Slow service but food was delish. Good enough for me to take pictures for this review.
(3)
Tiffany C.
Based on the reviews I was expecting a better experience than what I had. It looked like a slow night but for some reason the waiters kept forgetting to bring our drinks. I had to remind them 3x. The tempura was tasteless. We were the only table not being paid attention to. It looked like the table next to us were regulars so they were visited often while we were not. Bad service. Dont go if youre a visitor or a minority because you will not get the service that the other reviewers claim. Again, this was a slow night with 3 chefs working. No excuse for the service.
(1)
Melissa T.
Love the sushi! You get so much for your money! I'm definitely going back!
(4)
Megan S.
If this was my first experience with sushi, I don't think I would ever try it again. First the pieces of my california roll were way too big for any normal sized mouth of any person. The spicy tuna rolls were thankfully smaller, but tasted too fishy (and I have eat many of them and LOVE LOVE a good tuna roll). The tempura dishes ordered at the table were done alright, but didn't all (even within one dish) come out at the same time. The service was really slow which wasn't any good for us as we were dining with 2 toddlers.
(1)
Thuy H.
The sushi here is ok. It is on my short list of good sushi restaurants in Tampa bay. What I like about this place is that they have a sashimi plate that isn't insulting. You get a decent amount of fish for the price compared to other places where you get half the fish for the same price. The food comes out relatively quickly and you can't go wrong with that. The service is friendly. I haven't had a bad experience here yet.
(3)
Luis M.
These people are great. They are small and quite, but warm and cozy. The sushi is also delicious, generous portions and fantastic service.
(4)
Carlos H.
My friend and I came here today for her first sushi experience, whenever I go with friends for their first sushi time I want them to have a great one, and Ichiban delivered well. The sushi was fresh and the lunch prices weren't too high, for poor college students. I had a lunch box of sushi and assorted sides while my friend had Korean BBQ with miso salad and soup, and had some of my sushi. She enjoyed it a lot. They also have sit down seating here so it was cool sitting down on the pillows and feeling like I was in an old Japanese building. My only complaint was the waiting was slow, but since we were in no rush it was no real issue. Definitely check it out if you're in the neighborhood, it may not be number one like its name implies, but its still one of the good ones.
(3)
Amy Z.
Always friendly staff and fresh sushi. Loving me some Mexican rolls and miso soup today!
(4)
Lana D.
The Best sashimi place in the whole Tampa bay area. By far!
(5)
Susie F.
Me and my family went there today, They were very busy even when they are busy the service still very good, We love their Sashimi combo and the new tuna tartar , They are very generous on the portion, Each time when we finish always got the left over for the next day lunch. Today we have try their pink lady , It was blow us away with their special sauce, One thing I like about Ichiban is they make their own eel sauce , It is so good, That's the reason we go there once a week
(5)
Courtney G.
Loved the Bento Box here! Korean BBQ beef, ginger salad, chicken/veggie Tempura, and sticky rice. Good service and adorable place overall.
(4)
M H.
This is one of my favorite sushi spots in Tampa. I've been a regular since undergrad at USF. Although there's a number of sushi bars all around, I'll always have a soft spot for Ichiban no matter where I travel to. Their menu offers a great selection of food with reasonable prices. The ambiance is charming and imitates outdoor dining at night some place far away. It has old time charm, very different than the modern sushi restaurants now. They also have a small room for floor seating if you're a fan of intimate space (I am). I'm usually greeted by the familiar wait staff who are friendly and remember who I am. Compared to other sushi places, they serve the most generous cut of fish. For lunch, they offer a few options for box sets including sashimi, rolls, and side items. Great price for the food. My usual: - Volcano Topping Roll - Mike's Roll - Crunchy Baked Salmon Roll - Hurricane Roll - Key West Roll - Sushi Pizza - Rainbow Roll - Variety of Sashimi
(4)
Jimmy B.
This is my most often visited sushi place. I drive from South Tampa all the way up to USF area to go here. The fish is fresh, the portions are appropriate, and the price is good. While there are a couple of other sushi restaurants that I prefer when I have a little extra money, such as Wasabi on Bruce B. Downs in New Tampa or Samurai Blue in Ybor City -- I most frequently visit Ichiban when I am looking for a sushi fix. This place is home to my favorite roll of all time. Their Volcano Roll is unlike any roll I have ever had anywhere else, and is also unlike any Volcano Roll I have ever had anywhere else. This roll is huge, so if you are hungry it's your best bet. It will run you like $11, which is one of their more expensive rolls, but it really is worth it. You also can't go wrong with their selection of Bento Boxes, they have many different combinations available for any taste, including cooked food and sushi. If you sit at the sushi bar, they will give you a free little seaweed and imitation crab salad. The sushi menu is extensive, with a lot of different options. They have beer, wine, and sake. Love this place!
(4)
Danesh J.
Ate here some time ago. Use to go every Thursday for a few weeks. The rice plates are very tasty and light. Lunch boxes are the way to go.
(3)
Priscilla S.
I entered Ichiban by myself on a whim because I desperately wanted a good Japanese lunch. The place is very close to USF Tampa campus, and I like going somewhere close to school or on my way home. The restaurant reminds me of an authentic Japanese sushi place in Japan, very tight spaced and busy. The sushi bar is adjacent to the entrance and the back is somewhat hidden until you go back where the restrooms are. The place looks unorganized, but it's still a nice place to just chill. The lunch specials are reasonably priced ($9-$12) for the portions. I usually got the same Lunch box B and it comes with soup or salad. The only thing that got me was that they cut their sushi rolls in 6 rather than in 8 pieces. It makes the pieces a little to wide to eat. One time I sat there to eat, the sushi chef (who was actually Japanese) gave me a tangy cucumber salad which was really good. I went again with a friend and she ordered the volcano roll. We were both disappointed because the crab concoction was not as spicy and somewhat oily. It wasn't good and I've had better. Overall, the food is good, but not amazing. I was kind of disappointed since that place is run by Japanese people and has been there almost forever (since my mom used to work there at my age!) and my expectations were higher. I haven't been back there for awhile because I found Tokyo's lunch boxes more reasonable.
(3)
Ben V.
Good, well thought out menu but more expensive than I will pay for JUST good sushi. Best choice however within the USF proximity.
(3)
Jillian T.
I visited Ichiban on 1/1/10 with a friend at about 7:30 PM. The restaurant appeared to be mostly empty, two or three tables full and a handful of people sitting at the sushi bar. The atmosphere is fairly standard, but something about the decor (or perhaps it was the location in the strip center) seemed a little cheap. Despite not being super chatty, our server was still personable and laughed with my friend and I more than once. We opted out of ordering appetizers and went straight for a variety of rolls to share. We were pleasantly surprised when our rolls came out ten minutes after placing our order. I have never had that little of a wait time before for sushi. My favorite roll by far was sundried tomato and avocado (extremely reasonably priced- I think $3.75!). I have never seen sundried tomato before on a sushi menu and was too intrigued not to try it. The flavors meshed very well. Also good was the Crunchy Baked Salmon roll. The serving sizes were a bit smaller than average, but with the low prices I feel as though things evened out. My only major gripe was that after serving us the sushi, our server did not return to our table for nearly 20 minutes, though she was clearly not busy during this time. I finally had to flag her down to get water refills as well as our check. If I am in the area again and craving sushi, I will definitely return to Ichiban, however, the chances of me seeking it out again are slim.
(4)
Cindy Y.
I went with a friend of mine to Ichiban tonight. There was a bit of a line inside (two parties in front of us, but the place is a little small), however we got seated pretty quickly because we were only a party of two. I ordered an Ichiban Special Dinner (Bento) Box for about $16. I also ordered edamame (soybeans) for about $3-$4. The soybeans were warm and nice, just how you'd expect them to be. Then the bento box came out. There was so much stuff! The menu description only said shrimp tempura, rice, pickled daikon, beef teriyaki with onions and chicken katsu (small portion though) with ketchup, but it also came with about 4 pieces of veggie tempura as well. I was pretty surprised. Everything was so good. I kind of wished that the katsu was a little more plump/jucier, but I can't really complain, since it's supposed to be a sample of everything in one box. The teriyaki was sweet and savory, and tempura was warm and yummy. The waitress was a nice cute lady who was really helpful and got everything done right, even as she went around the room busy serving other people. The bento box also came with both soup and salad, a deal. It'll really fill you up unless you have a huge appetite; I came in neither super hungry nor full/satiated.
(4)
J A.
Miso soup and hurricane roll good. Tempura appetizer with shrimp is more veggie than shrimp. Not bad .
(3)
Joe A.
Ehhh... not bad.
(3)
Toni D.
Ichiban is located in a strip mall. Most of the sushi places in Brandon/Tampa area seem to be in strip malls. I ordered the monk rolls and thought it was very tasty. The beef terriyaki is a little different has onions. Looks more like beef fajita meat.
(4)
Joey A.
My Go-To sushi place. Been going here since college, eons ago, and this is where I 'learned' sushi. I've tried numerous places in the TB area, but nothing beats them. Better places I've tried are in LA and NY, so they don't count. I brought my uncle, who previously lived in Japan, and he confirmed their level of quality compared to the original. As with any sushi place, they have great, creative rolls, but they do the standards - nigiri and sashimi - the best. Favorites are the Chirashi, Rock and Roll, Hurricane and Honor Roll, or go basic: Salmon, Tuna, Mackerel, Sea Urchin and Eel. They occasionally have the sought after Toro, but that's one thing they can't get right; been disappointed each time, sadly. As with other reviewers, they're service can be slow, but for me, well worth the wait.
(4)
Jacob M.
I have never had sushi before, so this was of course a weird experience. However, it turned of very well. The food was delicious and my brother said as far as sushi he has had it was the best so far. We went for lunch and they have several very nice lunch specials. Four different lunch boxes all for about $9. You get about five or six different kinds plus soup and a little salad. It is a ton of food and well worth the price. Everything tasted very good and I would definitely come here again.
(4)
Matt B.
Wow i looooove Ichiban.They have some crapy reviews but they are awsome.If i would have known about this place along time ago i would have been eating there all the time.The price on the ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI is awsome.If your the kind of person who likes more raw fish than rice Ichiban is the place to go.They have many different kinds of good sushi so good i forget to take pics before i eat.One tip for the consumer go during the beginning of the week your orders can sometimes take a minute to get out on the weekend do to alot of people eating.I havent even bothered with the other food,but maybe one day.
(4)
Sophie M.
My husband and I have been going to Ichiban for about 11 years. We are always pleased with the sushi there. The fish is tasty and you can definitely tell what you are eating. We have tried many sushi places on the advice of our friends and always feel disappointed and return to Ichiban. We also started taking out-of-town family members there. Each time they have visited us since, going to Ichiban at least once has been a must! Apparently, Ichiban beats sushi places in Chicago and Indianapolis, too :) Finally, the prices are really decent. Despite the hard times for restaurants in the past couple of years, they have kept up their quality and the crowds there never disappeared as they did everywhere else.
(5)
Edward L.
They are one of the best sushi places in town. Great portions
(4)
Christian B.
Excellent food, but extremely slow service. Its worth the wait if you have time just to hang out and eat.
(3)
Jacob N.
