This place is soooo good i had the flamin cheeto roll and it was bomb. Our server Evangeline was sooo sweet and friendly to my group of friends she really vibed with us and was very attentive. Definitely recommend coming i usually dont do reviews but I had to for this restaurant ‼ read more

Izakaya Ichie - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

One of my boyfriend's friend was living in the area, and we decided to grab food here at The Source in OC. It's located in the very back of the "mall" next to Old Ferry Donut in The Source OC in Buena Park. There is a huge free parking garage for customers. My boyfriend and I ordered the Creamy Mentaiko Udon, and it was packed with so much umami that I was doing my happy food dance! Each bite was a total flavor bomb, and it's easily my new favorite spot for this dish--we honestly wished we had ordered one for each of us instead of sharing. My boyfriend's friend enjoyed the Kalbi Short Rib Noodles, which were also incredibly flavorful. We also shared the Volcano Roll, and the combination of seared scallops, crayfish, and unagi sauce on top of the roll was absolutely delicious. Highly recommended! Definitely a hidden gem in the plaza among other restaurants. When I'm in the area again, I will definitely be back to try more of their dishes. read more

See all

I had been here before and remembered having a much better experience, so this visit was unfortunately quite disappointing. I'll start with the positives because the food itself was actually good. We ordered a 16-piece sashimi assortment with four different types of fish, as well as a sashimi rice bowl. The fish tasted fresh, clean, and good quality. This definitely did not feel like cheap or low-grade sashimi. The prices are more on the mid-to-higher side, but based on the seafood quality, I thought the food itself was respectable. Another thing I genuinely appreciated was the Suntory The Premium Malt's on draft. Having previously worked in the Japanese food industry, this is something I always notice. Not many Japanese restaurants around here carry it on draft, and Suntory is particularly known for its fine, creamy foam. The traditional serving style is roughly 70% beer and 30% foam. For anyone who enjoys Japanese draft beer and a properly foamy pour, this is definitely one of the highlights here. Unfortunately, the service was a very different story. When we arrived, the restaurant was busy and we were asked to put our name on the waiting list, which was completely understandable. After we signed in, an Asian woman with long light brown/blonde hair reaching about chest length, who appeared to be a manager or senior staff member, spoke to us in a very unfriendly manner and told us that since we had already put our name down, we should wait outside and not block people from coming in and out. I completely understand the need to keep an entrance clear, especially when the restaurant is busy. My issue was not with the request itself, but with the way it was communicated. The exact same request could have been made politely and professionally. What made the interaction even more awkward was that another employee had already told us that a table would be available very shortly. We could see a table opening up, and sure enough, we were seated only a few minutes later. Unfortunately, the service did not improve much once we sat down. No one came back to check on our table or ask how the food was. When we wanted to order additional beers, it was surprisingly difficult to get anyone's attention. At one point, we actually had to get up and look for a staff member ourselves. I understand that restaurants get busy and everyone can have an off day. I also travel frequently for work and eat at many restaurants, so I do not give a one-star review lightly. But when several service issues happen during the same meal, it becomes difficult to overlook. The sashimi was fresh, the food quality was good, and I would especially recommend the Premium Malt's draft to beer lovers. Unfortunately, the hospitality and overall service made this the most disappointing restaurant experience of my week in LA. I have had a better experience here in the past, so hopefully this was simply an off day. Based on this visit, though, I probably would not return anytime soon. read more

