Took a long time for me to finally come here due to formerly lack luster reviews. I had a great experience at lunch. Service was kind and attentive; there were only 1-2 other customers. All 3 rolls were delicious. I will say they were notably smaller than other sushi spots. We noticed right away after sharing 3 rolls that we were not bursting with fullness as usual. Prices were typical. Specialty roll options not as abundant as competitors. Groupon deal was irresistible. Would have no problem returning but a couple other spots would probably be my first choice. read more

Ichiban - Shrimp asparagus roll (has a dab of spicy mayo fyi), spicy mussel roll, caterpillar roll. - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Hasn't been here before. Ordered food to go. A nice lady took my order and checked me out. Was clean and very busy at 6pm. I will probably try again. Eat in to get the full experience. read more

Ichiban - Spicy Asparagus Roll - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Great place, always greeted with a smile. Service is amazing even if you have to wait a little longer than usual. read more

Ichiban - Great Beer Selection! Great vibes as well. Always love Ichiban! - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Well there may be numerous sushi joints in the area, it's difficult finding one you would want to frequent. Enter Ichiban. After eating here a 2x I can officially say it has made it into rotation. First things first... looking at the sushi chefs here and seeing that the majority are of Japanese descent is a plus. Maybe this makes me a snob, or maybe not, but having Pablo make my sushi isn't exactly my idea of authentic. Located on the Mesa in a strip mall setting with other restaurants. The decor at Ichiban is simple and plain. I do enjoy the tatami style seating offered. Service is polite and friendly. A little forgetful with refilling waters and such however they check in on you often so all you need to do is ask. The menu offers quite a few Japanese entrees, standard rolls, and a limited number of specialty rolls. Sashimi is offered despite not printed/priced on the menu. Favorite rolls include the Ichiban Roll and Box Sushi. Cannot wait to try the short ribs on the next visit, look delicious! read more

Ichiban - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Spent $70 on 4 rolls to go. They were super tiny and shoved into the smallest container together. Very over priced. Not anywhere near the size they show in the pictures. Super disappointing and unsatisfying. read more

A nice neighborhood sushi joint on the Mesa. Good quality but higher prices deserve more. There are better places that fit the bill in Santa Barbara. Week nights or weekends finds Ichiban packed with a line out the door. It must be the location and family feel that pack um in for this, nothing special sushi house. And pack in they do with moms and dads, kids and dates all jockeying for a seat. Standard offerings with a marginal sake menu. I find most of the waitresses are knowledgeable about the rice wine and will help you pick out the right fit for you. All and all it's good, constant, clean and friendly but you can do better off The Mesa. read more

My first time at Ichiban Sushi today...we ordered the lunch specials- salmon teriyaki and tempura & udon tempura and California rolls. Also ordered the green tea ice cream. Everything was delicious and service was attentive. Parking available behind the restaurant. Will definitely come back again and try other items on the menu. read more

We came here today during lunch and everything we ordered came out quick and tasted fresh and yummy. We ordered an avocado salmon roll, ell roll, and 007 specialty roll. We sat at the bar and got our rolls very quick. We used our Groupon and got a great deal for these three rolls. The bathroom was clean and away from the kitchen and the size of the place was decent for the location. Parking wasn't very easy but I think it's worth it for the quality of the food. read more

Ichiban - 007 specialty roll - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I've been here a handful of times and I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed it. Well, I'm making amends now! The first time I came, I came alone, when I was interviewing for my current job, at the recommendation of a friend who used to live here. I sat at the sushi bar and had a nice relaxing evening. I introduced another friend here, and it was good. So good, she's practically a regular here. We came again tonight and one of the ladies already had a pile of ginger that she gave to my friend. Tonight we had the Spider roll, Caterpillar roll, spicy tuna, spicy scallop and a salmon roll. I also had a miso soup, as my friend kept talking about making miso, and I was starving, so it was a nice opening to the meal. The fish was fresh and tonight's favorite for me was the salmon roll. It is a basic roll with salmon and avocado. Can we just say "YUM?!" The salmon was awesome and there was just the right amount of avocado in every bite. Second up was definitely the Caterpillar roll. Clearly, I'm a fan of avocado, but this was just so good! The other rolls were pretty good, but didn't stand out as much as the two that I just described. I enjoyed the miso as well. I don't know why I don't come more often. Something tells me that that's about to change! read more

