Ichika

We have been here probably 10 times and it’s always such an interesting and delicious experience! The nigiri is always cut beautifully. The chawanmushi and desserts change seasonally. Sake options are great. We always sit at the bar and sometimes we get some special cuts or some experimental dishes from the chef which always makes our night so much more fun!

If you’re looking for a traditional sushi experience, this is not the place. The chefs are not Japanese, and the style leans more toward fusion and creative presentation rather than authentic Edomae sushi. Personally, I found the food just okay — it didn’t live up to the price point. The balance between cost and quality simply isn’t there.

Impressed with the carefully and mindfully crafted menu. Great sake selection to pair with the food. Service was excellent. Every course was explained to us well. Ambience was great with non-intrusive music in the background We were there to celebrate mom's 81st birthday. They played a nice version of "Happy Birthday" on their audio system for her! Totally unexpected

A beautiful small space, cozy, zen and classy! We dined with our infant at the 5pm seating so they were quite accommodating in giving us a big table. Service was great. Our server was really attentive and explained the courses well. We loved their soy sauce made in-house by their chef! It felt special, top notch, and paired so well with their sashimi. All the courses were presented well and were paced appropriately. No dead-time between courses and we appreciated that since we had a small baby with us. The first course Sakizuke was a big wow for us! The scallops and monkfish liver were my favorite. All the courses following that were delightful, we loved the light and refreshing taste in most of them. My husband added the Supplement (uni, wagyu, otoro) to his serving, but we thought it was quite expensive since it came with one piece each and we didn’t know our Nigiri would come with uni and otoro already. The yakimono (grilled miso sea bass) were a bit too salty for our taste. Dessert was decent but not as impressive as the other courses. It was our first kaiseki experience and we were quite pleased overall. The price of $148 per person is reasonable at nice restaurants nowadays in my opinion. Good food, great space, a memorable meal to celebrate a special occasion.

Transported into a beautiful and calming interior when you walk past the doors. The staff do their upmost to make you feel at home and valued for being there. The sushi chef at the bar was so much fun to talk and so experienced in explaining every cut of fish and the presentation behind it. All of the staff made tasting notes as they delivered the food. Truly a wonderful experience and wonderful staff to interact with. Everything was beautifully presented. We would come back often if we lived in the area (we’re from Boston).

The service was very very good. Food was good as expected. We liked the uni/salmon roe nigiri, the special chawamushi, and grilled misi sea bass. We celebrated a family member birthday there; enjoyed much.

I had a really great experience! The service was warm and the ambience relaxing and intimate. The food was beautiful, delicious, had great variety, and was well paced. About $150pp pre tax/tip and you'll leave feeling comfortably full and happy! The chawanmushi and sushi rice in the nigiri were my favorites 😋

Came here for a celebration. Service was great and the food was even better, they explain all the dishes well. The sea bass with yuzu sauce was one of the best pieces of fish I've ever eaten.

Wow, where do I even start? Ichika completely exceeded my expectations and then some. And I just got back from eating at the world's number 1 ranked restaurant last week - Maido - and am fortunate to have eaten in the world's best restaurants. The food was absolutely incredible - every single dish was a work of art that actually tasted as amazing as it looked. The chef is doing some seriously creative stuff here while still nailing all the classics. I kept thinking "how did they come up with this?" with each course. The whole vibe of the place is perfect too. Feels upscale but not stuffy, and you can tell everyone working there genuinely loves what they do. Our server was on point the entire night - knew exactly when to check in, made great recommendations, and clearly knew their stuff. Honestly, this is the kind of meal that spoils you for other places. Already planning when I can come back!

Ichika is nestled inside the Lion's supermarket mall with tight spots where parking is difficult to find. Once inside the Kaiseki-style restaurant, decor is nice, and food pic-worthy. Out of the 9 courses, I love the Sea Bass, but the sauce is super sweet. Appetizers were nice, but the flavors and textures are a mishmash. In agreement with recent review, the abalone itself was flavorless, so I was glad they added the whisky mustard sauce and grilled veggies. The sashimi ,nigiri's and dessert were pretty average. Soup and chawan-mushi were below average. Nevertheless, there was a lot of food and I was pretty full after 5 courses. Accompanying us are first-time diners of this kind of restaurant and they enjoyed it.

I really wanted to like this place, but for the price and quality, everything fell short. We had friends that recommended this place the week before we went and they showed us their pictures --ours looked nothing like their photos even tho it was the same menu. Understandably menus change, but the quality of our food was questionable. Lets get into some of the dishes: Beef tongue chawanmushi - I couldn't even taste the beef tongue. It was like little pieces of mushrooms were cut up to impersonate beef tongue. The egg custard below was delicious, but we just couldn't get past how thick the sauce was to actually enjoy it. Seasonal sashimi - quite possibly the most basic plate of sashimi ever. Peep the scallop that was cut in half too. It seems like they prep this ahead of time, refrigerate it, then plop it on a plate when it's ready to be served hourssss later. Nigiri - probably the best dish we had all night, but also very underwhelming. Also very small. Grilled seabass - how do you mess up a grilled seabass? Serve it in sweet/thick yuzu sauce. Also, the skin was super chewy (weird) Snowcrab in dashi broth - just not good. The broth was salty and crab didn't taste fresh. Abalone - tasted microwaved. We left VERY underwhelmed, so underwhelmed that I felt compelled to write a review. We've been to a ton of omakases and this one was by far the worst.

