Ichijiku

I came solo for dinner after work this week on a weeknight. Sat at the bar and over-indulged. Had a variety of things but my favorite was their Chutoro sashimi and the Wagyu skewer. Had the black cod nigiri special and that was delicious! Loved their hamachi Kama even though I had to box it up to go. Heated up well in air fryer. So good that I came back 2 nights later w my kids for their happy hour (everything on menu is $7 before 7pm)! Surprisingly my kids loved their chicken karagge and truffle fries. I inhaled their truffle edamame and this time ordered the black cod sashimi. Service was great on both occasions! Friendly hostess remembered me. I also forgot my credit card there and they kept it safe for me until I went back to get it. Really need to try their omakase next!

This is an amazing Japanese restaurant. Of course, the sushi was excellent, but I was also deeply impressed by the appetizers. After enjoying the sashimi of horse mackerel, they fried the bones into a crispy cracker – such a thoughtful touch! I've never had such delicious golden eye snapper sushi anywhere else. I highly recommend this place to everyone! The staff's hospitality was also outstanding. I’ll definitely be back soon!

Took the wife here for our 10 years anniversary and I was absolutely amazing. The service was impeccable, the food was very very delicious, and there is absolutely nothing more I can ask from a sushi restaurant. It have a wide selection of fish from the simple to a more exotic imported directly from Japan. My wife especially love chef use of salt and citrus in our nigiri tasting course. I am definitely coming back and and will recommend this place to all of my friends.

A recently opened sushi restaurant. Like its traditional way of serving sake. In terms of sushi - Recommend the kinme which they slightly torched to add additional complexity to its flavor. Hokkaido Uni is creamy and sweet. Chutoro (blue fin) is also good. None of these are on its sushi appetizer ($35, 8 pieces). Friendly service. Tam was our server, helpful with sushi recommendation. Came down to $150 per pax. Avg $10-12 dollar a piece for premium sushi.

Honestly this place was amazing. The quality of the fish is top notch. I literally saw the chef open a freshly delivered slab of Otoro. Check this place out before they raise the prices!

Nice place, good to impress somebody. Chill staff. Good lighting. A few booths in the back on the way to the restrooms which were clean. Really good squid, good fish, good uni, shrimp and crab game weak. Very filling bowl with great variety. Kinda pricy (70) for Bellaire Chinatown. Tamago was good.

We went for Happy Hour $7 before 7 pm. We sat at the nicely padded chairs at the bar. My favorites were the fresh Yuki Masu, Oysters and Kanpachi Jalapeño. I highly recommend Ichijiku. Service was wonderful, Tan was our server. The staff's hospitality was outstanding too. Great location in Bellaire with ample parking. We will be back soon.

We stopped by on the way home from work for a quick dinner. Overall, we enjoyed our meal (we did come during happy hour) Appetizers: These were just okay. The crispy rice and tuna had a lot of potential, but the crispy rice was not fresh and there was too much sauce, which was a bit too sweet. The breading on the karaage was thin and crispy but was not really seasoned (felt like it was missing salt). I wish they gave another space option other than what I believe was just Japanese mayonnaise Sushi: Almost everything we had was great -- the soft shell roll, uni, toro, blue fin tuna, and salmon in particular were great. The sushi rice was seasoned very nicely. The scallop was good, but had a little bit of a fishy after taste that we usually don't get with Hokkaido scallops at other restaurants. Service was prompt (we were the only ones there) and we felt that the pricing (both happy hour and regular menu) were "about right" for the quality.

Amazing nigiri and sushi rolls. If you want to try fatty tuna, this is the place to go!

