Ichika Izakaya

My husband and I had dinner here tonight, and overall it was a really memorable experience. We’ve traveled quite a bit and tried sushi in many different cities, including around the Los Angeles area where we live and have our favorite spots. So when we visit a sushi restaurant, we tend to evaluate everything as a whole — price, quality, service, and of course the flavors. For dinner we ordered the Mango Tuna Roll (which was our first time trying a mango-style sushi roll), the 8-piece Omakase Nigiri, a Double Toro Roll, two pieces of Otoro, and a hot sake. With a 20% tip included, the total for the two of us came to $163.50, which honestly falls within the average range of what we usually spend for a sushi dinner like this. Normally we might pay around $120–$130 depending on the place, sometimes a little more if we add an extra item or two. The portion sizes were pretty standard. Not unusually large, but not small either — similar to what we’ve experienced at many other sushi restaurants. Where this place really stood out was the depth of flavor. The quality and balance of the ingredients were excellent. At one point I actually caught myself closing my eyes just to focus on the taste, which is something I almost never do. The preparation felt very refined and the flavors were elevated, rich, and memorable. I would describe it as delicate portions with very elevated flavors. Because of that, I’m giving this place 5 out of 5 stars. This is the kind of restaurant that works perfectly for a nice dinner with your partner. It’s not necessarily a place where you go wild ordering everything on the menu like at a taco spot. Instead, it’s better to be thoughtful with what you choose and enjoy a few well-crafted dishes. You can easily have a special, enjoyable dinner here without going overboard. Definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area and want a quality sushi experience with refined flavors. The only thing I felt was missing was a small welcome miso soup. In some sushi restaurants we’ve visited, they serve a tiny cup of miso with a couple pieces of tofu as a warm welcome. It’s a very small gesture, but it creates a nice first impression and adds a sense of hospitality to the experience. Considering the quality and pricing of the menu here, a simple welcome miso soup would fit perfectly with the overall dining experience.

Average food, small portion and not worth it. It is a small restaurant, there's guest keep coming in so we thought it is going to be really good. However the food is really average for its price. The black cod is pretty good but $20 for one small piece is really overpriced. The skewer is overcooked and meat are rough. We ordered the spicy lamb and beef. It is overcooked then it becomes bitter? The sushi roll, does not have any vinegar taste compare to other roll I had. The creamy udon is $26 and the ingredient they used are only mushroom and bacon. Very overpriced. Will not be back. They did not specified they will charge 20% for party of 6 but they did.

This spot is truly a hidden gem in the San Bruno neighborhood! The vibe is warm and welcoming, making it perfect for a casual dinner or a special night out. The sushi is fresh and flavorful, with a solid variety of traditional rolls and appetizers. If you’re into omakase, they offer that as well—an excellent option for those who want to sit back and enjoy the chef’s selections. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area!

I can’t talk highly enough about Ichika! I went for my birthday with a group of five. The service was impeccable and the food delicious. Ichika is truly a hidden gem. Such high quality sushi and a beautiful omakase. Me and my friends went with the premium omakase (which was $168/pp) and while it was amazing and a lot of food (we were stuffed to the brim) I think I would do just the normal omakase next time (prices $128/pp). The chef came to talk to us after dinner and was so gracious. I loved my entire dinner and can’t stop thinking about it! Would definitely come again for the omakase experience

This place is amazing. The rolls were delicious, and the nigiri was some of the best we've ever had - the slight char on it was really unique. We certainly will be back here soon. Sorry for spilling our water all over the sushi bar.

I'm on a mission to try as many Japanese spots in the upper Peninsula as possible. This is a solid Izakaya spot in San Bruno. The American wagyu beef skewer, pork belly skewer, and corn tempura were standout dishes for me - The wagyu is one of the best beef skewers I've ever had. The chicken skewer and salmon lover nigiri were also really good. The beef croquette and spicy tuna crispy rice were just okay, I wish they had more flavor. Service was good, they were attentive and friendly. Overall a great experience. I'm definitely going to come back and try more things.

