Ichiban Chinese & Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in City of Albany

In a corner of the wall next to the sushi bar, there is a copy of the award from Metroland Reader's Poll for Best Japanese Restaurant -- from 19 years ago. I remember that restaurant; I was a regular customer.

A bit has changed since then.

I stopped in for a early weekend dinner to a mostly empty, dark and dingy restaurant with a couple of box fans carefully positioned on chairs throughout, because the A/C was broken. The good news is my new camera is very good, even without the flash, so the picture doesn't accurately depict how dark the 6-seat sushi bar truly is, hidden away in a back room (photo). I am guessing that the staff never expects anyone to sit there. They must be hoping that no one wants to watch the food being prepared.

The sushi chef sort of greeted me as I sat down, before I looked through the menu. I seem to recall much more refined and extensive à la carte selections than were on the current menu. And the server was quick enough, as there was no one else in the restaurant. I ordered a couple of maki and some nigiri, hoping for the best.

I was quickly brought a small soup, which was not bad. Maybe it was just the nostalgia of the restaurant's custom glazed saucer/bowls, a remembrance of earlier times.

The maki was surprisingly the highlight of the simple unadorned plating (photo). The bland not-spicy salmon paste was unimpressive, as was the eel cucumber. Not great, but not gut-wrenchingly horrible.

The unagi was the best of the nigiri - eel sauce and cooked eel - are usually difficult to damage. The tamago was surprisingly very dry - not exactly sure when it was prepared, but looking at the uncrowded dining area, I wonder. I was questioning why the only decor that the chef added to the plate were lime slices to the hamachi and saba. Unfortunately, I found out: not to accent the flavors, or improve the presentation, but to hide the taste. The yellowtail was not spoiled, but nowhere near fresh. And the marinated mackerel was far worse - I found it inedible, as I spit the first bite into my napkin.

They have an immense amount of work to do. It will be a very long time before I return.

2019...

There should be 0 stars for this place; my wife described to me how upset she was ordering food from a restaurant downtown. Low and behold I read reviews of Ichiban on the web here and it seems that others are having the same problems. She ordered food for delivery at 7pm and it didn't get to her until 8:30pm! Food for one person should not take that long to deliver, not unless it is some whacky busy season. The delivery person showed up, gave her the food and then asked for a tip. She told him no because he was over an hour late and he gave her the stink face. She was pissed. And to think I used to like Ichiban a long time ago...I see things have changed.

Here is a tip. 1) FIRE YOUR DELIVERY GUY! Anyone that asks for a tip should never be given one PERIOD! This is rude and disrespectful of your customers! Anyone with an ounce of customer service would know this! AND not even addressing the fact that your delivery guy is ruining your business (i.e. avoiding apologizing for his idiotic manners) is just shameful. 2) Apologize and FIX what is wrong (i.e. fire stupid incompetent people that ruin your business); DON'T just say you are sorry and then come out with "please come and try us again" !! Why would anyone want to try something again just from you saying it will be better?! Actions speak louder than words. If your restaurant gets better and your delivery improves, then obviously someone is going to talk about it (on google, word of mouth, facebook, etc) and you will get business. 3) If your food is bad, apologize for it! Don't say "our food is always the best" or "our standards are always high." No one is the best all the time. Everyone can improve. And the first step to improvement is to look at yourself as a restaurant and REALLY admit that you suck! Yes I mean that wholeheartedly. Admit you are wrong! If you can do that then maybe you will get better, but I'm not holding my breath for you guys based on the other reviews...

I've ordered from here a few times since living in Albany, but I won't be ordering again. Honestly, the only thing that kept me ordering here was the slightly cheaper prices, because it isn't any better food wise than your typical Chinese takeout place. The last time I ordered, I made an online order of a few things including the chef's special Kung Pao lo mein. It specifically says on the menu and in the order receipt "Kung Pao lo mein (WITH CHICKEN)", which is what I wanted; however it randomly came with shrimp in it. So I spent $10 on something I couldn't eat or touch because I'm allergic to shrimp.

Not to mention, the delivery guy was extremely rude, calling saying he was from the restaurant with food. I said I'd be right out, and he comes down the street laying on his horn going up and down the street as if I weren't already outside....how about you try getting out of the car and coming to the door or at least the driveway without beeping multiple times; since it is your job to deliver the food.

Needless to say, I won't be ordering here again as it's worth it to spend the money at another more upscale place on Lark st or Madison when it's not even that much more expensive, and you're guaranteed to get good food that's actually what you ordered with 100x better...