Went here with a group for sushi the other night. Â Definitely were not let down. Â The sushi was very well prepared and they had a nice selection. Â They also have a nice non-sushi menu for those of you that don't like sushi. Â My only complaints would be that the service was a little slow and the green tea was horrible. Â It tasted like dirty water. Â
Other than that, it was a great experience and would probably go back if in the area.
I don't usually venture to the south-side, but if there is 1/2 off sushi I will!!!
Great atmosphere, delicious food, great service, drink specials. It doesn't get better. I will definitely be visiting here again!!
Tip: If you want to get seated on Monday, get there at 5:00 or 5:30. This place is VERY popular.
The server was very friendly but the food arrived separately. Kinda pricey. The miso salmon tasted fishy but the teriyaki salmon was delicious. We liked the Queens prawn but it had hardly any asparagus, although lots of extra yummy veggies. Â The sushi was rather bland and had very lttle ginger. Â I didn't get any tea refill nor was I asked, but to be fair it was Christmas Eve and there seemed to be very little staff. Â Probabaly won't go back. Â We have three excellent Japanese resturants in Columbus and one pretty decent fusion place as well.
Review Source:The BEST sushi! Fresh, beautiful, and delicious! Everything about Ichibans is fantastic. Ichiban means #1 in Japanese, and the restaurant backs the name perfectly. The Sushi chefs are not only talented chef's, they are artists. Sammy (the owner) truly makes this place magical. He is cheerful, uplifting, welcoming and always says hello. We've become friends with him through his passion for customer's enjoying great food and his artistry in fine tuning his dishes into works of brilliant delectable art. Down to the edible flowers that garnish the plates. Sammy wants you to try new things. His warm smile lights up the room, and we are always happy to be in his company.
Some of my favorite things are Sammy's Ahi Tuna Salad, Crazy Roll (maki roll), Kate roll (maki roll), Salmon (raw), yellow tuna (raw), crispy Salmon Skin. YUM! I also love the soft shell crab with a side of wasabi mayo. My list goes on and on, so I'll leave you with that:) Everyone should go at least once. They are extremely kid friendly too.
If you aren't a fan of Sushi...Sammy extended his menu for any palette. Chinese food, Thai food...etc. The duck is also amazing!
With a full beautiful bar, this place is great for parties, first dates, or just popping in. There's a fantastic list of Wine, Whiskey, Great drink specials, even a few Japanese Liquors and beers.
OK, I gotta go......I've made myself hungry:) Cheers!!
They have remodeled the interior and it is nicely done with leather high-backed booths and neatly etched glass windows. The food was delicious! I ordered the Non-raw Sushi that comes with Miso soup and a side salad. Their tea is very refreshing too. The napkins do not come with silverware so ask for a fork if you need one! Ichiban is a great place for chatting up your friend or throwing a party.
Review Source:I eat here for lunch once a week! You can get three rolls, soup and salad for $11! Plus if you want the gyoza (which is awesome), print off a coupon from <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcoupons4indy.com&s=2b42714faf0eda76e0b1a5a750476f4aabe796b73acba432829bc9a0b20d57fa" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://coupons4indy.com</a> for $2 off!!
Review Source:Indianapolis is definitely not a hotbed of restaurants serving Asian cuisine. Â AYCE Chinese buffets and P.F. Chang's seem to be the dominant Asian dining experience in Indy. Â That said, there are a few notable exceptions...seeming family-run joints that give me hope that all is not lost for finding something resembling good Asian food in the Indianapolis. Â Such is the case with Ichiban Sushi Bar & Sammy's Asian Cuisine. Â
Ichiban occupies a large space in an unremarkable strip mall.  It's casual, but possesses a classy feel with a very understated Asian décor.  Ichiban, not surprisingly, offers a pan-Asian menu with Chinese and Thai selections, but with the preponderance being Japanese.  I wasn't in a sushi mood, but the sushi list looked to offer the full range of nigiri offerings to include the more adventurous uni (sea urchin) and ikura (salmon roe).  Assuming their seafood is fresh and of good quality, the prices seemed quite reasonable.  Instead, I went the noodles route opting for a childhood favorite, Udon with Tempura Shrimp ($12).  The very large bowl of noodles in broth was hot, steamy and filled with tasty add-ins like mushroom, fish cake, and seaweed (wakame).  The shrimp was fried perfectly, leaving it moist and tender.  The broth, while flavorful, possessed a subtle sweetness that didn't appeal to me as much as others I've tasted.  Still, I happily devoured the bowl of noodles.  In fairness, I need to come back to Ichiban to try a wider variety of their offerings.  The variety and seeming authenticity of their food is appealing as is its price.
The only time that I have been here is on Mondays. They have half priced sushi from 5p-7p. But beware I think everyone that likes sushi on the southside is there so be prepared. We used to be able to call ahead and let them know we are coming but i dont think they do that any more.
The sushi is pretty good, not the best, but definitely not the worst. We have ordered other things off the menu and have not been all that impressed. Everything is pretty affordable and the half price sushi on Mondays is a geat deal.
