It was good for years, recently little disappointed. Bit expensive over all we use to go every week but now few times a month to enjoy fresh ingredients, very talented sushi chef Maru and friendly servers, they're by far best part of this Japanese restaurant. I love this restaurant , small suggestion from long time customer and experienced in restaurant operations and consulting, Ichiriki need more experienced management that can operate the restaurant more efficiently and professionally. Don't get complacent your customers are important let's improve so we can enjoy the restaurant as we use too. Long time customer. read more

Stopped here for a late lunch and it was absolutely amazing. I haven't been since the new owners.. this used to be my go-to 20 years ago. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! The cleanliness of the restaurant was superb! They used to have a bunch of old money hanging up in the bar area and it always seemed really dirty to me. Now it's all clean and painted and it looks good! I had the lunch bento box with a side of inari and they serve PEPSI! All the waitresses worked together to provide amazing service for all their guests. It was nice to see they knew the regulars that came in. Serving their drinks without even having to ask. A place with consistent regulars definitely means this establishment knows what it's doing! Highly recommend Ichi RiKi! read more

Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant - Bento box - Japanese Near Me - Seaside, California

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Authentic Japanese . Friendly and non intrusive service..Good value for the money.Plentiful parking across the street.

Some restaurants are good, and then there are places that become part of your family's story. This sushi spot in Seaside is exactly that. My parents started coming here over 40 years ago, and now, every time my girlfriend and I make the trip from the Central Valley to the Monterey area, this is our first stop. No exceptions. The food is always incredible, always fresh, and the atmosphere is warm, unpretentious, and feels like home. One of my favorite parts is that the chef still recognizes my mom and dad after all these years. That says everything about this place. It's not just a restaurant. It's a relationship. The vibes are always immaculate, and every visit feels like a tradition, passed down, not just a meal. Five stars. No hesitation. read more

My family's go-to sushi place in Monterey! It can get busy esp when it opens due to happy hour but luckily the restaurant is pretty spacious! You can also make a reservation if you're good about planning ahead. They have a solid list for appetizers, rolls, combo plates, rolls, hot items (udon, rice dishes, etc.) so people that don't eat raw fish will find something they like as well. The servers are very sweet and attentive and can give you good recommendations and let you know about the specials. We went as a group of 7 and had some oysters, grilled squid, asari (clams), miso eggplant, collar, agedashi tofu (fried), tempura, and karaage (fried chicken) to share. We love the eggplant and karaage so those are always ordered. We went easy on the maki rolls (didn't get the fancy ones) but everything is fresh and tasty! They have a good variety of drinks and desserts as well so you'll have a great time here! Its also a good date spot There's a small parking lot next to it and street parking. read more

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Our experience was awful. After 45 years of patronage I was very disappointed. The miso soup was watered down. We also ordered the Katsu bowl and the pork was greasy and lacking the original sauce. The tempura was also greasy, like the oil was not hot enough and was not up to our expectations. This is the second time we tried the restaurant after the new owners took it over and I won't be going back again. read more

Went in to eat for the first time, noticed that there were only 2 people at the sushi bar when I walked in. After I sat down and ordered, noticed that people who walked in were all given a loud greeting from the older gentleman that worked behind the sushi bar (pretty sure he is the owner) when I walked in I was not greeted in that manner. I am mixed, half white/half Asian but because of my darker olive skin I look pretty ethnic. Noticed that all the people he greeted were white. read more

I see this place as a good value Japanese restaurant in Monterey. There is a lot of old school charm and I love how the food comes in big portions and is pretty tasty. The ichi riki sushi special that comes with soup and salad is such a deal! The rice is tamer on the vinegar here and the fish doesn't use much seasoning, at least for the Kanpachi I ordered so you're just getting the fresh goods. I was a little sad that most of their unique fish they had on the blackboard were not available - seems like they just stick with the basics of tuna, salmon, etc. I saw someone order a massive hamachi Kama that I would've gotten if I had more people in my party dining but since I was doing it solo, I could only fit so much. Next time I'd like to explore more of their hot foods. read more

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I still love this place after almost 30 years. Ownership changed a few years back. Mostly this has been good. More selection of sashimi and rolls, restaurant is largely cleaned up now. The miso soup is the same except these little things they used to put in they don't now, I don't know what they were called. Shigei is still there making the best sushi. They charge for miso soup now if you sit at the bar. The salad is now $5 each, they brought out 2 a few weeks back we didn't order and I had them removed from the bill. Parking is scant now and it fills up fast so get there when they open! They are also now not putting sales tax OR their 3.5% "sustainability fee" before they take your card. They return with the bill higher and have already taken your money. Watch your bill- the bill they present is NOT what you will pay. read more

