Yum! Service was a little off given the language difference, but still far from poor. We were sat right away and only waited about 10 minutes for a chef to come over. His cooking was entertaining and the food was delish! Huge portion sizes...my husband and I shared a meal and we're still taking home leftovers.
(4)
Jim P.
Hands down, best sushi in the area. I go here every chance I get. Excellent sushi to rice ratio, and if you are a regular and tip the sushi chefs, they will often go above and beyond. Love me some Ichiban!
(5)
Chad P.
Came here for a nice relaxing dinner with a friend and was told I could not come in because I was wearing tank top. I had to leave and purchase a shirt before I could come back in. Upon returning the employee says "Oh look you're back." And laughs. This is Fox Chapel not New York City. This establishment is lucky it even has customers . The food is over priced and the service is sub-par. I wouldn't recommend coming here...
(1)
Rebecca G.
This is exactly what I expected for a hibachi grill. They cook on your table, you get way too much food, and it is delish but absolutely the same as every other hibachi restaurant. I really wish these places would get over themselves and charge less for what they are giving you, because it is not a novel experience anymore. I really prefer to get hibachi at a place that cooks in the back and brings it out to you, tasting exactly the same, for $10 less a plate... Tevs. Food's good. Too expensive.
(4)
Greg M.
Good food, poor experience. I take friends and family to places like this for the experience. But one trick, onion volcano and that's about it. Heard lots of whoops and hollers from a table down from us, maybe they got a better chef who was more entertaining! For me, the food was okay, nothing spectacular, but okay, they down side was the "show"
(2)
Tyoko B.
Let me start by saying that I have never been told not to come back to a restaurant as I was heading out the door and I'm no spring chicken, jus sayin. Just so there is no confusion, I've dined in and purchased lunch takeout on many occasions from Ichiban. Mainly I would get Hibachi or some sushi and Gyoza on my previous visits and it was quite tasty. Sadly, today's visit will bring an end to my patronage of this establishment. The problem started when we were seated. We sat in the seats in front of the Hibachi grille instead of the sides. The server came over with horns and said it was their policy for us to sit on the sides..." just in case they got a party of four". I asked if we could sit there and move if a party of four came in and she, very rudely, responded with no because that's their policy....which made no sense after that. Since her tone was very unfriendly and sharp, I asked to speak to the Manager. Ten seconds later, this guy comes up to us and starts going over their policy with major attitude. At that point, my date and I look at each other amazed and decide to go somewhere else. The words that earned me "leave my restaurant and never come back" were: "Managers seek to understand and not attack their customers. It's my business and the business of other faithful customers that keep the establishment going and ensure you get a paycheck. All you had to do was listen, acknowledge and apologize for the service we received.". So, no cursing or disrespect but pure honesty that the Manager could not take warranted this man telling me to get out and never come back. This is probably the worst service I've received in my dining history. AGAIN, I WILL NEVER SET FOOT IN ICHIBAN EVER AGAIN AND I WILL SPREAD THE WORD OF THIS EXPERIENCE I HAD HERE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I VEHEMENTLY DETEST THIS PLACE AND WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO GIVE ANY STARS! Now, I need to go pray. Seriously, I am THAT upset...
(1)
Shuning T.
I love their Friends Roll. It's fresh and tasty with tempura and avocado and crab meat. One dish has eight of them. It's enough for two person to have one Hibachi and one Friends Roll.
(5)
Frankie B.
Amazing place! First time going...Walking in we were seated immediately. Waited about 20 minutes for the chef to come and the hibachi table to be full. Atmosphere was semi loud, but nothing unbearable. We went without kids but kids were present at another hibachi table and they looked like they were having a blast. I got the steak and shrimp medium rare and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. My boyfriend got the steak and scallops. He said it was phenomenal! The bathrooms are even nice, smell wise for the women, men it was good says my boyfriend. We are both full to the max and may be in a food coma shortly. We thoroughly enjoyed our chef Jason and will be back again!!
(5)
Judy L.
Disclaimer: we go for the sushi, not the hibachi. My husband and I usually sit at the bar and talk to the staff and enjoy really yummy sushi and hot sake or Crazy Milk. If we are lucky, we get there for happy hour, when non sushi appetizers are half off. When meeting friends, we sit in the dining room and usually have the place to ourselves.
(5)
Rosa J.
Well where do I start. Our experience last night mirrors the same of many of the comments here. We were a party of 9 celebrating a birthday party and waited about 1.5 hours to be seated.During this wait period see saw parties exceeding our numbers being seated. When we inquired, the host was extremely rude and belligerent to us. Come to find out he was the manager/owner. Once we were seated and hungry with kids... We noticed the sitting area was dirty. So we ask the Manager to clean. He said" I don't have time for this" so the birthday person said it was his choice to come and spend our money here and the service has been bad so far. The Manager then told us. "So what, take it or leave it" So we all got up and left.. Hungry and upset. And too top it off on the way out, we told him about his unprofessionalism.. He told us in a loud voice " Get Out"... Folks you have been warned....don't waste your time or money.. We wasted our time but not our money...
(1)
Linda G.
I have only tried the sushi and gyoza. Sadly the sushi was not ok but the gyoza was. Been back many times dealing with bartender and front desk only. Very good service on that end. I only order gyoza as grocery store sushi is better than theirs. I travel a lot and i am used to variation on sushi but this was just not worth the expense. Last trip for gyoza got me very dry inedible filling. Not sure what happened and i assume it was a one time thing since all other times the gyoza was wonderful.
(3)
Denae D.
I go here for the sushi. It is one of the better places to get sushi without traveling too far and the prices are very far. I LOVE the crab sticks, and the waitresses have always been friendly and attentive. It is also a nice quite relaxed place for a date night.
(4)
Janet P.
Went here with my co-workers. Good service but we all thought the foods were WWWAAAYYY too salty. I got the emperor's deluxe and didn't really get to enjoy the lobster, scallop, shrimps and steak. What a shame. Tip: ask for low sodium soy sauce or sauce on the side or no sauce at all.
(2)
Alex D.
I don't frequently go to Hibachi places, since I am not usually a fan of the enormous portions these places serve, but at the suggestion of one of our friends, I decided to give this place a try. Happy we did! Their hibachi offerings are pretty good - our chef did a good job with his culinary acrobatics, and I was a little disappointed when he was met with a shriek from our little one when he did the onion volcano. Poor guy, I know he wanted to do a good job for her, but she's one tough customer! Our server was courteous, and kept our drinks topped off. I ordered the shrimp and steak, which was well cooked and very tasty. My wife had the chicken, which was also delicious and cooked perfectly. Our little one devoured a pile of rice and veggies, with a little chicken mixed in. We will definitely come back to try their sushi, which all of our friends tell us is a pretty good value. More to come after we do!
