Review of Ichiban
A review of Ichiban Sushi and Noodle Cafe - 50 Queen Street, Glasgow, G1 3DS
Despite being located in the heart of Glasgow, it’s easy to walk past Ichiban’s front door by mistake. However, up a flight of stairs (which are unfortunately neither wheelchair nor buggy friendly) lies the best Japanese restaurant in the city. Whether it’s a quick lunch you’re after or a quirky option for a dinner date and a chance to show off your chop stick skills, this is the best place to go for an authentic taste of Tokyo.
The bright, neon-lit interior is chic and stylish, without being pretentious, and large TV on the wall displays a range of Japanese cartoons and films. Diners are seated along rows of wooden benches, which mean intimacy is non-existent, but the interior is nevertheless comfortable and clean. Although Ichiban tends to draw a young, trendy crowd, on the night I visited a couple of families were also enjoying a night out. High chairs are available on request and children are able to order small portions of selected dishes from the main menu.
The food is quite simply delicious, and the real reason that Ichiban has an almost fanatical fan base in the city. I ordered seafood yakisoba (literally “fried noodles”) along with two portions of Tekka Nigiri (tuna topped sushi) and a glass of aromatic Japanese plum wine, served with ice and soda. The expertly cooked prawns, squid and scallops were light, juicy, melt in the mouth little morsels, set off perfectly by the well seasoned noodles. The huge portion was satisfyingly filling and I got that smug feeling of having eaten healthily without compromising on taste. Although my sushi arrived a trifle late, our friendly and attentive waiter explained that the chef prepares every piece individually and would only take a few more minutes. On arrival the Nigiri was elegant, perfectly formed and sweetly succulent: everything sushi should be.
There are sadly no puddings on offer, but I doubt I could have fitted one in anyway. Instead I opted for a delightful glass of “flowering tea” - green tea leaves served with a tied bundle of dried flowers that “bloom” in the boiling water - to aid digestion. A relaxing end to a stylish, tasty and affordable meal.
Despite being located in the heart of Glasgow, it’s easy to walk past Ichiban’s front door by mistake. However, up a flight of stairs (which are unfortunately neither wheelchair nor buggy friendly) lies the best Japanese restaurant in the city. Whether it’s a quick lunch you’re after or a quirky option for a dinner date and a chance to show off your chop stick skills, this is the best place to go for an authentic taste of Tokyo.
The bright, neon-lit interior is chic and stylish, without being pretentious, and large TV on the wall displays a range of Japanese cartoons and films. Diners are seated along rows of wooden benches, which mean intimacy is non-existent, but the interior is nevertheless comfortable and clean. Although Ichiban tends to draw a young, trendy crowd, on the night I visited a couple of families were also enjoying a night out. High chairs are available on request and children are able to order small portions of selected dishes from the main menu.
The food is quite simply delicious, and the real reason that Ichiban has an almost fanatical fan base in the city. I ordered seafood yakisoba (literally “fried noodles”) along with two portions of Tekka Nigiri (tuna topped sushi) and a glass of aromatic Japanese plum wine, served with ice and soda. The expertly cooked prawns, squid and scallops were light, juicy, melt in the mouth little morsels, set off perfectly by the well seasoned noodles. The huge portion was satisfyingly filling and I got that smug feeling of having eaten healthily without compromising on taste. Although my sushi arrived a trifle late, our friendly and attentive waiter explained that the chef prepares every piece individually and would only take a few more minutes. On arrival the Nigiri was elegant, perfectly formed and sweetly succulent: everything sushi should be.
There are sadly no puddings on offer, but I doubt I could have fitted one in anyway. Instead I opted for a delightful glass of “flowering tea” - green tea leaves served with a tied bundle of dried flowers that “bloom” in the boiling water - to aid digestion. A relaxing end to a stylish, tasty and affordable meal.