We LOVED Ichiban! In Greenwood visiting family and my husband, who isn't a huge sushi fan decided we should go try it out because he saw the Groupon. I was elated, especially because of the reviews I had read. We had a wonderful time, the service was great even though it was busy. We had a total of six alcoholic beverages, two meals, an appetizer and dessert and left spending only $40 after our $20 Groupon was applied. The food was AMAZING and my non-sushi fan husband loved every single dish. We got cream cheese wontons, crazy roll, unagi don and tempura fried ice cream. Our waitress was also awesome, she is Sammy's daughter and made the experience that much better. I'm so excited my husband loved it that now I might get him to take me out for sushi in our town! Oh and, to Sammy's daughter, our waitress, if you read this: Yes, we were in a food coma last night, but even though you told me about the fried ice cream, I won't hold you accountable for my indulgence and the food coma! :)
(5)
N H.
Amazing sushi AND it is affordable. Play the daily drink specials? Yes please! I think their standard rolls (Philadelphia roll and salmon rolls) are fantastic and their specialty rolls (especially the dragon roll) make my heart skip with joy. When I dine out with someone there is just silence at the table as we enjoy every mouthful of delicious sushi and savor the moment. Surprisingly, their daily drink specials are heavy hitting, so it is a great place to go when you are feeling stressed. The decor is nice and they have wonderful furniture. It's a fairly fancy looking place but has a laid back atmosphere. The restaurant is spaced out well so you don't feel like you are eating on top of other people. Anyways, wonderful sushi place and definitely worth the drive.
(5)
Rebecca H.
The rolls are good. The chef is awesome. The prices are decent. Honestly that's all you need to know. I think we all know what sushi restaurants look like inside, so no need to explain that. The reason this place is special is because of the chef. He can put together a roll for every single type of sushi lover. I think that's a great skill to have.
(4)
Don S.
This restaurant is by far the best in Indys South side, great service and really good food. The chefs will make anything you want! Special orders! The service is always friendly and professional. Mondays half off all rolls 5-7, come early they get real busy. Sit at the bar for extra special service! Kids menu is a bargain!
(5)
Jen F.
I have serious love for this place. Their Tom Yum Soup is awesome. Really full of plump shrimp and veggies in a flavorful broth. Their crab rangoon is some of the best I've had with plenty of sweet, crabby filling. The sweet chili dipping sauce is great. Their sushi rolls are so creative! The fish is fresh and all of the sauces are interesting and complimentary. I wish there was one closer to home, but I'll make that drive to Greenwood as often as I can.
(4)
Maya H.
Warning if you saw the groupon and then came here: the groupon doesn't count for lunch specials. Don't make the mistake we did! The ambiance was nice on the inside. I wasn't expecting much from the outside, honestly, but when you open the doors it's very nice. It seemed pretty clean for the most part, though my tablecloth was stained. The lunch specials are well priced but the regular meals are a little expensive considering the quality. The hot green tea was very weak, I don't suggest it. We each ordered a roll, the unagi and the spicy tuna. Neither were exceptional but considering the price they were alright. I would not order either again. The sushi chef seemed very friendly though. Our meals came with salad and miso soup, which were refreshing and honestly kind of filling. For my meal I got the beef teriyaki box. There was quite a lot of food for the price, and it was pretty good! I don't care for the tempura but my boyfriend loved it. The roll that came with the box was better than the two we ordered as appetizers. My boyfriend got orange chicken, and it was pretty good as well. Overall, the service and food are both adequate, but neither are exceptional. For a 30 dollar lunch I would expect a little better quality, personally. If you are craving sushi and don't want to pay top dollar, or you want a lot of food more than you want especially delicious food, I would recommend it I suppose; however for the other specials, the quality is on par with a good take out place.
(3)
Johnny W.
I have lived in Philadelphia for the past 3 years but my family is in Greenwood. Every time I come home to visit we make a point to come have sushi here. I love the atmosphere! And the sushi is to die for! They make sure that you're well taken care of and I appreciate that!
(5)
Laquetta D.
By far the best sushi in Indy. I've tried a few places around the city, but I always compare them to Ichiban. They have an arty of sushi. I've never had a bad experience here. I try something new every time. I can't say what my favorite is because I love it all. Their tempura shrimp is probably on my top ten list I also enjoy their miso. They always have a good amount of seaweed and tofu. Sometimes I find places getting skimpy on that, but not at Ichiban. Simply and plainly: GO! You won't be disappointed
(5)
Britney P.
Really good sushi. If you go in on Mondays from 5-7 it's half price and really cheap. The prices aren't bad normally either. They also have great miso soup. Good service.
(4)
Sally M.
Ichiban has been my family's "go to" restaurant for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. ever since it opened. Great service, great prices and the best Sushi anywhere are what keep us coming back. It's spoiled me for anyone else's Sushi. In fact, we're going tonight because our Groupon is about to expire.
(5)
Gabrielle H.
The hubster and I stumbled across this place while finishing up a day of shopping in Greenwood. I think maybe the stars aligned a little bit. First of all, we were lucky enough to find this place on a Monday. Why is that? Monday is HALF PRICED SUCHI, YA'LL! This would account for why the place was packed, but we were still seated within ten minutes. Now, on to the sushi. Simply put, it is always fresh, always tasty and I always walk away completely satisfied (and stuffed). The spicy yellow tail and spicy salmon rolls are my favorites but the classics are exceptional too (cali/phili/veggie). My husband is under the impression that if sushi is half off, you can order twice as much, so we usually get to take home leftovers too!
(4)
Trena R.
It keeps calling me back. I finally tried something other than sushi - well... in addition to sushi. The 'home style tofu' hit the spot - big, crunchy veggies along side a generous portion of tofu hanging out in a shallow pool of light sauce... is it too soon to go back? Mondays are half-price sushi night. Get there early. Eat a little too much. And go home happy. :)
(4)
Courtny M.
Some of the best sushi I've had in a long time!! Hands Down!! I arrived at 2:38pm not paying attention to time. They close at 2:30pm . They let me order to go. Man did this make my day. I've been reading reviews for sushi all day and this was definitely the right choice. I got my fave a California roll and tried the Dream Roll!! Omg the dream roll is to die for if you love sushi. Thanks Yelpers for the reviews. If you want good fresh sushi.. It's a no brainier go here!
(5)
Gordo J.
My dad loves seafood and sushi, and had been wanting to go here for a while. We were visiting him from out of town and took him, and I'm really glad we did. It was a great little place, very quiet and casual. There was four of us and we decided to order the party platter called the "Love Boat." It's essential a wooden boat filled with an array of sushi rolls (chef's choice) packed together. It was well worth the price and offered us a wonderful sampling of their roles. It was more than enough to fee us all, but we did add on the miso soup. This would be a place we will definitely go to again on our next visit to Indianapolis.
(4)
Christin J.
My favorite sushi in Indianapolis. We will drive from downtown to visit this spot. From the outside, would not usually pick a place like this to stop in, but the inside is lovely, quiet (even when full of people) and welcoming. Quality of the fish is incredible and there's a nice book with photos of all the sushi rolls.
(5)
Joan D.
Great sushi and we've always had great service here. Reasonable prices and large space, very good for groups.
(5)
Karen J.
Sammy at Ichiban never fails me. Behind an inauspicious facade in a strip mall is the best octopus salad in town, flawless service and engaging decor. Double happy birthday sake, and we are on a way to a wonderful evening.
(5)
Brandi A.
We absolutely love Ichiban!!! It is the best place in Indy for Sushi!! We have not tried anything else besides the Japanese dishes, to include mostly sushi. The Dynamite Roll is my favorite, but all of it is awesome!! I have talked to several people that live either downtown or on the north side and say they drive down to Greenwood to Ichiban. I highly recommend. The atmosphere and service is great too!!!
(5)
K L.
Great sushi! Fairly fast and good service, went with a group of people and we all were satisfied. Even a main entree was good.
