I'm from out of town and always make a trip to this place. The interior is well maintained and all of the staff are friendly. Service is always expeditious and presentation of meals are excellent. The prices are also very reasonable and affordable. The quality and taste of the sushi is often great and fresh.
(5)
Rebecca R.
My favorite sushi place in Bangor! I get the same order every week: Alaska roll, dragon roll, and Halloween roll (which sounds funny but is delicious!).
(5)
Leah W.
So. Many. Makis! I love the choices on this menu. It's like it was created for me! Almost everything I have tried here is delicious. My favorites: Dragon, Crazy, Kamikaze, Love, and Mexican makis! My boyfriend loves their bento boxes, and their beef tataki is a must. For dessert - fried green tea ice cream! Soooo good. I don't think of their interior as cold and lifeless at all. The dining room is sleek and bold, with romantic lighting, and the colorful sushi in front of you is all the art you need. The sushi bar is clean and the sushi chefs are really nice. Their waitstaff is sweet, and I have never had a problem with a language barrier.
(4)
Steve D.
Not bad, not great. Had the spicy white tuna (OK), spicy salmon (OK) and Kamakazi (pretty good). Staff was friendly
(3)
Sarah E.
Went here the other night with a big group for dinner. I still think Green Tea in Bangor has better tasting sushi, however the prices at Ichiban can't be beat. For a full size special roll at Ichiban you pay about $9 where at Green Tea you would pay about $12. -I tried the salmon skin roll- not very crunchy or salty. Was dissapointed in it. -The Kamakazi roll on the specialty menu was YUM! However the tobiko on top was a bit much and would prolly order it without it next time. -I then asked them to do a spicy crunchy salmon roll. Which was alright. -My friend had the soft shell crab and she said it was ok as well as the eel. -Also my rolls were falling apart when I picked them up with my chopsticks : ( I have heard from my Japanese friends that this is the most authentic sushi place but it isn't a place that I would go to all the time. If I have a quick craving the prices alone are enough to bring me in. The decor is very sterile, all tables and chairs, not too many pics on the walls and the lighting is slightly dim. They do have a sushi bar and you can sit and watch them prepare it right there but it is right in front of the door so prepare for it to be a loud and (in the winter) cold setting. I do have to say this though, the fish seemed to be very fresh and not questionable. Service can be hit or miss with communication. Some waiters speak great English, others don't. But they all seem to be very courteous. Our waitress handled our group of 10 well and did split checks for all of us and kept on top of our table.
(3)
Patricia D.
Had a great meal here! The ambiance is nice and there is an extensive menu. The service for us was good and the food was yummy!
(4)
Keeley L.
I disagree with one reviewer who said they thought Green Tea had better atmosphere and better decor. Green Tea has decent sushi, the decor is tacky, while Ichiban is simple yet classy. Ichiban has some of the best sushi I have ever had. I love their spicy tuna rolls, excellent. Would have given 5 stars, but that title belongs to Sushi Zushi in San Antonio, TX. P.S. The fried green tea ice cream is ammmmazing. My husband and I will stop in for just that sometimes.
(4)
Roger W.
Very cozy mom and pop family owned sushi joint. Walter the head chef and owner is very nice. In order for me to give this a great review I need to go again because what I ordered turned out to be something I dident want after it arrived. My fault not the restaurant. The guys I work with eat here all the time and love it though.
(3)
Shane L.
