Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
12 Reviews for Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant
I don't really come here for the food but 5 stars for the ambiance. The times that I've been here although only a handful in the last 20 years have been very memorable. Especially when my Mom got on stage and did some karaoke, Enka style.
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I'd suggest passing this place over if you want good sushi. The prices are okay, but the food is subpar. The fish was pretty awful, the rolls were quickly and shoddily made, and the service was very mediocre. The teriyaki beef was tough, as was the gyoza. All in all, I felt like a fool for giving them $45 for a pretty disappointing dinner experience.
I went there during a business trip in Monterey. A friend of mine used to live in Monterey a long time ago, and we came across this restaurant as we were driving around the area. Since we were discussing about this particular restaurant and found it, we thought that must be some coincidence.
While the outside looked small, once inside, the place was spacious. There were a few Japanese sushi chefs at the counter, so I expected something good. Unfortunately, their complimentary appetizer was... a leftover Chinese finger foods -- spring roll bit, fried veggie, sweet sauce chicken. They didn't taste bad, but because they were cold, my appetite didn't exactly get excited.
The miso soup was pretty good -- hot and tasty. Sunomono (vinegered cucumber with shrimp) was a bit too sweet according to my friend. I was ok with it, but wished it was a bit more vinegarish and salty.
Sushi came a little earlier than expected. While ingredients - both fish and rice - were pretty good, how chefs prepared the sushi had a lot to be desired. California rolls fell apart easily, and one tuna roll has its end like ... well, the end of a long roll. I know restaurants want to save some money, and an extra attention on presentation wouldn't hurt. Rice balls were a bit hard.
Since I still had some room in my stomach, I was looking through the menu again. Sadly, they did not have a large selection of appetizer, so I just ordered a cup of miso soup and a bowl of rice. They were good though.
At the end of the meal, I was wondering whether to rate this place a 4-star or a 3-star. The came a bill with fortune cookies. Stale ones at that. That sealed my rating.
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I've been here maybe two or three times for lunch and dinner.
Its a nice place with a comfortable atmosphere, I like sitting at the bar.
Now, we all know that since sushi comes in small proportions, the presentation should be at least decent. I ordered one california roll as a starter, and the california roll was horrible! Everything may have been fresh, but the rice was falling apart and crumbling. The roll was not very well put together. It wasn't appetizing at all. There weren't a lot of people eating there either, so the chef was in no kind of rush. Maybe I'm picky, but because of that, I didn't even want to try anything else for lunch.
I suppose they make more of an effort for dinner, or maybe it was a different chef, I'm not sure. Dinner was decent, but when I ordered a Japanese soda (ramune), it spilled everywhere. The green tea ice cream was good, they give you your money's worth.
I suppose I would go here again, but for what I'm paying, I'd rather go to Fuji's down the street.
I agree with Anna C.:
"Wasn't bad, but wasn't great either."
The sushi was okay for a Seaside joint. The fish was fresh enough, and no one got sick. Service at the bar was pretty good. There wasn't a whole lot of variety in the offerings, but it was cheap enough.
The cooked food, however, is sub-par to mediocre. We got some sorta BBQ ribs and fried chicken combination plate. Could have (and would have) rather done without it.
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Great sushi...one of favorite places in High School. Nice ambiance, service...everything is good here.
Wasn't bad, but wasn't great either.
I'd come here again, but only because it's close to where I live.
I've been spoiled by the sushi in the Bay Area but this place is decent. A good alternative if you want something other than Mexican food. Good location, not far from the highway and Laguna Seca.
ehh.. t'was alright... The decor doesn't say much.. definitely old school conference room chair style...
The sashimi and rolls were great.
A very good choice for sushi in Monterrey County. The staff is always friendly including the chefs who interact with the patrons. The food is top notched..I haven't found anything this good in Monterey County as of yet. worth dropping by!
I like the sushi here, although I've been spoiled by the SF sushi restaurants. You can get a good California roll, and some fresh sashimi. Basically, there aren't that many choices for good Japanese food in Monterey, so this may be your best bet.
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This place rocks! It has been a restaurant for many years, 50+ years
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