(5)
Pam Petersen D.
I have been coming to this place since it opened 9 years ago. Excellent sushi and lovely atmosphere. Best sushi on the south side. :)
(5)
Keith B.
Great sushi! The place was packed... tells the story about the quality.
(5)
Amanda B.
Located in a strip mall, you wouldn't immediately think that it would have decent food, let alone raw fish. You'd be missing out if you passed it up though, as the sushi is both tasty and affordable. The last time we were there, the service was so-so, but it was a busy night. The food is worth it.
(4)
Seth B.
I can't say that I'm a sushi conniseur or that I've had it all over the world like many others do, but I enjoy Ichiban. I've always had good food, good service, at reasonable prices. I'm happy to come here and since it is always pretty busy, I'd say many others are as well.
(5)
David T.
This is my second visit here. I like the atmosphere but today the manager is less than hospitable. Seems like there is an attitude going on, not very friendly or inviting. I may give it a third chance, not sure.
(3)
Bill M.
We have not been in to visit Sammy in sometime and he remembered us immediately, his staff is very friendly and displays his sense of family from the moment we walked in. The food as always is perfected by Sammy's staff with a sense of pride and integrity, top notch We will be recommending this place as the best place on the Southside sushi establishment to go to, well worthy the drive to pass up downtown to get here.
(5)
Shannon Y.
I just can't get enough of this place. It's always fresh and amazing presentation. I love the warm wash clothes and intimate lighting. always a pleasure!
(5)
Amanda V.
Omg!!! First time at ichiban and my friend and I fell I love with the crazy roll and dream roll. The best sushi I've ever had. Must go if u love sushi!!!
(5)
Steve P.
So my problem is that we wanted to take my sister out to her birthday dinner but she works early on Sunday so we wanted to go around 4:30 on a Saturday. So be ware...this and the original restaurant I wanted to attend..closed until 5PM. Now to the bad part. I am easy to please as a customer but first the service starts out with quickly getting some attention which was good...we got water. But then the girl dissappeared. Not like 5 minute...10 minute...15 minutes later she finally decides to come back and get our sushit order and we get a chance to get drinks. My wife and sister ordered drinks...both got something that tasted and looked much different than described. At this point I was just afraid to complain. No one there smiled...was pleasant or cordial in any way? Do they beat these people in the back room? 30 minutes into being there we had sushi - keeping in mind, they had just opened. Not too busy. But gees... We had a sampling of 3 rolls and some nigiri. Honestly it was pretty good. But that was the end of anything good for me. My wife and I then also ordered a Happy Family dish with rice to split which comes with soup and salad- and my sister ordered the crab salad. My sister really liked her salad. But my salad..some almost wilted lettuce and a huge glut of ginger dressing made it the worst attempt at salad I ever had. This dish with inspection was half full under the lettuce with this very strongly spiced ginger dressing. I have had in my life many different versions of this before and I can promise without doubt - this was the worst. The soup...not much either - and I am thinking - geez...I brought my sister here for her birthday and she really is being a good soldier dealing with this...maybe because I am paying,...not sure...or that she is just a darn nice person. So this happy family meal comes...it is beef, chicken, and some seafood in a kind of stew with some pitiful scroungy veggies chopped into it. There were shrimp in this but I had one that was big and so old and chewy I could not get a chunk of this stuff down my throat. I mean down right gross and embarrassing. Overall the two of us - my wife and I left over half of this $18 dish in the bowl and were disgusted. I gave this a 1 star for the sushi which is by my standards mediocre. Many places in Indy to get better. Service? It just was the worst. But honestly - the nice folks of Greenwood showed up there that night. But how long can you serve crappy food and offer crappy service and stay in business. I would say stay clear of this place. There are too many hard working business owners who deserve your money more than this place.
(1)
Kristen S.
Wonderful restaurant! The atmosphere is relaxing and the service is great. The entire staff does a nice job of making you feel welcome and that you're a priority. We had an appetizer of shumai (dumplings) which came quickly and were just the right temperature and delicious. The sushi was fantastic! We had the dynamite roll, the Tokyo roll, Angie's roll, and the spider roll. I'm pretty sure it took no more than 15 minutes for the two of us to devour everything! It's well worth the trip!
(5)
Ms W.
It's a nice asian restaurant. The food is great! You won't regret coming. We ordered love boat and it was very good. I would recommend this place to anyone who is in for sushi
(5)
Matt R.
Stopped in for lunch. They have a good lunch special. I had spicy shrimp and spicy tuna rolls. They were both good and reasonably priced.
(4)
Dan S.
I go here for lunch several times a month. The sushi is always great and crafted well. I usually stick to spicy tuna, spicy salmon, and Philly rolls, but the special/fancy rolls are great too. The miso soup and ginger salad with the lunch specials are great too. Best miso soup I've had. The service is always great too.
(5)
Gretchen S.
Normally, I really like this place, but my meal tonight was a big disappointment. I started with a seaweed salad, which was good, and followed up with a dragon roll, which was not. The presentation was beautiful, the service was quick and friendly, but the quality of the eel left much to be desired. The eel, what little there was of it on the roll, was rubbery and not good at all. I managed to choke it down with lots of wasabi but was pretty bummed as I've had this roll here in the past and really liked it. I won't be ordering it again.
(2)
Ayla W.
Love it! They try to get things out super fast and they are super professional! I'm there every Monday for half priced sushi!
(5)
Roger R.
Just sat down at Ichiban. I love this place! Owner/Chef Sammy is such a great guy. He and his staff are always so friendly. He even remembered it is my Birthday!!!
(5)
Kim T.
One of my favorite places to eat sushi. Sammy and his staff are helpful in the selection process. Everyone works hard to make you feel special. Food is FABULOUS!!
(5)
Aaron R.
Love this place! When I bit into the Philadelphia there was an explosion of flavors in my mouth that sent my taste buds into orbit! Best sushi I have ever had. I recommend the dragon and the Philadelphia.
(5)
Diana J.
Some of the best sushi in town with reasonable pricing. Good crab Rangoon, gyoza, and teriyaki. Very reasonably priced martinis! My only complaint is it doesn't appear servers are assigned stations, so I get two different people coming out to get my drink or food order: service is friendly
(4)
Shane M.
I was simply impressed with how nice the restaurant is. The sushi bar was amazing and so many choices. There food was amazing. My wife and I truly enjoy our date night!
(5)
Jonathan W.
Had chefs choice sashimi last Friday. It was amazing. There is no better place for sushi on the south side!
(5)
Tara F.
HOW HAVE I NOT WRITTEN A REVIEW YET?! Shame on me.... Ichiban is the best that it gets if you are looking for delightful sushi or sashimi. It is my Friday night escape every week, and I wouldn't be surprised to know if i'm referred to as "the girl who is always indecisive but always gets the same roll" here among the staff. For one, I do indeed get the same rolls, and I order large quantities of them, because quite frankly, it's delightful. You can do no wrong with delicious sashimi and rice, or dipping one of the fantastic rolls in soy. My favorites are the Pink Dragon roll and the Golden Cheese roll, and it is not a struggle to savor the deliciousness that comes with every bite. And make sure to have one of their Mai-Tais on hand to enjoy, because overall you're classy when it comes to having sushi and Mai-Tais! The staff at Ichiban are also extremely patient, helpful and kind. They suggest things that you may want to try, as well as work with you if you have dietary needs. From the outside, you may be confused that there is a treasure waiting for you.... Trust me, open the door and you'll find an exquisite gem that's hidden on the Southside, and you'll want to take advantage of it again and again.
(5)
Amy C.
Another great lunch! Soup,salad, #1lunch box teriyaki chicken with rice, shrimp and beget able tempura and sushi rolls for $11! Love this place.
(5)
Britany W.
They have the best sushi. I have tried other places and this is my favorite! Especially Mondays from 5-7 they have half price sushi on 12 different rolls! Delish! I come every Monday just started yelping though!