So in the Bangor/Brewer area there are a few Asian style cuisine restaurants worth writing about here in Yelp. Of all of them, Ichiban has fallen off of the radar and does not rank as tops of any of them. A few years back, Ichiban was the best for sushi and Asian cuisine but when Green Tea and Yoshi came into the mix, Ichiban needed a refocus effort but it has fallen short and is a stale place at best. I am very surprised that it has received so many good reviews here on Yelp. Here are the reason's why: Service is atrocious. We have been back to Ichiban's throughout the years and the time it takes to get something as simple as a beer or soda is unlike I have ever seen in any type of restaurant. We came to this establishment with 5 other people on a weeknight where it was not busy at all .. maybe two other tables. We all ordered sodas and a few people ordered a bottled beer. It took almost 25 minutes to get any of the drinks. Bottled beers and fountain drinks? Did they go back and milk the fountain drink cow to get them fresh? We ordered from the sushi menu to get a boat for the entire table and I think it almost took about 40 minutes ... we had not even ordered our main plates. To top all of this off (this is the case EVERY time I have frequented Ichiban) the waitstaff had no idea what was on the menu or how to describe them to us. Sometimes in the other establishments, there is a slight language barrier but the staff usually knows what to recommend or point us the right direction. I feel that the wait staff at Ichiban look at you like you have three heads before they can try to decipher what you are trying to say or ask for. The sushi chefs behind the bar does not interact with the customers like most successful asian/sushi restaurants around one of the big cities. I have to remember, this is Bangor and I used to use that as an excuse when it was the only popsicle stand in town ... now with competition, it is not a good excuse. The only reason that I did not give this one star is that compared to some of the other sushi restaurants in the area, Ichiban is moderately priced. Most of your items are cheaper than it's competitors. The other reason is that the dining area is dimly lit and has some more romantic ambiance and on a date, you can afford to wait a long time with good conversations (hopefully) unless you want to run the other way. If you want some fresh, good quality sushi go to Green Tea or Yoshi ... skip on the Ichiban.
(2)
Shohei I.
The waitresses have little knowledge of the food served here. Had the tempura soba (buck wheat noodle with tempuras). Tempuras were soaked in oil. Broth was way too sweet. Obviously not Japanese owned. Not really worth the hype or live up to the reviews posted here. Should have gone for the rolls. No beer on tap. The cost-to-performance ratio is great though. Won't go back.
It really is a seemingly endless menu.... SOOOO many rolls! I really like Ichiban. I mean, I've had top notch sushi all around the world.... Ichiban isn't quite up to that (see review of Miyake in Portland), but it's very good and reasonably priced. I've never had a bad meal there. This time I got some miso (delish), a spicy tuna salad (SO worth the 9$, it was amazing with it's avocado and fried onion bowl), and a salmon avocado roll and rainbow tobiko. Fresh, tasty, and well presented. The people who work there are friendly, but were really stressed out while I was there? Maybe a rough night? Maybe a larger than expected Sunday night crowd? I paid no mind, it happens! I'll be back when I'm up in the Bangor area again!
(4)
Ella L.
Always pleased with Ichiban! The atmosphere is simple however the food is always fresh. With my dietary restrictions, I find that they are always able to accommodate me. The price is great as well. This is always our go to sushi spot!
(5)
Jon E.
Someone else mentioned something about how they were surprised that this place has received good reviews. I feel the same way. I have eaten a lot of Japanese food. And for Japanese fare, this place is below average. It did the trick, barely, to satisfy my maki craving when it was the only gig in town. But now that there are others, this falls to the lower side of the small list of Japanese joints in the greater Bangor area.
(2)
Jordan B.
I like the appearance of Ichiban. The low lighting and the black tables are very comforting. The food is really good. I have not had a lot of the food on the menu, but the soft shell crab and many of the sushi options are quite good. The Black Pearl maki is my favorite.
(5)
angela s.
Get the halloween roll! Get it. Do it. Now! I live in arizona, and you may think I don't know my way around a sushi menu because of that. But we Arizonans eat plenty o sushi...and pay way too much for it, too. The fare here was fresh and tasty. I got a full belly for less than I'd pay at happy hour in Scottsdale. The most surprising and tasty roll was, again, the halloween roll.
(4)
Cathy C.
Ichiban underwent some management changes several months back so if you haven't been there in a while you may notice some changes on their menu or the way in which certain dishes are prepared. Ichiban serves excellent sashimi and sushi. If you want some fresh sashimi, you can't go wrong: Everything is presented with meticulous attention to detail, whether eating in or for take-out and quite delicious. I eat there at least once a month and everything is always absolutely fresh, which is crucial when it comes to sushi and sashimi. My favorites are the salmon sashimi and the shrimp tempura rolls. If you do order take out, be warned: They may tell you it will take 20 minutes but you will typically need to wait at least 30 to 40 to pick up your order so call well in advance and don't rush over or you will wind up sitting and waiting for quite a while. Also, as one other reviewer pointed out, this is a japanese family run operation and several of the employees don't speak the best English so ordering, whether in person or on the telephone, can be somewhat of a challenge at times. Your best bet is to use the actual japanese terms on the menu as they will recognize those most easily. For example saying "Sake don" instead of ordering salmon sashimi over a bed of rice. If you are looking for a place to go but some people in your party don't enjoy sushi, there are a few alternate selections on the menu, but the Green Tea restaurant offers a vastly superior selection of non sushi/sashimi dishes with a full menu of chinese food in additional to the traditional japanese. So if a member of your party really doesn't like raw fish, you are probably better off going to Green Tea.