I really want to like this place and give it a higher score. It's so close to home and the staff (maybe husband and wife) are remarkably sweet. The presentation and restaurant decors are on point. I am sure they put a lot of thoughts onto them. However, the omakse course meal just left me so much more to desire. Let's start with the worst. The marinated Chilean sea bass was overwhelmingly sweet with the sauce. The sashimi and nigiri were good, but I didn't come for that. I wanted something great for the price! That's the problem, most are all average. My favorite dish was the dessert.

Tried Ichikas omakase. Although some dishes were good, the actual fish seemed to be on repetition - which was disappointing. Also nigiri pieces were minimal unlike other places I've tried. Opted for the $50 supplemental of uni, Wagyu and Toro - which was underwhelming. We were the only party for the evening, so maybe something has changed in the quality. Service was great and our waiter was excellent.

Delicious food and outstanding service! We absolutely love this place. Every dish is packed with flavor--generous portions and beautifully presented. The atmosphere is so romantic, making it perfect for a special night out. The staff went above and beyond, even explaining the ingredients and how each dish is prepared. Truly a memorable experience!

I really enjoyed my meal here! They were very efficient - the next dish came out very quickly after I finished the previous course! My favorites were definitely the chef special sashimi selection - each fish was very unique and tasty. I also loved the dessert - we had a hojicha pudding with black sugar syrup and fruit. Overall I really enjoyed this meal!

This is truly a very worthwhile and generous omakase offering. For $168, you get 10 courses but some come with 3 nigiri's , sashimis, and mini dishes in 1 tray. You will certainly leave feeling satisfied and well fed. We enjoyed sitting at the bar to watch the chef prepare all the food. He was meticulous and very precise with each dish. If you enjoy omakase then don't miss out on this one. They are very timely with all the courses so we were glad to have made the 5pm reservation despite heavy traffic getting there. Happy Valentine's Day. See you on another occasion.

An amazing omakase experience in a hidden gem location! Suggested this spot for a nice dinner out with my parents and we were so surprised to find such a nice sushi place in milpitas. It's located in an unassuming plaza, but the interior design is amazing and really transports you into a whole different place. There aren't too many tables so it's definitely a more intimate meal, but there are high barriers between each table for privacy. For the food - we all thoroughly enjoyed the meal and I would say it's one of the more creative omakase sets I've tried. Everything was delicious and had stronger, more distinct flavors for each dish but I honestly prefer that to lighter flavors for omakase. Service was attentive and helpful, esp when explaining the dishes. We originally thought that there was no way we'd hit the 2 hour limit, but it honestly took us a little more than 1.5 hours to finish everything. Good for a leisurely meal, didn't feel rushed at all. Would definitely return for a special occasion or just to try more seasonal items! Would recommend :)

Ichika was my first omakase experience, and it gave me some ideas of what I would look for in future pursuits. Food - 3/5 A ten course meal, with everything leaving me with a feeling of mediocre satisfaction. As each stage of the meal came about, there was a harrowing realization that nothing particularly stood out. It was all decent food, but the flavor profiles were rather unassuming. I think for those who have a lighter palate, this might be for you; but, for those who want something with more pizazz and weight to it, this lacks it. For a price point of $168 per person, it was a confusing justification at the end of the meal - it simply did not feel worthy of that value given other potential restaurants and other omakases elsewhere. Service - 5/5 There is definitely an eye on the table, as the waiter and waitress would take the empty dishes immediately and serve the next meal relatively quickly. The food was explained well, the overall treatment very cordial, and there was definitely professionalism from the servers. Atmosphere - 4/5 Admittedly, the place is hard to be relaxed in. The store is on the smaller size, so patrons are a little closer to each other than I would have liked. Conversations felt muted due to the environment, and it was a little tense eating here. Overall impression - 3.5/5 If there are no other omakases nearby and you really want something more upscale for the one time, Ichika is...considerable. I didn't hate the experience, but it also did not live up to a built up preconception of omakases. From my own time there, I felt that in retrospect a plethora of other places would have left me far more satisfied. I think back to the old cliche in shows where a family goes to a stereotypically "fancy" place for the first time, only to come out hungry and disoriented: now I get it.

Very intimate setting, dimmed lighting and minimalistic. They only have omakase and you can even make a reservation online but you'll need to pay for a reservation fee that will go towards your meal. Oh my... it was a very long dinner but it does state online that it may take up to 2 hours. My friend and I were just exhausted from our flight and I guess it was a bad choice to come to an omakase that night. Besides all that, it was a very delicious meal. Everything was super fresh, you can taste the quality and I appreciate the chef's time and work of art. Service was also great the servers were nice and as each dish came by they would give an introduction.

