lipstick Trace and both were excellent. My fiance get's the Bacon Roll and loves it so much. Highly recommend this sushi.
(5)Megan D.
I was very happy to find this restaurant on a recent trip to Philadelphia--it definitely hit the spot! When we arrived around 7:30pm, the place was jam-packed and we had to make reservations to come back around 8:30pm to get a table. That ended up working really well because we went had a drink before dinner, but if you're looking to eat right away, I'd recommend calling ahead. I ordered the Rainbow roll and the Salmon Yaki roll and I enjoyed both. Their sushi had just the right ratio of rice to other ingredients, and the fish tasted very fresh. Plus, the wait staff was all very friendly and accommodating. If you're in town and in the mood for sushi, this place is a sure bet.
(4)Andrea R.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. My boyfriend and I wanted to go out for sushi one night and just chose this place at random, ends up being our restaurant. We go there regularly and the Fancy Sushi is our favorite. Don't forget to try to mochi ice cream for dessert!
(5)Maggie D.
Yay sushi! This place is super good. Everything is fresh and awesome, they also have a lot of vegetarian rolls, even some speciality, fancy rolls which I usually don't get to have! It's fun to be a part of things. Only possible fault would be that the service can be a bit slow, but it's always packed when I go so I can't really be too mad about it, especially since when the food does come it's really exciting and you forget about how long it took...mmmm sushi
(5)Simon L.
The food here is fantastic! The only thing I am not too comfortable with would be the atmosphere, it's a little too dark and the tables up front are placed too close to each other.
(4)Ali R.
I initially stepped into this place because it looks really cool from the outside, but the food was meh... I will say that their tuna tacos are pretty good. What I didn't love was how loaded their speciality rolls were. I'm generally a fan of clean sashimi or simple rolls, but all the rolls were piled with mayo/crab sticks.. it was just too much for me. Also, one of my rolls had plastic wrap on it, which the waitress immediately apologized for and took off our bill. Don't think I'd come back here, but it's worth trying out.
(3)Lily Z.
At first glance at the sushi menu, your mind has a "WTF asparagus in a sushi roll?" moment which then proceeds to happen more than once. After you get over the fact that they are a fusion restaurant, your belly starts to growl and you let it do the ordering, so in a few minutes you have asparagus in your face. Although a little on the pricier side, Fat Salmon cranks out delicious sushi rolls. We also ordered the shrimp tempura appetizer (not worth it for $9, but it is plated very nicely). For dessert we had the tempura ice cream which was HUGE and completely worth the $6. It could have fed 4 people but of course I ate for 3 :)
(4)Christine G.
Love this place, Love the Old School Roll, its vegetarian, but super spicy, and over the top delicious. Their fish is fresh, the seaweed salad is the best I've had in town. This is my go-to sushi place. And its reasonably priced. I usually get take out but the eat-in service is good and the place is hip, good date spot.
(5)Ryan S.
Great sushi. Great service. I feel like the floor layout is slightly claustrophobic.
(4)Rockit O.
Whatever Fat salmon is...it is defiantly NOT Japanese! Take away the swanky lighting, the modern decor, and you are left with sushi that is reminiscent of any food court sushi at your local shopping mall. Start with the sushi bar that is so high, you can not see your chef, and he can not see you. Any proud Japanese sushi chef will want to interact with you and see your expression when you bite into his masterpiece. It is so hard to find authentic sushi when traveling, and yelp is certainly no help. If you like a roll factory then Fat Salmon is for you.
(1)Richard D.
Sushi is very skillfully made and flavors are great. Ambience is wonderful also. Weakness is the flavor of the fish itself. But the ingredients added make it taste great anyway.
(4)Tony O.
Once again the #8 Lunch Special hits the spot! Their ginger dressing with the salad is really good too! The steamed gyoza is one of the best around.
(5)Rozena R.
Wonderful spot! Ambiance was perfect. Everything I got was well prepared and filling, the amount you got was equivalent to the price. My friend ordered an eel roll and the chefs actually forgot to put eel! But they were more than accommodating for their mistake, quickly bringing out a fresh eel roll and then removing the price of the eel roll from the check. There is a reason they are doing well and this is why. I'd go again and again.
(5)Abigail T.
I love Fat Salmon! Actually, I don't like salmon at all. But, at Fat Salmon that's not a problem - especially, during lunch, the best time to get sushi. Fat Salmon has great lunch specials. It has some of the best prices around, and they allow you to change something for a $1 extra, which at these prices is a great deal. I'm a simple girl, so I get the #3 and sub an extra tuna nigiri for the salmon. At $10.50, I'm satisfied!
(5)Leslie P.
I think we all need that go to sushi place where you know a few rolls you just adore and everything else is great. The kind of place you say to you friends or significant other, "why don't we just go to _____?" and they oblige because they, too, love it. I feel like Fat Salmon would be a wonderful contender for that kind of place: a staple sushi restaurant. I say this partially because people talked about the decor and how cool the place was. And it is cool, don't get me wrong. But it is not one of those restaurants where the whole thing is "an experience." It really is much more about the food. Two girlfriends and I went to share some fancy makis and drink prosecco (BYO). We started with salads. The green salad with ginger dressing was just what I wanted and a great starter to any sushi meal. My friend ordered the seaweed salad. It was enormous. Generally seaweed salads are in little small bowls and pale in comparison to the size of the restaurant's house salad. At Fat Salmon, the seaweed salad is twice the size of the house/green and could easily be shared by two people for a starter. We ordered 5 rolls to split. I looked at the menu online before I arrived, but I was happy to see tasteful pictures of the super fancy rolls. I think this will come in handy especially as I go back to Fat Salmon and I try to remember which rolls I have had and liked. There are SO MANY to choose from. And, I would caution that yes, the fancy rolls are super yummy, but not to ignore what they call "regular makis" and their tempura and spicy makis which fall behind the specials' spread. Sometimes too many fancy rolls is just too rich! We ordered Lipstick Trace (upon a recommendation from a friend), Dragonfly, Dancing Vampire, and Lost Rainbow on the fancy menu and a spicy tun roll from the less fancy section (which was still fancy and special, but I digress). At Fat Salmon, they tell you what is inside the maki and what is outside (because both are part of the equation). We decided after the meal that the outside is the most important indicator of what the maki will taste like--it is the part that touches your tongue first and more aggressively. I think we especially liked the Lipstick Trace (which is vegetarian), the spicy tuna, the Lost Rainbow, and the Dragonfly. The Dancing Vampire with its sweet chili sauce was the one we had leftovers of. It was very sweet and apparently did not come in first place. Best part was the bill came to less than 60 bucks--split three ways, we all felt like we got a great deal. Which again, brings me back to the whole "staple restaurant" argument. There are times for Morimoto and the like, but if you love sushi, you need to find a place that will give you lots of room to explore, is always tasty, and doesn't break the bank. Fat Salmon? SCORE!
(4)Zachary D.
Fat Salmon is great except for the food. As someone who actually likes good sushi, I wish they spent half as much time working to get good fish as they do trying to make the place look trendy.
(2)Frank S.
If you can find a spot in this place of the size of a shoe box, consider yourself lucky. I had not been here for over a year an now that I went back I found some of the freshest sushi I have had in town (including S in Collingswood) for a very reasonable price. Excellent miso soup, not overly salted like in so many other places, super fresh salad with delicious ginger dressing, both complimentary. I had chirashi, including the shrimp, which is usually not my favorite in it, every bite of fish was really good. Same for my friends maki sampler. Only downside, there was no tamago in the bowl, which I think goes really well with chirashi, but hey.. It's byob and there is a great beer place right around the corner a 10th and Pine. Now that I wrote the review, I am actually pretty regretful to tell everyone about it ... ;-) Warning! Too small for big groups!
(5)April W.
I ate here tonight with my boyfriend and we had a great time! We are far from sushi experts, but we really enjoyed everything we ate. The staff was all really friendly and the atmosphere was nice. We went around 5:00 and by the time we were leaving it was starting to pick up. The waitress said they were booked for the night so they must be doing something right.
(4)Claire O.
First off, the agedashi tofu is out of this world. I'm very picky and sometimes restaurants can get it wrong, but Shinju has it down, The rolls are inventive. The hako sushi is probably my favorite so far - pressed box sushi with spicy tuna, "crunch" (which I assume is panko), topped with unagi and tobiko. Great flavors. The BCT roll that everyone was raving about didn't really do it for me - way too rich and creamy for my taste. We also ordered the shrimp tempura roll and spicy tuna, as well as ikura nigiri (salmon roe). I'd have to order sashimi or nigiri in order to comment on the quality of the fish, so I'll probably update this review when I get around to that. I also did take-out so I can't comment on the service. Prices were a touch steep. The hako sushi was worth the $12.50 but generally I think the other rolls were overpriced.
(4)M P.
One of my favorite sushi places in the city. It was great when it was Shinju and a BYO, so I was skeptical about the new location and non-BYO status... but the food proved me wrong. The decor is clean and modern, there is a lot more space, the rolls are still fabulous and the service was great. On busy nights (Fri/Sat), you need a reservation. They also kept their prices pretty low, which is impressive given their new location and remodeling. Dinner ended up about $20-$25/person.
(5)Everett R.
Met my good buddy there for a mutual b-day treat and we split six high quality rolls. The standard fair was right on target (e.g. philly roll and dragon roll) and the more creative rolls (e.g. soft shell crab) really pushed me over the edge. It's BYOB - we got a 6 pack of heineken for $11 @ the Locust Bar right next door (which is pretty good for that part of the city), which went perfectly with the fish. It's a small restaurant that gets pretty noisy at peak dinner time, but I'll take lively over eerily silent any day.
(5)J P.
If you like fresh sushi, awesome prices, a sweet dinning environment, byo's, and service with a smile I suggest you drop everything and run to Shinju. Holy Sashimi Batman! It was that good. My lady and I were having a birthday plan fail as it rained all day and night yesterday and the Phillies game was rained out. With all that suck going on she had the bright idea of checking the Yelp for good sushi. Well Yelp, you did it again. On your recommendation we set out to have an epic birthday sushi experience. We started with some piping hot edamame and then ordered 4 rolls. I don't remember what any of them were called except for the Miss Sake Bomb which was eel. They were all delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. The food came out a tad on the slow side, but that was fine as we had the edamame to snack on while we waited. Our server was super friendly and everyone in the place was all smiles. This place is small so I am glad we made reservations. It was a packed house on a Monday night. As I looked around all I saw were happy faces. It seems everyone else was really digging their experience at Shinju. I'll go back again and again. I'll bring friends and family. I loved it. It was a great birthday dinner. Cheers Shinju sushi. Cheers.
(5)Meredith B.
great quality sashimi
(4)George R.
Based on Caitlin C.'s yelp review, I went here to get some excellent sushi for a great price... and it was amazing. The restaurant is very intimate and the decor has a lot of spirit. It isn't trying to say trendy and it isn't traditional. It really speaks to the spirit of its own character without bowing to what a sushi place should or shouldn't be. So many choices for sushi! There were special platters, featured sushi dishes, and of course a la carte options as well. The presentation and quality of taste is amazing. There are also a great variety of appetizers to choose from as well. I had a hard time deciding what I was going to get, but in the end I decided on Tekka maki, a special sushi dish, and the Gyoza beef dumplings which I shard with my friend. As mentioned in the other review, this is a BYOB, so just bring what you want and they'll give you glasses as soon as they have found you a table. For dessert, they have three ice creams: Mocha, Green Tea, and Red Bean. I opted for the red bean and my friend chose the green tea. Red bean is definitely the way to go. The green tea was, well, it tasted like frozen unsweetened green tea. Its verisimilitude to the drink was uncanny. So, my recommendation is to stick with the other two more sweet ice creams if you are looking for a dessert treat. Get reservations as there often will not be an open table between prime dining hours. Tip: This place is right down the street from the Walnut Street Theater. I would definitely eat here before a show!