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Always good....The family's go to spot for almost every occasion. Sashimi is always fresh and savory. Who knew Saki, beer and fish makes people HAPPY.... read more

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Fresh quality sushi and sashimi! We've been coming here for years and this is our go-to sushi spot in the peninsula. It's a popular spot so if you're coming on the weekend, you may have to wait a bit. Service is good and quick. We love their hot green tea, mussel shooters, tempura, edamame, gyoza and seafood. I don't recommend the donburi, it was underwhelming. read more

A solid option that's deservedly popular with locals. I recently visited with colleagues for lunch and my bento box met my expectations. The miso soup was solid, the maki I selected was quite good. The one caveat is that I was lukewarm about the agedashi tofu. The tofu had a fairly dense, slightly irregular texture. Agedashi tofu I've particularly enjoyed elsewhere had a silken, smooth texture. Also, agedashi tofu is usually served in a broth; here it was served dry, with a dipping sauce on the side that could have used more flavor. I'll be back at some point, I just won't order the agedashi tofu again. read more

I went with friends to the opening night of a new event series: Japanese disco/funk music night! The music was sensational and the vibe in the restaurant were top tier! As for the food, it felt like I tried the entire menu, but really stood out to me was their Karaage Chicken & the gyoza. Some of the best fried chicken I've had in my life... and I've had A LOT of chicken! It's a must try. The gyoza is also spectacular. I also had the agedashi tofu, edamame, sashimi, & shrimp tempura rolls. Everything was good. The servers were very attentive and gave us free drink tickets! I definitely will be trying this place again! Price: $50 read more

Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Seaside, California

Great sushi! Very fresh, nicely presented and the staff were very friendly. This was a really good first experience for us at this restaurant. It's nice to have a higher quality sushi restaurant near our home! read more

I recommend the salmon and hamachi carpaccio over the (salty scallop + shrimp) sunflower appetizer. Real wasabi was affordable for only a couple of dollars. The fountain iced tea seems to be tropical-flavored. There was only one sushi chef at the bar because it was mid-afternoon. We had Maru hand roll plate, Sakura chef's choice nigiri, and tempura. read more

Called in my order at 8:01 and was told it would be ready in 30 mins. My husband came at 830 and had to wait until closing before we got our order. They served every customer in the restaurant before finishing our order. Our hotel is three minutes away but the tempura and tonkatsu was cold and stale. Beef teriyaki is chewy and in chunks. Even the miso soup is cold. Had I known the food and service was this terrible, I would have eaten my instant ramen instead. read more

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Great food and amazing service! The staff are very nice, the place is clean, and the overall experience was excellent. Will definitely be back. read more

Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Seaside, California

This restaurant has been around for decades and there was a time that the food was lacking so we did not go there. Then there was a new owner from Japan and I was told I should give it a try again. Very good Japanese food and so we started going there on a more regular basis. THEN today happened. My wife ordered the bento box with teriyaki beef and Gyoza. The miso soup that came with it was very thin-- not enough miso paste. The beef was tough and chewy. I ordered the udon Nabeyaki. You could tell that they let the bowl boil too long-- flecks of egg white was all over the noodles, the Kamaboko was overcooked and the noodles were rubbery and stuck to the bottom of the pot! When I dislodged it, it was burned black and gave the soup a distinctive burnt taste. The waiter (Albin) did not even come back to see how we were liking the food. Too bad because I get asked for recommendations to good Japanese restaurants all the time. Now I have to go back searching for the good sushi spots. read more

Foods is okay some of the sushi is really good. A lot of the other sushi is very mid. Would recommend for a quick fast sushi comparable to Safeway sushi but a little better read more

The food is delicious and the service is excellent. The people that run the restaurant have been in the business along time. read more

Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant - bar area - Japanese Near Me - Seaside, California

I absolutely love this restaurant. I normally get the same thing whenever I come which is the bento box with the choices of tempura and beef teriyaki. the salad in the box is sooo amazing, tempura is always perfect, and the beef teriyaki with the white rice is just chefs kiss!! Only thing I had a slight problem with was the waiter and waitresses.... I tried to get their attention for sooo long but they literally never came to check in on us. I needed a fork desperately and they wouldnt even spare me a glass. even if they were walking in my direction theyd be looking a completely different direction. i had to get up and walk to the sushi bar and ask for one there after a good 5-10 mins of being completely ignored but at least the ambiance and food is good I will definitely will keep coming but the servers need to stop avoiding eye contact so damn much read more

Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant - Bento Box - Tempura & Beef Teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Seaside, California

Food amazing service amazing ambiance is amazing I've been going here since as long as time I love this place I've had so many amazing wonderful experiences here. I LOVE Ichi-Riki with all my heart. read more