Excellent sushi, good service, and giant menu (140+ sushi rolls alone). #113 Eel Special (eel, smelt roe, cream cheese, avocado) was incredible, and priced right at $6. However, it was very big and the roe on the outside made it cumbersome to pick up with chopsticks. (Granted, I'm not that good with them) #145 Umemaki (sour plum sauce, whitefish, cucumber), one of the cheaper "special rolls" at $4.75, hit the spot as well, and NOT being an inside-out roll, it was easy to pick up with chopsticks (or fingers). #9 Mackarel Nigri was REALLY good. Like REALLY good. And big. The miso soup is nice as well. I can't rave about the Tekkamaki. Plus it's run by a bunch of sweet Japanese ladies.
(5)
John H.
More traditional fare than you're come-lately sushi bars. Fish.rice.seaweed is the most used formula here and it's great. The quality of the seafood is top notch. Don't bother with the 200 ingredient rolls, you can find better at other places, but for straight up sushi, sashimi and rolls it's hard to beat this place. There are also plenty of items on the menu for sushi haters. Price is on par with other, local sushi-based restaurants. The ambiance is traditional Japanese restaurant. They do have a ladle fountain in one of the corners, which you would think is cheesy, but it works. Go for the food, deal with the service. They are friendly, but slow and unorganized. Watch your bill too, I've had them forget things and add things (or don't pay attention and go a lot, it'll all probably work out).
(4)
K P.
This is my fave sushi rest in the Tampa area. Have you tried their VOLCANO ROLLS? It's ..sooo..soo good. It's a very small place, and perhaps also pretty busy. Service was always efficient also!
(5)
Toonces Z.
Sushi was great , the price was fair & the portions were small.
(3)
Mark S.
I used to love this place and went there many times. Until one time, when I ordered my favorite sashimi dinner which included stinking (yes, not just smelly!) salmon. I complained and the plate was taken away and came back with the salmon replaced with supposedly good salmon. Now, this salmon was from the exactly same batch, exuding the same pungent smell. I complained again, which brought out the sushi chef, telling me that the fish was perfectly o.k. and "safe" to eat (maybe it was, perhaps they put it in chlorox for desinfection). I think this episode tells you two things about this place: The sushi chef has no clue about fish, and they think their customers are dumb and have no idea about japanese food. I would expect that, even if they do not agree with the complaint, that they would take it seriously, and at least honor your request by replacing the questionable item with something else (if they only have one smelly piece of salmon that day...;-). My advice: Go somewhere else if you like sashimi and sushi.
(1)
Keishla M.
Came here after a doctors apt. Super starving. Saw the reviewed and decided to try it Not bad :) very satisfied. great happy hour specials.
(4)
Adam N.
Small always packed at lunch. Great Japanese feel to the place. Decent friendly service. Great for authentic Japanese dishes with presentation that wont disappoint.
(5)
Eric S.
Thanks for the awesome meal today. Chirashi lunch was well worth it. The rolls, spicy crunch tuna and the Tampa, were perfect. At current times, I'd say this is one of best deals on sushi in Tampa. Also, the location is absolutely perfect. Interior is so amazingly relaxing. Tons of staff who are very courteous and knowledgeable. We had approximately 2.5 waiters during the meal. They'll run around for you. The lunch menu is small and easy to absorb also, which is perfect since most people in a hurry. Many places nearby are too complicated to attract express customers. Here you can have your cake and eat it to, meaning you can you can sit down and not worry about leaving in time. The food comes fast and furious. One thing I would recommend is reducing the salad dressing portion, and making it more attractive and creamy looking. It was good flavor-wise, and veggie-wise. Maybe a thin slice of red onion would improve it.
(5)
Tommy S.
Great place to get your Sushi fix ! Very friendly staff and family atmosphere! They obviously spend the extra $ to have great quality fish. Their rainbow roll is huge! We love this place and the people.
(5)
Caity A.
This place makes it hard to try other sushi places around the area. Since we don't eat it often, we want consistently awesome rolls, and Ichiban does just the trick. Current hands-down favorite roll has got to be the Busted Roll, it is a massive, messy roll but it is insanely good. Other favorites we order again and again are the Volcano roll, Bucs roll, Bagel tempura, Double Hot, Crunchy baked salmon, Mexican, and Tampa rolls. They also do really good dinners. We especially like the shioyaki salmon, which comes with an appetizer ginger salad, miso soup, rice and steamed veggies. Yum yum!!!
(5)
Boon C.
Ichiban is an oldest sushi restaurant before any other sushi restaurant around USF. They have been here very long time ago. The owner is a Taiwanese. They start the restaurant by wrapping their own sushi. This restaurant has three major part of menu - the tempura, sushi sashimi, and teriyaki. They also have the rice and noodles bowl section. They have offers the variety of sushi. I always like their bento boxes and the boxes are the best values. They have teriyaki, sashimi, and tempura bento boxes. Today I have the sashimi bento box with added shrimp tempura for extra $3. I love shrimp tempura. The correct way is slight dip the shrimp in wet bread and deep fried. Then drip a bit of tempura next to shrimp and create the crispy effect. However, this process needs to finish in less than 3 minute before over cook the shrimp. This restaurant has the technique for it. The box came with 9 pieces sashimi, cucumber salad, tuna roll, California roll, and imitations crab salad. The sashimi is fresh. Love the shrimp tempura. The shrimp tempura has to eat there. This is not a takeout food. The customer make out from local businesses and students since it is close to the USF. The service is good and the food come out quick since they have enough sushi chefs.
(4)
Shannon H.
The day had arrived. My boyfriend and I had been together for two years. There is a lot of pressure on anniversaries. You need to get the right gift, make it special, etc., etc. Well, both of us had dropped the ball on ordering presents, so we just went to mall that day, bought presents, then exchanged them when we got home. Hey, you cannot always be romantic about that. However, we did need to find a place to have dinner. We had at least decided on the cuisine of sushi. There are many sushi joints in the Tampa area, even around the USF area. I have been to several I really enjoy, and a few not so much. We wanted to go somewhere close, and somewhere we knew would be good. We decided on Ichiban Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar, because it has good reviews, is close, and there have been positive experiences there previously. Ichiban is located in the University Plaza near USF on the corner of Bruce B Downs and Fowler Ave., in the same plaza as Winn Dixie, Tijuana Flats, First Watch, and quite a few others. While there are so many restaurants in the plaza, Ichiban is very quiet and calm. I like the atmosphere, decorations, and the layout. There are about six booths near the front, a sushi bar area with seating, and then a separate room near the book with additional tables. The only downside to the booths in the front is that you can see the people next to you through the slats in the wooden divider. As for the menu, they offer a variety of sushi rolls, dinner and lunch boxes, and sashimi. I always like to get sushi rolls, and I will admit I was overwhelmed with all of the roll options. It took me quite a while to look at all of the options and make a decision, so we ordered a ginger salad and miso soup while I made up my mind. I think they refrigerate the lettuce, and it was a little too cold for my taste. They also have extensive options for appetizers, combination dinners, and even gluten free choices! I enjoyed my bagel and spider rolls, and my boyfriend enjoyed his lightning and volcano rolls. The service was friendly and attentive, without being obtrusive. We were in and out of there in about 30-35 minutes, so the service was pretty fast. The prices are reasonable, and they have some good combination dinner and lunch deals. All in all, it was a good anniversary experience.
(4)
Melinda M.
Summary: Not good sushi. Dropped by after a Busch Gardens event after seeing the ratings. I remember coming here back in my USF days and it wasn't good then so not much has changed. The menus were sticky and I found myself having to wash my hands after going through it. Yuck. The sushi selection was typical and boring. We ordered a few rolls and some nigiri. The rolls were super thick and meh. The fish they used for nigiri were dry and not fresh at all. I think Publix sushi is better and that's not really a compliment. I think they can get away with mediocre sushi since there isn't a sushi place nearby, but I would rather drive the extra miles for better sushi.
(2)
Justin D.
Ichiban has quite an extensive menu full of Japanese cuisine, nice decor, good wait staff, and a happy hour for certain sushi, appetizers, and drinks. Keep in mind I ate before coming here so I just decided to try an appetizer and some sushi. I ordered the shrimp tempura appetizer, yummy jr. roll, and the crunchy spicy tuna roll. The shrimp tempura appetizer comes with two shrimps, sweet potato, broccoli, and another vegetable (maybe zucchini but it was u-shaped?), served with a side of tempura sauce. It was pretty tasty, the sauce was excellent as well as the lightness of the tempura batter. The fillings tasted pretty good too! The yummy jr. roll contained tempura yellowtail, spicy mayo, avocado, smelt roe, and eel sauce. For claiming to have spicy mayo I didn't really taste it. It was an okay roll overall, not bad, just not my taste. I enjoyed the crunchy spicy tuna roll because it was simple and good, not needing a whole medley of different types of fish and sauces jammed into one roll. Pretty much the standard spicy tuna roll but with some added tempura crunch inside to give it a nice texture. As I said in the beginning the service was pretty good, although for a not that busy Thursday night sometimes it took a while for our server to check on us. I understand the fact that people decide to dine in and leave at different times which can't be helped. Overall, I would definitely come again in the future!
(4)
Eli N.
They have some beautifully designed sushi, but their rice needs some attention. I've frequented before and I don't remember their rice being like this. It's translucent and sticky. It's really distracting over what would be a fresh slice of fish or advocado. They have the makings to be a great sushi place. They have some well designed rolls and experienced sushi chefs that have the chops. What is holding them back is: 1)A very old menu that is saturated with mediocrity that just get in the way of some exceptional choices. The physical menus themselves are old and unappetizing. 2) Good rice. Rice is half of the sushi! Even if their rice was a little better a lot more flavor will pop and some of their specialty sushi would really be mindblowing. If you want some advice navigating through their loaded menu I offer my opinion of some of their better specialty rolls. I suggest monk which is how a tempura roll should be done. Light tempura that doesn't overpower but adds texture to a cohesive flavor. Their dancing crab which is included in lunch specials. It looks gorgeous, has complex flavor and is a killer deal. Tonight I tried their Matt and Rosy roll that highlights the simplicity of a more traditional fresh roll. The fish really melts in your mouth.
(4)
Jane Z.
As a regular at this restaurant, really love to come here when I miss Japanese food. Really friendly servers and delicious food, highly recommended.
(5)
Kaitlyn P.
This is my go to sushi place, and honestly it is the best one around. I've been here with large groups, and they're always incredibly accommodating and the staff is very sweet. Their average take out time is usually 15 minutes, which is incredibly reasonable. The rolls are amazing as well! My friends also rave about the bento boxes, although i've never personally tried them. Try the monk roll, I promise you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Brittany L.
Quick service, nice decor, very clean (even the restroom!), and good food! I'll definitely be back. I had the seafood udon bowl which is a lunch special for $8.95. With tax my lunch was still under $10 and I had leftovers. Most of the seafood was Krab, but there were also some bits of scallop, a few shrimp, and what I believe was cuttlefish...maybe? Noodles had a nice texture, broth was good on this chilly rainy day. They seem to have an abundance of deep-fried, mayo-covered sushi rolls (for Americans) but there's also a lunch chirashi special! I'm excited to come back and try that. The fish others were eating looked fresh and one of the sushi chefs greeted me as soon as I came in. Side note: I love this strip mall. There's Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and a few other restaurants all in one place. Score!
