Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

My wife and I chose Ichiban Japanese Restaurant to celebrate my 44th birthday, and it turned out to be a wonderful decision. The atmosphere felt authentic and welcoming, setting the tone for a memorable evening. - Service: Our server was attentive and accommodating throughout the night, making sure everything went smoothly. - Food: - I ordered the Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen (fried pork), which was flavorful and satisfying. - My wife enjoyed the Teppanyaki Steak, noting that it was tender, well-seasoned, and cooked perfectly. - We started with the Gyoza appetizer, which was delicious and a great way to kick off the meal. - The highlight for both of us was the Red Dragon Sushi Roll—fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. - Value: For the quality and variety of dishes we enjoyed, the price was very reasonable. Our total came to about $60 before tip, which felt like a great deal for such a satisfying dinner. Overall, Ichiban delivered on authenticity, flavor, and hospitality. It was a perfect spot for a special occasion, and we’ll definitely be returning.

12/13/25 9:00 p.m. Dine-in Food: 10/10!!! Everything we ordered was phenomenal! All of the fish was fresh and delicious. The sushi rice was perfectly cooked as well. We tried a couple of appetizers and they were really good! The Komodo Sticks are a newfound favorite lol. Also, we decided to give some sake a try; two different flavors. The Hana Fuji Apple is definitely preferred over the Moonstone Plum. The Hana Fuji Apple sake tastes similar to an Apple Jolly Rancher, but the Moonstone Plum sake tastes almost as if you’re drinking a perfume; not in a bad way, just unexpected. A Teppanyaki Steak Hibachi Bento Box was also ordered to share, and it was great! The steak was savory and delicate without being overcooked. Service: Our waitress was awesome! She greeted us with a smile as well as a great, upbeat attitude. All of our questions were answered with knowledge instead of guesses and she even made great recommendations. She was quick and non-intrusive. All of the kitchen staff were fantastic as well; working quickly and efficiently. Ambiance: Inside is small, quaint, almost intimate, and pretty quiet. You’re able to see the chefs work as they prepare the food, without being overwhelmed by kitchen noises or smells. Speaking of, it smelled great in there! It hit us before we even entered the restaurant and it smelled like perfection!

local college food in Iowa at a non chain restaurant... Jordan was great. quick and responsive service, dealt with a few boisterous after game patrons--who obviously celebrated after the win--quite well. one of the other staff was pointedly observing us, which was unusual. if the dishes were a bit more polished, i might visit again, but wouldn't recommend at this time.

Brought our family of 7. It was a great way to experience sushi for the first time. Lots of choices for reasonable prices. More food than we were expecting. Waitress was friendly and helped with our selections which were delicious! They are not really set up for large groups, but had no trouble accommodating us.

The only regret I have of this place is not going to the restaurant and getting served there. I have door dashed this place many times and the honest truth is, its delicious and its consistently delicious. My go to order is the Tonkatsu Pork bento box. The pork is tastey, the salad is fresh, the shrimp is perfect and the rice is the best i've had(please tell me which rice you use <3). If your a foodie like me, you can add a sushi roll or anouther side dish and it really creates this overall fulfilling meal. 10/10 will visit restaurant soon!

The miso soup and shrimp tempura were our favorite starters. I got a spicy pork ramen bowl + bear roll and my wife got their angel wing roll and California roll. We will definitely be coming back in the future.

I really wanted to like the meal I had at this place, but alas, it wasn't to be. The establishment is a bit dingy, but is well decorated overall. Service was pretty standard overall, but the waiter showed no interest in attending the customer. However, what really impacted my score was the food. The appetizers (tempura/gyoza) were fine, but the meals were almost universally disappointing. The only fine option was the salmon miso, which had quality fish. The bento bowl pork was of low quality, as was the pork used in the spiny tonkatsu and spicy beef. Two out of three ramens had poorly cooked Ramen that was connected, while the mix generally tasted bland. With a limited menu that failed to deliver on 3/4 of the meals my group ordered, I don't think I will return.