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Stopped by here while waiting to drop someone off at the airport and ended up having a really enjoyable meal. The restaurant is cozy, with seating for around 30 people, and has a nice intimate atmosphere. The menu isn't huge, but almost everything we ordered was well executed. Prices are definitely a bit higher than your average Japanese spot, but the quality mostly justified it. Our party of three ordered about 10 dishes, and our favorites were the wagyu beef skewers, uni toro bites, grilled sea bass, spicy tuna over crispy rice, agedashi tofu, and nigiri (too much wasabi). The only dishes that didn't quite hit for us were the grilled beef tongue and duck breast. I was hoping for a better sear on both, and the beef tongue was a little too covered in onions for my taste. The duck also tasted slightly off, though the fried almonds added a nice texture and helped balance the dish. They also offer a tasting menu for $128 per person, or $168 with Hokkaido uni and A5 wagyu added. We didn't try it this time since we weren't very hungry, but it looked interesting. With tax and tip, the total came out to around $175 for three people without alcohol, which is on the pricier side for the amount of food we ordered. Still, the overall quality, atmosphere, and standout dishes made it a worthwhile visit.
Food is amazing. Service is fast. I like that you can see the one preparing our sushi and rolls, you know that it is prepared clean and properly. The Japanese-inspired ambiance ties it all together. On the expensive side.
Make a reservation because this place gets busy! We had 6pm booked, and there were people waiting for tables the entire time we were there. We ordered a bunch of items like the shrimp and softshell crab tempura, chicken karaage, beef tongue skewer, grilled beef ribs, fried chicken skin, sake clams, hamachi kama, agedashi tofu, many different nigiris, several rolls, cucumber salad, and more. Everything came out decently quickly, especially considering how busy they were. Food for the most part was tasty, but portions were a bit small for the price. We paid $300 for 4 people and left feeling slightly hungry still. Service was great, again especially considering how busy they were. The interior is spacious and clean.
Spicy tuna crispy rice = crunchy win, the kind of bite you want on repeat. Double Toro roll was ok. Agedashi tofu brought cozy comfort, while the hamachi with truffle leaned a little fishy and missed the mark. The space itself is intimate and inviting, with staff who keep things smooth and friendly. Easy spot to linger with friends over rounds of bites and drinks.
First time at Ichika Izakaya, & while we appreciated the welcoming service, food was quite lackluster. I don't generally eat raw fish so much of the sushi menu was off the table for me; however, I did order a Shrimp Tempura Roll. Totally my fault for not asking if it could be made with rice on the outside, as I don't prefer the taste & mouthfeel of a seaweed wrapping exterior. Taste was acceptable but obviously that small detail took away from my overall enjoyment. I also ordered a Chicken Teriyaki lunch special. Plain chicken with unappealing rubbery skin, & dressing on the salad had a weirdly-sweet flavor. I've accepted that some restaurants were only meant to be experienced once.
Jay jay our server bringing the best service ive ever got, besides that, the nigiri is amazing We sat on the bar while the chef was recommending for dishes. We order whatever he recommended. Love it all My favorite sushi in the bay
This place is one of my new favs for Japanese food in the Peninsula. I had a reservation for 2 at the bar and highly recommend sitting there if you like watching the chefs do their thing. We loved their appetizers, but the highlights were the geso karaage, prawn and crab tempura, skewers (beef tongue/chicken-green onion), and shishito peppers. Off their specials menu was a 4pc nigiri set of tuna (bluefin, 2 kinds of chutoro, and otoro) which was delicious. Fish quality is wonderful. The chawanmushi is also delicious and so silky. Finished it all with draft Asahi and the meal was complete. I think every dish was just done correctly. They have noodles, rolls, and even an omakase special and set course menu that is afforable. If you're in the area, come check this izakaya out.
Came here for the first time and overall had a great experience. The rolls, fresh fish, and skewers were all spot-on. The only downside? The udon. Whoever made it must've dropped the whole butter stick in there, because it was so heavy it gave us all headaches afterward. Definitely a skip. The other issue is the space itself, it's tiny. If you're sitting in a booth, you're basically shoulder-to-shoulder with the next table and might have to ask your neighbor to move their bag just to slide in. Cozy... maybe too cozy. So, while the food is excellent (minus the udon), I'd avoid bringing a big group here. Austin Yee
disclaimer...we have been here only once. We quite enjoyed it! While I prefer larger plates the offerings were much more interesting than the stock bento sort of things usually found at Japanese restuarants...small, intimate, sat at the elevated counter with a good view of the sushi chefs.
