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    Ichiban Japanese & Sushi Restaurant

    4.3 (889 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed 5:00 pm - 8:00 PM

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    ICHIBAN JAPANESE & SUSHI RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Ichiban Japanese & Sushi Restaurant

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    This boat is ready to sail!  Two person boat
    Dave H.

    Gem of a Japanese family restaurant sitting inconspicuously (no signage) in the corner of a large strip mall. Next year is their 40th anniversary and you will be able to see why - good food, friendly service at excellent prices from this original owner who still visits the tables to check on you. Excellent sushi, tempura, teriyaki and all the Japanese favorites in generous portions at still family run restaurant prices. A must try if you are in the area! They also sell their popular salad dressing to go!

    Tempura Oreo Cookies
    Kami S.

    Ichiban has been my family's go-to restaurant for excellent and authentic Japanese food! This place has been in business for 30+ years and the food and service are definitely behind this restaurant's longevity. We've been coming here for almost a decade and the food is always freshly prepared and the portions are very generous. Most of us order one of the combination dinners with tempura. The tempura is very light, crispy and flaky. It isn't in a big blob like most places. The sushi is always very fresh and delicious. My husband repeatedly has ordered the Volcano Roll, which has some heat, but was very enjoyable. Masako's dressing is one of my favorites and doubles as a great dipping sauce! If you're looking to enjoy and savor authentic Japanese cuisine, look no further. This is a MUST TRY restaurant! You'll definitely be back again!

    Vegetable Tempura Steak Teriyaki House Salad
    Laura B.

    I hadn't been to Ichiban in nearly 20 years because I had moved, but man, what a gem! I am so glad this place continues to thrive in the community! The food was great, prices were fair, service outstanding, and the restaurant is the same as I remembered it. We ordered the 3 item combo with steak teriyaki, vegetable tempura, and California rolls. The steak had a couple fatty pieces, but otherwise was cooked great. The tempura was literally the best I've ever had. Sooo crispy and light, not overly oily and the vegetables were cooked perfectly. The CA rolls were delicious and fresh. The ONLY (small) complaint I had was that the side of white rice was a bit starchy/gummy. Maybe it had sat or overcooked? We also ordered a rainbow roll, 1 piece of halibut sushi, and 1 piece of eel sushi. It was all amazing and fresh. Good portions for the price. Lastly, the give free edamame for the table and it was perfectly cooked and perfectly salty! Stop supporting all those chains and keep these small, family owned places in business instead! The owner literally walks around to check on you and make sure your experience is perfect. Can't ask for a better night out supporting a place like this!

    Edamame when you sit down!  Awesome.
    michelle y.

    Family owned sushi place buried in the back of a plaza. We came right before closing and they couldn't have been nicer or more welcoming. A dish of edamame came right away and we got started on that. For dinner we got 4 pieces of albacore, a spicy tuna roll with soy paper, a tempura udon and a poke bowl. Spicy tuna roll was as expected. Nice spice level. Albacore looked good but my kid ate it all before I had a bite. Udon was a big old bowl with a rich broth. I requested broccoli only for my veggie and they obliged. It came out crispy and piping hot and was a generous portion. My poke bowl I asked to be spicy and no salmon. It comes with tuna, salmon and yellowtail. It was a heaping serving for $19 with chunks of avocado and some cucumber on the side. The yellowtail was a ***touch*** fishy for me- but I'm not a yellowtail fan normally. The tuna was very good and loved the temperature. The gentleman helping us I assume was the owner and he was so friendly with my kids. Even though we were there right before closing I never felt rushed. This place isn't fancy but had a great atmosphere. Would for sure come back!

    Soba
    Evan K.

    Didn't event know this sushi spot existed in Brea but I'm so glad my girlfriends family took me here for an unforgettable omakase experience. We immediately sat at the bar and met Masa san and he talked to us for a bit. He gave out some of the best pieces of fish and wow the fish was to die for. Chefs kiss for the tuna and yellowtail, it literally fell apart in my mouth. I ordered some more protein so we got the chicken kaarage too, which was pretty good. Although I was full, we all ordered their soba set with tempura which was great too, it hit the spot and the tempura batter was really memorable. We came here for New Years eve so the soba and longevity just made sense haha. The owner Masako is really sweet and wants to give you the best service possible so her and her husband will be walking around checking up on customers. Definitely will be back or will convince my girlfriends family to come again for a nice family outing.

