Recently ate here twice. We love an unpretentious sushi restaurant. Why is this place so reasonably priced? The sleeper part of the menu is the classic rolls. Holy crap what a steal. Also the shishito peppers might be the best in town. The only thing I would change is the service. But it's just a small improvement. Honestly I think they're so proud of their food and want you to enjoy so much of it that they will come up to your table and ask if they can get you anything every 5 minutes. It's pretty cute but it's fine, you can leave us alone every once in awhile. read more

I would visit again , my boyfriend would not. I am vegan and enjoyed my options. He is not vegan. I got the vegetable soup, edamame and shishito peppers ( were hot so ended up not eating them) We made RSVP for the authentic table yet arrived 10 minutes early and they didn't think the others would get done in time so we didn't get to experience that. The staff was attentive and good with my dietary restrictions. He didn't think the sushi was fresh but did like the chicken yakitori and edamame ( he is a sushi snob if that's a thing). He also couldn't eat the shishito peppers because they were spicy. Cute place, close by the church we went to while visiting. I'd say 4, he would give 3.5. read more

Ichiban - Vegetable Udon - with white rice instead of udon noodles. - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Ordered the Mesa Roll. The spicy tuna came out completely cooked instead of raw. It was inedible. When I called, the restaurant confirmed it is supposed to be raw, but ignored my request for a refund. This was my first time trying Ichiban. Super bummed about the food and the customer service. read more

Ichiban - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Food was really good, we got Ramen and Udon and everyone was so nice, will definitely be coming back read more

Ichiban - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

This is me and my boyfriend's favorite spot. We always order the same few things, salmon and yellowtail sushi, golden flower roll, beef donburi, chicken katsu or the tonkatsu. The food is much higher quality than any Japanese location around with similar prices or slightly higher prices even. I see some comments about poor service and that couldn't be farther from the truth as someone who frequents this restaurant. I see folks walk in, greeted by name, and the restaurant has a great sense of local community. If you're going somewhere to be treated like a king by your server, no one is trying to impress or beg you to like them, no one is going to shmooze you, so if that's your preference, I would recommend trying another place in town. I love this spot! Grab a hot sake, tonkatsu, and a salmon nigiri and you will too :) read more

Ichiban - Golden flower roll and chicken cutlet - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Mediocre food. Was expecting better food - especially for the $money they charged. The Korean ribs were tough and overcooked. The chicken teriyaki was disappointing. It was chunks of fatty dark meat, served lukewarm warm. Salad was not very appetizing. Sushi was ok. Saki was tasty. Over all it was an expensive mediocre meal. Won't return! Can't recommend it!! read more

Our 1st time here.... Really nice with a solid 4 stars for service excellence, courtesy & a nice clean vibe... Dishes were nicely presented with reasonable quantities, fresh quality. They have a few funky booths which simulate a traditional arrangement sitting on or close to the floor... kewl! So ... 5 stars requires a bit more in each respect. We normally go elsewhere in Santa Barbara for japanese cuisine... They were closed this evening so we tried here .... We are perfectly satisfied plus a bit more in all respects for a solid 4 stars. We're gonna start coming here more often! read more

See all

Excellent Sushi Spot! Really enjoyed the sushi here -- everything was super fresh and delicious. The rolls were well made with great flavor combinations. I especially loved the oyster and sea urchin shots -- such a perfect mix of creamy and briny! Friendly staff, nice atmosphere, and overall a great place to enjoy good sushi and relax. read more

Ichiban - Oyster and Urchin shots - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

I really like this restaurant! The seafood is super fresh--each bite tastes like it just came from the ocean. I really like the tempura ice cream too. The service is warm and attentive, and the cozy, clean ambiance makes the meal even better. Will absolutely return! read more

Ichiban - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Was good until I saw a giant cockroach run under my feet . Ugh! Lost my appetite immediately. So gross read more

The food was absolutely delicious -- every dish was beautifully presented and tasty. Every roll was perfect, the fish melted in my mouth, and the staff were the sweetest. Love this place! read more

Ichiban - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

The food is great. we like to eat the sushi and sashimi. The fish was incredibly fresh. Making each dish look nicely. read more

Ichiban - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Amazing hand crafted sushi rolls and appetizers. All of the food is fresh and high-quality, especially the sushi. The sashimi is some of the thickest cuts that I've seen and I'm all about it. Came here to visit my family friends and had a wonderful experience. I also recommend the Uni and Toro hand rolls. The uni and Toro are fresh and the ingredients make the dish very balanced. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, the tempura ice cream is amazing. The ambiance was nice and vibrant, really intriguing Japanese style seating and choice of furniture. One of my favorite sushi places in the Santa Barbara! Will definitely come back again! read more

See all

The service here was great. We went here for lunch. There was not a lot of people here because there is not a lot of places where people work near here. The food was good. I had to ask them to remake some of my tempura because it was burned. Which they did. It was good that we were checked on a few times too. The ambiance inside is nicely decorated and clean. Their bathroom is also pretty clean. read more