One of my favorite izakaya spots in the peninsula! Ichika offers good quality and fresh sashimi. I always like to get their nigiri set. It's pre-seasoned with wasabi and soy sauce. Each bite is so fresh, so flavorful, and so delicious. Highly recommend the nigiri set. Their tempura corn is also pretty good. It's fresh and crispy. Their service is top notch too. The waitresses would explain the pieces of nigiri and how to eat them. Overall I have a great experience at Ichika. The price could be a bit on the expensive side.
First of all service was great! Servers were very attentive and friendly and we barely had to wait for any of our orders. Since my friend was trying to cut down on rice, we decided to get more of the appetizers and skewers and they were all delicious especially the pork belly and wagyu beef! But I'd skip the chicken heart next time. Sake flights were really refreshing and the green tea desserts are a must! Will definitely come back!
My husband and I had dinner here tonight, and overall it was a really memorable experience. We've traveled quite a bit and tried sushi in many different cities, including around the Los Angeles area where we live and have our favorite spots. So when we visit a sushi restaurant, we tend to evaluate everything as a whole -- price, quality, service, and of course the flavors. For dinner we ordered the Mango Tuna Roll (which was our first time trying a mango-style sushi roll), the 8-piece Omakase Nigiri, a Double Toro Roll, two pieces of Otoro, and a hot sake. With a 20% tip included, the total for the two of us came to $163.50, which honestly falls within the average range of what we usually spend for a sushi dinner like this. Normally we might pay around $120-$130 depending on the place, sometimes a little more if we add an extra item or two. The portion sizes were pretty standard. Not unusually large, but not small either -- similar to what we've experienced at many other sushi restaurants. Where this place really stood out was the depth of flavor. The quality and balance of the ingredients were excellent. At one point I actually caught myself closing my eyes just to focus on the taste, which is something I almost never do. The preparation felt very refined and the flavors were elevated, rich, and memorable. I would describe it as delicate portions with very elevated flavors. Because of that, I'm giving this place 5 out of 5 stars. This is the kind of restaurant that works perfectly for a nice dinner with your partner. It's not necessarily a place where you go wild ordering everything on the menu like at a taco spot. Instead, it's better to be thoughtful with what you choose and enjoy a few well-crafted dishes. You can easily have a special, enjoyable dinner here without going overboard. Definitely worth visiting if you're in the area and want a quality sushi experience with refined flavors. The only thing I felt was missing was a small welcome miso soup. In some sushi restaurants we've visited, they serve a tiny cup of miso with a couple pieces of tofu as a warm welcome. It's a very small gesture, but it creates a nice first impression and adds a sense of hospitality to the experience. Considering the quality and pricing of the menu here, a simple welcome miso soup would fit perfectly with the overall dining experience.
24 days ago
I was looking for a sushi place in the area. I was surprised to see it was in Bayhill Plaza. Upon walking in, this place was packed. It seemed there was only one person who was the hostess, taking orders, and delivering the food. I give her mad props. With the dinner rush she was all over it. I placed my order for to go, she was super helpful, gave me her recommendations, and she had a smile on her face with everyone she encountered. This place has seemed to have gotten an elevated, more modern face lift/ renovation compared to the restaurant that used to be here. I was surprised that they didn't have standard sushi rolls that I'm usually accustomed to, but from the rolls that I've tried here... change is good. I ordered: 1. Corn tempura: First time seeing this, I love both corn and tempura. Had to see what it was about. It was perfection. Now it makes me wonder why this has never been done. 2. California roll: Standard staple and was good. 3. Warriors roll: It's an interesting combo, all items that I like.. first bite you're hit with a flavor explosion. At times I felt I couldn't taste the shrimp tempura, but the crunch from the crunchy onion ties it all together. 4. Beef steak: She recommended me to try this first before trying the daily special or short rib. She did not disappoint with this recommendation. The beef was so tender and flavorful. Overall, a great experience. I will definitely be back for more. I forgot to take pictures, because we inhaled the food so fast. read more
20 days ago