The food and service were amazing. I arrived at this restaurant about 15 minutes before my friends were here and they were accommodating. My friends ordered dishes from the menu and I had their $128 omakase. They were very generous with the portions. The food was very filling and delicious. The servers were very attentive and our tea pot was always refilled. We ended up packing a couple boxes to go. Whether you're going to try the omakase or order your own main dishes on the menu, you will be walking out with a belly. 👍

I’ve been on the hunt for a new go-to sushi spot since my favorite one in Burlingame closed down (RIP). This is currently top of my list for when I’m in town with colleagues. Great service and ample parking. Easy to get to and plenty of delicious items on the menu. Good variety of sake as well.

Fresh, delicious and authentic food. Speedy and friendly service. Strongest recommendation!

We found this and took a chance because it was close to the airport. We are glad we did! Excellent service and food! The rolls were superb, the miso excellent, etc etc! We will be back.

this spot was amazing !!! my bf got the ramen & it was super flavorful, the pork in the ramen was super tender. also got 2 tempura, chicken Karaage, & a sushi roll 10/10 recommend, the spot is super cozy & the parking is easy. the waitresses were super nice & made sure we were good from the beginning to end.

I come with a book and sit at the bar. I drink wine and have as many ama ebis as I can afford and sometimes get adventurous and order something else. Everything has been delicious. The finesse is clutch AF. This place has great design although it small. The staff is highly attentive! 6/5 stars for me!

Make a reservation because this place gets busy! We had 6pm booked, and there were people waiting for tables the entire time we were there. We ordered a bunch of items like the shrimp and softshell crab tempura, chicken karaage, beef tongue skewer, grilled beef ribs, fried chicken skin, sake clams, hamachi kama, agedashi tofu, many different nigiris, several rolls, cucumber salad, and more. Everything came out decently quickly, especially considering how busy they were. Food for the most part was tasty, but portions were a bit small for the price. We paid $300 for 4 people and left feeling slightly hungry still. Service was great, again especially considering how busy they were. The interior is spacious and clean.

It was ok not as good as the one in Brisbane service wax much slower n food not quite as tasteful as the one in Brisbane

Spicy tuna crispy rice = crunchy win, the kind of bite you want on repeat. Double Toro roll was ok. Agedashi tofu brought cozy comfort, while the hamachi with truffle leaned a little fishy and missed the mark. The space itself is intimate and inviting, with staff who keep things smooth and friendly. Easy spot to linger with friends over rounds of bites and drinks.

I have to say I was very impressed by the food and atmosphere inside, given it's in Bayhill. The staff took our reservation so we didn't have too wait. All of the food came out pretty fast and all of the dishes were delicious. My favorite was the A5 waygu skewers.

This place is one of my new favs for Japanese food in the Peninsula. I had a reservation for 2 at the bar and highly recommend sitting there if you like watching the chefs do their thing. We loved their appetizers, but the highlights were the geso karaage, prawn and crab tempura, skewers (beef tongue/chicken-green onion), and shishito peppers. Off their specials menu was a 4pc nigiri set of tuna (bluefin, 2 kinds of chutoro, and otoro) which was delicious. Fish quality is wonderful. The chawanmushi is also delicious and so silky. Finished it all with draft Asahi and the meal was complete. I think every dish was just done correctly. They have noodles, rolls, and even an omakase special and set course menu that is afforable. If you're in the area, come check this izakaya out.

Came here for the first time and overall had a great experience. The rolls, fresh fish, and skewers were all spot-on. The only downside? The udon. Whoever made it must've dropped the whole butter stick in there, because it was so heavy it gave us all headaches afterward. Definitely a skip. The other issue is the space itself, it's tiny. If you're sitting in a booth, you're basically shoulder-to-shoulder with the next table and might have to ask your neighbor to move their bag just to slide in. Cozy... maybe too cozy. So, while the food is excellent (minus the udon), I'd avoid bringing a big group here. Austin Yee

Very great dining experience. This location in quaint and snug so I do recommend making reservations and limiting your group size to no more than 5. I ordered the fish cheek and my party had an assortment of the sushi rolls. The service was quick and polite. I would recommend

Food was A+, ambiance and service amazing!!! I did a review on my tiktok. Came here for an anniversary date with my hubby and we love sushi. This place is amazing!!!!

One of the best sushi places we have been to in California! The service was excellent, the ambience is very cozy, hip and classic all at once. The sushi was deliciously fresh and the flavors of their fusion dishes were wonderful. We come up to Bay Area a few times a year and will be coming to Ichika especially every time we visit!