See all

I've tried quite a few izakayas around Buena Park and the surrounding area, and Izakaya Ichie has definitely become one of my favorites. There are several good options nearby, but Ichie has something that really stands out to me--it has a great balance of food quality, atmosphere, variety, and overall experience. The food was really good and there was a lot more variety than I expected. The mentaiko cream udon was probably my favorite--creamy, flavorful, and really satisfying. The yakitori platter was also great, and the sushi and sashimi were fresh and nicely presented. Portions are generous enough that it's easy to order several things and share with the table. I also really like the atmosphere here. It has that cozy izakaya feel but with a modern, fun look. The lighting and decor give the place a nice vibe, especially at night. It's casual enough for a regular dinner but still feels special enough for a date, birthday, or night out with friends. Compared with some of the other izakayas nearby, I feel like Ichie gives you a little bit of everything. Some places may specialize more in traditional dishes, while others might have a stronger bar atmosphere, but Ichie does a really nice job combining Japanese izakaya food with creative dishes and a fun dining experience. The service was also friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. I especially like the little service wand at the table--it's a small thing, but it makes getting someone's attention easy and adds a fun touch to the experience. Overall, I think Izakaya Ichie is a great addition to the Buena Park food scene. If you're looking for a place with good food, generous portions, a cool atmosphere, and a good selection of things to try, I'd definitely recommend giving this place a shot. I'll definitely be coming back! Check it out yourself! read more

Eva was very kind and nice to us. Service was friendly and welcoming Positives: -we really like the creamy udon. It was very tasty with just the right amount of creamy to savory. We craved it from over a year ago when we first had it. The baked salmon beach roll was very delicious too, buttery, and warm. It melts on your mouth. -drink, the dragon fruit snow/slushee was very good too. -they have a good space to accommodate small and large parties Negatives: -the yuzu salmon roll was a little too sour and raw for us. Overall 5/5 I don't think we have found a better creamy udon place yet. Especially for this price too, creamy udon is usually more expensive and not as good. Which is why we hesitate to order it. read more

See all

Food: 3.5 Service: 2 Ambiance: 3.5 We stopped by Izakaya Ichie at The Source in Buena Park on a random weeknight. It wasn't too busy, but there were still a fair number of people there, which made for a nice atmosphere. As soon as we walked in, I was impressed by the ambiance. I loved the artwork, the dim lighting, and the overall vibe of the restaurant. My first thought was that this was a pretty cool place. We decided to order the skewer platter, along with the garlic noodles with beef. The yakitori skewer platter (12 pieces) included beef, chicken, salmon, shrimp, and vegetables, so it offered a really nice variety of flavors and textures. Everything was grilled nicely, and I thought it was a great way to sample several different items from the menu. The skewers were actually quite tasty, and I especially appreciated the selection. The garlic noodles with beef were also good. They were a little oily, but that's fairly typical for a dish like that, so it wasn't unexpected. The food came out quickly, and overall we enjoyed the meal. The only thing that put a damper on the evening was the service. Unfortunately, the woman helping us didn't seem particularly friendly. When I asked for water and boxes to take our leftovers home, I got the feeling that I was inconveniencing her, which definitely affected the overall experience. In the end, I enjoyed the food and would probably come back for that alone, but the service left a lot to be desired. For me, it's a three-star experience. read more

See all

Came on a Thursday night & there was no wait. We ordered an assortment of food: skewers, bulgogi fries, eel roll, salmon roll, uni udon, and the oden. Everything was so good!!! I was surprised how tender the beef skewers was. I really liked the vibrant flavors of the salmon sushi. The oden was so comforting, I do wish it came with udon though. The uni udon was very creamy and delicious as well. read more

See all

Came back and was still disappointed. The truffle fries basically tasted like parmesan with the smallest hint of truffle. The salmon bowl didnt taste like salmon and my friend waited a ling time to get omakase bowl. The truffle salmon was better because you could taste the truffle for it. Yakitori pork belly was probbaly the best thing we had that night. read more

See all

I've been here a few times, and I prefer the hot plates over the sushi and rolls. The food is flavorful and consistently good. It can get pretty noisy inside during busy hours, and the food may take a little longer to come out when it's crowded. It's not really a traditional Japanese izakaya atmosphere, but it has a modern vibe, good food, and a casual setting that's perfect for a relaxed meal or drinks with friends. read more