    Miso soup and Edamame
    Megan L.

    We visited Ichiban about a week ago for Friday dinner. It's tucked away in the back corner of a plaza and hidden from the street, so it's easy to miss. I'm so glad we finally found and tried this place! Inside it's intimate and cozy, and you can tell they've been here for a while. The walls are filled with photos, and it's clearly beloved by the community. Although they were busy, we didn't wait long at all. The waitstaff was very attentive, and the owner Masako herself came by to speak with us. She made us feel so welcome! *Appetizers: We were given complimentary edamame as soon as we sat down, which was such a nice touch. Both of our dishes also came with miso soup, which was warm and full of seaweed and tofu. *Chirashi Sushi: I ordered this, and every piece of fish was fresh and delicious. The portions were generous and flavorful, and I like that it included tamago, naruto, and octopus. I don't always see this variety at other places that usually stick to just fish. *Salmon Skin Hand Roll: This was packed with salmon skin and microgreens, which I'm a fan of. The rice was a good amount without being overbearing, making it a very satisfying hand roll. *Three-Item Combo: We chose tempura, beef teriyaki, and chicken yakitori. The tempura was light and not over-battered, the steak was nicely grilled and tender (not bulgogi-style, but true steak teriyaki, which I appreciated), and the yakitori was delicious, coming with two skewers. The combo came with rice, salad, seasoned bean sprouts, seasoned cucumbers, and an orange slicel. *Dessert: Masako generously brought out complimentary chocolate éclairs, mentioning that the cream was from Hokkaido. I thought these were super yummy, and such a thoughtful and balanced way to end the meal. Parking was easy with plenty of space in the lot. Overall, Ichiban has an intimate, wholesome, community-owned vibe. You can feel the heart and history here, and I'm not surprised they've been part of Brea for 37 years. We'll definitely be back!

    Poke bowl

    EVERY visit to this iconic Japanese restaurant is an absolute pleasure. The owners, Masako and Tom are always there, with a smile and a hug to greet their veteran diners. The food is consistently fresh and of the best quality. The atmosphere is warm and genuine. The chef's at the sushi bar take the time to add their personal touch to every roll and dish. Ultimately, this is the best kept secret in Orange County - and I absolutely recommend this family owned gem to any sushi lover. They've been in business for over 37 years, and I can see why. Come treat yourself and your family to a wonderful meal today! You won't regret it.

    Tori S.

    Tried this place for the first time, and loved it! Tony and Masako made us feel like we were at home. They checked up on us every now and then, filled our waters, and asked if we needed anything. They weren't our main servers, as we had another great waiter, but I loved how they made us feel so welcoming! Very sweet, attentive, and friendly owners! The edamame was a nice touch before we received our entrees :) I got the 3 item combo and my husband got salmon with veggie tempura. Delicious meal and reasonable prices. We ended the night with Hokkaido cream puffs; so yummy! Definitely a hidden gem and hole in the wall place. I'm glad we tried this place, and we will be coming back if we're ever in the area!

    Family Boat for two! Delicious!
    Raquel M.

    The food is absolutely delicious and the staff is very friendly and helpful. From the moment you walk thru the door to the moment they seat you, the staff is always attentive and accommodating. We ordered the Family Boat which gave you a little taste of everything and it was good to the last bite. We will be definitely returning soon.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Owners and staff are very welcoming. Have enjoyed eating there for years. The food is consistently delicious. Very yummy!!!!

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    1 year ago

    It is an old restaurant. The foods are so delicious. And gave us perfect service. I will come in next time.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The food was good but the service was 5 stars. Staff is very friendly and took really good care of us.

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Used to love this place but recently they have drastically increased prices. Will not be returning anymore

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    Page 3 of 23

    Ask the Community - Ichiban Japanese & Sushi Restaurant

    What are the store hours for Monday? It says it's from 5 to 8 but I have a reservation at 8:15.