Small tight-knit atmosphere . Got to sit at the bar for sushi omakase. Service was good. Sushi chef knew his stuff and was friendly. Food was awesome! The menu and selection of dishes and fish chosen were on point. Sushi was fresh. Had a great time. Despite not living in the area, I would not hesitate to come back!

Delicious food, gorgeous setting / presentation, and the loveliest people. What more can you ask for?

I made reservation to celebrate a birthday and when I arrived, they immediately gave us the option of a table or the bar. We chose the bar. We really had a great meal. Excellent interaction with the sushi chef and staff, great food, great service. It is pricey, but well worth it for a special occasion.

I was recommended this omakase restaurant and decided to book a reservation for a special occasion. This place exceeded expectations on all ends. The whole experience was great. They only serve 5 tables a seating which made it a very intimate experience. The staff was definitely the highlight; the two servers were so kind and attentive, and the chef was super conversational and so nice. It a very relaxed dinner, and we were served at our own personal pace. We were able to spend about 2 hours here enjoying every course, so I definitely recommend booking the second seating. The food speaks for itself (see photos). Everything was flavorful and light, and we were totally satisfied by the end of it. Our favorites were the chawan mushi (steamed egg), noodles, and of course the high quality nigiri that was prepared in front of us. We definitely recommend sitting at the bar. You have to try this location and I will definitely be coming back for more future celebrations.

Decent omakase style meal in milpitas! It's 5 or 6 courses composed of small bites, soups, fish, nigiri, and dessert. I really enjoyed the variety of foods served during this meal. While everything was good, nothing stood out as amazing.

A really nice omakase restaurant in a quiet, unsuspecting plaza with plenty of parking! We had a 9 course omakase prix fixe and decided against the add on but you can receive A5 wagyu, Hokkaido uni, and O'toro for $45. I really loved taking my two friends here for their first omakase! Restaurant itself is gorgeous. We loved the quiet, yet cozy ambience and the rocks, water, and colors just makes you feel transported to a different place. There were about 5 tables give or take and also a line of bar seating for those who would like to hangout with the chef! But reservations are definitely required and it's made through Tock on their website. There's a $50 deposit per person which is put toward your bill at the end. Each dish was incredible and carefully plated by the chef and described by our wonderful servers. The fish was so fresh and seasoned well. Rice never broke apart. And to top things off, the dessert was beautiful and tasty as well. The syrup given accentuates the flavor of the dessert, I poured mine with every couple bites but my friend dumped the entire bowl and enjoyed that too if you're a sweet tooth! Overall was an amazing experience from start to finish, from food to service, I would definitely bring more people back here! Just keep in mind that expectedly, the bill is going to be quite large with tip, tax and whatnot.

It's pretty difficult to find a decent Japanese omakase restaurant that's also within reasonable distance from our home, so we were pretty excited when we randomly discovered Ichika this summer when our son played t-ball in a Milpitas league. Husband and I came here for our wedding anniversary and it was awesome! Here is the menu that night: 1. Sakizuke: Chef's Choice appetizer 2. Noodle: somen with uni in dashi broth 3. Sashimi: Chef's hand-picked selection 4. Abalone: butter yaki 5. Chawan-mushi: stewed beef tongue, steamed Japanese beef, egg custard 6. Crab Kamameshi: crab meat rice with uni 7. Yakimono: grilled miso marinated Chilean sea bass 8. Monaka: caviar with otoro on Japanese crisp wafer 9. Soup: snow crab in dashi broth 10. Wagashi: seasonal dessert The chawan-mushi was probably very unexpected because it came out brown (from the beef stew vs. the usual yellow egg). The monaka filling was delicious but the wafer was not as crispy once you start biting into it, so that kind of sad. They ran out of snow crab at the end so they made some adjustments to the rice and the soup, which still turned out okay! The dessert was a hojicha jelly topped with fruits and you can drizzle syrup on top also - YUM! The restaurant is large enough to comfortably seat at least 5 parties of 4 (2 booths, 2 tables, & 1 traditional), in addition to sushi bar seating. The service was wonderful from the moment we stepped into the restaurant until the end of the meal service. I'm really glad we found this place and got a chance to try it. Will definitely keep this place in mind for future special occasions!