(4)
Jane V.
We go to Ichiban quite often, we like Japanese food. I have eaten Japanese food in a number of states and find them much better than most. I have never gotten anything here that I have not liked. The staff is always friendly to us. The alligator maki is awesome! The spicy tuna salad is yummy as well. I would recommend to any Asian food fan.
(5)
Bryan M.
I used to like this place a lot more before I moved to Seattle. Good Sushi place. As far as vegetarian options you can get a sunset (yam tempura), california roll (avocado and cucumber, ask for it without the crab), or plain cucumber or avocado rolls. I'm pretty sure the miso and the udon is fish broth. I tried the stir fry vegetables plate and it's mostly stir fry onions, not recommended. Most recently we had a bunch of trouble communicating to the waitress that we wanted the vegetable tempura as an appetizer. They only have the shrimp tempura on the appetizer menu, but both on the dinner menu. I'm not sure how many ways we tried to say "vegetable tempura before the sushi" but we eventually got it across after wasting a couple plates of shrimp tempura and lots of pointing at menus and language barriers. I do have fond memories of drinking here and eating sushi at the bar when I was a young lad, but that was before I was vegetarian and friends were just feeding me sushi and saki bombs. I really have no idea what I was eating but it was a fun time.
(3)
Kelly C.
Being new to Japanese food, I cannot say enough great things about this place. My friends and I meet for a networking lunch every Friday and the staff and owners here go out of their way for us - we show up at odd times, we dont always know what we want, we seldom order at the same time and they always accommodate and are happy to do it. Because of this new people that we are being introduced are also comfortable in asking questions, going in on their own and every body wins! The food is amazing, fresh and light. Thank you!
(5)
Michelle P.
Ok yeah this is a few hours away from Boston. But originally being from the Bangor area, and knowing the not so stellar restauarants that are there I just needed to add this one. My best friend graduated from UMO a couple of weeks ago and we went to a celebratory dinner at Ichiban. Anyone love SUSHI?? I do, I do!!! My best friend, myself, and her fiancee, ordered a huge platter of sushi to split between us, while the other people ordered california rolls and noodles. So not adventurous. We got some of the usual with spiciness, and caviar, and some with whole baby crabs. Yum yum. How does my friend put it oh yes "Chelle Likey Likey". The most interesting part of the meal was the green tea fried ice cream. Oh soooooooooooo yummy and delecetable, it took all six of us to eat it though. The staff was friendly and even though it was a prom night, they were able to seat us without too much difficulty, and were really helpful in making choices for dinner. We left there extremely happy and extremely full. The next time I get home, I'm dragging my friends out there again!
(5)
Jason M.
Ichiban is undoubtedly some of the best sushi available in the Bangor area. It's not cheap compared to Bangor area restaurants, but it is also better than many Bangor area restaurants. The non-sushi entrees are very good, the sushi is typically excellent and fresh, and the decor is excellent for a date, being kind of dim and moody. The desserts, fried ice-cream, fried cheese-cake, and others, are always excellent. The one bad thing about Ichiban? Post-order wait times for food can be horrible, especially on Sundays. I have waiting two hours for dinner. Granted, they gave four of us $15 worth of food to make up for it. That being said, they are typically decent with wait times.
(4)
Karen P.
We were passing through Bangor one night, and jonesing for sushi, so we tried Ichiban. So glad we did. It was a Friday night, and the place was pretty empty-- I totally get why one reviewer felt like they were at a chess tournament, since the layout of the tables is a little odd, but it's not uncomfortable, and the waitstaff are friendly and prompt. The sushi *was* really good. I've had an awful lot of sushi, so while this place was not the best I've ever eaten, that is a hard level to achieve in my book. :) I tried a spicy salmon roll, which was tasty, and a volcano roll (deep fried spicy tuna), which was one of the best fried rolls I've had. Not too much coating, but crisp and so good... I'm starting to salivate just thinking about it... My husband tried a vegetable plate (avocado, cucumber, and salad rolls), and all were great. I liked that the rolls weren't overloaded with rice. Delicious and reasonably-priced-- definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Meg M.