I had the pleasure of dining at this incredible spot, and it's safe to say this was one of the most memorable omakase experiences I've had in recent memory. The attention to detail, presentation, and flavor was absolutely top-tier from start to finish. The photo above captures just one part of the journey--a beautifully curated trio of small bites that were as stunning as they were delicious. From the delicately marinated seafood to the expertly presented shellfish on ice, each item was perfectly balanced and thoughtfully composed. The freshness of the ingredients was unmistakable. The ambiance was elegant yet relaxed, with the chefs and staff offering knowledgeable, attentive service that made the whole experience feel personalized. I also appreciated the pacing of the courses--never rushed, yet never idle. If you're a fan of refined Japanese cuisine with a seasonal, artistic touch, this place is a must-visit. Perfect for special occasions or simply treating yourself to a truly elevated meal. I'll definitely be back. Thank you Chef Masa-San

After seeing multiple posts on social media regarding this new spot from LA advertising good quality well priced sushi I knew I had to come. Even more so when I saw that they have a $7 HH because if you know me, you know I love a good deal. I stopped by on a weekday without any wait at all. $7 HH: Chicken Karaage: 3/5 fried too long and the chicken was dry. i did not taste any seasoning on the chicken Oyster Half Shell: 4/5 oysters were small but tasty and fresh Kanpachi Jalapeno: 4/5 Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice: 4/5 probably my favorite HH bite Salmon Nigiri: 3/5 average Yellowtail Nigiri: 3/5 average Negihama Hand Roll: 3/5 average California Hand Roll: 4/5 i do like how they use real crab Black cod kushi: 2.5/5 i imagined this to be like a grilled miso cod but there was pretty much no seasoning on this at all and just a piece of fish on a stick Nasu kushi: 4/5 the miso sauce was good and i used some on the cod Overall, I was hoping to be impressed by their HH so that I could find an excuse to come back for their full menu or omakase. However, I didn't feel like their sushi was better quality than other places and even with the HH pricing it didn't feel like a great deal either. I wouldn't be opposed to coming back if I wanted just a small bite to eat during HH but wasn't overall wowed by the experience

Honestly this place was amazing. The quality of the fish is top notch. I literally saw the chef open a freshly delivered slab of Otoro. Check this place out before they raise the prices!

After seeing a lot of social media hype about Ichijiku, I was a bit let down. Most of the marketing material that I saw about this place was that it is very high quality sushi at a reasonable price. I found both points to not be exactly true when I visited. We made a reservation for 5:30pm on a Friday and when we arrived the restaurant still had open tables and open seats at the sushi bar. We were promptly shown to our table and our server brought out waters and took our drink order. The service was quite friendly and our server also took time to explain the menu and give us the rundown on their daily specials, which we did not try this time around. We visited to try out their happy hour, cleverly coined "$7 before 7pm". The hits from this menu were the oysters, chicken karaage, and shrimp tempura cut roll. The oysters were fresh and garnished nicely and were a delight. Though the oysters were some of the smallest oysters I have ever had, I think that 3 fresh oysters at $7 is still a reasonable price. The chicken karaage was a big hit at our table and we ended up doubling up on our order. The chicken karaage is a rather large portion, served piping hot, crispy, and flowing with juice. The shrimp tempura cut roll was fantastic as well. The shrimp tempura on the inside was freshly fried and complimented well with the other fillings and crunchy toppings. In my opinion, their happy hour drinks are of good value as well. We tried the sake mojito and also had some beer and sake--all recommended. Item's that we did not think were hits from the happy hour menu include the tuna cut roll and the nigiri offerings. While the tuna tasted fresh enough, I did not think that the quality of the tuna was anything different than Iwa Ya or other similar sushi restaurants in the area. And for $7 I would really hope to see a bit larger portion of tuna in the roll. The nigiri were a bit of a disappointment, honestly. The rice was seasoned nicely and perhaps a small step above average, cheaper previously named sushi restaurants. The cuts of fish served on the nigiri were a smaller portion and seemed the same or lower in quality than what is served nearby as well. At $3.50 a piece, I really expect a bit more quality. The interior is curated with touches of real Japanese sushi-ya in mind--the Sushi Shokunin book, tasteful potted flower, etc. I find that most of the sushi menu is pretty expensive, but Ichijiku does offer many different types of fish that are less commonly seen in Houston. What does intrigue me, however, is their omakase menu with two differing price points. While I can see this sushi restaurant doing well, I struggle to personally recommend IchiJiku due to the low value proposition of the majority of their menu even during happy hour.