Went here to celebrate an early birthday and another occasion and the experience was pretty good. At first glance through the photos, the interior look spacious but it really isn't. The place is located inside a plaza w/ a tons of random shops, restaurants, bakery, and a 99 ranch market. Parking can be difficult (what we noticed when left) but since we had our reservation at 5pm, there was plenty of parking. There's 2 chefs and 2 waitresses, all are really nice and welcoming. We appreciated the booth seating, as it gave us some privacy from the surrounding tables. Interior design was very modern, even down to their utensils. Ambience was nice - sometimes it got too loud but other times, it was dead silent. Maybe it's just the tables surrounding us. NOW for the food. I felt like the first dish that they brought out to us was packed w/ a ton of heavy flavor and too much of it at the same time. There was a lot of things that I wish they would've done differently. For one, and this is just IMO, but I wish they would've started out a warm course or something lighter on the palette. I feel like it's important to ease your guests into your experience, rather than one heavy meal after another... By "heavy" I meant like literally the first dish we had was all unique flavors, including a taste of lavender w/ a shrimp. Another huge disappointment for me was the egg custard. Idk what it was but I did not enjoy this at all. It was dense, cold, and just didn't taste as delicious as it looked. I've had better egg custard for sure, but this was one was just a no-no. I couldn't finish mine so I gave it to my bf, but he didn't like it either. I felt like it was disrespectful to have them pick it up and saw that we didn't finish it but honestly, it wasn't appetizing. I wish they could've asked for suggestions/recommendations on how to improve (FYI: some places do), but there was no way I could've finished that. Everything else was pretty tasty and the experience was good nonetheless. My favorite dish: dessert. Just absolutely delicious. If you're looking to do casual date night or celebrate an occasion without going too far, then I would recommend this place. But if you're looking for a top-notch experience, I don't think this place will fit.

Ideally, I'd give Ichika a 3.5/5. Ichika in Milpitas offers a unique take on Kaiseki, a multi-course Japanese fine dining experience. The restaurant itself boasts a beautiful ambiance, with a mix of modern and traditional elements. Booths and sunken seating provide a great setting for groups, while natural materials and handcrafted furniture create a modern and sophisticated atmosphere. The service at Ichika was excellent. The staff was attentive and friendly, and the chef himself was happy to chat and answer questions. However, the omakase experience itself had some hits and misses. For a fixed price of $148 per person, the menu offers a seasonal selection of dishes. Our omakase experience included - Sakizuke: This was a solid start. It included 4 appetizers - 1. abalone 2. sweet shrimp, and hotate 3. gobo (burdock root) 4. seaweed and crab. All four appetizers, including the standout sweet shrimp and hotate (scallop), were fresh and delicious. Tsukuri (sashimi): The sashimi course featured four different types of fish, showcasing the quality of the ingredients. These 4 fishes were - 1. Kanpachi 2. Hotate 3. Kurodai 4. Akami (bluefin tuna) The hotate (sweet and delicious) and the bluefin tuna were the highlights of this course. Reisei Chawanmushi (cold steamed egg custard): Unfortunately, this dish fell flat. The custard itself lacked flavor, and while the foamy sauce helped a bit, it wasn't enough to save it. Nigiri (6 pieces of premium cuts): The first round of nigiri included 3 interesting pieces - 1. Hirame (flounder) with truffle salt was a unique twist 2. The Shima aji (stripejack) with ginger was a classic combination. 3. Iwana (Arctic char from Iceland) Hirame and Iwana were my favorites from this nigiri round. The second round of nigir also included 3 pieces of premium cuts of fish - 1. Kinmedai (golden eye snapper) 2. Soy cured fatty tuna 3. Hokkaido uni with slamon roe The fatty tuna was buttery and soft (melt-in-your-mouth texture), and the Hokkaido uni with salmon roe was a perfect combination of sweet and salty. These 2 nigiri pieces definitely offered the rich flavors you expect in a high-end omakase. However, a heads up for those sensitive to wasabi - all the nigiri came quite generous with it. You can definitely request the chef to go lighter on the wasabi. Agemono (tempura): Both the pickled tempura and sweet potato in this course were a bit bland. A sprinkle of salt or a more flavorful dipping sauce would have been a welcome improvement. Ankake (fish in broth): This savory dish with white fish in a dashi broth was a comforting addition to the meal. Monaka (caviar and otoro): Outside of the nigiri pieces, this dish was the star of the show! The combination of caviar and melt-in-your-mouth otoro (fatty tuna belly) on a crisp wafer was a delicious burst of salty and creamy. Suimono (soup): The shrimp ball, mochi (rice cake), and sakura (cherry blossom) in this 7soup were a nice way to cleanse the palate before dessert. Though, as with other dishes, this dish lacked salt, too. Dessert (hojicha ice cream): The hojicha ice cream itself was good, but it lacked sweetness on its own. The provided honey black syrup helped, but overall, the dessert felt a bit underwhelming. In conclusion, Ichika offers a beautiful ambiance, friendly service, and a good variety of dishes in their omakase menu. However, some courses could benefit from stronger flavors and more creative execution. For the price point, I would rate it a 3-star experience. I wish they included more nigiri pieces in their omakase experience.

We came here on a Friday night, and really enjoyed the meal. Every course was so delicious and the presentation was amazing. For $148 per person, the amount of food was quite a lot and I felt very full afterwards. We also ordered the $50 supplement (otoro, uni, and a5 wagyu nigiri) and of course it was amazing. All the sushi tasted super fresh, and I was savoring each bite. The vibe inside is also super nice and intimate. And the waiter and waitress here were super sweet and food came out so fast. They also had a unique foam soy sauce which was really cool. Would definitely come back here many times!!