Delicious sushi! 10 pc lunch nigiri came with a salad and miso soup, both wonderful. Each piece of fish was delicious and we felt very well taken care of by the kind server.

One of my favorite izakaya spots in the peninsula! Ichika offers good quality and fresh sashimi. I always like to get their nigiri set. It's pre-seasoned with wasabi and soy sauce. Each bite is so fresh, so flavorful, and so delicious. Highly recommend the nigiri set. Their tempura corn is also pretty good. It's fresh and crispy. Their service is top notch too. The waitresses would explain the pieces of nigiri and how to eat them. Overall I have a great experience at Ichika. The price could be a bit on the expensive side.

First time at this place, so let's begin: Ambiance: This place surprised me being in a shopping mall, very nice inside, a good atmosphere- 4 Service: All the staff seemed very nice and responsive- 5 Food: Fish Taco (OMFG), so so good, Double Toro Roll (wow), Lion King Roll, sashimi assortment (so fresh).- 5 Value: - 4 (I know Japanese food especially a well thought out concept can go WAY higher... so this is a good price point for the quality/handcrafted venue) This might not be my Tuesday, I am hungry spot, but it's definitely the Saturday night, lets go some nice food and pamper ourselves a little/ enjoy our life kinda spot. Enjoy

Food here is really good! The omakase tastes super fresh and the beef steak was delicious too. Only downside is the portion size for the beef steak, they used to be a lot bigger, now it feels like they've been cut in half. It is a bit pricey, but overall still worth it for the quality and great customer service.

Was taken to Mother's Day dinner here and it was really great! This small restaurant is in a strip mall, but once you're inside, you wouldn't even know it! All the sushi and sashimi was fresh and delicious, but the miso cod really made a huge impression on me; it was so smooth and tender... I could've eaten the whole dish! The chawanmushi (steamed custard) was another wonderful dish; so simple, but so amazing. The toddler, a picky eater, happily ate the chawanmushi, miso cod, and miso soup. The only dish I wasn't crazy about was the beef tongue, although it was okay... it was just not one I'd order again. I loved all the different beautiful plates/dishes the food was served in/on. Each dish made the food look even more inviting. As others have mentioned, the prices are on the high end, but everything was delicious and crave worthy. I'd definitely go back!

Average food, small portion and not worth it. It is a small restaurant, there's guest keep coming in so we thought it is going to be really good. However the food is really average for its price. The black cod is pretty good but $20 for one small piece is really overpriced. The skewer is overcooked and meat are rough. We ordered the spicy lamb and beef. It is overcooked then it becomes bitter? The sushi roll, does not have any vinegar taste compare to other roll I had. The creamy udon is $26 and the ingredient they used are only mushroom and bacon. Very overpriced. Will not be back. They did not specified they will charge 20% for party of 6 but they did.

All of the food we got here was fantastic. The sake flight was great, and the service was excellent. Will definitely be going back. They also threw in a $10 gift card!

Still one of my favorite spot for sushi. Every time we are there we enjoy the food and the atmosphere!

honestly i never order sushi rolls anymore but i tried the double toro, mango salmon, and the bayhill roll, and they all exceeded my expectations. not sure what the exact name of the mango salmon roll but it was melting in my mouth... the fish tasted so fresh and paired with the sweet and juicy mango.. SO GOOD. the bayhill roll and the double toro roll was also solid. we also ordered the kamachi carpaccio, tasted very rich and tangy with lots of citrus flavor and savory as well. also the service was very fast, we didn't have to wait long for a seat as well on a friday night around 7 pm.

I came here on a Wednesday night and had made a reservation on open table. The restaurant was pretty packed and lively but we got seated right away. I ended up getting to omakase option and all the food was great. The servers were great to explain all the dishes we had and each dish came out with great timing. The full meal took about 1.5 hours and everything was great. If you're looking for good sushi with a laid back vibe, this is a great place with amazing service and food!