(5)
Bryan G.
Good atmosphere and great, affordable food. We had a terrific New Years Eve dinner here. The sushi was wonderful and fresh. Definitely recommend!
(4)
Frankie S.
We love to come here, sit in a box, and pig out on our fav sushi. Ever since my daughter tried sushi here she's loved it EVERYWHERE! They are just a little pricey, but the quality is great! We love the cheese wantons also! They're dinner plates aren't bad either. We've lived in the area 2 years and have been here 4 times.
(4)
Z. S.
The best sushi in town, hands down. Fresh, beautiful presentation, and decent prices. I've been to almost every sushi place in the greater Indianapolis area, but I find myself coming back to Ichiban.
(5)
Rachel W.
Very quick service and seating, but we visited on a week night. The crab rangoons were delicious and the sushi was tasty as well. Can't say it's the best I've ever had. Would return if I were in the area again.
(4)
Kimmi M.
Ichiban struts its sushi realness all over the south side. I've been spending a lot of time there lately, and I was pleased to be informed that Ichiban was here amidst chain restaurants and car dealerships. Here is your quick rundown of Ichiban: cheap drinks, cheap appetizers, good midwest sushi, and a quiet atmosphere. Everything I've tried here has been great! I usually go for nigiri, and it's pretty difficult to mess that up. (Except if you are Bluefin Bistro in Lafayette). Pretty typical midwest sushi fare, if you haven't eaten sushi on a coast, you're not doing it right. Ichiban is a wonderful respite from the hub-hub of the people who don't know how to drive on the south side. Kick back with a tasty beverage, and eat yourself silly with healthy sushi.
(4)
Jay Q.
I was craving sushi and I am from out of town on business. Took a shot at this place and I am glad I did! Big rolls, fresh fish (on a Wednesday too!) and the staff was good. Definitely go back there next time I'm in town and want sushi!
(4)
WILLIAM P.
No longer my favorite. Went to celebrate my birthday and was beyond disappointed with the 3 Tempura Combinations and 4 Soft Shelled Crabs. they were over breaded in a way I have never experienced. Not sure if they have some one new in the kitchen, but Sakura now has my heart and stomach!
(3)
Jonathon H.
I went here for guys' night and everyone was happy. Granted we all accidentally got drinks that were more on the "feminine side," they were good so f*ck it. The crazy role is incredible -- best role of sushi I've ever had! Priced are reasonable for a sushi restaurant. I had 1 role, soup, and a cocktail for $19. My buddy got 2 roles, soup, and a Martini for $35.
(4)
Eric M.
My Favorite Sushi spot in the City! Great lunch specials that include Miso soup & salad. Also very good Happy Hour specials but come early especially Monday's during Half price sushi night. Philadelphia roll is very good. Shrimp tempura roll is crunchy, not soggy like some other places I've been. You won't be sorry to Visit Sammy and his crew! Always good service.
(5)
Larry R.
Enjoyed the crazy roll, and the ichiban roll; but the the dream roll was amazing. Great atmosphere. Very surprised by this place being in greenwood.
(5)
David I.
I've been here dozens of times and love it more every time I go. They just finished a huge expansion and can seat very large groups now. We got our usual rolls this time, shrimp tempura and spicy scallop rolls. The prices are very reasonable considering what some places charge. We always try to get something new when we go. This time we got the Hot & Sour Soup, Clear Broth, and Dreaming Duck (I think that's the name) and all were just incredible. It was the best duck I ever tasted, as was the Hot & Sour Soup. The clear broth was just a little too salty, but that was a minor thing considering the quality of everything else.
(5)
Raina R.
Yes, Yelp, Ichiban is "As good as it gets!" I don't know if I've ever been as satisfied with sushi as I am EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I go to Ichiban. Let's run over the basics: Service: Excellent. Doesn't get better than this - servers are prompt with refilling drinks and being attentive, without being overbearing. They bring your food out to you as soon as it's ready. Check - when it's time. There's never a lull in your meal, they are perfect at managing the timing of your meal. Food: SO GOOD. The Special Rolls are a great combination of those types you'll generally find at sushi places to some unique creations. The I.I. Roll, Crazy Roll, Pink Dragon are a few of our favorites. The Crazy Roll is CRAZY good - we normally can't go in without ordering one. The prices are pretty comparable to most decent sushi in Indianapolis. We normally spend about $30-$40 for a dinner for 2. Ambiance/Decor/What Have You: Deceiving from the outside, the interior of Ichiban is spacious with a great variety of seating options. Good for an intimate dinner date or with a large group of people. Not too loud, not too quiet. Great sushi bar if that's your thing. The only critique, if I had one, is the full bar is a relatively new addition to Ichiban. Fortunately, the bartender was open to listening to how to make drinks how we preferred them and they turned out pretty decent. Take out? We do it all the time. Only about 15-20 minutes from your call to being able to pick up. When I initially moved to the south side, my local restaurant options diminished. Luckily, Ichiban makes up for many of that. It's "as good as it gets!"
(5)
Corrine P.
I don't usually venture to the south-side, but if there is 1/2 off sushi I will!!! Great atmosphere, delicious food, great service, drink specials. It doesn't get better. I will definitely be visiting here again!! Tip: If you want to get seated on Monday, get there at 5:00 or 5:30. This place is VERY popular.
(5)
Casey A.
Absolute best sushi in Indiana!!!! Been coming here for over a year with my husband. It's definitely our favorite place to eat.
(5)
Anu G.
The ambiance and presentation is great. The food was authentic and good. I went for dinner and the prices were little bit on the expensive side but that is ok for the good food they serve. My only negative comment is that the service is tooo slow. We waited for about 20 min before anyone took the order and a wait for another 25 min to get the food.
(4)
Eric D.
Totally disappointed. Took my family of six for a birthday meal for my daughter. $150 for a meal that I could have gotten at a local buffet or at Panda Express. It was just plain awful. At most nice restaurants, a manager will at least inquire as to the satisfaction of your meal. Nothin'. A GREAT BIG disappointment.
(1)
Brittany L.
Ichiban is located in a nondescript shopping plaza, but the interior of the restaurants lends itself to a special and intimate experience. Seating seems tight at first glance, but our two person booth seemed private, even though we were close to other tables. There is a beautiful full service bar with plenty of seating, as well as private back rooms for small parties. We arrived around 7 p.m., on a Friday night, and had no wait, but we noticed the line grew rapidly, shortly after we were seated, and soon there was a crowd waiting at the door. We did not feel rushed by our server, at all, though. She let us take our time and enjoy our meal without pressuring us to turn the table over. Traditional Japanese aesthetics enhance your experience at Ichiban, but the real reason to visit is the amazing food. Upon first glace, I was surprised at how reasonable all of the prices seemed (extremely inexpensive compared to a place like Naked Chopstix on the North side.) We used my groupon for $24/food for $12, and we ended up spending about $15 over that, for everything including drinks. My boyfriend and I chose to taste a variety of items from the menu, starting with the vegetable tempura to share, and the house beer and wine. The tempura warm and delicious, and the vegetables inside were cooked perfectly. Soft enough, but still fresh and crisp tasting. The wine was average, typical Chardonnay served at most places. My boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his Sapporo beer. We then moved onto cold sake and our sushi. The sake was served in a small bottle, with a tiny glass for drinking, and in a much larger quantity than we anticipated. Share it if you're drinking lightly. It was light and refreshing. Our first sushi selection included Nagiri sushi, the tuna and the yellowtail. Unbelievable flavor for such a simple dish. The fish tasted so fresh, it's as if you weren't eating it in central Indiana. Moving onto the sushi rolls, we chose the Philadelphia and the Spicy Salmon rolls. Both were out of this world, with a small amount of wasabi and pickled radish. I would enthusiastically recommend each of these rolls. We were absolutely stuffed at this point, so we couldn't try another roll, like we wanted, but we'll certainly be back soon to try more. We've definitely found a new local favorite in Ichiban.