(4)
Alexandra S.
Top quality sushi! I get the fresh salmon, yellowtail, eel and sea urchin which is hard to find. I like to eat sea urchin with shredded daikon and seiso or oba leaf so my only complaint is that they don't have the seiso or oba leaves. I also like their clear soup with spring onion. Nice people here that give good service.
(5)
Lindee M.
This was an easy stop for lunch. The atmosphere was the best part however. I ordered the eel (my favorite) and it was disappointing, poor flavor. My dining partner had the California roll and was happy with his choice. Their jazzed up rendition if a spicy tuna roll was more satisfying. The service was friendly enough. Overall it was sufficient but there will not be another visit from us.
(3)
Hime U.
I think the sushi here is good and cheaper than other place and if people choose to go in earlier dinner time (I believe it is earlier than 7?) you can eat with a special price and enjoy the special plate set! Good for little groups or individual!
(4)
Max M.
It has been 3 years since I wrote my review of Ichiban and it is time for a brief update. It now has been 26 years that I have been going to Ichiban. And again, I have tried many other sushi places in the USA, Canada, Europe and China and have found none better. The staff is always very friendly and helpful. The sushi is always very fresh and wonderful. I challenge you to name a better place. Yes, there are more fancy places, but none any better . . . not even Nobu in New York City. I highly recommend Ichiban to every sushi lover and to everyone thinking about trying sushi. This is the place! ENJOY!!!
(5)
Jennifer C.
I have been to sooo many sushi bars in tampa, I am loosing track. This is definitely one of my top favorites. The atmosphere is relaxing and you can feel comfortable going in any style you feel like (relaxed, casual, maybe even the daring Pj's?!). This place stands out for me, because I ALWAYS end up with at least 1 sushi roll I'm not to fond of, and this place? Didn't happen. Every roll we tried was on point and delicious. Like many others, they offer happy hour menus & dinner combinations for the budget conscious.
(5)
Dave K.
This place is by far my favorite sushi restaurant. They always have quality sushi at great prices. The staff are always friendly and wonderful. They do great standard rolls. They have a good selection of specialty rolls, but thats not their main focus. This place is DEFINITELY NOT another one of those yuppy sushi joints with all the specialty rolls in the world, but can't cut an eel roll to save their life. Plus, they have a great selection on non-sushi Japanese fare. And do make a reservation for the Japanese room, where you can sit at a traditional style table in a traditional style room(no shoes and all).
(5)
Aleksandr O.
Very good sushi and very generous portions - at least for the guy making my sushi.
(5)
Caity A.
This place makes it hard to try other sushi places around the area. Since we don't eat it often, we want consistently awesome rolls, and Ichiban does just the trick. Current hands-down favorite roll has got to be the Busted Roll, it is a massive, messy roll but it is insanely good. Other favorites we order again and again are the Volcano roll, Bucs roll, Bagel tempura, Double Hot, Crunchy baked salmon, Mexican, and Tampa rolls. They also do really good dinners. We especially like the shioyaki salmon, which comes with an appetizer ginger salad, miso soup, rice and steamed veggies. Yum yum!!!
(5)
Eric S.
Thanks for the awesome meal today. Chirashi lunch was well worth it. The rolls, spicy crunch tuna and the Tampa, were perfect. At current times, I'd say this is one of best deals on sushi in Tampa. Also, the location is absolutely perfect. Interior is so amazingly relaxing. Tons of staff who are very courteous and knowledgeable. We had approximately 2.5 waiters during the meal. They'll run around for you. The lunch menu is small and easy to absorb also, which is perfect since most people in a hurry. Many places nearby are too complicated to attract express customers. Here you can have your cake and eat it to, meaning you can you can sit down and not worry about leaving in time. The food comes fast and furious. One thing I would recommend is reducing the salad dressing portion, and making it more attractive and creamy looking. It was good flavor-wise, and veggie-wise. Maybe a thin slice of red onion would improve it.
(5)
Tommy S.
Great place to get your Sushi fix ! Very friendly staff and family atmosphere! They obviously spend the extra $ to have great quality fish. Their rainbow roll is huge! We love this place and the people.
(5)
Jane Z.
As a regular at this restaurant, really love to come here when I miss Japanese food. Really friendly servers and delicious food, highly recommended.
(5)
Kaitlyn P.
This is my go to sushi place, and honestly it is the best one around. I've been here with large groups, and they're always incredibly accommodating and the staff is very sweet. Their average take out time is usually 15 minutes, which is incredibly reasonable. The rolls are amazing as well! My friends also rave about the bento boxes, although i've never personally tried them. Try the monk roll, I promise you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Keishla M.
Came here after a doctors apt. Super starving. Saw the reviewed and decided to try it Not bad :) very satisfied. great happy hour specials.
(4)
Boon C.
Ichiban is an oldest sushi restaurant before any other sushi restaurant around USF. They have been here very long time ago. The owner is a Taiwanese. They start the restaurant by wrapping their own sushi. This restaurant has three major part of menu - the tempura, sushi sashimi, and teriyaki. They also have the rice and noodles bowl section. They have offers the variety of sushi. I always like their bento boxes and the boxes are the best values. They have teriyaki, sashimi, and tempura bento boxes. Today I have the sashimi bento box with added shrimp tempura for extra $3. I love shrimp tempura. The correct way is slight dip the shrimp in wet bread and deep fried. Then drip a bit of tempura next to shrimp and create the crispy effect. However, this process needs to finish in less than 3 minute before over cook the shrimp. This restaurant has the technique for it. The box came with 9 pieces sashimi, cucumber salad, tuna roll, California roll, and imitations crab salad. The sashimi is fresh. Love the shrimp tempura. The shrimp tempura has to eat there. This is not a takeout food. The customer make out from local businesses and students since it is close to the USF. The service is good and the food come out quick since they have enough sushi chefs.
(4)
Shannon H.
The day had arrived. My boyfriend and I had been together for two years. There is a lot of pressure on anniversaries. You need to get the right gift, make it special, etc., etc. Well, both of us had dropped the ball on ordering presents, so we just went to mall that day, bought presents, then exchanged them when we got home. Hey, you cannot always be romantic about that. However, we did need to find a place to have dinner. We had at least decided on the cuisine of sushi. There are many sushi joints in the Tampa area, even around the USF area. I have been to several I really enjoy, and a few not so much. We wanted to go somewhere close, and somewhere we knew would be good. We decided on Ichiban Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar, because it has good reviews, is close, and there have been positive experiences there previously. Ichiban is located in the University Plaza near USF on the corner of Bruce B Downs and Fowler Ave., in the same plaza as Winn Dixie, Tijuana Flats, First Watch, and quite a few others. While there are so many restaurants in the plaza, Ichiban is very quiet and calm. I like the atmosphere, decorations, and the layout. There are about six booths near the front, a sushi bar area with seating, and then a separate room near the book with additional tables. The only downside to the booths in the front is that you can see the people next to you through the slats in the wooden divider. As for the menu, they offer a variety of sushi rolls, dinner and lunch boxes, and sashimi. I always like to get sushi rolls, and I will admit I was overwhelmed with all of the roll options. It took me quite a while to look at all of the options and make a decision, so we ordered a ginger salad and miso soup while I made up my mind. I think they refrigerate the lettuce, and it was a little too cold for my taste. They also have extensive options for appetizers, combination dinners, and even gluten free choices! I enjoyed my bagel and spider rolls, and my boyfriend enjoyed his lightning and volcano rolls. The service was friendly and attentive, without being obtrusive. We were in and out of there in about 30-35 minutes, so the service was pretty fast. The prices are reasonable, and they have some good combination dinner and lunch deals. All in all, it was a good anniversary experience.
(4)
Melinda M.
Summary: Not good sushi. Dropped by after a Busch Gardens event after seeing the ratings. I remember coming here back in my USF days and it wasn't good then so not much has changed. The menus were sticky and I found myself having to wash my hands after going through it. Yuck. The sushi selection was typical and boring. We ordered a few rolls and some nigiri. The rolls were super thick and meh. The fish they used for nigiri were dry and not fresh at all. I think Publix sushi is better and that's not really a compliment. I think they can get away with mediocre sushi since there isn't a sushi place nearby, but I would rather drive the extra miles for better sushi.
(2)
Justin D.
Ichiban has quite an extensive menu full of Japanese cuisine, nice decor, good wait staff, and a happy hour for certain sushi, appetizers, and drinks. Keep in mind I ate before coming here so I just decided to try an appetizer and some sushi. I ordered the shrimp tempura appetizer, yummy jr. roll, and the crunchy spicy tuna roll. The shrimp tempura appetizer comes with two shrimps, sweet potato, broccoli, and another vegetable (maybe zucchini but it was u-shaped?), served with a side of tempura sauce. It was pretty tasty, the sauce was excellent as well as the lightness of the tempura batter. The fillings tasted pretty good too! The yummy jr. roll contained tempura yellowtail, spicy mayo, avocado, smelt roe, and eel sauce. For claiming to have spicy mayo I didn't really taste it. It was an okay roll overall, not bad, just not my taste. I enjoyed the crunchy spicy tuna roll because it was simple and good, not needing a whole medley of different types of fish and sauces jammed into one roll. Pretty much the standard spicy tuna roll but with some added tempura crunch inside to give it a nice texture. As I said in the beginning the service was pretty good, although for a not that busy Thursday night sometimes it took a while for our server to check on us. I understand the fact that people decide to dine in and leave at different times which can't be helped. Overall, I would definitely come again in the future!
(4)
Eli N.
They have some beautifully designed sushi, but their rice needs some attention. I've frequented before and I don't remember their rice being like this. It's translucent and sticky. It's really distracting over what would be a fresh slice of fish or advocado. They have the makings to be a great sushi place. They have some well designed rolls and experienced sushi chefs that have the chops. What is holding them back is: 1)A very old menu that is saturated with mediocrity that just get in the way of some exceptional choices. The physical menus themselves are old and unappetizing. 2) Good rice. Rice is half of the sushi! Even if their rice was a little better a lot more flavor will pop and some of their specialty sushi would really be mindblowing. If you want some advice navigating through their loaded menu I offer my opinion of some of their better specialty rolls. I suggest monk which is how a tempura roll should be done. Light tempura that doesn't overpower but adds texture to a cohesive flavor. Their dancing crab which is included in lunch specials. It looks gorgeous, has complex flavor and is a killer deal. Tonight I tried their Matt and Rosy roll that highlights the simplicity of a more traditional fresh roll. The fish really melts in your mouth.
(4)
Adam N.
Small always packed at lunch. Great Japanese feel to the place. Decent friendly service. Great for authentic Japanese dishes with presentation that wont disappoint.
(5)
Brittany L.
Quick service, nice decor, very clean (even the restroom!), and good food! I'll definitely be back. I had the seafood udon bowl which is a lunch special for $8.95. With tax my lunch was still under $10 and I had leftovers. Most of the seafood was Krab, but there were also some bits of scallop, a few shrimp, and what I believe was cuttlefish...maybe? Noodles had a nice texture, broth was good on this chilly rainy day. They seem to have an abundance of deep-fried, mayo-covered sushi rolls (for Americans) but there's also a lunch chirashi special! I'm excited to come back and try that. The fish others were eating looked fresh and one of the sushi chefs greeted me as soon as I came in. Side note: I love this strip mall. There's Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and a few other restaurants all in one place. Score!
