Went for first time, for lunch. First of all, great service, very attentive but not on top of you. Started out with oysters, very large and meaty Pacific oysters. Not briny like Atlantic or Gulf oysters. Next tempura platter. Very nice to share, and good light batter. Followed up with sashimi platter (ordered an extra piece of tuna to make it even - note to restaurant, don't do odd numbered pieces on platters that people are likely to share). Fish was very fresh and tasty. Finally, finished up with California roll. Very nice, but more crab, less cream cheese. We also shared a bottle of wine and very reasonably priced for both wine and all of the food. We will be back to taste more and yes they have wine, beer and sake. read more

We have had some of the absolute best meals here but the last two times 4/2026 & 5/2026 have just not been that good. Our favs have been the Japanese Tacos, Gyoza, Sushi Sampler Plate and any number of rolls. The side salad with the Wasabi dressing has always been and is still delicious! Every place can have an off day or item but the last two visits leave us looking for other options. The sauce for the Japanese Tacos has become so spicy hot we've had to have them hold it - something's changed there. The gyoza (2 orders for one person and one order for the second person were all served on the same plate, forgivable but they were bland and the sauces were spilled when the waitress set them down. The Sushi sampler contained "room temp", not cold raw fish and was literally flavorless AND the rice tasted old and chalky. I tried the spicy tuna roll the month before and I could not eat it. It was flavorless and warm. Our last visit's service was very poor. Had to ask more than once for the basic wasabi and ginger. Then we had to ask for our beverages again halfway through our meal. Used to be awesome but this is two poor experiences in a row. I've been enjoying Japanese cuisine throughout California my entire life and this just wasn't worth it. The place is also loud and rushed. read more

I ordered take out and after speaking to some locals and getting a little more context, this is a good sushi place but only if you order their special of the day. For my experience it was not good. The sushi that I got (rainbow roll), it was not good. The fish didn't taste fresh and I only took two bites and left it there. Can't speak of the service or ambiance but as for the food, I would never eat here again. This place was not good and when the fish doesn't taste fresh, that's a big red flag. read more

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Excellent and attentive service! Got Omakase and asked for spicy and tuna and it was perfection! I also got the Chico (when in Rome) and it was also quite tasty! I'll be back! read more

Ichiban - Omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

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The food is Great and the beer was cold. I had two rolls, and two tacos. Everything was delicious. I picked one and I asked the server to pick one of her favorites. And because I hit the gym first (flex) lol, two tacos. And not a flex, fat. Lol. It was all delicious. Oh and I had a beer that was on tap. So good! The service was excellent. And the staff behind the counter were hustling. And still chopping it up with locals. Good vibe. The ambiance was cool from what I remember. I sat at the bar. If im ever back in Chico I would definitely hit this spot up. read more

Ichiban - So good!!! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Sushi TACOS?! Yes please!! I normally hate to eat fish this far inland but this was great!!! We had all cooked stuff- our most to least favorites were: crab mix taco, spicy tuna taco, shrimp tempura roll, crunch roll, gyoza, and Coconut Shrimp roll. But all of it was really good. Also great service! read more

Fun little spot that made me feel like I wasn't in chico! Love it when that happens with a restaurant! Good food and service the Japanese crab taco was off the chain and so fresh and big . So when ordering a Japanese taco ... if you don't like warm stuff then just let it sit for a hot second and it cools off perfectly and isn't warm! Haha who would have thought! I had forgotten to order a miso Togo and was on the way out and it was so sweet of them to give me a Togo cup and not charge me. I will remember and bring back my business! read more

Ichiban - Yummy garlic edamame - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

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Consistently delicious sushi, appetizers, and drinks. Not only is the food excellent, but so is the service. If you're looking for a great spot to satisfy your sushi craving in Chico, this is is! read more