(4)
Victoria F.
Ichiban is extremely overpriced for the quality of food you get. However that is not what prompted me to write this review (I only recently joined Yelp).... Our family has a tradition of eating out on Christmas day evening. Two years ago we chose to eat at Ichiban in Waterworks because it is asian food/hibachi & because it is very close to our home. This was not our first time and I was extremely underwhelmed previously. But I thought on such a slow night our service would be better, even though I was expecting the same quality of food. I was not wrong on those counts. But this was new. As we were leaving and putting on our coats at the front door, our server approached us with our bill in hand. She held it out to us and asked if the tip amount is what we meant to leave. I immediately assumed that she was calling our attention to a math mistake. NO!!! She was letting us know - by chasing us down across the restaurant, mind you -- that she didn't think we'd tipped her enough!!! We are a family of 4. The service was adequate, or less so considering there were not many tables to serve. We tipped 15% of the bill total. I was shocked. I've never seen or heard of this happening to anyone before. My husband, who is a kind man, gave the waitress more money in cash. I would not have. I was appalled that she would do this. I have not and will not ever eat at Ichiban again.
(1)
Sammy B.
This is a fun place for date nightwith ur boo. Or a 1st date..
(4)
Rachel C.
If you want bargain sushi, come here for lunch. Actually... if you want to just stuff yourself silly come here for lunch. I don't think the "lunch portion" is actually a lunch portion. Or if it is, I can't imagine how big the dinner portion is! The best part is you can order up two rolls of sushi for $8. No, you did misread that! $8 gets you all the rolls you want... or at least what's on their designated list for that price. I was sad to see the yellowtail not included, but whatever, I can settle for spicy tuna and a philly roll. They were decent, definitely a notch above Giant Eagle or Whole Foods but not even close to my beloved Penn Ave Fish Company! For lunch you can eat like a king for around $10-15 at the hibachi, depending on what you get. I wasn't really a fan of the salad (which had dressing DUMPED on top) or the miso soup (tasteless). But the lunch was okay. I ordered scallops, which were nice and fat with about six of them cooked up. You also receive a hefty portion of fried rice and noodles but they scrimp on the mixed veggies. If I was around Ichiban and was craving sushi, I'd be down to order up a couple rolls. Perhaps more than two or more than 4 or... the skies the limit really!
(3)
Stacy H.
This is a MUST for anyone who loves a great amount of food for a resonable price. One of my top 3 places on the Burgh!
(5)
Mike L.
The food quality is great here. Highly recommend their filets. This place is very good for big families and can seat up to many. Love this place. Recommend!!
(5)
Elizabeth M.
This is the only restaurant that doesn't open al 11:00am on Saturdays in the Waterworks area. The only reason they do this is because they want to charge you for their dinner menu when they open at 1:00pm. The manager is very rude and never greet you or say hi. Although, the waiters are nice barely understand English. Don't think we will comeback.
(1)
Lorriana M.
Anyone who thinks that this us good sushi has NEVER had good sushi. I eat sushi a lot at many different places and this was the most disgusting sushi that I have ever had. Originally from Pgh, now living in Wash DC metro area, I was craving sushi so I came here. Had spicy tuna and beauty and the beast roll. The spicy tuna had absolutely no tuna texture...it was like eating baby food ... Total mush.....unfortunately b & b roll had same tuna center and wad equally disgusting. I ate 3 pieces of sushi and when I sent it back was presented with my $21.00 bill.... No price adjustment at all. Waitress was nice... Hence the 1 star
(1)
R J.
Food is good. Service is very rushed and not friendly.
(2)
Jenn T.
A large group of us came here for a going-away party for one of our coworkers, and I will start by saying that Ichiban can certainly acommodate a large group well. They have a separate, back room for even bigger parties, but the hibachi tables can easily seat most large groups without a problem. I'm not a huge fan of hibachi, so my husband and I got the sushi instead. I liked that we were able to order something other than hibachi but still sit with our group, although we got our food later than everyone else at our table, because the sushi bar was apparently a bit backed up. I had the miso soup to start, and it was perfect. Additionally, it was really cheap, which I appreciated, since we were all sampling martinis with our meals, which were a little pricey. We also got an order of the crab rangoons, which were excellent: creamy on the inside, and crisp and crunchy on the outside. Our waitress Kiki tried really, really hard to keep on top of drink refills and delivering the non-hibachi orders to our table, but it seemed like they had her working with our group, and also another table farther down in the restaurant, so I felt bad that she had to keep running back and forth. She was also really sweet about taking a group picture for us after we were done with our meals. The sushi was quite good overall. They have a lot of specialty rolls on their menu, but we were trying to keep our dinner a bit light, so we went with a few standards (California, spicy tuna, and shrimp tempura rolls). We did try one order of the 'beauty and the beast' roll, which had avocado, tuna, salmon, and yellowtail. It was super meaty and delicious. Next time, I swear I'm going to try the Steeler roll just because I'm that much of a yinzer. :) One thing I found odd was that occasionally, these rainbow-colored lights on the ceiling would flash and the music would shift to some loud, peppy song. After about the third time this happened, I was able to make out that the song was "Happy Birthday," apparently sung in Japanese. I know this makes me a supreme nerd, but I like the idea that on your birthday at Ichiban, they give you a few moments to feel like you are the star of an Anime film. I kind of wished they had a 'bon voyage' version of that to play at our table! Some pointers if you're going to try Ichiban: ~ The one at the Waterworks is actually IN the strip mall. I almost drove right past it, thinking it was going to be one of the standalone restaurants across the parking lot. That said, the interior is SO much classier than I would have expected from a strip mall restaurant. ~ They do coupons in things like Clipper magazine. We had a coupon for 15% off our sushi order, but there are also deals like 10% off your hibachi order, and free stuff on your birthday. ~ If you're doing a big group event, you can arrange to bring your own cake. We did a 'bon voyage' cake for our guest of honor, and they sliced it for us and everything. All in all, I liked it. We are searching for a replacement for our favorite sushi place here in Squirrel Hill, which just closed. I don't know if we'll make the drive over to Waterworks again soon, but I thought the place was just as good as pricier hibachi/sushi places like Nakama.