(4)
Alexandra S.
Top quality sushi! I get the fresh salmon, yellowtail, eel and sea urchin which is hard to find. I like to eat sea urchin with shredded daikon and seiso or oba leaf so my only complaint is that they don't have the seiso or oba leaves. I also like their clear soup with spring onion. Nice people here that give good service.
(5)
Lindee M.
This was an easy stop for lunch. The atmosphere was the best part however. I ordered the eel (my favorite) and it was disappointing, poor flavor. My dining partner had the California roll and was happy with his choice. Their jazzed up rendition if a spicy tuna roll was more satisfying. The service was friendly enough. Overall it was sufficient but there will not be another visit from us.
(3)
Hime U.
I think the sushi here is good and cheaper than other place and if people choose to go in earlier dinner time (I believe it is earlier than 7?) you can eat with a special price and enjoy the special plate set! Good for little groups or individual!
(4)
Max M.
It has been 3 years since I wrote my review of Ichiban and it is time for a brief update. It now has been 26 years that I have been going to Ichiban. And again, I have tried many other sushi places in the USA, Canada, Europe and China and have found none better. The staff is always very friendly and helpful. The sushi is always very fresh and wonderful. I challenge you to name a better place. Yes, there are more fancy places, but none any better . . . not even Nobu in New York City. I highly recommend Ichiban to every sushi lover and to everyone thinking about trying sushi. This is the place! ENJOY!!!
(5)
Jennifer C.
I have been to sooo many sushi bars in tampa, I am loosing track. This is definitely one of my top favorites. The atmosphere is relaxing and you can feel comfortable going in any style you feel like (relaxed, casual, maybe even the daring Pj's?!). This place stands out for me, because I ALWAYS end up with at least 1 sushi roll I'm not to fond of, and this place? Didn't happen. Every roll we tried was on point and delicious. Like many others, they offer happy hour menus & dinner combinations for the budget conscious.
(5)
Theresa J.
Slow service but food was delish. Good enough for me to take pictures for this review.
(3)
Tiffany C.
Based on the reviews I was expecting a better experience than what I had. It looked like a slow night but for some reason the waiters kept forgetting to bring our drinks. I had to remind them 3x. The tempura was tasteless. We were the only table not being paid attention to. It looked like the table next to us were regulars so they were visited often while we were not. Bad service. Dont go if youre a visitor or a minority because you will not get the service that the other reviewers claim. Again, this was a slow night with 3 chefs working. No excuse for the service.
(1)
Melissa T.
Love the sushi! You get so much for your money! I'm definitely going back!
(4)
Prof J.
I'm only giviing it a three based on my first experience. I like the sit down on the floor dining experience and the happy hours. the sushi is good and the appetizers are delicious (we had the gyozas and crab rangoons). However, the server was a bit over zealous and a bit intrusive. She also served water with a used pitcher. Yuck. The ambiance was pleasant and the cleanliness of this place wasn't too shabby. But, the place definitely deserves another shot. I like the happy hours specials and the times are just right.
(3)
Lisa R.
The most amazing sushi in Tampa. The sashimi is the freshest ever. The rolls will make your eyes roll back in your head. The owner is one of the most beautiful people in the world. The service is impeccable. I have eaten at almost every sushi joint in Tampa and this place is by the far the best!!!!!!!
(5)
Jamison E.
Very helpful staff. Nice evening. I recommend this place if you're looking for some yummy sushi.
(5)
Angel Y.
I'm not a huge sushi person but I love nigiri, sashimi, and chirashi. This is a small restaurant, nothing fancy, but service with attentive and the food was very good. The miso soup was a little sweet, something I've never experienced before, and I'm not sure I liked it. I only had the chirashi when I visited, and I have to say it's the best I've had in Florida so far. The fish was fresh and the chef was skilled. The rice the fish was served upon was flavorful and complemented the fish well. Definitely recommend this place if you love chirashi.
(5)
Ashley P.
I've only been once, but it is definitely my favorite sushi place in Tampa so far. We went for happy hour, between 3 and 6. They had $5 rolls, of which I ordered the crunchy baked salmon and the vegetable. The salmon roll had asparagus, green onion, and scallion and was DELICIOUS. The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is because we asked for no mayo on our rolls and got it anyway. We'll be sure to emphasize that next time. It's kind of small inside, but feels homey. Great food, great prices!
(4)
Conner S.
I have to admit...I was pleasantly surprised by this place. My goal was just to grab a quick lunch with a coworker, but I stumbled upon this hidden gem. The decor and ambience is nothing to brag about (the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars actually), but the food and prices were on point. Everything was super fresh and I ended up having a really good experience.
(4)
Kevin W.
If you can find something bad, indifferent or out of whack here, take ur azz to Chili's right outside the front door. This spot is FANTASTIC on EVERY account !!!!
(5)
Tim M.
Good sushi and staff. A little pricy for What you get but the food is always good. The Monk roll is to die for
(4)
Mark S.
Chinese restaurant in a counterfeit Japanese kimono. Server had no idea what a tekkamaki is and it was made by someone with zero skill level. Also had no idea what sake/nihonshu was in stock, which was only two out of the eight listed on the menu. Just to fair, the edamame was ok, but called it a night and went elsewhere. May have been Japanese at some point in the past judging by the web site & menu, but that time has clearly passed. Just another Bay area washoko disappointment. As for the other recent reviews ... wow.
(1)
Luisella M.
Friendly servers and hands down the best, most consistent sushi in town. Fast service too!
(5)
Brian C.
Sushi is definitely a weakness of mine. I love good sushi. I'm usually here for lunch, as you get a great value for very good food. Lunch Box A is always a dependable, good way to go, especially if you like raw fish. You get a great assortment of fish, soup, and a side salad for a very reasonable price. All of the lunch combinations are good though, and most likely you will be able to find something to your liking. If you would like to be more specific, the menu has tons of different rolls to suit everyone's taste. I've tried a few of them, and have been pleasantly surprised by the quality. A few of the interesting ones include the Randy roll (if you're okay with the occasional cream cheese in your roll), the spider roll, the cruchy spicy tuna roll, and the salmon. If you like sushi, this should definitely hit the spot.
(4)
Shani Z.
I'm happy to find this place close enough to where I stay, it's fairly hard to find a good sushi place in Tampa, the food is fresh and exclusively delicious!, I'd like tho that they wouldn't charge extra 50 cent for every sauce !! :)
(5)
Michelle w.
This is my regular Sushi restaurant in Tampa. I been coming here for more then 20 year. Very fresh Sushi. Last years they had changed new management, but they still keep up with the food quality And the service. And lately they just add my favour item to the Menu. BLUE FIN TUNA And TORO, it's really rare to see it in Tampa. Actually I never seen it in Tampa. I try it in new York And other bigger cities. But really that's the best thing ever. highly recommended.
(5)
Daniel W.
YOU MUST GET THE LUNCH CHIRASHI! This is a boat full (literally comes in a boat) of 6 pairs of delicious sashimi, for only 12 bucks. Not only is it a massive portion but it's hands down the best freakin sushi in the Tampa area. I've been here the last two days and the third seems inevitable. Amazing!
(5)
Olivia B.
I love this place. The sushi is extremely fresh and you have your pick if where to sit (booth, sushi bar, table, or authentic pillow on the group in a sitting room).
(5)
Nikki D.
Overpriced food. Services just so so. Wouldn't want to come back bc of the price is to high. Food taste pretty good.
(3)
Kaye S.
Stopped for lunch. I had teriyaki steak with mushroom and husband had a bowl of chicken and rice. Both dishes were extremely good. We both had a bagel that was very fresh and huge.
(5)
June B.
I am writing this as someone who has lived in the San Francisco area for the last 20 years, and has just recently moved here. So please note that my standards for sushi are pretty high. That said, I have found one place in Tampa (thus far) that meets my standards, so it's not impossible. I came to this place because of the reviews, but I was disappointed. The service was amazing. But some of the sashimi was not very fresh (the salmon was fresh, but the maguro was on the edge, and I didn't even want to eat the yellowtail). I don't think I will go there again unless there's some compelling reason (e.g., someone I'm dining with insists on eating there). It's not that it's horrible or anything. No one in my group got sick from eating there. It's just that I'm poor and, if I'm going to spend that kind of money on dinner, I want it to be delicious, not just decent.
(3)
Steve E.
I had planned to try a highly-recommended Vietnamese restaurant in this same shopping center, but found they had closed early on the Saturday before Easter. Thankfully I remembered Ichiban was located nearby, and had an excellent sushi dinner instead. Ichiban Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar is located in the University Collections shopping center at the intersection of Fowler Avenue and Bruce B. Downs Blvd - right near the USF campus. Even though this is a busy shopping center, the inside of the restaurant is calm and serene, with an emphasis on high quality sushi, sashimi and tempura. You'll find lots of tables and booths scattered around the restaurant, along with a traditional sushi bar and the very traditional izakaya-style of seating whereby the customers sit on tatami mats or specially-crafted seats, and dine from low tables. Ichiban has a very nice mixture of fresh sushi and sashimi, and a wide variety of sushi / sashimi combination samplers, Bento boxes, and rice bowls. They also have a fantastic selection of rolls from the traditional California, Rainbow, and Tampa to the very exotic house special rolls found on the flip side of the menu. My lovely date and I sat at the sushi bar and were warmly greeted by the sushi chefs with the traditional saying of "Irasshaimase", which is the proper Japanese way of welcoming a customer into their place of business. We responded back by saying "Konbanwa" or Good Evening, which raised a few smiles from the chefs. While we looked over the menu the chefs presented us with a small appetizer sample of cucumber salad in vinegar sauce. Clearly this gift was due to my amazing talent with the Japanese language.......and thankfully I did not need to embarrass myself further by mumbling my way through any other phrases. (Actually everyone who sits at the sushi bar is graced with this delicacy.) We decided to share three different rolls for our dinner, and we felt that we made some excellent decisions. First was the S & J Roll which was spicy crab SP with tempura crunch flakes, avocado slices, rolled in nori and rice, and then topped with yellowtail (amberjack tuna). Our second roll was the Tobiko Special Roll which was made with yellowtail and scallions, rolled in nori and sushi rice, and then covered with three different types of flying fish roe (black, green, and red). This was a very colorful and delicious roll! My personal favorite for the night was the Matt & Rosy Roll which was fresh salmon slices over a Volcano topping roll. This was clearly the salmon-lovers roll for the night! All of the food was very creative and very delicious. They make an amazing-looking tuna martini which I want to go back and try on my next visit. Ichiban has specials on Monday nights for USF students, and I saw some terrific budget-friendly lunch specials as well. Great little spot for those who enjoy good sushi. They menu also shows a nice mix of cooked dinner entrees -- teriyaki, grilled and broiled meats & seafood, and tempura.
(4)
Lisa M.
I do love their food. Although the breaded and deep-fried sushi is a bit pandering to American tastes for me. I want Japanese food, not an American version of it. The miso soup is good, too. The lunch boxes are my favorite. This is getting three rather than four stars for the service. It used to be that you could go for lunch and get served and out the door inside of an hour. Not anymore. I won't go for lunch unless I'm not working that day. The last two times I was there it took and hour and a half for lunch. Not the best thing when you've only got one hour for lunch.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Theresa J.