(4)Elijah C.
Whenever I go out of state I plan on eating at a Japanese place that has some great sushi. While in a little bit of a rush I was still able to order two rolls that are worth trying. They are called the Dancing Vampire and the Mr. Shiro.
(5)Carissa J.
Fat Salmon is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in Philadelphia. The atmosphere is fun, and the sushi is delicious. I am vegetarian, and I love the fact that they have different vegetarian rolls besides an avocado or cucumber roll. The only qualms that I have with this restaurant are that the staff always makes it a problem when there is a party of more than 2 people and that the service is TERRIBLE. The waiters make it a point to not make eye contact with you when you try to beckon them to your table. It's actually remarkable how much they ignore you. One night it took my friends and I over an hour to get our sushi- unacceptable. Fortunately, the wonderful food and trendy atmosphere override the terrible service, and I will say that I will go back there again.
(4)Sub S.
Go here! Rolls are interesting and not the usual fare. The ambiece is nice for dates or small groups, though if there is an obnoxious table in the restaurant everyone is bothered. Nice fish, nice apps. BYOB policy. Pros: Rolls, rolls, rolls Cons: Can get loud
(4)S K.
Doesnt get better for us vegetarians. The Old School and Lipstick trace are to die for.
(5)Nicole S.
I went for lunch. Everything was great. They were pretty busy and the food took a little longer than I expected to come out, but sushi was fresh and very good.
(4)A F.
Usually enjoy this place for both food and atmosphere. Service on last visit was horrible!!! Went in for lucnh with a friend this week at 12:15 had to wave down a waiter to take our order even though it was not that crowded. Received our salads but no food after 35 minutes. Had to wave down hostess and complain and was told she would inform the manager who then never came to our table to apologize or inform us about why our food was taking so long. Had to walk out of the restaurant in a huff with NO FOOD and NO EXPLANATION of the bad service!!!! Will never return and now angry b/c this is the closest sushi place to where I work. I guess I will have to venture out for my sushi. Sorry Fat Salmon you need to work on your customer service.
(1)YEN A.
The food was so good... I really enjoyed it. :x They have a lot of different kinds of sushi. I went there with 4 more people. We needed to reserve before we came. Definitely, I will be back with my boyfriend. It is also good place for couple.
(5)Pauline S.
I came here to share a bunch of rolls with friends, and I am relatively impressed. I love tempura flakes and spicy mayo, and these rolls were no disappointment. It was moderately affordable for sushi and geared more towards the warm/cooked savory flavors rather than raw/sweet.
(4)Sisi L.
This place is ok. It's pretty small, so everytime I'm there, I get wedged between the wall and the table with only room to breathe, or my chair is touching the chair of the person behind me. When it's busy, it's hard to have a private conversation because the tables next to you are only 1 foot away. The fish is pretty fresh, but the rolls and nigiri are about 30% smaller than every other sushi place that i've been to. I usually get the "sushi for 2" and it comes with 5 pieces of fish and 1 roll per person. Normally this would be enough food for me, but because everything is so small, I'm always still hungry! If you are into hand rolls and maki, i'd suggest going to Green Garden around the corner. The prices are lower and you get bigger portions and the same tastiness and quality. My boyfriend's main complaint about Shinju is that the wasabi is really bad quality. It breaks up into powder form immediately in soy sauce, as if it's just horseradish and food coloring. If you are really into sushi, or any japanese food for that matter, the yummiest sushi i've had is actually at Sagami, in New Jersey. It's worth the toll!!
(2)D K.
My friend and I were in the mood for sushi and looking for a place within walking distance. Seeing the positive reviews of Fat Salmon, we were looking forward to dining at the restaurant. The decor of the restaurant is cool and sleek and ideal for parties of two. There is also a sushi bar that is first come, first served. Beware that those sitting at the "front" portion of the sushi bar will experience gusts of wind from the restaurant door opening - not ideal in the winter. As for the food, the sushi was fine - there was nothing that made it stand out. The service on the other hand, could use improvement. We asked the hostess to seat us at the bar and she told us that it would be about a ten minute wait. That was perfectly fine for us as it was Saturday night. When seats opened up, she proceeded to seat the party of two that had arrived AFTER us not only before us, but also at a prime place at the sushi bar. When I asked her why she had not seated us first (as we had arrived first), she told us that she was planning to seat us in a corner of the bar. This was definitely not preferred because it's darker, right up against a wall, and looks a bit like a forgotten corner of the restaurant. And, in any case, why would you seat the party that arrived after us, first? Especially, since we are both parties of two. Additionally, the staff does not seem to be trained on the menu. When the hostess and server were asked a question about the menu, neither knew the answer. Makes you wonder about the quality of the establishment if those working in the restaurant don't know the food they are serving. Also, the item I ordered only came with four pieces of sushi, but was priced like a full meal. While I'm used to smaller portions at sushi restaurants, this was smaller than I was expecting and the server did not mention anything about how small it would be. While she didn't have to, it would have been nice (and something that's often done in other restaurants). Also, my friend added extra avocado to her salad and was charged more than she had been told the addition would cost. There weren't necessarily any glaring issues with the restaurant, but there were enough small inconsistencies in service that made the experience less than memorable. Will I go back? Perhaps, but there are better sushi places in the city.
(3)Cassie T.
I'm a huge fan of this place's proximity to my house, ambiance, service, and their SPECIALTY ROLLS (for more traditional sushi and sashimi I don't think I would go here)! The ambiance is quite different from your average sushi restaurant, it's kind of dark, intimate (small, but not as small as vics!) and swanky, kind of trendy but not so much that it's annoying. They play an interesting mix of jazz and the like. Also, awesome pictures of these sashimi characters with smiley faces in different situations all over the walls. Tiki sushi bar looking thing in the back too. My seaweed salad was kind of expensive at $6 but it was pretty huge. The specialty rolls are what really stands out here. Many different really creative combos at great prices. Compared to Vic's most all of the specialty rolls were cheaper. I got the Locust, I think it was like a California roll inside topped with tempura spicey tuna and some delicious sauce. Holy crap it was good! One off thing was that there was an overpowering smell of something like Glade tropical air freshener, but maybe it was just the day. Regardless, I will definitely be back!
(5)Grace L.
Per my other reviews, I've been looking for a reasonably priced and great quality sushi in old city. I used to frequent the prior establishment at this same location. When it closed I was dismayed that my local sushi place had closed. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that another sushi place was replacing it. Almost as soon as Fat Salmon opened, I ordered sushi for lunch. Great quality!! Great price. Fat Salmon became my go-to place to satisfy my sushi fix. However, I haven't gone to Fat Salmon since March and as of right now, I don't plan to. As I stated, I ordered my lunch special from Fat Salmon almost weekly. Although I don't currently have a menu in front of me, from what I recall, their lunch specials are served until 3 PM. One afternoon, ~240 PM I called to order my usual sushi special (3 hand rolls + soup or salad for $10.50 - seriously good deal)(mind you, I had done this many times before as I usually take a late lunch) . I was curtly told, our lunch service is closed (or we stopped serving lunch). I ask, but doesn't lunch service end at 3 PM? response: Yes but we stop taking orders 30minutes before for employee lunch. I had ordered from Fat Salmon at least 20 times before I was told this new lunch rule. I tried to sweet talk my way since the menu said lunch until 3 and I didn't know about this rule, etc. etc. Bottom-line: If your takeout menu says "until 3 PM," you have to take orders until 3 PM. I didn't get sushi that day, nor do I think I will be going back anytime soon (it's already been 4 months!). Honestly, this really annoys me bc you can't find quality sushi for a reasonable price downtown any more and this place would have been a keeper. Because of this incident, I have been actively searching for other sushi places in old city so satisfy my sushi fix. Guess I'll have to save money and go to Morimoto's. With that said, the food deserves 5 stars but the lunch issue downgraded it to 3 stars.
(3)Michael H.
Sushi was very good and fresh. I had their steamed shrimp shumai, they were very good but small. Atmosphere is nice and Service was very good.
(4)Jenna C.
My review from last year is no longer enough. Shinju might be my favorite place to go, in the city. It is quiet and friendly. While the service can sometimes feel a little slow, it's in actuality just un-rushed. The sushi is delightful (assuming you like fusion rolls) and always presented well. There are some places that breed hostility. You know, those restaurants you frequent when you're fighting with your significant other. Shinju is the exact opposite of those. I have never had a bad experience or a bad time, here. I don't think it's possible to be unhappy in this tiny byo.
(5)Faye S.
I've been on a mission to find a good sushi place other than Vic. Don't get me wrong; Vic is my other man (second to my husband, of course), but sometimes he gets a little pricey. Using Yelp's magical powers, we found Shinju Sushi. When we walked up, I was almost afraid the place was closed because it was so dark. I guess it's a Philly thing to have dark restaurants? We were seated quickly...granted, there were only two other groups there. The waitress took our drink orders and brought them out fairly quickly, but the edamame and actual sushi/rolls we ordered took a bit longer. We had salmon and yellowtail nigiri (our basis for comparison), as well as a couple of rolls: the smoking volcano and the spider roll. The nigiri was a touch over just passable; the rice was a little undercooked, but the fish was good, if not a little thin. I like my salmon big and thick! The rolls, however, were SO GOOD. The smoking volcano roll was my favorite of the two-- crab stick, tomato, and cream cheese roll, topped with spicy tuna and tobiko. Mmmm! I'm normally not a huge fan of rolls, but make it right and I love them! The spider roll was a little generic, imo, but it was still very yummy. I'm still undecided if I think the size of the rolls is a bad or good thing. The smoking volcano came with 6 fairly small pieces, and the spider roll came with 5 larger pieces. I'm all about quality over quantity, but I'm so used to having huge 8-piece rolls that this was a little surprising. Nevertheless, I enjoyed what we had at Shinju and definitely wanted more! Price is on par with Vic, but I think there you get more food-- because of the bigger rolls and bigger pieces of salmon and yellowtail. Granted, I would recommend this place based on our experience last night. Had I gotten nigiri alone, this place would have gotten three stars, but with the rolls, a solid four stars. Minus one star for how dark it is inside, though...I actually wanted to pull out my flashlight!
(4)Erin R.
Excellent sushi - very creative and reasonably priced. Great place for cozy dinner for 2 or 4 people. Seaweed salad also excellent!! I plan to go back very soon!!
(4)elanya m.
amazing food..had the deep fried tofu and four other specialty rolls which were all to die for..def check it out sushi lovers!
(5)PixieCat X.
Best sushi restaurant in philly. That is all.
(5)Brianna M.
As a avid sushi lover, I would give this place three stars at most. It's not terrible, but not amazing. I enjoy eating udon quite a bit and I was glad to see they had that on their menu. The broth is quite tasty but I guess since its only an appetizer, the amount of udon noodles they give you is quite pathetic. I don't really recommend any of their "fancy rolls" since I don't think they are worth the price but the regular ones such as crunchy spicy tuna is not bad. The roll size and thickness(?) is appropriate.
