Ichiban

My mom ate here 20+ years ago and has always got the same order! She says it hasn’t changed and it’s so delicious! Came here twice in two days. I love that you pay first and then get served. The food was so fresh and yummy. Service was also great!

The people here are very nice. I ordered the salmon entree because I’m hungry and it was a tiny amount. Didn’t even see the two thin slices at first bc they were hidden under the veggies. Should have gotten the ramen. My Intent here is not to turn customers away but just to give you an FYI

I had delicious ramen here today. A big portion and really tasty. The staff is especially nice here, a very polite lady who advised me what to take and takes care of every customer. I will definitely come back here to try the rolls🥰

I'ma say it how it is the ladies working here are great they take your order make you feel comfortable. The atmosphere is calm very nice even if you come in by yourself it's a nice place to sit and eat. The futomaki and calamari legs. Best Japanese food I've tasted in a while.

At this price point and for takeout, this place is unbeatable. Fish is always fresh and tasty. The only downside is finding a place to park, but usually I can park about a block away. Hint: great prices on happy hour rolls, but you can only get them by phoning in your order. The server helpfully told me this one night when I was picking up an order I placed online. :)

I've been eating here for ten years. The food is tasty and happy hour specials are reasonable. I really appreciate the indoor and outdoor seating options for the COVID-cautious. And the elder Japanese staff are adorable.

🍣 Tried the Crunchy and Rainbow rolls along with Edamame. The Edamame was infused with garlic, which might be overwhelming for some, but it was fresh and added a nice kick. The sushi was decent, not the best I've had, but enjoyable. My daughters loved it and had a great time. Conveniently located in the neighborhood, definitely worth a try if you're in the area!

Terrific sushi place that has been here for 42 years! Delicious food, good friendly service and affordable. Nothing fancy but good value for the price!

Solid spot. Nothing fancy. But I was super full for less than $20 which is more than I can say for most places in SD these days. They have a great happy hour for alcohol and rolls from 4-8 every day. I had a jumbo roll (chicken katsu) and a salmon roll. The perfect mini portion of katsu and a tasty salmon roll. You do order from the counter and they give you a number. The drink cups are disposable for the most part. And extra ginger or spicy mayo will cost you .50. So, they've done the math. They were playing FX on the TVs. Fancy it is not, but it does have its own charm. But great value sushi.

Felt really ripped off after ordering delivery and did not enjoy the food. The stamina udon was super bland. For $20, it had one piece of shrimp tempura that was all breading, a couple tiny pieces of chicken, one piece of broccoli, and a couple wontons that had disintegrated. The bento was equally bad. A tiny paper-thin piece of salmon, some dumplings that were just mush, and a tiny bit of chicken that was so drenched in sauce it was inedible.

Unless you sit outside and people watch, there is really no ambience to speak of. But the two women who take your order and serve you are the best. The value is also amazing. My husband and I had three large drinks - 1 sake and 2 large beers, the stamina udon, two sushi rolls for $50! The stamina udon was good not great but perfect for the rainy day and it was a treasure trove of goodies. Slurpy noodles, dashi broth, fish cake, shrimp, chicken, dumplings. The spicy tuna was incredible. We are definitely going back. Forgot to mention, Happy Hour every night from 4-8 pm.

Delicious Japanese cuisine. It's one of those homie whole in the wall authentic restaurants. The service was so fast and we enjoyed the sushi and noodles. Check it out!!

The food was not only super tasty but very well priced. I got two rolls on happy hour (4-8pm) for about $14 dollars and it was super filling as well. The service was very friendly and quick. Parking is street parking but weekdays aren't too difficult to find parking. It's a little small inside but there is outdoor seating. Will be coming back!

No-frills sushi spot for a good price. They have happy hour on drinks and food 4-8pm daily. I got two rolls for $16 and left full. We ordered at the counter and had our food delivered to our table. The staff was friendly and efficient. They have indoor and outdoor seating, the ambiance is nothing special.

The good: they're quick, friendly, and they have a good happy hour menu from 4-8pm that's quite affordable. They're a neighborhood staple. The bad: the sushi here really doesn't taste all that great. I wish I could review it higher because of the nice staff and cheap prices, but I can't justifiably leave a 4 star for food that doesn't taste very good. The spicy chicken teriyaki bowl is better than the sushi rolls at least. Realistically, despite the lower review I'd still probably to-go food from here in a crunch.

My family and I have been going to Ichiban for at least 15 years and it's one of my favorite Japanese places in town. My favorite things to get are the chicken teriyaki bowl and the Philadelphia roll. They're so kind and we always have a great experience!