Delicious kaiseki style omakase meal. Every dish was outstanding. Restaurant is located in Milpitas strip mall which is a bit random but don't let that deter you. The taste and quality of food is amazing. Would recommend. Portions are decent, left feeling full.

The restaurant is a bit hidden away, hole in the wall type of place, but once you enter, you find that it's got such an elegant ambiance. The lighting, the music, everything makes you feel calm and sets the mood for a great date. We were greeted right away by our hostess and brought to our seat. This place mainly offers an 8-course meal for $128, but you can always add other things to your meal. Everything is carefully crafted by the master chef and sushi chef. Each piece of appetizer we had was a different texture and different flavor. Then came the sashimi, I really liked their homemade soysauce which was bubbly and light as to not overpower the flavor of the fish. The steamed egg and crab meat was PERFECTION! Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The miso glazed sea bass was my favorite, I was sad I finished it so fast and wanted more. The clam soup was a great palate cleanser for the dessert. For dessert, it was a light horchata pudding which was fabulous. The horchata flavor was so strong and not too sweet, but you can adjust with the syrup they give you on the side. Overall it was a great experience. I would definitely recommend to try this place out!

First real omakase experience I've had in a while, and it was worth every penny! My sister found it while researching places to eat at. Criteria: - Food has to be excellent. - Must be able to accommodate gluten-free for one of our friends. We called before making a reservation for their 5 p.m. seating, and Ichika confirmed they could do a separate gluten-free menu. And they did not disappoint: Both the gluten-free and regular menu items were tasty and beautifully presented. The servers took their time explaining the ingredients in each dish and also made sure to let our friend know what was NOT included in her version so she could eat worry-free. The presentation was top notch, and so was the food quality. We all opted to add the supplement, which included Hokkaido uni, wagyu beef, and tuna belly -- highly recommend because it was absolutely worth it. The service was attentive without being overbearing, and everyone was really nice. Other reviews have mentioned this, but from the outside, you wouldn't expect much because the restaurant is located in a strip mall. But it feels like a Michelin-style restaurant the minute you step inside due to the thoughtful decor. I would absolutely go back and would recommend this place to anyone looking for a great place for omakase in a beautiful setting. Great place for a date too! (Maybe not a first date because it can be pricey.)

This place somehow manages to make a strip mall feel like a luxury restaurant in a Tokyo basement. We did a set menu option and no regrets at all, everything was delicious and authentic. The sushi is especially good with excellent rice texture and flavor. The service was attentive though maybe a little fast- they do want you out by the 2hr mark. I will definitely come again when I want a special occasion Japanese experience.

Ichika is located in a very unassuming plaza in Milpitas. Lots of Chinese storefronts in this random plaza that is connected with lion market. Once you walk in the door, it's a really nice ambiance inside! Service was great. I made a quick reservation online the day of at 3:30pm for a 5pm seating. They let us choose where we wanted to sit when we got there. Sushi bar of course! Yay! It was nice to see the chefs preparing the plates. We also had great drinks and the food came quickly as we had a time restraint for dinner (1.5 hrs roughly). Dinner was $148 per person and there's a $50 supplemental 3 piece nigiri that we opted for. Seared wagyu, otoro, and Hokkaido uni. Yes please! The supplement nigiris were delicious and everything came out great. It's a nice place to celebrate something or just come for a nice meal. There was sashimi, oysters, nigiri, somen with uni and Dashi broth. Everything was delicious. There was one or two small plates I didn't care too much for but I loved not having to think about what to order. Pair it with some nice sake or unique beers, and you have yourself a fun night! The only caveat is this meal cost about $600 for the 2 of us with alcohol and tip. So, just you know, things add up. Anyway, thanks for the great meal, ichika!

A lovely restaurant with fantastic service, Emily was super nice to us. We really enjoyed the food and variety of dishes. This is one of the best omakase I have ever eaten. I strongly recommend this restaurant.

Very very thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Ichika! Luckily I was able to make a reservation a few days in advance, and love that you are able to note if you are celebrating something! More to come on this later - From the outside it looks almost sketch but the inside is beautiful. All the servers are incredibly welcoming, friendly, and professional. For a prix fixe meal the pricing was not too terrible, but of course not on the lower end. Everything we ate was delicious.. the quality of the sashimi really made us and our tastebuds happy. If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, etc the music suddenly begins playing a fancy John Legend Happy Birthday song or a song about love as the servers bring your dessert. It definitely makes you smile and feel special! I will say though, that this is one of the prix fixe meals that we left not feeling super full - we felt like we could eat more. Usually prix fixe meals looks small but are actually very filling. Nevertheless, it was a great experience and I would recommend coming here if you are celebrating something nice and want to spend some money :)