Slow service but food was delish. Good enough for me to take pictures for this review.
(3)Tiffany C.
Based on the reviews I was expecting a better experience than what I had. It looked like a slow night but for some reason the waiters kept forgetting to bring our drinks. I had to remind them 3x. The tempura was tasteless. We were the only table not being paid attention to. It looked like the table next to us were regulars so they were visited often while we were not. Bad service. Dont go if youre a visitor or a minority because you will not get the service that the other reviewers claim. Again, this was a slow night with 3 chefs working. No excuse for the service.
(1)Melissa T.
Love the sushi! You get so much for your money! I'm definitely going back!
(4)Megan S.
If this was my first experience with sushi, I don't think I would ever try it again. First the pieces of my california roll were way too big for any normal sized mouth of any person. The spicy tuna rolls were thankfully smaller, but tasted too fishy (and I have eat many of them and LOVE LOVE a good tuna roll). The tempura dishes ordered at the table were done alright, but didn't all (even within one dish) come out at the same time. The service was really slow which wasn't any good for us as we were dining with 2 toddlers.
(1)Thuy H.
The sushi here is ok. It is on my short list of good sushi restaurants in Tampa bay. What I like about this place is that they have a sashimi plate that isn't insulting. You get a decent amount of fish for the price compared to other places where you get half the fish for the same price. The food comes out relatively quickly and you can't go wrong with that. The service is friendly. I haven't had a bad experience here yet.
(3)Luis M.
These people are great. They are small and quite, but warm and cozy. The sushi is also delicious, generous portions and fantastic service.
(4)Carlos H.
My friend and I came here today for her first sushi experience, whenever I go with friends for their first sushi time I want them to have a great one, and Ichiban delivered well. The sushi was fresh and the lunch prices weren't too high, for poor college students. I had a lunch box of sushi and assorted sides while my friend had Korean BBQ with miso salad and soup, and had some of my sushi. She enjoyed it a lot. They also have sit down seating here so it was cool sitting down on the pillows and feeling like I was in an old Japanese building. My only complaint was the waiting was slow, but since we were in no rush it was no real issue. Definitely check it out if you're in the neighborhood, it may not be number one like its name implies, but its still one of the good ones.
(3)Amy Z.
Always friendly staff and fresh sushi. Loving me some Mexican rolls and miso soup today!
(4)Lana D.
The Best sashimi place in the whole Tampa bay area. By far!
(5)Susie F.
Me and my family went there today, They were very busy even when they are busy the service still very good, We love their Sashimi combo and the new tuna tartar , They are very generous on the portion, Each time when we finish always got the left over for the next day lunch. Today we have try their pink lady , It was blow us away with their special sauce, One thing I like about Ichiban is they make their own eel sauce , It is so good, That's the reason we go there once a week
(5)Courtney G.
Loved the Bento Box here! Korean BBQ beef, ginger salad, chicken/veggie Tempura, and sticky rice. Good service and adorable place overall.
(4)M H.
This is one of my favorite sushi spots in Tampa. I've been a regular since undergrad at USF. Although there's a number of sushi bars all around, I'll always have a soft spot for Ichiban no matter where I travel to. Their menu offers a great selection of food with reasonable prices. The ambiance is charming and imitates outdoor dining at night some place far away. It has old time charm, very different than the modern sushi restaurants now. They also have a small room for floor seating if you're a fan of intimate space (I am). I'm usually greeted by the familiar wait staff who are friendly and remember who I am. Compared to other sushi places, they serve the most generous cut of fish. For lunch, they offer a few options for box sets including sashimi, rolls, and side items. Great price for the food. My usual: - Volcano Topping Roll - Mike's Roll - Crunchy Baked Salmon Roll - Hurricane Roll - Key West Roll - Sushi Pizza - Rainbow Roll - Variety of Sashimi
(4)Jimmy B.
This is my most often visited sushi place. I drive from South Tampa all the way up to USF area to go here. The fish is fresh, the portions are appropriate, and the price is good. While there are a couple of other sushi restaurants that I prefer when I have a little extra money, such as Wasabi on Bruce B. Downs in New Tampa or Samurai Blue in Ybor City -- I most frequently visit Ichiban when I am looking for a sushi fix. This place is home to my favorite roll of all time. Their Volcano Roll is unlike any roll I have ever had anywhere else, and is also unlike any Volcano Roll I have ever had anywhere else. This roll is huge, so if you are hungry it's your best bet. It will run you like $11, which is one of their more expensive rolls, but it really is worth it. You also can't go wrong with their selection of Bento Boxes, they have many different combinations available for any taste, including cooked food and sushi. If you sit at the sushi bar, they will give you a free little seaweed and imitation crab salad. The sushi menu is extensive, with a lot of different options. They have beer, wine, and sake. Love this place!
(4)Danesh J.
Ate here some time ago. Use to go every Thursday for a few weeks. The rice plates are very tasty and light. Lunch boxes are the way to go.
(3)Priscilla S.
I entered Ichiban by myself on a whim because I desperately wanted a good Japanese lunch. The place is very close to USF Tampa campus, and I like going somewhere close to school or on my way home. The restaurant reminds me of an authentic Japanese sushi place in Japan, very tight spaced and busy. The sushi bar is adjacent to the entrance and the back is somewhat hidden until you go back where the restrooms are. The place looks unorganized, but it's still a nice place to just chill. The lunch specials are reasonably priced ($9-$12) for the portions. I usually got the same Lunch box B and it comes with soup or salad. The only thing that got me was that they cut their sushi rolls in 6 rather than in 8 pieces. It makes the pieces a little to wide to eat. One time I sat there to eat, the sushi chef (who was actually Japanese) gave me a tangy cucumber salad which was really good. I went again with a friend and she ordered the volcano roll. We were both disappointed because the crab concoction was not as spicy and somewhat oily. It wasn't good and I've had better. Overall, the food is good, but not amazing. I was kind of disappointed since that place is run by Japanese people and has been there almost forever (since my mom used to work there at my age!) and my expectations were higher. I haven't been back there for awhile because I found Tokyo's lunch boxes more reasonable.
(3)Ben V.
Good, well thought out menu but more expensive than I will pay for JUST good sushi. Best choice however within the USF proximity.
(3)Jillian T.
I visited Ichiban on 1/1/10 with a friend at about 7:30 PM. The restaurant appeared to be mostly empty, two or three tables full and a handful of people sitting at the sushi bar. The atmosphere is fairly standard, but something about the decor (or perhaps it was the location in the strip center) seemed a little cheap. Despite not being super chatty, our server was still personable and laughed with my friend and I more than once. We opted out of ordering appetizers and went straight for a variety of rolls to share. We were pleasantly surprised when our rolls came out ten minutes after placing our order. I have never had that little of a wait time before for sushi. My favorite roll by far was sundried tomato and avocado (extremely reasonably priced- I think $3.75!). I have never seen sundried tomato before on a sushi menu and was too intrigued not to try it. The flavors meshed very well. Also good was the Crunchy Baked Salmon roll. The serving sizes were a bit smaller than average, but with the low prices I feel as though things evened out. My only major gripe was that after serving us the sushi, our server did not return to our table for nearly 20 minutes, though she was clearly not busy during this time. I finally had to flag her down to get water refills as well as our check. If I am in the area again and craving sushi, I will definitely return to Ichiban, however, the chances of me seeking it out again are slim.
(4)Cindy Y.
I went with a friend of mine to Ichiban tonight. There was a bit of a line inside (two parties in front of us, but the place is a little small), however we got seated pretty quickly because we were only a party of two. I ordered an Ichiban Special Dinner (Bento) Box for about $16. I also ordered edamame (soybeans) for about $3-$4. The soybeans were warm and nice, just how you'd expect them to be. Then the bento box came out. There was so much stuff! The menu description only said shrimp tempura, rice, pickled daikon, beef teriyaki with onions and chicken katsu (small portion though) with ketchup, but it also came with about 4 pieces of veggie tempura as well. I was pretty surprised. Everything was so good. I kind of wished that the katsu was a little more plump/jucier, but I can't really complain, since it's supposed to be a sample of everything in one box. The teriyaki was sweet and savory, and tempura was warm and yummy. The waitress was a nice cute lady who was really helpful and got everything done right, even as she went around the room busy serving other people. The bento box also came with both soup and salad, a deal. It'll really fill you up unless you have a huge appetite; I came in neither super hungry nor full/satiated.
(4)J A.
Miso soup and hurricane roll good. Tempura appetizer with shrimp is more veggie than shrimp. Not bad .
(3)Joe A.
Ehhh... not bad.
(3)Toni D.
Ichiban is located in a strip mall. Most of the sushi places in Brandon/Tampa area seem to be in strip malls. I ordered the monk rolls and thought it was very tasty. The beef terriyaki is a little different has onions. Looks more like beef fajita meat.
(4)Joey A.
My Go-To sushi place. Been going here since college, eons ago, and this is where I 'learned' sushi. I've tried numerous places in the TB area, but nothing beats them. Better places I've tried are in LA and NY, so they don't count. I brought my uncle, who previously lived in Japan, and he confirmed their level of quality compared to the original. As with any sushi place, they have great, creative rolls, but they do the standards - nigiri and sashimi - the best. Favorites are the Chirashi, Rock and Roll, Hurricane and Honor Roll, or go basic: Salmon, Tuna, Mackerel, Sea Urchin and Eel. They occasionally have the sought after Toro, but that's one thing they can't get right; been disappointed each time, sadly. As with other reviewers, they're service can be slow, but for me, well worth the wait.
(4)Jacob M.
I have never had sushi before, so this was of course a weird experience. However, it turned of very well. The food was delicious and my brother said as far as sushi he has had it was the best so far. We went for lunch and they have several very nice lunch specials. Four different lunch boxes all for about $9. You get about five or six different kinds plus soup and a little salad. It is a ton of food and well worth the price. Everything tasted very good and I would definitely come here again.
(4)Matt B.
Wow i looooove Ichiban.They have some crapy reviews but they are awsome.If i would have known about this place along time ago i would have been eating there all the time.The price on the ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI is awsome.If your the kind of person who likes more raw fish than rice Ichiban is the place to go.They have many different kinds of good sushi so good i forget to take pics before i eat.One tip for the consumer go during the beginning of the week your orders can sometimes take a minute to get out on the weekend do to alot of people eating.I havent even bothered with the other food,but maybe one day.
(4)Sophie M.
My husband and I have been going to Ichiban for about 11 years. We are always pleased with the sushi there. The fish is tasty and you can definitely tell what you are eating. We have tried many sushi places on the advice of our friends and always feel disappointed and return to Ichiban. We also started taking out-of-town family members there. Each time they have visited us since, going to Ichiban at least once has been a must! Apparently, Ichiban beats sushi places in Chicago and Indianapolis, too :) Finally, the prices are really decent. Despite the hard times for restaurants in the past couple of years, they have kept up their quality and the crowds there never disappeared as they did everywhere else.
(5)Edward L.
They are one of the best sushi places in town. Great portions
(4)Christian B.
Excellent food, but extremely slow service. Its worth the wait if you have time just to hang out and eat.
(3)Jacob N.