I have had many meals at Ichiban, eat in and take out, and have never had a bad one. I am from the area originally and find myself craving their Spicy Tuna Avocado salad (the best thing on the menu) so much, that Ichiban is often one of my first stops on a visit to Bangor. The Shumai and Sashimi appetizers are both delicious choices for starters. They have quite an extensive list of Maki choices, more so than most other Sushi restaurants, and all I have tried have been very good.The Hokkaiyaki here is also another awesome item on the menu. If you were to focus on the negative, the dining room, while very clean, could use some investment from the owners as there is not much to seperate your table from the other diners. Also, food can take a long time(there is usually only the owner preparing the fresh sushi), but those who are wise will prepare themselves for the wait when deciding upon eating at Ichiban. Luckily, the wonderful waitstaff are prompt with the miso soup and excellent ginger dressing salad to tide you over while you wait. Overall, a wonderful choice for Japanese fare in the Bangor area.
(4)
Scott N.
The food at Ichiban was good. I enjoyed the sushi, the ginger pork, and the miso. The tables are arranged a little strange; it makes you feel like you are in a chess tournament. The waitress, while very friendly, did a horrible job of keeping my glass full and totally disappeared until the very end of the meal. She did do a good job of staggering the courses so that everything did not come at one time.
(3)
Christi H.
I love sushi, but I think Green Tea near the Bangor Mall is better. You get more bang for your buck with WAY better atmosphere. Green Tea is decorated nicely, and you can reserve rooms for bigger parties.
(3)
Betty B.
LOVE YOU ICHIBAN! this is my absolute favorite place anywhere! i love coming here,and its always 'the best' sushi! i have eaten sushi in the boston metro area,chinatown,and beyond,and my husband and i compare them all to this awsome place! i think i will make a trip soon! dont ever change!!! the miso soup,spicy salmon,and moonchis are to die for!!!
(5)
Steve B.
The dining scene in Bangor is pretty grim and very bland, but Ichiban bucks the trend. Is it the best sushi I've ever had? No, but it's among the most consistently pleasing sushi I've had. This place is reliably tasty. For sushi, it's pretty affordable. Nothing is going to knock your socks off but it all works. I will say the service could use a serious upgrade. I'd recommend getting there about an hour before you're going to be hungry: this place can be slow as molasses.
(4)
Jenna M.
I can't believe how long I lived in the area and didn't know about this place. The food is always amazing. Really good Japanese cuisine!
(5)
Tri H.
I was going to Acadia mtn near Bangor, Maine. I pass by this sushi place call Ichiban. it is mean # 1. I was hungry and decide to check it out. The sushi was okay , not really fresh. The service was very bad. I was sitting at the sushi bar and try to talk to the sushi chef. he doesn't say anything much. I will never go this place again.
(2)
Errol M.
Ichiban has the best sushi in the Bangor area because until recently it was the only sushi in the Bangor area. It does have pretty decent sushi, to be fair. It's hard to recommend much else on the menu, though, as most of it is far from being authentic. There are a few good appetizers (edamame and hamachikama spring to mind). Actually, I can definitely recommend the hamachikama, if you ask them to replace the sauce they normally use with just salt. And make sure it's entirely cooked. Hamachi is yellowtail, and it's as delicious properly grilled as it is raw. Kama refers to the area just behind the fish's gills, the "collar" as it were. Another good item that isn't on the menu and may not always be available is the "saba no shioyaki," or grilled mackerel seasoned with salt. It's just fish though, so you'll want to order rice and/or something to round out the meal.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual, Intimate, Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Asile P.
I'm from out of town and always make a trip to this place. The interior is well maintained and all of the staff are friendly. Service is always expeditious and presentation of meals are excellent. The prices are also very reasonable and affordable. The quality and taste of the sushi is often great and fresh.
(5)Rebecca R.
My favorite sushi place in Bangor! I get the same order every week: Alaska roll, dragon roll, and Halloween roll (which sounds funny but is delicious!).
(5)Leah W.