Ichiban recently expanded and they doubled in size. Â When it is just my husband and me, I still prefer to sit at the sushi bar, but the extra space is great, as this place has grown in popularity. Â As a matter of fact, my husband and I have even made this place a Christmas Day tradition. Â The owner (Sammy) seems to always be onsite greeting customers and preparing sushi. Â
The Crazy Roll is a good introduction for those people who say they don't want to eat raw fish. Â I have never taken anyone there who didn't love this roll. Â Some have slowly crossed over to raw after starting with this dish. Â I always order a tempura asparagus roll that isn't even on the menu, and they have never blinked when I write-in my order on the sushi sheet. Â I never consider going anywhere else when I want Japanese cuisine.
Of all the sushi bars that I've been to, which are several but not every single one in town, Ichiban is by far my favorite. Â We've always had exceptionally good salads, dumplings, sushi rolls and nigiri sushi. The service is good but a little slow. Since expanding the restaurant and making it twice as big there's no longer been a wait when we go. Â We go to Ichiban for the sushi and I think the quality and freshness of their fish is really superior to some of the other places we've been to. And, on Mondays they have some select sushi for 1/2 price which is a pretty good deal.
Review Source:Nothing too exciting. The seaweed salad was unbelievably bland. Â The rolls all sounded pretty imaginative and delicious... They were pretty good, but not spectacular. The sake was not good. The service was okay, until about 9:50 (they closed at 10). The waitress started ignoring us, and when she brought the charge receipt she hung on us until we signed, then took off. Not a great experience. I can't think of any reason to go back, especially not when there are so many other great restaurants in Indy (including other Japanese restaurants, like the other Ichiban, which is amazing).
Review Source:My search for good Japanese food continues, and today it has brought me to Ichiban. Nicely decorated, spacious, and very relaxed, Ichiban makes some really great entrees an some good sushi.
The staff was friendly and attentive, and from what I could hear, very helpful in explaining and recommending dishes. There appeared to be a lot of first time patrons the night we went, so I heard many questions about why certain things are. I don't know if that's a normal thing, but I was more comfortable eating there knowing that there was a healthy stream of customers (and not completely empty like other places I've been to).
The main entrees was pretty delicious. I very much enjoyed the Grilled Hamachi Kama that I ordered. It was tasty and the portion size was larger than a normal Japanese establishment. I do have to knock off a few points for the sushi though. Most of the main ingredients of the sushi seemed less inspired and bland than they should be (the spicy tuna leaves much to be desired). I have to say that I enjoyed the main course much more than the sushi.
This is definitely one of the better Japanese food establishments here in Indianapolis. Probably my favorite at the moment, and I will definitely be back.
I've only been here for the half price sushi on Monday. Â It was pretty good. Â The selection of sushi available for half price isn't very big and wasn't exactly the rolls or nigiri I wanted, but I like a discount...most people do.
The service was pretty good. Â I came with a big group and everything went smoothly. Â I will definitely go to Ichiban again.
The food was ok but not great. We went for the sushi and were not enthused. Usually, the spicy tuna/salmon roll is a safe bet, but it was just a goopy mush rolled in rice. Not good at all actually. A few of the specialty rolls were better but still nothing too special. I didn't order off of the main menu so I can't comment on that. I would be willing to go back but not for the sushi.
Review Source:I've been here dozens of times and love it more every time I go. Â They just finished a huge expansion and can seat very large groups now.
We got our usual rolls this time, shrimp tempura and spicy scallop rolls. Â The prices are very reasonable considering what some places charge.
We always try to get something new when we go. Â This time we got the Hot & Sour Soup, Clear Broth, and Dreaming Duck (I think that's the name) and all were just incredible. Â It was the best duck I ever tasted, as was the Hot & Sour Soup. Â The clear broth was just a little too salty, but that was a minor thing considering the quality of everything else.
Ichiban is the best sushi & Asian cuisine you can get in Indianapolis/Greenwood Hands down!
I have friends who come from Carmel & Noblesville just to eat here, that's how good it is! I have read posts, about compared to "authentic Japanese sushi" and "Quality of the fish compared to the coast" and I agree there is no comparison, I am sure on the coast you can get better, fresher fish. But this is Indiana, and I know Sammy does the best he can, and gets the best & freshest he can! As a regular there, he has told me how hard it is to get quality ingredients, but Ichiban's Sushi is not second rate! It is Amazing! And Sammy is an artist with his ingredients! The presentation is always top notch & the taste blows your mind!
The Wait staff is also very friendly & helpful. My wife and I have worked our way through the menu, and tried everything on it, and we love it all! Although we usually stick to sushi, the General Tso's Chicken, Crab meat salad, and Octopus salad are also strong choices!
I want to give Ichiban a 3 star review, I really do... but I just can't bring myself to lie.