Ichiban - C. Chicken Teriyaki and Tempura lunch Combination - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Great place for lunch, and their food isn't too pricy! I took advantage of using their axxess deal for buy one roll, get one free. I was looking to go somewhere for lunch by myself, and I'm glad I came here! I ordered the salmon skin roll and the avocado eel roll. The salmon skin roll was pretty big, so i wish the rolls were half the size so that I didn't have to eat them in two bites. The sushi fell apart because they were so big. The avocado eel roll on the other hand was perfect in size! Nice bite size rolls! I got some spicy mayo on the side which complemented the rolls. I am a huge Hello Kitty fan, so I loved that their soy sauce was Hello Kitty themed. Would come back again for lunch, and possibly dinner! read more

Ichiban - Salmon Skin Roll and Avocado Eel Roll - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Don't order here for door dash! What you order at the restaurant is half what you get from door dash/ we were told by the restaurant that they wanted to save space in the to go container so they made the rolls smaller- this business doesn't deserve your support read more

I went to Ichiban for the first time the other night on a date and we had a reservation. I arrived first and was guided to our table, which had pillows. I was politely asked to remove my shoes and I waited for my date, who already knew the tradition. He ordered the garlic edamame for the table, a miso soup, the Spider Roll and the 007 Roll. I ordered the Yellowtail Roll, which was fresh and yummy. All of the employees who work here are so nice! Honestly, the service alone makes me want to come back, but the food was really delicious too! read more

Ichiban - "007" Roll - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

First and last time visiting Ichiban. Sat on patio with my cousin for the lunch special and enjoyed their food. The portions and prices were substantial, however the service was sadly disappointing. Served by a woman with a rude demeanor that had little to no manners. I never got her name but my guest and I felt so awkward because of the attitude she had during our visit. By the end of lunch bill comes & we pay cash. Unfortunately she did not return full amount of change so we asked for a reprint of our bill. (Gratuity is not included) Upon asking for correct change she remained to be rude, now laughing and rolling her eyes while asking how much I will tip her ??? unhinged behavior to say the least read more

First time in Santa Barbara and the service was very good! The food was also very delicious and it came out quickly. I would definitely recommend everyone to come here if you want some fresh sushi! read more

See all

the food is great. Every dish was exquisitely delicious, especially the sushi and sashimi. The fish was incredibly fresh and had an excellent texture. It's evident that the chef put a lot of effort into each dish, as the flavors were outstanding！ making each dish look appetizing. The staff were extremely warm and attentive, always ready to meet our needs. this is my first choice when I want to have some delicious Japanese food！ read more

See all

Food, service and ambiance was excellent!! Had soup, sushi and calamari! Yummy! Totally recommend it. They also have cute tables that you can sit on the floor. read more

Ichiban - a restaurant table with a menu on it - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Ambiance and service was good. Miso soup and sushi were not. Not sure why I have to write more than this to post a review letting the community know. read more

First time here was so wonderful. Fish could not be fresher and tastier, wonderful fast & friendly service :) We sat at the bar. Our three year old little girl loved the little taste of salmon she tried and loudly said "more salmon!" (We quickly corrected her and told her to say please.) But sweet man handed her a tiny plate of fresh salmon, without even charging. Such a sweet gesture. Thank you Jackie for the wonderful sushi and Andy for nice conversation. Didn't get the name of the girl who greeted and sat us but she was equally lovely. read more

Great spot for lunch and dinner, affordable and good sushi and service. Ichiban by far has the best sushi lunch specials! Quick friendly service and can be in and out within 45 minutes. read more

Ichiban - Lunch special 3 & 8 - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

THE BEST Japanese restaurant in Santa Barbara! The sushi is awesome! You can never imagine the tuna can be fresh like this! Great quality and service! read more

See all

Ichiban has decent lunch specials and quality fish. The service staff was a little overworked, causing service to be slow. However, our waiter was friendly, and my group wasn't in a hurry, so we didn't mind. But I would not recommend heading in for a quick bite. I would eat here again if I return and I'm not grabbing grub on State street. read more

We had been missing sushi, since we hadn't had it in 8 months, since the pandemic started. We love Ichiban, but don't have any interest in sitting outside by the parking strip to enjoy it. We just felt it wasn't worth the risk of exposure. So, we ordered a big sushi feast for takeout and brought it home. Everything looked beautiful and the only reason I gave it 4 stars was because I hate pickled ginger and they put big chunks of it in every dish we ordered and the ginger juice was sopped up by the rice in every roll or nigiri sushi we ordered. There was no way to get away from all the nasty pickled ginger juice in the bottom of the containers. Next time, I'll ask for them not to put any ginger in the containers at all. read more