The best friend took me here for a belated birthday dinner. We're always on a hunt for some fine dining experiences and just so happen to land in Milpitas for this Kaiseki style dinner. She made a reservation online the day of and had no issues securing seating for the two of us. We arrived around 6pm and were the first ones to be greeted for the evening. The sous-chef and servers were all really kind, inviting, and elegant to interact with. For a Tuesday evening, this was on the Prix Fixe menu for $128 per person before drinks and gratuity -- 1) APPETIZER: Chef's Choice Starters 2) SEASONAL SASHIMI: Chef's Choice Seasonal Seafood Sashimi 3) KANI CHAWANMUSHI: Steamed Egg with Crab Meat 4) NIGIRI: Chef's Choice Seasonal Nigiri 3 pc 5) GRILLED: Grilled Sea Bass Marinated in Miso 6) NIGIRI: Chef's Choice Seasonal Nigiri 2 pc 7) SOUP: Japanese Clear Clam Soup 8) DESSERT: Seasonal Dessert Since we're on the topic of the menu, I want to share that the food was excellent. The cuts and quality of the sashimi were very thoughtful and owned it's distinct flavor with every bite. The presentation to each course were intentional with embraced the beautiful art and culture an authentic Japanese cuisine offers. I enjoyed how our server would explain what order to eat each serving in as it paved the way for our palate to prepare for each tasting. Compliments to the chef and sous-chefs for taking such pride in the selection and makeup of each course. The ambiance is on the romantic side -- calm, quiet, and intimate. This is good choice for dining if you're celebrating an anniversary, a birthday, or trying to impress on a first date (yes fellas - take notes!). All in all, it was another sophisticated experience in the world of fine dining. Would not mind returning again to try another prix fixe menu.

Came here for our first tasting menu experience ever. This review is long overdue ichicka was everything and more at a great price point. The restaurant itself is in a strip mall and genuinely looks like nothing. Just some blacked out windows with a small menu. The inside is gorgeous and small - with a sushi bar and a handful of tables. I made my reservation online and deposit is required. I noted my fiancé has a peanut allergy and the restaurant was quick to respond and super friendly. As for the tasting menu, everything was exquisite. I think the soup course was the only one I truly didn't care for. Presentation of the food is A+, with each dish having unique plates and plating. One thing that we were particularly fond of was their foamy soy sauce. So delicious! All the fish was fresh as well. Service was amazing. We had two servers and both were super nice. They also gave us some complimentary sake for my fiancé's birthday, and played a birthday song for him. If you're new to tasting menus and looking for something delicious and more on the affordable side, Ichika is your spot!

Most definitely didn't expect the elegant interior decor from the nondescript exterior and the fact it's situated in the middle of a strip mall in Milpitas. That said, the food was fantastic (all of the sushi were quality) and service was top notch. I think this was great value for the money and worth visiting.

A soft ambiance spot for quality omakase? Come here for your next special meal. My husband brought me here for my birthday. I was so surprised it looked so secretive and was a beautiful spot. Beautiful plating and quality ingredients. We came on a Sunday night with a reservation, it's hard to tell this was a spot for secret omakase from outside, so definitely low key! We had wonderful time & service was attentive with the tea & water throughout. Ichika's omakase as of 1/2024 is $128 per person. The birthday had a subtle candle which I loved & for those who don't like the staff singing at them, they played John Legend's happy birthday which was wayyyy wayyy more tasteful

We loved everything here at Ichika! From the service, ambiance and the food, so worth it! It was $128 per person for an 8-course meal and will definitely come back. Don't forget to book a reservation as they get busy. There is a non refundable deposit of $50 per person so no backing out lol.

Yummy! First off, the staff are so sweet!! They were really accommodating when we ended up coming 30 mins late. You have a 2 hour window to eat for the time you book. There's 8 courses and it was filling! The fish was *chefs kiss*. Definitely recommend coming here if you have a chance.

*LOCATION* We visited the restaurant on a Friday ~7:45pm for a friend's dinner. There was plenty of free parking in the plaza and we didn't have any trouble looking for spots. The outside did NOT look like a restaurant at all. The door was closed and windows were all blacked out. The only indicator that it was a restaurant was the stand with the menu on it LOL *WAIT TIME* My group of 3 had a reservation so there was no wait time. The sushi bar was full and there was a medium-sized group at one of the other tables. We got to choose between either the big table up front or one of the booths in the back. We chose the latter so that we could be closer to the sushi bar & chef. *FOOD* All 3 of us opted for the prix fixe at $128 per person. It came with multiple courses and there was the option to add on additional items separately if we wanted. I was excited when each course came out because the presentation of each dish was sooo beautiful. The appetizers were interesting (some I liked more than others hahaha) but the fish were all really fresh and tasty. My favorites were the steamed egg custard and uni nigiri. The warm clam soup at the end was also a nice way to tie everything together. I thought I was too full to eat the dessert until it came out! It was a unique take on panna cotta (texture is more firm) with matcha powder/mochi and honey(?) drizzle. I literally scraped the bowl clean LOL *SERVICE* Waiters were all friendly, attentive and nice. I didn't like the set-up of the booths because the inside seats are too far for the waiter to reach. It was an awkward transition between each course because I had to be the "middle person" to pass the plates back and forth. It would have been nice it they kept a copy of the prix fixe menu at the table so we could reference back to each course. *AMBIENCE* Although the outside looks sus, the interior is much *aesthetics*. There is nice mood lighting and definitely gives off classy modern Japanese vibes. This place would be a good choice for a nice (& expensive) date night or a birthday celebration!