Been coming here with my wife for a long time now . Always got sushi and it was always GREAT! The other day I went there with my family and I tried the ramen and oh my god !!! I have fell in love !! Never knew I would like a soup that much . But I did !!!!! I'll be back to get more asap!

Not satisfied..small serving... not fresh sashimi obviously dry cut...the baked salmon was so thin..not worth it giving a 18% tip..

This is a fast casual sushi spot in Hollcrest with great happy hour deals. Definitely not a place to knock your socks off, but prices are super cheap and you get what you pay for. Service is great and it's a no frills type of shop! I would t mind coming back and trying some ramen. This time I had a spicy tuna roll and miso soup, both of which were good.

The sushi was delicious the service was great we liked the Raman and teriyaki Chicken

Someone give this place an award for A++ Service & even better food! After a quick survey of Hillcrest, we "settled" on a star that's been rocking since the 80s! We ordered the Chicken Bowl and Sushi roll combo that was on special just before Super Bowl Sunday, with an additional roll, and it was perfection! I know how can one mess up such a simple pleasure, but it's happened.. however, I doubt it's a normalcy here. The restaurant was quaint with seating both inside and on the patio. The music was soft and the vibe was spot on for a relaxed Saturday, for a couple or a group! Thanks ladies! Cheers!

As usual I dine which is all fine . Itchiban is my fav. It's the rave. Everything on the menu is fine all the time. Happy New Year All !!!!! Do it Right and have a grand ball!!!! Itchiban is the best place. See you there.BonnieLee/LisaC.

Perfect the miso soup talk 's for itself. Sake is best !!!!! Since we are in the west try it on 4 as it the best.

Really bad cheap sushi! Slow service and I highly recommend you don't go here. We went here for the first time on a not so busy Thursday and it took a long time to get the worst sushi we have had in San Diego. We could not finish the rolls we purchased. They were that gross.

Amazing service, delicious food the sashimi was great as were the sushi rolls, the miso soup was delicious, very good traditional Japanese style, television played "The Voice" and the Gospel music added great ambiance. They have been in service for 40 years I truly enjoyed this experience.

A Japanese friend told me about happy hour specials starting at $5. She recommend the California roll and Rainbow roll. She said Ichiban felt nostalgic and reminded her of quaint mom and pop sushi places in Japan. I ordered a California roll and it was really fresh and delicious. Next I'll try the Rainbow. The hard working ladies who work here are the best!

Hole in the wall sushi spot in Hillcrest. Let me start off by saying good food and great service. We came for happy hour and it was worth it. The staff were super friendly and attentive and the food came out really quick. Now this is where we take a turn. You don't expect much with a hole in the wall location but this place can use some TLC. I try not to judge a book by its cover, but this cover has seen better days. The place is clean but it needs a little face lift. The part that really got me was the order and pay before you sit. I didn't mind it other than the fact it really causes a back up. There's a line of people waiting to order crammed into a line in a tiny space. I'm assuming it's done this way due to a shortage of staffing. The little sweet old lady taking the orders was also packing the to-go orders and delivering food/drinks to tables which held up the ordering process too.

Nostalgia. My first visit, i think was in 1988 and have good memories of I think Sisters who owned and operated. Or, two Japanese or Okinawan Women which I thought was kind of unique at the time. Frequented many times as I was from L.A. and hard to find affordable but good Japanese casual in San Diego. I have frequented it in the 2000's and early 2010's. The last time I think was before the pandemic. I plan to visit sometime in 2025 and don't know if Ownership/Operators have changed but I say enjoy while you can as CA SBOs are retiring &/or just not dealing with the hassles. I'm sure there are places on Convoy St. or Beach areas people prefer better but if you haven't frequented and in the area, stop by and if same owners or operators pass on compliments to the previous owners, I'd say do it while you can! The fact, they survived being a restaurant after 5 years is testament but close to 40! Thank you Ichiban you gave me a nice place to eat in my late teens-twentys, comfort food from Japan, and a slice of L.A. Japanese restaurants I missed (we were/are spoiled in the SouthBay L.A.!). The Food maybe, to most folks is/was 4 stars but today's value and longevity..i give it 5 stars! Hope the Owners allow me to take an anniversary photo this year! Kanpai!