See all

uni creamy udon: 5/5 ugh so delicious and the flavors were very umami and creamy. similar to udon muguzi creamy udon. this is a must try if u like creamy alfredo type pasta special ichie roll: 5/5 had all the raw fish that I like and it paired so well with the imitation crab and roll. absolutely delicious would order again got seated rlly fast but it was not busy on a monday night. waiter was nice read more

Izakaya Ichie - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

See all

I came here with some friends on a Friday evening and there was no wait, luckily. Food is okay, prices aren't bad. I had the Tuna Don, and the rice was nicely cooked and seasoned - the tuna wasn't the best quality but it was fine. The dish did look very different from what was advertised in the menu photo. Service is also somewhat slow, but the staff was nice when they did come to the table. There was complimentary miso soup though, which I thought was nice! read more

See all

Had a great experience here! The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the chicken don and yakisoba noodles were really tasty. Evanji was also very nice, friendly, and attentive, which made the experience even better. Great food and great service--definitely a place I'd come back to! Had a great experience here! The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the chicken don and yakisoba noodles were really tasty. Evanji was also very nice, friendly, and attentive, which made the experience even better. Great food and great service--definitely a place I'd come back to! read more

See all

What a pleasant Surprise. Thank you so much Yelpers for highlighting this place. The Bulgogi Fries were so flavorful! The Spider Man Roll was good! The Sashimi Platter was a sight to behold read more

Izakaya Ichie - Sashimi Platter - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

We had to wait a while for a table, so I'd recommend going early. The restaurant seemed pretty understaffed, which made service a bit slow and it sometimes took a while to get a server's attention. The fried squid and sauce that came with it was super delicious. I also ordered sushi which was good overall. The restaurant does have a good amount of seating inside, which was nice. read more

Izakaya Ichie - fried squid legs - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

Just look at attached photo... Thinnest layer of salmon, it might as well have been seaweed. Also the rice was mushy almost like porridge. Nah this ain't real. read more

Izakaya Ichie - Baked Salmon Beach - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

Came in with a group of 14 for a company dinner. Our server Eva handled everything gracefully and I was very grateful as I know serving large groups is not easy. They only had 1 sushi chef at the time but things came out in decent time, and no dishes looked rushed and quality was not compromised. I personally had the Ichie Special and Omakase bowl and both were great. Loved the fried amaebi head that came with the bowl! Uni was fresh with no fishy aftertaste or slimy texture. Thank you to the kitchen staff and Eva for being so amazing and hospitable! read more

Izakaya Ichie - Omakase Bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

Amazing food and service. My girlfriend and I love this place. Everyone here is so friendly. The place is very clean too and nicely decorated. We always get 4 rolls for the both of us since that is how good it is!!! read more

Izakaya Ichie - Rainbow Beach, Dragon & Flamin Cheetos - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

Came here for a late-night bite! It was one of the few places open and happened to have what I was craving. Overall, it's a solid spot, but maybe not the best place specifically for sushi. They do have a good variety of food options, and the appetizers were pretty good. The sashimi overall was decent, but not the best I've had. The cuts could definitely be improved. Some pieces were great, while others weren't really to my taste, but it could be more of a preference thing. However, It was solid, but just not my favorite. Our waitress was also very nice. One unique thing about this place is how you get the waitstaff's attention: you use a magical wand! It's definitely a fun and quirky touch that adds a bit of personality to the experience. read more

You know what's a great combo? Great food and great service. The waitress named Evangeline was really kinda , warm , and welcoming . She always had a nice bright smile when approaching my table and speaking to us. My table got some salmon sushi, tuna, uni , scallop , seaweed and edamame . I'd say it was great bang for buck. Definitely a place I'm coming back to. The owner Kevin was also very kind and welcoming. The ambiance was great and I loved the decor. Parking is really easy because of the big parking structure. read more

See all

The service was great, and the food is always amazing! I especially love the udon mentaiko and sushi dishes read more

Izakaya Ichie - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

Top tier izakaya with the great price. Try their korean mulhwe it's so refreshing and yummy. please come here for a chill vibe plspls read more