(5)
Chyna M.
I hate the fact that Ichiban is hidden away in a crappy little shopping center. Its totally off-putting until you walk in. The inside however, is gorgeous and has a very romantic feel between the lighting and Japanese decor. I usually come here for their lunch special: 2 sushi rolls, soup, and salad for just $8. The ginger dressing on their salad is wonderful. They also have half price sushi on Mondays. If you're going to get a lot of sushi though, their "Love Boat" is the way to go. Its literally a boat full of all the sushi you could ever want and it fed my party of 4. In a lot of sushi restaurants, I've found that they don't roll their sushi tight enough or maybe that their rice isn't moist enough...the point is, it falls apart. I've never had that problem at Ichiban. I love this place!
(5)
Janice P.
This was my first time ever eating sushi. This was an amaxing experience. The food was delicious, the environment was nice and the service was great. I have been back already and have recommended this place to many people!
(4)
Naser B.
This restaurant been my fav spot! Great food, parking is not an issue, good staff i love their food
(5)
Jennifer P.
Went here with a group for sushi the other night. Definitely were not let down. The sushi was very well prepared and they had a nice selection. They also have a nice non-sushi menu for those of you that don't like sushi. My only complaints would be that the service was a little slow and the green tea was horrible. It tasted like dirty water. Other than that, it was a great experience and would probably go back if in the area.
(4)
Lisa M.
This was 2nd time here. Thought I would give it another try due to all the great reviews. The people are friendly and it is a nice environment. The edemame were overbooked both visits. Two sushi rolls I had were good, but not the best I've ever had.
(3)
Esteban V.
If sushi is what you are craving look no further. Ichiban offers delicious sushi and entrees. The atmosphere in the restaurant is quiet, calming, and relaxing. Perfect for a date or night out. The staff is very friendly and polite. And if you have any questions about the menu and specifically the sushi fell free to ask the sushi chefs. They know best, and are very open to letting you explore some of the options.
(5)
Tina D.
The server was very friendly but the food arrived separately. Kinda pricey. The miso salmon tasted fishy but the teriyaki salmon was delicious. We liked the Queens prawn but it had hardly any asparagus, although lots of extra yummy veggies. The sushi was rather bland and had very lttle ginger. I didn't get any tea refill nor was I asked, but to be fair it was Christmas Eve and there seemed to be very little staff. Probabaly won't go back. We have three excellent Japanese resturants in Columbus and one pretty decent fusion place as well.
(3)
Rebecca M.
I know the location makes it seem casual but the inside is very nice-making it great for dates or business gatherings. The wait staff was all very helpful. My boyfriend and I had the tuna appetizer and sushi rolls. Everything was very tasty and the presentation was well done. All in all it was a success, very reasonably priced.
(5)
Melody G.
Good Sushi, skip the salad. Visited this site for lunch and had 2 sushi rolls, a spicy tuna and another specialty roll. The quality was good and they were fast. Sushi's not cheap, so I recommend the lunch specials. You can still get no-fuss rolls for $5 and under though. Salad is just half chopped lettuce with a little ginger dressing--not worth the $3 price. Everything else was good though, place was clean and nice looking. They have a variety of hibachi options for the non-sushi eaters, which I did not yet try.
(4)
Tim G.
My search for good Japanese food continues, and today it has brought me to Ichiban. Nicely decorated, spacious, and very relaxed, Ichiban makes some really great entrees an some good sushi. The staff was friendly and attentive, and from what I could hear, very helpful in explaining and recommending dishes. There appeared to be a lot of first time patrons the night we went, so I heard many questions about why certain things are. I don't know if that's a normal thing, but I was more comfortable eating there knowing that there was a healthy stream of customers (and not completely empty like other places I've been to). The main entrees was pretty delicious. I very much enjoyed the Grilled Hamachi Kama that I ordered. It was tasty and the portion size was larger than a normal Japanese establishment. I do have to knock off a few points for the sushi though. Most of the main ingredients of the sushi seemed less inspired and bland than they should be (the spicy tuna leaves much to be desired). I have to say that I enjoyed the main course much more than the sushi. This is definitely one of the better Japanese food establishments here in Indianapolis. Probably my favorite at the moment, and I will definitely be back.
(4)
Robert R.
Best sushi hands down! Ill never forget the first date with my wife there. Chi sent out a complementary boat with lots of food on it for us to try. We now go 2x a month from Indy and get the Doc Singh Special and Beef Tataki. We also buy his dressing to take home. Nothing like it in Indy! He gets fresh seafood daily overnighted to him. Also has a fresh fish market. Service is very knowledgable and friendly. Never a bad visit!
Bar none... Sammy has the best sushi bar in the Indy Metro area! Hot Saki. Great Miso soup! AND he's expanding into the next door space in mid October. Near Greenwood on US 31 S of Stop 11 Road behind Kinko's... Worth the trip!
(5)
allison s.
How have I not reviewed Ichiban??? Oh well, here it goes... Ichiban offers a half price (selected) sushi night on Mondays! The offered rolls include California, spicy tuna, spicy shrimp, shrimp tempura among a few others! I love their specialty rolls, salads, and soup. I however, do not love their service... I have decided that expecting great service at a sushi restaurant is expecting way too much! Refills and checks take forever, so be prepared to wait!
(3)
Tony S.
We have been enjoying Sammy and Bonnie's company since they opened Yuki many years ago. When they opened Ichiban it was hard to believe that it could get better, but somehow they improved what was already a phenomenal menu. His sushi is amazing and I suffer withdrawal if I can't have it. My wife and I love it, our favorite place to eat, by far. We have taken our kids and my son won't eat any other rice but theirs. He loves their shrimp tempura and their staff is great with both kids. I can't believe it has taken me 8 years to write a review of Sammy. Maybe I thought if everyone knew about the place we would never get a seat again. But I think Sammy would just expand even more. Love this place and we love Sammy and Bonnie.
(5)
Robert K.
It's so hard to find decent sushi on the south side of indy. This place has GREAT sushi. Their soups are great as well.
(5)
Kristen B.
I gotta say, it's nice to have a great sushi place on the southside of Indy. A lot of the other Japanese restaurants are more about the hibachi eating and the sushi can be an afterthought, but not here. They have all the creative rolls you might like, and a Japanese/other Asian menu for those who don't want the sushi. I've been here six or so times and every time it's been excellent.
(5)
Charla M.
Our food is always consistently delicious, although I'd love for their sushi menu expand to include more options that aren't fried. :). We always have friendly service, and the remodeled dining room is nice & clean & you can catch the game at their bar.
(4)
Chris C.
The only time that I have been here is on Mondays. They have half priced sushi from 5p-7p. But beware I think everyone that likes sushi on the southside is there so be prepared. We used to be able to call ahead and let them know we are coming but i dont think they do that any more. The sushi is pretty good, not the best, but definitely not the worst. We have ordered other things off the menu and have not been all that impressed. Everything is pretty affordable and the half price sushi on Mondays is a geat deal.
(3)
Ashley Z.
Best sushi I've ever had! Friendly staff. Half priced sushi on Mondays us gear! Just be sure to get there right at 5 because it gets busy.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Anne P.
We LOVED Ichiban! In Greenwood visiting family and my husband, who isn't a huge sushi fan decided we should go try it out because he saw the Groupon. I was elated, especially because of the reviews I had read. We had a wonderful time, the service was great even though it was busy. We had a total of six alcoholic beverages, two meals, an appetizer and dessert and left spending only $40 after our $20 Groupon was applied. The food was AMAZING and my non-sushi fan husband loved every single dish. We got cream cheese wontons, crazy roll, unagi don and tempura fried ice cream. Our waitress was also awesome, she is Sammy's daughter and made the experience that much better. I'm so excited my husband loved it that now I might get him to take me out for sushi in our town! Oh and, to Sammy's daughter, our waitress, if you read this: Yes, we were in a food coma last night, but even though you told me about the fried ice cream, I won't hold you accountable for my indulgence and the food coma! :)
(5)N H.