Food is delicious, but Service is even better - Michelin star. They let us stay late because we are having a good time. They even change the music note to match with the mood. Made sure our Uber arrived before closing the door as we were the last leave

Food 9 course prix fixe meal for $148 Sunomono Salad Japanese Vinegar Salad Appetizer Chef's Choice Starters Seasonal Sashimi Chef's Choice Seasonal Seafood Sashimi CHAWANMUSHI Beef Tongue Stew Steamed Egg Custard NIGIRI I Chef's Choice Seasonal Nigiri Part I Sawara Saikyo-Yaki Spanish Mackerel, Mixed grains rice, Mountain with Yam sauce NIGIRI II Chef's Choice Premium Nigiri Part |1 (O-toro, A5 Wagyu, Hokkaido Uni Soup Snow Crab Claw Umami Soup Dessert Seasonal Dessert All of three dishes were exceptional and the price point was worth it. I would definitely come back again. Customer Service Very attentive customer service throughout the dining experience. This was a reservation placed in advance and the restaurant capacity wasn't fully booked. Ambiance Dim lighting and perfect setting for a nice dinner to celebrate any occasion. There were some seating areas that had zen-like decor with bamboo and rocks.

I came here for my boyfriend's birthday! It's located in an old plaza. My boyfriend was so confused. It honestly transports you into a whole new world. The interior is super nice! Black and gold all around, with dim lighting. Prepare yourself to stay for around 2 hours since they time everything and everybody is eating at the same pace. (I guess it depends on your reservation). We had a reservation at 7:30pm and we left the restaurant at 9:30pm. We got the set menu without the supplement! It was honestly enough for my boyfriend and me! Everything was really good, but I thought the sashimi assortment was a little small (this was the first sashimi assortment with hamachi, tuna, and salmon). I also felt they didn't give us that much ở tổ rõ in the cracker :/ I recommend sitting at the bar to talk with the sushi chef!

Everything about this place is amazing! I came here to celebrate a 5 year anniversary and felt so taken care of the entire time. Reservations were super easy to make. You make a reservation online and put down a deposit to secure your booking. I made our reservation the next night and didn't have to worry about it being fully booked. I liked this because we had to pay the deposit and we can be fickle so I wanted to be 100% committed. Once we arrived, there was plenty of parking. The outside just looked dark but once we walked in, we were in awe of how beautiful it was. Absolutely loved the decor. We were greeted and seated immediately. The hostess/waitress explained the menu and our experience started right away. It was a 8-course meal for $128 per person. The six piece appetizer was delicious, offered lots of variety, and was actually substantial. They make their own soy sauce which I thought was so cool. The Steamed Egg with Crab Meat was perfectly steamed, which I've seen other restaurants mess up. One of our favorites was the Grilled Sea Bass Marinated in Miso! I wanted seconds of the sea bass and desperately want this recipe. One of the seasonal nigiri, the fatty toro, was ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. I loved every bit of it. And to top everything off, the dessert that day was CHEF'S KISS!!! It was some sort of hojicha pudding with black honey on the side so we could adjust the sweetness to our liking. When they brought out the dessert, they played "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran and dedicated the song to us for our anniversary which we thought was so sweet and personal. I'm quite skeptical when it comes to going to expensive places like this, but it was well worth every dime. We had a great experience, the food was delicious and filling, and it was quite memorable.

Great price and quality omakase at ICHIKA! For a nice restaurant, its unexpectedly located in a busy Asian shopping plaza. It's nestled between several other businesses with a small sign, so if you blink, you might miss it! They have a couple of tatami booths, regular booths, and a bar. It atmosphere is quiet here, so you can really focus on the tastes and textures of the food and savor your meal. Servers are kind and welcoming. We got their prix fixe menu, and this included eight courses. The appetizer course was a beautifully presented variety of six different small dishes, including the most tender, savory beef, scallop, sweet shrimp, tofu, and veggie dishes. Next, was a sashimi course of three different fishes, all very fresh and delicious. After that was their incredible chawanmushi. The egg custard was perfectly steamed with crab meat and ikura on top. Following that was the Chef's Choice seasonal nigiri course. Then was the Grilled sea bass marinated in miso. It literally melted in my mouth! We had yet another nigiri course after that. I love how they spread the sashimi/nigiri out, so you get to enjoy some throughout the meal! This course was my favorite of the entire meal. It was a perfectly seared piece of wagyu nigiri along with a tofu custard with uni and ikura on top. AMAZING! The last savory course was a Japanese clear clam soup. Warm and comforting. Lastly, for dessert, we had a matcha parfait. It was mostly cream with some cake at the bottom and some fruit and mochi on top. Overall, I really enjoyed the omakase experience here!