First time at Ichiban and very impressed. I was just off the heels of having a terrible experience at another local sushi spot (located downtown) and since I still had a craving for sushi decided to drive to Ichiban which was a referral from a friend (and Yelp of course!). Parking was easy, they have a giant designated lot, you know I love that! Got there just as HH was ending and easily strolled onto the outdoor patio, chose a table and waited for the waitress to come out with the menus. There was nobody else on the patio so I had my pick of what I thought was the best table :) The waitress came out, super friendly, dropped off the menus, took our drink order, and left us to chat and decide on food. I have to say, I LOVED the high-top corner tables, they allow you to sit above the height of the railing which offers a clear view up and down the tree-lined street. She came back out with our beers, answered all the questions I had about the menu, and gave advice about the best spicy/crunchy rolls, I LOVVVVE me that shpicy shtuff! I have no idea how long it took for her to come back with the rolls because we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves, the beer, and the conversation so time seemed to fly by. She came back out with the rolls, still smiling, and offered another beer. We dived into the sushi (I ordered the Spicy Taco Roll, which was crunchy, flavorful, and spicy, right up my alley) which was DEELISH, and we ended up hanging out enjoying the street side view and the food/beer for about an hour and a half. Great experience overall, super friendly staff, attentive, knowledgeable waitress, and yummy sushi. 5 stars for Izakaya Ichiban! I will definitely be back. Arigato!! read more

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Tonight 5 stars. spot on timing. Carpaccio reco'd by sushi chef amber jack spot on good! Yum. Tried the bidwell classic. Fab! And the Yellowrail bomber is great! Zach great job. Ty great customer service. Glad i came back. read more

Ichiban - Spicy Tacos Spicy Tuna, Cream Cheese, Tempura Eggplant, Sriracha, Unagi Sauce, Cilantro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

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Food was Great, Service was efficient and everything was super fast and delicious. I recommend anyone who's used to Bay Area, LA sushi to check this place out it's the closest I've had since I moved to Chico read more

Ichiban - Happy hour snacks! Edemame, spicy tuna roll, California rolls, and my favorite tuna taco! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Sushi was just ok (average to below as far as taste and freshness). They give a nice serving of the apps, ordered the eggplant and calamari. I had a sushi roll (forgot name) with salmon it was just ok. My coworker ordered combo plate it was a huge serving so that was a plus. Server kept checking in with us. Small size sushi place. read more

Ichiban - This roll was just ok for me. I've had better quality. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Expensive and they only give you 8 rolls 8 to 14 dollars but very good and very nice looking. read more

Ichiban - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Love this place! Whether you come in to dine, order takeout and sit at the bar while you wait, the food, drinks and service is top notch. Not only the best sushi places in town, one of the best restaurants in town. Never disappoints! read more

Wish I could give 0 stars. I went to this restaurant last week and had a disturbing experience for the following reason. I was enjoying my dinner when I noticed somebody choking. A patron seated in the very back of the restaurant jumped up and administered the Heimlich maneuver, saving their life. I cannot explain to you how scary this situation was. The staff did not bat a single eye. Nobody went to check on the person who choked, not even after emergency services showed up. They just stood and watched, and went about their business while one of their customers was dying. This was so disappointing and disturbing to watch on a human level, needless to say I will NOT be returning any time soon. read more

Delicious Sunday Dinner @ Ichiban in Chico, CA. !! We enjoyed delicious Sushi & Donburi and great service by Jordan at this small, but very busy Japanese restaurant. The space itself was narrow and featured seating for both small and big parties. Convenient location next to a great hotel. The staff were pleasant and worked well together, managing to have designated roles, making the service flawless. Skilled chefs, great flavor, and quality ingredients made our dinner delightful. We will be dining here again when we make it back to Chico! Thank you. read more

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Food is great, fish is fresh. Service is fast and friendly, reasonable priced. I get the chefs special roll and it never disappoints.

Casual restaurant, great service and friendly staff. The food was prepared and presented very well. Definitely a great spot for sushi!