9/28/25 My husband and I were in the San Bruno area and decided to go to Ichika Izakaya for dinner. The restaurant is located in Bayhill Plaza so parking was plentiful. Upon entering the restaurant, it is a small space. There were two hostess/waitresses going around, but they were more focused on the customers already dining in so we were standing there for about 10 minutes before anyone noticed us. And honestly, they only realized we were there when a family of 6 came in after us. For some reason, that family of 6 was seated before we were. I guess they didn't have enough small tables so we ended up sitting at the counter near the bathroom. Here's what we got: - Chashu ramen (for me) - Dragon roll (to share) - Tempura udon (his) - Lion king roll (to share) Zach and I both got noodle dishes and shared the two rolls. Our noodles came first and then the rolls. The ramen was pretty standard and tasted fine. We also felt that the bowls were fairly small. The lion king roll though, we had to send it back because the salmon on top was only seared and I was 3 months pregnant at the time. My husband informed one of the waitresses that we needed a fully cooked Lion King roll. She took that away and a new (?) one was brought out about 10 minutes later. Between the two rolls, the dragon roll tasted better in freshness. Would I jump at the chance to come back here? Probably not. The service wasn't off to a good start and the food was just okay. read more
Amazing spot in a sleepy little plaza in san Bruno. The fish is fresh here and the dishes are special. Everything we ordered was so delicious. Highlights were the corn tempura and miso black cod. Also don't skip the sunomono salad - the chef does something special when pickling those tomatoes and they are so good. Loved sitting at the bar and talking to the sushi chef and watching him work. Staff were great too. Great vibes. read more
Stopped by here while waiting to drop someone off at the airport and ended up having a really enjoyable meal. The restaurant is cozy, with seating for around 30 people, and has a nice intimate atmosphere. The menu isn't huge, but almost everything we ordered was well executed. Prices are definitely a bit higher than your average Japanese spot, but the quality mostly justified it. Our party of three ordered about 10 dishes, and our favorites were the wagyu beef skewers, uni toro bites, grilled sea bass, spicy tuna over crispy rice, agedashi tofu, and nigiri (too much wasabi). The only dishes that didn't quite hit for us were the grilled beef tongue and duck breast. I was hoping for a better sear on both, and the beef tongue was a little too covered in onions for my taste. The duck also tasted slightly off, though the fried almonds added a nice texture and helped balance the dish. They also offer a tasting menu for $128 per person, or $168 with Hokkaido uni and A5 wagyu added. We didn't try it this time since we weren't very hungry, but it looked interesting. With tax and tip, the total came out to around $175 for three people without alcohol, which is on the pricier side for the amount of food we ordered. Still, the overall quality, atmosphere, and standout dishes made it a worthwhile visit. read more
3 months ago
5 days ago
Food is amazing. Service is fast. I like that you can see the one preparing our sushi and rolls, you know that it is prepared clean and properly. The Japanese-inspired ambiance ties it all together. On the expensive side. read more
Make a reservation because this place gets busy! We had 6pm booked, and there were people waiting for tables the entire time we were there. We ordered a bunch of items like the shrimp and softshell crab tempura, chicken karaage, beef tongue skewer, grilled beef ribs, fried chicken skin, sake clams, hamachi kama, agedashi tofu, many different nigiris, several rolls, cucumber salad, and more. Everything came out decently quickly, especially considering how busy they were. Food for the most part was tasty, but portions were a bit small for the price. We paid $300 for 4 people and left feeling slightly hungry still. Service was great, again especially considering how busy they were. The interior is spacious and clean. read more
Spicy tuna crispy rice = crunchy win, the kind of bite you want on repeat. Double Toro roll was ok. Agedashi tofu brought cozy comfort, while the hamachi with truffle leaned a little fishy and missed the mark. The space itself is intimate and inviting, with staff who keep things smooth and friendly. Easy spot to linger with friends over rounds of bites and drinks. read more
6 months ago
First time at Ichika Izakaya, & while we appreciated the welcoming service, food was quite lackluster. I don't generally eat raw fish so much of the sushi menu was off the table for me; however, I did order a Shrimp Tempura Roll. Totally my fault for not asking if it could be made with rice on the outside, as I don't prefer the taste & mouthfeel of a seaweed wrapping exterior. Taste was acceptable but obviously that small detail took away from my overall enjoyment. I also ordered a Chicken Teriyaki lunch special. Plain chicken with unappealing rubbery skin, & dressing on the salad had a weirdly-sweet flavor. I've accepted that some restaurants were only meant to be experienced once. read more
7 months ago
Jay jay our server bringing the best service ive ever got, besides that, the nigiri is amazing We sat on the bar while the chef was recommending for dishes. We order whatever he recommended. Love it all My favorite sushi in the bay read more
1 year ago