(3)brad C.
Looking for a place near Broad St for sushi, Shinju came up. I'm usually a patron of Vic, but this place offers similar value with more inventiveness. The "Lost Rainbow" offers a really wonderful mix of textures and flavors, combining thinly sliced crunchy cucumber with tender salmon. The only knock on them was the Agedashi tofu, which is one of my favorite dishes. This deep fried tofu is supposed to be crisp on the outside, warm and creamy on the inside, and dipped in a bit of broth. Shinju's was drowning in sauce, leaving the breading on the tofu gelatinous and impossible to eat with the rest of the dish. But affordable sushi places always leave something to be desired in their appetizers. Brad's rating scale (out of 5): Food: 4 Price: 5 Decor: 3 Service: 4 Wild card: Byob!
(4)Eugene B.
If you are looking for a great sushi place that is relatively inexpensive this is the place to go. The service is above average. The ambience is pretty hip with a cool blue tint to the restaurant and most importantly the sushi is AMAZING. If you are a fan of the traditional Nigiri/Sashimi sushi, you'll love it, but if you are willing to experiment, Fat Salmon has some of the wildest rolls, but they are all delicious. The icing on the cake is that this is BYOB. If you are looking for a great date night, go to Fat Salmon. There is parking on the street after 6:30pm.
(4)Peng M.
Had a great time there. Enjoyed the food.
(4)Eric V.
Great prices and the sushi is definitely the best I've had in a while! The place is pretty small, so I've only ever gotten takeout (which they have ready in a surprisingly short amount of time). The only issue I come across is that I have no clue how to eat their (delicious) rolls with chopsticks. Imagine one of the trick exploding cigars.. after it exploded. That's kind of how they're shaped. Nonetheless, they're awesome.
(4)Christopher R.
Better than average sushi and the prices aren't jacked up like a lot of places in the area. BYO, which is huge, and the first time I went there our server was knowledgeable about which sake to serve hot and which to serve cold. The only problem is that it can get pretty cramped since the space is so small and well-loved. I made a reservation last time and they actually kept it even though I was a bit late and all the tables were full, which impressed me. Sorry to whoever had to wait because of me, by the way.
(4)Miss Z.
My go-to Sushi place for lunch during the week. I almost find it impossible to tire of the menu, since there are so many interesting choices. They have great lunch deals and the chicken donburi is delicious and satisfying. Nice vibe, nice staff and good, fresh sushi.
(4)Amanda M.
I absolutely love the atmosphere and the food /service in this place! Def a 5 star!
(5)Heman P.
Its really great. You got to try it if you like sushi.
(4)Haseeb A.
Great sushi place. I used to live on the same block and would order their take out sushi all the time. However, nothing compares to eating in. The atmosphere is amazing and service is great. The entree's that they offer are delicious, but again, nothing compares to the sushi. They have a great variety of sushi so there is always something new to try. They also have some Japanese beer which I had never tried before coming here and it was very good.
(5)b w.
ABSOLUTELY the best sushi I've ever had. I don't claim to be a sushi pro, but I've been all over the east coast w/ work and I've experienced sushi in many of the big cities (New York, Cape Cod/smaller New England towns, Boston, Baltimore, DC, and all over Florida) and this location is by far the best I've ever had. Also, the prices are extremely reasonable, their most expensive roll is around 15.00 dollars and that's one of the huge specialty rolls. I believe their website has a full menu w/ prices. Please check this place out if you're in downtown philly, you wont be disappointed.
(5)Pramiti S.
I took my college roommate visiting from DC to Fat Salmon and was really happy with the service, food, and atmosphere. Their menu had so many options and the avocado salad was relatively large and very good. They also had every Hitachino beer including their stout which is hard to find, but it was severely overpriced at $10 for 11.2 ounces. However, while the lighting was a little cheesy, we had an amazing time with great sushi, plum saki, sapporo light, and a fantastic server. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a girls night/date night/ or a group night. I also highly recommend the plum saki and their special roll, the Hako roll. SO GOOD! I will definitely be back especially considering it's great sushi for an even better price.
(4)Melanie M.
Wow! I have walked past this place so many times since it is right around the corner from my apt. I finally decided to check it out after my friends were raving about it. They were right about this place! Everything was so delicious! I have never had so sushi so fresh in my life. The tuna sashimi does melt in your mouth. We also had the Locust Roll (the perfect mix of flavors and crunchiness). The M & M with marinated beef was also different and fantastic. Service was great and the BYO part is another plus. We have gone back 3 times now and can't wait to take all of our friends there so that they can enjoy sushi done right!
(5)Scottie B.
Went here twice while in town for a conference. The first time, with my girlfriend, she got the vegetarian combo and I a spicy tuna creation (Hoki Sushi I think). She loved hers and I was pretty pleased with mine. We got there around 5 on a Sunday and found the place empty. The second time, with my labmates we all ordered at least two rolls and there was high praise. This time (7:30pm on a Tuesday) the place was quite full but we still found a table. As always with sushi, it doesn't fill you up so feel adventurous to order at least two rolls. The interior is quite small (but not cramped) and includes a sushi bar. Our waitress was very nice and never far but not interrupting. And we couldn't believe the price, very reasonable.
(4)Alix H.
Shinju is definately yummy, but for the price I just want MORE!!!!!!!! My boyfriend and I are CA transplants to Philly so we are excited about finding all the best places to eat, but for the same price at the place back home you get 2-4 more pieces per order. bummer. It's still tasty and we will be coming back. As for the complaints about it being too small--- it's COZY !! :)
(4)Chrissy R.
I always stop by here when I have family in the hospital. Yes, it's morbid, depressing sushi. Yummy though and they do cheap and quick takeout.
(4)Anna Marie C.
yum yum yum. so i made the trek halfway across town for some sushi tonight (after reading the rave reviews here on yelp!). so it's my own fault for not reading the reviews as thoroughly that i did not notice that it was byo. i will correct that mistake next time. in any case, it was damn tasty. there are your standard sushi fare...and then there's the quite fab funky rolls. i had the locust (tempura tuna and crab and avocado and and and....) and the lady vampire (yes, i ordered it purely for the name). and it lived up to its yelp hype. oh, and they make one kick ass agedashi tofu. i seriously judge places based on how authentic their tofu is...and this place is quite hardcore. so next time, there will be sake and sushi for me. rock.
(4)Matt S.
You can't go wrong with the place. Solid sushi, good atmosphere, great prices, and BYOB. While I'm certainly not a sushi connoisseur like some other reviews, I would like to think that I can taste the difference between good and bad sushi. Shinju Sushi consistently impresses me with their fresh, creative rolls. Worth noting is that this place is SMALL. Reservations can be good idea. Also, the service can be a bit slow but never inattentive. Considering the size of the space, their almost non-existent kitchen and great prices I've never found the service to be a problem. Just don't expect to dine and dash.
(4)Rachel K.
Came here on my birthday and I became a fan. Great little cozy location. Shinju is known for their "fusion" style sushi and they definitely took the award for that! The rolls were smaller and a bit pricier then what im used to @ Mizu or Raw. But every bite makes up for it! I love how each dish comes with illustrations! hah The bad: too dark, byob, and one time they ran out of rice so my party had to wait one hour!
(4)Joshua S.
This is one of the few sushi places I have been to since I moved from Hawaii that compares to the spots on island. The place is very tiny, so I tend to make reservations when I go, although they are usually only needed on the weekend. It is a BYOB, but I'm a student so I don't mind paying a third of the price to by a six pack of Ichiban from around the corner. The rolls are fantastic, with many fusion rolls that are as fun to decide over with your date as they are to eat (although I agree with Lori that they are too fragile for the undextrous. They are a little pricey, but there has ever been an uttered regret from my table come check time. The sashimi and edamame are usual additions to the meal, as well. All in all, go in a patient mood (the service runs a little slow and the chefs take their time perfecting your roll) and you won't be disappointed.
(4)Gustavo B.
Its a trendy, not so expensive , great spot for couples and even small groups, for a fun, great sushi dinner. Can get busy on weekends, so make sure you make a reservation. Staff is super friendly and service is very good. Their specialty rolls selection is pretty decent, as well as the regular, vegetarian and tempura options. They have now a new menu, with even more stuff. By the way, it is no longer BYOB.
(4)Kaye I.
should i even tell you about this place?!? Shinju is awesome!!! Delicious Sushi, Best prices in town. Only draw back is the place in tiny, but it's cozy and warm with their friendly staff. Did i mention BYOB!! They are planning to move to a larger location so maybe till then you could go to Fuji mountain so I can be sure to get a table here :) Perhaps I should add that i am fairly new to sushi and I am still getting alot of the fried stuff on the menu, but my genuine sushi and sashimi eating friends like this place as well.
(5)Joe J.
Just came back from dinner at Fat Salmon. Ill start off by saying a really good place and I very much enjoyed it, and most importantly the food. The decor is really cool. I found it comforting. The place is pretty small, consisting of all two person tables and a large bar seating area. The tables are really close to eachother which I cant blame them on since it is small, and once you get over the initial awkwardness with being close to people you dont know it doesnt matter anymore. Just google image "fat salmon philadelphia" if you wanna see the inside. ***definantly make a reservation*** ~~i went there today which is monday night and it was still completely full. i didnt see anyone ever waiting but it was constantly full so i can only imagine what it would be like on a friday or saturday. With my reservation we got seated immediately. The service was kind of slow but not unbearable. They filled the waters pretty quick but after that it took about 10 minutes for our waitress to come. Then another 10 again after our drink order. But it was ok because we spent most of the time looking at the menu. The waitress was really nice, personable, and knowledgeable. We had a few conversations with her and everyone just seemed overall pleasant. Now to the food. For starters we had the edamame. I had no idea what it was, all i knew was that a lot of people like it. When i came i was really disappointed to find out it was just soy beans with the pod covered in salt. Nonetheless they were still fun to pick at. It was 4.50 which wasnt bad. I wouldnt recommend getting it at all though, I just find it a little pointless. Between the both of us we got 5 rolls. Ill put them in decending order of which i liked best: ~Rolling Fire: INCREDIBLE. not only the best sushi i ever had, but also one of the best things ive ever put in my mouth. A lot of people are concerned about its spice factor, but to me it wasnt that spicy. Even if you dont like spice you NEED to get this. it was incrediblleeeee. ~White Forest: Second favorite. It was salmon tempura. What made this so unique and great was the salsa-like-thing and sour cream on top. The mixture of that with the tempura made your mouth go nuts. definitely absolutely recommend. ~Hako: Third favorite. The only reason i got this one was because all the reviews said it was incredible. didnt live up to my expectations but was still good sushi. dont let this deter you from getting it, just not as good as i expected. gives you 8 pieces though which is nice. ~Dancing Vampire: Fourth. Didnt really stand out to me but of course tasty. It would have been great alone but compared to all these other incredible sushi on my plate it just didnt match up. again, i dont recommend this one not because it was bad but there are other better things. ~Fancy Sushi: Eh, it was alright. Expected it to be better. The biggest downfall for me on this one was that it only came in 4 pieces. Taste was good but out of the 5 we got to me it was the least impressive. Dessert we got vanilla tempura ice cream. ABSOLUTELY get this if you are getting dessert. Actually even if you arent getting dessert.............get dessert....just so you can try this. Overall it was a great experience and would go back any day. Recommend completely. -----------------------------FOUR MONTHS LATER------------------------------------------ So just went back tonight and loved it again and just had to write about it. Originally I gave it 4 stars but after tonight it jumped to 5. Ill just talk about the rolls. This time we got rolling fire (had to get it again), white forest (she had to get that again), sepia pleasure, mr shiro, and lost rainbow. Lost rainbow was GREAT. to me better than white forest, everything worked so well. Mr Shiro i was not that impressed. The whole thing in your mouth tastes a scale of 6 on a 10 but you can taste something is off. I tried the topping seperately....and thats what it was. It was so fishy and dry I didnt like the top at all. Yet the actual roll made it ok. But atleast the roll was 8 pieces so that was ok. Wouldn't recommend this one though. Then lastly the surprise of the night was sepia pleasure. Was not expecting this to be as good as it was. It was surprisingly great. Actually really great. Third next to lost rainbow. First is still rolling fire of course. Then once again we got ice cream which was just as good this time. GET IT. also went to doma which i heard was another popular sushi rest in the city, personally thought this was better than doma
(5)nico t.