(4)
Kristen P.
I go for the sushi. I LOVE the Ichiban in Robinson but this Water Works location is subpar. The sushi, although it seems fresh enough, is tasteless. The spicy yellowtail roll is not just not spicy, it's bland. Very disappointing. I wish they would take some sushi prep tips from their sister location.
(3)
Brittney M.
The sushi is VERY fresh! I always get salmon rolls and they put sooo much salmon in it. The best!! Every other sushi spot tries to be cheap by putting a little slice of salmon and a bunch of rice but they are the exact opposite!
(5)
Miles O.
This is an OK sushi place (we have not had the Hibachi). Some rolls are good (Ocean's three and Tomo three come to mind). Some rolls are just OK, especially those with raw fish and without any sauces. Seaweed salad was fine, and so was the sake. Overall, it is not bad, but not that great either. The interior is nice and reasonably new. I would not mind going back and trying their hibachi later on.
(3)
Vicky C.
This Ichiban in water works mall isn't as good as the one in Robinson. PROS: good food, good portions, in waterworks so you can do some shopping after eating, large parking lot CONS: our waitress was rude- grabbed the money very abruptly before we were even finished eating and didn't bother asking if we wanted change, very $$, dark and gloomy inside Probably won't be back.
(3)
Cassandra M.
Always great food. Always good service! Great place for Japanese & sushi! The tiger shogun roll is A. Mazing! Usually a wait for the hibachi side but the full menu is available on the general dining side, so that's always my go to!
(5)
Kevin C.
If you like your food to be extra salty then this place is for you. I never went to a place where they cooked in front of your and the chefs just kinda went through a routine and didn't interact with me or my friends at all. Second its really expensive for just some rice or noodles with a little bit of of two sides like chicken or steak which we got. The serve you soup which is another really salty no color water with their really flat mushrooms. All and all it's really over priced, the showmen ship could be better, and the food tastes better from great wall or any other Chinese/Japanese place
(2)
Darren W.
As soon as my date and I walked in, I instantly felt as if I was about to face the late Mitsuharu Misawa with a valet at my side. I swore I could have seen streamers flying about. Down the ramp I walked into what my imagination allowed me to pretend was The Egg Dome. youtube.com/watch?v=5ANv… Ok, ok, that was obligatory. Anyway it was her idea, and it was a good one. I found Budokan at the Waterworks strip mall of all places, and Loudness and X-Japan were the dual headliners. For the first time in my life I threw the horns at a chef. And he threw 'em back!!! So yeah, I never did the hibachi thing before. Well, it began unassumingly. I got a Emperor's Combo. She got Hibachi Steak. You start out with soup and a small salad. The soup, called Clear Soup, looked like water with some wood chips in it, but upon first sip I realized what a perfect example of the sublime economy of Asian cuisine this was. It was utter ambrosia. Broth, mushrooms, and scallions -- that's it. Nothing else was necessary. I could wake up to it each day. The salad was crisp, fresh, and some kind of tasty orange dressing on it Thousand Island? Then came the samurai, his blade kept in a sheath at his side, his silent company making itself known with swift actions. The family that dined with us (I had forgotten how much fun eating with complete strangers can be) were jolted into attention when the chef created a blaze in the middle of the grill with sake. He squirted some in my mouth! Hell yeah! He got some egg on me too, but if Ozzy Osbourne sweats on you in your front row seat, do you complain? Yes, we got the onion volcano. That's like waiting for Iron Maiden to play "The Trooper." It's a staple of the set, man. Theatrics aside, everything was amazingly good. There's nothing like eating dinner cooked this quickly, this ready to eat, because it's ingeniously cut into bite-sized pieces. And get this, you can dip your morsels in a "Japanese mayonnaise" and some other gingery/peanut sauce, both of which defeat any and all American condiments. At first we were served the fried rice complete with the egg-cracking tricks, then noodles, veggies. We each got two pieces of shrimp. Y'know, I hadn't had lobster in ages. The last time I got it (at a certain South Hills seafood dive I haven't been to in a few years) it was overcooked, tough. This lobster on the other hand was flawlessly plump, tender. I mean, everything I had from the grill was caramelized goodness. I loved how the chef pressed the noodles and rice onto the hibachi as if they were burgers. My chicken, pieces of which I couldn't catch in my mouth when the chef catapulted them, was awesomely appetizing also. What a way to cook! Having only seen this sort of thing on television before, I never realized what a rockin' experience this is for all the senses. You should have seen the little triplet girls at our table, their mouths and eyese agape, transfixed on this culinary warrior from the Far East. If I had one regret, it's that I didn't order the steak, but I did taste my date's. I would have learned to love steak much, much earlier in life if I had it the Ichiban way: small, tender, juicy meat cubes. The side sauces just made them that much better. My date didn't know what "Ichiban" meant. Man, what you can learn from pro wrestling. #1 indeed. And to think I was just gonna order sushi.
(5)
Barry R.
The spicy tuna sandwich roll will change your life forever, all the signatures rolls are fresh and delicious and the Hibachi is well presented, well prepared and delicious. I have yet to take a single person here who didn't love it! Great for large parties!
(5)
Thomas A.
I got the red snapper, which was excellent. There was nine of us and it was only $200 after gratuity. Usually go to Shogun out in Monroeville but this place is a heck of a lot better. Just don't get any shots $25 for a shot Hennessy XO
(4)
Allison S.
I've been going to Ichiban for a few years now, and for good reason. The food is great and the staff is so friendly! I like it so much I decided to have my wedding rehearsal there in one of the private rooms. They know me by name and always greet me with a smiling face. The sushi is made fresh and the hibachi is delicious. I definitely recommend this restaurant for any occasion.
(5)
John B.
Have to want to be " entertained". Not a place to just enjoy food and your dining partners.
(3)
Rob M.
Icky-ban! I found this place dark & disgusting. I refuse to go back, no matter how much my kids rant & cry. I'd rather pay more for Nakama than sit on the pot for an hour when I get home. I feel ill just thinking about it...
(1)
Jessica B.