Amazing sushi AND it is affordable. Play the daily drink specials? Yes please! I think their standard rolls (Philadelphia roll and salmon rolls) are fantastic and their specialty rolls (especially the dragon roll) make my heart skip with joy. When I dine out with someone there is just silence at the table as we enjoy every mouthful of delicious sushi and savor the moment. Surprisingly, their daily drink specials are heavy hitting, so it is a great place to go when you are feeling stressed. The decor is nice and they have wonderful furniture. It's a fairly fancy looking place but has a laid back atmosphere. The restaurant is spaced out well so you don't feel like you are eating on top of other people. Anyways, wonderful sushi place and definitely worth the drive.
(5)Rebecca H.
The rolls are good. The chef is awesome. The prices are decent. Honestly that's all you need to know. I think we all know what sushi restaurants look like inside, so no need to explain that. The reason this place is special is because of the chef. He can put together a roll for every single type of sushi lover. I think that's a great skill to have.
(4)Don S.
This restaurant is by far the best in Indys South side, great service and really good food. The chefs will make anything you want! Special orders! The service is always friendly and professional. Mondays half off all rolls 5-7, come early they get real busy. Sit at the bar for extra special service! Kids menu is a bargain!
(5)Jen F.
I have serious love for this place. Their Tom Yum Soup is awesome. Really full of plump shrimp and veggies in a flavorful broth. Their crab rangoon is some of the best I've had with plenty of sweet, crabby filling. The sweet chili dipping sauce is great. Their sushi rolls are so creative! The fish is fresh and all of the sauces are interesting and complimentary. I wish there was one closer to home, but I'll make that drive to Greenwood as often as I can.
(4)Maya H.
Warning if you saw the groupon and then came here: the groupon doesn't count for lunch specials. Don't make the mistake we did! The ambiance was nice on the inside. I wasn't expecting much from the outside, honestly, but when you open the doors it's very nice. It seemed pretty clean for the most part, though my tablecloth was stained. The lunch specials are well priced but the regular meals are a little expensive considering the quality. The hot green tea was very weak, I don't suggest it. We each ordered a roll, the unagi and the spicy tuna. Neither were exceptional but considering the price they were alright. I would not order either again. The sushi chef seemed very friendly though. Our meals came with salad and miso soup, which were refreshing and honestly kind of filling. For my meal I got the beef teriyaki box. There was quite a lot of food for the price, and it was pretty good! I don't care for the tempura but my boyfriend loved it. The roll that came with the box was better than the two we ordered as appetizers. My boyfriend got orange chicken, and it was pretty good as well. Overall, the service and food are both adequate, but neither are exceptional. For a 30 dollar lunch I would expect a little better quality, personally. If you are craving sushi and don't want to pay top dollar, or you want a lot of food more than you want especially delicious food, I would recommend it I suppose; however for the other specials, the quality is on par with a good take out place.
(3)Johnny W.
I have lived in Philadelphia for the past 3 years but my family is in Greenwood. Every time I come home to visit we make a point to come have sushi here. I love the atmosphere! And the sushi is to die for! They make sure that you're well taken care of and I appreciate that!
(5)Laquetta D.
By far the best sushi in Indy. I've tried a few places around the city, but I always compare them to Ichiban. They have an arty of sushi. I've never had a bad experience here. I try something new every time. I can't say what my favorite is because I love it all. Their tempura shrimp is probably on my top ten list I also enjoy their miso. They always have a good amount of seaweed and tofu. Sometimes I find places getting skimpy on that, but not at Ichiban. Simply and plainly: GO! You won't be disappointed
(5)Britney P.
Really good sushi. If you go in on Mondays from 5-7 it's half price and really cheap. The prices aren't bad normally either. They also have great miso soup. Good service.
(4)Sally M.
Ichiban has been my family's "go to" restaurant for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. ever since it opened. Great service, great prices and the best Sushi anywhere are what keep us coming back. It's spoiled me for anyone else's Sushi. In fact, we're going tonight because our Groupon is about to expire.
(5)Gabrielle H.
The hubster and I stumbled across this place while finishing up a day of shopping in Greenwood. I think maybe the stars aligned a little bit. First of all, we were lucky enough to find this place on a Monday. Why is that? Monday is HALF PRICED SUCHI, YA'LL! This would account for why the place was packed, but we were still seated within ten minutes. Now, on to the sushi. Simply put, it is always fresh, always tasty and I always walk away completely satisfied (and stuffed). The spicy yellow tail and spicy salmon rolls are my favorites but the classics are exceptional too (cali/phili/veggie). My husband is under the impression that if sushi is half off, you can order twice as much, so we usually get to take home leftovers too!
(4)Trena R.
It keeps calling me back. I finally tried something other than sushi - well... in addition to sushi. The 'home style tofu' hit the spot - big, crunchy veggies along side a generous portion of tofu hanging out in a shallow pool of light sauce... is it too soon to go back? Mondays are half-price sushi night. Get there early. Eat a little too much. And go home happy. :)
(4)Courtny M.
Some of the best sushi I've had in a long time!! Hands Down!! I arrived at 2:38pm not paying attention to time. They close at 2:30pm . They let me order to go. Man did this make my day. I've been reading reviews for sushi all day and this was definitely the right choice. I got my fave a California roll and tried the Dream Roll!! Omg the dream roll is to die for if you love sushi. Thanks Yelpers for the reviews. If you want good fresh sushi.. It's a no brainier go here!
(5)Gordo J.
My dad loves seafood and sushi, and had been wanting to go here for a while. We were visiting him from out of town and took him, and I'm really glad we did. It was a great little place, very quiet and casual. There was four of us and we decided to order the party platter called the "Love Boat." It's essential a wooden boat filled with an array of sushi rolls (chef's choice) packed together. It was well worth the price and offered us a wonderful sampling of their roles. It was more than enough to fee us all, but we did add on the miso soup. This would be a place we will definitely go to again on our next visit to Indianapolis.
(4)Christin J.
My favorite sushi in Indianapolis. We will drive from downtown to visit this spot. From the outside, would not usually pick a place like this to stop in, but the inside is lovely, quiet (even when full of people) and welcoming. Quality of the fish is incredible and there's a nice book with photos of all the sushi rolls.
(5)Joan D.
Great sushi and we've always had great service here. Reasonable prices and large space, very good for groups.
(5)Karen J.
Sammy at Ichiban never fails me. Behind an inauspicious facade in a strip mall is the best octopus salad in town, flawless service and engaging decor. Double happy birthday sake, and we are on a way to a wonderful evening.
(5)Brandi A.
We absolutely love Ichiban!!! It is the best place in Indy for Sushi!! We have not tried anything else besides the Japanese dishes, to include mostly sushi. The Dynamite Roll is my favorite, but all of it is awesome!! I have talked to several people that live either downtown or on the north side and say they drive down to Greenwood to Ichiban. I highly recommend. The atmosphere and service is great too!!!
(5)K L.
Great sushi! Fairly fast and good service, went with a group of people and we all were satisfied. Even a main entree was good.
(5)Pam Petersen D.
I have been coming to this place since it opened 9 years ago. Excellent sushi and lovely atmosphere. Best sushi on the south side. :)
(5)Keith B.
Great sushi! The place was packed... tells the story about the quality.
(5)Amanda B.
Located in a strip mall, you wouldn't immediately think that it would have decent food, let alone raw fish. You'd be missing out if you passed it up though, as the sushi is both tasty and affordable. The last time we were there, the service was so-so, but it was a busy night. The food is worth it.
(4)Seth B.
I can't say that I'm a sushi conniseur or that I've had it all over the world like many others do, but I enjoy Ichiban. I've always had good food, good service, at reasonable prices. I'm happy to come here and since it is always pretty busy, I'd say many others are as well.