My favorite sushi spot in town. the decor is bright and cheery, but the lights are dim, creating a great sushi atmosphere. as others have said, it's a tight fit most of the time. the reasons i love this place start with its location. it happens to be just around the corner from my apartment. but that's not all. they have a good selection of vegetarian sushi options, which works well for weirdos like me that like sushi but don't eat fish. the wait staff are friendly and helpful, and the chefs will make stuff not on the menu if you ask nicely (not common among locals). the prices are about average for a decent sushi place, though the vegetarian tempura is a little pricey, but i can't resist. it's my favorite. they put a spicy mayo on it that is just the right amount of zing for me. the menu has a huge variety of "fusion" options in addition to standard sushi fare. they've even added a vegetarian option to the fusion menu, which i like to think was the result of my continuous efforts to get them to expand their veggie options. In short, if you're in the neighborhood and like sushi, eat here.
(4)Bernadette F.
Amazing inventive sushi and cocktails that were very affordable. The special rolls were almost the normal price. Attentive service. Will definitely go back.
(5)Josh W.
I think this is the best sushi spot in the city. After having to write a scathing review about another place in Philly, I felt it only just I write a nice review about a place I love going to. There's always something new to try, the atmosphere is great, the service is wonderful. The food is just excellent all around. Never had a bad meal here. I wish I could try everything but it will take me many moons and many stomachs. Go here if you love sushi. This is the place.
(5)SF G.
Overall was disappointed with this restaurant. The server seemed lost most of the time. Also, when we made reservations for 12 they sent us to 3 different tables in separate sections of the restaurant...not quite the ambience we were looking for when sharing a meal together. Good selection of sake. Waitress recommended the Rolling Fire roll...it sounded so good. Unfortunately, it is so drenched in their spicy sauce that you can't really taste anything else in the roll. Who even knows if their fish is fresh since I couldn't discern the flavor. Other rolls I tried I was not in love with. Some were quite heavy handed. Overall, I prefer fresh fish that you can taste despite the competing flavors. The restaurant is trendy and chic but could use some help redecorating their menu and/or being more authentic.
(3)Don K.
Went for my second time here this week. I thought this was some of the best sushi I have had in a while. Special rolls were all very good sized. All the fish tasted fresh. We had no problems with any of the rolls we ordered. Alcohol is expensive, which is really the only reason I dinged it a star. It looks like they have some good lunch specials, which I would love to check out some time.
(4)Elena S.
This is a solid, consistently good sushi place that is decently priced and a great option for lunch or dinner (great lunch specials, btw). The quality of the sushi is really good - maybe not quite as great as Morimoto, but pretty darn close and way less expensive. And I think it's just as good as pricier sushi places, like Zama or Raw. The vibe is also modern and pretty, and the service is super friendly and efficient. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for something nicer than Mizu or Vic's, but you don't want to spend a fortune for sushi.
(4)Patti F.
4 stars for being BYO & having reasonably priced delicious sushi. 3 stars for service. The space was intimate. I would recommend going on a week night to beat the crowd.
(4)s l.
Great little (seriously, little) spot in Washington Sq West. It's rare that I leave a sushi place stuffed, but after the old school roll and the lipstick roll (I think?) and sharing an order of the very good, light agedashi tofu, I was just that. I wish I stopped at the Foodery first though. Next time I'll come armed with some Hitachino XH.
(4)They Call Me L.
We were here on Saturday evening earlyish, Memorial Day weekend. It wasn't terribly busy. Service was good. Their sushi was tasty. We several rolls, including the vampire. Had the small sashimi, too, and that was really fresh and yummy. Beautiful space and decor.
(4)Alex F.
Fat Salmon is the re-opened Shinju sushi- after eating at shinju only once and being very impressed, my girlfriend and i returned to Fat salmon to see what they had. The menu is same with an addition of more special rolls. The ambiance and size of the restuarant too are much better than the closet sized shinju. I would've given Fat Salmon 5 stars, however, there were 2 things that did not impress me. The service was not very good. We brought beers and it took about 10 minutes for a server to bring us a bottle opener, then when they did, they took it away so we had to go through waiting again when we had to open our next beers. it also took a little over an hour for us to get our food, even though we came for a late dinner and the crowd was dying down. This may be (and hopefully it is) just a product of opening a new restaruant, so if you go just make sure your mindful of waiting. The other thing is that they seem to be applying for their liquor licence. So no more BYOB, which is a shame. I love BYOB. All that aside, the food is Fantastic and well worth the wait! the servers are freindly even though they take awhile too.
(4)meg B.
This place has such great ratings so my expectations were high when I had dinner here last night. I was so disappointed! The appetizer shumai and gyoza were not tasty, unsatisfying, and obviously store-bought frozen. I couldn't eat them. The fish itself was average. The sushi menu has more cooked fish options than raw ones. The guy at the next table asked the waitress "what's sashimi?" Seems like this place may attract patrons who are not very sushi-saavy? The rolls were ok and well-priced but definitely not special. I will not be coming back nor will I recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Edu A.
Shinju used to be Philly's best kept secret sushi and rolls spot. Then the Yoo brothers gave us Fat Salmon, a very trendy spot just about across the street from Washington Square. Sophisticated ambience, excellent service, and definitely the best rolls in the city. And the price is great, which is different from other sushi places that are overpriced and not as good in quality or creativity. Highly recommended for lunch break if you are in Center City, or for a romantic evening. Very beautiful decor and lighting. Try Hako sushi, very delicious. And don't forget to try their spicy tuna crunch roll, my second favorite. And don't believe bad reviews of users that are apparently trying to advertise other restaurants of similar style, claiming to know their sushi. It's almost a crime to say thatcFat Salmon's food is not great. It is hands down excellent!! I'm a real costumer and I approve this message!
(5)ivy h.
The interior here is beautiful and the food is great. Also hanging out with my girl Gina ;)
(5)Gordon N.
WOW! great food and service. What more can one ask for.
(5)Lauryn Z.
We had dinner at Shinju last night, and since my last review was about a year ago, it's time for an update and I'm happy to report that nothing has changed- the sushi is still the best I've ever had...the fish is always fresh & melt in your mouth delicious every time ...and the rolls are unique and creative, miso soup is excellent & its byob with the Foodery just around the corner. We left with a wonderful 'food high' totally wondering why we would ever bother going anywhere else in Philly for sushi...
(5)Mindy Y.
Shinju is moving to 7th and Walnut.. and they're changing their name to Fat Salmon. Fat Salmon?? Yes, Fat Salmon.
(5)Jon S.
We love this place for the vibe and the great, inventive food and we like the new location. We have eaten here several times and I guess it was usually half full. Tonight got there at 7:30, full house and unbelievably noisy. Tip: go early or go late.
(5)K E.
Best sushi east of Broad. Probably my favorite sushi in the city.
(5)Jay P.
Awesome, really fun and affordable sushi place. Try the bct! Service is acceptable, but sometimes a bit disappointing. Great dinner for the price.
(4)Caitlin C.
This is a hidden BYOB gem that I am trying to tell all my I-think-I-know-it-all-Philly-foodie friends about. And now I am telling you. Let's start with their motto: "Till the fat salmon sings." This sushi joint is funny, creative and colorful. The walls are painted yellow, green and orange, but don't worry - it is dimly lit at night for date dinners as well. Although it is probably only 400 square feet, Shinju has a little Tiki Bar (aka: sushi bar covered in palm reeds) and about 10 tables. The walls are lined with a graphic artist's portrayal of dancing, cartoon-like sushi pieces. Anything you get here is going to be delectable. And I don't know what everyone's Genji deal is . . . this is a lot better! To make your choice a lot easier, I have created a menu for you and your loved ones. Caitlin's Menu: Beef Gyoza (Japanese dumpling) to start Rock & Roll (tuna, salmon, cucumber inside; tempura crunch outside) M & M (marinated beef inside) Spicy Tuna Crunch (tuna, tempura crunch, cucumber, tobiko) Green Tea Ice Cream At this point of the meal you are converted.
(5)Mum D.
Fat Salmon, what an intriguing name for a restaurant. And where does a restaurant experience start? With the name. Then you walk in the door. At Fat Salmon you are greeted by a gorgeous hostess, who unlike many other places is also friendly and very accommodating. Step 3: server. Also friendly and ready to answer any questions we had. N4. Food. It was a lil strange we had to wait for a miso soup over 15 min considering the fact they were closing, but whatever. I won't nitpick, because it was good. Drinks? My Green tea sake shake was disappointing, should have had some simple syrup in it maybe and more flavor, but it was drinkable. Then came my bento box with seared salmon. My fish surpassed any expectations I had. I mean...this was CRISPY-SKINNED, PERFECTLY SEASONED, exploding with flavor! Way to go, Fat Salmon. The only thing on my plate I wasn't crazy about was the dumpling. It was heavy and chewy, too doughy and you could barely taste the filling. Otherwise , great food. I wish we had gone a lil earlier so they don't rush us out the door. Also glad the owner finally stopped charging his employees credit card transaction fees etc and they FINALLY get their tips in full...
(3)Clarissa D.
One of my favorite places in the city. BYOB. Well priced, generous, and well made sushi dishes. Nice dark candle lit atmosphere. I come here all the time with my friend and our bill is usually $30 or less. They also do a great lunch special.
(5)Kim C.
This is my go-to place for sushi. Nothing fancy, no frills, reasonably priced, they do takeout and delivery ($15 minimum), and fish has always tasted fresh. I've been going here and will continue to go here for all my sushi needs in Philadelphia.
(4)Lisa B.
This is my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. The special rolls are creative, and their spicy rolls are just that. . .when they say spicy, they mean it! These are rolls with a kick! They are also large and very reasonably priced. Spicy Tuna melts in your mouth. Hako is my all-time favorite: inside Spicy Tuna and Crunchy, on top Eel & Tobiko with Eel sauce. Mmmm! Another delicious creation is the Volcano: inside Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado and on top Spicy Tuna with Wasabi Tobiko & Crunchies on the side. The Dancing Vampire is another winner: inside Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy while on top is Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy). I've taken out-of-towners here who have loved it. The bad part is that it's now become quite popular, is no longer BYOB, and is not very large. So the last 2 times we tried to drop in, we were met with an hour or more wait, forcing us to go elsewhere. And this is even during the week sometimes! So reservations are suggested.
(5)Katy D.