Ichiban - Caterpillar roll. Delish! - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The aura of great authenticity that Ichiban surpasses is beyond me. From the darling Japanese styled seating area, to the swords decorating the entryway, Ichiban is the most authentic Japanese dining experience I've had in Santa Barbara. THE STAFF- The first few times I visited here I would use either an Axxess deal or a Groupon and the way the waitress would calculate the receipt would always be off by a few $$. I do think businesses should honor their deals, and it's a shame on their part because it would have been five stars. Other than receipt miscalculations for deals, their staff are very quick and insightful, I'm never having to track down a waiter or if I'm at the Sushi bar, I never feel like I'm pressed for time. THE FOOD- Lately I've been begining my sushi endeavours with fresh-water eel ($8.00) sashimi or nigiri, and it always falls palatable to the start of my meal. I really enjoy their Mesa roll ($12.95), 007 roll ($13.95), and their mouthwatering Chef Special roll ($18.75). All of them come with a lot of spicy mayo so there's really no need to ask for a side of it. --------------------------------------------------- Ichiban is one of the best Japanese restaurants in SB, in terms of food quality, and real Japanese authenticity. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! read more

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I am so bummed out about our last experience at Ichiban. Up until then it was our favorite sushi restaurant, in fact it was the only place we would ever go for sushi. Unfortunately, the last time we went the service was not good. We were greeted and seated immediately, as usual, but after we ordered a drink and starter plate no one ever came back to see if we wanted anything else. I finally flagged someone down and ordered another round of drinks and tried to order the rest of our food, but the drinks never came and we were unable to place our main food order so we ended up just leaving and going somewhere else. I noticed a lot of attention was spent on to-go orders so maybe it was an unusual situation on that particular night, but I would think that customers sitting in the restaurant would get more attention. Unfortunately, the sushi we that we did get was not nearly as good as we have consistently received over for the many years that we've been going to Ichiban. With the hope that it was just an "off night" I will go back and give it another try, I just hope the service and food quality returns to normal. read more

Went here because of a Groupon. Had a decent experience! My review is based on my experiences of sushi around SB. I may not be an expert on sushi here, but I was tired of the crazy prices of Sushiya in Isla Vista. Since it's expensive around here, the Groupon was a godsend. To begin, I liked the atmosphere. We went for Saturday lunch and the store was pretty empty. We got to sit on the traditional Japanese seating area, which was really cool! The table in front of us had a kid who was dripping apple juice all over his cushion though, I wonder how often the cushions are cleaned? Anyway, the staff was pretty attentive to us. There was a teenager and an Asian woman (who might be the manager?) who checked up on us a lot. We got the Ichiban roll, which was 5 BIG pieces. We also got the 007 roll and a baked roll (Volcano? or Dragon?). The Ichiban roll was good, but we felt the others had too much mayo and too much imitation crab. It was really creamy. The bill was 40 total and with the Groupon it was 20. Good thing we had a Groupon because I don't think it would be worth $20 per person, but hey, it's Santa Barbara. read more

Very disappointed in my overall experience. Why on earth would anyone serve pickled ginger with artificial sweetener? Maybe I'm the only person in the world who has an extreme distaste for artificial sweetness, but my taste buds are ruined. I wish I had read the unfavorable reviews before we went. But this sealed the deal that I will never go there again. read more

