Ichiro: Fresh sashimi, great variety!!

Date with Bonnishi! It's been far too long since I've met up with my fav sushi buddy ^-^















Restaurant: Ichiro Japanese (visit their website here)

Location: 12011 2nd Avenue, Richmond
Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi, Seafood
Price range: $20-30





Date of visit: September 6, 2014
Atmosphere: 4/5
Staff/service: 4/5
Food variety: 5/5
Food quality: 4.5/5
Buck worthy? 5/5

Bonnishi had noted they had cute lunch sets and she was absolutely correct! I looked around and saw people with sets and wanted one for myself. But first, sushi. I tried one of their Ika Uni nigiri ($3.25) and it was really fresh. The ika was crunchy and a bit slimy-- just the way I like it. Uni was sweet and creamy but I wish there was more. Kinda hard to keep the uni on top I guess... cuz it slipped off partly.

Looked like a rocket ship to me xD

Took a while to decide, but finally settled for their Sashimi and Noodle set ($13.95). There were six kinds of sashimi, udon, rice, and edmame. I couldn't finish the rice and wasted it, should've just told them I don't need it ><" Anyhow, udon was chewy with good texture to it. Tasted pretty good.

Onto the different sashimis! They were all super fresh (so I don't repeat myself too much) and plated prettily. Tuna was nice, it wasn't overly-mushy nor sour. Actually tasted like... tuna. Yum!

Then there was salmon, which surprisingly melted in my mouth and wasn't tough like the other wild salmon I've had before!

Now, I've never been a fan of raw sweet shrimp, but this made me change my mind. I actually tasted the "sweet" to the shrimp without that disgusting metallic taste. It was a bit slimy but acceptable.

The spicy salmon was so pretty... flavors weren't overwhelming and the peanut-y sesame sauce was great. It wasn't actually very spicy, just enough to enhance the flavors.

Tuna Gomaae almost confused me, but then I realized it was the sauce that made it like gomaae. It was basically your normal tuna in sesame sauce. Also delicious.

Finally, Ichiro Zuke. Now what is this? I don't really have a good clue, but it was a mix of the tuna and salmon in a soy-based sauce topped with some ginger and radish. The flavors jumped out at me, surprised that they didn't mask the flavor of the fish!

Bonnishi ordered a Wanko and Sashimi Set ($19.50) which included 2 kinds of mini cold soba noodles (salmon egg on grated radish and poached egg), assorted tempura, sashimi (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, sweet shrimp), BBQ eel on rice, and miso soup. Everything looked so delicate and pretty =)

A close-up of her noodles, first the salmon eggs.

And then the poached egg.

And the BBQ eel on rice-- looked like a good size.

Of course neither of us could finish our food, but the quality was definitely worth the buck! Although my nigiri wasn't as worthy... I'd probably be back for their sashimi :3