I'll come right out and admit I'm a huge nerd. I like to read, no matter where I am, and I carry two notebooks for journaling and jotting down project ideas. I'm also a big fan of sushi. If it's within my (now rather meager) price range, I'll make it a point of seeking out a restaurant I haven't been to before. I've been to Ichiban a number of times now, and I have to say that it is an excellent place to visit. The interior is gorgeous, the lighting low, the music not too loud. There are three dining areas - the sushi bar, the general dining area and a very large separate room for hibachi that houses several tables capable of accommodating large parties. The thing that really stands out for me about Ichiban Waterworks is the staff. After having lunch there once or twice both the hostess and the waiters remembered me and, having taken notice of my odd reading in public habit, made sure I had a table with the best lighting possible. They are always friendly and make me feel comfortable, visiting the table enough to make sure I have tea and water but not hovering over it. The food at Ichiban is incredible. The sushi lunch is extremely well-priced. For lunch you can order soup, salad and two rolls for around eight dollars, and for the same lunch plus an additional roll you'll be paying around eleven dollars. Not too shabby. The list of rolls to pick from is long and full of delicious combinations. My favorite so far have been the eel and cucumber, the spicy tempura and the eel and avocado. The spicy tempura alone is worth visiting Ichiban for. Yellowtail is lightly dipped and fried, not too heavy or oily, and rolled with just enough pepper-infused mayo to give it a kick. I've found myself jonesing for it more than once and have had to make a pick up order to get my fix. It really is that good. The miso is perfect and the ginger dressing on the salad is delicious. I've only had hibachi there once, for a friend's birthday party, but I can safely say that it was one of the best hibachi experiences I've had. The chef was friendly, the food was great and the quantity of it was amazing. I was surprised at the time that I could put it all down, to be honest. Sushi purists may turn their noses up a bit at the idea of a place that serves hibachi, sushi and general entrees in one place, but the price is right, the staff is awesome and the location is incredibly convenient. My only complaint is that they don't serve lunch on weekends, but quite a few restaurants observe this practice and, honestly, they're probably busiest on Saturdays. I can't vouch for their drinks because I've never had alcohol there, but the bar is gorgeous, the first thing you see when entering the restaurant, with a tall replica of a New York skyline etched in glass situated directly behind it. I'm not sure why there's a glass wall of New York inside a Pittsburgh sushi bar, but it's lovely. In short, it's a great place to go to sooth a sushi craving, and you'll never find a better restaurant tucked inconspicuously in a strip mall.
(5)
Emily H.
THE BEST. i honestly can say i think this is the best restaurant in the waterworks in pittsburgh. Service is usually great, they are quick and friendly, they take reservations and have private party rooms, the bar is fully stocked and serve amazing cool drinks. i believe this steak house is much better than saga!
(5)
Lauren K.
I have only been to Ichiban once, but I can't wait to go back. My fiance and I had the full hibachi dinner, and it was as good--maybe even better-- as the similar meal that I had at Ron of Japan in Chicago. I ordered the red snapper hibachi dinner, and it was delicious. The accompaniments (shrimp, soup, salad, vegetables and rice or noodles) were good, too, especially the miso soup. The salad was a small one, comprised of overdressed iceburg lettuce. My fiance ordered the shrimp and steak hibachi dinner, and he was pleased. The service at Ichiban was excellent, and the fellow dinners who were at our table seemed to enjoy their meals. One detail at Ichiban that I especially liked was that people sharing the same grill top were not situated too close together, making it less awkward. In all, I had a pleasant, impressive experience.
(4)
Guy A.
I had the Hibachi Chicken & Steak, and while it was a good meal, I have to say that it wasn't anything special. Service was alright as well. By far the best restaurant in Waterworks besides Burgatory, though.
(3)
chris and rebecca k.
so hubby and i have been in pittsburgh for almost 2 whole months now. and this is pretty much the best meal we've had eating out so far. however i'm only basing this on the food we got that day: i ordered the sashimi lunch (12 pieces of asst. sashimi) and hubby ordered the spicy girl roll. maki rolls with fresh salmon, yellowtail, and avocado with spicy tuna and tempura batter crumbs to top it off. sashimi lunch: it comes with either a soup or a salad. i chose the salad. it was a simple generic iceberg lettuce with some shredded cabbage and carrot salad with an interesting tomato-y dressing. the sashimi was really good, especially for the price. for only $12, i was able to get 12 pieces of sashimi. and their sashimi slices are incredibly generous, especially for japanese restaurants. their slices are at least DOUBLE the size of typical sashimi slices from most japanese places. i got 3 slices each of tuna (red), white tuna, and salmon, and seared tuna (red). the raw tuna and salmon were the best. they were so soft they almost melted in my mouth. the salmon had quite a bit of white striping on it, but it wasn't fibrous and still tasted good. those two were incredibly fresh and not fishy-tasting at all (the sign of old fish that's been sitting around for a while). the white tuna was alright, but not as soft and fishier. the seared tuna would have been amazing if it was hot off the pan, however it was cold. perhaps it was seared yesterday? but it's a great value for the price. hands down the thickest sashimi i've ever had! spicy girl roll: hubby accidentally ordered the wrong thing. he thought it would have fresh pieces of salmon laid over the outside of the roll, however it was tuna and tempura batter crumbs mashed up in a thick layer over the top. i think they put some hot sauce on top too. it was pretty good. the avocado inside was fresh, and the salmon and yellowtail tasted fresh as well. so not bad for an unintentional order. that and their rolls are decently priced. $10.95 for this one. i believe they have a lunch special menu with simpler rolls where you can get 2 for $8 or $9. they plate pretty well. both our orders came with a lovely purple dendrobium orchid and some parsley for a touch of greenery. my sashimi order came on a large square glass bowl atop a bed of shaved ice with a mound of shredded white daikon radish, greenery, and the orchid. hubby's had the orchid, parsley, with sauce artistically drizzled over his rolls. also, their decorations are pretty nice. i have to agree that it is kind of surprising considering the exterior of the location (i.e. in a strip mall with a non-descript sign outside. however, once you walk in, it's actually pretty nice inside. it is well lit, not too bright or too dim. and there are cherry blossom branches peeking out in a row along one wall and the partitioning screens between each seating area are nice too. the bar has a large glass piece with a dramatic bridge landscape frosted into it. we had a nice and attentive waiter, who didn't rush us at all. the portions are pretty good, especially in terms of sashimi. hubby and i had a hard time finishing all our food. we were sadly too full for dessert. we actually contemplated taking leftovers home, but then figured it wouldn't do well in the heat and we wanted to run other errands too. so we over-stuffed ourselves. definitely plan on coming back for more sashimi. it seems to be quite rare to find this quality at this price in pittsburgh of all places. and trust me, we know japanese food when we see/taste it! hubby is half japanese, and my grandma thinks she's japanese (japanese education).