(5)David T.
This is my second visit here. I like the atmosphere but today the manager is less than hospitable. Seems like there is an attitude going on, not very friendly or inviting. I may give it a third chance, not sure.
(3)Bill M.
We have not been in to visit Sammy in sometime and he remembered us immediately, his staff is very friendly and displays his sense of family from the moment we walked in. The food as always is perfected by Sammy's staff with a sense of pride and integrity, top notch We will be recommending this place as the best place on the Southside sushi establishment to go to, well worthy the drive to pass up downtown to get here.
(5)Shannon Y.
I just can't get enough of this place. It's always fresh and amazing presentation. I love the warm wash clothes and intimate lighting. always a pleasure!
(5)Amanda V.
Omg!!! First time at ichiban and my friend and I fell I love with the crazy roll and dream roll. The best sushi I've ever had. Must go if u love sushi!!!
(5)Steve P.
So my problem is that we wanted to take my sister out to her birthday dinner but she works early on Sunday so we wanted to go around 4:30 on a Saturday. So be ware...this and the original restaurant I wanted to attend..closed until 5PM. Now to the bad part. I am easy to please as a customer but first the service starts out with quickly getting some attention which was good...we got water. But then the girl dissappeared. Not like 5 minute...10 minute...15 minutes later she finally decides to come back and get our sushit order and we get a chance to get drinks. My wife and sister ordered drinks...both got something that tasted and looked much different than described. At this point I was just afraid to complain. No one there smiled...was pleasant or cordial in any way? Do they beat these people in the back room? 30 minutes into being there we had sushi - keeping in mind, they had just opened. Not too busy. But gees... We had a sampling of 3 rolls and some nigiri. Honestly it was pretty good. But that was the end of anything good for me. My wife and I then also ordered a Happy Family dish with rice to split which comes with soup and salad- and my sister ordered the crab salad. My sister really liked her salad. But my salad..some almost wilted lettuce and a huge glut of ginger dressing made it the worst attempt at salad I ever had. This dish with inspection was half full under the lettuce with this very strongly spiced ginger dressing. I have had in my life many different versions of this before and I can promise without doubt - this was the worst. The soup...not much either - and I am thinking - geez...I brought my sister here for her birthday and she really is being a good soldier dealing with this...maybe because I am paying,...not sure...or that she is just a darn nice person. So this happy family meal comes...it is beef, chicken, and some seafood in a kind of stew with some pitiful scroungy veggies chopped into it. There were shrimp in this but I had one that was big and so old and chewy I could not get a chunk of this stuff down my throat. I mean down right gross and embarrassing. Overall the two of us - my wife and I left over half of this $18 dish in the bowl and were disgusted. I gave this a 1 star for the sushi which is by my standards mediocre. Many places in Indy to get better. Service? It just was the worst. But honestly - the nice folks of Greenwood showed up there that night. But how long can you serve crappy food and offer crappy service and stay in business. I would say stay clear of this place. There are too many hard working business owners who deserve your money more than this place.
(1)Kristen S.
Wonderful restaurant! The atmosphere is relaxing and the service is great. The entire staff does a nice job of making you feel welcome and that you're a priority. We had an appetizer of shumai (dumplings) which came quickly and were just the right temperature and delicious. The sushi was fantastic! We had the dynamite roll, the Tokyo roll, Angie's roll, and the spider roll. I'm pretty sure it took no more than 15 minutes for the two of us to devour everything! It's well worth the trip!
(5)Ms W.
It's a nice asian restaurant. The food is great! You won't regret coming. We ordered love boat and it was very good. I would recommend this place to anyone who is in for sushi
(5)Matt R.
Stopped in for lunch. They have a good lunch special. I had spicy shrimp and spicy tuna rolls. They were both good and reasonably priced.
(4)Dan S.
I go here for lunch several times a month. The sushi is always great and crafted well. I usually stick to spicy tuna, spicy salmon, and Philly rolls, but the special/fancy rolls are great too. The miso soup and ginger salad with the lunch specials are great too. Best miso soup I've had. The service is always great too.
(5)Gretchen S.
Normally, I really like this place, but my meal tonight was a big disappointment. I started with a seaweed salad, which was good, and followed up with a dragon roll, which was not. The presentation was beautiful, the service was quick and friendly, but the quality of the eel left much to be desired. The eel, what little there was of it on the roll, was rubbery and not good at all. I managed to choke it down with lots of wasabi but was pretty bummed as I've had this roll here in the past and really liked it. I won't be ordering it again.
(2)Ayla W.
Love it! They try to get things out super fast and they are super professional! I'm there every Monday for half priced sushi!
(5)Roger R.
Just sat down at Ichiban. I love this place! Owner/Chef Sammy is such a great guy. He and his staff are always so friendly. He even remembered it is my Birthday!!!
(5)Kim T.
One of my favorite places to eat sushi. Sammy and his staff are helpful in the selection process. Everyone works hard to make you feel special. Food is FABULOUS!!
(5)Aaron R.
Love this place! When I bit into the Philadelphia there was an explosion of flavors in my mouth that sent my taste buds into orbit! Best sushi I have ever had. I recommend the dragon and the Philadelphia.
(5)Diana J.
Some of the best sushi in town with reasonable pricing. Good crab Rangoon, gyoza, and teriyaki. Very reasonably priced martinis! My only complaint is it doesn't appear servers are assigned stations, so I get two different people coming out to get my drink or food order: service is friendly
(4)Shane M.
I was simply impressed with how nice the restaurant is. The sushi bar was amazing and so many choices. There food was amazing. My wife and I truly enjoy our date night!
(5)Jonathan W.
Had chefs choice sashimi last Friday. It was amazing. There is no better place for sushi on the south side!
(5)Tara F.
HOW HAVE I NOT WRITTEN A REVIEW YET?! Shame on me.... Ichiban is the best that it gets if you are looking for delightful sushi or sashimi. It is my Friday night escape every week, and I wouldn't be surprised to know if i'm referred to as "the girl who is always indecisive but always gets the same roll" here among the staff. For one, I do indeed get the same rolls, and I order large quantities of them, because quite frankly, it's delightful. You can do no wrong with delicious sashimi and rice, or dipping one of the fantastic rolls in soy. My favorites are the Pink Dragon roll and the Golden Cheese roll, and it is not a struggle to savor the deliciousness that comes with every bite. And make sure to have one of their Mai-Tais on hand to enjoy, because overall you're classy when it comes to having sushi and Mai-Tais! The staff at Ichiban are also extremely patient, helpful and kind. They suggest things that you may want to try, as well as work with you if you have dietary needs. From the outside, you may be confused that there is a treasure waiting for you.... Trust me, open the door and you'll find an exquisite gem that's hidden on the Southside, and you'll want to take advantage of it again and again.
(5)Amy C.
Another great lunch! Soup,salad, #1lunch box teriyaki chicken with rice, shrimp and beget able tempura and sushi rolls for $11! Love this place.
(5)Britany W.
They have the best sushi. I have tried other places and this is my favorite! Especially Mondays from 5-7 they have half price sushi on 12 different rolls! Delish! I come every Monday just started yelping though!
(5)Bryan G.
Good atmosphere and great, affordable food. We had a terrific New Years Eve dinner here. The sushi was wonderful and fresh. Definitely recommend!
(4)Frankie S.
We love to come here, sit in a box, and pig out on our fav sushi. Ever since my daughter tried sushi here she's loved it EVERYWHERE! They are just a little pricey, but the quality is great! We love the cheese wantons also! They're dinner plates aren't bad either. We've lived in the area 2 years and have been here 4 times.
(4)Z. S.
The best sushi in town, hands down. Fresh, beautiful presentation, and decent prices. I've been to almost every sushi place in the greater Indianapolis area, but I find myself coming back to Ichiban.