Izakaya Ichie - Beer - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

Came for a late-night dinner after landing in California. Took a few minutes to get the attention of someone to seat us. Food was overall good- the creamy pasta had the right balance of seafood notes. My husband really liked his bulgogi poutine. Service was a bit slow- but otherwise good. read more

See all

Angie and Grace were the best, would come back 10/10. Thanks for the best service ever read more

Izakaya Ichie - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

Service was great and we had a nice waitress! The place is dimly lit and good for drinks and a bite. The food is definitely more drinking food vibes - fried food, strong flavor, and more greasy. I really enjoyed the spicy tuna crispy rice. The stew was not amazing but it was still decent! We really liked the bulgogi crispy rice appetizer thing that they just came out with. It layers imitation crab on crispy rice and bulgogi on top, paired with fries. I highly recommend you try that dish. The Mexican roll, however, was suspiciously too fishy. Maybe the albacore was a bit old or something. I'd recommend getting another roll than this. Overall good place to hang out with friends! Food and drinks here are a great way to spend the night. read more

See all

Food was so good!!!! The service was perfect, Eva is so kind and attentive! Ambiance is relaxed and it's a great place to come with friends or just by yourself for dinner. 10/10 read more

Izakaya Ichie - Mentaiko Cream Udon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

Shout out to Vangie! She is an asset to this place! She took care of us from start to end! Recommended and explain the menu so well since it is our first time here definitely not the last read more

Izakaya Ichie - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

We were a party of five and came here this past Saturday for dinner to celebrate a friend's birthday. All the dishes were delicious! I love the atmosphere of the restaurant too. Cute decorations. We did make reservation ahead of time so we didn't have to wait for a table. When we got there, we were seated right away. Overall, I would come back and take more of my friends and family here to try other foods. read more

See all

Avoid this place if you want bad service. Came on a Saturday night with a group of friends and really liked the vibe and decor. Got sat rather quickly and we ordered food and drinks. Everyone got their drinks but me. So I had to flag our server down and remind her for my drink. Our food came. We ordered a bunch of rolls, skewers, and I got the ramen. Still didn't get my drink. WTF! I see our server on her phone and like not focused at all. So I asked another server and she got it for me. But seriously, how long does it take to get a soda. read more

Izakaya Ichie is such a great find in Buena Park, especially if you're looking for a cozy late-night spot with quality food. Located on the first floor of The Source, the space feels like a modern sushi bar mixed with a classic izakaya vibe We tried several dishes and everything was spot on. The mentaiko cream udon was rich, creamy, and super comforting. The sushi omakase box was beautifully presented with fresh cuts and a great variety -- definitely a seafood lover's must-order. The avocado tuna tartare was light, fresh, and well balanced, making it a perfect starter. They also have a nice selection of drinks, including soju, plus soft drinks like milk tea, and even Korean desserts. Service was friendly without being rushed, which made the experience even better read more

See all

This hidden gem is found on the bottom corner of The Source Mall next to Basilur! Perfect for large parties or groups of friends, this place is decorated beautifully with glowing cherry blossom trees and lamps inside. The service wands to call for staff are hilarious and make me feel like a magical girl. A Must Try!!!! : The Mentaiko Udon and the Spider Man roll! Mentaiko udon is one of the best I've had! The udon was perfectly cooked and the mentaiko and udon together is the reason I keep coming back! The sauce is perfectly creamy, kinda shrimpy, if you've never had mentaiko before but love shrimp, try it! Spider Man roll: the soft shell crab in this was so yummy! I really loved the spiderweb shaped sauce on the plate, super cute! I came here once with a large group of friends for a birthday and came again with family! It's truly a hidden gem! And the best part is that theyre open pretty late at night! read more