Amazing. And they have a Milpitas location too, and maybe another, I forgot. Great service and ambiance. Ordered the Giants roll, toro roll with mango, oyster specials (don't squeeze too much lemon juice onto it, it overpowers a little!), 4 skewers (which were good but not amazing, but solid), geso fry, and creamy udon. Creamy udon is big btw! Plan your stomach accordingly if you get the creamy udon. Absolutely will be back, prob to try their Milpitas location as it's closer to me.

This place is a gem in San Bruno! My cousins and I try to do a monthly cousin dinner to catch up, and we had an out of state cousin in the area who wanted sushi and skewers so a quick search on Yelp led us to Ichika Izakaya. One thing I appreciated was that you can make reservations online and I would suggest reservations because they were pretty packed the Saturday night we arrived especially with us having a party of 10. We ordered an assortment of appetizers and rolls to do it "family style" and everything was good. I could nitpick and say the grilled beef tongue could've been cut a little bigger instead of thin strips to be easier to pick up, but the flavors were on point and we finished everything on the table. The food came out in a timely manner and both servers were friendly and attentive to our table despite the busy restaurant. Overall, Ichika Izakaya is a must go if you're in the area. They're also located in a plaza so parking is abundant and free.

Highly recommend this place for parents with young children who are looking for great Japanese food but can't leave their kids behind. It's also a perfect low key date night for parents in the area too. I enjoyed the experience at the sushi bar very much. We did the omakase menu ($168 with wagyu nigiri, uni nigiri, and also grilled abalone). The portion size is on the healthier side / suitable for those who drinks sake/wine. It's fulling for me but I can see those with bigger appetite will ask for more - especially if you don't drink wine. In that case, order the $128 omakase and add more rolls before dessert is served. The sashimi was surprisingly fresh and high quality. The sushi rice for the nigiri appeared to be the ones made with red vinegar and the nigiri were made pretty well. I do wish we get a bigger piece of sea bass and a bigger bowl of the delicious snow crab soup. I saw one of the sushi chefs made the crispy rice with tuna + avocado and that looked so delicious. But their nigiri is also as traditional and as solid as it can be. It's the spot that can satisfy your rolls craving and traditional nigiri craving! I can definitely see myself coming back with my kids and enjoy their a la carte menu.

Came here craving Japanese food and wanted to try this location as I saw it from the Brisbane location. It's a bit on the pricey side. The menu is simple. No bento box in this location. More quality over quantity here. The ramen was good. I would return to try other items on the menu. The service was friendly. The ambiance is clean inside and has a modern look.

Excellent food and service! Yakitori sticks, teriyaki and sushi are wonderful. Excellent service

Taste: 5 Creativity/Authenticity: 5 Atmosphere: 4 Service: 5 Bang for your buck: 5 It's hard finding sushi spots in different cities because I'm very picky when it comes to sushi, so finding a spot that has fresh fish and a selection of other options that's good is very hard. But look no further, the sushi here is fire! Now when I talk sushi I'm talking nigiri and sashimi not rolls covered in sauce. Got the lunch omakase special and the oysters to start and man for the price and quality you can't touch this place. Service here is very good as well, sushi chefs were skillful and fast. Ambiance is different from other sushi restaurants, love the attention to detail as something as simple as the utensils they use. Overall great food and experience and I will return for more next time

The ramen noodles were very average. There was no deep flavor from the soup. It was very bland in flavor for me. The chashu was not thick, but average cut I'd say. The egg was okay. The corn was a nice touch of sweetness. The flavor of the broth I would consider notably below average while the ingredients were just average. San Mateo downtown still has better options of ramen such as Ramen Dojo among many.

I forgot to take pictures because I was just hungry & the food was sooo good. We came in at 8:30pm & it was busy which usually tells me the food will be good. We ordered the pork belly skewer, cashu ramen & double toro roll. They were all delicious! We didn't expect it to be this good but it definitely was above average. Service was great & informative & told us the history of their restaurant business which was nice to hear & interesting. The setting looked so cool. When you walk in, whoever was the interior design did a great job. I felt a bit like I was transported to Japan especially when they play that nature zen music. The stuff they use definitely has quality & culture. I was amused just by seasoner for the skewer. One side had a chilli spice & the other was salt. It was fun figuring out how to open that circle. Definitely will come back.