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 : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Robert A.
Bad food and very poor service
(1)Tiffany B.
Yum! Service was a little off given the language difference, but still far from poor. We were sat right away and only waited about 10 minutes for a chef to come over. His cooking was entertaining and the food was delish! Huge portion sizes...my husband and I shared a meal and we're still taking home leftovers.
(4)Jim P.
Hands down, best sushi in the area. I go here every chance I get. Excellent sushi to rice ratio, and if you are a regular and tip the sushi chefs, they will often go above and beyond. Love me some Ichiban!
(5)Chad P.
Came here for a nice relaxing dinner with a friend and was told I could not come in because I was wearing tank top. I had to leave and purchase a shirt before I could come back in. Upon returning the employee says "Oh look you're back." And laughs. This is Fox Chapel not New York City. This establishment is lucky it even has customers . The food is over priced and the service is sub-par. I wouldn't recommend coming here...
(1)Rebecca G.
This is exactly what I expected for a hibachi grill. They cook on your table, you get way too much food, and it is delish but absolutely the same as every other hibachi restaurant. I really wish these places would get over themselves and charge less for what they are giving you, because it is not a novel experience anymore. I really prefer to get hibachi at a place that cooks in the back and brings it out to you, tasting exactly the same, for $10 less a plate... Tevs. Food's good. Too expensive.
(4)Greg M.
Good food, poor experience. I take friends and family to places like this for the experience. But one trick, onion volcano and that's about it. Heard lots of whoops and hollers from a table down from us, maybe they got a better chef who was more entertaining! For me, the food was okay, nothing spectacular, but okay, they down side was the "show"
(2)Tyoko B.
Let me start by saying that I have never been told not to come back to a restaurant as I was heading out the door and I'm no spring chicken, jus sayin. Just so there is no confusion, I've dined in and purchased lunch takeout on many occasions from Ichiban. Mainly I would get Hibachi or some sushi and Gyoza on my previous visits and it was quite tasty. Sadly, today's visit will bring an end to my patronage of this establishment. The problem started when we were seated. We sat in the seats in front of the Hibachi grille instead of the sides. The server came over with horns and said it was their policy for us to sit on the sides..." just in case they got a party of four". I asked if we could sit there and move if a party of four came in and she, very rudely, responded with no because that's their policy....which made no sense after that. Since her tone was very unfriendly and sharp, I asked to speak to the Manager. Ten seconds later, this guy comes up to us and starts going over their policy with major attitude. At that point, my date and I look at each other amazed and decide to go somewhere else. The words that earned me "leave my restaurant and never come back" were: "Managers seek to understand and not attack their customers. It's my business and the business of other faithful customers that keep the establishment going and ensure you get a paycheck. All you had to do was listen, acknowledge and apologize for the service we received.". So, no cursing or disrespect but pure honesty that the Manager could not take warranted this man telling me to get out and never come back. This is probably the worst service I've received in my dining history. AGAIN, I WILL NEVER SET FOOT IN ICHIBAN EVER AGAIN AND I WILL SPREAD THE WORD OF THIS EXPERIENCE I HAD HERE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I VEHEMENTLY DETEST THIS PLACE AND WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO GIVE ANY STARS! Now, I need to go pray. Seriously, I am THAT upset...
(1)Shuning T.
I love their Friends Roll. It's fresh and tasty with tempura and avocado and crab meat. One dish has eight of them. It's enough for two person to have one Hibachi and one Friends Roll.
(5)Frankie B.
Amazing place! First time going...Walking in we were seated immediately. Waited about 20 minutes for the chef to come and the hibachi table to be full. Atmosphere was semi loud, but nothing unbearable. We went without kids but kids were present at another hibachi table and they looked like they were having a blast. I got the steak and shrimp medium rare and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. My boyfriend got the steak and scallops. He said it was phenomenal! The bathrooms are even nice, smell wise for the women, men it was good says my boyfriend. We are both full to the max and may be in a food coma shortly. We thoroughly enjoyed our chef Jason and will be back again!!
(5)Judy L.
Disclaimer: we go for the sushi, not the hibachi. My husband and I usually sit at the bar and talk to the staff and enjoy really yummy sushi and hot sake or Crazy Milk. If we are lucky, we get there for happy hour, when non sushi appetizers are half off. When meeting friends, we sit in the dining room and usually have the place to ourselves.
(5)Rosa J.
Well where do I start. Our experience last night mirrors the same of many of the comments here. We were a party of 9 celebrating a birthday party and waited about 1.5 hours to be seated.During this wait period see saw parties exceeding our numbers being seated. When we inquired, the host was extremely rude and belligerent to us. Come to find out he was the manager/owner. Once we were seated and hungry with kids... We noticed the sitting area was dirty. So we ask the Manager to clean. He said" I don't have time for this" so the birthday person said it was his choice to come and spend our money here and the service has been bad so far. The Manager then told us. "So what, take it or leave it" So we all got up and left.. Hungry and upset. And too top it off on the way out, we told him about his unprofessionalism.. He told us in a loud voice " Get Out"... Folks you have been warned....don't waste your time or money.. We wasted our time but not our money...
(1)Linda G.
I have only tried the sushi and gyoza. Sadly the sushi was not ok but the gyoza was. Been back many times dealing with bartender and front desk only. Very good service on that end. I only order gyoza as grocery store sushi is better than theirs. I travel a lot and i am used to variation on sushi but this was just not worth the expense. Last trip for gyoza got me very dry inedible filling. Not sure what happened and i assume it was a one time thing since all other times the gyoza was wonderful.
(3)Denae D.
I go here for the sushi. It is one of the better places to get sushi without traveling too far and the prices are very far. I LOVE the crab sticks, and the waitresses have always been friendly and attentive. It is also a nice quite relaxed place for a date night.
(4)Janet P.
Went here with my co-workers. Good service but we all thought the foods were WWWAAAYYY too salty. I got the emperor's deluxe and didn't really get to enjoy the lobster, scallop, shrimps and steak. What a shame. Tip: ask for low sodium soy sauce or sauce on the side or no sauce at all.
(2)Alex D.