Excellent sushi, good service, and giant menu (140+ sushi rolls alone). #113 Eel Special (eel, smelt roe, cream cheese, avocado) was incredible, and priced right at $6. However, it was very big and the roe on the outside made it cumbersome to pick up with chopsticks. (Granted, I'm not that good with them) #145 Umemaki (sour plum sauce, whitefish, cucumber), one of the cheaper "special rolls" at $4.75, hit the spot as well, and NOT being an inside-out roll, it was easy to pick up with chopsticks (or fingers). #9 Mackarel Nigri was REALLY good. Like REALLY good. And big. The miso soup is nice as well. I can't rave about the Tekkamaki. Plus it's run by a bunch of sweet Japanese ladies.
(5)John H.
More traditional fare than you're come-lately sushi bars. Fish.rice.seaweed is the most used formula here and it's great. The quality of the seafood is top notch. Don't bother with the 200 ingredient rolls, you can find better at other places, but for straight up sushi, sashimi and rolls it's hard to beat this place. There are also plenty of items on the menu for sushi haters. Price is on par with other, local sushi-based restaurants. The ambiance is traditional Japanese restaurant. They do have a ladle fountain in one of the corners, which you would think is cheesy, but it works. Go for the food, deal with the service. They are friendly, but slow and unorganized. Watch your bill too, I've had them forget things and add things (or don't pay attention and go a lot, it'll all probably work out).
(4)K P.
This is my fave sushi rest in the Tampa area. Have you tried their VOLCANO ROLLS? It's ..sooo..soo good. It's a very small place, and perhaps also pretty busy. Service was always efficient also!
(5)Toonces Z.
Sushi was great , the price was fair & the portions were small.
(3)Mark S.
I used to love this place and went there many times. Until one time, when I ordered my favorite sashimi dinner which included stinking (yes, not just smelly!) salmon. I complained and the plate was taken away and came back with the salmon replaced with supposedly good salmon. Now, this salmon was from the exactly same batch, exuding the same pungent smell. I complained again, which brought out the sushi chef, telling me that the fish was perfectly o.k. and "safe" to eat (maybe it was, perhaps they put it in chlorox for desinfection). I think this episode tells you two things about this place: The sushi chef has no clue about fish, and they think their customers are dumb and have no idea about japanese food. I would expect that, even if they do not agree with the complaint, that they would take it seriously, and at least honor your request by replacing the questionable item with something else (if they only have one smelly piece of salmon that day...;-). My advice: Go somewhere else if you like sashimi and sushi.
(1)Keishla M.
Came here after a doctors apt. Super starving. Saw the reviewed and decided to try it Not bad :) very satisfied. great happy hour specials.
(4)Adam N.
Small always packed at lunch. Great Japanese feel to the place. Decent friendly service. Great for authentic Japanese dishes with presentation that wont disappoint.
(5)Eric S.
Thanks for the awesome meal today. Chirashi lunch was well worth it. The rolls, spicy crunch tuna and the Tampa, were perfect. At current times, I'd say this is one of best deals on sushi in Tampa. Also, the location is absolutely perfect. Interior is so amazingly relaxing. Tons of staff who are very courteous and knowledgeable. We had approximately 2.5 waiters during the meal. They'll run around for you. The lunch menu is small and easy to absorb also, which is perfect since most people in a hurry. Many places nearby are too complicated to attract express customers. Here you can have your cake and eat it to, meaning you can you can sit down and not worry about leaving in time. The food comes fast and furious. One thing I would recommend is reducing the salad dressing portion, and making it more attractive and creamy looking. It was good flavor-wise, and veggie-wise. Maybe a thin slice of red onion would improve it.
(5)Tommy S.
Great place to get your Sushi fix ! Very friendly staff and family atmosphere! They obviously spend the extra $ to have great quality fish. Their rainbow roll is huge! We love this place and the people.
(5)Caity A.
This place makes it hard to try other sushi places around the area. Since we don't eat it often, we want consistently awesome rolls, and Ichiban does just the trick. Current hands-down favorite roll has got to be the Busted Roll, it is a massive, messy roll but it is insanely good. Other favorites we order again and again are the Volcano roll, Bucs roll, Bagel tempura, Double Hot, Crunchy baked salmon, Mexican, and Tampa rolls. They also do really good dinners. We especially like the shioyaki salmon, which comes with an appetizer ginger salad, miso soup, rice and steamed veggies. Yum yum!!!
(5)Boon C.
Ichiban is an oldest sushi restaurant before any other sushi restaurant around USF. They have been here very long time ago. The owner is a Taiwanese. They start the restaurant by wrapping their own sushi. This restaurant has three major part of menu - the tempura, sushi sashimi, and teriyaki. They also have the rice and noodles bowl section. They have offers the variety of sushi. I always like their bento boxes and the boxes are the best values. They have teriyaki, sashimi, and tempura bento boxes. Today I have the sashimi bento box with added shrimp tempura for extra $3. I love shrimp tempura. The correct way is slight dip the shrimp in wet bread and deep fried. Then drip a bit of tempura next to shrimp and create the crispy effect. However, this process needs to finish in less than 3 minute before over cook the shrimp. This restaurant has the technique for it. The box came with 9 pieces sashimi, cucumber salad, tuna roll, California roll, and imitations crab salad. The sashimi is fresh. Love the shrimp tempura. The shrimp tempura has to eat there. This is not a takeout food. The customer make out from local businesses and students since it is close to the USF. The service is good and the food come out quick since they have enough sushi chefs.
(4)Shannon H.
The day had arrived. My boyfriend and I had been together for two years. There is a lot of pressure on anniversaries. You need to get the right gift, make it special, etc., etc. Well, both of us had dropped the ball on ordering presents, so we just went to mall that day, bought presents, then exchanged them when we got home. Hey, you cannot always be romantic about that. However, we did need to find a place to have dinner. We had at least decided on the cuisine of sushi. There are many sushi joints in the Tampa area, even around the USF area. I have been to several I really enjoy, and a few not so much. We wanted to go somewhere close, and somewhere we knew would be good. We decided on Ichiban Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar, because it has good reviews, is close, and there have been positive experiences there previously. Ichiban is located in the University Plaza near USF on the corner of Bruce B Downs and Fowler Ave., in the same plaza as Winn Dixie, Tijuana Flats, First Watch, and quite a few others. While there are so many restaurants in the plaza, Ichiban is very quiet and calm. I like the atmosphere, decorations, and the layout. There are about six booths near the front, a sushi bar area with seating, and then a separate room near the book with additional tables. The only downside to the booths in the front is that you can see the people next to you through the slats in the wooden divider. As for the menu, they offer a variety of sushi rolls, dinner and lunch boxes, and sashimi. I always like to get sushi rolls, and I will admit I was overwhelmed with all of the roll options. It took me quite a while to look at all of the options and make a decision, so we ordered a ginger salad and miso soup while I made up my mind. I think they refrigerate the lettuce, and it was a little too cold for my taste. They also have extensive options for appetizers, combination dinners, and even gluten free choices! I enjoyed my bagel and spider rolls, and my boyfriend enjoyed his lightning and volcano rolls. The service was friendly and attentive, without being obtrusive. We were in and out of there in about 30-35 minutes, so the service was pretty fast. The prices are reasonable, and they have some good combination dinner and lunch deals. All in all, it was a good anniversary experience.
(4)Melinda M.
Summary: Not good sushi. Dropped by after a Busch Gardens event after seeing the ratings. I remember coming here back in my USF days and it wasn't good then so not much has changed. The menus were sticky and I found myself having to wash my hands after going through it. Yuck. The sushi selection was typical and boring. We ordered a few rolls and some nigiri. The rolls were super thick and meh. The fish they used for nigiri were dry and not fresh at all. I think Publix sushi is better and that's not really a compliment. I think they can get away with mediocre sushi since there isn't a sushi place nearby, but I would rather drive the extra miles for better sushi.
(2)Justin D.
Ichiban has quite an extensive menu full of Japanese cuisine, nice decor, good wait staff, and a happy hour for certain sushi, appetizers, and drinks. Keep in mind I ate before coming here so I just decided to try an appetizer and some sushi. I ordered the shrimp tempura appetizer, yummy jr. roll, and the crunchy spicy tuna roll. The shrimp tempura appetizer comes with two shrimps, sweet potato, broccoli, and another vegetable (maybe zucchini but it was u-shaped?), served with a side of tempura sauce. It was pretty tasty, the sauce was excellent as well as the lightness of the tempura batter. The fillings tasted pretty good too! The yummy jr. roll contained tempura yellowtail, spicy mayo, avocado, smelt roe, and eel sauce. For claiming to have spicy mayo I didn't really taste it. It was an okay roll overall, not bad, just not my taste. I enjoyed the crunchy spicy tuna roll because it was simple and good, not needing a whole medley of different types of fish and sauces jammed into one roll. Pretty much the standard spicy tuna roll but with some added tempura crunch inside to give it a nice texture. As I said in the beginning the service was pretty good, although for a not that busy Thursday night sometimes it took a while for our server to check on us. I understand the fact that people decide to dine in and leave at different times which can't be helped. Overall, I would definitely come again in the future!
(4)Eli N.
They have some beautifully designed sushi, but their rice needs some attention. I've frequented before and I don't remember their rice being like this. It's translucent and sticky. It's really distracting over what would be a fresh slice of fish or advocado. They have the makings to be a great sushi place. They have some well designed rolls and experienced sushi chefs that have the chops. What is holding them back is: 1)A very old menu that is saturated with mediocrity that just get in the way of some exceptional choices. The physical menus themselves are old and unappetizing. 2) Good rice. Rice is half of the sushi! Even if their rice was a little better a lot more flavor will pop and some of their specialty sushi would really be mindblowing. If you want some advice navigating through their loaded menu I offer my opinion of some of their better specialty rolls. I suggest monk which is how a tempura roll should be done. Light tempura that doesn't overpower but adds texture to a cohesive flavor. Their dancing crab which is included in lunch specials. It looks gorgeous, has complex flavor and is a killer deal. Tonight I tried their Matt and Rosy roll that highlights the simplicity of a more traditional fresh roll. The fish really melts in your mouth.
(4)Jane Z.
As a regular at this restaurant, really love to come here when I miss Japanese food. Really friendly servers and delicious food, highly recommended.
(5)Kaitlyn P.
This is my go to sushi place, and honestly it is the best one around. I've been here with large groups, and they're always incredibly accommodating and the staff is very sweet. Their average take out time is usually 15 minutes, which is incredibly reasonable. The rolls are amazing as well! My friends also rave about the bento boxes, although i've never personally tried them. Try the monk roll, I promise you won't be disappointed.
(5)Brittany L.
Quick service, nice decor, very clean (even the restroom!), and good food! I'll definitely be back. I had the seafood udon bowl which is a lunch special for $8.95. With tax my lunch was still under $10 and I had leftovers. Most of the seafood was Krab, but there were also some bits of scallop, a few shrimp, and what I believe was cuttlefish...maybe? Noodles had a nice texture, broth was good on this chilly rainy day. They seem to have an abundance of deep-fried, mayo-covered sushi rolls (for Americans) but there's also a lunch chirashi special! I'm excited to come back and try that. The fish others were eating looked fresh and one of the sushi chefs greeted me as soon as I came in. Side note: I love this strip mall. There's Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and a few other restaurants all in one place. Score!