Great ambience. The food is often edible! Been coming here for years. Came here for my mother's birthday this evening. We were the only ones dining and the ample staff behaved as though it was the busiest day of the year! We received a lovely roll that we did not order and when we tried to send it back, the waitress insisted that we ordered it (Oh yes because the customer is often wrong.. and I work in food service so I know this is inappropriate). Coming to "check on us" in a way that was jarring and quick, not polite at all. Had some of us wondering what kind of coffee these people are drinking. Trying to give us to go boxes when we are clearly eating and talking. Hello: obviously you can go back to cleaning or prepping or whatever you were doing while me and my family finish our meal. We ordered plenty of food, we were polite, I don't understand why we were unwanted in the nearly empty restaurant. If owners read this (doubt): Being in your restaurant for 45 minutes is not overstaying our welcome. read more

We had great, prompt service and delicious rolls! Ichiban is a place that has a minimal amount of specialty rolls and a bunch of nigiri and sushi rolls. I love that their fish tastes fresh! We ordered the Cliff Roll, the Ichiba Roll, the Lobster Roll, the Yelllowtail roll, and Albacore Nigiri! All of the rolls were so good! Super bummed they didn't have Toro! read more

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The food was so-so. The service was terrible. We were pushed to order and then the food all came at once very fast. The staff was talking to each other so loud we could not easily carry on our conversation. The sushi chef, situated in the center of the restaurant, coughed throughout our time there. Even after we made mention of it, he did not put on a mask. I would never eat here again nor recommend it to anyone. read more

Ichiban is consistently great. I've been coming here for years and it never disappoints!

I love this place. Been here many times and never left a review. Everyone is so kind and the food is always delicious. Just a great place for everything Japanese. read more

As a resident on the Mesa, Ichiban is very close and convenient for me. I liked that we were able get seated on the outside patio immediately and that they are pet friendly. I also like that they have an Axxess deal! The service was very good. We were greeted and checked on several times. The staff was very personable and friendly in conversation. All food items were plated nicely, and the hand rolls were packed with toro. However, I was displeased with being charged for an extra miso soup, when my meal included one, but not a deal breaker. I was disappointed with the portion of the shrimp and vegetable tempura, still not a deal breaker. Ultimately, I was dissatisfied with the quality and freshness of the fish-deal breaker. Particularly, My tuna sashimi and toro hand roll, both seemed cheap by the texture and flavor. Unfortunate because these are typically my favorites. I most likely will not return, due to several other quality and consistent sushi options in town. read more

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I used a Groupon for this sushi and i was soooo glad. I really enjoyed the sushi it was super fresh and tasty. When you go try the asparagus and shrimp roll, the caterpillar roll and the spicy mussel roll. You will not be disappointed! Ohhh yeah cant forget the waitress we had was super sweet and kind! read more

Very cute outdoor seating area. Staff is very nice and service prompt. Nice menu also well done w attention to detail. Food looks awesome as well. This is a great little place yum! read more

Ichiban - Bento California roll and korean short rib - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I honestly only found this place because of their Groupon deal ($40 worth of food for $20, party of 4). Otherwise, I probably would've never visited. We came here for dinner on a Sunday night, on my way back to campus. It's located on a weird one way street that runs parallel to the main Cliff Drive. Not a lot of parking, but we were able to get a spot. The inside was relatively empty, there were a few patrons. Not loud at all. We opted to sit on the mats and low table, which was interesting. We ordered the 007 rolls, tempura udon, pork ramen, tonkatsu donburi, and California roll with tempura. The sushi here was pretty good. The katsu was also nice. But the noodle soups were lacking. There were not enough noodles in the udon to justify the price (higher than LA). The ramen and pork was very salty. Service was okay, the waitresses were very nice. There was an 18% gratuity tacked on the end of our bill. Kind of odd, but I guess they have to make a living somehow. It's not the best sushi place, but it's one of their better choices. Steer away from the noodles. I would definitely take advantage of that Groupon deal, it's not really worth the price otherwise. read more

Ichiban - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Do you not ever come here! I got the worst food poisoning of my life! I did up going to the hospital they told me that there was worms. I called the shack to tell them just in case for future reference and in the shed started yelling at me over the phone. I do wish I could give this I Stabley Schmidt zero stars because of how I was treated in the illnesses I received. If you're on the way to go eat here right now I really hope you reconsider. read more