I don't frequently go to Hibachi places, since I am not usually a fan of the enormous portions these places serve, but at the suggestion of one of our friends, I decided to give this place a try. Happy we did! Their hibachi offerings are pretty good - our chef did a good job with his culinary acrobatics, and I was a little disappointed when he was met with a shriek from our little one when he did the onion volcano. Poor guy, I know he wanted to do a good job for her, but she's one tough customer! Our server was courteous, and kept our drinks topped off. I ordered the shrimp and steak, which was well cooked and very tasty. My wife had the chicken, which was also delicious and cooked perfectly. Our little one devoured a pile of rice and veggies, with a little chicken mixed in. We will definitely come back to try their sushi, which all of our friends tell us is a pretty good value. More to come after we do!
(4)Victoria F.
Ichiban is extremely overpriced for the quality of food you get. However that is not what prompted me to write this review (I only recently joined Yelp).... Our family has a tradition of eating out on Christmas day evening. Two years ago we chose to eat at Ichiban in Waterworks because it is asian food/hibachi & because it is very close to our home. This was not our first time and I was extremely underwhelmed previously. But I thought on such a slow night our service would be better, even though I was expecting the same quality of food. I was not wrong on those counts. But this was new. As we were leaving and putting on our coats at the front door, our server approached us with our bill in hand. She held it out to us and asked if the tip amount is what we meant to leave. I immediately assumed that she was calling our attention to a math mistake. NO!!! She was letting us know - by chasing us down across the restaurant, mind you -- that she didn't think we'd tipped her enough!!! We are a family of 4. The service was adequate, or less so considering there were not many tables to serve. We tipped 15% of the bill total. I was shocked. I've never seen or heard of this happening to anyone before. My husband, who is a kind man, gave the waitress more money in cash. I would not have. I was appalled that she would do this. I have not and will not ever eat at Ichiban again.
(1)Sammy B.
This is a fun place for date nightwith ur boo. Or a 1st date..
(4)Rachel C.
If you want bargain sushi, come here for lunch. Actually... if you want to just stuff yourself silly come here for lunch. I don't think the "lunch portion" is actually a lunch portion. Or if it is, I can't imagine how big the dinner portion is! The best part is you can order up two rolls of sushi for $8. No, you did misread that! $8 gets you all the rolls you want... or at least what's on their designated list for that price. I was sad to see the yellowtail not included, but whatever, I can settle for spicy tuna and a philly roll. They were decent, definitely a notch above Giant Eagle or Whole Foods but not even close to my beloved Penn Ave Fish Company! For lunch you can eat like a king for around $10-15 at the hibachi, depending on what you get. I wasn't really a fan of the salad (which had dressing DUMPED on top) or the miso soup (tasteless). But the lunch was okay. I ordered scallops, which were nice and fat with about six of them cooked up. You also receive a hefty portion of fried rice and noodles but they scrimp on the mixed veggies. If I was around Ichiban and was craving sushi, I'd be down to order up a couple rolls. Perhaps more than two or more than 4 or... the skies the limit really!
(3)Stacy H.
This is a MUST for anyone who loves a great amount of food for a resonable price. One of my top 3 places on the Burgh!
(5)Mike L.
The food quality is great here. Highly recommend their filets. This place is very good for big families and can seat up to many. Love this place. Recommend!!
(5)Elizabeth M.
This is the only restaurant that doesn't open al 11:00am on Saturdays in the Waterworks area. The only reason they do this is because they want to charge you for their dinner menu when they open at 1:00pm. The manager is very rude and never greet you or say hi. Although, the waiters are nice barely understand English. Don't think we will comeback.
(1)Lorriana M.
Anyone who thinks that this us good sushi has NEVER had good sushi. I eat sushi a lot at many different places and this was the most disgusting sushi that I have ever had. Originally from Pgh, now living in Wash DC metro area, I was craving sushi so I came here. Had spicy tuna and beauty and the beast roll. The spicy tuna had absolutely no tuna texture...it was like eating baby food ... Total mush.....unfortunately b & b roll had same tuna center and wad equally disgusting. I ate 3 pieces of sushi and when I sent it back was presented with my $21.00 bill.... No price adjustment at all. Waitress was nice... Hence the 1 star
(1)R J.
Food is good. Service is very rushed and not friendly.
(2)Jenn T.
A large group of us came here for a going-away party for one of our coworkers, and I will start by saying that Ichiban can certainly acommodate a large group well. They have a separate, back room for even bigger parties, but the hibachi tables can easily seat most large groups without a problem. I'm not a huge fan of hibachi, so my husband and I got the sushi instead. I liked that we were able to order something other than hibachi but still sit with our group, although we got our food later than everyone else at our table, because the sushi bar was apparently a bit backed up. I had the miso soup to start, and it was perfect. Additionally, it was really cheap, which I appreciated, since we were all sampling martinis with our meals, which were a little pricey. We also got an order of the crab rangoons, which were excellent: creamy on the inside, and crisp and crunchy on the outside. Our waitress Kiki tried really, really hard to keep on top of drink refills and delivering the non-hibachi orders to our table, but it seemed like they had her working with our group, and also another table farther down in the restaurant, so I felt bad that she had to keep running back and forth. She was also really sweet about taking a group picture for us after we were done with our meals. The sushi was quite good overall. They have a lot of specialty rolls on their menu, but we were trying to keep our dinner a bit light, so we went with a few standards (California, spicy tuna, and shrimp tempura rolls). We did try one order of the 'beauty and the beast' roll, which had avocado, tuna, salmon, and yellowtail. It was super meaty and delicious. Next time, I swear I'm going to try the Steeler roll just because I'm that much of a yinzer. :) One thing I found odd was that occasionally, these rainbow-colored lights on the ceiling would flash and the music would shift to some loud, peppy song. After about the third time this happened, I was able to make out that the song was "Happy Birthday," apparently sung in Japanese. I know this makes me a supreme nerd, but I like the idea that on your birthday at Ichiban, they give you a few moments to feel like you are the star of an Anime film. I kind of wished they had a 'bon voyage' version of that to play at our table! Some pointers if you're going to try Ichiban: ~ The one at the Waterworks is actually IN the strip mall. I almost drove right past it, thinking it was going to be one of the standalone restaurants across the parking lot. That said, the interior is SO much classier than I would have expected from a strip mall restaurant. ~ They do coupons in things like Clipper magazine. We had a coupon for 15% off our sushi order, but there are also deals like 10% off your hibachi order, and free stuff on your birthday. ~ If you're doing a big group event, you can arrange to bring your own cake. We did a 'bon voyage' cake for our guest of honor, and they sliced it for us and everything. All in all, I liked it. We are searching for a replacement for our favorite sushi place here in Squirrel Hill, which just closed. I don't know if we'll make the drive over to Waterworks again soon, but I thought the place was just as good as pricier hibachi/sushi places like Nakama.
