Ichiban Japanese Bistro — Restaurant in Sterling Heights

Went with my young adult son for an early dinner on the „dining side“ of the restaurant as opposed to the Tappanyaki side which may have the better choice but my son wanted sushi rolls so…. I’ve previously been to this Restaurant often since moving to Michigan six years ago mostly for business dinners, even last August with my boss from Europe and food was good. But I agree with Saeed‘s review that the food went downhill and really took a dump. The tempura was small pieces of vegetables heavily breaded like a corn dog. And cold. Not halfway authentic tempura. The shrimp tempura were skinny shrimp sticks, probably fake shrimp as they were so little meat. Probably fake heavily breaded entrails with a tail affixed to one end. Definitely from the frozen food section of the supermarket. The sushi rolls looked ok but all had basically the same taste with the sauces differentiating the taste somewhat and the different rolls that we got did not taste fresh. Looked fantastic and beautifully presented but weird that they had not much taste and not much center, fish etc ingredients. My son tried to be more diplomatic since he is more „Michigan nice“ as opposed to my tell-it-like-it-is attitude but agreed on tastelessness and not fresh. I grew up in the heavily Japanese areas of Southern California (Gardena, Torrance) that once existed and have been to more than a few Japanese restaurants. (Recommend the Koi on pch in sunset beach) My son was sorry for my disappointment but admits grocery store (meijer) California rolls would have been better. So „no worse than grocery store but better than gas station (7-11) sushi“. I went extra heavy on the wasabi for a little taste. About the service: The very tall and slim dressed in all black waiter (didn’t get his name) seemed to rush us through dinner probably wanting to empty the table for the next „guests“. I understand the desire to turn tables but let’s not be so blatant about it. Perhaps because we were only a party of two and it was early on a Friday evening…. Didn’t finish everything and my son said I ordered too much but I know how much sushi his older brother eats. In sum: Definitely restaurant warehouse bought food, not prepared fresh there.

Paid cash adding exactly 15% for a little deserved tip and got...

Allow me to recount my recent visit to this establishment, as my history of frequenting the place grants me a comprehensive perspective on its standards. On this particular occasion, I had the opportunity to use the restroom and was pleasantly surprised by its pristine condition and upscale ambiance. I took a moment to express my appreciation to the manager for maintaining such cleanliness, as it was a testament to their attention to detail. The manager, in turn, requested that I share my experience through a review, hence my presence here.

I must emphasize that the service provided during my visit was truly deserving of a five-star rating. The staff exhibited kindness, attentiveness, and a genuine sense of urgency—a rare find in today's world. They demonstrated a level of care that is increasingly uncommon in the industry. Regrettably, the overall rating of the establishment was negatively impacted by the quality of the food, which fell short of my expectations. As someone who has dined here frequently over the years, as well as at their main competitors, I can confidently state that the food merited a weak three or a strong two out of five. The decline in quality and value compared to past experiences was noticeable. Although price increases are understandable, it is disappointing when both portion sizes and food quality decrease simultaneously. While some patrons might not be as discerning, my experience as a food enthusiast compels me to recognize these changes.

Furthermore, I encountered an issue with cross-contamination of the butter, preventing me from requesting extra servings for my rice. The taste of the rice, once a highlight, has noticeably declined in recent times. This, coupled with the underwhelming quality of the filet, resulted in a considerable letdown. It is possible that this was an isolated incident, and given the exceptional service, I am inclined to grant them another chance. However, should I decide to revisit, I will be vigilant in assessing the food quality in comparison to my past experiences and similar establishments. The ball is in their court to determine whether we will resume our status as regular patrons following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic or explore alternative...

AGAIN! I've been coming here for about 2 years. Joe, the GM is the greatest GM I know. The sushi and sashimi are the greatest in the country. Alex, the sushi chef, is the GREATEST sushi chef I have EVER experienced. Now, I'm a "Karen" when it comes to my food at ANY restaurant. I WANT what I pay for. Alex & the rest of the team ALWAYS EXCEED my expectations. I come here once a week for my weekly sashimi fix when Alex is working. He is so awesome! I had my birthday here on Monday Jan 22nd and Alex was so kind that he came in ON HIS DAY OFF JUST TO MAKE MY SASHIMI! Who does that?! Alex from Ichiban Sterling Heights, THAT'S WHO! I had reservations for 12 people at 4:30 pm and he literally came in just to serve me for my bday. I went in today for my weekly fix and I offered him a tip. HE DECLINED THE TIP! What?! The integrity is OUTSTANDING! Joe, the GM who is over the team, has truly found many gems, he has such a great team. The young lady who served my big party of 12 on my bday was AWESOME and patient with us. She was attentive and professional. We were a handful, I'm very sure of it, so the fact that she was still so kind, I applaud her. I wish I could remember her name. Anyway, shout out to Alex! Alex, you're NOT allowed to leave without MY permission! And even then I'll follow you for my sashimi fix. Joe, you're NOT allowed to leave without my permission. Ichiban Japanese Bistro Sterling Heights wouldn't be the same without...