Shinji's
Shinji's is the cocktail lounge in front of Noda, on West 20th Street. The eight-seat sushi counter behind it holds one MICHELIN star.
Why go
Shigeyuki Tsunoda cooks that counter. The MICHELIN inspector found his knifework precise, his rice carefully handled and the fish pristine, in a room with a speakeasy feel.2
Order this / avoid
- Order: the Tropicana, and a handroll alongside it.
- Avoid: coming for the omakase. That is Noda, through the back, and it is a different room.
What locals & experts say
- Josh Ong, North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, ranking it No. 77 on 31 March 2026:
Named after Tokyo's legendary fixer, this 18-seat Flatiron jewel box feels like a high-tech treasure chest. State-of-the-art technique underpins each Shinji's creation, from liquid nitrogen-chilled gin fizzes to the iconic Tropicana served in a frozen orange, all paired with sumptuous handrolls made tableside.
1 - The MICHELIN inspector, placing the two rooms:
Noda features an eight-seat, half-moon-shaped counter set behind its cocktail lounge, Shinji.
2 - I have not found a drinks writer who has been and judged the list.
Good to know
- Where: 37 West 20th Street, in the Flatiron.
Verdict
should-visit — Book ahead and come for a drink rather than a meal. Two or three of you is the right size.