(4)Kristen P.
I go for the sushi. I LOVE the Ichiban in Robinson but this Water Works location is subpar. The sushi, although it seems fresh enough, is tasteless. The spicy yellowtail roll is not just not spicy, it's bland. Very disappointing. I wish they would take some sushi prep tips from their sister location.
(3)Brittney M.
The sushi is VERY fresh! I always get salmon rolls and they put sooo much salmon in it. The best!! Every other sushi spot tries to be cheap by putting a little slice of salmon and a bunch of rice but they are the exact opposite!
(5)Miles O.
This is an OK sushi place (we have not had the Hibachi). Some rolls are good (Ocean's three and Tomo three come to mind). Some rolls are just OK, especially those with raw fish and without any sauces. Seaweed salad was fine, and so was the sake. Overall, it is not bad, but not that great either. The interior is nice and reasonably new. I would not mind going back and trying their hibachi later on.
(3)Vicky C.
This Ichiban in water works mall isn't as good as the one in Robinson. PROS: good food, good portions, in waterworks so you can do some shopping after eating, large parking lot CONS: our waitress was rude- grabbed the money very abruptly before we were even finished eating and didn't bother asking if we wanted change, very $$, dark and gloomy inside Probably won't be back.
(3)Cassandra M.
Always great food. Always good service! Great place for Japanese & sushi! The tiger shogun roll is A. Mazing! Usually a wait for the hibachi side but the full menu is available on the general dining side, so that's always my go to!
(5)Kevin C.
If you like your food to be extra salty then this place is for you. I never went to a place where they cooked in front of your and the chefs just kinda went through a routine and didn't interact with me or my friends at all. Second its really expensive for just some rice or noodles with a little bit of of two sides like chicken or steak which we got. The serve you soup which is another really salty no color water with their really flat mushrooms. All and all it's really over priced, the showmen ship could be better, and the food tastes better from great wall or any other Chinese/Japanese place
(2)Darren W.
As soon as my date and I walked in, I instantly felt as if I was about to face the late Mitsuharu Misawa with a valet at my side. I swore I could have seen streamers flying about. Down the ramp I walked into what my imagination allowed me to pretend was The Egg Dome. youtube.com/watch?v=5ANv… Ok, ok, that was obligatory. Anyway it was her idea, and it was a good one. I found Budokan at the Waterworks strip mall of all places, and Loudness and X-Japan were the dual headliners. For the first time in my life I threw the horns at a chef. And he threw 'em back!!! So yeah, I never did the hibachi thing before. Well, it began unassumingly. I got a Emperor's Combo. She got Hibachi Steak. You start out with soup and a small salad. The soup, called Clear Soup, looked like water with some wood chips in it, but upon first sip I realized what a perfect example of the sublime economy of Asian cuisine this was. It was utter ambrosia. Broth, mushrooms, and scallions -- that's it. Nothing else was necessary. I could wake up to it each day. The salad was crisp, fresh, and some kind of tasty orange dressing on it Thousand Island? Then came the samurai, his blade kept in a sheath at his side, his silent company making itself known with swift actions. The family that dined with us (I had forgotten how much fun eating with complete strangers can be) were jolted into attention when the chef created a blaze in the middle of the grill with sake. He squirted some in my mouth! Hell yeah! He got some egg on me too, but if Ozzy Osbourne sweats on you in your front row seat, do you complain? Yes, we got the onion volcano. That's like waiting for Iron Maiden to play "The Trooper." It's a staple of the set, man. Theatrics aside, everything was amazingly good. There's nothing like eating dinner cooked this quickly, this ready to eat, because it's ingeniously cut into bite-sized pieces. And get this, you can dip your morsels in a "Japanese mayonnaise" and some other gingery/peanut sauce, both of which defeat any and all American condiments. At first we were served the fried rice complete with the egg-cracking tricks, then noodles, veggies. We each got two pieces of shrimp. Y'know, I hadn't had lobster in ages. The last time I got it (at a certain South Hills seafood dive I haven't been to in a few years) it was overcooked, tough. This lobster on the other hand was flawlessly plump, tender. I mean, everything I had from the grill was caramelized goodness. I loved how the chef pressed the noodles and rice onto the hibachi as if they were burgers. My chicken, pieces of which I couldn't catch in my mouth when the chef catapulted them, was awesomely appetizing also. What a way to cook! Having only seen this sort of thing on television before, I never realized what a rockin' experience this is for all the senses. You should have seen the little triplet girls at our table, their mouths and eyese agape, transfixed on this culinary warrior from the Far East. If I had one regret, it's that I didn't order the steak, but I did taste my date's. I would have learned to love steak much, much earlier in life if I had it the Ichiban way: small, tender, juicy meat cubes. The side sauces just made them that much better. My date didn't know what "Ichiban" meant. Man, what you can learn from pro wrestling. #1 indeed. And to think I was just gonna order sushi.
(5)Barry R.
The spicy tuna sandwich roll will change your life forever, all the signatures rolls are fresh and delicious and the Hibachi is well presented, well prepared and delicious. I have yet to take a single person here who didn't love it! Great for large parties!
(5)Thomas A.
I got the red snapper, which was excellent. There was nine of us and it was only $200 after gratuity. Usually go to Shogun out in Monroeville but this place is a heck of a lot better. Just don't get any shots $25 for a shot Hennessy XO
(4)Allison S.
I've been going to Ichiban for a few years now, and for good reason. The food is great and the staff is so friendly! I like it so much I decided to have my wedding rehearsal there in one of the private rooms. They know me by name and always greet me with a smiling face. The sushi is made fresh and the hibachi is delicious. I definitely recommend this restaurant for any occasion.
(5)John B.
Have to want to be " entertained". Not a place to just enjoy food and your dining partners.
(3)Rob M.
Icky-ban! I found this place dark & disgusting. I refuse to go back, no matter how much my kids rant & cry. I'd rather pay more for Nakama than sit on the pot for an hour when I get home. I feel ill just thinking about it...
(1)Jessica B.