Cute little place with good food and very friendly service! This sit-down eatery is somewhat different: you have to place your order at the counter and then go and get seated. The staff are very friendly. I came in on a super cold, windy day and they noticed that I was all bundled up. They told me that the other table would be warmer because it's closer to the heater; they really wanted me to be comfortable. Really appreciated the gesture. We ordered a couple of rolls, yakisoba and a big bottle of Orion (yessss) beer. The rolls were fresh and good. They also a couple of lunch specials and the happy hour prices are great! Other than sushi rolls, they have ramen and some other Japanese rice/noodle dishes. For drinks, they have Sapporo, Orion (yessssssss), Asahi beers, sake and plum wine. What I did not appreciate was the extra charge for extra wasabi/ginger. Some of the food came with a little ginger and wasabi, and if you want more, you'd have to pay extra. Yes, it's not much, but why?!?! Can they be free during happy hour?

Amazing service! This is a little fast casual sushi spot owned by the sweetest people. Their food is made quickly and tastes amazing! Their happy hour sushi prices are soo cheap and tastes great! We also tried a couple of their non happy hour foods and weren't disappointed. - Spicy chicken teriyaki bowl was a 10/10, so much flavor in a very filling bowl! - Cha shu tonkatsu ramen was an 8/10, the broth and noodles were fresh and had a lot of flavor. - Hawaiian roll 8/10, beautifully made sushi rolls and they did a great job of adding a mix of seafood toppings. - Jumbo (chicken katsu) roll 10/10, so much flavor and it was my favorite sushi roll.

Delicious and quaint sushi restaurant in Hillcrest. It was Spontaneous Saturday so this little gem was a perfect place especially with the daily happy hour win!

You have to pay before you get your food which is odd because they ask for tip before you can even experience the service and food. They have 1/2 off appetizers when you order $20 +. On a sign, they claim to give additional discount off 2 appetizers when you order is over $30, $40, $50 and so on. We ordered 2 sushi rolls $16 each which is over $30 so we decided to get 2 appetizers pork egg rolls and seaweed salad which should have been 1/2 off each. The lady rang up the pork egg rolls 1/2 off and the seaweed salad at regular price ($6) which was a bummer. I guess she forgot about their "deal". The egg rolls were good and came with a spicy mustard sauce that I enjoyed. Seaweed salad was served over cut cucumbers which is deceiving when you think you're getting more seaweed than there is. Sushi rolls are basic but tasted fresh. Not sure if I would go back.

I eat here often as it's close to my fav Kava place. The crunchy roll is my favorite always and it's consistently delicious. The people working there truly want to make sure they get it right too. They are fast and I love taking it to go.

Ichiban is my go to sushi spot and is a part of my sunday night ritual. Each sunday I call in and place my regular order, Sunny roll & Crunchy roll, off of the happy hour menu. The staff is kind on the phone and my order is alway prepared super fast! The happy hour deals are hard to beat and is also a great spot to go to with a group of friends. It is definitely a hole in the wall kind of place, but if you're looking for a good and reliable sushi spot this place should be your go to as well.

Affordable place to get sushi! Not the best, but it does its job if you have a sushi craving. They do offer a great bento box that's huge! I'll definitely come back if I'm in the mood for a full meal.

I was on my way home and needed to pick up dinner. It has been a while since I've been...dang, almost 5 years. I think it's because parking is a challenge. I love the old school aunties that work here and they work so hard and are friendly! Got a teriyaki chicken bowl and some inari to go. Very good! Cute little salad and I like how the miso soup is already made. Other places, I've been given a soup packet to make it myself...LOL! I remember coming here long ago and sitting on the patio. May have to do that again soon!

very kind staff. i had tonkotsu ramen, tasted good and ate on pleasant heated patio. thats kind of all i had to say

Small chill place. We didn't get sushi but what we got was ok. Udon was fine. Yakisoba was meh. Spam musabi tasted good but was a mess Took forever to place order but service was pretty good once we got food.

We made an impromptu stop here for dinner. We lucked out and it was "Happy Hour." The service was friendly, the sushi was fresh and delicious and it was nice sitting on the outside patio as we watched San Diego Pride kick-off. We had the rainbow roll, the Hawaiian roll, and a couple of small green salads. Most of the time, when you get a salad at a sushi place, it's just some lettuce. The salad here had broccoli, shredded cucumber, tomatoes, and a delicious ginger dressing. The edamame was also very fresh, salted perfectly, and served warm. Our server was really nice and super efficient. We'll be back.