Yum! This place really wow'ed me. To be honest I'm always a bit on the fence about eating certain foods in strip malls and sushi is definitely up there. This restaurant is so unassuming from the outside but once you try the food you instantly know this place is special. The restaurant itself is small and cozy. It was very clean and the staff was incredibly nice and attentive. We ordered 2 bottles of sake. One was very dry and one tasted similar to Limoncello. I also tried a beer on the menu that I had never heard of. All of the beverages were great. I had the Maguro, the medium bluefin toro, and the salmon nigiri. I also had the Warrior's roll and all were excellent!! The fish tasted so fresh and everything was so thoughtfully prepared. This is one of those experiences that leaves you longing for more in the best way. Like damn that was so good I could eat that all over again! We also ordered chicken karaage for our toddler. It came with a spicy mayonnaise sauce and was very tasty. The breading was a little bit peppery for our little guy, but we enjoyed it. Not spicy to us but spicy for him. Baby daddy got Chashu ramen and the corn tempura. The tempura was a bigger order than he expected. He said both were good. Can't wait to come back! This place is a gem!!!

The food was delicious! The presentation of the food is great and aesthetic. We were originally enticed to this place because of their treasure box. The restaurant is a little hidden in this small plaza in the corner. Parking was fairly easy! The service was comforting and always checking up on us.

It is situated right in Bayhill shopping plaza. Came here for lunch on a weekday. We each ordered their sashimi lunch combo and a shared crispy tofu appetizer. Sashimi lunch combo comes with a standard salad and miso soup. They were okay. Crispy tofu was nice and hot. Sauce was nice. Sashimi was really the highlight. Good flavored and fresh. I felt full after. Service was nice. Friendly and fast. The interior was okay. A good solid place to meet up and catch up with friends.

The food here was excellent. I ordered the chirashi bowl and it was very generous with different cuts of premium fish. The sushi rice was solid as well. Great service that was charming and attentive. Definitely check this place out!

Seated immediately for lunch on weekend. Hostess was very nice. They had lunch specials. We ordered teriyaki salmon bento came with miso soup, salad, 2 pieces salmon fillet, and rice. We also ordered rainbow roll and dragon roll. All tasted great! Ambiance was perfect from decor to cleanliness even the bathroom ( maybe cause we were the first ones?)

Came here on a Friday night around 6:15pm. Was asked if we had a reservation- which we did not. They did not seat us right away even though there were at least four tables they could have seated us at. There were two reservations for 6:30 and one for 7:15. They asked if it was okay if we could wait for the table that was basically in the corner behind a wall since they were eating their dessert and would soon leave. Hmmm, four available tables but they wanted us to wait for the cubby table. We were about to leave because that made no sense. They eventually gave us one of the open tables not the cubby. Food was decent, served at the right temperature, nothing extremely memorable. Other than not being seated right at an open table, service was decent, no mishaps. Compared to the previous business (Sunny Sushi) I thought they were a bit lacking. They remodeled so the place looked quite nice and clean, definitely and upgrade. But, again food was just okay and quite pricey. I personally don't think the food was worth the price. I will say we enjoyed the Chicken karaage. It was fried to perfection and quite tasty. The dipping sauce that accompanied it was also quite tasty and made a good pairing for a nice variety in taste. Would return but would not be top choice to come back. If nearby and didn't want to drive elsewhere. Definitely, would not wait if there was a waitlist ahead of me. Sorry. I'm not into pricey just okay food. And the yummy chicken karaage is not enough to get me to make a special trip.

This review is long overdue. I've been back twice already. This is a hidden gem in San Bruno Cherry Plaza. The place is small and gets filled up quite easily. We made sure to come early as we didn't have a reservation. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. All the food that we ordered were delicious especially the creamy udon! Who would've thought Japanese cuisine offers an alfredo type pasta which is my favorite! Between the three visits We ordered the waygu skewers, spare ribs, pork belly, tempura and ramen. All of which were delicious especially! Definitely recommend to others!

Came here on a late Saturday evening and it was packed. There were 3 sushi chefs working tirelessly. Their sushi size was on a smaller scale and this should be the standards, similar to the sushi served in Japan. Their sashimi was fresh and hence came with a higher price tag. :) I wished they would offer more menu selections.