So. Many. Makis! I love the choices on this menu. It's like it was created for me! Almost everything I have tried here is delicious. My favorites: Dragon, Crazy, Kamikaze, Love, and Mexican makis! My boyfriend loves their bento boxes, and their beef tataki is a must. For dessert - fried green tea ice cream! Soooo good. I don't think of their interior as cold and lifeless at all. The dining room is sleek and bold, with romantic lighting, and the colorful sushi in front of you is all the art you need. The sushi bar is clean and the sushi chefs are really nice. Their waitstaff is sweet, and I have never had a problem with a language barrier.
(4)Steve D.
Not bad, not great. Had the spicy white tuna (OK), spicy salmon (OK) and Kamakazi (pretty good). Staff was friendly
(3)Sarah E.
Went here the other night with a big group for dinner. I still think Green Tea in Bangor has better tasting sushi, however the prices at Ichiban can't be beat. For a full size special roll at Ichiban you pay about $9 where at Green Tea you would pay about $12. -I tried the salmon skin roll- not very crunchy or salty. Was dissapointed in it. -The Kamakazi roll on the specialty menu was YUM! However the tobiko on top was a bit much and would prolly order it without it next time. -I then asked them to do a spicy crunchy salmon roll. Which was alright. -My friend had the soft shell crab and she said it was ok as well as the eel. -Also my rolls were falling apart when I picked them up with my chopsticks : ( I have heard from my Japanese friends that this is the most authentic sushi place but it isn't a place that I would go to all the time. If I have a quick craving the prices alone are enough to bring me in. The decor is very sterile, all tables and chairs, not too many pics on the walls and the lighting is slightly dim. They do have a sushi bar and you can sit and watch them prepare it right there but it is right in front of the door so prepare for it to be a loud and (in the winter) cold setting. I do have to say this though, the fish seemed to be very fresh and not questionable. Service can be hit or miss with communication. Some waiters speak great English, others don't. But they all seem to be very courteous. Our waitress handled our group of 10 well and did split checks for all of us and kept on top of our table.
(3)Patricia D.
Had a great meal here! The ambiance is nice and there is an extensive menu. The service for us was good and the food was yummy!
(4)Keeley L.
I disagree with one reviewer who said they thought Green Tea had better atmosphere and better decor. Green Tea has decent sushi, the decor is tacky, while Ichiban is simple yet classy. Ichiban has some of the best sushi I have ever had. I love their spicy tuna rolls, excellent. Would have given 5 stars, but that title belongs to Sushi Zushi in San Antonio, TX. P.S. The fried green tea ice cream is ammmmazing. My husband and I will stop in for just that sometimes.
(4)Roger W.
Very cozy mom and pop family owned sushi joint. Walter the head chef and owner is very nice. In order for me to give this a great review I need to go again because what I ordered turned out to be something I dident want after it arrived. My fault not the restaurant. The guys I work with eat here all the time and love it though.
(3)Shane L.
So in the Bangor/Brewer area there are a few Asian style cuisine restaurants worth writing about here in Yelp. Of all of them, Ichiban has fallen off of the radar and does not rank as tops of any of them. A few years back, Ichiban was the best for sushi and Asian cuisine but when Green Tea and Yoshi came into the mix, Ichiban needed a refocus effort but it has fallen short and is a stale place at best. I am very surprised that it has received so many good reviews here on Yelp. Here are the reason's why: Service is atrocious. We have been back to Ichiban's throughout the years and the time it takes to get something as simple as a beer or soda is unlike I have ever seen in any type of restaurant. We came to this establishment with 5 other people on a weeknight where it was not busy at all .. maybe two other tables. We all ordered sodas and a few people ordered a bottled beer. It took almost 25 minutes to get any of the drinks. Bottled beers and fountain drinks? Did they go back and milk the fountain drink cow to get them fresh? We ordered from the sushi menu to get a boat for the entire table and I think it almost took about 40 minutes ... we had not even ordered our main plates. To top all of this off (this is the case EVERY time I have frequented Ichiban) the waitstaff had no idea what was on the menu or how to describe them to us. Sometimes in the other establishments, there is a slight language barrier but the staff usually knows what to recommend or point us the right direction. I feel that the wait staff at Ichiban look at you like you have three heads before they can try to decipher what you are trying to say or ask for. The sushi chefs behind the bar does not interact with the customers like most successful asian/sushi restaurants around one of the big cities. I have to remember, this is Bangor and I used to use that as an excuse when it was the only popsicle stand in town ... now with competition, it is not a good excuse. The only reason that I did not give this one star is that compared to some of the other sushi restaurants in the area, Ichiban is moderately priced. Most of your items are cheaper than it's competitors. The other reason is that the dining area is dimly lit and has some more romantic ambiance and on a date, you can afford to wait a long time with good conversations (hopefully) unless you want to run the other way. If you want some fresh, good quality sushi go to Green Tea or Yoshi ... skip on the Ichiban.