We went to Ichijiku on a Thursday around 5:15 pm. The restaurant is on the smaller side, with booths and seats at the sushi bar available. Service was good. They have a small "$7 before 7pm" happy hour menu everyday. We ordered: - Spicy tuna crispy rice - Salmon nigiri - Yellowtail nigiri - Agedashi tofu - A5 wagyu kushi - Eel kushi - Negitoro kushi - Bluefin chutoro nigiri - Bluefin akami nigiri - A5 wagyu aburi nigiri - Kinmedai nigiri - Hotate nigiri - Anago nigiri - Spicy tuna hand roll The sushi here was not bad, but nothing really stood out. My favorites were probably the hamachi and salmon off the happy hour menu. The A5 Wagyu aburi had nice flavor, but wished it was warmer when it came out. The spicy tuna hand roll tasted like something you'd get from a really cheap or ayce sushi restaurant, and the seaweed was not crispy. Out of the robata and appetizers we ordered, I enjoyed the A5 wagyu kushi and the spicy tuna crispy rice. My least favorite was the agedashi tofu. The texture was very slimy.

Ichijiku Sushi rolls out the red carpet for happy hour with specials that might just maki your day. Everyday before 7pm they offer a number of starters, rolls, nigiri, and drinks for just $7. The interior is simple, modern, and clean. Take a seat at a table with friends or grab a chair at the bar where you will get a front row seat to watch the skillful knife work of the sushi chefs. The sushi bar area is open, so guests can observe every step as chefs prepare each dish in full view, reflecting a commitment to freshness and craftsmanship. The oysters on half shell, sourced from Virginia on this day, were delicate and just the right amount of saltiness. The yellowtail nigiri melted in your mouth and finally, the chefs special fish, thinly sliced sashimi style, topped with a dusting of spices and micro fresh greens was not only beautiful, but the star of the three dishes. Service was very friendly and attentive and there was next to no wait time. Overall, Ichijiku has an eye for quality and creates a dining experience that feels comfortable, intentional, and exciting all at the same time.

Appreciate the options on the menu and being able to order items without being inundated with frivolous gold flakes and miserly caviar. Clean space, sat at the counter in front of the sushi bar. They had their grand opening that week, so everything looked neat. Took off one star because the sushi staff did seem undertrained and struggling with putting together items and had the owner/head chef check and guide everything for them. This should have already been addressed prior to grand opening. Regular service staff was well prepared though. Food seems to be flavoured well, with the A5 wagyu skewers being decently priced. The nigiris were nice except for the ebi- a lot of US Japanese restaurants miss the taste factor when it comes to prawns. The taste of grit sand (not texture, mind you), but the smell just stays and always makes it unpalatable for me. The chirashi bowl was good for the price point. I enjoyed their scallops as well. The shumai was alright, and will pass on. Overall, it was a good experience and we will come back. Hope they work out the minor issues to make everything seamless.

I came here on Friday afternoon during happy hour with a reservation. The place is surprisingly packed but not too crowded for a new restaurant, and the service is pretty good and fast. The prices are decently priced during happy hour too. The food overall did not disappoint at all. The fish is so fresh especially the nigiri pieces and dishes were seasoned well especially the oysters and tuna w/ rice crackers. Definitely one of the best sushi I've had in Houston. If you're looking for a good sushi restaurant on Bellaire with good vibes, I recommend coming here especially during their happy hour!!