Service was ok . They may need a little more seasoning ! Atmosphere is good but the food was so delicious . Definitely visiting again real soon! read more

Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant - It took me a while to post this so I don't remember the rolls but they were fab! - Japanese Near Me - Seaside, California

Ichi Riki is my favorite place to eat. The sushi is some of (if not the) best in the Monterey Bay. The sushi chefs are all excellent, and each have their own distinctive touches they bring to their dishes. All of the staff are lovely, and we love the way the new owner has been restoring the appearance and functionality of the interior - the place is looking great! When ownership changed, we were worried that we would have to find a new sushi spot, but our concerns were quickly eased. Although there have been a lot of changes, we feel that overall the restaurant has improved. The rolls are delicious, with both traditional rolls and an ever expanding list of specialty rolls. My favorite however, is the nigiri. The seeming simplicity of fish over rice really lets the quality shine through. There's the usual staples, but then there is also an ever changing list of seasonal specials. The oysters are fabulous - my favorites are the kumomotos. They even have a great lunch special menu (we particularly like the hand roll special). We love every opportunity we have to dine at Ichi Riki, and wish the business all the best - go check it out! read more

Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant - Nigiri a la carte, from top, left to right: Toro, Ocean Trout, Tomago, Maguro, Hamachi, Sake, Saba, Ikura - Japanese Near Me - Seaside, California

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Local spot. Service was OK. They were very busy, and seemed to be a bit understaffed. Fish was really fresh. The agadashi tofu was OK. A bit bland, but the tofu seemed fresh. Nice staff. Busy Wednesday evening. read more

Last night I had the best chirashi I've ever had. From a typical sushi restaurant, it always feels like they're putting the bare minimum fish-wise in their chirashi. And the fish is okay quality. At really high end sushi restaurants, you get fantastic chirashi for a ridiculous price. Here at Ichi Riki, I was amazed at the quality of every single type of fish, and they went above and beyond. I felt like they were thinking as they made it, "What could I add to make this even better?" And the price is that of any other typical sushi restaurant, very affordable. I have also recently had many of their rolls, as well as their omakase. I've been more than delighted with everything. Everyone there is very kind and accommodating. This is in stark contrast to how the restaurant was with the previous owners. I did not like it back in the day. If you haven't been there in recent times, go! It's the best sushi spot on the peninsula. read more

Awesome place. Crew is so fun and communicative. Felt right at home and the Sushi was amazing. Miso is perfect, O Toro and Cho Tori was fantastic as well. Will absolutely be back read more

Amazing food,atmosphere and customer service. First time coming here and it did not disappoint. The food was delicious and freshly prepared. We ordered the sweet potato rolls, shrimp tempura rolls and spicy tuna. All were tasty 10/10! Ordered the box with salmon and California rolls, chicken teriyaki and a beef box all were equally delicious. Definitely will be coming back! read more

I have been wanting to try this place for years and it never was on my home. This trip I was checking out the local night market but wasn't feeling the vibe. So I walked down to Ichi-Riki. I was promptly seated at the sushi bar, but it felt a bit awkward as I was literally sitting next to the drinks bar. Though, I had a good seat to see the food prep and the outgoing sushi and sashimi plates. I had a bento box with tin katsu and tempura (one shrimp and a variety of vegetables). My server was attentive and checked on me periodically to make sure my meal was going well. I think on a future visit to get some of the chef's special combo. read more

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Food is decent, but you get more bang for your buck at lunch over dinner. Parking is tough, so plan for that. Hidden fee of 3.5% sustainability fee tacked onto bill. No notice on menu or signage in restaurant. Don't appreciate nasty surprises. read more

Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant - Buyer Beware! Hidden fees of 3.5% sustainability fee added onto your bill with no notice on menu or in store! - Japanese Near Me - Seaside, California

Every time we dine at Ichi-Riki we are always pleased with our food and the service. We've been coming here for years now and are never disappointed! read more

Guess who now is co-owner of this establishment- Kiichi! He was the manager of Crystal Fish. If you are missing the excellent level of service you got at Crystal Fish, cross over to Ichi-Riki. I've missed him. I ordered a traditional bento box and the tempura melted in your mouth! The beef teriyaki was a healthy portion. It was all around Yummy. I'm now a loyal customer as of today. Oh, I forgot to say.... They are one of the few restaurants on the peninsula that still has there lunch specials over the weekend!! read more

Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant - kiichi!! - Japanese Near Me - Seaside, California