    I suggest calling them to confirm as I do believe their hours are fairly limited these days.

    Do you still have outdoor seating?

    No we don't serve anymore

    Do you accept certificate from Restaurant.com at this time?

    We no longer partners .

    View All 4 Questions

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    Chubby Sushi & Ramen

    4.5(699 reviews)
    0.6 mi
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    If you're in Orange County, specifically downtown Brea and you haven't tried this spot, you're…read moredefinitely missing out. Once I tried their sushi for the first time, they quickly became one of my favorites in OC. They fly their fish in every Friday and you can literally taste the freshness. Over the times I've visited, I've tried basically the whole menu but a couple in particular are my favorites. I always start off with the Blue crab appetizer that's wrapped with salmon on the outside and asparagus. Their sushi rolls are all solid here--I can't recommend the signature Chubby roll enough. And if you're feeling adventurous, they even have Tuna bone marrow shots which are actually such a nice palate cleanser! And, of course, the star of the show is the Chubby sashimi platter. Each piece is thiccc and melts in your mouth and even comes with sweet shrimp and uni. This spot is genuinely a 10/10, so if you haven't tried it, like I said, you're definitely missing out! Thanks for reading! ^-^

    We've eaten here a few times and don't hate it, but the ramen honestly needs a lot of work. The…read morenoodles were poorly cooked and had almost no flavor -- the egg was probably the only good part of the bowl. They also barely give any ice in the drinks (like 8 tiny cubes), and I always have to ask for more. The sushi is very hit or miss, but we did find 3 rolls we really enjoy, so we usually just stick to ordering those. The biggest issue is the service. Every visit we end up having to wave someone down for refills, extra ice, or even the check. There's definitely potential here, but they really need to improve consistency and customer service

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    I just moved to the area and wanted to check this place out. What a great decision that was! This…read moreplace is legit! The menu is huge and prices are very affordable. They give you the option to sit at a booth or sit on the ground like they do in Japan. I'll definitely be coming back. Mistibi!

    // Food: Tonkatsu / Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice / Beef Udon / Skewers…read more Stopped by for happy hour on a Friday night, and left with a belly full of good food. I came with a large-ish sized group so I was able to try a little bit of everything, and honestly it was all pretty good. If I were to come back I would definitely order the Beef Udon again as well as some of the meat skewers including the meatball and the steak with ponzu. // Restaurant: Our servers were attentive and quick with refills. They did miss one of the menu items that we ordered, but they quickly got the order in and the food came out nice and hot. Inside they have traditional Japanese seating (shorter tables, you sit on the ground) as well as tables that can accommodate large and small groups alike. // Notes: Prices are about what you would pay at other izakaya's. From the outside it definitely does not look like much, and the area is kind of sketch but it is def worth a visit!

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    Mazera - Original mazemen

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    It was our first time here. It was pretty slow for an early Sunday night dinner around 6. Nobody…read morewas there, but by the time we started eating, the place got packed. It's a small, quaint, unassuming place, but their kitchen cranks out rich flavors. We all got different things so we could try out what they have to offer. I was the only one brave enough to try the (bulgogi) mazemen, and it did not disappoint. I followed the instructions on the table & I liked it w/ the vinegar! Another person at our table got the donkatsu w/ rice; it was gobbled up pretty quick so I imagine it was delicious. The other 2 were in the mood for tonkatsu ramen - 1 got spicy, the other, plain. It looked like there was a lot of green onions for my taste, but they didn't complain. Another hit was the karagge chicken and gyoza - both came w/ tasty sauces! It's a great restaurant in an area filled with other great spots, so we'll be back!

    The Michelin star is well DESERVED. The ramen bowl Mazera serves is incredible. The broth does not…read morefeel heavy nor does it taste greasy/oily like we've tried at other ramen bars. I enjoyed the donkatsu rice bowl, which was flavorful and perfect portion size for 1 person. For some bites before our dinner, we ordered gyoza (a classic side) and their viral veggie croquette that we paired with the donkatsu sauce. Service was excellent and we especially loved how clean and well kept the restaurant was. We look forward to coming back for seconds!

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    Ichiban Japanese & Sushi Restaurant - japanese - Updated May 2026

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