Came on a Friday during happy hour (weekdays 4-6pm) and really enjoyed the food and ambiance. The interior is super minimalistic with wood accents and there is a good amount of seating in the space. As we were walking in the chef was cutting the fish at the sushi bar and I saw multiple boxes of fresh imported fish so I was very excited to try the dishes. We got the Spicy tuna w/ crispy rice, Soft shell crab tempura, chicken karage, shishito, assorted tempura shrimp & vegetables, the nasu kushi, the A5 waygu kushi, the negi hama, and the California roll. The spicy tuna with crispy rice came with two pieces, each packed with a heaping pile of spicy tuna on top. The rice was super crispy and the tuna was extremely fresh and well flavored. (7/10) The soft shell crab tempura was fresh and lightly coated and fried. I did think that the portion was quite small for the price, but good flavors especially when dipped in the sauce. (6/10) The chicken karage was lightly fried as well and came with kewpie mayo to dip. I could tell it was freshly fried and it was very comparable to other karage I've had. (6.5/10) The shisito was also nicely roasted and I enjoyed the it with the soy salt that it came with. (6/10) The assorted tempura was delicious. It was the perfect tempura fry on each item and I enjoyed the variety of vegetables. There were shrimp, a mushroom, sweet potato, squash, crown daisy and a fried perilla leaf which I've never had before so that was super interesting to try. It also came with a warm broth to dip it in that was great. I love how even though the dish is fried it did not leave me feeling heavy. (7.5/10) The nasu kushi was one of my favorites of the meal. The egg plant skewer was perfectly roasted with a miso glaze on top that really enhanced the flavor. It is also a unique item that I have not seen on many other menus. I would definitely recommend this when you come here. (7.5/10) The A5 waygu skewer was also splendid. The waygu melted in your mouth and was like a cube of meat butter. It was cooked perfectly and left me wanting more. (8.5/10) The negi hama was super fresh and I really liked how the california roll had real crab inside. (6/10) Overall, the rolls were very comparable to other places in the area. The service was super attentive and very helpful with the menu. They constantly refilled our waters and checked on our table. Overall, if you are looking for some fresh sushi and authentic Japanese dishes/flavors at a reasonable price this is the spot for you. The parking is a bit tight in the lot in front of the restaurant but there is garage parking to the left of the restaurant as well. I would definitely come back to try more items.

New sushi restaurant in Bellaire! They take walk ins & reservations. Restaurant was very clean & small. Sushi is more on the traditional side with no garnishes. It was very fresh. Personally I prefer my sushi well garnished. My favorite thing was their oysters. The service was good. Sushi isn't ridiculously priced. Simple menu that's straight to the point. Overall a great addition to the Bellaire neighborhood.

Whoa! Hold on a sec! We got a legit wonderful tasty sushi spot now in Bellaire! My wish was granted! Fresh and amazing! Really nice friendly staff! They did a number and turned the space around to a nice cozy environment to dine in. We enjoyed everything and will definitely be back for more :)

I appreciated the great ambiance and the cleanliness of the restaurant, and the waiter was very courteous. We decided to try a variety of sushi rolls during the Saturday lunch special, which runs from noon to three. However, I found the sushi rolls to be on the smaller side, more akin to appetizers, which is something I overlooked. They do have an appetizer sampler that varies each day, but I didn't ask about it beforehand, and that was a missed opportunity. Unfortunately, I wasn't fond of two out of the three appetizers we ordered; the raw baby octopus and the seaweed salad had a texture that I didn't enjoy. However, we did have one appetizer that was quite good. I suggest that future diners inquire about the appetizer options before making a selection, as it can really enhance the experience. Overall, I found the meal to be a bit pricey, as our total bill came to $78 for two people. Given the experience, I would consider looking for other options next time.

We love our omaske experience. Fish was fresh. Presentation was unique and pricing was very reasonable.

I genuinely want to support small businesses and was excited to try Ichijiku in Chinatown. Unfortunately, the experience fell short of expectations. The sushi was mediocre at best. Even the karaage, which the staff highlighted as a specialty due to the chef's skill, was disappointingly dry. The hand rolls were also a letdown -- the seaweed was not crisp, making it difficult to bite through. We tried the sushi special of the day, which was just okay but certainly not worth the $35 price tag. Simply adding uni to multiple dishes doesn't automatically elevate the flavor. In fact, the Hokkaido uni tasted off -- not as fresh as it should be and left a lingering fishy aftertaste. Having had authentic uni in Hokkaido many times, I can say with confidence this didn't measure up. Overall, I would give this place 2 stars. It was a very average experience, and I won't be returning. Houston has many other Japanese restaurants that offer better quality and value.

Good food and service. Sashimi are very fresh. We ordered the uni, it was fat and super fresh!! This is my new go to sushi place.