This was a good experience with top-notch service and really good Japanese food. I did go with my friend who works there (so I had the insight on what was good to order), but we literally ended up ordering half the menu. Our waiter was also super super sweet and friendly.
Here's what we got:
-Lemon Calamari - 9/10 - Absolutely delectable. Crispy, flavorful, delicious. The jalapeños added a perfect kick and the lemon a bright freshness, while the sauce itself was a perfect creamy touch.
-Island Poki - 8.5/10 - This was like a classic seaweed salad (which I love) with fresh pieces of fish. Very fresh tasting and a light start to the meal.
-Chicken Karaage - 4/10 - The chicken was grissely, tough, and flavorlessly breaded. Really did not enjoy.
-Honey Wasabi Prawns - 7/10 - Not the boldest flavor, but the prawns melted in your mouth as you bit in so I did really enjoy that, and the breading wasn't overwhelming, it was just right.
-Fresh Oysters - 8/10 - Super fresh and flavorful. The oysters are cold and fresh and topped with a perfect sauce.
-A5 Wagyu Tataki - 11/10 - SO GOOD! You just can't not like Wagyu. It's rich and warm and smooth and melts in the mouth. The pieces are cut to the perfect thickness for a full bite.
-Kanpachi Truffle - 10/10 - The fish itself was so fresh but the shining star that made this dish was the truffle oil. The rich flavor the oil gives pairs hand in hand with the freshness of the kanpachi, and it was one of my favorite appetizers.
-Red Mango Crunch Roll 11/10 - This was my ABSOLUTE #1 dish of the night. Picture sweetness from the mango, fishiness from the spicy crab and a fresh salmon, creaminess and spice of the spicy mayo and eel sauce, all finished with a heaping mound of tempura crunch. As someone who LOVES sushi rolls that have lots of sauce and lots of texture contrast, this was PERFECTION.
-Thai Tai Roll - 8/10 - I normally don't go for tempura rolls, but for some reason this one didn't feel too heavy, and I think the sweet chili sauce really carried a unique flavor that brought out the non-fried notes of the roll.
-Bulgogi Ribeye - 7.5/10 - This was the only hot dish we got, and while it isn't traditional bulgogi, the meat was flavorful and umami, and we did really enjoy the warmth and comfort it brought to the meal.
-Ichigo Box - 8.5/10 - I highly recommend this just because it forces you to try a bunch of different things, and it is also so SO gorgeous. It comes out in a beautiful compartmentalized box with a bunch of different, really interesting pieces of fish. You get uni, salmon, even baby octopi! There's also flaming salt in the middle which adds some pizazz.
-Angry Fish Roll - 4/10 - So mushy. Just overwhelmingly mushy. The actual taste was good, but it needed anything else to mix up the texture.
-Spicy Taste Roll - 9/10 - This roll was a lot dryer than the rest, but the minimal sauce didn't mean lack of flavor. The spicy tuna was top-notch, and this is a great roll for those who want something simpler but still good.
-Eel Avocado Roll - 3/10 - Not only was this mushy, but it was boring in flavor. Obviously it isn't as interesting compared to the other rolls, but we really didn't think it was worth it.
-Green Tea Ice Cream Sandwich - 7.5/10 - This is matcha ice cream in between two super thin waffles lined with dark chocolate. We did like the ice cream and the chocolate, but just wished there was more chocolate and that the waffles were crispier. They were a little soft which made the texture pretty one-dimensional.
There are more mind-blowing Japanese restaurants in Nashville, but Ichigo Ichie has some really standout dishes, the food is really good, and I would definitely go again. read more