"For months, temporary signage has been promising all-you-can-eat dining was on its way to Fremont East, but Sushi Ichiban is now officially open, sitting across from the El Cortez, and serving an expanded menu featuring special, baked and deep fried rolls. The new restaurant replaces Shinya Maru Ramen & Izakaya from California’s Octopus Group and brightened its predecessor’s 2,718-square-foot interior space, located at the base of the Emergency Arts Building and next door to the American pub menu at Eureka! An illuminated, inflatable, winking female mascot named Ichi-jjang, who also appears on the restaurant’s candles and menus, greets Sushi Ichiban diners at the entrance. The restaurant is open for dinner Monday to Thursday and offers a $23.95 lunch service from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday to Sunday. Sushi Ichiban customers can choose from dozens of à la carte sushi roll options, or stick with the $27.95 all-you-can-eat selections. Customers must make reservations for dining and the restaurant offers a 90-minute limit for eating. Appetizers include shrimp tempura, pork belly, baked mussels, crispy rice, salmon collar, agedashi tofu, and a salmon skin salad, with yellowtail, halibut, and tuna among the sushi options, plus red snapper, eel, octopus, tako wasabi, squid, and quail egg nigiri pieces. Mochi ice cream joins the less traditional tiramisu and affogato for dessert. Sushi Ichiban, 520 Fremont Street, Suite 150, 702-478-5333. Reservations can be made by phone, or in person." - Bradley Martin