I am in love! I have found a sushi place that is not overpriced (I'm looking at you, Raw) and has amazing quality. I went with my husband and got a "sushi for 2" platter. It came with miso soup and a salad. The sushi platter was a generous mix of nigiri, sashimi, maki, etc. It was enough for both of us to be full and happy and that's really all I can ask for. The service was just ok, but even at Shinju, they never really had the service part down. The fish was so fresh and the rolls were SO good. They did not use a ton of rice in each roll like other sushi places, which I like. I will definitely be back, fat salmon. Also, I thought the mural inside was pretty awesome. I do wish they were staying BYOB, but there's really not enough Sake options in the city stores anyway, so hopefully they can offer a good selection when they get their liquor license.
(5)Mai H.
Pretty decent sushi for a decent price. Tonight the rice was a little mushy for some but still ok in my book. I love the volcano and dragon rolls. Service has always been a little slow but I don't mind a little slowness ar byo's. And speaking if which, not sure how much longer that will last since it looks as though they're applying for a liquor license. I'll still be coming back.
(4)Bryce P.
I moved to Philadelphia recently, and was looking for a reliable place for sushi... Found it here at Fat Salmon... Staff is great, decor is modern/trendy. VERY reasonable prices for sushi, that in my opinion, is better than that of Morimoto. Try the Fancy Roll with Salmon. Currently BYOB (no corking fee), though they are getting their liquor license soon.
(5)Gabrielle T.
Fantastic! I'm really picky about my sushi and it's been 6 months since I've had it; I'm from Boston and was convinced I'd never have anything as good as my favorite place back home... until I experienced Fat Salmon. I did some serious recon on this place before I made a reservation. I walked by a few times (it's just around the corner from my house) and it seems like it's always packed- good sign #1. I popped by and got a take-out menu and was amazed by the wide selection and the creative, tasty-sounding rolls. The third time I walked by, I stopped in to make a reservation for the following week and met with the hostess, who was awesome. Even though they had lots of reservations for the time we requested, she put us down for corner seats at the bar and said that she'd work on getting us a table. So group of friends and I went out to Fat Salmon on Tuesday night and we were all very impressed. We were happy to find that we'd ended up getting a nice little table for four in the back. The decor was great; we really liked the wallpaper and the mural featuring the pieces of tuna and salmon sashimi was so cute. The service was excellent as well... whoever yelped that it was bad must be mistaken. Our waitress, Jessica was extremely attentive, friendly, polite, and personable. The three of us were waiting for our fourth to arrive, and she came over to tell us that she'd try to put our order in before a 6-top that had just arrived because she didn't want us to have a long wait. She helped us choose our dishes and gave great advice on some tasty rolls that we ended up completely devouring. Needless to say, she got a big tip. Best part: It's a BYO, and if you bring cold beverages, (i.e., Asahi super cans) they'll keep them in the fridge until you're ready to imbibe. If you bring Sake, they take it back to the kitchen, warm it up, and bring it out in a lovely serving set for you. The food: everything was hands-down delectable. The four of us had green tea, our alcoholic beverages, some edamame, and miso soup to start with. The miso soup was some of the best I've ever had. Even my friend (who might be considered an expert in Japanese culture and cuisine) was impressed. We ordered the following rolls and ate every single piece: Hako Sushi, Rock and Roll (SO DELICIOUS), Yellow Tail Roll, Enkai, Spicy Tuna and Spicy Tuna Crunch (can't go wrong), Spider Roll (my favorite!), and Shiitake roll (decent). The best part is that it was all so tasty, and so affordable! I'm definitely going to become a regular at Fat Salmon and I highly recommend it to any sushi aficionados out there. Grab your chopsticks and enjoy!
(5)Angela C.
Update 1 year later - We have since come here many times and have learned what to order for the best experience! I always get the sashimi for 2, he gets 3 different kinds of rolls, usually a rainbow, a volcano (the spicy one?) and something else, wild card I suppose. You have to order it this way because if you say you are sharing, there will be LESS sashimi on the plate! Also, we get to share the soup and salad that comes with the sashimi meal. The fish, esp the salmon, has been melting in our mouths. I personally like the scallops and tuna. The white fish is good but after 2 pcs I would look for something else. This amount of food is just right for my hubby and I. Of course we bring our wine or beer. The bill usually comes out to $60 which is unheard of in Texas where we are from for this quality and quantity. As always, make sure you call ahead for a reservation! We went on Halloween early evening to celebrate our anniversary (only our "going out" one, not wedding) and to our surprise, this area was very quiet and we didn't see anyone with crazy costumes. Anyways, this place is tiny! With about 9 tables close together. But the decor is very mellow and pretty. You feel comfortable as soon as you step foot indoor. The service was good and attentative. We had about 6 rolls: 3 specialty, 2 traditional, 3 sashimi and brought our own white wine. Love BYOB places here. The tuna was OK, doesnt melt in your mouth but OK. Salmon was much better. The special rolls were the best. Ingredients were fresh and pairing were good. Not crazy outrageous, but good. Overall, for the price, which was super cheap compare to where we came from ($66 total) originally, it was a good experience. We will definitely go again for a low key special occasion. PS. It did start to get crowded later on around 8:30pm so I would recommend making reservations.
(5)Charlie G.
This place is CLOSED. Windows papered over, etc... Glad I walked across town, NOT. There were indications that they would reopen. Call before going to this place. Did they move? Fat Salmon, maybe?
(1)Patrick M.
I love shinju and I'm not even the biggest sushi fan in the world. Fresh, tasty, and inventive fare is the name of the game, all at very reasonable prices and BYOB to boot. It's an unassuming hole in the wall type place, with maybe eight tables and a sushi bar that seats 3-4, but whatever it lacks in size it more than makes up for in quality. My favorite sushi place hands down. My only complaint is I wish they'd switch from the smooth jazz soundtrack to something a bit more, um, palatable ;)
(5)J B.
This place is great for any sushi lover. We have been three times and haven't had any complaints. There is a great selection on the menus and even some rolls that I have never seen before. The seafood is always fresh. The size of the restaurant is great as well and while giving you privacy at your table. We will return to Fat Salmon.
(5)Mike H.
The sushi was definitely good quality and the prices aren't bad at about $5 for most order of nagiri (2 pieces) and $8-10 for most specialty maki. The service was fine--nothing amazing (i.e. they didn't rub my feet during dinner)--but I was completely happy with it. The decor was nice - the restaurant is smallish, but nice and intimate with low lights, nice decorations, candles on the tables to light everything, and hilarious dancing sashimi pieces decorating the walls. The only thing frustrating about the place is the reservation system. I walked in with a party of two at 7:40p and despite the fact that there were three empty tables for two, I was told that I had to wait 30-45 minutes to sit. I did get a call on my cell phone 20 minutes later telling me that there was a cancellation and an open table--I could take it, but I had to be done by 9:45p because there was another group coming in. Of course I could have made a reservation, but at a place that small with only 10ish tables, having so many of them reserved is problematic for walkins. Overall, I thought it was a great experience and I highly recommend it.
(4)Marvin L.
was a big fan of shinju, now i am a huge fan of fat salmon great atmosphere creative rolls fresh fish friendly owner and servers see you again soon!
(5)Jen K.
Fat Salmon is ok sushi. Its run of the mill. Not bad, not great, just kinda there.
(3)Josephine A.
Just so everybody knows-- this place isn't located at 9th and locust anymore. It's at 7th and Walnut. And it's called Fat Salmon. The phone number hasn't changed.
(3)Justin M.
great sushi! love the intimate atmosphere! i frequent this sushi spot often. one of my favorites.
(5)Rachel W.
AMAZING! My favorite sushi place in the city. I only wish they could expand so we could get a seat easier but the food & Lena (our fave server) are the best. I can't wait for our photo to be added to the wall. :)
(5)Amy A.
One of the best sushi places in Philly! Great service, great atmosphere. When I pick up my food, they will bring it outside for me because usually I will be walking my dog. Their spicy scallops over fried tofu is delicious and a must-have. I used to go to the Asian Bistro in Old City, but they've been cutting their portions and service is always slow. Make sure to call ahead at the Fat Salmon on weekends and make a reservation, they are usually packed.
(5)Mike C.
I only order fat salmon for takeout, but it's always so delicious. I was very disappointed that they stopped being a BYOB right before I discovered this place. The rolls are always big portions compared to the other sushi places in center city that I've had. My girlfriend is obsessed with the yellowtail roll. So simple, yet so delicious. The miso soup isn't too salty, and is one of the better ones that I've had.
(5)Erica S.
My friend and I went here for dinner because she was close with the owner... The place was tiny so it was hard to locate at first. There is no place to park so you need to really look for a spot before entering... Just like the outside, the inside was tiny as well. The service wasn't all that great though because they didn't directly approach us when we entered, didn't come by to take our orders until we waved our hands toward them, and the food took quite awhile to be served. Their sushi rolls were great (had Locuste, Rolling Fire, Rock and Roll) but I've tasted better... The place was tiny so it was very crowded and loud but I liked that. I think the food tastes better when eating around crowded area filled with people. I didn't get a chance for the dessert because of the parking spot and people waiting outside in the freezing cold but I guess that can wait until next time. Overall, I think this place is a good place to go to with a close friend or two.
(3)Karen B.
Shinju is my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia (though I haven't been to some of the pricier places). I remember the restaurant being cozy and inviting, with fun and cheeky wall decor. The fish was fresh and delicious, and the special rolls were inventive in a tasty way. A couple of the rolls were rather spicy, but they were marked as such on the menu. Service was fairly prompt, although it was a bit understaffed and there were times when it was a bit difficult to catch our waitress. Still, the food more than made up for it. I will certainly go back!
(4)y f.
Our go to sushi place in the city - have tried other sushi restaurants but always end up coming back to fat salmon. The highlights are their rolls, and, while their fish is excellent, they also have many veggie friendly options - in fact, my favorite roll is the old school (spicy mayo sauce is amazing!). Overall, awesome place with friendly & efficient service.
(5)Eric W.
Delicious sushi (make sure to try a few of their special rolls) and nice atmosphere. Very affordable and our waitress was attentive and polite even though we stayed a little after closing time.
(5)Kristin D.
I love this place. It is small and quaint, the sushi rolls are innovative and are good. Where can you go for sushi for 2 and get in and out under $50. I suppose its because it is BYOB, but is also the reason why l like it. The sushi blows Raw out of the water. I would not put it in the best sushi in the world category, but its pretty decent. The only complaint I have is we went last night, and when we sat down, there was only 1 other table occupied. Shortly after, 2 more tables arrived, and the waitress placed them on each side of us. It seems that the seating of tables should be more like the unspoken urinal rule (not that I would know). If at all possible don't place tables right next to each other. If it would have been busy, I wouldv'e understood.
(4)Lori H.
I usually don't dine out on Saturday nights as I prefer to go out when restaurants are slower but I did. Maybe this attributed to the excruciatingly slow service but I am not likely to go back. I also did not care of the designer rolls that we purchased as they were too fragile to eat with chop sticks.
(3)Tom G.
I order sushi from this place at least once a week. While the space is small and the tables close together this somehow adds to the charm. The staff is always friendly and glad to see me (perhaps because I drop as much money as I do). When picking up takeout and bring the dog to pick up my order they not only bring my order outside they sometimes bring treats for the dog. My personal favorite is the Locust roll - if you go you MUST try this roll.
(5)Eve G.