(2)Shohei I.
The waitresses have little knowledge of the food served here. Had the tempura soba (buck wheat noodle with tempuras). Tempuras were soaked in oil. Broth was way too sweet. Obviously not Japanese owned. Not really worth the hype or live up to the reviews posted here. Should have gone for the rolls. No beer on tap. The cost-to-performance ratio is great though. Won't go back.
(2)Kate D.
While I haven't been to many Japanese restaurants, I can say that Ichiban is best, hands down! My husband has said that it's a close second to sushi he had once when in San Francisco. The prices are great, we can have appetizers, dinner, and dessert for two for under $50, which in Bangor is becoming a rare occasion. I usually get a la carte maki, I love all the choices! My go to favorites are the Honolulu Maki, Irish Maki, and Spicy Tuna roll. We always start with pan fried Gyoza which is so good! I even like the décor, yes it's a bit bland, and could be seen as sterile, but it's what I interpret as authentic. I might be wrong, but it feels right to me! The only complaint I have about this restaurant is the service. In the years we've been coming here we've managed to have one good waiter. Otherwise, the service is slow, you don't get checked on, your drinks won't be refilled unless you flag someone down, questions can't really be answered, and all this is happening with just one other table in the restaurant. I could understand this if there was a language or cultural barrier, but this is all experience with servers that speak English as their first language. So if you've got a decent chunk of time, and bad service doesn't drive you insane, try Ichiban!
(4)Eliza M.
It really is a seemingly endless menu.... SOOOO many rolls! I really like Ichiban. I mean, I've had top notch sushi all around the world.... Ichiban isn't quite up to that (see review of Miyake in Portland), but it's very good and reasonably priced. I've never had a bad meal there. This time I got some miso (delish), a spicy tuna salad (SO worth the 9$, it was amazing with it's avocado and fried onion bowl), and a salmon avocado roll and rainbow tobiko. Fresh, tasty, and well presented. The people who work there are friendly, but were really stressed out while I was there? Maybe a rough night? Maybe a larger than expected Sunday night crowd? I paid no mind, it happens! I'll be back when I'm up in the Bangor area again!
(4)Ella L.
Always pleased with Ichiban! The atmosphere is simple however the food is always fresh. With my dietary restrictions, I find that they are always able to accommodate me. The price is great as well. This is always our go to sushi spot!
(5)Jon E.
Someone else mentioned something about how they were surprised that this place has received good reviews. I feel the same way. I have eaten a lot of Japanese food. And for Japanese fare, this place is below average. It did the trick, barely, to satisfy my maki craving when it was the only gig in town. But now that there are others, this falls to the lower side of the small list of Japanese joints in the greater Bangor area.
(2)Jordan B.
I like the appearance of Ichiban. The low lighting and the black tables are very comforting. The food is really good. I have not had a lot of the food on the menu, but the soft shell crab and many of the sushi options are quite good. The Black Pearl maki is my favorite.
(5)angela s.
Get the halloween roll! Get it. Do it. Now! I live in arizona, and you may think I don't know my way around a sushi menu because of that. But we Arizonans eat plenty o sushi...and pay way too much for it, too. The fare here was fresh and tasty. I got a full belly for less than I'd pay at happy hour in Scottsdale. The most surprising and tasty roll was, again, the halloween roll.
(4)Cathy C.