I'll come right out and admit I'm a huge nerd. I like to read, no matter where I am, and I carry two notebooks for journaling and jotting down project ideas. I'm also a big fan of sushi. If it's within my (now rather meager) price range, I'll make it a point of seeking out a restaurant I haven't been to before. I've been to Ichiban a number of times now, and I have to say that it is an excellent place to visit. The interior is gorgeous, the lighting low, the music not too loud. There are three dining areas - the sushi bar, the general dining area and a very large separate room for hibachi that houses several tables capable of accommodating large parties. The thing that really stands out for me about Ichiban Waterworks is the staff. After having lunch there once or twice both the hostess and the waiters remembered me and, having taken notice of my odd reading in public habit, made sure I had a table with the best lighting possible. They are always friendly and make me feel comfortable, visiting the table enough to make sure I have tea and water but not hovering over it. The food at Ichiban is incredible. The sushi lunch is extremely well-priced. For lunch you can order soup, salad and two rolls for around eight dollars, and for the same lunch plus an additional roll you'll be paying around eleven dollars. Not too shabby. The list of rolls to pick from is long and full of delicious combinations. My favorite so far have been the eel and cucumber, the spicy tempura and the eel and avocado. The spicy tempura alone is worth visiting Ichiban for. Yellowtail is lightly dipped and fried, not too heavy or oily, and rolled with just enough pepper-infused mayo to give it a kick. I've found myself jonesing for it more than once and have had to make a pick up order to get my fix. It really is that good. The miso is perfect and the ginger dressing on the salad is delicious. I've only had hibachi there once, for a friend's birthday party, but I can safely say that it was one of the best hibachi experiences I've had. The chef was friendly, the food was great and the quantity of it was amazing. I was surprised at the time that I could put it all down, to be honest. Sushi purists may turn their noses up a bit at the idea of a place that serves hibachi, sushi and general entrees in one place, but the price is right, the staff is awesome and the location is incredibly convenient. My only complaint is that they don't serve lunch on weekends, but quite a few restaurants observe this practice and, honestly, they're probably busiest on Saturdays. I can't vouch for their drinks because I've never had alcohol there, but the bar is gorgeous, the first thing you see when entering the restaurant, with a tall replica of a New York skyline etched in glass situated directly behind it. I'm not sure why there's a glass wall of New York inside a Pittsburgh sushi bar, but it's lovely. In short, it's a great place to go to sooth a sushi craving, and you'll never find a better restaurant tucked inconspicuously in a strip mall.
(5)Emily H.
THE BEST. i honestly can say i think this is the best restaurant in the waterworks in pittsburgh. Service is usually great, they are quick and friendly, they take reservations and have private party rooms, the bar is fully stocked and serve amazing cool drinks. i believe this steak house is much better than saga!
(5)Lauren K.
I have only been to Ichiban once, but I can't wait to go back. My fiance and I had the full hibachi dinner, and it was as good--maybe even better-- as the similar meal that I had at Ron of Japan in Chicago. I ordered the red snapper hibachi dinner, and it was delicious. The accompaniments (shrimp, soup, salad, vegetables and rice or noodles) were good, too, especially the miso soup. The salad was a small one, comprised of overdressed iceburg lettuce. My fiance ordered the shrimp and steak hibachi dinner, and he was pleased. The service at Ichiban was excellent, and the fellow dinners who were at our table seemed to enjoy their meals. One detail at Ichiban that I especially liked was that people sharing the same grill top were not situated too close together, making it less awkward. In all, I had a pleasant, impressive experience.
(4)Guy A.
I had the Hibachi Chicken & Steak, and while it was a good meal, I have to say that it wasn't anything special. Service was alright as well. By far the best restaurant in Waterworks besides Burgatory, though.
(3)chris and rebecca k.
so hubby and i have been in pittsburgh for almost 2 whole months now. and this is pretty much the best meal we've had eating out so far. however i'm only basing this on the food we got that day: i ordered the sashimi lunch (12 pieces of asst. sashimi) and hubby ordered the spicy girl roll. maki rolls with fresh salmon, yellowtail, and avocado with spicy tuna and tempura batter crumbs to top it off. sashimi lunch: it comes with either a soup or a salad. i chose the salad. it was a simple generic iceberg lettuce with some shredded cabbage and carrot salad with an interesting tomato-y dressing. the sashimi was really good, especially for the price. for only $12, i was able to get 12 pieces of sashimi. and their sashimi slices are incredibly generous, especially for japanese restaurants. their slices are at least DOUBLE the size of typical sashimi slices from most japanese places. i got 3 slices each of tuna (red), white tuna, and salmon, and seared tuna (red). the raw tuna and salmon were the best. they were so soft they almost melted in my mouth. the salmon had quite a bit of white striping on it, but it wasn't fibrous and still tasted good. those two were incredibly fresh and not fishy-tasting at all (the sign of old fish that's been sitting around for a while). the white tuna was alright, but not as soft and fishier. the seared tuna would have been amazing if it was hot off the pan, however it was cold. perhaps it was seared yesterday? but it's a great value for the price. hands down the thickest sashimi i've ever had! spicy girl roll: hubby accidentally ordered the wrong thing. he thought it would have fresh pieces of salmon laid over the outside of the roll, however it was tuna and tempura batter crumbs mashed up in a thick layer over the top. i think they put some hot sauce on top too. it was pretty good. the avocado inside was fresh, and the salmon and yellowtail tasted fresh as well. so not bad for an unintentional order. that and their rolls are decently priced. $10.95 for this one. i believe they have a lunch special menu with simpler rolls where you can get 2 for $8 or $9. they plate pretty well. both our orders came with a lovely purple dendrobium orchid and some parsley for a touch of greenery. my sashimi order came on a large square glass bowl atop a bed of shaved ice with a mound of shredded white daikon radish, greenery, and the orchid. hubby's had the orchid, parsley, with sauce artistically drizzled over his rolls. also, their decorations are pretty nice. i have to agree that it is kind of surprising considering the exterior of the location (i.e. in a strip mall with a non-descript sign outside. however, once you walk in, it's actually pretty nice inside. it is well lit, not too bright or too dim. and there are cherry blossom branches peeking out in a row along one wall and the partitioning screens between each seating area are nice too. the bar has a large glass piece with a dramatic bridge landscape frosted into it. we had a nice and attentive waiter, who didn't rush us at all. the portions are pretty good, especially in terms of sashimi. hubby and i had a hard time finishing all our food. we were sadly too full for dessert. we actually contemplated taking leftovers home, but then figured it wouldn't do well in the heat and we wanted to run other errands too. so we over-stuffed ourselves. definitely plan on coming back for more sashimi. it seems to be quite rare to find this quality at this price in pittsburgh of all places. and trust me, we know japanese food when we see/taste it! hubby is half japanese, and my grandma thinks she's japanese (japanese education).
(4)