My sushi crusade brought me here (that and plus insistent recommendations from friends). There is something about eel, I must admit. And so we came. Atmosphere was somewhat cold. Blue light waves on the walls, grey bar area minimalistically crowded, dark host stand... not a color palette i normally associate with sushi spots, but hey, whatever, i dig it. kinda. Anyway, food itself was great. really good. spot on rolls, eel and what-not. bento boxes 2 times the size of zama's. I loved it. What I didnt love was our waitress telling us we can only order now and she wont be able to order anything else for us later. We came in at 2:10 for lunch and they were closing at 2:30. So that 2nd beer I wanted to order after I was done with my first one was out of my reach. I guess going over to the bar and getting a bottle would be rule breaking surpassed only by PDoA. Much No-No at Fat Salmon's. And of course we couldnt order desert or get coffee as we were finished with our entrees, cause our check was closed (and on the table BEFORE we got those entrees). So that was REALLY weird. Anyhow food itself was great. Concept and service? Not so much
(4)lori m.
obsessed with this place. everything i've ever gotten here is awesome. the chilled tofu with seaweed salad is my favorite app...if you can, i'd call ahead for a reservation. save room for the fried ice cream...so good!
(5)Sally f.
loved this place! what a fun time! beautiful interior! friendly service! delicious sushi!!!!!!!! cant get enough sushi!!!!!!!!!!
(5)jack j.
I used to go to shinju (their old restaurant) or however you spell it, very often. I was nervous to see if the place would change i.e. price, food, ambience. I am happy to report that everything is the same if not better. The place is super modern and the food is still the best sushi philly has to offer. Awesome food, really inexpensive, nice people. It's still byob but not for long, they applied for a liquor license.
(5)Justin E.
Best overall sushi experience I've had taking cost, quality, service into consideration. For a downtown address it's a little out of the way from everything else. I highly recommend Shinju.
(5)Jennie K.
great service, great FRESH sushi, great variety on the menu, plus they just got a liquor license. who could ask for more??
(4)Brooke P.
I think I found my new favorite sushi spot in the city. We didn't have reservations on a Thursday night, and found that although it was pretty crowded, we were able to get seated in 5 minutes. The ambience of FS is trendy and chic, the design clean and simple with a high tech vibe. I love sashimi and the sashimi plate for 1 was definitely more than enough for one person- I actually shared it with my friend and it was still plenty. The feshness of the fish and the selection was awesome. The best sashimi- which doesn't surprise me, given the name of the establishment, was the salmon. Melted in my mouth. The combination of the food and the fact that it's a byob make this my new top spot in Philly. The only thing that could use a little working on is the timing of how the food is brought out, but the waiters were super helpful, very pleasant and did not rush us into ordering. I would go back to FS tonight and in fact, I already know where I'm going for my birthday in September!
(4)Lowie T.
oh i love a good fatty salmon any day, so with a name like this it just calls to me! not only is the name delicious, it doesn't fail to deliver great sushi- fresh, generous portions, and at a great price! i especially love the lunch specials. i always get the (no surprise here) salmon special- salmon maki, w/ 2pcs nigiri, & sashimi - soup or salad for only $10.50! and it's one thing if the quality is good and it's cheap, but small...but the portions are just right. not ridiculously large that you feel skeptical, but definitely enough that it feels like an actual lunch deal. in general, their portions are pretty generous though, even for dinner. the place is very modern & trendy looking, lots of sea blue back light, but also casual at the same time. very versatile. a great place to have a casual dinner/quick lunch, as well as a very nice sit down special occasion dinner. the entrance is easy to miss walking down walnut street so keep your eyes peeled! don't be surprised if u walk by just to walk backwards again. i think this would also fall under "great date with great ambiance for an affordable price" spot =)
(4)Jeremy G.
Reservations were easy and friendly. The decor and atmosphere was good. Visually, Fat Salmon looked excellent. The lighting is excellent. They could use some sound deadening material placed in the restaurant as all of the hard surfaces reflect every sound in the restaurant, making what could be a quiet intimate place very loud. The menu is creative. Staff is extremely friendly and professional. The reason I rated Fat Salmon one star is that they served us bad fish. My date had to run to the restroom three unhappy times during the meal. My stomach was considerably grumbly. I think it may have been the whitefish in one of the Makis that we ordered. I had high hopes for Fat Salmon, but will not be returning.
(1)Nic H.
A decent, well-decorated sushi-bar near Independence Mall with the cutest mascot ever (a little dancing salmon sashimi). I've been here over 5 times and had good experiences. The warm sake is always good and house sake is a reasonable price. Wait staff is friendly and attentive. Make a reservation if you can because otherwise it might be tough to get in, especially on a weekend. There are a lot of dates going on here, my favorite thing to do is people watch the dates to see how they are going.
(4)John N.
Came here for lunch two days ago. Having tried Raw and Morimoto, it was time to try something new in Philly. The location is very weird, maybe not where you'd expect to find a Japanese restaurant. The inside is indeed small, maybe a little too much so. However, it is decorated just fine, so it's not as if it's ugly or anything...just the dining room is a little on the tiny side! I got a spicy tuna and veggie tempura lunch bento with green tea, my friend just some sushi. I asked for separate checks, and was politely told that I couldn't do separate checks. Weird, somewhat inconveniencing, but whatever. Prices were about typical for a Japanese restaurant. The food though, was delicious. The sushi was very fresh and satisfying. The tempura was good too. I know it's hard to mess up fried vegetables, but the bento box was arranged very nicely, and everything tasted fresh, hot, and just delicious. Separating the food from the location, it is definitely five stars in taste. However, dining is more than just food, so I have to give Shinju a four, but the food is so good, and without a doubt a five/five. Will return and would highly recommend!
(4)Priya H.
My husband and I love this place. It is right in our neighborhood, reasonably priced and consistently delicious. With innovative rolls like the Dancing Vampire and Old School, it's always a delightful surprise. Their more basic rolls are not to be missed either including the Tensai which was fantastic in its simplicity. Overall, a great addition to the neighborhood with nice ambiance, good prices and fresh and consistent sushi.
(4)Bixley T.
Shinju is by far my favorite sushi place in the city. Yes it's tiny, yes it can get crowded, yes the rolls can sometimes be smaller than what you're used to, but the quality is outstanding. The special rolls are some of the most unique and well thought out combination's I've come across. Definitely try the "lipstick trace" (fantastically refreshing and vegetarian, meets your palet in between tastes like sorbet in between courses) and the "duo roll" (an eel masterpiece). If you're looking for better value stay of the special roll menu and go for standards like spicy tuna, etc. Or better yet check them out for lunch. Shinju has a special lunch menu at prices you cannot beat! Service is generally pleasant, and they light rock salt candles at night which lend to the ambiance. Oh! They have posters of sushi characters that are made to resemble movie posters- kitschy and adorable. Love this place!
(5)Jason B.
Shinju is great. Tons of variety and really great combo rolls that you don't find at other places. Nice staff and reasonable prices. This is my number one sushi destination in Philly.
(5)Hanan B.
Sometimes it takes a while for the food to get ready or for a hostess to come get you seated. In other times, all goes great. A hit or a miss with timing. But the actual food is great which makes it worth the wait. For lunch, the lunch menu combo is fabulous and very affordable. The dinner is also great and I like the modern ambiance. The waiters are always nice and professional. Again just the days when we have to wait before being seated or before the order is taken are the only down side but you will be happy when the food comes.
(5)Gautam T.
I took my girlfriend here for a dinner to congratulate her for passing her board exams. She loves sushi and is very meticulous when determining if the sushi is amazing. This place passed with flying colors. I thought this was some of the best sushi in town and my girlfriend agreed. We had 4-5 different rolls. Tempura Shrimp, Scallop rolls, and two of their specialty rolls; one of them being a mexican roll. The mexican roll had pressed pico de gallo on the rice with salmon inside the roll. This was by far the best roll. It tasted like a little piece of mexico in your mouth. Absolutely phenomenal. Beside the food being awesome. The ambiance is quite swanky, it seriously feels like you're swimming and eating fresh fish. Oh yeah and did I mention this place is super cost effective.
(5)Andrew H.
Been here a couple times now. The sushi is fun and inventive. You can stay with the traditional options or venture into their specialties. They have options that will meet the needs of everyone; including those who don't want raw fish or even people who don't like seafood. My favorite dish is the octopus appetizer. The staff is friendly and the decor is nice. My only complaint is that the seating is tight due to the small space of the restaurant.
(4)Laura F.
I have been wanting to have sushi in the city for a while, and this was one of the places with the most good reviews. I think they have SO MANY reviews because of their location, not because it is amazing sushi. I got the Volcano Roll and a Yellowtail Roll. It was very fresh sushi and flavorful, just not the best sushi I've ever had. The volcano roll was spicy, but did not burn my mouth. Oh yeah and I had miso soup, it was very good. Prices were what I am used to paying - glad it was not overpriced for their location. Service was pretty slow, that was the biggest negative for me.
(4)Anonymous P.
Overrated seems like... avg sushi realky nice decor but the serving size is small, seems like the fish isnt fresh , tempura was alright... Pass
(3)Katherine M.
Best options for vegetarian sushi that I know of in Philadelphia. Service is always great. Love it!
(5)B M.
Very good quality sushi for the price point. The special rolls are all delicious and some are really inventive. Contemporary atmosphere, good service, and inexpensive drinks round out the experience. One of the best sushi spots in Philadelphia, and by far the best when factoring in price. Skip the trendy rittenhouse and Starr sushi restaurants and just go here.
(5)Jericho T.
This place is my go-to sushi place in Philly. The first time I came here I splurged on a sushi boat for 2 with my friend. I think I teared up a little when I took a bite of their salmon. I can literally write an essay about how their salmon is so fatty, tender, and melts in your mouth like butter but that wouldn't be reasonable. Their sushi presentation is beautiful of course, and their quality of fish is probably one of the best. Other than the food their interior is chic, but a little small which should be a warning to all of you so make sure you always reserve!
(5)Ron H.
I was an early adopter of Fat Salmon, eating here 2-3x's a month since they first opened. I was really excited when they were a BYOB as I prefer a sparkling sake with my sushi and it its rare to find it at restaurants. For their first year, it was hands down the best. The rolls were massive, the rice was perfect in sweetness and arrived table side at the perfect temperature. The nigiri sushi was criss-cross scored and allowed the fish to perfectly lay over the rice while offering an ideal surface for dipping in soy. There are the usual restaurant specific rolls, but nothing really stood out quite like the B.C.T. Roll, a non-fish option consisting of crispy bacon, cucumber and tomato topped with avocado and spicy sauce. I moved out of the neighborhood and made the trip back after they won (what i thought was a well deserved) Best of Philly for 2012. Tonight, the restaurant was crowded, but with no reservation we were able to be sat at the sushi bar after only 10 minutes. My ice tea came in a can, unopened. I later ordered a diet coke and got the same unopened can with a glass of ice. Not what I'm expecting from a "best of" restaurant. The sushi came out on a black wooden tray, a little unappetizing, but the food had always been so good, I didn't mind. The BCT roll is still awesome, hihgly recommended and something I've never seen anywhere else. Had a few pieces of nigiri, but the tuna seemed almost pink in colr and "spongy"...it reminded me of what you get in the supermarket sushi counter. Looks like it had been sitting out all week and was borderline freezerburnt. The Red Snapper was fresh as always. The volcano roll seemed overly spicey and I couldn't eat more than two pieces before needing to order another drink to cool down my mouth, while the Kaze roll used the same bland tuna as the nigiri and for a lack of better term, tasted "fishy". Had 2 other specialty rolls but honestly don't remember what they were it was so bland. Service was slow and unattentive, I noticed the other tables around us also waiting for their serves and meals. It's a very trendy looking interior with bold white surfaces and counter and cool blue back lighting. This is definatly not a kid friendly restaurant! I don't know if they've just moved from a 5 to 4 star place but is disappointing due to my past 6 star experiences, or if it was just an off night, but this dinner was a 2-3 star experience at best, saved only by the BCT roll. When you can go into a supermarket and buy pre-packaged rolls of the same quality as the restaurant you're going to, why bother going? Look for a second follow-up review, I'm not giving up this fast, but my current recommendation to friends is Zama for the best sushi in Philly.