I have wanted to like this place, but several tries in, over three years, I just can't. Vibe is cute, service adequate, but the proportions are off. Not enough water in the rice, too much miso in the soup, and too much weight in the tempura batter. Plus, the tempura vegetables are inelegant, huge, and overcooked. (No grated horseradish with tempura, either.) Ramen is unremarkable, and my friend said the oyako donburi had scant flavor. The steaming udon and sukiyaki looked promising, so maybe that's the way to go? Bref (as we'd say in French), there's no subtlety. If you don't know Japanese food well enough to care, go for it, but if you do, keep driving. read more

Food was great ! Always fresh, super tasty. Wine was crisp and perfect for Sushi! The only problem I had was server making sure I ordered food by 8:40-8:45, They closed at 9:00, a couple walked in at 8:45 and were told they were closed. It was a rushed experience and I all kept thinking was staff wants to get the hell out, then so did I. I still tipped nice because people have to be paid! read more

Ichiban is my #1 sushi spot in SB! In terms of quality, price, service, and overall vibes, I always have the most fantastic meal. I have eaten here quite frequently and they always have the freshest fish. The miso soup is excellent and make sure to get the hot sake! My favorites are the toro and yellowtail nigiri. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Extremely fresh fish, at a reasonable price. For tourists in a touristy city like Santa Barbara, this is us local's hidden gem.

I really enjoyed my lunch here the other day! A coworker and I popped in for a quick bite of sushi and were surprised at how empty it was. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered the crunch roll, tempura roll and Ichiban roll. All were amazing and tasted fresh! The staff checked in on us a couple of times and were very friendly. I also loved the fact that they had an area with low tables and pillows on the floor to sit on. What a fun experience that would be next time I visit! Please note there is plenty of parking in the back and a back door to use. read more

Pre-lockdown review: Ichiban has been my go-to sushi place in Santa Barbara for as long as I can remember. From lunch combinations to nigiri specials, it has always satisfied my sushi cravings. The 007 roll is the best! The restaurant is nicely decorated and there are plenty of tables to sit at. The bar is especially convenient if you're looking for a quick bite. The owners and sushi chefs are pretty sociable. I see new waiters every time I visit, but it has never altered my positive experience. read more

See all

I ordered take-out: -hamachi nigiri 4/4 -shrimp tempura roll 3.5/4 -CA roll 2.5/4 because it had krab/surimi-there wasn't an option to upgrade to snow crab. Overall this place is pretty good. The quality of the hamachi was on par with what i order from arigato. read more

Menu has awesome lunch and dinner specials. Great value with consistent quality and good quantity being the only sushi restaurant on La Mesa. Helpful and polite service from the owner, chef and servers. Mushroom appetizers are delicious and there are various seating arrangements outside, indoors and tables with cushioned seating requiring the removal of footwear. read more

I'm bumping this place up to 5 stars. The rolls are so tasty and fresh here. I had a bite and looked at my roll and thought, these are like the Sees candy of sushi rolls.Service is always good and I keep coming back. read more

See all

After several recommendations from locals, I decided to give Ichiban a try. The nigiri's were very good, nice sake, japanese scallop. The scallop was maybe the best thing I had all night. Also had uni nigiri which was ok...feel like it could have been fresher...didn't have that same ocean brinyness. Also got the caterpillar role which was pretty tasty. I ordered kama as well and it took probably 45 minutes to come out for some reason. And the hamachi didn't taste as fresh or maybe because it was overcooked. I wondered if that was to mask the freshness? It was just ok at best which was unfortunate, because a well cooked kama can melt in your mouth and this felt like eating canned tuna. Lastly, price was also ok...a bit pricey for the locale being a neighborhood restaurant and the quality being a bit hit or miss. read more

I went here because of a Groupon I had bought, after a late morning kayak around the harbor with my boyfriend. I liked how spaced out the tables were and the service was excellent. We ordered the Fisherman Boat (which we later realized was actually two boats), and it was nice and satisfying. The Dynamite that came with the second boat was probably my favorite part. It would've been nice to have rice come with the second boat since it has both chicken teriyaki and the dynamite, but we just ordered it separately as a side. Overall, pretty decent food, but nothing that stood out in particular. read more

Ichiban - Sailor Boat - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

I knew this was a budget sushi joint on the Mesa forever. I went because I paid for a massage with a woman who had no availability (thanks Gov Hair Product for closing again in a county nothing like LAC). So I had some credit and bought 20 for 10. Didn't realize you have to have two people. Fish inedible. Except yellowtail. Terrible, terrible fish and subpar rice. Even the hot sake horrible. The lettuce tasted bad too. I am sure the cooked food is adequate but no, never again. P.S. there is a clump of cold mashed potato with carrot on sushi lunch combo. I have no idea why. read more

Hasn't been here before. Ordered food to go. A nice lady took my order and checked me out. Was clean and very busy at 6pm. I will probably try again. Eat in to get the full experience. read more

Ichiban - Spicy Asparagus Roll - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all