The Order:
 - Hamachi sashimi, belly section
 - Spicy tuna
 - Salmon maki
Going for it:
 - Attentive service
 - Conveniently located right off 31
 - Reasonable prices
 - Lots of menu options Â
 - Lots of menu options for people who go to sushi restaurants but don't want to eat raw fish
But none of these things make up for the fact that:
 - They charge you for green tea
 - The fish quality is by and large low quality frozen sashimi grade (as far as I'm concerned, us coastal kids have no grounds to front knowing beef or pork... by the same token midwest folk have no right telling me they know fresh fish)
 - By Japanese standards, the maki execution was an embarrassment. No balance.
 - The sushi rice was soggy and overly sticky
I seldom never finish my plate of sushi, no matter what. Even at a "reasonable" price, sushi isn't cheap. My inner Asian granny won't have it. But even she agreed that I should accept defeat.
Recently remodeled, nice, clean and open. Great waitstaff! All food was very fresh and tasty. Sammy is awesome, and you won't be a stranger for long, he works very hard to greet everyone.
UPDATE: I continue to visit Ichiban because I am NEVER sorry for stopping in. Sammy is just an absolutely great guy, as is his entire staff! I have not seen too many that can compare on his precision and focus on customer service, the food is perfect each and every time. Where else can you go in the Indy area and get Kama, both Sake and Hamachi, and a great bowl of Thom Yam (Yum) with your Sushi. Â They can count on seeing me there on a regular basis. Â Stop in, you won't be sorry!
I love Ichiban, and I find that whenever I order sushi anywhere else, I compare it to what I find at Ichiban.
The service is great and the waitresses are so attentive, you almost don't notice them, but suddenly you have a new drink. Â The specialty rolls are well explained and absolutely divine. Â I'm not a huge fan of Nori (seaweed) or raw fish, so I tend to stick with the Crazy roll, the Pink Dragon, or the Kate roll, which either use soy paper or crab meat.
The rolls are done superbly, and don't fall apart like some places, but are still a mouth full. Â The fish is always fresh and never soggy, and the Teriyaki meals come to the table still sizzling.
Ichiban offers regular table seating, booth seating, or small meeting  rooms where you take off your shoes and your legs dangle over a shallow hole in the floor.
I've been to Japan a few times now, and I went here to get my Japanese kick. Sushi is good. I got the Don-buri last time I went and it was pretty solid. No issues. The place was quiet as could be. Everything tasted good. Nothing extraordinary about this place, but better than some Japanese steakhouse.
Review Source:How have I not reviewed Ichiban???
Oh well, here it goes...
Ichiban offers a half price (selected) sushi night on Mondays! The offered rolls include California, spicy tuna, spicy shrimp, shrimp tempura among a few others!
I love their specialty rolls, salads, and soup. I however, do not love their service... I have decided that expecting great service at a sushi restaurant is expecting way too much! Refills and checks take forever, so be prepared to wait!
Hi, My name is Linda and I'm a sushi addict....
Seriously, I have been to every sushi bar in town and have never experienced the artistry and beauty associated with this type of food anywhere outside of Japan that compares to the Ichiban experience.
The service is always excellent, but they do see ma all the time so I don't know how much of that is preferential treatment, but every item on the menu has been incredible.
the crazy roll is a must and the seaweed salad and crab salads are to die for. The artists behind the sushi bar are skilled, engaging and charming to watch as they work. absolutely masterful....
This is the South Side's answer to Naked Tchopstix. It's a little less trendy and hip, but the creative rolls and the quality are right on par with what you'd get at the popular Broad Ripple spot. Blink and you'll miss it, though... it's tucked away off of 31 South in a strip mall along with a gym and a couple sports bars (McGilvery's and Tipsey's).
The inside is all dimly-lit, decorated in maroon and cherry blossoms and dark wood. It even has those traditional sit-on-the-floor and take-off-your-shoes tables towards the back of the restaurant (apparently they're called "washitsu"). The service is... well, there were probably six parties in the restaurant and the two servers were extremely overwhelmed. This made the service slow and somewhat unpredictable, but it didn't diminish our experience too much.
Appetizer-wise, Ichiban wasn't that impressive. The edamame was hot and salted just enough, but slightly undercooked. The miso soup skimped on the tofu and the nori. The fried rice, however, was delicious. It was chock-full of veggies and very tasty without being too salty or greasy.
The presentation is amazing. I wish I would have brought my camera. Â Everything we ordered, from the Dragon Roll to the salmon sushi, everything looked like it was ready to be photographed. Thankfully, looks were not deceiving - it was very tasty, especially the Crazy Roll. What impressed me the most was that the tempura batter was actually crunchy instead of soggy like most places.
While I still prefer Sakura for its prices and quality, I would make this my regular sushi stop on the south side of Indy.
This is what a real Japanese restaurant in Japan looks like. Â It is a small hole in the wall restaurant off of a unknown street. Â If you dont look carefully you will miss it. Â It is very small and quaint but the sushi is unbelievably fresh for Indianapolis and the knife manship can be seen in his sashimi and nigori cuts.
Review Source:
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