Our family staple while living in San Diego; dishes are made with made with utmost perfection and healthiest ingredients. If you're lucky, you'll meet Satomi....the most kind-hearted and loving manager you'll ever have the pleasure meeting! Bento plates are the best ever, you'll never taste any ginger chicken this scrumptious - so addictive! Miso soup & ice cream is a must, especially the red bean! You'll be so happy that you gave yourself this incredible treat, so find a little self-compassion and enjoy!

Always a good place to visit. We used to go for Sushi Happy Hour but we moved out of the area and found other sushi spots. Coming back to visit was great. We were in the area after my daughter's basketball game and stopped in for post-game dinner. We ordered: Sashimi Combo plate with deep fried vegetables, 2 Tiger Rolls, Sunny Roll, Crunchy Roll, and Tempura Fried Avocado (8 pc for only $6). Drinks: Large Iced Green Tea, Bottled Water, and Large Sapporo Again, all of our food was great. The customer service and of the women is always great. We had a male server and he was very courteous and professional as well. We will visit again soon when we are in the area.

It's been a while since I visited this little hole in the wall spot. Used to go often as the price is always right and the food is plentiful. Service is always quick and friendly. Can't complain about that combination. Was looking for something good and quick. One of the first spots that came to mind was Ichiban! Located on University Ave right across from Ray's Tennis shop and the Hillcrest Post Office. Don't blink cause you're likely to miss it if you're not careful. Meter parking right in front and one hour free street parking directly across the street. Currently offering their full menu. Specials come with a drink. Patio seating only as of this review. Order at the counter, pay and have a seat. They'll give you a number and deliver your food to you. Portions are great, service is quick. Love it. Keep on Yelp'n!

Good happy hour 4-8pm daily and good service. I love the non seafood options including the Jumbo roll, inari, and tamago.

We had the No.1 Teriyaki Chicken special lunch, some sushi rolls, and chicken curry. The food is really good and we were really enjoying it until we found two long pieces of hair in our chicken it was nasty!.... The cashier at the front desk was kind of impatient, she just kept pushing us to order... Although the food was really tasty, sadly we will probably never go back to this place again...

We have been coming here since the 90's and it just gives us this cozy feeling. Nothing has change and now my nephews are in love with coming here. It is now their favorite place to eat!!!

First time customer and they won me over as a regular. I will be coming back to eat in person as I placed my order to go. My family liked it, too. Price was reasonable and taste was great. Thank you staff.

Amazing happy hour deals on various rolls, the staff were super friendly and the food came out quick. Nice patio out front to enjoy this SD weather. Will definitely be back

Such tasty, fresh, and delicious sushi for such great prices! The California rolls were simple but solid, the spicy tuna rolls were delicious with a nice kick, and the specialty rolls were savory, crispy, and delectable!

Ichiban is where I first had sushi 40 Years ago. I've seen sushi places come and go over the years and this place still thriving ... I still love eating here . Food is consistent and service always excellent!

Everything about this place is great. Ambiance, service and even the affordable food. It's in a great area and the staff is just always so friendly and welcoming. I love eating here.

Quick, cheap & easy! Ichiban has been a convenient staple in Hillcrest for many years! You can never go wrong with their California rolls, miso soup and chicken teriyaki bowl! I also enjoy how friendly and helpful their team is. They run a tight ship and make magic happen for a good price!

Have only had takeout but love this restaurants food. My buddy from Japan introduced it to me as "Japanese fast food" but the quality doesn't miss. Recommend

Place needs some rehab. Resturant rescue or something. Someone needs to tell them the Cerveza sickness is over. Clear out the inside so flys aren't landing on everyone's food. Get some fresh menus, without spelling errors. Everything about this place shouts "we don't care anymore". It's been around for 40 years and needs a remodel, and maybe new leadership. I've worked in an asian restaurant. It wasn't super high end, or low end. The good was clean and well presented. We took some pride in the place. I'll leave it at that. The special is overpriced even for this price-point. Good grief. I hope this is constructive criticism because this place could be a little gold mine. Good luck!

best sushi ever... If u want sushi that's high quality, and really fresh come here... the price is just right... happy hour from 4pm to 8pm so we always hit this place up after work...

Cheap, bland tasting sushi. Not worth the consequences... Partner threw up shortly after eating from here

Amazing service and good sushi and miso soup! They have a great happy hour from 4-8 every day. There was a lot of flies trying to attack us on the patio. Besides that this is a great spot to stop at for sushi rolls :)

Incredibly delicious food. The sushi was on point, and the katsu chicken curry is the bomb. Also the iced green tea is refreshing as hell. Perfect service - staff is very friendly. Ambiance is very casual.