(4)Alexandra S.
Top quality sushi! I get the fresh salmon, yellowtail, eel and sea urchin which is hard to find. I like to eat sea urchin with shredded daikon and seiso or oba leaf so my only complaint is that they don't have the seiso or oba leaves. I also like their clear soup with spring onion. Nice people here that give good service.
(5)Lindee M.
This was an easy stop for lunch. The atmosphere was the best part however. I ordered the eel (my favorite) and it was disappointing, poor flavor. My dining partner had the California roll and was happy with his choice. Their jazzed up rendition if a spicy tuna roll was more satisfying. The service was friendly enough. Overall it was sufficient but there will not be another visit from us.
(3)Hime U.
I think the sushi here is good and cheaper than other place and if people choose to go in earlier dinner time (I believe it is earlier than 7?) you can eat with a special price and enjoy the special plate set! Good for little groups or individual!
(4)Max M.
It has been 3 years since I wrote my review of Ichiban and it is time for a brief update. It now has been 26 years that I have been going to Ichiban. And again, I have tried many other sushi places in the USA, Canada, Europe and China and have found none better. The staff is always very friendly and helpful. The sushi is always very fresh and wonderful. I challenge you to name a better place. Yes, there are more fancy places, but none any better . . . not even Nobu in New York City. I highly recommend Ichiban to every sushi lover and to everyone thinking about trying sushi. This is the place! ENJOY!!!
(5)Jennifer C.
I have been to sooo many sushi bars in tampa, I am loosing track. This is definitely one of my top favorites. The atmosphere is relaxing and you can feel comfortable going in any style you feel like (relaxed, casual, maybe even the daring Pj's?!). This place stands out for me, because I ALWAYS end up with at least 1 sushi roll I'm not to fond of, and this place? Didn't happen. Every roll we tried was on point and delicious. Like many others, they offer happy hour menus & dinner combinations for the budget conscious.
(5)Dave K.
This place is by far my favorite sushi restaurant. They always have quality sushi at great prices. The staff are always friendly and wonderful. They do great standard rolls. They have a good selection of specialty rolls, but thats not their main focus. This place is DEFINITELY NOT another one of those yuppy sushi joints with all the specialty rolls in the world, but can't cut an eel roll to save their life. Plus, they have a great selection on non-sushi Japanese fare. And do make a reservation for the Japanese room, where you can sit at a traditional style table in a traditional style room(no shoes and all).
(5)Aleksandr O.
Very good sushi and very generous portions - at least for the guy making my sushi.
(5)Caity A.
This place makes it hard to try other sushi places around the area. Since we don't eat it often, we want consistently awesome rolls, and Ichiban does just the trick. Current hands-down favorite roll has got to be the Busted Roll, it is a massive, messy roll but it is insanely good. Other favorites we order again and again are the Volcano roll, Bucs roll, Bagel tempura, Double Hot, Crunchy baked salmon, Mexican, and Tampa rolls. They also do really good dinners. We especially like the shioyaki salmon, which comes with an appetizer ginger salad, miso soup, rice and steamed veggies. Yum yum!!!
(5)Eric S.
Thanks for the awesome meal today. Chirashi lunch was well worth it. The rolls, spicy crunch tuna and the Tampa, were perfect. At current times, I'd say this is one of best deals on sushi in Tampa. Also, the location is absolutely perfect. Interior is so amazingly relaxing. Tons of staff who are very courteous and knowledgeable. We had approximately 2.5 waiters during the meal. They'll run around for you. The lunch menu is small and easy to absorb also, which is perfect since most people in a hurry. Many places nearby are too complicated to attract express customers. Here you can have your cake and eat it to, meaning you can you can sit down and not worry about leaving in time. The food comes fast and furious. One thing I would recommend is reducing the salad dressing portion, and making it more attractive and creamy looking. It was good flavor-wise, and veggie-wise. Maybe a thin slice of red onion would improve it.
(5)Tommy S.
Great place to get your Sushi fix ! Very friendly staff and family atmosphere! They obviously spend the extra $ to have great quality fish. Their rainbow roll is huge! We love this place and the people.
(5)Jane Z.
As a regular at this restaurant, really love to come here when I miss Japanese food. Really friendly servers and delicious food, highly recommended.
(5)Kaitlyn P.
This is my go to sushi place, and honestly it is the best one around. I've been here with large groups, and they're always incredibly accommodating and the staff is very sweet. Their average take out time is usually 15 minutes, which is incredibly reasonable. The rolls are amazing as well! My friends also rave about the bento boxes, although i've never personally tried them. Try the monk roll, I promise you won't be disappointed.
(5)Keishla M.
Came here after a doctors apt. Super starving. Saw the reviewed and decided to try it Not bad :) very satisfied. great happy hour specials.
(4)Boon C.
Ichiban is an oldest sushi restaurant before any other sushi restaurant around USF. They have been here very long time ago. The owner is a Taiwanese. They start the restaurant by wrapping their own sushi. This restaurant has three major part of menu - the tempura, sushi sashimi, and teriyaki. They also have the rice and noodles bowl section. They have offers the variety of sushi. I always like their bento boxes and the boxes are the best values. They have teriyaki, sashimi, and tempura bento boxes. Today I have the sashimi bento box with added shrimp tempura for extra $3. I love shrimp tempura. The correct way is slight dip the shrimp in wet bread and deep fried. Then drip a bit of tempura next to shrimp and create the crispy effect. However, this process needs to finish in less than 3 minute before over cook the shrimp. This restaurant has the technique for it. The box came with 9 pieces sashimi, cucumber salad, tuna roll, California roll, and imitations crab salad. The sashimi is fresh. Love the shrimp tempura. The shrimp tempura has to eat there. This is not a takeout food. The customer make out from local businesses and students since it is close to the USF. The service is good and the food come out quick since they have enough sushi chefs.
(4)Shannon H.
The day had arrived. My boyfriend and I had been together for two years. There is a lot of pressure on anniversaries. You need to get the right gift, make it special, etc., etc. Well, both of us had dropped the ball on ordering presents, so we just went to mall that day, bought presents, then exchanged them when we got home. Hey, you cannot always be romantic about that. However, we did need to find a place to have dinner. We had at least decided on the cuisine of sushi. There are many sushi joints in the Tampa area, even around the USF area. I have been to several I really enjoy, and a few not so much. We wanted to go somewhere close, and somewhere we knew would be good. We decided on Ichiban Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar, because it has good reviews, is close, and there have been positive experiences there previously. Ichiban is located in the University Plaza near USF on the corner of Bruce B Downs and Fowler Ave., in the same plaza as Winn Dixie, Tijuana Flats, First Watch, and quite a few others. While there are so many restaurants in the plaza, Ichiban is very quiet and calm. I like the atmosphere, decorations, and the layout. There are about six booths near the front, a sushi bar area with seating, and then a separate room near the book with additional tables. The only downside to the booths in the front is that you can see the people next to you through the slats in the wooden divider. As for the menu, they offer a variety of sushi rolls, dinner and lunch boxes, and sashimi. I always like to get sushi rolls, and I will admit I was overwhelmed with all of the roll options. It took me quite a while to look at all of the options and make a decision, so we ordered a ginger salad and miso soup while I made up my mind. I think they refrigerate the lettuce, and it was a little too cold for my taste. They also have extensive options for appetizers, combination dinners, and even gluten free choices! I enjoyed my bagel and spider rolls, and my boyfriend enjoyed his lightning and volcano rolls. The service was friendly and attentive, without being obtrusive. We were in and out of there in about 30-35 minutes, so the service was pretty fast. The prices are reasonable, and they have some good combination dinner and lunch deals. All in all, it was a good anniversary experience.
(4)Melinda M.
Summary: Not good sushi. Dropped by after a Busch Gardens event after seeing the ratings. I remember coming here back in my USF days and it wasn't good then so not much has changed. The menus were sticky and I found myself having to wash my hands after going through it. Yuck. The sushi selection was typical and boring. We ordered a few rolls and some nigiri. The rolls were super thick and meh. The fish they used for nigiri were dry and not fresh at all. I think Publix sushi is better and that's not really a compliment. I think they can get away with mediocre sushi since there isn't a sushi place nearby, but I would rather drive the extra miles for better sushi.
(2)Justin D.
Ichiban has quite an extensive menu full of Japanese cuisine, nice decor, good wait staff, and a happy hour for certain sushi, appetizers, and drinks. Keep in mind I ate before coming here so I just decided to try an appetizer and some sushi. I ordered the shrimp tempura appetizer, yummy jr. roll, and the crunchy spicy tuna roll. The shrimp tempura appetizer comes with two shrimps, sweet potato, broccoli, and another vegetable (maybe zucchini but it was u-shaped?), served with a side of tempura sauce. It was pretty tasty, the sauce was excellent as well as the lightness of the tempura batter. The fillings tasted pretty good too! The yummy jr. roll contained tempura yellowtail, spicy mayo, avocado, smelt roe, and eel sauce. For claiming to have spicy mayo I didn't really taste it. It was an okay roll overall, not bad, just not my taste. I enjoyed the crunchy spicy tuna roll because it was simple and good, not needing a whole medley of different types of fish and sauces jammed into one roll. Pretty much the standard spicy tuna roll but with some added tempura crunch inside to give it a nice texture. As I said in the beginning the service was pretty good, although for a not that busy Thursday night sometimes it took a while for our server to check on us. I understand the fact that people decide to dine in and leave at different times which can't be helped. Overall, I would definitely come again in the future!
(4)Eli N.
They have some beautifully designed sushi, but their rice needs some attention. I've frequented before and I don't remember their rice being like this. It's translucent and sticky. It's really distracting over what would be a fresh slice of fish or advocado. They have the makings to be a great sushi place. They have some well designed rolls and experienced sushi chefs that have the chops. What is holding them back is: 1)A very old menu that is saturated with mediocrity that just get in the way of some exceptional choices. The physical menus themselves are old and unappetizing. 2) Good rice. Rice is half of the sushi! Even if their rice was a little better a lot more flavor will pop and some of their specialty sushi would really be mindblowing. If you want some advice navigating through their loaded menu I offer my opinion of some of their better specialty rolls. I suggest monk which is how a tempura roll should be done. Light tempura that doesn't overpower but adds texture to a cohesive flavor. Their dancing crab which is included in lunch specials. It looks gorgeous, has complex flavor and is a killer deal. Tonight I tried their Matt and Rosy roll that highlights the simplicity of a more traditional fresh roll. The fish really melts in your mouth.
(4)Adam N.
Small always packed at lunch. Great Japanese feel to the place. Decent friendly service. Great for authentic Japanese dishes with presentation that wont disappoint.
(5)Brittany L.
Quick service, nice decor, very clean (even the restroom!), and good food! I'll definitely be back. I had the seafood udon bowl which is a lunch special for $8.95. With tax my lunch was still under $10 and I had leftovers. Most of the seafood was Krab, but there were also some bits of scallop, a few shrimp, and what I believe was cuttlefish...maybe? Noodles had a nice texture, broth was good on this chilly rainy day. They seem to have an abundance of deep-fried, mayo-covered sushi rolls (for Americans) but there's also a lunch chirashi special! I'm excited to come back and try that. The fish others were eating looked fresh and one of the sushi chefs greeted me as soon as I came in. Side note: I love this strip mall. There's Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and a few other restaurants all in one place. Score!
