Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar does not look like a "sushi bar" - more like a strip mall coney island with some Japanese flair - but the food we were served was top notch.
My darling husband has teriyaki salmon: two small salmon fillets with stir fry vegetables and rice. His meal came with a house salad that had delicious miso ginger dressing. The salad dressing was one of the best items we were served.
I wanted a bento box, since all the selections were meat or shrimp I passed. My meal was a la cart - sushi cucumber roll, tempura vegetables, fried tofu, miso soup, and seaweed salad. Everything was very well prepared, but to break things down: the sushi roll was similar to any other cucumber roll, but very fresh - you could still taste the cucumbe
r! The tempura was crisp and hot, served with yakisoba sauce with a dollop of chili paste in the middle, like a spicy floating island. I didn't care for the chili paste so avoided that when dipping. The tofu was the best! Crispy tender shell surrounding creamy tofu. I haven't had tofu that good since Portland!
r! The tempura was crisp and hot, served with yakisoba sauce with a dollop of chili paste in the middle, like a spicy floating island. I didn't care for the chili paste so avoided that when dipping. The tofu was the best! Crispy tender shell surrounding creamy tofu. I haven't had tofu that good since Portland!
My one disappointment was the seaweed salad. I LOVE seaweed salad and always order it! But this offering was old looking, smelled really fishy, and tasted like refrigerator. When our server came by I sent it back. No big deal, I would have still paid for it, after all I was one that ordered something like that from a Spring Arbor sushi bar! But, toward the end our meal the chef came out and asked about the salad - I fumbled through my explanation. I did want to seem like a stupid American who ordered something they know nothing about... I can't tell you how many times I've tried to make seaweed salad myself... but he took it off our bill.
While at our table I asked the chef if would make a vegetarian bento. YES! I can't wait. I know that Japanese vegetarian usually means that there is some dashi in there somewhere - I can deal with that. I can't wait to go back!
The Jackson area now has two Japanese restaurants - Asa Sushi and Ichiban - who would have figured!
Today's brew - Jackson Coffee Company - Panama!