Came in for a table for two on a Tuesday night and was seated promptly. The waitress was quick to attend to our needs and was helpful with the menu options. The Japanese Tacos never disappoint and the other rolls and appetizers we ordered were great as well. Service was quick and accurate and the staff were all friendly and on top of things. If I'm being super picky, the man at the desk didn't seem to be the best greeter for new arriving patrons. read more

Ichiban - Japanese tacos. One crab mix and one spicy tuna. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

I love the Japanese taco, it's delicious; especially the one with crab! The service was good. I enjoy taking advantage of their Happt Hour! read more

I was blessed today when my kid brought sushi home after her classes. She raves about the place and I must agree because it was amazing even after a 45 minute drive. The maki plate was a meal on its own and the tuna, yellow tail and salmon were wicked fresh. The wasabi vinaigrette was tremendous on the salad the edamame fresh and crisp. Make sure you try the taco as well, it's to die for. read more

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Bomb! And super affordable every time. For 2 people; I get fried oysters (sauce is amazing) 4 rolls. (Amikasa is always my favorite.) 2 miso soups and side salad & 2 drinks. About $85 plus tip. I love this place. Always come here for Anniversary. read more

When my family wants Asian food, or we are planning a family outing, Izakaya is always mentioned. Great food, and nothing is outrageously priced! read more

2 stars. Sushi is a bit expensive for what you get. Regular food prices are good. Quality is not there though. Be selective of what you order. Not a go to sushi place. Pictures tell it all. 1 star JFC wings? The picture shows no wings. Just a little fried piece of hard crunchy non edible chicken. Yuck. 3 stars ramen. This was decent. For $11.95 I'm not going to complain. Had plenty of toppings. Broth was ok. Not bad. 3 stars miso soup. This was good. 1 star teriyaki chicken plate. Chicken was very dry. Sauce was not good, and they put tons of it on. The entire plate was not good. 2 star nigiri plate. For $17.50 and very thin slices of fish. Not worth it at all. Didn't taste fresh, and felt like that had to be hidden with some lemon in between. read more

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Awesome flavors. Friendly and fast. Highly recommend. Dragon Roll, salmon skin hand roll, and wakame salad. Yum! read more

Ichiban - Dragon Roll, salmon skin hand roll and wakame salad. Poor pic, great food! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Always delicious. I especially enjoy their Japanese Tacos! Their food preparation is consistent and I appreciate knowing I'm going to get the same tastes I've come to enjoy. read more

The nigiri was delicious and the service was excellent. The waiter was very helpful with some of the menu options. Will definitely go again! read more

The food was terrible. I ordered sesame chicken which tasted like they'd served up frozen orange chicken from Costco. Actually, the meat would've been a better quality if they'd done that. The meat was tough and stringy. Tasted old. read more

In town for work and staying in Chico. It's a smaller town, so the options aren't too plentiful, but this small Japanese restaurant is in the strip mall across from the Holiday Inn and WinCo Foods. Location is decent, parking is plentiful. Server staff is attentive and friendly. The food is very so-so, but it's hard to judge this being located in Chico, relatively far away from the ocean and being one of the only Japanese restaurants in town. Sake and beers are cold, reasonably priced, and with good variety. Menu selection is reasonable. Specialty rolls are *way* smaller than would be expected for the prices. Other standard roll portions are also very small. Tacos were well made and tasty. Edamame isn't very flavorful. Some rolls are heavy on sauce (likely compensating), and soy sauce is served in large containers. It was fine for a team dinner since it was easily accessible, but if you're craving Japanese food, you may need to wait until you get back to the Bay Area or Sacramento. read more

First time here. Everything was great. The service was good and the food was great. We will definitely be back.