(4)Alexandra S.
Top quality sushi! I get the fresh salmon, yellowtail, eel and sea urchin which is hard to find. I like to eat sea urchin with shredded daikon and seiso or oba leaf so my only complaint is that they don't have the seiso or oba leaves. I also like their clear soup with spring onion. Nice people here that give good service.
(5)Lindee M.
This was an easy stop for lunch. The atmosphere was the best part however. I ordered the eel (my favorite) and it was disappointing, poor flavor. My dining partner had the California roll and was happy with his choice. Their jazzed up rendition if a spicy tuna roll was more satisfying. The service was friendly enough. Overall it was sufficient but there will not be another visit from us.
(3)Hime U.
I think the sushi here is good and cheaper than other place and if people choose to go in earlier dinner time (I believe it is earlier than 7?) you can eat with a special price and enjoy the special plate set! Good for little groups or individual!
(4)Max M.
It has been 3 years since I wrote my review of Ichiban and it is time for a brief update. It now has been 26 years that I have been going to Ichiban. And again, I have tried many other sushi places in the USA, Canada, Europe and China and have found none better. The staff is always very friendly and helpful. The sushi is always very fresh and wonderful. I challenge you to name a better place. Yes, there are more fancy places, but none any better . . . not even Nobu in New York City. I highly recommend Ichiban to every sushi lover and to everyone thinking about trying sushi. This is the place! ENJOY!!!
(5)Jennifer C.
I have been to sooo many sushi bars in tampa, I am loosing track. This is definitely one of my top favorites. The atmosphere is relaxing and you can feel comfortable going in any style you feel like (relaxed, casual, maybe even the daring Pj's?!). This place stands out for me, because I ALWAYS end up with at least 1 sushi roll I'm not to fond of, and this place? Didn't happen. Every roll we tried was on point and delicious. Like many others, they offer happy hour menus & dinner combinations for the budget conscious.
(5)Theresa J.
Slow service but food was delish. Good enough for me to take pictures for this review.
(3)Tiffany C.
Based on the reviews I was expecting a better experience than what I had. It looked like a slow night but for some reason the waiters kept forgetting to bring our drinks. I had to remind them 3x. The tempura was tasteless. We were the only table not being paid attention to. It looked like the table next to us were regulars so they were visited often while we were not. Bad service. Dont go if youre a visitor or a minority because you will not get the service that the other reviewers claim. Again, this was a slow night with 3 chefs working. No excuse for the service.
(1)Melissa T.
Love the sushi! You get so much for your money! I'm definitely going back!
(4)Prof J.
I'm only giviing it a three based on my first experience. I like the sit down on the floor dining experience and the happy hours. the sushi is good and the appetizers are delicious (we had the gyozas and crab rangoons). However, the server was a bit over zealous and a bit intrusive. She also served water with a used pitcher. Yuck. The ambiance was pleasant and the cleanliness of this place wasn't too shabby. But, the place definitely deserves another shot. I like the happy hours specials and the times are just right.
(3)Lisa R.
The most amazing sushi in Tampa. The sashimi is the freshest ever. The rolls will make your eyes roll back in your head. The owner is one of the most beautiful people in the world. The service is impeccable. I have eaten at almost every sushi joint in Tampa and this place is by the far the best!!!!!!!
(5)Jamison E.
Very helpful staff. Nice evening. I recommend this place if you're looking for some yummy sushi.
(5)Angel Y.
I'm not a huge sushi person but I love nigiri, sashimi, and chirashi. This is a small restaurant, nothing fancy, but service with attentive and the food was very good. The miso soup was a little sweet, something I've never experienced before, and I'm not sure I liked it. I only had the chirashi when I visited, and I have to say it's the best I've had in Florida so far. The fish was fresh and the chef was skilled. The rice the fish was served upon was flavorful and complemented the fish well. Definitely recommend this place if you love chirashi.
(5)Ashley P.
I've only been once, but it is definitely my favorite sushi place in Tampa so far. We went for happy hour, between 3 and 6. They had $5 rolls, of which I ordered the crunchy baked salmon and the vegetable. The salmon roll had asparagus, green onion, and scallion and was DELICIOUS. The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is because we asked for no mayo on our rolls and got it anyway. We'll be sure to emphasize that next time. It's kind of small inside, but feels homey. Great food, great prices!
(4)Conner S.
I have to admit...I was pleasantly surprised by this place. My goal was just to grab a quick lunch with a coworker, but I stumbled upon this hidden gem. The decor and ambience is nothing to brag about (the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars actually), but the food and prices were on point. Everything was super fresh and I ended up having a really good experience.
(4)Kevin W.
If you can find something bad, indifferent or out of whack here, take ur azz to Chili's right outside the front door. This spot is FANTASTIC on EVERY account !!!!
(5)Tim M.
Good sushi and staff. A little pricy for What you get but the food is always good. The Monk roll is to die for
(4)Mark S.
Chinese restaurant in a counterfeit Japanese kimono. Server had no idea what a tekkamaki is and it was made by someone with zero skill level. Also had no idea what sake/nihonshu was in stock, which was only two out of the eight listed on the menu. Just to fair, the edamame was ok, but called it a night and went elsewhere. May have been Japanese at some point in the past judging by the web site & menu, but that time has clearly passed. Just another Bay area washoko disappointment. As for the other recent reviews ... wow.
(1)Luisella M.
Friendly servers and hands down the best, most consistent sushi in town. Fast service too!
(5)Brian C.
Sushi is definitely a weakness of mine. I love good sushi. I'm usually here for lunch, as you get a great value for very good food. Lunch Box A is always a dependable, good way to go, especially if you like raw fish. You get a great assortment of fish, soup, and a side salad for a very reasonable price. All of the lunch combinations are good though, and most likely you will be able to find something to your liking. If you would like to be more specific, the menu has tons of different rolls to suit everyone's taste. I've tried a few of them, and have been pleasantly surprised by the quality. A few of the interesting ones include the Randy roll (if you're okay with the occasional cream cheese in your roll), the spider roll, the cruchy spicy tuna roll, and the salmon. If you like sushi, this should definitely hit the spot.
(4)Shani Z.
I'm happy to find this place close enough to where I stay, it's fairly hard to find a good sushi place in Tampa, the food is fresh and exclusively delicious!, I'd like tho that they wouldn't charge extra 50 cent for every sauce !! :)
(5)Michelle w.
This is my regular Sushi restaurant in Tampa. I been coming here for more then 20 year. Very fresh Sushi. Last years they had changed new management, but they still keep up with the food quality And the service. And lately they just add my favour item to the Menu. BLUE FIN TUNA And TORO, it's really rare to see it in Tampa. Actually I never seen it in Tampa. I try it in new York And other bigger cities. But really that's the best thing ever. highly recommended.
(5)Daniel W.
YOU MUST GET THE LUNCH CHIRASHI! This is a boat full (literally comes in a boat) of 6 pairs of delicious sashimi, for only 12 bucks. Not only is it a massive portion but it's hands down the best freakin sushi in the Tampa area. I've been here the last two days and the third seems inevitable. Amazing!
(5)Olivia B.
I love this place. The sushi is extremely fresh and you have your pick if where to sit (booth, sushi bar, table, or authentic pillow on the group in a sitting room).
(5)Nikki D.
Overpriced food. Services just so so. Wouldn't want to come back bc of the price is to high. Food taste pretty good.
(3)Kaye S.
Stopped for lunch. I had teriyaki steak with mushroom and husband had a bowl of chicken and rice. Both dishes were extremely good. We both had a bagel that was very fresh and huge.
(5)June B.
I am writing this as someone who has lived in the San Francisco area for the last 20 years, and has just recently moved here. So please note that my standards for sushi are pretty high. That said, I have found one place in Tampa (thus far) that meets my standards, so it's not impossible. I came to this place because of the reviews, but I was disappointed. The service was amazing. But some of the sashimi was not very fresh (the salmon was fresh, but the maguro was on the edge, and I didn't even want to eat the yellowtail). I don't think I will go there again unless there's some compelling reason (e.g., someone I'm dining with insists on eating there). It's not that it's horrible or anything. No one in my group got sick from eating there. It's just that I'm poor and, if I'm going to spend that kind of money on dinner, I want it to be delicious, not just decent.
(3)Steve E.
I had planned to try a highly-recommended Vietnamese restaurant in this same shopping center, but found they had closed early on the Saturday before Easter. Thankfully I remembered Ichiban was located nearby, and had an excellent sushi dinner instead. Ichiban Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar is located in the University Collections shopping center at the intersection of Fowler Avenue and Bruce B. Downs Blvd - right near the USF campus. Even though this is a busy shopping center, the inside of the restaurant is calm and serene, with an emphasis on high quality sushi, sashimi and tempura. You'll find lots of tables and booths scattered around the restaurant, along with a traditional sushi bar and the very traditional izakaya-style of seating whereby the customers sit on tatami mats or specially-crafted seats, and dine from low tables. Ichiban has a very nice mixture of fresh sushi and sashimi, and a wide variety of sushi / sashimi combination samplers, Bento boxes, and rice bowls. They also have a fantastic selection of rolls from the traditional California, Rainbow, and Tampa to the very exotic house special rolls found on the flip side of the menu. My lovely date and I sat at the sushi bar and were warmly greeted by the sushi chefs with the traditional saying of "Irasshaimase", which is the proper Japanese way of welcoming a customer into their place of business. We responded back by saying "Konbanwa" or Good Evening, which raised a few smiles from the chefs. While we looked over the menu the chefs presented us with a small appetizer sample of cucumber salad in vinegar sauce. Clearly this gift was due to my amazing talent with the Japanese language.......and thankfully I did not need to embarrass myself further by mumbling my way through any other phrases. (Actually everyone who sits at the sushi bar is graced with this delicacy.) We decided to share three different rolls for our dinner, and we felt that we made some excellent decisions. First was the S & J Roll which was spicy crab SP with tempura crunch flakes, avocado slices, rolled in nori and rice, and then topped with yellowtail (amberjack tuna). Our second roll was the Tobiko Special Roll which was made with yellowtail and scallions, rolled in nori and sushi rice, and then covered with three different types of flying fish roe (black, green, and red). This was a very colorful and delicious roll! My personal favorite for the night was the Matt & Rosy Roll which was fresh salmon slices over a Volcano topping roll. This was clearly the salmon-lovers roll for the night! All of the food was very creative and very delicious. They make an amazing-looking tuna martini which I want to go back and try on my next visit. Ichiban has specials on Monday nights for USF students, and I saw some terrific budget-friendly lunch specials as well. Great little spot for those who enjoy good sushi. They menu also shows a nice mix of cooked dinner entrees -- teriyaki, grilled and broiled meats & seafood, and tempura.
(4)Lisa M.
I do love their food. Although the breaded and deep-fried sushi is a bit pandering to American tastes for me. I want Japanese food, not an American version of it. The miso soup is good, too. The lunch boxes are my favorite. This is getting three rather than four stars for the service. It used to be that you could go for lunch and get served and out the door inside of an hour. Not anymore. I won't go for lunch unless I'm not working that day. The last two times I was there it took and hour and a half for lunch. Not the best thing when you've only got one hour for lunch.
(3)