(5)Rachel W.
Very quick service and seating, but we visited on a week night. The crab rangoons were delicious and the sushi was tasty as well. Can't say it's the best I've ever had. Would return if I were in the area again.
(4)Kimmi M.
Ichiban struts its sushi realness all over the south side. I've been spending a lot of time there lately, and I was pleased to be informed that Ichiban was here amidst chain restaurants and car dealerships. Here is your quick rundown of Ichiban: cheap drinks, cheap appetizers, good midwest sushi, and a quiet atmosphere. Everything I've tried here has been great! I usually go for nigiri, and it's pretty difficult to mess that up. (Except if you are Bluefin Bistro in Lafayette). Pretty typical midwest sushi fare, if you haven't eaten sushi on a coast, you're not doing it right. Ichiban is a wonderful respite from the hub-hub of the people who don't know how to drive on the south side. Kick back with a tasty beverage, and eat yourself silly with healthy sushi.
(4)Jay Q.
I was craving sushi and I am from out of town on business. Took a shot at this place and I am glad I did! Big rolls, fresh fish (on a Wednesday too!) and the staff was good. Definitely go back there next time I'm in town and want sushi!
(4)WILLIAM P.
No longer my favorite. Went to celebrate my birthday and was beyond disappointed with the 3 Tempura Combinations and 4 Soft Shelled Crabs. they were over breaded in a way I have never experienced. Not sure if they have some one new in the kitchen, but Sakura now has my heart and stomach!
(3)Jonathon H.
I went here for guys' night and everyone was happy. Granted we all accidentally got drinks that were more on the "feminine side," they were good so f*ck it. The crazy role is incredible -- best role of sushi I've ever had! Priced are reasonable for a sushi restaurant. I had 1 role, soup, and a cocktail for $19. My buddy got 2 roles, soup, and a Martini for $35.
(4)Eric M.
My Favorite Sushi spot in the City! Great lunch specials that include Miso soup & salad. Also very good Happy Hour specials but come early especially Monday's during Half price sushi night. Philadelphia roll is very good. Shrimp tempura roll is crunchy, not soggy like some other places I've been. You won't be sorry to Visit Sammy and his crew! Always good service.
(5)Larry R.
Enjoyed the crazy roll, and the ichiban roll; but the the dream roll was amazing. Great atmosphere. Very surprised by this place being in greenwood.
(5)David I.
I've been here dozens of times and love it more every time I go. They just finished a huge expansion and can seat very large groups now. We got our usual rolls this time, shrimp tempura and spicy scallop rolls. The prices are very reasonable considering what some places charge. We always try to get something new when we go. This time we got the Hot & Sour Soup, Clear Broth, and Dreaming Duck (I think that's the name) and all were just incredible. It was the best duck I ever tasted, as was the Hot & Sour Soup. The clear broth was just a little too salty, but that was a minor thing considering the quality of everything else.
(5)Raina R.
Yes, Yelp, Ichiban is "As good as it gets!" I don't know if I've ever been as satisfied with sushi as I am EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I go to Ichiban. Let's run over the basics: Service: Excellent. Doesn't get better than this - servers are prompt with refilling drinks and being attentive, without being overbearing. They bring your food out to you as soon as it's ready. Check - when it's time. There's never a lull in your meal, they are perfect at managing the timing of your meal. Food: SO GOOD. The Special Rolls are a great combination of those types you'll generally find at sushi places to some unique creations. The I.I. Roll, Crazy Roll, Pink Dragon are a few of our favorites. The Crazy Roll is CRAZY good - we normally can't go in without ordering one. The prices are pretty comparable to most decent sushi in Indianapolis. We normally spend about $30-$40 for a dinner for 2. Ambiance/Decor/What Have You: Deceiving from the outside, the interior of Ichiban is spacious with a great variety of seating options. Good for an intimate dinner date or with a large group of people. Not too loud, not too quiet. Great sushi bar if that's your thing. The only critique, if I had one, is the full bar is a relatively new addition to Ichiban. Fortunately, the bartender was open to listening to how to make drinks how we preferred them and they turned out pretty decent. Take out? We do it all the time. Only about 15-20 minutes from your call to being able to pick up. When I initially moved to the south side, my local restaurant options diminished. Luckily, Ichiban makes up for many of that. It's "as good as it gets!"
(5)Corrine P.
I don't usually venture to the south-side, but if there is 1/2 off sushi I will!!! Great atmosphere, delicious food, great service, drink specials. It doesn't get better. I will definitely be visiting here again!! Tip: If you want to get seated on Monday, get there at 5:00 or 5:30. This place is VERY popular.
(5)Casey A.
Absolute best sushi in Indiana!!!! Been coming here for over a year with my husband. It's definitely our favorite place to eat.
(5)Anu G.
The ambiance and presentation is great. The food was authentic and good. I went for dinner and the prices were little bit on the expensive side but that is ok for the good food they serve. My only negative comment is that the service is tooo slow. We waited for about 20 min before anyone took the order and a wait for another 25 min to get the food.
(4)Eric D.
Totally disappointed. Took my family of six for a birthday meal for my daughter. $150 for a meal that I could have gotten at a local buffet or at Panda Express. It was just plain awful. At most nice restaurants, a manager will at least inquire as to the satisfaction of your meal. Nothin'. A GREAT BIG disappointment.
(1)Brittany L.
Ichiban is located in a nondescript shopping plaza, but the interior of the restaurants lends itself to a special and intimate experience. Seating seems tight at first glance, but our two person booth seemed private, even though we were close to other tables. There is a beautiful full service bar with plenty of seating, as well as private back rooms for small parties. We arrived around 7 p.m., on a Friday night, and had no wait, but we noticed the line grew rapidly, shortly after we were seated, and soon there was a crowd waiting at the door. We did not feel rushed by our server, at all, though. She let us take our time and enjoy our meal without pressuring us to turn the table over. Traditional Japanese aesthetics enhance your experience at Ichiban, but the real reason to visit is the amazing food. Upon first glace, I was surprised at how reasonable all of the prices seemed (extremely inexpensive compared to a place like Naked Chopstix on the North side.) We used my groupon for $24/food for $12, and we ended up spending about $15 over that, for everything including drinks. My boyfriend and I chose to taste a variety of items from the menu, starting with the vegetable tempura to share, and the house beer and wine. The tempura warm and delicious, and the vegetables inside were cooked perfectly. Soft enough, but still fresh and crisp tasting. The wine was average, typical Chardonnay served at most places. My boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his Sapporo beer. We then moved onto cold sake and our sushi. The sake was served in a small bottle, with a tiny glass for drinking, and in a much larger quantity than we anticipated. Share it if you're drinking lightly. It was light and refreshing. Our first sushi selection included Nagiri sushi, the tuna and the yellowtail. Unbelievable flavor for such a simple dish. The fish tasted so fresh, it's as if you weren't eating it in central Indiana. Moving onto the sushi rolls, we chose the Philadelphia and the Spicy Salmon rolls. Both were out of this world, with a small amount of wasabi and pickled radish. I would enthusiastically recommend each of these rolls. We were absolutely stuffed at this point, so we couldn't try another roll, like we wanted, but we'll certainly be back soon to try more. We've definitely found a new local favorite in Ichiban.
(5)Chyna M.
I hate the fact that Ichiban is hidden away in a crappy little shopping center. Its totally off-putting until you walk in. The inside however, is gorgeous and has a very romantic feel between the lighting and Japanese decor. I usually come here for their lunch special: 2 sushi rolls, soup, and salad for just $8. The ginger dressing on their salad is wonderful. They also have half price sushi on Mondays. If you're going to get a lot of sushi though, their "Love Boat" is the way to go. Its literally a boat full of all the sushi you could ever want and it fed my party of 4. In a lot of sushi restaurants, I've found that they don't roll their sushi tight enough or maybe that their rice isn't moist enough...the point is, it falls apart. I've never had that problem at Ichiban. I love this place!