See all

This restaurant is located at the bottom floor of the Source Mall. My family and I had a reservation for 5pm that day, and we were able to take our seats on the dot. Most of the dishes are for sharing so, we ordered 7 different dishes for 6 people to share. Our favorites were the Korean Fried Chicken Wings, the Rainbow Beach Roll and the Rose Creamy Tteobokki. We're regretting not trying the Crispy Rice and the Hamachi Carpaccio. We'll be back for those. The waitresses were on point with their service. We were just disappointed that they 86'd on the Galbi Short Ribs. Waving the Sailor Moon wand to get someone's attention was fun. read more

See all

Outstanding service, waitress was very kind and attentive from start to finish. I ordered the Carpaccio Trio, Ichie Special, Baked Salmon Beach, a large house hot sake, and for dessert we had the matcha crepe, everything was delicious. The ambience was nice, music was good, and the restaurant was clean and organized. It was a slow night and the restaurant was quiet, but we actually enjoyed the vibe. This place feels really welcoming and I'll be back. read more

The mentaiko udon was absolutely lovely! I had such a ball, Eva was our server and made sure we were very well taken care of. Gave great recs and had an infectiouslu positive energy which made the food taste even better! read more

Izakaya Ichie - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

A HIDDEN GEM for my Southern California friends/ family. Anyone looking for some bomb Japanese food, THIS is the spot!! Izakaya is located in "The Source," which is a Korean-Japanese shopping mall/ center in Buena Park. It's at the intersection of Beach Blvd and Orangethorpe. And for those staying at the Hilton Buena Park like my wife and I, it the mall is attached right to the hotel! I had never been to, nor heard of Buena Park until we came down for one of my best friends' weddings this pas weekend. And as I mentioned in the previous paragraph, we were very happy to see that The Source was adjacent to our hotel! However, somehow Southern California was the wettest area in the country this past weekend and my umbrella was cheaply made trash (#SoakedLyfe). Thus, my wife and I were searching for something warm and comforting to eat. After searching Yelp we came across Izakaya Ichie. And Japanese food was exactly what we were craving! Finding Izakaya was a bit challenging at first. but after about 10-15 minutes we finally located the restaurant within The Source. Entering the restaurant staff were extremely welcoming! And told us to grab any seat! The ambiance was also incredibly unique. There were music videos being played on a projector as well as geisha-themed art and red Kamifusen (I'm sorry if I misspelled that) balloons surrounding each table. To start, we decided to split their Chicken Karaage Duo, which was a mix of both original and honey garlic. Izakaya's food presentation is absolutely phenomenal! Looking around at each and every table you'll see incredibly unique looking dishes, meaning soups with literal flames underneath, extraordinarily colorful sushi rolls, and more. Our appetizer came out quickly and I immediately burnt my tongue and the roof of my mouth on these (lol). But absolutely DELICIOUS- crunchy and flavorful, With what I believe were a basil and sriracha themed dipping sauces (if I'm incorrect please correct me). For the main course the Mrs went with their Galbi Chop Steak Noodles. I decided to go for something I'd never had before- Mentaiko Cream Udon. Which consisted of Alaskan pollack roe, udon, seasoned seaweed flakes, shrimp, green onion, and ichie cream sauce. I wasn't sure what to expect, but WOW was I glad I went with the Mentaiko! The noodles were creamy, warm, and flavorful. And when I say creamy I mean in a good way, not an "artificial" or gross way like Starbucks creamer or something. This was fresh tasting and more "melt in your mouth." The noodles were fantastic and everything went perfectly with each other. It was recommended by our server so I want to give her a shoutout! Overall, I was extremely impressed with the service, ambiance, and food at Izakaya Ichie. This restaurant was fun, creative, and welcoming. AND extremely affordable! Just $50 for three phenomenal menu items in 2025? At a sit down restaurant? Can't beat that. And if you say you can, you're lying lol. if you live in the Buena Park area you're spoiled with great Korean and Japanese food. And I wasn't in town long enough to try more spots. But Izakaya hit it out of the park and we were thoroughly impressed. There's just something about warm noodles on a cold, rainy night... it just hit different! TY Izakaya Ichie! read more