(3)Ben S.
Love this place. The food's really delicious and fresh, the service is terrific, and it's cheap! Just went for dinner, had a roll and a salad and green tea and it came to 10 buckeroos. Awesome. Great date spot too.
(5)Sue K.
I like this place . I like the way this place is set up and of course amazing Sushi !!!
(4)Sandy X.
Soooo good! Staff was friendly and service was great. Sushi was amazing and I'll definitely be going back more often.
(4)Dana J.
Wait-how has bacon not been put into a sushi roll before? It's on everything else and yet Fat Salmon is the first sushi place I've ever been to that has it as a roll. Honestly, it gets 4 stars for this reason alone. This is a cute little sushi bar. It reminds me of a Japanese fast food restaurant with the cutesy character on the menu. It is small though, so even at 8 on a Tues we had to wait 20 minutes for a table. I liked the variety of special rolls they had. Besides the BCT which had the bacon, I tried several others that were all reasonably priced and fairly unique. It is easy to see why this is considered one of the best in Philly.
(4)Anonymous A.
Love this place! If you're in need of a sushi fix you've found your spot. The wait staff is super friendly and the rolls are very creative. They have all the classic sushi rolls and then they have rolls that are truly innovative like the Mr. French kiss which is my favorite - shrimp, bacon and tartar sauce? Yes please! My sister wouldn't even try sushi until I took her here and she loved it! You seriously must go!
(5)Michelle T.
Grilled octopus and vampire roll!
(5)Chuck K.
Delicious sushi for an unbelievable price. It's not the fanciest sushi but it was damn good. The location is sleek modern and most importantly clean. No wait late on a weeknight.
(5)Jennifer M.
Sushi. I love me some sushi, especially when it's super fresh, presented to me creatively, and I have lots of options to explore. Last night transported me to Fat Salmon. This was my first time here, and certainly not my last. This place was legit. The atmosphere is vibrant and futuristic. I digged it. Blue lighting, white furniture, and color-changing vases. It was a small place, so don't think you can just roll in with a big group. Since we didn't have reservations, we were sat at the sushi bar. We brought a bottle of pinot grigio, but alas, it's not BYOB anymore! That sad face turned into a happy one after I ordered their sake-tini (sake, gin, cucumber, and club soda). It was refreshing and light, and went well with our sushi choices. The menu had a ton of options, but I was all about the special rolls! I loved how they put pictures next to the names on the menu! Who needs to read the description when you've got pictures? We ordered the Dancing Vampire, Lava, Lost Rainbow, and the Miss Sake Bomb. Solid choices. My favorite was the Dancing Vampire because it had a nice spicy kick. The Lava roll had too much of their octopus sauce (scallion, spicy sauce, and mayo), and since I'm not a fan of mayo, I avoided that orange concoction to get to the roll. Our server was attentive and pretty friendly. Not a long wait for sushi, either! I'm definitely coming back to this place when I'm craving sushi. I highly recommend this place. p.s. They played some sexy music in the bathroom. I knew I would dig this place!
(5)Hernan P.
Great food at a reasonable price. Excellent service with a nice environment. Location is not the most active by night and it can be difficult to get a table on weekends. Must call for reservation well in advance to get a table on busy hours. Overall one of the best sushi places in downtown Philadelphia!
(5)Rachel S.
Very very good!!! My friend and I tried the sushi deluxe for two (see photo), Seaweed Salad, Spicy Tuna and one other roll I can't remember. All were fresh and fantastic! Service was impeccable, noise level normal, decor was beautiful. I loved it! We had saki and a bottle of white wine.
(4)Shannon R.
When I go out for sushi, I tend to have to make do with an avocado roll and leave it at that. I couldn't believe my eyes when I sat down at Fat Salmon and saw EIGHT different veggie rolls on the menu. Are you kidding me, is this real life?! And then my jaw hit the floor when I saw six kinds of vegetarian nigiri. Have I died and gone to the big veg sushi bar in the sky? It took all my will power not to order everything, so I settled on two rolls: shiitake and midori. They were kind of skimpy and not total flavor bombs, but they filled me up and were way better than some standard veggie rolls I've had in the past. I was impressed when they brought out a bottle of tamari for another customer, very cool. The place is pretty trendy, great if you want to break out your cute heels and not feel over done, but perhaps a little much for the casual afternoon sector. The service was slow but pleasant - it took us close to an hour for lunch, but we weren't in a hurry. I will definitely be back to try every single roll and nigiri! I feel spoiled silly by all the options and can't wait to dive face first in it all.
(4)Michael G.
Best sushi I've ever had! I see why they won the 2012 Best of Philly for sushi! I came here recently for lunch wanting sushi and someplace new. Yelp reviews helped me to pick Fat Salmon. After walking almost a mile from where I work, I entered into a mid-size modern contemporary restaurant with a blue sea wall and white tables. The bench seating was too soft and squishy for me to be comfortable, so I took a chair. They also have tables in a rear section. I ordered a lunch special with soup. This gave me the choice of two rolls and miso soup. I chose the Locust Fried (INSIDE - Crab Stick, Cucumber, Avocado / Spicy Sauce ON TOP - (Spicy Tuna Tempura OR Broiled Spicy Tuna) w/Eel Sauce)), and the Dancing Vampire (INSIDE - Cucumber, Asparagus & Crunchy, ON TOP - Tuna & Salmon in Chili sauce (Sweet & Spicy)). WOW! Two rolls were almost like four because of the amount of food on top of the roll. They were put together perfectly with minimal rice and maximum everything else. The Dancing Vampire top was so smooth in texture - and I really don't like salmon. But here I really did! The miso soup was also nice and hot with plenty of taste and greens inside. One of the best I've had in a while. Service I felt was a little slow, but there were a few other customers in there (was not really packed at all, though) and they had to make the rolls! But, the water lady server was almost helicopter-like waiting to drop off a new splash of water when my glass was 1/2 full. Staff was very friendly. Fat Salmon has now ruined all of my other sushi places as I'll be disappointed that I did not walk the mile to get here again to eat. $15.66 for lunch for 1 not including tip, no drinks. Very well worth it.
(5)Stacy M.
We tried Fat Salmon for lunch. We ordered the lunch combo with salad, chicken katsu, California roll, rice and gyoza, the sushi lunch and an additional spider roll, order of Himachi and Unagi. It was fine - but nothing special. The atmosphere was fairly nice. Food was ok - nothing more.
(3)Steve M.
Of the more decent side of the sushi in the area with a reasonable price. The layout has a relaxing ambience that is ideal for an after work dinner. The sushi is well crafted and is just as the name implies; fat. Be sure to come with a hungry stomach because it shouldn't be hard to satisfy here.
(5)Marian R.
ok, this one will be tricky. there is absolutely nothing wrong with fat salmon, but i am not their hugest fan (hence the a-ok rating). i love sushi, not just because i love eating raw fish, but i also appreciate the knife skills involved with the preparation (and i love beautiful, fishy presentation as well). fat salmon uses good quality fish, but their presentation has no artistry and their cuts of fish are way too big. this is why this review is hard to write, who would complain about too big pieces of sashimi? if that is your thing (bang for your buck) then i think that i can guarantee that you will love this place. i want beauty and deliciousness. so there. :) but - their rolls are very good (especially the salmon yaki), and i will probably stick to them in the future. service is attentive and upbeat, definitely all sorted out there. and they will soon be getting a liquor license, and that never hurts.
(3)Hannah K.
This restaurant deserves 4.5 but 4 stars will suffice. One of my absolute go to sushi restaurants in Philadelphia. The restaurant itself is pretty small, a handful of 2 top-tables & a couple of 4-top tables, plus the sushi-bar seating. Cute decor, all white, with a cool color changing wall, pretty standard decor in an asian restaurant these days. But onto the food. Every time I come here, there are always 2 rolls that I get. The Mr. French Kiss roll (described as "spicy crab stick w/scallion, masago. On top: shrimp & bacon, onion tempura w/tartar sauce") & the Rolling Fire roll (described as "shrimp tempura, cucumber. On top: broiled spicy scallop sauce.") These rolls are a mouthful! So yummy! I've tried some of the other rolls like the pressed Hako roll & a handful of the standard sushi rolls such as the spicy tuna, spicy scallop, & the Philadelphia roll. The Hako roll wasn't too impressive, but the $12.50 price tag sure was, making this the 2nd most expensive special's roll on the menu. 2 appetizers that I love & really really really encourage anyone who goes to Fat Salmon to try: the Naked Gyoza (described as "spicy tuna or salmon with masago, scallion & pico de gallo, sour cream") & the Tofu (which has the same broiled spicy scallop sauce on it that the Rolling Fire roll has). YUMMY! I don't know what's in that broiled spicy scallop sauce, but if I had the chance, I would eat it with everything that I possibly could. It's finger licking delicious. The service was impressive, with the servers paying attention to each table even when the restaurant was packed. Never was my water not refilled, nor was I not checked on at the appropriate time. The only downside to Fat Salmon are the prices of the sushi & the wait time. Granted good sushi is on the pricier side , but some of these rolls don't deserve such high price tags. Also the wait time for the sushi is painstakingly long sometimes. Oh & another pet peeve of mine, when the sushi pieces are so big that it's hard to eat. I understand that the sushi is jam packed with delicious things inside, but please try to make it easy to eat. In all, this has to be one of the better sushi restaurants in Philadelphia! I hear that they've just received their liquor license, so I'll be looking forward to some new yummy cocktails.
(4)Cassie K.
Loved it!! I love sushi but have to admit that I mostly limit myself to California Rolls (I am a Sushi Chicken). This place is great for Sushi Chickens!! I got a roll called the BCT which had bacon, tomato, and the roll was topped with avocado. I think the C was for cheese but whatever it was, it was delicious! The roll portions are large and the prices very reasonable. The menu had a lot of other fun looking rolls so I will definitely be back to try them out...maybe even some with actual fish in them depending on how brave I am feeling or the size of the wine bottle I bring :) As others said, this place is small so I would definitely call ahead for a reservation...even during the week!
(5)Patty L.
Fresh, quality sashimi with an eclectic selection of rolls that are very reasonably priced in a super sleek and modern atmosphere. Service was great! Could have had a more extensive drink menu for us lushes but if you love sake, you're in the right spot!
(4)Rachel B.
This was a fun place to go with a group of friends. Had good rolls and good service! Lots of variety in the rolls! Some of the rolls were a little "interesting" which I stay away from. Like things with fruit in them and such. I expected it to be a little more "trendy" inside considering the name. It wasn't super amazing, just regular average sushi. Also had edemame for our group, which needed some salt. I'll go back to try it again! BYO!
(3)John R.