One of my favorite places to get sushi and geso karaage. I was totally ready to come and snap some pictures and give them a five star review but quality was off for some reason. The geso karaage is normally very notably fresh despite it being deep fried. But this time, it came out burnt and the quality of the squid was not as fresh. The squid was quite tough. The fish for the nigiri was a little slimy and moderately slimy for the sweet shrimp. Servers are always attentive and friendly. Decent amount of seating with tables, a high table, and a sushi bar. You can get away with no reservation for the most part but may be optimal for busier nights and if you have a preference for table seating.

Walk in at 9 place closes at 930 won't take us waste of time. Drove 30 minutes. Don't waste your time. Very rude

Truly an amazing dining service provided by not only our chef but from Jessica and Ting! We sat at the bar on a Monday night and it wasn't as busy because we came around 8pm and got the omakase menu! Definitely worth every penny! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming! It felt like coming home to a family making you a meal! Probably one of the best omakase spots I've had in the bay!

Came here to eat near the airport during friend's layover. It was amazzinggg. The interior is nice and feels elevated compared to normal japanese places. I got the uni and hamachi collar. Others ordered the skewers, unagi bowl, and ramen. All were very good. Wasabi octopus and karage and monk fish liver were for appetizers. The karage was so fresh and juicy. I really enjoyed the unagi bowl and hamachi collar. The unagi was soft and tasty served with alot of rice. The hamachi was tender and crispy at the edges. Delicious. The uni was fresh but it was unexpectedly served with a soy sauce which i didnt prefer. I like my uni naked. Everyone seemed to like their ramen and skewers as well. Very interested in omakasi and other offerings!!

Right now, this is my favorite restaurant in the SSF/San Bruno area and my favorite restaurant for Japanese food (not including omakase). The quality of the fish is excellent, and every plate is cooked perfectly. The tempura udon (not pictured) has become one of my favorite go-to comfort meal that is reasonably priced and filling. This the restaurant we go to every time we cannot decide what to eat. I highly recommend trying the toro, the salmon, the tempura udon, the ramen, and the specials such as the Chilean sea bass. It was perfectly flaky and soft. Service is always really efficient and nice. The restaurant inside has table tops, a shared high top table, and a sushi counter. It is good for a quick bite at the high top without waiting and good for larger parties at the tables. I recommend a reservation near the holidays.

The service here is absolutely fantastic and lightning-fast! The food is incredibly authentic, truly a delight for the senses. The sushi is phenomenal, and the udon? It's so creamy and unique that it will leave you craving more!

Surprise find in SB. Came here on Sunday evening and place was relatively busy. Was given the choice of table or bar. We selected the table. Was given the menu and QR code in table for drinks. Sooo many choices to try. We originally came to get some sushi but the noodles looked really good. We got the chashui ramen and the creamy udon, Giants Roll, beef tongue skewer and tea infused Panna cotta. Ramen was good with a decent portion sizes. The creamy udon was very creamy and flavor was good. We could've gotten this to share and a roll would've been enough for the two of us. We had leftovers and brought the udon home. The beef tongue skewer was really juicy and flavorful. Definitely would've ordered more if we were so full. But always have room for dessert. The panna cotta was the perfect size for an after the meal treat. The panna cotta was tea infused and decadent. Would recommend to order this.

Ichika is located in the Bayhill Shopping Center. Parking is easy. The restaurant itself is clean and modern. We come here for the wagyu nigiri. Tonight, I had the corn tempura, rainbow roll, salad and grilled sea bass. All were delicious. Our waitress was friendly and on point. She recommended dishes, was quick to refill our waters and take away empty dishes. Thank you for the great service!

The food is decent here, the ramen is pretty standard, not super unique. I like the grilled squid appetizer. Have not tried the sushi/sashimi here before.

Came here on a Friday night via online reservation, and was a bit concerned to see the restaurant in a sort of dead-looking mall...but it was great! If anything, it's a plus that there's a lot of parking and wasn't too crowded. Choose the bar seating for omakase! Super quick service and always a pleasure to be able to see everything. 8 piece omakase: from start to finish the chef chose quality pieces. Unfortunately not sure what they were called...but every piece was amazing. He went a little crazy with the wasabi on one of them but otherwise flavor and texture were on point. Chicken skewer: probably could have done without it, it was too salty for me personally. My partner enjoyed it though so he had 3/4 of it.