Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Seaside

I have been here several times. The food is alright. The service is pretty bad. I walked in and stood by the door for 7 minutes, waiting to be seated. By minute 6, I was on my phone, looking for another place to go to, and ready to walk out. A member of the staff finally noticed I was standing there. Other people who would walk in later would be seated sooner than I was. I don’t buy the excuse that they are busy and didn’t notice me. This is what a restaurant does all day long, busy or not. They better hope they are busy, or they would soon be out of business.

I was about to complain to the owner. After reading the other reviews here, I realized this is a systematic issue. Other reviewers have experienced poor service. That is not likely to be fixed anything soon. The owners simply don’t care. Otherwise, they would be here addressing the complaints. This is for other people thinking about coming here to eat.

In shortest terms, the food is alright. The service sucks. I would suggest you complain to the manager rather than be like me. Otherwise, nothing will ever change. And if you give them a chance and they still fail to do anything about it, this makes it easier for you to go elsewhere with your money.

After I was done with my main meal and still a little hungry, I told the waitress that I was thinking about getting something extra. She said that she would come back in a bit. I almost forehead smacked myself at how dense she is. Do you want to bring me a menu? I kept quiet to see what she would do. She never did bring me a menu. Five minutes later, she comes back and asks what I would like. I almost said with sarcasm that a menu would be nice. Instead, I ordered a handroll with ahi and yellowtail. Got charged extra for the yellow tail. Bad service and extra charges…hmmm…

The decor is nothing to write home about, and the other reviewers weren’t kidding about fellow diners bringing their dogs into the place.

Note: If you pay with credit card, you will pay extra.

Would I come here again? Maybe once in a while. After dealing with bad service and extra fees, I am frustrated to...

I’m a frequent visitor to Ichi-Riki, and it’s always a delight. The food is consistently amazing, with bold flavors, great variety, and very reasonable prices. The servers are attentive, and the experience is elevated further when Kiichi himself serves us—he’s always a pleasure to talk to.

The flavors here are truly remarkable. The specialty rolls are a standout—each one is a perfect blend of fresh, high-quality ingredients with creative, well-balanced flavor profiles. The rolls often have a delightful mix of textures, with crisp tempura, creamy avocado, and tender fish, all brought together with sauces that add a touch of umami or sweetness without overwhelming the dish.

The mussel shooters are a treat for seafood lovers. Served with a tangy ponzu sauce, they strike the perfect balance between briny freshness and zesty acidity, with just a hint of heat to tie it all together. They’re light but packed with flavor, making them an excellent starter.

The sukiyaki is comfort food at its finest. The rich, savory-sweet broth is infused with the flavors of soy, sugar, and mirin, perfectly complementing the tender beef, fresh vegetables, and silky tofu. The balance of sweet and savory makes every bite feel indulgent yet homely, especially when paired with steamed rice.

Some of my other favorites include the Skigoku Oysters and the combination box with Tonkatsu and Teriyaki salmon. I also really appreciate that they have Sapporo and Asahi on draft, which pair perfectly with the meal.

For constructive feedback, I’d suggest adding a hostess stand or some signage to clarify seating arrangements. It’s often unclear whether we should seat ourselves or wait, which leads to awkward moments, especially when the restaurant is busy. Some guidance would make the experience smoother and more welcoming for everyone.

Overall, Ichi-Riki is one of my favorite spots, and I’ll continue coming back for the incredible food, thoughtful presentation, and...

Last time I ate here was like 15 to 20 years ago as a kid and it was the first Japanese restaurant I ever had. Glad they're still around since they're the reason I ended up learning Japanese and studying their culture. So I do have a nostalgia bias I'll try to refrain from.

Simple Criteria Food: 4 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

I would say mostly everything was perfectly seasoned, but minimally leaning towards the bland side. The dashi used as bases for their miso and tentsuyu could use a touch more umami. Chicken teriyaki, not too sweet, perfectly cooked tender with nice searing from a seasoned grill. I prefer the lighter salad dressing they use over other places. Tempura isn't overly rolled in batter flakes which makes the perfect cuts of veggies nicely pronounced rather than 50/50 food to batter mix (more like a 75/25 ratio enough batter to hold and soak up tentsuyu for flavor). Only issue we came up on was my wifes dish which had cuts of tonkatsu with some sections of tendon-like textures.

Main pro's: the amount of food received for the price far surpasses many other places. Its better than fair value. Also, their menu isn't riddled with fusion style options that triple the menu size(if thats your thing look elsewhere). Its closer to a simple and traditional Japanese menu (1 sheet two sides in clear cover) with just a few options for other traditional asian recipes. The sushi chef (possibly an owner? Didnt ask) is the perfect host. He provides a very upbeat, welcoming, and professional service all the way up to the send-off. Atmosphere is simply relaxing at the bar. Come in, get your whopper plates of food, relax or chat as needed, then be on your way...