(5)Janice P.
This was my first time ever eating sushi. This was an amaxing experience. The food was delicious, the environment was nice and the service was great. I have been back already and have recommended this place to many people!
(4)Naser B.
This restaurant been my fav spot! Great food, parking is not an issue, good staff i love their food
(5)Jennifer P.
Went here with a group for sushi the other night. Definitely were not let down. The sushi was very well prepared and they had a nice selection. They also have a nice non-sushi menu for those of you that don't like sushi. My only complaints would be that the service was a little slow and the green tea was horrible. It tasted like dirty water. Other than that, it was a great experience and would probably go back if in the area.
(4)Lisa M.
This was 2nd time here. Thought I would give it another try due to all the great reviews. The people are friendly and it is a nice environment. The edemame were overbooked both visits. Two sushi rolls I had were good, but not the best I've ever had.
(3)Esteban V.
If sushi is what you are craving look no further. Ichiban offers delicious sushi and entrees. The atmosphere in the restaurant is quiet, calming, and relaxing. Perfect for a date or night out. The staff is very friendly and polite. And if you have any questions about the menu and specifically the sushi fell free to ask the sushi chefs. They know best, and are very open to letting you explore some of the options.
(5)Tina D.
The server was very friendly but the food arrived separately. Kinda pricey. The miso salmon tasted fishy but the teriyaki salmon was delicious. We liked the Queens prawn but it had hardly any asparagus, although lots of extra yummy veggies. The sushi was rather bland and had very lttle ginger. I didn't get any tea refill nor was I asked, but to be fair it was Christmas Eve and there seemed to be very little staff. Probabaly won't go back. We have three excellent Japanese resturants in Columbus and one pretty decent fusion place as well.
(3)Rebecca M.
I know the location makes it seem casual but the inside is very nice-making it great for dates or business gatherings. The wait staff was all very helpful. My boyfriend and I had the tuna appetizer and sushi rolls. Everything was very tasty and the presentation was well done. All in all it was a success, very reasonably priced.
(5)Melody G.
Good Sushi, skip the salad. Visited this site for lunch and had 2 sushi rolls, a spicy tuna and another specialty roll. The quality was good and they were fast. Sushi's not cheap, so I recommend the lunch specials. You can still get no-fuss rolls for $5 and under though. Salad is just half chopped lettuce with a little ginger dressing--not worth the $3 price. Everything else was good though, place was clean and nice looking. They have a variety of hibachi options for the non-sushi eaters, which I did not yet try.
(4)Tim G.
My search for good Japanese food continues, and today it has brought me to Ichiban. Nicely decorated, spacious, and very relaxed, Ichiban makes some really great entrees an some good sushi. The staff was friendly and attentive, and from what I could hear, very helpful in explaining and recommending dishes. There appeared to be a lot of first time patrons the night we went, so I heard many questions about why certain things are. I don't know if that's a normal thing, but I was more comfortable eating there knowing that there was a healthy stream of customers (and not completely empty like other places I've been to). The main entrees was pretty delicious. I very much enjoyed the Grilled Hamachi Kama that I ordered. It was tasty and the portion size was larger than a normal Japanese establishment. I do have to knock off a few points for the sushi though. Most of the main ingredients of the sushi seemed less inspired and bland than they should be (the spicy tuna leaves much to be desired). I have to say that I enjoyed the main course much more than the sushi. This is definitely one of the better Japanese food establishments here in Indianapolis. Probably my favorite at the moment, and I will definitely be back.
(4)Robert R.
Best sushi hands down! Ill never forget the first date with my wife there. Chi sent out a complementary boat with lots of food on it for us to try. We now go 2x a month from Indy and get the Doc Singh Special and Beef Tataki. We also buy his dressing to take home. Nothing like it in Indy! He gets fresh seafood daily overnighted to him. Also has a fresh fish market. Service is very knowledgable and friendly. Never a bad visit!
(5)Gregg M.
Indianapolis is definitely not a hotbed of restaurants serving Asian cuisine. AYCE Chinese buffets and P.F. Chang's seem to be the dominant Asian dining experience in Indy. That said, there are a few notable exceptions...seeming family-run joints that give me hope that all is not lost for finding something resembling good Asian food in the Indianapolis. Such is the case with Ichiban Sushi Bar & Sammy's Asian Cuisine. Ichiban occupies a large space in an unremarkable strip mall. It's casual, but possesses a classy feel with a very understated Asian décor. Ichiban, not surprisingly, offers a pan-Asian menu with Chinese and Thai selections, but with the preponderance being Japanese. I wasn't in a sushi mood, but the sushi list looked to offer the full range of nigiri offerings to include the more adventurous uni (sea urchin) and ikura (salmon roe). Assuming their seafood is fresh and of good quality, the prices seemed quite reasonable. Instead, I went the noodles route opting for a childhood favorite, Udon with Tempura Shrimp ($12). The very large bowl of noodles in broth was hot, steamy and filled with tasty add-ins like mushroom, fish cake, and seaweed (wakame). The shrimp was fried perfectly, leaving it moist and tender. The broth, while flavorful, possessed a subtle sweetness that didn't appeal to me as much as others I've tasted. Still, I happily devoured the bowl of noodles. In fairness, I need to come back to Ichiban to try a wider variety of their offerings. The variety and seeming authenticity of their food is appealing as is its price.
(3)Mike U.
Bar none... Sammy has the best sushi bar in the Indy Metro area! Hot Saki. Great Miso soup! AND he's expanding into the next door space in mid October. Near Greenwood on US 31 S of Stop 11 Road behind Kinko's... Worth the trip!
(5)allison s.
How have I not reviewed Ichiban??? Oh well, here it goes... Ichiban offers a half price (selected) sushi night on Mondays! The offered rolls include California, spicy tuna, spicy shrimp, shrimp tempura among a few others! I love their specialty rolls, salads, and soup. I however, do not love their service... I have decided that expecting great service at a sushi restaurant is expecting way too much! Refills and checks take forever, so be prepared to wait!
(3)Tony S.
We have been enjoying Sammy and Bonnie's company since they opened Yuki many years ago. When they opened Ichiban it was hard to believe that it could get better, but somehow they improved what was already a phenomenal menu. His sushi is amazing and I suffer withdrawal if I can't have it. My wife and I love it, our favorite place to eat, by far. We have taken our kids and my son won't eat any other rice but theirs. He loves their shrimp tempura and their staff is great with both kids. I can't believe it has taken me 8 years to write a review of Sammy. Maybe I thought if everyone knew about the place we would never get a seat again. But I think Sammy would just expand even more. Love this place and we love Sammy and Bonnie.
(5)Robert K.
It's so hard to find decent sushi on the south side of indy. This place has GREAT sushi. Their soups are great as well.
(5)Kristen B.
I gotta say, it's nice to have a great sushi place on the southside of Indy. A lot of the other Japanese restaurants are more about the hibachi eating and the sushi can be an afterthought, but not here. They have all the creative rolls you might like, and a Japanese/other Asian menu for those who don't want the sushi. I've been here six or so times and every time it's been excellent.
(5)Charla M.
Our food is always consistently delicious, although I'd love for their sushi menu expand to include more options that aren't fried. :). We always have friendly service, and the remodeled dining room is nice & clean & you can catch the game at their bar.
(4)Chris C.
The only time that I have been here is on Mondays. They have half priced sushi from 5p-7p. But beware I think everyone that likes sushi on the southside is there so be prepared. We used to be able to call ahead and let them know we are coming but i dont think they do that any more. The sushi is pretty good, not the best, but definitely not the worst. We have ordered other things off the menu and have not been all that impressed. Everything is pretty affordable and the half price sushi on Mondays is a geat deal.
(3)Ashley Z.
Best sushi I've ever had! Friendly staff. Half priced sushi on Mondays us gear! Just be sure to get there right at 5 because it gets busy.
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