A cute little spot in Milpitas. My partner and I went here for celebrate our anniversary and we had a great time. The server and the sushi chef were attentive. The food was delicious and we ordered a sake that came in a really cute bottle and shot glass set. It's priced well for omakase and would come here again

Where do I even start! Okay firstly the staff was so kind - nice - and accommodating. I celebrated my birthday dinner here with my sisters and my mom - the staff really made it an amazing experience ! We all did the omakase dinner & based on our taste and dishes we are having they recommended a few delicious sake bottles that we could pair with our dinner. My mom isn't a big drinker so the taste of drinks is really important to her - she loved every single recommendation! Next, the ambiance was just so warm and elegant. I loved the decoration but the atmosphere also made us feel so comfortable :) Now of course the food - every single dish was so thoughtful curated and mouthwatering ! I loved the presentation. The fish was very fresh ! I think the kani chawanmushi was probably one of the best I've had ~ and this is always the dish I look forward to when trying omakase Experiences for special occasions :) I can't wait to come back !

A wonderfully low-lit ambiance with attentive service and great food! My partner and I found the pace in which each course came out was well-timed. Each course tasted unique, fresh, and cohesive. We would definitely consider coming back again as their menu changes!

Finally visited Ichika for a Friday date night. It was rly easy making a reservation online. Parking here is usually crowded and you might not even notice Ichika's door when you arrive. Upon stepping into the restaurant, the interior is super cozy. Tables are spacious and they even have a table where you sit in the floor. We did the $128/pp prix fixe menu which included 8 courses. Our first appetizer course was already so many dishes! The fish here is plump and fresh. We also opted to add on a couple more nigiris (salmon & wagyu). I didn't rly care for the matcha tiramisu because it was too bitter and dry for my taste but that's the only qualm I had. Even tho this is fine dining, the environment was more laid back which made us feel more comfortable. Our waitress was very attentive and so nice. They came around to fill our water and hot tea several times. This is definitely a more affordable omakase option and I think it was worth it!

Ema hidden gem. Exquisite food and ambiance. Wonderful service. Some of the best seafood I've had. Love how it's prix fixe so I don't have to think about what to order.

Unexpected in the middle of a strip mall, once inside the door, ambiance changes to high end Japanese restaurant. What a hidden gem! Each bite of food was tasteful. Service was great! Be prepared to splurge! Appetizer to dessert, full course awaits.

We just came here for a belated valentines day celebration, and the service, food, and ambience at this place was amazing! Very high quality dishes served here (I was personally in love with the dessert :3) 10/10 experience!

I was soooo excited when this place opened and honestly did have some high expectations - esp. knowing it would be an Omakase experience. To be fair the menu is seasonal and everchanging here, so my experience might be based off a specific menu that no longer exists - but altogether compared to so many other places in the bay - I think this place did fall short from expectations given the price. It was, all in all - a great experience, environment, and wonderful service - but food unfortunately was the underwhelming part. I may go back though and give it another shot per a different season menu. The restaurant is situated in a (kind of random) Asian plaza, but once you walk in - it's a completely different vibe...beautifully modern, contemporary, and intimate. Menu as noted - is pre-fixed Omakase and seasonal. Our food experience: (1) Ocean Garden Salad - this fell short, a bit messy in presentation and taste alike - little too much dressing and a little too much going on where the seafood which really should be the main attraction was kind of lost. (2) Sashimi - this was good overall, presented much neater - fish was fresh, but I do think portion was very little compared to what I've had at other places. (3) Golden Egg Tofu - the king crab was cooked perfectly, but I honestly didn't care much for the fried noodle and or the mushroom broth overall. (4) Wagyu beef - was tender, a little overcooked per my liking (usually like it bit more pink) but still fatty/juicy overall. The veggies and accompaniments were basic. (5) Nigiri - was fresh, but with only 4 pieces I think it was def. underwhelming compared to other places. It def. can at least be presented on a smaller plate for a more visually appealing image. (6) Temptation (Uni) - this was my least favorite, I LOVE Uni and having it in this apple was def. not my preference. The apple flavor was just too strong and took away from the Uni completely. Def. not worth the upgraded price. (7) Clam broth - enjoyed this soup, it was light and refreshing while the clams were cooked perfectly. (8) Surf & Turf - this was interesting - Beef tongue was bomb, Soba noodz OK, Seabass lacking flavor, Burdock eel unique/tasty, and the other two small fish apps were actually super tasty/my fave. (9) Matcha Tofu Tiramisu Dessert - this was very tasty but legit just way too much and big. Given everything was so petite portioned it was odd that this came out the way it did. And as tasty as it was, we def. were just not able to finish it.

Excellent omakase. Superb service. Everything was delicious. Nondescript location but trust, excellent.