This place is one of my new favs for Japanese food in the Peninsula. I had a reservation for 2 at the bar and highly recommend sitting there if you like watching the chefs do their thing. We loved their appetizers, but the highlights were the geso karaage, prawn and crab tempura, skewers (beef tongue/chicken-green onion), and shishito peppers. Off their specials menu was a 4pc nigiri set of tuna (bluefin, 2 kinds of chutoro, and otoro) which was delicious. Fish quality is wonderful. The chawanmushi is also delicious and so silky. Finished it all with draft Asahi and the meal was complete. I think every dish was just done correctly. They have noodles, rolls, and even an omakase special and set course menu that is afforable. If you're in the area, come check this izakaya out. read more
2 months ago
Food and service was top notch. Fantastic Bluefin and Godzilla roll! Decent pricing for quality read more
Came here for the first time and overall had a great experience. The rolls, fresh fish, and skewers were all spot-on. The only downside? The udon. Whoever made it must've dropped the whole butter stick in there, because it was so heavy it gave us all headaches afterward. Definitely a skip. The other issue is the space itself, it's tiny. If you're sitting in a booth, you're basically shoulder-to-shoulder with the next table and might have to ask your neighbor to move their bag just to slide in. Cozy... maybe too cozy. So, while the food is excellent (minus the udon), I'd avoid bringing a big group here. Austin Yee read more
5 months ago
disclaimer...we have been here only once. We quite enjoyed it! While I prefer larger plates the offerings were much more interesting than the stock bento sort of things usually found at Japanese restuarants...small, intimate, sat at the elevated counter with a good view of the sushi chefs. read more
1 year ago
One of my favorite izakaya spots in the peninsula! Ichika offers good quality and fresh sashimi. I always like to get their nigiri set. It's pre-seasoned with wasabi and soy sauce. Each bite is so fresh, so flavorful, and so delicious. Highly recommend the nigiri set. Their tempura corn is also pretty good. It's fresh and crispy. Their service is top notch too. The waitresses would explain the pieces of nigiri and how to eat them. Overall I have a great experience at Ichika. The price could be a bit on the expensive side. read more
7 months ago
First of all service was great! Servers were very attentive and friendly and we barely had to wait for any of our orders. Since my friend was trying to cut down on rice, we decided to get more of the appetizers and skewers and they were all delicious especially the pork belly and wagyu beef! But I'd skip the chicken heart next time. Sake flights were really refreshing and the green tea desserts are a must! Will definitely come back! read more
7 months ago
My husband and I had dinner here tonight, and overall it was a really memorable experience. We've traveled quite a bit and tried sushi in many different cities, including around the Los Angeles area where we live and have our favorite spots. So when we visit a sushi restaurant, we tend to evaluate everything as a whole -- price, quality, service, and of course the flavors. For dinner we ordered the Mango Tuna Roll (which was our first time trying a mango-style sushi roll), the 8-piece Omakase Nigiri, a Double Toro Roll, two pieces of Otoro, and a hot sake. With a 20% tip included, the total for the two of us came to $163.50, which honestly falls within the average range of what we usually spend for a sushi dinner like this. Normally we might pay around $120-$130 depending on the place, sometimes a little more if we add an extra item or two. The portion sizes were pretty standard. Not unusually large, but not small either -- similar to what we've experienced at many other sushi restaurants. Where this place really stood out was the depth of flavor. The quality and balance of the ingredients were excellent. At one point I actually caught myself closing my eyes just to focus on the taste, which is something I almost never do. The preparation felt very refined and the flavors were elevated, rich, and memorable. I would describe it as delicate portions with very elevated flavors. Because of that, I'm giving this place 5 out of 5 stars. This is the kind of restaurant that works perfectly for a nice dinner with your partner. It's not necessarily a place where you go wild ordering everything on the menu like at a taco spot. Instead, it's better to be thoughtful with what you choose and enjoy a few well-crafted dishes. You can easily have a special, enjoyable dinner here without going overboard. Definitely worth visiting if you're in the area and want a quality sushi experience with refined flavors. The only thing I felt was missing was a small welcome miso soup. In some sushi restaurants we've visited, they serve a tiny cup of miso with a couple pieces of tofu as a warm welcome. It's a very small gesture, but it creates a nice first impression and adds a sense of hospitality to the experience. Considering the quality and pricing of the menu here, a simple welcome miso soup would fit perfectly with the overall dining experience. read more
I have to say I was very impressed by the food and atmosphere inside, given it's in Bayhill. The staff took our reservation so we didn't have too wait. All of the food came out pretty fast and all of the dishes were delicious. My favorite was the A5 waygu skewers. read more