See all

We were staying in a nearby hotel and wanted a nice, hot dinner on this stormy night. The hubby and I trekked the wet, slick pavement for Izakaya Ichie and we were not disappointed! Upon entering, we were transported to such a unique and fun spot! Didn't feel like we were smack in the middle of a shopping center. Staff were friendly and we were seated quickly (restaurant filled up the later the night got). The husband ordered the Mentaiko Cream Udon and I ordered the Galbi Chop Steak Noodle; we split the chicken karaage duo which was sooo good. Both noodle dishes were satisfying and perfectly portioned. Wish we lived closer to come back more often! Highly recommend! read more

See all

This place is tucked away at one of the back corners of the plaza and definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a place to eat. The space is a little small but cozy. Our server was so sweet and consistently checked in despite there being a dinner rush as soon as we ordered. My top recommendations: - Mentaiko cream udon - subtle, light flavor but very easy to eat despite being a creamy sauce. - Galbi chop steak noodle - bold flavor, kind of reminded me of a garlic noodles but stir fried - Takoyaki - very tasty, good texture and filling to breading ratio We also had the yakitori platter, which is a great appetizer to share amongst a large group. It comes with a variety of skewers--our platter had bacon wrapped tomatoes, sausage, chicken, wings, and Korean meatballs. The bulgogi poutine fries are also great for sharing, but they do lean on the saltier side. read more

Izakaya Ichie - Takoyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

See all

We came here on accident because we wanted to try somewhere else but this place became a happy surprise. The food was excellent. We had the chopped galbi noodle, some sushi rolls, and two of the carpaccios. The tuna was easily the best we have ever had and everything else tasted amazing as well. Our server, Evangi, was so incredibly sweet and took great care of us. It's super cute inside with some great vibes! We will definitely be back! read more

Priced avg. $20-$30, service was good and friendly, clean restaurant with Japanese Izakaya vibes, think you're in Tokyo, ample garage parking wo fee given The Source BP Ordered Uni cream udon $~32. Uni cream udon can go sideways fast but Izakaya Ichie gets it right. The udon is thick and chewy and coated in a glossy velvety sauce that feels rich without turning fishy or flat. The uni seems blended into the base so it comes through as buttery ocean sweetness and deep umami instead of a sharp iodine hit. The cost for the portion seems high but it's a decent balance of quality over quantity. If you're looking for portion control, Izakaya Ichie may be a viable option. The nori and scallion add salt and toast and a little bite to cut the cream and the microgreens keep it from feeling too heavy. Mash the uni into the noodles while it is hot because if it sits the sauce tightens and the richness starts to dominate. If you like uni and you want something indulgent this bowl delivers. read more

Izakaya Ichie - Uni creamy udon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California

Was seated immediately for a party of 2 on Saturday for lunch. It was somewhat hard for us to find as it's on the first floor tucked in a corner so kinda distant from the other restaurants and food courts. The food here is delicious, no doubt. Love that they offer both Japanese and Korean dishes. I think the sushi roll was on the pricier side but the rose tteokkbokki was priced well for such a large portion. They have a sailor moon wand to wave for the staff's attention so that was silly and fun. My only qualm was not getting a to-go sauce cup that I specifically asked for so couldn't take my croquette sauce home lol. read more

See all

Let me start off by saying everything ordered tasted good, but that's where it ends. They are woefully understaffed with 1 person seating guests, taking orders and bringing drinks resulting in long waits, and not surprising wrong orders. Invest in your business and please hire. Then there is meeting expectations for an above par Japanese restaurant vs. what you actually get. Having just been to Japan, I have no patience, nor do I care to spend money where quality and value can not be described in the same sentence. Ambiance = 7 Taste = 7 Service = 2 Value = 2 Avg = 4.5 out of 10 read more

Izakaya Ichie - Tuna roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buena Park, California