I just finished a meal here with my family and was extremely impressed by the service. The staff were very attentive (our waiter especially) and checked on us often. The food was amazing; I recommend the Uni (Sea Urchin) if you're feeling adventurous. It's locally caught in Santa Barbara. read more

As what the other customer stated, portions here are way smaller in comparable to our normal western size of sushi rolls. I bought a lobster spicy tempura roll for $16.5 and they only provided me a 5 pcs . Taste is clean and fresh. My guess is, we are here paying for the sushi master's technique and skills to create sushi. Other than that, taste are on point. Just to keep in mind, don't expect to have a heavy meal here. read more

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I ordered a small hot sake, Large Sapporo, salmon skin hand roll, tuna, grilled tuna and miso soup. It was very filling. The hand-roll was made to perfection, very tasty and nice and warm. Tuna was fresh and had the right amount of ginger and wasabi. Service was friendly and welcoming. They didn't rush but asked me if I was okay / needed anything throughout my dining experience. read more

I don't want to start off by saying I had a terrible experience, as I really did enjoy the environment that this restaurant presents. It is a cozy sushi bar and restaurant nestled in the Mesa shopping strip. It is usually very festive with the holidays (they had decorated the area really nicely for Valentine's day when I went), and it feels like a nice local place to grab sushi. But.. I just have to say the sushi was just not fresh. There are not a lot of places to compare to in terms of sushi served in Santa Barbara, but with my experience of sushi, this just felt disappointing. My friend and I both had the rainbow rolls (what we tend to order at sushi restaurants we haven't been to before just to get a taste of a variety of the fish they have to offer), and the shrimp was probably the most disappointing. The salmon also did not tasting fresh as well.. itdid not effect me the next day, but my friend had to stay home from work because he was certain the fish had affected him. I'm not necessarily saying this is a terrible establishment, I think it's worth at least trying, but I personally was not that impressed with the sushi served. read more

Definitely my favorite sushi spot in Santa Barbara. Food always seems to appear quickly, even during the peak busy times. And every server I've ever had here is perfectly attentive without being smothering. All in all I love this place and will always recommend. read more

Yikes! I've never had sushi that actually tasted rotten, until here. And then the chefs insisted it was fresh? I've never left sushi on my plate, but I was not willing to go back for a second bite. Interior booths are sweet. The young blond server was adorable with great service. Hope he finds a better restaurant! read more

Fresh sushi with generous proportions. Vegan udon with veggie broth. Excellent survive. Defiantly recommend this place for Japanese.

This sushi restaurant is seating both inside and out. Wonderful service. Excellent selection of both fish and vegetable options. Don't forget dessert! Red bean ice cream tempura was to die for. We'll definitely be back. I can't tell you what took us so long to get here. read more

Amazing service and absolutely outstanding food. I got to sit in the small booths without my shoes and it was surprisingly very pleasant. I will come back here forever read more

Ichiban - Lunch at Ichiban - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Pluses: Incredibly sweet staff. Adorable tables, shoes off - Japanese style. Fresh, tasty fish. Quick seating. Minuses: Chef (or waitress translating?) unfamiliar with common dishes: Ex 1. We ordered Albacore Tataki and the albacore was delicious, in thick slices - but it was not tataki at all. No ponzu, no onions, not seared, not anything. Sashimi - with some smelt eggs. Ex 2. Ordered sea bream with yuzukosho and salt. Waitress did not know what sea bream was - or yuzukosho. nigiri came to us with a thick tasty orange sauce (when we were half way done but nice ) , no salt and a tsp size heap of Yuzukosho that if anyone put in their mouth would burn the heck out of them, luckily I removed most of it before anyone ate it - so the girls loved it but it was still too hot. So I really do like this place and the fish was nice and fresh and good sized pieces - but I have never been to a good sushi place where the chef was not familiar with these basic orders. I think they are a Nigiri and Roll place. Recommend for simple nigiri and rolls. read more