Ichiban underwent some management changes several months back so if you haven't been there in a while you may notice some changes on their menu or the way in which certain dishes are prepared. Ichiban serves excellent sashimi and sushi. If you want some fresh sashimi, you can't go wrong: Everything is presented with meticulous attention to detail, whether eating in or for take-out and quite delicious. I eat there at least once a month and everything is always absolutely fresh, which is crucial when it comes to sushi and sashimi. My favorites are the salmon sashimi and the shrimp tempura rolls. If you do order take out, be warned: They may tell you it will take 20 minutes but you will typically need to wait at least 30 to 40 to pick up your order so call well in advance and don't rush over or you will wind up sitting and waiting for quite a while. Also, as one other reviewer pointed out, this is a japanese family run operation and several of the employees don't speak the best English so ordering, whether in person or on the telephone, can be somewhat of a challenge at times. Your best bet is to use the actual japanese terms on the menu as they will recognize those most easily. For example saying "Sake don" instead of ordering salmon sashimi over a bed of rice. If you are looking for a place to go but some people in your party don't enjoy sushi, there are a few alternate selections on the menu, but the Green Tea restaurant offers a vastly superior selection of non sushi/sashimi dishes with a full menu of chinese food in additional to the traditional japanese. So if a member of your party really doesn't like raw fish, you are probably better off going to Green Tea.
(4)Jane V.
We go to Ichiban quite often, we like Japanese food. I have eaten Japanese food in a number of states and find them much better than most. I have never gotten anything here that I have not liked. The staff is always friendly to us. The alligator maki is awesome! The spicy tuna salad is yummy as well. I would recommend to any Asian food fan.
(5)Bryan M.
I used to like this place a lot more before I moved to Seattle. Good Sushi place. As far as vegetarian options you can get a sunset (yam tempura), california roll (avocado and cucumber, ask for it without the crab), or plain cucumber or avocado rolls. I'm pretty sure the miso and the udon is fish broth. I tried the stir fry vegetables plate and it's mostly stir fry onions, not recommended. Most recently we had a bunch of trouble communicating to the waitress that we wanted the vegetable tempura as an appetizer. They only have the shrimp tempura on the appetizer menu, but both on the dinner menu. I'm not sure how many ways we tried to say "vegetable tempura before the sushi" but we eventually got it across after wasting a couple plates of shrimp tempura and lots of pointing at menus and language barriers. I do have fond memories of drinking here and eating sushi at the bar when I was a young lad, but that was before I was vegetarian and friends were just feeding me sushi and saki bombs. I really have no idea what I was eating but it was a fun time.
(3)Kelly C.
Being new to Japanese food, I cannot say enough great things about this place. My friends and I meet for a networking lunch every Friday and the staff and owners here go out of their way for us - we show up at odd times, we dont always know what we want, we seldom order at the same time and they always accommodate and are happy to do it. Because of this new people that we are being introduced are also comfortable in asking questions, going in on their own and every body wins! The food is amazing, fresh and light. Thank you!
(5)Michelle P.
Ok yeah this is a few hours away from Boston. But originally being from the Bangor area, and knowing the not so stellar restauarants that are there I just needed to add this one. My best friend graduated from UMO a couple of weeks ago and we went to a celebratory dinner at Ichiban. Anyone love SUSHI?? I do, I do!!! My best friend, myself, and her fiancee, ordered a huge platter of sushi to split between us, while the other people ordered california rolls and noodles. So not adventurous. We got some of the usual with spiciness, and caviar, and some with whole baby crabs. Yum yum. How does my friend put it oh yes "Chelle Likey Likey". The most interesting part of the meal was the green tea fried ice cream. Oh soooooooooooo yummy and delecetable, it took all six of us to eat it though. The staff was friendly and even though it was a prom night, they were able to seat us without too much difficulty, and were really helpful in making choices for dinner. We left there extremely happy and extremely full. The next time I get home, I'm dragging my friends out there again!
(5)Jason M.
Ichiban is undoubtedly some of the best sushi available in the Bangor area. It's not cheap compared to Bangor area restaurants, but it is also better than many Bangor area restaurants. The non-sushi entrees are very good, the sushi is typically excellent and fresh, and the decor is excellent for a date, being kind of dim and moody. The desserts, fried ice-cream, fried cheese-cake, and others, are always excellent. The one bad thing about Ichiban? Post-order wait times for food can be horrible, especially on Sundays. I have waiting two hours for dinner. Granted, they gave four of us $15 worth of food to make up for it. That being said, they are typically decent with wait times.
(4)Karen P.