First visited this long established Japanese restaurant in 1998. After having entered the restroom back then, I walked out and did not return until last year. We visited 4 times, the last being a few weeks ago. I am not a sushi aficionado, the serendipitous result of having dated a microbiologist in college and observing a few varieties of raw fish under a high powered electron microscope. The bacterial imagery created a lifelong impression. My wife and stepdaughter, however, love sushi, so I typically accompany them and enjoy what is commonly referred to as a "bento box". On our recent visit, I ordered a "2 item" bento box priced at $27.00. Since I have typically ordered "3 piece" bento boxes, I requested to order a third add in option, even though it was not on the menu. I had done so there a few times prior, but was told by our recently hired server that it was not allowed. When I advised him that I had done so on prior visits, he politely said that he'd ask. Shortly afterwards, the owner came out and told me in no uncertain terms that was not going to happen and that "he was the owner"! He then wanted to know which server(s) in the past had allowed a third option. I honestly could not remember, but based on his demeanor, I would not have told him even if I did. He then advised that I could add a $12.00 chicken teriyaki appetizer for my third option, which would have priced a simple 3 piece bento box out at $39.00...absolute insanity. The 2 piece bento box was good, but seemed "bottom line" oriented. The miso soup was s over salted and the broth thin vs the savory rich flavor of a long simmered version. The simple salad was standard, with a flavorless dressing. The rice was perfectly cooked. The steak was tender and flavorful but portion size was more modest than prior visits . The tempura was excellent, but was vegetables only, served without the two pieces of shrimp that is typical for most Japanese restaurants serving bento boxes we have patronized. I worked in a few restaurants in college and still remember that in the better ones, the customer always came first and staff always tried to accomodate reasonable customer requests. That was sadly missing from our visit. It is not easy to run a restaurant of any stripe, especially as an owner, but gracious customer service has always been rule number one. It is fine to have certain menu policies, but seems foolish to "die on a hill" of inflexibility and non accommodation, especially when delivered in a somewhat intemperate manner. As I told the owner, it may have been my last visit to his restaurant. He seemed fine with that, which made an even deeper impression on me. In closing, we've patronized hundreds of restaurants over the past 20 years. This was one of the only times I have experienced such an "imperious" attitude from an owner when faced with a simple request that challenged a "rule". read more

The service can be suspect, but the food is great. The price is right. And the servers are all very cool people. I am here usually once a week!! read more

Me and my friend spent 3 out of 5 dinners at Ichi Riki during our vacay in Monterey. We loved this place so much that we wanted to come back, sat in the same bar spot, and ordered these wonderful meals over and over again. Japanese chef, welcoming and smiling staff, high quality sushi, very reasonable prices, and no long wait lines. Everything we tried was fantastic! We also loved the Japanese warm toilet. ;) Huge plus! Highly recommended! read more

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There's no wait list. This place is busy; therefore, it was good! Service was ok, the hottest didn't check on us and we had to get her attention when there was a long line. However, the sushi here was good and I would come again. read more

Food good. People cool. Paper yummy. I love the Paperrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Seaside, California

They have great food and very careful with allergies on some items for ustheir service was on point as well!!

So we didn't need to fly to Japan =). We were so fortunate to get a Tatami VIP experience and dine in one of their beautiful newly renovated rooms. The owner Kiichi-San gave us such an incredible experience with an assortment of soulfully cooked dishes (clams in miso and sake), beautiful oysters in ponzu, and some awesome sushi and sashimi platter with beautiful old school Japanese ceramics. Japanese restaurants rarely have been around long enough to have Tatami rooms and new restaurants don't add them anymore. However there is something special about the intimacy of the Tatami rooms being fully enclosed, shoes off, and the traditional Japanese wood and decorations. We came here for a career change celebration and just entrusted Kiichi-San with a VIP omakese (two 7 and 9 year old kids and my wife). It was incredibly affordable compared to many Bay Area fancy sushi with an even more nostalgic and old school Tatami atmosphere. They even have a dedicated bathroom for the Tatami section with a Toto bidet and fancy soap =). I highly suggest you give Ichi-Riki a call to come experience the VIP Tatami experience before it gets too hard to get a table! Have some Chardonnay to pair or ask for some their Sake recommendations to pair with your meal. By the way, in your Omakese Tatami meal ask to finish with the trio of ice cream (green tea, cherry burgundy, kalua coffee)=fire. Who would have thought we could have that VIP Kaiseki / Sushi Omakese experience in Seaside =). It was just fun and we left feeling like it was a celebration dinner. As the other reviews have stated Kiichi-San took over the restaurant a bit over a year ago. Being from the old school Crystal Fish OG crew, it's even cooler to see them bring their sushi talents to Seaside along with the Tatami rooms. read more

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The sushi here is some of the freshest I've ever had. The salmon was buttery and practically melted in my mouth. I loved the attention to detail in each roll, and the presentation was stunning. This is a place I'll return to again and again. read more