I came on a Saturday afternoon and got a lunch combination - chicken teriyaki and California roll for $8.95. I was impressed with the amount of food for that price. It came with miso soup, a little salad, rice, and some kind of small appetizer type thing. I used the yelp check in offer for free edamame, too, so I was very full! I even took some of the leftover edamame and chicken teriyaki home! Service was very good. I can't speak for their actual sushi since this was my first time there - but the teriyaki was good. I would go back , especially for the good lunch deals. read more

Ichiban - Lunch combo - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I have spent so much money at this place. And no, not because it's expensive, but because I absolutely LOVE ichiban. This is me and my boyfriends date spot. We always order a couple of sushi rolls, some sake and Japanese beers. Try the mesa roll!!!! It's crunchy rice with spicy tuna and avocado. My all time favorite. Also it's a must try the tempura green tea ice cream!!!! They have a cool set up where you can sit down criss cross apple sauce and get the full experience! Love the staff they're always happy and in a great mood. I have nothing bad to say about this place! read more

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*Hit and miss. Lunch - Ignored when I walked in, even though the staff saw me, had to seat myself, waited for a good 5-7min with waitresses constantly passing me and actually rude to an extent. Finally ordered and the food was old. Chicken teriyaki lunch special tasted like it was cooked hours ago and just got heated up. Other ingredients didn't taste fresh as well. Left unsatisfied for sure In contrast to... Dinner - the week prior (the reason I came back) where we shared a few rolls that were delicious and we both raved about. The Chef special foll was $15 and huge and tasty, and the normal rolls were packed with meat and flavor, and deliciousness. Not sure on a return now. That sushi addiction hurts so good. read more

Ichiban - Chicken and ingredients were not fresh. Chicken was rubbery and had been cooked and sat for a while. - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I'm a regular here whenever I'm in Santa Barbara! And I always check in to get the free steamed edamame. (: My rainbow roll was adequate. Some of the salmon tasted fishy but nothing to complain about. Parking can be kind of tough if you come during peek hours for dinner. There's usually a spot behind the restaurant, but the lot is quite bumpy. I enjoy being seated at the traditional Japanese tables because I like crossing my legs while I eat. However, it's not for everyone and there's a space to put your legs into underneath the table. Thanks for the great times, Ichiban! read more

This sweet little neighborhood sushi place is truly Ichiban ("Number One") with us. Their fish always tastes amazingly fresh and delicate, the rice is perfect, their miso soup hits the spot. We especially enjoy their sushi combination, tempura and sashimi. Their service is always prompt and attentive. They are also very diligent about Covid health guidelines, and I look forward to the time when we all can dine-in there again safely. read more

Disappointed. Today I had lunch at Ichiban. I order the cliff roll and a Ramen. The roll was decent but not for $16 dollars. The ramen was about $17. I get it times are hard and it's very apparent that they are struggling as the restaurant was empty during the SB lunch rush hour. The low rating was due to the ramen. The pork tasted like fish and my lunch date spat it out after one bite because of the low quality of the meat. I asked politely if we could get something different and I asked that the ramen be removed from our bill. A man came out to speak to me and said he would not be taking it off the bill and it was not his fault my lunch date didn't like it. He said I would need to pay for the ramen and the meal replacement. He was rude and offensive about my request. I reminded him I was paying for a service and the service was not delivered. He went on to say "what's next you want to try the entire menus with out paying?" I states "I never said that" and requested the bill immediately. I don't like arguments with my meals. Not going back. read more

The food a good, it is REALLY good. I had one of the best udon there, ever. But, I'm not sure if it's related... after having a half bowl of delicious raw salad (and this is probably my fault since this is peak romaine e-coli season) ... I had two full days of diarrhea. Took me out a full week. I don't blame the restaurant though, I was fully warned on the news. Regardless of my illness, the food was really great, and I'd just say, as long as you eat everything cooked, you simply can't go wrong at this restaurant. Recommended. read more