Ichiban — Restaurant in Austin

HORRIBLE SERVICE AND MID FOOD! Idk if it was the food we ordered but i thought it was mid. Considering that they had more than 4.5 star reviews maybe I was expecting more?

Right of the bat, when me and my friend walked in we were at the stand and waited for while before finally asking the chefs behind the bar (or whatever it’s called) if we needed to sit ourselves because there was nobody upfront… when the host/server finally sat us we, again, waited for more than 20 minutes before she took our orders and I couldn’t exactly wave her down because she was not on the floor. We were beginning to think she forgot about us but she was just in the back majority of the time. They took their time with the food too. All i remember was we got there at around 3:45pm and left at around 5:45pm (only reason i remember was because we were eating in a hurry once we got the food because i had work at 7 and still needed to drop her off-i was hoping to get home sooner instead of hurrying)

As seen in the photos, the tempura shrimp was mostly batter but don’t get me wrong the batter was wonderful taste wise, presentation was on point as well. The chicken teriyaki needs more sauce in my opinion, only the chicken was seasoned while the vegetables just were stir fried. It wasn’t too sweet which I loved but the sauce was just lacking. While the beef bulgogi was really good. It was worth the price considering the portion and sides it came with. So definitely would recommend that one!

As when we were about to pay we managed to wave down the server and ask for some boxes, and she asked us how the food was which honestly as someone who worked in the serving industry, it’s always courtesy to ask how the food is within the first 10min or at least when they had the first bite, but she was just asking us at the very end when we were about to leave so that should summarize our service in-between the meal (for people who didn’t understand-or service was “non existent” in between). But what made me give them a 2 star is because what the old lady/server/hostess said at the register when my friend paid and gave $5 tip which i told her to do because she paid for my meal and i was gonna leave some cash tip (w/c are better than the cc tips) but not anymore after when she said “only $5tip?” And as if my friend didn’t hear she repeated it again and laughed!!! The audacity!!! I honestly was gonna give $5 more from me even though the service was awful because i understand the service business but not after i heard that. It took everything in me to hold in what I wanted to say, my friend was just being nice and trying to stop me. People who choose to work in the service industry should know that tips are still optional. Under no circumstances should there be a time to shame a person for not leaving a tip. If you want to be tipped then better service should be provided. And if customers still don’t tip, that’s part of being in the service industry which again YOU choose to work at. I’m very disappointed at what I experience at...

I decided to stop by here late Wednesday afternoon because Mom and I wanted to try someplace different. We figured that if this place had been here for years, they must be doing something right.

We immediately noticed how seriously they were taking COVID precautions, with hand sanitizer up front, a warning that the cushions for the booth had been removed, and a sign-in sheet for contact tracing. We also noticed that everything was brought out separately and/or wrapped up for our protection -- even my iced tea spoon.

The best part of the meal was clearly the service. Everyone, especially our server, was nice and beyond willing to handle special requests. If there was any fault to the service it was that the order came out in a very weird progression between the sashimi, sushi, appetizers, and my entree.

As for the food, it was definitely a mixed bag from a very expansive menu of Japanese and Korean options. Mom enjoyed her avocado rolls and the salmon avocado rolls, but was less enamored with the salmon sashimi. The edamane was good, but the salt was unevenly distributed. I liked the tempura fried mushrooms which were crispy without being overly oily or greasy. Same for the beef gyoza dumplings, which were a nice change of pace from the usual pork option. My teriyaki beef was a bit lacking. The beef was cut into cubes and the teriyaki sauce was sparse and lacking in flavor -- in other words the sweet and salty contrast wasn't there. It was basically like oddly seasoned bits of steak.

Honestly, the food is/was a mixed bag. But everyone is so nice there and the place is so spotlessly clean that I'd almost be willing to give them...

This has become my go to Japanese restaurant for Sushi, comfort food, and a relaxed and warm atmosphere. It feels like a warm mom and pop type of restaurant, and one of the servers is amazing and she always remembers us. The interior has so many interesting characteristics - it has more (?) traditional japanese tables in the back where you sit and have your feet kind of under the table in a recessed space like you're sitting on the ground, with normal tables in the center. Both are okay.

It's not pretentious, the prices are great, and the food is REALLY good. I always get the nabeyaki udon and I swear, it is my favorite udon I have ever had. It is pure comfort food, topping pho for me which is unspeakable. We normally get a couple of rolls too depending on how hungry we are, and the rolls are always really good too. Super fresh and inventive with some of the combinations.

One weird thing is that for some reason, none of the rolls are spicy. Even the spicy ones. I have exactly zero tolerance for spiciness (I get mild or 1/5 spicy level at like indian restaurants) and even rolls called the RED DEVIL ROLL or SPICY something ROLL were just barely a tiny bit spicy. I would not even have thought it was a spicy roll without knowing. It's a strange quirk, but the rolls are usually good anyway.

Fun fact, I first came here over 10 years ago. It was great then and I'm so glad I've rediscovered it again.