Was taken to Mother's Day dinner here and it was really great! This small restaurant is in a strip mall, but once you're inside, you wouldn't even know it! All the sushi and sashimi was fresh and delicious, but the miso cod really made a huge impression on me; it was so smooth and tender... I could've eaten the whole dish! The chawanmushi (steamed custard) was another wonderful dish; so simple, but so amazing. The toddler, a picky eater, happily ate the chawanmushi, miso cod, and miso soup. The only dish I wasn't crazy about was the beef tongue, although it was okay... it was just not one I'd order again. I loved all the different beautiful plates/dishes the food was served in/on. Each dish made the food look even more inviting. As others have mentioned, the prices are on the high end, but everything was delicious and crave worthy. I'd definitely go back! read more
3 months ago
Amazing sushi restaurant! The fish was incredibly fresh, the rolls were delicious, and every dish was beautifully presented. The service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was clean and welcoming. One of the best sushi experiences I've had. Highly recommend and will definitely be coming back! read more
5 months ago
5 months ago
11 months ago
One of the best sushi places we have been to in California! The service was excellent, the ambience is very cozy, hip and classic all at once. The sushi was deliciously fresh and the flavors of their fusion dishes were wonderful. We come up to Bay Area a few times a year and will be coming to Ichika especially every time we visit! read more
1 year ago
Food here is really good! The omakase tastes super fresh and the beef steak was delicious too. Only downside is the portion size for the beef steak, they used to be a lot bigger, now it feels like they've been cut in half. It is a bit pricey, but overall still worth it for the quality and great customer service. read more
5 months ago
Foods were tasty, ingredients were fresh. Service was friendly and attentive. Dinning area not really big. Recommend make reservation on their website first. Nigiri order by pieces. read more
1 year ago
Average food, small portion and not worth it. It is a small restaurant, there's guest keep coming in so we thought it is going to be really good. However the food is really average for its price. The black cod is pretty good but $20 for one small piece is really overpriced. The skewer is overcooked and meat are rough. We ordered the spicy lamb and beef. It is overcooked then it becomes bitter? The sushi roll, does not have any vinegar taste compare to other roll I had. The creamy udon is $26 and the ingredient they used are only mushroom and bacon. Very overpriced. Will not be back. They did not specified they will charge 20% for party of 6 but they did. read more
One of my favorite places to get sushi and geso karaage. I was totally ready to come and snap some pictures and give them a five star review but quality was off for some reason. The geso karaage is normally very notably fresh despite it being deep fried. But this time, it came out burnt and the quality of the squid was not as fresh. The squid was quite tough. The fish for the nigiri was a little slimy and moderately slimy for the sweet shrimp. Servers are always attentive and friendly. Decent amount of seating with tables, a high table, and a sushi bar. You can get away with no reservation for the most part but may be optimal for busier nights and if you have a preference for table seating. read more
4 months ago
We got the truffle hamachi (amazing and unique!), lobster tail, duck breast, beef tongue, lamb chops, scallops, and sushi and roll. All high quality ingredients and even brown rice for the rolls. They're paying attention to every detail and the flavor outcomes reflect that! read more
3 months ago
9 months ago
8 months ago
It was ok not as good as the one in Brisbane service wax much slower n food not quite as tasteful as the one in Brisbane read more
Amazing. And they have a Milpitas location too, and maybe another, I forgot. Great service and ambiance. Ordered the Giants roll, toro roll with mango, oyster specials (don't squeeze too much lemon juice onto it, it overpowers a little!), 4 skewers (which were good but not amazing, but solid), geso fry, and creamy udon. Creamy udon is big btw! Plan your stomach accordingly if you get the creamy udon. Absolutely will be back, prob to try their Milpitas location as it's closer to me. read more
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More info about Ichika Izakaya
851 Cherry Ave
Ste 34
San Bruno , CA 94066
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(650) 636-4450
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https://www.ichikaizakaya.com
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Ask the Community - Ichika Izakaya
How is the parking?
Never had an issue with parking! The restaurant is in a plaza with a decent sized parking lot.
Does all party need to do Omakase, if one person order it?
No. Others in your party do not have to order Omakase.
Do you have katsu curry?? I see pictures but not on the menu.
They do , and it's really good . You can ask them on your next visit
Is the omakase only available for dinner or can we get it for lunch?
Yes you can get it for lunch also.
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