We were passing through Bangor one night, and jonesing for sushi, so we tried Ichiban. So glad we did. It was a Friday night, and the place was pretty empty-- I totally get why one reviewer felt like they were at a chess tournament, since the layout of the tables is a little odd, but it's not uncomfortable, and the waitstaff are friendly and prompt. The sushi *was* really good. I've had an awful lot of sushi, so while this place was not the best I've ever eaten, that is a hard level to achieve in my book. :) I tried a spicy salmon roll, which was tasty, and a volcano roll (deep fried spicy tuna), which was one of the best fried rolls I've had. Not too much coating, but crisp and so good... I'm starting to salivate just thinking about it... My husband tried a vegetable plate (avocado, cucumber, and salad rolls), and all were great. I liked that the rolls weren't overloaded with rice. Delicious and reasonably-priced-- definitely worth a visit.
(4)Meg M.
I have had many meals at Ichiban, eat in and take out, and have never had a bad one. I am from the area originally and find myself craving their Spicy Tuna Avocado salad (the best thing on the menu) so much, that Ichiban is often one of my first stops on a visit to Bangor. The Shumai and Sashimi appetizers are both delicious choices for starters. They have quite an extensive list of Maki choices, more so than most other Sushi restaurants, and all I have tried have been very good.The Hokkaiyaki here is also another awesome item on the menu. If you were to focus on the negative, the dining room, while very clean, could use some investment from the owners as there is not much to seperate your table from the other diners. Also, food can take a long time(there is usually only the owner preparing the fresh sushi), but those who are wise will prepare themselves for the wait when deciding upon eating at Ichiban. Luckily, the wonderful waitstaff are prompt with the miso soup and excellent ginger dressing salad to tide you over while you wait. Overall, a wonderful choice for Japanese fare in the Bangor area.
(4)Scott N.
The food at Ichiban was good. I enjoyed the sushi, the ginger pork, and the miso. The tables are arranged a little strange; it makes you feel like you are in a chess tournament. The waitress, while very friendly, did a horrible job of keeping my glass full and totally disappeared until the very end of the meal. She did do a good job of staggering the courses so that everything did not come at one time.
(3)Christi H.
I love sushi, but I think Green Tea near the Bangor Mall is better. You get more bang for your buck with WAY better atmosphere. Green Tea is decorated nicely, and you can reserve rooms for bigger parties.
(3)Betty B.
LOVE YOU ICHIBAN! this is my absolute favorite place anywhere! i love coming here,and its always 'the best' sushi! i have eaten sushi in the boston metro area,chinatown,and beyond,and my husband and i compare them all to this awsome place! i think i will make a trip soon! dont ever change!!! the miso soup,spicy salmon,and moonchis are to die for!!!
(5)Steve B.
The dining scene in Bangor is pretty grim and very bland, but Ichiban bucks the trend. Is it the best sushi I've ever had? No, but it's among the most consistently pleasing sushi I've had. This place is reliably tasty. For sushi, it's pretty affordable. Nothing is going to knock your socks off but it all works. I will say the service could use a serious upgrade. I'd recommend getting there about an hour before you're going to be hungry: this place can be slow as molasses.
(4)Jenna M.
I can't believe how long I lived in the area and didn't know about this place. The food is always amazing. Really good Japanese cuisine!
(5)Tri H.
I was going to Acadia mtn near Bangor, Maine. I pass by this sushi place call Ichiban. it is mean # 1. I was hungry and decide to check it out. The sushi was okay , not really fresh. The service was very bad. I was sitting at the sushi bar and try to talk to the sushi chef. he doesn't say anything much. I will never go this place again.
(2)Errol M.
Ichiban has the best sushi in the Bangor area because until recently it was the only sushi in the Bangor area. It does have pretty decent sushi, to be fair. It's hard to recommend much else on the menu, though, as most of it is far from being authentic. There are a few good appetizers (edamame and hamachikama spring to mind). Actually, I can definitely recommend the hamachikama, if you ask them to replace the sauce they normally use with just salt. And make sure it's entirely cooked. Hamachi is yellowtail, and it's as delicious properly grilled as it is raw. Kama refers to the area just behind the fish's gills, the "collar" as it were. Another good item that isn't on the menu and may not always be available is the "saba no shioyaki," or grilled mackerel seasoned with salt. It's just fish though, so you'll want to order rice and/or something to round out the meal.
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