I dined here one cold winter afternoon. After dashing in and out of the New Year's Mummers parade, my girlfriend and I were wandering the streets hungry and we stumbled upon Shinju Sushi. It is such a cute little restaurant. It's BYOB. The vibe is casual and romantic with definite mood lighting going on. I would not suggest you come here with a group, or even with more than another person. The place just doesn't have that many tables. I think the whole restaurant can seat like 20 people, but for a date, planned or unplanned, this was the perfect spot. The quality of this place is no secret to the locals, almost every seat in the place was taken as we walked in. The waitress told us that it would be a 30 minute wait for a table. No matter we decided, as we saw one of the like 3 or 4 seats at the sushi bar was open. Luckily, my girlfriend and I have tiny butts. We both scooched onto the stool, wrapped one arm around each other and ordered our sushi like some two headed monster I guess. We got an appetizer of age tofu (fried tofu with dashi in a light soy broth) and a miso soup. We then ordered a few standard rolls (eel, salmon) and a special roll ( I should have written it down but you know the names never make much sense anyway). The amount of fish in our rolls was pretty good, the quality was good, and for a great price. The total bill came to under $30. By no means is this a must visit place, there are actually plenty of good sushi options around philly. However, I think shinju will become my local sushi spot. Vic is all the way on the other side of town for me. Bring your next date here, it's a good place for an intimate dinner. Plus girls like sushi restaurants. The place is small and full, but didn't feel crowded or loud. If you're good friends you can just share a seat at the bar.
(4)Karen B.
fat salmon didn't really do it for me upon first visit, but i'd be open to giving it another try. everything about lunch today was just "meh." the steamed veggie gyoza were unevenly heated and were so soft, they would break into mushy halves every time i tried to pick one up with chopsticks. the spicy tuna roll had similar issues -- the pieces were prone to falling apart. they tasted pretty good, though. service wasn't anything to write home about, either. it's not that our server had a bad personality -- she just didn't seem to have one at all.
(3)Franny G.
I recently went to Fat Salmon for the first time for a friend's birthday and was impressed by both the quality and selection of special rolls. The menu was extensive, and they included pictures of many of their specialties, which I appreciated. I ended up going with the Hako roll and absolutely loved it - if you like eel, I would recommend you try this one. They clearly take pride in the presentation of their rolls as well as their quality. In addition to the sushi, they had one drink in particular that really stood out to me - I believe it was the green tea mojito. A friend ended up ordering one and the entire table eventually ordered their own because it was so delicious and unique. I have already recommended Fat Salmon to all of my friends and plan on going back as soon as I get the chance!
(4)patricia c.
I was attracted by the lights and I stayed for the food. It's a really nice spot that my boyfriend and I ran into last night for dinner. I would deff recommend this to any of my friends.
(4)Jenn S.
i absolutely love this place! not is the place very nicely decorated, but it has decent sushi with interesting "special rolls." I also went with a bunch of vegetarian friends, and they were able to find many delicious options.I like their combo of ingredients for sushi (very creative), and the price. service was also great.
(5)Jordan F.
Ive been reading reviews about Fat Salmon. Some good some bad I wanted to see for myself. I have to say that it was beyond my expections. There service was perfect. I cant say anything bad about this place. The food was out of this world. I order the "white forest" roll very different salmon tempua and pico de guio not what you would expect from a japanese sushi place. Very delicious and of course I got my usual spicy tuna. And I think decor was gorgeous. I just night become a regular here.
(5)Wooj H.
Definitely a fan. One of the best places in Philly to get sushi. Great food, great atmosphere, great price.
(4)Sook K.
Are you serious?? Based on the reviews from YELP I went here on a first date totally hyped. The place was cute but tight, a nice date spot. I got sushi 1 and my date got fish curry. As soon as I saw my plate I knew it wouldn't be good, and my date barely ate his dish. I'm asian, I know my asian food, this place was terrible.
(1)Emilia M.
I have visited Shinju Sushi only 3 times, but each time I have brought a different friend, and each time it has been absolutely amazing! Shinju's specialty rolls are to die for. There is something for everyone on their menu, included a roll with kobe beef, as well as two rolls that somehow manage to incorporate bacon. I'm not a huge bacon fan, but I took my friend for his birthday and he was amazed! The place is super small, so I recommend calling ahead and getting reservations. They will only hold your reservation for 15 minutes after you're supposed to be there, but I think that is a pretty fair policy considering I once went without a reservation and had to wait a pretty long time. I definitley recommend Shinju, and after your meal you should definitely try the Moki ice cream. (If you read my other reviews, you'll see I'm a big fan). Added Plus: It's a byob, which means that you can have any beer or wine you want with your Sushi,
(5)Brian P.
Awesome! The sushi is some of the most fresh fish in the city. It's a fun atmosphere, definitely trendy but can be pretty loud. Overall a great place with great food. Perfect for a night out with friends and a great place to bring people from out of town. Portions are reasonable for the price. I would highly recommend it.
(4)B B.
We ordered sushi, before we were supposed to see a movie at the Ritz about sushi. We ended up skipping the flick and just relaxin' outside. But, that relaxation was helped by the fish that we had eaten just a while before. The shrimp rolls were great, and I loved the shiso leaves that accompanied the mackerel sashimi. fresh. reasonable prices for the location. pretty sweet.
(4)Gary S.
This business was formerly Shinju on Locust Street. I reviewed it under Shinju, which is now closed. Same chef, same great, artistic sushi. Highly recommended! And now in a much more comfortable, stylish setting...
(4)David T.
so so...nothing special
(2)Marysa M.
Every roll that I tried was delicious and so reasonably priced!
(5)Chris T.
Good, fresh soosh. Japanese appetizers left something to be desired. Friendly service in a nice space. Probably more accurate to give it 3.5 stars.
(4)Mara K.
Recently learned that this place is no longer BYO... what a disappointment. Still love the sushi, but will miss the added BYO bonus.
(4)Oski B.
CLOSED! Great place to come if you feel like wasting money on a cab ride from University City. Come for the sushi and you'll be sorely disappointed. However, if you're into butcher block paper covering the windows, you're in luck!
(1)Cory B.
I initially was thinking about going to this place based on a recommendation from a friend and knew that I was for sure going when I checked out what the rest of you were saying. First, this place is amazing!! Very small on the inside (like maybe 10 - 15 2 person tables and a 4 seater sushi bar although one of those seats might be uncomfortably close to the wall). However, the place has a very good atmosphere to it. My first thought when I walked in was that it would be a great place for a date (and I am taking my wife back there tonight). Second, the food was great. I had the pork katsu appetizer (I have a weakness for anything fried) which is served with the traditional katsu sauce (kind of a sweet sauce) but it was kicked up a little bit by this dollup of some wonderful mayo/mustard combination (I am sure that there is a name for this, but I have no clue what it is). I then went to one of my old reliables for sushi - Spider Roll. It was, simply perfect. The size of the roll actually surprised me a little bit. The roll was cut into on 4 pieces but they were huge. I have since heard that Shinju refers to this as a "square roll". Needless to say, I was happily stuffed when I left. The service was excellent. I agree with Jenna C. about the speed of service: felt somewhat slow but it is actually more of an un-rushed feel. It was great though. The place is a BYO which always rates high in my book. Somewhat more pricey than your average sushi joint (my bill with tip was about $20) but it is well worth it. I highly recommend this place for any of you out there that love sushi and are looking for a little bit more of an upscale feel while still being reasonably priced.
(5)Andrew M.
Great place or fresh sushi. There was only one time the sashimi was stale, but it was towards closing time and figured it's only natural. Friendly service and cool atmosphere. It brings walnut street, this side of town, more interesting. Only wish they delivered!
(4)M B.
food: amazing service: terrible everyone loved the sushi, it really is great, there are so many interesting rolls to pick from. BUT it took about 1.5 hours to get our sushi (on a week night), and our waitress was MIA the whole time. she asked us about our check and us paying before we even got our food, and then we never saw her again. another server dropped the check, which had the gratuity included. just kind of ridiculous.
(2)Jeremy B.
So happy to have this place (Shinju) back in my life. Fresh, delicious and worth a trip. The standards of Shinju in a new beautiful space, perfect. They are still a BYO until they get their license.
(4)Alexis M.
This place would be delicious if only for being intimate, friendly, and fresh. But they deliver too!! This must be new, because I just *rediscovered* this place, and I don't remember it delivering. Tons of variety in the roll arena, and very fresh sushi/sashimi. Also, I love the selection of vegetarian rolls, especially the Ume Kappa roll (what other place that's this down-to-earth uses Japanese pickles and umeboshi?). As for price, this place is one of the few I know of that is reasonably priced AND decent quality. I don't think you can pay less than this without sacrificing quality.
(4)D M.
Based on the reviews below, the wife and I ate here last night. What a massive disappointment. The service and the atmosphere both get 1 star. The food gets 0 stars. Lets start with the atmosphere. The place is tiny - maybe ten or twelve tables plus a small sushi bar. But instead of being tiny in a mellow, relaxing way, it was tiny in a cramped, table on top of table way. I found myself yelling across the ikea-like table at my wife just to hold a conversation. The service was unbelievably slow. Even though there was an empty table when we arrived, it took ten minutes to get seated. Then we waited - no exaggeration- 25 to 30 minutes to have our order taken. After that, we waited again for water, and again for the appetizer, and again for food, and again for the check. I'm pretty chill about service, and when-you-get-a-chance kind of guy, but this was silly. Sushi is hard. I get it. And I get that there are different styles of sushi, how you pack the rice, what type of seaweed you use, whatever. Shinju does a loosely packed roll, wetter than normal. Which sounds fine in practice, but given the quality of vegetables used, it tasted like mush. I couldn't finish my plate - that just doesn't happen with sushi. Terrible. The seaweed salad I had as an appetizer was mediocre, making it the best thing about the place. Then it was three a.m. this morning. I didn't drink a drop last night. But I still got that feeling, you know the one, were last night's partying has caught up to you and its time to see the toilet from a new angle. The chunks were in my throat, I was out of bed and running to the bathroom. Nothing came out, and fine, fine, it could have been anything. Then the same feeling came over me again, and again I was flying out of bed. And then my wife this dawn. Food poison. Yum. Zero stars. This place reinforces for me the disparity in quality reasonably priced sushi restaurants between Philly and DC. How could a place this bad get such excellent ratings? I suspect the BYOB policy helps. If your sloshed, who cares how long the service takes? who cares what the food tastes like? I do, and I won't be back.
(1)Dung N.
I wouldve given this place a five star rating but it the service stinks. The sushi is phenomonal and among my faves are the Naked Gyoza, the spider roll, spicy tuna crunch and the lost rainbow. Everything is fresh tasting and everything you would want in a sushi place except for the service. The last two times that i have been here during lunch ive probably waited amybe 20 to 30 mins for the food to come. And its not like the sushi chefs are overwhelmed, its the waiters and waitress' that are slow. we literally saw our food made and had it sit on teh counter for 10 minutes before it came to our table. and when we looked around for our waiter..we found him chatting in the back with other watiers. what gives?! ill just order to go next time. thanks.
(4)Yill C.
Love, love, love this place....went to it as Shin Ju and will continue to go. The reviews that complain about it not being traditonal Japanese, it's NOT and it does not pretend to be....the reviews that complain about the service, are ridiculous as well, they are far from pretentious and they may be a bit slow, but not enough to warrant some of the comments on here. The flavors are great, the fish is very fresh (we get both the rolls and the sushi), if you love sushi and are tired of the same ole, same ole, come here!!!
(5)