Anyone giving this restaurant a bad review must be a relative of one of the other Japanese restaurants in town! Izakaya Ichiban is really fantastic. We love Japanese food and come here a few times per month, so we have a lot of experience with the location. It is bright and inviting. The chairs and tables are fine. We both LOVE the Japanese tacos, which are made from fried eggplant and have crab. YUM! These are absolutely delicious and also not fattening, which makes them even more delicious. My favorite dishes are the sushi rolls, curries and also the mango salmon. We have brought many friends here over the years, in the different locations, and every one of them have flipped out over the food, loved it, and come back themselves. Every once in a great while we have wound up at the restaurant next door, because Izakaya is packed with happy customers munching away on the fabulous Japanese food and we'll have to wait too long. But they always accommodate our party if it is at all possible. The service is always excellent. We have literally never had someone give us poor service, they have always been attentive, professional and have taken good care of us. My husband's college GF is Japanese and came to visit us a few years back. We took her for lunch at Izakaya and she seriously loved it! She was stunned that the pricing was so reasonable, she loved the crab tacos, she loved every bite of food, the drinks available, and the service. She made a point of telling us how much she loved this restaurant. Imagine how shocked I was to see a low rating. All I can say is that there are a number of Japanese restaurants in Chico now, and I think snotty people have gotten on here and tried to bring down the Izakaya business. We have taken large groups of our business associates, relatives, friends, and we've had dozens and dozens of dates there over the years. There is no way this is not a 5 star experience, so don't listen to anyone telling you otherwise, because we're lucky to have such a nice place in Chico. We have travelled through Vietnam and other Asian countries, have had many great meals over the years, and Izakaya can stand up to the best of them. That staff works very hard to create a consistent, professional, delicious experience. read more

Great little Japanese spot! We sampled gyoza, sashimi, several rolls and a chicken Katsura curry bowl. We were all really pleased with the food and enjoyed our visit. The curry bowl was huge and as good as I've had anywhere in bigger cities. The sashimi was a little smaller portion than expected, but we ok for the price. Friendly service, check it out. read more

Japanese taco was amazing! We got them with spicy tuna and there was more in one taco than in two rolls. Tasted like a tempura roll - a must try! Gyoza we're cooked perfectly and we're delicious also. Paulette was great and super knowledgeable about the menu - she suggested the taco to us. Our orders came out exactly as requested, hot and timely. Sushi rolls were in the small side but delicious too. We got a Whitefish Tempura Bomber and Dragon Roll read more

Ichiban - Menu page two 7/2022 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

The service was very good and the ambiance is ok. The seat cushions need to be replaced as they are cut up and tore up. The food was just straight up nasty. CA roll, shrimp tempura roll were left uneaten after a single bite. The shrimp tempura was greasy and limp. Sorry, for those of us that are used to fresh fish sushi prepared with properly prepared sushi they will understand this rating. The beer was ice cold and the best part of the meal. The house hot saki tasted like rubbing alcohol. Just no!! read more

Sushi was great, staff was attentive. But I'm quite disappointed to find that the tip guide on the check calculates tips based on after-tax prices. This is unethical. Make sure you calculate the tip yourself! read more

unfortunately the food seemed very low quality. The shrimp tempura was falling apart and greasy. I'm assuming everything that we purchased that was deep fried was frozen. Nothing appeared fresh. service was good. Ambiance was very nice. read more

Amazing food as always! The heart attacks are my favorite appetizer...definitely recommend. Overall great food and very friendly service. read more

The Crunchy Roll was exceptional, and the Chico Roll never disappoints!' If you're looking for a unique take on a classic food item then PLEASE try the Crab Japanese Taco! I'm obsessed with them. I have never, absolutely never, liked eggplant. Having said that, you will change your mindset after trying these tacos! Veggie gyoza are another wonderful item to try. As you might deduce I am pescatarian. This place checks every single box for me!! read more

Great food Good service Ok ambiance I go there ơn a regular basis Always hood good And always great service read more

The food was so amazing, I ordered the salmon nigiri, spicy tuna rolls, and seaweed salad. Later that night I got violent food poisoning throwing up all night, diarrhea, it was terrible. I still feel sick a couple days later. I wouldn't not risk it and I would pick another sushi place to avoid the chance of getting sick. read more